City Council - Regular Meeting

We got the and then the pledge of allegiance before we go through the rest of our agenda. Uh will we all stand for prayer and pledge? Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we come before you tonight with humble hearts, recognizing that the decisions placed before us carry real weight, impacting families, neighborhoods, and the future of our city. Lord, we ask first for your wisdom. Your word tells us that if any of us lacks wisdom, we should ask, and you will give it generously. So tonight, we ask, guide our thoughts, our conversations, and our decisions. Help us to see clearly beyond emotions, beyond pressure, beyond personal preference. Father, as we consider matters that affect residential communities, give us discernment. Help us balance growth with preservation, progress with peace, and opportunity with responsibility. Let every decision reflect fairness and a genuine concern for those who call this city home. Lord, we lift up the issue of human trafficking and the protection of the vulnerable. Give us hearts that are both compassionate and vigilant. Help us to be a city that stands firmly against exploitation while also creating pathways for safety, dignity, and

restoration for those in need. As we consider efforts to serve the unhauled in our community, grant us wisdom to lead with both grace and accountability. Show us how to extend a helping helping hand without losing sight of order, stewardship, and long-term impact. Let our actions reflect not only charity but true transformation. Father, we also thank you for the organizations and partners who continue to uplift our community. We lift up the Zetas in their efforts to bring awareness to autism. Bless their work, their outreach, and every family they touch. Let this effort increase understanding, compassion, and support throughout our city. Let every decision made here tonight be something we can stand on with integrity, knowing we saw what was right, not just what was easy. We place this meetings in your hands. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Amen. Please join us in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge 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.

Thank you all for participation with the pledge. Um we have four out of the five council tonight. our council woman at large could not be here um as you could see. So next what we have is the reading and approval of our minutes from our most read recent meeting, excuse me, on March 9th. Um I know typically the counciloman at large gives that motion, but do we have another councilman who's going to do that for us? I'll move to dispense with the reading of the minutes and accept as written. Second. Motion has been made to dispense with the reading of the minutes and to accept them as they have been recorded. We got a second as well. Any comments or questions about this particular motion?

All right, seeing that there are no comments or questions. Uh Mrs. Hamilton is with us tonight is that of Mrs. McCur. All right, Mrs. Hamilton, roll call vote. Eli, yes. Nielsen, yes. Harrington, yes. PT, yes. All right, that motion carries. All right. Next, we have on the agenda a proclamation and it's read by Councilman Nielsson.

Thank you, Mayor. Proclamation. Whereas autism spectrum disorder ASD is the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States affecting one in 36 children and countless families nationwide. And whereas autism spectrum disorder is an urgent public health concern that requires greater awareness, education, and resources to support individuals on the spectrum and their families. And whereas Zeta Pi Beta Sorority Incorporated has made a profound impact in promoting autism awareness, advocacy, and support, particularly for persons of color affected by ASD through their initiatives in education, research, and funding. And whereas there is currently no identified cause or cure for autism, but early intervention, therapy, and community support can make a significant difference in the lives of individuals with autism and their families. And whereas the Mu Omega Zeta chapter of Zeta 5 Beta Sorority Incorporated in Naculus, Louisiana is dedicated to championing autism awareness through initiatives such as autism awareness day in the park on April 11, 2026 at Nacadus City Park, fostering understanding, inclusion, and support within our community. And whereas the city of Nacadus stands in solidarity with individuals with autism, their families and organizations working tirelessly to enhance awareness, education, and access to resources. Now, therefore, I, Ronnie Williams Jr. of Nacadus, Louisiana, do hereby proclaim

April 2nd, 2026 as World Autism Day and April 2026 as Autism Awareness Month in the city of Nacades. I encourage all citizens, businesses, and organizations to take part in activities that increase understanding, acceptance, and support for individuals with autism and their families. And I move to adopt proclamation number 15 of 2026.

Second. All right. Motion made and seconded to adopt this proclamation. such a worthy cause by the beautiful women of Zeta 5 Beta and certainly we're thankful for January 16, 1920 which is the founding date of this great sorority and just really appreciate the work that they do in so many areas. Uh I know there was a event planned with the mayor's health and fitness council that weather kind of got in the way of but I I've gone to this particular event uh in previous years and it's just um you know just a beautiful event, a great event, well organized and it's something that you councilman Nielson read one in 36 children are impacted by autism. So, um, again, this is really a worthy cause and we just appreciate, uh, the ladies, the lovely ladies of of Zeta Fibeta for being here, uh, with us on today. Look, I've got my my my royal blue on and I've got my lapel pin, autism awareness. So, I understood the assignment on today. I just want to say that. All right. Look, is your is do we call it president? Is your president here today? Would you like to have some words uh on today? Hey, look. Can we get you to come to the microphone and look, just state your first and last name and whatever remarks you want to have, uh, we want you to do it. But again, we're so grateful that you all are here today.

Good evening, everyone. My name is Candace Grayson. I ser currently serve as the president of the Mu Omega Zeta chapter of Zetafa Sorority Incorporated. In addition to our graduate chapter, we have an undergraduate uh, member here for the Zep Epsilon at Northwestern State University. And we can hardly do anything without our Mikai friends. They're here in the light blue. I just want to say thank you. Thank you for the recognition of the work that we do and uh giving us this proclamation. And if you notice the autism uh assembly, there's a puzzle. Think about a puzzle. The puzzle has all kind of different shapes, but once it's put together, we're we're all one. And just increase your understanding and awareness and education and just support families that are having been impacted by children with autism. Thank you. No, look and thank you all. Know you were grateful for us having you, but we're we're grateful for you all really doing the work. And this is what our Greek letter organizations are about uh doing this type of work and for the Zetas to um shine a light, put a magnifying glass on this particular uh issue. Again, like I said, um don't fully have the words, but we're we're appreciative of what you all do uh in this community. so many other things that you do, but especially for this one. So, again, April the 11th, 2026. Um, it's going to be at City Park. Is there a time for that event?

9 to 12. 9 to 12. 9 to 12. So, again, it's a family atmosphere. I mean, so many things um are going on that day in in City Park. So I would encourage everybody uh to go out and certainly we will share um any type of things any information you have on social media we'll share to the city's um Facebook page and also to our Instagram page. Um look we do have a motion in a second. Any comments about this particular proclamation. All right seeing Mrs. Hamilton roll call vote. Eli yes. Nielson yes. Harrington yes. PT yes.

All right that motion carries. Look, we want to get a picture with um our lovely Zetas who are here today. So, y'all make your way this way. We'll try to center uh in front of the seal right in front of the uh the desk here. Donald But how would we get out with

Okay, I got somebody that's giving me a brand new storage sheet cuz they came to the house and they saw all my toys outside and how the wind has tore up my tarps and he's like, I got a storage shed to just sit there and I'm like, yes, I can't use I see right here.

Well, see, I got He wants to charge me $550.

