Bossier City residents accuse council of violating memorial-walkway ordinance as council moves charter amendments to special election

Public commenters at Monday’s Bossier City Council meeting accused a majority of council members of ignoring a newly passed ordinance governing the naming of public memorial walkways and pressed the council to pursue malfeasance investigations as the council moved forward with charter-related items.

Ruth Pope Johnston, speaking during public comment, said the ordinance’s "lawful requirements . . . have already been broken," and alleged that a sign installed at the Citizens Bank Drive and Benton Road intersection was placed without the public process the ordinance requires. "The first sign was never put on the agenda, has certainly never been voted on," Johnston said.

Why it matters: Public commenters said the alleged procedural lapses deny residents the chance to review and vote on names the ordinance requires be presented to the public. Speakers linked the dispute to broader concerns about council accountability and…