Joint Committee Meeting on SWBNO Reform and Infrastructure – July 30, 2026
Joint Climate Change and Sustainability Committee and Public Works, Sanitation and Environment Committee Meeting - July 30, 2026
The joint committee met on July 30, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (agenda listed 9:45 a.m.) to consider a package of legislative items aimed at reforming the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) and addressing city infrastructure funding. All items were approved by unanimous votes (5-0 or 6-0) and will be forwarded to the full City Council for final action.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the June 30, 2026 joint meeting were approved unanimously (5-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Larry Morgan criticized past council waste and called for learning from Jefferson Parish, expressing distrust in the council's ability to manage SWBNO.
- Sage Michael (community advocate) objected to the late posting of agenda materials and the lack of open meetings for the PUMPS subgroup, stating that community input was insufficient. He later requested that bond-funded water studies include areas east of the Industrial Canal.
- John Marie (SWBNO employee) defended the workforce, noting their pride and century-old infrastructure challenges. He questioned the council’s qualifications to oversee technical operations and warned against targeting African American leadership.
- Randy Heyman (SWBNO Executive Director) rebutted claims of poor performance, citing his 25-year national water utility experience, S&P's confidence rating, and EPA cooperation. He denied introducing race into the discussion and asked for more than 11 months to demonstrate results.
- Kim Robinson (SWBNO employee) asked about health care and benefit continuity during the transition. Council members assured her that current benefits would not be affected.
- Additional online comment: Deborah Campbell requested that sirens be included as a funded priority.
Discussion Items
- Item 8 - Resolution to Amend the City Infrastructure Project List: Deputy CAO Steve Nelson presented a resolution to delay (not cancel) bond-funded projects across all council districts, reallocating $35 million from 2026 bonds to cash to meet general fund obligations. Council members stressed the delays are equitable and necessary for fiscal stability. The resolution was approved (5-0).
- Item 3 - PUMPS (Public Utility Modernization Process Subgroup) Presentation and Resolution: Special Counsel Andrew Tizzolo and Policy Director LJ Arnett presented the reform framework. Key points: the ordinance grants City Council oversight of SWBNO budgets, capital improvement plans, key contracts, and executive leadership confirmation. The PUMPS group will continue to study further consolidation, legal instruments, assets/liabilities, and performance metrics. Council Member Hughes urged integrating SWBNO into existing city processes (e.g., NOLA Ready communications, CIP). The resolution outlining PUMPS future work was approved (6-0).
- Item 4 - Ordinance Cal. No. 35,521 (SWBNO Governance): An amendment was offered (sponsored by McCarron, Hughes, Morrell, Willard) to clarify the mayor’s designee on the board and correct typos. The ordinance, as amended, was approved by the committee and will appear on the regular council agenda.
- Item 5 - Resolution Requesting Louisiana Legislative Auditor Review of SWBNO Finances: Council President Morrell introduced the resolution seeking an independent audit of SWBNO contracts, executive compensation, revenue, and debts to establish a baseline before reforms. Approved (6-0).
- Item 6 - Motion Directing SWBNO Board to Develop New Bylaws: The motion directs the SWBNO board to review procurement practices and consider combining the Executive Director and General Superintendent positions. Council President Morrell noted he would introduce an amendment at the full council requiring quarterly board meetings in council chambers. Approved (6-0).
- Item 7 - Motion Directing Civil Service Commission Review of SWBNO Compensation: The motion originally referenced “unclassified” employees; Council President Morrell clarified that the Civil Service Commission only has authority over classified employees, so the language will be corrected at the full council meeting. The motion passed (5-0).
Key Outcomes
- All five legislative items (PUMPS resolution, SWBNO governance ordinance, legislative audit resolution, bylaws motion, civil service review motion) were approved by the committee and will be considered by the full City Council at its next meeting.
- The PUMPS subgroup will continue its work on Phase 2, including legal analysis for further consolidation, asset/liability review, and performance metrics.
- Several items will have amendments presented at the full council meeting (e.g., quarterly board meetings in chambers, correction of employee classification in the civil service motion).
- No votes were close; all passed with 5 or 6 affirmative votes and no opposition.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good morning, everyone. It's ten a.m. We're going to ask everyone to please take your seats. Today this is a joint meeting of the climate change and sustainability committee as well as public work, sanitation, and the environment. Can we please call the role? Council Member Green, present, Councilmember Hughes present. Councilmember Morel present. Council Member Willard, present. Councilmember McCarran present. We had a quorum. Thank you, Director Spears. Uh, agenda item number two, approval of the minutes, June thirtieth, twenty twenty-six meeting of the Climate Change and Sustainability Committee, as well as public work sanitation and the environment. Uh moved by Chairwoman McCarron, second by President Morrell. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposition? Um five yes, no nays, and that motion carries. Uh, ladies and gentlemen, what we're gonna do is we will jump to agenda item number eight, uh, and then we will uh resume regular order of the agenda going back to agenda item number three. So uh resolution uh item number eight resolution city infrastructure project list. I think we have uh director Nelson and members of the administration here for their presentation, and we're gonna go to the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Infrastructure and Director of Public Works. Thank you very much for having me up here first. Uh the proposal in this resolution before you all today is a key measure to ensure that we are fiscally stable. This is the deferral or the delay of a number of projects across all council districts, uh, and combined savings on bond funded projects so that we can reallocate thirty-five million dollars from uh twenty twenty-six bonds, convert that to cash, and allow those those projects will move forward. We will have another sale in twenty twenty-eight, but this is part of the challenging reality that we face in in order to to meet our general fund obligations. We've gone through that list of projects. Uh there are a list of projects that are ongoing that are attached to this motion. Uh, and again, this is very important to be able to pass this uh resolution so that we can continue to meet our cash obligations. With that, I would entertain any questions that there are. A couple things just so we can be clear to the public. Um, the projects um outlined in this list, just to be crystal clear. Um, these are just delays. We're not these are delays. We are not canceling projects. Uh it's still painful. I do want to be transparent. This isn't a zero-sum situation. It is not easy. Some of these projects we have been waiting on for many years. Um, but these are delays. We are not cutting or canceling projects. Thank you very much, Director. And then number two, just for the public's benefit, this is spread out across all council districts. It is across all council districts. We have worked very hard to be equitable. I very much appreciate you and everyone else on this dias and uh with all council districts in working together with us to ensure that that is an even spread. Thank you. And that's just the third point I wanted to get on the record. The administration uh had very clear and robust communication with all members of the council throughout this process. Thank you, sir, and really appreciate you and your staff and everyone else involved. Uh as another note on the aside, I understand with delays, that is not easy.
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