Sep 14, 2022 Metropolitan Council

1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, JAYLEN.

CONGRATULATIONS.

Y WANNA TAKE A PHOTO AND COME UP? YES, ABSOLUTELY.

TAKE THE PHOTO RIGHT HERE.

BRING EVERYBODY MR. BIDWELL.

MAYOR A.

I NEED TO GET, WELL I DID YOU PUT IT THERE? I GUESS I GOT IT IN RIGHT HERE AT THIS POINT.

HOLD, HOLD.

LET'S MAKE SURE YOU SEE HIS FACE LOCK EACH SHINE.

ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.

EVERYONE.

RIGHT HERE.

GO AHEAD AND GET YOUR SHOT.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL YOU KEEP UP YOUR OUTSTANDING WORK.

NEXT.

[Additional Item 2]

WE'RE GONNA HAVE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEMBER DAR HURST TO RECOGNIZE BRIANNA DOZE BANKS FROM MARYDALE ELEMENTARY.

MEGAN MCNAMARA, SUPERINTENDENT OF THE REDESIGN SCHOOLS.

LOUISIANA WILL LET BUTLER LENO PARK ELEMENTARY.

JUSTIN BRUCE SAW POP FAR AS MIDDLE SCHOOL AND KRISTEN RUFFIN FAR AS HIGH ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE.

CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FOR OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR AWARD COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.

HEY AGAIN, COLLEAGUES, UH, MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE AND PEOPLE BEING PRESENTED AWARDS TODAY.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING IN ATTENDANCE.

THERE WAS SO GREAT THAT I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE TRUANCY PROGRAM WAS HAPPENING BEFORE, BUT TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TEACHERS AS IT RELATES TO TRUANCY, SOMETIMES HAVING THE WRONG TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM WILL CREATE WILL, WILL CREATE THE TRUANCY THAT WE DEAL WITH, BUT HAVING THE RIGHT ONE, THE ONE THAT CARES THE ONES THAT COMES THERE AND, AND LEAVES IT ALL IN THE CLASSROOM, IT KIND OF GOES HOME FEELING HEAVY THAT DAY BECAUSE THEY'VE TAKEN ON THE BURDENS OF THE KIDS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A, A GREAT ENVIRONMENT TO LEARN IN.

THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT STAND OUT, STICK OUT AND, AND THAT ARE MAKING THE MOST IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE, UM, IMPORTANT THAT THEY GET RECOGNIZED FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO IN OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE I TELL EVERYBODY EDUCATION EQUALS INCOME, WHICH EQUALS OUTCOME.

WHEN WE LOOK AT CHALLENGES IN OUR COMMUNITIES, IT RELATES TO SOCIOECONOMICS CRIME.

IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO TYPICALLY THOSE PEOPLE HAVE, UH, LESS THAN A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION.

AND SO I WANT TO THANK THESE TEACHERS FOR DOING SUCH OUTSTANDING WORK, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND IT IS SO GREAT THAT WE HAVE THE GREAT SUPERINTENDENT, DR.

CTO RCS, OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, DARIUS LANE IS BECAUSE THE SCHOOLS ARE GONNA RECOGNIZE TODAY OR THEIR DISTRICTS.

I'M ACTUALLY THE GENTLEMAN STEP UP WITH ME AS WELL.

UH, NO PROBLEM.

UH, SO REPRESENTING, UH, IF MY PHONE WOULD GO TO, UH, I'M GONNA DO THESE OUTTA ORDER A LITTLE BIT.

UM,

[00:10:05]

SO, UM, MRS. WILLETTE BUTLER FROM GLEN OAKS PARK ELEMENTARY IS A SECOND GRADE TEACHER, MRS. BUTLER'S A VERY FOCUSED AND DEDICATED SECOND GRADE TEACHER THAT WORKS WELL WITH OTHERS.

HER PERFORMANCE RATING IS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE.

SHE IS VERY DEPENDENT ON GOALS ABOVE, BEYOND, UH, HER REQUIRED DUTIES.

UH, MS. WILL BUTLER.

LOOK, I'M TAKE ONE AT A TIME GO.

WE, I TAKE YOU STAYING OVER THERE TO THE SIDE NEXT REPRESENTING MARYDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THIRD GRADE MATH TEACHER.

WE HAVE MISS BRIANNA DOZIER BANKS.

SHE'S A THIRD GRADE TEACHER AT MARYDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

SHE GRADUATED FROM SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, AGRICULTURAL MECHANICAL COLLEGE WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE CONCENTRATING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT.

SHE HAS ALWAYS HAD A PASSION AND LOVE FOR WORKING WITH THE YOUTH.

SINCE GRADUATING.

SHE HAS MADE HER DUTY TO WORK WITH CHILDREN BY HELPING THEM FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION SO THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN WHATEVER PATH THEY MAY CHOOSE TO FOLLOW.

WHEN SHE IS NOT WORKING, SHE LOVES TO BINGE WATCH TELEVISION COOK AND SPEND TIME WITH HER FAMILY.

SHE WAS ALSO NAMED MARYDALE ELEMENTARY TEACHER THE YEAR, LAST YEAR.

I WELCOME MS. BRIANNA DOZIER BANKS.

MISS CHRISTY RUFFIN IS A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER AT FOREST HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY.

UM, SHE IS ONE OF OUR AMAZING TEACHERS AT FOREST HEIGHTS OF ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE.

SHE HAS EXCELLENT COMMUNICATION WITH STUDENTS COLLABORATES WITH HER TEAMMATES AND WITH HER FACULTY AND STAFF MEMBERS.

WELL, AS A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER, IT IS REQUIRED.

I'M SORRY.

IT REQUIRES A PERSON TO SHOW EMPATHY AND PATIENCE DUE TO MANY STUDENTS' EXPERIENCE INVOLVED WITH GOING HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME, MS. RUFFIN GOES OVER AND BEYOND TO ENSURE STUDENTS FEEL AS IF THEY ARE AT THE SECOND HOME AND THAT NO CHILD IS LEFT BEHIND.

I BRING TO YOU MISS KRISTY RUFFIN.

ALL RIGHT, MR. JUSTIN, BRUCE SAW IS FROM PARK FOREST MIDDLE.

UH, MR. JUSTIN BRUCE STAR IS A SUPERSTAR TEACHER.

HE IS OUR RENEWABLE ENERGY TEACHER, AND HE ALSO SERVES AS THE YEARBOOK COORDINATOR, EXPLORING TECHNOLOGY INSTRUCTOR, FOUR H CLUB SPONSOR, SG ADVISOR FOOTBALL COACH.

AND HE IS A FELLOW OF THE 2021 COASTAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.

AND JUST RECEIV, I'M SORRY, JUST RECENTLY AS TODAY, UH, THE SCHOOL FOUND OUT THAT HE HAS BEEN ACCEPTED INTO THE BUILDING ENVIRONMENT AND EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY, COMPETENCE AND LEADERSHIP AMONG EDUCATORS.

SO B E E TECH PROGRAM AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.

MR. BRARD HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF OUR STAFF FOR THREE YEARS AND HAS DEFINITELY EARNED THE RESPECT ADMIRATION OF OUR STUDENTS' PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY.

MR. BRUCE HAS AN UNYIELDING PASSION FOR STUDENTS AS HE IS A TRUE ADVOCATE FOR THE STUDENTS AND HOLDS THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALWAYS TO ALWAYS HELP OTHERS WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE PARK FORESTS IS PROUD TO HAVE HIM AND HONORED TO HAVE HIM AS A MEMBER OF THE RAIDER FAMILY.

MR. JUSTIN, BRUCE.

AND THAT, THAT I JUST READ ON THERE.

MY MAN, LOOK, I'M GONNA TAKE A QUICK PAUSE BECAUSE THESE ARE EBR.

I WANNA MAKE SURE WE GET A PICTURE WITH EBR, THEN WE'LL BRING A REDESIGN.

[00:15:06]

WE INHERITED BYRON WASHINGTON,

SO, UM, THE NEXT PORTION OF THIS IS, UH, OUR REDESIGN SCHOOL GROUP.

SO I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT IN TEACHER TRAININGS.

THEY LITERALLY HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY ACTIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY ALONG WITH EBR AS WELL, BUT A LOT OF TIMES WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS GET BAD REPUTATIONS FOR COMING IN AND DOING THE WRONG THING.

AND YOU WANT TO HONOR WHEN YOU SEE THE RIGHT THING DONE, I'VE SEEN THE SUPERINTENDENT WITH A SHOVEL IN HER HAND, GLOVES ON SWEATING DIRT, LITERALLY TAKING THE SHOVEL TO TAKE THE GRASS OFF OF THE SIDEWALK.

AND SHE CAME TO ME, SHE SAID, COUNCILMAN HURST.

I DIDN'T REALIZE WE HAD A SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL.

SO HER GOAL WAS TO MAKE THE ENVIRONMENT THAT THE KIDS LEARN AND EVERY DAY BE THE BEST THAT IT COULD POSSIBLY BE FROM TEACHER, UM, KNOWLEDGE SHARING TO COMMUNITY RESOURCE ENGAGEMENT, AND TO RECOGNIZE MS. MAGNET, MEGAN MCNAMARA, AS SUPERINTENDENT TO REDESIGN REDESIGN SCHOOLS.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.

AND, UM, WE ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE A, AN AMAZING TEACHER FROM LANIER ELEMENTARY, WHICH IS A REDESIGN SCHOOL.

AND, UM, ASHANA RANSOM IS A THIRD GRADE MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHER AT LAIR ELEMENTARY.

SHE HAS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL STUDENTS AND ACCOMMODATE THEIR INDIVIDUAL LEARNING STYLES.

MS. RANSOM IS A, IS A DEVOTED TEACHER PLAYER.

WHO'S ALWAYS WILLING TO LEND A HELPING HAND.

LAIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS EXCITED TO NOMINATE MR. SEAN RANSOM, PLEASE COME TO THE STAGE AGAIN.

THANK THEM SO MUCH WITHOUT EDUCATION.

THERE'S NO FUTURE.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR KIDS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COUNCIL MEMBER HEARS.

NOW WE'LL HEAR FROM COUNCIL MEMBER, SHAWN BANKS TO RECOGNIZE JANELLE WASHINGTON, FOUNDER, AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SCOTLAND, SATURDAYS COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.

UH, NO MA'AM.

I DID NOT.

I THOUGHT YOU HAD BEEN BACK THERE FOR A WHILE ON THAT FANCY DRESS YOU HAVE ON LAURA, JACKIE.

OH, THANK YOU.

SHOULDS NOW PLEASED.

OH, I'D LOVE TO.

OH, NO, HE'S SUPPOSED KIDDING.

ONE OF THE BLESSINGS, UM, OF BEING A COUNCIL MEMBER IS HAVING PARTNERS AND RESIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT HELP US DO THE HEAVY LIFTING.

UM, WE ALL SET UP HERE, BUT ALL OF US COULD ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT THERE ARE, UM, THERE'S WIND BENEATH OUR WINGS THAT HELP US ELEVATE AND WE TAKE THE CHEERS AND THE SHOUTS AND EVERYTHING, BUT NONE OF THEM CAN, WE DO BY OURSELF.

AND THAT IS THE STORY OF BYRON AND JANELLE WASHINGTON, UM, SCOTLANDVILLE AND I, I WAS THINKING ROBERT, YOU BROUGHT YOUR CHILDREN TO THE FIRST EVENT.

SO THE FIRST EVENT THAT WE HAD, UM, PROBABLY WAS IN 2015, I THINK IT WAS WITH THE SKYLIN BILL LIGHTING IN WHAT WE DEEMED AS THE V FOR SKYLIN BILL PLAZA.

FROM THAT TIME ON, THAT'S BEEN A HOT SPOT IN THE SKYVILLE COMMUNITY, AND IT IS A TESTAMENT, A TESTAMENT TO, UM, THE FACT THAT, UM, YOU DON'T HAVE TO NECESSARILY HAVE A LOT OF BRICKS AND MARTYR TO GET THINGS DONE, BUT JUST THE IDEA OF BRINGING A COMMUNITY TOGETHER, ANYTHING COULD WORK, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

SO FROM, UM, OUR NBR NOW, IN WHICH BYRON WASHINGTON CHAIRS, HIS WIFE, JANELLE, WHO IS ORIGINALLY FROM SKYLIN BE, AND HER GRANDPARENTS WERE A GROCERY STORE ON ENTREPRENEURS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

[00:20:01]

A CATHOLIC HIGH GRADUATE FROM WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

I'D LIKE TO BRING JANELLE WASHINGTON UP BECAUSE SHE IS DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB.

COME ON, JANELLE.

AND, UM, I THINK, UM, WILL, WILL, DO YOU HAVE THE IT'S ON THE IT'S ON THE SCREEN? MM-HMM OH, WELL, EVERYBODY.

OH, OKAY.

HAVE THEY DONE? OKAY.

SO Y'ALL KNOW I WOULD MESS UP WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO JANELLE BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE TO ASK HER AND WHAT HAPPENED AND WHO DID THAT AND WHEN IS THE DATE? SO WITHOUT FURTHER DUE JANELLE WASHINGTON.

HELLO.

I'M AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SCOTLAND, SCOTLAND, SATURDAYS.

UM, SO, UH, SCOTLAND, SATURDAYS, JUST A LITTLE INFORMATION FOR YOU GUYS WAS BRED OUT OF OUR NEED AND WANT FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER MYSELF, AND WE MOVED TO THE SCOTLANDVILLE AREA INTO THE SOUTHERN HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD.

UM, UPON US HAVING OUR FIRST CHILD.

NOW WE HAVE TWO KIDS, BUT OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE IT AN EQUITABLE AREA FOR US TO BRING IN OUR FAMILIES AND GROW OUR FAMILIES LIKE WHAT I'M USED TO.

UM, I'M FROM THE AREA KING STREET OF SCOTLANDVILLE.

AND I WENT TO SOUTHERN LAB, GRADUATED FROM BATON ROUGE HIGH, BUT IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE THAT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO ME.

SO THAT'S HOW WE HAVE SCOTLAND.

SATURDAYS.

ONCE A MONTH, WE HAVE A, UM, A MONTHLY OPEN AIR MARKET.

AND IN THAT MARKET, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE ABLE TO COME AND THEY'RE ABLE TO SELL THEIR PRODUCT, OFFER THEIR SERVICES AND THROUGH MANY PARTNERSHIPS WITH BRECK, UM, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, UM, HEALTHY BR CEX, AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PARTNERSHIPS, BUT WE ALL, WE JUST LISTENED TO OUR COMMUNITY AND WE PUT TOGETHER EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO FLOURISH IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ALSO MAKING IT MORE LIVABLE AND MORE WELCOMING TO GUESTS AS WELL.

SO THAT IS OUR GOAL AT SCOTLAND SATURDAYS.

AND NOW WE'VE BEEN, UH, AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO FILL OUT FOR THE GRANT LEAVE APP GRANT.

AND THAT GRANT BRINGS A, UM, WEEKLY MUSIC SERIES, LIVE MUSIC SERIES TO THE AREA, 10 TO 12 WEEKS OUT OF THE YEAR FOR THREE YEARS.

SO THIS WOULD BE FROM 2023 TO 2025.

THERE IS A QR CODE ON THE SCREENS, UM, ALL AROUND THE ROOM.

I WOULD LOVE FOR EVERYONE TO PULL OUT THEIR PHONES AND SCAN THOSE CODES, UM, BECAUSE THAT'LL TAKE YOU TO THE SITE TO VOTE FOR US WHERE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO, UH, CONTRIBUTE TO BRINGING THIS LIVE MUSIC SERIES TO THE NORTH BATON ROUGE AREA.

AND IT'LL ALSO GO INTO MAKING THAT ACTUAL SPACE, WHICH IS THE SKYVILLE PLAZA, LIVABLE AND USABLE FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE FAMILIES OF THIS COMMUNITY, UM, AS WELL.

SO PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE SCAN THE QR CODE.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SMARTPHONE OR A QR READER, YOU CAN ALSO TEXT 1 8 6 6 2 6 7 2023, UM, B RUDE, AND THAT'LL GO FOR A VOTE FOR US AS WELL.

SO PLEASE HELP US A VOTE FOR US IS A VOTE FOR YOU.

SO THERE ARE SOME OLD IN LIKE LOOK AT, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS QR.

DO YOU HAVE ONE THAT SAY TEXT TWO? THAT'S.

I SAID B RUDE.

THAT IS B R O U G E 2 1 8 6 6 2 6 7 2 0 2 3 1 1 8 66 2 6 7 2 0 2 3.

AND TEXT B E R O U G E.

AND SHARE WITH 20 PEOPLE CUZ WE ARE NUMBER 29 AND WE NEED TO BE IN THE TOP 10.

YEAH, WELL WE NEED TO BE IN THE TOP 20 TO MAKE IT TO THE NEXT ROUND.

I HEARD YOU TO SAY TOP 10.

THANK IT'S A GOOD MEMORY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS, OUR LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A THREE MINUTE BREAK AND GET STARTED AT 4 0 5, 3 MINUTE BREAKS.

SO COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN GET IN AND TAKE THEIR SEATS AND WE'LL GET STARTED AT 4 0 5.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DENNIS.

GOOD

[CALL TO ORDER]

AFTERNOON.

AND WELCOME TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING ON THIS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2022 AT 4:00 PM.

AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO PASS IT TO COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON TO INTRODUCE OUR GUEST.

WE WANNA STOP AND TAKE JUST A MOMENT TO STOP AND, AND REFLECT ON THAT DATE, THE LIVES LOST AND THE HEROES OF THAT DAY.

THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT.

UM, YOU KNOW, SEPTEMBER 11TH, UH, CHANGED A LOT OF OUR LIVES.

UM, AND, AND, AND I, I THINK IT'S ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT TO US HERE AT THE COUNCIL.

WHEN WE GET TO THIS FIRST MEETING IN SEPTEMBER,

[00:25:01]

UH, SO ONE OF THE SPECIAL THINGS THAT WE OFTEN DO, UH, OR THAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE, UH, FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, UH, WHEN THIS DATE ROLLS AROUND IS WE HAVE A COLOR GUARD COME IN FROM ONE OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

UH, WE HAVE A PASTOR THAT COMES OUT AND, AND, AND ACKNOWLEDGES THE DATE AND, AND SAYS SOME WORDS FOR US.

UM, SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA DO THAT TODAY.

UM, UH, BUT JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE'RE DOING AND, AND, AND SORT OF THE REASONING BEHIND IT.

UH, WE WANT TO KEEP THAT ATTITUDE THAT, THAT WE NEVER FORGET THE SACRIFICE, UH, THAT WAS MADE THAT DAY AND THE LIVES THAT WE LOST.

SO THANK YOU.

UM, THE INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY PASTOR DARRELL TATE FIRST UNITED METHODIST, CHURCH OF BLACKMAN.

UH, THE PRESENTATION OF COLORS WILL BE BY THE ST.

GEORGE FIRE DEPARTMENT, COLOR GUARD.

EVERYONE, PLEASE SAY IT.

I'D LIKE TO READ TWO SCRIPTURES FOR US THIS AFTERNOON FROM PROVERBS 29, 4 BY JUSTICE.

A KING GIVES A COUNTRY STABILITY, BUT ONE WHO IS GREEDY FOR BRIBES WILL TEAR IT DOWN.

AND FROM JEREMIAH 9 24, BUT LET HIM WHO BOAST BOAST ABOUT THIS, THAT HE UNDERSTANDS AND KNOWS ME THAT I AM THE LORD WHO EXERCISE KINDNESS, JUSTICE, RIGHTEOUSNESS ON EARTH.

FOR THESE I DELIGHT DECLARE THE LORD SINCE GOD DELIGHTS INJUSTICE, CITY LEADERS SHALL DELIGHT IN IT AS WELL.

THE CHIEF DUTY OF ANY CIVIL SERVANT SEEKS TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN JUSTICE JUSTICE.

THAT IS FAIR FOR THE POOR FAIR FOR THE CONDITIONS FOR BUSINESSES TO PROSPER AND FAMILIES TO FLOURISH.

JUSTICE IS THE COURT OF LAW, WHICH LEADS TO STABILITY AND THRIVES FOR A COMMUNITY.

DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE ON NINE 11? I WAS SITTING IN MY OFFICE IN LAFAYETTE WHEN ONE OF THE CHURCH MEMBERS SAID, CAN YOU BELIEVE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN NEW YORK? THAT WAS BEFORE WE HAD IPHONES.

I TURNED ON THE INTERNET AND I COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT I SAW.

THE VERY FIRST THING I COULD DO INSIDE WAS TO GO GET MY CHILDREN OUT OF SCHOOL, BRING THEM HOME, WHERE IT WAS SAFE AND SOUND, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.

AND THEN I CALLED FOR THE COMMUNITY TO PRAY TOGETHER THAT EVENING WE HAD OVER 300 PEOPLE IN THE SANCTUARY OF A LITTLE CHURCH, PRAYING FOR OUR NATION.

WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN ME IN A WORD OF PRAYER IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT LORD, THANK YOU FOR OUR MAYOR PRESIDENT AND THE METRO COUNCIL AND THE LEADERS OF EVERY LEVEL OF OUR PARISH GOVERNMENT, GIVE THEM THE GRACE TO BRING TRUTH AND JUSTICE AND STABILITY TO OUR REGION, GIVE THEM POWER TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, AND TO DO THE RULE OF FAIRNESS.

MAY OUR COMMUNITY BE KNOWN FOR ITS JUSTICE AND KINDNESS AND HUMILITY.

LET US ALL BE OF ONE HEART AND MIND AND SPIRIT SO THAT WE CAN ALL FLOURISH AS GOOD MEN AND WOMEN, BUT ESPECIALLY OUR CHILDREN AND OUR YOUTH, OR IT TAKES EVERY ONE OF US TO MAKE A COMMUNITY BETTER FOR.

WE PRAY THIS IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.

AMEN.

FOR FOURTH CONGO.

OH, PRESENT TELLERS.

WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO OUR FLAG, OUR PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL FOR COLORERS

[00:30:03]

WHILE FACED BOY BOARD.

ITEM, NUMBER ONE ADOPTION OF THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES, APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE METRO OF THE SPECIAL METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETINGS OF AUGUST 10TH, 2022, AND THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF AUGUST 24TH, 2022 BY COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR.

YOU MAY BE SEATED.

THANK YOU, PASTOR TATE.

AND THANK YOU TO THE ST.

GEORGE FIRE DEPARTMENT COLOR GUARD.

AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AFTER, DO WE HAVE A ROLL CALL? I MEAN, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM? WE HAVE A QUORUM

[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

UH, IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM? SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN ADAMS, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

HER ITEM ONE HAS BEEN APPROVED ASKED YOU, WOULD YOU

[INTRODUCTIONS]

PLEASE READ THE INTRODUCTIONS SECTION 2.12 INTRODUCTIONS.

NUMBER TWO, METROPOLITAN COUNCIL SITTING IS THE BOARD OF REVIEW ON PARISH ASSESSMENTS BY THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR TREASURER.

NUMBER THREE, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND THE CERTAIN CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SERVICES WITH BEVERAGE AND DIAMOND PC FOR LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF THE CITY PARISH CONCERNING CLAIMS UNDER THE CLEAN WATER ACT TO INCREASE THE ALLOWABLE COMPENSATION TO A SUM, NOT TO EXCEED $250,000 APPROPRIATE $200,000 FOR SAID PURPOSE BY PARISH ATTORNEY NUMBER FOUR, AUTHORIZING THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO REFUND AN ERRONEOUS REMITTANCE OF USE TAX ALBUM MORAL CORPORATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,193,481 AND 48 CENTS FOR USE TAX REMITTED TO EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH ON NON-TAXABLE TRANSACTIONS AND GOODS DELIVERED OUTSIDE THE PARISH FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 1ST, 2018 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2019 BY THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, NUMBER FIVE, AMENDING THE 2022 CURRENT EXPENSE BUDGET.

SO IS TO ESTABLISH A BUDGET FOR THE CORTANA CORRIDOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, AND FURTHER APPROPRIATING $1,459,070 AND 43 CENTS FROM 2021 AND ESTIMATED 2022 TAX COLLECTION.

AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT DATED OCTOBER 1ST, 2021 BY CORTANA CORRIDOR, ED D NUMBER SIX, AMENDING THE 2022 CURRENT EXPENSE BUDGET AND CAPITAL BUDGET TO APPROPRIATE 2.3 MILLION FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RA CAES RIVER CENTER.

AND THE RIVERFRONT FUNDED THROUGH REVENUES DEDICATED FOR SAID PURPOSE BY THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT SEVEN, AMENDING THE 2022 CURRENT AND CAPITAL EXPENSE BUDGET.

SO TO APPROPRIATE $1 MILLION TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE UPGRADE OF COMPUTER HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE INFRASTRUCTURE FROM GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE UNASSIGNED BY THE INFORMATION SERVICES DIRECTOR, NUMBER EIGHT, AUTHORIZING THE SETTLEMENT OF THE CLAIM OFIA DAVIS FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY BATON ROUGE POLICE OFFICER IN THE AMOUNT OF $60,000 IN APPROPRIATING $60,000 FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY CONDEMNATION.

THERE ARE NO CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS, ADJUDICATED PROPERTY INTRODUCTIONS, NUMBER NINE, LOT 11 SQUARE, 2 74 SPORT, LOT 12 SQUARE, 2 74 SW, LOT 12 BURT, JJ, BURKE, LOT THREE PART SQUARE, 2 76 SWT LOT THREE SQUARE, ONE HEART, LOT, TWO SQUARE, ONE HEART, LOT, FIVE SQUARE, ONE HEART LIGHT, ONE SQUARE, ONE HEART, LOT.

SIX SQUARE J BOOKER TOWN, LOT SEVEN PARTS SWT ADDITIONAL EAST ONE HALF LOT SEVEN PART SW EDITION WEST ONE HALF LOT NINE SQUARE, 39 SW EDITION, VARIOUS SUBDIVISIONS IN COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN, THE APPLICANTS, LOUISIANA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, ALL ITEMS REQUIRE READING OF IN READ AND A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS IS AN ORDER MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS. COUNCIL MEMBER MO MOTION TO INTRODUCE SECONDED BY OUR COUNCIL MEMBER GORE.

DURING OUR OPPOSITION ITEMS BEING INTRODUCED, OUR ITEMS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED.

WE'LL

[CONDEMNATIONS]

NOW GO TO OUR SEPARATE C COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR CONDEMNATIONS.

I'M GONNA READ THE RECOMMENDATIONS AS FOLLOWS.

THERE ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 42 43 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 51 52 53 54 55, 56 AND 57.

THEY ARE TO DELETE ITEMS 41 AND 44.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON CONDEMNATIONS, ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WISHING TO SPEAK ON CONDEMNATIONS? WHEN I GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE? COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, UH, NUMBER 57.

DELETE HAS A PURCHASE AGREEMENT IN PLACE.

ALL RIGHT, ANYONE ELSE? I'M GONNA READ THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND CHANGES.

THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 45 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 53 54, 55 AND 56.

THEY ARE TO DEFER FOR 30 DAYS ITEMS 42

[00:35:01]

DEFER FOR 90 DAYS ITEMS 43 51 AND 52 DELETE ITEMS, 41 44 AND 57.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONDEMNATIONS? SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN MARIOSA SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

COLEMAN CONDEMNATIONS HAVE BEEN APPROVED BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR PUBLIC HEARING.

AS ALWAYS, I'D LIKE TO THINK ALL ABOUT OUR GUESTS AND OUR CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES.

WHO'VE COME TO VISIT WITH US TODAY.

WE KNOW SOME OF YOU WHO WORK FOR THE CITY PARISH HAVE TO BE HERE, BUT WE KNOW THEM THE LESS APPRECIATE YOU 10.

[65. 22-01147]

WE ARE GONNA TAKE ITEM 65.

FIRST.

IT IS AMENDING TITLE EIGHT A SO AS TO ADD CHAPTER FOUR STANDARDS FOR RENTAL PROPERTIES, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING HIGHER LEVEL SECURITY, THEREBY ENHANCING A TENANT PEACEFUL POSSESSION OF THE PROPERTY THROUGH MAINTENANCE AND SECURITY CAMERAS, ADEQUATE OUTDOOR LIGHTING AND DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL INCIDENTS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF THE RENTAL PROPERTY ORDINANCE SHALL BE KNOWN AS DEVIN'S LAW BY COUNCIL MEMBER, CLEVE DUNN, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I DO WANNA MAKE MENTION, AND MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME AMENDMENTS MADE TO THIS ITEM, UH, BY THE SPONSOR OF THE ITEM COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN JR.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME AMENDMENTS MADE TO THE ITEM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DONE.

I THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR YOU TO MAKE THOSE AMENDMENTS KNOWN TO THE AUDIENCE BEFORE THEY MAKE COMMENTS.

THEY MAY PERHAPS MAKE COMMENTS BASED ON WHAT THEY BELIEVE TO BE THE ORIGINAL AUDIENCE.

I THINK IT'D BE IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO DO SO, COURTNEY, IF I THINK IT'D BE APPROPRIATE FOR YOU TO COME UP AND READ THOSE AMENDMENTS PRIOR TO US HAVING THE PUBLIC HEARING, BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE SOME IN THE PUBLIC WHO PERHAPS MAY BE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE ITEM IS IN ITS ORIGINAL FORM.

AND, UH, THERE ARE SOME AMENDMENTS BEING MADE.

THERE ARE SOME AMENDMENTS BEING MADE.

MS. HUMPHREY IS ON THE WAY.

SHE'S NOT HERE.

WE'LL COME BACK TO 65.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET'S GO TO ITEM

[58. 22-01083]

58, GRANTING A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $10,779 AND 1 CENT PER YEAR FOR 210 LAUREL STREET, LLC LOCATED AT 210 LAUREL STREET.

THIS APPLIC BY THE PLANNING DIRECTOR.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 58.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 58.

WE'RE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 58 MO SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MO SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HEARD ITEM 58 HAS BEEN APPROVED ITEM

[59. 22-01104]

59 AUTHORIZATION TO APPROPRIATE $80,000 FROM THE AIRPORT'S CASH ACCOUNT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO BE PLACED IN THE EMPLOYEE PARKING LOT REHABILITATION PROJECT BY THE AVIATION DIRECTOR.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 59? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IS THERE MOTION? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DONE SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? WE GO TO ITEM

[60. 22-01106]

60 AUTHORIZING AUTHORIZATION TO APPROPRIATE $550,000 FROM THE AIRPORT'S CASH ACCOUNT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO BE PLACED IN A TAXIWAY, A REDESIGN AND RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT BY THE AVIATION DIRECTOR.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 60 NOW WITH A COUNCIL MEMBER'S MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUN SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MO ITEM 60.

HASN'T BEEN APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

[61. 22-01107]

WE GO TO ITEM 61 AUTHORIZATION TO APPROPRIATE $310,000 FROM THE AIRPORT'S CASH ACCOUNT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO BE PLACED IN THE NORTHWEST AVIATION DEVELOPMENT PROJECT BY THE AVIATION DIRECTORS.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 61.

WE NOW GO TO COUNSEL.

IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVE BY DONE.

SECONDED BY ADAMS. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION ITEM 61 HAS APPROVED.

WE GO TO ITEM 62,

[62. 22-01116]

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO ACCEPT THE GRANT AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $13,550 FROM LOUISIANA OFFICE OF CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BY THE PLANNING DIRECTOR.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 62? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR WITH NO OBJECTION ITEM 62 HAS BEEN APPROVED.

