[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6039828,"mediaKeyId","3781738-9381d36c2670a34fbd5abf1df40c5fe7","parentId",3781738,"title","Council and residents press for planning-and-zoning board to lead public outreach on city comprehensive plan","audioSeconds",795,"startMs",3768000,"endMs",4563000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3781738-9381d36c2670a34fbd5abf1df40c5fe7&start=3768&end=4563","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3781738-9381d36c2670a34fbd5abf1df40c5fe7/thumbnail_3768000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6039828/Harahan/Jefferson-Parish/Louisiana/Council-and-residents-press-for-planning-and-zoning-board-to-lead-public-outreach-on-city-comprehensive-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6039828-ab0048c549c39d93df345755e6da1296/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192081&Signature=drnJbeAcxJGTevXBBtzYSVB8Tf8ucDKS0CP4dwBd3iDJ27vVcop-hTG8-SLLJN4aaYlzGXzGbZCMha5z6DYWdHQ6xZjSdqP4psOizrx7eYVbmXne1H-G6lTh9QmoTkQbh6FpOLYI3hPt~HAcqjeTkgo99SWKWSEGM9tWDHbnhrthUQZgSNnusxnI4R-NRUThv7D6yIPoJPg93EVFZCQMRzZySlrFNO0R1-TxLKvutHAlJh9WFhF2dyYEA6zYn~~P05j2vsMx-eI5MsBEoY8CmP6bhQwR9UkxEeczmULmLszvhHC4Qn1jRt1MgQsMr5pdMHWRsFrKIkB1HF05r8SKAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Harahan","date","2025-04-17T00:00:00Z","article","Members of the Harahan City Council and residents debated how best to conduct community outreach and involve the planning-and-zoning board in updating the city's comprehensive plan during the council meeting.

Several council members and residents said consultant Steve Villavasso (name variously transcribed in the meeting) has been holding public presentations and town-hall style sessions, and they urged that such work occur as part of formal, advertised planning-and-zoning meetings so the board can consider the consultant's draft and develop a recommendation to the council. \"The community input should be at a planning and zoning meeting,\" a council member said during the exchange.

Participants noted low turnout at a recent session and the difficulty of recruiting volunteers for board service. Council members suggested better advertising, including use of the city website and social media, and discussed holding planning-and-zoning sessions in the council chambers or senior center to improve accessibility and public participation.

Council members discussed the legal constraints of the Open Meetings Law, noting that planning-and-zoning board members are a voting body and must conduct deliberations in an open meeting. The council advised the consultant and staff that future sessions intended to collect public comment should be formally posted as public meetings of the planning-and-zoning board so that board members can hear the same input the consultant receives.

No formal action was taken; council members asked staff to improve outreach and to coordinate with the planning-and-zoning board and the consultant to ensure the process is properly noticed and that minutes are recorded for any meetings with draft materials.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Harahan Council Meeting April 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council members and citizens urged the planning-and-zoning board to drive the rewrite of Harahan's comprehensive plan and to hold advertised public meetings with the consultant rather than informal town halls; discussion focused on advertising and participation.","taxTitle","Harahan, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana","taxId",69784,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6039833,"Harahan resident raises repeated complaints about possible duplex conversion and drainage at Stoneleigh property; council asks staff to investigate",875,2806000,3681000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3781738-9381d36c2670a34fbd5abf1df40c5fe7&start=2806&end=3681","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3781738-9381d36c2670a34fbd5abf1df40c5fe7/thumbnail_2806000.jpg","/articles/6039833/Harahan/Jefferson-Parish/Louisiana/Harahan-resident-raises-repeated-complaints-about-possible-duplex-conversion-and-drainage-at-Stoneleigh-property-council-asks-staff-to-investigate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6039833-4f4ed34858315bffcadc1b7b4e143ac6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192081&Signature=eCqpWuDNwG~UpRF8FLeiJ8fK4G87k3GB-K0daxdVHD0wOzCY962FIqpYtrsDDcQOmjuFTRC5KmOzzYF3LDydikt33YjgIbjC-60fuRc-pXmFTZ57jHIXdjNWEwLJIrEwzV07YllS-RGKorFIRduVclZ1iEFT2lEnLHZw6vT~zog913l7NE~ASZgMRlTWHwab1AdmzvmxjMLqPcfURi8Wh6U76S3Yeb9tMcW3pyDu6SakM3LkZdw5xE3IOrep7MM7VuiMenSkg3GZrSUjBLNiKVzHyMN~mzjZfL6OOtLeaBL6-G019PD1rV9yOYO3pdngB62HWxm4wzX4FJYwqujKOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Harahan resident told the council about ongoing construction at 7608 Stoneleigh and urged city officials to investigate whether the work has created a duplex in an R-1 zone and whether code enforcement and building inspections were completed properly.

