Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – Orange Beach is currently looking at design proposals for a new civic center planned for the south side of Canal Road. It would be across the street from the Senior Center, library, Coastal Arts Center and Waterfront Park. In the evaluation process, SS&L scored a 92, and McCollough Architecture and Dale Partners Architects scored a 91 in staff evaluations of 11 firms.

The city council will discuss the proposals at a joint work/regular session on Sept. 16 at 5 p.m. in council chambers at city hall.

During the regular session, the council will also discuss:

• Approving payments for goods and services for the city of $1 million during Sept. 4-17.
• Proclaiming Sept. 17-23 as Constitution Week commemorating the anniversary of drafting the Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787.
• Awarding the bid for a new fire training center behind Fire Station No. 1 to Lewis Construction. Fire Chief Jeff Smith said the center will cost about $1.9 million and relieve some overcrowding in the administration building as well as house surf rescue offices in addition to the training facility.
• Approving a liquor license for The Beli at 4725 Main Street in The Wharf.
• Appointing Farra & Wang and Berger Montague as special counsel for the city in legal claims against the producers of shale oil and their co-conspirators.
• Purchasing furniture for the Parks and Recreation office for $47,978.
• A contract with Biometrica Systems for law enforcement date for the police department for “unique mission to build records and arrests) web-based law enforcement database.” In exchange, Biometrica will have access to Orange Beach booking, warrant and sex offender data.
• A resolution authorizing a contract with IPS Power Systems for citywide generator maintenance.
• An appeal from Shore Thing Golf Carts after the city denied a business license for the home-based business.
• The first reading of an ordinance change to modify references to Walker Island to align with updated geographical information.

During the work session, the council will also discuss:

• Spending $29,725 for Christmas lights for Orange Beach Middle/High School, Fire Station No. 3, the Performing Arts Center, the library, Senior Center and Museum. An additional $3,962 in lighting supplies will be bought from 1000Bulbs.
• Considering a sponsorship for the ice-skating rink at The Wharf from Nov. 14-Jan. 19. Last year the city was a gold sponsor for $5,000. There will also be a public hearing date set for an ordinance change to add a temporary sales area for the rink.
• Approving an application for a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant to convert two ball fields from natural grass to turf. The project is estimated to be $1 million and the grant requires a 50 percent match making the city’s portion $500,000.
• Appointing Michael Dasinger as the city’s municipal court judge.