Testy exchange highlights passage of overnight parking ordinance

No more overnight parking for school buses

Electric bikes banned from sidewalks

No overnight sleeping in public spaces

Action on millages delayed to consider budget needs

Zuckerman taking reins as council chair

MANDEVILLE — In a move aimed at cleaning up parking near the Mandeville Trailhead, the City Council voted to restrict overnight parking in the Town Center District, but only after a minor kerfuffle among several of its members led to a few awkward moments.

Ordinance No. 25-03, adopted at the June 26th meeting, redefines “permanent parking” and prohibits it between the hours of 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on key streets and city-owned lots, with specific exemptions for local residents.

The restricted zone includes both sides of Woodrow and General Pershing streets, from Girod Street to Carroll Street, as well as the city-owned parking lot at the Mandeville Trailhead.

The ordinance targets the longtime practice of overnight school bus parking and vehicles being repaired at a nearby body shop.

Tensions briefly flared during discussion of the ordinance when District I Councilwoman Cynthia Strong-Thompson appeared to assume the role of council chairman, a duty reserved under the City Charter for one of the two at-large council members.

When Councilman at Large Jason Zuckerman requested to speak, Strong-Thompson interjected, “You’ve had the floor all night, but okay.” Council Chairman Scott Discon at first seemed to agree with her before relenting, “I’ve gave (sic) him the floor (to Strong-Thompson), but continue (to Zuckerman).”

Zuckerman responded, “That’s not appropriate,” to which Strong-Thompson unapologetically acknowledged, “I know.”

Strong-Thompson, known for speaking out of turn during council meetings, has occasionally spoken over Discon in his role as council chairman.

Last year, council meetings often devolved into bickering and shouting under Discon’s leadership, prompting the council to bring in a consultant to provide training on Robert’s Rules of Order and how to conduct meetings.

This most recent exchange underscored underlying procedural tensions on the council. As Zuckerman continued to press his concerns about the ordinance, he emphasized, “This is called debating an ordinance. We are allowed to express our opinion.”

Discon pushed back, saying, “But you’ve expressed your opinion and (unintelligible)…” Zuckerman concluded, “I think it’s completely inappropriate for comments like that, Ms. Thompson, and for you, Mr. Chairman. This is a debate. This is a council meeting. This is what we do.”

Despite the flareup, all council members voted in favor. District II Councilman Kevin Vogeltanz was absent from the vote.

Violations of the new ordinance carry escalating fines: $75 for a first offense, $150 for a second, and $300 for a third. The ordinance does not affect other parking prohibitions and does not apply to municipal vehicles performing official duties.

In other business at recent council meetings…

Electric bikes banned on sidewalks

The City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 25-04 on March 13th prohibiting most motorized conveyances — including so-called electric bikes — from operating on city sidewalks. The new law aims to improve pedestrian safety and preserve sidewalk access throughout the city.

Sponsored and introduced by District I Councilwoman Strong-Thompson, the ordinance defines “motorized conveyance” as any vehicle propelled by electric, gas, or battery power.

Under the ordinance, individuals over the age of 10 are not permitted to operate motorized vehicles on sidewalks. Children 10 years old or younger may operate devices traveling under 5 mph if done safely.

However, in business and commercial zones, such use is strictly prohibited unless signage permits it. The law makes exceptions for people with disabilities using mobility devices, law enforcement in the line of duty, and city workers or contractors performing official work.

Violators will receive a warning on their first offense, with subsequent violations carrying a fine of up to $50.

City officials emphasized that the new rules are part of a broader effort to balance pedestrian comfort with the presence of small motorized devices like scooters and e-bikes on public walkways.

Camping crackdown targets vagrants

The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 25-16 on June 12th, establishing a citywide prohibition on camping activities on public property.

The ordinance defines “camping” as the recreational use of outdoor areas involving temporary shelters such as tents, huts, trailers, campers, or motorized and non-motorized recreational vehicles. It applies to public spaces including sidewalks, parks, rights-of-way, and underpasses, with an exception for registered vessels moored at City facilities.

Prior to final passage, the Council debated specific language in the ordinance. Assistant Police Chief David Greenwood reported complaints about vagrants camping in local parks, prompting discussion on how strictly the ordinance should be worded.

District I Councilwoman Cynthia Strong-Thompson successfully motioned to remove the phrase “and overnight sleeping” from the ordinance, a change supported by a 3-2 vote despite opposition from Councilwoman Jill Lane and Councilman at Large Jason Zuckerman. District II Councilman Kevin Vogeltanz sought to further narrow the ordinance by removing references to recreational vehicles and later to “trailers, campers,” but both motions failed — one by a 4-1 vote, the other for lack of a second.

With the single amendment removing “and overnight sleeping,” the full ordinance passed unanimously, 5-0.

Council sets 2025 police millages, delays vote on general operations tax rate

The City Council on June 26th adopted two ordinances setting the city’s 2025 property tax rates to fund police operations, while postponing action on the general government millage after a third ordinance failed to pass on a 2-2 vote.

By a unanimous 4-0 vote, the council approved Ordinance 25-12, levying a 4.70-mill property tax on all taxable property in the city for the operation and maintenance of the Mandeville Police Department. The council also passed Ordinance 25-14, which increased the rate from 1.0 to 5.08 mills, a 4.08 increase, restoring the maximum allowable rate from the prior year. The change is expected to generate $1.27 million in total police funding, with $1.02 million attributed to the roll-forward.

A third measure, Ordinance 25-13, which sought to set the city’s general operations millage at 2.79 mills — down from 6.87 mills in 2024, a 4.08 decrease — and add a separate 0.34-mill levy for police, failed in a 2-2 tie. Councilman at Large Scott Discon and District I Councilwoman Cynthia Strong-Thompson voted in favor, while Councilman at Large Jason Zuckerman and District III Councilwoman Jill Lane voted against. Councilman Kevin Vogeltanz was absent.

Zuckerman voiced concerns that approving it before the mayor’s proposed budget is presented could result in either over-taxing residents or falling short of planned expenditures.

As a result of the failure to adopt 25-13, the general operations millage remains unsettled, and is being re-advertised to meet state requirements but this time at the full rate approved by voters. This will allow the council to set the rate to precisely match the budget at the July 24th meeting.

Zuckerman takes over as council chairman July 10th

Councilman at Large Jason Zuckerman will be the new presiding officer at City Council meetings starting July 10th.

The two at-large council members alternate serving as council chairman, starting every July. District council members cannot serve in the position. Councilman at Large Scott Discon has been filling the post since taking office in 2024.

This will be Zuckerman’s third tenure as chairman since being elected in 2020.

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