Birmingham City Council committee endorses two for Water Works Board seat

Published: Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 6:57 PM ??? Updated: Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 7:49 PM

A Birmingham City Council committee tonight endorsed two people for one vacant slot on the Birmingham Water Works Board.

The Utilities?Committee named Fultondale Mayor Jim Lowery, a current member of the board, and Ann Florie, executive director of Leadership Birmingham as their choices. The full council is expected to vote Tuesday.

While other council members were present, the only members of the committee to vote were Maxine Parker and Steven Hoyt.

Committee chairwoman Carole Smitherman has abstained from the endorsement process or the upcoming council vote because her husband, state Sen. Rodger Smitherman, is a lawyer who works with Charlie Waldrep, whose firm represents the utility.

Eleven candidates are seeking a six-year term on the board currently held by Lowery, whose term expired but continues to serve until a new appointment is made.

Parker and Hoyt could not agree on a single name for a recommendation, with Hoyt favoring Florie and Parker saying she favored either Lowery or Mountain Brook Mayor Terry Oden.

The council is not bound to accept the committee's recommendation.

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Birmingham council panel to re-interview 5 candidates seeking seat on Water Works Board

Published: Monday, November 29, 2010, 5:45 PM ??? Updated: Monday, November 29, 2010, 6:05 PM

A Birmingham City Council committee on Tuesday is expected to recommend a candidate to sit on the Birmingham Water Works Board.

The Utilities Committee this afternoon narrowed down the list of 11 candidates for the Water Works Board to five?and will hold a second round of interviews Tuesday before voting on a recommendation.

Candidates are seeking a six-year term on the board currently held by Fultondale Mayor Jim Lowery whose term is expired. The council's Utilities Committee agreed to re-interview Lowery, Mountain Brook Mayor Terry Oden; Ann Florie, executive director of Leadership Birmingham; VeLinda A.J. Weatherly, a community corrections coordinator for the Alabama Department of Corrections and lawyer Desiree Celeste Alexander.

Water Board members are paid $285 per meeting and decide on major contracts with engineers, lawyers and consultants for the utility. There are five member on the authority.

Tuesday's meeting is at 4 p.m. The committee will forward a recommendation to the full council which could vote as early as next week. However, the council could set aside that recommendation and also nominate candidates directly from the dais, as has been done in the past.

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Birmingham City Council interviews 11 candidates for Water Works Board seat

Published: Monday, November 15, 2010, 11:15 PM ??? Updated: Monday, November 15, 2010, 11:16 PM

Members of a Birmingham City Council committee tonight made no immediate recommendation to fill an open seat on the Birmingham Water Works Board after interviewing all 11 candidates.

The candidates are: Fultondale Mayor Jim Lowery, whose seat has expired; Mountain Brook Mayor Terry Oden; Ann Florie, executive director of Leadership Birmingham; Edwin Revell; David Russell; Herbert Patterson Jr.; Robert Smith; VeLinda A.J. Weatherly; Anje Roney; Anthony A. Johnson and Desiree Celeste Alexander.

The council's utilities committee consists of Carole Smitherman, Steven Hoyt and Maxine Parker. Smitherman has recused herself from the process. Her husband, state Sen. Rodger Smitherman, is a lawyer who works with Charlie Waldrep, whose firm represents the utility.

Water Works Board members are paid $285 per meeting and decide on major contracts with engineers, lawyers and consultants for the state's largest public water utility. A seat on the five-member authority is among the most sought after and debated city appointments.

Seven of the nine council members attended the interviews and several asked questions. Smitherman, the committee chairwoman, attended the meeting but didn't question candidates. Hoyt chaired the meeting.

The committee will meet again to discuss the interviews and vote on a recommendation to send to the council. A date has not been set. The council is not bound to accept the committee's recommendation.

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Hoover City Council: City's youth coaches must take free sports safety course

Published: Monday, November 15, 2010, 8:21 PM ??? Updated: Monday, November 15, 2010, 9:20 PM

The Hoover City Council passed a resolution Monday night requiring anyone coaching in city youth sports leagues to complete a free course designed to educate lay people on the basics of sports safety.

Dr. Larry Lemak, whose orthopedic practice focuses on sports medicine and who spearheaded the creation of PREPARE in 2002, said Hoover is the first city to mandate the course.

"I hope every other municipality and community in Alabama follows Hoover's lead in considering and adopting this free program aimed at protecting their children," Lemak said in a statement.

