City Council

MINUTES REGULAR TOWN COUNCIL MEETING VIVIAN TOWN HALL MEETING ROOM 112 W. ALABAMA AVE. VIVIAN, LOUISIANA MONDAY, APRIL 10, 2023 6:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Festavan called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. INVOCATION - Alderman Robert Green opened the meeting in prayer. PLEDGE - Mayor Festavan led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL - VERIFICATION OF QUORUM - Board of Aldermen present for Roll Call were James Martin, Denise Alexander, Samuel Hodge, Raymond Williams, and Robert Green. Following Roll Call the Town Clerk verified that a quorum was present. Also present were other elected officials and/or staff members: Ronnie Festavan - Mayor, Ryan Nelson - Chief of Police, Kellie Morris - Town Clerk, and Douglas Dominick - Town Attorney. APPROVE AGENDA - An item to consider the final condemnation for the following property, 634 W. Louisiana Ave. in Vivian, needed to be added to the Agenda as item # A-iv under ZONING, CONDEMNATION & CODE ENFORCEMENT MATTERS. Motion to add the item to the Agenda as stated was made by Raymond Williams, seconded by Robert Green. Public Hearing was then held for comments for or against amending the Agenda; none were made. The vote to amend the Agenda with the addition as stated was taken with all approving. Motion was then made to approve the Agenda as amended by Raymond Williams, seconded by Samuel Hodge; all approved. 1. SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - There were none. 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS - There were none. 3. MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT - Financial report including budget-to-actual comparisons was presented by Mayor Festavan. Following the report and discussion, motion to accept as presented was made by James Martin, seconded Samuel Hodge; all approved. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - for the March 1013, 2023 Regular Council Meeting. Motion to approve the Minutes for the March 13, 2023 Regular Council Meeting was made by Raymond Williams, seconded by James Martin; all approved. 5. PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE # 783 OF 2023 OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, LOUISIANA - AN ORDINANCE FOR THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, TOWN OF VIVIAN, TO AMEND SECTION 18-191 ESTABLISHED OF DIVISION 3. RATES OF ARTICLE III. WATER OF CHAPTER 18 – UTILITIES. (This will be an Ordinance to increase the water rates.) Mayor Festavan opened the public hearing for comments FOR or AGAINST Ordinance # 783; none were made. He then declared the public hearing closed. 6. THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL CONSIDER THE FINAL ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE # 783 OF 2023 OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, LOUISIANA - Motion to adopt Ordinance # 783 of 2023 was made by Raymond Williams, seconded by Denise Alexander; all approved. 7. PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE # 784 OF 2023 OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, LOUISIANA - AN ORDINANCE TO LEASE IMMOVABLE PROPERTY THE REASONS FOR SAID LEASE, TO FIX THE MINIMUM PRICE OF SAID LEASE AND THE TERMS OF THE LEASE. FURTHER TO DECLARE SAID PROPERTY SURPLUS PROPERTY AND NO LONGER NEEDED FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE, SAID PROPERTY BEING A 30 BY 30 FOOT LOT OUT OF THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF THE NORTHEAST (NE 1/4 OF NE 1/4) OF SECTION 14, TOWNSHIP 22 NORTH, RANGE 16 WEST, CADDO PARISH, LOUISIANA. Page 1 of 3 Mayor Festavan opened the public hearing for comments FOR or AGAINST Ordinance # 784; none were made. He then declared the public hearing closed. 8. THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL CONSIDER THE FINAL ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE # 784 OF 2023 OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, LOUISIANA - Town Attorney Dominick stated that the NOTICE pertaining to this Ordinance had not been advertised 3 (three) times as required. He stated that he had contacted parties involved and asked that the item be moved to the May 8, 2023 Regular Council Meeting, at which time there would be a second Public Hearing and Consideration. Motion to move this item to the May 8, 2023 Regular Council Meeting was made by Robert Green, seconded by Raymond Williams; all approved. 9. THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN WILL CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION # 1 OF 2023 OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, LOUISIANA - A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING NATIONAL COMMUNTIY DEVELOPMENT WEEK AND THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM. Motion to adopt Resolution # 1 of 2023 was made by Samuel Hodge, seconded by James Martin; all approved. 10. FAIR HOUSING MONTH - The Board of Alderman will consider the Mayor’s recommendation to proclaim the month of April as Fair Housing Month in the Town. Motion to approve Mayor Festavan’s recommendation was made by Samuel Hodge, seconded Raymond Williams; all approved. 