Feb 09, 2022 Metropolitan Council

INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL LIKE HARMON.

[CALL TO ORDER]

HELLO, EVERYBODY.

WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

NICE TO HAVE YOU ALL WATCHING OUR BROADCAST THIS AFTERNOON.

AND FOR YOU WATCHING FROM OUT OF TOWN, OUR CITY'S NAME IS BATON ROUGE, AND I JUST WANT TO GET YOU TO A SMALL, UH, HISTORY OF HOW WE GOT OUR NAME AND ACTUALLY GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1699.

AND THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IS ABOUT 500 YARDS IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW.

BUT IN 1699, THE FRENCH EXPLORER EMERYVILLE WAS ON A BOAT OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

AND HE LOOKED UP AND SAW HIM ADJUSTING BLOCK.

AND ON THAT BLUFF WAS A BIG RED POLE.

I CALL IT A POLE, SOME PEOPLE CALLED IT A STICK.

IT WAS 30 FEET IN THE AIR.

THAT'S THREE TIMES THE HEIGHT OF A BASKETBALL GOAL.

AND HE LOOKED AT IT AND HE SAID IN FRENCH BATON ROUGE, AND THAT WAS IN 1699.

AND THAT MAJESTIC BLUFF THAT I TALKED ABOUT IS THE PRESENT DAY SIGHT OF HER PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.

AND THAT WE'RE ALL PROUD OF.

AND IN ADDITION, GO JAGUARS.

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY HAVE THE PRETTIEST BLUE UNIFORMS IN AMERICA.

BUT IN ADDITION TO HIM, NAMING BATON ROUGE, HE ALSO NAMED LIKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND LAKE MAURA, PAUL, WHILE HE WAS HERE.

AND HE CAME INTO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER THROUGH MANSHACK.

SO HE DIDN'T COME UP THE, UH, THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FROM THE GULF.

AND BY THE WAY, IF YOU COME UP THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FROM THE GULF, THE FIRST BLOCK THAT YOU SEE IS IN BATON ROUGE, EVERYTHING ELSE IS FLAT UNTIL YOU GET HERE.

SO, AND ONE OTHER THING THAT PULLED THAT I TALKED ABOUT THE RED POLE.

IT WAS THE DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN THE HOUMA INDIANS AND THE INDIANS.

SO THAT'S WHY THEY HAD THE RED POLE THERE.

AND IN BATON ROUGE, THE NATIVE AMERICANS CALL THAT POLE A STRUGGLE.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU ALL TUNED IN FOR TODAY'S BROADCAST FROM THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

WE ARE LIVE ON METRO 21, AND THAT IS COTS CHANNEL 2199 ON 80 AND T UVERSE.

WE ARE ALSO ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE@BRLA.GOV, AND WE ARE ON FACEBOOK LIVE.

AND MY THANKS TO COUNCILMAN DWIGHT HUDSON FOR THAT VENUE.

AND AT THIS TIME, WELCOME AGAIN, EVERYBODY.

IT'S MY PLEASURE TO TURN IT OVER TO THE MAYOR.

PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, FACEBOOK DISTRICT SEVEN, AND HIS NAME IS LAMONT CO ROUSING, ALWAYS AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

I WANT TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH, 2022 AT 4:00 PM.

TODAY, WE WILL BE LED IN THE INVOCATION BY REVEREND JAMES RALEIGH, PASTOR OF THE HOUSE OF PRAYER BAPTIST CHURCH IN LITTLE ROCK MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH.

AND OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY SHANE FOREMAN.

HE'S A SENIOR CAPTAIN STUDY UNIVERSITY LABORATORY FOOTBALL PLAY CAR.

WOULD YOU GET SHAKEN OUT AND AUDIENCE TO TELL HIM WE NEED HIM TO LEAD THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? UH, REVEREND RALEIGH, SONYA LET'S PRAY TOGETHER A FATHER AND A GOD, HOW WE BLESS YOUR NAME.

WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY.

WE THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME TO MEET AGAIN IN THIS COUNCIL, GOD, WE ASKED YOUR HAND OF PROTECTION TO LEAD GUIDE AND DIRECT ALL OF OUR LEADERS FOR OUR CITY.

GOD, IT IS YOU AND YOU ALONE, WHO GRANTS US WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING TODAY? OH GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD GRANT THESE LEADERS THAT WISDOM TO LEAD OUR CITY TO HIGHER HEIGHTS AND TO GREATER GAINS.

LORD ALLOW US TO FIND PLACES WHERE WE CAN AGREE.

FATHER ALLOW US TO DISAGREE.

PLEASANTLY GIVE US THE CIVILITY THAT WE NEED GOD TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS TO MOVE FORWARD, TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

AND MOST OF ALL, TO LOVE YOU, WE ASK IT ALL IN JESUS' NAME.

WE PRAY.

AMEN.

WE'LL BE LETTING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY HERMAN BARISTA.

THE THIRD GOOD EVENING.

AGAIN, MEMBERS OF THE, UM, METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, YOU PLEASE STAND AND CITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA UNTIL THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD,

[00:05:01]

THANK YOU, REVEREND RILEY, 49TH STREET, REVEREND RODDICK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE YOU.

YES, SIR.

I LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING ORDER AFTER DO WE HAVE A FORM? WE HAVE A QUORUM

[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

ITEM.

ONE APPROVE THE ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 26TH, 2022 AND THE GREATER BATON ROUGE AIRPORT COMMISSION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING ON FEBRUARY 1ST, 2022 BY THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATIVE TREASURE.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCCA AT THIS TIME

[INTRODUCTIONS]

ASKING, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE INTRODUCTIONS? AND THEN 2.12 INTRODUCTIONS.

NUMBER TWO, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH THE BATON ROUGE AREA FOUNDATION TO REPAIR AND RESTORE AND REFURBISH OF ART OWNED BY THE CITY PARISH BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

NUMBER THREE, AMENDING TITLE 11 CHAPTER 23.

SO AS TO ADD SECTION 11, COLON TWO 80 SMOKING IN VEHICLES PROHIBITED RELATIVE TO CHILDREN PRESENT IN A MOTOR VEHICLE BY COUNCILMAN LEMONT, COLE CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS, NUMBER FOUR, LOUISE WASHINGTON AND KATHERINE WASHINGTON, 1 3 6 0 STILT STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS, NUMBER FIVE, CATHERINE CAGE HARDEST ARTISTY 1 5, 2 6 ROSENWALD ROAD ROAD, COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS.

NUMBER SIX, MARY HIGGINS BONDS 1 1 9 4 5 INGLEWOOD STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER SEVEN, RICKY GLEN RENTALS AT AL 7 7 8 7 KUMMETE DRIVE COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER EIGHT, LOUISE FRANKLIN, WASHINGTON, AND ATTA HARRIS RICHARDSON 4 1 3 4 TUSCARORA STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER NINE, CEDRIC BROWN AND TAMMY SAVANNAH BROWN 9 0 6 6 SCOTLAND AVENUE, COUNSELORS DISTRICT TWO BANKS.

NUMBER 10, THE ESTATE OF ANNIE MARIE, UH, ANY MAY WILKERSON W 6, 8, 7 ST OR MOLLY WAY.

COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS.

NUMBER 11, THEODORE MARTIN, THE THIRD 5, 2 1 5 PACKARD STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST, ALL ITEMS REQUIRED READING THEM IN RED AND A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS AS AN ORDER.

IS THERE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS? SO WE'LL ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER MOLT.

SECOND ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER HURST AND THE OPPOSITION, HAVING NONE COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH

[CONDEMNATIONS]

YOU.

NOW GO TO YOUR SEPARATE SHEET FOR CONDEMNATION.

I'M GOING TO READ THE RECOMMENDATIONS AS FOLLOWS.

THEY OUGHT TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 19 20 21 22 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38, 40 41 42 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 AND 48.

THEY OUGHT TO DELETE ITEMS 18 AND ITEMS 39.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON CONDEMNATIONS? ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON CONDEMNATION? COME ON DOWN.

SO GOOD AFTERNOON.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU, SIR.

THE ITEM IS NUMBER 34 COUNCIL DISTRICT.

ME THAT ITEM IS A HOME THAT I HAD WORKED OUT OF FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

WE DO A LOT OF WORK WITHIN THE AREA.

UH, THE, THE AREAS THAT ARE UNDERSERVED AND WE'VE HAD ALL UTILITIES, SUCH AS THE GAS, THE ELECTRICITY ON INTERRUPTED DURING ALL OF THAT TIME.

AND WITH THIS RECENT PANDEMIC, WE HAVE A LOT OF ADDITIONAL CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE NOT ONLY IMPORTANT ITEMS, BUT THEY WERE URGENT.

IF THEY NEED GAS RESTORED, IF THEY NEED SEWERS, THEY NEED WATERS.

AND, UH, I'M, I'M CURRENTLY WORKING ON A HOME WHERE ALL OF THE OCCUPANTS IN THAT HOME HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR THIS PANDEMIC.

SO WITH MY SERVICES ALREADY ON, AT THAT LOCATION, I'VE CONTINUED TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND IT WAS MORE URGENT FOR ME TO ALLOW STUDENTS TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL, ALLOW WORKERS TO GO BACK TO WORK.

MY SERVICES HAVE NOT BEEN INTERRUPTED.

AND WITH THE RECENT DEVELOPMENT IN NOT ONLY MY COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY MY BLOCK, ALL OF THE HOMES HAVE BEEN.

SO WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TWO, MY LOT IS, OR HAS THE HIGHEST ELEVATION.

IT IS THE MOST DYNAMIC IN TERMS OF IT'S ROLLING FROM THE LOWEST

[00:10:01]

PART TO THE HIGHEST POINT.

AND THE COUNCIL OF AGING WOULD, AND THEY HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN PURCHASING IT.

NOW THE DETAILS HAVE NOT BEEN WORKED OUT WITH THE COUNCIL, PROBABLY OVER THE OWNERS.

WE HAVE CONSENTED TO SALE.

WE'VE GIVEN THEM THE OPPORTUNITY ONLY TO PURCHASE THAT PROPERTY.

AND THEY HAVE NOT PLACED ANYTHING DOWN FOR THOSE PARTICULAR RIGHTS, BUT WE HAVE REFUSED TO EVEN ENTERTAIN AN OFFER FROM ANY PERSON OR ANY OTHER ENTITY TO PURCHASE IT.

WE BASICALLY SIMPLY ALLOWED THEM TO, OR WOULD ALLOW THEM TO PURCHASE IT.

WE JUST WOULDN'T LIKE OUR TIME TO MOVE OUT ITEMS OUT OF THIS LOCATION BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE HAVE SERVED FOR SO MANY YEARS AND GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY.

COUNCIL MEMBER CALLED ME.

I'VE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH, AS A MATTER OF FACT, MY OFFICE HAS HAD A CONVERSATION WITH YOU AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR.

FIRST OF ALL, I INHERITED THIS, UH, WHERE YOU WERE GIVEN TIME TO DO WHAT YOU NEEDED TO DO.

AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, SINCE I'VE BEEN SITTING IN THIS SEAT, YOU HAVE BEEN, UH, SUPPOSED TO MADE SOME, UM, IMPROVEMENTS THERE.

AND IT'S BEEN INDICATED THAT NO IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE.

I SPOKE TO COUNCIL ON ASIAN AS, UH, LATEST TODAY.

