Council authorizes negotiations and adopts ordinance declaring Event Center unneeded

The Orange Beach City Council on April 21 moved to authorize the mayor to negotiate terms for the sale of the Orange Beach Event Center at the Wharf and adopted an ordinance declaring the facility unneeded for city purposes.

At the meeting the council first passed a resolution directing the mayor to negotiate sale terms. Council then introduced an ordinance to formalize the declaration that the Event Center is unneeded city-owned real property and moved for unanimous consent to suspend the rules to allow immediate consideration. After the motion to suspend rules was seconded, the clerk called the roll; council members recorded affirmative votes and the ordinance was adopted by roll call.

During the discussion a city attorney/staff member advised that the process could be closed quicker rather than later and staff indicated a purchase agreement was in hand, although the ordinance and negotiation process did not disclose specific buyer terms or a sale price at the meeting. Mayor and council members voted in favor of the suspension and the ordinance. The council did not vote on a final sale beyond authorizing negotiations.

The council’s action opens a negotiation phase; it does not itself transfer title or finalize a sale. The mayor was authorized to continue bargaining on terms and staff said any eventual purchase agreement or sale terms would be brought back to council for formal approval.