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Record of Proceedings

New Orleans City Council Meeting: October 23, 2026

City Council — Friday, October 23, 2026
BodyNew Orleans, Louisiana
SessionCity Council
DateFriday, October 23, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:29:25

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

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

5:05

All right, we're going to get started.

5:08

Madam Clerk.

Speaker 2

5:11

Roll call.

5:12

Council President Morrow.

Speaker 1

5:13

Here.

Speaker 2

5:14

Vice President Willard.

5:15

Councilmember McCarran.

5:17

Councilmember Harris.

5:19

Councilmember King.

5:21

Councilmember Green.

5:23

Councilmember Hughes.

5:24

We have five members.

5:25

We have a quorum.

Speaker 1

5:26

Thank you.

5:27

First up, we have invocation by Pastor Watson.

Speaker 3

5:36

Gracious God, we give you thanks that we come on this day.

Speaker 4

5:39

Thanking you, God, for blessing us to ride to see a beautiful sunshiny Thursday morning.

5:46

God, we thank you for your son Jesus Christ who died and was raised to life that we have victory in his name.

5:53

We pray for all our councilmen, our council persons.

5:57

And God, we continue to pray for our mayor and our city and all the people who live in this great city of New Orleans.

6:04

We pray that this council meeting on today is a blessing to you and a blessing to everyone who have presentation.

6:11

If there's any voting to take place, that is all to your glory.

6:16

And God, as we know, this is Cancer Awareness Month.

6:19

We pray for all those who are battling that dreadful disease of cancer.

6:25

That breast cancer we know is a third disease, and we just pray, God, that you give them victory over breast cancer, and that you continue to guide and bless everyone who is here on this day in Jesus' name and all the things of God said.

6:41

Amen.

Speaker 1

6:43

Thank you, Pastor Watson.

6:44

Next up, we have the Pledge Allegiance done by myself.

6:46

I pledge allegiance.

6:52

One nation under God, indivisible liberty and justice world.

6:57

All right.

6:58

Play ball.

Speaker 2

7:05

This may be received.

7:06

We have a commission communication from Kindle White.

7:09

This may be received.

7:10

We have a communication from Jeffrey Schwartz.

7:13

This may be received.

Unassigned speaker

7:14

We

Speaker 2

7:14

have a communication from Amy B.

7:17

This may be received.

7:18

We have a communication from Tammy Washington.

7:21

This may be received and referred to the community development committee.

7:25

We have a communication from Jonathan Wisby.

7:27

This may be received and referred to the governmental affairs committee.

7:30

We have a communication from Austin P.

7:32

Whitley.

7:33

This may be received and referred to the governmental affairs committee.

7:37

We have a communication from Elizabeth Brusso's.

7:39

This may be received and referred to the Climate and Sustainability Committee.

7:44

We have a communication from Jeffrey Swartz.

7:46

This may be received and referred to the Economic Development Committee.

7:50

We have a report of Danielle Berger.

7:52

This may be received.

7:53

We have a reporter, Lenny Crowley, this may be received.

7:56

We have a reporter, Jennifer Vegno.

7:58

This may be received.

7:59

Dr.

8:00

Jennifer Vegno, this may be received.

8:02

We have a report of Alyssa Rambo.

8:04

This may be received.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use████████████████████████████████32%
Procedural██████████████14%
Community Engagement██████████████14%
Short Term Rentals█████████████13%
Historic Preservation███████████11%
Parking Management████4%
Pension Management███3%
Urban Planning███3%
Arts And Culture██2%
Summary of Proceedings

New Orleans City Council Meeting: October 23, 2026

The New Orleans City Council met on Thursday, October 23, 2026, at 10:45 AM (transcript indicates meeting began at approximately 4:37 AM, likely a transcription error). Five members were present, establishing a quorum. The meeting included a consent agenda, multiple zoning dockets, short-term rental regulations, and recognition of community organizations and an individual. Key actions included reversal of an HDLC decision, several conditional use approvals and denials, an increase in the short-term rental nightly fee, and deferrals of several items to future meetings.

Consent Calendar

  • Received multiple communications and referred some to committees (e.g., community development, governmental affairs, climate and sustainability, economic development).
  • Approved ordinances 35,587 and 35,588 (by Councilmember Harris) for properties at 727 and 750 Coronda Ledge Street (unanimous 5-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Pirates Alley Artist (speaker 1): Expressed concern that removal of a fence behind St. Louis Cathedral would eliminate the artists' exhibition space. Preferred relocation to the 400 block of the courthouse fence; noted that Jackson Square is too crowded. Councilmember Willard acknowledged ongoing work with the Supreme Court, FQMD, and French Market Commission to find a solution.

