Agency holding meeting: Lake Charles City Council

Date: Wednesday, May 3, 2023, 5:30 P.M.

Documenter: Carl M. Ambrose, Jr.

The Scene

The chambers began filling up with people until it was about two-thirds full. There were several media outlets in attendance setting up cameras and speaking with Katie Harrington, the city’s Public Information Officer (PIO), who reaches out to the media before each meeting.  

Mr. Ieyoub called the meeting to order and asked Mr. Eckard to lead the Invocation and Mr. Harvey to lead the Pledge.  Mrs. Thibodeaux did roll call to see who was in attendance. Everyone was in attendance with the exception of Councilman Geyen, who arrived shortly after roll call.  Mayor Hunter, City Administrator Mr. Cardone, and City Attorney David Morgan were also present.  A vote to accept the April 19, 2023, minutes passed 6-0 with no objection.  Several items were deferred, and one was deleted from the agenda.  The delayed items were the demolitions of structures on 619 Enterprise Blvd, deferred to June 7, 608 Sycamore St., 1528 Commercial St., deferred to June 7, and the purchase of a parcel of land at 2111 Country Club Rd.  The deleted item was a demolition at 2600 Lake St.

Mr. Ieyoub recognized Mr. Mike Huber with a point of personal privilege.  Mr. Huber recognized Fisher Hamilton, who won the Louisiana Marathon earlier in the year.  He was the first of four top-ten finishers from Louisiana.  Mr. Huber said, “It was a remarkable achievement; he finished First out of 753 people from around the country.  Of the Top-ten finishers, were four participants from Louisiana, including this gentleman.” Mr. Huber went on to list the states where the top ten came from, including Missouri(2), Texas(1), Indiana(1), Colorado(1), and New York(1 Brooklyn).  “There are people who came from across the country to run,” Mr. Huber said, ” You know a marathon is twenty-six point two miles.(26.2) 2 hrs.  32 mins 40.14 sec 5:50 per mile…I couldn’t have run a mile, much less twenty-six(to the laughter of the audience).  He finished in front of the guy from Brooklyn, N.Y., the amazing thing about that is he finished 7 Mins.  and 19 secs. in on front of the second-place finisher, and it gives me goosebumps just talking about it because it’s such an amazing accomplishment, but the most amazing thing about this was this was his first marathon.” He thanked Fisher for representing Lake Charles so well and wished him luck at the Boston Marathon, which he also qualified.  Mr. Ieyoub then presented Fisher with a certificate of recognition for his accomplishment.  Mr. Fisher said, “It was an honor to represent Lake Charles.”

Public hearings on condemnations

  -5005 West St. Charles Avenue, Dylan Gerhart Jay and Daniel McCoy Jay, owners.

Mr. Jay spoke and asked for additional time due to working two jobs; he stated that to sell, he would have to clear more debris and get some work done.  Mr. Eckard recommended 15 days to pull the permit and sixty days to get the job done.  Motion passed 6-0

  -102 North Cherry Street, Wesley John Montgomery, Tyrella Montgomery Harmon, Diana Montgomery Nolden, Donna Montgomery Hudson, and Wesley John Montgomery, Jr., owners.   Mr. Harvey recommended giving 15/15 days before demolition.  Motion passed 6-0.

  -1432 Fournet Street, Alex John, Jr. Estate, subject to a tax sale to the State of  Louisiana, the owner.

Mr. Harvey recommended giving 15/15 days before demolition.  Motion passed 6-0.

  -927 & 927 ½ Mill Street, Jesse Lee Carmen and Deidra Ann Carmen, owners.

Mr. Jesse Lee Carmen, one of the owners, came up to speak and told the Council, “I don’t have money to repair it.” Mr. Morgan explained that the city could tear it down and place a lien on the property, which could be paid with property taxes.  Mr. Carmen asked if it was his only option because he didn’t have one.  Mr. Harvey asked if the item could be deferred to find out if there was a program for which Mr. Carmen was eligible; Mr. Morgan agreed, with Mr. Harvey stipulating that the landscaping and yard must be kept up.  The motion for deferral passed 6-0 and is scheduled for June 7.

  -1506 6th Street, Corey Lamark Joseph, Sr. and Miraca Achelle Reynaud Joseph, owners.

   Subject to a tax sale to the State of Louisiana owners.

Mrs. August recommended 15/30 days before demolition.  The motion passed 6-0.

  -1010 16th Street, Jennifer Claire Trahan, owner.

 Mrs. August recommended 15/15 days before demolition.  The motion passed 6-0.

  -1008 Blake Street, 10-7 Enterprises, LLC, subject to a tax sale to the State of Louisiana,  owner.

Mr. Harvey recommended 15/15 days before demolition.  He also noted that adjacent neighbors have complained about the debris and snakes coming from the property.

