FAIRHOPE, Ala. - The City Council amended Fairhope’s zoning ordinance Monday to improve the management of stormwater, which can carry sediment and pollution into local waterways.

The new rule requires that 25 percent of all parking spaces in commercial and multifamily projects with more than eight spaces be constructed of “pervious” materials, which allow water to permeate through it into the ground.

“With all of the rain we get here, I think that this will be great,” Councilwoman Debbie Quinn said.

Pervious materials include brick pavers, as well as pervious asphalt and concrete, according to the amendment.

Councilman Dan Stankoski pointed to the parking lot at Thomas Hospital on Morphy Avenue as an example of how pervious materials can be used to manage stormwater.

The proposed amendment was recommended unanimously by the city’s Planning Commission at its Feb. 7 meeting, following a presentation that day by the Fairhope Environmental Advisory Board and the city’s planning department. The zoning law change addresses the need to utilize stormwater management strategies as outlined in the city’s Comprehensive Plan, according to a staff report.

The amendment requires that such pervious materials be maintained at least once a year, and that enforcement actions could result if the maintenance activities are not performed.

“We’ll make sure it is enforced,” said Planning Director Jonathan Smith, answering Councilman Mike Ford’s question about which department would handle enforcement of the new rule.

The amendment was adopted unanimously by the council July 25.

In other business, the council:

• Adopted an ordinance that will regulate residential and commercial burglar alarms and impose penalties on those responsible for repeat false alarms when in takes effect Jan. 1.

• Passed a resolution rejecting all bids and authorizing Mayor Tim Kant to negotiate a contract for road paving with Mobile Asphalt Co. LLC.

The recommendation to handle the project in this way was made by the engineer of record, Micah Jones, with Thompson Engineering, according to records. A July 19 city staff report indicated that of 13 bidders at the pre-bid meeting, only one bidder responded.

“The contractor is reputable and qualified to perform the work, however, the bid prices received were higher than would be expected,” Jones wrote to the city on July 18. “The calculated price for Mobile Asphalt’s bid was approximately $10.13/SY or $125/TON. For this quantity, an expected price would be approximately $6 to $8 per square yard or $75 to $80 per ton, excluding mobilization and striping costs.”

• Heard a report from Councilman Rick Kingrea, who stated that rates charged by the city’s electric department will increase 5.7 percent due to a 9 percent increase in rates charged to the city by the Alabama Municipal Electric Association.

“This is one of those things we don’t have any control over,” Kingrea said.