New Orleans Criminal Justice Committee Meeting – August 31, 2026

The Criminal Justice Committee of the New Orleans City Council met on Monday, August 31, 2026, at 10:00 A.M. The published agenda included a presentation on the National Guard’s presence in New Orleans, a proposed Carnival parade fee ordinance, contract approvals under Council Rule 57, and a review of NOPD drone policy. Because no meeting minutes or transcript were provided, this summary reflects the agenda items only and does not include any recorded votes, deliberations, or public testimony.

Discussion Items

• Roll Call and Approval of Minutes – The meeting opened with roll call. The committee was scheduled to approve minutes from the July 27, 2026 meeting; the outcome is not documented.

• National Guard Presentation – Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick (NOPD), Lieutenant Sam Palumbo (NOPD), and Rafael C. Goyeneche III (President, Metropolitan Crime Commission) were listed to present commentary on the National Guard’s deployment in New Orleans, including its impact and the conclusion of the current operation.

• Carnival Gap Fee Ordinance (Cal. No. 35,495) – Councilmember King (by request) introduced an ordinance to create a Carnival Gap Adjustment for Parades Fee ("GAP Fee") in Section 34-3.1 of the City Code. The accompanying amendment would replace the proposed per-float fee with a tiered fee based on pull units, matching existing parade permit tiers, and would limit the fee to the 2027 through 2031 carnival parade seasons.

• LeadsOnline Contract Amendment – The committee considered Amendment No. 3 to the Agency Agreement with LeadsOnline, LLC for electronic reporting and criminal investigation software. The amendment would extend the contract term by one year and increase the maximum amount payable to the vendor.

• CREST Memorandum of Understanding – A proposed MOU between the City and the State of Louisiana would authorize the New Orleans Police Department to participate in the statewide Critical Response Emergency Search Team (CREST), a rapid-response team for endangered missing persons and persons missing after critical incidents or mass-casualty events.

• NOPD Drone Policy Presentation – Sarah Whittington (Advocacy Director, ACLU of Louisiana) and Edith Romero (Organizer, Eye on Surveillance) were scheduled to present a comparison of NOPD’s drone policies from 2024, June 2026, and July 1, 2026, along with data from the 2025 pilot period and recommendations for amendments to existing legislation.

Key Outcomes

• No votes, decisions, or formal actions are documented in the available agenda. The only scheduled action items were the approval of the July 27, 2026 minutes and consideration of the legislative and contract items listed above, but their resolutions are not recorded.