It's not that big. Again, thankful for the ladies of Zeta FBA and such a worthy cause. Before we go any uh further in the agenda, let me uh take a moment to read what we always read. Um please take a moment to silence your cell phones during this meeting. Addressing the city council during the meeting, the city council encourages public participation. Comments are limited to three minutes per speaker. We are going to have it. Steve's already got the uh the clock ready. It's on the wall over here. Um however, this time limit may be reduced if there are numerous speakers on a particular item. To ensure efficient proceedings, all persons addressing the city council shall state their name and shall speak in a civil and courteous manner. Speakers shall address the agenda topic only um to which they are speaking on. It shall not be repetitive. Members of the audience, please respect the rights of others and um do not create noise or other disturbances. so as to disrupt or disturb persons who are addressing the city council, council members who are speaking or otherwise impede the orderly conduct of the meeting. And again, we thank you for adhering to those uh instructions. Again, we read them all the time. I promise you. Um let's the next item on the agenda. It is an appeal. So, let me just read um the the heading that I have here and we'll get into what we need to. So, um, the city council is to review a decision of the Nagodish planning and zoning commission at the March 4th, 2026 meeting that denied the application to reszone residential R1 to residential R2 to develop several multifamily dup duplexes on Cypress Avenue. Okay. Look, and I just want to I always like to start with the department head and in this case it's Shantre. So, um Shantrell.

Yes. Uh good afternoon. Give us any any information, any background you think we might need to know.

Just for the council, um Mr. Heath Nichols came to planning and zoning with a proposal to de develop a multifamily duplexes on Cypress. Uh the area is currently zoned R1, um there are surrounding properties that are zoned R2. However, because back in 2005, Cypress Avenue, the south end of Cypress, decided to do comprehensive reszone of the area, which reszoneed the area to a more restrictive area for R1 to help with the aesthetics of keeping the area with the historic district, making sure that single family insured. However, it did not state that anyone couldn't come before and make application to change the reszoning of their property. That's what Mr. Heath decided to do. He presented to planning and zoning his idea of what he wanted to do with the property that he has bought. Planning and zoning was half and half. One side agreed, the other side denied. Therefore, it's bringing us back here to city council for an appeal.

What was that exact vote? Do you remember the exact vote? I fail. Um, let's see. I think it was uh four females voted yes, five males voted no. Okay. Is Mr. Nichols? Well, four men, three. It's still Okay. So, it's four men, three women, but the women voted for it. The men voted against it. Three. Okay. So, one one one vote difference is what you're saying. Difference.

Mr. Heath Nichols is here. All right. Mr. Heath, um, we want to I think it's fair to have you come up first since this is your application and let us again make sure we we're against we're make sure that we're giving our undivided attention to the microphone at this time and um, Mr. Heath, I hope you can do it in 3 minutes. My name is Heath Nichols. I'm going to let my wife speak for me if you don't mind because I don't speak good in public. And we do have some uh, pass some merchandise to patch out to you guys so you can see what Yes, sir. You can come. You can come. You could approach. Yeah. So, uh, hello everybody. Good evening. So, while Heath is passing, please state your first and last name, ma'am. I'm sorry. Katrina Nichols.

Katrina. So, while Heath is passing some of those things out, we do have some things that we can share with all of you. And and certainly I can understand that the initial appearance of this may feel quite large and a little, you know, overwhelming, but we're here to kind of um help you understand a little bit more of our vision and help you to also understand that this is not our first investment into Nacades or into the area. So, we have a very intentional investment into the area. So, we own three homes over off of 494. We did acquire the property here on Cypress Street and we did go back um actually because these are just initial renderings and I know that um you know the historical preservation of the area is really really important luckily for all of you. It's important to me as well. Um it is something that I do hold near and dear. So um what you may have you may want to pass those out to some other folks here. It's not available here. I don't know if some of you can see I can pass this out. Okay. There's a historical rendering here of what we would like to propose so that we can preserve the historical aesthetic of the neighborhood. And we think that this would be a little more um you know appealing to all of you who are concerned about you know preserving what that aesthetic looks like. It's very consistent with the with the nacadish environment with the feel that there is in town. We also feel that once we you know bring a development like this and it doesn't have to be massive. It doesn't. I know this looks a little, you know, massive for that small space, but um we walked the property. We own over 30 rental properties throughout central Louisiana. Um I do have some additional things we can pass out that would show you the integrity of the properties that we maintain. We are very, very vigilant about the properties that we maintain. We do not tolerate chaos. We do not tolerate trash. We do not tolerate renters that don't pay on time. We don't tolerate any kind of poor behavior in the neighborhood. And we have letters of recommendation from runners who've been

running for approximately 18 plus years from us of all demographics of all age ranges. So there's that to be said. We also feel that it would slightly incentivize the local um you know homeowners on the street to also kind of maybe pick up and reinvigorate some of the homes on that street. We have noticed while we've walked through that there are some of the properties that are a little dilapidated. We see some extra furniture sitting out on the roadways. We see some trash. And we do believe that if people were to see this kind of investment going in onto that street, it would motivate them. It's also going to attract a a a more, you know, diligent renter in that neighborhood and it's going to hold a different um type of personnel in the area. Hopefully, it would attract some of the professors at Northwestern. We all know about, you know, the insurgence of data centers that is happening. I mean that's the buzz word for the moment, but this is a key location in between both the north and the south developments. So this gives an opportunity to bring some really good professionals into the region while these developments are taking place. And so with that and again kind of talking towards, you know, our intentional investment, we are also in the uh in the you know in the process of looking at properties on Front Street. We own a co-working space in central Louisiana and a co-working space brings um office resources, technology, and work space to people that otherwise don't have access to those things. So, we've been in business for over six years and we're looking into that property here. and one of the primary folks that's interested in renting directly from us just recently acquired um Bolton Realy here that I'm sure you are all quite familiar with and owns the Century 21 um partnership here uh throughout central Louisiana. So anyway, that's that's what I have to say. I know that there's been some concern about traffic, there's been concern about noise, there's been concern about um parking. The site is

going to accommodate parking for those tenants. The site is going to be clean and well-maintained. Absolutely. I'm not going to let him cut these trees down. Okay. So, that's not going to happen. Um, and so as far as the noise and the ordinance, you'll be able to see through these that we uphold and respect the laws. It respect city ordinance. Um, and we respect the city of Nacadish. We would just like to make a meaningful investment to continue to invest and bring positive things. Okay. Thank you, Miss uh Nichols. I want to allow the council any comment or question while you two are standing there. Um, council members, any comments or questions y'all have for for the Nicholls? I do.

Uh, hi Miss Nichols. Hello. Uh, I have quick question. Uh, most of the people that are here, you relate some of the problems that I got, you know, I walked the area myself. some of the concerns which you already addressed and I know their biggest issue is the size of it. So that's what their biggest issue is the size and is it you know any way that you can review it to downsize it? Are you talking about downsizing the physical presence of the individual units?

I think you said you have four indiv are requesting four units. Um the size of the units are consistent with I think you looked at well but you looked at some of the other properties in terms of like u dimensions dimensions of existing homes as well. Yeah, they're all they're spaced out 15 to 17 feet apart and I walked the street the other day and they're all spaced out around 15 to 20 foot apart if that's the so they're all consistent with the street. If I hear what you're saying, if if I understand the the concern, the concern is that this just feels like a very large building, right? And it feels like several large buildings. Yes. So that's the concern. That's the concern. Yes.

Okay. Good. No, I mean, happy to hear. We definitely understand. Some of their concerns are the noise which I went through there on a Saturday which we have a lot of you know college kids they have a lot of noise you know so also too I'm not sure who's here on the maybe you know the historic district that maintains that area is anybody here okay uh I have a few questions on that. Mrs. Nichols, if that's okay with you, can y'all sit down if I can ask her a few questions?

Well, let me say this though. Let me say Nson. Y'all y'all got something? I've got Not yet. But she can, if that's okay with you, can she stand up um alone by side to ask a few questions? This the committee. Are you on the committee? Okay. Uh, quick question. Who maintains the area? Because when walking through and stuff with the historic district, they have a lot of Thank y'all, Nicholas. We appreciate y'all.

