Birmingham’s mayor went before the City Council on Tuesday and gave the first monthly update on progress in implementing recommendations from the Birmingham Crime Commission.

“Let’s be clear; much work has to be done, and much work remains, but this is progress over the last 30 days,” Mayor Randall Woodfin said.

The commission released a report earlier this year that offered 82 recommendations to help curb violent crime in the city. The mayor told the council Tuesday that 42 are either in the planning and development phases or in the pre-launch or in-progress stages.

Woodfin said the police and multiple city departments are focusing on crime hotspots. This includes not only policing but blight removal and code enforcement as well. The mayor said that in January, city contractors demolished 14 structures and the Public Works Department demolished and removed four additional.

Woodfin said he expects that pace to increase for February.

The mayor also told the council he was encouraged by meetings he and city officials have had with state leaders in Montgomery in an effort to get public safety measures passed. Chief among those legislative priorities is a ban on conversion devices often called Glock switches.

“I think overall, it’s safe to say that the cadence we have established to take steps and implement these recommendations are moving at break speed, and we remain committed to not only the partnership with the City Council and the police department but with Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway, District Attorney (Danny) Carr and our federal partners in Birmingham. And of course, this work would not be possible without the nine of you,” Woodfin said to the council.

Council President Darrell O’Quinn released a statement Tuesday saying that the city’s efforts to combat violent crime are being hampered by a three- to four-year backlog of criminal cases in the area.

“Those who are committing these crimes, including people accused of murder, are walking free for years while they wait to go to trial in many cases. That is a direct challenge for city officials to be able to provide public safety and is something our community needs to be aware of. I’d encourage everyone to reach out to their state leaders to bring this issue to their attention,” O’Quinn said. “We need their help. Specifically, we need additional judges to come and adjudicate these cases.”

Council Approves Workplay Incentives

The council approved an agreement under which WorkPlay Properties will rehabilitate and redevelop the popular music venue.

Under the five-year tax incentive agreement, totaling $230,000, the city will pay the company up to $46,000 annually following the redevelopment.

According to Workplay’s website, the site, at 500 23rd St. South, offers a 500-person capacity theater and a 5,000-square-foot soundstage “equipped with cutting-edge audio and lighting rigs.”

The venue also features a smaller canteen area and hosts private events. In addition to its role as an entertainment venue, Workplay offers coworking spaces and studio rentals.

Rick Journey, director of communications for the city’s Office of Public Information, said the Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity’s “strategy in this agreement focuses on performance-based incentives, meaning there is no ‘upfront’ payment, rather the incentive is tied to performance and payment from the city in arrears, which enhances the city’s interest in the project.”

Efforts to reach Workplay executives were unsuccessful Tuesday.