[00:00:01]
CHAMBER OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.GOOD TO HAVE ALL OF YOU TUNED IN TONIGHT.
OUR METROPOLITAN COUNCIL IS DELIGHTED THAT YOU'RE JOINING OUR BROADCAST
[CALL TO ORDER]
AND WE'RE SET TO GO.AND HERE IS THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT BROTES HIM OF EAST BATON ROUGE, PARISH, COUNCILMAN BELMONT COLE.
AT THIS TIME, WE'LL PASS IT TO COUNCIL MEMBER, AMA ROSA, TO INTRODUCE OUR GUESTS TO WE'LL BE DOING THE INVOCATION AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
UH, WE HAVE REVEREND ARTHUR JOHNSON, WHO IS THE CHAPLAIN FOR THE AMERICAN LEGION, POST 38.
HE WILL BE DOING OUR PRAYER FOR US.
UM, AFTER THE PRAYER, WE WILL HAVE OUR COLORS PRESENTED BY THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE AND THE EAST BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND DOING OUR PLEDGE FOR US.
WE HAVE TO SEE CADETS OVER HERE THAT HAVE, UH, COME ALL THE WAY DOWNTOWN FOR US.
HALLOWED BE THY NAME, THY KINGDOM.
COME LET THAT WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
GIVE US THIS DAY, OUR DAILY BREAD AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES.
AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US, LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL ONE.
WE COME, WE LIFT UP OUR CITY OFFICIALS, BOTH THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL FATHER.
WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD WRAP YOUR ARMS AROUND OUR POLICE CHIEF FOLLOW.
WE PRAY FOR PEACE ON OUR CITY STREETS FOR ALL THE WEEK COME TODAY.
AND WE PRAYED AND IN COTTAGE TO YOUR WHEEL, PAULA, THAT THIS CITY AS BEING MADE AND RENDERED APPROPRIATE HOT CITY, THAT WE CAN JOIN HANDS AND WALK SIDE BY SIDE.
AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS, FATHER, WE ASK YOUR BLESSING ON EACH HOME.
WE PRAY FOR PEACE AND LOVE TERRAIN BURIEN, AND BOBBY'S IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST THAT WE LOOKED UP.
ALL OF THOSE THAT'S ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
ALL OF THOSE HAVE GONE BEFORE US ON THE BATTLEFIELD AND FATHER.
WE PRAY A SPECIAL BLESSING AND HEALING FOR THOSE THAT HAVE RECEIVED INJURIES WHILE IN COMBAT LORD JESUS.
WE GIVE YOU GLORY AND IT'S IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.
OUR SAVIOR THAT WE MAKE DISTRICT QUEST NOW.
PLEASE JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH HIS SAYINGS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY.
[00:05:12]
OH,I LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AND WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEET ON THIS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10TH, 2022.
AFTER DO WE HAVE A FORUM? WE HAVE
[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
A QUORUM ITEM ON A PROVEN ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 27TH, 2022, AND THE GREATER BATON ROUGE AIRPORT COMMISSION MEETING OF AUGUST 2ND, 2022 BY COUNCIL ADMINISTRATIVE TREASURER.IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE, SHOWING NONE.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM ONE? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL NUMBER DONE SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCK ITEM.
[INTRODUCTIONS]
PASSING AS YOU PLEASE READ THE INTRODUCTION.NUMBER TWO, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED KENDRA BOOKER VERSUS MARK BROWN ON THE DOCK OF THE 19TH JDC AND THE AMOUNT OF $82,500 PLUS COURT COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $285 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY NUMBER THREE, AUTHORS AND SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED THOMAS FRAMPTON VS THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IN THE AMOUNT OF $86,000 AND APPROPRIATE AND $86,000 FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY NUMBER FOR AMENDING THE 2022 PAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED NON-CLASSIFIED CONTRACT, FIRE POLICE, EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, JUST TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING CHANGES EFFECTIVE AUGUST 27TH, 2022, I'M IN THE CLASSIFIED AND UNCLASSIFIED APPENDIX ONE, ADD ITEM 25, A ONE-TIME NON PENSIONABLE RETENTION ALLOWANCE OF $5,000 FULLY PAID TO ELIGIBLE ACTIVE AND NEW EMPLOYEES.
THE ONE-TIME RETENTION ALLOWANCE WILL BE PAID IN TWO INCREMENTS, $2,500 AFTER SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A 90 DAY SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE REVIEW FOR THE FALL SEMESTER, AUGUST, 2022 THROUGH DECEMBER 2ND, 2022 AND THE SPRING SEMESTER, JANUARY, 2023 THROUGH AUGUST 30TH, 2023, EMPLOYEES WILL BE ISSUED THE FIRST $2,500 PAYMENT ON PAYCHECK DATED DECEMBER 23RD, 2022 AND THE SECOND $2,500 PAYMENT ON MAY 31ST, 2023 HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
HEADSTART CLASSIFICATIONS ARE IDENTIFIED AS FOLLOWS FAMILY ADVOCATE, FAMILY ADVOCATE, 9.5 MONTHS, HEAD START CENTER SUPERVISOR HEADSTART CENTER SUPERVISOR 9.5 MONTHS TEACHER 9.5 MONTHS, TEACHER ADVANCED TEACHER ADVANCED 9.5 MONTHS TEACHERS AID TEACHERS AID 9.5 MONTHS BY THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES AND HUMAN RESOURCES, DIRECTOR NUMBER FIVE, AUTHORIZE AND SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED NICOLE SMITH AT AL VERSUS CITY OF BATON ROUGE IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,000 AND APPROPRIATING $30,000 FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY NUMBER SIX, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED THE SHAWN HALL VERSUS STEVEN NOODLES AND THE AMOUNT OF $140,000 PLUS COURT COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $88 AND 50 CENTS AND APPROPRIATE IN THAT SUM FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY NUMBER SEVEN, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED DONNA COLLINS VERSUS LIO TO READ IN THE AMOUNT OF A HUNDRED, 5,000 PLUS COURT COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $143 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF 100, $5,143 AND APPROPRIATING THAT SUM FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY NUMBER EIGHT NON-THREATENING SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED PAMELA AND MITCHELL VERSUS WASTE.
QUIT MANUFACTURING COMPANY IN THE AMOUNT OF $75,000 PLUS COURT COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF 1,300, $6 AND 40 CENTS FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $76,306 AND 40 CENTS.
AND APPROPRIATING THAT SUM FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY NUMBER EIGHT, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER SAYA CREOLE VERSUS THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IN THE AMOUNT OF $90,000 AND APPROPRIATING $90,000 FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY NUMBER 10, AMENDING ORDINANCE 1 8, 2 5 TO IMPOSING A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM FOR NEW LAND DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS FOR SPECIFIED PROJECTS WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA, PROVIDING FOR AN ENHANCED DRAINAGE DESIGN REQUIREMENTS WITHIN THE SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREAS.
SO AS TO EXTEND THE EXPIRATION PERIOD BORE AN ADDITIONAL SIX MONTHS FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE BY COUNCILMAN ROWDY, GOATEE COUNCILMAN DENISE AMORUSO COUNCIL WOMAN, CAROLYN COLEMAN, COUNCILMAN DWIGHT, HUDSON AND COUNCILWOMAN, JENNIFER ROCCA, CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER 11, ANNIE MAE ROBINSON 9 9, 6 GREEVES STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS.
