OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Kenner City Council Meeting - September 19, 2025

Council Meetings — Friday, September 19, 2025
BodyKenner, Louisiana
SessionCouncil Meetings
DateFriday, September 19, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:12:34

Transcript — Verbatim
0:14

The mayor has a proclamation.

0:15

We'd like to present it now.

0:17

Thank you.

0:52

Please let us have silence so the mayor can uh do the proclamation.

0:57

Thank you.

1:03

All right, thank you.

1:05

If y'all can remember last uh September, we had Ronnie Lamarck up here and uh presenting him a proclamation.

1:13

Uh September is hunger action month.

1:16

So I'm kind of paraphrase this with some of our partners here from Walmart.

1:21

Whereas, while the Kenner Food Bank and their local partners annually provide more than two hundred and ninety-two thousand meals to over one thousand residents of the City of Kenner, it is our responsibility as citizens of the City of Kenneth to learn about hunger and to do our part in reducing that hunger.

1:38

And whereas the City of Kenner collaborates with Feeding America, Second Harvest Food Bank of New Orleans, and Acadiana, and the Louisiana Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and the American Heart Association to educate people about the important role of hunger relief organizations raising awareness for the need to devote more resources and attention to hunger and food insecurity issues.

2:03

And whereas volunteers and member agencies like Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana understand that the need for comprehensive coordinated emergency food programs place a critical responsibility, not only upon the city, but on our community as a whole.

2:21

Whereas this September, the City of Canada joins communities across America that are committed to fight hunger during Hunger Action Month, a month dedicated to raising awareness of hunger in America and finding solutions within our communities.

5:33

Thank you again.

5:34

Thank you for everything.

6:11

Council meeting will begin in one minute.

8:27

I like to call the meeting of September nineteenth, twenty twenty-five to order.

8:32

Are there any special intentions?

8:37

Yes.

8:38

Councilman Sworth.

8:39

Thank you, Council President.

8:41

Um I'm sorry, last meeting I left kind of abruptly.

8:45

I got a text message from my wife that she was blind in one eye, which has happened because it was she was blind in the other eye two weeks prior.

8:55

Seems like the medicine she's on, um and the disease that she has.

9:03

But I can glad to say and happy that she is well.

9:08

And thank you, Councilman Branaghen for that special oil.

9:12

And um her vision is back to normal.

9:15

Thank you.

9:19

Excellent.

9:20

Uh good to hear.

9:22

Um Councilwoman Dawn, if you'll lead us in prayer.

9:32

Thank you, Council President.

9:34

May we all bow our heads in prayer.

9:36

Father, in the name of Jesus.

9:57

In the mighty name of Jesus.

10:00

Lord, I pray for the mayor in his administration.

10:03

I pray for the police chief Connolly in his administration, for the fire chief Terrence and Morris in his administration.

10:11

I pray, dear God, for the city of Kenner as a whole.

10:14

I ask that you would continue to bless the residents to be with us.

10:19

And dear God, as we get into the business of the city of Kenner, we're asking that you would give us wisdom, knowledge, and understanding that we may move this city forward in the right directions.

10:31

In Jesus' name we pray.

10:33

Amen.

10:35

Please remain standing.

10:37

Council Councilman Brennan, if you'd lead us in the pledge.

10:41

Yes, sir.

10:42

Pledge relations.

11:02

Madam Clerk.

11:04

Yes, sir.

11:05

Um you have a quorum.

11:06

In accordance with council resolution number B 14550.

11:10

Please be advised that all cellular telephones and other devices of this nature must be deactivated or silenced throughout the council meeting.

11:17

Next we have correspondence reports from the mayor, CAO, or department heads.

11:24

Thank you.

11:26

Some tax information, because it's been asked that we do it every two months now.

11:31

Can you continue to do it?

11:33

Citywide sales tax revenues received in September will up by 14.38%, which is $520,482.33 cents compared to the same time next year.

