Iberia Parish held a public open-house to present a planning-level drainage study of the T‑Bayou watershed and a recommended $12.5 million package of storage ponds and Far Canal cleaning to reduce frequent flooding; consultants described modeling, potential benefits and limits and next steps (funding, feasibility, design).
Discussion Points
•Commissioned comprehensive drainage analysis after recent floods; consultants updated H&H model using survey, LIDAR and Atlas 14 rainfall.
•Consultants recommended upstream detention ponds plus Far Canal cleaning as most cost‑effective planning‑level option.
•Residents raised chokepoint at Emil Veret bridge and other local constraints, and the need to update parish drainage ordinances and development standards.
Decisions
•No formal vote recorded; study produced a planning‑level recommendation and a path forward (feasibility → design → construction).
Directions
•Organizers to continue stakeholder engagement and individual follow‑ups.
•Parish to pursue funding (CPA, GOMESA and others) and advance a feasibility‑level analysis to optimize pond sizing, control structures and evaluate downstream impacts.
The Iberia Parish Council met June 24, 2026, approving several budget amendments and project authorizations and taking initial funding action for a parish‑wide drainage master plan. Council members heard a detailed presentation from consultant Dax Duet on a three‑phase drainage master plan (phase one: $240,000) and discussed Teche Bayou alternatives and potential federal/state grant strategies.
Discussion Points
•Clerk read multiple budget amendments tied to higher sales tax earnings and fund carryovers
•Consultant described three phases; phase one is pre‑planning including stakeholder meetings, data pulls and ordinance updates
•Council members asked about timing (July–August) and the cost of later modeling phases
•Engineers presented Teche Bayou alternatives; selected alternative includes two detention ponds and Four Canal cleaning
•Executive committee heard CAF A presentation on homebuyer grants
•Finance committee discussed refunding of sales tax bonds and drainage fund amendment
Decisions
•Finance committee approved the $240,000 amendment for phase one
•Multiple budget amendments approved on the consent agenda; line extension resolution carried; CAF A cooperative agreement moved in committee
Directions
•CAF A cooperative agreement to be finalized in executive committee
•Consultants to return with scope and cost estimates for phase two engineering and BCA work
•Staff to create a line item and draw down $240,000 for phase one work order three
•Staff to publish adopted budget amendments and to file contracts as needed
Public open house in Iberia Parish on a planning-level drainage study for the T Bayou watershed; consultants recommended a combination of upstream detention ponds and cleaning Far Canal to reduce frequent flooding, with a preliminary cost estimate of about $12.5 million and next steps focused on funding and feasibility design.
Discussion Points
•Consultants recommended upstream detention ponds (~200 acre-feet, ~25 acres) plus cleaning Far Canal as the preferred scenario.
•Feasibility-level analysis and funding are next steps; no formal vote or construction commitment was made.
•Residents questioned whether lake silt or downstream tailwater drives upstream flooding; consultants said lake influence is limited upstream in common scenarios.
•Widening channels gave larger modeled reductions but faces significant right-of-way, utility and bridge constraints.
Decisions
•No formal decision to proceed to construction was made at the meeting; the group agreed to pursue feasibility and funding.
Directions
•Consultant to perform feasibility-level analysis, refine pond siting and sizing, and complete design if funding secured.
•Parish to pursue funding avenues including CPRA and GOMESA and to consider updating drainage ordinances.
Iberia Parish Council met June 10, 2026, to consider a slate of property millage ordinances, hear public comments (including a retirement recognition and a drainage complaint), hold an executive session on coastal litigation, and receive several committee reports including a finance committee approval of a Cleco Power line-extension agreement.
Discussion Points
•Committee cited prior-year fund balance as the source; members noted higher sales tax collections elsewhere.
•Council members thanked Conner for decades of emergency response and day-to-day service.
•Members noted legal and procedural differences between adjusted-rate adoption and roll-forward/increase votes (different vote thresholds).
•Members requested executive session because settlements are often under seal.
•Multiple members emphasized fund pressures for public buildings and drainage; others urged supporting library services.
•No substantive opposition recorded in committee.
