Feb 08, 2023 Metropolitan Council

LET'S GET A BIG SMILE FROM EVERYBODY RIGHT THIS WAY UP, BECAUSE I HAVE SOME DISTRICT, ANDREA.

BIG SMILE FROM EVERYBODY.

LOOK STRAIGHT THIS WAY.

UM, WE'LL BE TAKING A GROUP PHOTO WITH ALL SPONSORS AND PARTNERS IN 2 25 FEST VENDORS RIGHT HERE IN THE FOYER.

IF YOU CAN JOIN US IN THE FOYER.

CONGRATULATIONS, MAYER.

CONGRATULATIONS, ALL OF YOU.

KEEP UP THE EXCELLENT WORK.

HOPE IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY.

FEBRUARY 2ND, 2 25.

MAY WE HAVE A FESTIVE OPPORTUNITY.

ALL RIGHT, WE GONNA CELEBRATE 2 25 ON FEBRUARY 25TH, NOT TODAY, RIGHT? FEBRUARY 25TH, NOT TODAY.

IN OTHER WORDS, Y'ALL GOING OUT IN THE HALLWAY, MOVE WITH A PURPOSE.

NEXT WE WILL HAVE MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTERN BROOM, METRO COUNCIL MEMBER ROWDY GOE AND POLICE CHIEF MURPHY PAUL, TO RECOGNIZE THE BAT BATARDS POLICE DEPARTMENT RECRUITING STAFF MAYOR, PRESIDENT .

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, IT IS CERTAINLY, UH, GOOD FOR US TO, UH, ALWAYS ACKNOWLEDGE AND SHED LIGHT, UH, WHEN POSITIVE THINGS ARE HAPPENING WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENTS.

AND CERTAINLY, UM, THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN, UH, WORKING TO, UH, CHANGE AND IMPROVE, UH, THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS, WHETHER IT'S INNOVATION, WHETHER IT'S TECHNOLOGY, WHETHER IT'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

UH, WHEN I CAME IN OFFICE, UH, RECRUITING AND STAFFING CERTAINLY, UH, WAS AN ISSUE.

AND IT STILL IS AN ISSUE THAT IMPACTS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

NEW CHALLENGES IN THE 21ST CENTURY, INCLUDING A GREATER NUMBER OF PEOPLE RETIRING AND INCREASED COMPETITION HAVE COMBINED TO MAKE THE CHALLENGES MORE ACUTE.

AND WHILE MANY AGENCIES CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE CHALLENGES, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CERTAINLY MOVING FORWARD WITH INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO ATTRACT QUALIFIED CANDIDATES COMMITTED TO A LIFE OF PUBLIC SERVICE.

UM, TODAY WE ARE GOING TO, UH, RECOGNIZE MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL IN THEIR RECRUITING EFFORTS, UH, FOR THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND HAVE REALLY, UH, BEEN ESSENTIAL IN HELPING US MOVE BEYOND A CONSENT DECREE THAT WE WERE ONCE UNDER.

UH, SO I JUST WANT TO FIRST THANK, UH, SERGEANT DARREN AHED AND THE BATON ROUGE, UH, PD RECRUITING STAFF SERGEANT.

YOU WANNA STEP UP FRONT SO THEY CAN SEE WHO YOU ARE.

OUR SPECIAL GUESTS WHO ARE HERE TODAY.

UH, IN ADDITION, UM, HIS STAFF, HE CAN RECOGNIZE THEM INDIVIDUALLY, BUT WE ALL, WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR, UH, DEDICATION AND FOR BEING AN ASSET TO IMPROVING.

AND I'M GOING TO LET WE, WE'VE, WE'VE GOT SOME, UM, SPECIAL FOLKS WHO ARE HERE, BUT I'M GOING TO DEFER TO COUNCILMAN GODDE AND TO OUR POLICE CHIEF TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF

[00:10:01]

COUNCILMAN GODDE.

WOULD YOU HAVE 'EM ALL MOVED DOWN SO WE CAN SEE 'EM ALL? SOME OF 'EM ARE HIDING BEHIND THE, YOU JUST MADE THAT REQUEST VERY EFFECTIVELY.

AND THANK YOU, MAYOR.

SO, TODAY WE'RE GONNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE EFFORTS OF, UH, SOME OF THE OFFICERS AND RECRUITING STAFF, UH, WHO HELP MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES TO TRANSFORM THE CULTURE, CHANGE THE HIRING PRACTICES, UH, AND ULTIMATELY, YES, GET THE DEPARTMENT OUT FROM UNDER THAT CONSENT DECREE.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE'RE RECOGNIZE THE EFFORTS THAT SINCE 2019, WHEN THE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE CONSENT DECREE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO SERVE AS A MODEL OF RECRUITING TO REPRESENT THE MAKEUP OF THE COMMUNITY THAT IT SERVES.

SO LET ME SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE STATISTICS.

SO SINCE THE DEPARTMENT'S 2019 RELEASED FROM THAT CONSENT DECREE, THE YEAR'S 20 20, 21, 22, 2 ACADEMIES HAVE BEEN HELD EACH YEAR IN 20 20, 50 9% OF THE RECRUITS IN THOSE TWO ACADEMIES WERE EITHER FEMALE OR WERE OF A MINORITY RACE.

IN 20 21, 70 5% OF THE RECRUITS IN THOSE TWO ACADEMIES IN THAT YEAR FELL UNDER THOSE SAME DEMOGRAPHICS.

AND IN 20 22, 2 ACADEMIES HELD FEMALE AND MINORITY RACES, 80% AND 79% RESPECTIVELY.

SO YOU CAN SEE THE EFFORTS NOT ONLY TO COME OUT OF THE CONSENT DECREE, BUT THE EFFORTS TO CONTINUE THOSE, UM, UH, THOSE CHANGES.

SO, WHILE THIS DEMONSTRATE WHAT THIS DEMONSTRATES IS THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THROUGH ITS CONTINUED AND VERY DELIBERATE EFFORTS OF CONTINUOUSLY FOCUSING ON ITS HIRING PRACTICES, ITS RECRUITING EFFORTS, AND PERSONNEL STANDARDS IS DEMONSTRATING INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES IN SEEKING QUALIFIED CANDIDATES THAT MIRROR THE COMMUNITY THEY SERVE.

SO, I HAVE A FEW CERTIFICATES.

I'M GONNA CALL A FEW OF THE NAMES.

CHIEF LAUFF IS BEHIND ME.

I'M GONNA TELL YOU UPFRONT, I DON'T HAVE A CERTIFICATE FOR HIM, , BUT HE DON'T MIND BECAUSE HE'S STILL IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO, UH, SO WE'RE GOING TO, UH, RECOGNIZE, OH, YOU KNOW WHAT, LET ME BRING UP THE CHIEF FIRST AND THEN I'LL CALL OUT THE NAME.

SO CHIEF, PLEASE.

ABSOLUTELY.

I, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M PROUD OF THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON HERE, BUT YOU KNOW, THAT THAT WORK STARTED BEFORE I WAS BLESSED WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY.

OVER 38 YEARS, WE WERE UNDER A CONSENT DECREE BECAUSE OF OUR HIRING PRACTICES, UH, BECAUSE A FEDERAL JUDGE STATED THAT, UH, WE WERE NOT IN ALIGNMENT WITH, WITH BEST PRACTICES.

SO WHEN I, UH, UH, UH, TALK TO PEER CHIEFS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT CONTINUES, UH, TO TO BE, UH, EVEN MORE CHALLENGING IS HIRING MINORITIES.

UH, THAT'S BEEN A BIG CHALLENGE.

SO WHEN I LOOK AT OUR NUMBERS AND WHEN I SHARE OUR NUMBERS, UH, ON A NATIONAL STAGE, AND, AND I'M CONSTANTLY ASKED, CHIEF, HOW IS YOUR STAFF RECRUITING, UH, MINORITIES IN SUCH A DIFFICULT TIME, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE HAVE SO MANY, UH, BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES IN COMMUNITY POLICE RELATIONS, ESPECIALLY, UH, WITH MINORITY COMMUNITIES AND HERE IN BATON ROUGE AND WITH COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

SO, I'M EXCITED, UH, OF THOSE EFFORTS.

