[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6187775,"mediaKeyId","5064383-2caee574a8413b9b19246b85f7a871f3","parentId",5064383,"title","Fairhope Educational Enrichment Foundation outlines Pelican’s Nest expansion and 2026 anniversary plans","audioSeconds",360,"startMs",460000,"endMs",820000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5064383-2caee574a8413b9b19246b85f7a871f3&start=460&end=820","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5064383-2caee574a8413b9b19246b85f7a871f3/thumbnail_460000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6187775/Fairhope-City/Baldwin-County/Alabama/Fairhope-Educational-Enrichment-Foundation-outlines-Pelicans-Nest-expansion-and-2026-anniversary-plans","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6187775-cd8d7006bb83a9c23ca21843737cfb03/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197562&Signature=mYR5mbYgmM26pqXTGQqEYmHAD1hWftrfanzTBzysnBHb4BIOn1ZK0GyefGOR1v6xq-jCyPpd991KssTV2ssB3gi6PPKa2YGIpvpcNkRobZaLw~8CxmUFQaERVZAE9pNSpWdL~fCYWgU7WDRvgwxWTpgn3lDZYOVM2Qswu3m5uXBJLSKIuF25~VmFGjxhyR4jywC7OVRCGr~LQky~jOneIkPkEHGPQDhGMfJJ8oLVbuB-7R0FojJ3eC3Ko7bKQvLxGAcBGmyOflJruTsnQ8WBvuEEtztzKT6NDRwJDXk-ogj8blLPFdSsdScqv5SQ6vLoLdmuV9v7qnjiR~HBRovzlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Fairhope City, AL","date","2025-06-24T17:15:20Z","article","Representatives from the Fairhope Educational Enrichment Foundation (FIFE) briefed the council on operations at the Pelican’s Nest and plans to expand educational programming and campus facilities.

A FIFE representative introduced the organization’s staff: \"Redonna Moseley, our executive director. We have Celeste Rivenbark, who is our education and campus coordinator, and Andy Wilcoxon, who is our treasurer,\" the presenter said. The foundation reported raising nearly $63,000 from recent events, saying the funds support teacher grants, educational programs and facility updates.

FIFE said it awarded more than $20,000 in teacher grants this past year and distributed 31 classroom grants of $200 each. The foundation described a staffing change nearly two years ago that added a FIFE-employed educator so the program could serve all Fairhope students and expand to include secondary (sixth through 12th grade) programming.

\"We're able to be able to 1, see all of our Fairhope students, and 2, work to provide that secondary education program,\" Redonna Moseley said when describing the expanded educator role.

Staff described near-term plans to update the K1 center buildings on the Pelican’s Nest campus: funds exist to convert one classroom into a secondary learning space; other buildings would be repurposed for office space and an expo area focused on Mobile Bay and marine/environmental science exhibits that could generate revenue for schools.

FIFE also reminded the council that the organization will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2026 and invited council members to its fall event, \"Jubilee at the Pavilion,\" on Sept. 27 at the Pelican’s Nest.

Why it matters: the foundation provides supplemental funding and programs for Fairhope public-school students, and its campus development could expand hands-on marine and environmental science programming for K–12 students in the city.

Ending: Council members thanked FIFE for its work and fundraising; no formal council action was requested at the work session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Fairhope City Council Work Session June 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Fairhope Educational Enrichment Foundation updated the council on fundraising successes, teacher grants, an expanded educator role to serve secondary students, and plans to repurpose K1 buildings for learning and expo space; the foundation invited council to a Sept. 27 campus event and noted its 30th anniversary in 2026.","taxTitle","Fairhope City, Baldwin County, Alabama","taxId",51162,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6187780,"Fairhope seeks TAP funding awards for sidewalks as rising material costs force procurement changes",808,1231000,2039000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5064383-2caee574a8413b9b19246b85f7a871f3&start=1231&end=2039","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5064383-2caee574a8413b9b19246b85f7a871f3/thumbnail_1231000.jpg","/articles/6187780/Fairhope-City/Baldwin-County/Alabama/Fairhope-seeks-TAP-funding-awards-for-sidewalks-as-rising-material-costs-force-procurement-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6187780-f24954df3c94621b3612d4b16bd693fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197563&Signature=CjO0z5CW5eMVFx~s05IhNusOoD4utq92VqnFut6N9lS6qBycSNvN8rM7waNKltVRcwgu3mCgUL2JP39f~d5m843t-XD7dZJ-mMjiAN1sDnUl4dC5yD1wUGoMaeTpb87sZ~A~3bljggmB4H-6aUKzYp0rI0h3UWC6Qz~SD8a2Vo8mAGuxG9jsX22KvWbVGgmJZFT5PVNj8Fw1sAzcrAOuSUgOjbyhjmRuEYyGPdeX1mHamrwqz49jFltTMxQz3TgtEeENatT9i03vbdgaDkZvzikhT1RZPrGZEHKK5qJjRAlTA9SRP5Fs7tjvzwQUSexSe-OJgsmxvgM4OZUs~3S9hw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff asked the council at the work session to approve awarding bids for two Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) sidewalk projects and briefed the council on procurement challenges that are delaying execution of some construction contracts.

