The turnout was boisterous on Aug. 17 when a plan to remove a popular public boat launch was brought up during a council work session. The plan sank quietly in an Aug. 24 regular session to a less-than-packed council chamber, and there was no long line of citizens standing in its defense.

Canal Park under the State Route 59 bridge has been on a lease agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation as a public boat launch since 1999. With the lease up for renewal, the city briefly considered closing and reconfiguring the launch in its effort to further develop the Waterway Village District by adding parking.

“With the pedestrian bridge completed and new pedestrian plazas on either end of the bridge, we know that increased activity, as well as events and festivals, will necessitate convenient and ample parking in the very near future,” Gulf Shores Director of Community Development and Assistant City Administrator Lee Jones said. “Additional vehicular parking in Canal Park would be one of many incremental steps towards satisfying existing and future parking demands within the overall Waterway Village.”

However, the Aug. 24 vote was to renew the lease under its existing conditions and keep the launch up and running.

An argument for the closure was that there are two other launches in Orange Beach nearby. Proponents of keeping the launch said this one offers protection from the wind that the others don’t.

Councilman Joe Garris, a lifelong charter fisherman, was among the first to oppose removing the boat launch during the Aug. 17 meeting.

“I would like for this council to keep this boat launch open as is simply because the ICW boat ramp does not allow charter boats on trailers to run out of it,” Garris said. “It's a limited number that the Orange Beach city lets run out of it.”

During the Aug. 24 regular session, council also:

Paid a one-time lump-sum bonus for retired employees or beneficiaries of deceased employees totaling $20,741 to be shared among those who retired as of Oct. 1, 2025. Retirees will receive $12 per year for each year of service;

Appointed Martin Pitts to the Building Board of Adjustments and Appeals;

Accepted streets in the Village at Craft Farms phases one and two for city maintenance;

Adopted the Gulf Shores 2027 Transportation Plan to meet the eligibility requirements for receiving Rebuild Alabama Gas Tax funds. Through the program, with the $135,000 projected for 2026, the city will have received $584,095 from this new gas tax since 2020. The money will be used to help fund multiple projects including:

• Waterway Village streetscape improvements;
• The pedestrian bridge;
• East Second Street improvements;
• County Road 6 improvements; and
• Annual city streets resurfacing.

Made pay classification adjustments for a paramedic/lieutenant position and 12 other positions in the fire department with an annual cost increase of $106,000;

Made pay classification adjustments to reclassify the director of economic development and public affairs into director of strategic initiatives with no change in pay, reclassify a part-time position into a full-time grants support specialist with a pay increase and changing the title of capital projects director to deputy director and construction;

Hired two recruitment firms, Next Move Group for $19,750 to help hire an economic development manager and Find Great People for $25,000 to fill the new position of communications and engagement director; and

Reduced the speed limit on Coastal Gateway Boulevard near Gulf Shores High School from 45 mph to 25 mph during school hours. The nine new signs are expected to cost around $2,000.