City Council - Regular Meeting

That's the resolution. No, these are just on radio. I can't even see it. Oh, I barely see it. Yeah. Actually, had you not brought it to my attention, I never would have noticed it. Food or something. I definitely would not have noticed it. How are you doing today? Okay, hold on. You just got to work as hard as you can with the hours that you have. I've come to that conclusion.

Work as hard as I can. Is here. I'm good. Yeah.

Hello. How are you? We want you to do it. How y'all doing my brother? Come on.

We're glad you're here. Good to see you. I appreciate you. Uhhuh. Sure. Hey man, you look good though, man. You call Eric back? I talked to him the other day. He He talked to me. I was at a meeting with him. He called you again. Talk to you about

Okay. I'mma call. Stewart's not here. He said about 10 minutes. He's coming.

Yeah, I thought they were. That's a corn right there.

I can run the show. That's what they want you to do. I'll be in charge. It's a good point. How you doing, sir?

All right. All right. Uh we're going to call this meeting of the Lake Charles City Council to order. We're going to begin with the uh prayer and pledge of allegiance. I'll offer the prayer and Councilman Bilbo will lead us in the pledge. Father God, we come to you right now just thanking you for this special Holy Week. We come to you with humility uh in our hearts, thanking you for the sacrifice that you made for us oh so many years ago. As we go about the city business today, may we do it decently and in order and we may we remember that the uh residents always need to be forefront of our minds. In your name we pray. Amen.

Amen. The faith flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Mr. Bilbo here. Mr. Young here. Mr. Harvey, Mr. Marks, Mr. Viso here, Mr. Fondell here. Mr. Weatherford, we have a quar. All right. Uh, can we get a vote on the minutes from the previous meeting?

Can can we take a recess for just a sec? Absolutely. Thank you. Special book. All right. Can we get a vote on the minutes, please? 44.

All right. Uh item number one, appoint a chairman to review bids for project number CP 3242, Southern Sewer Loop Gulf Highway Lift Station, Force Main. Uh Mr. Marks, we'll take that. Appointed chairman to review bids for purchase roadbased limestone aggregate per specification for use by the public works department. Mr. Weatherford will take that. Appoint a chairman to review bids to purchase 4,000 PSI readymix material for use by the public works department streets division. Mr. Fondell, will you take that? Yes.

Thank you. Number four. Appointed chairman to review bids to purchase replacement retractable telescopic riser seating in the coliseum at the Lake Charles Event Center. Mr. Harvey will take that one. Public hearings. Uh, number five, public hearing in consideration of the Lake Charles Planning and Zoning Commission's decision to deny a request for a special exception in order to reduce required four parking spaces to three parking spaces for existing oil change businesses within a business zoning district at 4820 Nelson Road. We're asking to delete that item from the agenda. They've withdrawn their application. Thank you.

All right. Item number six, an ordinance ordering demolition and authorizing the city of Lake Charles to enter into an agreement for demolition of a structure located at 1610 Graham Street, Alan J. Mitchell, owner. Good evening, council. And this is a storm damage residential structure. And you can see in the pictures, there's total roof collapse on this structure. There's exterior damage to the walls, to the windows, and all to the interior of the structure. Mr. President, at this time I'd like to offer into the record photographs of subject property and proof of service by Marshall's office and certified mail. This is a rehearing from February 4th.

Thank you, Mr. Stouts, Mr. Hester. I don't have any cards on this one, but it is Mr. Harvey's district. Is there anyone here from the audience? Did um excuse me. Did Allan Metro come in? I thought last meeting he came in and was ready to pull a permit. He said he had a buyer. He had a buyer, but I looked yesterday and there today there was no there's nothing that's transpired on that property. Well, since Mr. Harvey's not here and um Mr. Allen Mitchell's a very known well guy, let's give him 30 days so we can contact him before we make this decision being that Harvey's not here and is his district. Motion to defer to May 6th. Mr. Is that your motion, Mr. Bill? Yes, sir. Okay, no problem. What's the date for that? May

motion move it to May 6th. Motion to move to May 6th, deferring 30 days. Thank you, Mr. Bill Vo. Please second. Need a second. Second. Thank you, Mr. Beav. Uh motion passes. Number seven, an ordinance ordering demolition and authorizing the city of Lake Charles to enter into an agreement for demolition of a structure located at 601 Church Street, Richard Logan, Senior, and Dora Lee Bro Logan owners. Uh is there anyone here for uh 601 Church Street? Yes. Yes, sir. Could you come to the mic, please? Yes, sir. Either is good. State your name and address for the record if you don't mind. Address to the house address to my address. Uh, your address?

Uh, my name is Ryan Bro. Address is of 2045th Avenue. One moment, Mr. Bro. Let Mr. Hester go. Mr. Hester. Okay. This is 601 Church Street. The structure is in danger of collapse. Um, there's roof collapse. There's exterior wall collapsing, window damage, all exposed in the interior to severe weather damage of this structure. Mr. President, at this time I'd like to offer in the record photographs of the subject property. Um, our office was contacted by one of the heirs who indicated he would be at tonight's meeting and he is here. Thank you, Mr. Logan. Uh, what's your plans for the house? Oh, we going to just demolish the house. Excuse me.

