During the Birmingham City Council meeting on February 3, 2015 Council:

Approved a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute an Agreement for Feasibility Study for the Birmingham Museum of Art between the City of Birmingham, the Birmingham Museum of Art and Davis Architects, Inc. to develop a concept plan to determine the feasibility of renovating and expanding the Birmingham Museum of Art’s facilities on its current site. The Total cost of the study will be approximately $270,200.00. The City of Birmingham will contribute $100,000.00 to the project and the Birmingham Museum of Art will raise the balance of approximately $170,200.00 from grants, patrons, and other private funding.
Cliff Notes
Did this Item Pass? Approved on the consent agenda
What purpose will this item serve? The Birmingham Museum of Arts, Inc. serves as an international tourist attraction with specialization in the arts and education. This agreement will allow Mayor Bell to enter into a contract with the Birmingham Museum of Art and Davis Architects, Inc. to determine the possibilities of renovating and expanding the Birmingham Museum of Arts, Inc. facilities on its current site.
Next steps: Once funding is in place dates will be determined to begin the feasibility study. For more information please contact the Director of the Birmingham Museum of Arts at 205.254.2565.

Approved a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a Loan Credit Agreement with Ezell’s Express Crestwood, LLC under which the City will provide a Birmingham Business Development Loan to Ezell’s in an amount not to exceed $150,000.00 for a term of 24 months at an interest rate of 2.74% per annum. The loan will be secured by an Irrevocable Letter of Credit. The loan proceeds will be used in connection with the build-out, equipment and initial start-up costs of a fast-causal restaurant that serves catfish and comfort food, to be located at 7724 Crestwood Boulevard, Birmingham.
Cliff Notes
Did this item pass? Approved unanimously
What purpose will this item serve? To administer a loan credit agreement from the Birmingham Business Development under the City’s provision to assist with the opening of a Birmingham location of Ezell’s Express Crestwood, LLC at 7724 Crestwood Boulevard.
Next Steps: Once the loan is disbursed Ezell’s Express Crestwood, LLC will confirm an opening date. For more information please contact the Office of Economic Development at 205.254.2657.

Status of other items approved by the Council at today’s meeting include the following:

1. Approved a Resolution authorizing the Mayor of the City of Birmingham, Alabama to apply for a grant from the U. S Department of Justice Assistance Violent Gang and Gun Crime Reduction Program, Department of Justice (the “2015 Grant”), and to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham for administration of the 2015 Grant which authorizes the City to function as the Fiscal Agent if awarded, to disburse the funds to the parties, and to administer the 2015 Grant program.
Cliff Notes
Did this item pass? Approved on the consent agenda
What purpose will this item serve? Grants are a vital part of acquiring additional funding for the City of Birmingham. This agreement will allow the Mayor to apply for the grant and enter to an agreement to disburse the funds as outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Next Steps: Once the grant is processed a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed off by the City of Birmingham Law Department. For more information please contact the Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper’s office at 205.254.1700.

2. Approved a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to issue, on behalf of the City, a firm commitment to allocate $1,300,000.00 of the City’s HUD HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) funds to Princeton Village LTD for the development of up to 96 units of affordable housing in the West End area in support of Princeton Village LTD’s application to the Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA) for Low Income Housing Tax Credits and, if the project receives tax credits from the AHFA in the 2015 funding round, to disburse the $1,300,000.00 to Princeton Village LTD from the City’s HOME funds.
Cliff Notes
Did this item pass? Approved with 1 abstention
What purpose will this item serve? This agreement will allow the Mayor to enter into a commitment to allocate $1,300,00.00 to City’s HUD HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) funds to Princeton Village LTD for housing unit developments in support of Princeton Village’s application for more funds from the Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA) in efforts to receive low income housing tax credits.
Next Steps: If the housing tax credits are received the $1,300,000.00 will be disbursed the Princeton Village LTD from the City’s HOME funds. For more information please contact the Mayor’s Office of Community Development at 205.254.2475.