John Voce, who gave his address as 7612 Stoneleigh, described repeated contact with city staff since 2020 and said he believes the property at 7608 has two kitchens, two entrances and other features consistent with a duplex. \"The updated plans that I saw at city hall this week do have 2 kitchens in it,\" Voce said. He told the council he had been told the gas line to the property would be removed but said he still sees pipe and asked the council to confirm whether a stove or second kitchen is permitted under the current permit.

Voce also raised drainage concerns following recent site work in the alley adjacent to his property. He said contractor backfill and limestone placed in the alley have left the neighboring yard higher than his, causing water to flow onto his property during heavy rains. \"The limestone, everybody knows that limestone diverts water, it doesn't drain water,\" he said, and asked whether the city had performed a promised flood test or dye test; he said the flood test had not been performed to his knowledge and that he had removed limestone from his lot to relieve standing water.

Council members and city staff responded on the record. The clerk and code enforcement staff confirmed no certificate of occupancy had been issued and that final inspections had not been recorded. Council members said closed-wall inspections had been completed but that other final approvals were outstanding. A member of city staff agreed to check the site and to confirm whether the gas line remained and whether the property complied with R-1 zoning. Council members discussed the city\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000code\u0000inspection authority and encouraged staff to use investigatory entry powers where permitted by ordinance.

No enforcement action was recorded at the meeting; council members asked staff to follow up, inspect the property, and bring findings back to the council. The transcript does not record a final determination about whether the property is or will become a duplex.","A resident described ongoing renovation work at 7608 Stoneleigh and urged code enforcement to verify whether the property is being converted into a duplex, to confirm whether a gas line remains and to address drainage and yard conditions; council asked staff to inspect and follow up.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6039838,"Council approves municipal audit, adopts compliance questionnaire and OKs playground sound-system funding",432,2119000,2551000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3781738-9381d36c2670a34fbd5abf1df40c5fe7&start=2119&end=2551","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3781738-9381d36c2670a34fbd5abf1df40c5fe7/thumbnail_2119000.jpg","/articles/6039838/Harahan/Jefferson-Parish/Louisiana/Council-approves-municipal-audit-adopts-compliance-questionnaire-and-OKs-playground-sound-system-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6039838-ef0bc8fc4efdb2a50e18fb5b9387ded1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192081&Signature=CyBBnbEFhgPAHv9jkHqMIjYKhxPZ4wEdUWsUh1WeZm5k609D~4OBuGYw5aSwss44iTOSdzmRMXDYW6JPFTuO7YLBCwUfBR3vYmRiejT38R~NRd4phxbfUDRaadxwVfQ1dfebvQnF7nm84b2ZCOxBahXgSFysnm3VZzcKKh5b0b5p~MZHx3r2xShJFbfbS~sNKGQm0wKJ88RVHtGRjianzBT7fjRjfErE1fHEEw4O691A6VLesLTObte0rZMPLGBikPHGKtbLT9H~GwCZ8vjrw7CF76SMSyCjPsGgl5A81ak1SmgEBwweo5FEDN6fmIzeK6vvJ5D5RF9MscrsBShwMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Harahan City Council approved three formal items during the meeting: a municipal water-pollution audit report, the city's 2024 Louisiana compliance questionnaire and an ordinance amending the capital projects budget to fund a sound system for the city\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000ballfield press boxes.

The council voted unanimously to accept the municipal water pollution prevention environmental audit report for the period Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2024. The transcript records a motion to approve followed by a 5-0 recorded vote.

The council then adopted the 2024 Louisiana compliance questionnaire. The public hearing on that item drew no speakers; the record shows the motion passed with a reported tally of four yeas and one abstention (4-0-1).

