Orange Beach streams its council's regular meetings and work sessions on Facebook and welcomes running comments from viewers. More than 400 were logged in as council convened a regular session on July 21.

"I'm just here for the entertainment value," Dean Smythia commented as the meeting went live.

He'd be disappointed.

An air of reconciliation and forgiveness wafted through Orange Beach City Hall as councilors gathered for three separate meetings, a morning work session in a city hall meeting room ahead of regular and work session meetings at 5 p.m.

Animosity that had permeated council interactions since a May 7 town hall meeting and bubbled over in meetings on June 16 and July 7 seemed to have evaporated. It started in the morning work session where Mayor Tony Kennon, the subject of ethics complaints from three current councilmembers, made apologies.

At least one of the council members who filed an ethics complaint, Ginger Harrelson, said the new congeniality was a welcome change.

"I appreciate that the mayor chose to publicly apologize, and I was encouraged by the tone of Tuesday's council meeting," Harrelson said. "Trust is rebuilt through consistent action, and I remain hopeful that this marks the beginning of a more respectful and productive working relationship. I trust that the Alabama Ethics Commission will conduct a thorough and impartial investigation and follow the facts wherever they lead. My focus remains on serving the people of Orange Beach in a professional, respectful and transparent manner."

The ethics complaints stem from a conflict over the release of bodycam footage from an alleged domestic abuse call to police at a city building during Labor Day weekend in 2024. According to leaked audio from response, there officers found a naked man who identified himself as Kennon behind the door of an office. Officers spoke with the man but not with the woman who was with him. They did a welfare check on Kennon's wife, Paula, days later.

Councilors Harrelson, Robert Stuart and Jeff Silvers said in their complaints Kennon threatened them with lawsuits if they voted to release the bodycam from the incident. The bodycam is also the subject of a federal lawsuit by local attorney and social media activist C.C. Moreno.

Other issues arose in previous meetings over a proposal to put a pirate dinner show attraction at Beech's Campground and RV Park across from City Hall, an appointment to the city's school board and an appointment to city council after the resignation of Jerry Johnson due to family illness.

During the regular session, council:

Agreed to vendor payments of $958,668 for good and services through July 22;

Heard a presentation from Jason Kudulis, the new director of the Mobile Bay Estuary Program, who started on Feb. 1;

Passed an ordinance reducing the speed limit on some Lauder Place streets from 25 mph to 15 mph;

Adopted a memorandum of understanding with MedStar ambulance service for backup services to the city's during large events and high call volume times;

Appropriated $10,000 to Baldwin County Child Advocacy Center;

Agreed to assign Orange Beach city police officers to the Baldwin County Drug Force;

Purchased two Polaris UTVs for $44,853 for the police department;

Approved the placement of a temporary building at Orange Beach Marina for a temporary office for Bluewater Yacht Sales;

Approved taxi franchises for One Love Shuttle and Granbury Executive Transport to operate in Orange Beach;

Approved a new style guide for the city's official seal;

Adopt a resolution to a join multi-district class-action lawsuit against makers of firetrucks and other fire apparatus. Fire Chief Jeff Smith said prices for new trucks has nearly doubled in the past few years;

Approved a contract with Brandy Reeves for tennis instruction services;

Awarded a bid for life support systems and equipment for the city's sea turtle triage facility for $84,297;

Voted for a change in the PUD for the Marriot Orange Beach to eliminate off-site parking and have all 160 spaces on site. Marriot Orange Beach is planned on Gulf-frontage property at the old Romar Beach Baptist Church. Developers plan to add on to the current building for a 100-unit hotel with a rooftop patio and indoor bar; and

Had first readings on ordinance changes regarding the rental of recreational vehicles like golf carts and bikes and a change regulating bikes, scooters and other electrically powered vehicles.

During the work session, council discussed:

Accepting a price for removal of exotic and invasive plant species;

Awarding the bid for a work skiff for the Coastal Resources Department. Sea Bird Marine had the lowest bid at $80,812;

Authorizing a contract with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management for the city to provide inspection, regulating, monitoring and permitting in the city;

Awarding Sgt. Joey Brown his service weapons and badge as part of his retirement package;

Authorizing a contract with Whelen Engineering for patrol vehicle software for the police department;

Authorizing a contract with Adams Stewart Architect for services including the design and engineering services for a hurricane safe room for first responders for $306,000;

Reappointing Bill Brett of Brett Robinson to the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism Board of Directors;

Accepting the donation of police K9 Nox from the Orange Beach Police K-9 Foundation;

Setting a public hearing for a change in the planned unit development for the amenity district at the Margaritaville Resort. The suggested date was Aug. 18;

Setting a public hearing for a sign change for Columbia Southern University. The suggested date was Aug. 4; and

An ordinance change in the flood damage prevention to delete a subsection.