Kenner City Council approves trailhead expansion, median work, contracts and rezoning in unanimous votes

The Kenner City Council unanimously approved a series of contracts, project completions and a rezoning ordinance during its meeting, including the LA 48 Kennel Levy Trailhead expansion, a change order for the Power Boulevard median project and payment for an emergency bridge repair.

The approvals, all recorded as passing 7-0, cover a mix of professional services agreements, change orders and acceptance of project completion certificates. Council members said the actions will finish capital work and keep projects on federal and parish timetables.

Council members approved summary ordinance No. 13,727 to re-subdivide and rezone a portion of the Hansen Place Subdivision (Case Z624). City staff described the change as a re-subdivision of Lot C and a portion of Gordon Avenue right of way into a new lot and a downzoning of the light industrial portion of the property to special industrial. The Planning Commission recommended approval, and the council closed the public hearing with no public speakers opposing the request. The motion to approve was made by Council Member Dunn and seconded by Council Member Sharwitz; the council voted 7-0 to adopt the ordinance.

The council also approved several mayoral contracts and change orders under Item 15:

- Summary ordinance No. 13,728: An amendment to the city's agreement with New Orleans Dent Repair Inc. to increase the not-to-exceed amount by $100,000 annually for a total not-to-exceed of $250,000 for automotive body repairs for the Department of Fleet Management and Police. Motion passed 7-0.

- Summary ordinance No. 13,729: Change order No. 1 to the Johnson Controls Fire Division agreement for additional wiring for beam detectors at the Pontchartrain Convention and Civic Center, increasing the contract by $3,445.24 to a total of $35,915.92. Council Member Lahat moved and Council Member Bridal seconded; motion passed 7-0.

- Summary ordinance No. 13,730: Approval of a professional services agreement with Berkley & Peters Inc. for the LA 48 Kennel Levy Trailhead Expansion (State project H.013370 / Federal aid H013370) in an amount not to exceed $155,160 for the Department of Public Works. Motion passed 7-0.

- Summary ordinance No. 13,731: Change order No. 1 (final) with Cass Brothers Inc. for Power Boulevard median improvements (state project H.011779 / federal aid H011779; Kenner Public Works project 2014-001B-CIP), increasing the contract by $63,752.47 and accepting completion of the project as constructed. The council approved acceptance and the change order 7-0.

- Summary ordinance No. 13,732: Acceptance of the lowest responsive bid from Core & Main LP to provide sewer clamps, couplings, PVC and related materials on an as-needed basis (sealed bid 24-6857) in an amount not to exceed $100,000 for the Department of Waste. Motion passed 7-0.

Separately, the council authorized payment of $37,053.30 to Bow Brothers Construction Co. LLC for emergency repairs on East Loyola Drive at Joyani Boulevard (a bridge approach repair). City staff said the bridge closure and repairs were coordinated with the parish; the transcript records that parish discretionary funds covered approximately $31,000 of related foam work while the city's Bow Brothers payment covered the remaining work.

Ryan Nugent, a District 3 resident who spoke during the meeting, praised the LA 48 Kennel Levy Trailhead project and other recent work, noting drainage improvements, a new pedestrian bridge and high-quality LED lighting. “These are among the same fixtures that were installed on Erlanger about 10 years ago. In those 10 years, not a single one of those fixtures has malfunctioned or failed,” Nugent said, adding that the work increases usability and safety.

Public works staff described the Cass Brothers change order as necessary after the project team relocated a multiuse path alignment to avoid taking private property and to accommodate parish work that started early. “We had to absorb the cost of a section of their multiuse path,” a city staff member explained, summarizing the added concrete and bid quantity adjustments that produced the roughly 1.9% increase.

Most items were noncontroversial and were approved on voice vote without roll-call detail; each passed 7-0.

The council also adopted a resolution adopting a repetitive loss area analysis prepared by Jefferson Parish Floodplain Management and Hazard Mitigation Department. Staff said the analysis identifies properties that have experienced more than one flood event within a 10-year period and that the documentation will help the city pursue federal mitigation funding in future disasters.

Several first-reading ordinances were introduced for later consideration, including agreements for generator preventive maintenance, citywide grass cutting, testing services for wastewater lift station improvements and surplus equipment donations. The council reminded residents that the city is in an active budget cycle and that departments recently submitted budget packages to the finance department.

Votes at a glance: - Ordinance 13,727 (rezoning/resubdivision, Case Z624): Approved 7-0. - Ordinance 13,728 (New Orleans Dent Repair amendment): Approved 7-0. Not-to-exceed $250,000 annually after increase. - Ordinance 13,729 (Johnson Controls change order): Approved 7-0. Net increase $3,445.24; new total $35,915.92. - Ordinance 13,730 (Berkley & Peters — LA 48 Kennel Levy Trailhead): Approved 7-0. Not-to-exceed $155,160. - Ordinance 13,731 (Cass Brothers change order — Power Boulevard median): Approved 7-0. Increase $63,752.47; acceptance of completion. - Ordinance 13,732 (Core & Main bid for sewer materials): Approved 7-0. Not-to-exceed $100,000. - Payment to Bow Brothers Construction (East Loyola Drive emergency bridge repair): Authorized $37,053.30; approved 7-0. - Resolution adopting repetitive loss area analysis: Approved 7-0.

Council members and staff said projects will move forward as scheduled and that federal and parish partnerships helped secure funding and expedited emergency repairs.