She said Oh, hold on real quick. It has a lot of things that the neighbors were concerned about. For one, in historica district, no one should supposedly be parked on the grass, which we know that it's parking. Second, you know, we have one that he adjudicated property. I'm not sure exactly where that's at. also too by going on some of the um areas and stuff. We have some of the college kids have chairs that doesn't supposed to be over towards the historic district high grass which I'm not sure how the historical district maintains that. But those are some of the the things and stuff that the homeowners were concerned about in that area. But maybe we can revisit on some of those things and stuff that can be upkeep in that area a little better in historic district.

So being a property owner on Cypress Avenue, the only high grass we have on Cypress is on that property. Everybody else maintains their property. Um, and if there's any furniture on the side of the road or trash, that's because we're waiting for them to pick it up on Fridays. I actually really uh toured that area. Let me look this a second. I toured it like for about a week back to back. Mhm. And they haven't clean the grass on that area. They haven't mowed. And then also to the chairs.

Which address? Which address are you talking about, please? Uh, I'm not going to give the person address, but I know that, you know, if you if y'all live over towards that way, that can be addressed on that area. And then also too with some of the college kids or how they're maintaining the upkeep in that area and stuff, maybe we can tidy that up a little bit. I'm not sure exactly what um Let me put my glasses on. Well, number one, if you don't tell me who has the high grass, I can't address it. Uh, I mean, I'm not going to go up and down the street going who has high grass. But this is the concern of Cypress Street. And I live on I live on Cypress Street.

So when you say the concern of Cypress Street, who who are you talking about? Who you spoken to? Uh, the neighbors. The one basically majority of them that's here, you know, that I've spoken with. Well, the majority of them that's here have not complained. I mean, we've had meetings. So, I mean, we we we need some clarification. We need some specifics from you. I mean, if you're going to talk about somebody's high grass, I need to know whose high grass. If we're going to talk about um chairs on a porch, I mean, I do know which one you're talking about for that one. That's the only house that has chairs on the porch. But also, keep in mind, it's four. Okay. Keep in mind there are other houses that have porches that have nice chairs on the porches. So, so what is that?

Does it have an ordinance that say what kind of chairs they can have? Also, we have abandoned cars, too, you know. So, these are the things and stuff that there are complaining about from Where did you see an abandoned car on Cypress Street? When you come straight in and stuff and you go Oh, at the very end. At the very at Cypress. Yes, I I know what you're talking about. We can address that.

Okay. So those are the only you know concern and stuff you know that I saw as you know it you know when the new district came it was um Eddie district and I'm not sure you know how you know everything was maintain I'm very thorough of riding through so I on you know to let everybody know on Wednesday I ride through each district on Wednesday so Cypress is on the area for Wednesday that I ride through through district for so and also a um let me see that's the second they were concerned about I'm not sure exactly the side street that was there they were saying high waters in that area too uh

side street what's side what's the street what what street is it uh Eddie that's your that's your district what what district now what what street is it what are you the side street before you take that Sydney. Yeah, that street right there. That's Sydney. One area and stuff. They was concerned about the drainage issue which that's going to be addressed because when I roll through there on a rainy day, I think we have like a issue that was might be clogged up. So, those are some of the concerns that I, you know, went through and addressed, you know, with some of the home owners

that was concerned in some of that area. And I know, you know, as you I'm not sure if they coming to you with those things and stuff, but those are the things and stuff that were addressed to me. Well, as a historic commissioner, we don't address drainage. that would be for the city. But but I'm not I'm I'm you know I understand I've heard about the drainage and I've also heard that you know if we get that new construction in that property it's going to cause initial drainage problems. We already have drainage problems and when he concretes that or whatever he's going to do to it is going to cause a backup of drainage for all those houses that already have issues. So that's a very that's a very very valid concern. So did you get the information from a

the homeowners the zoning? So the the the homeowners told you that there's going to be a drainage issue. There already is a drainage. But you just I'm just ask I'm just saying you you basically said that it's going to be a drainage issue because the homeowners stated that it was going to be a drainage issue for Well, let me It's going to continue to be a drainage issue. It's going to get worse. from my concern, you know, I'm not sure how long it's been going on because the district this actually really got in my district, but I noticed that on I think it's the left side, it was March 11 at 5:14 when it was raining, pouring down, raining stuff, I noticed that that drain had a lot of

debris, grass and whatever and stuff that was in it for the city to clean up. But but yeah, so you know, I would, you know, just addressing it to you about it. I mean, and I have the homeowners here that will speak to that fact. They complained about the drainage situation. Let me say this. Mi Mrs. Robinson, are you one of the ones who's going to speak about the application like from the community? Can you kind of share some of your thoughts at this moment?

Yes. So, in looking at this, this is not a duplex. This is an apartment complex. So the the the word confusion there, but it's it's a an apartment complex and it's going to take away from the integrity of the district. It is a historic district. It is one of two in the entire country. He's going to put students in this apartment complex. Yes, he he confirmed it last meeting. He's going to put their children and some other students in this apartment complex. We have enough students on that street in that small property. There are two oak trees. When he starts to dig or do whatever he's going to do, the roots of those trees run all the way the length of that property. The minute he starts to dig or whatever he's going to do, they may not cut the trees down, but they're going to fall because the minute you touch those roots, they're going to fall and they've been there for hundreds of years. And so, we want to, you know, keep the oak trees there. Also, this building I heard um I heard her say that in the neighborhood there were some dilapidated houses. Ma'am, I live in the neighborhood. My house is not dilapidated and I don't know of any other houses that are dilapidated in that neighborhood.

I have photos here.

Mrs. uh Miss Miss Nicholas, we're going to allow Miss Robinson to finish and Okay. You could share some of that later, but go ahead, Mr.

That's that's a that's a home that's, you know, a home by owned by a certain one single man, and he has students living there. He did do some work to that house, but I mean, over the years, it's kind of, you know, the wood has gotten, you know, a little maybe it needs to be painted, but it's not I wouldn't call it dilapidated. And I think that's offensive when you say that to homeowners that are here. We don't consider our houses dilapidated. Now, it's not a brand new structure like you want to put there, but this structure does not meet the qualifications of what we require in the historic district. It would take away from the integrity. We I mean, if you want to build, we would love for you to build there. If you want to build a single family home, but if you're going to do an apartment complex with 16 parking spots, where in the world would you put those? So, I mean, it's there's so many things um that's wrong with this this construction. and everybody I mean we have quite a few people in the district that are here to oppose this structure. We want to keep the district the historic district and the reason the houses are older is because of the historic district. We can't put new houses in the historic district. That's why it's historic. The houses are hundreds of years old. This will be two days old or whenever you put it in.

M we want to maintain the integrity. May I ask you this? Um, so it it's not that cuz there are duplexes already on the street. Is that correct? But they were made out of houses that were already there. They just kind of converted them. Okay. So the houses are still old and if a person wants to come in and purchase them and turn them back into a single family home, they can do that.

Okay. So, um, yeah, I guess if I hear you clearly, you all are saying your opinion, single family residential, but you you guys wouldn't even maybe accept a duplex, a new duplex bill, but that's smaller. Kind of what was stated earlier. Well, you know, the problem with that is when we had the when we were at the last meeting, uh, the zoning and planning meeting, um, it was stated to us that he could tell us he's going to do a duplex with two or three, one or two, but once he gets the permission, he could do whatever he wants. And see, that's where we would lose control. We won't we don't want to have that go out the window because once he gets the approval, if he puts 10 apartments on there, there will be nothing we could do about it because it's been approved. And that was made clear to us at the latest last meeting.