11:46

For the current fiscal year, we're we're down.11%, which is $13,146 and 70 cents compared to this time last year.

11:57

So sales taxes are pretty much trending what they were last year.

12:02

And brief comments about uh since the news hit with Jefferson Parish going to a uh their CRS, a community rating system going to a three, saving a uh even more money for people with their flood insurances.

12:19

Uh the seat of Kenner, this this program started in 1990.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████22%
Affordable Housing███████████████████19%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████13%
Water And Wastewater Management██████████10%
Public Works█████████9%
Food Security████████8%
Economic Development████████8%
Public Safety██████6%
Budget Equity Analysis███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Kenner City Council Meeting - September 19, 2025

The Kenner City Council convened on September 19, 2025, at 3:30 PM. The meeting included a proclamation for Hunger Action Month, updates on sales tax revenues and flood insurance ratings, approval of several consent agenda items, public hearings on budget amendments and property abatements, a resolution supporting a tax incentive for a senior affordable housing project, and multiple contract approvals. All votes were unanimous (7-0) unless otherwise noted.

Proclamation

  • Mayor presented a proclamation declaring September as Hunger Action Month, noting that the Kenner Food Bank and partners provide over 292,000 meals annually to more than 1,000 residents. The proclamation highlighted collaboration with Feeding America, Second Harvest Food Bank, and other organizations.

Mayor's Report

  • Sales tax revenues for September were up 14.38% ($520,482.33) compared to the same time last year (though the transcript stated "next year"). For the current fiscal year, revenues are down 0.11% ($13,146.70) compared to this time last year.
  • Mayor Glaser provided an update on the Community Rating System (CRS) for flood insurance. Kenner is currently a Class 6 (one of only two in Louisiana, with only three classes ahead: Class 3 in Jefferson Parish and Mandeville). The city’s three-year review visit by FEMA has been postponed to January 2026. The city is focusing on public education to improve points, but faces challenges with open space and repetitive flood properties.

Consent Calendar

  • Unanimously approved (7-0):
    • Item 1: Approval of minutes from the regular council meeting of September 19, 2025 (note: same date as meeting, likely a typo in agenda).
    • Item 2: No alcoholic beverage permit applications.
    • Item 3A: Application for a public gathering on November 16, 2025, for the Fourth Annual Kenner Food Truck Festival at Laketown.
    • Item 3B: Application for a Halloween Truck or Treat event and movie at Muss Bertolino/Ed Daniels Field on October 18-19, 2025.
    • Item 3C: Application by Big Easy Mopar Association for a car show at Laketown on March 28-29, 2026.

Public Hearings & Final Passage

  • Item 8A (Ordinance 13,934): Amending the 2024-2025 capital budgets to allocate increased riverboat fee revenues ($1,939,461.73 more than budgeted). Funds distributed to council districts, police (24%), debt service, and city repairs. A $400,000 remainder will go to the general fund. Passed 7-0.
  • Item 8B (Ordinance 13,935): Conditional use for a minor automotive repair shop (tire and rim shop) at 3319 Williams Blvd. The planning department noted the site is two parking spaces short but recommended approval. The applicant agreed to remove an existing pole sign. Passed 7-0.
  • Item 8C: Removed from agenda because the homeowner demolished the structure at 1815 Short Street. Passed 7-0.
  • Item 8D (Resolution for 1918 Kansas Ave): Public hearing on demolition. Code Enforcement Director Catherine Topple reported the structure is unsafe and dangerous. The curator, appointed to locate owners, found them deceased with no heirs. Neighbors complained. Council voted to demolish. Passed 7-0.