•Resident described standing water and low culvert creating ongoing drainage and mosquito concerns.
•Staff described decade-long litigation activity and recent U.S. Supreme Court decision affecting venue.
•Staff said a drainage study might be required before removing or altering the pipe.
Decisions
•Adopt adjusted rates for several millages; adopt library millage at 3.8 mills; reject proposed increases for some funds.
•Adopt resolution of appreciation for Conner.
•Approve Cleco agreement and budget amendment for Innovation Boulevard lighting.
•Enter executive session to discuss litigation; approve resolution authorizing DA to attempt settlement offers.
Iberia Parish Council met May 13, 2026. Key topics included a Swift Fiber presentation on Gumbo 2.0 broadband rollout, a contested subdivision (Bull Island Road/TA Real Estate) that drew public comment and council debate, a presentation by the parish assessor on Constitutional Amendment 4 and inventory taxes, public-safety discussion about submerged rock jetties in Vermilion Bay, and finance committee action to pursue up to $30 million in bonds for road work.
Discussion Points
•Catelan described Gumbo 2.0-funded fiber deployment across rural parish areas.
•Clerk presented consent and appointment items; council removed one consent item for amendment.
•Council members sought local contact information, route maps and assurances about contractor practices.
•Counsel explained refunding earlier bonds and adding new money for additional road projects.
•Erosion has submerged rock jetties originally placed by DNR, creating submerged hazards.
•Market interest rates will determine final sizing and the parish should avoid overborrowing.
•Regional planning staff said infrastructure (septic, water meters) was installed before plat submission and that septic setback may be noncompliant.
•Residents alleged applicant sought to avoid mobile-home-park ordinance by subdividing into five lots.
•Several routine planning and appointment resolutions were introduced and carried.
•Sgt. Budro reported multiple accidents and recommended reflective diamond signage and posts sized for marine visibility.
•She emphasized confusion about what counts as inventory and urged constituent outreach.
•Spiker explained opt-in mechanics, the one-time state payment formula and irrevocability of exempting inventory.
Decisions
•Appointments and administrative resolutions approved; consent agenda carried with amendment to item 81.
•Committee approved preliminary resolution to begin the bonding process.
•Committee voted to request estimates and agency coordination; no installation contract authorized at this meeting.
•Motion to grant plat approval failed; no approval or ordinance change was adopted.
•No formal council action recorded; informational presentation only.
•No formal vote or ordinance taken; matter remains informational and for follow-up.
Directions
•Administration to obtain cost estimates and coordinate with DNR, Coast Guard and neighboring parishes; consider temporary buoys or lit markers.
•Advance preliminary resolution; advisers to return with final offer after bond commission review.
•Assessor’s office offered to provide constituent explanations and data; council to consider implications if amendment passes statewide.
•Clerk to publish full roll-call results and notify appointees; staff to implement drainage easement changes if conditions met.
•Parish staff to meet with Swift Fiber for route review and utility coordination (requested).
•Public Works to determine equipment needs for installation in marine conditions.
•Staff to verify board of health setbacks and servitude documentation; council requested follow-up information before any future approval.
Iberia Parish Council met May 27, 2026. The session included parish president project and public-works updates, a presentation and council acknowledgement of the Iberia Medical Center 2025 audit, multiple zoning reclassifications and variances, a budget approval to relocate the Veterans Memorial, a deferred nuisance-property enforcement matter (5007 Anker Drive), and a committee discussion to affirm operational authority for the Ward Three city marshal following recent state-level legislation.
Discussion Points
•Committee members cited operational benefits of marshal enforcement in areas with limited police staffing.
•Council confirmed prior notice (August 2025) and noted some progress had been made since the last visit.
•Council questions about uncollectible patient receivables and one‑time items in the audit.
•Multiple rezoning and variance items were presented; staff recommended approvals with conditions; council members added parcel identifiers.
•Owner requested time citing health problems and ongoing cleanup.
•Presentation of audited financial statements and operational statistics by Iberia Medical Center leadership.
•Public comment warned that variances may establish precedents for substandard lots.
•Recognition of hospital improvements (STEMI designation, new lab equipment).
