Big changes inside and outside City Hall in Vestavia
This month, we expect to close on the former Food World and Joe’s Ranch House space so that we can move forward with our plans for the new City Hall.
We also are working closely with Williams Blackstock Architects on design details for the new space. Our existing space was built in the early 1950s, with three or four additions since that time, so we’ve basically had to “make do” for decades. By contrast, this new space will reflect careful forethought and design, with an eye toward cross-departmental collaboration and functionality.
Specifically, we’re looking at building a concept designed to host community-wide events just outside City Hall. This might include a bit of green space as well. We’d love to have the new City Hall be a gathering place for annual celebrations and activities like the I Love America Series and the City’s Tree Lighting festivities.
As for the interior, we’re looking to make everything more user friendly. From building permits to business licenses, we want the new facility to accommodate citizens efficiently.
In other news, the City passed our 2013-14 budget during the second week of September. It is a very conservative budget, even with allowances to take care of some items we hadn’t in the past. This includes the replacement of more police and fire vehicles (over and above what was reported in the September issue of the Vestavia Voice). We also provided funding to our Parks & Rec to help them purchase additional needed equipment and for upkeep in maintaining our ball fields.
City employees received a 2 percent cost of living increase. We also gave merit increases of 5 percent. Additionally, the City was able to cover the 5 percent increase in health insurance for city staff.
We are currently working on finalizing plans for the City’s 2013 Holidays in the Hills, an effort we are planning with the Chamber. Additional details of these festivities will appear in the November and December issues of the Voice.
Your mayor,
Butch Zaragoza