Shreveport Times
December 9, 2025
Shreveport City Council Special Meeting Minutes
December 4, 2025
The special meeting of the City Council of the City of Shreveport, State of Louisiana was called to order by Vice Chairwoman Bowman at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, December 4, 2025, in Government Chamber located in Government Plaza (505 Travis Street).
Invocation was given by Councilman Green.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman Taliaferro.
The roll was called. Present: Councilmen Jim Taliaferro, Grayson Boucher, Alan Jackson, James Green and Councilwoman Ursula Bowman. 5. Absent: Councilwoman Tabatha Taylor and Councilman Gary Brooks. 2.
Vice Chairwoman Bowman asked for public comments: No one rose to speak.
INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTION: (NOT TO BE ADOPTED PRIOR TO DECEMBER 18, 2025) (Motion and second is sufficient to introduce resolutions)
Resolution No. 147 of 2025: A resolution authorizing the mayor to execute a water and sewer services agreement between the City of Shreveport and TXLAAR, LLC, and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.
Read by title and as read motion by Councilman Boucher, seconded by Councilman Green, to introduce Resolution No. 147 of 2025 to lay over until the next regular meeting.
ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE (NUMBERS ARE ASSIGNED ORDINANCE NUMBERS)
Ordinance No. 151 of 2025: A series ordinance pursuant to the general bond ordinance, authorizing the issuance of not to exceed one hundred ninety million dollars ($190,000,000) of water and sewer revenue refunding bonds, in one or more series, of the City of Shreveport, State of Louisiana; establishing certain details of such bonds as required by the general bond ordinance; approving and confirming the sale of such bonds; pledging the net revenues to secure such bonds; prescribing the form, certain terms, and conditions of said bonds; authorizing the use of a preliminary official statement and the preparation and distribution of an official statement; authorizing the purchase of and subscription for certain escrowed securities; authorizing escrow verification and engagement of escrow agents; and authorizing execution and delivery of a paying agent/registrar agreement; and providing for other matters in connection therewith
Having passed first reading on November 10, 2025, read by title, and on motion, ordered
passed to third reading. Read the third time in full and as read motion by Councilman
Green, seconded by Councilman Jackson, to adopt. Motion approved by the following
vote: Ayes: Councilmen Taliaferro, Boucher, Jackson, Green and Councilwoman Bowman.
5. Nays: 0. Out of the Chamber: 0. Absent: Councilwoman Taylor and Councilman Brooks.
2. Abstentions: 0.
Ordinances that were adopted, except ordinances that will be published in the Shreveport Code Ordinances, including the Shreveport Unified Development Code, are as follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 151 OF 2025
A SERIES ORDINANCE PURSUANT TO THE GENERAL BOND ORDINANCE, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF NOT TO EXCEED ONE HUNDRED NINETY MILLION DOLLARS ($190,000,000) OF WATER AND SEWER REVENUE REFUNDING BONDS, IN ONE OR MORE SERIES, OF THE CITY OF SHREVEPORT, STATE OF LOUISIANA; ESTABLISHING CERTAIN DETAILS OF SUCH BONDS AS REQUIRED BY THE GENERAL BOND ORDINANCE; APPROVING AND CONFIRMING THE SALE OF SUCH BONDS; PLEDGING THE NET REVENUES TO SECURE SUCH BONDS; PRESCRIBING THE FORM, CERTAIN TERMS, AND CONDITIONS OF SAID BONDS; AUTHORIZING THE USE OF A PRELIMINARY OFFICIAL STATEMENT AND THE PREPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT; AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF AND SUBSCRIPTION FOR CERTAIN ESCROWED SECURITIES; AUTHORIZING ESCROW VERIFICATION AND ENGAGEMENT OF ESCROW AGENTS; AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A PAYING AGENT/REGISTRAR AGREEMENT; AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
WHEREAS, the City of Shreveport, State of Louisiana (the City or Issuer) now owns and operates a combined drinking water treatment and distribution system and wastewater collection, treatment and disposal system as a combined revenue-producing work of public improvement (the System); and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City, acting as the governing authority (the Governing Authority) of the City adopted Ordinance No. 95 of 2016 on October 11, 2016, as amended by Ordinance No. 4 of 2017 adopted on January 24, 2017 (collectively, the General Bond Ordinance), as supplemented by Ordinance No. 165 of 2020 adopted by the Governing Authority on November 10, 2020 (the Series 2020 Supplemental Ordinance), as it may be further supplemented and amended, authorizing the issuance from time to time of Water and Sewer Revenue Refunding Bonds of the Issuer and the pledge of revenues derived from the operation of the System, subject only to the payment of the reasonable and necessary expenses of operating and maintaining the System (as such term is defined in the General Bond Ordinance, the Net Revenues) under the terms and conditions set forth in the General Bond Ordinance (unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized words and terms used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the