All right. Yeah, that's our plans to get it done um a little bit after you get um you know we get started on um so just requesting uh for you to more time cuz they got somebody that brought like a lot of cars, added another building to the back port of the house, all that stuff. None of that stuff was there. Somebody's sitting on the property. So I'm going to need more time to get in touch with the right authority to get the person removed. Okay. Before we can all start cleaning up because uh I think they like mentally something. I don't know what's wrong with them, you know. Yes, sir. But it's a a bad problem. Mr. President, this is Mr. Harvey's district, so I'm going to defer to you on

30 days. You So you going to I'm sorry I came in late. Refresh me of what you had got on got going on. 601 Church Street. Uh it's really tow up. somebody kind of like since they see this building here that was just put there maybe about 2 3 weeks ago. So it's somebody that's staying and sitting on a property. They done they they got all this stuff sitting around the place. They even got a port out there. It just like um the person that lived there was parents and then one died then first month. I hate to tell y'all my story but anyway father died then mother died brother had the house he passed. So it's all just falling back into the family again and I'm one of the ones that can take care of it. But I will be taken care of.

So, is your name on it? Can you make a decision for this property? Yes. Okay. Yes. And you need how much time? I mean, to get started, I don't know how long it's going to take me to get started, but it's going to be like soon within two or three weeks. Okay. Let's start with 30 days. Pull your permit. Sound good. I have it within a week. You'll come back and talk to Mr. Harvey again and we'll go from there. Okay. Who's Mr. Harvey? Mr. uh Ronnie Harvey. I I'll get you his number. Uh Mr. uh that's your that's your city councilman for your district for the district. It is. All right. So, we'll get you the number before you leave here. Yeah. It can't be fixed. We just want to demolish it. Yeah. Okay. 3030. You know, 3030. Sound good. We We'll probably be cheaper to get You can check with We We can just discuss that when when we give you the number. Yeah. All right.

All right. Sound good. Marks. Do you mean to defer for 30 days or 30 360 to pull a permit and finish? 30 60. I mean 3030 to pull a permit. Okay. Okay. So, you got 30 days to pull a permit and start the work. All right. That sound good. All right, that's good. And then you'll just come back. Thank you. All right, please vote 64. Number eight, an ordinance ordering demolition and authorizing the city of Lake Charles to enter an agreement for demolition of a structure located at 202 Armstrong Street. Kevin Andre Carlin, owner. Mr. Hester, this is a storm damage structure. It is in a flood zone. and the structure. You can see there's roof damage, exterior wall damage, window damage, all exposing the interior to severe weather damage of this structure.

At this time, Mr. President, I'd like to offer in the record photographs of the subject property and proof of service by a curator. There are no cards. Mr. Funell, that's your district. 1515. 1515. Please vote. Six form. Number nine is deferred to May 6, 2026. Number 10, an ordinance ordering demolition and authorizing the city of Lake Charleston. Mr. Marks, I don't believe Mr. Can can you call that one out, please? Number nine. Number nine. Anybody here for number nine? Floyd Michael Leoo owners. I think he left. He left. Yeah, he left early. He said um he go pick up his his daughter. He had nobody wait. I'm sorry. Okay. So, we deferred till May 6, 2026. That's good, Miss Shel. Yes, sir.

Mr. Stoops. Yeah, we thought he was here. Okay. Number 10, an ordinance ordering demolition and authorizing the city of Lake Charles to enter an agreement for demolition of a structure located at 1900 Prajarn Drive burned apartments only. Place Van Doom Van Doom Apartments Homes LLC owner. And these structures, these are apartments. They're all burnt. You can see in the pictures they total collapse of the roof, exterior walls, windows, all exposing the interior to severe weather damage of the structure. We have a car. Mr. President, at this time I'd like to offer into the record photographs to subject property and proof of service through certified mail. But we do have the appearance of an attorney, Mr. Scott Cheetum, who is representing the foreclosing lender on the property.

Okay, Mr. Cheetum, state your name and address for the record. Good afternoon. Scott Cheetum with the law firm of Adams and Reese, 701 Poer Street, 4500 Sweet 4500 New Orleans, Louisiana 70139. Uhhuh. Um my client recently became the note holder of this property from another lender initiated the uh foreclosure proceedings this month

and as part of it they're asking to put a company called glass ratner as a keeper and glass ratner has helped me on several foreclosures where they come in the first thing they do obviously is fence it off and then they start the boarding up process and then it's let's see what we need to do with it. So I contacted Mr. dudes won't, you know, as soon as I got his contact information and just asked I asked Glattner how long could they get to where they got it all, you know, buttoned up and assessed to where now we know what we can do while the foreclosure is going on and they said 30 days. So, I'm just requesting a continuence of 30 days to let the judge enter the order appointing my keeper, let the keeper go on to the property and start doing what the owner should have been doing a long time ago.

