[{"_1":2,"_97":-5,"_98":-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],{"_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",6461504,"mediaKeyId","5824117-ffb0ab2b9c95f5e4bfddcc68a2fc3839","parentId",5824117,"title","Holy Ghost Parish Fair to stop alcohol sales at 9 p.m.; council approves open-container waiver and organizers cite contract conflicts","audioSeconds",916,"startMs",2793000,"endMs",3709000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5824117-ffb0ab2b9c95f5e4bfddcc68a2fc3839&start=2793&end=3709","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5824117-ffb0ab2b9c95f5e4bfddcc68a2fc3839/thumbnail_2793000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6461504/Hammond/Tangipahoa-Parish/Louisiana/Holy-Ghost-Parish-Fair-to-stop-alcohol-sales-at-9-pm-council-approves-open-container-waiver-and-organizers-cite-contract-conflicts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461504-7d3e61a00823d048e5f9eba7854d5d2a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775585679&Signature=LdW8IoT86i4P20PwH6y4yQNlDR2xcMTtbpZ8A1H1uV~Im3q-YKTjvqDxpzLhOcxYDIWXLkiA1d9OnH3eJHCGMxhJ7dLB68WwFttQuyzhqGdTswW0qDci8mR0hzSOpWeF9xuQK4XdRG6jKFRIh5CrLr5ZF1twZNYW0izgKIXrL-pw1ZrTUP1Hs2C~mrfEcIz2Zkcfc2ZKeyD2kmkhb2WsdAbKw7yiVqaHmH89tFw2JTXYYSDtEYzHJqIWaXnmNLe8Zcd~LfPlaXZ6WnSTNbv0CNZ8KPp14G--jtOqoGe5SlUNtOjcit5ZHTyaQm9y9qZnB6eljs7NDhWhck4R~VYk1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hammond","date","2025-09-24T12:21:44.32Z","article","The Hammond City Council on Sept. 23 approved two resolutions allowing alcohol sales and an open-container waiver for the Holy Ghost Parish Fair but recorded public discussion and council concern about safety, contract timing and potential lost revenue for the fair.

What the council approved: Council members voted to permit the Holy Ghost Parish Fair Committee to serve alcohol within a defined boundary on the following dates and times: Oct. 24, 4 p.m.–9 p.m.; Oct. 25, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; and Oct. 26, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. The council separately waived the city’s open-container law for the same dates, times and boundary. The motions passed; both measures recorded one abstention by Councilman Andrews.

Organizers’ request and concerns: Joe Thomas, representing Holy Ghost Church leadership, asked the council to pass the resolution on behalf of the parish and its roughly 2,500 families: “I am representing Holy Ghost Church, their leadership team, on behalf of the pastors there. And I would ask on behalf of the 2,500 families that attend Holy Ghost that you allow this resolution to pass,” he said during public comment.

Jasmine Landry, chair of the fair, told council members the fair leadership had met with school and administrative staff and that the fair organizers had originally hoped for a 10 p.m. closing time. She said the group accepted the council’s request to set 9 p.m. for closing. Landry noted the carnival operator’s contract was for 10 p.m., which created a timing conflict the organizers would need to resolve with their contractor.

Safety and timing rationale: City staff and at least one council member framed the change as a public-safety decision. One speaker summarized the discussion as: “This is a safety issue…[t]he times we live in right now… it’s basically a safety issue,” and said many of the fair’s vendors wrap up most activity in the final hour between 9 and 10 p.m. Staff confirmed the mayor’s office had administratively set the fair closure at 9 p.m. and explained that the council’s votes concerned the alcohol waiver and open-container exception.

Contract conflict and financial concern: Several council members and members of the public said vendors (including the carnival operator) had contracts for 10 p.m., and organizers acknowledged that. Council members asked whether the city had coordinated with organizers before the administrative decision to set fair closure at 9 p.m. Jasmine Landry said some school personnel and fair leadership met with administration but that no final carnival contract had been signed when she met with staff; later the organizers signed a contract in anticipation of approval. Council members expressed concern that reducing sales by one hour could have an outsize financial impact for small-organizer fundraising.

