[00:00:01]
OH, SO ELLA, EVERYBODY WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
ON BEHALF OF MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON, WESTERN BROOM, AND THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE WELCOME YOU TO OUR COUNCIL MEETING AUGUST 24TH, 2022.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WATCHING FROM OUT OF TOWN, WE ARE THE, UH, CITY, THE CAPITAL OF LOUISIANA, THE HOME OF THE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY OF JAGUARS IN THE LSU FIGHTING TIGERS.
AND THEY HAVE A DATE ON SEPTEMBER THE 10TH AT TIGER STADIUM FOR THE FIRST TIME THOSE TWO TEAMS WILL MADE AND EVERYBODY MADE.
AND EVERYBODY'S LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, UH, THAT GAME.
AND I DON'T THINK THE CONCESSION SAINTS ARE GOING TO DO VERY WELL AT HALFTIME, ANYBODY.
AND, UH, WE'D LIKE TO FEATURE A COUNCIL MEMBER TODAY IF, UH, IF YOU WOULD ALLOW ME TO DO THAT, AND WE'RE GOING TO FEATURE OUR COUNCIL MEMBER WHO REPRESENTS DISTRICT NUMBER EIGHT, DENISE MROZ, DID HE SAY MARISSA WAS APPOINTED TO SERVE AS THE DISTRICT GATE COUNCIL MEMBER ON JULY 19TH AFTER HER HUSBAND, COUNCILMAN BUDDY MROC PASSED AWAY WHILE BIKING IN WEST FELICIANA PARISH ON JUNE 30TH, 2018.
AND THEN OF COURSE SHE WAS LATER ELECTED TO THE POSITION.
AND THEN HE'S GOING TO STOP RIGHT HERE JUST FOR A SECOND.
YOUR, YOUR HUSBAND WAS AN OUTSTANDING AND COUNCIL MEMBER.
HE WAS ADMIRED BY EVERYBODY IN CITY PAIRS, GOVERNMENT.
I NEVER HEARD HIM SAY A BAD THING ABOUT ANYONE, EXCEPT MAYBE WHEN THAT WAS, SHE WAS PLAYING ALABAMA.
HE WOULD SEND SOME TEXTS THAT WERE NOT VERY NICE, BUT HE WAS JUST A WONDERFUL PERSON.
WHEN THESE WATERS AND ANTHONY BUDDY MROC, UH, THEY MET EACH OTHER AT ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY IN 1975.
THAT WAS WHEN THEY WERE THE TITANS, BUT LATER THAT'S WHAT I WAS DOING SPORTS, BUT NOW THEY'RE THE GOLDEN EAGLES.
THEY GRADUATED TOGETHER IN 1979 AND THEY WENT IN 1981.
SHE AND BUDDY HAD THREE CHILDREN, ELAINE, MIKEY, ANNE AND ANTHONY, EMMA ROSA, A NAVY VETERAN, AND THEY HAVE FIVE GRANDCHILDREN.
AND YOU HAVE ONE ON THE WHAT? DENISE IS A LONG TIME VOLUNTEER AT WOMEN'S HOSPITAL, WHERE SHE WALKS THE BABIES IN THE NIC.
YOU, SHE IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE BLUE STAR MOTHERS AND ALSO CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ON THE BOARD OF THE CB PENNINGTON MCA, AND IS ON THE OPERATION WHITE LIGHT COMMITTEE, COUNCIL, WOMAN, AND BAROSSA ALSO COORDINATES THE BUDDY RIDE BICYCLE EVENT, WHICH HAS BENEFITED LOUISIANA KEY ACADEMY.
AND OF COURSE THAT'S FOR CHILDREN WITH DYSLEXIA.
SHE'S ON THE MAYOR'S VETERANS COMMITTEE AND ALSO ON THE BRIDGE CENTER FOR HOPE.
AND SHE IS OUR COUNCIL MEMBER FROM DISTRICT COUNCIL WOMAN THAT HE SANTA ROSA.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION ALSO THAT'S THE AREA IN BATON ROUGE, OLD HAMMOND MILLERVILLE CORSI SHERWOOD, FOREST PARK, BAPTIST HAROLD'S FERRY ROAD JONES CREEK ROAD.
THE AREA OF OUR GREAT PARISH AT THIS TIME, WE'RE READY TO GO.
AND OUR MAYOR PRESIDENT PROTIUM IS SET TO KICK THINGS OFF HERE IS LAMONT COLON COUNTY.
[CALL TO ORDER]
EVERYONE.AND WELCOME TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING ON THIS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24TH, 2022 AT 4:00 PM.
AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR COUNCIL MEMBER FROM DISTRICT EIGHT, MR. NISSAN, RURAL.
SO, YES, UM, FOR THE INVOCATION TONIGHT, I HAVE SERGEANT RANDALL CUNNINGHAM.
HE IS WITH THE BATON ROUGE CITY CONSTABLE'S OFFICE AND THE YOUNG GENTLEMAN WHO IS GOING TO DO OUR PLEDGE FOR US IS MAJOR SERGE JOHNSON.
HE'S A FOURTH GRADER AT GLEN OAKS PARK ELEMENTARY AND THE SON OF OUR MOST HONORABLE CONSTABLE TERICA WILLIAMS. WE ASKED THEM, WE ASKED GOD, THOSE THAT ARE HERE WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE YOUR BLESSING OF GOD AND CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO THE HEALS FROM WHICH COME AT THEIR HEALTH LAW.
WE ALSO ASK NOW THAT ALL DECISIONS AND EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE IN THIS PLACE WILL BE TO YOUR GLORIFICATION, YOUR EDIFICATION.
WE ASK THAT THE DECISION TO BE MADE TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT THE CITY, THE STATE, AS WELL AS THIS COUNTRY GONE, BUT CONTINUE TO LIFT UP THOSE OLD GOD THAT STAND ON THE FRONT LINES TO KEEP THIS CITY SAFELY.
SO LORD, NOW WE ASK IN JESUS' NAME THAT WE PRAY A MAN.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG AND UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
[00:05:01]
WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL GOOD JOB.THANK YOU VERY MUCH AT THIS TIME.
I LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AFTER, DO WE HAVE A FORM
[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
ITEM ONE APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF AUGUST 10TH, 2022 AND THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ZONING MEETING OF AUGUST 17TH, 2022 BY COUNCIL ADMINISTRATIVE TREASURE.IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM ONE? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DONE SECOND AND BY THE CHAIR ITEM ONE HAS BEEN APPROVED ASKING, COULD YOU PLEASE
[INTRODUCTIONS]
READ THE INTRODUCTIONS SECTION 2.12 INTRODUCTIONS.NUMBER TWO, GRANTING A FIVE-YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT TEN SEVEN HUNDRED SEVENTY NINE DOLLARS AND 1 CENT PER YEAR FOR 2 1 0 LAUREL STREET, LLC, LOCATED AT 2 1 0 LA LAUREL STREET APPLICATION HAS REFERRED BY THE LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESTORATION TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENCOURAGING PRIVATE INVESTMENT INVESTMENT AND RESTORATION OF PROPERTY BY THE PLANNING DIRECTOR.
NUMBER THREE, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO ACCEPT A GRANT AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $13,550 FROM THE LOUISIANA OFFICE OF CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.
THIS FUND FROM THIS GRANT WILL ALLOW THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH A CONSULTANT TO UPDATE THE SPANISH TOWN LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT STRUCTURE SURVEY, AS WELL AS CREATING A DIGITAL STORYBOARD AND WALKING BIKING TOUR THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
BY THE PLANNING DIRECTOR, NUMBER FOUR, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO IMPLEMENT A SENIOR CITIZEN AID PROGRAM, WHICH WILL ALLOW SENIORS TO CONTRACT WITH THE CITY PARISH DEPARTMENTS AND PERFORM ASSIGNED DUTIES IN THE CITY PARISH SYSTEM TO FOSTER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SENIOR CITIZEN EMPLOYMENT WITHIN THE CITY PARISH ESTABLISHING THE PARAMETERS AND REQUIREMENTS OF SAID CONTRACTS WITH SENIOR CITIZEN AID WORKERS BY COUNCILMAN DARREL HURST, NUMBER FIVE, AMENDING TITLE EIGHT.
SO AS TO ADD CHAPTER FOUR STANDARDS FOR RENTAL PROPERTIES, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING HIGHER LEVEL SECURITY, THEREBY ENHANCING A TENANTS, PEACEFUL POSSESSION OF THE PROPERTY THROUGH THE MAINTENANCE OF SECURITY CAMERAS, ADEQUATE OUTDOOR LIGHTING AND DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL INCIDENTS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF THE PROPERTY.
THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE KNOWN AS DEVIN'S LAW BY COUNCILMAN CLEVE DUNN JR.
