Vestavia Hills City Manager Jeff Downes on Monday night defended a proposal for the city to spend nearly $1.2 million for new signs, landscaping and drainage improvements at the southern gateway to the city along U.S. 31.

His comments came during a special City Council work session that was called after the proposal drew criticism from some people in the community who said that was too much money to spend on this project and that there are more important needs in the community.

Downes said there is more to the southern gateway project than some people realize.

It would include a 15-foot-tall, 130-foot-long wall with “Vestavia Hills” written on it running parallel with U.S. 31. Also being proposed is another sign bearing the city’s name across the street by the Chevron gasoline station t

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