?CITY COUNCIL
January 18, 2022
DeQuincy, LA
The City Council of the City of DeQuincy met in special session on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at 5:00 p.m., at the DeQuincy City Hall, 300 N. Holly Street, DeQuincy, Louisiana, with the following members present: Denise Maddox, Judy Landry, Ronda Jacobs and Mark Peloquin. Absent: None
The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Denise Maddox and the roll was called with the above result.
Public Comment
Vance Perkins – 902 Overton – Mr. Perkins stated he is in favor of the city possibly leasing the baseball complex to the DeQuincy Recreation Board and he hopes this does happen. He also stated he is against the proposed mobile home ordinance amendment. Mr. Perkins feels like, with the current housing shortage, this is not a good time to be regulating housing. He also has a general dislike of government regulations. Although he understands what the council is trying to accomplish, he does not feel like more regulations by government entities will take care of the declining property in DeQuincy.
Bridget Payne, 207 Washington – Ms. Payne asked if there has been any research done to see if there is any type of assistance, (i.e. grants, etc.) to help with housing in DeQuincy. Mayor Smith stated he was not aware of any grants available for repairing or building homes but he has been reaching out to developers trying to get them to consider DeQuincy for development. He has had a couple that were interested but they have not been able to coordinate a meeting as of this date.
Jason Parker, 305 W. Harrison – Mr. Parker asked the council if they had any statistics regarding mobile homes bring down property values. He mentioned when he put his new mobile home on his property, it increased his property value. He also mentioned, again, that the term house trailer is no longer used. They are modular homes or manufactured homes. Mr. Parker also stated he feels like the council is handicapping any young people possibly wanting to move into DeQuincy that can’t afford to purchase a new home and would rather purchase a mobile home instead.Lastly, Mr. Parker mentioned his approval of the possible lease of the baseball complex to the DeQuincy Recreation Board.
Joshua Trash, 210 LeBlanc – Mr. Thrash mentioned not everyone can start out in a home. All they can afford is a mobile home so he also opposed the mobile home ordinance amendment.
A public hearing was held regarding the proposed City Council Redistricting Plan. Cade Cole spoke explaining the reason for the redistricting. There was no other public comment.
A motion was made by Mark Peloquin and seconded by Judy Landry to adopt the ordinance on the City Council Redistricting Plan. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Denise Maddox, Mark Peloquin and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: Daisy Cole and Mark Peloquin. Abstain: None.
A public hearing was held regarding the mobile home ordinance amending Section 6(A)(2) to read, Districts 1,2,3 and 4 will no longer have mobile homes permitted except in already established mobile home parks.
Mark Peloquin explained there was a mobile home ordinance committee formed which consisted of two (2) council members and a citizen from each of the council districts, one of which lived in a mobile home. All agreed on the amendment. Mr. Peloquin stressed the council wants to work with their constituents if they are wanting to put a mobile home on their property but they will now need to go through avariance process before a permit is given. The variance procedure was already a part of the mobile home ordinance. What the council is trying to prevent is the property owners that want to put a mobile home on all of their property, to be rented out and then not maintain the property or mobile home.
Denise Maddox stated this ordinance has been visited many times over the years and there have been many revisions trying to get an ordinance that will work for everyone. She went on to explain some of the changes that had been made throughout the years.
Jason Parker asked that the wording of the amendment be changed to include the verbiage about a variance. Again it was explained that this verbiage is already in the ordinance.
Bridget Payne asked if the ordinance stated you had to own the property, own the mobile home and live in the mobile. Mrs. Maddox stated that was what is read now but if this amendment passed, it would read no more mobile homes permitted.
There was no further public input and the hearing was closed.
A motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Mark Peloquin to adopt an ordinance amending the mobile home ordinance amending Section 6(A)(2) to read, Districts 1,2,3 and 4 will no longer have mobile homes permitted except in already established mobile home parks. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Denise Maddox, Mark Peloquin and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: Judy Landry. Absent: Daisy Cole. Abstain: None.
A motion was made Mark Peloquin and seconded by Ronda Jacobs to authorize Mayor Smith to sign any documents necessary to lease the baseball complex, located on Velmer Street, to the Calcasieu Parish Ward Six Recreation Board. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Denise Maddox, Mark Peloquin, Judy Landry and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: Daisy Cole. Abstain: None.
There being no further business to discuss, a motion was made by Ronda Jacobs
and seconded Judy Landry to adjourn the meeting.
ATTEST:
/s/Pat Brummett
City Council Clerk
APPROVED:
/s/Riley Smith
Mayor
COUNCIL CHAIRMAN:
/s/Denise Maddox
Run: Feb. 16,2022 (F-4)
