Birmingham City Council President Carole Smitherman wants the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center to include a city council member on its board. Until it tries, the council will not likely advance more money for dome construction or other projects. \
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The make-up of the board is dictated by Alabama statute. The Alabama Legislature would have to change the law before the structure of the board could change, BJCC Executive Director Jack Fields told the council. \
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Smitherman suggested the board file for the legislation to change the law. \
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\’93Until that happens this council would not be inclined to move much further or faster on the request for funding,\’94 Smitherman said. \
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Currently, the mayor of Birmingham is entitled by law to a seat on the board, but not anyone from the city council. \
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Also, Fields told the council that Performa CEO John Elkington was in town Thursday to meet with local banks about funding for an entertainment district. Recently, the Memphis-based developer scaled back plans for the district, citing the downturn in the economy. \
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Performa has had a contract to develop the district for two years, but the project remains stagnant. \
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Meanwhile, Elkington\’92s business interests in other cities seem to be cratering. \
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In Memphis, Performa is in a legal struggle with that city over control of the Beale Street Entertainment District. The city there is conducting forensic audits of Beale Street establishments. Elkington has claimed that the city wants to wrest control from him in order to give it to another developer.