Now, if I hear Miss uh Mrs. Robertson correctly, I think there's a concern about additional students being on the street. Um maybe a concern about the trees and then um and parking and then the historic district uh only one of only two in the nation, right? Only two one of only two in the entire nation. And we've maintained that integrity the whole time. Right. Now, is there anybody else here to to speak who may want to say something different than what Mrs. Robinson said? I see a couple hands.

Also, before I leave, I want to make a point. The person that lives next door to where this is going to go up, he's a 96 year old man. They want to put the driveway next to the fence where his bedroom is. So, whenever those students go in and out, they're going to flash in his bedroom coming in, going in and out. And you know, students, they rally all night long. I mean, they may go to bed at 5. I don't know. But I mean, they they're rallying all night long. He's 96. So, would you So, let me ask let you go. So, you basically saying that the noise that they're all day long that noise doesn't erupt cuz I know I passed there like around 11:00. So, they was they was partying.

That was on Saturday. But on Saturday night, if they're going to be going in and out, their driveway is not next door to his feet. So, you're talking about the the light. No, I'm talking about the headlights from the car. That's what I'm saying. That light. So, they're they're not going to be in and out next door to his property cuz there's a whole property between those two houses. So, they have their own driveway. So, that doesn't affect him at all when this structure goes in. So that the noise that is giving

they're going to put the driveway next to the fence and and pull it around in order to he said they're going to avoid the trees but roots are under that the roots are but the trees are everywhere. So when they go into the side driveway the lights are going to flash in and out in and out. His bedroom is there. It's going to be horrible for him. And if there's if they own properties in in in other areas of Nacadesh, there's other pieces of land where they can build, not in the historic district.

Well, let me say because I heard Councilman, but I think I heard Councilman Nilson first and then Councilman Hamilton. Mayor, um, back in 2005, the historic homeowners got together because a lot of the in Cyprus was probably the main reason that it pushed it forward because they were taking older big homes and creating six apartments, four apartments, three apartments, and renting to college kids that began parking on the grass. past uh having loud parties. There were also a group of people that were buying the homes, fixing them, and moving families in. So, you had kids on the street, kids riding bicycles again. And in the spirit of R1, single family housing. They made a move to do the entire historic district. It's not just Cyprus. It's Jefferson. It's Poet. Sydney Nelkin and in the spirit of that district there is very little property left that you can actually build anything on. Most of it already has a structure on it. Um for the most part this has not been an issue. Um this project here to me is R2. Uh at the time this was enacted you could opt your property out. you could pull out and not go to R1, which the ones that already had apartments that you're referring to remained to R2. Everything else went to R1. Miss Rock is correct. Everybody has the right to ask. We would love to see you build on this,

but not sure that R2 is what the homeowners association, it's not within the spirit of what they were asking for. So, just wanted to set that record, you know. So, D5,

let me ask you a question. So you stated in 2005 that is supposed to had this been R1 but I'm sorry Eddie I'm sorry where 2020 the board back in 2020 I'm not going to say no names voted for someone to do an R2 which you just said that it don't supposed to be no more R1 supposed to be R1 but not R2 one special exception So, this could be a special exception because there's no structure.

A city attorney is here. Uh, Miss uh Cantrell, director, could you pass city attorney that um ordinance, that paperwork that the attorney put in that booklet, please? Let me let me make a correction. It's an R1 right now. He wants it to be an R2. That's what I stated. and and and the property owner years ago had an opportunity to change that to an R2 and she decided to leave it as an R1. So now that she can make money off of this property, she wants it to go to an R2. But I'm not talking about that particular property. Well, the one

back in 2020 should have not been an R2 because in the 2005, which I'm going to pass to pass it, Eddie. Well, no, they had the option. Anyone, anyone has the option to

I understand that you're saying that. Let me finish this one right here. The mayor saying Yeah. But she saying that no R2s should be on that street. So, but in 2005, if that one lit street, that's what I'm trying to tell you. If that one lit street wants to stay or one, they should have not allowed that one person to change to Ra2 is because he that person was the only one that did not want to be an R1 anymore. So it shouldn't have not done that. You know, it's fair. It's fair. You get what I'm saying? So it was allowed there. But now I'm going let you talk. Well, the difference there's a difference yours council may

is is that one in 2020 was already a building in existence. It was not building a new building. And we gave him a special exception to be R2 for for whatever. It wasn't a building. Well, we gave him a special exception to be R2 to house his daughter and his grandchildren there. And that was it. That was the only special. But it was a garage. It was not a house for my mistake. But Exactly. So you had to put a plumbing existing plumbing in there, right? No. There was there was a garage, but there was an apartment on top of so it was an existence. It's a part of the the property. Okay. And the age of Mrs. Robinson, I was just ask Can you speak in the microphone, please? Oh, it's a part of the property and the age of the property. Okay.

So, it was originally there and I know who you're talking about. And he didn't want to go to an R2. He was forced to go to an R2 because of that garage. Yep. Let me Councilman Harington. A single family home. That's extend of your remarks. Was there anyone else? You know, we got a couple out there. I just let Miss Mr. Strile go first. All right. Thank you, Mrs. Robinson. Hey, Steve. Will you give us the clock again?

Hello, my name is Mary Stregal. I live at 329 Poet Street and I own 230 Percy Street which is at the corner of Percy and Pine and Cyprus. Additionally, I serve and have served as the president of the Nacadesh Historic District Homeowners Association for many years. As uh Councilman Nielsen said, uh in 2005, we moved to downzone the area to try to encourage more single family owners to buy the properties because those people who live in their property care for their property. And those people who buy the historic structures as duplexes and rental property rely on their tenants well-meaning to take care of those properties. Um I am very concerned about any proposed zoning change. At the time that the uh district was downzoned uh owners had the option to opt out. uh that was uh so that they had uh were not forced into zoning but could opt out of the R1 zoning. At the time that uh uh I I should also say that I am uh a historic preservationist and a conservation scientist and worked for the National Park Service for about 28 years. So I have a little understanding of the material structure of historic properties and of uh historic districts. A national historic landmark district is a very unique designation that's given to an area. Uh uh it's the highest designation of a historic property in

the United States. Uh there are two in Louisiana. One is uh the Vukare and we have the other one. It was given to us because of the uniqueness of the property. Now I understand the Nickels have expressed concern about dilapidation as they say of properties on Cyprus. That would be the responsibility of the homeowners of those properties and most of those properties are R2 and no owner lives on the premises. So that is a very different situation. When Mr. Nichols uh came to the before zoning, he indicated that he wanted to build four duplexes. Each each part of the duplex would be a two-bedroom, two bath uh structure. That means we would have four people in each of those properties. That's 16 people, 16 cars. He also indicated at that meeting that this was for student housing. He said it and it is on record. So the problem is we have a narrow street with extremely limited parking. We have traffic that flies down that street. And if you have 16 students, they're going to have friends over. We already we have homeowners that cannot find cannot often park in front of their own houses because the parking's taken that this is a problem. The other thing is this area

and I just let me just say to Mr. We are past 3 minutes but if you're going to if you if you're close to the end you you can you can finish up. Sure. Yes ma'am.