AND THEY, UH, SAID THAT WHAT YOU WERE ASKING WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY WERE INTERESTED IN.

AND SO I'M MAKING A MOTION TO PROCEED.

MOTION IS MADE TO PROCEED.

UH, THANK YOU, SIR.

THAT WAS YOUR 30 SECONDS.

UNLESS COUNSEL MEMBER COLEMAN HAS SOMETHING SHE'D LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH YOU.

YOU'VE ALREADY HAD YOUR TIME, SIR.

AND SHE'S THE PERSON WHO'S GOING TO MAKE A DECISION.

SO YOU'D HAVE TO TALK TO HER.

I TALKED TO JEFF, WHO WAS THE ASSISTANT, SIR? SIR, SIR.

YOU GOT TO TALK AND MAYBE SHE CAN WORK SOMETHING OUT THAT WAY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON.

ANYONE ELSE HERE, WISHING TO SPEAK ON A CONDEMNATION.

ANYONE ELSE HERE? WISHING TO SPEAK ON A CONDEMNATION.

NOW WE GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WE GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE.

WELL, NO, NO.

I MEAN, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY DAY.

WE DON'T WAIT AND ADD ACCOUNTS.

HE DIDN'T GO TO GET THE BOARD.

GO AHEAD.

DWIGHT CON 3,600 DAYS.

TWO WEEKS.

I THOUGHT I WAS ON THE BOARD.

I WAS ON THE BOARD 36, 2 WEEKS.

ALRIGHT.

UH, 30 DAYS, 30 DAYS ON 26.

COUNCILMAN MOLT.

I JUST WANT TO GOING BACK TO ITEM 34.

UM, THAT, THAT WAS THE ITEM THAT GENTLEMAN JUST SPOKE ON WAS 34 AND THAT STILL HAS UTILITIES AND POWER AND EVERYTHING TO THAT BUILDING.

MIKE, SIR, COME TO THE MIND.

I REALLY THANK YOU AGAIN TO, TO SPEAK TO YOU.

THOSE SERVICES HAVE BEEN UNINTERRUPTED FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND THE NUMBERS THAT WERE LISTED A YEAR AGO ARE NOT THE SAME AS THEY LIST TODAY.

I KNOW I WAS JUST ASKING ABOUT THE SERVICE.

I'M LOOKING AT THESE PICTURES THAT THEY SENT IN AND YOU KNOW, I, I GUESS WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO YOU, SIR, I WOULD HAVE TO CONCUR WITH COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN W WHEN THESE THINGS GO ON THIS LONG AND I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS HERE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I, I DIDN'T THINK THERE WOULD BE POWER OR PLUMBING OR ANYTHING TO THIS, WHAT I'M SEEING ON HERE.

AND I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT I HAD ITEM NUMBER 34 AND LOOKING AT THE CORRECT PICTURES, BUT, UH, COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

I AGREE IT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONLY SO FAR, YOU CAN GO.

SO THANK YOU, SIR.

ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, ANY OTHER COUNSEL, BUT LET ME READ THIS.

LET ME READ THE STATE RECOMMENDATIONS AND CHANGES.

WE ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 19 20, 20, 22.

EXCUSE 22.

NOT EXCUSE ME.

LET ME, LET ME, LET ME, LET ME START OVER AGAIN.

I GOT A LITTLE CONFUSED.

HEY SEAN, LET ME, LET ME CHANGE SOMETHING.

I HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE PICTURES FROM A PREVIOUS INSPECTOR AND, UH, UH, BY WORKING IN THE FIELD ANY DAY THAT WE, UH, I'VE, I'VE WORKED IN THAT FIELD IN TERMS OF I'M, I'M REGISTERED WITHIN THE PARISH TO NO MA'AM AS A, AS A WORKER, AS FAR AS, AS A BUSINESS OWNER.

[00:15:02]

AND WE CAN SPEND FIVE HOURS ON THE SIDE OF A HOME AND TOTALLY IMPROVE IT TO WHERE IT APPEARS TO BE SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING AT A DAY AGO.

I DON'T KNOW IF THE PICTURES.

YES MA'AM YUP, YUP.

UM, TWO AND A HALF MINUTES.

WELL, WHY DON'T WE DO THIS SHAUNA? BECAUSE WE CAN'T HEAR WHAT HE'S SAYING TO YOU.

SO STEP TO THE MIC, SIR.

AND SIR, YOU'RE GOING TO TALK, WE NEED EVERYBODY HERE AS WELL AS IN THE PUBLIC TO HEAR THAT.

SO HEY, SHAWNA, PUNCH A MIKE AT HIM SO WE CAN HEAR OH, OKAY.

WHAT ITEM? 19 20 25, 27, 28, 29, 30 32 34 35 38, 40 44, 45, 46, 47 TO DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS.

THAT'S THAT'S THAT? NO, MA'AM IN TERMS OF THOSE YOU, THOSE MATERIALS, THIS IS THE PROPERTY LINE.

SO WHERE SOME OF THOSE ITEMS ARE THERE.

ALRIGHT.

THE SAME PICTURE, MIKE, MIKE, SEAN, SEAN.

SO I JUST WANT, I JUST WANTED, CAUSE YOU WERE JUST SO PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.

UM, AND I JUST LIKE THE ENERGY SHOULDN'T HAVE EVEN ALLOWED YOU TO HAVE LIGHTS AND WATER AND THEY OWE YOU A REFUND, BUT, UM, I JUST, WE DON'T MOVE ON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

I'M GOING TO READ THE STEADY RECOMMENDATIONS AND CHANGES.

THEY OUGHT TO PROCEED.

ITEM 36 TO DEFER FOR 38, 30 DAYS, ITEM 31, 26, 41 AND 48 TO DIVERSIFY.

60 DAYS ITEMS, 23, 24 33 AND 37 TO DEFER FOR 90 DAYS ITEMS 21 AND 43.

AND TO DELETE ITEMS 1839 AND 42 COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ANY OTHER CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE.

IF NOT, IF THEIR MOTION TO ACCEPT CONDEMNATIONS, IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED BY DONE SECONDED BY ROCCO.

ALL CONDEMNATIONS HAVE BEEN APPROVED.

[49. 21-01777]

COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IF YOU WOULD TURN TO PAGE SIX IN YOUR PACKET, WE'RE GOING TO ITEM 49.

BEFORE I READ ITEM 49, I'M GOING TO SAY THIS DESMOND,

[00:20:01]

A REQUEST FOR THIS ITEM TO BE DEFERRED, AUTHORIZING THEIR PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO AMEND A PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SERVICES CONTRACT ENTERED INTO BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARIS OF EAST BATON ROUGE.

ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF THE PARISH ATTORNEY, TIMOTHY W. HARDY OR BRAZIL, SAXON WILSON BY THE POLICE CHIEF.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 49, ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 49.

THERE'S BEEN A REQUESTED THE FURTHEST ITEM FOR TWO WEEKS.

UH, SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, DON SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? THIS ITEM HAS BEEN DEFERRED.

[50. 22-00061]

WE NOW GO TO ITEM 15, AUTHORIZED THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL DECLARE RIGHT 1 6, 8, 8 MESS, AND EXCEPT ARISEN A LOT, 1 68, A WOMAN IN A STATE'S SECOND FILING SUBDIVISION OF SURPLUS PROPERTY AND NOT NEEDED FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE AND AUTHORIZED TO SET UP THE SAME TO LOUISIANA OR BY A STATUTE 33, COLON 47 1 2, 1 TO LACOSTE FOR NOT LESS THAN THE SUM OF $750 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

IS ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 50? IF NOT, WE GO BY THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, SOME WILL BY ADAM SECONDED BY JEN ROCCO.

ANY OPPOSITION ITEM CARES WHEN I GO TO ITEM

[51. 22-00062]

51, AUTHORIZING THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL TO DECLARE A LOT OF 1 69, 8 LESS THAN EXCEPT THE ORIGINAL, A LOT OF 1 69 OF WILMINGTON.

THE STATE'S SECOND FOLLOWING SUBDIVISION THAT SURPLUS PROPERTY AND NOT NEEDED FOR PUBLIC PURPOSE AND AUTHORIZING THE SET OF SAME PURSUANT TO LOUISIANA VIA STATUTE 33 CODE AND 4 7 1 2 UNTO JUSTIN WAYNE FOR NOT LESS THAN THE SUM OF $2,000 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 51 WOULD NOW GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCCA.

WE'RE SENDING IN THE RECORD IN THE CLERK OF COURT, THE COUNCIL DECISION ORDER RECORD ON OCTOBER 15TH, 2021 IN A MATTER OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSUS LEB PROPERTIES, LLC, 1 64 0 1 BOREHAM AVENUE FOR PRECISION.

WE GO TO ITEM 52.

[52. 22-00070]

THE HOUSE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED AND THE HOME INTENDS TO HIRE A CONTRACTOR BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

DWIGHT HUSSON.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 52 WHEN AL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON IS THAT SECONDED BY THE CHAIR AND THE OBJECTIONS.

[53. 22-00071]

NOW GO TO ITEM 53 WAS SENDING IN DIRECTING THE CLERK OF COURT TO COUNCIL.

THE DECISION TO ORDER RECORDED ON NOVEMBER 30TH, 2021 IN THE MATTER OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSUS ELMO BROWN AND MARY NIXON BROWN 31 30 DALTON STREET READING FOR RESCISSION.

THE PROPERTY IS BEING RENOVATED AND BEING PLACED BACK INTO COMMERCE BY THE CHAIR.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 53.

WE NOW GO TO COUNSEL OF SOME OLD, A CHAIR SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. NO OBJECTIONS.

WE GO TO

[54. 22-00072]

ITEM 54.

WE'RE SENDING THEM THE REGULAR CLERK COURT.

THE COUNCIL DECISION ORDER RECORD ON AUGUST 16TH, 2021 IN THE MATTER OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSUS CHARLENE POSEY MOSS 9 44 MAXIMILLIAN STREET REASON FOR RESCISSION.

THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS PURCHASED AGREEMENT TO SELL THE PROPERTY.

NEW OWNER HAS COMMITTED TO REPAIRING THE ROOF AND REMODELING PROPERTY WITHIN 90 DAYS BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

CAROLYN CALLED ME, IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 54.

NOW I'LL GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

THAT'S A PLEASURE.

SO MOVE SETTING THE BAR, COUNSELOR, MAMA ROSA, NO OBJECTIONS.

WE GO TO 55.

[55. 22-00074]

WE'RE SENDING IN THE REGULAR COURT RECORD.

THE COUNCIL DECISION TO ORDER RECORDING ON SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2021, NO MATTER OF CITY OF BATTERIES VERSUS JOHN.

DO WE, THOMAS JANE, I LEAVE TONIGHT AND THOMAS SEND ME 2 34 PERIMETER REASON FOR RESCISSION.

THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS CLEARED THE PROPERTY AND REMOVED THE TRASH CHOPS HAD BEEN PLACED ON THE ROUTE BY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THEY'RE OURS.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE? WE SHOULD JUST BE ON ITEM 55.

WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE.

SOME COUNSELING OF OURS, THE MORAL BY COUNCIL MEMBERS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS, AND HE GOT OBJECTIONS.

[56. 22-00100]

WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL DISTRICT ITEM 56 AUTHORIZED SETTLEMENT OF THE CLAIM OF ANDRE DANIELS AND DAMAGES RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THE BATTERY'S POLICE DEPARTMENT.

