Denham Springs City Council Briefing - June 10, 2025

Meeting Summary

This meeting summary details the proceedings of the Denham Springs City Council Briefing held on June 10, 2025, presided over by Mayor Gerard Landry. Key actions included the unanimous adoption of various resolutions and ordinances, such as approving meeting minutes, appointing key city officials, and authorizing the disposal and donation of surplus city property. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to budget and finance discussions, including the adoption of the consolidated operating budgets for both the current and upcoming fiscal years, with an emphasis on a conservative financial approach and specific allocations for health insurance, retirement contributions, and substantial capital outlay projects. The council also held public hearings and ultimately denied the immediate adoption of an ordinance to ban Kratom, opting for revisions, and approved a preliminary plat for Orecko Development, LLC, despite considerable public opposition primarily citing safety and traffic concerns.

Key Topics

20250610-Meeting-Summary

Denham Springs City Council Briefing - June 10, 2025
Date: June 10, 2025
Time: 6:00 P.M.
Location: City Council Room of the Municipal Building
Presiding: Mayor Gerard Landry

I. Key Attendees:

• Mayor: Gerard Landry
• City Council Members (Present): Amber Dugas, Jim Gilbert, Lori Lamm-Williams, Robert Poole, Jeff Wesley
• City Attorney: Buffy Anderson
• City Clerk: Rick Foster
• Building Official: Stephanie Hulett
• City Treasurer: Paul Steagall
• Lieutenant: Richard Stafford (Fire Chief)
• Treasurer: Michelle Hood

II. Reports from City Officials:

• Building Official: Written report submitted.
• City Attorney: No report.
• Engineers: No report.
• City Treasurer: No report.
• Planning and Zoning: Verbal report submitted.
• Animal Control: Written report submitted.
• Fire Report: Written report submitted.
• Police Report: Written report submitted.

III. Key Actions Taken by City Council:

The City Council adopted several resolutions and ordinances, with voting records consistently showing "Yeas" from Dugas, Gilbert, Lamm-Williams, Poole, and Wesley, and no "Nays," "Absent," or "Abstain" votes for most items, indicating unanimous consent unless otherwise specified.

1. Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the May 27, 2025 City Council Meeting were approved.
2. Consent Agenda Adoption: The consent agenda for May 1, 2025, through May 31, 2025, was adopted.
3. Records Management Officer: Buffy Anderson was named as the annual Records Management Officer liaison for the City.
4. Official Journal: Livingston Parish News was named as the annual Official Journal for the City.
5. Insurance Proposal Approval: An insurance proposal offered by Blumberg & Associates for Fire Dept (only); Property, Equipment, and Auto in the amount of $50,627 was approved.
6. Surplus Gas Dept. Items: The disposal of surplus Gas Dept. items on the attached list was authorized.
7. Surplus Gas Meters: The disposal of 24 surplus gas meters on the attached list was approved.
8. Surplus Police Department Equipment: The surplus of the following Police Department Equipment was approved:
   • 8-point blank vests
   • 2-second chance vests
   • 1-diamondback vest
   • 2010 White (unmarked) Chevrolet Tahoe Unit #471
   • 2011 Chevrolet Impala Silver (unmarked) Unit#495
   • 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe (marked)
   • 2013 Village 110,618
9. Donation of Surplus Items to Village of Waterproof, Louisiana: Mayor Landry was authorized to donate the following surplus items to the Village of Waterproof, Louisiana:
   • 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe Unit #471
   • 8-point blank vests
   • 2-second chance vests
   • 1-diamondback vest
10. Reappointment of Mortgage Finance Authority Trustees: Brent Dugas and Gerald Hughes were reappointed as trustees for the Mortgage Finance Authority for a term of 6 years beginning on March 2025 and ending on March 2031.
11. Spring Park Pavilion Payment Application: Payment Application #1 in the amount of $124,367.06 to Blount General Contractors, LLC for the Spring Park Pavilion was approved (representing 70% complete).
12. Ordinance Introduction - Emergency Debris Site: An ordinance was introduced to allow for the exchange of 0.06 acres of land for the purpose of widening the entryway into the City's Emergency Debris Site. A public hearing is scheduled for July 8, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.