Enforcement and practicalities: Staff and the fair leadership agreed the open-container waiver and the fair closure at 9 p.m. require coordination. City legal staff said the council could approve the waiver until 9 p.m. and that internal coordination between police and event organizers would be needed to allow a short leeway for final alcohol sales when vendors are closing. One council member asked staff to ensure that the administrative approval and any enforcement plan were clearly spelled out before the event.

Votes and recorded roll call: For the alcohol-resolution vote the transcript records: Councilman Wells — Aye; Councilman Divitario/De Vaterio — Aye; Councilwoman Gonzales — Aye; Councilman Leon — Aye; Councilman Andrews — Abstain. The open-container waiver vote recorded a comparable roll call with one abstention (Andrews).

What the organizers asked the council to consider next: Organizers asked that the council consider the contract timing issue for next year and to communicate schedule changes earlier in the process so vendors are not locked into conflicting contracts. Council members acknowledged the request and said staff would work with organizers to coordinate enforcement and to provide clearer communications in future years.

Ending: The resolutions authorizing alcohol sales and the open-container waiver are approved as recorded; staff were directed to coordinate enforcement, review timing conflicts and provide clearer documentation to organizers before the Oct. 24–26 event.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Hammond, LA - City Council Meeting - September 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Hammond City Council approved allowing alcohol sales and an open-container waiver for the Holy Ghost Parish Fair but recorded concerns about safety, contract conflicts and potential lost revenue from shortening sale hours to 9 p.m.","taxTitle","Hammond, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana","taxId",4559,"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},6461513,"Hammond council introduces several Unified Development Code amendments on definitions, guest houses, restaurants, appeals and billboards",1220,397000,1617000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5824117-ffb0ab2b9c95f5e4bfddcc68a2fc3839&start=397&end=1617","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5824117-ffb0ab2b9c95f5e4bfddcc68a2fc3839/thumbnail_397000.jpg","/articles/6461513/Hammond/Tangipahoa-Parish/Louisiana/Hammond-council-introduces-several-Unified-Development-Code-amendments-on-definitions-guest-houses-restaurants-appeals-and-billboards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461513-0a67239fcd704867319764767a5876a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1775585679&Signature=PHtFphpap2l9G0esyQAbGB6GdTrp9WjROJn7wN2b4dcoPyOdhmDs0bYoc9EW9tmSZWSoLAO3vCzJoN1YbyTk37MoHXC5YgkEPyfew9McRI6VU1OFyl3BrfPwgfSeZbW-nqaRAizt8vKFcdznBTP03IGjuZgK15iYk-iFxPC8NXTsEOkNgRE3uiYoE4Xoo-2Py2X1Zqi9iVraf4bkx2SkfDrKxujcMNS8V~K0ZRc-WKkShB3N92OKBq1aXCDgT3NnNeUn3aIpiE3GYTliH~MljVzV~SLKASG0-bugoZDM7YQ3fvcmUaBLDDuShEZW1QVzdxWAp~sp4AidSCsJdB~J5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hammond City Council on Sept. 23 introduced a package of proposed amendments to the city's Unified Development Code (UDC) that would update general definitions, add specific uses (including a guest house provision and a restaurant definition), clarify appeal timelines and remove outdated billboard rules.

The introductions, which carry the force of public notice and schedule the items for public hearing on Oct. 14, were presented by planning staff and recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Council members moved and seconded each introduction and voted to introduce the measures so the public may review the attached redline materials before final consideration.

Why it matters: The amendments are intended to remove ambiguous or outdated language, add new, more detailed use descriptions and align some appeal timelines with state practice. Changes could affect small businesses and homeowners (for example, accessory guest houses and small food vendors) and will be the subject of public hearings before any final vote.

Key details from the proposed revisions:
- Definitions and general clean-up: Staff described strike-throughs and new redlined text that clarify several existing definitions across the UDC. These amendments were introduced as a package to be considered at the Oct. 14 public hearing.

