Foley Council to Discuss Park Funding and Annexations
John Mullen • August 4, 2025
Police gear, grants, and surplus items up for vote
Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — Foley is looking at spending more than half a million dollars for improvements at the Aaronville Park. Several areas of the park will see upgrades, including restrooms and fencing. The city spent $200,000 on the park in fiscal year 2024. Officials are back now requesting an additional $350,000 to complete the project.
The city council will meet on Aug. 4 in council chambers at city hall at 4 p.m.
“This planned project consists of replacing the bathroom building, pavilion, and fencing on the baseball field,” a memo from Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Lee states. “The plan is to demolish the existing bathroom building and replace it with a prefabricated CXT bathroom building. This project is needed to replace the current building because it's very old and in poor condition. This will allow the city to provide this park with ADA-compliant bathrooms as well.”
During the meeting, the council will also:
- Have a public hearing on a proposed ordinance change regarding unrelated people living together. There will also be a second reading of the ordinance change.
- Have a first reading of an ordinance to approve annexing property into the city from Baldwin County. The property includes a roadway near the intersection of County Road 65 and Airport Road. The council will also consider a resolution to approve two new street lights at the intersection.
- Have a first reading and public hearing to approve annexing east of the Foley Beach Express and south of Pastoral Lane.
- Consider approval or denial of a business license application for Southern Grace Bridal and Tuxedo or the successor to Anthony’s Bridal. The former Anthony’s Bridal still owes the city for unpaid taxes from all of 2024 and 2025. The business was formerly owned by Anthony Solarzano and is sister-in-law, Kayla Shepard, is applying for the new license.
- Discuss applying for an Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs justice assistance grant.
- Consider a resolution to rent Heritage Park to Lisa Yeater for the Tacos and Tequila Festival and a variance to sell alcohol. The event is planned for Nov. 8.
- Consider setting a public hearing date for zoning ordinance amendments.
- Discuss a resolution for addendums to Thompson Engineers for work on Michigan Avenue roundabouts. This will add $10,100 to the project to “finalize existing utility infrastructure.”
- Consider accepting a $30,000 donation from Riviera Utilities and Energy Southeast to be used for Dyas parking lot improvements.
- Discuss reappointing Chad Watkins to the Foley Revitalization and Beautification Advisory Board.
- Discuss accepting an Alabama Department of Transportation grant to reimburse some of the cost of building an eight-unit hangar. The grant awarded was $3,605.
- Consider granting a waiver to the moratorium on multi-family developments in the city for a project located along Philomene Boulevard. Staff has recommended denial of the waiver.
- Discuss the surplus of six Street Department vehicles and their disposal.
- Discuss accepting a grant from the Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grant for $121,000 to help with the purchase of a drop deck trailer and other equipment for the police department. The total for the equipment is $137,925.
- Consider a contract for the city’s reinsurance for stop loss for the 2025-26 calendar year.
- Discuss an amendment to the contract for the Graham Creek Nature Preserve pavilion design project. This will add $14,250 to the design.
- Discuss a resolution approving Baldwin County funding for the James Road extension project.
- Consider approving the purchase of equipment to outfit four 2023 Chevy Tahoes for the police department. The cars are currently assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division and will now be assigned to patrol.
- Discuss going out to bid for a new roof on the finance building and appropriating the money for the work. Officials have budgeted $35,000 for the project.
- Consider granting a waiver to the moratorium on multi-family complexes at the southwest corner of County Road 32 and Bucolic Lane.
- Discuss approving fireworks shows at OWA on Aug. 30 for Labor Day, Christmas tree lighting on Nov. 22, and New Year’s celebration on Dec. 27.
- Consider two resolutions: reappointing Erick Crosby to the Construction Board of Adjustment and Appeals and appointing Rusty Hart to the same board.
- Discuss the surplus of a commercial freezer and buying a replacement for $6,174 for the police department.
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