Birmingham city council members said they will host a public town hall on animal control and potential city-code changes on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at Parker High School, the council announced Oct. 7.

The meeting will open at 5:30 p.m. for sign-ups; the public-input session begins at 6 p.m. Officials said the session will be streamed and allow both in-person and online comment. The council also released an online survey ahead of the meeting through its communications channels.

Councilors framed the town hall as an opportunity to gather community feedback before considering any amendments to city code related to animal control. The council mentioned a range of possible changes that could be discussed, including spay/neuter requirements commonly used by municipalities.

Councilor Clark said the issue is a public-safety concern, citing situations in which children or residents have been threatened by dogs. “It is an important public safety issue,” Clark said, noting the council’s interest in balancing animal welfare and community safety.

Council members also discussed whether the council can influence hiring or qualification standards for animal-control staff. One councilor suggested that recruitment and job qualifications are managed through Jefferson County personnel processes, and that the council could explore options but would need to coordinate with the county when positions are advertised.

The council said it will collect public input at the Oct. 15 town hall, review the survey responses and use feedback to shape any proposed amendments to the city code. No code changes or votes were taken at the Oct. 7 meeting.