OFTEN IN THE AMOUNT OF $40,000 PAID TO ANDRE, DANIEL BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 56? COUNSEL, WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL ITEM 56? SO BY MOLD SECONDED BY ADAMS, NO OBJECTIONS.

[57. 22-00103]

GO TO ITEM 57, AUTHORIZED A SETTLEMENT TO CLAIM A KIM BABIN FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM A SEWER BACKUP IN A HOME FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $66,650 AND 64 CENTS WAS, SHALL BE ALLOCATED, ALLOCATED AS $33,343 AND 96 CENTS FOR DAMAGES SUSTAINED TO 2162 GUARDIAN LANE AND $33,306 AND 66 FOR DAMAGES SUSTAINED TO 2172 GUARDIAN LANE BY THE PARIS ATTORNEYS.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 57.

SO NOW I'M GONNA GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, SOME WILL BUCK COUNCIL MEMBER GO DATE SECONDED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS, NO OBJECTIONS.

WE GO TO 58

[58. 22-00104]

AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF CLAIM OF JALONDA HARNESS FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM A SEWER BACKUP IN A HOME FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $13,255 AND 49 CENTS BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

HAS ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 58? WE'LL GO BACK NOW TO COUNCIL.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GO A SECONDARY BY THE CHAIR WITHOUT

[00:25:01]

ITEM

[59. 22-00105]

59 WITH NO OBJECTIONS AUTHORIZING, AUTHORIZING THE SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER.

ENTITLED BELINDA QUILL DAVIS VERSUS CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARIS OF EAST BATON ROUGE AND LUCAS FREE IN THE AMOUNT OF A $150,000 PLUS COURT COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $38 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $150,038 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 59 SHOWING NOW WE'LL GO NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SO MOBILE BY ROCKER, SECONDED BY ADAMS. NO OBJECTIONS.

WE GO NOW TO

[60. 22-00107]

ITEM 16, AMENDING AND REENACTING THE TITLE EIGHT CHAPTER ONE PART ONE, SECTION EIGHT, COLON TWO AMENDMENTS TO INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE IBC.

SO TO ASK TO CLARIFY ALL OF THE PERMIT FEES ASSOCIATED WITH CONSTRUCTION CHAPTER ONE, BUILDING PART TWO AIR CONDITIONING, HEATING VENTILATION AND MECHANICAL REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS, SECTION EIGHT CALLED THE 21 PERMIT FEE.

SO AFTER A MINUTE, SIMPLIFY A PERMIT FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING VENTILATION SYSTEMS CHAPTER TWO, SECTION EIGHT, COLON 1 0 2 AMENDMENTS AMENDING SECTION EIGHT, HOLDING 137.1 FEE.

SO AS TO AMEND MINUTE SIMPLIFY PERMIT FEES ASSOCIATED WITH PLUMBING'S CHAPTER THREE, SECTION EIGHT, COLON 3, 3, 2 FEES.

SO THAT'S A MINUTE SIMPLE SIMPLIFY PERMIT FEES ASSOCIATED WITH ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION BOX DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO SPEAKING? I AM 60 WHEN I'LL GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, THERE IS A QUESTION COUNCIL MEMBER GOATEE, WOULD THIS BE DIRECTED TO MS. RACHEL? SHE'S ON HER WAY, RACHEL, THANK YOU.

UM, I'M IMAGINING A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT WENT INTO THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.

SO I WAS JUST HOPING THAT YOU COULD GIVE US A, A SUMMARY AND FROM MY BENEFIT, MAYBE THE FOURTH GRADE VERSION OF WHAT YOU JUST READ IS.

YEAH, SO, UM, WE CURRENTLY DO TRADE PERMITS, WHICH ARE ELECTRICAL MECHANICAL AND PLUMBING, UM, ON A WE'LL CALL IT, FIX YOUR COUNT STYLE, AND THEN IT'S LABOR INTENSIVE AT THE PERMIT OFFICE AND IT'S COMPLICATED AND IT'S HARDER FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS TO ALSO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR PERMIT FEES ARE GOING TO BE.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO SIMPLIFY THIS INTO JUST A STAGGERED, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, BLANKET FEE FOR EACH, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT TYPE TO COVER OUR COSTS AND ALSO MAKE IT SIMPLER FOR, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE TO COME IN AND KNOW HOW MUCH THEIR PERMIT IS GOING TO CALL HERE, BUT IT'S KIND OF, WE'LL CALL IT THE COMPANION TO WHAT WE PASSED IN DECEMBER TO THAT, YOU KNOW, THE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, THE GROWTH COALITION CAME IN AND BACKED US UP ON, YOU KNOW, DOING A PIP PERMIT FEE INCREASE IN ORDER TO KIND OF BRING US INTO THE 21ST CENTURY.

RIGHT.

AND, UM, AND SO THIS IS THE COMPANION THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT.

THESE ARE THOSE, THE SMALLER PERMIT FEES THAT, YOU KNOW, DON'T MAKE UP THE BULK OF OUR, OF OUR REVENUE, BUT THEY, THEY ARE IMPORTANT AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO CLEAN THEM UP AND KEEP THEM ABOUT THE SAME, JUST MAKE IT SIMPLER AND EASIER FOR EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND.

THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR CONTINUING TO DO THAT WORK.

APPRECIATE IT.

ANYONE ELSE? WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL ITEM 60? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOLT, NEW OPPOSITION.

WE GO TO ITEM 61,

[61. 22-00073]

OUR RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE IMPOSITION AND COLLECTION WITHIN THE CONCORDE, THE STATE'S CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT, FOUR OF AN ANNUAL FEE IN AN AMOUNT OF 69 AND 5,151 HALF DOLLARS, $69 AND 50 CENTS ON EACH LOT SUBDIVIDED PORTION OF GROUND OR INDIVIDUAL TRACKING THE DISTRICT FOR A PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS, BEGINNING WITH THE YEAR 2022 FOR THE PURPOSE OF AIDING AND CRIME PREVENTION AND ADDING TO THE SECURITY OF DISTRICT RESIDENTS BY PROVIDING FOR AN INCREASE IN THE PRESENCE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL IN A DISTRICT IN ACCORDANCE WITH ACT SIX 17 OF THE 2004, THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE BY COUNCIL ADMINISTRATIVE TREASURER.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 61 SHOWING NONE.

WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL, MS. ROCKER? THAT'S IN YOUR DISTRICT? SO MOVED BY ROCCA SECOND AND BY ADAMS, NO OPPOSITION.

WE GO TO ITEM

[62. 22-00079]

62 CONSIDERATION OF THE ITEP APPLICATION OF CUSTOM METAL WORKS, LLC FOR A PROJECT LOCATED IN EAST WITH PARIS BY COUNCIL ADMINISTRATIVE TREASURE.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 62? WE SHOW DONNIE MILLER, OUR TOP POLITICAL PRIORITY OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SO THIS IS A CUSTOM METAL WORKS AS APPLIED FOR INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION.

UH, THEIR LOCATION IS 1 5, 3 5, 3 HOOPER ROAD OFF OF, UH, IN GREENVILLE SPRINGS, LOUISIANA.

WE CODE NAMED THIS PROJECT PROJECT LASER.

UH, THIS IS A COMPANY THAT'S UNIQUE TO LOUISIANA.

THERE'S NOT MANY METAL FABRICATION COMPANIES IN THE STATE, BUT THE PROJECT SPECIFICALLY IS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW TUBING LASER MACHINE.

UH, THE GOAL WAS TO EXTEND, EXPAND THEIR AVAILABLE CUSTOMER OPTIONS.

AND THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO

[00:30:01]

TUBING LASERS LOCATED IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

SO THIS ACQUISITION, UM, MAKES IT AVAILABLE AND SERVICE SERVICES THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE STATE.

THIS IS A $930,000 INVESTMENT.

SO SUB A MILLION DOLLARS ALL GOING TOWARDS MACHINERY, UH, THE ESTIMATED NEW JOBS OR TWO, WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN HIRED BRINGING THE TOTAL JOB COUNT OF 43 AT THEIR LOCATION, ESTIMATED NEW PAYROLL AS 120,000.

SO 60,000 PER JOB, TOTAL PAYROLL OF A LITTLE OVER 1.5 MILLION.

THE NUMBERS TO FOCUS ON HERE.

THE 10 YEAR LOCAL TAX REVENUE IS ESTIMATED TO BE 128,000.

WHEREAS IN THE TOTAL ABATEMENT WOULD BE 108,000.

SO $20,000 DIFFERENCE KEEPING THIS PROJECT IN THE BLACK, WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU AS THE COUNCIL, WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON TONIGHT, THE GENERAL FUND ABATEMENT OVER 10 YEARS, $2,609.

SO THAT'S DIVIDED BY 10.

SO $2,600, UH, IS WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON TONIGHT.

COMFORT COMPANY WANTED TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE MR. GEORGE CLIFFORD WANTED TO BE HERE, UH, BUT COVID HAS GOTTEN IN THE WAY.

SO IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE TONIGHT, UH, I'LL BE HERE, GENTLEMEN, UH, ANSWERING THOSE PEGGY DONNY.

ANYONE ELSE HERE, WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 62 COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER MOLT.

YEAH, I'M FOLLOWING ALONG THOSE LINES.

I WOULD REQUEST THAT MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS PLEASE SUPPORT THIS AND APPROVE THIS.

WE, UM, I'VE, I'VE SEEN THIS COMPANY GROWTH, UM, UH, 20, 30 YEARS NOW.

AND, UH, FROM, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, THE FACILITIES HE HAS NOW, WHERE HE STARTED FROM WAS A FACILITY PROBABLY ABOUT THE SIZE OF THIS CHAMBER AND THEY HAVE GROWN, THEY DID, THEY'VE DONE STUFF ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO I WOULD JUST ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND APPROVING THIS.

I'VE GOT A MOTION COUNCIL MOAT THAT IS A MOTION TO APPROVE COUNCIL MEMBER MOLT, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN ROCKER, COUNCIL MEMBER HUTS.

I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY ECHO THOSE SENTIMENTS.

UH, I'M UH, ACTUALLY A GOOD FRIEND OF CLIFFORD GEORGE.

UM, AND, AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, HE WAS MY BASEBALL COACH BACK IN THE DAY.

SO I SAW THAT FACILITY WHEN IT WAS VERY YOUNG.

UH, AND I CAN ACTUALLY REMEMBER BEING AT THE 1996 OLYMPICS IN ATLANTA WHERE CUSTOM METAL WORKS, DID SOME OF THE FOUNTAIN WORK, RIGHT? UH, SO THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONAL COMPANY.

THEY MAKE A VERY SPECIALIZED PRODUCT, UH, AND REALLY PUT ON THE CRAFTSMANSHIP, UH, THE CRAFTSMANSHIP OF LOUISIANA ON DISPLAY FOR THE WORLD TO SEE.

UM, SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THEIR INVESTMENT.

BEEN MOTION AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, MOLT AND COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKER, RESPECTIVELY.

ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS SHOWING NONE ITEM 62 HAS BEEN APPROVED.

WE NOW

[63. 22-00102]

GO TO ITEM 63, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT EXECUTED AGREEMENT WITH THE BEE AND CNI INC, AND NEIL JOHNSON, LLC, A JOINT VENTURE FOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH THE EBR CITY HALL, WHEN RETROFIT IN AMOUNT, NOT TO EXCEED $707,945 BY THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS DIRECTOR.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 63? WE GO NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBERS SO MORE, BUT THERE WAS A QUESTION COUNCIL MEMBER DONE.

