Spanish Fort council approves rezoning for hotel site, adopts park rules and approves multiple contracts

The Spanish Fort City Council on a regular meeting introduced and approved a series of ordinances and resolutions that included rezoning land at Eastern Shore Center to allow hotel construction, adoption of formal rules for the new Loyalty Park dog park, acceptance of responsibility for potential cost overruns on an ALDOT grant project, and approval of a sole-source contract to acquire a Virtra training simulator for the police department.

David Connor, city staff member, described the rezoning request for a parcel at Eastern Shore Center (Lot 6D, Phase 4) and said the owner seeks to change the property’s zoning classification from B-3 to B-5 so the site can be used to construct motels and hotels. The council opened a public hearing, heard no speakers, and then adopted Ordinance 699-2025 to rezone the parcel.

The council also adopted Ordinance 700-2025, which establishes formal rules and regulations for Loyalty Park, the city’s dog park. Connor said the council previously adopted park rules informally and that this ordinance authorizes ordering signage and formalizes staff recommendations. The council moved to suspend rules and adopted the ordinance the same night.

On transportation, the council approved Resolution 1482-2025, under which the city agrees to be responsible for any cost overruns on an ATRIP (Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program) grant project for road improvements between Oak Ridge and the second entrance of Spanish Fort Estates on Highway 225. Connor told the council that utilities on the corridor have already been relocated, which reduces the typical risk of overruns. He said the project is projected at about $1.7 million and the ATRIP award and budget amount is $2,000,000.

The council approved Resolution 1483-2025 to authorize the mayor to execute a contract with Virtra Inc. for purchase and installation of a Virtra training simulator for the Spanish Fort Police Department. Connor presented the purchase under the city’s purchasing policy and cited a sole-source exception in the Alabama Code, identifying Virtra’s patented system features (simulation of return fire, tactile impulses, integration with agency weapons and multi-user scenarios) as the justification for the sole-source claim. He said the package was reviewed by Jason Polk with the Alabama Department of Public Examiners, who concurred that it qualifies as a sole-source procurement. Council discussion asked whether ongoing support or maintenance costs exist; Connor said initial years’ costs were front-loaded and there may be maintenance/support costs later. A council member noted some of the purchase is being paid with federal funds and the city has discussed inviting neighboring municipalities to use the simulator.

The council introduced a set of other routine and project resolutions that will appear on the March 17 agenda for final action or additional review: a contract authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Spanish Fort Sports Association for league play (Contract amount $20,000 for baseball and softball for the 2025 calendar year); a resolution declaring a 2022 Ford Explorer police vehicle as surplus property (the vehicle was totaled in an accident; title issues remain under review); a contract with Sunset Contracting Inc. to repair drainage at Marcella Avenue (replace 198 linear feet of brick box culvert with 22-by-18-inch concrete arch pipe and collars, plus sidewalk and sod replacement; Sunset proposal $18,532.50); and a companion resolution to purchase the pipe material from Alabama Pipe and Supply for $8,751.75 (198 linear feet). The pipe/material item was described as a “bid assist” price; the council asked staff to seek other suppliers before final action.

Other brief items and community announcements included the police department’s second annual Citizens Academy beginning April 15, a junior council cleanup event scheduled for March 22, a community Safety Day on April 5 hosted with USA Health, and the Loyalty Park grand opening and a Mobile Pops concert in April. The council opened the public hearing on the rezoning request and closed it with no public comments.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance 699-2025 (rezoning Lot 6D, Eastern Shore Center Phase 4 from B-3 to B-5): adopted. Ordinance 700-2025 (Loyalty Park rules and regulations): adopted. Resolution 1482-2025 (city responsibility for potential ATRIP cost overruns): adopted. Resolution 1483-2025 (authorize Virtra contract, sole-source basis): adopted. Resolutions/agreements authorizing contracts with the Spanish Fort Sports Association (introductory), declaring the 2022 Ford Explorer surplus (introductory), authorizing Sunset Contracting (introductory), and authorizing Alabama Pipe and Supply to provide pipe (introductory) were introduced for the March 17 agenda and further review.

The council did not receive any substantive public comment on the rezoning during the hearing. Several council members asked for clarification about maintenance and long-term costs related to the Virtra purchase and asked staff to solicit additional pricing for pipe materials for the Marcella Avenue repair prior to final approval.

The meeting tape shows roll-call affirmations on adopted items; individual member votes were recorded as “yes” in roll call but individual names were not captured in the transcript excerpt.

The council recessed to other business at the end of the meeting.