UH, BUT I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND RECOGNIZE OUR PAST, UM, UH, RECRUITER, REN ARD, UH, WHO HELPED LEAD THAT EFFORTS AND LOOK TO GET OUT OF A CONSENT DECREE, TAKES A LOT OF DATA, UH, TAKES A LOT OF, UH, A STRATEGY.

AND OUR PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, UH, WAS CRITICAL, UH, IN THAT.

SO WE DEFINITELY WANT TO, UH, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S EFFORTS AND, UH, KIM BROOKS AND, AND HER EFFORTS TO MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE GETTING THE PROPER P PAPERWORK AND, AND WE WERE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE JUDGE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS REQUESTING, UH, AND ALSO THE EFFORTS THAT STARTED UNDER OUR, UH, A FORMER CHIEF OF POLICE, UH, CHIEF, UH, LAUFF, UH, WHO HELPED START THIS EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE GOING TO GET THIS, UH, THIS CLOUD FROM OVER OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AS WELL.

CHIEF, I APPRECIATE YOU.

AND THE CHIEF'S LEADERSHIP AND HIS MENTORING THAT HE'S BEEN PROVIDING TO ME SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THAT POSITION AND THIS POSITION IS MUCH APPRECIATED.

AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA GO ON AND GIVE OUT THOSE, UH, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS NOW, SIR.

APPRECIATE SERGEANT SHARON DOUGLAS.

YES, THANKS, CHIEF LAUFF.

THANKS, KIM BROOKS, THANKS TO BRIAN BERNARD AND THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

SO LET'S GET SERGEANT DARREN AHMED.

THESE ARE AN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.

WE'RE SERGEANT.

THERE YOU GO.

THANK YOU, SIR.

CARLA LUCAS, UH, SERGEANT REN REICHARD, RETIRED, UH,

[00:15:01]

CORPORAL RONALDO SIERRA.

THERE HE IS, CAPTAIN JEFF WILLIAMS AND MICHELLE WINDBORN.

APPRECIATE CONGRATULATIONS.

WE CAN DO A PHOTO YES.

BIG SMILE FROM EVERYBODY.

ALL RIGHT, LOOK RIGHT HERE.

KEEP UP THE OUTSTANDING WORK.

WE NOW WILL HAVE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN COLEMAN TO RECOGNIZE ALFRED C*M CUMMINGS BLACK HISTORY.

A BEST KEPT SECRET.

I SAY GOOD AFTERNOON TO ALL OF YOU.

AND TODAY, YES, HERE WE ARE.

AND MY PURPOSE FOR STANDING HERE IS TO RECOGNIZE A LEGEND.

A LEGEND, NOT JOST, OF DISTRICT 10.

YOU KNOW, THE BEST DISTRICT THERE.

HE IS THE ONLY ONE I KNOW, BUT ALSO BATON ROUGE.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST KEPT SECRETS, AND I COULD NOT ALLOW FEBRUARY TO EVEN START REAL GOOD AND GET IN THE MIDDLE WITHOUT THE RECOGNITION OF THE LATE ALFRED CUMMINGS DURING THIS BLOCK HISTORY MONTH THAT HAS BEEN SET ASIDE.

AND SO TODAY WE HAVE WITH US HIS SON.

COME ON UP, DARRELL.

WE HAVE DARRELL CUMMINS, BENITA CUMMINS, HIS SISTER, AND SEE Y'ALL IS SOMETHING ABOUT A LEGACY.

SO IF YOU HAVE NOT WORKED ON ONE FOR YOURSELF, YOU NEED TO GET THERE.

A COUSIN, PAM HARRIS, DARRELL'S SON, COME ON, CHRISTIAN, COME ON UP HERE.

AND CHIQUITA, CHIQUITA JACKSON, A COUSIN.

SEE YOU ALL OUGHT TO BE RUNNING.

COME ON.

YOU OUGHT TO BE RUNNING.

AND JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT, OCTOBER THE 26TH, 1935 TO JANUARY 23RD, 2009.

AND MR. ALFRED COME AND SERVED IN THE US ARMY IN HIS EARLY TWENTIES AND WAS ONE OF THE THREE BLACK MEN TO BECOME THE FIRST TO SERVE WITH THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT, SERVING THE COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS.

HE GRADUATED FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE 12TH BASIC ACADEMY IN APRIL, 1963.

SOME OF YOU WEREN'T BORN THEN.

ALFRED CUMMINGS, JOSEPH STEVENS, AND STEVE MILLIGAN.

THOSE WERE THE THREE.

AND THEY MADE HISTORY.

OH, I NEED SOME QUIETNESS.

THIS IS REAL.

THEY MADE HISTORY WHEN THEY JOINED THE DEPARTMENT IN 1963, AND THEY PAVED THE WAY FOR OTHER AFRICAN-AMERICAN OFFICERS.

THEY OPENED DOORS FOR MANY PEOPLE, BRINGING IN A WHOLE NEW ERA OF POLICE WORK AND CREATION OF DIVERSITY WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SO, SO DIVERSITY DIDN'T JUST START.

I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT MR. CUMMINGS RESIDED IN BATON ROUGE AND MARRIED STEIN HARRIS

[00:20:01]

CUMMINGS IN 1963.

HE PLAYED FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL AT CAPITOL HIGH SCHOOL AND LATER SERVED AS A TRUANCY OFFICER AT HIS ALMA MATER.

HE WENT ON TO ENTER THE NIGHTCLUB BUSINESS RUNNING TUXEDO JUNCTION ON GREENWOOD SPRINGS ROAD, COLE.

THAT, AND TIFFANY'S AT CAW DRIVE AND NORTH ACADIAN THREW AWAY.

AND IN THE WORDS OF WAYNE DANE, THAT'S ONE OF OUR PERSONS OVER THERE IN DISTRICT 10, HE SAID THAT HE KEPT THE YOUTH FROM TROUBLE.

SO THE TRUE DEMONSTRATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD POLICING.

AND SO AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO HIS SON DARRELL CUMMINGS, THE CERTIFICATE.

BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, DARRELL HAVE ONE OR TWO WORDS.

WOW.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK GOD FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE.

STAND BEFORE WE ALL.

AGAIN, THANK, UH, COUNCILMAN COUNCIL LADY, THE WOMAN, CAROLYN COLEMAN.

UM, REST OF OUR COLLEAGUES, MAYOR, CHIEF MURPHY, PAUL, UM, THE MAYOR.

MAYOR.

I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR FIVE YEARS AGO FOR ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

THOSE THREE MENS, IT TOOK 55 YEARS, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I WANT TO THANK HE'S NOT HERE, BUT ROBERT BOOK UP MCGON FOR, UH, BRINGING THAT TO FOREFRONT.

AND, UH, IT WAS TRULY A BLESSING AND TRULY A HONOR.

YOU KNOW, AFTER 55 YEARS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED, UH, FROM A LITTLE BOY JUST REMEMBERING IT, IT HAS COME A LONG WAYS.

THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IT HAS CHANGED.

IT HAS CHANGED A LOT OF WORK.

STILL NEED TO BE DONE.

BUT AGAIN, I THANK GOD FOR THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE WITH CHIEF MURPHY, PAUL, AND THE REST OF HIS STAFF.

UH, AND, AND IT TAKES THE COMMUNITY TOO, UH, TO HELP TOO.

BUT I THANK GOD FOR THAT.

AND, UH, AGAIN, I THANK GOD FOR MY FAMILY, UH, THAT COULD SHOW UP LAST MINUTE, UH, THING.

BUT, UH, THANK GOD FOR IT AND, AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

AND, UH, AGAIN, CAROLYN, THANK YOU FOR, UH, GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY.

LOVE YOU ALWAYS.

ALL GOOD EVENING.

THANK Y'ALL.

IN, IN THIS MAYOR, YOU CAN GET IN THIS, I THINK IT'LL DO SOMETHING FOR US, .

O A BOARD, UM, NORM RYAN APPROACHED PAULA DAVIS, REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS, AND ASKED HER TO INTRODUCE HOUSE RESOLUTION THREE 13, UM, RECOGNIZING OLD GOODWOOD AS AN HISTORIC AREA, AND, UM, SETTING THE BOUNDARIES FOR THAT AREA.

BIG SMILE FROM EVERYBODY.

THERE WE GO.

ALL EVERYBODY LOOKING RIGHT HERE.

