City Council - Regular Meeting

All right. Welcome to tonight's city council meeting for the city of Cington, January 13th. This meeting is hereby called to order. I need a roll call. Councilman Lewis. Councilman Bushnell here. Councilman Roberts. Councilman Inman here. Councilman Barrell here. Councilman Bosford here. Councilman Barrett

here. If we can all rise for a moment of silence which will be followed by the pledge of allegiance and would Michelle please standyice for First of all, let me say that it is very pleasing to see so many people at the city council meeting and I think there is a specific good reason for it. So with that being said, we will go jump right into the confirmation of mayoral appointment of Steven Michelle as fire chief. Mayor Mark Johnson.

Thank you, Mr. Council President, for the council's consideration, I submit Steven Michelle as my choice for fire chief of the Covington Fire Department. Born and raised in Covington, Steven is a graduate of Covington High School, the father of two daughters and grandfather to three. He is very focused on his family and views them as a strong support system. He appreciates that he is still still able to visit his childhood home here in Covington where his parents still reside. His first job was at Gibson's. There, a co-orker inspired him to join the fire service. In 1989, at the age of 15, Steven began as a volunteer firefighter. In 1994, he worked on a door-to-door campaign to encourage voters to support passage of a millillage to hire full-time firefighters. The millillage passed and Steven was hired as a full-time firefighter starting January 1, 1996, 30 years ago to this month. In 2007, he was promoted to assistant fire chief and has served in this position since. During his time with the Covington Fire Department, Stephen has served as chair of the local civil service board, participated as a member of the Saint Tamony Parish Opioid Task Force, and a parishwide peer-to-peer support team for first responders. In 2022, Steven created and serves as the president of the Never Forget Foundation, an organization that hosts an annual race to raise money for local families that have lost a first responder or first responders that have survived catastrophic events. The foundation has raised approximately $60,000 to date with $30,000 fully paid out to first responder families. lifetime as a Covington firefighter,

assistant chief since 2007, instrumental in leading our department during this past year. A difficult year. Members of the council, tonight I ask your approval of my nominee, Stephen Dne Michelle, as the next fire chief for the city of Covington. Thank you, sir. Is there any public comment in regards to the mayor's selection? Is there any council comment in regard to the mayor's selection?

I'd like to make a comment. I think that the administration did a fantastic job of looking at all the candidates. I'm very happy with your selection. I think that uh Stephen Michelle, I think that we're born to do this job. Thank you. known you for a long time and what I want the public to recognize and understand is the connection that you have with the city and also the administration working with council to select the best fire chief. And with that, I move to appoint Steven Michelle as fire chief. And I ask for a second. Second. Need a roll call. Councilman Bushnell, yes. Councilman Inman, yes. Councilman Burrell, yes. Councilman Bodzford.

Yes. Councilman Barrett. Yes. Congratulations. [applause] [applause] [applause]

Well, saying thank you is probably uh just not enough. Um, I typically have notes and I typically have a speech all word out, but uh, this time I just want to really just kind of speak from the heart. Um, I have been in this fire department for a very long time and seen it grow. Uh, there's been a lot of fire chiefs um, before me. Um, and a lot of them great. Um, I'm honored to to have uh Miss Patty u bat on u sitting in the crowd uh to come come to this meeting. Um, I hope the the fire chiefs um above are looking down and are going to be proud of me uh for the position and and taking taking the rings from here. To say that this fire department is going to be run by one person um would be wrong. Um, it will be absolutely a team effort and I want to bring it to a different level to where it's a family or organization and that we bring that tradition back uh to the fire department. Um, but thank you very much for the opportunity and uh I promise you uh I will not let y'all down.

Thank you, sir. Thank you. [applause] [applause]

Next on our agenda this evening is a presentation of the DAR proclamation America 250 in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Mayor Mark Johnson. City of Covington, Louisiana. proclamation. Whereas July 4, 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the formation and signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress, which announced the formal separation of the 13 North American British colonies from Great Britain and resolved the United Colonies are and of right to be free and independent states. And whereas it is fitting and proper to accord official recognition to this magnificent document and its memorable anniversary and to the patriotic celebrations which will commemorate the occasion. And whereas the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution is a non-political women's service organization established in 1890 whose members are lineal lineally descended from patriots of the American Revolution. And whereas from the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party until the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 2033, the Daughters of the American Revolution are celebrating our nation's rich

history by honoring all men and women who achieved American independence. These patriots, believing in the noble cause of liberty, fought valiantly to establish a new nation. And where's the Louisiana Daughters of the American Revolution Wharton chapter celebrate American 250 at the semiquend semiquint [laughter] [snorts] semi-quincentennial anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Now therefore, I, Mayor Mark R. Johnson do hereby proclaim January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 as the year of America 250 in the city of Covington. And I ask our citizens to reaffirm the ideals of the founding fathers, framers of the Declaration of Independence, guaranteed us through this guardian of our liberties, principles of equality and inal inalienable rights, remembering that lost rights may never be regained. Let's celebrate America 250. [applause]

[applause] I got a flag. And let me just thank y'all also for your wonderful yearly wreath lane ceremony. I wasn't there this year as I was out of town, but I do think that that is extremely lovely. We're gonna we're going to send down to take a picture and then we'd like you to say a few words. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Give us your name.

