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Record of Proceedings

New Orleans City Council Meeting - October 22, 2026

City Council — Thursday, October 22, 2026
BodyNew Orleans, Louisiana
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, October 22, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 39:57

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

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

7:15

All right, Madam Clerk, we're coming back from executive session, and we're going to first reads.

7:23

Okay.

7:24

Roll call.

7:27

Okay, vote.

7:28

Let's vote.

7:29

Everybody vote come back from executive session.

7:31

I will move, seconded by Council Vice President Willard.

7:36

Uh all in favor say aye.

7:38

Aye.

7:38

Five years, no nays.

7:40

We are back from executive session.

7:41

I will move to go to first reads.

7:43

Can I get a second?

7:45

Second by Councilman McCarron.

7:46

All in favor say aye.

7:48

Five years, no nays.

7:49

We're going to first read.

7:50

After first reads, we will do the last special order.

7:52

Thank

Unassigned speaker

7:53

you.

Speaker 2

7:53

Ordinance is on first readings.

7:59

By request, an ordinance authorizing the mayor of the City of New Orleans to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement between the City of New Orleans, the Community Foundation Realty Incorporation for the public purpose of supporting entrepreneurs and the energy sector in New Orleans through the creation of a business incubator is more fully detailed in the cooperative endeavor agreement form attached here to as exhibit A and otherwise to provide with respect there to ordinance calendar number thirty-five thousand six oh one by Councilmember Harris by request.

10:08

To declare that such use is granted in the servitude agreement will incorporate space that is neither needed for public purposes, nor shall such use interfere with the use of the public right of way to set forth the reasons for said servitude agreement and otherwise to provide with respect thereto.

10:23

Ordinance calendar number 35,000 604 by Councilmember McCarran by request.

10:28

An ordinance to authorize the mayor of the city of New Orleans to enter into an agreement to grant a servitude to an adjacent property owner for encroachments on or over portions of public right-of-way located at the municipal address 163 Middle Park Place to fix the minimum price in terms of said servitude agreement to declare that such use is granted in the servitude agreement will incorporate space that is neither needed for public purposes nor shall such use interfere with the use of the public right-of-way to set forth the reasons for said servitude agreement and otherwise to provide with respect there to ordinance calendar number 35,000 605 by Councilmember Harris.

11:04

An ordinance to establish a conditional use to permit a commercial short-term rental in HUMU Historic Urban Neighborhood Mixed Use District on Square 425, Lots 15 and 16 in the 6th municipal district, bounded by Taladono Street, Coronde Leth Street, Louisiana Avenue, and St.

11:20

Charles Avenue.

11:22

And otherwise to provide with respect there to zoning docket number 5926.

11:29

Ordinance calendar number 35,606 by Councilmember King.

11:33

An ordinance to provide for the designation of public property within a specified area of the City of New Orleans as a temporary special event clean zone during the time period beginning at 6 a.m.

11:44

on Monday, January 11, 2027, and continuing through and until 1159 p.m.

11:51

on Saturday, January 16, 2027.

11:54

Relative to the use of these public areas in conjunction with the 2027 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the All State Sugar Bowl and related activities and events produced by the college football playoff to provide for the temporary prohibition of certain commercial activities in the special event clean zone unless approved, sanctioned or authorized by the city, or is set forth in sponsors, special event permit, if and as applicable to provide for the establishment of one or more public participation areas to provide for the establishment of fines and penalties for violations of this ordinance to establish the special event clean zone within the area bounded by the Pontra Train Expressway, Chapatula Street, Orange Street, proceeding across the Mississippi River, the West Bank Levy, Esplanade Street, North Clayborne Avenue, Two Lane Avenue, and South Broad Street, excluding the Louisiana Superdome property, the New Orleans Smoothie King Arena property, and the Ernest and Moria Convention Center property to provide a sunset period for applicability and otherwise to provide with respect there

Speaker 3

13:02

to

Speaker 2

13:03

ordinance calendar number 35,607 by Councilmember Morel.

13:07

An ordinance to repeal Chapter 2, Article 4, Division 4 in its entirety and the code of the City of New Orleans relative to the Edward Wisner Donation Advisory Committee and otherwise to provide with respect there too.

13:21

Ordinance calendar number 35,608 by Councilmember Green by request.

13:25

An ordinance authorizing the mayor of the City of New Orleans to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement between the City of New Orleans and the United Negro College Fund with a term greater than one year for the public purpose of the City of New Orleans to host a UNFC UNCF employee workplace given campaign to support local students is more fully detailed in the cooperative endeavor agreement form attached here to as exhibit A and otherwise to provide with respect there too.