GOT COUNCILWOMAN MCC MCCA.

PAM, WHAT SCHOOL, UH, MR. C**S WENT TO AGAIN, TELL PAM WHAT SCHOOL MR. C**S WENT TO.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR FATHER WITH US.

NEXT WE'LL HAVE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEMBER LORI ADAMS, TO RECOGNIZE THE GOODWOOD C P I N D BOARD.

WHEN I INVITED THE, UM, THE, THE GOODWOOD CP N I D, UM, BOARD TO COME AND CELEBRATE, UM, THE FULL OPERATION OF THEIR, THEIR BOARD TODAY, I HAD NO IDEA THAT, UM, THAT POLICING, UM, AND, AND, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE, UM, AND, AND MR. CUMMINGS STATEMENTS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY BEING INVOLVED IN, IN POLICING, UM, IN MAKING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, SAFER, UH, WAS WAS GONNA BE ON THE AGENDA.

AND IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST PERFECT.

UM, IT'S A PERFECT SEGUE INTO, UM, INTO WHAT I HAVE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.

IN 2018, UH, THE G P

[00:25:01]

UM, AFTER THAT, THEY BEGAN WORKING ON, UM, THE LEGISLATION FOR THE CRIME PREVENTION AND NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.

AND THAT, UH, LED TO HOUSE BILL, UM, ACT, UH, FIVE 14 BEING SIGNED IN 2021.

UM, OF COURSE APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATURE.

SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.

AND, UM, AND THEN AFTER THAT, THE, THE G P O A BOARD GOT TO WORK, UM, GETTING ORGANIZED FOR A VOTE TO FUND THE DISTRICT.

AND THAT VOTE HAPPENED ON DECEMBER 11TH, 2021.

ONCE THAT, UM, ONCE THAT, THAT VOTE HAPPENED AND WAS APPROVED, UM, FUNDING, UM, WAS COLLECTED IN DECEMBER OF 20, UH, 22.

AND, UM, JANUARY 1ST, 2023, THE OLD GOODWOOD CRIME PREVENTION, UM, AND NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, UM, WAS FUNDED.

UM, BUT BEFORE IT WAS FUNDED, UM, MANY, MANY HOURS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF WORK, UM, WENT INTO THIS EFFORT.

UM, MEMBERS OF THE G P O A, UH, BOARD, UM, WORKED ALONGSIDE, UM, THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THE, THE CRIME PREVENTION AND NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, UM, INCLUDING MR. RONNIE HARRIS, WHO'S WITH US TODAY, UM, PUT IN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EFFORT TO GET THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION PASSED.

AND THEN, UM, AND THEN FUNDED.

AND, UM, AND THEY BEGAN FORMING A BOARD.

AND SO THAT BOARD HAS BEEN, UH, PRETTY MUCH OPERATING, I THINK ALMOST SINCE JANUARY 1ST, 2022.

I MEAN, JUST AS SOON SOON AS THAT FUNDING WAS IN PLACE, THE BOARD FORMED UP 2021.

2021.

UH, THE BOARD FORMED UP, AND THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY TO PUT TOGETHER, UM, EVERYTHING THEY NEEDED FOR THEIR, FOR THEIR CRIME PREVENTION, NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.

SO, UM, THIS TO ME JUST IS THE OTHER PIECE OF IT.

SO WE KNOW WE HAVE OUR, OUR POLICE CHIEF, WE HAVE OUR, OUR, OUR POLICE FORCE.

UM, AND, AND THE OTHER PIECE OF THAT IS THE COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOODS ENGAGING, INVOLVING ORGANIZING, UM, TO HELP THEIR, THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, NOT ONLY BE SAFER, UM, BUT ALSO BE BETTER SO THAT THE DISTRICT WILL ALSO BE WORKING ON DIFFERENT PROJECTS, UM, TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF PLACE AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN, IN OLD GOODWOOD.

SO, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, BONNIE, DO YOU WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS AND THEN, THEN DANA? OKAY.

LET ME INVITE, I'M GONNA GET DANA LAWTON, UM, WITH THE, THE CRIME PREVENTION AND NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT TO COME SAY A FEW WORDS.

THANK YOU, LORI.

I WASN'T REALLY PREPARED TO SPEAK TODAY, SO I'M GONNA KIND OF GO TO WING IT A BIT.

UM, I DO WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.

UH, THEY'VE BEEN INCREDIBLY HELPFUL AND COLLABORATIVE AS WE'VE BEEN, UM, TRYING TO LEARN, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE SEVEN BOARD MEMBERS THAT DON'T HAVE ANY REAL BACKGROUND IN CRIME, UH, DIS YOU KNOW, PREVENTION OR, OR REALLY ANY BASIC KNOWLEDGE.

UH, SO WE'VE LEARNED A LOT IN A YEAR, AND THAT HAS BEEN, UH, AN INCREDIBLE, UH, INSIGHTFUL TO WHAT THE CITY DOES FROM THE REAL TIME CRIME CENTERS, NOT ONLY FROM THE EAST BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

AND THEY'VE BEEN A TREMENDOUS ASSET, AND THEY'VE BEEN COLLABORATIVE IN HELPING US FORM, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE CAMERAS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE PUTTING OUT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE MOST, UM, COVERAGE FOR THE, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AS WE CAN IN LEVERAGING IT WITH SOME EXISTING, UM, ONES BY THE CITY, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OTHER, UM, ENTITIES AROUND THE, UH, IN OUR AREA.

SO, I, YOU KNOW, IT, WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN PLACE IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION.

UH, IT WAS THEIR VISION, AND, YOU KNOW, MANY OF US ARE MEMBERS, SOME OF US AREN'T.

UH, SO IT'S BEEN A, A TRULY, UM, NICE WAY TO GET TO KNOW SO MANY MORE PEOPLE THAT LIVE WITHIN OUR BOUNDARIES.

AND, UH, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

I APPRECIATE IT.

SO, UM, OF COURSE, I JUST WANNA, I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT DANA APPARENTLY HAS, UM, A MAGIC, UM, PROJECT SHEET THAT SHE USES, AND, UM, HER, HER METHODOLOGY CAN GET ANYTHING, UM, DONE AND DONE WELL, AND HER, HER COLLEAGUES ARE EXTREMELY COMPLIMENTARY OF HER.

SO I JUST, IF Y'ALL WILL JOIN ME IN, UM, IN THANKING GOODWOOD PROPERTY ENERGY ASSOCIATION AND GOODWOOD, UM, CRIME PREVENTION NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT FOR INVESTING, UM, IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND OUR COMMUNITY, UM, AND JUST MAKING, UH, BATON ROUGE A STRONGER, UM, BETTER PLACE TO LIVE.

NEXT, WE'LL HAVE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEMBERS, SHAWN BANKS, TO RECOGNIZE DEMI

[00:30:01]

VARGAS GIRL SCOUTS.

YOU GONNA DO THE PLEDGE LATER? DIMI, LOOKS LIKE SHE'S A CAMERA SHOP.

ARE YOU OKAY? OKAY.

SO, UM, THIS YEAR, ONCE AGAIN, A 106 YEARS, UM, GIRL SCOUT COOKIES HAVE BEEN AN ICON IN, UH, THE UNITED STATES.

A LOT OF CHANGES POST PANDEMIC HAVE OCCURRED, UM, AS IT RELATES TO HOW COOKIES ARE BEING SOLD, YOU KNOW, TECHNOLOGY, SO IT'S NO MORE WHERE THEY ACTUALLY HAVE THE COOKIES AND THEY'RE ABLE TO GIVE.

AND I KNOW A COUPLE OF TIMES WE'VE HAD GIRLS BRING COOKIES AND SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SO WE ARE GOING TO LET DEMI AND VIOLET, VIOLET, AND THIS IS THEIR MOTHER.

HELLO, ANYA.

YOU WANT TO TELL THEM ABOUT THE GIRL SCOUT COOKIES? AND THEY'RE GONNA PUT A PRESENTATION UP.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A, YOU CAN TELL 'EM COOKIES.

WHAT, TELL THEM ABOUT THE COOKIES.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF, SCHOOL AND GRADE.

HI, MY NAME IS DAMIA MOORE.

VARGAS.

AND WHAT GRADE ARE YOU GOING, AND WHAT FOOD DO YOU GO TO? AND I'M IN SIXTH GRADE.

