PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NATCHITOCHES, STATE OF LOUISIANA, REGULAR MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2019 AT 5:30 P.M. The City Council of the City of Natchitoches met in legal and regular session at the Natchitoches Municipal Building, 560 Second Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana on Monday, October 14, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. There were present: Mayor Lee Posey Councilman At Large Don Mims, Jr. Councilman Dale Nielsen Councilwoman Sylvia Morrow Councilman Lawrence Batiste Guests: Northwestern State University – Homecoming Court Absent: None Mayor Lee Posey called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone for coming. Michael Braxton was asked to lead the invocation and Councilman Eddie Harrington led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Posey then called for the reading and approval of the minutes for the September 23, 2019 meeting. Mr. Mims moved that we dispense with the reading of the minutes and approval of same. Seconded by Ms. Morrow a roll call vote was as follows: Ayes: Batiste, Nielsen, Mims, Morrow Nays: None Absent: None Abstain: None Mayor Posey asked everyone to please keep the families of John Lodrigue, David Cox, and Carol Wells in your prayers as they all recently passed away. The following Resolution was introduced by Mr. Mims and Seconded by Mr. Harrington as follows, to –wit: RESOLUTION NO. 077 OF 2019 PROCLAMATION DECLARING MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2019 AS “PAINT THE TOWN PURPLE DAY” AND OCTOBER 14 THROUGH OCTOBER 19, 2019 AS “HOMECOMING WEEK” AT NORTHWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY WHEREAS, Northwestern State University’s 2019 Homecoming Festivities will feature some new attractions, this year’s theme is “Disney” and will offer reunion events and student events such as the annual homecoming parade & pep rally; and WHEREAS, October 14 – 19, 2019 Northwestern State University will celebrate Homecoming Week and the City wishes to proclaim this as a time to generate school spirit throughout the City of Natchitoches and surrounding communities; and WHEREAS, Monday, October 14th is Paint the Town Purple Day and the City of Natchitoches encourages all citizens, businesses and organizations to support Northwestern State University by displaying purple and white during Homecoming Week and to join in the celebrations of our distinguished university; and WHEREAS, NSU President Dr. Chris Maggio, Head Football Coach Brad Laird and all homecoming honorees would like city-wide support and attendance at day-long activities, pre-game and the homecoming football game, NSU versus Central Arkansas, on Saturday, October 19, 2019. NOW, THEREFORE, I, Lee Posey, Mayor, and the City Council of the City of Natchitoches, do hereby proclaim the week of October 14 through 19, 2019 as: NORTHWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY HOMECOMING WEEK And Monday, October 14, 2019 as: PAINT THE TOWN PURPLE DAY In the City and Parish of Natchitoches and urge all citizens to join in the celebration of our Northwestern State University football team in the Homecoming Game scheduled Saturday, October 19, 2019. This Resolution was then presented for a vote, and the vote was recorded as follows: AYES: Batiste, Nielsen, Mims, Harrington, Morrow NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None THEREUPON, Mayor Lee Posey declared the Resolution passed by a vote of 5 Ayes to 0 Nays on this 14th day of October, 2019. ___________________________________ LEE POSEY, MAYOR Mr. Don Mims presented the proclamation to the NSU Homecoming Court and thanked them for everything they do for Northwestern and our community. Jacob Ellis, SGA President, thanked everyone who had a hand in presenting this proclamation tonight. He expressed the students’ excitement for homecoming week and invited everyone to come out. Mayor Posey thanked them for their efforts and how big they have made the NSU Homecoming Parade as they have ventured off campus and parade downtown to the riverbank. The following Ordinance was introduced by Mr. Mims at the Natchitoches City Council meeting held on October 14 2019 as follows: ORDINANCE NO. 041 OF 2019 AN ORDINANCE DECLARING THE BUILDINGS ON THE PROPERTY SITUATED AT 312 SECOND STREET IN NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA, TO BE DILAPIDATED, DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE AND ORDERING THEIR DEMOLITION AND REMOVAL WITHIN A CERTAIN DELAY; PROVIDING FOR A HEARING FOR THE OWNER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY SAID BUILDINGS SHOULD NOT BE DEMOLISHED AND REMOVED; AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO PROCEED WITH DEMOLITION AND REMOVAL IN THE EVENT THE OWNER FAILS TO COMPLY WITH DEMOLITION ORDER WHEREAS, the City Building Inspector and the Director of Planning & Zoning have filed a written report with the City Council declaring the buildings on the below described property of the below named Owner to be in a dilapidated and dangerous condition which makes said buildings unsafe and endangers the public welfare, and