City Council Updated On Vestavia Hills Economic Growth

VESTAVIA HILLS, AL — The Vestavia Hills City Council had a full agenda in its meeting on Monday as it heads into the new fiscal year. In addition to its normal business, the council was presented with information on the city’s overall economic development.

City Manager Jeff Downes gave a summary of the city’s growth over the past decade by citing the building permits issued each year, which Downes described as a easy marker for projecting both residential and commercial expansion as well as estimating tax revenue. In the 2017 fiscal year, 114 residential and seven commercial building permits were issued. The commercial development spending was less than it has been in recent years, but is expected to increase as the Liberty Park development moves forward.

The council also approved a memorandum of understanding with Jefferson County, which establishes an agreement to keep the city prepared for storms and eligible for extra aid in the event of a weather event that warrants FEMA intervention.

The council established the month of October as Fire Prevention Month and voted to approve a bid for police uniforms from MAC uniform for $1,980.65. Members were updated on a previous non-compliance with the city’s weed and vegetation ordinance, moved to change a meeting from Dec. 25 to Dec. 18, and announced a work session on Oct. 16 and a public forum on Oct. 25 to discuss the Community Spaces Plan. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Birmingham Patch morning newsletter.)