Port Allen, La. — The Port Allen City Council will take up a full agenda tonight, including a vote on the proposed ordinance that would preserve the city marshal's law enforcement authority under a new state law.

The regular council meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. today, August 12, at City Council Chamber, 375 Court Street, Third Floor. All seven agenda items moved forward from committee discussions on July 30.

Marshal ordinance

The council will consider introducing an ordinance formally authorizing City Marshal Sonny Massey's office to continue exercising law enforcement powers in Ward 3 in the Port Allen City Limits.

House Bill 1038, signed into law on June 9, requires marshals serving populations of 40,000 or less to get approval from their local governing authority to conduct traffic stops, make arrests, and exercise general law enforcement authority. Without that approval, marshals will be limited to courtroom functions beginning January 1, 2027.

Massey presented the proposed ordinance to the Public Safety Committee on July 30. Councilwoman Charlene Gordon raised questions about the marshal's ticket-writing program during that discussion.

A revised version of the ordinance is expected. Massey said a provision requiring a two-thirds vote to amend the ordinance will be removed.

Full story: Port Allen Marshal's Future in Council's Hands

New school resource officer

Chief Donovan Mitchell is asking the council to approve the hiring of Barnell Williams at Step Grade 112/B as a school resource officer.

Mitchell told the Personnel Committee on July 30 that Williams is POST-certified and already certified as a school resource officer. Williams previously worked in Port Allen and is originally from Rhode Island.

The hire would fill Slot 20 on the department's roster. Mitchell said if the position is not filled, it would revert to the West Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office.

Executive session on officer discipline

The council will consider entering executive session to discuss Chief Mitchell's recommendation on the professional competence and disciplinary action of a police officer. Executive sessions are closed to the public under La. R.S. 42:17(A)(1). No details on the officer or the matter have been disclosed.

Motorcycle for traffic division

The council will vote on purchasing a 2018 or 2019 Harley-Davidson motorcycle from the Addis Police Department for $10,000 to begin a traffic division.

Mitchell told the Finance Committee on July 30 that the bike comes fully equipped with lights, sirens, radio, radar, and a helmet with dispatch communications. He estimated the equipment alone is worth $25,000 to $30,000. The purchase fits within the current budget, offset by savings from not purchasing new radios.

Mitchell said an officer would still need to complete POST motorcycle certification before riding. He identified the traffic division as a tool for enforcement on LA-1, the Intracoastal, and for parades, funeral escorts, and community events.

Other business

The council will also consider the condemnation of a property at 451 Harry Brown Street, hear a condemnation report from Mayor Terecita Pattan, and take up alcoholic beverage permits.

From the July 30 committees

Several topics were discussed at the July 30 committee meetings that are not on Wednesday's agenda but are expected to move forward in the coming weeks.

Sewer project moving forward. Tony Arikol, the city's sewer engineer with PEC/Forte & Tablada, told the Public Works Committee that the state approved the award for the FY 2025 LCDBG Sewer System Rehabilitation and Improvements Project. A pre-construction conference is scheduled for August 12. Crews will begin with pipe inspections and smoke testing. Residents will receive flyers on their doors before work begins in their area. Councilwoman Adrian Joseph thanked Arikol for responding to a major sewer issue the previous Saturday.

Food truck ordinance in the works. CAO Philip Mason told the Community Development Committee that the city's current ordinances do not specifically address food trucks. The only regulation on the books is a peddler's license. Mason said there are no zoning restrictions that would prevent a food truck from setting up anywhere in the city limits. He pointed to Ascension Parish and Gonzales as models for a new ordinance. A rough draft is being prepared. The discussion included concerns about a stationary food truck on LA-1 and whether grease was being properly disposed of. City staff said health inspections and insurance requirements need to be part of any new rules. The committee discussed the difference between event vendors and permanent food truck operations.

Blight enforcement. Mayor Pattan and Chief Mitchell presented a lengthy list of nuisance and blight violations to the Public Safety Committee, including high grass, abandoned vehicles, and properties in disrepair. A recurring issue involves properties purchased at sheriff's sale where the buyer holds only a tax title and refuses to maintain the property. City Attorney Casey Hollins explained that tax title does not convey full ownership, and the city's practice is to notify both the original owner and the tax title holder before sending a contractor. The mayor and council discussed revamping the city's blight ordinances and possibly including notices in water bills to reach all residents.

LOVE initiative. Mason presented the mayor's L.O.V.E. (Let Our Vision Expand) Community Engagement and Economic Promotion Initiative to the Community Development Committee. The initiative will track revenue and expenditures tied to the 2026-27 budget. Mason said the mayor's office has brought in more than $100,000 in previously unrecognized revenue from business licensing since January. He also updated the committee on the renovation of the depot building off LA-1, which required fencing after vandalism and an encampment were discovered. Repairs to the 14th Street park bathrooms, which have been vandalized twice since the mayor took office, were also discussed.

French Quarter Bar and Daiquiri. Chief Mitchell briefed the Public Safety Committee on a fight that took place at French Quarter Bar and Daiquiri over a recent weekend. Officers responded for crowd control. Mitchell said it was the first incident of that magnitude he had heard about and that it has been documented. Council members discussed the establishment's history and the need to hold the property accountable if incidents continue. Mitchell noted that most of those involved were from outside Port Allen.

Channel 2 coming in September. The mayor's office announced that WBRZ Channel 2 will visit Port Allen the week of September 7-11. Interviews will be conducted with council members and city officials, some pre-recorded and some live, running morning, noon, and evening throughout the week.

Senior Roundup. The city is hosting a Senior Roundup on August 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Port Allen Community Center. Volunteers are being asked to come out and support. Council members and city staff are asked to wear white shirts and blue jeans.

The Port Allen City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. tonight, August 12, 2026, at City Council Chamber, 375 Court Street, Third Floor, Port Allen, Louisiana.