13:53

Ordinance calendar number 35,000 six oh nine by council member green by request.

13:57

An ordinance authorizing the mayor of the city of New Orleans to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement between the City of New Orleans and United Way of Southeast Louisiana with a term greater than one year for the public purpose of delivering programs and services that target community needs centered around building a good life with a primary focus on education, income, and health is more fully detailed in the cooperative endeavor agreement form attached here to as Exhibit A and otherwise to provide with respect there too.

14:26

Ordinance calendar number 35,610 by Council Member Morel by request.

14:31

An ordinance to amend and reordain Sections 2-7 of the Code of the City of New Orleans to increase the competitive selection threshold applicable to contracts for professional services and otherwise provide with respect there too.

Unassigned speaker

15:00

In ordinance to grant an amendment to ordinance number 28,694 MCS zoning docket 009-21 to permit the expansion of an existing educational facility to include lot six on square 172 1223 Josephine Street and to authorize the construction of a nursery school building on Lot 6 and 8A proposed lot 8B on square 172 in the HURD2 Historic Urban Two Family Residential District on Lots 6 and 8A proposed lot 8B on square 172, lot 16A on square 203, lots 13, 1415, 1A, TE1, TE2, and an undesignated lot on squares 171 and 178 in the 4th municipal district, bounded by Jackson Avenue, Pertania Street, Josephine Street, Chestnut Street, St.

Speaker 2

15:39

Andrew Street, and Camp Street.

15:41

The municipal addresses are 1207, 1227 through 1329, and 1401 through 1411 Jackson Avenue, 2112 and 2119 through 2125 Caliseum Street, 1200 through 1326 and 1223 through 1233 Josephine Street and 1111 through 2021 11 through 2129 Camp Street, and otherwise to provide with respect there to zoning docket number 7726, ordinance calendar number 35,612 by Councilmember Harris.

16:15

And ordinance to affect the zoning change from an H U R M1, Historic Urban Multifamily Residential District to an H UMU Historic Urban Neighborhood Mixed Use District and a condition to use for a parking lot on Square 238, lot X1 in the Ford Municipal District, bounded by Coronde Letz Street, St.

16:35

Andrew Street, St.

16:36

Mary Street, and St.

16:37

Charles Avenue.

16:38

The municipal address is 1900 Coronda Leth Street and otherwise to provide with respect there to zoning docket number 7826.

16:47

Ordinance calendar number 35,000613 by Councilmember Morel.

16:51

And ordinance to amend and reordain provisions of chapter 162 to provide for operation and licensing of four higher autonomous vehicles, including requiring permits and establishing fees and otherwise provide with respect there to ordinance calendar number 35,614 by Councilmember Harris.

17:10

And ordinance to amend and reordain sections 70-415.288 and 70-415.289 of the code of the city of New Orleans to clarify the name and eligible uses of the short-term rental fund and otherwise provide with respect there too.

17:29

Ordinance calendar number 35,000 615 by Councilmember Willard.

17:33

An ordinance to amend and reordain section 10-49, 10-101, 10-122, 10-123, 10-128, 10-132, 10-157, and 10-161, and repeal and reserve sections 10-105 and 10-11 of the chapter 10 of the code of the city of New Orleans regarding alcoholic beverage permits to implement a biennial renewal period and adjust the fee schedule accordingly to remove the prerequisite of no outstanding property taxes at the property provided.

19:07

Ordinance calendar number 35617 by Councilmember Willard.

19:11

In earnest to amend and reordain sections 10-49, 10-101, 10-122, 10-123, 10-132, 10-157, and 10-161, and to repeal and reserve sections 10-105, 10-11,

Unassigned speaker

19:26

and

Speaker 2

19:26

10-128 of chapter 10 of the code of the city of New Orleans regarding alcoholic beverage permits to implement a biennial renewal period and adjust the fee schedule accordingly, to remove the prerequisite of no outstanding property taxes at the property provided the applicant is not financially responsible for payment of property taxes to the city to remove the requirement for a manager's permit to replace the escalating delinquency penalty with a flat delinquency penalty and otherwise provide with respect there to and that concludes the ordinances on first read.

Unassigned speaker

20:00

Third order of business presentation, young artivists, Matt Swartzman, co-director at Trinity City Arts.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Youth Programs███████████████████████████████████████████43%
Procedural████████████████████████24%
Arts And Culture███████████████15%
Zoning And Land Use██████████10%
Alcoholic Beverage Regulation████████8%
Summary of Proceedings

New Orleans City Council Meeting - October 22, 2026

The New Orleans City Council convened on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at approximately 1:37 AM, beginning with a return from executive session. The meeting proceeded to first readings of multiple ordinances, followed by a presentation from the Young Artivists Club of Trinity City Arts and public testimony. Council members discussed youth engagement and made commitments to meet with the organization.