The course is offered under the National Center for Sports Safety, founded by Lemak, as either a hands-on course or as an on-line tutorial. Lemak, who was at Monday night's council meeting, said PREPARE is free through a partnership with Alabama State University.

Lemak said the course provides lay people with enough knowledge to understand what to do and what not to do in an emergency sports situation until medical assistance arrives. Coaches in youth leagues are volunteers, often parents.

"It's a critical program," Lemak said.

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Vestavia Hills City Council approves budget with 5 percent merit raises

Published: Monday, November 08, 2010, 7:20 PM ??? Updated: Monday, November 08, 2010, 7:22 PM

The Vestavia Hills City Council tonight approved a $29.6 million 2010-11 operating budget which includes a 5 percent merit raise for qualified city employees.

The increase will cost the city about $245,000 annually.

The merit raise was excluded from previous versions of the budget because council members were concerned the city couldn't afford raises in an economic recession that has hurt city revenues.

At a council meeting last month, city firefighters urged the council to find ways to fund merit raises.

About 150 city employees qualify for merit raises, which are given to employees certified by Jefferson County Personnel Board who have not reached the top of their pay grade.

Council members told firefighters in October if the 2010-11 budget included merit raises, the city would have to cut jobs.

Mayor Alberto "Butch" Zaragoza, the city's former fire chief, consulted with department heads about unfilled positions.

Department heads of police, fire and parks and recreation found positions which were unfilled and, in the case of parks and recreation, found positions which were budgeted for more than was actually spent.

"We had been budgeting lifeguards for 40 hours," Zaragoza said. "We did a three-year analysis and found out they were working about 16 hours so we were able to" find some savings there.

Zaragoza sought several times throughout the budget process to fund the merit raises.

"We need to recognize our employees," the mayor said. "They're the backbone of our city. They make everything run."

Council President Mary Lee Rice said she found the mayor's recommendation a "viable proposal."

Ryan Farrell, a firefighter, thanked the council and mayor for funding merit raises.

"This is going to make a difference in Vestavia in the future," he said. "We have good folks here, and I want to keep them here just like you do."

The city budget anticipates about $29.4 million in revenues, which won't be enough to cover projected expenses. The city will transfer about $173,000 from operating reserves to balance the budget.

The budget runs from Sept. 30 through Oct. 1.

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Hoover City Council approves refinancing $56.4 million in debt

Published: Monday, November 01, 2010, 8:16 PM ??? Updated: Monday, November 01, 2010, 8:19 PM

The Hoover City Council on Monday night approved the city's refinancing $56.4 million in debt.

The City Council in September voted to give approval to begin the process to refinance about two-thirds of its existing $84.4 million of debt, some of which dates to 1993. The bonds went to market Oct. 20.

The city, which had its debt rating upgraded from Aa2 to the second-highest rating of Aa1 by Moody's Investors Service, now has an interest rate of 2.74 percent, officials have said. The refinancing saved the city $3.6 million. The city is not adding new debt or extending the term of its debt.

Councilman Gene Smith applauded city leaders and staff for the city's strong financial position with the debt rating upgrade in the current tough economic times and also the quick sale of the bonds in under an hour.

"I think the city of Hoover has weathered the economic issues a lot better than many," Smith said.

The city is expects the official closing on the sale Thursday.

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Birmingham City Council approves financing for the baseball stadium, raises the accommodation fee

Published: Wednesday, October 27, 2010, 7 H 50

The municipal Council of Birmingham Tuesday overwhelmingly approved funding for a downtown baseball stadium moving Mayor William Bell said sets the Foundation for the arena and a new neighborhood, it will be an anchor.

The Council voted 8-1 for an order that triggers a housing of the city of 3.5 percentage points to finance the planned railway Park fee. Roderick Royal Council Chair vote alone against the plan.

Bell is to negotiate with the owners of the Birmingham barons Hoover back to Birmingham. Barons regions Park lease expires in December.

"It gives the city a sense of momentum," Bell says of the project."We have not acted like a large city we are, and it is more than time that we act as a large city." He took the step by step and we now has a very important step, but not the last step. ?

Stan Logan, Associate Director General, barons said Tuesday afternoon that he would set up a follow-up meeting with Bell.

"We've already discussed our interest but wanted to go too far, until funding makes it possible," says Logan. "" ""Now is the time to say, ' is this really work for you, guys? It works for us?"This is a process that we will work on in the coming weeks.?

