Homewood City Council approves appointments, resolutions and easement; holds first reading on $20 permit fee

The Homewood City Council on May 18 approved a series of routine actions, scheduled multiple public hearings and held the first reading of an ordinance to add a $20 fee to certain residential building permits.

Mayor Jennifer Andress and the five-member council unanimously approved the appointment of Kyle Bass to the Ward 2 Arts Council after a motion by Councilor Sims and a second by Councilor Lane.

Council also voted 5-0 to adopt a resolution supporting Jefferson CountySS4A FY26 grant application for sidewalks and connectors (the Oxmore connectors), a measure brought forward by city engineer Amy Zary and recorded as resolution 2654.

Vouchers covering city expenditures from May 12 through May 18 were approved unanimously and recorded as resolution 2655.

The council approved an easement agreement with property owners McConnell White and Terry Realy to allow irrigation and landscaping related to the US-31 pedestrian tunnel project; the motion carried 5-0 and is recorded as resolution 2656.

On licensing, the council approved a restaurant retail liquor license for Little Donkey at 2701 18th Street South, conditioned on receipt of a letter of approval or no objection from the fire department; Councilor Sims moved the motion and Councilor Simmons seconded.

On ordinances, the council held a first reading of an ordinance (item 070526) that would impose an additional $20 fee on each principal building permit issued for new detached single-family dwellings in Homewood to fund the Alabama Construction Trade Academy. The ordinance text includes annual reporting and audited financial statements from the fund administrator and automatic and council-termination provisions; the council carried the item to the June 8 meeting for a roll-call vote.

Several agenda items were set for future public hearings: rezoning of 2773 and 2777 B.M. Montgomery Street (public hearing set for June 8 at 6 p.m.) and a request to vacate an unnamed alley adjacent to 200 Virginia Drive (public hearing set for June 22 at 6 p.m.).

An earlier new-business item (010526) seeking approval for a limited private residential fence encroachment adjacent to 10 Pomona Avenue failed for lack of a second and therefore received no council action.

The meeting concluded with routine council announcements and adjournment.

Actions recorded at the meeting included the appointment of Kyle Bass (Ward 2 Arts Council), passage of resolutions 2654 (SS4A support), 2655 (vouchers) and 2656 (easement), conditional approval of an ABC license for Little Donkey, and a first reading of the $20 permit-fee ordinance that will return for a roll-call vote on June 8.