General Bond Ordinance); and WHEREAS, the Issuer currently has outstanding the following series of Senior Lien Bonds outstanding under the terms of the General Bond Ordinance (such bonds, referred to herein as Outstanding Senior Lien Bonds): (i) Taxable Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds, Series 2009A, currently outstanding in the principal amount of $351,000.00; (ii) Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds, Taxable Series 2009B, currently outstanding in the principal amount of $3,091,302.04; (iii) Taxable Utility Revenue Bonds, Series 2010D, currently outstanding in the principal amount of $4,582,000.00; (iv) Taxable Utility Revenue Bonds (LDEQ Series Project) Series 2013, currently outstanding in the principal amount of $2,696,000.00; (v) Water and Sewer Refunding Bonds, Series 2014A, currently outstanding in the principal amount of $10,820,000.00; (vi) Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds, Series 2014B, currently outstanding in the principal amount of $67,045,000.00; (vii) Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds, Series 2014C, currently outstanding in the principal amount of $7,955,000.00; (viii) Water and Sewer Revenue and Refunding Bonds, Series 2015, currently outstanding in the principal amount of $115,095,000.00; (ix) Taxable Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds, Series 2016A, currently outstanding in the principal amount of $14,770,000.00; (x) Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds, Series 2016B, currently outstanding in the principal amount of $98,970,000.00; (xi) Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds, Series 2017A, currently outstanding in the principal amount of $54,475,000.00; (xii) Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds, Series 2017C, currently outstanding in the principal amount of $27,170,000.00; (xiii) Taxable Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds, Series 2018A, currently outstanding in the principal amount of $16,148,461.49; (xiv) Taxable Water and Sewer Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2020A, currently outstanding in the principal amount of $12,620,000.00; (xv) Water and Sewer Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2020B currently outstanding in the principal amount of $9,415,000.00; and WHEREAS, the Issuer currently has outstanding the following series of Junior Lien Bonds outstanding under the terms of the General Bond Ordinance (such bonds, referred to herein as Outstanding Junior Lien Bonds and together with the Outstanding Senior Lien Bonds, the Outstanding Prior Lien Bonds): (i) Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds, Junior Lien Series 2017B, currently outstanding in the principal amount of $35,140,000.00; (ii) Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds, Junior Lien Series 2018C, currently outstanding in the principal amount of $80,130,000.00; (iii) Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds, Series 2019B, currently outstanding in the principal amount of $93,285,000.00; (iv) Taxable Water and Sewer Revenue Refunding Bonds, Junior Lien Series 2020C, currently outstanding in the principal amount of $5,415,000.00; and WHEREAS, pursuant to and under the authority of Chapters 14 and 14-A of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended (the Refunding Act), and other constitutional and statutory authority and the General Bond Ordinance, it is the desire of this Governing Authority to provide for the issuance, in the total stated amount of, not to exceed One Hundred Ninety Million Dollars ($190,000,000) Water and Sewer Revenue Refunding Bonds, in one or more series, on a taxable or tax-exempt basis, as Senior Lien Bonds (the Bonds); and WHEREAS, the Bonds are being issued by the Issuer for the purposes of (i) refunding certain maturities of the Citys Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds, Series 2014B (the Series 2014B Bonds), Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds, Series 2014C (the Series 2014C Bonds), and Water and Sewer Revenue and Refunding Bonds, Series 2015 (the Series 2015 Bonds) (together, the Refunded Bonds), (ii) purchasing a reserve fund surety, if necessary, and (iii) paying the costs of issuance of the Bonds (collectively, the Project); and WHEREAS, the Outstanding Prior Lien Bonds are payable from a pledge and dedication of the Net Revenues. The Issuer has sufficient Net Revenues to pay the Bonds proposed to be issued by this Supplemental Ordinance (as defined herein), in accordance with their proposed terms and conditions as well as pay all other outstanding obligations which are secured by a pledge of the Net Revenues, in accordance with their respective terms and conditions; and WHEREAS, the Issuer desires to adopt this Series Ordinance (this Supplemental Ordinance and together with the General Bond Ordinance and the Series 2020 Supplemental Ordinance, the Bond Ordinance), to establish the details with respect to the issuance, sale and delivery of the aforesaid series of Bonds in accordance with Section 2.05 of the General Bond Ordinance, to authorize the issuance of the Bonds and to approve the taking of certain actions and to authorize and direct the execution and delivery of certain documents relating to the authorization and issuance thereof, in the manner provided by the Bond Ordinance. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Governing Authority of the Issuer, that: SECTION 1. Definitions. In addition to capitalized words and terms elsewhere defined herein and in the General Bond Ordinance, the following words and terms shall have the following meaning as used in this Supplemental Ordinance, unless some other meaning is plainly intended: Bonds shall mean the Water and Sewer Revenue Refunding Bonds, in one or more series, on a taxable or tax-exempt basis, authorized to be issued as Senior Lien Bonds by this Series Ordinance and particularly by Section 2 hereof, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. Bond Purchase Agreement shall mean, the Bond Purchase Agreement between the Issuer and the Underwriters providing for the sale of the Bonds, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, which shall include the Mayors approval of final maturity schedule, principal amounts, redemption provisions and interest rate(s) of the Bonds within the parameters set forth herein. Co-Bond Counsel shall mean, together, Butler Snow LLP, Shreveport, Louisiana and Blanchard, Walker, OQuin & Roberts, Shreveport, Louisiana. Escrow Agent shall mean, initially, Regions Bank, an Alabama state trust company having a corporate office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and its successor or successors, and any other person which may at any time be substituted in its place pursuant to this Supplemental Ordinance. Escrow Agreement shall mean the Escrow Deposit Agreement dated as of the date of delivery of the Bonds, between the Issuer and the Escrow Agent, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, as the same may be amended from time to time, the terms of which Escrow Agreement are incorporated herein by reference. Paying Agent shall mean Argent Trust Company, a Tennessee state chartered trust company, having a corporate office located in Ruston, Louisiana, and its successors in that capacity. Purchasers or Underwriters shall mean collectively, Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Inc. (as Co-Senior Manager), Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (as Co-Senior Manager), and Crews & Associates, Inc. Refunded Bonds shall mean certain maturities of the Series 2014B Bonds, Series 2014C Bonds, and Series 2015 Bonds, which shall be refunded by a portion of the proceeds of the Bonds. SECTION 2. Authorization of the Bonds; Authority and Direction to Execute and Deliver Transaction Documents. In compliance with and under the authority of Refunding Act, as well as Section 2.05 of the General Bond Ordinance, the details of the Bonds shall be as follows: (a) There is hereby authorized the incurring of an indebtedness for, on behalf of and in the name of the Issuer, and to represent the indebtedness, this Governing Authority does hereby authorize the issuance of Senior Lien Bonds to be designated City of Shreveport, State of Louisiana, Water and Sewer Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2025 (the Bonds). The Bonds shall be dated the date of delivery thereof. The stated principal amounts of the Bonds shall be determined and approved by the Mayor in the Bond Purchase Agreement with the advice of the Issuers Municipal Advisor, provided that the combined stated principal amount of the Bonds shall not exceed One Hundred Ninety Million Dollars ($190,000,000). (b) The Bonds shall be Fixed Rate Bonds and shall bear interest at fixed rates not to exceed six percent (6%) per annum as shall be approved by the Mayor in the Bond Purchase Agreement with the advice of the Issuers Municipal Advisor, payable semi-annually commencing as set forth in the Bond Purchase Agreement. (c) The Bonds shall mature on such date as set forth in the Bond Purchase Agreement (but not later than sixteen (16) years from the date of issuance), in such amounts as shall be approved by the Mayor in the Bond Purchase Agreement. (d) The principal and interest of the Bonds shall be payable in the manner set forth in Section 3.08 of the General Bond Ordinance; interest on the Bonds shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months and payable on each Interest Payment Date. (e) The Bonds shall be subject to optional and mandatory sinking fund redemptions in such manner and upon the terms as may be approved by the Mayor in the Bond Purchase Agreement with the advice of the Citys Municipal Advisor. (f) The Bonds shall be in substantially the form attached to this Supplemental Ordinance as Exhibit A, with such necessary changes as may be approved by the Mayor upon the advice of the City Attorney and Co-Bond Counsel. The Bonds shall be numbered from R-1 upwards and shall be initially registered to the Depository Trust Company or its nominee in accordance with Section 3.09 of the General Bond Ordinance. (g) (i) The initial Paying Agent for the Bonds shall be Argent Trust Company, in the City of Ruston, Louisiana; (ii) Verification Agent for the refunding of the Refunded Bonds shall be __ in the City of __; and (iii) The firms of Butler Snow LLP, Shreveport, Louisiana, and Blanchard, Walker, OQuin & Roberts, Shreveport, Louisiana, are hereby appointed as CoBond Counsel in connection with the issuance of the Bonds. (h) Pursuant