FOLEY – A proposal to build a solar farm near Baldwin County 65 is one of the items scheduled for discussion when the Foley City Council holds it work session and meeting starting at 4 p.m. Monday, June 5 at City Hall.

The council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on a request to zone the 619-acre site as a planned industrial district. The PID designation would allow the land to be used as a solar farm with solar panels placed on about 544 acres.

The Foley Planning Commission voted in May to recommend that the council approve the proposal. Project plans call for a 250-foot buffer zone between the panels and surrounding property. Fences, trees and other landscaping would also block the view 

The council is also scheduled to vote on the proposal after the public hearing.

Other items on the June 5 City Council agenda include:

  • Final passage of an ordinance allowing golf carts and low-speed vehicles on additional  streets in Foley and an ordinance to set speed limits at 25 miles an hour on parts of Oak Street, Pine Street and West Roosevelt Avenue to allow the vehicles to operate on those streets.
  • Approval of a restaurant retail liquor license for Gussie’s restaurant on South OWA Boulevard.
  • Approval of a restaurant retail liquor license for the Texas Roadhouse on South McKenzie Street.
  • Requesting an increase in funding to allow the Street Department to buy three vehicles at a cost of up to $50,000 each.
  • Entering into a training reimbursement agreement with the Southwest Alabama Partnership for Training and Development.
  • Approving the purchase of two portable message board signs for the Street Department.
  • Reappointing Mike McGowin and Robert Holiday to the Museum Advisory Board.
  • Reappointing Ralph G. Hellmich and David Rauch to the Public Facilities Cooperative District.
  • Reappointing Billie Nardell to the Senior Center Advisory Board.
  1. Reappointing Julia Jones to the Library Advisory Board.
  • Accepting the Alabama Department of Environmental Management Litter Trap Grant through the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act. The grant will provide $65,000 to set up three litter traps in the headwaters of the Bon Secour River and one on Wolf Creek.
  • Accepting the costs for weed abatement on East Walker Avenue and authorizing a copy to be sent to the Baldwin County Tax Collector.
  • Approving a change order for the Centennial Fountain  Project. The change order will provide $35,667 to install an underground pump at the site following renovations to the fountain that were completed in May.
  • Authorizing BerryDunn of Portland, Maine to develop a strategic plan for the  city. The resolution includes a budget adjustment of $83,055 to pay the estimated cost of the project.
  • Approving the forestry mowing of property located East Fern Avenue and North Cypress Street.
  • Waiving the community development fees to the minimum for Redemption Church/Coastal Rehabilitation for Women to remodel a facility on U.S. 98 to be used in an addiction recovery program.
  • Setting a public hearing declaring weeds to be a public  nuisance on South Mckenzie Street and ordering its abatement.
  • Setting a public hearing declaring weeds to be a public  nuisance on West Roosevelt Avenue and ordering its abatement.
  • Memorializing a training reimbursement agreement with the Southwest Partnership for Training and Development.
  • Approving an increase to the city VISA card credit limit and issuing five new credit cards.
  • Approving the use of Heritage Park for a Chocolate & Cheese  Festival hosted by Blooms 4 You, Inc..
  • Approving the Vesta911 capital project.
  • Purchasing a Mini Ex Tamper and brush cutter for the Street Department-Construction.
  • Going out to bid and purchasing loose equipment for the new custom fire pumper for the Foley Fire Department.
  • Approving the sidewalk project at Ninth Avenue and Cedar Street at a cost of $43,032.
  • Updating the city credit card policy.
  • Accepting a donation from the Foley Friends of the Library.
  • Setting a public hearing declaring weeds to be a public nuisance on Cedar Court and ordering its abatement.
  • Approving a Commission Assistance and Mentoring Program, or CAMP, for the Foley Historic Commission.
  • Increasing funds in the Nature Parks Department operating account by $20,000 to pay the cost of repairs to the disc golf course and for debris removal of surplus timber.