Sure. This area was in the 1800s it was an island. The where his property is was underwater. It has been built up by landfill. Now whenever it rains, our properties drain that direction. That water if it can't go there or can't go down the storm drains are coming back under our houses. And when they're sitting under our houses, our floors rot out. We have a severe drainage problem here. So in summary, we have a drainage problem. We have a traffic problem. We have a density problem of the number of houses along those streets. It's at maximum capacity. This property is L-shaped. So it's going to be these houses behind our houses. It's not going to be they're not going to be sitting on the street. It's like if you suddenly put a new street in behind our houses. So, I I would ask the city council to oppose uh or to uh uphold the zoning and planning commission's denial of this zoning change. Thank you. Sorry.

Thank you, Mrs. Srigle. I see. And I'm sorry I don't know your name in the back. Um lady in the light pink, you can come and just tell us your first and last name as you as you make uh your remarks. I believe I saw one other hand, but Mrs. Strile was concerned about actually the the structure not being on the street, but more so behind the homes. And I think the concern with how many students could be in the limited parking, I think, was a concern of hers. I'm just trying to re regurgitate those concerns so we we don't necessarily get repetitive. Um, but uh, yes, ma'am. State your first and last name. You got three minutes.

I'm Mayor Margaret Miller. I live on Reagan Street in the historic district and in 2005 I think it was we worked so hard to have the district go R1 because of this very issue. Uh this happened next door to us where where there's currently multi- uh multi home. It's trailer park and it was the zone the original zoning was written so that it would go away by attrition which has not been enforced and a person bought it and wanted to build four huge duplexes in that property and we worked so hard to fight it and the zoning was changed to R1 for a reason. And this is the very reason I don't oppose anybody building a home or or something like that. But this is not the place for apartments or duplexes.

And if you I love students. We love our students. We live by students and we love them. And you can ask them to be quiet. They usually comply. But if you have how many is it? 60. You will have every night you will have 32 cars. I guarantee you that. because they all have their boyfriends and girlfriends stay over. So, be prepared for that. But this is the very reason we work so hard to get R1 for the district. I think it's critical that we maintain it the best way we can and this is one way is to uphold the zoning refusal for this property.

Thank you, Mrs. Miller. I think I got two other individuals. Oh, I see. Oh, goodness. All right. at some point again and I'm trying to just restate. So Mrs. Miller said that uh the R they worked hard to change it the R to R1 in 2005 concerned about the amount of uh potential traffic it could be. Um and sir I'm sorry sir did give me one second sir sir sitting by Mrs. Stregle did you I saw your hand first. Come on. Can you can we just I'm going just kind of go by who I saw first and then we'll we'll get you two sir. Okay. All right, Steve, give us Oh, you already got it ready. Okay, state your first and last name, sir. Comments, sir. Are you finished with your comments? Yes, sir. I'm done.

Hi, I'm Jerry Mayo. I'm gonna speak to a point that I don't think most of the concerns here address and it kind of feeds back on the comments that the two previous ladies met and it talks about building single family homes in Nacadesh. I currently rent uh my home is if you look straight down Cypress Street, my home is the the house at the end of the street, the greenhouse. I've been looking to build in Nacadesh for three years. I looked at this specific lot. Perfect. I have a plan. Perfect. Great neighborhood. Perfect. The problem is this property was priced speculatively, not as single family lot. From an urban planning perspective and human behavior, when you allow people to buy property that is zoned for one use and converted to a specific financial use, you will never ever get properties that will allow single family homes to be built. The starting price point for that property when I looked at what it would cost to build my plan was so far above the the two in combination was so far above what properties in on that street and in this district allow. You have to have pricing for single family homes that allow that foundation to to arrive. And unfortunately, and again, this goes back to I looked at that property and tried to buy that property two years ago. And this is not a case of I I wish I could have. I'm just simply stating that if you allow this to happen, you

are reinforcing for other property owners to not price their properties as single family properties, but to to base it on speculative and the idea that with a wink and a handshake, they can get that moved to a different zoning level that would allow them to financially support that. So, I ask you to just simply think about you're not just voting tonight on this one property. You're voting on behavior of current property owners and current buyers that don't want to build single family homes. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Jerry. And the young lady next to Mr. Jerry. Then we got two gentlemen in the back. And I think that's that's going to be the end of our public remarks based on what I see now. All right. So, would you like to see So, please state your first and last name again into your remarks, please.

Hi, I'm Megan Nicholson. I own rental property at 161 Cyprus. Um, I'm not going to restate issues. I'm just going to say that I personally can attest to water drainage issues um at my property. There was a house next door to that property that burnt down and there was a new house that was built there and that house the foundation was built up and then concrete was poured all the way around it and all of that drains underneath my house and so I have had to replace peers and beams, rotted peers and beams. Um so it you know there has to be extra drains put in there. Uh so that that is an issue that is and I can firmly attest to it personally myself. Secondly, when that new house was built, there was a tree which I really think it they say it's on my property, but I think it was on the fence line and it was a huge tree. They put all of this concrete around and covered half of those tree roots. That tree died and fell on my house. So, and that when they came out to remove that tree and we talked about it and he said, "Yeah, when you put concrete over that, when you think the roots are protected, they're not. It is covering them." And that is what Bogong said when he came out to remove that tree. So, I just and I can tell you personally that these were conversations that I had and things that happened having to do with covering tree limbs with concrete and water drainage. So, I would really ask the council to consider, you know, what I have said and move forward and and go with what planning and zoning asked us

asked them not to do. Thank you. And I hear Miss Megan, your comments, water issues, drainage, replacing rotten beams already and u concern about the the trees and what would happen to them. Now I see gentleman here and I see one more gentleman. Yes, sir. Um Yes, sir. You first. I forgot your name, but I know we met before. I'm going to learn your name again. Yes, sir. Come state your first and last name.

My name's Joey Mat. My wife Teresa, we live residents on Cypress and that's 149 Cypress. We've lived there for almost 20 years. We understand the problem that's starting to come up here. And I just want to reiterate what Mary has already said about the drainage problem, the traffic problem. It's I hate to use a word. I really do, but it's looking like a slum area on our street. I'm sorry. People don't keep it cleaned up in front of their own homes. That's what they're responsible for, but they don't do it. We love the college kids. Don't get us wrong. When they've had problems, we've reached out to them, tried to help them,

but the parking on the front lawns and everything, that gets my goat. That really gets me upset simply because I know they don't have to do it. But then again,

we keep on building in that same area, I think we're going to run into more problems because you're going to have more problems going down the street. Speeders and runners and everything. People are walking on the street instead of using the sidewalks because you don't have any sidewalks. I think the sidewalks were there to put in power poles if I can be critical on that m piece there. And I don't mean to be, but at the same time, I'm against the resoning situation. I apologize about that, but it's a condition of our street. Okay. We love you. Thank you, Mr. Joy. Got some grace there. Okay. All right. So, he he did laid lay out his concerns as well. I think we got one more in the back. Mr. Mark Milikin. Come on, Mr. Mark. Good to see you, sir.

Mhm. See, your dad is here as well. My dad's doing great at 96. Yes, sir. Please state your first and last name. You can move the microphone up to Mark. You can adjust it.

Mark Milikin. And this is my dad, Joe Milikin, who's 96 that I'm caregiving for at 115 Cypress, right next door to this lot. And the person that talked about the light shining, that will be absolutely shining into our house and causing my dad some problems. Uh so I oppose it. We've had the house for almost a hundred years when my grandfather came here in the early 1900s. The house is well over a hundred years old. If you haven't seen our house and the money we put into the house, come by and look at it right next to the lot, right next to it. I oppose it. My dad opposes it. Um, so we won't have the privacy. And I'm not going to go through all the other things that uh people have talked about. I don't really think we need to do that. If it was a single family house put in there, I think it'd be great. No problem. But four buildings with 16 parking lots in the historic district really. That's all I had to say. Thank you.

