Potential city-private partnerships researched

By Grace Lovins

Following the Monday, June 23, Birmingham City Commission meeting, the city will begin looking into complex partnerships between the city and private entities on public property.

The commission expressed an interest in learning more about potential opportunities for working with private developers to develop or utilize city property in a way that benefits the city.

The question was raised by city attorney Mary Kucharek who said during discussions that the city was approached by a private developer asking to dive into a combined public and private project. She said the question to the commission was to determine if they had an interest in looking at such projects.

Kucharek further explained in a memorandum included in the meeting packet that partnerships between public and private entities would involve exploring the types of partnerships and developments that the city would be interested in. These partnerships or developments would involve development on public property with a financial benefit to the city.

Most commissioners agreed that there was an interest in pursuing such partnerships on behalf of the city.

“We have things that we need and want. We have infrastructure requirements beyond our ability to fund them. We would love a $40 million community center. We’re not crazy about the police station we got. …So, we have things that we want and need and we can’t afford,” said commissioner Clinton Baller.

Mayor Therese Longe built off Baller’s sentiment, saying it begs the question if the commission would be remiss to not entertain any potential ideas that would benefit the city and its residents.

No formal action was taken by the commission as the item was a city staff report, but the commission communicated an interest in looking further into potential partnerships between the city and private entities to address community wants and needs.