PROCEEDINGS OF THE MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF BREAUX BRIDGE HELD AT THE CITY HALL, 101 BERARD STREET, AT 6:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2023.
Mayor Ricky Calais called the meeting to order, the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance were recited.
PRESENT: Ryan Breaux, Scotty Borel, Albert Menard, Neil Melancon and Eddy LeBlanc.
ABSENT: None
Monthly budget-to-actual comparisons of the General Funds, Sales Tax Funds, Park and Recreation Fund, and Utility Funds were distributed to the councilmen and Mayor.
Upon motion of Ryan Breaux, duly seconded by Eddy LeBlanc and unanimously carried, the Board of Aldermen approved the addition of two items to the agenda:
Item #18: Adopt a Resolution in support of a regional juvenile detention center.
Item #19: Authorize Domingue Szabo and Associates to begin design work for the Mills Extension Project.
Upon motion of Neil Melancon, duly seconded by Eddy LeBlanc and unanimously carried, the Board of Aldermen removed the following item from the agenda:
Item #7: Consider creating a parking lot on City property west of City Hall.
Upon motion of Albert Menard and duly seconded by Scotty Borel and unanimously carried, the Board of Aldermen approved the minutes of March 14, 2023 meeting.
Upon motion of Albert Menard, duly seconded by Ryan Breaux, Scotty Borel, Neil Melancon and Eddy LeBlanc, the Board of Aldermen authorized Mayor Calais to fund the City’s portion of the signage for the Teche Project.
Upon motion of Ryan Breaux, duly seconded by Neil Melancon and unanimously carried, the Board of Aldermen approved the request to name “Champagne’s Bakery’s Pink Cookie” as the official cookie of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana.
Upon motion of Ryan Breaux, duly seconded by Albert Menard and unanimously carried, the Board of Aldermen authorized the construction of the Veteran’s Park Flag Plaza.
Upon motion of Scotty Borel, duly seconded by Eddy LeBlanc and unanimously carried, the Board of Aldermen authorized the improvements to Carl Williams Park.
Upon motion of Scotty Borel, duly seconded by Albert Menard and unanimously carried, the Board of Aldermen authorized the Mayor to execute the necessary documents to abandon the undeveloped portion of the Ruby Drive right-of-way.
Upon motion of Albert Menard, duly seconded by Ryan Breaux, and unanimously carried, the Board of Aldermen adopted a Resolution proclaiming April 2023 to be Fair Housing Month in the City of Breaux Bridge.
STATE OF LOUISIANA
City of Breaux Bridge
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, during the month of April, is an occasion for all Americans – individually and collectively – to rededicate themselves to the principle of freedom from housing discrimination wherever it exists; and
WHEREAS, this law guarantees for each citizen that critical, personal element of freedom of choice – selection of the home, and
WHEREAS, a fair housing law has been passed by the State of Louisiana, and implementation of the law requires the positive commitment, involvement and support of each of our citizens, and
WHEREAS, the department and agencies of the State of Louisiana are to provide leadership in the effort to make fair housing not just an idea, but an ideal for all our citizens, and
WHEREAS, barriers that dimmish the rights and limit the options of any citizen to freely choose a home will ultimately diminish the rights and limit the options of all;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED; the City of Breaux Bridge does hereby proclaim the month of April 2023 as
FAIR HOUSING MONTH
In the City of Breaux Bridge
______________________
Ricky J. Calais, Mayor
City of Breaux Bridge
Upon motion of Albert Menard, duly seconded by Neil Melancon and unanimously carried, the Board of Aldermen adopted a Resolution setting the millage rates for the 2023 tax year.
CITY OF BREAUX BRIDGE
RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED, that the following millage(s) are hereby levied on the 2023 tax roll on all property subject to taxation by the City of Breaux Bridge:
MILLAGE
General Alimony 4.230 mills 5140001
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the proper administrative officials of the Parish of St. Martin, State of Louisiana, be and they are hereby empowered, authorized, and directed to spread said taxes, as hereinabove set forth, upon the assessment roll of said Parish for the year 2023, and to make the collection of the taxes imposed for and on behalf of the taxing authority, according to law, and that the taxes herein levied shall become a permanent lien and privilege on all property subject to taxation as herein set forth, and collection thereof shall be enforceable in the manner provided by law.
The foregoing resolution was read in full, the roll was called on the adoption thereof, and the resolution was adopted by the following votes:
YEAS: Ryan Breaux, Scotty Borel, Albert Menard, Neil Melancon, Eddy LeBlanc
NAYS: None
ABSTAINED: None
ABSENT: None
CERTIFICATE
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and exact copy of the resolution adopted at the board meeting held on April 11, 2023, at which meeting a quorum was present and voting.
Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, this 12th day of April, 2023.
__________________________ ________________________
Kristi LeBlanc, City Clerk Ricky Calais, Mayor
Upon motion of Albert Menard, duly seconded by Neil Melancon and unanimously carried, the Board of Aldermen accepted the recommendation of the City Engineers to reject the bid by NCMC, LLC in the amount of $5,627,000 for the wastewater treatment plant upgrade.
Upon motion of Albert Menard, duly seconded by Ryan Breaux and unanimously carried, the Board of Aldermen opened a Public Hearing for Ordinance #2282 (An ordinance to amend Chapter 23 of the Code of Ordinances, the Zoning Ordinance, by the repeal, amendment, revision, enactment, and/or re-enactment of Section 23-4.30 regarding general zoning regulations applicable to all zoning districts, concerning regulation of buildings and structures, size, and location thereof, and restrictions with respect to building materials on exterior walls and matters relating thereto.)