WE NOW GO TO

[63. 22-01117]

ITEM 63, AUTHORIZING AM MAYOR, PRESIDENT TO IMPLEMENT A SENIOR CITIZEN AID PROGRAM, WHICH SHOULD ALLOW SENIORS TO CONTRACT WITH THE CITY PARISH DEPARTMENTS TO PERFORM ASSIGNED DUTIES AND CITY PARISH SYSTEM AND FOSTER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SENIOR CITIZEN EMPLOYMENT WITH THE CITY PARISH BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

HERRS.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 63, GO TO COUNCIL.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, HERS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS ITEM 63 HAS BEEN APPROVED WITH NO OBJECTION, BUT NOW I GO TO ITEM 64 ESTABLISHMENT OF A REVIEW COMMITTEE TO EVALUATE THE REDISTRICT AND PROCESS AND WRITE A COMMENTARY TO HIGHLIGHT THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 64? WE NOW I GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER.

THERE IS A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

DUN, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO ITEM 64 COUNCIL, UH, MEMBER HUDSON? I I'M JUST CURIOUS FROM COUNCILMAN BANKS.

HOW, HOW DOES THE COMMITTEE WORK? WHEN WILL IT MEET? UM, WHO'S ON IT.

WAY IT WOULD WORK, IT'S, UH, IT'S WHERE WE HOPE THAT TO FIND OUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS THAT LEADS UP, UM, TO, AND IT IS 10, IT'LL BE 10 YEARS PROBABLY BEFORE ANY OF THIS WILL COME, COME TO LIGHT.

SO, UM, THE

[00:40:01]

BUT, UM, I WAS LOOKING AT THE WAY EBR SCHOOL SYSTEM DID THEIR, UM, REDISTRICTING.

THEY ACTUALLY HAD AN OUTLINE, SO PEOPLE KNEW EVERY WEEK WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND PART OF THAT PROCESS, UM, INCLUDED THE MEETINGS THAT WERE HELD AMONG THE MEMBERS AND ALSO THE MEETINGS THAT WERE GONNA BE HELD FOR THE PUBLIC, EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC COULD COME, BUT ALSO MEETINGS THAT EACH COUNCIL EACH, UM, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER WANTED TO HOST.

AND SO, UM, THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS I, UH, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHAT THE FACT THAT FROM THE TIME, UH, WE BEGAN REDISTRICTING ON, I, I WAS NEVER UP TO PAR ON WHAT WAS GOING ON, NOT AS IT RELATES TO WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MEETING, EVEN THOUGH I WAS ABSENT, I WAS STILL ABLE TO GET, BUT WHAT WAS TO HAPPEN EACH WEEK.

AND, UM, WHEN I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT ONCE THE LAST TWO OR THREE WERE DECIDED THAT EACH COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD THEN BE ABLE TO SCHEDULE A COMMUNITY MEETING.

AND SO WHEN MY CONSTITUENTS OVER TIME WERE SAYING, WELL, YOU KNOW, I COULDN'T MAKE IT TO THE LIBRARY OR WHATEVER.

I WAS LIKE, BOY, IT'S NO PROBLEM.

BECAUSE ONCE WE GET DOWN TO THE 2 0 3, THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO HOST A COMMUNITY MEETING AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

UM, I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON HOW, UM, THE, I KNOW IN, WHEN I LOOKED OUT IN 2012 IS WHEN THE PREVIOUS REDISTRICTING WENT, WENT ABOUT AND I WASN'T HERE.

UM, BUT BASED ON LOOKING AT THE INFORMATION, THE CAPITAL AREA, WHAT IS IT? ASHLEY CAPITAL AREA PLANNING, RE CAPITAL REGION PLANNING HAS ALWAYS HISTORICALLY, UM, CHOSEN.

WE DON'T, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENED AND THERE'S TOTALLY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATING DOING, BUT WE JUST NEED A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION.

JUST DON'T KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED.

AND SPEAKING TO THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, ASKING THEM ABOUT HOW, WHERE THE MEETINGS AND VOTE.

A LOT OF THEM COULD NOT ANSWER.

THEY DIDN'T GO.

SO JUST SO THAT WE CAN HAVE LIKE WHAT WE DID WITH APPS, WITH, UM, REPLACING COUNCIL MEMBERS, A PROCESS WHERE WE ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT, UM, HOW IT'S GONNA GO.

WE KNOW WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END.

SO I, I PERSONALLY CANNOT SAY THAT I KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THE REDISTRICTING.

I KNOW WHAT THE FINAL VOTE IS, AND IT IS WHAT IT IS, BUT EVERYTHING LEADING UP TO THAT, I CANNOT HONESTLY, UM, BE ABLE TO ARTICULATE OR SAY THAT I UNDERSTAND IT FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END.

SO FOR CLARITY'S SAKE, WE'RE THIS WE'RE LOOKING RETROSPECTIVE TO LOOK FORWARD FOR THE NEXT FREE DISTRICTING.

UM, IS THAT, THAT FAIR? THAT'S FAIR TO SAY.

THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

UM, WHEN DO YOU PROJECT, YOUR FIRST MEETING WILL BE, AND THEN WHO IS, WHO IS THE MEMBERSHIP? SO I DID SEND AN EMAIL AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS DO Y'ALL REMEMBER, I GAVE THE DATE DATE.

I DON'T REMEMBER.

I THINK IT WAS IT NOVEMBER.

OCTOBER.

DO YOU REMEMBER ANYBODY? REMEMBER? I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK YOU SAID NOVEMBER, HUH? I THINK YOU SAID NOVEMBER.

I THINK IT BEGAN IT'LL BEGIN IN NOVEMBER AND, UH, WHERE WE JUST START GETTING EVERYTHING TOGETHER AND THE MEMBERSHIP.

HMM.

OH.

SO I, I BASICALLY HAVE ASKED EVERYBODY, BUT THOSE THAT HAVE CONSENTED, UM, HAVE BEEN COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN COLE, I THINK.

HERS DONE.

I DON'T, I, UH, COUNCILWOMAN ROWDY.

I DON'T KNOW.

I KNOW YOU INITIALLY CONSENTED, BUT I'M NOT WHERE YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE NOW.

AND COUNCILMAN GORE, THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAD.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.

WHY DON'T YOU MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE WITH THE, WITH THE MEMBERS YOU JUST IDENTIFIED WITH SERVE ON IT? OKAY.

I'D LIKE TO, UM, INCLUDE THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE TO INCLUDE MYSELF COUNCILWOMAN COLE COUNCIL.

GOT I GOT IT.

COUNCIL MAN COLE, COUNCILMAN HURST, COUNCILMAN DUNN AND COUNCILMAN GORE MOTION TO APPROVE 70 BY THE CHAIR COUNCIL MEMBER GOK AND MY COUNCIL, EXCUSE ME.

MY PARTICIPATION WAS THAT THE MEETING WOULDN'T OCCUR UNTIL THE REDISTRICTING THAT WAS JUST

[00:45:01]

APPROVED.

CAME BACK.

TURN YOUR MIC ON.

HAD ABSOLUTELY NO NCE.

I'M SORRY.

I NEED CLARITY ON THAT.

SO WHEN WE TALKED, YOU WOULD AGREE.

WE WOULDN'T MEET UNTIL, I DON'T KNOW WHEN PROCESS.

I, I THINK IT APPROVED IN OCTOBER, RIGHT? WAS THAT THE DAY? OCTOBER 13TH? I DON'T WHEN IT, CAUSE I THINK THE, ORIGINALLY YOU SAID IT HAD TO BE DONE BY THE 13TH.

YOU THE APPROVED YES.

AND WE ARE MEETING IN NOVEMBER.

I KNOW I'M THERE.

IT WAS.

Y'ALL APPROVED THE REDISTRICTING PLAN ON AUGUST 10TH THOUGH.

RIGHT? RIGHT.

BUT IT HASN'T BEEN APPROVED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL NOR HAS A POTENTIAL LAWSUIT BEEN FILED.

IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY, UM, ANYBODY BEYOND THIS BODY RIGHT NOW.

OF COURSE SOMEBODY COULD FILE A LAWSUIT TO CONTEST IT.

SO THE MEETING WOULDN'T OCCUR UNTIL THAT PROCESS PLAYS OUT.

SO LET ME BE, LET ME, LET ME, LET ME PROVIDE CLARITY.

ROWDY.

WE VOTED ON THE, ON THE MAP AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE FEDS.

IT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED.

SOMEONE COULD CHOOSE TO CHALLENGE IT, WHICH COULD TAKE UP TO FOUR OR FIVE, MAYBE EVEN 10 YEARS.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE REQUESTING THAT WE WAIT FOUR OR FIVE, 10 YEARS TO REVIEW THE PROCESS TO GO FORWARD.

IS THAT YOUR REQUEST THAT WE WAIT THAT LONG? THAT WAS WHERE I THOUGHT WE HAD COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON THOUGH.

THAT WAS WHAT I WAS CONTINGENT UPON.

UH, AND, AND THAT, YOU KNOW, I DID LET YOU KNOW WE HAD FREE LIBERTY, BUT ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT MY INTENTIONS WAS BASED ON THE OCTOBER DATE, WHICH WAS OUR DEADLINE.

BEGINNING OF MEETINGS IN NOVEMBER.

I CANNOT SAY WHEN A LAWSUIT NOR DO I THINK THIS PART WOULD BE PART OF ANY LAWSUIT, CAUSE THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MAPS.

COUNCIL MEMBER MO TURN YOUR MIC ON.

WHAT DO WE HAVE A, HAS BEEN SEVERAL THINGS FLOATING AROUND.

YOU JUST MENTIONED THEY, THEY HAVE 7, 8, 9 YEARS.

SO ANYBODY CAN FOLLOW A LAWSUIT LAWSUIT AT ANY TIME BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT REDISTRICTING TO CHALLENGE THE REDISTRICTING OR IS THERE A DEADLINE? UH, IA, I GUESS THE BIG BEST EXAMPLE I COULD GIVE IS WHEN WE INCORPORATED, UH, THE PUBLIC HAD X AMOUNT OF TIME TO CHALLENGE THE INCORPORATION OF SAID CITY.

UM, AND AT THAT TIME, THEN THERE WAS NO CHALLENGES.

IS THIS REDISTRICTING UNDER THE SAME GUIDELINE? YEAH.

UM, COUNCILMAN MO, I'M GONNA DEFER TO THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

UH, MR. AND COULD YOU COME FORWARD, PLEASE? THANK YOU.

ON A FEW TIMES, YOU'RE GONNA HEAR ME SAY THIS, BUT I GOTTA APOLOGIZE TO YOU.

I'M TOLD I WAS SUPPOSED TO ASK FOR THE PRESCRIPTIVE PERIOD I WAS LISTENED TO SOMETHING ELSE.

THANK, CAN YOU TELL ME AGAIN WITH THIS YEAR? WHAT IS THE COUNCIL? SO WHAT IS THE PRESCRIPTIVE PERIOD THAT A LAWSUIT CAN BE CHALLENGED ON THIS REDISTRICTING MAP? IS THERE A TIMELINE THAT IT CANNOT BE CHALLENGED OR CAN IT GO ALL THE WAY UP TO THE NEXT REDISTRICTING? I REMEMBER LOOKING AT IT.

I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT I'LL GET THAT TO YOU.

I, I REMEMBER LOOKING AT SOMETHING WHEN I, WHEN I HEARD SOME THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON, ASHLEY AND COURTNEY AND I WERE LOOKING AT SOMETHING, I JUST DON'T HAVE IT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD RIGHT NOW, BUT I'LL FIND OUT FOR YOU.

THEN I I'VE, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DEFER THIS UNTIL WE FIND OUT THE TIMELINES, BECAUSE THAT WAS PART OF THE THING THAT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME ALSO THAT WE, THIS COMMITTEE WOULD START AFTER EVERYTHING WAS COMPLETED AND FINALIZED WITH THIS.

NOW DON'T GET ME WRONG.

IF IT'S, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE ANYWHERE UP UNTIL THE TIME OF THE NEXT ONE, I MEAN, THERE'S NOTHING YOU COULD DO ABOUT THAT.

BUT IF THERE'S A, I, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, AS I SAID, THE EXAMPLE I GAVE WITH THE INCORPORATION WAS IT WAS X AMOUNT OF DAYS THAT A CHALLENGE COULD BE MADE BY THE PUBLIC OR INDIVIDUAL.

SO THAT'S WHY I JUST WANTED SOME CLARITY ON THAT.

CAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW TO ME THAT ONCE WE'VE BREAKED THESE CERTAIN TIMES, WE'RE, WE'VE, WE'VE COME TO COMPLETION.

WE'RE WE'RE ALL MOVING FORWARD AND WE'RE ALL MOVING FORWARD NOW.

BUT WE COME TO COMPLETION ONCE THESE DATES ARE FINALIZED AND PASSED.

UH, THANK YOU.

I DON'T KNOW WHO'S TURNED.

I DON'T KNOW IF I USED MY THREE MINUTES OR I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

YOU DID USE YOUR FIRST FIVE.

YOU DO HAVE A SECOND FIVE, BUT HOLD UP.

LET'S EXHAUST COUNCIL MEMBERS MO FIVE COUNCIL MAY 1ST 10, FOUR.

IF I MAY WAS ON YOUR, I WAS, AS I'M SITTING HERE COUNSELING, IT STARTED COMING BACK TO ME.

2020 TO THE TIMEFRAME OF THE QUALIFYING FOR INDIVIDUALS PURSUANT TO THE CURRENT REDISTRICTING IS THE MORE CONSTITUTIONS YOU GET IN TERMS OF VIOLATING THEIR RIGHTS AND, AND THE ASSURANCES THAT THEY HAD THAT THEY COULD RUN.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR LAWYER, YOU GOT TOO MUCH ON YOUR HEAD? UH, I THINK WHAT WE FOUND OUT, UH, WHEN WE DID OUR CURSOR RESEARCH AND I'LL CONFRONT THIS FOR YOU, IS THAT THERE IS NO SET TIMEFRAME WITHIN WHICH TO OBJECT TO IT PER SE, BUT THE, THE IDEAS THAT YOU WANT TO DO IT CERTAINLY PRIOR TO ANY QUALIFICATION PERIOD THAT ARE SET UNDER THE ESTABLISHED, THE NEW ESTABLISHED, UH, UM, REDISTRICTING THAT HAD THAT OCCURRED, WHICH BECAUSE

[00:50:01]

SO I DON'T, AGAIN, OUR INITIAL CURSORY RESEARCH IS THAT THERE'S NO PRESCRIBED TIME LIMIT, BUT THE SOONER YOU DO IT THE BETTER.

I MEAN, I, AND AGAIN, I'VE, I'VE THAT, THAT SOUNDS PRETTY COMMON SENSE AS FAR AS UP TO THE NEXT QUALIFYING OF THE NEXT LECTURE.

CAUSE YOU GET PAST THAT YOU'VE ALREADY RAN PEOPLE IN THAT YOU REDISTRICTING SO WELL, YEAH.

AGAIN, IT'S TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE NOT WAITING UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE.

THAT PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY, THERE'S BEEN ESTABLISHED.

PEOPLE HAVE QUALIFIED, RIGHT.

THE ELECTIONS COMING UP NOW YOU WANT TO FILE IT.

IT SHOULD BE FILED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

I, I WOULD, I WOULD STILL LIKE TO SEEK FOR A, UM, DEFINITIVE, IF THERE IS ONE, A TIMELINE OR UP TO THE NEXT QUALIFICATION.

UM, IF WE CAN BRING BACK TO THE NEXT ONE, I STILL MAKE MY MOTION TO DEFER THIS TO THE INFORMATION IS RECEIVED.

THERE IS A, A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DEFER THE ITEM UNTIL THERE'S A DEFINITIVE ANSWER ON TIMELINE RELATIVE TO CHALLENGE.

WE NEED A DATE, UH, COUNCIL NUMBER MO OCTOBER 12TH.

HOW LONG DO YOU WANT DEFER? UH, ANDY, COULD WE GET, HOW SOON DO YOU THINK WE COULD GET THIS INFORMATION BY THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING? OUR NEXT MEETING IS NEXT WEEK.

OUR NEXT MEETING FIRST NEXT IS THAT GOOD? JUST NEED TO GET BACK TO MY OFFICE.

LET ME GET TO MY, I JUST NEED TO GET BACK TO MY OFFICE AND LOOK BACK OVER MY NOTES, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE WHAT I SAID IS ACCURATE, BUT I CONFIRM THAT TONIGHT.

LET'S UH, DEFER TO NEXT WEEK.

WELL, LET'S DEF HOLD ON.

LET'S DEFER TO LATER IN THE MEETING AND YOU GO FIND OUT THAT INFORMATION I'M GONNA DO RIGHT NOW.

YEP.

AND THEN WE'LL DEFER TILL LATER IN THE MEETING.

THAT'LL WORK.

WE'RE GONNA DEFER ITEM 64 TILL LATER IN THE MEETING.

SO WE'RE GONNA DEFER THIS ITEM, UH, UNTIL LATER IN THE MEETING COUNCIL NUMBER BANKS, YOU STILL WANT TO SPEAK AND WON'T YOU HOLD YOUR COMMENTS UNTIL LATER IN THE MEETING.

SURE.

WE'RE NOW GONNA GO TO ITEM.

[65. 22-01147]

ONCE WE GET THE ANSWER FROM THE PARISH ATTORNEY AND WE'RE NOW GONNA GO TO ITEM 65, AMENDING TITLE EIGHT A AT SO AS TO ADD CHAPTER FOUR STANDARDS FOR RENTAL PROPERTIES, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING HIGHER LEVEL SECURITY, THEREBY ENHANCING ATTENDANCE PIECE OF POSSESSION OF PROPERTY THROUGH THE MAINTENANCE OF SECURITY CAMERAS, ADEQUATE OUTDOOR LIGHTING AND DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL INCIDENTS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF THE RENTAL PROPERTY.

THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE KNOWN AS DEVON'S LAW.

BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ASK COURTNEY TO COME UP AND READ THE AMENDMENTS TO THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE.

THERE ARE GONNA BE SOME AMENDMENTS MADE FROM THE FLOOR.

AND SO WE'RE GONNA ASK COURTNEY TO COME UP AND READ THOSE AMENDMENTS.

AND THEN I WILL ASK THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON THE AMENDMENTS MADE TO THE ORDINANCE AS IT STANDS.

OKAY, GOOD.

UH, GOOD EVENING.

COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IS YOUR MICROPHONE ON COURTNEY? I THINK SO.

NUMBER THREE, THE CHANGE THERE, THE ADDITION THERE IS IF SECURITY CAMERAS ARE INSTALLED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, THE RENTAL PROPERTY MUST IMMEDIATELY PROVIDE COPY COPIES OF ANY AND ALL AVAILABLE FOOTAGE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT UPON REQUEST, WHAT IS BEING DELETED.

GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SO I JUST PASSED OUT THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE MADE, UM, UH, AS OF TODAY, UH, TO THE ORDINANCE.

AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND, AND NOTE THOSE FOR THE RECORD.

SO, UH, JUST FOR THE SAKE OF, UH, BEING THOROUGH, THERE WERE SOME AMENDMENTS MADE TO THE PREAMBLE OF THIS ORDINANCE, WHICH OTHER WHEREAS CLAUSES.

SO THE WHEREAS, UH, CLAUSES HAVE THE FOLLOWING CHANGES.

THE SECOND, WHEREAS CLAUSE NOW READS WHERE THE RESIDENTS OF PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE AND THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, WHO RESIDE IN A RENTAL PROPERTY WOULD BENEFIT FROM BEING MADE AWARE OF THE PUBLIC RESOURCES, AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS ABOUT CRIMINAL INCIDENTS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF RENTAL PROPERTIES, WHICH ENHANCE AT TENANT'S PEACEFUL POSSESSION FOR THE DURATION OF THE LEASE.

THE THIRD, WHEREAS CLAUSE IS, HAS BEEN DELETED IN ITS ENTIRETY, NO CHANGES TO THE FOURTH, WHEREAS CLAUSE CHANGES TO THE FIFTH, WHEREAS CLAUSE READ, WHEREAS IT IS BELIEVED THAT DEVIN'S PAY DEVIN PAGE JUNIOR'S DEATH MAY HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.

IF THE DELETION HERE IS RENTAL PROPERTIES MAINTAIN MORE SUFFICIENT LIGHTING AND SECURITY CAMERAS THAT'S BEEN DELETED.

AND THE ADDITION NOW SAYS THE PUBLIC RESOURCES ABOUT CRIMINAL INCIDENTS WERE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE RESIDENTS.

THE SIX, WHEREAS CLAUSE HAS BEEN DELETED IN ITS ENTIRETY.

AND THAT'S ALL FOR THE WHEREAS CLAUSES, THE BODY OF THE ORDINANCE ITSELF.

THESE ARE THE CHANGES UNDER THE SECURITY CAMERAS PROVISION, ANY INDICATION WHERE IT SAYS SHELL NOW READS MAY IN THIS, UH, NUMBER TWO, UH, THE SECOND PARAGRAPH UNDER SECURITY CAMERAS, THE STORAGE, UM, TIME PERIOD FOR STORING VIDEO HAS BEEN SHORTENED FROM 60 DAYS TO 30 DAYS.

SO THE STORE, THE VIDEO STORAGE NEEDS TO BE KEPT AT 30 DAYS.

[00:55:01]

THERE IS THE REMAINDER OF THAT SENTENCE, WHICH IS, AND IN NO CASE MORE THAN 24 HOURS AFTER RECEIPT OF THE REQUEST, SUBSECTION B ADDRESSES, LIGHTING OF RENTAL PROPERTIES.

AGAIN, EVERY, UH, INDICATION, UH, OF SHELL HAS BEEN, UM, CHANGED TO MAY.

NUMBER TWO OF THAT SU SUBSECTION THAT, UH, ADDRESSES LIGHTING.

NUMBER TWO NOW READS ANY LIGHTING INSTALLED PURSUANT TO THE PREVIOUS SUBSECTION MAY BE OF SIGNIFICANT STRENGTH FOR ILLUMINATION OF OUTSIDE AREAS.

NUMBER, UH, I'M SORRY, SUBSECTION C HOWEVER DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, UH, OR INCIDENTS IS A REQUIREMENT STILL.

NUMBER ONE, THE CHANGES THERE, THE FIRST SENTENCE TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY HAS BEEN DELETED.

NOW IT READS ANY OWNER, PROPERTY MANAGER OR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR, OR HAS CONTROL OVER RENTAL PROPERTY SHALL PRIOR TO RENTING OR LEASING THE RENTAL PROPERTY DISCLOSED TO ANY PROSPECTIVE TENANT.

THE RESOURCES WHERE THE PROSPECTIVE TENANT MAY OBTAIN DATA REGARDING CRIMINAL INCIDENTS OCCURRING WITHIN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE RENTAL PROPERTY.

NUMBER TWO OF THAT SECTION REGARDING DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL INCIDENTS NOW READS THE DISCLOSURE REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION SHALL INCLUDE, BUT MAY NOT BE LIMITED TO INFORMATION PROVIDED BY OPEN DATA BR OR BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

NUMBER THREE, UNDER THIS SAME SECTION, UH, IS NEWLY ADDED.

AND IT NOW READS THE DISCLOSURE REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION MAY BE POSTED IN THE RENTAL OFFICE MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE OR DELIVERED IN WRITING TO PROSPECTIVE TENANTS.

NUMBER FOUR IS ALSO NEW NEWLY ADDED IT NOW READS THIS SECTION IS NOT RETROACTIVE AND SHOW ONLY APPLY TO PROSPECTIVE TENANTS WHO ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1ST, 2023 APPLY OR SEEK INFORMATION FROM RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS OR MANAGERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF APPLYING RENTING OR LEASING RENTAL PROPERTY, SUBSECTION D ADDRESSES PENALTIES BECAUSE SUBSECTION B OF THIS, UH, OF THIS ENTIRE SECTION, WHICH ADDRESSES LIGHTING IS NO LONGER A MANDATE.

IT IS NOW AN EXCEPTION TO PENALTIES BECAUSE THERE'S NO PENALTY PENALTY THAT CAN BE ASSESSED AGAINST IT.

SO ANY PENALTY PROVISION THAT IS REQUIRED, WHICH WOULD BE DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL INCIDENTS, UM, IS SUBJECT TO THIS.

ANY PERSON WHO SHALL VIOLATE ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE FINED IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $500.

THIS PART IS NEWLY ADDED TO PENALTIES, WHOEVER VIOLATES AN APPLICATION, UM, I'M SORRY, AN AN APPLICABLE PROVISION OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE ISSUED A NOTICE OF WARNING AND ALLOWED 15 DAYS TO ABATE THE DESCRIBED VIOLATION.

THIS ABATEMENT PERIOD IS ACTUALLY ALREADY PART OF THE DE ADJUDICATIVE HEARING PROCESS.

IT IS JUST BEEN PULLED OUT SO THAT IT CAN BE READILY AVAILABLE AND READ BY WHOEVER WANTS TO READ THE ORDINANCE.

THE ENFORCEMENT SECTION HAS NOT CHANGED.

THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS ORDINANCE WILL BE HANDLED, UH, UNDER THE ADJUDICATIVE HEARING PROCESS.

THE LAST CHANGE IS THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ORDINANCE, UM, IS NO LONGER 30 DAYS.

IT HAS NOW BEEN CHANGED TO JANUARY 1ST, 2023.

THOSE ARE ALL THE CHANGES, THE AMENDMENTS ON THE FLOOR.

IF, UH, SOMEONE WANTS TO ACCEPT AND MAKE A MOTION ON THAT, WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT JUST YET.

I JUST WANTED THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE HERE TO MAKE COMMENT, TO HEAR THOSE CHANGES.

BUT NOW THAT YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY CONFUSED EVERYBODY, WE'RE GONNA TAKE, UH, THE COMMENTS FROM, UH, THE PUBLIC FIRST UP.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, UH, LAKEISHA BRADFORD, GOOD AFTERNOON.

UM, I HAVE PREPARED A COUPLE OF THINGS TO SAY BY AFTER HEARING ALL OF THOSE AMENDMENTS, I HAVE SOME, I HAVE TO MAKE SOME CHANGES TO WHAT I'M SAYING, BECAUSE I WONDER IF THOSE THAT MAY THE DECISION TO CHANGE THE WORDS FROM SHALL TO

[01:00:01]

MAY UNDERSTAND WHAT A LAW IS.

EVERYTHING THAT I KNOW ABOUT A LAW DOESN'T HAVE A MAY, MAY ALLOWS YOU OPTIONS ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO PROVIDE THOSE SECURITIES.

A LAW SAYS WHAT YOU SHALL DO.

SO I'M VERY CONFUSED AND A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE WHO DECIDED THAT IT WAS BEST FOR THOSE WORDS, TO BE CHANGED, TO ALLOW SOME OPTIONS TO THE LANDLORDS.

AND WHAT I HEAR IS THE PERSONS THAT HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO SUBSTITUTE THE VERBIAGE, PROBABLY HAVEN'T LOST A CHILD TO VIOLENCE, AND THOSE THAT HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO SUBSTITUTE THE VERBIAGE SO THAT IT TAKES THE REQUIREMENTS OFF AND TAKES THE RESPONSIBILITIES OFF OF THE LANDLORD, PROBABLY NEVER EXPERIENCED EVEN 24 HOURS IN A, IN A SUBDIVISION OR A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THERE ARE DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS, BECAUSE IF YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND EVEN JUST A MOMENT IN A SUBDIVISION OR A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THERE IS HIGH CRIME, THEN YOU WOULD NOT HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO SUBSTITUTE WORDS FOR SHALL TO MAY, WHICH GIVES SOME OPTIONS THERE.

PERHAPS, MAYBE THOSE THAT HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO SUBSTITUTE THOSE VERBIAGES, TO ALLOW A LITTLE BIT MORE FREEDOM AND FLEXIBILITY FROM THE LANDLORD AND PLACE THE RESPONSIBILITY ON THE RESIDENT TO DECIDE, AND TO LOOK, TAKE IT UPON THEMSELVES, WHICH I AGREE AS A RESIDENT, YOU DO NEED TO DO SOME DUE DILIGENCE, UH, AND, UH, SOME RESEARCH ON YOUR OWN AS WELL.

HOWEVER, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT AS A PERSON IN A COMMUNITY, UH, A FORMER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, A CURRENT MINISTER IN THE COMMUNITY, AND ALSO A REALTOR IN THE COMMUNITY UN UNDERSTAND SAFETY AND OUR ROLE OF MAKING SURE THAT WE TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO REPAIR OUR COMMUNITY.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT I HEARD TONIGHT.

THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN DOING.

I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT LET WE SHOULD HOLD LANDLORDS ACCOUNTABLE FOR, FOR TAKING THOSE SECURITY MEASURES, BECAUSE IN THE EVENT OF DEVIN LOSING HIS LIFE, WHO REPORTED WITHIN THE LAST 24 HOURS, THAT THE NIGHT BEFORE THERE WAS A DRIVE BY SHOOTING, HOW QUICKLY IS THAT INFORMATION GONNA BE TRANSFERRED OVER TO WHERE WE ARE TELLING THE RESIDENTS TO GO THE RENTERS TO GO, TO FIND THAT INFORMATION, I WOULD SAY, NOT IN 24 HOURS.

SO LET'S RETHINK THE VERBIAGE THAT HAS BEEN SUBSTITUTED TO MAKE LIGHT OF A THREE YEAR OLD'S LIFE THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN BECAUSE OF THIS.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

UH, NEXT WE'LL HEAR FROM JEFFREY WELSH COUNCIL MEMBERS, JEFFREY WELSH, I REPRESENT THE GREATER BATON ROUGE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS.

UH, WE MET, UH, JUST BEFORE COMING IN HERE WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN DUNN, UH, TO CONSTRUCT WHAT WE FEEL IS, UH, AN ACCEPTABLE VERBIAGE, UH, WITHIN THE ORDINANCE ITSELF, UM, PLACING RESPONSIBILITY UPON INDIVIDUALS THAT HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SHOOTING ITSELF.

UM, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THAT, UH, IN AND OF ITSELF.

AND WE SUPPORT THE, UH, ORDINANCE AS WRITTEN.

WE WERE NOW HERE FROM, UH, MIKE ADAMS, MICHAEL ADAMS. MIKE MIGHT BE THE ONLY PERFECT ATTORNEY IN THE, IN THE BUILDING.

I'M JUST JOKING.

NO OFFENSE, ANYBODY, NO OFFENSE TO ANYBODY.

THE ABILITIES OF THEM TO SUCCEED AND TO DO BETTER AND TO GROW AND ENHANCE OUR COMMUNITY.

UH, THANK YOU.

UH, MAY HAVE PRO HIM CO LET ME SAY, I, I COME TO YOU IN TWO CAPACITIES, UH, ONE AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FAMILY ATTORNEY TODAY, UH, THAT THIS TRAGEDY HAPPENED, UM, AND INFORMATION LIGHTING AND CAMERAS ALL PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN HELPING TO STOP AND STEM CRIME IN OUR COMMUNITY.

NOBODY OUGHT TO BE AGAINST THAT.

NOBODY OUGHT TO BE AGAINST PROVIDING MORE INFORMATION, HAVING RENTAL PROPERTIES WELL LIT, OR HAVING ENCOURAGING THEM TO PUT CAMERAS IN THEIR PROPERTIES.

UH, AT ONE POINT I WAS A MULTI-FAMILY RENTAL PROPERTY OWNER, AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY THAT GOES TOWARD THAT.

THE SECOND REASON I STAND BEFORE YOU, NOT ONLY AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS FAMILY WHO LOST A CHILD, NEEDLESSLY LOST A CHILD BECAUSE OF A, IN MY OPINION, A PREDATORY OWNER OF RENTAL PROPERTY WHO HAS VERY LITTLE CONCERN FOR HIS TENANTS.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ADDRESSING.

