2014 State of the City address
Birmingham Mayor William Bell's 2014 State of the City address was delivered on Tuesday January 14, 2014, at the end of his 4th year in office. Bell addressed the the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham at luncheon in the Harbert Center, and reprised his speech at 6:00 PM at the Fountain Heights Recreation Center.
During the address, Bell declared that Birmingham was set to become the "next great southern city" and to reverse the trend of losing population with as many as 10,000 new residents before the 2020 census. He touted increasing public-private partnerships in community and economic development projects, and successful efforts to reduce crime and negative perceptions of the city. One example he cited was the Woodlawn Initiative, which works with Birmingham City Schools and local social service organizations to pursue community revitalization. He also touted his administration's close relationship with UAB and a plan to establish a construction trade apprenticeship program with private business partners.
Bell hoped to see $4 billion in public and private investments in the city over the next five years, including foreign investments, and looked forward to potential renovations to Legion Field and the possibility of adding a direct flight to Stuttgart, Germany from Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport to better connect Mercedes-Benz US International to its parent company.
He also promised more streamlined permitting of city services, and touted his plans for implementing the city's land banking program to promote economic development and reduce blight. He expressed support for expansion of the state's recently-passed tax credit for renovations to historic buildings. He also announced the creation of a police foundation to raise revenues for the Birmingham Police Department.
Responding to a question following the afternoon speech, he urged the Birmingham Water Works board to institute voluntary reforms to negate the momentum for state legislation to reconstitute the board. His administration opposes the Republican-backed legislation, and in the morning's Birmingham City Council meeting a measure authorizing the hiring of Anthony Barnes and other lobbyists to pursue the city's legislative agenda was approved.
References
- Bryant, Joseph D. (January 14, 2014) "State of the City: Birmingham Mayor William Bell to stress land banking benefits, new development initiatives for 2014." The Birmingham News
- Bryant, Joseph D. (January 14, 2014) "Room for compromise? Birmingham Mayor William Bell offers to intercede to avoid looming Water Works legislative fight." The Birmingham News
- Bryant, Joseph D. (January 14, 2014) "Birmingham to become 'the next great southern city' Mayor William Bell declares in State of the City." The Birmingham News
- Crawford, Cindy F. (January 14, 2014) "Birmingham Mayor William Bell 'looks inward' and outward in state of city address." Birmingham Business Journal