Votes at a glance: council approves UDC amendment, infrastructure contracts and park grants

Hammond City Council members on April 28 approved or introduced a slate of routine ordinances, resolutions and contract awards affecting development rules, water and wastewater infrastructure and parks funding.

Key outcomes:
- Final adoption: Ordinance to amend the Unified Development Code (UDC) on applicability and minimum requirements was approved (motion passed; Councilman Wells abstained). Staff will include corrected attachment pages before filing the final ordinance.
- Introductions: Rezoning at 44590 Falcon Drive and a major subdivision at 47103 Conrad E Anderson were introduced and scheduled for public hearing at the next council meeting.
- Contract awards: The council ratified low bids for infrastructure work including Lawson Burnett Construction for FY2025 lift-station improvements (low bid $463,925) and Greenbrier Digging Service Inc. for FY2026 waterline upgrades ($322,980). Staff noted the low lift-station bid is local and subject to standard bonding and verification.
- Park and grant approvals: The council accepted a $251,774 Community Development Block Grant for Zumuri Park improvements, ratified a $14,816.82 quote for a fence around the Mooney Avenue Park splash pad (grant-funded), and approved a $5,000 Keep Louisiana Beautiful affiliate grant for recycling totes and education.

Most motions carried by recorded voice votes with the majority of council members voting aye and a small number of abstentions recorded in a few items. Council directed staff to include corrected report pages where needed, return proposed ordinances for public hearings as scheduled and proceed with contracting steps that include performance and payment bonds where appropriate.