Committee recommends adding to economic development boards

For Homewood’s economic development groups, helping the city is closer to a reality. The special issues committee voted Oct. 19 to recommend an increase in membership for the Homewood Downtown Redevelopment Authority and the Industrial Development Board.

The increase was proposed by HDRA chair Rich Campbell in an effort to consolidate the efforts of HDRA, IDB and the Commercial Development Authority in order to maximize their effectiveness.

The proposal, which the committee voted to recommend pending approval from city attorney Mike Kendrick and city clerk Linda Cook, would create 13 seats on both the HDRA and IDB, but the same 13 individuals would fill the seats on both boards. The council or the members would then select five members to officially represent the CDA.

Campbell said that with the current set up, the boards find it difficult to effectively help the city, despite having significant talent.

“We all feel pretty useless at the moment,” Campbell said.

Ward 1 Representative Britt Thames said that after talking with Campbell, he thinks the proposal will be beneficial for the city.

“If we’ve got people willing to serve and willing to be more active and helpful, why not? I’m all about it,” Thames said.

The committee’s recommendation will go before the full City Council either Monday, Oct. 26 or the next meeting, depending on reports from Kendrick and Cook.

Other business included:

Special Issues Committee:

• Approving a request to present an amended driveway ordinance that outlines additional paving options.
• Approving a request to consider allowing the Homewood Environmental Commission to work in the Morris Boulevard and Sterrett Avenue right of way triangle to plant tree seedlings.

Public Safety Committee:

• The committee heard a presentation from PRI Systems on pavement patching 
• options. The request for consideration was carried over.

Finance Committee: 

• A request for consideration of the Alabama Power Economic Development 
• presentation was carried over.
• The committee heard a report from Raymond James on the status of “Cash Reserve for Economic Uncertainty.” The committee voted to accept the report as presented 
• and present it to the council.
• A bid for police department uniforms was opened. The committee voted to present to the council, pending the recommendation of the police department.
• The committee heard from the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority on the recent departure of their director. The committee voted to carry over discussion.
• The committee voted to approve a request for consideration to accept the financing terms for an apparatus on the fire department’s Engine 1, but required a budget amendment from Kendrick.
• The committee voted to approve a request for consideration to pay half of the cost of a decorative street sign at Stratton Court and Gatsby Court.
• A vote in favor of purchasing the Fox property for a trailhead, as it was in the mayor’s original budget.

Planning and Development Committee:

• A request for the consideration of a zoning application at 116 West Hawthorne Road was withdrawn, and the committee voted to drop the matter.
• A request for consideration of services to conduct a central business revitalization and zoning study was carried over.