Birmingham City Council brings back controversial PACE Board
Despite concerns over lack of accountability, the council appointed five new members to the formerly defunct board.
The Birmingham City Council voted Tuesday to appoint five new members to its Public Athletic, Cultural, and Entertainment Facilities (PACE) Board, despite concerns about that board’s lack of accountability, BirminghamWatch reports.
The appointments were made so that the city could legally approve a new restaurant at the Negro Southern League Museum. The PACE Board oversees both the museum and the neighboring Regions Field, and Mayor Randall Woodfin told councilors that there was no other way for the restaurant to be approved.
The terms of all PACE Board members had expired last year, and some councilors were in no hurry to instate new ones after construction of Regions Field, which the board oversaw, went overbudget, costing the city $4.1 million, which it is paying off in installments through 2021. Some councilors proposed holding off on the new appointments until restrictions on the board could be put in place; ultimately, the council voted to approve the appointments, with discussions over restrictions happening over the next several weeks. Woodfin said his office was also looking to overhaul the process of appointing members to the city’s numerous boards.