NUMBER SIX, ADMITTING THE 2022 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET.
SO AS TO APPROPRIATE $3 MILLION FOR CLEARING AND SNAGGING OF THE COMMUTE RIVER WITH $2,500,000 FUNDED FROM GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE ON A SIGN AND 500,000 FUNDED FROM THE CITY OF CENTRAL FURTHER AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF CENTRAL AND AMEND THE EXISTING CONTRACT WITH DRC EMERGENCY SERVICES, LLC, WHERE THE ADDITIONAL WORK TO BE PERFORMED BY THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT NUMBER SEVEN, AUTHORIZE AUTHORIZATION TO APPROPRIATE $80,000 FROM THE AIRPORT'S CASH ACCOUNT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO BE PLACED IN THE EMPLOYEE PARKING LOT REHABILITATION PROJECT TO FUND THE DESIGN AND RECONSTRUCTION OF EMPLOYEE PARKING BY THE AVIATION DIRECTOR.
NUMBER EIGHT AUTHORIZATION TO APPROPRIATE $550,000 FROM THE AIRPORTS CASH ACCOUNT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT TO BE PLACED IN THE TAXI.
WELL TAXI WAY, L REDESIGN TO FUND THE DESIGN AND RECONSTRUCTION OF TAXI WAY L AND DECOMMISSION OF RUNWAY FOR OUR 22 L AND TAXIWAY E BY AVIATION DIRECTOR.
NUMBER NINE, AUTHORIZATION TO APPROPRIATE $310,000 FROM THE AIRPORTS CASH ACCOUNT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO BE PLACED IN THE NORTHWEST AVIATION DEVELOPMENT PROJECT TO FUND THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW TAXIWAY IN THE NORTHWEST SECTION OF THE AIRFIELD BY THE AVIATION DIRECTOR, CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS.
NUMBER 10, GARY KEITH LARKIN, 2 7 0 6 6 PAGAN DRIVE COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE, KNOLL NUMBER 11, SHORTEN PLACE 8 5 1 5 9 SYCAMORE STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE, HERTZ NUMBER 12 CROW DELATTE AT HOUR 5, 1 0 5 SYCAMORE STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE, HERTZ NUMBER 13, JAMES E HEINZ, THE THIRD 2 1 4 9 2 1 5 1 AND 2 1 5 3 NORTH FOSTER DRIVE COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN, COLE NUMBER 14, JOSEPH HOMES, 9 3 9 NORTH 38TH STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN, COLE NUMBER 15, MARYLAND SATU 7 2 4 7 MEADOWBROOK AVENUE, COUNCIL DISTRICT NINE, HUDSON NUMBER 16, LF SIMS IN EDNA MAY GALLOWAY SIMS 2 75 WEST HARRISON STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN NUMBER 17, 2 4 9 19TH STREET, LLC, 2 49 SOUTH 19TH STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 18, EFRAM CANTRELL GREEN 1 8 5 3 AND 1-855-VIRGINIA STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 19 CC RIVER DISTRICT LLC 1-863-NICHOLSON DRIVE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN ADJUDICATED PROPERTY INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER 20 LOT 18 SQUARE SIX EDEN PARK COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 21 LIGHT 19 SQUARE
[00:10:01]
27.FAIRFIELD COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 22 LOT 24 SQUARE 2 0 8 ISTROUMA COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 23, LOT 46 SQUARE, 15 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 24, A LOT, 2 85 SUBDIVISION BROOKSTOWN PLACE COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HURST NUMBER 20 LOT FIVE SQUARE SEVEN SUBDIVISION STANDARD HEIGHTS COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 26 LOT 18 SQUARE 14 GREENVILLE EXTENSION COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 21 LOT, 1 42 SUBDIVISION HOLIDAY WOODS COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST NUMBER 28, LOT 11 PLUS SQUARE 45 SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 29, LOT 30 ONES WHERE 46 SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 30 LOT 13 A SQUARE 23 SUBDIVISION FUQUA AND LAYMAN TOWN COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 31 LOT 13 B SQUARE 23
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CAREER COUNSELING.
UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO ONE OF THE INTRODUCTIONS ITEM.
NUMBER SIX, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE, NEVER ASKED FOR THIS BEFORE.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS IS.
ITEM NUMBER SIX IS INTRODUCTION.
UH, MAYBE THE 2022 OPERATING BUDGET APPROPRIATE 3 MILLION COME EAT RIVER.
UM, I LIKE TO ADD ON, UH, WITH MAYOR, PRESIDENT, UH, METRO COUNCIL MEMBER, ERIN MOKE.
ALSO ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN READ INTO THE INTRODUCTION WITH THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT THEIR MOTION TO APPROVE INTRODUCTIONS.
SO MOBILE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKER, SECONDARY BY COUNCIL MEMBER DONE ANY OBJECTIONS, INTRODUCTIONS HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
[CONDEMNATIONS]
TO SEPARATE SHEET FOR CONDEMNATIONS.WE'LL READ RECOMMENDATIONS AS THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO US.
THEY OUGHT TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80 81 82, 83, 84 AND 85.
AND, UH, DEFER FOR 90 DAYS 78 AND DELETE ITEM 73.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A CONDEMNATION? WHEN I WENT BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, I HAVE YOURS COUNCIL, MOROCCO.
I HAVE YOURS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GO DAY 73.
I GOT DOWN 74, 74, 90 DAY, 75, 30, 74, 90 DAYS, 75 30.
ALL RIGHT, ANYONE ELSE? LET ME READ THE CHANGES.
THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 76, 77, 79, 81 82 83 AND 84.
THEY ARE TO DEFER FOR 30 DAYS, ITEM 75 AND 85 DEFER FOR 60 DAYS.
ITEM 80 DEFER FOR 90 DAYS, ITEM 74 AND TO DELETE ITEMS 73 AND 78.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONDEMNATIONS MOTION TO APPROVE CONDEMNATION BY COUNCILMEMBER DONE SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MAMMAL.
ROSSA CONDEMNATIONS HAVE BEEN APPROVED COUNCIL MEMBERS.
LET'S I'M GOING TO READ THEM AGAIN.
THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 77 79, 81 82, 83 AND 84 DEFERRED FOR 30 DAYS, 75, 76 AND 85 DIFFER FOR 60 DAYS.
80 DIFFER FOR 90 DAYS, ITEM 74 AND TO DELETE ITEM 73 AND 78.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE SOME MORE BY DONE SECOND AND BY A MOROSA CONDEMNATIONS HAVE BEEN APPROVED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, US GO LAST SHEET FOR THE EMERGENCY ITEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH ORDINANCE 1 6, 4 40 TO DECIDE IT MUST BE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY BY TWO THIRD VOTED AND METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.
LET ME READ THE ITEM ITEM 1 38 CAFFEINE IRREGULAR METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULED ON SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2022.
[138. 22-01119]
AND RESCHEDULING THAT MEETING TO SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2022, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ZONING MEETING BY THE CHAIR REASON FOR EMERGENCY TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF THE CHANGE[00:15:01]
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, IF APPROVED, IS THERE A MOTION TO DECLARE THE ITEM AND EMERGENCIES? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO DECLARE THE ITEM AND EMERGENCY? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM NOW I'LL GO BACK TO THE COUNCIL.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DONE.
I JUST DID HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR ON HOW THE PUBLIC NOTICE PIECE OF IT WORKS.
SO IF WE'VE NOTICED PEOPLE FOR CONDEMNATIONS OR IF WE'VE NOTICED PEOPLE FOR PARTICULAR ITEMS THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN, HOW'S THAT GOING TO WORK TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE COME TO THE CORRECT MEETING THERE? UH, PEOPLE SH I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DEFER TO MAY MOON ON CONDEMNATIONS, BUT, UM, THE ITEMS TONIGHT THAT ARE, UH, ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES THAT WERE INTRODUCED FOR THE 28TH WILL HAVE TO BE RE ADVERTISED, UM, AND INTRODUCED, UH, FOR THE FOLLOWING MEETING IN OCTOBER AND FOR THE CONDEMNATIONS AS WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, WHEN WE'VE HAD SITUATIONS ABOUT A YEAR OR TWO WITH HURRICANES AND WE SEND A LETTER TO EACH PERSON LETTING THEM KNOW.
SO, SO WHAT ABOUT LIKE NORMAL NORMAL ITEMS? HOW DOES IT WORK? I MEAN, IF LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, WE HAVE SEVERAL INTRODUCTIONS TONIGHT WHERE THE MEETING DATE, OR WE HAD SEVERAL ITEMS AT OUR LAST MEETING WHERE IT'S FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
HOW DOES THAT WORK? SO, UM, I THINK THAT WAS THE THOUGHT OF THE CHAIR.
