The City of Gulf Shores' e-Newsletter will be distributed monthly. If you would like to receive the e-Newsletter via email each month, scroll to the top of the page and click "Join Mailing List." (If you are on a smartphone, you will need to scroll to the top of the page, then to the right of the page beside the social media icons.) All you have to do is enter your email, take the verification test and click submit! Newsletters will be posted at
www.gulfshoresal.gov/newsletter
for historical reference.
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Mayor and Council execute Ground Lease Agreement to establish a Freestanding Emergency Department and medical-related facilities
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Mayor Robert Craft and the City Council passed a resolution at the November 12 regular meeting to execute a Ground Lease Agreement between Foley Hospital Corporation and the City of Gulf Shores to establish a Freestanding Emergency Department and other medical-related facilities. As per the Ground Lease Agreement, the freestanding emergency department will be located where East 2nd Street meets Highway 59.
The Freestanding Emergency Department will be a 24 hour facility that is open every day of the year, providing ground and air ambulance transports. Advanced services will be available on site, such as X-Ray, ultrasounds, CT scans, laboratory testing, and pharmaceutical services with advanced medications. The 13,387 square foot, conceptual site plan includes 8 exam rooms, an on-site helipad, a triage, imaging services, lab services, a pharmacy and patient and staff support areas.
In addition to the medical advantage, the Freestanding Emergency Department will provide 40 to 50 full-time employment opportunities for emergency-trained physicians.
This estimated total cost for the project is $15,200,00. When broken down, construction is estimated to be $10,200,000, major medical equipment is $4,000,000 and additional equipment is $1,000,000.
The Certificate of Need Hearing is scheduled for November 20, 2019. The project construction is anticipated to begin in the Fall of 2020 with the completion date scheduled for Fall 2021.
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U.S. Senator Richard Shelby announces $14.4 million DOT BUILD Grant for Gulf Shores
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U.S. Senator Richard Shelby announced on Thursday, November 7, that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will award the City of
Gulf Shores
a federal highway infrastructure improvement grant of $14.4 million for its Waterway Village Multimodal Access Project.
The Waterway Village Multi-Modal Access Project is a network of roadway, intersection, and pedestrian access improvements that will improve traffic conditions, enhance regional connectivity, create economic opportunities, improve vehicular and pedestrian safety, and increase community resilience. The project will increase capacity along State Highway 59 from County Road 6 to Clubhouse Drive by including an additional southbound lane, constructing a new pedestrian bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway to connect the north and south Waterway Village areas, adding pedestrian and bicycle improvements and complete streets throughout the Waterway Village district, improving intersections at County Road 6 and Cotton Creek Drive, and constructing a new intersection on Highway 59 at 34th Avenue to provide access to new medical facilities.
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Public Involvement Meeting held for Canal Road Corridor Study
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The City of Gulf Shores hosted a Public Involvement Meeting on Thursday, November 7, to provide the public an opportunity to participate in the development of the proposed Canal Road Corridor project. This meeting was the second Public Involvement Meeting following a previous gathering in May.
The purpose of the proposed project is to improve connectivity and provide a transportation corridor that will better accommodate the existing and projected east‐west traffic volumes through the study area. The need for the project is derived from the increased traffic congestion along SR 180 (Canal Road) and along the existing neighborhood streets.
During the Public Involvement Meeting, representatives from the City of Gulf Shores gave a brief presentation on the purpose and need of the proposed project, existing conditions of the roadways, conceptual corridors/sections and their locations, and design considerations. Representatives encourage the public to submit comments and concerns no later than November 20, 2019.
To view the presentation from the meeting, examine preliminary conceptual corridors, and fill out a Public Comment Form,
please click here.
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Mayor and Council approve Coastal Resort Properties applications to rezone and establish master plan for 218-acre land parcel
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During the regular meeting on November 12, Mayor Robert Craft and the City Council approved two applications submitted by Coastal Resort Properties to rezone and establish a Planned Unit Development (PUD) Master Plan for a 218 acre parcel of land located north of the Intracoastal Waterway and east of Waterway East Boulevard. The first application will rezone the property from Intracoastal Waterway North (ICW-N) to Tourist Business North (BT-1N) in order to provide suitable locations for walkable, mixed-use developments that provide residents and tourists with services, conveniences and amenities. The second application establishes a PUD Master Plan for the parcel of land that includes the following: two mixed use activity centers containing retail, restaurant and lodging that will serve as a social and passive recreational point for the development, three marinas, neighborhood mixed use areas, mixed residential areas, and corridor commercial areas. The master plan creates a framework for the development of the property that establishes a basis for standards related to density, massing, heights, as well as relationships of buildings, circulations and streets.