•State bill language (HB 1038) briefly threatened marshal authorities; marshal asked for local ordinance backing.
Decisions
•Committee advanced the ordinance for publication and placement on a future council agenda.
•Deferred enforcement to July 22; staff follow-up assigned.
The Iberia Parish Council met May 27, 2026. Council and the parish president reviewed public-works projects and road closures, received a detailed presentation and accepted the audited financial statements from Iberia Medical Center, approved multiple zoning reclassifications and budget actions, and deferred a nuisance-property enforcement to July 22 for follow-up.
Discussion Points
•Audit showed $135M revenue, $76M net position and $3.6M increase in net position for 2025.
•Hospital noted one‑time items increased profit and flagged Medicaid reimbursement risk given parish payer mix (~36% Medicaid).
Iberia Parish Council met May 13, 2026, for regular business including a presentation from a state-funded broadband contractor, several public comments opposing a proposed five‑lot subdivision on Bull Island Road, an informational briefing from the parish assessor about Constitutional Amendment 4 (inventory tax), discussion of submerged rocks and boating hazards near Avery Island, and committee action on a proposed bond issuance for road work.
Discussion Points
•Advisers outlined refunding plus new‑money structure and cautioned about current interest rates.
•Amendment 4 would allow parishes to exempt or phase down inventory taxes in exchange for state payment.
•Background on 2024 sales tax and prior $17M issuance; need for additional funding for road network.
Iberia Parish officials and consultant engineers presented a planning-level flood mitigation study for the T‑Bayou watershed, recommending upstream detention ponds and cleaning Far Canal as a combined approach to reduce frequent flooding; consultants said the recommended package would cost roughly $12–12.5 million and requires funding, feasibility design, land acquisition and ordinance updates before construction.
Discussion Points
•Downstream impacts must be validated in feasibility design; consultants emphasized not creating adverse downstream effects
•Estimated cost for ponds + cleaning ~ $12–12.5 million; does not include major downstream projects or lake dredging
•Estimated storage >200 acre‑feet across ~25 acres; modeled inundation removal ~500 acres for a 10‑year storm; max water surface reduction ~14 inches at select locations
•Model updates using recent survey, lidar and NOAA Atlas 14 rainfall data; no tailwater boundary changes for presented runs
•More than a dozen scenarios evaluated including widening/regrading, a diversion, and upstream detention ponds; recommended package: upstream detention ponds + Far Canal cleaning
•Right‑of‑way, buried utilities and property proximity limit channel widening in many places; ponds present fewer immediate property‑impact options but require land acquisition
Decisions
•No formal vote recorded; recommendation advanced as the consultants’ preferred package and staff recommended pursuing funding and feasibility study
Directions
•Proceed to feasibility‑level analysis to refine pond sizing, control structures, outfall designs and downstream validation
•Pursue funding partnerships (parish, state/federal partners) and consider coordination with the Corps of Engineers for separate downstream work
•Update parish drainage ordinances and standards as part of a drainage master plan
Public presentation of a planning-level drainage assessment for T Bayou in Iberia Parish proposing upstream detention ponds and canal cleaning to reduce frequent flooding; estimated planning cost about $12.5 million and next steps include feasibility design and funding searches.
Discussion Points
•Downstream tailwater/coastal surge concerns were tested at planning level; extreme coastal 'perfect storm' scenarios require separate study.
•Need to secure funding before feasibility design; planning-level modeling indicates detention ponds + canal cleaning is most beneficial.
•Right-of-way, bridges and private development constrain channel widening; acquisition is a major hurdle.
Directions
•Proceed to feasibility-level analysis if parish approves funding to refine pond siting, control structures, property impacts and downstream effects.
Iberia Parish Council met April 22, 2026. Council and parish president gave routine announcements and project updates; the council heard public comments including a funding request for a GPAL youth tennis camp; the council held a contested public hearing and approved an abatement resolution for a nuisance property at 7306 Pufet Road with a 15‑day cleanup order (excluding camper and operational equipment); several resolutions and millage ordinances were introduced and committee items were discussed.