WAS THAT GO AHEAD AND HAVE THIS HEARD TONIGHT SO THAT THERE WILL BE NO ITEMS INTRODUCED AT THE NEXT MEETING FOR THE 28TH.
UM, AT THIS POINT THERE ARE NO ITEMS OTHER THAN ADJUDICATOR PROPERTIES THAT ARE SCHEDULED OR SEPTEMBER 28TH.
AND THE REASON FOR THE INM IS A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL BE OUT OF TOWN.
AND IF ONE PERSON HAD AN EMERGENCY, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO HAVE THE MEETING.
AND SO RATHER THAN RISK THAT HAPPENING AND HAVE TO DEFER A HUNDRED AND SOMETHING ITEMS TO THE NEXT, AND WE MAY HAVE ALMOST 300 ON ONE MEETING, WE JUST MOVE IT UP TO ALL BE HERE ANYWAY.
SO IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN NEIL, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DONE ITEM 1 38 HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR THOSE OF YOU WATCHING AT HOME.
OUR SECOND MEETING IN SEPTEMBER WILL BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 21ST.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE IN IT BY THE AUDIENCE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE, MAKE YOUR PLANS.
NOW THE MEETING IS GOING TO BE ON THE 21ST.
WE'RE NOW GOING TO MOVE TO ITEM 70, UH, ITEM 90 ON THE PUBLIC
[86. 22-00761]
HEARING.THANK ALL OF OUR, UH, CITY PARIS EMPLOYEES FOR BEING HERE WITH US.
UH, WE KNOW YOU GOTTA BE HERE, BUT WE'RE THANKFUL THAT TO CHOSE, TO BE HERE WITH US THIS AFTERNOON.
ONE BANK, ALL THE, ALL THE GUESTS WHO COME TO SPEAK IN A PUBLIC HEARING, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
WE NOW GO TO ITEM 86, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, TITLE 13.
SO AS TO ADD SECTION 13 41 0 7, CAMPING AND PUBLIC AREA PROHIBITED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, LORI ADAMS AND DWIGHT HUSSON.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 86? I HAVE SOME, UH, FOLKS HAVE SIGNED SPEAKER CARDS.
WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH THOSE FIRST, UH, WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR IS JENNIFER RICHARDSON WOULD KEEP TITLE TOWN BEAUTIFUL.
MS. RICHARDSON AND MS. RICHARDSON AND COME ON DOWN TO THE PODIUM RIGHT HERE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ALSO, SHE PUT SOME PICTURES UP HERE EARLIER.
IF Y'ALL HADN'T SEEN THEM, SHE'S PASSING AROUND AND MAKE SURE YOU PRESS THE GREEN BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM.
MS. RICHARDSON, THE GREEN BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MICROPHONE HAD THE BARE BARE BOTTOM, WHEREVER THEIR BIBLE.
COUNSEL WOMEN AND MEN, MEN, AND WOMEN FOR LETTING ME COME AND TALK TODAY.
UM, MY NAME IS JENNIFER RICHARDSON AND I'M WITH KEEP TIGERTOWN BEAUTIFUL.
WE ARE A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS THAT CLEAN UP HEAVILY TRAFFICKED PUBLIC AREAS OF THE CITY.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO DATE.
WE'VE PICKED UP, UH, 4,300 CONTRACTOR BAGS OF GARBAGE.
WE'VE PICKED UP THOUSANDS OF DRUG NEEDLES.
THIS IS JUST A LITTLE TINY SAMPLE OF THE DRUG NEEDLES, AND YOU CAN LOOK AT SOME OF THESE PICTURES, THIS, IT ONLY TOOK US TWO HOURS TO PICK THESE NEEDLES UP THERE'S DRUGS.
THERE'S FENTINOL ON THE GROUND.
I KNOW ALL THIS IS GOING IN OUR GROUNDWATER, OUR PUBLIC PARKS, WHERE OUR CHILDREN PLAY THERE'S BALLOONS FILLED WITH, UM, DRUG RESIDUE.
WHEN I KNOW LITTLE CHILDREN WANT TO PICK UP A PRETTY COLOR BALLOON, UM, WE, OR JUST WE'RE SEEING THIS IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING WHEN WE PICK UP GARBAGE AT PUBLIC AREAS.
UM, WE'RE SEEING HUNDREDS OF SHOPPING CARTS THAT ARE BEING STOLEN.
[00:20:02]
THOUSANDS OF DRUG NEEDLES, DRUG PARAPHERNALIA, FENTANYL WEAPONS, INCLUDING LOADED GUNS, KNIVES, HOMEMADE WEAPONS, PORN USE CON CONDOMS ON EATEN FOOD BOXES AND BOXES OF UNEATEN FOOD, HUMAN WASTE, AND URINE RATS, ROACHES.AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IS WITH ALL THIS HAPPENING IN THOSE AREAS.
BUSINESSES, PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO DO BUSINESS AROUND THIS GOING ON BECAUSE THERE'S CRIME.
AND THEN THE BUSINESS FALLS, THEY GO OUT OF BUSINESS.
THEN THE BUILDINGS BECOME VACANT.
AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE MOVING INTO THESE BUILDINGS.
WE'VE HAD TO GO IN A COUPLE OF THE BUILDINGS AND GET THEM MOVED OUT OF THE BUILDINGS BECAUSE THEY'VE THERE'S, THEY STEAL EVERYTHING.
THEY GO IN THERE AND THERE'S CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND THERE'S, UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN IN JAIL FOR MURDER AND THAT WERE IN THOSE BUILDINGS.
SO, UM, I JUST, WHEN I THINK ABOUT OUR CHILDREN, YOU CAN'T EVEN GO TO A PARK ANYMORE.
YOU'RE SCARED OF WHAT YOUR CHILDREN ARE GOING TO PICK UP.
THIS IS THE CITY THAT WE ALL HAVE TO LIVE IN, AND I'M NOT AGAINST HOMELESSNESS AT ALL, BUT I AM AGAINST CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
UM, THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT TOURISM, YOU KNOW, COMING INTO OUR INTERSECTIONS AND IT'S GOING TO ALSO AFFECT COMMERCE BECAUSE LOTS OF BUILDINGS OR VACANT RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE GONE OUT OF BUSINESS.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO, UM, DO SOMETHING ABOUT.
UM, BUT WE, THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND THE, WHAT WE DO AND SEE WHEN WE'RE ON THE STREET AND Y'ALL SEEN THE PICTURES, RIGHT? EVERYBODY'S CHECK THESE PICTURES OUT.
WE'RE NOT MAKING THIS STUFF UP.
THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY THERE THAT YOU LIVE IN AND NOT IN CERTAIN AREAS OF TOWN, THIS IS HAPPENING EVERYWHERE IN OUR CITY, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD YOU LIVE IN, IN THE BUSHES, IN THE VACANT LOTS.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF MY THREE MINUTES IS UP, BUT IT IS, BUT SHE WAS SO PASSIONATE.
I DIDN'T WANT TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT IT EATS UP SO MUCH.
I HAVE A TENDENCY TO NOPE, NO PROBLEM.
NOW I'LL GO TO, UH, WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION, CLARA PATA.
WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR MY COLLEAGUE TO GO, TO MAKE HER COMMENT FIRST? AND FOR ME, JUST ADD A COUPLE OF BENEFITS.
WE BOTH GOT THREE MINUTES, SO, YEP.
STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD PLEASE.
MY NAME IS SHANDRA SHAY FOSTER.
I'M A POLICY ASSOCIATE WITH THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER.
I'M JOINED TODAY BY MY COLLEAGUE, CLARA POTTER.
SHE'S STAFF ATTORNEY, THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER IS LOCATED AT 2 0 1 ST.
CHARLES AVENUE, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA 7 0 1 7 0.
OUR COMMENT IS SUBMITTED IN OPPOSITION TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 86.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY ASKING THAT YOU WOULD DRAW OR VOTE DOWN PROPOSED ORDINANCE 22 DASH 0 0 7 61 WAS CRIMINALIZED AS CAMPING BY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN THE CITY PARISH.
THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE IS LIKELY TO BE ILLEGAL AND IN VIOLATION OF THE US CONSTITUTION, FEDERAL COURTS HAVE FOUND THAT ANTI CAMPING ORDINANCES SUCH AS THE ONE BEING PROPOSED HERE TODAY VIOLATES EIGHTH AMENDMENT.
WHEN THERE IS INADEQUATE SHELTER FOR UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS, FEDERAL COURTS HAVE HELD THAT THE EIGHTH AMENDMENT PROHIBITS THE IMPOSITION OF CRIMINAL PENALTIES.
