Special Election Sept. 24

**NOTE: Absentee ballots are no longer available for this election. Sept. 17 was last day to receive absentee applications by mail. 



PROCOLOMATION FOR SPECIAL ELECTION


ELECTION OFFICERS


VOTING MACHINE INSPECTIONS

September 24, 2024, voting will be from 7:00am to 7:00pm in the following locations:



Ward 1 - Homewood Recreation Center

Homewood Park - 1632 Oxmoor Road


Ward 2 - Senior Citizens Center

816 Oak Grove Road


Ward 3 - Edgewood Elementary School

901 College Avenue


Ward 4 - Homewood Public Library

1721 Oxmoor Road


Ward 5 - Shades Cahaba Elementary School

3001 Independence Drive

In February 2024, the city council voted to look at the possibility of changing the form of government in Homewood to allow for a City Manager (watch the video at the bottom of the page to see the presentation of this proposal). Currently, the city does not have a full-time executive. 


The mayor handed it off to the council to investigate the options. The council created an ad hoc committee made up of councilors, department heads, residents, business leaders, and community leaders to look at the various possibilities. They looked at three models that have city managers- Hoover, Mt. Brook and Vestavia Hills, and unanimously believed that the Vestavia's model was the best fit for Homewood. After many months of research, the committee felt comfortable with the statutory model which has the mayor as part of the city council, and then the city manager as the chief executive of the city, called the "Council/Manager" model. 


A petition garnered enough signatures from Homewood voters to have a referendum. A special called municipal election has been scheduled for Tuesday, September 24, 2024 for the purpose of determining whether or not the qualified voters of the City of Homewood approve the adoption of the "Council/Manager" form of government. Absentee ballots can be downloaded or obtained at city hall starting August 27th, 2nd floor city clerk's office. 


Video - view the special called council meeting that approved all resolutions needed to have this election.

*This deadline has passed


If you have not already registered, the deadline to register to vote was September 9, 2024.

The council created an ad-hoc committee made up of councilors, department heads, residents, business leaders, and community leaders to look at the various possibilities. 


The committee reviewed three cities with city managers: Hoover, Mt. Brook, and Vestavia Hills. They all agreed that the "Council-Manager" model from Vestavia was the best fit for Homewood. This decision came after they interviewed city managers from each location. Of all options available to attain a city manager for Homewood, the committee believed this was the best option to hire a city manager since the process and responsibilities are guided by state statute and it meant that the position will be accountable to the full council, including the mayor. This means the position can't be eliminated or altered on a whim. No other option to add a city manager has this.

 

As part of adopting this government style, a referendum must take place (Sept. 24), which lets the citizens vote on the change. 


It is important to note that boards, including the school board, will NOT change under this new model. They all stay the same.


This new government would reduce the number of councilors from eleven, to four, each designated to represent one of four wards (shown below). There would also be a mayor elected city-wide who would hold a dual role as council president. That would make it a five person body to vote on matters of the city. There are 11 other cities in Alabama, of similar size, with a five person voting body. Five is the "norm" for cities our size and is the reason leadership chose it instead of a seven body model.


This new model allows for an appointment of a city manager by the council to supervise the day-to-day operations of the city, with accountability to the entire council and mayor. This is the only option available to the city that assures of guidelines dictated by state statute for the responsibilities of the city manager, while making sure the position can't be eliminated or altered on a whim.


The proposed ward map with four ward boundaries, instead of five, was redrawn by the state according to census data (shown below). Right now, Homewood has five council wards, each with two elected officials – a council president and mayor.

Proposed Ward Map if Referendum is Approved

VIEW PDF

Why does the current structure have to change and why have a city manager? City leadership felt comfortable with the statutory model which has the mayor as part of the city council, and then the city manager as the chief executive of the city. To adopt this structure, the city must switch to a council/manager form of government. By law, this shift changes the entire government setup. You can't alter the council composition or the mayor's role without changing the government form. To achieve this, a referendum is necessary. The video below provides an explanation as to why city leaders believe a city manager is important.

