Council delays sale of 439 West Avenue, sets Nov. 3 special meeting to complete paperwork

The Harahan City Council on Oct. 16 unanimously deferred Ordinance 2025-15, a proposed ordinance to sell city-owned property at 439 West Avenue, to give staff time to obtain a survey, appraisal, legal description and to coordinate with Jefferson Parish attorneys on drainage servitudes and street dedications.

Why it matters: Council members said the city has several small, fragmented parcels that create maintenance burdens and that returning these to adjacent property owners could reduce municipal upkeep. Several members emphasized the need to follow the attorney general's guidance on municipal property conveyances, which the council interpreted to require a survey, appraisal or purchase agreement, a stated purchase price in the ordinance and a 15-day public notice period before final action.

What happened in the meeting: Councilman Asbill moved to defer the item; Councilman Chatelaine seconded. The council recorded a 5-0 vote to defer and set a special meeting for Nov. 3 at 6:30 p.m. if the required documents could be assembled. City staff and council discussed that the sale would likely be done subject to existing parish drainage servitudes and that the street in question may require undedicating or other legal steps.

Next steps: The city attorney and a council team (co-chairs identified in the meeting) will coordinate surveys, appraisals and contact Jefferson Parish legal staff. Council members said the Nov. 3 special meeting will be canceled if required paperwork is not ready; if ready, the ordinance would be amended as needed and published to meet the 15-day notification requirement described in the attorney general guidance cited in the meeting.