Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Regulation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
St. Martinville council introduces ordinances on debris and festival insurance, moves to pursue street abandonment and meeting-time change
Summary
The council introduced Proposed Ordinances 25-14 (debris rules) and 25-15 (festival/parade liability insurance) for Dec. 1 consideration, directed the city attorney to prepare an ordinance to abandon Solitude Street at a property owners request, and agreed to prepare ordinances to change meeting time and clarify franchise-permit requirements. Chief Martin outlined security requirements for holiday events, including organizers paying for security 10 days before events.
The St. Martinville City Council on Nov. 17 introduced two ordinances for formal consideration at its Dec. 1 meeting and directed staff to prepare several additional ordinances affecting public rights-of-way and city procedures.
Proposed Ordinance 25-14 would amend the city code concerning the blowing or sweeping of cut grass, weeds, litter and similar debris into sidewalks, streets, ditches, drainage systems and rights-of-way. Proposed Ordinance 25-15 would revise liability insurance requirements for festivals and parades. Both ordinances were introduced for adoption at the Dec. 1 meeting; no final votes were taken Nov. 17.
Separately, Councilman Jonas Fontenette moved and Councilman Mike Fuselier seconded that City Attorney Allan L. Durand prepare an ordinance to abandon Solitude Street, which the minutes say was never developed and whose property owner requested abandonment. The motion was recorded as carried unanimously.
City Attorney Durand recommended amending Ordinance No. 08-04 to clarify that franchise holders must apply for permits to work in city rights-of-way; councilmembers agreed Durand should draft that amendment for introduction at the next meeting. Council members also moved to add discussion and a proposed ordinance to change council meeting start time to 5:30 p.m.; the board directed Durand to prepare that ordinance.
On public-safety matters, Chief Martin presented an assessment and security plan for the Christmas Parade and Christmas Festival and told the council that event organizers are required to pay for security 10 days prior to the events. Councilman Fuselier raised concerns about a recent utility-pole fire and an apparent lack of response; Chief Martin explained how emergency 911 calls are dispatched. The minutes do not include further technical details about dispatch timelines or any follow-up investigation.
The ordinances introduced Nov. 17 will return for formal consideration at the councils Dec. 1 meeting; the minutes list no funding source for potential changes to rights-of-way rules or liability insurance requirements, and no final policy text was adopted at the Nov. 17 session.
