The Lafayette Parish council is slated to consider a resolution that would ask voters to re-dedicate tax money from the CREATE program to fire protection and roads.
The item is on the April 21 agenda. On that day:
The Lafayette Parish Council meets at 5 p.m.
The Lafayette City Council meets at 6 p.m. and
The Lafayette Public Power Authority has a special meeting that starts as soon as the City Council meeting ends.
You can read the agendas by scrolling down to the bottom of this story.
The resolution, proposed by councilman Kevin Naquin, would rededicate the CREATE funds to fire protection and roads and bridges.
In November 2017, Lafayette Parish voters passed a tax re-dedication that gave $500,000 per year to the “CREATE” initiative. The Culture Recreation Entertainment Arts Tourism initiative was created by former Mayor-President Joel Robideaux. The re-dedication took money from public health, mosquito control and animal control to fund it.
Current Mayor-President Josh Guillory said shortly after he took office that he wanted to put the money back into other areas of the budget, and eliminated the only paid position in the initiative.
Also up for discussion that night by the City Council are several resolutions that would refinance existing bonds, and some joint ordinances regarding local boards and commissions that constitute housekeeping.
Because of COVID-19, the councils have set procedures for the public to watch and participate in meetings. Here are those procedures:
ACCESSING COUNCIL MEETINGS & PUBLIC COMMENT PROCEDURES
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
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)
▪ Citizens still have the option to reach out to their individual Council Member(s)
• If you DO WISH TO SPEAK:
▪ Public comments will be received via telephone at (337) 291-8428
▪ To prevent a backlog, staff will begin taking calls at 2:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting
▪ You must call in prior to the reading of the agenda item to be recognized
▪ When calling, only give your name, a call back number, and the agenda item
▪ Once the applicable agenda item is read during the meeting, you will be called to speak, in the order that your request was received
▪ The 5-minute rule will apply 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.
Here's the Parish Council agenda:
Here's the City Council agenda:
Here's the LPPA agenda:
