Deconsolidation

Link to theadvocate.com Lafayette City Council to consider committee to explore deconsolidation, separate city mayor — The Advocate (opens in new window)

City Councilman Pat Lewis will propose a resolution creating a committee to weigh the benefit of consolidation for the city of Lafayette. Called the “Protect the City Committee,” the group would evaluate the costs and limitations of Lafayette’s current form of government, which combines city and parish services and departments.

A 2018 parishwide vote created separate city and parish councils, Lafayette Consolidated Government’s current configuration, but kept administration functions consolidated under the mayor-president.

Mayor-President Josh Guillory supported deconsolidation as a candidate but has recently acknowledged flipping his position on the issue. Guillory and the City Council have been at frequent odds.

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News + Notes

How the proposed city council map is shaping up

▸ The gist: LCG has published maps of the proposed independent city and parish council districts. You can find those detailed maps here and here. You can see the current consolidated council districts here.

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The Takeaway

Podcast: Kevin Blanchard talks deconsolidation

Some argue that breaking up consolidated government would liberate the city from an unfavorable political circumstance. Former journalist and Lafayette public works director Kevin Blanchard is in the camp. He says giving Lafayette a city council won’t fix what’s wrong with consolidation, but it’s a step in the right direction.

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