City Council to Review Aquatics Center Renovation Plans
John Mullen • April 15, 2025
Splash pool and lap pool rebuild part of proposed plan
Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – Orange Beach is looking to hire Lose Design to evaluate and design renovations and rebuild some of the facilities at the city’s Aquatics Center on the recreation campus at Canal Road and Wilson Boulevard.
According to a memo from Lose Design on the proposal, the city “wishes to explore conceptual layouts for the renovation/expansion of its existing aquatic center to include replacement of the existing outdoor lap pool, a new outdoor splash pool and either a new support building or renovation/expansion of the existing building.”
The city also asked for a two-year construction timeframe, so parts of the center can stay open during the work. The city council will consider the proposal during a joint regular/work session on April 15 in council chambers at city hall.
During the regular session, the council will also discuss:
- Approving checks for goods and services from March 20-April 9 for $1.5 million.
- A second reading of an ordinance to prohibit commercial activity on beaches, shorelines and waterways.
- A grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to buy license plate readers for the police department. The grant would be for $48,000 and no city match is required.
- A contract with DeRhonda Ponder to be a special needs aide for the Expect Excellence program at a rate of $40 an hour.
- A contract with Matthew Hurst for direction and stage management for the city’s production of “Lion King Jr.”
- A resolution for a contract with McLean Motor Sports Productions for the Bama Coast Cruisin’ event at Freedom Fest on Sept. 20-21.
- A contract with the Gulf Coast Gun Collectors Association for a collectible firearms show at the Orange Beach Event Center as part of Freedom Fest on Sept. 20-21.
- Three requests for taxi franchises in the city for Coast Group Transportation, Robin’s Rides and Surf Side Shuttle.
- A franchise for Waste Management to remove and dispose of commercial waste and construction debris.
- Buying two Ford pickup trucks for Public Works from Stivers Ford Lincoln for $114,824. They are a 2024 F-250 super crew four-by-four and a 2024 F-550 super crew.
- Buying a mobile entertainment stage from Astra Stages for $61,025.
- An agreement with Jackson Holiday for football coaching services.
- A contract with the USDA to supplement nuisance wildlife control services.
- An ordinance change to allow the rezoning of a lot in the Village of Tannin, once designated for a fire station, to allow for residential use.
During the work session, the council will discuss:
- An agreement with Zapp Software for art jury processing software for the 2025 Freedom Fest, the 2026 Seafood Festival and the 2026 Festival of Art for $1,800.
- A contract with Coastal Cats and Critters to house and care for up to 50 feral cats removed from active beach mouse habitats in an 18-month agreement for $25,000.
- A similar contract with the Safe Harbor Animal Coalition to provide $25,000 to assist in trapping, neutering and removing feral cats from beach mouse habitats, also in an 18-month agreement.
- Hiring Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood to perform a discharge information zone study for the wastewater treatment plant for $54,435.
- Setting a public hearing date on a rezoning request for Ron and Darlene Twilley to change the zoning of the lot at 28226 Canal Road from general business to single-family residential. May 6 was the suggested date.
- Setting a public hearing date on a request from Community Development asking the city council to amend the section of the zoning ordinance on parking requirements for auto repair and service centers and car washes. May 6 was the suggested date.
- Setting a public hearing date on another Community Development request to amend the section of the zoning ordinance regarding density calculations and wetlands, wetland setbacks and conservation easement areas. May 6 was the suggested date.
- Setting a public hearing date on a request from Steven Carter for a conditional use permit to build an enclosed storage facility in two buildings totaling 28,600 square feet on Pelican Place. May 20 is the suggested date.
- An ordinance declaring city-owned property as surplus and a ground lease agreement with the Solid Waste Disposal Authority of Baldwin County.
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