IV. Budget and Finance Discussions:

The Council held and adopted several ordinances related to the Consolidated Operating Budget of Revenues and Expenditures.

1. Public Hearing for Ordinance Amending 2024-2025 Budget: A public hearing was held for an Ordinance Amending a Consolidated Operating Budget of Revenues and Expenditures for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2024, and Ending June 30, 2025. No public comments were given.
2. Adoption of Ordinance Amending 2024-2025 Budget: The ordinance amending the Consolidated Operating Budget of Revenues and Expenditures for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2024, and Ending June 30, 2025, was adopted. This ordinance becomes Ordinance No. 25-04.
3. Public Hearing for Ordinance Adopting 2025-2026 Budget: A public hearing was held for an Ordinance Adopting a Consolidated Operating Budget of Revenues and Expenditures for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2025, and Ending June 30, 2026. No public comments were given.
4. Adoption of Ordinance Adopting 2025-2026 Budget: The ordinance adopting a Consolidated Operating Budget of Revenues and Expenditures for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2025, and Ending June 30, 2026, was adopted. This ordinance becomes Ordinance No. 25-05.

Key Highlights from the 2025-2026 Proposed Budget:

• Overall Approach: The budget reflects a "conservative approach to the preparation of the budget, ensuring the continuity of the scope and level of traditional services and functions of city government."
• Board-level Increases: "Across the board cost of living increase is not included in this budget, pay increases stemming from a planned compensation study are estimated and included in the 2025-2026 budget." The "cost of living increase was 3% on July 1, 2024."
• Health Insurance: "Health insurance premiums will increase by 5.5%, to $841.47 per month per participating employee. The City pays the employee health insurance premium in full." The City is proposing to fund 30% of the dependent cost of health insurance. This is an increase from 20% in the current fiscal budget.
• Retirement Contributions:
  • Municipal Employees Retirement System: Increase from 13.5% to 14.0%.
  • Municipal Police Employees Retirement System: Decrease from 36.6% to 33.475%.
  • City Contributions to the Firefighters Retirement System: Remain at 33.25%.
• Sales Tax Revenue: "The City anticipates sales tax revenue to be in line with current year collections."
• Capital Outlay/Improvements: "Anticipated road and improvement and sidewalk projects are expected to cost the city $4,749,715." Of this amount, $3,052,977 is expected to be paid with federal grants and state capital outlay funding.
• Salaries & Benefits: "Salaries of $9,179,186 and benefits of $4,200,150 totaling $13,379,336 represent 46% of the proposed 2025-2026 general fund, utility fund, motor pool, witness fee, and hotel occupancy tax fund budgets." This is in line with prior years and "takes into consideration public safety employee salaries and benefit compare the largest personnel budgets compared to total expenses."
• General Fund Highlights: Sales tax collections are projected to remain at the same level as 2024-2025. The city anticipates receiving $1,133,027 in federal grants in 2025-2026 for assistance to elevate homes in flood prone areas.
• Utility Fund Highlights: Anticipates "operating expenses of $58,542,064 (after deducting natural gas fuel cost, depreciation expense and bad debt expense all totaling $2,836,235)." This is an increase compared to the prior fiscal year, with "estimated operating expenses of $58,111,612 (after deducting natural gas fuel cost, depreciation expense, and bad debt expense totaling $3,100,725)."
• Capital Outlay Fund Highlights: Projects "expenditures, which we all feel will provide a higher quality of life and safety for the citizens of the city." Budget projects to spend $4,749,715 in capital outlay projects for fiscal year 2025-2026. This includes "engineering sets to deliver a roundabout at on Bass Pro Boulevard at Sac-Au-Lait Lane and an extension to Cook Road to extend it to Range Avenue. Also included is an overlay and sidewalks Centerville Street NW."
• Debt Service Fund Highlights: Reflects "interest income earned from residual monies from the 1994 Paving Certificates Debt Service Fund and to account for the collection of a special assessment on the property owners of the Lakeland Acres Subdivision."
• Cemetery Trust Fund (Permanent Fund): This budget reflects "the receipts received from the sales of gravesites." Monies "are dedicated to a trust fund invested for future maintenance cost."
• Motor Pool: "This budget proposes the cost of maintaining the city's vehicle fleet and equipment. Costs incurred are reimbursed by the various departments."
• Witness Fees Fund (Special Revenue Fund): "This budget proposes to account for the cost of court appearances by police officers at the City Court of Denham Springs - Ward II to provide testimony."
• Personnel: "As the population serviced within the City's service area continues to grow, departments may struggle to keep up with the workload." There are "several departments may need additional personnel." There are "two new positions in the 2024-2025 Proposed Utility Fund budget, one each in the Gas and Wastewater departments. These positions are needed because of the growth experienced in the City's service area outside of the city limits."
• City Treasurer's Assistance: City Treasurer Michelle Hood "prepared this presentation to the best of my ability and knowledge of the financial circumstances the city enjoys at this time."

