UPDATE #2: This week’s meeting is now streaming live on the city’s website – and as of 12:39 p.m. they were currently hearing public comments about the Glen Iris item.

UPDATE #1: A quick check of the city’s website now lets us know that meetings will begin streaming next week Tuesday, March 11. Today’s meeting appears as though it will be available in the archives later today though.

As we first shared with you in December, the City of Birmingham’s new website would allow them to do some new things – including giving residents the opportunity to watch live streams of city council meetings from the comfort of their computer monitors. The Birmingham Business Journal reported yesterday that today would be the first time that this feature will be used. A current check of the site though shows only last week’s meeting available in the archives. It will definitely be a good day to watch online if it is in fact available (though it is not currently available as of the posting of this item).

Among the items of interest on this morning’s agenda is the very first one (PDF – on page 2). The issue involves the former Knights of Columbus property adjacent to George Ward Park. Let’s just say that the residents are not quite happy with the thought of more apartments in the community. Area residents created an iPetitions page to collect signatures voicing their concerns.

Other items of interest today:

• The city will attempt to pass a resolution to assist one representative from each of the city’s 23 communities to attend the 2008 Neighborhood USA conference in Hampton, VA. This would be a change from previous policy that found funding for one representative from each of the city’s 99 neighborhoods.
• A resolution approving the agreement with the Birmingham Education Initiative, Inc. to administer the city’s laptop program.