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HELLO EVERYBODY AND WELCOME INSIDE THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
OUR METROPOLITAN COUNCIL WELCOMES YOU TO OUR MEETING ON JANUARY THE 18TH, 2023.
AND WHEREVER YOU'RE WATCHING, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US.
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE HERE, AND HERE IS OUR MAYOR, PRESIDENT PROTE OF EAST BAT ROUGE PARISH.
COUNCILMAN LAMONT CO COUNCILMAN.
[CALL TO ORDER]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH DENNIS.WELCOME EVERYONE AGAIN TO OUR REGULAR SCHEDULED METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING TODAY, FEBRUARY, EXCUSE ME, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18TH, 2023.
ASHLEY IS, I THINK WE DO HAVE A QUORUM ACTUALLY, BUT SHE STEPPED OUT FOR A MOMENT.
[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF THE JANUARY 11TH, 2023 IN GREATER BATON ROUGE AIRPORT COMMISSION MEETING OF JANUARY 10TH, 2023 BY THE COUNCIL, ADMINISTRATIVE TREASURER.IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE, COUNCIL MEMBERS? IS THERE MOTIONS? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MCDON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON ASTON.
[INTRODUCTIONS]
READ THE INTRODUCTIONS SECTION 2.12 INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER TWO, REPEALING AND REPLACING SALES AND USE TAX ORDINANCE 1 0 1 27.SO IS TO INCORPORATE THE STATUTORY AUTHORIZATION BY REFERENCE INTO THE ORDINANCE AND TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR ADMINISTRATION OF LOCAL SALES AND USE TAX COLLECTION IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, INCLUDING UPDATING THE LEVY OF INTEREST ON DELINQUENT SALES AND USE TAX PAYMENTS PER ACT 87 OF THE 2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION BY THE FINANCE DIRECTOR.
NUMBER THREE, REPEALING AND REPLACING SALES AND USE TAX ORDINANCE 95 37.
SO IS TO INCORPORATE THE STATUTORY AUTHORIZATION BY REFERENCE INTO THE ORDINANCE AND TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR ADMINISTRATION OF OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE TAX COLLECTION IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, INCLUDING UPDATING THE LEVY OF INTEREST OF DELINQUENT OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE TAX PAYMENTS PER ACT 87 OF THE 2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION BY THE FINANCE DIRECTOR.
NUMBER FOUR, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF LOUISIANA FOR THE STATE APPROPRIATION FUNDING AND THE AMOUNT OF $1,950,000 FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
OPERATIONAL EXPENSES FROM THE FUNDING PROVIDED IN ACT ONE 70 OF THE 2022 REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION BY THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND POLICE CHIEF.
NUMBER FIVE, AMENDING AND REENACTING ORDINANCE 89 31 ESTABLISHING AN ENGINEERS AND SURVEYOR SELECTION BOARD.
SO AS TO A ADD ONE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEMBER AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD BY COUNCILMAN DARYL HURST.
CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER SIX, KYLE P. WASHINGTON AND LISA HIGHTOWER, WASHINGTON 1350.
SO STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS.
NUMBER SEVEN, SUSANNA ROBERTS FREEMAN BUILDING AND STRUCTURES LOCATED ON PROGRESS ROAD COUNCIL.
NUMBER EIGHT, THE ESTATE OF DOHERTY SCOTT, 3 84 ROSELAWN AVENUE COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE, NUMBER NINE, PAUL DAVID STILES, 26,045 KENWOOD ROAD COUNCIL, DISTRICT NINE HUDSON NUMBER 10, TERRY RUTLEDGE AND CONNIE RUTLEDGE, 26 42.
KEN KENWOOD ROAD COUNCIL, DISTRICT NINE HUDSON NUMBER 11, JOSE JUAREZ TORRES, 2072 VIRGINIA STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 12, THE ESTATE OF FREDDIE HOWARD IN THE ESTATE OF MAMIE HOWARD.
1,701 TERRACE STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 13, THE ESTATE OF ROBERT J. BLACKWELL AND THE ESTATE OF LUELLE LEE BLACKWELL.
1 0 3 0 7 JEFFERSON HIGHWAY COUNCIL DISTRICT 11 ADAMS ADJUDICATED PROPERTY INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER FOUR, LOT ONE PLUS SQUARE 18 SUBDIVISION HICKEY TOWN METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 15 LOT 25 SQUARE 3 25 SUBDIVISION MAGNI MAGNESIA VILLE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 16 LOT 38 PLUS SQUARE 24 SUBDIVISION EDEN PARK COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 17 LOT 21 SQUARE 1 0 4 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 18 LOT B THREE SUBDIVISION, GEORGE CLARK TRACK COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 19 LOT THREE SQUARE 10 SUBDIVISION NORTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 20 LOT 38 SQUARE 10 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 21 LOT 41 SQUARE NINE SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 22 LOT 12 PART SQUARE ONE SUBDIVISION ROSEDALE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 23 LOT THREE B SUBDIVISION.
EDGAR W KIRBY TRACT COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE, NOEL NUMBER 24 LOT 12 PART SQUARE ONE SUBDIVISION ROSEDALE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 25 LOT 12 PART SQUARE ONE SUBDIVISION SWT COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 26 LOT 11 SQUARE ONE SUBDIVISION PITCHFORD ORSO COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 27 LOT ONE PLUS SQUARE 20 SUBDIVISION SUBDIVISION EAST FAIRFIELD COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 28 LOT 16 PLUS SQUARE 16.
SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION COUNCIL, DISTRICT SEVEN COLE
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NUMBER 29 LOT 36 SQUARE SEVEN SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 30 LOT 10 SQUARE TWO SUBDIVISION GLORIA TERRACE, COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 31 LOT 1 52 SUBDIVISION VICTORIA GARDENS COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE.ALL ITEMS THAT REQUIRE READING AND BEEN READ.
AND A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS AS AN ORDER.
IS THERE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOK.
ANY OBJECTIONS? ALL ITEMS REQUIRE INTRODUCTION.
[CONDEMNATIONS]
NOW GO COUNCIL MEMBERS TO YOUR SEPARATE SHEET FOR CONDEMNATIONS SHORTEST CONDEMNATION LIST I'VE SEEN IN EIGHT YEARS FROM D P W.I'M GONNA READ THE RECOMMENDATION.
THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 48, 49 AND 50.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON EITHER ITEM? ROBERT FLORIDA.
OKAY, I'M REQUESTING A 60 DAY STAY ON THIS COMBINATION.
GIVE ME TIME TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS.
THIS WAS AN ADJUDICATED PROPERTY THAT I PURCHASED AND IT WAS IN THAT CONDITION WHEN I PURCHASED IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS, 60 DAYS.
ANYONE ELSE? I'M GONNA READ THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND CHANGES.
THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 48 AND 50 AND DEFER FOR 60 DAYS.
ITEM 49, UH, MAYOR, CAN WE, CAN WE HOLD OFF ON 50 FOR RIGHT NOW AND COME BACK TO IT? SURE.
HOW LONG DO YOU WANT? UM, SO IT'S GONNA BE SOLVED SOMETIME TODAY.
I'M WAITING TO HEAR FROM SOMEBODY ABOUT WHAT THEY, WE WANNA COME BACK TO IT.
YEAH, IF WE CAN COME BACK TO IT.
WE HAVE THIS ITEM ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS' AGENDA CUZ FOR SOME REASON IT DIDN'T APPEAR ON Y'ALLS REGULAR AGENDA, THOUGH IT WOULD PROBABLY BE APPROPRIATE.
SO THEY OUGHT TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 48 AND DEFER ITEM 49 FOR 60 DAYS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONDEMNATIONS TO APPROVE? 48 AND 49.
MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN COEN.
CONDEMNATIONS HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU WOULD GOD, TURN YOUR ATTENTION
[50. 22-01602]
TO ITEM 50, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.ATTENTION TO A SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATOR, COUNCIL OF EBR R AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $200,000 TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR A JOINT PILOT ELECTRONIC MONITORING PROGRAM TO BE FUNDED THROUGH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S ALLOCATION OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT BY POLICE CHIEF.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 50? ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 50? WHEN NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M SORRY I DIDN'T SEE YOU, REVEREND ANDERSON.