First Readings (Consent Nature)

  • The Council voted unanimously (5-0) to return from executive session and to proceed to first readings. A series of ordinances were read by the Clerk, covering topics such as a cooperative endeavor for an energy sector business incubator, servitude agreements, a conditional use for a short-term rental, a temporary special event clean zone for the 2027 College Football Playoff Semifinal, repeal of the Edward Wisner Donation Advisory Committee, cooperative endeavors with UNCF and United Way, an increase in the competitive selection threshold for professional services, zoning changes for educational facility expansion and a parking lot, regulations for autonomous vehicles, clarifications to the short-term rental fund, and a biennial renewal period for alcoholic beverage permits with adjusted fees. No discussion or separate votes were taken on these items during first reading.

Presentation: Young Artivists Club of Trinity City Arts

  • Matt Schwartzman, co-director of Trinity City Arts, presented alongside youth interns Reginae Hodges (student at Southern University at New Orleans) and Marley DuPlessis (student at Morris Jeff High School). They described the Young Artivists Club’s eight months of impactful youth engagement and commemorated the first annual Young Artivist Day (September 20, 2026). The program uses art and activism to empower youth, with a curriculum of just 12 hours costing as little as $200 per youth. They reported that 80% of participants experienced a shift in how they see themselves and their community. The club aims to recruit 1,000 youth by 2030 and go citywide in 2027. They requested that each council member or their staff meet with them before December 1, 2026, and attend the 2026 Art of Is Awards on October 24, 2026.
  • Two youth videos were shown: Reginae Hodges presented on flipping the narrative of waiting until someone dies to celebrate them (addressing gun violence). Marley DuPlessis addressed harmful narratives about hair and the need for inclusive acceptance.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Dusky Waters (musician, founder of Black Americana Fest): Expressed strong support for Trinity City Arts, emphasizing the value of paying young artists and changing narratives through art. Recognized the youth for their presentation.
  • Michelle Seymour (Reengagement Center at New Orleans Youth Alliance): Thanked the youth and council, explaining the importance of artivism in providing low-barrier entry points for disengaged youth, promoting healing-centered engagement, and shifting harmful stereotypes. She linked the program to the city’s youth master plan.
  • Paul Earl (community member): Expressed appreciation for the youth, noting how their work alleviates his feelings of hopelessness. He stated that the young people are becoming leaders and deserve support.

Discussion and Council Responses

  • Councilmember King confirmed he would attend the October 24 event and had already received the proclamation.
  • Councilmember Morel indicated his office would be present and made a brief comment.
  • No formal votes were taken on the presentation or requests.

Key Outcomes

  • Council members verbally committed to attending the Art of Is Awards on October 24, 2026, and to scheduling meetings with the Young Artivists Club before December 1, 2026.
  • The meeting adjourned with a motion by Councilmember McCarron, seconded by Councilmember Willard, without objection.

