Orange Beach Fire and Rescue needs to replace its aging self-contained breathing apparatus inventory and is getting a big assist from the Department of Homeland Security in the form of more than three-quarters of a million dollars with a total cost to the city of less than $40,000.

City council will consider accepting an Assistance to Firefighters Grant from DHS to buy 75 of the devices at a joint regular/committee of the whole session council meeting on Oct. 20 at 5 p.m. at city hall. Councilors will also meet in a 9 a.m. work session in the south conference room to discuss the 2027 budget and agenda items for the 5 p.m. meeting.

Officials say the breathing devices currently being used are at “the end of life” and that the grant will pay $757,711 toward the $795,597 cost with the city’s 5% match costing just $37,885. Included with the 75 units are harnesses, facepieces, two air tanks per unit, 21 additional facepieces and six complete “rapid intervention team packs.”

SunbeltFire of Fairhope will supply the equipment and the item will come up for a vote during the regular session.

During the regular session, council will also discuss:

Paying $952,862 for goods and services Oct. 9-21;

Expiring three-year terms of Linda Bradley and Ryan Long on the Board of Adjustment. Their terms ended on Sept. 24;

Filling the vacated seat of Penny Groux on the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism Board of Directors. A letter from Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism Board of Directors Glen Kaiser submitted four names for council to conside: David Mars of Margaritaville, Steve Meyer of Innisfree Hotels, Hunter Harrelson of Beachball Properties and husband of Councilwoman Ginger Harrelson, and Ryan Patel of A&R Development. Groux’s term expires in September of 2029;

Signing a memorandum of understanding with Columbia Southern University to use the school’s facilities as an evacuation location during emergencies;

Entering a rental agreement with Sharp Copier Parks for the Senior Center;

Executing an agreement with Baldwin County for a $950,000 grant to raise Jubilee Point Road;

A $16,300 contract with GeoCon for geotechnical testing and engineering services report on the proposed site of a new civic center to be located near the PowerSouth electrical substation on the south side of Canal Road near the library;

Authorize a grant from the Department of Homeland Security for $757,711 for 75 self-contained breathing apparatus for the fire department. The city has to match five percent or $37,885 of the $795,597 total cost;

Authorizing acceptance of a GOMESA grant of $1.5 million to support building a shooting complex clubhouse at the city range on Russian Road. The council will also consider a contract with Civil Southeast for land surveying services for the clubhouse and first responder safe house at the site for $10,590;

Hiring GeoCon Engineering and Materials Testing to provide special inspections and materials testing on the project to renovate the old finance building at the corner of Orange Beach Boulevard and West Oak Ridge Drive for $10,000;

Renewing a contract with JJPR for public relations and marketing services for $2,500 a month. The current contract was signed for one year and ends on Nov. 4;

Purchasing stop-loss insurance for fiscal year 2027. Unlike most small governments that run fiscal years from Oct. 1-Sept. 30, Orange Beach and Gulf Shores use the calendar year;

A contract with J.F. Morris Performance for professional services for the city’s spring theater production for $12,350; and

A contract with Heidi Lemon for the city’s 2027 spring theater production for $7,540.

During the work session, council will discuss:

An amendment to the 2026 budget to increase the overall revenue projections by $1 million because of expense adjustments throughout the year;

Adopting the 2026 Baldwin County multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan to meet FEMA requirements;

A contract with Lose of Tennessee for construction services for renovations at the Orange Beach Aquatic Center for $274,000;

An agreement with the Garner C. Tampary Memorial Foundation for the Fourth Annual Merry Memories Tinsel Trail event at Waterfront Park;

An agreement with Rivertree Systems for auditing services;

A contract with GeoCon Engineering and Materials Testing for services related to three new traffic signals at the intersection of Canal Road and Wharf Parkway East on the north and Money Bayou Drive on the south for $8,695; and

Awarding the bid for medical equipment for the Coastal Alabama Sea Turtle Facility located near the Cotton Bayou Trailhead of the Backcountry Trail on State Route 161. Bids are scheduled to be opened on Oct. 29.