Council Preview: New garbage contract up for approval

Illustration: Two figures peeking under a giant rug-sized Lafayette Consolidated Government logo
Illustration by Peter DeHart

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:

Lafayette 101
Lafayette Transit System

Lafayette’s transit system runs several routes out of its hub in Downtown Lafayette. Its $5 million annual budget is primarily funded by city general fund subsidies and federal transportation grants. LTS generates around $200,000 annually in fares.

Parish Council

Final Adoption

Ranch Road Bridge replacement. This ordinance authorizes the mayor-president to acquire or expropriate land for this project.

Introduction

$5.6 million for the Buchanan garage and parish courthouse. This ordinance appropriates $5.6 million from the Courthouse Complex Fund. $3.4 million will pay for a second phase of repairs to the Buchanan Street Parking Garage. $2.2 million will go to improvements at the Lafayette Parish Courthouse. In 2020, the Parish Council approved $3.5 million for garage repairs. The garage is only partially functional; it doesn’t have a working elevator.

City Council

Resolutions

Investigation. This resolution authorizes the City Council chair to sign legal and financial documents related to this investigation.

Final Adoption

No significant items.

Introduction

Transit service for Carencro. This ordinance authorizes the mayor-president to enter into a collaborative endeavor agreement with the City of Carencro for use of Lafayette Transit System. Carencro will pay $100 per service hour.

Joint Items

Resolutions

Grants from the Inflation Reduction Act. This resolution authorizes the administration to apply for any grants that might come available from that Act. For an overview of what those grants could entail, read this.

Final Adoption

Raises for council staff. This ordinance increases the pay rate for a Senior Administrative Assistant, the Assistant Clerk of the Council, and the Clerk of the Council. These raises were ensnared in the political battle over the mayor-president’s proposed raises for his directors.

New garbage contractor. This ordinance authorizes the mayor-president to enter into a contract with Acadiana Waste Services to handle trash and recycling in the City of Lafayette and unincorporated areas. Acadiana Waste Services is a locally owned company. 

$83,000 for Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds to SMILE. This ordinance recognizes revenue from the federal government and passes it through to community action agency SMILE. These funds were released by the U.S. Department of Treasury on Sept 15. 

$4.8 million for Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds to SMILE and Catholic Charities of Acadiana. This ordinance recognizes revenue from the federal government and passes through $1.3 million to Catholic Charities and $3.5 million to SMILE. These funds were released by the U.S. Department of Treasury on Sept. 23.

Introduction

Another raise. This ordinance gives a 4% raise to the controller position in the finance department.

Property

AddressApprovalAction
2401 Louisiana AveCity CouncilRezone from MN-1 to CH(c)
1606 Kaliste Saloom RdCity CouncilRezone from CM-1(c) to CM-1
2112 N University AveCity CouncilRezone from CM-1 to RS-1
129 Rue FeliciteJoint CouncilAcquire full ownership of adjudicated property
308 Valley StJoint CouncilAcquire full ownership of adjudicated property
Rezonings, variances, disposition of adjudicated properties