Vestavia City Council creates two more entertainment districts
The city of Vestavia Hills — following the success of an entertainment district created in 2015 in the Rocky Ridge area — will now have similar districts in the Cahaba Heights and City Center areas.
The City Council, at its regular meeting for Monday, Oct. 8, voted 5-0 to establish the two new districts. Based on its population, Vestavia Hills is allowed up to three such areas by the state, City Manager Jeff Downes told the Council.
Within an entertainment district’s limits, people can drink alcoholic beverages from open containers in cups provided by licensed restaurants or bars. The designation lends itself to music, markets and other entertainment events, especially in the evenings.
The new law allows alcohol to be sold by licensed facilities and consumed within the entertainment district's boundaries in the following hours: Sunday-Thursday, noon-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, noon-11 p.m. The law allows the city to issue waivers to these hours on a case-by-case basis.
After a recent Council work session, Meadowlawn Park was taken out of the Cahaba Heights districts. That district includes the Leaf & Petal development.
In response to a question from Councilor Kimberly Cook regarding possible problems with noise, Downes said the new districts would not trump existing covenants or noise ordinances.
“The residents there should not have to worry about noise,” Downes said.
In fact, Downes said “the term 'entertainment district' might not be accurate,” and that the ordinance is merely about allowing open carry of drinks.
“This ordinance does not establish the fact that we are going to be active in creating a party,” Downes said.
There have been no complaints in the Rocky Ridge district, according to Pierce, who also said the term “entertainment district” was probably not accurate.
“I would call these business development districts,” he said, noting that they are a way to give merchants more options to promote their areas.
SICARD HOLLOW GRANT
The council members voted 5-0 to approve a project agreement with the Alabama Department of Labor that will result in $750,000 in major improvements to Sicard Hollow Park, meant to help promote private investment around the site.
The money comes from a federal grant program called the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Economic Development Pilot Program, which the Department of Labor administers in the state.
The park at Sicard Hollow was created originally from such abandoned mining property. The $750,000 grant comes from the city’s successful 2017 AML Pilot Grant application.
The improvements would include a turn lane into the park, expanded and improved parking, an amphitheater, the addition of another pavilion, public Wi-Fi and a multi-purpose athletic court. According to the text of the resolution, the improvements will broaden the types of events that can be held at the park, increase capacity for attendance and alleviate traffic concerns.
Downes told members that the existing park master plan has been partially completed and that the city's successful 2017 grant application was an attempt to obtain additional monies for the facility.
There is no local match required, according to Downes. “This is a 100 percent grant award that covers design and construction,” he said.
Downes said it is unlikely that the $750,000 will actually be enough to pay for all the things the city wishes to do at Sicard Hollow, but that it will try.
However, he said there will be a second round of funding and the city has been encouraged to apply. “There are just a handful of these sites in Alabama,” Downes said.
“This could be valuable in our community and it’s unique to this site,” Downes said. “It is not funding we could get for other sites in the city.”
Planners were “very visionary to get to this point," but now it is time to take those “high-level thoughts” and turn them into a practical plan.
ROAD WORK
The council voted 5-0 to declare an emergency and allow city manager Jeff Downes to authorize the repair of a section of Vestaview Lane that was damaged by a water main break.
Downes told members the resolution would simply provide formal approval of work that has already been largely completed and the cost of which is to be reimbursed 100 percent by Birmingham Water Works Board.
City Engineer Christopher Brady told members the water main break actually occurred several months ago. The BWWB made a temporary repair which lasted about two months but was unable to complete the work without bidding out the job, which would have created a delay.
So the city declared an emergency and relied on its existing paving contract with Dunn Construction to get the work done, according to Brady.
The work is now finished except for striping and some other final details, Brady told Vestavia Voice.
FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Th council voted 5-0 to pass an ordinance authorizing the mayor and city manager to execute a professional services agreement with Rice Advisory LLC of Montgomery, which provides the city with financial advice and consulting.
The text of the ordinance listed numerous areas in which Rice Advisory can assist the city, including possible revisions to the city’s debt policies and strategies and actions to be taken by the city to improve or maintain its credit ratings.
BOARDS
Mayor Ashley Curry announced that there will be two upcoming vacancies on the five-member Vestavia Hills Library Board. This is because two members — Anna Gualano and Jason Gardner — will rotate off this year. The members serve four-year terms. The deadline for nominations will be Nov. 13, according to Curry.
There will also be one upcoming vacancy on the five-member Vestavia Hills Parks and Recreation Board, according to Councilor Paul Head. The members serve five-year terms. The deadline for nominations will be Nov. 13, according to Head.
The appointments for these boards will be made at the regular Dec. 10 council meeting, according to Head.
ANNEXATIONS
The council also voted to approve the following annexations:
- 3421 Coventry Drive; Lot 6, Block 2, Coventry 1st And 2nd Sector; Barbara French, owner.
- 3531 Valley Circle; Lot 6, Block 1, Dolly Ridge Estates, 2nd Add.
- 2532 Skyland Drive; Lot 8, Block 2, Dolly Ridge Estates, 2nd Add.
The city also voted 3-2 to refuse a request by Robert Butler to de-annex his residential property located at 3961 Briar Oak Drive.
HOLIDAY MEETING TIMES
The meeting of the Vestavia Hills City Council scheduled for Nov. 12 was rescheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 6 p.m. due to the Veterans Day holiday. The meeting scheduled for Dec. 24 was rescheduled for Monday, Dec. 17, at 6 p.m. due to Christmas Eve. The work session planned for Dec. 17 will be held at 5 p.m.