At its June 23 meeting, the Natchitoches City Council introduced an ordinance authorizing a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the City of Natchitoches and the Historic District Business Association (HDBA), a local nonprofit that coordinates key tourism events such as the annual Christmas Festival and Antique Car Show.
The proposed agreement outlines a formal partnership in which the City will assign certain employees to work under the direction of the HDBA. In return, the HDBA will fully reimburse the City for all associated salary and benefit costs, including health insurance, retirement, and administrative fees. The agreement would also require HDBA to pay an annual administration fee of $5,000 per full-time employee and $1,000 per part-time employee to offset City expenses related to payroll processing and management.
Under the agreement, the assigned employees will remain under the City’s administrative policies and procedures but will be supervised by HDBA in the execution of their daily responsibilities. The cooperative effort also ensures continued support for Main Street initiatives, with the HDBA taking an active role in reporting, attending quarterly meetings, and maintaining state certification as part of Louisiana’s Main Street program.
City officials noted that similar agreements already exist with other community partners, including Cane River National Heritage Area and the Ben Johnson Foundation. Mayor Ronnie Williams Jr. emphasized that such agreements enable nonprofit partners to offer competitive benefits to their employees—benefits they otherwise could not afford—without cost to the City.
“This is a mutually beneficial effort,” said Mayor Williams. “It helps our community partners retain strong employees and remain aligned with the City’s goals, especially in areas like Main Street development and tourism.”
The ordinance, introduced for discussion only, will be placed on the agenda for a formal vote at the next City Council meeting. Members of the public and council are invited to submit questions or comments before then.
City officials also acknowledged the presence of community leaders and members of the HDBA at the meeting, including Ms. Sandra Dickens and Mr. Mike Stewart, both noted for their long-standing support of tourism and historic preservation efforts in Natchitoches.
The agreement is proposed for a five-year term with the option to extend for two additional one-year periods. Either party may terminate the agreement with 30 days’ written notice.
Other agenda items included:
PLANNING & ZONING – FINAL:
Amend Ordinance No. 64 Of 2001 By Changing Zoning Classification Of Property Described As Follows: Lot on South Side Sidney Street Being The West 20 Feet of Lot 3 and The East 20 Feet of Lot 4 of The David Pierson Lots (119 Sidney St.)
ORDINANCES – FINAL:
Award The Bid For The South Williams Water Line Project (Bid No. 0675)
TABLED: Execute A Fourth Lease Amendment To Water Tower Option And Lease Agreement With New Cingular Wireless Pcs, LLC, Said Amendment Providing For An Extended Term, Providing For Consideration And Escalating Rent. City Attorney Alex Washington said he noticed some provisions in the lease that could be modified to benefit the City.
ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION:
Award The Bid For 2025 Street Rehabilitation Program (Bid No. 0676).
RESOLUTIONS:
Enter Into A Maintenance Agreement, Including Mowing And Litter Pickup, With The State Of Louisiana, Department Of Transportation And Development, Office Of Engineering Beginning July 1, 2025 Through June 30, 2026.
Re-Appoint Alex Washington As The City Attorney And Tommy Murchison, Cloyd Benjamin Jr., Gary Conley, And Steven Oxenhandler As Assistant City Attorneys For The City Of Natchitoches.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The next scheduled City Council meeting will be July 14, 2025.
The Offices of the City of Natchitoches will be CLOSED Friday, July 4, 2025 in honor of Independence Day.
PAID CONTENT