[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6671557,"mediaKeyId","2157830-314bd78a03ee0bbcd39b8552d885b5d2","parentId",2157830,"title","Council approves consent items: cemetery lot sale, water-board testing contract, relocation payment, appointments and $1.82M HVAC contract","audioSeconds",496,"startMs",2746000,"endMs",3242000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2157830-314bd78a03ee0bbcd39b8552d885b5d2&start=2746&end=3242","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2157830-314bd78a03ee0bbcd39b8552d885b5d2/thumbnail_2746000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6671557/Birmingham-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Council-approves-consent-items-cemetery-lot-sale-water-board-testing-contract-relocation-payment-appointments-and-182M-HVAC-contract","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671557-2b9c1b9660450260f259ac59cdc74dc7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182245&Signature=AAeZkRfAr2MKa~jSUBxs1pZrBmgVDKpI1qQ2CNaCl4oJAV8BF0zsXCaNUV9Zwebn4UF~uv8180AFis72pRwHFfQAtUxWBBmxcdJo0X~2i~YmXYTrtvRueZvq99L9clNRg7m69LFm~6XmHqGFROAh1v-36YxChcs177X5idXzGSNyhLAn~SqvbqjvoybxAog~Y67dPvJ6he6TzmoA5B4O6cqJ1cW9F1OXBIlCjbBjg0PT9oXnN2rbvyaRCMvDzwkbbZSsNWNBn7bYAra4G6IrIoMP8n2Ob3q7dEtoKpP6Fl7LGygg~mZbTge1yMa2zj5y7bkTowZC0569psHC97onzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Birmingham","date","2025-01-28T00:00:00Z","article","The Birmingham City Council approved multiple consent and action items on Tuesday, including the sale of a cemetery lot, a water testing services agreement with the Birmingham Water Works Board, a relocation housing payment, board appointments and a contract to replace the Highland Park pro shop HVAC system.

Votes at a glance

- Oak Hill Cemetery lot sale (Item 9): The council approved the sale of lot 906 spaces 456 to Sam Parker and Claire Parker for $15,000 and authorized the mayor to execute conveyance documents. Stuart Oates, executive director of Oak Hill Cemetery, described the cemetery as a near-capacity site and noted its historical features. Vote: unanimous approval (yes: 9).

- Birmingham Water Works Board testing agreement (Item 10): Under an ordinance pursuant to Act 1969-916, the council authorized the mayor to enter a local cooperation agreement with the Birmingham Water Works Board for water-sampling services (organic, inorganic, wet chemistry and microbiological analysis) on an as-requested basis for up to two years; total city payments will not exceed $89,660. Vote: unanimous approval (yes: 9).

- Relocation housing payment (Item 15): The council authorized the director of finance to pay Caleb Jones $30,400 as a relocation housing payment for a project (TBPBH.1602) at 648 Pratt Highway. Vote: unanimous approval (yes: 9).

- Park and Recreation Board appointments (Item 18): The council appointed Jason Avery, Larry Holman and Ronnie Rice to staggered terms on the Birmingham Park and Recreation Board. Vote: unanimous approval (yes: 9).

- Highland Park pro shop HVAC contract (Item 20): The council accepted the low bid from McAfee Construction Inc. of Tuscaloosa in the amount of $1,817,000 to replace the pro shop HVAC at 33100 Highland Avenue. Council members questioned why only one bid was received and noted the project's complexity; city staff said the procurement complied with Alabama bidding requirements and that specialized capability was likely a factor. Vote: unanimous approval (yes: 9).

Council discussion and context

Councilors asked questions on several items before voting. For the HVAC contract, Councilor Valerie Abbott pressed city staff on why only a single bid was received and whether abatement or electrical work was included; staff said the project scope is complex and that advertising complied with state bid law. For Items 11'13 (discussed during consent consideration), staff clarified that accepting state funds allows the city to execute grant agreements but contracts that obligate funds would return to council for approval.

All listed items passed the council. Where specific background or follow-up was mentioned, staff noted contracts, engineering approvals and permitting would be completed before implementation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Birmingham - Regular City Council Meeting - Jan 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its Jan. 28 meeting the Birmingham City Council approved a slate of consent and action items including the sale of an Oak Hill Cemetery lot, a water testing agreement, a relocation payment, appointments to the parks board, and a nearly $1.82 million HVAC contract for Highland Park pro shop.","taxTitle","Birmingham City, Jefferson County, Alabama","taxId",3652,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6671562,"Birmingham City Schools touted for gains; third-grade reading rises to 81% in first test cycle",741,839000,1580000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2157830-314bd78a03ee0bbcd39b8552d885b5d2&start=839&end=1580","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2157830-314bd78a03ee0bbcd39b8552d885b5d2/thumbnail_839000.jpg","/articles/6671562/Birmingham-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Birmingham-City-Schools-touted-for-gains-third-grade-reading-rises-to-81-in-first-test-cycle","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671562-907dd74d2d4b4c102c97fb9963788f62/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182245&Signature=bpzcOXWD2~Ng1ET~9IHaGOlo1~w4jVGnx0VJfi0lA5OQjOlwRnR9He1gto-d3-wB6BYl2Vdsc9KyHdiPXVcxgMdwwGdy9GeS9lhcxJKxceQ6REH7sFQaCYsFcCdQ3SjJl272cfrCcSmojDRw2ngYeXvpEi4Hte3UJu7MZvMWZnL64Z0D0txnuEBuTTAqZH2x23Dl6q1BcIuHMIDp-tmBgSlGDyDyXtg2VmOOykvpM4zF5MP-CujG69GpBwHzgh~G~V~y5rlGVmUGjVReQxC~Z9ptUw4rgMKvQIiwJiR3KUa4iPTfTc0MzlCAkpAGEZ93yB0TKki~NIMdLwX0iB0QHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Birmingham City Schools and city officials on Tuesday recognized four area schools among the state's 25 most improved and highlighted major gains in third-grade reading after a year of targeted supports and community programs.