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Gulf Shores Recreation Department announces 2019 Christmas events schedule
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Christmas is just around the corner, and the City of Gulf Shores is once again gearing up to celebrate with the following holiday events:
You don’t want to miss the Lighted Christmas Parade and Holiday Celebration in Gulf Shores on Friday, December 6. The parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will make its way along Highway 59 from Gulf Shores Public Beach to Sims Park. The magical atmosphere from the parade will roll continuously into the night as a Holiday Celebration at Sims Park will kick off immediately following the parade. Families can enjoy pictures with Santa, holiday treats, crafts and the 5th Annual Snowball Drop. The Snowball Drop will feature a man-made blizzard as 4,000 ping pong balls will be dropped from above by Santa. Winning snowballs will have a number that correlates with a prize supplied by our generous sponsors.
For general information or to participate in the parade/sponsor the Snowball Drop, please click here.
Experience a memorable moment this Christmas season with a FREE, personalized phone call from Santa! Registration for Phone Calls from Santa ends on December 3. Santa will make phone calls from the North Pole on Thursday, December 5, and Friday, December 6.
To register for a Phone Call from Santa, please click here.
The Coastal Ballet Academy will present the Nutcracker on Sunday, December 8. Under the direction of Madame Rio Cordy Barlow, the ballet academy will bring this classic holiday ballet to life. This event will begin at 2 p.m. at the Erie H. Meyer Civic Center.
Purchase tickets to The Nutcracker by clicking here.
The Baldwin Pops will present a Christmas Concert on Tuesday, December 10, at the Cultural Center Auditorium. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. This is a free event and does not require a ticket; however, seats are first come first served. Baldwin Pops concerts are a collection site for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots program. Patrons are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped gift.
For more information on the Baldwin Pops Christmas Concert, please click here.
Family Movie Night
All aboard for a Family Movie Night featuring "The Polar Express" on Friday, December 20, at the Cultural Center Auditorium. The movie will begin at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $5 and includes the movie, popcorn, hot chocolate and Christmas cookies. Wear your favorite Christmas pajamas and join us!
To register for Family Movie Night, please click here.
Children will have one last minute chance to visit with Santa on Saturday, December 21, at Breakfast with Santa at the Erie H. Meyer Civic Center. Breakfast will be served at 8 a.m. and Santa will arrive at 8:30 a.m. All attendees will be entered into a drawing for several giveaways. The first 50 children will receive a complimentary photo with Santa.
For more information on Breakfast with Santa, please click here.
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Gulf Shores Police Association announces "Shop with a Cop" event
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The Gulf Shores Police Association is excited to host "Shop with a Cop", where local children will be selected by referrals from school officials to participate in a fun-filled day with their local heroes. This amazing opportunity will assist children and their families during this holiday season by creating a positive one-on-one experience. These experiences are beneficial, not only to the children, but to the officers as well. Building trust is an important bonding process between the officers and the community they serve.
On the day of the event, Gulf Shores Police Department officers will pick up children and provide a police escort to the shopping destination. Each child will receive money to shop for their families and themselves. Following the shopping spree, the officer and child will enjoy a delicious meal while the gifts are wrapped by GSPD family and friends.
You can help make this Christmas merrier for the kids by being a sponsor for "Shop with a Cop." To donate to the program, please make checks make payable to the Gulf Shores Police Association, a non-profit organization. The address for the association is P.O. Box 896, Gulf Shores, AL 36547.
For questions, please contact Cpl. Josh Hoguet at 251-968-4657.
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Surf Style obtains approval for new building at current location
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Surf Style, located at 101 West Beach Boulevard, has obtained approval for a new 6 story building with 10,000 square feet of retail space on the first floor, 12 condominium units on floors 2-4 and amenities on floors 5 and 6. The proposed mixed use building will replace the existing Surf Style retail store at this location. A 76 space parking lot for this project will be located across Beach Boulevard at 102 Gulf Shores Parkway. The development embraces the pedestrian friendly design philosophy encouraged by the Envision Gulf Shores regulations by being located directly adjacent to the public streets and public beach area and shifts the priority from the vehicle to the pedestrian.
To view the rendering of the new Surf Style mixed use building, please click here.