IT'S, UH, IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.
UM, AT THE LAST MEETING, UH, WE CAME BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND SAID WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION ON THIS PARTICULAR, UH, AGENDA ITEM.
AND SO, UH, WE HAD TO THANK, UH, ATTORNEY, UH, NILES HAMER, WHO WAS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO COME TO THE EAST BATON ROUGE, UH, PRISON REFORM COALITION'S, UH, MONTHLY MEETING AND, UM, EXPLAIN WHAT THEIR POSITION WAS AND TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS.
AND WE WERE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.
HAVING SAID THAT, WE HAVE DONE, UH, QUITE A BIT OF RESEARCH AND OVER THE OVERALL ISSUES, PARTICULARLY AROUND ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM, INCLUDING LOCATING AND IDENTIFYING THAT IN FACT, THERE IS A REGULATION BY THE LEGISLATURE THAT REQUIRES THAT ALL PROVIDERS ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE, UH, AN ANNUAL REPORT.
AND SO OUR CONCERNS ARE STILL EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE BEFORE, WHICH IS THAT THE IDEAL OF CREATING A PILOT WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT WE ARE ALREADY DOING AND HAVING NO ACCOUNTABILITY AND METRICS TO MAKE A DECISION AND THE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN, WE STILL, QUITE FRANKLY, HAVE WAY MORE QUESTIONS THAT WE DID NOT GET ANSWERS TO, AND WE HAVE HONESTLY NOTHING BUT OVERWHELMING CONCERNS ON THIS ITEM.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 50? ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 50? WE NOW GO BACK TO COUNSEL.
OH, YOU OKAY? ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE GO AHEAD, MS. CHAMBERS.
WE ARE DEFERRING THE ITEM FOR 60 DAYS.
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THE ITEM FOR 60 DAYS.THERE IS A MOTION YOU WANNA REMOVE THE MOTION TO NO, I, I WANT TO KNOW WHY WE'RE DEFERRING FOR 60 DAYS.
WELCOME TO GOOD AFTERNOON, MYRON DANIELS ON BEHALF OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, THIS WAS BROUGHT FORTH ON, UH, OUR BEHALF, UH, AS WE WERE TRYING TO DO THE PILOT PROGRAM.
UH, THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, THERE WAS SOME GREAT CONCERNS THAT THE COUNCIL MENTIONED, UH, AS WELL AS, UH, SOME AUDIENCE MEMBERS.
UH, WE ARE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THOSE THINGS AND BASED ON THAT, THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR THE, UH, DEFERMENT.
UH, ACTUALLY JEN IS IN ORDER, BUT I, MIKE'S NOT WORKING.
SO, UM, FOR THE RECORD AND FOR THE PUBLIC PURPOSES, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ABSTAIN FROM THIS ITEM.
I AM A CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY, AND I REGULARLY HAVE CLIENTS TO GO IN FRONT OF JUDGE JORDAN, AND MY CLIENTS WOULD DIRECTLY BENEFIT FROM HIM BEING A PART OF THIS PROGRAM AND WOULD SAVE PROBABLY APPROXIMATELY 450 TO $500 A MONTH IF THEY WERE IN ADMITTED IN THIS PROGRAM.
SO, UM, I, I, I CAN'T VOTE ON THIS ITEM, HOWEVER, I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION, AND IT'S WITH REGARD TO LIABILITY, AND MAYBE YOU CAN ANSWER THIS QUESTION OR A PARISH ATTORNEY.
UM, AS FAR AS THE MONITORING GOES, OFTENTIMES WE'LL SEE, WE, WE DISCOVERED LAST TIME THROUGH THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD, UM, THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE A PART WOULD BE PART OF THIS PROGRAM ARE USUALLY VIOLENT OFFENDERS.
UM, THE LIABILITY, WHO, WHO WOULD BE LIABLE IF THIS VIOLENT OFFENDER ABSCONDED, UM, WHILE THEY'RE ON THIS MONITORING SYSTEM AND INJURED SOMEONE? WOULD IT BE THE CITY? WOULD WE HOLD LIABILITY THERE? I WOULD REFER THAT TO OUR PARISH ATTORNEY.
I'D HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE AGREEMENT AND SEE WHAT IT SAYS FIRST IN ORDER TO, TO, TO FULLY GIVE YOU AN ANSWER.
SO DURING THE 60 DAY PERIOD, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AGREEMENT AND BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND GIVE YOU A FULL ANSWER WHEN WE COME BACK, IF IT'S, IF IT'S ALLOWED TO BE DEFERRED.
I'M JUST OB OBJECTING TO THE DEFERRAL.
COUNCIL MEMBER, BANKS COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, I, UH, MYRON, UH, WHERE TWO THINGS, NUMBER, NUMBER ONE IS, UM, JUST SO HAPPENED TODAY.
I WAS ON A PHONE CALL WHERE, UM, THERE'S SOME TECHNOLOGY WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY WEAR A, UM, WATCH YOU, YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT VERSUS THE ANCHOR MONITORING.
AND SO FOR ME, UM, IT, IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO ENTER INTO A, UM, A JOINT POLY FOR, FOR ANKLE MONITORING WHEN THIS IS ABOUT, ABOUT TO BE A THING OF THE PAST.
AND, UH, ESPECIALLY IF WE HAVE THE OPTION AS IT RELATES TO THIS 200,000.
THE OTHER THING IS THE FACT THAT THE PILOT PROGRAM IS GEARED TOWARDS VIOLENT OFFENDERS.
UM, FOR ME, IF THEY'RE A VIOLENT OFFENDER, THEY SHOULD NOT EVEN BE OUT.
UM, I THINK THAT IF YOU'RE GONNA LOOK AT THE, UM, THE DEMOGRAPHICS AS TO WHO WOULD QUALIFY FOR THIS PROGRAM, IT WOULD BE PERSONS THAT ARE LESS VIOLENT.
AND THAT GOES TO WHEN MY, UM, WHEN COUNCILWOMAN, UM, UH, JEN ROCKER MENTIONED ABOUT LIABILITY.
UM, SO I MEAN, THE MORE VIOLENT, THE HIGHER THE RISK, WHEREAS IF THERE THERE'S NOT AS MUCH RISK, THERE'S ALSO NOT AS MUCH LIABILITY.
THE OTHER PART OF, UM, THIS PROJECT IS THAT WE ARE ALL THAT WILL ALSO COME IS THAT, UM, I HEARD, I'VE HEARD NUMBERS ABOUT FOUR OR $500 WHERE THIS PROJECT, THIS WOULD COST ABOUT ONE 50.
AND, UM, SO FOR ME, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY OF AMERICA RESCUE MONEY, THAT IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO INVEST IN A PROGRAM WHERE WE ARE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH ANTIQUATED, UM, TECHNOLOGY.
SO FOR ME, I WOULD LIKE, UM, THIS ITEM TO REALLY, UM, NOT BE DEFERRED, BUT ACTUALLY, UM, DELETED.
UM, BECAUSE IN THIS 60 DAYS THAT WE WOULD BE DEALING WITH THAT, I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK
[00:15:01]
ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS, UM, THE FUTURE, UM, THAT IS LESS CUMBERSOME, THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE AS MUCH MANPOWER.BECAUSE EVEN WITH THIS, THE PHONE CALLS, THE CALLING IN, UM, WITH THE TECHNOLOGY THAT'S COMING DOWN, THERE ARE ELECTRONIC BARRIERS AND THERE'S DATA THAT IS COLLECTED SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE PERSON GOING OUT ALL THE TIME.
BASICALLY, THOSE SERVICES CAN BE DIRECTED TO JUST CASE MANAGEMENT.
SO I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE DEFERRED AND LET'S, UH, LET US TALK ABOUT, UM, UH, SOMETHING THAT IS MORE FUTURISTIC AND ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THE, THE DEMOGRAPHICS SO WE CAN LEAVE ROOM FOR VIOLENT OFFENDERS AND WE CAN, AND I ALSO DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF POLICE MONITORING.
TO ME IT'S LIKE DOUBLE DIPPING.