recommending that said buildings be demolished and removed, to wit: Owner: Hopeville Partners, LP 11616 Southfork Avenue, Suite 302 Baton Rouge, LA 70816 Property That certain parcel, lot or tract of land situated in the City of Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, more particularly described as: Lot 91.3 Feet Front West Side 2nd St., Bounded N By Martin, et al, W By Duplex St. & City Property & S By Scarborough & Tauzin, As Shown On A Plat In CB 257, Pg. 410 & A Lot Adjoining The NW Portion Of The Above Described Lot Have A South Line Of 129.3 Ft., A West line of 65.7 Ft., A North Line of 110.5 Ft., And A East Line Of 63 Ft. (Hopeville Apartments - 312 Second St. – includes four (4) apartment buildings and one (1) accessory building) WHEREAS, in accordance with La. R.S. 33:4762(A)(1) the Owner is allowed to show cause at a public hearing before the City Council why the buildings on the above described property should not be condemned and ordered demolished and removed; and WHEREAS, this Ordinance provides for a public hearing before the City Council on the 25th day of November, 2019, on the condemnation, demolishment and removal of the buildings on the property situated at 312 Second Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana; and WHEREAS, in the event the evidence adduced at the public hearing before the City Council on November 25, 2019, shows the buildings on the property situated at 312 Second Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana, are in a dilapidated and dangerous condition which endangers the public welfare, and should be demolished and removed, the City Council is authorized by La. R.S. 33:4761 to cause said buildings to be demolished and removed; WHEREAS, La. R.S. 33:4763 allows the City Council, after the public hearing, to enter an order condemning buildings and ordering said buildings to be demolished and removed within a certain delay, if in the opinion of the City Council, the facts warrant said action; WHEREAS, La. R.S. 33:4765 provides that in the event the Owner fails or refuses to comply with the decision ordering the buildings to be demolished and removed and fails to timely appeal the order requiring demolition and removal of the buildings, the Mayor may proceed with demolition and removal of the condemned buildings upon serving notice on the Owner, giving the time when work will begin on the demolition and removal of the buildings. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council in legal session convened as follows: (1) That a public hearing before the City Council be and hereby is set for November 25, 2019, at which hearing the Owner of the property situated at 312 Second Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana, is to appear and show cause why the buildings thereon should not be condemned and ordered demolished and removed; (2) That approval of this Ordinance by the City Council, after due proceedings had on November 25, 2019, will serve as a declaration that the buildings on the property situated at 312 Second Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana, are in a dilapidated and dangerous condition which makes said buildings unsafe and a danger to the public welfare; (3) That approval of this Ordinance will serve as the condemnation of the buildings on the property situated at 312 Second Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana; (4) That approval of this Ordinance will serve as the Order of the City Council that the buildings on the property situated at 312 Second Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana, be demolished and removed within 30 days after the approval of this Ordinance; (5) That in the event the Owner fails or refuses to comply with the City Council’s order that the buildings to be demolished and removed and fails to timely appeal the order requiring demolishment and removal of the buildings, Mayor Lee Posey is authorized to proceed with demolition and removal of the condemned buildings upon serving notice on the Owner, giving the time when work will begin on the demolition and removal of the buildings. THIS ORDINANCE was introduced on October 14, 2019, and published in the Natchitoches Times on October 17, 2019. Tim Tryniecki with Sterling Bank the mortgage holder of the property mentioned stated he was here for prior meetings and presented two new exhibits tonight. The same architect has been hired who inspected the property back in April and found there is no danger and is a construction project in progress. He found no structural defects of the building. His firm has entered a contract with Sterling Bank to present a redesign of the project. The firm should have plans to submit to the City by November 8th and are 40% complete at this time. Mr. Tryniecki questioned why some clauses in respect to the demolition have changed or been removed and would like their project to be treated like any other brought before the City. Mr. Corkern addressed Mr. Tryniecki’s concern of the language change in the notice given referenced only condemnation and demolition as well as his concern of what has changed in the condition of the building.