Votes at a glance: New Iberia council approves leases, contracts, appointments and bid actions

The New Iberia City Council on an April meeting approved a series of ordinances and resolutions covering equipment leases, sewer and wastewater contracts, procurement bids, an appointment to a drainage district and actions on annexation and a recently held special election.

Why it matters: The votes authorize contracts and programs the city says are needed to maintain public services (copy machines, sewer evaluation and pump station work), to pursue state demolition grant work on dangerous properties, and to move forward on annexation and taxation steps that will affect city revenues and land use.

Council members voted by machine on each listed item. Where the transcript records who moved or seconded a motion, that name is recorded below; the transcript did not include a roll-call tally for these items in most cases, so vote counts are noted as not specified.

Votes and key details

- Acceptance of minutes, regular meeting of 04/01/2025 — Motion: moved/seconded in open session; outcome: approved (vote tally not specified). Referenced in meeting packet and moved by Tim Rooku Gosselin; second by Councilman Warren White.

- Ordinance 2025-07: authorizing the mayor to negotiate and execute a lease agreement with Copy Net LLC for a copy machine for the public works department — Motion: moved/seconded by Councilman David Merrill and Councilman Ron Davis; outcome: approved (vote tally not specified). Funding source: public works budget (as stated during discussion).

- Ordinance 2025-08: authorizing the mayor to negotiate and execute a rights-of-way use agreement with Optimum for fiber internet services — Motion: moved/seconded by Councilman David Merrill and Councilman Ron Davis; outcome: approved (vote tally not specified). Council discussion recorded directives to city staff to negotiate specific contract changes before signature (see separate article on negotiations).

- Resolution 2542: appointment of Elizabeth Clark to the Lehi Drainage District to fill a remaining term — Motion: moved/seconded; outcome: approved (vote tally not specified). Several council members praised Clark’s prior service.

- Resolution 2543: award contract to NCMC LLC for the Jean Street pump station project and authorization for the mayor to execute documentation — Motion: moved/seconded; outcome: approved (vote tally not specified).

- Resolution 2544: acceptance of the municipal water pollution prevention environmental audit report and setting actions to maintain permit requirements — Motion: moved/seconded by Councilman Ron Davis and Councilman Warren White; outcome: approved (vote tally not specified).

- Resolution 2545: authorize master professional services agreement with Compliance and Virus Systems LLC for sanitary sewer evaluation services (smoke testing, camera work) — Motion: moved/seconded; outcome: approved (vote tally not specified). Council discussion said the work covers roughly 40,000 linear feet and is intended to be proactive and preventive.

- Resolution 2546: authorize professional services agreement with Assurco Risk Management and Regulatory Compliance LLC (doing business as Municipal H2O) related to services at the Sucrose Drive wastewater treatment plant — Motion: moved/seconded; outcome: approved (vote tally not specified).

- Resolution 2547: award six-month supply bids — Motion: moved/seconded; outcome: approved (vote tally not specified). Staff told council that vendors deliver supplies to city facilities.

- Resolution 2548: declare April as Fair Housing Month in the city of New Iberia — Motion: moved/seconded; outcome: approved (vote tally not specified).

- Resolution 2549: declare the attached list of properties to be in dangerous and dilapidated condition and authorize inclusion in FY23 CDBG clearance program, phase 2 (contingent on clean title searches) — Motion: moved/seconded; outcome: approved (vote tally not specified). Council and staff said the action will allow the city to access a state demolition grant and add 10 properties to the list.

- Resolution 2550: provide for canvassing the returns and declaring the result of the special election held 03/29/2025 to authorize the levy of a sales and use tax — Motion: moved/seconded; outcome: approved (vote tally not specified).

- Resolution 2551: authorize publication of notice for a petition for annexation filed by Abra Family Estate LLC for approximately 24.45 acres (commercial C-4, assigned to District 3) — Motion: moved/seconded; outcome: approved (vote tally not specified). Staff outlined the next steps: parish consent, public hearings and statutory notice and challenge periods.

- Expansion of agenda and Resolution 2552: reject bid for the College Street sewer replacement project and re-advertise/request sealed bids — Motion: moved/seconded; outcome: approved (vote tally not specified). Council said the single bid received exceeded the $750,000 budget (reported at roughly $900,000) and directed staff to re-scope and rebid, exploring pipe-bursting and traditional dig-and-replace options.

Introductions and informational items

- Introduction of Ordinance 2025-09: provision for levy of a 0.25% sales and use tax effective 07/01/2025 (set for public hearing). Status: introduced; public hearing set.

- Introduction of Ordinance 2025-10: enlarging the city boundaries and amending the charter (annexation); public hearing set for 05/06/2025. Status: introduced; council asked staff to provide a map before the next meeting.

- Monthly budget-to-actual report for 11/01/2024–03/31/2025 presented by finance staff; council discussion: revenues and collections were reported in line with expectations (property tax reported at about 97–98% collected; occupational licenses at 66%). No formal action required.

Notes on recordkeeping: Where the transcript records a motion mover or seconder, that name is included above. The transcript commonly records only that the council voted by machine; specific vote tallies were not enumerated in the spoken record for most items.