The charter commission will again consider a proposal Monday evening by demographer Mike Hefner that would require far fewer changes to the Home Rule Charter. With an April 20 deadline approaching to make its recommendation on the future of government in Lafayette Parish, the charter commission will again consider a proposal Monday evening by demographer Mike Hefner that would require far fewer changes to the Home Rule Charter and allow consolidated government to remain largely intact. However, a prevailing sentiment remains among city-residing commissioners that a separate council and mayor positions be created for the city of Lafayette.
Hefner believes that Lafayette's City-Parish Council and school board districts, which overlap, can be redrawn - necessary following the 2010 census - so there are five districts wholly within the city limits and four comprising the rest of the parish while maintaining two majority-black districts as required by federal law. Doing so would address one of the main issues that precipitated the creation of the commission: non-city representatives voting on ordinances pertaining to the city-owned Lafayette Utilities System. If the Hefner plan were adopted, the Lafayette Home Rule Charter would merely need to be tweaked.
At the last commission meeting on Feb. 14, however, commissioners approved a series of preliminary proposals that would create separate city and parish councils as well as a mayor for the city of Lafayette and parish president - effectively deconsolidating Lafayette Consolidated Government.
Commissioners on Monday will also get feedback from LCG's legal department on draft charters for the city and the parish and will discuss salaries for elected officials.
The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. in the CPC auditorium at City Hall.