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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-14-2025 City Council Work Session MinutesSTATE OF ALABAMA COUNTY OF BA LDWIN )( )( The City Co un ci l met in a Work Session at 4:30 p.m., Fairhope Municipal Complex Council Chamber, 161 North Section Street, Fairhope, Alabama 36532, on Monday, 14 April 2025. Present were Council Pres ident Jack Burrell , Councilmembers: Corey Martin, Jay R ob in son , an d Kevin Boone, Mayor Sherry Sulli van, City Attorney Marcus E. McD owell , and Ass istant City Clerk Jenny Opal Wil so n . Co un ci lmemb er Jimm y Conyers an d City Clerk Li sa Hanks we re absent. Co uncil Pres id ent Burre ll called th e meeting to order a t 4:33 p.m . The following topics were di sc u sse d : 1. The fir st item on th e Agenda was Committee Updates. • Councilm em ber Corey Martin mentioned th e Fairhope Environm en tal Advisory Board met o n Friday , April 11 , 2025. The Green Space Working Group presented a Concept Plan w ith Green Space Map of the City. They are giv in g fee db ack to the City on land u se planning and the pro cess of increasing green space availability. They are worki ng wi th Fairhope Hi gh Sch oo l on a Pil ot Program for Sustainable Waste Management on Compos tin g. They are also working on Smart Growth Polici es for ordinances . • Councilm ember Jay Robin so n mentioned the Fairhope Pedestrian and Bi cycle Co mmittee h as an appointment on agenda thi s evening for a new member Cal Coo p er for a three-year term that w ill ex pire A pril 2028. Last week, Councilmember Robinson met with Mayor Sh erry Sullivan and a Historic Preservati on Co mmission Representati ve on the Certified Local Government (CLG) sta tu s and steps to get approved. • Co un cilm em b er Kevin B oo ne mentioned the H arbor Board had a sch eduled meetin g on Wednesday, April 9, 2 025. They were unable to meet due to lack of qu orum . • Council Pres id e nt Jack Burrell mentioned the R ecreation Board will meet on Wednesday , April 16, 2025 . The Airport Board Authority met on Tuesday , Apri l 8, 2025. Fli ghtlin e First Fairhope h ad th eir b es t month ever with a little over 23,000 ga ll ons of fu el di spen sed . That i s important because Airport Auth ori ty gets pa id b y th e gallon . This was th eir best month ever. Vo lk ert sel ected as Engineer for negotiation of fee schedul e. 2. The seco nd item on th e Age nd a was D epartme nt Head Updates. • Mayor Sherry Su lli van addressed the City Counci l regarding Eng in eering Agenda Item s No. Item s 7, 8, 10 , 11 , 12, 13, 14 for City Engineer, Richard Monday, 14 April 2025 Page -2- Johnson that was not in attendance this evening. She reported he is doing we ll. • Mayor Sherry Sullivan addressed the City Council regarding Community Events for Paige Crawford , Director of Community Affairs that was not in attendance this evening. Easter Sunrise Service will be at Henry George Park on Sunday , Ap1il 20 , 2025 at 6:30 a .m . We also have a Community Shred Day on Saturday, April I 9, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at 451 Pecan Avenue, Fairhope, AL 36532 . • D aryl Morefield, Water and Wastewater Superintendent addressed the City Counci l on Items No. 15 , 16 , 17 and 18; and answered any questions if needed . • Jeff Montgomery , Director of Information Technology addressed the City Counci l regarding Agenda Item No . 25; and answered any questions if needed . • Hannah Noonan , Human Resources Director addressed the City Council regarding Agenda Items No. 23 and 24; and answered any questions if needed. • West Boyett, Gas Superintendent addressed the City Council w ith a Department Update. Gas Iron Replacement Bid wi11 be on next agenda. Wes wanted to give a shout out to Erin Wolfe, Purchasing Manager and her staff on support of bid . Specifications were specific and showed up in the bid numbers. Thi s was a four million dollar project with two (2) bidders and the difference between the bids were $35 ,000 .00 less than 1 %. We have finished the Project on Mary Ann B each Road that feeds into County R oad 1 and the end of Scenic Hwy 98. Gas is now avai lab l e for residents. We have ten (10) new services. We are al so working with Marcus McDowe11 on a Reimbursement Agreement for relocation of project on Hwy 181. • Ben Patterson, Electric Superintendent addressed the City Counci l with Agenda Items No . 19 and 20; and answered any questions if needed. He gave a Department Update that we have almost completed removing lights from trees. • Hunter Simmons, Planning Di rector, addressed the City Council regarding Agenda ltems No. 5 and 9; and answered any questions if needed. • Police Chief Stephanie Hollinghead addressed the City Counci l regarding Agenda Items No. 21 , 22 , 26 , 27 and 28; and answered any questions if needed . • George Ladd , Public Works Director addressed the City Counci l regarding Agenda Item No . 21 in support; and answered any questions if needed. George gave a Department Update. He discussed Public Works Sanitation are shorthanded on equipment impacting trash pickups with delays. We are Monday , 14 April 2025 Page -3- working with Paige Crawford on a communications flyer /mailer to educate citizens on white goods and vegetation with pictures and dimensions. Horticulture is in the process of replacing the tops from green houses and potting up for summer change out with additional staffing. Streets and Construction are catching up on City projects. George noted the new handrails at football stadium look phenomenal and gave a shoutout to Raymond and Michael. Mayor Sherry Sullivan reported Veterans Drive is temporarily closed. There have been traffic complaints on Volanta. Parker Road sidewalks are still under Design. Blue Island is ready for advertisement. Fairhope Single Tax Corporation pledged $184,500.00 to move the Tolstoy Park to Flying Creek Nature Preserve. This contribution is half of the project goal to move. Hoping to raise all money for project. • Erik Cortinas , Building Official addressed the City Council with a Building Department update. Building Code could be impacted by six (6) significant Alabama State Senate Bills if passed. We are awaiting adoption of the 2024 International Code until bills are settled . Our goal is to have public meetings in June-July 2025 and go live October 2025. Mayor Sherry Sullivan discussed the Alabama Senate Bills SB 12 and SB29. She said the Baldwin County Mayors Association are aware and monitoring bills. Mayor Sullivan is also working with the Alabama League, and they are monitoring . There being no further business to come before the City Council , the meeting was duly adjourned at 5:24 p.m.