During the Birmingham City Council Meeting held Tuesday, November 12, 2013:

The Birmingham City Council approved via consent, a resolution authorizing U.A.B. to operate a courtesy shuttle service for U.A.B. employees and students upon the streets of Birmingham, granting twelve (12) Certificates of Public Necessity and Convenience to First Transit, Inc., 1720 – 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham. For more information, contact the office of Councilor Kimberly Rafferty at 254.2348. 

Other items approved at today’s meeting include:

1. Delayed for one week an Ordinance amending Title 12, Chapter 14 of the General City Code 1980 to add a new chapter to establish regulations for mobile food vehicles and pushcarts in the City of Birmingham. For more information, contact the office of Council Johnathan Austin at 254.2678.

2. Approved an Ordinance authorizing the issuance by the City of Birmingham of a General Obligation Capital Improvement Bond, Series 2013-B in the original principal amount of $2,690,000.00, and authorizing the Mayor and the Director of Finance to execute the Bond and other documents required for its issuance, said Bond being issued to provide funds for capital improvements to be made to the Lyric Theatre located at 1800 Third Avenue North, the McWane Science Center located at 200 19th Street North and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute located at 520 North 16th Street. For more information, contact the office of Councilor Jay Roberson at 254.2498.

3. Placed on consent a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute an Amended and Restated Redevelopment Agreement with Limbaugh Motors, Inc. and BD Toy, LLC, under which the City will (i) transfer certain real property to BD Toy for a use value of $1.00, (ii) provide a grant to Limbaugh Motors in a total amount not to exceed $2,200,000.00, payable in seven annual installments, (iii) provide three annual payments to Limbaugh Motors equal to 25% of new sales tax revenue generated by the operation of the Limbaugh automobile dealership for a period of three successive fiscal years beginning on July 1, 2020, and (iv) provide assistance with rezoning, vacating, and conveying certain other real property, in consideration for Limbaugh Motors and BD Toy retaining and expanding their operations in the City. For more information, contact the office of Councilor Steven Hoyt at 254.2304.

4. Place on consent a Resolution rescheduling the public hearing to consider the revision to the Birmingham, Alabama Enterprise Zone Boundaries from November 12, 2013 to December 10, 2013. 

Announcements and Reminders:

1. The Planning and Zoning Committee is scheduled to meet on today, November 12, 2013, 4:00 p.m., 5th Floor Engineering Room.

2. The Budget and Finance Committee is scheduled to meet on Monday, November 18, 2013, 4:00 p.m., Conference Rooms D & E.

3. The Public Improvement Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, November 19, 2013, 4:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers.

4. Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, November 20, 2013, 12:30 p.m., Conference Rooms D & E.

5. The Joint Public Safety and Technology Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, November 20, 2013, 2:00 p.m., Council Chambers. 
6. Councilor Johnathan Austin seeks to fill a vacancy on the Medical Clinic Board, General. Councilor Johnathan Austin, Chair of the Public Safety Committee, is accepting letters of interest and resumes. Candidates should e-mail the aforementioned information to kamilah.graylewis@birminghamal.gov and courtney.hunter@birminghamal.gov

For more information, call 254.2678. 


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 244. 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 John Long, Senior Public Information Officer, with reasonable advance notice by emailing John.Long@birminghamal.gov, or by calling 205-254-2036.v

MONTGOMERY – Attorney General Luther Strange has announced the arrest of Marshall County Revenue Commissioner Joey Masters on a charge of violating the state ethics law.  Masters subsequently submitted his resignation as Revenue Commissioner.
Masters, 51, of Albertville, was arrested on Nov. 6 by a Special Agent of the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division and taken to the Marshall County Jail, where he was processed for release on bond.
The arrest was made pursuant to a warrant brought by the Special Prosecutions Division of the Attorney General’s Office. The warrant charges Masters with knowing use of his official position to obtain personal gain. This crime is a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 12 months in the county jail and a fine of up to $6,000.
This charge is a result of an investigation by Special Agents of Attorney General Luther Strange’s Special Prosecutions Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Bill Lisenby of the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division.

MONTGOMERY – Residents of Pell City and Oak Grove (Talladega County) will soon see improvements to facilities that accommodate community functions and services for seniors, thanks to Community Development Block Grants awarded by Gov. Robert Bentley.
“Community centers and facilities that serve seniors strengthen the community by giving residents an opportunity to enjoy events and connect with each other,” said Bentley. “I am pleased to help Pell City and Oak Grove officials make upgrades to their facilities in order to better serve their residents.”
Pell City, in St. Clair County, is receiving $250,000 to renovate a facility known locally as “the old armory building” on 19th Street. Since the city was given the building in 1949, it has served as a National Guard armory, a temporary City Hall, a home for the city’s Public Works Department, and most recently, a community center. Roofing problems led the city to spend $300,000 in 2012 to replace the old roof. Then, a flood in June damaged the building’s interior. The grant, along with $100,000 in local funds, will pay for new flooring, windows, energy efficient lighting, heating and air conditioning units and modifications required to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
A $135,171 grant will enable the town of Oak Grove, in Talladega County, to add a 900-square-foot exercise room to the town’s senior center. Currently, a treadmill and one exercise bike located in the main area must be moved to make room for other events or activities. The expansion will provide a permanent location for these items and up to eight additional pieces of exercise equipment. The town is providing $30,000 in matching funds to complete work on the senior center, which serves about 70 residents.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available to the state by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, workforce development, energy conservation, economic development, water resource management and recreation.

Birmingham, AL – The Birmingham Urban League Board of Directors has elected Glyn Agnew, Regional Director, AT&T Alabama, as Board Chairperson for 2013-2014.

Glyn Agnew is the regional director for greater Birmingham and east Alabama AT&T External and Legislative Affairs organization.  In his current position, Glyn works with local business, civic and public officials to promote economic development and investment in their communities.  Additionally, he supports local non-profit organizations in their quest to serve the needs of our communities.  During his 30-year career with AT&T, Glyn has held such positions as Executive Director/Sales Vice-President, Director of Sales Operations, Director of Sales Support and Director of Strategic Initiatives and Performance Management.  He is a graduate of Mississippi State University and resides with his wife, Annette and their daughter Gabrielle in Hoover, Alabama.

Glyn serves on the Board of Girls, Inc. of Central Alabama, Birmingham-Southern College Edward Lee Norton Board of Advisors and the AT&T Pioneers Birmingham Metro Chapter.  He also serves on the Birmingham Business Alliance’s African American Business Council and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Other Board Officers 2013-2014

Arlan Lewis, Vice Chair
Attorney/Partner
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings

Erica Sheffield, Secretary                                                                                             Counsel
Honda Manufacturing of AL, LLC

LeDon Jones, Treasurer
Vice President
National Bank of Commerce

The Board of Directors also elected the following new members to three-year terms:

Milton Davis, Jr., Director, Business Development, B. L. Harbert International

Tammie Bell Sawyer, Assistant Director of Clinical Services, Jefferson County Department of Health

Breast Cancer Celebrates PINK
The  students and Faculty at J.S. Abrams Elementary Collected Change for the Cure On Fridays in October. The students made donations to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama. The students were allowed to wear PINK each Friday.

Fire Prevention Week
The Abrams Elementary School students and faculty participated in Fire Prevention Week. The Bessemer City Fire Department Captain Carlton Jackson arranged for Sparky to come out to the school for a assembly. The students learned ways to be safe at home and school in the case of a fire or emergency. They also took a tour of the Fire engine to see how various tools are used by the firefighters.

Safe Walk To School  DAY at Abrams Elementary School
The J.S. Abrams Elementary School participated in Walking School Bus on October 9. This was a National Day for students to walk to school. Safe Routes to school is initiative to encourage students to be safe. Trained volunteers leaders walk children to school. The students are encouraged to be healthy and walking to school is like recess before school. Students in  K-5 participated in the Safe Walk to School Coloring Contest the winners are: Christina Dotson, Vanessa Duran, Makayla Davis, Marcus Mason, Kaylnn Abbott, and Makeda Beavers. Congratulations to the Abrams Elementary School Mighty Champions.

Grandparents Day at J.S. Abrams Elementary School
We love our Grandparents. The students at Abrams Elementary School invited their grandparents to come out for lunch and a photo. Having a great family support system contributes to students academic success. The mighty Champion staff welcomes grandparents to come and support our mission of developing productive self motivated learners who take pride in accomplishments and contributions to society.

RED Ribbon Week 2013 at Abrams Elementary School
The guidance counselor Melba Johnson-Shanks at Abrams Elementary School had a week of activities for RED Ribbon Week. A drug Free assembly was held and the Bessemer Police Department’s DARE officer Bruister spoke about making good choices. Sergeant Ryans came to share about being Drug free in the community, and did a demonstration of how the Bessemer Police Department uses K-9 dogs to sniff for illegal drugs in the community, or on the streets.
College is cool, Not drugs. On this day students  & faculty wear their favorite college shirts