WHO'S WHO'S GONNA SPEAK ON THE DIME MOBS COMING PUBLIC.

CAN YOU JUST GIVE US SOME BACKGROUND ON THIS PROJECT AND EXPLAIN TO US EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON? YEAH.

THIS IS A GRANT THAT WE APPLIED FOR YEARS AGO.

IT'S A HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT.

IT'S CLOSE TO $8 MILLION AS A TOTAL GRANT, BUT THE 75, 20 5% MATCH.

AND THIS IS PHASE ONE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE DESIGN OF THE PROJECT.

IT'S REPLACING THE WINDOWS DOORS, CAULKING THIS BUILDING ANYTHING WHERE WHEN CAN DRIVE MOISTURE INTO THE BUILDING WILL BE SEALED UP.

THANK YOU, SIR.

WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL? SO MOVE ABOUT DONE.

SECOND ABOUT ROCKER.

ITEM 64, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO EXECUTER RENT, DEFERRAL AND REPAYMENT AGREEMENT WITH HEALEY'S COMMUNITY SCHOOLS BY THE AVIATION DIRECTOR.

WE GO NOW TO

[64. 22-00106]

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 64 TILL A.

NOW WE NOW GO TO THE COUNCIL.

SOMEONE WILL BUY DONE, SETTING IT BY BARAKA.

65 AUTHORIZED AND MAYOR PRESIDENT TECHS COULD HAVE CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WITH S E S N M E INCORPORATED WITH THE SUB CONSULTANTS SIGMA CONSULTING GROUP, INC.

WE GO TO ITEM

[65. 22-00122]

IN CONNECTION WITH THE NORTH LANDFILL PERMIT RENEWAL AND THE MAJOR MODIFICATION FOR A FEE NOT TO EXCEED $149,500 BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 65 WHEN I GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCK WAS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS, NO OPPOSITION.

WE GO TO ITEM

[66. 22-00123]

66 AUTHORIZED THE PARIS OF TOMMY'S OFFICE ACQUIRED THROUGH PURCHASE EXTENDING GENERAL INSTITUTION OF EXPROPRIATION PROCEEDINGS, AND TO TAKE SUCH OTHER ACTIONS AS MAY BE REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE ACQUISITION OF LAND NECESSARY FOR THIS WWTP BUFFER EXPANSION PROJECT

[00:35:01]

BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE DIRECTOR.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ITEM 66? WE GO TO COUNCIL.

SO MO BARAKA COUNCIL MEMBER GO, THEY SECOND TO BY ADAM'S COUNSELING AND WE'LL GO THERE.

MY AS RICK, THANK YOU, SIR.

ANTICIPATING MY QUESTION, REG, IF YOU WOULD, UH, UH, WOULD YOU PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THIS ITEM? YEAH, THIS IS JUST A, HAVE THE COUNCIL AUTHORIZE US THE S AND THE CITY PARISH TO GO INTO NEGOTIATIONS, TO PURCHASE SEVERAL PROPERTIES NEAR THE SOUTH WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT TO CREATE AN ADDITIONAL BUFFER BETWEEN THE PLANT AND THE COMMUNITY.

AND THAT'S ESSENTIALLY, IS IT, AND WHAT WOULD THE BENEFITS OF A, OF A BUFFER, UH, BE WHAT WOULD, WHAT BENEFITS WOULD THAT BRING? WELL, THIS WOULD ALLOW A LITTLE MORE TIME IF WE HAVE ANOTHER INCIDENT AT THE TREATMENT PLANT, TO BE ABLE TO RE REACT A LITTLE QUICKER BEFORE THIS, UH, AFFECTS THE RESIDENTS IN THE FUTURE.

THAT'S, THAT'S OUR, THAT'S OUR GOAL.

NOW I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, RICK YOU AND YOUR TEAM.

UH, THEY'RE THERE IN FACT WAS AN INCIDENT NOT LONG AGO, BUT VERY QUICK TO ACTION, UH, IN RESPONDING TO THAT, UH, I COMPLIMENT YOU FOR THAT.

I COMPLIMENT YOUR TEAM, UM, COMPLIMENT THE MAYOR, UH, WHO, WHO CONTACTED ME PERSONALLY VERY SHORTLY THEREAFTER AND HAS HAD VERY STRONG COMMUNICATION WITH ME AND WITH RESIDENTS FROM THAT AREA ABOUT THAT INCIDENT.

UH, AND SO, YOU KNOW, AS, AS I THINK YOU WELL KNOW MY INTEREST IS TO ENSURE THAT THAT STRONG COMMUNICATION CONTINUES FOR ALL OF THE ACTIONS THAT Y'ALL ARE TAKEN INSIDE, UH, THE TREATMENT PLAN, AS WELL AS ACTIONS LIKE THIS TO, TO CREATE BUFFER ZONE.

UM, SO AS, AS YOU CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS AND AS YOU CAN BE FORTHCOMING WITH WHAT THOSE STEPS ARE, I CERTAINLY REQUEST THAT YOU CONTINUE COMMUNICATING WITH ME AND HAVING THAT OPEN DIALOGUE WITH THOSE RESIDENTS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN? I WANT YOU ALL.

OH, EXCUSE ME.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL NUMBER ROCKERS, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. ANY OBJECTIONS ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED

[67. 22-00127]

WHEN I GO TO ITEM 67, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO AN EXECUTE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR GRANT ADMINISTRATION IS IMPORTANT FROM SUB-RECIPIENTS AND DEVELOPERS OF WATER UNDER THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT CDBG, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT CARES, ACT CDBG CV, ONE HOME INVESTMENTS, PARTNERSHIPS, HOME HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH AIDS, EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS, GRANT AND MURDERER SOLUTION GRANTS CARES THAT HOME AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, THE LEAD HAZARD REDUCTION AND THE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAMS FOR THE 20 21 22 PROGRAM YEAR BY THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 67 SHOWING NO.

WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION TO APPROVE A MOTION SECONDED BY ROCKET.

AS ITEM CAN BE APPROVED, CONTINUED UPON GRANTS AND CONTRACTS REVIEW, AND NO OBJECTIONS.

ITEM 67 HAS BEEN APPROVED WITH THOSE CONTINGENCIES.

[68. 22-00129]

WE'LL NOW GO TO ITEM 68, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT A GRANT AND INTO THE CONTRACT ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT OF SERVICES, OFFICE OF SOCIAL SERVICES WITH THE LOUISIANA HOUSING CORPORATION FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLD WATER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND AN AMOUNT OF $279,156 BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 68 SHOWING NOW WE GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS NOW, SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, SECONDED BY HUSSON.

NO OBJECTIONS ITEMS, 68 PASSES.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.

[69. 22-00160]

WE NOW GO TO APPOINTMENTS.

WE DON'T HAVE A BALLOT FIGHT.

I'M 69.

SO THIS ITEM WILL HAVE TO BE THE FIRST EASTBOUND.

ONE WAS PARIS MOSQUITO WITH BATEMAN AND WROTE IN CONTROL CONSIDERATION OF REPLACING CHANT.

ALL ALSO, WHO HAS RESIGNED THE TERM EXPIRES ON FEBRUARY 13TH, 2020 TO EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 14TH, 2022.

THIS IS A THREE-YEAR TERM.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO DEFER.

SO MOVE BY DONE FILE ON MR. DON, 30 DAYS, 30 DAYS, SECONDARY BY HERS.

ANY OBJECTIONS ITEM 69 HAS BEEN DEFERRED FOR 30 DAYS.

NOW

[70. 22-00164]

I'LL GO TO CHANGE ORDERS, ITEM 70 CIVIL LEAF AVENUE, PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS, CONTRACT TO CAPILLARY CONSTRUCTION, LLC DESCRIPTION, ADJUST CONTRACT QUANTITIES OF ALL AS BUILT OF ALL TWO AS BUILT QUANTITIES AND ADD 131 CALENDAR DAYS TO THE CONTRACT TIME.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 70 WOULD NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SOME WILL BUY DONE 70 BY ROCCO NEW OBJECTIONS.

WE GO TO FINAL ACCEPTANCES

[71. 22-00144]

ITEM 71 PRIDE VOLUNTEER FIRE STATION.

NUMBER 10, CONTRACTOR CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION, LLC.

[00:40:01]

FINAL COSTS $700,537 AND 72 CENTS IS ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON ITEM 71.

WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SOMEONE WILL BUY ROCKERS SECONDED BY MOPE.

[72. 22-00145]

WE NOW GO TO ITEM 72 INSPECTION DIVISION INTERIOR RENOVATIONS, RESTART CONTRACTOR DESIGN, BUILD ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED.

FINAL COSTS $378,752 AND 35 CENTS.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON ITEM 72 NOW VOTED COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SO MOVED BY ROCCA SECONDED BY HERS.

ITEM 73 SILVER LEAF AVENUE, PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS, CONTRACTED CAPITA AREA CONSTRUCTION, LLC.

WE GO NOW TO

[73. 22-00165]

FINAL COSTS $217,929 AND 0 CENTS.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON 73? WHEN I GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, SOME WILL BUY DONE SECONDED BY ROCCA.

NOW GO TO THE ACCEPTANCE OF LOW B IS ITEM 74 PICO LAND, REGIONAL PUMP STATION AND CMC LLC.

WE'LL

[74. 22-00155]

1,027,000.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 74? WE GO TO COUNCIL MOVED BY ROCCA, SECONDED BY ADAMS. NO OBJECTIONS.

WE GO TO 75

[75. 22-00156]

HOLLAND ROAD AT OLD PERKINS ROAD, EAST SUE EXTENSION BOOM SERVICES, LLC.

$111,000.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON 75 SHOWING NINE? SO WE'LL BUY ROCCA SECOND.

AND BY GO DAY, WE NOW

[76. 22-00163]

GO TO ITEM 76 ELM GROVE GARDEN DRIVE PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS, ROSENWALD ROAD TO BLOCK ROAD, TRIUMPH CONSTRUCTION, LLC, $3 MILLION, $278,100.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 76 MOTION TO APPROVE BY BANK SECONDED BY ROCKER? NO OBJECTIONS.

[77. 22-00112]

NOW GO TO ITEM 77, RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR ON DEMOGRAPHER SERVICES FOR THE REAPPORTIONMENT OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL DISTRICT BY COUNCIL MEMBER, SHAUN OF BANKS.

UM, WE HAVE A VIDEO TO SHOW AS A PRECURSOR TO ASHLEY'S, UM, REPORT.

AND I THINK IF YOU WANT TO BE PASSING OUT WHY THEY'RE PLAYING, OKAY, WHATEVER YOU WANT, WHATEVER YOU DO FROM HERE IS FINE.

UM, BUT THIS IS WHAT, UM, BASICALLY SOMEONE SENT ME AND THEY WANTED US TO, UM, THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT US HAVING THE SAME MARGARET FROM WHICH I DIDN'T PAY A LOT OF ATTENTION TO.

UM, DON'T, WE'D BEEN KEPT VERY MUCH ABREAST OF THE PROCESS, UH, THE ENTIRE, UH, SITUATION AS IT RELATES.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE READY YET.

DEMOGRAPHER FOR REAPPORTIONMENT FOR THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL DISTRICTS.

SITUATION AS IT RELATES TO, UM, RE-DISTRICTING AT ALL, THE LEVELS IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT ALSO VERY CONFUSING.

