City Council - Regular Meeting

Celebrating Juneteenth, but we also thank you for the next couple weekends as we bring in a new class in the Sports Hall of Fame, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, and as we celebrate America 250 in Natchitoches. We thank you for your protection, your guidance, and blessing those who are organizing those respective events. Look down upon our community, community favorably. We thank you for allowing growth where it needs to be. Thank you for bringing us together stronger as a community. Thank you for challenging us in ways in which we should be challenged. Lord God, we thank you for your presence tonight at the meeting. As scripture says, and we ask just about every meeting, whatever we do, let it be done decently and in order. In your son Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Now will you join us in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

All right. Thank you all for participation in the pledge. And we're just going to ask that while we're having this meeting, which I think is going to be a pretty short meeting for us tonight, but while we're having the meeting, just here it is. The city council encourages public participation in the decision-making process and appreciates it when residents bring issues of concern to the community. Comments are limited to no more than three minutes per speaker. This time may be reduced. Members of the audience should respect the rights of others and shall not create noise or other disturbances to disrupt or disturb persons who are addressing the City Council. All persons addressing the City Council shall speak in a civil and courteous manner. speakers shall address it in a topic to which they are speaking on and shall not be repetitive. And again, as usual, we thank you for adhering to those particular instructions. All right. Next, we have the reading and approval of our minutes from our June 8th meeting.

May I make a motion that we dispense with the reading of the minutes of June 8th, 2026, and that they be adopted as recorded if there be no corrections?

Second.

Okay, motion made and seconded to adopt the minutes as they have been recorded. Any comment about this particular motion? All right, seeing none, Mrs. Hamilton is with us tonight in place of Mrs. McCurry. At this time, we'll call vote.

Eli? Yes. Nielsen? Yes. Smith-Kirkendall? Yes. Harrington? Yes. P.T.? Yes.

Okay, that motion carries. All right, we've got a couple things that we want to do in terms of recognition. We first have special recognition for Miss Nagatish Meat Pie, and I think we just have the plaque that we're going to read from. All right, we know that Nagatish Meat Pie Festival is... Third weekend? Is it the third weekend in September? I think it is. Is that right? Dusty Joe? Third weekend in September. So I see we have Ms. Emmy here, and I think she's going to have some remarks. But the plaque that we have for her tonight simply says congratulations on behalf of the city of Natchitoches, presented to Emmy Faschke, 2026 Miss Natchitoches Meepaw Festival, an acknowledgement of achievement on this day, the 22nd day of June, in the year of twenty twenty six and sound by yours truly uh... in the at you have some remarks yet please what we do just up for the call states of first and last name you can get into whatever marks you want to get into

so my name is emmy fasky i'm the current natchitoches meat pie festival queen a little bit about me i'm 22 years old i live in lake charles and i'm a nursing student at suella i was crowned miss natchitoches meat pie on september 6th and 2025. since being crowned i've been able to travel to 29 events with a total of 4 745 miles It's been an honor to wear this crown and banner and to be a representative of such a historic and welcoming city. Being a Louisiana Festival Queen has given me the opportunity to travel our state and take in all of the unique culture, history, and industries that our state has to offer. It also gives me the opportunity to advocate for and educate others on the city of Natchitoches and the Meat Pie Festival. Some of my favorite events that I've been able to go to, I got to Crawfish and Burrow Bridge. I learned how to properly clean a duck and got to hold an alligator in Cameron Parish. I came and volunteered at the trunk retreat here. I was presented at the Crew of the Nine Ball. And my top is getting to ride in the Christmas parade and watch the fireworks show with my little queens. Recently, I was invited by the governor's office to attend SAIL 250 in New Orleans to serve as a Louisiana ambassador of culture and hospitality. We were able to welcome over 3,000 military service members to our state during this event. This year, I've used the invitation of come hungry and leave happy when speaking about our festival. As you step on the river walk, you're immediately hit by the sound of music from the main stage, laughter from children playing, and the aroma of those delicious meat pies cooking as you walk down the river. After diving into the full experience of our festival, I have no doubt that people indeed come hungry and leave happy. And if you're anything like me, you leave with leftovers in case you get hungry on the ride home. I'm so blessed to have had the opportunity to represent the Meat Pie Festival in the beautiful city of Natchitoches. Thank y'all.

And before you take your seat, we certainly want to get a picture with you and the plaque, but just want to say publicly thanks for representing the city of Natchitoches so well as 2026 Miss Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival Queen. Is that what you're saying? Yeah, I think not just one of the best festivals in Natchitoches, but one of the best festivals in all of louisiana so we're going to stop a quick picture which i got All right, so we have three young ladies that we're recognizing next. Miss Juneteenth Queens. All right, and I'm not going to read it all necessarily. I'll just read a little portion. It says something very similar. It's really exactly the same thing as what it would say for Emmy on the Me Pie Festival. Congratulations on behalf of the city of Natchitoches, presented to Ziya Smith, 2026 Little Miss Juneteenth. and acknowledgement of achievement on this, the 22nd day of June in the year of 2026. In testimony, we have set our hand in the fixer seal to the city of Natchitoches, signed by yours truly. So we've got Zia Smith. We've got Zakiya Hamilton, which is 2026. Junior Miss Juneteenth. And then we've got Genesis Conde, uh, 2026 Miss Juneteenth. So, um, I'm not sure if there are any remarks by anybody. If, if, if not, that's fine, uh, as well. But I think this was put on by the final women of, uh, of, of Zeta Phi Beta. Right? Is this the first year that you've done it? Okay, so this is the first year that they've had the Juneteenth festival, or Juneteenth pageant, I should say, on this particular year. So any representatives need to say anything before we take pictures? It's great. And we'll get you, thank you for being the brave one to talk about it. We'll just get you to state your first and last name when you get to the podium and just share whatever comments you wanna share with us tonight. And we certainly appreciate you all for putting this pageant on this year.

My name is Candace Grayson, and I am the current president of the local chapter of Mule Megan Zeta, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated. And basically, I just really want to say thank you. Thank you to the city of Natchitoches, Mayor Ronnie Williams, for embracing us. These young ladies, this is our first pageant, and since Thursday, this is their fourth appearance. Wow. And so it has been a refreshing experience. And we're looking forward to the next year. And we couldn't have done it without these wonderful parents. And we just want to say thank you for the recognition.

All right. Thank you all for putting it on and in the community. So we want those young ladies to come forward and get a picture with you all as we pass you your plaques, but also stay back because we do have another special guest tied to the Juneteenth Queens from a representative from Congressman Cleo Fields' office.

All right, Ms. Genesis.

There you go, Ms. Akia. All right, Ms. Genesis. On this side. All right, where did this come from?

Kevin, I can get you their names.

Thank you. All right.

Congratulations. Thank you. Oh, we got another one.

congratulations I think yes that's great good afternoon everyone I'm signora Thomas regional representative for congressman Cleo Fields representing the sixth district of the house member of Congress and we would like to to present these young ladies, well deserving young ladies, of a very special congressional recognition because of their selection as queens. Queens for a whole year as Miss Juneteenth. So we would like to present to Ziya Smith Little Miss Juneteenth 2026 in recognition of being crowned Little Miss Juneteenth She will be serving as an ambassador for the city of Natchitoches and its Juneteenth celebration promoting the history and significance of Juneteenth as well as our next level We have Miss Zakia Hamilton Junior Miss Juneteenth. And last but not least, we have Miss Genesis Conde, who is serving as Miss Juneteenth 2026 for the city of Natchitoches. So on behalf of the honorable Cleo Fields, member of Congress Sixth District, we say congratulations.

That's good. Good job. That's good. Again, congratulations to all of you young ladies. Yes.

Good to see my old colleague, Mr. Martez Smith, back there. Yes, sir, good to see you. That's his daughter, Zaya. All right. And thank you again, Ms. Ignora Thomas, for being here on behalf of Congressman Cleo Fields. Next, we've got a planning and zoning. A couple planning and zoning that's for introduction on tonight. The first one is read by Councilwoman Washington, Eli.

