Gulf Shores City Council members worked through a lengthy agenda of municipal business during a July 20 work session, previewing a range of items headed to a vote at the council’s July 27 regular meeting.
Among the larger-ticket items discussed was a series of four change orders tied to construction of the pedestrian bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway at East Second Street. The changes include additional steel to increase wind capacity on the bridge towers at a cost of $265,821, a structural design review for $54,258, and the design and installation of structural glass along the walkway for $160,334. The city is also set to receive a $443,192 credit for work on two plaza areas that has since been folded into a separate GOMESA-funded project. Taken together, the four change orders would leave the city owing $37,221, while still preserving a contingency fund balance of $151,039 for the bridge project.
Council also considered authorizing a taxi franchise for Action Taxi to operate within Gulf Shores, part of the city’s ongoing oversight of for-hire vehicle services operating in the resort community.
Several staffing changes were also on the agenda. The council discussed reclassifying a handful of city positions, including naming Blake Phelps as director of strategic initiatives and Amy McKenzie as planning budget and manager, along with converting a part-time accountant role into a full-time grants and administrative support specialist position. Separately, the city is looking to bring on two outside recruitment firms to help fill key vacancies: Next Move Group, at a cost of $19,750, to help find an economic development manager, and Find Great People, at $25,000, to help fill a new communications and engagement director position.
City officials also discussed a $142,500 purchase of a full-body scanner from Tek-84 for the city’s new justice center. Deputy Chief Joe Taylor told council the scanner would help detention officers identify contraband brought into the city jail. The purchase would be funded through the Municipal Court Judicial Fund rather than the city’s general budget.
Council additionally reviewed two agreements with the Alabama High School Athletic Association to continue hosting the softball regional tournament and the outdoor track championships at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex, events that bring student-athletes and their families to the city each year and support local tourism-related business.
The work session also touched on other matters that are being detailed in separate city announcements, including recognition of the Gulf Shores Fire Department’s junior and adult lifeguards following their showing at the Southeast Regional Lifeguard Competition, a proposal from a newly formed Mardi Gras krewe regarding the city’s 2027 parade, and a proposed overhaul of the city’s Christmas decorations.
As is typical for Gulf Shores work sessions, no formal votes were taken on July 20. Council members are expected to take up the change orders, taxi franchise, staffing reclassifications, recruitment contracts, body scanner purchase and AHSAA agreements for a vote at the city’s July 27 regular meeting.