So, let me get this straight. We're going to give you 30 days. Is y'all going to take possession of it? Correct. We're going to have a keeper. I mean, we I can't Yes, we're taking possession, but not ownership, obviously, because we got to wait till the foreclosures through. Yes, keeper will take possession. Correct. Keeper will take possession. Correct. But you're going to turn around and what? Sell it. What you going to do with it? I I I haven't My client just got it and they haven't even gotten their head around it because it's a huge I was telling Mr. Stew, it's a big portfolio that they acquired, not just Louisiana, all throughout the US. M

so right now it's like everybody's trying to catch their breath with regards to it to see cuz they may come in once the keeper goes he's going to go tell them the truth about the conditions of the property if if you know if it's not repairable then it's not repairable you know we need to tear it down. Well I can tell you this Mr. Cheetah that's my district it's not repairable. Okay the things that we're tearing down are burned down buildings that have caught on fire several times now what we're doing today and Mr. students can correct me or the mayor is the fact that we're tearing down all of the burnt buildings. The other buildings that are still salvageable will still be there for your keeper. Am am I saying that correct?

And so, but we're pushing for a decision to be made on this property ASAP. Yeah. Yes. So, I mean, the best we can do is go forward to tear these buildings down because that's going to happen either way. We'll tear those buildings down. let your keeper come in and secure the place up and then we'll have a time limit that we can give them. Mr. Stouts, uh, you said 30 days to the foreclosure.

No, no, no. At the foreclosure. No. Under the law that they can't do it. Uh, it's at least 75 days. And these things, it just depends on the sheriff. So, we're kind of at the at the, you know, the uh whim of the sheriff in that if it gets set in 3 months, it gets set in 3 months. If it, you know, I do a lot in New Orleans Parish, that takes over a year. So that's why we get keepers put in place to secure the properties and because you don't want it sitting out there for another year while we're trying to foreclose on it because of service issues or whatever it may be. I understand that. But I I don't want these buildings sitting there for another 6 months.

Yeah, that's what I was going to ask. So you're saying if we if we give you 30 days, you take possession, but you can't tear it down yourself until this whole foreclosure thing is over. I don't know. I'd have to look at the the statutes with regards to keepers powers because keepers have that's what the hangup is. I agree. Keepers have pretty strong powers with regards to it. The only they're kind of almost like receivers except for that they can't sell the property because everything has to go through the sheriff. Okay.

And and all I'm and I know y'all have made promises made by the ownership. We have nothing to do with the ownership. All I was sent was just to ask for like can we get the keeper? I know that we might be able to tear down the buildings cheaper and I know which buildings you're talking about based on the pictures to where I can at least tell the client who I don't even know if they've seen the property yet to be so that they can get their eyes on it and be like you're right we need to do this ASAP. Yeah. Cuz like one of them for sure the several of them in the background I mean

yeah it's about to fall on that's dangerous. Well, and that's the first thing they would do. And I asked Glass Ratner this, and I didn't want to make promises, but when I asked them, I said, "When you get the order for keeper, how long before you actually are on property and secured the outer perimeter?" They said, "We will have we'll be in touch with the sheriff. We'll have everything locked down." I said, "Well, you know, they break in." Oh, no. We'll have security on there and then we start. And I said, "Well, how long will it take you to to secure the actual buildings that need to be secured?" Well, I they said less than 30 days, but I said let's give it 30 days to make sure that it's it's you can get this done in time in case there's a snafu.

I I'll tell you this, Mr. Chetm. This is what I'm willing to do if the mayor is is is in alignment with it. I'm going to stick with the 30 days. If we haven't heard back from y'all and well, first of all, if we hadn't seen them secure this in 24 hours, we're going to go forward with it. So, we're going to make the 30-day I'm going to give you 30 days. No, I'm going to give you till not the next city council meeting, but the next one. That's May 6th. May 6th. Okay. I'm going to give you till May 6th. Now, I want to be clear. If we hadn't if nothing hadn't been done in 24 hours, we're going to go forward with it. It ain't going to matter about the 30 days, right? Okay.

Well, when you say 24 hours, what I'm saying is there has to be an order from the judge. Uh-huh. So it's whenever the district court judge this is the filed copy which I can leave with y'all and you can see in its order and what the keeper can do. I can't move forward legally until the judge signs it. So that when I asked them it's within 24 hours of sign. The system is in place right now with the clerk's office and the judge's office that when you file documents there's no guarantee how quick the judge signs the order. Could be tomorrow, could be Monday, Easter weekend. So, you know, he can't really control. Okay,

the judge is going to sign that order. I looked at what he filed. They're going to sign that order. They're going to appoint the keeper and maybe you can give him 48 hours after the keeper's appointed and I he can correspond with me and I can confirm that and give him give him 30 days on the remaining. Now, as I understand, you want them to go ahead and proceed to tear down the fire damaged buildings, right? But I I understand he don't want to pay pay for that. Well, I don't know. It may be that you know they can my client has the contacts to go ahead and tear it down themselves.

