The New Orleans City Council held a regular meeting on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, beginning at 10:00 AM in City Hall Council Chamber. The meeting included invocation, pledge, consent agenda, and a lengthy regular agenda with public hearings and votes on major development projects, budget amendments, and policy initiatives. Councilmembers present: McCarron, Harris, Hughes, Morrell, Willard (later joined by King and Green). The meeting recessed for an executive session and a separate Economic Development District meeting. Key items included the Convention Center Hotel Overlay District (Omni Hotel), funding for the NOPD 8th District Drone Program, a data center interim zoning district, and numerous zoning and budget matters.
As Olympian Day. Um, in New Orleans, our high schools are far more than buildings, they are a part of the fabric of our city. They shape our neighborhoods, our families, our traditions, and our culture. Uh, Sarah T Reed High School, established in nineteen eighty eight and named for pioneer and educator. Sarah Tiles Reed became a cornerstone of New Orleans East and a source of pride for generations of Olympians. Um, I know we have a lot of members of our unions here today, and Sarah T. Reed was responsible for founding the first teachers union in the city of New Orleans. She advocated for women and educators of color, particularly black educators. We intended to recognize Olympian Day last week, but due to tropical storm, last week's council meeting had to be rescheduled. Still, this special recognition is no less important. I want to thank the executive board for being here today and for fighting to preserve not just a school legacy, but a part of New Orleans culture. We are also proud to acknowledge two Sarah T. Reed graduates in public service, uh, Orleans, uh, City Council Clerk of Court, uh, Ayesha Kalye, uh, and my Chief of Staff, Justin McCorco, are both proud Olympians. A special thank you to Stacey Martin and Collegiate Academies for carrying forth the legacy of this school. We are looking forward to this year's Battle of the East between Abramson and Sarah T. Reed. I know it's going to be bigger and better than ever before. Won't tell y'all who I'm rooting for, but I'll be there. Uh, let me just say though, as um uh uh a Ron Eagle, uh, I have great admiration for Sarah T. Reed. Uh and I graduated from thirty thirteen thirty one Kellerek Street, and now McDonough thirty-five is located in a different building. But the legacy, the level of excellence, the culture of high expectations, it doesn't matter what building you're in. And I'm just so proud that the legacy of Sarah T. Reed will continue. Uh, so congratulations. We have uh some proclamations for you all. Uh, if you have a spokesperson that wants to say a couple quick words, we we certainly welcome that. Good morning, everyone. I'm Frank Ruby, the President of the Alumni Association, and we are very honored to be here. Hundreds of hundreds of been on campus in years. Very excited that we're moving on. Thank you. Recognize our right. Thank you. And look, um, I'm gonna say this as I'm an extreme introvert. People don't know that about me. Um, but I had the opportunity to come to Alumni Weekend on Saturday. Uh it was one of the most epic celebrations that I've ever been a part of, and my chief of staff was shocked. I actually did not want to leave. I had such a great time. So thank you all. Congratulations. We have some proclamations for you. We're gonna do a quick picture, and uh thank you all so much for being here. Hey, you stay right there for me. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Please take your seats. We're gonna get started. Thank you very much. Madam Clark, you can start.