New Orleans City Council Regular Meeting – May 21, 2026

The New Orleans City Council held its regular meeting on Thursday, May 21, 2026, beginning at 10:05 AM and adjourning at 12:22 PM in the City Hall Council Chamber. Council President JP Morrell presided. Six members were present (McCarron arrived later); Councilmember King was absent. The meeting addressed a consent agenda, multiple zoning dockets, budget amendments, appointments, and two special presentations.

Consent Calendar

• Communications and Reports Received: Entergy related filings (post-testimony briefs, MISO integration report, resilience program report), April 2026 encampment cleanup report, EMS classified pay plan amendment (referred to Budget Committee), HDLC appeal for 1537–1539 Euterpe Street (hearing set for June 4, 2026), proposed agreements with Wexford Health Sources (referred to Budget Committee) and Granicus, LLC (referred to Governmental Affairs Committee), Orleans Parish Communication District and Office of Independent Police Monitor reports, HDLC report on Euterpe Street, Sewerage & Water Board legislative storm report for May 8–9, 2026, and City Planning Commission transmittal of zoning dockets (hearing set for June 4, 2026).
• Motions Adopted Unanimously (6–0):
  • M-26-200: Confirming Susannah Kirby as Director of Safety and Permits.
  • M-26-201: Adding Council President as signatory to Hammerman & Gainer contract amendment.
  • M-26-202: Adding Council President as signatory to Environmental Systems Research Institute contract amendment.
  • M-26-204: Appointment of Ayame Dinkler to Industrial Development Board.
  • M-26-205: Reappointment of Ryan King to Downtown Development District.
  • M-26-206: Reappointment of Kenneth Rubenstein to Downtown Development District.
  • M-26-207: Appointment of Michael DiSimone to Downtown Development District.
  • M-26-208: Reappointment of Margaret Washington to Criminal Justice Council.
  • M-26-209: Appointment of Pike Howard to Criminal Justice Council.
  • M-26-210: Appointment of Renard Thomas to Criminal Justice Council.
  • M-26-211: Appointment of Austin Lavin to New Orleans Public Library.
  • M-26-212: Appointment of Joseph Wilson to Audubon Commission.
  • M-26-213: Appointment of Adrian Bruneau to Regional Planning Commission.
  • M-26-214: Appointment of Dernell Johnson to New Orleans Public Library.
  • M-26-215: Appointment of Richard Freeman to Audubon Commission.
  • M-26-216: Appointment of Amanda Berger to Audubon Commission.
  • M-26-217: Reappointment of Thelma French to Criminal Justice Council.
  • M-26-223: Appointment of Tracie Haydel Griffin to Audubon Commission.

The consent agenda was adopted by a vote of 6–0.

Public Comments & Testimony

No public comments or testimony were recorded during the meeting. The raw transcript provided no discernible speech.

Discussion Items

Zoning Docket 14/26 (2400 Napoleon Avenue, LLC) – Live Performance Venue: The applicant requested a planned development to permit a live performance venue at 2400 Napoleon Avenue. The City Planning Commission recommended an effective denial due to lack of legal majority. The Council held a hearing and, by a 6–0 vote, suspended rules to allow 12 additional minutes of public comment. Motion M-26-196 to approve and modify the request was adopted 5–1 (Councilmember Morrell voting nay; King absent).

Zoning Docket 26/26 (420 Julia Property Holder, LLC) – Social Club: A conditional use for a social club at 420 Julia Street in the CBD-6 district was approved. The City Planning Commission had recommended approval subject to two provisos. The Council adopted Motion M-26-222 with additional provisos by a vote of 5–0 (Morrell and King absent).

Motion M-26-199 – Wexford Health Sources Contract Amendment: Adding the Council President as signatory to Amendment No. 1 of the contract with Wexford Health Sources, Inc. was adopted 6–0 after suspending Rule 57.

Motion M-25-239 (Lying Over) – Police Classified Pay Plan: Amendments to the Police Classified Pay Plan, as adopted by the Civil Service Commission on March 14, 2025, were approved 6–0 after suspending rules to receive and add.

