During the Birmingham City Council Meeting on April 22, 2014 Council:

Approved a revocation of the business license(s) issued to Tramon Cook, d.b.a. Stop Entertainment, 2822 Avenue I, Birmingham, AL 35218. In conjunction with the revocation of the business license(s) issued to Castro’s Promotion, Inc. d.b.a. Continental Ballroom and/or Club Continental, 89 Robert Jemison Rd. For more information please contact the Office of Councilor Steven Hoyt at 205.254.2304.

Other items approved by the Council at today’s meeting include the following:

1. Approved a resolution amending Resolution No. 734-14, adopted by the Council April 15, 2014 which changed the date of the public show cause hearing to consider revoking the business license(s) issued to Jerome Cunningham, d.b.a. Foxx Trap, 400 2nd Avenue N, Birmingham, AL 35204, and to consider rescinding Resolution 355-04 for a Class I On-Premise Lounge Liquor License, approved on November 23, 2004; and Resolution No. 3555-04, for a Division I Dance Permit approved on November 23, 2004; and Resolution No. 863-10, for a Division II Dance Permit, approved on June 22, 2010 from April 22, 2014 to May 6, 2014, to correct a clerical error in the notice. For more information please contact the Office of Councilor Steven Hoyt at 205.254.2304.

2. Delayed a Resolution authorizing the incorporation of the Birmingham Land Bank Authority under Chapter 9 of Title 24 of the Code of Alabama (1975). For more information please contact the Office of Councilor Sheila Tyson at 205.254.2359.

3. Approved a resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a Facility Use and Event Sponsorship Agreement with Alabama Environmental Council, under which the City will provide funding to AEC in an amount not to exceed $6,000.00, facilities and in kind services in support of the Household Hazardous Waste public drop-off and collection event, scheduled for April 26, 2014 in McLendon Park. For more information please contact the Office of the Mayor at 205-254.2771.

4. Approved a resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham under which the City will provide up to $582,600.00 in CDBG Disaster Recovery funds for the planning, management, and implementation of programs and projects in response to the April 27, 2011 storms. For more information please contact the Office of Community Development 205.254.2483.

5. A Resolution determining that a series of budget hearings, entitled “Council Connecting Community Citizens” to hear from the citizens firsthand their concerns and needs/desires at various venues within the 
north, south, east and west quadrants in the City throughout the month of May with proper notice being adequately published, serves a public purpose that promotes goodwill and requesting that City of Birmingham funds be administered to pay for this event in accordance with Section 3-1-7 of the General Code of the City of Birmingham. For more information please contact the Office of Council President Johnathan Austin at 205.254.2679.

6. Approved a Resolution approving the appointment of Xtreme Fitness, LLC, Birmingham, in an amount not to exceed $9,950.00, to promote healthy lifestyles through fitness in conjunction with the City’s Let’s Move Initiative and authorizing the Mayor to execute the appointment letter on behalf of the City. For more information please contact the Office of the Mayor at 205.254.2771.

Announcements

1. The Committee of the Whole Meeting will be held on Wednesday April 23rd at 4:00 p.m. in Conference Rooms D&E.

2. The Administration/ Education Committee Meeting on April 25, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. is CANCELLED.

3. Councilor Marcus Lundy Jr. will host an Emergency Preparedness Workshop on Saturday April 26th from 8:30 a.m to 10:00 a.m. at the Pratt City Library.

4. The Budget and Finance Committee Meeting will be held Monday April 28, 2014 in Conference Rooms D&E.

5. Immediately following Council Meeting on April 29, 2014 there will be a Work Session to discuss the City Code in Conference Rooms “D&E”

6. Councilor Steven Hoyt will host a District 8 Town Hall Meeting on April 29, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. at the Birmingham Crossplex, 2331 Bessemer Road, Birmingham, AL 35208. For more information please contact the Office of Councilor Steven Hoyt 205.254.2304.

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.

