League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham

Regional Transit Deadline Nearing. $87 Million Set Aside Is at Stake.

To meet the FTA May deadline for the funding submission for a new regional transit system, enabling legislation must pass the Legislature in the upcoming session. If successful, the $87 million set aside by Senator Shelby will be available.

The Alliance for Transportation Alternatives, a committee selected by the Regional Planning Commission (government), the Chamber of Commerce (business), and Region 2020 (citizens), finalized its recommendations for the structure and funding of a regional transit system January 13. The proposed structure is modeled on the earlier BARTA Plan, with representation on the governing board based on population, rather than, as now, controlled by Birmingham. Recommended funding is a combination of a 0.5 percent rise in the occupational tax plus an increase in the gas tax. This should provide the $80 million per year required for the federal match. Enabling legislation is now being written. Citizen pressure will be required to achieve passage in the March session.

-- Ruth Wright, LWVGB 2nd V.P.

LWVAL Joins Tax Reform Group

The state League has joined a coalition of non-profit organizations to work for tax reform. Spearheaded by Alabama Arise and Voices for Alabama's Children, the coalition has met several times in Montgomery to educate representatives on tax policy and to plan its advocacy campaign. The Statement of Agreement to which all member organizations have agreed is the following: "We support tax reform in Alabama that is fair, efficient, reliable, simple, transparent, adequate and revenue-positive." The state Board feels that this statement agrees with League position. The Board will continue to work for comprehensive constitutional reform which includes tax reform. However, the Board believes that working with this coalition is the best use of League resources in this area of program. To help with this effort, call Sarah at 967-2829. Sarah McDonald, LWVAL President

Help us grow - Get a new member today!

Welcome to new members Regina Ammon, Linda Coleman, Carol Eugenia Lambeth, Suzanne Oparil, and Kathern Sheffield.

Leagues to Review State Program

The LWVAL convention is scheduled for April 26-27 (Mobile is the site) which means that local Leagues over the state will review existing state program to advise the state Board on program positions. The review will result in recommendations to the Board to keep, drop, or update existing positions. Local Leagues may also recommend new studies. State Program Chair, Ruth Wright of Auburn, has asked local League to respond by February 17. LWVGB members will meet Sunday, February 9, at 2 p.m. at the Vestavia Public Library meeting room to do the review. For an outline version of the current state program see the state League web site (http://www.lwval.org).

A free workshop on pedestrian and bicycle program management will be held on the Birmingham-Southern campus Monday, February 10, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Michael Ronkin of the Oregon DOT, an expert on street design for pedestrians and cyclists, is the presenter.

You can register to attend by sending your name, address and contact information to Tom Maxwell (email: tmaxwell@brpc-al.org) of the Regional Planning Commission before Jan. 31.

About the Voter:

The LWVGB Voter is a publication of the League of Women Voter of
Greater Birmingham.

Voter Contact:
Becky Sylvester, Editor
604 Paden Dr. Birmingham, 35226
Ph: (205) 824-1524
Email: bandbsyl@aol.com

President's Message

I gave League testimony before the newly sworn-in Jefferson County Commission on November 12, 2002, to address three major points: 1) the flawed organizational structure of some of the departments and services Commissioners oversee; 2) Interaction with the public through public hearings, press conferences, press releases and the County's web site; and 3) doing away with the discretionary funds.

I am happy to report that the new Commission is listening. The Commission adopted a Resolution of Organization that is detailed on page 3 of this Voter. The new organization is a major improvement as is the change in the process for discretionary funding. Now, requests for discretionary funding must be submitted to the County's Finance Department and then passed on to the Commission's Finance Committee - after the viability of the group or agency has been verified. Then, the Committee makes its recommendations to the full Commission.

These changes are the beginning of new and improved county government, but we still need to observe the meetings to encourage continuous improvement . Thanks to Ruth Wright for her dedication to observing county government. Without Ruth, the League would not have put the issues before the Commission. This is one great example of the League at work

In December, I met with Orville Eiffell, County Public Relations Officer, and Wayne Cree, Chief Information Officer for the County, to offer ideas on the Jefferson County web site. I agreed to help get the word out about the site, so please tell all about the County's improved web site. See the article on page 3 of this Voter (see JeffCo's New Web Site) for more information.

