New Orleans City Council Regular Meeting – July 23, 2026

The New Orleans City Council held its regular meeting on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at 10:00 AM in City Hall Council Chamber. The meeting was called to order by Council President JP Morrell with six members present (Councilmember Hughes arriving later). The session included a consent agenda, numerous zoning and legislative items, an executive session, and two special presentations. The meeting adjourned at 12:17 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Utility Communications: Received reports and filings from Entergy New Orleans, Delta Gas, and related intervenors (UD-14-01, UD-24-02, UD-26-01, UD-18-07).
• Contracts & Agreements: Received and referred to committees: Community Foundation Realty energy incubator agreement; Leads Online agency agreement (NOPD); State of Louisiana CREST MOU (NOPD); Greater New Orleans Development Foundation workforce agreement; YWCA agreement; and several routine reports (S&WB storm reports for July 5, 7, and 11; OPCD budget; OIPM June report; encampment cleanup; District Attorney May report; CPC zoning dockets 47/26, 64/26, 65/26).
• Ordinances Adopted:
  • Cal. No. 35,474 (rescind ZD 123/14 and grant planned development at 636-650 N. Broad Street) – adopted.
  • Cal. No. 35,475 (zoning change to HU-MU at 2819-2821 Jackson Avenue) – adopted.
  • Cal. No. 35,476 (zoning change to OS-N at 4235-4237 Touro Street) – adopted.
  • Cal. No. 35,484 & 35,485 (appropriation of Housing Bond Funds for FY24/25 projects) – adopted.
  • Motion M-26-293 (adding Council President as signatory to OpenGov contract amendment) – adopted.
• Motion to Adopt Consent Agenda: Moved by Councilmember Willard, seconded by Harris; adopted 6-0 (Hughes absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Joe Morales (owner of 139 Broadway Street): Expressed full support for Zoning Docket 61/26, noting the property has operated as a neighborhood business for over a century and that the two adjacent property owners submitted letters of support.
• Susan Johnson (2822 LaPage Street, not paid): Expressed opposition to cannabis-related zoning changes, citing disturbances at a location on South Carleton and arguing the 750-foot distancing recommendation from the City Planning Commission should be enforced. She noted an ongoing lawsuit.
• Russell Blanchard (811 Opelousas Avenue): Thanked the Council and community for support of the Algiers park project (Cal. No. 35,479), describing a decade-long effort to create a green space for children. He recognized numerous city staff and community members.
• Rochelle Julik (Director of Strategic Property Initiatives, OCD): Thanked the Council, Mayor, and the Confetti Kids Board for their patience and persistence in bringing the Algiers park to development.

