St. Bernard Parish · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Commercial variance for Arabi restaurant
Opelousas Chicken and Seafood sought to sidestep landscaping, parking count, parking-lot design, and dumpster-storage rules at 7606 W. Judge Perez in Arabi. Neighbors may care about how the site looks and how traffic and trash are handled on the corridor.
Fire Department Personnel Plan budget requirement
A proposed ordinance would require the Fire Department's Personnel Plan to appear in every budget at introduction and adoption, boosting transparency on fire staffing costs.
Release of reversion rights on seven residential parcels
The parish was scheduled to release its rights of reversion on seven properties it sold to R & A Roth Properties in 2021, clearing the buyers' title.
Special election to fill Sheriff vacancy
With Sheriff James Pohlmann retiring after 43 years, the council was scheduled to call a special election for April 17, 2027 to fill the rest of his term through June 30, 2028.
2027 Parish Operating and Capital Budget
The committee is set to begin discussing the ordinance that adopts next year's budget. It determines funding for roads, drainage, public safety and parish services in 2027.
Clerical Assistant to the Clerk of Council
A new part-time position is proposed to help the Clerk of Council with special projects, legislative research and record-keeping support.
Homestead exemption for essential emergency personnel
Essential Public Works emergency responders living in the parish were slated to be recognized as qualified First Responders, asking the Assessor to grant them an additional homestead exemption.
LSU cooperative extension agreement
A five-year agreement with the LSU Agricultural Center was scheduled to keep the cooperative extension program running in St. Bernard through June 2031.
Pickleball courts ordinance remains tabled
The plan to build public pickleball courts next to the parish library stayed on hold pending a Legislative Auditor opinion, as it has since October 20.
Parish employee pay scale and retirement leave changes
An amendment is proposed to the ordinance that sets the Clerk of Council's pay by formula under the parish Home Rule Charter.
Residential paving variance in Meraux
Scott Moity asked to exceed the 40% cap on paving in his required yard at 2209 Fable Street — typically about expanded driveways or parking pads. More paving can mean more stormwater runoff for the block.
October council meeting date change
The October 5 council meeting is now October 8 at 7 p.m. If you planned to attend or speak on the 5th, the date has shifted. Official notice will run in the St. Bernard Voice on October 2.
Hopedale Highway re-subdivision
Sections 30 and 20 along Hopedale Highway are being split into six lots plus a 70-foot drainage reservation. It passed without opposition.
Chalmette re-subdivision (Meraux Airport Tract)
A three-lot re-subdivision at 7900 W Judge Perez Drive clears the way for replatting land in the Meraux Airport Tract. It passed with no opposition.
Arabi food truck permit withdrawn from agenda
Heather Fandino's request to operate a food truck at 7301 W St Bernard Hwy was pulled from the agenda before the commission discussed it.
New borrow pit on rural parish land
A new borrow pit will be dug on land chosen specifically because it isn't wetlands, avoiding costly mitigation. The Robins say it's invisible from roads or waterways, surrounded by 8,000 acres they own with no neighbors.
Service station expansion at 2601 Paris Road
A Chalmette corner gas station will be rebuilt with roughly double the store space, moving the C-store to the Judge Perez side and keeping pumps on Paris Road. The rezoning recommendation now goes to the Parish Council.
Church drop-off awning on Palmisano Boulevard
A church will merge the vacant lot in front of it into its property so a covered drop-off awning can cross the lot line, with a parking lot redesign also planned.
NOEL grant for elderly/disabled home repairs
NOEL is seeking roughly $2 million in HUD grants to pay for home repairs, code fixes, and accessibility upgrades for elderly and disabled St. Bernard residents so they can age in place. The parish's only role is referring residents; the grant pays all contractors and administrators.
St. Bernard Parish Govt. v. Port NOLA litigation
A resident urged the council to fight the newly issued Corps of Engineers permit for the Port of New Orleans facility, saying it threatens property values, air quality, and the parish's future. Councilmembers are calling for executive sessions and possibly returning the parish's port legal work to the District Attorney.
