[{"_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",6654815,"mediaKeyId","5442744-b68ed61e9a05157936461edaa60a93c1","parentId",5442744,"title","Residents of Collegeville urge council to address pollution, rezoning and seek buyouts; speakers call for community-led revitalization","audioSeconds",598,"startMs",3999000,"endMs",4597000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5442744-b68ed61e9a05157936461edaa60a93c1&start=3999&end=4597","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5442744-b68ed61e9a05157936461edaa60a93c1/thumbnail_3999000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6654815/Birmingham-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Residents-of-Collegeville-urge-council-to-address-pollution-rezoning-and-seek-buyouts-speakers-call-for-community-led-revitalization","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6654815-aa808b25ae3aa2225e25903c332c723f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771117544&Signature=RqiXQEqiz-QxhIAvym1ADVNa1SqRIAqblFaaP01Ar5AEWs93OKoFJbtSwDfxolMQLAQVaQjTyRQnvbK7E3THT-HdJmqT4EiN1JRa3IweO-KGypLk5KN4CCt4DwE7zkZBh6pkOWrs1gKx8a9ugKw8A2Fc6-eNpNqF-gA3r3-cDqYTQUMqxJCmcNsefgxGUCRirZtXp9mLAI5G5ud6ee6BGNkZ-X3oekMK~wQCJwYFx3bfZ6yg30JCk-a0YCc21kzfyMdj0fADUHGMxf4J0gl7MOEnKi00xnsh6XchVRGbGrvkrAbFwSbCivq~GUJZ6LEe0J0K6tjMYMf9DWphMIxIDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Birmingham","date","2025-07-22T00:00:00Z","article","Residents and community leaders used the public-comment period at the July 22 Birmingham City Council meeting to press elected officials for action on pollution, rezoning to light industrial uses and lack of investment in Collegeville and nearby neighborhoods.

Jerica Miles Mabry said she represents Collegeville residents and described her neighborhood as a \"superfund area scarred by pollution from coke and steel companies.\" She said residents have suffered health impacts and alleged the city rezoned parts of Collegeville, Herriman Park and Fairmont to light industrial \"without transparency, without notice, and against our will.\" \"We are not invisible. We are not expendable,\" Mabry said, urging the council to \"restore Collegeville, remove polluting businesses, invest in our recovery\" and to include residents in a community-driven revitalization plan.

Tyler Powell, who identified himself as a Fairmont resident, said contamination and a closed plant have left large swaths of land polluted and urged the council to pursue buyouts or relocation for affected residents. Powell said he has repeatedly asked the city for meetings and documentation and said residents received insufficient compensation from prior programs.

Reverend Dr. Wayne T. Harris Jr., who identified himself as pastor of Tabernacle Fellowship of Birmingham and communications lead for Black Lives Matter, said residents perceive the pattern as \"intentional neglect\" and described the situation as environmental racism and redlining. \"Collegeville deserves better,\" Harris said, and added that resident-led groups and community organizations will continue to press elected officials.

Speakers cited several specific concerns: alleged reclassification and rezoning to light industrial; family health impacts from pollution; a perceived lack of ARPA investment for the nearly 3,000 residents referenced by a speaker; and requests for transparent, resident-led planning. Council members did not take formal action during the public-comment period; the speakers asked for meetings, follow-up and visible commitments from the mayor's office and the council.

No council response in the transcript recorded a specific new committee assignment or funding action during the meeting; several council members acknowledged the comments and the meeting record shows community leaders committed to continuing their advocacy.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Birmingham - Regular City Council Meeting - Jul 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Several speakers during public comment described long-term pollution and rezoning they say harms Collegeville, called for community-driven revitalization and asked for transparency and buyout options for heavily impacted residents.","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},6654819,"Council tables limousine/party-bus operating permit; delays item two weeks after neighborhood questions",1312,2025000,3337000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5442744-b68ed61e9a05157936461edaa60a93c1&start=2025&end=3337","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5442744-b68ed61e9a05157936461edaa60a93c1/thumbnail_2025000.jpg","/articles/6654819/Birmingham-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Council-tables-limousineparty-bus-operating-permit-delays-item-two-weeks-after-neighborhood-questions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6654819-988ead4ff3a5422f23feee9f72521925/orig.mp4?Expires=1771117544&Signature=DpQYYJhbMY6BT~H9bbqDLcuvUdWq-cC0h8XERaW~0xRxLA1dqzEM6rNbY5esZijKexvD3cZ-0PZ~-WfntCp1ZrhjEtXwWvS1VGhvXUXYt1lSttvWyKttawQ8J0hHJUPSKR7F6wWWeUKAPigF0eOs~5LxE90Ke~rzvukvCbqfcoAAnrG2YbE9U0qAVvssEDzzWhruPxkDnMkI4QzB846mMZa-Bt5pBTCjg-oGDOQ-N46O7uOOJhQP4TwPSf4U5TKtY8ZGgnfe4OWF1sH3JKseJlyqio~~TJdcf1Rgl5Pe0InzOTPkJU-XmtenjUrbQS0PurOPcPxZytfVf9P8JzcYNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A proposal to grant operating authority and a certificate of public necessity and convenience to Pull Up B Ham LLC to operate a limousine/party-bus service in Birmingham was tabled at the City Council meeting on July 22, then taken up again and delayed for two weeks.

