City Council Regular Meeting - September 3, 2026

The New Orleans City Council met on September 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM in City Hall Council Chamber, adjourning at 12:00 PM. All seven councilmembers were present for most of the meeting. The council acted on a lengthy agenda including a contentious sanitation fee increase, a responsible contractor ordinance, a Mardi Gras parade fee, several zoning changes, and numerous deferrals and routine matters. Key debates centered on the financial burden to residents and balancing the city budget.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes of August 6 and August 20, 2026 (6-0, Morrell absent).
• Received communications from Entergy New Orleans and Delta Gas regarding utility adjustments and reports (all received).
• Received two HDLC appeal requests (1200 Ursulines Ave and 620-622 Louisa St) with hearings set for September 17, 2026.
• Received quarterly reports from New Orleans Aviation Board (financial and musician pay) and Sewerage and Water Board legislative storm report for August 21, 2026 thunderstorm.
• Received 2027 Housing Trust Fund Annual Report (referred to Budget Committee).
• Received City Planning Commission transmittal for Zoning Dockets 74/26-80/26 (hearing set for September 17, 2026).
• Received Municipal and Traffic Court July 2026 report.
• Adopted three zoning ordinances: Cal. No. 35,525 (vocational facility at 10555 Lake Forest Blvd), Cal. No. 35,526 (neighborhood commercial at 139 Broadway St), Cal. No. 35,527 (amending definition of “dwelling, small multi-family affordable” to include for-sale affordable housing and community land trusts).
• Approved classified pay plan amendments (M-26-40 Health/EMS, M-26-44 Chief Administrative Office, M-26-355 Civil Service Rules merit pay) and resolution R-26-356 supporting a permanent Opportunity Pass for fare-free RTA youth transit.
• Adopted resolutions R-26-360 (rulemaking on Integrated Resource Plan for distributed energy resources) and R-26-361 (initiating 2027 Triennial Integrated Resource Plan for Entergy New Orleans).
• Consent agenda adopted 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Sanitation Fee Increase (Cal. No. 35,384): Over a dozen speakers opposed the fee increase, arguing service had declined (once-weekly pickup instead of twice), the city had mismanaged contracts, and the burden fell on low-income and fixed-income residents. Speakers cited a legislative auditor finding of overpayment to contractors for non-existent addresses (ghost addresses). Some suggested the council hold district town halls before voting. One speaker (Chris Lang) questioned why contracts could not be renegotiated. Councilmember Morrell responded that the council cannot amend contracts per the charter. Another speaker (Morgan Clevinger) called the vote rushed. Several speakers noted that the $8.50 monthly increase would be added to water bills with potential disconnection for non-payment. Councilmember Morrell noted the fee had not been raised since 2011 but that living wage requirements increased costs.
• Responsible Contractor Ordinance (Cal. No. 35,543): Representatives from the Greater New Orleans AFL-CIO, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), and Louisiana AFL-CIO spoke in support, arguing it would hold contractors accountable for wage theft, misclassification, and safety violations, and level the playing field for responsible contractors.
• Carnival GAP Fee (Cal. No. 35,495): Several speakers opposed or questioned the fee structure. Caroline Bencherry argued the fee was too low and should be tied to waste volume. Charles Brett Davis said the $10,000 per supercrew fee was insufficient and called for a larger, permanent fee. Chris Lang supported a waste-volume-based fee to incentivize less waste. Morgan Clevinger opposed the fee altogether, stating Mardi Gras is created by residents and other revenue sources should be used.
• Zoning Item ZD 63/26 (1428 Carondelet B&B): One speaker, Christina Tate, supported the accessory bed-and-breakfast as a responsible addition to the neighborhood.
• Zoning Item ZD 68/26 (727 Carondelet hotel): Avery Fourier spoke on behalf of the development team, offering no additional comments.
• Zoning Item ZD 69/26 (750 Carondelet indoor amusement): Laura Barth thanked council for support.