to La. R.S. 39:1426(B), the Issuer has determined to sell the Bonds at a private or negotiated sale without the necessity of publishing any notice of sale. The sale of the Bonds to the Purchasers at a price of not less than 98% of par, plus accrued interest is hereby confirmed. The terms and conditions of said sale, within the parameters set forth in this Section, are hereby approved and the Mayor is authorized, empowered and directed to enter into the Bond Purchase Agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, with such necessary changes as may be approved by the Mayor upon the advice of the City Attorney and Co-Bond Counsel, and to approve the final purchase price, maturity schedule, principal amounts, redemption provisions and interest rate(s) of the Bonds within the parameters set forth herein. The Bonds shall be delivered to or upon the direction of the Purchasers or its agents or assigns, upon receipt by the Issuer of the agreed purchase price. The Issuer hereby ratifies, confirms and approves the form and content, and the distribution, of the Preliminary Official Statement pertaining to the Bonds submitted to this Governing Authority. The Governing Authority further authorizes and directs the Executive Officers or any one of them to execute and deliver a Final Official Statement to the Purchasers for use in connection with the sale of the Bonds. (i) Pursuant to Section 6.01(c) of the General Bond Ordinance, the Issuer shall establish a Senior Series 2025 Reserve Account in the Senior Reserve Fund, which shall secure only the Bonds, and shall deposit to such account upon the delivery of the Bonds, an amount equal to the highest annual principal and interest requirement of the Bonds in any future Bond Year unless a lesser amount is approved by the Mayor in the Bond Purchase Agreement, either as a cash deposit from the proceeds of the Bonds or in the form of a Reserve Fund Surety Bond or Policy as permitted by Section 6.03 of the General Bond Ordinance. (j) A portion of the proceeds of the Bonds, together with other available moneys of the Issuer, in Government Securities plus an initial cash deposit shall be deposited in an escrow account for each respective series, in accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement, in order to provide for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Refunded Bonds as they mature or upon earlier redemption as provided in Section 2(k) hereof, and for paying Costs of Issuance. (k) Provision having been made for the orderly payment until maturity or earlier redemption of all the Refunded Bonds, in accordance with their terms, it is hereby recognized and acknowledged that as of the date of delivery of the Bonds under this Supplemental Ordinance, provision will have been made for the performance of all covenants and agreements of the Issuer incidental to the Refunded Bonds, and that accordingly, and in compliance with all that is herein provided, the Issuer is expected to have no future obligation with reference to the aforesaid Refunded Bonds, except to assure that the Refunded Bonds are paid from the Government Securities and funds so escrowed in accordance with the provisions of the Escrow Agreement. (l) The Escrow Agreement is hereby approved by the Issuer. The Mayor and Clerk of Council are hereby authorized and directed to execute and deliver the Escrow Agreement on behalf of the Issuer substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, with such changes, additions, deletions or completions deemed appropriate by such officers and it is expressly provided and covenanted that all of the provisions for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Refunded Bonds from the special trust fund created under the Escrow Agreement shall be strictly observed and followed in all respects. (m) This Governing Authority finds and determines that the parity bond requirements contained in the Resolution No. 131 of 1984 (the Original General Bond Resolution) and in Section 2.06 of the General Bond Ordinance will be complied with in respect of the Bonds, and authorizes the Mayor and/or Director of Finance to execute a certificate of parity indebtedness, if needed, upon delivery of the Bonds. (n) The Issuer, having investigated the regularity of the proceedings had in connection with the issuance of the Bonds, and having determined the same to be regular, each of the Bonds shall contain the following recital, to wit: It is certified that this Bond is authorized by and is issued in conformity with the requirements of the Constitution and statues of the State of Louisiana. (o) The Executive Officers are each hereby empowered, authorized and directed to do any and all things necessary and incidental to carry out all of the provisions of this Supplemental Ordinance, and to cause the Bonds to be prepared and/or printed, to issue, execute and seal the Bonds and to effect delivery thereof as provided herein and in the Bond Purchase Agreement. In connection with the issuance and sale of the Bonds, the Executive Officers and/or the Director of Finance of the City are each authorized, empowered and directed to execute on behalf of the Issuer such additional documents, certificates and instruments as they may deem necessary, including but not limited to any municipal bond insurance