Council members also approved Ordinance 2025-2, an amendment to the 2025 budget for the capital projects fund to add funding for a sound system for the Wilcox Field, the Dixie Youth Field and the Arsenal Field press boxes. Council discussion included technical questions about wiring, warranties and the availability of a wireless microphone; the motion carried 5-0.

Other procedural actions taken on the record during the meeting included amending the agenda to add Proposed Resolution 2025-4 (passed 5-0), approval of the minutes from the March 20, 2025 meeting (5-0) and scheduling or deferral of minor items such as a planning-and-zoning appointment.

The transcript does not contain the precise ordinance language for the budget amendment or an exact final dollar amount in the ordinance text; during discussion council members cited figures orally but the recorded ordinance vote and the resolution adoptions were taken on the record.","At its April meeting the Harahan City Council approved three items: acceptance of the municipal water pollution prevention audit report, adoption of the 2024 Louisiana compliance questionnaire and a budget amendment to fund press-box sound systems for city ballfields; vote counts were reported on the record.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6039843,"City says FEMA has approved replacement of Harahan fire station; location and temporary housing remain unresolved",403,724000,1127000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3781738-9381d36c2670a34fbd5abf1df40c5fe7&start=724&end=1127","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3781738-9381d36c2670a34fbd5abf1df40c5fe7/thumbnail_724000.jpg","/articles/6039843/Harahan/Jefferson-Parish/Louisiana/City-says-FEMA-has-approved-replacement-of-Harahan-fire-station-location-and-temporary-housing-remain-unresolved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6039843-7104ee13101835856417f9dd55be149d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192081&Signature=AO38L1k9XwK94m7Q5soj9h5i9ND4lapdBOLnvRkZZaQUvqCDcEqnAjQJ~0MZXxbEfo2onX8QVtI83q7a8R4cEWo-cST~LYZ2siJEAJwnGbR015TXTE87abyW~q~Kt425C2-e2yZAI5qSkxorSwcmSqjVPkDsDHHYOOma7ba1PII1PbI0naCLUvF5x8PbQaNbIVJ27UZ~nOE7txxxpbA0cPRGMABGLju0S9Z2LWdjg3OzcfPqvkt7y4JgAd3VQ~88UGaTeC0LWdXcna-GXxjJs8BXr4GfbaMZ5~Lg3X7Q2hJKjUgdhNBa6KfFTNBQRruAvuGolKz7q~G5-b23wguLNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City officials told the Harahan City Council that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved replacing the city\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000fire station rather than repairing it, and staff said they expect to break ground as soon as federal and engineering approvals are finalized.

Brian Wallace, chief of staff, told the council, \"It looks like we're gonna get a new fire station. It's not gonna be repaired. It's gonna be torn down, and we're gonna replace it.\" Wallace said the city has completed federal paperwork and closeout on several smaller projects and is \"moving forward\" on the station replacement; he said staff hopes to break ground possibly this year and to have a new station in 2026.

Council members warned that the station's final siting remains unresolved and depends on approvals from outside agencies. Wallace and other speakers discussed options including rebuilding at the current site, placing the new station across the street, or siting it near the maintenance facility. Wallace said the city has asked engineer Donovan Duffy of Meyer Engineering to lead design and to address technical constraints such as a pump station and sewer alignments that affect possible locations.

The council also discussed temporary housing for personnel and apparatus while the station is built. City staff said an earlier estimate for a temporary facility was $3.4 million. \"You\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000you\u0000you're looking at maybe even up to a half a million dollars\" was also said in the transcript during the exchange, but council members acknowledged the numbers in the meeting were inconsistent and that no final temporary-facility budget has been set. Council members said they prefer to avoid a temporary setup if FEMA will allow the city to build at an alternate location without constructing temporary housing.

Wallace said the city wants to keep the station in the same general area because of response-time considerations and local coverage: \"We know it has to stay in that general location because that's centrally located in the city.\" He said decisions about the exact site will be made after engineering recommendations and negotiations with federal and parish authorities.

