The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved an agreement that will use $1 million in federal grant money to consolidate two bus routes and expand the city’s microtransit services in two areas.

The measure approved Tuesday is part of a $20 million grant awarded as part of the Economic Development Administration’s Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program. This initiative invests in communities where employment among those aged 25 to 54 significantly trails the national average.

The agreement the council approved Tuesday will consolidate the 23 North Birmingham and 40 Fairmont bus services while scaling the Birmingham On Demand microtransit service for zones in North Birmingham and Pratt-Ensley.

Sarah McMillan, manager of talent and workforce development with the city’s Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity, said the two areas were chosen because they were part of four communities identified for their employment metrics. According to a project narrative from the city, the four areas — North Birmingham, Northside, Smithfield and Pratt — have the highest employment gap for those aged 25 to 54 in Birmingham. The areas also have a median income that is significantly lower than other parts of the city.

“Those two particular routes that we’re focused on within this particular agreement were identified among that service area to be a big transportation gap that was prohibiting workers from being able to get to work,” McMillan told the council.

According to the agreement, the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority will establish and implement the consolidation and microtransit expansion.

Councilor Hunter Williams said that while he was happy with the microtransit services Birmingham provides, he was frustrated to learn recently that the BJCTA does not let microtransit riders cross municipalities, even when those municipalities are also paying for the service.

“It’s infuriating to hear those people who are utilizing that service could be going directly from wherever the pickup spot is to their place of employment and back, but instead of being able to do that with these, we’re causing another barrier to their employment by making them jump on and off different routes so what could be a 10-minute commute — and is being paid for by other municipalities —  all the sudden is a one-and-half-hour commute,” he said. “I am … passionate about how nonsensical that is for those people who are depending on this.”

Mayor Randall Woodfin suggested that Williams, who chairs the council’s Economic Development and Tourism Committee, invite BJCTA officials to answer that question during the next committee meeting.

The council passed the agreement with a unanimous vote.

The council on Tuesday also approved two other agreements associated with the Recompete program. One will provide $5.5 million in federal money to the Prosper Foundation, which will launch and operate what city staff described as “a physical front door for business growth with a focus on Black and other minority business enterprises through strategic advice and fundraising.”

Another agreement will give Ed Farm Operations $213,471 in federal grant money to design and install a Community Innovation Hub in partnership with the Birmingham Public Library at the North Birmingham Public Library Branch.

According to the agenda, the term of the three agreements will run through Sept. 30, 2029.

ICE Agreement Doesn’t Include Deportation Efforts, Council Confirms

The council on Tuesday also approved an agreement with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency allowing ICE to reimburse Birmingham for providing police department resources to Homeland Security Investigations joint operations.

In one such campaign in 2022, the Homeland Security Investigations Birmingham conducted a four-week joint operation as part of the World Games Human Exploitation Task Force. It resulted in the arrest of 34 commercial sex buyers as well as the arrest of six suspects on human trafficking- related charges. The Birmingham Police Department was one of more than a dozen Alabama agencies participating in the operation.

Council President Darrell O’Quinn told the council Tuesday that the agreement prevents federal authorities from using Birmingham resources for any future deportation programs. Throughout his campaign, president-elect Donald Trump promised to institute one of the country’s largest deportation campaigns when he takes office.

“I also raised this question when the item came before the Public Safety Committee. I wanted to make sure we’re not targeting our Hispanic community in any way with this agreement,” Councilor LaTonya Tate added. “I’m pleased with the responses I’ve received regarding this important issue because it would be unacceptable otherwise.”

Council Approves 2025 Legislative Agenda

The council on Tuesday also approved a policy wishlist for the 2025 Alabama Legislative Session.

City leaders’ policy goals included:

• Enabling legislation that prohibits Glock switches and any combination of parts designed to convert a firearm into a machine gun.
• Alabama Land Bank amendment to shorten the redemption period for delinquent tax properties.
• Legislation strengthening dumping and weed abatement enforcement as well as foreclosure authority on nuisance properties.
• Legislation that would allow the city to opt out of the Jefferson County Personnel Board for specific employee classifications.
• Enabling legislation to create a Birmingham Housing Trust Fund.
• Enabling legislation that would allow Class 1 municipalities the authority to enact and enforce maintenance standards for vacant properties.

Budget Plan Passed, Phillips Football Congratulated, Funding for HICA

• Approved the mayor’s $582.6 million budget, which included more than $16 million for police recruitment and retention as well as $20 million for street and sidewalk improvements across the city. Read more about the budget plan.
• Honored the 6A State Football Champions from A.H. Parker High School as well as the J.H. Phillips Academy football team for winning the 2024 Birmingham City Schools championship.
• Approved giving $95,240 to Hispanic and Immigrant Center of Alabama to help support Hispanic and Latino entrepreneurs in the city. The agreement is part of the city’s Building Opportunities for Lasting Development funding program, called Bold.