Increasing taxes, go into effect on January 15, 6.5% of Birmingham accommodation fee and increase tax total accommodation in the town of 17.5%, including State, city and County taxes.

Stage is only built if barons or other suitable tenants agree agreement .the ' facility should take two years to complete, if no agreement is reached on 30 September 2011, the tax increase will be repealed by January 2012, in accordance with the order.

Councillor Steven Hoyt called part of "the new flavor in Birmingham" stage which increases tax the city base to support the services of the city and added amenities. ""Congratulations to the new flavour", he said.

The other members of the Board have expressed similar sentiments.

"I'm looking at Birmingham to become a place of destination rather than to be a location on the map on the way,", said Ms. Lashunda balance.

In voting, Royal said that Bell had not provided sufficient information to apply for the tax increase.Royal said more details on the economic impact and final project costs are incomplètes.Il recently described Bell answers to a list of questions that Royal presented as "gobbledygook."

"We must look at development autour it and if the numbers work," Royal said Tuesday."I'm taste, but I am also the responsibility and accountability."We must vote my conscience, and we did not carefully verify the project, explains my conscience.

A companion baseball Museum highlighting the Negro League Rickwood field players and possibly those of the League of the South is included in the draft stage.

Before the vote, David Silverstein, an entity with the properties of Bayer, spoke in favour of projet.Silverstein, which the company developed at the Summit on 280 u.s. and plans to redevelop downtown Pizitz Building, said that stage adds activity positive.Il downtown has cited the Parc de chemin de Fer et Pizitz project his company examples.

"Park baseball side rail Park not only reinforce this region, but how big an anchor on the side of the UAB" said Silverstein. "I know that these times are difficult, but we are very lucky in the city of Birmingham.?

Royal pointed out later comments Silverstein, saying that while the business community had submitted the draft plans so far involve city foot the entire Bill and take all the risques.Royal said it is misleading to say that only foreigners would pay for project through taxes accommodation, because the total cost of the project, including any incentive is unknown, and total debt remains the responsibility of the city.

A report commissioned by the real estate company, a potential developer stage, shows the installation in a section bounded by 14th Street South and 12th Street South, second avenue South and avenue de Morris.Le site is directly at 14th Street Railway Park.

According to recent estimates, stage would cost $ 39 million to 48 million dollars.Bell stated cost of the land is estimated at 7 million to 10 million dollars.Responsables city, said Monday that the value of the desired Park location is 4 million.

While the city wants to build the Stadium on the site of two blocks of the Park, Bell confirmed that there are other locations, including the former property of Trinity Steel Titusville.

Bell "has the same point of view of downtown, you should in any location over the other side of the highway, and it does not have access under the highway to make this connection between the Park railway and the Trinity site itself," said. ""It is important that we have many properties, because we do not want to identify a location and a place only in terms of property acquisition".

The former Trinity site belongs to the city and Jefferson County economic development authority.

Bell also briefly mentioned master of the city for the district of Parkside, a region which extends South Titusville area redevelopment plan.

Mayor said the city would recruit developers or encourage owners to join a plan that includes multi-purpose residential, retail space and restaurant.Version Parkside city is greater than that described in the private report prepared.

To join the conversation by clicking comment or by email at Bryant at jbryant@bhamnews.com.

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Birmingham City Council to discuss debt for projects

Published: Tuesday, October 26, 2010, 5: 30 P.m.

The city of Birmingham is set to perform more than 106 million in bond transactions, including $ 39.1 million in new debt for capital projects and intend to use a new competitive bidding process.

City Council members were briefed on the details of transactions and that the bond money will pay Monday meeting budget and the finances.La Commission first read transaction is supposed to take place today the meeting of the municipal Council.

39.1 Million dollars in new debt, supported by the Federal Government under the stimulus Act will be used to fund various projects, including parks, recreational facilities and improvements to streets.

The city will also refinance existing debt $ 67.5 million.Finance Director Tom Barnett says that the city could save approximately 3.5 million dollars doing.

The city should pay a maximum of $632,000 in charge for two transactions.2 millions of dollars could be saved if the city use competitive bidding to select agents, handling operations, Barnett said.

The total amount of binding is higher than total 89 million already provided by Mayor William Bell.Au August Town Hall told the city to refinance existing debt $ 50 million, but that figure increased to 67.5 million to the point where the information was submitted to a Committee on Monday.

Barnett said that the tender two advantages.

"We think given that arrived in the County of links, it will contribute to our image and that gave us a better rate," said.

