Lafayette Council Suspends Bar Fees

The Lafayette City Parish Council met last night, and one of the issues that they spoke about had to do with the fees that are paid by the bars in downtown Lafayette for security details.  Several bars on Jefferson Street filed suit about the fee claiming that it is unconstitutional because not everyone is the city is required to pay the fee.  Jared Bellard, Chairman of the Lafayette City Parish Council, joined “Mornings With Ken and Bernie” to talk about that issue and the public meetings planned for input on the City Parish’s comprehensive plan.

Bellard tells KPEL that the council voted unanimously last night to suspend collecting the fees while the program is being challenged in the courts.  Bellard says, “it the right thing to do until the courts settle the issue”.  He says that right now the budget include enough money to continue to pay for security in the downtown area until October of this year, and what happens after that will not be known he says until the court rules.

The other issued discussed was Bellard’s hope that as many people as possible will participate in this month’s upcoming public meetings on the City Parish’s comprehensive plan.  It’s part of the contract for the firm helping to create the plan that they get community input on any issues the public may deem relevant to the plan.

To hear the full interview, and what Councilman Jared Bellard has to say on these issues, click below: