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Orange Beach proposes Rental Fee increase via AL.com
Orange Beach proposes Rental Fee increase via AL.com
ORANGE BEACH, Alabama — A boost in tourism has increased city expenses on the beach, and officials said they plan to raise condominium rental fees to cover the added costs of cleanup, lifesaving and other services.
Orange Beach City Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a proposal to raise business license fees for the owners of rental condominium units from $85 to $130 a year.
Mayor Tony Kennon said the increase would raise about $200,000 a year.
“That would help cover what we spent on the beach,” he said.
The total number of Baldwin County beach visitors in 2011 could top 5 million for the first time, according to a report by Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Tourism. Kennon said those increased numbers come at a time when Orange Beach has reduced the number of city employees by more than 60 in the last three years.
“We had tremendous numbers on the beach this year,” Kennon said. “And it took tremendous numbers to maintain the beach.”
The mayor said the amount of litter collected by city workers this year also increased with tourist numbers.
“You would not believe the number of chairs, the number of tents that we had to haul off the beach, and it’s not our beach. That’s all state or private property,” Kennon said after the meeting. “We also started the beach patrol, which has been a tremendous success as far as lifesaving.”
Kennon said city officials spoke with local property owners associations about the need for an increase, and most owners understood.
“I think they see the effort, the time and what we’re having to do, and they recognize we cannot continue to go without a funding source,” Kennon said.
At the council work session, where the increase was proposed Tuesday night, no one in the audience or council spoke out against the proposal.
Councilwoman Pattisue Simpson asked Clara Myers, city finance director, to prepare a list of city services, such as litter removal and restroom cleaning, provided on the beach that could be funded with the money.
“There’s a lot of different things that we do on the beach that could be tied to this $200,000 and would help us justify asking people for what we need,” Simpson said.
Myers said the proposed increase would bring Orange Beach’s fees in line with those charged in other areas.
“The recommendation is to raise it to what Gulf Shores is, which is $130, as opposed to the $85 that we charge,” she said.
Myers said that if the council wants the increase in place for 2012, the ordinance needs to be passed at the upcoming meeting so the change can be included on fee notices going out in December.
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Florencia Condominium Unit 804 Perdido Key FL Only $175 per square foot
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Perdido Key, Need to Know Beach info
Our most important advice is on how to survive the beach. After all, it’s why people come to the island, right? Follow these simple tips.
• Florida and Alabama public beach areas and state parks do not allow alcohol. A cooler’s fine, though.
Perdido Key Dog Park on River Road. The Location is 14484 River Rd. Just east of La Serena Condos (See Map Below)
• No pets on the Gulf beach in Florida and Alabama, so leave your Frisbee-catching collie at home. This goes for the state parks. Sorry, Fido.
• It’s March and maybe not quite sunbathing temperature, but even though it’s still cool, don’t let that sun fool you. You can get burned. So, check the local ultra violet index and go with a high SPF sunscreen, especially on your beak.
• The official mantra along Perdido Key is “leave your footprints.” If you need a translation: take with you what you came with when it comes to the keeping the beach clean.
• Watch out for marine life.
— Purple flag flying means dangerous marine life, which typically indicates stinging jellyfish or man of war.
— Don’t swim at dusk or at dawn.
— When you dip into the Gulf of Mexico at high noon, don’t wear shiny jewelry, avoid bright bathing suits and keep the Old Spice or Hi Karate to a minimum, bro.
• Heed the colored flags whipping in the wind. Follow it or you’ll get swept out to Honduras. Green means surf is calm; yellow means use caution; red means stay out of the water. Now, if you do get swept out, simply swim parallel to the beach until you’re out of the rip current, then swim back to shore.
More on what the flags mean.
Signs of heat exhaustion, heat stroke.
How to avoid or escape deadly rip currents
• When if comes to lifeguards, Johnson’s Beach in Perdido Key has a Florida lifeguard station, but the public access entrances do not have a lifeguard, nor does Perdido Key East or West. Romar Beach and Gulf Shores Public Beach do have lifeguard stations.
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Bella Luna Penthouse 4 in Orange Beach AL
Bella Luna Penthouse 4 is a 3100+ square foot 4 Bed 4.5 Bath penthouse unit. This spacious condominium residence is presently being marketed for sale by Chuck Barnes of REMAX Gulf Properties.
29531 Perdido Beach Blvd Orange Beach AL
Bella Luna Penthouse 4 Features and Amenities
This top floor penthouse unit has incredible Views of Ono Island, Perdido Bay and East down Ole River into Florida and West down Ole River toward Perdido Pass.
Bella Luna has a remarkable contemporary design with the right touch of elegance throughout. Bella Luna offers world class amenities, 1 Indoor and 3 Outdoor Pools, Indoor and Outdoor Spas, World Class Health & Fitness Facility with Steam and Sauna. Don’t forget the 51 slip marina
Link to Listing Data for Bella Luna Penthouse 4
Bella Luna Penthouse 4 features :
- Travertine and Custom Carpet Flooring throughout
- Double Eight foot solid Mahogany Entry Doors
- Large Gourmet Kitchen with Kitchen-Aid Architect Series Appliances
- Separate Dining Area
- Two Master Suites, both with Waterfront Views and Balcony Access
- Two additional Guest Bedrooms with Private Baths
- Spacious 10 foot wide Balcony with Outdoor Grill
- Panoramic Floor to Ceiling Glass
- 10 Foot Ceilings throughout Living Areas
About Chuck Barnes and Coastal Realty Experts:
Chuck Barnes is a veteran REMAX Agent that is licensed through Coastal Realty Experts. I am Licensed in Alabama and Florida. My areas of concentration are the Perdido Key, Orange Beach and Gulf Shores market area’s. My Internet presence through the series of web properties I have created is a very strong asset that benefits both Buyers and Sellers in this extremely internet driven market. If you are reading this it is through the diligence and hard work I have put into building my web presence. Please contact me and let me help you with your property search.
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Bella Luna Penthouse 4 in Orange Beach
Chuck Barnes & Coastal Realty Experts Providing Real State Services for Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Perdido Key, Fort Morgan and Lillian
ChuckBarnes.com and MyGulfCoast.net Providing Comprehensive and Intuitive Real Estate Services and Search information for the Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Perdido Key and Pensacola Beach areas.