PROCEEDINGS OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF BREAUX BRIDGE HELD AT CITY HALL, 101 BERARD STREET, AT 6:00 A.M. ON TUESDAY JUNE 24, 2025.
Mayor Calais called the meeting to order; the Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance were recited.
Present: Ryan Breaux, Scotty Borel, Neil Melancon, Albert Menard
Absent: Eddie LeBlanc
Upon motion of Albert Menard, duly seconded by Ryan Breaux and unanimously carried, the public hearing on Ordinance # 2311(BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF BREAUX BRIDGE, LOUISIANA, THAT THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025 BE AMENDED ACCORDING TO THE TERMS AND FIGURES CONTAINED IN THE ATTACHED EXHIBIT IDENTIFIED AS “EXHIBIT A).
Mayor informed Auditor J.L. Sonnier that City Clerk Kristi needed to end the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 by transferring a little more than anticipated. On page 7 Line Item #818 Sales Tax Fund #1 projected year proposed budget 3 Million be changed to 3.50 Million and Line Item # 828 on page 8 be changed from 3 Million to 3.50 Million.
Upon motion of Albert Menard, duly seconded by Neil Melancon and unanimously carried, there being no further input the hearing was closed.
Upon motion of Albert Menard, duly seconded by Ryan Breaux and unanimously carried, the following Ordinance # 2311(BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF BREAUX BRIDGE, LOUISIANA, THAT THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025 BE AMENDED ACCORDING TO THE TERMS AND FIGURES CONTAINED IN THE ATTACHED EXHIBIT IDENTIFIED AS “EXHIBIT A)was adopted with changes.
ORDINANCE 2311
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF BREAUX BRIDGE, LOUISIANA, THAT THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025 BE AMENDED ACCORDING TO THE TERMS AND FIGURES CONTAINED IN THE ATTACHED EXHIBIT IDENTIFIED AS “EXHIBIT A”.
BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of Aldermen for the City of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana duly convened in session on June 24, 2025 that:
The Municipal Budget for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2025 be amended according to the terms and figures contained in the attached exhibit identified as “Exhibit A”.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Board of Aldermen for the City of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, duly convened in session on the 24th day of June 2025, that this ordinance shall become effective immediately upon signature of the Mayor.
Upon motion of Albert Menard, seconded by Ryan Breaux, and upon verification and assurances that the foregoing ordinance was:
- Introduced on June 10,2025 at the regular meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen for the City of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana;
- Disseminated to the Mayor and all Aldermen;
- Published, by title, in the official journal of the City of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, together with notice of the time and place of its consideration for formal adoption; and
- Presented at a public hearing on the 24th of June 2025.
The Board of Aldermen, on June 24, 2025 adopted Ordinance number 2311 by virtue of the following votes:
Yeas: Scotty Borel, Ryan Breaux, Neil Melancon, Albert Menard
Nays: None
Absent: Eddy LeBlanc
Attest:
/S/ Kristi LeBlanc_____
Kristi Leblanc, City Clerk
Ricky Calais__________ June 25, 2025_______
Ricky Calais, Mayor Date
Upon motion of Ryan Breaux, duly seconded by Albert Menard and unanimously carried, the public hearing on Ordinance # 2312(BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF BREAUX BRIDGE, LOUISIANA THAT THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2026 BE ADOPTED ACCORDING TO THE TERMS AND FIGURES CONTAINED IN THE ATTACHED EXHIBIT IDENTIFIED AS “EXHIBIT A”)was opened.
Neil Melancon offered changes to the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget on account # 452 city court be increased by 2.06%.
Mayor Calais suggested that, instead of using City General Funds, he thought it reasonable to request that City Court fund the raise of their department’s employees. He based this on the fact that they have their own checking account, which has accumulated over $250,000 that can only be used for the operations of City Court and asking them to use this account to fund roughly $3,000 for a 2% did not seem unreasonable.
Alderman Melancon requested that it come out of the City’s General Fund, arguing that City Court could incur expenses throughout the year that would require them to use this fund.
Mayor Calais stated it was set up for operations of city court, and their salaries are part of their operating expenses.
Alderman Melancon requested the City establish whether or not City Court should be funded out of the City’s General Funds or out of their account.
Mr. J. L. Sonnier suggested that it is practical to assess this situation on a year-to-year basis and determine where the money should come from each year.
Alderman Breaux agreed with Mr. Sonnier and stated that if, in fact, they use their funds throughout this next fiscal year, the Board could determine their next raise come from the City’s General Fund. Being that they do currently have the funds, Alderman Breaux suggested that the City request City Court to pay for the 2.06% raise for their employees.
Alderman Melancon asked on #461 Live Streaming of Council Meeting $20,000.00 in Fiscal Year 2024-2025 be moved to Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
In general fund the I-10 gateway signage for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 be moved to Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
In General Fund account # 536 the I-10 signage put into Gloria Drive Drainage Project $100,000.00 for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 be moved to Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
Alderman Melancon inquired to Mayor Calais as to why the estimates for the Utility revenues were lower than the original budget.
