Votes at a glance: Hammond City Council actions, May 13, 2025

The Hammond City Council recorded actions on multiple ordinances and resolutions at its May 13, 2025 meeting. The list below summarizes each item, the council’s recorded outcome and key details from the discussion or packet.

Ordinance — Final adoption: Rezoning of 1009 Mooney Avenue (Ordinance No. 1) Outcome: Approved. Vote record — Leon: Aye; Andrews: Aye; De Vateria: Abstain; Gonzales: No; Wells: Aye. Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended denial (2–1).

Ordinance — Introduction: Fiscal Year 2025–2026 city budget Outcome: Introduced for public process (work session scheduled May 30; public hearing June 10; adoption required by June 24). Staff noted proposed increases in water, sewer and garbage collection fees are assumed in the draft.

Resolution 1 — Authorize Hammond Downtown Development District (DDD) to serve/sell alcohol at Hammond Live (dates: June 13 and July 18 at Kate Square Park) Outcome: Approved. Votes included multiple ayes and at least two abstentions recorded for some members. Staff said special-event permits from the state (ATC) and a park reservation will be required; the city will coordinate with police for security per staff comment.

Resolution 2 — Waiver of open-container law for Hammond Live Outcome: Approved.

Resolution 3 & 4 — Authorize alcohol and open-container waiver for Pavilion grand opening (July 30) Outcome: Both resolutions were requested to be tabled by the applicant/DDD and the council voted to table the items at the meeting.

Resolution 5 & 6 — Authorize alcohol service and open-container waiver for Hot August Stroll (August 23; event boundaries noted in agenda) Outcome: Approved. Staff described an approved safety plan and coordinated discussions with Chief Bergeron; event end time set to 8 p.m. per safety recommendation.

Resolution 7 & 8 — Events by We Did It Planet LLC (Planted in the Park) Outcome: Resolution 7 (service/sell alcohol) was removed from the agenda on motion; Resolution 8 (open-container waiver) was subsequently removed as well.

Resolution 9 — Ratify and reject all bids for Hammond Community Center addition (RFP 25-11) Outcome: Approved to reject all bids after staff reported most bids were over budget and the apparent low bidder could not honor its price. Council voted to reject so the city can rebid the project.

Resolution 10 — Designate The Daily Star as the city’s official journal of record for July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026 Outcome: Approved. Staff noted a slight decrease in per-insertion rates from prior year’s packet.

Resolution 11 — Approve city holiday-closing schedule for FY 2025–2026 Outcome: Approved (standard schedule; staff noted no election-day holiday this year).

Resolution 12 — Renew five-year agreement for police body cameras/cloud storage (vendor materials in packet; state contract 4400028582 referenced) Outcome: Tabled. Council requested additional information on licensing counts, access/audit trails, delivery timing and disciplinary policy; staff reported the vendor quote would expire June 27.

Resolution 13 — Award contract for Mooney Avenue Park splash pad (RFP 25-11) Outcome: Approved to award a contract in the amount of $123,000 to Francies Horticultural Services as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, pending concurrence from the State Land and Water Conservation Fund program. Packet noted this is a grant-funded project and the award includes utilities connection as an additive alternate.

Resolution 14 — Appoint Nicholas LeBlanc to the Hammond Historic District Commission (term through 12/31/2028) Outcome: Approved. Staff and the candidate described relevant building-code and preservation experience.

Resolution 15 — Support application to Louisiana Main Street restoration grant program ($10,000) for improvements to the Levy Building Outcome: Approved. Staff noted the Levy Building houses the Hammond Regional Arts Center and qualifies as a museum under the program.

Resolution 16 — Request an Attorney General opinion regarding firearms in city parks and recreation areas Outcome: Approved. Staff advised state statutes limit municipal authority where state law preempts local ordinances; an AG opinion would clarify the interplay between municipal police-power authority for parks and state preemption of firearm restrictions.

Resolution 17 — Engage outside counsel Deborah Vilio to represent the city in cases where the city attorney has a conflict Outcome: Approved. The recommended rate in the packet was $200 per hour; council discussed insurance-company protocols and the use of outside counsel when conflicts arise.

Several routine items (park reservations, event permits and tablings) were also handled; items removed or tabled will return to a future agenda with the requested clarifications or when the applicant is ready to move forward.