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

MN-2020-03-09-RS                                            Page 1 of 4                             
                     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.

MN-2020-03-09-RS                                            Page 2 of 4                             
                     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.

MN-2020-03-09-RS                                            Page 3 of 4                             
                     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.

MN-2020-03-09-RS                                            Page 4 of 4                             
                     March 10, 2020