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NEW ORLEANS - On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, the Public Works Committee met to consider two contracts per Council Rule 57 and to discuss with representatives from the Department of Public Works the ongoing issue of streetlight outages throughout neighborhoods and along interstates.
Public Works Committee Recommends Two Professional Service Agreement Amendments for Approval
The Committee recommended for Council approval Amendment No. 10 to the Professional Services Agreement with HNTB Corporation for engineering design, construction administration, and resident inspection services for four public works projects. The amendment extends the contract for one year, through November 22, 2026, and reduces the contract amount by $99,053.65. The reduction in compensation is due to an expedited construction schedule for one of the projects, resulting in fewer days of resident inspection services than anticipated. All other terms of the agreement remain in effect for the roadway projects on Marconi Dr., Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., and Morrison Rd.
The Committee also recommended for Council approval Amendment No. 3 to the Professional Services Agreement with Legacy Professional Services, LLC, for streetlight system management. The amendment extends the original contract for 60 days, from July 22, 2025 through September 21, 2025. There was no change to any other terms of the contract, including the $5,768,640 contract amount.
Department of Public Works Provides Updates on Streetlight Outages
Rick Hathaway, Director of the Department of Public Works (DPW), updated the Committee on streetlight outages in neighborhoods and along interstates across the City, as well as the current state of DPW’s streetlight management contract. Hathaway explained that DPW lost funding for the streetlight management contract due to the reallocation of infrastructure funds to the Sewerage and Water Board. DPW will manage streetlights in-house for the time being, but plans to have its contractor, All Star Electric, resume handling routine maintenance and other repairs when funding is corrected. Currently, All Star Electric handles emergency repairs or requests as called in by the Police Department.
Committee members emphasized the importance of consistently completing daily maintenance tasks on time, including trimming grass, collecting trash, and repairing streetlights. Members highlighted that repairing malfunctioning streetlights is a top priority for ensuring the safety and comfort of constituents and suggested stronger communication between DPW and councilmembers who can then relay the status of street projects to the public.
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