Well, let's do this. I'm gonna leave it in in Mr. Stout's hand. You got 30 days to contact us to let us know what what all the status is of what you got and then whatever Mr. Stouts recommends from that time, we'll go with that. What I'll do, Mr. president is I'll make sure he gets me the order and then whenever I get the order, I'll get with property standards and make sure they send somebody out there within two days to make sure the property is secured.

That'll work, Mayor. And I I think that because of all the unknowns and what they're dealing with, maybe the best thing to do is is defer for 30 days and they come back with a comprehensive report of what that they have the keeper that they have the they're going to tear down themselves or not. Then you can get it torn down. If they don't have if they don't have a report of what they're going to do with those buildings immediately, you can do that. So, the motion would be to to him work with me to make sure that as soon as he gets his order, the building gets secured within two days and then he comes back in 30 days with a plan on what they what they intend to do with the buildings. Any questions or comments from the council? What about a time frame? Once it come Well, once they come back, everything going to roll. He got to have a plan. Going to roll.

Yeah. Um, so you good with that, Mr. Cheetah? Yes. Now, I just want to stress that if nothing happens in 30 days, it's gone. We going to start tearing it down. I got All right. Thank you. All right. Deferred 30 days. Please vote. 64. Number 11 is deferred till May 6. So, you want to call that one out, too? Do we need to call that one? No, we do not.

Number 12 is deleted. Number 13, an ordinance ordering demolition authorizing the city of Lake Charles to enter an agreement for demolition of a structure located at 2039 Willowwick Street. Chris Wayne Athetherton owner and Twila Keith McCain Richard estate owner subject to a tax sale to central properties with Union Bank as secured party state of Louisiana and Cash Street Capital with Union Bank. Anybody here for this 1515? Please vote 64.

Number 14, an ordinance ordering demolition and authorizing the city of Lake Charles to enter an agreement for demolition of a structure located at 2011 Fry Street, Kings Roof and LLC owner, Mr. Hester. And this is a hurricane damaged structure. It's a residential structure. You can see in the pictures there's severe roof collapse, exterior wall damage, window damage, all exposing the interior to severe weather damage of the structure. Mr. President, this time I'd like to offer into the record photographs of the subject property and proof of service through certified mail. Okay. So, basically, we got a new roof on it. Foundation's been done. Structurally, just cosmetically address Oh, Jose Rubio, 524 Bennington Street, Houston, Texas.

Okay. So, structurally it's sound. Uh, cosmetically it's not. So, um, I want 30 days to pull permits, 120 days for completion of project. Do you own this, Mr. Rubio? No, Kings roofing does. I work for her. You work for Kings? Yes. Is it legal for him to? I mean, he can be their authorized representative to testify on to to I mean, yeah, just to find out. Long as it's accurate. Okay. So you said this is it's sound. You saying the structure is sound? Well, the walls are sound of the structure, but it is a hurricane damaged structure.

Mhm. So, and we've had lots of complaints on this one. Yeah. Cosmetically, I can see you have broken windows, rotten boards. I mean, most of the windows have been replaced. Just the ones in the back haven't. So, we got newer windows on the reaching pitches. Yes. 323. These are from last week. So, yeah, the ones in the back are broke. Um, I don't know if somebody tried to get in there. There's I have no idea. So, do you have He has a permit now. No, you don't have no permit. No permits. 30 days. 15 days to get a permit and start to repair it. 15 days. 15 days permit and bring up the standard. Yep. 155. 155 15. Go ahead.

Make sure he was asking for 120 days to do the repair. So I think it would be 15120 if you if you're trying to give him time to repair it because he's not demolishing it. Are you okay? Are you trying to give him time to get started so they'd be good faith or you trying to give him the whole time he had 18 days to get started and 120? No, he can come back in in since we got complaints. He can come back in 60 days and show us where he at. Show us started in 15 and back here before 15 days to pull a permit. 60 days to begin your work and and give us a progress report at the end of 60 days. And I would suggest securing it right away cuz we've had lots of complaints about that house.

I understand. So if they approve that so you know this the only notice you'll ever get. You'll have to be back here at this meeting on June 3rd. June 3rd June and cutting the grass. I'm about to say the same thing and keeping up the yard and dressing it well. It look like it's high. Okay. Good. I'm good. 1560. Is that the correct? So, y'all got all of that in there? Keeping up the yard, securing it, securing it. Uh, and back here at 60 days. Yep. Okay. All right. 1560. Please vote. And I want to go back uh for Go ahead. I'm sorry, Miss Renee. 64.

I want to go back to U number 13 because I know I went out of order and didn't let Mr. Ha speak. The reason why I did that so quickly is because we've been having problems with that house for going on six years now and you can see it on the picture. That's why I knew to go at on with the short period of time. Just wanted to give the councilman an explanation of why I did that. Number 15, an ordinance ordering demolition and authorizing the city of Lake Charles to enter an agreement for demolition of a structure located at 2716 General Travis. 2716 General Travis Construction Commerce and Maintenance LLC Valerie L. Dennis Kathy J. Williams and John A. Leidd Jr. Owners subject to a tax sale to the state of Louisiana. Mr. Hester,

this is a soulto state um hurricane damaged property and you can see in the pictures this one has total roof collapse on the structure, exterior wall damage, window damage, all exposing the interior to severe weather damage of this structure. Mr. Mr. President, this time I'd like to offer into the record photographs of the subject property and proof of service by curator. Mr. Bilbo, do they have anybody drop the card? No cards. 1515. 1515. Please vote.