Discussion Points
•AVX expansion groundbreaking planned for June 8; Progress Point sewer facility funding needs (estimated $60 million).
•Energy market data and drilling permit trends.
•GPAL requested $3,200 for June tennis camp (coach, equipment, ball machine, uniforms, snacks).
•Hangar Drive phase one ($16 million) and planned phase two roundabout linking to Corporate Drive/3212.
•Iberia Mental Health Initiative described buddy benches and a May 2 run to raise awareness and funds; council read and passed a proclamation.
•Neighbors described tires, rodents and debris that present public‑health and safety hazards (Monica Buon and others).
•Owner Craig Duh said items represent livelihood, asked for more time and alleged parish contractor removed valuable items without adequate notice.
•Planning & Zoning and staff presented a record of certified notices (some returned) dating back to 2023 and reported partial contractor cleanup in January 2026 did not resolve the issue.
Decisions
•Resolution finding property a nuisance passed with amendment excluding camper and operational equipment; parish authorized to abate and place lien for costs.
•Resolution proclaiming May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month approved; council signaled support for GPAL funding though individual contributions were suggested rather than a formal appropriation at the meeting.
Directions
•Administration to provide more detailed timelines and funding proposals for Hangar Drive, AVX expansion and sewer facility; staff to pursue state and federal funding and bonding options.
•Administration to share event and registration information on parish website and social media.
•Building official will verify any equipment claimed to be operational before it is exempted.
•Council members indicated willingness to provide district donations for the tennis camp and to promote the mental health run and buddy bench program.
•Owner given 15 days from parish‑president signature to remove items he wishes to keep.
•Planning & Zoning to rebid contractor removal after the 15‑day window if owner fails to comply.
Iberia Parish Council met April 22, 2026. The council heard administration updates on roads, drainage and economic projects, accepted public comments (including a request for a youth tennis camp), conducted appointments, proclaimed Mental Health Awareness Month, and after a lengthy public hearing approved a nuisance-abatement resolution for 7306 Poufe/Coufe Road with a 15‑day cleanup order (amended to exempt an on-site camper and operational machinery).
Discussion Points
•Delta Biofuel requires ~$20M in additional equipment to meet product specifications; initial investment ~$100M.
•Economic indicators: Louisiana rig counts (41), WTI price, March retail sales ($148,758,415.72), local unemployment (~4.9%).
•Hanger Drive extension phase 1 ($16M) and phase 2 roundabout planning to connect airport to highway.
•Neighbors reported health/safety risks (tires, rodents) and property value impacts.
•Northside Road cross‑drain replacement scheduling and milling.
•Owner acknowledged condition, requested more time and claimed some items are livelihood materials; alleged prior contractor removal/damage.
•Staff and legal counsel presented certified notice history and recommended enforcement process and lien mechanism.
Decisions
•Adopted nuisance‑abatement resolution (summary 78) with amendment exempting camper and operational machinery; 15‑day removal period set.
•Informational updates; no formal council vote recorded on the items presented.
Directions
•Administration to provide a more complete road status update at the next meeting and to pursue TIP/state/federal funding for the sewer project.
•Owner given 15 days from parish president's signature to remove items not exempted.
•Staff to solicit bids after the removal window if necessary and to record lien for abatement costs.
Iberia Parish Council met April 8, 2026. The Parish President reported rising permitting activity and infrastructure updates, the council approved several resolutions and appointments, the finance committee set and voted to publish 2026 millage rates (including rolling forward the library millage for publication), and the parish emergency manager warned that a FEMA shutdown is delaying reimbursements though local response capacity remains intact.