NUMBER 12, SHERRY MATTHEWS 3 1 3 2 AMARILLO STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HURST NUMBER 13, MARQUEES ZURICH WILLIAMS 5 6, 3 6 LEMON WOULD DRIVE COUNCIL DISTRICT BOB HURST, NUMBER 14, THE ESTATE OF JESSE CUMMINGS AND THE ESTATE OF BETSY HARGROVE CUMMINGS 6 1 61 BARKSDALE STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HURST NUMBER 15, GERTRUDE SCOTT RUSSELL AT AL 5 1 1 7
[00:10:01]
PEERLESS STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HARRIS NUMBER 16, THE ESTATE OF BETTY SMITH IN THE ESTATE OF KOTEL.THOMAS SMITH, 6 3 3 7 KINCAID AVENUE, COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN, COLE NUMBER 17, MY TO WIN 3 6 4 2 NORTH FOSTER NORTH FOSTER DRIVE COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN, COLE NUMBER 18, THE ESTATE OF JO BEAUCHAMP, 9 7 9 TARA STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 19 LYNN R KIRBY 3 8 2 4 PARTRIDGE LANE COUNCIL DISTRICT 11 ADAMS. NUMBER 20 MILDRED JANE GIVEN HAD HASLIN ADD OUT 2, 4, 3, 2 DELTA STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT 12 ROCCA, ALL ITEMS REQUIRED.
READING HAD BEEN READ AND EMOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS AS AN ORDER, ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN READ.
IS THERE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS, MOTION BY COUNCILMAN ROCCO, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HEARST.
ANY OBJECTION OR ITEMS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED?
[CONDEMNATIONS]
LET'S GO TO YOUR SEPARATE SHEET.COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE CONDEMNATIONS.
I'M GOING TO READ THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
AS THEY'RE STATED, THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 43 47, 48, 49, 50 52 TO 53 54 55 56 59, 60 61 62 DELETE ITEMS, 44, 45, 46, 57 AND 58 AND DEFER FOR 90 DAYS ITEMS 51 ITEM 51.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON CONDEMNATIONS? ANYONE HERE? WE SHOULD JUST SPEAK ALL CONDEMNATIONS.
WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL COUNCIL, MELANOMA, LIKE TO DEFER A NUMBER 50 FOR 30 DAYS, 54 30.
THEN WHAT ELSE? ANYONE ELSE GOING TO READ? STATING RECOMMENDATION? THE CHANGES THERE ARE TO PROCEED.
WHAT ITEMS? 43 47 52 53 55 59, 60 61 62 ELITE ITEMS, 44, 45, 46, 57 AND 50.
DELETE ITEMS. 45 46 57 AND 58.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ALL CONDEMNATIONS? IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. SECOND OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN CONGREGATIONS HAVE BEEN APPROVED COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IF YOU WOULD REFER TO PAGE 11 ITEMS 76, IF YOU WOULD REFER TO PAGE 11 ITEMS 76.
WELL, SHE'S MOVING ON TO TAKE THE PURPLE HOT ITEM.
[63. 22-00968]
I AM 63, A RESOLUTION BY MAYOR, PRESIDENT OF CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EASTBOUND AND MEMBERS OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL OF THESE BATON ROUGE PARISH DECLARING EASTBOUND WITH PARIS PURPLE HEART PARISH BY COUNCILMAN THE NEW SOUND, MELISSA, IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 63, COUNCIL MEMO ALSO MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNSEL.I'M ALSO SECONDED BY EVERYONE.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND COUNCIL.
[76. 22-00876]
I AM 76, A RESOLUTION OF PROVEN EXEMPTION TO LOUISIANA REVISED STATUTE 33 AND 24 76, B ONE C AND PROVIDED THAT THE TEAM MEMBERS ELECTED TO THE MUNICIPAL FIRE AND POLICE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD BY THE BATMANS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ABANDONED FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO BE RESIDENTS OR QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EASTBOUND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCCA.IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT WE SHOULD JUST SPEAK ON ITEM 76, ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ALL ITEM 76, COME ON DOWN, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
GOOD AFTERNOON, JENNIFER CARDWELL, 1855 OLD CARRIAGE LANE.
UM, IT'S WRITTEN IN THE LAW THAT, UH, A PERSON SHOULD BE FROM WITHIN THE PARISH.
THIS BOARD, UH, OVERSEES HOW, UH, OUR POLICE AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT GET PROMOTIONS.
UM, HOW, HOW, UH, ANY, UM, IF THIS BOARD OVERSEES THINGS THAT ARE GERMANE TO THE PARISH, I'VE CALLED, UH, THE SERVICE BOARDS IN LIVINGSTON AND IN ASCENSION PARISH.
UM, THOSE ARE SMALLER PARISHES THAN WE ARE.
THEY HAVE NOT HAD TO HAVE AN EXEMPTION LIKE THIS.
THEY'RE ABLE TO FIND QUALIFIED PEOPLE WITHIN THEIR PARISH.
SO MY QUESTION WOULD BE, UM, IF WE CAN, IF WE DON'T HAVE POLICE OFFICERS AND FIRE OFF, UH, PERSONNEL WHO LIVE IN THE PARISH WILLING TO DO THIS, WHY NOT? UM, WHAT IS OUR PERCENTAGE OF FIRE AND POLICE EMPLOYEES THAT DO LIVE IN THE PARISH? IF, IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE PARISH, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT BECAUSE WE NEED OUR POLICE TO BE HERE.
UM, I BELIEVE THERE ARE ENOUGH PEOPLE WHO ARE EMPLOYED
[00:15:01]
BY THE POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THEY'LL LIVE IN OUR PARISH.UH, AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS NECESSARY.
UM, I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT THE, UH, THE MOTIVE IS FOR HAVING THIS, THIS BROUGHT UP, UM, BECAUSE AS I'VE, I'VE NOTICED THERE HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST TWO TIMES THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ELECTIONS, THERE HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF PEOPLE PUTTING THEIR NAMES FORTH.
ANYONE ELSE? WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 76, ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ITEM 76? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS COUNT.
STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
I'M HERE TO OFFER THE OPINION OF REVEREND ANDERSON WHO HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE SHE FELT SICK.
AND SO SHE ASKED THAT I EXPRESSED HER OPINION ON THIS ITEM TO THE COUNCIL, IF APPROPRIATE, IF I MAY PROCEED, PROCEED.
SO SHE IS OPPOSED TO THIS, UM, RESOLUTION, UM, ON THE PREMISE THAT THERE IS NO CLARITY ON THE INTENTION AND THERE SHOULD BE REPRESENTATION FROM LOCAL RESIDENTS ON THIS PARTICULAR BOARD.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 76.
WE'RE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER MOLT.
SO I LIKE TO BRING A LITTLE CLARIFICATION, WHAT I THINK, AND IN MY INTERPRETATION OF THIS IS ACTUALLY THE POLICE AND FIRE AND SPEAKING WITH THEM IS THEY HAVE TO LIVE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
SO BY HAVING TO LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS, THEN YOU REALLY LIMIT YOUR AVAILABILITY OF THE ONES THAT CAN SERVE ON THE POLICE, FIRE AND CIVIL SERVICE BOARD.
UM, I BELIEVE THE LAST NUMBERS WERE, WAS IT TWO TO 5% ACTUALLY LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS.
AND IF ANYBODY CAN ANSWER THAT, BUT I THINK THAT WAS A NUMBER THAT I GOT LIKE 2% OF THE FOREST OR THE FIRE OR WHATEVER, ACTUALLY LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS OF BATON ROUGE.
I COULD BE WRONG IF YOU'D LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT.
AS IT RELATES TO THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT, 57% OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS, UH, LIVE IN THE PARISH, CORRECT.
