The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday voted to rescind recent ordinance changes requiring stricter safety measures at entertainment venues after concerns from the public that the measure would affect the city’s restaurant and hospitality businesses.

Residents also expressed concerns about the speed in which the council passed the ordinance changes. The council approved the measure on May 5 after its first reading, which required a unanimous vote.

“Over the last few days, I’ve been hearing from a lot of folks. Bar owners. Small operators. People running clean spots who showed up and said this is going to impact them in a big way. I listened. Those concerns are fair. So I’m not signing it, Mayor Randall Woodfin said in a Facebook post four days after the changes passed. “We’re pulling it back to the table to sit down with business owners, public safety leaders, and the Council and get this one right.”

On Tuesday, Council President Wardine Alexander said the changes were made with one goal in mind: creating a safer, more accountable nightlife environment in Birmingham.

“The intent was never to place unnecessary burdens on responsible small business owners who contribute every day to the culture and economic vitality of our city,” Alexander said. “We’ve heard and recognize the concerns raised by the community. Our focus remains on addressing recurring safety and accountability issues that have put the public at risk. We understand this must be done in a way that balances public safety with opportunities for local businesses to thrive.”

According to city officials, the ordinance will be brought back through the Public Safety Committee for further discussion and amendments.

Councilor Hunter Williams, who is a member of the Public Safety Committee, thanked all of the business owners who reached out to city leaders about the changes.

“There is definitely a balance that this council administration, as a team, would be willing to strike with owner operators and trying to find a way that we can make sure that 1 percent is held accountable, and we don’t have tragedy, shootings, assaults, whatever, as a result of operations from that 1 percent.” Williams said.

Rail Crossing Improvements Coming to Woodlawn, Trussville — Finally

The council on Tuesday also voted to approve an agreement with the city of Trussville and Norfolk Southern Railway Co. that will close at-grade railroad crossings and alleviate blocked crossings from the Woodlawn neighborhood and into Trussville.

The deal is possible because of an $8 million federal Consolidated Rail and Infrastructure Safety and Improvements grant Birmingham was awarded in 2022.

As part of the agreement, Trussville and Birmingham will each pay a $250,000 local match while Norfolk Southern will be responsible for $1.5 million.

According to city officials, residents of the Harris Homes Public Housing Community have seen both entrances blocked by trains every seven to 10 days for the past 50 years.

Councilor Darrell O’Quinn, chair of the council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said Tuesday’s vote is a crucial step in the years-long process.

“This is an opportunity to drastically improve the quality of life for so many of my neighbors,” O’Quinn said. “I’d like to take a moment and thank our partners at Norfolk Southern, who own the rail corridor in question. My office has remained in close contact with their representatives over the last several years, and we could not have gotten to this point without their dedication to improve the lives of those living near their tracks. Today is a very important step towards getting relief for the residents living in Harris Homes.”