If you are seeking assurance that the many staff members for the City of Gulf Shores are managing the community properly you may want to attend a City Council Work Session. During this week's meeting Clint Covin, Capital Projects Director, professionally reviewed the Highway 59 widening project. Providing details of the engineering and cost.

Financial Services Director, Anna Franklin, informed the City Council and audience members that independent auditors confirmed that the 2024 Comprehensive Financial Report was correct and error free. The report confirmed that the General Fund balance at year-end was $79,892,886, up from $71 million the previous year.

Other reports discussed the financial health of the city and the implementation of an upcoming "Vape Tax" initiated by the State of Alabama. The tax will go into effect starting October 1, 2025.

Interim Deputy Chief of Police Joe Taylor provided details of a communication plan between the City and Baldwin County for police and fire department radios.

City Clerk, Tobi Waters, explained the municipal court's upcoming dates of operation.

Director of Recreation & Cultural Affairs, Grant Brown, presented Assembly Applications for the National Shrimp Festival, Meeting of the Minds and Gulf Shores Middle School Dolphin Dash. The applications will be voted on during the next meeting of the Gulf Shores City Council.

During the presentation for the Shrimp Festival application Mr. Brown provided a comprehensive review of the event's timeline, city beach layout and transportation options. He also complimented the local Chamber of Commerce for their detailed application saying "probably the most complete permit application we've received to date."

The work session, lead by Mayor Craft, allowed for the audience to make comments or add any relevant information.

Shrimp Festival Presentation Slides Below: