Title
A Resolution Authorizing City of Foley Forces to Assist The South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce with the 2025 Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival
Summary
Description of Topic: (who, what, where, when, why and how much)
The South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the 21st Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival at OWA (Foley Holdings LLC), located at
1501 South OWA Blvd., Foley, Alabama 36535. The three day event is planned for Thursday, May 1st, Friday, May 2nd and Saturday, May 3, 2025. Setup will begin
on Friday, April 25, 2024.
Body
WHEREAS, the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the 21st Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival at OWA in Foley, Alabama, and
WHEREAS, this three day event is planned for Thursday, May 1st, Friday, May 2nd and Saturday, May 3, 2025 with set up beginning on Friday, April 25, 2025, and
WHEREAS, the Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival provides great national recognition to our city, county, and state, and
WHEREAS, this Festival draws tens of thousands of people annually to our community, contributing to the economic vitality of our city’s businesses and the community at whole, and
WHEREAS, the city appreciates the efforts of the South Baldwin Chamber, other sponsors supporting the festival, businesses, and volunteers, all of which help to make this annual event such a success, and
WHEREAS, the City of Foley supports The South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce's Hot Air Balloon Festival annually via a performance contract in the amount of $50,000, and
WHEREAS, the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce is requesting the City to provide the following specific services:
1. During normal business hours:
a. Street Department to pickup and return barricades from the Cities of Daphne, Fairhope, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach if needed.
b. Placing barricades in festival footprint before the event and removing barricades after the event. Including N. OWA Blvd for bus lane and along County Road 20.
c. To pick up and maintain digital message boards the week of and during the event.
d. Assist in hanging banners in the festival field on poles.
e. Place directional road signs, shuttle parking banners and event advertisement signs prior to the event.
2. Below requests will require overtime hours:
a. Sanitation onsite during the event to include 2 trucks and 13 personnel on Thursday, May 1st and Friday, May 2nd from 3:00 pm - 11:00 pm, and from 9:00 am - 11: 00 pm on Saturday, May 4th. Duties would include placing trash cans throughout the field and regular emptying of trash cans during event hours. A barricaded access road will be available for ease of access to remove trash.
Move barricades as needed during the event to safely maintain any unsafe areas in the parking fields.
3. Use of City Property:
a. To host pilot check in at the Foley Event Center on Thursday, May 1st from 2:00 - 4:00 pm and on Friday, May 2nd from 2:00 - 3:00 pm.
b. Allow pilot, volunteer and guest parking at the Foley Event Center and Foley Soccer Fields during the event.
c. Use of 3 row bleachers for Disc-Connected K9 Dog Show.
4. Additional Requests
a. The South Baldwin Chamber requests the assistance from the Foley Police and Foley Fire departments through their usual duties of the event.
b. The South Baldwin Chamber requests permission to sell and serve alcohol within designated areas on OWA’s property on May 1, 2 & 3, 2025.