Parks and public-works staff said they recommended awarding the TAP contract for new sidewalks on Blue Island and Fairwood Boulevard to Chris Brewer Contracting. The projects are 80/20 TAP grants (20% local match, 80% reimbursable), and staff reported the combined budget is $1 million and current low bids left approximately $185,000 under budget.

\"Both of these are an 80 20, TAP grant, meaning that 20% of the cost is on us and 80% is reimbursable through, the transportation alternative program,\" a staff member explained. Bidders supplied competitive prices, and staff said the low-bid differential between the first and second bidder was only $378.35.

At the same time staff warned council that recent market volatility — particularly metal prices and tariff uncertainty — has led some line items to exceed earlier estimates. Staff described a practice where individual line-items have ballooned above a 10% threshold, prompting requests for new quotes on those items even though the aggregate contract remains under the statutory threshold that would require full rebidding.

Council and staff discussed adding language to the upcoming resolution so the mayor or treasurer could authorize awarding quotes that comply with procurement law between council meetings, preventing multi-week delays when prices change. \"You could build it into some of your bids,\" the mayor said, asking whether an authorization could be added to the resolution to allow staff to act if quotes arrive before the next meeting and procurement law is satisfied.

The work session also addressed a separate recreation bid for shade structures. Shade America — the apparent low bidder — lacked a required Alabama general contractor license for work over $100,000 and could not obtain an opinion from the contractor board or a reciprocal license within the extension period. Staff recommended rescinding Shade America’s award and moving to Great Southern Recreation, which was roughly $50,000 higher but still within budget.

Why it matters: TAP-funded sidewalks are a multi-year, reimbursable transportation improvement that the city says has been under discussion since 2023. Procurement delays and line-item price increases could shift project timing and require council authorization of additional quotes or alternate vendors.

No final awards were recorded at the work session; staff said the sidewalk items would be on the council agenda for formal action with recommended award language and potential resolution amendments to clarify delegation authority for procurement between meetings.","Staff asked the council to award TAP-funded sidewalk construction bids under a $1 million budget and discussed recurring procurement issues including contractor licensing, tariff-driven price increases and potential language changes to allow staff to approve quotes between meetings.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6187784,"Mayor proposes two-month suspension of Blind Tiger lease payments amid waterfront work",180,2720000,2900000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5064383-2caee574a8413b9b19246b85f7a871f3&start=2720&end=2900","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5064383-2caee574a8413b9b19246b85f7a871f3/thumbnail_2720000.jpg","/articles/6187784/Fairhope-City/Baldwin-County/Alabama/Mayor-proposes-two-month-suspension-of-Blind-Tiger-lease-payments-amid-waterfront-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6187784-2cac1a66d28081232b493390d7bcf8d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197563&Signature=NJBme4cHpErhbp86sq5sGxH7M~cgmGBHBGnMrracWjM0UOlB9TuALlVjI-YpO-1qcG2G1lJ8CXH83VJm7-TmRHGte0Zpyl7D4Fm2WXWBiC7j-oPdLdGgsUv~J~TYayze8evEzkrhAwGXw8bER0WYzzSyGDZqC4DHyJCOiAZgo1pbU4NscMpe5enh5KVn-aqxQffBONupD5dB1kAynhqqTkhcv-7hm1qSLL2DCG1W35lcG9C340OZ6YfDThQsHF4H1njE6kWf6cPO17oWaOnP9NTEZ1gH6oeb2OuxoWBUEjZsb1kwqZCCEXt9B96BJAV5ux0m86e77nMImjh3tv331g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fairhope mayor asked the council to consider a temporary suspension of lease payments for Blind Tiger for July and August because of disruptions caused by waterfront construction.

\"We will temporarily suspend the lease payments for July and August because of the inconvenience that we have caused them with the work done at the waterfront,\" the mayor said at the work session. The mayor added that the city had previously reduced the restaurant’s rent to \"1 and a half percent versus 3%\" and confirmed the tenant currently holds a credit on its account.

Council members asked the mayor to explain the project timeline and communications after residents raised concerns on social media that the closures came as a surprise. The mayor said the waterfront work and the restaurant’s opening overlapped: \"both of the projects started at this they opened the restaurant and we started the waterfront renovations at the same time,\" and that staff had worked to limit closures and provide alternatives to customers, including a downtown parking shuttle.

Why it matters: the suspension is intended to offset documented business disruption from a city capital project and is a temporary step the council is considering prior to returning to full lease payments on Sept. 1. The mayor said staff expect the last major closure is complete and that limited striping closures will follow as final work continues.