policy or reserve fund surety, upon the advice of Co-Bond Counsel and Counsel to the City, to effect the transactions contemplated by this Supplemental Ordinance. The signature of said officers on such documents, certificates and instruments shall be conclusive evidence of the due exercise of the authority granted hereunder. (p) The Bonds are NOT qualified tax-exempt obligations (i.e. not Bank Qualified) under Section 265(b)(3) of the Code. (q) The Mayor is authorized to enter into a Continuing Disclosure Agreement as may be required by Rule 15c2-12(b) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (17 CFR 240.15c2- 12(b)), in substantially the form recommended by Underwriters counsel for the Bonds and approved by Co-Bond Counsel. (r) The Mayor is authorized to enter into a Post-Issuance Compliance Certificate as may be necessary upon the advice of the Counsel to the City and/or Co-Bond Counsel in connection with the disclosure and/or tax matters pertaining to the Bonds, in substantially the form recommended by the Citys disclosure counsel and/or Co-Bond Counsel. (s) Approval of the State Bond Commission has been obtained. (t) The Governing Authority finds and determines that it may be financially advantageous for the Issuer to utilize municipal bond insurance and/or a reserve fund surety bond or bonds with respect to some or all of the Bonds. In the event that the Mayor, with the advice of the Issuers Municipal Advisor, finds and determines that such a benefit exists, then such fact shall be stated in the Bond Purchase Agreement, the Preliminary Official Statement and the Final Official Statement and the terms thereof shall be approved by the Mayor. The Issuer, acting through the Executive Officers, is further authorized to enter into such contracts and agreements with the provider of such credit enhancement devices and may pay all the costs thereof from the proceeds of the sale of the Bonds or from other lawfully available funds, as provided by La. R.S. 36:1429. (u) In connection with the issuance and sale of the Bonds, the Executive Officers are each authorized, empowered and directed to execute on behalf of the Issuer such other documents, certificates and instruments as they may deem necessary, upon the advice of CoBond Counsel, to effect the transactions contemplated by this Supplemental Ordinance, the signatures of the Executive Officers on such documents, certificates and instruments to be conclusive evidence of the due exercise of the authority granted hereunder. SECTION 3. Parties Interested Herein; Severability. Provisions relating to parties interest herein and severability are addressed in Sections 11.03 and 11.04 of the General Bond Ordinance. SECTION 4. Appointment of Municipal Advisor. The Issuer hereby retains Government Consultants, Inc., Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to act as its Municipal Advisor (MA) pursuant to the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the rules promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Issuer hereby acknowledges that it is represented by the MA and will rely upon the advice of the MA with respect to the Bonds. The fee to be paid the MA shall be payable solely from the proceeds of the Bonds when and if issued, and the amount thereof shall be subject to the approval of the State Bond Commission. The Mayor is hereby authorized and directed, in his discretion, to execute any contract the MA may require with respect to the engagement. SECTION 5. Publication. A copy of this Supplemental Ordinance shall be published in the Official Journal of the of the Issuer, or if there is none, in a newspaper having general circulation in the Issuer. It shall not be necessary to publish the exhibits to this Supplemental Ordinance, but such exhibits shall be made available for public inspection at the offices of the Governing Authority at reasonable times and such fact must be stated in the publication within the official journal. For a period of thirty (30) days after the date of such publication any persons in interest may contest the legality of this Supplemental Ordinance and any provisions herein made for the security and payment of the Bonds. After such thirty (30) day period no one shall have any cause or right of action to contest the regularity, formality, legality, or effectiveness of this Supplemental Ordinance and the provisions hereof or of the Bonds authorized hereby for any cause whatsoever. If no suit, action, or proceeding is begun contesting the validity of the Bonds authorized pursuant to this Supplemental Ordinance within the thirty (30) days herein prescribed, the authority to issue the Bonds or to provide for the payment thereof, and the legality thereof, and all of the provisions of this Supplemental Ordinance and such Bonds shall be conclusively presumed, and no court shall have authority or jurisdiction to inquire into any such matter. SECTION 6. Effective Date. This Supplemental Ordinance shall become effective upon the publication provided for in Section 5 and the elapse of seven days from the signature of the Mayor.
There being no further business to come before the council the special meeting adjourned at 10:10 a.m.
//s// Ursula Bowman, Vice Chairwoman
//s// LaTonya Bogan, Clerk of Council
12/9/25 ($584.96)
Miscellaneous Notices