BUT I COME TO YOU ALSO AS A NEIGHBOR IN THAT COMMUNITY.

I, I SERVE AS PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF 100 BLACK MEN OF METRO BATON ROUGE.

OUR OFFICE IS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE THIS HAPPENED DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET.

WE FIGHT EVERY DAY IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD TO IMPROVE AND INCREASE THE, THE, THE ATTITUDES, THE ABILITIES OF PEOPLE TO, TO ENCOURAGE THEM,

[01:05:01]

WE NEED TO HAVE EVERYBODY PARTICIPATE IN THIS SORT OF EFFORT.

WE'RE NOT GONNA CHANGE CRIME.

WE'RE NOT GONNA CHANGE THE VIOLENCE THAT HAPPENS IN OUR COMMUNITY WITHOUT EVERYBODY PLAYING A PART.

THIS WHAT COUNCILMAN DUNN HAS OFFERED BEFORE IT GOT WATERED DOWN, UH, WAS A VERY GOOD STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO REALLY THINK ABOUT AND CONSIDER THAT INFORMATION.

YOU KNOW, WHERE CRIMES ARE HAPPENING IN REAL TIME.

WELL LIT COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, BASIC SERVICES, AND THEN CAMERAS.

EVERYBODY.

HADN'T MATURED TO A POINT WHERE, UH, THERE ARE CAMERAS, BUT, YOU KNOW, I GOT NEIGHBORS THAT HAVE CAMERAS THAT LOOK IN MY BACKYARD, CAN SEE, UH, MR. BERNARD AND CAN SEE EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN MY BACKYARD.

BUT, BUT, BUT I IMPLORE YOU THAT LOSING THE LIFE OF A CHILD WHO IS SLEEPING IN HIS BED IS A, IS A FAR WORSE TRAGEDY THAN YOU HAVING TO LOOK AT AND BEAT BACK.

SOME PREDATORY LANDOWNERS WHO ARE LOOKING TO THEIR BOTTOM LINE IS NOT ABOUT THE BOTTOM LINE.

SOMETIMES IT'S ABOUT GOOD GOVERNMENT.

THOUSAND PEOPLE IN THE LSU OVER THE WEEKEND.

I KNOW MY TIME IS UP NEXT YEAR.

WE'RE HERE FROM ALEXIS, ALEX, EXCUSE ME, ALEX KEYS, ALEX KEYS.

GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE.

UH, I'M HERE BECAUSE, UH, I AM IN FAVOR OF LEVIN'S LAW.

AND, UH, I THINK THE CHAIRMAN FOR ALLOWING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR ABOUT THE AMENDMENTS, BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM WHEN SOMEONE DECIDES TO, OR COMES UP WITH A SOLUTION TO ADDRESS AND TO HELP PREVENT INLET DEFENSELESS CHILDREN FROM BEING MURDERED, IF IT AFFECTS THE BOTTOM LINE.

SO BE IT, HOW MUCH IS A LIFE OF A CHILD WORTH? CAN ANYBODY GIMME A NUMBER? HOW MUCH? SO MY POINT IS, IT'S VERY SERIOUS THAT WE DO SOMETHING AND WE ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH.

UH, THE CHILD WAS ASLEEP IN HIS OWN BED AND WAS MURDERED WELL THAT THIS LAW IS NOT GONNA PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY AN ATTEMPT TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE'RE NOT DOING ENOUGH.

AND SO I HAVE, I'M A GRANDPARENT, I'M A PARENT, BUT I FEEL FOR THE PARENT WHO LOST A CHILD IN, IN THEIR SLEEP.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF.

THAT IT'S TIME TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO DOING WHAT YOUR JOB REQUIRES YOU TO DO.

AND I AGREE WITH THE SISTER WHO HARDLY NO DO NOT WATER DOWN THE WORDING.

WE NEED TO TAKE A STAND TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF EVERY CHILD IN BATON ROUGE.

AND THERE'S NO EXCEPTION.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE COST IS VERY SERIOUS.

AND YOU GUYS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE HISTORY IS GONNA LOOK BACK AND DETERMINE WHAT WE DID TODAY.

SO WHEN HISTORY, PEOPLE WHO DO THAT IN, IN, IN, AS A PROFESSION, LOOK BACK ON THE BATON ROUGE COUNCIL AND, AND LOOK BACK AND, AND, AND LOOK AT THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE REGARDING CHILDREN.

WILL IT BE SOMETHING THAT YOUR GRANDCHILDREN CAN SAY, WE ARE PROUD OF YOU FOR THAT YOU CHANGED THE WORLD WE LIVE IN BECAUSE IT WAS YOUR JOB TO DO IT AT THAT TIME, REGARDLESS OF ANY PERSONAL SACRIFICE, BECAUSE FOR THOSE WHO ARE PARENTS, YOU KNOW, AS A PARENT, YOU HAVE TO SACRIFICE SOMETHING TO RAISE THEM, RIGHT? AND FOR THOSE THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO GET THEIR ATTENTION.

AND FROM MY VANTAGE POINT, THE BEST PLACE TO START IS, IS CHANGE AND HELP THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN.

BECAUSE IN MY GENERATION, CHILDREN WERE OUR FUTURE.

I THOUGHT BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE WHEN I GREW UP AND WAS A CHILD, THEY HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON MY LIFE BECAUSE OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

SO WE START WITH A LAW, BUT THEN WE ALSO NEED TO ADDRESS PARENTING SKILLS AS WELL AS WELL.

SO I'M GONNA TAKE MY SEAT BECAUSE, UH, WE COULD BE HERE ALL NIGHT LONG, BUT I WILL END IT WITH THIS.

I TALKED, WELL, YOU KNOW, SO THERE WERE A HUNDRED, YOU RUN OUT OF TIME, SO, OKAY.

I'LL JUST SAY THERE WERE A HUNDRED

[01:10:01]

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE CAME OVER HERE TODAY AND SAID, WE STAND IN FAVOR OF PROTECTING CHILDREN'S LIVES? WOULD IT MEAN SOMETHING? I THINK IT WAS.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THE NEXT WE WERE HERE FROM TY TO GOOD AFTERNOON.

FIRST OF ALL, I'M NOT A PUBLIC SPEAKER, SO THIS IS HARD FOR ME TO DO.

UM, I STAYING HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH A BROKEN HEART AND A WOUNDED SPIRIT FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE FOR MY THREE YEAR OLD SON, DEBBIE JUJU, PAIGE JR.

WHO WAS MURDERED WHILE SLEEPING IN MY BED BY A STRAIGHT BULLET THAT WAS TARGETED BY, AT A NEIGHBOR'S AT MY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE ON APRIL 12TH, UH, 20, 20, 20, 22 AT 11:03 PM.

IMMEDIATE IMMEDIATELY AFTER MOVING IN THE HOUSE ON FIVE ONE FAIRFIELD AVENUE, I CALLED MANAGEMENT TELLING THEM I WAS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE STRANGE ACTIVITY NEXT DOOR.

SHE SAID, THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ALREADY SIGNED THE LEASE.

EVERY DAY THAT ACTIVITY CONTINUED.

I THEN BEGIN HERE AT GUNFIRE.

EVERY NIGHT I MANAGE, I CALL MANAGEMENT AGAIN.

THEY SAID, THERE'S NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO.

DRIVE BY SHOOTING STARTED HAPPENING.

I CALLED MANAGEMENT AGAIN AND SAID, LOOK, THIS SHOOTING IS NEXT DOOR TO MY HOUSE.

I NEED TO MOVE BEFORE ME OR MY KIDS END UP GETTING KILLED.

I HAVE LITTLE CHILDREN MANAGEMENT SAID THE OWNER, ISN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING.

Y'ALL LOCKED IN YOUR LEASE.

AT THIS POINT, MY MOTHER CALLED AND SPOKE WITH MANAGEMENT AND TOLD THEM MY DAUGHTER AND HER KIDS ARE NOT SAFE AT THAT HOUSE.

Y'ALL NEED TO RELEASE THEM OUT OF THEIR LEASE BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS.

THEY TOLD HER THE OWNER WOULD NOT RELEASE THEM.

MY MOTHER DIDN'T ASK THEM IF THEY WOULD A LEASE, PUT UP A PRIVACY FENCE JUST IN FRONT OF MY, MY HOUSE SO THAT MY FAMILY COULD BE SAFE.

MANAGEMENT TOLD MY MOTHER, I'M GOING TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

THE OWNER DOES NOT CARE.

DOESN'T CARE ABOUT YOUR DAUGHTER.

HE WON'T EVEN PUT UP THE PRIVACY FENCE.

MANAGEMENT SAID THE OWNER ADVISED US TO PUT UP SECURITY CAMERAS.

THE SHOOTING CONTINUED.

I CALLED MANAGEMENT AGAIN AND TOLD THEM I NEED TO BREAK THE LEASE BECAUSE SOMEONE IS GOING TO END UP BEING KILLED.

THEY TOLD ME THE OWNER SAID, IF I BREAK MY LEASE, THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE ME RESPONSIBLE, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FULL TERM OF THE LEASE, WHICH WAS TWO YEARS.

I HAD ONLY BEEN THERE FOUR AND A HALF WEEKS.

THEY ALSO SAID THAT THEY WERE GOING TO PUT MY NAME IN THE CREDIT BUREAU, AND I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO RENT ANYWHERE ELSE.

APRIL 11TH, THERE WAS ANOTHER DRIVE-BY SHOOTING AT THE HOUSE.

NEXT DOOR THAT NIGHT, SOMEONE AT THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE WAS GRAZED BY A BULLET.

THEY CAUTION TAPED MY HOUSE OFF.

I RECORDED THAT THE NEXT MORNING, WHICH WAS APRIL 12TH, 2022.

I WENT STRAIGHT TO THE RENTAL OFFICE AND SHOWED THEM THE VIDEO IN MY PHONE OF THE SHOOTING AND STUFF THAT HAPPENED PREVIOUS THE NIGHT BEFORE MANAGEMENT TOLD ME TO SEND THE VIDEO TO THEM AND THEY WOULD SEND IT TO THE OWNER.

MANAGEMENT SAID THE OWNER WOULD CONSIDER RELOCATING ME, BUT I HAD TO GIVE THEM A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

WHAT YOU CAN KEEP GOING.

GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD.

GO AHEAD.

I LEFT IN THE OFFICE AND WENT HOME AND CONTINUED MY DAILY ROUTINE.

LATER ON THAT NIGHT, I HEAR GUNFIRE IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.

ONCE AGAIN, I IMMEDIATELY IMMEDIATELY RAN INTO THE BEDROOM TO GET MY TWO BABIES.

I GRABBED MY ONE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER OFF THE BED FIRST.

THEN I TURNED AND GRABBED MY THREE YEAR OLD, BUT HE WASN'T MOVING.

I TURNED HIM MOVE.

AND THAT'S WHEN I SAW ALL OF HIS REMAINS AND BLOOD COMING OUTTA HIS HEAD ON THE, IN THE PILLOW.

HE HAD BEEN SHOT.

I GOT TO HIM TOO LATE.

MY THREE YEAR OLD SON HAS BEEN MURDERED.

WHAT'S HURT FOR IS.

I TRIED REPEATED REPEATEDLY TO GET OUT OF MY LEASE.

I CALLED MANAGEMENT ASKING FOR HELP.

THEY WOULDN'T HELP ME AT ALL.

THE FIRST COUPLE OF NIGHTS, I WAS ABLE TO SAVE MY CHILDREN FROM THE GUNFIRE, BUT THAT LAST NIGHT I COULDN'T SAVE MY SON.

I WAS TOO LATE.

I RELIVED THAT MOMENT OVER AND OVER IN MY MIND.

EVERY DAY DEVIN'S LAW IS IMPORTANT.

I BELIEVE IF THERE WAS CAMERAS AT MY, AT MY HOUSE, MY SON WOULD HAVE BEEN, MY SON'S KILLER WOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT BY NOW.

IF THERE WAS LIGHTING BY BETWEEN MY HOUSE AND THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE, SOMEONE COULD HAVE POSSIBLY SEEN SOMETHING MANAGEMENT.

DIDN'T DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO PROTECT US WHILE LIVING IN THAT HOUSE.

I BELIEVE IF THEY HAD MY SON, IF THEY HAD MY SON WOULD STILL BE ALIVE TODAY, I AM VERY ANGRY.

I NEVER THOUGHT THINGS WOULD END UP LIKE THIS.

FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE FOR MY SON IS ALL THAT I HAVE SINCE MY

[01:15:01]

SON DEATH.

I HAVE RECEIVED MANY CALLS FROM RENTERS WHO ARE IN THE SAME SITUATION AS I WAS, BUT THEY SKIPPED OUT ON THE, ON THEIR LEASE AND THEIR NAMES ARE NOW IN THE CREDIT BUREAU.

THEY CAN'T RENT ANYWHERE ELSE BECAUSE OF THAT.

I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL TO PLEASE HEAR US TODAY AND PASS DEVIN'S LAW, NOT JUST FOR THE DEATH OF MY SON, BUT FOR OTHERS WHO ARE WRITTEN AND ARE NOT SAFE, WHERE THEY LIVE.

I LIKE TO THANK COUNCILMAN CLEVE, DUN JR.

AND THE PARISH ATTORNEYS WHO MET WITH ME AND MY MOTHER AND I COMING UP WITH THE DEVON'S LAW.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK MISS LAKA WILLIAMS, WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, BUT ALSO SUGGESTED DEVON'S LAW AS WELL.

AND I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE TO THEIR ADVANCE THAT WOULD VOTE, UM, WHO WOULD PASS, WILL HELP VOTE ON DEVON'S LAW AND WOULD SAVE LIVES.

MY SON AND I BE ANOTHER NUMBER.

THANK YOU, PRAISE LORD, EVERYBODY.

WHEN I GET BEHIND UP PODIUM, THAT'S WHAT I SAY.

I THINK I'M ABOUT TO PREACH, BUT I'M THE GRANDMOTHER OF DEVIN, PAIGE TYS, MY DAUGHTER.

AND SO THEY JUST TOLD ME TO COME ON UP.

I JUST WANNA SAY, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, MR. DUNN, AND TO THE PARISH ATTORNEYS WHO WORKED SO HARD WITH US OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, UM, I'VE BEEN IN PROPERTY MANAGEMENT YEARS AGO.

I USED TO MANAGE PROPERTY.

I MANAGE HIGH END PROPERTIES AND I MANAGE PROPERTIES THAT WERE IN BAD AREAS.

THE THING THAT THEY BOTH HAVE IN COMMON IS THAT THEY BOTH WANT TO SAVE MONEY.

AND THAT'S MY EXPERIENCE WITH THAT, UH, WORKING AT THE, UM, A PROPERTY UNIT FOR 350 UNITS, UM, WE AS MANAGERS HAD TO LIVE ON THE PROPERTY AND IN LIVING ON THAT PROPERTY, I'M THE PROPERTY MANAGER IN THE FRONT OF THE PROPERTY.

THERE WAS LIGHT IN THE BACK OF THE PROPERTY.

THERE WAS NOT LIGHT.

I HAD TO LIVE IN THE BACK OF THE PROPERTY AND COMING HOME FROM A CONCERT.

ONE NIGHT I GOT OUT OF MY CAR, ME AND MY FRIEND, DIANE, AND ONLY TO WALK INTO A GUN, A SHOTGUN.

AND THE GENTLEMAN YOUNG MAN POINTED IT IN OUR FACE BECAUSE IT WAS DARK BACK THERE WORKING ON THE HIGH END LUXURY APARTMENTS, THE SAME THING, THE LIGHTING, THERE WAS NO LIGHTING IN THE BACK OF THE COMPLEX.

UM, MY DAUGHTER PLEADED WITH THE LANDLORD TO GET OUT OF HER LEASE.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY IT HURTS ME AS A MOTHER BECAUSE I PLEADED FOR MY DAUGHTER.

I CRIED OUT FOR MY DAUGHTER AND I CRIED OUT TO THOSE LANDLORDS, TO THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LET HER GO.

AND THEY TOLD HER THAT, UH, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING.

AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING.

I AGREE WITH WHAT THE GENTLEMAN SAID.

AND MISS, UH, MITCHELL SAID IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GIVE US AND PASS THIS LAW, WE'LL TAKE WHATEVER WE CAN GET BECAUSE IT WILL BE A START.

BUT AS I END RIGHT HERE, A REPORTER ASKED ME, THEY SAID, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO, CATHY? UH, WHEN ALL OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS COME AFTER YOU AND YOUR DAUGHTER FOR COMING UP WITH THIS LAW, YOU KNOW WHAT I SAID? I SAID, UM, MY RESPONSE TO THAT WAS MY DAUGHTER.

AND I ARE EXAMPLES OF WHAT NOT SPENDING MONEY WILL END UP OR HOW YOU WILL END UP THE, THE NOT PUTTING THE LIGHTING, NOT PUTTING THE SECURITY, NOT PUTTING THE THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED.

IT ENDED UP WITH MY GRANDSON, MY THREE YEAR OLD GRANDSON WHOSE BRAINS WERE BLOWN OUT BECAUSE I ASKED THE MANAGEMENT TO LEAST PUT UP A PARTITION, DO SOMETHING THEY WOULDN'T BUDGE.

AND IT ENDED UP WITH MY GRANDBABY BEING MURDERED.

AND SO JUST LIKE THE GENTLEMAN SAY, I SAY THE SAME THING.

IF YOU SPEND THE MONEY, MAKE SURE THAT YOUR, YOUR RENTERS ARE SAFE.

PEOPLE THAT ARE THAT'S LIVING IN YOUR PROPERTY, BECAUSE I'M GONNA TELL YOU SOMETHING.

I HAD, THEY SPENT THE MONEY.

I BELIEVE MY GRANDSON WOULD BE HERE BECAUSE HE'S WORTH MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS.

IF IT'S GONNA COST YOU THAT, AND YOU GOT THE MONEY TO PAY FOR PROPERTY, THEN HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY, MAKE SURE THAT YOUR, UH, RENTERS ARE SAFE.

AND I ASK EACH AND EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU TO BE COMPASSIONATE, TO BE MERCIFUL, TO HAVE UNDERSTANDING HARD AS TO WHY THIS LAW IS IMPORTANT.

NEXT WILL SHIELD.

NEXT.

WE'LL HEAR FROM SHERELL POINTER.

HELLO, EVERYONE YOU WANT.

UM, I COME TODAY TO STAND WITH THIS FAMILY IN SUPPORT OF DEVON'S LAW.

AND I WOULD LIKE FOR EACH ONE OF YOU IN THIS BUILDING TODAY, JUST TO IMAGINE THE, WHAT IF, WHAT IF IT WAS YOUR CHILD? WHAT IF IT WAS YOUR GRANDCHILD? WHAT IF IT WAS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? WHAT IF THERE WAS ADEQUATE LIGHTING? WHAT IF THERE WERE CAMERAS DEVIN WOULD STILL BE HERE.

THERE'S NOT A PERSON THAT IS SITTING HERE TODAY THAT WOULD HAVE, UM, MOVED MOUNTAINS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR CHILD WAS SAFE.

AND SO I STAND HERE TODAY

[01:20:01]

AND AS MS. LAKEISHA SO ELOQUENTLY, PUT IT EARLIER.

WHY IS THERE A, A CHOICE THAT LANDLORD SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THEY'RE RECEIVING INCOME OF FUNDS OR MONEY FROM THE FAMILIES, THAT THEY SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT THESE AREAS ARE SAFE.

SO I WANT TO SAY TO EVERYONE IN HERE TODAY, TY IS AFRAID TO GO TO THE STORE BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T KNOW IF THE KILLER IS IN FRONT OF THE LINE.

SHE'S AFRAID AT RED LIGHTS BECAUSE SHE'S NOT SURE.

SHE'S NOT SURE IF THE CAR NEXT TO HER IS THE ONE THAT SHOT HER BABY SITTING THERE.

SHE'S SHAKING, SHE'S CRYING.

SHE'S UPSET.

I'M HAVING TO SQUEEZE HER HAND BECAUSE SHE WANT THIS LAW TO PASS.

YES, IT IS TOO LATE FOR DEVON RIGHT NOW, BUT MAYBE IT'S NOT TOO LATE FOR YOUR GRANDCHILD OR YOUR GRAND GREAT-GRANDCHILD OR YOUR NIECE OR YOUR NEPHEW.

SO LET'S BAND TOGETHER, NOT ONLY TO SUPPORT THIS LAW, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT PASSED WITH A MANDATE, THAT THERE ARE ADEQUATE LIGHTING WITH A MANDATE, THAT THERE ARE CAMERAS WITH A MANDATE THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO OWN PROPERTY, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT IT IS LIT UP SO THAT IF PEOPLE ARE SHOOTING THAT IF NO ONE COMES FORWARD AND TESTIFY OF THAT CRIME, THAT A CAMERA IS THERE TO BE A WITNESS TO WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

MY NAME IS SHERIFF PORTER AND I SUPPORT DEVIN'S LAW.

MA'AM NEXT? YOU'RE HERE FROM TIMBERLAND.

PLAK OKAY.

NEXT DEBORAH TREHAN ER, WILSON.

HOW Y'ALL DOING? UM, I COME AND SPEAK ON THE DEVON LAW FOR BEING TENANTED, ACTUALLY LIVING IN A BAD NEIGHBORHOOD, LITTLE LIGHTNING CAMERAS.

IT'S NOT GONNA BREAK YOUR POCKETS, BUT A LIFE IS GONE BECAUSE OF NO LIGHTING, NO CAMERAS.

OUR BACK ARE AGAINST THE WALL.

WHEN WE HAVE TO GO TO THE LANDLORD AND ACTUALLY TELL THEM WE ARE UNSAFE BECAUSE OF, WE PROBABLY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.

SO WE STAY THERE.

SO WHEN WE ASK THE LANDLORDS AND THEY SHOW US NO ATTENTION TO THE SITUATION, WE STILL HAVE TO STAY THERE.

CUZ WE STILL HAVE TO HAVE A ROOF OVER OUR KIDS' HEAD.

SO WE DON'T, WE CAN'T MAKE A CHOICE RIGHT THEN AND THERE, BUT BEING A LANDLORD, I FEEL THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE SOME TYPE OF SAFETY.

IF WE COME TO YOU, TY CAME TO THE LANDLORD THREE DAYS, THEY ACTUALLY HAD A DRIVE BY SHOOTING 12 POLICE REPORTED THE DAY BEFORE LIL DEVON, WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR THEM TO REALIZE THAT IT WASN'T SAFE.

BUT THEN AGAIN, BY THEM BEING A LANDLORD AND TY DON'T WANT TO BREAK HER LEASE, SHE CONTINUED TO STAY THERE.

AND WHEN SHE STAYED THERE, HER SON GOT A STRAIGHT BULLY, A THREE YEAR OLD, THAT WAS SLEEP SWEET DREAMS GOT A STRAIGHT BULLET BECAUSE OF THE LANDLORD DID NOT WANT HER TO BREAK HER LEASE.

AS I SAID AGAIN, WHEN THEY SAY, MAYBE MIGHT A CHOICE, WHAT CHOICE DID SHE HAVE HER BACK WAS AGAINST THE WALL.

I JUST FEEL THAT THEM IN LAW WITH WHERE ACTUALLY HELPED THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST US.

IT WILL HELP THE LANDLORDS TOO.

IT WILL HELP THE POLICE TOO.

THE LESS THEY HAVE TO COME OUT.

THE MORE THEY CAN FIGHT MORE CRIME.

SO I'M SAYING I'M ALL FOR DAMN IN LAW BECAUSE ME BEING A MOTHER IN A BAD NEIGHBORHOOD AND HAVING TO GO TO A LANDLORD AND TELL THE LANDLORD, HEY, I FEEL UNSAFE.

SOMETIMES THE LANDLORDS JUST DON'T GET IT.

SO WHY IS IT A CHOICE FOR YOU TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY? WHY IS IT A CHOICE FOR YOU TO PROTECT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN AROUND YOUR PROPERTY? AS I SAY AGAIN, LOOK, DEBBIE, WOULD'VE BEEN HERE.

IF THE LANDLORD, WOULD'VE JUST BEEN A LITTLE PASSIONATE ABOUT HIS PROPERTY, IT'S YOUR PROPERTY.

I FEEL LIKE IF YOU LOVE YOUR PROPERTY, IF YOU PUT US IN YOUR PROPERTY, YOU SHOULD MAKE SURE WE ARE SAFE BECAUSE IT'S YOUR PROPERTY.

AND AS I SAY AGAIN, I STAND FOR THE DEVON LAW.

UM, I'VE NOTICED THAT OUR OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS ARE REALLY VULNERABLE.

MA'AM NEXT.

WE'LL HEAR FROM MARIE CONSTANTINE.

I MARIE CONSTANTINE, UH, STORM WATER COALITION, BUT I CAME HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT THIS IS SO HORRIBLE.

[01:25:02]

IF YOU LIVE IN A GATED COMMUNITY, YOU HAVE ALL KIND OF PROTECTION AND WE HAVE BAD LANDLORDS.

AND SO I FEEL THE PAIN.

I, WELL, I CAN'T FEEL THAT PAIN, BUT THEY'RE IN TERRIBLE PAIN.

AND UM, WE'VE GOT, I'M JUST HERE TO SAY, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GIVE OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS.

SOME OF THE PROTECTIONS THAT GATED COMMUNITIES HAVE AND ONE WAY POSSIBLY IS MAYBE THROUGH HISTORIC DISTRICTS OR SOME KIND OF WAY WHERE WE HAVE THAT, BUT WE STILL DON'T HAVE GENTRIFICATION.

THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, BECAUSE IT'S VERY, VERY HARD TO LIVE IN AN OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND UM, I'D LIKE TO GO TO A GATED COMMUNITY CUZ I'M TIRED OF IT, OF THE DRAMA.

I'M TIRED OF BEING THE MANAGER FOR THE LANDLORD UP THE STREET THAT DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF HIS PROPERTY.

AND SHE'S FEELING THIS ON A LEVEL THAT I CAN'T EVEN, UH, VERBALIZE.

SAFE WITH? AND MY BABY SAID THAT THEY FELT MORE SAFE WITH THEIR FATHER BECAUSE HE LIVED IN A BETTER NEIGHBORHOOD THAN I DID.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 65? ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 65, THROW THE LINE RIGHT HERE IN THREE MINUTES.

EACH PERSON HAS THREE MINUTES.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

I AM SHARONDA COOPER EPPS.

I AM THE COUSIN TO TIE AND KATHY, UM, IN 2004, MY BROTHER 21 YEARS OLD WAS MURDERED ON FLORIDA BOULEVARD, RIGHT IN FRONT OF UM, WHERE BALTIMORE THEATER USED TO BE.

AND IF YOU HEARD THAT STATEMENT AND YOU LISTENED WITH EAR AND NOT HEART, THEN YOU WOULD THINK THAT I WAS MAKING IT ABOUT ME.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MY COUSIN KATHY SAID WHEN SHE TOLD ME ABOUT TODAY WAS THAT I'VE BEEN WITH THEM SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS SITUATION.

AND IN BEING WITH THEM SINCE THE BEGINNING, I REALIZED THAT PEOPLE ARE EMOTIONAL AND SOMETIMES WHEN THE EMOTIONS ARE A LITTLE REMOVED, WE FORGET ABOUT IT.

BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, TY AND KATHY, THIS IS STILL SOMETHING, UM, THAT IS DEVASTATING TO OUR FAMILY.

UM, WITH ME BEING THEIR COUSIN, I AM ALSO A PASTOR.

AND SO IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SPEAK AND NOT USE SCRIPTURE.

JOHN ONE AND FIVE SAYS, AND THE LIGHT SHINED AND DARKNESS AND THE DARKNESS COMPREHENDED IT, NOT MEANING THAT WHENEVER THERE IS DARKNESS AND LIGHT ENTERS THE ROOM, THEN DARKNESS CEASED TO EXIST.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THIS SITUATION.

TWO YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A REPORT TO DCFS.

THERE WAS A MOTHER WHO WAS ASSUMED BEING NEGLIGENT TO HER CHILDREN FOR NOT PROVIDING WATER FOR TWO YEARS TO HER CHILDREN.

AFTER THE INVESTIGATION WAS MADE, IT WAS THEN FOUND THAT THE REASON WHY SHE WAS NOT PROVIDING WATER IS BECAUSE SHE WAS DISABLED AND WAS LIVING ON $765 A MONTH INCOME.

AND SO WITH THAT, SHE HAD A $500 WATER BILL.

IT WAS LATER FOUND OUT THE REASON WHY THE WATER HAD BEEN OFF FOR TWO YEARS IS BECAUSE THE LANDLORD FAILED TO FIX THE PIPES.

AND I WON'T USE NAMES, BUT THE LANDLORD WAS AN ATTORNEY HERE IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.

THERE WAS ALSO A TWO YEAR OLD THAT DROWNED SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2021 HERE IN BATON ROUGE AT AN APARTMENT COMPLEX.

I ATTENDED A FAMILY FUNCTION AT THAT APARTMENT COMPLEX.

AND I MYSELF SAW WHERE THE GATE WAS, UM, NOT FIXED AND PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO MOVE IN AND OUT OF THAT GATE AND THESE PEOPLE WERE STILL PROVIDING RENT TO THOSE LANDLORDS THERE TODAY.

UM, UH, IT'S, IT'S HARD TO HAVE OWNERSHIP AND NOT HAVE PARTNERSHIP EARLIER.

I HEARD SUPERINTENDENT RC USE THE WORD PARTNERSHIP PARTNERSHIP IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO OR MORE PEOPLE, SEVERAL DEFINITIONS THAT I LOOKED UP REGARDING PARTNERSHIP INCLUDED THE WORD RELATIONSHIP.

SOME OF THESE LANDLORDS HAVE LOST THE ABILITY TO RELATE TO THEIR TENANTS AS PEOPLE AND CAN ONLY SEE THE DOLLAR.

UH, WHEN WE HAVE OWNERSHIP, WE PARTNER WITH THOSE WHO RENT FROM US AND THEN WE TAKE ON A LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP.

AND SO SOMETIMES IT CAN APPEAR THAT WE HAVE STIFFER LAWS IN PLACE TO PROTECT ANIMALS THAN WE DO PEOPLE.

AND SO TODAY IS NOT FOR BLAME, BUT IT'S ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY.

I, MYSELF AND MY MOTHER OF FOUR, MY CHILDREN RANGE FROM THE AGES OF 20 14, 12 AND FOUR.

I HAVE A 12 YEAR OLD SON BY THE NAME OF DEVIN.

IT'S NOT UNTIL YOU ATTEND A FAMILY FUNCTION AND YOU HAVE TO CATCH YOURSELF BY NOT CALLING YOUR CHILD BY NAME BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO TRIGGER YOUR COUSIN TO REMIND HER THAT SHE LOST A CHILD TODAY.

I'M NOT LOOKING TO BLAME ANYBODY FOR DEVON'S DEATH.

BUT AS A FAMILY, WE'RE ASKING FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

IT HITS DIFFERENT WHEN IT'S YOUR DOOR, THANK YOU.

I DOWN STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

PLEASE GREETS MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS ASHLEY RANKINS AND I LIVE ABOUT TWO MINUTES AWAY FROM WHERE THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED.

AND I HAVE A FIVE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, A EIGHT YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, SUDDENLY 11 YEAR OLD SON AND A 19 YEAR OLD SISTER WHO LIVES IN MY HOME.

ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, THERE WAS A SHOOTING ABOUT FIVE SHOTS.

AND MY DAUGHTER WAS SITTING OUTSIDE ON THE PORCH, PLAYING WITH HER DOLLS.