Thank you, Mayor. Ordinance number 21 of 2026. Ordinance and meeting on ordinance number 64. of 2001 by changing the zone classification property described as to rezone the following lot containing three and a half acres section 56, 57, two short north range seven of north side Kaiser shown as a plot. Covenants book 443, page 67, and A, eight and a half entries to strip 50 by one 95 foot between a lot 3 and block 0 lot for block Blanchard row subdivision where is the planning Commission of the city state of Louisiana hair. Recommended at their meeting on June the 9th of 2026 that the application of Eric Wayne DBA Southern Oaks Construction to be rezoned the property described above for R1 to R2 development multi-family development duplex be approved. And this is just for introduction. And I also spoke with the construction builder and Ms. Rock. The only thing that I have concerns about, Mayor, is the ONE SIDE BELONGS TO THE CITY AND THE OTHER SIDE, BACK SIDE, BELONGS TO THE PARISH AND THE ROAD CONDITION OF IT, WHO WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY DO, IF IT DOES GET DEVELOPED OR APPROVED BY COUNCIL AND STUFF, I WAS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHO WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ROADS BECAUSE THE ROADS BACK THERE ARE VERY BAD. SO IT'S LIKE ONE SIDE FOR THE PARISH, THE BACK SIDE FOR THE CITY. So that's the only thing that I have questions about.

Okay, and I think this is your property? All right, I do have, I'm going to pass this to the council, but if both of y'all or whoever's going to talk and state your first and last name.

Hello, my name is Jermaine Winn, and the property actually is in the city limits. We have it drawn so that you can see. I don't know if it's showing it on this map, but the entire listing of the property is within the city limits to answer that question.

Have they started construction? I was told they were supposed to be working on that road. So have they started any... Blanchard Road.

This is in Blanchard Subdivision, but this particular piece of property is directly behind Ivan Smith. Yes, so it doesn't go all the way to Blanchard Road, although they say it's the Blanchard Subdivision. It's unique in that it does have a variety of zones currently. You have your Ivan Smith. There's a Riverbend apartment complex directly adjacent to the back wall. You also have Hobby Lobby on one side. And of course there are the residential homes on Chris Street. So like I said, it is unique in that there's a variety of resident zoning already in that particular place. But what we plan to do is put five duplexes. We want to make them nice carports. And as I discussed with my husband, who is the developer and he's a contractor, there's just a missed group of housing that's in Natchitoches. We have a lot of people and families that are ready to get out of apartments. But you all know in today's economy, they're not ready to buy that home yet because of the way things are. So hopefully we can put a nice community there, small community. have it gated to address the concerns of any of the residents who are willing to work with them, have a privacy fence, do the landscaping, whatever it takes to keep this nice, you know, for the residents that are already there, but to put a nice community there as well.

And these are single family, single homes?

They'll be duplexes.

Duplexes, okay, duplexes.

And it's five, and we plan to do a phase construction so that we can address any concerns that may come up so they won't all five go up at the same time, but we'll build one and just kind of look as we go. But that's the end goal, to have five duplexes.

Those duplexes put you in the mind of like an alloy circle. Y'all familiar with that part of town? Are you familiar with that part of town? Yes, sir. Oh, so that's duplexes. Yes, sir.

Patio homes or duplex?

Say it again.

Patio homes or duplexes?

It will be a duplex, but we do plan to have a covered carport. Again, just as much as we can make it into a family neighborhood community so you can go home and feel like you're in a neighborhood, you know your neighbors, not a lot of in and out.

I see Nick Barrett is out in the audience. The intersection of Claudia and Chris all the way to Ralph. Do you know where that is in our overlay?

We don't have anything scheduled for that section at this point. It's something we can look at and see where it fits.

Excuse me. pretty deficient.

So is, um, councilman Dale is Chris street. So it's Chris runs that does an appointment in your district. Oh, constant, um, director.

So the area that you see highlighted, that is part of the City of Magnus. Criss Street itself is not inside city limits. So that stub off is actually owned by half of Southern Oaks and the property owner beside it. So that's going to have to be an agreement between those two owners to decide how they're going to develop that stub out. When the property is actually ready for development, we will have plans. and a drainage plan that we would present then to Mr. Nick that would have to meet city ordinance and codes. If they decide to have a street developed in that area, then they would have to submit plans to us to make sure that those streets, if they develop a road, that it meets city standards. Then the city will be responsible for the development of the road.

But Claudia is in city limits, correct?

Claudia is not in city limits.

It is not?

It is not. So neither one of these streets are city streets.

So Ralph is, but Claudia is.

A portion of Ralph Street is in.

Okay.

Half of an inch is in.

So any roads outside of the city, it's not our responsibility. Correct. The only way it could be, we would have annexed them in. Right. Annex them in, that'd be okay.

So that's my next question is going to be to your attorney. Would this affect us putting that area inside the city land? Because back half, that's what I said, back half and front half is for the city, back half is for the parish.

I'm not sure River Bend is even in the city.

The property in and of itself is in the city. To go down Route Street, which may be outside of the city limits, that's just access to get into the neighborhood. Correct. But the property in and of itself is in the city limits.

It's subject to being rezoned if it's within the city. What did you say? It's subject to be rezoned if it's within the city limits.

So then would we be taking ownership of the road if we were alone? That's what I'm asking. No.

We would not.

No.

But can Nick address anything about the drainage? Does the city have to put out anything in reference to the drainage for that particular area?

Come to the mic, Nick.

Nick Barrett, city engineer. If it's coming through our planning and zoning, through the city planning and zoning, it would have to meet the city ordinance, which requires that the post-development peak runoff not exceed the pre-development peak runoff. So we would have to have a drainage study and do all that to determine if on-site detention is needed or whatever other provisions that would allow them to meet that ordinance.

Because right now the city is not maintaining the drainage. Right.

Again, I'm not sure which sections are part of the city and which sections are not part of the city system. Anything within the city system, we should be maintaining that roadside drainage. But, again, that's something. And when you asked the question, Mr. Nielsen, in my mind I knew parts of all that was part of the city system and parts weren't.

Well, I was confused, too.

Yes, sir. But anyway, yes, ma'am. If it's coming through city planning and zoning, it must meet the city drainage ordinance. Yes, ma'am.

Any more questions?

Have you talked to the residents in there?

Yes, ma'am. We have talked. And the particular resident where we shared the entranceway with them, my husband has talked with them, myself as well. And again, we're willing to. Their main thing was just not worrying about the entrances more their safety because they will share that with us but uh... you know we told them that we're willing to work with them put up a privacy fence do the landscaping and again make it attractive for their part of the yard keep them safe uh... as well as do what we need to do to maintain our property. Again, we want it safe. We want it nice also. We're investing in this. But we have, and they were open to everything that, you know, we told them we're opening to listening to them and still opening to listening to them. And I know a lot of them that has been available. We have lighting, lights, like... Yes, all of that, you know, we'll go along with it. We didn't go into discussing lights particularly, but again, in a subdivision like this, wanting it well lit for families, if they have kids that are outside, just all of that that goes along with it. And anything that the city deems that we have to have, of course, we'll have to have that as well. Okay.

Just to let you know, there wasn't anyone that came out in opposition of this application. Everyone that came out was more or less curious about what they were doing. But we had an ordinance full. There was not one person or family came out against it. They did ask questions and the owners were here to present what they were proposing. So it will be up to them to submit to planning and zoning the plans for our review to make sure that they are in compliance with every part of a subdivision development that the city ordinances present.

And I think this overwhelmingly passed the Planning and Zoning Commission.

It did.

Maybe one dissenting vote, but that's it.

That was it.

Okay.

Any more questions?

Now we typically, this is just for introduction, we typically don't allow on introduction, but it will come back to us first meeting in July. Okay? Any other comments, questions, council?

What, can you tell me, this might not be the place, but so what's the next step? What actually happens at this point?

So it'll come back, our first meeting in July is what day?

That'll be the final voting. That's going to...

Whatever that first, second Monday in July, it'll come back to the city council for a final vote.

Okay. At that time, do we speak again or anything we want to say we need to say now? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

At that time, you come again, you'll speak, and then we'll allow the audience to ask questions and share their concerns too.

That would actually be July 13th.

July 13th.

So July 13th, we'll see you again.

Okay. Thank you so much.

Thank you all for being here, okay? All righty. So, again, that was just for introduction. We have another planning and zoning piece for introduction, and it's read by Councilwoman Elora Smith-Kirkendall.

