Mayor and City Council — Gretna, LA
Date: 2025-08-29

THE CITY OF GRETNA
 MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING




 Gretna City Hall
 740 Second Street, Gretna, LA 70053
 Council Chambers, 2nd Floor

 August 13, 2025 - 5:30 PM
 AGENDA

 AGENDA ITEMS:

 1. Call to Order and Roll Call.

 2. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance.

 3. Opening Remarks by the Mayor.

 4. Appointments: (Council Approval)

 A. City Official.

 5. Presentations:

 A. Recognition of New Businesses:

 B. 2025 Summer Interns.

 6. CONSENT AGENDA:

 A. Approval of Meeting Minutes.

 1. July 9, 2025, Council Regular Meeting.
 2. July 18, 2025, Council Special Meeting.

 B. Approval of Alcoholic Beverage Outlet Permit Application:

 1. Issa Vibe Bar & Lounge, 1010 Friedrichs Street; Change of Ownership.
 Brent Tigler, Applicant (The Tigler Group, LLC)

 C. Approval of Resolutions by CONSENT:

 1. A resolution formalizing and authorizing Mayor Belinda C. Constant to enter into an
 agreement with Rostan Solutions for the 2025 Hurricane Post-Disaster Debris
 Monitoring Services proposal submitted through the 2025 Hurricane Season Post-

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance, please contact City Clerk's Office at (504) 227-7614
 Disaster Debris Monitoring Services request for proposals submitted.
 Requested: Administration Sponsor: Councilman Rau

 2. A resolution authorizing Mayor Belinda C. Constant to execute on behalf of the
 municipality the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Parish of Jefferson
 (PARISH), and the City of Gretna (CITY) to provide Elevation Certificate review/data
 management software system services through the HMGP Building Codes Project.
 Requested: Administration Sponsor: Councilman Hinyub

 7. Adoption of an Ordinance:

 A. An ordinance prohibiting any motorized vehicle and/or other motorized means of conveyance
 upon the Mississippi River Levee within the corporate limits of the City of Gretna, Louisiana,
 and further prohibiting the operation of any other means of conveyance upon the Mississippi
 River Levee in a careless and/or reckless manner, and for related matters. Requested:
 Administration Sponsor: Councilman Hinyub

 8. Monthly Reports:

 A. Police Department.

 B. City Engineer Status Report:

 (1) August 13, 2025, Report.

 C. Departmental Monthly Report:

 (1) Finance Department "Actual vs. Budget for Major Funds" report.
 (2) Building Department - Permits Issued.
 (3) Code Enforcement - Code Violations.
 (4) Historic District Commission (August 4, 2025 Meeting)
 (5) Planning & Zoning Commission (August 6, 2025 Meeting)
 (6) Planning and City Development Monthly Status Report.
 (7) Parks and Parkways Citywide Maintenance Report.

 D. Council District Monthly Report:

 (1) Council Members:

 - Wayne A. Rau, Councilman At Large
 - Rudy S. Smith, Councilman, District One
 - Michael A. Hinyub, Councilman, District Two
 - Mark K. Miller, Councilman, District Three
 - Randy S. Carr, Councilman, District Four

 9. Introductions of Ordinance(s):

 10. Citizens Addressing the Mayor and City Council.

 11. Other Matter(s).


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 12. Meeting Adjournment.
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City of Gretna
 Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting
 June 4, 2025 – 5:30 PM
 The Planning & Zoning Commission of the City of Gretna, Louisiana held the meeting scheduled
  for Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. at 740 Second Street, Gretna City Hall, Gretna, LA 70053.

 Notice for the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting was duly posted as law requires on the
  bulletin board, at Gretna City Hall main entrance, 740 Second Street, Gretna, Louisiana 70053.

  1. Call to Order and Roll Call:

 Roll call taken; Commission members present James Rolf, Rory Cadres, and Elizabeth Strohmeyer,
Lisa Carr Absent: William Tomasak

 Chairman, James Rolf was in the chair, and the City Clerk was present. A quorum of four members
  being present, Chairman Rolf, called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM.

 City Staff present: Norma Cruz, City Clerk; and Qudsiyyah Noorulhaqq, City Planner.
 
  2. Major Site Plan Review request: (Recommendation to Council)
 1. 853 Gretna Boulevard- Elliott J. Hano, Architect and Tommy Tran, Owner

 Miss Qudsiyyah Noorulhaqq, City Planner proceeded to provide the slide presentation and written staff
report on the existing zoning and land use and a zoning analysis.

 Criteria for Major Site Plan Approval (853 Gretna Blvd).

 (1) The proposed building, site development and uses are consistent with the Comprehensive Plan;

 (2) The proposed buildings are located and designed to comply with the applicable zoning district
 requirements in Article 3 and 4 of this UDC;

 (3) The proposed uses are consistent with the applicable zoning district requirements in Article 3 of this
 UDC, and any supplemental conditions in Article 5 of this UDC; and

 (4) The Planning Director has granted approval for any administrative relief pursuant to Sec. 58-86 and
 the Planning & Zoning Commission has granted approval for any variances pursuant to Sec. 58-65 that
 are required for UDC compliance.

