Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – The city will consider hiring and engineering firm to assess the city’s traffic control system, provide a thorough review of the current system and assess intersection and corridor safety.

The city council will meet on Aug. 19 at 4 p.m. in a work session in council chambers at city hall.

“Jacobs will review traffic signal performance through an assessment of the advance traffic signal performance metrics and look for areas of unexpected delay and/or poorly performing corridors and make recommendations on general traffic signal timing choices such as cycle lengths,” a memo from the engineering department states. Additionally, “Jacobs will perform a review and assessment of city staffing, roles and responsibilities as well as any operating procedures and protocols of the traffic control system.”

For $43,600 Jacobs Engineering Group will present the city a report on its findings in the traffic assessment, identifying where changes need to be made and assessing the current equipment and software.

During the meeting, the council will discuss:

• Approving a $46,647 grant from the FAA for runway safety equipment. The Airport authority will have to provide a match amount of $11,177.
• Changing the ordinance on commercial building permits in Gulf Shores to align with what the state requires for commercial permitting. This change will mean property owners seeking a permit for a commercial building for more than $50,000 must be obtained by a state-licensed contractor.
• Restricting the use of certain staining materials and “especially red sand clay” on residential properties and construction.
• The annual contract between the city and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to enforce regulations in the Alabama Coastal Area Management Plan to help streamline the permitting process. The city will be reimbursed $65,000 for providing the services.
• Hiring Hagerty Consulting for grant management services related to acquiring hazard mitigation grants applications related to damage from Hurricane Sally for $22,125. The grants are seeking funds for a generator for police detectives, roadway elevation for West Fourth Avenue and strengthening city buildings at 200 and 205 Clubhouse Drive.
• Reappointing Mayor Robert Craft to the Board of Directors for Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism. His term ends on Sept. 30 and he has agreed to continue to serve.
• Reappointing Cindy Key, Pairzetty Bauer and Lisa Osborn to the Beautification Board for terms through Sept. 1, 2027. All three’s terms end on Sept. 1 and all have agreed to continue to serve.
• Awarding a bid to Harris Contracting for installation of LED lights at the Sportsplex for $279,000. Fields in the bid include Mickey Miller Blackwell stadium, baseball, softball and soccer facilities.
• Authorizing the mayor to accept a $148,135 grant from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to help with the building of the county’s new Material Recovery Facility on County Road 49 near the county’s landfill. The $15 million facility now under construction will serve the recycling needs of the entire county once completed.
• Recognizing Jake Heintzelman as the lifeguard of the month for July when he made 1,208 public contacts, 145 code enforcements, 79 preventative actions, 70 minor medical calls and one major medical call.
• Donating a surplus 2011 Ferrara Cinder fire engine to the Miller’s Ferry Volunteer Fire Department to supplement the VFD’s only truck, a 1981 Ford. Miller’s Ferry is located in Wilcox County in a bend of the Alabama River.