Budget and Finance Committee Meeting 7.13.26

The Budget and Finance Committee meeting of the Birmingham City Council on July 13, 2026, focused on several procurement and budget-related items. Key discussions included the approval of grant funds from the Alabama legislature and the governor's office to support police athletic teams and CityWalk maintenance, with grant amounts up to $250,000 and no city matching funds required. The committee also reviewed a license agreement allowing Renew Birmingham to use a city-owned parking lot for a community event at a nominal fee. A significant agenda item was the city's application for a HUD grant of up to $10 million to support affordable housing production and preservation, with no matching funds required. Additionally, the committee approved a $40,000 incentive agreement with Sharcore LLC to support the expansion of their engineering services office, involving a $600,000 capital investment. The committee authorized the mayor to apply for a FEMA pre-disaster mitigation grant of $2.645 million, requiring a 25% city match, for the Village Creek Stormwater Floodplain Restoration Project. Transportation-related funding of approximately $240,000 was appropriated to mitigate impacts from the I-20/59 bridge replacement project, focusing on traffic calming and sidewalk repairs. Lastly, the committee approved a $1.2 million contract with Routeware Inc. for updated routing hardware and subscription services to enhance public works vehicle operations over three years. All items were recommended for full council approval.