HOW MANY LIVE IN THE CITY? 2% LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS.
SO 22% OF THE POLICE FORCE, UM, LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS.
DO WE KNOW WHAT THE, THE IS FOR THE FIRE? NOT SURE YET.
SO WHAT THIS ORDER IS IS DOING IS YOU'RE LIMITING YOUR SERVICE TO THE POLICE FIRE AND CIVIL SERVICE BOARD TWO 20 RIGHT NOW, THE ONLY NUMBER I HAVE IS 22% AS FAR AS THE POLICE FORCE GOES.
UM, SO OPENING UP TO THE, BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO WITH THIS IS OPEN IT UP TO ALL MEMBERS.
WHAT DID THEY, THEY LIVE IN THE PARISH OR IN THE CITY LIMITS OR OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS.
SO THAT, THAT'S MY, JUST FOR CLARITY, LIKE TO CLARIFY, THERE IS A RELEASE TO THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THERE ONLY TWO POLICE EMPLOYEES WERE ELIGIBLE TODAY.
UH, THE VOTE IS ALREADY AS A PROCESS THAT THE LAW REQUIRES IN SELECTING SOMEONE, THE, UH, MEMBERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE ALREADY ELECTED, UH, UH, HAD AN ELECTION.
UH, UH, THOSE, IT WAS ONLY THREE WHO QUALIFIED THE ONLY TWO LEFT.
THERE'S A RUNOFF AND BOTH OF THOSE EMPLOYEES LIVE IN THE PARISH.
SO, UH, THEY WILL BE SITTING ON THAT SEAT FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, I BELIEVE BY THEN.
SO IT WOULDN'T HAVE AN IMPACT ON US BECAUSE THOSE ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES ALREADY LIVE IN THE PARISH.
BUT AS, AS OTHERS COME UP, THEN THIS WOULD AFFECT IT AT THAT POINT, CORRECT.
AS THREE YEARS FROM NOW, CORRECT.
WHAT'S THAT CORRECT? UNLESS ONE STEPS DOWN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHY THIS ORDINANCE, I FEEL, UH, WE SHOULD PASS IT TO MAKE IT ELIGIBLE FOR ALL POLICE FIRE AND CIVIL SERVICE MEMBERS.
COUNSEL NUMBER BANKS, LIKE ALL NIGHT SERVICE AS, UM, A BOARD MEMBER.
OUR COMMISSIONER IS DIFFERENT FROM BEING AN EMPLOYEE IN 2016.
I, UM, PROPOSED AN AGENDA THAT EVERYONE THAT WORKS AT
[00:20:01]
AT THAT TIME, THEY WERE SAYING THERE WERE NO ELIGIBLE PEOPLE.SO, UH, AND THE REASON WHY THAT WAS IT WAS BEING PROPOSED IS BECAUSE IT WAS A HARDSHIP ON, UM, A HARDSHIP ON THE VEHICLES.
WOULD EVERYBODY, I, 10 I 12, UH, THERE WAS MORE BECAUSE OFFICERS TOOK THEIR CARS HOME AND THEY WERE LIVING IN LIVING.
THE MAJORITY WAS LIVING IN LIVINGSTON AND ASCENSION.
DURING THAT TIME, THOSE COMMUNITIES WERE BEING PROTECTED JUST BY THE PRESENCE OF A VEHICLE PARKED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS IS MORRISON COMMISSION ON ALL OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSION.
WE HAVE STIPULATIONS AS TO WHERE AT SOME.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHO CAN MAKE THE APPOINTMENT.
SO, YOU KNOW, ON A VISIT BATON ROUGE, YOU ONLY BE AS A BAD MOOD.
YOU COULD MAKE CERTAIN APPOINTMENT.
ONLY THE MAYOR, ONLY THE COUNCIL.
WE HAVE STIPULATIONS WHERE A COUNCIL MEMBER CAN NOT SERVE ON THE BREAK BOARD ON PLANNING AND ZONING.
AT LEAST ONE PERSON HAS TO LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY PARISH.
ALL ABOUT BOARDS HAVE STIPULATION AND IS TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS AND THE SANCTITY OF THAT ENTITY, NOT THE PERSON.
THIS IS A, NOT ABOUT, UM, AN INDIVIDUAL PREFERENCE AS TO WHERE YOU LIVE.
IT'S ABOUT PROTECTING THE NUCLEUS OF THE ORGANIZATION.
THE MISSION OF THE MUNICIPAL FIRE AND POLICE SERVICE BOARD IS TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF BATON ROUGE AS IT RELATES TO THAT, THE PURPOSE BY WHICH THEY ARE, UM, NOT TO SAY THAT THEY CAN'T, BUT THAT'S WHERE YOU GET INFIDELITY, THAT THE PERSONS ON THE BOARD, OUR REP, OUR LIVING BREATHING HAVE A SPECIAL INTEREST AND COMMITMENT.
THAT IS WHAT THAT'S ABOUT BY US MAKING THIS OPEN TO ANY.
AND EVERYBODY THAT'S GOING TO TAKE US BACK TO WHEN WE HAD AN ALTON STERLING, BECAUSE THE NUMBER ONE REASON THAT CAME OUT IS THE FACT THAT WE HAD SO MANY OFFICERS THAT DID NOT HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY.
THEY DID NOT KNOW THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT IS WHY IT HAS TAKEN AND IS TAKEN SO MUCH TIME FOR US TO BRING A TRUST.
AND, UM, CONGRUENCY, AS IT RELATES TO CRIME IN OUR OFFICERS, THIS DOES MATTER.
IT'S THOSE 10 AND 20 YEARS PRIOR TO, UM, THIS ADMINISTRATION WHERE THAT WAS NOT A PRIORITY THAT THEY DIDN'T POLICE WITHIN, THEY POLICE WITHOUT.
AND SO THAT IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP ALL ABOUT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WITHIN THE, UM, CONFINED THAT THEY, THEY ARE.
UM, IT'S NOT ABOUT WHERE THEY LIVE.
IT'S ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND THE INTEGRITY AND THE, UM, THE SENSITIVITY AND THE RULES WITHOUT, WITHOUT, UM, UH, THE RULES THAT ARE, ARE THE MISSION.
AND THE GOALS ARE SET WITHIN THOSE PARAMETERS BECAUSE THE NEXT THING I NEEDED WOULD NEED TO DO IS PUT A RESOLUTION SAYING THAT, UM, YOU COULDN'T LIVE ANYWHERE TO BE ON PLANNING IS OWNING CAUSE IT'S ABOUT THE ENTITY.
IT'S NOT ABOUT WHERE SOMEBODY LIVE.
AND SO I JUST SAY YOU YOU'RE OPENING UP A FLOOD GATE WHERE WE GO THROUGH THE RULES OF EVERY PLANNING COMMISSION.
AND IF YOU BEGIN TO MAKE THOSE EXEMPTIONS BASED ON, UM, HOW SOMEBODY FEELS OR CHANGING THOSE DYNAMICS, FOR WHATEVER POLITICAL REASONS YOU REALLY GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM.
CAUSE I CAN THINK OF FIVE OR SIX THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED.
UM, BUT THEY, THERE'S A REASON THEY'RE IN PLACE.
SO I, MY PERSONAL OPINIONS ABOUT THAT, WHAT SHOULD HAVE, SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY MERIT.
SO, UM, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE, UM, TO NOT APPROVE THIS ITEM.
I REALLY THINK IT SHOULD BE DELETED, ACTUALLY SET A MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND ON THE MOTION TO DELETE SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DONE ON THE MOTION TO DELETE.
WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER DONE AND THE ACCORDING TO, COULD YOU, ONE OF YOU GUYS COME FORWARD, PLEASE SHOWING YOU WANT TO SPEAK AGAIN OR, OKAY.
I'M ON ALL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
IS THAT CURRENTLY A REQUIREMENT TO LIVE IN THE PARISH TO SERVE ON OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WITH INSTEAD OF BETTER? OH, I CAN'T ASK THAT QUESTION HERE.
I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER THAT OKAY.
I CAN GET THAT TO US, BUT I THINK IT'S ON MOST, IF NOT ALL, I WANT TO MAKE SURE YEAH.
CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS OR STIPULATIONS, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE BOARD IS AND WHAT THEY DO.
[00:25:01]
DO, YOU KNOW, IN THE PLAN, THE GOVERNMENT, WHAT WAS THE REASON? AND I DID, WAS THERE ANY REASONING GIVEN FOR THAT STIPULATION ON THE ONES THAT DO HAVE IT? I CAN'T TELL YOU HERE, BUT I KNOW SOME OF THEM DEAL WITH, UH, IN CERTAIN DISTRICTS THAT YOU LIVE WITHIN THE DISTRICT, SOME OF THEM ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE CERTAIN DEGREES, CERTAIN THINGS OF THAT NATURE.SO IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE BOARD OR THE COMMISSION.
HAVE WE MADE THIS EXCEPTION FOR ANY OTHER BORDER COMMISSION THAT HAD THESE IN PLACE? AGAIN? I DON'T KNOW.
THEY HERE, I CAN FIND OUT FOR YOU.
I JUST, YOU KNOW, ALL I KNOW IS THAT THIS WAS A STATE ENACTED LEGISLATION 12 YEARS AGO, UH, THAT THE CITY UP UNTIL NOW HAS NOT DECIDED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF UNTIL NOW.
SO, UH, THAT I CAN TELL YOU THE ONLY INFORMATION I CAN GET BACK TO YOU ON.
SO YOU SAID IT WAS STATE LEGISLATION THAT ALLOW THAT THEN NOW ALLOWS US TO DO THIS.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE ADOPTING SOUTHERN THAT'S ALREADY WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE AND WE HAD A CHOICE AS A CITY ENTITY TO OPT INTO IT, WHETHER WE WANTED TO HAVE, SO RESIDENTS OF TEXAS, GEORGIA, CALIFORNIA CAN SERVE ON LOUISIANA STATE BOARDS.
NOW I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
I'M TALKING ABOUT FOR FIRE POLICE BOARDS, IT'S SPECIFIC TO FIRING POLICE FOR.
AND SO, AND COURTNEY CAN TELL ME BECAUSE ON THE COURT THAT LOOKED AT A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN ME, BUT IT'S BEEN 12 YEARS THAT THIS WAS ENACTED AND THE CITY NOW HAS A CHOICE TO EITHER OPT IN TO IT OR OPT OUT OF IT.
BUT WE HAVE SOME STATE BOARDS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH FIRE AND POLICE CAN CALIFORNIA, NEVADA, GEORGIA RESIDENTS.
I MEAN, IT WAS THEORY THE WAY THAT THIS IS DRAFTED.
NOW ANYBODY CAN SIT ON THIS BLOCK AND FIGURE THAT MESS UP, BUT I HAVE TO WORK FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECT.
YOU GOTTA BE AN EMPLOYEE OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT YOU CAN COMMUTE FROM TEXAS OR MISSISSIPPI WHENEVER YOU WANT IT TO AND RESUME COME IN HERE.
BUT THIS IS SECONDARY REQUIREMENT TO BEING AN EMPLOYEE OF, OKAY.
COURTNEY, YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT I WOULD, I WOULD, I LIKE TO RESEARCH THAT I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN, THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN NOW, THE WAY, THE WAY THAT IT IS WRITTEN NOW THAT THIS EXCEPTION IS CARVED OUT.
IT JUST, IT JUST SAVES STATES THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OR THE PARISH NOW WHERE THAT EXTENDS TO.
I DON'T KNOW, WITHOUT DOING FURTHER RESEARCH, THAT'S IT CAN SOMEBODY FROM MISSISSIPPI DRIVE IN, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW.
SO IF WE WAS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT LESS BROAD AND FOCUS ON THOSE ISSUES THAT YOU'RE SAYING ARE MISSING.
WELL, TH THIS IS STATE LAW, THIS IS STATE LAW.
WE JUST NEVER OPTED INTO, AND THERE ARE STATE LAWS LIKE THAT.
YOU KNOW, THEY ALLOW THE CITY TO EITHER OPT INTO IT OR NOT.
AND IT'S BEEN THERE SINCE 2010.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT US, AS A CITY COULD PUT, PUT UP SOME, YOU KNOW, MAKE IT MORE NARROW IN SCOPE AND ALL OF THAT WITHOUT, YEAH, WITHOUT RIGHT.
TH THE SECOND THING I WANT TO ADDRESS, AND THIS IS MAYBE FOR THE AUTHOR COUNCIL OR MOROCCO, AND YOU GUYS HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT HERE.
IT STATES THE CITY AND THE PEARS CURRENTLY THE POLICY IS YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN THE PARISH OR THE CITY PARISH TO SERVE.
THEY'RE CURRENTLY ON THE BATON ROUGE, MUNICIPAL FIRE AND POLICE, CIVIL SERVICE BOARD MEMBERS ELECTED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN LIVE IN THE PARISH THAT DO NOT HAVE TO LIVE IN THE CITY.
THIS WOULD ALLOW THEM TO LIVE OUTSIDE OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
I, I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME INFORMATION ON, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE QUESTIONS I ASKED Y'ALL, I DON'T THINK WE PREPARED AT THIS POINT WITH, YOU KNOW, THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTIONS YOU GUYS COULDN'T ANSWER TO REALLY TAKE A VOTE ON THIS, BUT I MEAN, AS IT STANDS, I'M AGAINST IT.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ABOUT THE PAST EAST BATON ROUGE.
WHY SHOULD WE LET PEOPLE FROM LIVINGSTON ASCENSION AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE SERVE ON OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
WE CAN'T SERVE ON THEIR BOARDS AND COMMISSION TO MY KNOWLEDGE, RESIDENTS OF NEVADA CAN SERVE ON LOUISIANA STATE BOARDS AND COMMISSION.
WE CAN'T SERVE ON, UH, TEXAS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE NEED TO DO THIS.
WE HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH PEOPLE IN THE PAST EAST BATON ROUGE BEDS THAT WORKED FOR POLICE FIRE THAT CAN SERVE ON THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
WE'VE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH GETTING ANYBODY TO SERVE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASSURE EVERYONE HERE THAT BEFORE I PUT THIS ON HERE, I DID MY HOMEWORK.
AND, UM, BASED UPON MY HOMEWORK AND RESEARCH, 43% OF OUR OFFICERS ALONE LIVE OUTSIDE OF THIS PARISH.
AND THEY'RE NOT ELIGIBLE TO SERVE ON OUR BOARDS NOW UNTIL WE RAISE THE PAY AND THIS MAYOR HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF RAISING PAY FOR OUR OFFICERS UNTIL WE RAISE THE PAY TO WHERE THEY CAN LIVE IN THE CITY, SEND THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL IN THE CITY, AFFORD HOUSING IN THIS CITY.
THEN WE, WE CAN'T HAVE THESE REQUIREMENTS HERE UNTIL WE ARE MATCHING OTHER OFFICER'S
[00:30:01]
PAY LIKE STATE POLICE, UM, ALL THE OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.THEN, THEN WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T REQUIRE THIS, OR IT'S NOT REASONABLE.
