Here is a selection of items on the agendas for this week’s meetings of the City and Parish councils. To see the full agendas, check out the links below:
- Parish Agenda
- Special Joint Meeting Agenda
- City Agenda (Public Comment Time!)
Lafayette 101
LCG’s annual budget
By law, LCG must produce a balanced budget each year to fund its operations. The roughly $600 million budget guides spending decisions for LCG’s fiscal year, which begins Nov. 1. The administration kicks off each cycle with a proposed budget and works with the councils to finalize it through a series of public hearings. The councils can offer amendments to the budget and must vote to adopt the budget by Oct. 31.
Parish Council
Resolution
A plan for a new jail. In a video released Monday, the mayor-president announced this resolution authorizes him to seek a private partner finance construction and maintenance of a new parish correctional center. The resolution limits contracts to a $10.5 million cap on payments from parish government and could not exceed terms of 40 years. While the resolution grants the m-p broad authority to ink a deal, it requires that Parish Council would have to approve any appropriation.
Final Adoption
$40,000 contract for Cornerstone Government Affairs. This ordinance appropriates money for a lobbying contract to help secure federal and state funding to complete the I-49 Connector in Lafayette Parish.
Introduction
No significant items
Special Joint Meeting
Introduction
It’s budget time, baby! This ordinance kicks off the annual budget making process by introducing a proposed budget. The councils will then go through a series of public hearings, offer amendments and vote to approve the next fiscal year’s budget.
City Council
Reports
LUS Utility Bill Discussion. City Councilwoman Liz Hebert put this item on the agenda after hearing concerns from constituents about high LUS bills. A recent decline in fuel prices has eased some of the price increases.
Heymann Park Improvements. City Councilman Glenn Lazard has requested another report on this item, following discussion last month, which revealed that the mayor-president had switched gears on long-standing plans for improvements to Heymann Park. Scuttling a plan for a new amphitheater, the administration swapped architects to create a more ambitious plan for the park. It’s unclear how long the change will delay improvements.
Final Adoption
$700,000 for the Digby Avenue Detention Project. This ordinance appropriates funds from the city’s sales tax capital project fund balance. The projected cost of this project is $2 million. This pond is slated to be dug just south of the Lake Farm Road ponds.
$250,000 for the Thomas Park Skate Park. This ordinance transfers $283,462 out of the Fabacher Field Improvements Project and into “Thomas Park Skate Park” ($250,000) and the “Parks Improvement City Wide Project” ($33,462).The City Council already appropriated $250,000 in coronavirus relief funds for the new skate park.
$1 million for a new shelter. This ordinance appropriates city coronavirus relief funds to help the Acadiana Regional Coalition on Homelessness and Housing build an $11 million shelter and housing facility to address housing insecurity.
Appeals
Westbend Ridge Development. Residents have filed an appeal asking the City Council to overturn the planning commission’s approval of this townhome development off Verot School Road.
Steiner Lofts. The Steiner Lofts developers filed an appeal asking the City Council to overturn the planning commission’s denial of its development plan. The project won majority support but fell short of the required number of votes to pass.
Introduction
$430,000 transferred from drainage to roads. This ordinance transfers $250,000 from a completed drainage improvement to the Urban Asphalt Overlay/Reconstruction Project and $180,000 to the Highway 89 Widening Project.
$1.5 million in federal housing funds. This ordinance increases Community Development Block Grant revenues received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. These funds are used for a variety of programs, including housing rehabilitation.
$705,000 in federal housing funds. This ordinance increases HOME program revenues received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. These funds are used for a variety of programs, including low-income housing.
Joint Items
Final Adoption
$250,000 more money for Geaux Mow and Interstate Grass Cutting. This ordinance transfers money from parish bridge repairs to grass maintenance. Geaux Mow is a Guillory administrative initiative privatizing grass cutting on public land in Lafayette. This appropriation brings total funding of Geaux Mow to $625,000.
Introduction
Chevron donating land in Beaver Park. This ordinance authorizes the acquisition of 1 acre of land on the Vermilion River in Beaver Park via donation.
$1 million for Heymann Park. This ordinance adopts $750,000 in state funds and the required local match of $250,000 for improvements at Heymann Park. Because the state dollars are allocated to the parish, the item is up for joint approval.
Property
| Address | Approval | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 244 Josephine St | Joint Council | Non-warranty cash sale to adjoining landowner |
| 402 West Bachert St | Joint Council | Non-warranty cash sale to adjoining landowner |
| 435 Marigold Loop | Joint Council | Non-warranty cash sale to adjoining landowner |
| 1102 Tenth St | Joint Council | Non-warranty cash sale to adjoining landowner |
| Johnston St in Freetown | City Council | Rezone from CH to MN-1 and CM-2 and issuing conditional use permits for 215 East Convent St, 815 & 817 Johnston St |
| 125 Easy St | City Council | Rezone from IL to RM-1 |
| 129 Youngsville Hwy | City Council | Rezone from IL to CH |
| 1600 Block La Neuville Rd | City Council | Annex and zone RS-2 |
| 620 SE Evangeline Thrwy | City Council | Rezone from CH to MN-2 |