Foley Council Weighs Downtown Design Guidelines, Barin Field Museum Plans and New Bicycle Rules

FOLEY, Ala. — The Foley City Council had a full slate for its Monday, Nov. 2, work session and regular meeting at City Hall, with items ranging from the look of the city’s historic downtown to the future of a World War II museum.

The meeting began at 4 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Two of the headline items involved Foley’s past: a professional services agreement to update the Downtown Historic District Design Review Guidelines and a discussion of the next steps for the WWII Barin Field Museum and Heritage Center.

Design guidelines and the Barin Field museum

Council members were to consider a resolution approving an agreement with The Walker Collaborative LLC to update the city’s downtown design review guidelines.

During the work session, they were also scheduled to review the next phase of planning and development for the WWII Barin Field Museum and Heritage Center, including recommended initial steps and anticipated costs outlined in the M.A.P.S. reports.

Other items on the agenda

The rest of the agenda touched on nearly every corner of city government.

Floodplain rules: A public hearing and second reading on an ordinance amending Ordinance 24-2006, the Floodplain Development Ordinance, to re-title it the FEMA-recognized Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance.

Nuisance abatements: A public hearing to declare weeds a public nuisance and order abatement at 406 E. Myrtle Ave., along with resolutions authorizing city employees to enter the property and accepting completed abatement costs to be sent to the Baldwin County Tax Collector. Resolutions would also set future hearings on weeds at 19121 County Road 20, 519 W. Magnolia Ave. and 817 Chestnut St. South, and on an accumulation of junk at the Chestnut Street address.

New ordinances: First readings of an ordinance regulating the operation of bicycles and personal mobility devices in Foley, with a resolution setting a public hearing, and of an ordinance amending various sections of the city’s zoning ordinance.

Facade grants: A work session discussion of amendments to the Facade Grant Program.

Hazard planning and school safety: A resolution adopting the 2026 Baldwin County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, and another entering into a School Resource Officer Reimbursement Agreement with the Baldwin County Commission and Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.

Grants: Resolutions accepting an Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs Recreational Trails Program grant and the FY2027 Alabama Coastal Area Management Program grant for the Wolf Bay Watershed Stormwater Management Plan.

Community and property agreements: A request for financial support of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program for Foley residents, and authorization of a license agreement with PowerSouth Energy Cooperative for improvements within its transmission line easement at Graham Creek Preserve.

Internal operations: A resolution amending Resolution 26-1394 approving two trucks for the Street Department’s road crew, and approval of minutes from the Oct. 19 work session and council meeting.