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SECOND TO JUAN, DO YOU HAVE IT? GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY,
[CALL TO ORDER]
AND WELCOME TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PRESENTATION PORTION OF OUR METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING ON OCTOBER 26TH AT 3:30 PM UP.FIRST, WE WILL HAVE MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTON BROOM TO RECOGNIZE AARON BRADFORD.
NUMBER TWO, EXCUSE ME, TO RECOGNIZE OFFICER SAN ANTONIO WILLIAMS, COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR TO WESTDALE HEIGHTS ACADEMIC MAGNET MAYOR, PRESIDENT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR PRO TIM AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL ACROSS THE NATION THIS WEEK, OCTOBER THE 23RD THROUGH THE 31ST, IS RECOGNIZED AS NATIONAL RED RIBBON WEEK TO PROVIDE AWARENESS AROUND DRUG PREVENTION, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY TO THE YOUTH.
CITIZENS OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH ARE ENCOURAGED TO JOIN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOLS, TEACHERS, PARENTS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND PARISH OFFICIALS IN ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE INDIVIDUALS AND TO CREATE, ACHIEVE, AND MAINTAIN CARING RESPONSIBLE LIFESTYLES.
THE EASTBOUND ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD HAS ENCOURAGED ALL SCHOOLS TO PLAN AND DEVELOP ACTIVITIES IN CONJUNCTION WITH EYECARE RED RIBBON MONTH, WHERE THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS PROMOTE HEALTHY, SAFE, AND DRUG FREE LIFESTYLES.
THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IS COMMITTED TO EDUCATION AND THE WELLBEING OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS AND THE NURTURING OF ALL IN REACHING THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
THEREFORE, AS THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IN PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, WE WILL RECOGNIZE THE MONTH OF OCTOBER AS ICARE RED RIBBON MONTH, ALONG WITH THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND, AND THAT'S JUST PART ONE.
AND AARON, YOU CAN, UM, YOU ARE WELCOME TO SAY SOMETHING.
IT'S ALWAYS A JOY WHEN WE SHED LIGHT ON OUR BATON ROUGE POLICE OFFICERS, RIGHT? AND THE EXCEPTIONAL JOB THEY DO TO PROTECT AND SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS EVENING, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OFFICER ANTONIO WILLIAMS, A SIX YEAR VETERAN OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND A BATON ROUGE NATIVE WHO TAKES PRIDE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
OFFICER WILLIAMS ATTENDED GLEN OAKS HIGH SCHOOL AND NOW PATROLS THOSE SAME STREETS, SEEING THE BEST IN PEOPLE, AND FOCUSED ON THE JOB HE DESCRIBES AS A GIFT.
YOU MAY RECOGNIZE OFFICER WILLIAMS FROM MAKING LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES LAST YEAR FOR HIS QUICK AND SMART DECISION MAKING IN A VOLATILE SITUATION, WHICH EARNED HIM ACCOLADES AS A LOCAL HERO.
TODAY HE SERVES AS A COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR TO WESTDALE HEIGHTS ACADEMIC MAGNET.
AT THIS TIME, I PRESENT A CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION TO OFFICER ANTONIO WILLIAMS FOR STRENGTHENING POLICE AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS BY PROVIDING EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO WESTDALE HEIGHTS ACADEMIC MAGNET IN MULTIPLE CAPACITIES, ENSURING THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND FACULTY.
THANK YOU OFFICER, FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO SERVING BATON ROUGE.
YOU ARE TRULY AN ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO WE DO THIS IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR RED RIBBON MOTHER.
DID YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
MAYOR BROOM, MAYOR PROTE, AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE A COMMUNITY ASSET ON OUR BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ALSO, ONE OF MY FORMER STUDENTS, ALSO ONE OF THE FORMER STUDENTS OF MISS KAVANAUGH, WHO IS A PRINCIPAL OF WESTDALE HEIGHTS ACADEMIC MAGNET.
WE ARE SO APPRECIATIVE AND WE WANT YOU TO KNOW, OFFICER WILLIAMS, THAT YOU ARE OF VALUE TO OUR STUDENTS AS WE RECOGNIZE RED RIBBON WEAK.
WE KNOW WE HAVE SO MANY THINGS RIGHT TO BE WATCHFUL FOR, ESPECIALLY AS WE COME UP WITH HOW COME UP TO HALLOWEEN.
BUT WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR A COMMUNITY THAT THAT CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE EYE CARE PROGRAM AS WE DO DRUG ALCOHOL AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
WE'RE THANKFUL FOR OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MISS AARON PUO BRADFORD FOR HER SUPPORT, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS THAT SUPPORT US IN OUR DISTRICT.
OFFICER WILLIAMS, YOU ARE LOVED AND APPRECIATED BEYOND MEASURE, KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
LITERALLY OUR CHILDREN ARE WATCHING.
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JUST WANTED TO SAY ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE AT WESTELL HEIGHTS ACADEMIC MAGNET SCHOOL, WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR OFFICER WILLIAMS. UM, HE IS A GREAT ROLE MODEL FOR OUR STUDENTS.HE HELPS WITH CARPOOL, AND WHEN HE'S NOT THERE, THEY ASK WHERE IS OFFICER WILLIAMS TODAY? SO, THANK YOU OFFICER WILLIAMS. AARON, YOU GONNA SAY SOMETHING OR YOU OR THAT'S, THAT'S EVERYBODY.
CONGRATULATIONS OFFICER WILLIAMS. NEXT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN COLEMAN TO RECOGNIZE CHARLES AEP JONES FOR HIS 90TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, THANK YOU.
I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE JUDGE TIFFANY FOXWORTH IF I SEE AN AUDIENCE.
HOW YOU DOING, JUDGE? SO NICE FOR YOU TO JOIN US TODAY, BUT WILL YOU BE STAYING FOR THE ENTIRE MEETING? JUDGE, WE APPRECIATE YOU.
YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO STAY FOR THE ENTIRE MEETING, JUDGE.
AND SO I SAY GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE AND YES, THAT'S RIGHT.
YOUR PROGRAM IS CORRECT WHEN IT SAYS THAT WE ARE RECOGNIZING A YOUNG MAN HERE WHO'S MAKING A 90TH BIRTHDAY.
I DIDN'T SAY NINE, I DIDN'T SAY 19 90TH.
SO GIVE IT UP FOR MR. CHARLES.
MR. JONES HERE WAS BORN OCTOBER 23RD, SO HE JUST HAD A BIRTHDAY, 1932 IN SOUTH BATON ROUGE, DISTRICT 10.
HE'S A LOVING HUSBAND AND FATHER MARRIED TO HARRIET JONES FOR OVER 60 YEARS.
SO YOU YOUNG, DEEPER TAKING, HE WORKED AT LSU FOR 38 YEARS, RETIRING AS A SUPERVISOR.
HE'S THE PAST MASTER OF EAST IN LARGE NUMBER 2 0 9, AND A MEMBER FOR OVER 60 YEARS.
SO YOU KNOW WHERE HIS PASSION IS.
HE CURRENTLY SERVES AS DISTRICT DEPUTY AT LARGE FOR THE MOST WORSHIPFUL, PRINCE HALL GRAND, LARGE OF LOUISIANA.
AND SO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I PRESENT THIS CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION TO MR. CHARLES A DEPP JONES IN CELEBRATION OF HIS 90TH BIRTHDAY.
AND WE JUST ASKED THAT GOD CONTINUED TO BLESS YOU SOME MORE, MORE, MORE.
I I I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THIS WAS A SURPRISE TO ME AND I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY AT SCHOOL.
OKAY? BUT THEY TRICKED ME THIS TIME.
OKAY? I WENT HOME SUNDAY AND I UP IN THERE.
MY SON'S SICK, SO I SAID, I HAVE A QUIET BIRTHDAY.
ONE OF THE BROTHERS VISIT ME AND HE SAID, SOMEBODY CALLED HIM ON THE PHONE.
HE SAID, YOU WANT ME RIGHT NOW? HE SAID, YEAH.
HE SAID, OH, YOU KNOW, DEB, I WANT A PIECE OF THAT LUMBER.
I SAID, GET IT? HE SAID, NO, I WANNA SHOW YOU WHAT I NEED.
I WENT OUTSIDE WITH HIM, JUST SEE WHAT HE NEEDED AND HE JUST PICKED ME OUTSIDE.
AND WHEN I TURNED AROUND, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY CARS WAS LINED UP.
RIGHT? SO, MR, WE NEED TO TAKE A PICTURE.
WHERE IS WHAT? AND COME ON, GENTLEMEN.
SO LET'S, LET'S, YEAH, LET'S DO SOMETHING.
MR. WHAT'S GOING ON? WILL THEY COMING? HE WENT STEPPED OUTSIDE.
WE WILL WAIT FOR HIM TO COME BACK IN.
WHERE IS SHAWN? IS SHE UP NEXT? SHE MAY STAY RIGHT THERE.
WHERE, WHERE DID SHAWN BANKS GO? COUNCIL NUMBER BANKS.
HE'S, SHE'S, SHE IS JAMIE WENT TO GET HIM.
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RIGHT NEXT WE'LL HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER SHAWNA BANKS TO RECOGNIZE WILLIAM R AARON II, SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE OFFICE OF THE PARISH ATTORNEY AND DONNA DURE, LEGAL ASSISTANT OFFICE OF THE PARISH ATTORNEY COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.SO OFTEN OUR, UM, PROTEM RECOGNIZES EAST GREENWICH PARISH EMPLOYEES.
UH, SO I'M JUST GONNA TAKE A PAGE FROM HIS, UH, BOOK AND IN INTRODUCTIONS AND PRESENTATIONS INTRODUCED TO YOU ALL AND TO OTHERS, ACKNOWLEDGE WILLIAM.
WE CALL HIM BILLY AARON IS SECOND.
HE'S OUR SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT WITH THE OFFICE OF THE PARISH ATTORNEY AND HIS LEGAL ASSISTANT, DONNA DUPRE, WHO IS ALSO WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY.
SO, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISHS HAS TO DO WITH BLIGHT.
A LOT OF THAT BLIGHT IS ASSOCIATED WITH ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES.
UH, ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES PROBABLY MONTH FOR ABOUT 6,000, OR IS IT GONE DOWN? IT'S GOING DOWN.
SO WHEN I GOT ON COUNCIL ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, IT WAS OVER 6,000 PROPERTIES.
SINCE THAT TIME, WILLIAM AARON AND HIS STAFF HAVE BEEN VERY CREATIVE IN COMING UP AND WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL ON PROGRAMS THAT HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED THAT OPPORTUNITY.
THEY'VE ACTUALLY MADE ACQUIRING ADJUDICATED PROPERTY VERY POPULAR AND SOMEWHAT SEXY
SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE PROGRAMS UNDER BILLY'S LEADERSHIP.
SO WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVE REGULAR CELLS OF ADJUDICATED PROPERTY DIRECTED THROUGH THE PARISH ATTORNEY.
ONE IS THAT WE HAVE MOTOR OWN SALES.
MOTOR OWN SALES ARE VERY EXCITING BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A, IF THERE'S ADJUDICATED PROPERTY THAT TOUCH YOUR BOUNDARIES AND YOU HAVE BEEN TAKING CARE OF THAT PROPERTY, WE HAVE A PROGRAM WHERE YOU MAY BE ABLE TO ACQUIRE THAT PROPERTY.
UNDER BILLY'S LEADERSHIP, WE ALSO HAVE CONTRACTED WITH CIVIC SOURCE, WHICH IS A WAY IN WHICH ADJUDICATED PROPERTY IS ACQUIRED, AND THEY HELP WITH MAKING SURE THAT ALL THE TIS ARE CLEAR, WHICH IS A HUGE PROBLEM.
THIS HAS ALLOWED THE, UM, CITY PARISH GOVERNMENT TO, UH, GAIN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF REVENUES.
THE OTHER THING THAT, UH, BILLY HAS IS, UM, A CORPORATE ENDEAVOR WHERE HE WORKS WITH THE CORPORATE ENDEAVORS WITH BILL BATON ROUGE TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY.
A LOT OF THIS IS HELPING WITH OUR COMMERCIAL, UH, PROPERTIES BEING BROUGHT INTO COMMERCE.
THE OTHER THING THAT I'M VERY EXCITED, ONE OF THE LATEST THINGS THAT, UM, BILLY HAS IS MY, IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE.
SO IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE ENABLES OUR CONSTITUENCY, UM, THAT ARE NONPROFIT NONPROFITS TO ACQUIRE ADJUDICATED PROPERTY FOR PUBLIC USE.
SO ALL OF THOSE HAVE REALLY BECOME VERY POPULAR.
UM, WE ARE HAVING MEETINGS COMING UP, BUT WE STARTED HAVING THE MEETINGS PRE PANDEMIC, I THINK ABOUT 2018, I THINK.
AND I THINK BILLY NEEDS A WHOLE STAFF BY ITSELF.
NOW, DON'T YOU AGREE, DONNA? BECAUSE THE, UM, THE POPULARITY HAS SIGNIFICANTLY GROWN FROM THE KNEE TO TWO AND A HALF, PROBABLY TO THREE.
SO THAT IS MY SPILL FOR TODAY.
BUT I WOULD LIKE YOU ALL, FIRST OF ALL, TO PLEASE GIVE WILLIAM BILLY, ERIC, HIS, WAS IT YOUR DAD OR GRANDDAUGHTER? DAD WITH BUSH? BUSH BUSHY WAS HIS DAD.
SO WHEN I TALK ABOUT WILLIAM AARON TO OLD FOLKS THAT LIVE IN CENTRAL, THEY THINK I'M TALKING ABOUT BUSHY, AND I'M LIKE, NO, THIS BUSHY SON
SO, UH, HE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF, UH, HIS FATHER AS WELL IN CITY PARISH GOVERNMENT.
SO I WANT Y'ALL TO PLEASE STAND FOR BILLY, BECAUSE IF IT WASN'T FOR BILLY, WE WOULD STILL BE HAVING 6,000 ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND MUCH LESS, UM, ABILITY TO TRANSFER TO JUST NORMAL FOLKS.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT, UH, THE WONDERFUL PART OF THIS IS THAT YOU COULD BE A NOVICE, YOU COULD BE BE JUST AN AVERAGE JOE AND YOU ARE ABLE TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY AND TAKE THAT OFF THE, UM, ROLES OF, UH, OUR CITY PARISH GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS ALREADY OVERBURDENED.
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SO BILLY, I WANT YOU TO SAY A FEW WORDS, AND DONNA, YOU HAVE TO, BECAUSE YOU ARE A CUSTOMER SERVICE QUEEN, AND, UM, WE ARE GONNA TELL YOU ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S COMING UP TOMORROW.I, I KNOW WE COME BEFORE THE COUNSELING.
I KNOW I FILL UP YOUR AGENDA WITH A LOT OF THINGS.
UH, DONNA IS THE FACE WHO GETS TO MEET WITH EVERYONE, AND THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR OFFICE THAT WE RECRUIT AND MAKE WORK ON THIS TOO.
AND, UH, THIS IS A VERY UNEXPECTED BUT VERY THANKFUL THING.
CAN YOU, UH, PUT THE ANNOUNCEMENT, UM, IT'SS, LET'S TAKE A PICTURE FOR, FOR, UH, SEND FOR WHEELS LAST MM-HMM.
SO IF YOU CAN SEE THE SCREEN TO THE LEFT, HUH? OH, YOU GOT YOUR PICTURE TOO.
SO, UM, JUST BRIEFLY, WE'RE HAVING A SPOTLIGHT ON BLIGHT TWO.
I'M HAVING TWO COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
THIS IS TARGETING THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF BAKER BECAUSE SO OFTEN WE HEAR THOSE, UM, COMMUNITIES SAY THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T GET THE ATTENTION, SO WE'RE TRYING TO HELP THEM.
UM, MANY OF THOSE AREAS, UH, A LOT OF THIS IS IN YOUR AREA THAT WAS FLOODING ALL SPUR LANE.
AND SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE AREAS THAT WE WANT TO, UM, PAY ATTENTION TO.
AND, UH, WE INVITE YOU AND I'VE GIVEN EVERYBODY A CARD.
PLEASE LET ANYONE KNOW THAT IS INTERESTED IN KNOWING HOW TO ACQUIRE ADJUDICATED PROPERTY.
UH, WE'RE ALSO GONNA HAVE THESE SPANISH ROUGE PARISH SHERIFF TO TELL YOU HOW TO GET SHERIFF SALES, TAX SALES, AND THREE 11 CALLS, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.
SO IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT'S, AND IT'S GONNA BE, UH, LIKE THE PREACHER SAID POWER PACK MEETING.
YOU'VE COME OUT, BILLY, I'M, EXCUSE ME, COME OUT TO DISTRICT SEVEN AND DONE THE SAME THING.
I GOT THE IDEA FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER BANK.
SO I THINK IT'S WISE THAT YOU DO IT ALL OVER THE CITY WHERE WE KNOW THERE IS AN ABUNDANCE OF ADJUDICATED PROPERTY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH AIMS TO MAKE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THIS GLOBAL HEALTH ISSUE.
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, MEDICAL SOCIETIES, AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WORK WITH SURVIVORS DURING OCTOBER TO RAISE MONEY TO FUND RESEARCH, EDUCATE WOMEN ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING REGULAR MAMMOGRAMS AND PREVENTION IN EARLY DETECTION METHODS.
NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS.
MONDAYS BACK TO OCTOBER, 1985.
THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST ORGANIZED MOVEMENT TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE DANGERS OF BREAST CANCER OCCURRED IN THE UNITED STATES.
SINCE THEN, CAMPAIGNS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THIS DISEASE HAVE CONTINUED TO THRIVE.
AND MULTIPLY BREAST CANCER IS THE MOST COMMON FORM OF CANCER AFFECTING WOMEN.
FOR EXAMPLE, AS OF 2008, 1.4 MILLION NEW CASES WERE REPORTED WORLDWIDE.
ALSO, THERE WERE 458,000 DEATHS CONTRIBUTED TO THE DISEASE ON A GLOBAL SCALE.
CURRENTLY, THE REGION OF THE WORLD WITH THE HIGHEST RATE OF BREAST CANCER RELATED CASES IS NORTH AMERICA.
A PINK RIBBON IS AN INTERNATIONAL SYS SYMBOL OF NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.
IN OCTOBER OF 1992, SELF MAGAZINE CREATED A PINK REP RIBBON CONCEPT TO SYMBOLIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF BREAST CANCER AWARENESS.
LATER, SELF-EDIT, ALEXANDRA PENNY TEAMED UP WITH COSMETIC COMPANY ESTEE LAUDER AND THEIR THEN VICE PRESIDENT EVELYN ACE LUDE.
AS A RESULT, 1.5 MILLION PINK RIBBONS WERE DISTRIBUTED AT ESTEE LAUDER COSMETIC COUNTERS WORLDWIDE, THEN LAUDER OF BREAST CANCER SURVIVED.
FORMED THE BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION, WHICH HAS RAISED MORE THAN $325 MILLION FOR BREAST CANCER RESEARCH.
AS YOU ALL CAN SEE, MANY OF US ARE WEARING PINK IN HONOR OF BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH AND TODAY, UH, MYSELF, COUNCIL MEMBER JEN ROCK, A COUNCIL MEMBER DAR HURT, COUNCIL MEMBER CLE DUN JR.
AND THE REST OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE SOME BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND FIRST UP TO DO SO, IS COUNCIL MEMBER JEN ROCK.
IT'D BE NICE IF YOU WENT TO THE PODIUM IN THAT BRIGHT PINK DRESS AND RECOGNIZED THE FATHERS.
THE FIRST PERSON I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE HIS NAME, DIANE BRIDGET.
SHE COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY BECAUSE SHE WAS ACTUALLY TAKING A FELLOW, UM, FELLOW PERSON THAT IS CURRENTLY BATTLING CANCER YET AGAIN TO HER APPOINTMENT.
SO, UM, DIANE IS A WARRIOR AND SHE HAS BEEN CANCER FREE FOR 15 YEARS.
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LIKE TO RECOGNIZE IS MARGIE GO DAY.UM, MS. MARGIE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THIS IS SUPER UNEXPECTED.
I'VE DONE SOME THINGS IN MY LIFE THAT I SHOULD GET CREDIT FOR.
I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.
THIS WAS MY DOCTOR AND THE GOD ABOVE THAT KEPT ME HERE FOR 20 YEARS TO SEE ALL THREE OF MY KIDS GRADUATED AND UP.
AND, UM, I, I'M FILLED WITH GRATITUDE.
THIS IS SO UNNECESSARY, BUT GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
NEXT UP WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN COLEMAN.
AND ALONG THOSE SAME LINES, AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE MS. JANICE DRAKE TO COME ON UP HERE.
MS. JANICE DRAKE HAS BEEN CANCER FREE FOR 13 YEARS, AND MISS JANICE SHARED WITH MY SENIORS AT THE LEO S BUTLER CENTER ON YESTERDAY.
AND NOT ONLY DID SHE JUST SHARE ABOUT ALL THAT THEY NEED TO KNOW AND LOOK OUT FOR, BUT SHE ALSO BROUGHT THEM SOME LITTLE TOKENS OF THANK YOU.
AND THEY WERE ALL PINK AND SHE EVEN BROUGHT ME ONE.
SO, MS. JANICE, ON BEHALF OF US AND ME AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE HERE BEING RECOGNIZED AS A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR, YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED BRAVERY AND INNER STRENGTH AND HOPE TO MANY OTHERS, THE COURAGE AND DETERMINATION AND MADE THE FULFILLMENT OF LIFE BE YOURS IN THE DAYS AHEAD.
AND I WANNA TAKE THIS TIME TO SAY THANK YOU.
WHEN I RECEIVED THE PHONE CALL AND SAID THAT I WAS TO COME PICK UP A CERTIFICATE, I THOUGHT I WOULD JUST COME PICK UP A CERTIFICATE.
AND YES, IT IS BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT I STAND FOR YOU, AND I AM VERY PLEASED.
I REALLY ENJOYED MY TIME THAT I HAD WITH THE SENIORS YESTERDAY.
AFTER ALL, I AM A SENIOR, SO IT WAS VERY EASY TO RELATE, BUT IT IS SO IMPORTANT.
SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THAT TIME TO RECOGNIZE THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SURVIVED BREAST CANCER, BUT ALSO BREAST CANCER AWARENESS.
NEXT, WE'RE HERE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CLE.
I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE FOR TWO YEARS OF CANCER SURVIVOR CHARICE, DENISE BUTLER.
THANK, THANK, UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT IT IS AN HONOR TO STILL BE HERE IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING.
AND I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT PEOPLE, UH, MAKING OTHERS AWARE OF THIS AWFUL DISEASE AND, UM, YEAH, BRINGING AWARENESS TO BREAST CANCER.
AND I WANNA SAY THANK YOU AGAIN.
NEXT I WANNA RECOGNIZE EIGHT YEARS OF SURVIVORSHIP.
JAMES, UH, SARAH IS A HUGE ADVOCATE FOR BREAST CANCER.
DO A NUMBER OF EVENTS, UH, THROUGHOUT THIS PARISH, THROUGHOUT THIS STATE TO PROMOTE AWARENESS AND, UH, HELPING SURVIVORS.
SO I WANNA RECOGNIZE SARAH HOLIDAY.
UM, I KNOW MOST OF YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE FAMILIAR WITH MY, UM, JOURNEY.
IT'S BEEN, UH, EIGHT YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN FIGHTING TO FIGHT AND STEALING TREATMENT AND
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TRYING TO GIVE INFORMATION OUT TO ENCOURAGE OTHER PEOPLE TO, TO MAKE SURE THEY GET CHECKED AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT BREAST CANCER BECAUSE IT IS A SERIOUS MATTER.BUT I PRAISE GOD EVERY DAY AND THANK HIM FOR THE JOURNEY.
AND MY HUSBAND, LARRY, MY BIGGEST SUPPORTER, TO MAKING SURE I STILL GO TO TREATMENT EVERY THREE WEEKS AND, AND GET MY TREATMENT.
SO ANY PRAYERS AND THE, UH, WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENTS THAT I HEAR FROM Y'ALL, DON'T STOP.
YOU TURN BACK THIS WAY, BUDDY.
YEAH, NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT MR. WITH THAT PHOTOGRAPHER.
NEXT, WE'RE HERE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER DAR HURST.
UM, TODAY I COME UP HERE WITH A FEW FOLKS BECAUSE WE JOINTLY SERVE 250 TO 300 PEOPLE PER DAY AT THE CHARLES R. KELLER COMMUNITY CENTER.
SO, UH, TO MY RIGHT YOU HAVE ASHLEY, UH, GRIFFIN BENNETT, WHO IS THE SENATE DIRECTOR, AND YOU HAVE TRULY BEEN FROM COUNSEL ON AGING REPRESENTING THEM.
AND THEY DO A MAGNIFICENT JOB.
AND SO THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE REPRESENTING TODAY, UH, THAT WILL BE AWARDED TODAY, COME FROM THE PROGRAM THAT BETWEEN THE CHARLES R. KELLY COMMUNITY CENTER COUNSEL ON AGING.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT, THAT THEY WERE HERE TO, UH, SUPPORT THAT AWARD.
UM, THE FIRST PERSON THAT I WILL BRING UP IS MS. DOROTHY C. LEE.
SHE IS A, UH, 20 YEAR CANCER SURVIVOR.
SHE IS A STAPLE AT THE CHARLES ALL CELL COMMUNITY CENTER.
UM, THE EASTBOUNDS PASS COUNCIL AND AGENT AND THE CHARLES ALL CELL COMMUNITY CENTER HAVE ABOUT 80 PEOPLE THERE PER DAY, OUT OF THE TWO 50 TO 300 THAT WE SERVICE IN THAT PARTICULAR COMMUNITY CENTER.
AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE RESOURCE THAT THEY PROVIDE, THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE HAVE THERE, UH, FROM THE STAFF ON OUR END, THE STAFF ON THEIR END.
AND SO TODAY WE JUST WANT TO HONOR, UH, MS. DOROTHY LEE.
AND I'M NOT GONNA TAKE ANY THUNDER AWAY FROM THE, UM, UM, FROM MS. DOROTHY AND HER SURVIVOR EXPERIENCE.
BUT THE NEXT PERSON I'M GONNA BRING UP IS, IS MS. MAGGIE DOTY.
SHE IS A TRUE PICTURE OF WHAT BEING A FIGHTER IS BECAUSE SHE'S STILL FIGHTING.
SHE IS FIGHTING WITH HER FIFTH BOUT OF CANCER AS WE CURRENTLY SPEAK.
THIS LADY LITERALLY HAS BEEN ESCORTED FROM OUR COMMUNITY CENTER VIA AMBULANCE.
SHE JUST GOT OUTTA 2 CENTS OF STAY IN THE HOSPITAL.
I'M NOT TRYING TO TELL YOUR BUSINESS, BUT I WANNA TELL PEOPLE ABOUT YOUR POWER AND THE POWER OF GOD AND HOW HE'S WORKING IN YOU TO BE A VESSEL FOR OTHER PEOPLE AS WE ARE HERE ON THIS EARTH.
AND SO SHE'S BEEN WITH US ONLY ABOUT THREE OR FOUR MONTHS AS A MEMBER OF THE COUNSELING AGENT.
BUT EVERY TIME SHE GETS OUT OF THE HOSPITAL, SHE RUSHES BACK TO BE A PART OF THAT COUNSELING AGENT EXPERIENCE, WHICH IS WHY I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE HERE TODAY.
BECAUSE WHAT THEY DO GIVES LIFE.
IT GIVES A SECOND CHANCE FOR OPPORTUNITY FOR SENIORS TO HAVE FRIENDS TO LEARN NEW INTERESTS POST-RETIREMENT.
THEY ARE DOING JUST AN, JUST AN AMAZING JOB AT MAKING SURE THAT, UH, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PAVED THE WAY FOR US HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, LIVE THE REST OF THEIR DAYS OUT AND NOTHING BUT BLISS.
SO I WANNA JUST THANK THE COUNSELING AGENT, THANK ASHLEY AND THE CHARLES R. KELLY STAFF FOR MOST OF ALL.
THANK YOU, MS. MAGGIE, FOR BEING AN EXAMPLE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
I LIKE TO THINK IT CAN EVERYONE OF UP THAT COME OUT TODAY, BUT MOST LIKE, I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE ASK ME, DO CANCER HURT? BUT I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH IT FOR 12 YEARS.
AND NO, YOU DO NOT KNOW YOU HAVE, I DIDN'T KNOW I HAD IT UNTIL I HAD A MAMMOGRAM.
AND DURING THE TIME I WAS IN MY SECONDER STAGE WHEN I HAD THE MAMMOGRAM
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DONE, I, AND IT'S NOT JUST, IT'S NOT JUST FEMALE.SO I'M ASKING MENS, WOMEN'S, EVERYBODY PLEASE TAKE A MAMMOGRAM, GET TESTED BECAUSE CANCER IS NOTHING TO PLAY WITH.
I USED BE JUST LIKE Y'ALL RUNNING AT GUARD TO THE STORE DOING EVERYTHING FOR MYSELF.
NOW I GOT TO DEPEND ON THIS HERE AND MY FRIENDS HAD CHARGED OUT COUNTER.
CAN I ASK MY FAMILY? SO I'M ASKING YOU OUT TO JUST KEEP ME IN PRAYER AS I TRY TO GO OUT WITH MY LIFE.
I'M DOROTHY FRANKLIN, NOT DOROTHY AT THE LEE
BUT I THANK GOD FOR BEING HERE THAT WE CAME OUT TO TELL ONE ANOTHER AND PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT IT IS TOO.
CANCER IS A, UH, IS A BAD DISEASE.
BUT I THANK GOD CAUSE I'VE BEEN A PRAYING PERSON EVER SINCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL.
AND I'M STILL SINGING IN THE CHOIR.
I STILL GO TO CHARLES KELLY, DO EXERCISE ALL TIME.
