Meeting Minutes for March 2023

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Crestwood South Neighborhood Association - info@crestwoodsouth.com

Read Meeting Minutes - February 2023

  • February 2023 meeting minutes were read to meeting attendees.

New Business

    • Approve meeting minutes for February 2023.

      • Motion to approve minutes was made by Renee Tucker and seconded by Mike Adams.

        • Motion was approved by unanimous consent.

    • Avondale Elementary School Wish List

      • At the February CSNA monthly meeting, Birmingham City School Board Representative Mary Boehm presented the CSNA with a wishlist of programs for Avondale Elementary.

        • Ms. Boehm requested the neighborhood consider fully funding or partially funding one or more of these programs with neighborhood allocations.

          • Children’s Theater Drama $3,000/semester

          • Martial Arts/Karate Classes $3,000/year

      • Various neighbors expressed their support or opposition for utilizing neighborhood funds towards Avondale Elementary’s after-school programming.

        • Doug Yarbrough asked how much the neighborhood receives per year from the City.

          • CSNA currently receives $2,000 per year from the City’s budget and various amounts are granted by our City Councilor’s discretionary funds.

        • Jerry Tucker asked what recurring or expected expenses the neighborhood currently incurs.

          • CSNA does not have any current recurring expenses nor planned projects at this time.

        • Bill Meneese stated that the Forest Park/South Avondale Neighborhood Association should be responsible for funding after school programs because Avondale Elementary is located within the boundaries of their neighborhood. He also stated that he did not believe funding after school programs for Avondale Elementary provided a tangible benefit to the Crestwood South Neighborhood.

          • Elizabeth Murray countered that while Avondale Elementary is located in the geographical bounds of Forest Park/South Avondale, students who live within Crestwood South are zoned for Avondale Elementary and therefore supporting their students does benefit our neighborhood.

          • Doug Yarborough additionally countered that from his perspective as a realtor he finds that many families with children move out of the neighborhood when they reach the age to go to school and that showing support to Avondale Elementary would be important for retaining residents.

        • Luke Hanson asked what types of projects the neighborhood association can fund and what type of projects have been funded in the past.

          • Birmingham neighborhood associations can use their funds towards projects that benefit their community and are usually initiatives that are not covered by what is set in the City's budget, but there are some limitations.

          • In the past there have been projects that CSNA has partnered with the City to assist in funding - for example, the cost of purchasing and installing speed cushions on Cresthill road was split 50/50 with the City. Other projects have been fully funded through CSNA - like the Crestwood street sign toppers, the tennis backboard at Crestwood Park or dog waste stations and lighting along Clairmont Walking Trail.

          • The neighborhood can also use its funding for non-tangible initiatives like purchasing a table at the Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast or sending delegates to the NUSA conference.

          • The CSNA has also used their funds to support schools in the past including providing funding for STEM books for the Avondale Elementary library and funding for transportation to a field trip for Putnam students. 

      • Motion to allocate $1000.00 of CSNA funding for any after school programming at Avondale Elementary was made by Mike Adams and seconded by Bill Meneese.

        • Yays: 3 

        • Nays: 6

        • Motion was not approved.

      • Motion to allocate $2000.00 of CSNA funding for any after school programming at Avondale Elementary was made by Doug Yarborogh and seconded by Renee Tucker.

        • Yays: 7

        • Nays: 2

        • Motion was approved.

Reports

    • Officer Reports

    • Fire

      • Not present.

    • Police

      • Not present.

    • Birmingham Library - Vincent Solfronk

      • Check out BPLOnline.org for library events and program offerings.

    • Public Works - Arthur Wilder

      • To report public works issues to Mr. Wilder call 205-254-2061 or email arthur.wilder2@birminghamal.gov.

    • CRR - Harold Houston

      • Mr. Houston rode through the neighborhood and noted a few issues to report to the City, including the downed power lines along Crestwood Blvd.

      • Bill Meneese reported limbs along the Clairmont Walking Trail and that some neighbors are illegally dumping yard debris along the trail.

        • Mr. Houston noted neighbors can report issues by sending them directly to him, calling 311 or through the SeeClickFix app.

      • To report neighborhood issues to Mr. Houston, call 205-254-2523 or email Harold.Houston@birminghamal.gov.

    • CAB - Elizabeth Murray

      • City Council President Wardine reported that the next round of new City garbage cans will be dispersed to citizens. 

        • India Bailey followed up that the cans are being dispersed according to trash routes. 

        • The Mayor’s office said that citizens can expect the last disbursement of cans to be completed by the end of the year.

        • Request for Garbage Set-Out Service Form

          • The City provides a special service for those who are handicapped or disabled and who do not have another resident who is capable of carrying out containers of household garbage to the usual pickup point for City workers.

      • 2024 Budget discussions have begun between the City Council and the Mayor’s office.

      • 98 neighborhood delegates are being sent to this year’s NUSA conference.

City Representatives

    • City Council Representatives

      • Hunter Williams, Councilor, District 2 (Represented by India Bailey)

        • Ms. Bailey reported that the crosswalk light at Crestwood Blvd / 56th Street intersection has been fixed.

        • Budget hearings took place last week for the 2024 fiscal year.

      • Valerie A. Abbott, Councilor, District 3

        • Not present.

    • School Board

      • Neonta Williams, District 2

        • Not present.

      • Mary Boehm, District 3

        • This week is Spring Break for Birmingham City Schools.

        • BCS had an accreditation review conducted by Cognia, receiving the highest score in BCS history.

        • BCS Board will be reviewing a proposed calendar that includes additional days for time in the classroom.

        • August 7th is the scheduled start date for 2023/2024 school year.

Announcements

    • Brush pickup dates - TBA

    • Recycling pickup dates - April 5th & 19th

    • Next meeting - April 24th