-- Gayle England

LWVGB, A Major Contributor to DOI Tour

By the time you receive this Voter, the Declaration of Independence Tour will be off to another city. During the 10 days the document was on display at the Civil Rights Institute, LWVGB volunteers registered 264 people statewide. The organizers of the Tour said that this was the most voter registrations that have been done to date on the Tour. The event was great visibility for the League with over 10,000 people visiting the Civil Rights Institute. Thanks to Sharon Sedley, Diane Holmes, Yvonne Brakefield, and Jessie Tehranchi for helping with voter registration. Just another example of the League at work.

-- Gayle England

Holiday Luncheon A Success

Comments on how wonderful the luncheon was are still coming in. This time we met at Riverchase Country Club. The facility, the friendly staff, the great food and Speaker, David Sher, all contributed to a good time. Mr. Sher sent a thank you note for the opportunity to speak and for the work the League does. Thanks to Diane Holmes for making the arrangements and organizing our annual December luncheon.

-- Gayle England

JeffCo Commission Reorganizes

On November 12, 2002, the new County Commission adopted a Resolution of Organization that distributed the powers and duties among the Commissioners. The Commissioner assigned to each of the five county departments is the head of that department and will supervise and control its operation subject to the authority of the Commission as a whole. The Commission made the following assignments:

The resolution also established five Commission Committees, one for each of the five departments. Each Committee is made up of three Commissioners. The Commissioner assigned as the head of each department is the chair of that department's Commission Committee. The committees and Commissioners assigned are:

JeffCo's New Web Site

New equipment for Jefferson County's site is expected to be in place by the end of January. Once in operation, each department will manage its content and provide links to other sites.

The site will include an opportunity for the public to renew car tags and interact with individual Commissioners. (Information in this column provided by Commission documents, Bill Cook, and Gayle England.)

LWVGB Members: Action Needed on CR

Now is the time to let legislators know we expect them to act on reforming the Alabama Constitution in the upcoming MARCH SESSION. Write to your legislators and urge your neighbors, relatives, and friends to do the same.

Tell legislators why you think we need reform. Remind them that voters have approved a constitutional amendment that assures voters will approve/reject a constitution written by a citizens' convention. Write your letter as a private citizen not as a Leaguer.

Address your letters to your Representative or Senator at State House Office or State Senate Office. The mailing address for both is 11 South Union, Montgomery, AL. 36130. House and Senate districts in our area are:

House of Representatives Districts:

15 Bobby Humphryes
40 Lea Fite
41 Mike Hill
43 Mary Sue McClurkin
44 Arthur Payne
45 Albert Morton
46 Mark Gaines
47 John Hawkins
48 Jim Carns
50 Jim McClenden
51 Scott Beason
52 John W. Rogers, Jr.
53 Demetrius Newton
54 George Perdue
55 Eric Major
56 Priscilla Dunn
57 Merika Coleman
58 Oliver Robinson
60 Linda Coleman.

Senate Districts:

5 Curt Lee
15 Steve French
16 "Jabo" Waggoner
17 Jack Biddle, III
18 Rodger Smitherman
19 Cliff Walker
20 Sandra Escott.

-- Nancy Ekberg

Formation of Watershed CAC Imminent

Jurisdictions in the Upper Cahaba Watershed have formed a Consortium to produce a guide for future development and protection of the river. A Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) will advise the Consortium of 10 Mayors* and a commissioner from Jefferson and Shelby Counties on land use, development standards, protection of the Cahaba River, and the public involvement process.
(* Mayors of Birmingham, Clay, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Leeds, Mountain Brook, Pelham, Trussville, Vestavia Hills are Consortium members.)

To be a CAC member, you must be nominated by 1) a mayor or commissioner who is a member of the Consortium or 2) Ann Florie of Region 2020 or 3) Dave Adkisson of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce. Nomination does not ensure selection. The CAC is expected to have 35 40 members. If you are interested in being nominated, contact Tom Maxwell, Regional Planning Commission, who is coordinating the nomination process, at 251-8139 or tmaxwell@brpc-al.org for a nomination form and more information. Nominations are due February 3.