Thank you, Mark. Look, and I appreciate everybody just trying to not be redundant. We really appreciate that. Um, so look, we're here. We've got the comments that we have. People have spoken. The owners of the property have spoken. People who live around the property have spoken. So, um, the way I see it is that there can be a move. We don't have any motion yet. That there can be a move. Council, you might want to say some things. That's up to you to say, but there can be a move to um reverse the denial from the planning and zoning meeting. Uh, obviously, we have four council councilmen here tonight. Um there also can be a move to uphold the denial which would be to you know keep keep this uh application denied. Shantrell is there any I I did get some information if there is a tableabling of it. We have 45 days um to respond to this to take action and we've already it's already been on March the 4th. So, um, we would call for us having a special meeting to to address this. So, I think that's kind of what we some information we got.

I would mention is that if it's denied, it only means this application is denied. Go ahead. Of what he requested. So you could come back immediately, even tomorrow, and get with Shantrell and do a different application for the property. It just kills Good point. It just kills the R2 request. So council, unless y'all got some other remarks. At some point, we got to get to a motion, but I see some

I had a question uh about the property, like the four different structures. I I think somebody mentioned that it'll hold like I think like four different tenants. Is that the case? Okay. Well, I'm looking at it and I would say, you know, if we were to go down to maybe do like two duplexes, but that gentleman made a a very good point about like once we approve it, then you pretty much got the right to do, you know, whatever you want. And just looking at it, I mean, I'm all for development here because God knows we need it. But this kind of does feel like, you know, like a full out commercial type deal

when you're dealing with Go ahead, sir. Can we get you to the microphone, sir? Yes, sir. If that's something you guys would like, Heath Nichols, if that's something you guys would like to consider decreasing the amount that I would be up for it and and you could put maybe a little proclamation or something that no more than is it possible? Well, we I mean we have what's before us right now and like you said if we approve this you could just you can move forward with but if you approve but I'm a man of my word and that's why well I understand I understand that understand but if you put that's not how the law works any anything the city attorney could say that you could put in there

we need excuse me we need one person one person more then is there anything the city attorney or somebody could put it into this today I don't think So, no. No more then. I don't think so. Alex, you want There's not really restrictions on your development. I don't think we can put a restrictions on what you can develop. Um, once we allow you to do the

youth allows you, that's what the zoning is for. I I'll say that um um I think the development issue is is inconsistent with both the purpose and I I I wrote I wrote this little statement up while we've been sitting here changing it up in a little bit. So, let me read it to you. Uh and permitted intensity of R2 zoning classification under the city of Nacadage's code of ordinances and instead reflects a type of density I believe in use with an R3 multifamily residential. um our two districts intended to provide for lowdensity residential development consisting primarily of single family dwellings and limited to two family structures. Its purpose is to preserve neighborhood character, maintain open space and ensure that residential uses uh remain compatible in scale and intensity. That's uh language different language from our ordinances. In furtherance of that purpose, both R1 and R2 districts and in our ordinances specifically state prohibit all commercial activity so as to prevent the intrusion of business operations in the residential areas. Um I acknowledge that you know mere leasing of a residence to a tenant. Standing alone is generally considered residential use not commercial one. Uh however, zoning determinations are not based solely on whether rent is collected, but on the quote overall character, scale as intensity of the use. When a property is developed and operated in a manner that resembles an organized highdensity rental enterprise um such as apartment complex, it may exceed the bounds of a permitted residential use even if it is nominally labeled as renting. Here, the subject property consists of four separate two-story multif family buildings situated in close proximity supported by a centralized parking lot um lacking any yard space. Uh the property accommodates as stated approximately 16 occupants across multiple units and a coordinated

development designed to maximize occupancy. I do not believe this is a traditional duplex or low density residential arrangement. instead it's a concentrated um multistructure housing operation that functions in manor apartment complex. Um and that's that's why I believe it it's more R3 zoning is is what's before us today not R2. um the important this level of development aligns like I said squarely with purpose of R3 which is designed to accommodate multif family apartment style uses with higher density uh shared infrastructure such as parking lots reduce open space per unit such as no yardage allowing such development to exist within an R2 district um effectively circumvents the zoning framework uh accordingly while isolated residential leasing may fall within permitted use. I think the the present development by virtue of its scale, configuration, operational characteristics, it sees the limits of R2 zoning encroaches upon uses of R3. For that reason, um I move to uphold the um planning and zoning's decision from March 4th, 2026.

Is that your official motion? Yeah. Second. All right. got a motion in the second to uphold the decision from March 4th which denied this uh the Nicholls application for what they want to do now national trail if it gets denied I heard what Dale said if they change it they can come back tomorrow for something that you know would be different than what's presented but what what happens if this carries if this vote gets affirmed is it like a six-month period if they want to bring it back if I'm just kind of just for information. It don't have to be 6 months if he wants to bring this back. Six months deal. So if you want to do something different, you could do it tomorrow, they said. But yes,

I think there's a time frame. I don't think he can just come back tomorrow with the same application. No, not with the same not come back for a patio home or R1 R1.5. There's R1.5 townhouse. Townous something different. Okay. Well, I'm thinking, you know, you asked that question whether or not he can restrict his development to a I think that'd be R1.5 really to something different. I mean, why don't we why don't we consider instead of them making them make a new application, let let's see, can they restrict it to to something different? I think you would have to have a new application.

Yeah. Well, I'm not just exactly sure about he asked about the construction of the could he reduce the size of the building from being but 16 I heard 16 tenants to maybe reduce that new construction with a smaller smaller unit size but it's still a request for planning zone R2 yeah I think you'd have to take that back before planing zone yeah I kind of wouldn't it been an intense conversation um on both sides. They want a development. I'm hearing council members okay with development, but the public got parking issues, light issues, and number of other things. But

if we can reduce the size potentially, it may not work. Mhm. Yeah. Yeah, because there's a lot of things that I mean it's not even at that point yet, but looking at this like with a chief win I would imagine would have I mean it's a small small entrance in that area and u with that road and then I don't even know if a fire truck can get back even get back there looking at these these pictures. I don't know if you see if you have them. I don't have they're not in front of you. I was looking at that. I was like I don't even know if a fire truck can get back there and turn around. But anyways, that's not even that's that comes into the density of the I just want to bring up the option is um Mr. Harrington's motion

or we can we could table it just to take a snapshot look at that that issue of him reducing the construction side. Let let me just say this. Let me we got to vote on this one first.

Hold on. Let's say this though, Shantrell. Um but your your process to do another application kind of break that down a little bit for us. So, in order for him to do another application, he would have to submit, tell them planning and zoning what it is he wants to do. The R2 zoning as it stands right now. If you deny it, then it'll have to be 6 months before he can come back with another R2 application. If he wants to reszone to R1 or R1.5, he can submit application to my office in the morning and then we'll take it before PNZ. However, it won't be on the April agenda. It'll have to be on the May agenda at this time. If he does R1, he wouldn't have to go before you. But

well, if he does R1 itself, then no, he does not have to come. But if he does the R1.5, he does. Yeah. Okay. All right. So, we've got we got a motion. You got something really quick, Miss Melissa. Miss Okay. I still have to get you to come. Just as brief as you could be. If he goes if he comes back with another application, he needs to come back with another structure. He can't structure can't come back. That's kind of what we're saying. Well, no, I didn't hear that. But I needed to be specific in the minutes. I mean, he can't come back tomorrow with the same structure and say, "I want one point." Right. And that's a six-month thing that Shantrell was breaking down. But of course, even he would still have to get whatever structure approved by commission commission. Yes.