WE'RE SITTING, SLEEPING OR LYING OUTSIDE ON PUBLIC PROPERTY FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WHO CANNOT OBTAIN SHELTER.
THIS ORDINANCE MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF THE FOURTH AND 14TH AMENDMENTS AS WELL, TO THE EXTENT THAT IT RESULTS IN THE UNLAWFUL SEIZURES AND DESTRUCTION OF AN UNHOUSED PERSONS PROPERTY, A CIRCUIT COURT HAIL THAT THEY'RE UNREASONABLE DEPRIVATION OF AN UNHOUSED PERSONS PROPERTY IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL UNDER THE FOURTH AMENDMENT.
THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE THAT WE'RE SPEAKING ON TODAY, DISCRIMINATES AGAINST PERSONS, EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, WHO ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO CHOICE, BUT TO SLEEP OR CAMP OUTSIDE AND HAVE PERSONAL BELONGINGS WITH THEM IN PUBLIC PLACES WHERE THEY LIVE.
THE BLATANT DISCRIMINATION IS A VIOLATION OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE.
THIS ORDINANCE IS BAD PUBLIC POLICY.
IT DOES NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE RISING NUMBER OF UNHOUSED PEOPLE AND THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL HOUSING.
INSTEAD IT EXACERBATES THE PROBLEM FURTHER BY CRIMINALIZING PEOPLE FOR DOING WHAT WE ALL NEED TO DO TO SURVIVE, FIND A PLACE TO SLEEP.
WE ALL WANT TO END HOMELESSNESS IN BATON ROUGE AND ENSURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO GO.
[00:25:01]
TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL IS NOT FOUND IN PASSING AN ORDINANCE THAT CRIMINALIZES POVERTY AND IS IN VIOLATION OF RIGHTS THAT WE'RE ALL GUARANTEED TO MS. POTTER.UM, AND I AM A STAFF ATTORNEY WITH THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER.
UM, FIRST I WANT TO UNDERSCORE, UM, WELL, I, UH, ALSO AM AN OPPOSITION TO AGENDA ITEM 86, AND I WOULD URGE THIS COUNCIL TO WITHDRAW OR VOTE DOWN ORDINANCE, UH, 22 0 0 7 61.
UM, I WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT WE SHARE THE SAME GOALS OF ENDING HOMELESSNESS, BUT THAT, UH, THERE'S A COALITION OF BRILLIANT FOLKS IN THE ROOM TODAY WHO ARE HERE TO PROVIDE COMPASSIONATE AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO THAT PROBLEM.
THE LANGUAGE OF THE ORDINANCE HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE IT WAS FIRST INTRODUCED AND NO OTHER MEASURES TO HELP HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN BATON ROUGE HAVE BEEN UNDERTAKEN SINCE IT WAS FIRST INTRODUCED.
AND SO FOR THAT REASON, IT REMAINS OPEN TO THE SAME LEGAL CHALLENGES THAT WE INITIALLY, UH, BROUGHT TO THIS COUNCIL'S ATTENTION.
UM, WHEN IT WAS FIRST PROPOSED, UH, I WANTED TO READ FROM ONE OF THE CASES THAT STRUCK DOWN A SIMILAR LAW, BECAUSE I THINK THE LANGUAGE OF THAT CASE REALLY HIGHLIGHTS WHAT IS THE ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE THERE, THE COURT RULED THAT SITTING LYING AND SLEEPING ARE UNIVERSAL AND UNAVOIDABLE CONSEQUENCES OF BEING HUMAN.
AS LONG AS THERE IS NO OPTION OF SLEEPING INDOORS, THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT CRIMINALIZE INDIGENT, HOMELESS PEOPLE FOR SLEEPING OUTDOORS, PUBLIC PROPERTY ON THE FALSE PREMISE THAT THEY HAD A CHOICE IN THE MATTER.
AND I JUST WANT TO REPEAT THAT LAST PART ON THE FALSE PREMISE THAT THEY HAD A CHOICE IN THE MATTER IF THERE'S NOWHERE FOR PEOPLE TO GO IN BATON ROUGE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT, IF THERE'S INSUFFICIENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THERE'S INSUFFICIENT SHELTER BEDS, THE CONSTITUTION IS VIOLATED WHEN WE ARREST THEM FOR DOING SOMETHING WE ALL NEED TO DO EVERY SINGLE DAY, WHICH IS SLEEP.
SO FOR THAT REASON, WE HOPE THAT THE CITY WILL CHOOSE HOUSING OVER HANDCUFFS AND THAT THIS ORDINANCE WILL BE VOTED DOWN.
NEXT WE'LL HEAR FROM SANDRA SAY FOSTER, YOU ALREADY BRIAN SLEEP.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHRISTIAN OUTREACH CENTER OF BATON ROUGE AND WE ARE VERY MUCH INVOLVED.
UM, AND WE HAVE BEEN, UM, FOR 31 YEARS IN THE SPACE OF HELPING THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
UM, LET ME BE CLEAR THAT WE SEEK THE GOOD OF THE CITY, THE TOTAL GOOD.
WE SEEK THE GOOD OF NOT HAVING TRASH AND NEEDLES EVERYWHERE, BUT, BUT FROM OUR VIEW, YOU KNOW, TO TIE THIS INTO AN ORDINANCE THAT WILL CRIMINALIZE THE HOMELESS IS IN OUR OPINION, JUST NOT THE WAY TO GO.
AS I SAID, A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, I MYSELF WAS HUMBLE AS BACK IN 2009.
AND AS WE KNOW, PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THIS SPACE, ANY ONE OF US, ANYONE OF US CAN BECOME HOMELESS, GIVEN THE RIGHT SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES ON A WRONG, ANY ONE OF US, PEOPLE BECOME HOMELESS FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.
IT, SOME OF THE REASONS ARE UNEMPLOYMENT UNDEREMPLOYMENT ADDICTION, UH, BEING RELEASED FROM PRISON, MENTAL HEALTH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, A MEDICAL CONDITION, OR A DISABILITY AND NATURAL DISASTERS.
AND WE COULD, WE COULD LIST OTHER CAUSES AS WELL, ACCORDING TO THE CAPITAL AREA UNITED WAY, 52% OF THE POPULATION IN EBR IS AT RISK GIVEN THE RIGHT PERFECT STORM OF BECOMING HOMELESS.
AND SO THINK ABOUT IT AS, AS INFLATION CONTINUES.
UM, AND DOESN'T SHOW SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN.
WE HAVE 52% OF THE POPULATION WHO ARE AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS IN EBR.
IT'S HARD ENOUGH TO GAIN TRACTION, TO BECOME PERMANENTLY HOUSED, BUT CRIMINALIZING, THIS POPULATION MAKES IT THAT MUCH HARDER.
OUR STATE LEADS THE WORLD AND THE COUNTRY WITH THE HIGHEST INCARCERATION.
OUR PRISON SYSTEM IS OVERCROWDED.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SHORT, 115 PEOPLE.
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE NEEDS A HUNDRED DEPUTIES ON I, 10 AND NINE 12.
WE ARE A CORRIDOR FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING, STATISTICALLY WITH THE NUMBER OF HOMICIDES COMMITTED EACH YEAR WHERE WITHIN SPITTING DISTANCE OF CHICAGO.
[00:30:01]
DOZENS AND DOZENS ARE TURNED AWAY FROM THE SHELTERS.IT'S, IT'S NOT JUST HOW MANY BEDS DO WE HAVE? IT'S IT'S FAR MORE COMPREHENSIVE THAN THAT.
UM, THERE'S A LIMITED NUMBER OF TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS TOUGH TO COME BY.
AND SO NOW WE'RE ACTUALLY CONSIDERING CRIMINALIZING THOSE WHO HAVE NO PLACE TO GO SINCE I'M A PASTOR, I AM GOING TO QUOTE A FEW VERSES PROVERBS 29 7, A RIGHTEOUS MAN KNOWS THE RIGHTS OF THE POOR.
A WICKED MAN DOES NOT UNDERSTAND SUCH KNOWLEDGE, PROVERBS 31 8 THROUGH NINE, OPEN YOUR MOUTH FOR THE RIGHTS OF ALL WHO ARE DESTITUTE, OPEN YOUR MOUTH.
JUDGE RIGHTEOUSLY DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF THE POOR AND THE NEEDY PSALM 82, 3 GIVE JUSTICE TO THE WEAK, MAINTAIN THE RIGHTS OF THE AFFLICTED AND THE DESTITUTE.
I WOULD JUST PROPOSE THAT INSTEAD OF PASSING THIS ORDINANCE, WHAT IF WE HAD A, A COMMITTEE THAT COMES TOGETHER, MADE UP OF YOU ALL PRACTITIONERS AND LET'S COME BACK WITH SOME POSITIVE SOLUTIONS AND TURN THIS INTO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REAL LASTING CHANGE.