Number 16 has been deleted. Ordinances for final action. an ordinance accepting the lowest responsive and responsible bid and authorizing the city of Lake Charles to enter an agreement to purchase fire truck equipment for use by the Lake Charles fire department. Mr. Visol, well, this was a little confusing. Uh, purchasing agent did give me a call and try to help me, so I'll try to get through it. But it is equipment that was out for bid and we received several bids and we have three successful biders on all of the equipment, but it's from three different vendors. Mhm. So, read them all. Miss Emily, you want to go through it or No, sir. I'll just stand here and help you if you need help.

Okay. So, the successful biders are BFA of Louisiana Incorporated for 142,820.64 items 4 6 11 13 through 16 18 through 20 25 26 29 31 33 34 36 37 and 39 as I said for $142,820.64. Second uh successful responsible vendor is BGS LLC for $87,876 for items number 12, 17, 22, 38, and 40. The next successful bidder is Delta Fire and Security for $7,58152 for items 1 through 3, 5, 21, 27, 28, 32, and 35. It is my recommendation that we award the the bid to BFA Louisiana BGS LLC and Delta Fire and Safety for their lowest responsive and responsible bid.

Any questions or comments? I have one question, Miss Emily. All of those things couldn't have been done by one company and we come out cheaper. Um, it was probably they sent it out and they the different companies may not have been able to they may not have had all the equipment or met the specs that the fire department required. And so that's how and in doing it in this manner is actually your more reasonable and responsible manner. So each one of these people are going to give us a warranty on whatever they're doing. Yeah.

Any other questions or comments? Please vote. Number 18, an ordinance accepting the lowest responsible bid and authorizing the city of Lake Charles to enter an agreement for project number CP 3309 Ham Reed Road Waterline Extension Elliot Road to Big Lake Road. Mr. Bezo, yes. Uh we received several bids on this uh and I'm happy to say that it was the successful bid is quite a bit lower than the engineers estimate. But it is my recommendation that the project be awarded to RP Construction LLC. The contractor submitted the lowest possible bid in the amount of $831,58747.

Any questions or comments? I do have a question. Being that Mr. Vis said it was considerably lower. What is our percentage of change order that we allow on this? I can tell you I'm this administration this administration is allergic to change orders. I don't I really want I said this this administration is allergic to change. I don't want any. Great. Yeah. Great. I believe the the rule is 10%. EMB was the lowest bid price of 15 million. Got a question. But they they were non-conforming bid. That's That's the responsible for coming. Oh, okay. All right. Um, so you saying the max they could do is 10%. Let me look at it real quick. I believe it's lower.

Remember, we we did a sliding scale. I'm not quite sure where engineering's at right now, but I'm not sure if this there is a 10%, but I'm not sure if this falls in that category or not, but when it reaches that threshold, it comes back to the city council if for some reason. I just I Go ahead, Herman. It's a there's a chart based on different project uh values at different percentages. Let's say 10, 15, 20. But it depends on the price of the contract. I can get that to the council if you want. The the price of the contract as we estimated it to be or as as it's awarded. Okay. And I

and at different levels you might um get internal approvals. At a higher level, you may get council approval. So I and I'm I'm just for my fellow councilman. I'm always concerned about when the bid comes in lower than what the engineering said because it could be a lick down the road that they trying to hit us for with a change order. But we have a cap on it. Yes. I mean you're limited to your bid and then change orders have to get reviewed and approved. Okay. It'll come back to us before. Mhm. Within certain thresholds. If it's on the low end, we will have some discretion internally. If you start to get to 10 20% depending on the value of the contract, it will come back to council. So, safe to say anything under 10 beyond discretion

generally, but I can get you that exact list based on the exact uh price ranges. Yeah. I I would like for all the council to get a copy of that if you don't, Mr. Parks, if you may. Uh I I tell you uh if there's a change if there's any change orders, if it's something that unless we're generating that change order, that that better be a pretty good explanation because we're not going to play that game. Gotcha. I'm just going to say, Mr. Marks, if you look at the bids that we're giving, several of the biders were under the the uh estimate of the architect. So, we do believe that the RP construction bid is a legitimate bid based on the others that came in as well. Okay, any other questions or comments? Please vote. Number 19,

I'm sorry again. Number 19, an ordinance modifying chapter 212B of the code of ordinances for the city of Lake Charles, Louisiana to adopt a rate structure commission with the 2025 water rate study. Uh Mr. Mayor, you want to speak on that?

