Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – Orange Beach is seeking to add nearly $500,000 in Restore Act money to help complete the new center for the Orange Beach Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Program under construction on Powerline Road.

During the joint work/regular session on Dec. 6, the council will consider authorizing staff to seek the Restore Act subaward to help with the expansion of the facility in the amount of $424,450. It will be for the build-out of the interior of the center’s new building. The session will start with a regular session at 5 p.m. in council chambers on the city hall campus.

During the regular session, the council will discuss:

• Presenting an honorary key to the city.

• Have a second reading on an ordinance change for a planned unit development for Top Tier Watersports to construct a building and docks to run a dolphin cruise and watercraft rental business. It is located on Cotton Bayou north of Cotton’s restaurant.

• Approving an events liquor license for the Sassy Bass Sock Hop at The Wharf on Jan. 23 at the Orange Beach Event Center.

• Approving a special events liquor license for the JWC New Year’s Even at Heron Pointe at the Wharf on Dec. 31-Jan. 1.

• Awarding the bid for a Cross Lane dune walkover to repair damage from Hurricane Sally to Gulf Coast Dockmasters for $48,899.

• Authorizing a contract with Sawgrass Consulting for land surveying services to subdivide the Coastal Resources office property on Walker Lane for $3,500. According to the agenda, “this will include a metes and bounds legal description and exhibit drawing to be part of the Auburn University lease.” Auburn is planning on building a research facility and satellite campus on the city-owned property where the current dog park is located.

• Executing a lease renewal with the Bear Point Civic Association to give the city permission to repair the park and rebuild the pier on the south end of Mississippi Avenue on Bayou St. John. This will be funded at 95 percent by FEMA.

• Providing a commitment to develop the Orange Beach Stormwater Master Plan and ensure payment of funds for the plan from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources through the Restore Act Water Quality Program. The total project cost is estimated to be $250,000 with the Restore Act paying 75 percent or $187,500 with the city paying 25 percent or $62,500.

• A contract with Anne B. Gajda for golf instruction services for the Expect Excellence program. Gajda will have access to the Orange Beach Golf Center to conduct lessons and classes to give private lessons and in return Gajda will provide 20 hours of golf instruction for the afterschool program and at the city’s public schools.

• Authorizing payment to Hillman Legal Strategies for services related to Alabama Ethics Commission Case No. 2021-0166 for $13,000.

• Adding Caswell Lane to the roadway resurfacing project for $19,800 paid to Arrington Curb and Excavation.

• Appointing a new member to the Orange Beach Board of Education to replace Tracie Stark who is leaving her position. She was appointed to a two-year term in March as a member of the original board of education in Orange Beach.

• A memorandum of understanding for an opioid settlement related to the McKesson and Janssen lawsuits. Local municipalities will be allocated 10 percent of these two settlements, according to the city agenda.

During the work session, the council will discuss:

• Rescheduling the Feb. 21 work and regular sessions to allow for observance of Fat Tuesday.

• A reminder the council has moved its Dec. 20 meetings to Dec. 13 with a 4 p.m. meeting time.

• Setting a meeting for the flood damage prevention ordinance board of adjustment for Dec. 13 at 3:45 p.m.

• Awarding retiring police officer John Simonson his duty weapons and badge as part of his retirement package.

• Authorizing a contract with Sawgrass Consulting for civil engineering and land surveying services. This is a renewal of a two-year agreement.

• Authorizing a contract with GeoCon Engineering and Materials Test for geotechnical analysis and construction materials testing on city projects.

• Signing a contract with Wetland Services to delineate wetlands south of Cotton Bayou Trail for $2,200.

• Giving $1,000 to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab to help defray the cost of bringing a research boat and instructors to Orange Beach for school programs.

• A resolution amending the fiscal year budget 2023 for the city. Details of what those amendments are were not included in the agenda.

• A resolution amending the employees pay plan/job listing to accommodate the approved 2023 budget. No details of what those amendments are were included in the agenda.

• A resolution amending the organizational chart for the city.

• Updating the list of volunteer firefighters and reserve police officers covered under the workers’ compensation insurance.

• Extending the entertainment districts at The Wharf and SanRoc Cay Marina and Perdido Beach Resort.

• A contract with Coastal Ballet Academy for ballet instruction services.

• Appropriating $75,000 to the Gulf Shores Airport Authority for FY 2023.

• Signing a contract for social media consulting and marketing services from Socialize Your Bizness. There is $20,400 budgeted for 2023 on this contract.

• Entering into an agreement with the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance for $12,500 “to support the goals and initiatives” of the agency.

• Appointing Spencer E. Davis as the city prosecutor and Paul Woodall of Birmingham “to handle city business with real estate transactions, public finance, economic incentives, and other specialized legal services as may be directed by the City Attorney.”

• Executing two contracts with lobbying firms with Bob Riley and Associates handling the state legislature issues for $10,000 a month and Van Scoyoc Associates for federal legislative issues at $6,000 a month.

• Authorizing the city to host community events for residents and visitors to Orange Beach in 2023 including the city’s Mardi Gras parade, Art Festival, Freedom Fest at The Wharf and the Christmas tree lighting at The Wharf.

• Setting a public hearing date for zoning ordinance changes proposed by city staff. The suggested date was Dec. 13.