Houma Restoration District public meetings in 2023

Houma Restoration District

The board will review the 2023 amended budget and the 2024 budget for approval. Commissioners will also receive a presentation on the Complete Street Plan and discuss the development of a district website.

• 2023 Amended Budget and 2024 Budget approval
• Complete Street Plan presentation by Chris Pulaski
• Sponsorship application for Rotary Plaza Sound System
• Discussion on Act 393 changes to Open Meetings Law
• Updates on Bayou Walk Lighting Project and District Parking Meters

Houma Restoration District

The Houma Restoration District Commissioners will meet to review an amended budget and discuss several infrastructure and maintenance projects. The board will also address updates on zoning overlays and downtown safety.

• Amended Budget
• Government St. Road Diet
• Rotary Plaza video and audio quote
• Illuminating Bayou Terrebonne boardwalk and pedestrian bridge
• HRDC Zoning Overlay

The board approved the prior meeting's minutes and the current financial report. Commissioners authorized the Chairman to coordinate with Duplantis Design Group for lighting on the boardwalk and pedestrian bridges. Several downtown restoration and zoning projects were discussed for future action.

• Approved minutes of the prior meeting
• Approved financial report as presented
• Approved motion to allow N. Lirette to contact DDG to coordinate lighting for boardwalk and pedestrian bridges

Houma Restoration District

The Houma Restoration District Commissioners will meet to approve a CEA State Agreement and discuss downtown maintenance and safety. The board will also review proposals for lighting the Bayou Terrebonne boardwalk and pedestrian bridge.

• CEA State Agreement Approval
• Parking meter removals
• Letter of support for Whitney Bank Building purchase
• Illuminating Bayou Terrebonne boardwalk and pedestrian bridge
• HRDC Zoning Overlay update

Houma Restoration District

The Board denied a grant application for the Downtown Live After 5 music series, citing that grant funds should be used for larger capital projects. The Board approved the execution of a CEA with the State of Louisiana and expressed support for the TPCG's purchase of the Whitney Bank Building.

• Approved prior meeting minutes
• Approved financial report
• Authorized execution of CEA with the State of Louisiana for Act 397
• Approved support for TPCG's intention to purchase the Whitney Bank Building
• Denied $16,250 application from DBA and HDDC for Downtown Live After 5

Houma Restoration District

The Houma Restoration District Commissioners will discuss and decide on several items including the re-appointment of Commissioner Nick Hebert, board officer elections, and a zoning overlay. Other topics include downtown safety, maintenance work, and a sponsorship application for holiday decorations.

• HRD Commissioners’ Nick Hebert’s re-appointment
• HRDC Zoning Overlay
• Leadership Christmas Decoration Sponsorship Application
• Downtown Safety discussion
• Non-Profit District Maintenance Work

The board approved a $5,000 grant for the Leadership Terrebonne Alumni Association and authorized a non-profit maintenance contract. Members discussed a draft overlay district ordinance to register and incentivize the restoration of vacant buildings.

• Approved minutes of the prior meeting
• Approved financial report
• Approved current officers to continue serving for another year
• Approved $5,000 grant for Leadership Terrebonne Alumni Association Christmas Decorations
• Approved execution of non-profit maintenance work contract

Houma Restoration District

The Commissioners' Board will review several items regarding downtown business development, including Christmas holiday planning. The meeting includes discussions on the District Streetscape Plan, IGA funding for Bayou Walk, and various property-related matters.

• Leadership Terrebonne: Decorating Downtown Houma and Bicentennial Plaza Business Development Plan
• District Streetscape Plan
• Recorded IGA Funding for Bayou Walk
• Non-Profit District Maintenance Work
• Sponsorship Program and Application

The board approved a new sponsorship program and application for downtown projects. It also authorized spending up to $5,000 for environmental testing at the Landry Building. A request for $5,000 for 'Candy Cane Lane' decorations was deferred pending a formal grant application.

• Approved the Sponsorship Program and Application (Motion carried)
• Authorized up to $5,000 for certified testing at the Landry Building (Motion carried)
• Approved prior meeting minutes (Motion carried)
• Approved financial report as presented (Motion carried)

Houma Restoration District

The Houma Restoration District Commissioners will consider approving an intergovernmental agreement for Boardwalk funding and discuss establishing a small business incubator in the Whitney Bank building. The board will also hear public comments and a CSRS presentation, and address old business items including downtown safety, non-profit district maintenance, and the Landry Furniture Building.

• Boardwalk Funding IGA approval
• Establishing a small business incubator in Whitney Bank's building
• Downtown Safety
• Non-Profit District Maintenance Work
• Landry Furniture Building

Houma Restoration District

The Commissioners’ Board will meet to approve the budget and discuss a professional services proposal from A & S Bayou Financial Services. The board will also consider a resolution to seek an Ethics Board opinion regarding non-profit CEA interactions.

• Budget approval
• A & S Bayou Financial Services professional services proposal
• Resolution regarding Ethics Board opinion on non-profit CEA interactions
• Landry Furniture Building update
• Sponsorship Program and Application

The board approved the calendar year budget and hired A & S Bayou Financial Services for $700 monthly. Members also authorized the drafting of an IGA contract for boardwalk repairs and a request for a formal ethics board opinion.

