Foley’s city council will discuss adding an entertainment district in the downtown area along U.S. 98 for two blocks west of McKenzie Street or State Route 59 with the north boundary being West Rose Avenue and the south boundary being West Myrtle Avenue.

According to Alabama state law, entertainment districts allow businesses in the area to sell alcoholic drinks to go to patrons in plastic cups which they can carry openly in the area of the designated district. Patrons are not allowed to bring their own alcohol into districts and may not enter another establishment selling alcohol with a drink purchased elsewhere.

OWA Parks and Resorts is already a designated entertainment district in Foley and Orange Beach has two, one at The Wharf and one that combines Perdido Beach Resort and San Roc Cay. Several larger cities in Alabama also have designated entertainment districts. Click here to see the full map of the proposed entertainment district area.

During the meeting, Monday, July 15th at 4pm, the council will also:

• Discuss the initial draft of a strategic plan with a goal of serving our residents and visitors with integrity by providing innovative and fiscally responsible services that promote safety, friendliness and stability while helping to ensure a thriving community for all.
• Hear a presentation by Darrelyn Dunmore of Foley Main Street on the progress of that effort in the city.
• Consider approving bills paid in the month of June for a total of $12.3 million.
• Receive a report on tax collections in the month of June including $3.5 million in sales taxes or about $200,000 over fiscal year 2023 and about $166,000 over budget projections. In lodging taxes, the city collected $236,128 or $12,000 more than 2023 and about $3,000 more than budget projections.
• Receive a report from the Community Development Department showing 122 building permits were issued for single-family homes with a valuation of $38.5 million and 47 permits for single-family residential rental homes with a valuation of $6.3 million. On the commercial side, there were 13 permits issued for new construction with a valuation of $13.3 million including for the new Publix at the southwest corner of the Beach Express and County Road 20, Stowaway Storage and Tractor Supply.
• Hear a report from the police department on June activities including 211 inmates processed through the city jail. Crimes reported include 19 for theft, 17 for simple assault domestic violence and 16 for shoplifting. Officers were dispatched for service 1,959 times in the month.
• Have an introduction of a bill to amend city ordinances to create impact fees on new developments.
• Discuss amending the pay classification plan for the financial services division.
• Consider adding Chicago Street as a fifth location to a Volkert proposal for improvements for school zone and downtown crosswalk improvements along U.S. 98 or Laurel Avenue for $30,500.
• Accepting a recommendation from the planning commission to change city subdivision regulations regarding street tree planting.
• Approving the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce’s Chicago Street Supper Club ticketed event on Oct. 18.
• Set a public hearing date to declare 1810 S. Cedar St. a “dilapidated and damaged structure” as a public nuisance and order it cleaned up.
• Consider a modification of the plan for the East Bullard Avenue extension project adding $25,000 to the cost.
• Discuss spending $53,000 for additional traffic cameras and battery backup units in a request from City Engineer Chad Christian.
• Discuss bids awarded by the city in June including a new truck for the municipal Complex for $51,151 to Moyer Ford, paving the pickleball complex parking lot to American Asphalt for $542,091 and for architectural work on the proposed safe room for first responders to Adams Stewart. The agenda did not list the cost in this bid.
• Consider approving an application for funds from the Alabama Power Foundation Gateway Grant for the South Baldwin Medical Museum.
• Discuss the use of Heritage Park by the Jehovah's Witness Community to display free Bible-based literature July 1 through Dec. 3 on Fridays and Saturdays 8 a.m.-3 p.m. and Sundays noon-4 p.m.
• Consider approving the use of Heritage Park for the Burgers, Brats and Beer Festival, formerly the Chocolate and Cheese Festival, on Nov. 9 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Discuss appointing Mike McGowin and Christina Cooley to the Senior Center Advisory Board.
• Consider increasing the budget to create an exhibit to commemorate Foley’s Barin Field and the city’s designation as a WWII Heritage City for $22,500.
• Discuss accepting a donation of $2,500 from the Friends of the Foley Library to buy a 3D printer, supplies and other technology.
• Consider a proposal from Capstone Engineering for $45,000 to implement traffic calming measures on Park Avenue.
• Hear a request from Foley Main Street to expand the area to more closely align with the downtown overlay district.
• Consider approving an amendment to the contract for the Mills Community pedestrian improvements adding $9,900 to the project for “right of way and easement maps and legal descriptions.”
• Discuss memorializing the application for a Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation planning and prototyping grant.
• Consider approving a proposal from Sawgrass for design of 10 sand volleyball courts for $68,940 to be located near the city’s pickleball courts near the Coastal Alabama Farmers and Fishermen’s Market on County Road 20.
• Discuss amending the pay classification play in the Sanitation Department.
• Discuss approving the submittal of an airport terminal grant for fiscal year 2025 from the FAA.