Orange Beach, Ala. – (GSN) – Orange Beach police are looking to make several technical advances with upgrades or additions to software systems. Those include GIS, or Geographic Information System and AI applications within the department. Even facial recognition software is being considered.

The Orange Beach City Council will discuss the items in a joint regular/work session on March 3 in council chambers at City Hall at 5 p.m.

Officials are looking to contract with Motorola Solutions for the GIS services for $88,822 and with Tranquility AI for AI-powered evidence analysis for the police department for $39,999. These two items will be considered in the regular session and could be voted on on March 3.

A contract for a facial recognition software agreement is on the work session agenda and could come up for a vote in a later regular session. The contract is for four years, starting at $7,500 in 2026 and increasing by $2,500 each year to $15,000 by the fourth year, 2029.

Also during the regular session, the council will discuss buying vehicle emergency equipment for the police department from Emergency Lighting by Haynes for $63,551.

During the regular session, the council will discuss:

• Approving spending $1.8 million for goods and services for the city.
• Appointing a voting delegate for the Alabama League of Municipalities Annual Convention and the Alabama Municipal Insurance Corp. Annual Meeting in Montgomery on April 28-May 1.
• Approving a liquor license for the Wharf Restaurant Group for the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber’s Sapphire Soiree on March 13.
• Approving a liquor license for the Red Haven Live on Canal Road in the old Lauria’s space.
• A funding request for a $50,000 sponsorship for the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo.
• Retiring canine officer Sadie and transferring ownership of her to Officer Brennan Giles. In another resolution, the council will discuss buying another K9 officer from Gulf Coast K9 for $12,000.
• Authorizing a tax franchise for JOLA Transportation to run a taxi business in the city and in the city’s police jurisdiction.
• Approving additional site work needed for sidewalk repairs, fencing and other site work adjacent to the pickleball courts for $36,431.
• Buying lighting for the tennis courts to improve to LED Musco Sports Lighting for $139,900. This does not include the cost of installation.
• Purchasing a Ford F250 regular cab truck for the Sewer Department for $48,639.
• A contract for law enforcement services with Baldwin County to help out during special events in Orange Beach.

During the work session, the council will discuss:

• Appointing a member to the Orange Beach Board of Education
• Appointing a member to the Library Board to replace former councilmember Joni Blalock’s seat after her term ended on Feb. 1.
• Approval of the fiscal year 2024’s audit.
• Amending the golf cart ordinance to include more streets in the city.
• Buying a lifeguard tower for surf and rescue from Bausch Enterprises for $82,835.
• Authorizing the purchase of audiovisual equipment for the fire department’s training room for $45,540.
• Approving a contract with McCollough Architecture for engineering services for the renovation of the old finance building at the corner of Orange Beach Boulevard and West Oak Ridge for $68,800.
• Authorizing a contract with GeoCon for geotechnical exploration and a soil study for a new civic center for $8,565. The council will also discuss hiring Wetland Sciences for a wetlands assessment on the proposed site.
• Waiving the rental fees for the Orange Beach Performing Arts Center for the Baldwin Pops John Allen Memorial Scholarship Concert on March 18.
• A contract with Natalie van Blerk for tennis professional services.
• Authorizing a contract with Coastal Wave Diagnostics for cardiovascular screenings for city employees for $100 per screening.
• An agreement with Baldwin County for the maintenance of Navy Road on the north side of Wolf Bay. The county contract provides routine blading on the road for 24 months and is up for renewal.
• A license agreement with The Nature Conservancy for the restoration of Waterfront Park to allow work on the shoreline and park.
• Authorizing agreements for easements to Baldwin Electric Membership for underground electrical lines.