HOOVER — Before the meeting began, spirits were high and optimistic all around.
Mayor Frank Brocato greeted several children in the audience who were there with their mother, holding handmade signs in support of the Performing Arts Center (PAC). One child gleefully showed off the City challenge coin that the mayor had given him. The meeting started with a standing-room-only crowd, many of whom were supporters of the arts objecting to the delay and reallocation of money. A few were there to discuss the sewer challenges, and others seemed to be there to express their frustration that City leadership ran out the clock on yet another opportunity to make the City better.
The congenial attitude shifted as the council got down to business. As with many Hoover City Council meetings held over the past year, the hour-and-a-half-long discussion included several heated exchanges, interruptions and accusations of failed leadership. There were back-and-forths between the council members themselves and one with the mayor, along with passionate public comments in response to the proposed budget amendments.
Brocato started the discussion by saying, "Tonight we find ourselves about a crossroads facing in infrastructure need and somewhat of a stalled culture investment. We have an opportunity tonight, though, to take strategic action to protect our city's financial integrity as we continue to serve people with transparency and accountability." He went on to detail the challenge the city faced due to the lack of leadership in choosing a site before the "bond compliance window closes."
As he has in many meetings before, the mayor attempted to deflect the blame for the delay, shifting the responsibility to the council led by council president John Lyda, though careful not to use his name.
In a Facebook post prior to the meeting, Councilman Casey Middlebrooks succinctly explained the three agenda items, saying that the need for the City to reallocate money initially sought and secured to create a PAC.
“The terms of the bond require us to spend the funds within three years, and frankly, as of now, we do not have a fully developed, ‘shovel-ready’ plan for the PAC. Part of this failure lies with us with missed opportunities. Regardless, we are now faced with a situation where continued inaction would lead to significant financial penalties for our city," he wrote.
Middlebrooks went on to explain, "The City is proposing a strategic reallocation of these funds. Specifically, the recommendation is the use of approximately $6 million to address critical capital needs in our sewer system. The remaining bond funds will be allocated to other budgeted, long-term capital projects, ensuring that the entire $17 million is utilized within the mandated timeframe. This strategic reallocation will, in turn, free up $11 million from our existing Capital Funds.”
As the meeting continued following the mayor and CFO's presentation, Councilman Steve McClinton and Mayor Brocato exchanged barbs about how the sewer problems became so urgent that they required immediate updates.
After restating that he agreed with his colleagues who made it clear that the PAC was a promise made to residents that must be kept, McClinton said, "I guess my biggest question is, not to play the blame game, that I've got questions out here. As dire as the sewer thing is, how come this was not mentioned six months ago in the budget?"
His question was received by the audience with loud applause.
Brocato responded by insisting that the council was aware. McClinton pushed back, saying that the mayor didn't describe the situation as "dire," which is how the mayor and staff are currently describing the situation. McClinton said, "I'm not trying to pass blame," to which Brocato responded, "I think you are trying to pass blame." The mayor went on to put the responsibility back on the council, insinuating that they had not done enough.
Lyda then interjected to defend Brocato, saying that the City has known of the needs for years. There was a momentary back-and-forth when Lyda refused to yield the mic to McClinton. When McClinton got the mic, to great applause, he noted that the forensic audit showed that the City controls the information and that the council has been operating under incorrect information. He repeated the fact that he did not feel that the council had been given all the details.
Councilman Derek Murphy suggested that the City look at lowering the current six-month reserve balance requirement that the council placed on itself, an idea that the council overwhelmingly appeared to support.
During the public comment section, multiple members of the art community spoke, several homeowners spoke about the sewer system, and others expressed their frustration with the City’s lack of action since taking out the initial bond.
Former councilwoman and council candidate Donna Mazur challenged Brocato and Lyda to take ownership of their roles in the delay. She reminded the council that the City has been considering a PAC for over two decades. After some pointed and personal remarks and questions directed to Lyda, he cut her off. When she insisted on being allowed to continue, he requested Hoover Police to escort her back to her seat, which an officer did.
Ultimately, the council voted to approve all three amendments with the caveat that the city reconsiders its previously adopted policy of maintaining six months of budget in reserve.
Following the meeting, in an interview with Jon Anderson of the Hoover Sun, Councilman Curt Posey and Councilman Murphy discussed the possibilities and limitations of potential locations for a PAC. Murphy explained with Posey agreeing that there were only a few possible site locations that offered not just a potential location for the center but also what he described as the "complementary" amenities, such as restaurants, that would make a center a success.
Posey brought up how close the city came to one such deal saying, "Would you not agree we were one vote away from passing Stadium Trace last year," to which Murphy said, "It should have come back up. I mean that developer has done a good job with their first development; without a shadow of doubt, you cannot argue the success of their first phase. Period."
Anderson asked, "But you don't think that's the best location?" to which Murphy said, "I'm not saying that. No, I'm not saying that. I'm saying that if that's one of the options, that's one of the options."
When asked by 1819 News if he believes in Lyda's assessment that the Stadium Trace Village option should be taken off the table, Murphy responded, "No. The gentleman has done a very successful phase one."
He cited the fact that not only was the original phase of the project a success, but that it was a success during COVID-19 when many other businesses failed. Murphy stressed that the success of that project is "some of the reason why our [city's] revenue generation is doing so well, too."
The council will meet again on April 21. The City CFO is expected to present options for refunding the City's commitment to the PAC, and the council will consider potential changes to its six-month reserve policy.
Apryl Marie Fogel is a Birmingham resident who frequently appears on and guest hosts radio programs around the state. She can be reached at [email protected] or on X and Facebook at @aprylmarie.
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