The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday passed a resolution urging Truist Bank to reconsider plans to close its Roebuck branch in March.

“A great deal of residents in that area benefit from that branch, rely on that branch and would be negatively impacted if that branch were to close,” said Councilor Clinton Woods.

American Banker reported in January that the Charlotte, North Carolina-based institution will close nearly 80 locations as part of a $750 million cost cutting plan.

Community members held a protest at the local branch on Red Lane Road earlier this month, and Woods commended them at Tuesday’s meeting for speaking up about the decision.

Woods added that a great deal of investment is happening in the two-block area where the branch sits. He pointed to renovations at the nearby YMCA and North Roebuck Elementary as examples.

The resolution states that the council “expresses its willingness to collaborate with Truist Bank as necessary to ensure the continued operation and encourages Truist Bank to engage in dialogue with community stakeholders, including residents, local businesses and elected officials, to explore options for maintaining the operation of the Roebuck branch.”

In other business, the council:

• Approved a $30,000 settlement for a workers’ compensation claim brought by a Communications Department employee against the city arising from “an alleged on-the-job accident, cumulative trauma, and/or occupational disease, resulting in alleged physical injuries to her back, and body as a whole, including surgery.”
• Approved a $14,000 settlement to a workers’ compensation claim brought by a Birmingham Police Department employee for “alleged physical injuries to his right leg and body as a whole. “
• Approved an agreement between the city and Master Solutions to provide professional consulting services “to leverage relationships with other governmental entities, nonprofit and for-profit organizations across the city and state to advance the city’s economic and community development goals.” The city will pay the company $85,000 for the services.
• Approved an agreement with East Lake Initiative, to support the “Coach Birmingham!” program. According to city officials, the project will provide “family-centered coaching to 25 families in Birmingham neighborhoods impacted by COVID-19 to get back on their feet and make long-term economic gains for their families.” The agreement is for one year and will use $50,000 the city received from the American Rescue Plan Act.”
• Expressed condolences for the death of Harry Giddens, who was president of the Brownville Heights Neighborhood Association.