AND AT THE END OF THIS REPORT, I GUESS, UM, HOPEFULLY ASHLEY WILL INCLUDE THE TIME THAT WE ALL HAVE TO INDIVIDUALLY MEET WITH THE, UM, DEMOGRAPHER AND KIND OF SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS, TIMELINES, THINGS THAT, UH, HAVE ESCAPED ME UP UNTIL NOW.

SO, UM, READY TO JUST OUR TOP POLITICAL PRIORITY OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS SHOULD BE TO DENY PRESIDENT OBAMA.

THE SECOND TERM CORINTHIANS, RIGHT? TWO CORINTHIANS THREE 17.

THAT'S THE WHOLE BALLGAME.

UM, LAST THURSDAY EVENING, I ATTENDED A MEETING OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD, WHICH WAS LISTED AS THE FIRST REDISTRICTING WORKSHOP.

IT WAS AN INFORMATIONAL MEETING FOR THE BOARD DESIGNED FOR THEM TO HEAR FROM MR. MIKE HEFFNER CHIEF DEMOGRAPHER OF GEOGRAPHIC PLANNING AND DEMOGRAPHIC SERVICES.

THE COMPANY THAT HAS BEEN CONTRACTED BY THE BOARD TO REDRAW THE SCHOOL DISTRICT LINES FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

YOU MIGHT RECALL THAT BACK IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR, WILLIAM BLAIR, MANAGING MEMBER OF BATON ROUGE BASED STRATEGIC DEMOGRAPHICS, LLC ANNOUNCED THAT HIS COMPANY WAS PULLING OUT OF THEIR CONTRACT WITH THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD CITING A LACK OF COOPERATION FROM THREE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, EVELYN, WHERE JACKSON TOMORROW HOWARD AND DANGEROUS PLANNERS LATER IN NOVEMBER, THE BOARD VOTED TO CONTRACT WITH HEFNER OVER CEDRIC FLOYD AND DATA CENTER, EVEN THOUGH IN THE ORIGINAL SCORING PROCESS FOR THIS CONTRACT DATA CENTER, OUTSCORED, GEOGRAPHIC PLANNING AND STRATEGIC DEMOGRAPHICS.

FLOYD IS BLACK, BOTH BLAIR AND HEFNER

[00:45:01]

ARE WHITE.

IT MAKES ONE WONDER WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THE ASSESSMENT WAS.

IF THE BOARD WAS GOING TO IGNORE IT AND SELECT ALONG RACIAL LINES.

ANYWAY, THE FIRST WORKSHOP ON THE MATTER OF REDISTRICT, JAMIE WAS DISAPPOINTED.

THERE WAS SPARSE ATTENDANCE BY THE PUBLIC ON A MATTER OF SUCH IMPORTANCE, MORE IMPORTANT.

I WAS DISAPPOINTED AND SOMEWHAT MYSTIFIED BY MR. HEFNER'S PRESENTATION.

HAFNER WHO MADE MENTION OF THE FACT THAT GEOGRAPHIC PLANNING WILL ALSO BE THE DEMOGRAPHER FOR OUR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

METRO COUNCIL SUGGESTED THAT THE 2020 CENSUS DATA SUPPORTS A BOARD COMPOSITION OF FOUR MAJORITY MINORITY OR BLACK DISTRICTS FOR MAJORITY DISTRICTS ARE WHITE DISTRICTS AND ONE SWING DISTRICT SIMILAR TO THE DISTRICTS DRAWN IN 2014.

WHEN THE NUMBER WAS REDUCED FROM 11 TO NINE, THOSE NINE DISTRICTS WERE DRAWN ACCORDING TO DATA DERIVED FROM THE 2010 CENSUS.

WELL, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CENSUS DATA THAT MR HEFFNER USED, IT'S DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW HE COULD COME TO SUCH A CONCLUSION FROM 2010 TO 2020 WHITE POPULATION IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, MINUS THOSE AREAS THAT COMPRISE THE BAKER CENTRAL AND ZACHARY SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAS DECREASED BY 17,000.

AT THE SAME TIME, BLACK POPULATION HAS INCREASED BY 5,000.

ONCE WE INCLUDE THE OVERALL GROWTH OF THE DISTRICT AREAS, THERE ARE 25,744 MORE BLACKS THAN WHITES PERCENTAGE WISE, THE PROPORTION OF BLACK TO WHITE AS LISTED IN THE CHART AS 47 AND A HALF PERCENT BLACK TO 41% WHITE.

I WAS ALSO STRUCK BY THE MENTIONED A COUPLE OF TIMES DURING MR. HEFNER'S PRESENTATION OF CHANGING THE NUMBER OF DISTRICTS WHILE HE MENTIONED RETURNING THE BOARD BACK TO 11 DISTRICTS, THE DOOR WAS LEFT OPEN TO PERHAPS REDUCING THE NUMBER OF DISTRICTS.

WHY DOES THAT MATTER? WELL, THERE'S A LINE OF THINKING THAT SUGGESTS THAT LARGER DISTRICTS WOULD SERVE TO MAINTAIN A WHITE MAJORITY ON THE BOARD, EVEN THOUGH THE CONSTITUENCY OF THE SYSTEM IS OVERWHELMINGLY BLACK.

THIS IS WHERE COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST ARGUMENT IS PROPAGATED BY HAFNER AND VERBALLY SUPPORTED BY JILL DIASON COMES INTO PLAY.

A COMMUNITY OF INTEREST IS A NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY, OR GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMMON POLICY CONCERNS AND WOULD BENEFIT FROM BEING MAINTAINED AND A SINGLE DISTRICT PROPONENTS SAYING THAT THIS IS A WAY FOR A COMMUNITY TO TELL ITS OWN STORY ABOUT WHAT NEIGHBORS SHARE IN COMMON AND WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE WHEN COMPARED TO SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, THEY'RE DEFINED BY THE LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THEREIN IS THE PROBLEM WHICH COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL MAKE THESE DISTINCTIONS.

WHAT WOULD BE THEIR AGENDA WHOSE COMMUNITY WOULD BE LOST IN THIS PROCESS AND TRADITIONALLY WHITE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE TRANSITIONING BLACK, BUT HAVE NOT YET ACHIEVED A BALANCE OF BLACK PEOPLE WHO WILL SPEAK FOR THE SUBGROUPS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OF INTEREST.

IT SEEMS THAT SUCH A CONSIDERATION IS A DESIGN OBFUSCATION, WHOSE INTENT IS TO KEEP A WHITE MAJORITY BOARD AND CONTROL OF A SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT IS OVERWHELMINGLY BLACK.

WHY DOES THIS MATTER? RIGHT NOW? THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IS THE SECOND LARGEST IN OUR STATE WITH NEARLY 41,000 STUDENTS.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM, NEARLY 80% BEING AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND 84% LIVE IN POVERTY.

THE BUDGET FOR THE SYSTEM TOPS OUT AT JUST UNDER 4,484 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS, HOW THOSE DOLLARS ARE ALLOCATED TO BEST SERVE OUR CHILDREN SHOULD BE AT THE HIGHEST PRIORITY TO OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S ONE REASON WHY OTHERS WANT TO CONTROL THE SYSTEM, THE CONTINUED PROLIFERATION OF CHARTERS AND VOUCHERS, THE DECISIONS REGARDING THE DISPOSITION OF ST.

GEORGE AND THE PROPOSED SCHOOL SYSTEM DECISIONS REGARDING CURRICULUM AND STAFFING.

ALL OF THESE ARE TIED TO HOW THE DISTRICTS ARE LAID OUT AND EXACTLY HOW MANY DISTRICTS THAT WILL BE FOR THE NEXT DECADE AND WHO WILL ACTUALLY BE IN CHARGE THE OTHER WORKSHOPS PLANNED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

AND THERE WAS VOICE FROM THE MEETING OF DESIRE TO CONCLUDE THIS WORK AS QUICKLY AND QUIETLY AS POSSIBLE.

SO I SHOULD BE OPEN THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND OUR VOICES SHOULD BE HEARD LOUDLY IF NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THE BEST OUTCOME FOR OUR PROGENY IS SECURE.

ALL RIGHT.

UM, SO COUNCILWOMAN BANKS ASKED ME TO GIVE EVERYBODY AN UPDATE, UM, AND A REPORT ON THE PROCESS THAT WE USED TO HIRE AN, UH,

[00:50:01]

UM, AS ALL OF, YOU KNOW, WE, UM, PUT OUT AN RFQ IN THE LAST QUARTER OF 21, WE, UM, A COMMITTEE MADE UP OF THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SCORE THOSE PROPOSALS.

UM, WE ONLY RECEIVED TWO PROPOSALS IN RESPONSE TO THE RFQ, UM, THAT WAS, UM, GEOGRAPHIC PLANNING AND DEMOGRAPHIC SERVICES AND THE DATA CENTER, UH, AFTER MEETING, IF YOU TIMES TO GO OVER THE PROPOSALS AND CONSIDERING, UM, REFERENCE TO A REFERENCE CHECK, WE SCORED BOTH PROPOSALS AND GEOGRAPHIC PLANNING AND DEMOGRAPHIC SERVICES SCORED HIGHER.

AND SO BECAUSE OF THE, UM, PURCHASING ORDINANCES THAT ALLOW FOR DEPARTMENTS TO, UM, ENTER CONTRACTS WITHOUT COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR CONTRACTS THAT ARE UNDER $50,000, UM, MY DEPARTMENT PROCESSED THAT CONTRACT AND WE ARE NOW, WE NOW HAVE A CONTRACT WITH GEOGRAPHIC PLANNING AND DEMOGRAPHIC SERVICES, UM, GOING THROUGH MS. SOME OF MS. BANKS QUESTIONS.

UM, WE DID NOT CONDUCT INTERVIEWS.

WE DID NOT FEEL THAT WAS NECESSARY AFTER THE PLANNING PRO AFTER THE INTERVIEW.

UM, I'M SORRY.

AFTER THE REVIEW PROCESS, WE DID LEAVE THAT POSSIBILITY OPEN IN THE RFQ, BUT WE DID NOT REQUIRE INTERVIEWS IN THE RFQ.

UM, AGAIN, AS I STATED, WHEN CONTRACTS ARE BELOW $50,000, THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL APPROVAL IS NOT REQUIRED.

SO WE PROCESS THAT ON A DEPARTMENT LEVEL, THE TOTAL CONTRACT COST IS $34,900.

UM, THE FUNDS COME FROM THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE BUDGET.

UM, AGAIN, THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL DOES NOT NEED TO APPROVE ANY FURTHER FUNDING FOR THE DEMOGRAPHER CONTRACT.

IT'S THAT SET AT $34,900.

AND, UM, UH, BARRING ANY UNFORESEEN CHANGES.

THAT IS WHAT THE CONTRACT WILL BE.

UM, SORRY, I'M GOING THROUGH, UM, TIMELINE FOR COMPLETION.

UM, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE FIRST REDISTRICTING WORKSHOP WILL BE ON FEBRUARY 22ND AT THE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY.

NEXT DOOR, FOURTH FLOOR, IT'LL BE A TWO HOUR MEETING, UM, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

AND OBVIOUSLY, UM, ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE, HAVE, HAVE EXPRESSED THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND.

UM, AND THAT WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR Y'ALL TO MEET WITH MR. HAFFNER, MEET HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME.