11. REVIEW OF POLICE DEPARTMENT PROBATIONARY STATUS - Jeremiah Carroll - Part-time Officer - Hire date, December 12, 2022. Chief Nelson and Sergeant Benjamin spoke highly of Officer Carroll and his dedicated service. Following all comments, motion to approve Chief Nelson’s recommendation to remove Officer Carroll from probation status was made by Samuel Hodge, seconded by Raymond Williams; all approved, ZONING, CONDEMNATION & CODE ENFORCEMENT MATTERS - A. FINAL CONDEMNATION HEARING(s) - i. THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL REVIEW THE STATUS OF THE FOLLOWING PROPERTY: E/2 OF LOTS 2, 3 & 4, BLK 7, CHRISTIAN HTS. ADON., VIVIAN, CADDO PARISH, LOUISIANA: Geographical number 221626-120-0031-11, with a municipal address of 405 East Bailey St., Vivian, LA 71082. This case was continued from the January 9, February 13, and March 1013, 2023 Regular Council Meetings. Mr. Leroy Scott (1445 Lakeside Estates Dr. - Apt. # 2315, Houston, TX 77042) was again present on behalf of this property. After much discussion, questions and answers, on the property Raymond Williams made a motion to continue review of this matter until the May 8, 2023 Regular Council Meetin which was seconded by Denise Alexander; all approved. ii. THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING PROPERTY FOR FINAL CONDEMNATION: LOT FOUR (4), and THE EAST TWENTY-THREE (23) FEET OF LOT FIVE (5), BLOCK EIGHTEEN (18), TOWN OF VIVIAN, CADDO PARISH, LOUISIANA AS PER PLAT RECORDED IN BOOK 17, PAGE 273 OF THE CONVEYANCE RECORDS OF CADDO PARISH, LOUISIANA, Geographical number 221626-019-0020-00; the “property” having a municipal address of 314 West Tennessee Ave., Vivian, Louisiana. This case was continued from the March 1013, 2023 Regular Council Meeting. No one was present to speak on this property. After much discussion, questions, answers, and the Town Attorney stating that the owners and/or interested parties of this property have 15 (fifteen) days to make contact with him, motion to continue with final condemnation of the property was made by Denise Alexander, seconded by Raymond Williams; all approved. iii. THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING PROPERTY FOR FINAL CONDEMNATION: A TRACT OF LAND IN SW/4 OF NW/4 OF SEC 36-22-16 PER ASSRS. COUNTRY PLAT 221636-0-61 with a municipal address of 1501 S Pardue St., Vivian, LA 71082. This case was continued from the March 1013, 2023 Regular Council Meeting. No one was present to speak on this property. After much discussion, questions, answers, and the Town Attorney stating that the owners and/or interested parties of this property have 15 (fifteen) days to make contact with him, motion to continue with final condemnation of the property was made by Denise Alexander, seconded by Raymond Williams; all approved. Page 2 of 3  iv. THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING PROPERTY FOR FINAL CONDEMNATION: LOT 1 & WEST ½ OF LOT 2, BAILEY ADDITION, VIVIAN, CADDO PARISH, LOUISIANA, 71082. Geo#221626-071-0021-00 with a municipal address of 634 W. Louisiana Ave., Vivian, LA. No one was present to speak on this property. After much discussion, questions, answers, and the Town Attorney stating that the owners and/or interested parties of this property have 15 (fifteen) days to make contact with him, motion was made to continue with final condemnation of the property by Raymond Williams, seconded by James Martin. The following vote was then taken: Ayes - 4 (Martin, Hodge, Williams & Green); Nays - 0 (zero); Absent - 0 (zero) and Abstain - 1 (Alexander). B. ZONING/CONDEMNATION REPORT - Zoning / Condemnation Officer Bobby Smith was present and provided a written and oral report to the Council and others present, then followed up with discussion on the addresses and violations included in the report: 1) 323 E. Arkansas Ave., 2) 319 Christian St., 3) 9384 Hosston Rd., 4) 326 Lowland St., 5) 201 Edward Dr., and 6) 121 Milner St.. Following discussion on each property the following actions were taken: Motion to begin condemnation process on 3) 9384 Hosston Rd. was made by Raymond Williams, seconded by Denise Alexander; all approved. Motion to begin the condemnation process on 4) 326 Lowland St. was made by Raymond Williams, seconded by Denise Alexander; all approved. Motion to begin the condemnation process on 5) 201 Edward Dr. was made by Raymond Williams, seconded by Denise Alexander; all approved. C. CODE ENFORCEMENT REPORT - Code Enforcement Officer, Debra Ramage, was present to give her report for the March 6 to April 5 period on 40 (forty) cases/properties. Questions, answers and discussion ensued concerning properties in the report. Environment Court was also held on Wednesday, April 5, 2023 for violators with fines issued. MAYOR’S REPORT - Mayor Festavan gave a report on the following: 1) Chief Joey Ryan, Caddo fire District 8 Chief was present at the Mayor’s request to speak about a burning exemption requested by Allen’s Pump Shop to conduct controlled burn(s) during the week(s) on S. Pardue St., for the purpose of enlarging their business, 2) the Louisiana Community Development Block Grant funds that were just received that will be used for improvements to the wastewater system, and 3) a map of the Town’s water system and long range water plans. ANNOUNCEMENTS BY BOARD OF ALDERMEN - Denise Alexander thanked Mayor Festavan, Chief Nelson, Police Dept., Town employees, and others for their help and support with the Redbud Festival in March. ADJOURN - Motion to adjourn was made by Robert Green, seconded by Raymond Williams; all approved. Meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. _______________________________ Kellie Morris, Town Clerk _______________________________ Ronnie Festavan, Mayor April 24, 2023 Page 3 of 3