Bossier City · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Bossier City public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Off-premise alcohol sales at Shed Mini Mart
The c-store also got approval to sell beer and liquor, over objections that a Southern Methodist church sits within 300 feet and a daycare sits across the street.
Fence height variance for Tractor Supply garden center
Tractor Supply wants to surround its outdoor garden sales area with a 16-foot fence or wall — more than double the city's 7-foot cap. The Board of Adjustment hears this variance request at a public hearing, and the decision affects the look and screening of a busy Barksdale Boulevard commercial corridor.
Rezoning of 2909 Old Minden Road to General Business
The family of the late Ronald Mock is seeking to rezone about two acres on Old Minden Road from residential low density to general business, possibly to expand their adjoining strip mall. A public hearing is expected next month.
O'Neal Subdivision amended plat
An amended plat for the 14.545-acre River Square Subdivision off Benton Road creates a small corner lot for a shared marquee sign that can advertise all the subdivision's lots.
S.A.N.E. Nurse Program continuation
The council finalized the cooperative endeavor agreement with the parish coroner and sheriff keeping the S.A.N.E. Nurse Program operating in Bossier Parish.
Axon Fusus private camera program
A proposed ordinance would let the mayor sign agreements with businesses willing to connect their security cameras to police Fusus software, letting detectives view footage remotely instead of collecting thumb drives. It's voluntary, free to the city, and access is logged.
Rezone at 5301 East Texas Street
A fenced, lease-only truck storage yard near I-20 got its gravel-surface approval, with a concrete apron extended toward the highway; the board flagged concerns about hazardous materials near Barksdale's flight path.
Sales tax revenue slipping
February sales tax revenue looked down 6.3%, but it's a software issue with the parish's new combined e-filing system — money is being collected, just delayed. Expect a rebound next month.
Plant a Seed In Our Youth Foundation partnership
A nonprofit will use city park facilities at Mitchell Park to run free or reduced-cost youth programs — at no cost to the city.
Barksdale Air Force Base community support
Barksdale Forward reported the region earned the Great American Defense Community designation — a lifetime honor — and noted the base's $1.4 billion annual economic impact.
State debt collection for city delinquencies
The city will refer final delinquent debts to the Louisiana Department of Revenue's Office of Debt Recovery for collection at no upfront cost. Expect better recovery of unpaid fees and fines.
NCMC South Bossier Clinic rooftop HVAC screening waiver
A new publicly funded clinic at 5668 Barksdale Boulevard wants its rooftop HVAC units unscreened, arguing a parapet wall hides them from the public. The board let the request die without a motion, likely requiring roughly $80,000–$85,000 in screening.
Federal law enforcement grant application
The council endorsed the police department's application for a federal Justice Assistance Grant.
Utility worker pay incentives
Water and wastewater operators will now earn real certification pay ($0.50–$2.25/hour) plus monthly CDL bonuses, aimed at keeping qualified staff running the city's water systems.
Unlicensed home auto repair business
The board wrestled with whether a 2,400-square-foot accessory building used for youth athletic training counts as a 'home-based business' under the unified development code. The denial signals the board reads that term strictly — businesses inside the home, not separate large structures.
Forge Athletics drainage concerns
The indoor athletics complex site sits about four feet above North Point Community Church's south parking lot, and the church fears worse flooding in heavy rains; drainage plans will go to the city engineer.
Rezone and development at Barksdale and Robert E. Lee
Nine vacant acres at a busy South Bossier intersection were rezoned for a physical therapy clinic and child care center serving up to 350 children. A traffic study is required before permits, and the driveway at Barksdale Boulevard won't be allowed.
Redeeming the 2014 and 2015 LCDA bonds
The council approved using $9.95 million from the Parkway Capital Projects Fund to pay off the 2014 and 2015 LCDA bonds early, plus the redemption resolution to do it.
Heather Lane sewer main failure
A 24-inch sewer force main blew out along Viking Drive and cost $17,387.70 to fix. The council declared an emergency to pay for it from sewer capital contingency funds.
Drainage runoff from cleared Pine Crest tract
Neighbors report that clearing and leveling the tract has increased runoff flowing into Tall Timbers yards, recalling the 2016 flooding in the area. They fear new construction will make the runoff worse.
2027 MPC budget and comprehensive plan/UDC study
The commission approved its 2027 budget, including about $955,000 already set aside for the comprehensive plan and Unified Development Code study. Consultants arrive in late September for community meetings.
Reopening of Baja Flip's restaurant/bar on Old Minden Road
A long-vacant restaurant spot at 2050 Old Minden Road is getting new life as Baja Flip's, with a full alcohol permit. Owner targets a November opening.
Modular home special exception at 4505 Pine Crest Drive
A homeowner wants to place a modular home on 2.2 acres outside any subdivision, but neighbors in Tall Timbers and Pine Crest subdivisions say it doesn't meet community standards and could depress property values. Neighbors also worry construction will worsen drainage runoff that already hits their yards.
Veterans Day Paid Holiday Proposal
A resident asked the council to add Veterans Day as a paid holiday for veteran city employees in the pending Chapter 78 personnel rewrite, and flagged several citation errors in the draft that she wants corrected.
Pedestrian safety near Race Way and First Methodist park
The Race Way convenience store wanted to sell beer and wine but its front door sits within 300 feet of the park across Old Minden Road. Approval came with a requirement to build a sidewalk so the walking route crosses at the crosswalk and clears the 300-foot buffer.