Discussion Items

• Sanitation Fee Increase (Cal. No. 35,384): Councilmember Morrell introduced an amendment to delay the effective date of the new fee structure to January 1, 2028, and in the interim (starting October 1, 2026) implement a fixed fee model. The amendment also adjusted fee calculations to be based on billed service locations rather than locations receiving service, allowed reductions for equitable apportionment, required periodic billing audits, and created definitions for “unit” and “unoccupied property.” The amendment was adopted 6-1 (Hughes opposed). After public comment, Councilmembers Harris, King, and Morrell spoke in favor of the underlying ordinance, citing the risk of service disruption and the need to fund the sanitation program and avoid deeper cuts to the general fund that supports retiree COLAs and health insurance. The ordinance passed 6-1 (Hughes opposed).
• Responsible Contractor Ordinance (Cal. No. 35,543): Councilmember Willard presented an amendment (developed with the administration) that expanded the definition of chief procurement officer, allowed executive branch determination for professional services contracts, set timelines for responsibility hearings, allowed investigations without third-party complaints, and required reporting on waivers. The amendment was adopted 6-0 (Morrell absent). The ordinance as amended was adopted 6-0 (Morrell absent).
• Carnival GAP Fee (Cal. No. 35,495): Councilmember King introduced an amendment to replace the per-float fee with a tiered fee based on pull units (like existing parade permit tiers) and limit the fee to the 2027-2031 Carnival seasons. The amendment was adopted 7-0. The ordinance as amended was adopted 7-0. Councilmember Green noted the state should share more tourism revenue.
• Zoning Docket ZD 50/26 (Esplanade Ventures B&B): Deferred to September 17, 2026.
• Zoning Docket ZD 59/26 (1622 Toledano STR): Deferred to September 17, 2026.
• Zoning Docket ZD 63/26 (Wells One Investments, accessory B&B at 1428 Carondelet): Councilmember Harris moved to deny, citing concern over reducing housing stock and intensity of transient use. The motion to deny passed 7-0.
• Zoning Docket ZD 66/26 (Beau Land Co, STR at 1822 Joseph Guillaume): Councilmember King moved to approve subject to CPC provisos. Passed 6-1 (Morrell opposed).
• Zoning Docket ZD 68/26 (BD OZ CBD NOLA, hotel at 727 Carondelet): Councilmember Harris moved to approve and modify (exclude short-term rentals from transient lodging use). Passed 7-0.
• Zoning Docket ZD 69/26 (750 Carondelet indoor amusement): Approved 7-0.
• Zoning Dockets ZD 67/26, 70/26, 71/26, 73/26 and related motions: Deferred to September 17, 2026.
• HDLC Appeal (906 Philip Street): Councilmember Harris moved to affirm the HDLC denial of retention of unpainted porch columns and uplighting. Passed 6-0 (Morrell absent).
• Other deferred items: Numerous restoration tax abatements, short-term rental regulation ordinances, sanitation budget ordinance, and classified pay plan motions were deferred to later meetings (October 1 or November 5, 2026).
• Cal. No. 35,487 and 35,488 (Rapid Rehousing funding): Withdrawn.
• Cal. No. 35,533 (servitude at 1484 Tchoupitoulas St): Approved 7-0. The servitude generates $4,284 annually with 15% increases every five years.
• Motion M-26-198 substitute (EMS hiring rates): Approved 7-0, effective September 3, 2026, to allow the city to staff its own EMS and reduce reliance on Acadian Ambulance.
• Communication from CAO Giarrusso: Received, appointing Austin P. Wilty as Director of Property Management effective September 11, 2026.

Key Outcomes

• Sanitation Fee Increase (Cal. No. 35,384 as amended): Adopted 6-1 (Hughes nay). The amendment delays the new fee structure to January 1, 2028, and sets an interim fixed fee model starting October 1, 2026. Key provisions: fee based on billed service locations, billing audits, definitions added. Council President Morrell stated the fee is necessary to close a $13.5 million deficit and preserve services and retiree benefits.
• Responsible Contractor Ordinance (Cal. No. 35,543 as amended): Adopted 6-0 (Morrell absent). Strengthens contractor accountability for city contracts, including timelines for hearings and waiver reporting.
• Carnival GAP Fee (Cal. No. 35,495 as amended): Adopted 7-0. Creates a tiered fee based on pull units for 2027-2031 Carnival seasons.
• Zoning Approvals: ZD 63/26 (B&B at 1428 Carondelet) denied 7-0; ZD 66/26 (STR at 1822 Joseph Guillaume) approved 6-1; ZD 68/26 (hotel at 727 Carondelet) approved 7-0; ZD 69/26 (indoor amusement at 750 Carondelet) approved 7-0.
• HDLC Appeal (906 Philip St): HDLC denial affirmed 6-0.
• SWBNO Debt Repayment (M-26-368): Adopted 7-0, directing SWBNO to present a plan to repay $12.8 million debt by October 1, 2026.
• PILOT for River Garden Apartments II (R-26-362): Adopted 7-0, supporting a PILOT that will facilitate a $10 million renovation adding 29 affordable units (total 153) and other upgrades.
• Tax Amnesty Program (R-26-369): Adopted 7-0, urging Finance to create a limited delinquent tax amnesty program.
• Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with Orleans Parish School Board (R-26-370): Adopted 7-0.
• Hazard Mitigation Plan Update (R-26-371): Adopted 7-0, fulfilling the five-year update requirement for FEMA.
• Ordinances on First Reading (Cal. Nos. 35,544-35,565): Introduced and laid over, including a measure to rename the Tremé Recreation Center to Jerome Smith Recreation Community Center (Cal. 35,560) and a carnival ordinance prohibiting solicitation for membership during parade season (Cal. 35,559).