I DON'T THINK THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE INVOLVED, UH, WITH ELECTRONIC MONITOR.
AN ELECTRONIC MONITORING, MONITORING, MONITORING.
UM, BECAUSE THEY SH IT'S, THEY, THEY, THEY, THAT'S JUST OUT OF, THAT'S LIKE NOT DEALING WITH THE DIFFERENT, UM, UH, EXECUTIVE LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL.
SO I DON'T, I, I JUST, I DON'T LIKE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.
AND I DO THINK WE HAVE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS, UH, THAT IS BETTER.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN MAKE A MOTION TO DELETE.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DELETE.
WE, WHERE ARE YOU SPEAKING WITH YOUR MOTION? NO.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON HAS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
IS THERE A SECOND FOR THE MOTION TO APPROVE? SECOND.
SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MA MOROSA.
AND YOU'RE MAKING A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DELETE THE ITEM.
SO I'LL, UM, I'LL, I'LL GO WITH THE, I HEARD ABOUT A 60 DAY DEFERRAL.
YOU DID, BUT NO, BUT NOBODY MADE A MOTION TO SHUT YOU, YOU'RE MAKING A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
YOU DID MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
SO THERE'S A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
HOLD UP SHAUNA TO DEFER FOR 60 DAYS.
IS THERE A SECOND? SO WE HAD A CONVERSATION.
LET ME LET, LET'S GET THE ORDER, RIGHT.
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
GOE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DEFER? SURE.
THERE'S A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DEFER.
THE MACHINE IS THERE A SECOND TO THE SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.
WE NOW GO BACK TO THE LIST OF PEOPLE WAITING TO SPEAK.
UM, SO, UH, ONE I AM WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN DUNN.
I THINK WE NEED TO VOTE ON THIS AND, AND MOVE ON WITH IT.
UH, TWO, AS FAR AS THE TECHNOLOGY AND EVERYTHING, AND, AND THIS MAY BE A PARISH ATTORNEY THING.
I KNOW IT SAYS ANKLE MONITORING OR WHATEVER ELSE, BUT WOULD IT BE BETTER TO REWRITE IT AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, MONITORING IN, IN WHATEVER CAPACITY THAT THAT MIGHT BE, WHETHER IT'S WATCH OR BY PHONE OR, OR ANY KIND OF OTHER, UH, MONITORING THAT COMES DOWN THE PACKET.
IF WE APPROVED THIS AS IS, IS IT STRICTLY ANKLE MONITORING OR WHATEVER? UM, THE SECOND WHAT, UH, COUNCILWOMAN ROCKA SAID THE LIABILITY, I MEAN, LITERALLY JUST CAME ACROSS THE WIRE AS FAR AS MM-HMM.
WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT? ARE THERE OTHER LOCATIONS THAT THIRD PARTIES DO THESE MONITORING OR IS IT ALWAYS HANDLED STRICTLY BY THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HANDLES THE MONITORING? THAT'S ONE QUESTION I HAVE RIGHT NOW.
SO THERE ARE POLICE DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE, WHO ACTUALLY PLAY A PART IN THE MONITORING PROCESS.
UM, THERE ARE THIRD PARTY VENDORS WHO PLAY A PART IN THE PROCESS.
AND, UM, JUST TO ANSWER, UH, SOMETHING THAT YOU JUST STATED AS WELL AS, UH, COUNCILWOMAN BANKS, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO THE LIABILITY, I GUESS I'M CONFUSED AND I'M, I'M NOT THE LEGAL PERSON, BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE LIABILITY, THESE ELECTRONIC MONITORING DEVICES WILL NOT BE ISSUED IN LIEU OF ARRESTS OR, OR, OR JAIL STAYS.
IT'S ONLY AS A CONDITION IF THEY ARE ABLE TO MAKE BOND.
SO THEY WILL BE GETTING OUT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY HAVE THIS ANKLE MONITOR OR NOT.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE WANTED TO ADD, I I WILL CON CONCUR.
I WILL CONCUR WITH YOU ON, THEY CAN MAKE BOND AND THEY CAN GET OUT, AND THEY'RE ON THEIR OWN.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE OUT THERE, THEY'RE ON THEIR OWN.
WE, WE DON'T HAVE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEM ON THEIR BOND.
THEY MADE BOND, THEY GOT OUT, THEY MAKE BOND, THEY GET OUT.
YOU SLAP A ANKLE BRACELET ON THE PUBLIC IS EXPECTING YOU
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TO PROTECT THEM BY KNOWING WHERE THEY'RE AT, AT ALL TIMES.AND I THINK THAT'S A HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY FOR US TO TAKE ON OURSELF.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S THIRD PARTY CONTRACTORS THAT DO IT OR WHAT.
SO IF THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE BEHOOVE US TO LET THEM HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND LET THEM BOND OUT.
AND AGAIN, THEY'RE ON THEIR OWN.
THEY'RE NOT UNDER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARISH OR POLICE DEPARTMENT OR WHATEVER ELSE.
UM, I, I JUST, THAT'S A, A BIG OCCURRENCE.
AND ESPECIALLY, AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S SOMEBODY IN FOR, FOR CARJACKING OR, OR, OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, HEAVY CRIMINAL OR SO ON.
SO I, UH, I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO, TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DENY ONLY GOT TWO MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR ALREADY.
SO WE GOTTA GO THROUGH THOSE TWO MOTIONS TO COUNCIL MEMBER HIE.
HEY, I, I SAID THIS BEFORE AND I SAY IT AGAIN.
WE HAVE ABOUT FIVE, SIX, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY COMPANIES ALREADY DOING THIS.
AND THE REASON THAT THIS SOUNDS SO AMAZING IS BECAUSE OF THE WORD AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, WHICH MEANS YOU ARE GIVING A COMPANY $200,000 TO DO SOMETHING AT ANY ONE OF THESE LOCAL COMPANIES.
IF THEY HAD THE SAME $200,000, THEY CAN DO IT FOR FREE TOO.
THEY DON'T NEED TO MAKE MONEY CAUSE YOU ALREADY GAVE IT TO 'EM.
SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO PARTNER, IF WE GOING TO DO THIS THING WITH ANYBODY, WE'RE ONE OF THE LOCAL COMPANIES AND SAY, HEY, THESE MIGHT BE OUR RULES, BUT IF YOU WANNA PLAY BY OUR RULES, WE'LL GIVE YOU SOME MONEY TO GET IT DONE.
YOU GONNA KILL SMALL BUSINESS BY DOING THIS.
AND FOR THAT REASON, I DON'T SUPPORT IT.
UH, PART OF THAT DEFERMENT AND THAT PROCESS OF WHAT I SPOKE OF, OF GOING BACK IN TRYING TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS, THAT WAS AL THAT'S ALREADY BEEN STARTED.
I I'S MY UNDERSTANDING THERE WAS A MEETING ALREADY AMONG THOSE WHO CURRENTLY, UH, PROVIDE THAT SERVICE FOR THE 19TH J D C COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, CAN YOU OUTLINE FOR ME WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE GONNA DO DURING THIS DEFERRAL PERIOD? WHAT, WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC BULLET POINTS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS TO MAKE THE PROPOSAL BETTER OR MORE ACCEPTABLE? UH, ONE, UH, LIKE I SAID, THE COUNCIL WAS VERY, UH, THEIR CONCERN WAS HEARD, AND WE WANTED TO ENSURE.
AND AS I STOOD UP HERE THE LAST TIME, I SAID, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO PROVIDES THE SERVICE, WE JUST WANT THE SERVICE.
UM, AND SO WE ARE, UH, ENGAGING THOSE WHO WILL CURRENTLY PROVIDE THE SERVICE IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THAT CONCERN, UH, ANSWERED.
UM, AS FAR AS THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S OUR MAJOR, UH, THING RIGHT NOW, AS WELL AS PROVIDING AND GETTING THE INFORMATION OUT JUST AS, UH, REVEREND ANDERSON, UH, STATED TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA AND WHAT EX EXACTLY THAT PILOT PROGRAM WILL CONSIST.
THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION I HAD.
