The City of Lake Charles, Louisiana

The Amphitheatre is located on the south end of the Event Center grounds and features a covered pavilion/stage area. Complete with electrical hook-ups at the rear of the stage, the Amphitheatre plays host to benefit walks/runs, free concerts, family fun days, reunions and more.

For more information on booking an event at the Amphitheatre, call (337) 491-1256.

Click the images below to view a slideshow of pictures.

Click here to return to the Venues page.

• The DDA was re-established in June 2007 subsequent to the Lakefront Vote which created the Lakefront Sub-district. This vote added the duties and responsibilities of the Lakefront Sub- district to the DDA.
  
• Term Renewals are for a 3-year term
  
• Chairman/Vice-Chairman  2-year term
  

Join us on

The Lake Charles Fire Department (LCFD) serves the City of Lake Charles and the Ward 3 metro area. The area served is rapidly expanding both in size and population. The LCFD is constantly reviewing and updating equipment and procedures to better serve our citizens.

The LCFD was formed in 1876 with a team of firefighters using horse-drawn fire wagons to respond to emergencies. The department evolved through the years and the first fire station in the Lake Charles area was located at the corner of Pujo and Bilbo streets. The five-member department that existed in 1890 has grown to now include more than 180 firefighters, and we are constantly recruiting new members to better serve the Lake Area.

The Administrative division oversees the day-to-day operations of the department. This division maintains records of all personnel, training, maintenance of vehicles and facilities, budgets and financial data which it organizes, analyzes and prioritizes in order that recommendations may be directed to the Fire Chief.

The Fire Fighting/Fire Suppression (Operations) division is the largest division within the department. Employees in this division are qualified to control and extinguish fires, respond to hazardous materials emergencies and other situations requiring emergency response.

The Bureau of Fire Prevention is the division of the LCFD which provides fire prevention services (Section 103, 2003 International Fire Code) to the community through fire plan reviews, fire suppression tests, and fire and life safety inspections, fire investigations, public education and official records management.

Communications division employees must have the ability to perform under stressful situations. This division is responsible for operating communications equipment, maintaining records, and other duties in the communications center of the fire department. They answer fire telephones, dispatch fire fighting equipment and keep simple records of these activities following department procedures. Employees in this division keep track of the location and condition of each unit at all times. This division receives and transmits messages to and from the fire scene and to and from related department personnel and notifies all specified officers or special units of all working fires.

The Maintenance division is responsible for maintaining the department's vehicles and ensuring they are inspected and in a constant state of readiness. Personnel in this department must be skilled in the repair and maintenance of fire department automotive and fire fighting equipment and related work as required. Work of this class primarily involves responsibility for personally performing skilled tasks in the general repair and maintenance of fire pumps, heavy fire apparatus, automobiles and related equipment.

The Training division's primary responsibility is to develop the intellectual and physical competencies of each fire department member. The educational programs set forth by this division are designed to improve firefighting tactics, emergency rescue and hazardous material response to better serve the community.

The Research and Statistical Analysis division assists the Fire Chief in researching, planning and coordinating fire department operations with an emphasis on estimating fire ratings in accordance with the Property Insurance Association of Louisiana (PIAL).

1. Obtaining an application:
   Applications are available at City Hall in the Human Resources Department on the 2nd Floor between the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Resumes may accompany applications.  Police applications may be obtained by calling 337-491-1311. Fire applications may be obtained by contacting 337-491-1360. 
   
   
2. Submitting your application:
   Applications must be handed in at the 2nd Floor of City Hall to the Human Resources Department. Resumes AND Cover letters may be emailed to hrdepartment@cityoflc.us. Applications must be complete to be considered for employment. Misrepresentation and incomplete or inaccurate information may cause application rejection, removal from the employment pool or discharge from city employment.
   
   
3. Checking on status of application:
   Applications remain active with the City of Lake Charles for one year. During this time an applicant may update their application. After the one-year time period, an applicant must fill out a new application to be considered for open employment opportunities. All employment opportunities are contingent upon completion of various pre-employment tests and/or physical examinations.

• A deposit will be required unless proof of credit from another utility company is presented.
• Same day service is available for an additional $60.00 service charge.

 

 

 

 

Security deposits for residential customers will be waived if a letter of good credit can be provided from any other utility company.