Is the first time employees can recall process involving does not a team named outside bankers who are paid a commission for the transaction.Régime Barnett, the city would only hire firms Balch & Bingham and Yvonne Green-Davis to assist in the process.In this process, the binding transactions are extinguished bid on the open market, rather than on the city by selecting a team selling.

Councillor Steven Hoyt Monday is opposed to the new process proposed by Barnett, because he said limited minority small business.Normally the city selects the liaison team insists to be the representation of minorities, but without this process, there's no guarantee of diversity, Hoyt said.

"I want to full participation in all aspects, we can have," he said. "There is little to no minority in this process participation because the minority businesses have not the ability to issue dollars.La billion is inclusion as much as possible about the purchase and sale.?

Hoyt said that the issue is not a document or patronage, but enabling minority businesses to increase their capacity large transactions.Qui can only be done by partnerships with major companies, says Hoyt.

"I'm someone write a check," said Hoyt. ""I look for people to be able to participate from the start to finish."

Finance Committee has returned the matter to a Committee full meeting to be held on Wednesday.

Councilwoman Carole Smitherman, who wasn't at the meeting on Monday, was the first to oppose .Smitherman tender said his objection arose because the traditional process of bankers to choose those who sell links means understand local needs and capabilities of bargaining and investigation to ensure that those who eventually purchased bonds provided the best deal for the city.

To join the conversation by clicking comment or by email at jbryant@bhamnews.com.

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Alabaster City Council passes prescription smoking

Published: Thursday, October 21 2010, 10 H 40 mise à jour: Thursday October 21, 2010, 10: 42

Restaurants and hotels in Alabaster at the beginning of 2011 to decide if will be allowed to smoke and Mayor David Frings is not happy with the requirement.

City Council voted to adopt first order the city tonight Alabaster regulate the use of tobacco in public places. The new law requires that the owners of restaurants, hotels and motels within the limits of the Alabaster city to declare whether to authorise the use of tobacco.

Several residents support order, even though most of those who said that the Act does not go far enough.Subject speaks as much against the passage of the order, but the opponents have a powerful ally in the Mayor.

"Government intrusion into a private company" said Frings bothers him.He said 42 restaurants of the city, only eight allow fumer.Il said the diners and business owners must be able to choose preferences quit without forcing to Government.

The Ordinance was adopted unanimously .the ' order requires that companies leave town to know their intentions before the 1st Act janvier.La is going on March 1.

While the alabaster is the last town to adopt an order quit Birmingham-Hoover Metro area, the Jefferson County Health Action Partnership grows for "a 100 percent smoke-free county-wide policy that includes sites, bars and restaurants."

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Alabama Council trust fund allows the transfer of 56.1 million to the Fund, less than expected

Published: Friday, October 12, 22 2010 H 40 updated: Friday, October 22, 2010, 12: 40

The Board oversees the Trust Fund in Alabama voted Thursday 56.1 million in transfer of funds from the State General Fund, which is an important source of money for Medicaid, prisons and other services non-éducation trust capital gains.

The amount is 29 percent less than the million $ 78.75 Governor Bob Riley and legislators assumed General Fund could obtain capital gains this exercise, which started on 1 October.

But acting financial state in that Director Bill Newton said that he was not lowered its estimate this year General Fund revenues would be budgeted expenditures of $ 1.57 billion.

Newton noted that General Fund is nearly 40 sources of income, such as taxes, insurance premium taxes and fees of the cigarette. "The objective is to achieve total," he said. "We will evaluate some of the high and low for some individual income sources.It will be low.

Riley said he was not worried about that deficit trigger distribute or budget cuts expenses caused by below-forecast revenue."Of $ 22 million to $ 1.5 billion is something that can be managed," he said.

State Rep Jack Page, D-Gadsden, said he hopes other sources of income could bring more prévision.Il said: "anytime you just short of $ 22 million should have a level of concern".

But Senator Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, said State agencies last year pass all 161.6 million Riley withdrawn from a day of rain to the General Fund, 30 million of this withdrawal account is available this said année.Bedford deferred money balance deficit from capital gains. ""I think that it is essentially a wash," he said.

Total assets of the Trust Fund of Alabama 2.5 billion dollars.Il collects a large part of the pumping of gas from foreign corporations State paid royalties.

Its Thursday Supervisory Board also voted to transfer a total of $ 24 million, $ 8 million each, Forever Wild Land trust fund capital gains holdings trust and two trust fund capital improvement, one for cities and counties.

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