Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — The Gulf Shores City Council held a scheduled work session this week. Before the agenda items were addressed, Councilman Harris reminded Mayor Craft that old business had not been finished. Craft explained to the audience the he would complete his side of a bet made with Harris and donned a University of Alabama cap. Mayor Craft is a notorious Auburn graduate and fan. No permanent scars or burn marks were observed from Craft wearing the Alabama cap.

The members of the council and Grant Brown, the Director of Recreation & Cultural Affairs, recognized the nine-and-under girls all-star champion soccer team and their coaches. City Athletic Coordinator Laura Davis stated that the team of all-stars was chosen by local coaches and competed in the Baldwin County Cup. The team went undefeated and became tournament champions. The ten-member team was recognized for their achievement by the council.

The Mayor informed the audience that this work session would address some items that needed extra time allotted because the subject could be "controversial".

Scott Stevens of the City Planning Department presented a proposed zoning text amendment pertained to allowable uses in the BG general business zoning district, specifically changing townhouse uses from a by-right use to a conditional use, which would require further examination and scrutiny before approval.

A similar proposal is being considered for the BN, Neighborhood Business-Owned District, to change multifamily and townhouse uses from by-right to conditional use, to provide more neighborhood-scale uses and allow for more control over the development of parcels of land in these areas. The purpose of the BN district is to provide a transitional buffer between commercial and industrial or residential areas, and to allow for neighborhood-scale uses, and the proposed change would allow for more scrutiny of developments in these areas.

The city council is considering a wetland waiver request for the Edwin Oaks subdivision, a seven-lot single-family house subdivision located directly west of Moe's Landing Public Park, on the south side of State Highway 180 and on the north side of the little lagoon, which was approved by the Planning Commission at their October 21st meeting.

After addressing a three-spot parking amendment for a small office project the council moved on to the City Budget section. A 2025 budget amendment is proposed, which includes increasing the general fund revenues by $1,957,300, with $300,000 of this amount coming from Restore grant funds, and increasing expenses by $1,930,872, resulting in a surplus of $326,428. The revenue increases include collections in excess of budgeted amounts for motor vehicle tax, lease tax, casual sales tax, liquor tax, and franchise tax, as well as increases in tax penalties, miscellaneous revenue, and interest income.

Overall, the city is increasing revenue by $2,820,000 and expenses by $2,493,000, resulting in a budget carry forward of $326,128 and a total revenue over expenses of $918,201 for the year.

A change to categorizing the watercraft rental business was proposed. The amendments included changing the category of gasoline-powered water sports equipment rental businesses to motorized water sports, and increasing the required general liability insurance coverage amounts for bodily injury or death. The required general liability insurance coverage amounts are being increased from $200,000 to $500,000 for bodily injury or death for one person in any single occurrence, and from $500,000 to $1 million in the aggregate for all claims arising.

E-Bike Safety and Regulation Discussion

The council stated that the issue of e-bikes in the city is being taken seriously, with a "turf war" going on between different groups such as e-bikers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists, and the city is trying to find a solution to ensure public safety. Proposed ordinances are intended to address public safety concerns, not to restrict people's freedoms or personal preferences, and the city has been working with various stakeholders, including rental companies, the bicycle committee, and trail users, to find a solution.

The city wants to change its culture to ensure that e-bike users, bicycle users, pedestrians, and drivers can coexist within the limits of the law, and users should be educated on the use of these devices. Complaints about e-bikes are common, and serious incidents have occurred in Gulf Shores, with the number of incidents increasing, and many of these issues involve renters who are unskilled and lack knowledge of the law.

The laws are struggling to keep up with the rapid development of e-bike technology, with new types of e-bikes, such as e-motos, emerging that are not classified as traditional e-bikes and pose new safety risks. There have been cases of pedestrian deaths due to e-bike collisions, and cities across the country are taking different approaches to regulating e-bikes, with some banning them altogether, but the goal in Gulf Shores is to regulate them in a way that promotes coexistence and changes the culture.

A proposed ordinance would also prohibit the rental of Class 3 e-bikes, which are the fastest type and have pedal assist, and require renters to be provided with a certified helmet. Additionally, the proposal includes prohibiting rentals to individuals under 18 unless a waiver is signed by a parent or legal guardian, which is aimed at addressing issues that arise during spring break when groups of young people rent e-bikes.

To ensure compliance, regular inspections would be conducted, and all renters would be required to view an educational video prepared by the city of Gulf Shores, which would inform them of the rules and restrictions in place. The police department is facing challenges due to the constant turnover of e-bike renters, and renters must be advised of legal requirements through their contract and sign an acknowledgement of understanding these requirements.

The ordinance would include progressive fines for violations, and after multiple violations, the owner may be subject to suspension of their business license, with the goal of holding individuals accountable for their actions.

There was over an hour of community feedback from residents and rental companies. Most were in favor of some legal upgrades but many wanted nuisance changes to the ordinance. After a two-and a half-hour meeting the Mayor reinforced the "safety" is a first concern for residents and visitors alike.

The meeting was adjourned and the matter will be on a future agenda.