Meeting Transcript

All right, Madam Clerk, we're coming back from executive session, and we're going to first reads. Okay. Roll call. Okay, vote. Let's vote. Everybody vote come back from executive session. I will move, seconded by Council Vice President Willard. Uh all in favor say aye. Aye. Five years, no nays. We are back from executive session. I will move to go to first reads. Can I get a second? Second by Councilman McCarron. All in favor say aye. Five years, no nays. We're going to first read. After first reads, we will do the last special order. Thank you. Ordinance is on first readings. By request, an ordinance authorizing the mayor of the City of New Orleans to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement between the City of New Orleans, the Community Foundation Realty Incorporation for the public purpose of supporting entrepreneurs and the energy sector in New Orleans through the creation of a business incubator is more fully detailed in the cooperative endeavor agreement form attached here to as exhibit A and otherwise to provide with respect there to ordinance calendar number thirty-five thousand six oh one by Councilmember Harris by request. To declare that such use is granted in the servitude agreement will incorporate space that is neither needed for public purposes, nor shall such use interfere with the use of the public right of way to set forth the reasons for said servitude agreement and otherwise to provide with respect thereto. Ordinance calendar number 35,000 604 by Councilmember McCarran by request. An ordinance to authorize the mayor of the city of New Orleans to enter into an agreement to grant a servitude to an adjacent property owner for encroachments on or over portions of public right-of-way located at the municipal address 163 Middle Park Place to fix the minimum price in terms of said servitude agreement to declare that such use is granted in the servitude agreement will incorporate space that is neither needed for public purposes nor shall such use interfere with the use of the public right-of-way to set forth the reasons for said servitude agreement and otherwise to provide with respect there to ordinance calendar number 35,000 605 by Councilmember Harris. An ordinance to establish a conditional use to permit a commercial short-term rental in HUMU Historic Urban Neighborhood Mixed Use District on Square 425, Lots 15 and 16 in the 6th municipal district, bounded by Taladono Street, Coronde Leth Street, Louisiana Avenue, and St. Charles Avenue. And otherwise to provide with respect there to zoning docket number 5926. Ordinance calendar number 35,606 by Councilmember King. An ordinance to provide for the designation of public property within a specified area of the City of New Orleans as a temporary special event clean zone during the time period beginning at 6 a.m. on Monday, January 11, 2027, and continuing through and until 1159 p.m. on Saturday, January 16, 2027. Relative to the use of these public areas in conjunction with the 2027 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the All State Sugar Bowl and related activities and events produced by the college football playoff to provide for the temporary prohibition of certain commercial activities in the special event clean zone unless approved, sanctioned or authorized by the city, or is set forth in sponsors, special event permit, if and as applicable to provide for the establishment of one or more public participation areas to provide for the establishment of fines and penalties for violations of this ordinance to establish the special event clean zone within the area bounded by the Pontra Train Expressway, Chapatula Street, Orange Street, proceeding across the Mississippi River, the West Bank Levy, Esplanade Street, North Clayborne Avenue, Two Lane Avenue, and South Broad Street, excluding the Louisiana Superdome property, the New Orleans Smoothie King Arena property, and the Ernest and Moria Convention Center property to provide a sunset period for applicability and otherwise to provide with respect there to ordinance calendar number 35,607 by Councilmember Morel. An ordinance to repeal Chapter 2, Article 4, Division 4 in its entirety and the code of the City of New Orleans relative to the Edward Wisner Donation Advisory Committee and otherwise to provide with respect there too. Ordinance calendar number 35,608 by Councilmember Green by request. An ordinance authorizing the mayor of the City of New Orleans to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement between the City of New Orleans and the United Negro College Fund with a term greater than one year for the public purpose of the City of New Orleans to host a UNFC UNCF employee workplace given campaign to support local students is more fully detailed in the cooperative endeavor agreement form attached here to as exhibit A and otherwise to provide with respect there too. Ordinance calendar number 35,000 six oh nine by council member green by request. An ordinance authorizing the mayor of the city of New Orleans to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement between the City of New Orleans and United Way of Southeast Louisiana with a term greater than one year for the public purpose of delivering programs and services that target community needs centered around building a good life with a primary focus on education, income, and health is more fully detailed in the cooperative endeavor agreement form attached here to as Exhibit A and otherwise to provide with respect there too. Ordinance calendar number 35,610 by Council Member Morel by request. An ordinance to amend and reordain Sections 2-7 of the Code of the City of New Orleans to increase the competitive selection threshold applicable to contracts for professional services and otherwise provide with respect there too. In ordinance to grant an amendment to ordinance number 28,694 MCS zoning docket 009-21 to permit the expansion of an existing educational facility to include lot six on square 172 1223 Josephine Street and to authorize the construction of a nursery school building on Lot 6 and 8A proposed lot 8B on square 172 in the HURD2 Historic Urban Two Family Residential District on Lots 6 and 8A proposed lot 8B on square 172, lot 16A on square 203, lots 13, 1415, 1A, TE1, TE2, and an undesignated lot on squares 171 and 178 in the 4th municipal district, bounded by Jackson Avenue, Pertania Street, Josephine Street, Chestnut Street, St. Andrew Street, and Camp Street. The municipal addresses are 1207, 1227 through 1329, and 1401 through 1411 Jackson Avenue, 2112 and 2119 through 2125 Caliseum Street, 1200 through 1326 and 1223 through 1233 Josephine Street and 1111 through 2021 11 through 2129 Camp Street, and otherwise to provide with respect there to zoning docket number 7726, ordinance calendar number 35,612 by Councilmember Harris. And ordinance to affect the zoning change from an H U R M1, Historic Urban Multifamily Residential District to an H UMU Historic Urban Neighborhood Mixed Use District and a condition to use for a parking lot on Square 238, lot X1 in the Ford Municipal District, bounded by Coronde Letz Street, St. Andrew Street, St. Mary Street, and St. Charles Avenue. The municipal address is 1900 Coronda Leth Street and otherwise to provide with respect there to zoning docket number 7826.

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