Discussion Items

  • Item 13A (Resolution supporting JEDCO PILOT for Westminster Tower LP): Presentation by Jerry Bologna (JEDCO) and Oliver Haynes (HPI). Westminster Tower, a 200+ unit senior affordable housing complex, was acquired by a for-profit/nonprofit partnership. The 20-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement will allow $3-4 million in renovations without raising rents. Renovations will be completed within 12 months, with residents staying in place (48-hour unit turnaround). Councilman Taft expressed concern about the 20-year term but ultimately voted in favor after explanations about HUD affordability contracts and lender requirements. Passed 7-0.

Key Outcomes

  • All consent agenda items and public hearings passed unanimously (7-0).
  • The council approved the PILOT for Westminster Tower, supporting senior housing renovations.
  • Several contracts and purchases were approved: $12,000 for non-lethal training ammunition; $50,000 for vehicle accessories; $200,000 increase for light bars and sirens (to $600,000 total); $227,825 for sewer lift station rehabilitation (Jelpee and Osborne); $250,893.35 for 27th and Dawson sewer lift station; $500,000 annually for equipment rental from United Rentals; and first reading items for future votes (radar equipment, lawn equipment, Chateau Transfer Station improvements, pumps, testing services, reflective sheeting, lighting, stadium pads, lead hazard grant funds).
  • Public comment: Greg Taft (5th district) requested street repairs using the extra riverboat funds and thanked city employees for their work.
  • Councilman Brennan noted that the entrance wall to Woodlake Subdivision was hit again due to a medical emergency; the city is working on plans to reduce future impacts.

Meeting Transcript

The mayor has a proclamation. We'd like to present it now. Thank you. Please let us have silence so the mayor can uh do the proclamation. Thank you. All right, thank you. If y'all can remember last uh September, we had Ronnie Lamarck up here and uh presenting him a proclamation. Uh September is hunger action month. So I'm kind of paraphrase this with some of our partners here from Walmart. Whereas, while the Kenner Food Bank and their local partners annually provide more than two hundred and ninety-two thousand meals to over one thousand residents of the City of Kenner, it is our responsibility as citizens of the City of Kenneth to learn about hunger and to do our part in reducing that hunger. And whereas the City of Kenner collaborates with Feeding America, Second Harvest Food Bank of New Orleans, and Acadiana, and the Louisiana Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and the American Heart Association to educate people about the important role of hunger relief organizations raising awareness for the need to devote more resources and attention to hunger and food insecurity issues. And whereas volunteers and member agencies like Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana understand that the need for comprehensive coordinated emergency food programs place a critical responsibility, not only upon the city, but on our community as a whole. Whereas this September, the City of Canada joins communities across America that are committed to fight hunger during Hunger Action Month, a month dedicated to raising awareness of hunger in America and finding solutions within our communities. Thank you again. Thank you for everything. Council meeting will begin in one minute. I like to call the meeting of September nineteenth, twenty twenty-five to order. Are there any special intentions? Yes. Councilman Sworth. Thank you, Council President. Um I'm sorry, last meeting I left kind of abruptly. I got a text message from my wife that she was blind in one eye, which has happened because it was she was blind in the other eye two weeks prior. Seems like the medicine she's on, um and the disease that she has. But I can glad to say and happy that she is well. And thank you, Councilman Branaghen for that special oil. And um her vision is back to normal. Thank you. Excellent. Uh good to hear. Um Councilwoman Dawn, if you'll lead us in prayer. Thank you, Council President. May we all bow our heads in prayer. Father, in the name of Jesus. In the mighty name of Jesus. Lord, I pray for the mayor in his administration. I pray for the police chief Connolly in his administration, for the fire chief Terrence and Morris in his administration. I pray, dear God, for the city of Kenner as a whole. I ask that you would continue to bless the residents to be with us. And dear God, as we get into the business of the city of Kenner, we're asking that you would give us wisdom, knowledge, and understanding that we may move this city forward in the right directions. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Please remain standing. Council Councilman Brennan, if you'd lead us in the pledge. Yes, sir. Pledge relations. Madam Clerk. Yes, sir. Um you have a quorum. In accordance with council resolution number B 14550.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com