Council moves forward with capital funding discussion, approves slew of alcohol licenses

The Vestavia Hills City Council held its second regular March meeting a few days earlier than originally scheduled, due to spring break, but approved several items and set up the conversation for increases to the city’s sales and lodging taxes.

The first few several items of businesses dealt with transfers of alcohol licenses from previous to current owners at three Vestavia businesses.

Two of the three stem from Walgreens’ recent nationwide purchase of Rite-Aid, and the council approved the transfer of the off-premises wine and beer licenses for the stores at 708 Montgomery Highway and 3965 Crosshaven Drive.

Representatives for Walgreens stores in Alabama spoke to the measures the stores take to prevent underage alcohol sales, including the requirement that sales be made by associates 21 years of age and older, education on spotting false identification and a zero-tolerance policy for mistakes.

The other alcohol license approved was for Blackwell’s Neighborhood Pub in Cahaba Heights.

New owner Patrick Decker was at the meeting to answer questions from the council, and said that to prevent underage alcohol sales, his team follows the ABC Board’s protocols and training, and he only hires those 21 and older.

Councilors asked about an incident that occurred Tuesday, March 20, where a car drove through the front windows of the establishment.

Decker said the driver was arriving at the restaurant, and that no one was injured.

He said the windows are boarded up and he hopes to have the frontage fixed as soon as possible.

All three license transfers were approved.

The council also discussed a resolution to “approve the legislative determinations of the city council,” — or setting up the discussion for financing the capital cost of the Community Spaces Plan and various infrastructure projects identified in the January 18-19 strategic planning sessions.

Mayor Ashley Curry introduced the resolution by referencing the work session from Monday, March 19, and reiterating that the resolution is “non-binding.”

The resolution outlines the sidewalk, road-widening and stormwater infrastructure projects the city wants to complete, the general projects being pursued from the Community Spaces Plan and the financing mechanism to accomplish them.

“It’s an important step because it shows the council’s consensus,” Place 2 Councilor Kimberly Cook said, but she added that she thought a vote should be postponed until after the public can have more time to evaluate the council’s determinations.

Cook’s motion to postpone was not seconded.

The council will hold a town hall on April 3 to discuss the items in the resolution as well as the sales tax increase and lodging tax increase that will finance the debt service. The meeting will be at 6 p.m. in the council chambers, and is a public meeting.

On April 9, the council will take up the tax increase at the first regular meeting of the month.