BUT ALL THE OTHER THINGS PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD, I NEVER FROM HAVING MY TREATMENT, I NEVER HAD A SICKNESS, I NEVER HAD NAIA.
I WAS UP IN THERE TEACHING THEM THE WORD OF GOD AND MY DOCTOR CAME TO ME, MS. FRANKLIN, YOU SITTING UP IN HERE TEACHING THE PEOPLE, UH, THE BIBLE AND YOU JUST HAD A REAL BAD, WHAT THEY SAY, AGGRESSIVE, UH, CANCER TREATMENT.
I SAID, I DON'T FEEL NO DIFFERENT.
MY HUSBAND WAS LOOKING AT ME, MY MOM, SHE SAID, HE'D SAY, WELL, WHAT ABOUT YOU? YOU HAVE CANCER? I SAID, YES.
I'M NO DIFFERENT THAN NO ONE ELSE.
CANCER DON'T HAVE NO PICK AND CHOOSE.
SO ALL I CAN TELL YOU, I'M STILL GOING ONCE A YEAR TO GET CHECKED, BUT I HAVE 20 YEARS, I, I DON'T HAVE THOSE.
I THANK GOD, THAT'S ALL I CAN TELL.
AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, MAYOR PRO TEMP, AND COUNCILMAN DAR HERZ, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO, UM, SUPPORT THE SENIORS OF THIS PARISH.
YOU KNOW, OUR MISSION IS, UM, SERVING SENIORS AND SUPPORTING THEIR INDEPENDENCE.
AND AS YOU CAN TELL THE LADIES, NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF SITUATION THEY'RE IN, NO MATTER WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH, THEY STILL FIND THEIR WAY BACK TO, UM, THEIR, THEIR OUTLET.
AND THAT'S THE COUNCIL IN AGING TO BE WITH LIKE MINDS AND TO, UM, CONGREGATE WITH THEIR PEERS.
AND SO I'M, I'M HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY FOR YOU AND JUST KNOW THAT WE SUPPORT YOU AND JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.
AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES ON BEHALF OF THE CHARLES R. KELLY COMMUNITY CENTER, MISS MAGGIE AND MISS DOROTHY, I DO APOLOGIZE FOR THE LAST NAME CUZ WE HAVE TWO MISS DOROTHYS, I APOLOGIZE.
UM, IT'S A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS AND THANKS FOR ACCEPTING ME AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR FUTURE.
HEY, I WILL SAY ONE QUICK THING VERY QUICKLY.
WE HAVE, WELL, WE HAD TWO DOROTHYS WITH, WITH, UH, ON THE LIST.
ALL RIGHT, MS. DOROTHY FRANKLIN, WE, WE HAVE ALSO WHO COULDN'T BE HERE, MS. GEORGE DUNN.
UM, MS. ELLA MACKEY, UH, MS. ETHEL UNDERWOOD IS VET NEWIN AND WE ALSO ADD A MR. WILLIAM COOK.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE MEN AS WELL THAT HAVE STRUGGLED WITH CANCER.
YOU READY THERE? IN 2012, I GOT A CALL TO BE A PRINCIPAL AT A LOCAL MIDDLE SCHOOL.
UH, I DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT, BUT I TOOK THE, TOOK UP THE CHALLENGE AND THE FIRST PERSON I CALLED IS THE NEXT YOUNG LADY.
UH, WE ARE GOING TO ACKNOWLEDGE.
UH, IN 2017 SHE CAME TO ME ONE DAY IN MY OFFICE TO TELL ME, UH, SHE LEARNED SHE HAD CANCER AND ASKED ME, UH, WOULD I BE WILLING TO WORK WITH HER DURING HER TREATMENT BECAUSE SHE DID NOT WANT TO MISS WORK.
I THOUGHT IT WAS EXTREMELY AMAZING THAT, UH, LEARNING SHE HAD JUST LEARNED SHE HAD CANCER, SHE WAS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT COMING TO WORK, UH, HELPING THE STUDENTS THAN SHE WAS ABOUT, UH, TAKING CARE OF HERSELF.
[00:35:01]
REPORT.UH, SHE IS THREE YEARS, FOUR YEARS CANCER, FIVE YEARS CANCER.
IT'S BEEN THAT LONG FOR I YEARS CANCER THREE.
AND DURING HER TREATMENT, UH, SHE CAME TO WORK EVERY DAY, NEVER MISSED A DAY.
UH, WHEN SHE LOST HER HAIR, SHE STILL CAME TO WORK AND SHE SHARED, UH, WITH EVERYONE, EVERYTHING SHE WAS GOING THROUGH, PARTICULARLY THE STUDENTS CUZ SHE FELT IT WAS JUST THAT IMPORTANT, UH, FOR EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND THE, THAT THROUGHOUT THE CHALLENGING TIME THERE ARE STILL RESPONSIBILITIES AND THERE'S STILL WORK TO BE DONE.
AND SO I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT.
SO AT THIS TIME, WE WANNA RECOGNIZE MISS SHAVA ANDERSON.
UM, IT WAS A PLEASURE WORKING FOR MR. COLE AND THE ONLY REASON I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO WORK EVERY DAY IS BECAUSE HE WAS MY PRINCIPAL AND HE MADE IT A LOT EASIER TO BATTLE THIS FIGHT THAT I HAD.
SO I WANT TO TELL YOU IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY THAT YOU WERE A BIG PART OF MY JOURNEY AND I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU.
ALL RIGHT, WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE OUTSIDE.
I'M NOT GONNA, LADIES, LADIES, WE GONNA TAKE THE BREAK.
UM, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZE THIS MONTH AND, UH, I DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY WITH ME, UM, AS FAR AS, UH, CELEBRATING, BUT I HAVE, UM, LOST FAMILY MEMBERS, UH, DUE TO BREAST CANCER AND I THOUGHT WE'D JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER THOSE, UH, THAT WE HAVE LOST.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE A QUICK RECESS BEFORE WE START THE MEETING.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED IN A MINUTE.
YOU'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE FOR THE MEETING, PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, PLEASE TAKE SEATS.
YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT NOT, IF YOU CAN'T LAUGH ABOUT IT, SIR, YOU KNOW, AIN'T NO SENSE OF BEING HERE.
YOU, WE DON'T PASS THIS WAY ONCE.
WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
ON BEHALF OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU PART OF OUR GOVERNMENT AND WE WELCOME YOU IN THE DATE.
AND I'M TOLD THAT WE HAVE A LARGE AUDIENCE TUNED IN FOR THE BROADCAST AND WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY FOR THAT.
IT'S THE 10TH MONTH OF THE YEAR.
AND IF I MAY, I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT AND TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR COUNCIL MEMBER WHO REPRESENTS DISTRICT NUMBER 10 HERE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
HER DISTRICT RUNS FROM SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ALL THE WAY DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO LSU.
SHE HAS SOUTHERN LAB AND UM, ALSO YOU HIGH.
NOW THE DISTRICT HAS THE LEOS BUTLER COMMUNITY CENTER AND SHE LOVES THAT COMMUNITY CENTER, LIKES WORKING WITH THE SENIORS AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEN SERVING PEOPLE FROM THE LEOS BUTLER COMMUNITY CENTER.
YOU HEAR STREETS LIKE FLORIDA BOULEVARD AND GOVERNMENT STREET, AND AS YOU MOVE TO THE EAST, PRETTY MUCH TO ACADIAN, THAT IS DISTRICT NUMBER 10.
OUR COUNCIL MEMBER'S NAME IS CAROLYN ROBINSON COLEMAN AND SHE'S A LIFELONG MEMBER OF THE DISTRICT.
SHE UNDERSTANDS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, HAVING TO TRAVEL FROM 3 0 4 CHOCTAW DRIVE TO PERKINS ELEMENTARY ON SOUTH 16TH STREET, MCKINLEY JUNIOR HIGH ON MCOP STREET IN CARPOOLING TO MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL WITH ONE SISTER AND SHE HAD SIX BROTHERS.
HER MOTHER, HILDA WAS A HOUSEWIFE.
HER FATHER CURTIS WORKED FOR ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD.
SHE IS THE MOTHER OF TWO SONS, SAM AND EDWIN COLEMAN AND THE GRANDMOTHER OF FOUR TAYLOR BROCK BLANCHE AND TREY COLEMAN AND THE GREAT-GRANDMOTHER CAN'T BELIEVE THAT.
UH, THREE, SHE'S AN EDUCATOR FOR 40 YEARS PLUS AND A GOOD EDUCATOR AND A LONG TERM, UH, SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S MISS COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN OR COLEMAN I MET HER WITH AND, AND, AND I FIRST MET HER WHEN SHE WAS ON THE DEMOCRATIC PAC COMMITTEE AND I WAS HOSTING THAT HERE IN THE CHAMBER.
YOU'RE A GREAT COUNCIL MEMBER AND A GREAT FRIEND AND WE LOVE HAVING YOU ON THE COUNCIL.
AND NOW IF EVERYBODY'S READY TO GO, WE'RE READY.
ALL OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE IN THEIR SEAT AND AT THIS TIME HERE IS THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT PRO TIM OF EAST AND ROUGE PARISH.
[00:40:01]
COUNCILMAN LO MOD COLE.COUNCILMAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH DENNIS AND SEALLY APPRECIATE YOU.
I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
ASHLEY, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM? WE HAVE A QUORUM.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE IN A CHAMBER AND THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE AT HOME TO OUR REGULAR SCHEDULED METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING ON THIS OCTOBER 26TH, 2022 AT 4:00 PM AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE COUNCIL MEMBER FROM DISTRICT 10, CAROLYN R. COLEMAN TO INTRODUCE OUR GUESTS WHO WILL LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
AND YOU ALL HEARD THAT I HAD THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS AND THAT IS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND LSU AND WHAT RESIDES IN THAT DISTRICT, MY CUBS AND MY KITTENS.
AND SO THIS DAY I HAVE TODAY THE PRAYER BEING LED BY JUDE FOSTER, AN 11TH GRADE STUDENT AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY LABORATORY SCHOOL.
HE'S HERE TODAY WITH HIS MOTHER, MISS TERRILL AND BLUNT.
YEAH, JUDE IS SIX FOUR TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIVE POUNDS.
ASPIRATIONS WILL BE ATTEND COLLEGE, PLAY FOOTBALL WHILE MAJORING IN SPORTS LAW.
ALSO TODAY I HAVE THE LITTLE LADY HERE, ALICE ELISE LI, SHE'S GOING TO DO THE PLEDGE AND SHE'S HERE TODAY WITH HER MOTHER, CAPI LEETA ALICE IS A STUDENT AT UNIVERSITY LABORATORY SCHOOL, THE STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT MEMBER OF SEVERAL ORGANIZATION, NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY.
THE BLACK STUDENT UNION MEMBER OF ULS SOCCER TEAM FOR SEVEN YEARS SERVES COMMUNITY AS THEY VOLUNTEER.
SHE SERVES IN THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH COMMUNITY.
HER ASPIRATIONS ARE TO ATTEND COLLEGE, TO STUDY COMMUNICATION WITH THE FOCUS ON JOURNALISM IN HOPES OF BECOMING A SPORTS MEDIA MANAGER.
SO I WILL HAVE A SPORTS MEDIA MANAGER AND A SPORTS LAW ATTORNEY IN DISTRICT 10.
SO I YIELD TO YOU ALL MY PRAYER IN MY COME ON UP DARLING.
I 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 RIGHT EVERYONE, PLEASE BY YOUR HEAD AND CLOSE YOUR EYES.
LORD, I JUST WANT TO COME TO YOU TODAY TO JUST THANK YOU FOR LETTING EVERYONE GET HERE SAFELY.
LORD, I PRAY THAT WE ALL LEAVE SAFELY.
LORD, I JUST WANT TO UM, PRAY THAT THE MEETING GOES WELL, LORD, THAT THE COUNCIL MAKES GOOD DECISIONS.
LORD ALSO WANTS TO PRAY FOR THE CITY OF BAT ROUGE, THAT THE CITY REMAINS A SAFE, FUN PLACE.
LORD, I PRAY THAT UM, THAT WE JUST BE SAFE.
[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
NUMBER ONE, APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF OCTOBER 12TH, 2020 IN THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL'S MEETING OF OCTOBER 19TH, 2022 BY THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATORS, ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE? WE'RE NOW WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS IS THEIR MOTION.SECONDLY BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. ITEM ONE HAS BEEN
[INTRODUCTIONS]
APPROVED.ASKED, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE INTRODUCTIONS? SECTION 2.12 INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER TWO, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED MARSHALL KEELEN VERSUS BELFORD JOHNSON IN THE AMOUNT OF $75,000 PLUS COURT COSTS THE AMOUNT OF $102 AND 50 CENTS FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $75,122 AND 50 CENTS AND APPROPRIATING THAT SUM FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.
NUMBER THREE, GRANTING A RENEWAL OF A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $7,600 PER YEAR FOR TWO 14 SOUTH 14 STREET LLC.
LOCATED A TWO 12 SOUTH 14TH STREET BY THE PLANNING DIRECTOR.
NUMBER FOUR, AMENDING THE PRELIMINARY CURRENT EXPENSE BUDGET AND THE CAPITAL BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE
[00:45:01]
PARA EAST BATON ROUGE FOR THE YEAR 2023 SUBMITTED BY THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND ADOPTING THE FINAL CURRENT EXPENSE BUDGET AND CAPITAL BUDGET OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF BE BATON ROUGE FOR THE YEAR 2023 BY THE MAYOR PRESIDENT NUMBER FIVE, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $2 MILLION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS FOR THE 2022 FISCAL YEAR 22 COMMUNITY BASED VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION INITIATIVE AND APPROVING THE BUDGET FOR SET GRANT BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.NUMBER SIX, AMENDING TITLE EIGHT A MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS SHOWS TO OUT CHAPTER FIVE, MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES BY COUNCILMAN DAR HURST CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER SEVEN, NAZARETH NAJERA PERALTA 41 47 CLAYTON STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HURST.
NUMBER EIGHT, NAZARETH NAJERA PERALTA 41 47 CLAYTON STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HURST.
NUMBER NINE, OSCAR CALDERA 59 64 EVANGELINE STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 10, CP PROPERTY GROUP LLC 2 58 SOBER STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 11 HARDY THOMAS II 61 0 6 CYRUS AVENUE COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 12.
LINDA SUE LEWIS WESSON 5 6 89 CYRUS AVENUE COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE, EXCUSE ME.
NUMBER 13, EMILY JULIANA RUEZ.
1934 COLORADO STREET COUNCIL'S DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 14, JOANNE BRANDON 6 53 EDUCATION STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 15, AB WELCH JR.
AT O 2387 CAROLINA STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN ADJUDICATED PROPERTY INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER 16 LOT 25 SQUARE NINE SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION COUNSEL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 17 LOT 54 AND 55 SQUARE ONE SUBDIVISION RICHMOND PARK COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 18 LOT 2 0 5 SUBDIVISION WOOD AIR COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 19 LOT FOUR SQUARE ONE SUBDIVISION SAINT ARM LEE WAY COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 20 LOT SIX SQUARE ONE SUBDIVISION ST.
IRMA LEE WAY COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 21 LOT 25 SQUARE 35 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUM, EXCUSE ME.
NUMBER 22 LOT 34 SQUARE NINE SUBDIVISION NORTHDALE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 23 LOT 69 SQUARE 14 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 24 LOT NINE AND 10 SQUARE 52 SUBDIVISION FORTUNE COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HURST NUMBER 25 LOT FOUR SQUARE SEVEN SUBDIVISION MONT PLACE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 26 LOT TWO IN THREE SQUARE ONE SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 27 LOT TWO 13 SUBDIVISION CREST WORTH COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 28 LOT 1 96 SUBDIVISION WOODA COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 29 LOT 13 PLUS SQUARE 52 SUBDIVISION FORTUNE COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HURST NUMBER 30 LOT 48 SUBDIVISION RIVERLAND COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE GO.
DAY NUMBER 31 LOT 56 A SUBDIVISION.
BAKER OAKS COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE NULL NUMBER 32 LOT ONE SQUARE 16 SUBDIVISION EAST FAIRFIELDS COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 33 LOT 12 SQUARE FOUR SUBDIVISION LINCOLN PARK COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN.
ALL ITEMS THAT REQUIRE READING HAVE BEEN READ AND A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS IS IN ORDER.
IS THERE A MOTION TO UH, TO APPROVE ALL INTRODUCTIONS? IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANK SA BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. ANY OBJECTION TO EXCEPTION? GO AHEAD.
WHAT'S YOUR MAKE MOTION EXCEPTION? UH, 19 AND 20.
UNDER ADJUDICATED, UNDER ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES? YES.
AND SO MAKE YOUR MOTION MADAME BANKS, I LIKE TO MAKE UM, I LIKE TO MOVE THAT ALL ITEMS BE, UM, INTRODUCED, BE INTRODUCED EXCEPT WITHIN THE AND 19 AND 20 BE DELETED FROM THE INTRODUCTION.
IS THAT HOW I SAY IT? THAT'S IT.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? ALL ITEMS REQUIRING INTRODUCTION HAVE BEEN APPROVED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEMS 19 AND 20 UNDER ADJUDICATION.
[CONDEMNATIONS]
WE'RE NOW GONNA MOVE TO YOUR SEPARATE SEAT.COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR CONDEMNATIONS.
I'M GONNA READ THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, AND 73 THERE ARE TO, UH, DEFER FOR UNTIL JANUARY 11, 23.
ITEMS 58 AND 64 AND THEY ARE TO DELETE ITEM 62 AND 63.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A CONDEMNATION? TERRY HEK IS HERE.
[00:50:01]
ON ITEM 69.HE ALL RIGHT, TERRY, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A CONDEMNATION? UH, ITEM 99.
AARON BLANCHARD? NO, THAT'S IRON.
IS AARON BLANCHARD HERE? AARON? ALL RIGHT, WE'RE MOVING ON TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M GONNA DO IT TO JANUARY 11.
IS THAT ALL RIGHT? UH, THEY, YES SIR.
ANYBODY ELSE? I WOULD LIKE, UH, 65 TO BE DEFERRED UNTIL JANUARY 11TH, 2020 365.
ALSO TO NOTE THAT THIS WILL BE THE LAST DEFERRAL IF NO IMPROVEMENT IS MADE.
I HOPE THEY HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.
LET ME READ THE RECOMMENDATION AND CHANGE AND SAY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 50.
THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 60, 61, 67, 68, 71 AND 72.
THEY ARE TO DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS.
ITEMS. 55 AND 66 THEY ARE TO DEFER FOR 30 DAYS.
ITEMS 70, THEY ARE TO DEFER UNTIL JANUARY 11TH, 2023 ITEMS 57, 58, 64 AND 65 THEY ARE TO DELETE ITEMS. 59.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCC COLEMAN, DID YOU SAY YOU WANTED SOMETHING DONE WITH 56? SO THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS WITH ITEM 56.
THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 56.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS OR ANY CHANGES? IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT ALL CONDEMNATIONS? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER NO.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN CONDEMNATIONS HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, I AM GOING TO TAKE, UH, THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED TO BE DEFERRED FIRST AND THEN I'M GOING TO TAKE OTHER ITEMS AND THEN I'M GOING TO TAKE ANYTHING DEALING WITH H TWO ALL TOGETHER.
SO WE ARE GONNA START WITH ITEM 74.
A RESOLUTION GIVEN PRELIMINARY APPROVAL TO THE ISSUANCE OF NOT EXCEEDING $200 MILLION OF A REVENUE BONDS OF HARVESTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT PAYABLE SOLELY FROM THE REVENUE OCCURRING TO SAID DISTRICT AND PROVIDING OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THERE WITH BY COUNCIL MEMBER.
THERE WAS REQUEST TO DEFER THIS ITEM UNTIL NOVEMBER 9TH.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 74? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 74? IS THERE A MOTION TO DEFER? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.
SECONDLY, BY THE CHAIR, ANY OR SECONDLY BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN? ITEM 74 HAS BEEN DEFERRED.
WE'RE GONNA GO TO ITEM 1 26, RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION IN THE RED LIGHT CAMERA ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM, INCLUDING EFFECTIVENESS AND PROGRAM, REDUCING ACCIDENTS AT INTERSECTION EXPENSES AND REVENUES BY PROGRAM BY COUNCIL MEMBER CLEVE DUNN.
THERE HAS BEEN A REQUEST TO THE FUR.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 26? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS.
SO MOVE BY, DONE, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR AND THE OPPOSITION.
ITEM 1 26 HAS BEEN DEFERRED FOR TWO WEEKS.
WE NOW GO TO ITEM 1 28, RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF MAINTENANCE REGARDING DEPARTMENTAL INITIATIVES, GOALS AND BUDGET FOR 2022 BUDGET YEAR AND THE PLANS FOR DEPARTMENTAL INITIATIVE GOALS AND PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 2023 BY THE CHAIR.
I'M GONNA REQUEST THAT THIS ITEM BE DEFERRED FOR TWO WEEKS.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 28? WHEN I GO TO COUNCIL, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT THIS ITEM SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOAD, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.
ITEM HAS BEEN DEFERRED FOR TWO WEEKS.
WE GO TO ITEM 1 29 RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE BRIT CENTER OF HOPE BY THE CHAIR.
I'VE BEEN INFORMED THE BRIT CENTER IS GONNA HAVE A MEETING WITH LDH ON NOVEMBER 1ST AND WOULD LIKE TO DO THIS REPORT ON NOVEMBER 9TH WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
SO I'M GONNA REQUEST THAT THIS ITEM BE DEFERRED UNTIL OUR NOVEMBER 9TH MEETING.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? WE NOW COME TO THE COUNCIL.
SO MOVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DONE SECOND AND BY COUNCIL MEMBER GO.
ITEM 1 29, 1 28 AND 1 26 HAVE BEEN DEFERRED FOR TWO WEEKS.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GODA IS THE GENTLEMAN HERE SINCE WE'RE ON REPORTS TO GIVE THE COMMUNICATIONS REPORT.
HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THE REPORT IS GOING TO TAKE?
NO, I DON'T WANT YOU TO RUSH CUZ THERE ARE PROBABLY SOME INFORMATION WE ALL NEED TO KNOW, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO GAUGE.
I KNOW THERE ARE SOME OTHER PEOPLE HERE FOR THE ITEMS, SO I DON'T WANT YOU TO HAVE TO SIT THROUGH THE ENTIRE CONVERSATION TO GIVE THE REPORT.
[00:55:01]
COME NOW WE'RE[127. 22-01317]
GONNA TAKE ITEM 1 27.NOW THAT IS RECEIVING REPORT, REPORT FROM THESE BARRON ROUGE PARISH COMMUNICATIONS DISTRICT BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROW GOODDAY.
UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE REPORT FIRST LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
AND THEN IF THERE ARE ANY OF YOU WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENTS OR HAVE QUESTIONS, YOU CAN ASK YOUR QUESTIONS AFTER HEARING THE REPORT.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH COMMUNICATION DISTRICT.
AND I WAS ASKED TO SPEAK BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GOODDAY IN REFERENCE TO, UH, AN INCIDENT THAT WE HAD, UH, BACK IN THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER WHERE WE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH 9 1 1.
THAT'S WHAT THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH COMMUNICATION DISTRICT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IS FOR THE 9 1 1 SYSTEM OF THE PARISH.
I PRESENT TO Y'ALL LAST YEAR IS SOME OF THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AND STUFF THAT WE WERE, WERE LOOKING TO DO OVER THE LAST YEAR, WHICH WE'VE PROGRESSED REALLY NICELY WITH THAT.
UH, BUT BACK IN SEPTEMBER WE DID HAVE AN ISSUE.
IT WAS NOT ON THE COMMUNICATION DISTRICT SIDE, IT WAS ACTUALLY ON THE AT AND T SIDE.
UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
AT AND T IS IN ESSENCE THE GATEKEEPER OF 9 1 1 FOR A LOT OF THE AREAS IN LOUISIANA AND IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU CALL 9 1 1 FROM, YOU CAN HAVE A VERIZON CELL PHONE, A T-MOBILE, UH, FROM YOUR HOME, LANDLINE, COX LINE, ALL OF THOSE LINES GO TO AT AND T AND GO THROUGH AT AND T'S EQUIPMENT TO BE ROUTED TO THE LOCAL PAP, WHICH IS THE 9 1 1 ANSWERING SYSTEM IN THAT, UH, AREA WHERE ALL THOSE CALLS ARE ROUTED TO, WHICH IS CALLED A TANDEM.
AT AND T HAD A MALFUNCTION IN SOME OF THEIR EQUIPMENT.
THEY SPENT ALMOST TWO WEEKS TRYING TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACING DIFFERENT PIECES OF EQUIPMENT TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.
WE WERE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION AND THEY PULLED OUT ALL THE STOPS TO CORRECT THIS.
IT WENT ALL THE WAY UP TO THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
THEY HAD EVERYBODY THAT THEY HAD TO WORK ON THIS TO GET THIS RESOLVED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
UH, DURING THAT TIME WE WERE, UH, DROPPING CALLS.
EVERYBODY WAS STILL ABLE TO CALL NINE ONE ONE, BUT DURING A CALL ON OCCASION THE CALL WOULD DROP.
IT WOULD JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, YOU'RE SITTING HERE COMMUNICATING THAT YOU HAVE AN ISSUE AND IT WOULD STOP AND WE WOULD ATTEMPT TO CALL THEM BACK.
AND WE WERE ALSO ASKING THE PUBLIC AT THE TIME THROUGH THE MEDIA OUTLETS TO, TO PLEASE IMMEDIATELY CALL US BACK IF YOU WERE INVOLVED IN A DROPPED CALL.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT, UH, CORRECTED.
SINCE THEN, THEY DID REPLACE SEVERAL PIECES OF EQUIPMENT.
THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE EXACT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT FAILED, BUT THEY RE REPLACED A WHOLE LOT OF EQUIPMENT JUST TO VERIFY, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THAT ISSUE AGAIN.
SO ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS, REAL QUICK, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW OF CREATING A NEW 9 1 1 BACKUP CENTER.
WE'RE CALLING IT THE BUCK, THE, UH, BACKUP UNIFIED COMMUNICATION CENTER.
THAT LOCATION WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE NOT ONLY 9 1 1 SERVICE, BUT ALSO DISPATCH AND CALL TAKING SERVICES TO ALL THE EMERGENCY SERVICE AGENCIES INSIDE THE ENTIRE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, WHICH WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE THAT KIND OF SITUATION.
WE HAVE A PRIMARY LOCATION, BUT NO BACKUP LOCATION THAT ALL AGENCIES COULD ACTUALLY USE IN COORDINATE TOGETHER AT ONE TIME.
THAT LOCATION, UH, IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE IN A TECHNOLOGY CENTER WHERE OUR DISASTER RECOVERY DATA IS ALREADY CURRENTLY LOCATED.
SO IT'S A VERY POSITIVE, UM, MOVE FORWARD FOR THE PARISH AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE, UH, THIS TYPE OF THING IN PLACE.
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? AWESOME REPORT.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 27? ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 27? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
ANY QUESTIONS ON ITEM 1 27? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT REPORT.
WE SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOU KEEP UP THE OUTSTANDING WORK.
YOU CAN COME BACK AND GIVE A REPORT ANY TIME, SIR.
QUICK QUESTION, QUICK QUESTION BEFORE YOU GO, BUT THE BACKUP, YOU REFERENCE THE BACKUP, IS THAT GONNA BE IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE OR OUTSIDE OR ANOTHER LOCATION? IT'S ACTUALLY INSIDE THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
IT'S ACTUALLY, UH, GOING TO BE IN BARY, WHICH IS A TECHNOLOGY, UH, HUB FOR THE CITY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU GO BACK TO PAGE 14, WE'RE GOING TO EAT A FEW MORE APPETIZERS BEFORE WE GET TO
[75. 22-01211]
THE MAIN COURSE.ITEM 75, A AMEND OF 2022, CURRENT EXPENSE AND CAPITAL BUDGET TO APPROPRIATE 2.3 MILLION FOR IMPROVEMENTS AT THE RAISIN KING CENTER AND THE RIVERFRONT FUNDED THROUGH REVENUES DEDICATED TO SAID PURPOSE BY MAYOR.
DOES ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 75 WHEN I TO COUNCIL MEMBERS? TWO COMMENT TO EMAIL COUNCIL MEMBERS.
YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED TWO EMAIL COMMENTS ON ITEM 75.
ONE OPPOSED AND ONE IN FAVOR WHEN I TO COUNCIL.
[01:00:01]
HERE WITH THE RIVER CENTER OR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE THAT CAN TELL NONE.I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SOURCES OF FUNDING, BUT, UM, NO, THIS IS ABOUT THE RIVER CENTER ITSELF.
SO THE, THE RIVER CENTER? YEAH, THERE YOU GO.
WHAT, WHAT ARE WE PRESENTING TO THE PUBLIC FOR THESE 2.3 MILLIONS OF UPGRADES, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RIVER CENTER? SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS.
SOME OF THEM ARE SECURITY CONTROLS.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, UH, CAMERAS IN OUR LOADING DOCK OVER BY THE THEATERS A SHORTAGE OF CAMERAS.
IN SOME, SOME INSTANCES THERE ARE NO CAMERAS IN CERTAIN AR AREAS OF THE CAMPUS.
UM, IN ADDITION, THERE'S, UH, PROGRAMMING THINGS.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, AS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD, WE'RE BRINGING A HOCKEY BACK AT LEAST FOR THREE SHOWCASE GAMES.
SO WE CAN DO THAT FOR THREE GAMES, BUT IF WE'RE GONNA GET A TEAM FOR A SEASON, WE'LL NEED A SCOREBOARD.
THE SCOREBOARD THAT IS UP IN THE MIDDLE RIGHT NOW IS ANTIQUATED.