MY NAME IS TOM STRAIGHT ADDRESS.
63 53 NORTH FOSTER BATON ROUGE.
UM, I HOPE THIS IS NOT AN INOPPORTUNE TIME FOR YOU GUYS.
AFTER YOU ON YOUR CELL PHONES ARE DOC.
UM, I'M GONNA READ SOME NAMES FROM A BOOK.
UH, I CAN'T COME UP WITH THESE THOUGHTS ON MY OWN, BUT JESUS SAID TO HIM, THE FOXES HAVE HOLES AND THE BIRDS OF THE AIR HAVE NESTS, BUT THE SON OF MAN HAS NOT RARE TO LAY HIS HEAD FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS OF JESUS, HIS MINISTRY.
HE WAS HOMELESS WHEN HE WAS IN A TOWN.
IF HE MET SOMEBODY, HE MIGHT STAY AT THEIR HOME.
WHEN HE WAS TRAVELING FROM TOWN TO TOWN, HE WOULD STAY AND THEY BORROWED TENT FOR THE POOR SHALL NEVER CEASE OUT OF THE LAND.
THEREFORE, I COMMAND YOU SAYING YOU SHALL OPEN YOUR HAND WIDE TO YOUR BROTHER.
THESE HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE JUST LIKE ME AND YOU, LIKE YOU SAID, 52% THAT IF THE CAR BREAKS DOWN, THEY CAN'T GET TO THEIR JOB.
NOW THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE FIRST MONTH'S RENT AND A SECURITY DEPOSIT SOMEWHERE, AND THEY DON'T HAVE AN ADDRESS.
THEY CAN PUT IT ON AN APPLICATION AT 45% OF THE HOMELESS WORK, PSALMS 41.
IT'S HE THAT CONSIDERED THE POOR.
THE LORD WILL DELIVER HIM OUT OF TROUBLE.
DEUTERONOMY KEY THAT GIVES TO THE POOR SHALL NOT LACK, BUT HE, THAT HYGIENE, HIS EYES SHALL HAVE MANY OCCURS.
AND THE ONE THAT'S, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GUYS GOT YOURSELF IN AS MUCH TROUBLE, BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE DECISIONS YOU'VE EVER FACED EVER FACE.
AND THE KING SHALL ANSWER AND SAID UNTO THEM VERILY.
AND AS MUCH AS YOU'VE DONE IT, FOR THE LEAST OF MY BRETHREN, YOU HAD DONE IT UNTO ME.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FINDING THE HOMELESS.
THAT'S THAT'S THE WORDS IN THIS, A WRITE UP.
YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE HIM FINES, BUT WHEN THEY GIVE THEM FINES, THEY ALSO TAKE ALL THEIR BELONGINGS.
EVERYTHING THAT'D BE ACCUMULATED.
IF YOU'RE HOMELESS, THE ONE THING YOU WANT IN LIFE IS A TENT.
BUT AFTER THAT FINE, THE NEXT TIME THEY SEE YOU, WHETHER IT'S WORDED IN THERE OR NOT, THEY WILL ARREST HIM.
OKAY? SO YOU WANT TO FIND THE HOMELESS.
YOU WANT TO TAKE ALL THEIR BELONGINGS.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN JESUS.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE REVEREND ALEXIS ANDERSON.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO THANK THOSE OF YOU REACHED OUT TO ME AFTER THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING.
THANK YOU FOR INQUIRING ABOUT MY HEALTH AND I AM MUCH BETTER.
UM, I AM 100% OPPOSED TO THIS ORDINANCE AND I HAVE BEEN ON RECORD MULTIPLE TIMES FOR WHY
[00:35:02]
WE APPLAUD THE EFFORTS OF THOSE CITIZENS THAT ARE GOING OUT AND DOING CLEANUPS.BUT THOSE NEEDLES ARE NOT INDICATIVE OF A HOMELESS PROBLEM.
THEY'RE INDICATIVE OF AN ADDICTION PROBLEM, BOTH FOLK WHO, WHEN IT RAINS AND IT HAS RAINED EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WHEN I LEFT THIS LAST MEETING, I GOT TO GO HOME AND LAY IN A BED WITH FOUR WALLS AND A ROOF.
AND EVERY DAY, SINCE THIS ORDINANCE HAS BEEN PROPOSED, I STARTED MY MINISTRY OF WHICH THIS IS 25TH YEAR.
I STARTED WITH THE SAME PEOPLE THAT WE ARE DEMONIZING AS IF THEY WERE OTHERS.
THEY BELONG IN YOUR COMMUNITIES.
THEY ARE IN EVERY ONE OF YOUR CONGREGATIONS.
WE DO NOT SUFFICIENTLY FUND OUR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
AND WE TRY TO PIN THE BLAME FOR ADDICTION ON THOSE WHO ARE ADDICTED.
WE DO NOT ADEQUATELY FUND OR SUPPORT THOSE WHO WORK IN SERVICE INDUSTRIES.
AND THEN WE TRY TO DEMONIZE THOSE WHO CANNOT MAKE RENT.
AND THIS ENVIRONMENT, WE DO NOT RECOGNIZE THAT IN THIS PARISH ALONE AT GRAY, HOW UNDOCUMENTED AND DOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS ARE DUCKED IN THIS PARISH.
AND THEN WE TRY TO DEMONIZE THE OLD FOLK AS OPPOSED TO THE OFFICIALS THAT PUT THEM ON A BUS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND DROP THEM OFF IN THIS PARISH.
AND MY POINT TO YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WHO REPRESENT, I WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE THE BEST OF US.
AND I'VE SAID IT ON EVERY OCCASION AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SAY IT.
I THANK COUNCIL WOMAN ADAMS. I THANK HER FOR ALWAYS HAVING AN EAR.
I GET MY CALLS RETURNED AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
BUT EVERY SINGLE PERSON WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DESERVES NOT CRIMINALIZATION.
I HAVE EXPLAINED TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, I SIT IN THAT COURTHOUSE EVERY DAY.
I WILL GLADLY INVITE ANY OF YOU TO SIT THERE WITH ME ON ANY DAY OF THE WEEK, BECAUSE ONCE YOU PUT THEM IN JAIL, THEY CANNOT GET OUT AND YOU KNOW WHY THEY CAN'T GET OFF BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE AN ADDRESS.
I AM VICE-PRESIDENT AT START CORPORATION OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, NONPROFIT, AND WE DO A LOT OF WORK WITH PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
DID YOU KNOW THAT BATON HAS A DEDICATED COALITION TO SERVING PEOPLE, EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND TRYING TO PREVENT AN END THAT HOMELESSNESS IT'S THE BALANCE OF STATE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
WE'VE GOT OVER 536 PEOPLE THAT ARE DEDICATED TO LOOKING AT THIS PROBLEM EVERY DAY, EVERY WEEK, EVERY YEAR WE COLLECT TONS OF DATA THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO SHARE WITH YOU ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE TO THEM AND THE GAPS THAT WE HAVE.
WE RECEIVE OVER $20 MILLION IN COC FUNDS.
THIS YEAR WE'VE GOT 49 HOUSING PROGRAMS THAT ARE SERVING 1,565 HOUSEHOLDS ALONE.
AND THAT'S JUST HOUSEHOLDS, NOT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THOSE HOUSEHOLDS.
WE HAVE A COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM THAT HAS RECEIVED NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR THE, HOW MANY PEOPLE COME THROUGH AND WE COORDINATE ACCESS TO HOMELESS SERVICES.
DID YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE A HOMELESS STREET OUTREACH PORTAL, WHERE IF YOU SEE SOMEONE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, YOU CAN INPUT THAT INFORMATION INTO THE SYSTEM.
AND OUR HOMELESS STREET OUTREACH NETWORK WILL GO AND SEE THOSE PEOPLE AND TRY TO CONNECT THEM TO SERVICES.
I'D LOVE TO SHARE THE WEBSITE.
DID YOU KNOW THAT THROUGH THIS
[00:40:01]
COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM, WE HAVE AGAIN, RECEIVED NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR OUR DIVERSION EFFORTS BECAUSE WE DIVERT SO MANY PEOPLE AWAY FROM HOMELESSNESS.DID YOU KNOW THAT COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES, OUR SIZE KNOXVILLE, ROCHESTER, SARASOTA, WE, IN OUR LAST PIT COUNT POINT IN TIME COUNT, WE HAD 430 PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OVER 150, LESS THAN OTHER THOSE OTHER COMMUNITIES.