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Gulf Shores Middle School receives 21st CCLC Grant for After-School Program
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Gulf Shores Middle School was awarded a 21
st
CCLC Grant that will fund a new after-school program called “Beyond the Bell.” This program is free for students and will offer a variety of opportunities to these students to develop their interests and skills. Several STEAM programs (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) will be provided, such as string instruments, Greenpower, and robotics along with academic remediation and enrichment. GSMS is also partnering with EcoTourism through the grant. This partnership will provide students with service learning opportunities and experiences in the EcoTourism field.
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Gulf Shores Police Department now accepting applications for Annual Citizen's Police Academy
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The Gulf Shores Police Department is pleased to announce that we will be hosting our Annual Citizen’s Police Academy. It will begin Tuesday, January 14, and will meet every Tuesday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the Police Department which is located at 220 Clubhouse Drive.
The Citizen’s Police Academy is a partnership with the citizens of Gulf Shores and the Gulf Shores Police Department. The benefits of such a partnership can only help strengthen the entire community in public safety and quality of life.
A police agency cannot be effective without the trust of its citizens. The Citizen Police Academy program builds that trust. Through education, it provides a bridge between the officer in the car and the citizens in the field. Citizens will gain an appreciation of the problems and challenges facing law enforcement and have an opportunity to offer comments and ideas regarding solutions. Those citizens then become the police department’s “goodwill ambassadors” throughout the community. As a result, graduates are better equipped to assess safety issues, and share with others their knowledge of law enforcement practices and policies.
There are several hands-on exercises and, at the end of the program, you will participate in role play exercises and make decisions as a police officer would. You will also be signed up for a 4-hour “Ride Along” and ride with an officer to see first-hand what happens on the street.
For more information or to apply for the Citizen's Police Academy,
click here.
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Gulf Shores Fire Rescue hosts 2019 Arson Investigators Seminar
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The City of Gulf Shores Department of Fire and Emergency Services hosted the 2019 State Arson Investigators Seminar on November 4-6.
“The Arson Seminar is a world-class educational event, which is closely supervised by a forensic scientist,” City of Gulf Shores Fire Chief George Surry said. “This year we hosted 140 investigators representing federal, state, local and private agencies from five different states, including Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia and Mississippi."
All attendees participated in daily seminars at the Erie H. Meyer Civic Center. Conference topics included:
- Fuel gas incidents, explosions and investigations
- L.P. gas incidents, tanks, refilling and investigations
- Vehicle fire patterns and origin determinations, systems and causes
- Improving the ongoing compliance of fire alarm systems
On Tuesday afternoon, attendees participated in a field exercise where they processed five different accident burn scenes and had to determine the cause of each accident. This hands-on application allows the investigators to recognize authentic burn patterns and learn how to find the origin of the fire.
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Exclusive Gulf Shores Christmas products available now at the City Store
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The Christmas tradition continues at the Gulf Shores City Store. In 2012, the Gulf Shores City Store began introducing an exclusive Gulf Shores Christmas shirt, mug and ornament available to residents and visitors for purchase. Since then, each year has sported a new, beach-inspired theme. This year's theme is sea turtles!
Stop by and get yours at the City Store today, located at 1821 Gulf Shores Parkway, or
visit us online by clicking here!
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City Council Work Session
November 18
City Hall Council Chambers
4 p.m.
Planning Commission Meeting
November 19
City Hall Council Chambers
4 p.m.
City Council Regular Meeting
November 25
City Hall Council Chambers
4 p.m.
City Council Work Session & Regular Meeting
December 2
City Hall Council Chambers
4 p.m.
Gulf Shores City Schools Work
Session
December 5
High School Library
4 p.m.
City Council Work Session & Regular Meeting
December 9
City Hall Council Chambers
4 p.m.
Gulf Shores City Schools Regular
Meeting
December 12
City Hall Council Chambers
5 p.m.
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2020 Winter Edition tickets on sale now!
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The City of Gulf Shores is excited to announce the 2020 Winter Edition of Small Town, Big Beach Productions. This year's performances include:
The Drifters
January 27-28
December '63
February 3-4
John Davidson
(with special guest Gail Farrell)
February 10-11
Harrison Greenbaum
February 17-18
All shows are located at the Erie H. Meyer Civic Center, located at 1930 West 2nd Street. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35. You may purchase tickets in person at the Gulf Shores City Store, located at 1821 Gulf Shores Parkway, or
online by clicking here!
