Lake Charles City Council Agenda Meeting 7/05/2023

On By swlajournalcarlIn Meeting Notes

Lake Charles City Hall, City Council Chambers

July 5, 2023, 5:30 PM

Carl M. Ambrose, Jr.

Summary

The meeting consisted of the election of new officers, public hearings on proposed condemnations and demolitions, and the adoption of several agreements and resolutions.  The council took final action on several proposals for city contracts and purchasing equipment for multiple departments. The council also approved allocating Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funds for affordable housing.

The Scene

A large crowd was gathered for the meeting, with attendees greeting each other and having different conversations.  As the press cameras and microphones were being implemented, the council filed in individually; Mayor Nic Hunter and City Administrator John Cardone arrived shortly after David Morgan, the city attorney.

Council President John Ieyoub called the meeting to order, with the invocation led by Councilman Rodney Geyen and the pledge led by Michael Castille of the Lake Charles Department of Recreation & Parks. The roll was called with all council members present. The minutes from the last regular meeting were approved 7-0. Ieyoub read several deletions with no objections. 

The Election Of Officers

Ieoyub moved on to the next item of business: electing new officers for the 2023-2024 terms. Ieyoub opened the floor to nominations for the position of council president. Geyen nominated Councilman Mark Eckard, and Councilman Stuart Weatherford seconded the motion. There were no other nominations. Eckard was elected to be the new resident for the 2023-2024 term. Ieyoub opened the floor for nominations for vice president. Councilman Ronnie Harvey Jr. nominated Councilman Craig Marks, with Marks seconding the motion. There were no other nominations or objections. Marks was elected the vice president. The new officers took their respective seats, and Eckard continued with the meeting recognizing Geyen for a point of personal privilege. After brief remarks, Geyen presented Ieyoub with a plaque from the council for his service as president, saying, “On behalf of your colleagues on the council, you’ve done a wonderful job this year. You sped through the meetings, and we were out of here; that’s good.” Ieyoub accepted the plaque and said, “It’s such an honor to serve as president.” He thanked the administration and Council Secretary Lynn Thibodeaux for their work.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

  •   414 Ford St.
  •   315 North Goss St.
  •   3208 North General Wainwright St.
  •   728 Pujo Street
  •   2415 Commercial Street
  •   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
  •   3606 Center Street

Ordinances For Final Action

  • Three ordinances were accepting the lowest bids for the annual supply of road base limestone aggregate, a new portable sewer camera system, and a yearly supply of janitorial supplies.
  • Council authorized an ordinance to remove the yield signs and install stop signs on Katherine Street at the intersection of North Goos Boulevard. 
  • Council authorized the mayor to enter into a multi-family loan agreement with HRI Communities LLC to use the city of Lake Charles’ direct allocation of Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds for Woodring II.
  • Council authorized the mayor to enter into a multi-family loan agreement with The Banyan Foundation to use the city of Lake Charles’ direct allocation of CDBG-DR funds for Capstone at the Oaks.
  • Council authorized the mayor to enter into a multi-family loan agreement with MGM Development Group to use the city of Lake Charles’ direct allocation of CDBG-DR funds for Calcasieu Heights.
  • Council authorized the city of Lake Charles to agree with a firm to provide network services for the Water and Wastewater divisions.
  • Council authorized the city of Lake Charles to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement with Zypien’s Music Foundation to develop a Walk of Fame in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
  • Council authorized an ordinance amending Sec. 12-44 of Chapter 12 of the code of ordinances for the city of Lake Charles to provide for the registration of transitional housing units.

The Following Resolutions May Be Adopted By Consent

Eckard asked if any items needed to be pulled before reading the resolutions into the record. No items were pulled, and the resolutions were recorded.

  • There was a resolution accepting the substantially complete water and wastewater treatment plants building demolition project.
  • The council adopted a resolution approving the city of Lake Charles’ 2021 CDBG-DR Action Plan. It authorized the city to apply to the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) for its 2021 CDBG-DR funding allocation. 
  • Council authorized a resolution amending Resolution No. 39-23 declaring the intention of the city of Lake Charles to proceed with the development of a project for the acquisition and establishment of additions and improvements to the city’s waterworks system and to increase the principal amount for the City’s taxable excess revenue bonds.
  • The Council authorized a resolution to set a date for a public hearing on the alteration of the shoreline at Griffith Coulee by installing and maintaining a residential wharf at 124 Pithon St.
  • There was a resolution authorizing the city of Lake Charles to request additional interstate maintenance activities proposals. 
  • There was a resolution to set a date for a public hearing on the condemnation of the following structures: 1200 North Prater St., 735 King St., 3416 West Roosevelt St., 2502-2540 Oak Park Blvd., 2420 Dietz St. and 1227 Ryan St.

Ordinances For Introduction

There was a request to amend and restate Ordinance No. 19518, authorizing the issuance of funds not to exceed $2 million in taxable excess revenue bonds for the Center East Water Plant Project, Series 2023, and to increase the principal amount not to exceed $2.3 million taxable extra revenue bonds, (City of Lake Charles – Center East Water Plant Project), Series 2023.

Demolitions

  •  2126 Griffin St.
  • 1200 North Prater St.
  • 735 King St.
  • 3416 West Roosevelt St.
  •  2502-2540 Oak Park Blvd.
  • 2420 Dietz St.
  • 1227 Ryan St.

The final ordinance for introduction authorizes the city of Lake Charles to accept the best proposal received and enter into an agreement for additional interstate maintenance activities. 

Adjournment

The agenda for the July 5, 2023, meeting can be found here.

The July 5, 2023, meeting video can be found here.