[CALL TO ORDER (Part 1 of 2)]
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GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN.
WELCOME TO THE AUGUST 11TH, 2021 METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING.
[Additional Item]
IS THE PRESENTATION PORTION OF THE MEETING UP FIRST.WE'RE GOING TO, UH, MYSELF AND MAYOR PRESIDENT, UH, SHARON WESTERN BRUNO ARE GOING TO RECOGNIZE CAPTAIN FREDERICK THOMAS PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ORGANIZATIONS OF BLACK LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVES, UH, FROM MAYOR BROOM.
THANK YOU PROTIUM AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL TODAY.
UH, WE'RE DELIGHTED TO CONGRATULATE CAPTAIN FREDERICK THOMAS, WHO IS THE NEWLY ANNOUNCED PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF BLACK LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SINCE 1976, NOBLE HAS SERVED AS REPRESENTATION FOR MINORITY LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS.
THIS PROFESSION, UH, THESE TASKS AND THIS MISSION IS DEMANDING PUBLIC SAFETY OF COURSE IS A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE.
AND IT CERTAINLY ISN'T AN EASY FEAT.
IT'S SELDOM WE FIND CAUSES THAT ARE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.
AND SO NOBLE REPRESENTS A COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE AND ENSURING EQUITY IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND BUILDING TRUST BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND RESIDENTS.
AND SO I CAN'T THINK OF ANY TRUER REPRESENTATION OF THIS COMMITMENT.
THEN CAPTAIN FREDERICK, THOMAS, WHO HAS SERVED OUR COMMUNITY AS THE COMMANDER OF THE SCOTLAND BEALS SUBSTATION, AND AS A MEMBER OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR OVER 22 YEARS, I THINK THAT IN AND OF ITSELF SHOULD BE CELEBRATED BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN A FAITHFUL SERVANT LEADER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU CAPTAIN THOMAS TODAY.
AND ANY OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS WHO ARE IN THE ROOM, BECAUSE I THINK YOU HAVE SOME OF YOUR SUPPORTERS IN, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO WERE HERE WITH YOU TODAY.
UH, CERTAINLY YOUR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO THIS ROLE IS UNWAVERING.
AND OUR COMMUNITY IS EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE IN SO MANY AREAS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
AND SO ONCE AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF HIS SPANISH PARISH, I WANT TO, ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR NEW POSITION.
AND IT GIVES ME GREAT PRIVILEGE AS MAYOR TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION OR BEING NAMED NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF BLACK LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVES, BY THE WAY.
MEMBERS OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.
AND THOSE OF YOU WERE AT HOME WATCHING ON AUGUST 4TH, 2021, THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF BLACK LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVES IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE CAPTAIN FREDERICK THOMAS AS THIS NEW NATIONAL PRESIDENT, THOMAS WAS SWORN IN BY THE HONORABLE JUDGE WILL SMITH.
AND MOST RECENTLY SERVED AS NOBLE'S NATIONAL FIRST VICE PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT THOMAS IS CELEBRATING OVER 30 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND IS CURRENTLY COMMANDER OF THE SCOTLANDVILLE SUBSTATION AT THESE BANNED REPAIR OF SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN LOUISIANA HAPPENED THOMAS AS A COMBAT VETERAN, RETIRED AFTER 26 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH LOUISIANA ALMOND NATIONAL GUARD, HE HOLDS A MASTER OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE INCORRECT IN SOME STUDY UNIVERSITY AND A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE FROM GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY.
WE WON'T HOLD THAT AGAINST HIM.
HE IS ALSO A GRADUATE OF NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SET UP FOR PUBLIC SAFETY SCHOOL OF POLICE, STAFF, AND COMMAND, AND THE POLICE EXECUTIVE RESEARCH FORUM, SENIOR MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE FOR POLICE SESSION 80.
HE HAS ALSO A VERY DEAR FRIEND.
LET ME SAY WHEN I FIRST STARTED OUT AS A YOUNG PRINCIPAL, 16 YEARS AGO, UH, FREDERICK THOMAS WAS THERE TO ASSIST IN HELPING US SERVE THOSE FAMILIES IN THE EATON PARK COMMUNITY.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE, A GREAT DEAL ABOUT COMMUNITY POLICING.
IF NONE OF YOU HAVE EVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE LAKE THOMAS IS WHAT WE CALL HIM BECAUSE HE IS THE LINK BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
UH, IT IS A PLEASURE TO OBSERVE HIM IN ACTION.
UH, HE KNOWS YOUNG PEOPLE BY THEIR FIRST NAME WHEN HE IS WORKING AT A
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ATHLETIC EVENT, WHETHER IT BE A FOOTBALL GAME, BASKETBALL GAME, UH, THERE IS NEVER ANY PROBLEMS. AND LET ME EXPLAIN WHY THERE BRIEFLY, EVEN IF THERE IS, UH, SOME CHALLENGES, HE KNOWS HOW TO DE ESCALATE THOSE CHALLENGES IN A WAY THAT EVERYONE GOES HOME SAFE.I HAVE NEVER SEEN HIM, UH, IN A CONFLICT WHERE IT DIDN'T END POSITIVELY BECAUSE OF THE WAY HE KNOWS HOW TO INTERACT WITH THE COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK THAT SOMETHING SAID, GO THROW OUT WITH SHERIFF SHOULD DO IS PUT YOU ON VIDEO SHOWING EXACTLY HOW LAW ENFORCEMENT IS SUPPOSED TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY, BUT THEN YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR SERVICE.
AND I HAVE THIS CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION IS HERE BY A WATER CAPTAIN, FREDERICK THOMAS.
I JUST READ ON HERE, A DATA DISTRICT, NEVER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE OR ROOM WITH THAT COUNTRIES.
AND WE ASKED THEM ABOUT THE MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OF THE MILITARY.
SO WE WANT TO SAY MY CLASSMATE IS, HEY, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND LISTEN, THIS GENTLEMAN, STAND UP, STAND UP, BACK THERE.
UM, I TALKED TO THIS YOUNG MAN.
THE STATE CHIMP WITH JAMES JEFFERSON.
WHEN, WHEN I PUT MY HANDS ON THE KID AND DISAPPOINTED YOUR KID, RIGHT? EXCUSE ME.
I GOT INTO THE PRESENTATION, PUT YOU IN THE MIRROR AND JUST SHOW APPRECIATION FOR ALL THE WORK Y'ALL DOING IN BATON ROUGE.
NONE OF THIS WILL ACTUALLY BE HAPPENING.
I DON'T DO THE JOB FOR ONE PARTICULAR COMMUNITY.
SO I DON'T WORK IN A RALLY BEFORE ALBERT GOT HERE, GLEN OLDS, EDEN PARK, I'VE BEEN ALL OVER.
SO I JUST HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY.
AND THANK EVERYBODY FOR WATCHING ME AND RECOGNIZE ME TODAY.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO OFFER COMMENDATION TO YOU AS WELL.
AND I, I CAN'T SEE WHAT'S NEW.
WHAT'S GOING TO BE NEXT FOR THE BATON ROUGE CHAPTER.
UM, BUT THEY ALSO DO COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS PROGRAMS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.
THEY HAVE BEEN TO MY COMMUNITY CENTER AND WORKED WITH, UH, I CA OUR CAMPS AND I KNOW THAT'S YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, PERSONIFY.
AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN AND, UH, FEEL FREE TO STILL CALL ME, TO LOOK OVER ANYTHING WITH KNOWABLE AND ANYTHING, UM, THAT YOU FEEL IS NECESSARY.
AND THANK YOU NOBLE FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON, WESTERN BROOM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, SHAUNA BANKS RECOGNIZE LOUIS AND STEPHANIE ALLEN BANNER OF THE MINORITY ENTREPRENEURSHIP EMPOWERMENT.
I HEAR YOU PROTEOME CAN WE WAIT TILL COUNCILWOMAN BANKS IS HERE? CAUSE SHE'S AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS PERSON.
WE'LL BREAK UNTIL SHE ARRIVED.
SHE SHOULD BE IN THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR MINUTES AND WE'LL BREAK AND THEN WE'LL ROLL RIGHT INTO THAT PRESENTATION AND THEN OUR COUNCIL MEETING.
UH, SO WE'RE ON BREAK AND TISSUE, RIGHT? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[CALL TO ORDER (Part 2 of 2) ]
TO THE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11TH, 2021 REGULAR MEETING OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.I LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AFTER DO WE HAVE A FORUM? WE HAVE A QUORUM TODAY.
WE WILL BE LED IN THE ADVOCATION BY YOLANDA
I BELIEVE MS. BETTY'S OUR LORD, OUR GOD.
HOW EXCELLENT IS THAT NAME? AND ALL THE ART DIG OUT.
WE COME TO YOU TODAY, LORD ASKING THAT YOU WOULD JUST ALLOW YOUR PRESENCE TO BE MADE KNOWN IN THIS MEETING.
LORD, WE PRAY THAT EVERYTHING THAT IS SAID OR DID RECEIVE TODAY, LORD GOD BE DONE FOR YOUR GLORY.
GOD, WE ASKED YOUR CONTINUED PROTECTION UPON THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
IT'S COUNCILPERSONS LORD GOD AND ALL OF OUR LEADERS, OUR MAYOR, HEAVENLY FATHER, AND ALL THOSE THAT ASSIST IN TRYING TO MAKE THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
SO WE THANK YOU RIGHT NOW FOR ALL THE, FOR EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE.
AND IN ORDER IN THAT WAY, YOU SHOULD GET THE GLORY IN JESUS CHRIST NAME.
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THANK YOU, MS. PETITES, WE SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOU.[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES ]
ITEM NUMBER ONE, APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 28TH, 2021 IN THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ZONING MEETING OF JULY 21ST IN THE GREATER BAD WORDS, AIRPORT COMMISSION MEETING ON AUGUST 3RD, 2021 BY COUNCIL, ADMINISTRATOR, AND TREASURER.WAS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE, NON COUNCIL MEMBERS, MOTION TO APPROVAL BY ROCCO SECONDED BY THE CHAIR ASKED
[INTRODUCTIONS ]
ME, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE INTRODUCTIONS SECTION 2.12 INTRODUCTIONS.NUMBER TWO, AMEND THE 2021 PAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED AND UNCLASSIFIED NON-CLASSIFIED CONTRACT FOREIGN POLICE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE ADOPTED THAT ORDINANCE 1 7 9, 9 4.
IT SAYS TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING CHANGES EFFECTIVE AUGUST 26TH, 2021, ADDING A CLASSIFICATION ASSISTANT PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR W O I A ON CLASSIFIED BY THE ASSISTANT CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER TO THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR.
NUMBER THREE, I'M IN THE 2021 ALLOTMENT OF POSITION FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE 1 7 9 9 5.
SO IT WAS TO CHANGE THE ALLOTMENT OF THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT PROGRAM AS FOLLOWS EFFECTIVE AUGUST 26TH, 2021, MAYOR PRESIDENT WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT PROGRAM.
ADD ONE ASSISTANT PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR BY THE CHIEF.
BY ASSISTANT CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS TO THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR NUMBER FOUR, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH SHOULD BE TO BATON ROUGE, TITLE 12 CHAPTER SIX.
SO AS TO ADD SECTIONS 12, COLON 4 0 8 BOOK CALLING 4 0 8 AS 0.6, AS IT RELATES TO DONATION DROPBOXES BY COUNCILMAN WHITE, HUDSON NUMBER FIVE, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE TITLED 10.
SO IS TO ADD CHAPTER SEVEN, COMMERCIAL PEDAL CARRIAGE BY THE TAXI CAB CONTROL BOARD.
NUMBER SIX, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXCAVATE A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE CARE SHOULD BE BATON ROUGE AND THE CORE TANA CORRIDOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE CORE TANA CORRIDOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, AND PROVIDING FOR RELATED MATTERS BY MAYOR PRESIDENT AT SHARON WESTON, BROOME AND COUNCILMAN CLEVE DUNN JR.
CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS, NUMBER SEVEN, SHARON KNIGHT AND NIXON KNIGHTON TEDRICK NIXON, AND THE ESTATE OF CURTIS NITIN.
6 3 2 5 ROLLING ACRES DRIVE, HOUSE AND REAR BARN CAPITAL DISTRICT ONE, NO NUMBER EIGHT.
DECK RENTALS AND REMODELING LLC.
9 7 4 6 DEER RUN AVENUE, MOBILE HOME AND REAR SHED COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE NOTE NUMBER NINE, CHARLES, LARGE AND GLORIA LARGE 4 1 4 TRUDY DRIVE REAR TWO SHEDS ONLY COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR, MOAT NUMBER 10, ELMO BROWN AND MARY NIXON BROWN 3 1 3 0 ADULTS AND STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE, NUMBER 11, JAMES BROWN AND RUTH SELF-ESTEEM OR BROWN 7 1 7 NORTH 36TH STREET, CAPITAL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 12, GLORIA JEAN HAYWARD, 95 NORTH 25TH STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN, COLE NUMBER 13, LAURA LUCIA MAZE HAYES 1 7 9 5 INGLESIDE DRIVE COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVENS COLE NUMBER 14 JERILYN SELF-ESTEEM AT ALL 2 4 0 4 MONROE AVENUE BUILDING AND REAR SHED COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 15, CHRISTINA GRIMES AND THE ESTATE OF JOE CHAPPELLE 1 2 6 5 SOUTH 17TH STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLEMAN.
I'M A STARK COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 16, ROBERT TIBIDEAU 5 1 3 2 SCENIC HIGHWAY COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 17, DEXTER FRANCIS 8 6 4 LOUISE STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 PULLMAN NUMBER 18, BYRON BRIAN S. COLE 8 2 5 SOUTH 16TH STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 19, THE ESTATE OF HENRY THOMAS AND THE ESTATE OF ADELA LEWIS 7 0 7 NORTH 22ND STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 20 LYNN KIRBY, 3 8 2 4 PARTRIDGE LANE COUNCIL DISTRICT 11, 11, 11 ADAMS, NUMBER 21, J C D F P BATON ROUGE, LLC, 2 6, 6, 6 BAYLESS DRIVE COUNCIL, DISTRICT 12 ROCCA, ALL ITEMS THAT ARE READING HAVE BEEN READ AND A MOTION TO AMEND ITEM 37 TO CHANGE THE, UH, TERM TO END ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2021, AND INTRODUCE ALL OTHER ITEMS AS AN ORDER.
DO A MOTION TO MOVE BOOM BY LACOE SECOND BY ADAMS. AND IF THERE ARE ANY OPPOSITION, ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED.
[CONDEMNATIONS ]
COUNCIL MEMBERS.WOULD YOU GO TO YOUR SECOND SHEET FOR DPW RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONDEMNATIONS ARE READ TO DPW RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONDEMNATIONS AS FOLLOWS UP.
WHAT ITEMS? 40 41 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50 51 52 53 54 55, 56, 57
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AND 58 FOR 49 FOR 30 DAYS.AND DELETE ITEMS. 42 43 AND 59.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE CONDEMNATION ITEMS? IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE CONDEMNATION ITEMS? OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE? TWO WEEKS, 4 44 AND 45, PLEASE.
ANYONE ELSE? I GOT YOURS? COUNCIL MEMBER GREEN.
AND I TEND TO HEAR THAT THE RECOMMENDATION IS ALREADY THERE, BUT YOU NEED TO
ANYONE ELSE? WHAT DO YOU MEAN? PARTY? PARTY, PARTY.
WE'VE GONE FORTH AND 48 WITH DELETING.
I'M BLINDED BY YOUR I'M BLINDED BY YOUR BEAUTY.
CAN WE GO WITH MY PRESENTATION NOW? YES MA'AM BUT YOU DID TELL ME ABOUT 47.
WHAT DO YOU WANNA DO WITH THAT 47? YOU KNOW, PROCEEDING DON'T MARRY THE NEW, UH, DESPITE THE CHANGES IN THE NEW RECOMMENDATION WITH CHANGES, THERE ARE TO PROCEED.
WHAT ITEMS? 40 AND 41 46, 47, 55, 57 AND 58.
LOTS OF DIFFERENT
51 AND 52 FOR 90 DAYS, 54 AND 56.
IT'S DELETE ITEMS. 42 43, 59 AND 48.
DID I GET EVERYONE? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONDEMNATIONS MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DOES SECONDED BY ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION, ALL CONDEMNATIONS HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO OUR RECOGNITION PORTION AND COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS, ALONG WITH MAYOR PRO TEM, EXCUSE ME, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTERN ROME ARE GOING TO RECOGNIZE MR. LEWIS AND STEPHANIE ALLEN, THE BATTERIES, MINORITY ENTREPRENEURSHIP, OR PROBABLY PROGRAM COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.
IF YOU WATCH HIM, WE NEED YOU.
OH, HOW ABOUT THAT? THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR WAITING.
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL WITH KIDS AND COUNCIL, UM, COUNCIL MEETING, DON'T GO TOGETHER WELL, BUT THANK YOU.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE VIDEO.
THANK YOU MERE FOR HANGING IN THERE WITH US.
YOU READY? JUSTIN? WE'VE BEEN HAVING SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.
AS YOU CAN SEE, CONSTRUCTION BEHIND ME IS GOING ON AND RIGHT NOW, OH, WELL I AM STANDING INSIDE OF STONE.
CHRIS TARGET, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE CONSTRUCTION BEHIND ME IS GOING ON.
AND RIGHT NOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THIS TARGET BEING TRANSFORMED INTO A NEW BLACK WALL STREET MARKETPLACE? WE TALKED TO MR. BILL ALLEN, WHO IS THE DEVELOPER OWNER OF THE PRODUCT ABOUT THE NUMBERS OF RESTAURANT GROCERY STORE, ART CATALOGS, HAIR SALONS, JAZZ CLUBS, UH, THEATRICAL STAGES.
THIS PLACE WILL BE JUST OUTSTANDING ONCE THEY GET THROUGH WITH IT.
THIS COMING MAY STAY TUNE AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE TOOL FOR YOURSELF.
FIRST OF ALL, LET ME GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.
UM, I WAS KINDA MINDING MY OWN BUSINESS UP UNTIL A FEW YEARS AGO IN SEMINAR RETIREMENT, SPEND TIME HERE.
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MY LICENSE AWAY, BUT I GOT A LITTLE BIT, UH, BUSY WITH A MISSION STARTED ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO AND THAT WAS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER AND THE SIZE OF A WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS.AND TO BE VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT IT, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE DEATH OF GEORGE FORD HAS DONE FOR US, UH, HE HAS MADE IT OKAY FOR US TO SAY BLACK, UH, BUSINESSES AND BLACK AND NOT ALWAYS BE CORRECT.
NOW I AM ENTRUSTED AT ALL PEOPLE, BUT I'M ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN FIREBALL.
I JUST THINK THAT THIS COUNTRY BEING BUILT ON THE BACKS OF SLAVERY, WE DON'T OWN ENOUGH OF THIS COUNTRY AND WHICH WE HAVE BUILT, UH, A FEW OF US AND MANY OF US AT BAY FOR OUR HOMES.
MOST OF US ARE PAYING ON OUR HOME.
SO WE REALLY DON'T REALLY OWN VERY MUCH, UH, THAT IS, UH, AN ENTREPRENEURIAL MECCA, ESPECIALLY FOR ALL PEOPLE, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN, BUT EVEN IN THE GREAT CITY OF LAND OF ATLANTA, WE DON'T OWN ENOUGH OF THOSE BUILDINGS THAT ARE DOWNTOWN.
IN FACT, I'VE BEEN SEARCHING TO SEE WHICH ONES DO WE OWN, WHICH BUSINESSES DO WE ALL SO WINDED US ABOUT ALL THE HR PEOPLE TO ALL DESERTS.
WE MUST TEACH THEM TO OWN THINGS, BUT THEY FAIL THEM.
AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF BACKGROUND, UH, TRAINING THAT BASICALLY JOB THE OLD SAYING A PICTURE'S WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS SO MUCH SO OFTEN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME ON AND APPLAUDING ONE ANOTHER FOR PLANNING.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS, I THINK WE NEED TO BE TALKING MORE ABOUT SOLUTION AND NOT EXPLAINING WHAT THE PROBLEM WE KNOW, WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
WE, SOME OF US CAN ARTICULATE THEM BETTER THAN OTHERS, BUT WE NEED MORE PEOPLE.
SO I DECIDED TO TAKE MY TIME AND PUT MY RESOURCES ABOUT AND CREATE A PICTURE WHERE PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND WHO THIS IS A SMALL WAY OF BREAKING STUFF.
THE SOLUTION MR. ALLEN SAY, AT THE 125,000 SQUARE FOOT MARKETPLACE WILL BE USED TO CREATE MORE THAN 100 BLACK BUSINESSES.
HE HAS PLANNED FOR AIDING THE ENTREPRENEURS BY PROVIDING A CENTRAL LOCATION FOR SHOPPERS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THIS DEMOCRAT.
BEN, IF YOU'RE HERE FROM THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, UH, ALONG WITH THE MAYOR AND CITY OFFICIALS, IT WAS, UH, APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO, UH, THAT WE'VE PURCHASED, UH, OVER 380 PLAN IN WHICH HE DEVELOPED AN END TO NATIONAL WALL STREET BUILDING.
WE STILL HAVE THAT ON THE PLANS TO DO, BUT IN INVESTIGATING THAT AND LOOKING AT IT THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT WOULD TAKE TO GET SOMETHING WHERE PEOPLE COULD SEE THAT WE WERE SERIOUS ABOUT DOING IT WAS GOING TO TAKE SEVERAL YEARS IN TERMS OF PLANNING IN TERMS OF GETTING WALL STREET FINANCE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT WOULD TAKE THAT PROJECT.
THE FIRST PHASE WILL COST MORE THAN 350 30.
THAT'S JUST THE FIRST PHASE OF IT.
THE ENTIRE PHASE OF IT WOULD BE WHEN COMPLETED WILL BE ABOUT 1.5 BILLION.
SO WE DELAYED THAT PROVE OUR POINT, THAT WE'RE GOING TO CREATE ALL SHOPS HERE.
AND IF AN OPEN, AT LEAST SOME OF THEM, IF NOT AT LEAST HALF OF THEM, BY THE 100 ANNIVERSARY OF THE BURDEN OF BLACK WALL STREET, WHICH WAS KNOWN, UH, BY, UH, THE, THE NICKNAME OF THE GREEN WOOD, UH, DISTRICT IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THOSE OF, YOU KNOW, THE HISTORY THAT WAS BYRNE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, 1921, WE ARE NOW FACING 2021 AND WE WERE RACING THE CLOCK, GET STUMPED WITH OPEN HERE RATHER THAN MEMORIALIZED.
AND TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST.
WE NEED TO START LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE.
I SEE THE CITY OF STONECREST, GEORGIA AS THE FUTURE OF METTA OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN BUSINESSES BECAUSE OF ME HAVE A GREAT PERCENTAGE OF THEM THAT ARE ON ALREADY IN THIS DOWNTOWN AREA.
AND I WANT TO INCREASE THAT BY AT LEAST 100, ALL VARIOUS TYPES OF VISITS WELL AND SHOWED US HOW HE WILL TAKE THE SHELL OF A TARGET STORE AND CREATE BOUTIQUE AND DINING AND RESTAURANTS WITH A BOURBON STREET THEME, RETAIL SHOPS MEETING AT RECEPTION SPACE AND EXHIBIT HALL, AND A MUCH NEEDED GROCERY STORE ERRANDS, GOURMET MARKET POSTHUMOUSLY NAMED AFTER ALAN'S SON.
BILL ALLEN IS NOT THE ONLY PERSON EXCITED ABOUT THIS DEVELOPMENT.
WE SPOKE WITH CLARENCE BONE, THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AND MAYOR JASON, LARRY ABOUT THE IMPACT THE MARKETPLACE WILL HAVE ON STONES.
SO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I THINK ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO, I, UM, SENT AN EMAIL,
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UM, WITH AN ATTACHMENT FROM OUR MAYOR, INVITING ALL OF YOU ALL TO GO TO STONE CREST, GEORGIA.I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO FOR THE SOFT OPENING BACK IN MAY.
AND, UM, ALLEN, MR. BILL ALLEN HAS AN ALAN ENTREPRENEUR WORKSHOP AND TRAINING.
SO HE IS OPENING UP THE KISS, UM, STONE CREST, ALL OF HIS DIFFERENT HOLDINGS THAT HE HAS FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE TO SHOW US HOW IT IS IMPORTANT FOR, TO INCREASE OUR LANDSCAPE IN THIS CITY TO INCLUDE, UH, BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES AND MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES.
SO THIS IS JUST AN EYE, UH, INDICATION OF WHAT WE HAVE.
I'M GOING TO BRING UP, YOU WANT TO DO NEXT MAYOR OR OKAY.
AND I'M GOING TO BRING UP STEPHANIE ALLEN.
UH, STEPHANIE ALLEN IS AN ENTREPRENEUR HERE IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND, UM, HER HUSBAND, LOUIS ALLEN IS THE COUSIN TO BR ALLEN.
AND IT IS SUED THEM THAT I LEARNED ABOUT THE ALLEN ENTREPRENEURIAL WORKSHOP.
UM, IT'S AMAZING TO SEE WHAT HE'S DONE WHEN HE MOVED TO, UM, STONECREST.
IT WAS PART OF LATANYA, GEORGIA, NOTHING WAS THERE AND HE BOUGHT UP THE WHOLE CITY JUST ABOUT.
AND, UH, I JUST THINK IT'S A MODEL THAT WE CAN ABSOLUTELY DUPLICATE, NOT ONLY HERE IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, BUT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
SO I'M GOING TO BRING STEPHANIE ALLEN OUT AND THEN THE MAYOR, AND WE'LL CLOSE WITH THE PRESENTATION.
MY HUSBAND IS LOUIS ALLEN, AND UNFORTUNATELY, UM, WE HAVE A SON THAT'S, UH, DECIDED HE WANTS TO PLAY FOOTBALL TOO.
SO WE DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE HIM STRANDED.
WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW LONG THIS WAS GOING TO LAST, BUT, UM, WE ARE LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS, PROPERTY OWNERS, PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT, UH, EARTH, COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS, AND CONCERNED CITIZENS.
UM, WE'RE NOT WEALTHY YET GOD WILLING, BUT GOD'S NOT DONE WITH US YET, BUT WE DO BELIEVE IN PUTTING OUR RESOURCES INTO MAKING OUR OWN COMMUNITIES SAFE AND DECENT PLACES TO LIVE OF LIKE, UH, YOU ALL DO BELIEVE HERE, RIGHT? SO WITH A SMALL GROUP OF LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS, WE HAVE ACQUIRED A BLOCK OF COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE IN THE HISTORIC SCOTLANDVILLE COMMUNITY, JUST OUTSIDE OF THE CAMPUS OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, MANY ELDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY RECALL GROWING UP IN SCOTLAND BILL, AND IT WAS A THRIVING BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
THERE WERE GROCERY STORES, EATERIES, CLEANERS, PROFESSIONAL SERVICE PROVIDERS LIKE DENTISTS AND OPTOMETRISTS AND ATTORNEYS.
IT WAS A LUMBERYARD, A MOVIE THEATER AND A DRIVE IN JUST TO NAME A FEW.
WE WANT TO RESTORE THIS HISTORIC BLOCK IN THE SPIRIT OF BLACK WALL STREET, BECAUSE IT'S TIME FOR ACTION.
WE BELIEVE THAT LIKE CHINATOWN OR LITTLE ITALY, A BLACK BUSINESS AND CULTURAL DISTRICT WOULD ATTRACT TOURISTS AND LOCALS ALIKE AND SHOULD EXIST IN EVERY CITY, ESPECIALLY AROUND HBC USE.
WHEN YOU COME PAIR THE DEVELOPMENT AROUND SOUTHERN, AROUND LSU TO THE DEVELOPMENT AROUND SOUTHERN UNITY DIVERSITY, IT'S REALLY AN EMBARRASSMENT FOR OUR CITY, OUR MENTOR AND COUSIN, MR. BILL ALLEN, FOUNDER OF THE ALLEN ENTREPRENEURIAL INSTITUTE IN STONECREST, GEORGIA IS ACTUALLY PUTTING HIS RESOURCES BEHIND BUILDING THE NEW BLACK WALL STREET MARKET.
AND WE FEEL IT COULD BE REALLY BE A BENCHMARK FOR HOW BLACK BUSINESS DISTRICTS CAN LOOK NATIONWIDE.
AND WE WANT BATON ROUGE TO BE ON THE FOREFRONT OF THAT.
WE KNOW THAT SEEING IS BELIEVING SO ALONG WITH MAYOR BROOM AND COUNCIL, WOMAN, SHAUNA BANKS, WE'RE INVITING YOU, OUR CITY LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS AND ACTIVISTS WHO ALL WANT TO SEE BATON ROUGE, ENJOY THE FRUITS OF IT, EQUITABLE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO GO WITH US TO STONECREST GEORGIA ON LABOR DAY WEEKEND, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THEY OR STIMULATING THE GROWTH OF MORE WOMEN AND MEN.
I ALREADY OWN BUSINESSES IN THE CITY OF STONE CLASS AND TO DETERMINE IF WE CAN IMPLEMENT SOME OF THOSE STRATEGIES HERE IN THE CAPITAL CITY, REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN AND COUNCILWOMAN BANKS CONSIDER ANYONE INTERESTED WITH THE LINKS I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN GENERAL.
I JUST WANTED TO, FIRST OF ALL,
[00:30:01]
JUST THANK VERY QUICKLY.UH, STEPHANIE AND HER HUSBAND, UH, LOUIS ALLEN FOR THEIR VISION OF WANTING TO EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITIES.
I THINK SHE SAID IT VERY DISTINCTLY.
WE HAVE TALKED SO LONG IN OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT, UM, MAKING SURE THAT WE UPLIFT THOSE COMMUNITIES OF DISINVESTMENT.
AND THIS IS CERTAINLY A VISION THAT CAN BE EMBRACED TO DO THAT.
UH, THE TRIP THAT EVERYONE IS INVITED TO IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CANVAS TRIP BECAUSE, UH, MANY OF US HAVE BEEN ON CAMPUS TRIPS, WHETHER IT'S BEEN TO CINCINNATI TO AUSTIN.
AND SO NOW HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO ON A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CAMPUS TRIP TO ATLANTA.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN BANKS, UH, FOR BRINGING, UH, STEPHANIE AND HER HUSBAND LOUIS, AND TO MY OFFICE TO TALK ABOUT THEIR VISION FOR UPLIFTING COMMUNITIES OF DISINVESTMENT.
AND PLEASE CONSIDER TAKING THAT CAMPUS TRIP TO STONECREST.
THANK YOU THAT FOR CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION PRESENTED TO LOUIS AND STEPHANIE ALLEN FOR SHARING YOUR TIME, RESOURCES AND COMMITMENT TO, TO DIVERSIFY THE BUSINESS LANDSCAPE OR BY OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE ALLAN ENTREPRENEUR INSTITUTE, BATON ROUGE, MINORITY ENTREPRENEURSHIP, ENTREPRENEURSHIP EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING PATIENT.
WE'RE GOING TO NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM 60, UH, BEFORE WE DO THAT AS ALWAYS, I WANT TO THANK THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE, WHO WORK, UH, FOR OUR CITY PASS.
AND WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
WE APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'RE DOING OUR COMMUNITY.
WANT TO THANK OUR VISITORS FOR BEING HERE WITH US AS WELL.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO ITEM 60 NOW.
AND SO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE STANDING AGAINST THE WALL, IF YOU DON'T MIND HAVING A SEAT, WE WANT TO KEEP THE RIGHT NUMBERS FOR, UH, CAPACITY ISSUES HERE.
UH, WE DO KNOW THAT SOME MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO WAS STANDING AGAINST THE WALL, YOU GUYS ARE FINE.
UH, BUT FOR THE REST OF YOU, WE ASK YOU TO TAKE A SEAT.
UH, TONIGHT, UH, WE HAVE SOME MEMBERS OF OUR PUBLIC WHO WERE HERE ON THE EIGHTH FLOOR, WHO MAY COME DOWN TO SPEAK ON AN, AN ITEM, UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE FOR A PARTICULAR ITEM, ONCE THAT ITEM HAS BEEN HEARD, AND YOU'VE HAD YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, WE ASK THAT YOU KINDLY ALLOW ANYONE ELSE WHO MAY WANT TO ENTER THE CHAMBER FOR AN ITEM.
UH, THEY WANT TO SPEAK ON TO DO SO.
[Items 60 - 62 ]
60, A RESOLUTION PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, CITY OF BATON ROUGE.AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN THE SUMMARY OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, EXECUTIVE BRANCH UPDATES ATTACHED HERE TO ORDERING THE CALLING OF AN ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE PARIS OF EAST BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, THE PARIS ON NOVEMBER 13TH, 2021 FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE BOLDNESS OF THE PIRATES TO PROPOSE, TO AMEND MR. PLANET GOVERNMENT, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN THE SUMMARY OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, EXECUTIVE BRANCH UPDATES ATTACHED HERE TO MAKING APPLICATIONS TO LOUISIANA STATE BOND COMMISSION, TO PROVIDING NOTICE THAT THE PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION BY THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ACTING AS THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE PARISH SHOULD BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11TH, 2021 AT 4:00 PM AT THE REGULAR MEETING PLACE OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.
THIRD FLOOR OF CITY HALL ROOM 3 48, 2 2 2 ST.
LOUIS STREET BATTERIES WILL BE THE ANA AND PROVIDING FOR ALL FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THERE WITH, BY COUNCIL MEMBER, ROWDY, CODY.
WE DO HAVE, UH, SPEAKER REQUESTS AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ALL THREE ITEMS TOGETHER, ITEM 61, A RESOLUTION PROPOSING AMENDMENTS OF THE PLANET, GOVERNMENT OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE.
AND THE CITY OF BATON WAS PLANNED.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBING THE SUMMARY PROPOSAL MEMBERS IN THE PLANET GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE, AND HE'S ORDERING AND CALLING OVER THE ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 13TH, 2021.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING THE VOTERS OF PARIS WHO PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE PLAN, THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO PARTICULAR DESCRIBING THE SUMMER OF PROPOSAL MEMBERS OF THE PLAN, THE GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE OF DAYS ATTACHED HERE TO MAKE AN APPLICATION LOUISIANA STATE BOND COMMISSION PROVIDING NOTICE THAT A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ACTING AS THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE PARENTS, SHE'LL BE ABLE TO AUGUST 11TH, 2021 AT 4:00 PM AT THE REGULAR MEETING PLACE OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.
THIRD FLOOR OF CITY HALL, 8 48, 2 2 2 ST.
LOUIS STREET, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THAT WENT BY COUNCIL NUMBER ROWDY, GO DATE ITEM 62, AND RESOLUTION PROPOSING AMENDMENTS OF THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT OF PARENTS.
IF HE'S BETTER WITH CITY OF BATTLE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBING THE SUMMER PROPOSED TO MEMBERS OF THE PLANET, GOVERNMENT LEGISLATIVE BRANDS ORDERING THEIR CALLING OF ELECTION TO HAVE THE PARIS OF EAST BETTER STATE OF LOUISIANA TO PARIS ON NOVEMBER 13TH, 2021, FOR THE
[00:35:01]
PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING THE VOTERS, THE PARIS OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBING THE SUMMARY OF PROPOSAL MEMBERS, THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT LEGISLATIVE BRANCH UPDATES ATTACHED HERE TO MAKING THE APPLICATION LOUISIANA STATE BOND COMMISSION PROVIDED NOTICE THAT THE PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION BY THE METROPOLITAN KIND OF ACTING AS THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE PARIS SHALL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 1120 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11TH, 2021 AT 4:00 PM AT THE REGULAR MEETING PLACE OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.THIRD FLOOR CITY HALL ROOM 3 48, 2 2 2 ST.
LOUIS STREET, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THAT WENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROWDY, GO THERE, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE'RE GOING TO SUM ALL THREE ITEMS TOGETHER FOR A PUBLIC HEARING, BUT WE'LL VOTE ON ALL THREE SEPARATELY.
WE DO HAVE SOME SPEAKER REQUESTS, UH, WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR, MR.
UM, ED, LOOK, IF HE 2, 3, 4, 6 ON HILLS BOULEVARD, PRESIDENT FEDERATION OF GREATER BATON ROUGE, CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS, I'M HERE TONIGHT TO EXPRESS SUPPORT OF THE PROCESS USED BY COUNCILMAN GO DAY TO EDUCATE THE CITIZENS OF THE PARISH ON THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH PLAN OF GOVERNMENT.
I PERSONALLY ATTENDED THE FEDERATION'S TOWN HALL PRESENTATION AND THAT ABAR MY RESPECTIVE COUNCIL DISTRICT, THE FORMAT OF THE PRESENTATION SEGREGATED, THE NUMEROUS ROUTINE ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROCEDURAL CHANGES FROM THE FEWER CONTENTIOUS AND SUBSTANTIVE PROPOSALS.
WHAT'S GARNERED MOST OF THE PUBLIC'S QUESTIONS, FEEDBACK, AND QUITE HONESTLY, OPPOSITION THE THREE PROPOSALS HERE TONIGHT ARE FOCUSED ON THE NUMEROUS ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROCEDURAL ISSUES, WHICH RECEIVED LIMITED FEEDBACK OR OPPOSITION, AND THEREFORE A GREATER CHANCE OF VOTER SUPPORT.
THIS ALSO WILL ALLOW SOME ADDITIONAL TIME TO DISCUSS THEM TO DISCUSS THE MORE SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES AFTER THIS ELECTION.
WE APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN GODADDY'S LEADERSHIP AND CHAMPIONING THE AWARENESS AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR VOTERS TO CONSIDER A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY A TWO YEAR EFFORT OF THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT AMENDMENT COMMITTEE TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS AND THE EFFICIENCY OF THE CITY PARISH GOVERNMENT.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE TONYA AND IRONMAN AND MISS.
I DO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW, WE'RE ONLY HAVING ONE PUBLIC HEARING.
I KNOW THAT SHE REQUESTED TO SPEAK THREE TIMES, SO I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE EXTRA TIME.
UH, BUT I, UH, WE ONLY HAVE A ONE PART.
WE CAN'T REALLY FOLLOW UP THREE ITEMS. I JUST WANTED TO INFORM YOU THAT.
TAILOR MY REMARKS, UH, AS BEST I CAN.
UM, MY NAME'S TANYA AND I AM IN, AND I'M GOING TO SPELL THAT FOR EVERYBODY.
UM, AND SO, YES, UM, I'M IN SOUTH DOWNS, UH, COUNCILWOMAN ROCKETS DISTRICT, AND I'M HERE TO ASK THAT YOU, UH, VOTE TO OPPOSE OR TO DIVERT DEFER THESE ITEMS. UM, THERE'S NO WAY THAT EVEN WITH A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA TIME, OVER THREE MINUTES, I COULD EXPRESS ALL OF MY CONCERNS ABOUT IT.
THAT'S WHY I DID WRITE A BLOG POST CALLED ENTITLED DEVILS IN THE DETAILS.
AND YOU CAN FIND THAT ON MY WEBSITE@TONYANYMAN.COM, UM, FOR THOSE IN THE ROOM, I HAVE A LITTLE QR CODE IF YOU WANT TO SCAN IT.
UM, AND, UH, SINCE IT IS ALL THREE ITEMS, I'M GONNA LET EVERYBODY GO TO THE WEBSITE TO READ THAT DOCUMENT.
I HOPE THEY'LL READ IT CAREFULLY AND UNDERSTAND WHY I WAS OPPOSED TO ALL THREE RESOLUTIONS, BUT I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS.
UM, ONE Y'ALL DO NEED MORE TIME IN ORDER TO CONSIDER THESE THINGS.