Yes. Uh uh we and Miss uh Miss Emily can help me with this. Uh we conducted a water rate study because our ability to borrow funds is based upon our our water rates and the rate that we have to be able to pay those back. uh we performed the study and it showed that our rates needed to come up in order for us to continue to uh to borrow the monies that we need to build water plants and do other things with water. So, this is what the the rates are that's going to help secure the city's ability to deliver water to its residents in the future. Anybody else?

As well as receive grants from the Louisiana State Water Sector Program. And I I think in my opinion since we we being televised, a lot of people are hearing this and we don't want the the citizens to get along because of the rates, but we have to increase these rates if we're going to get any kind of grants or anything to do anything with our water system because there's a certain criteria that we must follow to make us eligible for that. So this is the state calls it a sustainability factor and so they they they judge our system based on its ability to sustain itself

and it was studies done before this rate increase came about. So it wasn't just the administration or the mayor saying hey we need to raise the water. No sir, it was a third party um it was a thirdparty consultant that went through our water rates with us and uh Wagner Engineering to review the rates and review our usage and we did a very thorough study that really didn't the administration uh was not integral into that until the study results were ready. Any idea when the rate will take place? Um the first rate will be June 1st. June 1st will be the first rate increase and we don't have a dollar amount.

It's approximately for a a household a household on a 3/4 inch meter that's about 5,000 gallons a month. Uh it would be about a $3 increase to their water bill total. Yes. Okay. Any other questions or comments? No, just a comment. It's I mean the water is a called enterprise model. actually, you know, it has to be it does have tax support, but it has to be self- sustaining. In order for us to be able to provide quality water, right, on a consistent basis, we're going to have to unfortunately inflation is hit and we're going to have to raise our rates. Uh, and but we're still going to be very competitive and relatively low compared to

Yes, sir. We did compared to other compared to other municipalities around us in in the state. and and the quality of our waters is is is very good comparatively. So we're trying to maintain that. Got you. But Craig, but since we on TV, we want to stress the understand of approximate because we going to get calls saying Oh, yes. It was that is an estimate based on usage. Yes, sir. Thank you for that kind of clarification. Know that it's not just going to be $3. Correct. Okay. All right. Any other questions or comments? Please vote. 64

number 20. An ordinance authorizing the city of Lake Charles to implement a pay increase to W 3 Marshall's office employees and to adjust the W 3 Marshall's office pay plan accordingly. Any questions or comments? Please vote 64 21 an ordinance authorizing the city of Lake Charles to implement a pay plan a pay increase to Lake Charles city court employees and to adjust the Lake Charles city court pay plan accordingly. Any questions or comments? Please vote 64

22 an ordinance authorizing the city of Lake Charles to implement a pay plan a a pay increase to career service non-career part-time and temporary employees and to adjust the city of Lake Charles pay plan accordingly. Any questions or comments? I I would like to take this opportunity, mayor, if you could explain to me career service, non-career service. Uh John, you Yes, sir. Career service, career service or people in a pay plan and the non-career, they're not in the pay plan and that's more of your department division heads and non-career people.

Got you. Any other questions or comments? Please vote. 64 23. an ordinance authorizing the city of Lake Charles to implement a pay increase to civil service employees within the Lake Charles fire department and to adjust the Lake Charles fire department pay matrix accordingly. Any questions or comments? Please vote. 64 24 an ordinance authorizing the city of Lake Charles to implement a pay increase to civil service employees. Wait, let me go back. I I skipped over number 22, I think. Uh, you did it. No, you didn't. No, no, no. I had a card. Oh,

and they want to get they want to say something. So, uh, Mr. Robbie Smith, come up. And it'll apply to all of them. So, I know we didn't affect this this thing.

No, not at all. Uh, uh, Robbie Smith, 6619 Raleigh Drive, Lake Charles 70607. I'm on the personnel board. I uh myself and Miss Delaflos, we had an opportunity to look at the pay scale and I'm glad you guys approved it. Uh that because I got to tell you, I I was surprised how little that our city employees were being paid based on the work that they do for this city. And I'm glad you guys and thank you, Mr. Mayor, for I understand that's the largest pay raise that's been given. I encourage you to give another one pretty soon because these these guys and ladies deserve a lot more money for what they do. I looked at what the diesel mechanic pays and most places what that diesel mechanic pay for get paid for the city. If they were somewhere else, they would probably get double that. So, uh just right now with the inflation, I don't know if they still being paid a living wage

to be quite honest with you. So, I'm I'm glad you guys did approve that and I hope that we can we told the personnel the HR director, we'd like to come back in the next 6 to 18 months to try to give another pay raise. I mean, y'all y'all give bonds for a gym in a baseball park. How about taking care of the people that take care of y'all? Right. Okay.

I just want to express that. I I I just I was really surprised. I remember when I first moved to Lake Charles, I I was applying for jobs before I while I was waiting for my government job to come over. They wanted my education, everything I had, but they didn't want to pay me for that. And you guys wonder why our citizen leave and go to Houston and elsewhere because of that pay scale that you guys present in front of. So, I highly encourage you guys to take care of the people that take care of y'all that pick up your trash and and you know, work that water plant and all those things. That's that's all I want to say. Yes, sir. I appreciate Thank you for the appreciate Yeah. Mr. Mayor, you want to say anything?