Discussion Items

• HDLC Appeals:
  • Item 1 (2663 Iberville Street): Appeal was withdrawn at the applicant's request.
  • Item 2-3 (510 Race Street): HDLC staff recommended denial due to moisture intrusion and masonry deterioration. Councilmember Harris moved to affirm the HDLC decision; motion adopted 6-0.
  • Item 4-5 (1510 Religious Street): Similar denial for deteriorated masonry, stucco, entry gates, and inappropriate uplighting. Councilmember Harris moved to affirm; adopted 5-0.
• Zoning Docket 42/26 – Affordable Housing Definition Amendment: The City Planning Commission (CPC) recommended approval. The amendment expands "small multi-family affordable dwelling" to include permanently affordable for-sale housing operated by nonprofit community land trusts. Councilmember Harris moved to approve; adopted 5-0.
• Zoning Docket 49/26 – Vocational Educational Facility: CPC recommended approval subject to two provisos. Councilmember Hughes moved approval; adopted 6-0. No opposition.
• Zoning Docket 61/26 – Neighborhood Commercial Establishment (139 Broadway Street): CPC recommended approval subject to three provisos. Joe Morales spoke in support. Councilmember McCarron moved approval; adopted 5-0.
• Commercial Short-Term Rentals (Boathouses #84 and #85): Councilmember McCarron moved adoption of Cal. No. 35,472 and 35,473. Both passed 5-1, with Council President Morrell voting nay.
• Cal. No. 35,478 – Wireless Franchise to VERTA: Councilmember Morrell moved approval; adopted 6-0.
• Cal. No. 35,483 – Continued Use of BRASS System by Clerk of Court: Councilmember Morrell explained the ordinance requires the Clerk of Court to use the city’s enterprise resource planning system (BRASS) for funding previously allocated to the clerk of criminal court. Adopted 6-0.
• Cal. No. 35,491 – Carnival Regulations: Councilmember Morrell detailed the ordinance: changes to parade start times (cost savings), requiring crews to submit marching band names, limiting vehicular marching groups to three per parade, banning glass throws and smoking on floats, creating misdemeanors/civil fines for violations, and allowing branded personal items via an amendment. The amendment was adopted 7-0, and the main ordinance as amended was adopted 7-0.
• Cal. No. 35,492 – Mercy Partners CEA Waiver: Councilmember Harris moved adoption, noting the city contributes about 10% of project costs for water retention infrastructure at the former Lindy Boggs Medical Center, and the waiver of Section 70-12 is in the city’s best interest. Adopted 7-0.
• Cal. No. 35,500 – Safe Streets Program Amendment: Councilmember Green moved approval, stating the amendment merges Safe Streets Research Consulting into Fehr & Peers with no fiscal impact. Adopted 7-0.
• Cal. No. 35,503 – Monticello Canal Culverts CEA: Councilmember McCarron moved adoption, authorizing the mayor to sign a CEA with S&WB using state capital outlay funds. Adopted 7-0.
• Motion M-26-272 – Cannabis, Tobacco, and Nicotine Study: Councilmember McCarron moved to direct CPC to hold a public hearing on amendments based on the recent study. Susan Johnson spoke in opposition. Adopted 6-0.
• Cal. No. 35,479 – NORA Property Exchange for Algiers Park: Councilmember King moved adoption. Speakers Russell Blanchard and Rochelle Julik expressed support. The ordinance authorizes acquisition of several properties from NORA and transfer of a city property to create a park in Algiers. Adopted 7-0.
• Cal. No. 35,477 – Crescent City Connection Bridge Lighting Fund: Councilmember King moved adoption, establishing a fee structure for decorative lighting programming to generate maintenance revenue. Adopted 7-0.
• Motion M-26-284 – Fence/Wall Regulations (Lake Terrace and Lake Oaks): Councilmember Morrell moved to direct CPC to consider adding these neighborhoods to Section 21.6.N.2.a and deleting Section 21.6.N.4. Councilmember Harris expressed support. Adopted 7-0.
• Motion M-26-285 – Hurricane Katrina Anniversary Recognition: Councilmember Morrell moved adoption; all members added as co-authors. Adopted 7-0.
• Appointments to Delgado Albania Plantation Commission:
  • M-26-287 (Damien Lebouef) – adopted 7-0.
  • M-26-288 (Michael Kerrigan) – adopted 7-0.
  • M-26-289 (Charley Richard reappointment) – adopted 7-0.
• Motion M-26-294 – Community Foundation Realty Signatory: After suspending Rule 57 (unanimous), Councilmember King moved to authorize the Council President to sign the subrecipient agreement. Adopted 7-0.
• Motion M-26-295 – Barrasso Usdin Contract Amendments: Councilmember Morrell moved to authorize extensions and compensation increases ($65,000 for one agreement, $275,000 for another) to continue legal representation, notably in Wisner heir litigation. Councilmember Green expressed reservations about compensation increases while council staff remain furloughed but acknowledged necessity. Adopted 7-0.
• Executive Session: Held to discuss three pending lawsuits (Stanton Square LLC, Granaio LLC, and John Johnson et al.). Motion to enter adopted 7-0; reconvened with 5 members.
• Ordinances on First Reading: Calendar Numbers 35,504 through 35,524 were introduced and laid over, including several servitude agreements, a conditional use for a reception facility, a commercial short-term rental, sign regulations, a zoning change for a restaurant, S&WB governance amendments, capital budget amendments, drone reporting, and a percent-for-art dedication.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved 6-0.
• HDLC Decisions Affirmed: 510 Race Street (6-0) and 1510 Religious Street (5-0).
• Affordable Housing Definition Expanded: ZD 42/26 approved 5-0.
• Vocational Educational Facility Approved: ZD 49/26 approved 6-0.
• Neighborhood Commercial Use Approved: ZD 61/26 at 139 Broadway approved 5-0.
• Boathouse STRs Approved: Cal. No. 35,472 and 35,473 each passed 5-1 (Morrell nay).
• Carnival Regulations Reformed: Cal. No. 35,491 adopted as amended 7-0.
• Bridge Lighting Fund Established: Cal. No. 35,477 adopted 7-0.
• Algiers Park Land Exchange Approved: Cal. No. 35,479 adopted 7-0.
• Cannabis Study Referred to CPC: M-26-272 adopted 6-0.
• Legal Contracts Extended: M-26-295 adopted 7-0, with Councilmember Green noting the challenge of staff furloughs.
• Deferrals: Over a dozen items were deferred to the August 6, 2026 meeting, including short-term rental regulations, sanitation fee reform, certain zoning dockets (50/26, 58/26, 60/26, 62/26, 63/26), classified pay plans, community solar resolution, and others.
• Special Presentations: Recognized the 160th anniversary of the Buffalo Soldiers (9th Cavalry and 25th Infantry Regiments) and Dr. Keith Ferdinand, National Physician of the Year by the American Heart Association. Proclamations were presented.