City-parish charter changes resurface

Proposal for new residential garbage contract also on council’s agenda

LAFAYETTE — The City-Parish Council on Tuesday is scheduled to discuss the prospects of entering into a new residential garbage contract and will revisit possible changes to the constitution-like City-Parish Charter.

Lafayette voters in October rejected a charter proposal to undo the 1996 merger of the once-separate governments for Lafayette Parish and the city of Lafayette.

But some community leaders and council members have said changes should still be considered, short of deconsolidation, that give the city of Lafayette more autonomy.

There have also been proposals for tweaks to the charter that deal with less controversial procedural issues.

“Now, it’s time to start talking about it,” said Councilman Keith Patin.

He has asked that the council on Tuesday began formal discussions about possible changes, including the prospect of reconvening a special commission to look at the charter.

“It’s just the first step,” he said.

Also on Tuesday, Councilman Brandon Shelvin is proposing that the council discuss possibly putting Lafayette’s garbage contract out to bid next year in an effort to bring back twice-a-week service.

Garbage service in the city went from twice-a-week to once-a-week service when the council in 2008 approved the current contract with Allied Waste.

“A lot of my constituents have made known to me that they would like to have two pick-ups per week,” Shelvin said. “You have to wait a whole week for your trash to get picked up.”

City-parish officials had initially considered keeping twice-a-week service when negotiating the new contract in 2008 but had abandoned the idea at the time because of the higher costs.

R esidents use a 96-gallon trash bin designed to work with Allied Waste’s automated garbage trucks.

Trash pick-up in rural areas of the parish was already once-a-week before the 2008 contract.