METRO COUNCILMEN MEMBERS NEED MORE TIME TO FULLY VET THESE, UH, ITEMS AND TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND ALL THE IMPLICATIONS.
AND I'VE HEARD SUGGESTIONS THAT, OH, WE SHOULD SEND IT TO THE VOTERS AND LET THEM UNDERSTAND AND MAKE THE DECISION.
BUT IN FACT, THAT IS AN APPLICATION OF REALLY THE METRO COUNCILS, A RESPONSIBILITY.
AND IF SOMEONE'S TELLING YOU THAT, OH NO, YOU JUST NEED TO SEND IT TO THE VOTERS.
YOU SHOULD JUST REMIND THEM THAT NO, WE'RE A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC.
AND WE ELECT OFFICIALS TO REPRESENT US AND OUR CON AND OUR INTER REPRESENT CONSTITUENTS AND OUR INTERESTS.
AND WE EXPECT YOU TO DO THAT CAREFUL VETTING PROCESS IN LIEU OF US.
WE ARE THE CHECK ON IT AT THE BALLOT BOX, RIGHT, BUT Y'ALL ARE SUPPOSED TO DO THE INVESTIGATION AND YOU NEED TIME TO DO THAT.
AND SO I CERTAINLY THINK DEFERRING THIS AT THE VERY LEAST, UM, OR I WOULD HOPE TO START FROM SCRATCH, BUT YOU KNOW, THAT Y'ALL WOULD BE MORE FULLY ENGAGED IN THAT PROCESS SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.
UM, ALSO THE, UM, PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS THIS SUMMER, UM, HAD, UH, QUITE A BIT TO BE DESIRED.
UM, NOW COUNCILMAN GO DAY, DID A VERY NICE PRESENTATION.
HE DID, AND HE BROKE IT OUT NICELY
[00:40:01]
FOR FOLKS, BUT IT WAS NONETHELESS JUST THE ARGUMENTS AND REASONING AND FAVOR WITH VERY LITTLE INPUT FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE OPPOSED OR HAD CONCERNS.AND THEN QUITE FRANKLY, THERE WAS VERY LITTLE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, VERY FEW PEOPLE, VERY SMALL NUMBERS AT THE MEETINGS.
AND A LOT OF THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE, UM, AWARENESS ABOUT THE MEETINGS GOING ON.
COUNCILMAN GILDAY MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES THAT HE REACHED OUT TO MEDIA TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE, TO SHOW UP, YOU KNOW, TO LET THE WORD OUT THAT THE MEETINGS WERE GOING ON AND THE MEDIA DEEMED THE, UM, ISSUE, NOT NEWSWORTHY, WASN'T IMPORTANT ENOUGH FOR VIEWERS AND READERS TO KNOW ABOUT IT.
AND SO THAT BRINGS ME TO THE THIRD ITEM FOR WHY OR MY THIRD POINT FOR MY SEVEN SECONDS, UM, IS THAT IF WE PUT IT TO THE BALLOT, THEN THE READERS NEED MORE TIME TO CAREFULLY VET THIS.
HE GAVE YOU ANOTHER THAT'S THE EXTRA DEPEND UPON OUR LOCAL MEDIA AND THE, AND I THINK THEIR ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS MATTER IS INDICATIVE OF THE FACT THAT THEY CAN'T BE ENTRUSTED TO PROPERLY EDUCATE THE VOTERS IN THIS COMMUNITY, RIGHT.
IT, AND I'M NOT SLIDING THE STAFF REPORTERS AND THE NEWS REPORTERS BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN, BUT THE TURNOVER IN THOSE POSITIONS, VERY FEW OF THEM HAVE THE BREADTH OF KNOWLEDGE OR UNDERSTANDING TO RECOGNIZE AND MAKE THOSE DECISIONS THEY'RE DEPENDENT UPON THEIR EDITORS.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, APPARENTLY BASED ON THEIR RECOGNITION OR THE LACK OF RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE, THEY CAN'T FIND THEIR WAY OUT OF A PAPER BAG TO KNOW WHAT'S IMPORTANT.
AND SO, AND THEN THEIR COVERAGE OF IT IS YOU CAN WRAP IT UP EXTRA MINUTE.
UH, THANK YOU, UM, COUNSELING.
SO JUST, UM, ANOTHER REASON NOT TO SEND IT DIRECTLY TO VOTERS BECAUSE WE NEED MORE INFORMATION, THEY NEED MORE INFORMATION AND THEY NEED TO INVESTIGATE A VARIETY OF SOURCES.
AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE JENNIFER CARLYLE EDUCATE.
I'M JENNIFER CARDWELL, 1855 OLD CARRIAGE LANE.
UM, I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT, UH, UH, NOT BEING IN FAVOR OF PASSING THIS ON TO THE VOTERS AT THIS TIME.
UM, AND THERE ARE MANY REASONS FOR THAT WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF COVID STILL, UH, SO ELECTIONS ARE GOING TO BE, UH, UH, NOT WELL ATTENDED.
UM, WE'VE GOT THE CENSUS THAT WE'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH.
GEORGE WE'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH.
UM, BUT I'VE GOT A, UH, UM, REASONS THAT I WANT TO GO A LITTLE MORE IN DEPTH WITH.
UM, I'VE HEARD A LOT THAT, OH, WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT LANGUAGE.
UH, BUT WHEN I ASKED PEOPLE, THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT THE NEW LANGUAGE.
UM, I'VE TALKED TO METRO COUNCIL PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO LAWYERS, I'VE TALKED TO MEMBERS OF CITY GOVERNMENT.
AND WHEN I ASKED SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, I HEAR WELL, THAT PROBABLY MEANS, UM, I THINK THAT MEANS I'M NOT SURE I'LL HAVE TO ASK IF YOU HAVE TO ASK AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME AND IT'S PROBABLY, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS, AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU ONE SPECIFIC EXAMPLE.
UM, I'M LOOKING AT, UH, SECTION 4.06 FINANCING OF THE MAYOR PRESIDENT'S OFFICE.
SO IT TALKS ABOUT COMPENSATION FOR THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND ALL OTHER EXPENSES OF HIS OR HER OFFICE SHALL BE PROVIDED BY APPROPRIATIONS MADE BY THE METRO COUNCIL UPON THE ADVICE AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE MAYOR PRESIDENT.
SO THAT'S A VERY SPECIFIC, UH, ALTHOUGH IT'S STILL VAGUE BECAUSE WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? I WAS TOLD THAT PROBABLY MEANS THE BUDGET.
SO WE'LL ASSUME THAT MEANS THE MAYOR GIVES YOU A BUDGET.
THEN WE TALK ABOUT ADDING, UH, SPECIFICS FOR THE, UH, THE CAO.
UM, THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IS ONE OF THE MAYOR'S STAFF.
SO THAT SHOULD FALL UNDER ALL OTHER EXPENSIVE OF HIS OFFICE, HIS OR HER OFFICE.
HOWEVER, IT ADDS A SECTION THERE THAT SAYS ANYTHING IN THIS CHAPTER, THE CONTRARY, NOT WITHSTANDING THE COMPENSATION OF THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER AND ALL THEIR EXPENSES OF HIS OR HER OFFICE SHALL BE PROVIDED BY APPROPRIATIONS MADE BY THE METRO COUNCIL.
NOW I'VE ASKED SEVERAL WHY IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORDING BETWEEN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THIS AND THAT? I GO, THAT PROBABLY JUST MEANS IT'S THE BUDGET I'VE HEARD.
WELL, EVENTS LEAVES IT OPEN TO, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PUSH FOR, UM, UH, THE WORDS FOR, UH, OH, SOMEBODY'S, UM, CITY MANAGER.
[00:45:01]
I STARTED READING THIS PLAN OF GOVERNMENT IN FEBRUARY ON OUR SNOW DAY.I HAVE HAD TO READ IT MANY TIMES BECAUSE IT KEEPS EVOLVING THIS 4.07, JUST ARRIVED.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S ULTERIOR MOTIVES HERE.
THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON HERE.
I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW, BUT IF WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THIS MEANS, IT'S NOT READY TO GO TO THE VOTERS.
THANK YOU, MS. CARLISLE, NEXT WE'LL HEAR FROM ANGEL BRADFORD ANGEL BRADFORD OPPOSE.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 60, 61 AND 62.
YOU WANT TO SPEAK ITEM? COME ON UP, SIR.
THIS IS WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
MY NAME IS ROBIN MOLDER, 92 65 BERMUDA AVENUE.
UH, THIS IS A CHANGE IN THE CONSTITUTION OF OUR CITY.
IT'S BEING DONE DURING AN EPIDEMIC, AND IT'S GOING TO BE IF APPROVED, VOTED ON DURING A BY-ELECTION, WE'LL HAVE LOW TURNOUT.
THIS SEEMS TO SMACK OF SOMEONE TRYING TO GET SOMETHING THEY DON'T THINK WOULD HAVE WIDE POPULAR SUPPORT, WHICH IS WHY I WOULD ASK THE COUNCIL AND MY REPRESENTATIVE IN PARTICULAR TO, UH, MS. ADAMS WHO, UH, UH, NOT SUPPORT THIS ONE THING, ESPECIALLY THAT CONCERNS ME.
IF THE CITY OF ST GEORGE DOES OCCUR, NONE OF US KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT IF YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THEY HAVE A CITY AND THE WHOLE REST OF THE CITY, WHICH IS WHERE I LIVE, I'M IN AN INCORPORATED AREA IS NOT SEPARATELY REPRESENTED.
THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MEMBERS ON THE COUNCIL WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS ONLY TO A SUBSET OF THE CITY.
AND I, AND MY INTEREST IN THE INTEREST OF THE OTHER RESIDENTS OF THE INCORPORATED AREAS WILL NOT BE SERVED AND WE WILL BE LESSER CITIZEN.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR AT ALL.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE NEED TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 60, 61 TO 62 FROM ONE NOW, STEPHANIE ALLEN.
I JUST WANTED TO, UM, VOICE MY OPPOSITION AS WELL.
EVERYBODY ELSE STATED IT BEAUTIFULLY.
UM, AND AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN, THE FACT THAT I JUST HEARD ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY IS QUITE ALARMING TO ME AND I, I, UM, WOULD IMPLORE THE COUNCIL TO GIVE THE VOTERS AND THE CITIZENS MORE TIME TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON.
AND THEN LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 60, 61 AND 62.
MY NAME IS EDGAR CAGE FOR 3 0 2 MELBOURNE STREET, CONSTANTLY BIKES MYSTERY, TOO.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS RESOLUTION.
NUMBER ONE HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY STATED.
IT HADN'T BEEN PROPERLY VETTED.
AND WHAT WAS VETTED WAS ALREADY DETERMINED BEFORE IT GOT TO THE, TO THE PUBLIC PEOPLE ARE NOT APART.
WHEN I SAY PEOPLE, THE PUBLIC WERE NOT A PART OF THE INITIAL PROCESS.
YOU KNOW, THE GAME WAS OVER THE GAME WAS OVER WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE PEOPLE.
WE SAW A REPLAY, WE WERE NOT IN THE GAME TO FIGHT AND, AND, YOU KNOW, PUTTING THIS THING ON THE BALLOT IS LIKE, IF WE LOOK IN ON THE STATE LEVEL, THOSE CONSTITUTIONAL MEMBERS, WE UNDERSTAND THOSE.
NO ONE, NO ONE WILL UNDERSTAND THIS BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE UNAWARE.
IT WAS HAPPENING AND THEY LESS AWARE OF WHAT'S INVOLVED, BUT WHAT'S INVOLVED WILL HAVE MAJOR COMPLICATIONS ON US, NOT TODAY, NOT TOMORROW, BUT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
AND WE CAN'T GET CLEAR CUT ANSWERS.
I WOULD LIKE FOR THE SOMEBODY'S PARENT'S ATTORNEY SOMEONE TO COME UP HERE AND EXPLICITLY STATE THAT, IS THERE ANY IMPLICATIONS ON TAXATION IN THIS PLAN OF GOVERNMENT? WHAT THINGS REMAIN THE SAME? UH, WHAT WILL, WHAT WILL THE EFFECT BE? BECAUSE WHEN WE REMOVED SECTION 1.1, ONE, UM, THAT DEALS WITH LIMITATION ON TAXATION, IT WAS REMOVED FOR A PURPOSE.
IF IT HAS NO EFFECT, IT WOULD HAVE STAYED IN.
SO ASKING YOU PLEASE TO GIVE THE PUBLIC A CHANCE TO REAL PUBLIC, NOT JUST A FEW INSIDERS, BUT THE REAL PUBLIC, AN OPPORTUNITY TO AT LEAST VET THIS THING.
AND IF YOU HAVE THAT MUCH CONFIDENCE, THAT IS GOOD FOR THIS CITY AND GOOD FOR THIS PARISH, YOU WILL NOT FEAR WHAT I'M SAYING.
[00:50:01]
BECAUSE THEN YOU WILL BE ASSURED AND COMFORTABLE THAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS HAD A CHANCE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND IT.ANYONE HERE, WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 60, 61 OR 62 TOMORROW.
NOW, SIR, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE, SIR.
UH, QUENTIN ANTHONY ANDERSON, UH, 6 21 LAUREL STREET, THE DISTRICT.
I'M NOT HAVING THE NORMAL GOOD HAIR DAY THAT I NORMALLY DO HAVE, BUT I WILL.
I WANTED TO, UH, JUST SORT OF BE A LITTLE BIT REDUNDANT, BUT I THINK THAT IT, UH, IMPLIES HOW MUCH PASSION THERE IS ON THIS ISSUE.
THE FIRST POINT IS THAT ONE, I THINK THAT IT HAS BEEN DISINGENUOUS HOW THIS PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, SOME OF THESE CHANGES, UH, HAVE BEEN PRESENTED, UH, SAYING THAT IT IS SIMPLY A MIRROR LANGUAGE CHANGE PRONOUNS.
THEY, YOU KNOW HIM TODAY, UH, THAT DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FACT THAT THINGS LIKE RURAL AND URBAN INCORPORATED AND UNINCORPORATED HAVE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES.
AND SO IT'S DISINGENUOUS TO SAY IT'S JUST A LANGUAGE CHANGE.
I THINK IT, IT FEELS SORT OF LIKE TRYING TO PULL THE WOOL OVER PEOPLE'S EYES.
YOU DON'T ALL THE ONE L'S IN BATON ROUGE.
KNOW THAT, UH, THE SECOND THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT THERE ARE AMENDMENTS HERE THAT, UH, HAVE BEEN TRADITIONALLY HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL, UH, MEANING THIS SHOULD NOT BE SOMETHING THAT WE TRY TO SNEAK IN DURING A PANDEMIC AND TRY TO GET TO THE VOTERS DURING WHAT WE ALL KNOW IS GOING TO BE A LOW TURNOUT ELECTION.
UH, WHEN WE VOTE ON THESE ISSUES THAT HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN CONTROVERSIAL, UH, WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF PARTICIPATION, UH, NOT TRY TO SNEAK THESE SORT OF THINGS THEN.
AND THEN THE LAST THING, OBVIOUSLY LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IS SAYING THE LATE NOTICE, UH, ABOUT ALL OF THIS, IT JUST SMELLS FUNNY.
AND I THINK THAT THE VOTERS IN BATON ROUGE, THE ACTIVISTS IN BATON ROUGE, UM, HELD THE DOGS AND THE CATS AND BATON ROUGE.
UH, THEY, THEY, THEY CAN SMELL, UH, SOMETHING SINISTER, UH, PRETTY, PRETTY EASILY.
UH, THIS TOWN HAS A LONG HISTORY OF TRYING TO SWEEP THINGS UNDER THE RUG.
LET'S NOT DO THAT THIS TIME, NOT WITH THIS COUNCIL.
UH, LET'S TRY TO, UH, GET PAST SOME OF OUR OLD BAD BEHAVIOR AND BAD HABITS.
UH, SO YOU WANT TO HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 60, 61 AND 62.
YOU TOLD ME NO, THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
UM, CAITLIN JOSHUA, I'M 48, 21.
AND IT'S WILD ROAD, DISTRICT 11.
UM, JUST REALLY SIMPLE FOR US, FOR THE FOLKS THAT WE ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF, FOR THE FOLKS.
I MEAN, I'VE BEEN IN BATON ROUGE MY WHOLE LIFE.
UM, SO I AM PART OF THE FOLKS AND FOR US, BUT JUST BRINGING THIS DATA TO US OR THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS BEFORE REDISTRICTING CENSUS DATA'S RELEASED IS REALLY A RED FLAG.
UM, FOR US, IT'S ALSO ABOUT URGENCY, RIGHT? SO WHY IS IT, WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE NOW? WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE THE NOVEMBER 13TH ELECTION? SO I THINK IT'S, UM, A BETTER STATEMENT.
IF WE PUT OUT ALL THE FACTS, DO REAL PUBLIC MEETINGS, POST COVID-19 PANDEMIC WITH REAL CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AFTER WE'VE HAD THOSE REDISTRICTING CONVERSATIONS, THE REDISTRICTING SESSIONS, AND THE SENSE OF STATUS HERE FOR ALL OF US TO LOOK AT TOGETHER.
AND SO THAT, UM, THAT IS MY STATEMENT.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK OF ITEM 60, 61 AND 62.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MIKE MCCLANAHAN, 33 13, GOVERNOR THE STREET.
WHY DON'T YOU DON'T STAY ON TOPIC.
SO I LOVE THE CITY PARENTS MONEY, BUT I REPRESENT THE NAACP NAACP.
UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN I, WHEN I, UH, WHEN I HEARD THAT THIS ISSUE WAS COMING BEFORE THE COUNCIL, I THOUGHT THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME.
I'VE BEEN HERE ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS TALKING ABOUT THESE SAME ISSUES THAT DON'T MATTER TO NOBODY, BUT A FEW.
IF THIS IS GOING TO BE TRULY A, A CITY, A PARISH, AS MS. BANKS BROUGHT SOMEONE FOR TO BE GREAT, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE CHANGES.
I WAS ON THAT COMMISSION AND I STOPPED GOING TO THE MEETINGS BECAUSE IT WAS A SHAM.
WHENEVER THEY BROUGHT THE METERS TO THE PUBLIC, WE LET THEM KNOW.
BUT SINCE SHAM, YOU KNOW, I HATE THAT YOU ALL BROUGHT GO A ROUTE AND GO THEY INTO THIS PITCHER BECAUSE HE'S A GOOD GUY, MAKE HIM LOOK LIKE HE'S NOT A GOOD GUY.
AND I KNOW HE IS BECAUSE HE'S, HE'S CARRYING SOMEBODY ELSE'S DIRTY WATER.
IF YOU REALLY WANTED TO BRING SOMETHING TO THE VOTERS, TO LET THEM DECIDE WHAT TYPE OF GOVERNMENT THEY SHOULD BE PUT ASIDE.
THIS, THIS PARISH GOVERNMENT AND THE OTHER, THE OLD FORM OF GOVERNMENT THAT SAYS BATON ROUGE HAS ITS OWN CITY AND ITS OWN PARISH.
LET'S UNTIED THEM AT THAT TO THE VOTERS.
LET THEM DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS CITY PARISH FORM OF GOVERNMENT, BECAUSE THE CITIZENS OF BATON ROUGE DON'T BENEFIT FROM IT.
WE DON'T BECAUSE WE HAVE, IF THE CITY IS PREDOMINANTLY BLACK, WE WOULD HAVE A PREDOMINANTLY
[00:55:01]
BLACK COUNCIL.IF THE PARENTS PREDOMINANTLY BLACK WOULD HAVE PREDOMINANT BACK A FORMER PARISH GOVERNMENT, THEY COULD BE SEPARATE THE NUMBERS.
THE LINES ARE ALREADY THERE FOR US TO HAVE THE SEAT IN BATON ROUGE, COUNCIL.
IT'S YOUR CITY COURT, THOSE SAME NUMBERS, THOSE SAME LINES, OR THERE FOR US.
WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE VOTERS AND SAY, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SACK? YOU ALL COULD DECIDE FOR US RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU SEARCH YOUR HEARTS, THINK ABOUT THIS.
WE GOT TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT TODAY.
AND WE DIDN'T DO IT ANY OTHER TIME.
IT'S NOT READY TO HOW YOU START THE LITTLE RACE.
IT'S HOW YOU FINISH BATON ROUGE.
SHE WANT US TO FINISH STRONG OTHER THAN BEING THE LAUGHING STOCK OF LOUISIANA OF THE COUNTRY.
THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS NOT THAT HAVE TO COME IN EVERY DAY AND TELL YOU WHAT TO DO.
YOU GO TO CHURCH, PRAY TO THE LORD.
YOU KNOW HOW TO DO THAT? TAKE THIS TO THE PHONE AND LET THE VERDICT ASIDE.
YOU KNOW, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DECIDE ON WHETHER I WANT TO WEAR WHITE SOCKS OR PINK SOCKS.
BUT KIND OF SOUTH SOMEWHERE CHANGES FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
I WON'T COME BACK, BUT IF YOU DECIDED TO PUT ME OUT, I GOT SOME GOOD LAWYERS WHO KNOW HOW TO SUE.
UH, ANYONE ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 60, 61, 62 WAS CHANGED.
I UNDERSTAND TIM, GOOD AFTERNOON TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SOME OF YOU, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN YOU.
UH, BUT I'M SURE YOU KNOW WHO I AM.
UH, I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD NOT APPROVE.
AND THAT'S A HARD THING FOR ME TO SAY PUBLICLY, BECAUSE I REALLY BELIEVE THAT TOO OFTEN, WE PRAISE EACH OTHER SO MUCH THAT WHEN WE ARE CRITICAL, IT'S HARD TO PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT PERSONAL, RIGHT? THIS IS AN ABOMINATION TO TRY TO BRING.
WHEN WE KNOW THAT THESE ELECTIONS THAT WE'VE HAD HAVE HAD LOW TURNOUT, ALL, Y'ALL GOING TO BE HERE FOR FOUR YEARS, AT LEAST, BUT MAYBE ONE IS ABOUT TO LEAVE.
BUT THE REST OF Y'ALL ARE GOING TO BE HERE FOR SOME TIME.
SO WHY NOT WAIT TILL YOU UP FOR REELECTION? WHEN WE KNOW THE MOST PEOPLE IN OUR PARENTS WOULD SHOW UP TO VOTE, WHICH IS IN 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, WE LOVE TO SNEAK THINGS ON THESE LOW TURNOUT ELECTIONS, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE GOT ST.
AND HE MENTIONED WHERE WE KNEW THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WEREN'T GOING TO SHOW UP WHERE A SEGMENT OF THE PARENTS GOT TO DECIDE THE DESTINY OF THE ENTIRE PARISH.
THAT IS NOT WHAT A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT.
ANOTHER THING, THESE THINGS IN SOME WAY, STRIP POWER FROM THE MAYOR, NOT WE ONLY GOT ONE POSITION THAT BLACK FOLKS HOLD IN THIS PARISH PARISH.
WHY NOT? THAT MAY NOT MATTER TO SOME OF YOU, BUT THAT MATTERS TO US.
IF YOU LIVED IN A COMMUNITY WHERE YOU MAKE UP 56% OF THE CITY, AND YOU ARE AT PARODY IN THE PARISH, WOULD YOU BE OKAY WITH THE PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT YOU NOT LOOKING LIKE YOU, NOT COMING FROM THE SAME BACKGROUND AS YOU NOT HAVING THE SAME CULTURAL UNDERSTANDINGS AS YOU, YOU WOULDN'T.
YOU KNOW HOW WE KNOW? BECAUSE EVERY TIME WE INCH CLOSER TO BLACK FOLKS CONTROLLING THIS COUNCIL, WE CHANGE THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT.
WE CREATE A NEW MUNICIPALITY BECAUSE SEPARATE BUT EQUAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE WAY OF THIS COUNTRY, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHATEVER LITTLE MECHANISMS WE CAN USE WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT TO CHANGE THE RULES, TO KEEP SURE THAT WE PLAY AT A DISADVANTAGE THAT'S WRONG.
AND PEOPLE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO COME OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.
WHEN PEOPLE IN OUR STATE, THE WORST IN THE COUNTRY ARE BEING RAVAGED WITH A VIRUS TO TRY AND FIGHT FOR OUR DEMOCRACY TO STAY INTACT IS WRONG.
IT'S TRUE AS AMERICAN AS APPLE PIE THOUGH, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE CONSISTENTLY DEAL WITH AS BLACK VOTERS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
NOW THIS COUNCIL HAS SHOWN THAT IT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE LAST, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
THAT'S WHY I'VE TAKEN SO LONG TO COME HERE, BECAUSE IT IS NOT OUR JOB TO FIGHT YOU.
WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.
WHAT IS JUST, WHAT IS EQUITABLE FOR ALL PEOPLE, NOT JUST A SELECT FEW OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY WILL CONSISTENTLY LOSING POWER.
THANK YOU, MS. CHAMBERS, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE, WILSON TO SPEAK ON ITEM 60, 61 AND 62.
UH, ANGEL BRADFORD'S OPPOSED TO ITEMS 60 61 AND 62, BUT HE'S NOT WISHING TO SPEAK WITH ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 60, 61 AND 62, OR WE TOOK, WE DO HAVE SOME EMAIL COMMENTS, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, YOU WERE EMAILED THE COMMENTS THAT CAME IN FROM THE PUBLIC.
THERE ARE 18 COMMENTS ON ITEM 60 61 AND 62.
SHE SAID SHE'S OPPOSED TO ALL THREE ITEMS, BUT NOT WISHING TO SPEAK COUNCIL MEMBERS.
[01:00:01]
WHAT'S YOUR BUDGET COUNCIL NUMBER MOPE.I JUST WANT TO MAKE A BRIEF COMMENT ON THE, UM, HOW ABOUT THE PUBLIC SECTION AND BEING OUT IN THE PUBLIC AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, AS FAR AS BEING NEW TO THIS COUNCIL WITH EVERYTHING.
UM, A LOT OF COMMENTS HAD BEEN SAID ABOUT US CATCHING UP, OR, UM, NOT BEING KNOWLEDGEABLE ON THIS THING.
I, WHEN WE FIRST CAME ON, THIS WAS PRESENTED TO US AND I HAVE WORKED WITH COUNCILMAN
WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE MEETINGS TO GET US CAUGHT UP TO DATE.
I'VE DONE A LOT OF MY RESEARCH AND, UH, LOOKING INTO DIFFERENT THINGS.
I ACTUALLY CALLED CONSTITUENTS BACK THAT HAVE EMAILED ME AND THEY WERE LIKE, JUST SURPRISED THAT I EVEN CALLED THEM.
SO I'VE HAD PLENTY OF DISCUSSIONS ON IT.
UM, WHATEVER WE DECIDE TO DO AS FAR AS MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS TONIGHT, TONIGHT, TONIGHT, OR NOT, I'M TOTALLY FINE WITH THAT.
BUT, UM, AS FAR AS THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION, WE HAD ONE IN DISTRICT FOUR, WHICH IS 80% CENTRAL, WHICH IS HIS OWN CITY, BUT I THINK WE HAD ONE OF THE HIGHEST TURNOUTS IN PUBLIC ATTENDANCE.
I THINK WE HAD ABOUT 23 TO 25 PEOPLE THERE, UH, THAT ACTUALLY SHOWED UP IN THAT AREA.
UM, SO YOU HAD AN UNINCORPORATED AREA, YOU HAD AN INCORPORATED AREA AND SO ON.
AND SO I WAS VERY PROUD OF THE TURNOUT IN THE MARKETING AND THE THINGS THAT, THAT ROWDY HAS DONE, UM, TO GET THE PUBLIC OUT THERE.
COULD THERE BE MORE PUBLIC COMMENT? SURE.
I MEAN, WE, WE CAN, WE CAN GO THROUGH THIS EVERY TIME AND SO ON, BUT, UH, I JUST WANT TO COME IN AND ROWDY ON THE WORK THAT HE HAS DONE.
UM, AND THE WORK THAT I'VE SHARED, THAT HE WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHEREVER THIS GOES TONIGHT.
COUNCIL NUMBER ROCCO, MR. DODSON, CAN YOU COME UP? AND WHILE HE'S WALKING UP, I HAVE A FEW STATEMENTS TO MAKE.
I AM PART OF A VERY UNIQUE DISTRICT WHERE IT SEEMS MOST TIMES I HAVE 50% REPUBLICANS AND 50% DEMOCRATS.
AND I VOWED WHENEVER I RAN FOR THIS SEAT, THAT I WOULD NOT PLAY PARTISAN POLITICS.
AND THAT'S WHY I HAVEN'T MR. DOTSON UP HERE TO GIVE US A LEGAL OPINION TODAY.
BUT WHAT I THINK MOST OF YOU WOULD FIND SHOCKING IS THAT PEOPLE THAT DEEM THEMSELVES REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, WHEN EMAILING ME ABOUT THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT HAVE A POST, THE SAME THINGS FOR DIFFERENT REASONS ARE SUPPORTED THE SAME THINGS FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.
SO I'LL REITERATE, I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS TO BE A PARTISAN ISSUE.
I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A MODERNIZING OF OUR GOVERNMENTAL PLAN, WHETHER THE TIMING IS RIGHT OR WRONG HERE IS, IS PROBABLY SOMETHING IMPORTANT THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS.
BUT MR. DODSON, I'M NOT GOING TO ASK YOU TO RESTATE THE LEGAL OPINION THAT YOUR OFFICE HAS ALREADY GIVEN, BUT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONFIRM THIS FOR ME AND I'M GONNA SPEAK VERY QUICKLY AND ALSO REQUEST MY ADDITIONAL TIME.
DOES THE CHANGE IN THE WORDING COUNSELED AT METRO COUNCIL MEAN THAT THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE COULD NEVER HAVE ITS OWN COUNCIL AGAIN, AS IT DID PRE 1983 BEFORE CONSOLIDATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND PARISH COUNCIL.
THE ANSWER TO THAT IS ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, 1982, THE CITIZENS OF EAST EBR VOTED TO AMEND THE ENTIRE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT.
THE VOTERS APPROVED THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE CITY AND PARISH COUNCILS INTO ONE GOVERNING BODY CALLED THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.
THEREFORE, THE CHANGES CURRENTLY PROPOSED REFLECT THAT THE VOTERS HAVE ALREADY APPROVED MANY YEARS AGO, CORRECT.
IS THAT CORRECT, SIR? THAT CAME FROM YOUR OFFICE AS THE LEGAL OPINION.
GEORGE INCORPORATES WILL BATTLERS BE ALLOWED TO HAVE ITS OWN COUNCIL AS STATED IN ONE, THE RESPONSE FROM YOUR OFFICE WAS DESPITE THE POSSIBLE INCORPORATION OF CITY OF ST.
GEORGE, THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE COULD HAVE ITS OWN COUNCIL OF THE VOTERS IN HIS PARISH PROOF, SUCH AS THINK.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT AS WELL? THAT IS CORRECT.
AND THAT'S THE SAME AS THE NUMBER ONE.
I THINK THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL SENTENCE THAT YOU DIDN'T READ, BUT THAT'S THE SAME AS THE NUMBER ONE AS WELL.
UM, WITH REGARD TO INCORPORATED UNINCORPORATED TO URBAN AND RURAL HAVE IMPLICATIONS CONCERNING GOVERNMENTS AND TAXES, WILL THEY, THE WORD CHANGES HAVE THOSE IMPLICATIONS WHEN ASKED BOND COUNSEL RESPONDED THAT THE CHANGE FROM URBAN OR RURAL TO INCORPORATE AND UNINCORPORATED WILL NOT IMPACT TAXES, FEES, OR SERVICES IN THE CITY PARISH.
ADDITIONALLY, THE REVENUE DIVISION LOOKED INTO THE ISSUE AND DID NOT FIND THAT THE CHANGING OF THE WORDING OF THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT WOULD IMPACT TAXES, REVENUE ASSERTED THAT DESIGNATING AREAS AS INCORPORATED OR UNINCORPORATED AND INCORPORATE UNINCORPORATED MAKES IT MORE CONSISTENT WITH THE WAY TAXES ARE CURRENTLY LEVIED.
LIKEWISE, THERE SEEMS TO BE NO IMPLICATIONS RELATED TO GOVERNANCE, THE TERMS URBAN AND RURAL APPEAR TO BE OUTDATED FROM THE TIME THEY WERE ORIGINALLY USED IN EARLIER PLANS OF GOVERNMENT TODAY, THE TERM RURAL MORE SO REFERENCES A ZONING DESIGNATION INSTEAD OF A TRADITIONAL DEFINITION OF A COUNTRYSIDE TO THIS POINT, RURAL IS DEFINED IN THE UDC CODE AS AN AREA OF LOW POPULATION DENSITIES AND ARE SERVED BY LIMITED INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING TWO LANE, RURAL ROADS AND INDIVIDUAL
[01:05:01]
SEWAGE TREATMENTS.THE CHANGE APPEARS TO BE AN UPDATE OF TERMINOLOGY.
IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY, CORRECT.
WITH THE CAVEAT AND THAT CAVEAT BEING THAT THIS WAS A SUMMARY OF OUR DISCUSSION WITH THE BOND COUNCIL, AS WELL AS THE REVENUE.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE MORE ACCURATE TO HAVE THEM ATTEST TO WHAT THAT FINAL PART SAID THAN ME.
UH, AGAIN, WE WERE JUST REGURGITATING OR SUMMARIZING WHAT WE LEARNED, BUT THAT IS CORRECT.
THAT'S WHAT WE PUT IN THE INFORMATION PROVIDED TO EACH OF YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. DAWSON.
SO THERE'S BEEN, UM, CONSISTENT STREAMS OF MISINFORMATION COMING OUT WITH THIS ITEM AND MANY OTHERS, UM, WITH REGARD TO TIMING HOW LONG WE'VE HAD TO REVIEW THIS.
AND JUST BECAUSE WE TYPE IT ON A BLOG DOES NOT MAKE IT TRUE.
JUSTIN, CAN YOU PLEASE PLAY, UH, INFORMATION FROM A MEETING IN NOVEMBER, PLEASE? OUR COUNCIL MEETING IN NOVEMBER, UM, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME JUST SAY, I TOLD HER WE GET MY GLASSES BACK IN ONE SECOND, SEE IT HERE.
I TOTALLY RESPECT THE PUBLIC'S OPINION AND EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY HAS SAID ON THERE.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO RESPECT MY COMMENTS AS WELL.
UH, THIS COMMITTEE DISCIPLINED 18 MONTHS ON THIS ISSUE ALMOST TWO YEARS, BECAUSE THERE WERE A COUPLE OF MONTHS WHERE MEETINGS WERE POSTPONE.
AGAIN, EVERY MEETING, A PUBLIC MEETING, EVERYBODY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE INPUT NANCY CURRY FROM THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION, THE GREATER FEDERATION OF CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS WAS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY.
I SAW THE GENTLEMAN COME UP EARLY TO TALK ABOUT THAT THIS ITEM NEVER DIED.
IT WAS ON THE AGENDA A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND WE DELETED IT OFF OF THE AGENDA.
WE DID HAVE ONE PUBLIC MEETING AND THERE WERE COMMITMENTS FROM, UH, OTHER OF MY COLLEAGUES TO HOST COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
AND THEN THE ELECTION PROCESS BEGAN AND MEETINGS DID NOT TAKE PLACE.
IT WAS NOT THE COUNCIL ELECTION, BUT IT WASN'T AN ELECTION WHERE OTHER PEOPLE WERE RUNNING.
I'M NOT GOING TO CALL NAMES CAUSE I DON'T WANNA GET INTO THAT.
BUT THERE WERE COMMITMENTS TO HAVE MEETINGS THAT DID NOT TAKE PLACE FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER.
WE STAYED IN ONE ROOM, EVERYTHING NOW ON COVID.
I UNDERSTAND THAT I RESPECT THAT FROM EVERYBODY AND THEIR DESIRES AND THEIR WISHES TO NOT BE ABLE TO COME OUT BECAUSE OF COVID.
BUT IF COVID CONTINUES FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, I HOPE AND PRAY THAT THERE IS SOME ACTION TAKEN, UH, FOR THIS ITEM.
FOR WHICH TIME PEOPLE GAVE THEIR TIME, THEIR TELLING THEIR TREASURE TO BE DOWN HERE FOR TWO AND THREE HOURS AT A TIME, THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS EVENT.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I TOOK LIGHTLY, NOT SOMETHING THAT THE COMMITTEE TOOK LIGHTLY.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON ONE WAY OR THE OTHER TO APPROVE THIS COUNCIL.
THESE 12 MEMBERS ON THIS BODY WILL ONLY VOTE TO SEND THIS TO YOU.
THE VOTERS OF THIS PUBLIC, TO MAKE A DECISION ON ANY CHANGE THAT SUGGESTED IN THIS PLAN OF GOVERNMENT.
I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THIS.
ALSO, I WILL SAY PART OF A COMMITTEE.
I DID NOT MAKE EVERY DECISION ON THIS.
THE COMMITTEE MADE A DECISION THAT I PERHAPS DID NOT AGREE WITH, BUT JUST LIKE THIS BODY OF THE COUNCIL, IF THERE WAS A, AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA AND I DON'T AGREE WITH IT, IT BECOMES, IT COMES TO A VOTE AND THE VOTE OF THE PEOPLE ARE THE VOTE OF THIS BODY IS WHAT'S FANS.
AND SO THERE ARE THINGS ON THE COMMITTEE THAT I MAY NOT PERHAPS HAVE AGREED WITH, BUT I RESPECT IT BECAUSE I ASKED THE PEOPLE TO COME AND DO A PART OF THE WORK.
I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY THAT SENT IN A COMMENT CAR TONIGHT OR THAT SPOKEN ANYWAY, WILL SHOW UP AT A PUBLIC MEETING.
IF ONE INHALE, WE ALWAYS SAY WE GOT TO COME TO A PUBLIC MEETING, BUT THEN WHEN THEY TAKE PLACE, YOU HAVE 10 TO 20 PEOPLE AT A MEETING.
I DID HOST ONE MEETING AT BRECK.
IF THERE WERE 30 PEOPLE THERE, THERE WERE 130, BUT PEOPLE DON'T SHOW UP.
I KNOW PEOPLE, SOME PEOPLE MAYBE AGAIN, DON'T TAKE THIS IN THE WRONG WAY.
IF YOU REALLY ARE GOING TO COME TO A MEETING, COME TO ME, YOU KNOW, JUST SIT THERE AND COMPLAIN ABOUT US.
I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE SAYING THAT THE EVENTS TOOK PLACE AT WORK.
THEY DID TAKE PLACE DURING THE WORKING HOURS, BUT EVERY MEETING WAS ON THE CITY PARIS WEBSITE.
THERE WERE OPEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND TALK TO ME OR TALK TO ANY MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
AND SO AGAIN, WE HAVE TO TAKE PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY.
AND WHEN THESE THINGS HAPPEN, I ONLY PRAY THAT AS I STEPPED FOOT OFF THIS COUNCIL, THAT THE WORK OF THIS COMMITTEE WAS NOT NULL AND VOID.
I KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE, WE HAVE AT LEAST SIX NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS COMING ON BOARD.
I PRAY THAT THEY EDUCATE THEMSELVES AND THAT THEY REALLY DO HAVE MEETINGS.
BUT AGAIN, THIS IS NOT FOR THIS BODY TO DECIDE THESE CHANGES.
IT IS FOR THE BODY TO SEND IT TO YOU, THE PUBLIC, TO MAKE A DECISION ON, UH, I HOPE THAT THERE CAN BE A COMMITTEE AGAIN, PUT IN PLACE.
ONCE WE STEP OFF OF THIS COUNCIL, THE SIX OF US THAT ARE NOT YOUR COUNCIL.
AND WE'RE WAS A PART OF THE, UH, OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT.