WE CAN'T EVEN GET LIGHT BULBS FOR IT.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THE GLOBE CHARTERS COME, WE LITERALLY HAVE TO HAVE A, A SMALL LITTLE SCOREBOARD THAT YOU MAY HAVE HAD IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SO THAT IN ORDER TO GET ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING, WHETHER IT BE HOCKEY OR WHETHER IT BE A PELICAN'S EXHIBITION GAME THAT I'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, UM, IN ADDITION TO A BASKETBALL COURT, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE, WHICH WILL GARNER ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE COULD THEN BUY TO POTENTIALLY GET THE STATE BOYS IN THE GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL.
SO THERE'S A LIST OF 30 SOME ODD THINGS.
I'M HAPPY TO GO THROUGH 'EM ALL IF YOU LIKE.
UH, I GUESS, I MEAN 2.3 MILLION I, WHAT'S, I GUESS IS THERE ANY, WHAT'S THE, THE PUBLIC, SO WE'RE LOOKING TO BRING MORE ITEMS IN, LIKE YOU SAID, WITH THE SCOREBOARD AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, ALL THESE ARE JUST UPDATING WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE OR IS THERE ANYTHING NEW TO BE EXPECTED TO BE BEING BROUGHT TO THE RIVER CENTER THAT ENHANCES, UM, DIF MORE CAPACITY, DIFFERENT EV DIFFERENT TYPES OF EVENTS OTHER THAN THE HOCKEY, WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GONNA STAY OR WHATEVER ELSE TO MAKE IT MORE COMPETITIVE? YES.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, DO NOT OWN, UH, JUST ONE EXAMPLE, A BASKETBALL COURT.
SO WHEN THE GLOBE CHARTERS COME IN, WE HAVE TO GO, UH, WITH ASM GLOBAL.
THAT'S A MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT I WORK FOR.
UM, WE BORROW A COURT OR RENT A COURT FROM A DIFFERENT SISTER FACILITY.
LAST YEAR DURING TRANSPORT, THE COURT BROKE.
SO WE HAD A SCURRY AROUND WITH A DIFFERENT FACILITY TO TRY AND GET A COURT TO GET HERE FOR THE GAME, WHICH TICKETS WERE SOLD ALREADY PEOPLE WERE COMING.
SO ONE OF THE ITEMS HERE IS A NEW BASKETBALL COURT, SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE THAT ISSUE.
AND THEN IF WE DID HAVE THAT, WE COULD POTENTIALLY TRY AND GET A GAME, GET A COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT, AND GET THE HIGH SCHOOL TOURNAMENTS HERE AND CREATE ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR THE COMMUNITY.
DOES ANY OF THIS BRING IN LARGER, UH, MUSIC CONCERT VENUES? ANY UPGRADES TO ANY OF THAT? AS FAR AS, UH, BRINGING IN, IN TERMS OF, OF CONCERTS? WELL, THERE'S A NUMBER OF SECURITY ISSUES.
THE, THE CAMERAS IN TERMS OF SAFETY FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE WORKERS THERE.
UM, FOR EXAMPLE, THE LOADING DOCK, THERE'S NOT APPROPRIATE CAMERAS.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE TEMPORARY TEMP COMPANIES COMING IN AND WORKING, UH, DIFFERENT VENDORS THAT'LL ASSIST IN THAT REGARD.
BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL EXPERIENCE, UM, IN TERMS OF CONCERTS, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT FOCUSED ON THAT.
IT'S MORE FOCUSED ON SPORTS BECAUSE THE CONCERTS ITSELF IS MORE CULTIVATING RELATIONSHIPS WITH LIVE NATION FOR EXAMPLE.
AND THAT'S A SEPARATE CONVERSATION I'M HAPPY TO GO INTO IF YOU LIKE.
NO, I GUESS WHAT I'M JUST GETTING AT IS 2.3 MILLION AND, UM, THE, THE RIVER CENTER, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GONNA COME BACK FOR MORE, UH, LATER ON TO DO SOME OTHER THINGS, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE JUST, WE'RE UPDATING ANTICO ANTIQUATED EQUIPMENT MOSTLY IN THIS $2.3 MILLION.
UM, UH, YOU KNOW, GET IT, WE WON'T HAVE TO BORROW A BASKETBALL COURT FOR THE GLOBE CHARTER COME IN ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UM, THE SCOREBOARD SO THAT IT LOOKS MORE PRESENTABLE.
UM, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TYPE OF SCOREBOARD IT IS, BUT I GUESS I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR SOME, SOME MORE SUBSTANTIAL UPGRADES AS FAR AS MAKING THE, THE RIVER CENTER MORE PRESENTABLE AND, AND, AND USABLE AND COMPETITIVE OVERALL IN THE REGION.
AND I GUESS USING IT MORE OFTEN FOR LARGER EVENTS.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
AND WHAT, IT'S SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO SEE, AND I KNOW Y'ALL ARE DISCUSSING DOING A, UM, UH, A, A FUTURE PLAN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT THAT'S THAT'S COMING UP.
YEAH, SO ACTUALLY IN, IN COOPERATION WITH VISIT BATON ROUGE, UH, WE HAVE, WE, WE SENT OUT AN RFP AND WE'RE DOING A FACILITY MARKET STUDY.
THE COMPANY'S ACTUALLY HERE ON SITE, UM, AND THEY'RE TALKING TO VARIOUS
[01:05:01]
STAKEHOLDERS AS STAFF AND THEY'RE DRIVING AROUND IN THE REGION LOOKING AND INVESTIGATING.SO WHAT THAT IN TURN WILL EFFECTIVELY TELL US IS IT'S 180 DAY PROCESS.
SO AROUND APRIL 1ST THEY'LL COME BACK WITH, HERE'S WHAT WE BELIEVE YOU NEED TO BE COMPETITIVE VERSUS YOUR, YOUR, YOUR OTHER COMMUNITIES, WHETHER IT BE LAFAYETTE OR MONROE OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
UM, AND THAT COULD BE ADDED CAPACITY, IT COULD BE ADDITIONAL AMENITIES IN PARTICULAR IN THE ARENA, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S NO SUITES, THERE'S NO CLEAN PREMIUM CLUB AREAS.
YOU WANT YOUR EXTRA TIME COUNCIL MEMBER? YES, PLEASE.
UM, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID WHEN I GOT THERE IS I SAW LONG, YOU KNOW, LINES IN THE CONCESSION, IN THE CONCESSION STANDS.
SO I TIMED THEM TO SEE IF IN FACT, WERE THEY REALLY TURNING AND DOING THEIR JOB.
WELL, THEY WERE, THE ISSUE IS, IT'S SUCH A SMALL CONCOURSE CUZ THE BUILDING WAS BUILT IN 77.
IF IT WAS SIMILAR TO THE SIZE OF A, OF, OF A LARGER ARENA, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE THREE TIMES THE SIZE AND YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THE ISSUE OF WORKERS AND, AND, AND CUSTOMERS GOING THROUGH FOR THE RESTROOMS, IF YOU WILL.
SO, UM, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S A MUCH LARGER PROJECT.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ENTIRE BUILDING.
SO THAT'S WHY WE SPOKE WITH, UH, VISIT BATON ROUGE AND THEY'VE BEEN, UH, VERY HELPFUL IN THAT REGARD.
SO THIS STUDY'S GONNA COME BACK AND IDENTIFY WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO IN THE FUTURE.
SO NOW THAT WE GOT THE STUDY OUT THERE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMING IN IN APRIL, UH, STU STUDY BEING FINISHED BY APRIL.
AND I GUESS AS FAR AS WITH STUDY COMING IN AND MAKING A MORE COMPETITIVE REGIONAL AND EVERYTHING ELSE, WE, THERE COULD BE A HOST OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO.
WOULD IT BEHOOVE US TO PUT THIS 2.3 MILLION IN RIGHT NOW OR SAVE THIS 2.3 MILLION AND FIND OUT WHAT WE HAVE WITH THE OVERALL PLAN AS FAR AS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE RIVER CENTER COMPLETELY IS, IS THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING, THE 30 THINGS ON YOUR LIST, UH, OF THOSE THINGS, WHAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO CONTINUE? UH, IF IF WE DON'T DO EVERYTHING ON THE LIST, IS IT GONNA SHUT DOWN WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO, TO DO OR WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING BEFORE? YEAH.
SO BASICALLY THE, THIS $2.3 MILLION WILL HELP US IN THE HERE AND NOW.
THE STUDY'S GONNA COME BACK AND IDENTIFY WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO IN THE FUTURE TO BE COMPETITIVE.
AND CANDIDLY, THE 2.3 MILLION IS GONNA BE MINUSCULE, COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING.
I, MY GUESS IS TO WHAT THEY'RE GONNA SAY WE NEED TO DO.
BUT WHAT IT WILL DO IS ALLOW US TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE RIGHT NOW AND GO OUT AND SECURE THIS EXPANSION TEAM FOR, I'VE ALREADY BEEN TA AND TALKS WITH THE COMMISSIONER AND THE, AND THE OWNER OF THE TEAM.
IT'S, IT'S BASICALLY UP TO US.
AND HOW SUCCESSFUL WILL IT BE THAT CREATES AN ADDITIONAL 30 TO 35 EVENTS OF PROGRAMMING IN A YEAR.
BUT WE WILL NEED, TH THEY'VE AGREED TO DO THESE THREE GAMES WITHOUT CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS.
THEN ALSO, JUST TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CONCERTS, ONE OF THE ITEMS IS WHAT'S CALLED TERRA COVER.
SO TERRA COVER, YOU PUT OVER THE ICE AND IT'S BASICALLY LIKE IF YOU CAN ENVISION, UH, A GYMNASTICS MAT THAT YOU PIECE TOGETHER.
SO WHAT THAT DOES, IT ALLOWS YOU TO HAVE A HOCKEY GAME, THEN THE NEXT DAY GO TO A CONCERT SO THE PEOPLE SEATED ON THE FLOOR AREN'T FREEZING AND YOU CAN PUT EVERYTHING, THE ONLY THING YOU CAN'T DO IS LIKE A MONSTER TRUCK TYPE OF EVENT, BUT YOU CAN PUT, PUT A STAGE, YOU CAN PUT 2000 SEATS DOWN.
SO RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO, IF WE GOT A HOCKEY TEAM FOR A YEAR, WE COULDN'T UTILIZE THE ARENA IN TERMS OF DOING A CONCERT FOR THOSE HOWEVER MANY MONTHS, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HAVE THE ICE DOWN.
SO THAT'S $200,000 OUT OF THIS 2.3 MILLION.
LIKE I SAID, IT, IT WAS JUST A CONCERN THAT IF WE GO SPENDING, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THE, A SCOREBOARD FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT COSTS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S, WHETHER IT'S THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OR A MILLION DOLLARS, I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T WANT TO GO INVESTING IN SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO TAKE CARE OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR THE HARLEM GLOBE CHARTERS TO COME IN OR WHATEVER, BASKETBALL OR, OR JUST A SCOREBOARD FOR THE KHAKI.
AND THEN THIS, THIS STUDY COMES THROUGH AND THEY SAY, OKAY, WELL YOU NEED SOMETHING ABOUT THE SIZE OF DALLAS STADIUM, YOU KNOW, STORE BOARD TYPE THING SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN SEE IT AND SO ON.
AND WE, AND WE'RE TAKING EITHER RESELLING THAT ONE OR BRINGING IT DOWN.
WE GO REPLACING ALL THE CAMERAS AND THE STUDY COMES BACK, SAYS THEY'RE NOT SUFFICIENT ENOUGH.
AND THAT'S JUST TWO THINGS AS FAR AS WHERE YOU STOPPED.
I KNOW YOU GOT 30 THINGS ON THE LIST OR WHATEVER, BUT IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT, THAT'S A CONCERN THAT I DON'T WANT TO GO DOUBLE PAYING FOR SOMETHING THAT WE'RE STARTING A STUDY FOR ALREADY, OR IT'S IN THE WORKS THAT'LL BE TURNED INTO US BY APRIL.
SO THE SCOREBOARD ITSELF WOULD, COULD STAY, I'VE TALKED WITH THE COMPANY ALREADY THAT COULD, THAT COULD STAY THE INVESTMENT IN, IN THAT.
SO THAT SCOREBOARD IS TO ASSIST IN CURRENT CLIENTS, UH, GYMNASTICS, WRESTLING, TO GET ADDITIONAL CLIENTS BASKETBALL, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL, BUT SPORTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE IN ADDITION TO, UM, LARGER EVENTS LIKE, LIKE THE PELICANS COMING AND DOING A GAME HERE, POTENTIALLY GETTING THEIR GE LEAGUE TEAM, WHICH IS A MINOR LEAGUE TEAM IN THREE YEARS.
THEY'RE IN A LEASE IN A DIFFERENT CITY RIGHT NOW.
SO IT WILL ENHANCE WHAT WE DO, BUT IT WOULD STAY.
AND THERE ARE CERTAIN OTHER ITEMS AND,
[01:10:01]
AND THEY CAN, UH, FIGURE OUT CUZ THEY'LL, THEY'LL ENGAGE AN ARCHITECT SHOULD WE GET THAT FAR AFTER THEY COME BACK AND THEY'LL SAY, OKAY, THIS IS PLAN A, PLAN B, PLAN C.THEN YOU'LL DECIDE WHAT WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE DO IT.
WOULD YOU MIND INTRODUCING YOURSELF TO EVERYONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE? OKAY.
I'M THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE RA KINGS RIVER CENTER.
APPRECIATE YOU ALL AROUND GOOD GUYS AS WELL.
COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN, MOTION TO APPROVE.
SECONDLY BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.
ANY OBJECTIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS? UH, SO THANK YOU, UH, WAYNE, UM, YOU KNOW, BEING, UH, THE SENIOR COUNCIL MEMBER
SO I THINK THAT ESPECIALLY SINCE KATRINA, A LOT OF IT HAS BEEN, A LOT OF THE UPGRADES HAVE BEEN TO THE PHYSICAL EDUS.
IS THAT THE RIGHT WORD? THAT'S THE ONE YOU WANT TO USE, RIGHT? YEAH.
SO I, YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN THINGS, UM, BATHROOMS. SO A LOT OF MONEY HAS GONE INTO, UM, FIXING THE BUILDING.
AND I'M SURE WHEN YOU DO YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN A LOT, I HAVEN'T SEEN YOUR PROJECT OF 30, BUT I CAN IMAGINE THAT A LOT OF THE THINGS ARE PROBABLY NOT ABOUT JUST FIXING, BUT MAKING IT MORE, UM, PROGRESSIVE.
AS YOU INDICATED ABOUT OTHER EVENTS.
FOR INSTANCE, WE DO HAVE GREAT CONCERTS.
WE, WE ARE GREAT MOVIES AND I MEAN, UM, UM, CONCERTS, UH, THE DIFFERENT THEATERS, YOU KNOW, HOW ON ICE AND THESE NEON MONSTER TRUCKS AND ALL THAT, BUT THE ARENA THAT HASN'T.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT YOU ARE TARGETING HAS BEEN THE SPORTS.
UM, HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS IS A BIG DEAL, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GET TO THOSE LOUISIANA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN THAT OUR KIDS HAVE TO GO TO ALEXANDRIA, SHREVEPORT, UH, NEW ORLEANS AND LAFAYETTE.
THAT HAS NEVER BEEN WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO COME TO BATON ROUGE.
AND IT'S BECAUSE OUR, LIKE YOU SAID, THERE IS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF BASKETBALL.
UM, EVEN THAT, NOT ON THAT BIG SCALE, I MEAN PEOPLE, BUT JUST IN GENERAL.
UM, SO I GET WHERE YOU'RE GOING SO THAT WE CAN BE COMPETITIVE BECAUSE WE CAN'T, WITH, WITH YOU DOING THE UPGRADES THAT YOU WERE DOING, IT WILL HELP US TO GET A WRESTLING MATCH OR UH, A TENNIS GAME, UH, ON A NATIONAL LEVEL AND THE GIRLS AND THE BOYS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAME.
THAT IS A LOT OF GENERAL, GENERAL, GENERAL FUN MONEY GENERATED FUNDS THAT WE HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS.
THE OTHER THING IS I CAN NOW WE ARE MOVING AS IT RELATES TO LIGHTING L E D MM-HMM.
SO THAT, THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF WIRING.
UM, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE LOADING DOCK AND THAT IS NOT A SECURE LOCATION.
UM, I THINK THEY PUT IT'S DARK, RIGHT? YOU DID PUT THOSE I THINK THREE POSTS WHICH GET ON MY NERVE CAUSE THAT'S HOW I USED TO YEAH, BUT SECURITY GATES IN THE PLAN TOO.
SO, OKAY, SO NO, BUT REALLY AND TRULY, UM, SHE WAS, I JUST BEEN WITH Y BUT ANYWAY, IN REALITY, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME SECURITY MEASURES THAT NEED TO BE MADE.
UM, AND SO I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE GOING WITH IT BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN THE PROGRESSION AND FOR US TO HAVE A LARGER MARKET, I WOULD LOVE US TO HAVE A CONVENTION CENTER.
LOOK, I LIKED IT WHEN YOU SAID ABOUT THE SUITES.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS COULD DO THE SUITES CUZ 2 MILLION REALLY NOT A LOT THESE DAYS FOR A BUILDING UPGRADE, BUT THAT IS BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY SPENT THE 10 AND THE 20 AND THE 30 MILLION OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, UM, WITH PROJECTS.
SO, UM, I'M EXCITED TO SEE US POSSIBLY BE, UM, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO BE COMPETITIVE TO LARGER SPORTS, UH, EVENTS.
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO.
I SEE 170,000 FOR BALLROOM CARPET.
ARE YOU ALSO GONNA INCLUDE THE DANCE FLOOR OR, OR A YEAH, SO THE, WE HAD TO PRIORITIZE AS, AS, UH, COUNCILWOMAN BANKS JUST SAID, UH, YOU HAVE TO STRETCH THE MONEY, THE 2 MILLION.
IF WE CAN SOMEHOW COME IN AND GET OTHER QUOTES, WE WOULD DO A DANCE FLOOR, WE WOULD PAINT THE, THE ROOM.
WE WOULD DO REFINISH, THE LOBBY AREA, DO COUNTERTOPS IN THE RESTROOMS. BUT THE CARPET IS ULTIMATELY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THAT ROOM BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WHAT YOU HAVE IS TWO EXHIBIT HALLS.
UM, AND IT'S NOT, IT'S REALLY NOT USED AS A BALLROOM.
IF YOU PUT LIKE OUR CLIENTS COME IN
[01:15:01]
AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE OR RENT CARPET RIGHT NOW, THAT WOULD ALLEVIATE THEIR COST FOR THEM.THEY'LL ALLOW MORE EVENTS TO COME IN THERE.
UM, ANY OBJECTIONS? SEEING NONE, ITEM 75 IS APPROVED.
[76. 22-01370]
ITEM 76 ADOPTING THE FOLLOWING AD VALOR, TAX MIL RATES WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE FOLLOWING TAXING JURISDICTIONS ON ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY, EXCEPT THAT THE MIL RATE FOR THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT SHALL BE LEVIED ON REAL PROPERTY ONLY TO BE LEVIED DURING THE YEAR.2023 EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH OPERATING TAX 3.15 CITY OF BATON ROUGE OPERATING TAX 5.75 CITY OF BATON ROUGE, THREE PLATOON POLICE TAX 0.87 EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH MOSQUITO ABATEMENT ROAD, A CONTROL DISTRICT 1.06 EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH MOSQUITO ABATEMENT AND RODE IN CONTROL.
DISTRICT THREE SEVEN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY, 10.52 EAST BATON ROUGE COUNCIL ON AGING, 2.13.
MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, 1.42.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, 3.13 BATON ROUGE MUNICIPAL FIRE SALARIES AND BENEFITS 6.0 CONSOLIDATED ROAD LIGHTING DISTRICT NUMBER ONE 1.85.
SSON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER NINE 10 SSON FIRE, FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER NINE, ADDITIONAL FIVE, BROWNSFIELD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER THREE 10 BROWNSFIELD, FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER NUMBER THREE, ADDITIONAL FIVE, BROWNSFIELD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER THREE, ADDITIONAL 10 BROWNSVILLE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER THREE, ADDITIONAL 10.
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT 10 EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER ONE NINE PRIDE, FIRE PRIDE, FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER EIGHT 10 PRIDE, FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER EIGHT, ADDITIONAL 15, CHENEY, FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN 10 CHENEY, FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN, ADDITIONAL 10 CHENEY, FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN, ADDITIONAL 10 BY THE FINANCE DIRECTOR.
WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 76.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT ON ITEM 76.
SEE A NON FROM THE PUBLIC WILL OPEN THE FLORIDA COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'LL GO MOTION BY FIRST
UH, I I'LL QUICKLY ASK A QUESTION OF ASHLEY.
UH, ASHLEY, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES, THE DISCUSSION AMOUNT AROUND, UM, REDATING SOME OF THESE TAXES IS, IS BEGINNING TO REIGNITE.
I WANNA BE SURE THAT BY US APPROVING THESE TONIGHT, WE ARE NOT LIMITING OURSELVES AND OUR ABILITIES TO DO THAT.
SO IF YOU ADOPT THESE MILLAGES TONIGHT, UM, THE, THE, THE MILLAGES FOR 23 ARE ACTUALLY NOT DUE TO THE ASSESSOR UNTIL JUNE OF NEXT YEAR.
SO IF WE, YOU WANNA REVISIT ANY OF THESE, UM, BETWEEN NOW AND THEN YOU CAN.
AND I WOULD, I WOULD ADD TO THAT CONVERSATION.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE, UH, SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION ATTACHED, UH, THE MEMO, UH, HAS ON THERE THAT MOSQUITO AB ABATEMENT AND RODENT CONTROL, ACTUALLY EARLIER THIS YEAR, COMMITTED TO REDUCING THEIR TOTAL MILLAGE RATE FROM 1.71 DOWN BY 0.28 MILLS.
UH, AND APPLYING 0.28 RESULTS IN A REDUCTION OF ABOUT 1.3 MILLION IN THEIR OPERATIONAL DOLLARS.
SO, UM, I THINK WE CAN, WE CAN LOOK TO THAT AS A POTENTIAL EXAMPLE BECAUSE THEIR, THEIR RATIONALE WAS, UH, THEY WERE ALIGNING THE BUDGET TO THEIR EXPENSES.
MOTION BY HER SECOND BY BANKS.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? SEE IN NONE.
[77. 22-01365]
ITEM 77 AUTHORIZING THE, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO RECORD THE FUNDING COMMITMENT LETTER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS INCLUDED IN THE ENTITY STATE AGREEMENT FOR DOWNTOWN GREENWAY, LOUISIANA CONNECTOR BR BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR TO, UH, OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 77.
ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK C A NONE WILL MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION BY ADAM.
ANY OBJECTIONS? C A NUN ITEM 77 CARRIES
[78. 22-01378]
ITEM 78 AUTHORIZING THE AMENDMENT OF THE 2022 CURRENT EXPENSE BUDGET FOR CENTRAL GARAGE.SO AS TO APPROPRIATE $2.6 MILLION IN ESTIMATED REVENUES EARNED TO COVER THE INCREASED COST OF FUEL BY DEPARTMENT OF FLEET MANAGEMENT.
WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 78.
[01:20:01]
FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK.SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
OPEN THE FLORIDA COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION BY GO DAY, SECOND, AND BY DONE HEARST.
[79. 22-01322]
APPOINTING A PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SEWAGE COMMISSION FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY, 2022 TO DECEMBER, 2023 BY COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR TREASURER, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 79.ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 79? SEE YOU.
NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCIL MEMBERS REAL QUICKLY, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, CURRENTLY MISS RACA IS THE PRESIDENT AND MR. DUNN IS THE VICE PRESIDENT.
UM, THEY, THEY ARE, UM, ABLE TO CONTINUE TO SERVE IF THEY WISH TO.
AND Y'ALL, Y'ALL WISH FOR THEM TOO.
MOTION TO REAPPOINT, COUNCILWOMAN ROCKA AND AND DONE.
ITEM 79 CARRIES CONGRATULATIONS.
[80. 22-01318]
ITEM 80, A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN ANNUAL PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAX TO THE SHERIFF OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED THE CURRENT PROPERTY TAX PAYMENT OF $5,558 AND 44 CENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CAPITAL AREA FINANCE AUTHORITY, AND CST MULTI-FAMILY REAL ESTATE SERVICES, LLC, WITH RESPECT TO THE RESERVE AT YOUR PLACE PROJECT AND BE AN ANNUAL PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAX TO THE SHERIFF OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED THE CURRENT PROPERTY TAX PAYMENT OF $829 18 CENTS.IN ACCORDANCE WITH A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CAPITAL AREA FINANCE AUTHORITY AND CST MULTI-FAMILY REAL ESTATE SERVICES, LLC.
WITH RESPECT TO THE MORNING SIDE AT YOUR PLACE PROJECT BY COUNCILMAN DARYL HURST, WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR, UH, TO THE PUBLIC FOR ITEM 80 FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SAYING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT OPPOSED TO ITEM 80.
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST SECOND AND BY GOD A.
[81. 22-01319 ]
ESTABLISHING A METROPOLITAN COUNCIL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION ON ISSUES INVOLVING CRIME PREVENTION, CORRECTIONS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, COURT SYSTEMS, RECIDIVISM, AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS BY COUNCILWOMAN JEN ROCKA.WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 81.
ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK SCENE? NONE.
WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, I'D LIKE THIS ITEM DEFERRED FOR 45 DAYS.
WE'RE STILL TRYING TO BUILD OUT OUR COMMITTEE MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN RACA TO DEFER FOR DECEMBER 14TH.
I
AND BY AMAROSA ANY OBJECTIONS? HEARING NONE THE ITEM, UH, ITEM 80, NO 80 81 CARRIES.
AND, UH, YOU'RE FOR READING ALL THOSE TAX MILS,
LET'S GIVE COUNCIL MEMBER HUSTLIN A HAND FOR HANDLING THE MEETING FOR GOOD JOB, SIR.
[82. 22-01320]
WE NOW GO TO ITEM 82.OTHERWISE AM MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE BATTER ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO AMEND THE CURRENT B PX ON ENTERPRISE CONTRACT, INCREASED ANNUAL PAYMENT BY $220,000 FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS BY POLICE CHIEF.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 82? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURST SECOND BY THE CHAIR ITEM 80.
ANY OBJECTIONS? I ITEM TWO HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[83. 22-01321]
AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH NICOLE THOMAS DOING BUSINESS THAT IMPACT NURSE CONSULTING LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF 117,000 TO SUPPORT THE BRAILLE GRANTED, CONDUCT THE BATTERIES, LOVE HIS FREE CLINIC TO OFFER FREE MEDICAL, DENTAL, AND VISION SERVICES TO VULNERABLE POPULATIONS BY MAYOR'S OFFICE.IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ONED? THREE.
THERE ARE MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 83 DON.
SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. ITEM 83 HAS BEEN APPROVED WITH
[84. 22-01342]
NO OBJECTION.WE GO TO 84 GRANTING A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $5,383 PER YEAR FOR KIMBER PROPERTIES LLC.
LOCATED AT 6 34 NORTH SEVENTH STREET FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENCOURAGING PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND RESTORATION OF PROPERTY BY PLANNING DIRECTORS.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 84? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL.
MOTION TO MOVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.
SECONDLY BY COUNCIL MEMBER HEARD ITEM 84 HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[85. 22-01351]
85 RESEND IN THE RECORDING.THE CLERK RECORD THE COUNCIL DECISION ORDER RECORD ON JUNE 13TH, 2022 IN THE MATTER OF CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSUS NT ENTERPRISES LLC.
REASON FOR RESING TO PROPERTY WAS RECENTLY SOLD TO NT ENTERPRISES LLC AND THEY WERE REHAB THE PROPERTY AND PUT IT BACK INTO COMMERCE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCC COLEMAN.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 85? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
SO MORE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCC COLEMAN.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GO.
[86. 22-01363 ]
[01:25:01]
80 86 AUTHORIZED SETTLEMENT OF CLAIM ON YOU WANT TO TELL FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM A SEWER BACKUP IN THE CLAIMANT'S HOME FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $21,283 AND 12 CENTS.IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 86 WHEN I GO TO COUNSEL? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 86.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GO.
ITEM 86 HAS BEEN APPROVED WITH NO OBJECTIONS.
[87. 22-01366]
GO TO ITEM 87 AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT.THE MATTER ON ENTITLED ANNIE GIBSON AND THEY NA IN AN AMOUNT OF $55,000 PLUS COURT COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $42 AND 50 CENT FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF 55,000, $42 AND 50 CENTS BY PARISH ATTORNEY.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WE SHOULD SPEAK ON ITEM 87.
ANY MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED BY THE CHAIR.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN OBJECTIONS.
[88. 22-01343]
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, CITY OF BATON ROUGE, TO ACQUIRE CERTAIN PROPERTIES WITH MONIES PROVIDED THROUGH THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY FLOOD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.AND TO EXECUTE ALL SALES AND OTHER DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO ACQUIRE, SAID PROPERTIES AND COMPLY WITH TERMS, CONDITIONS, RESTRICTIONS REQUIRED UNDER THE MENTS AND GRANT BY PARENTS ATTORNEYS.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 88? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVE BY THE CHAIR IS JUST SECOND, SECOND.
[89. 22-01355]
89 AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESENT THAT'S ACCEPT AND EXECUTE RECAST BATON ROUGE GRAND AWARD AT NO COST CONTRACT.ESSENTIAL FOR FINDING YEAR OF THE GRANT TO KEEP EXISTING STAFF IN PLACE TO ENSURE A SMOOTH PROGRAM CLOSE OUT.
THE GRANT EXPIRATION DATE IS EXTENDED FROM DECEMBER 29TH, 2022 TO DEC TO DECEMBER 29TH, 2022.
SEPTEMBER 29TH TO DECEMBER 29TH BY MAYOR'S OFFICE.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 89? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RECAP GRANT? SO MOVED BY THE CHAIR.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.