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Eastern end of Coastal Gateway Boulevard closed for improvements
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Beginning on Monday, November 11, the eastern end of Coastal Gateway Boulevard at the intersection of the Beach Express closed to public traffic. The closure is expected to last until the end of day on Wednesday, November 20.
This project will widen Coastal Gateway Boulevard to four lanes from Highway 59 to the Beach Express and add center medians and turn lanes. Sidewalks, enclosed drainage and street lights will also be installed along both sides of the highway. Additionally, a new traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of Coastal Gateway Boulevard and the Beach Express.
The relocation of all utilities is now complete, and the storm water and roadway construction is well underway. Signal work at the Foley Beach Express is slated to begin in January. The completion date is schedule for late Spring of 2020.
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Exciting new programs coming to Gulf Shores
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The Gulf Coast Center for Ecotourism & Sustainability is partnering with Gulf Shores City Schools and Gulf State Park to bring a number of new outdoor programs to Gulf Shores, including ocean-explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ambassadors of the Environment.
Visit
gulfcenter.org
or follow us on
facebook
and
instagram
to learn more!
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Employee Spotlight:
Meet Jean Coberly
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Jean Coberly, a native of Illinois, currently serves as the Tennis Coordinator for the City of Gulf Shores. Jean has lived in Gulf Shores for 34 years and has worked for the City for 32 of those years. Her favorite part of her job is teaching tennis to current and prospective players. When she's not at work, she enjoys being with her 4-legged animals. Jean's first job ever was teaching tennis for the Parks and Recreation Department in Illinois when she was 15. Her favorite part about living in Gulf Shores is the warm weather.
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Streets Resurfacing Project continues
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The Streets Resurfacing Project continues on Wedgewood Drive, East 6th Avenue and Royal Oak Circle. Bike lanes are currently under construction along Wedgewood Drive. The resurfacing of all three locations will start in late November. The project is expected to be completed by the end of December.
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As of November 14, 2019, the City of Gulf Shores has permitted 218 new single family residences just this year.
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The City of Gulf Shores Building Department would like to mention a few notable commercial projects that are currently under construction:
- Regency Place Apartments
- Sea Glass Condominiums
- Seagrass Assisted Living
- Alvin's Island Remodel
- Surf Style demolition and re-build as a mixed use retail/condominium
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Free Memory & Hearing Screening Event
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The Gulf Shores Recreation Department is hosting a Memory Screening event on Wednesday, November 20, from 12 to 4 p.m. at the Cultural Center. There will also be a hearing test available by Ascent Audiology & Hearing. All screenings are completely free and confidential. Walk-ins are welcome. Please call 251-968-8742 for more information.
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USA Distinguished Lecture Series
November 14
Cultural Center Auditorium
7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Flower Arrangement Class
November 19
Cultural Center
2 to 4 p.m.
Memory Screening
November 20
Cultural Center
12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Monthly Social & Speaker
November 20
Cultural Center
11 a.m.
ABCD's of Medicare
December 2
Cultural Center
2 p.m.
Women's Self Defense
December 4
Cultural Center
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Christmas Parade & Celebration
December 6
Along Highway 59 from the public
beach to Sims Park
6:30 p.m.
The Nutcracker
December 8
Erie H. Meyer Civic Center
2 p.m.
Baldwin Pops Christmas Concert
December 10
Cultural Center Auditorium
7 p.m.
Flower Arrangement Class
December 10
Cultural Center
2 to 4 p.m.
Roadtrip to Bellingrath Gardens
December 13
Meet at Cultural Center
Depart at 3 p.m.
Arrive back at 9 p.m.
Monthly Social & Speaker
December 18
Cultural Center
11 a.m.
Roadtrip to Bragg-Mitchell Mansion
December 20
Meet at Cultural Center
Depart at 9:15 a.m.
Arrive back at 3 p.m.
Family Movie Night
December 20
Cultural Center
6 p.m.
Breakfast with Santa
December 21
Erie H. Meyer Civic Center
8 a.m.
Christmas Break Camp
December 23, 26, 27, 30
January 2, 3
Cultural Center
7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
SilverSneakers Chair Fitness
Every Monday
Cultural Center Gym
2 p.m.
Pickleball
Every Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
Cultural Center Gym
8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
BINGO
Every Wednesday
Cultural Center
10 a.m.
Tech Talk Thursdays
Every Thursday
Thomas B. Norton Public Library
10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Storytime with Ms. Amy
Every Thursday
Thomas B. Norton Public Library
10:30 a.m.
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