Yeah. And I appreciate those sentiments because um uh we this is a chance to uh you know the way the the the city pays you can't pay bonuses. So whatever you pay you have to be able to sustain that and continue to uh keep that pay. So uh this is what we could do. Now obviously we're working on expanding more economically the city uh to to make sure that that we can sustain services but also be competitive in our pay rates. you know, we're in an environment now where just uh with the LNGs coming in town, everything else, there's a lot of uh demand for jobs. And so, we're doing the part in our to make sure that we can keep personnel adequate to uh provide the services. But you're right, at the end of the day, they don't work for the city. They work really work for their families. And we have to make sure that we protect those families, too. And I also want to say that the um the other item that we worked on, the water rate uh study, that has nothing to do with these payraises. This is something that we have been working on since day one.

Any other comment, Mr. President? Thank you. Uh I also uh wish to acknowledge the mayor and the city administrator. Since July 1, each of us have been asking for some type of pay raise. We knew uh public works was having trouble keeping bus drivers and operators. Uh police and fire are both down with many uh vacancies in their departments. And so I think all of us have been asking for this. Thank you for coming up with what I feel is a very sustainable solution. Uh it's moderate to start, but it's very sustainable, and I think that you've been smart with city dollars while at the same time rewarding our most precious asset, our our employees. So, uh applause. Thank you.

Okay. Uh number 24, an ordinance authorizing the city of Lake Charles to implement a pay increase to civil service employees within the Lake Charles Police Department. Any questions or comments? Please vote. 64

25. An ordinance authorizing the city of Lake Charles to enter a professional services agreement with Moffett and Nickel. Any questions or comments? What is Moffett and Nickel? What What is their uh profession? Good evening, council. That is a landscape uh architectural company that um that I would like to see what they can do for remastering for our downtown landscaping. Yes, sir. Okay. All right. Any other questions? Please vote. 64

26. An ordinance authorizing the city of Lake Charles to enter into professional service agreement with Providence Engineering. Any questions or comments? Please vote. 27.

27. An ordinance authorizing the city of Lake Charles to enter in a prof enter into a professional service agreement with Spell Structural Consulting LLC. Any questions or comments? Please vote. Mr. Cordon, I need to pick your brain right quick. I think sometime back in 201617 I don't know if you remember isn't there an ordinance that states that the council has 14 days or a consultant has 14 days to report to the council prior to a vote. Are you familiar with that? I think it's 11327 or something like that. Report what?

Report the findings to the uh to the council before we have to vote on something. Maybe I'm I'm asking our attorney. I I don't I'll get the information and send it to you. 28. An ordinance authorizing the city of Lake Charles to enter in a professional service agreement with Lone Engineers. Any questions or comments? Please vote. 64 29. An ordinance authorizing the city of Lake Charles to enter into into a professional service agreement with ELOS Environmental. Any questions or comments? Please vote. 64.

Number 30. an ordinance authorizing the city of Lake Charles to enter a professional service agreement with Blueing Civil Consulting LLC. Questions or comments? Please vote. The following resolutions may be adopted by consent. Anybody got anyone that they want to pull? I want 36. Anyone else? it. Um, let's pull 35. 35. Yeah.

Okay. Anybody else? All right. Number 35, a resolution setting date for public hearing on condemnation of a structure located at 17516th Avenue. Burn structure, Rosem. George Size owner. Um, go ahead, Mr. fun. I didn't see where that was burned when I looked online. I I just want to make sure we got the right place. Oh, it's burnt. It's burnt. It's on the inside. It's burnt all the way throughout. That's in That's in my district. That was Mr. Harold size property where um Roman live at the corner of six and Legion. Six and something. Oh, it's

it's burnt. Okay. I looked online. I thought No, no. The picture not ain't going to update it fast enough. Mr. Mayor, you're asking about pulling any Could you pull number 48, too? 48. Okay. Any anything else?

All right. Number 36, a resolution setting date for public hearing on condemnation of a structure located at 1701 12 North Adam Street, Burn Structure. Robert Billings Poochie. Robert Billings Poochie Senior. Nancy Antis Gri Poochie. Brenda Diggs RF. Robert Willie Poochie. Alvin Willie Poochie Jr. and Anetta Poochie Gatewood owners. Uh, Miss Paula, she's not here. I believe that structure has already been torn down. Um, we need to check. We'll check. 17 and A2 1701 and A2 North Adams.

Uh-huh. Number 48. 48. A resolution approving the mayor of the city of Lake Charles appointment of the Nathaniel Rap Jr. as a member of the Lake Charles Planning and Zoning Commission to fill the vacancy of the unexpired term for Adam McBride, which said term expires on August 5th, 2026. Mr. Mayor, you want to make an amendment to this, right? Yes. Yes. That that he be appointed for the uh for that the the next term, too, since we're only a few months uh into the uh into the before August of 2026.

