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St. Charles Parish Council approves budget rollover, contracts and zoning changes; library CMAR draws lone no vote
Summary
At its June 2 meeting the St. Charles Parish Council adopted a consolidated budget rollover and approved multiple contracts and zoning ordinance changes. A construction-manager-at-risk preconstruction contract for the Hornville Branch Library passed with one dissenting vote.
St. Charles Parish Council on June 2 approved a consolidated budget rollover and a series of contracts, zoning ordinance changes and project authorizations, while narrowly approving a construction-manager-at-risk (CMAR) preconstruction agreement for the Hornville Branch Library after one council member voted no.
The council adopted Ordinance/File 2025-0153, an amendment to the 2025 consolidated operating and capital budget to reapply unspent 2024 project funds and adjust beginning fund balances. The amendment added revenues and transfers totaling $33,691,489, an addition of accumulated fund balance of $16,475,210 and expenditures, including transfers, totaling $45,075,920 for all governmental funds.
Council members also approved zoning amendments and multiple construction and drainage contracts that the parish said will fund street resurfacing, drainage improvements and transportation connections: - Ordinance/File 2025-0147: amended the parish flood damage prevention provisions to allow wet floodproofing for residential accessory buildings up to 600 square feet (passed unanimously). - Ordinance/File 2025-0148: established spatial requirements for the wetlands district (LW-1), including a 10-acre minimum parcel size and 5% maximum lot coverage (passed unanimously). - Ordinance/File 2025-0149: authorized a CMAR preconstruction services agreement with Woodward Design and Build LLC for the Hornville Branch Library in the amount of $1,550,000 (approved; Councilman Pilier voted no). - Ordinance/File 2025-0151: awarded a contract to Byron E. Talbot Contractor Inc. for the Deputy Jeff G. Watson Drive roadway extension, Project P190102, in the amount of $1,438,242.25 (passed unanimously). - Ordinance/File 2025-0152: awarded a contract to Varia Construction Company LLC for the Murray Hill Industrial Hand Drive drainage improvements, Project P201001, in the amount of $2,112,258 (passed unanimously). - Ordinance/File 2025-0154: approved Amendment No. 1 to the professional services agreement with Evans Graves Engineers Inc. for LA 52 Phase 2 (Blueberry Hill to U.S. 90), adding $343,663 for a total contract price of $589,233 (passed unanimously).
The council confirmed an appointment to the St. Charles Parish Planning and Zoning Commission (File 2025-0120) and named the St. Charles Herald Guide as the parish's official journal for July 2025'June 2026. The council also set the 2026 budget calendar and approved the dates for public hearings.
On the Hornville Branch Library CMAR item, proponents said the CMAR approach will help manage complex library-specific design needs and provide an early guaranteed maximum price option; opponents questioned whether CMAR was appropriate for a building project and whether parish engineering resources were best applied to other critical infrastructure. The motion to enter the CMAR preconstruction agreement passed with one no vote.
Votes at a glance: all listed ordinances and contracts above were approved as noted; public hearings for several items were opened and closed during the meeting before the council voted.
Meeting materials and the official agenda refer to Louisiana Revised Statute 38 (as cited during discussion) in relation to CMAR procurement rules and to FEMA guidance regarding floodproofing standards.
The council meeting closed after routine reports and announcements. The next regular council meeting was scheduled for June 16, 2025, at 6 p.m. in the council chambers.