UM, AND, UM, HE WILL HELP EXPLAIN WHAT SOME OF THE CRITERIA ARE FOR REBALANCING DISTRICTS.

UM, AND TRULY THIS PROCESS IS IN THE HANDS OF THE 12 OF YOU.

UM, MR. HAFFNER IS THERE TO GUIDE THE PROCESS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND PLAN OF GOVERNMENT AND STATE STATUTES ARE FOLLOWED, BUT THE WAY THAT THE LINES ARE EVENTUALLY DRAWN AND APPROVED IS UP TO THE 12 OF YOU.

SO THAT THE MEETING ON FEBRUARY 22ND, WE'LL START THAT PROCESS.

AND I ANTICIPATE THAT THERE WILL BE OTHER MEETINGS.

UM, THERE WILL BE OTHER WORKSHOPS.

WE WOULD ALSO, I ALSO ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL HOLD, UM, COMMUNITY MEETINGS, HOPEFULLY AT YOUR COMMUNITY CENTERS OR IN LIBRARIES, UM, THAT WILL ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO VIEW PLANS ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN, UM, FORMULATED IN WORKSHOPS.

AND AGAIN, THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO ALL OF THOSE WORKSHOPS, SO THEY WILL BE ABLE TO EXPRESS THEIR, UM, QUESTIONS OR CONTRIBUTIONS FOR, UM, HOW, HOW THE DISTRICTS CAN BE REBALANCED.

UM, AFTER THAT, THE PLAN HAS TO BE ADOPTED.

THE FINAL REDISTRICTING PLAN HAS TO BE ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL, UM, BY AUGUST 12TH, 2022.

SO, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF TIME BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND AUGUST TO WORK TOGETHER, UM, HOPEFULLY TO COME UP WITH, UM, AND I, I ANTICIPATE THERE WILL BE SEVERAL PLANS THAT WILL BE DEVELOPED AND, UM, EVENTUALLY ONE OF THEM WILL NEED SEVEN VOTES IN ORDER TO BE ADOPTED.

UM, THAT PLAN WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS IN 2024.

UM, SO THAT, I THINK COVERS THE QUESTIONS MS. BANKS POSED, BUT OBVIOUSLY I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, UM, FROM Y'ALL OR

[00:55:01]

THE PUBLIC.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE ALL UP MS. BANKS, WE WENT WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING FIRST.

ANYONE ELSE HERE, WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM, ANYONE HERE IN A PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM, COME ON DOWN, COME ON DOWN, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

AND AS YOU'RE COMING, LET ME SAY FOR ITEM 60, MELISSA PALMER LEE, UH, WAS IN FAVOR OF THE ITEM, BUT DID NOT WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEM 60.

SORRY, I GOT HERE A LITTLE LATE.

I'VE BEEN AT THE CAPITOL ALL DAY.

UM, THIS IS ON MY CATHERINE RIGHT REDISTRICT.

SO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

HELLO EVERYONE.

I'M COUTURE BUTLER READ THEY LOUISIANA REGIONAL ORGANIZER FOR THE BLACK VOTERS MATTER FUND.

ANYTHING ELSE I NEED TO SAY? OKAY.

SO, I MEAN, HONESTLY LOOKING AT THAT LETTER, UM, I MET THE VIDEO THAT HE HAD ALREADY.

IT WAS, IT WAS AMAZING, REALLY BROKE IT DOWN, BUT I REALLY JUST WANT TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT MY KATHRYN REALLY QUICKLY BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH SOME LOCAL GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS LOUISIANA.

AND, UM, A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, WE ACTUALLY HAD NEW IBERIA COUNCIL AFTER SUGGESTIONS FROM MIKE HEFFNER, UH, UM, ABOUT LIKE SEVEN PRECINCTS WERE CLOSED IN ALL IN BLACK COMMUNITIES AND ABOUT 23 POLLING LOCATIONS CHANGED.

SO THAT'S JUST ONE LITTLE THING THAT I WANT TO SAY ABOUT HIM, BUT I JUST WANT TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT HIS TRACK RECORD IN REGARDS TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

SO, AND WHAT WAS HIS ST MARTIN PARISH ON FEBRUARY 20, 20 TO 2020? MR. HEFNER SUGGESTED A CHANGE IN ZONING BETWEEN ST.

MARTIN PARISH AND KIND OF HULA TO ASSIST THE SEGREGATION EFFORTS AT CATA HULU.

THE PROPOSED PLAN WILL MOVE THE BORDER BETWEEN ST MARTIN PARISH AND KATA HOLA BY APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES SUCH THAT MORE BLACK STUDENTS CURRENTLY ATTENDING ST.

MARTIN PARISH WOULD INSTEAD ATTEND CATA HULU, BUT ARE ALL, WE FOUND THAT MR HEFNER'S CALCULATIONS USING RESIDENTIAL DATA FOR THE 20 TO 21 SCHOOL YEAR WERE COMPARED WITH THE ACTUAL ENROLLMENT AT CATA HULA FOR THE SAME YEAR WAS OFF THE DATA WAS ACTUALLY OFF BY 14%.

MR. HEFNER PROVIDED NO EXPLANATION FOR THE DISCREPANCY AND THE COURT HAD NO OTHER EVIDENCE, WHICH WOULD EXPLAIN WHERE THE 20 STUDENTS ALTOGETHER HULA HER.

MR. HEFNER'S RESIDENTIAL DEMOGRAPHIC DATA ATTEMPT TO US IN SCHOOL AND A FEW OTHER CASES, UM, SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2021, DESOTO PARISH DISCOVERED ARIZONA MIKE HEFFNER AND AUGUST 19TH, 2021 ST.

LANDRY PARISH COUNCIL APOLOGIZES FOR PO CHANGES BECAUSE OF MY KEVIN AND JANUARY 5TH, 2020 LAFAYETTE.

SUE'S DEMOGRAPHER DUE TO MAP DISCREPANCIES, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

SO BASICALLY I CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON ABOUT A LOT OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE FOUND ON MIKE, KEVIN, BUT I JUST WANT TO JUST KIND OF REITERATE THE FACT THAT, UM, CLEARLY, CLEARLY, CLEARLY, CLEARLY THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF DISCREPANCIES ACROSS LOUISIANA.

SO JUST SEEING THAT HE'S COMING TO EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, I AM WORRIED, I'M CONCERNED.

I'M CONCERNED, NOT FOR MYSELF BECAUSE I'M NOT IN SCHOOL ANYMORE.

I ALREADY GRADUATED, BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT MY LITTLE COUSINS, UNCLES, SORRY ABOUT MY FAMILY.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL.

SO I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO CONSIDER THAT WHEN YOU'RE VOTING ON WHATEVER HE PROPOSES, BECAUSE I WOULD HATE FOR US TO HAVE TO COME BACK AND SUE HIM AND HE'S GOING TO REFRAME, OKAY, I'M DONE.

LET ME FINISH YOUR LAST STATEMENT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY.

I'LL HAVE A NICE DAY.

ALL RIGHT.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COME ON DOWN.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M TANYA AND I'M IN 4, 6, 6, 9 BENNETT DRIVE.

UH, I JUST WANT TO ASK IT THAT MR. HAFFNER DOES DO THIS PROCESS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

UM, HE DOES DO IT THROUGH THE WORKSHOPS THOUGH, WHICH I THINK THEY EXPLAINED, WHICH ALLOWS FOR PUBLIC INPUT.

UM, TYPICALLY I THINK LAST TIME Y'ALL PROBABLY FAMILIAR THAT EVERYBODY GETS THE, TO MEET WITH THE DEMOGRAPHER PRIVATELY.

EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER GETS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE DEMOGRAPHER PRIVATELY AND THEN SUBMIT THE MAPS AND TRY TO GARNER THE VOTES FOR THEIR MAP.

UM, THIS IS DIFFERENT.

AND SO I DO THINK THAT SOME THINGS SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

LIKE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF Y'ALL SET UP A PORTAL ON THE WEBSITE FOR THAT PUBLIC COMMENT COULD BE PROVIDED AND THAT INFORMATION COULD BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE PUBLIC.

SO THAT, THAT THOSE THAT CAN'T MAKE THE PUBLIC MEETINGS CAN STILL KEEP ABREAST.

UM, LET'S SEE.

MAKING SURE THAT IT IS ON THE RECORD SO THAT THERE'S, UH, AN ABILITY TO DEMONSTRATE IF THERE'S ALTERNATIVES TO MAPS, UNLESS SHOULD HAVE MAPS.

AND ALSO THEN THAT THERE'S A PUBLIC RECORD.

SO I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING MR. HAFFNER WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD, AND THAT HAS BEEN CERTAINLY AN ISSUE WHEN PUBLIC COMMENTS,

[01:00:01]

SO IF Y'ALL COULD DO THAT, THAT WOULD GO, I THINK GO A LONG WAY TO ESTABLISHING SOME TRUST.

THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 77, ANYONE ELSE HAD TO SPEAK 5 77 COUNCIL MEMBERS? COUNCIL MEMBERS IS ERIC FROM ISDN HERE BY CHANCE.

I'M LOOKING AT THE MIRROR WHEREVER YOU WATCHING ON YOUR PHONE.

WE NEED TO SEE YOU.

THAT'S OKAY.

IT'S ALL RIGHT.

IF HE'S NOT HERE, I JUST WILL FOLLOW UP.

AND I THINK THAT WAS A GREAT RECOMMENDATION ABOUT ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENT.

SO, UM, TO THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE AND TO THE STAFF HAVE TO THINK IT'S SOMETHING FOR US TO LOOK INTO COUNCIL MEMBER DONE.

MY QUESTION IS TO THE COMMITTEE, THIS COULD BE ACTUALLY A PROTEOME OR THE PARENTS HAVE TURNED, WHOEVER SERVED ON IT.

AND I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS SITUATION, NOT ONLY HERE LOCALLY IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE COUNCIL, BUT OTHER CITIES IN PARISHES AS WAS REFERENCED IN THE VIDEO AND AT, AT THE MC UH, BOTH OF THESE COMPLEX DATA CENTER AND GEOGRAPHIC PLAN AND DEMOGRAPHIC SERVICES WERE THE ONLY TWO THAT SUBMITTED FOR RFP RFQ, BUT IN REVIEWING THEIR HISTORY, BOTH OF THEM HAD SOME CHALLENGES AND ISSUES WHERE THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, DATA WAS QUESTIONED AND LAWSUITS WERE FILED.

SO MY QUESTION TO THE COMMITTEE, WERE YOU GUYS AWARE OF THAT? AND SECONDLY, DID YOU EVER CONSIDER PUTTING THIS BACK ALPHABET KNOWING THAT BOTH OF THESE ONLY TWO ENTITIES HAD SOME ISSUES IN ACCOUNTS THAT THEY WORKED ON IN THE PAST? UM, I'LL I CAN ANSWER FROM WHERE ASSET, IF I'M ANDY ARLINDA WANT TO CHIME IN.

THEY'RE WELCOME TO, UM, WE WERE AWARE THAT BOTH COMPANIES HAVE HAD THEIR WORK CHALLENGED IN THE PAST.

UM, AND WE DID NOT CONSIDER PUTTING THIS BACK OUT.

UM, THIS IS A PROCESS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, TO THE, TO ONE OF THE POINTS IN THE VIDEO ABOUT TIMING, UM, IS BECAUSE THE CENSUS DATA CAME OUT VERY LATE.

