Foley, Ala. – (OBA) – The city of Foley increased sales tax collections by $2.3 million during fiscal year 2023 compared to the previous year’s total. The city council will meet in a joint work/regular session on Oct. 16 in council chambers at city hall in Foley.

For the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, Foley collected $39.2 million compared to $36.9 in FY 2022 and about $5 million above budget projections. The top month during the year was July when the city collected $3.6 million in sales taxes.

The council will also hear a report on tax collections during September including $3.4 million in sales taxes which is about $200,000 over September of 2022 and about $100,000 less than budget projections.

The city collected $151,509 in lodging taxes compared to $138,566 in September of 2022. For the year, Foley collected a total of $2.1 million compared to budget projects of $1.7 million. The 2023 total was just about $50,000 more than 2022.

During the meetings, the council will also:

Hear an annual report from Foley Main Street for fiscal year 2022-23 which ended on Sept. 30. The group started in 2018 and included $67,841 in public investment and $219,774 in private investment with 586 volunteers. In FY 2023 Foley Main Street saw $2.3 million in public investment, $10.5 million in private investment and the group had 4,043 volunteers.

Consider approving the September paid bills and expenses for a total of $6.1 million during the month including $622,607 in economic development, $442,147 for transfers and debt service, $300,977 in police spending, $259,205 in recreation spending, $240,071 in engineering department spending, $178,853 in street department spending, $166,233 for general government costs and $108,954 in fire department spending.

Hear a report from Community Development on 41 new single-family residential building permits with a valuation of $15.6 million, three for duplex units with a valuation of $872,125 and two new commercial permits including the new CEFCO store for a valuation of $3 million. For FY 2023, single-family permits had a valuation of $112.9 million in permits for single-family residential homes and a total of $190 million with duplex and multi-family permits included for a total of 894 new permits for housing in the year. New commercial construction was issued 29 permits during the year with a total valuation of $36.1 million.

Accept a report from the police department for September when the jail processed 207 prisoners and total of 1,994 for the fiscal year. There were 16 arrests for shoplifting, 13 for theft, 13 for simple assault domestic violence, six for vehicle theft and the department conducted three death investigations. The investigation division received 55 new cases and solved 13 during the month.

Accept a report from the fire department showing crews responded to 47 requests for invalid assists, 35 traffic accidents without injuries, 33 medical assists, 19 motor vehicle accidents with injuries and 24 times crews were called out and canceled en route for total of 225 calls in September.

Hear a request for approval of a liquor license for Baumhowers Victory Grill in the Tanger Outlet Mall.

Consider approving a sponsorship for the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo for either $50,000 or $30,000 with each offering different perks for the city including two family season passes for employees and their families to use.

Consider reappointing Kathleen McVey to the Senior Center Advisory Board. Her current term ends on Nov. 24 and she has served on the board since April of 2018.

Discuss a resolution for going to bid for a truck for the Nature Parks Department and adding $5,000 to the budgeted amount to cover the increased costs.

Consider approving the purchase of a knuckleboom loader for the Sanitation Department for $240,000 to help with an increased work load.

Discuss accepting a Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant for $9,997 for the police department.

Consider a resolution for a sponsorship for Foley Sister Cities for $12,000 for scholarships for students and adult chaperones for a trip to Hennef, Germany.

Hear a report on bids recently awarded by the city including $33,020 to Tessco for communications and radio tower equipment, a safety action plan to the Kimley Horn firm, a sidewalk extension project to James Brothers Excavating for $398,346, work on the South Pecan Street extension to R&S Paving for $426,806 and electrical materials for the new Public Works campus to Sequel Electrical for $131,900 is expected to be awarded soon.

Discuss buying a medical vital signs cart for jail inmates for $2,298.

Discuss a reimbursement for Holtz Electric for work on the site of J1 housing building planned for Koniar Way.

Consider approving an application by the police department for an ADECA Local Law Enforcement Assistant Grant for equipment purchases up to $50,000.

Discuss amending a resolution approving street closures for the Hometown Halloween celebration on Oct. 26 from 5:15-8:30 p.m.

Consider a resolution to approve buying a mobile video surveillance system for the police department for $32,995 from Rapid All-Terrain Tower.

Discuss approving a sponsorship for the 2023 Heart Walk sponsorship for $1,500.

Consider buying a zero-turn mower for the Nature Parks Department from G&J Power Equipment for $14,573.

Discuss approving the purchase of a wide-format touchscreen workstation for the fire department’s inspection Bureau from iProjectSolutions for $11,925.

Consider a resolution to expand the boundary of Foley Main Street to more closely align with the Foley Downtown Overlay District.

Discuss approving a lighting project on Kenny Stabler Avenue and Koniar Way sidewalks and roadways for $231,900.