MONTGOMERY – On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, pouring five million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Eleven men lost their lives that day, and thousands of Gulf Coast residents lost their livelihoods in the months that followed.
Four years later, the spill’s effects persist. Oil still lies off the Alabama coastline. The State has yet to be compensated for its losses, just as thousands of Alabamians have yet to be compensated for their own losses. Many of our people settled with BP in 2012, only to watch BP back away from the deal. Sadly, BP’s commitment to the Gulf still lies primarily in television ads, not in reality.
When I took office in January 2011, I made it my top priority to hold BP and its fellow defendants fully accountable under the law. As Coordinating Counsel for the Gulf States, I worked with a team of attorneys to prove to a federal judge in New Orleans that the gross negligence of BP, Transocean, and Halliburton caused the Spill. I expect a ruling from that first trial soon. The next trial, set for January 2015, will determine how much money BP owes the federal government in civil penalties, a portion of which Alabama will receive through the RESTORE Act. Shortly thereafter, Alabama will be the first state to try its economic damages case in court, hopefully before a jury in Montgomery.
I have not forgotten the 2010 spill, and I will not forget my commitment to keep the pressure on all of those responsible for this spill. Millions of Alabamians expect and deserve nothing less.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – After serving 23 years in the financial industry, Lewis Burks joins Smith Scholarship Foundation as its chief financial officer. Burks is bringing with him a mission to create ways for students to connect with professionals who can guide them along their professional journey.
“Over the span of my 23-year experience in the financial industry I’ve seen first hand the impact making the right relationships can have on a person’s life. I now view it as my responsibility to provide our scholars with those same opportunities,” says Burks. Burks has worked in leadership roles at Regions Financial Corporation, First Commercial Bank and for companies that specialize in corporate real estate. His professional experiences brings him full circle – positioning him to now give back to students, just as others did for him when he was a college student.
In doing so, Burks plans to assemble a diverse coalition of internship opportunities that can provide some Smith’s scholars with unpaid internships along with professional exposure while providing more senior scholars with paid internships and potential career opportunities. “According to a 2009 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 35 percent of employers’ full-time, entry-level college hires came from their internship programs. We want to assist in equipping our scholars with the best opportunity for success and leadership,” says Burks.
Burks believes summer employment is very helpful financially to young college students, and thinks students can unlock more benefits by interning in their chosen field of study. He plans to facilitate professional relationships with students through targeted internships aimed at building lasting relationships with decision makers.
“Smith Scholarship Foundation, the largest private scholarship foundation in Alabama, provides access to college to students who show an ability to overcome adversity and hardship. “Our scholars are resilient. And, resiliency is the one characteristic needed to flourish in a tough world, and in demanding business environments,” says Burks.
“Lewis is a perfect fit for our organization. He has the experience needed to be an effective chief financial officer. He also has the heart needed to change the lives of our scholars,” says Ahrian Dudley, executive director, Smith Scholarship Foundation.

 “Have you ever felt that young people of today have no understanding of the struggles of the past and Civil Rights Movement?”  If so, join the Parker Community School Advisory Council on Saturday, April 26, 3 p.m. at Parker High School’s Auditorium as youth proudly present a soul stirring tribute to honor and pay homage to children of the 1963 Civil Rights Movement called Living Legends Untold Stories of Foot Soldiers – The Soul of The Movement.
COST: FREE

 
Need more information? Contact Parker Community School at(205) 231-2371.

TUSKEGEE, Ala. – Just as companion animals need preventive care, the large animal clinicians at Tuskegee University also recognize that so do large animals such as horses. The Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine (TUSVM) wants the public to realize that horses also need preventive care to keep them healthy, especially during the spring and summer months because the upcoming hot, humid months can cause some serious problems for horses. In an effort to help prevent horse-related springtime illnesses, TUSVM is hosting its 26th Annual Horse Health Fair on Sat., April 26 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the School’s Large Animal Hospital.
The following free services will be offered to all horse owners during the Horse Health Fair:  physical examinations, fecal parasite examinations, and nutrition counseling. For a minimal fee, clients can also receive other services for their horses to include deworming treatment, Coggins test for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), and preventative vaccines like Influenza, Rabies, Eastern and Western Encephalomyelitis, Tetanus, Rhinopneumonitis, and West Nile. A farrier will also be on site.
E. Bridges, assistant professor and clinical sciences large animal clinician, is serving as the chairperson and faculty advisor for the horse health fair. TUSVM is encouraging everyone in the local community and adjacent communities to participate and help ensure the health and well-being of their horses so that they will be ready for springtime and the coming hot, humid summer months.
Appointments are not necessary for the horse health fair. For more information, contact TUSVM’s Large Animal Hospital at 334-727-8436, 8461. To learn more about the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health, visit www.onemedicine.tuskegee.edu.