Mr. Morgan said that they would look into it.  The motion is 6-0.

  -1530 O’Brien Street, Albert Duplantis, owner.

Mr. Albert Duplantis, who is disabled, explained that he had nephews helping him with the house, but unforeseen situations changed their plans.  He also explained problems with his insurance lawsuit and that he had exhausted his funds repairing his residence and daughter’s home.  Mr. Duplantis said he spoke with  Chelsey, and she told him FEMA had agreed to do all the demolition for them.   Mr. Morgan informed Mr. Duplantis that FEMA would take care of the demolition at no cost.  Mrs. August’s motion for 15/15 days passed 6-0.

  -1524 Iowa Street, Nellie Compton, Wesley Compton, Jr., James J. Compton, Lawrence  Compton, Camelia Ann Smith, Dorothy Singleton, Betty Rose Compton, Martin C. Compton,    and Leo C. Compton, owners.

Mr. Morgan advised that the city was contacted to demolish the building.  Mrs. August recommended 15/15 days before demolition, and the motion passed 6-0.

  -1405 Iowa Street, Sharolyn Gay Thomas Greene, Pamela Michelle Thomas Dalton, Felicia Lee Gordon, John Gordon, Jr., and Arlene Denise Thomas Thompson, owners.

Mrs. August recommended 15/15, and the motion passed 6-0.

  -2500 18th Street, Planet Home Lending, LLC, owner.

Mr. Ieyoub noted that the structure was in Mr. Geyen’s district and asked if normal delays were okay? Mr. Morgan asked Mr. Hester whether Planning and Development had been contacted? Mr. Hester stated that they were only contacted by a mortgage company.  Mr. Marks asked for the contact information for a resident trying to buy the property.  After discussion, normal delays 30/60 days before demolition were recommended and passed 6-0.

  -716 WestHale Street, Barbara Ann Barbre f/k/a Barbara Ann Fontenot Johnson, owner.

Mr.  Ieyoub recommended normal delays 30/60 days before demolition.  The motion passed 6-0.

  -810 East Prien Lake Road, Dustin Gawthorpe and Ruysenaars Enterprises, Inc., owners.

Mr. Morgan asked Mr. Ieyoub to ask if there was anyone to speak in the audience, but no one responded. Hence, Mr. Morgan asked for a deferral to appoint a curator until June 21.  Mr. Weatherford had no objection, and the motion passed 6-0.

  -1122 Rosetta Street, Joseph Leon Gilbert, Sr., Joseph Leon Gilbert, Jr., Carolyn S. Gilbert and Malcolm Gilbert, owners.

Mr. Marks recommended 15/15 days before demolition, and the motion passed 6-0.

Final action

Several actions passed on bids for equipment, vehicles, and other items.

The actions were all passed unanimously.

The bid of Covington Sales and Service for $537,676 was accepted to purchase one new jet/vac sewer truck for the Water Division of Public Works.  Mr. Marks recommended accepting the proposal, and his motion passed 6-0.

The next bid accepted was from Acadian Promotional Products, which was accepted for the annual supply of public safety uniforms for the Lake Charles Police and Fire Departments; Mrs. August thought there were multiple contract recipients.  A clerk from purchasing came up to clarify that only Acadian Promotional Products was the lowest responsible bid.  The motion passed 6-0.

North American Fire Equipment Co.’s bid to furnish twenty-eight sets of structural firefighting bunker gear for the Lake Charles Fire Department was approved to be purchased.  Mr. Eckard recommended the bid be accepted, and his motion passed 6-0.

The last action on bids had multiple bids accepted for purchasing supplies and materials for installing and repairing material mains and fire hydrants for the Public Works Dept. The bids of Lafayette Winwater Works, $98,391, and Ferguson Utility Supply, $515,637.10, were accepted as the motion by Mrs. August passed 7-0 with no objections, as Mr. Geyen entered the meeting and was recognized by President Ieyoub.

The Council approved an amendment to an ordinance that allows a fifteen percent(15%) increase in change orders for the Bord Du Lac Drive Marina Repairs.  Mr. Marks asked how many change orders had been done; Mr. Morgan deferred to Mike Huber, who stated, “Mr. Marks, this is the sixth one,” using his hands to illustrate.  Mr. Marks asked what the original bid was?  Mr. Huber informed Mr. Marks the initial bid was for roughly $650,000, and the six change orders add up to over $900,000+.  Mr. Huber explained that this project was “Like buying an old house, each pull something up, you find something else wrong, and that this is what happened with this project repeatedly.  It was noted that this is just a repair of what was there, not any upgrades, and that all of this project will be submitted to FEMA for reimbursement.  Mr. Eckard noted that the marina was open. Mr. Cardone advised that this was found since the opening and that there is still work for the entire marina to be available.  The motion to amend passed 7-0 and the motion as amended passed 7-0, with no objection.

