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City Hall
Westwego, Louisiana Regular Session Monday, March 9, 2020
The Mayor and City Council of the City of Westwego met in Regular Session at 6:00 p.m., Monday,
March 09, 2020, in the Council Room at City Hall, 1100 Fourth Street, Westwego, Louisiana.
There were present:
Mayor Joe Peoples
District 1 Council Member Glenn Green, Sr. District 2 Council Member Johnny S. Nobles, Jr. District
3 Council Member Lisa H. Valence District 4 Council Member Matthew J. Rivere
District 5 Council Member Johnnie Lynn Thibodeaux Police Chief Dwayne J. Munch, Sr.
City Clerk Lisa Tapia CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Peoples called the meeting to order and asked everyone to stand for the invocation.
INVOCATION AND MOMENT OF SILENCE
Council Member Green led the assembly in prayer, followed by a moment of silence for the members of
our community who have passed since our last meeting, for the victims of the Tennessee tornadoes,
and for the victims of the coronavirus.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Council Member Valence led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance. AMEND THE AGENDA
Mayor Peoples entertained a motion to amend the agenda.
MOVED by Council Member Rivere, and seconded by Council Member Green, to amend the agenda to
discuss the following items at the end of business:
1. (JP) Bridge over the Vic A. Pitre Dr. Canal at Avenue H
2. (JP) Confirm Civil Service Board Member
3. (JP) Louis Marrero Gym
APPROVED. Yeas: Green, Nobles, Valence, Rivere, Thibodeaux PRESENTATIONS / ANNOUNCEMENTS /
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
(MJR) Spring Sports
Council Member Rivere announced that registration for Spring Sports has begun. CORONAVIRUS
Mayor Peoples discussed policies and procedures in place for coronavirus. ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL
VERONICA BRIDGES
Veronica Bridges addressed the City Council to request the use of park facilities and a special
event alcohol beverage permit to hold a fund raiser for Rhythm’s Dance Team on April 19, 2020.
A discussion followed.
MOVED by Council Member Thibodeaux, and seconded by Council Member Rivere, to approve the use of
park facilities and grant an alcohol beverage permit for Rhythm’s Dance Team to hold a fund raiser
on April 19, 2020.
APPROVED. Yeas: Green, Nobles, Valence, Rivere, Thibodeaux
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March 10, 2020
HEAR ALL REPORTS
Chief of Police Dwayne J. Munch, Sr., Chief Building Inspector Leslie “Skip” Lombas, Jr., EMS
Director Joseph J. Aldor, Jr., Senior Center Coordinator Brant Fonseca, Farmers Market Coordinator
Keith Bouvier, and Code Enforcement Perry Talamo submitted their written reports.
Fire Chief Ryan P. Guidroz (arrived late), Plumbing Inspector Chuck Poore and Electrical Inspector
Doyle Guidroz were not present; their written reports were submitted earlier.
Mayor Peoples entertained questions about the Financial Report/Budget vs. Actual. There were none.
APPROVE THE MINUTES
MOVED by Council Member Nobles, and seconded by Council Member Valence, to approve the minutes of
the Special Session of Tuesday, January 28, 2020.
APPROVED. Yeas: Green, Nobles, Valence, Rivere, Thibodeaux
MOVED by Council Member Valence, and seconded by Council Member Nobles, to approve the minutes of
the Regular Session of Monday, February 10, 2020.
APPROVED. Yeas: Green, Nobles, Valence, Rivere, Thibodeaux RESOLUTIONS FOR ADOPTION
Offered by Council Member Green:
RESOLUTION 2020-03(A)
A resolution recognizing March 28, 2020 as Blinded Veterans Day in the City of Westwego.
MOVED by Council Member Green, and seconded by Council Member Valence, to adopt Resolution 2020-
03(A) recognizing March 28, 2020 as Blinded Veterans Day in the City of Westwego.
APPROVED. Yeas: Green, Nobles, Valence, Rivere, Thibodeaux Offered by Council Member Rivere:
RESOLUTION 2020-03(B)
A resolution recognizing April 2020 as Autism Awareness Month in the City of Westwego.
MOVED by Council Member Rivere, and seconded by Council Member Green, to adopt Resolution 2020-
03(B) recognizing April 2020 as Autism Awareness Month in the City of Westwego.
APPROVED. Yeas: Green, Nobles, Valence, Rivere, Thibodeaux Offered by Council Member Rivere:
RESOLUTION 2020-03(C)
A resolution designating April 2020 to be Fair Housing Month in the City of Westwego.
MOVED by Council Member Rivere, and seconded by Council Member Green, to adopt Resolution 2020-
03(C) recognizing April 2020 to be Fair Housing Month in the City of Westwego.
APPROVED. Yeas: Green, Nobles, Valence, Rivere, Thibodeaux ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION
There were no ordinances for introduction. ORDINANCES FOR ADOPTION
There were no ordinances for adoption.