Thank you, Mayor. Ordinance number 022 of 2026, an ordinance amended, ordinance number 64 of 2001, by changing zoning classification of the property described as lot, Con 2 Acre, located on the northwest corner of the intersection of I-49 and Louisiana Highway 6 in Section 49-8. And it's shown on Platte CB 529, page 625, and described as follows. Beginning at the northeast corner of Lot 4 of Westwood Estates, I-49 Commercial Lots, as shown on a plat of survey by Jack Farmer, dated June 16, 1992, and recorded at map slide 334-B. This N46 DEG degree, 47 miles, minutes, east 411.118 feet to the point of BEG, said point of BEG north 13-DEG-02-MIN-106. This being, this plat being 5300 University Parkway, whereas the Planning Commission of the City of Natchez, State of Louisiana, has recommended their meeting of June 9th with the application of Cherie Enterprises, LLC, DBA Hampton Inn to rezone the property described from B3 to B3 with additional BA zoning for consumption on premises be approved. And this is for introduction only.

Okay. Chantel, say a little bit about this.

Yeah. Hampton Inn, they're looking for just additional ways to take care of their patrons that come to the hotel. They're wanting to do like so many of the larger hotels are doing like in Dallas and everywhere else. They have a small bar, and they're just wanting to be able to serve beer and wine to the people that are utilizing the hotel. But they have to have VA zoning to do that. And that's it.

Yeah. That makes sense. Comments or questions, counsel? And this is owned by?

Cherie Enterprises.

Okay. Got you.

This is right behind Huddle House.

Okay. The one behind, oh, behind Huddle House. The one over there kind of by itself. Okay. Yeah, it makes sense. I mean, it's just what hotels do, you know? All right. I don't think there's any real concern about it.

Yeah.

Okay. It'll be up for a final vote at our next meeting. We do have two ordinances that are for introduction. This first one is read by Councilman Harrington.

This is Ordinance 23 of 2026, an ordinance authorizing the mayor of the city of Natchitoches, Louisiana, to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Natchitoches Economic Development Alliance. which said memorandum provides for services to be provided by the Natchitoches Economic Development Alliance, providing for a one-year term, providing for advertising, further providing for severability, and further providing for a repealer and effective date of ordinance. And whereas the Natchitoches Economic Development Alliance is a Louisiana not-for-profit corporation, has been designated as a 501 entity, and whereas The city and the Development Alliance both have an interest in promoting economic growth, commerce, and tourism in the city and parish of Natchitoches, Louisiana. And whereas further, the Development Alliance is strategically positioned to support the city in its efforts to grow its tax base by aligning resources and tools to foster an expanding and growing business and industrial sector. And the city desires to assist the Development Alliance in its goal to become the voice of economic development for Natchitoches Parish. And whereas further, the Development Alliance is in need of funds to move forward in its plan to promote economic development in the city and parish of Natchitoches. And the city desires to provide funds in exchange for the services to be provided by Development Alliance. And whereas further, the Development Alliance has presented a memorandum of understanding between City of Natchitoches and Natchitoches Economic Development Alliance, a copy of which is attached here too. And whereas further, under the terms of the agreement, the Development Alliance will provide the following services to the city. Maintain updated professional and useful economic development website for a one-stop information. Be the lead contact for economic development requests for proposals and information, lead the evaluation and development of business and industrial sites, serve as local liaison for business retention and expansion visits in conjunction with LED and NLEP. and provide expertise, experience, and leadership for special projects and initiatives of the administration. Whereas further, in exchange for the above services, the city agrees to the following pay schedule, $45,000 for the fiscal year June 2026 by May 2027. Whereas further, the term of this agreement is one year, and it's for introduction only.

Okay. We've got two representatives from NEDA, the Agonist Economic Development Alliance, Laura Liles and Ms. Leslie Oglesby. So I have y'all want to address, and I think we've got some information as well, Council, that has been laid by where you said. First and last name, Ms. Liles, get into your remarks.

Yes, sir. Thank you for the reminder. I always forget that part. Good evening, Mayor and Councilmembers. Laura Liles, President and CEO of the Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce. And tonight I have my NEDA hat on, and I serve as the Executive Director for the Natchitoches Economic Development Alliance. We have had an agreement and mutually beneficial agreement with the city for some years, far further than how long we've had it with the chamber. But for at least the last three years, we have enjoyed working with the city on a number of items. We did, especially given all of the discussion around economic development over the past month or two through the budgeting process, we did create little bit more of a formal annual report for NEDA just so that everyone had a full picture of the work that we're doing across the parish and within the city. So I don't want to take too much time but I did want to point out a few of the bullet points from the executive summary in your reports and and you have copies in front of you and hopefully you had time to read through those from your email. So I'll take just a moment to read through a few of those items. During the reporting period over the past twelve months, NEDA advanced certification efforts for a new industrial site positioned to compete for future manufacturing and industrial investments. We have a number of certified sites in our parish. They are located in the centerfold of our annual directory and I put those copies out there for you too. We're currently working on a new about 300 acre site that is very accessible at the corner of Highway 6 and I-49. It's premature to say that we'll make it all the way through but our fingers are crossed and we're working very closely with North Louisiana Economic Partnership in the state to advance that so we have another tool in our toolkit to market to industry It is accessible to highway, accessible to utilities, infrastructure, et cetera. And so we feel like this will really improve our marketing package for industrial recruitment. Additionally, we have coordinated with local, regional, and state partners to prepare for the redevelopment and marketing of the former International Paper Red River Mill property. This was a huge blow, of course, to the parish, to the city, and those conversations with IP Corporate are ongoing. They are in the process of putting together a due diligence packet for the entire site. It's about 750 acres. A lot of which is under roof. They have rail access under roof. They have power generation on site. So we have a really great asset. It just takes a long time to get it to the point of marketability. So we're in very close communication with our friends at IP, with the state, and with NLEP to make sure that it is ready to be marketed. We are also managing all of the prospects who are interested in that site. And so we're communicating that with our partners as things develop. The third bullet, expanded workforce development efforts through the Work Natchitoches Summit, a great event where we host high school students to explore career opportunities here at Natchitoches Parish and really help them figure out what path they want to take in our top five industries by employment. We launched a career hub at gonatchitoches.com, our landing page that we've been tasked in our CEA with holding up and making sure that it's relevant and makes the community marketable. We've worked on work-based learning initiatives with our friends in K-12 and higher education to make sure that we have internship and job shadowing opportunities more readily available. And regional workforce partnerships on a regional workforce board. We have facilitated business retention and expansion discussions with many of the parish's largest employers and industrial partners. These are annual meetings that we do in conjunction with our regional partner, NLEP, and the state. It's to really help us identify any needs, any red flags, any ways that we can help them retain employees or, in best case scenarios, expand their facilities, invest in continuing the life of their facilities. It's later in the report, not in the executive summary, but we did have two ITEP, two or three ITEP applications in the past 12 months. Two from Markco and one from Weyerhaeuser. So as long as they are reinvesting in those facilities, then it extends the life and retains those very important critical jobs. We have supported opportunity zone planning, fast sites application, and infrastructure development efforts designed to improve economic competitiveness. NEDA is the designated opportunity zone planner for the parish, and so we are very happy to submit two tracks total for the parish, and that's all we could submit. One large track is in the parish, and one small track is in the city limits. So if those are approved January 1, we'll have new opportunity zones for people to invest their capital gains taxes into redevelopment areas that are in desperate need of redevelopment. So we're happy to play a part in that. The fast sites application, that's a new program. Our state recognizes the importance in investing in site readiness and infrastructure for sites. And so our state legislature has designated $150 million to invest in sites across the state. We worked very closely with Travis Tyler at the port to help him secure, and it was his win for sure, to secure one of those first 19 FASites approvals. So we're very happy to see him get some money from the state in site development. We continued implementation of a retail recruitment strategy through a partnership with NextSite and the city of Natchitoches. We appreciate Natchitoches partnering with us on that for retail recruitment. We have a database of retail space that's available in the city and the parish. It lives at gonatchitoches.com. Leslie Oglesby on our team maintains that for us. And any time we get a prospect who's interested in a retail development, we point them there, we point them to Shawntrail in planning and zoning, and we point them to the tax commission office. But in addition to those vacant properties, there are also developers who are interested in greenfield spaces. And so we're working with landowners and folks in the community, planners, city, parish, et cetera, on any retail development that might make sense for us. And we appreciate the city's partnership on that next site contract. Just a couple more and then I'll stop. We worked alongside public and private partners on strategic planning initiatives impacting economic development, downtown revitalization, tourism entrepreneurship, and community growth. Appreciated the city's support of the targeted industries analysis and the opportunity to participate in that process. Also very much appreciate our tourism partners and their work on a new master plan for the downtown area and our opportunity to participate there as well. And lastly, in the executive summary, and these are the highlights, guys, we represented Natchitoches Parish in regional and statewide economic development initiatives and professional networks. So we are constantly in communication with our regional and state partners. Leslie and I have gone through extensive, and Leslie is continuing to go through professional development in economic development so that we can live up to the name of the designated economic developer for the parish of Natchitoches. And so we could not do this without your support. We appreciate the relationship that we've had for a very long time and appreciate the funding that you guys are considering for a couple of weeks from now. The percentage of our budget that the city's contribution makes up is less now than it was when we didn't have as many partners. We have a number of partners now that are supporting this effort and so we're thankful to have that support from people across the parish and the state. But your contribution still makes up 27% of our annual budget, and so we very heavily rely on it. And I just want to thank you guys for your support thus far. I appreciate your consideration of continued support. And if there's anything I could be greedy and ask for, it is consideration of a three-year CEA rather than a one-year CEA. That is an agreement that was in place with my predecessor and Mayor Williams' predecessor. We've talked about doing it for a number of years, but I've never asked you guys in a formal setting like this. So if it's not able to be done, we completely understand and appreciate the one-year agreement. But a three-year commitment would really help us forecast planning and budgeting and would help us just focus on the work. So I'd be happy to answer any questions that you all have. I have a question. Yes, ma'am.