UM, I'M GONNA SUPPORT THE EFFORT TO, FOR THE DEFERRAL TONIGHT, BUT I'LL TELL YOU, I I'M READY TO APPROVE IT TONIGHT.
I, YOU KNOW, OUR CONSTITUENTS COME TO US WITH SOME MAJOR ISSUES IN THIS PARISH CRIME RIGHT NOW IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ELECTRONIC MONITORING IN THIS PARISH.
YOU CAN LOOK AT THE, THE NEWS JUST THIS WEEK WHERE WE HAD AN ISSUE WITH, UH, ELECTRONIC MONITORING AND SOMEONE, UM, AND, AND WE KNOW THAT CRIME IS AN ISSUE.
THIS IS A CHANCE FOR THIS COUNCIL TONIGHT TO MOVE THE NEEDLE.
IT, IT BLOWS ME AWAY THAT THERE'S NOT UNANIMOUS, UH, SUPPORT FOR THIS ITEM.
UM, LOOK, IT'S, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION OR, OR WHAT, I MEAN, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE THESE ISSUES, LET'S GET IT DONE.
UM, SO THAT'S ALL I GOTTA SAY.
I THINK, UH, CRIME IS ON THE MINDS OF A LOT OF PEOPLE.
UM, BUT I FEAR THIS MAY BE APPROACHING THAT, UH, WITH A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY.
UM, IN MANY WAYS, AND I THINK, AND I DIDN'T GRAPH THIS WHEN WE FIRST TALKED ABOUT IT, BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TAKING WHAT WOULD BE, UH, MAYBE NOT INTENDED TO BE A PUNITIVE PENALTY, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VIOLENT CRIMINALS PAYING FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE TO PAY FOR THROUGH THESE DOLLARS.
AND SO PART OF, UM, MAYBE TRYING TO PROHIBIT, I'M SORRY, TRYING TO REDUCE THE RECIDIVISM.
MAYBE JUST THE MONETARY PORTION OF HAVING TO CARRY THIS BURDEN OF HAVING THE ELECTRONIC MONITORING, WHICH I THINK COUNCILWOMAN ROCKER SAID IS ABOUT $450 A MONTH.
I'M, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT MAY BE A DETERRENT IN AND OF ITSELF.
AND SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FUNDING SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA PAY FOR IT FOR THEM.
[00:25:01]
KNOW IF THAT'S THE RIGHT APPROACH.UM, I DO THINK THERE ARE ISSUES WITH, WITH THE MONITORING.
UM, I MEAN, WE SEE IT, THEY, THEY HAD, UH, A HEADLINE TODAY ABOUT IT ACTUALLY WHERE A GUY HAD A HOUSE ON FIRE WHO WAS, WHO HAD A, HAD A ANKLE MONITORING.
UM, SO, UH, YEAH, THERE'S ISSUES.
I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO TACKLE AN ISSUE OF CRIME THROUGH THIS.
MAYBE, I, I JUST NOT, I'M NOT SURE.
UM, I THINK PROBABLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS WITH THIS IS BETTER ADDRESSED BY THE COURT SYSTEM.
IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE TRYING TO USE WHAT WE CAN, AND I, AND I DON'T, AND I AGREE THAT'S IMPORTANT.
I'M JUST NOT SURE THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT AVENUE FOR US TO TRY TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT IS MAYBE SOME OF THESE VIOLENT CRIMINALS SHOULDN'T EVEN BE LET OUT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THE WAY, THE WAY THE PUBLIC ADDRESSES THAT IS IN THE VOTING BOOTH WHEN THEY ELECT JUDGES, UH, THAT, THAT'S HOW I SEE THAT BEING HANDLED.
AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT APPROACH FOR THAT.
UM, BEYOND THAT, AS FAR AS THE LIABILITY, I, I'M CERTAINLY NOT AN ATTORNEY, BUT, UM, WE, WE MAY BE BRINGING SOME LIABILITY ON OURSELF IF WE ARE DOING MONITORING, OUR FUNDING MONITORING, I WOULD IMAGINE WE ABSOLUTELY DO NOT HAVE LIABILITY IF WE AREN'T A PART OF IT AT ALL.
YOU KNOW, ANDY, I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING YOU LOOK INTO IT AND I LOVE ALL OF MY GOOD ATTORNEY FRIENDS WHO NEVER GIVE A DIRECT ANSWER.
BUT, UH, AS A NON-ATTORNEY, I CAN TELL YOU I THINK WE HAVE, WE DO NOT HAVE, UH, LIABILITY IF WE DON'T GET INVOLVED WITH IT.
SO, UM, I, I'M, I'M NOT IN SUPPORT OF THIS AS IT STANDS TODAY.
I THINK THE MONEY WOULD MAYBE BE BETTER SPENT ON LOOKING AT POTENTIAL REGULATORY OVERSIGHT OVER THE COMPANIES THAT DO DO THIS JUST TO MAKE SURE, UH, SOME KIND OF AN AUDIT OR, UM, JUST THE SAME WAY WE WE AUDIT ANYTHING.
I MEAN THAT I THINK THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WOULD BE STRUCTURED, BUT THAT MAY BE A BETTER USE OF THESE FUNDS IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS. SPECIFICALLY.
CAN MEMBER DUNN, I WON'T REHASH EVERYTHING I SAID AT THE LAST MEETING, BUT I'M AGAINST THE ITEM AS WRITTEN, UH, FOR MULTIPLE REASONS.
ONE, THERE'S A FREE MARKET THAT ALREADY EXISTS.
PRIVATE SMALL BUSINESSES ALREADY DO THIS, OFFER THIS SERVICE.
IN MY OPINION, THIS IS GOVERNMENT REPLACING THE PRIVATE INDUSTRY, AND I'M NOT IN SUPPORT OF THAT.
UH, MR. DANIEL SPOKE ABOUT THE DEFERRAL REQUEST IS TO HAVE CONVERSATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND THOSE VENDORS TO TALK ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER TO COLLABORATE BECAUSE OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE BROUGHT AT THE LAST MEETING WHERE NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
NOTHING HAS CHANGED TO THE ITEM.
WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO US HAS NOT CHANGED, AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
IN THOSE MEETINGS, IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS, THERE WAS NO COLLABORATION.
THERE WAS NO AWAKENING AND NO NEW DIRECTION ON THIS.
THIS IS SIMPLY GOVERNMENT TRYING TO REPLACE THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
AND FOR THOSE REASONS, I'M AGAINST THIS ITEM.
LET ME FRAME OUR CONVERSATION FOR EVERYONE AT HOME.
THERE WAS A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA.
THERE IS A SECOND MOTION TO DEFER FOR 60 DAYS BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOK, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.
DURING YOUR COMMENTS, COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, YOU SAID YOU WANNA SUPPORT THE DEFER.
SO DOES THAT MEAN YOU'RE GONNA WITHDRAW YOUR MOTION? NO, CUZ I DON'T WANT TO GIVE A CHANCE FOR A MOTION TO DELETE.
SO WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION FIRST, WHICH IS THE MOTION TO DEFER.
WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINES.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE VOTING ON THE MOTION TO DEFER THE ITEM FOR 60 DAYS.
WE NOW GO TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION, WHICH IS TO VOTE ON ITEM TO APPROVE.
WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON A MACHINE WE'RE VOTING TO, MACHINES ARE OPEN.
[51. 22-01319]
ON TO ITEM 51, ESTABLISHING A METROPOLITAN COUNCIL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION ON ISSUES INVOLVING CRIME PREVENTION, CORRECTIONS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, COURT SYSTEM, RECIDIVISM, AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS BY COUNCIL MEMBER JEN ROCKER COUNCIL, UH, I WAS ABOUT TO SAY, COUNCIL MEMBER ANDERSON, REVEREND ANDERSONI LIKE TO THINK I THE HIGHEST FORM OF LIFE AN ENGAGED, INVOLVED CITIZEN.
Y Y'ALL HAD HIS JOB,
[00:30:01]
COUCHED MY, MY COMMENTS IN THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.I WAS ONE OF THE CO-CONVENERS FOR THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SPECIALTY, UH, COURT TASK FORCE FOR THE 19TH J D C, AND SPENT OVER TWO YEARS WORKING WITH THE COURT AND STAKEHOLDERS ON THE VIABILITY.