The permit application described prearranged transport service using a party bus (a 15-passenger cutaway-style vehicle). During discussion, Councilor Smitherman said neighborhood residents raised questions about whether vehicles would be parked or stored at the business’s listed address in the West End and asked for clarification on what the permit authorizes. \"What does this involve at the fiscal address? Is this the LLC owner's fiscal address? Will there be limousines parked or stored on Eighteenth Place?\" Smitherman asked.

Staff said the business owner had appeared before the Transportation Infrastructure Committee and described the operation as a single 15-passenger party bus used for private events. Staff did not have definitive answers about vehicle storage at the listed address. Councilor Abbott asked why a residential address was listed for a business that will store a vehicle; an attorney (Attorney Bernard) was asked to follow up.

Council members motioned to table the item to allow follow-up; the motion to table was approved by voice vote. Later in the meeting the council took the item back up and then voted to delay it for two weeks to allow additional information to be provided to the council.

No final permit was granted at the July 22 meeting.","The council tabled and later delayed for two weeks a resolution to grant an operating authority permit to Pull Up B Ham LLC amid neighborhood questions about vehicle storage at a residential address.",{"_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},6654827,"Council approves nearly $13 million in citywide resurfacing contracts; members press for striping, curbs and ADA follow-up",1084,2230000,3314000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5442744-b68ed61e9a05157936461edaa60a93c1&start=2230&end=3314","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5442744-b68ed61e9a05157936461edaa60a93c1/thumbnail_2230000.jpg","/articles/6654827/Birmingham-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Council-approves-nearly-13-million-in-citywide-resurfacing-contracts-members-press-for-striping-curbs-and-ADA-follow-up","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6654827-42b01720fa9c3d90e2e988e9412a0583/orig.mp4?Expires=1771117544&Signature=MwFdQ2l0kMaPcUMQNoxT73CGRxWf0pf0UZozCl0I4UClzMFDmarviEfbppm41tf9yjnmc4SjwdxQhOueZCuVqQxl0SurEmCL2Yze89mJmyYNUnzClII5PvMO7BuiGXiBw4W5mN~ckYQTnpSQbh9gc~845AEN8XmKuiNhLcZlVIKz1cg7lUz5Q7lgl1sJ9xkR0j6gVhDa8ogAXMQ7a4Q5B9vAlKofcRo0-pkYGvg5Go2egkbPCIREOzHjO~0BsgTjlzuygTK09yhW2LqQXzqNxLgdqdWjlf6e6LMgbW6j-vgTwFnEV8iQtBSfLXplcm6pIBdXP~F7BuxELJKBwvJrxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Birmingham City Council on July 22 approved three resolutions awarding citywide street resurfacing contracts to Dunn Construction Company Inc., with combined awards totaling $12,729,672.45.

The agreements are: $4,007,663 for ENG 02/2025 (contract 1); $4,461,496.60 for ENG 2025-14 (contract 2); and $4,260,512.85 for ENG 2015-15 (contract 3). The resolutions state each award is the \"lowest responsible and responsive\" bid and authorize the mayor to execute the contracts subject to available appropriation.

Councilors pressed administration staff after the approvals about whether the contracts require timely pavement markings, milling that preserves curbs and follow-up inspections. Councilor Abbott said the lack of striping is a public-safety problem and asked whether contracts include obligations to apply stop bars, crosswalks and parking striping promptly. \"This is a public safety issue,\" Abbott said. \"People are not stopping at stop signs anymore because there's no street markings to remind them that there's a stop sign there.\"

Denise Bell, director of capital projects, told the council the contracts include specifications for striping and that the city now expects temporary striping and stop bars within 21 days of paving and permanent striping within 42 days. Bell said the city has also contracted outside construction inspection services to augment the city's inspection capacity. \"It is 21 days after pavement that we expect for the stop bars, etcetera, to all striping temporary striping to be in place. And then another 21 days, so in 42 days, you're supposed to see permanent,\" Bell said.

Councilors also raised concerns that recent repaving had left pavement level with curbs and blocked gutters, potentially increasing stormwater impacts. Pro Tem Alexander and Council President Daryl O'Quinn asked whether the contract specifications and inspection process ensure milling and grading protect existing curbs and drainage features. Bell said crews attempt corrective work when resurfacing reveals prior deficiencies and that the outsourced inspectors and the capital projects team will focus on those issues.

Council members discussed budget context during the debate. A city official noted prior budget authorization of about $15 million for paving in the fiscal year and that other segments and county collaborations will use portions of that allocation; a portion of funds also is reserved for emergency repairs.

All three resolutions passed by voice vote. The council took public questions and requested additional written details from capital projects and the Department of Transportation on—among other items—inspection timing, curb milling specifications and a list of streets covered by each contract.

Council members said they will follow up with staff for a more detailed written response and photo documentation for problem streets cited during the meeting.

The awards complete the council's scheduled business for the July 22 meeting.","The Birmingham City Council voted to award three lump-sum resurfacing contracts to Dunn Construction Company totaling about $12.7 million and discussed timing for striping, curb preservation and ADA access during post-award questions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents of Collegeville urge council to address pollution, rezoning and seek buyouts; speakers call for community-led revitalization

Council tables limousine/party-bus operating permit; delays item two weeks after neighborhood questions

Council approves nearly $13 million in citywide resurfacing contracts; members press for striping, curbs and ADA follow-up