Okay, with the... lots and everything that you have. Do y'all have any type of infrastructure that y'all have in mind now?

Yes, ma'am. So this is a longer conversation that I'd be happy to have offline. But off the top of my head, some of the things that are very big ticket items that would help us attract business and industry down the road is this certified site that we're moving towards has a couple of access points. But it runs along I-49. And so long-term planning, if we could open up some roadways down I-49 to connect Highway 6 to Highway 478, then you open up a lot more industrial development land, including some school board property and other partners' property that is along Highway 478 and close to another certified site on the other side of the interstate. So that's one of very many examples. That's a big price tag. It would take a lot of coordination, probably from the city and the parish to my parish councilman in the front seat. And we could potentially leverage any support from the city and the parish to go to the state and ask for a larger pot of money to help support that incremental planning.

So do y'all have any type of people that's in big entities looking out for not just housing? I'm talking about like jobs. Yes, absolutely. So that's what I'm referring to. We have someone here with housing. We have several people come with housing, and the majority of them might not like it. but I'm talking about jobs.

Right. I completely understand. Those are the folks that we're targeting as well. Primary jobs lead to secondary jobs like our restaurants, healthcare, education, et cetera. So we are constantly looking for those primary jobs, the job providers, the alliance compressors, the IPs. And I'm thankful to say that our partner out at the Natchitoches Parish Port is a huge asset for us. We remain in very close communication with him. And he's got a strong prospect pipeline at the port. We meet with them on a regular basis with these prospects. And they're in varying stages. So just to give you an idea, one that Leslie and I spoke with last week is looking for a project that would not complete until Q4 of 2028. So they're very long lead time items. We maintain and nurture these relationships for years and years before we actually see a headline where they're going to bring 100 jobs, 200 jobs. But we are in communication with probably two dozen, at least, potential. The funnel looks like this. So we send out RFPs. We take phone calls. We show them where they could be. And then that will narrow down to 10 to 5 we might visit with you know, five in a year, and that might end up with only one of them, or it might end up with none of them, but we have to keep filling that funnel so that we can end up with one of those primary job providers. That is, of course, the goal.

Okay. And you said, I know you quoted on a term, with the term, you say your predecessor beforehand did a whatever and stuff, so has the school board, parish, agreed on any of that predecessor term?

The school board is not currently an investor in NEDA. I don't see that happening anytime soon, given their financial situation, given the IP closure. The parish, I would be very much happy to entertain a conversation. We have been working on building that relationship over time. They too are very budget constrained, and so appreciate the long-term conversation there and dialogue. The folks that make up our top tier of membership are the city, the university. Oh shoot, Leslie, you might have to help me out. Warehouser, the Cane River Waterway Commission. And Cane River Waterway Commission is, I'll be honest with you, the only other entity that does a three-year contract. Everybody else is limited to a one-year.

So has the Northwest State University Did a previous contract? What's the contract with them?

Yes, ma'am. Our investment from Northwestern is at $25,000. We have, I think, $15,000 from the hospital and $10,000 from Weyerhaeuser, $20,000 from the Ken River Waterway Commission. And those are our top-tier investors. And then we have probably eight or so thousand-dollar investors, probably six or so five-thousand-dollar investors. And if we have anybody who's interested in supporting this work in the audience, we would be happy to have a conversation with you.

Yeah. Only reason why, because I'm asking stuff, because you said a three-year contract and stuff, is because long-term and stuff. You know, the resident wants to look at long-term as in inside their community and stuff. So that's the reason why I ask and stuff, because... And District 4, we want long-term, you know, that they can see drainage issues, you know, housing development, things like that, moors and roads. So that's why I asked that. But I greatly appreciate what you're doing.

I appreciate that. Anytime you're able to join us for our need of breakfast, we would love to see you.

Any other questions? You talked about the long term. Like you mentioned the example, like the negotiations, you said it was the end of 2028. Someone was talking about moving forward. And so the negotiations and working with them, the prospects are long-term. Yes, very much so. So to me it only makes sense to have a not year by year because then how can you base your budget off of if you don't know next year you're going to get it when you have something down the road in 2028, for instance. So I get what you're saying. To me it makes sense to have it. I don't think three years is unfair to ask. You're not asking for 15 years, you know. We can't... If it was an amount you're asking for, like if you came saying, can I get... you know, $75,000, you know, which of course would be great, I know. But we couldn't, the budget's already worked out. It would be, but I don't know why we couldn't, Alex, amend this to add the term to three years. Are you listening, Alex?

Yeah, I'm listening to you.

We couldn't do it, we couldn't, the amount we couldn't change with the term.

can we change his term is this is an introduction you have to tell which means to me dollars and i don't have to have them out of town but if they don't have the the money in the terms that's what you missing so you do this is a one-year pocket so you do it three years you gotta have some pockets you can say we give it to them every year and years ago

Probably 10, honestly, far longer than the mayor and I have been here. Tony Davis, prior to me, I think the city was at $50,000 at that time, and Mayor Posey at the time. I think the university was also at $50,000 at that time, and that was the total of the NEDA budget. And so since then, we have gained some other investors and helped minimize the request from a lot of our investors.

So the decrease was like $5,000, because you said it was $50,000. Yes, ma'am.

So our balance went down. And we've been doing it for 10 years.

And don't quote me on 10 years, but I've been at the chamber for seven. So at least seven, I would imagine probably more like 10.

So this investor, it would be you looking for... So basically... What is the money being used for, basically? Explain that.

Yes, ma'am. Well, that's why I started with the report. And to be very clear, if we did not have the support from the city, Leslie would probably not have a job, just to be honest with you.

So where's Leslie?

Leslie Oglesby there in the purple shirt.

Ms. Leslie, can you come up to the polling place? I understand that because I haven't met Leslie and this is a big package and I haven't read it and I know the public wants to know too. explain with Leslie. Ms. Leslie, could you come to the podium, please?

I'm sorry, could I just finish answering the question real quick before we pass it to Leslie? So I started with the activity report to show you what all that we're doing. So I read just a few bullets of the executive summary. I read it.

I want Leslie to speak now. Yes, ma'am. Thank you.

Mayor, if I can, to answer Mr. Harrington's question, if we extend the term from one to three years, we can just add a non-appropriation clause subject to us having the money available. So we can extend it. There's also a separate contract for one year following the budget. But if we add two more years, we just put a non-appropriation clause in.

I think that was Councilwoman Groh's concern if the money going to be there so that makes sense. Yeah. You know, because like you mentioned with the budget, everything is budgeted.

