After more than a year of negotiating, the New Iberia City Council will once again take up the renewal of a franchise agreement with Cleco at Tuesday’s meeting.

The council will vote on an introductory ordinance that would authorize a 27-year franchise renewal agreement between Cleco and the City of New Iberia. The agreement gives Cleco permission for the maintenance and operation of electric utilities, transmission and distribution systems in the city.

Previous contract proposals that were on the table earlier this year had a 25-year agreement. In February, Mayor Freddie DeCourt vetoed a renewal agreement after Cleco had failed to agree to terms laid out by the City Council following several months of negotiations.

Since then, several council members have met with Cleco officials. Tuesday’s introductory ordinance will be the first time the council has voted on a Cleco proposal since the veto.

Some of the contentions from council members earlier this year included confusion as to whether solar panels were allowed under the contract, whether Cleco would patrol the city to find utility pole lighting that needed replacement and whether the city would have to pay for additional utility poles for additional lighting.

A hike in rate increases from Cleco, which is in line from all utility companies across Louisiana, was also a major concern for some council members although the rate was not addressed in the franchise proposal.

If Tuesday’s ordinance is approved, the agreement will go up for public hearing on Nov. 21.

In other business, the council will review two houses to ensure they meet property standards at the meeting.

The houses on 620 E. St. Peter St. and 626 E. St. Peter St. could meet the standards for demolition when they are both reviewed at the meeting.

The council approved a resolution declaring both structures as dangerous earlier this year, with council members saying both have been a nuisance for years.

“This is long overdue,” Mayor Pro Tem Ricky Gonsoulin said at a July meeting. “I’ve gotten calls on it. It’s a high-traveled area and a bad eyesore.”

The meeting takes place 5:30 p.m. Tuesday on the third floor of New Iberia City Hall.