The Natchitoches City Council introduced an ordinance at its Aug. 24 meeting, that would establish a six-month moratorium on the consideration, receipt and processing of future and pending applications for murals in the city’s Historic District.
Ordinance No. 31 of 2026 is intended to give the city time to research and potentially develop regulations providing clearer standards for the permitting of murals in the Historic District. The proposed ordinance also calls for the city to study how other historic districts regulate and enforce murals and review guidelines from the U.S. Department of the Interior.
The discussion surrounding the proposed moratorium also addressed a pending mural application submitted by City Bank to the Natchitoches Historic District Commission.
A member of the Historic District Commission said the commission is scheduled to meet Sept. 8 with the City Bank mural application on its agenda. The Natchitoches City Council’s next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 14.
Commission members asked how the pending application should be handled if the council adopts the proposed moratorium. City officials discussed whether the commission could delay consideration of the application until after the council’s final vote on the ordinance.
The City Bank application was described during the discussion as being for a mural approximately 18 feet tall and 37 feet wide. The proposed mural would be located on the side of the H.A. Cook building facing the City Bank parking lot on St. Denis Street (the NPJ was unable to obtain copy of the proposed artwork for the mural before the publication deadline).
Council members and commission members discussed the difficulty of evaluating the application under the city’s current ordinances, which do not specifically establish standards for murals or address factors such as size.
A commission representative said City Bank had previously been asked to delay filing its application while the city worked on potential mural regulations. Council members and commission members discussed whether the pending application could be delayed or would have to be considered under the ordinances in effect when the application was filed. The city attorney was asked to review the commission’s rules and provide guidance before the commission’s Sept. 8 meeting.
The council is scheduled to consider the ordinance again at its Sept. 14 meeting.
In other business, Harold Bayonne, chairman of the Natchitoches Community Improvement Foundation, addressed the Council about the foundation’s mission and work in the community, particularly its summer youth program.
Bayonne said the foundation focuses on community improvement, affordable housing, youth development, education, grants, sponsorships and donations. This summer, the foundation partnered with the Natchitoches Parish School Board to operate a summer program at a school, serving more than 70 students each day.
The program included self-defense, drone flying, arts and crafts, engineering, mathematics, literature, business development, music and other educational activities. Students were also provided breakfast, snacks and lunch, with security and other staff present throughout the program.
The foundation also added swimming lessons this year. After local swimming programs and the city’s recreation program had reached capacity or ended, the Natchitoches Recreation Department helped arrange for students to continue receiving swimming instruction. Bayonne said students who had never been comfortable in the water were able to make progress, including learning to swim and float on their backs.
Bayonne thanked city officials, volunteers, community members, parents and others who helped make the program possible. He said the foundation wants to continue expanding its work and reach more children in the community.
During the meeting, Bayonne also recognized members of the Natchitoches Community Improvement Foundation for their service to the organization. City officials praised the foundation’s work and partnership with the city, noting the importance of community organizations in providing services and opportunities that city government cannot provide alone.
Other agenda items included:
PROCLAMATIONS:
Declare September 2026 As National Sickle Cell Awareness Month In The City Of Natchitoches
Declare September 18 and 19, 2026 As Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival Day’s In The City Of Natchitoches.
ORDINANCES – FINAL:
Award The Bid For Hangar Door Replacement At The Natchitoches Regional Airport (Bid No. 0683)
Revoke The Dedication Of A Portion Of Third Street Which Is Situated In Section 139, Township 9 North, Range 7 West, City And Parish Of Natchitoches And Being That Portion Of Third Street Located South Of Church Street, Declaring That Said Portion Of Third Street Is Abandoned And The Dedication Revoked, Providing For An Effective Date Of The Ordinance, And Savings Clause
ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION:
Execute A Lease In Favor Of J L Aviation, Inc., Of That 24,500 Square Foot Areas Shown And Depicted On A May 21, 2026 Survey Brandon C. Thornton, And Further Providing For Advertising Of The Lease And An Effective Date.
RESOLUTIONS:
Approve A Temporary Site License With New Cingular Wireless Pcs And Authorizing The Mayor Of The City Of Natchitoches, Ronnie Williams, Jr., To Execute Same On Behalf Of The City Of Natchitoches, Louisiana.
Confirm The Appointment Of Blake Dodson As The Recreation Director For The City Of Natchitoches
The next scheduled City Council meeting will be September 14, 2026. The City of Natchitoches offices will be closed on Friday, September 4, 2026 for Employee Appreciation Day and Monday, September 7, 2026 in honor of Labor Day.