Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – During a joint work/regular meeting on Dec. 1, the Gulf Shores City Council will consider three agenda items related to a proposed $8.2 multi-sports facility at the city's Sportsplex.
First up is a public hearing to consider an ordinance to transfer 6.2 acres to the Parks and Recreation Department with the intent of issuing bonds to build the center. See related story.
“The Public Park and Recreation Board will acquire the property from the City, develop, construct and equip an approximately 40,000 square foot indoor/outdoor multi-sports facility by issuing $8,265,000 in Board Lease Revenue Bonds.” , says an article on the agenda.
Once the new facility is completed, the Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Center will lease it to volleyball enthusiasts Shawn Weaver and Eddie Henry.
“The mission of the Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Center (AGCSC) is to provide a conducive environment for the athletic development of young people in a safe, outdoor environment,” reads one item on the agenda. “AGCSC will provide our community with everything necessary to develop our youth to their full potential, socially, physically and mentally. You will use sports and fitness as teaching tools
inspire leadership and success and show how we can give back to our community.”
Plans for the center include promoting youth sports and educational opportunities for training, camps and clinics, league play, tournament play and as a practice facility for these activities. Other advantages include:
- The focus is on off-season sports tourism events, which Gulf Shores cannot accommodate without a large indoor facility
- Higher tax revenues in low and high seasons
- Expanded year-round activity at the Sportsplex, allowing for better use of a public asset
- Access to on-site training and events without residents having to leave Gulf Shores to attend
- Resident discounts for services and use of the facility
- School partnership to promote the performance of local district athletes
- On-site food and beverage offerings that serve an area of the city that lacks such services
- Promote and grow beach volleyball, indoor volleyball, basketball, pickleball, wrestling, cheer, baseball, softball and dance in the indoor sports field
- Provide a programmed exercise facility to many residents in close proximity
- Large indoor area for non-sporting civic events, e.g. E.g. graduation ceremonies, trade fairs, conferences, church retreats, etc.
- Shared parking for Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium and pickleball courts
Other items on the agenda for the multi-sports facility include a resolution to approve the construction of the center and the financing agreement to finance the facility.
During the joint work/regular meeting, the Council will also discuss:
A mounting permit for the Sea Turtle Half Marathon and Sweetheart 5K on February 17th. The runs take place in the hangout.
Transfer of ownership of 7.9 acres at the high school to the Gulf Shores Board of Education. While Baldwin County owned the buildings and campus grounds, the city owned the land that housed the practice field, field house, batting cage and most of the parking lot, property of Gulf Shores. In return, the school board will dedicate 11.3 acres as a right-of-way for the Canal Road Bypass, which runs south of the Gulf Pines neighborhood and school grounds.
Postponement of 2024 Council meetings due to New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day holidays and meeting only twice in December 2024, on December 2nd and December 9th .
Passed a joint resolution reappointing Karen Still to the Beautification Board until December 19, 2026 and reappointing Ken McKenzie as an administrative law judge for two years until December 1, 2025.
Acceptance of a proposal from Sawgrass Consulting for construction, engineering and inspection services for the construction of a new fire department training facility at a cost of $74,770. See related story.
Approved a five-year contract with Axon Enterprise to provide drone fuming, data storage, training, equipment and geospatial mapping to police, valued at $14,051 per year.
We are accepting unopened portions of North Canal Drive and West 25th Avenue for right-of-way maintenance, beginning at the Legendary Marine project and continuing west to Bon Secour Village and lot one of the Waterdance Subdivision on the banks of the Intracoastal Waterway. The purpose is to develop a path along the waterway to an 11-acre area where the city plans to build a park.
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