The last of the final actions was the approval of authorization for the Safe Street and Roads for All Grant through the United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration with the city of Lake Charles.  Mayor Nic Hunter was recognized and praised the work of Stacy Dowde and her team for securing the grant for around $500,000.  He said,” This will go towards improving safe routes around the city for pedestrians, and had we not taken the initiative, this is money we would not have been received, so I give credit to her and her team.” Mrs. August asked,” What would constitute a safe road as compared to what we have?” A clerk from Planning and Development explained that they would be looking at parts of the city that “are problematic for pedestrians, a lot of our streets are vehicle friendly, and this will look at how to make them more pedestrian friendly.” Mrs. August said,” Well, I’m trying to get it in my mind because I’m thinking of Kirkman St. where they put “so-called” bicycle paths, like Pujo St. where they put bicycle paths, those are supposed to be a safe route; I would be afraid to ride my bicycle down those streets with those narrow spaces then you merge into traffic.” she went to say that she just “doesn’t have a picture of it in her mind of how it would look like and all the more safe if we are going to follow the same path.” After more discussion, Mrs. August said, “All I’m hearing is this is what we’re going to do, but I don’t have a plan in my head.” Mr. Cardone intervened, explaining the areas to be addressed and that this could lead to other grants for other improvements throughout the city.  Mrs. August said,” I understand that Mr. Cardone and I are familiar with those areas; I don’t have a workable plan in my mind to understand what’s going to be done.  If we’re not going, if we are going to be doing it the way we’ve been doing it, then I would vote against it.” Mayor Hunter said,” Mrs. August, this is a planning grant, so I think no one has an image; this will pay to put that image in all of our minds.” It’s a planning grant; I got it, I understand.” Mr. Marks asked if it included red lights, and the clerk said it could, as well as crossings, signage, etc., anything to make the streets safe for pedestrians.  The motion passed 7-0 with no objections.

THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS MAY BE ADOPTED BY CONSENT

All of the following resolutions were adopted 7-0 by consent with no objections.

  -A resolution of intent to appoint Mack Dellafosse to the Board of the Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority as a Director for a two-year term.

  -Acceptance of Clooney St. improvements as substantially finished and authorization of the advertising of the 45-day lien period.

  Dates for the public hearing for the condemnation of following structures:

   -919-933 North Shattuck Street, We Buy New Orleans, LLC, owner.

   -2216 Poplar Street, Warren (NMN) Bradley Estate and Charlotte(NMN) Bradley, owners.

   -2507 Woodard Street, Louis Morris Charles Estate, owner.  

   -1900 See Street, Carl R. Washington, Vickie Renee Matthews, Linda Francis Matthews,  Paulette Matthews,

James C. Talbert, Tracie Michelle Talbert, and Jermond Talbert, owners.

   -1903 North Prater Street, George Booker, Jr., Estate and Zerline Booker, owners.

   -503 Jackson Street, Wesley John Montgomery, Tyrella Montgomery Harmon, Diana Montgomery Nolden,

Donna Montgomery Hudson, and Wesley John Montgomery, Jr., owners.

   -2113 5th Street, Nelson Bernard and Connie Bernard, owners.

   -2105 5th Street, Double B & N Investments, LLC, owner.

   -2004 2nd Street, Cholley Investors, LLC, owner.

   -1612 Brick Street, Diane Alfreda Valentine Wheeler, owner.

   -1306 Summit Street, Deborah Collins, owner.

   -2225 Colletta Street, Tamie Staton, Elwood Staton, Michael Staton Testamentary, and  Leroy Staton, II, owners.

   -2400 6th Street, Patricia Ann Taylor, owner.

   -2708 Abel Circle, Sandra J. Stevens, Wilbert D. Stevens Estate, and Reginald J. Steven

subject to a tax sale to the State of Louisiana, owners.

   -1802 Engleside, Michael Casey Ogea, and Cynthia Leigh Butts Ogea, owners.

   -2704 1st Avenue, Shirley R. Williams Revocable Living Trust,

    owner.

Adopted a resolution to issue a Request for Qualifications from Licensed lead-based paint testing services for the CDBG and HOME housing rehab programs from the Community Development Department and re-establish its entitlement to CDBG and HOME housing rehab programs with a maximum subsidy of $50,000.

Mr. Ieyoub stated,” The following Ordinances are for introduction by consent and will be read into the record the day following this meeting at 9:00 A.M. in the city council chambers in City Hall.” The list of Ordinances for Introduction can be found on the last two pages of the agenda, which can be found HERE.

Mr. Ieyoub adjourned the meeting.

The May 3, 2023, City Council Meeting video can be found HERE.