But my thing is this. And I keep stressing, we're putting money, I have certain things that's in certain areas, planning and zoning, public works that need money. Not saying that y'all don't need none either, but these are areas that are in majority of district four. I'm not quoting from whoever else that's up here on the board, but I know the money that y'all trying to allocate somewhere else, I need it in planning and zoning and public works. You know, we all come up here, present, criticizing from which district, from which district, from which term, from which term. This is this term. At this point, everybody wants development. I don't see no development, but every day, Each of us ride in areas. We have a ditch that's overflowing. We have a road that needs to be patched. We have drainage issues. But us sitting up here trying to negotiate a term and some money, allegating and stuff, I'm not in favor for it. If it can't be in public works and planning the zoning, I'm not in favor. And that's all I have to say. But I just wanted you to introduce yourself because I haven't met you, though.

My name is Leslie Oglesby. I'm the manager of economic development research. I've been with the Chamber for a year. Prior to that, I had 20 years of banking experience. I was at Citibank and Trust Company. And I'm a resident of Clarence, Louisiana. And I was the former mayor there.

That's where I met you from.

B. Clarence University. Okay. Pleased to meet you. Nice to meet you. All right.

Yeah, I would just add a couple of remarks here. Laura and I have talked about a three-year agreement, which since I've been mayor, she's already gotten the extension we've done the one year. I don't know when we were at 50,000, but I think when I came in, we were at 40, so we kicked it up the last three years to about 45,000, I think is what we've done. I'm not sure when it dropped to 50. It had to be before I came on board. I like the one year because of accountability, probably what most of your ... I mean, because you only have Canberra Waterway Commission as a three year. I mean, I like the one year because it just keeps us, you know, where we have to come back and this is such an important endeavor to make sure we're being proactive, if you can say it like that, about economic development. Even though she's asked for the three-year, maybe, I don't know, two or three years ago, we've still funded it. So you still get, so far it's still been getting funded without a three-year agreement. So I still would say I prefer the one-year agreement is what I prefer.

So do we have an option, the question, do we have an option to opt out of Even the one-year agreement is what we're saying? Yes, ma'am.

There's a severability clause.

I think with the IP closing and the heightened awareness and the three years of expertise that you guys have shown, I would back the three-year. I think we're all in this together, and it's all about pushing NACADIS forward.

We're not pushing Natives forward with drainage issues. Economic development. No, we're not. The only economic development that Natives had development that I didn't see are restaurants. So long term, but we're talking long term with drainage issues that we didn't have So I don't know what type of negotiation or whatever went on and stuff, but the point is that we as a board needs to look more deeper into roads and to drainage issues that is overflowing. And if we're going to issue any type of more money, we need to be looking at them two down there.

Well, I think, too, that's something our finance department needs to look at, where more money can be funded into these other departments of planning and zoning and Mr. Donald's department. So I think that's something we need to leave up to our finance director for that.

But we actually really are asking our finance director to allocate more money to this.

That's her job.

But that's what I'm saying, though. Why would we ask her to allocate in there? But if we have a term, that's not realizing stuff. The term is asking for more money.

She's saying the term is committing you to more money in the sense that it's more years. Exactly. So that way is what she's saying.

That's exactly what it is, more money. So if this one year term, if you can show the people of Natchitoches that you can come up with some type of development besides a restaurant, then hey, come back. It's a term. We can't go off of what we've seen all the time. Let's move on to the next one.

I think the way we've got it, and Alex, you could help me, it's written as a one-year term, which I fully support that. We could table and discuss more. I don't know if there would be any verbal discussions.

uh... thing i mean just kind of give us the options and we've just been introduced to that and i think that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's We can move forward with the introduction.

It's been introduced.

Mayor, I appreciate your consideration. We have talked about the three. I did not mean to throw Mom in here and walk out. I apologize. Ms. Eli, I would be happy to continue the conversation about the work that we're doing. It is very critical, and we don't have those jobs unless we do this work. So I appreciate all of your support. Thank you for your time today.

And let me just say that I understand what Ms. Eli is saying. I would like to see progress also. I understand we put out money for these projects, researchers and that type of stuff. But I want to see jobs coming here. We lost IP. So we need you all to work on trying to get people to come in and invest in that that's going to provide jobs for people. And that's what we want to see, production. It's coming, I promise. It's coming.

Okay.

Thank you all. All right, again, this would show back up on our July 13th meeting for a final vote, okay? All right, we've got another piece for introduction, and then we'll get to one more, just one resolution. And this one is read by Councilman Nielsen, I think.

Ordinance number 24 of 2026, an ordinance... to end and reenact Section 30-18B, which is located in Article IV of Section 30 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Natchitoches entitled Utilities, said amendment being made to implement a change for electric service rates, providing for advertising, further providing for severability. and further providing for a repealer, whereas the City of Natchitoches provides for electrical rates in Section 30-18 of the Code of Ordinances, which is located in Chapter 30, entitled Utilities, all of the Code of Ordinance of the City of Natchitoches, Louisiana, and whereas further provides for an automatic annual adjustment in electrical rates based upon the change in the consumer price index. And whereas further, this automatic increase in electrical rates will lead to harsh consequences for the citizens of the city of Natchitoches, and it is the desire of the city council of the city of Natchitoches to take steps to reduce the impact. Whereas further, Section 30-18 currently provides after April 30, 2025, the city shall adjust electric rates annually on May 1st of each calendar year based on the change in Consumer Price Index, CPI, for electric maintenance for a 12-month period ending in December of the previous calendar year. as detailed in Table 2, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Customers, U.S. City Averaged by Detailed Expenditure Category, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Whereas further, it's been proposed that Section 30-18 be amended to provide after April 30, 2026, the city shall provide adjust electric rates annually on may first of each calendar year not to exceed the change in consumer price index cpi for electric maintenance for twelve months period ending in december of the previous calendar year as detailed in table two consumer price index for all urban customers u.s city average by detailed expenditure category published by the bureau of Labor Statistics. Whereas further, the City Council of Natchitoches has reviewed the proposed change and agrees that the amendment to Section 3018 of the Code of Ordinances is in the best interest of the City of Natchitoches and its citizens and will help alleviate the possibility of an unexpected large rate increase in electrical rates. Whereas further, the City Council of the City of Natchitoches, Louisiana desires to amend and reenact Section 3018 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Natchitoches to provide for a change in electrical rate increases based upon the CPI and now therefore be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Natchitoches, Louisiana As follows, Section 1, Section 3018 of Code Ordinances of the City of Natchitoches is hereby amended and reenacted to amend subsection 3018, which shall read, after April 30, 2026, the city shall adjust electric rates annually on May 1st of each calendar year not to exceed the change in consumer price index for electric maintenance for the 12-month period ending in December of the previous calendar year as detailed in Table 2, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Customers, CPI-U, U.S. City Average by Detail Expenditure Category published by the Bureau Labor Statistics, BLS, all ordinance as part of ordinances in conflict herein and hereby repealed. If any portion of this ordinance is declared to be invalid or unconstitutional in any manner, the invalidity shall be limited to that particular section or provision and shall not affect the remaining portions of the ordinance, which shall remain valid and enforceable. it being the intention of the city council that each specific provision shall be deemed independent of all other provisions herein. And the ordinance shall go into effect upon publication in accordance with law. And this is for introduction.

Okay, that's a lot there. But just to put it in layman's terms, when we were deliberating internally about this this year, there's some questions about the language as it's written. When we were talking about this in 22 and 23, it wasn't our intent. I know Clarissa, Matt was the utility director at the time, and Council, y'all were involved in some of those discussions as well. The intent wasn't to have it written so that, so I think CPI is a good thing, just from a business standpoint, but there are those who think that the way it's written now is saying that we have to get it to what the official CPI is. And we just think that that's unbearable to our residents, businesses. So I think when you think about water and sewer and electrical rates, I think the official CPI is, It combines, you put them all together, 10%. That would be a 10% increase on top of what gas is doing, which is not our fault. It's not our problem. It's not something we made happen like that. But again, just thinking about the residents, honestly, that is too much of an increase, we felt. So it's more of a clean up the language type deal so that we could have some flexibility. that NAATC language that you see there. Previously it was that shell, which some would say is written as if you have to raise it to that. And again, I just think that that's not what our intent was to do. So any questions or comments, certainly try my best to answer, but that's really all this particular piece is. We did have the CPI in there, which I think is good, but don't think it should bind us to something that might be 15%. Again, that's very unreasonable.