[90. 22-01357]
THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION AND RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, OFFICE OF NUTRITION SERVICES FOR CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES HEAD START PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED SIX THOUSAND AUTHORIZED AND EXECUTION OF ALL DOCS IN CONNECTION THERE WITH BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 90? WE, I GO TO COUNCIL.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? ITEM 90 SHALL MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN WEAU.
[91. 22-01358]
91 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES HEAD START PROGRAM TO SUBMIT A CONTINUATION GRANT APPLICATION TO THE OFFICE OF HEAD START AND RECEIVING FUNDING IN AN AMOUNT OF $11,595,846 FOR OPERATIONAL BUDGET AND ONE $24,351 FOR TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF 11 BEING $720,197 IN AUTHORIZATION AND EXECUTION OF ALL DOCUMENTS AND CONNECTION THEY'RE WITH BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 91? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 91? SO MOVE BY COUNCILMAN MCC COLEMAN.
ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 91 HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[92. 22-01359]
AM MAYOR PRESENT TO ACCEPT A GRANT AND AN ENTER INTO A CONTRACT ON BEHALF OF DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICE, OFFICE OF SOCIAL SERVICES WITH LOUISIANA WORKFORCE COMMISSION FOR A COMMUNITY SERVICE BLOCK GRANT IN AMOUNT OF 1,389,323 FOR HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTORS.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 92? COUNCIL MEMBER GO DAY.
I WAS GONNA ASK MISS VERINE TO COME UP AND DISCUSS ITEM 92 AND THEN STAY AROUND TO DISCUSS ITEM 93.
AND THE PURPOSE OF THE DISCUSSION IS SIMPLY TO PROVIDE, UH, THE PURPOSE OF THESE PROGRAMS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT.
UH, TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC.
I'M TALKING AS SLOWLY AS I CAN SO SHE GETS TO THE MICROPHONE.
SO ITEM I 92 IS OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE BLOCK ROUTE.
THAT PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED BY OUR OFFICE OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
AND THE PURPOSE OF THOSE FUNDS IS TO HELP US ADDRESS AND ALLEVIATE THOSE CONDITIONS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO PROPERTY PROPERTY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WE DO AN ARRAY OF SERVICES FROM HELPING FOLKS WITH A UTILITY BILL, PAYING RENT, UM, ADDRESSING THE PREVAILING ISSUES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE CAN DO ALL THAT THROUGH THE COMMUNITY SERVICE BLOCK.
HOW CAN SOMEONE, UH, FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ON, UH, ITEM 92, PLEASE? UM, YOU CAN CALL OFF THE SOCIAL SERVICE.
YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE ON THE HUMAN SERVICES OR YOU CAN CALL US THREE FIVE EIGHT FOUR FIVE SIX ONE.
AND WE ARE LOCATED AT EACH ONE OF THE COMMUNITY CENTERS, OUR STAFF.
LOOK AT EACH ONE OF COMMUNITY CENTERS.
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND STAYING, UH, FOR THE NEXT ITEM.
IS THERE A MOTION? YOU ARE QUESTION.
MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.
[93. 22-01360]
AUTHORIZING AM MAYOR PRESENT TO ACCEPT AN AMENDMENT ON BEHALF OF DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES, OFFICE OF SOCIAL SERVICE AND LOW INCOME HOME,[01:30:01]
ENTER THE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CONTRACT IN LOUISIANA HOUSING CORPORATION IN AN AMOUNT OF $85,758 FOR A TOTAL OF $645,029 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTORS.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 93? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL.
SO THE LA HEAT PROGRAM HELP, UH, US HELP, UH, RESIDENTS WITH THEIR ENERGY COSTS.
UM, ELIGIBLE CLIENTS CAN IMPLY AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR TO GET HELP WITH THEIR ENERGY BILLS.
THAT'S WHAT THEHE PROGRAM DOES.
AND HOW COULD SOMEONE FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION? 3, 5, 8, 4, 5, 6 1.
WE'RE LOCATED IN EACH ONE OF THE COMMUNITY CENTERS.
I I I I'M SORRY, I MEANT TO GET THE COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.
LIKE YOU SAID, WE ARE VERY BUSY.
UM, BUT I WAS WONDERING IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO HAVE, UM, AN EVENT WHERE ALL THE WORKERS COME TO THE DO ROUND ROBBING EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.
WE HAVE TWO WORKERS, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORDS.
SO I, I WANTED TO, UM, HAVE AN EVENT WHERE WE OFFER THESE SERVICES, HAVE EVERY, HAVE THE PERSONS IN OUR AREA COME AND HAVE MORE THAN THE TWO STAFF, UM, FOR LIKE A SPECIAL SATURDAY EVENT.
SO I'M TRYING TO GET CLARITY BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE WAY WE HAVE IT SET UP, WE WENT THROUGH THE AUTOMATIC SCHEDULING SYSTEM.
WE ARE A BOOKED BE UNTIL NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THE OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF CUSTOMERS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THAT NEED HELP WITH UTILITY BILL FOR THE FIRST TIME, COVID PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER APPLIED FOR OUR SERVICE BEFORE ARE NOW IMPLYING.
AND SO THAT JUST MADE OUR SYSTEM, WE JUST LIKE OVERWHELMED, WE'VE HIRED ADDITIONAL 10 PEOPLE, TEMPORARY PEOPLE TO HELP US WITH THE UTILITY BILLS.
SO IF YOU COULD JUST BE PATIENT WITH US COUNCILWOMAN.
IS THAT SO THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
I THINK THIS WOULD ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM IF YOU WOULD HAVE LIKE A SATURDAY WHERE A PERSON THAT ARE ON YOUR LIST ASSIGNED TO US AND HAVE LIKE HOW MANY WORKERS? YOU, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY WORKERS.
WELL, YOU KNOW, LIKE HAVE 20 WORKERS.
HOW MANY? I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE.
BUT THAT INCLUDES ALL THE CLASSIFICATIONS, NOT JUST THE CASE MANAGERS.
DO THEY KNOW HOW TO PROCESS? WELL ACTUALLY THE APPLICATION IS DONE ELECTRONICALLY.
WE DO EVERYTHING IN OUR, UM, ELECTRONIC SYSTEM.
HERE'S THE PROBLEM IS THAT MANY TIMES OUR CUSTOMERS DON'T HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION THAT'S NEEDED.
AND SO IF WE COULD KIND OF TRIAGE THAT, RIGHT.
AND SO BY THE TIME THEY GET TO US, WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED TO PROCESS THE GET TO THEM FINE.
THAT'S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR US.
WHAT, WHAT I I'VE DONE THIS WITH WEATHERIZATION.
I'VE DONE IT WITH SEVERAL PROGRAMS. WE, THEY, WE MAKE SURE THEY HAVE EVERYTHING BEFORE.
WE'RE ABOUT TO DO IT WITH SOUTHERN LAW SCHOOL WITH WILLS AND SUCCESSION.
AND THAT IS WHY I'M SAYING WE NEED TO DO THIS.
SO I AM GONNA GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU THAT WE COULD PLAN A DAY OKAY.
ON A SATURDAY, GET WHAT IT IS, A CHECK LIST DOCUMENTATION.
AND, UM, AND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE OR? I DID HAVE MY NAME ON THE LIST SO I'M GO AHEAD.
UM, MY COMMUNITY CENTER'S BEEN OVERWHELMED AS WELL AND ONE THING I LEARNED RECENTLY IS THAT Y'ALL HAVE CHANGED THE ZIP CODES OF HOW THEY SERVICE TO COMING TO, UM, A CENTRAL LOCATION AND THEN KIND OF SPANNING IT OUT BASED ON FIRST COME FIRST SERVE TO UH, MAKE SURE THAT THE WORKERS ARE NOT OVERLOADED.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT? SO IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE TO SERVE PEOPLE ON THE FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS, WHICH IS A REASONABLE WIN OF THE ELECTRONIC SCHEDULING.
SO YOU CAN'T EVEN SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT UNLESS THERE'S AN OPEN DATE.
BUT WHAT WE DID DIFFERENTLY, BECAUSE SOME OF THE, THE ZIP CODES CAN GO ACROSS MULTIPLE COUNCIL, COUNCIL MATTER DISTRICTS.
I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO BE ABLE TO HELP EVERYBODY.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT DISTRICT HE IN SOME CENTERS ARE NOT AS BUSY AS OTHERS.
BUT I DON'T WANT THE WORK TO SLOW DOWN JUST BECAUSE ONE CENTER IS BUSY AND ONE IS NOT.
I WANT EVERYBODY TO JUMP IN AND HELP AS NEEDED.
SO THAT WAS THE REASON TO MAKING A CHANGE SO THAT THE NEXT AVAILABLE, I CAN'T HAVE ANY AND THE STAFF PERSON SITTING IDLE WHILE OTHERS ARE SWAMP.
SO IT'S THE NEXT AVAILABLE CUSTOMER.
OKAY, SO THE REASON THERE ARE, SO FIRST OF ALL, UM, YOU KIND OF MESSING US UP AS IT RELATES TO THE REASON THERE ARE COMMUNITY CENTERS AND THE REASON COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE OVER COMMUNITY CENTERS IS SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE, THEY CAN BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENGAGING THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
SO FOR ME, WHEN, WHETHER I'M HAVING A FOOD PANTRY OR WHATEVER, I PUT WHAT THE ZIP CODES ARE.
AND THE REASON I DO THAT IS SO THAT I CAN ALWAYS BE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH ALL THE SERVICES THAT I HAVE, NOT JUST YOU
[01:35:01]
ALL.AND WHAT I HAVE FOUND, AND I TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME, IS THAT WHEN, WHEN, WHEN THEY COME, THEY, THEY, THEY ASK, THEY THINK I'M YOUR PEOPLE BALLS AS YOU KNOW.
AND SO THAT WHEN I GET A REPORT AND YOU KNOW, SHE OVER AT YOUR CENTER.
SO I DON'T, I NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT CUZ I WANT TO, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO HELP THE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT.
AND IF YOU HAVE, DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE, LIKE THEY, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY OVER HERE AT VILLE, THEN YOU MIGHT NEED TO DO PART-TIME.
BUT I DO, WE DO HAVE ONE STAFF PERSON THAT WORKS TOO.
SO I, I NEED TO KNOW THAT I WANT TO BE ABLE NOT TO NOT HELP OTHERS, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE CONSTITUENTS IN MY DISTRICT THAT ARE THE ONES THAT, THAT ARE, ARE, THAT ARE OVERALL THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE IS MY RESPONSIBILITY THAT THAT IS THE CASE.
SO I WANT TO GO BACK, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, BEING ABLE TO SERVE MY, MY, MY AREA.
AND I INCLUDE 7 0 7 14 AND BAKER, UH, 7 0 8 0 7 AND 7 0 8 11, WHICH I SHARE, BUT YOU KNOW, CAUSE I'M NOT TRYING TO BREAK DOWN STREETS OR ANY AT 7 0 8 0 7 I SHARE WITH HER AT 7 0 8 11 WITH, UM, COUNCILMAN, UM, THEY HERS.
BUT THAT JUST, I DON'T, I DON'T PUT FOR ME PERSONALLY, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
AND I NEED TO PROBABLY TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT.
I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, THAT ALIGNS WITH WHAT I WAS JUST GETTING READY TO SAY BECAUSE OVER AT THE LEOS BUTLER CENTER, THAT WAS AN ISSUE.
BUT I WENT UP THERE ON PLAN ROAD AND SAW MS. MABRY AND THEN GOT ANOTHER PERSON IN THERE TO HELP THE ISSUES AND THEN HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE POWERS THAT BE AND THEN THAT BE WORKED OUT IN ORDER TO ADEQUATELY SERVE THE CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE SIGNED TO THAT LEOS BUTLER CENTER.
AND ALSO IF IT, YOU KNOW, HAPPENS AGAIN, YOU KNOW I'M COMING BACK.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 93? SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN COLEMAN SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? RYAN HECK, COUNCIL, THE ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[94. 22-01361]
NOW GO TO ITEM 94.JOE JIM LADIES, ITEM 94 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OF PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT THE GRANT AWARD AND THE AMOUNT OF 146,000 HOUR 24013 CENT UNDER THE STATE HOMELAND SECURITY PROGRAM BY HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DIRECTOR.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 94? IS THERE ANYONE HERE? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WHAT IS THE, THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, GO THERE.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
[95. 22-01362]
TO ITEM 95 AUTHORIZING AM MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT THE GRANT AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $78,899 AND 78 CENTS UNDER THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE GRANT BY HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DIRECTORS.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 95? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS THEIR MOTION TO APPROVE.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, GO THERE SECOND.
[96. 22-01367]
GO TO ITEM 96 AUTHORIZING AM MAYOR OF PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT AND CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION SERVICES WITH ROYAL ENGINEERS AND CONSULTANTS LLC FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVE BUREAU CAPACITY PROJECT JEFFERSON HIGHWAY AT BLUE BOND AND BOULEVARD INTERSECTION IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $139,000 BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 96? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 96? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HER SECOND AND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
ITEM 96 HAS BEEN APPROVED WITH NO OBJECTIONS
[97. 22-01373]
AND WE NOW GO TO ITEM 97 AUTHORIZING AM MAYOR, PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER ONE TO THE CONTRACT FOR APPRAISAL SERVICES WITH LAKE VO GROUP LLC FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVE BR CAPACITY PROJECT JONES CREEK ROAD, TIGER BEND TO AIRLINE AND IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $81,840 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAIN DIRECTOR.IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 97? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? ITEM 97 IS SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON SECOND AND BY COUNCIL MEMBER GO THERE.
[98. 22-01374]
NOW GO TO ITEM 98 WITH NO OBJECTIONS.ITEM 98 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OF PRESIDENTS EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENT OF READING NUMBER ONE TO THE CONTRACT APPRAISAL REVIEW SERVICES WITH JAMES INCORPORATED FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVE YORK CAPACITY PROJECT JONES CREEK ROAD, TIGER BEND TO AIRLINE HIGHWAY AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $59,840 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 98? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT THEIR MOTION TO APPROVE.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL, GONNA GO THERE SECONDARY BY COUNCIL
[01:40:01]
MEMBER HUDSON WITH HIS HAND HELD.I, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO ITEM 98? THE ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[99. 22-01377]
MEMBERS, DO YOU WANT TO GO TO ITEM 99 NOW OR DO YOU WANT ME TO TAKE ALL IT ITEMS TOGETHER? IT'S UP TO THE COUNCIL ITEM.WE GO ON ITEM 99 IN ORDER TO PLACE IN STORMWATER SEWER UTILITY SERVICE, USER FEE CHARGES INTO EFFECT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AUTHORITY OF TITLE 33.
CHAPTER TWO PART SEVEN OF LOUISIANA REVISED STATUTES AND LOCAL SERVICES LAW.
CHAPTER 10, PART ONE OF LOUISIANA VIA STATUTES WITH RESPECT TO STORMWATER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT AND A JOINT COMMISSION TO ADMINISTER THE TERMS OF THE JOINT INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND LOCAL SERVICES AGREEMENT CREATED BY THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL IN THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, CONFIRMING THE LEVY COLLECTION AND DEDICATION OF SAID STORMWATER UTILITY SERVICE FEE CHARGES BY PARISH ATTORNEY ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.
NUMBER ONE, THERE HAS BEEN A REQUEST TO DELETE THIS ITEM BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
NUMBER TWO, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 99, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES AND LET ME APOLOGIZE.
I SEE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HERE.
I'M GONNA BE TIGHT ON THE THREE MINUTES TONIGHT SO THAT EVERYONE WHO IS WISHING TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM, UH, MAY BE ABLE TO DO SO.
SO IF I CUT YOU OFF DURING YOUR COMMENTS, PLEASE KNOW IT IS NOT MY INTENT TO BE DISRESPECTFUL, BUT IT IS MY INTENT TO ENSURE EVERYONE WHO IS HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.
AND LAST, BUT CERTAIN, NOT LEAST AS I HAVE SUGGESTED TO ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TIME AND TIME AGAIN, I WILL SUGGEST TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM, THIS IS A CHALLENGING ITEM.
PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE TO BE HARSH, BE HARSH ON THE ITEM.
DON'T CHOOSE TO BE HARSH ON ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL OR ANY ONE OF US UP HERE, SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO DO SO.
I'M GOING TO ASK THAT YOU BE PLACED IN TIMEOUT AT THIS TIME.
WE WILL GO TO JOHN HILLMAN AND ANYONE WHO IS WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM, WOULD YOU LINE UP AND COME UP, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD LINE UP IN THREE SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAND UP A LONG TIME IF YOU DON'T MIND.
HUH? HEY, LISTEN, I APPRECIATE WHAT Y'ALL DO.
I DON'T KNOW WHY IN THE WORLD YOU DO IT IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, BUT, UH, I'M 90 YEARS OLD AND I LOVE THIS CITY.
UH, OLD AND MR. DUNN'S DISTRICT THERE SINCE 1976.
I HAD FOUR WONDERFUL KIDS GO THROUGH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL OVER THERE.
NOT $1 FOR GAS OR A BUS OR BUS DRIVER.
BUT, UH, I WOULD FEEL AN AWFUL BAD FOR MY GRANDKIDS IF I DIDN'T TRY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
I'M ANGRY AND I DON'T KNOW WHY Y'ALL ARE NOT ANGRY AFTER WHAT HAPPENED THIS LAST WEEK OR SO.
YOU KNOW, NUMBER ONE TO, UH, FEEL SECRETLY, Y'ALL PUT IN THE THING THAT WAS GONNA MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME.
AND, UH, THEN WE HAD THE NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT.
AND I THINK THAT STIRRED ME UP WHAT MY REP PEOPLE HERE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE REPRESENTING ME AT.
THEN THEY CAN'T FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO LOOK, SINCE I ONLY GOT A FEW MINUTES HOME, MY GOD, I'VE ALREADY LOST HALF OF BS IN HERE.
SURELY THAT MUST HAVE RILED SOME OF YOU.
AND NOW I HAVE TO DEMAND IN DOCUMENTS.
YOU GET PAGES MOSTLY BLACKED OUT.
CAN'T YOU FEEL ENOUGH IS ENOUGH? OUR PARISH IS IN TERRIBLE SHAPE AND GETTING WORSE BECAUSE OF THE MAYOR'S LEADERSHIP THAT RESPONDS TO THE DOWNTOWN CLUB AND OFTEN CREATES OUR PROBLEMS. LIKE TAKING THE MONEY HAD BEEN APPROVED FOR OVERPASS IT OVER AIRLINE AT GOODWOOD AND OLD HAMMOND AND USING IT TO MAKE OVERPASSES OVER THE INTERSTATE TO THE MALL OF LOUISIANA BOULEVARD WASN'T EVEN NEEDED.
THEN WE SEE THE GOVERNMENT STREET TRAFFIC ARTERY.
IT WAS TO BE, THAT WAS TO BE A TRAFFIC ARTIST TORN UP IN PLANTS IN THE MIDDLE.
NOW WHY DO Y'ALL TOLERATE THIS? FOR GOD'S SAKE? YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE IMPROVING THIS CITY 20 SECONDS.
THAT WAS LIKE GIVING THE FINGER TO THE LEADERS TRYING TO PROVE OUR TRAFFIC SO WE WOULDN'T CLIMB ON INTERSTATE TO GO ACROSS TOWN.
UH, YOU SHOULD ASK FOR THE MAYOR'S RESIGNATION AND PROCEED BY
[01:45:01]
SHOWING THE PEOPLE WHAT SHE HAS DONE WRONG.WHAT WILL THE FEE BE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE CO DIVERGENT TIME AFTER IT IS, THAT'S THE WORST THING THAT'S HAPPENED TO US.
I KNOW IT WAS IMPORTANT, BUT YOU DON'T REALLY NEED TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE THAT LIVED HERE ALL THEIR LIVES, YOU KNOW, AS THEY WATCH THE DAMN CITY.
STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD NOW.
I LIVE ON BAY RIDGE DRIVE IN BATON ROUGE.
I'M HERE TO ASK THE COUNCIL FOR FOUR THINGS TODAY.
ONE, WHEN THE UTILITY TAX OR FEE COMES UP TO PLEASE VOTE NO.
THERE'S NO DEFINED SCOPE OF WORK, NO COST ESTIMATES, DETAIL, NO PLAN OF EXECUTION, NO TIME CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOU TO APPROVE.
IT IS A BLANK CHECK WITH ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY, OUR CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS AND CHURCHES WILL BE TAXED OR PAY A FEE IN EXCESS OF $1 MILLION IN OUR PARISH.
ARE WE SO DESPERATE TO CHARGE ST.
VINCENT DEPAUL, UNITED WAY, SUSAN KOMAN BATTERED WOMEN'S SHELTERS? THESE TYPE OF FEES? SECOND, I'M ASKING THAT YOU REQUIRE THAT ANY PLAN MOVING FORWARD COMPLETELY SHOW A DETAIL OF SCOPE COSTS, SCHEDULING AND EXECUTION PLANS.
THREE, I'M ASKING YOU TO RECONSIDER BALANCING OUR BUDGET, WHICH WE HAVE HAD EXAMPLES BEFORE.
THEY REBALANCED THEIR LIBRARY AND RECREATION PARKS.
I REALIZE Y'ALL HAVE VISITED THAT ALREADY AND WE CAN FREE UP $96 MILLION ANNUALLY IF WE DO THAT.
AND FINALLY, I'M ASKING FOR THIS GROUP TO PLEASE REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IF IT HAD NOT BEEN, AND WE OWE HIM A GREAT DEAL OF DEBT TO OUR CONGRESSMAN GARY GRAVES, WHO CALLED AND VERIFIED THAT THE INFORMATION WAS ERRONEOUS.
THIS IS PROBABLY AN ETHICS VIOLATION.
IT IS PROBABLY A STATE LAW VIOLATION.
THERE WAS NO NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENT, THERE WAS NO GAG ORDER.
THE INFORMATION WAS ERRONEOUS INSTEAD OF FINGER POINTING.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND I WOULD THINK YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE A FULL INVESTIGATION TO UNDERSTAND WHAT REALLY TOOK PLACE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
NEXT, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
UH, MARIE CONSTANTINE, 6 57 SPANISH TOWN ROAD.
UM, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
WHEN I, UM, WHEN THE FIR FEES FIRST CAME OUT, I CLICKED ON THEM TO SEE WHAT MY FEE WAS AND I WAS PRETTY HAPPY ABOUT IT.
AND THEN I DECIDED TO CLICK ON WHERE I GO TO CHURCH, OUR LADY OF MERCY.
AND IT ABSOLUTELY TOOK MY BREATH AWAY.
AND THEN I REALIZED, OH MY GOD, I'M DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO MASS THIS SUNDAY
AND I AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS WOMAN IN THE SENSE OF THE DETAILS AND WE NEED THE DETAILS.
AND THEN I WANNA SAY SOMETHING ELSE.
AS YOU KNOW, I'VE TALKED BEFORE THAT WE FIGURED 41 BAGS OF LITTER COME INTO CAPITAL LAKE EVERY MONTH.
AND IF THERE WERE 200 PIECES OF LITTER IN EACH BAG, IT WOULD TAKE 8,200 PEOPLE TO STAND ON THE BANKS OF CAPITAL LAKE TO CREATE THOSE 41 BAGS.
AND THIS DYNAMIC IS BEING PLAYED OVER AND OVER AND OVER IN THE SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE.
AND FLORIDA TOOK CARE OF IT WITH THESE STONEWATER UTILITY FEES PUT ON A UTILITY BILL.
AND WITH 211 COMMUNITIES NOW, THERE IS NO REASON WHY WE CAN'T PAUSE THIS WHOLE NIGHTMARE AND TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND STUDY THE FEES AND COME UP WITH SOMETHING REASONABLE.
THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME PLACE IN THE MIDDLE.
AND I'M WONDERING WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE WHEN OUR GRANDFATHERS REALIZED THAT DEATH AND DISEASE WAS RESULTING FROM SEWAGE AND SOMEBODY, I DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY OF A UTILITY BILL AND HOW THAT BECAME A PERMANENT FUNDING SOURCE, BUT I THINK THIS IS WHERE WE ARE TODAY, THAT WE ARE TRYING TO GIVE STORM WATER FOR THE NUMBER ONE STATE IN RAINFALL, PERMANENT FUNDING FOR SOMETHING THAT HAS CAUSED SO MUCH PAIN AND SUFFERING AND LOSS OF OUR HOMES AND OUR WAY OF LIFE.
THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF EXAMPLES.
[01:50:01]
SITE AND THEY, UH, OF COURSE THEY DON'T HAVE OUR RAINFALL AMOUNTS, BUT THEY WERE CHARGING 3 CENTS FOR EVERY WHATEVER, 500, WHATEVER THEY CALL 'EM.I MEAN, THERE ARE OTHER NUMBERS AND FORMULAS OUT THERE.
OUR STATE IS IN TERRIBLE PAIN.
ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 99? IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 99? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. UM, MR. DUNSON.
UM, SO MR. DUNSON, I WANNA GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS.
UM, WHEN DID YOUR OFFICE FIRST BECOME AWARE THAT WE, UM, WERE, UH, POTENTIALLY GONNA HAVE A FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT ACTION, UM, FROM THE DOJ EPA? UM, WITH REGARD TO OUR MS FOUR PERMITTING IN OUR NON-COMPLIANCE? UM, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES TO THAT QUESTION.
AS YOU KNOW, COUNCIL, WHEN WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, UM, THERE WERE SEVERAL YEARS THAT THE CITY PARISH WEREN'T DOING, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS WE NEEDED TO DO.
WE WERE NOTIFIED IN 2018 THAT THEY WOULD BE DOING AN AUDIT OF THE CITY PARISH IN THE STORMWATER SYSTEM.
UH, IN 2018 IT STARTED, WE WEREN'T NOTIFIED UNTIL JUNE OF 2020 THAT THEY HAD COMPLETED THAT AUDIT.
AND SO, UM, NOW LET'S MOVE IT TO THE NDA.
AT WHAT POINT, WHEN, WHEN, WHEN WAS, WHEN DID THE NDA COME INTO PLAY? WAS IT A REQUIREMENT? WAS IT A SUGGESTION? AND WHO DID THAT SUGGESTION COME FROM? UM, WHAT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER IS THE AUDIT ITSELF WAS A PRIVILEGED DOCUMENT.
THERE WERE SOME DOCUMENTS ATTACHED TO THE AUDIT, WHICH WAS NOT PRIVILEGED MM-HMM.
BUT THE AUDIT ITSELF IS A PRIVILEGED DOCUMENT AND IT STAMPED IT SUCH AT THE TOP STATING THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE RELEASED PURSUANT TO LOUISIANA, UH, ME, FEDERAL COURT OF EVIDENCE ARTICLE 4 0 8, ARTICLE FOUR EIGHT, THAT THE FEDERAL COURT OF EVIDENCE, UH, SPECIFICALLY SPEAKS TO THE FACT THAT LAWYERS, UH, ARE NOT ABLE TO DISCLOSE CONFIDENTIAL NEGOTIATIONS.
UM, IT WAS OUR UNDERSTANDING WHERE WE'RE NOTIFIED OF THE FACT THAT THERE WAS THIS AUDIT OUT THERE IN THESE FINDINGS OUT THERE.
MR. ABBOTT IN OUR OFFICE WAS HANDLING THAT MATTER AND TALKED WITH A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
AND IT WAS ESSENTIALLY, UH, A SITUATION WHERE WE COULD EITHER PARTICIPATE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS OR IF WE FAIL TO PARTICIPATE IN NEGOTIATIONS.
IT WAS CLEAR TO US THAT THEY WOULD FILE SUIT AGAINST THE CITY PARISH FOR THEIR, UM, FOR THE FINDINGS OF THE AUDIT.
SO MR. ABBOTT MADE THE RIGHT DECISION, I THINK, AND HE THOUGHT HE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION IN, IN NEGOTIATING AND TRYING TO FIND SOME BALANCE FOR THE CITY PARISHS IN TERMS OF THE AUDIT FINDINGS.
WAS IT YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT WITHOUT YOU'RE ON MY, MY TIME? I'M SO SORRY.
YOU'RE GONNA GET LOTS OF OTHER QUESTIONS.
I'M TRYING TO QUESTION, TRYING TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.
WHAT, UM, WAS IT YOUR UNDERSTANDING, EXCUSE ME, FOR ME TO INTERRUPT FOR A SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER? I THINK THAT IN LIGHT OF THE IMPORTANT NATURE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU'RE ASKING, I'LL GIVE YOU MORE TIME.
I DON'T REMEMBER WHERE I'M AT NOW.
UM, SO Y'ALL, UM, YOU, UH, YOU THE NEGOTIATIONS, YOU THE NEGOTIATION, I THINK YOU'RE SAYING YOU FELT LIKE YOU HAD TO HAVE YES, SIR.
SO, UH, THE DEAL IS, IS THAT WHEN YOU'RE DOING NEGOTIATIONS, WE AS LAWYERS ARE BOUND BY THE FEDERAL COURT OF EVIDENCE ARTICLE FOR ROY.
THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE STAFF AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT WORK WITH THE CITY PARISH ARE NOT BOUND BY THAT CUZ THEY'RE NOT ATTORNEYS.
SO THERE HAS TO BE SOME METHOD BY WHICH THEY'RE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AS THOSE LAWYERS ARE, ARE TO HOLD THOSE S SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS CONFIDENTIAL.
UM, YOU CAN DO A CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT, YOU CAN DO A NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT.
AND MR. ABBOTT, UM, IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DOJ REPRESENTATIVE, UH, AND GOING BACK AND FORTH AND HAVING A DISCUSSION, MR. ABBOTT LEFT THAT DISCUSSION, UH, WITH THE BELIEF THAT THE NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT, UH, WAS THE BEST WAY TO PROCEED IN ENSURING THAT THOSE NON-ATTORNEY PERSONNEL OF THE CITY PARISHS WOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR NOT DISCLOSING THE SETTLEMENT, CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS, UH, REGARDING THE AUDIT, REGARDING THE STONEWATER SITUATION.