Dr. L. Sullivan, superintendent of Birmingham City Schools, told the City Council that third-grade reading on grade level rose from about 53% in 2022-23 to 81% on the first iteration of the 2024-25 test and to 86% in summer testing. Sullivan said the district's overall report-card grade improved from a predominance of D and F ratings to a post-pandemic high of 74, with seven schools currently receiving an F.

The council and Mayor Randall Woodfin recognized Henry J. Oliver Elementary School, Richard Arrington Junior Elementary School, Inglenook Pre-K through 8 School and I3 Academy for making the state's top-25 most-improved list. Principals and school staff accepted commendations at the council meeting.

Dr. Sullivan credited a range of supports for the gains, including community volunteer efforts such as the Page Pals initiative, a $1,000,000 city allocation for school-based mental-health supports, and \"Common Ground\" programming directed at student engagement. \"We have seen the largest year over year increase in enrollment in Birmingham City Schools in over 30 years,\" Sullivan said.

Representatives of the four schools told council members the recognition reflected work by teachers, staff, families and volunteers. I3 Academy's representative said the school serves about 800 students and staff of about 100 and that it ranked second in the state for improvement this year.

Mayor Woodfin and council members emphasized mentoring and early literacy as critical supports. The mayor earlier read a proclamation designating January 2025 as National Mentoring Month in Birmingham and invited Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham to speak about federal funding cuts affecting their operations.

No formal council actions were taken on education issues during the presentation.

The district said work continues on schools still graded F and that officials plan to push for further gains in the coming school year.

Quotes used in this article are drawn from remarks to the City Council during the Jan. 28 meeting.","Superintendent and city officials recognized four local schools on state's \"most improved\" list and highlighted district-wide gains in third-grade reading and enrollment, while leaders urged continued investment in mental health and community mentoring programs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6671566,"City Council approves vacation of 8,011 sq. ft. alley for Hallmark Hyundai project",635,2104000,2739000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2157830-314bd78a03ee0bbcd39b8552d885b5d2&start=2104&end=2739","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2157830-314bd78a03ee0bbcd39b8552d885b5d2/thumbnail_2104000.jpg","/articles/6671566/Birmingham-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/City-Council-approves-vacation-of-8011-sq-ft-alley-for-Hallmark-Hyundai-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671566-10b287d2b167e9185a311f0a042e462e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182245&Signature=FkrofC2ghzhnWqJwR~R4ElBN3vziVPimQhLGw9Y~UCU8tpuIU1KnNAtpYVksYkE1TeWsDTQymPmCOG3ZQXBPK7iHhX5YeAaHHKQAKeKDP4p~~XxkkpUeCvU7LqKkpKXruvYJH0F7xUYPoDWIMqrRELNcW1Beh6dIWKuHB9ezXWoTe9fpJveChJF-w7F5YGja6SSQOVO0XCU1xrgE32IUWuhRwl4UEp3j8LBFwAbVU36M4gyWOr1vH4uEhnoNIRbb3hcWw4IeyBlgMyYooG7ngUmSS1WK3~dXuGBUT7EnOZPaPGI09o74Y9ZDUMM9PrI4m-PffvtJ-upbcIqAucMXEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved a resolution to vacate an 8,011-square-foot portion of public right-of-way between 5th Avenue North and 6th Avenue North, between 14th Street North and 15th Street North, to allow Hallmark ACQ LLC to consolidate property and build a new Hyundai dealership.

Roderick Lowe, subdivision planner for the City of Birmingham, told the council the item is case SUB2024-87 and that one-third of the right-of-way vacation fee was set at $117,796.85. He also noted the Birmingham Planning Commission's subdivision committee did not recommend approval when it considered the case on Nov. 13, 2024, though the Community Development Committee later forwarded it with a favorable recommendation to the full council.

Mike Brown, attorney representing Hallmark, said the alley is bounded by parcels Hallmark already owns and does not connect to other alleys. Brown said Hallmark's plan is to \"construct a new Hyundai dealership\" and that the company has \"an agreement with National Hyundai.\" He described the project as a \"multimillion dollar investment\" and estimated \"approximately $15,000,000 in improvements, fixed assets, and parts and equipment.\" Brown added the project would allow Hallmark to consolidate its sales and service operations downtown.

Donnie Oswald, chief financial officer of Hallmark Automotive, and Brown told the council the current operation employs about 200 to 225 people on the site. Brown said the expanded dealership could increase sales and lead to additional jobs over time.

Council members discussed security and future public-access needs. Councilor Clark said the council has flexibility to reestablish a public right-of-way in the future, including by eminent domain if needed, and welcomed Hallmark's continued presence in the downtown tax base. Councilor Williams said the alley vacation would address an existing security challenge at the property.

After public comment and discussion the council voted to approve the vacation. The council recorded a unanimous vote in favor.

The applicant indicated the project still needs final engineering approvals and coordination with Alabama Power and Jefferson County for construction permits, and engineers will review final plans before work begins. No timeline for construction start was provided during the hearing.","The Birmingham City Council voted to vacate an 8,011-square-foot alley on 5th Avenue North to allow Hallmark ACQ LLC to consolidate property and build a new Hyundai dealership; the move drew questions after a Planning Commission split and the council approved a $117,796.85 vacation fee.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves consent items: cemetery lot sale, water-board testing contract, relocation payment, appointments and $1.82M HVAC contract

Birmingham City Schools touted for gains; third-grade reading rises to 81% in first test cycle

City Council approves vacation of 8,011 sq. ft. alley for Hallmark Hyundai project