Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – Gulf Shores will take up issues on two huge projects planned by the city at the March 4 council work session.

First, the council will discuss a contract with Police Facility Design Group to present a plan to retrofit the former Sacred Heart Hospital south of Cotton Creek Drive and east of State Route 59.

“The City contracted with PFDG for the design of an all-new Justice Center which would combine the police department, jail, and municipal courts under one roof, a memo from Construction Manager Clint Colvin states. “Unfortunately, when the bids were received in December, all bids came in significantly over budget. In an effort to keep the project within budget, the decision was made to retrofit the former Sacred Heart Building with the Justice Center. This will provide the updated facility so desperately needed by the GSPD within the original budget for the project.

The project will also include adding a jail to the rear of the building and the total cost for the design would be $1.5 million.

Second, the council will consider a second amendment to the contract with Goodwyn Mills and Cawood on the design of the new high school, raising the contract amount from $6.4 million to $7.8 million. The second amendment will also include a practice pavilion and both will up the price for the school to more than $138 million.

During the work session, the council will also discuss:

•  A Restore Act-funded project to help switch residents from septic tanks to city sewer service as part of the overall $5.9 million grant to improve water quality, habitat and shorelines on Little Lagoon. The program manager will be Grants and Environmental Coordinator Dan Bond.
• Replacing Bobbie Rooker as the Library Advisory Board's bank signatory and adding Mary Allison Bauer as president and signatory. The same resolution will remove Robert Malone as Public Building Authority chairman and bank signatory.
• Adding four new travel cards for the police department for officers to for training, conferences and other uses permitted by executive staff.
• Hiring Blue Zones to create a blue zones map of safe pathways to the schools for $19,986 focusing on the Gulf Pines neighborhood which will soon see traffic rerouted from Canal Road because of construction of the pedestrian bridge.
• Giving permission to apply for an Alabama Public Library Service grant to help employees Kelli Day and Shelby Newhouse complete work on a master’s degree in library and information studies. The application would be for $10,500 and if successful would be awarded this summer. This is the second year for the Gulf Shores library to apply after successfully securing the grant in 2023.
• Replacing 26-year-old lighting for fields at the Sportsplex with Musco LED equipment for $1.4 million.
• Granting assembly permits for the 2024 Hangout Music Festival, for S’mores on the Shore events on May 23 and Aug. 1, World Make Music Day on June 21 and for the city’s Sunset Music Series at Gulf Place on the town green on Sept. 12, 19 and 26.