1. Account number

2. Current Address

3. New Address

4. Move Date

5. Social Security

TO RESTORE SERVICE FOR NONPAY:

 

   Service will be restored the next business day.  Any customer wanting SAME DAY SERVICE will have to

   pay an additional $60.00 fee.  Payment must be made in the Business Office by cash, credit/debit

   card or money order only.  NO CHECKS.

Below is a listing of parks available to visit in Lake Charles, LA.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

With a complete lighting and ceiling makeover in recent years, the James E. Sudduth Coliseum offers up more than 22,000 square feet of space. The coliseum has played host to a wide variety of events over the years. From galas, graduations annual meetings, trade shows and music concerts for major performing artists like Daughtry to basketball games, indoor arena football, ice hockey, rodeos and monster truck shows, this space can literally host any type of event. The venue can seat up to 7,500 patrons comfortably.

When it comes to tradeshows, the James E. Sudduth Coliseum can hold up to 130 8' by 10' tradeshow booths.

For more information on making the James E. Sudduth Coliseum the home of your next event, give us a call today.

Click on the image below to view a slideshow of images of the James E. Sudduth Coliseum.

Click here to return to the Venues page. 

Under the direction of Fire Chief Delton "DC" Carter, and with the assistance of his administrative assistant, our administrative offices work closely in seeing that the administrative responsibilities are handled efficiently. With the support and help of the department's secretarial and administrative staff, the Fire Chief is able to administer his duties in a well-organized manner that results in the smooth and efficient operations of the Lake Charles Fire Department.

This division maintains records of all personnel, training, maintenance of vehicles and facilities, budgets and financial data which it organizes, analyzes and prioritizes in order that recommendations may be directed to the Fire Chief for his use in running the day-to-day operations of the department.

Paper Applications are available for pick-up from the Human Resources Department located on the 2nd floor of City Hall. Applications are accepted Monday - Thursday from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm. Applications are accepted year-round and held for one year. Please visit Job Applications for more details. Should there be any questions regarding employment opportunities please call the Human Resources Department at 337-491-1266 for assistance. 

The City of Lake Charles is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Several options are available for bill payment:

• Online Credit/Debit Card Payment
  • Nightly backups are conducted beginning at 10 p.m. each night and end around 12:45 a.m. You may experience difficulty making an online payment during this time. 
• Mail your payment to P.O. Box 1727, Lake Charles, LA 70602.
• Pay in person at our office located at 1155 Ryan St. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• Pay through night deposit box.  The night deposit box is near the back doors of the Transit Building, located at 1155 Ryan St.
• Automatic bank draft.
• Pay by phone 1-337-545-2999; a convenience fee will apply for this service.

City of Lake Charles

326 Pujo Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601
337.491.1200 Email Us

The City Administrator is responsible for the professional management of the day-to-day operations of the City, including general supervision, administration and management. The City of Lake Charles operates under a Mayor-City Council form of government. Under this system, the Mayor appoints and recommends to the City Council and the Council, by consent of a two-thirds vote, appoints the City Administrator, who is the chief appointed administrator for the City.

Hello and welcome to Lake Charles, Louisiana. I'm John Cardone, Jr., City Administrator for the City of Lake Charles. It is my privilege to introduce you to our city and a few of the many amenities of our area.

Located in the southwest corner of the state, Lake Charles borders bayous, rivers, and lakes with a deep water channel that leads to the Gulf of Mexico. Access to these waterways provides for excellent fishing, hunting and other celebrated sports activities in the Lake Area. Lake Charles is also known for its diverse arts and culture programming/events, casino resorts, many music venues, excellent cuisine and many great festivals that occur throughout the year.

Lake Charles covers approximately 44 square miles, serves a community of nearly 75,000 people and is a great place to raise a family. The city has a healthy economy, which makes it a prime location for business, industry and other development. Recently, Business Week magazine's Web site ranked Lake Charles first in the country in America's strongest building market.

Lake Charles City Government employs approximately 1100 employees and has an Operating and Capital Budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal year of $127 million, of which $61.6 million is for General Fund operation which includes General Government, Planning and Development, Finance, Human Resources, Public Works, Fire and Police. The City also operates four Enterprise Funds for Water, Transit, the Civic Center and a Golf Course and has special revenue budgets for Wastewater, Recreation and Special Events.

