The New Iberia City Council approved reallocations of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and three change orders that direct money to restroom and pavilion repairs, neighborhood roof repairs, and sewer-system work.

Council members opened a public hearing on Ordinance No. 202437, which amends the city's ARPA budget, then moved to adopt budget adjustments and related contract change orders to keep projects on schedule and meet ARPA spending deadlines. The actions approved funding allocations that include $30,000 each for the Martin Luther King Community Center and a second community center listed as "Sierra/Seer Gates," $20,000 for Bank Avenue lighting and restroom upgrades, $45,000 for Steamboat Pavilion painting and corrosion treatment, $100,000 toward sewer repairs, and $124,000 reserved for a housing-repair phase of a local program commonly called "one block at a time." Council discussion confirmed the rooftop/house-repair program includes 27 homes and that alternates are lined up should selected applicants drop out.

Why it matters: Council members and staff said the reallocations were timed to meet a deadline that would have forced the city to return unused ARPA funds if not committed. The reallocation bundles multiple park and neighborhood projects intended to preserve structures and address urgent sewer failures while keeping the ARPA program's spending timetable intact.

Most important actions and contract details

- Ordinance No. 202437 (ARPA budget amendment): Council opened the public hearing, heard no public comment, and moved to adopt amendments reallocating ARPA line items to the projects listed above. The hearing was opened and closed and the main motion taken up by the council.

- Resolution No. 24170 (Change Order No. 1, ARPA Community Centers and Bank Avenue restrooms upgrade): City staff reported that the contract award to Delcon Construction is in place and that this change order formally adds the extra ARPA dollars to that contract. City staff said the change order includes roughly 50 additional calendar days of contract time to cover the expanded scope. City staff summarized the allocation to the contract, saying, "we allocated 30,000 for Sierra Gates, 30,000 for MLK, and 20,000 for Bank Avenue," while explaining the contractor will bid specific items and may not spend each line in full.

- Resolution No. 24171 (Change Order No. 5, Steamboat Pavilion upgrades): The council approved funding to rust-treat and repaint corroded steel, replace or protect damaged gutters and downspouts, and address railings and underside roof surfaces at the Steamboat Pavilion. Staff described using rust treatment and reprime methods rather than simply painting over corrosion and said they will pursue protective guards for downspouts if the current change order cannot fully cover that cost.

- Resolution No. 24172 (Authorization to negotiate/execute ARPA-related agreements): The council authorized the mayor to negotiate and execute any agreements necessary for ARPA community projects, giving staff authority to finalize contract details and move projects forward.

Program and implementation notes

- Housing repairs: The "one block at a time" housing-repair component will prioritize the riskiest roofs first, with staff and contractors assessing whether to bid some simpler roofs directly to licensed roofing companies and to use general contractors on more complex jobs. Staff said they have about two years to spend these funds and that they will not rush the procurement process.

- Sewer repairs: Council members discussed multiple recent sewer incidents including a mainline break at the Highland campus, a failure at the Jean Street pump station and intermittent trouble with the McElhinney pump station. Council allocated an additional $100,000 toward sewer needs; staff said a Jean Street station replacement may cost in the $180,000'$200,000 range and that temporary pumps and emergency repairs have already been required.

- Business development grants and other programs: Councilors noted roughly $70,500 had been awarded in business development grants and said staff will send letters to applicants who inquired about outcomes. The council also confirmed an anti-violence program award had been completed and signed (staff referenced a $120,000 figure in the discussion).

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance No. 202437 (ARPA budget amendment): motion moved by Councilor Marlon Lewis and seconded by Councilwoman Didi Johnson Reed; council proceeded to a vote after closing the public hearing and advanced the ordinance.

- Resolution No. 24170 (Change Order No. 1, Community Centers and Bank Avenue restrooms): moved and seconded (movers recorded in the meeting); council voted to approve the change order and to authorize the mayor to execute related documents.

- Resolution No. 24171 (Change Order No. 5, Steamboat Pavilion): moved by Councilor Marlon Lewis and seconded by Councilwoman Didi Johnson Reed; approved to add rust treatment, painting and related metal repairs to the Steamboat Pavilion contract.

- Resolution No. 24172 (Authorization to negotiate/execute ARPA agreements): motion moved and seconded during the meeting; council approved.

(Record: the meeting transcript shows motions, seconds and roll-call voting using the council's electronic voting machines; explicit roll-call tallies were not read into the record in the excerpt provided.)

What council members asked staff to follow up on

Council members requested: (1) clarification of how automated restroom fixtures might affect maintenance and IT support; (2) confirmation whether alternates for the housing repairs must meet specific deadlines (staff confirmed alternates were signed up and met the deadline to be eligible); (3) follow-up on whether the red/green indicator lights at pump stations reflect the alternate-pump status or problems needing repair; and (4) letters to business-grant applicants who did not receive awards.

Next steps and timeline

Staff said contracts are being signed and that project bids or change-order line items will be finalized with contractors. The council authorized the mayor to execute the agreements necessary to lock the ARPA funds into contracts so the city will not have to return unused federal funds. Staff emphasized they plan to pace roof work and other housing repairs to avoid rushed decisions while meeting the ARPA spending timetable.