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Record of Proceedings

Joint Utility, Cable, Telecommunications and Technology, Governmental Affairs and Budget Committee Meeting - September 22, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, September 22, 2026
BodyNew Orleans, Louisiana
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, September 22, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 22:16

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

Why do you want to be with Civil Service Commission?

0:02

That's the one question you got, Mr.

0:03

Digue.

0:09

Oh, let's cut your mic on the talk now.

0:18

Nope, we're still not on.

0:21

Talk right now?

0:23

All right, there you go, you're on now.

0:25

Thank you.

0:26

So, one, thank you for advancing my nomination.

0:30

It's a call to service.

0:32

I'm a lifelong resident voter, uh citizen and advocate in New Orleans, uh growing up here.

0:39

Uh I've worked for Unity for the Homeless, the New Orleans Day Reporting Center, Louisiana Commission for Human Rights, and uh now that my children are out of the house, uh, I have time to serve again.

0:50

Uh, so I look forward to the opportunity of selected.

0:53

All right, thank you.

0:55

I will move on Mr.

0:56

DeTeague.

0:59

Second by Councilmember Willard.

1:02

All in favor.

1:04

Any opposed?

1:05

Hearing none, we have seven yes, no nays.

1:07

Mr.

1:07

T you're approved to your full council.

1:09

Thank you.

1:09

Thank you.

1:10

All right.

1:10

Next up we have Mr.

1:11

Travis Phipps.

1:14

Come on down.

1:15

Why do you want to be on the New Orleans redevelopment authority?

1:19

Uh good morning, and thank you all again for having me.

1:22

Um as a lifelong resident of 7th ward and someone who taught for 15 years in a lower ninth ward post-Catrina.

1:29

I understand the importance of revitalizing our community.

1:34

Um, and I want to work with Nora to help to make sure that we not only bring these communities back that will that's the fabric of our city, but also that we keep housing affordable for our citizens.

1:45

It's important when you have an economy like ours that's dependent on service.

1:51

And we have people, even though we just got to study about poverty levels in the city.

1:55

We have to make sure that people have places they can live and continue to be part of this city.

2:01

Councilember Hughes.

2:02

Thank you, Ms.

2:03

President.

2:03

Mr.

2:04

Phipps, what high school did you go to?

2:05

The McDonald's 35.

2:07

I think that makes it eminently possible.

2:09

All right.

2:10

With that, Councilman Hughes moves to approve, seconded by Councilmember McCarron, all in favor?

2:19

Oh, there your machines are working.

2:20

Vote your machines.

2:22

All right.

2:23

Six years.

2:25

So missing myself.

2:27

All right, six years, someone's missing.

2:29

Councilmember Harris is voting.

2:31

Okay.

2:33

Seven years, no nays.

2:34

You're approved.

2:35

Thank you, Mr.

2:35

Phipps.

2:36

Thank you.

2:36

All right.

2:37

Uh Councilmember Harris.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Budget Equity Analysis██████████████████████████████████████38%
Energy Management████████████████████20%
Public Engagement█████████████████17%
Board and Commission Appointments████████████12%
Property Acquisition███████7%
Emergency Management██████6%
Summary of Proceedings

Joint Utility, Cable, Telecommunications and Technology, Governmental Affairs and Budget Committee Meeting - September 22, 2026

This meeting of the Joint Utility, Cable, Telecommunications and Technology, Governmental Affairs and Budget Committee took place on September 22, 2026. The committee considered board appointments, a budget presentation, and three utility-related resolutions.

Board and Commission Appointments

  • The committee approved Jacques Detiege to the Civil Service Commission (7-0). The agenda also listed Nick L. Harris for the same commission, but his appearance and vote were not recorded in the transcript.
  • The committee approved Travis Phipps to the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA) with 7 votes in favor.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jesse George, on behalf of the Alliance for Affordable Energy, commented on the resolution to extend the Formula Rate Plan (FRP). He expressed support for an extension but urged cutting it from four years to two, arguing that a four-year extension would mean over a decade without a full rate case examination and would defer regulatory decisions to the next council. He also called for conditions requiring Entergy to report on disconnections and arrearages. He criticized the resolution for lacking such conditions, stating it showed a lack of concern for constituents struggling with energy bills.
  • A resident, Ms. Pellerin (819 Orleans Avenue), commented on the FERC opinion resolution. She questioned why ratepayers should bear the cost of Entergy's obligations to sister companies, and asked whether the city is fighting the FERC decision. Council members explained that they are bound by FERC rulings and have legal representation at FERC but lost the case.