THE OTHER ISSUE THAT I HAVE WITH THIS AND WHAT MOST OF US SITTING HERE DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WHEN AN OFFICER GOES TO WORK IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND THEN GOES HOME IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, HE OR SHE, THEY'RE NEVER OFF WORK.
THEIR NEIGHBORS COME, THEIR NEIGHBORS KNOCK ON THEIR DOORS.
THEIR NEIGHBORS ARE ALWAYS ASKING THEM FOR HELP AND FOR CERTAIN MORE SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
SO SOMETIMES THESE OFFICERS HAVE TO ESCAPE THE CITY AND THE PARENTS TO BE ABLE TO LIVE AND WORK.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE CONVERSATION, HOLD ON.
THE OFFICERS THAT NEVER GET TIME OFF.
SO REQUIRING THEM TO LIVE WITHIN THE PARISH.
IT WOULD BE LIKE ME SITTING HERE LOOKING ALL OF OUR CITY OFFICIALS, ALL OF THESE PEOPLE BACK HERE, OUR PARISH ATTORNEY, OUR CHIEF OF POLICE AND TELL THEM ALL YOU HAVE TO LIVE WITHIN THE CITY LIMIT.
THAT WOULD CHANGE DRASTICALLY.
WHO'S SITTING AND REPRESENTING US HERE TODAY.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
IF THERE ARE ANY OFFICERS OR FIREMEN OR FIRE WOMEN THAT WANT TO COME IN AND SPEAK TO THIS, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO.
BUT THE REMINDER IS 43% OF OUR OFFICERS LIVE OUTSIDE OF OUR PARISH.
AND UNTIL THAT CHANGES, WE OPEN THE BOARD UP.
AND THE REALITY OF IT IS THE CHIEF JUST CAME UP HERE AND SPOKE TO IT.
WE DON'T HAVE A POSITION AVAILABLE FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE SITTING HERE IN THIS AUDIENCE, SITTING HERE IN THIS ROOM, LET'S MAKE THAT CHANGE TO WHERE ALL OF OUR OFFICERS WANT TO LIVE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LET'S CHANGE THAT.
LET'S MAKE ALL OF OUR FIREMEN LIVE HERE, BUT UNTIL WE GET THERE AND THOSE NUMBERS CHANGE, THEN THERE'S NO REASON NOT TO APPROVE THIS WELL, GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.
SO THIS IS WHERE HISTORY COMES UP.
AND THIS IS WHERE PEOPLE WHO JUST BEGAN TO SERVE ON THE COUNCIL DON'T HAVE HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE.
WE HAVE 43% FOR THE MOST PART BECAUSE OF RACISM BECAUSE PREVIOUS CHIEFS AND PREVIOUS PERSONS WHO WERE CHOOSING, AND THEY HAD A MATRIX THAT WAS DISCRIMINATING AGAINST BLACK OFFICERS.
AND THAT IS WHY THE NUMBERS AND WE'RE HIGHER IN ASCENSION AND LIVINGSTON BECAUSE YOU ONLY NEED A SEVEN AT THE TIME.
YOU ONLY NEED AN 18, UM, AN EDUCATION, A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION.
SO WE'LL HAVE OFFICERS WHERE THE DADDY LIKE WE HAD IN SALAMONI THE DADDY, THE MAMA, THE AUNT, THE UNCLE, THAT IS WHY WE'VE HAD 43%.
AND THOSE OFFICERS WERE NOT, IT WAS NOT THAT THEY COULD NOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN BATON ROUGE.
THEY DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE IN BATON ROUGE.
AND JUST AS OFFICERS WHO LIVE HERE, I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY, I'M A COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT THAT CAN'T NOBODY JUST COME TO MY HOUSE AS A COUNCIL WOMAN KNOCKING ON THE DOOR WITH A PROBLEM.
AND IT W BUT WHAT WE DO HAVE QUITE THE CONTRARY IS A BR PD OFFICERS.
VEHILL CODE SETTING IN A DRIVEWAY IN ASCENSION, IN LIVINGSTON AND SAINT ALENA.
AND AS I SAID, THAT MAKES, IF YOU HAVE A POLICE OFFICER CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY, CHANCES ARE CRIMINALS NOT GOING TO GO THERE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THOSE CARS SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT.
AND THEN THE GARAGE IS OF OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR CITY, AND THEN OUR PARISH.
AGAIN, AS I SAID, AND THAT IS WHY I WAS LAUGHING.
I WAS NOT LISTENING TO A COUNCILWOMAN ROCKER, CAUSE I KNEW SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT.
I WAS TALKING TO
AND IT WAS NOT APPROVED BY THIS COUNCIL.
I'M GOING TO PUT IT ON AGAIN, SINCE WE LOOKED LIKE I MIGHT HAVE ONE EXTRA VOTE.
SO I'LL PUT THAT AGENDA ON THE ITEM.
THAT IS WHY THE NUMBERS ARE LOW.
THAT IS WHY THE COMMUNITY AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY WAS NOT APPLYING FOR JOBS BECAUSE THE POLICE OFFICERS WERE SAYING THAT WHEN THEY DID HAVE THE DOUBT, THEY WERE BEING HARASSED BY OLD WHITE OFFICERS.
SO LET'S NOT TRY TO JUST THINK ABOUT THE 43% HAS ANYTHING TO DO, BUT AGAIN, A HISTORY
[00:35:01]
OF RACISM AND PRACTICES THAT WERE NOT FAVORABLE FOR BLACK OFFICERS THAT WANTED TO SERVE.SO THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO GET STRAIGHT.
WE HAVE A RAISE THIS BASICALLY EVERYWHERE I GO.
I SEE A LOT MORE OFFICERS ON THE ROAD, SO IT'S WORKING, BUT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
YOU CAN'T LIVE YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AT DOING WRONG.
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO STILL GOING TO TURN AROUND.
IT IS GOING TO TAKE CONSISTENCY.
IT USUALLY TAKES LONGER TO GET IT RIGHT.
THAT'S THE HISTORY THAT WE KNOW THAT HAVE BEEN ON HIS COUNCIL THAT HAVE LIVED IN THESE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE ENGAGED IN THE NORTHERN PART OF IT.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED A SIX, SIX COUNCIL.
SO THE PEOPLE THAT CAN REPRESENT AND KNOW THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHAT HAS GONE ON IN THE PAST, AS IT RELATES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT REPRESENTATION, COUNCIL MEMBER MOKE.
NOW THAT WE'RE READY FOR THE REST OF THE STORY, AS FAR AS WHAT YOU WANT TO CALL RACISM, AND WHETHER PEOPLE WORK IN PUBLIC SERVICE 24, 7 OR NOT, I CAN TELL YOU FROM A PUBLIC SERVICE PERSON PERSONNEL, HEY, HEY, HEY, WE'RE NOT GONNA, HEY, LET'S CALL THE QUESTION.
WHEN I GO BACK AND FORTH THERE, WE'RE NOT GOING BACK AND FORTH.
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO DELETE THE ITEM.
THERE'S A SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER.
ROBERT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE SELF TO TWO MOTION? IS THERE A SECOND FOR THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION? I'LL MAKE THE SECOND, BUT I NO MORE, NO MORE CONVERSATION ON THIS ITEM AT ALL.
WHEN I VOTE ON THAT
COUNCIL, WOMAN, SPEAK, HEY, HEY, NO, NO, NO, NO.
IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE FEARFUL, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SPEAK.
IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE CIVIL, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE CIVIL, WE CAN CONVERSE ABOUT THIS UNTIL THE TIME RUNS OUT.
BUT IF THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE ON HIS BODY CAN NOT BE CIVIL WITH EACH OTHER.
AND WE MOVE INTO THE NEXT DAY.
I DID NOT THINK I WAS GOING OUT OF ORDER BY STATING ANSWERING THE QUESTION OR THE STATEMENT THAT WAS MADE ABOUT THE SERVICE OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS IN OUR FIREFIGHTER, WHICH WAS THE ONLY ROUTE THAT I WAS GOING.
AND HERE WE DON'T VOTE ON IT, RIGHT? THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE, WHERE I APOLOGIZE.
THE STATEMENT WAS MADE COUNCIL MEMBER MODE.
WE DON'T VOTE ON THE MACHINES, BUT SUBSTITUTE IRON.
WE VOTED ON THE MACHINES FOR THE SUBSTITUTE ITEMS. THE SUBSTITUTE ITEM IS TO DELETE THE ITEM ITSELF TO MOTION IS TO DELETE THE ITEM.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS TO APPROVE.
THE ORIGINAL MOTION WAS TO DELETE.
WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION FOR SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO APPROVE.
THIS MOTION IS TO APPROVE, APPROVE THE ITEM TO PASS.
I THOUGHT WE FIRST HEARD ABOUT THE FIRST TWO APPROVAL.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SWITCH MY VOTE? YES.
TO APPROVE THE ITEM HE WANTS TO VOTE.
I THOUGHT HE WAS DOING HER MOTION.
I'M GOING TO OPEN THE MACHINES ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
MOTION CARRIES MOVING ON ITEM 64.
YOU CAN NOT HAVE ANY CONVERSATION.
[64. 22-01006]
64 OF RESOLUTION TO APPROVE.AND THE ISSUE IS THE SALE OF DELIVERY OF A, NOT TO EXCEED 9 MILLION REVENUE BOND SERIES 20 20, 2 OF THE ST.
GEORGE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT.
NUMBER TWO OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, AND THE OTHER MATTERS RELATING THERE TO BY THE ST.
GEORGE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 64, ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 64.
WHEN I GO TO COUNCIL TODAY, ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 64, MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND
[65. 22-00874]
OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS, WE NOW GO TO ITEM 65, A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CALLING IN THE ELECTION OF A SONG.JOE AT FIRE PROTECTION EDITION.
NUMBER TWO, PARENTS OF EAST BATON ROUGE, STOLLER, THE WE, THEY HAD ON DECEMBER 10TH, 2022 FOR THE PURPOSE OF AUTHORIZING THE COLLECTION OF FULL MEALS, AD VALOREM TAX AND DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE AND THE FIRE PROTECTION FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL FOR THE FIRE, JUST FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS BY PHONE JAIL, FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT.
ANYONE WHO WISH TO SPEAK ITEM 65.
WHEN I GO TO COUNCIL, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MOTION TO APPROVE OUR COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS? IS THERE A SECOND? SO SEVEN 70 BY COUNCIL
[66. 22-00995]
NUMBER GO THERE.WE NOW GO TO ITEM 66 AMENDING THE 20, 22 ANGRY OPERATING BUDGET.
SO AS TO APPROPRIATE $48,397,775 OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THE LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS AND THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT TO PROVIDE
[00:40:01]
FUNDING AS DESCRIBED IN THE REQUEST FOR THE BUDGET SUPPLEMENT 8, 8, 9, 8 BY MAYOR PRESIDENT.IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 66? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL IT'S MEMBERS.
YOU SHOULD HAVE HAD ONE EMAIL COMMENT OPPOSED TO ITEM 66.
IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOLE BY COUNCIL AND NAPOLEON.
THE SECOND OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBER DONE IT THERE.
ANYONE IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION ITEM 66 ITEM 66 HAS BEEN APPROVED
[67. 22-00996]
WHEN I GO TO ITEM 67, I'M ON THE 2022 PAGE PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED OR UNCLASSIFIED NON-CLASSIFIED CONTRACT, FIRE PROTECTION, EMPLOYEES OF CIVIL BATON REPAIRS OF EAST BATON ROUGE.SO AS TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING CHANGES EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2022 FROM REGULAR CLASSIFIED NON-CLASSIFIED CIVIL PAY PLAN INQUIRIES, 5% ALL CLASSIFIED AND UNCLASSIFIED CIVIL SERVICE CLASSIFICATIONS, 5% ACROSS THE BOARD INCREASED ALL CLASSIFIED AND UNCLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES.
WHEN THIS WILL FIRE PAY PLAN INCREASE POLICE PERCENT, ALL MUNICIPAL FIRE CLASSIFICATIONS, 5% ACROSS THE BOARD INCREASE THE TIME IN THIS FULL FIRE PAY PLAN.
AND THIS POLICE PAY PLAN INCREASED 7% ALL MUNICIPAL POLICE CLASSIFICATION, 7% ACROSS THE BOARD INCREASED TO IN TIME MUNICIPAL POLICE PAY PLAN, PAY GRADE TRUNCATION.
AND ONCE THE POLICE PAY PLAN POLICE OFFICE IN JOB CODE 5, 0 0 5, PAY GRADE 3, 0 9, 0 FROM STEP TO STEP FIVE INCLUDES 7% INCREASE BY MORE PRESENT AND HUMAN SERVICES.
HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 67.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON? I HAVE 67 COME DOWN, SIR.
STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNION BATON ROUGE POLICE AND, UH, 3 0 1 MAIN STREET IS OPERATING ADDRESS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. PRO TIP COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR CHIEF I'M BRANDON NAIL, THE PRESIDENT UNION VETERANS POLICE JOINING ME TODAY IS VICE-PRESIDENT THORNTON.
WE AT THE BATON ROUGE, VIRGINIA, AND THE POLICE WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION FOR THE 7% PAY RAISE FOR THE BATON ROUGE OFFICERS THAT IS BEFORE YOU TODAY, WE VIEW THIS RAISES A VERY GOOD START TO MAKING BATON ROUGE MORE COMPETITIVE FOR THE NEW OFFICERS AT THE DEPARTMENT, BUT THIS WELL-DESERVED PAY RAISE DOES NOT FEEL THE GAP POINTED OUT IN THE 2019 PAY STUDY COMMISSIONED BY THE CITY PARISH GOVERNMENT TO ACHIEVE EITHER PARODY OR SUPERIORITY.
BASED ON THE FINDINGS OF THAT STUDY, MORE WORK WILL NEED TO BE DONE.
THE UNION HAS A NEW CONTRACT TO PRESENT TO THE MAYOR, WHICH WILL INCLUDE INSTEAD OF PAYS TO INCREASE INSTEAD OF PAY INCREASES FOR OFFICERS LIVING WITHIN THE CITY PARISH AND WITHIN THE PARISH.
THE CONTRACT ALSO LOOKS AT OTHER PAY IT ENHANCEMENTS OUT OF DIFFERENCE TO THE DEMANDING SCHEDULE, TO THE MAYOR.
WE HAVE HAD SOME POSTPONEMENTS FOR DELIVERY OF THIS CONTRACT.
WE HOPE TO HAVE THE CONTRACT MEETING VERY SOON.
IN ADDITION, THIS RAISE WILL START AT PAY STEP FIVE WITHOUT A CORRESPONDING ADDITION OF FOUR PAY STEPS AT THE END OF THE PAY CHART, WHICH MEANS MANY OFFICERS WILL BE CAPPED EARLY IN THEIR CAREERS AND WILL THEN BE EASILY RECRUITED TO OTHER AGENCIES ARE PRONE TO RETIRING EARLY, WHICH WILL INHIBIT RETENTION OF, UH, EFFORTS AMONG ALL OF OUR MOST EXPERIENCED OFFICERS.
