HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-15-2026 Recreation Board Meeting Minutes
Minutes of the Fairhope Recreation Board
The Fairhope Recreation Board met on Wednesday, July 15th, 2026, at 5:15 p.m. at the
Recreation Center, 803 N. Greeno Road, Fairhope, Alabama.
Present: Pat White, Josh Warren, Mike Baugh, Robert Jernigan, Debra Flowers, Cole
Wagner, Charlie Langham, Jarred Richardson, and Mary Lee Matzenger. Absent: Scott
Berry, Jay Robinson, Cathy Hudson, and Andrea Booth.
The meeting was called to order by Mike Baugh at 5:20 p.m. The minutes of the May
20th, 2026, meeting were considered and approved on a motion by C athy Hudson,
seconded by Josh Warren, none opposed.
Guests: Mayor Sherry Sullivan, Jennifer Olmstead (City of Fairhope Revenue
Manager), and Gary Gover.
Recreation Project Updates: Pat White informed the Board of the following
updates:
• The Fairhope Pool Rehabilitation project: Scaffolding is being dismantled this week.
The concrete specialist contractor will move in and refurbish the pool deck surface
beginning Monday.
• Both the old baseball fields in Barnwell have been converted to multi-use football fields.
Grading, irrigation, and sod were all performed with in-house labor and equipment. There
is a large pavilion between the fields with attached storage rooms for youth football and
youth cheer to use for their equipment. The fencing around the fields is contracted out
and will begin later this week. We are working on a traffic plan for easier ingress/egress
and more sensible parking structure.
• A pedestrian walkway and parking improvement project here at Volanta Park got started
this week. This will include a traffic table that crosses over the roadway from the pool to
the entrance of the baseball fields, and a designated walkway with improved parking
spaces.
Recreational Operations Updates: Pat White informed the Board of the following
updates:
• Coach Ross youth football camp is in the stadium tonight to give the kids a game -like
experience.
• There will be a Meet the Pirates event with scrimmage game on August 14th from 5:00-
9:00 pm.
• The first varsity home game is August 28th.
• The Fun Day for youth softball that was postponed due to weather is rescheduled for
August 8th from 2:00-8:00 pm at Founders Park. Inflatables, games, and showing the
movie The Sandlot.
• Most city athletic fields are shut down for the month of July for cultural practices and
recuperation before Fall seasons start back.
Recreational Old Business:
• Completion of Code of Conduct for all Rec Board Members (all completed 7-15-26).
• Discussion was held regarding travel teams and their required documentation needed
to rent any of our facilities and that would include insurance, business license, and
completion of Coach Safely.
• Standardized Sport Agreement (becoming a sanctioned sport with the City and the
expectations that would come with that; incorporating the Facility Use Agreement, Coach
Safely, etc.) has been submitted to Marcus McDowell for input/approval.
• Facility Rental Agreement Updates:
▫ WC Majors Stadium: update to include maximum of 12 hours and no later than
10 pm. This will not include the use of the concession stand nor the locker rooms.
▫ Concession Stand/Vendor Column: Vendors must give 12.5% of profit to the City
of Fairhope and each vendor must have a current business license.
▫ Barnwell Multi-use Fields: There will not be a deposit required for travel teams.
▫ Fairhope Recreation Pool: $25/per lane/per hour with a 3-lane maximum and for
2 hours only.
Recreational New Business:
• Discussion was had regarding the possibility of new gym project at Volanta. Money
has been requested to be budgeted for the engineering process in the 2026-2027 fiscal
year.
• Discussion was had regarding the difference between having a franchise agreement
vs. alternative agreement and it was decided that for Parks & Recreation, a franchise
agreement will not work. Moving forward there will be the use Facility Use
Agreements/flat rates only (at the discretion of the Director of Parks & Recreation). For
private instructors you will have to provide the City with insurance, Coach Safely
documents, and a City of Fairhope Business License. Discussion was had about the
possibility of charging non-Fairhope residents a fee of $100/per hour/per field for rental
fees. Facility Use Agreements are all subject to availability.
Being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:38 p.m.