Discussion Points
•4‑H membership (~700) and robotics teams qualifying for world championship competitions
•Alexander described volunteer work and interest in library programs
•Confirmation of submission deadline to parish assessor
•EMPG and SHSP grants funding delays affecting salaries
•Extension staffing losses from federal cuts
•FEMA shutdown delays reimbursements and grant approvals
•First Solar expansion update and discussion with Senator Bill Cassidy on infrastructure needs
•Jail generator amendment and Park Perdue phase two pending at GOSEP/FEMA
•Permit issuance increases: 64 permits in March 2026 vs. 36 in March 2025
•Road and hanger drive projects underway; Glenn Lege to begin cross drain work
•Schedule of public notices and adoption dates
•Sugarcane industry value and harvest quality
•Whether to roll forward voter‑authorized library millage to 4.5 for publication
Decisions
•Appointment approved on consent agenda
•Committee voted unanimously to publish and recommend millage rates, including rolling forward library millage to 4.50 for publication
Directions
•Publish notices April 29–May 2 and present ordinances for adoption June 10
Iberia Parish Council convened March 25, 2026 to hear council and parish president announcements, consider routine consent and budget resolutions, appoint members to boards, hear public comment on a zoning dispute adjacent to Candlewood Estates, and receive presentations about a proposed Labor Day 2027 air show and local community events.
Discussion Points
•Candidate made brief remarks about libraries' role in the community.
•Complainant described crime, noise and tenant losses allegedly linked to a nightclub adjacent to a residential subdivision.
•Council moved by consent to appoint Adams in the absence of other candidates at the podium.
•Councilors recommended verifying the property's zoning and licensing history and contacting law enforcement for immediate problems.
•Multiple budget amendments and appointments were presented and passed by voice vote.
•Organizers estimate large public attendance and identified potential gate/parking fees and sponsorship needs.
•Organizers proposed a Labor Day weekend 2027 three-day air show named 'Warriors and Wings' to highlight the airport and honor veterans.
•Organizers will partner with Monroe air-show producers and veterans groups; detailed planning required.
•Several rezoning ordinance items were removed pending zoning commission hearings.
Decisions
•Appointment approved by voice vote; no further committee action recorded.
•Multiple consent items and committee recommendations approved; several rezoning items deferred.
•No formal rezoning or enforcement action taken at the meeting; follow-up requested.
Directions
•Clerk to post corrected ordinance/resolution texts and minutes.
•Clerk to process appointment paperwork and follow up with appointee.
•Complainant to provide documentary evidence to staff as requested.
•Organizers to provide more detailed logistics, ticketing and safety plans to council staff and committees.
•Staff to check zoning maps and licensing records; council member to contact Sheriff Romero about enforcement.
•Staff to follow up on deferred items for the April 20 zoning commission agenda.
Iberia Parish Council met March 11, 2026 in Generet. Business included multiple budget amendments and project updates, a lengthy voter-education briefing about recently enacted closed-party primaries, public works and road-project timelines, a fire district equipment update, and discussion of park cooperative agreements with the city.
Discussion Points
•2025 response volumes and training hours.
•A proposed $100,000 transfer for Road District 10 was deferred pending review of existing balances and ARPA usage.
•Carryover funding includes King Joseph building maintenance and other projects carried from 2024–25.
•Community outreach example: firefighter award money used to assist a 107‑year‑old resident.
•Consequence of inactive registration lists: about 6,000 inactive names may be cancelled if voters don’t respond and meet statutory criteria.
•Council questioned whether parish should assume ownership of city‑owned parks when parish tax revenue is used for upkeep.
•Explanation of closed‑party primaries and which offices are affected (U.S. Senate, U.S. Rep, BESE, Supreme Court, Public Service Commission).
•Finance committee approved $4.83M for road projects phases A–C and $122,990 for jail sprinkler replacement.
•How 'no party' voters can declare Democrat or Republican on primary day by filling a declaration; that choice locks them into that party for a subsequent runoff unless changed 30 days before.
•New apparatus and equipment acquisitions and staging plans.
•Port‑roads bids came back significantly above prior estimate; parish will cover $1.8M gap.
•Troff explained tax‑district rules require spending within district boundaries and parks board oversight.
Decisions
•Approved emergency funding for jail sprinkler replacements and road project funding; deferred $100,000 transfer for later consideration.
•Carryover funding approved; no ownership change decided at this meeting.
Directions
•Administration to proceed with bids and provide further documentation or recommendations on cooperative agreements if council requests review.
•Administration to reconcile bid documents and change orders and present repayment plan for TIFF advances with DOTD reimbursements.
