Documenter name: Natalie McLendon

Agency holding meeting: Sulphur City Council

Date: Monday, July 10, 2023 at 5:30 PM

Summary: The Sulphur City Council condemned properties, granted RV extensions, approved an ordinance on dead tree removal, and heard about potential partnerships for community solar projects.

Notes:

The Scene | There were approximately 20 people in attendance in the main council chambers at 1551 East Napoleon Street in Sulphur and 20 or more in the overflow room across the hall. Four members of the council were present: Melinda Hardy, Joy Abshire, Dru Ellender, and Mandy Thomas. Nick Nezat was absent due to illness.

Policies |

The council approved the minutes from the previous meeting. 

Hardy motioned to postpone 16 and 17, resolutions to approve members to the Sulphur Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board. Hardy also moved to add a resolution advertising bids for the 2022-2023 overlay project. Both motions to add these items to the agenda were approved.

Proclamations

Mayor Mike Danahay issued proclamations to Sulphur’s Tornado Athletics 9U Baseball team and declared it Tornado Athletics 9U Baseball Day. Danahay also issued a proclamation for Sulphur’s Tornado Athletics 10U Golden Softball team.

Condemnations

• 427, 427½ & 435 North Crocker Street – Danahay received a call from the owner before the meeting stating his intention to take the structures down. The council unanimously passed a motion to condemn the properties.

• 209 Quelqueshue Street – Owner William Tuttle will tear the house down. City Attorney Cade Cole said if the city condemns it, this will give the owner time to tear it down. Insurance should be closed out within 30 days. The council voted to condemn the property.

• 1040 Brady Street – No one was present to speak about this property. The structure was condemned.

• Hardy says 302 Willow Avenue and 701 Elm Street have already been demolished. 

RV Extensions

1408 Forest Lane – Amy Carter, property owner, asked for an extension of a few more months. They are still in litigation with their insurance company. They are waiting for repairs to a rental home to be completed before moving in.

Neighbor Billy Breaux said his issue is that the owners must still show pride in ownership, and the property appears abandoned. 

Abshire agreed that the property needs to be cleaned up. “At some point in time, we’ve got to move this city forward. We’ve got to get beyond the storms we’ve had,” Abshire said.

Abshire moved to allow a two-month extension stipulating that the owners clean up the property. The motion passed unanimously.

Variance Extension

The council rejected a variance extension to Paula Louvier, 436 Sands Point, to allow for living in an RV due to Hurricane Laura.

Neighbor Carla Sigler told the council that Louvier did not attend the land use meeting and, while Sigler is sympathetic, there has been no progress on the property in years. There’s been no work, and she and her neighbors would also like to move on.

Public Hearings

The council passed an ordinance accepting a preliminary plat from Bel Commercial LLC for The Cedars subdivision located south of Mimosa Park Phase II, west of Wright Road.

Then, the council heard an ordinance granting an exception to Gerald Burnett, 217 West Thomas Street, which allows for living in a business district. 

Mr. Burnett said the property was zoned as residential when he purchased it. Burnett will be using the property for rentals. The motion for this agenda item failed.

The council passed a motion declaring specific surplus movable property of the City of Sulphur and providing for disposal. 

The next item was a hearing on an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 1635, M-C Series, which authorized a lease agreement between the city of Sulphur and Verizon Wireless on Benoit Lane. Danahay said a new contract was coming up, and Verizon wanted to change the rental terms. They currently pay approximately $2,400 but want to pay $1,750. The ordinance was unanimously rejected.

Introduction of Ordinances

The council introduced an ordinance amending Chapter 17, Article I, to provide for removing dead or diseased trees on private property and have the costs assessed against the owner. 

Abshire said the current ordinance does not address dead trees, it only addresses branches, and she is concerned with skeleton trees (bare, dead trees). 

“It’s not if they will fall but when they will fall,” Abshire said.

Abshire told the council that these trees had lost their substance. If the city gets a monsoon season, the trees will fall, damage property and possibly injure people. She noted that dead limbs become falling spears and dead trees harbor insects and vermin. She said these trees are throughout our city, pointing out that other cities in Louisiana had dead tree ordinances.

Sulphur resident Chris Higginbotham said there is a concern that such an ordinance could be used as a “massive government overreach.” Higgenbotham noted that one person could accuse their neighbor of having a diseased or dying tree who does not have the money to find out if it’s diseased or to take it down.

Sulphur resident Robin Bowdoin said Hurricane Laura destroyed her home. She took down the trees in her yard because of concern for harm. Her neighbors have dead oak and pine trees in their yard. If they fell, they would hit her home. Bowdoin said she is afraid of the impact of the next storm. 

Resident Bill Leblanc thanked the council for this ordinance and said this city needs to be cleaned up, and he doesn’t want anyone to die from these trees.

Ellender reminded the public that this was an introduction of an ordinance, which means it will come up again on the agenda soon. The ordinance’s amended introduction, removing the word “potential,” passed unanimously. See page 21 of this month’s resolutions and orders for the amended language.

The city heard about accepting a donation from Sealy Ratcliff Swisco Road LLC for the lift station on Calcasieu Industrial Drive. The motion to approve passed unanimously.

The council approved amending Ordinance No. 1851, M-C Series, to increase tie-in inspection fees for water and sewer. 

Then, they amended and re-adopted the General Fund budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. Jennifer Thorn said she projected a $5 million reimbursement. They received $2.8 million. Amending the reimbursement caused a reduction in the budget. Thorn said it is difficult to do these types of projections. The city applied for grants from the state for a 10% cost share, but that will not be realized in this budget.

The council amended and re-adopted the General Fund budget for the June 30, 2024 fiscal year. The only thing changing is the beginning balance because of the change to the 2023 budget.

Resolutions

The council authorized a request for proposals for municipal operations software. They are also looking for a resident portal for the payment of fees and application for permits.

The council discussed a resolution to provide a variance to 497 East Carlton Street, owned by Jessica Landry, to allow for a 2006 mobile home. Landry said it has been unsafe for her kids outside. She is leasing the property.

Abshire said the property needs to be cleaned. Ellender said they are trying to clean up the city. 

Jonathan Crawford, 204 East Carlton, said he is against older mobile homes, and there are enough. 

Leblanc said the city had helped many people with trailers, but they had never been cleaned up, and the item needed to be postponed. 

Abshire said it is difficult to make these decisions and that the city has worked hard to improve living standards.

Ellender told Landry that this was not the place for her mobile home. All around the leased property are residences, and the councilmember said she wants to see it stay that way.

The council voted unanimously to reject the resolution.

Danahay will sign the 2024 Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Road and Drainage Trust Fund application and all applicable documents. The city’s application reflects a 95% share to the city of approximately $3.3 million and a 5% share to the parish of $170,800 for a total project cost of roughly $3.45 million.

City engineer Austin Abraham said the annual overlay project lists 16 streets the city plans to overlay. The motion passed.

Community Perspective | 

Cindy Robertson, 624 W. Verdine, told the city council she is working with some Harvard interns on community solar projects that the city can access through IRS funding. Robertson asked if the city would partner with them to bring some financial relief on utility costs to low-income individuals and families.

Outcomes | 

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7 p.m. The next regular meeting will be Monday, August 14, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. at 1551 East Napoleon Street.

School starts on August 11.

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