DID YOU KNOW THAT WE HAD A MEETING YESTERDAY, THE BALANCE OF STATE STAFF WITH MAYOR BROOM, WHERE WE HAD A COMMITMENT TO PARTNER TOGETHER TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
DID YOU KNOW THAT STAR CORPORATION IS STARTING A PROJECT WHERE WE ARE GOING TO HOUSE AT LEAST 60 INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE, HAVE SOME TYPE OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THE SIEGEN LANE ISSUE AS A PROBLEM.
DID YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH THE HEALTHY BR INITIATIVE ON A HOMELESS EDUCATION CAMPAIGN FOR THIS ENTIRE CITY THAT IS SCHEDULED TO BE RELEASED AT THE END OF THE YEAR? DID YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH AN MCO, LOUISIANA HEALTHCARE CONNECTIONS, THAT'S PILOTING A PROJECT TO GIVE $3,000 A YEAR TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, TO GET OUT OF THAT.
THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION AND I URGE YOU TO WORK WITH US BEFORE YOU DO THIS.
WE'VE RECEIVED NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR POSITIVE THINGS.
LET'S NOT GO DOWN THE OTHER PATH.
THE NEXT ONE I HAVE SEE, ALL RIGHT, SHE'S HERE BY REQUEST OF THE COUNCIL TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 86? COME ON DOWN.
STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
MS. MARK AND MARY JANE, MARK AND GAIL BORG TOWN.
I PUT THIS ON Y'ALL'S, UH, TABLE.
BEFORE I GOT UP HERE TO SPEAK.
I HEARD DADDY SPEAK ABOUT ALL THESE THINGS THAT ARE IN PLACE.
I DON'T THINK THEY'RE WORKING.
AND THE REASON THAT I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE THERE'S ORDINANCES OUT THERE WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE SEEING ON THE STREET.
THIS ORDINANCE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF HELPING PEOPLE TO GET OFF THE STREETS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, WEIGHING THE NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS PEOPLE IN BATON ROUGE REGARDING THESE TENT CITIES, MY SUPPORT OF THIS ART, AND THIS COMES WITH MY HAND, UM, AND THE STREETS SUPPORT FOR OVER 10 YEARS AND HELPING GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREET.
I SENT A PROPOSAL TO ALL OF Y'ALL CALL A HOUSING FIRST PLAN FOR Y'ALL TO REVIEW THE PLANS BEEN IMPLEMENTED BY ANY NUMBER OF CITIES AND COUNTRIES.
AND THEY JUST REDUCED THE HOMELESS POPULATION ON THE STREET.
BY OVER 75%, PUTTING THEM IN HOUSING, PROVIDING THE NEEDED SERVICES WHILE SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCING COSTS.
THE SINGLE PLACE WHERE A HOMELESS PERSON GOES IN BATON ROUGE FOR ALL SERVICES WAS CLOSED FOR MONTHS AND WENT OPEN.
THEY WORK ON A REDUCED SCHEDULE.
THE PEOPLE THAT PROVIDE BEDS FOR OVERNIGHT STAYS KICKED THE PERSON TO THE STREETS.
DAILY GROUPS ARE FEEDING PEOPLE ON THE STREET BY DUMPING BOXES OF FOOD, AS WELL AS CLOTHES TO LET THEM GO SCROUNGING FOR WHAT THEY CAN GET.
I'VE HEARD PEOPLE FROM THE PODIUM SAY THIS START AND IT'S WILL MAKE IT HARDER FOR GROUPS TO HOUSE PEOPLE.
AND, AND, AND IT'S NOT THAT DIFFICULT.
HOWEVER, IT DOES REQUIRE A DIFFERENT DIRECTION MORE THAN 10 YEARS AGO, CHRIS NICHOLS AND I STARTED THE WAY HOME PROGRAM.
WE GOT CRITICIZED FOR DOING IT BECAUSE WE WENT IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
WE BOUGHT HUNDREDS OF TICKETS FOR PEOPLE GETTING THEM OFF THE STREETS OF BATON ROUGE.
THEY GET TO CHOOSE WHERE THEY WANT TO GO, WHERE THEY HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
IT WORKS IN CONJUNCTION WITH BRP D A PROGRAM OR B R P D.
OFFICERS WILL TELL YOU, THIS IS THE ONLY PROGRAM THAT HELPS PEOPLE GET OFF THE STREET IMMEDIATELY, A PROGRAM THAT HOUSING FIRST ADOPTS AS THE FIRST OPTION TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREET, INTO A HOUSE WHERE THEY HAVE SUPPORT.
AND THE PAST 19 MONTHS, 52 PEOPLE WERE HELPED TO GET OFF THE STREET THROUGH THE WAY HOME PROGRAM.
THE COST IS ABOUT $130 A PERSON.
SO LET'S GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
FIRST BY PASSING THE ORDINANCE, THIS ORDINANCE COULD ACTUALLY HELP PEOPLE MAKE GOOD DECISIONS, ENABLED THEM TO GET OFF THE STREET BECAUSE OF HOW THE ORDINANCE WILL BE ENFORCED WITH EDUCATING THEM.
FIRST ON WHAT IS AVAILABLE, WHERE THEY GO TO GET THE SERVICES, IT THEN WOULD REQUIRE THE GROUPS TO STEP UP AND HELP THE PEOPLE GET OFF THE STREET.
AND THERE SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABILITY, SOMETHING THAT IS LACKING IN WHAT IS GOING ON FOR THE PEOPLE TO GET OFF THE STREET.
[00:45:02]
THANK YOU, MS.STATIONED NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
UH, HI, TANA PITTMAN 97 87 KING LET DRIVE BATON ROUGE, 7 0 8 0 9.
I APOLOGIZE FOR MY WEARING SHORTS.
I MEANT TO GO HOME AND IT JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN WITH TRAFFIC.
UM, I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOA FOR THE ATIVAN TERRORISTS MORNING LED HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT BEHIND ST.
SO EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT I'M HERE FOR.
UM, I HAVE SEEN MY NEIGHBORHOOD GO.
I'VE BEEN THERE 25 YEARS, WENT FROM A QUIET FAMILY OR IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE MY KIDS WENT TO SCHOOL TO.
I AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING MOVING BECAUSE ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES IS THIS HOMELESSNESS, BUT MY HEART GOES OUT TO THEM.
I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THESE PEOPLE ARE SAYING.
I APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE THESE PROGRAMS, BUT I AGREE WITH THE LADY THAT JUST SPOKE, THAT IT'S NOT WORKING THE AREA OF SIEGEN LANE, WHERE I LIVE HAS GOTTEN SO BAD.
I HAVE BEEN HEARING IT FROM HOMEOWNERS EVERY DAY ABOUT THE CONSTANT DRUG USE.
I'M NOT SAYING THEY CAN'T SLEEP THERE.
NOBODY WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.
I HAVE PERSONALLY BEEN FLASHED SEVERAL TIMES BY THE PANHANDLERS THAT ARE CONSTANTLY SEEING IN LANE.
UM, UNDER THE INTERSTATE, WE CALL IT THE HELLHOLE, THAT AREA UNDER THE INTERSTATE WHERE THE, THE KEEP TIGERTOWN BEAUTIFUL.
THANK YOU, MS. RICHARDSON, HER AND HER GROUP HAVE GONE EVERY WEEK AND CLEAN UP THE CONSTANT DRUG NEEDLES AND THAT GRAFFITI AND THE DEBRIS AND THE SMELL.
YOU CAN'T ROLL YOUR WINDOWS DOWN EVER IN THAT AREA.
UM, BUT I PERSONALLY, MY NIECE WAS WITH ME WITH ME LAST WEEK AND THAT'S WHAT CAUSED ME TO SPEAK.
WE SAW A PERSON WHO HAD JUST SHOT UP.
HE STILL HAD HIS THING ON HIS ARM AND HE STILL HAD HIS NEEDLE HANGING OUT OF HIS ARM.
AND HE WAS FOAMING AT THE MOUTH.
AND I HAD TO EXPLAIN TO MY NINE-YEAR-OLD NIECE, WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THAT, MAN? AND THAT'S WHEN I SAID ENOUGH'S ENOUGH.
SO I, I BEGGED Y'ALL TO PLEASE.
MAYBE THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT STEP, BUT TO PLEASE DO SOMETHING BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO MOVE ANYWHERE ELSE.
Y'ALL HOUSING IS CRAZY EXPENSIVE AND I'VE LIVED THERE FOR 25 YEARS.
SO PLEASE, IF THIS IS THE RIGHT, NOT THE RIGHT STEP, I UNDERSTAND, BUT PLEASE HELP US DO SOMETHING.
THE CITY IS JUST NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE, AND I DON'T WANT TO MOVE.
AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL HEARING ME OUT.
I DON'T WANT TO START WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE AISLE, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
LARAMIE GRIFFIN, 2001 SOUTH SHERA FOREST BOULEVARD, BATTLEMENTS, LOUISIANA CEMETERY.