- Guest house: The proposed text defines a guest house as “an attached or detached accessory dwelling located on the same lot of record as an existing primary residential structure containing a lodging unit with kitchen facilities used to house occasional nonpaying, noncommercial guests of the occupants of the primary residential unit located on the same site.” Planning staff read the proposed wording aloud and said it remains largely consistent with the existing definition but adds an explicit new section (6.38) for guest houses.

- Restaurants and small food vendors: The new restaurant definition would cover eating establishments “including but not limited to coffee shops, cafeterias, sandwich stands, school cafeterias” and explicitly states the term includes a bar located within a restaurant “in compliance with state statute.” Council members raised questions about whether small stands (for example, hamburger stands or sandwich stands) would be captured by the definition and asked staff to clarify whether and how such existing vendors would be treated or grandfathered.

- Appeals procedure: One proposed ordinance would revise multiple appeal sections in the UDC to unify language on time limits (some existing sections used 3, 5 or 10 days and were inconsistent about business days versus calendar days) and to clarify where appeals should be filed. Planning staff said the intent is to tighten ambiguous text and align timelines with applicable state statutes in some places. For example, planning staff explained they inserted deadlines in sections that previously lacked any specified timeframe (such as for fences, shrubs and buffer zone appeals).

- Billboards: Another introduction would remove unused or outdated definitions and recommends no new billboards be allowed going forward; existing nonconforming billboards would be required to meet the applicable ordinances in effect when they were permitted.

Council concerns and clarifications: Several council members asked that staff provide clearer examples and written reference materials before the Oct. 14 hearing. Councilman Wells asked that language specifically list “hamburger” or similar small food vendors to avoid ambiguity; staff agreed to refer that question to Frankie (planning) for clarification and to publish the attachments. Council members also discussed grandfathering for long-established vendors that may lack required fixtures such as grease traps.

Formal actions: The council formally moved to introduce each ordinance so a public hearing and further review can occur on Oct. 14. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended adoption on the items presented. Specific introductions and the council roll calls were recorded on the transcript for the meeting and will be part of the record at the October hearing.

What’s next: Staff advised the public and council members to review the redlined attachments and to submit questions by email before the Oct. 14 public hearing. Frankie (planning) was expected to attend the October meeting to address outstanding questions.

Ending note: The introductions do not adopt the amendments; they schedule public hearings and notify residents of the proposed changes. Final votes would come at a subsequent council meeting after public comment and staff responses.

","At its Sept. 23 meeting, the Hammond City Council voted to introduce multiple ordinances to clean up and add definitions in the city's Unified Development Code, clarifying guest house and restaurant uses, appeals timelines and restricting new billboards; public review and hearings will follow.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":44,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":50,"_51":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":95,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":96,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6461509,"Votes at a glance: Hammond council approves fair alcohol waiver, computer purchase and introduces rezonings and other measures",965,3758000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5824117-ffb0ab2b9c95f5e4bfddcc68a2fc3839&start=2793&end=3758","/articles/6461509/Hammond/Tangipahoa-Parish/Louisiana/Votes-at-a-glance-Hammond-council-approves-fair-alcohol-waiver-computer-purchase-and-introduces-rezonings-and-other-measures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461509-d35beba69820cbbf1064d03ae8633f3c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775585679&Signature=Xnrta~VTWsncDXrTyOtXXHjA1op67dYugpPHlshuIAG1GvsvRC2tokk-hRiZ2KGI00CABxY5oF9XxeTLB~RHlFZtEtv7ijbEB7VXTuBCiUNdvxz76jaPBG12LciveVwl3AwsTFyO4-LwSrkuqLx~plmpkY2MiGVVzRuTNJv3ic5E6wvGz1tByti8VflBqgKdfA6v2DNu1nlAynECk~v1uOCnkjDRo5LqS9v4yWiucru0pruKTLXvbHTpyQuLEwaKG2zI7ycuua51niIeO6UMJJFSvZGXXbxyzpoXGDT0jGjz0DppBHOHNcVMEmUADI4a0hr0ZZYCEAPG~czxq-s3Ow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Here are the formal actions and recorded outcomes from the Hammond City Council meeting on Sept. 23, 2025. This summary lists each formal item and its outcome as recorded in the meeting transcript.

Resolutions and final actions (votes recorded):
- Resolution 1: Authorized Holy Ghost Parish Fair Committee to serve alcohol on specified dates and times within a defined boundary (Oct. 24, 4 p.m.–9 p.m.; Oct. 25, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; Oct. 26, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.). Motion approved; roll call recorded. Vote (recorded): Wells — Aye; Divitario/De Vaterio — Aye; Gonzales — Aye; Leon — Aye; Andrews — Abstain. Outcome: Approved.

- Resolution 2: Waiver of the open-container law for the same Holy Ghost Parish Fair dates/times and boundary. Motion approved. Vote (recorded): Leon — Aye; Andrews — Abstain; Wells — Aye; Divitario — Aye; Gonzales — Aye. Outcome: Approved (with one recorded abstention).

- Resolution 3: Authorize purchase of computers and peripherals under state contract 4400028252 for $101,416.14 (to replace aging Windows 10 machines). Motion to approve carried by roll call. Outcome: Approved.

- Resolution 4: Appointment of Judah Richardson to the Planning & Zoning Commission for a term ending 06/15/2029. Motion approved by roll call. Outcome: Approved.

Introductions (public notice; scheduled for Oct. 14 hearing unless otherwise noted):
- Ordinance introductions related to the Unified Development Code: general definition amendments; guest house, home occupation and restaurant definitions (and new guest house section); appeals procedure unification; removal/amendment of outdated definitions and billboard requirements. Votes to introduce were recorded and the items were set for the Oct. 14 public hearing.

- Introduction of an ordinance to rezone 806 Mooney Avenue from RS-3 to RM-2 (District 3) for construction of a duplex. The item was introduced; council members expressed that access and right-of-way should be verified prior to final approvals.

- Introduction of an ordinance to rezone 610 West Morrison Avenue from RM-2 to MXN (District 2) to convert an existing building to office use. Item introduced for public hearing; a map was not attached to the packet per staff note.

- Introduction to revoke city right-of-way for 703 South Cypress Street (Iowa Addition Overlay District) conditioned on payment of survey and recording costs by applicant Mark Nettles; Planning & Zoning recommended approval. Item introduced.

- Introductions declaring moveable property as surplus and providing for donations: 2011 Tahoe K-9 unit proposed for donation to the Town of Independence and a 2016 Tahoe (K-9 unit) proposed for donation to St. Helena Parish. Items were introduced; staff committed to provide mileage and service records prior to final action.

Other recorded items:
- Several planning-related introductions were recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission (votes recorded in the transcript as part of the introductions).

Notes on recorded votes and abstentions: The transcript records several roll-call votes; when an abstention was recorded it is noted above. Where a roll-call recorded a single name saying \"Aye\" multiple times, the clerk's tally indicates the motion carried; all introductions were moved and seconded and the recorded tallies show majority support for introduction.

What to expect next: Items introduced for public hearing will return to a future meeting (Oct. 14) with attachments and staff clarification. Resolutions that were approved (computer purchase, fair waivers, appointment) are effective as administered or per contract/procedural requirements.

","At the Sept. 23 meeting the Hammond City Council approved alcohol/open-container waivers for Holy Ghost Parish Fair, authorized a city computer purchase under state contract, appointed a Planning & Zoning commissioner, and introduced multiple rezoning and right-of-way actions for public hearing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Holy Ghost Parish Fair to stop alcohol sales at 9 p.m.; council approves open-container waiver and organizers cite contract conflicts

Hammond council introduces several Unified Development Code amendments on definitions, guest houses, restaurants, appeals and billboards

Votes at a glance: Hammond council approves fair alcohol waiver, computer purchase and introduces rezonings and other measures