Lake Charles City Hall, City Council Chambers

May 17, 2023, 5:30 pm

Carl M. Ambrose, Jr.

SUMMARY

This meeting consisted of the approval of CEA’s, approval for bids for city projects, hearings on properties for condemnations and the adoption of resolutions. This was the first meeting taped by the City of Lake Charles.

THE SCENE

There was a smaller-than-usual group gathered for the regular City Council meeting.  Tonight was the first night that the City Council meeting would be taped for the public by the City of Lake Charles. The company that won the bid was Soup Kitchen Media. For their first taping they set up three cameras throughout the room to catch the scene from different vantage points.

The meeting was called to order by President Ieyoub.  It was followed by the invocation by Mr. Marks and the Pledge led by Deputy Chief Michael Nicosia.  Mrs. Thibodeaux called the roll.  All members of the Council were present.  The minutes of the May 3, 2023, meeting was accepted, with the motion passing 7-0.  The next order of business was a motion to waive the Council’s rules to set a bid date of May 30, 2023; Mr. Marks asked what the rules were.  Mrs. Thibodeaux explained that the rules state that bid dates are the day before a meeting. May 30th is an open week with no meeting, so a motion to waive the rules must be passed.  The motion passed 7-0.

APPOINTMENTS

(Members are appointed by the President for members to seek the most responsible bids for projects.)

Mr. Geyen: Center East Water Treatment Plant Filter Replacement and the Power Centre Parkway Sidewalk.

Mr. Eckard: Various Citywide Drainage & Ancillary Infrastructure Improvements, Phase 1.

Mr. Harvey: Civic Center Chiller Replacement.

PUBLIC HEARINGS/ REPAIRS

2212 Common Street. Mr. Ieyoub motioned for 30/60 days after a brief statement and discussion with the property owner.  The motion passed 7-0.

2404 Fitzenreiter Road, Riverside Baptist Church of Lake Charles. Derrick Freeman spoke and advised the Council they were working with FEMA.  The Representative from FEMA, Mr. Minor, addressed the Council. He explained that he was having problems communicating with Mr. Hester. After a discussion about what is needed and the time frame for completion, and commentary from both the Mayor and Head of Planning, a motion was made to postpone 30 days. The motion passed 7-0.

1550 North Railroad Avenue. Mrs. August recommended 15/30 days; the motion passed 7-0.

1411 Pine Street, Unity Baptist Church of Lake Charles, Inc. Mr. Bartie, the agent for the church, advised that he is working with FEMA.  Mr. Minor spoke again, and after a brief discussion, Mr. August recommended 30 days. The motion passed 7-0.

 419 (A & B) Pine Street, Unity Baptist Church of Lake Charles, Inc. Mrs. August said she had received several complaints and recommended 15/15 days. The motion passed 7-0.

 3113 Admiral King. Mr. Geyen recommended 15/30, and the motion passed 7-0.

1809 Commercial Street. Mr. Harvey recommended 15/30 days; the motion passed 7-0.

 1719 Gieffers Street. Mr. Harvey recommended 15/30 days; the motion passed 7-0.

 1712 North Jake Street. Mr. Harvey recommended 15/30 days; the motion passed 7-0.

 405 North Simmons Street. Mr. Terrence Prudhomme spoke and agreed to have the home demolished as part of the FEMA   program.  Mr. Harvey recommended 30/60 days; the motion passed 7-0.

 502 North Prater Street. Mr. Morgan recommended a deferral of 30 days, and the motion passed 7-0.

236 ½ North Cherry Street. Mr. Harvey recommended 15/15 days; the motion passed 7-0.

1828 3rd Street. Mrs. August recommended 30/60 days; the motion passed 7-0.

1720 Legion Street. Mr. Mark Adams spoke about the property and asked for more time to secure funding. There was a discussion about the city ordinance boarding up windows, the time allowed, and some questions from the mayor; it was deferred 90 days.  The mayor also said he would follow up with Restore on this case.  The motion passed 7-0.

320 White Street. Mr. Don Muhammad advised that he had a building permit and that the City honored that time frame.  Mrs. August recommended 90 days to complete the work; the motion passed 7-0.

ORDINANCES FOR FINAL ACTION

Mr. Morgan asked the council to approve the renewal coverage from Property and Casualty Insurance for the city.  Mr. Morgan said, “We’re saving $1.6 million by doing this as it’s written.” There were no objections, and the motion passed 7-0. 

The other item for consideration was to amend the city’s contract with Waste Management of Louisiana, LLC, to include solid waste transfer, transportation, and disposal of waste.  The item passed 7-0 with no objection.

THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS MAY BE ADOPTED BY CONSENT

As a standard practice, President Ieyoub asked if anyone wanted to pull an item from the list of resolutions before reading them into record. There was no commentary regarding the removal of a listed item.

• Purchase and Installation of GPS/Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) / Telematics/Fleet Management System for the City of Lake Charles.
• Mallard Golf Club Lake Charles- Clubhouse & Pro Shop is nearly complete and now authorizing the advertising of the 45-day lien period.

The following resolutions were for setting a date for the public hearing on the condemnation of structures.

• 1115 Pear Street
• 1745 St. John Street.
• 3464 West Roosevelt Street.
• 2124 10th Street.
• 3210 Reidway Street.
• 1907 ½ 8th Street.
• 4016 Swanee Street.
• 3905 Auburn Street.
• 3606 Center Street.

There was a resolution in support of the Banyan Foundation’s Affordable Housing Program (AHP) application to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas.

THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES ARE FOR THE INTRODUCTION BY CONSENT.

• For purchasing and installing GPS/Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) Telematics/Fleet Management System for the City of Lake Charles.
• A Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Louisiana Office of Community Development-Disaster Recovery Unit (OCD-DRU) to receive Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-R) funds.
• A professional services agreement with Borel Architecture.
• A professional services agreement with Freese and Nichols.
• An agreement to purchase janitorial supplies for use by various Departments.
• A bid and agreement for Power Centre Parkway Sidewalk.
• Agreement to accept the lowest, responsible bid for Various Citywide Drainage & Ancillary Infrastructure Improvements, Phase 1.
• The lowest responsible bid and authorization for an agreement for Civic Center Chiller Replacement.

THE FOLLOWING ARE ORDINANCES OF INTRODUCTION FOR THE DEMOLITION OF STRUCTURES.

• 1115 Pear Street.
• 1745 St. John Street.
• 2124 10th Street.
• 3464 West Roosevelt Street.
• 3210 Reidway Street.
• 1907 ½ 8th Street.
• 4016 Swanee Street.
• 3905 Auburn Street.

The City of Lake Charles intends to acquire full ownership of one parcel of adjudicated property, Parcel Number 00610674 amending the zoning map for the residential Zoning district to mix use on 904 Country Club Road.

 Nelson Market Economic Development District (Nelson Market) to enter into the Consent Agreement with EVT Lake Charles, LLC (EVT) and Stifel Bank & Trust (Stifel), whereby EVT is permitted to assign some or all of its rights in the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the City and Nelson Market to Stifel, ( What is this?)

 Meeting adjourned by President Ieyoub.