UM, AND SO THEN THAT WAS JUNE OF 2020.
AND SO THEN AT THAT POINT, UM, YOU, YOU INFORMED THE, THE, THE STAFF PERSONNEL, THE PARISH, UM, ADMINISTRATION PERSONNEL.
WE SPECIFICALLY NOTIFIED MR. UH,
[01:55:01]
HILL AND MR. UH, SPEAR, WHO ARE THE, WHO WERE THE LEAD INDIVIDUALS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND FOR THE CITY PARISHS THAT WERE TAKING ON THIS ENDEAVOR.SO, UH, AND THEN THEY HAD CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS THAT WORKED FOR THEM, AND I'M NOT GONNA CALL THEIR NAMES, BUT THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE TIED IN AND WERE PART OF THEIR NETWORK, UH, WHO WERE NON-LAWYERS, UH, WERE ASKED TO SIGN THE NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT AS WELL.
AND SO DID YOU ALSO NOTIFY THE, THE MAYOR? WAS SHE GONNA BE A PART OF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS AS WELL? I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MAYOR KNOWS.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT I NEVER SPOKE TO THE MAYOR, UH, REGARDING THIS MATTER, EITHER BY PHONE, TEXT, EMAIL, OR ANYTHING.
UH, NOT DIRECTLY OR ANY NATURE.
MY ONLY COMMUNICATION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, MY STAFF, MR. ABSON COMMUNICATION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION WAS THROUGH, THROUGH MR. SPEAR AND MR. UH, KELVIN HILL AND MAYBE SOME OF THEIR ADDITIONAL, UH, RELATED PARTIES, UH, THAT WERE AT MEETINGS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO WHEN THE INFORMATION WAS GIVEN TO THEM, I SUSPECT, AND I DON'T WANNA MAKE ANY, ANY SPECULATION, BUT I SUSPECT IT WAS PROVIDED TO THE HIGHER EPSON ADMINISTRATION WHAT WAS TOLD AND HOW IT WAS TOLD.
DID ANY ATTORNEYS SIGN THE NDA? AGAIN, ATTORNEYS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO SIGN THE NDA BECAUSE THEY'RE BOUND BY ARTICLE FOUR OR THE FEDERAL RULES OF IT.
SO IT WOULD ONLY BE PARISH EMPLOYEES WHO ARE NON ATTORNEYS, SO, RIGHT.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YES, MA'AM.
UM, SO THE, THE, AS AS THE PARISH ATTORNEY, UM, THE METRO COUNSEL IS YOUR, YOUR CLIENT, UM, DID, DOES THAT FEDERAL RULES OF EVIDENCE, UM, PRECLUDES YOU FROM SHARING, UM, DETAILS OF A, A CASE THAT WE'RE, OR A POTENTIAL CASE THAT WE ARE INVOLVED IN? UM, WITH US? WHAT YOU'RE ASKING COUNCILWOMAN IS WHAT YOU'VE ASKED ME PREVIOUSLY, AND I DON'T MIND EXPLAINING IT AGAIN, BUT I WANNA BE CLEAR CAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT QUESTION WAS CLEAR.
WHAT YOU'RE ASKING ME IS WHY WOULD SOMEONE WHO IS MY CLIENT IF WE'RE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, HAVE TO SIGN AN NDA TO HAVE A FULL DISCUSSION WITH YOU ABOUT EVERYTHING RELATED TO THE AUDIT? IS THAT YOUR QUESTION? THAT IS NOW, YES.
SO THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS WHAT I'VE TOLD YOU, WHAT I'VE TOLD, UH, MR. HUDSON AND WHAT I'VE TOLD EVERYONE THAT I'VE TALKED TO, UM, OUR CONCERN IS ENSURING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS CERTAINTY THAT THE CITY PARISH IS NOT RELEASING INFORMATION THAT IT SHOULD NOT.
UH, IT WAS OUR OPINION, UH, AND OUR BELIEF THAT THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT WAS TO HAVE ALL NON-LAW INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING OUR CLIENTS SIGNING DAS.
YOU KNOW, WHY, WHY? AND I'VE HAD DISCUSSION WITH YOU WHEN WE GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION, HAS NEVER BEEN A TIME, I HAVEN'T TOLD YOU EVERYTHING THAT'S RELATED TO AN ITEM.
AND I DARE ANYONE SING ON THIS COUNCIL TO SHOW ME A SITUATION THAT I DID THAT I DARE YOU.
THIS IS FEDERAL LITIGATION THAT IS GOVERNED BY CERTAIN ARTICLES.
AND IF I PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO YOU AND I COST YOU, LIKE I COST YOU IN EVERY EXECUTIVE SESSION WE GO TO, PLEASE DO NOT DISCLOSE THIS INFORMATION.
IT'S ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE.
I TRUST THAT Y'ALL ARE NOT GONNA PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION, RIGHT? BECAUSE THAT'S THE KIND OF CASE THAT WE HAVE IN THIS CASE.
IF YOU WERE DISCLOSE THE INFORMATION TO AN OUTSIDE PARTY, NOW I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE FEDERAL REGULATORS WONDERING HOW THIS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, WHICH YOU INSURERS WAS NOT GONNA GET OUT, HAS GOTTEN OUT.
AND THAT MAY POTENTIALLY HURT US DOWN THE ROAD AND LEAVE THE CITY TO HAVING TO INCUR A CAUSE OF ACTION BECAUSE OF THAT RELEASE OF INFORMATION.
SO WE FELT THE SAFEST WAY AND THE BEST WAY TO SHOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT WE RELAYED THAT INFORMATION WAS TO HAVE ALL NON-LAW PERSONNEL SIGNED, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE, UH, COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS, I GAVE YOU AN ADDITIONAL FIVE MINUTES.
WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR OTHER FIVE MINUTES AT THIS TIME? OR WHEN YOU MOVE ON AND COME BACK, I WOULD SUGGEST YOU COME BACK WITH YOUR OTHER FIVE MINUTES, MINUTES.
COUNCIL NUMBER HUDSON? UH, I'M GOOD.
A, UH, I I WANT TO FIRST, I GUESS MAKE, MAYBE ASK MY QUESTION AS A POINT OF ORDER TO SEE IF THE, UH, ADMINISTRATION WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND MAKE ANY STATEMENTS OR ADDRESS THE COUNSEL WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR THAT.
DO YOU WANT TO COME UP AND ADDRESS FRED? YOU DON'T HAVE TO, BUT IF YOU WANT TO WELCOME YOU.
I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD DO FRED.
I, I'M GONNA MAKE, UH, I'M GONNA RESTATE MY QUESTION AND ASK IF THERE'S ANY C LEVEL PEOPLE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND COMMUNICATE TO THIS COUNCIL TO HELP REBUILD TRUST, UH, AND ESTABLISH, REESTABLISH A DIALOGUE WITH US.
[02:00:06]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.I CAN BASICALLY SAY THAT WHAT ANDY EXPLAINED WAS CORRECT, THAT OUR UNDERSTANDING ALWAYS WAS, AND I THINK IT WAS RE RELATED TO THE COUNCIL, THAT WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK ON ANYTHING.
UM, SO AGAIN, I KNOW THAT WAS CERTAINLY THE MAYOR'S POSITION.
UM, SHE FELT LIKE SHE COULD NOT OPENLY TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
AND FOR THE MOST PART, THE INTERNAL WORKINGS OF THIS WERE DONE AT A STAFF LEVEL, REALLY WITHIN KELVIN AND WITH RICHARD UMS PEERS.
I DO HAVE STILL HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
UH, WHEN IT COMES TO OUR TIMELINE, WE STILL SEEM TO BE AT, AT ODDS WITH THE INFORMATION THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM THE ADMINISTRATION VERSUS WHAT WE'RE GETTING FROM CONGRESSMAN GRAVES.
JUST YESTERDAY, THE MAYOR, UH, RESTATED THAT WE HAVE AN IMPENDING DEADLINE.
AND THEN I, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM CONGRESSMAN GRAVE'S OFFICE, UH, JUST BEFORE THIS MEETING STARTED, THAT THERE IS NO IMPENDING DEADLINE.
MAY HAVE YOU WANNA, ANDY PROBABLY CAN SPEAK OF THE DEADLINE CUZ HE'S BEEN, I'VE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN THE DEADLINE ISSUE.
ANDY'S BEEN IN THOSE MEETINGS.
YOU WANT ME TO ANSWER IT? HANG ON.
THE MAYOR RELEASED THAT STATEMENT.
SO, AND, AND I THINK, I THINK AGAIN, THOSE ARE THE DEADLINES THAT THE MAYOR'S BEEN GIVEN.
THE MAYOR WAS THE ONE IN THE MEETINGS WITH ANDY AND WITH, UH, L D E Q.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHO WAS IN THAT MEETING.
SO AGAIN, THAT WAS INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED TO THE MAYOR.
AND IN TERMS OF, AND DO YOU, DO YOU HAVE A DOCUMENT THAT SAYS I I'VE THE EMAIL THAT WAS SENT FROM MR. BIDWELL? YEAH, I THINK EARLIER.
UH, AND I SEE SOME BENCHMARKS IN THERE.
I SEE, UH, MCMS, WHICH ARE, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE MS FOUR PERMIT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I DON'T SEE IN ANY DOCUMENTATION WHERE IT SAYS A SPECIFIC DATE OR A SPECIFIC MONTH.
SO, SO SIR, UM, ON THE DOCUMENT THAT WAS SHARED WITH YOU ALL AS WELL AS, UM, RELEASED PUBLICLY EARLIER TODAY, THERE ARE THREE DATES.
UH, AND THIS IS BASED ON THE AUGUST 30TH MEETING THAT THE MAYOR HAD, UH, AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM AND THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WITH LOUISIANA, D E Q WITH THE EPA AND OUR STAFF.
UH, IN THAT EMAIL, THERE'S AN ATTACHMENT CALLED THE AGENDA.
AND IF YOU LOOK DOWN TO ITEM, WHAT IS THIS SIX B? THERE ARE THREE DATES LISTED.
NUMBER ONE, UH, I'M SORRY, NUMBER TWO MCM ONE DUE BY OCTOBER 15TH, 2022.
THERE'S A SECOND DAY NOVEMBER 19TH, 2022.
AND THEN THE THIRD DATE IS JANUARY 15TH, 2023.
SO HERE THEY SHOW THREE DIFFERENT BENCHMARKS THAT EXPECTED TO BE MET AS WELL AS WHEN THOSE ARE EXPECTED TO BE MET.
BUT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT BENCHMARKS, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT MCMS. THE, THE, THE STATEMENT FROM THE MAYOR PRESIDENT'S OFFICE IS THAT FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT ACTION WILL BEGIN FEBRUARY OF 2023.
WHAT YOU PROVIDED ME DOESN'T SAY THAT THE INFORMATION COMING FROM CONGRESSMAN GRAVES IS THAT THAT DEADLINE IS NOT REAL.
HAS THE MAYOR REACHED OUT TO THE CONGRESSMAN TO SEE IF MAYBE HE CAN HELP? I I CAN'T SAY WHETHER OR NOT THEY'VE SPOKEN DARRELL.
I DUNNO IF ARE, ARE WE LIVING IN A PARISH WHERE OUR MAYOR, PRESIDENT CAN'T REACH OUT TO OUR CONGRESSMAN? I MEAN, I, I CAN TELL YOU FROM AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, HE'S BEEN ONE OF THE MOST OPEN AND, AND EAGER TO HELP IN ANY SITUATION.
AND WE HAVEN'T REACHED OUT TO 'EM ABOUT AN ISSUE ON HUGE FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT, THE COST IN OUR TAXPAYERS MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
AND, AND THAT COMMUNICATION CAN REALLY WORK BOTH WAYS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE COMMUNICATED, I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT.
CAN WE ADDRESS THAT? CAN WE CALL 'EM THAT? WE CAN, WE CAN CERTAINLY FIND OUT.
WE, WE WOULD THINK THAT COMMUNICATION WOULD'VE HAPPENED THE OTHER, OTHER WAY TOO.
I I I WILL JUST FOLLOW UP BY SAYING, UH, LOOK, STORM WATER IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.
MS FOUR IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.
I THINK I'M GONNA PAUSE, I'M GONNA PAUSE AND LET THE MAYOR ADDRESS US.
HOW CAN I ASSIST YOU COUNCILMAN? HAVE YOU, DID YOU HEAR THE QUESTIONS? NO, I DIDN'T HEAR IT.
SO THE SPECIFIC QUESTION IS, YOU AND CONGRESSMAN GRAVES SEEM TO BE, UH, GIVING US DIFFERENT DATES, RIGHT? SO, EARLIER TODAY, MR. ARMSTRONG AND MR. BIDWELL SENT US SOME INFORMATION THAT INCLUDES A DOCUMENT CALLED AGENDA FOR 8 30 20 22.
UH, IN THAT DOCUMENT, THERE ARE SEVERAL BENCHMARKS LISTED, BUT THERE'S NO
[02:05:01]
SPECIFIC DATE.UH, BUT AS RECENT AS YESTERDAY, YOU DOUBLE BACK ON THE DATE THAT WE HAVE IMPENDING FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT ACTION.
WE RECEIVED THIS COUNCIL RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM CONGRESSMAN GRAVE'S OFFICE BEFORE THIS MEETING STARTED, SAYING THAT AGAIN, THERE, THERE IS NO FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT, IMMEDIATE FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT ACTION PENDING.
CAN CAN WE COMMUNICATE? ABSOLUTELY, WE CAN COMMUNICATE.
SO, FIRST OF ALL, I AM REFERRING TO THIS DOCUMENT, WHICH I THINK ALL OF YOU ALL RECEIVED.
THAT WAS FROM A MEETING THAT I WAS IN ON AUGUST THE 30TH AT THAT MEETING.
AS YOU WILL NOTICE, DO YOU ALL HAVE THAT DOCUMENT? CUZ IT WOULD BE GOOD IF YOU COULD REFER TO IT.
WE CAN GET SOME COPIES OF THAT DOCUMENT.
MS. HARRIS, CAN YOU HELP ME? IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN EMAIL.
THE DOCUMENT SHE HAS, CAN YOU HELP US GET SOME COPIES OF THAT? NO, I THINK THEY HAVE IT.
YOU HAVE IT ON YOUR EMAIL? I HAVE IT, YES, MA'AM.
SO, UH, IN THAT DOCUMENT, IF YOU'LL NOTICE THE AGENDA, IT SAYS EPA AND L D E Q ENFORCEMENT MEETING WITH HONORABLE SHARON WESTON BROOM EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH MAYOR STAFF REGARDING THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH AND EAST BATON ROUGES FOUR PROGRAM.
IF YOU GO DOWN THE AGENDA, AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT WAS INCLUDED.
IF YOU GO DOWN THE AGENDA, IT SAYS IDENTIFY ACTION ITEMS, AND THEN IT SAYS MS. M ONE BY OCTOBER 15TH, CITY PARISH, MS M NINE BY NOVEMBER 19TH, 2022, ALL MCMS BY JANUARY 15TH, 2023.
NOW, COUNCILMAN, I CAN'T EXPLAIN, UH, WHAT THE CONGRESSMAN SAID, BUT ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS THE TRUTH OF WHAT I WAS THERE AND THE DOCUMENTS THAT I RECEIVED AT THAT MEETING ON AUGUST THE 30TH.
SO WHERE ON THIS PAGE DOES IT SAY FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT ACTION WILL BEGIN AFTER JANUARY 15TH, 2023? IT SAYS THAT, AND I RECOGNIZE THAT THE MCMS ARE DUE.
AND I, AND I HAVE A, THE LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN GRAVES.
YEAH, I HAVE THAT LETTER TOO FROM CONGRESSMAN GRAVES.
BUT IT WAS OUR IMPRESSION AFTER THAT.
DO YOU HAVE THE REST OF THOSE DOCUMENTS, MARK? THEY DIDN'T.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT AT THAT PARTICULAR MEETING, THAT IS WHY THEY SAID JANUARY 15TH, BECAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO GET AN EXTENDED, UH, DEADLINE, UH, BEYOND JANUARY 15TH.
SO IT BECAME VERY CLEAR TO US THROUGH DOCUMENTATION.
I BELIEVE IT WAS THE, OH, HERE, OKAY.
IT SAYS PLAN TO BE FULLY STAFFED BY FEBRUARY, 2023.
AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE MS FOUR, THIS WAS PART OF THE, UH, OF THE OUTLINE THAT WAS PART OF THAT PACKAGE.
AND THEN IT SAYS, ALL SUBMITTED BY FEBRUARY 15TH.
THAT'S IN, THAT'S PART OF THE DOCUMENTATION AS WELL.
SO THIS IS WHERE WE GOT THE DATES.
COUNCILMAN, THERE WAS NO ATTEMPT AND YOU TALKED ABOUT COMMUNICATING.
THERE WAS NEVER ANY ATTEMPT TO DECEIVE OR TO DO ANYTHING THAT WAS, UH, UNETHICAL.
ALL WE WERE TRYING TO DO WAS TO COMPLY.
NOW WE, BECAUSE OF WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED, UH, WE BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE RIGHT, MORE COMMUNICATION PERHAPS NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
NOW, DOES THAT MEAN THAT ALL OF THIS IS OFF THE TABLE? THAT'S A CONVERSATION YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
ALL I KNOW IS ABOUT THE MEETING THAT I WAS IN AND THE RESPONSE THAT WE GAVE THEM IN TERMS OF WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO SO THAT WE WOULD BE IN
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COMPLIANCE.AND SO THESE PROCESSES ARE STILL GOING ON THE PROCESS AROUND OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER AND JANUARY.
THESE PROCESSES ARE STILL GOING ON.
WE STILL, EVEN THOUGH WE TAKE THIS OFF OF THE AGENDA, WE STILL HAVE TO COMPLY AND HAVE THOSE REPORTS TO THEM.
THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR, I'LL ONLY END BY SAYING WHEN THIS PROCESS BEGAN, I, I BELIEVE THAT SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS EXPRESSED GRAVE ABOUT THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION PLAN, UH, AND THE RUSHED TIMELINE.
THIS IS TOO IMPORTANT OF AN ISSUE FOR US TO HAVE PUT FORWARD A PLAN THAT WAS NOT DONE TO THE LEVEL OF DE DETAIL THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE.
SO MY REQUEST TO YOU, MY REQUEST TO THIS ENTIRE COUNCIL, LET'S INVOLVE OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS.
WE HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS THERE.
LET'S GET TOGETHER AS A GROUP, UH, AND FIND A WAY TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM.
I WILL COMMIT TO DOING THAT WITH YOU, AND I HOPE THAT YOU'LL WORK WITH THIS COUNCIL ON DOING IT.
UH, BUT WE HAVE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSION.
WE HAVE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE MINUTIA TO, TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.
UM, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO RESPOND TO THAT? ABSOLUTELY.
UH, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WHATSOEVER IN ENGAGING THE COUNCIL, IN FACT, AND, UH, COUNCILMAN HUDSON, THAT IS THE REASON THAT WE HAD THOSE MEETINGS SO THAT WE COULD ENGAGE YOU WHERE WE PUT ON A, UH, EXPEDITED TIMELINE BECAUSE OF THIS AUGUST 30TH MEETING.
YES, WE WERE, UH, DID WE TRY TO DO OUR BEST AS A CITY PARISH GOVERNMENT TO COMPLY? YES, WE DID.
WAS THERE OBVIOUSLY INFORMATION FROM VARIOUS LEVELS THAT CAME TO SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS? YES, THERE WAS.
NOW, DO WE KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS IF WE DON'T COMPLY WITH THIS FEE? NO, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE, BUT I KNOW ONE THING THAT I CAN CERTAINLY, UH, SHARE, AND THAT IS THAT I HAVE NO PROBLEM AND I NEVER HAVE HAD A PROBLEM TRYING TO KEEP THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN.
BUT TRUST ME, WHEN I OPERATE, MY MOTIVES ARE NOT POLITICAL.
MY MOTIVES ARE TO HELP THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY IN PARISH.
AND WHEN THE ALARM WENT OFF, THAT OUR CITIZENS MAY HAVE TO PAY AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF MONEY BECAUSE OF A POTENTIAL CONSENT DECREE THAT CONCERNED ME AS THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW ME WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT THERE WERE NO ULTERIOR MOTIVES IN TRYING TO DO THIS, BUT TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR, UH, EXPLANATION OF WHY WE WERE NOT, UH, WHY WE WERE ASKED TO SIGN AN NDA IN THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE SPOKE MULTIPLE TIMES, AND I TOLD YOU, I THOUGHT AT THAT TIME, AS YOUR CLIENTS, WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE EVERYTHING IN THAT MOMENT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION WITHOUT HAVING TO SIGN ANYTHING.
UM, BUT I UNDERSTAND THE REASONING BEHIND IT.
IT'S AN, IT'S AN EXTRA LAYER BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT THE, THE DANGER TO THE PARISH, SHOULD THAT NOT HAVE OCCURRED, SHOULD WE NOT HAVE THAT EXTRA BARRIER? WAS, WAS SO GRAVE.
UM, DID THE MAYOR SIGN AN NDA? NO.
AND SO I I, I WOULD ASSUME THAT YOU, WITH THAT BEING THE CASE, I I, I WOULD ASSUME SHE WAS PRIVY TO ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE WERE TRYING TO RECEIVE, THAT THE NDA WAS THE BARRIER OF, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
MAYOR, YOU, SO YOU DIDN'T RECEIVE THE INFORMATION.
YOU FULLY TRUSTED ALL OF YOUR PEOPLE TO GIVE IT TO YOU COUNCIL MEMBER? NO.
LET'S HAVE MAYOR COME TO THE MIC IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO HER.
SO, MAYOR, SOME OF THE INFORMATION FROM THAT, FROM THE MEETING, FROM THE DOCUMENTS WE WERE SEEING, IT SEEMS LIKE SOME OF WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO RECEIVE MM-HMM.
AND SO IN THAT MEETING, YOU RECEIVED THAT INFORMATION, OR EVEN PR PRIOR TO THAT MEETING AND SUBSEQUENTLY, UH, WITHOUT EVER BEING ASKED TO
[02:15:01]
SIGN AN NDA, I WAS NEVER ASKED TO SIGN AN NDA.AND I JUST REALIZED RECENTLY THAT SEVERAL MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM WERE ASKED TO SIGN AN NDA SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION AROUND THE AUDITS.
AND SO, I, I GUESS SO YOU NEVER, UH, NO ONE EVER EXPRESSED TO YOU THAT IT WAS, UH, THAT, THAT, UH, MAYBE OTHER MEMBERS WERE NEED NEEDING TO SIGN IT SO THAT IT WOULDN'T, UH, LEAK OUT? NOTHING.
YOU WEREN'T AWARE OF THAT? NO.
AND YOU WEREN'T ASKED TO SIGN IT? NO, I WAS NOT ASKED.
SO THEN ANDY, I GUESS I WOULD ASK, YOU DIDN'T FEEL THE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MAYOR SIGNED ONE, BUT YOU WANTED US TO SIGN ONE.
SO DO YOU HAVE A GREATER TRUST FOR THE MAYOR THAN US ON NOT LEAKING THE INFORMATION? THAT'S UNFAIR, BUT I'LL ANSWER THE QUESTION.
I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S ANSWER THE QUESTION.
YOU ARE PUTTING A LOT OF IFS IN THERE, BRANDON.
AND I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GETTING, AND I APPRECIATE AND I RESPECT WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
BUT IT'S A LOT OF IFS IN THERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT RICK, CALVIN, OR WHOEVER ELSE TOLD THE MAYOR.
SO I'M NOT PRIVY TO WHAT EXTENT SHE HAD KNOWLEDGE SUCH THAT I COULD INTERCEDE TO SAY THAT Y'ALL NEED TO HAVE HER SIGN THE NDA.
ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT RICK, CALVIN AND EVERYBODY THERE KNEW THE LINE THAT NEEDED TO STOP AT IN TERMS OF PROVIDING INFORMATION WITHOUT SOMEBODY SIGNING AN NDA.
AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET AT.
SO, BUT IT WAS A BACKEND QUESTION TO IT TOO.
NO, BUT SO IT, IT, IT WAS NEVER, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WEREN'T BROUGHT IN ON THAT MEETING.
YOU WEREN'T BROUGHT IN, UH, ON ANY OF THE FEE DISCUSSIONS WHEN, WHEN WE MET ON THE SEVENTH, YOU WEREN'T THERE.
NO COMMUNITY MEETINGS, NOTHING.
NOT A PHONE CALL FROM ANYBODY ON THIS PANEL, NOT ONE PHONE CALL.
SO WHEN YOU HAD, UH, CALVIN AND RICK, WHEN YOU HAD THE DISCUSSION WITH THEM AND THEY SIGNED THE NDA, YOU LEFT IT TO THEM TO, UH, HAVE IT SIGNED BY EVERYBODY THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BRING INTO THE FOLD AT THAT POINT? NO.
WE, WE, BOB ABBOTT ENSURE THAT THEY GAVE US A LIST OF EVERYBODY ELSE GONNA BE INVOLVED.
THIS IS MY UNDERSTANDING, AND I'LL CLARIFY MR. BABI, MR. ABBOTT, IF I'M WRONG, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ASKED THEM TO PROVIDE US A LIST OF INDIVIDUALS THAT AT THAT TIME THEY KNEW WE WERE GONNA BE WORKING ON THE PROJECT.
AND MR. ABBOTT FACILITATED HAVING EVERY ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS SIGN AN NDA.
AND AGAIN, I LIKE TO PUT A CABINET AND I LIKE TO TALK WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S ACCURATE.
AND I WILL PROVIDE YOU ANY INFORMATION THAT'S NOT ACCURATE WITH THAT STATEMENT.
SO BRANDON WENT OFF ON, ON, ON MY QUESTION EXACTLY.
AND I WAS GONNA ASK THE MAYOR THE SAME THING IF SHE HAD EVER BEEN REQUESTED TO SIGN AN NDA AND SHE HAS STATED, NO, YOU HAVE NOT BEEN REQUESTED TO SIGN AT ALL.
SO Y'ALL REQUESTED THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE REQUESTED FOR KELVIN AND RICK AND THE OTHERS TO SIGN THE NDA? YES.
Y'ALL, OUR, THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ASKED THEM TO SIGN IT.
WHY DID THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE NOT ASK THE MAYOR? BECAUSE THE MAYOR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE NEGOTIATIONS.
SEE, I THINK, I THINK THE PROBLEM IS THIS, THERE WAS A STATEMENT EARLIER THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.
AND IF YOU WANT ME TO CORRECT IT, I WILL.
IF YOU WANT ME TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEBODY ELSE GIVES ME THE TIME TO, TO CORRECT IT, NO, I'M CORRECT IT.
SO THE CORRECTION IS, AND, AND DARRELL JUST DOESN'T KNOW, CAUSE DARRELL HASN'T BEEN INVOLVED.
DARRELL SAID THAT THE NDA KEPT THE MAYOR OR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FROM TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING.
AND I'VE EXPLAINED THIS TO EVERYONE WHO'S TAKEN THE TIME TO COME AND TALK TO MY OFFICE.
WHAT THE NDA WAS TO DO WAS TO KEEP FROM THE DISCLOSURE OF I SAID EARLIER, CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT, UH, DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE DOJ AND OUR OFFICE.
THERE'S A PLETHORA INFORMATION LEADING UP TO THAT, WHICH IS INFORMATION I PROVIDED TODAY UPON THE QUESTIONING OF COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS THAT CAN'T BE PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC.
THERE'S JUST A LINE THAT NEEDS TO BE DRAWN.
AND WE TOLD, AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS THINGS THAT WE EXPRESSED TO Y'ALL BEFORE THAT CANNOT BE PROVIDED.
AND THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THE NDA.
SO SAYING THAT, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION FULLY, THE MAYOR WAS NEVER AT THAT POINT OR ANYWHERE PAST THAT, THAT I KNOW OF.
AT ANY MEETING I WAS AT, THAT WOULD'VE REQUIRED HER TO SIGN AN NDA.
SO I GUESS WE'VE, WE'VE HAD TWO MEETINGS WITH
[02:20:01]
THE ADMINISTRATION, UH, THE INITIAL MEETING, AND THEN WE'VE, WE'VE HAD ANOTHER, HAD ANOTHER MEETING AFTER THAT.I GUESS WITHOUT THE MAYOR SIGNING AN NDA, DOES THAT MEAN THAT SHE WAS REFUSED THE SAME INFORMATION THAT WE WERE ASKING FOR? I CAN'T, I GUESS, AND SOMEBODY NEEDS TO COME UP AND ANSWER THAT.
I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION, SIR.
CAUSE I WAS AT THOSE MEETINGS, NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO, I, SHE CAN ONLY ANSWER WHAT DAM MAYOR CAN ONLY ANSWER WHAT SHE, UH, WAS NOT ALLOWED TO RESPOND TO OR PROVIDE, OR DIDN'T GET.
UH, MAYOR, IF YOU, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO, OR I DON'T KNOW, MAYOR, I GUESS WHAT I'M CURRENT ESTABLISH IS THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PLAYING FIELD WHEN WE HAD THESE MEETINGS AND EVERYTHING.
AND IT SOUNDING TO ME LIKE RIGHT NOW, WITHOUT YOU HAVING TO SIGN THE NDA, THAT YOU HAD THE EXACT SAME, THE INFORMATION THAT WAS BEING PRESENTED TO US FROM THE ADMINISTRATION WAS KELVIN, RICK, AND THEM.
THAT THE QUESTIONS THAT WE WERE ASKING IN THOSE MEETINGS, UM, YOU DIDN'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION EITHER, CORRECT? THAT IS, I HAD THE SAME INFORMATION THAT YOU ALL HAD.
I WAS COMMUNICATING FROM THE SAME INFORMATION.
