Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – As the day for opening closes in, Gulf Shores is considering several moves toward completion of the new Gulf Shores High School complex. Coming before the council are two additional message boards, data and athletic training space improvements, moving a lot line, and conveying the property to the city’s school board.

The council will discuss these and other items in a work session on April 6 in the council chambers at City Hall.

The bulk of the $1.9 million change order, the 21st on the school project, will bump the total cost on the 48-acre campus to $141 million.

“Highlights of the changes are focused primarily on owner-requested improvements to data and safety networks, improvements to athletic training spaces, and Division of Construction Management life safety directives in and around the building. This change will also allow for flexibility in funding that will improve efficiency in close-out to address items noted during the final inspections and any additional items noted for improvement by the owner.”

Moving the lot line will ensure that the entire complex is on one lot, and the conveyance is needed for the school to occupy the space for this fall’s opening. The work session is for discussion, and these items will likely be up for a vote during the regular session on April 13.

During the work session, the council will also discuss:

• A presentation by Ms. Gulf Shores Cheryl Ritchie on Ms. Senior Alabama. The pageant is for women 60-69.
• Declaring April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Gulf Shores.
• Accepting a comprehensive plan proposal from Interboro Partners for $500,000 after soliciting proposals. Interboro Partners won the bid against 11 other submissions. The plan calls for “including urban planning, urban design, public engagement, landscape architecture, form-and transect-based codes, mobility and transportation, housing, economic development programs, and cultural and natural resource planning.”
• The vacation and relocation of the West Gulf Avenue right-of-way to accommodate the new Commerce Drive connection to the airport terminal. The plan calls for an additional connection to the new airport terminal from Waterway East Boulevard.
• Authorize a contract with Foth Engineering for the annual beach monitoring. “The city of Orange Beach must perform joint monitoring and surveying as required by FEMA to maintain reimbursement eligibility after storm erosion on the beach.
• Reappointing Frank Hollon as the municipal court judge through April 16, 2028, and reappointing city prosecutor Ken Raines for another two years through April 23, 2028. Both their terms ended in April, and both wished to be reappointed. According to the agenda, both have served since 2012.
• Approving a license to sell liquor to the Gulf Shores Walmart, doing business as the Walmart 2748 Liquor Box.
• Renaming the state’s new southbound road to the new Intracoastal Waterway as Alabama Beaches Parkway from the Foley Beach Express Roundabout to the canal. The roadway is also known as State Route 161, now designated from the beach in Orange Beach to the intersection of the Baldwin Beach Express.
  See related story: Gulf Shores advances plans to link waterway east to new bridge
• Paying MP Design Group $144,300 to create a “unified Engineering Design and Construction Manual for Gulf Shores.
• Accepting a cybersecurity grant from the State and Local Cybersecurity providing cybersecurity hardware and licensing.
• A memorandum of understanding to add $1 million to a loan to the airport for a total of $3.8 million to help with the construction of the new terminal. The loan is interest-free for the first three years. If not paid off within the first three years, which end on Aug. 1, 2027, the balance will be paid at 6 percent interest.
• Adding two banks, Pinnacle Bank of Tennessee and Cadence Bank, formerly BancorpSouth, has merged with Huntington Bank, and contingent on the successful completion of the merger, will be used for city accounts as well.
• Prezoning and annexation of property owned by Riviera Utilities on the north side of County Road 8 West between Grund Lane and State Route 59. On 36 acres of the parcel, the applicant wants to be zoned as residential medium density and waterfront single-family. On 3.6 acres, the applicant seeks to have the land zoned for general business. 
• Amending the city’s golf cart ordinance to lower the age of licensed drivers from 18 to any resident or nonresident with a driver’s license from their home district can drive golf carts or LSVs on designated city streets. Effectively, this will allow licensed drivers of age 16 to operate the vehicles.
• Adding a police officer to be stationed at Gulf Shores International Airport due to the increase in traffic, including 13 new routes to be added in the coming year. The total cost for adding the officer is about $202,000 for the first year, with upfront one-time costs for a vehicle, uniforms, and other equipment included in the initial expense.
• Awarding a bid for two UTVs for the police department from Gulf Shores Power Sports for $47,156. The city received four conforming bids for the vehicles, and GSPS submitted the lowest. 
• Amending the contract with Motorola Solutions to “conform with purchasing requirements therefore requires additional council action,” a memo from Deputy Police Chief Joe Taylor. The new total for the software and equipment is $329,875.
• Awarding three $2,000 grants from the Gulf Shores Nonprofit Grants Program to the Little Lagoon Preservation Society, South Baldwin Community Theatre, and the Junior Woman’s Club of Gulf Shores.
• A resolution to allow the city school system to make improvements at the city’s Sportsplex on Oak Road West.
  See related story: New athletic facilities proposed at Gulf Shores Sportsplex
• Four large-group assembly permits for the NCAA Sand Volleyball National Championships on May 1-3, the sand volleyball Beachfest USA National Qualifier on April 30-May 3 at West Gulf Place, Worship on the Green on May 16 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and the United States Lifesaving Association Southeast Regional Championship on July 13-15 at West Gulf Place.