Funding Agreement Finalized for Little Lagoon Restoration Project

At the June 13 City Council Meeting, Gulf Shores City Council voted to accept, award and execute a Sub-Recipient Grant Agreement with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ACDNR) for the Little Lagoon Restoration Project. Due to the direct and significant impact the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill had on Little Lagoon and adjacent coastal areas in 2010, the City was awarded $5.9MM in RESTORE Funding for the Little Lagoon Restoration Project.

During the five-year project, the City will partner with Auburn University, the University of South Alabama, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, and Mississippi State University to implement several environmental programs that will improve water quality, increase and enhance habitat areas and improve ecological productivity. In addition, the project will have secondary beneficial impacts on the region, including more resilient and sustainable infrastructure and increased recreational and ecotourism opportunities. 

Specific goals of programs include:  

• The construction of approximately 1000 feet of living shorelines and shoreline habitat  
• Improvements to the hydrology of the existing canal system 
• The connection of roughly 200 individual septic systems within the Little Lagoon watershed to the city sewer
• The establishment of an oyster restoration program. 
• Marsh and seagrass bed restoration
• Hydrodynamic modeling of Little Lagoon 
• Ecological research and long-term monitoring by university partners

As the sole sub-recipient, the City will administer funding and provide oversight to the sub-awardees throughout the project, and act as the overall program manager for the seven individual programs. Project teams will also work with local community groups, including the Little Lagoon Preservation Society and Gulf Shores High School's Sustainability Academy, to develop volunteer and public outreach opportunities. 

Click here to learn more about the Little Lagoon Restoration Project.

Gulf Shores Fire Chief, Mark Sealy, Completes Executive Fire Officer Program

Gulf Shores Fire Rescue Chief Mark Sealy was recently recognized at a Council meeting for completing the Executive Fire Officer (EFO) program at the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Academy in Emmetsburg, Maryland. The Executive Fire Officer Program is the pinnacle of the U.S. Fire Administration's commitment to supporting the needs of fire and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies in preparing executive officers to meet the ever-changing demands of the dynamic communities in which they serve.

This program is a four-year endeavor that must be prefaced by earning a bachelor’s degree and completing a competitive acceptance process. Over these four years, multiple assignments are due, as well as a yearly two-week in-class portion.

The Executive Fire Officer program is widely accepted as one of the most well-respected and reputable development programs for fire service leaders. Successful completion of the program is reserved for a select few because of its rigorous nature. Chief Sealy is now one of only 68 Executive Fire Officers in the history of the state of Alabama.

We are incredibly proud of Chief Sealy's outstanding accomplishment and exceptional leadership to our team. Please join us in recognizing him for his hard work and dedication to our community.

West 4th Street Bridge Public Information Meeting Scheduled for July 20

The City of Gulf Shores will host a public information meeting on July 20 to discuss proposed solutions for the West Fourth Street bridge and recommended pedestrian safety improvements along Windmill Ridge Road and surrounding areas. 

Due to deteriorating conditions and public safety concerns, the bridge on West Fourth Street is closed to vehicular traffic. In 2021 the City partnered with Skipper Consulting, a transportation engineering firm, to complete a traffic study that evaluated the feasibility of constructing a new bridge on West Fourth Street and reopening it to vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic. City Staff will present the findings of this study and recommendations provided by Skipper Consulting at the public information meeting.

The meeting will occur on Wednesday, July 20, at 5:30 p.m. in the Gulf Shores City Council Chambers, located at 1905 West 1st Street. After the presentation, attendees can ask questions and provide feedback on the project to City staff members. 

For additional information about this project, contact the City Engineering Department at (251) 968-6583 or email macreman@gulfshoresal.gov.

Gulf Pines Feasibility Study Continues

Progress continues for the streetscape enhancement feasibility study being conducted in the Gulf Pines Neighborhood. Fieldwork started on June 13 and is expected to last approximately 30 more days. During this time, surveyors will continue locating utility lines and completing topographic surveys within the right of way, which will have minimal impact on residents and motorists.

The City partnered with Volkert, Inc. to perform this study to conceptually identify possible streetscape improvement opportunities and develop an implementation phasing plan with cost estimates for each respective phase.

Potential enhancements to be reviewed in the study include the installation of sidewalks, an enclosed drainage system, on-street parking, and landscaping in various locations throughout the neighborhood. A conceptual plan is expected to be completed early this fall.

For more information about this project, contact the Public Works Department at (251) 968-1156.

S’mores on the Shore set for August 4 at Gulf Place

Celebrate the end of summer with the City of Gulf Shores at S’mores on the Shore set for Thursday, August 4. The fun is set to begin at 6 p.m. and will take place at Gulf Place, 101 Gulf Shores Parkway.

This family-friendly event will include free s’mores packets (while supplies last), a live DJ, and a balloon artist on site. Families are encouraged to bring their blankets, chairs, and friends and relax on the beautiful, white sand of the Gulf Shores Public Beach.

For more information about S’mores on the Shore click here. 

Coastal Gateway Community Park Update

The Coastal Gateway Community Park project continues to make progress. Last month, the City sent out a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for design services and received several responses from interested firms. City staff is currently in the process of reviewing all of the qualification submittals and plans to bring a recommendation to the City Council at the July 18 Council Work Session. The public is invited to attend this meeting to see the presentation and ask questions.

Last year the City hosted a public involvement meeting and sent out an online survey to gain feedback from residents on what recreation amenities they would like included at the new park. At that time, the park was set to be built on the City-owned 40-acre property located directly between the Crimson Ridge and Craft Farms North Subdivision. However, at the end of 2021, the City decided to purchase the adjacent 80-acre property directly south of the existing property, allowing for a total of 120 acres to be utilized in the park design. The purchase of the additional property also provides the opportunity for a future connector road between County Road 6 and Coastal Gateway Boulevard.

Updates will continue to be provided on the park's progress on the City's website and social media.

For more information or questions about the Coastal Gateway Community Park, please reach out to Grant Brown at gbrown@gulfshoresal.gov.

City of Gulf Shores Welcomes Joel Potter as First City Arborist

The City of Gulf Shores is pleased to announce the hiring of Joel Potter as the City's first Arborist. Potter Comes to the City of Gulf Shores with more than 15 years of experience in urban forestry and most recently served as the Urban Forestry Coordinator for the City of Mobile.

Last year, Gulf Shores City Council amended the City's Tree Protection Ordinance to increase regulation on removing and destroying protected trees within City limits in an effort to preserve the existing tree canopy and all of the naturally occurring benefits that come with it. In addition, City Council also approved the position of City Arborist to actively enforce these regulations and serve as a resource to the community for tree preservation and maintenance efforts.

"We are very excited to have Joel join our team as the first Arborist to serve the City of Gulf Shores," said Lee Jones, Director of Planning and Community Development. "The Mayor and Council created this position to primarily enforce the City's new Tree Protection Ordinance, but Joel is going to be doing so much more. As the City Arborist, Joel will be managing the protection of trees and overall beautification of the City while serving as an advocate for trees and their environmental, economic, and social benefits for our community."

Potter's duties as City Arborist also include reviewing landscaping plans for new developments, making recommendations for revisions to the City's Code for governing protected trees and recommended street trees, and ensuring private property maintenance standards are sustained throughout the community.  

Please join us in welcoming Joel to the City of Gulf Shores!

For more information about the City's Protected Tree ordinance, click here.