By Crystal Nix
The Cameron Parish Police Jury met in regular session on Monday, July 7, at 10 a.m. The meeting was called to order by President Ronald Nunez. After the pledge of allegiance and prayer, there was a moment of silence for the Texas flood victims.
As of July 1, the Cameron Parish Police Jury is now the collector for occupational licenses.
Tourist Commission
Carolyn Miller, chairman of the Cameron Parish Tourist Commission, addressed the Police Jury to discuss the Commission’s long-term goals. She noted the Commission operates on an annual budget of about $90,000, with 66% allocated to community event sponsorships and promotional items, and 12% supporting digital outreach—including an upcoming new website and active social media presence. Miller emphasized that partnerships with Visit Lake Charles/Creole Nature Trail, the Louisiana Office of Tourism, and the Louisiana Travel Association help Cameron Parish stay aligned with state and regional tourism trends.
Secretary Michele Long updated the jury on the passage of HB 374, which modernizes Louisiana’s tax code by requiring short-term and extended-stay rental platforms to collect and remit lodging taxes through a centralized system. The law took effect July 1, 2025, with full implementation by Jan. 1, 2026.
Online platforms like Airbnb and VRBO will now collect the parish’s 2% occupancy tax, which is already applied to hotels, motels, RV parks, and other non-online bookings. This change is expected to increase local revenue and promote fairness. Long also noted the Tourist Commission, established in the 1970s, will benefit from the streamlined system.
Vice-chairman Vicki Little presented a key part of the Commission’s long-term vision—a proposed partnership with the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. The plan would allow tourism staff and volunteers to operate from the existing visitor center, as the Commission currently lacks its own facility. Through a Memorandum of Understanding, the Commission aims to create.
A motion was granted by the board to advertise an ordinance change to Cameron Parish Tourist Commission: Sec. 16-1 – Tourist Promotion Agency. A new ordinance will be created to establish the Tourist Commission and Collection of the Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax. For RV spaces and/or RV rentals bookings 29 days and under would be required to pay a 2% tax, collected by the overseer and paid to the Tourist Commission. RV rentals over 29 days are considered permanent, and exempt from the tax. According to Cameron Parish ordinances, an RV must be owned by the occupant, though the space can be rented. 22 Motels/Hotels, RV Parks are currently paying the 2% tax, with no way to enforce the collection.
COA Drainage & Driveway Update
Dinah Landry, Counicl on Aging Director asked to be updated on the status of the EOC Facility. The use of the parking lot and driveways of the COA and the fire dept. have been restricted due to the construction of the EOC Facility. The COA has had trouble with the Food for Senior deliveries, parking, phone service, sewerage and etc. due to the construction. Landry was told that permanent drainage, parking lot and driveway are expected to begin July 14.
Stan Hudson, Hudson Concrete Solutions
Stan Hudson, with Concrete Solutions, requested consideration of a permit at 183 Bobbies Lane for a proposed construction of gravel pad for vehicles, equipment parking, and temporary staging of construction material that would result in a 7000 cubic yards of fill material within 7 acres. He also stated he was in the process of purchasing 37 acres, which would be dedicated to RV spaces for the workers, and a concrete crushing facility. He also asked for consideration of the jury to allow him to provide a food trailer, catered by a Lake Charles restaurant, that would provide meals free of charge to the workers. He was also seeking another permit at 3118 Broussard Beach Rd. for Venture Global CP2.
These were tabled until wording on all of the permits Hudson needed were complete.
The police jury approved two drilling permits and approved 13 other permits in the parish.
Kevin Vincent and Armand “Bubba” Richard were reappointed to Consolidated Fire Protection of South Cameron. Jordan Thompson was reappointed to Recreation Dist. No. 5. Reappointments to Gravity Drainage Dist. No. 3 were tabled.
To read the rest of this story, please see page two of the print edition of The Cameron Parish Pilot.