FOLEY, Ala. — Don't count the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival out just yet.

That’s because the city of Foley has committed to taking over the reigns of the annual event.

During its regular meeting Monday, the Foley City Council voted to give Mayor John Koniar and city staff the authority to negotiate a contract with a consulting firm so the city can begin hosting the festival. In addition, the Council approved the expenditure of up to $2,000 to send a representative to the hot-air balloon festival in Natchez, Miss., which is also known as the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race, in October.

These actions comes on the heels of the decision of the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, earlier this month, to cease hosting the festival after 10 years of doing so.

“We’d like to say that the Chamber, in 10 years, has done an excellent job,” Foley Council President Wayne Trawick said. “It just almost outgrew them.”

City leaders agreed that they did not want to see a festival that has brought national attention to Foley to demise.

“It’s one of those things that I think we need to move forward and take it on with the city,” Trawick said.

City leaders agreed that while the date of the new incarnation of the festival may change, the integrity of the event will remain.

“There can be changes, but the idea is to keep the festival going intact,” Trawick said.