One major stumping block for Lafayette is the state has no money dedicated to our roads needs. Short term considerations should be to look at intersection improvements, interconnecting of streets and look at the flow patterns of incoming traffic from outlying areas as to how they may be redirected. Long range, comprehensive planning of the high traffic volume and future growth areas to work with the roadway projects already planned. The Johnston St. redesign is meant to be a very long range project, that will impact many businesses and properties, and should be thoroughly thought out and planned. I am in favor of the project, because it is a major and integral part of the business done in Lafayette. Public transportation is a service as our city grows that will be needed more than ever and will have to be expanded in the future.

One of the most overlooked issues concerning traffic congestion is the maintenance of the existing infrastructure. The proper management of our current roadways would greatly improve the flow of traffic, most importantly major thoroughfares or corridors like the I-49 Hurricane Evacuation Route.

Technology can’t be overlooked as progressive cities have implemented successful traffic calming programs. Some components of the Johnston St redesign are appealing but traffic flow, congestion, and access to businesses must be considered. My vision is to have the power lines buried and signs brought to a more attractive level.

I will support the funding of LINC for our parish. Smart Growth to me is utilizing the available property to its full potential. Neighborhood integrity, density, infill, mixed uses are all part of Smart Growth and is not a one way solution but a guide to solve some of the issues with planned growth patterns. Infill is a great idea to alleviate our blighted areas. We have many large tracts of blighted properties, with the I-49 expansion we could move small neighborhoods as a whole to keep them together and resurrect our worse areas to viable neighborhoods again.

RS 33:134 requires that funds, equipment, and accommodations necessary for a regional planning commission’s work be provided and since the Lafayette Planning Commission recently adopted the LINC recommendations this is a must. Government should partner with businesses and builders to provide owner-occupied options to instill a sense of neighborhood pride in its residents. Smart growth is an idea that will work well with the LINC recommendations.

Lafayette has employed a policy of retention and detention for drainage plans submitted by developers for new project developments; and with the new Flood Base Elevation Maps from the Corps of Engineers coming out soon, our residents will be assured that flooding should not be a problem for them. Servitudes and right of way approvals for drainage improvements many times prevent drainage projects from being accomplished is also a concern. Impact fees applied to developers is another fee that is passed on to the consumer unjustly. The only time I would be in favor of an impact fee is if a very large development would gravely affect traffic patterns or place an undue burden on the utility infrastructure.

Like our streets all existing drainage should have regular maintenance based on their natural capacity and design along with enforcement of existing drainage ordinances and further study of the impact of new construction on the natural absorption ability of the land. With new development comes increased revenue for Government based on the increased property valuation but this increase should be identified and channeled toward projected infrastructure stresses. Impact fees like other fees will be passed down to property owners the same way increases in material costs directly increase building costs.

Creating additional parks is just one way we could soften the blighted areas of the city, not necessarily completely functional parks but green space areas where city lots are  not very large would give children alternate places to gather and play in their neighborhoods. The UL horse farm is a green jewel in the center of our city, and would make a wonderful people park. This area could be used for the benefit of all residents, made to offer different and exciting new venues not regularly found in this vicinity. Waste site clean-ups are very costly and should be cautiously approached for there is in place guidelines as to who is responsible for the clean-up of the site.

Consider that if the population of Lafayette Parish doubles in the next century we need a plan for increasing parks and greens spaces annually to keep up with the demand. As a former Captain on the Lafayette Fire Department Hazardous Waste Response Team I am acutely aware of the importance of the proper removal of hazardous waste to prevent public exposure. The UL-Lafayette Horse Farms location and size would make a wonderful park for all to enjoy.

Lafayette Consolidated Government has just completed a comprehensive disaster plan that can be implemented when a disaster arises. All problems incurred in the last two hurricanes were addressed and will be implemented for the safety of our citizens. Communication, staging of utilities agencies, support personnel, debris removal companies, emergency support agencies and waste sites are all in place. The Cajundome has been approved as an emergency facility for elderly, medically needy and bed bound residents during hurricanes and an evacuation facility after the disaster.

Planning is essential to the effective handling of any disaster whether natural or man-made. Shelter-in-place is the terminology when a physical evacuation is not practical but basic governmental services should be maintained throughout to maintain order and relative safety. Fire & Police, LUS, and public assembly facilities used as shelters should be fully staffed during any disaster.

I have been actively pursuing the need of a medical facility for the northern part of the parish and will continue to do so until we have one in place.

The attempt to rename Willow was at best a lesson in compromise, what we ended up compromising on was the same compromise that was offered a year earlier. What the residents wanted was not to change the name of their street and all that goes with that, also giving due to Dr. King and this was accomplished. Grandstanding and all the controversial rhetoric put our city in an unwarranted bad light to the surrounding areas.

Our Lady of Lourdes is looking at some land north of Gloria Switch to build a medical facility but economics ultimately drive the development of such facilities. North Lafayette Parish is poised for explosive growth which will bring greater infrastructure just as it did to the South.

Whenever a street name is proposed to be changed, the property owners are usually polled to determine their feelings. In this case the residents on the original MLK were never formally consulted but informally they were not happy about losing their distinction and thereby causing expense for both sets of residents.

The lesson I would take forward during my tenure on the council is this statement; Abraham Lincoln said, “Trust the People” so whenever possible let them decide.