Meeting Summary

The St. Charles Parish Council held its regular meeting on November 18, 2024, opening with proclamations honoring National Adoption Day and the Norco Christmas Parade, followed by reports from the River Parishes Transit Authority and the Let's Work River Parishes workforce program. The council gave final passage to six infrastructure and engineering-services ordinances covering projects such as the Evangeline Road box culvert, Des Allemands bulkhead testing, River Place Estates subdivision, and the Willowdale Boulevard survey, and it took up two added items authorizing the first step toward creating the Luling Bridge Economic Development District and affirming the parish's 2024 Water Rate Study. The council also filled several board vacancies, adopted the 2025 meeting schedule, and selected Holly Fonseca and Walter Pilié as the incoming Chairman and Vice-Chairman for 2025.

Watch Items

• A public hearing is scheduled for Monday, December 2, 2024, 6:00 p.m., at Council Chambers, Courthouse, Hahnville, to consider final passage of:

- An ordinance approving a Professional Services Agreement with Kyle Associates, LLC, for engineering services on the Turtle Pond Force Main Replacement. - An ordinance approving Amendment No. 2 to the agreement with All South Consulting Engineers, LLC, for the Des Allemands Bulkhead project. - An ordinance approving a Professional Services Agreement with G.E.C., Inc., for the School Zone Traffic Study. - An ordinance approving Change Order No. 1 with Kass Bros., Inc., for Concrete Maintenance 2023-24. - An ordinance approving a Professional Services Agreement with Fairway Consulting and Engineering, LLC, for the Turtle Pond Lift Station Replacement. - An ordinance approving Amendment No. 1 to the agreement with Crescent Engineering & Mapping, LLC, for the Riverbend Hydraulic Design study in St. Rose.

• The proposed Luling Bridge Economic Development District is only in its earliest stage. The council authorized publishing a notice of intent, with an ordinance to formally create the district expected to be introduced on December 2 and voted on December 16. Residents should watch for details on the district's boundaries and how any future tax revenue could be used for nearby public assets like West Bank Bridge Park and the Edward Dufresne Community Center.
• The Department of WaterWorks is expected to bring forward separate ordinances addressing changes to water rate tiers and fees, following up on the rate study affirmed this meeting. A committee hearing on those proposed changes is anticipated before the December 2 or December 16 meetings.
• The District I seat on the St. Charles Parish Board of Adjustment remains vacant; a nomination was deferred to the next meeting.
• A nomination to fill the District III seat on the St. Charles Parish Planning & Zoning Commission, following the resignation of James Joseph Krajcer, Jr., is expected to be taken up December 2, 2024.