I AM THE CHAIR OF THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH COMMITTEE FOR THE LOUISIANA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, WORKING STATEWIDE WITH MAJOR PROVIDERS.
AND I SAY ALL OF THAT TO SAY THIS, I DO NOT COME TO THIS WORK A AS A CONFUSED CITIZEN WHO NEEDS TO BE TOLD WHAT THE ISSUES ARE.
BUT ONE OF MY CONCERNS ABOUT THIS TOPIC, AND I SAID IT LAST WEEK, WAS THAT WE DID NOT HAVE A, A FRAMEWORK OF WHAT THIS COMMITTEE WOULD BE.
AND THAT CONTINUES TO BE A CONCERN THAT I'VE MADE, UH, CLEAR TO, TO THE, UH, THE COUNCIL THAT I FEEL LIKE WHEN THESE PROPOSALS ARE PUT FORTH, THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE DOCUMENTATION WHEN YOU CLICK ON THE BUTTON THAT SAYS DOCUMENTATION OR LEGISLATION AND SOME IDEAL OF WHAT IT IS WE ARE EVEN DECIDING ON.
AND SO I HAVE SPOKEN TO, UH, COUNCILWOMAN ROCKA.
I'VE MADE MY CONCERNS NOW, AND I HAVE SUBSTANTIAL CONCERNS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST IMPACTED, AND I DO MEAN THAT IN TERMS OF COMMUNITIES, THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN ZIP CODES THAT ARE FAR MORE IMPACTED BY CHOICES ON PUBLIC SAFETY THAN OTHERS.
THERE ARE CERTAIN POPULATIONS THAT ARE MORE IMPACTED BY PUBLIC SAFETY POLICIES THAN OTHERS.
THERE ARE SOME FAMILIES THAT ARE MORE IMPACTED BY PUBLIC SAFETY POLICY.
I HAVE SPENT A GOOD DEAL OF MY LIFE WORKING ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
I JUST SAT IN A COURTROOM WHERE ONE OF THE MOST HIDEOUS SITUATIONS I'VE EVER SEEN, I HAVE BROUGHT FORTH FOR MONTHS SOME ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON IN TERMS OF WHAT WE ARE DOING.
AND SO I SAY, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE COUNCIL, WE MUST START ASKING THE PEOPLE CLOSEST TO THESE ISSUES WHAT IT IS THAT THEY ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT.
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE ARE LOTS OF STAKEHOLDERS, BUT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SHOULD HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE PRIOR TO THE CITIZENS IN EACH OF YOUR DISTRICTS.
AND SO WHATEVER YOU DO WITH THIS PARTICULAR COMMITTEE, I WILL BE VERY HONEST.
I HAVE NEVER STEPPED AWAY FROM THE TABLE BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND I BELIEVE THE CITIZENS GET TO BE HEARD, WHETHER IT IS THROUGH THIS MODEL OR THROUGH A DIFFERENT MODEL.
BUT I DO HAVE CONCERNS THAT THE STAKEHOLDERS WHO ARE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE WORK, WHO ARE IN THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WORK, WHO ARE IN THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ARENA, THE FAMILIES THAT ARE REPRESENTING GRANDPARENTS, RAISING GRANDCHILDREN AND OTHER GROUPS NEED TO BE AT THE TABLE OF PREPARATION, IMPLEMENTATION.
NOT AFTER SOMETHING IS DONE AND NOT AFTER THE AGENDA IS SET.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 51? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 51 WHEN WE GO NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKA? ALL RIGHT.
WE SAW WITH ITEM 50, UM, THAT WE COULD USE A COUPLE MORE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIME, AND WE ALSO SAW HOW MUCH TIME THAT TOOK UP.
UM, AND THAT WAS JUST ONE ITEM.
SO I FORMED THIS COMMITTEE BECAUSE LOTS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE COMMITTEE, THE COMMUNITY, HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND IN PARTICULAR, VIOLENT CRIME BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN GATHERING TO DISCUSS WHAT COULD BE DONE.
THIS COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
WE'LL HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE ALONG WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS.
WE WANT TO OFFER OUR SUPPORT AND HELP AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY OF CITY PARISH.
WE CAN ASSIST WITH GETTING DATA, RESEARCHING DIFFERENT ORDINANCES THAT MAY NEED TO BE TWEAKED, DELETED ARE SOME THAT NEED TO BE WRITTEN.
WE GET TO UNPACK IDEAS FOR FUNDING NEEDS THROUGHOUT THE CITY FOR ALL OF OUR AGENCIES.
SIMPLY PUT, I'M REQUESTING THIS COMMITTEE BE CREATED SO WE CAN USE THE RESOURCES AT OUR DISPOSAL TO SUPPORT ANY COMPREHENSION COMPREHENSIVE COALITION THAT SEEMS TO BE BEGINNING TO BE FORMED.
WE WANT TO STAND UNITED WITH BUSINESS, NONPROFIT, OUR COMMUNITY, AND OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
THIS MORNING, CONGRESSMAN GRAVES AND BRAF PRESIDENT CHRIS MYERS SPOKE AT BUSINESS REPORT LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST.
THEY REITERATED THAT ONE PERSON OR ONE ENTITY CANNOT SOLVE THESE COMPLEX ISSUES.
THIS COMMITTEE WILL NOT STOP VIOLENT CRIME, BUT WE WILL NOT SIT BY AND WE SHOULD BE A PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH ACROSS ALL SECTORS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
[00:35:01]
THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL HAVE A SEAT AT THESE TABLES, AND THEN WE CAN HAVE, AFTER WE SIT AT THESE TABLES, WE CAN HAVE OPEN MEETINGS, WE CAN HAVE MEETINGS WITH THE PUBLIC WHERE WE CAN HAVE EXTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH WHAT OUR PLANS ARE.WE CAN CREATE, THINK TAKES PEOPLE THAT ARE PART OF PROGRAMS, PEOPLE THAT ARE PART OF, UM, BOTH NONPROFITS AND FOR-PROFITS CAN COME TO THESE MEETINGS AND WE CAN HAVE THESE OPEN CONVERSATIONS AND OPEN DIALOGUES.
WE CAN'T DO THAT AND HAVE THIS MEETING THAT GOES ON FOR HOURS ON END BECAUSE THERE'S OTHER CITY BUSINESS THAT HAS TO TAKE PLACE, BUT WE CAN DO IT BY CREATING THIS COMMITTEE.
UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ANY CHANGE THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO MAKE IF WE CAN MAKE ONE SIMPLE CHANGE.
I THINK THIS COMMITTEE HAS REACHED THEIR GOAL.
UM, SO WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
AND ASHLEY, HOW DO WE CREATE, IF YOU ARE READY TO, UM, MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND, UM, APPOINT THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE? YOU CAN.
OR IF YOU MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE TONIGHT AND NEED TO COME BACK, YOU CAN HAVE, UH, ANOTHER ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
I'M OKAY TO APPOINT THE MEMBERS.
I'M OKAY WITH APPOINTING THE MEMBERS TONIGHT.
UM, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE DISCUSSIONS AND THEN OTHERS THAT WANT TO SIT ON THE COMMITTEE.
UM, AND IF THERE'S ANYBODY THAT I MISSED, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LET ME KNOW.
BUT TO START THE COMMITTEE, UM, LAMONT COLE, ME, JEN ROCKA, CAROLYN COLEMAN, DARRELL HURST, LORI ADAMS, ERIN MOTE, AND ROWDY GOK.
BUT I MUST SAY EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER IS INTERESTED.
WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE A COMMITTEE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE OUR QUORUM WHENEVER WE DO MEET IN PUBLIC, IN PUBLIC FORUMS THOUGH, CAN YOU REPEAT THE MEMBERS? MAKE SURE I'VE GOT IT.
LAMONT COLE, MYSELF, JEN ROCKA, CAROLYN COLEMAN, DARYL HURST.
LORI ADAMS, AARON MOOCH, AND ROWDY GO DAY.
IS THERE A SECOND? SO MOVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOK.
WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.
UM, I WAS JUST, JUST LOOKING AT THE, UM, THE, THE VARIED SUBJECT AREAS, I GUESS YOU, FOR LACK.
