OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Lake Charles City Council Meeting Summary - December 9, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, December 9, 2025
BodyLake Charles, Louisiana
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, December 9, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 24:23

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

I guess they have a put 'em together.

0:02

I don't know, but I can't remember.

0:03

They had windows.

0:04

I know that.

0:05

I don't know.

0:06

I mean, like, you know, it was like you see the interior door unit.

0:14

I think it was molding on one side.

0:48

Somebody ran over it.

0:53

Nobody builds it.

1:03

I got some shutters like that.

1:06

Or did we think about it?

1:08

They've got to build a maximum.

1:34

We build like a tab wall and we had shutters.

1:41

Exposed if you want to let everything all that down the elevator.

1:47

Well, they had they wouldn't have the shutter, but he was sitting at the later.

2:17

So I want to build that back and put those shots.

2:23

But do that sometime next year.

2:25

Save some more.

2:39

Oh yeah, all right.

2:40

All right.

2:43

Gonna call this agenda meeting the order.

2:45

Mr.

2:46

Billboard leaders at Mr.

2:48

Fundale needs at the uh clear.

2:52

Heavenly Father, we come before you today with gratitude for gift of community and a responsibility of leadership.

2:58

Please grant us wisdom, fairness, and unity to this council as we make decisions that affect the lives of many.

3:04

Please, our discussions with clarity and actions with justice and our hearts with compassion.

3:10

May everything done here today serve the common good and honor, trust us in the name of Jesus.

3:15

Amen.

3:16

Amen.

3:23

And two republic for stands.

3:26

One nation.

3:35

Appointed chairman to review bids for project number CP 3019 Cell Road Bridge Reyes.

3:52

Appointed chairman to review bids for project number CP 3224.

4:00

And amend the budget as necessary.

4:03

Public hearings.

4:05

Public hearing and consideration of the Lake Charles Planning and Zoning Commission's decision to deny request for a major conditional use permit in order to establish a runway matting manufacturing facility in an existing commercial structure with variances to allow use on local street versus required location adjacent to and has access to an arterial or collector street and two allow manufacturing use of a fiberglass product within one thousand feet of a residential land use within a mixed use zoning district at twenty-nine twenty-five Industrial Avenue.

4:49

It will be um can we can we take it off now or you have to wait?

4:53

That's Mr.

4:53

Burger.

4:54

Did they send the letter pulling it?

5:00

And have resubmitted for a January 12th hearing at the Planning Commission.

5:02

Okay.

5:02

So do you do it now at the agenda meeting or do you wait and however that y'all want to do it?

5:08

We can according to the rule.

5:10

We can pull it now because we can object to it.

5:13

Correct.

5:14

If they gave a formal letter.

5:18

You can go ahead and do that.

5:18

I think they can pull it now.

5:20

I would.

5:21

I think we can pull it now.

5:23

Okay.

5:23

So we've taken this one off the agenda.

5:25

Yes, yes, ma'am.

5:26

And the planning in zone is January 12th.

5:29

Okay.

5:30

The next is an ordinance ordering demolition and authorizing the city of Lake Charles Center into an agreement for demolition of a structure located at 1517 Fournette Street, including all three structures, Serenity Oaks property, LLC owner.

5:45

Another demolition at 1517 Martha Street, Don Eric Mohammed owner.

5:50

Another demolition at 2310 North Old Highway 171 Garage Slash Bourne.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Works████████████████████████████████████████40%
Public Engagement██████████████████████22%
Animal Welfare█████████████████17%
Procedural██████████████14%
Transportation Safety███████7%
Summary of Proceedings

Lake Charles City Council Meeting - December 9, 2025

The Lake Charles City Council convened to review bids, approve ordinances for infrastructure and demolitions, and discuss public safety matters. A significant public hearing was removed from the agenda due to a resubmission by the requestor to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Council members engaged in discussions regarding traffic studies, animal control capabilities, and existing inter-parish contracts. The meeting concluded with public testimony concerning neighborhood traffic safety and walkability improvements.

Consent Calendar

  • Demolition Ordinances: Ordered demolition for multiple structures at 1517 Fournette St, 1517 Martha St, 2310 North Old Highway 171, 2205 Klein St, 1613 8th St, 1501 Fourth Ave, 1205 14th St, 1621 2nd Ave, 806 Azalea Dr, 518 Labottle St, 210 North Booker St, 1013 Alamo St, 2103 Opaloosa St, 1613 Shaw St, and 1029 Alamo St (owners listed include entities and tax sale properties).
  • Infrastructure Bids (CP): Accepted lowest responsible bids for Project CP 3237 (WWTP A Basin A0606 Sewer Rehabilitation) and Project CP 3414 (Southwest WTP back up power improvements).
  • Additional Bids & Agreements:
    • Project CP 9778 (LCEC ADA railing and seating).
    • Professional services with Allied Universal for security coverage at City Hall and the Transit Division Building.
    • Amendment to Ward 3 Marshal's office budget for a Deputy Marshal position.
    • Professional services agreement with NICE System for digital evidence storage.
    • Fire hydrant flow testing and maintenance agreement with Utiliser.
  • Resolutions & Plan Amendments:
    • Reappointed Elwyn Brent Washington and Brent Cating to the Calcasieu Parish Public Library Board of Trustees (2026–2031).
    • Accepted CP 3346 (North Beach Asphalt Connector Boardwalk) and CP 3512 (Gosport Park New Pool) as substantially complete.
    • Authorized advertising for statements of qualifications for an indoor recreation facility and sale bids for Millennium Park Fall Surface Replacement.
    • Approved amendment to the 2019 action plan to reprogram unspent CDBG-CV funds to Gosport Park Improvement Number 2.
  • Zoning: Ordinance amending Section 4-205-5AI regarding variance limitations.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Henry Mancuso (858 Kirby Street): Representing a group of neighbors supporting Tammy Edwards' previous efforts.
    • Position: Expressed gratitude for the city's rapid deployment of traffic study equipment.
    • Recommendation: Urge the council to incorporate findings and remarks from Mr. Jeff Speck's previous visit (June/July) into the current traffic study to account for the complex three-lane configuration (two lanes westbound, two lanes eastbound) between Louisiana Avenue and Kirkman.
    • Context: Noted difficulty in installing stop signs due to the lane arrangement; suggested speed bumps as an alternative; highlighted a demographic shift toward young families in the neighborhood.

