FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The first meeting of the newest committee established by the recently elected City Council occurs this Friday.

Although called the Growth and Sustainability Issues Study Group, the group was organized formally as a committee Nov. 10 by appointing members at the council meeting that night in order for the state Open Meetings Act to apply, Council President Quinn said that night.

“If you do not appoint a committee then it is not subject to the Sunshine Law,” Quinn, who serves as chairperson of the committee, said at the Nov. 10 meeting.

The council appointed the following persons to the committee on her recommendation: Randy Branch, Pete Glezer, Alan Hall, Jim Horner, Jean Wilson and Chuck Zunk.

“The Study Group for Friday will discuss broad issues of the city’s current and future growth and sustainability,” Quinn said Monday. “All of these people bring a wealth of knowledge to the table, and this process will be a great beginning for a discussion that should have taken place four years ago. With the future expansion of Highway 18, the cost of energy and stormwater issues, it is imperative that we start discussing these issues now.”

The city has addressed growth and sustainability issues before during the planning process which resulted in the Fairhope Comprehensive Plan. That document is found at the city’s Web site at www.cofairhope.com/planning/Comprehensive%20Plan.pdf.

The city also added an environmental statement to the city’s overall mission statement last month, Quinn said.

“The City of Fairhope is committed to a sustainable future by promoting environmental sound conservation, preservation and restoration practices that maintain and improve the ecological integrity of the Fairhope community,” the statement reads.

Quinn said the statement was placed on the city’s mission statement attached to the city’s budget, and was adopted when the council adopted the budget.

She said she hopes the Strategic Planning Steering Committee and process will revisit the issue of the city’s mission statement when it starts discussion of the city’s future with the community.

“We are encouraged that Fairhope is taking the initiative to establish a framework for growth that is protective of our natural resources without inhibiting the ability of the city to grow,” said Bethany Kraft, executive director of the Fairhope-based Alabama Coastal Foundation. “This study group will hopefully identify areas where we can all work together to address problems before they impact Fairhope and surrounding areas. This initiative is very forward-looking, and we are excited to help Fairhope bring the ideas of the Study Group to fruition.”

The first meeting of the Growth and Sustainability Issues Study Group is at 8:30 a.m., Friday, Nov. 21, at the City Hall conference room.