Orange Beach votes to join amicus brief supporting municipal limits on panhandling ahead of Supreme Court filing

The Orange Beach City Council voted Dec. 2 to join an amicus ("friend of the court") brief in Singleton v. Montgomery, a legal action described in the meeting as challenging a court ruling that restricted municipalities' authority to regulate panhandling. Council members said the item was moved onto the agenda and voted that night to meet a U.S. Supreme Court filing deadline.

An audience member identified in the transcript as Cece Marino questioned the city's action and the apparent $15,000 figure associated with the resolution: "You just signed $15,000 resolution for an amicus brief. Do you know what it is?" Council members responded with an explanation that the brief joins several other municipalities in appealing a court decision; a council member summarized the aim as enabling cities to govern public health and safety issues locally. The council adopted the resolution by voice vote.

Council discussion and staff remarks noted timeline constraints: the League of Municipalities and city counsel coordinated the filing schedule and the transcript records a court filing date cited as Dec. 12. Council members emphasized that the action was procedural authorization to join the brief; the transcript does not record any formal legal argument or a detailed cost-sharing agreement among signatory municipalities.

Next steps noted in the meeting record include coordination by the City Attorney and related staff with the League of Municipalities and other signatories to finalize and file the brief by the cited deadline. The council recorded the motion as adopted; transcript references to any dollar amount (notably the $15,000 comment in public exchange) should be checked against the official resolution and budget records for confirmation.