IF YOU WERE IN THOSE MEETINGS, YOU WILL RECALL THAT I DIDN'T NECESSARILY LEAD THE MEETINGS BECAUSE AS YOU'VE HEARD BEFORE, WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO WORK AT DIFFERENT LEVELS.
AND WE HAD, UH, KELVIN, MR. HILL, WHO WAS WORKING AS LONG ALONG WITH RICK SPEAR, THEY WERE THE LEADS ON THIS.
I I DIDN'T ANSWER A WHOLE LOT OF YOUR QUESTIONS CUZ I DIDN'T HAVE ALL OF THE ANSWERS.
THEY WERE THE EXPERTS IN THIS AREA.
SO THE INFORMATION THAT YOU ALL HAD WAS THE SAME INFORMATION THAT I HAD.
I WAS, WE WERE TRYING TO COMMUNICATE INFORMATION TO YOU ALL IN THE WHOLE PROCESS.
WHAT, WHAT WE HAD, WE WERE TRYING TO COMMUNICATE TO YOU ALL.
IT, LIKE I SAID, THE, THE CONCERN WAS THAT WE, WE WERE ASKED TO GET INFORMATION THAT WE WAS ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT.
BUT I NEVER ASKED YOU TO SIGN AN NDA.
THE PARISH AT SOMEONE IN THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ASKED US TO SIGN AN NDA SO THAT WE COULD GET THE DETAILED ANSWERS THAT WE WERE ASKING BECAUSE OF THE MEETINGS THAT WE HAD HAD, UM, WITH ADMINISTRATION AS CONCERNING THE AUDIT AND THE INFORMATION REGARDING WHAT WE NEEDED TO, TO FIX AND REPAIR AND WHERE IT WAS AND SO ON.
SO THAT'S, I I GUESS THAT'S VERY PERPLEXING THAT WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE ASKED BY THE, A PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, SOMEONE IN THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR IN, FOR ANSWERS TO INFORMATION AS ELECTED OFFICIALS.
AND THEN YOU YOURSELF, AS HEAD OF THE ADMINISTRATION, WAS NOT ASKED AT ALL.
AND I, I JUST FIND THAT VERY PERPLEXING, UM, WHEN WE'RE ALL ASKING THE SAME QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER GO DAY.
I'M GONNA GEAR MY QUESTIONS TOWARDS YOU, IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING UP.
AND I'LL SAY, I RECOGNIZE YOU'RE COMING IN, UH, AT A HANDICAP TRYING TO, UM, UH, PICK UP FOR, UH, FOLKS WHO ARE NO LONGER HERE AND FOLKS WHO ARE HAPPEN TO BE OUT OF TOWN.
I THINK THERE'S CONFUSION THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY OVER WATER QUALITY AND COMPLIANCE AND WATER QUANTITY.
AND THE PLAN THAT THE, THE AGENDA ITEM WE'RE DISCUSSING NOW, THE PLAN THAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD, THE ENTIRETY OF THE 46 MILLION OF THAT, UH, PROPOSED BUDGET WAS TIED TO INFOR FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT ACTION.
IT WAS TIED TO WATER QUALITY, BUT THE BUDGET THAT WE RECEIVED, THE BUDGET THAT WAS PRESENTED AT PUBLIC MEETINGS, THE BUDGET, UH, THAT WAS PLACED ON THE PUBLIC FACING WEBSITE LISTS WATER QUALITY SLASH COMPLIANCE AT 4.9 MILLION.
AND SO MY, MY QUESTION IS, AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER TONIGHT, I THINK WE WORK TOWARDS THIS IS 4.9 MILLION, THE AMOUNT WE REQUIRE TO ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE WITH EPA AND D E Q MS FOUR REGULATIONS.
I CAN ANSWER PART OF THAT QUESTION BECAUSE I HAD A MEETING EARLIER TODAY TO ASK THAT PARTICULAR QUESTION BECAUSE,
[02:25:01]
YOU KNOW, IN REALITY, IN THE REAL WORLD, THE WAY THE FEDS LOOK AT IT, AND I THINK MOST PEOPLE LOOK AT WATER, YOU KNOW, WATER PROBLEMS, WE HAVE YOU QUANTITY AND QUALITY GO HAND IN HAND.COULD, PART OF THE QUALITY ISSUES ARE IS THE FACT THAT WE DON'T FIX THE DITCH BANKS OR WE DON'T HAVE FUEL MATERIAL IN PIPES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT IMPACTS THE WATER QUALITY.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS, WHILE IT'S PART OF THE WATER QUALITY, BUT IT'S MUCH MORE INVOLVED THAN THAT.
AND IT, IT ALSO TAKES THE COMPONENT OF HAVING SOME MAINTENANCE, UH, REQUIREMENTS ALSO AS PART OF THE PROGRAM.
CUZ I ASKED THAT AND IT REALISTICALLY WE'RE IN THE, AND IT WAS AN ESTIMATE, UH, BUT IT WAS SOMEWHERE THAT'S AROUND 25, 20 6 MILLION JUST, JUST FOR COMP COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO IN REGARDS TO THE PROGRAM.
THE REMAINING PART, WHILE WE HAVE THAT, IS TO HELP WHAT THEY ALSO, THE OTHER PROBLEMS THAT WE DOING, AND WE, AND I KNOW CUZ I HEAR IT EVERY DAY WHEN IT RAINS AND THE ISSUES, AND SO DO Y'ALL, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE, THE, THE WATER, WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY AT THE SAME TIME.
AND THAT'S THE, THAT WAS THE INTENT OF THE PROGRAM.
AND, AND I FEEL LIKE WITHOUT IT, WE'RE GONNA STRUGGLE.
AND I THINK, UH, UH, AS THE MAYOR SAID, UH, WHILE I HAVE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY OF THE MEETINGS, I ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THINGS.
BUT, UH, I ALSO KNOW THAT, THAT WHEN THE FEDS GET INVOLVED, IT'S NOT ALWAYS GOOD.
IT'S ALWAYS TO A POINT WHERE THAT THEY'RE TO THE POINT WHERE WE NEED TO DO MORE AND WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT MORE.
AND THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
AND WE WILL BE ON JANUARY 15TH FOR SURE.
SO 5 MILLION THEN IS, IS NOT ANYWHERE NEAR AN ESTIMATE, IN YOUR OPINION, OPINION NO.
AND I TO ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE, THIS A PART, A COMPONENT OF THAT, BUT IT WILL BE MUCH MORE DETAILED, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU ADD THE, UH, THE MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES, WHICH ALSO NEED TO BE DONE.
IF, IF, I GUESS NUMBER ONE, WHAT I'D SAY IS I THINK WE SHOULD FORMALLY ASK, UH, EPA, DOJ TO GIVE US A TIMELINE THAT WE CAN WORK WITH.
AND, AND I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF EVIDENCE TO SHOW OF ACTIONS WE'VE TAKEN IN THE LAST FEW YEARS TO ADDRESS QUALITY AND QUANTITY.
UH, I THINK WE CAN OUTLINE THOSE.
I THINK WE HAVE A STORMWATER MASTER PLAN THAT'S BEING COMPLETED.
I THINK WE HAVE ACTION STEPS WE'RE GONNA BE TAKEN RELATED TO THAT.
I THINK WE HAVE A NUMBER OF THINGS WE CAN DEMONSTRATE TO THEM THAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS COMPLIANCE.
IF WE'VE GOT BETWEEN NOW AND JANUARY FOR SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 25 MILLION, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
THAT, THAT WILL BE A CHALLENGE.
UH, AND CERTAINLY I, I UNDERSTAND FROM WHERE THE MAYOR'S POSITION WAS.
AND, AND WE'RE TRYING TO PREVENT THE, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DICTATE OUR OWN RULES AND HOW WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES GET INVOLVED, WHICH I MEAN AT SOME POINT I KNOW THEY'RE INVOLVED, THAT'S A FACT.
BUT IF WE DON'T GET INVOLVED, THEN IT, WE'RE GONNA BE AT THEIR SCHEDULE, THEIR FUNDING REQUIREMENTS, WHICH WON'T NOT BE, UH, REALLY CONDUCIVE, I THINK, TO OUR PEOPLE OF OUR PARISH.
I APPRECIATE YOU ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN MAYOR AND ANDY, COULD YOU GUYS COME TO THE MIC PLEASE? AND AS YOU COME, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT BEFORE I ASK, ASK MY QUESTION OF YOU GUYS.
THE ONE THING THAT'S CLEAR WITH THIS SITUATION IS A LOT OF CONFUSION.
UM, THERE SEEMS TO BE DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS OF WHAT THE DOCUMENTS SAY, WHAT THE MEETINGS, UH, REQUIRED OF THE CITY PARISH.
AND I DO AGREE WITH HUDSON THAT MORE COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION NEED TO HAPPEN WITH OUR LOCAL PARTNERS AND OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS.
BUT I ALSO AGREE WITH MR. GSEL THAT COMMUNICATION WORKS BOTH WAYS.
SO I THINK WE DO NEED TO GET IN THE ROOM WITH THE MAYOR AND CONGRESSMAN GRAVES AND CONGRESSMAN CARTER AND ALL OUR FEDERAL STAKEHOLDERS TO HELP US GET OUR HEADS WRAPPED AROUND THIS SITUATION.
WE SHOULDN'T BE DOING THIS IN SILOS, IN MY OPINION.
MY QUESTION TO BOTH OF YOU, I'VE ASKED YOU THIS PRIVATELY, I'M GOING TO ASK IT TO YOU PUBLICLY.
FOR ME, THE LARGEST ISSUE IS NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE COUNCIL, THE PUBLIC, THE MEDIA FELT MISINFORMED BY THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVED.
FOR ME, THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS A NARRATIVE THAT WAS CREATED ABOUT THE NDA AND WHO IT WAS WITH FOR SOME WEEKS, THREE, FOUR WEEKS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WAS OUT THERE BEFORE THIRD PARTY ENGRAVES CLARIFIED WHAT THE SITUATION WAS WITH THE NDA.
AND MY QUESTION TO YOU GUYS FROM YOUR OFFICE AND THE MAYOR FROM YOUR OFFICE, WHAT STOPS SOMEBODY FROM THE OFFICE, WHETHER IT WAS YOU INDIVIDUALLY OR THE PEOPLE WHO'S RUNNING POINT ON IT TO STEP IN AND SAY, HEY, I DON'T KNOW IF WE SAID IT WRONG.
[02:30:01]
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD IT WRONG, BUT A FALSE NARRATIVES IS BEING CREATED AND WE WANT TO CORRECT THE RECORD.I'M TRYING TO GRASP, BUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BECAUSE, UM, THIS WHOLE, YOU YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, THIS WHOLE NARRATIVE AROUND THE NDA, UM, DID NOT ORIGINATE WITH MY OFFICE.
CAN CAN I JUST CLEAR IT UP FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW IT, IT WAS OUR UNDERSTANDING AND THE PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDING, IF IT, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, ANYBODY, THAT THE NDA WAS BETWEEN THE CITY, PARISH, GOVERNMENT, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IT WAS LATER FOUND OUT THAT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE AND THAT NARRATIVE WAS GOING THROUGHOUT THIS COMMUNITY FOR SEVERAL WEEKS MM-HMM.
AND MY QUESTION IS JUST HOW NOBODY STEPPED UP AND, AND CLARIFIED THE RECORD ON IT.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS KNEW THAT AT THE TIME OR YOU LEARNED WHEN WE LEARNED FROM CONGRESSMAN GRAVES.
I'M JUST, I JUST WANNA KNOW WHY NOBODY, UH, CLARIFIED.
LET ME START OFF BY SAYING, UH, CONGRESSMAN GRAVES HAS NOT HAD ANY ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS WITH ME.
AND I DON'T THINK I'VE BEEN COPIED ON ANY EMAILS OR ANYTHING.
UH, THIS WHOLE ISSUE AROUND THE NDA NARRATIVE I BELIEVE EVOLVED LAST WEEK.
IT EV IT EVOLVED AND ONCE I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS, ALL THIS TALK WAS GOING ON, I WAS TRYING TO GET CLARITY AROUND IT.
AND BEFORE MR. HILL LEFT, THAT IS WHEN HE EXPLAINED AND SHARE IT TO ME THAT THE, UH, PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAD REQUIRED THEM, THEM BEING, I THINK, UH, MR. HILL, RICK SPEAR AND I DON'T KNOW WHO ELSE TO SIGN NDAS SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE ACCESS TO THESE AUDIT DOCUMENTS.
AND, AND THAT'S THE EXTENT OF CITY PARISH IN AND, UH, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
UM, I PROCEEDED TO GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM OTHER ATTORNEYS WHO, AND I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO PROCEED TO GET THAT INFORMATION.
OTHER ATTORNEYS OFFERED THE INFORMATION THAT, THAT THERE CANNOT BE ANY GOVERNMENTAL NDAS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNMENT.
SO THESE, THIS NDA, UH, CAME FROM THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO MY PEOPLE WHO WERE WORKING.
AND THAT WAS, UH, THE EXTENT OF THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE ABOUT THOSE NDAS.
I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION AND, AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHY THE FOLKS THAT YOU DELEGATED TO HANDLE THIS DIDN'T CLARIFY THE RECORD, CUZ THEY OBVIOUSLY WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT THE THE NDA WAS INTERNAL.
I I DO NOT KNOW WHY, UH, THEY DID NOT CLARIFY THE RECORD.
LET ME FIRST START OFF BY SAYING THIS, UH, NO ONE IN MY OFFICE HAS EVER SAID THAT THE NDA WAS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND I'D ASK ANYONE WHO HAS INFORMATION THAT CONTRADICTS THAT TO LET ME KNOW.
CUZ WE NEVER DID NOT ONCE, I NEVER KNEW ANY MISUNDERSTANDING THAT ANY OF YOU HAD REGARDING THE NDA BECAUSE ONE, NOBODY EVER CALLED ME.
ANDY, WHAT IS THIS NDA? WHAT IS IT ABOUT? TELL ME SOME MORE ABOUT IT.
I WASN'T INVITED TO ANY OF THE MEETINGS YOU WERE AT WHERE YOU HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OR THE COMMUNITY WHEN YOU WERE PROVIDING INFORMATION TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
IF I WAS THERE, I WOULD'VE CORRECTED YOU.
THE FIRST INDICATION I GOT OF AN ISSUE WAS ON MONDAY EVENING, NO, EXCUSE ME, FIVE O'CLOCK TUESDAY MORNING WHEN I READ AN ARTICLE FILING A COMMUNITY MEETING.
AND I READ AND THERE SOME INFORMATION I THOUGHT WAS WRONG.
AND I, AND I SENT A TEXT OUT TO MY STAFF THAT SAID, WE NEED TO GET A HANDLE ON THIS.
AND YOU'VE ASKED FOR PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST REGARDING THAT.
AND, AND YOU, YOU MAY SEE IT IF IT'S, IF IT'S PROVIDED, BUT I DON'T MIND SAYING THAT.
I SAID THAT WE NEED TO GET A HANDLE ORDER.
I DIDN'T ASK FOR A PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST.
I WOULDN'T, I WOULDN'T SAYING YOU SPECIFIC COUNCILMAN I WAS SAYING YOU FOR, I'M JUST CLEARING THE RECORD.
UH, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE, THE POINT I'M MAKING COUNCILMAN, IS, UH, THAT'S THE FIRST INDICATION MY OFFICE GOT AND I JUMPED ON IT.
AND IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH MY OFFICE TO COME UP WITH A STATEMENT
[02:35:01]
IS WHEN GARY GRAYS, CONGRESSMAN GARY GRAYS CAME OUT WITH HIS ANNOUNCEMENT TO HAVE SHIFTED THIS IN A HIGH GEAR AND WE WORKED WITH MR. ARMSTRONG, UH, TO COME UP WITH A STATEMENT TO BE ABLE TO PUT OUT THAT EVENING.AND THE STATEMENT CAME OUT THAT EVENING.
SO I THINK MY OFFICE ACTED IN A MANNER IT WAS SUPPOSED TO ACT WITH REGARDS TO THAT.
AND WE DID WHAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO.
AND AGAIN, NOT ONE TIME DID MY OFFICE EVER FACILITATING THE CONFUSION THAT THE NDA WAS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND, AND LET ME CLARIFY, I I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO WHETHER IT WAS SAID OR NOT, CUZ I DON'T RECALL IF IT WAS SAID OR NOT EITHER.
BUT, BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT WAS THE INTERPRETATION, WHETHER IT WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING OR A MISSTATEMENT, AND IT WAS CLEAR ON THE RECORD IN THE MEDIA PRINT NEWS THAT THAT NARRATIVE WAS BEING CREATED IN THIS COMMUNITY.
SO I'M SPEAKING MORE TO THE NARRATIVE BECAUSE WE CAN SAY TOMATO AND TOMATO AND HAVE MISCOMMUNICATION THAT CAN HAPPEN.
BUT JUST LIKE YOU SAID FOR THE RECORD, I NEED TO STAY FOR THE RECORD THAT IT DIDN'T COME FROM MY OFFICE.
AND IF, AND IF I CAN, IF, DO YOU MIND COUNCILMAN? I SAY ONE THING, I WANT ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
SOMETHING THAT COUNCILMAN MO SAID.
YOU STATED THAT WHEN WE TALKED WITH Y'ALL IN EXECUTIVE SESSION OR YOU INTIMATED THAT YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO GET THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEEDED.
MY RECOLLECTION AND MY STAFF'S RECOLLECTION IS THOUGH, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL DID NOT WANNA SIGN THE NDA, WHICH WAS FINE.
WE WERE STILL ABLE TO PROVIDE Y'ALL AND OUR, UH, RECOLLECTION ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE COULD UP UNTIL THAT POINT AND ANSWERED ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS.
I NEVER HAD ANYONE ASK ME A QUESTION IN THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT I FELT WENT INTO THE AREA THAT DEALT WITH THE NDA.
SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY FROM MY POSITION THAT I, I JUST, UH, TO CLARIFY WHAT I THOUGHT HAPPENED IN THAT SESSION.
AND J BEFORE I REST MY, UM, WITH MY QUESTIONS, ANDY, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG WITH THE NARRATIVE BEING CREATED, YOU DIDN'T FEEL THE NEED, YOU INDIVIDUALLY OR ANYBODY IN YOUR OFFICE NEED TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC OR TO THE COUNCIL TO CLARIFY THE NARRATIVE THAT WAS BEING CREATED? AGAIN, UH, I'M TELLING YOU THAT THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU GOTTA REMEMBER THE NEWSPAPER SAYS SEEN SOMETIME BECAUSE THEY GET INACCURATE INFORMATION OR THEY MAY GET INFORMATION THAT'S CONFUSING.
AND SO, UH, IN MY OPINION, IT'S NOT MY JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.
AND SO I MADE SURE AT THE POINT THAT I NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON.
AND ANY POINT THAT Y'ALL CALL ME, I, I, I DARE ANYONE ON THIS COUNCIL TO SAY THAT THEY CALLED ME AND I DIDN'T RETURN THEIR CALL OR THEY REACHED OUT TO ME AND I WASN'T THERE.
AND THEN Y'ALL TOOK WHATEVER INFORMATION OR SOMEBODY TOOK WHATEVER INFORMATION AND WENT TO TALKING TO OTHER PEOPLE.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR.
THE MOMENT THAT I FELT LIKE THERE WAS SOMETHING OUT THERE THAT CAME, THAT WAS BEING DISTRIBUTED INCORRECTLY, IS WHEN MY OFFICE WENT INTO MAKING SURE THAT WE NEEDED TO CORRECT IT.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S HOW I FEEL, SIR.
REMEMBER MO, I KNOW YOU WANT TO SPEAK IN YOUR SPEAKER, BUT IT'S NOT WORKING.
BUT COUNCIL MEMBER ROCK IS UP NEXT.
UNLESS YOU WANNA LET COUNCIL MO GO DOWN, ANSWER THAT.
NO, I, I JUST, I JUST WANNA MAKE A STATEMENT.
THE STATEMENT WAS, AND YOU BROUGHT UP YOUR TIME, YOU BROUGHT UP THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE GOT SHUT DOWN BECAUSE WE ASKED CERTAIN QUESTIONS AND MR. ABBOTT WOULD ASKED THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, I CAN'T STATE ANYMORE UNLESS YOU SIGN THIS EXECUTIVE, THIS NDA, AND THAT'S WHEN WE SHUT DOWN.
THAT'S JUST ALL I'M GONNA SAY ABOUT THAT.
MR. DODSON, CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME AND THE REST OF THE COUNSEL WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS BETWEEN A GAG ORDER AND AN NDA? UH, A GAG ORDER.
TYPICALLY, UH, COUNCILWOMAN ROCKY NOTICE YOU AN ATTORNEY.
A GAG ORDER TYPICALLY IS SOMETHING THAT'S ISSUED BY, UH, A COURT OR A JUDICIAL BODY, UH, REGARDING THE INABILITY OF INDIVIDUALS TO SPEAK ABOUT WHATEVER ISSUE OUR TOPIC.
SO I THINK SOME CONFUSION LIES IN THE LANGUAGE BETWEEN THE GAG ORDER AND THE NDA.
UM, AT ONE POINT WHEN WE WERE HAVING MEETINGS, UM, PRIOR TO EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH YOU, IN THE MAYOR'S MEETING WITH KELVIN HILL, HE REFERENCED A GAG ORDER MULTIPLE TIMES.
AND THEN SUBSEQUENT TO US HAVING THE BEVERAGE AND DIAMOND CONVERSATION UP AT THE PODIUM, GAG ORDERS WERE REFERENCED YET AGAIN.
AND I THINK YOU EVEN STATED GAG ORDER AND IT WAS REFERENCED SO MANY TIMES WHEN REVIEWING THOSE MEETINGS AND THOSE NOTES, UM, EVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS BEGAN TO ADOPT THAT LANGUAGE.
SO AT ANY POINT, WAS THERE, IS THERE, WAS THERE A GAG ORDER OR ARE WE, OR IS THAT LANGUAGE BEING CONFUSED BETWEEN THE NDA AND THE GAG ORDER? I WOULD SUSPECT THAT IT'S BEING CONFUSED AND IT WAS A, A, A INCORRECT TERMINOLOGY THAT WAS USED AND WAS PROPAGATED IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
SO WHEN YOU WERE, WHEN YOU REFERENCED IT, IT WAS, IT WAS NOT A GAG ORDER.
WHENEVER I THINK IF YOU'RE ASKING ME, AND LET ME ANSWER THIS WAY IF I CAN, I THINK THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE ASKING ME.
[02:40:01]
AT THAT MEETING, THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT MR. HILL CAME UP AND WAS TRYING TO ARTICULATE THE FACT THAT THERE WAS AN NDA OUT THERE.HE INCORRECTLY, UM, NAMED WHAT IT WAS.
HE CALLED IT A GAG ORDER INSTEAD OF A NDA.
WHILE HE WAS TALKING, UH, IN MY OPINION ON THAT, NOT, YOU KNOW, HINDSIGHT'S 2020 SITTING BACK HERE NOW AND, AND MONDAY, MONDAY COURT, MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKING, I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE CORRECTED HIM AT THAT TIME.
BUT THE INTENT OF THAT TIME WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNEW THAT INFORMATION COULD NOT BE PROVIDED TO ME, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THAT SHOULD I HAVE A CORRECTED RIGHT DOWN, I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE.
BUT TO ME IT WAS BENIGN AT THAT TIME.
NOW THAT WE ARE HERE AND KNOWING THAT ALL THE ISSUES THAT CAME FROM IT MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK, YEAH, I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE DONE, AND IN THE FUTURE THAT'LL BE SOMETHING I CONSIDER.
BUT AT THAT TIME, THAT WAS MY MINDSET AND I THINK WE GOT ACROSS.
AND WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO GET ACROSS WAS IT WAS CERTAIN INFORMATION THAT COULD NOT BE PROVIDED COUNCILWOMAN.
WELL, I I THINK THE CONFUSION ALSO LIED IN.
WE, WE OR WE FELT MAYBE THERE WERE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND I THINK THAT WAS, UM, A POINT OF CONFUSION FOR SOME OF US.
BUT NOBODY CALLED THAT ASKED ME.
UM, SO WITH REGARD TO BEVERAGE AND DIAMOND, AND CAN YOU ELABORATE ON HOW THAT'S RELATED TO THIS SERVICE FEE HERE? THAT FIRM? UM, NOT AT ALL.
THE STORMWATER FEE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE STORMWATER MASTER PLAN ARE TWO SEPARATE THINGS.
BUT THE NDAS THAT WE WERE ASKED TO SIGN ORIGINATED OUT OF THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR BEVERAGE AND DIAMOND.
BECAUSE BEVERLY'S DIAMOND'S ASSISTING US WITH THE STORMWATER MASTER PLAN AND THE AUDIT AND THE NEGOTIATION WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THE STORMWATER FEE IS SEPARATE FROM ME.
SO HOW IS THAT RELATED TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT? IT'S NOT RELATED.
SO THERE'S, SO THERE'S NO, IT'S NOT RELATED.
AND LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU WHAT I MEAN BY THAT COUNCILWOMAN, IF I CAN, WHAT, LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU WHAT I MEAN BY THAT.
WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THIS, WE HAVE A STORMWATER MASTER PLAN THAT HAS TO BE PUT IN PLACE.
AND IT'S DUE IN THE MAYOR'S CORRECT? IT'S DUE BY JANUARY, I CAN'T REMEMBER.
I THINK IT'S 15TH OR THE DAY I HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME, WHATEVER THE DATE IS IN JANUARY BEVERAGE.
AND DIAMOND WAS BROUGHT IN TO HELP ASSIST US WITH GETTING THAT DONE AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND TO HAVE A SMOOTH PROCESS GOING FORWARD.
NOW, ONCE WE GET THE STORMWATER MASTER PLAN INTO PLACE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS GOING TO KNOW, OKAY, YOU HAVE THIS WONDERFUL MASTER PLAN IN PLACE.
YOU HAVE THIS ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, YOU HAVE ALL THESE GOALS THAT YOU WANT TO OBTAIN.
YOU HAVE ALL THIS CLEANING AND YOU SAY YOU'RE GONNA BE DOING, HOW ARE YOU GONNA FUND IT? THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD CARE LESS HOW WE FUND IT.
THEY JUST KNOW IT NEEDS TO BE FUNDED AND THEY WANT IT TO BE FUNDED.
SO THAT'S WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAY THE STONEWATER MASTER PLAN AND THE FEE ARE CONNECTED, BUT THEY'RE NOT INTERTWINED IN THAT, IN THE, IN THE MANNER THAT YOU WERE ASKING.
SO ARE THERE TWO SEPARATE NDAS? ONE FOR BEVERAGE AND DIAMOND AND ONE FOR THIS? THIS, THE NDA DEALS WITH THE AUDIT, THE SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS.
THE SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATION DEALING WITH THE AUDIT, WHICH IS RELATED TO THE STORMWATER MASTER PLAN.
YEAH, ONLY THAT'S THE ONLY NDA WE HAVE COUNSEL ON.
AND WHEN YOU SAY, UH, OKAY, SO JUST TRYING TO FIGURE THAT PIECE OUT.
WHENEVER YOU'RE SAYING YOU GUYS HIRED BEVERAGE AND DIAMOND, UM, DOES BEVERAGE AND DIAMOND CONSULT WITH YOU, YOUR OFFICE DIRECTLY OR DO THEY CONSULT WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE? IT IS, UH, AND I'M KIND OF TREADING THIN CUZ I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M NOT VIOLATING ANY, UH, ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE BEVERAGE AND DIAMOND WAS HIRED TO ASSIST THE CITY PARISH, UH, AT MY DIRECTION AND AT MY SUPERVISION WITH THE STORMWATER MASTER PLAN, THE MS FOUR PROGRAM AND NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP YOUR OFFICE? NO, MA'AM.
THAT'S AGAIN, I SAID THE CITY PARISH AT THE DIRECTION AND SUPERVISION OF MY OFFICE.
SO THEY DO COMMUNICATE WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
SAY IT AGAIN? THEY COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
EVERYTHING TYPICALLY COMES THROUGH MY OFFICE AND THEN AS IT COMES TO MY OFFICE, IT'S FILTERED OUT.
BUT THERE MAY BE TIMES THAT THEY MAY TALK TO AN INDIVIDUAL, UH, ON A CALL OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
BUT THERE'S ALWAYS AT LEAST, AND DON'T HOLD ME TO THIS, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS SHOULD BE AT LEAST ONE OF MY ATTORNEYS ON ANY PHONE CALL OR ANY WEBEX OR ZOOM OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE.
WHERE'S MR. ABBOTT TONIGHT? UH, I BELIEVE HE'S HERE.
WE, WE'VE BEEN DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH BEING ORDER IT NOW.
COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS, TURN YOUR MIC ON IF, UM, YEAH, SO, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY THE PARISH ATTORNEY IS HIRED BY THE COUNCIL, UM, AND THEY, THEY REP YOU REPRESENT THE CITY PARISH ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL, RIGHT? IS THAT CORRECT? THE, THE, THE PARISH'S ATTORNEY REPRESENTS THE, THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
SO IS IT THREE DIFFERENT ENTITIES? NO.
WE REPRESENT, WE'RE APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL TO REPRESENT THE CITY PARISHS.
AND WE WORK AT THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNCIL AND
[02:45:01]
WE WORK FOR THE MAYOR AS WELL.SO YOU WORK AT THE DOC, TELL ME THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DIRECTION, THE DIRECTION OF THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL.
AND WE ASSIST THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL WITH THEIR DUTIES AND, AND WE ALSO REPRESENT THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY PARISHS.
SO FOR THE MOST PART, YOU, YOU ANSWER TO BOTH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE COUNCIL OFFICE IS JUST THAT WE APPOINT YOU.