V. MITRAGYA SPECIOSA KORTH (KRATOM) Discussion:

• Public Hearing: A public hearing was held to consider an ordinance to ban the sale of MITRAGYA SPECIOSA KORTH, also known as KRATOM. No public comments were given.
• Ordinance Adoption: An ordinance to ban the sale of MITRAGYA SPECIOSA KORTH, also known as KRATOM, was adopted. "The adoption of this ordinance was denied to allow for revisions."

VI. Preliminary Plat Approval - Orecko Development, LLC:

• Public Hearing: A public hearing was held to consider the preliminary plat of a 12.736 tract into Lots 1-39 & Lots CA-1 & CA-2, located in Sec 48, T8S-R2E, G.L.D., City of Denham Springs, Livingston Parish, Louisiana (RS-833 v3). Requested by Orecko Development, LLC. A total of 13 citizens signed up to speak on the proposed subdivision. Of those, 2 citizens spoke in favor, and 11 citizens spoke in opposition.
• Comments in Support: Five citizens "emphasized that the developers were not seeking a variance or rezoning, and that they had followed all federal, state, and municipal regulations. They clarified that elevation changes were minimal, and noted discussions with the Livingston Parish School Board regarding the development's impact." They also indicated that "a formal traffic study was conducted, the developer said that DOTD estimated 27 vehicles during normal hours and an additional 10-during peak four traffic times." They "also proposed installing a sidewalk along the property's road frontage." The "developers stated that the majority of the property lies within Flood Zone X, and the development would not negatively affect local drainage." The "school board projected the subdivision could potentially add 13 elementary and 4 high school students."
• Comments in Opposition: Residents raised "a number of concerns, primarily citing safety issues related to the narrow two-lane road, which currently lacks sidewalks and crosswalks. One speaker noted elevation discrepancies and the need for the developer to import fill to bring some lots out of Flood Zone AE, raising concerns about water displacement. Other concerns included displacement of local wildlife, noise pollution, logging and concrete truck traffic, daily traffic congestion, lack of a double yellow center line, and unsafe exit points onto Jason Drive."
• Council Discussion and Motions:
  • Councilman Robert Poole made a motion to deny the appeal, citing "public safety and quality of life concerns, referencing the fatality of a student on Cockerham Road as an example of potential traffic hazards."
  • Councilwoman Amber Dugas "expressed concern over the risk of costly legal action should the development be denied."
  • Councilman Jeff Wesley "added that a lawsuit would be financially burdensome to taxpayers."
  • A second motion was made by Councilwoman Lori Lamm to approve the appeal.
• Vote on Plat Approval:
  • The motion to deny the appeal of the preliminary plat was denied with 1 in favor and 4 against. Yeas: Poole. Nays: Dugas, Gilbert, Lamm-Williams, Wesley.
  • A new motion to approve the appeal of the preliminary plat was passed with 4 in favor and 1 against. Yeas: Dugas, Gilbert, Lamm-Williams, Wesley. Nays: Poole.

VII. Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned upon motion by Lamm-Williams, seconded by Poole.