Discussion Items

  • CAO/Finance Budget Presentation: The city's financial position through July 31, 2026 (60% of fiscal year) was presented. Revenues: $513 million collected, $44 million above year-to-date forecast. Expenditures: $424 million (53% of budget). General fund surplus of $89.5 million year-to-date. Property taxes slightly down, sales tax slightly down, service charges down, licenses and permits up. Overtime spending monitored. Vacancies increased 5% from prior month. Total unrestricted fund balance $262.6 million. Councilmembers questioned about amnesty program (starting October 1) and progress on auctioning adjudicated properties. The director reported a contractor selected for auctions but no firm timeline; Councilmember Hughes urged attention to elderly residents needing assistance with online bidding.
  • Resolution – Formula Rate Plan Extension (Item 4): Resolution to extend the electric formula rate plan rider for four additional years. After public comment, the committee passed the resolution with 5 yes votes (no nays).
  • Resolution – FERC Order Regulatory Liability (Item 5): Resolution to establish a regulatory account of $10 million in response to FERC Opinion No. 595, which indicated Entergy New Orleans owes about $18 million to other entities. The account mitigates bill impact from a negative final decision. Staff explained the council is bound by FERC and has legal representation. The resolution passed 6-0.
  • Resolution – Hurricane Francine Storm Cost Certification (Item 6): Resolution certifying that Entergy New Orleans' costs in response to Hurricane Francine were proper, concluding docket UD-25-02. Passed 5-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Appointments: Jacques Detiege to Civil Service Commission (approved 7-0). Travis Phipps to NORA (approved 7-0).
  • Resolution extending the electric formula rate plan rider for four years passed (5-0).
  • Resolution establishing a regulatory liability account for FERC Opinion No. 595 passed (6-0).
  • Resolution certifying Hurricane Francine costs passed (5-0).

Meeting Transcript

Why do you want to be with Civil Service Commission? That's the one question you got, Mr. Digue. Oh, let's cut your mic on the talk now. Nope, we're still not on. Talk right now? All right, there you go, you're on now. Thank you. So, one, thank you for advancing my nomination. It's a call to service. I'm a lifelong resident voter, uh citizen and advocate in New Orleans, uh growing up here. Uh I've worked for Unity for the Homeless, the New Orleans Day Reporting Center, Louisiana Commission for Human Rights, and uh now that my children are out of the house, uh, I have time to serve again. Uh, so I look forward to the opportunity of selected. All right, thank you. I will move on Mr. DeTeague. Second by Councilmember Willard. All in favor. Any opposed? Hearing none, we have seven yes, no nays. Mr. T you're approved to your full council. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Next up we have Mr. Travis Phipps. Come on down. Why do you want to be on the New Orleans redevelopment authority? Uh good morning, and thank you all again for having me. Um as a lifelong resident of 7th ward and someone who taught for 15 years in a lower ninth ward post-Catrina. I understand the importance of revitalizing our community. Um, and I want to work with Nora to help to make sure that we not only bring these communities back that will that's the fabric of our city, but also that we keep housing affordable for our citizens. It's important when you have an economy like ours that's dependent on service. And we have people, even though we just got to study about poverty levels in the city. We have to make sure that people have places they can live and continue to be part of this city. Councilember Hughes. Thank you, Ms. President. Mr. Phipps, what high school did you go to? The McDonald's 35. I think that makes it eminently possible. All right. With that, Councilman Hughes moves to approve, seconded by Councilmember McCarron, all in favor? Oh, there your machines are working. Vote your machines. All right. Six years. So missing myself.

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