New city initiatives

As we welcome the month of June, I am anticipating a new chapter in City Hall activity. We will soon name our new city manager.

We interviewed four excellent candidates. The interview process was rigorous and thorough, and I know you will be as pleased with the chosen candidate as I am. I believe we can expect great things as this individual settles into his new role.

In city business news, we continue to see our sales tax exceed budget projections. New home construction is up, as are business licenses. Ad valorem is down slightly, but that comes from when the county reappraised homes that sustained damage during the April 2011 tornadoes. Although these home values did experience a decrease, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Many of these homes have been remodeled or completely rebuilt; home values will rise, and this, of course, will help the city in the future.

This goes hand-in-hand with other positive real estate news in the City. We are seeing the housing market turn around significantly in Vestavia Hills. Homes are beginning to sell, and those on the market are not on it for long.

I know everyone is eager to learn the fate of City Hall. The effort to sell the building is ongoing, and we are working to relocate. But there are no other specifics at this time.

The other major initiative at this time is the commencement of lighting work on June 1 to upgrade all athletic fields and tennis courts. The project should be complete by the time fall sports start back in late August.

In other news, we recently completed our Dogwood Festival, which was a tremendous success this year. I want to personally thank Sharon Conners and Casey O’Dell for their efforts in putting the program together.

We also installed the new Vestavia Belles. I was honored to be part of their recognition ceremony, an event that was particularly meaningful as my granddaughter Madeline Zaragoza joined the group this year.

I hope you will join us for our next City Council meeting on June 10 at 5 p.m. at City Hall. These meetings, held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, are open to the public and are a great way for you to get to know your City leadership and let us know what’s on your mind.

Your energy is what makes this City such a coveted place to live. Let me hear from you.

Sincerely,

Alberto “Butch” Zaragoza