September 2011

Pell City officials have planned a public hearing to discuss the redistricting of the city council districts.

The hearing will afford the public the opportunity to comment on the proposed council districts.

Brett Isom with the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham presented the proposed district map to the council last week. The Regional Planning Commission did the redistricting mapping for the city 10 years ago.

"We have a minority district, which is protected," Isom told the council and mayor at last week's council work session. "The council members still remain in their current districts."

He said there are no dramatic changes to the districts.

"We just have to do some shifting," Isom said. "I don't anticipate the U.S. Justice Department having any problems with this."

The council offered some minor suggestions to Isom.

"They (the districts) really haven't changed much," Councilwoman Dot Wood said.

Isom said district bound lines are in the center of city streets, so some people who live along the same streets could be in separate districts.

"You have to have the boundaries somewhere," Isom told the council.

The public hearing is set for 5:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 10, before the regularly scheduled council meeting.

The public can submit comments in writing by hand or mail or by hand to the city clerk's office.

The proposed district map is available for public view at city hall or on the city's website at www.epell.net.

"I think in general nobody has any problems with this," Mayor Bill Hereford said of the new voting district map.

Councilman James McGowan said there may be some minor changes to the new district map.

"We can iron out the small details at the public hearing," he said.

At the conclusion of the public hearing, the council is expected to pass an ordinance adopting the proposed redistricting plan during the following council meeting, so the city can submit the redistricting plan to the U.S. Justice Department for final approval.

Via: St. Clair Times

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- On Sept. 1, 2001, De-chu Tang and his team of scientists at Birmingham's Vaxin Inc. received their first grant from the National Institutes of Health to create an anthrax vaccine.

Little did he -- or anyone else -- know the threat of terrorism in the U.S. would reach new heights 10 days later, or that let­ters laced with the toxin would kill five people weeks later.

The fatality rate from inhaling anthrax is nearly 100 percent, he said, and the bacteria has been among the most desired biological weapons since World War II.

"It's invisible. It's odorless. It's gone with the wind," Tang said.

Now a decade later, Tang's research -- which spun off from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1997 when he founded Vaxin -- has landed a $14.7 million contract to continue work toward what might be the most effective defense yet against deadly anthrax.

The two-year grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is the first piece of the contract, with the possibility of an extra $7 million for additional work. That means the tiny firm, which has only a handful of employees, could benefit to the tune of $21.7 million.

Vaxin Chief Executive Bill Enright said if more funding comes in and development stays on track, a vaccine could be ready in six to eight years.
This grant is a large step, he said.

"For a small company like Vaxin, having an award of this magnitude is really validating for our technology," he said in phone interview from his office in Rockville, MD.

The Birmingham-based company has resided in Innovation Depot since 2007.

Under the contract, Vaxin will continue researching and developing manufacturing processes for its vaccine candidate, known as AdVAV. So far, testing in mice, monkeys and rabbits shows a single dose provides protection with no appreciable side effects, Tang said.

The contract will ramp up the project significantly. The company's current operating budget on an annualized basis is $1.1 million, and the extra funds will allow Vaxin to add a number of additional employees, according to Enright.

The vaccine Vaxin is developing would be administered as a nasal spray, Tang said. Studies have shown having the vaccine entering the body the same route as the toxin it's defending against is the most effective method, he explained.

This new vaccine candidate could also be much faster than alternatives. According to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority -- the arm of Health and Human Services that awarded the contract -- the current vaccine requires five doses injected over 18 months, in addition to annual boosters. That vaccine is called BioThrax.

"In part these studies will determine whether the vaccine can protect against anthrax with fewer doses than the currently licensed vaccine," according to a BARDA statement announcing the Vaxin contract.

Before Tang's team decided to create a nasal vaccine, it developed a vaccine patch, and made one that treated tetanus in animals. But since there were already tetanus treatments on the market, it made sense to create a vaccine for an existing medical need -- and Tang's team decided on anthrax.

Six years ago, Vaxin received another grant from the NIH to develop the nasal spray method.

Via AL.com

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- William Bell along with officials from the transit authority and the Regional Planning Commission this morning are gathered to discuss long-term goals and improvements for public transportation.

The work session comes a day after a tense exchange during the City Council meeting where Bell, Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority officials and the council discussed funding the system that's set to make route cuts and layoffs in less than two weeks.

It will be at least another week before Birmingham officials decide whether to allocate money for mass transit to avoid route cuts and layoffs scheduled for October.

Tuesday's heated debate included Bell and council members again assigning blame to each other for the funding crisis and accused each other of skewing facts for political purposes.

In the end, the council agreed to discuss funding details, a proposed contract with the BJCTA and additional money the city may owe to the system in a committee meeting. A final vote is expected next week.