•Council to note operational updates; potential future consideration for specialized equipment such as grain‑bin rescue gear.
•Parish staff to post sample ballots and early‑voting information online; registrar offered to provide one‑on‑one training for commissioners.
•Public Works and Finance to review fund balances and return with recommendation on Road District 10 transfer.
•Registrar to provide training and work with clerk's office on commissioner training.
Iberia Parish Council met Feb. 25, 2026. The meeting included a public presentation in support of an Atchafalaya Basin Management Plan, debate and an amendment to a rabies control fund budget for an animal facility project, a contentious discussion about recreation carryover funds tied to a park naming dispute and an executive-session item on pending litigation with AT&T.
Discussion Points
•Architect reported 13 bidders and a low bid near $1.477M; cost drivers include durable materials and per-kennel plumbing.
•Chair disclosed a vendor affiliation and abstained from the subsequent open-session motion.
•Clerk introduced litigation matter and statutory basis for executive-session discussion.
•Coalition-building across parishes is needed because inclusion in coastal master plan affects funding eligibility.
•Collada described three elements: hydrology restoration (gates), sediment-trap and dredge approaches, long-distance sediment transfer pipeline.
•Council asked about reducing kennel count to lower cost and about funding sources (transfers, contributions, general fund items).
•Legal counsel said naming isn't covered by the agreement; agreement has a 30-day opt-out provision but had been in effect for decades.
•Members argued the parish maintains and pays for a city-owned facility but the city recently renamed a building; questions arose about naming authority and prior agreement terms.
Decisions
•Amendment to rabies control fund budget approved; staff to provide further details.
•Council deferred action on the carryover to the next meeting.
•Council entered executive session and later took a motion in open session related to settlement authorization; chair abstained and motion carried.
•No final council vote recorded during the presentation; resolution remains for a future action.
Directions
•Finance and recreation staff to identify whether carryover funds are tied to specific projects or grants and report back at next meeting.
•Finance to identify whether grant funds or carryovers are tied to specific line items before reallocating.
•Parish Legal Office to handle settlement paperwork in accordance with open-session action and statutory rules.
•Staff to consider placing resolution on future agenda for formal action and to coordinate with parishes and state contacts.
•Staff to coordinate with architect to refine scope and return cost breakdown.
Iberia Parish Council met Feb. 11, 2026. Members addressed a proposed transfer of the Sugarcane Festival Building to the city of New Iberia after public comment urging the move; the council approved an amendment and moved the ordinance forward. The council also debated parish insurance renewals and voted to delete a $250,000 capital allocation for the King Joseph Building pending legal review of ownership.
Discussion Points
•Advisers recommended purchasing coverage now with administration authorized to keep seeking improvements.
•Carriers withdrew abuse/molestation coverage; replacement quote adds ~$76,000 premium and raises SIR from $200k to $250k and limits prior‑acts.
•Council discussed consolidation of exhibits, definition of Parcel A and creation of a perpetual servitude for a passage parcel.
•Councilwoman Broussard argued the parish should not spend $250,000 on a building the parish does not own; other members confirmed the parish had been insuring and repairing buildings that might be owned by municipalities.
•Health renewal showed an approx. 3% increase, under budgeted expectations; property premiums decreased ~11% producing savings.
•Residents urged transfer citing grant deadlines and building deterioration.
•Some members warned deletion could affect capital‑outlay agreements and urged legal review to avoid unintended consequences.
•Supporters urged finalization to allow renovation and shift maintenance liability to the city.
Decisions
•Committee moved to approve the renewals and recommended administration pursue improved terms where feasible.
•Council approved moving the carryover forward with the $250,000 deletion pending legal verification.
•Council approved the amendment recommended by legal counsel and advanced ordinance 53‑13 toward public hearing/final adoption.
Directions
•Administration authorized to continue market searches for better products or standalone prior‑acts coverage and to implement improved terms if found.
•Administration to provide revised exhibit and servitude documents to council prior to the public hearing.
•Legal and finance staff to review property ownership records and any contractual capital‑outlay commitments and report back prior to allocation of funds.