My name is Janet Pitman. I am regent of the Wharton chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, Covington, Louisiana. As members of the Daughters of the American Revolution, our goals are to promote patriotism, education, and historic preservation. Receiving this proclamation for America 250 is the perfect way to do this. We are here today to remember our founding fathers who wrote the Declaration of Independence, the document which founded the United States of America. We are also remembering those patriots who fought and secured our freedoms and liberties that we enjoy today. We are proud of our direct heritage and bounds to those patriots who fought for independence. Today we are standing on the shoulders of greatness. We will continue to stand up for liberty, life, and the pursuit of happiness. [clears throat] This document will be displayed at every Wharton chapter meeting throughout the year. And thank you to the mayor, the members of the city council, and to all who helped produce this great document. Thank you very much and we hope you enjoy the America 250 banners that we helped place along around the city of Coington. Thank you very much.

Thank you. [applause] Under our consent calendar this evening are we have our regular meeting minutes of December 9th 2025 and we also have introduction of item number 2026-01-01 an ordinance of the city of Covington to amend the 2026 operating and capital budget. I'd like a motion to accept the consent calendar. So moved. I need a second. Second. Roll call, please. Councilman Inman, yes. Councilman Barrell, yes. Councilman Bosford, yes. Councilman Barrett, yes. Councilman Bushnell, yes.

Under our regular agenda, unfinished business, items to be voted on, public hearing and action on item number 2025-12-01, an ordinance of the city of Covington providing for an increase in compensation for the city council for the city of Covington. which increase would become effective if approved on July 1st, 2027? Councilman Enman.

Uh yes, thank you, Council President. Uh basically, we look back in time and uh kind of notice that there's only been well four pay raises for the council since the 1970s. This would be number five. And I do also want to point out this would not be a raise for this council. So in effect, if the question or concern was, well, these people are voting themselves a raise, that is not the case. This would not take effect until the next council. So that's the first thing. I do I do want to make that abundantly clear. The second thing is if you look at what the initial outlay was uh in terms of uh compensation in the 1970s and bring that up to to date, so to speak, um it's in excess of $2,000 a month. So even with what is proposed it is it's almost half what that is what that it should be based on um you know inflation over time. So it's it's just kind of one of those things where how can I say it? I think that uh in the future the voters will definitely decide on who sits up here on this dis but whomever it is I would hope that they're compensated at a package that uh well let's just say is uh even though it's incredibly conservative um it's at least somewhat up to date. Thank you.

Thank you sir. [clears throat] Any public comment? Any u countment from the mayor?

My name is Mark Johnson, 604 West 22nd Avenue. I um I I I I alluded to this at at a council meeting last fall. I actually floated the idea and and said that it was time that uh this that that this be addressed. Um, what I see the council folks of today being asked to do is so far greater than you alluded to the 1970s or the 1980s between the social media between the traffic between the bud the budget that we deal with everything that we've done and there there it's there's just a lot more time and a lot more effort going into this than I think perhaps there was in the past. I recognize that it's public service and that you're that you're doing it for public service, but I also believe that it is important that if you want quality people on the council that you do have to give them some sort of remun remuner, some kind of pay raise. So anyway, that's uh my two cents.

Well said. Any further council comment? Hearing none, I would ask that there be a motion to close the public hearing. So move. I will make a second. I need a motion to adopt. So moved. I need a second. Second. Roll call. Councilman Barrell? Yes. Councilman Bodzford? Yes. Councilman Barrett? Yes. Councilman Bushnell? No. Councilman Enman? Yes.

Moving on. public hearing in action on item number 2025-12-02, an ordinance amending the official zoning map of the city of Covington to reszone lots five and six and the portion of the revoked alley uh square 2006 division of New Covington from CN which is neighborhood commercial to CR which is regional commercial. Um, this specifically refers to zoning case number 25-11-09Z. Councilman Enman.