SHE RAN INSIDE TERRIFIED AND I COULDN'T DO NOTHING TO CONSOLE HER BECAUSE SHE'S STILL TRAUMATIZED TO THIS DAY.

THE MEMBERS OF THE STATE WENT TO ASK MY CHILDREN, WHO DO THEY FEEL

[01:30:01]

SO I STAND WITH THIS FAMILY IN SUPPORT OF THE DEVONS FALL.

COME ON DOWN NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.

MY NAME IS CAROL UNDER WILLIAMS. MY ADDRESS IS 38 56 ILLINOIS DRIVE.

ALSO 34 51, MICHELLE STREET, WALKER, LOUISIANA.

I STAND HERE TODAY AS A MOTHER WHO HAS LOST.

I STAND HERE TODAY AS A DIRECTOR OF A GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP, HEALING HEARTS, GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP.

I STAND HERE TODAY.

CAUSE ALL THE MOTHERS THAT I STAND ON THE PHONE WITH THAT ARE GRIEVING, THAT ARE HURTING FROM THEIR CHILDREN.

I STAND HERE TODAY ASKING YOU TO HAVE EMPATHY BECAUSE BULLETS DON'T HAVE NAMES ON THEM.

ANY GIVEN DAY.

IT COULD BE YOUR CHILD, YOUR GRANDCHILD.

AND SO EMPATHY SAYS THAT IT'S THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND AND SHARE THE FEELINGS OF ANOTHER.

YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T LOST A CHILD, BUT WHEN YOU LOSE A CHILD, YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND HOW YOU LOOK AT THINGS AND THINK OF THINGS CHANGES.

SO I'M STANDING HERE TODAY AS A MOTHER HAS LOST.

AND I'M STANDING HERE FOR THAI AND ASKING YOU TO HAVE A LITTLE EMPATHY AND THINK ABOUT ALL THE MOTHERS AND THE FAMILIES THAT ARE SUFFERING FROM THE LOSS OF THEIR CHILDREN.

THIS IS NOTHING TY ASKS FOR.

NONE OF US ASK FOR IT, BUT I'M ASKING YOU TO HAVE EMPATHY AND I'M SUPPORTING DEVIN'S LAW.

AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL TOO.

COME ON DOWN, LIZ, MY FRIEND.

UM, I'M THE PRESIDENT OF AN ORGANIZATION CALLED CHANGE AND WE ARE MOTHERS AND FAMILIES THAT HAVE LOST KIDS TO GUN VIOLENCE.

SO I DO KNOW WHAT'S WHAT TIDE IS GOING THROUGH.

UM, I LIVE IN THE HOOD.

I WALK IN THE HOOD.

I, I, I GO IN THE TRENCHES.

LIKE THEY SAY THE TRENCHES.

NO, YOU DON'T SEE.

I DON'T SEE NONE OF Y'ALL WALKING THE TRENCHES I'M IN THE TRENCHES.

SO WE HAVE TO HOLD THESE, UM, SL LAWS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE WAY THAT THEY'RE ALLOWING PEOPLE TO LIVE.

UM, I SEE NO WINDOWS, NO, NO GLASS OVER THESE WINDOWS.

THEY HAVE CURTAINS OVER THEM.

YOU KNOW, FIX THEM, FIX THOSE WINDOWS, YOU KNOW, BUT BECAUSE THEY THINK THAT BECAUSE WE PAY, WE PAY YOU RENT THAT WE HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT.

NO HOLD 'EM ACCOUNTABLE.

MAKE THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT WE GIVING YOU OUR MONEY FOR.

I STAND FOR DEVON'S LAW.

I LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THEY SHOOT.

I MEAN, JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, SOMEBODY WAS KILLED ON MY STREET.

I HAVE A BULLET IN, IN MY FRONT WINDOW.

I'M THE OWNER OF MY HOUSE.

I HAVE LIGHTS AND I HAVE CAMERAS.

AND GUESS WHAT? THE POLICE COME TO MY HOUSE AND ASK ME, CAN WE SEE YOUR CAMERAS? SO I KNOW IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

IF WE PUT CAMERAS AND MAKE THESE SLUM LORDS PUT CAMERAS ON THESE HOUSES, WE CAN SOLVE SOME OF THESE CRIMES THAT WE ARE SEEING.

I GO TO MOTHERS EVERY DAY FOR, FOR THAT HAVE LOST THEIR KIDS TO GUN VIOLENCE.

IF THEY HAD CAM MY SON WAS KILLED DESIGN CITY, BOY, DAYLIGHT HAD SOMEBODY HAD A CAMERA ON THEIR HOUSE.

NINE TIMES I TELL MY SON'S MURDER.

WOULDN'T BE WALKING.

SO I'M TELLING YOU IT DOES WORK.

THESE CAMERAS ARE HELPING, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE TO PUT THESE LIGHTS IN THESE CAMERAS, IN THESE, IN THESE HOUSES WHERE THEY DON'T WANT YOU, YOU, YOU NOT LIVING THERE.

SO IT DOESN'T BOTHER YOU.

YOU HAVEN'T LOST A CHILD, SO IT DOESN'T BOTHER YOU, BUT IT BOTHERS US BECAUSE WE HAVE TO LIVE THERE IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO I'M ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT DEVI LAW, TO, TO MANDATE SOME OF THIS STUFF TO, TO, UM, MAKE THESE LANDLORDS ACCOUNTABLE FOR ACCEPTING OUR MONEY, MAKE THEM, LET US LIVE IN PEACE.

PEOPLE AND UNDERSTANDING.

COME ON DOWN.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

TANYA JONES, 45, 25 RALEIGH.

UM, I REMEMBER YEARS AGO, PROBABLY 20 YEARS AGO, THEY HAD BREAK INS IN THE CARS OF WHERE I LIVED AND THEY ALLOWED ME TO BREAK MY LEASE.

THAT WAS 20 YEARS AGO.

SO NOW FAST FORWARD TO NOW WHERE THEY'RE SAYING, NO, YOU CAN'T BREAK YOUR LEASE.

WE'LL PUT YOU IN A CREDIT BUREAU.

IT'S CRAZY TO ME.

YOU KNOW, THE, THE LANDLORD THAT I HAD WAS REASONABLE ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THAT I WAS SCARED NOW THAT THAT MY HOUSE GOT BROKEN INTO AND CARS AROUND.

AND THE POLICE WAS THE ONE WHO TOLD ME.

I WAS LIKE, I'M SCARED TO LIVE HERE NOW.

AND HE TOLD ME, WELL, YOU COULD BREAK IT.

LEASE IF THERE'S CRIME.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT CHANGED FROM NOW, FROM THEN, BUT THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD YEARS AGO.

AND I DIDN'T GO INTO CREDIT BUREAU.

SO SOMETHING REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE.

THEY ARE LANDLORDS THAT OUT THERE THEY ARE DOING ARE HELPING

[01:35:01]

AND THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.

SO LET'S, LET'S FAST TRACK THIS AND GET SOMETHING GOING ON FOR THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED IT.

COME ON DOWN PATIENT NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, SIR.

COUNSEL DARIUS LANDIS, 69 0 1 EAST PRIEST AVENUE.

UH, TODAY I'M NOT SPEAKING AS AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

I'M NOT SPEAKING AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.

I'M SPEAKING AS A CITIZEN.

I CAN VIVIDLY REMEMBER MY MOM BEING A RENTER.

AND WHEN SHE WAS A RENTER, I CAN REMEMBER THE GUNSHOTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY THAT I LIVED IN.

SEE, IT HITS DIFFERENT AND I HEARD THE PEOPLE SAY IT, AND IT DOES HIT DIFFERENT WHEN YOU'RE THE PERSON ACTUALLY SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR BECAUSE GUNSHOTS ARE COMING THROUGH, UH, ALL THROUGHOUT YOUR COMMUNITY, ALL THROUGHOUT YOUR HOUSE AND ALL THROUGHOUT YOUR, YOUR FRIEND'S HOUSE.

AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IT THE NEXT DAY AT SCHOOL.

THAT'S THE NORMALCY THAT YOU LIVE IN EVERY DAY AND THE TRAUMA YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY WHEN THINGS LIKE THAT TAKE PLACE.

WHAT'S INTERESTING TO ME THOUGH, IS WHENEVER YOU HAVE THIS TYPE OF CONVERSATION, PEOPLE ALWAYS REFER BACK TO THE US CONSTITUTION BECAUSE IT PROTECTS THREE THINGS, LIFE, LIBERTY, AND PROPERTY.

BUT THIS IS THE THING THAT WE FORGET WHAT OUR LIFE, YOU DON'T HAVE LIBERTY, WHAT OUR LIFE, YOU DON'T HAVE PROPERTY.

AND THE CONVERSATION WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY IS, IS PROVIDING MORE OPTIONS TO PEOPLE WHO, WHEN YOU GO INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES, THEY HAVE NOT ONLY CAMERAS COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY.

THEY ALSO HAVE CAMERAS ALL AROUND THEIR HOUSES.

SO IT'S OKAY FOR YOU TO FEEL SECURE INSIDE OF YOUR HOME AND YOUR COMMUNITY WHERE YOU LIVE, BUT YOU DON'T PROVIDE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY FOR PROPERTIES THAT YOU OWN, THAT YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR.

THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

THEN I SAY ALL THIS TO SAY, I SAW IT AS A CHILD.

WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, HISTORY IS STILL REPEATING ITSELF BECAUSE THIS FAMILY IS DEALING WITH IT AND FAMILIES ALL THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY ARE STILL DEALING WITH IT.

THIS IS NOW TASKED TO YOU AS A COUNCIL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.

AND WE SHOULDN'T HAVE WATERED IT DOWN TO BE HONEST ABOUT IT, BUT IF THAT'S WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, LET'S GET IT DONE, CUZ IT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED A LONG TIME AGO.

PART AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

WE WILL NOW GO TO, OR WE DO HAVE SOME EMAIL COMMENTS.

COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED 85 COMMENTS ON ITEM 65, 81 WERE IN SUPPORT AND FOUR WERE IN OPPOSITION.

WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, MOTION, UH, COUNCIL NUMBER MO I'LL UH, I'LL DEFER TO COUNCILMAN DONE IF HE NEEDS TO MAKE THE MOTION REAL QUICK.

IF HE MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED SECOND MOTION TO APPROVE PROGRAMS AMENDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MO COUNCIL MEMBER MO ON YOU.

YOU WANNA SPEAK? YES SIR.

GO AHEAD.

UM, LADIES, THE AUDIENCE MA MA MA'AM, I'M SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

AND I HOPE I HOPE WHAT WE'VE DISCUSSED HERE TODAY ARE ESPECIALLY ALL THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'VE ALL HAD OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS WILL START A PROCESS.

YOU KNOW, AN AVILAN STARTS FROM A SMALL SPEC AND IT JUST STARTS ROLLING DOWNHILL AND IT PICKS UP MOMENTUM AND IT KEEPS GOING AND IT KEEPS GOING.

AND I WANNA TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, UH, RIGHT WHEN COUNCILMAN DUNN SENT SOME INFORMATION OUT ON THIS, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED HIM AND UH, TOLD HIM THAT I WAS ON BOARD.

AS FAR AS WORKING WITH THIS.

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW SOME OF THE LANGUAGE ENGINEERS WAS SHALLOW OR SHOULD OR MAY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TALKED TO HIM ABOUT THAT I REALLY FOCUSED ON WAS BEING ABLE TO THE LEASING PART GUNSHOTS AROUND YOU, CONSTANT POLICE PRESENCE AND EVERYTHING SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BEG TO BE GOT OUTTA THE LEASE.

AND I KNOW SOME PEOPLE, SOME PEOPLE CAN'T JUST UP AND LEAVE OR WHATEVER, SOME CAN'T AND YOU WORRY ABOUT OTHER THINGS.

SO WHAT I WANNA SAY TO YOU IS THIS IS PLEASE TAKE THIS TO THE PUBLIC AS A START, AS A, A MOVEMENT FORWARD TO DO THIS COUNCIL EAST BATTERY REPAIRS, TO DO WHAT WE CAN.

AND WE'RE NOT JUST GONNA TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND, AND PUSH IT OFF ONTO THE LANDLORDS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THERE'S A BALANCE.

I, I GET WHY WE, THE CAMERA THINGS I USED TO INSTALL CAMERAS AND IT'S A WHOLE BALL GAME THAT, THAT, THAT COMES IN OTHER THAN JUST REQUIRING THEM PUT 'EM IN THE LIGHTING IN, IN A DIFFERENT THING.

AND SO ON.

HOPEFULLY THAT'S SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT WE CAN WORK ON.

UH, WE CAN WORK WITH THE BUILDERS.

WE CAN WORK.

WE MIGHT CAN WORK IT THROUGH CODE.

I DON'T KNOW, BUT I PROMISE YOU, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT WE CAN START TO CONTINUE FORWARD.

SO WE GET INTO THE MAIN ASPECT OF THE, UM, THE LEASING AGREEMENT

[01:40:01]

UM, I WISH THERE WOULD'VE BEEN MORE LANGUAGE IN THAT WITH THIS, BUT I UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S NOT, BECAUSE I THINK IT COMES MORE FROM A STATE LEVEL AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT I DO THINK THAT WE CAN ASSIST IN WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AND SEEING WHAT THAT WE CAN DO MORE.

SO AGAIN, WHAT I ASKED THE PUBLIC IN, IN Y'ALL TAKE THIS AS A START AND A PROMISE THAT THE, THE, THE, THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN STARTED AND WE'RE GONNA DO WHAT WE CAN.

AND I ALSO THINK, AND I LOOK AT MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, THERE'S THINGS THAT, THAT WE NEED TO DO FROM, FROM POLICING.

WE'VE GOT A, A, A GREAT FORCE OUT THERE.

THERE'S IF THERE'S MORE THAT WE CAN ASSIST AND DO WITH, FROM, FROM THOSE STANDPOINTS AND EVERYTHING, I THINK WE, AS A PARISH WILL LOOK AT ELSE THAT WE CAN DO.

SO MA'AM, I AM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

AND I AGREE FOR YOU, AND I HOPE THIS START WILL HELP YOU TO START HEALING AND MOVING FORWARD, ALSO, COUNCIL NUMBER DUN, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD COUNCIL NUMBER.

NO, THANK YOU.

UM, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY, UH, EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS AND, UH, MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE FAMILY, UM, AND EVERYBODY ELSE WHO, WHO, UM, IS CLOSE WITH THE FAMILY.

UM, I WANNA THANK CLEVE.

I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS GREAT WORK AND, AND THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR WORKING FOR IT.

UM, AND, AND EVERYBODY ELSE WHO PITCHED IN ON, UM, BRINGING SOMETHING TOGETHER THAT, UM, CAN, CAN BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY.

UM, I DID HAVE A, I WAS READING THROUGH THE LAW.

I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, JUST POINTS OF CLARIFICATION THAT I WANTED TO BE CLEAR ON.

UM, COURTNEY, IF, IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE, I DID HAVE A, A QUESTION SPECIFIC, UH, OR ANDY OR GREG .

UM, SO I, I, I, I AM IN FAVOR OF THE REVISIONS.

I LIKE THAT.

I THINK, UH, PRIOR TO THESE LATEST REVISIONS, WE HAD A SCENARIO THAT I THINK WOULD'VE DIS WEIGHTED SOME, UH, LANDLORDS FROM ACTUALLY HAVING CAMERAS IN LIGHTING, BECAUSE THEY WERE GONNA BE MANDATED TO FOLLOW RULES THAT IF THEY WEREN'T MANDATED TO HAVE THEM, AND IT WAS JUST A, A, IF IT WAS A, YOU MAY HAVE THEM, BUT IF YOU DO, YOU SHALL DO THIS.

I THINK IT WOULD'VE DISSUADED SOME FROM HAVING 'EM.

AND I THINK HAVING THEM, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT UP TO A CERTAIN STANDARD IS BETTER THAN NOT HAVING 'EM AT ALL.

SO I THINK THAT WAS A, A GOOD AND PROPER REVISION.

UM, COURTNEY I QUESTION I HAD JUST ON CLARIFICATION READING THROUGH IT, IT, I SEE RENTAL PROPERTY ADDRESSED QUITE OFTEN, AND IT SAYS AMENDING TITLE EIGHT, A, UM, WHEN WE REFERENCE RENTAL PROPERTY, DOES TITLE EIGHT, A DEFINE RENTAL PROPERTY AS RESIDENTIAL? OR ARE WE TALKING ABOUT COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TOO WITH THIS? I DON'T BELIEVE TITLE EIGHT A DOES.

UM, BUT RENTAL PROPERTIES, UH, JUST AS IT'S, UH, JUST AS IT'S HERE IN THIS, IT IS GOING TO ENCOMPASS RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL.

THERE'S NOT BEEN A DIFFERENCE MADE HERE.

IS THAT, IS THAT THE INTENT? DID YOU WANT IT TO HAVE IT FOR COMMERCIAL TOO? BELIEVE THAT'S YES.

ALL RENTAL PROPERTY.

SO RENTAL ANCHOR.

SO THIS DOES COVER RENTAL AND COMMERCIAL.

I WE'RE SPEAKING ABOUT IT TYPICALLY FROM A RESIDENTIAL STANDPOINT, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMMERCIAL TO, OR ANY RENTAL PROPERTY.

UM, AND THEN, UM, I DON'T THINK I HAD ANY OTHER SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, UM, OH, WITH RESPECT TO THE RETROACTIVE PORTION OR NOT RETROACTIVE, UM, THIS WOULD BE WITH, UH, UH, ANY NEW TENANT SEEKING, UH, A NEW LEASE, CORRECT? UH, NOT, UH, OR HOW ABOUT A SCENARIO I'M WONDERING, AND, AND IF SOMETHING SHOULD BE ADDED OR NOT TOWARDS WHERE YOU HAVE A LEASE IN PLACE, IT'S, IT'S NOT A NEW LEASE IS NOT SIGNED, BUT YOU'RE GOING ON A MONTH TO MONTH BECAUSE IT HAS NOT BEEN RENEWED.

UH, WOULD THERE BE ANY REQUIREMENTS IN THAT SCENARIO BASED ON HOW THIS IS WRITTEN? NO.

IF I'M UNDERSTANDING YOUR QUESTIONING, COUNCILMAN, THIS IS GONNA APPLY TO ANY, UH, ANYBODY WHO'S SEEKING INFORMATION BECAUSE OF, OF COURSE, REMEMBER THAT THIS, THIS PARTICULAR PART, THE RETROACTIVE PART IS UNDER CRIMINAL INCIDENTS.

MM-HMM .

AND SO THIS IS GOING TO BE ANYBODY WHO'S JUST SEEKING INFORMATION ABOUT RENTING A PROPERTY.

THEY HAVE TO BE GIVEN THAT INFORMATION BEFORE THEY EVEN BECOME A TENANT.

SO THEY HAVEN'T EVEN SIGNED THE LEASE YET.

THEY THEY'RE CONSIDERED GRANDFATHERED, UH, I GUESS GRANDFATHERED IN OKAY.

BUT IT APPLIES TO ANYBODY WHO SEEKING INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPERTY OR WHO, OR WHO SUBMITS AN APPLICATION TO RENT, UH, AFTER JANUARY 1ST, 20, 23.

GOT IT.

SO ANYBODY WHO'S GOT, WHO'S RENTING NOW UP UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST,

[01:45:01]

TO THE EXTENT THAT THIS PROVISION APPLIES.

AND, AND, UH, ONE OTHER, UH, COMMENT.

AND I THINK COUNCILMAN MO TOUCHED ON THIS AND MANY HAVE, AND I THINK, UH, SOMETHING WE CAN DO IS TAKE THIS AND REACH OUT TO OUR DELEGATION DOWN THE ROAD AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND PROBABLY TAKE A LOOK AT DOING SOMETHING.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UM, AS, AS A REAL ESTATE BROKER, UH, WE HAVE A STATE CONTRACT FOR RESIDENTIAL SALES AND, AND IN THERE WE HAVE, UH, BUILT IN IT.

IT HAS THE WEBSITE PRINTED TO GO TO CHECK ON, UH, SEXUAL OFFENDER, UM, CRIMINAL, UH, STATISTICS.

SO YOU CAN SEE YOUR AREA.

AND I THINK SOMETHING, UM, SIMILAR, UH, A STATE, UH, FORM FORMAL LEASE THAT, YOU KNOW, CAN BE AMENDED AND STRUCTURED BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF LEASES.

AND, AND, AND WE HAVE THAT ABILITY ON THIS STATE CONTRACT AS WELL TO HAVE AMENDMENTS AND, BUT HAVING A, A STANDARD FORM, UM, THAT THE STATE WOULD PROVIDE TO GIVE SOME SPECIFICITY AND SOME, UM, U UNIFORMITY WITH, WITH REGARDS TO RENTAL PROPERTIES, I THINK WOULD BE REALLY GOOD.

AND THAT WOULD BE A, AN ABSOLUTE APPROPRIATE PLACE TO HAVE THE, UH, THE WEBSITE WHERE THESE STATISTICS CAN BE FOUND SO THAT IT'S AUTOMATIC AND, AND THERE WILL BE NO MISSTEP.

SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PROBABLY ALL TAKE UP WITH WITH THE DELEGATION DOWN THE STREET AND, AND MAYBE PUSH FOR THAT, UM, IN, IN A UPCOMING SESSION.

SO THAT'S ALL THE COMMENTS I HAVE.

I APPRECIATE ALL Y'ALL'S HARD WORK ON THIS NEXT.

WE'LL HEAR FROM COUNCIL NUMBER.

MA'AM ALSO, THANK YOU.

UM, I COULD ACTUALLY SIT UP AND CRY UP HERE.

UM, I HAVE NOT LOST A CHILD, BUT I'VE LOST, LOVED ONES UNEXPECTEDLY, AND THE HEARTACHE IS UNBELIEVABLE.

YOU DON'T EVER GET OVER IT.

UM, LET ME JUST SAY THIS, THAT, THAT MAMA'S BACK THERE IS GONNA WANT Y'ALL TO TALK ABOUT HER BABY, BECAUSE SHE DOES NOT WANT HER BABY FORGOTTEN.

UM, SO ANYWAY, UM, COURTNEY, CAN I, I, I'VE GOT ONE REAL QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU, IF YOU DON'T MIND MM-HMM .

SO IN THE EVENT THAT OUR PROPERTY OWNERS PUT THE CAMERAS AND PUT THE, THE LIGHTING OUT FOR SOME REASON THAT THAT CAMERA IS DISABLED OR GLITCHES SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE, AND THERE'S AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENS IS THE PROPERTY OWNER GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE, UM, FOR THAT INCIDENT.

I MEAN, BECAUSE, UM, THESE FOLKS ARE DEPENDING UPON THE LIGHTING, THE CAMERAS AND ALL, SO WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S A GLITCH WITH THE CAMERA, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.

THERE ARE GLITCHES.

I MEAN, THEY ARE COMPUTER RAN AND, AND ALL THAT OTHER KIND OF THING.

SO WHERE IS, IS ARE THE PROPERTY OWNERS GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE? IS THERE ANY WAY THAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE GONNA BE HELD TO RELY, UM, SORRY, RELIABLE IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS BASED ON THE MOST RECENT, UM, AMENDMENTS TODAY? NO.

AND SO JUST LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, AND UPKEEP MUST BE A PART OF THE, UH, UH, RESPONSIBILITY.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

FIRST, I'D LIKE TO SAY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER AND COUNCILMAN DUN YOU TO BE COMMENDED FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE HERE THIS EVENING.

AND SO I, I AM ONE WHO BELIEVES THAT EVERYTHING OUGHT TO CONNECT.

AND WHEN THE GENTLEMAN MADE MENTION OF CRIME PREVENTION AND THIS BEING A WAY TO HELP TO DO THAT, WE CAN'T SAY ON ONE HAND, WE WANT CRIME TO GO AWAY.

EVERY TIME YOU PICK UP THE PAPER, THAT'S WHAT YOU HEAR AND DON'T MENTION NEXT DOOR.

AND THEN ON THE OTHER HAND, NOT TRYING TO, OR IMPLEMENTING SOMETHING TOWARD THIS.

AND SO, AND THEN THIS WILL BE A WAY WHERE WE WILL HOLD THE, UH, LANDLORD SL LORDS ACCOUNTABLE, AND THEY'LL BE DOING THEIR PART ALONG WITH THE POLICING, WITH THE REST OF US AND WITH THE COMMUNITIES AND ALL OF THIS.

AND THEN I WOULD SAY THAT IF YOU ARE A LANDLORD, IF YOU ARE A SLUM LORD, AND YES, THOSE ARE OUT THERE THAT THE UPKEEP IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

[01:50:01]

AND I DEFINITELY CONCUR WITH COUNCILMAN MO WHEN HE SAID THAT TO GET SOME GROWTH, TO GET SOME GROWTH FROM THIS, THIS IS A GREAT START.

AND THEN YES, UH, WE, WE FORGE AHEAD FROM THIS BUILD, FROM THIS, WITH IS WITH WHAT'S BEST.

WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE ORDER, NOT A SELFISH THING, BUT WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE ORDER.

AND SO, AND YES, FAMILY, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT SAY TO YOU ALL THAT, OF COURSE, UH, UH, WE, WE SAYING THAT WE FEEL YOUR PAIN THAT NOW, NO, WE DON'T, BUT I TELL YOU WHAT YOU GOTTA PRESS AND PRAY AND KEEP MOVING.

AND THAT IS MY DESIRE FOR YOU.

SO I AM GOING TO ASK NOT ONE, NOT TWO, NOT 10, BUT ALL 12 OF US, MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VOTE.

WHERE IT BECOMES PART OF YOUR MINISTRY, THAT OTHER, UM, PERSONS THAT ARE VULNERABLE IN THESE, UM, COMMUNITIES HAVE A CHANCE, UM, YOU KNOW, TO BE PROTECTED OR ADEQUATE CONSEQUENCES BE MADE.

FOR DEVIN'S LAW.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS, TURN YOUR MIC ON MINISTER.

TOVER WHO I PROBABLY KNEW BEFORE YOUR DAUGHTER WAS BORN AND YOUR SON.

UM, I, I REMEMBER WHEN, UM, THE NIGHT THAT YOU GOT THE NEWS THAT DEVIN HAD BEEN MURDERED AND THE FACEBOOK, UM, POST WENT VIRAL AND IMMEDIATELY I THOUGHT ABOUT A BOOK THAT I'D READ WHY BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE.

AND I THINK ABOUT THE YEARS OF INVESTMENT THAT YOU'VE MADE INTO YOUNG PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, AND I'M THINKING, YOU KNOW, THIS JUST DOES NOT MAKE SENSE, UH, IN OUR GOAL AT OUR GOAL HERE, UM, ON THE METRO COUNCIL SHOULD BE TO ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE SAFE AND THAT WERE EQUITABLE.

UH, WE SPENT TWO WEEKS, UM, UNDER THAT SAME NOTION, BASICALLY PUTTING ALL KIND OF MANDATES ON HOMELESS PEOPLE.

UM, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE WORD THAT WE HEARD CONSTANTLY HAD TO DO IT ACCOUNTABILITY, UM, BEING, MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAD THE RESOURCES TO DO BETTER.

AND IF THOSE RESOURCES WERE REJECTED, THEN THERE WERE, UM, THERE WERE CONSEQUENCES.

SO HERE WE ARE TODAY WITH BASICALLY THE SAME KIND OF SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE, UM, LANDLORDS THAT WE WANT TO HOLD ACCOUNTABLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT THEIR PROPERTIES, UM, HAVE ADEQUATE LIGHTING, ADEQUATE SECURITY MEASUREMENTS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY APPRECIATE, UM, HAVING RESIDENTS WHO ARE ADDING TO THEIR INCOME.

SO, AND IF YOU DON'T DO THIS AND I TOO, UM, LIKE I, I TOO AM DISAPPOINTED THAT WE WATERED, UM, MANY OF THE SHELLS TO MAY.

UM, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT POLITICS IS.

UM, THAT'S PART OF THE GIVE AND TAKE THAT I DON'T NECESSARILY, I'M NOT A GREAT STUDENT OF, UM, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT.

SO I TOO, UM, BELIEVE THAT, UM, AS COUNCILMAN KNOW, SAID THAT THIS IS A STEP, BUT IT REALLY, WE NEED TO DEAL WITH HER ON HER, ON HER STATEWIDE.

UM, I NEVER HEARD THE STORY THAT YOUR DAUGHTER, UM, SPOKE OF REGARDING THE, THE ATTEMPTS THAT SHE MADE AND THE PLEA THAT YOU ALL MADE TO THE LANDLORD.

AND I, I REALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT BE A STARTING POINT.

UM, JUST LIKE TANYA SAID THAT IF, IF A RESIDENT IS SAYING, I FEAR FOR MY LIFE, WE NEED STATUE THAT SAYS IMMEDIATELY THEY SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE RELEASED FROM THAT LEASE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE POLICE REPORTS AND ALL OF THAT.

I DON'T, I THINK THAT WOULD BE UNQUESTIONABLE.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT WE SEE, UM, COMING UP BOTH HERE ON THE COUNCIL, IF NOT AN ORDINANCE, A RESOLUTION, BUT DEFINITELY, UH, AT THE STATE LEVEL.

SO I CONCUR, UM, WITH COUNCILMAN DUNN AND ALL THE PARISH ATTORNEY FOR WORKING ON THIS.

UM, I HOPE THAT THIS ISN'T LA THE LAST TIME WE SEE IT, AND I DO HOPE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT I KNOW AS, UH, THAT THIS WILL NOT IN, IN ANY WAY MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER, BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY

[01:55:01]

SO I DO SUPPORT THIS ITEM AND I DO ENCOURAGE ALL MY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO AS WELL, COUNCILMAN ADAMS. SO OVER THE, UM, LABOR DAY WEEKEND, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH SOME PROGRAMMING ON METRO 21.

AND, UM, KATHY AND TY, I HOPE IT'S OKAY TO CALL YOU VERY FIRST NAMES.

I'M NOT TRYING TO BE DISRESPECTFUL, BUT I SAW THE SHOW THAT Y'ALL HAD, UM, TAPED FOR METRO 21.

AND I DO FEEL LIKE I, I, I KNOW YOU NOW BECAUSE I GOT TO, TO LISTEN TO Y'ALL, UM, TELL YOUR STORY, UM, AND INTERACT.

AND, AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD WITH HOW INCREDIBLY STRONG BOTH, IF YOU ARE, AND YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, MY ADMIRATION, AS WELL AS, AS MY SYMPATHY.

I, I WONDERED, UM, IF I COULD INVITE YOU KATHY, UP TO THE PODIUM FOR A MINUTE, CUZ ON YOUR SHOW, YOU TALKED ABOUT AN EFFORT THAT YOU WERE DOING CALLED HELP, FIVE STAY ALIVE.

AND UM, AND IT, IT CAUGHT ME, IN FACT, I TOOK A PICTURE OF IT BECAUSE, UM, I, I LOVED IT AND I THOUGHT YOU WERE REALLY TAKING EVERYTHING, UM, TO A WHOLE NOTHER LEVEL MM-HMM .

AND UM, AND OF COURSE I DIDN'T REALIZE AT THAT POINT THAT YOU WERE A PASTOR AND THIS IS WHAT PASTORS DO, BUT YOU WERE FOCUSING ON PEOPLE.

AND I TOOK A PHOTOGRAPH OF THIS TO REMIND MYSELF, UM, TO INVEST IN THE LIVES OF THOSE AROUND ME.

AND I DO HAVE SOME, SOME YOUNG PEOPLE AND, AND SOME PEOPLE IN MY LIFE THAT ARE STRUGGLING OR, OR, YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE GOING ON.