Iberia Parish Council met Feb. 11, 2026. The body heard public comments urging transfer of the Sugarcane Festival Building to the City of New Iberia, approved an amended ordinance to declare the building surplus and transfer it, reviewed several roads/traffic ordinances and appointments, and debated insurance renewals and a $250,000 capital outlay item for the King Joseph Recreation Center pending legal review.
Discussion Points
•Administration reported animal shelter low bid exceeded estimates; options to be presented next meeting.
•Consent agenda approvals and separate unanimous resolution honoring Keyshawn Booty.
•Health renewal ~3% increase (favorable vs. prior budgeted estimates).
•Legal counsel clarified exhibit and parcel descriptions (Parcel A conveyance; Parcel D perpetual servitude).
•Potential $76,000 premium increase and SIR rise to $250,000 from $200,000 reported by brokers.
Iberia Parish Council met Jan. 28, 2026, heard parish-president project updates, took public comment on a proposed Sugar Cane Festival Building transfer and on school-zone speed cameras, deferred the festival-building ordinance for attorney review, and tabled discussion of taking over the camera program pending the school board.
Discussion Points
•Claims from residents that cameras may have been operated outside city limits and that refunds could be required (cited New Orleans precedent).
•Committee debate on scanning-clerk position included whether to make it full-time vs part-time and whether budget lines needed amendment.
•Councilors sought clarity on the city’s available cash and capital outlay funds for the renovation and whether funding contingencies might require reversion or additional approvals.
•Legal obligation under Act 103 to have a cooperative endeavor agreement (CEA) with the school board before operating cameras and sharing revenue.
•Legal staff and city attorney flagged 1927 deed restrictions and the need for reversionary language and appropriate appropriation language tied to state bond commission rules.
•Motion to fund travel to the NACO conference was discussed and ultimately failed due to member objections and concerns about priorities.
•Multiple appointments and plat approvals were presented as routine items with staff recommendations from the regional planning commission.
•Parish president and council debated whether parish should seek fee simple ownership vs. permanent access/ROW to the parcel in front of the Veterans Memorial Building (arguments for public access and long-term control vs. risk of donating large acreage).
•Whether parish government or the sheriff should assume responsibility for school‑zone enforcement.
Decisions
•Appointments and plats approved; fire-protection budget amended by $1,766,375; scanning clerk job description and comp-time payout approved in finance committee; NACO travel request failed.
•Council voted to defer Ordinance 53-13 to the next meeting for further legal review (motion carried).
•Council voted to table the resolution and to revisit it only after the school board’s consideration.
Directions
•Await school board action on the city’s CEA proposal; parish administration to coordinate follow-up with BlueLine and the sheriff as needed.
•City attorney and parish legal counsel to review CEA language, funding contingencies and reversionary clause and report back at the next meeting.
•Defer the ordinance to allow city and parish counsel to reconcile restrictions and draft amended language.
•Finalize the scanning-clerk job/budget line and present any required budget amendment to council.
•Implement appointments and plats per staff procedures and authorize finance/ payroll to process compensatory payouts.
Iberia Parish Council meeting (Jan. 28, 2026) covered parish infrastructure and public-safety items, deferred a property-transfer ordinance tied to the Sugar Cane Festival Building, heard extended public comment and council debate about school-zone speed cameras, approved several appointments and plats, and approved budget and administrative items.
Discussion Points
•City attorney offered to provide timeline and legal context; council members debated whether to pursue parish‑wide action or a single‑site CEA, and whether sheriff involvement was relevant.
•Consent agenda approval for Teen Court funding ($10,000) and confirmation the funds were in current budget.
•Council questioned whether parish would take ownership or retain only permanent use/access rights, and debated funding and reversionary language tied to appropriations.
•Finance committee discussion approved payout of accumulated comp time and rejected travel funding for NACO conference.
•Jeff Simon asked for time to resolve legal concerns tied to a 1927 transfer of the parcel in front of the Veterans Memorial Building.
•Planning‑commission plats included staff corrections; one plat amendment adjusted acreage figures.
•Public commenters alleged significant improperly collected fines and urged refunds and deactivation (Paige Zima).