No formal vote or commitment on a site or a contractor was recorded in the transcript; city staff said additional engineering and federal reviews are pending. The city identified Donovan Duffy at Meyer Engineering as the lead engineer for siting questions and said staff and council members would have input before a final decision is made.","City staff reported FEMA approval to replace—not repair—the damaged fire station and outlined next steps, outstanding federal approvals and potential temporary-facility costs.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6039848,"Harahan to dedicate Park of Heroes next Friday; memorial funded largely by state and private donations",914,1010000,1924000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3781738-9381d36c2670a34fbd5abf1df40c5fe7&start=1010&end=1924","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3781738-9381d36c2670a34fbd5abf1df40c5fe7/thumbnail_1010000.jpg","/articles/6039848/Harahan/Jefferson-Parish/Louisiana/Harahan-to-dedicate-Park-of-Heroes-next-Friday-memorial-funded-largely-by-state-and-private-donations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6039848-edc99d1e01b233e24fd786f908ef35f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192081&Signature=BMdZ7ANhHaMFd8ptVwu44atPqlrYYH5fD0RqZhblfM4id680iY-yyiJI9~ndDLw3WTBUEEY5Wcv466kdNnDRRt0ZB23yPgLWjIEFAGc9myodMAdOd4maWuROpsMLEFsSMW7IfERAbCVY7bZH9jbfyMo8LorNJAcQqy1eMq6~LLYyn6ADwRhIDff4StrUAhnHKvSiQZjwhN0-DX9VgguM3ayUd-wfm1UHMu7SB6ZHnouN6gHUWc2F3uhBUu2JsP-y81PmAO82r~6N2Fd21xKeCtrb~w1p~VQPfxbaE9f3eN~Pbjqi2SNpO~XCUPB6pYEAyxNvuYjg8KwKTunB4c8VaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Harahan officials announced a formal dedication for the Park of Heroes next Friday at 11 a.m. and urged residents to attend the ceremony and a reception at the gym afterwards.

The memorial project was described at the Harahan City Council meeting by Brian Wallace, chief of staff, who said the park is complete and open to the public. Wallace said the installation includes a 16-foot water wall, nine commemorative columns and other elements honoring 16 residents who died in military service. \"The water wall is 16 feet tall,\" he said, and described flags and interpretive panels that identify where several of the fallen are memorialized.

Wallace told the council the project cost was mostly covered by outside funding: an award of $205,000 from the state plus private and corporate donations and matching funds. He said Canadian corporate donors contributed about $35,000 and named other corporate contributors, including Delta Air Lines, Boeing, DuPont and ADM. Wallace said the city raised most of the remainder through corporate and private gifts so the project carried \"very little cost to the city, other than our matching fund from the state.\"

The council discussed logistics for the ceremony. Mayor Timothy Baudier and city staff told residents that Colonial Avenue will be closed and converted to a one-way on the eastbound approach from Hickory to Ninth Street for security and crowd control during the event. Council members and the chief of police said they expect up to several hundred attendees and arranged handicap and VIP parking, on-site medical support and officer stations at Hickory and Tenth to facilitate pedestrian crossings.

Wallace also described site improvements completed as part of the project: a walking track, landscaping with Japanese magnolias and Kwanzan cherry trees, an ADA-compliant restroom and picnic access improvements. He said the park area has been made ADA-compliant \"and it's really kind of the start\" of further accessibility work in the city.

The Park of Heroes site, Wallace said, includes displays assembled in cooperation with the American Battle Monuments Commission and an interpretation of Camp Harahan's World War II history. He described the memorial as a local history resource and said several relatives of those memorialized have visited the site.

City officials encouraged the public to walk through the memorial ahead of the dedication and noted that the site has already drawn unannounced visits by local school groups. \"It's important to know your history,\" Wallace said. The council asked staff to finalize parking and public-safety plans for the dedication and to publish guidance about road closures and accessible parking.

The dedication will include remarks by state and local officials; the transcript records a list of invited dignitaries but does not provide a full attendee roster. The council requested patience from attendees for street closures and suggested walking or biking to the event where possible.","Harahan officials set a formal dedication for the Park of Heroes and described the memorial\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000features, funding and security plans; city says the site is open and ADA improvements were completed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council and residents press for planning-and-zoning board to lead public outreach on city comprehensive plan

Harahan resident raises repeated complaints about possible duplex conversion and drainage at Stoneleigh property; council asks staff to investigate

Council approves municipal audit, adopts compliance questionnaire and OKs playground sound-system funding

City says FEMA has approved replacement of Harahan fire station; location and temporary housing remain unresolved

Harahan to dedicate Park of Heroes next Friday; memorial funded largely by state and private donations