AND I THOUGHT, I NEED TO REMEMBER TO INVEST IN THOSE AROUND ME BECAUSE, UM, BECAUSE WE NEED, WE NEED, WE NEED FOR, WE NEED FOR THE GUNS, THE BULLETS, WE NEED IT TO STOP.

WE NEED FOR PEOPLE, EVERYBODY TO VALUE EVERY LIFE.

UM, ANYWAY, WHICH ARE YOU COMFORTABLE FOR A MINUTE JUST TO TALK ABOUT THIS EFFORT.

SO HELP FIVE STAY ALIVE.

UM, AFTER MY GRANDSON WAS MURDERED, I ASKED GOD, I SAID, LORD, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO WITH THIS? BECAUSE I HAD I'M I'M WHEN I'M AROUND MY DAUGHTER, I TRY NOT TO BREAK DOWN.

BUT WHEN I'M BY MYSELF, I MEAN, I JUST FALL APART.

SO I ASKED GOD, LIKE, WHAT CAN I DO WITH THIS PAIN? AND THAT'S WHEN IT, IT CAME TO ME, HELP FIVE, STAY ALIVE AND HELP FIVE STAY ALIVE.

IT'S WE ARE ASKING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING AREAS IN THE STATE AND THE WORLD CALL FIVE PEOPLE, LET THREE OF THEM BE YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT CALL FIVE PEOPLE EVERY DAY OR CALL THEM ONCE A WEEK AND CHECK ON THEIR MENTAL STATE, CHECK ON THEIR WELLBEING.

AND IN DOING THAT, WE CAN START THE CHAIN.

I BELIEVE THAT ONCE WE CAN GET OUR HOMES IN ORDER MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE GOOD, IF WE CHECK ON, I, I SAID THIS, THAT IF WHOEVER MURDERED MY GRANDSON HAD SOMEONE CHECKED ON THAT PERSON, I BELIEVE HE WOULDN'T HAVE GONE FORWARD.

UM, AND SO MY THING NOW IS IF WE CAN START IN OUR HOMES, UH, MAKING SURE THAT MY DAUGHTER IS FINE, MY GRANDCHILDREN, CUZ NOW THEY'RE WITH ME.

THEY'RE, WE'RE ALL PACKED IN THE HOUSE.

UM, AND THEN IF THE NEIGHBORS BEGIN TO DO THE SAME THING, THEY WORK IN WITH THEIR FAMILIES, THEN WE CAN MAKE BETTER NEIGHBORHOODS.

THEN WHEN WE START IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEN WE CAN MOVE INTO THE COMMUNITY.

AND THEN FROM THE COMMUNITY, WE CAN MOVE INTO OUR CITY AND YOU KNOW, BY CHECKING AND MAKING SURE STARTING THIS CHAIN AND THEN MOVING FROM THERE TO OUR STATE AND SO ON BECAUSE SO MANY TIMES.

AND SO I SMILE AND TALK TO EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE I DECIDED TO BECOME WHAT I WANTED TO RECEIVE.

AND SO I MAKE SURE THAT I'M EMBRACING PEOPLE, THAT I'M HUGGING PEOPLE.

UM, AND, AND, AND WE ARE ALL STRESSED.

WE WERE STRESSED BEFORE THIS HAPPENED WITH OUR GRANDSON, MY GRANDSON, WE ARE ALL GOING THROUGH SOMETHING.

EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM HAS A STORY.

EVERYBODY MAY NOT TELL IT AND BE TRANSPARENT, BUT EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM IS GOING THROUGH SOMETHING.

AND SO WE NEED TO BE A PILLOW TO HELP SOMEONE WHERE THEY CAN COME AND SAY, HEY GIRL, ARE YOU ALRIGHT? I DO IT ALL THE TIME.

SISTER, GIRL, ARE YOU ALRIGHT? ARE YOU FINE? YOU YOU'RE OKAY.

AND THAT'S WHAT HELP FIVE STAY ALIVE.

I GOTTA DO THAT ON CAMERA? ALL RIGHT.

UM, IN NOVEMBER 20TH, UH, GOD HAS BLESSED US WITH THE MAYOR.

WE'RE GETTING READY TO DO A HUGE EVENT, HELP FIVE, STAY ALIVE.

WE'RE GONNA BE AT THE FG CLARK ACTIVITY CENTER.

AND WE'RE GONNA TAKE WE'RE, I'M ASKING 2000 PEOPLE TO COME IN AND LET'S FEED THEM.

YOU KNOW, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S LET THEM LAY THEIR HEAD ON OUR SHOULDER.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M TAKING FROM THE DEATH OF MY GRANDSON AND IS PUSHING ME AND PUSHING ME AND PUSHING ME.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.

AND GOD BLESS, WELL, KEEP US UP TO DATE ON ABSOLUTELY THAT AS IT MOVES FORWARD, CUZ LIKE I SAID, I, I, YOU KNOW, GOT A LITTLE EMOTIONAL LISTENING TO YOU.

CAN I GIVE YOU A HUG PLEASE? DO

[02:00:01]

UH, EVERYBODY WIPE YOUT.

IS WE GONNA GO NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER DONE? THANK YOU, SIR.

LET ME FIRST PUBLICLY, UH, TELL TY AND KATHY AND THE FAMILY, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE ALL CONDOLENCES, UH, MY FAMILY AND, AND THEIR FAMILY GO BACK MORE YEARS THAN I AM OLD.

UH, COUNCILWOMAN BANKS MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT CATHY AND HER FAMILY HAVE POURED INTO.

WELL, WELL, I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE.

UM, SO I WAS DEVASTATED WHEN I GOT THE NEWS OF WHAT HAPPENED TO TY'S SON AND CATHY'S GRANDSON, DEVIN, AND UH, YOU KNOW, WE GAVE THEM THEIR SPACE TO GRIEVE AND, YOU KNOW, GET THROUGH THE PROCESS.

AND UH, ABOUT TWO MONTHS AFTER THAT, MAYBE A MONTH AFTER THAT, I'M NOT SURE KATHY REACHED OUT AND HAD THIS IDEAL TO NOT LET OTHER FAMILIES BE IN THE SAME SITUATION THAT THEY WAS IN.

AND SHE SPECIFICALLY SAID HER AND TY THAT THEY DID NOT WANT DEVIN'S DEATH TO BE IN VAIN.

AND THEY WANTED HIM TO BE REMEMBERED FOR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THAT STUCK WITH ME, HEARING THEM SAY THAT.

AND UM, YOU KNOW, I SAID, LET ME, LET ME THINK ABOUT IT.

TALK TO THE PARISH ATTORNEY, LET THEM DO SOME RESEARCH.

SEE IF SOME OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN CITIES HAVE DONE SOMETHING AROUND THIS AREA AND WE'LL WORK ON SOMETHING.

UM, OUR COMMITMENT TO HER WAS THAT WE'LL DO SOMETHING ON A LOCAL LEVEL, BUT ULTIMATELY SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ON A STATE LEVEL AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL WHEN WE HAD OUR FIRST VISIT WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

AND I THINK ANDY AND COURTNEY WORKED TIRELESSLY ON HELPING US WITH THIS.

WHAT WE WERE FACED WITH WAS THE REALITIES OF LAW.

AND I WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY AND THE PUBLIC AND THE FAMILY FOR COMING UP AND SUPPORTING THIS, THIS FAMILY.

BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME INSIGHT INTO THE PROCESS.

UM, THE ATTORNEYS AND GOVERNMENT TRY NOT TO ALLOW LOCAL STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS TO CONFLICT.

SOMETIMES THEY DO, BUT THEY TRY TO PREVENT THAT WHAT WE FOUND IN THIS AREA THAT STATE LAW TIED OUR HANDS IN SO MANY AREAS, BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO DO NOTHING.

WE WANTED TO BRING FORTH SOMETHING AS A START, AS COUNCILMAN MO AND COUNCILMAN KNOW MENTIONED.

AND THEN, THEN WE CAN CONTINUE TO FIGHT AS WE GET SOMETHING ON THE BOOKS TO HELP THIS FAMILY HAVE SOME RESOLVE, HAVE SOMETHING TO HOLD ONTO THAT DEVIN'S DEATH WAS NOT IN VAIN.

NOW, WHEN WE ORIGINALLY LOOKED AT THIS ORDINANCE, IT WAS ABOUT GETTING TENANT OUT OF THE LEASE STATE LAW, RESTRICTED US FROM GOING DOWN THAT ROAD.

UH, THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRST DRAFT, WHICH WAS MONTHS AGO, THE CAMERAS WAS ALWAYS A MA IT WAS NEVER A SHELL.

IT WAS ALWAYS A MAY.

UH, THE LIGHTING DID CONVERT FROM A SHELL TO A MAY BECAUSE WE COULDN'T FIND IN THE CODE OF ORDINANCE OR IN STATE LAW, ANY LEGAL DEFINITION OF WHAT ADEQUATE PROPER LIGHTING WAS.

IT, IT WAS NOT THERE IN DEFINITION.

SO THOSE ARE TYPES OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE CLEARED UP.

IF WE GOING MANDATE AND HOLD FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THAT AND DESCRIBE WHAT THAT IS.

SO I'M JUST TRYING TO GET YOU GUYS TO UNDERSTAND NOW COURTNEY READ A LOT OF THE AMENDMENTS HERE TODAY, BUT MUCH OF THAT STUFF HAD DONE BEEN DONE WEEKS AND MONTHS AGO.

BUT WHEN WE SUBMIT A ITEM, WE SIT SUBMITTED IN AN ORIGINAL FORM AND YOU MAKE ALL THESE AMENDMENTS WEEKS, MONTHS OUT BEFORE YOU PRESENT IT.

BUT ALL OF THAT STUFF HAS TO BE PRESENTED TO THIS BODY AND TO THE PUBLIC BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD TO LET YOU KNOW THE PROGRESSION.

SO THAT'S WHY YOU GOT SO MUCH, SO MANY AMENDMENTS TODAY.

UM, I WANNA SPEAK TO COUNCIL WHEN COUNCILWOMAN, UH, ASO'S, UH, QUESTION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE CAMERA GLITCH OR OF, UH, TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY AS IT RELATES TO THAT.

AND THE ORDINANCE SPEAKS TO THAT, ANY VIOLATION, UH, THAT WE HAVE AS IT RELATES TO ORDINANCE, THERE'S A 15 DAY GRACE PERIOD.

SO YOU HAVE 15 DAYS TO RECTIFY THAT WHETHER IT'S A GLITCH OR ANYTHING ELSE, UM, AND INSPECTOR GOES OUT, FIND OUT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

THEY NOTIFY YOU.

AND THEN IF YOU RESOLVE IT WITHIN 15 DAYS, THERE'S NO ISSUE.

SO THAT'S ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF YOUR, YOUR CONCERN THERE.

UM,

[02:05:01]

I ALSO WANT TO THANK, YOU KNOW, ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM AND SUPPORTING THIS FAMILY, GOT A LOT OF FEEDBACK, LOT OF QUESTION, A LOT OF CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM.

AND WE REACHED THE POINT THAT WE CAN PRESENT SOMETHING THAT THIS FAMILY CAN SUPPORT AND SOMETHING THAT THEY DESERVE TO HAVE.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS A START.

THIS IS NOT AN END.

WE'RE NOT GONNA LET GOOD BE THE ENEMY.

GREAT, GREAT.

BE THE ENEMY.

GOOD.

WE'RE GONNA START THIS PROCESS NOW GET DEVON'S LAW PASS HERE ON A LOCAL LEVEL, WORK THOSE THINGS OUT ON THE STATE LEVEL AND SEE WHERE WE CAN CONTINUE TO REFINE THIS THING MOVING FORWARD.

SO WITH THAT, I WOULD AGAIN MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM AS AMENDED MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOTY AND PASTOR, CAPTAIN, UM, MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION? THE ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED PERSONAL ON ITEM 66, AUTHORIZING PARISH ATTORNEYS' OFFICE TO SUBMIT A REQUEST CO POINT PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

SURE.

CAN WE, IF WE WILL GALLERY AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, CAN WE JUST HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR DEVON AND IN RECOGNITION OF HIM IN, IN THIS, IN THIS TIME? THANK YOU.

WHY DON'T WE TAKE A, A LITTLE RECESS REAL QUICK? WELL, WE TAKE FIVE, FIVE MINUTE RECESS.

MEMBERS ARE NOW GONNA GO TO ITEM 66, AUTHORIZING THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION ON WHAT A LOCAL GOVERNING AUTHORITY REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH A FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU PURSUANT TO REVISE STATUTE 40 COLON FIRE.

YOU CAN CALL THE ORDER.

HE'S RIGHT.

TO CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER.

COUNCIL

[66. 22-01148]

1 5 63 IS GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT FOR THE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, WHICH ESTABLISHED THE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT FURTHER.

WHAT ENTITY MUST ASSUME LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FIRE INSPECTION PERFORMED BY THE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT PURSUANT TO THE STATUTE BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

AARON MO IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 66? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL.

THERE'S A, THERE'S A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MO SECONDLY, BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN ITEM 66 HAS BEEN APPROVED.

[67. 22-01121]

NOW GO TO ITEM 67 AUTHORIZING THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO SUBMIT A REQUEST TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AN OPINION ON WHETHER THE MEMBER OF THE BAT WAS FIRING POLICE.

CIVIL SERVICE BOARD MAY ALSO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF LOUISIANA CORPORATION.

AND IF NOT THE APPROPRIATE PROCEDURES TO RESOLVE THE CONFLICT BY COUNCIL MEMBER OF THE WHITE HUDSON, IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 67 WILL NOW GO TO COUNCIL.

MEMBER'S A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

HUDSON SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KNOWS IN OPPOSITION ITEM 67 HAS BEEN APPROVED

[68. 22-01128]

ITEM 68 AUTHORIZED AND SETTLEMENT.

THE CLAIM FROM BEO IRADO FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEE AND AN AMOUNT OF $16,500, WHICH AMOUNT SHALL BE PAID FROM AN ACCOUNT DESIGNATED INSURANCE AUTO LIABILITY BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY IS ANYONE WHO WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 68 WHEN HOWEVER, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS IS THERE MOTION TO APPROVE.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, ADAM SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

[69. 22-01150]

WE NOW GO TO ITEM 69 AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT AND CLAIM OF LYING OVER PERS FOR DAMAGE RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEE IN THE AMOUNT OF $17,000 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY IS ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 69.

WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL SOME MORE BY ADAM SECONDED BY COLEMAN.

[70. 22-01155]

NOW GO TO ITEM 70 AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT, THE MATTER OF MICHAEL MCFARLAND VERSUS AARON SAGE IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,000 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 70? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IS THERE A MOTION, SOMEONE BY ADAM SECONDED BY COLEMAN ITEM 70 HAS BEEN

[71. 22-01122]

APPROVED.

WE NOW GO TO ITEM 71.

WE'RE SENDING A DIRECTING CLERK COURT TO COUNSEL DECISION TO ORDER RECORDED ON JULY 29TH, 2022.

AND THE MATTER OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSUS WILLIAM JONES AND BILLY THOMAS JONES.

REASON FOR RECI THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS PURCHASED AGREEMENT ON THE PROPERTY BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON 71 NOW GO TO COUNCIL MOTION TO APPROVE BY CHAIR SECONDED BY COLEMAN ITEM 71 HAS BEEN APPROVED

[72. 22-01131]

ITEM 72.

WE'RE SITTING IN THE RECORD, THE CLERK RECORDED COUNCIL DECISION TO ORDER RECORD ON JULY 29TH, 2022.

IN A MATTER OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSUS DENNIS WAYNE TAYLOR SENIOR IN THE STATE OF JULIAN TAYLOR BANKS, 27, 9, 6.

EY.

THE REASON FOR DECISION TO PROP IT ON THE INTENT TO REHAB THE PROPERTY BY THE CHAIR.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 72.

NOW GO TO THE COUNCIL MOTION TO APPROVE BY THE CHAIR.

SECONDLY, BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN WILL

[73. 22-01136]

NOW GO TO ITEM 73.

WE SENDING IN THE RECORD, THE CLERK OF COURT AND THE COUNCIL DECISION TO ORDER RECORDED ON AUGUST 27TH, 2021 IN THE MATTER OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, BUT LAW SU MAYES HAYES MASSEY

[02:10:01]

HAYES 1 7 95.

INGLESIDE REASON FOR REVISION OF POP PROPERTY HAS BEEN CLEARED BY THE CHAIR.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 73 MOTION TO APPROVE BY THE CHAIR SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOK ITEM 73 HAS BEEN APPROVED ITEM

[74. 22-01139]

74.

WE'RE SENDING IN THE RECORDING, THE CLERK OF COURT TO COUNCIL'S DECISION TO ORDER RECORD ON JULY 29TH, 2022.

IN THE MATTER OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSUS ELVIS STERLING AND NORM G STERLING 5 3, 5 8 CADILLAC STREET.

REASON FOR RECI, THE PROPERTY WILL BE RENOVATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HEARST.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 74? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MOTION TO APPROVE BY THE CHAIR.

IS THERE SECOND, SECOND BY COLEMAN ITEM, 74 HAS BEEN APPROVED.

[75. 22-01138]

NOW GO TO ITEM 75 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OF PRESIDENT AND AMEND THE SUBRECIPIENT CONTRACT, WITHY RESEARCH AND ANALYTICS FOR AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF 72,000 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF 211,740,000 EXTENDING ORIGINAL THREE YEAR CONTRACT PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2019 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2022 FOR AN ADDITIONAL 12 MONTHS TO SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023 BY THE POLICE CHIEF.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 75? WE NOW GOE TO COUNSELORS.

THERE ARE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

SO MOVE BY THE CHAIRS.

THERE'RE SECOND.

SOME BY

[76. 22-01142]

COLEMAN WILL NOW GO TO ITEM 76.

WE NEED A MOTION TO DEFER I THIS ITEM TO, UH, NEXT WEEK AUTHORIZING AM MAYOR PRESENT TO AMEND A SUB RECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH IZED RESEARCH, NINE LINKS TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF 32,000 FOR TOTAL AMOUNT OF 62,000 BY POLICE CHIEF NEEDED THE FUR ITEM TWO.

UH, THE 21ST IS THAT ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 76, WE NEED A MOTION TO DEFER FROM THE COUNCIL.

SO MOVED BY ODE SECONDED BY ADAM BY, BY WHO? BY COUNCILMAN MCC COLEMAN ITEM 76 HAS BEEN DEFERRED TO THE 21ST ITEM,

[77. 22-01140]

77 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH CLAY YOUNG ENTERPRISE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF $87,660 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $287,663 FOR EXTENDING THE ORIGINAL THREE YEAR CONTRACT PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2019 TO SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2022 FOR ADDITIONAL 12 MONTHS TO SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2023 BY THE POLICE CHIEF.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 77? WE'RE NOW GO THE COUNCIL MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

[78. 22-01141]

WE NOW GO TO ITEM 78.

WE NEED TO DEFER THIS ITEM THE NEXT WEEK, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE BATTERIES POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACTOR OF SERVICES WITH BATTERIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE FOUNDATION TO DEVELOPMENT INTELLIGENCE SERVICE FOR THE REGIONAL OF CAMERA SHARING PROGRAM UNDER THE FY 2019 GULF STATE REGIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANT INITIATIVE GRANT NOT TAKE EXCEED $88,000 BY THE POLICE CHIEF.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 78? WE NOW GO THE COUNCIL.

WE NEED A MOTION TO DEFER TO NEXT WEEK.

SO MOVE BY ADAM SECONDED BY THE CHAIR ITEM 78 HAS BEEN DEFERRED.

WE'RE

[79. 22-01143 & 82. 22-01149]

NOW GONNA TAKE ITEM 79 AND 82 TOGETHER AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTED SUPPLEMENT AGREEMENT.

NUMBER TWO TO A CONTRACT WITH STANLEY CONSULTANTS INCORPORATED TO ADD FINAL PLAN SERVICES TO EXISTING MOVE ENHANCEMENT PROJECT TERRACE AVENUE, ALLEN ROAD TO PERKINS ROAD AND THE MOUNTAIN NOT TO EXCEED THREE HUNDRED FIFTY FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED EIGHT THOUSAND SEVENTY NINE CENTS BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR ITEM

[80. 22-01144]

80 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENT OF READING NUMBER THREE TO A CONTRACT WITH PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS CORPORATION TO ADD FINAL PLAN SERVICES TO AN EXISTING MOVIE OR ENHANCEMENT PROJECT GRO ROAD LA 19 TO PLANK ROAD BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR

[81. 22-01145]

ITEM 81, AUTHORIZING AM MAYOR PRESIDENT EXECUTED SUPPLEMENT AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH GWS ENGINEERING FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVIE R SHIELD.

AS FAR AS BOULEVARD, SIDEWALK PROJECTING THE MOUNTAIN, NOT TO EXCEED $8,427 13 CENTS BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR

[82. 22-01149]

AND ITEM 82, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OF PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENT AGREEMENT FOR CONTRACT FOR FRESHMAN ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH TRC ENGINEERS INCORPORATED FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVE BUREAU CAPACITY PROJECT OVER HAVING HIGHWAY SEGMENT TWO MILLVILLE ROAD TO BOULEVARD, MILLVILLE BOULEVARD TO LANE IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 15,000 206, 9 AND 18 CENTS BY TRANSPORTATION DRAINS DIRECT ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 79, 3 82.

IS THERE A MOTION MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANK SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN ITEM 79 THROUGH 82 HAVE BEEN APPROVED

[83. 22-01152]

ITEM 83 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR.

PRESIDENT EXECUTE A LIGHTING AGREEMENT WITH LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT AND CONNECTION WITH THE STATE PROJECT.

I 10 THROUGH OUR 12 COLLEGE DRIVE, FLY OVER RAMP BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTORS.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 83.

WE NOW I GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVE BY COMAN SECONDED BY ADAMS ITEM

[84. 22-01151]

83 HAS BEEN APPROVED ITEM 84 A MINUTE TO 2022 OPERATING IN CAPITAL BUDGET.

SO HAS TO APPROPRIATE 3 MILLION FOR CLEARING AND SNAGGING OF THE CO RIVER WITH 20 WITH 2.5 MILLION FUNDED FROM GENERAL FUND BALANCE ON ASSIGNED 500,000 FUNDED FROM THE CITY OF CENTRAL AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO INTEND TO A COOPERATIVE DEV AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF CENTRAL IN AMEND EXISTING CONTACT WITH DRC EMERGENCY SERVICES, LLC,

[02:15:01]

FOR THE ADDITIONAL WORK TO BE PERFORMED BY MAYOR PRESIDENT.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 84 COUNCIL MEMBERS? YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE COMMENT IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 84.

NOW I GO TO COUNCIL THEIR MOTION TO APPROVE.

SO MOVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MO SECOND OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBER.

NO ITEM 84 COUNCIL MEMBER MO.

GO AHEAD.

GO TO ITEM 85, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT EXECUTED COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT FOR THE LIVINGSTON PARISH TO PROVIDE CLEANING AND SNACKING UPDATE ME RIVER AND THE BAYOU MAN CHECK TO THE LINA PARISH LINE AND THE TIC EXCEED 3 MILLION BY TRANSPORTATION DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.

UH, THANK YOU.

UH, FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS A BIG DEAL TO ME.

I THINK THIS IS ONE THING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WITH ALL THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE AND I KNOW THE NEXT ORDINANCE COMING UP HAS TO DO WITH IT ALSO.

UM, BUT WE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FOR YEARS, UH, ALL THIS DRAINAGE FUNDS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE'VE GOTTEN A R P MONIES AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

UM, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS.

COME MEET RIVER DIVERSION CANAL, THE TRIBUTARIES PROJECT.

THIS TO ME WAS ONE OF THE FINAL PIECES, UM, IN OUR MASSIVE DRAINAGE THAT WE REALLY NEEDED TO WORK ON.

AND THE REASON I AM SPEAKING RIGHT NOW IS CUZ I WANTED TO THANK THIS GENTLEMAN SITTING IN THE FRONT ROW, MR. FRED RAYFORD HAS WORKED WITH ME DILIGENTLY IN, IN WORKING WITH FUNDS AND, UH, HE, HE ACTUALLY CAME UP WITH SOME OF THE INITIAL FUNDING ROUND AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

AND I, I WOULD JUST WANNA TELL HIM, THANK YOU SO MUCH, BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UM, MAYOR B'S OFFICE.

UM, ONCE WE WENT BEFORE THE STATE LEGISLATURE, WE WENT THROUGH SEVERAL OTHER BODIES LOOKING FOR MONEY, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CENTRAL AND, AND WHAT THEIR COMMITMENT WAS.

UM, I WANNA THANK MAYOR BROOM'S OFFICE FOR HER COMMITMENT TO THIS PROJECT.

ONE THING THAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

WHAT YOU'LL SEE IN THIS ORDINANCE RIGHT HERE IS THIS IS ACTUALLY YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK.

THIS IS COMING FROM THE GENERAL FUND FROM THE CITY OF CENTRAL'S GENERAL FUND TO, TO GET THIS RIVER DONE.

WE KNOW THAT AME AND THE LIVINGSTON, THE AME RIVERSIDE IS COMING FROM FEMA.

A LOT OF OTHER PROJECTS ARE COMING FROM CORE AND WATERSHED MONEY.

SO I JUST APPRECIATE EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS.

I APPRECIATE EVERYONE THAT HAS HELPED OUT IN GETTING THIS PASS THROUGH AND THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR VOTE AND SUPPORT ON THIS.

ALL 84 HAS BEEN APPROVED.

WE NOW

[85. 22-01154]

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 84? WE NOW GO TO EMAIL COMMENTS, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED TWO COMMENTS ON ITEM 85, 1 IN SUPPORT, ONE IN OPPOSITION ALL.

IS THERE A MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON? UH, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE JUST A QUICK SECOND TO SIMILAR TO COUNCILMAN MOS ON THE LAST ITEM TO, TO THANK FRED AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, UH, YOU KNOW, CLEARANCE NAGGING OF, UH, THE, A MEET HAS BEEN A HUGE ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT NINE.

UM, IT, IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE THE PARTNERSHIP THAT IS HAPPENING WITH DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN OUR OWN PARISH, UH, ON, ON THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS, BUT THEN ALSO ACROSS PARISH LINES.

UM, AND, AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE EVIDENT TO ALL OF US THAT EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH IS, IS REALLY STEPPING UP INTO A LEADERSHIP ROLE, UH, IN DOING THAT.

SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AND, AND THANK YOU FOR GETTING THIS PROJECT MOVING MOTION TO APPROVE MOST, TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER, HUDSON SECONDARY BY COUNCIL MEMBER NOLE ITEM 85 HAS BEEN APPROVED.

[86. 22-01153]

WE NOW GO TO ITEM 86 TO CREATE A STORMWATER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT THROUGH THE USE OF GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR THE OPERATION OF THE CITY IN PARISH'S MUNICIPAL, SEPARATE STORMWATER SEWER SYSTEM.

SO AS TO MEET STATE AND FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS AND PROVIDE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND ACQUISITION OF ADDITIONS IMPROVEMENTS AND EXTENSIONS TO THE SYSTEM, AS WELL AS MAINTENANCE, FINANCING AND OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR AND THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 86, COME ON DOWN WISCONSIN TEAM MARIE CONSTANTINE STORM WATER COALITION OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE MOTHER THAT CAME HERE WITH SO MUCH PAIN I'LL, UM, LIMIT MY REMARKS.

UM, BUT WHEN OUR GRANDFATHERS WERE FACED WITH DEATH AND DISEASE FROM RAW UNTREATED SEWAGE, THEY GAVE SEWAGE PERMANENT FUNDING.

INTERESTINGLY, TODAY OUR CRISIS IS FLOODING IN LITTER.

IT NEEDS PERMANENT FUNDING TOO.

WE HAVE THE HONOR OF FIXING THIS AND OUR COALITION IS HONORED TO BE PART OF THIS.

WE CREATED THE CITY'S FIRST LIT FREE PADDLE TRAIL, SECURED $900,000 IN MONEY TO SUPPORT THE CLEANUP OF, UM, SOME AREAS OF NORTH BATON ROUGE, LUTE BURDEN, CAPITAL LAKES, PAST LEGISLATION, MAKING LOUISIANA THE 42ND STATE DECLARING STORMWATER TO BE UTILITY COMPLETED PHASE ONE OF THE BURDEN 81 TON CLEANUP.

AND ON

[02:20:01]

NOVEMBER 10TH, OUR ALL VOLUNTEER GROUP WAS PUTTING ON A STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SUMMIT, BRINGING IN, UM, FROM OUTTA STATE.

THE SITUATION WITH THE ENVIRONMENT IS SO DIRE THAT OUR STORM WATER UTILITY LEGISLATION FLEW THROUGH UNOPPOSED.

AND WE ARE NOW SEEING RELIGIOUS LEADERS TALK ABOUT THE EARTH AND ABOUT CARING FOR OUR COMMON HOME.

THESE LEADERS ARE DRAWING ON THE BEST SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND MORAL TEACHING AVAILABLE TO THEM TO GET US TO ACT.

I APPLAUD THEM.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US TO GET THIS JOB DONE.

AND THE WORK THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS HAS DONE, UM, WE APPLAUD THE WORK THAT THEY REACHED OUT TO THE BEST, WHICH IS BLACK AND VE OF COURSE, WE ALL WANT ACCOUNTABILITY IN THIS PIECE AND I'M SURE THAT THEY WILL DELIVER THAT TO US AND I, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THEM AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANYONE ELSE HERE, WISHING JUST BE ON ITEM 86, GOOD EVENING.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, ED LAKI, PRESIDENT FEDERATION OF GREATER BATON ROUGE, CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS.

UM, THE CONCEPT IS, OKAY, THIS IS A GOOD CONCEPT.

I, I THINK THE IMPLEMENTATION HAS SOMEWHAT PROBLEMATIC.

I'LL BE HONEST IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, I'VE BEEN PIVOTING BACK AND FORTH ON WHERE WE STAND ON THIS PROPOSAL, MOSTLY BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY UNKNOWNS, IT'S AN UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION FOR US TO BE IN BECAUSE WE HAVE SUPPORTED THE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FROM DAY ONE.

WHEN YOU STEP BACK AND LOOK AT THE APPROACH THAT WE ARE TAKING, IT LEAVES US WITH SOMEWHAT OF A CONCERN BECAUSE OF ITS FRAGMENTED NATURE.

YOU KNOW, THIS MONTH WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GRANTING THE AUTHORITY TO PRO TO DEVELOP THIS, UH, DISTRICT, BUT THEN NEXT MONTH, WE'RE GONNA UNDERSTAND WHAT THE IMPACT IS IS GOING TO BE.

I HAVE REACHED OUT TO MANY FOLKS, NOT ONLY IN OUR CONSTITUENTS, BUT MEMBERS IN THE CITY PARISH AND ASKED THEM TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE DETAILS OF THIS RESOLUTION.

I NEED TO EDUCATE MYSELF SO THAT WE CAN CREATE OR FORMULATE AND DEFEND A POSITION.

I THINK THE ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN PAST ENGAGING COMMUNITY BEFORE TAKING ON ANY TAXES OR FEE PROPOSALS.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE BIG PICTURE YET, AND I'M PRETTY SURE MOST CITIZENS DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT EITHER THERE ME, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME TYPE OF A PUBLIC FORUM OR OUTREACH TO LET THE CITIZENS KNOW WHAT THEY ARE ON THE HOOK FOR IN THE FUTURE.

I, I THINK THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS ABOUT, THERE ARE A LOT OF DETAILS OUT THERE THAT WE'RE NOT REALLY SURE ABOUT OR COMFORTABLE.