The structure has to get commission. They didn't. I don't know why, but Okay. Yes. You got something real quick? Just real quick. I mean, can I get you? You got to come to the microphone. Just

I understand. all of the zone. I I fully respect everybody. Thank you for your for your time. I mean, we completely understand. But if I hear everybody correctly, some of the consistent issues are drainage, digging, the trees, and the lights. So whether we build a single family or we build a multif family, those issues are still going to be here, right? And so to me, it sounds like the bigger issue is that there's a there's an issue on the street with the existing properties. So, I have a property up for sale if somebody would like to buy it because it doesn't sound like anything I put there is going to be acceptable. But we do appreciate the council's time and everybody's time here. It was certainly not intended to come in and have some mass development. So, I appreciate your time. Truly, I have a lot for sale.

Thank you, Mrs. Nicholson. Look, and Mr. Sri, if that's something that's groundbreaking, we do have a motion already. We would just kind of want to get the vote on sir. I would say that the homeowners on the street sorry I would say that the homeowners on the street would love to see a beautiful single family home go here and I think there would be no problem no problems with us. You know we love and we've had a new construction replace the fire the house that burned by fire. So that would not be an issue for us. It's the zoning to a R2 and multiple duplexes.

Thank you, Mr. Srigle. All right, we've got the motion that has a second to uphold the decision of the planning and zoning commission which denied the application as it is today, which is to reszone from R1 to residential R2. We got a motion. All right. So yes would be to uphold and no would be to overturn them or not uphold and then you'd have to someone make a motion to overturn it I guess right your motion yeah to vote in a yes would be to uphold it a no would be to not uphold it and then another motion would need to be made to overturn if we get there yes if we have to

this group appeal the the MPC's decision I I made a motion to uphold the planning service decision Okay. And we got a second. So he's just trying to he's just trying to say with clarity what a yes would do. But yeah, you're right. A yes would confirm would confirm with the the denial, right? It would confirm it. Yeah. The denial. Yeah. A no would say you don't you disagree with upholding the denial and you want the project to go forward. Reply. All right. Mrs. Hamilton, roll call vote. Eli, yes. Nielson, yes. Harington, yes. PT, yes.

All right. The motion to uphold the denial on March 4th carries. Okay. All right. The application is denied. All right. Next, we've got a PNZ final read by Councilman Nielson. Thank you, Mayor. Ordinance amending ordinance number 64 of 2001 by changing zoning classification of property described as follows.

Reszone 34.6 6 acres lots two and six of partition of heirs of Willie Laz in section 87 township 9 north range 7 west shown on map slide 242B and lot containing 1 acre of partition for heirs of Willie Laz and section 87 township 9 north range 7 west being old home place whereas planning commission of the city of Nacadish state of Louisiana as recommended at their meeting of March March 4 to 2026 that the application of ACE Commercial Properties LLC to reszone the property described above from IIA to IIA special exception to allow for the flexible and responsible development for consistent use of community growth objections and long-term economic sustainability of the sales services rentals of products and services be approved. I move that we adopt ordinance number nine of 2026.

I second. All right. Motion made and seconded. We heard from gentleman in the back a couple weeks ago. Uh Mr. Armstrong. Mr. Armstrong. So he has a desire to build some um offices on Old River Road. I haven't heard any major concerns to my office. No emails or anything like that about the project. What is it? This is on Old River Road. He does business with a lot of um industrial plants and things like that. What is it? Old River Road. The same where Rockford Baptist is and Mhm. time. It's a couple

and he want to build some commercial properties, right? Well, it's really office spaces, right? Pretty much. Yeah. I Come on. I don't think uh I don't think you were at the last meeting. That's what it was. So, Mr. Armstrong, if you come and kind of for the sake of uh Councilwoman Washington and Eli, she wasn't able to be at the last meeting, but just kind of explain what you're doing. Again, state your first and last name.

Richard Armstrong. Uh I own a commercial properties, but I also own Trace Reliability. We call them industrial plants in Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama, and East Texas. We currently operate out of three different spots. We have an office right beside NFA at CrossFit. We have an office off of uh with some warehouse space across from Alliance, right beside ProT Staffing Service. We also have to rent some space to store trailers and equipment and things like that. So, we want to build one one structure that we can have. I have four guys that work for me currently. So, we want we don't have customers that come to our facility. We go to their plants. So, the International Papers, the Exxon Mobile, the Shells, the the Marathons.

Okay. So, it's it's about I I've sent some renderings, I think, u where it's going to be placed on the property and uh it's it's the front side of it. Okay. Thank you. That was easy. Know it was. All right. Okay. Hey, good to have you. Any comments or questions about this? We did get a motion to second. I think I did a motion, didn't I? Did we got a motion? Yes. And we got a second. Yes. Okay. All right. No comments or questions. Mrs. Hamilton, roll call vote. Eli, yes. Nielson, yes. Harrington, yes.

PT, yes. All right. That motion carries. All right. Next, we've got one ordinance that's for final and it's read by Councilman PT. Thank you, Mayor. Ordinance number 008 of 2026, an ordinance to adopt a human trafficking prevention and reporting policy for the city of Nagas personnel policies manual and to provide for related ma matters. May I also move to adopt 008 this ordinance. All right. Motion No, it's uh it's for fine. It's for final for it is for final. Yeah. Motion made in s. Got a motion by Councilman PT. We got a second by Councilman Harrington.

All right. This is a policy and he couldn't be here tonight. Uh Chief Collins, but we do have Captain Johnson with us. But um you know, it's just a no-brainer policy when you read it kind of thing like why haven't we had it before? So just to you know officially put in our handbook uh a policy stating our position against um human trafficking which again like I said is a is a no-brainer. Um but yeah, chief picked this up and um just I guess lays out best I could explain it lays out expectations even as a part of their individuals associated with the city of Nacatus that's under uh number two scope and um you know just says that should be in compliance with this policy as condition of employment. Yeah. I mean, again, we don't want anybody working for us who are involved in any type of illegal activity such as this. So, uh, I see it as a no-brainer. Like I said, Chief Collins couldn't be with us today.

All right. Any comment or questions about this particular All right. 10. Mrs. Hamilton, roll call vote. Eli, yes. Nielson, yes. Harrington, yes. PT, yes. All right. That motion carries. Next, we've got one ordinance for introduction. Then one last one is a resolution. So, um, this one for introduction is Councilwoman Washington Eli.

Thank you, Mayor. Ordinance number 010 of 2026, a ordinance authorizing the city to lease a track land together with improvement location on the east side of the north street to negative coalition of homeless setting the terms of condition of the same and authorized the execution of the lease by the mayor Ronnie Williams after due compliance with the law and further providing and for advertising and the lease and affected date. Whereas the city of Nagish is on the corrective property suited and the eight east right of the north bears municipality address of 319 north and it's more particular described as two width. These five's current lots are ground described as lot K L M N O P that rhymes excuse me and whereas further the city desired to make the subject properties available for use by the negative coalition of homeless sometimes here at the collor coalition which is a Louisiana notprofit organization that provides several homeless residents of the city of Nagis Louisiana. And whereas the city has negotiated the lease of the subject property to the coalition under the terms fully set forward to attach proposed lease. And whereas the lease shall be one term with an additional one, your option extended the lease. And whereas the Lord whereas the cons consideration for the lease shall be $250 per month for the first term of the lease and the even that the option of extending of the

exercise that the rental should be reviewed and adjust a consumer detached for each and terms to lease and extended and this is basically for introduction only. You finished? Mhm. Okay. All right. So, this is a building that for many years saved the children lease from the city. Um, you know, city owned and then when they primed, what is it called? Prime time. What is it? Prime.

