City Council Roundup: 911 system, policing, support for Magic City Classic

The Birmingham City Council, at its regular meeting for Sept. 10, voted to provide money to upgrade the city’s 911 system, approved a plan to make the properties managed by the Birmingham Housing Authority safer and voted to help support the Magic City Classic football game.

The Council voted to amend the general fund budget for Fiscal Year 2020 and appropriate just under $862,000 to improve the quality of the city 911 phone system. The money will pay for 20 new Public Safety Dispatcher I positions and the partial salary of an administrative assistant. The entire cost will be reimbursed by the E-911 District. The system is also receiving a technological upgrade, with a new phone system coming into operation in October, a city official told Council members. 

Members passed an ordinance creating an agreement between the city and the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District to form a law enforcement task force and community safety partnership for an initial period of up to two years at designated Housing Authority properties. The Housing Authority will provide funding to the city not to exceed $1.8 million per calendar year or $450,000 per quarter, and the city will provide up to 14 police officers for at least one shift each week.

Members voted to approve $1.1 million in city funds to provide support to the 78th annual Magic City Classic football game between Alabama State and Alabama A&M to be held at Legion Field in October. The money is to be used “to provide goods and services related” to the game, according to the agenda item. This includes some radio advertising for the game on local stations.

The Council approved a management agreement between the city and the Board of Directors of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. The Board will manage the property for three years for $1 million per year, subject to an appropriation by the city in the corresponding fiscal year budget.

As part of its consent agenda, the Council authorized the mayor to enter into preliminary engineering, right-of-way, utility and construction agreements with ALDOT for streetscape Improvements along Second Avenue South from 24th Street to 32nd Street; on 27th Street South from Second Avenue to Third Avenue; and 29th Street South from Second Avenue to Third Avenue.