?Cameron Parish Beachfront
Development District #1
Johnson Bayou • Holly Beach
MINUTES
The Cameron Parish Beachfront Development District #1 Commission met in regular session on Monday, January 10, 2022, at the Johnson Bayou Community Center. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chairman Richard Burbank, who led the pledge and prayer.
Commissioners present were Chairman Richard Burbank, Vice-Chairman Russell Badon, Michele Long, and Mike Gaspard. Nikki Norman and Secretary Cindy Snead were absent. Guests were Katie Barnes with The Audubon Society and Charlotte Chehotsky, coastal field technician.
On the motion of Mike Gaspard, seconded by Russell Badon, and carried, the minutes for the November 8, 2021, meeting was approved as presented.
Old Business:
Michele Long gave an update on the “Welcome to Holly Beach” sign. The sign was installed at the intersection of Hwy 82/27. On the motion of Michele Long, seconded by Russell Badon, and carried, Thank you cards will be sent to Amy Miller/Cheniere Energy, Ray Lee Myers/Holly Beach, Emily Mock/CPPJ, and Kara Bonsall/CPPJ, who helped make this project a success.
Mike Gaspard informed the board that he will speak at the next Police Jury meeting to ask them to amend the Cameron Parish Ordinance concerning Sec. 14-60 (a.1) in the Holly Beach area, Zone 2. This will allow beach-goers the ability to ride unlicensed vehicles (ATV/UTV/Side by Sides/Golf Carts) on the point ? mile east of Barataria Boulevard to ? mile west of Riviera Lane. Also, he will ask that the Sheriff’s Department enforce the laws pertaining to the speed limit of 10 mph and that all vehicles must be driven by licensed drivers.
Russell Badon reported that the parish has installed replacement signs for the beaches. (No Vehicles Allowed on Beach; Vehicle Entry Not Allowed on Beach) Once the Holly Beach-Zone 2 vehicle ordinance is decided, additional zone/subdivision signs will be ordered and installed. Katie Barnes discussed the need for signage for Zone 1 to prevent vehicular traffic due to that being a sensitive nesting bird area. The area is foot traffic only, but signage is needed to remind the public not to drive on Zone 1. Once Zone 1 signage is installed, Katie will add temporary “Bird Nesting” “Sensitive Wildlife Habitat” signs to inform the public of areas in need of protection for wildlife.
Craig Broussard/via Michele Long gave an update on the Causeway Boat Launch/Cheniere project. The parish project manager is developing a plan to address improved lighting, bringing in rock, and grading the parking and surrounding areas. Craig will continue to represent the Beach Board and work with Cheniere Energy and the parish to complete this project, hopefully by an April/May timeframe. The last boat launch clean-up was cancelled due to inclement weather, but when Cheniere reschedules, the announcement will be placed on the Beachfront Board’s Facebook page.
New Business:
As of November 2021, the Budget & Account Balance was $122,592.00.
The Meeting’s Calendar will continue being monthly meetings. (The second Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m.) On the motion of Richard Burbank, seconded by Russell Badon, and carried, the meetings will continue to be on the second Monday of each month at the Johnson Bayou Community Center at 6:00 p.m.
Michele Long reported on Just Imagine SWLA. https://justimagineswla.org.
“Project Overview: Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes were devastated by Hurricanes Laura and Delta in the Fall of 2020 and weather events in the Spring of 2021. Following the storms, a generous donation to the Community Foundations SWLA offered an opportunity to infuse hurricane recovery efforts with a comprehensive vision for the broader region. The Just Imagine SWLA project will create a 50-year resilience plan for Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes, including 10 specific projects that will show the potential of the region and lay out strategies to implement them.
The resilience planning effort is made possible by a generous $2.5 million gift from Angela and David Filo. This gift allowed the Community Foundation from SWLA to bring in exceptional planners to work with our local community to rebuild with resilience and equity. Areas of focus within the Master Plan will be housing, infrastructure, economic development, and other quality of life enhancements that will positively impact our region for decades.”
The Beachfront Board addressed the following and will present these items/concerns to the Cameron Parish Police Jury at their next meeting in February:
•Change Ordinance for vehicular access for Zone 2-Holly Beach
•Remove port-a-lets and dumpsters in the ditch on Hwy 27 near Holly Beach.
•Move barricades back in place along Hwy 82/MM22 to keep the sand from crossing Hwy 82.
•Addition of breakwaters, like those at Long Beach and Little Florida Beach, from Gulf Breeze east toward Holly Beach to combat shoreline erosion.
•Projects to protect Beach Blvd. from Gulfview Ave. to Seaward Ave. in the Oceanview/Little Florida subdivision. (Dirt at the Johnson Bayou Dumpsite and/or rip-rap from the decommissioned plant on Hwy 82, which now is located at Crain Brothers on Deep Bayou Rd.)
The Southwest Conservation District is scheduling the 2023 Planting Season. The Beachfront Board agreed that Little Florida Beach and Gulf Breeze Beach and possibly the “new” beach east of Holly Beach-(Zone 1) would benefit from continued plantings to aid in preventing shoreline erosion as well as creating habitats for nesting birds.
Open Session:
Katie Barnes asked for clarification of the effect Holly Beach/Zone 2 ordinance change would have on Zone 1 habitat. Mike Gaspard explained there would be no change for Zone 1. Zone 1 is foot-traffic-only due to it being part of the Cameron Parish Shoreline Restoration Project (CS-33) of 2012. Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority R.S. 49:214.2.j
The next meeting will be February 14, 2022.
There being no further business, on the motion of Russell Badon, seconded by Mike Gaspard, and carried, the meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
APPROVED BY:
RICHARD BURBANK,
PRESIDENT
ATTEST BY:
CINDY SNEAD, SECRETARY
RUN: Feb. 10 (F 29)