On behalf of all our employees, we will continue to strive to provide the highest quality of professional service to the citizens of our community, and we welcome all to come and visit our proud "city on the lake."

Councilman Rodney Geyen

The Rosa Hart Theatre is located on the south side of the Lake Charles Event Center Complex. Its capacity is 1,960, fixed seating, and can be used for major plays, pageants Mardi Gras galas, ballet recitals, concerts and more. 

Over the years it's played host to events such as the Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker, the Chinese Acrobats and many other local, regional, national and international productions. 

The Rosa Hart Theatre boasts the latest in sound and lighting equipment, a backstage area complete with male and female dressing rooms and concession stands.

For more information on hosting your next event in the Rosa Hart Theatre, call us today.

Click the image below to view a slide show of the Rosa Hart Theatre.

Click here to return to the Venues page. 

The Purchasing Division provides centralized procurement services for all City of Lake Charles departments under the direction of the Purchasing Manager.

The mission of the Purchasing Division, within the Department of Finance, is to provide efficient and responsive procurement practices while providing quality service through teamwork and communication with City departments, divisions and vendors. The Purchasing Division is dedicated to providing the City with the most effective and efficient centralized means for procuring quality goods and services, in an economical and timely manner, while staying within the laws and regulations of the state of Louisiana and the City of Lake Charles. The Purchasing Division provides direction and support in identifying sources capable of providing a continuous supply of goods and services in a quality and cost-efficient manner.

The "How to do Business with the City of Lake Charles" booklet will acquaint you with the City of Lake Charles' procurement process and assist you in becoming a supplier to the City. It is provided as a general guideline to help you understand some of the processes. Nothing contained in the Guide shall be construed to amend or override any statute rule, regulation, policy or procedure of the City of Lake Charles, or the provision of any document used in any competitive procurement. The City of Lake Charles reserves the right to modify the guide without prior notice and without issuance of such modification to all holders of the guide.

The Purchasing Division maintains active lists of vendors for the purpose of requesting quotations and proposals for various categories of goods and services as the needs are identified.

You may contact the Purchasing Division at (337) 491-1263 or via email at purchasing@cityoflc.us to obtain a copy of the "How to do Business with the City of Lake Charles" booklet and/or the Bidder's Mailing List Application Form or click on the hyperlink for the document.


The Bidder's Application Form can be returned to the Purchasing Division as follows:

Fax: (337) 491-1405

Mail: City of Lake Charles - Purchasing Division

P.O. Box 900
Lake Charles , LA 70602
Email: purchasing@cityoflc.us

The City of Lake Charles Transit Dispute and Protest Procedures may be viewed by clicking the hyperlink.

You are encouraged to visit our office and an appointment made in advance will enable productive utilization of time for both parties. Our business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. We urge you to contact us at (337) 491-1263 to make an appointment so that we allow sufficient time to meet with you. You should bring catalogs, brochures, descriptive material and price lists to familiarize the buyers with your goods and services.

Paid Leaves

Regular employees earn annual leave based on a rate that varies from .0385 to .0770 per hour worked. Sick leave is accrued at a rate that can vary from .0462 to .0692 for each hour worked. These rates vary depending on years of continuous service. Employees receive 11 paid holidays per year.

Retirement

Credit Union

The City of Lake Charles has a credit union that is available for all city employees. Employees may use payroll deduction for deposits.

Health Benefits

An excellent medical plan is available free to city employees. Dependents may be added for a cost to the employee. Term Life insurance is included with the medical policy. Cancer, Vision, Universal Life, Short Term Disability, Dental and Accident insurances are available to employees on a voluntary basis. Enrollment is at time of employment or in November of each year.

The Patrol Division of the Lake Charles Police Department is the oldest, largest and most visible unit of the department. The basic mission of the Patrol Division is to protect the lives and property of citizens while maintaining a sense of well-being within the community. The Patrol Division Officers are assigned to a specific area, known as a "beat," and are responsible for attending to citizen needs, hazards, suspicious activity, traffic violations and signs of criminal activity in that area.

Patrol officers are the first to respond to calls for help by citizens; therefore, these officers must be trained in all fields of law enforcement, including basic knowledge in other specialized fields such as identification, investigation, and communications.