Bell's proposal to give $2.89 million to the authority would bring the city's 2012 transit allocation to the original $10.8 million he recommended for the current budget, which was reduced by the council. In addition, Bell proposed a new contract with the BJCTA.

But the wording of the contract that implies that the city would owe no further money to the authority, and a lingering question over a $900,000 payment not made for June stalled action on it Tuesday.

Royal also had tough words for Bell about his proposed contract. ''Before you go off on your own tangents and try to run everything, that's bad business,'' he said.

Councilwoman Kim Rafferty, chairwoman of the transportation committee, said overdue bills of more than $900,000 from fiscal 2011 remain unpaid. Bell's proposal covers all of fiscal 2012 but does not include disputed back payments, including one for June bus service. Transit director Peter Behrman Tuesday said the system has not been paid since May and is still owed for June, July, August and September.

''Don't sign a contract where you're being asked to accept nonpayment for services rendered,'' Council President Roderick Royal advised BJCTA officials.

Royal defended the council's decision to remove $3 million from the transit allocation during budget work sessions, saying it intended to return later in the budget year and find the money from another source rather than Bell's recommendation to draw it from the Birmingham Fund, the city's investment account.

''I have not appreciated as a council member the untruths,'' Royal said. ''I just want to clear that up, because we have been done a disservice.''
Royal said Bell could have begun paying the authority the $7.9 million that the council did approve, but has failed to do so. The city has yet to pay the BJCTA any money for the fiscal year that began in July, putting it at least three months behind.

Bell shot back, saying the council had made transit a political issue.

''If you want to make it a political move and blame the mayor, blame me,'' he said, adding that protesters demanding transit funding would have no bearing on his position.

Bell said the BJCTA failed its commitment to improve the system and make it efficient. He said he still won't give the system the annual funding all at once because the city needs some controls to demand reform.

''They know where I stand. They know what I'm looking for, and I'm not playing this game,'' Bell said. ''I'm not going to give them a blanket sum of money until they send us a system that works properly.''

Back-and-forth arguing between Bell and Royal ignited after Royal said Bell could have allocated money to avoid shutdown threats.
Bell accused Royal of trying to silence him during discussion, and Royal said the mayor ignores the rules for speaking that require being recognized.

''You can do that with everybody else, but you're not going to do it with me,'' Bell said in a raised voice, saying he refuses to remain silent when misinformation is presented.

Councilman Steven Hoyt, who serves as pro tem, jumped into the squabble, saying Bell was out of order. Hoyt reminded Bell that the meeting was the council's and the mayor should follow the rules.

Rafferty said the delay in voting gives all parties time to come to an agreement on the amount owed to the authority. Everything will be put into place before Oct. 1, enough time to avoid the planned cuts, she said.

The fight between Bell and the council occurred during the same meeting in which Bell was sworn in to his new term as mayor. During that earlier portion of the meeting, he had thanked the council for its service, saying that while they won't always agree, each has the city's interest at heart.

''Being mayor of the city of Birmingham is a unique experience,'' he said. ''I appreciate each and every one of you working with me to move this city in the right direction.''

Via AL.com

RIVERSIDE -- The city is moving forward with its redistricting process.

The council set a public hearing for input on a redistricting plan submitted by the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham at Tuesday's council meeting.

The public hearing is at 6 p.m. Oct. 6 at City Hall, and will take place directly before a scheduled council meeting, which was moved from Oct. 4 to Oct. 6.

Brett Isom, with the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham, showed the council a proposed map of the new district lines.

He said one potential issue with the new map is the inability to create a minority district.

"It's impossible to get a 51-percent minority district in any one district," he said.

Isom said the largest minority percentage in any one district is almost 23 percent. According to the proposed map, the districts would have minority percentages of 6.8, 7.9, 22.4, 17.5 and 7.4.

"The last redistricting, we were able to get a 51 percent minority district," he said. "It's impossible to do this time."

Isom said Riverside had 100 registered minority voters in the last election, of which 25 voted.

According to the last redistricting in 2003, the city changed from an at-large election system to a city-council system with five council districts in compliance with the consent order in Dillard et al v. Town of Riverside in 1988. The council redistricted in 2003 for the first time since the consent order created five single-member districts, and was able to create one minority district. This is the second time the city will redistrict.

Isom said there are alternative voting systems. The council briefly discussed the feasibility of looking at alternative voting systems, but noted that an alternative voting system would not guarantee minority representation on the council.

Councilman David Todd said he did not favor the current redistricting plan and wanted to make sure minority residents have enough input in elections.