Annual school program event gears up for award ceremony

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Learning the Wonderful Works of Water school program initiated by the Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB) recently held a judging for the 84 submissions in its 2014 “Water for Life!” Poster Contest. Winners will be announced during the award ceremony, which will be held at the Birmingham Crossplex Friday, April 25th just before the BWWB’s celebration of National Drinking Water Week, which spotlights the essentials of water May 4 – 10. Usually the award ceremony is held in conjunction with NDWW, however due to testing students will be able to celebrate a little earlier.
Numerous 5th grade students in the BWWB’s service area displayed the “Water for Life” theme through colorful pieces of artwork. Elementary schools such as Erwin Intermediate, Phillips Academy, Oxmoor Valley, Concord, Brookeville, Chalkville, and more participated in the event.
Students were told to display the essentials of water in health and the human body. They were also encouraged to use various materials in efforts of creating a 3D effect. Judging was based on categories like use of theme in design, creativity, factual information, display of 3D elements, originality of artwork, and more. Judges for the contest were Space One Eleven’s Art Education Coordinator Tara Lee, the Birmingham Museum of Art’s Artist in Residence Toby Richards, BWWB Assistant General Manager Sonny Jones, BWWB Business Analyst Victoria Damsgard, and the Birmingham Times’ Advertising Manager James Lewis. The varying levels of creativity challenged each judge to heavily consider their decisions in selecting the finalists for the competition.
Annually, Binnie Myles visits schools participating in the program to inform students of the Learning the Wonderful Works of Water’s curriculum guide, which educates 5th-grade students over water and its various processes. Students are able to download the 10-chapter guide via the BWWB’s website. The school-based Learning the Wonderful Works of Water program targets science classes and involves educational and fun activities, which include water-related science
experiments, the history of the BWWB, and field trip opportunities for students to learn more about the processes of water treatment.
The Birmingham Water Works serves 600,000 people in Jefferson, Shelby, Blount, St. Clair and Walker counties. For more information about your Birmingham Water Works Board, please call us at (205) 244-4000 or visit our Web site at www.bwwb.org.

Over 200 high school students expected

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Hundreds of students from Birmingham city schools will unite at Barber Motorsports Park for the fourth annual, Alabama Power: Automobiles for a Cleaner Tomorrow education event to be hosted at the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama.
The event on Thursday, April 24th will bring together over 200 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders from seven Birmingham schools who are interested in math, science and engineering. Guests will include experts from Alabama Power’s Electric Transportation group and the Verizon IndyCar Series. Students will have the opportunity to learn how math and science connects to careers related to automobiles and the automotive industry. They will also enjoy a close-up look at an emission-free, all-electric sports car and a high-performance IndyCar.
Graham Rahal, driver of the #15 National Guard Dallara, will be the special guest at Thursday’s event. Rahal, son of 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, is the youngest winner in major open-wheel racing history. Rahal will be competing Sunday in the Verizon IndyCar Series race of the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama event weekend April 25-27.
“Our relationship with Alabama Power is one that we greatly value,” stated Rick Humphrey, vice president of ZOOM Motorsports, the exclusive event promoter of Barber Motorsports Park. “Their dedication to investing in the lives of children through the Alabama Power: Automobiles for a Cleaner Tomorrow education event is remarkable, and I cannot thank them enough for their continued support and partnership.”
Alabama Power: Automobiles for a Cleaner Tomorrow will also focus on the growing interest and industry related to “greener” vehicles that produce fewer emissions and reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil. Alabama Power continues to be a leader in promoting greener electric transportation and is working to educate customers about the expanding options related to plug-in electric vehicles.
Alabama Power: Automobiles for a Cleaner Tomorrow will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 24th, in the hospitality tent adjacent to Lot E at Barber Motorsports Park.

