Lake Charles City Council Meeting - November 12, 2025

The City Council of Lake Charles convened on November 12, 2025, to address a wide range of administrative, public works, and safety items. The meeting featured a detailed presentation from Acadian Ambulance regarding emergency response metrics, training academies, and a proposal for expanded community CPR and AED accessibility. Council members engaged in public comments focusing on neighborhood blight, traffic safety, land acquisition statuses, and requests for organizational transparency regarding city department structures and employee compensation. Several routine appointments and ordinance actions were presented for approval.

Consent Calendar

• Appointed a chairman to review bids for project number CP 3414 (Southwest Water Treatment Plant Backup Power Improvements).
• Appointed a chairman to review bids for purchasing one new rear-load refuse truck for the Solid Waste Trash Division.
• Appointed a chairman to review bids for purchasing one new three-wheel sweeper for the Streets Division.
• Appointed a chairman to purchase one new six-yard dump truck for Grounds Maintenance Division.
• Appointed a chairman to purchase one new four-wheel sweeper for Ground Maintenance Division.
• Appointed a chairman to review bids for traffic control products under a 12-month contract (renewable for 12 months) with the Public Works Communications and Traffic Division.
• Public hearing and consideration on the alteration of the shoreline of the Calcasieu River at 20 River Road (timber deck, boat slips, bulkhead replacement).
• Ordinance authorizing demolition agreements for structures at 3023 General Twining and the Gertrude and Savoy Estate.
• Ordinance authorizing a cooperative endeavor agreement with Motorola Solutions for 70 APX N70 XE mobile radios for the Fire Department.
• Ordinance authorizing a professional services agreement with Allied Universal for security coverage at City Hall, the Transit Division Building, and the downtown lakefront.
• Final action on an ordinance authorizing a cooperative agreement regarding a line item appropriation (Act 461 of 2025) for the Prion Lake Road Pedestrian Bridge.
• Resolution accepting project number CP 3376 (Chenault Air Force Base 12-inch water loop) as substantially complete.
• Ordinance amending Lake Charles zoning ordinance section 24-5-3071-5A1(i) relative to Nelly Lecher District Overlay Standards.
• Ordinance authorizing settlement of the claim Asia Mesh versus Union Carbide Corporation et al. (Docket 2024-4641).
• Ordinance amending section 12-5.3 of the City Code relative to permit uses.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mr. Taylor Richard (Acadian Ambulance): Provided an overview of Acadian's operations in Lake Charles, stating they handled over 2,500 emergent calls in September with an average response time of 8 minutes and 39 seconds. He expressed that the National EMS Academy is the second largest producer of EMTs nationally. Regarding community intervention, Mr. Richard expressed a strong position seeking city partnership to implement a city-wide strategy similar to Seattle's model, which includes mass CPR training events and increased access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). He stated the organization is willing to host events at their facility or community locations and is exploring a mass training event for Spring 2026.
• Mayor (via transcript): Expressed agreement to the city's partnership with Acadian, noting a personal testimony of an 11-minute response time during a cardiac event at his church. He positioned himself as supportive of the Seattle model for AED placement in high-traffic areas like downtown and expressed support for the high school explorer program as a recruitment and training tool.
• Council Member (Unnamed, likely Councilor Marks or similar based on context of thanks): Expressed gratitude for Acadian's presence at high school football games, noting the service provides peace of mind to the community despite a low frequency of actual medical interventions during games.
• Council Member Mr. Weatherford: Expressed appreciation for the traffic group's quick response to a constituent's concerns regarding parking and speeding in his neighborhood. He expressed gratitude towards the state delegation, specifically Jeremy Stein, for funding the Prion Lake Road pedestrian bridge, stating the current bridge is dangerous for pedestrians and casino employees.
• Council Member Mr. Bible: Expressed satisfaction with the speed of public works responses. He raised a concern regarding repeat offenders of code violations, specifically asking if the city has a distinct process for handling excessive violations compared to standard ones. He also raised concerns about dumping on Railroad Avenue and a specific road near the truck stop, asking for increased patrols and potentially closing a road to prevent illegal dumping.
• Council Member Mr. Young: Expressed high praise for the recent Veterans Day ceremony. He expressed gratitude to public works, planning, and police departments for their cooperation. He relayed constituent concern regarding the timeline of buyouts on Fitzgerald Drive, noting that residents expect to receive formal written notices regarding right-of-way acquisitions soon.
• Council Member Ms. Bees: Expressed appreciation for the immediate results seen after constituents contact city departments. She echoed concerns about illegal dumping on the west side of Railroad Avenue near Mount Pilgrim Church.
• Council Member Mr. Marks: Expressed interest in the status of Second Harvest's location, noting they have retooled their scope to focus on cooking meals and disaster recovery rather than farmers' markets. He expressed concern regarding contractors leaving rocks on sidewalks at new apartment complexes on Power Center Drive, creating hazards for wheelchair users. He also expressed support for a traffic study at the intersection of Highway 14 and Power Center Drive to address long traffic light cycles. He requested the council be provided with a chain of command for all departments, a current pay scale for all employees (including the council), and a count of non-charter positions with their salaries to understand city operations and justification for wages.
• Council Member (Unnamed, regarding 18th Street): Expressed concern about a red-tagged/blue-tagged house at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 18th Street, noting it has been a source of illegal sleeping for three years and requires intervention.