WE HOPE WE HOPE THAT THE SUPPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE COUNCIL, WE CAN, WE CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS IN COMPENSATION FOR THE DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY, OH YES, SIR.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS APPROACH.
10 COUNCIL MEMBERS, CHIEF MANGER.
UM, WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO GET MISCONSTRUED.
YOU HAVE AN UNPOPULAR PAINTING THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN BE GREEDY OR THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN A RAISE OR WE'VE HAD RAISES BEFORE.
AND I UNDERSTAND THE SKEPTICISM ON THAT.
HOWEVER, THIS ISN'T ANYTHING TO TOWARDS THAT.
UM, I LOVE TO SAY TO YOU, I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 2009.
I CHALLENGE ANYBODY TO SAY I'D LOVE TO STAY MORE THAN I DO.
I BELIEVE YOU'RE BEING TOGETHER.
I'VE COME TO YOUR CRASHES EVERY TIME YOU CALLED US.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, WE DON'T WANT TO BE RICH.
NONE OF US SICK, A JOB WOULD BE RICH.
WE TOOK THIS JOB TO BE PUBLIC SERVANTS.
AND I BELIEVE IN THAT I'VE BEEN HERE FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END AND I DON'T PLAN ON GOING ANYWHERE.
I PLAN ON SERVING YOU AND THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY.
I LIKE YOU TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT A LOT OF MY FRIENDS AND PARTNERS ARE LEAVING.
I LIVED ON A LITTLE LANE WHEN I MOVED HERE BECAUSE I LOVED THE CITY.
UNFORTUNATELY I LEFT BECAUSE I'M RAISING THREE CHILDREN.
I CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE ANYMORE.
I'M ASKING YOU TO HELP US BRING US BACK WHERE WE NEED TO BE, TO BE COMPETITIVE TO THIS DAY.
I'M LOSING FRIENDS AND PEOPLE THAT I'VE STRUGGLED IN BLED WITH ON THESE
[00:45:01]
STREETS, PROTECTING YOU ALL AGAIN.THAT'S NOT MEANT TO BE OFFENSIVE.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT TO TAKE A DIG AT ANYONE HERE.
THERE WERE OUTSTANDING MEN AND WOMEN THAT WORK IN THIS DEPARTMENT.
A LOT OF THINGS GO ON EVERY DAY AND EVERY NIGHT THAT AREN'T SEEN OR VIEWED THAT PEOPLE WOULD NEVER KNOW ABOUT.
WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP TO GET US COMPETITIVE, TO BETTER SERVE YOU AND TO SERVE THE FUTURE GENERATIONS THAT ARE COMING UP AT THIS CURRENT POINT.
I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT I MAY NOT LIVE ON ELITE ANYMORE, BUT I COME HERE EVERY DAY AND I ANSWER THE RADIO AND I ANSWERED YOUR PHONE CALLS JUST AS WELL AS ANYBODY ELSE WILL.
I WANT YOU GUYS TO BELIEVE IN THAT AND UNDERSTAND THAT THIS ISN'T AN ATTEMPT TO BE RICH IS TO BE COMPETITIVE AND TO GIVE US A CHANCE TO RAISE OUR CHILDREN AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES AT A COMPETITIVE PAY RATE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM CHIEF, THE AFTERNOON COUNSEL ON BEHALF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, HAVING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD YOUR, YOUR CITY'S BRAVEST.
WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING FOR US.
ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR, WORKING WITH US TO GET US A LITTLE RAISE, WE GREATLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL AND HOPE FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO HELP MY MEN AND WOMEN EVERY DAY TO, TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE THEY DO TO YOUR CITIZENS.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS RACE.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY ITEM, COME ON DOWN STATION NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
NONE OF HER CAR WHILE 1855 OLD CARRIAGE LANE.
UM, I, UH, I INITIALLY LOOKED AT THIS AND THOUGHT, OH, THAT'S GREAT.
AND THEN WHEN I HEARD THE OFFICERS SPEAK, I REALIZED THAT THEY HAD A REALLY GOOD POINT.
UH, OUR OFFICERS PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY DAY.
UH, AND WHAT I DO KNOW, UM, AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN, UH, ON OUR, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE TEAM OF TOGETHER, BATON ROUGE, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT PAY.
UM, OUR OFFICER'S PAY IS LESS THAN THE CITY OF GONZALES.
THE CITY OF GONZALES DOESN'T HAVE THE CRIME ISSUES.
WE'VE GOT, IT'S A LOT EASIER TO GO TOOTLE AROUND GONZALES FOR A BETTER PAYCHECK THAN IT IS TO STAY HERE.
WE GIVE GOOD TRAINING WHERE WE'RE ASKING OUR OFFICERS TO BE MEETING, UM, BEST PRACTICES, UH, AND, AND REFORMING AND, AND DOING ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO FOR A SALARY THAT IS NOT, NOT APPROPRIATE.
SO, UM, PLEASE GIVE EVERYBODY THEIR PAY RAISES HERE, BUT BE READY TO GIVE POLICE PAY RAISES AGAIN BECAUSE THEY NEED TO BE, UH, THEY NEED TO BE AT THE LEVEL WHERE EVERYONE ELSE IS IN OUR STATE, OR WE'RE GOING TO KEEP TRAINING PEOPLE AND LOSING THEM.
UH, AND THAT'S PROBLEM FOR US THINKING, WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.
UH, ANYONE ELSE BEFORE THE CHIEF SPEAKS, ANYONE ELSE COULD ACHIEVE, I WANT TO SAY, EXCUSE ME, YOU WANT TO SPEAK, COME ON.
FIRST OFF, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK MAYOR BROOME IN REGARDS TO THE 5% RANGE.
AND ALSO WITH THE, HOPEFULLY THE COUNCIL WAS SUPPORTIVE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE STRUGGLED JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, BUT THIS PAY RATE FOR ME AND A LOT TO OUR EMPLOYEES, OR HELP US AT LEAST GET A LITTLE MORE IN OUR JOB OR WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I, UH, UH, TELL THE COUNCIL, WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THAT OUR PEOPLE ARE DESERVED IN MY OPINION.
AND CERTAINLY WILL TRY TO BE A PLUS ON THAT FROM A SERVICE STANDPOINT.
I WANT TO, I WANT TO SAY ON BEHALF OF ALL THE EMPLOYEES, NOT JUST LAW ENFORCEMENT, CAUSE REMEMBER THIS IS NOT JUST OUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE GETTING A RAID.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF ALL OF OUR, UH, EMPLOYEES AND, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS OUR POLICE.
YOU DON'T FOR THE FIRST TIME, THIS IS A, IF YOU APPROVE IT, WHICH I KNOW YOU ARE, RIGHT.
I DO, I CAN SEE THE SUPPORT HERE.
UM, LOOK, IT PUTS US WHERE WE, WHERE WE ARE IN RELATION TO OUR PEER AGENCIES, YOU KNOW, PUTS US UP THERE WITH THE STATE POLICE.
NOW, IF YOU HAVE A DEGREE AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE 3% THAT WE CAN CONTINUE FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE'RE GOING TO BE AT THAT 13% THAT THIS BODY WILL HAVE APPROVED, UH, IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS.