AND I THINK, DO YOU FEEL THAT IS THAT'S WHERE THE CONFUSION PROBABLY LIES? OR IS THERE A WAY THAT WE COULD COMMUNICATE? BECAUSE THE, AND THE ONLY REASON I'M ASKING IS LIKE, YOU, YOU WERE TRYING TO CARRY OUT A DUTY FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
WE ARE NOT PRIVILEGED TO ANY OF THAT.
BUT THEN WHEN IT COMES UNDER SCRUTINY, WE ARE THE ONE THAT HAVE TO LIKE CHASTISE YOU, IF YOU WILL, OR, OR QUESTION YOU.
SO HOW, HOW DO WE FIX? I I HONESTLY, UM, I HONESTLY THINK THAT WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH LEGAL TERMS, AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU SAID THINGS GET IT IS BASED ON INTERPRETATION.
AND I DO UNDERSTAND THE, UM, THE CAUTIOUSNESS CUZ THAT IS HOW YOU WORK AS A REGARDS TO THE, TO, UH, MAKING SU YOU TRY TO TIGHTEN THINGS UP TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY.
I, UM, I THINK THAT THE, I THINK THAT IT IS LIKE YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO MASTERS IN A WAY.
AND I DON'T, I WAS JUST WONDERING HOW IS THERE, IS THIS JUST THE WAY THE PLAYBOOK IS, HAS TO ALWAYS PLAY OUT? OR IS THERE A WAY THAT WE COULD SYSTEMICALLY MAKE SURE THESE KIND OF THINGS DON'T HAPPEN AGAIN? COUNCILWOMAN, I APPRECIATE IT COMMUNICATION WISE.
I RESPECT THAT QUESTION, BUT I'VE NEVER FELT LIKE I WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO MASTERS.
I THINK I'M ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY DO MY JOB AND PROVIDE WHATEVER COUNSEL THE MAYOR'S OFFICE NEEDS, AS WELL AS WHATEVER COUNSELING DIRECTION THAT THIS OFFICE NEEDS, AS WELL AS REPRESENTING CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF PARISH.
SO I'VE NEVER ENTERED INTO THAT KIND OF CONUNDRUM OR PROBLEM.
AND IF THERE IS, THERE ARE METHODS BY WHICH WE HAVE TO OBTAIN CONFLICT COUNSEL AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE WHERE I THINK THERE'S AN ISSUE.
AND I DON'T THINK I'VE, I PUT, I DON'T THINK WE'VE BEEN ON MY OFFICE HAS BEEN IN THAT SITUATION YET.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE IN THE THING WHERE YOUR, YOUR, YOUR COUNSEL TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS BASICALLY BEING BLAMED FOR THE WHOLE DEBACLE.
WE ON THE COUNCIL HAVE VARIOUS D OPINIONS.
SO YOU DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S CONFLICTING? WELL, THIS IS THE PROBLEM.
UH, COUNCILWOMAN, AND I'M, TO TELL YOU MY OPINION, I PROVIDED INFORMATION TO, LET ME BACK UP.
THE ADMINISTRATION IS THE ONE WHO IS HANDLING THIS INITIATIVE.
THIS IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE INITIATIVE.
MY OFFICE IS ASSISTING THE ADMINISTRATION WITH HANDLING THIS INITIATIVE TO THE BEST WE CAN AS THEIR COUNSEL MM-HMM.
I PROVIDE INFORMATION AND I CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE ONCE I PROVIDE ACCURATE INFORMATION.
HOW IT IS TRANSLATED, PROPAGATED DOWN THE LINE.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT THIS, BECAUSE THAT MAY HAPPEN, THAT THEN CREATES A PROBLEM IN TERMS OF ME BEING ABLE TO REPRESENT THIS ENTITY AND REPRESENT THE MAYOR AT THE SAME TIME.
SO I DO UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I DO AGREE.
UM, I, I, I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE I'VE SAID SEVERAL TIMES, UH, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU LEAD UNDER FEAR, YOU MAKE RASH DECISIONS.
AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT HAVE, THIS HAS NOT CAUSED THE CITY PARISH ONE PENNY.
AND TO MY SADNESS, UM, I I REGRET THAT CALVIN HILL RESIGNED FOR WHATEVER REASON.
I THINK THAT HE WAS ONE OF THE MAYOR'S BETTER HIRES.
AND I THINK THAT HE WAS CRITICAL, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE DEALING WITH WASTEWATER STORM WATER AND MOVE VR.
UM, SO I WANNA SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE, UM, THAT LED TO HIS, HIM BEING HIM SEPARATING FROM CITY FLOOR DOES GRIEVE ME.
UM, I DON'T THINK THIS IS NEARLY AS BIG A DEAL AS PEOPLE MAKE IT.
I, I'M GONNA JUST TELL YOU THE TRUTH, NOBODY LOST MONEY.
UH, IT'S A, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM THAT SAID IT COULD BE REPEALED SHOWS THERE'S A WAY OUT.
I THINK THAT, UM, THE, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION, THE PARISH ATTORNEY AND THE COUNCIL, AND THE STORMWATER COMMITTEE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT WHAT, UM, WHAT THE WORK AS A COUNCILMAN, UH, GOER SAID THAT HAS BEEN DONE.
UH, AND I THINK THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HOW THIS ADDRESSED.
UM, CONS, CONGRESSMAN, UH, GARY GREAT IS ONE OF MY GREATEST FRIENDS, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT,
[02:50:01]
UM, HIS FIRST CALL SHOULD HAVE EITHER BEEN TO YOU OR TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.UM, BECAUSE IT, THAT'S WHERE THE, THE, THE, THE SEED OF DECEPTION WAS PLANTED.
AND BASICALLY, UM, AS YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN STATED, IT'S A TWO WAY STREET.
AND IN THE INTEREST OF THE CITY PARISH, IF YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE, UM, IN THIS COMMUNITY, IN THE, IN THE CITY ARE, ARE GETTING THE INFORMATION, LET ME CHECK INTO THIS, YOU KNOW, AND THEN LET THE MAYOR'S OFFICE LET YOU KNOW, LET THE COUNCIL KNOW.
SO IT, IT SOUNDED LESS SCANDALOUS TO ME, YOU KNOW, UM, THE WAY THAT WAS HANDLED.
UM, BUT FROM THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS TO ME, I'VE LOST THREE DAYS AND, AND WORK ON THIS ITEM THAT HAS NOT CAUSED A PENNY OF MONEY TO NO, NO, NO STAKEHOLDER LOSS.
YOU KNOW, THE COMMENTS THAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER YEAH, PLEASE.
AND I HAVE GIVEN YOU AN ADDITIONAL TIME.
I JUST THINK THIS IS JUST A BIT MUCH.
I AM, AND I, AND I, WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY, IN ADDITION SAID, I THINK MAYOR WANTED TO RESPOND TO SOMETHING YOU SAID.
SO I WANTED HER WELL, YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY THAT, UM, I AGREE WITH MUCH OF WHAT, UH, THE COUNCILWOMAN SAID, BUT I THINK THIS IS A PIVOTAL POINT TO BRING UP SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
AND THAT IS THAT, UH, WHILE I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR ANDY DODSON, UH, THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT MOST MAYORS HAVE THEIR OWN EXECUTIVE COUNSEL BECAUSE AS IT WAS TOLD, AS YOU WELL KNOW, AND IT'S IN THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, YOU ALL APPOINT THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
SO WHILE ANDY DODSON, MR. DODSON MAY BE ABLE TO BALANCE THINGS BETWEEN THE COUNSEL AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THERE MAY BE SOMEBODY ONE DAY DOWN THE ROAD WHEN YOU ALL ARE NOT HERE, WHEN I'M NOT HERE, THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BALANCE BETWEEN RESPONDING TO THE COUNCIL AND THEN ASSISTING THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, UH, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL HUMANS.
AND THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, THERE'S THAT INCLINATION IN YOUR MIND THAT THESE ARE THE PEOPLE, THE 12 PEOPLE WHO HIRED ME VERSUS ONE PERSON ACROSS THE HALL.
BUT NEVERTHELESS, THE BEST PRACTICES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WOULD MOST MAYORS HAVE, IS THEIR OWN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
SO I WOULD LIKE THE COUNCIL TO CERTAINLY ENTERTAIN THAT, WHETHER IT'S IN, UH, THE NEXT BUDGET OR WHETHER IT'S IN A PLAN, A CHANGE TO THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT.
IT IS VERY MUCH NEEDED AND IT'S BEST PRACTICES.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
FIRST I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, FRED.
YOU HAVE INHERITED A LOT AND I, YEAH.
A LOT OF QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ASKED.
UH, A LOT OF FLEXING IN MY OPINION, HAS GONE FORWARD AND YEP, THAT'S WHAT I SAY, POLITICAL OVERTONES, SUGGESTIONS, ALL OF THIS.
I AGREE WITH THE FACT THAT WHEN YOU HAVE CONVERSATIONS, IT'S A TWO-WAY STREET.
AND SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WITH THE CONGRESSMEN, TWEETING AND TWEETING AND ALL OF THAT, WHAT REAL MEN, REAL WOMEN DO IS PICK UP THE PHONE OR GO FACE TO FACE AND HAVE A CONVERSATION.
AND I BELIEVE THAT IF EVERYBODY IS TRULY WANTING TO GET UP THE ROAD WITH THIS, THAT THAT WOULD'VE BEEN ONE THING THAT WOULD'VE BEEN DONE.
ANOTHER THING HERE IS TONIGHT I'M HEARING QUESTIONS TO THE MAYOR AND ANDY DUSON, BUT I'M HEARING NAMES, OTHER NAMES
[02:55:01]
BEING CALLED LIKE RICK SPEARS AND ABBOT, NO QUESTIONS BEING SENT TO THEM.SO I WANT THAT TO BE KNOWN THERE.
NOW KEEP IN MIND, I THINK THIS IS GOOD, GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC TO HEAR AND SEE AND PUT A LOT OUT HERE.
AND WHAT I PERCEIVE ALSO IS THAT SOME OF THE STUFF THAT FOLK MAY HAVE THOUGHT, I THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN A DIFFERENT OPINION AT THIS POINT.
WHEN YOU SIT AND YOU TALK, WE SITTING AND TALKING NOW AND THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN BEFORE.
AND SO NOW HERE WE ARE AT A POINT WHEREBY WE ARE GETTING SOME INFORMATION THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN BEEN DONE.
SEE CHILDREN DO THAT, YOU KNOW, BUT REAL MEN AND REAL WOMEN HAVE REAL CONVERSATIONS.
I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT A LOT OF MONEY ON THE TABLE WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND AT ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE EMPLOYED IN, IN THIS CITY PARISH.
A LOT OF MONEY ON THE TABLE MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU WANT TO BE MAKING, BUT IT'S WHAT YOU RE ACCEPTED.
AND SO EVERYBODY MUST BE ACCOUNTABLE AND ABLE TO CARRY THEIR OWN WATER.
AND SO IF, AND I'M GOING TO SAY THIS, ANYBODY KNOW ME? NO, I CAN TALK TWICE.
IF THE MAYOR HAD TO KNOW ALL THINGS, SHE WOULDN'T NEED MANY PEOPLE.
IF THE MR. DOTSON HAD TO KNOW ALL THINGS HE WOULDN'T NEED, I THINK IT'S ABOUT 19 IN THAT OFFICE THERE.
AND SO PLENTY QUESTIONS, SOME CONFUSION IN THE BEGINNING, I THINK.
BUT I THINK SOME STUFF HAS BEEN CLEARED UP AND IT IS MY DESIRE THAT SOME RESPECT CAN REALLY GO FORWARD.
AND CAUSE AS MR. HUDSON SAID, SOME GOOD CONVERSATION TO GO FORWARD, BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT REAL CONVERSATION WHERE ALL POLITICAL OVERTONES AND ALL THAT OTHER STUFF IS OUT OF THE WAY.
AND YOU, YOU'RE REALLY, REALLY THINKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE HERE THAT PUT EVERY LAST ONE OF US HERE, PUT THE MAYOR HERE, AND EVERYBODY REALLY THAT'S SITTING IN ANY SEAT.
SO THEN I ASK THE QUESTION, BUT DON'T TRY TO ANSWER IT.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? BUT I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND MY CONCERN HERE, AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN FROM THE BEGINNING OF ALL OF THIS STUFF THAT JUST TORE UP MY WEEKEND AND MY DAYS AND WHATEVER RICK SPEARS AND ABBOTT'S NAME HAS BEEN OUT THERE, BUT THE ONLY FOLK THAT ARE BEING ASKED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND THEY FEEL LIKE, YES, THEY ARE TARGET.
AND ON THE FIRE IS ME AND ANDY DODSON.
AND I REST MY CASE COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. ANDY, I KNOW YOU SAW ME HAVE A REACTION.
I WANNA EXPLAIN MY REACTION TO YOU BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S ONCE AGAIN, UH, UM, IN, IN ACCURATE USE OF LANGUAGE.
OKAY? YOU TALKED ABOUT THE STORM WATER MASTER PLAN AND BEVERAGE AND DIAMOND HAD BEEN MANAGEMENT PLAN.
IT SHOULD BE THE MANAGEMENT PLAN.
SO WATER MASTER PLAN MANAGEMENT PLAN, APOLOGIZE.
MANAGEMENT PLAN, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE IN THE MEETING, I DID THAT, RIGHT? SO I APOLOGIZE.
BECAUSE I'M NO, YOU'RE CORRECTS REALLY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH NDA AND GAG ORDER CUZ THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT THE SAME.
SO ON THURSDAY, UM, ON THURSDAY, UH, EVENING, UM, WHEN WE WERE ALL IN THE GOODWOOD, UM, LIBRARY FOR THE PUBLIC HU PUBLIC MEETING, UM, WE RECEIVED, OR I RECEIVED AN, UH, A LETTER, AND I THINK YOU INDICATED THAT YOU, YOU WOULD, YOU KNOW, HEARD ABOUT THIS, UM, FROM, FROM CONGRESSMAN GRAVE SAYING RECENT REPORTS INDICATE THE EPA AND DOJ OFFICIALS ARE REQUIRING BATON ROUGE OFFICIALS TO SIGN A NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT NDA PRIOR TO BEING BRIEFED ON THE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT NEGOTIATIONS.
UM, ARE YOU AWARE THAT THERE IN THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS IS A POLICY AGAINST ENTERING INTO FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS OR CONSENT DECREE
[03:00:01]
THAT ARE SUBJECT TO CONFIDENTIALITY PROVISIONS AND AGAIN, SEEKING OR CONCURRING IN THE CEILING OF SUCH DOCUMENTS? IT'S THE POLICY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE THAT IN ANY CIVIL MATTER IN WHICH THE DEPARTMENT IS REPRESENTING THE INTEREST OF THE UNITED STATES OR ITS AGENCIES, IT WILL NOT ENTER INTO FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS OR CONSENT DEGREES THAT ARE NOT SUBJECT TO CONFIDENTIALITY PROVISIONS, NOR WILL IT SEEK OR CONCUR IN THE CEILING OF SUCH DOCUMENTS.SO THIS IS, THIS IS FEDERAL POLICY.
AND THEN, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS FROM, FROM CONGRESSMAN GRAVES, AND HE'S BASICALLY SAYING, HEY, YOU'RE, YOU'RE REQUIRING THEM, UM, TO, TO HAVE THESE, YOU KNOW, THESE CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS.
I MEAN, THIS IS, THIS IS A PROBLEM.
LIKE THIS IS OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OUTTA CONTROL BECAUSE THERE'S A POLICY AGAINST THIS.
AND YET THEY FOUND AN AN IN RUNAROUND, HAVEN'T THEY? AND SO IF CONGRESSMAN GRAVES OR PAUL SAWYER, OR ANYBODY WITH THE CONGRESSMAN'S OFFICE IS LISTENING TO THIS TODAY, WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE, UM, WITH OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOING AN IN RUNAROUND A POLICY.
AND, AND BASICALLY, I MEAN, I THINK YOU'RE INDICATING TO US THAT YOU, YOU FELT EXTREME PRESSURE, A LOT OF PRESSURE.
YOU FELT LIKE YOU HAD TO DO THIS, THAT, THAT, THAT WAS MR. ABBOTT WHEN HE WAS SPEAKING, HE SAID HE WAS IN THE MEETING.
MR. ABBOTT PROVIDE YOU THAT CONTEXT THAT HE FELT LIKE, UH, AND I SAID THIS EARLIER, HE FELT LIKE IF WE DID NOT FIND A METHOD BY WHICH WE WOULD ENSURE THAT OUR NON-LAW PERSONNEL WERE HELD TO SOME ACCOUNTABILITY AND WE COULDN'T DO THAT, THEN WE COULDN'T HAVE THE NEGOTIATION.
AND IF WE CAN THE NEGOTIATIONS, THE ONLY RESULT IS THAT THEY WOULD FILE SUIT.
SO THAT, THAT DOES EQUATE THE FACT THAT WE, YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA BE A SUIT FIGHT AGAINST THE CITY PAYER.
AND SO, BUT WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU BECAME AWARE OF CONGRESSMAN GRAVE'S LETTER, YOU DIDN'T THINK THERE SHOULD BE A CLARIFICATION THAT IT WAS, IT WAS REALLY FEDERAL RULES OF EVIDENCE THAT WERE, WERE, WERE KEEPING, THAT WERE OCCURRING IN INTERNAL, UM, NDA.
I'M GONNA BE HONEST WITH YOU, WHEN I SAW HIS LETTER, BASED UPON THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I HAD IN TALKING MR. ABBOTT, I HAD NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE, THE DOJ OR EPA WOULD HAVE THAT STRONG OF A REACTION TO THE FACT THAT THEY, THEY, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OR AWARENESS OF THE NDA.
I MEAN, I PROVIDED, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A DETAILED DISCUSSION I DON'T WANT TO HAVE HERE ABOUT WHY THE BASIS FOR THAT AND EVERYTHING THAT NATURE.
SO AT THAT TIME, I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH CONGRESSMAN GRAVES REACHING OUT TO, I MEAN, THAT'S HIS PREROGATIVE.
AND TO OUR, IN OUR OPINION, IT WAS DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS AND, AND DISCUSSIONS WE HAD WITH THEM, BUT I HAD NO IDEA THAT THEY WOULD ULTIMATELY COME BACK AND HAVE THAT STRONG REACTION.
WHEN THEY DID IS WHEN WE ACTED AND WE PUT OUT THAT STATEMENT WHEN HE CAME BACK WITH HIS TWEETER, I, I DON'T DO THAT.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S CALLED.
WHATEVER IT IS THAT HE CAME BACK IS WHEN WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF PROVIDING A STATEMENT TO THE PUBLIC TO CLARIFY THE BEST WE COULD.
AND SO, BUT THIS WAS THURSDAY NIGHT AND THEN WE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND TO GET A STATEMENT UNTIL TUESDAY MORNING.
BUT AGAIN, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WEEKENDS.
I MEAN, YOU'VE BEEN, I MEAN, I'VE REALLY BEEN LITERALLY READING STUFF WEEKENDS.
I, YOU REALLY WANT ME TO TELL HOW MANY HOURS I WORK A WEEK FOR, FOR, FOR THE LITTLE BIT OF MONEY THAT I MAKE.
AND SO, COUNCILWOMAN, UNDERSTAND, AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND I THINK I EXPLAINED TO YOU WHAT I RATIONALE WAS AND WHAT MINDSET I WAS IN.
I DON'T THINK THERE HAS ANYTHING TO DO ABOUT HOW HARD I WORK ON THE WEEKENDS AND WHETHER I GAVE THIS ATTENTION.
MY WIFE WOULD TELL YOU MUCH TO HER.
CHA GRAND I GIVE ENTIRELY PROBABLY TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO THE CITY, PERIOD.
BUT THAT WAS THE, THAT'S A LONG TIME.
HEY, WHEN, WHEN I CALL BEVERAGE AND DIAMOND TOMORROW AND ASK THEM WHO ARE THEY'RE WORKING WITH IN THE CITY PARISH, WHAT NAMES ARE THEY GONNA GIVE ME? I MEAN, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
I CAN'T, I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT BEVERAGE AND DIAMOND IS GONNA SAY.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT BEVERAGE AND DIAMOND WORK FOR US, AND THEY'RE GONNA SAY THAT THEY WORK WITH OUR OFFICE.
UH, THEY'RE GONNA SAY THAT THEY WORK, YOU KNOW, WITH, UH, DES WITH RICK SPEAR, UM, AND SOME OF HIS PEOPLE.
SO I CAN'T TELL YOU EXACTLY WHO THEY'RE GONNA WORK, WHO THEY'RE GONNA SAY, BECAUSE I'M NOT BEVERAGE AND DIAMOND.
SO I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT THAT'S OKAY.
AND, BUT YOU'RE, AND YOU'RE MANAGING THIS CONTRACT, BUT YOU'RE NOT AWARE, LIKE WHAT IS THEIR ROLE? I MEAN, THEY'RE, THEY'RE LAWYERS, RIGHT? CORRECT.
COUNSEL MEMBER, I'VE GIVEN YOU 15 MINUTES.
I KNOW WE ARE GONNA MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.
PULL NOISES DOWN OVER THERE, PLEASE.
YOU KNOW, I I I'VE WAS GONE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND WAS AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS AND, AND, AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF FREE MY BRAIN TO COME BACK AND GET OUT OF THE MINUTIA AND THEN COME BACK INTO IT.
BUT ALL THIS CONVERSATION IS REALLY JUST ABOUT PUBLIC TRUST.
IT BOILS DOWN TO LEADERSHIP IN EVERY DEPARTMENT.
UM, I TOLD PEOPLE BEFORE THAT I'VE NEVER QUESTIONED THE INTEGRITY OF THE MAYOR.
SHE ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS APPROPRIATELY.
I'M NOT GONNA QUESTION WHAT SHE SAID, HOW SHE SAID IT, WHY SHE SAID IT.
I CAME TO YOU WITH THE SAME CONVERSATION AND I SAID, MAN, ONE QUESTION THAT I NEED YOU TO ANSWER IS, WHY DIDN'T YOU MAKE A STATEMENT EARLIER? AND YOU SAID THAT YOU WEREN'T GONNA SAY IT, BUT YOU DID SAY IT TODAY.
SO I'M GONNA REPEAT IT FOR YOU THAT IT WOULD COME OUT IN A MINUTES, IS THAT THERE WAS A MEETING AT GOODWOOD THAT KIND OF BLEW, WELL, WE EXPECTED IT TO BLOW UP BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED, WHICH IS WHY WE
[03:05:01]
HELD THE MEETINGS, UM, CUZ THE PUBLIC NEEDED INFORMATION AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION.I CAN TELL YOU DIRECTLY THAT IN THAT MEETING, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT QUESTIONS WERE HANDLED PROPERLY BY DS.
I'LL SAY THAT OUT IN THE PUBLIC.
THEY, UM, I THINK THE ANSWERS WERE GIVEN THAT WERE WRONG, BUT I THINK THAT, UM, THE SENSITIVITY OF THE MATTER WAS NOT TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
UH, WHEN IT CAME TO HOW THEY WOULD RESPOND TO THE PUBLIC.
THEN I WASN'T AT THE VILLE MEETING, BUT I HEARD IT WAS, COULDN'T EVEN GET THROUGH THE PRESENTATION CUZ IT WAS, IT WAS, UH, I MEAN, I, I I I ALL IN THE, THE BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY, PEOPLE YELLING AND CURSING AND, UM, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF AND THAT'S WHERE IT BLEW UP GOOD
SO, UH, THE NEXT MORNING I SAID, WELL, HEY MAN, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT, YOU SAID, AND YOUR RESPONSE TO ME WAS THERE, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW BAD IT WAS CUZ I, AND I NEVER RESPONDED TO PRESS.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THIS, I'VE GONE TO ANDY WITH A NUMBER OF THINGS AND I SAID, ANDY, WHAT SHOULD I SAY TO THE PRESS? WHAT HAS YOUR ANSWER ALWAYS BEEN? NO COMMENT ON EVERYTHING.
I DON'T, THE MORE YOU COMMENT, THE MORE THEY WILL WELL, I'M NOT ALL INTO IT.
YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO SAY EVERYTHING THAT TURN THE CLIENT PRIVILEGE, SIR.
WELL, WELL I SHOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW.
WELL, I'M NOT GONNA SIT ON EVERYTHING, BUT IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS, RIGHT? YEAH, YEAH.
WHERE I'VE ASKED FOR YOUR LEGAL ADVICE.
SO IN THIS CASE, THE ADVICE THAT YOU GAVE ME IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE ADVICE YOU TOOK FOR YOURSELF UNTIL IT BLEW UP.
AND ON TUESDAY MORNING, FIVE SOMETHING IN THE MORNING.
YOU SAID WHEN IT BLEW UP ON TUESDAY MORNING, YOU DID WHAT? I SENT A A TEXT OUT TO MY OFFICE AND SAID, WE GOTTA GET A HANDLE ON THIS.
AND THE, THE TWEET CAME OUT FROM, UH, CONGRESSMAN GARY GRAVES.
AT WHAT POINT IN TIME? ABOUT EIGHT HOURS LATER.
SEVEN, EIGHT HOURS LATER THAT AFTERNOON.
WHICH MEANS YOU HAD DONE WHAT? TAKEN A WHAT, A PROACTIVE STANCE.
CAUSE THAT WAS ONCE I GOT KNOWLEDGE OF IT, CORRECT.
THAT WAS ONLY THE SECOND MEETING.
AND THEN THAT SAME NIGHT I HELD THE COMMUNITY MEETING ALONG WITH COUNCIL ONE COLEMAN COUNCIL MEN DUNN.
AND, UH, COUNCILMAN ROWDY GOE WAS NOT ON THE HOST LIST, BUT HE SO GRACIOUSLY, UH, SHOWED UP AND WAS, AND WAS ACTING WITH THE, UH, NORTH BATON ROUGE PRESENTATION.
AND AGAIN, IN THAT ROOM, I DON'T THINK THE SENSITIVITY OF THE CROWD WAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WITH SOME, IN WAYS THAT THE QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED.
SO, UM, GIVEN APPLAUSE TO MARK ARMSTRONG, I WILL SAY THAT MARK ARMSTRONG DID GREAT CROWD CONTROL, GREAT Q AND A.
UM, AND I BELIEVE HE, HE HANDLED THE, THE CROWDS VERY WELL, BUT IN MY OPINION, YOU DID WHAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO DO.
THE FIRST MEETING, NONE OF US KNEW AARON WAS UP THERE TRYING TO
ALL OF US WERE A ASKED HIM, SHOULD WE GO UP THERE AND SAVE HIM? AND, UM, THE NEXT MEETING, I WASN'T THERE.
AND THEN BY THE THIRD MEETING, WE KNEW TO SET THE PRESIDENTS THAT WE WERE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THE LOUD TALKING, THE OVER TALKING.
IF THAT HAPPENED, YOU LOSE YOUR PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK AND WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP THAT MEETING UNDER CONTROL.
BUT YOU RESPONDED BEFORE THE TWEET CAME OUT.
I THINK THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW THAT YOU WERE PREPARING A RESPONSE BEFORE THE, UH, THE, THE RESPONSE WAS PROVIDED BY CONGRESSMAN GRAY.
BECAUSE FOR ME, THAT SATISFIES ME TO KNOW THAT YOU HAD THE INTENT TO DO THE RIGHT BY THE PUBLIC.
AND ALL OF THIS BOILS DOWN THE PUBLIC TRUST THE FACT THAT THE MAYOR DID NOT SIGN AN NDA AND THAT SHE WAS NOT PRIVY AND SHE TRUSTED THE DEPARTMENT HEADS THE SAME WAY.
YOU TRUSTED YOUR, UH, UH, UM, EMPLOYER ATTORNEY AVENUE.
IT SAYS THAT YOU DID YOUR JOB BY HIRING THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND TRUSTING IN WHAT THEY DID.
AND SO FOR THAT MAN, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE WOULD'VE IN YOUR DEPARTMENTS, BUT YOU HAVE NOT LOST MY TRUST.
THE MAYOR'S NOW LOST MY TRUST IN THAT REGARD.
AND, UH, YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT AND WHATEVER, UH, MOVES FORWARD.
COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER MOKEY HAS SPOKEN TWICE, SO PLEASE NEED BRIEF.
UM, COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN BROUGHT UP A GOOD POINT.
UM, AS FAR AS A COUPLE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED AND DISCUSSED HERE, UH, I WOULD, IF RICK AND MR. ABBOTT ARE HERE, RICK'S OUT OF TOWN COUNTS ABOUT, SORRY, RICK IS OUT TOWN.
HIS DAUGHTER'S GETTING MARRIED THIS WEEK.
THIS WAS, UH, SOMETHING HE HAD PLANNED MONTHS AGO.
UH, IS MR. ABBOTT HERE? UH, THANK YOU.
I SO WHAT, WHAT, WHILE WE'RE WAITING ON THAT, I WILL SPEAK TO THE REST OF THE COUNCIL.
IT WAS, UH, SPEAKING TO EVERYONE, NOT TO ANYONE.
UM, IT WAS MENTIONED A WHILE AGO, UM, RESPECTFULLY THAT WE, NOTHING WAS LOST IN THIS.
NOTHING, UH, THERE WAS NO FINANCIAL, THERE WAS NO WHATEVER.
[03:10:01]
COST THE CITY PARISH ANYTHING AND SO ON.I, I JUST WANT TO TELL MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT I, I, I DISAGREE WITH THAT IN THE FACT THAT WE ARE HERE TO KEEP THE TRUST TO MANAGE AND, AND WORK WITH THE, UM, THE CITIZENS OF EAST BAT ROUGE PARISH.
AND I FEEL LIKE WE, WE, WE LOST WHATEVER CREDIBILITY BY THIS GOING FORWARD, THE WAY IT DID AND THE WAY THAT IT BLEW UP.
SO I JUST WANTED TO, TO REFERENCE THAT AND, AND CLEAR THAT UP.
