Regular Meeting

May 03, 2018 

City Council Chamber

10 a.m., Council Chamber

NEW ORLEANS - At today's last regular meeting of the New Orleans City Council with its current membership, the Council approved the honorary renaming of Caffin Avenue as Antoine "Fats" Domino Drive, adopted a series of ordinances to appropriate funds from Intergovernmental Transfers to sponsor youth programming, and authorized the Mayor to enter into an agreement between the City and the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce (NORBCC) for the provision of financial resources for industry-specific programming for small and local businesses. Additionally, the Council welcomed special guest Mayor Mitch Landrieu for a special presentation thanking the current Council for their years of collaboration and service.

Caffin Avenue Renamed as Honorary Antoine "Fats" Domino Drive

Today, the Council welcomed family members of the legendary Fats Domino to honor the New musician's great life, legacy and impact on the City of New Orleans and the rest of the world. Andrea Domino Brimmer, Adonica Domino, Antoinette Domino Smith, Anola Domino Hartzog and other members of the Domino family gave a presentation and received a special proclamation from the Council prior to the adoption of a resolution to rename Caffin Avenue as Antoine "Fats" Domino Drive.

On April 19, the Council approved an amendment to the City Code to establish an honorary street naming process. Honorary street naming does not replace the official street name or require re-addressing of the street. It simply allows for a portion of a street to be renamed in commemoration of an exemplary citizen who meets certain criteria established by the Council.

As part of that new process, the newly renamed Antoine "Fats" Domino Drive will serve as a landmark for New Orleans residents and visitors alike to remember the true King of Rock and Roll, who passed away in October of 2017 at the age of 89.

Proposed Zoning Change for St. Claude Avenue Fails

The Council took up a matter today, which was deferred at the previous regular meeting on April 19, regarding a zoning change in District "C" for three lots located between 3014-3032 Saint Claude Avenue. The Council withdrew a corresponding Motion (M-18-162) regarding the request for a conditional use to permit a hotel (the Sun Yard) in the area, taking action on Zoning Docket No. 21/18 only. 

The zoning change to turn the HMR-3 Historic Marigny/Tremé/Bywater Residential District will into an HMC-2 Historic Marigny/Tremé/Bywater Commercial District, allowing for future commercial development, failed 3-2.

Site of the proposed zoning change at St. Claude Avenue and Montegut Street (Google Earth image)

Council Approves Resources for Small and Local Businesses

The Council approved an ordinance to authorize the Mayor to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the City and the NORBCC for the provision of financial resources for industry-specific programming for small and local businesses. The NORBCC offers a variety of programs designed to support disadvantaged businesses in New Orleans including networking opportunities, educational seminar series, business forums, and annual meetings.

This measure will allow the NORBCC to continue this important work and increase their economic impact. To learn more about the programming offered by the NORBCC, click here.

Council Approves Funding Ordinances to Support Youth Programming

The Council approved a series of ordinances to appropriate funds from Intergovernmental Transfers to sponsor youth programming in New Orleans. The Council authorized the transfer funds to the Office of Workforce Development to sponsor youth participants from Algiers through the NOLA YouthWorks Summer Employment Program, to provide scholarships to individuals participating in the Midnight Basketball Program and to provide additional workforce development services for New Orleans youth.