NEW ORLEANS, LA - On Wednesday, July 22, 2026, the Governmental Affairs Committee convened to consider several board and commission appointments, as well as to discuss an ordinance and an amendment to said ordinance regarding changes and reforms to safety regulations surrounding Carnival Season.
Appointments for Boards and Commissions
The committee discussed and voted on several Board and Commission appointments. The committee favorably recommended Damien LeBeouf and Michael Kerrigan for the Delgado Albania Plantation Commission, and favorably recommended Charley Richard for reappointment to the Commission. The committee also favorably recommended Calvin Lawrence to the Industrial Development Board.
Next, the committee favorably recommended Andrew Ryan and Nicholas Nesbit for the Fairgrounds Citizen Advisory Committee, and favorably recommended Micah Loewenthal to the French Quarter Management District.
The committee favorably recommended Craig Mitchell and Nissan Pate to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, and favorably recommended Mollie Ponds for reappointment to the Board. The committee also favorably recommended Edwin Murray to the Downtown Development District, Kevin Kimbrough, Sr. to the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORDC), and Anthony Jackson to the City Planning Commission.
Discussion and Votes on Amendments to Chapter 34 of City Code
The committee discussed Ordinance No. 35,491, which would amend and reordain sections of Chapter 34 of the City Code to strengthen Carnival safety, improve parade operations, and enhance enforcement. The ordinance would require all float riders to wear safety harnesses and keep both feet on the float, establish new limits and approval requirements for parade throws, allow approved branded food and small personal items, prohibit smoking, glass containers, and dispensing alcohol from floats, and update operational rules for marching bands, support vehicles, and car clubs to reduce parade delays.
The proposal also increases civil fines for Chapter 34 violations and makes violations of certain public safety provisions, including prohibited ladders, tents, grills, and similar obstructions, misdemeanor criminal offenses.
Additionally, the committee discussed an Amendment to Ordinance No. 35,491, which would allow the throwing of branded personal items from parade floats during the Carnival Season.
The Ordinance as amended will appear on the agenda during the July 23 City Council Regular Meeting, where the full Council will vote on it.
To see an overview of the Ch. 34 Legislative Changes, click here.
Carnival Season Changes from NOPD
The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) presented proposed changes for the 2027 Mardi Gras season aimed at improving public safety, parade operations, and officer staffing. The department cited challenges during the 2026 Carnival season caused by overlapping parade routes, late-night schedules, and limited turnaround time for officers, which increased overtime costs and the risk of fatigue.
To address these issues, NOPD is proposing adjustments to the Sparta and D'État parade formation routes, expanded no-parking enforcement in parade formation areas beginning four hours before parade start times, and several schedule changes for certain parades. Under the proposal, Druids would begin at 5:00 p.m., D'État would move ahead of Hermes with a 5:30 p.m. start, Hermes would roll at 6:00 p.m., Morpheus would follow Hermes, and Tucks would begin at 1:00 p.m.
These changes are intended to improve parade flow, simplify police deployments, and reduce operational strain during Carnival.
To view the full presentation, click here.
To view the meeting agenda, click here.
To view the full meeting, click here.