City wants to create infrastructure master plan

By Grace Lovins

An infrastructure master plan is on the horizon for the city of Birmingham after commissioners approved the issuing of a request for proposals (RFP) during their Monday, August 24, meeting.

The RFP includes three phases of work for analyzing the current infrastructure conditions and developing recommendations for the future.

City engineer Melissa Coatta explained that the commission previously discussed going out to bid in January for what they were originally calling the capital improvement master plan. In March, the commission continued talking about the scope during a workshop session, and the draft RFP was brought to an official meeting in June.

The proposal was not discussed by the commission in June due to an overloaded agenda, but Coatta said city staff has taken time since then to review the proposal, make changes and bring forward a final draft to Monday night’s meeting.

According to Coatta, the RFP covers three phases: analysis of existing conditions and policies; infrastructure planning framework; and pilot and final framework. The selected consultant is expected to provide 20 deliverables throughout the process and present to the commission at the end of phases one and two.

The proposal itself, included in the meeting packet, explains that the city is looking for a firm to help create a “practical, transparent, and durable system for planning and funding infrastructure improvements.” It goes on to say this covers the city’s streets, water, sewer, stormwater and drainage, sidewalks and related public infrastructure.

As part of the end result, the infrastructure master plan is expected to include a comprehensive system for prioritizing projects, estimating costs, advancing design, recommendations for funding mechanisms, coordinating projects and strategies for engaging with residents. The RFP will be open until October 6, 2026, and the city anticipates selecting a firm by November.

“I think it’s a big step in the right direction of getting a handle on this stuff and bringing public confidence back into the process,” mayor Clinton Baller said.

With minimal discussion, commissioners voted unanimously, 6-0, to approve the draft RFP.