Discussion Items

  • HDLC Appeal – 3636 St. Charles Avenue (Nicole Weber/Webb Consultants): Applicant appealed the Historic District Landmarks Commission's (HDLC) decision to require option four for facade improvements (four-foot balcony depth) instead of the requested option three and four-foot-seven-inch depth. HDLC staff explained that option four maintains cohesive building appearance; increased balcony depth would be out of scale. Councilmember Harris moved to reverse the HDLC decision and approve option three with the increased depth. The motion passed 6-0. (Notable: Councilmember Harris stated she rarely overturns HDLC.)
  • Zoning Docket 7526 (withdrawn): Request withdrawn by applicant.
  • Zoning Docket 8126 (5433 Laurel Street / 509-515 Octavia Street): Request to rezone from HUB-1A to HURD-2 to revert Cafe Maloo's zoning after conditional alcohol use approval. City Planning Commission (CPC) recommended approval. Councilmember McCarron moved to approve. Passed 6-0.
  • Zoning Docket 8326 (Mississippi River Heritage Park, 350 John Churchill Chase Street): Request to correct maximum building height to 35 feet for an OSN district park. CPC recommended approval. Councilmember Harris moved to approve. Passed 5-0.
  • Zoning Docket 8426 (deferred): Deferred to November 5, 2026.
  • Zoning Docket 8526 (901-909 Julia Street / 751 Baron Street): Conditional use for commercial short-term rental (CSTR) at Moto Julia motorcycle dealership. CPC recommended denial, citing general concern about permanent entitlements amid pending STR regulations. Councilmember Harris moved to deny. Passed 7-0.
  • Zoning Docket 8726 (3157 Chapatula Street): Conditional use for a live performance venue (comedy club) in an MU-1 district. CPC recommended approval subject to one waiver and three provisos. Councilmember Harris moved to approve as recommended. Passed 7-0 (with second by Councilmember McCarron).
  • Zoning Docket 8826 (814 Poland Avenue): Conditional use for a coffee shop in an HMR-3 district. CPC recommended approval subject to two provisos. Councilmember King moved to approve. Public speakers (Reese Walker, Ali Duffy, Jane Stenjum, Arnold Rivera) all supported the project. Passed (vote not specified in transcript, but approved).
  • Zoning Docket 8926 (1515 Calarek Street): Conditional use for a third dwelling unit in an HMR-3 district. CPC recommended approval subject to two provisos. Councilmember King moved to approve. Passed.
  • Zoning Docket 9026 (2404-6 St. Claude Avenue): Conditional use for commercial short-term rental in an HMC-2 district. CPC recommended denial. Councilmember King moved to approve, stating the application had CPC staff support (despite the commission's denial). The motion passed (vote tally unclear; transcript shows "Six years, five years, six years one day." Noted discrepancy: CPC recommended denial but council approved.)
  • Zoning Docket 9426 (24855 Chef Menteur Highway): Conditional use for commercial short-term rental in an MU district. CPC recommended approval subject to four provisos. Councilmember Hughes moved to approve. Passed 5-1.
  • Zoning Docket 9626 (25894 Chef Menteur Highway): Similar CSTR in Lake Catherine area. CPC recommended approval subject to two provisos. Councilmember Hughes moved to approve. Passed 6-1.
  • Ordinance 35,572 (1137 Esplanade Avenue servitude): Granted servitude for minor encroachments at affordable housing development, with annual payment of $937 to the city. Councilmember King moved to adopt. Passed 7-0.
  • Ordinance 35,573 (1822 Joseph Gilliam Place CSTR): Implementing conditional use approved September 3, 2026. Councilmember King moved to adopt. Passed 6-1 (Morrell voted nay).
  • Ordinance 35,574 (Short-term rental nightly fee increase): Increased fee from $12 to $20 per night for both commercial and non-commercial rentals, expected to generate $3–4 million additional revenue. Councilmember McCarron moved to adopt. Passed 7-0.
  • Ordinance 35,589 (Repeal of erroneous salary ordinance for Sheriff's Office): Corrected calculation error. Councilmember Morrell moved to adopt. Passed 7-0.
  • Ordinance 35,597 (STR regulation amendments per Fifth Circuit ruling): Amended short-term rental regulations to comply with court decision on corporate ownership. Councilmember Morrell moved to adopt. Passed (vote not specified).
  • Motion M26438 (Land Use Barrier Study hearing): Directed CPC to hold a public hearing on technical zoning amendments. Councilmember Harris moved to adopt. Passed 7-0.
  • Motion M26441 (Canal Street Renaissance initiative): Directed CPC to consider zoning amendments based on 2025 Canal Street Progress Report. Councilmember Morrell moved to adopt. Passed 7-0.
  • Resolution R26446 (Real Timbrous crime prevention district election): Called for an election on April 17, 2027, for voters to approve an annual parcel fee for crime prevention and quality of life. Councilmember King moved to adopt. Seconded by Councilmember Harris. Passed.
  • Motion M26451 (Emergency temporary polling location): Relocated Ward 7, Precincts 25 and 25A from Beacon Light Baptist Church to Bastion Center (1825 Mirabu) for November and December elections. Councilmember Green moved to adopt. Passed 7-0.
  • Motion M26453 (SP+ LLC contract amendment): Added Council President as signatory to contract extension through June 2, 2027 (net revenue $2.3 million per year). Councilmember Morrell moved to adopt. Passed 7-0.
  • Motion M26454 (Professional Account Management LLC contract amendment): Similar extension for parking/photo ticket system through January 31, 2027 (net revenue $5.8 million per year). Councilmember Morrell moved to adopt. Passed 7-0.
  • Special Order – Studs Club Recognition: Honored the organization for 80 years of civic commitment, including scholarships to Louisiana HBCUs (over $250,000 in contributions since 2015).
  • Special Order – Retirement of WGNO Chief Photographer Patrick Thomas: Recognized his 30-year career at WGNO, being the first African American chief photographer, and his military service.