UM, I WANT TO SPEAK INTO OPPOSING, UH, THIS SUBMITTED TO DELETE THIS ITEM.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY FIRST, UM, UH, THE LAMB WHO BROUGHT IN THE NEEDLES WITHOUT A HAZARD BAG INTO A PUBLIC PLACE, THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF DISGUSTING SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT THAT TO THE HOSPITAL.
UM, THAT'S THE FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY IN THE SECOND THING, I WANT TO SAY THAT THERE IS NO LONG-TERM CARE IN LOUISIANA.
THE LAST PLACE WE HAD WAS EARL K LONG PLACE BEFORE THAT OTHER PLACE IN ALEXANDRIA.
AND I KNOW THAT BECAUSE I TALKED TO A WOMAN WHO WANTED TO SEND HER SON TO SOMEWHERE THAT WAS LONG-TERM OF PEOPLE IN THIS PARISH CAN ONLY GO FOR THREE TO FIVE TO SEVEN DAYS, AND THEN THEY'RE BACK OUT ON THE STREET, UH, AS OPPOSED TO IT, I'M NOT TALKING BAD ABOUT THE BRIDGE CENTER, BUT THEY'RE PUTTING BACK ON THE STREET INTO, BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY WHERE THERE ARE DRUGS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH, UH, ADEQUATELY.
SO, UM, AND ALSO, I FEEL SORRY FOR THE LADY WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THAT WITH A NINE YEAR OLD, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THAT IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, AS FAR AS THE, UH, THE HOMELESSNESS PROTECTION, I BELIEVE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE RECEIVED, UH, I BELIEVE IT WAS ON $2 MILLION, MAYBE WRONG.
WHERE'S THAT MONEY GOING? WHERE CAN WE GET HELP? WHERE CAN PEOPLE WHERE EVERY DISTRICT NEEDS TO HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE TO HELP THESE PEOPLE, NOT JUST FOR THREE TO FIVE TO SEVEN DAYS, BUT FOR LONGTERM, THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE NEED LONG-TERM CARE.
AND ALSO A DOUBLE CARE, AS FAR AS MENTAL INSTABILITY AND DRUG USAGE WAS GOES HAND IN HAND.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY PLACES THAT DO THAT ANYMORE.
SO THAT'S, WHAT'S NEEDED FIND OUT IN YOUR DISTRICT.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE AVAILABLE FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE PROBLEMS THAT, THAT ARE, THAT ARE BOTHERING BOTHERING YOU, BUT WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY? WE DON'T HAVE TOO MANY THINGS IN NOVEMBER WITH COVID.
WE'VE BEEN BEGGING FOR DECADES FOR THE DRUG USERS AND WHATNOT.
AND I DON'T WANT TO SAY ONE THING ABOUT THE PARKS.
I DO LOVE THE PARKS IN THIS PARISH.
UM, WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH DRUG USAGE, BUT LET'S NOT JUST TALK ABOUT IT JUST BECAUSE IT'S ON SIEGEN LANE.
UH, MILLERVILLE UH, OLD NEIL LANE AND, UH, I 12 AND SHARE WITH WHICH IS WHERE I LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
LET'S WHY DON'T WE TALK ABOUT IT MORE THAN WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR ALL THE YEARS AND THE PLACES THAT WE LIVE.
[00:50:01]
THANK YOU.IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM, MR. LANDRY? GOOD EVENING.
3 0 0 6, DRUSILLA LANE 7 0 0 0 8 0 9.
UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND HERE BEFORE YOU AND OPPOSE THIS ORDINANCE.
UM, INDIVIDUALS DO NOT CHOOSE TO BE HOMELESS.
IT'S NOT A CHOICE, RIGHT? AND ONE THING MY MOTHER ALWAYS TAUGHT ME WAS, BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD THERE GO I, AND SO ANY ONE OF US COULD BE ONE CATASTROPHE OR ONE MISTAKE AWAY FROM BEING AN UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION, RIGHT? SO WE SHOULDN'T PUNISH PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE IN UNFAMILIAR OR UNWARRANTED CIRCUMSTANCES BEING HOMELESS OR BEING WITHOUT A HOME SHOULD NOT BE A CRIME.
LOUISIANA ALREADY INCARCERATES THE MOST PEOPLE PER CAPITA IN THE ENTIRE NATION.
WHY CONTINUE TO ADD TO IT WHEN WE DON'T NEED TO, THESE PEOPLE NEED HELP.
THEY DON'T NEED TO BE HANDCUFFED.
THEY DON'T NEED TO ADD TO THAT BURDEN BY ADDING ADDITIONAL FINES AND HAVING TO APPEAR IN COURT.
AND THEN HAVING OFFICERS GO OUT TO HAVE TO LOOK FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE AN ADDRESS, RIGHT? WE NEED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE, NOT CONTINUOUSLY INCARCERATE AND ADD TO THE SYSTEM AND ADD TO THE NEGATIVE PUBLICITY THAT LOUISIANA GETS.
AS FAR AS INCARCERATION RATES.
NOT ONLY IS IT UNCONSTITUTIONAL, BUT IT'S UNENFORCEABLE.
IT IS DANGEROUS TO CONTINUE DOWN THIS PATH.
AND I ASKED THAT ALL OF YOU VOTED IN OPPOSITION.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM? COME ON DOWN THERE.
I THOUGHT I JUST EXPLAINED TO THE COUNCIL, WHAT WE'VE ACTUALLY DONE THROUGH THE MAYOR'S INITIATIVES, PROBABLY FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, 18 MONTHS, WE'VE REALLY EXAMINED THE HOMELESS THING VERY, VERY CLOSELY.
UM, PART OF THAT EFFORT WAS PULLING ALL OF THE HOMELESS PROVIDERS INTO DISCUSSIONS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S AVAILABLE, WHAT THEY DO.
I THINK IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THERE WERE ABOUT 60 ORGANIZATIONS, CHURCHES, NONPROFITS, UM, SOME GET STATE FUNDING, SOME GET FUNDING FROM US, TRYING TO COORDINATE THOSE AND FIND OUT WHAT'S REALLY AVAILABLE.
PART OF THAT OUT OF THAT OUTCOME, WE SET UP THE HOT TEAMS, WHICH ARE SPECIALLY TRAINED LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE, POLICE AND SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES OR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO GO OUT TWICE A WEEK INTO THE AREAS THAT WE HAVE HIGH VOLUMES OF HOMELESS.
A LOT OF THOSE ARE THE ENCAMPMENTS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE NOTED IN YOUR AREAS.
UM, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT, IT'S A TEAM OF TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS WHO ACTUALLY ARE THERE TO WORK WITH THE POLICE.
THEY IDENTIFY SOMEBODY AND THEY TALK ABOUT WHAT THEIR NEED IS AND THEY TRY AND GET THEM TO THE RIGHT PLACE.
WE'VE HAD SUCCESS WITH A LOT OF THOSE EFFORTS.
I KNOW ONE THAT I WORKED ON PERSONALLY WAS A HOMELESS PERSON WHO CAME HERE FROM ANOTHER STATE, HAD MEDICAL ISSUES.
HE WOULDN'T GO INTO A SHELTER BECAUSE HE HAD A SERVICE ANIMAL AND HE LOST THE PAPERWORK FOR THE SERVICE ANIMAL.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET HIM THE PAPERWORK, GOT HIM INTO THE CENTER.
UM, A LOT OF HANDHOLDING IN THAT WHOLE EXCHANGE, THE STATE, WHICH HAD A, UM, DUVALL'S INVOLVED WITH MOST OF THE FUNDING FOR THE HOMELESS PROGRAMS COMES TO THE STATE CONTINUUM OF CARE, ABOUT FOUR POINT MILLION DOLLARS WHERE WE HAVE OUR GROUPS NOW WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM, TRYING TO IDENTIFY HOW WE MOVE PEOPLE THROUGH THAT PROCESS, THE QUICKEST WAY POSSIBLE.
UM, WE, AGAIN, WE HAVE HAD SUCCESS IN TERMS OF MOVING PEOPLE ALONG.
UM, IF WE HAVE THE ENCAMPMENTS, WE'VE HAD TO WORK WITH PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS, BECAUSE IF THEY'RE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS TO HAVE THE PERMISSION FROM THE OWNERS TO ACTUALLY ASK PEOPLE TO MOVE.
AND SO WE TRY AND GET THEM RELOCATED.
SO THAT'S OUR EFFORT AND OUR, OUR COMMITMENT THE OTHER DAY WAS AGAIN WITH THE STATE EFFORT TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM VERY CLOSELY, TRYING TO TIE ALL THOSE PROGRAMS TOGETHER, AS CLOSELY AS WE CAN.