UH, THIS WAS SERIOUS WORK PEOPLE, VERY SERIOUS WORK, VERY TIME CONSUMING, VERY FRUSTRATING AT TIME, BUT WE FELT THE NEED THAT IT NEEDED TO BE DONE.
I'M NOT TRYING TO SHOVE ANY DOWN, ANYTHING DOWN ANYBODY'S THROAT BY ANY MEANS.
BUT I FELT AS A PART OF THE COMMITTEE TO BRING THIS ONCE AGAIN TO THE PUBLIC FOR A VOTE, I HAD PROBABLY NO
[01:10:01]
REAL, UH, IMAGINATIONS.THERE'S GOING TO GET VOTED ON TONIGHT, BUT I MADE A COMMITMENT TO THE COMMITTEE THAT I WOULD TRY TO PURSUE THIS ITEM BEFORE I LEFT HIS BODY.
AND THAT WAS MY COMMITMENT TO THEM.
SO I HOPE AND PRAY THAT THIS ITEM DOES NOT FALL BY THE WAYSIDE.
THAT SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES, WHEN I LEAVE, WE'LL PICK THIS UP.
I HAVE ONE MEMBER INCOMING MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL THAT HAS REACHED OUT TO ME TO SAY THAT IF HE FELT LIKE THE WORK WAS IMPORTANT.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS FOR BOTH OF THE PEOPLE.
IF, IF THERE'S A PART I'M NOT OPPOSED TO BREAKING IT UP INTO EVERY CHAPTER SO THAT PEOPLE CAN VOTE ON IT.
AGAIN, THIS COMES TO THIS BODY.
THIS BODY CAN TAKE EVERY PART OF THIS PLAN, GOVERNMENT RECOMMENDATION, CHANGE, IT DELETED, UH, DO A RAPE, WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO WITH THIS.
SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS TO APPEAR IN IMAGINE, OR THE COMMITTEE DID.
IT WAS TO BRING TO THIS BODY FOR THEM TO CONSIDER SENDING IT TO YOU, TO VOTERS.
AND SO AGAIN, IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU DON'T LIKE CALL YOUR COUNTY, DO YOU KNOW, THE WHITE WILL BE HERE NEXT YEAR? YOU KNOW, COUNCILWOMAN GREEN COUNCIL WOMAN, NO, Y'ALL INCOMING COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE, THAT ARE HERE.
NOW THAT WILL BE HERE NEXT YEAR.
THERE ARE THINGS ON THIS THAT YOU WANT TO SEE CHANGE AND YOU CAN'T COME TO MEETING.
THEY ARE YOUR CALL THEM AND LET THEM KNOW, OKAY, I'M ALMOST DONE.
NOW, IF CONTACT YOUR COUNSEL EVER AND LET THEM KNOW, I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT.
I WOULD RATHER SEE THIS CHANGE, BUT DON'T JUST SIT BY THE WAYSIDE AND LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN.
AND THEN YOU DON'T PARTICIPATE.
UH, THIS IS, UH, THIS IS A PROCESS.
COME BE A PART OF THE PROCESS.
UH, AGAIN, I'M, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO DELETE THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I DON'T HAVE THE VOTES TO PUSH THIS FORWARD.
I AM GOING TO ASK THIS BODY TO, UH, AFTER THE HOLIDAYS OR NEXT YEAR TO COME UP WITH A COMMITTEE TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE THIS AND TO PUSH THIS ITEM FORWARD.
SO I'LL LEAVE YOU GUYS WITH THAT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT TO THE PUBLIC.
UH, I LOVE YOU ALL THE TIME, THE SPEC, THE PROCESS, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT THIS AFTERNOON.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKER.
THAT'S YOUR TIME, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BANK.
SO I REALLY, UM, APPRECIATE, UM, CMR MY, MY OLD COLLEAGUE AGAIN AND EVERYTHING THAT SHE SAID IS SOMETHING THAT WE ABSOLUTELY, AND I'M SO GLAD THAT OUR COUNCIL, MY MARACA, UM, PLAYED THAT TAPE BECAUSE WHAT WE HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR HER, FROM HER IS THAT SHE HOPES THAT WE BEGAN TO, WHETHER WE WERE STARTING A NEW COMMITTEE TO, UM, BRING THIS, THIS TO, UM, TO BE IN ALIGN WITH THE CURRENT COUNCIL.
DON'T LET THE NEED FOR A PLAN OF GOVERNMENT TO FALL TO THE WAYSIDE, BUT START ANOTHER COMMITTEE.
AND I THINK THAT THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
UM, 18 MONTHS WHEN, WHEN WOMAN, UM, COLLINS BEGAN, THIS PROCESS, HER PROCESS WAS TO DO ONE THING AND IT WAS TO ADD AN AT-LARGE SEAT TO THIS COUNCIL, BUT THE MORE SHE, UH, BUT ONCE SHE BEGAN AND SHE BEGAN TO ADD MEMBERS LIKE EVERYTHING IN WHAT WE'VE HEARD TODAY BECAME MANIPULATED.
SOME PEOPLE SAW THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, PUT SOME CHANGES IN THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT THAT WERE NOT HER WISHES.
BUT IF YOU KNOW HER AS BEING PART OF A COMMITTEE, SHE'S GOING TO GO WITH THE MAJORITY AND THE CHIPS WERE ACTUALLY AGAINST HER.
IT IS ALSO TRUE WHAT SHE SAID.
UH, AND IN FOLLOWING HER EXAMPLE, UM, THAT EACH ONE OF THE MEMBERS HERE THAT ONE HALF OF THE COUNCIL WAS GOING TO BE COMING IN IN JANUARY AS Y'ALL RECALL, THAT WAS IN NOVEMBER.
I HAVE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL FOR ALMOST NINE YEARS.
UH, THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT IS LIKE A BIBLE.
THERE ARE THINGS IN THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, LIKE IN THE BIBLE THAT SCRIPTURES THAT YOU WERE MORE FAMILIAR WITH BECAUSE THEY, UM, IMPACT YOUR LIFE MORE.
SO YOU CA YOU GET TO MEMORIZE THOSE, BUT THERE ARE OTHERS.
YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE, GO TO THE INDEX.
AND SO THAT'S HOW THE PLAN THE GOVERNMENT IS.
AND THAT'S HOW TRADITIONALLY CHANGES COME AS IN THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, SHE, UH, INDICATED THAT I WASN'T AWARE OF IS IN 1988, I THINK IT WAS A COUNCIL ON MOROCCO, 1980, WHATEVER, WHEN THEY HAD MADE THE CITY AND THE PARISH CONSOLIDATED THAT HAPPENED FOR A PARTICULAR REASON, THE ONE THAT THE CHANGE, IT WASN'T SOMETHING WHERE SOMEBODY JUST READ AND SAY, OH, I THINK WE SHOULD CONSOLIDATE.
THAT WAS A CHANGE IN WHAT WAS GOING ON IN SOCIETY AT THAT TIME, FOR WHATEVER REASON, WHETHER IT WAS FOR TAXES, WHETHER IT WAS FOR, UM, A CENSUS, WHATEVER IT WAS, IT DIDN'T JUST COME WHERE SOMEBODY JUST ARBITRARILY SAID, OH, I JUST THINK THIS NEEDS
[01:15:01]
TO BE CHANGED.ANOTHER PLAN THE GOVERNMENT CAME WITH, UM, JUST BEFORE I WAS ON THE COUNCIL WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN BOTTOMS. ADDISON IS WHEN THEY MOVED THE COMMUNITY CENTERS FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO THE PARTICULAR COUNCIL DISTRICTS THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE AT THAT, AT THE TIME THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAD SO MANY THINGS.
HE FELT THAT THE COUNTY, THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITY CENTERS WERE NOT GETTING THE TIME AND IT WOULD BE BETTER SERVED FOR THE CONSTITUENTS AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS FOR THAT, WHEN I BECAME AN, A COUNCIL JUST IN 2017 OR 18 OR WHATEVER, NOT ON THE COUNCIL, BUT I BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE WAY WE CHOOSE PERSONS TO, UM, TO, UM, REPLACE THOSE WHO LEFT PREMATURELY OR BEFORE THEIR TIME WAS UP ON THE COUNCIL.
THAT WAS A TIME THAT WAS PUT ON THAT WERE RULES WHERE THE SPOUSE AUTOMATICALLY GOT THE POSITION, BECAUSE DURING THAT TIME, USUALLY THE WOMAN DIDN'T WORK.
AND THAT WAS A WAY TO KEEP INCOME.
WELL, THAT'S NOT HOW IT IS NOW.
SO PEOPLE DIDN'T JUST ARBITRARILY PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT CHANGES TO MAKE.
IT WAS BASED ON SOMETHING TAKING PLACE THAT FIT THAT NEED.
UM, SHE ALSO, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, FORMER CONSTABLE MS. LEWIS TALKED ABOUT THE LOW TURNOUT.
THEN, UM, SHE TALKED ABOUT, UM, MORE THAN ANYTHING.
OH, THE OTHER THING THAT, UM, THE PARISH ATTORNEY HE TAUGHT, HE TALKED ABOUT AS A REFERRED TO THE QUESTIONING FROM COUNCIL ON MOROCCO, THAT HE WAS JUST REGURGITATING A SUMMARY OF A MEETING.
BUT ACTUALLY WE NEED TO HEAR FROM THE BOND COUNSEL REGARDING THESE ITEMS, WE NEED TO HEAR WHO ELSE YOU MENTIONED, UM, UH, WHO ELSE AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE NOT HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF DOING THIS.
W W AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, THE SENIOR COUNCIL MEMBER THAT I PROUDLY WEAR, IT'S NO WAY THAT, UM, ANYBODY WHO HAS SERVED LESS THAN A YEAR, YES, PLEASE YEAR CAUSE SAY, OH, I'M READY TO VOTE FOR THIS TODAY.
30 DAYS AGO, COUNCILMAN MARK SAID, YOU SAID 30 JUST 30 DAYS AGO THAT IT WAS PREMATURE FOR US TO DO IT.
THIS JUST 30 DAYS AGO, YOU SAID, OR WHAT IS THE RUSH? SO FOR YOU TO COME AND ACT LIKE YOU GOT ALL THIS INFORMATION WITH ALL THESE COMMUNICATION, JESSICA DOES NOT SOUND LIKE YOU WERE KEEPING IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU HAVE SAID FROM THE TIME THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP.
THE OTHER THING, AND I SPOKE TO COUNCILMAN ERARDI ABOUT THIS MULTIPLE TIMES, MULTIPLE TIMES, I SAID THIS INSENSITIVE, INSENSITIVE FOR US TO BE TALKING ABOUT A PLAN OF GOVERNMENT.
WE WERE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES ARE HAPPENING TO THE MAJORITY OF OUR PEOPLE.
MANY THAT HE REPRESENT, PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH FLOODING AND A PANDEMIC.
THOSE ARE NOT EXCUSES THAT'S REALITY.
AND SO YOU'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND TALK ABOUT PLAYING A GOVERNMENT, SOMETHING, THIS, THIS, THIS HUGE.
AND THEY GOT TO CHOOSE WHEN THEY HAVE ALL THESE OTHER THINGS GOING ON.
THAT'S UNFAIR, THAT'S INSENSITIVE, THAT'S SELFISH.
AND THAT IS WHAT I HAVE TALKED ABOUT FOR MOST OF THE TIME.
NONE OF IT, THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT AND THE CITY WAS NOT SEEK TO CEASE TO, UM, TO CONTINUE ON THESE ITEMS, NONE OF THESE ITEMS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON HOW WE DO BUSINESS.
NONE OF THEM, THEY AREN'T URGENT.
THE OTHER THING, I THINK IT IS WRONG FOR ALL THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TO, TO HAVE THESE THREE, THAT ONE COUNCIL MEMBER AND SOME PEOPLE BEHIND HIM WANTING TO PUT THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING COUNCILMAN NOEL HAS THAT HE HASN'T EVEN CONSIDERED, BUT A WORKSHOP, OUR COMMITTEE, WHERE WE GO THROUGH THE PLAN, THE GOVERN MIGHT SPARK SOMETHING IN HIM.
IT MIGHT SPARK SOMETHING IN COUNCILWOMAN ROCCA IN MOKE.
IT MAY SPARK SOMETHING JUST BECAUSE YOU HAD A, A MEETING AND A WORKSHOP ON JUST THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT.
LIKE I SAID, I'M GOING ON NINE YEARS.
I DON'T WANT TO, NO, BUT I'M NOT GOOD WITH SHOPPING.
UM, LASTLY, THE MEETING, WE TALKED ABOUT, THE MEETING AND COUNSELING, UM, I KNOW, I KNOW COUNCILMAN MO SAID HE HAD ABOUT 20 OR 25 AND CENTRAL.
WE HAD ABOUT 50 COUNCILMAN, UH, NOEL AND I, YOU KNOW WHY WE HAD $50 AND WE HAD IT IN BACON, I'LL SAY 80% OF THEM WERE FROM ZACHARY.
YOU KNOW, WHY COULD WE PUT THE, UM, WE PUT ON THE ITEM ABOUT THE SUBDIVISION THAT NOBODY IS ACTUALLY WANTING.
WE WOULD, I MEAN, WE WOULD HAVE HAD FIVE PEOPLE, SO WE ADDED IT TOGETHER.
SO WE WOULDN'T LOOK BAD IF THE LITTLE MEETING, YOU KNOW, AND
[01:20:01]
THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT.W W WE MADE SURE COUNCILMAN, UM, GO, THEY WENT FIRST.
SO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WOULDN'T LEAVE IT.
YOU KNOW, WE, WE HELD THEM HOSTAGE TO HEAR WHAT WE HAD TO SAY, BUT DO YOU HAVE A LIST, COUNCILMAN? GOT IT GO.
THEY HAVE ALL THE MEETINGS AND WHAT THE ATTENDANCE WAS COUNCILMAN ROUTE TO GO THERE.
DO YOU HAVE THE MEETING? WHAT'S YOUR ATTENDANCE WISE? BECAUSE, I MEAN, WE'RE DEALING WITH A HALF A MILLION PEOPLE TO VOTE ON THIS AT YOUR MEETING.
NO, YOU'RE MEETING ALL THE MEETINGS FROM WHAT, WHAT WERE THE NUMBERS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE SPEAKING, ARE YOU GOING TO BE SPEAKING ON HIS SIDE? W WOULD YOU INCLUDE THAT IN YOUR COMMENTS, THE ATTENDANCE AT YOUR MEETINGS AT EACH ONE OF YOUR MEETINGS THAT YOU HAD EACH ONE, OKAY.
YOU START WITH, I WANT YOU TO RUN OUT AND SAY, OH, I RAN OUT OF TIME.
BUT, UH, YEAH, SO THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S THE WAY IT, UM, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO THEY MENTIONED LIKE MS. NANCY, ISN'T, THE ANSWER IS NO LONGER OVER THE FEDERATION.
UM, JUST BEING AGAIN, THAT WAS A COMMITTEE, THOSE WERE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THERE WAS NOT A SITUATION WHERE EVERYBODY, IT WAS, IT WAS A, IT WAS A MAJORITY THE WAY THE MAJORITY WON, BUT THE THING THAT COUNCIL WOMAN, UM, DOWN TO COLLINS LEWIS, IF WE GONNA, AND I'M SURE BASED JUST ON THIS CONSUMMATE ROCKET, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HER VOTE.
UH, IS THAT A WOMAN, DONNA COLLINS, LOUIS MOORE THREE TIMES SAID, PICK UP WITH A COMMITTEE.
SO THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN ROCKER, UM, FOR NOT VOTING ON THESE THREE ITEMS AND FOLLOWING THE LEGACY AND THE VIDEO THAT YOU SHOWED THAT YOU PREFER.
AND NOW I WOULD ALSO EXTEND AN INVITATION FOR YOU TO SPONSOR THAT, THAT, THAT WE STARTED COMMITTED IN HONOR OF COUNCILWOMAN LEWIS.
SO, UM, I, I, I CAN ONLY ASSUME WE DON'T HAVE THE VOTES TODAY.
AND I HOPE LASTLY, FOLLOW COUNCIL, WOMAN, DONNA COLLINS, LEWIS, UM, EXAMPLE TODAY, SHE MOVED TO DELETE THE ITEM, THE ITEM.
UH, YEAH, SINCE YOU SO ELOQUENTLY CALLED ME OUT, I LIKE TO JUST DO A LITTLE REBUTTAL ON THAT ONE, UH, COUNCILWOMAN BANKS.
UM, YES, I, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
AS FAR AS THE 30 DAYS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT I ALSO HAVE NOT STATED MY OPINION AS FAR AS WHERE I'M GOING TO GO WITH THIS.
AS FAR AS TODAY, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A WORKSHOP.
I HAVE SAID IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER.
I DO NOT AGREE WITH STARTING ANOTHER COMMITTEE.
UM, AS FAR AS THE COMMITTEE, THE COMMITTEE HAS DONE THEIR JOB AND THEY'VE TURNED IT OVER TO US TO TWEAK THIS.
AND AGAIN, MY STATEMENT EARLIER WAS ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENT AND I THOUGHT COUNCILMAN GO HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT ALL PUBLIC COMMENT.
I THOUGHT THAT THE COMMITTEE THAT CAME BEFORE US DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB, I WAS ALSO ADDRESSING THE FACT THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT US BEING SIX OF US, BE A NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ONLY BEING HERE SIX MONTHS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S PART OF OUR JOB IS TO GET CAUGHT UP WITH WHERE WE'RE AT.
I'LL GO BACK TO THE POINT OF WHETHER I PUSHING THIS OR NOT.
I DO AGREE THAT WE DO NEED TO HAVE A WORKSHOP AS FAR AS US ALL GETTING TOGETHER LIKE THIS IN OPEN MEETING TO WHERE WE GO BACK AND FORTH WITH DEBATE, NOT SOME FIVE MINUTE TIME OR SITTING UP THERE, JUST STILL ANYWAY, CONTINUING ON, UH, SOME FIVE MINUTE TIMER SITTING UP THERE FOR EACH ONE OF US TO WHERE WE CAN HASH THESE THINGS OUT AND TAKE WHAT PUBLIC COMMENT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID AND INCORPORATE THAT INTO OUR NEW IDEAS WITH OUR ELDER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'LL SAY THEY HIT THAT WAY AND OUR NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO.
WE'RE HERE TO GET THINGS DONE AND GET JOBS DONE, AND WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD THIS SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH OTHER ITEMS OVER THE NEXT PART OF OUR TERM.
SO THAT HOPEFULLY GIVES YOU A LITTLE BETTER IDEA AND IT GIVES THE PUBLIC A LITTLE BETTER IDEA OF WHERE I STAND OR WHERE I MIGHT GO WITH THIS UPCOMING DECISION OR WHATEVER MIGHT BE PROPOSED HERE IN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
WELL, I JUST ALSO WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCILWOMAN COLLINS LEWIS AND THE EXCEPTIONAL WORK THAT SHE DID ON THIS COMMITTEE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH WHAT, UH, COUNCILMAN BANKS SAID.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THERE, A LOT OF THE DESIRE FOR THIS ORIGINALLY WAS TO TALK ABOUT AT LARGE SEATS.
[01:25:01]
LEWIS REALLY WENT, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS.I MEAN, YOU KNOW, TH THAT COMMITTEE DID AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB OF GOING THROUGH AND IDENTIFYING THE, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS THAT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, MAKING IT A NUMBER OF OTHER REALLY, REALLY GOOD, UH, UPDATES, UH, PARTICULARLY, I'D JUST BE FRANK THOUGH.
THE ONE THAT I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT IS US GETTING THE BUDGET A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.
UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF, UH, HOW MUCH EVERYBODY ELSE SPENDS WITH THE BUDGET, BUT IT'S, IT'S TOUGH TO DIGEST THAT IN A MONTH, RIGHT? SO THERE'S SOME REAL CONCRETE THINGS.
AND THESE PROPOSALS THAT I THINK WILL HELP US AS A BODY FUNCTION.
UM, WHEN COUNCILMAN GOTAY STARTED THIS PROCESS KIND OF, UH, OF ACCEPTING THE BATON FROM COUNCILMAN LEWIS, UH, I'VE TOLD HIM, I SAID, LOOK, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF CONTROVERSIAL THINGS, UH, IN THESE PROPOSALS.
UH, THERE'S ABOUT HALF OF THEM THAT ARE CONTROVERSIAL REALLY.
AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER HALF THAT ARE MOSTLY ADMINISTRATIVE IN NATURE.
TO ME, IT MAKES AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF SENSE FOR US TO GO AHEAD AND KNOCK OUT THESE ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS. NOW, UM, I, YOU KNOW, I, FOR FOLKS TO HAVE COME UP HERE TONIGHT, UM, AND TO HAVE CAST DISPERSION ON THE WAY THAT COUNCILMAN LEWIS HANDLED THE COMMITTEE, AND THEN THE PITOCIN WAS PALLET PAST THE COUNCILMAN GO DAY.
I JUST THINK, UH, THIS IS I'M GOING TO SOUND MEAN WHEN I SAY THIS, BUT IT'S NOT OUR FAULT THAT YOU HAVEN'T PAID ATTENTION.
UM, SO, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S ALL, I'LL SAY I'LL, I'LL CERTAINLY, UH, YIELD TO THE SPONSOR ON HOW HE WANTS TO HANDLE THESE ITEMS TONIGHT, BUT, UM, I'D LOVE TO SEE US DO THIS.
I DARE NOT SAY, I DARE NOT SAY THAT IT IS YOUR PROBLEM, THAT YOU HAVE NOT WHATEVER, DEFINITELY WHAT I NOT SAY THAT TO 10 DO I? AND SO I RECOMMEND THAT YOU NOT JUST THE RECOMMENDATION.
SO, AND I CONCUR WITH MUCH THAT HAS BEEN SAID, WE, IN THE MIDST OF FLOODING DRAINAGE ISSUES, COVID, YOU KNOW, AND NOW, YOU KNOW, FOLKS SAFE AND EIGHT, THE DEVIL IS COVID WE PUT IT ON, BUT THAT'S REAL.
AND I FELT LIKE DONNA WAS MY MAMA UP THERE.
AND SO I HAD TO, BUT MY QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE RUSH? WHAT IS THE RUSH WITH ALL OF THIS? AND YES, THEN WHEN THEY MENTIONED ABOUT AN AT-LARGE, I SAY THAT TO ME SEEMED LIKE WE WERE LOOKING TO HAVE TWO MAYORS.
THAT WAS ONE OF MY CONCERNS THEN WHY BEFORE THE CENSUS.
AND THEN YES, WHEN THEY FIRST, WHEN DONNA AND THE CREW CAME TO US IN THIS MEETING, I SAID TO THEM THEN, AND THEY WANTED TO MEET WITH ME.
I CAN SPEAK FOR MANY WHEN THEY WANTED TO MEET WITH ME INDIVIDUALLY, I SAID TO THEM, THEN I WOULD LIKE FOR THOSE MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE A MINUTE TO BE A PART OF THE MEETING IN ORDER THAT WE CAN ALL GLEAN FROM EACH OTHER.
AND THEN AT THE END, THEN WE MAKE THE DECISION THAT WE NEED TO MAKE BASED ON INFORMATION, NOT BASED ON ANYBODY RANTING AND RAVING, AND TRY TO CONTRADICT THAT, WHICH YOU FEEL AND WHAT WE SPEAK NOT WITH.
AND SO, YES, WE'VE ONLY BEEN HERE SIX MONTHS, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST LIKE, UH, ANYTHING ELSE, YOU KNOW, AGE BRINGS WISDOM IN THAT, RIGHT.
AND SO WITH THAT BEING SAID TO SAY THAT WE'VE ONLY BEEN HERE SIX MONTHS AND THAT HAS IT'S GOOD AND IT'S NOT SO GOOD.
SO YES, I THINK TONIGHT, BUT THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN AND I ALWAYS TAKE THAT AND TO CONSIDER RIGHT SHIN THANK Y'ALL FOR NUMBER COLEMAN COUNCIL MEMBER.
SO AFTER THE RUNOFF ELECTION, I HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT CHANGES AND IT WAS THE FIRST I'D HEARD OF IT FIRST.
I'D HAD IT COME INTO CONTACT WITH IT.
[01:30:01]
I READ THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT WERE PROPOSED, UM, NOT A TON OF SUBSTANCE ON, ON, UH, UH, CERTAINLY THESE ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS, THESE QUOTE UNQUOTE LOW-HANGING FRUIT ITEMS. UM, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE MORE CONTROVERSIAL ONES, WHICH WE'RE NOT EVEN DISCUSSING TONIGHT IS WHAT, WHAT, UH, UNDERSTAND THE BLAKE.WE HEARD A LOT OF, I'M SURE YOU ALL HAD THOSE SAME KIND OF CONVERSATIONS.
WHEN I, UM, READ THE, THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, UM, CHARLOTTE BEFORE TAKING OFFICE IN JANUARY, OF COURSE, IT WAS A LOT TO ABSORB, AH, HAVING BEEN IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT BEFORE.
UM, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF IT WAS PROBABLY EASIER TO UNDERSTAND THAN IF I HAD NOT BEEN, I WOULD SAY THE QUESTIONS I HAD THEN OF SOME OF THE CHANGES WOULD POTENTIALLY SEEM SILLY TODAY, SEVEN MONTHS IN, RIGHT.
I HAVE A LITTLE MORE KNOWLEDGE, UM, SEEING HOW THIS GOVERNMENT WORKS TODAY, SEVEN MONTHS IN, I HAVE A LITTLE MORE KNOWLEDGE THAN I WOULD HAVE JANUARY 1ST, RIGHT? HOWEVER, BRANDON AND SIX MONTHS FROM NOW MAY THINK THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE TODAY ARE EVEN SILLIER.
UM, AND I MIGHT HAVE NEW QUESTIONS.
SO I'M WORKING THROUGH THE SUGGESTIONS AND I'LL BE HONEST.
I DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF HEARTBURN OVER WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED TODAY.
I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND I'M STILL WORKING THROUGH THEM.
I HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH COUNCILMAN GODA YESTERDAY.
UM, AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF HEARTBURN OVER THESE AT THESE ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS, THE QUOTE UNQUOTE LOW-HANGING FRUIT, BUT, UM, I STILL DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
AND AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT, I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW THE QUESTIONS THAT I MIGHT HAVE WHEN I HAVE A LITTLE MORE EXPERIENCE IN THIS PARTICULAR GOVERNMENT TO UNDERSTAND, UM, MAYBE SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE OR WANT TO BE MADE.
UM, I DO BELIEVE THAT, UH, I THINK I SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF IT.
OF COURSE, I'VE ASKED SOME, HEY, WHY NOT SPRING ELECTION WHILE THEY SAY, OH, SPRING LAKE IS TOO IMPORTANT FOR A SPRING ELECTION.
CAUSE THERE'S NOT A BIG TURNOFF.
BUT IF IT'S SO IMPORTANT, WHY ARE WE DOING IT WHEN SOME OF THE SIX OF US HAVE ONLY BEEN HERE FOR SEVEN MONTHS? UM, I, YOU KNOW, I, AND I'LL SPEAK JUST FOR ME FROM THAT STANDPOINT.
I WANT TO ASSUME EVERYBODY, MAYBE I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT STILL HAS QUESTIONS, MAN, JUST SEVEN MONTHS.
AND THEN, UH, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH STATING THAT I DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DON'T KNOW.
UM, I WOULD SAY ONE THING THAT MAYBE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN ANY PLAN OF GOVERNMENT UPDATE IS THAT A FUTURE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, UH, UPDATES SHOULD NOT BE BROUGHT TO A NEW COUNCIL IN THE FIRST YEAR, JUST FOR THIS EXACT REASON.
UM, SO I, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AGAIN, THE, THE ITEMS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TODAY, THESE THREE, I DON'T, I REALLY DON'T HAVE A TON OF HEARTBURN ON A LOT OF THEM, BUT I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
AND I FEEL LIKE IF I HAVE QUESTIONS, UM, I WOULD IMAGINE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE.
AND SO, UM, OUT OF RESPECT FOR NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, I, I WOULD WANT TO SEE MORE DISCUSSION.
I THINK A WORKSHOP IS A FANTASTIC IDEA.
EVERY TIME I'VE HAD SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSIONS ON PLAN OF GOVERNMENT CHANGES, THERE, THERE HAVE BEEN GOOD IDEAS THROWN ABOUT WHAT ABOUT THIS? WHAT ABOUT THAT? UM, FROM THAT VIDEO, FORMER COUNCILWOMAN LEWIS MENTIONED THAT LIKE, THIS IS A GREAT STARTING POINT, BUT IF YOU WANT TO MAKE CHANGES, MAKE CHANGES.
SO WHAT WE HAVE HERE OR EXACTLY, UM, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WHAT, WHAT THE COMMITTEE CAME UP WITH, BUT SHE SAID HERSELF, IF WE WANT TO MAKE CHANGES, WE CAN MAKE CHANGES.
SO I DO THINK, I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT A NEW COMMITTEE IS IMPORTANT.
I THINK WE ARE NOW THE COMMITTEE.
AND SO HAVING A WORKSHOP, UH, WE HAVE A GREAT STARTING OFF POINT TO HAVE A WORKSHOP POTENTIALLY.
I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT I'D CERTAINLY BE A PART OF IT.
AND I I'D, UH, WE CAN HAVE A REALLY LONG GOAT GO LATE INTO THE NIGHT WITH IT.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT BECAUSE I THINK AS WE DISCUSS IT OPENLY AND CANDIDLY EACH TOPIC, WE'LL SEE WHAT WE'LL PROBABLY COME UP WITH SOME REALLY GREAT IDEAS.
I THINK WE'VE, WE'VE SHOWN THE PUBLIC THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER.
I CERTAINLY ENJOY WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU.
AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE VERY PRODUCTIVE SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSIONS AS WE MOVE FORWARD FOR THIS PARISH.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, AGAIN, I'LL JUST RESTATE THAT.
I DON'T HAVE A TON OF HEARTBURN OVER IT.
I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS STILL.
AND, UM, I W I DO WANT TO SEE THIS MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
AND, UM, I DO WANT TO, UH, PICK UP AND I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT STARTING OFF POINT TO CONTINUE THAT DISCUSSION.
[01:35:03]
COUNCIL MEMBER DONE.LET ME FIRST THANK THE PUBLIC FOR RESPONDING AND COMING OUT AND LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD MUCH OF WHAT YOU GUYS SAID WOULD BE SOME OF THE THINGS I'VE SAID.
UH, YOU BROUGHT UP GOOD REASONS WHY WE SHOULDN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.
SOME OF YOU GUYS MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, FORCING AN ELECTION DURING THE PANDEMIC.
SOME OF YOU GUYS MENTIONED THE CENSUS DATA NOT BEING COLLECTED AND WHAT THE RESPONSE, UH, WILL BE TOO BAD AND OTHER ISSUES.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE A POINT THAT AS PUBLIC SERVANTS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, IT IS OUR JOB TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC AND GET THEM INVOLVED IN ISSUES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE AT CITY HALL AND CITY GOVERNMENT, AND IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO OUR JOB.
SO I WANT TO PUSH BACK ON THAT.
THE DWIGHT SAID, UH, THIRDLY, MR. MCCLANAHAN TALKED ABOUT SERVING ON THE COMMITTEE.
AND I HAD HEARD THIS BEFORE I FOLLOWED THE ISSUE WHEN IT WAS FIRST, UH, THE COMMITTEE WAS FIRST FORMED.
UH, HE TALKED ABOUT ATTENDANCE, SOME OF THOSE MEETINGS, AND I'VE HEARD OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS SAY IT WAS ATTENDANCE WAS VERY LIGHT AND THEY STRUGGLED TO GET A QUORUM AND GET ENOUGH PEOPLE THERE.
AND MANY OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS FELT THAT IT WAS A AGENDA THAT WAS ALREADY SET AND MOVING, AND THEY HAD LITTLE INPUT.
SO THEY STOPPED GOING TO THE MEETING.
SO WE'RE HEARING THAT DIRECTLY FROM A COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR HOPEFULLY MY COLLEAGUE TO MY LEFT, MR. MOKE RAVED ABOUT THEIR ATTENDANCE AT HIS MEETING BEING TWENTY-FIVE AND SHARLA TALKED ABOUT HER AS BEING 50 IT'S 500,000 PEOPLE IN THIS PARISH.
SO IF YOU DO AN AVERAGE OF THAT, YOU GIVE THESE MEETING THAT WAS HELD 50 PEOPLE.
WHAT'D YOU GOT A COUPLE THOUSAND FOLKS THAT CAME AND HEARD THIS INFORMATION.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S ENOUGH PEOPLE.
AND SECONDLY, I, IN THE LAST I HIT ON THE ED LAWS, UH, SEATS, BECAUSE MANY OF YOU HAVE SAID THAT THAT HAS, THAT WAS THE GENESIS OF THIS COMMITTEE.
UM, COUNCILMAN LEWIS, I'M IN OBJECTION TO OUR LORD SEATS.
IF YOU LOOK AT IT AT LAURA'S SEATS, IT'S ANOTHER WAY, UH, TO SUPPRESS REPRESENTATION FROM A DOOR TO COMMUNITIES.
IF YOU LOOK AT CITYWIDE IN PARIS, RIDE RUNNING AN ELECTION, IT COSTS MUCH MORE MONEY.
UH, YOU, YOU'RE GONNA DEFINITELY FAVOR, UH, A BUSINESS SUPPORTED REPUBLICAN IN A CITYWIDE IN THE PARISH WHERE I RAISED, BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES, REPUBLICANS HISTORICALLY RAISED MORE MONEY THAN DEMOCRATS.
SO FOR ME, IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, AND THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, EVERY CITY IN THIS PARISH HAS HIS OWN COUNCIL AND HIS OWN MAYOR BAKER, ZACKER CENTRAL.
AND IF ST GEORGE WOULD COME TO FRUITION, THEY WOULD HAVE THEIR OWN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, BUT THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE DOES NOT HAVE THAT.
YOU KNOW, IN MY MIND, PEOPLE SAW THIS DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFT COMING 20, 30, 40 YEARS AGO, AND CREATED THIS CONSOLIDATED FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
WELL GUESS WHAT? WHITE FLIGHT CONTINUES.
PEOPLE CONTINUE TO MOVE THESE BARRIERS PAST WHITE PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR TO GO TO SINTON AND LIVINGSTON.
EVEN THE DISTRICT THAT I REPRESENT ONCE WAS A MAJORITY WHITE REPUBLICAN DISTRICT WITH WHITE FLIGHT.
AND NOW IT'S A MAJORITY BLACK DEMOCRAT DISTRICT AND MEN IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY SEE THAT, AND THIS IS MY THOUGHT, IN MY OPINION, THAT THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO CONTROL LOCAL GOVERNMENT HERE, BUT NOT LIVE HERE.
AND THIS IS ANOTHER ATTEMPT IN MY MIND TO CHANGE THE MAKEUP OF THE COUNCIL.
SO IT CAN REMAIN REPUBLICAN CONTROL.
THIS PARISH IS SOMEONE MENTIONED, THERE'S ABOUT FOUR 50, 1% BLACK.
THE CITY IS ABOUT 54, 50 5%, BUT, BUT YET WE HAVE SEVEN WHITE REPUBLICANS ON THIS METRO COUNCIL AND FIVE BLACK DEMOCRATS IN MY MIND, I WOULD GOVERNMENT SHOULD REFLECT OUR DEMOGRAPHICS AND THAT'S NOT HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
SO I'M GOING TO BE VOTING AGAINST THIS.
UH, IF IT WOULD HAPPEN TO PARIS, I WOULD BE CAMPAIGNING LIKE HEAVEN.
I BUILD A DEFEATED AT THE BALLOT BOX.
SO EITHER WAY I'M AGAINST IT TO COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. UM, LET ME JUST SAY FIRST, I'M A BELIEVER THAT A WELL-INFORMED ELECTORATE IS A PREREQUISITE TO DEMOCRACY.
UM, SO IT IS INCUMBENT ON ALL OF US, UM, TO, TO DO THE WORK.
UM, AND I HAVE NOT MY ENTIRE LIFE DONE IT.
SO, UM, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, BR LA.GOV IS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION AND, AND, UH, RESIDENTS OF BATON ROUGE SHOULD BE REGULARLY VISITING THAT WEBSITE, UM, AND ENGAGING WITH, WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO CAME TONIGHT.
UM, AND FOR BEING INVOLVED IN AND COMING HERE, UM, I'M WITH COUNCILMAN NOEL, UH, UH, THIS DOESN'T GIVE ME A WHOLE LOT OF HEARTBURN.
I DO UNDERSTAND MY BACKGROUND'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN MOST PEOPLE.
UM, I AM A COMPLETE GOVERNANCE NERD.
AND SO, UM, WHEN I, YOU KNOW, READ THROUGH THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT AND THEN, UM, AND THEN READ THROUGH, UM, NOT ALL OF THIS YET,
[01:40:01]
BUT THE PARTS THAT ARE PROPOSED, I HAVE BEEN, I'VE BEEN COMFORTABLE, UM, WITH WHAT'S PROPOSED.I UNDERSTAND THAT OTHER, OTHER PEOPLE ARE NOT, UM, THAT WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT, THAT I FELT LIKE EARLY ON, UM, WHEN, WHEN RONNIE TOOK THE LEAD OF THE PLANET GOVERNMENT, THAT, THAT HE WAS ORGANIZING US AS A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S PROBABLY THE RIGHT WAY TO MOVE FORWARD IS THIS BODY WOULD BE THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, THE DELIBERATIVE BODY THAT WOULD TAKE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND, AND WORK TOGETHER.
UM, AS WE HAVE BEEN OVER THE LAST THREE OR FOUR MONTHS TO MOVE THESE, TO MOVE THESE FORWARD.
SO I WOULD AGREE WITH, I THINK MAYBE YOU SAID THAT COUNCILMAN NOEL, THAT YOU KIND OF FELT LIKE A COMMITTEE HAD ALREADY BEEN FORMED.
I FEEL LIKE, UM, I FEEL LIKE IT HAS AS WELL, AND IT'S, IT'S IN OUR HANDS.
UM, CERTAINLY IT'S CRITICAL TO HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, INPUT AND, AND I TOLD SEVERAL PEOPLE THE OTHER DAY, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO ME, UM, IS WE, WE, UM, WE GAINED TRUST, UH, A SENSE THAT AT ALL LEVELS, UM, PEOPLE FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS, ALL IDEOLOGIES, UM, WE HAVE LOST TRUST IN ALL OF OUR INSTITUTIONS, UM, FROM OUR CHURCHES TO OUR SCHOOLS, TO OUR GOVERNMENTS.
UM, WE'VE LOST TRUST IN EACH OTHER.
AND, UM, THAT IS HEARTBREAKING TO ME, UM, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW ABOUT Y'ALL, BUT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE I MEET AND WORK WITH, UM, AND VISIT WITH AND TALK WITH AND EMAIL WITH THEY'RE GOOD PEOPLE.
I FEEL LIKE I'M SURROUNDED BY REALLY, REALLY GOOD PEOPLE IN THIS CITY.
UM, AND SO I TRUST YOU AND I'M GOING TO BE WORKING TO, TO GAIN, UM, TO GAIN YOUR TRUST AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
WHEN YOU HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER, BEFORE WE GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER, GO TO ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS GO THERE, UH, KNOW, RIGHT.
FIRST OFF TO THE HUNDREDS OF CITIZENS WHO DID PARTICIPATE IN THE, UH, PUBLIC MEETINGS THAT WERE HELD.
UH, I WANT TO THANK MR. LAGOON WITH THE FEDERATION, UH, FOR HIS ORGANIZATION HOSTING A MEETING, ALLOWING A PRESENTATION.
