The Lafayette City and Parish Councils meet tomorrow; on the agenda are open-container and curfew changes.
The city and parish councils will consider changes to the open container law that applies to the entire parish.
Currently, you can take an alcoholic beverage in a go-cup (paper, plastic or foam) out of a Downtown establishment until midnight. The changes would move that deadline up to 10 p.m. There are exceptions, and those don't change, for events like Downtown Alive, Symphony concerts, Artwalk and festivals. The Mayor-President can grant an exemption for any event, under the ordinance.
Both councils have to approve this change for it to take effect. To read the proposed ordinance changes, click here.
The City Council will consider a special curfew for the Downtown District which stretches from West Simcoe on the north, south past Johnston Street, west past University and east past Evangeline Thruway. In that area, people younger than 18 without their parent or guardian could not be outside in any "public place" between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. every night of the week.
"Public place" includes public streets, private streets, sidewalks, parks, playgrounds, public buildings and any place that is "open to or used by the public."
Exceptions are granted for kids going to or from work, or to or from a formal organized activity; kids on an errand for their guardian that uses "a direct route" and emergencies. Kids also are allowed on the sidewalk in front of their house or in front of their next-door neighbor's house - as long as the neighbor hasn't called the police to complain about them.
Exceptions also are "granted" for kids who are exercising their Constitutional rights to free speech, assembly and religion.
Currently, the city's curfew for minors is from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and midnight until 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Those hours would remain in place for kids who live outside of the "downtown district."
To read the proposed ordinance, click here.
Meetings of the Lafayette City and Parish Councils are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.
Parish Council meetings begin at 4:30 p.m. and City Council meetings begin at 6:00 p.m.
The meetings are aired live on both LUS Fiber-Channel 3 and on Cox Communications-Channel 16, then replayed on the following Friday at 7:00 p.m.
Here are the policies in place due to the pandemic:
Accessing Council Meetings:
• AOC2 Public Access Channel (Cox Channel 16 or LUS Fiber Channel 4)
• Online at the Lafayette Consolidated Government homepage at www.lafayettela.gov
• On the Ustream website at www.ustream.tv/channel/lafayette-consolidated-governmentcouncil-meeting
• In-person attendance allowed at 50% capacity of auditorium
• Masks must be worn to enter Public Comment Procedures:
• If you DO NOT WISH TO SPEAK, but wish to state your support for or opposition to an item:
▪ Submit your comments via e-mail to DoNotSpeakCM@lafayettela.gov
▪ In your message, you must identify which Council meeting agenda you are calling about (City or Parish), then include the agenda item number, your name and your position (for or against)
▪ Emails must be received prior to 4:30pm the day of the meeting
▪ Citizens still have the option to reach out to their individual Council Member(s)
Please be advised that while social distancing and other requirements are in place, some matters have been suspended to focus on essential governmental business.
While holding public meetings, safety guidelines will be implemented.
