Lake Charles City Council Regular Meeting – October 7, 2026

The Lake Charles City Council met in regular session on October 7, 2026, with all seven members present (Bilbo, Young, Harvey, Weatherford, Viceno, Fondale, Marks). The agenda included a setback-variance appeal, a series of demolition ordinances for storm-damaged structures, bid awards, cooperative endeavor agreements, and several resolutions. The transcript records nearly every vote tally as "7-4" (written "74") although only seven members answered roll call; except for the item 17 appeal, which was defeated, the listed motions carried as recorded.

Consent Calendar / Housekeeping

• Minutes of the previous meeting were approved.
• Items 8, 13, and 19 were deferred to the November 4, 2026, meeting; item 24 was deferred indefinitely pending a curator; item 37 (an ordinance) was introduced only, with discussion and vote set for October 21, 2026.
• Bid-review chair appointments: Mr. Harvey for Project CP 3051-2025 (city-wide striping); Mr. Young for a new sewer inspection camera/crawler; and a chair for the downtown light-pole Christmas wreath and garland purchase.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Rex Royer, owner of 5464 Moulin Rouge Drive, supported his variance request, stating his 126-square-foot shed (about 8 by 12 feet) sits 36–41 inches from the property line because the neighbor's fence is more than a foot over the line; he also claimed the shed is self-supporting, under the 200-square-foot permit threshold in ordinance section 6-40, largely hidden behind his pool house and the eight-foot fence, and would cost about $12,000 to replace after he spent $7,000 to build it.
• Byron Gaskin, the adjacent neighbor, opposed the variance, saying the shed is all he sees from his back porch, was never inspected, and citing survey stakes indicating any fence encroachment is only about two inches, not the foot-plus claimed by Mr. Royer.
• John Ladner, a licensed general contractor speaking for Mr. Gaskin, opposed the variance, arguing that contractors must obtain permits and inspections, that a variance had been available at the earlier hearing if the shed were 10 feet from the line, and that roof runoff and storm debris from the close-set shed threaten the neighbor's fence and home.
• An investigating council member reported that both neighbors were urged to work it out, that Mr. Royer agreed to consider modifications but no contact followed, and that the shed is attached to the pool house with joist hangers, making the permit-exemption claim "a lie."
• Property owners also testified on demolition items: Tia Moore Henry (1809 Legion Street) intends to rehabilitate; Juan Martinez (2415 Fitzenreiter Road) plans to renovate; Mac Toller (2338 C Street garage) will demolish; Russell Foster (740 Cleveland Street) will refurbish his first home; Gilbert Benaventa and new owner Tracy Cansom (4508 Autumnwood Lane) described an active demolition-and-rebuild plan.

Discussion Items

Item 17 – Setback Variance Appeal, 5464 Moulin Rouge Drive

• The Planning and Zoning Commission had denied the variance 3–2. Zoning staff said the residential district requires a five-foot rear setback with a maximum two-foot overhang; the shed wall sits at two feet eleven inches, two feet into the required setback, and while a three-foot variance is the maximum that may be requested, it is not automatic.
• Mr. Royer received a one-minute time extension by motion and vote and asked the council to weigh the existing concrete pad, limited yard space, and minimal impact on neighbors.
• Council clarified that setbacks are measured from the property line, not the fence, and that the shed is unpermitted because the accessory-dwelling-unit permit did not include the encroachment.
• A proposed deferment so the neighbors could negotiate was suggested but not pursued.
• Outcome: On the appeal, a "yes" vote would overturn the commission and a "no" vote would affirm it. Seven members voted against overturning, so the variance was denied.

Demolition Ordinances (Storm-Damaged Properties)

