Council's priorities include Land Bank Act, vacant property registry, and protections for local control of law enforcement.
Birmingham City Council President Wardine Alexander, shown Nov. 4, 2025, speaks to media at City Hall. The City of Birmingham has set its agenda for top priorities in the upcoming session of the Alabama Legislature, including the goal of continuing to speed up the city’s control of blighted properties.
The Birmingham City Council on Jan. 6, approved a resolution outlining the city’s 2026 legislative priorities. These priorities are designed to enhance city operations, with a primary focus on infrastructure, public safety, and economic growth. “Each year, we develop a legislative priority list to improve our legislative responsibilities,” said Birmingham City Council President Wardine Alexander. “This year’s priorities involve improving all of our communities’ infrastructure.”- Protection from state legislation that would pre-empt local control of law enforcement and police departments. - Calling for an Alabama Land Bank Act to allow local land bank authorities to acquire delinquent tax properties within a shortened redemption period.- Allowing for a vacant property registration fee and reasonable enforcement of maintenance standards.- Supporting the creation of a Community Land Trust within municipalities to support local community development and affordable housing initiatives. - Legislative review of a constitutional amendment that would allow a Class 1 municipality to enact a blight remediation assessment against certain landowners.to allow the city to foreclose on properties with liens and unpaid fines on code violations. It took effect Oct. 1. That ordinance allows Birmingham to foreclose on non-owner-occupied blighted, vacant, or abandoned properties that have unpaid code enforcement liens, including for overgrown weeds or demolition costs. The city can foreclose after six months of unpaid liens exceeding $1,500 on nuisance abatements or delinquent taxes. Birmingham took the action after a recent change in state law that makes it easier to move on properties subject to unpaid liens against vacant dilapidated houses. When the city fines an absentee landlord, either for cutting weeds or for tearing down damaged, dangerous houses, the fines often go unpaid. The new state law makes it possible for the city to more quickly recoup those costs by obtaining the properties, which can then be sold or otherwise utilized. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin attended the City Council meeting on Jan. 6, 2026, where the council adopted a legislative agenda that reflects his priorities. Greg Garrison writes news and feature stories for AL.com, covering religion, Birmingham City Hall, Southern culture, civil rights history, state politics, sports and entertainment. He joined The Birmingham...
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