City internet infrastructure upgrade
The city is swapping its aging 500 Mbps circuit for a 10 Gigabit connection — faster, more reliable, and about $378 cheaper per month over a three-year Lumen deal.
Property standards code and Administrative Court overhaul
A major rewrite of the city's property standards rules is in the works, along with new procedures for replacing Administrative Court members. Councilor Chris Smith said it's the biggest upgrade in years.
Folia development beautification and brick paver responsibility
The Folia developer can install extra landscaping, pavers and medians in city rights-of-way — but must maintain them and carry insurance. Councilor Hammons won confirmation that if the city ever replaces the brick pavers, it will use concrete.
Fire and life-safety code modernization
The fire department now enforces the state's newest adopted fire code, the International Fire Code, replacing the older NFPA-based local provision.
Bossier Checkbook transparency portal
The city will build a searchable public website showing where tax dollars go, as a one-year pilot. Councilors said 'where does my money go?' is among the most common questions they get.
Parking-lot spending review concluded, documents released
The council closed its yearlong review of public funds used for parking lots at Scot's Audio and Bossier Power Equipment, repealing the committee and releasing its records. New oversight rules requiring council president sign-off on settlements over $50,000 remain in place.
Annexation near Tiburon Street and Swan Lake Road
Nearly 29 acres on Swan Lake Road may shift from Residential-Agricultural to Limited Business, opening the door to commercial development. Commissioners flagged possible wetlands on the tract; the public hearing is still to come.
Belk Outlet subdivision and loading dock access
Sterling Properties is splitting the big Belk Outlet building at 2990 Meadow Creek Drive into three retail spaces, each needing its own loading dock and compactor. The variance lets docks encroach into the rear setback, with trucks routed off Meadow Creek Lane rather than Bean Boulevard.
Cactus Wellhead industrial expansion
An oil-and-gas equipment company is adding an 11,000-square-foot building with office and service space on 10 acres near Meadow Lane, keeping 14 existing jobs in Bossier.
Digital billboard conversion on Airline Drive
A fight over how the 1,000-foot rule between digital signs is counted — whole sign or per face — sent a billboard case to the Board of Adjustment. The applicant says a Lamar digital sign 500 feet away was approved under the same interpretation he's contesting.
Child care and therapy facility rezoning
Dr. Latonya Mister wants to rezone 9.92 acres off Barksdale to build a child care center and a second location of her women's-health physical therapy practice — addressing a chronic local child care shortage.
Two new public utilities positions
The council green-lit filling a Utility Worker in the Lift Stations Division and a full-time Animal Control Officer, both with backfill authority.
Shed Road widening
The city is partnering with developer Lakewood Villas to widen Shed Road, a growing east-side corridor.
Fence height variance stemming from ongoing neighbor dispute
The Rosedale HOA built an 8-foot fence without a permit to screen homes from the adjacent Cane's Landing subdivision, but two longtime residents say HOA covenants cap fences at 6 feet and that homes along the Wimple Road walking trail need privacy more. The commission approved the fence on elevation grounds while declaring the covenant fight outside its authority.
25% Minimum General Fund Balance
The council locked in a rule that the city's General Fund must keep a cushion of at least 25% of the coming year's budget — a financial safety net against shortfalls.
Stormwater master plan grant
The city won a $600,000 grant (with a $250,000 local match) to map flood-prone areas and build a project list from it — a big deal for a city that floods.
Lampkin-Burdine Sewer Main Emergency Repair Funding
The council adopted emergency ordinances to pay for a water main blowout at Hospital Drive and a failed sewer main on Lampkin Street — fixing infrastructure that failed during the recent freeze.
118-acre manufactured home subdivision at River Bend
A 118.83-acre former racetrack site would become a manufactured-home subdivision with a training center; the dilapidated existing condos would eventually be torn down after occupants are rolled into the new plan.
2026 Property Tax Levy
The 2026 tax ordinance was introduced at 21.5 total mills — flat from last year. Final adoption comes later.
Baseball training facility rezoning at Tipton and Nina
Carl Roussel wants to rezone a small corner lot to build a 12,000-square-foot indoor baseball and softball training facility with an outdoor 90-foot infield and a six-foot baseball on the old Ravana restaurant sign structure.
Folia Development rezoning for mixed-use commercial
A 4.3-acre tract in the Folia PUD was rezoned from residential to general business for mixed-use commercial development near Airline Drive, prompting a question from a contiguous neighbor on Old Bramley Road.
Sign ordinance interpretation for back-to-back billboards
How the city counts square footage on double-sided billboards decides who can build LED signs and where. The board kept the stricter reading, but even billboard industry voices said the rule needs clarifying so it applies the same to everyone.
Red River Chevrolet modular office at 215 Barksdale Boulevard
The dealership's used car operations moved to Barksdale Boulevard about a year ago and operate out of a temporary modular building while the East Texas Street lot is being sold. The commission gave only six more months and wants to see building plans before any further extension.
Old Brownlee and Wemple Road project
The city would front $924,021.91 from the Parkway Capital Project Fund for this joint road/drainage project, with $450,000 in grants to come back and the parish chipping in $131,000 plus prep work. Councilor Maggio objected that the city keeps getting the short end of city-parish deals; the item was pushed back two weeks.
Bardot Drainage Basin project costs
Construction costs have risen above the $2.3 million state watershed grant, so the council signed off on an updated commitment letter covering the roughly $370,000 gap.