City Council seeks to ban parking in front and side yards in Bossier City
Plus — Charter Commission brings revisions, including term limits, up for Bossier City Council vote.
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Councilmember Hammons seeks to ban parking in front and side yards in Bossier City
South Bossier's District 1 Councilmember Brian Hammons wants to break a Bossier City "nuisance:" Residents parking vehicles in their yards.
He is looking to institute a city-wide ban on it.
Hammons' ordinance says the City continues to "find ways to combat against blight and other nuisances within the city limits."
"The parking of all vehicles upon the front yard, lawn, or side street yard of a corner lot can block sidewalks forcing pedestrian traffic into the street creating a hazard and endangering the public," the ordinance reads. "Additionally, the parking of vehicles in such a manner impairs the landscape and the visibility of the public."
The ordinance seeks to "provide for the safety, health, and welfare of the public by reducing the number of vehicles parked in areas other than those parked in permitted garages, permitted carports, or on permitted paved driveways or surfaces."
The proposed law defines the front and side lawns as beginning at the eave of the house or residence. It also prohibits any vehicle obstructing a sidewalk.
Any person violating the proposed ordinance would be fined up to $250 for each offense. Each vehicle parked in violation of this section would be considered a separate offense, and each day a vehicle is parked in violation would be considered a continuing and separate offense.
The matter will be introduced to the council at Tuesday's meeting. The council will have to vote twice on the ordinance. The final vote will be held at the council's meeting on October 8.
Charter Commission brings revisions, including term limits, up for Bossier City Council vote
While putting term limits on the voting ballot, based on a petition circulated by the Bossier Term Limits Coalition, is held up in court — the Bossier City Charter Commission will bring its version of term limits before the City Council Tuesday.
There are important differences in the proposed term limits between the two:
Term limits with retroactivity: The Coalition's petition seeks to limit the Mayor and City Council to three-term limits with retroactivity. The time in office for anyone elected before January 1, 2024, would be counted. This would mean that four current council members could not run for reelection: Jeffery Darby, Jeff Free, David Montgomery, and Don Williams.
Term limits without retroactivity and with reelection possible after breaks in service: The Charter Commission's version of term limits would have the same three-term limit without retroactivity. The clock on term limits would begin on January 1, 2025, allowing a former elected official to run again after "a break in service."
The Charter Commission also proposes that the two At-Large council member seats be designated as "A" and "B" with candidates specifying which division they are running for.
The 52-page document revising the Bossier City Charter addresses other changes to the City's "constitution."
At Tuesday's meeting, the City Council will have a first-and-final vote on the resolution to bring the Charter changes to a public vote.
In the meantime, councilmembers Darby, Free, Maggio, Montgomery, and Williams filed an appeal against a judge's ruling to put the Coalition's term limits petition on the ballot in December. That appeal is still pending.
South Bossier Parish bridge closure
Beginning today, Monday, September 23, 2024, the LA 527 bridge over Flat River in south Bossier Parish will be closed for necessary pile repair. This closure is scheduled to continue through Thursday, September 26, 2024.
This bridge is located approximately a half mile east of the intersection with Highway 71 near the community of Taylortown.
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Re: term limits
My councilman is Don Williams. Yes, he has been a councilman for years, and thank goodness he has. He understands the workings of the city, knows the city inside and out. District 9 constituents have enough sense to vote out someone that is no longer doing his/her job. We do not need term limits, where every two years we have to have someone new and needs to learn “the ropes”. I think the other district’s constituents will agree.
Mr. Hammons,
I am 68 years old, on oxygen full time, and have a debilitating back injury. I back my car up to my side porch after I go to the store, so that I can unload my car on the porch. Sometimes I am so exhausted that I am not able to move my vehicle for days. My car is left sitting halfway on driveway and halfway on the grass. To be fined 250$ for leaving my car parked in my driveway on my property is insane. We are retired blue collar workers on a fixed income. I don’t have an extra 250$. I can barely buy groceries now. I do understand the reason for your concern and proposed law, but it needs refining. Working running licensed automobiles should be excluded from this law. Yes, autos that are stored, not running, being worked on, rusted, eye nuisances, have tarps on them, etc. I could see this proposal being helpful to keep the neighborhoods from looking like the streets of Harlem New York. I would love a chance to speak with you in person. I have contacted my councilman Don Williams about my concerns. Who is the city going to pay to enforce this law? I know there is a property standards division of the city. What will the city do if the person can not pay the city fine? Take them to court? Arrest them? Put them in jail, see? This law of yours does not make any sense at all. Please reconsider your content of this proposed law.
Karen Mullins (retired RN)
318-200-8330