I GO TO SOUTHERN LAB.

THE, THE GIRL SCOUT COOKIES ARE ABOUT $5.

I'M A CADET.

THE VEGAN ONES ARE $6, THE VEGAN ONES ARE $6.

AND, AND, AND ASK EVERYBODY IN HERE TO BUY BOX TONIGHT.

SO ON THE SCREEN, I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY'RE, HUH, IN, ON THIS SIDE, BUT I JUST WONDER WHY WE'RE UP.

ANYWAY, SO IF YOU LOOK IN THE BACK, THERE ARE MEAT, THE COOKIES, UH, AND THERE ARE QUITE A FEW, FEW TO COOKIES.

UM, UH, DMI, YOU WANNA GO AND NAME THE DIFFERENT KIND OF COOKIES BACK THERE? IF YOU WANNA GO BACK THERE.

SO TELL 'EM THE KIND OF COOKIES THAT, AND TELL 'EM YOUR FAVORITE.

AND THEN SHE HAS A, A QR CODE, SO ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CLICK, IT GOES TO DEMI'S, UH, PAGE AND PURCHASE COOKIES.

BUT TELL THEM TO KIND WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE? UM, MY FAVORITE? THE CARAMEL DELIGHT? NO, IT'S THE MIX.

UM, THE, YES, THE MIX.

SO THE NEWEST ONE IS THE TASTIC AND THE RASPBERRY RALLY AND THE RASPBERRY RALLIES.

AND I THINK THEY'RE VENT FOOLS TOO.

YES, THOSE ARE ALL THE THREE, UH, ONES THAT I SAW ONLINE THAT ARE NEW.

AND, UH, WE JUST WANTED EVERYBODY TO KNOW.

YOU MIGHT KNOW OTHER KIDS THAT ARE DOING GIRL SCOUT COOKIES, SO WE JUST WANT HIM TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE GETTING THOSE CALLS AND EMAILS AND TEXTS.

IF YOU DON'T ANYONE DON'T KNOW ANYONE, PLEASE, UM, SCAN DEMI'S PAGE AND YOU'LL BE SEEING THEM LATER FOR THE PLAN.

YEAR DELIVERS ITS FULLY INTEGRATED WHOLE SCHOOL, WHOLE CHILD PROGRAM IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHERE THOUSANDS OF CITY YEAR AMERICORPS MEMBERS HELP STUDENTS CULTIVATE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC SKILLS THAT ARE IMPORTANT IN SCHOOLING IN LIFE CITY YEAR.

AT THIS TIME, IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE SOME OUTSTANDING PEOPLE WORKING HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

CITY YEAR BATON ROUGE ADVANCES EDUCATIONAL EQUITY BY SUPPORTING STUDENTS FURTHEST FROM OPPORTUNITY AND DEVELOPS DIVERSE LEADERS THROUGH NATIONAL SERVICE, WHO CAN WORK ACROSS LINES OF DIFFERENCE SERVING FULL-TIME IN THE BATON ROUGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS CITY YEAR, AMERICORPS MEMBERS DELIVER RESEARCH BASED ACADEMIC SOCIO-EMOTIONAL POSITIVE CLIMATE SUPPORTS TO HELP STUDENTS ACQUIRE CRITICAL STRENGTH SKILLS, AND LEARNING MINDSETS SO THEY CAN SUCCEED IN SCHOOL.

AND AFTER GRADUATION, SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1988, CITY HAS MOBILIZED THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE FOR NATIONAL SERVICE AND INSPIRED THE CREATION OF AMERICORPS.

PARTNERING TODAY WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN 29 US LOCATIONS, CITY

[00:35:01]

LOUISIANA WAS FOUNDED IN 2006 AFTER HURRICANES CONTRIBUTING AND READING TO PROVIDE AID TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

IN 2011, THE SITE SPLIT INTO CITY YEAR, BATON ROUGE AND CITY OF NEW ORLEANS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY SERVE STUDENTS IN EACH COMMUNITY.

NOW IN ITS 17TH YEAR, CITY YEAR, BATON ROUGE CONTINUES TO WORK WITH BATON ROUGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, HISTORICALLY WITH CHARTER SCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS AND THE EAST BANBRIDGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AS A DOUBLE IMPACT NONPROFIT CITY OF BATON ROUGE HAS A LASTING EFFECT ON NOT ONLY THE STUDENTS WE SERVE, BUT ALSO THE AMERICORPS MEMBERS WHO DELIVER OUR PROGRAM.

THROUGH EXTENSIVE TRAINING, AMERICORPS MEMBERS DEVELOP STRONG LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND BECOME DEEPLY INVESTED IN BATON ROUGE.

AS MENTORS AND ROLE MODELS, OUR CORPSE HELP KEEP STUDENTS ON THE PATH TO GRADUATION AND FUTURE SUCCESS.

SINCE 2011, CITY OF BATON ROUGE HAS TRAINED 756 AMERICORPS MEMBERS AND SERVED THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FOUR, FIVE HUNDRED, THREE HUNDRED FIFTY 4,500 EAST BARON PARA STUDENTS.

CITY OF BATON ROUGE EMPLOYS 12 PERSONNEL, CONSISTENTLY ENGAGES 45 VOLUNTEERS, AND IS SUPPORTED BY APPROXIMATELY 15 BOARD MEMBERS.

I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU TO CITY YEAR FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE IN THE COMMUNITY AS A PRINCIPAL.

I'VE HAD TEAMS AT SCHOOLS WHERE I'VE SERVED, AND THEY HAVE BEEN A TREMENDOUS VALUE ADD TO THE WORK WE'VE DONE.

UH, HERE TODAY, UH, TO BE RECOGNIZED ON BEHALF OF CITY YEAR IS THE SENIOR VP AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HERE IN BATON ROUGE, DR.

LOUIS RANDOLPH, I'M DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, RASHANA HUNTER, AND I THINK YOU ALL BROUGHT SOME MORE PEOPLE WITH YOU, AND YOU CAN INTRODUCE THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

RASHANA OR DOCTOR, EITHER ONE.

LET'S GET UP FOR CITY.

THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO COLE.

I'M GONNA PASS IT OVER TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DR.

LU RANDOLPH, TO INTRODUCE EVERYONE HERE.

THANK YOU EVERYONE.

GOOD EVENING.

UM, TO MY RIGHT IS ROBERT.

HE'S A SERVICE LEADER AT GLEN OAKS HIGH.

WE HAVE MARIE AS WELL, SERVING AS A SERVICE LEADER AT GLEN OAKS HIGH.

WE HAVE OUR MANAGING DIRECTOR OF IMPACT TWO IS TRULY THE CORE OF WHAT WE DO AT EVERY SCHOOL.

STEPHANIE, UM, IN OUR, IN THE BACK, WE HAVE BANDED DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE OPERATIONS, LAURIE.

WE ALSO HAVE ANNE MARIE WHO WAS HERE, MIGHT HAVE LEFT, STEPPED OUT.

WE'RE RUNNING THROUGH EVENTS.

AND THEN OF COURSE WE HAVE RASHANA HUNTER.

I WANNA GIVE QUICK REMARKS AGAIN.

THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PROTE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THIS RECOGNITION.

AS I SAT AND LISTENED TO ALL THESE RECOGNITIONS, THERE'S ONE THING THAT UNITES US ALL.

WE ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY AND HARD TO MAKE BATON ROUGE A BETTER CITY.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IS ESSENTIAL TO THE GROWTH OF ANY COMMUNITY.

COUPLING, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, YOUNG, POWERFUL MINDS AND EDUCATION CAN MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN ANY CITY.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING AT CITY YEAR BATON ROUGE SINCE 2011.

I WANT TO THANK THE TEAM WHO HAS TIREDLY TIRELESSLY BEEN HARD AT WORK, AND HAVE MADE IT A SMOOTH TRANSITION FOR ME TO ENTER AS THEIR NEW ED ONLY FIVE MONTHS AGO.

UM, AS SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE SEEN ME ON DAY TWO, , AND AS WE ENTER THIS NEW YEAR, WE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP.

AND FOR THOSE ATTORNEYS HERE, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT OUR LEGAL BREAKFAST ON FRIDAY AT 8:00 AM AT CITY CLUB CHAINLESS PLUG.

