FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The City Council adopted an ordinance Monday allowing A-frame advertising signs within the central business district of the city.

“We have been working with the downtown merchants about downtown signs,” said Jonathan Smith, a city planner. “The downtown merchants (association) unanimously voted in favor of the ordinance.”

The ordinance amends the city’s zoning ordinance regarding the signage.

According to the language of the ordinance, the signs are those that stand on their own, with a hinge at the top, to be folded into a sandwich position.

A permit is required from the city under the ordinance to display such a sign.

The new law sets out a number of requirements, including the permissible size of the sign, construction details and that the sign may only be displayed during regular hours of business operations or during special events.

“A minimum access width of three feet shall be maintained along all sidewalks and building entrances accessible to the public,” the new law states.

The council voted unanimously to adopt the sign ordinance.

In other business, the council:

• Approved a liquor license for use at the new Fairhope Yacht Club. The application was made by Kristopher Conlin, owner of Guido’s restaurant in Daphne.

“You’re going to handle all the the food and liquor for the yacht club?” Council President Bob Gentle asked. Conlin said yes.

• Approved the minutes from the April 28 meeting. Those minutes referred to a report by the city attorney on “council packet” information provided to council members prior to council meetings for consideration during the meetings.

“(The city attorney) said after researching state statutes, attorney general opinions, and other relevant documents, the City Council packets and letters from citizens for the packet are public record,” stated the minutes approved at the May 12 council meeting.

“(Gentle) asked do we need a disclaimer on the packet. City Attorney Wynne replied yes because some of the documents could change or not be adopted. The minutes are not approved and could be changed … (Gentle) stated by the next City Council meeting the press will have a packet with disclaimer.”

The clerk’s office did provide copies of the council packets to the two reporters in attendance prior to the start of the May 12 meeting.

• Provided a report on accounts payable for the city for April 2008 in the following amounts: general, $427,639; gas, $502,204; electric, $867,010; water and sewer, $226,307; golf, $40,585; and capital projects, $686,251. The report stated that the total funds needed to pay the bills of the city for April were $2,750,537.