AND I'M THINKING ABOUT WHAT, WHAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS.
AND USUALLY, UH, WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, IT'S BASICALLY ALL THE WORK THAT GOES INTO FIRST RESPONDING.
UM, WHETHER IT'S THE, YOU KNOW, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, EMS, UM, FIRE, FIRE.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST TRYING TO, I I DO AGREE WITH, UM, REVEREND ANDERSON BECAUSE WHAT THE, WHAT IS DEFINED AS PUBLIC SAFETY AND WHAT THE ISSUES THAT ARE BEING LISTED DON'T REALLY GO TOGETHER.
AND THEN ALSO, UM, I, IT, IT, IT'S, IT'S KIND OF LIKE A GUMBO BECAUSE I MEAN, CRIME, CRIME PREVENTION, CRIME CRIME PREVENTION ITSELF IS, UH, IS VARIED.
THEN CORRECTIONS, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE JAIL SYSTEM? UM, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MENTAL HEALTH.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S SUCH A GUMBO.
I DON'T SEE HOW IT'S GONNA BE EFFECTIVE.
UM, THE COURT SYSTEM, WE DEFINITELY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF INFLUENCE WITH THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT AGAINST IT.
I JUST DON'T, BECAUSE THERE IS NO INDICATED FRAMEWORK.
AND THIS IS SO VARIED AND IN SOME WAYS DON'T REALLY CONNECT.
UM, I'M JUST WONDERING ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF IT.
I, I ASKED TO BE PUT ON IT, AND I'LL GIVE YOU A, MY REASONS THAT I ASKED TO BE PUT ON THIS, AND WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT IS YOU TAKE ANY ORDINANCES AND LAWS ON THE BOOKS, AND YOU GO THROUGH TIME AND YOU, AND, AND WHENEVER THE LAWS WERE WRITTEN AND SO ON, THINGS CHANGE, TIMES CHANGE.
I THINK WHAT THIS COMMITTEE CAN BRING TO THE TABLE AND WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC OR ANY OTHER AGENCIES OR WHATEVER ELSE.
WHEN WE HAVE OUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER COMMITTEE MEETINGS, UH, COUNCILWOMAN ROCCA SAID, IF WE NEED TO CHANGE ORDINANCES, IF WE NEED TO SET OTHER GUIDELINES, IF WE NEED TO BRING, TAKE STUFF OFF THE BOOKS, PUT STUFF ON THE BOOKS, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE THE POWER TO DO AS A COUNCIL.
UM, AS FAR AS THE JUDGES GOES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WHAT WE SET IN, IN ORDINANCE AND IN PENALTIES AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, I, I GUESS A JUDGE CAN JUST SAY, WELL, I'M JUST GONNA DO THIS ANYWAY.
OR THEY CAN FOLLOW THE ORDINANCES AND RULES AND GUIDELINES.
AND IF THOSE NEED CHANGING, IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN DO AT EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL MEETING.
WE CAN'T GO, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE PEOPLE GET TOGETHER AND SAY, OKAY, I WANNA CHANGE THIS LAW.
LET'S GET, BRING EVERYBODY TO THE TABLE.
[00:40:01]
DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S BEING LEFT OUT FROM A COMMUNITY STAKE INPUT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.WHEN WE HAVE THESE MEETINGS, THEY'LL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
ANY INPUT WOULD BE MORE THAN WELCOME, I THINK.
I THINK YOU WOULD BE GREAT FOR EVERY ORGANIZATION TO SHOW UP.
AND WE HAVE JUST AS MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE SITTING OUT HERE RIGHT NOW AT THESE COMMITTEE, COME TO THESE COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND BRING IN INPUT ON THE TOPICS THAT WE NEEDED TO, TO, TO NAIL DOWN TO HELP BRING THIS CRIME RATE IN.
YOU'VE SEEN MANY MEETINGS OVER PROBABLY THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, ALMOST SOME OF THEM REPEATING THEMSELVES OF CERTAIN GROUPS, GETTING TOGETHER AND SAYING, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA, SO ON AND SO FORTH.
AND I APPRECIATE THE INVITE TO THOSE MEDIA GATHERINGS AND EVERYTHING, UH, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER.
BUT, BUT WE HAVE NO TECHNICAL INPUT FROM A COUNCIL STANDPOINT.
WE'RE GIVEN TO COUNCIL MORE INPUT INTO THE CRIME AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
IT GOES BACK TO WHAT, UM, COUNCILMAN HUDSON SAID EARLIER.
YOU KNOW, ARE WE, ARE WE FOCUSING OUR INPUT ON CRIME? AND, AND REALLY SURPRISED THAT, UM, WE DIDN'T PASS THE OTHER ORDINANCE OR SO ON.
I THINK THIS IS A STEP AND EVEN WORKING WITH THAT AND NAILING SOME OF THOSE THINGS DOWN TO SHOW AND DO WHAT THE COUNCIL CAN TO HELP REDUCE THE CRIME AND, AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S HAPPENING IN EAST BAT ROUGE PARISH.
SO I WOULD ASK EACH COUNCIL MEMBER TO HELP SUPPORT THIS AND WE MOVE FORWARD WITH WORKING WITH EVERYONE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROBIN, I'M SORRY THAT IT SEEMS OVERLY VAGUE, BUT I CAN TRY TO CLEAR SOME OF THAT UP.
I THINK WHENEVER YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, YOU CAN'T LOOK AT IT IN A VACUUM, AND YOU CAN'T LOOK AT IT AS AN INDI INDIVIDUAL ITEM, SIMPLY BECAUSE WHENEVER YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, ALL OF THESE THINGS WORK AS COGS IN A LARGE WILL, AND THEY HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WHENEVER WE SEE CORRECTIONS, WE HAD JUVENILE JUSTICE SERVICES PROVIDE US INFORMATION WITH REGARD TO THEIR BUDGET LATE LAST YEAR, UM, WE LEARNED OF SOME DEFICIENCIES THAT THEY HAD AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE WORKING ON.
WELL, WE CAN'T LOOK AT JUVENILE COURT SYSTEMS WITHOUT LOOKING AT OUR ADULT COURT SYSTEMS WITHOUT SEEING THE RELATION THERE AND TALKING ABOUT RECIDIVISM.
IT IS OUR JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING THERE, KEEPING YOUNG OFFENDERS FROM BECOMING OLDER OFFENDERS, REPEAT OFFENDERS.
THEN LET'S LOOK AT OUR COURT SYSTEMS. SO WE DO CONTROL THE BUDGET, AND I THINK THAT WE VOTED ON PAY RAISES FOR JUDGES BEFORE.
SO IF WE TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AND SEE, HEY, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT BONDING ISSUES AND WE TALKED ABOUT PEOPLE WITH ANKLE MONITORS.
WHAT IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MAGISTRATE JUDGES OR ENOUGH POSITIONS IN THE 19 J D C TO BE ABLE TO SET THE ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF BONDS TO LOOK AT EVERY BOND FILE THOROUGHLY? AND MAYBE WE NEED TO CREATE A NEW POSITION.
SO THAT'S A QUESTION THAT WE COULD ASK OURSELVES JUST SIMPLY BY LOOKING AT IT HERE TONIGHT.
SO WE'VE CUT UP COVERED COURT SYSTEMS, RECIDIVISM.
UM, LET'S TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SITTING HERE TONIGHT, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH ENERGY.
HOW MANY LIGHTS DO YOU REGULARLY SEE OUT, OUT THAT HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED? HOW MANY LIGHTS OR AREAS DO WE SEE THAT POTENTIALLY NEED LIGHTS? YOU'RE GONNA SEE INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGES THAT WE HAVE, THAT WE WORKED ON, UM, AND THAT WE HAVE MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS GOING UP IN EVERYBODY'S DISTRICT LATER TONIGHT.
SO THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE CAN FOCUS ON BY EDUCATING OURSELVES THROUGH THIS COMMITTEE, SEEING WHERE WE NEED ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR LIGHTING FOR, UH, SIDEWALK CROSSING FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PERSPECTIVE.
SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS FOR US TO LOOK AT THIS.