• Approved calendar year budget
• Approved hiring A & S Financial Services at $700.00 monthly
• Approved M. Neil to draft an IGA contract for boardwalk repairs
• Approved M. Neil to obtain a formal governmental ethics board opinion
• Approved May meeting minutes
• Approved May special meeting minutes

Houma Restoration District

The board discussed maintenance needs for the bayou boardwalk and damaged wooden poles. Members conducted a walkthrough assessment to compile a list of downtown projects requiring attention.

• Conducted downtown walkthrough assessment to identify projects needing attention

Houma Restoration District

The Commissioners' Board will review CEA goals and performance measures. The agenda includes discussions regarding a potential jewelry sign refurbishment and updates on several ongoing projects.

• CEA goals & performance measures review
• Weyl’s Jewelry sign refurbishment & erection discussion
• Opelousas’ Ordinance discussion
• Downtown Safety update
• Landry Furniture Building update

The board established a special committee to draft a downtown ordinance based on the Opelousas model. It also authorized a Phase 1 Environmental Study for the Landry Furniture building and approved the opening of a B1 Bank account.

• Approved formation of special committee to draft downtown ordinance
• Authorized Jules Hebert to start Phase 1 Environmental Study with Earl Eues
• Approved opening an account with B1 Bank
• Approved Nick Hebert to process all outstanding bills
• Approved April meeting minutes
• Approved April special meeting minutes

Houma Restoration District

The Houma Restoration District Commissioners' board is holding a special meeting to establish a bank account. The agenda includes routine procedural items such as call to order, invocation, pledge, and roll call.

• Establish bank account

The board reviewed bank proposals from B1 Bank, Synergy Bank, and South Louisiana Bank. Following a recommendation from N. Hebert, the board voted to establish B1 Bank as its financial institute.

• Approved B1 Bank as the board’s financial institute

Houma Restoration District

The Houma Restoration District Commissioners will discuss and potentially authorize retaining Hebert and Marceaux, LLC as special legal counsel to negotiate the purchase of the Old Landry Furniture property from Gary Landry. The board will also receive a presentation on the CSRS Main Street Corridor Master Plan and consider a Downtown Safety item.

• Authorize retaining Hebert and Marceaux, LLC as special legal counsel for Landry property acquisition
• Approve agreement for special legal representation and retain abstractor, surveyor, appraiser for property purchase from Gary Landry
• CSRS Main Street Corridor Master Plan Draft Presentation
• Downtown Safety discussion under Old Business

The commission approved a motion to allow Jules Hebert to engage the owner of Landry’s Furniture Store regarding a potential sale. The board also approved the minutes from two previous meetings.

• Approved motion to allow Jules Hebert to speak with owner Gary Landry to negotiate the sale of Landry’s Furniture Store (Passed)
• Approved March 21 special meeting minutes (Passed)
• Approved March 7 regular meeting minutes (Passed)

Houma Restoration District

The Commissioners’ Board will meet to discuss development grants for property owners and the White Star Cleaner building. The board will also review downtown safety and an introduction letter for district property owners.

• Development grants for property owners
• White Star Cleaner building
• Downtown safety
• Introduction letter to restoration district property owners

The Houma Restoration District approved a resolution to seek state funding for alternative truck routes downtown. The meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m. and adjourned at 1:15 p.m.

• Approved resolution to apply for state funding for alternative truck routes downtown (unanimous)

Houma Restoration District

The Commissioners’ Board is meeting to discuss development grants for property owners and the White Star Cleaner building. The board will also review downtown safety and an introduction letter for district property owners.

• Development grants for property owners
• White Star Cleaner building
• Downtown safety
• Introduction letter to restoration district property owners

The board approved the previous meeting minutes. Members discussed downtown safety, a potential grant program for the White Start Cleaner building, and a presentation on housing programs for people experiencing homelessness.

• Approved meeting minutes

Houma Restoration District

The Houma Restoration District board will hear public comments on nuisance abatement and a restoration overlay zoning district, and discuss transient housing/homelessness. No votes on these items are listed on the agenda.

• Public hearing: nuisance abatement (Jason Bergeron, Downtown Business Association)
• Public hearing: restoration overlay zoning district (Chris Pulaski, TPCG)
• Discussion: transient housing/homelessness

The board approved a resolution authorizing the chairperson to sign and submit a CEA agreement for state funding. The meeting also included presentations on nuisance ordinances, overlay zoning, and downtown homelessness issues.

• Approved January meeting minutes
• Adopted board resolution for chairperson to sign/submit CEA agreement for state funding
• Approved Resolution No. 2023-001 giving N. Lirette authority to sign

Houma Restoration District

The Commissioners’ Board will meet to hear a presentation on an economic development collaboration with Nicholls University. The board will also receive an update on the State Funding CEA Agreement.

• Nicholls University Economic Development Collaboration presentation
• State Funding CEA Agreement update
• Law Office of Michelle Lyons Neil Invoice Draft

The board approved the minutes from the December meeting. Members received a presentation on the Bayou Region Business Incubator and discussed downtown security and kayak launch research.

• Approved December meeting minutes with corrections