Planning and Zoning director, Jeremy Broussard explained that the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the approval of this Ordinance regarding Sec. 23-4.30: metal wall panels on exterior walls of dwellings. He read the following from the ordinance: “No dwelling shall have exposed metal wall panels on any exterior wall that faces a public right of way. Regulations in this ordinance shall apply to residential dwellings only; not accessory buildings.”
Mayor Calais stated that his opinion on this issue was to follow the example of Carencro’s Ordinance which reads as follows: “No dwelling shall have exposed metal wall panels on any exterior wall.” He said that having only the brick façade on the wall facing the street would not solve the problem as anyone would be able to see the sides of many of the buildings from the street as well.
Alderman LeBlanc agreed with the Mayor’s statements and also said that this Ordinance would protect subdivisions.
Mr. Broussard stated that the question was whether the Board wanted to have dwellings with metal panels exposed. If they did not want this for the City, then the Ordinance Mayor Calais read would be the best option.
Alderman Breaux asked if this would only apply to residential dwellings. Mr. Broussard confirmed that it would only apply to residential dwellings, not accessory buildings, shops, etc. and further clarified that it only applied to exterior walls and would not put any added restrictions on roofing.
Alderman Melancon agreed that it should be simple language that metal panels should not be exposed. He also said that he had not been able to read the Ordinance in advance of the meeting and that he would have liked to have had more time to read and process what was being proposed. Due to this, he said that he would like this Ordinance to be tabled until the next meeting to allow for more time to consider.
Attorney Bart Hebert explained that the Aldermen can change or even discard the Ordinance at the table if they see fit.
At this time a member of the public asked to speak. He wanted to know if the “barndominium” he was currently constructing which included exposed metal panels on the sides of the structure would not be allowed in the City of Breaux Bridge if this Ordinance were to pass. The Mayor and Board answered that he would not be allowed to build the structure as described in the city limits if this Ordinance were to pass. The citizen expressed his discontent that the City allows portable buildings to operate as businesses, but would not allow a structure as he described to be built as a dwelling.
Mayor Calais reiterated his position on this issue was that the Council should approve an Ordinance stating that no metal panel walls be exposed on residential dwellings.
Upon motion of Albert Menard, duly seconded by Neil Melancon and unanimously carried, the Board of Aldermen Closed the Public Hearing for Ordinance #2282.
Alderman Menard motioned that Council table the Ordinance for two months before taking action. There being no second, the motion died.
Upon motion of Neil Melancon, duly seconded by Albert Menard and unanimously carried, the Board of Aldermen tabled action on Ordinance #2282 until the May 2023 City Council Meeting.
Upon motion of Albert Menard, duly seconded by Ryan Breaux and unanimously carried, the Board of Alderman adopted a Resolution proclaiming the week of April 10-14 to be Community Development Week in the City of Breaux Bridge.
STATE OF LOUISIANA
City of Breaux Bridge
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, the Community Development Block Grant Program has operated since 1974 to provide local governments with the resources required to primarily meet the needs of low and moderate income persons; and
WHEREAS, the Community Development Block Grant Program is among the few remaining federal programs available to address the needs of low and moderate income persons and small cities; and
WHEREAS, the Community Development Block Grant Program has provided the state of Louisiana with the important and flexible assistance to meet the needs of low and moderate income residents of small cities by funding sewer, water and street improvements projects, economic development projects and other public improvement projects; and
WHEREAS, Congress and the nation acknowledge the critical value of the Community Development Block Grant Program and the significant projects that rely on its funds for support; and
WHEREAS, the week of April 10-14, 2023, has been reserved for recognition and appreciation of the Community Development Block Grant Program.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED; the City of Breaux Bridge does hereby proclaim the week of April 10-14, 2023 as:
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEEK
In the City of Breaux Bridge
______________________
Ricky J. Calais, Mayor
City of Breaux Bridge
Upon motion of Ryan Breaux, duly seconded by Neil Melancon and unanimously carried, the Board of Aldermen adopted a Resolution in support of opening a regional juvenile detention center.
Alderman Eddy LeBlanc motioned that the Board of Aldermen authorize the Mayor to allow Domingue Szabo and Associates to begin design work for the Mills Extension Project and establish that this would be a City-funded project.
Alderman Menard made a substitute motion that the Board of Aldermen only authorize the Mayor to allow Domingue Szabo and Associates to begin design work on the Mills Extension Project, but not to authorize him to inform the Acadiana Planning Commission that the project will be City-funded. Alderman Borel seconded the motion, and a roll call vote was called. The results were as follows:
District A: No
District B: No
District C: Yes
District D: No
District E: No
The substitute motion failed for lack of majority support.
The original motion by Alderman Eddy LeBlanc was seconded by Ryan Breaux and a roll call vote was called. The results were as follows:
District A: Yes
District B: Yes
District C: No
District D: Yes
District E: Yes
The Board of Aldermen approved the motion by majority to authorize the Mayor to allow Domingue Szabo and Associates to begin design work for the Mills Extension Project and establish that this would be a City-funded project.
Upon motion of Albert Menard, duly seconded by Ryan Breaux and unanimously carried, the Board of Aldermen approved the meeting to be adjourned.
_______________________________ ______________________________
Kristi LeBlanc, CMC Ricky J. Calais
City Clerk Mayor