Mayor Calais explained it was overestimated.
Alderman Menard requested that the council pay be increased by $200/month per alderman.
Upon motion of Albert Menard, duly seconded by Scotty Borel and unanimously carried, there being no further input the hearing was closed.
Upon motion of Albert Menard, duly seconded by Scotty Borel, and unanimously carried the following Ordinance #2312 was adopted with changes.
ORDINANCE 2312
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF BREAUX BRIDGE, LOUISIANA THAT THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2026 BE ADOPTED ACCORDING TO THE TERMS AND FIGURES CONTAINED IN THE ATTACHED EXHIBIT IDENTIFIED AS “EXHIBIT A”.
BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of Aldermen for the City of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, duly convened in session on June 24, 2025, that:
The Municipal Budget for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2026 be adopted according to the terms and figures contained in the attached exhibit identified as “Exhibit A”.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Board of Aldermen for the City of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, duly convened in session on the 24th day of June, 2025 that this ordinance shall become effective immediately upon signature of the Mayor.
Upon motion of Albert Menard seconded by Scotty Boreland upon verification and assurances that the foregoing ordinance was:
- Introduced on June 10, 2025 at the regular meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen for the City of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana.
- Disseminated to the Mayor and all Aldermen;
- Published, by title in the official journal of the City of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, together with notice of the time and place of its consideration for formal adoption; and,
- Presented at a public hearing on the 24th day of June, 2025.
The Board of Aldermen, on June 24, 2025 adopted Ordinance Number 2312 by virtue of the following votes:
Yeas: Scotty Borel, Ryan Breaux, Neil Melancon, Albert Menard
Nays: None
Absent: Eddy LeBlanc
Attest:
/S/ Kristi LeBlanc_______
Kristi LeBlanc, City Clerk
/S/ Ricky Calais__________ June 25, 2025____
Ricky Calais, Mayor Date
Upon motion of Albert Menard, duly seconded by Ryan Breaux and unanimously carried, the public hearing on Ordinance # 2313(AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ADOPTING AN ANNUAL PLAN FOR REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF MUNICIPALITY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 TO BE FUNDED THROUGH THE USE OF TAX PROCEEDS GENERATED BY THE SPECIAL TAX IMPOSED BY SALES TAX DISTRICT NO. 1 OF THE CITY OF BREAUX BRIDGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH). Was opened.
Mayor Ricky Calais explained the recommendation to use the 20% towards park improvements and gave an example of the decorative fence at park hardy that they were about to lose that needed to be repaired.
Upon motion of Albert Menard, duly seconded by Ryan Breaux and unanimously carried, there being no further input the hearing was closed.
Upon motion of Albert Menard, duly seconded by Ryan Breaux and unanimously carried, the following Ordinance # 2313 was adopted:
ORDINANCE NUMBER 2313
AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ADOPTING AN ANNUAL PLAN FOR REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF MUNICIPALITY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 TO BE FUNDED THROUGH THE USE OF TAX PROCEEDS GENERATED BY THE SPECIAL TAX IMPOSED BY SALES TAX DISTRICT NO. 1 OF THE CITY OF BREAUX BRIDGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.
BE IT ORDAINED by the Mayor Board of Aldermen for the City of Breaux Bridge,Louisiana, duly convened in regular session on the __th day of ____, 2025, that:
WHEREAS, by act Number 923 of the 2008 Regular Legislative Session, La.R.S. 33:2711 was amended by the enactment of subparagraph D thereof to permit a municipality such as the City of Breaux Bridge to create a special sales tax district within a portion of the municipality for the purpose of levying and collecting a one (1%) per cent sales and use tax;
WHEREAS, the said Act Number 923 mandated that the proceeds from such a tax be used by the municipality pursuant to the specific terms and conditions of an intergovernmental agreement between the municipality and the sales tax district;
WHEREAS, the said Act Number 923 further mandated that the proceeds of the aforementioned tax be utilized for the payment of the costs and expenses of constructing, improving, and maintaining the municipality’s infrastructure which services property located within its jurisdictional boundaries or be used to promote the economic development of both the district and municipality;
WHEREAS, on November 11, 2008, by Ordinance Number 2163, the Board of Aldermen for the City of Breaux Bridge created a special sales tax district and designated it as “Sales Tax District No. 1 of the City of Breaux Bridge, State of Louisiana” (“District”);
WHEREAS, by Ordinance Number 2163, the Board of Aldermen for the City of Breaux Bridge further approved and adopted an intergovernmental agreement between it and the District with respect to the use and expenditure of the proceeds of the taxes generated by the District;
WHEREAS, on November 11, 2008, by Ordinance Number 2164, the District and/or the City of Breaux Bridge levied and imposed a sales and use tax of one (1%) per cent upon the sale at retail, the use, the lease or rental, the consumption, and the storage for use or consumption of tangible personal property, and on sales of services within the District, commencing on January 1, 2009;
WHEREAS, the aforementioned intergovernmental agreement, as well as Ordinance Number 2164, created with the fiscal agent bank of the City of Breaux Bridge a special fund designated as the “Sales Tax District No. 1 Infrastructure Fund”, into which fund there would be deposited and held as sacred funds all proceeds collected by the Parish Sales Tax Collector from the levy of the tax after deducting therefrom the reasonable expenses of the Collector incurred in connection with the collection and enforcement of the collection of the tax, all as more fully set forth in Ordinance Number 2164;
