Birmingham · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Birmingham public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Electric vehicle infrastructure grant
The council was asked to apply for up to $3.5 million in Volkswagen settlement grant funds to install EV chargers and add electric vehicles to the city fleet, with a 20% local match.
Climate Action Plan
Birmingham is rolling out a Central Alabama Climate Action Plan that could change how the city manages energy and emissions. The big thing to watch: whether those changes eventually show up in your utility bills.
Floodplain overlay regulation update
A first reading set up a September 1 hearing on updating the city's floodplain rules so Birmingham keeps its standing in FEMA's Community Rating System — which can mean flood insurance discounts for residents.
Historic district survey and Love Your Block grants
Residents from Wylam, Fountain Heights and North Birmingham flagged overgrown lots, junk cars, speeding, and trees dropping limbs onto property — the kind of quality-of-life issues that map directly onto the abatement list the council approved.
Industrial-residential buffer fund
A new agreement with the county health board sets up a fund of up to $462,500 to plant trees and green space between homes and heavy industrial sites across Jefferson County.
Village Creek Stormwater Park floodplain restoration
The city will chase up to $2.65M in FEMA money to restore the floodplain at Village Creek Stormwater Park, though the city must put up a 25% match.
Hale Springs nature preserve
The city would sign a non-binding deal with the Friends of Shades Mountain and Hoover to pursue preserving the Hale Springs property as a public nature preserve through the Forever Wild Land Trust.
Proposed medical waste treatment facility at 4400 7th Avenue North
Harvest Solutions LLC wants to open an indoor nonhazardous medical waste treatment and paper shredding facility in the 7th Avenue North area. Residents got their say at a public hearing, but the council put off its decision until April 14.
ADEM FY 2027 Recycling Grant application (up to $475,000)
The city would apply for up to $475,000 in state recycling grant money to expand curbside recycling and outreach — with no matching funds required from Birmingham.
Solid waste treatment facility public hearing set
The council set an April 7, 2026 public hearing on Harvest Solutions, LLC's application to site a new solid waste treatment facility at 4400 7th Avenue North.