Last week Gonzales’ City Council approved an application to rezone 8.5 acres east of Veterans Blvd, north of Semper Fi from “Limited commercial” to “multi-family (residential)” by a 3-2 vote.  The majority (Eddie Williams, Kirk Boudreaux and Terri Lambert) ignored the Zoning Commission’s July 6 recommendation to deny the rezone with Tyler Turner and Cynthia […]

After an hours’ long, sometimes contentious public hearing, Ascension’s Planning Commission approved the controversial Harvest Fields subdivision preliminary plat.  Already denied by a 5-0 vote in February, two of those members voted to approve the plat and a newly appointed member joined them to form a three-vote majority.  Commissioners Max Nassar, Michelle Unitas and Cross Marchand […]

Lambert’s budget amendment would have reduced Fire Department salaries by $494,381.96 Monday’s Gonzales City Council meeting agenda included no controversial agenda item, at least that’s how it appeared on paper.  But the council (a three, maybe a four-member majority) is unhappy about the General Fund Budget that they themselves unanimously adopted on May 26.  Giving […]

Last year Mayor Tim Riley was served with the Petition for Mandamus against the City of Gonzales, filed by Liberty Fence & Supply LLC (Liberty Fence) on October 9.  Liberty Fence, owned by James Saizan and represented by Kim Landy, sought satisfaction of five outstanding invoices submitted to the city in February 2025 totaling $23,600.  […]

Gonzales City Council, by identical 3-2 votes, approved two Special Use Permit applications to operate Airbnbs last night.  Councilman Kirk Boudreaux moved to approve both applications, based on the Zoning Commission’s recommendation (see below) dated June 1 and including a list of restrictions.  Boudreaux was joined in the majority by Councilmen Eddie Williams and Tyler Turner […]

In March of 2025, less than three months into his first term, Mayor Tim Riley had occasion to request an opinion from Louisiana’s Attorney General.  Yesterday, Riley received the long-awaited opinion that would resolve a long-simmering dispute between his administration and a couple (or three) of city council members.  Two questions were answered. First: Question: […]

A unanimous City Council adopted Mayor Tim Riley’s 2026-27 General Fund Budget on Monday with 22 pages worth of amendments.  All five council members voted to adopt the PACE Center Budget and requisite amendments to last year’s Operating Budget.  The process comes to a close before the 2025-26 Fiscal Year ends in five days, avoiding […]

Elective office in the legislative branch comes with perks, unlimited time during meetings to expound upon any pet peeve or project one likes, restrained only by Robert’s Rule of Order (not those of courtesy, decorum or civility).  But there are pitfalls. For example: “This is not personal,” Councilwoman Terri Lambert pre-qualified her opposition to Willie […]

Ordinance practice in the City of Gonzales can get confusing, evidenced by the Council’s 3-1 vote (with an abstention) to discontinue Retiree Medicare Stipends received by ultra select few former employees (including a couple of mayors).  No stated criteria, aside from date-of-birth renders one lucky former employee eligible and others out of luck. With Councilwoman […]