St. Martinville council adopts ordinance revising Historic District commission rules

St. Martinville’s City Council on Oct. 7 adopted Ordinance 24-13 to amend the city’s rules governing the St. Martinville Historic District Regulatory Commission.

Councilman Carol Frederick offered the ordinance and Councilman Mike Fuselier seconded it; the measure passed unanimously. The ordinance replaces the first paragraph of Section 10.5-6 and amends Section 10.5-7 to clarify appointment processes, qualifications and term lengths for commission members.

The ordinance requires the commission’s bylaws to receive City Council approval and states that once approved the commission will operate as a division of city government. The text requires seven voluntary members who must reside within St. Martinville city limits or own immovable property or businesses within the defined boundaries of the National Historic District. When available and willing, at least one member should come from each of these organizations: St. Martinville Main Street Association, St. Martinville Chamber of Commerce, and the St. Martinville City Zoning Commission.

The ordinance prescribes staggered terms—two members serving two years, three members three years, and two members four years determined by lots—with reappointments or replacements serving four-year terms. Qualifications listed in the amended Section 10.5-7 include residency or ownership within the district, an interest or competence in historic preservation, and where professionals are available, representation from commercial business owners, architects, historians, government planning, and legal fields.

The legislative record lists the vote as: Yeas: M. Fuselier, C. Frederick, J. Fontenette, J. Anthony and F. Chatman; Nays: None. The ordinance was declared adopted on Oct. 7, 2024.

The change is administrative in form—defining eligibility, appointment, and term structure—and will guide how the city recruits and approves future members of the Historic District commission.