In other matters, the council approved a 5-1 motion to accept four outdoor warning sirens from the county and take over maintenance. Mayor Rusty Jessup and council members Jimmy Hollander, Rachelle Painter, Todd and Rob Hayes voted yes. Councilman Kenny Womack voted no.

"We are under no obligation to repair the sirens (if they break and the city can't afford to fix them)," Jessup said.

The council also voted to send a city employee to a free outdoor warning siren basic maintenance class.

"I feel like we can keep them up until they break, and then fix them if we have the money and not fix them if we don't have the money," Jessup said.

Womack said he opposed accepting the sirens because of the potential hazard they pose if they are not properly maintained.

Also Tuesday, the council:

• Moved the second council meeting this month from Sept. 20 to Sept. 27.
• Moved the first council meeting in October from Oct. 4 to Oct. 6.
• Announced work sessions will be held as needed until further notice.
• Approved a motion to move forward with abating streets never put in on property owned by Delbert Shaw.
• Tabled the budget to the next council meeting. Jessup said the proposed budget is nearly identical to the current year's budget.

Via The Daily Home

BIRMINGHAM, AL - CAWACO RC&D FY2011 GRANT CYCLE

Cawaco Resource Conservation and Development Council is soliciting grant applications for Challenge Grant and Educational Grant Programs in Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby and Walker Counties.

To be considered, all proposals must be received BEFORE September 30, 2011.

ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO Patti@rpcgb.org and originals mailed to:

CAWACO RC&D
1731 1ST AVE NORTH, SUITE 200
BIRMINGHAM AL 35203

Cawaco Grant Programs
The Council offers small competitive Challenge Grants ($5,000 AND UP TO $10,000) to assist public and other 501 (c)(3) agencies in their efforts to serve community needs.

To determine if your project qualifies for a larger amount, see our website at www.cawaco.org and click on the grant program page, or call Patti Pennington at 205-264-8465.

JEFFERSON COUNTY, AL (WBRC) -
Jefferson County and several municipalities are disagreeing about who pays for county roads that pass through city limits.

Monday, a meeting to discuss the issue was held at the Jefferson County Courthouse. Commissioner Sandra Little Brown, the head of roads and transportation, and Commissioner Joe Knight met with Midfield Mayor Gary Richardson and Fultondale Mayor Jim Lowery.

A few years ago, the county sent letters to mayors saying Jefferson County would no longer repair or maintain county roads within their city limits because of money problems. Brown called today's discussion a good meeting.

"Right now the mayors understand we are limited with funding but we are working on the situation. We are going to come together again and work this out," Brown said.

Mayor Richardson says Woodward Road in his city is full of patchwork and holes. Driving on the road is definitely bumpy. Richardson says his city cannot afford it and he refuses to take responsibility for it.

"That is a nice luxury to have. To say the things we are responsible for we can no longer do them," Richardson said.

Fultondale Mayor Jim Lowery sent the commissioners a letter a few months ago, saying his city would not accept the upkeep of the county roads. For Lowery, it's more than money--it's a public safety issue.

"I think this is something the public is going to see before the court problems or the lines at the courthouse. The roads are in bad shape," Lowery said.

During the Monday meeting, commissioners and the mayors discussed the possibility of using federal funds to from the Metropolitan Planning Organization to repair some of the roadways. More meetings are planned in the future.

"What we are going to do is baby steps and here is the first step and start working out a solution to the problem," Commissioner Joe Knight said.

The Jefferson County Mayor's Association plans to meet later this week and discuss the problem.

Via MyFoxAL.com

On August 4-6, RPCGB staff assisted the Cordova community in developing a plan to rebuild their city after the April 27 tornadoes. The RPCGB staff participated in a planning charrette that included local residents from Cordova, FEMA personnel, faculty and staff from Auburn University's Urban Design Studio (AUDS), and volunteers from Birmingham's architecture and landscape architecture professional organizations. The plan included strategies to rebuild downtown, relocate businesses, relocate ball fields and build a park and greenway that connects Cordova's downtown to surrounding rivers and streams for a diverse range of recreational opportunities.

Members of the charrette team met with community members on August 28 to report on details of the plan. Over 60 Cordova citizens attended the meeting and expressed their enthusiasm for the park and the plan in general. A more formalized plan with greater detail will be presented to the community in the next few weeks.

In addition to participating in the Cordova charrette, the RPCGB is also a recent recipient of a $100,000 Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to aid communities in the region recovering from the devastation of the April tornadoes. The EDA grant, one of five awarded statewide, will be used to develop a disaster response and preparedness plan that focuses on protecting infrastructure and businesses, and enabling local governments to provide both proactive and reactive assistance to their citizens.