UH, MR. SPEARS, I ASKED THE COURT, I'M SORRY, MR. ABBOTT, UH, IT WAS ASKED A QUESTION EARLIER ABOUT BEVERAGE AND DIAMOND, WHO ARE THEY AUTHORIZED OR, UM, BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH IN THE ADMINISTRATION OR THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE? USUALLY I'M ON THE CONVERSATION.
LISA SMITH, WHO WORKS WITH ME IS ON IT.
ANDY IS USUALLY ON AND OFF THE CONVERSATIONS.
GALVIN HILL, RICK SPEARS, UM, SARAH BOUDRO THAT WORKS FOR MR. SPEARS HAS BEEN ON THE CONVERSATIONS AS WELL AS, UH, AN EXPERT THAT WE HIRED, UH, MARCY LEACH, WHO HAS WRITTEN, WORKED WITH BEVERAGE AND DIAMOND BEFORE AND WRITTEN STORM WATER MANAGEMENT PLANS, UH, FOR ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS THAT EPA ACCEPTED.
WERE THEY, ARE THEY AUTHORIZED TO SPEAK WITH ANYONE THAT HAS SIGNED THE NDA OR DO THEY GO THROUGH THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE NO MATTER WHAT? THEY GO THROUGH THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO, FOR ALL THE COMMUNICATIONS, AND THEN WE SET UP, TELL 'EM WHO NEEDS TO BE ON THE MEETING DEPENDING ON THE TOPIC THAT'S BEING DISCUSSED.
AND THEN WE GO FROM THERE AND THEY ARE THE, NOW THEY ARE THE COMMUNICATION DIRECTLY TO DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
SO THEY COMMUNICATE WITH DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO SET UP A MEETING OR PHONE CALL OR WHATEVER IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
JUSTICE THEN GETS COMMUNICATES TO DEQ AND EPA.
WHO DO THEY WANT ON THE CALL? AND WE DO DO THE SAME.
HE, THEY TELL US AND WE TELL THEM, DO WE NEED ON THAT CALL.
THERE'S A LOT OF TECHNICAL INFORMATION THAT THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE JUST DOESN'T HAVE.
WHEN IT WAS DETERMINED THAT, AND WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER THAT YOU WAS UNDER PRESSURE OR YOU FELT LIKE THE NDA WAS THE BEST ROUTE TO GO FOR INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS AND, AND TO APPEASE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IN JUNE OF 2020 WHEN THEY TOLD US THE AUDIT WAS NEAR COMPLETE, THEY IMPRESSED UPON ME IN A PHONE CONVERSATION.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DID THAT.
THE AUDIT WAS A CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENT PREPARED, AND, UH, WHICH THEY PREPARED WITH THE IDEA THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO COURT AND GET A CONCENT FREE.
THEREFORE, IT WAS PART OF CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS UNDER THE CODE OF EVIDENCE.
SO, UH, HOW DO YOU HANDLE THAT WITHIN YOUR DEPARTMENT? LIKE MR. DOTSON SAID, THE ATTORNEYS ARE BOUND BY AS OFFICERS OF THE COURT ARE ALREADY BOUND BY THAT.
UH, WE, I SPOKE WITH RICK SPEAR ABOUT THE NDA.
I DON'T RECALL WHETHER KELVIN, BUT I DON'T THINK HE WAS.
YOU, YOU, SO THE NDA ORIGINATED FROM A RESPONSE OR, OR THING THAT YOU FELT FROM THE FEDERAL.
AT THAT POINT, YOU, YOURSELF, WHO FELT THAT WAY? DID YOU MAKE A LIST, UM, REQUEST A LIST, OR DID Y'ALL MEET TO DETERMINE WHICH PEOPLE Y'ALL FELT NEEDED TO SIGN AN NDA? Y'ALL, EXCUSE ME, COUNCIL MEMBER, THAT'S YOUR TIME.
BUT I THINK THE LINE OF QUESTION IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
SO PLEASE GO AHEAD AND ANSWER SIR RICK SPIRIT, KELVIN HILL PREPARED THE LIST OF THE TECHNICAL PEOPLE THAT THEY WOULD NEED, WHICH INCLUDED SOME EMPLOYEES AND SOME CONSULTANTS.
AND OVER TIME THAT LIST HAS ACTUALLY GROWN.
UH, THE NEW CONSULTANT THAT WE BROUGHT ON, ON MS. LEACH THAT WE JUST BROUGHT ON ONCE BEVERAGE AND DIAMOND WAS HERE ALSO HAS SIGNED THE NDA, SO.
AND, AND I'M FINAL, FINAL THING, AND I JUST WANNA CLARIFY A STATEMENT.
THERE WAS A LIST MADE OF WHO NEEDED TO SIGN THE NDA, AND YOU SAID IT HAS GROWN SINCE EVEN THE ORIGINAL ONE, BUT THERE IS A LIST THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO Y'ALL BY SOME KIND OF COMMUNICATION WRITTEN, UM, TIGHT EMAIL,
[03:15:01]
CHISELED IN STONE OR SOMETHING.BOB, WHAT'S YOUR OFFICIAL TITLE WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE? DEPUTY PARISH ATTORNEY.
AND WITH THIS STORM WATER ISSUE, IS IT TRUE THAT YOU RAN POINT OR TOOK THE LEAD ON THIS WITH THE CONVERSATION, NEGOTIATION WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SOMEHOW BACK IN 2005 OR SOMEWHERE LIKE THAT, I GOT INVOLVED WITH THE SEWER PROGRAM, BECAME THE ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY IN THE OFFICE BY DEFAULT.
COUNCILMAN MO HAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED THAT THROUGH YOUR CONVERSATION AND COMMUNICATION WITH THEM, IT LED YOU TO BELIEVE THAT A NDA WAS NEEDED.
WHEN THE NDA WAS SIGNED, WERE YOU UNDER UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WAS SIGNED INTERNALLY OR WERE YOU UNDER UNDERSTANDING THAT THE NDA WAS SIGNED WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT? NO, IT WAS AN INTERNAL DOCUMENT.
IT SAYS IN THE DOCUMENT, IT'S BETWEEN THE CITY AND BLANK.
AND THAT BLANK WAS FILLED IN BY THE DIFFERENT EMPLOYEES OR, OR CONSULTANTS.
SO I'M GONNA ASK YOU THE SAME QUESTION I ASKED THE MAYOR AND I ASKED ANDY, THE PARISH ATTORNEY, A NARRATIVE WAS CREATED THROUGHOUT THIS COMMUNITY, THIS COUNCIL, THE CITIZENS, THE MEDIA.
THE INTERPRETATION WAS THAT THE NDA WAS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, NOT AN INTERNAL NDA BETWEEN STAFF MEMBERS AND CONTRACTORS, BUT A NBA NDA BETWEEN CITY, PARISH AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WHY DIDN'T YOU, AS THE PERSON WHO RAN POINT ON THIS AND KNEW FOR A FACT THIS WAS NOT A NDA WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, DIDN'T INTERVENE, COMMUNICATE TO THE COUNCIL, TO THE PUBLIC IN THE MEDIA THAT ARE FALSE NARRATIVE IS BEING CREATED.
WHY DID A THIRD PARTY CONGRESSMAN GRAVE HAVE TO CLARIFY THAT? WHY DIDN'T YOU STEP UP AND ACT? I THINK I HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH MR. HILL AND MR. SPEARS BECAUSE MR. HILL IS THE FIRST ONE THAT BROUGHT UP THE NDA IN A PUBLIC MEETING THAT I RECALL.
UH, SO YOU SAY YOU THINK YOU HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM, BUT WHY DIDN'T YOU NOT HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITH THE PUBLIC? I JUST DIDN'T.
THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE PARISH ATTORNEY, TO THE MAYOR THAT, HEY, A FALSE NARRATIVES BEING CREATED.
I'VE COMMUNICATED THIS TO RICK, I'VE COMMUNICATED THIS TO KELVIN.
WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE THIS TO THE COUNSELING, TO THE PUBLIC.
I DON'T SPEAK TO THE PRESS, I DON'T SPEAK GENERALLY TO THE PUBLIC.
UH, BUT YOU DO ADVISE THIS CITY, PARISH, YOUR EMPLOYER, ANDY DOTSON AND THE MAYOR ON THINGS THAT THEY SHOULD DO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I WANT TO, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCK, MR. ABBOTT.
UM, I WOULD, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO CLARIFY, HAVE YOU EVER, IN, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE? 24 PLUS.
HAVE YOU EVER, UM, WENT TO THE PRESS WITH ANYTHING CONCERNING THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE? NO.
ARE I HAVE OCCASIONALLY SPOKEN TO A REPORTER AFTER I CLEARED IT WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY ON A, UH, PARTICULAR TOPIC? DID YOU ATTEMPT TO CLEAR THIS WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY TO GO TO THE PRESS TO MAKE ANY KIND OF CLARIFICATION? NOBODY FROM THE PRESS EVER CONTACTED ME, SO NO, I, I WOULDN'T VOLUNTEER TO GO, BUT IF THEY CONTACT ME, THEN I HAVE TO CLEAR IT BEFORE WE DECIDE WHAT I CAN SAY.
AND AS FAR AS IT'S CONCERNED WITH REGARDS TO YOUR EMPLOYMENT, IS THERE ANY TYPE OF, UM, PROCEDURE OR STANDARD IN YOUR OFFICE WITH REGARD TO EMPLOYEES TALKING TO PRESS? NOT THAT I'M, THERE'S NO WRITTEN PROCEDURE THAT I'M AWARE OF.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR A VERY, VERY CIVIL CONVERSATION AROUND AN ISSUE THAT DESPITE ALL THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE, IT'S STILL ONE WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IN OUR CITY PARISH.
AND WHETHER WE ADDRESS IT HERE AT THE COUNCIL OR THE DOJ, THE EPA OR ANY OF THE ALPHABETS CHOOSE TO ADDRESS IT, IT'S GONNA COST US SOME MONEY.
AND SO IT IS MY THINKING, WE ALL NEED TO CREATE A PATH FORWARD, A POSITIVE PATH FORWARD.
SO I, UH, 100% AGREE WITH YOU, COUNCILMAN HUDSON, THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE, UH, A CONVERSATION.
I AGREE WITH YOU 100%, COUNCIL MEMBER.
WE NEED TO BE AT THE TABLE AND WE NEED TO GET IN A ROOM, HAVE A VERY, VERY CANDID CONVERSATION, COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, AND CREATE A PATH FORWARD FOR ALL OF THE 452,710 CITIZENS WHO LIVE IN THIS PARISH.
BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, THEN WE HAVE ALL FAILED THOSE CITIZENS.
AND WE ALL MUST TAKE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THAT.
SO I'M NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF SAYING WE SHOULD THROW ANYBODY UNDER THE BUS, SO TO SPEAK.
I'M NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF SAYING IT'S ANYBODY'S FAULT.
[03:20:01]
RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THE RESEARCH, READ THE PAPERWORK, ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS, AND WHEN WE DON'T DO THAT AND WE GET THE WRONG INFORMATION, WE HAVE TO BE VERY RESPONSIBLE IN TAKING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THAT WHICH WE KNOW AND THAT WHICH WE DON'T KNOW.SO I WANNA APOLOGIZE SINCERELY TO THE CITIZENS OF BATON ROUGE FROM MY INVOLVEMENT AND NOT MAKING SURE I ASKED THE RIGHT QUESTIONS, GOT THE RIGHT ANSWERS, AND PROVIDED YOU WITH THE RIGHT INFORMATION.
AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THERE ARE FIVE SIMPLE THINGS TO AN APOLOGY.
I WILL MAKE IT UP TO YOU AND PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU'RE READY.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM 99.
THERE HAS BEEN A REQUEST FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO DELETE.
THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION TO DELETE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON AND A SECOND BY DISTRICTS 1 2 3, 4, 5, 6 7.
THERE HAS BEEN A REQUEST FOR A ROLE CALL VOTE ON THE MOTION TO DELETE COUNCIL.
I MEAN, COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR BRETT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'RE GONNA VOTE.
MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO WE CALL VOTE.
DO YOU WANNA VOTE ON MACHINES OR ROLL CALL MACHINES? ALL RIGHT, CLARIFY THE VOTE.
THE MOTION IS TO DELETE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
THERE IS A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN ON THE ITEM TO DELETE AND WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINES.
A YAY VOTE IS TO DELETE A GAY VOTE IS TO DELETE THE ITEM.
[Items 100 - 115]
GENTLEMEN WILL NOW GO TO ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES.I'M GONNA TAKE ITEMS 100 TO 115 TOGETHER.
ITEM 100 LOT 18 EIGHT SQUARE FOUR SUBDIVISION LA FOSO TOWN DISTRICT SEVEN HOLE ITEM 1 0 1 LOT 44 SQUARE NINE SOUTH BATON ROUGE, DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN HIGH BID OF MALLORY WILLIAMS. $100 ON ITEM 100.
THE HIGH BID WAS DANIEL WASHINGTON FOR $20,000.
WE GO TO ITEM 1 0 2 LOT 46 SQUARE NINE, SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE 10 COLEMAN HIGH BID OF MALLORY WILLIAMS. $100.
ITEM 1 0 3 LOT 22 SQUARE 22 METRO DISTRICT SEVEN COLE HIGH BID OF KELLY SMITH, $3,500.
ITEM 1 0 4 LOT C SUBDIVISION BIRD STATION COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN.
$100 RIGHT BLOCK 23 SQUARE THREE SUBDIVISION GEORGETOWN, DISTRICT SEVEN.
$100 ITEM 1 0 6 LOT 35 SQUARE 31 SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION DISTRICT SEVEN BLOCK 1 0 7 LOT 15 SQUARE FIVE SUBDIVISION VALLEY PARK DISTRICT 12 BY 1 0 8.
LOT A ONE SUBDIVISION EAST RIDGEWOOD DISTRICT AT FOUR MO HIGH, BETTER SOUTHERN UNITED INCORPORATED.
ITEM 1 0 9 LOT 78 SQUARE TWO SUBDIVISION RICHMOND PARK DISTRICT SEVEN HIGH BETTER RESIDE.
ITEM ONE 10 LOT 12 SQUARE 42 SUBDIVISION MONTE ISLAND FARMS, DISTRICT FIVE HURST HIGH, BETTER LORRAINE LEE AND SHERMAN.
ITEM ONE 11 LOT 75 SQUARE, 100 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE, DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BID.
ITEM ONE 12 LOT SIX AND SEVEN SQUARE 10 SUBDIVISION, NORTH BATON ROUGE.
18 SQUARE 10 SUBDIVISION NORTH THERE.
ITEM 10, COLEMAN HIGH, BETTER OF CAN SMITH, $36,000.
24 POINT SUBDIVISION SOUTHERN HEIGHTS DISTRICT TWO BANKS HIGHER, BETTER IN AKE WHITE.
ITEM ONE 15 LOT 11 SQUARE 2 7 4 SCHWA LOT TWO SQUARE 2 7 4 SCHWART LOT 12 JJ BURG LOT THREE POINT SQUARE 2 7 6 SWT LOT THREE SQUARE ONE HARD LOT TWO SQUARE ONE HARD LOT FIRE SQUARE ONE HARD LOT.
SIX SQUARE J BOOKER TOWN BY SEVEN POINT SCHWART.
ADDITION E AND A HALF LOT 7.4.
NINE SQUARE 39 SW EDITION SUBDIVISION, VARIOUS DISTRICT 10.
MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 100 TO ONE 15.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 100 TO ONE 15? I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUN SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.
NO ITEMS 100 TO ONE 15 HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
[ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS]
TO ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER INTRODUCTION.
UH, FOR POINT OF CLARITY, UH, COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR MIGHTA READ ALL THREE OF THEM AND THEN GO THROUGH THE PROCEDURE OR TAKE 'EM ONE BY ONE, TAKE 'EM ONE BY ONE.
WE WILL START WITH ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER, A 22 1 4 5, A DISCUSSION AND QUESTION TO ANSWER OPPORTUNITY WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY REGARDING THE ISSUES INCLUDING WITH, WITHOUT LIMITED THE ROLE OF BAR ABBOTT REGARDING THE NDA,
[03:25:01]
THE WATER FEE ITEM, AND SURROUNDING ISSUE.THIS ITEM MAY BE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO THE REASON FOR THIS ITEM BEING REQUESTED AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER IS TO EXPEDITE HEARING ON THE PUBLIC ITEM.
WE NEED A MOTION TO RAISE THE RULES SO THE ITEMS CAN BE INTRODUCED.
IS THERE A MOTION TO WA THE RULES? SO MOVED.
WE NEED A PUBLIC, EXCUSE ME, ON THE, ON THE, ON THE ITEM RIGHT ON THE MOTION TO WEIGH THE RULES.
MOTION TO WA ON THE MOTION TO RATE THE RULES.
AND YOU JUST HAVE TO HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING ON, IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION? TO WAIVE THE RULES? WE'RE NOW GONNA VOTE ON THE MOTION TO WEIGH THE RULES.
UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU PROCEDURE THE OPPOSITION.
YEAH, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY MY, MY REASONING FOR THE OPPOSITION.
I DON'T WANT ANYBODY, ANYONE TO THINK THAT HE, UM, CAN SPEAK ON.
I ADVISE THAT HE CAN'T SPEAK ON THE SUBSTANCE OF THE ITEM, BUT HE CAN SPEAK ON THE PROCESS OR PROCEDURE.
MY ONLY ISSUE IS, UH, THE PERSON NAMED HERE AS NOT A DIRECT REPORT OF THE COUNSEL AS A MATTER OF PROCEDURE.
I, I'VE OPPOSED THESE IN THE PAST WHERE, UH, WE ADDRESS SOMEONE THAT IS NOT ONE OF OUR DIRECT REPORTS.
IF THIS IS THE PARISH ATTORNEY HIMSELF OR THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR OR ANOTHER DIRECT REPORT, I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH IT, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S THE APPROPRIATE, UH, VENUES.
WE JUST ADDRESS SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT OUR DIRECT REPORTS.
THIS RIGHT NOW IN THIS COUNCIL, THE MAYOR.
WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
UH, WE'RE NOT PART THREE OF THE PROCESS.
IT REQUIRES AN ANY CONSENT OF THE MEMBERS' PRESENT.
SO THE ITEM CANNOT BE, WE CANNOT MOVE FORWARD WITH ITEM A.
WE'RE GONNA ORDER ITEM B 22 0 1 4 49 EXPRESSING THE INTENTION OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL TO REMOVE AND DOTSON AS PARISH ATTORNEY DUE TO LOSS CONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITY TO CONTINUE HIS PARISH ATTORNEY AND THE RECORDING COUNSELS ADMINISTRATOR TREASURED TO GIVE OFFICIAL NOTICE OF A HEARING TO BE HELD AT THE REG REGULAR METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING ON NOVEMBER 22ND, 2022 AT 4:00 PM IN THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL CHAMBERS 2 22 ST.
LOUIS STREET, ROOM 3 48 IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTIONS TWO 13 OF THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT.
THIS MATTER MAY DIS BE DISCUSSED.
THE REASON FOR THE ITEM BEING, UH, REQUESTED AS AN ADMINISTRATOR MATTER IS TO EXPEDITE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ITEM.
THE RULES TO ALLOW ITEMS TO BE INTRODUCED.
IS THERE MOTIONAL WAY THE RULES ON ITEM.
IS THERE A SECOND ON A MOTION TO WA THE RULES? THERE'S A SECOND.
WE GO TO THE PUBLIC HEARING ON A MOTION TO WEIGH THE RULES.
IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION? TO WAIVE THE RULES? WE'RE NOT GONNA VOTE ON THE MOTION TO WA THE RULES.
HAS ANYONE HERE OBJECT TO THE MOTION TO WA THE RULES ON ITEM? WE NEED A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ITEM.
IS THERE A MOTION TO INTRODU? HUH? OBJECT.
SO THE ITEM DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD.
WE GO TO ITEM C PROVIDING THE CONSENT OF DE METROPOLITAN COUNSEL, THE WAIVE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE OR RESPECT TO THOSE TEXT MESSAGES AND EMAILS FOR WHICH THE COUNCIL IS THE CLIENT THAT ARE RESPONSIVE TO THE PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST SUBMITTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS ON OCTOBER 20TH, 2022.
THE REASON THIS ITEM IS BEING REQUESTED AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER, IS TO MOVE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON NOVEMBER 9TH TO EXPEDITE THE PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS.
THE RULES ON THE ITEMS TO BE INTRODUCED.
IS THERE A MOTIONAL WAY? THE RULES OBJECTION.
THERE'S A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.
IS THERE A SECOND ITEM? FAIL FOR A SECOND ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.
WE NOW GO TO ITEM D PROVIDING THE CONSENT ON THE METROPOLITAN AND COUNSEL THE WAIVER OF ATTORNEY KLEIN FREE WITH RESPECT TO THOSE TEXT MESSAGES AND EMAILS FOR WHICH THE COUNSEL AND THE CLIENT ARE RESPONSIVE TO THE PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS SUBMITTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ON OCTOBER 20TH.
THE REASON FOR THE ITEM BEING REQUESTED IS AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE MINOR IS TO EXPEDITE PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS.
WE WE HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.
YOU MEAN? LET ME GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
UH, I SEE EVERYBODY BITING AT THE BIT.
IS THERE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? THERE'S NO MOTION TO THE RULES.
WE GO TO ITEM E AUTHORIZING AM MAYOR, PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT THE GRANT AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF 35,007 $58.
THAT'S RIGHT TO, EXCUSE ME, MAYOR, I'M TALKING TO ENHANCED COLLABORATIVE PLANNING FOR MASS SUSPENSE.
SOME RESPONSE AND COORDINATING WITH THE STATE OF LOUISIANA'S OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND BUREAU OF COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS OF STRATEGIC NATIONAL STOCK POWER CITY'S VETERAN'S INITIATIVE.
CRI, THE REASON THIS ITEM IS BEING REQUESTED AS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER, LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WORKS WITHIN A SHORT TURNAROUND TO RETURN EXECUTED STRATEGIC LOUISIANA, EXCUSE ME, NATIONAL STOCK POWER CONTRACTS TO CENTER UP DISEASE CONTROL.
EASTBOUND PARISH RECEIVED THE CONTRACT ON
[03:30:01]
NOVEMBER, EXCUSE ME, OCTOBER 17TH, 2022.AND SHOULD BE RETURNED TO L D H B C P AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
BUT WE NEED A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES ON THE ITEM.
IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ITEM NOW WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON A MOTION TO WA THE RULES, THE MOTION TO WHERE THE RULES HAS BEEN OBJECTED BY COUNCIL OBJECT.
SO ITEM E DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD.
[120. 22-01431]
GO TO FINAL ACCEPTANCES.ITEM ONE 20 WATER CAMPUS ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS.
PHASE ONE CONTRACTOR, HARD ROCK CONSTRUCTION LLC.
FINAL COST 4,000,009 88,001 6067 CENTS.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE 20? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM ONE 20? SO MOVE BY.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, WE NOW, IF THERE ANY OBJECTION,
[Items 121 - 125]
WE NOW WOULD TAKE ITEMS 1 21 THROUGH 1 25 TOGETHER PERKINS ROAD, ROADSIDE DITCH EXCAVATION DISPOSAL INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES, ONE $58,721.CAN I ADD A NOTICE, PLEASE? EXCUSE ME.
THOSE CONVERSATIONS? CAN Y'ALL PUSH YOUR MIC FORWARD? CAN Y'ALL PUSH THE MIC FORWARD? PUSH YOUR MICS FORWARD PLEASE.
UH, ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE REPAIR, HEAVY INDUSTRIAL ELECTRICAL, 300 BUFFALO ELECTRIC, INCORPORATED, $330,750.
ITEM 1 23, DOWNTOWN GREENWAY, LOUISIANA CONNECTED EBR INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISE INCORPORATED $359,959 AND 81 CENTS.
GROUP PROJECT TRAFFIC AND STRIPPING IMPROVEMENTS.
STONEBERG LANE ROUNDABOUT STRIPPING IMPROVEMENTS, PICARDI AVENUE TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT EARNED PETE BRO ELECTRICAL, LLC $308,436.
ITEM 1 25 EM, MEXICO STEEL STATION RENOVATION, TERRY PRODUCTION, $98,211.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 1 21 THROUGH 1 25? WE NOW WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEMS 1 21 THROUGH 1 25.
THERE'S BEEN A MOTION, SO MOVED BY MOKE SECOND BY THE CHAIR.
ITEMS 1 21 THROUGH 1 25 HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
[116. 22-01372]
ONE 16.COUNCIL MEMBERS HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION CONSIDERING OR REPLACING MARTA COTHAM WHO HAS RESIGNED? THE TERM EXPIRES ON SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2023.
WE HAVE A CURRENT BALLOT OF GENEVIEVE PROSA AND BRITTANY ZENO.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE THEM IN THE, UH, ORDER.
IS GENEVIEVE PROSA OR BRITTANY ZENO HERE.
IS MISS HERE, RIGHT? WE'RE GOING, WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THESE INDIVIDUALS IN A ORDER THAT THEY, UH, HAVE BEEN ON THE, ON THE BALLOT.
COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS, UH, CAN I MAKE A MOTION? YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPOINT BRITTANY ZNO.
THERE'S A MOTION TO APPOINT BRITNEY ZENO.
WE'RE GONNA VOTE IN THE ORDER THAT THEY APPEAR ON THE BALLOT.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE GENEVIEVE PRO FIRST.
UM, I WAS HERE LAST TWO WEEKS AGO, INTRODUCED MYSELF.
I BELIEVE I'VE EMAILED MY QUALIFICATIONS TO EVERYONE.
UM, I WENT TO GRAD SCHOOL FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND I ACTUALLY INTERNED AT PRESERVE LOUISIANA BEFORE IT WAS CALLED PRESERVE LOUISIANA.
I DON'T WANNA SAY HOW LONG AGO.
UM, AND I HAVE SERVED ON THE BOARD BEFORE, SO I KNOW A LOT OF THE CULTURE OF BATON ROUGE.
I GREW UP HERE AND I JUST GENUINELY LOVE A CRUMBLY OLD BUILDING AND THINK WE SHOULD SAVE THE STOCK THAT WE HAVE.
SO THAT'S ME CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. PROCESS.
WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE ITEMS IN THE ORDER.
WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE INDIVIDUALS ON THE ORDER.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU DO NOT NEED TO VOTE NO.
IF YOU ARE VOTING FOR THE PERSON WHOSE NAME I CALL, YOU CAN VOTE.
MACHINES ARE OPEN FOR GENEVIEVE PROSSER.
I I AIN'T PUTTING NOTHING AT ALL.
WHAT DID YOU WANT? CONGRATULATIONS.
MISS PRO, YOU'VE BEEN APPOINTED TO THE DISTRICT.
WE REPEALING STORMWATER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT CREATED.
AND THIS IS AN, UH, EMERGENCY ITEM RESOLUTION.
UH, I'M SORRY, WE NEED TO GO BACK.
[Items 117 - 119 ]
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN ARE GONNA TAKE ITEM ONE 17 THROUGH ONE 19.ITEM ONE 17, CONTRACT, THE HARD ROCK CONSTRUCTION LLC.
CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, $264,179 AND 54 CENTS.
[03:35:01]
ITEM ONE 18.TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONNECTION AND COMMUNICATION INSTALLATION CONTRACTOR ERNEST P BRO ELECTRICAL INCORPORATED.
ITEM ONE 19 SCHOOL FLASHING INSTALLATION CONTRACTOR, DIAMOND ELECTRICAL INCORPORATED.
CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, $61,323 AND 8 CENTS.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS ONE 17 THROUGH ONE 19? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS? ONE 17 THROUGH ONE 19.
SO MOVED BY THE CHAIR, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
ITEM ONE 17 THROUGH ONE 19 HAVE BEEN APPROVED WITH NO OBJECTIONS.
[130. 22-01446]
TO EMERGENCY ITEM TO BE ADOPTED.ONE 30 REPEALING THE STORMWATER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT CREATED BY RESOLUTION NUMBER 5 65 60 AT THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2022 BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS REGION FOR EMERGENCY FOR RECENT REVELATIONS CALLED INTO QUESTION THE CIRCUMSTANCE UNDER WHICH THIS ITEM RECEIV AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE ON SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2022.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH ORDINANCE 4 42, THIS ITEM MUST BE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY BY TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.
IS THERE A MOTION TO DECLARE THIS ITEM IN EMERGENCY? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM SECOND AND BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA, WE'RE GOING TO DEVOTE ON THE MOTION TO DECLARE THE ITEM IN EMERGENCY.
MUST RECEIVE A VOTE? WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON A MACHINE.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO DECLARING IT IN THE EMERGENCY? YES.
ARE WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINES COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND AGAIN, IT MUST RECEIVE TWO-THIRDS VOTE, WHICH IS EIGHT MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
THE MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO DECLARE ITEM ONE 30 IN EMERGENCY.
I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA RESET THIS VOTE.
YOU WANT ME TO READ IT AGAIN? COUNCIL MEMBER.
I'M GONNA OPEN THE MACHINES FOR THE MOTION TO DECLARE ITEM ONE 30 IN EMERGENCY.
IF YOU, IF YOU VOTE YES, THAT MEANS YOU WANT THIS ITEM TO GO FORWARD TO PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT, MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO DECLARE ITEM ONE 30 AND EMERGENCY FOR LACK OF EIGHT VOTES.
WE WILL NOW ENTERTAIN IN MOTION TO ADJOURN.
MOTION TO ADJOURN BY MS. ARO, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MO.
WANNA THANK ALL OF OUR CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES WHO CAME OUT THIS EVENING? WE SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
I WANT TO SAY A SINCERE THANK YOU TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR SUCH CIVIL CONVERSATION TONIGHT AROUND SOME VERY, VERY DELICATE ISSUES.
AS ALWAYS, PROTECT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND READ TO YOUR CHILDREN.
AND WHEN YOU'RE DONE READING TO THEM, HAVE THEM READ BACK TO YOU, IS THE BEST WAY TO INCREASE READING.