Council approves electronic attendance ordinance, public-safety agreement, housing and education amendments

The Birmingham City Council voted on a package of routine and substantive items at its June meeting, approving an ordinance to permit authorized electronic attendance at council meetings and a set of interlocal, housing and programmatic agreements.

Councilmembers passed an ordinance adding section 2-2-19 to the city code to authorize electronic attendance at council meetings, allowing members who cannot attend in person to participate remotely under Code of Alabama section 36-25A-5.2. Council members moved and voted to adopt the ordinance during the meeting.

Lawmakers also approved an interlocal agreement with the Housing Authority of Birmingham District (HABD) to create a law-enforcement task force on HABD properties. The agreement, set to run for up to two years (through 05/21/2028 unless terminated), provides HABD funding not to exceed $2,368,516.32 to cover personnel, maintenance, fuel and vehicle repairs; the city will assign up to eight officers, one sergeant and one lieutenant to the task force.

A resolution amending an agreement with Greenlining Realty USA Birmingham LLC to support predevelopment work on a 35–40 unit residential project in Druid Hills also passed. The amendment provides $67,245 for predevelopment and extends the agreement term to on or before 09/30/2025; staff said at least 10% of units will be preserved for qualifying residents at or below stated income levels.

Council members approved an ARPA-funded amendment with Small Magic (doing business as Birmingham Talks) to provide early-education programming, extending the term to 12/30/2026 and adding $371,500 in funding toward a not-to-exceed total of $750,000. Small Magic representatives reported the program served just under 1,700 families in 2025 and more than 1,400 so far this year, with a goal of serving 2,000 families and measuring improvements in kindergarten readiness.

Several other consent items, contract change orders and routine resolutions were approved during the meeting. The council also recorded district announcements and heard public comment on jail conditions, a recent in-custody death, recycling questions, and environmental safeguards for data centers. The meeting adjourned without further formal actions scheduled.