6/7 Council Preview: City Council to probe contract on spoil banks project; new council maps

Special Joint Meeting

Reports

Comprehensive financial report presentation. This report will present the findings of LCG’s annual comprehensive financial report for the last fiscal year. This year’s audit found more than a dozen problems, including stolen and misappropriated funds.

Parish Council – Special Meeting

Introduction

Redistricting. Four different ordinances propose options for new Parish Council district maps. This sets the stage for the council to adopt new districts that account for population changes in the 2020 census. View them here.

Parish Council

Final Adoption

No notable ordinances or resolutions. The Parish Council will vote to fill a vacancy on the library board of control.

Introduction

None

City Council – Special Meeting

Bid law. The council will probe the administration’s awarding of a $3.8 million no-bid contract to remove spoil bank levees on the Vermilion River. Former Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera suggested the unusual change order may violate public bid laws.

Introduction

Redistricting. Four different ordinances introduce options for new City Council district maps. This sets the stage for the council to adopt new districts that account for population changes in the 2020 census. View them here.

City Council

Final Adoption

Two more police sergeants. This ordinance adjusts the budget to hire two more police sergeants.

LUS Fiber grants without City Council approval. This ordinance allows LUS Fiber to submit applications for grant funds without City Council approval. The council granted similar authorization to the administration for grants in general, though that authorization only applied to grants that don’t require matching funds. This authorization doesn’t include that constraint. LUS Fiber has already applied for eight grant applications without City Council approval, all of which had matching fund requirements.

$925,000 for Lake Farm Road Extension. This ordinance transfers $925,000 from the completed E. Pont des Mouton Road Widening Project to the Lake Farm Road Extension from Kaliste Saloom Road to Settlers Trace.

Introduction

Pay hike for police chief. This ordinance increases the LPD chief’s annual salary to $170,000, a $40,000 hike. The new chief’s salary would be roughly $25,000 higher than Baton Rouge, about $10,000 less than New Orleans, and some $10,000 higher than the Lafayette Sheriff.

$1 million for the Webb Coulee Detention Project. This ordinance transfers unspent funds from the Malapart Detention Pond Project to the Webb Coulee Detention Project. The mayor-president secured $1 million from the City Council for the Malapart pond last summer, which was to be located west of Carencro. The Webb Coulee ponds will be located near Pa’ Davis Park.

Joint Items

Final Adoption

Disaster shelter at the Heymann Center. This ordinance authorizes a cooperative endeavor agreement with Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services to use the Heymann Center as a medical special needs shelter during a declared emergency due to disaster.

Introduction

New rules for commercial pedi-cabs and more. This ordinance will establish new regulations for commercial pedal carriages — defined as four or more wheeled bicycle-like vehicles — that distinguish them from shared mobility devices like scooters. This category would include transports like pedi-cabs and pedal pubs. 

Early raises for LCG employees. This ordinance would accelerate the automatic 2% raises for LCG employees triggered by increased sales tax revenue collections. These raises are scheduled to take effect Nov. 1 but instead would start in June.

A raise and a new hire for the mayor-president’s office. This ordinance would authorize giving a raise to an administrative specialist and adding a digital communications specialist position within the mayor-president’s office. Despite being a joint ordinance, the burden of these increased costs would be entirely by the city.

Property

Vacancies

Appointments