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March 10, 2020
OLD BUSINESS
1. (GG) Christian-Jones Memorial Playground
Council Member Green discussed issues with the play surface under the playground
equipment at Christian-Jones Memorial Playground.
A discussion followed.
Mayor Peoples stated that he would look into alternate play surfaces.
2. (JSN) Playground Update
Council Member Nobles asked for an update on the Catfish Bourgeois Park Restrooms and the Calvin
Galiano Park Improvements on Victory Drive.
Mayor Peoples reported that the engineer is preparing a cost estimate for the Calvin
Galiano Park Improvements, which will be submitted to Facility Planning for approval as soon as it
is finished, and that Facility Planning has given their approval to proceed with the construction
of the Catfish Bourgeois Park Restrooms.
3. (JLT) Myrtle C. Thibodeaux Elementary School
Council Member Thibodeaux discussed the failed effort to save Myrtle C. Thibodeaux Elementary
School. A discussion followed.
4. (JP) Catfish Bourgeois Restrooms – Update This item was discussed earlier.
5. (JP) Street Resurfacing Project – Update
Mayor Peoples discussed the plans and specifications for the Street Resurfacing Project
have been submitted to Facility Planning and will be advertised for bid as soon as we receive
their approval.
6. (JP) River Boat Landing – Update
Mayor Peoples discussed the River Boat Landing. He stated that the quotes he has received so far
for painting the landing indicate that the project will have to be advertised for bid.
7. (JP) Utility Billing Adjustments
MOVED by Council Member Rivere, and seconded by Council Member Valence, to approve the Utility
Billing Adjustments as recommended.
APPROVED. Yeas: Green, Nobles, Valence, Rivere, Thibodeaux NEW BUSINESS
1. (GG) River Road, LaBauve Drive and Seven Oaks Avenue
Council Member Green asked Mayor Peoples to send a request to DOTD to have River Road, LaBauve
Drive and Seven Oaks Avenue restriped.
A discussion followed.
Mayor Peoples stated that he would send a request.
2. (JP) Permit and Inspections Forms
Mayor Peoples asked the City Council to adopt the Jefferson Parish permit and inspection forms and
fees. A discussion followed.
Mayor Peoples stated that he would have a comparison of current fees versus the proposed fees ready
for the next meeting.
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March 10, 2020
3. (JP) Avenue A - B and River Road Property
Mayor Peoples asked the City Council to use state funds originally allocated in 1998 for the
construction of a pedestrian walkway over the River Road for the acquisition of the old asphalt
plant property, which will provide a much better spot for the eventual construction of the walkway,
assuming that the property does not have any issues that would prevent it.
A discussion followed.
MOVED, and seconded, by All Council Members, to authorize Mayor Peoples to proceed with
negotiations for the purchase of the old asphalt plant property after determining that there are no
environmental issues with the property.
APPROVED. Yeas: Green, Nobles, Valence, Rivere, Thibodeaux
4. (JP) BW Terminals - Annual SARA Title III, Tier II Report
Mayor Peoples reported that BW Terminals has submitted their Annual SARA Title III, Tier II Report.
The Fire Chief stated that his department is reviewing the report.
A discussion followed.
5. (JP) Senior Center
Mayor Peoples stated that he is getting a price for Ninja Coatings to replace the floors in the
Senior Center. A discussion followed.
Mayor Peoples stated that he will have the prices together by the next meeting. AMENDED ITEMS
1. (JP) Bridge over the Vic A. Pitre Dr. Canal at Avenue H
Mayor Peoples stated that he received a letter from Mitch Theriot at Jefferson Parish stating that
Marrero Land has consented to the removal of the bridge over the Vic A. Pitre Dr. Canal at Avenue
H.
A discussion followed.
2. (JP) Confirm Civil Service Board Member
Mayor Peoples asked the City Council to confirm Lonnie Taylor as the Fire Department appointed
member of the Civil Service Board.
MOVED, and seconded, by All Council Members, to confirm Lonnie Taylor as the Fire
Department appointed member of the Civil Service Board.
APPROVED. Yeas: Green, Nobles, Valence, Rivere, Thibodeaux
3. (JP) Louis Marrero Gym
Mayor Peoples reported that the manufacturer has denied the claim for the flooring at the gym due
to the adhesive and moisture. He stated that this is expected to delay the project another sixty
to ninety days.
A discussion followed.
ADJOURN
MOVED, and seconded, by All Council Members, to adjourn at 7:06 p.m. APPROVED. Yeas: Green,
Nobles, Valence, Rivere, Thibodeaux
Joe Peoples, Mayor Lisa Tapia, City Clerk
The Mayor and City Council of the City of Westwego will meet in Regular Session at 6:00 p.m.,
Monday, April 13, 2020, in the Council Room at City Hall, 1100 Fourth Street, Westwego, Louisiana.
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March 10, 2020