Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – With the new high school expected to open this fall, Gulf Shores is looking at buying inside equipment. The school is located at the southwest corner of the Foley Beach Express and Coastal Gateway Boulevard. The bulk of the purchases will be equipment, furniture, and IT and audiovisual infrastructure.

The city council will meet in a work session on Jan. 20 at 4 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall. The meeting will be on Tuesday instead of the usual Monday for the Martin Luther King holiday. Votes on the items to be discussed could come as early as the Jan. 27 regular meeting.

“At the start of the Gulf Shores High School project, a planned soft cost allocation was established for technology and audiovisual (AV) systems to ensure the most current and effective solutions for the educational environment being developed,” a memo from Public Works Director Noel Hand states. “The original budget for Technology and AV was estimated at $1.3 million. After Value Engineering, this estimate GS, we revised the budget to $977,500.”

Hand recommends MA Technology Solutions for the IT infrastructure systems for $618,337, and RJ Young for the audiovisual portion for $315,430.

Councilors will also discuss spending $3.8 million for interior furniture, outdoor furniture, and athletic equipment. Interior Elements will provide the furniture for $3.2 million, and the athletic equipment will cost $450,000 from Advantage Sport and Fitness.

During the work session, the council will also discuss:

• Spending $99,000 for professional design services for renovations and additions to the city hall annex across the street from city hall. The goal is to get all the city employees into one building on the south side of Clubhouse Drive. Walcott Adams Verneuille Architects will be recommended for the job.
• Authorize staff to pursue an ALDOT Rebuild Alabama Act grant for $249,970. The city must pay a $44,800 match to cover the costs of design, construction, engineering, and inspections. Civil Southeast will do the design and submit the grant for the city.
•  Taking out a $1 million loan from SouthBank to pay for police vehicles and equipment. The term is five years at 3.72 interest.
• Accepting a $3.2 million GOMESA Grant for the pedestrian bridge project in Waterway Village.
•  Amending the sign ordinance to amend the section on vacation rental signs.
• An ordinance establishing regulations for the rental of E-bikes and other mobility devices.
• An assembly permit for the Gulf Shores Mardi Gras parade on Feb. 17, starting at 10 a.m.
• An assembly permit for the We Run This Beach Marathon with events on Feb. 21-22. The 5K and 10K runs will be on Feb. 21, and the marathon and half-marathon will be on Feb. 22.