Yeah, I have a concern from some residents that called. They were concerned that this was raising rates for them, and I tried to explain it's not raising rates. So I'm glad you made that clarification.

This is amending the ordinance that did that, but it amended it to be more favorable to the residents and to the businesses, actually.

Right. How do we get around, because I see that it says in April 25 it went into effect that it said it shall be based on the change in the CPI effective May 1st. So that would have been 2025 and 2026. We haven't done 2026 yet. Was it adjusted to the CPI on 25?

Water and sewer was. We didn't do electrical because of the new LEFA agreement. Didn't know what that would do, and I think that ended up being a wise decision because those rates, beyond our control, went up. So we didn't do electrical because of that reason, but we did do water and sewer CPI.

What about 26?

26 is now, so that's why we have this legislation. We didn't do it what May 1 because we were deliberating internally about shale and all of that, and we thought we needed to come back before the council to get it, clean up the language so that there would be some flexibility. Instead of doing the 10%, maybe you land at a 5% or something lower than that, you know.

So you're saying electric rates will go up or will not go? That's what I want to understand.

Well, based on, this goes back to the 23 legislation that allows for CPI to be a part of it. So, yeah, CPI is a part of what we do now since 2020. Well, I guess it became effective in 25, but we originally put the legislation in in 23.

So in lay terms, this basically caps it holds it under the CPI, but it still says we shall go up, correct?

Yeah, so the original one said that the city shall adjust the rates to the CPI. And the Louisiana Supreme Court's ruled that shall means mandatory. So it shall be, and it says, the original one says based on the change of the CPI. So it means shall, whatever, that's what you're talking about. If it went up

Do we have to go up?

You had to go up 10%. You had to. And so the change says, it still says shall adjust the rates. And it took out the based on CPI. And the only change is it took out based on and added not to exceed. So no longer is it based on the CPI. So we still have to go up. It's not to exceed.

You still have to, but give you flexibility so that you don't do it if the CPI happens to be.

If it goes up an insane amount.

Yeah.

If the CPI, for whatever reason, went up 20%, well, before, we would have to go up 20%. It's a tough, because that kind of means, I guess, that the cost of everything goes up, too. That's true.

So it means you kind of miss out on some stuff, but you don't want to put all that on. I know. It's tough.

So is that yearly? Annually? Yes, annually.

I mean, technically, 2026, May 1st, it was supposed to be increased.

So how much would it possibly be? I think Director Torres-Brown would speak.

It was over 10% combined. So I just want to make sure that we are clear, and I know you guys have stated this. I'm not restating it. I just want to make sure that everybody's clear that this is not saying that we're going to go up automatically to whatever. that max is, CPI is a recommendation every year on pretty much every industry in the entire world. This just says, this cleans it up to where we don't have to go, that we can increase it, but it doesn't have to be to that max point. So even us looking at our budget saying that we need a half cent more to cover any type of increase. cost of supplies or maintenance or upkeep, then we can make that judgment. But we don't have to go all the way up to the max because the max will may create a burden on our constituents. So that's what we're trying not to do. This is actually in favor because if And I'm not saying which way to vote, but as it sits right now, you're at the point where you have to go unless you veto that whole ordinance, which I don't think that we are sitting at that point. This helps us move forward in a positive manner in regards to us thinking through the impact of rate increases annually. But we don't want to get to where we don't increase rates for 20-something years like we were before. and then you have such a large gap and you're trying to catch up, and then there is some type of immediate heavy impact to our constituents. What we want to do is to be able to chomp at it bit by bit each year. So when we go through this? What do you mean?

We're not going over it right now.

The CPI is in there. The CPI is in there.

So what the CPI is?

consumer price index. It tells us based on the cost of everything, this is how you should adjust your rates.

And this inflation is what it means.

Well, dollar amount can't be depicted because it's based on percentages. That's what the CPI gives you and says that cost has risen for this particular industry, 8%, you should absorb that or somehow close that gap because that's where your cost increase will sit at for the next upcoming year. That's what the CPI tells us. And right now, as it's written, it's telling us that yes, you have to increase the rates by that amount because you have to be able to cover the cost. But we're saying we may not want to do that because there may be a negative impact. And that wasn't in the 10 either. Yeah, so what we're saying is we are more than likely can't say guaranteed, hopefully I'm not biting off more than I can chew, more than likely won't go to the max because we're always considering the impact on our constituents.

But you don't lose all that ground.

But you don't lose all that ground. And the CPI is a national thing. So of course, we're in different price structure than other cities. So you also take that into consideration, because that is an average over the entire nation. That 8% may not be needed for a negative, right? It may be 1%, it may be a half percent. So that's why we want that flexibility so we're not mandated to take that full amount.

Go ahead.

How will we come up with an amount? Like if the costs are increasing for, you know, water and sewer? I mean, how... How are we going to, I mean, is he, are there utilities? Does he have a reserve in utilities?

There is a reserve in utilities. And what you take, what you look at is budgetary-wise, what are your needs? Budgetary-wise, what is your previous 12-month history on spending? what that increase in cost was, do we have any shortfalls with maintenance, or do we have any infrastructure shortfalls, and we take and we look at what that is estimated to be, and then we look at, okay, do we pass that on to the constituents through that rate increase and not succeed the CPI, or do we absorb it?

Yeah, so if he came and said, you know, I need, and it came out at 3%, with the CPI only increased 2%, no, we can't go above that.

We can't do that, yeah.

With the new language.

Right, exactly, yes, sir.

So how do we get around? I don't see how we get around. This is, I guess, Alex, a question for you too. May 1st, the original language was still in effect. It doesn't matter that they were negotiating changing it. That was in effect where it said it shall increase based on that. So how do we get around to not increasing it?

Calculating it for one month on the CPI and then reverting to this original language, potentially.

But it says on May 1st of each calendar year.

Right. I mean, what am I, in June?

Yeah, June.

Yeah, I have to look at that. Whether or not we have to increase it for 30 days and then apply it as new ordinance. I wouldn't think so, but I'll take a look at it for you.

And just to make note, so this ordinance says April 30th of 2026. So it's after April 30th of 2026. It'll be adjusted on May 1st. So I think, like you're saying, if we do one month of the CPI as it would have stood at that point, and then we revert back to whatever we decide is an adequate level.

Mm-hmm.

So what would that first month, what would that dollar amount be? That's what I'm asking. We haven't calculated it.

The usage is different, and the CPI is based on a percentage. So we'll go back and look at what that percentage is. But for everybody, it'll be different because everybody's usage is different. But this is only affecting your base amount. This is not affecting the... The variable rate, this is only the base amount that this would affect. So I want to make that clear as well because our variable rate comes from just the cost of the fuel or the cost of electricity. The bill that we get from LEPA, that's how we determine that variable rate. But this is only the base rate. that this will affect.

Once you figure it out, is this going to be on a bill? Customs get on a bill that they'll have to pay that increase?

Well, we want to, in this introduction, I don't want to put out anything that is not what is going to be no false narrative, nothing like that. We would need to go back and look with the help of the attorney.

When it's possible, maybe we can put some retroactive language in it. This is new. I just need to look at it. We made it retroactive. Cover that 30 days. Make sure we can do that.

And again, like I said, what's before us today is actually favorable to the residents, to the businesses, because there are some who think that the way it's written now, you have to go to that 10 or 11 percent. And so, amending This would be just for introduction, but amending it, that original ordinance 2023 would be favorable to the residents and to the businesses.

Mr. Mayor, this is written the way it is now just for the electrical rates. It needs to, we need to, I guess, make a motion or vote to.

Yeah, we need a motion to include water and sewer rates so we have them all combined.

Yeah, so you have that same flexibility, you know.

For all of you two.

Just one bill.

I would make that motion to amend it to include water and sewer. But I would also like to throw out there, is there any need to put into this ordinance frequency for a rate study for all of them to make sure that we're you know it was the rate study that prompted the original ordinance because we waited so long before we before we raised the rate and you know we kind of knee-jerk reaction and we went too far one way and And the word shall got us, now we're going the other way. But checks and balances, it looks like we're going to have an unpredictable hurricane season, and I'm a little nervous on reserves. I want to make sure we've got enough in utilities for poles and wire and labor and what are the reserves.