I WANT TO THANK, UH, EUGENE COLLINS AND THE NAACP CHAPTER.
THEY ALSO HOSTED A MEETING AND A PRESENTATION.
UM, I WANT TO THANK MS. NYMAN.
SHE LITERALLY ATTENDED ALL 10 OF THE PUBLIC MEETINGS AND, UM, I'M TRULY GRATEFUL FOR, UH, HER INTEREST, HER FEEDBACK, UH, THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS.
UM, LET ME JUST SAY, I COULDN'T BE MORE PLEASED WITH THE LEVEL OF DIALOGUE THAT'S TAKING PLACE ON THIS.
UM, THIS WAS MY INTENTION ALL ALONG THAT THESE ISSUES BE FIERCELY DEBATED, UH, BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
UH, AND SO FOR ME, THIS IS WHAT I WANTED TO COME OUT OF THIS PROCESS.
UM, YEAH, IT, IT, IT, UH, IT TOOK PUTTING SOME ITEMS ON AN AGENDA, UH, FOR, UH, SOME FOLKS IN SOME ORGANIZATIONS TO START PAYING ATTENTION.
UH, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPEFUL FOR AND WANT TO CONTINUE.
UM, A COUPLE OF WORDS OF CAUTION, THOUGH, JUST FROM SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE, UH, I WANNA CAUTION TO TRY TO, UH, DE-LEGITIMIZED THE PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS AND BLAME IT ON COVID.
I WANNA, I WANNA CAUTION THAT BECAUSE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE RECENTLY FORMED A STREET RENAMING COMMITTEE AND THAT COMMITTEE IS HOLDING PUBLIC MEETINGS DURING A TIME OF COVID.
SO IF YOUR ARGUMENT IS IT'S COVID AND PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING AND IT'S, IT'S DISRESPECTFUL TO ASK THEM TO ATTEND MEETINGS, THEN I WOULD WONDER IF THE SAME INDIVIDUALS ARE GOING TO COME TO THE PODIUM AFTER THAT COMMITTEE FINISHES ITS WORK AND SAY THEIR WORK IS DE-LEGITIMIZED BECAUSE THEY MET DURING THE TIME OF COVID.
SO I CAUTION THAT AS AN ARGUMENT, UH, A CAUTION, A COUPLE OF THE SPEAKERS WHO CAME UP, I WOULD JUST OFFER UP, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD MY PHONE NUMBER WHEN YOU WANTED LAMONT, CALL IT TO BE MAYOR PRO TEM, AND YOU CALLED ME AND HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH ME, BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM YOU ON THIS.
I'VE BEEN PUSHING THIS FOR MONTHS AND YOU COME UP AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HEAR YOU SPEAK ON IT.
SO I WANT TO CAUTION THAT YOU, YOU, YOU CAN CONTACT ME ON THIS.
THERE'S A PUBLIC COMMENT FORUM, UH, ONLINE, THE RLA.GOV/PLANET GOVERNMENT.
THE ISSUES THAT WERE BROUGHT UP TONIGHT ARE IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR THIS COMMUNITY COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS, UH, TO, TO FURTHER COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM'S POINT.
IT HELPS TO BUILD TRUST, UH, FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHILE I FELT LIKE I WAS OUT THERE, UH, HELPING TO, UH, PROMOTE GOOD WORK THAT WAS DONE BY A COMMITTEE OF, UH, 14 PEOPLE WHO WERE, UH, REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS COMMUNITY, UH, OTHERS FELT LIKE IT WAS PUSHING AN AGENDA.
LET'S, LET'S TALK THROUGH WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
UM, SO FINALLY, THE BIGGEST PIECE OF THIS THAT I AGREE WITH IS THIS, UH, THESE ITEMS ABSOLUTELY DESERVE, UH, THE MOST ATTENTION FROM THE PUBLIC.
AND SO WHEN I STARTED THIS PROCESS AND WAS TARGETING A NOVEMBER BALLOT, IT WAS UNKNOWN AT THAT TIME, WHAT WAS GOING
[01:45:01]
TO BE ON THAT NOVEMBER BALLOT? IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT MUCH WILL BE ON THAT NOVEMBER BALLOT.AND SO THE PIECE OF THIS FOR ME, THAT I VERY MUCH AGREE WITH IS THIS CAN WAIT.
THIS CAN HOLD OFF UNTIL WE GET A BALLOT THAT, UH, VOTERS ACROSS THIS PARISH WILL BE PAYING ATTENTION TO.
UH, AND SO, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S THAT IMPORTANT.
THESE ARE CHANGES TO OUR PARISH CONSTITUTION, UH, AND I THINK IT, IT NEEDS TO BE OUT THERE IN THE PUBLIC DIALOGUE.
SO AT THIS POINT, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A LITTLE BIT OF ADVICE, ALWAYS GO TO, UH, THE ASHLEY ASHLEY BACK FOR GOOD ADVICE.
WHAT I, WHAT I AM THINKING IS BECAUSE I WANT TO KEEP THE ITEMS AND THE, AND THE, UH, PROPOSED AMENDMENTS IN THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION IS CAN I DEFER THIS FOR 90 DAYS OR ARE SEEK TO DEFER IT FOR 90 DAYS? NOW, WHAT I SAY IS THE ITEM CLEARLY READS THAT IT'S TARGETING IN NOVEMBER BALLOT.
SO IF THE ADVICE IS DELETED, THAT'S FINE.
BUT MY INTENT IS JUST TO KEEP THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS OUT THERE FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION.
I THINK IF YOU INTEND TO BRING IT TO, UM, A DIFFERENT ELECTION, YOU NEED THREE NEW ITEMS. YEP.
SO IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN YOU KNOW, WHAT I'LL CONTINUE TO DO IS OFFER UP A PRESENTATION ON THESE, UM, UH, UH, AND, AND CONTINUE IF A, IF AN ORGANIZATION OR A GROUP IS INTERESTED, UH, TO, TO DISCUSS THEM AND THEN LOOK TO BRING THESE UP, UH, AT A FUTURE BALLOT.
SO YOUR RECOMMENDATION IS FOR A DELETION OF THESE ITEMS. UH, IF YES, IF YOUR INTENT IS NOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE NOVEMBER 13TH BALLOT, I THINK THE APPROPRIATE ACTION WOULD BE TO DELETE THE ITEMS. SO MOVED BOTH INTO THE LIBRA, SECONDED BY MOROCCO, ANY OPPOSITION TO THE LEAVING THE ITEM MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT.
WELL, WE VOTED ON IRON SIX TO MOVED ON ITEM 61 MOTION TO DELETE ROCK.
I MEAN, BACH
WE MOVE NOT ITEM 62 MOTION TO DELETE BY
ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES.
[63. 21-01036 ]
TO ITEM 63, IMPOSING TEMPORARY MORATORIUM FOR MOON LAND DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS FOR SPECIFY PROJECTS, FIND SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREAS AND PROVIDING FOR ENHANCED DRAINAGE DESIGN REQUIREMENTS WITHIN THE SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREAS FOR A PERIOD OF 12 MONTHS, BEGINNING ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2021, IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH VIBE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND CONDUCTION WITH THE DELIVERY OF PARIS.WHY STORM WATER MASTER PLAN BY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHILE YOU GO AT EIGHT DWIGHT HUDSON, JENNIFER ROCCO, DENISE AND MARISSA, CAROLYN COLEMAN.
WE DO HAVE A FEW SPEAKERS HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 63, MR. ED
UM, THE DEEPER I DUG INTO THIS PROPOSAL, THE MORE, IT FELT LIKE DEJA VU WITH THE 5G WIRELESS, UH, ORDINANCE THAT WE DEALT WITH LAST YEAR.
IT WAS A TOPIC THAT REQUIRED SOME FORM OF A TECHNICAL SOLUTION, BUT IT GOT WATERED DOWN BY INFLUENCE OF SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS.
WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED IN THE ORDINANCE BEFORE US TONIGHT DOES NOT REALLY RESEMBLE A MORATORIUM.
IN OUR OPINION, THE WORDING WAS SOMEWHAT CONFUSING, LEADING, LEADING MANY OF OUR MEMBERS TO BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING THEY WERE OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTING A TEMPORARY HALL TO BUILDING IN THE FLOOD PLAIN WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO HAPPEN.
THE POINT OF CONTENTION WITH THIS ORDINANCE IS ABOUT MAKING PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE UDC THAT MAY OR MAY NOT IMPROVE THE PARISHES DRAINING CHAP DRAINAGE CHALLENGES.
IN FACT, THE PROCESS THAT RESULTED IN THE LIST OF THOSE 14 DIFFERENT ITEMS THAT WERE LISTED IN THERE ON THE, ON THE ORDINANCE, USED A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PROCESS TO GET THERE.
THE SECTOR SIZE FEELS RUSHED AND, AND NOW, UM, WE DON'T CLEARLY UNDERSTAND, I THINK THE CONSEQUENCES OF THESE PROPOSED CHANGES YET I WOULD CONSIDER PLEASE CONSIDER TURNING THIS EXERCISE BACK OVER TO THE PLANNING ORGANIZATION, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT TYPICALLY DEAL WITH DEVELOPING THE CHANGES FOR THIS BODY TO, TO, UH, VOTE ON THE FEDERATION HAS PUBLICLY STATED THAT WE SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE GROWTH,
[01:50:01]
BUT WE CONTINUE TO ASK THE QUESTION, WHAT'S THE FLAT AND DECLINING POPULATION IN THIS PARISH.WHY DO WE NEED ALL THIS GROWTH? ESPECIALLY IN THE PARISHES, VULNERABLE FEATHER AND FLOOD PLAINS.
I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND THERE ARE 35 OF THE PROJECTS ALREADY THIS YEAR ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION DOCKET THAT WOULD FALL UNDER THESE GUIDELINES OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE SPECIAL FLOOD.
PLAIN, MORE THAN HALF OF THEM COULD BE EXEMPTED WITH THE CURRENT WORDING.
I'M SURE THERE ARE PLENTY OF HIGH AND DRY TRACKS OF LAND THAT OTHER PARTS OF THE PARISH, WHY NOT INVEST THERE.
WE'RE ALSO AWARE OF THE ARGUMENT ABOUT PROPERTY RIGHTS INDIVIDUALS, HAVING THE RIGHT TO DO AS THEY SEE FIT WITH THEIR LAND.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT AS LONG AS YOUR USE YOUR USE, DOESN'T NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS.
OUR MEMBERS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS THAT THEIR VIEWS WILL HAVE A MINIMAL IMPACT ON THE DECISION HERE TONIGHT OR ON SEPTEMBER 8TH.
AND HOA IS REALLY DON'T ENJOY THE SAME LEVEL PLAYING FIELD AS THEIR FRIENDS IN THE GROWTH COALITION.
AND THEREFORE OUR HOMEOWNERS FEEL THAT THEIR PERSPECTIVE IS NOT SERIOUSLY BEING CONSIDERED.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEN TONIGHT WHO PROPOSED, OR CO-SPONSORED THIS ORDINANCE ONE MINUTE 50 SECONDS.
UM, WE STILL HAVE MUCH DIALOGUE BEFORE THE SEPTEMBER 8TH VOTE.
IF WE WANT TO BE FAIR OR HAVE A FAIR SHOT FOR THE HOMEOWNERS OF THIS PARISH, LIKE YOU I'D BE HERE AT THE TIME ALL THE TIME.
UH, MR. WATSON, WHAT HAPPENS TO JOHN BAGEL? OBLIQUE? YES.
HI, I'M JOHN DAIGLE, 39 31 CREEK SHADOW CHORD.
SPEAKING ABOUT THE SAME ITEM WITH SOME SHOP, SOME OF THE LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS HAVE REPORTED AMOUNTS TO A MORATORIUM THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING.
IT IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND, BUT IT'S NOT A MORATORIUM.
THEN IT SAYS THEY'RE GOING TO BE NEW DRAINAGE DESIGN REQUIREMENTS OR THE SAME SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREAS AT THE SAME TIME.
DOES THIS MEAN THAT THOSE PROJECTS WILL BE APPROVED IF THEY MEET THOSE STANDARDS DURING THAT 12 MONTHS? CAN I POSE QUESTIONS? A NOD IS FINE TOO.
WELL, I READ IT THE SAME WAY MR. MALARKEY DOES.
THIS IS NOT A MORATORIUM THAT MAKES IT A VERY MISLEADING PROPOSAL.
THE PUBLIC INTEREST IS NOT BEING REPRESENTED.
AND HERE WE ARE AT THE FIVE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE 2016 FLOOD.
AND YOU'RE GIVING US THIS, THAT IS A NEW LOW, EVEN FOR THIS BODY.
SO I'VE HEARD IT'S GOING TO BE DEFERRED.
IF THE NEXT VERSION TRIES TO DO THE SAME THING, THROWN TOGETHER QUICKLY, A BUNCH OF NUMBERS THAT I SERIOUSLY DOUBT ALL OF YOU UNDERSTAND, AND WE KNOW THE PUBLIC WON'T UNDERSTAND, AND THAT IS PRESENTED AS SOME KIND OF SOLUTION TO OUR FLOOD PROBLEM.
SO I'M BEING VERY BLUNT ABOUT THIS.
WE HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPECT BETTER FIVE YEARS AFTER THE 2016 FLOOD WITH THE SUBSEQUENT EVENTS THAT THIS MENTIONS AS WELL.
AND WE'RE BEING HANDED SOMETHING THAT IS FRAUDULENT.
I HOPE THE MEDIA OUTLETS WILL ACTUALLY TAKE THE TIME TO READ IT OR HAVE SOMEONE EXPLAIN IT TO THEM BECAUSE IT'S NOT PROPOSING A MORATORIUM.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 63? ANYONE ELSE HERE? COME ON DOWN, RIGHT.
MY NAME IS CARLA HUDSON AND I'M THE LEAD ORGANIZER FOR TOGETHER BATON ROUGE, UH, IN DISTRICT DISTRICT NINE, COUNCILMAN HUDSON.
AND WHAT I WOULD SAY, UM, I WOULD AGREE WITH THE TWO COMMENTS THAT CAME A LITTLE BIT JUST RIGHT BEFORE ME IS THAT WE BELIEVE THAT THIS DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH.
UM, WE ENGAGE THE COUNCIL EARLY ON DURING THE ELECTION SEASON, BRINGING UP THAT FLOODING WAS ONE OF THE PRIMARY ISSUES THAT WAS COMING UP IN OUR HOUSE MEETINGS OF ENGAGING CITIZENS.
UM, AND THE MOST POPULAR STORY THAT WE WERE HEARING FROM CITIZENS WAS MY HOUSE NEVER FLOODED, BUT THEN THE SCHOOL WAS BUILT BEHIND ME OR THIS BUILDING WAS BUILT BEHIND ME AND NOW MY HOUSE FLOODS AND WE SHOWED PICTURES TO EVERY PERSON ON THE COUNCIL.
SO WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT, YOU KNOW, MORATORIUM IS CORRECT.
UM, BUT IT NEEDS TO GO ACTUALLY BE A MORATORIUM MUCH LIKE I UNDERSTAND ASCENSION PARISH DID, UM, WHERE WE JUST STOPPED THINGS UNTIL WE GET, MAKE AN ASSESSMENT AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO OR COMPREHENSIVE
[01:55:01]
BLOOD PLAN.WE'VE ALSO MET WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT SAY NOT JUST A PLAN FOR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, BUT ALSO BE IN CONVERSATION AND RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PARISHES AROUND US.
BUT THERE IS A REGIONAL PLAN TO MANAGE THE WATER THAT IS HIDDEN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO, UM, I THINK THAT THIS IS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE TOP ISSUE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
UM, I LIVE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE PARISH.
AND SO I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME STREETS THAT I CAN'T GO DOWN IF IT RAINS TOO HARD.
UM, SO I UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU START BUILDING SUMMIT AND SIDEWALK AND THE STREETS AND THINGS OF THIS NATURE, THAT WATER HAS TO GO SOMEWHERE.
UM, AND SO I WOULD SAY WE JUST NEED TO GO A LITTLE BIT FURTHER, UM, BUT THAT'S A GOOD START, BUT WE DO NEED TO GO FURTHER AND ACTUALLY FOR IT TO BE A MORATORIUM SO THAT WE COULD AGGRESSIVELY DEAL WITH THE FLOODING ISSUES THOUGH.
ANYONE ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 63? ANYONE ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 63? YOU COMING DOWN WITH BRADFORD, NOT LAST NAME, JOSHUA, UM, ON JOHN BRADFORD, 48, 21 IN ASSAULT ROAD, BOUNDARIES, LOUISIANA.
I ACTUALLY DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS COMING UP, BUT I DO WANT TO COMMENT CAUSE I KNOW, UH, SIERRA CLUB BATON ROUGE, WHICH I'M A PART OF WILL HAVE COMMENT READY FOR SEPTEMBER 8TH, BUT I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT.
THE FOLKS WHO HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE ME, UM, AND ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT WE KEEP SAYING FLOODING AND WE KEEP SAYING DRAINAGE, BUT THE REALITY IS THIS IS CLIMATE CHANGE.
AND SO WE REALLY NEED TO THINK THROUGH WITH TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND ZONING FLOODING, ALL OF THE THINGS WE NEED A UNIFIED APPROACH TO DEALING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE IN BATON ROUGE, ANYWHERE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON ITEM 63? WE DO HAVE SOME EMAIL COMMENTS.
COUNCILMEMBER, WE, UM, RECEIVED THREE EMAIL COMMENTS, TWO IN FAVOR.
I'M SORRY, ONE IN FAVOR AND TWO, A POST COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, A COUPLE OF THE SPEAKERS ALLUDED TO IT.
UM, THERE HAS BEEN A, UH, REVISED VERSION OF THIS, UH, TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ORDINANCE THAT, UH, HAS BEEN SUBMITTED FOR INTRODUCTION AT OUR AUGUST 25TH MEETING FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER THE EIGHTH.
UM, IT LARGELY FOLLOWS THIS WITH, UH, SOME AMENDMENTS OF CLARIFYING LANGUAGE AND THEN, UM, UH, INSERTS SOME, UH, PERCENTAGE TOWARDS, UH, THE AMOUNT OF THE DEVELOPMENT INTO, IN THE FLOOD HAZARD AREA.
SO THAT VERSION, UH, HAS BEEN INTRODUCED FOR THE 25TH MEETING ON THE 25TH.
AND SO THIS ITEM WILL COME UP AGAIN ON SEPTEMBER THE EIGHTH.
SO WITH THAT, UH, NO ACTION NEEDED ON THE, ON THE ITEM TONIGHT.
IT CAN BE DELETED WITHOUT A MOTION TO BELIEVE, SIR.
MOTION TO DELETE BY COUNCIL NUMBER GO.
THEY SET BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS AND THE OPPOSITION.
UH, WE DO ALL WE ALL THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ROCCO, PAULA MESSINA.
CAN YOU PLEASE COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW PAULA MESSINA WORKS WITH PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
UM, PEOPLE HEAR THE WORD MORATORIUM FREQUENTLY AND THEY THINK THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE A BLANKET STATEMENT PUT ACROSS THE PARISH.
CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME AND THE PUBLIC, THE THREE ELEMENTS THAT A MORATORIUM MUST MAKE TO BE ABLE TO, UM, BE LEGAL? WE HAVE TO HAVE A DEFINED PURPOSE.
SO A STATED GOAL FOR A DEFINED PERIOD OF TIME.
AND THAT IS WHAT IS REQUIRED MORATORIUM TO BE HELD, UM, UP TO THE STANDARDS, UH, FOR ANY CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE.
SO IN YOUR LEGAL OPINION, OR JUST IN YOUR OPINION, AS A HUMAN STANDING UP THERE, IF SOUTH BATON ROUGE IS EXPERIENCING A LARGE AMOUNT OF FLOODING, BUT NORTH BATON ROUGE IS ON EFFECTED, IS IT FAIR TO PUT A MORATORIUM ACROSS THE BLANKET PARISH? IS IT LEGAL? YOU'RE ASKING ME FOR AN OPINION ON SOMETHING THAT IS BEYOND, I THINK THE SCOPE OF MY ABILITY TO, TO ANSWER SO SORRY TO SIDESTEP THAT ONE, BUT I AM, I THINK THAT, UM, PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT'S CONTAINED IN HERE.
AND I HOPE THAT THE CLARITY THAT WE HAVE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS WILL FURTHER EXPLAIN WHAT MY POINT IS, WHAT IS LEGAL, WHAT WE CAN DO LEGALLY WITHOUT IMPACTING AREAS THAT EXPERIENCED NO PUTTING WITHOUT PUNISHING THOSE AREAS, PUNISHING THEIR DEVELOPMENT WHILE ADDRESSING THE ISSUES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
AND, UH, A MORE IMPORTANT PIECE IS THIS IS ONLY A SHORT TERM SOLUTION.
IT IS ONLY FOR 12 MONTHS, BUT IT IS A SPECIFIC DESIGNATED TIME AS A STATE OF BY THE LAW.
[02:00:01]
THE DOCUMENT THAT YOU WILL SEE THAT IS CIRCULATED ACCOMPLISHES THE GOALS, THE STATED GOALS.SO I BELIEVE THAT IT IS A SOMETHING THAT, UM, CAN ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH AND THEN CAN ACCOMPLISH WHAT, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, GOATEE WOULD LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH.
AND IT IS IN MY OPINION, A LEGALLY BINDING SOUND DOCUMENT, AN ORCHID ORDINANCE, WHICH MAY POTENTIALLY LIMIT THE LIABILITY AS WELL.
MY POINT IN EXPLAINING THIS, AND WE'RE, WE'RE REVISING, WE'RE TRYING TO, UM, CREATE THIS AND MR. GREG COUNCILMAN
AND I COMMEND HIM ON DOING THAT.
UM, BUT ULTIMATELY WE CANNOT LOOK AT, THERE ARE SECTIONS OF THE PARISH THAT ARE MORE PROBLEMATIC THAN OTHERS.
SO WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS IN MIND AND LOOK AT THIS AS, UM, THEY'RE SECTIONED OFF PROBLEMS AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.
WE CAN'T, WE'RE NOT LIKE SOME OF THE SMALLER PARISHES WHERE WE CAN PUT A BLANKET MORATORIUM ACROSS THE PARISH.
OUR LANDSCAPE IS NOT THE SAME.
SO I ASK YOU TO, PLEASE CONTINUE TO HAVE PATIENCE WITH US.
WE'RE TRYING TO FIND SOLUTIONS.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS, UH, ROCKERS 82 TO 84, UM, COMMENTS REGARDING, UM, IT'S GONNA TAKE PATIENCE.
UM, BUT THESE ARE, AND I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE DELETED, BUT, UM, WHAT I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION IS THAT, WELL, THAT IS GONNA, UH, IT WILL, WE HAVEN'T TO SEPTEMBER TO DEAL WITH THIS BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE RECEIVED THE INVITATION, UM, FROM BUILDING A RESIGNED REGION OF THE 17TH, WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO BE IS, IS THROUGH AN H T H A AND TWO, B H N T B, AND WERE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE STORM WATER MASTER PLANS, LOUISIANA WATERSHED INITIATIVES, ET CETERA, WHICH WILL GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ON, UM, HOW THE CITY IS PROGRESSING.
AS IT RELATES TO DRAINAGE AND FLOODING IN THIS COMMUNITY.
ALSO, I HAD, UM, GOTTEN SOME INFORMATION REGARDING 'CAUSE.
WE, WE, WE NEED A WAY TO BE STRATEGIC AND, UM, LIKE A CONSOLE ROCKET SAYING WE DON'T NEED TO, UM, APPLY A MORATORIUM IN AREAS WHERE W AND, AND LIKE, UH, LIKE POLICY SAID THAT THERE'S NO SPECIFIC PURPOSE.
UM, WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DESIGNATING OUR AREA AND THAT IT COULD BE SUPPORTED BY DATA.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'LL BE PUTTING A REPORT ON IN, UM, IS WHERE WE WOULD DO A COMPARISON OF THOSE AREAS WITHIN THE 100 YEAR.
IS IT 100 YEAR FLOOD PLAN? OH YEAH.
100 YEAR FLOOD PLAN THAT FLOODED IN 2016 AND ALSO FLOODED ON MAY 17TH ALSO IDENTIFIED THE WATER, UH, TRIBUTARIES.
I'M LEARNING ALL THESE BIG WORDS.
JUST ACTING SILLY TRIBUTARIES TO THOSE FLOODING ISSUES.
AND AS YOU SEE THEM, UM, 82 THROUGH 84, THE CITY IS OUR WAY TO BEING GRANTED MONEY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE AREAS.
AND THERE ARE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS MORE THAT ARE AVAILABLE, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE STRATEGIC.
AND I'M THINKING THAT IF, UM, WE WOULD HAVE A LIST OF THOSE IDENTIFIED AREAS HAVE A LIST OF THE, UM, THE WATER, UM, TRIBUTARIES THAT ARE THERE ARE BEING IMPACTED, WHETHER IT'S, THEY AREN'T BEING CLEANED OR THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME KIND OF CONSTRUCTION, WHATEVER IT IS SO THAT WE CAN HOLISTICALLY AND SYSTEMATICALLY APPLY THE DOLLARS IN A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE AND EVEN BUY IT.
EVEN IF, ONCE WE DO ONE LIT, WE'LL SEE IF IT WORKS.
YOU KNOW, SO I DON'T AT THIS POINT, I DON'T WANT TO JUST THROW GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD, AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY BENCHMARKS OUR WAY TO DETERMINE IF THAT IS WORKING JUST SO THAT WE COULD GET UP, YOU KNOW, HAVE A REPORT AND SAYING WE DID ABCD AND THEN THE NEXT FLOOD, SOMEBODY FLOOD.
AND SO, UM, I APPRECIATE, UM, COUNCILMAN GORDY, EVEN PUTTING, UH, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE MANY CHANGES, PUDDING, I'VE ALWAYS FELT WE SHOULD HAVE A MORATORIUM, BUT BEING IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE PARISH WHERE THAT'S NOT
[02:05:01]
AN ISSUE, I DIDN'T THINK THAT I WAS THE PERSON THAT SHOULD DO THAT, BUT I ABSOLUTELY WILL SUPPORT A MORATORIUM UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES WITH THE RIGHT DATA, WITH THE RIGHT REPORTING MEASURES WITH THE RIGHT BENCHMARK AND RIGHT ACCOUNTABILITY.AND SO HASTE DOES MAKE WASTE AND I APPRECIATE IT COMING UP AGAIN.
AND BY THAT TIME, HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE ALL THIS INFORMATION.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS? THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO DELETE THE ITEM BY COUNCIL MEMBER OR COUNSELOR MO.
UM, SO OBVIOUSLY MOST OF Y'ALL KNOW MY OPINION ABOUT MORATORIUMS. UM, BUT I DO GOTTA TELL YOU THAT THE GROUP THAT WORKED ON THIS, I APPRECIATE A LOT OF THE OPTIONS.
I DON'T EVEN REALLY SEE THIS AS A MORATORIUM BECAUSE THE OPTIONS ARE STILL THERE.
IF THEY BUILD TO A CERTAIN HIGHER STANDARDS TEMPORARILY, THEY GO TO THE A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLAINS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT Y'ALL HAVE PUT INTO THIS TO, TO TARGET THE AIR, TO, TO TARGET A WAY TO CONTINUE THE GROWTH OF BATON ROUGE.
ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT WAS MADE EARLIER IS THAT WE FLAT LINED OR WHATEVER.
WELL, TO ME, THAT'S ONE OF THE TIMES THAT YOU NEED TO REALLY FOCUS ON GROWTH.
AND WHEN, WHEN YOUR CITY FLAT LINES, YOU COULD POSSIBLY GO BACKWARDS.
I LOOK AT IT LIKE A CHURCH WHEN A CHURCH DIDN'T HAVE HIGHER ATTENDANCE OR MORE PEOPLE COMING IN, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT SITUATION? WELL, THAT'S WHAT CONCERNS ME WAS STOPPING ALL DEVELOPMENT.
UM, AS FAR AS THE SPECIFICS, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO TARGET CERTAIN AREAS OF THE PARISH.
I LIKE THE WAY Y'ALL HAVE IT FOR THE CERTAIN FLOOD PLAINS AND, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH, AND I ASKED HIM TO BREAK IT DOWN FOR ME.
AND IF SOMEBODY NEEDS TO CLARIFY IT OR WHATEVER IS, YOU TAKE A PIECE OF PROPERTY, IT WANTS TO BE DEVELOPED.
AND WHEN THEY SUBDIVIDED THAT PROPERTY OUT THEN, AND ONLY THEN IF HE GETS TARGETED IN THAT HIGH FLOOD PLAIN AREA, THEN THAT'S WHERE IT BECOMES THAT IT HAS TO MEET THE HIGHER STANDARDS.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ZONING OUT NORTH BATON ROUGE VERSUS SOUTH THAT ROUGE VERSUS EAST WEST OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, OR SPECIFIC AREAS IS STRICTLY CONDITIONAL TO THE FLOODPLAINS.
AND THAT IS WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS.
AND I HOPE THAT PART GOES FORWARD AND THAT WE DON'T TARGET A SPECIFIC AREA OF THE PARISH.
SO JUST MY FEW COMMENTS ON THAT.
ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS? THERE WAS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO DELETE THE ITEM BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOLDIE SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. THERE'S THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO THE MOTION MOTION CARRIES ON ITEM 63
[92. 21-00975 ]
COUNCIL MEMBER.WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ONE ITEM OUT OF WATER.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO ITEM 92 ON PAGE 13, ITEM 92, AUTHORIZING THEIR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A HYBRID CONTINGENCY CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SERVICES WITH JULIAN TALBOT AND ALEJANDRO PERKINS.
WITH REGARD TO THE CITY'S ELIGIBILITY TO COLLECT TAXES ON COMPLIMENTARY ROOMS LOCATED IN CASINOS AND THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
THE CONTRACT IS NOT TO EXCEED $50,000 WITH THE CONDITION THAT SUMS PAID FOR SERVICES.
WINDED UP FRONT WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM THE CONTINGENCY AND REIMBURSED IF THE CITY PARISHES INTO A SETTLEMENT OR COMPROMISE OR STINGS AND MONEY JOGGING BY DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND THE OFFICE OF THE PARISH ATTORNEY.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NINE TO ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 92? YES.
UM, AND I'M PRIMARILY HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THIS COUNCIL MAY HAVE.
UH, I AM A SALES TAX ATTORNEY.
I LIVE HERE IN BATON ROUGE, 1 72 21 NORTH LAKEWAY AVENUE.
UM, I REPRESENT APPROXIMATELY 40 PARISHES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF LOUISIANA AND OCCASIONALLY AS OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE.
THIS, UH, COUNCIL HAS HIRED ME IN THE PAST TO WORK WITH FINANCE DEPARTMENT ON A GENERAL CONSULTING AND, UH, ON A CASE BY CASE LITIGATION BASIS.
THIS COUNSEL IS ALSO AUTHORIZED, UH, MYSELF AND MR. PERKINS TO REPRESENT IT AGAINST VARIOUS ONLINE TRAVEL COMPANIES IN A CASE THAT'S IN LITIGATION HERE IN THE 19TH JDC.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, MR. TALBOT, ITEM 92.
ANYONE ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 92 COUNCIL MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER, HUDSON MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND BY A COUNCIL MEMBER GREEN, WE HAVE COMMENTS.
UH, MR. TALBOT, YOU SPECIALIZE IN THIS TYPE OF, UH, IS IT LEGAL PRACTICE THAT YOU SPECIALIZE IN? YES, SIR.
I LITIGATE, UH, SALES AND USE TAX CASES ON BEHALF OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AND VARIOUS LOCAL COLLECTORS IN THIS PARISH, THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE SALES TAX AND THE, THE, THE MOTIVATION BEHIND FINANCE CONTRACTING WITH YOU IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE THAT SPECIALIST.
SINCE SPECIFICALLY I REPRESENTED THE DEPARTMENT
[02:10:01]
OF REVENUE AGAINST A JAZZ CASINO.THAT'S KNOWN AS THAT FOR APPROXIMATELY 14 YEARS.
UM, AND I REPRESENTED THE DEPARTMENT REVENUE AGAINST, UH, THE HARRIS CASINO SUCCESSFULLY.
AND, UH, THIS WOULD BE A KIND OF AN, AN EXTENSION, A CONTINUATION OF THAT THEORY.
I CAN NEVER GUARANTEE RESULTS.
EVERY CASE IS BASED ON ITS OWN FACTS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU, I REALLY ENJOY YOUR WORK
UM, SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS A VERY NICHE PRACTICE THAT YOU'RE ASSOCIATED WITH AS FAR AS, UM, YOUR PRACTICE.
AND, UM, PARISH ATTORNEY DATSUN.
I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION, UM, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS, UH, YOU DO NOT EMPLOY ATTORNEYS THAT HANDLED THIS TYPE OF LAW, CORRECT? WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE IN THAT AREA.
HOWEVER, DREW HAS REPRESENTED AGAIN, THE CITY OF PARIS FINANCE DEPARTMENT FOR 14 YEARS IS INTIMATE, HAS INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE AND HAS SHOWN TO BE A VERY EFFECTIVE COUNSEL FOR THE CITY PARISH.
SO THAT'S WHY HE WAS RETAINED.
AND THAT'S WHY I WAS SEEKING TO RETAIN THEM IN THIS MAN.
SO THIS MONEY YOU'RE GOING TO COLLECT FOR THE CITY THERE, RIGHT? HE'S GOING TO ATTEMPT TO DO A CASTLE WILMA.
EVENTUALLY WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THAT STAGE YET.
I HADN'T HAD A TRACKING MECHANISM TO DO THIS, RIGHT.
I DON'T KNOW ANY, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY CAN'T GET INTO ALL OF THAT CALCULATION AT THIS TIME AND I'D RATHER NOT GET INTO ALL OF THAT.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE'VE HAD THIS GENTLEMAN TO ASSIST THE POSSIBILITY OF THE CITY PAIRS, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CERTAIN AVENUES THAT MAY BE ENTITLED TO.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE SEEKING THE HIRING.
I WANT TO SAY THIS DAY, THE COUNCIL, UH, MR. TALBOT, AS WELL AS ALEJANDRO PARK AS MR. PERKINS TODAY WAS HIS BIRTHDAY AND HE, AND HE COULDN'T APPEAR TODAY, NOT JUST FOR THAT.
HE HAD ANOTHER CATHOLIC IS KNOW TODAY'S HIS BIRTHDAY, BUT HE'S GOING TO BE CO-COUNSEL.
ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GREEN.
WHEN THE OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES, WE'LL GO
[64. 21-01049 ]
BACK TO ITEM 64.WE GET READY TO TAKE OFF PRETTY FAST THROUGH THE NEXT FEW ITEMS. COUNCIL MEMBERS, ITEM 64, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO FILE AN APPLICATION, TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD, LOUISIANA, TO ADMINISTER THE MEDICAL AND PHARMACY BENEFITS PLAN FOR CITY PARISH, EMPLOYEES, AND RETIREES, AND TO ADMINISTER THE FULLY INSURED MEDICARE ADVANTAGE CONTRACT FOR RETIREE MEDICAL AND PHARMACY COVERED FOR A PERIOD, NOT TO EXCEED FIVE YEARS WITH AN OPTION OF A TWO YEAR 1, 2, 1 YEAR EXTENSIONS EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, 2022 BY THE HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR.
THE ONLY ONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 64, ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 64, COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCCA.
UM, ACTUALLY, UM, MR. BERNARD, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO OUR CONSULTANTS.
UM, IT'S THEIR TIME TO SHINE, JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW THAT THESE GUYS ARE OUR HEALTH CONSULTANTS.
SO IF YOU DON'T MIND INTRODUCING YOURSELF.
SO OUR COUNCIL KNOWS THAT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF TALKING TO THEM.
UM, I GET EVENING, EVERYONE USUALLY KEOUGH WITH LOCKED-IN COMPANIES.
SO, MS.
COULD YOU TELL THE PUBLIC HOW THAT WORKED OUT JUST WITH REGARD TO THE DECLARATIONS AND, UM, BY WHY WE'RE ACCEPTING THEM? SURE.
UM, SO CURRENTLY THE CITY DOES BUSINESS WITH BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD.
THEY ARE CONSIDERED YOUR THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR, ALSO KNOWN AS A TPA.
THEY PROCESS CLAIMS FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES.
THEY HANDLE, UM, CALLS TO THEIR ONE 800 NUMBER.
THEY NETWORK WITH YOUR LOCAL PHYSICIANS AND HOSPITALS, AND MAINTAIN A PRICING STRUCTURE THAT THEY THEN PASS ON TO THE CITY.
THEY'VE BEEN YOUR THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR 12, AT LEAST 12 YEARS CONTINUOUSLY EVERY FIVE YEARS OR SO.
YOU ALL GO OUT TO MARKET TO SEE IF THERE'S A BETTER OPTION FOR THE EMPLOYEES AND FOR THE EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN.
AND SO THAT RFP WAS RELEASED A FEW MONTHS AGO, UM, AND THE, UM, RESPONDENTS AND THE FEED THAT BACK THAT WE GOT FROM THAT WAS THAT BLUE CROSS WAS CONSIDERED THE STRONGEST IN TERMS OF NETWORK DISCOUNTS AND PRICING FOR THE EMPLOYEES.
AND SO THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER BIDDERS THAT WERE CONTACTED AND THEY CHOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE BECAUSE THEY, UM, ADMITTEDLY SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BEAT THE BLUE CROSS
[02:15:01]
BLUE SHIELD NETWORK DISCOUNTS IN THE BATON ROUGE MARKET.AND SO THERE'S A SURETY THERE TO THE EMPLOYEES THAT YOU ARE CONTINUING THAT RELATIONSHIP AND BRINGING THEM TO THE EMPLOYEES, THE LOWEST NET COST AVAILABLE, UM, THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WERE BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY.
AND I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE, IF YOU DON'T MIND, ABSOLUTELY WERE ABLE TO LOCK IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE FOR THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS WITHOUT ANY RATE INCREASE.
SO THAT'S A GOOD THING FOR THIS CITY.
WE GOT A PHARMACY REBATE FLOOR OF $6.3 MILLION, UM, FOR THE FIRST YEAR WITH AN ANNUAL INCREASE EACH YEAR AFTER THE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE RATES WERE REDUCED BY 11.8%.
SO WE LOWERED THE RATES FOR THE MEDICARE RETIREE PLAN.
WE PUT PERFORMANCE GUARANTEES IN PLACE AT $375,000 PER YEAR, TIED TO SATISFACTION METRICS BASED ON HOW THEY SERVE YOUR, YOUR EMPLOYEES AND YOUR RETIREES, THE NETWORK DISCOUNT GUARANTEES.
THEY WERE ABLE TO PUT OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN DISCOUNT GUARANTEES.
SO NOT ONLY ARE THEY THE STRONGEST DISCOUNTS IN THE AREA, THEY PUT UP OVER A MILLION DOLLARS GUARANTEEING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HIT THOSE NUMBERS FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES.
THEY ALSO PUT UP A CLAIM COST GUARANTEE WITH OVER $400,000 AT RISK, WHICH WAS GOOD.
WE NEGOTIATED TECHNOLOGY AND WELLNESS CREDITS OF $25,000 PER YEAR, AS WELL AS THE PHARMACY MANAGEMENT FUND, A $15,000 TO BE USED FOR PROGRAMS OFFERED THROUGH THE PBM SERVICES.
UM, OVERALL CROSS DOES HAVE THE STRONGEST DISCOUNTS AND THE LOWEST NET COST IN THE MARKET.
THEY'RE A LARGE LOCAL EMPLOYER AND THEY'VE BEEN A GOOD PARTNER FOR THE CITY, UH, TO DATE.