UM, WE KNOW IN THE AREAS, I KNOW COUNCILMAN EMERIS HAD ONE AT WALMART WHERE WE HAD SOME LIVING IN A VAN AND THE ISSUE THERE WAS, WE STRUGGLED.
WALMART SAID IT WASN'T IN THEIR PART OF THE PARKING LOT.
I THINK WE WORKED ON THAT FOR THREE MONTHS JUST TO ACTUALLY GET THE VAN MOVED AND TO GET THAT PERSON SOMEPLACE WHERE THEY COULD GET HELP.
UM, THE OTHER THING WHERE WE'RE REALLY IDENTIFYING WITH OUR GROUPS IS TRYING TO IDENTIFY EXACTLY WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE DISCOVERED THAT OVER HALF OF THE PEOPLE IN SOME OF THESE AREAS ARE NOT FROM BATON ROUGE, THEY'RE COMING IN, THEY'RE THERE THROUGH THE INTERSTATE, UM, THAT WAS DISCUSSED.
SOME OF THEM COME HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE A BUS STATION.
UM, SOME PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM, UH, UH, CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
SOME ARE COMING HERE FROM OTHER PARISHES WHERE THEY HAVE NO SERVICES OF ANY KIND.
SO AGAIN, PART OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S BRINGING PEOPLE HERE.
AND I THINK THE DISCUSSION WAS, ARE ABOUT A BUS TICKET
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PROGRAM.WE DO HAVE A PROGRAM IN PLACE SO THAT IF SOMEONE HAS A PLACE TO GO BACK TO, WE DO VET THEM TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THEY'RE NOT JUST TRYING TO GO FOR A VACATION SOMEWHERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE GOING BACK TO A LOVED ONE OR SOMEONE WHO CAN ACTUALLY HELP TAKE CARE OF.
SO THAT'S OUR EXISTING PROGRAM.
ANYONE ELSE HERE, WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 86, WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL NUMBERS.
WE DO HAVE SOME EMAIL CONTENT REAL QUICKLY.
UH Y'ALL SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED FROM US 10 COMMENTS, SIX AND SUPPORT AND FOR AN OPPOSITION OF THE ITEM.
AND THAT'S SOME PEOPLE DON'T WORK OUTSIDE.
I THINK WORKING ON A BUILDING, I THINK, OPEN, NOT GOING TO TEAR IT DOWN OR TEAR IT DOWN THERE, AS WE SAY, NO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DONE, COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS HAD SOME AMENDMENTS.
I'LL GIVE HER AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT BEFORE I SPEAK, IF THAT'S OKAY.
WELL, LET'S GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS, SERGEANT.
WE PLAYED COUNSELING BATHROOMS. OKAY.
UM, COURTNEY, WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU MIND COMING UP AND I'M GOING TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO COURTNEY FOR EVERYTHING SHE'S DONE TO HELP US, UM, WITH THIS PROCESS AND WE'VE MADE SOME AMENDMENTS.
WOULD YOU MIND WE HAVE SOME PROPOSED PROPOSED AMENDMENTS? WOULD YOU MIND GOING THROUGH THOSE? YES.
UM, SO COUNCIL MEMBERS, I BELIEVE I MIGHT'VE EMAILED THESE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE COME IN RIGHT NOW THIS WEEK.
I THINK EARLIER THIS WEEK I SENT THEM OUT TO EVERYBODY JUST SO THAT EVERYBODY WOULD BE ON NOTICE.
SO IF YOU, UM, AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE ORDINANCE, UH, UNDER SECTION A SUB SECTION TWO, THERE'S A DELETION OF THE TIME PERIOD.
SO THE TIME PERIOD OF 12 HOURS IS NO LONGER, UH, A REQUIREMENT, UM, IN THE ORDINANCE.
UH, AND THEN CAN YOU KINDA EXPLAIN THE SENTENCE OR SOME INDEBTED THEN? SO IT COULD NOTE THIS SECTION A NUMBER TWO UNDER SECTION A IT'S THE DELETION OF THE EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, WHICH IS THE 12 HOUR PERIODS.
SO THIS PERIOD OF TIME WAS INITIALLY ADDED BECAUSE, UM, THERE WAS THE, THERE WAS AN IDEA OF HOW TO, HOW LAW ENFORCEMENT WOULD DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT A CAMP IS BEING SET UP.
AND SO YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST BARBECUING OUT IN THE OPEN SOMEWHERE REC PARK OR WHEREVER, YOU KNOW, ANY PUBLIC SPACE.
AND SO IF, IF, IF THE PERSON OR GROUP OF PEOPLE ARE IN THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION FOR LONGER THAN 12 HOURS, UM, THEN YOU KNOW, YOU CAN, THE IDEA WAS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT COULD SAY, OKAY, I THINK THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO SET UP HERE, UH, SO THAT THEY CAN STAY THE NIGHT OR CAMP, RIGHT? SO IT'S, IT'S TRYING TO LEAN INTO THE DEFINITION OF WHATEVER CAMPING IS.
YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY WHO HAS THEIR PERSONAL BELONGINGS THERE, THEY HAVE A 10 UP THERE MAKING A CAMPFIRE.
IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE TRYING TO BASICALLY, UH, READY THE AREA SO THAT THEY CAN STAY THERE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
AND SO FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE RPD, OR WHOEVER'S GOING OUT THERE TO SEE THAT, UM, AN INDICATION WOULD BE 12 HOURS, BUT THEN AFTER SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THAT WOULD WORK, THERE WAS A CONCERN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHO'S GOING TO KEEP, KEEP TRACK OF THAT TIME.
HOW WAS THE TRACK OF TIME GOING TO BE KEPT? UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT, YOU CAN'T ASSUME THAT IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME OFFICER GOING TO THE SAME SPOT.
ONCE THEY DO A, UH, A SHIFT CHANGE, SOMEONE NEW COULD COME ALONG AND THEN MAYBE THEY'LL, THEY'LL START THE T THE 12 HOUR TIME DELAY OVER AGAIN.
AND SO, UM, AND SO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WERE SUPPORTING THE ITEM, UM, REQUESTED THAT IT BE DELETED AND NOW IS NO TIME PERIOD AT ALL.
SO IF LAW ENFORCEMENT GOES TO A SCENE AND THEY SEE THESE PARTICULAR ACTIVITIES TAKING PLACE, THEN THEY CAN MAKE A DETERMINATION RIGHT THERE THAT THIS, THAT THESE PEOPLE MIGHT BE, UM, CAMPING, BUT THE PURPOSES OF THIS ORDINANCE.
SO THAT'S THE DELETION OF TIME PERIOD.
THE SECOND, UM, THE SECOND AMENDMENT IS GOING TO BE UNDER SUBSECTION C, WHICH IS THE ADDITION, UH, THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT CONFIRM AVAILABLE SHELTER OR HOUSING.
THIS WAS IMPORTANT TO THE SPONSORING COUNCIL MEMBERS, BECAUSE I THINK INITIALLY BR THE WAY THE ORDINANCE WAS WRITTEN INITIALLY IS THAT BRP RPD OR LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL MAKE CONTACT.
AND, UM, AND TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY, TELL THEM, LOOK, THERE'S THEIR SHELTER AVAILABLE.
NOW THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT WHOEVER'S MAKING THAT CONTACT FIRST CONFIRMS
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THAT SHELTER IS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE SO THAT THERE IS NOT A GUEST THERE.UM, OR, YOU KNOW, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SHELTERS LOCATED ON JEFFERSON HIGHWAY OR FLORIDA BOULEVARD OR WHEREVER, UM, JUST BECAUSE THEY KNOW ABOUT SHELTERS THAT ARE BEING AVAILABLE.
UM, THERE NOW THERE'S A MANDATORY, THERE'S A MANDATE THAT THE OFFICER THAT IS CONTACTING THE INDIVIDUAL WHO MIGHT BE IN VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE CONFIRMED THAT SHELTER IS AVAILABLE.
AND IN TALKING WITH, UM, I THINK WE WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF THE BRP D REPRESENTATIVES, UM, THAT, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT THAT THERE MIGHT BE A WAY TO DO THAT, THAT THERE MIGHT BE A WAY TO GET A DAILY COUNT OF THE BEDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
UM, EVERY DAY IT MAY NOT BE A PERFECT NUMBER, BUT THERE'S A WAY TO FIND OUT, BE AVAILABLE ABILITY OF THESE BEDS ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND SO THE CONTACTING OFFICER CAN SAY, THERE IS AVAILABLE AT XYZ SHELTER.
UM, THIS THIRD AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE IS THE DELETION OF IMPRISONMENT.
SO THERE'S NO IMPRISONMENT WITH THIS ORDINANCE.