So you're saying, Dale, you're saying you want to make sure we do rate studies on a more consistent basis? Is that what you're saying?

Well, just I want to make sure we don't get in the – because we're going back the other way where we're not as intent on keeping up with rate increases. I don't think so. So we need to be watching what is the market.

Well, I just think the intent wasn't to let it be to a level to where – I think when we all talked about it, certainly Matt, Clarissa, and I, and to the extent that y'all were involved in those conversations, the intent wasn't to get it to a point to where it was going to be unbearable.

Right. I get that. But if we're going to rewrite it, we might as well cover our bases.

You're right. We can look up and see what's the industry standard for rate analysis. Yeah.

It was every 10 years, five years, three years, five years.

Now, with water sector, we did have to... With water sector, I know we had to go through... Are we going through a water study right now? Water rate study? Yeah, so because of the water sector grant, we have to go through that with that one. But electrical, there's no mandate necessarily right now for that.

So the water about to go up to it?

That's just to say that they're doing a water rate study. It's just a study.

That is just to keep us in compliance with the ARPA guidelines with that particular grant that we received in the water sector. So that's why. So that's what he said. We actually went through one with water, but that was just to keep us in compliance with

The water sector grant, yeah.

So I just got what's going on before we can move on to the next one. So this actually really is to, like you say, protect us. So we don't know exactly what that amount's going to be or when it's going to be, basically.

We'll know what it won't exceed, and we'll know when it will be applied. So based on the ordinance, it will always be applied May 1st of that year. And then as far as what it will be, we can always, I mean, that's not going to be like private information. We can always share the analysis that we do in-house, you know, to come up to determine that. But like a dollar amount, I can't tell you what that would be because every year is different. The CPI index doesn't recommend the same percentage increase every year. It's based on the actual cost inflation.

Ms. Rose, this year's index was 6.3% on electrical only. It was a 6.3% increase on the CPI. Based on 1,000 KW, that would have been a $39 bill. Oh, I mean, excuse me. It's sitting at 3.9 cents per KW right now. So it's 3.9 cents per KW per 1,000 KW is $39. That's strictly electric. That's not water and sewer. A year, you mean? A month. A month. That's what the average bill at 1,000 KW is. If it went up 6.3%, as the CPI said, at $1,000 KW, it would be a $2 increase per month. Oh, I see what you're saying. That's on the base rate. That's on the base. That's on the base. So if you did that by $1,500 KW, you're looking at a $4 increase.

That's still too high.

Well, that's what we're trying to get at.

Based on the last legislation, you would have had to do it. Right.

You wouldn't be demanding.

This says you got to do.

Yeah. So that's what I was, you know.

Yeah.

Yeah, we're trying to say.

So that's what I was, you know, saying and stuff. So before we go on to the next one, so before anything actually really be implemented on anybody. bill and if we come up with something or have to, you know, can we all have a special call meeting to make sure that we just not putting a bill out there? Because I know we're like a month behind.

Well, we don't have to vote on it. Like, it doesn't have to come before council because you'll have this ordinance in place. But, again, like I said, it's not going to be a secret. It can be shared, you know, of course. But it doesn't have to be. actually folded on by the council and that was the you know the reason for it the way it was originally that it didn't just you know have to keep because we got to get behind and you just widen the gap so is there any way that we could put it in there that it come before us or no for the increase i don't think it can't come for us so can it come for us

I wouldn't think you would want it to come before you.

I would if it was going to be an increase. I want to vote on it.

I want to vote to say, yeah, no, if I want the citizen to get it.

So I want to say no because I don't want them to get it. And that's why I wanted it to come for me to make that decision. I don't know about the rest.

By us being here with this legislation, we have the mindset to not have – that's the whole point of this legislation – We don't want it to be unbearable.

I want, you know, more as in to see if we can add that in there, that it come before us to where we can do it. You know, we've been behind, you know, everybody, and I'm going to leave it from what I got to say on this, and then we're going to move on to the next one. We've been behind 20-some years, way back then, and it wouldn't hurt us then. It wouldn't hurt us now because some of us, like I potentially said, a lot of our residents work in two jobs. barely going to afford them bills. So as a council member that they voted in, I want to make sure that it comes before me and I make the decision. And they already know. The answer is no.

Okay, so look, we got a motion from Councilman Nielsen to add this language to the wardens who are again, which will be beneficial to the residents. To the residents. So... I didn't hear a second, though.

I didn't make a second.

All right. I didn't see what could we add. That motion is second. All right. Any discussions? This is just the way it's written, it says the electrical is a not to exceed, that you had that shell language. It gives more flexibility so that you can make a decision, and it doesn't have to be what the actual CPI like we've been discussing. Okay. Any comment about that?

What language are you adding in, Dale? I don't know.

that not to exceed is added to the water.

The way it's now, it's only on electrical, but it needs to be added to the other utility. I got you.

That's the motion that you made. Right.

All right.

Chris, you're second. Second. We got a motion to second.

All right.

On that amendment, roll call vote.

Eli. Yes. Nielsen. Yes. Smith-Kirkendall. Yes. Harrington. Yes. Petey. Yes.

All right, that motion carries to add that to it, again, giving us the flexibility, again, which will be favorable to the residents, all right? So, look, if there are any questions, just reach out to myself or, you know, you can reach out to me, and we'll certainly answer them, any concerns about this legislation. It's only for introduction tonight, so we'll be dealing with it on the 13th, okay? All righty, and we have one last piece, and I think this is why Nick is here. All right, it's a resolution dealing with the street project we got going, and Councilman PT is handling this one.

Thank you, Mayor. Resolution number 046 of 2026, a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute change order number one to the contract between the city of Natchitoches and Skyplex Truck and LLC. for the second street and two-line street concrete pavement replacement, whereas the City of Niagara executed a contract with Skyplex Trucking LLC for construction on this project with a contract amount of $2,315,156, whereas issues have been identified with the planned drainage structures that have resulted in a need for revisions to the construction plans. the contract item, whereas the city engineer drafted change order number one, dated June 15, 2026, in the amount of $11,928 to provide for these changes. Mayor, I want to make a motion to adopt this resolution, number 046. Second.

Motion seconded. Nick, why don't you just come on up, sir. Y'all see the work has started already. Y'all see it started.

Yes, sir. Nick Barrett, city engineer. Yeah, do you have the diagrams that I sent Steve? So in the process of reviewing the shop drawings for the catch basins, which is those are the structures that collect the water that goes into the storm drain pipes, if you would go to the next slide. There you go. Please excuse my hand drawings there. I couldn't find my circle template when I put this together. But anyway, the top drawing shows that if you just consider the pavement elevations and the flow line elevations of the drainage structures, there did appear to be sufficient cover over the top of those pipes in order to construct the pavement. However, if you look at the bottom sketch there, actually in the fabrication of the catch basin structures, you really need to allow for the depth of the catch basin top and the frame And when you do that, you actually have insufficient cover over the pipes. So what this change order does, it provides for a change of the catch basin types and also reduction of the pipe sizes in order to be able to construct the storm drains that we're putting in under this project. One of the issues is if you're building something brand new then you can kind of establish elevations of pavements and drainage structures and that kind of thing. But in this case, we're dropping in a new section of pavement and new drainage structures in just a part of Second Street. And we have all the other drainage systems that go there. And so we have to match elevations of pavements to the adjacent area that we're not working in. We have to match the full-line elevations of the drainage structures in order for them to drain. And so the bottom line is we had to make these changes in what was in the plans in order to be able to construct the project. So we went to a different type of catch basin that does not require the same depth for the top and the frame. We went to some smaller structures, which are actually larger than the ones that exist now. So we do not feel that we'll have any issues in terms of adequate drainage. So this is one of the things that is covered in this change order. The second thing, if you put up the other diagram, and it's going to be hard for me. Well, I can't. We don't have a laser pointer, I guess. If you'll notice there, there are two structures that this is the intersection of Second Street at Two Line. The horizontal line is for Two Line and there are two drainage structures there that have catch basins that will have drainage pipes that tie to the existing storm drains that will remain in place. In the plans there were no provisions for tying in those new storm drain pipe to the existing structure and so there's work involved there in breaking holes into the existing drainage structures, grounding around them, pouring concrete collars and doing those things. That was really an omission in the plans, and again, we have to have a way to tie those new pipes into the existing drainage structures. So that's the two things that we're accomplishing in change order number one. Total cost is $11,928. The state is paying 75% of that cost, which is $8,900. So the city, our cost contribution to this change order is just over $2,000. So bottom line is we can't build the project without making these changes. So we're asking for your consideration. The state has already approved the change order. And approve the $8,900 contribution. They're 75%. So we're asking for your consideration for the city's share of the cost.

