GULF SHORES, Ala. — The Justice Facility, now in the planning stage, was No. 1 on the agenda of the City Council’s Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday.
Local businessman George Sanders was represented by Taylor “Red” Wilkins, a lawyer from Bay Minette. Wilkins admitted not being entirely conversant with the presentation’s intent, and was attempting to understand the difference between Colonial Properties and Colonial Bank and the role of the Ethics Commission.
His suggestion was that Robert Craft should recuse himself on the matter of the development of the city’s project plan south of County Road 4 if there was a connection with Colonial (Properties). Craft said that in all such cases he had recused himself, and countered any insinuations to the contrary.
Sanders presentation argued that the choice of location was putting the facility in an area of 20 percent population as opposed to 80 percent population. Mayor Billy Duke said that the Justice Facility was only one of the intended facilities, including fire and rescue, hurricane shelters for those unable to evacuate long distances, ingress and egress for emergency vehicles, and others.
Carolyn Doughty said that the building of a jail and a police station should not raise property values in the area. This category has not done so in the past, she said.
Duke asked Sanders to prepare details on specific objections for future presentations, and suggested that when city attorney David Whetstone returns to town he and others can meet for clarification of the ethics involved. Sanders assented.
Later discussion was centered around the immediacy of the need for rearrangement of current city facilities to take the archive weight off the city building, the strain off the chambers which is used excessively, the remodeling of the kitchen area, and relocation of departments.
“We cannot wait three years for the city park to be built and finished: we must move now to meet these needs,” Duke said. The site of the former Bistro was mentioned as an overflow site for city use.
Three items on the Planning Directors agenda were brought up just for refreshment:
1. Request for Reactivation of Site Plan Approval: The Golf Club of The Wharf Maintenance Building.
2. Request for Temporary Structure Extension: The Golf Club of The Wharf Temporary Clubhouse, Cart Storage & Maintenance Facility.
3. Request for Reactivation of Site Plan Approval: Ribs and Reds.
Diane Brown presented the Environmental Impact Statement for the Waterway District for Gulf Shores, and announced the March target date for project assessment, project management and communications assessment. Brown emphasized the urgency of communication among city, barge industries, USA Corps of Engineers, Marine Police, recreational water traffic, developers and investors and agencies.
“We do intend to come up with fees, mitigation plan and maps,” Brown said.
Brown said that the enormity of the situation demanded immediate and constant attention to allocations of responsibilities and funding. The city will work with the Corps and developers to facilitate the process. Richard Davis, attorney for Coastal Resort Properties LP, asked for appointees to work with him and Whetstone to keep up with the legal implications. Duke promised the appointees.
The City will be involved with Marine Police staffing, boats, administrative staffing, navigation maps and daily use mooring maintenance, according to the profile on funding options.
