Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – After putting off addressing an item from the council agenda on Feb. 10 dealing with unsightly trash cans along the city’s West Beach Boulevard, Gulf Shores will take another look at the issue in a work session on Feb. 17. The council will meet at 4 p.m. in council chambers at city hall.

City officials are concerned about the hazards cyclists and pedestrians face negotiating around the cans as they walk or ride down West Beach Boulevard. They say the cans also confuse motorists looking for driveways and obscure their view of walkers and riders.

“Staff has re-evaluated the Republic Services backdoor service at Council’s

Request,” City Administrator Jon Walker wrote in a memo to the council. “There was feedback requesting the city to tighten the ordinance and enforce a more limited time that trash bins would be allowed on the street rather than amend the contract with Republic to provide a walk-up service.”

The first version of the ordinance change from the Feb. 10 meeting would have required the walk-up service along West Beach Boulevard meaning the trash cans would stay by the buildings and Republic employees would roll the cans to the truck to empty them and then back behind a line even with the front of the building.

Currently, citywide, residents can roll cans to the road at 7 p.m. the night before and must be taken out of city right of ways by 7 p.m. That won’t change for non-beach road residents.

The current version would change hours on the beach road from 6 a.m. for placing cans on the curb and they must be rolled back behind the front line of the building by 6 p.m. eliminating the walk-up service. This would also include all of State Route 182 or both East and West Beach Boulevard.

Affected management companies and owners in the area will receive a letter on Feb. 19 detailing the changes for those properties. The council will likely vote on the ordinance change in a regular meeting on Feb. 24 and Public Works employees will start monitoring the roadway on March 3.

“On June 5, the city will evaluate the effectiveness of the new ordinance,” Walker’s memo states. “Should this not be effective, the ordinance may be amended and Republic Services will require 60 days to acquire the necessary resources to implement the backdoor service.”

A $200 fine could be levied if the rules aren’t followed.

During the work session, the council will also:

• Read a proclamation declaring Feb. 27 to be Gulf Shores Gives Back Day where students from the city school system fan out in the city doing service projects for residents and public facilities like parks.
• Discuss bringing addresses and street names up to Baldwin County 911 standards.
• Consider transferring a liquor license for GAKO Golf Investments and Gulf Shores Golf Club on Clubhouse Drive.
• Discuss reappointing Craig Olmstead and George Harris to the Board of Zoning Adjustments and Appeals. Both terms ended on Jan. 7 and both would now serve until Jan. 7, 2028.
• Consider a request from The Dumpster Guy to operate a construction and demolition debris removal franchise through Dec. 31.
• Discuss awarding a bid for two jet skis and trailers for the fire department for $29,094 from Gulf Shores Power Sports.
• Consider an agreement with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s office to contract deputies with work with city officers during spring break and Sand in My Boots Festival, formerly Hangout Music Fest, and any other events where they might be needed.
• Discuss expanding the record-keeping software for the police department beginning March 10 costing $18,636 for the rest of 2025 and $25,830 for all of 2026 for a total of $44,466.