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Council hears community event updates, library grant, driver policy and website chatbot plan
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Summary
At the April 13 pre‑council meeting, local business and neighborhood groups promoted a May book fair and an April block party; staff discussed an America250AL lecture‑series grant application, a driver‑selection policy needed for insurance renewals, and an $8,700 annual subscription to a Citibot web chat for the city website. Several items will be posted for council action in two weeks.
Homewood City Council on April 13 received a cluster of community and administrative updates that staff and residents said will return for formal action.
Community events: Joanne Hedrick of Rocky Heights Printing and Binding described a West Valley Avenue book fair planned for the first Saturday in May with about 100 booths, children’s activities and a Young Author Press literacy initiative. EA Montgomery, president of the Hollywood Garden Club, requested a block party and street closures on April 18 as part of a centennial celebration; staff said a special retail liquor license had already been obtained and the council would vote on a resolution at the evening session.
Library grant: Staff described plans to work with the Homewood Public Library on an America250AL grant application to fund a summer lecture series; the grant is due April 30 and programming would be June–August if awarded.
City operations: Staff presented a proposed driver‑selection policy requested by the city’s insurance carrier and said it had been reviewed by public works, fire and police. Staff also proposed a budget amendment to buy an annual Citibot web chat subscription for $8,700 to add a multilingual, ADA‑friendly search/chat interface to the city website; councilors discussed naming the bot and agreed to move the subscription to the council docket.
Next steps: The block party resolution, driver policy and Citibot subscription and the America250AL grant application will be posted for council consideration in the coming days or on the next regular agenda.