UM, WE ARE UNDER A TIME CRUNCH AND I DID NOT WANT TO, UM, SHORTEN THE TIME THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO REVIEW THIS REVIEW WITH THE DEMOGRAPHER, THE PLANS THAT WOULD BE MADE.

UM, AFTER CHECKING REFERENCES, I FELT, UH, COMFORTABLE WITH GEOGRAPHIC PLANNING, UM, AND HENCE THE, THAT THE WAY THAT THE COMMITTEE ENDED UP GOING ALL RIGHT.

I THINK THAT IS A CONCERN FOR ME.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES FEEL ABOUT IT, BUT THAT IS A CONCERN I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEE IT GO BACK OFF A BIT.

UM, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S SOME ISSUES AND OTHER SITUATIONS WITH THE CURRENT VENDOR THAT WE HAVE.

UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM.

I, I KNOW, UH, IT WILL BE CLEARLY STATED TO HIM THAT, YOU KNOW, HE'S WORKING ON THE BEHALF OF US AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

SO SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HE'S HAD IN HIS HEAD AND SOME OTHER, UH, PROJECTS THAT WON'T FLY HERE.

SO WE GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT THAT WON'T HAPPEN.

UH, SECONDLY, IF ANDY, YOU CAN COME UP, I GOT A QUESTION FOR YOU ABOUT THE PROCESS.

UM, ASHLEY MENTIONED THAT TO APPROVE THESE MAPS IS GOING TO BE UP TO 12 OF US.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE SEVEN VOTES.

I W I DID SOME DIGGING ON THIS, AND I JUST WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU ON THE RECORD, WHERE DOES THE, UH, VITO AND THE MAYOR VETO STAND IN THIS PROCESS? I'M GONNA DEFER THAT TO MS. BECK.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND SHE'S PUT THAT OUT BEFORE I GO, GO AHEAD AND ASK.

THE MAYOR DOES NOT HAVE VETO POWER OVER THE REDISTRICTING MAPS.

EXPLAIN THAT TO ME AND TELL ME WHY NOT SURE.

UM, SO THE MAYOR'S VETO POWER, UM, ORIGINATES IN THE PLANT AND GOVERNMENT AND THE PLANET GOVERNMENT SETS FORTH, UH, WHAT ORDINANCES SHE DOES NOT HAVE THE POWER TO VETO.

UM, ONE OF THOSE IS, UM, ACTIONS THAT THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO, UM, UH, TO ACCOMPLISH AND, UM, REDRAWING, UM, REAPPORTIONMENT AND REDRAWING DISTRICT MAPS.

UM, AS A RESULT OF, SINCE THIS CHANGES IS ONE OF THOSE, UM, DUTIES THAT THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL PASSED TO DO BY VIRTUE OF STATE LAW, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO DO THIS PROCESS.

SO, UM, SO HER VETO POWER WOULD NOT EXTEND TO THE ORDINANCE

[01:05:01]

THAT ADOPTS A NEW REDISTRICTING PLAN.

YES, SIR.

THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING AS WELL.

THAT'S CORRECT.

ABOUT THIS? IT'LL BE CONFUSING UNLESS ALL, WHEN IT COMES TO THE COMMUNITY, IT, TO ME, IT WOULD BE AN F SPEAKING FROM A COUNCIL PERSON AND A CONSTITUENT.

ONE MORE QUESTION, EITHER ONE OF YOU GUYS CAN ANSWER THIS, UH, WHAT HAPPENS IF NO SET OF MAPS SECURE SEVEN VOLTS BY THE, BY THE AUGUST DEADLINE? YES.

YEAH, BUT I WOULD TELL YOU THIS THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T FULLY CONTEMPLATED YET.

WE'RE TAKING THIS STEP BY STEP.

I CAN FIND AN ANSWER AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE WORK TOGETHER AND GET AN ANSWER TO YOU AND TEACH COUNCIL PERSON AS A SCENARIO POSSIBILITY.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER RIGHTS, ASHLEY, UM, CONSIDERING THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE ARE COMMUNITY CONCERNS AS IT RELATES TO THE CHOSEN DEMOGRAPHER, IS THERE A WAY TO HAVE A BACKUP, UM, THROUGH I S WHERE SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN, UM, HAVE THE DATA, YOU KNOW, VALIDATED THROUGH SOMEONE THAT LIKE ERIC OR HIS DEPARTMENT THAT WE DO TRUST THEY ARE DOING THAT.

SO OUR, THE DEMOGRAPHER IS WORKING WITH OUR GIS STAFF AND OUR GIS STAFF IS FULLY PREPARED TO, UM, REPLICATE AND CHECK ALL DATA.

SO, UM, THAT IS, WE HAVE A V WE HAVE AN AMAZING GIS DEPARTMENT AND THEY, UM, THEY HAVE ALREADY BEGUN WORK.

I MEAN, THEY, THEY HAD THE DATA, THE SECOND IT CAME OUT AND WERE PREPARED TO JUMP IN AND, UM, PROVIDE ANY MAPS THAT WE NEED.

UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO MORE OF THE LEGAL QUESTIONS ALONG THE LINES OF VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, PLAN AND GOVERNMENT AND STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS, THEY ARE, THEY DO NOT, THEY CANNOT ADVISE ON THOSE MATTERS, BUT ANYTHING WITH RESPECT TO MAP, DRAWING PRECINCTS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS, THEY ARE FULLY PREPARED TO COME IN AND PROVIDE FOR US AND PROVIDE FOR Y'ALL.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, AND I, I GUESS AS TIME GO ON, BUT YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY RIGHT NOW I FEEL TOTALLY INADEQUATE TO BE ABLE TO, TO BE ABLE TO LEAD, UM, CONVERSATIONS AS IT RELATES TO, UH, REDISTRICTING.

UH, AND YOU KNOW, SO I DO WANT THE ONE-ON-ONE, UM, YOU SENT SOMETHING OUT, I THINK LAST WEEK, AND I WASN'T EVEN SURE IF THAT WAS LIKE A PLAN FOR THE DISTRICT.

AND I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING IN THE, IN THE, AS WE GO WILL THAT WILL THAT, HOW WILL THAT BE, HOW THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS ARE ROLLED OUT? SO MR. HAFFNER SENT WHAT HE TERMED AN ILLUSTRATIVE PLAN.

THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF HOW DISTRICTS COULD BE REBALANCED GIVEN THE CENSUS DATA.

IT IS NOT A NECESSARILY EVEN A STARTING POINT.

IT IS JUST AN EXAMPLE, UM, USING REAL DATA AND REAL NUMBERS.

UM, BUT HONESTLY THIS PROCESS IS GOING TO BE UP TO Y'ALL AND WHEN WE HAVE THE FIRST WORKSHOP, IF, UM, AND, AND I APPRECIATE MS NYMAN'S, UM, UH, IDEA AND MR. HUDSON ECHOING THAT, UM, I WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH ISS AND WE CAN HAVE A PAGE SET UP SO THAT ALL OF THE PLANS CAN BE POSTED THERE.

UM, AND, AND I WOULD, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE CAN EITHER HAVE SOME CENTRALIZED LOCATION ON THE WEBSITE, UH, THAT WOULD PROVIDE EVERYBODY THE SAME ACCESS TO ALL OF THE MAPS.

I KNOW THE FIRST MEETING IS FEBRUARY 22ND, SO WE COULD, WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE THOSE, THAT PUBLIC COMMENT PARTS SET UP BEFORE THAT.

CORRECT.

WE CAN, YEAH.

IF WE COULD DO THAT.

AND, UM, HOW ABOUT HAVING THE DISTRICT MEETINGS? SO WE CAN DEFINITELY DO THAT.

I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE FIRST COUNCIL WORKSHOP, THE FIRST PUBLIC MEETING WORKSHOP, UM, SEE HOW THAT GOES AND SEE IF WE'RE GOING TO NEED ANOTHER ONE RELATIVELY QUICKLY AFTER THIS FIRST ONE.

UM, IF, IF EVERYBODY FEELS LIKE WE'RE KIND OF WORKING IN A DIRECTION THAT CAN PRODUCE A COUPLE OF MAPS AND, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO HAVE A MEETING AT THE JEWEL GENUINE COMMUNITY CENTER, UM, UM, I WILL MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE FOR ALL OF THOSE, UM, IN THE EVENT THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A LONGER PROCESS AND A LITTLE BIT MORE INVOLVED, THEN I WOULD SAY IT MIGHT BE MOST, UM, EFFECTIVE TO HOLD THE COUNCIL WORKSHOPS AND GET SOME MAPS THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE CONSIDERED BY THE COUNCIL.

UM, BECAUSE I'D HATE TO MEET TO, TO HOLD THOSE MEETINGS TOO EARLY.

YOUR CONSTITUENTS LOOK AT THESE MAPS AND IN AUGUST THAT NOT BE ONE OF THE MAPS THAT'S EVEN CONSIDERED.

AND I GUESS THAT'S KIND OF HOW I FELT WHEN I GOT THE EXAMPLE.

I'M LIKE, I, DO I SHARE THIS? DO I TALK

[01:10:01]

IF I WILL BE ABLE TO SEE ALL THE MAPS AT ONE TIME WITH AN EXPLANATION ON THE PLUS OR MINUS IF YOU WILL.

AND, BUT IF YOU HAVE JUST EACH ROLLOUT TO ME, IT WILL GET CONFUSING, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT TAKES.

AND THE LAST QUESTION IS, IS A PRIORITY TO BALANCE BASED ON NUMBERS.

I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND ALL THOSE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO BE, UM, MADE SURE AREN'T VIOLATED, BUT IS IT IS THE NUMBER ONE PURPOSE FOR THE CENSUS AS IT RELATES TO, UM, UH, DRAWING THE DISTRICT TO BALANCE THE NUMBERS.

SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SAY THERE IS A NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, THERE ARE SEVERAL PRIORITIES THAT HAVE TO BE MET.

ONE OF THEM IS TO BALANCE DISTRICTS.

Y'ALL HAVE TO BASICALLY COVER ONE 12TH OF THE PARISH, YOUR POPULATION AND YOUR DISTRICT PLUS OR MINUS FIVE.

UM, EQUALLY IMPORTANT IS, UM, NOT DELETING MINORITY VOTING STRENGTH.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE PLENTY OF, UH, DEMOGRAPHIC BUZZWORDS THAT WERE IN THE VIDEO ABOUT COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS WILL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

UM, BUT THAT IS, THAT IS TRULY WHY WE HIRE A PROFESSIONAL BECAUSE HE HAS THE KNOWLEDGE THAT JUST TO BE TOTALLY FRANK WITH YOU.

I WASN'T INVOLVED IN REDISTRICTING 10 YEARS AGO.

I WORKED HERE, BUT I HADN'T, I HAD NO PART IN IT.

ANDY DID NOT HAVE A PART IN IT.

UM, AND SO THAT IS WHY WE NEED SOMEBODY WHO DOES THIS WORK PROFESSIONALLY, TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS FOR Y'ALL AND WHO CAN, AND MR. HEFNER WILL BE ABLE TO IN REAL TIME, DRAW A MAP, YOU KNOW, IF YOU SAY, WELL, ACTUALLY THINK I SHOULD HAVE THESE PRECINCT SHOULD BE MOVED TO DISTRICT TWO, OR IT WAS PRECINCT SHOULD BE MOVED TO DISTRICT ONE.

THEY'LL HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT AND CREATE THOSE SCENARIOS FOR Y'ALL.

