Metropolitan Planning Commission - Special Meeting

I'd like to call to order the August 14th meeting of the Boer Parish Boer City Metropolitan Planning Commission special call meeting. And with that, um, we will wave the invocation in the prayer. And, uh, if we would go straight into roll call or do we need to do Yeah, we can make you the chair. We, we are. I'll do it right before the agenda. Okay. Okay. So, roll call first. Right. James Fine here. Donnie, sorry. Dave Haden is absent. Donnie McDaniel here. Art Schult here. Jeff Thigpin is absent. Chris Turner here. Michelle Wallace is absent. And we do have a quorum.

Uh before we get started, I would like to uh make a statement that the chairman and vice chairman are absent and we need to uh vote in a chairman pro Tim. So we need a motion and a second to vote in a chairman proim. I make a movement to install art schulz as chairman for today's meeting. Second. All those in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Motion carries. Okay. And we need a motion to approve the agenda. Motion to approve the agenda. Make a motion we approve for today's agenda. Second. All those in favor? You can send it. Okay. You'll have that one. Yeah. Okay.

That carries. Okay. Uh well then, uh Katie or Maddie, whoever's going to read the the first action item. All right. Yes, sir. We have CMISC 0000132 2025, the approval of the 2026 Metropolitan Planning Commission budget.

Uh board, before you you have the proposed 2026 budget. Um we have not asked for any additional funds this year. I will note that the group health insurance has gone up. Um the uh consultant fees have gone up. I moved the vehicle purchase funds to the um to the consultant fund. I anticipate us having to draft more ordinances and so we'll need to free up some time and bring in some consultants there. um our um MPC liability insurance has gone up and outside of that the overall ask is still the same. So we ask that you approve the same as the 2025.

Correct. We ask for approval at this time. Okay. Any questions from the board? No question. Any questions from the public? If not, I'll entertain a motion. I'll make a motion that we approve the 206 budget CMISC 132-2025. Second. Have a motion and a second. Please cast your ballot. Okay, that motion passes. Very good. And our next item,

it's going to be C MISC 0000137-2025 Boer Parish Police Jury front yard utility street section.

So over the last couple of months, we have been entertaining front yard utilities uh for subdivisions in light of a request from SWEPCO and some of the developers. And I believe we have come up with a section uh that works for all entities. Uh I have Ken Ward here from the Bj Parish Police Jury. If you have anything to add to that today, um that's where we are. It's been a we've been talking about front yard utilities for a long time, the last actually 10 years for sure. And I think this is u we found a marriage here that works for all entities.

Carl, just for a quick second, I do appreciate the entertaining of the uh proposed plan. Uh we have done a lot of work. Carl is involved with it uh throughout the parish in the multiple MPC jurisdictions that we have to try to come up with a a a plan that works for all. And uh we have received quite a bit of feedback from AT&T, from Delta, from a uh are somewhat in favor of this option because it gets them out of some of the back rightways that we've been having trouble with and that they've been working in for the last uh decade or so or two decades really. So, uh, this is an option and would definitely love your consideration on that and I'm happy to answer any questions if I can. Thank you.

So, this would increase the normal 60 foot ride of way to 80 foot. Yes, that's correct. Yes. Okay. But it doesn't preclude a developer if they still wanted to put the utilities in the rear. Correct. This is just another option that if they want to try to do that, that'll work out for them. This would also increase the basic setback from 25 ft to 35 ft. So it's it's noted on here. So that would increase and that allows more cars in the driveways. So you're getting some cars off the streets. Yes. That to do that as well. So it's we do see a positive with that as well. And in fact it probably could benefit puts particularly where they want to try to uh

you know reduce walks kind of thing. Good. I like it. Okay. Any questions from comments from the board? Uh, I'll ask if there's any public comment. If not, I'll entertain a motion. I'll make a motion that we approve CMISC137-2025.

Second. Have a motion in a second. Please cast your ballots. And that passes. Fantastic. And our last item under old business,

it's going to be CLC 000075205, the application of Jacob Malone, Railian Associates for Greco Mcato Properties LLC, requesting a conditional lease approval for the sale of lowcontent alcohol for off- premise consumption at a sea store, Innovation Drive convenience store located at 1855 Innovation Drive, Sweet 100 Boer. City, Louisiana City Council District 5, Police Tree District 6.

Board, we have heard this application before, but we need to address and change the address. The address is actually 1855 Innovation Drive, Sweet 100. Uh, what we presented to you before was 1843 Innovation Drive. So, we'll have to get this corrected also at the city council level, but we wanted to make sure it was on the record. All the other information is still the same. Everything is the same. Beer and wine. Beer and wine only. Good. Okay. Well, that's easy. So, any questions? Any public comment? If not, I'll entertain a motion. Make a motion that we accept C-LC75-2025.

Second. Have a motion and a second. Okay. when that motion passes. Uh, any other business? Just before we uh jump off of old and new business, I wanted to take the time to introduce our new assistant planner. If you could just come up and tell us a little bit about yourself. Welcome. Good morning to all the board members. My dear colleagues, yeah, the one in the middle. Yeah.

Okay. My dear colleagues and uh community members, I'm Adumita Kurimala. I prefer you all calling me Maddie and I'm the new assistant planner working for Boja Parish MPC. I relocated from Buffalo, New York where I completed my masters in urban and regional planning. I'm specialized in neighborhood planning and community development and I'm really passionate about utilizing GIS and analysis skills to inform urban planning and I'm really excited to learning from you all contributing and collaborating on solutions and being a useful resource to the board MPC and the community members. Thank you.

Fantastic. Great. Well, hey, good to have you on board. That's all we have for you. Okay. Meetings adjourned. Excellent. Excellent.