Presentation of this proposal from February 2024

Information Session Videos


Tuesday, June 4

Full meeting video: https://youtu.be/XqveKBEyLjs

Sam Gaston, presentation only, video: https://youtu.be/7K2CsAVd-Z8. This was a presentation from Sam Gaston, current city manager of Mountain Brook, and a Q&A session. Find his Powerpoint he presented HERE



Friday, June 14

Meeting video: https://youtu.be/iIoHbrV-I8o. This was a Q&A session that included Gretchen DiFante, the current city manager of Pelham.

*Apologies for some audio technical issues

More

Upcoming Events

April 9, 2025
There are a lot of events happening around our city over the next week, ways to get involved, and ways to give back to our community:

Committee Meetings April 7, 2025

April 8, 2025
Finance Highlights April 7, 2025 14.03.25 Committee approved a request to fund change order for the City Hall and parking garage restoration project. This item will now go before the full council for a vote at the next council meeting April 14, 2025 at 6:00pm. 24.03.25 Committee carried over a property issue at 1832 25th Court South, where a house was found to be built, in the 1920's, 11 feet into city-owned land. This discovery came during a survey done as part of a sale process. Officials debated possible solutions, including an easement or selling part of the land, but there was concern about setting a precedent with any snap decision. Some emphasized the city’s limited land and the risk of similar issues emerging elsewhere. The mayor and others agreed no decision should be made until a proper survey defines property lines clearly, making that the next necessary step. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4j2rMIA Upcoming meeting schedules: https://bit.ly/3bvufcT Archived meetings: http://bit.ly/2UiSIaA Watch the full video above to learn more about all the items presented.

Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) April 3, 2025

April 4, 2025
Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) Highlights April 3, 2025 SV-25-04-01: 857 Sylvia Drive, a request for a variance to reduce the required side setback along the left-side property line from 10-feet to 8.1-feet for a total reduction of 1.9-feet to construct a second story addition to an existing, nonconforming primary structure. This item was approved. SV-25-04-02: 2919 Parkridge Drive, (a) was a request for a variance to reduce the required side setback from 10-feet to 7.9-feet for a total reduction of 2.1-feet to construct an addition to the rear of the existing primary structure. This part of this item was approved. (b) A request for a variance in order to reduce the setback along the left-side property line from 5-feet to 2-feet, for a total reduction of 3-feet in order to construct an open deck. This part of this item was denied. SV-25-04-03: 105 Knoll Crest Drive, a request for a variance to reduce the required setback along the right-side property line from 10-feet to 9.6-feet for a total reduction of 0.4- feet in order to construct a rear addition to the existing, nonconforming primary structure. This item was approved. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4iVHogL Upcoming meeting schedules: https://bit.ly/3bvufcT Archived meetings: http://bit.ly/2UiSIaA For all the details about this meeting watch the video above.

Meet Glen Adams - Friday, April 4

April 3, 2025
Friday, April 4, come grab a coffee and meet Glen Adams, Homewood’s first-ever City Manager! This casual meet-and-greet, 8:30am at city hall, 2nd floor South Conference Room , is your chance to hear his vision, ask questions, and talk about the future of our city. With experience in military leadership, municipal management, and major infrastructure projects, Glen is ready to work with the community. Whether you're a business owner or a proud resident, stop by, say hello, and see what’s ahead for Homewood!

Samford's Creekside Development Moves Forward with Positive Votes from Planning Commission

April 2, 2025
The proposed Creekside development, located south of Lakeshore Drive near Samford University’s campus, took a step forward at the April 1 Planning Commission meeting. The project, designed to create a walkable, town square-style community, received positive recommendations for rezoning. The next step will be a review by the full council. Earlier discussions about Creekside drew significant public interest, with many residents voicing concerns about the impact of the development. At a previous Planning Commission meeting, Colin Coyne, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer for Samford University, addressed these concerns directly. He acknowledged past tensions between the university and the surrounding community but assured attendees that Samford has made meaningful changes in recent years. Coyne emphasized the university’s commitment to open dialogue, stating he would meet with residents as long as needed to address their concerns. With a background in environmental management, he also underscored Samford’s responsibility to address traffic and sustainability issues, particularly related to watershed management along Shades Creek. Commission members previously advised the applicant, Landmark Development, to engage more deeply with the public before moving forward. Landmark responded by postponing the rezoning request and hosting three public meetings to gather input from residents. Among the most pressing concerns are the potential impact on salamander habitats in the area and the height of a proposed hotel, which could be as tall as 10 stories. These issues remain a focal point for local residents as the project progresses. See more information HERE