For more information on the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama and to buy tickets, please visit www.barbermotorsports.com<http://www.barbermotorsports.com>.
To learn more about Alabama Power’s efforts related to electric transportation, visit www.alabamapower.com<http://www.alabamapower.com>. Click on “Environment” and then “What We’re Learning.”

Communities begin applying for Alabama Power Foundation’s Gateway grants

Starting now, cities, towns and communities can apply for a grant through Alabama Power’s Gateway Program. This initiative, as part of the Alabama Power Foundation, will supply up to $2,000 toward the purchase of materials for community signs.
“Thirty-seven communities have been enhanced by community signs since the Gateway program launched in 2012,” said foundation President John Hudson. “Our investment has exceeded $70,000 in this program, and will continue to grow as we partner in helping brand communities across our state.”
Grant applicants should remember that suitable locations must be highly visible and a logical entry to the community. Here are some other guidelines for applying for a Gateway grant:

•       The funding must be used for signage only and cannot be used
for landscape materials or design services.
•       Photos of the site and a drawing or representation of the proposed
sign are required.
•       If the cost of the project exceeds $2,000, the applicant will be
asked to provide sources of other funding to ensure the project is a
success.
•       Applicants may apply to have a sign refurbished.

The Alabama Power Foundation awards more than 1,000 grants annually with non-ratepayer money and has assets of more than $140 million, making it one of the largest corporate foundations in the state. The foundation has given more than $135 million through more than 20,000 grants and scholarships. To learn more about the foundation and how to apply for a grant, visit www.powerofgood.com

Chance Partners’ mixed-use development provides downtown Tuscaloosa with first riverfront community

TUSCALOOSA  – Come this fall, the site of an old Chevrolet lot along the banks of the Black Warrior River will reopen as a vibrant, mixed-use community in downtown Tuscaloosa – providing residents and visitors with pedestrian-friendly access to new living, dining and shopping options.
Construction on the $42 million Riverfront Village project is well underway and slated for completion in August, just in time for the fall return of University of Alabama’s student population. Spearheaded by Chance Partners, an Atlanta-based real estate firm that specializes in urban development, the community adds to an evolving entertainment district being erected along the riverfront.
“Riverfront Village will provide a unique place where neighbors can live, work and play – all without having to get in a car,” said Judd Bobilin, CEO & President of Chance Partners. “We are dedicated to leading the way in walkable urban infill design and this community is the latest example. Downtown Tuscaloosa is undergoing a significant revitalization and we are thrilled to be a part of that progress.”
Located adjacent to the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater – and approximately one mile from the university – the 7.5-acre development along Greensboro Avenue encompasses five different buildings, combining 195 luxury apartments, townhomes and more than 30,000-square-feet of commercial space. The dynamic multiuse project features an array of unique amenities including a resort-style pool, exclusive health club and yoga studio, covered parking and a three-story club house and “SkyClub” – complete with an indoor lounge and outdoor patio overlooking the river. In addition, residents will benefit from access to on-site Crimson Ride and Tuscaloosa Trolley shuttle stops, as well as the city’s first bike share program.
Leasing has already begun and developers are fielding interest from potential residents and commercial tenants alike. With the help of Retail Specialists, Inc., Chance Partners is currently in negotiation with several different businesses, but Bobilin anticipates the future Shops at Riverfront Village will soon provide a high-end mix of restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores, boutiques and salons.
Also responsible for the Townhomes at Metal Works, Boulevard Lofts and Green Bear Lofts – three luxury apartment communities in Tuscaloosa – Chance Partners has developed mixed-use properties in college towns across the South, including Athens and Savannah, Ga., Oxford, Miss., and Tallahassee, Fla. To create Riverfront Village, Chance Partners teamed up with prominent architectural firm The Preston Partnership – nationally known for designs including Atlanta-based Spire Midtown and Emory Point – and J.M. Wilkerson Construction, the contractor behind Atlanta’s notable The Aramore and 92 West Paces developments.