I BELIEVE BRIAN CAN SAY FOR A FACT, THE EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES SEEM TO BE VERY SATISFIED WITH THE PLAN.
SO WE WERE HAPPY TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS TO HELP LOCK IN A FINANCIAL AGREEMENT THAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY AND YOUR EMPLOYEES.
SO FOR ANYBODY OUT THERE THAT THINKS THAT YOU DON'T NEED AN INSURANCE CONSULTANT, HERE'S YOUR PROOF, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THEY WORK.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP AND YOUR EFFORTS, RIGHT? I'LL STAND BY ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS TELL US, UH, WE'LL HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER, HUDSON SECONDED BY OUR COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO THE ITEM? I HAVE HIM 64.
[65. 21-00752 ]
ITEM 65, A RESOLUTION APPOINTING A REPRESENTATIVE ON BEHALF OF THESE BEDROOMS PARISH, WHO WAS COMMISSIONED TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OF LOUISIANA, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITIES, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.HAS ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 65, ANYONE HEAR TO SPEAK ON ITEM 65 COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS A MOTION TO APPROVE MOTION BY MOKE SEVEN BY ADAMS. WE GO NOW TO ITEM 66.
OH, WE NEED TO SAY IF WE'RE GOING TO A POINT, YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A MOTION.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPOINTED, MS. ASHLEY BACK POSTED TWO APPOINTMENTS BACK.
SECOND, IF I GO TODAY IS BACK.
YOU HAVE BEEN APPOINTED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF LOUISIANA, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL FOR SUSAN AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
[66. 21-00753 ]
AND NOW I GO TO ITEM 66, A RESOLUTION APPOINTED A REPRESENTATIVE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF LOUISIANA, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITIES, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BY COUNCIL ADMINISTRATIVE TREASURER SOUNDED LIKE THE SAME ONE.IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 66 COUNCIL MEMBERS DO A MOTION TO APPROVE POINT ASH, MS. BECK.
SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN NEIL, SECONDED BY COUNCIL NUMBER DONE ANY OPPOSITION ITEM CARERS.
[Items 67 - 73 ]
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ITEMS 67 THROUGH 73 TOGETHER.WE SENDING IN DIRECT MCCLOUD RECORD.
THE COUNCIL DECISION TO ORDER RECORDED MARCH 12TH, 2020 IN A MATTER OF CITY OF BATON ROUGE VS DAVID PITTS, 7 0 2 MAXIMILLIAN STREET REASON FOR RESCISSION.
THE HOMEOWNER INTENDS TO ACQUIRE A PERMANENT REPAIR TO COMPLIANCE AND LEAVE AND LIVE IN THE HOME BY COUNCIL NUMBER COLEMAN, ITEM 68.
WE'RE SENDING IN THE RECOMMEND CLERK COURT.
THE COUNSELING DECISION ORDER RECORD ON MAY 4TH, 2021 IN THE MATTER OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSUS DAVE AND ALAN AND BARBARA ALLEN, RICKY LEE ALLEN, LINDA ALLEN BARN, AND FLORIDA ALLEN IT'S 1 77 0 SOURCE STREET I'M USING FOR DECISION.
THE OWNER IS RENOVATING A PROPERTY PAST PROVIDED PROOF THAT HE HAD A PERMIT AND HAS RECEIPTS FOR PAYING THE TAXES ON THE PROPERTY BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS, ITEM 68.
I WAS SENDING IN A RECORD IN THE CLERK OF COURT TO COUNCIL'S DECISION TO ORDER RECORDED ON MAY 4TH, 2021 IN THE MATTER OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSUS A STATE OF JOHNNY WHITFIELD, SR 5 3 7 6 9 OAKS DRIVE.
THE REASON FOR THE SEASON OWNER HAS PLANS TO MAKE REPAIRS BY COUNCIL MEMBER GREEN, ITEM 70 FOR SENDING INTO BRICK AND THE CLERK OR COURT, THE COUNCIL DECISION ORDER A COURT ON MAY 28TH, 2021 AS A MATTER OF CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSUS ANGEL INDUSTRIES, LLC 5 6, 3, 4 NORTH FOREST DRIVE REASON FOR THE SEASON, THE PROPERTY
[02:20:01]
OWNERS CURRENTLY MAKING THE NEEDED RENOVATIONS TO THE PROPERTY BY COUNCIL MEMBER GREEN ITEM 71 WAS SENDING INTO RECORD IN THE CLERK OR COURT.THE COUNCIL DECISION ORDER RECORDED ON MAY 4TH, 2021 AND A MATTER OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSUS ROGER ROME, DICKERSON 4 6 2 4 CLAYTON STREET.
THE REASON FOR THE SEASON, THE PROPERTY OWNER PLANS TO RENOVATE THE RENOVATE AND PLACED THE PROPERTY BACK INTO COMMERCE AS A WINTER PROPERTY BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLE, ITEM 72, WE'RE SENDING IN THE RECORD, THE COURT RECORD, THE COUNCIL DECISION ORDER RECORDED ON DECEMBER 22ND, 2020, AND A MATTER OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSUS RONALD DWAYNE STEVENSON, 5 46 SOUTH 17TH STREET.
THE HOMEOWNER HAS APPLIED FOR A PERMIT TO REPAIR THE HOME AND COMPLIANCE AND LIVES IN THE RESIDENCE BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN ITEM 73 WAS SENDING IN DIRECTING THE CLERK OF COURT TO COUNCIL'S DECISION ORDER RECORDED ON MARCH 29TH, 2021 AND A MATTER OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE VS LOW-BALL PROPERTIES, INC 9 23 7 7 AVENUE.
THE PROPERTY IS BEING SOLD AND A NEW OWNER PLASTER.
WE HAVEN'T CREATED ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 67 THROUGH 73, ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 67 TO 73 COUNCIL MEMBERS? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS SECONDED BY THE CHAIR? ANY OPPOSITION TO ITEM
[74. 21-00971 ]
CARES.NOW GO TO ITEM 74, AUTHORIZED AN INCREASE IN ANNUAL COMPENSATION OF CITY JUDGES OF BATON ROUGE CITY COURT SO THAT THEIR OVERALL ANNUAL SALARY IS EQUIVALENT TO THE SALARIES EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH DISTRICT JUDGES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDINANCE 1 66 1 TO ADOPT THE AUGUST 9TH, 2017 AND SECTION 11.04.
AND THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT AND INQUIRIES SHOULD BE EFFECTIVE AUGUST 14TH, 2021 BY THE CLERK OF COURT AND JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATOR.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 74? UH, YES SIR.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS LD OFFERED CLERK OF COURT, BANNER AVERAGE CITY COURT.
UH, I JUST WANT TO GIVE A COUPLE OF THE NUMBERS SO THAT, UM, YOU'LL KNOW THE SALARY INCREASE THAT YOU'RE APPROVING, UH, IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE DISTRICT COURT, UH, SALARY WAS THAT EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST AT $163,657 92 CENTS.
UH, WE SAID, UH, THE BATTERY CITY COURTS, VALERIE AT $163,657 AND 80 CENTS, WHICH IS 12 CENTS BELOW THE, UH, DISTRICT COURT SALARY.
ACCORDING TO REVISE STATUTE 13, COLON 1 8 7, 4 DASH ONE, UH, OF THAT THE CITY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING A $110,403 AND 58 CENTS DOING THIS CALENDAR YEAR AND GOING FORWARD, THE CITY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $111,807 AND 28 CENTS OF THAT.
THE STATE IS GOING TO PICK UP $51,850 AND 52 CENTS.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO TO QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? ARE THERE, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 74, ANYONE HERE ON SPEAKER ITEM 74 COUNCIL MEMBERS? ANY QUESTIONS MR. MILLS, ANY QUESTIONS? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 74 COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION BY DONE SECOND AND BY NOTE ITEM 74 CARRIES THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE, MR. ELDER MOVE AN
[75. 21-00964 ]
ITEM 75 AUTHORIZED MIRROR PRESENT, EXECUTE COOPERATING, DEBRA RUMI WITH THE CITY OF SENSORY AND COMMISSION WITH THE PROJECT PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ARMY CO-OPS AND THE ENGINEERS FOR THE AMY RUBIN TRIBUTARIES AND WATERSHED FLOODED WITH MANAGEMENT PROJECT BY DIRECTOR, TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE.ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 75 BACK TO THE COUNCIL COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURES COUNCIL MEMBER MOLT MOTION TO APPROVE OUR MOAT SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
[76. 21-00966 ]
AND NOW I'LL GO TO ANY OPPOSITION.WE GO TO ITEM 76, AUTHORIZING THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, REFUND LONELINESS, REMITTANCE OF SALES AND USE TAX FOR THE PERIOD OF FEBRUARY 1ST, 2017 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2018 TO ASCENSION PARISH ON BEHALF OF THE DOLLAR TREE STORES INCORPORATED.
NUMBER 2, 0 3 8, THE TAXES ADMITTED TO HIS MARRIAGE PARISH IN ERROR IN THE AMOUNT OF $56,134 AND 26 CENTS.
THE COST OF SUCH REFUND TO BE CHARGED AGAINST SALES TAX REVENUES BY THE FINANCE DIRECTORS.
ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 76.
WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO SPEAK ON? I AM 76 COUNCIL MEMBERS IN OUR MOTION MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. SECOND BY A CHAIR.
[77. 21-00972 ]
WE GO NOW TO ITEM 77, AUTHORIZING THEIR PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF A DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES EMPLOYER, BR PROGRAM, TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL TO CAPITOL ONE IMPACT.AND THEY'RE STICKING IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,000 TO SIGNED ALL DOCUMENTS CONDUCTED, DEALT WITH BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTORS.
ANYONE HAD TO SPEAK ON ITEM 77, ANYONE HERE FOR 77, WE MOVE NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER, ADAM SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
[78. 21-00973 ]
GO TO ITEM 78, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.[02:25:01]
THESE BERRIES PARENTS HISTORIC PROGRAM TO AMEND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH THE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE INCREASE IN CONTRACT ABOUT $35,000 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT, NOT TO EXCEED $76,000 AND TO SIGN ALL DOCUMENTS CONDUCTED.THERE WERE BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.
AND THEN WHEN HE DID SPEAK ON ITEM 78 BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE MOTION BY DONE, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
[79. 21-00974 ]
AND THEN I'LL GO TO 79 AUTHORIZING ME OR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.HE'S BEEN REPAIRED AS HEAD START PROGRAM WITH SOME OF THE CARES ACT FUNDING CARRY OVER REQUEST TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF 1 MILLION, $71,162 AND HAD TO SIGN ALL DOCUMENTS CONNECTED THERE WITH, BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.
IS ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 79 BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS? IS THERE A MOTION MOTION TO APPROVE BY DONE SECOND BY ADAMS?
[80. 21-00996 ]
AND WE GO NOW TO ITEM 80, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT TO ACCEPT THE BATTERY'S ADVANCING HEALTH LITERACY, TO ENHANCE EQUITABLE COMMUNITY RESPONSES TO COVID-19 GRANT AWARD FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY COMMUNITY PROGRAM TO IMPROVE MINORITY HEALTH IN THE AMOUNT OF $4 MILLION TO ENHANCE THE LEVEL OF HEALTH LITERACY AND IDENTIFY VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 80? IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK AUTOMATED? WE GO BACK TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE THIS APPLICATION ONLY WITH A BUDGET TO COME BACK FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL.
SO IT WAS THERE A MOTION MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANK SEVEN AND BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN,
[81. 21-01015 ]
WE NOW GO TO ITEM 81 AUTHORIZED PREGNANCIES TO SUBMIT THE 2021 ACTION PLAN TO THE U S DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT THE AMOUNT OF FEMALE, $258,983 HOME INVESTMENTS IN PARTNERSHIP HOME, ANY AMOUNT OF $1,408,393 HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH AIDS IN THE AMOUNT OF TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED AND THIRTY THREE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND THIRTY THREE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED FORTY EIGHT DOLLARS AND EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $280,083 AND HOME AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, THE AMOUNT OF 5 MILLION, $104,454 TOTALING, APPROXIMATELY $12,585,471 PLUS $725,000 ESTIMATED PROGRAM INCOME BY THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 81, ANYONE HERE BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ABILITY WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO COME UP FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND SPEAK TO THIS PARTICULAR ITEM WHO IS COMING ON DOWN? I SEE MS. TACK.
YEAH, I'M A SUPPORT AND IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN JUST BECAUSE I THINK THESE DOLLARS ARE SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK FOR AN OVERVIEW OF, UH, THE ACTION PLAN AMENDMENT HERE AND SORT OF THE CHANGES IN WHERE THESE DOLLARS ARE GOING.
AND I'D LIKE TO ACTUALLY BRING SOMEONE ELSE UP.
UM, MS. TASHA SAUNDERS, WHO'S OUR DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE SHE ACTUALLY CAN GIVE YOU A MUCH MORE THOROUGH EXPLANATION WHILE I DIDN'T KNOW MS. SAUNDERS WAS HERE.
UH, SO COUNCIL MEMBERS, MANY OF YOU MAY HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH TASHA, UH, IN HER PRIOR ROLE BUILD BATON ROUGE, BUT SHE IS NOW THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR CITY PARISH AND HAS HAD THESE MEETINGS AND CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND GIVE YOU THAT FOR THANKS, COURTNEY.
SO YOU JUST WANT AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE'RE DOING, THE CHANGE THAT THE DOLLARS ARE GOING TOWARDS.
SO THIS IS ACTUALLY JUST THE ACTION PLAN FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.
IT'S NOT AN AMENDMENT TO AN EXISTING PLAN.
SO LAST YEAR, WHAT WE PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL WAS THE 20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20 24, THE TONGUE TWISTER, A FIVE-YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN, AND THAT LAID OUT THE CITY PARISH, THE STRATEGIC VISION FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
EACH YEAR OF THAT PLAN, WE ARE REQUIRED BY HUD TO SUBMIT WHAT'S CALLED AN ANNUAL ACTION PLAN.
SO WE'RE IN THE SECOND YEAR OF OUR CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND WE ARE PRESENTING FOR APPROVAL, THE 2021 ACTION PLAN.
SO THE PLAN LAYS OUT OUR VISION FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
BASICALLY WE WILL BE PURSUING PROJECTS THAT WILL BUILD AND SUSTAIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME RESIDENTS.
UM, MOST LIKELY SOME PUBLIC FACILITY PROJECTS, SOME DRAINAGE PROJECTS, OF COURSE, REHAB AND REEF RESET, WHICH EVERYBODY LOVES.
AND, UM, WE WILL ALSO BE DOING CASE MANAGEMENT WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR HOUSING, UM, FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS.
AND THEN OF COURSE PROVIDING FUNDING FOR OUR SHELTER OPERATIONS THROUGH OUR EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS SCREEN.
IN ADDITION TO THOSE TRADITIONAL ENTITLEMENT FUNDS, WE ALSO ARE RECEIVING HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS, AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT DOLLARS.
THOSE DOLLARS WILL ALLOW US TO, UM, PURSUE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR HOMELESS, UM, INDIVIDUALS OR THOSE PERSONS AT RISK FOR HOMELESSNESS AND ALSO SOME ADDITIONAL, UM,
[02:30:01]
RENTAL ASSISTANCE.SO THE PLAN THAT WE'RE SUBMITTING IS JUST A DRAFT PLAN OF HUD ACCEPTS.
WE WILL THEN MOVE INTO WHAT EVERYBODY IS INTERESTED IN, WHICH IS THE FUNDING ROUND.
WE'LL RELEASE A NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY, PROBABLY AROUND OCTOBER.
WE'LL TAKE APPLICATIONS, UM, BETWEEN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER.
AND WE WILL MAKE CONDITIONAL AWARD NOTICES.
UM, IN DECEMBER, YOU ALL WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE, TO REVIEW AND APPROVE THE PERSON SELECTED THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
WHEN WE PRESENT THE BUDGET IN NOVEMBER, DECEMBER.
AND I APPRECIATE IT TO GET TO THIS POINT TO, FOR AN ACTION PLAN.
YOU ALL DID A PUBLIC MEETING FOR THIS.
WE ONLY DID ONE PUBLIC MEETING.
WE NORMALLY ARE REQUIRED TO DO TWO, BUT WE ONLY DID ONE BECAUSE OF COVID.
HUD HAS RELAXED THE RESTRICTIONS.
SO WE DID ONE MEETING AND, UM, WE STARTED HAVING PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR THE NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY AROUND SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER.
OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS, MS. TASHA, YOU CAN'T USE IT COVID AS AN EXCUSE FOR HAVING ONE MEETING.
WE'RE ALSO IN THE MIDST OF, UM, OUR EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS AND OF COURSE I WRAPPING UP OPERATIONS IN THE OFFICE, SO YES, MA'AM, WE WILL HAVE WAY MORE MEETINGS FOR OUR NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY.
AND I WILL ALSO HAVE SOME TECHNICAL, THIS IS WORKSHOP AND I HAVE ONE AND YOU KIND OF ALLUDED TO IT BECAUSE I HAVE, THERE'S NOT A WEEKEND.
I'M SURE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES, UM, PROBABLY AGREE THAT I DON'T GET A CALL FROM A RESONANCE ABOUT THEIR ROOF.
AND THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THE APPLICATION.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL THEM.
CAN THE, CAN THE MEETINGS ARE SOMETHING BE, UM, WHERE THEY'RE LIKE ACTION MEETINGS WHERE THERE WE ARE ACTUALLY SHOWING, GOING THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS FROM BEGINNING TO END IN REAL TIME.
AND AT THE END THEY TURN THEM IN.
SO THE, IT, THE MEETINGS THAT WE WILL BE HAVING WILL BE FOR ENTITIES THAT ARE INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR FUNDING.
THEY NEED THAT KIND OF MEETING TOO THOUGH.
SO THEN IF YOU WANT TO HAVE THAT, WE CAN ALSO HAVE A HOMEOWNER MEETING WHERE WE MEET WITH HOMEOWNERS AND RESIDENTS IN ORDER TO GO THROUGH THE APP PATIENT PROCESS.
IS THERE ANY MONEY FOR ROOFS AT THIS TIME? YEAH.
THERE'S MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR IT.
SO WHO DO I HAVE? I HAD A CALL TODAY ABOUT A LADY WITH A FLAT ROOF FROM, IT WAS BUILT IN THE FIFTIES.
THE INSURANCE COMPANY CANCELED HER INSURANCE YESTERDAY.
AND, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE, AND BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T GOING TO LET HER JUST PUT IT ON THE ROOF, HE HAD TO DO THE, SO WHO TO TELL HER TO CALL.
SHE CAN CALL THE OFFICE AND THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
I'M ANSWERING THE PHONE AND YOU'RE GONNA, YOU GOING TO HELP HER? YES, MA'AM THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I DO WANT TO ADD THOUGH IN THAT THAT RESIDENT WILL BE IN LINE WITH THE OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE THERE.
SO I DO WANT TO STRESS THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT FOLKS ARE WATCHING THE REAL-TIME PROCESS IN RESPONSE TO THAT WE CAN GET THEM STARTED, BUT THERE ARE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCES, AS YOU'RE AWARE OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH WITHIN THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
SO IT IS A PROCESS THAT DOES REQUIRE PATIENCE, BUT IT IS PROVEN AND IT WORKS.
AND IN THE PAST YOU HAD TO HAVE INSURANCE.
SO, BUT SHE'S LOST THE INSURANCE.
DO YOU, CAN YOU COMMENT ON HOW THAT PART WOULD WORK? YEAH.
FOR THE ROOFING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WE'RE NOT REQUIRING HOMEOWNERS TO HAVE INSURANCE.
IF THEY DO WANT TO DO A WHOLE HOUSE, WE HAVE, THEY HAVE TO HAVE INSURANCE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW GREAT IT IS TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT IS ABLE TO EXPLAIN THESE VERY COMPLEX, COMPLICATED GRANTS, UH, AS COMPLETELY AND AS CONCISELY AS COURTNEY OFTEN DOES.
THIS IS AN AREA WHERE HISTORICALLY THE PARISH HAS REALLY STRUGGLED WITH COMPLIANCE AND THAT KIND OF THING.
UM, YOU GUYS ARE DOING AN AWESOME JOB.
UH, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS IS THERE? WE WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AT THIS TIME FOR ITEM, MAYBE ONE, PLEASE KNOW WE, WE APPROVED CONTINGENT GRANTS AND CONTRACTS, REVIEW COMMITTEE APPROVAL, MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN ROCKWELL.
[82. 21-01016 ]
MOVE TO ITEM 82, AUTHORIZING THEIR PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT A GRANT AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,620,000 UNDER THE HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM.ONE WATERSHED DETENTION PHASE ONE BY HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DIRECTORS.
ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 82, WE'LL GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION.
MY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS SEVEN AND FIVE COUNCIL MEMBER, HUDSON.
[83. 21-01017 ]
GOING OUT AND AUTOMATING THREE, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT A GRANT AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF 8 MILLION, $500,000 UNDER THE LOUISIANA WATERSHED INITIATIVE PROGRAM FOR THE PURCHASE OF APPROXIMATELY 200 ACRES OF LAND ALONG BY YOU.[02:35:01]
BY A HOMELAND, ALWAYS MISSPELLED WELL BY HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DIRECTOR.IS ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 83, ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON AN ANIMATED THREE? UH, WE DO HAVE SOME EMAIL.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT OPPOSED TO ITEM 83.
WE'LL GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, WE WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AT THIS TIME.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKER SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS? AND NOW IS THERE AN OPPOSITION
[84. 21-01018 ]
AND I'LL GO TO ITEM 84, AUTHORIZING THEIR PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT THE GRANT AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF 5 MILLION, 700,000 AND THE LOUISIANA WATERSHED INITIATIVE PROGRAM FOR THE PURCHASE OF APPROXIMATELY ONE 40 ACRES OF LAND ALONG WARD CREEK BY HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DIRECTOR.IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 84, ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 84 BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SOMEONE WANTS TO BE, OH, MOTION TO APPROVE BY HUDSON SECONDED BY ROCCO.
[85. 21-01020 ]
NOW GO TO ITEM 85, AUTHORIZING THEIR PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE CHAMBER, YOUR COMMUNITY CENTER TO EXECUTE A COOPERATE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH SOUTH LOUISIANA AND A PRIMARY CARE LLC TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE SERVICES FOR THE BENEFIT OF VARIOUS RESIDENTS AND INCLUDING PRIMARY CARE MEDICAL SERVICE AND VACCINATION SOUTH LOUISIANA PRIMARY CARE LLC IS TO PAY 1000 PER MONTH BY COUNCIL MEMBER.IS ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 85 BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER, NO MOTION BY NO SECOND.
AND BY DONE, AND I WROTE A COUNSEL, EXCUSE ME,
[86. 21-01022 ]
ITEM 86, AMENDING TO 2021 CURRENT EXPENSE BUDGET FOR THE CHONY BEER COMMUNITY CENTER.SO TO APPROPRIATE $26,400 FROM THE FUND BALANCE DESIGNATED FOR COMMUNITY CENTERS FOR A BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS BY CHAMBER VIA COMMUNITY CENTER, DIRECTOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER KNOWN ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ALL AND MAYBE SIX COUNCIL MEMBER NOAH.
MOTION TO APPROVE SECOND AND BY BURN.
[Items 87 & 88 ]
AND I'LL GO TO ITEM 87, A RESOLUTION APPROVING ANNUAL PAY ME IN LIEU OF TAX AND THE SHERIFF OF EAST BATON ROUGE AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED THE CURRENT IT PROPERTY TAX PAYMENT OF $6,768 AND 26 CENTS.AND ACCORDANCE WITH THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN CAPITA OR FINANCE AUTHORITY AND BEYONCE FOUNDATION INCORPORATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, SHAUNA BANKS, ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM, MAYBE SEVEN COUNSELING MEMBER BANKS.
THEN IF THERE, IF WE CAN TAKE THOSE TOGETHER, 88, A RESOLUTION APPROVING ANNUAL PAYMENT, A LITTLE ATTACK OF THE SHERIFF OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED CURRENT PROPERTY TAX PAYMENT OF $1,709 AND 73 CENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CAFETERIA FINANCE AUTHORITY AND CST MULTIFAMILY REAL ESTATE SERVICES, LLC, BY COUNSELING WITH BANKS, ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 87 OR 88 COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS, MOTION TO APPROVE SECONDED BY ROCKER 87, 88.
WE NOW HAVE WHAT TO MAKE IT SOMEWHAT HERE TO SPEAK ON ONE OF THOSE ITEMS, ALL COUNCIL MEMBER PONY.
I ACTUALLY WAS GOING TO ASK IF THE COUNCIL MEMBER BRINGS YOU TO TALK ABOUT THESE TWO PROJECTS, THEY'RE HUGE PROJECTS IN YOUR AREA.
I THINK YOU WERE PART OF GLAD TO SEE.
SO, UM, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE, IF YOU, UH, OVER THE YEARS HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE EMERALD GARDEN APARTMENTS ON ELM GROVE GARDEN DRIVE, THEY WERE AN ABSOLUTELY PAIN, UH, FOR MANY YEARS DUE TO THE CONDITION BY WHICH, UM, CONDITIONS BY WHICH PEOPLE WERE LIVING.
SO VERY FORTUNATE THAT ONE TUG CAME IN AND CLOSED THE PROJECT.
THEY, UM, OFFERED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP ALL OF THE SECTION EIGHT CERTIFICATES.
UM, THEY REMAIN IN OUR DISTRICT AND, UH, THEN WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, WITH BANYAN FOUNDATION TO COME AND, UM, THE HUD ASSOCIATION WITH, WITH MR. DANIELS TO TOTALLY KNOCK THE BUILDING DOWN AND IT'S GOING TO BE REBUILT.
AND SO THAT IS LIKE ABSOLUTELY AWESOME FOR US.
ALSO, MR. M GO TO IN HIS PREVIOUS, UH, CAPACITY REPRESENTED THE MAYOR IN THOSE MEETINGS, THEY PROVIDED FUNDING.
SO, UM, I'M JUST VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT PROJECT.
AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER PROJECT ON PLANK ROAD, UM, KIND OF, UH, BORDERS, COUNCILWOMAN GREEN AS WELL NEAR HOUSE PARK WHERE MR. T BRADLEY, HE MAY BE GONE, WE'LL BE BUILDING, UM, BEAUTIFUL APARTMENTS, UH, ON BOTH SIDES STUDIO AND THAT STUDIO APARTMENT.
I MEAN, JUST TOP OF THE LINE INSIDE OUT DESIGNER, AND WE'RE JUST EXCITED ABOUT IT.
UM, I THINK THEY'RE, UH, THEY'RE GOOD FOR, I DON'T WANT TO GET MY TERMS WRONG WITH MARKET
[02:40:01]
RATE AND ALL THAT, BUT THEY ARE.AND, UH, SO IT'S, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY TO GET, UM, YOUNG FAMILIES AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO ADD TO OUR TAX BASE OUR, UM, OUR ABILITY TO GET A GROCERY STORE.
SO ALL OF THIS IS JUST REALLY GOOD, GOOD TO HAVE A SWIMMING POOL, GRANTED CABINETS.
THIS IS IT'S GOING TO BE LIVE.
SO I'M EXCITED TO COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS MOTION TO APPROVE BY BANK SECONDED BY ROCCA, ANY OPPOSITION ITEMS, 87 AND 88 HAVE BEEN APPROVED
[89. 21-01025 ]
ITEM, MAYBE NINE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCE OR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IN PARIS.IF YOU SPENT IT WAS TITLED 13, SECTION 13, POLAND, 35 DASH THREE.
SO AS TO HIM IN AN ADD DEFINITION TO ADD PROVISION FOR SECOND OFFENSE, DOMESTIC ABUSE BATTERY AMEND THE PENALTIES FOR CONVICTION, ADD PROVISION TO DETERMINE PRIOR CONVICTION OF DOMESTIC ABUSE BATTERY AND AT CLEANSING PERIOD FOR PRIOR DOMESTIC ABUSE BATTERY CONVICTION BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 89, ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM, MAYBE NOT COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION TO APPROVE BY ROCKER.
WE DO HAVE, IS THERE A SECOND? I GOT, I GOT IT.
WELL MOTION FAILS FOR LACK OF A SECOND.
I'M JUST MESSING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HUSSON SHE LOOKS SO SAD.
COUNCIL MEMBER DONE, CAUSE SOMEONE'S GOING TO PAY IT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, COME UP AND EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT THESE ADJUSTMENTS ARE, WHAT THE CHANGES AND PENALTY IS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE AMENDED IT TO COME IN LINE WITH THE STATE AND WHICH HAS A SECOND OFFENSE, UM, ALLOWS ALSO FOR A CLEANSING PERIOD OF TIME.
SO WE NOW HAVE A SECOND OFFENSE, BUT THE AT THE MISDEMEANOR LEVEL, AND WE'VE INCREASED THE, UM, PENALTIES, UH, FOR THAT IN LINE WITH THE STATE.
SO IT'S BRINGING THE US IN LINE WITH THE STATE, PROBABLY MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCCA, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUSBAND.
ARE THERE ANY OPPOSITION? THE MOTION CARRIES
[90. 21-01026 ]
ITEM 90 AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, TITLE 13.
SO AS TO ASK SECTION 13, COLON 35.4 BATTERY HAVE A DATING PARTNER BY PARISH ATTORNEY.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 90, ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 90, WE GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER DONE.
IT'S BACK IN LINE WITH THE STATE.
THIS ALLOWS FOR, UM, PARTNERS OF THE SAME SEX, UM, THAT IS ALIGNED WITH THE STATE.
SO PREVIOUSLY WHERE THEY WERE NOT, WE DID NOT HAVE THAT ABILITY OR UNDER THE CODE OF ORDINANCES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
SO THIS BRINGS US TO ALIGN WITH THE STATE, RIGHT? WE HAVE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION TO APPROVE OUR COUNCIL MEMBER ROCCA SECONDED BY COLEMAN.
I HAVE 90, IT HAS BEEN APPROVED
[91. 21-01040 ]
WHENEVER I GO TO ITEM 91, TITLE 11 CHAPTER SIX, SECTION 11, POLAND, 73, DRAG RACING AND RACING ON PUBLIC ROADS.SO WE'RE ASKED TO ADD DEFINITIONS FOR ORGANIZING AND PARTICIPANT AND PENALTY PROVISIONS BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOLDIE.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 91 AND IN ONE HAND AND SPEAK ON ITEM 91, FUCKING JENNIFER CALDWELL WHO LIVES AT
UH, USED TO BE IN COUNCILMAN COLE'S DISTRICT NOW IN COUNCIL WOMEN ADAMS DISTRICT.
I ACTUALLY, UM, AM A LITTLE OFF TOPIC IN THAT, UM, IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I LIVE NEAR OLD HAMMOND HIGHWAY.
UM, WE HEAR WHAT SOUNDS LIKE DRAG RACING, DONALD HAMMOND.
UH, MY, MY STUDIO IS NEAR FLORIDA AND AIRLINE.
I HEAR IT DOWN IN FLORIDA AND I'VE TALKED TO THE CHIEF AND THEY ARE NOT.
AND I'D LIKE TO SAY, HOW CAN YOU NOT HEAR THIS, THIS RIGHT SIDE? YOU KNOW, RIGHT OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR.
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S ALWAYS DRAG RACING BECAUSE I'VE SEEN SOME SOUPED UP CARS THAT ARE JUST LOUD, BUT WHEN IT GOES ON MY NEXT DOOR AND BY TEXTING PEOPLE ARE JUST LIGHTING UP BECAUSE IT'S LOUD.
SO I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND ORGANIZER AND PARTICIPANT, I ASSUME THAT'S IN A DRAG RACE.
I THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST LIKE BEING LOUD.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT GETS ADDRESSED, BUT PLEASE DO SOMETHING CAUSE IT'S DRIVING US NUTS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
I JUST WANTED TO TELL A COUNCILMAN.
UH, YOU KNOW, BACK IN MY COLLEGE DAYS, I USED TO ACTUALLY, UH, BE ONE OF THE FOLKS THAT TOOK PART IN THIS.
[02:45:01]
CAN TELL YOU, I CAN TELL YOU THIS, THIS IS GREATLY NEEDED, RIGHT? UM, SO, UH, YOU KNOW, THE FACT IS THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR.UH, AND THE OTHER FACT IS THERE ARE LITERALLY RACETRACKS ALL OVER THIS STATE, UH, THAT ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY NEED FOLKS TO GO OUT THERE AND PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENTS.
WE'VE GOT SOME EXCEPTIONAL PROMOTERS HERE IN THIS STATE WHO ARE PUTTING ON REALLY, REALLY GOOD EVENTS.
UH, SO IT MAKES TOO MUCH SENSE, UH, FOR US TO BE PUTTING PEOPLE IN JEOPARDY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE SEEN THE ACCIDENTS I'VE BEEN OUT THERE WHEN, WHEN THE ACCIDENTS HAPPENED, UM, GO OUT THERE AND SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LOCAL RACETRACK SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL RACE PROMOTER, UH, AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.
SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, GO TO COUNCIL AND I'M NUMBER GO TO THE LAST COUNCIL MEMBER MODE.
UM, FUCK, COULD HAVE THE PARISH ATTORNEY COME UP OR SOMEONE TO EXPLAIN WHAT ARE THE, UM, PRETTY MUCH THE BASIC CHANGES IN THIS? ARE WE JUST TALKING ABOUT FEES OR PROSECUTION TIME OR, YOU KNOW, JUST, THIS IS A FULL ENACTMENT.
IT WAS NEVER IN THE, IN OUR, IN OUR COURT ORDINANCE BEFORE WE HAD DIFFERENT POSITIONS FOR RECKLESS DRIVING, FAILING TO MAINTAIN CONTROL, SPEEDING.
WE NEVER HAD AN ORDINANCE THAT DEALT WITH DRAG RACING SPECIFIC, AMENDING IT TO ADD IT UNDERNEATH AN AREA, BUT IT'S AN ENTIRELY NEW PROVISION.
IS IT, IS IT UNDER STATE, IS THERE PROVISION UNDER STATE OR ANYTHING THAT YOU KNOW OF COURTNEY WAS TAKING THE LEAD ON THAT SHE'S NOT HERE THAT I THINK IT IS UNDER THE STATE LAW AS WELL.
CAUSE I I'M JUST GO BACK TO COUNCILMAN HUDSON COMMENT THAT HE MADE A SECOND AGO.
I'M JUST SAYING IT WASN'T ME, BUT I DID ALMOST TAKE OUT ONE OF MY SONS WHEN I FOUND OUT HE GOT TICKETED FOR DRAG RACING.
THAT'S WHY I THOUGHT WE ALREADY HAD SOMETHING UNDER THE BOOKS BECAUSE THEY WERE LITERALLY FIXING TO TAKE THE CAR AWAY, TAKE THE LICENSE AWAY FOR, I DON'T REMEMBER.
HOW WAS IT THE SHERIFF OR WAS IT THE STATE POLICE OR WHO WAS IT? I DON'T RECALL.
WHAT CITY, YOU KNOW, BEING A FORMER PROSECUTOR, CITY PROSECUTOR, I CAN TELL YOU WHAT CITY POLICE DID WAS THEY CITED THEM UNDER RECKLESS OPERATION.
OR SPEEDING, BUT WE'LL PUT DRAG RACING ON THE TICKET.
AND ANYTIME AN OFFICER SEES ANY KIND OF RECKLESS BEHAVIOR, HE CAN HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED.
HE CAN, HE CAN DO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS UNDER OTHER EMPOWERING PARTS OF OTHER STATUTES.
WHAT THIS DOES IS BRING TOGETHER THE ABILITY FOR SOMEONE TO DO EVERYTHING IN ONE PARTICULAR PAGE.
HOPEFULLY THAT'S WHAT CATHERINE GOLDEN WITH ME.
AND, AND I GUESS THE REASON I'M ONLY BRINGING THIS UP IS BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, AT THE FIRST DOUBTING, UM, MY SON AND WHETHER HE WAS OR WASN'T AND SO ON AND SO FORTH, UM, AND COME TO FIND OUT WHERE IT WAS IS, IS LIKE THE LADY SAID A SECOND AGO, SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHETHER THEY'RE DRAG RACING OR NOT.
MY SON WOULD START HIS CAR IN THE MORNING.
AND OF COURSE AFTER THE INITIAL FIRE UP, I'M SURE DWIGHT'S FAMILIAR WITH WHEN HE FIRED HIS THINGS UP, HE HAD TO LITERALLY IDLE OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE IF HE EVEN TOUCHED A GAS, IT, IT WAS GOING, IT WAS A CAR BUILT FOR THAT.
AND HE WOULD USE FOR REGULAR, YOU KNOW, DAYS OR WHATEVER.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, AFTER I STARTED LOOKING INTO IT, HE TOLD ME WHERE HE GOT PULLED OVER WAS HE WAS PULLING, HE WAS IN THE, ON RAMP TO THE INTERSTATE.
UH, HE WAS, I MEAN, HE GOT PULLED OVER ON THE INTERSTATE, BUT WHERE THEY ACTUALLY STARTED EVERYTHING IS RIGHT WHEN HE CAME OFF THE ARM ROUND AND IT WAS JUST SHEER, THE LOUDNESS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
I THINK THAT NO DOUBT THAT THERE'S DRAG RACING GOING ON, I I'M FULLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME PROVISIONS OUT THERE THAT THERE'S NOT EVERYONE OUT THERE DRAG RACING.
I DON'T THINK, AND I KNOW THEY REDUCED HIS THING OR WHATEVER, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SEE WHAT PROVISIONS, I DIDN'T KNOW.
I THOUGHT WE WERE UPDATING OR BRINGING MORE IN.
I DID NOT, AS FAR AS THE CITY ON THIS, AND I WILL TELL YOU THIS, YOU MAKE A VALID POINT, BUT AGAIN, IT'S SITTING AT THE CITY PROPER.
YOU KNOW, SOMEONE WOULD COME IN WITH SOME KIND OF EQUITABLE ARGUMENT OR SOME KIND OF THING TO SAY, WELL, IT WASN'T, IT WASN'T THIS WAY.
AND WE TAKE ALL THAT IN CONSIDERATION.
YOU DO THAT WITH ANY PROSECUTION.
SO I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT IT'S GOING TO BE PERFECT.
I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT EVERY OFFICER'S GOING TO APPLY IT PROPERLY, BUT THAT'S WHAT THE COURT OF LAW IS FOR, FOR US TO COME IN, AS PROSECUTORS ANALYZE THE FACTS AND DETERMINE IF A PARTICULAR SITUATION HE SAID SET EFFECT.
AND IN FINAL COMMENT, I MEAN, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, YOU CAN THROW HIM UNDER THE BUS FOR A NOISE.
CAUSE EVERY TIME HE FIRED IT UP, I'M UP THAT MORNING ALREADY.
SO, AND WE WILL DO THAT AS WELL.
THEY WERE TALKING FOR THAT COUNCIL MEMBER DONE, IF YOU'LL STAY.
UM, I GET A LOT OF CALLS ABOUT A DRAG RACING ON MONTEREY IN PARTICULAR.
SO I'M IN OF THE ITEM AS WELL.
I DO HAVE THE SAME CONCERN THAT JENNIFER AND, UH, COUNSELOR MOTE, UH, JUST KIND OF WANT SOME CLARITY ON
[02:50:01]
HOW YOU COULD DETERMINE WHETHER IT WAS A LOUD VEHICLE OR THIS WAS DRAG RACE.AND WHAT IS THE DESCRIPTION, LEGAL DESCRIPTION YOU GUYS ARE USING FOR DRAG RACING, AND THEN YOU HAVE THIS ORGANIZER AND PARTICIPANT THERE.
HOW DO YOU, WHAT'S THE D WHAT'S THE DEFINITION AND HOW DO YOU CITE THAT? I DON'T HAVE ANY IN FRONT OF ME.