YOU KNOW, BAD THINGS TO DO ON YOU, DENNIS.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE SMILE.

GOOD.

DO YOU WANT ME TO TAKE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE GONNA RESET FOR FIVE MINUTES, AND THEN WE'LL GET STARTED WITH OUR REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GENTLEMEN.

WE'RE GETTING READY TO GET STARTED.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS.

PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS.

TIME NOW IS 4 25, SO PLEASE KEEP IN MIND IF THE MEETING EXTENDS.

WE'LL BE EXTENDING TO 8 55 ONCE WE GET STARTED, HUH? NO, WE'LL BE EXTENDING TO 8 55 IF WE ONLY, IF ONLY IF, I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA BE THAT LONG.

I HOPE NOT.

I DON'T HAVE,

[00:40:01]

HELLO, EVERYBODY FROM BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA'S CAPITAL CITY, THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH WELCOMES YOU TO OUR BROADCAST FROM THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF EAST FAMILY PARISH, AND THAT'S ON COX CHANNEL 21, AT AND T CHANNEL 99, OUR CITY WEBSITE@VRLA.GOV.

AND WE ARE ON FACEBOOK LIVE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF OUR GOVERNMENT TODAY.

OUR COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR TREASURER ASHLEY BECK IS STANDING BY WITH THE ROLL CALL.

AND RIGHT NOW HERE IS THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT PRO TEMP OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

COUNCILMAN LAMONT COLE.

COUNCILMAN.

THANK YOU DENNIS.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO, UH, OUR REGULAR SCHEDULE OF METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING ON THIS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH, 2023 AT 4:00 PM AFTER, DO WE HAVE A FORUM? WE HAVE A QUO.

WE WILL BE LED TODAY IN THE INVOCATION BY REVEREND TROY GAVIN, PASTOR OF GREATER FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BAKER, AND LED IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY DEMI VARGAS'S, FIFTH GRADE STUDENT AND VIOLET VARGAS, SECOND GRADE STUDENT, BOTH AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY LABORATORY SCHOOL.

PASTOR GAVIN, HE IS NOT HERE.

I DON'T SEE.

SO SHAWN, YOU GONNA DO IT YOURSELF? YEAH.

YOU GONNA PRAY FOR US ? NOT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

GO PASS THE SEAL.

I LIKE, I LIKE A PRAYING WOMAN.

I LIKE A PRAYING WOMAN.

OH, PLEASE, ALL, EVERYONE STAND HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME.

WE THANK YOU, LORD GOD, THAT THIS IS THE DAY THAT YOU HAVE MADE AND WE WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT.

WE ASK YOU, LORD GOD, FOR TRAVELING MES FOR THOSE THAT, UM, ARE HERE AND THOSE THAT WERE COMING IN AS, AS WELL AS THEIR RETURN HOME.

FATHER, WE THANK YOU LORD GOD, AS WE LEGISLATE THE BUILDING UP THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY, FATHER, THAT YOU WILL REIGN AND RULE AND BE A PART OF THE DISCUSSION, LORD GOD, THE VOTE AND ANY OF THE IMPACT BASED ON WHAT THE DECISIONS ARE MADE BY THIS GOVERNMENT, BY GOVERNMENT BODY.

WE ASK YOU, LORD GOD, TO JUST, UM, INVOKE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BE WITH US TODAY.

LORD GOD, WE ASK YOU, LORD GOD, THAT YOU'LL BE OUR TEACHER.

AND THE GOD YOU SAID IN YOUR WORD THAT IF ANY MAN LACKS WISDOM, LET HIM ASK OF YOU AND YOU'LL GIVE LIBERALLY.

LORD, WE ASK YOU RIGHT NOW TO LIBERALLY POUR ON US WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, AND UNDERSTANDING.

WE THANK YOU LORD GOD, FOR EVERYBODY THAT IS EXIST HERE.

WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS THEM, THAT THEY ARE HIGHLY FAVORED AND EMPOWERED TO PROSPER.

IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.

AMEN.

PLAY IT.

PLEDGE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND TWO REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, END OF VISIBLE.

I HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.

YOU GONNA DO THE, YOU GONNA PRESENT SOME FOLKS WITH SOME STUFF OR YOU I COULD DO IT HERE.

I COULD DO IT OUTSIDE.

OH, OKAY.

ITEM NUMBER ONE, APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 18TH, 2023, AND THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ZONING MEETING OF JANUARY 18TH, 2023 BY COUNCIL, ADMINISTRATIVE TREASURER.

[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE? WE'RE NOW GO TO COUNCIL.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM ONE? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL EZ, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. ITEM ONE HAS BEEN APPROVED.

ASKED,

[INTRODUCTIONS]

WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE INTRODUCTIONS? SECTION 2.12 INTRODUCTIONS.

NUMBER TWO, GRANTING A FULL CONTRACT TRANSFER OF A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $234,853 AND 97 CENTS PER YEAR FOR 3 33 COMMERCE LLC TO COMMERCE ON LAUREL LLC.

LOCATED AT 30 33 LAUREL STREET, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, 7 0 8 0 2 BY PLANNING DIRECTOR NUMBER THREE, CONSIDERATION OF THE I E P APPLICATION FROM GEORGIA PACIFIC PORT HUDSON, LLC FOR A PROJECT LOCATED IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

REFERRED TO THE PARISH BY THE BOARD OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY BY THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR TREASURER NUMBER FOUR, CANCELING AND RESCHEDULING CERTAIN METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETINGS AND CALLING FOR A SPECIAL MEETING IN 2023, CANCELING THE JULY 12TH, 2023 METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING, RESCHEDULING THE NOVEMBER 22ND, 2023

[00:45:01]

COUNCIL MEETING TO TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST, 2023, RESCHEDULING THE DECEMBER 20TH 23, 20 23 METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ZONING MEETING TO DECEMBER 6TH, 2023, CANCELING THE DECEMBER 27TH, 23, 20 23 METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING, CALLING FOR A SPECIAL METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING ON DECEMBER 12TH, 2023.

FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING THE 2023, I'M SORRY, THAT'S GONNA BE 2024.

CITY PARISH, ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET AND CAPITAL BUDGET.

NUMBER FIVE, AMENDING TITLE 11, TRAFFIC CODE CHAPTER 13 SERIES, TRAFFIC OFFENSES SECTION 11 1 40 OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE INTOXICATED.

SO IS TO ADD AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE RELATED TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

NUMBER SIX, AMENDING TITLE 13 CRIMINAL LAW SECTION THIRTEEN TWO EIGHTY FIVE.

IMPROPER TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS.

SO IS TO ADD TEXT MESSAGING AND OTHER MESSAGING AS A FORM OF IMPROPER COMMUNICATION BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

NUMBER SEVEN, AMENDING TITLE 13 CRIMINAL LAW SECTION 1367.

MISDEMEANOR THEFT.

SO IS TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF MISAPPROPRIATION FROM $750 TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO INCREASE THE FINE FROM $500 TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

NUMBER EIGHT, AMEND THE 2023 PAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED, NON-CLASSIFIED CONTRACT.

FIRE AND POLICE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH.

BATON ROUGE.

SO IS TO ADD CHIEF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MUNICIPAL FIRE CLASSIFICATION BY THE FIRE CHIEF AND THE HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR.

NUMBER NINE, AMEND THE 2023 ALLOTMENT OF POSITIONS FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE SHOW IS TO CHANGE THE ALLOTMENT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO ADD ONE CHIEF OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BY THE FIRE CHIEF AND THE HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR.

NUMBER 10, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND THE SENIOR CITIZEN AID PROGRAM, WHICH ALLOWS SENIORS TO CONTACT WITH CITY PARISH DEPARTMENTS TO PERFORM ASSIGNED DUTIES IN THE CITY PARISH SYSTEM BY REMOVING THE REQUIREMENT THAT SENIOR CITIZEN AIDS PROVIDE A RECOMMENDATION FROM A PRIOR EMPLOYER OR SUPERVISOR BY COUNCILMAN DARYL HURST.

NUMBER 11, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED MATTHEW TUR IN, UH, VERSUS AARON NICHOLS AT AL IN THE AMOUNT OF $166,500 PLUS COURT COSTING THE AMOUNT $329 AND APPROPRIATING THAT SUM FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

NUMBER 12, AMEND THE 2023 ALLOTMENT OF POSITIONS FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARIS BATON ROUGE.