Discussion Items

  • Lake Charles Planning and Zoning Commission Hearing:
    • Action: The council voted to remove the public hearing regarding a major conditional use permit to establish a runway matting manufacturing facility (2925 Industrial Avenue) from the agenda.
    • Reasoning: Project sponsor Mr. Burger indicated a formal letter had been received pulling the request; the applicant resubmitted the request for a hearing on January 12, 2025.
    • Council Position: Council members agreed it was permissible to remove the item now to avoid duplication with the upcoming Planning Commission schedule.
  • Animal Control Capabilities:
    • Council Member Concerns (Mr. Marks/Mr. Young): Expressed frustration regarding incidents involving a rabid squirrel, an active bobcat, and rampant cats (O Park). Noted that residents are told animal control cannot handle wild animals like bobcats or alligators.
    • Staff Response: Clarified that normal city animal control does not deal with specialized wildlife; the city must hire external trappers or state officials for such cases. A trapper is currently being deployed for the bobcat.
    • Deliberation: Council decided to invite the animal control provider to a future meeting (likely next Wednesday's final action meeting or a public presentation) to explain service limitations and steps required for intervention.
    • Council Member Position: Mr. Bilbo expressed a desire to reduce the bureaucratic steps required for residents to report animals (e.g., requiring evidence of an attack before action is taken), arguing that the threshold for intercession should be lower.
    • Council Member Position: Mr. Young requested that animal control representatives come to the public meeting to be held accountable for service levels, particularly regarding feral cats.
  • Inter-Parish Contracts:
    • Council Member Proposal (Mr. Bilbo): Proposed a review of all existing contracts with the Parish exceeding 10 years to ensure they remain favorable to the city given changes over the last 50 years.
    • Goal: To renegotiate terms that may be outdated, ensuring the city is not disadvantaged when collaborating with the Parish on streets or other joint efforts.
  • Project Bids & Updates:
    • West Salter Street: Council Member Young requested an update on the expansion timeline and bid dates.
    • School Zone: Council Member Me asked for an update on safety improvements approved for the daycare area on West LaGrange; staff promised an update the following day.
    • Investigative Building: Council Member Young expressed satisfaction with the exterior of the new building at Enterprise and Third; requested a walkthrough once operational.
    • Inspector Hiring: Confirmations that two new inspectors (one part-time, one full-time) and a transfer from Public Works have been hired, bringing the total to five staff members (one currently sick). Council agreed to meet with the new staff once fully integrated.

Key Outcomes

  • Agenda Removal: The public hearing for the runway matting facility at 2925 Industrial Avenue has been officially removed from this agenda; the matter is rescheduled for the Planning and Zoning Commission on January 12, 2025.
  • Directives:
    • Administration to arrange a public presentation or meeting with the animal control provider to address service capabilities and public education regarding wild animals.
    • Legal and administrative departments to initiate a review of inter-parish contracts older than 10 years.
    • Public Works/Planning staff to provide an update on the West Salter Street expansion and West LaGrange school zone improvements.
  • Approvals: Multiple ordinances regarding demolition, infrastructure projects, security services, and zoning amendments were accepted for final action.

Meeting Transcript

I guess they have a put 'em together. I don't know, but I can't remember. They had windows. I know that. I don't know. I mean, like, you know, it was like you see the interior door unit. I think it was molding on one side. Somebody ran over it. Nobody builds it. I got some shutters like that. Or did we think about it? They've got to build a maximum. We build like a tab wall and we had shutters. Exposed if you want to let everything all that down the elevator. Well, they had they wouldn't have the shutter, but he was sitting at the later. So I want to build that back and put those shots. But do that sometime next year. Save some more. Oh yeah, all right. All right. Gonna call this agenda meeting the order. Mr. Billboard leaders at Mr. Fundale needs at the uh clear. Heavenly Father, we come before you today with gratitude for gift of community and a responsibility of leadership. Please grant us wisdom, fairness, and unity to this council as we make decisions that affect the lives of many. Please, our discussions with clarity and actions with justice and our hearts with compassion. May everything done here today serve the common good and honor, trust us in the name of Jesus. Amen. Amen. And two republic for stands. One nation. Appointed chairman to review bids for project number CP 3019 Cell Road Bridge Reyes. Appointed chairman to review bids for project number CP 3224. And amend the budget as necessary. Public hearings. Public hearing and consideration of the Lake Charles Planning and Zoning Commission's decision to deny request for a major conditional use permit in order to establish a runway matting manufacturing facility in an existing commercial structure with variances to allow use on local street versus required location adjacent to and has access to an arterial or collector street and two allow manufacturing use of a fiberglass product within one thousand feet of a residential land use within a mixed use zoning district at twenty-nine twenty-five Industrial Avenue. It will be um can we can we take it off now or you have to wait? That's Mr. Burger. Did they send the letter pulling it? And have resubmitted for a January 12th hearing at the Planning Commission. Okay. So do you do it now at the agenda meeting or do you wait and however that y'all want to do it? We can according to the rule. We can pull it now because we can object to it. Correct. If they gave a formal letter. You can go ahead and do that. I think they can pull it now.

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