YOU KNOW, WHAT'S IN, WHAT'S OUT THE COST WHO PAYS SENSE OF URGENCY, ET CETERA.

AND AGAIN, THERE NEEDS TO BE THIS TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS PARISH ON THE IMPACTS OF FORMING THIS AUTHORITY BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO VOTE IN THIS MATTER.

UM, THIS IS NOT A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER WE SHOULD DO THIS OR NOT.

I FIRMLY BELIEVE WE NEED TO TAKE CONTROL OF OUR DESTINY AND ESTABLISH THE PROGRAMS, THE REPORTING, AND THE FEE STRUCTURE BEFORE SOMEBODY ELSE COMES IN AND TELLS US HOW WE HAVE TO DO IT.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE BIG CONCERN AND WHY WE SUPPORT THIS.

SO IN SUMMARY, WE SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION IN CONCEPT, AS WE DID BACK IN THE, IN, IN 2021 AFTER THE FLOODING EVENT, I REMEMBER ASKING KELVIN AND ASKING FRED ABOUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO MANAGE THIS IN THE FUTURE? AND I THINK THIS IS THE WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.

SO WE SUPPORT IT.

BUT I THINK BEFORE WE GO TO STEP NUMBER TWO, WHICH TALKS ABOUT THE SPECIFICS OF THE FEE, WE REALLY NEED TO REACH OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND ENGAGE THE PUBLIC AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING, WHAT'S GOING ON AND HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THEM.

ANYONE ELSE HERE, WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 86, WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS IS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS Y'ALL SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED 75 COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 86.

WHEN I, WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 86.

OH, I'M SORRY.

COUNCILMAN ADAMS. CALVIN, WOULD YOU MIND COMING UP? SO WOULD YOU MIND JUST GIVING AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT A STORM WATER UTILITY IS? THIS IS, UM, ALTHOUGH CLEARLY NOT A NEW CONCEPT ACROSS

[02:25:01]

THE COUNTRY.

THIS IS A NEW CONCEPT FOR LOUISIANA AND, UM, I, I'M CERTAINLY GETTING QUESTIONS FROM CONSTITUENTS ABOUT, ABOUT WHAT THIS IS AND, AND WHAT IT WILL DO.

UH, YES, MA'AM.

UH, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT AS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO WITH OUR SEWER SYSTEM, WE HAVE IN BRASCO, WHICH IS, UH, UH, ORGANIZATION THAT ALLOWS US TO MANAGE, UH, OUR SEWER, UH, WHAT THE STORM WATER UTILITY WILL DO FOR US WILL GIVE US THE, UH, WAY TO ORGANIZE AND MANAGE STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE ACROSS CITY PARISH, WHICH INCLUDES THINGS LIKE OUR DRAIN.

BOXEES OUR PIPES, OUR LATERALS, OUR CANALS, UM, OUR DITCHES AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

IT ALSO WOULD GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, UH, RAISE FUNDS FOR THAT, IF YOU WILL, UH, EITHER THROUGH FEES OR THROUGH, UH, BONDING OR WHATEVER FUNDING MECHANISM THAT COUNCIL APPROVES, AND IT DEDICATES THOSE FUNDS TO ALLOW US TO STAY, UH, IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR, UH, STORM WATER, UH, MS. FOUR PERMIT THAT WE GET FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO, UH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, MOST CITIES, UH, USE ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO, UH, ONE SHOW SENSE OF URGENCY AND THEIR COMMITMENT FOR THE STORM WATER SYSTEM IN THEIR AREA, TOO.

THEY USE IT TO SHOW THAT, UM, THEY ARE ORGANIZED AND THEY HAVE DEDICATED RESOURCES AND FUNDS.

THEY USE IT TO DRIVE THE ENFORCEMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND THEY USE IT TO HELP THEM STAY IN COMPLIANCE WITH, UH, FEDERAL REGULATION.

MA'AM COUNCIL NUMBER HEARS.

UH, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, KELVIN.

I'M GLAD YOU'RE THERE.

CUZ I WAS GONNA ASK YOU TO COME UP AS WELL.

UM, NUMBER ONE, THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT JOB YOU DO IN DPW.

AND I WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW PUBLICLY THAT THIS IS NOT KELVIN'S FAULT.

RECENTLY MEMBERS AND FRED MAY HAVE TO HELP CLEAR UP THE RECORD HERE RECENTLY MEMBERS OF DISTRICT 12 ALONG BAYOU DELOCHE RECEIVE LETTERS FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SAYING THEIR PROPERTY WAS GONNA BE TAKEN VIA IMMINENT DOMAIN FOR FLOOD WATER MITIGATION.

THIS STUFF IS YEARS.

UM, PAST THAT LACK OF MAINTENANCE HAS CAUSED CHALLENGES WITHIN OUR STORM WATER PLAN.

AND I HEAR SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET.

WE HAVE A, A EMAIL CHAIN FROM A GROUP THAT WE GET WEEKLY SOMETIMES DAILY, 50 TIMES A DAY, ABOUT THE LACK OF, UH, OF ADDRESSING STORM WATER AND UH, AND, AND THE POTENTIAL TO FLOOD BECAUSE OF LACK OF LEADERSHIP.

SO THIS I THINK IS WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN WAITING FOR.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU, UH, STEPPING UP AND, AND, AND BEING ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT.

AND BECAUSE WE GET ALL THESE 2000 EMAILS A DAY ABOUT STORM WATER, THE ONE THING THAT I'VE ASKED IN THE MEETING AND I WANNA MAKE THIS PUBLIC COMMENT IS I ASKED, UM, MR. HILLER SAID, WELL, IF WE HAVE TO SUBMIT A PLAN TO THE PUBLIC, WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF A TIMEFRAME? AND BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IN GOVERNMENT? A LOT OF TIMES WE PUT SOMETHING OUT THERE AND WHO'S TELLING THEM, I THINK FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT, NOT A GOVERNMENT STANDPOINT.

AND IF I HAVE A PROJECT THAT PROJECT HAS AN END DATE AND THAT END DATE TO BUILD THE HOUSE MIGHT BE SIX MONTHS, MIGHT BE A YEAR, BUT I KNOW THAT, UH, IN THIS CASE, UH, I'VE BEEN TOLD THE TIMEFRAME, WHICH I DON'T WANNA THROW THAT OUT THERE.

CAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S FULLY BAKED YET, BUT LET'S JUST SAY IT'S 20 YEARS AND THAT'S NOT THE TIMEFRAME IT'S GIVING YOU A, A DEAL.

BUT THAT MEANS IF IT'S 20 YEARS AND 20, A HUNDRED DIVIDED BY 20 IS FIVE, RIGHT? SO THAT MEANS EVERY YEAR I SHOULD BE ABLE TO MEASURE 5% COMPLETION OF THAT PLAN.

AND WHAT THAT DOES IS CREATE BENCHMARKS TO KNOW IF WE'RE ON TARGET OR OFF TARGET.

AND SO IF I DON'T CREATE THAT 5% IN THE FIRST YEAR AND I ONLY CREATE THREE, THAT MEANS IN YEAR TWO, I NEED TO ADJUST MY PLAN TO GET TO 8%.

AND SO WHAT I WOULD URGE AND ASK IF, CUZ I'M GOING TO BRING THIS UP A THOUSAND TIMES, IF IT'S NOT IN THERE IS THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE PRESENT A PLAN TO THE PUBLIC, THAT IT HAS A, UH, NUMBER OF YEARS TO COMPLETION TO GET US WHERE WE NEED TO BE UNDERSTANDING THINGS MAY COME UP IN THE MEANTIME, ANOTHER PIPE MAY BURST SOMEWHERE.

THAT'S CURRENTLY NOT BROKEN, BUT INPUT A PLAN IN PLACE, UH, OBVIOUSLY WITH SOME MARGIN FOR ERROR TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PUBLIC, THE TAX DOLLARS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.

AND THEN ALSO A WAY TO MEASURE THE DELIVERABLES, UM, FOR THIS PLAN FOR EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS BASED ON THE USE OF OUR TAX DOLLARS.

THAT'S MY COMMENT.

THANKS.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKER.

HI, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, I'M I RECEIVED EMAILS, TEXTS, ALL SORTS OF STUFF FROM FOLKS ALL OVER DISTRICT 12.

AND I'M REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE SOME OF THE MISINFORMATION HAS BEEN DISSEMINATED FROM.

UM, AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF LEADS, BUT TONIGHT I WANT TO KIND OF CLEAR UP THE RECORD.

CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME, UM,

[02:30:02]

AND THAT THAT PROPERTY WOULD BE USED FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES WITH BIKE PATHS LATER DEDICATED TO BRECK.

AND THOSE FOLKS ARE LUMPING THIS PARTICULAR PIECE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT WITH THAT LETTER AND THAT GOVERNMENTAL TAKING OF THEIR PROPERTY.

AND SO I HAVE MORE THAN SEVEN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGED IN ASKING ME TO NOT VOTE FOR THIS, TO KEEP THIS FROM MOVING FORWARD.

SO CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN FOR ME THOSE DIFFERENCES, WHAT THIS IS AS OPPOSED TO WHAT THEY'RE REFERENCING AND, AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE? UM, I, I CAN GIVE YOU A HIGH LEVEL, UH, ANSWER AND, AND, AND FRED CAN FILL INTO DETAILS IF YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS, BUT THE TWO ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT CONNECTED.

UM, THE, THE WORK WE'RE DOING ALONG BAYOU DELANIA IS BASED ON SOME OF THE, UH, LOUISIANA, UM, INITIATIVES TO, UH, HELP US WITH, UH, FLOOD MITIGATION.

UH, AND THAT LAND THAT WE'RE PURCHASING IS GOING TO BE USED TO HELP, UH, FOR RETENTION AND DETENTION OF WATER, UH, DOING STORM EVENTS, UH, THE FUNDING FOR THAT WAS APPROVED AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE STORM WATER UTILITY.

THE STORM WATER UTILITY BASICALLY FOCUSES ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF CITY PARISH, ALBUM DRAIN BOXES ARE PIPES.

UH, THOSE PHYSICAL ASSETS THAT, THAT WE HAVE THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE GROUND FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, THAT WE HAVE TO KIND OF MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THROUGH TIME.

SO THAT THAT'S THE BASIC DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO, BUT THEY, THEY ARE NOT CONNECTED IN ANY WAY THAT, THAT THAT'S CORRECT.

AND MS. JEN, I WILL TELL YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE RECEIVED THE SAME PHONE CALLS AND, AND FROM THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND AT, I STORM WANT A MASTER PLAN, MEANING WE HAD A, A WEEK OR SO AGO, THEY HAD A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THERE.

AND I EXPLAINED TO THEM WHAT THE PROCESS FROM WHAT WE WERE GONNA GO THROUGH.

IT WAS NEVER INTENDED.

AND OUR APPLICATION, WHICH I, I PROVIDED ALSO NEVER INTENDED TO PUT ANYTHING IN THERE EXCEPT FOR DRAINAGE AT THIS POINT.

THAT'S WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR, BECAUSE THAT WAS WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THE WATERSHED INITIATIVE PROGRAM WAS TO ADDRESS.

AND MR. HILL IS CORRECT.

WE ARE LOOKING AT RETENTION AND STORAGE AREAS.

THAT'S AN IDEAL SPOT TO DO WHERE WE NEED IT TO BE.

CERTAINLY WE WANT TO BE SURE.

WE, WE MINIMIZE THAT THE GROWTH OPPORTUNITY IN THAT AREA WHILE MOST PEOPLE SAY, OH, WE'LL NEVER BILL THERE.

I WOULD NEVER SAY NEVER TO ANYTHING BECAUSE A LOT OF THINGS DO HAPPEN.

BUT WITH THAT SAID, I, I DID MEET WITH, UH, THE, ACTUALLY THE OFFICE OR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENT STATE WHO IS MANAGING THE WATERSHED INITIATIVE PROGRAM.

I HAVE A MEETING SET UP NEXT WEEK WITH THEM TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT MANY OF THE RESIDENTS HAD BROUGHT UP TO ME TO TRY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS.

ONE WAS, AND THEY DID BRING UP ABOUT THE BIKE TRAIL, BUT OUR GRANT AND OUR APPLICATION WAS VERY CLEAR.

IT HAD TO DEAL WITH DRAINAGE.

NOW, WHAT ELSE THEY WANT TO USE? THAT WOULD BE A DECISION THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT AT A LATER DAY THAT, BUT OUR PURPOSE IS FOR DRAINAGE AND DRAINAGE ONLY.

AND I MENTIONED THAT TOO, TO THE ABOUT 15 TO 16 PEOPLE THAT I TALKED TO THAT NIGHT AT THAT MEETING.

MS FOUR OPERATING PERMIT.

AND SO I, I GUESS ANOTHER PIECE THAT THEY ADDRESSED AND HAD SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING WERE, UM, SIMPLY THAT THEY, THEY WEREN'T INFORMED THAT THIS WAS, THAT THIS WAS COMING AND NOW, NOW WE'RE CREATING AN ENTIRE DISTRICT, UM, UTILITY DISTRICT AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT THIS WAS COMING THROUGH.

IS THERE A REASON WHY, UM, WHY THEY DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION DISSEMINATED TO THE PUBLIC OR WHY THE TIMELINE OR TIMEFRAME IS SO SHORT BECAUSE THERE'S A GENERAL DISTRUST IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA RIGHT NOW THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GET CLEARED UP? UM, YES.

MA'AM.

UM, IF YOU RECALL, BACK IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, I CAME TO THE COUNCIL WITH A REPORT HIGHLIGHTING, UH, OF THOUGHTS AROUND WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE TO ADVANCE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT AND STORM WATER DRAINAGE FOR, FOR THE PAIRS IN THAT REPORT, WHICH WE GAVE, UH, HERE AT, AT COUNCIL MEETING, UH, IN THE PUBLIC HEARING, WE SHARED THE INFORMATION THAT WE WERE GOING TO IMPLEMENT A, A, A STUDY THAT WE FELT LIKE WE NEEDED TO MOVE TO A STORMWATER UTILITY.

AND WE WERE GONNA TRY TO QUANTIFY THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE REQUIRED TO CONDUCT THE PROPER MAINTENANCE THROUGH TIME.

SO WE WOULD BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR

[02:35:01]

SO THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE CONVERSATION.

AND, UH, WHAT I WOULD SHARE WITH YOU IS, UM, WE, WE PLAN TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PUBLIC.

WE PLAN TO HAVE OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATIONS AND DETAILS.

SO WE CAN EX EXPLAIN THOROUGHLY WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, HOW WE PLAN TO DO IT, AND KIND OF THE TIMELINES AND GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AROUND THE PROGRAM.

AND WE WOULD, WE WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT THAT INFORMATION WOULD START TO HAPPEN HERE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS OR SO.

AND THEN THINK FINALLY, UM, IF, IF THIS IS APPROVED TONIGHT, UM, AND THEN THE SUBSEQUENT VOTE FAILS LATER, WHAT, WHAT HAPPENS AND WHAT POSITION ARE WE IN IF THAT'S THE CASE, IF WE APPROVE THIS AND THE NEXT VOTE, THE SUBSEQUENT VOTE IN OCTOBER FAIL, UM, I WOULD TELL YOU WE'RE STILL IN A FAVORABLE POSITION BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE RECOGNIZED, UM, THE STORM WATER DISTRICT AS A UTILITY THAT PROVIDES, UM, SOME, UH, OPPORTUNITY, IF YOU WILL, FOR US TO IMPROVE HOW WE MANAGE STORM WATER ACROSS THE PARISH IS SIGNALS TO OUR REGULATORY AGENCIES THAT WE, UH, CARE AND ARE CONCERN AND HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY FOR HOW WE IMPROVE, HOW WE MANAGE AND GET OUR MAINTENANCE DONE.

AND IT WILL HELP US COME INTO COMPLIANCE TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE RELATIVE TO THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS THAT WE'RE OPERATING UNDER.

SO IT, IT WILL BENEFIT, UM, INDEPENDENT OF THE RESULTS OF ANY FUTURE ACTION.

AND WITH REGARD TO TIMELINE, UM, IF WE WERE TO DEFER THIS, UH, FOR A WEEK, IS THERE ANY IMPLICATION, NEGATIVE IMPACT OR IMPLICATIONS THAT WE WOULD HAVE IF WE DEFERRED IT FOR A WEEK? UM, E YES, I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE THERE ARE.

UM, WE BELIEVE THAT THIS NEEDS TO NEEDS TO BE IN PLACE.

WE ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT, UM, TO THE FEDERAL AGENCIES, UH, WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHERE WE ARE, AND THEY EXPECT US TO MAKE SOME PROGRESS TOWARDS IMPROVING HOW WE MANAGE OUR STORM WATER UTILITY.

AND THIS IS A PIVOTAL, UH, ACTION THAT NEEDS TO BE APPROVED IN ORDER TO DEMONSTRATE HOW SERIOUS CITY PARISH IS AROUND, UH, IMPROVING HOW WE CONDUCT OURSELVES, ORGANIZE OURSELVES AND DO THE MAINTENANCE FOR, FOR THE STORM WATER SYSTEM.

SO WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS, UM, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP THAT WE NEED TO TAKE.

SO AGAIN, I'M SORRY.

I SAID LAST QUESTION, BUT A FAILURE TO MOVE FORWARD TONIGHT, WHAT WOULD BE THE CONSEQUENCE OF THAT? UM, PERSONALLY, UH, I, I, I, I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION WITH ABSOLUTE CERT CERTAINTY, BUT MY BELIEF IS IT WILL LEAD US TOWARDS, UH, ENFORCEMENT ACTION.

SO I GUESS, WALK ME THROUGH THE STRUCTURE, WALK THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE STRUCTURE AND EXPLAIN WHY THIS THREE-PRONGED SYSTEM MAKES SENSE.

I APPRECIATE BOTH OF YOUR, YOUR, UH, THANK YOU.

ANSWERS AND CANDOR WITH US HERE TONIGHT.

COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

YEP.

MR. HILL I'VE I'VE YOU AND I HAVE TALKED IN, IN PRETTY GOOD DETAIL ABOUT SOME OF MY CONCERNS WITH, UH, THE WAY THAT UTILITY DISTRICT IS STRUCTURED.

UM, SO I, I WANTED TO JUST TALK ABOUT THOSE IN THE, IN A PUBLIC FORUM SO THAT YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO 'EM.

UM, ONE OF MY MAIN CONCERNS, UH, IS THAT THE STORMWATER UTILITY DISTRICT WILL, UH, HAVE A MAINTENANCE FUNCTION.

UH, BUT THAT CAN ALSO BE DUPLICATED BECAUSE OUR DEPARTMENT OF MAINTENANCE WILL STILL BE THERE.

UM, ADDITIONALLY, THIS, UH, STORMWATER UTILITY DISTRICT WILL HAVE A, A CAPITAL FUNCTION, BUT WE'RE GONNA RETAIN OUR DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE.

SO AGAIN, MY CONCERN THERE IS THAT NOW WE'RE GOING FROM A, A TWO-PRONG SYSTEM, UH, OF DRAIN OF MANAGING DRAINAGE, UH, TO A THREE-PRONG SYSTEM WHERE MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS ARE GONNA SHARE RESPONSIBILITY.

UM, PREVIOUS TO THIS COUNCIL, THERE WAS A STUDY THAT WAS DONE, THAT, THAT TALKED A LOT ABOUT SILOS IN CITY, PARISH, GOVERNMENT, AND, AND THE ISSUES THAT, THAT COME APART, UH, WHENEVER YOU HAVE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS MANAGING SIMILAR FUNCTIONS, AND THEY, THEY DON'T DO A GREAT JOB OF TALKING TO ONE ANOTHER.

UM, I'VE SEEN IT FIRST HAND IN THE WAY THAT WE'RE MANAGING THE, THE A R P MONEY IN DRAINAGE.

MAINTENANCE WILL SEND SOMETHING TO DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.

DESES WILL SAY, LOOK, THAT DOESN'T FIT OUR SCOPE.

WE'RE NOT GONNA PUT IT INTO THIS PROGRAM.

AND THEN IT JUST SITS THERE.

AND THEN WE ONLY FIND OUT ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE CONSTITUENT COMES BACK TO US AND SAYS, HEY, NOTHING'S HAPPENING ON THIS ISSUE THAT I'M HAVING WITH MY, WITH MY PROPERTY.

UM,

[02:40:01]

OH, OKAY.

HA ABSOLUTELY.

UH, HAPPY TO DO SO I'LL START BY SAYING THIS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF MAINTENANCE IS, UM, IS AUTHORIZING OUR PLAN GOVERNMENT AND THE PLAN GOVERNMENT SPECIFICALLY CALLS OUT THE TYPE OF WORK THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF MAINTENANCE WILL DO CLEANING DITCHES, CLEANING BOXES, CLEANING PIPES, ET CETERA.

UH, AND THAT WILL REMAIN THE CASE AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THIS NEW ORGANIZATION.

AS WE HAVE STOOD UP A, UH, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, STORM WATER DIVISION, THAT HELPS US ORGANIZE THE WORK WE HAVE TO DO, THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN OUR MS. FOUR OPERATING PERMIT.

IF YOU THINK BACK TO WHEN D P W WAS RESTRUCTURED IN 20 15, 20 16, IN THAT RESTRUCTURING, WE LOST, UM, UH, THE COORDINATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE ACTIVITIES THAT WE NEED TO HAVE IN PLACE IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH, UH, THE CLEAN WATER ACT AND THE THINGS THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR.

SO SETTING THAT STRUCTURE UP, IT WILL ALLOW US TO ADD INSPECTION CAPABILITY TO VERIFY THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO FOR COMPLIANCE.

IT ALSO ADDS MORE CAPACITY TO OUR SYSTEM IN ORDER TO ALLOW US TO GET TO THE SERVICE REQUEST THAT RESIDENTS CALL IN, ASKING US TO DO MUCH QUICKER.

IT ALSO GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE MORE INTO PREVENTATIVE AND PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE.

SO WE TAKE CARE OF OUR SYSTEM BEFORE IT FAILS AND BEFORE A CAVE THEN OCCURS OR BEFORE, UM, YOU KNOW, A DRAIN BOX PLUGS AND WE EXPERIENCE FLOODING.

IT GIVES US THAT OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE RESOURCES WITH ENOUGH CAPACITY TO WORK OUR WAY THROUGH THAT, WITH GOOD PLANNING AND SCHEDULING OF OUR WORK.

NOW, I WILL SHARE WITH YOU THAT WE HAVE A SITUATION NOW WHERE ACROSS MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS, WE'RE, WE'RE DOING WORK LIKE STREET SWEEPING, AS AN EXAMPLE, THAT'S FUNDED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, BUT IT'S MANAGED AND RUN IN THE DEPARTMENT OF MAINTENANCE.

AND WE ARE VERY EXPERIENCED IN HOW TO DO THAT CROSS FUNCTIONALLY.

AND THAT WORKS VERY WELL, UH, AS A BEST PRACTICE ACROSS BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY.

SO I THINK IF WE APPLY THAT SAME PRINCIPLE TO WHAT WE DO HERE, NOT ONLY WILL WE IMPROVE, BUT IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE CLARITY IN TERMS OF ROLES AND EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT WE NEED OUR RESOURCES TO BE DOING.

WELL, I WILL CHALLENGE YOU NOT TO USE STREET SWEEPING AS THE EXAMPLE OF, OF IT WORKING CORRECTLY, BUT, UH, OKAY.

IT'S POINT TAKEN.

UM, UH, YOU KNOW, SO YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT, THE IMPORTANCE OF, OF DOING THIS THIS EVENING.

UH, I'M WORRIED THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF, OF DOING IT SO QUICKLY, IF IT IS THIS IMPORTANT, WHY HAVE WE NOT GONE OUT AND PITCHED THIS IDEA TO THE COMMUNITY? WHY ARE WE RECEIVING CALLS THAT, YOU KNOW, DURING OUR STORMWATER MASTER PLAN MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD DOZENS, THIS HAS NOT BEEN TALKED ABOUT.

AND EVEN JUST THIS WEEK, AS THE MAYOR PRESENTED TO THE PRESS CLUB, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS NOT TALKED ABOUT MY CONSTITUENTS, THE FEEDBACK THAT I'M GETTING IS THAT WE'RE SPRINGING THIS ON THEM, WE'RE RUSHING IT.

UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE WORRIED THAT THEY'RE GONNA END UP WITH, UH, A BIG BILL ON THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILL AND, AND, YOU KNOW, SO, SO THAT'S THEIR CONCERN.

SO, UM, LET ME, UM, KIND OF REITERATE, AGAIN, WE, WE STARTED LAST OCTOBER SHARING WITH THE COUNCIL, OUR POINT OF VIEW OF WHAT WE THOUGHT NEEDED TO BE DONE.

WE SPENT TIME EARLIER THIS YEAR IN THE SPRING, WORKING WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION ON THE LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED, THAT, UH, ALLOWS THIS UTILITY TO BE ESTABLISHED ACROSS THE STATE.

UH, AND WE BELIEVE THAT, UM, PART OF OUR PLAN GOING FORWARD IS TO HOLD COMMUNICATION SESSIONS AROUND KIND OF THE PHASE TWO OF WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IS YET TO COME.

SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT.

I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN, UH, UNDER AN AUDIT PROCESS THROUGH OUR REGULATORY AGENCIES FOR SOME TIME NOW.

AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING OUR WAY THROUGH, UH, THOSE AUDIT FINDINGS, UH, IN A WAY THAT LEADS US TO THIS POINT IN TIME WHERE WE'RE AT TONIGHT.

SO A PART OF, UH, COMING INTO A COMPLIANCE WHERE WE NEED TO BE IS TO ASK COUNCIL FOR SUPPORT TO PASS THIS LEGISLATION.

AND, UH, OTHER ELEMENTS OF THAT PROCESS,

[02:45:01]

WE HAVE BEEN JUST TO BE HONEST ABOUT IT UNDER A GAG ORDER.

AND, AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REALLY DISCUSS IT IN A PUBLIC WAY, AT LEAST NOT THE WAY WE WOULD WANT TO DO IT, OR WE, WE WOULD ANTICIPATE BEING ABLE TO DO IT.

SO DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT GAG ORDER BEING LIFTED BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN YOU BRING THE FEE ITEM TO US, OR ARE YOU SAYING THAT WE CAN'T GO OUT AND DISCUSS THE PROGRAM AND THE FEE BECAUSE OF THE GAG ORDER? I, I, I, I THINK WE CAN DISCUSS WHAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS WITH THE, WITH THE PUBLIC.

UH, WE JUST HAVE TO, UM, BE SURE THAT WE HONOR, UM, THE REQUIREMENTS WE HAVE AND HOW WE DO THAT.

AND WE THINK THERE'S A WAY TO DO THAT.

FROM ONE PROJECT FUND OR ACCOUNT TO ANOTHER THERE'S TO CHANGE AND IMPROVE IS GONNA BE A COST SOMEWHERE.

UM, AS WE BRING THIS FORWARD AND, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE I ASK THIS THE CORRECT WAY.

SO, UM, AT SOME POINT, SINCE THERE WILL BE CAPITAL FUNCTIONS OF THIS UTILITY DISTRICT, WILL YOU, WILL YOU ALL BE ABLE TO COME TO US WITH A LIST OF CAPITAL PROJECTS? UM, AND PARTICULARLY WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IN THAT LIST IS, UM, I KNOW A BIG COMPONENT OF THE STORM WATER UTILITY DISTRICT IS WATER QUALITY.

UH, BUT I CAN TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, WE HAD THOUSANDS OF HOMES IN DISTRICT NINE THAT WERE FLOODED.

THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT WATER QUALITY, BUT THEY'RE MUCH MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WATER, QUANTITY AND CAPACITY OF THE SYSTEM.

UM, AS I TALK TO FOLKS LIKE THE AMY RIVER BASIN COMMISSION, THEY TELL US OUR FOCUS HAS TO BE ON PROVIDING ADDITIONAL RETENTION UPSTREAM IN THE SYSTEM.

SO ARE THOSE THE TYPE OF CAPITAL PROJECTS WE CAN LOOK FOR? UM, AND WILL THEY BE LISTED SOMEWHERE FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE? SO FOR CLARITY, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MAINTENANCE WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO ON OUR STORM WATER SYSTEM AND, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE ACROSS CITY PARISH TO MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF FLOODING.

UH, OUR STORM WATER MASTER PLAN WAS DESIGNED TO HELP US UNDERSTAND, UM, WHAT OUR WATERSHED LOOKS LIKE MODEL THAT WATERSHED.

SO WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WOULD HELP IMPROVE THE CAPACITY AND THE FLOW OF WATER THROUGH THOSE WATERSHEDS THAT WAS DONE WITH THE STORM WATER MASTER PLAN.

AND THAT IS SEPARATE.

AND APART FROM THE STORM WATER UTILITY, THE STORM WATER UTILITY IS DESIGNED TO HELP US FIX BROKEN PIPES, FIXED CAVE INS FIX, UH, FILLED IN DITCHES AND OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN A WAY THAT STORM WATER RUNOFF MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF, OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT.

SO ARE YOU SAYING THAT THERE WILL NOT BE A CAPITAL FUNCTION OF THE, THE INDUSTRY, THE INITIAL CAPITAL FUNCTION WILL BE TO DRIVE IMPROVEMENTS IN THOSE MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES? SO IT COULD, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING PIPES COULD BE INCREASING THE SIZE OF SOME OF THE PIPES FOR ADDITIONAL CAPACITY, BUT, UH, TO BE CLEAR, THE STORM WATER UTILITY IS NOT INTENDED TO BE NOR ARE WE ASKING IT TO BE THE FUNDING MECHANISM FOR THE STORM WATER MASTER PLAN 20 YEAR PROJECT LIST THAT IS SEPARATE AND DIFFERENT AND NOT A PART OF WHAT WE'RE ASKING THE STORM WATER UTILITY TO DO.

GOTCHA.

I, MY TIME IS BASICALLY UP.

UM, I WILL JUST TELL YOU, I, I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE INFORMATION.

UH, THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE.

I, I, I'M NOT QUITE QUITE THERE YET, RIGHT.

I, I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT.

I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION FOR THE PUBLIC TO ENGAGE WITH US ON.

SO I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER TO OCTOBER 26TH MOTION TO DEFER TO OCTOBER 26TH, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MORAK.

WE GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER DONE.

I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO APPROVE AS WRITTEN, BUT I HAVE SOME COMMENTS, UM, WHETHER IS INFRASTRUCTURE, STORM, WATER DRAINAGE.

MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT WE ARE FACED WITH TODAY IN CITY PARISH GOVERNMENT IS BECAUSE PEOPLE IN OUR OPPOSITIONS BEFORE KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, DID NOT ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

AND YET WE'RE FACED WITH 'EM TODAY WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED 20, 30, 40, 50 YEARS AGO.

SO I DON'T CONTEST ANY OF THE COMMENTS AND THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TODAY.

THEY ARE VALID.

I, I, I GET IT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT I JUST LIKE TO OFFER UP TO US ON THIS BODY, UH, INDIVIDUALS THAT WORK IN CITY PARISH, GOVERNMENT, AND TO THE PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, TO CHANGE AND IMPROVE THINGS, THERE'S GONNA BE A COST TO IT.

THERE'S GONNA BE A SACRIFICE THAT MAY BE IMMINENT DOMAIN WITH LAND.

THAT MAY BE A FEE THAT MAY BE TAX IT.

IT IS GONNA BE SOMETHING, IT MAY BE A, A, A REAPPROPRIATION

[02:50:01]

AND COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN TALKED ABOUT IT WITH CRIME EARLIER.

