Foley Nonprofit Fee Reduction Program, New Trucks and Library Gifts on City Council Agenda

FOLEY, Ala. — The Foley City Council was set Monday to take a second and potentially final vote on a new program that would let qualifying nonprofit organizations apply for reduced city permit fees, part of a long agenda that also included new dump trucks and a garbage truck, library donations, park projects, rezoning hearings and floodplain rules. The Foley nonprofit fee reduction program would be open to charitable groups whose work provides documented public benefits to the broader community.

The council’s regular work session and meeting were scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, in the Council Chambers at Foley City Hall. The agenda covered nearly every corner of city operations, from streets and sanitation to parks, nature trails and the public library. Results of the council’s votes had not been published at the time of this report.

Foley nonprofit fee reduction program up for second reading

The headline item was the second reading of an ordinance establishing a permit fee reduction program for eligible nonprofit entities that provide sufficient public benefits.

Under the proposal, qualifying charitable groups could apply for reduced municipal permit fees when their work directly serves the community. City leaders have framed it as part of an ongoing effort to partner with local service organizations. Rather than handling every request one at a time, the ordinance would set up a formal framework for deciding who qualifies.

In Foley, ordinances require two separate readings by the council before final adoption. Because Monday’s consideration was the second reading, the measure was eligible for final approval at the meeting.

The fee-reduction framework would not be the only way the city helps community groups. Monday’s agenda alone included several individual requests to waive or discount fees for specific events and organizations (see “Fee waivers for community events” below).

Ordinances on first reading: speed limits, floodplains and personnel

The council was also scheduled to hold first readings on several ordinances. Those measures cannot be adopted until they return for a second reading at a later meeting.

• Graham Creek Estates speed limits: an ordinance updating speed limits in the Graham Creek Estates neighborhood.
• Floodplain rules: revisions to the city’s floodplain regulations to meet Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) standards.
• Personnel policies: amendments to personnel system policies covering appointed officials.

Separately, the council was asked to set a public hearing date for an ordinance amending the Floodplain Development Ordinance and retitling it the FEMA-Recognized Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance.

Why floodplain rules matter

Floodplain ordinances govern how and where construction can happen in flood-prone areas. Communities that take part in FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program must adopt and enforce floodplain management rules that meet federal minimum standards, which is what allows property owners in those communities to buy federally backed flood insurance. For a city in coastal Baldwin County, keeping those rules current is closely tied to residents’ ability to insure their homes and businesses.

The council also had a second reading scheduled on an ordinance updating the city’s regulations on door-to-door commercial solicitation.

Infrastructure and development projects

Two infrastructure items were on the agenda:

• Graham Creek Estates outfall project: the council was set to consider survey and design services from Sawgrass Consulting for the project. An outfall is the point where a drainage system or stormwater channel discharges into a larger body of water.
• Sidewalk Cedar-Peachtree Northward Project: the council was set to review a memorandum of understanding with 68 Ventures Live Oak 2026, LLC to appropriate funding for the sidewalk project.

The council was also asked to propose vacating a 20-foot unopened right-of-way on city property and to schedule a public hearing on that proposal. Vacating a right-of-way generally means the city gives up its claim to a strip of land that was set aside for a road or access but never built.

Two rezoning hearings

Public hearings were scheduled on two rezoning requests:

• Rezoning city-owned property from B-1A and R-3 to PID (Planned Industrial).
• Rezoning property owned by Rolling Stones, LLC from B-1A to B-3 (Local Business).

Public hearings give residents a chance to speak for or against a proposal before the council acts on it.

New trucks and equipment

A significant share of the agenda dealt with capital purchases for city departments. The council was set to consider:

• Purchasing three Kenworth triaxle dump trucks for the Street Department’s Road and Construction crews.
• Multiple capital purchases for the Street Department’s Right of Way and Maintenance crews.
• Buying a New Way Sidewinder ASL garbage truck for the Sanitation Department. ASL stands for automated side loader, a type of truck that uses a mechanical arm to lift and empty roll-out carts.
• Purchasing a 2027 Ford F150 for the Building Department.
• Buying a 22-passenger shuttle for the Nature Parks Department.
• Correcting Resolution 26-1035, which concerns a capital truck purchase for the Horticulture Department.
• Authorizing the city to solicit bids for a trackless event train.

The agenda summary did not list the cost of each purchase.

Library donations and grants

The Foley Community Library figured prominently on the agenda. Items included:

• Accepting a $7,000 donation from the Friends of the Library to fund a temporary, part-time position at the library.
• Accepting a $5,000 donation from Roger Tasker for the library.
• Accepting the FY26 Dollar General Youth Literacy Grant for the library.
• Reviewing a grant agreement request from the AL Humanities Alliance for a library Road Scholar presentation.
• Declaring primary source vendors for the library for fiscal year 2027.

Together, the two donations total $12,000.

Fee waivers for community events

Several community groups and events were also on the agenda for fee relief or use of city facilities:

• Discounted rental fees for Summit Church at the Coastal Alabama Farmers and Fishermen’s Market.
• Waived barricade fees for SHOW Baldwin’s Trunk or Treat event.
• Waived barricade fees for the Foley Sister Cities Oktoberfest Golf Tournament.
• Waived fees for the Foley Lions Club to use the Old Foley Sports Complex for the LeTour De Foley 2026 Bicycle Ride.
• Approval for The Bridge Church to use Aaronville Park to host a free Lift Up Baldwin County Community Outreach Event.

Parks, personnel and public safety

The council was asked to rescind Resolution 23-1393 so the money could be reallocated to a new improvement project at Max Griffin Park.

On personnel, the council was set to consider a resolution amending the city’s pay classification plan to reflect reclassifications of departmental positions.

For public safety, the agenda included an agreement with the Mobile County Commission’s SWARHSO/ADECA Traffic Safety Program for fiscal year 2027 overtime reimbursement. SWARHSO is the Southwest Alabama Regional Highway Safety Office, and ADECA is the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. Traffic safety programs of this kind typically reimburse local police departments for overtime spent on traffic enforcement.

Other business

• A proclamation recognizing Sister Cities International Day.
• Awards for the city’s recent Equipment Roadeo, a competition in which city equipment operators show off their skills.
• Review of an Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) license application for San Jose Mexican Restaurant LLC on Miflin Road.

By the numbers

• 2 readings required before a Foley ordinance can be adopted
• 3 Kenworth triaxle dump trucks proposed for the Street Department
• 22 passengers — the capacity of the shuttle proposed for the Nature Parks Department
• 20 feet — the width of the unopened right-of-way proposed for vacation
• $12,000 in combined donations proposed for the Foley Community Library ($7,000 from the Friends of the Library and $5,000 from Roger Tasker)
• 2 rezoning public hearings
• 5 fee waivers, discounts or facility-use approvals for churches, civic clubs and community events

What happens next

If approved on second reading, the nonprofit fee reduction ordinance would become part of city code, and eligible organizations could begin applying under the program’s rules. The ordinances that received first readings Monday — on Graham Creek Estates speed limits, floodplain standards and personnel policies — would return for second readings at a future meeting before they could be adopted.

The floodplain ordinance amendment will also go through a public hearing, as will the proposal to vacate the 20-foot right-of-way, once dates are set.

Foley, one of the largest cities in south Baldwin County, sits along Alabama 59 between Interstate 10 and the beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Its council handles everything from road equipment to library programs, which is why a single meeting agenda can stretch across so many departments.

Foley City Council meetings are open to the public. For coverage of the council’s earlier budget discussions, see our report on the council’s FY2027 budget and its debate over data centers and crypto mines.