The City of Orange Beach is gearing up for several new construction projects and discussed several ground-testing contracts at the proposed construction sites at its council work session on Nov. 5th. Due to the increased growth in tax revenue, the council is addressing new lifestyle projects for local residents.

GeoCon Engineering and Materials Testing will conduct the four tests beginning with the proposed pickleball parks at the recreation campus for $6,555. The company will also do testing for a first responder safe room for tropical events for $3,810.

A new building planned for the improved shooting range will also be tested for another $3,810. The city will spend another $3,810 to GeoCon for testing at the site of a planned veterans’ memorial in Orange Beach including a 100-foot flagpole and eight 30-foot flagpoles.

During the regular session, the council reviewed:

• Discuss approving $944,667 in payments for goods and services Oct. 24-Nov. 6.
• Recognize Orange Beach High School student Ali Grigsby for academic and extracurricular activities.
• Have a second reading of an ordinance change to allow for residents of Fish Camp Landing to improve and expand the marina to 52 slips to offer a slip for each residence in the subdivision.
• Have a second reading to change the sign ordinance to allow and expansion of the Columbia Southern University’s sign on the Foley Beach Express.
• Consider approving a liquor license for J&M Tackle for Coster Outfitters a corporation founded in August and with a Huntsville address, according to the Alabama Secretary of State’s business directory.
• Consider approving a special events liquor license by the Wharf Restaurant Group for an event for Collins Aerospace on Dec. 14 at the Heron Pointe venue.
• Discuss awarding a bid for Christmas decorations to Winterland for $52,725 which submitted the lowest bid of five received.
• Discuss authorizing a contract to buy license plate camera recognition software and hardware from Flock Group for the police department for $13,300.
• Discuss buying portable radios for the fire department from Motorola Solutions for $882,125 with 95 percent funded by the FY2023 Assistance to Firefighters Grant from U.S. Homeland Security.
• Consider buying exercise equipment for the Adult Fitness Center from Life Fitness for $99,606.
• Discuss Entering into a contract with Peak Sportsman Software for recreation program member management.
• Consider Establishing fees for the Orange Beach Shooting range.
• Discuss signing a contract with Allen Engineering and Science for construction assistance services.
• Consider extending an agreement using Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act to help fund cleanup of marine debris in the city’s waterway.
• Consider accepting a proposal from Safe Span for bridge safety inspections for $2,800.
• Discuss an agreement with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency for office space and boat slips for the police department. The Alabama Marine Police have an office at Perdido Pass.
• Discuss amending the benefits section in the city’s personnel manual.
• Consider authorizing a contract with Anne Gajda for golf instruction services.
• Have a public hearing and a first reading of an ordinance change in the Saltwater Cottages planned unit development to remove a sidewalk at the request of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Have a public hearing and first reading of a proposed ordinance change in the wording concerning “grade plane.”
• Hear a petition and have a first reading of an ordinance to annex property owned by Intracoastal Investments. According to Baldwin County tax records, the company owns land directly across from The Wharf on the Intracoastal Waterway. According to the Alabama Secretary of State’s business database, the company’s registered agent is Art Favre who also owns The Wharf.

During the work session, the council reviewed:

• An annexation petition from the Holmes family to bring property on Roscoe Road into the city limits. Baldwin County records indicate the use of the property for timber.
• Changing the time of the Dec. 3 council meeting to 4 p.m. from 5 p.m. to allow time for the council and mayor to attend the city’s tree lighting at The Wharf.
• Providing tax exemptions for hearing aids from Dec. 1 through Sept. 30, 2029.
• Extending the entertainment districts at The Wharf and SanRoc Cay Marina and Perdido Beach Resort through Dec. 31, 2025.
• The 2025 budget which calls for $103.1 million in revenue and $78.3 million in expenses.
• Authorizing a one-time payment for city employees for future services.
• Authorizing amendments to the enrollment agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield to renew the employee health plan.
• Declaring six in-car cameras surplus and donating them to Elberta.
• Declaring a stationary bike owned by the city as surplus and donating it to city schools.
• Setting a public hearing date to hear a request from Compass Construction to rezone four acres on the beach at 23592 Perdido Beach Blvd. from single-family residential to planned unit development containing five single-family houses. The suggested date is Dec. 3.
• Setting up a public hearing on a request from Larry Wireman and the Turquoise Place PUD to add a six-unit condo building on 1.17 acres directly west of Turquoise Place. Plans call for a clubhouse and rooftop pool deck with amenities.