Council passes pro-UAB football resolution

Applause and shouts of “Go Blazers!” filled City Hall Monday evening as the council unanimously passed a resolution supporting the reinstatement of UAB football, bowling and rifle teams.

Council president Bruce Limbaugh read the resolution at the beginning of the Feb. 23 council meeting, calling on the UAB president and trustees to reconsider their December decision to shut down the teams. Homewood is the latest of several municipalities, including Vestavia Hills, to pass such a resolution.

After the meeting, Limbaugh said Homewood was slower to pass such a resolution because council members felt it was important that such a decision be unanimous. Support for UAB was divided at first and it took several conversations to come to a unanimous conclusion.

As a group decked in green and gold gathered with the council members for photos, Limbaugh noted that two 2014 Homewood High School graduates, Zach Sims and Mark Allen Rawls, had been on UAB’s football team. Out of the large amount of citizen feedback he received, Limbaugh said one resident’s statement was especially powerful.

“He said, ‘I’m a graduate and I feel like UAB students should have the complete college experience,’” Limbaugh said. “I thought that was compelling.”

Other council business included:

• Adding $2,500 to the Art Council’s budget to fund the hosting of the Community Gallery grand opening on June 18.
• Approving the rezoning of 301 Goodwin Crest Drive and 55 and 65 Bagby Drive from Commercial Office to General Business District. The vacant office buildings located on those properties are under contract with a new owner, who plans to turn them into a storage facility.
• Approval of a fence ordinance variation for the Islamic Academy of Alabama at 1810 25th Court South, with final approval from the Department of Engineering. The school plans to build a six-foot high, metal fence connecting to an existing wall to improve student safety.
• A public hearing was set for March 16 to consider changing the name of 1st Avenue West to Montessori Way.
• Another public hearing was set for March 23 to review changes to the city zoning book.
• Amendments to the 2014-2015 budget’s general and special revenue funds were approved.
• Discussion of adding a “no parking” sign at the intersection of East Edgewood Drive and the alley adjacent to 101 E. Edgewood Drive was carried over.
• The mayor was approved to make changes to the city’s agreement with Alerus to allow partial payment distribution to retired city employees, instead of full payments only.
• The finance committee was asked to consider authorizing the mayor to enter a contract leasing the third floor of City Hall.
• The finance committee was also asked to consider an additional streetlight at 505 Devon Drive.
• Declaration of certain fire department equipment as surplus was also sent to the finance committee to consider.
• The finance committee was also asked to consider authorizing the mayor to make an agreement with a new employment assistance program.
• The public safety committee was asked to consider adding a stop sign at the Venetian Way-Parkside Circle-Parkside Court intersection.
• Consideration of adding three streetlights to Forest Brook Drive, for a total cost of $28.50 per month, was also sent to the public safety committee.

The next city council meeting will be Monday, March 16.