FOLEY, Ala. — For businesses going through tough economic times, it’s all about getting customers to come in. A temporary moratorium on code enforcement on temporary signs is the city’s way of helping local businesses survive the economic recession of early 2009.

Foley City Council members on Monday approved an ordinance creating a temporary moratorium against the enforcement of restrictions found in a section of the Foley Zoning Code (Section 9.12) regarding temporary signs.

“This is temporary,” Mayor John Koniar said after council members voted to suspend the rules for immediate adoption of the ordinance.

“We have no limit on it. It’s about helping businesses get more people to their business.”

Councilman Ralph Hellmich pointed out that the moratorium on the enforcement of restrictions will not include signage that is placed on city rights of way.

The moratorium against the enforcement of restrictions found in Section 9.12 of the Zoning Code “will end at the discretion of the City Council,” the ordinance reads. All other provisions in the Zoning Code pertaining to signage will remain in effect.

In other council action Monday, council members agreed to recommend to the ABC Board in Montgomery three Retail Liquor applicants. Council action came upon the recommendation of the Foley Police Department.

A Retail Beer (Off Premises only) and Retail Table Wine (Off Premises only) license was recommended for Easy Stop Inc. under the trade name of Bon Secour Grocery for their location at 18019 County Road 10 in Bon Secour.

Also recommended was a Restaurant Retail Liquor License for C N Cash Cow LLC under the trade name of Rusty’s Restaurant and Lounge at 926 W. Laurel Ave.

A Lounge Retail Liquor Class I License was recommended for Willis Lymon under the trade name Club Fo Town at 709 S. Maple St.

By means of voice vote, council members moved to name Lt. Chad Brewer second in command at Foley Fire Department. Brewer had been acting chief until Joseph Darby was named chief recently.

The mayor announced during a public hearing prior to the council meeting that a Grass & Weed abatement ordinance regarding 609 E. Orange Ave. had been abated; that the property owner had corrected problems at the site. The council did approve a resolution, however, regarding a Grass & Weed Abatement Ordinance for 1075 Melbourne Court.

The council approved the reappointment of Joe Cabaniss to the Board of Adjustments and Appeals.

A resolution was approved appropriating $12,000 to pay the Boys & Girls Club of Mobile for operating the Foley B&G Club during October, November and December 2008. The B&G Club of Mobile recently terminated its relationship with the Foley Club. A resolution was also approved empowering the mayor to sign documents in connection with the transition to the “John McClure Snook group” that will handle fundraising for the Foley Club. (Councilman Charlie Ebert III abstained.)

Also, a resolution was approved that authorizes the mayor to sign any and all documents required to settle a land dispute with the Hamburg family. Ebert abstained. The Hamburgs give up any rights to a ditch that runs north and south of their building, while the City grants the Hamburgs title to property east of the ditch to a point immediately east of the building’s front door.

Other resolutions approved included the following:

Appraisal of the City’s railroad right of way property in Loxley and the cost of removing trees on it.

A contract with Hutchinson Moore & Rauch LLC to negotiate with the Baldwin County Board of Education regarding drainage issues in connection with the new Elementary and Middle schools. “We have been meeting with the Board of Education and discussing what the drainage plan will look like … once its in place. We really don’t know,” the mayor said.

A contract with Volkert & Associates for the final design plans, bid and construction observation of the Cedar Street-Northwest Quadrant Drainage Project, the cost of which is $72,500.

Accepting Schneider Historic Preservation LLC’s proposal for consulting services necessary to complete the Historic Sites Survey requirements of the Alabama Historical Commission relative to the City’s Historic District.

A first reading of an ordinance was approved regarding Baldwin Development Partners LLC’s petition for annexation of 25.42 acres located on the south side of the intersection of County Road 24 and Daugherty Road.

A second reading was approved of an ordinance to consider the Planning Commission’s recommendation to re-zone property located on the north side of Violet Avenue, between Alston and Pine streets, from Residential Single Family to Preferred Office District. Applicants are Dawn Mitchell and First Baptist Church.