When the budgeting process came to an end on a "living shoreline project" at Orange Beach's popular Waterfront Park, city officials looked up to see money left over.

It happens sometimes and usually means something good. In this case, it means the city will be able to add elements to the project with the leftover funds.

Councilors discussed the project during the work session portion of a joint regular/work session council meeting on Sept. 1. The earliest it could be voted on is in the Sept. 8 regular session.

For Orange Beach, it's a welcome windfall that will help achieve all the goals of the project without having to come back at a later date to find more money for the rest of the work. A grant from the Nature Conservancy for $12.8 million for work on the overall Perdido Watershed Project will provide funding for the project.

"The bids came in lower than anticipated, creating the potential to use available project funds to complete the remaining components at the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach and the recreational beach area and, therefore, complete the overall project," a memo from Assistant Coastal Resources Director Nicole Woerner states.

Initially, the grant was for phase one at the Wind & Water Learning Center and a wooden bulkhead east of the center. Now, the grant can also help fund the shoreline north of the Coastal Arts Center and the 350 feet of recreational beach next to it and west of the park's fishing pier.

"Completing all three components would provide a comprehensive shoreline restoration project and establish Waterfront Park as a highly visible demonstration of nature-based coastal resilience for the community," the memo states.

During the regular session, council also:

Paid vendors $951,945 for goods and services from Aug. 19-Sept. 2;

Proclaimed Sept. 17-23 as Constitution Week in Orange Beach. Sept. 17, besides being Hank Williams' 103rd birthday, marks the 239th anniversary of the framing of the Constitution;

Approved contracts with Station Automation and PS Trax for the fire department for narcotics and supplies tracking software and inventory supply module. According to a memo from Fire Chief Jeff Smith, "tracking medications, specifically narcotic medications, is a DEA requirement. This request also includes the purchase of an inventory supply module within the program to assist personnel with tracking consumable supplies";

Reappointed architect Sted McCollough to the Fire Code Board of Appeals;

Authorized contracts with CourtReserve for tennis center event management software "to manage resident court reservations, program and event registrations and other tennis-specific operations";

Bought a video surveillance system for the Fire Training Center with Vision Security Technologies for $47,409;

Approved an agreement with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for the Sea Turtle Stranding Network and Enhanced Rehabilitation Restoration Project for two years for $500,000. The money will help with operations and maintenance of the facility, turtle transport and professional development. The turtle triage center near the Cotton Bayou Trailhead on the Backcountry Trail was paid for with RESTORE Act money and the $500,000 will also be paid for with funding from the Act;

Postponed a vote on a bid for the restoration of the former finance building into the Orange Beach Medical Center South;

Awarded the bid for a drone system for the Community Development Department to Earl Dudley for $52,950;

Adopted a comprehensive plan for Orange Beach. The "long-term vision for the city's future and is (a) guide to decisions on land use, transportation, housing, environmental protection and community design" and was adopted by the planning commission at its Aug. 10 meeting;

Approved a contract with Desiree Hodge and DSH Event Consulting for professional services for the 2027 Orange Beach Festival of Art. Hodge will retire as the director of the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach on Oct. 30 and will be an independent contractor running the popular and long-time festival. The Aug. 4 agenda said Hodge would be paid as an independent contractor making $60 an hour but not more than $38,000 in one year;

Accepted a donation of emergency lights for a golf cart for the police department from Haynes Emergency Lighting from Montgomery with a location in Robertsdale. The lights for the cart is are valued at $6,852, according to the meeting agenda. It will be used at the Middle/High School campus and the Sportsplex; and

Approved a contract with GeoCon Engineering and Materials Testing for geotechnical testing for tennis courts, multi-use field and parking improvements for $6,860.

During the work session, council discussed:

Authorizing modification to the terms of sale of the Orange Beach Event Center to The Wharf;

Authorizing expenditures and promotional donations of city money on amenities and events in Orange Beach "promoting tourism and attracting visitors for the enhancement of the local economy";

A contract with paralegal Renee Smith to provide legal services for the city;

Awarding the bid for a permanent traffic signal at the intersection of Canal Road and Wharf Parkway East on the north and Money Bayou Drive on the south. There is a signal operating at the site now. Bids were scheduled to be opened on Aug. 27;

Purchasing a 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe for $60,011 for the police department. The request is to replace a 2024 Ford F-150 pickup involved in a crash on Aug. 21 with insurance reimbursement money. The T-Bone accident happened at Roscoe Road and the Foley Beach Express when another vehicle ran a stop sign totaling the city's vehicle;

Purchasing a video surveillance system for the jail for $26,123 from Vision Security;

A contract with Gerald Mills for the 2027 spring theater production of "Finding Nemo: The Family Musical" and other productions for the city's performing arts division. The city will pay a total of $6,000 to Mills at $2,000 a month for October, November and December; and

A second contract for work on "Finding Nemo: The Family Musical" with TIDULHUE Creative for professional services for 2027 spring production for $2,000, according the agenda.