• 1610 Graham Street (Alan J. Mitchell): storm-damaged; rehearing from August 5; deferred 30 days to November 4, 2026; a council member noted the property is tied to "Project Build the Future."
• 1509 Pear Street (Edward Gallian Jr. and Jules J. Gallian; subject to a state tax sale): no cards; demolition agreement approved.
• 1809 Legion Street (T. O. Moore Henry): after an initial 30-day deferral, the council voted to reconsider and gave the owner 30 days to pull a permit and 90 days to complete rehabilitation.
• 2415 Fitzenreiter Road (transcribed "Fitz and Rider Road") (Juan Martinez; state tax lien): deferred to November 4, 2026, for permits and a plan of action; the rear yard must be cleared and a shed repaired.
• 2338 C Street garage (Ida Washington): great-grandson Mac Toller will tear down the garage; demolition approved under the 15-days-to-permit / 15-days-to-complete rule, with dumped tires his responsibility.
• 2202 Commercial Street (Miss Jones / Mr. Simpson): service was under the required 10-day notice and Mr. Simpson is deceased; deferred to October 21, 2026, possibly requiring a curator.
• 740 Cleveland Street (Russell Foster): owner appeared; deferred to November 4, 2026, to submit a plan; a council-approved plan would trigger a 90-day completion window.
• 2123rd Street (as transcribed) (Cecilia Pete/Petrie): family requested a 30-day deferral; deferred to November 4, 2026; council asked contractors to check the house for people living inside before demolition.
• 2344 C Street (Marlene Marks, Marquisha Elise Marks, Elise Marks, Kendall Wayne Marks): owner in constant contact; deferred 30 days to November 4, 2026.
• 4508 Autumnwood Lane (Jacob Robert & Heather Lynn Ross LLC): fire-damaged from a New Year's Eve fireworks fire; sold to Tracy Cansom; Chris Morrow has equipment on site awaiting a demo permit and Wayne Fender will rebuild; council approved 30 days to pull the permit and 60 days to complete the demo.

Bids, Contracts & Cooperative Endeavor Agreements

• Item 18: Gosport Recreation splash pad (CP 3537) — accepted the lowest bid, from "Sound East History Construction" (as transcribed), for $461,000.
• Prien Lake (transcribed "Pre-Anne Lake") Pedestrian Bridge — authorized a cooperative endeavor agreement with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development using a state appropriation for a pedestrian bridge at the narrow, dangerous bridge.
• Cooperative endeavor agreement with the Louisiana Department of Treasury for an Act 961 (2026 regular session) appropriation for park improvements at University Park and Nelson Road Park.
• Ryan Street emergency sanitary sewer replacement — introduced and passed on final reading the same night (two-thirds vote required). Horseshoe Construction is the responsive/responsible bidder; base bid $203,595 plus a $5,500 alternate totals $209,095; change orders up to 20 percent are authorized within budget; funds are available as state law requires.

Litigation Item

• The council voted without entering executive session on the pending lawsuit styled Jennifer White, Kenneth White, Kathleen Washington, Daniel Washington, Sherilyn Solano, Michael Solano, Donald Piper, Cheryl Piper, and Craig Johnson against the consolidated gravity drainage district number two (East Calcasieu), the City of Lake Charles, and the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, Docket No. 2021-5235, Division F, 14th Judicial District Court.

Resolutions (Items 25–31)

• Item 25: Resolution urging the Louisiana federal delegation and the Louisiana Public Service Commission to allocate available, unspent Hurricane Laura FEMA funds to Entergy Louisiana LLC's eligible infrastructure and storm-repair costs, with any resulting savings passed to ratepayers. Councilman Marks, who pulled the resolution, called it a ratepayer-fairness issue because electric co-ops can receive FEMA funds while Entergy recovers storm costs through ratepayer surcharges. Approved; the council has passed this resolution before.
• Item 26: Mark Young was reappointed to the Recreation District No. 1 board for a five-year term expiring October 27, 2031; his was the only name submitted.
• Item 27: Sale Road bridge repairs (CP 3019) accepted as substantially complete; council authorized advertising the 45-day lien period. The prior contractor funded the repairs after earlier deficient work.
• Items 28–31: authorized advertising for sealed bids for Riverside Park Shoreline Protection Phase 1 (CP 3508) and for office supplies (12-month term with two one-year renewal options); authorized purchase of a new six-yard dump truck for the wastewater division; and authorized the Lake Charles Police Department's FY 2026 Justice Assistance Grant application for police-related equipment. All passed.

Key Outcomes

• Item 17: appeal denied, seven votes against overturning Planning and Zoning; variance refused.
• Deferrals to November 4, 2026: items 5, 7 (initially), 9, 12, 14, and 15, plus items 8, 13, and 19 announced at the start of the meeting.
• Deferrals to October 21, 2026: item 11 and item 37 (discussion/vote).
• Item 7 reconsidered: 30 days to pull a permit and 90 days to complete the work.
• Item 16: 30 days to pull the demo permit and 60 days to complete the demo.
• Demolition agreements approved for items 6 and 10 (item 10 under the 15/15 rule with tire cleanup required).
• Item 18: splash pad bid accepted at $461,000.
• Ryan Street sewer replacement ordinance passed (two-thirds vote) for a total of $209,095.
• The Act 961 park-improvement agreement, Prien Lake bridge agreement, litigation item, and items 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31 passed.
• Items 32–47 were ordered read into the record at 9:00 a.m. the following morning (October 8, 2026); the meeting adjourned.