The men and women of patrol are trained to respond quickly, assessing and managing all levels of police-related incidents, and are skilled in problem solving techniques to address any neighborhood or business concern.

Some concerns are low hanging limbs over the street, neutral grounds, sidewalks and right-of-ways. Low hanging limbs from trees on private property or neutral grounds abutting private property are the responsibility of the property owner to maintain.

Other areas of concerns are blind corners or obstructions. Blind corners and obstructions can be from hedges, bushes and/or portable signs.

Garbage can concerns are received and investigated to ensure residents remove their cans from the curb on the same day of collection.

Storm Water ordinance is enforced through the Public Works Department and concerns  include the blowing or discharging grass and leaves into the street.

Illegal signs placed on neutral grounds, right-of-ways and utility poles are enforced through the Public Works Department and a fine can be issued to the responsible parties if not removed after notification is received. Illegal signs can include businesses, garage sales, lost and found animals, or any advertisement signs posted on utility poles, between sidewalks and streets, or on any public property.

 

The information below shows the progression and history of "Rebuilding Millennium Park" and the build of the Phase II Children's Park Project.

History of Rebuilding Millennium Park Pictures, videos, and press releases

A Letter of Thanks to the Community

"Shiver Me Timbers" Pirate Ship Leathers & Associates

---

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

The City of Lake Charles Public Information Office is dedicated to serving all members of the Lake Charles community including residents, visitors, merchants and media representatives. Our mission is to ensure a consistent flow of information to and from city government regarding its policies, as well as increase awareness of City programs, services and recreational opportunities.

All public inquiries are promptly answered or directed to the appropriate City department. We appreciate your questions, comments, and any other feedback that will help us serve you better.  

To download a Written Request for Public Records form, click here.

Title VI Information

The City of Lake Charles fully complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes, executive orders, and regulations in all programs and activities.  The City operates without regard to race, color, national origin, income, gender, age, and disability.  Any person who believes him/herself or any specific class of persons, to be subjected to discrimination prohibited by Title VI may by him/herself or by representative file a written complaint with the City of Lake Charles.  The City's Title VI Coordinator may be reached by phone at (337) 491-1440, the Mayor's Action Line at (337) 491-1346, contact the appropriate Department Head, or download the Title VI Complaint Form.

Click here for more Title VI information.

Versatility is the name of the game when it comes to this room since practically any type of event can be held in the Exhibition Hall. Located on the first floor of the Lake Charles Event Center, the Exhibition Hall features direct access to a loading/unloading zone. There is over 17,981 square feet of open floor space in this room with a flexible capacity of up to 1,400 people, depending on the room's set-up. 

Several rental options are possible with this room. It can be rented as a full hall, with a theatre-style seating capacity of up to 1,400 people, or half of the hall can be rented for a theatre-style seating capacity of up to 700 people. 

There are two major exits leading from the front and rear of the building, with an access corridor leading directly into the James E. Sudduth Coliseum.

Access to commercial grade kitchen facilities is also available. 

Contact us today to learn more about renting the Exhibition Hall or any of our other great facilities.

Click the image below to view a slideshow of Exhibition Hall images. 

 here to return to the Venues page. 

Calcasieu Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2020

Hazard Mitigation is defined as sustained actions taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk from hazards and their effects.  Hazard Mitigation Planning is the process through which natural hazards that threaten communities are identified, likely impacts of those hazards are determined, mitigation goals are set, and appropriate strategies that would lessen the impacts are determined, prioritized, and implemented.

In that regard, this plan (a) documents the Calcasieu Parish Hazard Mitigation Plan Update process; (b) identifies natural hazards and risks within the parish; and (c) identifies the parish's hazard mitigation strategy to make Calcasieu Parish less vulnerable and more disaster resistant.  It also includes mitigation project scoping to further identify scopes of work, estimated costs, and implementation timing requirements of proposed selected mitigation projects.  Information in the plan will be used to help guide and coordinate mitigation activities and local policy decisions affecting future land use.

The Calcasieu Parish Hazard Mitigation Plan is a multi-jurisdictional plan that includes the following jurisdictions which participated in the planning process:  City of Lake Charles, City of DeQuincy, City of Sulphur, City of Westlake, Town of Iowa, Town of Vinton.

Click here to download the Calcasieu Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2020.

The Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department provides garbage and trash collection and wood waste processing services for the City of Lake Charles. Garbage and non-burnable items collected from residences are taken to the Jeff Davis Landfill or the Waste Management Transfer Station. Burnable items are incinerated at the Wood Waste Processing Facility.

Solid Waste Division Responsibilities

• Furnish once-a-week garbage container collection.
• Provide container maintenance and repair on all city-supplied-and-owned containers.
• Provide collection of trash and yard waste from residences a minimum of two times per month.
• Provide a citywide collection of white goods from residences when required. All white goods must be free from all perishable food items. They must have the doors/lids removed or taped shut for public safety.
• Operate a wood waste processing facility for the general public.

Curbside Pick Up Information:

What is eligible for collection?

White goods

White goods are considered to be any household appliances including stoves, washing machines, dryers, window air conditioners, freezers and refrigerators. White goods must be totally separated from other MSW to allow for separate collection. Commercial businesses that deliver and install new appliances are required to remove the old appliances from the premise and insure proper disposal. The Clean Air Act prohibits knowingly venting ozone-depleting refrigerants (ex. Freon) while servicing or disposing of air conditioning/refrigeration equipment. Examples of equipment are refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners, including automobile air conditioners and other equipment that contains refrigerants. In order for the City to remove these items, the refrigerant must be removed.

Building materials

The following items will be considered to be building materials; soil, metal, metal fencing, roofing material, sheetrock, ceiling tiles, floor tiles, paneling, carpet, plaster, concrete or other substances that may accumulate as a result of new construction, a demolition, common repairs, remodeling, building operations, or as a result of clearing lots.  The owner shall have such items removed at their own expense

Tree and shrubbery trimmings 

Waste accumulation of tree branches, tree limbs, parts of trees, bushes, shrubbery, cuttings or clippings, or other waste usually created as refuse in the case of trees or bushes. Tree limbs are not to exceed four feet in length and four inches in diameter. 

Yard waste 

It shall include cuttings of grass and weeds, fallen leaves, branches and vines, trees or limbs in any form which have been cut in lengths which can be easily handled and picked up, and do not exceed four feet in length or exceed four inches in diameter and weigh less than 50 pounds. All fallen leaves and to the maximum extent possible, small limbs and vines shall be placed in plastic bags. Yard waste must be totally separated from other MSW to allow for separate collection. Any limbs not conforming to the required length and diameter requirements will not be collected by the city. Trees and debris as a result of initial clearing of lots or as a result of building operations shall not be collected by the city. The owner shall have such items removed at his own expense. 

What is ineligible for curbside collection?

Sec. 9-14.  Items not to be collected.

• White goods that contain refrigerants will not be picked up by the City. The Clean Air Act prohibits knowingly venting ozone-depleting refrigerants (ex. Freon) while servicing or disposing of air conditioning/refrigeration equipment. Examples of equipment are refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners, including other equipment that contains refrigerants In order for the City to remove these items, the refrigerant must be removed.
• The following items will be considered to be building materials: fencing material, roofing material, sheetrock, ceiling tiles, floor tiles, paneling, paint, carpet, plaster, concrete or other substances that may accumulate as a result of new construction, a demolition, common repairs, remodeling, building operations, or as a result of clearing lots.
• The owner must have all aforementioned items removed at their expense.

(Ord. No. 9709, § 1, 10-12-92)

Sec. 9-15.  Yard waste commercially cut.

Every nursery man, tree surgeon, and every person who cuts or trims trees, or shrubs as an independent contract shall remove or cause to be removed all yard waste from the premises serviced by him and it shall be unlawful for such persons to deposit any tree, tree or shrub cuttings or trimmings at any location for collection by the city.

(Ord. No. 9709, § 1, 10-12-92)

Sec. 9-16.  -  Illegal piles

• Illegal pile defined. An illegal pile shall be any unauthorized accumulation of garbage or trash, litter, refuse, rubbish, appliances, building/construction debris or material, tires, limbs, trees, paint, or other discarded materials or debris or yard waste unlawfully placed on the curb side, neutral grounds, or premises, this includes vacant lots,  when chapter 9, chapter 10, or any other provision, of the city’s Code of Ordinance requires such accumulation to be disposed of by the owner and/or prohibits its collection by the department of public works.