Major road and utility capital projects
Capital projects are moving: water lines nearly wrapped, sewer work at River Bend, the 40 Arpent trail bridge in DOTD review, and the long-awaited Jean Lafitte and Jackson total reconstructions — which residents should brace for as major utility-and-road digs.
Sidewalk walkability audit on West Judge Perez
Keep St. Bernard Beautiful won one of only two Louisiana AARP grants ($2,500) to run walk audits this fall along West Judge Perez Drive between the hospital and the government complex, focusing on accessibility for seniors and people with disabilities.
Save Our Shrimpers Act support
The council backed a federal bill supporting the shrimping industry, a pillar of the local seafood economy, at the Louisiana Shrimp Association's request.
Parish housing market rebound
The quarterly report shows St. Bernard leading the metro area: prices up 8.4%, sales up 16%, new construction at 12% of sales, but a two-speed market with affordable homes selling in 21 days and rentals over $2,000 flying off the shelf while cheaper units sit.
Faster temporary housing after disasters
A new state GOHSEP program gets temporary housing units to displaced residents in a week or two instead of the slow FEMA process — the council formally joined it.
Port Terminal Development
St. Bernard Parish is getting a new Port of New Orleans terminal now that federal officials have cleared construction. It could mean jobs and economic activity, but also construction disruption and long-term changes for nearby neighborhoods and infrastructure.
Hammond vehicle operations facility at 3611 Pakenham Drive
A Chalmette property would shift from medium-density multifamily to general commercial for van storage and operations. A neighbor objects that concrete pouring without engineered stormwater retention could raise flood heights on her property and lower nearby home values.
Food truck operations in business districts
A new ordinance would let food trucks operate in commercial districts from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., sponsored by a Parish restaurant. Board members questioned whether 9 p.m. is too early for events like pool tournaments, and clarified 24-hour facilities like the refinery could host trucks outside the ordinance.
Higher fines for zoning violations
The maximum fine for breaking parish zoning rules would jump from $500 to $1,500, with the $100 minimum unchanged. Backers say the current fine is no deterrent given limited compliance staff.
Requiring written justification for site deficiencies
Applicants with deficient site plans would have to explain in writing why each deficiency exists. Supporters say it's free transparency since BZA requires it anyway; staff countered that demanding full plans early burdens small applicants.
Coastal strategy document update and $250,000 grant
The parish is updating its coastal project playbook with a $250,000 federal grant — adding roughly 60 projects and new funding sources like oil and gas lawsuit money and the fully funded Myslingo restoration plan. The plan has helped land about $1.3 billion in projects since 2016. Public comment comes next month; final council vote by year's end.
Atlantic Richfield oil spill litigation
The parish's decade-old oil spill lawsuit against Atlantic Richfield and other companies was discussed in closed session with legal counsel. Any strategy, settlement posture or valuation stays confidential for now.
Event rental facility rate changes
A newly introduced ordinance would update rental rates for parish event facilities, including a drop in the Val Riess sno-ball stand fee from $500 to $300. It still needs a hearing and final vote.
Correction of May 5 meeting minutes
The council fixed its official record from May 5, where Cusimano's votes were misrecorded because McCloskey was accidentally listed as voting twice — a reminder that minutes matter for accountability.
Surplus electronics recycling
The parish can now recycle its old electronic devices rather than discarding them, a small environmental and disposal-cost measure.
Roadside live crab stand conditional use permit
Christie and Bobby Lovell received final approval for a conditional use permit to run a roadside live crab stand on East St. Bernard Highway, a small business addition in St. Bernard.
2026 Oyster Festival at Sigur Civic Center
The Nasty Boyz LLC can now hold the 2026 Oyster Festival in the Sigur Civic Center parking lot under an agreement with the parish, bringing a popular community event back to Chalmette.
Hurricane season preparedness
The Southeast Flood Protection Authority – East briefed the council on readiness for the upcoming hurricane season, a key concern in a parish defined by its levees and flood defenses.
Library Board appointment
Erin Johnston joined the St. Bernard Parish Library Board, filling a seat with a term through January 2031.