It's been so long since Birmingham began talking about building a new stadium, the young men and women comprising the Class of '18 in the city's schools were not yet born, downtown was still near desolate and Nick Saban was Michigan State's head coach.

Indeed, in August 1998, 56 percent of Jefferson County voters chose not to increase the county sales tax by a penny to fund a proposed domed stadium. (Interestingly, 80% of African-American voters were in favor of it, while 80% of whites were not. Anyone really surprised?)

Well, now, the time for talking and debating and arm-wrestling is over.

If Birmingham is to build its proposed $174-million, up-to-55,000-seat open-air stadium in the area adjacent to Uptown and the BJCC in time for the opening game of the University of Alabama-Birmingham's 2020 season, or even for the opening of the 2021 World Games the following summer, the Birmingham City Council must decide the city's funding commitment at its next scheduled meeting, February 6.

On very, very soon thereafter.

On Wednesday afternoon, Mayor Randall Woodfin will pitch the first major initiative of his still-nascent tenure to the Council--a Council that has been largely "left out of the process," says Council president Valerie Abbott--at its meeting of the Committee of the Whole.

In essence, the mayor will make his case for building the long-discussed stadium--and building it now.

He will ask the Council to commit $3 million annually for 30 years towards servicing the bond needed to construct the stadium, according to a copy of the proposal obtained from sources at City Hall just prior to the meeting.

The proposal also includes the much-overlooked $123 million renovation of Legacy Arena, primarily paid for by alcohol, lodging and fee-in-lieu-of-tax funds collected over nearly two decades.

Woodfin will argue that the long-discussed and debated projects will generate an additional $9.9 million in annual tax revenues for the city once completed, as well as $5.5 million in tax revenues during the construction phase--so as soon as 2019.

In short, its an ROI (Return on Investment) argument: the stadium and renovation are projected to be much-needed, new sources of revenue, generating funds that can be invested elsewhere, like neighborhoods and schools.

According to the proposal, a total of $21.515 million annually will be needed to service the debt on the bonds raised to fun the projects (including a 2015 bond).

Of that amount, according to the proposal, $10.715 million is to be provided by the BJCC (the city already contributes $5 million annually to the facility) ; $4 million from a "taxable placement leveraged by revenues secured by UAB and corporate partnerships" (read: UAB's lease fee and naming rights); $3 million by the City of Birmingham; $2.8 million from the Jefferson County Delegation of the Alabama State Legislature (proposal says a legislation tied to a 2001 bill earmarking funds for a "multi-purpose facility" must be amended before the money may be collected); a $1 million from Jefferson County, which confirmed its commitment earlier this month.

All of those funding sources, however, are not yet in place.

State Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham, who sponsored the 2001 bill calling for a car rental tax to fund a stadium, said Tuesday he is no longer in favor of the stadium project and will introduce a bill to redirect those funds (now, about $30 million) towards helping to pay a sewer bond help by the Birmingham Water Works in hopes of helping residents from the spate of astronomically high heating bills that landed in people's inboxes recently.

"People can't pay those water bills," Rogers told me. "There are liens on people's houses. I'd rather see that money take the pressure of people."

In the circus that is politics, of course, Rogers could certainly change his mind. Or or it might prove difficult to garner the broad support needed to alter the usage of funds earmarked for a specific purpose.

Also, a 2018 bill floating around Montgomery would create a 3 percent rental tax in Jefferson County that would support a stadium capable of hosting an NCAA Division 1 Football Bowl Subdivision games, reports my Al.com colleague Erin Edgemon.

Nonetheless, for now, Rogers is steadfast.

"UAB's got enough money," he said. "They can build a stadium on campus. Thirty-six thousand seats. That way, it won't handicap Legion Field."

Indeed, UAB is the dragon in the room (Legion Field is the aged elephant) when it comes to stadium talks, having been all but silent--at least publicly--about its specific financial contribution (only stated it as agreed to a long-term lease and would consider sponsorship) when it is all but clear that if not for UAB and its revived football program, the stadium might not be being built at all.

Moreover, the winner of the stadium's naming rights has not been announced--that's if the bidding is actually over. Those funds will most certainly come to fruition but until we know who's writing the check it might was well be Park Place on a Monopoly board,

How the Council will ultimately vote--perhaps as early as next Tuesday--is far from certain. Although many councilors will whisper their support for the stadium, few will say so publicly.

Indeed, Abbott said she has "many, many questions" about the proposal.

"I'm interested to know where the mayor stands and how it will be funded," she said. "I don't feel knowledgeable enough to have a deep discussion about it. It would only be shallow information."

The mayor's pitch may be the most important salvo in this long, weary debate--a debate that must end soon, whether Birmingham is ready. Or not.