Commission approves $10,053,944.51 in claims; staff says South Ninth sidewalk land acquisition wrapping up

The Lafayette Redevelopment Commission on July 24 approved claims totaling $10,053,944.51.

A commissioner moved to accept claims totaling $10,053,944.51; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote (“Aye”). The transcript records voice approval but does not show a roll-call tally.

During the claims discussion, a commissioner asked for clarification about a line-item described as a “brick and wood” property requirement connected to right-of-way or acquisition. A staff member explained the cost related to land acquisitions for a South Ninth Street sidewalk project and said the work is largely the wrap-up of acquisitions needed so the project can be let in January. The staff member said some properties required only temporary right-of-way while others required more significant property interest and settlement work.

Dennis (staff member) also gave a brief update earlier in the meeting on the Main and Ninth streetscape project, saying three of the four quadrants have most concrete in place, traffic-pole and street-light bases are being poured, and that crews have encountered unmarked conduit, utility lines and abandoned pipes that have slowed work but that the project remains on schedule.

Why this matters: The claims action is the Commission’s routine authorization of payments and includes acquisition costs that directly affect the schedule of the South Ninth sidewalk project; land-acquisition status influences whether the project can be advertised (let) on the intended timeline.

The Commission moved on after approving the claims and the transcript records no public comments during the comment period that followed.