3. Approved a Resolution accepting the lump sum bid of Alabama Accessibility, Inc., Prattville, Alabama, in the amount of $32,400.00 for ADA Pool Lifts for City-Owned Buildings at McAlpine Park, Grayson Park and Underwood Park, this being the lowest and best bid submitted, and authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with Alabama Accessibility, Inc., in substantially the form contained within the proposal documents and in accordance with said bid, providing that the total compensation payable under the contract not exceed the appropriation. [Project Code: PR135CP 003850; GL Account: 135_342.652-005]
Cliff Notes
Did this item pass? Approved on the consent agenda
What purpose will this item serve? The City of Birmingham accepts bids from companies/vendors to provide select services as needed to build and or repair City of Birmingham facilities. The Department of Planning Engineering and Permits (PEP) administers the bid under the Alabama Bid Law. The bid for ADA Pools to be installed in City-Owned Buildings at McAlpine Park, Grayson Park, and Underwood Park was awarded to Alabama Accessibility Inc. with the lowest bid of $32,400.00.
Next Steps: The Department of Planning Engineering and Permits will confirm a start date for renovations to begin. For more information please contact the Department of Planning Engineering and Permits at 205.254.2336.

4. Approved a Resolution accepting the lump sum bid of Richardson Construction Company, Inc., 1003 Bramble Lane, Birmingham, in the amount of $193,000.00, for A.G. Gaston Park Renovations (Rebid), this being the lowest and best bid submitted, and authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with Richardson Construction Company, Inc., in substantially the form contained within the proposal documents and in accordance with said bid, providing that the total compensation payable under the contract not exceed the appropriation. [Project Code: PR135CP 003856; Project Code: PR135CP 003843]
Cliff Notes
Did this item pass? Approved unanimously
What purpose will this item serve? The City of Birmingham accepts bids from companies/vendors to provide select services as needed to build and or repair City of Birmingham facilities. The Department of Planning Engineering and Permits (PEP) administers the bid under the Alabama Bid Law. The bid for A.G. Gaston Park Renovations (Rebid), was awarded to Richardson Construction Company, Inc., with the lowest bid $193,000.00.
Next Steps: The Department of Planning and Engineering will select the date for renovations to begin. For more information please contact the Department of Planning Engineering and Permits 205.254.2336.

Announcements and Reminders
1. The Park and Recreation Board will meet Wednesday February 4, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. at Legion Field.

2. Councilor Marcus Lundy, Jr., will host the Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace Education and Enrollment Day on Wednesday February 4, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the North Birmingham Recreation Center located at 3501 28th Street North, Birmingham, AL 35207.

3. The Joint Budget and Finance and Economic Development Committee Meeting will be held Monday February 9, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. in Conference Rooms D&E.

4. The Planning and Zoning Committee Meeting will be held on Tuesday February 10, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. in the 5th Floor Engineering Conference Room.

5. There will be a Special Called Transportation and Communications Committee Meeting on Wednesday February 11, 2015 at 12:30 p.m. in Conference Rooms D&E.

6. The Public Improvements and Beautification Committee Meeting will be held Wednesday February 11, 2015 in Conference Rooms D&E.

7. The Public Safety Committee Meeting will be held Monday February 16, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.

Are you unable to attend the Birmingham City Council meetings? Watch Council Meetings on demand. From anywhere in the world you can log on to www.birminghamalcitycouncil.org and click on the tab Watch Council Meetings; or from the comfort of your home, tune to Bright House Cable Channel 340. The Birmingham City Council meetings are free and on demand.
The City of Birmingham will make reasonable accommodations to ensure that people with disabilities have equal opportunity to enjoy all city services, programs and activities.
If accommodations are required for public meetings, please contact Chiara Morrow, Public Information Officer, with reasonable advance notice by emailing chiara.morrow@birminghamal.gov or by calling 205-254-2055.

Highlights include Films, Spoken Word, Foot Soldiers from the Civil Rights Movement and Bryan Stevenson Book Signing

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) will honor Black History Month with special events that are free and open to the public.
BCRI will be open Mondays through February 23, 2015.
“BCRI is committed to providing programming for diverse audiences all through the year,” stated Ahmad Ward, BCRI Head of Education and Exhibitions. “Black History Month provides special opportunities to shine a spotlight on the contributions of African Americans to our culture and history.” For more information about the following events, please call 866-328-9696 x 234.