WHEREAS, the aforementioned intergovernmental agreement further provided that all proceeds received by the City of Breaux Bridge from the collection of the said tax shall be used for the payment of the costs and expenses of constructing, improving, and maintaining the City’s infrastructure which serves property located therein or shall be used to promote the economic development of the District or the City, it being provided, however, that a minimum of thirty-five (35%) per cent of the annual proceeds of the tax shall be dedicated and set aside for the purpose of providing matching funds to be received by the City from state and/or federal grants for the construction and improvement of the infrastructure of the City;
WHEREAS, La. R.S. 33:2711(D) was amended and re-enacted by Act Number 568 of the 2012 Louisiana Legislature as La.R.S. 47:338.1(D) to require that all tax proceeds generated by the District be expended as follows: twenty (20%) per cent of the proceeds be used annually for the repair and maintenance of the City’s infrastructure provided that an Annual Plan for Repair and Maintenance of Municipality Infrastructure be approved by ordinance and by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Aldermen, and eighty (80%) per cent of the proceeds collected be expended on new construction of infrastructure or substantial improvements of existing infrastructure. However, any such expenditure must be pursuant to a Master Plan for the Construction of Municipal Infrastructure listing the specific projects to be funded through the said tax proceeds, and furthermore, that any such plan be adopted by ordinance passed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the City’s governing authority;
WHEREAS, the intergovernmental agreement confected between the City of Breaux Bridge and the District was revised and amended by virtue of Ordinance Number 2200 adopted on March 11, 2014, to reflect the mandates set forth in La. R.S. 47:338.1(D) as amended by Act Number 568 of the 2012 Louisiana Legislature;
WHEREAS, the Mayor and city engineer for the City of Breaux Bridge have prepared an Annual Plan for Repair and Maintenance of Municipality Infrastructure for the fiscal year 2024-2025, a replica of which is appended to this ordinance;
WHEREAS, in accordance with the dictates of La.R.S. 47:338.1(D)(2)(b)(i), an ordinance must be adopted by the City of Breaux Bridge approving the attached Annual Plan for Repair and Maintenance of Municipality Infrastructure for the fiscal year 2024-2025:
BE IT, THEREFORE, ORDAINED by the Board of Aldermen for the City of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, that the Annual Plan for Repair and Maintenance of Municipality Infrastructure for the fiscal year 2024-2025 be and is hereby approved, adopted and satisfied, as applicable.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the total amount of the proceeds from the Sales Tax District No. 1 Infrastructure Fund to be used for the projects embraced by the Annual Plan for Repair and Maintenance of Municipality Infrastructure for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 shall not exceed the total of the sum of twenty (20%) per cent of the sales tax proceeds on deposit in the said fund after expenditures associated with the Annual Plan adopted for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the Mayor for the City of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, be and is hereby authorized, directed, and empowered to execute any and all documents which may be necessary to effectuate the above and foregoing edicts.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the provisions of this ordinance are hereby declared to be severable, and if any provision, word, phrase, or clause of this ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions thereof:
WHEREAS, this Ordinance shall become effective upon signature of the Mayor of the City of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, the lapse of ten (10) days after receipt by the Mayor of the City of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana without signature or veto, or upon an override of a veto, whichever occurs first.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Board of Aldermen for the City of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, duly convened in regular session on the24th day of June, 2025 that the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby declared to be severable, and if any provision, word, phrase, or clause of this Ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions thereof.
UPON MOTION of Albert Menard seconded by Ryan Breaux, and upon verification and assurance that the foregoing ordinance was:
- Introduced on June 10, 2025 at the regular meeting of the
Mayor and Board of Aldermen for the City of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana;
- Disseminated to the Mayor and all Aldermen;
- Published, by title, in the official journal of the City of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, together with notice of the time and place of its consideration for formal adoption; and
- Presented at a public hearing held on the 24th day of June, 2025, the Board of Aldermen, on the 24th day of June, 2025, adopted Ordinance Number 2313 by virtue of the following votes:
YEAS:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSENTENTIONS:
ATTEST: APPROVED:
/S/ Kristi LeBlanc______________ /S/ Ricky Calais_________
KRISTI LEBLANC, CITY CLERK RICKY CALAIS, MAYOR
Date: June 25, 2025 Date: June 25, 2025
Upon motion of Albert Menard, duly seconded by Scotty Borel, the meeting was adjourned.
_____________________________ ____________________________
Kristi Leblanc Ricky Calais
City Clerk Mayor