Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — As Gulf Shores continues to expand rapidly, municipal leaders are evaluating the city's operational structure to ensure leadership remains aligned with long-term goals. The council will consider several major administrative, infrastructure, and public safety initiatives to improve efficiency across local departments. City Administrator Jon Walker will present recommendations to create a new Assistant Administrator of Operations position and to add a second Senior Management Analyst. Personnel costs for the expansions will have a $25,000 impact for the remainder of 2026 and an ongoing annual cost of $310,000.

The regular council work session meeting is scheduled for this evening, Monday, Oct 05, 2026, at 4 PM in Gulf Shores City Hall's Council Chambers.

The proposed Assistant Administrator role aims to streamline city services and oversee departments including Public Works, Engineering, IT, Capital Projects, Recreation, Cultural Affairs, and Municipal Court. Currently, the City Administrator oversees numerous direct reports, making consistent project collaboration challenging. The structural change will optimize resource alignment and reduce the administrator’s executive direct reports to eight.

To support executive leadership in executing council initiatives and managing grant efforts, the city also plans to hire a second Senior Management Analyst. Recruitment for the Assistant Administrator position will be handled by Strategic Government Resources (SGR) as part of a 12-week national search proposal.

During the meeting, the council will also:

• Hear a discussion period opened by Councilman Joe Garris, Jr.
• Consider a proposed zoning text amendment (ZTA26-000002) from Planning Director J. Scott Stephens allowing more than one home business license per residence while removing content-restrictive sign language.
• Review a request from Assistant City Administrator Lee Jones to accept a $39,500 proposal from Sawgrass Consulting, LLC for boundary surveys and subdivision plats regarding the State Highway 180 (Canal Road) reroute.
• Consider authorizing a contract with McElhenny Construction for miscellaneous street resurfacing, capping total project expenditures at $1,580,500.
• Review a three-year, $102,600 contract proposal with Park Loyalty presented by Police Chief Dan Netemeyer for beachfront parking enforcement and resident permit management.
• Discuss a proposal from Recreation Director Grant Brown to authorize an agreement with PV Publications for $25,000 to produce the second edition of Gulf Shores: Small Town, Big Beach... the Next Wave.
• Receive updates from Mayor Robert Craft before adjournment.