 The following conditions were initially recommended by Staff for the Planning and Zoning
Commission consideration:

 1. A revised drawing showing a water meter and backflow preventer will be placed on Gretna
 Boulevard side of the property.

 2. A revised landscaping plan in accordance with Section 58-272 showing proposed sod islands along
 Huey P Long Avenue will be landscaped.

 3. A revised lighting plan with updated photometrics showing 0.5 footcandles or less at property line
 near residences.

 4. A litter abatement plan indicating days and times of trash pick-up, location of the trash disposal
 system and details of screening, including type, height and elevation of dumpster and fence.

 5. Indication on the plan showing this new construction will be 3’-0 above the crown of the street or
 BFE plus one foot of freeboard, whichever is highest.

 After the major site plan review staff report was released on May 30, 2025, with the initial
recommendations, the applicant submitted updated site plans. City Staff reviewed these updates, which
included a litter abatement plan, and an update landscaping plan.
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 P & Z Commission Meeting (June 4, 2025)

 The following conditions were recommended by Staff for the Planning and Zoning Commission’s
consideration:

 1. A revised drawing showing a water meter and backflow preventer will be placed on Gretna
 Boulevard side of the property.

 2. A revised landscaping plan in accordance with Section 58-272 showing proposed sod islands along
 Huey P Long Avenue will be landscaped.

 3. A revised lighting plan with updated photometrics showing 0.5 footcandles or less at property line
 near residences.

 4. Indication on the plan showing this new construction will be 3’-0 above the crown of the street or
 BFE plus one foot of freeboard, whichever is highest.

 -Chairman Rolf requested a motion made regarding the type of recommendation to be for the major
site plan review.

 -Member Lisa Carr offered a motion for approval of the conditions put forward by City Staff and
was seconded by Member Elizabeth Strohmeyer.

 Chairman Rolf opened the floor to public comment, and the following citizens spoke:

 Ms. Laura Friedman, a Gretna resident opposed due to the applicant’s restaurant violations, the
Smoker’s Porch being across from a high school, existing laundromats, concerns about water usage, unclear
hours, littering, and overflow parking, especially on Sundays.

 -Member Lisa Carr responded that the stated BMX traffic should not use the empty lot for parking,
mentioned fair competition, and suggested that overflow can be managed by using other laundromats. City
Planner explained regulations around laundromat hours and addressed water usage concerns. The applicant
agreed to remove the Smoker’s Porch.

 Ms. Geraldine Walker, a Gretna resident expressed concerns about people parking on her lot, Walmart
and Dollar General baskets and trash being left on her lot, and the presence of too many laundromats.

 -Chairman Rolf explained that new carts have a security system to prevent them from leaving the
store. He recommended reaching out to her Councilman or attending a Council meeting to address the cart
parking issue.

 Mr. David Frederick, a Gretna resident stated that another laundromat would lead to oversaturation
and attract homeless people to the area.

 -Chairman Rolf mentioned that the demographic issue is outside the Commission’s purview and
recommended bringing it up at the next Council meeting.

 -Chairman Rolf then closed the floor to public comment and the hearing, requesting a motion
regarding the recommendation for the major site plan review.

 The site plan review, is valid for one year otherwise an extension will be required if construction is
delayed.

 Member Lisa Carr said she would motion to approve with all recommendations by City Staff; and
suggested an additional recommendation to remove the “smoker’s porch” from the front of the building. The
conditions by City were as follows:

 1. A revised drawing must show that a water meter and backflow preventer will be placed on the
 Gretna Boulevard side of the property.
 2. A revised landscaping plan, in accordance with Section 58-272, must show proposed sod islands
 along Huey P Long Avenue will be landscaped.
 3. A revised lighting plan must include updated photometrics showing 0.5 footcandles or less at the
 property line near residences.
 4. The plan must indicate that the new construction will be 3'-0" above the crown of the street or BFE
 plus one foot of freeboard, whichever is higher, and must include the removal of the "Smokers
 Porch."


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 P & Z Commission Meeting (June 4, 2025)

 On an amended motion by Member Rory Cadres and seconded by Member James Rolf, IT WAS
RESOLVED to approve with the conditions as recommended by City Staff (listed above), along with the
additional recommendation by the Commission members, to remove the "Smokers Porch"; from front of the
building, for the property at 853 Gretna Blvd., Elliott J. Hano, Architect and Tommy Tran, Owner, the same
was favorable recommended to the City Council; and the same was approved by the following vote:

 Yeas: Members Rory Cadres, James Rolf, Lisa Carr and Elizabeth Strohmeyer
 Nays: None
 Absent: Member William Tomasak
 Abstain: None
 

4. Meeting Adjournment.

 There was no further business to conduct, and on a motion by Member Lisa Carr and seconded by
Member Elizabeth Strohmeyer, the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting for Wednesday, June 4, 2025,
adjourned at 6:07 PM, and the same was unanimously approved.

 Respectfully submitted,

 Amelia Pellegrin,
 Director, Planning and City Development




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