Update: Old Police HQ May Go From Jailhouse to Steakhouse

April 2, 2025
UPDATE: From Jailhouse to Steakhouse? A New Vision for an Old Space! On Monday, March 31, the city council approved a proposal for a potential high-end steakhouse surrounded by a walkable, family-friendly park, at the long-empty police HQ and jail downtown. This approval means the project can start moving forward, though rezoning, design, and development plans still need city approval. There are no incentives for this project and the developer, Mike Mouron, is covering the cost of building the park, which will stay public property. Proceeds from the sale of the space that the steakhouse would sit on would be placed in escrow to fund improvements to the city-owned space that would become the park, with the developer covering any costs beyond the escrow amount.

Planning Commission April 1, 2025

April 2, 2025
Planning Commission Highlights April 1, 2025 Case 25.03.02-05: These items are requests for rezoning to accommodate a new community, Creekside, south of Lakeshore Drive near Samford University's campus. The development aims to create a livable, town square-style environment. All items were given positive approvals and now will be considered by the full council. Case RS 24.04.02: This is a request for approval of a Resurvey to re-plat a 1.6-acre subdivision at 1040 Green Springs Highway, comprising five undeveloped lots, which are impacted by topographic and environmental constraints, in order to reduce the width of three of the existing lots from 70 ft. to 55 ft. to facilitate the construction of new, single-family housing. This item received a unanimous positive vote by members and will now be considered by the full council. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4l3ZMpg Upcoming meeting schedules: https://bit.ly/3bvufcT Archived meetings: http://bit.ly/2UiSIaA For all the details about this meeting watch the video above.

No April Fools' Joke: Homewood’s 911 Calls Are Changing for the Better

April 1, 2025
Beginning April 1—no, this isn’t an April Fools' joke—Homewood’s 911 call center will officially switch over to Shelby County 911. But don’t worry, calling 911 will still work the same way! If you have an emergency and need police, fire, or an ambulance, dial 911 , and help will come just like it always has. The only difference is that calls will now be handled by Shelby County’s system, which will help first responders get to people even faster. The City of Homewood will still have its non-emergency number, 205-332-6200 . Plus, the fire department will now share a dispatch center with nearby cities, which means they can work together better when there’s a big fire. The new system can handle lots of calls at once, so during big storms or major events, more people can get help quickly. So yes, this change starts on April Fools’ Day, but it’s no prank—just a better way to keep Homewood safe!

Council Meeting March 31, 2025

April 1, 2025
Council Meeting Highlights, March 31, 2025 Item 06.02.25: Council approved a request for consideration of an unsolicited proposal regarding the old Police Headquarters. Developer Mike Mouron presented the idea of turning the site into a steakhouse, surrounded by a walkable, family-friendly park. This approval now means plans will move forward on this development. There will be rezoning development plans that will still have to come before the city to be approved. Te property has been vacant for a long time, and that not only is this developer offering to do this with no incentives, he will also foot the bill to build the park that will remain city property. Item 04.03.25: The council approved allowing the mayor to sign a contract with EDT, Inc. for design services to plan a new crosswalk and parking layout at the main downtown intersection. The city will also replace the blinking lights with stop signs. Item 06.03.25: Council approved an Ordinance to prevent parking at the Saulter pocket park for non-park visitors. There will now be a time limit you can be parked there and it will be enforceable for police. 19.03.25 Council approved a request to hire an Executive Assistant Position (Administrative Analyst) to assist Glen Adams, the new city manager. This will be funded through the general fund Agenda: https://bit.ly/4lbE9n5 Upcoming meeting schedules: https://bit.ly/3bvufcT Archived meetings: http://bit.ly/2UiSIaA For all the details about this meeting watch the video above.

Road Closed - Kenilworth Drive

March 20, 2025
Heads up! As part of the stormwater project currently in-progress, Kenilworth Drive at Ridge Road will be closed for about two weeks, tentatively starting around March 31 . During this time, if you're heading up the hill on Kenilworth, you'll have to turn left onto Ridge Road. Only the folks in the first two houses on Crest Drive can access Kenilworth, and anyone coming from Ridge Road must turn right onto Kenilworth. Be sure to plan your route accordingly!
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