Orange Beach, Ala. – (GSN) – It’ll be somewhat of a procedural start to the biweekly meeting of the Orange Beach City Council that could end in the appointment of a new council member. In the upcoming regular session, councilors will have two resolutions to consider, one to declare Jerry Johnson’s seat vacant and a second resolution to appoint someone to finish his term.

The council will meet in a joint session on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, with a regular meeting starting at 5 p.m., followed by the committee of the whole work session in council chambers at City Hall. Johnson resigned his seat on June 2 to be with his family.

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Orange Beach can appoint someone to the seat at the June 16 meeting, but under state law, it has 60 days to fill the seat. Johnson served 13-plus years on the council, and his remaining term runs through August of 2029.

Also on the agenda is a resolution to pick a chairman pro tempore of the mayor pro tem from the four sitting councilmembers, Jeff Silvers, Robert Stuart, Ginger Harrelson, and Jack Robertson. Those four, along with Mayor Tony Kennon, will then consider a resolution to declare Johnson’s seat as vacant before considering replacements.

During the regular meeting, the council will also discuss:

• Paying $1.5 million to vendors for goods and services through June 17.
• Declaring July as Parks and Recreation Month in Orange Beach.
• Declaring June 20 as Celebrate Life Day in Orange Beach with a sunset worship and prayer event at the Waterfront Park pier.
• Approving a liquor license for Mediterranean Sandwich Co. going into the old Milkshake Momma location in the Commons shopping center in the southwest corner of Canal Road and State Route 161 or Orange Beach Boulevard.
• Buying a dispatch radio console for the police department for $39,0007 from Motorola Solutions.
• Buying office furniture from McAleer’s Office Furniture for $59,108 for the fire department.
• Submitting an Assistance to Firefighters Grant application to replace 75 aging self-contained breathing apparatus units. The grant is for $892,000, and the city will be required to provide a 5% match, or about $44,600.
• Submitting an application for a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant from FEMA to add 12 additional firefighters to properly staff a frontline ladder/truck company. The grant is for $2.5 million to cover the first two years, or 75 percent of the total costs, and would cover 35 percent of the third-year costs. The city will be required to hold $1.5 million in reserve to cover 25 percent in the first two years and 65 percent in the third year.
• Amending the fee schedule for the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach.
• An agreement with the Blue Marlin Grand Championship for the use of city barricades in the upcoming event, July 14-19, at The Wharf.
• Paying Sawgrass Consulting $100,000 for professional services for improvements to the Orange Beach Recreational Complex.
• Authorizing a change order of $15,983 with Roy Lewis Construction to make drainage improvements adjacent to the new fire training center being built behind Fire Station No. 1. This will bring the total cost of construction to nearly $2 million.
• A contract with GeoCon Engineering and Materials Testing for $2,500 to conduct a soil study for the addition of shade structures at the Kids Park Playground.
• A public hearing for Bubba’s Seaside Mini Golf to rezone three acres to planned unit development for a bumper car attraction. The planning commission gave the plan an 8-0 favorable recommendation at its May 11 meeting. There will also be a first reading of the proposed ordinance change.

During the work session, the council will also discuss:

• A longevity bonus for city retirees, as approved by the legislature in its 2026 session, is $12 per year for service. City money would fund the bonus for city retirees, if passed by the council, estimated at $25,394 in total. For example, an employee with 25 years of service would receive $300. In 2022, the council voted down a similar proposal, raising the ire of RSA chief David Bronner, who questioned the decision by Kennon and the council in the organization’s newsletter.
• Adopting a revised personnel policy manual for city employees.
• An agreement for laboratory services with South Baldwin Regional Medical Center.
• A contract with Offset Consulting for leadership training for the police department for $14,000.
• A grant agreement with the National Audubon Society for the stewardship of the Coastal Alabama beach nesting and bird habitat.
• A contract with GeoCon for $5,570 to provide “geotechnical exploration and engineering services” for a new building at the Aquatic Center.
• A bid for removing invasive plants, adding native landscaping, and monitoring and education of the Coastal Resources Department. Bids will be opened on July 7.
• A bid for a burn tower and installation for the fire training facility. Bids will be opened on July 7.
• A bid for a work skiff for Coastal Resources. Bids will be opened on July 7.
• Accepting a proposal for architectural and engineering services for a safe room for first responders.
• Setting a public hearing date for a modification to the Marriott Orange Beach planned unit development to amend the parking layout. Developers are looking to add to the former Romar Baptist Church and turn the space into a hotel. The suggested hearing date was July 21, following the July 13 planning commission meeting.
• Setting a public hearing for a change in the perimeter landscaping for Lost Bay Townhouses located south of Canal Road behind the former Posh furniture store, Dollar General, and the Brett Robinson laundry. The suggested date is July 7.
• An ordinance to reduce speed limits on certain streets in the Lauder Place Subdivision.