Council adopts ordinance authorizing electronic signatures for city records

BIRMINGHAM — The City Council voted to authorize the use of electronic signatures for official city business on Tuesday, approving an ordinance that directs the information management services department and the city clerk to develop policies for creating, retaining and securing electronic records.

Attorney Roberts and other staff told the council the change implements a 2021 Alabama law that permits municipalities to use electronic records and digital signatures when the governing body grants authorization. Under the ordinance the city may opt to use electronic signatures and the city clerk will have custodial oversight of records. The ordinance was presented as a permanent‑operation item and passed following a brief discussion of safeguards and a recognition that it would modernize recordkeeping.

Council members emphasized the need for clear policies to protect against unauthorized use. "Once you authorize that, then the information management services department will create the guidelines, the policies for use, and storage of those electronic signatures, and that'll be managed by the city clerk," zoning staff explained during the item.

The council recorded the item as passed on the consent floor and thanked staff for the work involved. No implementation timetable beyond departmental policy development was specified at the meeting.