Uh, thank you, Council President. Uh, basically, there's a piece of property in, um, Covington right by the CVS off of 21st. Uh, and it's my understanding that that property, uh, the request is to to make it less restrictive. Uh matter of fact, I would suggest that it's the least restrictive uh zoning that can be uh placed on it. And it's also my understanding that the idea is to put a radio tower on that property and uh be able to broadcast with that with that tower. Uh it's also again my understanding that that tower has to be able to fall within the property the confines of the property and that is uh restrictive in terms of the height. So um when this came before the uh planning and zoning uh it was uh voted down originally. So it has been brought here by the uh the uh individual wanting to uh put that information forward. [cough] So with that being said,

sorry I was giving you some extra time. Okay, good. Um, is there any public comment? Well, yeah, we need your name and your address, please. My name's Nicholas T. Fitz Simmons. My address is 524 West 20th Avenue. All right. What was my question?

Oh, just u if you have any comments so that you would like to address the council. Well, it seems like according to all the rules, it's just not enough property to put a top on. So, going to probably just not worry about that anymore, but maybe to put a used car lot or something. I don't know whether that's any worth. Let me ask you this. It sounds as if you may wish to withdraw this uh at this time. If it's just to do with the tower, it's still the same property. All right. Well, can't put a car without it being

any other further comment? That's it. All right. Any other further public comment? Any council comment? I mean, the biggest concern obviously would be the location. Uh there are there is resident there are residents uh very close by. as a matter of fact, right across the street if I'm remembering correctly. So, um I mean at given the proximity of those residents, um I my motion is going to be to deny, but I will say this. I do hope you put your tower somewhere uh outside of city limits of Coington and broadcast uh because I I know your family and I know they're good people. So

So there is going to be a motion to deny rather than a motion to approve. If there is a second second for cl There is a second. So for clarification, a yes vote is to deny the proposal. Roll call, please. I need to close the public hearing. All right. Before I do that, I'll uh entertain a motion to close the public hearing. So move. I need a second. Second. And um there is a motion to deny by Councilman Enman. Yes. And there is a second by Councilman Bushnell. So at this point, I'll have a roll call. And a yes vote is to deny the proposal. Councilman Bodzford, yes. Councilman Brett, yes. Councilman Bushnell,

yes. Councilman Inman, yes. Council member Moral, yes.

All right. There are no items for discussion this evening. I do find it somewhat coincidental that the only person with two agenda items has his own microphone, but he still has great taste in sport coats, however. So, we will move on to council district and committee reports. Uh, Councilman Lewis is not here this evening. It's my understanding that Councilman Bodzford will address that in his council comments. District B, Councilman Bush. Hope everyone's having a good night. Usually longwinded, but I'm going to keep it short tonight. Just got to uh take a moment and say I think last year we had a successful year in our city. I think we're real successful with uh what we did. And I believe a lot of that success was due to the dedication and hard work of our city employees out there on the front lines taking care of the things that a lot of people don't see. And I just want to know that your efforts don't go unnoticed and truly is appreciated by not only me, but I'm sure the rest of this council. I like speak for everybody, but so uh hopefully we continue that momentum going into this year and uh thank you.

Thank you, sir. I spoke to Councilman Roberts in District C. He's feeling under the weather this evening. We send him best wishes and hope he feels better soon. Uh we will move on to District D, Councilman Enman.

This is like the the Mr. microphone from my childhood. So, all right. Um the first thing is the library. Um the uh the Archbishop Hannah and High School Reading Club is going to be uh hosting an event called Book Buddies. That's going to be January 15th, January 22nd, and January 29th. Uh it's K through 5th grade, kindergarten through 5ifth grade, and that's from 4 to 5:00 p.m. There are tons of other events at our local library. Please go on our website and check that out. Uh the tennis courts, uh they have been completed. We're just uh you know looking for some warm weather to get things situated. Uh they look great. So thanks to the administration for uh prioritizing that and and I can tell you the residents are ready to play. Um let's see. Uh piggybacking off of U. Councilman Bushnell, um the city employees, I greatly appreciate all that they do. Uh they they do a lot of work behind the scenes as he mentioned. And how can I say this? it can seem to be a thankless job. I want to make sure that that is not the case. You are appreciated. Uh I also want to mention that uh The Fugitive was uh I guess The Fugitive Part Three because we've had the sequel was in Covington not not too long ago this past week. Um we had a a guy on the loose. So I wanna I want to thank the Covington uh Police Department. uh the response time, the assistance, the communication, the organization, it was all top shelf. It was it was absolutely first rate. So, I appreciate that. And and that goes back to our department heads. Uh these these people are uh how can I say this? Making sure that we run a tight ship. So, kudos to the administration. I've mentioned this before. I I think mayor that you've hired some excellent people and and I think it shows. That's all.

