Votes at a glance: Council confirms appointments, approves insurance, dedicates streets for CE Byrd centennial, and passes utility billing changes

The Shreveport City Council took multiple formal actions Tuesday, including confirmation of executive appointments, passage of routine resolutions, adoption of a street dedication for C.E. Byrd High School’s centennial and a package of ordinances addressing municipal budgeting and utility billing. Several resolutions were postponed for additional language.

Key votes and outcomes (as announced in the chamber):

- Approval of minutes: Council approved minutes of the administrative conference and special meeting (March 10, 2025) and the March 11, 2025 city council meeting; clerk announced passage “with 7.”

- Executive appointments: The council confirmed multiple appointments (local workforce development board members, department directors and other appointees) in a single combined vote moved by Councilman Green and seconded by Councilman Jackson. The clerk announced the confirmation “passes with 7.” The appointments read into the record included (among others) nominees for the local workforce development board and departmental managers (names were read aloud during the meeting).

- Resolution 42 (retainer agreement with Butler Snow LLP): Motion to postpone was adopted; clerk recorded the postponement (passes with 7).

- Resolution 43 (authorizing payment of premiums and execution of documents to purchase insurance for city buildings/facilities and activities for the period beginning 04/01/2025): Moved by Councilman Green, seconded by Madam Chair; clerk announced “that passes with 7.”

- Resolutions 44–46 (opposing cuts to national aid programs; opposing mass firings of federal employees; opposing tariffs): The chair moved to postpone to add additional language; the postponements were approved and recorded (passes with 7).

- Resolution 47 (dedicating four corners near C.E. Byrd High School in honor of its 100th anniversary): Moved by Councilman Brooks and seconded by Councilman Green; clerk recorded passage “with 7.” Public remarks at the meeting included support from school representatives and alumni leaders.

- Introduction (not for adoption prior to 04/08/2025): Resolutions 48 (cooperative endeavor agreement with the Shreveport Regional Arts Council) and 49 (approval of oil/gas lease assignment to Panola Natural Gas) were introduced for later consideration.

- Ordinances introduced (not for adoption prior to 04/08/2025): Several ordinances were read into the record for future adoption, including amendments to the 2025 general fund budget (Ordinance 20), capital projects fund (Ordinance 21), multiple street/ alley closings (Ordinances 22–24), Unified Development Code amendments related to retail liquor sales (Ordinance 25), and a rezoning request (Ordinance 26).

- Ordinances on second reading/final passage: - Ordinance 40 (lease of portions of Stage Works to G Unit Film and Television Louisiana): Amended and adopted (see separate article). Clerk announced “passes with 7.” - Ordinance 15 (amendments to discontinuance-of-service adjustments for nonresidential water/sewer accounts): An amendment removing certain commercial definitions and clarifying billing notices passed. The amended ordinance was adopted; clerk announced “passes with 7.” The amendment added language about the timing of disconnection and a $250 administrative fee for disconnection; it also removed a requirement for a second warning notice and clarified notice language on bills. - Ordinance 18 (general requirements for buildings — code amendment): Adopted; clerk announced “passes with 7.” - Ordinance 19 (billing provisions — chapter 94 amendments): Adopted; clerk announced “passes with 7.” - Ordinance 8 (dumpster rules on residential property): Postponed.

- Other procedural votes: Motion to accept a recommendation made by the city attorney during the 03/24/2025 executive session was moved by Councilman Jackson and seconded by Councilman Green; the clerk recorded passage with six votes in favor and one abstention.

What the transcript does and does not show

- The transcript records vote tallies as announced by the clerk (e.g., “passes with 7”), but individual roll‑call votes by member name were not included in the excerpt for most items; where individual vote names were not recorded, this summary reports the clerk’s announced tallies.

- Several items were introduced for future consideration (resolutions and ordinances listed above) and were not adopted at this meeting.

- Public comment on several agenda items occurred (notably on the Stage Works lease and the proposed anti‑squatter ordinance); the transcript includes supporters urging approval of the Stage Works lease and commenters urging rejection of the anti‑squatter ordinance. The council’s subsequent requests for committee follow‑up on homelessness were discussed as directions rather than formal adopted motions in the excerpt.