Regulations passed for Altadena Valley Park

Five years after the city of Vestavia Hills acquired the former Altadena Valley Country Club property, the City Council on June 8 passed an ordinance setting rules and regulations for the park, as well as naming it Altadena Valley Park, though some residents want to see further amendments to allow golf carts on the property.

The 66 acres of land at the park formerly included a golf course and other amenities, and after the city acquired the property, residents in the adjacent Altadena Ridge neighborhood asked that it be kept a passive park instead of using it for team sports, which was being considered.

However, while it was kept a passive park, no regulations were ever passed, and the city has seen residents and others drive golf carts on the course, take trucks and ATVs out there and with no regulations, the city could potentially be liable for any damages or injuries.

Some residents that live nearby spoke at the June 8 meeting and expressed a desire to take golf carts out there, with possible permits. The regulations state that no golf carts, go-carts, motorcycles, four-wheelers, three-wheelers, or any other type of vehicle is allowed outside of the designated parking area.

Director of Public Services Brian Davis said at the meeting that there are ongoing discussions with the park board about how to best utilize the space, including a possible canoe launch into the Cahaba River, a disc golf course and other options. Davis said he is asking for an additional employee in his department in next year’s budget and hopes to one day have a staff member work at the park.

Council member Paul Head, who serves as the parks and recreation board liaison, said the regulations help protect the city now, but can be further amended as needed.

The Council also approved the purchase of ballistic helmets for the Vestavia Hills Police Department, at a cost not to exceed $50,000. The city will have $6,000 of the purchase paid for through a state grant. The helmets come after police in other Alabama cities, including Birmingham, have worn riot gear while dealing with protesters in recent weeks, following the death of George Floyd, who died while in Minneapolis police custody two weeks ago after an officer, who has since been arrested and charged along with three others, kept his knee on the handcuffed Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes until he died.

While the two protests held in Vestavia have been peaceful with no arrests, the purchase is in the “best interest” of the city’s police officers, said Vestavia Hills Mayor Ashley Curry.

Prior to the first protest, held June 3, the Council held an emergency meeting setting closing times for the City Hall building and grounds, at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively. However, at the June 8 meeting, the Council amended the emergency declaration that set those times to include exceptions for city meetings that are held after those times, as well as any events previously approved by city leadership.

The Council also approved the annexation of property at 2758 and 2764 Rocky Ridge Road and 2768 Misty Lane, where Tamworth LLC will construct six single-family homes.

In his report to the Council, City Manager Jeff Downes praised the recent work of the police department and also said the city has been gathering its COVID-19 related expenses, which currently total $119,000.

Fire Chief Marvin Green told the Council that the department’s new heavy rescue truck is now in operation.

An ordinance to execute and deliver a consent order with the Alabama Department of Emergency Management was introduced at the meeting and will be voted on at a later date. The order carries with it an $8,000 penalty to be paid by the city after the state department found they were not inspecting all of their ADEM-permitted sites in 2018 and 2019. The city has since fixed the issues. Cinnamon McCulley, the city’s communications director, said the city’s software that notifies them when to check job sites was not functioning properly, leading to the error. The city has been in compliance “for a while,” she said.