SO ON BEHALF OF THE MEN AND WOMEN, I WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
WE'RE NOT QUITE WHERE THAT, UH, PAY STUDY WAS, BUT I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE INTO FINANCE, TO BE ABLE TO GIVE A RAISE LIKE THIS, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE VOTING ON SHORTLY WITHOUT GOING TO THE VOTERS AND ASKING FOR MORE TAX DOLLARS, ESPECIALLY DURING SOME DIFFICULT TIMES RIGHT NOW.
SO I WANT TO SAY AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK FINANCE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, UH, FOR, UH, WORKING ON EFFICIENCIES, UH, TO HELP US RECOGNIZE THIS PAY WITHOUT GOING TO THE VOTERS AND ASKING FOR MORE MONEY.
[00:50:08]
UM, I HESITATED TO COME UP HERE BECAUSE AFTER DECADES OF, UH, PUBLIC SERVICE, SOMETIMES, UH, LESS IS MORE, UH, BUT I FELT COMPELLED TO COME UP HERE AND TALK A LITTLE BIT, UH, AS YOU PREPARE TO HOPEFULLY APPROVE THE PAY RAISES FOR ALL OF OUR HARD WORKING CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES.AND AS YOU WOULD OFTEN SAY, MIRROR PRO TIM, LET'S GIVE THEM ALL OF OUR HARDWORKING CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES AROUND THE FOOTBALL AS YOU KNOW, UH, THE INCREASE OF 5% IS THE FIRST TIME THAT CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES HAVE RECEIVED A, UH, COLA RAISE SINCE 2015.
I LIKE TO GET THE FACTS OUT THERE.
WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT WE OFTEN GIVE MERIT RAISES ANNUALLY, BUT ACROSS THE BOARD, IT'S BEEN 25TH TEEN AS FOR OUR BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH I CERTAINLY EMBRACE ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DO TO SOLIDIFY PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I WANT IT TO BE VERY CLEAR FIRST.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COOPERATION BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU REMEMBER LAST YEAR WE GAVE THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT, A 6% RAISE THIS YEAR.
THAT MEANS 13% TOTAL WITHIN A TWO YEAR PERIOD OR A YEAR AND A HALF.
AND WHILE WE CONTINUALLY WILL WORK, NOT ONLY FOR BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BE COMPETITIVE, BUT FOR ALL OF OUR CITY PARISH PAYROLL TO BE COMPETITIVE, I THINK 13% IS TAKING US A LONG WAY FROM WHERE THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS.
WE THANK ALL OF OUR OFFICERS FOR THEIR SERVICE.
WE ALSO THINK OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR SERVICE, THEY PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE WHEN THEY GO INTO BURNING BUILDINGS AS WELL, OR WHEN THEY GO OUT TO ACCIDENTS OFTEN.
WE HAVE A, A PLETHORA OF INDIVIDUALS WHO I COULD GO ON AND ON AND NAME WHO CONTRIBUTE TO STRENGTHENING THE FABRIC OF THIS COMMUNITY.
AND EVERY ONE OF THEM DESERVE TO MAKE A LIVING SO THAT THEY CAN PAY THEIR BILLS AND MAINTAIN THEIR DIGNITY.
AND IT WILL BE MY CONTINUOUS OBJECT, A GOAL TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS HAPPENS.
AND I BELIEVE WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL THAT WE WILL GET THERE LAST BUT NOT LEAST TO THE CITIZENS OF BATON ROUGE.
I HAVE TO THANK OUR HARD WORKING FINANCE DEPARTMENT, HR DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE WHILE MANY THOUGHT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET A RAISE UNLESS WE RAISED TAXES ON THE PEOPLE WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH A 13% RAISE WITH THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT, A 5% RAISE FOR ALL OF OUR CITY PARISH WORKERS WITHOUT RAISING TAXES.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE COMMITTED.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HEART WORK AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER.
I'M SORRY, COUNCILMAN HUDSON REAL QUICK.
Y'ALL HAD ONE EMAIL COMMENT OPPOSED TO THE SIDE ITEM.
I JUST DIDN'T WANT THE, THE WEIGHT OF THIS MEETING TO GET IN THE WAY OF US TAKING A MOMENT TO BREATHE AND, AND CELEBRATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TONIGHT.
UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN FOCUSED FOR A LONG TIME, UH, ON SEEKING A PAY RAISE FOR B RPD AND FOR THE REST OF THE EMPLOYEES.
UM, IT'S BEEN A GOAL, A SINCERE GOAL OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND OF THIS COUNCIL.
UH, AND THIS IS, UH, THIS IS A TIME THAT WE OUGHT TO PAUSE AND SAY THAT WE, WE HAVE A WIN HERE.
WE CAN CELEBRATE ACROSS PARTY LINES ACROSS RACIAL LINES.
SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE THAT TO EVERYBODY AND STICK THAT FEATHER IN YOUR CAP.
[00:55:01]
WE DID SOMETHING GOOD TONIGHT.THERE WAS A MOTION TO APPROVE 75 COUNCIL MEMBER
WHAT WE DO MAKE THAT MOTION TO HER.
SO I'M GOOD TELEPHONE NUMBER, DONNA.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT, UH, NOT ONLY DO BRP RPD DESERVE A RAISE, BUT I'LL SIT IN PAIRS.
UH, EMPLOYEES DESERVE A RAISE HIM AS FIRE.
AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, DPW IS CLEANING OUT OUR DITCHES AND DOING SOME OF THE DIRTIEST WORK.
THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN A 13% RAISE IN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO.
UH, WE MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES FOR BRP D EVERYBODY ELSE IS ONLY GETTING 5% AND THIS RAISE BRINGS US UP TO REGIONAL AVERAGES.
SO I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO ACT AS IF BRP RPD HADN'T BEEN PRIORITIZED.
IF ANYTHING, THE OTHER EMPLOYEES HAVE NOT BEEN PRIORITIZED.
SO IF ANYBODY NEEDED TO BE COMPLAINED ABOUT A RAISES THE OTHER EMPLOYEES, BECAUSE BRP T PD HAS CONSISTENTLY GOTTEN RAISED, AND THIS IS NOT JUST A CITY PARIS THING, EVERY INDUSTRY IS HAVING ISSUES WITH PAY.
IF YOU MAKE A PAYROLL AND ON A BUSINESS, EMPLOYEES ARE LOOKING FOR MORE MONEY.
THIS IS UNIQUE TO EMPLOYEES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THROUGHOUT THIS STATE, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY THAT NEEDS A PAY RAISE AND A FAIR WAYS TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILY.
THANK YOU, COUNSEL THEM TO CALL ME ALSO, I THINK WE NEED TO LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THIS PAY RAISE WILL NOT BE ALONG WITH THEIR INSURANCE GOING UP.
THAT WAS THE QUESTION THAT MANY OF MY CONSTITUENTS ASK ABOUT, UH, THAT WERE EMPLOYED YOU.
SO I FOUND THAT OUT AND INSURANCE WILL NOT GO UP WHEN THEY GET THEIR MONEY.
WE NEED TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT, UH, WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WE ASKED YOU TO COME UP AND EXPLAIN HOW ADDITIONAL SUPPORT HAS BEEN COMMUNICATED THROUGH THESE RAISINS, BECAUSE YOU MADE A VERY, VERY VALID POINT.
UH, INSURANCE IS NOT GOING TO GO UP, UH, FOR ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES.
ANDREW, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT? I'M ONLY CALLING YOU ADVANTAGE CAUSE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE WANTED TO MEET LINDA GOOD, COME ON DOWN.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT, UM, THAT WE ARE DOING TO FUND THE PAY RISE.
ONE THING IS, IS WE'VE HAD REALLY GREAT SALES TAX COLLECTIONS THIS YEAR.