Kenner · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Kenner public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Firefighter pay dispute and FY2026-27 budget
The council adopted next year's operating and capital budgets, restoring the general fund balance to about $10.1 million and moving money to council district capital accounts for streets and drainage. The mayor warned that repeatedly cutting capital money could cost the city state and federal matching funds for big projects.
Kenner mall abatement progress
The council president is pressing the mall's owners over cut-but-uncollected grass, fallen trees and trash, sending dozens of code enforcement photos.
G-League arena renovations change order
The council awarded a $3.44 million contract to Kent Design Build to renovate the convention center for the Pelicans' G-League team, who reimburse the city over time through rent offsets. The team should be playing there this fall.
$3.5 million in state aid to the Kenner Police Department
SWAT is getting 20 new ballistic helmets now, and a $415,720 armored tactical response vehicle was introduced. The city also ratified emergency fire apparatus repairs and celebrates the new Duke Street fire station opening Monday.
Firefighter cancer screening compliance
A resident flagged that a state-approved voluntary cancer screening program for firefighters, passed in mid-2024, hasn't reached Kenner firefighters yet. The mayor and fire chief explained they're building a first-in-the-nation tracking registry with LSU and Ochsner and expect testing to start within a month or two.
School-zone and stop-sign safety
Councilman Riehm flagged viral resident concern about speeding and thanked police for traffic enforcement, reminding drivers the limit is 20 mph in neighborhoods.
Motorized scooters and bicycles in traffic
A resident described a near-miss with an unlicensed motorized bicycle weaving between cars. The police chief said enforcement is active, including arrests, and a public awareness and school outreach program is planned before summer.
New four-way stop signs at Thirty-Second Street and Arkansas Avenue
Cars keep crashing at this intersection — sometimes straight into a house at the corner. A city traffic study backed a four-way stop, and the council approved it unanimously. Councilwoman Dunn wants police to publicize the change so drivers actually stop.
Fire department equipment maintenance
A resident flagged a social media list of fire truck repairs, prompting an administration breakdown showing most items were minor, several already fixed, and only one truck briefly out of service that day. Two new trucks arrive this week; a new maintenance contractor has begun preventive maintenance.
Firefighter cancer screenings
The fire department is screening active members for eleven statutorily mandated cancers through Ochsner's MD Anderson partnership, with retiree outreach ongoing.
Derelict property at 54 Verde Street
A neighbor described a home overrun with vermin, with a downed fence, a pool untended for 25 years that nearly drowned a man, and an owner who can't be located — even his agent can't reach the former Saints player thought to own it.