YOU KNOW, WE COMPLAIN ABOUT THESE THINGS, DRAINAGE, STONE, WATER, BLOOD, AND CRIME, BUT THEN WHEN SOLUTIONS ARE BROUGHT UP TO ADDRESS THEM, NOW, WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN.

SO MY QUESTION TO EVERYBODY IS EITHER YOU WON'T IMPROVE 'EM ANY CHANGE OR YOU DON'T.

AND IT'S OUR TIME NOW TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

SO PEOPLE 20, 30, 40, 50 YEARS FROM NOW ARE NOT SAYING, WELL, THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE.

IT'S IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

NOW WE SAW IT A COUPLE YEARS AGO WITH MOVE EBR, THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN, THERE WERE STREETS, ROADS, AND BRIDGES THAT ARE NOT CITY STREETS, ROADS, AND BRIDGES STAYED IN FEDERAL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE SAID, WE'VE BEEN WAITING ON THEM LONG ENOUGH.

WHY DON'T WE TAKE CARE OF IT OURSELF AND STOP WAITING ON THEM.

THAT'S WHAT THE CITIZENS OF BATON ROUGE DID BY VOTING MOVE EBR INTO, INTO LAW AND ULTIMATELY FUNDING IT.

SO I JUST THINK, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT CONTESTING ANYTHING ANYBODY SAID, I JUST WANT TO KIND OF OFFER THAT UP.

THE TIME IS NOW TO DO SOME OF THIS STUFF.

IF WE CONTINUE TO DEFER AND DELAY, YOU KNOW, IMPROVING SOME OF THESE SYSTEMS, WE GONNA CONTINUE TO HAVE THE ISSUES WE'RE DEALING WITH.

AND I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE CONTINUE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT SOME OF THIS STUFF, BUT THEN WHEN A PLAN OR SOLUTION IS BROUGHT UP, THEY WANT NOTHING TO HAPPEN.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE WANTING IT BETTER, IMPROVE MORE EFFICIENT, MORE EFFECTIVE, EVEN MORE TIME.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE DEFINITELY NEED TO GO OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND, YOU KNOW, DO AN INTENSIVE OUTREACH TO, YOU KNOW, GET THEM ABREAST TO WHAT THE CONCERNS ARE, WHAT THE PLAN IS, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY YEARS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, ALL THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN, BUT WE NEED TO ACT, IF NOT NOW, WHEN THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN BANKS.

UM, SO I, THIS ISN'T NUDE FOR ME BECAUSE I REMEMBER WHEN WE MET ON THE FIRST, UM, ALLOCATION OF OUR MONEY, I BELIEVE IT WAS JUNE OF 2021.

AND AT THAT TIME, THE MAYOR ALLOCATED ABOUT 20 MILLION TOWARDS STORM WATER.

SO I SPECIFICALLY REMEMBER YOU SAYING IN THAT MEETING, THAT THIS WILL NOT TAKE CARE.

THIS IS MIKE ADAMS, LONG TERM, WHAT NEEDS TO DONE THAT? THIS WOULD BE THE BEGINNING OF CLEARING THE DIFFERENT WATERWAYS, PROBABLY NOT.

BUT I REMEMBER YOU MENTIONING IN THAT MEETING, THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE BROKENNESS, THE THINGS THAT AS COUNCILMAN, UM, UM, DUN MENTIONED OVER THE LAST 30, 40 YEARS, THERE WAS THE POSSIBILITY THAT FOR SH THAT THERE WILL NEED, THERE WOULD THAT THERE WOULD NEED TO BE, YOU DIDN'T USE THE WORD TAX, BUT THAT THE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO DO A DISTRICT.

I BELIEVE YOU ACTUALLY MENTIONED THAT THE DISTRICT THEN, SO THIS IS OVER A YEAR WHEN I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, WHY I REMEMBERED, BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN WE WERE PROMISED $6 MILLION FOR HOUSE 50 OLDS.

BUT I DO REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, I HAD TO THROW THAT IN THERE.

RIGHT? OKAY.

SO I REMEMBER THAT MEETING AND, UM, IT IS VERY MUCH, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I ALSO REMEMBER THAT A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION HAS TO DO WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE, THAT WERE FLOODED, BUT IT WAS THE GREATEST IMPACT OF FLOODING WAS ACTUALLY IN DISTRICT FIVE.

AND THOSE WERE ALSO SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT RECOVERED.

MM-HMM , THOSE ARE ALSO SOME OF THE POOREST PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND EVEN THEY WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THIS DISTRICT.

AND IF THOSE PERSONS WHO ARE STILL, UM, HAVING THESE DIFFICULTIES ARE NOT AND REALIZE, AND PROBABLY REALIZE, OR ARE FOR WHATEVER REASON, I KNOW TANYA'S IN HERE.

SHE'S ONE OF THOSE PERSONS, UM, THAT WENT THROUGH THIS AND THAT ARE STILL TRAUMATIZED.

BUT IF WE DON'T MOVE FORWARD, WE'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO GET IT.

I LIKE THE FACT THAT THIS, UM, PARTICULAR DISTRICT IS NOT BASED ON PROPERTY TAXES IS BASED ON THE SIZE.

AND I DON'T KNOW THE SCIENTIFIC PART ABOUT HOW MUCH WATER GO IN THE GROUND AND HOW MUCH NOT, BUT THAT IS AS EQUITABLE AS IT GETS.

UM, SO FOR ME, THIS IS A NO BRAINER.

IT IS NOT NEW, THE

[02:55:01]

SAME CONVERSATION AND QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE IN A PARTICULAR DISTRICT FLOODED, CAME UP WITH THAT 20 MILLION, THE SAME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PRIORITY, UM, BEING PLACED.

BUT I I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE, UM, THAT THE PRIORITY SHOULD BE, SHOULD BE EQUITABLE, BUT FOR SURE THOSE THAT WERE GREATEST HIT AND THAT WAS IN DISTRICT FIVE.

SO I, UM, SEE NO REASON FOR US TO DELAY THIS.

I SECOND, UH, COUNCILMAN'S DONE, UH, MOTION.

AND AT SOME POINT WE CAN, WE HAVE TO STOP HOLDING, UM, THE ADMINISTRATIVE HOSTAGE.

AND LIKE YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, PUT THE BLAME AND THEN DON'T GIVE THEM THE TOOLS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

THE ONLY WAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO NOT ONLY SEE PROGRESS, BUT ON OTHER THINGS SAY THIS HASN'T BEEN DONE AND THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE IS THAT WE FUND IT AND SEE HOW IT RUN.

WE DO NEED TO GO TO THE PEOPLE ONCE AND SAY, THIS IS HOW THAT WORKS, BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO VOTE FOR THIS TODAY.

WE DEFINITELY, AND I'M, I'M SPEAKING FOR SOMEONE WHO DID NOT, UH, COMMUNITY UP WHERE BAKER THAT FLOODED, BUT YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE HIGHEST ELEVATION, BUT I STILL KNOW THAT WATER HAS NO BOUNDARIES.

AND THOUGH WE WERE SPARED IN, IN THE SKYVILLE PART, THE FLOODING BEGAN IN BAKER.

SO I DO HOPE THAT WE'LL ALL VOTE FOR THIS.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT EVERY DISTRICT NEEDS TO BE ON BOARD WITH BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, IF IT WASN'T, IF WE DIDN'T WHO WE WERE SPARED LAST TIME, WE MAY NOT BE SPARED THIS TIME AND WE DO NEED TO STOP MAKING IT THE NEXT, NEXT, UM, SOMEBODY ELSE'S RESPONSIBILITY AND THEN COMPLAIN ABOUT, WE CAN'T DO BOTH.

WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HEARS.

SO I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE, UH, DIFFERENT PLACES IN THE COUNTRY.

AND ONE OF 'EM WAS ATLANTA.

AND ONE OF 'EM WAS IN HOUSTON METRO AREA.

AND WHEN YOU GO TO THESE AREAS, YOU COULD CHARGE ME A MILLION DOLLARS IN TAXES.

YOU KNOW WHY? CUZ I CAN SEE WHERE MY MONEY'S GOING.

I CAN LOOK AT THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS. I CAN LOOK AT THE ROADS.

I CAN LOOK AT THE BRIDGES AND I CAN SEE THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS BEING PUT IN PLACE, WHICH IS WHY IT'S BUILT FOR GROWTH.

AND INDUSTRY COMES THERE.

WE ASK FOR THE SAME THING IN BATON ROUGE, BUT WE DON'T WANNA PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS.

SO WE HAVE CITY PARENTS, WORKERS THAT MAKE, AND I MAY BE SAYING IT'S THE WRONG WAY MADE AS LOW AS $8 AN HOUR UNTIL THE GREAT MAYOR, UH, GAVE THEM A RAISE.

IT'S NOT HER FAULT.

AGAIN, IT'S NOT KELVIN'S FAULT.

THEY ARE MA THEY ARE PLAYING MAKEUP FROM PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS IN BOTH THE EXECUTIVE AND THE LEGISLATIVE BODIES.

SO DON'T COME AFTER US FOR US VOTING FOR THIS.

IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE YEARS AGO.

AND I MEAN, WHEN YOU GO SOMEWHERE AND YOU WANT BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE, YOU GOTTA BE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T WANNA GO THROUGH A DRIVE THROUGH YOU WANNA GO TO A SIT DOWN RESTAURANT AND UNDERSTAND THAT GRATUITY COMES WITH THAT.

SO DON'T SIT AT THAT RESTAURANT.

IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO PAY GRATUITY IS JUST A, A BEST PRACTICE.

AND SO WE WANT THOSE SAME COMMON BEST PRACTICES IN GOVERNMENT.

THEN WE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO PAY GRATUITY AND THAT'S YOUR TAXES.

I GRILLED KEVIN KEVIN HILL FOR, I THOUGHT IT WAS, HE THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA NEVER END ABOUT THIS STORM WATER PLAN, BECAUSE AT FIRST IT'S LIKE, YOU GOTTA, I WANT TO EAT MY OWN DOG FOOD.

IF, IF I, I GO BACK TO THE CARS THAT WE DRIVE NOW, HOW MANY CARS DON'T COME WITH BLUETOOTH? IT'S NOT A COMMON THING IN THE CAR NOW.

RIGHT? HALF OF 'EM DON'T HAVE CD PLAYERS IN THERE ANYMORE.

SO DO YOU STILL WANT A CAR WITH A OR THE EIGHT TRACK OR VA OR A, UH, CASSETTE PLAYER OR DO YOU WANT A CAR THAT CAN STREAM MUSIC FROM SERIOUS SATELLITE RADIO? WHOEVER YOU USE? MY POINT IS, AS YOU WANT YOUR LIFE TO EVOLVE, YOU WANT THE THINGS AROUND TO EVOLVE AS WELL.

AND THAT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN, IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN OUR CITY, GO BACK TO GAS, BEING $5, A GALLON OR $4 A GALLON FILED FOR DIESEL FOR HE KEPT ROLLING AND GUESS WHAT THAT AFFECTS THE CITY.

IT AFFECTS DIRECTLY HIS BUDGET FOR D P W AND EVERY OTHER, UM, UH, ENTITY IN BATON ROUGE, WHETHER IT BE THE RIVER CENTER AND THE MACHINES THAT THEY USE, THE FORKLIFTS, WHATEVER TAKES GASOLINE.

BUT WE DON'T WANNA SEE THAT SUPPLY CHAIN AFFECTS GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THAT MEANS IT.

THAT MEANS IT AFFECTS YOUR TAXES.

WE HAVE A LABOR SHORTAGE, YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE WE'RE PAYING THEM $10 AN HOUR AND IT'S GREAT OF A JOB AS THE MAYOR IS DONE AND GETTING A 5% RAISE.

IT'S GONNA TAKE YOU TO INVEST IN THE CITY WHERE YOU LIVE, WORK AND PLAY TO BRING THESE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE CITY PARISH TO DO SUCH AN AMAZING JOB UP TO A TRUE LIVABLE WAGE.

ALL I'M ASKING YOU TO DO TODAY IS PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS.

IF YOU WANNA COMPLAIN ABOUT IT, THEN BE ABOUT IT, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU SUPPORT THIS.

YOU ALLOW THEM TO CATCH UP.

[03:00:01]

IF YOU CAN'T CONVINCE ME TO BELIEVE IN IT, I CAN'T GO SELL IT TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

AND HE WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND SO THIS IS THE WRONG SIDE OF THE COUNCIL TO SIT ON Y'ALL.

BUT, UM, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT I'VE KILLING MY BRAIN BY THOUGHT PROCESS, MY WHOLE FLOW RIGHT NOW.

BUT ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE.

AND IF WE DON'T FIX THIS, THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE ARE GOING TO FLOOD.

WE'RE GONNA FLOOD OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

AND YOUR, YOUR, YOUR TAXES ARE GOING TO GO UP BECAUSE FLOOD ZONES THAT WEREN'T PREVIOUSLY FLOOD ZONES ARE GONNA NOW BE FLOOD ZONES AND, AND REQUIRE FLOOD INSURANCE AT DIFFERENT LEVELS.

SO MAKE DECISION TO SUPPORT IT, ALLOW US TO GOVERN IT AS THE EXECUTIVE BODY.

I MEAN THE LEGISLATIVE BODY THAT YOU PUT IN OFFICE TO GOVERN IT, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY, WHICH IS WHAT I SAID EARLIER WITH THIS PLAN, LET US DO OUR JOBS.

AND WE ASK THAT YOU NOT PUSH SO HARD ON YOUR LEGISLA TOURS TO NOT SUPPORT IT.

THIS IS JUST AN INTRODUCTION.

AND THEN WE'LL GOVERN IT ON THE BACK END.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMAN MAGORE KEVIN, WHAT DOES THE, WHAT DOES THE CREATION OF A STORM WATER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT WITHOUT AN ASSOCIATED FEE GAIN US? WELL, IT GAINS US THE ABILITY TO, UH, MANAGE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.

IT GAINS US THE ABILITY TO STRUCTURE, HOW WE DO THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

SO THERE, THERE IS, UM, UH, ABOUT NINE TO $10 MILLION THAT WE SPEND ANNUALLY FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

AND, UH, ALTHOUGH THAT'S NOT NEAR ENOUGH, UH, FUNDING TO DO WHAT'S REQUIRED, IT WILL HELP US BE A BIT MORE EFFICIENT AND A BIT MORE ORGANIZED AND HOW WE DO THAT.

AND WE COULD GET THAT WORK DONE WITH SOME MORE EFFICIENCY.

I THINK THAT WILL, THAT WILL HELP WITH THE FORMATION OF THIS UTILITY DRILL IN ON THAT, HOW I, WE ARE DOING ONGOING MAINTENANCE.

NOW I, WHAT I'M NOT CONNECTING WITH IS WHY DO WE NEED A DISTRICT UNLESS THERE'S AN ASSOCIATED FEE TO ACCOMPANY IT? WELL, I, THE, AND MAYBE, UM, THE, THE, THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CAN GIVE YOU THEIR LEGAL OPINION.

MM-HMM , BUT IT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER THOSE ASSETS IN THE DISTRICT, RIGHT? SO THE STORM WATER, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE, IF YOU WILL, IT GIVES US MORE CONTROL, MORE ABILITY TO, TO MANAGE, UH, AND, AND, AND DO THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO PROPERLY MAINTAIN THOSE ASSETS.

THE ITEM DESCRIPTION SAYS WE'RE CREATING THIS DISTRICT.

SO AS TO MEET STATE AND FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS, YES.

WHAT, WHAT REQUIREMENTS ARE WE MEETING BY CREATING THE DISTRICT? UH, IT, THE REQUIREMENT OF BEING ABLE TO ORGANIZE OURSELVES TO, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOMEWHAT DEDICATED FUNDING, UH, TO HAVE SOMEWHAT MORE ENFORCEMENT, UH, OF, UH, WHAT WE DO INSIDE OF THE MS. FOUR.

BUT YOU SAID DEDICATED FUNDING, WHICH WOULD OBVIOUSLY COME FROM THE APPLICATION OF A FEE, CORRECT? THAT THAT WOULD BE ONE SOURCE OF DEDICATED FUNDING.

AND THEN THE ITEM HAS CREATION OF THE STORM WATER, PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND ACQUISITION OF ADDITIONS IMPROVEMENTS, EXTENSIONS TO THE SYSTEM.

DOES THE CREATION OF THIS UTILITY DISTRICT MEAN WE GET TO PROVIDE FOR CONSTRUCTION AND ACQUISITION AND ADDITIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS AND EXTENSIONS, OR DOES THE ASSOCIATED FEE MEAN THAT WE GET TO DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS? NO.

THE FEE DOESN'T MEAN WE GET TO DO THAT IS THE, UH, IS THE, THE IS THE, UH, ORGANIZATION AND THE APPROVAL OF PASSAGE OF THE UTILITY ITSELF.

BEYOND, BEYOND THAT, I'M GONNA HAVE TO ASK MY LEGAL BUDDIES TO, TO HELP ME EXPLAIN THAT ONE.

PART OF THE REASON TO FORM THIS DISTRICT IS TO DEFINE WHERE WE'RE GONNA SPEND OUR MONEY, WHICH WE'VE DEFINED IT TO MIRROR OUR PERMIT WITH DQ, APA GENERAL FUND MONEY, WHATEVER FUNDING YOU NEED FOR, TO SATISFY PERMIT REQUIREMENTS, WHICH PRESENTLY IS GENERAL FUND MONEY.

PRESENTLY IS GENERAL FUND MONEY.

YOU CAN'T CREATE A FEE THAT GOES INTO THE GENERAL FUND AND THEN SAY, OKAY, NOW WE'RE GONNA, WELL, THIS YEAR I'M ONLY GONNA GIVE YOU 9 MILLION, BUT I HAD 11, I WAS COLLECTED 11 MILLION, BUT I ONLY GONNA GIVE YOU 9 MILLION.

UH, PART OF YOU CAN'T CREATE A FEE WITHOUT THE DISTRICT.

[03:05:02]

IT HAS TO BE A DEDICATED FEE.

SO THE FIRST STEP IN HAVING DEDICATED FUNDS THAT THE REGULATORY BODIES CAN LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER AND SAY, OKAY, YEAH, I SEE THE ASSETS THAT YOU'RE PUTTING IN THE MONEY THAT YOU'RE PUTTING IN TO MANAGE YOUR STORM WATER ASSETS.

SO STEP ONE IS CREATE THE DISTRICT, RIGHT? SO YOU, WE CREATE THE DISTRICT.

HYPOTHETICALLY, WE CREATED TONIGHT WITH THE APPROVAL OF THIS, THEN THE 9 MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUNDS IS DEDICATED FOR THAT DISTRICT.

WE CAN ORGANIZE THE DISTRICT AND THE PEOPLE, UH, THAT ARE GOING TO BE DOING THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE NEED TO DO.

MAINTENANCE IS GONNA DO A PORTION OF IT, YOU KNOW, SO THEY WILL HAVE A PORTION OF THEIR BUDGET.

NOW THAT COMES OUT OF THIS, IF THAT'S THE 9 MILLION, IF THAT'S ALL WE GOT, THAT COMES OUTTA 9 MILLION, THAT WILL, THEY CAN'T DIVERT IT TO FIXING POTHOLES.

YOU KNOW, IT'S GOT TO BE USED FOR FIXING DITCHES.

THAT'S THE SORT OF THING, BUT THEN IT IS THE FIRST STEP.

I'M NOT GONNA LIE TO YOU AND SAY, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE BACK HERE WITH A FEE THAT I THINK THAT THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE'RE UNDER ARE GOING TO TAKE US TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO ASSESS A FEE.

UH, AND PEOPLE TALK ABOUT KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.

I'VE BEEN HERE 20, ALMOST 25 YEARS.

I FIRST, UH, BECAME AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM.

I THINK IT WAS 2008.

WELL, LET LEMME SAY THIS.

YEAH, I'M I'M, THIS IS NOT A GOTCHA LINE OF QUESTIONING.

I'M NOT TRYING TO LEAD YOU DOWN A PATH SO I CAN SPRING SOMETHING ON YOU.

I'M STRUGGLING WITH THIS ITEM, SHOULD ACCOMPANY A FEE AND TO HAVE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS COME UP AND SAY, WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE COMPREHENSIVE VISION HERE IS CONCERNING TO ME FIRST.

YOU GOTTA BUY THE CAR AND THEN YOU NEED TO BUY THE GASOLINE TO FUEL THE CAR.

I UNDERSTAND, BUT YOU, BUT YOU DON'T NEED GASOLINE IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CAR, BUT YOU GOTTA PLAN FOR THE ABILITY TO BUY THE CAR, RIGHT.

AND YOU DO EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

I, I JUST THINK THE TWO ITEMS THE, MY COLLEAGUES ARE TALKING ABOUT, WE HAVE TO TAKE CONTROL OF OUR OWN DESTINY.

WE HAVE TO IMPROVE FLOODING.

I AGREE THAT COMES WITH A FEE.

SO EVERY DISCUSSION I'M HEARING IS THE FEE, NOT NECESSARILY THE CREATION OF THE DISTRICT.

SO IN MY MIND, IT IS HERE.

PUBLIC IS THE COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

GO AHEAD, ANDY.

AND LET ME SAY THIS TOO.

YOU, I THINK I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING.

THIS IS WHAT BOB IS SAYING.

UH, AND, AND I THINK HE DID A VERY GOOD JOB IN EXPLAINING IT.

AND, AND IN ORDER FOR US TO GET, UH, TO TALKING ABOUT THE FEE AND HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE FEE.

THE LAW REQUIRES US TO ESTABLISH THIS FRAMEWORK FIRST.

AND THAT'S WHAT I CALL IT.

THE UTILITY DISTRICT THAT WE'RE ASKING YOU TO PASS TONIGHT IS THE FRAMEWORK FOR WHAT THE CITY PARENTS WANTS TO DO, ULTIMATELY, WHICH AS BOB STATED, WILL INCLUDE A REQUEST FOR A FEE.

AND SO, AND SOME ITEMS AS TO HOW WE WILL DO THINGS DOWN THE ROAD, ALL THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE, COUNCILMAN HUDSON, FOR DISCUSSION AND FOR DEBATE AND FOR THE PUBLIC TO GIVE THEIR INPUT AND FOR THE PUBLIC TO RECEIVE INFORMATION, ALL THIS DOES TONIGHT IS SET THE FRAMEWORK AND PUT IT IN PLACE TO ALLOW THE FEE TO BE COLLECTED AND FOR EVERYTHING TO GO FORWARD.

IF FOR SOME REASON THIS IS STOOD UP AND THE FEE IS NEVER PASSED, THEN ALL WE CAN UTILIZE IS WHAT'S IN THE GENERAL FUND AND NOTHING ELSE.

DID YOU SAY THIS HAS TO BE CREATED FOR THE DISCUSSION OF A FEE? NO, SIR.

THIS HAS TO BE, BUT, BUT, BUT BY LAW AND, BUT, AND BY THE WAY THAT THE STATUTE WAS SET UP UNDER LOUISIANA LAW, WE CANNOT PASS A FEE WITHOUT THIS STRUCTURE BEING ESTABLISHED AND PASSED BY THIS COUNTY.

AND I, IN MY OPINION, DON'T THINK WE CAN DO THAT AT THE SAME TIME.

I DON'T THINK, IN MY OPINION, I THINK IT'S CUTTING IT CLOSE.

IS THAT YOUR LEGAL OPINION? IT IS MY, I WILL GET IT TO A LEGAL OPINION.

THIS IS, WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER DAY, BUT THIS IS MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION, BASED UPON 23 YEARS OF LEGAL PRACTICE AND THE WAY THINGS ARE INTERPRETED FOR US TO PUT OURSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE AT THE SAME NIGHT WE'RE PASSING 61, I JUST PUT AN ARBITRATOR UP OUT THERE, WHICH IS THE FRAMEWORK, THE PASSING 62, WHICH IS THE FUNDING.

I THINK IT'S, IT'S CUTTING IT CLOSE AND PLAYING FASTER LOOPS WITH WHAT THE INTENT OF THE STATUTE WERE.

IT MAY, IT MAY TECHNICALLY BE OKAY, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT THE CITY WANTS TO PUT ITSELF.

THAT'S NOT THE TYPE THINGS WE SHOULD BE DOING AND ESTABLISHING THIS, UH, FRAMEWORK IF OUR GOAL IS TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

YES IS THAT RIGHT? THANK Y'ALL COUNCIL NUMBER COLEMAN.

HEARD FROM WHO SUPPORTS THIS.

JUST A MINUTE.

I'D LIKE TO ASK RENEE TO COME ON UP TONIGHT.

Y'ALL WE'VE HEARD FROM THE GURU OF THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION, MR. ED, WE'VE

[03:10:01]

WE'VE HEARD FROM MS. STORMWATER MARIE CONSTANTINE.

MM-HMM MAJOR ISSUES HERE, MAJOR ISSUES, AND WE MUST UNDERSTAND YOU GOT TO PAY TO PLAY, AND THAT'S AN ANYTHING YOU GOT TO PAY TO PLAY.

AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE.

AND IT HAS BEEN SAID OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU LIKE THIS.

WE HAVE INHERITED A MESS AND INHERITANCE IS USUALLY SOMETHING GOOD, BUT WE'VE INHERITED A MESSIER THAT WE HAVE TO CLEAN UP.

AND ALL OF US REPRESENT A DISTRICT.

AND EACH OUR CONSTITUENTS PUT US IN THESE POSITIONS TO NOT BE SCARED, NOT BE SCARED, BUT TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT'S BASED ON WHAT IS BEST FOR THE ORDER.

AND THEN THEY ARE REQUIRED.

WE ARE REQUIRED FOR OVERSIGHT, AND THAT'S JUST AS SIMPLE AS IT GETS.

AND THEN THE LAST THING IS I THINK THAT IN THE MEETING WE HAD, WE SAID ABOUT A DOLLAR 36 PER 500 SQUARE FEET.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT, YEAH.

WE HEARD IN OUR MEETING THAT WE HAD, AND WE EAT THAT MUCH UP.

SO YOU DO THE MATH, A DOLLAR 36 PER 500 SQUARE FEET, MEASURE YOUR HOMES.

AND THEN I BELIEVE YOU EAT THAT MUCH UP.

ARE WE WEAR THAT MUCH? OR THE PEOPLE THE CONSTITUENTS DO SO YOU CAN'T BE SCARED IF YOU SCARED GO TO CHURCH.

WE NEED PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY.

UM, MY NAME IS RENEE VERMA.

I'M A CO-FOUNDER OF THE LOUISIANA STORMWATER COALITION.

AND AS I SIT AND I LISTEN TO ALL THE DISCUSSION WE HAVE BEEN WORKING, WE ALL CAME TOGETHER, UH, ALL VOLUNTEER GROUP.

WE HAVE DONE THE RESEARCH.

WE HAVE LOOKED AT 41 OTHER STATES WHO HAVE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMING.

LOUISIANA IS NUMBER ONE IN RAINFALL, AND WE DON'T HA WE HAVE ZERO.

THINK ABOUT THAT.

SO WE HAVE LOOKED TO OUR FRIENDS IN FLORIDA, FLORIDA HAS 185 COMMUNITIES ON BOARD WITH STORMWATER MANAGEMENT.

THEY STARTED OUT WITH THIS 30 YEARS AGO BECAUSE THEY WERE, UM, THEY WERE FILTHY.

THEY WANTED TOURISM, WELL, LOW AND BEHOLD, FAST FORWARD.

LOOK AT FLORIDA TODAY.

NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE, UH, TOURISM, BUT THEY DON'T FLOOD.

THESE PROGRAMS HAVE BECOME FLOOD PREVENTION PROGRAMS. SO WE ARE SO BEHIND.

SO SUPPORT ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS.

WE SUPPORT THE FOLKS YOU HAVE BROUGHT IN HERE.

THEY'RE THEY'RE THE BEST OF THE BEST TO HELP WITH THIS STORM WATER MANAGEMENT PLANNING.

WE BELIEVE THERE ARE SO MANY BENEFITS TO STORM WATER MANAGEMENT.

WE CANNOT AFFORD NOT TO MOVE FORWARD AND PIVOT.

LET, JUST, I WANNA, I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THIS.

WE KNOW THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE PULLING OUT OF LOUISIANA AND REALTORS ARE EXPRESSING GRAVE, CONCERN OVER RATES AND COVERAGE, A SMALL STORM WATER FEE, AND YOU CAN DO THE RESEARCH.

I THINK WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALL THIS.

WE NEED TO DECIDE WHAT THIS PROGRAM'S GONNA LOOK LIKE.

WE ALL WANT TO BE INVOLVED.

WE WANT TO SEE OUR CITY MOVE FORWARD, BUT A SMALL STORM WATER FEE FOR MANAGING THIS IS GONNA BE POCKET CHANGE COMPARED TO THE CONSEQUENCES OF CONTINUING NOT TO PERMANENTLY FUND THIS 41 OTHER STATES PERMANENTLY FUND IT.

THE, THE MONEY COMES WITH THE MAINTENANCE WE CAN DROP IN EQUIPMENT.

WE CAN DO ALL OF THIS STUFF, BUT IF, IF WE DON'T MAINTAIN OUR STORM, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, IF WE DON'T MAINTAIN OUR STORM DRAINS, IF WE DON'T DROP IN EQUIPMENT TO CLOSE THE LOOP ON FLOOD CAUSING SEDIMENT IN OUR WATERSHEDS AND MAINTAIN THOSE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO FLOOD YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.

I URGE YOU, I, I, I JUST REALLY HOPE THAT YOU MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.

YOU DO THE RIGHT THING AND MOVE THIS STORM WATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FORWARD.

AND I WOULD ALSO, UM, LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU OUR WEBSITE, IT'S LOUISIANA STORM, WATER.COM.

WE HAVE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THE WEBSITE.

THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE THAT EXPLAINS WHAT STORM WATER, WHAT STORM WATER MANAGEMENT IS, WHAT IT DOES AND WHAT THE BENEFITS ARE.

SO PLEASE DO VISIT IT, LOUISIANA STORMWATER.COM.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MOK.

[03:15:09]

UH, WHEW.

I FEEL LIKE SOMEBODY ELSE OVER HERE, SO, OKAY.

WELL, WHO WAS, UH, THE LADY THAT JUST SPOKE, YOU BROUGHT UP A, A POINT A WHILE AGO.

UM, WE TALK ABOUT, UM, UH, FOR MUNICIPALITIES, WE TALK ABOUT AN INSURANCE, UM, RATING SYSTEM OR WHATEVER.

IT KIND OF HELPS WITH THE INSURANCE RATES DEPENDING ON WHAT WE DO AND SUCH.

SO WHAT, WHAT WOULD, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN ANSWER THIS OR NOT.

WHAT DID YOUR INTERPRETATION BE OF WHAT KIND SAVINGS WOULD WE HAVE IN INSURANCE RATES VERSUS THE FEE? WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IS THE BALANCE THERE? SO WOULD WE HAVE LIKE A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS A YEAR? POSSIBLY SOME PEOPLE ARE PAYING THREE OR $4,000 A YEAR, POSSIBLY UP TO FOUR OR $500 A YEAR IN SAVINGS ON INSURANCE THAT WE WOULDN'T PAY VERSUS THE DOLLAR 36 TO 500 SQUARE FEET, DEPENDING ON YOUR HOME, 120 SOMETHING DOLLARS, AVERAGE.

I CANNOT SPEAK TO THAT SPECIFICALLY, BUT I CAN SAY THAT AND YOU ALL KNOW YOU HAVE, UH, CRS OR COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEMS AND I KNOW THAT'S WHAT I WAS.