I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT PROCESS.

IT IS GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT PROCESS.

NO DOUBT.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

YEAH, JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.

THE FIRST COMMENT I'D LIKE TO MAKE, UM, ABOUT THE VIDEO.

AND IT'S ONLY ONE THING THAT I SAW THAT I HAD THAT DISCREPANCY IS ABOUT BECAUSE IT, THE CITY OF CENTRAL WAS MENTIONED, BUT WHEN, WHEN THE INDIVIDU, UH, THE GENTLEMAN WAS DISCUSSING THE NUMBERS AND INCREASE IN DECREASE, UH, HE SAID HE EXCLUDED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CENTRAL BAKER AND ZACHARY.

UH, THESE ARE THE NUMBERS INCREASE.

THESE ARE THE NUMBERS DECREASE.

AND SO ON.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY CENTRAL BAKER AND ZACHARY WILL PULL IT OUT OF THOSE NUMBERS BECAUSE WE ARE HERE TO REPRESENT THE WHOLE PARISH.

UM, THEN I APOLOGIZE.

I THOUGHT HE WAS MENTIONING AS FAR AS THE PARISH GOES, SO I GOT THAT WRONG.

I JUST, I FELT THAT WAS THE, YOU START LOOKING AT THOSE THINGS.

AND I'M SITTING HERE WITH 80% OF MY DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, IT IS A CITY AND I FELT LIKE IT WAS BEING PULLED OUT TO, I WANT TO MAKE A REFERENCE TO THE DEMOGRAPHER OR ANY.

I NOTICED GENTLEMEN FOR NOT, I HAVE NEVER BEEN THROUGH A REDISTRICTING PART.

I'M SITTING HERE ON MY FIFTH TERM.

UH, WE NEVER HAD DISTRICTS OR WHATEVER.

UH, IT WAS ALL AT LARGE AND SO ON.

SO I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS GENTLEMAN, HIS COMPANY, ANY OTHER COMPANIES OR WHATEVER ELSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WE'RE ALREADY DISCUSSING FAULTS IN A, IN A COMPANY.

AND I GET IT.

I WOULD THINK THAT ANY COMPANY THAT HAS DONE DEMOGRAPHY WORK ON A REDISTRICT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THAT, NO MATTER WHO YOU PICK, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND A FAULT, OR YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THAT SOMEONE HAS QUESTIONED THEIR NUMBERS AND THEIR STATISTICS.

SO I WOULD JUST HOPE THAT GOING FORWARD, WE AS A COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, COUNCILWOMAN BANKED, I, I AGREE.

AND WHAT WE SAID ABOUT THE STATISTICS AND THE NUMBERS AND EVERYTHING BOILS DOWN TO RAW DATA.

UM, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE FACT WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT WE COULD MEET WITH THE DEMOGRAPHER ONE-ON-ONE AND DISCUSS, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT THINGS AND WHATEVER.

I THOUGHT US AS A COUNCIL, WE HIRED A DEMOGRAPHER AND THEY THROW THE NUMBERS OUT THERE AND THEY COME BACK TO US AND SAY, HERE IT IS, THIS IS WHAT THE NUMBERS SAY YOU MUST PLUS OR MINUS AND SO ON.

SO I WOULD JUST CAUTION US TO GOING FORWARD.

UM, I'M, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROCESS.

I'M NERVOUS ABOUT THIS PROCESS, AND I WANT TO SEE US CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER THAT WE HAVE DONE FOR THE LAST YEAR AND IN A MONTH, UM, WITHOUT THIS, THIS PROCESS CHANGING ANYTHING.

AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN MAKE A COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER TO DO THAT, AND TO WORK FORWARD THROUGH THIS PROCESS WITHOUT ANY, UM, YOU KNOW, ACCUSATIONS OR NEGATIVE, TAKING ANYTHING PERSONALLY NEGATIVE OR WHATEVER WORKING FORWARD.

SO,

[01:15:01]

UH, I'M READY TO WORK FORWARD AND MOVE FORWARD.

THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE GOT A COMMENT COUNCIL MEMBER MODE? THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE FOR SURE THE MOST CHALLENGING ISSUE WE TACKLE AS A GROUP.

UH, BUT I THINK WE CAN NOT BE AFRAID TO HAVE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS.

THERE'S A BOOK THAT I READ A LONG TIME AGO CALLED DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS.

AND IT SAYS, WHEN YOU RECOGNIZE AND KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION, FACE IT, HEAD ON AND TRY TO DO SO, UH, BEING RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHER IN EVERYONE ELSE'S THOUGHTS.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REASONS HISTORICALLY, UH, WHAT HAS HAPPENED, UH, TO VOTERS' RIGHTS, PARTICULARLY TO PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THIS COUNTRY IS GOING TO PLAY A HUGE ROLE IN HOW MANY OF US APPROACH THIS WORK.

AND WHILE WE COME TO THE TABLE WITH SOME PRECONCEIVED IDEAS ABOUT HOW DISTINCT TYPICALLY HAPPENS.

BUT I THINK IF WE PUT ALL THAT ON THE TABLE OUT FRONT AND WE CAN AGREE TO DISAGREE WHEN NECESSARY AS THE REVEREND SAID EARLY, BUT THEN, UH, WORK IN A SPIRIT OF UNITY.

I THINK WE'LL, WE'LL GET THERE IN A WAY, UH, THAT COULD BE A MODEL FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

UH, AND AGAIN, I WANT TO BE 100% CLEAR WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE AND THE SMOKE SETTLES AND THE DUST CLEARS.

WE'RE NOT ALL GONNA AGREE ON THE MASK, BUT I HOPE IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALL CAN LIVE WITH.

I SINCERELY DO.

AND I HOPE THAT EVERYONE ON THIS COUNCIL CHOOSES TO ENGAGE, UH, IN THE PROCESS IN A MEANINGFUL WAY, LEARN, STUDY, ACTS A LOT OF QUESTIONS OR LOOK AT SOMEBODY'S INFORMATION HISTORICALLY, GO BACK 10 YEARS AND SEE WHAT THE NUMBERS WERE THEN AND WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW THOSE NUMBERS WERE DRAWN.

AND LET'S JUST HAVE THE CONVERSATION NOW.

AND I THINK WE'LL BE FINE.

I REALLY DO.

UH, ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT, ASHLEY,

[78. 22-00158]

WE NOW GO TO ITEM, UH, OTHER ITEMS TO BE ADOPTED.

WE'RE GOING TO GO TO EMERGENCY ITEMS. THERE HAS BEEN A REQUEST BY THE AUTHOR OF ITEM 78, 4 TO BE DELETED.

I STILL NEED TO READ IT OFF THE RISE IN THE MIRROR.

PRESIDENT EXECUTING THE AGREEMENT WITH ASSISTANT PARIS GOVERNMENT TO PIGGYBACK ON THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH THOMPSON CONSULTANT SERVICES IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE CLEARING, THE SNAG BY YOUR CHECKING THEM OUT, NOT TO EXCEED $174,500 BY THE TRANSPORTATION.

AND JOINING ME IS DIRECTOR REASON FOR EMERGENCY TO MEET CONTRACT DEADLINES.

THIS I REQUEST, UH, ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM MOTION TO DELETE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TO X Y UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, GO AT EIGHT AND IT WAS X Y ON ITEM 78.

WHAT, WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE A CURRENT CONTRACT WITH THOMPSON SCHOLAR ENGINEERING AND DOING, DOING WORK WITH THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.

SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO ACTUALLY RIDE ON THAT CONTRACT.

AND WE AGREED TO THE DOLLAR AMOUNT STILL HAS TO BE MONITORED AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WHAT WE WANT TO DO TO BE IN COMPLETION, UH, FOR THE FEDERAL FUNDS.

BUT, UH, SINCE WE ALREADY HAVE AN EXISTING CONTRACT WITH THEM, WE DIDN'T NEED TO HAVE TO DO TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT PARTICULAR, UH, CONSULTANT SERVICES DOES THE EXISTING CON THANK YOU.

FRED IS THE EXISTING CONTRACT NEED TO COME BACK BEFORE THIS BODY FOR A CONTRACT AMENDMENT.

IT WILL, IT WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO, FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.

AND, UM, I WILL GET WITH MR. UH, RICK SPEAR AND HIS GROUP, THEY'LL BE SURE THAT WE WORK OUT THOSE DETAILS.

YES, SIR.

DOES THAT DELAY AT ALL THE TIMEFRAME FOR WORK? IT COULD, BUT I THINK NUMBER ONE, THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON THE ASCENSION PARISH SIDE, BUT THEY WANT TO TRY TO MOVE OVER TO, UH, THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARASITE.

AND I'LL BE GLAD WHEN THEY GET THERE, CAUSE I'M TIRED OF GETTING THE PHONE CALLS OR WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE.

UH, BUT, UH, THEY ALL HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF DOING WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO TO ADDRESS IT.

IT JUST POINTED, I THINK WE'LL BE IN GOOD SHAPE.

I WOULD PREFER JUST TO RIDE ON THAT PARTICULAR CONTRACT.

IT MAKES IT SIMPLER FOR US FROM A MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT.

I MEAN, I'M JUST MY ENCOURAGEMENT TO EXPEDITE AS, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO GET IT TO THIS BODY SO THAT WE'RE NOT SAYING NOW STOP WORK UNTIL IT REACHES THE COUNTY.

NO, SIR.

NOT.

IN FACT, YOU MAY SEE WHEN WE COME UP NEXT COUNCIL MEETING AS AN ITEM FOR EMERGENCY TO DO THAT, BUT IT JUST MADE MORE SENSE SINCE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE ALREADY AN EXISTING CONTRACT WITH THEM TO GO RIDE ON THAT.

AND INSTEAD OF PIGGYBACKING OFF OF, THANK YOU FOR COUNCIL MEMBER, HUDSON, FRED, WHAT, WHAT IS THE SCOPE OF THE CURRENT CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE WITH, IS IT HE SAID THOMPSONS.

SO, WELL CURRENTLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING, THEY'RE MONITORING ALL THE DEBRIS REMOVAL.

THEY'RE OUT THERE ON THE ACTUAL CHANNEL ITSELF AND WATCHING WHAT'S BEING REMOVED.

WE HAVE WOOD ALSO DEALING WITH ALL SOUTH WHO WILL BE ON THE BOAT THERE ALSO TO GO OUT THERE AND SAY, THIS IS MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS, THIS DOESN'T.

SO THEY'D GO OUT THERE AND MAKE SURE WHATEVER IT GETS REMOVED.

THEN THERE THAT THEY HAVE TO AUTHORIZE

[01:20:01]

IT.

THEN THEY BRING IT TO THE SHORE, THEY MEASURE IT.

THEN IT GOT TO GET SHREDDED UP AT THE LANDFILL.

SO THEY HAVE A LOT OF STEPS AND PROCESSES THEY GO THROUGH BEFORE.

AND WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT THE TONNAGE IS CORRECT BECAUSE DRC IS THE ONE THAT WOULD BE, WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THEM ALSO.

SO, SO THE GENERAL SCOPE IS DEBRIS MONITORING FOR CERTAIN THINGS.

IT'S CURRENTLY, IT WOULD BE FOR THIS, THE BAYOU MAN AT THIS POINT, WE CAN RIDE IT, BUT I'M ASKING FOR THAT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE SET UP.

I CAN'T CON COMBINE OTHER PROJECTS WITH THAT AT THIS POINT.