Council approves ESRI renewal, awards drainage contract and backs tree-grant application; introduces UDC cleanup and tax renewal

The Hammond City Council voted to renew the city’s Esri (Environmental Systems Research Institute Inc.) enterprise agreement, awarded a FY2025 miscellaneous drainage improvements contract to Arbor Construction, and approved a resolution backing the city’s application for a 125-tree donation from Apache Corporation. The council also introduced two items for future public hearings: a cleanup of unused definitions in the city’s Unified Development Code and a resolution calling an election to renew an ad valorem tax for public works.

The council approved the three-year Esri enterprise agreement that the administration described as necessary to keep the city’s geographic information system operational. Charles Boscher, speaking on the item, said Esri “is the, the company that provides our software for our GIS.” The contract is structured with an initial first-year cost of $32,020 (covering a partial year as the billing is being shifted to an August 1 start), then $30,200 for each of the subsequent two years, for a stated total of $92,420. After a motion and second, the council recorded ayes from Councilman Leon, Councilman Diviterio and Councilwoman Gonzales.

On the drainage work, the council ratified and awarded bids received July 3, 2025, for miscellaneous FY25 drainage improvements. Staff member Mitchell Roniger told the council there were eight responsive bidders and that Arbor Construction was the low bidder; the project came in under budget. The work described by staff includes drainage repairs on Lado Lane, rear lots off Lado Lane between Timberlane and Lado Lane, and subsurface drainage along the east side of Rose Memorial Park Cemetery, just north of Western Avenue. The contract award passed with recorded ayes from Councilman David Terrio, Councilwoman Gonzales and Councilman Leon.

The council also passed a resolution supporting submission of an application to the Apache Corporation tree-grant program for 125 trees to be distributed at the city’s annual Louisiana Arbor Day giveaway (the city indicated the giveaway is usually held the third Friday in January). That resolution passed with recorded ayes from Councilwoman Gonzales, Councilman Diviterio and Councilman Leon.

Two items were introduced for later public hearings. The council introduced an ordinance to remove unused or outdated definitions from the city’s Unified Development Code (UDC). City staff noted the UDC cleanup was prepared by new city planner Franklin Legault and that the change is an introduction; if the ordinance is introduced tonight it will receive a public hearing at the next council meeting. The council also introduced a resolution calling an election to authorize renewal of an ad valorem tax for public works; staff said the tax term is expiring and the renewal would be presented to voters in November if the council proceeds (the public hearing on the election call was scheduled for the council’s August 12 meeting). Both introductions were advanced by motion and recorded as introduced.

One item in old business was postponed: the annual municipal water pollution prevention report (January–December 2024) required by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the city’s discharge permit for the South Wastewater Treatment Plant. Staff member Nathan Levy did not appear; the council agreed to reintroduce the item when Levy is present.

Votes at a glance (items with formal action at the meeting): - Introduction: Ordinance to remove unused definitions from the Unified Development Code — introduced by motion; recorded ayes: Councilman Leon; Councilman De Vaterio/Diviterio; Councilwoman Gonzales. Public hearing scheduled for the next council meeting (date not specified in the action). - Introduction: Resolution calling an election to renew an ad valorem tax for public works — introduced by motion; recorded ayes: Councilman Leon; Councilman De Vaterio/Diviterio; Councilman David Terrio. Public hearing set for Aug. 12, 2025; staff said the election would likely be the November election. - Resolution (old business): Accept annual municipal water pollution prevention report (Jan.–Dec. 2024) — postponed/requested to be reintroduced when staff (Nathan Levy) is present. - Resolution: Support submission for Apache Corporation tree-grant (125 trees) — approved; recorded ayes: Councilwoman Gonzales; Councilman Diviterio; Councilman Leon. - Resolution: Authorize mayor to renew Esri small municipal and county government enterprise agreement (3-year term beginning 08/01/2025; $32,020 first year, $30,200 years two and three; total $92,420) — approved; recorded ayes: Councilman Leon; Councilman Diviterio; Councilwoman Gonzales. - Resolution: Ratify and award bids received 07/03/2025 for miscellaneous drainage improvements FY25 (Arbor Construction, low bidder; project under budget; locations include Lado Lane, rear lots off Lado Lane, subsurface drainage at east side of Rose Memorial Park Cemetery) — approved; recorded ayes: Councilman David Terrio; Councilwoman Gonzales; Councilman Leon.

Council members and staff said the Esri renewal alignment to an Aug. 1 fiscal cycle was intended to stagger renewals and ease budget timing. Staff said the drainage work requires hand labor in constrained spaces and was separated from larger drainage contracts for that reason. The tree-grant application is a repeat of a prior successful application for Apache-donated trees used in the city’s Arbor Day giveaway.

The meeting then proceeded to council reports and public comments, where residents asked about communications on upcoming utility rate changes and raised an individual billing dispute. The council adjourned after those items.