Foley, Ala. – (OBA) – The Foley City Council will meet in a joint regular/work session in its last meeting of the year on Dec. 18 at 4 p.m. in council chambers at city hall. During the meeting, the council will:

Have a public hearing to consider violations of the weed-clearing ordinance at a vacant lot at the northeast corner of County Road 20 and Hickory Street. It will also discuss a resolution to authorize city workers to enter the property to clean it up.

Receive a report on taxes two months into fiscal year 2024 including $3.1 million in October, or $92,000 above the previous October. In November, the city collected $3.2 million or $186,000 over the previous November. Both exceeded budget projections, including $388,777 above October projections and $319,558 above November budget projections.

Receive a report detailing lodging tax collections in the first two months of FY 2024 including $131,741 in October and $123,894 in November. The October collections are about $10,000 short of budget projections and November collections are about $8,000 below projections.

Receive a report on police department activity in November showing 199 inmates were processed through the city jail bringing the total for 2023 to 2,433. Crimes reported in the month include 15 for shoplifting, eight thefts and four death investigations. Police received 1,817 calls for dispatch and the investigation division received 46 new cases added to 16 unsolved cases and police solved 12 cases during the month.

During November, the fire department was called out for 229 incidents with 41 to assist EMS crews, 34 to assist invalids, 33 vehicle accidents without injuries and 18 with injuries. Crews were called out 31 times but canceled en route.

Hear a report on approved and paid bills during November totaling $6.5 million.

Consider amending three resolutions to better define the scope of the Museum-Archives Advisory Board.

Discuss appointing Sue Steigerwald as finance director/treasurer through 2024.

Approving monthly bids for November including $119,000 to Harris Contracting Services to take down lighting at Mel Roberts baseball fields and replace them with new and the purchase of a 1,000-gallon septic tank from Magnolia Environmental Services for Wolf Creek Park at $5,900.

Changes in pay classification for the Foley Library and Parks and Recreation to add a maintenance worker 1 for parks and recreation and the head of outreach and programming for the library.

Approving a one-day members-only pop-up local arts and crafts show. Dates, time and location were not included in the meeting agenda.

Authorizing a budget transfer of $10,000 from the capital budget to operations for the purchase of two trailers for Public Works.

Approving an 11-year contract with Axon Enterprise for $1.2 million for the purchase and maintenance of the city’s public safety video systems. The first year’s payment will be $65,000 and the following 10 years it will be $116,000.

Consider a budget increase of $100,000 for signs at the Coastal Alabama Farmers and Fishermen’s Market. There are currently temporary signs at the site that aren’t weather rated and a hotel is planned between the market and County Road 20. New signage is needed to direct people to the market once the hotel is built.

Increasing the budget for the maintenance of two box cars and a track car “to keep our trains in good shape” Marketing Director LaDonna Hinesley wrote in a memo to the council.

Approving a stormwater management plan for Beulah Heights.

Purchasing a Ford F-150 pickup truck for Parks and Recreation to replace a 2008 model for $39,000.

Waiving fees for using council chambers and the Foley Civic Center.