I MEAN, HE, HE HE'LL BE ABLE TO READ IT FOR YOU, BUT THE WHOLE GOAL COUNCIL, BUT THEN, AND THAT WAS A GREAT QUESTION.
THE WHOLE GOAL IS TO TRY AND DO YOUR BEST TO KIND OF CARVE OUT THOSE ACTORS, RIGHT? SO THE ORGANIZER, ONCE COUNSELED WOULD GO, THEY READ YOU THAT IT'S GOING TO BE SPECIFICALLY TRYING TO GET TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO STAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND THEY FLAG AND OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO MAY BE PARTICULARLY GATHERING MONEY OR DOING THINGS TO, TO ORGANIZE EVENT HYPING PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT IS, AS OPPOSED TO PERSONS BEHIND THE OPERATING MOTOR VEHICLE.
SO I THINK THERE WILL BE A DISTINCTION IN THAT ASPECT.
THAT'S GOING TO BE CLEAR IN TERMS OF APPLICATION.
THAT'S ALWAYS A PROBLEM WITH ANY LAW THAT YOU HAVE, AND I UNDERSTAND Y'ALL'S CONCERN, BUT THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE THAT WE GIVE TO AN OFF TO OUR TRAINED OFFICERS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION.
AND AGAIN, THEY MAY NOT ALWAYS BE RIGHT, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS SO MANY LEVELS OF REVIEW AFTER THAT, THAT WE HOPE THAT WHATEVER IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ERROR WILL BE CALLED AND RECTIFIED BEFORE IT GOES ANY FURTHER.
AND IF YOU'LL STAY UP, LET ME FIRST OFFER UP JUST A SLIGHT AMENDMENT, RIGHT? ANDY I'LL I'LL CERTAINLY ASK YOU TO CLEAN UP ANY MESS UP MAKE, BUT THERE'S TWO REFERENCES IN THE ORDINANCE TO THE STREETS OF THE CITY.
AND I WANTED TO AMEND THOSE TO BE THE CITY HEIGHTS AND PARISH 10 TICKETS EIGHT THROUGH EIGHT THROUGH D YEAH.
SUBSECTIONS A THROUGH D TO CHANGE THE WORD.
TO CHANGE THE WORD FROM CITY TO CITY PARISH, CORRECT.
TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS APPLIES OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS ALSO EMPOWERED TO, UH, TO, TO ENFORCE THIS OUTSIDE OF BAKER CENTRAL ZACK.
SO WHAT IT DOES AGAIN, THAT AMENDMENT MAKES SURE THAT IT GIVES AS COUNCILMAN GO.
THEY SAY IT'S THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SHERIFF TO FORCE IT IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS, AS WELL AS BAD NEWS CITY POLICE WITHIN THE CITY LIMIT.
SO ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT, COUNCIL MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS, ANY OTHER COMMENTS CUSTOMER WE'LL GO THERE.
UH, AND, AND MS. CARR WILD DID A GREAT JOB OF SUMMING IT UP.
I'M JUST REFERENCING THE REMARKS YOU MADE.
UM, YOU KNOW, TH THIS CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF A COUPLE OF INCIDENCES, UH, THAT I WAS EXPOSED TO IN, IN DISTRICT THREE, AND I HAVE BEEN EVEN TAKEN ABACK BY THE AMOUNT OF EMAILS AND, AND, UH, MESSAGES THAT I'VE RECEIVED FROM FOLKS SAYING EXACTLY WHAT SHE SAID.
IT GOES ON NEAR MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT GOES ON, ON THIS STREET AND, AND, AND, UH, FOLKS HAVE JUST EXPRESSED THAT THIS IS SOMETHING TAKING PLACE ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.
SO, UH, I, I WAS SURPRISED BY THE LEVEL OF ENTHUSIASM BEHIND IT, BUT CERTAINLY, UH, GRATEFUL TO HEAR FOLKS ARE SUPPORTIVE OF IT.
SO, UH, I THANK ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, FOR, UH, DIVING IN ON IT AND APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
YOU HAD A MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER GO TO, THAT IS A MOTION TO APPROVE.
UH, EVEN IN EDEN PARK ALL THE TIME.
[93. 21-01065 ]
DOWN TO ITEM 93, ITEM 93, AUTHORIZING THEIR PRESENCE IN MINNESOTA CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SERVICES WITH WALTERS, POPPY ON TERMS COLORINGS, LLC, FOR LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF THE CENTER, CITY, PARIS AND LITIGATION REGARDING DOWNTOWN LIBRARY TO INCREASE THE LABRAL COMPENSATION TO THE SUN, NOT TO EXCEED $200,000.THIS ITEM MAY BE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION BY THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR, ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 93, WE GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AT THIS TIME.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL TO MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER, HUDSON, SECOND DIVIDED CHAIR.
[94. 21-01027 ]
GO TO ITEM 94, AUTHORIZING A SEDIMENT IN THE CLAIM OF CAPTAIN NUMBER SET FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM A SEWER BACKUP AT A HOME FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $61,653 AND 47 CENTS.IT SHOULD BE ALLOCATED AS $50,119 AND 75 CENTS TO CATHERINE BRISSETT FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE AND $11,532 AND 72 CENTS TO GUARANTEE RESTORATION SERVICES, LLC, FOR CLEANED UP ASSOCIATED WITH THE BACKUP AND FOR APPROPRIATE AND $61,652 AND 47 CENTS FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY, ANYONE WHO TO SPEAK ON ITEM 94 BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, MOTION TO APPROVE BY ROCCO SEVEN, ABOUT
[95. 21-01021 ]
HUDSON.WE GO TO ITEM 95 AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE METAL INSIDE A CONTRIBUTOR CLOCK AT ALL VERSUS FREDERICK THORN AND CP CONSOLIDATED WITH ROBIN
EVEN YOUR MOST EXPLAIN HAS BEEN GIVEN $45,000 EACH PLUS COURT
[02:55:01]
COSTS IN THE AMOUNTS OF 700 AND, AND $5 AND 94 CENTS FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $270,705 AND 94 CENTS INAPPROPRIATE AND $270,705 AND 94 CENTS TO SUCH PURPOSE BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY, ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM 95 COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION TO APPROVE BY ROCCO SECONDED BY HUSSON.[96. 21-01031 ]
TO ITEM 96, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED ASKED THE YOUNG AT ALL VERSUS THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AT ALL IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,000, WHICH AMOUNT SHALL BE PAID FROM THE ACCOUNT DESIGNATED INSURANCE AUTO LIABILITY BY PARIS ATTORNEY.ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 96, MS. CALDWELL, I'M ON A ROLL TONIGHT.
I FREQUENTLY NOTICED THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT SAY, UM, UH, FOR AUTO INSURANCE AUTO LIABILITY ARE MOST OF THESE POLICE ACCIDENTS OR WHAT, IS THERE ANY WAY, IS THERE ANY WAY TO LET THAT BE KNOWN? OH, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST CURIOUS.
DO WE NEED TO LIKE WORK ON A PARTICULAR, SOMEBODY IN THE CITY DOING BETTER JOBS DRIVING OR, I MEAN, THIS HAPPENS A LOT, SO I'M CURIOUS.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON? I AM 96.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM 96 COUNTS? UH, MR. ROME, I WAS JUST GOING TO ADDRESS HER QUESTION.
IF YOU, IF YOU WANT AN ANSWER, FEEL FREE TO ADDRESS THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
WELL, JUST TO ANSWER A QUESTION, MAY APPROACH HIM.
YES, THERE IS A DESIGNATION ON WHICH DEPARTMENT CAUSED WHICH ACCIDENTS.
IN FACT, UH, MOST RECENTLY WE WERE TRYING TO DO A BETTER EFFORT OF EDUCATING Y'ALL ON THAT PLUS THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
I KNOW DARRYL GISSELLE HAS GOTTEN INVOLVED IN THAT AND, AND THAT, THAT EMAIL THAT MR. DOTS AND I SENT AROUND IT'S IT'S, UH, BECOMING MORE AND MORE EDUCATIONAL.
EACH DEPARTMENT IS REALIZED SO WHO'S CAUSED OR WHAT ACCIDENTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. CALDWELL, WHY DON'T YOU SEND, UH, MR. WELLMAN EMAIL AND Y'ALL HAVE A SIT DOWN AND HAVE A ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING SESSION ON WHO'S CAUSING ALL THESE ACCIDENTS IN OUR CITY.
HE SOUNDED LIKE THE EXPERT ON IT.
I'M MOVING OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBERS AND WE VOTE ON THAT ITEM.
WE MOVED NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER NOLE, SENDED IT SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.
[97. 21-01035 ]
NOT.WE'LL MOVE NOW TO ITEM 97 AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT THE MATTER ENTITLED TIMOTHY BIRD AND THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,000 PLUS COURT COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $330 AND 14 CENTS FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $250,300, $130 AND 14 CENTS INAPPROPRIATE IN $250,230 AND 14 CENTS FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY IS ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 97, ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 97 COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION NOW FOR ITEM 97, MOTION BY
[98. 21-01070 ]
AND NOW GO TO ITEM 98, AUTHORIZING A SEDIMENT IN THE MATTER OF PATRICIA AMAN VERSUS CHARLESWE NOW MOVE BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AT THIS TIME.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON MAKES THE MOTION TO APPROVE THEIR SECOND SECONDED.
BOB, JUST MESSING GIN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCCA.
[99. 21-01028 ]
WE NOW GO TO ITEM 99 AUTHORIZED THEIR PRESIDENT.HE BRONCO TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT.
NUMBER ONE TO THE CONTRACT WITH MONTANA ASSOCIATES, LLC, IN CONNECTION WITH THE STORM WATER.
NO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT STANDS FOR.
S WWTP GRAVITY INFLUENT PUMP STATION CHANNEL IMPROVEMENTS FOR A FEE NOT TO EXCEED $36,517 AND 89 CENTS BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR.
ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 99.
WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION TO APPROVE BY ROCCO, SECONDED BY ADAMS.
[100. 21-01029 ]
AND I'LL GO TO ITEM 100 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND ERIC BOSCO TO ASK THEM TO CONTRACT WITH ARCHITECTURE SERVICE WITH DOMAIN ARCHITECTS AND CONNECTION.WITHIN WWTP MENTIONED THIS BUILDING PROJECT FOR A FEE NOT TO EXCEED $99,110.
THE MONEY ENVIRONMENT AND SERVICES DIRECTOR.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 100, ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK LINE 100, WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL NUMBER A ROCCO MOTIONS TO APPROVE SECOND TO BY HUDSON.
[101. 21-01030 ]
WE GO NOW TO ITEM ONE-ON-ONE AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT, OR A BRONCO DEMPSEY CONTRACT FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH OWEN AND WHITE INCORPORATED IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMEDIAN, THE HIGHWAY 67 FOR US MANY RELOCATION PROJECT FOR A FEE NOT TO EXCEED ONE OF THE $48,478 BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTIVE.[03:00:01]
ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 0 1 MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCCA.[102. 21-01032 ]
WE GO NOW TO ITEM 1, 0 2 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND BOSCO TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FUNDING SERVICES WITH BOND TOWN ASSOCIATES, LLC.IN CONNECTION WITH THE ONE 10 HOLLYWOOD STREET IS SOLAR REHABILITATION PROJECT FOR A FEE NOT TO EXCEED $140,000 BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR.
ANYONE WHO TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 0 2 COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION BY ROCCA.
[103. 21-01037 ]
WE NOW GO TO ITEM 1 0 3, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREED.NUMBER ONE TO THE CONTRACT OF LAND SOURCE INCORPORATED FOR LAND SURVEYING SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THESE MERYL WORDS, FLOOD RISK REDUCTION PROJECT AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $162,250 BY TRANSPORTATION IS RUNNING THIS DIRECTOR.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 0 3.
WE NOW GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION BY OUR ROCKER.
[104. 21-01042 ]
WE GO NOT ITEM 1, 0 4, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT SQ THE JOURNEY AGREEMENT IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY TO PROVIDE, BUT THE CLOSURE OF THE RAILWAY CROSSING ON OLD PERKINS ROAD BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECT TO ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 100,000 FOR ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 1 0 4 COUNCIL MEMBERS, MOTION TO APPROVE BY ROCCO SECONDED BY ADAMS.[105. 21-01045 ]
WE NOW GO TO ITEM 105 MOTION PASSES 1 0 5, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PREGNANT THAT SHE WOULD CONTRACT FOR FRESHMAN ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH BOYD HOMES, ENGINEERING INCORPORATED FOR LAND SURVEYING ENGINEERING ASSOCIATED WITH MAGNOLIA HIGHEST AT BARD VIA RANGE IMPROVEMENTS, PROJECT AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $69,000 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTORS.ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON 1 0 5.
ANYONE WHO WOULD SPEAK ON ZERO FIVE, A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCCO SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS.
[106. 21-01046 ]
WE GO NOW TO 1 0 6, AUTHORIZING THEIR PRESIDENTS ACTUALLY ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT, UTILITY RELOCATION AGREEMENT FOR THE MOVIE, OUR TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM BY THE, AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE AND THE CITY OF BAKER BY TRANSPORTATION IS READY TO DIRECT ANYONE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1, 0 6 COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION BY ROCCA.[107. 21-01047 ]
WHEN I GO TO ITEM 1 0 7 ON LINDA 2021 PAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED OR UNCLASSIFIED NON-CLASSIFIED CONTRACT FIRE AND POLICE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IN PARIS.IF THESE BATTERIES ADOPTING AUDIENCE NUMBER 1 7 9 9 4.
SO AS TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING CHANGES EFFECTIVE AUGUST 14TH, 2021 AMENDMENTS TO THE CLASSIFIED AND UNCLASSIFIED APPENDIX POLO, 23 CRITICAL RETENTION HIRING OF EMS EMPLOYEES, AN OPTIONAL SPECIAL RECRUITING RATE IS ALLOWABLE UP TO STEP 13 FOR THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERIES AND RECOMMENDED BY THE DIRECTOR AND APPROVAL BY THE HUMAN SERVICES RESOURCES DIRECTIVE, EMERGENCY MEDICAL CLASSIFICATION THEN IDENTIFIED AS FOLLOWS ADVANCED EMT, EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION, OFFICER EMT, BASIC EMT PARAMEDIC BY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, ADMINISTRATOR AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR.
ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1, 0 7.
ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1, 0 7 MOTION BY ROCKET SECONDED BY GO DAY.
[108. 21-01073 ]
WHEN I GO TO ITEM 1 0 8, AMENDING THE 2021 CURRENT EXPENSE BUDGET.SO AS TO APPROPRIATE $10,110 TO BE RECEIVING RENTAL INCOME AS THE BUTLER COMMUNITY CENTER, THIS APPROPRIATION WILL BE USED TO INSTALL VIDEO ACCESS CONTROL TO THE MAIN ENTRANCE DOOR THAT THE FACILITY FOR EXTRA SECURITY BY COUNSEL MEMBER COLEMAN IS ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 0 8.
WE GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN IS SETTING IT BY ROCCO.
[109. 21-01075 ]
WE NOW GO TO ITEM 1 0 9, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT.NUMBER TWO, THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH CUTTINGS AND WORLD TO CONDUCT SUPPLEMENT OR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF PHASE TWO ENVIRONMENTAL ARTISTS FOR THE RELOCATION OF THE PLANK ROAD AND THE MOUNTAIN NOT TO EXCEED $774,500 BY THE AVIATION DIRECTOR.
IS ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 0 9 BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION BY DARREN SEVEN AND BAR
[110. 21-01078 ]
ADAMS NOBERT ITEM ONE 10, AUTHORIZING THEIR PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE BATTERY'S POLICE DEPARTMENT TO A MINUTE PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SERVICES CONTRACT INTIMATE TO AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARIS OF EASTBOUND ONES ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF THE POWER OF ATTORNEY WITH TIMMY D W HARDY ANDIS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEMS? 1, 1 0, UH, PLEASE, AS YOU COME UP AND MAKE YOUR COMMENTS TO REMAIN TO THE TOPIC, UH, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM MAKING ANY COMMENTS BY ANY INDIVIDUAL, IF YOU FEEL A PERSONAL WAY ABOUT THAT PERSON, UH, I ASSUME APPRECIATE YOU.
UH, WOULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD? GOOD AFTERNOON, PENNY STOVALL ADDRESS ASCENSION PARISH.
I REPRESENT THE MUNICIPAL FOREIGN POLICE, CIVIL SERVICE BOARD, AND SERVED AS SECRETARY.
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT WHILE YOU'RE CONSIDERING THIS AMENDMENT.
[03:05:01]
WE ARE LOSING OUR BOARD ATTORNEY.HE IS CHOOSING TO RESIGN AND HE'S CHOOSING TO RESIGN DUE TO AN INCREASE IN THE LENGTH OF OUR BOARD MEETINGS AND THE EXTENT THAT THEY'RE TAKING AND OTHER LEGAL ISSUES.
WOULD YOU PLEASE, PLEASE PLEASE CONSIDER AMENDING HIS CONTRACT, HIS LEGAL LEGAL SERVICES CONTRACT SO THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR ATTORNEY, MR. JAKE, PAUL, YOU'RE CONSIDERING TO ALLOW JEAN PAUL TO KINGPINS ATTORNEYS AT A MONTH AT AN EXTREME DAIMLER.
ANYONE ELSE WHO TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM? 1, 1 0.
ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1, 1 0.
UH, WE NOW GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS OR YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM, SIR, WOULDN'T ANDERSON 6 21 LAURELS, A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE RATIONALE THAT WAS JUST GIVEN FOR WHY, UH, THIS ATTORNEY WOULD NEED A PAY INCREASE THAT THE ATTORNEY IS CONCERNED THAT THE MEETINGS HAVE GONE ON TOO LONG.
AND THAT THERE'S BEEN TOO MUCH.
I DON'T WANT TO BE CLEAR WHAT WHAT'S ON.
THE AGENDA IS NOT WHAT THE LAST SPEAKER WAS SPEAKING.
I JUST WANTED TO REBUT THAT BECAUSE THAT IS CONCERNING TO ME.
IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, UH, EVERYONE ELSE TO, TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1, 1, 0, ANYONE ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON BACK TO THE COUNCIL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS THERE, A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMA SECONDED BY DUN AND THE OPPOSITION.
COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. WE CAN GO BACK TO ONE OF THOSE SEVEN COUNCIL.
COUNCIL MEMBER
LADIES, LADIES, LADIES, LADIES, PEOPLE WERE GETTING ROWDY UP HERE, HUH? UM, NO, NOT THAT ROWDY.
UM, CHIEF PAUL, I, UM, UH, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
UM, UH, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH, UM, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE HISTORICAL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE SPENT ON LEGAL SERVICES.
UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE AVERAGE DURING, YOU KNOW, CHIEF WHITE'S, TOM WAS 39,000 A YEAR.
UM, THE AVERAGE EXPENDITURE DURING CHIEF
UM, AND NOW THE AVERAGE DURING YOUR TENURE IS $94,000 A YEAR, UM, TO DATE FOR THIS YEAR, 121,000.
AND YOU'RE LOOKING TO, TO RAISE THAT 250,000.
CAN YOU, CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT, ABOUT THAT, ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES YOU'RE SHORT, I'M NOT SURE SPECIFICALLY WHERE YOU GOT THOSE NUMBERS FROM.
AND NOT THAT QUESTION, SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS, I WANT TO BE SURE WE'RE CLEAR ON THAT.
AND I HAVE SOMEONE, IF YOU WON'T MIND THAT THAT, THAT CAN SPEAK TO, FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE ON HOW LEGAL SERVICES WAS.
I HAVE THE INTERIM CHIEF HERE.
CAN YOU PLEASE STEP UP, SIR? AND HE CAN KIND OF GIVE YOU A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE ON HOW DISCIPLINE HAS BEEN HOUNDED UNDER THOSE ADMINISTRATIONS THAT YOU JUST SPOKE ABOUT.
UM, LIKE I SAID, CHIEF SAID I'M RETIRED, BE RPD, WORKED FOR BRP D FOR 32 YEARS.
SO I HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS, WORKED IN INTERNAL AFFAIRS FOR 15 PLUS YEARS.
UH, BEEN INVOLVED IN THE DISCIPLINARY PROCESS AT BRP D FOR A LONG TIME.
UM, BUT I GUESS THE QUESTION REGARDING, UH, THE CHIEF'S ATTORNEYS, UH, THE CHIEF HAS HAD A SEPARATE COUNCIL FOR DISCIPLINARY MATTERS.
SINCE I BEGAN ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, GOING BACK TO, UH, GREG FERRIES, 10 YARDS OF THE CHIEF, UH, JOE LOT.
WHAT USED TO HANDLE THAT? I BELIEVE JOE WAS COMPENSATED ABOUT $30,000 A YEAR DURING THOSE PERIODS.
UM, THAT'S GOING BACK ALMOST 30 YEARS, SO THAT DIDN'T CHANGE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
AND OBVIOUSLY WITH INFLATION LEGAL COSTS, THINGS LIKE THAT, THINGS DO CHANGE COSTS DO GO UP.
UM, AND, AND I DO KNOW THE CHIEF HAS HAD LONG CIVIL SERVICE HEARINGS HAD OFFICERS FIGHTING THINGS A LITTLE MORE OFTEN THAN SOME OF THOSE PRIOR ADMINISTRATIONS.
AND, UM, SO I MEAN, THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TO SPEAK ACTUALLY ABOUT THE HISTORICAL ASPECT OF THE CHIEF HAVING HIS OWN ATTORNEY FOR DISCIPLINARY.
DO YOU, DO YOU EXPECT THAT THIS WILL CONTINUE, CONTINUE IN THE FUTURE? OKAY.
I WANTED TO GIVE THAT PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE HE WAS HERE LONGER THAN I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT TODAY.
I THINK WHAT YOU'RE WITNESSING IS REFORM, UM, LAW ENFORCEMENT IS COMPLEX AND IT'S VERY CHALLENGING.
UH, WE SEE THAT, UH, SINCE THE GEORGE FLOYD INCIDENT, UH, TENSIONS ARE HIGH, UH,
[03:10:01]
IN AMERICA, BUT I THINK WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS WE'RE BEING CHALLENGED MORE ON, UM, SOME OF OUR DECISIONS MORE THAN PAST ADMINISTRATIONS.AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE.
AND JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, THE LOUISIANA STATE LEGISLATURE JUST PASSED, UH, IN THIS SESSION, A COMMITTEE WAS FORMED, UH, THAT REALLY LOOKED AT REFORM, OKAY.
IN THAT DECISION WAS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE BODY AND SIGNED BY OUR GOVERNOR.
THERE ARE SEVERAL POINTS I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT IN SERVICE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO HAVE ANTI-BIASED TRAINING BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALREADY HAS THAT.
SO ALL OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT DON'T HAVE IT NOW HAVE TO GET IT.
SO THAT'S A CHANGE, UM, INCREASED RECRUITMENT OF MINORITY OFFICERS.
SO NOW DEPARTMENTS ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO HAVE POLICIES IN PLACE ON RECRUITING.
UH, SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE 69% IN 2019, UH, MINORITY REPRESENTATION IN OUR ACADEMY AND EVERY ACADEMY AFTER THAT HAS HAD MORE THAN THAT.
UM, AND WE'VE HAD AN ACADEMY EVERY YEAR DUTY TO INTERVENE.
WE ALREADY HAD THAT IN OUR POLICY, MANDATORY POLICING FOR BODY CAMERAS AND POLICIES ON ACTIVATION.
WE ALREADY HAD THAT IN OUR POLICY.
SO BECAUSE WE MADE THESE CHANGES IN REFORM BEFORE ANY LAWS WERE CHANGED, CHANGING NEW POLICIES AND TRAINING WITH POLICE, WHO'VE BEEN TRAINING A CERTAIN WAY.
A CERTAIN TIME REQUIRES US TO RETRAIN THOSE OFFICERS TO CREATE POLICIES, UH, REFORM COSTS MONEY.
SO THAT'S WHEN I HEAR, UH, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE DEFUNDING, THE POLICE, I TOTALLY AM 100% AGAINST DEFUNDING THE POLICE, UH, REFORM, UH, COST MONEY.
AND THIS IS, THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING YOU, PLEASE DON'T MAKE FUN OF THE POLICE.
PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS FUNDING AWAY FROM US.
WE SEE THIS HAPPEN IN SO MANY JURISDICTIONS WHERE THE POLICE WERE DEFUNDED, AND NOW THEY'RE CHANGING THAT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF BEST PRACTICES, CHANGING POLICIES, MAKING SURE THAT OUR OFFICERS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE NEW CHANGES IN POLICING IN AMERICA TODAY.
UM, CHIEF PAUL, I, UM, IN SPEAKING WITH, UM, SOME INDIVIDUALS, I'M ALSO, I'M AWARE THAT WE'RE HAVING MORE AND MORE THINGS GO BEFORE THE CIVIL, THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD.
UM, AND, UM, WHAT, WHAT I WOULD TELL YOU, I, I CERTAINLY KNOW THAT CHANGE IS DIFFICULT.
I WORK IN SCHOOLS AND SOMETIMES YOU GET A NEW TEACHER AND SHE'S GOT TO, YOU KNOW, GET CONTROL OF THE CLASSROOM.
SHE KEEPS SENDING KIDS TO THE PRINCIPAL.
UM, AND, AND THAT'S OKAY, BUT YOU KNOW, YEAR THREE, YEAR FOUR, SHE'S STILL SENDING KIDS TO THE PRINCIPAL PRETTY FREQUENTLY.
SO, SO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD.
UM, UH, I, I THINK THAT, THAT SOME OF THE MEN FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T, UM, HAVE A VOICE OR A WAY TO, TO COMMUNICATE THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEIR, THEIR DISCIPLINE HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, HARSH.
UM, AND, AND I, I SUSPECT THAT, THAT YOU HAVE OTHER TOOLS AT YOUR DISPOSAL TO, TO DISCIPLINE YOUR MEN.
AND, AND I GUESS, I GUESS I'M, I'M, I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED, CAUSE I GUESS IT'S WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO, WHERE YOU'RE GETTING YOUR INFORMATION FROM, IF YOU DON'T MIND SHARING, IS IT EX CHIEFS OF POLICE? IS IT, IS IT EMPLOYEES ON THE JOB? IS IT A RETIREE? IT'S NOT RETIREES IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ON THE GROUND AND PEOPLE WHO WERE AWARE, UM, INTIMATELY OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD.
IT WASN'T, THEY AREN'T NEGATIVE CONVERSATIONS.
IT'S JUST WHY NOT? WHEN I SEE THESE NUMBERS AND I HEAR WHAT I HEAR, I FEEL ESCALATION AND THIS, YOU KNOW, ESCALATION, UM, WITHIN THE, THE FORCE, AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, UM, MEN FEELING LIKE, UM, LIKE THE DISCIPLINE IS TOO HARSH OR, OR THAT THEY DON'T HAVE, UM, AN OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION, YOU KNOW, TO, TO, TO TALK THROUGH WHY, WHY CERTAIN DISCIPLINES ARE SO OR DIFFICULT.
UM, UM, POLICE OFFICERS COME TO ME AND SPEAK ALL THE TIME.
THERE IS A, UH, UH, A REQUEST FORM THAT GOES THROUGH THAT SAYS, I MEET WITH THE CHIEF OF POLICE.
I, WE MEET WITH MY SENIOR STAFF EVERY TUESDAY WHERE WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS.
I MEET WITH, UH, UH, MY SENIOR STAFF EVERY MONDAY WHERE WE HAVE, UH, DISCUSSIONS, UH, WE MEET WITH THE UNION.
I CAN TELL YOU, UM, JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME, AN IDEA ON WHY I BELIEVE YOU WILL NOT SEE THESE TYPE OF NUMBERS CONTINUE.
[03:15:02]
UH, THERE'S NEW LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE BATON ROUGE UNION, UH, POLICE.AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, I ACTUALLY HAD SOMEONE COMING TO MY OFFICE AND SAY, WHAT CAN WE DO TO WORK COLLECTIVELY TO STOP, UH, THE AMOUNT OF CASES THAT'S GOING BEFORE THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD? I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, I HAVE NOT BEEN TREATED LIKE OTHER CHIEFS THAT HAVE BEEN TREATED.
UM, WE GET APPEALS ON JUST LETTERS OF REPRIMAND, LETTERS OF CAUTION, WHICH WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH A, A LETTER OF COUNSELING.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE, UH, SEVERAL CASES, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN APPEALED, UH, EVEN SOMEWHERE THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD HAVE UPHELD MY DECISION AND IT'S STILL APPEALED.
UM, AND YOU CAN ASK THE FORMER CHIEF TO COME BACK HERE AND HE CAN TELL YOU IN HIS YEARS OF SERVICE, THAT HAS NEVER EVER HAPPENED BEFORE.
MY JOB, AS THE CHIEF OF POLICE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR OFFICERS OR IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR POLICY.
AND SOMETIMES IN ORDER TO CHANGE BEHAVIOR, WE HAVE TO ADMINISTER DISCIPLINE.
MOST OFFICERS UNDERSTAND THAT MOST OFFICERS, UH, UH, UNDERSTAND THAT DISCIPLINE, UH, IS, IS, IS PART OF THE PROCESS.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE A SMALL GROUP, UH, WE'VE BEEN IN JUST WHAT WE CLEAR FEDERAL COURT.
THE BILL THAT YOU'RE SEEING ALSO REPRESENTS THIS LAW FIRM REPRESENTING ME IN FEDERAL COURT, AS WELL AS IN STATE COURT FOR INJUNCTIONS.
UM, IN SOME CASES THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WOULD HAVE REPRESENTED THE DEPARTMENT IN THAT, BUT THE PARISH ATTORNEY AGREED TO ALLOW THIS FIRM.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAT OTHER CHIEFS THAT YOU SEE EITHER, BUT, UH, CAN YOU BRING THOSE NUMBERS UP HERE FOR ME? UH, UM, MYRA ACTUALLY HAVE A COPY FOR YOU ON ALL DISCIPLINES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION THAT'S OUT THERE AND WE HAVE CREATED AN ATMOSPHERE OF TRANSPARENCY, BUT WHEN I HEAR SOME OF THE MISINFORMATION ABOUT RACE, UH, MISINFORMATION ABOUT HOW DISCIPLINE IS, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE FACTS, COUNCILMAN, SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION BASED ON FACTS AND NOT BY SOME WHO DON'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROCESS TO MEET WITH HER DEPUTY CHIEFS, TO MEET WITH OUR CAPTAINS, BRING SOLUTIONS TO THE TABLE, BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU WE'VE STRESSED THAT ENVIRONMENT.
I'VE LEARNED MORE FROM MY POLICE OFFICERS AND FROM THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WE ACTIVELY LISTEN, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IF YOU WANT MORE TIME AT THE END, AFTER THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SPOKEN, I'LL GIVE YOU SOME, WELL, MY TIME, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, HUDSON, UH, ANDY, IF YOU DON'T MIND, ANDY, UM, WHAT IS THE HOURLY RATE FOR THIS AGREEMENT? UH, I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME.
I DIDN'T BRING THAT, BUT, UH, I CAN GET THAT TO YOU COUNSELING.
I DIDN'T PULL UP THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE, BUT I WAS TOLD IT WAS $300 AN HOUR.
DOES THAT SOUND, I DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU THAT AND I'LL BE WRONG.
I'LL LET YOU KNOW FOR SURE THOUGH.
OF PROBLEMS. UM, DO WE EXPECT THAT 150,000 WILL CLOSE US OUT FOR THIS YEAR? IS THAT GOING TO BE THE MAX THAT WE'RE GOING TO STAY? I THINK THERE'S A POTENTIAL THAT IT MAY GO WITH DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH MORE LITIGATION AND HOW MUCH, HOW MANY MORE TIMES THEY HAD TO GO BACK TO THE APPEAL AND WHO I GOT THEM TO.
HOW MANY MORE TIMES YOU MAY KNOW THE CHIEF? I GOT IT.
UM, SO, AND I DON'T, I'M NOT GOING TO HOLD YOU TO A NUMBER, ANDY, BUT ARE WE LOOKING AT 200,000 FOR THE END OF THE YEAR, BUT YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GONNA DO THAT.
ALL I'M GONNA TELL YOU IS THERE'S A POTENTIAL COULD GO HIGHER THAN THAT AND WE'D HAVE TO COME BACK TO Y'ALL BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
OVER THE YEARS, I'VE HEARD SEVERAL OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS, RIGHT.
ABOUT, UH, FOLKS CRITICIZED IN THE CHIEF ABOUT THE WAY HE HANDLES DISCIPLINE.
WELL, I GOT, I THINK, I THINK TWICE I'VE CALLED CHIEF AND WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS DISCIPLINE THAT I'VE HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT.
UM, AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT, UH, BOTH OF THOSE TIMES CHIEF WENT THROUGH THE DETAILS WITH ME AND I SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW, MAYBE I STARTED A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, BUT OVERALL IT WAS, IT WAS PRETTY GOOD.
SO I WANT TO BE CAREFUL IN MY ROLE AS A CITY COUNCILMAN, UM, IT CAN BE VERY AWKWARD FOR US TO START REALLY DELVING INTO PERSONNEL ISSUES.
AND I, AND I TRY TO, I TRY TO REJECT THAT WHEN I GET TAGGED IN EVERYTHING ON FACEBOOK, RIGHT.
I TRY TO STAY AWAY FROM IT BECAUSE WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THIS FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE,
[03:20:01]
UH, FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE.UM, AND WE REALLY SHOULDN'T BE GETTING INTO THE DETAILS OF PA OF PERSONNEL, RIGHT? WE DON'T WANT EVERYONE TO POLITICIZE PERSONNEL DECISIONS.
NOW I WILL TELL YOU MY ISSUE WITH THIS IS THE, IS THE FINANCE BEHIND IT, RIGHT? UM, SO IF WE'RE LOOKING AT MORE OF $150,000 A YEAR FOR LEGAL SERVICES, WE'RE HAVING 15 HOUR HEARINGS WHERE WE'RE PAYING ONE, TWO ATTORNEYS, $300 AN HOUR.
I'M NOT SURE THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO USE OUR RESOURCES.
UM, I THINK AT SOME POINT WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT BRINGING THIS BACK IN HOUSE JUST BECAUSE OF THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING.
UM, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THESE GUYS COME AND SIT AND PAY THEM $600 AN HOUR, MAYBE, UH, TO SIT THROUGH THESE LONG HEARINGS OF PUBLIC COMMENT, IT, THE FINANCE BEHIND IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.
UM, CAN I SAY SOMETHING IF YOU DON'T MIND? YES.
I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT THINGS IN A BOTTLE.
WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT? DIDN'T HAPPEN LIKE THIS LAST YEAR.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN LIKE THIS NEXT YEAR.
EACH YEAR IN THE LAW PRACTICE VARIES.
THE CHIEF IS EXPERIENCING A VERY HECTIC YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE THAT NEXT YEAR.
SO I HATE TO SAY THAT IT'S GOING TO BE, CAUSE I HEARD YOU SAY SOMETHING ABOUT $150,000 A YEAR.
WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO BE $150,000 NEXT YEAR.
SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
NO, OTHER THAN THAT, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
UH, BUT ALL I CAN DO IS LOOK AT THE TREND OF, OF WHAT IT HAS BEEN.
AND IT HAS BEEN WHAT HAS BEEN DIFFERENT CHIEFS COUNSELING.
AND SO EVERYBODY HANDLES THEIR STAFF DIFFERENTLY.
AND SO THIS GENTLEMAN IN, AND HE DECIDES HE'S GOING TO ESTABLISH CERTAIN PROTOCOL THAT HANDLES DISCIPLINE A CERTAIN WAY.
IT MAY ENCOURAGE SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.
AND IT, AND IT KIND OF GOES BACK TO WHAT YOU SAID BEFORE ABOUT HIS CHOICE TO KIND OF HOW HE LEADS HIM.
AND I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR HIM.
I'M JUST ADVOCATING FROM THE SIDE OF WHY THE COST OF WHERE THEY ARE.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS THE COST.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF ATTORNEYS THAT WE COULD HIRE HERE LOCALLY IN YOUR OFFICE TO DO THIS WORK, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK WE COULD HAVE, I JUST THINK IT MAKES SO MUCH MORE FINANCIAL SENSE TO DO IT THAT WAY.
UM, I AM CONCERNED IF, IF WE WERE TO NOT APPROVE THIS ITEM TONIGHT, I'M ASSUMING WE'VE ALREADY BEEN BILLED FOR OVER 78.
SO WE DO NEED TO APPROVE SOMETHING.
SO WE DON'T WANT TO DO ANY OF THAT.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT BEING A COUNSELOR.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING
IF YOU WANT TO PAY A PERSON FOR WHAT THEY'VE BUILT.
CAN I ADD ONE THING TODAY? IF I MAY, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I HEARD YOU SAY SOMETHING.
IN FACT, UH, THE AMOUNT OF ATTORNEYS AT OFFICE HIRES, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND SOMETHING VERY CLEARLY.
WE HANDLE ALMOST EVERYTHING IN HOUSE, IN THE PARENT'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THAT COMES THROUGH OUR DOOR.
THE WAY THAT MY STAFF HANDLES LITIGATION CONTRACTS, HUMAN RESOURCES, COLLECTIONS SAVES THE CITY.
IF NOT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON WHAT THE ATTORNEY'S FEES WOULD BE VARIOUS SPECIALIZED AREAS OR AT THE REQUEST OF A DEPARTMENT HEAD, DO WE HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL? I, I WOULD BEG YOU TO GO BACK AND LOOK OVER THE RECORDS SINCE I'VE BEEN THERE, BUT HOW MANY TIMES WE'VE SOUGHT TO RETAIN OUTSIDE COUNSEL CONFLICTS, WHICH I HAVE NO AUTHORITY OVER.
AND SOME, UH, UH, CASE WHERE WE DO CONTINGENCY.
LIKE, WOULD YOU TAP ON THE HEAD TONIGHT OUTSIDE OF THAT? VERY LIMITED.
AND SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR.
UM, MR. DOTSON, UH, THIS, THIS PARTICULAR, UM, AREA OF LAW, IS IT A CONFLICT TO HAVE IN-HOUSE COUNSEL HANDLED THESE CASES? NO.
UM, IF, IF WE SEE THAT THIS IS A GROWING TREND, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR CHIEF MURPHY PAUL TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HIRING OF AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR OFFICE TO REPRESENT IS HIS, UH, POLICE FORCE, IS THAT I THINK WHAT EVERYONE'S MISSING AND I'M GOING TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, BUT ABOUT COUNCIL IN MOROCCO, I THINK WHAT EVERYBODY'S MISSING.
AND I DON'T MIND TELLING YOU KIND OF THE CHRONOLOGY.
WHEN I TOOK OVER, WE DEALING MORE WITH THE SIGN TO THE G TRAIN, THAT'S ASSIGNED TO CHIEF PAUL DEALING MORE.
SHE HANDLES ALL OF HIS ADMINISTRATIVE STUFF, ALL THE PUBLIC RECORDS, THINGS, COUNSELING LEGISLATION AND EVERYTHING OF THAT NATURE.
SHE AND SHE, SHE, HER TIME IS SPENT DOING THAT.
SHE WOULD HAVE HAD THE ABILITY TO DO SOME OF THE WORK IN TERMS OF DISCIPLINE.
WE COULD SPLIT IT UP BETWEEN PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE WHEN HE CAME INTO THE OFFICE AND HE CAME WITH HIS JOB, HE ASKED ME, HE SAID, LOOK, ANDY, BECAUSE OF SOME
[03:25:01]
EXPERIENCES I'VE HAD, I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT HIRING OUTSIDE COUNSEL, DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT? I SAID, CHIEF, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S COMING OUT OF YOUR BUDGET, I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH YOU BECAUSE MY BUDGET IS SET FOR WHAT I CAN AND WHAT I CAN'T HIRE.AND IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH IT, THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY WHO YOU'D LIKE TO HIRE? HE TOLD ME IT WAS, I DID MY DUE DILIGENCE.
