City Council roundup: money approved for PAT, BBA, Dannon Project and others

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One week ago, the Birmingham City Council passed a new operating budget for Fiscal Year 2019.

At $436 million, the new budget was passed on time — that is, before the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1 — for the first time since 2014.

There was nothing nearly as momentous on the council's agenda at its regular meeting for Tuesday, June 26, but members took care of about 80 items.

The following items were passed as part of the council’s consent agenda:

The council approved a $150,000, one-year contract between the city and Police Athletic Teams under which PAT will provide opportunities for boys and girls in the city to play sports, including tennis, softball, basketball and junior golf. The purpose, according to the text of the resolution, is to foster “mutual appreciation and understanding between law enforcement personnel and the youth of Birmingham.”

Members approved an agreement with the Birmingham Business Alliance under which the BBA will receive about $138,000 to assist the city in providing job training and development and to help support job and business growth.

The council amended the city’s fiscal year 2018 grants fund budget, which ends June 30, to appropriate $200,000 to Sloss Furnaces. This includes a $100,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts announced in 2017, as well as $50,000 in cash from the city and $50,000 in in-kind services from the city.

The council voted to amend the FY2018 general fund budget and use $50,000 already appropriated for the Fire Department to buy furniture for the new Fire Station #8 in the Kingston neighborhood.

A new downtown market and two new restaurants had their liquor licenses approved.

Vaziri & Sons LLC received an off-premise beer and wine license to be used at Vineyard Food Market, set to open soon at the Thomas Jefferson Tower at 1623 2nd Ave. N. This will be the second location of the market, which also operates in Crestwood.

Cayo Coco LLC received a restaurant retail liquor license to be used at Cayo Coco, a new restaurant set to open this summer in the Founders Station development at 2015 First Ave. N downtown.

Shindigs Catering LLC was granted a restaurant retail liquor license for Whistling Table, a new restaurant located in the old V. Richard’s space at 3916 Clairmont Ave. in Forest Park Village.

Other business:

The council approved an agreement under which the city will pay the local nonprofit Dannon Project $10,000 for one year to incorporate a conflict resolution curriculum in its after-school arts, camp and mentoring programs for school-age girls and boys in the city.