It's only $2,982 that we would have to come up with, which is good. They're doing 75%. That's great.

Did you say the state is covering?

The state is covering 75%. Of the change order, too. Yes, of the change order, too.

That's good. We only come up with a small amount.

Almost as good as the airport. Almost.

Good project. Happy to have it going. Finally see it moving.

Finally see it moving. We, of course, had to close Second Street, that portion today. Yeah, I had to. It's going to be some inconvenience for about three weeks as we close that section from Church Street to Trudeau. When they finish that section, they'll move to the next section from Trudeau to Two Line and then start working down Two Line.

Just a quick question. You may have said it and I didn't hear it. How long did you say that project was going to take on Second Street?

It's 210 contract days. which if you just, it's calendar day, so it's about seven months, but they should be done well before seven months. If they're not finished in seven months, they're losing lots of money. So they have a vested interest in trying to get the project completed as well. And, of course, our interest is to lessen the exposure and the inconvenience to folks and then to get everything done well before we have Christmas festivals and all those kinds of things. So we feel like there's not going to be any issues in completing it well ahead of schedule.

And I say this, the thing about Nick and our private emails, he's always considering those cultural things we have on. He knows Christmas Fest and other festivals are important. So he's always thinking about, you know, we've got to get these projects done, right? But we also know that... You know, what this city is built upon type of thing. So I just give him credit on that.

I'm sorry. One of the issues that was identified when we talked about the project at a previous council meeting was even like the antique car show. So we feel like with the phasing that we have now that will be completed on 2nd Street, and, you know, we should be able to accommodate everything for that. And on two lines. So... Uh, if, if necessary, we'll hold them off on that section of two line. Uh, but it's very possible we'll have it all done. Yes, ma'am.

And I, and I know this is leading towards the bridge. The situation is kind of the big picture, the big picture.

So what's as of right now, uh, DOTD is still saying, uh, a project letting for the church street bridge of July of next year.

Have there been some emails about the lighting or something?

The lighting, we're working with DOTD. The lighting that's on the structure now does not meet the current DOTD illumination standards. So we're working. We have hired a consultant to do the illumination study and to find us some alternatives. And, in fact, they have identified some. some alternatives that look very close to what we have out there now that will meet the illumination standard. So we've kind of circulated that among a few folks to just get some initial feedback, but we'll send that, you know, once we kind of get a consensus with the group that we've shared it with, we'll send it to all of y'all and let y'all look at that as well.

And that's on the Church Street Bridge?

That's on the new Church Street Bridge, yes. We have to have a permit from DOTD, so we have to meet their standards. What's out there now, how it got put there, and whether it was permitted. I think actually the DOTD standards have changed in that period of time. It has been a long time. It has been a while, yes, sir.

Okay. Any other questions for Nick? Any questions from the audience about this? All right. Seeing none, Mrs. Hamilton, roll call vote.

Eli? Yes. Nielsen? Yes. Smith-Kirkendall? Yes. Harrington? Yes. PT? Yes.

All right, motion carries. I appreciate that. So it's going to put us out a little bit, but it's a really good project. All right, we, the 13th, July 13th is our next meeting, okay?

All right, Steve, you got some announcements?

Yeah. Hurricane season is here, so download, regroup. Also, the Golden Agate shop. And so Friday, July 3rd, city offices will be closed for Independence Day. Okay? All right. I think we've got this updated to include Patrick Harris. I believe so. I don't know. Maybe not. But... We do have one that's out there with Patrick Harris. I'm calling this America 250 in Natchitoches. You know, we kind of had three things back to back. And so we just really would ask people to push these things as hard as they can because it's kind of awkward advertising three events back to back. But anyhow, we want to really push this one. We've got local talent. I think it's going to be a great, great night. with Patrick Harris coming up first, then Trini Triggs, then Johnny Earthquake and the Moon Dogs. In between Trini and Johnny Earthquake, we are doing what we call honoring our hometown heroes, if you will. So we're basically looking at people who work in city government in some capacity. They may be law enforcement, may be fire department, or any other department. But they served in the military previously, but we just want to recognize them as hometown heroes. So we'll have them on stage. We'll call them out, shout them out, cheer them on. Stuff like that that we'll do. We'll have a little something that we'll give them and provide them from the city. But looking for a really good night for that. We didn't do that today. All right, so then the next deal. We did put out a press release on this one today. So it's great. Sports Hall of Fame weekend is this particular weekend. We've got, of course, locally Coach McConathy. I mean, everybody knows Coach McConathy and what he's meant to do. the university, Southland Conference, and Hackettish itself. You know, and there are some other names there. Now, for me, being a Saints fan that I am, Joe Horn is the biggest name that I see up there. But I know people may know Todd McClure. He was, I think, was he defense? I think he was offense. Was he offense? And then Joe Brady was an LSU men's basketball coach, right?

Sylvia Fowler was a big women's basketball player.

Oh, okay.

Sylvia.

Oh, big into women's basketball. And she went to LSU? Okay. Good deal. So, look, I think a really good class that we have here. We've got the lineup that welcome reception is free and open to the public. Several of these events are open to the public, free. And it gives you an opportunity to meet these celebrities, these people who had some really prolific careers in their respective sport, or maybe it's an area of writing, sports writing. But Thursday, the welcome reception, there's hors d'oeuvres that are going to be served. It's open to the public. It's going to be at the Sports Hall of Fame. On Friday night, there's a free concert, the Rockin' River Fest that's happening, taking place. Fireworks are going to be on that night. You'll get the inductee introductions and things of that nature, food trucks and things like that, a big kid zone. And then Saturday morning is a free event as well. That's the junior training camp for our youth. So that's always a pretty cool event. They have basketball training. They have football training. And our youth get to interact with these inductees. Look, that happens nowhere else in Louisiana but right here. So that's a big deal. So it's important that we come out and support it on these free events that we wrap our arms around, the Sports Hall of Fame. Again, you just ought to feel fortunate to have that in our city, okay? And then we're also looking at the fourth annual Zydeco Food Truck. So we've got another busy weekend. So the Sports Hall of Fame this weekend, Friday and Saturday, also the Zydeco Food Truck on Fairgrounds is going to be this Friday and Saturday. I know Friday they're having TK Soul, I think, right? It is a ticketed event, but TK Soul is Friday, and I think Chris Otter won on Saturday. I think I got that right. It might be flipped, but they're going to be here this weekend, okay, for that. All right? So, okay, look, we've got, what is this, Louisiana Legal Navigator. So there's a justice bus route, Natchitoches Parish Library, July 21st, and that's going to be 11 to 1 p.m. And, look, I'll say this. Our Natchitoches Parish Library, they do things like this all the time. I don't know what other communities, what the libraries are doing, but our library is You know, they're doing an awesome job, and they need their funding. So we definitely need to reconsider that. I think that will come back. But this and other things, they have the reading program that they do. They've had petting zoos and things like that out there. So I know people are angry about everything, say no on everything. But our library does a really good job, so we should reconsider that one. All right? Okay, that's it. All right, that's what we got. Look, we had a really good weekend. Juneteenth was really great. The parade was awesome. Shot a little basketball. Y'all may have not seen, I made Clarissa fall on the ground when I crossed over. She had the youngsters on her team. So P.T. and I are on the same team again this year, but everybody was 40 and older, but I'm not going to say the same for her team, but anyway. All right, but please, those events that are coming up, Sports Hall of Fame, the Food Truck Festival, and America 250 in the architecture, make sure we support those, tell people about them. We'll be pushing them hard on our Facebook, all right? If that's nothing else, we'll hear a motion to adjourn at this time.

I'll make a motion that we adjourn.

Second.

All right, motion made and seconded.

All in favor, say aye.

Thank you all. This meeting is adjourned. See you all at the next meeting on July 13th.