Key Outcomes

  • HDLC decision reversed on appeal for 3636 St. Charles Avenue (option three and 4-foot-7-inch balcony depth approved).
  • Café Maloo zoning reverted to residential (HURD-2) as part of prior compromise.
  • Mississippi River Heritage Park height limit corrected to 35 feet.
  • Commercial short-term rental denied for Moto Julia (Julia Street) and for St. Claude Avenue property (though latter was approved despite CPC denial).
  • Commercial short-term rentals approved in Lake Catherine area (two properties) and for the St. Claude property (controversial vote).
  • Live performance venue approved on Chapatula Street; coffee shop approved on Poland Avenue; third unit approved on Calarek Street.
  • Short-term rental nightly fee raised from $12 to $20; expected additional $3–4 million annually.
  • Several items deferred to November 5, 2026 meeting.
  • Resolutions passed to initiate Canal Street revitalization and land use barrier study hearings.
  • Multiple contract extensions approved for parking and ticket collection systems.
  • Resolution calling for April 2027 special election in Real Timbrous crime prevention district passed.

Meeting Transcript

All right, we're going to get started. Madam Clerk. Roll call. Council President Morrow. Here. Vice President Willard. Councilmember McCarran. Councilmember Harris. Councilmember King. Councilmember Green. Councilmember Hughes. We have five members. We have a quorum. Thank you. First up, we have invocation by Pastor Watson. Gracious God, we give you thanks that we come on this day. Thanking you, God, for blessing us to ride to see a beautiful sunshiny Thursday morning. God, we thank you for your son Jesus Christ who died and was raised to life that we have victory in his name. We pray for all our councilmen, our council persons. And God, we continue to pray for our mayor and our city and all the people who live in this great city of New Orleans. We pray that this council meeting on today is a blessing to you and a blessing to everyone who have presentation. If there's any voting to take place, that is all to your glory. And God, as we know, this is Cancer Awareness Month. We pray for all those who are battling that dreadful disease of cancer. That breast cancer we know is a third disease, and we just pray, God, that you give them victory over breast cancer, and that you continue to guide and bless everyone who is here on this day in Jesus' name and all the things of God said. Amen. Thank you, Pastor Watson. Next up, we have the Pledge Allegiance done by myself. I pledge allegiance. One nation under God, indivisible liberty and justice world. All right. Play ball. This may be received. We have a commission communication from Kindle White. This may be received. We have a communication from Jeffrey Schwartz. This may be received. We have a communication from Amy B. This may be received. We have a communication from Tammy Washington. This may be received and referred to the community development committee. We have a communication from Jonathan Wisby. This may be received and referred to the governmental affairs committee. We have a communication from Austin P. Whitley. This may be received and referred to the governmental affairs committee. We have a communication from Elizabeth Brusso's. This may be received and referred to the Climate and Sustainability Committee. We have a communication from Jeffrey Swartz.

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