Sunday, February 1 – 22
Annual Helen Keller Art Show. Vann Gallery. Art show featuring visually and hearing impaired children in the State of Alabama. Grand prize winners will be displayed in the historic Helen Keller birthplace in Tuscumbia, Ala.

Sunday, February 8:  3 p.m.- 5 p.m.
Annual Helen Keller Student Art Show Opening Reception.  BCRI Rotunda.

Tuesdays, February 3, 10, 17, 24:  12-1 p.m.
“Untold Stories: The Foot Soldiers.” Richard Arrington Jr. Resource Gallery. Visitors to the Permanent Gallery will have an opportunity to speak with and ask questions of a foot soldier from the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement.

Wednesdays, February 4, 11, 18, 25:  11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Black History Month Film Festival.  Richard Arrington Jr. Resource Gallery.
February 4: Soundtrack to a Revolution
February 11: Freedom Summer
February 18: Black Magic
February 25: Stand

Thursday, February 19:  6-8 p.m.
Black History Month Program Part 1: “The Evolution of Hip Hop?” Woods Community Meeting Room. Public Forum.

Friday, February 20:  6-8 p.m.
Black History Month Program Part 2:  “The Evolution of Hip Hop?” Woods Community Meeting Room. Spoken Word Event.

Thursday, February 26:  6-8 p.m.
“95.7 Jamz / McDonald’s Civil Rights Art Awards Ceremony. Woods Community Meeting Room.

Friday, February 27:  6 p.m.
Community of Readers. BCRI Rotunda. Recommended for families with young readers.

Saturday, February 28:  10 a.m.
Book Signing with Bryan Stevenson, JUST MERCY: A Story of Justice and Redemption. Woolfolk Gallery. Bryan Stevenson, one of the country’s most visionary legal thinkers, social justice advocates, and a MacArthur “genius,” takes us on an unforgettable journey into the broken American criminal justice system. Registration required.

Cities, schools, nonprofits eligible for tree-planting funds

The Alabama Power Foundation is accepting applications from Feb. 2 to April 3 for the 2015 Good Roots grant program.
In partnership with the Alabama Urban Forestry Association and the Alabama Forestry Commission, Good Roots awards up to $1,000 per grant to help cities, towns, schools and nonprofit organizations plant trees. The goal of Good Roots is to help keep communities beautiful and vibrant.
To date, Good Roots has awarded more than $650,000 to almost 700 cities, towns, schools and nonprofits, enabling them to plant trees at schools, churches, parks and other community locations.
In 2014, the Alabama Power Foundation awarded 38 grants through this program to plant trees across central and southern Alabama.
“There are lots of things that go into a healthy and strong community,” said John Hudson, president of the Alabama Power Foundation. “Trees are good for the environment, and good for our health – not to mention their beauty. Through the Good Roots program, the foundation helps communities plant more trees and take advantage of their multiple benefits.”
Nonprofit organizations, schools, cities, towns and communities of any size are welcome to apply online for a Good Roots grant.
Good Roots is one of several community grant programs funded by the Alabama Power Foundation. To access the online application and to learn more about Good Roots, as well as other Alabama Power Foundation and Alabama Power community programs, please visit www.powerofgood.com.
Each year, the Alabama Power Foundation awards more than 1,000 grants, using nonratepayer money. Since it was founded in 1989 with funds donated by Alabama Power shareholders, the foundation has given more than $150 million through more than 20,000 grants and scholarships.

