Homewood City Council approves package of ordinances, resolutions and contracts in unanimous votes

Homewood Mayor Andrews presided over the July 13 meeting that produced a series of unanimous council actions, from zoning and code cleanups to a municipal parking‑lot contract and grant‑support resolutions.

The most consequential motion approved was a $579,378 contract for the 185 Oxmoor Road parking‑lot project, described by city staff as the redevelopment of the lot commonly referred to in staff remarks as the “Waffle House” parking area. City staff identified Southeastern Silk Coating as the selected contractor; the council approved the contract by voice and roll call as Resolution 26‑71. Staff said construction will begin before the end of the month, with an estimated timeline of four to six months and an optimistic target of about 90 days. Staff also committed to notifying nearby businesses in writing before work begins.

The council adopted several ordinances intended to align city code and process with Homewood’s current government structure. City Attorney Keith Jackson summarized a repeal removing a committee‑based requirement for financial measures that no longer applies; the council adopted the change as Ordinance 29‑81 after a roll‑call vote. Jackson also recapped and the council adopted an ordinance establishing that material changes to the annual budget must be passed by ordinance rather than resolution, as an accountability and transparency measure (Ordinance 29‑82). The council also adopted revisions to the Historic Preservation Commission ordinance (Ordinance 29‑83) and approved an ordinance declaring identified city property as surplus (Ordinance 29‑84).

Two right‑of‑way/land‑use actions that had public hearings on June 22 were approved: vacating a portion of the alley adjacent to 200 Virginia Drive (Resolution 26‑68) and vacating a 20‑foot alley between 115 and 117 Morris Boulevard (Resolution 26‑69). In each case council members noted that utility and access questions had been addressed before the vote.

The council also approved routine financial and support measures: the vouchers covering June 23–July 13 were approved (Resolution 26‑72), the city authorized the city manager to sign a Good Neighbor pledge supporting Daxko’s effort to remain in Homewood (Resolution 26‑73), and the council approved a mayoral letter of support for a Friends of Shades Creek grant application (Resolution 26‑74). Finally, the council authorized a $5,000 grant award for the Homewood Fire Department for equipment referenced in discussion (Resolution 26‑75). All of these passed unanimously, 4–0.

Direct quotations in the meeting were primarily procedural; while reading ordinance language, City Attorney Keith Jackson stated the ordinance preamble: "Be it ordained by the city council of the City of Homewood, Alabama as follows," and read the traffic‑control provisions line‑by‑line when the Rumson Road/Yorkshire Drive ordinance was presented for public notice and carryover.

Why it matters: The package advances near‑term capital work (the Oxmoor parking lot), updates governance procedures that affect how budget changes must be approved, and records municipal support for local organizations and grant efforts. Most items had limited debate and passed unanimously, signaling administrative alignment ahead of implementation.

The council set several follow‑up dates: a public hearing on a small rezoning (western portion of 1832 25th Court South) is scheduled for the July 27 meeting; the Rumson/Yorkshire traffic ordinance and a nuisance‑property hearing for 405 Woodvale Lane were carried to July 27 for further action. The next regular council meeting is July 27 at 6 p.m.