No formal vote was recorded in the work session; the mayor sought council approval to present a resolution on the council agenda. The mayor also said staff have offered operational support and communication with the restaurant to mitigate lost business.

Ending: The council scheduled further agenda items and planned to take up resolutions later in the meeting; the lease-suspension resolution was introduced on the work session agenda for later formal consideration.","Fairhope’s mayor introduced a resolution to suspend the Blind Tiger restaurant’s lease payments for July and August, citing construction impacts from the city’s waterfront project; council discussion emphasized prior communication and offered protections for the business.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6187789,"Community foundation offers $100,000 to launch park at Anna T. Jean site; seeks MOU with Fairhope City",291,21000,312000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5064383-2caee574a8413b9b19246b85f7a871f3&start=21&end=312","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5064383-2caee574a8413b9b19246b85f7a871f3/thumbnail_21000.jpg","/articles/6187789/Fairhope-City/Baldwin-County/Alabama/Community-foundation-offers-100000-to-launch-park-at-Anna-T-Jean-site-seeks-MOU-with-Fairhope-City","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6187789-8767152608da36f83957a4949d31c852/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197563&Signature=R7FhLUH3RG6WN-kheWmiFAnx4VXMVW8w30wog0piVGd~atyaTktqHn~QjMjRjaCnKl4ctspRDUbIJsizpT2gd9j8MEXGKVIZNxe92b6yxAu9ZcxhyASdWFMyL94HT3oYeYrtYdJUq0lbhTiZ9P1Yt7Cb-8CfnHiBHLZ9l1Wnj5kOFhJ4oHK3~i-9HLt25cD0yau3-M0TYK1WV5sJ5AwOYeGn6yxLj7arHEPG~-m-uUAOz1Bf9YuOWbxoT8~vdSXNoKyAHtePW2GvQgvlMxaANbJsmDv0vFTl2Rg96BMAwMOfpZ4jHEJhZarcLuwjkK8slD7o78jTmhCG-DpPQmDNgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rebecca (last name not provided), president and CEO of the Fairway Point Clear Community Foundation, told the Fairhope City Council at its work session that her affiliate will provide an initial $100,000 toward a new park on a 1.6-acre parcel on the Anna T. Jean School campus.

The gift would be delivered in two payments, \"50,000 this summer, another 50,000 in November, to begin the process of creating a park,\" Rebecca said. She described a Phase 1 build-out of landscaping, fencing, signage, a splash pad, a playground and restroom access and said the affiliate’s advisory committee has approved pursuing the partnership.

The proposal asks the city to own and maintain the park while the foundation provides funding and fundraising support. \"We would like to hopefully come to some agreement on a memo of understanding, and then we would go ahead and move forward with the donation,\" Rebecca said.

Why it matters: the foundation said the site would provide a neighborhood-scale public asset adjacent to the Anna T. Jean School and the existing HOPE Community uses on that campus. Council members signaled preliminary support and asked city staff and the city attorney to prepare a memorandum of understanding so the foundation can begin soliciting additional funds and proceed with construction planning.

City staff noted some municipal responsibilities and estimated costs will be examined for inclusion in the next budget. Richard Johnson (staff) \"has kinda taken that, kinda put a dollar number, a dollar figure to some of that so that we can look at that possibly in the new budget and then start working with Rebecca and her team to kind of build a park,\" a councilmember said during the meeting.

Rebecca outlined a two-phase funding plan: the $100,000 initial gift for Phase 1 and a proposed Phase 2 consisting of \"an additional 400,000\" raised in spring fundraising and local contributions. She said the affiliate’s timeline aims for a public opening \"by the summer of 20 26.\"

Council discussion focused on confirming the parcel, clarifying ownership and next steps. The councilmember who asked for clarification referred to a rendering and asked, \"Is that the 1.6 acre parcel?\" Rebecca and staff confirmed the 1.6-acre area was the parcel being offered for the park and said design details were still preliminary.

No formal vote was taken at the work session. Council members verbally agreed to ask the mayor, city attorney and staff to draft a memorandum of understanding and to bring cost estimates back for budget review.

Ending: Staff said they will draft an MOU for the council’s future consideration and that staff estimates for city maintenance and budget impacts will be developed in the coming budget cycle.","An affiliate of the Community Foundation of South Alabama proposed a phased gift to build a 1.6-acre park with a splash pad and playground on city-owned land at the Anna T. Jean School and asked the city to draft a memorandum of understanding to enable fundraising and construction.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Fairhope Educational Enrichment Foundation outlines Pelican’s Nest expansion and 2026 anniversary plans

Fairhope seeks TAP funding awards for sidewalks as rising material costs force procurement changes

Mayor proposes two-month suspension of Blind Tiger lease payments amid waterfront work

Community foundation offers $100,000 to launch park at Anna T. Jean site; seeks MOU with Fairhope City