 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – As new businesses continue to come to the District 8 Area, Councilor Steven Hoyt wants to ensure that safety concerns aren’t an issue for residents. To address those concerns, Councilor Hoyt hosted a town hall meeting Monday at the Birmingham Crossplex. Residents were given the opportunity to hear about updates concerning their community in particular plans to relocate fire station 24 located in Bellview Heights to the West Precinct located across from the Crossplex. Councilor Hoyt believes that the relocation is vital to the safety of the firefighters and he hoped that constituents would get a valuable understanding of the strategy in place.
“It’s important that as a councilor I work with communities and law enforcement to ensure that there is a consistent relationship between the two entities, so that safety issues are adequately addressed,” Councilor Hoyt said. “I know that Chief Charles Gordon will help shed light on the restructuring of fire station 24 and discuss why the West Precinct is the best option for the new site.”
Councilor Hoyt added that this town hall meeting would be the first of many as he looks to continually engage residents on plans for their district. In addition to new businesses coming to the area, a number of athletes will soon be visiting District 8 for athletic conferences that will be held at the Crossplex. In March, the City of Birmingham will host the 2015 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field National Championship.  This championship will feature the top track and field programs and athletes in the country.
For more information on upcoming events in District 8, please contact the Office of Councilor Steven Hoyt at 205.254.2363.

 Birmingham Alumnae Panhellenic, a local nonprofit organization made up of sorority women, is holding a free event on Saturday, February 21 from 10a.m. to 12p.m.  The event will take place at Bashinsky Fieldhouse at Samford University in Homewood, Ala.  Sorority 101 is open to all high school women, along with their parents, who are interested in participating in Sorority Recruitment while attending college. We will provide information on the benefits of Sorority life as well as a general description of Recruitment. Local boutiques will provide an interactive fashion show and examples of what to wear.
Colleges and universities participating in the event are as follows:

Auburn University
Auburn University-Montgomery
Birmingham-Southern College
Samford University
Troy University
University of Alabama
University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama in Huntsville
University of Montevallo
University of North Alabama
University of West Alabama

Please see our website for more information and registration: http://birminghampanhellenic.yolasite.com/.

 MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama College Democrats announced that Congresswoman Terri Sewell (AL-07) will serve as Honorary Chair for the 2016 Election Cycle.
“I am thrilled to announce Congresswoman Sewell as our Honorary Chair,” said Reed Dudley, President of Alabama College Democrats. “We couldn’t ask for a more incredible mentor for college students across the state to look to for real leadership in Alabama.”
Congresswoman Sewell is serving her third term as the U.S. Representative of Alabama’s 7th Congressional District. She is the first Black woman ever to serve in Alabama’s Congressional delegation. Congresswoman Sewell serves as a Chief Deputy Whip within the Democratic Caucus and sits on the House Committee on Financial Services as well as the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
During her tenure in Congress, Sewell has been an outspoken advocate on behalf of students. She has fought to protect funding for Pell Grants and for legislation to decrease the burden of student loans on young people as they enter the workforce. In 2012, Congresswoman Sewell helped to secure over $1.5 million in Upward Bound program funding for colleges across the 7th Congressional District. Sewell was also the keynote speaker at Alabama College Democrats’ “Voices for Change” statewide convention in 2013.
“I am very excited to serve as the Honorary Chair of the Alabama College Democrats,” Sewell said. “It is up to us to make sure that the next generation will be prepared to lead our party and our state, and I look forward to partnering with College Democrat chapters across the state to make sure that young people engage in the political process.”
The Alabama College Democrats are the official collegiate branch of the Alabama Democratic Party and a state federation of the College Democrats of America.

 FAIRFIELD, Ala. – Miles College Officials announce the second annual George T. French, Jr. Lyceum Speakers Series. The event will be Monday, February 23, on campus in the Brown Hall Auditorium, at 11 a.m. Dr. Michael Lomax, President and CEO of UNCF is the featured guest speaker for this year’s event. Immediately following the Lyceum speaker presentation there will be a dedication ceremony of the Kirkwood Balton Theater in the George T. French, Jr. Student Activity Center. The Balton Family and other esteemed guests are expected to be in attendance at this historic event.
The French Lyceum Speakers Series, patterned after the W.E.B. DuBois Lectures at Harvard University, serves as a means of student development, by presenting scholars and their body of work for intellectual stimulation, inspiration and encouragement. These lectures recognize persons of outstanding achievement who contribute to our better understanding of African-American life, history and culture. Congresswoman Terri Sewell was the speaker for the 2014 inaugural presentation of this series.
Miles College, located at 5500 Myron Massey Blvd., Fairfield, AL, 35064, is a senior, liberal arts, church related College with roots in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Miles offers 25 Bachelor Degree programs in six academic divisions.