UM, SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES, WE TALKED ABOUT IN DEPTH, THE HOMELESS SITUATION THAT WE HAD AND MANY PROGRAMS, WE HAD MANY FOLKS COME IN AND TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY OUT.
UM, AND THE, THE WORK THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS DOING TO HELP COMBAT PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING HOMELESSNESS ISSUES WILL OFTENTIMES WE'LL SEE THAT THE SU SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE HAVE ARE A DIRECT CORRELATION TO THEIR HOMELESS ISSUE.
SO THAT'S WHERE SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES COME IN.
UM, SO IT, IT ALL WORKS TOGETHER.
UM, YOU CAN'T PIECEMEAL IT AND YOU CAN'T TAKE IT OUT, UM, AND TAKE ONE, ONE ITEM OUT WITHOUT HAVING AN IMPACT, AN IMPACT ON THE OTHER.
SO MY HOPE IS THAT THIS COMMITTEE CAN LOOK AT ALL OF THESE ISSUES AND AS THEY COME UP AND AS WE HAVE CONSTITUENTS, EACH OF US REPRESENT ABOUT 38,000 FOLKS.
AS WE, AS WE HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAVE IDEAS THAT HAVE, THAT WILL ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE, MUCH LIKE REVEREND ANDERSON.
UM, THEY CAN COME AND TALK TO US AND SAY,
[00:45:01]
THESE ARE THE ISSUES THAT WE SEE IN THIS DISTRICT.HOW CAN WE COMBAT THAT? THESE ARE THE PROBLEMS THAT WE SEE.
THIS, THIS COMMITTEE WILL WORK ON THOSE ITEMS COUPLED WITH OUR PARTNERS THAT HAVE INVITED US TO THE TABLE TO LOOK AT, UM, SOME OTHER ISSUES.
SO I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE WITH THIS COMMITTEE.
AND I, I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE POSITIVE CHANGES THAT WE MAKE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, THERE IS A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 51.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO APPROVE ITEM 51? THE ITEM CARRIES.
[52. 23-00028]
AMENDING AND READOPTING ORDINANCE 1 16 6 78, KNOWN AS A SOLID WASTE USER FEE ORDINANCE TO SOLE AMEND SECTION TWO DEFINITION, SECTION TWO, USER FEES AND COLLECTION DISPOSALS ESTABLISHED OTHER SECTIONS TO BE EFFECTIVE MARCH 1ST, 2023.AND REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES AND CONFLICT WITH HERE WITH AND TO PROVIDE AN EFFECT THEREOF, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 52? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL.
YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL, COMMENT AND OPPOSITION TO ITEM 52.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE OR THE LINE P COUNCIL MEMBER HU.
MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MO SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
COUNCIL HUDSON? YEAH, I, I JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY, YOU KNOW, PUT OUT THERE, UM, I WANNA THANK THE ADMINISTRATION FOR LOOKING INTO THE ONCE A WEEK SERVICE OPTION.
UM, I KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE ENDED UP APPROVING IN THE CONTRACT, BUT, UH, I DO THINK THAT THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA.
I THINK IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY SHOULD HAVE LOOKED INTO THOROUGHLY.
I, I HAVE A LOT OF HEARTBURN, UH, ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE FEE FOR A SERVICE THAT, UH, FOR THE SECOND SERVICE DAY THAT 60% OF THE RESIDENTS DON'T USE.
UM, SO I UNDERSTAND WE'VE ALREADY GONE WITH THE CONTRACT THE WAY IT IS.
I, I, I DON'T WANT TO MESS THAT UP OR ANYTHING, BUT, UM, I, I JUST WANTED TO LEND SOME KIND OF VOICE TO THE RESIDENTS OUT THERE THAT ARE SAYING THIS INCREASE, UH, IS, IS VERY HARD TO SWALLOW.
COUNCILMAN ADAMS? UM, I JUST WANNA ECHO, UM, COUNCILMAN HUDSON'S, UH, COMMENTS.
UM, I'M, I'M NORMALLY, UM, IN ALIGNMENT WITH MY DISTRICT, UM, AND, AND I'M REALLY STRUGGLING AT THIS TIME.
UM, I'VE HEARD FROM A, A NUMBER OF, UM, SENIOR CITIZENS, UM, PEOPLE WHO LIVE ALONE, UM, PEOPLE WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, SINGLE PARENTS, UM, THAT THEY, THEY WOULD PREFER ONCE A WEEK, UM, THAT THAT IS MORE AFFORDABLE FOR THEIR BUDGET.
UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, COSTS ARE RISING, UM, ENERGY COSTS ARE RISING.
UM, THEIR, THEIR GROCERY COSTS ARE RISING.
AND, UM, AND THEY CAN, THEY CAN MANAGE THEIR HOUSEHOLD, UM, WITH, WITH ONCE A WEEK GARBAGE SERVICE.
AND, UM, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE BEING ASKED, UM, TO PAY FOR TWICE A WEEK SERVICE, UM, BY THE, THE LESSER NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE PARISH THAT, THAT, UM, BELIEVE THEY NEED OR REQUIRE, UM, A, YOU KNOW, GREATER GARBAGE SERVICE.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN I, WHEN I LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF COMMENTS AND EMAILS I'VE GOTTEN, UM, YOU KNOW, MY DISTRICT HAS CERTAINLY ADVOCATED FOR TWICE A WEEK.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, THIS TOO IS, IS DIFFICULT FOR ME BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THIS, UM, INCREASE, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF US THAT, YOU KNOW, EXTRA EIGHT OR $10 A MONTH IN THE BIG DEAL.
BUT FOR THE PEOPLE, UM, THAT IT'S A BIG DEAL FOR, IT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL.
COUNCIL MEMBER A I HAVE TO, UH, AGREE WITH BOTH OF THESE.
UM, I'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT AS WELL.
THEY ARE, THEY'RE ON LIMITED BUDGETS.
THEY'RE STRUGGLING AS IT IS, AND FOR THEM TO PAY THIS INCREASE IS GONNA BE A WHOLE LOT, UM, FOR THEM TO HANDLE.
AND AS, UH, COUNCILMAN DWIGHT, I BELIEVE HUDSON SAID THAT YOU'VE GOT, UH, PEOPLE PAYING FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY DON'T NEED OR THAT THEY DON'T WANT.
AND I HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME WITH THAT.
UM, THE DAY AFTER WE, UM, WE APPROVED THE, THE CONTRACT, I WALKED MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND MY SERVICE IS ON MONDAY AND THURSDAY.
SO I'LL WALK MY NEIGHBORHOOD THURSDAY.
I BET YOU THERE WERE FOUR GARBAGE CANS SITTING OUT THAT NEXT DAY WAITING TO BE PICKED UP.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ASKING FOR 60% OF THE PEOPLE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH TO PAY FOR 40% OF THE PEOPLE TO GET THEIR CAR GARBAGE PICKED UP TWICE A WEEK.
SO ANYWAY, I'M HAVING A HARD TIME WITH IT AS WELL.
UM, I KNOW IT'S WHERE WE'RE AT, BUT, UM, I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK FOR THOSE THAT ARE ON LIMITED BUDGETS.
YEAH, LOOK, WHEN I THINK WHEN WE ALL GOT THE PAPER, ALL, ALL GOT THE PAPERWORK AND WE SAW THE $5 A MONTH INCREASE
[00:50:01]
AFTER 10 YEARS OF, OF SERVICE AND, AND WE, WE MADE THE JUMP TO THE ONE DAY A WEEK AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS, I WAS ALL ON BOARD FOR THE ONE DAY A WEEK AND THE CALLS THAT I GOT AND EVERYTHING, AND THIS IS ONE THING I'VE SAID IN PUBLIC MEETINGS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, YOU, YOU WOULD'VE TH THOUGHT THAT THE EAST BAPTIST PARISH IS GONNA HAVE TO CANCEL CRAWFISH SEASON BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO PUT THEIR STUFF FOR ONE DAY A WEEK.AND GOD FORBID THAT IT, IT SITS OUT THERE AND THE PHONE CALLS THE EMAILS, OH, I NEED MY TWO DAYS A WEEK.
