City budget approved

The city can now proceed as planned with its budget for the 2015 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.

Following a public hearing, the council approved the budget at its Sept. 22 meeting.

The budget calls for $33,026,257 in general fund revenues and expenditures, which includes $650,00 in budgeted surplus fund and $3.9 million in deficit spending for capital projects in 2015.

Capital projects in the plan included:

• $1 million for Lane Park Road improvements as part of the Lane Parke development agreement
• $2.5 million for Cahaba Road improvements as part of the Lane Parke development agreement
• $220,000 for lights on Dexter Ave at Vine Street and Dexter Avenue at Church Street for the Piggly Wiggly development in Crestline
• $100,000 for a sidewalk connector at Poinciana Drive in Homewood
• $829,205 (gross) for grant-funded sidewalk construction (grants are anticipated in to fund $656,000  of that cost)
• $266,019 to complete the Cahaba River Park (total cost is approximately $450,000)
• $84,000 for a restroom at Brookwood Forest and another elementary yet to be determined
• $55,000 for generators for U.S. 280 traffic signals
• $159,000 for carpet, furniture, elevator repair and upgrades, painting all at the Library

The budget also reflects a slight increase in most revenues, including the real estate tax, which makes up 40 percent of revenues. The revenues include 28 sales tax, and the expenses are made up of 60 percent labor costs.

The council also:

• Heard a semi-annual report from the Chamber of Commerce.
• Discussed mobile phone use in school zones. A resident, Duncan Manley, had emailed the council a Youtube video about texting and driving awareness and asked them to consider limiting mobile phone use in school zones. To follow up, Jesse Vogtle will contact the school system to see what their policy is regarding texting in school zones.
• Heard a presentation from Judge Suzanne Childers, candidate for Jefferson County District Court.
• Heard presentations from the Emmet O’Neal Library. Library Board Chairman Max Pulliam recognized Jesse Vogtle for serving as the council liaison to the Library Board from 2008-2012 and Amy Carter for serving as the liaison from 2012 to the present.
• Delayed approving an appointment of Rhett Loveman to serve as a supernumerary member to the Board of Zoning without compensation through September 22, 2017 until Loveman can be present at a meeting.
• Appointed Patrick Carlton to serve on The Emmet O'Neal Library Board without compensation through September 30, 2018.
• Approved a Restaurant Retail Liquor License for La Catrina Mexican Cantina’s new restaurant opening in English Village at 2031 Cahaba Road.
• Set public hearings for Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. to consider amending the PUD master development plan for Pilgrim Place on Montclair Road, and one to consider an ordinance rezoning several parcels of land located on Vine Street to Local Business.
• Approved an agreement for the city to maintain landscaping, parking lots and other areas in the right-of-way of the northern shoulder and median of Cahaba Village. This will allow is part of a project building additional in the shopping area.
• Approved increasing the salary schedule by 1 to 1.5 percent for all classified and unclassified employees effective Oct. 7.
• Approved increasing the salary of the City Manager effective Oct. 7.
• Approved payment of the Educational Degree Premium for certain city positions in the City for qualifying degrees earned from accredited institutions of higher education if the degree is directly related to the responsibilities of the position.
• Approved a proclamation making October Fire Prevention Month.
• Approved considered an ordinance opting out of an Alabama Tax Tribunal.

The next council meeting will be Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 56 Church Street.