For more information on leasing a residence or commercial space, visit www.riverfrontvillage.com  or check the development’s Facebook, Twitter or Instagram pages.  You can also call 205.727.8400 or stop by the leasing office at 2107 University Blvd. in Tuscaloosa.

by Jessica Jones

Mitchell Cardell Baldwin Jr., a senior at Ramsay High School, signed a Commitment Letter with the the U.S. Navy Basketball team on April 16, National Signing Day.
Baldwin will depart Ramsay with an outstanding academic record and a long list of accolades including a 3.5 GPA in his advanced placement courses. Baldwin is also a member of the Business Honor Society and the National Honor Society.
His high school basketball accomplishments include placing as runner-up in the State High School finals 5A Championship, and being selected as Player of the Week as a member of the Alabama High School Association Final 48 All-Tournament Team.
During the signing, Baldwin’s mother expressed her gratitude to the school for their support of her son’s success.
“I really appreciate all of your support, your encouragement,” Mrs. Baldwin said. “This is just the starting point [for Mitchell.]”
Baldwin also thanked the people who encouraged him on his journey through high school.
“I’d like to thank my immediate family and my distant family as well,” Baldwin said. “I’d like to thank my teammates; all my teammates at Ramsay just extended their arms and welcomed me in as a brother and [thank you to] all my teachers who played a part in the process. I’m ready to get rolling and you all know where I’m going.

Auctioning off trip to Rome, gifts as fundraiser to help transform students’ lives at Holy Family Cristo Rey

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Elijah Brown is well on his way to achieving his dream of becoming a biological scientist, thanks to a 4.0 GPA at Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School that enabled him to get over $360,000 in scholarship offers to 17 colleges, including his top choice, Samford University.
Fellow senior Khayla Jones, who has over $220,000 in scholarship offers to 15 colleges, will begin her college journey this fall as she strives to become a physical therapist. Jones and Brown both credit the positive academic environment at Holy Family Cristo Rey for creating an opportunity for success.
“Before I came to this school, I knew what I wanted to do as an adult, but didn’t see a path that would get me there,” Brown said. “Now I’m on my way.”
Jones  and Brown are just two examples of lives the public can help transform by participating in the 2nd Annual Rey of Hope Dinner & Auction on Thursday, May 1, 2014 at The Club, 1 Robert S. Smith Dr. in Birmingham.
Proceeds from the event will benefit Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Live auction items include a Costa Rica vacation, a trip to Rome that includes a stay in a private apartment at the Vatican, an SEC Football Championship Ticket Package, and a private in-home dinner prepared by Chef Chris Vizzina.
Silent auction items include Walt Disney World park-hopper passes, a weekend getaway for two at the Westin Hotel, three laps at the raceway in Talladega through the Dale Jarrett Racing Experience, and two tickets to the July 8 opening night of “The Little Mermaid” at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta.
Through the Rey of Hope Dinner & Auction, individuals and companies can help make a positive difference in the lives of some of metro Birmingham’s underserved students, said David Hodges, director of development at Holy Family Cristo Rey.
“By supporting Rey of Hope, you can help support our mission to transform lives of urban students in Birmingham and surrounding communities,” Hodges said.
The school is among 26 high schools across the country affiliated with the Cristo Rey Network that requires students to participate in a unique work-study program. Students at Holy Family Cristo Rey currently work in more than 90 businesses across metro Birmingham one day a week, earning money which offsets their tuition. Every member of the senior class will graduate on May 24 and has been accepted to college.
To become a sponsor, buy tickets or donate auction items for Rey of Hope, call Holy Family Cristo Rey Development Officer Denise Michard at (205) 263-0137 or email her at dmichard@hfcristorey.org. For more information on Holy Family Cristo Rey, go to www.hfcristorey.org. You can also follow the school on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.