Okay. Just to be clear, what Mr. Mayor is asking is that this appointment will cover the expiring term as well as the new term going forward. Any questions or comments? Please vote 64. Yes. Oh, I supposed to do that on Okay, here we go.

31. A resolution accepting project number CP 3381, Center West Water. Oh, no. Let me go ahead on and pull the ones that call for an appointment. Uh that'll be 41, 42, and 43 so we can vote on them separate or appoint a person. A resolution authorizing the city of Lake Charles. Number 41. A resolution authorizing the city of Lake Charles to advertise to receive seal bids for project number CP 3242, South Park lift station, Force Main, and Gravity Extension. I'mma take that one since that's my district. Number 42, a resolution authorizing the city of Lake Charles to advertise to receive seal bids to project number CP3503-2025 asphalt overlays. Mr. Bilbo, you take that one?

Yeah. Yeah. 43. A resolution authorizing the city of Lake Charles to advertise to receive seal bids for purchase of one new service body crane for use by the public works uh public works department wastewater division. Mr. Visolar, would you take that? Yes.

A resolution setting date for appointment of number 45. A resolution setting date for appointment of a member to the personnel board to fill the expired term of Jason Bale for a period of six years. Resume deadline is 41726. Appointment is 5626. Resume deadline 41726. Appointment 5626. Please vote 64.

Did I vote on the other ones, Miss Renee? Oh, we can just include them in now that we got an appointment. 31. A resolution accepting project number CP 3381, Center West Water Treatment Plant, electrical starter replacement as substantially complete and authorizing the advertising of the 45day lean period. 32. to a resolution accepting project number DR00009 LCPD annex as substantially complete and authorizing the advertisement of the 45day lean period. 33. A resolution accepting project number CP 3423 wastewater treatment plant A BAS A-05 sewer rehabilitation as substantially completed and authorizing the advertisement of the 45day lean period number 34. The hearing date for 34 through 40 is May 20th, 2026. A resolution setting date for publican on a combination of a structure located at 819 Mos Street. Brian Keith Design LLC owner 35. We taken care of. 36 we've taken care of. 37. A resolution setting date for public hearing on condemnation of a structure located at 2310 Channel Street. Lewis Green Estate owner. 38. A resolution setting date for public hearing on condemnation of a structure located at 25 2401 Woodard Street. Lashara L. Stinson owner subject to a tax sale to the state of Louisiana. 39. A resolution setting date for public on condemnation of a structure located at 1206 Hunter Drive. Brandy Alexis Henderson and Edward Joseph Henderson owners subject to a tax sale to the state of Louisiana. 40. A resolution setting date for public hearing on condemnation of a structure located at 1716 22nd Street Brian Keith Gillery owners. Number 41. Cuz we didn't vote. A resolution authorizing the city of Lake Charles to advertise to receive seal bids for project number CP 3242 South Park lift station force man and gravity extension 42. A resolution a resolution authorizing the city of Lake Charles to

advertise to receive seal bids for project number CP3503-2025 asphalt overlays. 43. A resolution authorizing the city of Lake Charles to advertise to receive seal bids for purchase of one new service body crane for use by the public works department wastewater division. 44. A resolution designating the honorable Marshall J. Cine Simeon Jr. mayor of the city of Lake Charles as official project representative for any project administered through the drinking water revolving loan fund DWRLF by the Louisiana Department of Health or the Clean Water State Revolving Fund CWSRF by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and given signature authority for all relative documents on behalf of the city of Lake Charles. 45. A resolution setting date for appointment of a member to the personnel board to fill the expired term of Jason Bell for a period of 6 years. Resume deadline 41726. Appointment 5626. 46. The hearing date April 15, 2026. A resolution setting day for public hearing and consideration of the Lake Charles planning and zoning commission's decision to approve a request for a major conditional use permit in order to establish a runway matting facility in an existing commercial structure including variances to one allow use on local street versus required location adjacent to and has access to an arterial or collector street and number two allow resin and paint application to matting product within a mixeduse zoning district at 2925 Industrial Avenue 47. The hearing date, April 15, 2026. A resolution setting date for public hearing and consideration of the Lake Charles Planning and Zoning Commission's decision to approve a request for a major conditional use permit in order to construct six town home units with variance for front setback of 20 ft versus the required 25 ft within a

mixeduse zoning district at the north side of the 2200 block of East Prin Lake Road. 48 again was amended. Do we need to Mr. Stouts make vote on that separate because we got the amendment or is the understanding good enough already? You already approved the amendment. Yeah.

So we voting on it. All right. A resolution approving the mayor of the city of Lake Charles appointment of Nathaniel Rap Jr. as a member of the Lake Charles Planning and Zoning Commission to fill the vacancy of the unexpired term for Adam McBride, which said term expires on August 5th, 2026, and to appoint him to the new term that expires on August 5th, 2026. Any questions or comments? Please vote. 64. The following ordinances are for introduction by consent and will be read into the record the day following this meeting at 11:00 a.m. in the city council chambers in city hall. This meeting is adjourned.