Overall the Feb. City Council Meeting was a relatively smooth meeting, with most items on the agenda passing smoothly with unanimous votes.
Given the recent decision by the Minden Planning Commission to allow Huffman Management to turn the property formerly known as Grace Estates into a Bed & Breakfast, the city of Minden wanted to go ahead and amend a part of their zoning ordinance.
The item of note would amend the city code of ordinances, adding descriptions and definitions that would pertain to House Occupations, i.e. residential properties that will also be used for commercial activities, such as the previously mentioned bed and breakfast.
After the item was motioned through, Councilman Terika Williams-Walker proposed a substitute motion to table the item until it could be further discussed during a workshop. Councilman Pam Bloxom of Dist. E asked why Walker wanted to table the agenda item.
Walker responded, “Cause I need clarity on some definitions in here. There’s kind of some gray area with boarding, lodging, and Bed and Breakfast. So just to get some more clarity.”
The substitute motion passed with three in favor, those being Councilmen Wayne Edwards of Dist. A, Terika Williams-Walker of Dist. B, and Vincen Bradford of Dist. C, and two opposed, those being Councilmen Micahel Roy of Dist. D and Pam Bloxom of Dist E.
Having been successfully tabled, the agenda item will be discussed by the council in a later workshop, date yet to be determined, and will likely appear on March’s City Council Agenda for another vote.
Other items of note included the adoption of the 2021 Webster Parish Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The resolution states that this plan “identifies mitigation goals and actions that would reduce or eliminate long term risk to people or property in the city of Minden from the impacts of future hazards and disasters.”
Another item unanimously passed allowed the Mayor to enter into a contract with The North Delta Regional Planning and Development District, tasking them with the responsibility of adapting the city’s districts. The ultimate decision to approve the districts as they’re presented by NDRPDD will still be with the council, who are scheduled to have a workshop to discuss the matter on Friday, Feb. 11.
The Minden City Council Meeting takes place on the first Monday of each month starting at 5:30 at Minden City Hall. The meetings are open for the public to attend and can also be viewed live at the city’s YouTube Channel City of Minden – Feels Like Home.
