Sydney Cromwell
Public Works Committee
Wyatt Pugh explains a sidewalk project on 29th Avenue South to the public works committee on Aug. 6, 2018.
In a specially called meeting tonight, the Homewood City Council negotiated an incentive package with Milo’s Tea Company to relocate their headquarters to a 26,000-square-foot space in Lakeshore Plaza.
According to calculations by Milo’s attorney Trey Hill during the council’s finance committee meeting, the deal is estimated to bring in $850,000 in indirect sales tax revenue to the Homewood area over a 10-year span. They plan to initially bring 49 jobs upon relocating from Bessemer and add 36 jobs over the next five years.
Concerns were brought up about the deal by Ward 1 Representative Andy Gwaltney after miscommunication about the calculation of business license tax. Hill believed that business license tax was based upon total company payroll, but city attorney Mike Kendrick said it is based upon gross revenue. Even with the miscommunication, the city decided the deal was still in benefit of the city and agreed to the terms.
Milo’s will receive a five-year abatement of property taxes, except taxes allocated for the school system, and sales tax related to construction purposes. Over five years, that is estimated to total $28,000 in property tax revenue and $118,000 in sales tax revenue, including local, county and state taxes.
“Homewood is a perfect fit for Milo’s – it is a vibrant community with excellent amenities and convenience to our production facility” Milo's CEO Patricia Wallwork said in a press release after the meeting.
In the public safety committee meeting, members voted to recommend restoring the original seven speed humps back to Berry Road, after a public hearing on the issue in June. An eighth speed hump was removed by the City of Birmingham.
The speed humps were removed when the roads were being repaved earlier in the year. When the roads reopened, the city only placed back two speed humps about 600 feet apart before deciding to look at other speed control options.
The city conducted a study to look at car speed in areas with speed humps, with radars and without them. The study concluded that there was no major difference in speed, with all the data averaging around 37 miles per hour, but speeds in the areas with speed humps were slightly lower.
Ward 5 Representative Jennifer Andress said she talked with members of the community and heard significant feedback to restore the speed humps back to their original positions.
A number of construction and infrastructure projects were recommended to the city council including:
A request to allow Trustmark National Bank to replace a section of sidewalk at 1808 29th Avenue South due to deteriorated water supply line, as well as replacement of a tree planted there with a new one approved by the city.
A request to help fund sidewalk and curb repairs at 1914 28th Ave S. Two estimates of 13,000 and $28,000 were discussed for this project. The city council will vote to decide how much to allocate towards the project.
A right-turn only sign and crosswalk at Drake Street and Oxmoor Road, to reduce traffic jams entering and exiting the Piggly Wiggly.
A study by Walter Schoel Engineering of flooding and drainage issues on Lancaster and Huntington roads. A similar issue at 212 Malaga Avenue was dropped since the area with the drainage problem is owned by Birmingham Water Works Board.
A study of options for more parking, including handicapped parking, on 29th Avenue South.
Cost estimates for making Reese Street a one-way eastbound road from Central Avenue to Linden Avenue, and to add parking and sidewalks on one side of the road.
Creation of a cooperative district with Mountain Brook, Jefferson County and the city of Birmingham for the funding and construction of a pedestrian bridge over U.S. 280 at Hollywood Boulevard.
Building, Engineering and Zoning Department employee Greg Cobb also updated council members that sidewalk construction on sections of Saulter Road will begin this week, and sidewalks on Rumson Road are under design for the east side of the street. Cobb also said bids for the Lakeshore diverging diamond interchange project have been set for January 2019.
The planning and development committee also heard from Henry Hughes and Amy Milam, who presented a plan to plant more trees through the end of 2018 and in 2019. The tentative plan calls for up to 18 trees planted in 2018, with about $14,500 in existing funding, and up to 45 trees in 2019, with $35,500 in proposed funding.
High priority spots for planting included Overton and Woodland Parks, several city entrance points and locations around Green Springs Highway, U.S. 31, Shades Cahaba Elementary School and other sites. Hughes and Milam said the list is open to changes, and they also want to find ways to encourage planting on private property.
The committee was pleased by this plan and recommended consideration of funding as part of the 2019 fiscal year budget.
The City Council will vote on these and other issues discussed at tonight’s meeting on Monday, Aug. 13.