Prime. when they took over they have some different operations or maybe they have another facility that they're using but they didn't they didn't need this space anymore so it's been vacant for a few months now and um you know we have been approached before from the homelessness coalition and I'm sure somebody will be at the next meeting uh about a building one particular building we eventually moved the marshalss into so this has been an ongoing conversation over a period of years and so when this one came open you know they inquired about this this space So, um I mean you know they do good work. I I think what we'll see that they'll do is they do their meals so they have a space to uh prepare those meals and may even serve meals from there. Um it could be um you know it could be a you know shelter in times of um you know those times where we have winter storms and we have hurricanes and things like that instead of trying to get the MLK rec center and and just kind of logistically, you know, we could have folks who can team with the Red Cross and they could kind of work that out um you know uh to make sure people who are unhoused have a space during those. So, this is not intended to be a full-time shelter 24/7, but uh it may be used on a temporary basis in times of extreme heat, in times of extreme cold, you know, weather weather swings like that. So, um we do have the lease agreement in there um in terms of the amount and think it's uh I think it's pretty generous. Um the person we were talking to um they were okay with it. Of course, they don't have a funding source like Save the Children or Prime now. So, but anyhow, I think it's a good use of the building as opposed to just sitting um as it's been sitting for a few months. I think Save the Children abandoned the building. I say abandoned, but you know, left the building. Four

months ago, was it? Yeah, around November.

Around November. Okay. So, we're talking almost 6 months. Almost 5 months. Five months. Okay. All right. So, any comment or question about this? All right. And we'll have somebody from the homelessness coalition at the next meeting. Just told them to come at the next meeting because that's when you know um whatever vote happens will take place then. If there are any questions, please reach out to me on this matter. Council, we have one resolution to deal with and I think it's pretty laid out um very clearly what this is about and uh Councilman Harrington is reading it. This is resolution 16 of 2026, a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute change order number three to the contract between the city of Nacades and Regional Construction LLC for the fiscal year 2023 LCDBG street improvements. Um that regional construction completed work on this project was issued a certificate of substantial completion effective February 20th, 2026. The city engineers determined that the final quantities of work performed on this project and the city engineer drafted change order number three dated March 4th, 2026 is the final change order to reconcile the original plan quantities to the final payment quantities for all work on this project. Not sure I'm sorry. I'm not sure the amount that's changed and I'm looking for that four. Here you go. You see?

I can't couldn't find it. That top blue little line. Yeah. Okay. The total result of all item changes outlined above is a net cost underrun of $790.80. There you go. Right. I move to adopt resolution 16 of 2022. Second.

All right. Motion made and seconded. It's, you know, a lot of time people see change orders and they, you know, but it's not always about some drastic increase in price. Sometimes it is that now. Um but but this is not that particular case before us and um it's just some changes in what the council has and I know the public may not necessarily have it but just some of the change orders that happened. Remember this was fully paid for by um the office of community development on the state level. um started out at we had the starting figure 1 1.1 for uh42,566. So basically there was an underrunning first added more work and so Nick does a good job in detailing everything that happens. Um but again fully paid for by office of community development no cost to the city and we were able to add more work to the original scope. Right. Any comments, questions about about this? And this was the one in those low tomod areas. Again, Nick applied for the funding. This is the housing development in Highland Park that we see on the screen. Uh but there were others. One in Bailey Heights, there was one in Breeda Town. There was one um the Kenny Square area. At least coming into those. Yeah, Weda. There you go. Weda. Right off of Woodyard. All right, Mrs. Hamilton, seeing no questions or comments or roll call vote.

Eli, yes. Nielsson, yes. Harrington, yes. PT, yes. Alrighty. All righty. That motion carries. And um, look, Mrs. Hamilton is filling in for Mrs. McCreary on today. Did a great job. Great job. Great job. All right. So, Monday the 13th is our next meeting. Um, we always encourage Regroup. I think we used Regroup the other day about a road closure. So we try to use it for road closures and things that are happening as often as we could. Um so we try to remember to do that. Go Nagash again. Make sure you have it. We always say that. All right. We have a few more announcements that we'll share.

Okay. This is um taking place on tomorrow. Northwestern State University opening ceremonies. Oh yeah. This is the um Special Olympics. The Special Olympics taking place. So 9:30 a.m. is opening ceremony at the track the Walter Laay track and field complex. So uh come out to I understand they got some some uh work recently. So be good to see that if that should be complete with it. But that's taking place tomorrow morning. All right. Nagash at the capital is uh happening on Wednesday. So just advocacy for the city of Nagatish Nagatis Parish as well. Um you know to make sure we're getting the funding that we need. So you got some good sponsors down there. a lot of people pull together to uh make this happen. We've got folks from the city who who are going to be down there on Wednesday. So again, we're we're pushing we're pushing a we've got some naggative swag that we're bringing down. Uh I love naggly stickers. Kane River National Heritage Area has some of those. So we'll be passing those out to legislators. Look, we have uh Good Friday egg extravaganza. Uh we're calling it. So we've got some folks working hard to put it together. this first one we're doing. Um, you know, there's a a couple others that are taking place. I think one at the Melrose, there's one downtown I think the week before this, but this one is will be on Good Friday for just a few hours. Uh, but food trucks, DJs, um, you know, decorating eggs, things like that, bounce house, you know, things like that, photos with the Easter Bunny. So, and it's going to be at Park Nacades because of that field there that we have access to. So, we're trying to get some golden egg items that we could um at least get a couple good gifts uh you know in different age groups. So, we won't have the bigger ones hunting eggs with the with the little ones. So, we kind of got it organized and sectioned off. So, looking forward to this event uh in less than two weeks now.

All right. All right. This uh is put on by NRMC. Typically the funding for this goes to this event. Uh their gay if you will goes to cancer research. Uh they're doing a really good job with cancer now. I mean I know many of us heard that they got the big PET scan uh through some uh through the earmark. But April the 11th uh Saturday and they have the times there. So uh any a good event for a good cause taking place. Community cleanup we really like to get into. uh love the boot week and focus on areas of town uh that really need some attention with litter. Obviously, we want people to, you know, put the litter where it goes, but put the trash where it goes, but that doesn't happen all the time for different reasons. But there's a community cleanup on April the 24th uh at noon. And so that's the Riverbank stage. And I think there'll be some others going on. Sean, have have any others come across your desk or this is the only one you've heard about?

This is the only one. We all tried to get together the tourism office, the chamber, um, K River National, we all kind of met together. So, we're going to separate met together and kind of targeted the riverbank area. No, different different places in Oh, you got different spots. Just all decided on one time. I got you. Okay. Make a big impact as far as the number. So, kind of like one time, one place meet and disperse from there. Correct. That's what it Okay, that's good. Yeah. So, again, um hopefully people would uh participate. to sign up and and just work a few hours um to to keep nagging beautiful. All right, we have any more announcements?

Okay, that's it. I know farmers market will be coming soon. I know the jazz fest will be coming soon as well. All right, council. We actually it's 7:00, so we we spend a good time together tonight. At this time, we will hear a motion to adjourn. So, all right, we got a second. Second. All in favor? Meeting is adjourned. Y'all have a good night.