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Votes at a glance: Central Council approves drainage grant amendment, surplus declaration, CEA and hires
Summary
At the April 14 meeting the Central City Council approved a package of noncontroversial measures: an ordinance to amend the FY2025–26 budget to accept $3 million in community grant funds (20% local match), a resolution declaring surplus City Hall items, a $50,000 cooperative endeavor agreement for Cooking in Central LLC, property purchase agreements tied to FP&C project 50 MWS2401, and provisional hires for the police department. The rezoning case A0250007 was deferred to April 20, 2027.
The Central City Council approved multiple routine and financial items at its April 14 meeting in the new City Hall. Actions of note:
• Budget amendment for community drainage grants: Council member Roy introduced an ordinance to amend the 2025–26 budget to accept $3,000,000 in community grant funds for drainage projects; the city must provide a 20% local match (approximately $750,000). The motion (Roy; second Meyer) passed by roll call with all members voting yes.
• Surplus declaration for old City Hall items: A Fralick motion (second Meyer) to declare remaining items surplus, set a minimum advertising price and accept sealed bids after a 15‑day advertisement passed by roll call.
• Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) with Cooking in Central LLC: Council authorized the mayor to sign a CEA allocating $50,000 to Cooking in Central, an annual community event. Council member McKinney noted a prior vendor relationship and abstained; other members voted in favor. Council member Roy said the event raised an additional $35,000 this year and has historically supported schools and nonprofits.
• Property purchase agreements (FP&C project 50 MWS2401): The council authorized purchase agreements with Walter J. Vaughn and Brenda S. Vaughn and Acadiana Development of Central LLC to facilitate right‑of‑way or access improvements to provide a rear entrance to the Huntley subdivision. Motion carried on roll call.
• Provisional hires approved: The council provisionally approved several law‑enforcement hires (including Devin Mann, Amber Silvio and Mr. Champagne) on a consolidated motion after introductions and recommendations from Chief Cochran.
• Zoning case A0250007 (11687 Lazy Lake Drive): Instead of acting on the rezoning request, the council (Meyer moved; Lazzaro seconded) deferred the matter to April 20, 2027 to give the applicant time to prepare a development plan; the motion passed by roll call.
Quotes and context
Council member Roy, speaking about the drainage grant ordinance, said: "we're getting $3 million and we have to match that at 20%. So that puts us at 750,000." The CEA with Cooking in Central drew a brief conflict‑of‑interest disclosure: Council member McKinney said he had previously been a vendor for the event and "I think it's wise to abstain." The council recorded roll‑call votes for each motion; where an abstention was declared it was noted in the record.
Next procedural steps: The rezoning item is scheduled for April 20, 2027 per the council's deferral; the law‑enforcement discussion will resume with formal presentations at the April 28 meeting or a workshop. Other approvals were final for this meeting.