BECAUSE EVEN WITH THE FIVE DAYS A WEEK, AND THEY, THEY WANT THAT EXTRA PICKUP, THEN THEY GOT $7 ON TOP OF THAT PER MONTH TO GET AN EXTRA GARBAGE CAN, WHICH THE CRAWFISH STILL HAS TO SIT OUT THERE FOR A WEEK.
SO, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE UPSET ABOUT THAT ALREADY.
I, THE, THE, THE BIG BENEFIT THAT HIT ME WAS, IF Y'ALL REMEMBER, THE ORIGINAL PRICE I THINK WAS 20 ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE.
CAN YOU CORRECT ME ON THIS? WAS $28 FOR THE, FOR THE ONE DAY A WEEK, 28, 28, 50 AND 28.
SOME CHANGE FOR THE ONE DAY A WEEK.
WE SAW THE TWO DAY A WEEK TO CONTINUE THE SAME SERVICES AND EVERYTHING FOR, UM, 35.
I BELIEVE IT WAS RIGHT AT 39, HUH? $38 AND SOME CHANGE, RIGHT AT ALMOST $39.
WE GOT TO THAT COUNCIL MEETING AND IT CAME DOWN TO $35 AND 26 CENTS.
NOW WHERE THAT NUMBER GOT OUT THERE, IT WAS, I DON'T KNOW HOW IT GOT OUT THERE.
I DIDN'T ASK TO HAVE IT REDUCED.
I WAS GOING BY THE NUMBERS THAT WE WERE GIVEN, BUT THEY, BUT THEY AGREED TO DO THE 35 26.
SO NOW YOU'RE AT $28 AND SOME CHA 28 AND SOME CHANGE PLUS $7 FOR AN EXTRA CAN.
WE CAN CONTINUE TO TWO DAY SERVICE FOR LESS THAN GETTING AN EXTRA CAN PEOPLE HAVING TO GET THE EXTRA CAN.
SO YOU, YOU KNOW, ANYTIME CITY PARISH RENEGOTIATES ANY CONTRACT AND THERE'S ANY KIND OF INCREASE, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SERVICE IT IS THERE, THERE'S GOING TO ALWAYS BE THAT MOMENT WHERE YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
DO WE CONTINUE SERVICES? I LOOKED AT PLENTY OF THINGS THAT I THOUGHT WAS GOING TO ENHANCE WITH THE 35 26 2 DAY A WEEK SERVICE.
I LIKE THE, THE, THE PENALTY PHASE.
I HOPE THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY A BUNCH IN PENALTIES,
UM, I LIKE THE NEW TRUCK THING.
I'M NOT NECESSARILY AIRE AGREEING WITH BUYING 'EM AFTER SEVEN YEARS.
I THINK THAT'S A COST THAT MAY HAVE, COULD HAVE BEEN, COULD HAVE BEEN REDUCED.
THEY COULD HAVE MADE THE WHOLE IF THEY DID THE PLUS ONE, PLUS ONE PLUS ONE TO THREE EXTRA YEARS AND THEN BOUGHT NEW TRUCKS, BUT THAT WAS IN THE CONTRACT.
SO I THINK FOR WHAT WE'VE DONE AND WHAT THE CITIZENS ARE WANTING, UM, I THINK WE'VE GOT A, A GOOD DEAL ON THE TABLE NOW.
I THINK WHAT THE CITIZENS WANT US TO DO THAT IF WE GO WITH THIS INCREASE, WHETHER IT'S $5 OR OR THE OTHER, WHATEVER WE INCREASE, I THINK THEY WANT ACCOUNTABILITY FROM US.
I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE THE MAIN THING IN THIS PRICE INCREASE IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE COUNCIL, FROM EAST PAT ROUGE PARISH FROM REPUBLIC, THAT THEY DO THE SERVICES.
WE KNOW WE'VE HAD OUR HIGHS AND LOWS WITH, WITH COMPLAINTS.
YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID LAST TIME, I'VE HAD TIMES WHERE WE'VE GOTTEN NO COMPLAINTS AND I'VE GOTTEN NERVOUS ABOUT IT.
I'M LIKE, OKAY, DO THEY JUST NOT WANT TO CALL ANYMORE OR SOMETHING? THEN WE GOT TIMES WHERE AFTER THANKSGIVING THEY'RE CALLING ME TO COME PICK UP THEIR GARBAGE THEMSELVES AND HAUL IT OFF.
SO I'M HOPING WITH THE NEW CONTRACT ACCOUNTABILITY AND EVERYTHING, AND WITH THE PRICE INCREASE, WE CAN SHOW WHERE WE'RE GOING AND IMPROVE A QUALITY SERVICE.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER NOEL.
UM, SO, UH, I TEND TO AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN MOK AND I DON'T DISAGREE WITH EVERYBODY ELSE WHO'S SPOKEN.
UM, BUT FOR ME A BIG PART WAS ORIGINALLY THINKING THAT 38, UH, SOME ODD NUMBER AND REALIZING WHEN, WHEN WE SAT DOWN AND SAW 35, 23, REALIZING THAT THE PRICE OF ONCE A WEEK PLUS A SECOND CARD WAS ACTUALLY MORE EXPENSIVE THAN JUST STAYING TWICE A WEEK.
UM, AND, AND, AND LIKE COUNCILMAN MOG SAID, WE WERE RECEIVING JUST TONS AND TONS OF EMAILS OF PEOPLE SAYING, WE CAN'T DO ONCE A WEEK, WE NEED TWICE A WEEK.
AND JUST IN GENERAL, I'VE GOT A, YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT THREE KIDS, I'VE GOT FIVE KIDS AND, YOU KNOW, UM, UH, SO I, AND I'M THAT WAY NOW.
I DON'T ALWAYS USE TWICE A WEEK, BUT I KIND OF STARTED REALLY REFLECTING ON WHAT I DO.
AND THEN I DO USE TWICE A WEEK SOMETIMES.
SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I COULD USE A THIRD WEEK, I'M TOO TWICE A WEEK AND OUT OF CARD.
SO IT JUST KIND OF DEPENDS ON WHAT'S GOING ON.
IT DEPENDS ON IF KIDS ARE HOME, IF THEY'RE OFF OF SCHOOL, I MEAN, THAT KIND OF THING.
SO, UM, POINT BEING, WE, WE KNOW WE CANNOT SOLVE, UH, IT CAN'T BE PERFECT FOR EVERYONE.
AND SO I AGREE, UH, COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A
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HUNDRED PERCENT PAYING FOR SOMETHING THAT ONLY 40% USE.WELL, UH, I THINK I'VE MENTIONED TO THIS Y'ALL PLENTY OF TIME.
WE HAVE THAT EXACT SAME, WE HAVE A HUNDRED PERCENT PAYING FOR 40% WHO RECYCLE TOO.
SO IF Y'ALL WANT TO VISIT, UH, JUST REMOVING RECYCLING, WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION ANY TIME.
BUT I THINK I'VE BROUGHT THAT UP TO Y'ALL AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WELCOME IT, IT IS, BUT I HAVE NO PROBLEM UNDOING THAT COMPLETELY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF SAVINGS FOR EVERYBODY, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER SCENARIO WHERE WE HAVE JUST 40% OF PEOPLE RECYCLING, BUT A HUNDRED PERCENT OF US PAY FOR IT.
SO, UM, I DON'T REMEMBER THAT BEING ON THE TABLE, BUT IF Y'ALL WANT TO, WE CAN BRING IT UP AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO LEAVE THAT DISCUSSION AT ANY TIME.
UH, SHOW ME AS I'VE STAINING ON 52 AND 53, WE'VE DONE BUSINESS WITH PUBLICAN IN THE PAST.
UH, WHEN THESE, UH, OPTIONS WAS PRESENTED TO US IN THE VERY BEGINNING, I WAS AGAINST ONE DAY A WEEK, UH, WHEN THEY PRESENTED IT TO US.
GOT A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM MY DISTRICT AND PEOPLE AROUND THE CITY THAT WANTED TO HOLD ON TO THE DU TWO DAYS A WEEK FOR MANY OF THE REASONS THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN MO MENTIONED MANY OF THE REASONS THAT COUNCIL MANNO