THEY HAD THE EXPERIENCE AND THE ABILITY TO DO IT, AND THEY SHOW HIM THAT.
SO THAT'S WHO HE WANTED TO HIRE.
WASN'T A QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT MY OFFICE COULD DO THE WORK COUNCIL WOMAN.
IT WAS A QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S WHAT HE WANTED AND IF IT CAME OUT OF HIS BUDGET AND THEN I'M BUYING, I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH, WELL, IF, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT EFFICIENCIES AND HE WANTED TO DO THAT, COULD WE HIRE AN ATTORNEY? COULD HE PARTICIPATE IN THE HIRING PROCESS OF HIRING AN ADDITIONAL PARISH ATTORNEY? BECAUSE I WAS LOOKING AT, I'M LOOKING AT THE PAY GRADES AND YOU KNOW, I WORKED FOR YOU.
UM, AND I, UH, WAS THANK YOU SO MUCH THERE.
AND I WAS ON THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE SALARY RANGES.
NOW I SEE THIS AND IT HURTS MY FEELINGS.
I SEE THAT THEY START AT 43,000 AND THEN THEY, AND THE MATHS TRAVESTY, RIGHT? UM, THE MAX PAY FOR A PARISH ATTORNEY, HYPOTHETICALLY, MY SALARY.
I DON'T WANT MEAN DISRESPECTFUL.
THAT'S UM, AND I KNOW YOUR VALUE, AND I KNOW THAT IT FAR EXCEEDS THAT, AND I KNOW THERE ARE ATTORNEYS IN YOUR OFFICE AND THERE ARE VALUE IN IT FAR EXCEEDS WHAT THEY'RE GETTING PAID HERE ON THIS PAPER.
SO MY POINT IS IF WE COULD HIRE SOMEONE EVEN AT A VERY, AT THE SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT PARISH ATTORNEY, UM, AREA THAT WOULD REPRESENT MURPHY PAUL, CHIEF, PAUL, AND HE WOULD HAVE TOTAL AND COMPLETE ACCESS TO THAT PERSON AND WOULD BE ABLE TO PICK THAT PERSON.
WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT MAY SAVE DOLLARS IN THE FUTURE OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT'S POSSIBLE? THAT'S ALWAYS POSSIBLE.
WHAT YOU LAID OUT IS 100% POSSIBLE.
THE CHIEF HAS TALKED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY, BUT AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING, WE'RE LOOKING AT LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
AS FAR AS MY EXPERIENCE HERE, THIS I'M NOT GOING TO DOWNPLAY THE SITUATION.
IT IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO GO.
IT WASN'T THIS HIGH TO GET BEFORE.
AND SO WE GET INTO TALKING ABOUT HIRING SOMEONE ELSE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TREND IS GOING TO BE.
IT MAY HAVE BEEN TWO OR THREE YEARS CONSISTENTLY HAVING TO PAY THAT MONEY.
THERE'S NO DOUBT, COMMON SENSE AND FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND DUE DILIGENCE PSE, YOU PROBABLY NEED TO LOOK IN HOUSE, BUT WHAT IF NEXT YEAR GOES DOWN TO $30,000 AND NOW WE'RE PAYING SOMEBODY $129,000 A YEAR? WELL, WE COULD JUST PAY OUTSIDE COUNSEL $30,000.
WE DON'T KNOW THAT WHAT'S YOUR POINT IS, IS WE'LL TAKE.
AND THE THING IS THAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT DESPITE THE FACT THAT MY, MY STAFF ARE WHOLLY AS WELL UNDERPAID, THEY DO THE WORK OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE PAID $300 AN HOUR.
YOU KNOW, I'M A 180 7 PEOPLE, OH, WITH ALMOST 30 LAWYERS AND I PAID $129,000 A YEAR.
YOU LOOK AT IT AND COMPARABLE LAWYER AND ANY OTHER STATE, THEY MAKE A FIVE AND $600,000 A YEAR.
BUT I WORK LIKE I GET PAID $600,000 A YEAR, BUT THAT'S JUST WHAT WE DO.
COUNCIL MEMBER IS THAT MOTION TO GIVE THE PARISH ATTORNEYS ARRAYS.
IF SO, I WANT TO ADD THE BPW WORKERS.
SECOND, THE MAIL ROOM FOLKS, ALL THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT, THAT, THAT EMOTION, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DONE.
I WANT TO FIRST, UH, OFFER UP THAT.
I THINK THAT THE LADY FROM ASCENSION GAVE US A REASON WHY, YOU KNOW, THESE NUMBERS ARE WHERE THEY ARE.
SHE VERY ELOQUENTLY SPOKE ABOUT THE LENGTH OF THEIR MEETINGS, THE DEMAND THAT THEY HAVE, AND THIS IS BASICALLY A SUPPLY AND DEMAND ISSUE.
UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THERE ARE MORE CASES THAT ARE TAKING LONGER, BUT I NEED MORE REPRESENTATION TO, UH, DEFEND, UH, UH, PRESENT THESE CASES.
I JUST WAS REPRESENTED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER.
DONE, NOT A QUESTION IS WHY IS THAT? WHY ARE THERE MORE CASES? WHY ARE THERE MORE LONGER HEARINGS? AND THE CHIEF REFERENCE, UH, GEORGE PAUL AND NATIONAL TRENDS, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE RELATED TO A RESPONSE OF HIS KILLING AND THE CALL FOR REFORM AND POLICE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
BUT I WOULD ALSO OFFER UP IN 2016, WE HAD TO KILL HIM ALTON STERLING WITH THIS COMMUNITY BEFORE GEORGE FLORIDA ASKED OF THIS LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THIS MAYOR AND THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DO MORE, HAVE MORE ACCOUNTABILITIES AND, UH, BE, UH, I GUESS, MORE TRANSPARENT IN HIS INVESTIGATIONS AND, UH, BRING ABOUT DISCIPLINE OFFICERS WHO STEP OUT OF LINE.
THIS CITY, THIS COMMUNITY ASKED THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO DO THAT.
[03:30:01]
PAUL THANKFULLY IS SOMEONE WHO EMBRACES 21ST CENTURY POLICING, WHICH IS A MODEL THAT MOST PEOPLE NATIONWIDE, UH, THINK IT'S THE MODEL TO APPROACH MANY OF THESE ISSUES.AND THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT HISTORICALLY, UH, IS NOT ACCUSTOMED TO THIS TYPE OF CHIEF THAT EMBRACED 21ST CENTURY POLICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
I SERVED ON THE BODY CAMERA COMMITTEE.
UH, THE BODY CAMERAS HAVE BEEN NIGHT AND DAY WITH INFORMATION WITH DATA, WITH TRANSPARENCY AS IT RELATES TO INTERACTIONS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SO NOT ONLY HAS THE COMMUNITY ASKED MORE AND DEMAND THAT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT YOU NOW YOU HAVE CAMERAS AND TECHNOLOGY.
SO THAT'S GOING TO LEAD TO MORE CASES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND WHY WOULDN'T YOU WANT THE CHIEF TO HAVE LEGAL REPRESENTATION DURING THESE CASES? AND FINALLY, I'LL SPEAK TO THIS OUTSIDE COUNSEL THING.
WE GOT OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR ST.
GEORGE LITIGATION, OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR FORMAL COUNCIL MEMBERS OUTSIDE COUNSEL TONIGHT FOR A COLLECTION OF SOME RESOURCES.
AND THOSE ITEMS ALWAYS COME UP AND THEY'RE ALWAYS GROWING DEPENDING ON THE DEMAND.
SO WHY ARE WE HAVING AN ISSUE WITH OFFERING THE CHIEF WITH THE LEGAL DEFENSE THAT HE NEEDS BASED ON THE DEMAND? I THOUGHT ANDY MADE A GOOD POINT.
WHAT IF NEXT YEAR IS $30,000 AND YOU GOT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR EMPLOYEE ON PAYROLL.
AND THE OTHER THING THAT HADN'T BEEN MENTIONED, WHICH IS GOOD WITH OUTSIDE COUNSEL OUTSIDE CONTRACTING IS YOU DON'T HAVE THE LEGACY COSTS, RETIREMENT INSURANCE, HEALTH CARE, ALL OF THAT STUFF.
SO I LIKE THE HYBRID MODEL OF HAVING IN HOUSE AND OUR HOUSE WHERE THERE ISN'T A PARENT'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OR ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT.
AND I SUPPORT THE CHIEF GETTING THE FUNDING.
HE NEEDS TO HAVE THE DEFENSE THAT HE, THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS ALL I'M, I'M KIDDING.
YOU CAN HAVE MY REST OF MY TIME OR COST IS GOING TO ADAMS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WHEN I HEAR THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOUNG POLICE OFFICERS CAN COME AND GET ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS THEN IS EITHER TWO THINGS GOING ON.
THAT'S GOING BACK DOWN, OR THERE'S AN ALTERNATIVE MATERIAL.
DOES AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE FOR SOMEONE TO TRY TO QUESTION OUR LEADERSHIP HERE.
HERE'S WHAT I ASK YOU, ASK THAT PERSON, RUN IT THROUGH THEIR CHAIN.
AND I PROMISE YOU, YOU WILL GET A RESPONSE FROM EITHER ME OR ONE OF MY DEPUTY CHIEFS.
WHEN HE ENCOURAGED THAT THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT BEGAN TO MAKE THESE CHANGES.
AND AFTER GEORGE FLOYD, WE SAW COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS AMERICA.
AND THE REASON WE DIDN'T HAVE IT IS BECAUSE WE BEGAN THOSE CHANGES BEFORE GEORGE FLOYD WAS KILLED IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, LET'S NOT GO BACK, PLEASE.
I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE SUPPORT THIS.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, PLEASE DON'T DEFEND US, ALLOW US TO, UH, TO HAVE THIS FUNDING TO CONTINUE MOVING US FORWARD, COME TO SOME NUMBER, CALLING ME ONE QUESTION CHIEF, TELL ME THIS, THE CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW IN YOUR GROUP, YOU INHERITED SOME OF THAT.
AM I CORRECT? SOME OF THE CONCERNS OF FOLK THAT MAY NOT BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT YOU'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO WITH THE PROGRESSIVE NESS WITH YOU AND HERITAGE, SOME OF THAT, AM I CORRECT? I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, ARE YOU, IF YOU'RE SPEAKING OF CULTURAL ISSUES, WHEN I HEAR ALL OF THAT, THAT'S A FAIR STATEMENT, BUT IT, BUT LET ME BE CLEAR.
I DON'T THINK THE ISSUE BECAUSE I'M PROUD OF THE WORK THAT MEN AND WOMEN OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF DOING LADY SAY THAT, SAY THIS, MY REASON FOR ASKING THIS QUESTION IS WHEN IT WAS ALLUDED TO THE NUMBER OF, UM, ISSUES THAT MAY COME BEFORE YOU, YOU INHERITED SOME OF THAT.
SO THEREFORE YOU'VE GOT TO WORK THROUGH IT TO GET TO WHERE YOUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS AND SHOULD BE.
AND I KIND OF GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, 2020 WITH COVID.
WE SAW THE NUMBERS WITH DIFFERENT INSIGHT.
EVEN THE OVERALL CRIME WAS DOWN IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
HOMICIDES WERE UP, DOMESTICS WERE UP.
UM, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FIRST PART OF THIS YEAR IN AUGUST, WE HAD 17 CASES THAT HAD CAME, UH, BEFORE I, WHERE
[03:35:01]
OUR LEGAL TEAM HAD TO, UH, UM, UH, SIT IN ON RIGHT NOW, WE'RE AT 45.SO WE SEE THAT CHANGE, UH, OF THAT HAPPENED.
WE DON'T CONTROL HOW MANY CASES COME IN CASES COMING FROM THE PUBLIC, SOMEBODY COME IN AND MAKE A COMPLAINT AND WE HAVE TO INVESTIGATE IT.
OR THEY COME IN THROUGH INTERNALLY FROM SUPERVISORS OR FROM OTHER POLICE OFFICERS.
BUT EVEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, WITH THE CHANGE, THAT'S GOING TO BE WITH THE, UM, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S GOING TO BE, THAT HAS HAPPENED.
YOU STILL HAVE SOME THINGS THAT YOU MUST WORK THROUGH WITH THE NEW PERSON THAT'S IN PLACE.
NOW THAT YOU'LL HAVE TO, WITH THE UNION, THE NEW IT'S GOING TO, I AM VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT BASED ON MY INITIAL BEADING, THAT THERE'S AN AGREEMENT THAT WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.
UM, AND I THINK YOU CAN HAVE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD REPRESENTATIVE IS HERE.
WE SPENT 14 HOURS IN TWO HEARINGS.
WE HAD ONE WHERE IT WAS JUST SO THAT A PORTION OF WHAT WE SPEND ALL DAY ON IT THAT HASN'T BEEN HEARD OF.
WE DIDN'T HAVE NOT SPENT THAT TYPE OF MON TYPE OF TIME ON HEARINGS.
SO, UM, WE'RE HAVING HONEST CONVERSATIONS, UH, ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.
WE HAVE A MEETING WITH THE NEW ORLEANS POLICE DEPARTMENT TO LOOK HOW THEY HANDLE DISCIPLINE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO SEE THIS, A MEDIATION PROCESS THAT WE CAN CREATE.
WE'RE ACTUALLY HAVE MEETINGS TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND ENGAGE IN THE NEW LEADERSHIP OF THE UNION.
PRIOR LEADERSHIP OF THE UNION WOULD NOT WORK WITH US.
AND THERE WAS A LOT OF MISINFORMATION.
SO WE ARE VERY ENCOURAGED THAT WE CAN, UH, WORK ON THIS TO PREVENT THESE TYPES OF REQUESTS.
COME IN BEFORE YOU, I HAVE TO SAVE THAT AS YOUR PROGRESSIVENESS, YOU ALL PROGRESSIVENESS HAS BEEN EXCEPTIONAL.
AND, UM, I KNOW THAT I'VE CALLED ON YOU FOR SEVERAL, SEVERAL THINGS.
AND YOU'VE BEEN JUST AS THEY SAY, STRAIGHT UP, AND EVEN IF AN OFFICER IS NOT ON POINT WITH, UH, THAT, WHICH HE SHOULD BE ON POINT WITH HIM FOR, UH, YOU'VE SAID TO ME, WELL, TELL THEM TO TAKE THAT EXTRA DUTY FROM THEM OVER AT THE, UH, WHEN THEY WENT TO THE SWIMMING POOL.
YOU'RE NOT ON TIME, YOU'RE NOT HERE.
SO I HAVE TO COMMEND YOU FOR, FOR THAT.
THAT'S MY POINT THERE AS WELL.
AND ALSO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT $300 FOR AN ATTORNEY, PARDON? TINY $300.
MANY OF US WALK ON $300, Y'ALL GET THAT TOMORROW, BUT $300.
AND SO YOU TALKING ABOUT OUTSIDE ATTORNEY ON BIAS, EVERYBODY, AND THE SEAT THAT, THAT THE CHIEF
DID YOU LACK YOUR EXTRA TIME COUNCIL MEMBER TO COUNCIL MEMBER? THANK YOU.
UH, TOLD HIM TO GO, BUT I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY REAL QUICK.
NOW YOU CAN GET AN ATTORNEY OR YOU CAN GET A LAWYER, WHICHEVER ONE YOU NEED.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE STATED IT WAS $300 FOR THE, YOU KNOW, THE TIME THAT ONE CASE OR WHATEVER.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, COMPENSATION.
UM, SO THE, THE YOUNG LADY FROM CIVIL SERVICE, IF I COULD ASK A QUESTION.
YOU, YOU BROUGHT UP OF A WHILE AGO, UH, THE ATTORNEYS FULLY FALCON, CORRECT? YES.
AND HE'S BEEN CIVIL SERVICE ATTORNEY FOR YEARS.
I KNOW HE WAS THERE WHEN I WAS WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UM, WHAT IS HIS COUNSEL BESIDE HIM IS ABOUT THE ATTORNEY FOR THE CHIEF AND APPROVING THAT AND WANT TO DISCUSS THE ATTORNEY FOR CIVIL SERVICE.
AND WE CAN PICK ANOTHER ITEM TO DO SO, WHAT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A COMPARISON TO TWO SALARIES, AS FAR AS WHAT WE'RE INCREASING THE BUDGET HERE TOO, WHERE, OKAY.
THEN MAY I ASK THE, UH, COUNSELING MINISTRY? WHERE DOES THAT FUNDING COME FROM? AS FAR AS OUR CIVIL SERVICE, UM, YOU NEED TO TALK TO THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO YEARLY BUDGET.
I HAD A FINANCE DIRECTOR COME UP NEARLY VIRGIN.
MA'AM, WE'RE NOT GONNA LET YOU TRY AGAIN, KNOW
[03:40:01]
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT.I'M NOT TRYING TO GET OFF ON A TANGENT.
I'M TRYING TO, WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS LEAD INTO
HERE'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE TRYING TO EMULATE THE PROCESS.
IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO STAY ON TOPIC THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE IT'S TIME NOW, 7 33, THE ITEM BEFORE US, AS WE WERE DISCUSSING WHETHER OR NOT TO INCREASE THE CHEESE FROM, FOR OUTSIDE COUNSEL, UH, YOU ASKED A SPECIFIC QUESTION OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR WORLD.
I WAS DOING SLUMPS COMING TOMORROW.
I'M GOING TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION TO ANSWER WHAT WE GOT TO STAY ON TOPIC AGAIN IN THE ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET.
IT'S FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.
WHO ASKS QUESTIONS SPECIFIC TO THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC? ONE TO ENTERTAIN A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ATTORNEY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE.
I LIKE TO STAY ON THIS ITEM AND GET TO THE END OF IT.
AS EASY AS POSSIBLE AS WHATEVER ITEMS WE NEED TO DISCUSS SOMETHING BEFORE, UH, YOU HAVE YOUR FOR FOUR MINUTES AND 30 SECONDS MS. COUNCIL.
AND I APOLOGIZE AS FAR AS STEPPING OUT AND I WAS TRYING TO BRING IN THE COMPARISON OF W WE'RE LOOKING AT INCREASING THIS RIGHT HERE, BUT WE'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING WITH THE OTHER ONE.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE NEED TO, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN AMEND THIS OR IF WE NEED TO LOOK AT BALANCING BOTH.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INCREASING THIS SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE REPRESENTATION FOR CHIEF PAUL IN HIS ATTORNEY'S CAPACITY.
SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING I WANTED TO BRING UP THERE AND BRING, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TABLE THIS AND BRING THEM BOTH BACK UP, OR WHERE WOULD HE JUST ADULT? MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO COMPLETE THIS ITEM AND YOU INTRODUCED AN ITEM, BUT TALK ABOUT THE SALARY FOR THE ATTORNEY WHO REPRESENTS THE CIVIL SERVICE.
AND WE TAKE THAT ITEM AT THAT TIME, BUT THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES ALTOGETHER.
AND I THINK WE TAKE THEM SEPARATELY.
UH, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TELL SOMEBODY, ALL RIGHT, OTHER COMMENTS, WE WANT TO MAKE A COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. YOU'VE USED ALL OF YOUR TIME.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU TIME AT THE END WHEN EVERYONE ELSE IS FINISHED.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DEFER FOR 30 DAYS.
I WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN WITH THE CHIEF AND WITH ANDY TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE ANALYZE, HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS SUBSCRIBED TO SORT OF THE THOUGHT PROCESS THAT COUNCILMAN DUNN HAD AS FAR AS LEGACY COSTS AND THAT KIND OF THING.
I UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENT THAT YOU'RE MAKING ABOUT THIS COULD BE DIFFERENT NEXT YEAR.
UM, BUT I'D LIKE FOR US TO SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT HOW DO WE ANALYZE THAT? HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE LOOK AT THE TREND? AT WHAT POINT DO WE SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE AT 150 OR 200.
I LIKE TO, I LIKE TO HAVE A CHANCE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
SO THAT THAT'LL BE PRETTY MUCH HUDSON.
EVERY, EVERY, EVERY MONTH THERE IS AN APPEAL GOING BEFORE THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD RIGHT NOW COMING UP, I CAN'T LOSE MY LEGAL TEAM.
MY LEGAL TEAM HAS ALREADY INVESTED TIME RESEARCHING DOLLARS.
WE HAVE A CASE COMING UP THAT THE FEDERAL JUDGE HAS OPINED ON.
WE HAVE A CASE THAT'S COMING UP THAT CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO DEFERRING THIS AND INTERFERING WITH MY ATTORNEYS TO GIVE ME PROPER REPRESENTATION AT THE NEXT CIVIL SERVICE BOARD HEARING.
I'M ASKING YOU, PLEASE, THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THERE ARE SEVERAL THEY'RE VERY HIGH PROFILE CASES THAT ARE COMING FORWARD.
AND PART OF THAT, UH, THEY DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING TO PAY FOR THE SERVICES THAT WE'VE ALREADY GIVEN THEM.
THEY HAVE SENT THAT BILL TO THEM.
AND I'M, I'M SAYING DIFFERENT.
THIS COULD HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON MY ABILITY TO COME RIGHT HERE IN THREE WEEKS BEFORE THIS CIVIL SERVICE BOARD AND HEAR A CASE THAT WILL BE LISTENED TO NATIONALLY.
THERE ARE SEVERAL CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT JUST SENT A LETTER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, ASKING FOR PATTERNS AND PRACTICE WHAT I'M ASKING YOU.
IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, I'M ASKING YOU TO APPROVE THIS BECAUSE IF MY ATTORNEYS CAN'T REPRESENT ME, IT WILL HAVE NEGATIVE IMPACT ON POLICE AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS IN THIS CITY.
ALL RIGHT, CHIEF, UH, ANDY, IF YOU WOULD, IF WE WERE TO DIFFER WITH THAT EFFECTIVELY, I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
YOU'RE GOING TO ASK ME WHAT IT AFFECT HIM.
IT DOES ATTORNEYS, IF YOU KNOW, MOST
[03:45:01]
ATTORNEYS, I THINK, WOULD SAY WE DON'T MIND.WE, WE ANTICIPATED TO BE, IT'LL BE APPROVED IN 30 DAYS, BUT I CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT MR. HARDY, MR. RAINS AND HIS GROUP WAS IN THE GROUP OF BRAZIL, SEXY, LISTEN, THEY'RE GOING TO DO THAT.
I CAN CALL THEM AND ASK THEM, BUT WE DON'T KNOW.
THEY MAY JUST, I'M SAYING, WELL FOR THEN I GOT PAID.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO WORK, BUT THEY MAY ALSO SAY, WELL, WAIT, 30 DAYS.
I JUST, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR WHAT IS THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD HERE? AUGUST 23RD, AUGUST 23RD.
Y'ALL BEAR WITH ME FOR JUST A SEC.
I'LL UM, I'LL WITHDRAW THAT MOTION FOR NOW.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. I'LL GIVE YOU SOME TIME.
LOOK, SCHOOL JUST STARTED TODAY IN THIS LONG SUMMER.
UM, SO I'M PROBABLY IN ELEGANT IN MY, MY SPEECH.
I NORMALLY TYPE THINGS OUT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S HARD TO GET UP HERE AND SPEAK.
UM, WHAT, WHAT I, UM, WHAT I WANT IS JUST TO ENCOURAGE YOU, THIS IS MY CONCERN, AND I KNOW IT'S YOUR CONCERN TOO.
UM, THAT, THAT WHEN IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS, UM, AN ANGST, UM, UH, CONFLICT WITHIN THE FORCE, UM, IT, IT REALLY DISTRACTS US FROM WHAT, WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
AND THAT'S, I MEAN, I, YOU KNOW, ACCORDING TO NEXTDOOR, FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND THE CORONER'S WEBSITE, WE'VE GOT, WE'VE GOT PROBLEMS, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF HOMICIDES AND, AND WE'VE GOT WE'VE, WE'VE GOT, UM, WE'VE GOT PROBLEMS ALL OVER THIS, THE CITY PARISH AND THE CITY.
UM, AND MY CONCERN IS THAT THAT WHEN, WHEN YOU ALL SEEM TO BE STRUGGLING INTERNALLY, UM, IT, IT LEADS PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THAT WE, THAT, THAT WE DON'T HAVE A UNIFIED GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE OUR, OUR SHIELD AND OUR PROTECTORS, AND IN SERVING THIS COMMUNITY, UM, INDICATE IT, MAKES PEOPLE THINK THAT THERE ARE CRACKS, RIGHT? AND THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S MY CONCERN.
AND SO, UM, I'M JUST ASKING YOU, ENCOURAGING YOU, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU'RE A PROFESSIONAL AND YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME.
UM, AND I KNOW, I KNOW THAT CHANGE IS HARD AND HAS IT CHANGED HYMNS TO BE A SLEDGEHAMMER, BUT YOU HAVE A SCALPEL AND STAT EMAIL.
SO LET ME JUST GIVE ME A MINUTE, CAUSE I DID GIVE YOU MOST OF MY TIME.
UM, I WANT TO RESPOND COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS MY TIME.
I LIKE TO MAKE SO CHIEF, IF YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO SOME OF WHAT YOU SAID, YEAH.
THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A PSYCHOLOGICAL PRICE THAT POLICE OFFICERS, PETER SERVE.
WE SEE PEOPLE AT SOME OF THEIR WORST TIMES IN LIFE.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE IMPACT THAT HAS ON POLICE OFFICERS, AND YOU LOOK AT, UH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES, DIVORCE RATES, AND THEN SUICIDE RATES AMONG THAT, I'M SPEAKING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
UM, I THINK WHAT WE'VE SEEN SINCE, UH, THE GEORGIA FLORIDA INCIDENT AND, UM, REPUTATIONS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT BEING QUESTIONED ALL ACROSS AMERICA THAT HAS IMPACTED MORALE, BUT COMES TO A WOMAN THAT IS NOT UNIQUE TO THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT, LOUISIANA STATE POLICE HAS OVER 200 VACANCIES.
THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT HAS VACANCIES RECRUITING IS DOWN ALL OVER.
SO TO SAY THAT THAT MORALE ISSUE IS UNIQUE TO THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE POLICE EXECUTIVE RESEARCH FORUM PERF DID A NATIONAL SURVEY LAST YEAR, 45% INCREASE IN POLICE RESIGNATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SINCE GEORGE FLOYD, 18% INCREASE IN RETIREMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SINCE GEORGE FLOYD, THAT WAS IN 2020, YOU HAVE A REPORT IN FRONT OF YOU, WHICH SHOWS YOU OUR TURNOVER NUMBERS.
SO I DO UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES.
AND I DO GET, I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT THE SILENT MAJORITY RULES THAT MOST PEOPLE WHO WORK EVERY DAY, WHO GO OUT THERE AND DO ANYTHING, DON'T HAVE TIME TO CALL RADIO STATIONS.
I THINK THE MAJORITY RULES, BECAUSE I HEAR EVERY DAY FROM MEN AND WOMEN IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO SAY MY POLICE OFFICERS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.
I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE MY SON IN FIVE, BUT THIS TIME I AM GOING TO GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER GREEN.
I JUST, YOU KNOW, MAYBE MY, MY, UM, THE WAY I DELIVER THIS MAY NOT BE, UH,
[03:50:01]
POLITICALLY CORRECT, BUT I'M GONNA GIVE YOU FULL WORD THAT WE NEED TO OPERATE IN.KEEP THE SAME ENERGY, KEEP THE SAME ENERGY THAT ALL Y'ALL HAVE TODAY FOR THE NEXT LEGAL CONTRACT THAT COMES UP, KEEP THE SAME ENERGY THAT EVERYBODY HAS TODAY.
WHEN THE PARISH ATTORNEY COMES BACK AND ASK FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO KEEP PEOPLE HIRED IN THAT OFFICE.
I'M SAYING THAT BECAUSE OF SINCE 2016, I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL AND I PROBABLY LAMONT.
AND SHAUNA CAN TELL YOU, I PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE THAT EVERY TIME A LEGAL CONTRACT COME THROUGH, LOOKS AT THE CONTRACT, SEES HOW MUCH THE PEOPLE MAKE, EVEN IN THE OUTSIDE BOARDS THAT I AM ON, HAVE GOTTEN FIRED FOR SAYING, HOW MUCH DOES THIS ATTORNEY COST I'LL CALL AND SAY, UM, IS THIS GENERAL, IS THIS IN THE ATTORNEY? GENERAL'S, UH, PRICING, UM, STRUCTURE.
AND THEY WOULD TELL ME, YES, 200 FOR $300 AND HOURS IN THE SAME PRICING STRUCTURE THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL PUTS UP FOR OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR, FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WHEN YOU BRING THAT AGENDA ITEM FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD ATTORNEY, WHO WANTS TO BE PAID MORE.
IF YOU HAVE AN APP, IF YOU ARE ADVOCATING FOR THAT CONTACT A COUNCIL PERSON TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO COME IN AND START HAVING QUESTIONS AND CONCERN.
WHEN WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE CONTRACTS.
I MEAN, THE BUNDLE CONTRACT WAS THERE FOR 10 YEARS.
NOBODY SAID UP THINK SAME ENERGY, KEEP IT.
BECAUSE I I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE TRYING TO BE QUIET, BUT I JUST, I JUST HAVE SOME CONCERN THAT THIS IS NOT THE SAME ENERGY THAT I'VE SEEN SINCE 2016, JUST THE LAST YEAR.
WE HAVE A LOT OF CONTRACTS THAT COME BEFORE US AND WE APPROVE IT, STAMP IT AND LET IT GO.
BUT THESE LEGAL FEES ARE THINGS THAT LIKE JIM SAID, WE WORK EVERY DAY.
AND IF YOU A PRIVATE PRACTICE ATTORNEY, YOU GO WORK FOR A COMPANY AND YOU CHOOSE TO WORK FOR THAT COMPANY OR THAT AGENCY, THAT MUNICIPALITY, AND YOU CHOOSE TO TAKE THAT FEE.
YOU CAN RENEGOTIATE YOUR CONTRACT WHEN YOU'RE READY, BECAUSE YOU PRIVATE PRACTICE.
YOU DON'T WORK FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
SO DON'T USE THIS AS THE TIME TO START BRINGING UP OTHER ISSUES, KEEP THE SAME ENERGY.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER GREEN IN CLOSING, BEFORE WE VOTE OUT STATE THIS, WE'RE HAVING THIS MUCH COUNCIL NUMBER.
I'M JUST SITTING HERE THINKING, LISTENING TO WHAT EVERYBODY'S SAYING.
I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR COMMENTS.
UM, I THINK, UM, I THINK THIS IS, UH, UH, APPROPRIATE TO LOOK AT.
UM, I AGREE LEGACY COSTS ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE REMEMBER DON, UH, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP.
I THINK THAT NEEDS TO, WE NEED TO QUANTIFY THAT ALWAYS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A POTENTIAL HIRE INTERNALLY, RIGHT.
UM, I THINK, UH, CERTAINLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BIG NUMBERS FAR MORE THAN, THAN LAST YEAR.
UM, AND, UH, I AGREE IF WE, IF WE'RE GOING TO START LOOKING AT HIRING SOMEBODY INTERNALLY, I THINK WE DO NEED TO SEE A TREND OVER LONGER THAN JUST THIS YEAR.
UH, SO I WOULD BE INCLINED TO SUPPORT SOMETHING THIS YEAR.
UM, HOWEVER, IF IT CONTINUES TO BE A TREND, I THINK WE CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT, UH, SOME KIND OF PERFORMANCE MATRIX AND THEN HAVE A DISCUSSION.
SO I THINK THAT'S A WORTHY DISCUSSION.
UM, I, I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF DIFFERENT ED, BUT I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS WITH THE FURNITURE AS WELL.
UM, AND SO, UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A PERFORMANCE MATRIX, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW WHAT THE MISSION OF THE, UH, OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS.
WE KNOW WHAT THE MISSION IS TO, UH, TO, UH, CREATE A SAFE COMMUNITY, RIGHT? SO I WOULD SAY YOU'RE WORKING THROUGH THESE GROWING PAINS ON TRYING TO ENACT POLICY TO MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
SO OBVIOUSLY I WOULD SAY IF WE'RE HERE NEXT YEAR, TALKING ABOUT AN INCREASE IN THE SAME VEIN AND, UH, CRIME IS TRENDING IN THE SAME DIRECTION THAT IT HAS BEEN.
I THINK WE HAVE A REALLY HARD DISCUSSION THEN.
UM, AND THAT'S THE PERFORMANCE MATRIX THAT I WOULD LOOK AT.
SO, UH, LOOK AT THE, LOOK AT THE TREND AND IF, IF, IF THESE POLICIES ARE, ARE GOING FORWARD AND THEY'RE NOT HELPING, THEN MAYBE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT'D BE TIME TO RELOOK AT THE POLICIES.
UM, I WOULD OFFER MAYBE A POTENTIAL.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE KNOW WHAT'S OWED TODAY, WOULD THAT WHAT THAT BILL IS? I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS THAT HANDY.
DO Y'ALL HAVE THAT INSTEAD OF A SENT TO Y'ALL COME ON TO THE MIC COUNTS.
I MEAN, UH, I DON'T HAVE THAT AMOUNT IN FRONT OF ME.
I'D HAVE TO GET SOMEBODY TO GO UPSTAIRS AND TRY AND FIGURE OUT IF I COULD.
I JUST DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW.
WHAT WOULD BE A BILLED AMOUNT MOUNTAIN? YEAH, I WOULD, I WOULD MAYBE OFFER AS A, UH, UH,
[03:55:01]
AN IDEA OR A THOUGHT, UH, FOR DISCUSSION AS, AS POTENTIALLY, UM, ADJUSTING THE AMOUNT TO, UH, COVER THE CURRENT BILL THAT WAS SENT BY THE ATTORNEYS PLUS, UH, THE POTENTIAL FOR THE CASES THAT WE HAVE HERE, UH, UH, 300, UH, 30 HOURS AT $300 AN HOUR.IN ADDITION TO WHAT'S CURRENTLY OWED AND DEFER FOR 30 DAYS.
CAN I SAY SOMETHING? CAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THIS, THIS CONSOLE UNDERSTANDS THE PROCESS.
SO THE ATTORNEYS THAT REPRESENT ME, REPRESENT ME IN A CIVIL, IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING PROCESS, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BILL OF RIGHTS, WHICH IS A LAW, REQUIRES US TO HAVE A HEARING BEFORE DISCIPLINE CAN BE IMPLEMENTED ON ANY OFFICER.
SO THOSE SAME LAWYERS THAT WERE PART OF THE PROCESS, RIGHT, WILL BE THE SAME ATTORNEYS WHO IF YOU APPROVE THIS, ALLOW US TO FINISH AT LEAST A YEAR OUT BECAUSE ALL OF THESE CASES ARE ALREADY PENDING.
SO NOT TO ALLOW THE SAME TEAM OF ATTORNEYS.
THAT'S BEEN PART OF ALL OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE NOW PENDING.
THERE IS A POTENTIAL TO YOU HAVE LAWYERS THAT HAVE TO GO BACK AND PLAY CATCH UP ON ALL OF THESE CASES.
AND I'M TELLING YOU, IT IS VERY COMPLICATED.
IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS IT SEEMS, BUT TO HAVE A TEAM IN PLACE THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR THE PAST YEAR THAT HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN ALL OF THESE CASES.
AND THEN TO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE, IF YOU DON'T APPROVE IT, GO IN AND HEAR THESE CASES THAT ARE GETTING NATIONAL RECOGNITION RIGHT NOW.
I AM ASKING YOU, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT 20, 22 IN DUBAI, I'M ASKING YOU TO TELL, ALLOW THIS GROUP, THIS, THIS, THE ATTORNEY THAT REPRESENTS US TO AT LEAST FINISH OUT THIS YEAR.
WE CAN GET PROGRESS REPORTS AND I CAN COME BACK WITH SOME VERY SPECIFICS, WHETHER UNION AND I THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND I, AND I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOU.
UM, AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE DISCUSSION AND, AND PROBABLY IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF HOW WE, IF WE DO GO AHEAD AND DEFER THIS AND HAVE TEMPORARY FUNDING SO THAT THE ATTORNEYS WON'T SAY NO, NO MORE THAN, UH, I THINK, I THINK QUANTIFYING THE, THE, THE COST TO NOT CONTINUE WITH THOSE ATTORNEYS WOULD ACTUALLY BE, UM, A TESTAMENT TO APPROVE IN WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A, THERE'S A VALID, UM, CONCERN THERE THAT STARTING OVER WITH NEW ATTORNEYS FOR THE CASES THAT ARE ALREADY ONGOING WOULD BE PROBABLY MORE COSTLY THAN WHAT WE'RE TALKING HERE, BECAUSE YOU'D BE DOUBLE WORK.
SO I THINK THAT'S A VALID CONCERN, AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE QUANTIFIED AND DISCUSSED IN THE DISCUSSION.
IF WE DO GO AHEAD AND DEFER, BUT I WOULD ENTERTAIN A DEFERRAL.
IF, IF WE COVER THE CURRENT BILL PLUS ADDITIONAL TO MAKE SURE BRAZIL SAXY WILL CONTINUE ON THROUGH, UNTIL THIS
THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
I'M GONNA TAKE MY WHOLE 10 MINUTES, PROBABLY.
SO LET US DO THIS COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MOTION TO EXTEND THE MEETING.
IS THERE A SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER? DON HAS SECONDED THE MOTION TO EXTEND THE MEETING UNTIL EIGHT 30, NO OBJECTIONS, NO OBJECTIONS.
WE WILL EXTEND THE MEETING TO EIGHT 30 COUNSEL.
I'M GOING TO TAKE ALL THE 30 MINUTES YOU WANT.
SO, UM, AGAIN, UH, GOING BACK, UH, FROM A HISTORICAL POINT POINT OF VIEW THAT EVEN PRECEDES, UM, CHIEF PAUL, UH, UPON ENTERING THE COUNCIL, UH, CHIEF WHITE WAS THE, THE CHIEF.
AND REALLY, AGAIN, KATE CAME FROM THE SAME, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AS CHIEF MURPHY, WHICH WAS STATE POLICE.
AND HE LITERALLY TRIED TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
HE GOT, YOU KNOW, THE UNION WAS AGAINST HIM.
THE CURRENT MAYOR WAS AGAINST HIM IF HE HAS A BILL FOR 39,000 IT'S BECAUSE HE DIDN'T LAST SIX MONTHS BECAUSE HE WAS TRYING TO PREVENT WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING TODAY.
AND AS FAR AS BACK AS 2016, SINCE SHE, AND, AND, AND, UH, MANY OF YOUR GANG WEREN'T HERE, WHEN WE, UM, WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS, I WORKED UNDER CHIEF
[04:00:01]
AND MAYBE EVEN SIX YEARS.AND I LIKED THE MAN AND EVERYTHING, BUT LIKE IN A LOT OF CASES, IT'S WHEN THEY, WHEN YOU CHANGE LEADERSHIP, THEN THAT ALL THE DEAD BODIES SHOW UP ALL THE POOR LEADERSHIP, ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT'S WHEN THEY ARE UNCOVERED.
SINCE CHIEF PAUL HAS BEEN HERE, THESE ARE THE, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAD ABOUT REFORM A COUNCIL, WOMAN, A WICKER HAD AN ORGANIZATION, UH, THE DIFFERENT MAYORS, DIFFERENT TOGETHER.
EVERYBODY WAS TRYING TO SOLVE THE ISSUE THAT WAS GOING ON WITH YOU WITHIN BRP.