Zoning Docket 24/26 – Convention Center Hotel Overlay District: A text amendment to create a new overlay district for a hotel near the Convention Center was deferred to the June 4, 2026 meeting.

Zoning Docket 31/26 – Commercial Short-Term Rental (424–428 Third Street): Deferred to June 4, 2026.

Zoning Docket 38/26 – Commercial Short-Term Rental (25800 Chef Menteur Highway): Referred to June 4, 2026.

Zoning Docket 39/26 – Indoor Amusement Facility Expansion (636–650 North Broad Street): Deferred to June 4, 2026.

Zoning Docket 40/26 – Commercial Short-Term Rental (2613–2615 Marais Street): Withdrawn at the applicant’s request.

Zoning Docket 41/26 – Zoning Change in Algiers: Deferred to June 4, 2026.

Short-Term Rental Ordinances (Cal. 34,385, M-23-426, M-23-427): All deferred to June 4, 2026.

Budget and Finance Items:

• Cal. 35,432 (Caesars Lease Rent Strip Sale Proceeds Fund) adopted 6–0.
• Cal. 35,434 (Ubuntu Village NOLA cooperative endeavor agreement) deferred to June 4, 2026.
• Cal. 35,435–35,440 (Health Department grant appropriations, including Robert Wood Johnson grant and Office of Violence Prevention funds) all adopted with votes ranging from 5–0 to 6–0.
• Cal. 35,441 (Fund transfer from Public Works to Police Department) deferred to June 4, 2026.
• Cal. 35,442 (NORDC budget correction) adopted 6–0.
• Cal. 35,443–35,444 (French Quarter Economic Development District budget) adopted 6–0.
• Cal. 35,445 (Capital Budget amendment) adopted 6–0.

Appointments and Resolutions:

• M-26-197 (Arthur Morrell to Parking Facilities Corporation) adopted 5–0 (Morrell recused).
• M-26-198 (EMS Pay Plan) deferred to June 4, 2026.
• M-26-203 (Stephanie Burks to Downtown Development District) adopted 6–0.
• R-26-218 (Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire) adopted 6–0.
• M-26-219 (Appointing Councilmember King to Criminal Justice Council) adopted 6–0.
• R-26-220 (Rulemaking for Integrated Resource Plan on Distributed Energy Resources) adopted 6–0.
• R-26-221 (Grant application deadline of July 10, 2026) adopted 6–0.
• M-26-224 (Calling election in Touro Bouligny Security District for November 3, 2026) adopted 6–0 after suspending rules to receive and add.

Ordinances on First Reading: Calendar Numbers 35,447 through 35,452 were introduced and laid over as required by law.

Special Orders

National Water Safety Month Presentation: Dr. Jennifer Avegno (Deputy Mayor of Health & Human Services), William Johnson, Taylor Beaudoin, Anthony T. Davis (Code Enforcement), and Larry Barabino (NORDC CEO) presented updates on the Big Easy Swim Easy drowning prevention initiative. They discussed the need for water safety, mid-program outcomes, and recommendations for future efforts.

Recognition of Gymnast Dwayne Johnson, Jr.: The Council acknowledged St. Augustine gymnast Dwayne Johnson, Jr., who won three consecutive LHSAA state championship gold medals (2024–2026) and signed a grant-in-aid to compete for the University of Illinois. The presentation was added by suspending rules, approved 5–0.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Adopted unanimously (6–0).
• Live Performance Venue (ZD 14/26): Approved with modification (5–1; Morrell nay).
• Social Club (ZD 26/26): Approved with additional provisos (5–0).
• Wexford Contract Amendment: Adopted (6–0).
• Police Pay Plan: Adopted (6–0).
• All budget appropriations (Cal. 35,432; 35,435–35,440; 35,442–35,445): Adopted (majority votes).
• Appointments and resolutions: All adopted (unanimous or near-unanimous).
• Deferrals: Numerous items deferred to June 4, 2026, including the Convention Center Hotel Overlay District, several short-term rental cases, sanitation fee ordinance, and others.
• Meeting adjourned at 12:22 PM.