Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – Gulf Shores is looking at an ordinance change to better control some activities at its public beach at Gulf Place. The aim of the new ordinance will concentrate on solicitations. A second portion will address waving signs at Gulf Place.

The city council will have its last meeting of the year on Dec. 8 at 4 p.m. in council chambers at city hall. This will be a joint regular work session and public comment is encouraged.

“The city council of Gulf Shores has determined that aggressive solicitation at the public beach and the newly improved areas of Gulf Place h(ave) an adverse impact on tourism,” the proposed ordinance states. “The City Council of Gulf Shores finds that aggressive solicitation is detrimental to the City’s goal of providing a safe environment in which recreational opportunity can be maximized” and “finds that aggressive solicitation interferes with the flow, recreation, enjoyment and privacy of persons on the beach.”

The ordinance also cites concerns that allowing signs in Gulf Place will also affect tourism and add clutter.

“The city council of Gulf Shores finds that it has a significant government interest in the prevention of visual clutter and that such visual clutter adversely impacts tourism,” the ordinance states. “Gulf Shores finds that a proliferation of people holding signs at the public beach and the newly improved areas of Gulf Place contributes to visual clutter and has an adverse impact on tourism.”

The ordinance notes there are several locations in the city where solicitation and signs are allowed.

During the joint regular/work session, the council will also:

• Hear a presentation from the Shrimp Festival Committee on the 2025 event.
• Discuss an assembly permit for the Kiwanis Club of Gulf Shores’ annual Polar Bear Dip at the Hangout and Gulf Place on Jan. 1.
• Consider accepting 5.64 acres from Downtown 10 on Fort Morgan Road west of West Second Street, north of the Aviles multi-development and south of the Lakewood Villas subdivision.
• Discuss adopting the 2026 budget. Unlike most local governments, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach do not operate a fiscal year from Oct. 1-Sept. 30 but use the standard calendar year because of the tourism industry.
• Consider authorizing the mayor to hire legal counsel and intervene in a lawsuit challenging the validity of the Alabama simplified seller use tax.
• Discuss changes in the fee schedule for business licenses including changing the peddler fee to $25 per day, changing criminal penalties to a flat rate of $250 from a possible $0-$500 penalty. Plans are also to include a fee for a fortunetelling business at $250 annually.
• Consider an ordinance amendment “to comprehensively regulate adult establishments to protect the public health, safety, and welfare from the negative secondary effects associated with such establishments.” Staff recommends the council support the change.
• Discuss another ordinance amendment to add the category of “large public activities” and require a permit and “to comply with requirements to mitigate the risk of unexpected burdens on the City’s health, sanitation, fire, police, transportation, or other public services.”