Thank you, sir. Councilman Burrell, District E.

Yes, thank you. Um, District E has been a beneficiary of a lot of the infrastructure work happening in the city over the past several months and it's all come out great. Gibson Street is great. Share that with Councilman Bushnell down there. Both sides of it look good. Um, also Rutland, you know, may need to consider changing that name because it is no longer the bumpiest street in the city. So, it's a nice smooth drive as well. And that's just been really exciting for the residents in the district. And right now the ongoing sidewalk project, we seem to be a beneficiary there, too. A lot of the sidewalks being replaced in in District E. So, just excited about all the infrastructure work happening in the district. Um, upcoming events, the next Old Coington Neighborhood Association meeting will be on uh January the 26th. And then, um, we have a very special birthday in the district today. Uh, my wife, so I won't comment on her age, but she's doing great. So, happy birthday, Paulie.

Happy birthday. All right, Councilman at large sponsor.

All right. Um, yeah, the as far as like the city employees, I mean, there's so many unsung heroes that are out there that just keep us looking great doing everything. I wanted to point out uh Charlie Arthur, I mean, him and Dennis Hickey both, every time I call, these guys just I mean, they're just amazing in everything that they do. I wanted to give a shout out to the uh Covington PD uh slash uh Door Dash guys for uh you know helping out after an accident delivering a pizza, you know, it's all that community involvement that just goes so far you know and it's great to see stories like that uh versus like you know when you if you look at the New Orleans news or Jefferson Parish it just shows you how unique and how special Coington is. And so thank you for that. Uh I want to remind everybody to shop local. Farmers market on Wednesdays at the trail head, Saturdays behind us. Um captain or excuse me uh for the uh food bank uh just going to give you some 20 24 25 stats. In 2025 the total number of houses served by the uh food bank increased 10% reaching 2,200 households. Uh the number of participants uh served increased by 11% uh totaling approximately 5,200 individuals and they distributed over 1 million pounds of food in 2025 which was an 8% increase compared to 2024. Um their most needed items uh of course for January are oatmeal, mac and cheese, cereal, and peanut butter. And then for uh Martin Luther King, um Councilman Lewis asked me to uh kind of give a little rundown of the timing. Uh January 17th, 9 to 11:00 a.m. is the prayer breakfast at the Wesley R Cyprian Fellowship Hall, 602 West 29th Avenue. The parade is at 10:00 a.m. starts at Peterak, ends ends at the courthouse. Uh the program uh at the Ferman is

starts at 11:00 a.m. and then followed by that will be a holiday lunchon at the Boof Fallaya Hall. Uh I also wanted to mention that uh we have our Dr. Soxis pirate party. I'm sure you can elaborate on that one as well as the crew of Bogafly is having their inaugural ball and uh so there's tickets still available. Go on their Facebook pages and uh you know purchase the tickets. Both are for good causes. That's it. Thank you.

All right. Well, piggybacking off of that, the St. John Fools and Miss Rule kicked off carnival season. It is now safe officially to eat king cake within the city of Covington. And I would like to do a huge shout out to the police department. These were the largest crowds that we have had to date. Um went off without a hitch. And um thank you to the administration for allowing the street closures as were obviously necessary. Um, with that, does the mayor have anything to add to tonight's agenda?

Yeah, I'll should be less than an hour. Um, um, director of cultural arts and events, Sarra Bonet, uh, puts out a newsletter every two months and the January February issue has, uh, just gone out. want to remind everyone that page three of the newsletter always has a handy little uh calendar of events uh in this case for January and February and it also has a listing of our Mardigra parades uh when those are taking place. So really a handy little reference. You can pick those up in the green boxes all around town in front of city hall, Blackflower apparel, downtown drugs, aquistapace. It looks like a little green box that you're just going to get a coupon magazine out of, but it actually has some uh some good information. Uh those events will will uh certainly keep you up and moving. Uh the last page has a budget message from the mayor and that'll put you to sleep so you can get uh get a little revved up and then you can get a little doze. But what's also important is that the January February issue includes the city of Covington calendar of events for the entire year 2026 and with a with a you don't need a real strong magnifying glass uh to read it. But we will be moving towards uh doing this every six months because there are so many events in Coington that the font size is a little bit small and makes it a little difficult. But if you pick up the newsletter from one of the green boxes, inserted in that newsletter will be your handy reference for the entire year calendar of events. That's it.

Excellent. Anything further from administration? With that, we will be adjourned until February 3rd at our next scheduled council meeting.

I have taken my M&