New Orleans City Council Meeting Summary - December 11, 2025
New Orleans City Council Meeting Summary - December 11, 2025
The council convened with Councilmembers Morel, Jarusto, Harris, King, and Green present to address public safety infrastructure proposals, review administrative contract transitions under the incoming administration, and vote on several urgent municipal agreements. The primary discussion centered on the potential fabrication of permanent security gates for Bourbon Street, with a strong emphasis on delaying a final contractual commitment to allow the new administration to review the specifications. Several routine contracts regarding engineering, waste services, and parking regulations were subsequently adopted with unanimous support.
Consent Calendar
- Sewage and Water Board Appointment: The council approved the appointment of Ariana Greenridge to the Sewage and Water Board following a waiver of the notice period. Vote tally: 4 yes, 0 no. (Note: Councilmember Jarusto was not present to vote; the quorum of 3 was sufficient for the vote).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Galai Bilby, French Quarter Resident & Commissioner: Expresses support for a permanent solution but argues that "getting it right" is more important than the current timing. Believes the current temporary plan is cumbersome and that the French Quarter Management District needs to discuss the proposal thoroughly before implementation. Supports whatever proposal ensures the solution works for NOPD and DPW.
Discussion Items
- Bourbon Street Security Gates (TCP Security Services):
- Project Description: A proposal to replace temporary "secure guards" (rated at 10 mph) with permanent 18 swing gates rated for 40 mph (7.5-ton truck) and 50 mph (1.5-ton truck). The gates aim to reduce nightly labor from 33 barriers to 18 gates and improve crash protection. Installation time is estimated at 22-23 weeks.
- Councilmember Morel: Expresses a position of concern regarding the new administration being tied to a contract initiated by the current administration. Notes that while the temporary solutions are effective, they are not designed for daily repeated movement. Supports delaying the contract to allow the new leadership to weigh in on the specifications, arguing the timeline delay (to July/August or later) does not impact public safety as the "dead period" of tourism is between June and October.
- Chief Thomas (Administration): Expresses a need for increased oversight due to previous failures with bollards. Argues that while a 22-23 week timeline is long, proceeding before the hurricane season (which starts in July) is critical to avoid ground disruption during active weather months. Stresses the necessity of ensuring this is a final, robust solution before contracting.
- Councilmember Harris: Asks if the current team has consulted with the Mayor-Elect or incoming CAO (Judge Arusso), noting the lack of coordination as a key concern. Supports the need for robust communication between all stakeholders to ensure this is the "definitive fix" accepted by the public.
- Councilmember King: Expresses agreement with the need for prudence and oversight but remains conflicted between the urgency of public safety and the importance of financial responsibility and administrative transition.
- Discussion on Timeline: It was clarified that if the current administration delays the contract until after the November election, installation would likely be pushed into the Fall, whereas starting in January 2026 would see completion in June/July (still before the peak hurricane season). Temporary gates will remain in place for all events (Mardi Gras, French Quarter Fest, etc.) regardless of the permanent gate timeline.
Key Outcomes
- Contract Review (General): CAO staff confirmed that recent contracts reviewed were primarily extensions of existing grants, bonds, or essential services, with no new major initiatives utilizing general funds that lacked transition team communication. The NOPD consent decree legal services are in the process of closing out.
- Adopted Agreements: The following contracts were voted on and adopted unanimously (4 yes, 0 no):
- Engineering consulting with GEC for Ag Street solar farm preparation.
- Third amendment to fresh sources agreement.
- Third amendment to special service agreement with Sheer Gardner Cahill.
- Renewal of Fast Enterprises LLC contract (Revenue system of record) with a 5% annual cost increase.
- N Harris Computer Corporation Credit Card Payment Gateway Solution Services.
- E: Cashier hardware and services.
- F: Comprehensive sales tax collection software with I3 Software.
- Two contracts with Bayou Tree Services (as-needed trimming/removals).
- Two contracts with HO Investments LLC (Neutral ground maintenance, ~$1.026M annually).
- Six-month service agreement with IV Waste for Sanitation Area 5 (Funded for $3.4M; noted cost increase of $12k/month due to re-bidding).
- One-year extension for United Healthcare Services grant for retired city employees.
- Ordinances Adopted: The council adopted ordinances to:
- Adjust non-consensual towing fees to align with the Louisiana Public Service Commission standards.
- Extend pre-payment periods for street parking to increase revenue without raising rates.
- Correct formatting errors in the boundaries of higher-rate metered parking zones.
- Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at the conclusion of the roll call vote.
Meeting Transcript
Councilmember you ready? Okay, roll call. Councilmember Morel. Councilmember Jarusto. Councilmember Harris. Councilmember King. Councilmember Green. We have uh three members. We have a quorum. You want to do approval of the minutes real quick? Yes. All in favor. All right. Now you want to do that presentation. Presentation bollard presentation. So they can move on. So this is item number six: a discussion of proposed contract with the TCP security services for fabrication of permanent gates along the areas of Bourbon Street to prohibit vehicular traffic during certain hours. Yes, just for clarification to those uh tens of tens that are watching. This is for discussion purposes only. This will not be voted on. We just want to kind of get an idea of what's going on. So whenever you guys are ready, feel free to start. Um do you want to do that there was one? Oh, that's the presentation. Sorry about that, guys. Good morning, everyone. Um, so what we're here to talk about today. We uh after the January 1st event, we did have uh the Taneo group come in and make multiple recommendations to the city. Um they made recommendations on how to close the quarter and uh how to protect Bourbon Street. What we have been doing since that event is we have been closing Bourbon Street on a nightly basis in accordance with the ordinance, um, but allowing for the flow of cross traffic. So vehicles are able to cross Bourbon Street on a regular night. They're just not able to turn onto Bourbon Street. Those closures begin at Canal and Bourbon, and on a nightly basis, they end at St. Ann and Bourbon. Uh the only barrier on St. Ann is on the Canal Street side. That way the residential people in the 800 block have access to their homes. What we've been using is um what I call it's a temporary solution to a permanent problem, and that solution has been secure guards. Currently, the Bourbon Street promenade officers go out, they close one gate at Bourbon and Canal, and then they have to move 32 barriers into place along Bourbon Street. What we are looking at is a permanent solution to this, and they are swing gates uh through T uh TC T F T C P T TCP, I'm sorry. Um the permanent gates do for us is it makes it a much easier operation, it makes it it takes it down from so right now. You have 33 barriers that brings it down to 18, a single gate at each side of each intersection. Um so not only does it make it less work to do, there's less points that can be messed with if you are um by a bad actor, right? It takes that number from 33 down to 18. The gates that we have looked at are not only functional in that the crash rating is very good on that. You will see that I believe in slide four. Um it is it is rated at 40 miles an hour for a seven and a half ton truck, which is a major truck, um, and is rated at 50 miles an hour for a one and a half ton truck. A one and a half ton truck can be comparable to an F55 F 550, uh F 150 is more of a half ton truck. Currently, what we have out there um is rated at I believe 10 miles an hour, the the the permanent install. The other reason that we're looking at these gates is we want something that the community is also good with and that fits in.
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