Discussion Items

• Acadian Ambulance Presentation: The council discussed the current response times, the volume of calls, and the training capabilities of the Acadian National EMS Academy. A specific discussion centered on the feasibility and logistics of a city-wide CPR and AED initiative, with Acadian suggesting a partnership to mimic the successful model in Seattle, Washington. The council discussed hosting a mass CPR event, possibly at the Cajun Dome or community centers, and integrating high school students into the program.
• Code Enforcement and Repeat Violations: Council Member Bible requested clarification on the process for handling repeat offenders versus initial violations. The city staff explained that for grass or debris, an affidavit allows the city to abate the violation every 30 days for a year. For excessive, long-term violations, the city can move to an administrative hearing, though they prefer a process where the property owner performs the cleaning themselves to prevent recurrence. The staff noted that if the city cleans it repeatedly, the property owner cannot pay the bill, whereas self-cleaning improves compliance rates.
• Public Safety and Infrastructure Issues: Multiple council members raised issues regarding illegal dumping and safety hazards. Specific locations mentioned included Railroad Avenue, a road near the YMCA and truck stop, an alley behind the bus station, and a ditch behind the Housing Authority. Council members requested regular patrols, camera installation, and road closures. A specific item regarding a boat hidden behind trees on Railroad Avenue was noted as being in the process of being moved by the state police.
• Traffic and Road Conditions: Concerns were raised about the dangerous condition of the Prion Lake Road bridge (lack of shoulder). Discussions also covered traffic signal timing at Power Center Drive and Highway 14, with a suggestion to contact the state for a study and signal extension. A broken turn signal at the same intersection was noted.
• Transparency and Organizational Structure: Council Member Marks requested detailed documentation of departmental hierarchies, employee salary scales, and inventories of non-charter positions to better inform council decisions and address constituent inquiries about budgets and hiring.

Key Outcomes

• Agreement to Partner with Acadian Ambulance: The Mayor and Council expressed agreement and support to continue partnering with Acadian Ambulance on community CPR training and AED placement initiatives. Acadian will coordinate further regarding the potential for a mass training event in Spring 2026.
• Informational Directives: Council Member Marks' request for a departmental chain of command, a full pay scale for all city employees, and a list of non-charter positions has been recorded and will be addressed by administration (implied by the request to be emailed to council).
• Action on Road and Dumping Issues: The Council acknowledged specific dumping and safety hazards. Staff noted that the state police are actively moving a hidden boat on Railroad Avenue. Council members requested further investigation into closing specific roads and increasing patrols for dumping zones.
• Land Acquisition Status: The Council confirmed that right-of-way acquisitions on Fitzgerald Drive are approaching the appraisal and contact phase, with notice letters to be sent to residents soon.
• Second Harvest Status: The Council was informed that Second Harvest has adjusted their project scope to focus primarily on meal preparation and disaster recovery, and they are proceeding with the project.
• Voters' Requests: The Council agreed to look into the broken turn signal at Power Center Drive and Highway 14 and the rock removal issue on sidewalks at Power Center Drive. The Council agreed to investigate the blue-tagged house on 18th Street.