District 3 City-Parish Councilman Brandon Shelvin, whose district includes downtown Lafayette, will mediate a meeting today between downtown bar owners on one side and Lafayette Police and Consolidated Government on the other. At issue is a dramatic increase in the levies bars pay to LCG to cover the cost of overtime for police officers who work the downtown security detail on weekend nights. In a Nov. 11 letter to club owners, LPD Chief Jim Craft informed the bars that the security situation was reassessed and that the cost was going up. In the case of larger bars like Karma and Nite Town, which had been subject to a $1,500 monthly cap, the cost was increasing substantially. Karma’s monthly levee is now $4,020, although Karma, Nite Town and almost half the bars on the fee schedule have so far refused to pay the increased levy.
“I want what’s best for the city, but I also want what’s best for the people I represent,” says Shelvin, “and some of the people I represent are business owners.” Last February, Shelvin was in the six-vote majority that approved the ordinance for the levies, which the majority of bar owners also supported. But Shelvin also says that he supports the $1,500 cap. “Hopefully we can come to a compromise,” he adds.
Last week, city-parish officials met with police and some of downtown’s non-bar merchants and came up with a four-point plan for addressing the large crowds downtown during the weekends: 1. Prohibit anyone under 21 from entering bars. 2. Ban the use of to-go cups. 3. Enact a “no cruising” law to reduce traffic. 4. Establish a curfew for people under 21. Shelvin says he wouldn’t support an ordinance that goes that far, but adds that he’s currently working on drafting an ordinance to address open alcohol containers. “We’re not to that point yet, it’s still in discussion and legal research,” says Chief Administrative Officer Dee Stanley.
City-Parish President Joey Durel, meanwhile, said during his weekly radio show on KPEL last week that he would like to see some “thinning out” of bars in the central business disrict. On Monday, Stanley further clarified the administration’s position: “For those businesses, bars or not but especially bars, that are following the rules, the mayor has said publicly and repeatedly for years, ‘No problem with those guys.’ But he really has a problem when an establishment would complain about changing the admission age into a bar, but yet that establishment is consistently cited for underage drinking.”
... written by Cajunrunner , December 07, 2009 - 06:59 pm
Will the nearby non-profit that encourages drug users and vagrants to frequent that part of Lafayette also have to pay for extra security? Judging by the numerous arrests of people "residing" at 100 block of Olivier Street, they should.
... written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN : , December 07, 2009 - 09:13 pm
CRAFT IS A puppet of JODU'NT sniffin out possible means in which to tax legit businesses. WHERE was JODU'NT When the licenses were issued for these highly prolif tax revenue JOINTS ? Ah liquor establishment by any other name than a JOINT is ah misnomer. NOTICEE""" IS JODU"NT BILLING THE POULET JOINT ON CONGRESS AHN DA CHECKERS DRIVE_IN BURGER JOINT FOR THE HOMESTEADIN COPS THERE AT NIGHT TO QUELL THE JUVE'S FROM KILLING EACH OTHER ! IT LOOKS LIKE a WATTS RIOT at NIGHT! THE BAR OWNERS need to get the area's top ATTORNEY and blast the COUILLION ADMINISTRATION INTO REALITY. THIS CAN'T POSSIBLY FLY IN A COURTROOM!!!!!!!! The idea of charging a fee to protect the peeps who pay taxes, this is what happens when you give a former "PETSHOP OWNER" a free rein, you create a ROBBING BARON, PARIS TRIPS FOR THE COUILLIONMEN...THE CLOWNS GONNA BREAK OUT IN A RASH, dey nevah dreamed ah paid expense trip was a perk oh dis JOB......
... written by Happy in Elmhurst , December 07, 2009 - 10:32 pm
Good news Downtown, the Councilman who gave his constituents in Elmhurst the figurative finger is going to mediate for you.
... written by Unempirical Observer , December 08, 2009 - 12:48 am
Ya know, the no crusing rule could be effected if the police would shut down all two way traffic on Jefferson between Vermilion and Cypress. This pedestrian friendly environment would be in line with what other urban areas have done. The four cross streets, Vermilion, Congress, Garfield and Cypress could amply handle the traffic circulation downtown. Most if not no parking lots and very few street front parking spots connect to those blocks of Jefferson Street. This would be a nice move even during Artwalk.
Any other issues besides the go-cups probably won't fly. Keep drinking people where they can walk to go hopping from venue to venue, not driving.
Graduate the closing times and last-call times to allow for late night drinking to wind down.
Don't forget that many of the venues downtown which are open late, aren't just bars, those are restaurants as well and draw late night crowds. To the extent that the venues are concentrated on one part of Jefferson and could benefit from some thinning as Mayor D wants to see, I'd put the ball back in his court. The city has what it paid for 12 years ago....Venues are where they are, because business owners were attracted to where the Streetscape was; this is where the people went, it's a reinforcing circle. (with exception to the limited repurposing we're beginning to see on East Vermilion Street.) If the city wants to see the love spread around, then they best get on the Streetscape project in additional parts of the downtown. This might cost money, but would they rather wait to make the case for urban redevelopment whent the economy is booming and contract rates blow the ceiling again? If they keep asking us for sales tax increases, they'll probably get shot down. Let's find another more equitable way to pay the tab than asking poor mamas buying groceries to pay the city another penny.
... written by Morrow , December 08, 2009 - 01:56 pm
For the most part, Lafayette enjoys a low crime rate. Night clubs are going to open up in other areas, and those businesses would require police protection. The criminals are going to follow their "prey". People have to realize their possible danger and be smart. Business owners should attempt to ensure their customers are not so wasted, their easy prey. The government's responsibility is to ensure the public safety, in all areas of the city and parish, in whatever means that might require. This time of year is esp. dangerous.
... written by yomamaspajamas , December 08, 2009 - 05:34 pm
NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN your comments are unintelligible as written.
Crime goes where the money is. Downtown should be proud to have customers.
... written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , December 09, 2009 - 07:27 am
yosmamaspajamas, the short bus honking for ya at the corner !!!!!!!!
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