Denham Springs City Council Meeting Minutes - January 27, 2025

Meeting Summary

The Denham Springs City Council held a significant meeting on January 27, 2025, where they made key decisions across various domains. Notably, the Council approved an increase to the hotel occupancy tax, raising it to 6.75% effective April 1, 2025, indicating a strategic move towards revenue generation. Furthermore, they authorized multiple public hearings for late February, addressing substantial development and land-use changes, including a new townhouse project and re-zoning proposals, which reflect the city's active growth. The meeting also underscored infrastructure investment through payment approvals for gas and water projects, and demonstrated a commitment to regulatory updates by revising an ordinance regarding the definition of a church.

Key Topics

20250127-Meeting-Summary

Briefing Document: Denham Springs City Council Meeting - January 27, 2025
Date of Meeting: January 27, 2025
Location: Municipal Building, Denham Springs, LA
Presiding Officer: Mayor Gerard Landry

This briefing document summarizes the key decisions, discussions, and themes from the Denham Springs City Council meeting held on January 27, 2025, based on the provided minutes.

I. Key Decisions and Approved Actions

The City Council approved several significant items during this meeting, covering financial matters, zoning and land use, and public hearings.

A. Financial and Taxation:

• Hotel Occupancy Tax Increase: The Council adopted an ordinance to increase the tax levied within the City of Denham Springs, State of Louisiana, on the occupancy of hotel rooms. The new tax rate will be "six and seventy-five hundredth percent (6.75%) (the “tax”) upon the rent or fee charged for the occupancy of hotel rooms within the City, effective April 1, 2025." This change is explicitly stated as "providing for other matters in connection therewith." (Item #8 on the original agenda and Item #8 in the adopted ordinances).
• Payment Approvals:
  • Felicia Welding, Inc.: Approved "Payment Application No. 1 in the amount of $231,876.00" for the LA-16 Gas Improvement Project (Billon Hood Road to Juban Road). (Item #6)
  • L. King Company, LLC: Approved "Payment Application No. 8 in the amount of $78,851.90" for the Brigman Water Well Project. (Item #7)

B. Zoning, Land Use, and Ordinances:

• Ordinance Revision for Churches: The Council authorized the City Attorney to draft an ordinance revising "Ordinance 10-102 to reflect LA R.S. 26:81 (c) (1) by including “a building used exclusively as” a Church." This reflects a specific legal requirement for what constitutes a church under the relevant Louisiana Revised Statutes. (Item #9 in adopted ordinances, also discussed as an agenda addition).
• Public Hearings Authorized:
  • Outdoor Event Noise Variance: Authorized a public hearing for a "noise variance for an outdoor event at the Denham Springs High School Football Stadium to be held on February 24, 2025." (Item #2)
  • Townhouse Development Special Use Permit: Authorized a public hearing for a "Special Use Permit request for the purpose of a Townhouse Development on Tract B-1-A & Remainder of Tract A located in Section 59, T6S-R2E, G.L.D., City of Denham Springs, Livingston Parish, Louisiana (SUP-117-24); to be held in the Court Room of the Municipal Building. Requested by Brad Marcotte Construction, LLC." The hearing is scheduled for February 24, 2025. (Item #4)
  • Zoning Ordinance Amendment (Article One, Ordinance 100): Authorized a public hearing to "introduce an ordinance and authorize a public hearing for an ordinance to Amend Section 1.02 of Article One of the Denham Springs Zoning Commission Ordinance of 1990, as Amended City Ordinance 100 by Adding thereto, Paragraph 100, from R-1 Residential to C-3 Commercial to I-1 Industrial on Parcels# 0368718 & Parcels# 0363964 located in Section 59, T6S R2E, G.L.D., City of Denham Springs, Livingston Parish, Louisiana (RZ-453)." This hearing is also scheduled for February 24, 2025. (Item #5)

C. Business Approvals:

• Retail Class B Package Sales Outlet Alcohol Permit: Approved a request from "Karamjit Singh with Bizzy Bee Food And Gas Inc. for a Retail Class B High (Package Sales) Outlet Alcohol Permit, for the business located at 1000 Florida Ave SE, Denham Springs, LA." (Item #3)

II. Procedural Matters and Council Participation

• Quorum and Attendance: A quorum was present, including Amber Dugas, Jim Gilbert, Lori Lamm-Williams, Robert Poole, and Jeff Wesley. Additional attendees included Buffy Anderson (City Clerk), Rick Foster (Building Official), and Stephanie Hulett (City Attorney).
• Minutes Approval: The Council approved the official journal minutes from the January 14, 2025, City Council Meeting. (Item #1)
• Voting Consistency: All voted items, including the adoption of the hotel tax ordinance and the authorization of public hearings, were unanimously approved by the attending council members (Dugas, Gilbert, Lamm-Williams, Poole, Wesley). There were no "Nays" or "Abstains" recorded for any of the motions.
• Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned upon motion by Lamm-Williams, seconded by Poole.

III. Main Themes and Future Implications

• Revenue Generation: The approval of the hotel occupancy tax increase signals an effort by the city to generate additional revenue, effective April 1, 2025. This could contribute to the city's general fund or specific projects.
• Active Development and Growth: The numerous public hearings scheduled for February 24, 2025, concerning a townhouse development, zoning ordinance amendments (including re-zoning parcels from residential to commercial/industrial), and specific business permits, indicate ongoing development and potential land-use changes within Denham Springs. This suggests a responsive approach to development requests.
• Regulatory Updates: The authorization to revise Ordinance 10-102 regarding the definition of a "church" demonstrates the Council's commitment to aligning local ordinances with state law (LA R.S. 26:81 (c) (1)).
• Infrastructure Investment: The approval of payment applications for the LA-16 Gas Improvement Project and the Brigman Water Well Project highlights continued investment in essential city infrastructure.

Next Steps/Upcoming Events:

• February 24, 2025: Multiple public hearings are scheduled for the Denham Springs High School Football Stadium noise variance, the Townhouse Development Special Use Permit, and the Zoning Ordinance Amendment. These hearings will be crucial for gathering public input on significant development and policy changes.
• April 1, 2025: The new hotel occupancy tax rate will become effective.

This briefing provides a high-level overview of the January 27, 2025, Denham Springs City Council meeting, emphasizing the most important decisions and their potential implications for the city.