The Bossier City Council on July 15 approved a slate of ordinances and resolutions addressing engineering services, budget adjustments, audits, equipment and community development block grant (CDBG) reprogramming.

Among final actions, the council adopted an ordinance authorizing an amendment with Wagoner Engineering Inc. to modify engineering services for the city (final reading). The council also approved a $100,000 increase to the 2025 public services and sanitation fund budget to pay for mowing services in the street sweeping and grass cutting division (final reading).

The council adopted an ordinance to establish a tax reduction audit of municipal finances, requiring an initial audit of the preceding 12 fiscal years to align with the city’s mandatory audit cycle and to put in place a recurring 12‑year audit cycle thereafter (final reading). City staff clarified during public comment that the city already receives an annual financial statement and compliance audit.

The council declared certain movable equipment as surplus and authorized disposal according to law (final reading).

On community development, the council held a public hearing on amendments to the fiscal year 2020–2024 action plans for Community Development Block Grant funds and CARES Act funds. City staff explained that some subrecipients had underspent awards and that federal rules — including a HUD restriction that limits public services spending to 15% in a fiscal year — require reprogramming to avoid exceeding that cap. The council adopted a resolution amending the relevant action plans and CARES Act allocations (first and final reading).

New business actions included adopting a resolution requesting a comprehensive plan from the administration to enhance Interstate 20 exit and on‑ramp configurations inside city limits after the state rehabilitation project, and a resolution endorsing initiation of an RFP process to engage a professional marketing firm for city branding (both adopted first and final reading).

Personnel and equipment items included a resolution allowing Parks and Recreation to fill a Maintenance Worker I position and backfill any vacancy created (adopted first and final reading) and introduction of an ordinance to appropriate $280,000 from the equipment replacement fund to purchase an EW170 wheeled excavator for streets and drainage work (first reading). City staff described the excavator as a new machine with full manufacturer warranty and detailed attachments — including a 360‑degree knuckle and grapple for ditch cleaning and storm debris — that will make it adaptable for heavy lifting and reduce hauling requirements.

The council also introduced an ordinance repealing Resolution 97 of 2024 to create one unclassified full‑time office manager/administrative assistant in the City Clerk and City Council office (first reading), and introduced an ordinance to adjust sanitation rates (first reading).

Several motions passed with the recorded movers and seconders noted in the minutes; on the sanitation rates vote Councilman Maggio registered an abstention. Most items were adopted on voice vote with no additional public comment recorded.

Votes at a glance

- Approve agenda — mover: Councilman Joel Gerard; second: Councilwoman Deborah Ross; outcome: approved.
- Approve minutes (07/01/2025) — mover: Councilman Cliff Smith; second: Councilman Joel Gerard; outcome: approved.
- Adopt ordinance: amendment with Wagoner Engineering Inc. (final reading) — mover: the chair; second: Councilman Cochran; outcome: approved.
- Adopt ordinance: amend 2025 public services & sanitation fund (+$100,000 for mowing) (final reading) — mover: Councilman Cochran; second: Councilman Maggio; outcome: approved.
- Adopt ordinance: establish 12‑year tax reduction audit cycle (final reading) — mover: Councilwoman Deborah Ross; second: Councilman Cliff Smith; outcome: approved.
- Adopt ordinance: declare movable equipment surplus (final reading) — mover: Councilman Cochran; second: Councilman Maggio; outcome: approved.
- Public hearing and adopted resolution: amend FY2020–2024 CDBG and CARES Act action plans (first & final) — staff presentation: Mr. Brown; mover: Councilman Cliff Smith; second: Councilwoman Deborah Ross; outcome: approved.
- Adopt resolution: request a comprehensive plan for I‑20 exits/on‑ramps (first & final) — mover: Councilwoman Deborah Ross; second: Councilman Cliff Smith; outcome: approved.
- Adopt resolution: initiate RFP for city branding/marketing firm (first & final) — mover: Councilwoman Deborah Ross; second: Councilman Joel Gerard; outcome: approved.
- Adopt resolution: Parks & Recreation fill Maintenance Worker I (first & final) — mover: Councilman Cliff Smith; second: Councilman Cochran; outcome: approved.
- Introduced ordinance (first reading): repeal Resolution 97 of 2024 to create office manager/admin assistant — mover: Councilman Cliff Smith; second: Councilman Joel Gerard; outcome: introduced.
- Introduced ordinance (first reading): amend sanitation rates — mover: Councilman Cochran; second: Councilman Cliff Smith; recorded: Councilman Maggio abstained; outcome: introduced.
- Introduced ordinance (first reading): appropriate $280,000 from equipment replacement fund to streets & drainage to purchase EW170 wheeled excavator — mover: Councilwoman Deborah Ross; second: Councilman Maggio; outcome: introduced.
- Introduced ordinance (first reading): authorize mayor to execute agreements with Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development related to state project H016204 — mover: Councilman Cliff Smith; second: Councilman Maggio; outcome: introduced.

The council took no motions to table or postpone the listed items. Several agenda motions were brief and passed by voice vote; where a speaker raised a question (for example, about excavator attachments and warranty), staff provided details during the meeting.