AND I, I DO KNOW THAT STORM, THAT, UH, MUNICIPALITIES AND CITIES THAT DO HAVE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS, THEY DO SEE THEIR COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEMS IMPROVED.

SO THAT JUST HAS TO, YOU HAVE TO THINK IF YOUR, IF YOUR RATING IMPROVES, YOUR INSURANCE RATES ARE GONNA BE MORE AFFORDABLE.

SO I DO BELIEVE IT'S PROBABLY A, I DON'T, I DO THINK IT'S A POSITIVE THING, BUT STONEWATER MANAGEMENT DOES HELP IMPACT AND LOWER INSURANCE RATES.

I MEAN, AS FAR AS THE, THE, THE RATINGS AND STUFF, HAVE YOU SEEN, UH, IN, IN YOUR STUDIES AND EVERYTHING, UH, UH, A TYPE OF DROP, AS FAR AS THE RATINGS THEMSELVES ONE OR TWO POINTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT, MR. KEL? SORRY.

NO PROBLEM.

SO MAYBE I CAN HELP, UM, UH, CLARIFY THAT RIGHT NOW.

UH, CITY PARISH IS AT A, UH, CRV RATING OF SEVEN.

THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE RATING SIX, WHICH WOULD BE A 5% REDUCTION IN THE PREMIUMS THAT YOU WOULD PAY TO GET TO A RATING SIX.

WE WOULD NOT, WE WOULD NEED TO ACCUMULATE ROUGHLY 2,500, UH, POINTS IN THEIR RATING SCALE ACROSS 13 DIFFERENT CATEGORIES THAT MAKE UP THAT POINT SCALE.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 1,655 POINTS THAT GETS US TO LEVEL SEVEN.

AND ANYTHING WE DO IN THIS AREA HELPS US ACCUMULATE POINTS, BUT WE WOULD NEED TO ACCUMULATE ROUGHLY 900 MORE POINTS IN ORDER TO GET, UH, CERTIFIED FOR LEVEL SIX, WHICH WOULD GIVE US ANOTHER 5% REDUCTION IN THE PREMIUM, TAKEN US FROM THE 15%, UH, DISCOUNT TO A 20% DISCOUNT WOULD, WOULD MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS.

AND I GUESS I'LL SAY THIS SPEAKING, HYPOTHETICALLY, OR WHATEVER WOULD MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS.

YES, IT'S GONNA GIVE US SOME POINTS, BUT WITH THE WORK THAT CAN BE DONE WITH THIS AND EVERYTHING, WOULD IT GET US TO THE POINT OF REACHING THAT 900? BASICALLY, IT SOUNDS LIKE IF WE CAN GET TO A CERTAIN POINT WITH THIS, WE'D ALMOST HAVE A WASH FOR, FOR SOME PEOPLE, BUT I'M NOT SAYING IT'S GONNA BE A WASH ACROSS THE BOARD.

YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU GET IN SAVINGS.

YOU'RE PAYING AND THE OTHER THING, BUT YOU'RE, YOU'RE GETTING TWOFOLD.

WELL, I UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND THE, UM, THE, THE, THE POINTS YOU'RE MAKING.

UM, THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY TO THAT TONIGHT IS THAT, UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE SUBDIVISION, UH, OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING ON GETTING, GETTING US CLOSER TO THE POINTS.

WE NEED TO QUALIFY FOR LEVEL SIX, THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE WITH STORM WATER MANAGEMENT, MASTER PLAN THINGS WE'RE DOING, UH, WITH THE CREATION OF THIS UTILITY, ALL ADD POINTS TO HELP US GET THERE.

AND I WILL TELL YOU WE'RE CLOSE, BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT THIS ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEES A LEVEL SIX, BUT I CAN TELL YOU WE'RE CLOSE.

PART OF THE WORK THAT THE UTILITY WOULD DO.

WE'LL WITH THE CREATION OF THIS UTILITY, WILL THEY BE RELEASING? AND, AND SOMEBODY MAY HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP BEFORE, WILL THEY BE RELEASING A FULL, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF PROJECTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WILL BE MOVING FORWARD TO PRESENT TO THE PUBLIC THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE OTHER ITEM? SO KINDA LIKE YOU DID WITH MOVE BR RIGHT.

SO THERE, THERE, AT, AS WE STAND HERE TONIGHT, THERE IS NO COMPREHENSIVE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT LIST TO RELEASE

[03:20:01]

AND THE STORMWATER DIVISION WOULD DO, WOULD BE TO CREATE THAT LIST OF REQUIRED IMPROVEMENTS OVER TIME.

AND WHEN WE GET THAT LIST CREATED, WE'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT, BUT THAT LIST DOES NOT EXIST TONIGHT.

H HOW, HOW FAST COULD WE, I, I GUESS, AND AGAIN, I, I'M NOT, I'M NOT GONNA SIT HERE AND SAY FOUR AGAINST RIGHT NOW OR ANYTHING ELSE, BUT HOW, HOW SOON, OR HOW POSSIBLE COULD THAT, THAT LIST? I MEAN, WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT WE'VE BEEN PUTTING TOGETHER OVER A LONG TIME, THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

HOW FAST COULD WE GET THAT LIST? WELL, I WOULD, I WOULD THINK THAT LIST COULD BE DEVELOPED WITHIN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS OR SO, BUT THE THING YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO IS GET CAUGHT UP ON THE LATE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE THAT WE'VE BEEN UNDER FOR YEARS.

WE'VE, WE'VE CLOSED ROUGHLY 2,500 SERVICE REQUESTS.

SO FAR THIS YEAR, THERE'S ANOTHER, WE STARTED WITH 7,500 IN THE BACKLOG THAT WE'VE GOTTA GET TO AND, AND CLOSE.

WE'VE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE THE A R P FUNDING TO ALLOW US TO ATTACK THAT OUR GOAL WAS TO HAVE HALF OF THOSE, UH, DONE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

AND THE OTHER HALF OF THOSE DONE BY THE END OF 23, THEN WE CAN START TO GET THE WORK IN FRONT OF US AND START TO WORK ON THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE MADE TO IMPROVE CAPACITY TO OUR SYSTEM.

SO THAT'S WHEN WE WOULD HAVE THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE WOULD START TO IMPLEMENT, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOTTA CLOSE UP THESE HOLES FROM CAVINS, WE'VE GOTTA CLEAN OUT THESE BOXES WHERE WATER WON'T DRAIN.

SO WE DON'T FLOOD IN OUR STREETS AND THAT'S BEEN, BEEN OUR PRIORITY.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON.

AND, AND, UH, I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY, WE'RE CREATING THIS UTILITY AND THE PUBLIC'S GOING TO WANT TO EXPECT WHAT EXACTLY IS GONNA HAPPEN.

AND I KNOW THEY'RE GONNA PLAY IN CATCH UP.

WE'RE, WE'RE GOING TO RESOURCE AND MAINTAIN WHAT WE HAVE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, BUT AGAIN, I THINK WE'RE GONNA GO INTO A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE A SUSTAINABLE FUNDING SOURCE THAT FOR THIS UTILITY SEEMS LIKE THE, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS NEED TO BE TO LET'S, LET'S GET AT THE OUT, OUT THERE TO THE PUBLIC WHERE WE'RE GOING, OTHER THAN JUST PLAYING CATCH UP AND WHERE WE'RE GOING IN THE FUTURE, AS FAR AS EXPANSION AND, AND, AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO I, I APPRECIATE YOUR INFORMATION.

I JUST WANNA SAY IT'S A GREAT DISCUSSION WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCIL ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

WE ALL KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT TO SUCK THIS UP AND, AND TAKE THINGS AND GET CAUGHT UP FROM WHAT PREVIOUS IT HADN'T BEEN DONE.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S DISAGREED ON SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.

I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE GREAT DISCUSSION OVER THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT AND WHAT KIND OF FUNCTION THESE DIFFERENT THINGS ARE.

THAT'S WHAT THE PUBLIC'S GONNA WANT ANSWERS FOR.

UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S A CATCH 22 IT'S.

DO YOU WANT THE SERVICES? DO YOU UNITE? DO YOU WANT THIS DONE OR DO YOU DON'T DO NOT, BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PRESENT TO THE PUBLIC AND COME UP WITH AND AGREE ON A PLAN.

AND THAT'S WORKING WITH, WITH Y'ALL'S OFFICE AND THE COUNCIL, AS FAR AS US WORKING WITH DIRECTLY WITH CONSTITUENTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

SO I, I, I JUST HOPE WE CAN KEEP EVERYBODY AND WE'VE DONE PRETTY GOOD AT IT.

WE'VE DONE REALLY WELL AT IT ACTUALLY SO FAR, KEEP THE LINES OF COMMUNICATIONS OVER TO TRANSPARENCY.

WE, WE COME UP WITH A FULL, COMPREHENSIVE GAME PLAN AND THEN SEE HOW WE CAN ALL WORK THAT IN TOGETHER WITH EACH ONE OF US.

SO THANK Y'ALL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE HAVE TWO MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR.

I DO WANNA MAKE COMMENT KELVIN THAT IT CORRECT ME IF I'M I'M WRONG, BUT WE EVEN, WE MOVED VR.

THE PROJECT LIST CAME AFTER YOUR APPROVAL OF MOVE VR.

CORRECT.

UM, I THINK IN MOVE VR, THERE WAS A, UH, A BIT OF A PROJECT LIST THAT WAS STARTED WITH, UM, G O P MM-HMM AND, UH, THEY WERE ABLE TO FLUSH THAT OUT TO COMPLETENESS, BUT THERE WAS SOME INITIAL PROJECTS THAT THEY STARTED WITH.

YES, SIR.

DEEPLY CONCERNED IF THIS ITEM HAS TO WAIT TILL THE 26TH, THAT WOULD BE PROBLEMATIC FOR CITY PARISH.

SO AT THIS TIME WE DO HAVE TWO MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR.

THE ORIGINAL MOTION IS TO THE FURTHER ITEM FOR A WEEK.

IS THAT CORRECT? UH, NO, TILL OCTOBER 26TH.

SO OCTOBER 26TH, THAT'S THE ORIGINAL MM-HMM MOTION MADE BY, UM, MR. HUDSON SECONDED BY MS. RAA MADE BY MR. HUDSON SEC, GO AHEAD, COUNCIL MEMBER, I, I JUST WANNA GET SOME CLARIFICATION.

OCTOBER 26TH WOULD BE THE DAY WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE DAY THAT WE MIGHT, WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO HEAR THE FEE ITEM.

CORRECT.

I, I THINK WE WOULD BE PREPARED, UM, TO HAVE, UM, A, A, A FEE, UH, DISCUSSION AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

UM, I, I WILL SAY THIS THOUGH.

I AM CONCERNED,

[03:25:01]

AND DO YOU WANT TO MAKE MENTION OF SOMETHING? NO, I THINK KEVIN SAID WHAT I GOES BACK TO SAID.

I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE WHAT KEVIN SAID.

I THINK IT GOES BACK TO WHAT I SAID.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE SEVERELY PROBLEMATIC FOR THE CITY PARISH.

THAT IS THE DAY COUNCILMAN, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE PROBLEMATIC.

SO THAT IS THE ORIGINAL MOTION, BUT WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON A SUBSTITUTE MOTION FIRST.

MAY, MAY I ASK A POINT OF ORDER OR? SURE.

SO IF, IF THE ISSUE IS THAT THE, UH, THE ITEM TO CREATE THE DISTRICT NEEDS TO HAPPEN BEFORE THE, UM, BEFORE THE FEE AND IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN A, I DON'T KNOW, A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE, CAN WE NOT SIMPLY DELAY THE, THE FEE VOTE? I MEAN, DOES THAT, WOULD THAT NOT RECTIFY THE SITUATION? IF WE'RE SAYING, IF THIS COUNCIL IS SAYING, WE NEED MORE TIME TO GET, WE NEED TO GIVE YOU GUYS MORE TIME TO GO AND PITCH THIS IDEA TO, TO THE COMMUNITY.

I MEAN, IS THAT NOT A, AN AMPLE WAY TO, TO RECTIFY THE, THE TIME ISSUE THAT WE'RE RUNNING INTO? COUNCILMAN? I THINK THE PROBLEM IS THIS WE'RE ON A, AND I THINK KEVIN ALLUDED TO THIS AT THE BEGINNING, WE'RE ON A, ON A TIMEFRAME RIGHT NOW IN DEALING WITH THE SITUATION DEALING, WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.

UH, LIKE HE SAID, WE'RE UNDER A GAG ORDER.

ONE, ONE AGREEMENT THAT WE CAN'T GO TOO FAR INTO IT, UH, PUBLIC WISE, BUT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I THINK THAT THIS IS JUST A FRAMEWORK.

IT STILL GETS EVERY OPPORTUNITY BETWEEN NOW AND OCTOBER 26TH, FOR EVERYTHING TO BE VETTED FOR ANY INFORMATION WE PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY AND ON THE 26TH FOR THERE TO BE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR EVERYTHING TO BE VETTED.

AS OF CONCERNING THIS, THIS MATTER HERE, JUST SIMPLY AGAIN, STANDING UP THE FRAMEWORK.

YEAH, BUT THAT'S NOT MY QUESTION, RIGHT? MY QUESTION IS IF, IF WE DELAY, IF WE DELAY THE FEE VOTE TO GIVE IT MORE TIME, DOES THAT RECTIFY THE, THE SITUATION AGAIN? I DID.

AND I, I DON'T MEAN TO, AND I'M NOT BEING DISRESPECTFUL ON IT.

TELL YOU THIS.

I DID ANSWER THE QUESTION COUNCIL.

WHEN I TOLD YOU, I THINK IT WOULD BE PROBLEMATIC DEALING WITH THE SITUATION THAT CONCERNS THE GAG ORDER.

IT WOULD THIS, THIS IS OUR REQUEST FOR IT TO BE DONE IN THIS MANNER SO WE CAN AVOID ANY ISSUES IN DEALING WITH THAT SITUATION.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL NUMBER DONE.

I I'D JUST LIKE TO OFFER THIS UP AS WELL.

THE, THE SITUATION THAT THE CITY'S DEALING WITH WITH THE GAG ORDER, WHEN THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE HAD, THERE'S AN EXPECTATION TO SEE STEPS OR PROGRESS TAKEN, TO TAKE SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS INTO CONSIDERATION.

AND IF YOU DON'T, IF THEY DON'T SEE AN INDICATION THAT YOU'RE TAKING STEPS TO RESOLVE THE SITUATION, NOT JUST CONVERSATION AND TALK, BUT ACTION, THEN ALL THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND GRIEVANCE BREAK DOWN.

SO I KNOW THEY KIND OF HOG TIED ON WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T SAY, BUT JUST KIND OF THINK ABOUT IT IN THAT REALM.

YOU KNOW, THE, THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE UP AGAINST CAUSED FOR SOME ACTION TO BE TAKEN BECAUSE ADMINISTRATIONS PRIOR HAVE NOT TAKEN ACTION.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE WASN'T, WE HADN'T BEEN THE HAMMER HADN'T BEEN DROPPED, BUT THE HAMMER IS THREATENING TO BE DROPPED.

IF, IF SOME ACTION IS NOT TAKEN.

SO IF YOU DELAY IT, YOU KNOW, THAT SENDS A MESSAGE TO THE POWERS THAT BE THAT YOU'RE NOT SERIOUS ABOUT TAKING ACTION AND RESOLVING THE SITUATION.

WE, UH, WE DANCING ON THE EDGES.

NOW WE DANCING ON THE EDGES OF THAT G GOING.

SO I JUST WANT TO CAUTION COUNCIL MEMBERS JUST WANT TO COUNSEL, CANNOT ASK, UH, KELVIN OR ANDY THIS, UM, IN THAT REALM.

AND IT MAY BE BOTH OF YOU GUYS, DO YOU FEEL LIKE TAKING ACTIONABLE STEPS? LIKE THIS SENDS A MESSAGE THAT WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT RESOLVING THIS SITUATION AND, AND ULTIMATELY LEADS US TO BEING RELEASED FROM THE GAG ORDER? YES, I THINK IT'S, UH, NOT ONLY CRITICAL, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE DO.

AND I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE THE UTMOST OF URGENCY, UM, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, UH, STRATEGIC ACTIONS THAT IMPROVE OUR SITUATION.

ALL RIGHT, SO WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON A SUBSTITUTE MOTION AND SUBSTITUTE MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DONE AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.

WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

WE'RE GONNA VOTE.

THE MACHINES MACHINES ARE OPEN TO APPROVE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO APPROVE.

GO BACK TO ITEM 64 MOTION PASSES ON ITEM 86.

MOTION TO APPROVE VALUE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE NOW GONNA

[64. 22-01118]

WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO ITEM 64, ITEM 64.

AND ANDY, WOULD YOU COME TO, IT IS THE STAFFING OF REVIEW COMMITTEE TO EVALUATE THE REDISTRICT AND PROCESS AND WRITE A COMMENTARY TO HIGHLIGHT THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES.

AND I THINK THE QUESTION WAS, WHAT IS

[03:30:01]

THE TIMELINE FOR A LAWSUIT TO BE FILED? THEN YOU WERE GONNA GO GET A D DEFINITIVE ANSWER FOR US.

YES, SIR.

I, I CONFIRM MY NOTES AND BASED UPON THE DISCUSSIONS THAT, UH, WE HAD IN OUR OFFICE AND TALKING WITH ASHLEY AND RESEARCHING IS WHAT I SAID BEFORE.

COUNCILMAN IS THAT THERE IS NO SET TIME PERIOD WITHIN WHICH, UH, THE SUIT, UH, I MEAN, OR ANY OBJECTION HAS TO BE MADE.

THERE'S NO PRESCRIPTIVE PERIOD.

IT WAS JUST THE ADVICE OR OUR ADVICE THAT IT BE DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND IN ANY EVENT AND AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE BEFORE QUALIFYING BEGINS.

SUBSEQUENT TO THE REDISTRICTING.

SO WAIT WITH THAT FOR ANY RACE, RIGHT.

SO I'M GONNA TAKE THAT AS BASICALLY ONCE QUALIFYING HAPPENS THAT PERSON'S RUNNING IN THAT DISTRICT, WHETHER SOMEBODY'S FOR COUNSEL THAT RUNNING IN THAT DISTRICT, WHATEVER THE BOUNDARIES ARE AT THAT TIME, WHETHER STRAW SUITS OR NOT.

AND I DIDN'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF.

NO, WHAT I'M, WHAT I'M SAYING IS THEY, THAT'S A VERY GOOD ASSUMPTION, BUT LET ME JUST PUT A LITTLE CAVEAT TO IT.

IT'S NOT SAYING THAT THEY CAN'T FILE AN OBJECTION AFTER THE QUALIFYING PERIOD.

IT JUST WEAKENS THE ABILITY TO SHOW THAT YOU DID IT TIMELY AND IT LEADS TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE COURT'S GONNA THROW IT OUT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT IN A SUFFICIENT, IT WAS NOT IN A TIMELY MANNER.

CORRECT.

WELL THAT, THAT CHANGES MY, UH, PERCEPTION ON THIS, UH, COMMITTEE AND SO ON.

SO I, IT WAS BROUGHT UP EARLIER ABOUT EVERYONE WAS ASKED.

I, I WASN'T ASKED, I WENT BACK THROUGH MY TEXT.

I WENT BACK THROUGH MY EMAILS AND EVERYTHING, BUT, UH, DEPENDING ON, YOU KNOW, WHO'S ON THIS COMMITTEE AND I, I KNOW YOU HAVE A LINEUP NOW, BUT, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SERVE COUNSEL.

YOU'D LIKE TO SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE.

I MEAN, I THINK WE CAN, I, I THINK WE CAN BALANCE THIS OUT.

WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB WITH THE CATS.

I THINK WE CAN DO THAT WITH THIS.

AND YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S ANYBODY ELSE, I, I KNOW WE'RE ALREADY SERVING ON ONE, BUT, UH, I LIKE TO SEE THAT WE CAN WORK OUT THE NEXT PROCESS AND MOVE FORWARD FOR THE NEXT, UM, REDISTRICTING, UH, MOTION TO APPROVE COUNCIL MEMBER, BENCH MOTION, MOTION TO APPROVE.

AND DO I NEED TO ADD, YEAH.

YOU NEED TO ADD COUNCIL MEMBER MO.

SO FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, UH, THEY SAY LESS IS MORE.

I GOTTA REMEMBER WHAT, UH THAT'S.

WHAT, WHAT, YEAH.

REMEMBER THAT HERS TOLD ME.

SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE, UH, INCLUDE, UH, COUNCILMAN AARON MO.

AND, UM, AND, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO US WORKING TOGETHER.

I DID, I DO.

YOU DID WELL.

THAT'S MOTION TO APPROVE AND SECONDARY OUR COUNCIL MEMBER DONE.

I HAVE HAVE THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT UP AGAIN.

MAYBE SOMEONE ELSE DID NOT.

I HONESTLY GET THE EMAIL.

SO I'D LIKE TO, WHAT IS YOUR SUBSTITUTE MOTION? THAT'S IT SUBSTITUTE MOTION? I DON'T THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION BEFORE WE VOTE ON THE MOTION.

SHAWN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ALLOW ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER TO, UM, SO CAN COUNCILWOMAN BANKS, CAN YOU RESTATE WHO ALL WOULD BE ON THE COMMITTEE AT THIS MOMENT? OKAY.

SO, UM, ON THE COM ON THE COMMITTEE AT THIS MOMENT, UH, FIRST OF ALL, I DID ASK COUNCILMAN NO, AND, AND YOURSELF, UM, CHINA BANKS, CAROLYN COLEMAN COLE, SAN FRAN SON.

THEY HERSE CLEVE DUN AARON MO ROD GORE.

I I'D LIKE TO REQUEST TO SERVE.

I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.

THE MORE MERRIER, WELL, IT'LL BE A PUBLIC MEETING ANYWAY.

OH, WE GOTTA MAKE SURE THERE'S NO MORE THAN SIX, BY THE WAY, WE COULD HAVE MY SPOT.

I CAN, I CAN ASK MR. UH, IF I CAN ASK MR. DODSON A QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

UM, FROM A, FROM A PUBLIC MEETING STANDPOINT, IT'S NOT A PROBLEM, UM, BECAUSE ALL THESE MEETINGS WOULD BE PUBLIC ANYWAY, BUT, UH, I DON'T KNOW.

I'M PUTTING YOU ON THE SPOT.

DO YOU THINK THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH HAVING A COMMITTEE THAT'S MADE UP OF MORE THAN SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS BOARD IN SEATS? WELL, YOU HAVE SEVEN RIGHT NOW.

OH YEAH.

IT'S LEFT UP TO PRUDENT PRUDENCE TO DETERMINE HOW MANY PEOPLE SHOULD BE THERE.

I NEED, UH, WELL, EIGHT ACTUALLY.

SORRY.

SO SAY IT, I THINK I'M SORRY.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE ANALYSIS THAT YOU DID, AND THIS IS OFF THE CUFF AND I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT A LITTLE FURTHER.

MM-HMM I THINK YOU GO THROUGH THE ANALYSIS YOU DID AS YOU FIRST IS A VIOLATION OF PUBLIC MEETINGS, OPEN MEETINGS LAW, RIGHT.

AND BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT IT'S GONNA BE PUBLICIZED AND THERE'S GONNA BE NOTICE GIVEN, AND THERE'S AN AGENDA PUBLISHED.

I THINK WE GET PAST THAT PRONG.

THE OTHER THING IS, IS THAT THE PLAINTIFF GOVERNMENT AUTHORIZES THESE COMMITTEES TO BE ESTABLISHED.

AND WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT BEFORE, I DON'T THINK IF I CAN REMEMBER THERE'S ANY SET AMOUNT THAT IS SET FORTH ON THE PLAN OF GOVERNOR AS TO HOW MANY MEMBERS CAN BE IN THERE.

SO I THINK

[03:35:01]

SURE.

SO I, I THINK SIX OR SEVEN IS PROBABLY FINE.

EIGHT IS PROBABLY PUSHING IT IN MY OPINION, EIGHT WILL BE THE MAX THAT I WOULD DO, BUT I THINK SIX OR SEVEN SHOULD BE FINE BASED ON THAT ANALYSIS.

WHAT WE CAN LOOK AT A LITTLE FURTHER AND I'LL LET Y'ALL KNOW ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN THAT, BUT THAT'S, I WILL ROLL OFF UNTIL YOU COME BACK WITH THAT INFORMATION.

YES, SIR.

UH, AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, ADAM, YOU CAN HAVE MY SPOT IF, TO GET APPROVED.

IF THAT THAT'LL HELP US GET IT APPROVED TONIGHT.

DO YOU WANNA STAY HOME? WHY YOU TRYING TO GET RID OF PEOPLE? NO, HE, HE, HE OFFERED TO MAKE IT A SIX.

HE OFFERED TO MAKE IT SIX BALANCE.

SO WE DIDN'T THERE.

WASN'T NO QUESTION ABOUT THE WHATEVER.

WHEN, WHEN COUNCILMAN COLE DECIDED, UM, I, I WAS JUST TRYING TO KEEP IT BALANCED SO WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

COUNCILMAN CLEAVE CANNOT GET OFF.

NOW GO TO ITEM 87, WHICH IS ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES, LOT 67, 3 72 SQUARE, TWO SUBDIVISION, MONTE SAINT OHIO FARMS, DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN, 60 87.

SO DID, DID YOU SAY BALANCE GOD, THERE'S A MOTION TO APPROVE ONLY HAVING SIX, LIKE SIX, SIX.

THERE'S A MOMENT TO APPROVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, BANK 70 BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

DUN, IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO THE ITEM ITEM? 64 HAS PASSED COUNCIL MEMBERS.

[87. 22-01137]

TO YOUR SEPARATE SHEET FOR ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON 87? WE NOW GO BACK TO COUNSELORS.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE 87? SO MOVE BY DONE.

SECONDED BY ROCKER 87 HAS BEEN APPROVED.

COUNCIL MEMBERS GO

[ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS]

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER, A 22 0 1 2 37 AUTHORIZED MAYOR.

PRESIDENT IS ACCEPTED GRAND AWARD AND AMOUNT OF 15 MILLION, 390 2009 AND 9094 CENTS $14,491,327 AND 2 CENTS FEDERAL SHARE UNDER THE FLOOD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE.

2020 GRANT.

THIS PROJECT WILL ACQUIRE DEMOLITION OF 36 PROPERTIES AND ELEVATE 39 RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES THAT ARE PRONE TO FLOODING IN EAST WICK PARISH BY HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPARED AND DIRECTED.

THE REASON THIS ITEM IS BEING REQUESTED AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER, THE ITEM IS REQUESTED TO BE PRESENTED TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER DUE TO THE GRANT APPROVAL RECEIVED ON SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2022, SUBSEQUENTLY FOLLOWING THE METRO COUNCIL AGENDA DEADLINE, MOST STEP WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN MITIGATION WORK AND REDUCED FLOOD RISK BARR PARISH, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, NEED A MOTION TO WAIT THE RULES TO ALLOW THE ITEM TO BE INTRODUCED REQUIRES A SECOND IS THEIR MOTION.

SO MOVE BY ODAY.

SECOND BY COLEMAN PUBLIC HEARING ON IS ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION AWAY THE RULES.

WE'RE NOT GONNA VOTE ON THE MOTIONAL WAY.

THE RULES IN THEIR OPPOSITION.

WE NOT NEED THE MOTION TO INTRODUCE ITEM BY GO.

THEY SECOND.

AND BY COLEMAN, THE ITEM HAS BEEN INTRODUCED SECOND ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER, RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE BRIDGE CENTER OF HOPE BY THE CHAIR WE NEED.

THAT IS, THIS IS TO BE INTRODUCED TONIGHT AND HEARD NEXT WEEK.

IS THERE A MOTIONAL WAY? THE RULES THAT REQUIRES A SECOND.

SO MOVE MOTION BY COLEMAN SECOND AND BYA.

IS ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE MOTIONAL WAY? THE RULES? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTIONAL WAY THE RULES? IS THERE A HEARING ON THE ITEM THERE, A MOTION TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM? IS THERE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM? SO MOVE BY COLEMAN SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, DUN COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL HEAR THAT ITEM ON NEXT WEEK.

OUR, OUR REPORT FROM THE BRI.

NOW WE

[88. 22-00998]

GO TO ITEM APPOINTMENTS, ITEM 88, MUNICIPAL FIRE AND POLICE SERVICE POLICE, CIVIL SERVICE CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTING AND REPLACING SHARON LEWIS WHO'S TERMS EXPIRE ON JULY 23RD, 2022 EFFECTIVE JULY 24TH, 2022.

THIS IS THREE YEAR TERM FROM LOUISIANA STATE APPOINTMENT.

CURRENT BALANCE IS JENNIFER CARDWELL AND LOU D RANDOLPH.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 88.

WE NOW GO BACK TO COUNCIL NUMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBERS REAL QUICKLY.

Y'ALL HAD ONE EMAIL COMMENT AND OPPOSITION TO ITEM 88.

UM, IF I CAN MAKE A COMMENT REAL QUICKLY, UM, WE DID, I DID HAVE COMMUNICATION WITH THE LSU PRESIDENT'S OFFICE ABOUT THIS.

THEY HAD THEIR GENERAL COUNSEL WEIGH IN ON THE ELIGIBILITY OF THESE TWO PEOPLE TO SERVE.

AND THEIR OFFICE HAS DETERMINED THAT BOTH PEOPLE ARE, UM, ELIGIBLE, UH, LOU RANDOLPH.

I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER THIS PERSON CONTINUES TO WORK FOR LSU.

UM, THEY DO NOT.

UH, THEY, ACCORDING TO THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE, THEY LEFT EMPLOYMENT WITH LSU ABOUT A MONTH AGO.

SO, UM, THEY'VE RE NOMINATED THEM PRESIDENT'S OFFICE.

INFORMATION'S FROM THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE.

ALL OF THAT.

COUNCILMAN MO COUNCILMAN BOON.

COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN MOTION TO APPOINT LOU RANDOLPH.

THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO APPOINT LOU RANDOLPH SECONDED BY THE CHAIRS THEN IN OPPOSITION TO LOSE RANDOLPH BEING APPOINTED.

CONGRATULATIONS.

OH, I'M SORRY.

I WAS JUST GONNA MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DEFER.

I, I WILL ADMIT

[03:40:01]

I, I WAS OPERATING UNDER THE, UH, ASSUMPTION THAT NEITHER ONE OF THESE FOLKS WERE ELIGIBLE.

AND SO I REALLY HAVEN'T DONE ANY DUE DILIGENCE ON EITHER ONE OF THEM.

I KNOW JENNIFER CALWELL, BUT I, I DON'T KNOW MS. RANDOLPH.

UM, SO I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER, UH, FOR TWO WEEKS, ONE WEEK, ONE WEEK, NEXT TWO.

SO THERE'S A MOTION TO DEFER THIS ITEM FOR WHATEVER THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DEFER THE ITEM FOR THREE WEEKS.

UH, THE SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER MO WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

FIRST.

MAY I ASK A QUESTION? SURE.

THE LSU PRESIDENT'S OFFICE SENT TO US, BOTH OF THESE NAMES.

THEY, THE STATUTE REQUIRES LSU AND SOUTHERN TO NOMINATE TWO PEOPLE FOR THE POSITION THAT THEY GET TO NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR.

UM, AND OBVIOUSLY WE'VE BEEN THROUGH SEVERAL WEEKS OF, UM, THE, THE REALLY STRICT REQUIREMENTS OF THIS STATE STATUTE.

SO, UM, THESE ARE THE TWO THAT THEY HAVE REQUESTED Y'ALL TO CHOOSE FROM.