IT'S LIKE A TEACHER WHO HAS A CLASS BECAUSE THAT TEACHER GETS A NEW SET OF STUDENTS EVERY YEAR.
FOR EVERY FOUR YEARS, THEY GET A NEW TEACHER.
HE'S HAD THE SAME FOLKS FOR FOUR YEARS.
HE WOULD HAVE THE SAME SINCE CHIEF PAUL.
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT HE HAS.
NOW THAT I PERSONALLY RECALL HIM REFORMING THAT CAUSED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND REALLY OUT OF A LOT OF POLICE THAT WEREN'T NECESSARILY DOING RIGHT.
HE INTRODUCED, INTRODUCED COMMUNITY POLICING.
HE CHANGED YOU STILL TRAINING OF OFFICERS IN DEESCALATION SKILLS AND THE USE OF NONLETHAL TACTICS.
HE INCREASED THE DIVERSITY OF THE DEPARTMENT, IMPROVE THE DATA COLLECTION AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT HERESY.
AND HE ENHANCED THE SCREAMING OF POLICE RECRUIT WIDGET, ALL OF THESE THINGS RIGHT HERE THAT WE FOUND ALL OF THEM MISSING, JUST IN WHAT WE DEAL WITH.
THE SALAMONI GUY, ALL FIVE OF THESE THINGS WERE, IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THAT WAS PART OF WHAT LED TO THIS GUY.
IT AND THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, TO THE LED TO THE KILLING ABOUT AND STERLING, THE OFFICES THAT WE HAD THERE THEY'D BEEN SPOILED.
THEY WERE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY OR WHATEVER.
I HAD AN OFFICER WHEN I GOT OUT THE CAR, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO HE HAD A NICKNAME, BRO.
MAN, I BELIEVE IS THAT A CHEAP? WHAT WAS IT STUPID? I HAD NO IDEA.
MY WHOLE COMMUNITY WAS TERRORIZED.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS ABOUT THE CALL TO CHANGE, BUT I'LL GET BACK ON.
SO WHAT WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST, AND LIKE I SAID, HE'S MY, THE THIRD CHIEF I'VE WORKED.
I'VE BEEN AT, SINCE I'VE BEEN ELECTED CHIEFS WOULD ALWAYS SAY, OH, IT'S JUST A FEW BAD APPLES, A FEW ROLL COP, BUT NO, IT WAS A CULTURAL PROBLEM.
IT WAS LET PEOPLE, OFFICERS GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING.
IT WAS, IT WAS OFFICERS WHO WERE NOT EVEN LIVING IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO CAME LIKE THE LADY SAY FROM ASCENSION LIVINGSTON PARISH, NONE OF THEM WEREN'T EVEN LIVING.
THEY'LL COME HERE AND DO THAT DIRT AND LEAVE IN OUR POLICE OFF IN OUR POLICE VEHICLES.
WE WOULD HEAR THE POLICE UNION AND, AND OTHER PEOPLE ARE REFERRED TO THIS SMALL NUMBER, YOU KNOW, BUT JUST TODAY, IF EACH ONE OF Y'ALL RIGHT NOW, GOOGLE BANDWIDTH BASED DEPARTMENT, CONSPIRACIES ARE, UM, UH, DISCIPLINARY IS 10 PAGES.
IF YOU DO GO GO RIGHT NOW, YOU DON'T HARDLY EVEN SEE DATES BEFORE 20 15, 20 16, 10 PAGES THAT REFER TO DISCIPLINE ISSUES AND WHERE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN CAUGHT WITH ISH, WHAT PROBLEMS THAT WE TALKED TO COUNSELORS? OH MAN, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TRUST.
THAT'S WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO, WHICH GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE THE CITIZENS AND THEIR HIGHER CRIME WILL CANCEL YOU GET WELL WE'LL TRENT WILL ARE, ARE, WILL WELL KNOW THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THINGS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS, NOT A CUT AND ALL THAT, UM, POLICE BEHAVIOR THAT HAS GONE AROUND.
I WOULD SAY THE MAJORITY OF OUR OFFICERS ARE ABSOLUTELY ON, BUT THAT WAS A TREND WHERE REPEATEDLY ABUSES ON PROFESSIONAL OFFICERS WERE GETTING AWAY WITH IT, UH, IMPORTANT WITHOUT ANY PUNISHMENT IT'S RECORDED.
BUT TO REPEAT IT, MISBEHAVIOR THAT WASN'T ADDRESSED BY THE OTHER CHIEF THAT'S THAT IT WASN'T A REAL COPS.
THAT WAS A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY LET IT HAPPEN.
AND THIS CHIEF IS TRYING TO HAVE US
[04:05:01]
A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT WE ALL COULD BE THE REASON.ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE CRIME BEF BESIDES THE FACT, NO, YOU GOT TO SPEND SO MUCH TIME INSTEAD OF WORKING IN TRAINING HIS OFFICES AND RECRUITING BETTER OFFICES IN APPEALS, THAT THE MAN THAT THE LADY MENTIONED ABOUT THE UNION.
I REMEMBER THAT MAN FROM THE EIGHTIES, I KNOW HE TIRED OF BEING IN MIDI.
HE PROBABLY NEVER BEEN IN THERE MEETINGS BECAUSE THAT WAS NO ACCOUNTABILITY.
HE PROBABLY NEVER SPENT FOUR AND FIVE AND SIX DAYS ON CONTINUATION BECAUSE THEY HAD NONE.
AND NOW HE'S OLD BECAUSE I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS THE THIRTIES, HE WAS DOING THAT WORK.
SO NO HE'S WAITING TO GET HIM OFF.
BUT THEN AT SIX, Y'ALL GONE TO NINE AND 10, BUT WHAT, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AND WHAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND AND WHETHER IT WAS AN IMPLICIT OR EXPLICIT, EXPLICIT IS THOSE ISSUES WERE NEVER ADDRESSED BEFORE AND NOW THEY ARE.
AND SO NOW, AS IN EVERYTHING LIKE COUNCILWOMAN, THEY, THERE HAS CHANGED, BUT THERE HAS CHANGED IN ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE FOLKS NEVER HAD ACCOUNTABLE.
THEY ALL WANT TO KEEP DOING WHAT THEY DOING.
CAUSE I GOT A BADGE THAT HAD TO CHANGE.
ONE OF THE REASONS THAT IT, UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD THE AMBUSH BY OFFICERS BY THE, BY THE, UH, GUY FROM DALLAS IS BECAUSE HE GOT TO THE POINT WHERE HE THOUGHT, WELL, THEY WERE GETTING AWAY.
SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THESE CHANGES SAVE OUR POLICE OFFICERS FROM BEING KILLED AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND FEELING THERE'S NO WAY.
AND HUDSON SAYING, I CALLED THE CHIEF.
WHEN I HAVE A COMPLAINT IN MY COMMUNITY AND HE LISTENED AND HE ADDRESSES IT.
I'LL HAVE TO KNOW EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED.
I'VE HAD MEETINGS WHERE PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY HAD ISSUES EARLY ON WHEN THE CHIEF, WHEN THE CHIEF FIRST CAME AND THEY WOULD HAVE PROBLEMS, HE SHOWED UP AT THE MEETING.
WE AIN'T NEVER HAD A CHIEF LIKE THAT.
HE SHOWED UP WITH THE MEETING WITH THE CONSTITUENTS.
HIS, UH, PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY.
I WENT THROUGH FOUR YEARS OF COUNSELING.
SAY IF THE POLICE, IF, WHEN IT WAS DABBING, IF THE CHIEF SAID, I'M NOT A POLICE, HE KNOWS HIS BUSINESS WHERE THAT'S WHAT HE NEEDS THAT SAME AND A RESPECT.
WE, NOT THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN DO TRAINING.
WE HAVEN'T EVEN HAD A COPY OF, WE HAVEN'T EVEN HAD AN OFFICER BEFORE WITH A COLLEGE DEGREE, PROBABLY A POLICE OFFICER, A POLICE.
SO I'M JUST SAYING, IF I GIVE THIS MAN THE RESPECT TO DO HIS JOB, I BELIEVE IT, THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE BUDGET NEXT TIME AND SEE WHAT I LIKED, WHAT YOU COUNCILMAN SAID ABOUT THE TREND.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO GIVE HIM WHAT HE'S ASKED FOR YOU.
IF YOU DON'T GIVE HIM WHAT ASKED FOR WHEN THE, WHEN EVERYTHING HAPPENED, YOU CAN'T BLAME NOBODY, BUT I'LL SAY UP, CAUSE WE DIDN'T GIVE HIM THE TOOLS HE ASKED FOR.
SO WE'RE AT, UNTIL YOU CAN'T HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE THINGS THAT YOU STRIP HIM OF HIS POWER AND HIS LEGAL, LEGAL AUTHORITY.
SO Y'ALL WANT TO GO BACK TO THEM, KIND OF COPS.
THERE'S DOING ALL KINDS OF TERRORIZING THE COMMUNITY.
THEY NEED TO BE ARRESTED, NOT ARISE.
THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO SEE A COURT NOT KILLED.
THEY NEED TO STAND BEFORE A JUDGE AND SENTENCE.
IF THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN, THAT WAS NOT HAPPENING.
INSTEAD OF GETTING DRUG DEALERS AND ARREST THEM, THEY WERE TAKING THEIR MONEY AND TAKING THEIR DRUGS.
THAT'S WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THAT'S NOT HAPPENING BECAUSE PEOPLE TRUST US NOW TO CALL AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED.
AND I USED TO THAT AND THEY DON'T WANT IT TO STOP.
STOP, GIVE THIS MAN WHAT HE'S ASKING FOR AND LET HIM DO HIS JOB.
MAN IS MONEY CONNECT YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCCO.
THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN BANKS.
AND JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT HAD A COVID TEST BEFORE I CAME HERE TONIGHT.
IT'S NOT COVID, IT'S JUST THE COLD.
I MEAN, WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME.
UM, WHAT I'D LIKE TO SAY IS I THINK OUR DIALOGUE HAS BEEN GREAT TONIGHT.
I THINK WE DISCOVERED THAT CHIEF MURPHY, PAUL, IF THIS CONTRACT DOESN'T WORK OUT IN THE FUTURE, YOU GET TO HAVE YOUR VERY OWN PARISH ATTORNEY DESIGNATED TO YOU THAT YOU CAN HANSEL
[04:10:01]
DURING THE HIRING PROCESS.UM, I THINK THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW FOR THE FUTURE.
I, UH, ALSO LIKE WHAT, UM, COUNCILMAN KNOLL SAID, LET'S LOOK AT THE TREND.
LET'S SEE HOW THAT GOES FOR YOU.
I THINK, UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID THAT AS AN ATTORNEY, I WOULD WANT MY MONEY AND I DON'T CARE WHAT ANY COUNCIL WOULD SAY.
I WOULD WANT TO GET PAID FOR THE WORK THAT I'VE DONE.
THAT DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO LOOK AT PEOPLE AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE ASKED YOU TO DO THIS JOB AND NOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO PAY YOU.
UM, I WOULD BE VERY UPSET AND HOW IT WOULD BE VERY LESS LIKELY TO DO BUSINESS OR GOOD BUSINESS WITH THOSE PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE.
SO, UM, REACHING THAT, UNDERSTANDING THAT THOSE SERVICES HAVE ALREADY BEEN RENDERED AND WE NEED TO EXTEND THIS CONTRACT.
SO THOSE PEOPLE CAN BE PAID AND CONTINUE TO DO THE JOB.
I AGREE WITH MOVING THIS FORWARD, BUT I DO DO VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE DIALOGUE AT, UM, LOOKING AT COST SAVING OPTIONS AND GIVING CHIEF MURPHY, PAUL, WHATEVER HE NEEDS TO DO THIS JOB IN THE FUTURE, WHETHER IT BE IN-HOUSE COUNSEL OR CONTINUING THE CONTRACT.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR OUR DIALOGUE.
AND I'M GLAD THAT EVERYBODY'S SO RESPECTFUL AND, UH, LOOKING AT THESE OPTIONS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, ROBERT THAT'S TWO TIMES FOR YOU COUNCIL MEMBER DONE.
I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.
WHAT'S THE MOTION ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE THAT'S WRITTEN COLEMAN ALREADY MOTION THAT YOU ALREADY SAID.
SO THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN OR SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER, DUN UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, HUDSON.
YOU SPOKE TWICE, BUT I WILL GIVE YOU, YEAH, THAT'D BE A GAME.
I GAVE IT TO THEM AND SAYS, COUNCIL MEMBER, WELL, MY REQUEST TO SPEAK WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
UM, SO LOOK, CHIEF, I DO WANT TO KEEP THAT SAME ENERGY.
I THINK THE CHALLENGE THAT COUNCILWOMAN GREEN WAS A GOOD ONE.
I THINK THAT'S WHY, WHY, WHY I BROUGHT THE ITEM ABOUT THE BOND ATTORNEY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAD A, UH, UH, AN ANALYSIS OF THAT.
UH, BUT CHIEF, I JUST WANT TO GO ON RECORD.
I SEEN THE TREND, I SEE WHERE WE'RE GOING.
AND I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS SUSTAINABLE.
I HEAR, I HEAR YOUR ARGUMENT ABOUT YOUR NEXT HEARING.
YOU GOT TO HAVE A PLAN FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.
YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO YOUR BUSINESS.
I DON'T WANT TO PULL THE RUG OUT FROM UNDERNEATH YOU.
WE HAVE TOO GOOD OF RELATIONSHIP TO DO THAT.
UM, BUT I WANT TO HAVE THAT MEETING WITH YOU AND WITH ANDY, UH, SO THAT WE CAN SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT AT WHAT POINT DO WE ALL AGREE THAT THIS MAKES SENSE TO BRING IT IN HOUSE, BUT I HOPE THAT YOU, UH, I KNOW YOU WILL.
I KNOW THAT YOU'LL WORK WITH US ON THAT.
AND, UH, 2017, WE DID A NATIONAL SEARCH FOR A NEW CHIEF OF POLICE.
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SERVING ON THAT COMMITTEE AND, UH, CHIEF BALI TO BE WITH AMONGST A GROUP OF MEN.
AND WE CHOSE HIM TO, TO LEAD THIS WORK.
UH, LET'S BE CLEAR, WE'LL HAVE SOME CANDIDATES, BUT THE NUMBER OF REALLY, REALLY HIGH LEVEL CANDIDATES WHO CAME WITH EXPERIENCE FROM OTHER AGENCIES OR DIDN'T EXIST BASED ON THE CLIMATE, THEY WERE COMING INTO ME.
SO CHIEF CAME INTO THIS DEPARTMENT AND STARTED TO DO, UH, THE WORK THAT WAS NECESSARY TO MOVE US BEYOND, UH, THE TUMULTUOUS YEAR OF 2016.
AND SO NOW WE FIND OURSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE, UH, HE IS THE MEETING, THIS DEPARTMENT, UH, DOWN THE ROAD OF BEING A 21ST CENTURY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
THAT CAN BE A MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, UH, AS EVIDENCE IN MANY OF THE ARTICLES THAT HAVE BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT SOMEBODY, THINGS THAT WERE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED HERE, UH, THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PRIOR TO THE SUMMER OF 2020, I THINK AS WE TALK ABOUT INCREASES, WE HAVE TO CONSIDER, UH, ON THE ONE HAND WE TALK ABOUT COVID EVERY FIVE MINUTES RELATIVE TO SAFETY, BUT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THE INCREASES IN EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON AROUND US IS A DIRECT RESULT OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE MARCH OF 2020.
UH, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE INCIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY, WHEN CHARLOTTE TALKS ABOUT THE KNUCKLEHEADS IN OUR COMMUNITY, A LOT CHANGED ON MARCH 13TH, 2020, WHEN THE WHOLE WORLD CHANGED.
AND THE BEHAVIOR IS A DIRECT RESULT OF WHAT WAS GOING ON DURING THAT TIME.
AND SO IF WE WANT ANY INDICATION OF WHY CHIEF NEEDS HIS OWN ATTORNEY, LET'S LOOK AT THE 53 MINUTES.
WE SPENT TALKING ABOUT THIS ONE AGENDA ITEM THIS EVENING, AND WE SPENT 53 MINUTES TALKING ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
IMAGINE HOW MUCH TIME HE HAS TO SPEND DURING A HEARING WHEN HE'S TALKING ABOUT REDIRECTING OR CORRECTING THE BEHAVIOR OF AN INDIVIDUAL CHOSE TO MAKE CERTAIN MISTAKES THAT THEY'VE BEEN PROFESSIONALLY DEVELOPED NOT TO DO.
AND SO WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS WE THINK ABOUT HOW
[04:15:01]
WE MOVE FORWARD.NOW, I AM ALL FOR US HAVING, UH, THE CRITICAL CONVERSATION AROUND HOW WE MOVE FORWARD IN 2022.
BUT THOSE OF US WHO SERVE ON HIS COUNCIL HAVE TO BE WILLING TO DO THE WORK, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO SERVE PUBLIC.
NOTICE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A WORKSHOP COUNCIL MEMBER MO AROUND THESE TICKLE ITEMS, WHICH WILL REQUIRE US TO SPEND TIME HAVING THE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS.
YOU REQUIRE US TO BE IN A ROOM WITH COUNCIL MEMBER.
I MEAN, WE ARE OUR PARENTS' ATTORNEY WIT I WILL FINANCE DIRECTOR, WIC MEMBERS, OKAY.
LAW ENFORCEMENT TALKING THROUGH THESE ISSUES.
SO WE CAN GET TO A POINT WHERE WE ALL CAN AGREE, BUT IF WE'RE NOT WILLING TO DO THE WORK THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDERABLY CONSIDER THAT HE IS TRYING TO DO THE WORK AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT HIM.
UH, SO WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, WHICH IS MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN TO APPROVE SECONDED BY DONE.
AND IF THERE ARE ANY OPPOSITION AT THIS TIME, IF THERE ARE ANY OPPOSITION AT THIS TIME, IF THERE IS NO OPPOSITION TO MOTION PASSES,
[ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS ]
AND WE'RE NOW GOING TO MOVE TO ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS, WE'VE MOVED TO ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.I'VE MINISTERED THE MATTERS OF EMERGENCY ITEM 8 2 1 0 1 1 4 9 AUTHORIZATION FOR THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO ACCEPT EXECUTED GRANT AGREEMENT FROM THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION TO THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT AND THE AMOUNT OF $4,827,324 BY THE AVIATION DIRECTOR.
THE REASON THIS ITEM IS BEING REQUESTED AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER.
THIS IS ANOTHER ROUND OF STIMULUS FUNDING THAT WOULD ASSIST THE AIRPORT IN MANAGING THE DOWNTOWN, THE DOWNTURN AND PASSING THE TRAFFIC ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
WE NEED A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.
IS THERE A MOTION TO WAVE THROUGH WITH
THE HEARING ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.
IS THERE ANY ONE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? WE'LL HAVE A VOTE ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO THE MOTION TO WAVE THE RULES? AND WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ITEM.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM A ONE DAY 0 1, 1 49.
ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NOW TO GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE A MOTION BY SEVEN AND BARAKA? THE ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER HAS BEEN APPROVED AND
[111. 21-01052 ]
COUNCIL MEMBERS NOW GO TO ITEM 1, 1, 1, 1 WAY THREE DASH 31 SAFETY AREA, RPZ IMPROVEMENTS, CONTRACTOR BOOM SERVICES, LLC, CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, $9,954.IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK LOUD? WARNING 11 COUNCIL MEMBERS, MOTION TO APPROVE BY ROCCO.
[112. 21-01118 ]
NOW GO TO ITEM ONE 12IS THERE ANYONE HERE? JUST SPEAK ON ITEM 12.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ITEM AND ONE 12 COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION BY ROCKER SECONDED BY NO.
[113. 21-01119 ]
I'LL GO TO FINAL ACCEPTANCES ITEM, 1 32 CONTRACTOR BROWN, INDUSTRIAL CONSTRUCTION, LLC.FINAL COSTS, $8,080,000, $818 AND 34 CENTS.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE 13, ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ALL ITEM ONE 13.
[Items 114 - 117 ]
WE'LL NOW ITEMS ONE 14 THROUGH ONE 17 ITEM ONE 14 PERMANENT COUNTS STATION INSTALLATIONS.J B GROUP OF LOUISIANA, LLC DBA INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS GROUP $999,602 AND 50 CENTS.
I WON 15 SURVEILLANCE CAMERA, SYSTEM INSTALLATION, EXPERIMENTS, PERISH Y ERNEST P BRO ELECTRICAL LLC $357,556.
I HAVE A ONE 16 TRAFFIC SIGNAL DETECTION, INSTALLATION EASTBOUND, WHICH PARISH B GROUP OF LOUISIANA, LLC $750,000 AND 10 CENTS.
ITEM ONE 17 SCHOOL FLASHES INSTALLATION EASTBOUND WITH PARISH Y DIAMOND ELECTRICAL COMPANY, $2 MILLION, 2,000,007, $124 ON A $26.
EXCUSE ME, $2,724,126 AND 40 CENTS.
THERE'S ONLY ONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM A ONE 14 TO 1 17, 1 14.
DO YOU WANT ONE 17 COUNCIL MEMBERS? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE MOTION BY DONE SEVEN TO BARAKA.
[121. 21-01109 ]
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO 1 21, WHICH IS AN EMERGENCY ITEM.AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH EAST BATON ROUGE.
TITLE 10 TRANSPORTATION IS SECTION 10, COLON FOUR 13 BY THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
[04:20:01]
ALEUTIAN SERVES AND COVID-19 EMERGENCY SERVICE CALLS REQUIRES THE NEED FOR FIREFIGHTERS TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE AMBULANCES.IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK TO ITEM 1 21, ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 21 COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION TO APPROVE BY LACOE SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
I, WE NEED TO DECLARE THIS ONE IN EMERGENCY FROM A PAYPAL BACK TO 1 21, 1
1 6, 4, 4 TO DECIDE IT MUST BE THE CARE EMERGENCY BY TWO THIRDS.
METROPOLITAN COUNCIL IS THERE MOST OF THE CLEARED ITEM AND EMERGENCY MOTION BY HUDSON.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO DECLARE AN ITEM AND EMERGENCY WILL GO TO A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM? IS ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 21, THEN GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 1 21? SO MOVED BY HUSTON SECONDED BY ROCCO.
[120. 21-01023 ]
WE NOW GO TO ITEM ONE 20.YEAH, HE'S NOT HERE TO GIVE THE REPORT TO SEE EVENING.
SO I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER THIS ITEM.
THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING SECONDED BY GREEN AND YOUR OPPOSITION ITEM.
[118. 21-00932 ]
NOW WE ARE NOW AT ITEM ONE 18, A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION OF CORRECT HEALTH, PERFORMANCE, AND PROTOCOLS OF THE EBR PARENTS PRISON DURING THE PANDEMIC OF 2020 AND 2021.LET ME, YOU LET ME STATE THIS.
WE HAVE 16 MINUTES LEFT FROM THE MEETING.
UH, TYPICALLY WHEN IT IS A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, YOU DO THE POWERPOINT FIRST.
SO WE TAKE THE POWERPOINT FIRST.
THAT WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH TIME TO HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS, WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE? I HAVE TWO ITEMS. THEY HAVE ONE 18 AND ONE 19.
WELL, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
SO WHAT I PREFER, WHAT I PREFER FOR ONE 18 AND 1918, I KNOW WE STILL COULD DO THE PUB PUBLIC HEARINGS.
ARE THERE PEOPLE HERE THAT WANT TO MAKE COMMENTS? I DON'T MIND THEM DOING THAT FOR THEIR 14 MINUTES, BUT I THINK THAT WE SHOULD DO IT AFTER ENOUGH, THE POWERPOINT, BECAUSE THAT MAY TAKE SOME TIME.
SO FOR THOSE THAT HAVE A BURNING, BUT JUST, I KNOW YOU JUST REMEMBER, I, IF I WERE YOU, I WILL USE MY FIVE MINUTES TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY, BUT I'M TOTALLY UP TO IT'S UP TO YOU GUYS.
SO I'M GOING TO DEFER IF Y'ALL DON'T MIND, CAUSE YOU STILL COULD DO TO YOUR COMMENTS, BUT I'M GOING TO DEFER THE, I REQUESTED THE ITEM ONE 18, BE DEFERRED FOR TWO WEEKS AND ONE 19 FOR 30 DAYS.
AND IF THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SPEAKING ON ONE 18, THEY WILL BE PART OF THE WRECK.
UH, THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION DEFER ITEM ONE, AND LET'S TAKE THEM SEPARATELY.
MOTION TO DEFER ITEM ONE 18 FOR HOW MANY DAYS TO TWO WEEKS THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION TO DEFER ITEM ONE 18.
IF IT'S 30 DAYS, WHICH 1, 1 18, WE'RE GOING TO DEFER FOR TWO LEASES IN A SECOND TO THE MOTION TO DEFER ONE 18 FOR TWO WEEKS.
MOST OF THE SUDDEN IF I'VE DONE WELL, IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO THE MOTION WAS A POINT OF ORDER.
I JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE IF WE DEFER ONE 18 FOR TWO WEEKS, CAN PEOPLE STILL SPEAK TONIGHT? SHE CAN MAKE THE MOTION AND THERE A SECOND, BUT THEN WE STILL HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON AN ITEM.
IF WE DEFER IT, DEFER IT TO THE PUBLIC HERE, RIGHT? OKAY.
THIS ISN'T SAYING SO SHE CAN MAKE THE MOTION TO DEFER.
HER COUNSELING HAS MADE THE SECOND, WHEN WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING, I DO WANT FOLKS TO KNOW THE PUBLIC HEARING IS IN RESPONSE TO THE POWER POINT PRESENTATION.
SO AGAIN, YOUR COMMENTS SHOULD BE GERMANE TO THE POWERPOINT PLEASE ATTENTION, BECAUSE THAT IS THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WOULD MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION.
IF WE DON'T HAVE THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION BECAUSE, UH, BY THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, I'M SUPPOSED TO KEEP EVERYBODY ON TOPIC.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW HOW I KEEP FULL ON TOPIC.
WE DON'T HAVE THE POWERPOINT PLEASE.
I WANT TO HEAR FROM MR. JAMES, HOLD UP.
I WANT TO HEAR FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT I HAVE TO STAY FOR THE RECORD.
YOU ALL SHOULD BE COMMENTING ON THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU ALL COME UP IN THE ORDER THAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO WEEK.
AND I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO YOUR VERY BEST TO COMMENT ON WHAT YOU THINK THE POWERPOINT MAY HAVE SAID IF WE HAD HAD THE POWERPOINT TONIGHT.
SO THE FIRST PERSON WE'LL HAVE UP TO SPEAK ABOUT IT IS RUBIN.
ALEXIS ANDERSON, 30 MINUTES, 30 MINUTES, AND MANY OF US HAVE SEEN THE POWERPOINT, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE HAVE THE DEADLIEST JAIL IN THE COUNTRY AND WE HAVE A PANDEMIC THAT IS OCCURRING.
LOUISIANA IS RIGHT NOW, ONE OF THE MORE CHALLENGING STATES
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EVER.AND SO WHATEVER IS HAPPENING IN THE GENERAL POPULATION IS BEING MAGNIFIED IN THAT FACILITY.
AND WE DO NOT HAVE TRANSPARENCY OR ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE HAVE IN FACT SEEN THE POWERPOINT AND THE POWERPOINT IS NOT ON POINT.
IT DOES NOT ANSWER A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS.
THE NUMBERS ARE INCORRECT IN THERE.
THE DATA IS NOT BEING REPORTED OUT.
THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS REPORTS OUT ON THEIR WEBSITE, THE PUBLIC AND THIS BODY DOES NOT GET DATA IN A TIMELY MANNER.
AND AGAIN, I WOULD REMIND THIS COUNCIL THAT 53 MINUTES WERE SPENT TALKING ABOUT LAWYERS.
IT'S WHEN WE DO NOT ADDRESS VERY REAL ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON.
AND SO IT MAY NOT SEEM VERY IMPORTANT UNTIL YOU START LOOKING AT SOME OF THE LOSSES AND YOU START LOOKING AT SOME OF THE ISSUES AND YOU START LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT OUR COURTS ARE GETTING READY TO SHUT DOWN, WHICH MEANS THAT THERE WILL BE PEOPLE LOCKED IN THAT FACILITY AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO DEFEND THEM AND NOT GETTING ACCURATE DATA OUT OF CORRECT IN A TIMELY AND ACCURATE MANNER IS A MAJOR, MAJOR CHALLENGE.
AND SO I AM SORRY THAT WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE ISSUE IS GOING AWAY.
AND I JUST WANT TO COST ME ABOUT THREE MINUTES.
COME TO MIKA, NEARLY TWO MINUTES, TAMIKA.
UM, I AM RETIRED FROM FIRST CLASS TAMIKA AND I WILL TRY MY BEST NOT TO CALL ME A PRO TIM DOONESBURY.
WE PLAY TOGETHER AND I ACTUALLY LOOKED BETTER THAN HIM.
AND I'M A YEAR OLDER THAN HIM.
UH, I'M WORKED AT PARIS PRISON FROM 2001 TO 2009.
I PRETTY MUCH LEFT PREP, PARISH PRISON BECAUSE OF BLACK JESUS.
THAT'S WHAT WE REFER TO THE WARD MAN, BECAUSE HE THINKS HE WALKS ON WATER.
UH, I WORKED WITH COUNCILMAN GRECO, FUN.
UM, I PRETTY MUCH PROTECTED HIM.
HE WAS SCARY WHILE HE WAS AT THE JAIL, BUT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY ARE HAVING AT THE JAIL AND GIVE Y'ALL A LITTLE BIT BACKSTORY.
MY SON'S FATHER IS THE LIEUTENANT OVER COMMISSARY LIEUTENANT.
I HAVE NOT WANTED TO BE INVOLVED IN ANYTHING BECAUSE ONE, THE WARDEN CAN'T STAND ME BECAUSE WHEN HE CAME THERE, I HAVE A FUNCTIONS DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND I CHECKED HIS, I CHECKED HIM CONSTANTLY.
UM, I FEAR THAT THE SHERIFF, THE WARDEN AND EVERYBODY WOULD RETALIATE ON HIM BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT I FEEL Y'ALL CAN GO TO MY FACEBOOK PAGE.
DEPUTIES WILL ENSURE THAT ANY PAPERWORK NEEDS TO BE FINED OR HANDED BY INMATES IS FIRST SEARCH FOR CONTRABAND, NOT READ.
IT'S HANDLED THROUGH THE DEPUTY AND HANDED BACK TO THE ATTORNEY.
ANY PAPERWORK THAT NEEDS TO BE LEFT WITH AN INMATE IS TO BE COPIED BY THE DEPUTY TO GIVE TO THE INMATE.
AND THE ORIGINAL MUST BE GIVEN BACK TO THE ATTORNEY AT NO POINT WILL ANY ATTORNEY HAND ANY ITEM OVER TO AN INMATE DURING A NON-CONTACT VISIT, ATTORNEYS WILL COMMUNICATE THE NEED TO HAVE PAPER HANDBOOK AND OR SIGN WITH THE DEPUTY AT THE GUARD SHACK WHO WILL IN TURN INFORM THE DEPUTY ASSIGNED TO THE NON-CONTACT DISSERTATION AREA, NEW INTAKE INMATES ASSIGNED TO THESE AREAS, CANINE LOCKDOWN AREAS, Q NINE, 10
OUR UNIT TO HAVE NOT YET COMPLETED THEIR 14 DAYS OF MONITORING FOR COVID-19 WILL NOT BE BROUGHT.
OOH, I DON'T HAVE MY GLASSES ON, SORRY.
IN NINE CONTACT VISITATION AREAS, THESE INMATES CAN CONTACT THEIR ATTORNEYS.
WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO THE ATTORNEY CURRENT PHONE LINES THAT ARE SET UP THROUGH THE ASSISTANT WARDEN'S OFF BOMBS.
MEN WILL BE ALLOWED TO SURRENDER PERSONS WHO ARE CLEARED FOR HOUSING AT THE JAIL, BY HOW OUR MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, THIS INCLUDES VIOLENT MISDEMEANORS, ELECTRONIC MONITORING APPLICATIONS AND ALL PROPERTY AND VEHICLES.
I KNOW YOU WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SHOW IN THE LOW SIX, 10 SECONDS.
I GOT 10 OTHER PIE FROM HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS FATHER HAS BEEN DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THE COVID THAT'S IN THE JAIL.
WE HAD TO PUT MY SON AT MY MOM'S HOUSE.
MY SON DOES NOT WANT TO INTERACT WITH THAT'S YOUR TIME TO MAKE A I'M SORRY.
UH, NEXT WE HAVE JANET MOLDER, JANET MOLTER, JANET MOLDER, 92 65 BERMUDA AVENUE.
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LAST WEEK THERE WAS A CALL THAT, UH, THERE WAS A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE PRISONS TO THE JAILS.SO I WENT DOWN THERE AND, UM, WHAT IT WAS IS, UH, TWO PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THE JAIL.
AND I KNOW THAT FROM LOOKING AT, UH, PRISONS AND POLICE REFORM, THAT OUR JAIL IS KNOWN AS ONE OF THE DEAD LIST IN THE COUNTRY.
NEXT TO ME STANDING, THERE WAS THE DAUGHTER OF A WOMAN WHO DIED, I THINK JUST TWO WEEKS AGO.
AND I SAID, DID SHE COMMIT SUICIDE? SHE SAID, NO, DON'T TAKE ME GIVE HER HER HEART MEDICINE.
SHE WAS THERE FOR 12 HOURS AND SHE DIDN'T GET HER HEART MEDICINE AND SHE DIED AND THAT'S TRAUMATIC.
THAT'S THAT DAUGHTER IS ALTERED FOR LIFE.
HER GRANDSON WAS THERE, HER, ALL OF HER FAMILY MEMBERS.
AND YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE JAIL, WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT DIE THERE BECAUSE NOBODY EXPECTS TO DIE WHEN YOU'RE IN JAIL, BUT NOT PART OF THE DEAL.
AND I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING IN THE PAPER SAYING WE HAD A DEATH, THE OTHER PERSON THAT THEY WERE, UH, ACKNOWLEDGING KILLED THEMSELVES.
AND IT WAS IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR.
AND APPARENTLY HE WAS PUTTING ON A SALE AND THEY KNEW HE WAS HAD MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AND HE HUNG HIMSELF WITHIN ONE HALF HOUR.
SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS HEALTH, UH, YOU KNOW, CORRECT HEALTH, I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY'RE DOING FOR COVID BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT YET, BUT I DO CARE THAT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT DIE IF THEY GET ARRESTED IN OUR PIT, IN OUR JAILS.
I DO NOT WANT TO BE THE DEADLIEST JAIL IN THE COUNTRY.
UH, THE WORKS WE'LL HAVE TANYA NYMAN.
REMEMBER WE HAVE FIVE MINUTES LEFT.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY FOR YOU GUYS.
UM, SO IF, UH, CORRECT HEALTH IS A CONTRACTED WITH THE CITY PARISH, IT HAS IT, DOES IT HAVE TO SUBMIT AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN ORDER TO GET A CONTRACT? UH, ANGIE, CAN YOU COME UP? NO, NEVERMIND.
SO OTHER PEOPLE CAN HAVE, OKAY.
YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR THE SAME REFRAIN FROM EVERYBODY, BUT THIS TIME IN THE NEXT SIDE OF THIS IS ON, UM, THIS IS ON THE AGENDA, CORRECT? HEALTH HAS NOT EARNED A NEW CONTRACT, UH, CORRECT.
HOW WE OUTSOURCE ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES, THE ORDER POINT OF ORDER.
THIS IS NOT
LET'S TRY TO STAY AS CLOSE AS WE CAN.
SO THE TOPIC ON HAND AND THE TOPIC IS TO COVID PROTOCOL.
ALL OF US, ALL, ALL OF US THAT ARE GOING TO SPEAK HAVE SEEN THE PRESENTATION.
SO WE'RE SPEAKING BASED ON WHAT WE'VE SEEN AND THE NUMBERS THAT THEY INDICATE ARE INCOMPLETE, UH, CASE IN POINT, MAN, I JUST WANT YOU ALL JUST TO USE YOUR COMMON SENSE.
IT IS ONE OF THE DEADLIEST PRISONS IN THE COUNTRY, AND YET IT HAS A, IT'S A REVELATION WHEN IT COMES TO COVID.
IT HAS ONE OF THE LOWEST COVID RATES ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE DIE ON A REGULAR BASIS, SOMEHOW FIGURED OUT COVID I'M JUST SAYING.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE PRESENTATION IN TWO WEEKS, LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS AND THEN JUXTAPOSE THEM WITH THE FACT THAT PEOPLE DIE IN THAT FACILITY, THAT PRE-TRIAL FACILITY ON A REGULAR BASIS FROM ALL SORTS OF OTHER STUFF.
BUT SOMEHOW WE FIGURED OUT COVID IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A CONVENIENT, UH, SUCCESS STORY AT A TIME WHEN YOU KNOW, CONTRACTS ARE UP.
AND I YIELD, UH, CAITLIN, JOSHUA, CAITLIN, JOSHUA.
SO THEN YEAH, WAS ONLY THREE MINUTES LEFT IN THE MEETING, TWO AND A HALF.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK? THIS WILL BE OUR LAST SPEAKER.
THEY USED THE ENTIRE THREE MINUTES.
GOODWIN BOULEVARD, BANNERS, LOUISIANA.
I JUST WANTED TO SEND HIM A CUT RIGHT BEFORE WE VOTE.
CAUSE WE'LL HAVE TO VOTE BEFORE WE END THE MEETING.
SO I'LL USE 90 SECONDS INSTEAD OF THREE MINUTES BASED ON THE REPORT AGAIN, UH, WHAT CLINTON SAID WAS DEFINITELY ON POINT.
UH, IT SAYS THAT THEY HAVE 1.4% POSITIVE
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RATING, UH, FOR COVID.AND AGAIN, IT IS THE LOWEST IN THE ENTIRE NATION.
AND SO IT APPEARS THAT THEY HAVE FIGURED OUT COVID, BUT IN THE REPORT, IT'S EXTREMELY INCONSISTENT.
IT SAID THAT THEY HAD 191 POSITIVE TESTS OUT OF 10,000 INDIVIDUALS IN A YEAR AND A HALF TIME.
IT THEN SAYS THAT THERE'S 112 POSITIVE REPORTS IN THEIR BREAKDOWN.
IT SAYS THAT THEY FIGURED OUT HOW NOT TO HAVE ANY COVID FROM MAY OF 2020 TO FEBRUARY OF 2021, THAT THERE WERE NO POSITIVE COVID TESTS FURTHER IN THE REPORT.
IT SAYS MAY, 2020, THERE WERE 10 POSITIVE COVID MAY 20, 20, I'M SORRY.
JUNE, 2025, JULY, 2020 WERE FOR AUGUST ONE 20 WE'RE TWO, SEPTEMBER 20, 20 WE'RE ZERO.
AND THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE REPORTED THEREAFTER.
THEREFORE, THE REPORT IS EXTREMELY INCONSISTENT.
THEREFORE, I WOULD LIKE TO CHALLENGE CITY PARISH TO INVESTIGATE THE VALIDITY OF THE REPORT.
I'M ASKING YOU ALL HERE TO INVESTIGATE THE CONDITIONS OF THE PRISON OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE, THERE ARE 17 SECONDS INSTIGATE.
THE DEATHS THAT HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO COVID.
THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, MS. BANKS TO DEFER THE ITEM FOR HOW LONG TWO WEEK MOTION IS A DEFERRED ITEM FOR TWO WEEKS THERE AS A SECOND TO THE FIRST.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO DEFER THE ITEM FOR TWO WEEKS? THE MOTION HAS BEEN DEFERRED.