The RPCGB, along with its consultant team led by Atkins, is conducting the third Community Forum for the Southwest Corridor Transit Study on Tuesday, September 20 at the Birmingham CrossPlex (former State Fairgrounds) and Wednesday, September 21 at Lawson State Community College in Bessemer. The study is examining premium transit alternatives along a 22-mile corridor extending from downtown Birmingham to the Jefferson/Tuscaloosa County Line. The corridor study area lies between I-20/I-59 to the west and Red Mountain to the east with US 11/Bessemer Super Highway corridor at its center. While the study is focused on identifying the most practical transit service and alignment, it is also exploring ways to leverage land use and economic development potential. The study is exploring reshaping communities and identifying retail, industrial, and residential reinvestment strategies.

The Community Forum sessions will be held in an open house format with the public invited to attend anytime from 4 pm to 8 pm to view workshop exhibits and background information. The study team is looking forward to stimulating discussions with the public. Input will advise the study team on the transit alternatives being considered.

For additional information, please visit the project website or contact Darrell L. Howard, project manager.

MEETING DETAILS:
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Birmingham CrossPlex Center (former State Fairgrounds)
2331 Bessemer Rd. (southeast corner of US 11 and Ensley Ave./Ave. W)
Birmingham, AL 35208-3511
4:00-8:00 pm

Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Lawson State Community College - Bessemer
1100 Ninth Avenue SW (US 11 across from Medical West Center)
Bessemer, AL 35022
4:00-8:00 pm

SAVE THE DATE

2011 Building Communities Conference
Transformation: Creating New Life from Existing Assets

Thursday, November 3, 2011, 8:30am - 3:30pm
McWane Science Center, 200 19th Street North, Birmingham, AL 35203
More information available on the RPCGB website in the coming weeks.

____________________________________________________________________________________
SAVE THE DATE

Heart of Alabama Rural Planning Organization (HARPO)
Mark Your Calendars - Public Involvement Meeting For Transportation Planning

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
WE HAVE IDEAS!
WE HAVE STRATEGIES!
WE NEED POLICIES!

Join us as we examine how we will turn our plan into reality.

Chilton County, Tuesday, September 13, 2011, 10:00 a.m., Clanton City Hall, 502 2nd Avenue N., Clanton. Enter on 6th Street

Blount County, Tuesday, September 20, 2011, 10:00 a.m., Frank Green Building, 415 5th Ave. E., Oneonta

Walker County, Thursday, September 22, 2011, 10:00 a.m., Bankhead House & Heritage Center, 800 7th Street W.,Jasper

St. Clair County, Wednesday, September 28, 2011, 10:00 a.m., St. Clair Economic Development Council, 500 College Circle, Pell City (Jeff State Campus)

The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) annual update for 2011-2012 is now available. The CEDS serves to facilitate the connection of economic development projects throughout the region to implementation tools, funding sources, and potential partners. For more information about the CEDS and other economic development initiatives, please visit the website or contact Yvonne Murray.

The Alabama Partners for Clean Air (APCA) held an Air Quality Expo on Saturday, August 6 at Railroad Park. This FREE expo provided the community with an opportunity to learn about many ways to improve air quality in our region. Attendees received a free emissions test for their vehicle, free asthma screening coupon from Alabama Allergy and Asthma and also learned about recycling, carpooling and clean fuel vehicles. Be on the lookout for the 2012 Air Quality Expo in the spring!

The Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition (ACFC), a partner with the Alabama Partners for Clean Air, broke ground on two new E-85 ethanol fuel stations for the city of Birmingham in mid-August. Ethanol is fuel produced from corn and will be used for the city's flex fuel vehicles.

"This gives us the flexibility to choose on a weekly basis which fuel is least expensive, whether it is E-85 or unleaded fuel," Bob Rainey with Birmingham's Fleet Management said.

A grant from the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition is paying for 80 percent of the project and the stations are expected to be completed in mid-December. Find out more about the ACFC on the Alabama Partners for Clean Air website.

• Elected Mayor in 2008
• University of Alabama for undergraduate and law degree
• Practiced law from 1970 until appointed Circuit Judge for the 30th Judicial Circuit in 1991. Retired from the bench in 2005
• Appointed Senior Circuit Judge and handled cases assigned around the state by the Alabama Supreme Court
• Served in the U.S. Marine Corps
• Has completed ten marathons
• Charter member of the Pell City Rotary Club and Chairman of St. Clair County Head Start
• Main hobby is flying. He owns a 2003 Piper Archer III and holds a private pilots license.
• Family: Wife of 45 years- Paula Duncan Hereford. Two grown children and one grandchild
• "I am a big fan of the RPCGB and appreciate all the services it provides to its members."