A proposal to move the City of Natchitoches’ Main Street Program from the Finance Department to the Community Development Department was introduced during a packed City Council meeting on April 14, signaling a potential shift in how the city manages downtown beautification, event coordination, and riverfront maintenance.
The proposed change, outlined in Ordinance No. 012 of 2025, would amend the city’s personnel policies to formally reassign oversight of the Main Street Program. City officials explained the reorganization makes practical and operational sense, given that the responsibilities of the Main Street Program—managing spaces like Beau Jardin and the Riverbank, overseeing downtown events, and coordinating beautification efforts—align more closely with the resources and scope of Community Development than Finance.
“Finance has no employees to handle things like cutting grass or managing large-scale events,” one city official explained. “Community Development already has those tools and teams in place. We’re essentially returning the program to where it originally belonged.”
The proposal comes alongside ongoing discussions about the evolving role of the Historic District Business Association (HDBA), a key downtown stakeholder. Under the proposed reorganization, the city would retain one full-time and possibly one part-time employee dedicated to Main Street duties, while HDBA would hire its own full-time staff member to coordinate with the city. The two groups would work in tandem to manage rentals, events, and daily maintenance of key downtown properties.
Still, not all council members were on board with the change. Some expressed concern that the move might disrupt operations or create confusion, particularly given the Main Street Program’s vital role in executing major events like the annual Christmas Festival.
“This deserves more careful consideration,” one council member said. “Especially since we’re also talking about a new ordinance that could see HDBA take on even more Main Street-related responsibilities.”
The discussion underscores a broader debate about how to best structure downtown management to maintain Natchitoches’ renowned tourism appeal while adapting to the city’s growing needs.
The Main Street Program wasn’t the only item up for discussion. The council also introduced Ordinance No. 05 of 2025, which would renew a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with HDBA to continue their partnership on downtown development, event coordination, and marketing. HDBA’s Sandra Dickens noted a sharp increase in event bookings and visitor interest, highlighting the importance of continued collaboration.
“We’ve seen a tremendous response,” Dickens said. “Especially with weddings and events at Beau Jardin. Our goal is to continue raising visibility for Natchitoches.”
Mayor Ronnie Williams Jr. praised the organization’s contributions: “They’ve played a major role in helping us keep our Main Street designation. Not every city has what we do downtown.”
Though the ordinance regarding the Main Street reorganization was only introduced and not yet up for a vote, it marked a pivotal moment in how the city envisions its future downtown operations. If approved, the shift is expected to streamline staffing, clarify departmental responsibilities, and potentially open the door to a deeper partnership with local organizations like HDBA.
The ordinance will be up for public discussion and potential approval at the council’s April 28 meeting. City officials urged residents and stakeholders to attend and voice their opinions.
In addition to the Main Street debate, the council also introduced ordinances honoring longtime residents and improving city infrastructure, including a zoning change for a local business, budget reviews, and honorary street designations for community icons like Zelma Moffett and NBA legend Joe Dumars.
AGENDA ITEMS:
PROCLAMATIONS:
Declare April 13th-19th, 2025 As National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week
Declare April 2025 As National Child Abuse Prevention Month In The City Of Natchitoches
Declare April 2025 As Fair Housing Month In The City Of Natchitoches
PLANNING & ZONING – INTRODUCTION:
Amend Ordinance No. 64 Of 2001 By Changing Zoning Classification Of Property Described As Follows: Tract 1 (0.253 Acre) Shown on a Plat by Brandon C. Thornton, Dated June 24, 2024 Recorded at Map Slide 886-A (524 Front St.) Natchitoches Picnic Company
ORDINANCES – FINAL:
Execute A Lease In Favor Of Ellett Properties, LLC, Of Those 21,785.76 And 18,007 Square Foot Areas Shown And Depicted On A June 8, 1962 Survey By A. J. Brouillette And On A September 17, 2021 Survey By Brandon Thornton, And Further Providing For Advertising Of The Lease And An Effective Date
AMENDED AND TABLED: Adopt The Budget For The City Of Natchitoches For The Fiscal Year June 1, 2025 Through May 31, 2026.
ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION:
Provide For Sale Of Adjudicated Properties; And, Further Providing With Respect Thereto.
Provide For The Amendment Of The Personnel Policies Manual To Alter The Organizational Chart Of The City Of Natchitoches To Relocate Main Street From Finance To Community Development, Providing For Advertising, Further Providing For Severability, And Further Providing For A Repealer And Effective Date Of Ordinance.
Rename West Third Street As Miss Moffett Way, Providing For A Public Hearing, Providing For An Effective Date Of The Ordinance, Providing For Procedure In Remarking Street, And Providing For Designation Of Name Change On Public Records
Rename Amulet Street As Amulet Street, Joe Dumars Lane, Providing For A Public Hearing, Providing For An Effective Date Of The Ordinance, Providing For Procedure In Remarking Street, And Providing For Designation Of Name Change On Public Records
Enter Into A Cooperative Endeavor Agreement With The Historic District Business Association Inc., Providing For An Automatic Annual Renewal, Providing For Advertising, Further Providing For Severability, And Further Providing For A Repealer And Effective Date Of Ordinance
RESOLUTIONS:
Execute Change Order No. One To The Agreement Between The City Of Natchitoches And F&W Electric Contractor, Inc., To Replace Airfield Signage And Lights At The Natchitoches Regional Airport State Project No. H.015676 (Bid No. 0670)
Appoint And Designate Ronnie Williams, Jr., As The Representative Of The City Of Natchitoches To The Local ITEP Committee Pursuant To Louisiana Administrative Code13:549
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The next scheduled City Council meeting will be April 28, 2025.
The offices of the City of Natchitoches will be closed Friday, April 18, 2025 for Good Friday.