SO TO CHANGE THE ALLOTMENT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ADD ONE ASSISTANT CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER PRA PAY GRADE 2340 AND APPROPRIATING, UH, $178,320 FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR NUMBER 13, AUTHORIZED THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO ACQUIRE THROUGH PURCHASE EXCHANGE, DONATION AND OR INSTITUTION OF APPROPRIATION PROCEEDINGS AND TO TAKE SUCH OTHER ACTION AS MAY BE REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE ACQUISITION OF LAND NECESSARY FOR THE CORPORATION.

CANAL EAST CHIME STREET TRASH CAPTURE PILOT PROJECT.

PROJECT BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR.

NUMBER 14, AMEND THE 2023 ALLOTMENT OF POSITIONS FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH.

BATON ROUGE SERVICE AS TO CHAIN THE ALLOTMENT OF THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT PROGRAM.

AND THE MAYOR PRESIDENT WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT PROGRAM AS FOLLOWS, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT PROGRAM, ADULT YOUTH AND DISLOCATED WORKER.

DELETE ONE.

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR, ONE.

ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATE.

TWO.

ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST, ONE.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT SUPERVISOR.

THREE.

CONTENT AREA SPECIALIST.

ONE.

DATA COORDINATOR.

SIX.

INTAKE SPECIALIST, ONE.

PROGRAM PLANNING ANALYST, ONE.

SENIOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST, ONE.

SENIOR FISCAL SPECIALIST MAYOR GR MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT PROGRAM.

ADULT YOUTH AND DISLOCATED WORKER.

ADD ONE.

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR, ONE.

ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATE.

TWO.

ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST.

ONE.

BUILDING ATTENDANT.

19.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST.

TWO.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT SUPERVISOR.

THREE.

CONTENT AREA SPECIALIST.

PROGRAM PLANNING ANALYST.

THREE.

SENIOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST BY W I O A, ADMINISTRATOR AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR.

NUMBER 15.

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND A CERTAIN CONTRACT PROFESSION FOR PROFESSIONAL LEGAL, LEGAL SERVICES, BEVERAGE AND DIAMOND PC FOR LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF THE CITY PARISH CONCERNING CLAIMS UNDER THE CLEAN WATER ACT TO INCREASE THE ALLOWABLE COMPENSATION TO SUM NOT TO EXCEED $1,350,000 AND APPROPRIATING $1,100,000 FOR SAID PURPOSE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND THE OFFICE OF THE PARISH ATTORNEY CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER 16, HAROLD HARDY AND ANNIE HARDY.

1562 SNIPE STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT TWO BANKS, NUMBER 17, HAROLD HARDY AND ANNIE HARDY.

1544 SNIPE STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 18, CHARLES LEE PERRY, JR.

24 11 EDGEWOOD DRIVE, COUNCIL, DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 19, NORTH HIGHLAND COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH, INC.

4,100 CLAYTON STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 20, NORWOOD, T, CALVIN AND ED EDNA, WASHINGTON.

CALVIN

[00:50:01]

14 0 2 NORTH 32ND STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 21, LILLIAN WOMACK, 63 39 VILLAGE STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 22, PATRICIA BARCO, 1210 MAXIMILIAN STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 23.

LORI ANN JACKSON, ETAL 1,510 MATILDA STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 24, HERMAN MEIER ETAL 1,117 LOUISE STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 25, WALTER CHESTER, WILLIAM, ET O 5 52 COTTON 5 54 COTTON, 5 56 COTTON AND 5 58 COTTON STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN.

ALL ITEMS THAT REQUIRE READING OF IN READ AND A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS AS AN ORDER.

IS THERE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS? SHALL MOVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HIRST? YEAH.

YEAH, YEAH.

SO YOU WANNA MAKE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE? YEAH.

MOTION TO INTRODUCE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HIRST.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

NO ITEM.

ALL ITEMS. ANY OBJECTIONS? ALL ITEMS REQUIRING INTRODUCTION.

HAVE BEEN READ AND INTRODUCED.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IF YOU GO, HMM.

DELETED.

NAH, HE DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT.

HE WAS TALKING ABOUT CONDEMNATIONS.

[CONDEMNATIONS]

YEAH, WE NOW GO TO CONDEMNATIONS.

GO TO CONDEMNATIONS.

I'M GOING TO READ THE RECOMMENDATIONS AS THEY ARE, THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, AND 80.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A CONDEMNATION? ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A CONDEMNATION WHEN I GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS? COUNCIL MEMBERS? COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS? UM, ITEM NUMBER 80.

I WANNA DEFER FOR 60 DAYS, PLEASE.

DIFFER FOR 30 DAYS, PLEASE.

78, 30 DAYS, SIR.

UH, COUNCIL MARTIN, UH, 30 DAYS ON ITEM 76, PLEASE, SIR.

30 DAYS ON ITEM 76.

I GOT 76 ON HERE FOR 90.

YOU SAID 76, RIGHT? 30.

YOU WANNA DO 30? ALL RIGHT.

ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN, YOU SAID ITEM 78, 30 DAYS? UM, YES, SIR.

INTRODUCTIONS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED.

ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT.

I'M GONNA READ THE STATED CHANGES.

THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 66, 67, 68, 69, 71, 73, 74, 75, 77, AND 79.

THEY ARE TO DEFER FOR 30 DAYS.

ITEM 76 AND 78 DEFER FOR 60 DAYS.

ITEM 72 AND 80 DEFER FOR 90 DAYS, ITEM 70.

THAT WE WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION NOW TO INTRODUCE ALL CONDEMNATIONS.

SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN MCMAN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MAYOR.

MOROSA.

THERE IS A REQUEST TO RECONSIDER INTRODUCTIONS.

MOTION.

SO YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER INTRODUCTIONS.

NEED A SECOND? NEED A SECOND? WE ALREADY SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HEARST, ANY OBJECTIONS WHO MADE THE COUNCIL MEMBER HEARST MADE THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN MAY THE SECOND.

NO OBJECTIONS.

WE'RE NOW WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE? YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS AND DELETE ITEM 65.

IS THERE A SECOND TO INTRODUCE AND DELETE? SO MOVE SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

ANY OBJECTIONS? ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED IN 65 HAS BEEN DELETED.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'RE GOING TO, IF YOU WE'RE GONNA GO TO, UH, A REPORT, BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME GUESTS WHO NEED TO GET TO ANOTHER COMMUNITY MEETING, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE ITEMS 1 11, 1 12, 1 13, 1 14, AND ONE 15 TOGETHER.

WE'RE GONNA READ THEM.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE, WE'RE GOING TO, EXCUSE ME, ITEM 1 12, 1 13, 1 14, 1 15, 1 16.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE THOSE TOGETHER.

FOR THOSE OF YOU HERE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A REPORT FIRST AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HEAR OR HAVE THE PUBLIC

[Items 112-115]

HEARING.

ITEM ONE 12 RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE BATTERIES POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, DIVISION OF RISK MANAGEMENT ON THE NUMBER OF INNOCENT BYSTANDERS AND PASSENGERS THAT HAVE BEEN KILLED OR INJURED DURING B R P POLICE PURSUITS.

AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN KILLED ARE INJURED IN TOTAL FROM B R P D CALLS FOR SERVICE OR B R P D POLICE PURSUITS IN THE PAST 10 YEARS.

THIS REPORT IS ALSO TO INCLUDE FINANCIAL LIABILITY TO THE CITY PARIS AS A RESULT OF CLAIMS MONEY BY THOSE IMPACTED BY POLICE, BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.

ITEM ONE 13, RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE BATTERY ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON THE POLICY ON THE EXECUTION OF ARREST WARRANT.

THE REPORT SHOULD INCLUDE THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTY CLAIMS FOR DAMAGE BY THE OWNERS OF THOSE PROPERTIES AS A RESULT OF THE EXECUTION OF AN ARREST WARRANT, AS WELL AS THE FINANCIAL LIABILITY THE CITY PARISH CLAIMS MADE FOR PROPERTY DAMAGES

[00:55:01]

DURING THE EXECUTION OF A WARRANT FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS.

ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT SHOULD OUTLINE THE PROCESS THAT PROPERTY OWNERS MUST FOLLOW BY MAKING SUCH CLAIM FOR DAMAGE RE RESULTING IN EXECUTION OF THE WARRANT BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.

ITEM ONE 14, RECEIVING A REPORT FROM EAST BA PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE ON A NUMBER OF INNOCENT BYSTANDERS AND PASSENGERS THAT HAVE BEEN KILLED AND INJURED BY EAST BARRON PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE PURSUITS TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN KILLED OR INJUR IN TOTAL FROM EAST BARRON ROUGE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CALLS FOR SERVICE OR EAST BARON SHERIFF'S OFFICE PURSUITS IN THE PAST 10 YEARS.

THIS REPORT IS ALSO INCLUDE FINANCIAL LIABILITY OF THE CITY PARISH, IF ANY, AS A RESULT OF PLAINTIFFS MADE BY THOSE IMPACTED BY PURSUITS IN THE PAST 10 YEARS BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.

ITEM ONE 15, RECEIVING A REPORT FROM EAST BARONS PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE ON THE CURRENT POLICY ON THE EXECUTION OF AN ARREST WARRANT.

THE REPORT SHOULD INCLUDE THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL PROPERTY CLAIM AND DAMAGED BY THE OWNERS OF THOSE PROPERTIES AS A RESULT OF THE EXECUTION OF AN ARREST WARRANT, AS WELL AS THE FINANCIAL LIABILITY OF THE CITY PARISH, IF ANY OF THE CLAIM MADE IN THE PROPERTY DAMAGED DURING THE EXECUTION OF THE RE ARREST WARRANT FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS.

ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT SHOULD OUTLINE A PROCESS THAT PROPERTY OWNERS MUST FOLLOW IN MAKING SUCH CLAIM FOR DAMAGE RESULTING IN EXECUTION.

SEARCH WARRANT BY COUNCILMAN CLEVE DUNN.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE REPORT FIRST AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN, WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE? WHO WOULD YOU LIKE? THIS IS, UH, FROM THE MR. MYERS, I RECEIVED YOUR REQUEST TODAY RELATED TO THE COUNCIL AGENDA 1 14 1 15.

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE CITY PARISH HAS NOT HAD A BEAR ANY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LIABILITY AS A RESULT OF ANY CLAIMS MADE BY THOSE IMPACTED BY PURSUITS FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS AS A RESULT OF THE SHERIFF'S ACTION.

NOR HAS THE CITY PARISH HAD TO BEAR ANY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LIABILITY AS A RESULT OF ANY CLAIMS MADE BY PROPERTY OWNER AS A RESULT OF THE EXECUTION OF A WARRANT BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

I HOPE THE FOREGOING SATISFIES YOUR REQUEST.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS NOT IN A POSITION TO ATTEND COUNCIL MEETING TODAY.

THIS IS FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THEY ARE SAYING THEY HAVE N THE CITY PARISH HAS NOT PAID ANY MONEY FOR EITHER ONE.

ALL RIGHT, WE GO TO B R P D.

GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL.

SO IN REGARDS TO THE REPORT, UM, THE DATA SETS I WERE ASKED FOR AREN'T KEPT BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

UM, A LOT OF THE INFORMATION, WHILE WE DO PREPARE AN ANNUAL VEHICLE PURSUIT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, AND WE HAVE SINCE 2008, IT OUTLINES A LOT OF FACTORS.

THE, UH, THE ONLY WAY FOR US TO GO AND GET SOME OF THE DATA THAT NEEDED TO BE CAPTURED IS TO DO IT BY HAND AND TO GO THROUGH 10 YEARS WORTH OF, OF, UM, HANDWRITTEN, UH, VEHICLE PURSUIT FORMS. SO WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FINISH ALL OF THAT.

UM, WE DO HAVE SOME ANECDOTAL INFORMATION AS IT RE AS IT PERTAINS TO SPECIFIC QUESTIONS BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, BUT I DO HAVE, AGAIN, OUR ANNUAL PURSUIT POLICY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THAT I CAN SHARE WITH EACH OF YOU NOW.

OH, AS IT RELATES TO THE PURSUITS, I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE PAST FIVE YEARS DATA, UH, THAT I'VE BEEN KEEPING SINCE WE WERE HERE.

AS IT RELATES TO THE PURSUITS, AS IT RELATES TO THE LIABILITY, HOW MUCH WE'VE PAID OUT, I DON'T HAVE THAT, UH, DATA, UH, IN FRONT OF ME AND I BELIEVE, UH, WE'LL DO THAT.

WELL, I'M GONNA GO BACK TO 2018.

IN 2018, UM, BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATED ABOUT 153, UH, VEHICLE PURSUITS.

THOSE VEHICLE PURSUITS WERE, UH, STARTED, UH, ONE FOR AN INVESTIGATORY CONTACT, NON-VIOLENT FELONIES, NON-VIOLENT MISDEMEANORS TRAFFIC, VIOLENT FELONY VIOLENT MISDEMEANOR ARREST.

UM, WE HAD 153 AND EIGHTEEN, A HUNDRED FORTY FOUR IN 2019 80, I'M SORRY, 106 IN 2020, UH, 2021.

WHEN I LOOKED AT, UH, THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IN THOSE REPORTS, WE HAD 114 IN 2021.

WE'RE STILL WAITING ON THE LITTLE DATA TO COME BACK FROM 2022.

UM, THAT'S STILL COMING IN.

SO THAT FINAL REPORT ISN'T THERE.

BUT THE THINGS THAT STOOD OUT TO ME IN THE LAST TWO YEARS REPORTS, UM, THE, THE RATIO OF PURSUITS OF CALL FOR SERVICES ABOUT 0.06, THAT RATE HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS.

THAT IS DETERMINED THE PURSUIT, UH, PERCENTAGE EQUALS THE NUMBER OF PURSUITS DIVIDED BY THE COST FOR SERVICE

[01:00:02]

IN THE CITY.

UH, WE'VE SEEN THIS INCREASE, UH, UH, STARTED INCREASING SINCE 2013.

BASED ON THE ANALYSIS, THE NUMBER OF PURSUITS THAT WERE CONDUCTED, UH, EXCEED OUR EXPECTATIONS, UH, WHAT WE THOUGHT, 80, AROUND 80 SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE THAN NORM, UH, APPROXIMATELY 70% OF OUR PURSUITS IN, IN ARREST OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.

IF YOU LOOK AT LAST YEAR'S DATA AND THIS YEAR, UM, 10% OF THE PURSUITS IN 2021 WERE ACTUALLY ENDED BY THE OFFICER, ARE A SUPERVISOR, UH, BASED ON PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES.

UM, WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THE DATA FOR 2022, BUT WE THINK THAT DATA'S GONNA GO DOWN A LITTLE BIT TO PROBABLY AROUND 7%, UM, WHERE POLICE OFFICERS ACTUALLY, UM, UH, SUSPENDED THE PURSUIT BASED ON THAT.

THAT'S IT.

YES SIR.

INJURIES, DEATHS, THE INJURIES DEATH.

I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION, SIR, FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS.

YOU GOT IT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND I, AND I'M GONNA ADDRESS YOU.

COUNCILMAN DUNN.

UH, FROM A INJURY AND DEATH STANDPOINT, MY, MY NUMBERS ARE GONNA BE DIFFERENT THAN THE CHIEFS CUZ I DON'T HEAR ABOUT EVERY PURSUIT I DO WHEN THERE'S A CLAIM.

SO IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, UH, AND THIS PREDATES ME, THERE WAS, UH, AND PREDATES THE CHIEF.

THERE WAS, UH, TWO PERSON FATALITY.

THERE WAS A CASE THAT ACTUALLY WENT TO TRIAL.

WE TRIED THAT CASE.

THERE WAS A VERDICT AND THE, UH, BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS ONLY PROVED TO BE 25% AT FAULT.

SO WE WEREN'T A HUNDRED PERCENT AT FAULT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY CAUSE A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE ACCIDENT THERE.

THERE WERE TWO FAC FATALITIES, BUT THAT'S WHEN YOU INITIALLY ASKED, YOU HAD ASKED FOR TWO YEARS AND THEN WE WENT BACK TO TRY TO FIND 10 YEARS.

THAT CASE IS PROBABLY, UH, MAYBE SEVEN YEARS OLD.

SO IT'S WITHIN THE LAST 10 YEARS.

INJURIES, UH, WE, I JUST HAVE ONE THAT I KNOW OF IN THE LAST 10 YEARS THAT WE RECENTLY PAID IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS.

PRIOR TO THAT, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.

UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT THE WARRANT ONE 50, UH, ITEM 1 15 2, ARE YOU OR, WELL, I WANT TO TAKE 'EM SEPARATE.

I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE CHIEF AND THE DEPARTMENT.

UM, ARE YOU FINISHED WITH YOUR, THAT THAT'S BASICALLY A COUNCIL COUNCILMAN CHIEF.

WE GOTTA HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON EACH ITEM BEFORE YOU ASK HIM QUESTIONS.

SO WE GOTTA MAKE SURE WE DO THAT.

20 14, 1 56, 20 15 THERE WAS ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN TWENTY SIXTEEN EIGHTY SIX, TWENTY SEVENTEEN, ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY EIGHT, TWENTY EIGHTEEN, ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY NINE, TWENTY NINETEEN SEVENTY NINE, TWENTY TWENTY FIFTY THREE, TWENTY TWENTY ONE FIFTY FIVE.

WELL, IN THAT, IN THAT EVENT, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND TAKE BOTH OF THEM.

ARE YOU GONNA GET A REPORT ON THE WARRANTS AS WELL? YEP, WE'RE HERE FOR THAT AS WELL.

GOOD EVENING COUNSEL.

UH, MYRON DANIELS, UH, DEPUTY CHIEF OF BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

UH, COUNCILMAN DUNN.

WE, WE DID DO SOME RESEARCH, UH, TO GATHER THE INFORMATION, UH, THAT YOU REQUESTED.

UM, WE WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN NINE OF THE 10 YEARS, UH, AT ONE YEAR IS HAVING TO BE HAND COUNTED.

UM, IT WAS, UH, IN OUR SYSTEM AND SO THEY'RE HAVING TO RE UH, BULLET.

SO GOING BACK TO 2012, THERE WERE 83, AND WHEN I SAY WARRANTS, THESE ARE HIGH RISK SEARCH WARRANTS, UH, NOT YOUR AVERAGE ARREST WARRANT OR, OR OR WARRANTS WRITTEN BY DETECTIVE.

UM, BUT IN 2012 THERE WERE 83, 20 13 IS THE YEAR THAT WE'RE HAVING THE RESEARCH.

AND LAST YEAR'S TOTALS WAS 109.

UM, THAT WAS THE, UH, THE GENERAL TOTALS.

UH, AND LIKE I SAID, WE'LL FIND OUT THE ADDITIONAL INF INFORMATION.

UH, AS FAR AS THE CLAIMS, UH, I THINK THERE'S SOMEONE HERE TO SPEAK ON THAT PORTION OF IT.

UM, BUT ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU DID ASK WAS, UH, PROCEDURES.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD BE BEST FOR ME TO COVER OR FOR THE PROCEDURES TO BE COVERED BY RISK MANAGEMENT, BUT I'LL BE HAPPY TO, TO DO BOTH.

OH, I, I, YES, BUT I NEGLECTED TO RESPOND TO ONE POINT FOR COUNCILMAN DUNN AND MR. DOTSON.

REMIND ME, I LEFT IT OFF.

THE REASON YOU GOT THAT RESPONSE FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS BECAUSE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SELF-INSURED.

BUT IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY, CAUSE THE PARISH IS NOT RESPONSIBLE.

I DON'T EVEN GET THOSE CLAIMS. THAT GOES TO SOMEBODY TOTALLY

[01:05:01]

SEPARATE.

I WAS GONNA SPEAK TO IN MY, IN MY COMMENTS, BUT I THINK THEIR STATEMENT TECHNICALLY IS TRUE, BUT THE INFORMATION REQUESTED IS FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW.

I UNDERSTAND, UH, THE SHERIFF IS FUNDED BY TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

SO I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THEIR LIABILITY NUMBERS IS, IS AS WELL.

AND IF I GOTTA INTRODUCE ANOTHER ITEM TO, YOU KNOW, TWEAK THAT TO MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND, WE WANTED TO KNOW THE NUMBERS, WHETHER THE CITY PARISH WERE PAYING FOR 'EM OR THE SHERIFFS WERE PAYING FOR 'EM, CUZ IT'S TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT OFFICE DOESN'T HOUSE THOSE NUMBERS FOR SHERIFF, AND, AND I'M NOT, I I MISSED THE LAST QUESTION.

UH, WERE YOU, DID YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT HOW THE CLAIMS WERE HANDLED FROM THE WARRANT STANDPOINT OR OKAY, THE PROCEDURE.

THE PROCEDURE.

I WANTED TO KNOW IF HE, IF YOU WANTED HIM TO GIVE IT OR DID YOU I'M HAPPY TO.

HE, HE MAY NOT KNOW IT, SO I'M HAPPY TO GIVE IT THE, THE PROCEDURE WOULD WORK LIKE THIS.

IF A CITIZEN FELT LIKE, UH, THEY WERE ENTITLED TO FILE A CLAIM BASED ON, UH, THE CITY POLICE EXECUTING ON A WARRANT, THEY CAN CONTACT OUR, WELL WHAT'S ON THE WEBSITE, OUR WEBSITE.

THEY CAN EITHER CONTACT ME OFF, CONTACT ME DIRECTLY, AND PEOPLE HAVE BEFORE OR OUR THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR, WHICH IS SEDWICK.

AND REGARDLESS IF IT GETS TO ME OR GOES STRAIGHT TO SEDWICK, WE HAVE AN INJ, AN ADJUSTER THAT INVESTIGATES A CLAIM TO DETERMINE WHAT IS OUR LIABILITY.

THAT ADJUSTER WILL MAKE A LIABILITY DETERMINATION AND REPORT THAT TO OUR OFFICE AND THEN WE'LL MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER WE'RE GONNA PAY THAT CLAIM OR NOT.

IF THE CLAIM IS DENIED AND NOT PAID, THAT CITIZEN HAS A RIGHT TO AN APPEAL.

IN FACT, WE HAD APPEALS HEARINGS TODAY THAT CITIZEN CAN APPEAL AND SOMETIMES IT, THAT DECISION'S REVERSED AND, AND BY THAT APPEALS COMMITTEE, IF IT'S NOT AND THAT DENIAL IS UPHELD, THEN THEY HAVE A RIGHT.

THEY CAN ALWAYS SUE US.

RIGHT? THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN.

THOSE CLAIMS ARE NOT TYPICALLY LARGE, BUT I DON'T WANNA MINIMIZE, UH, AN EXPENSE TO A CITIZEN BECAUSE I KNOW IT, IT'S VERY SERIOUS TO HIM.

SO I WOULD JUST TELL YOU THAT'S THE PROCESS OF YOU GET TO EITHER CALL, YOU CAN CALL ME DIRECT THREE EIGHT NINE THREE FOUR ONE ONE AND OR CALL ME DIRECTLY.

I'LL MAKE SURE THAT CLAIM GETS TO PAT LASALLE AND, UH, WHO'S USUALLY THE ADJUSTER THAT HANDLES THOSE.

IF THE CLAIM GETS DENIED, COULD IT COULD GET PAID IF, IF HE RECOMMENDS PAYING THE CLAIM, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE THAT'S HANDLED INTERNALLY IN OUR OFFICE THROUGH A CLAIMS APPROVAL PROCEDURE.

AND WE DO THAT AND WE, WE DO THOSE EVERY DAY.

AND IN FACT, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY WE HAVE A MONTH, BUT JUST CLAIMS IN GENERAL, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE CLAIM, IT COULD BE, COULD BE TAKEN CARE OF INTERNALLY.

AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S MORE THAN $10,000, IT HAS TO GO TO OUR CLAIMS REVIEW COMMITTEE.

AND IF, IF WE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE THINK WE SHOULD ASK Y'ALL TO PAY, THEN I BRING IT HERE AND HOPEFULLY I CAN PRESENT IT TO Y'ALL AND Y'ALL EITHER GIVE SEVEN VOTES TO PASS IT OR NOT.

AND DO YOU HAVE THE NUMBERS ON WHAT WE'VE SPENT ANNUALLY ON THOSE CLAIMS? I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBERS CUZ, UH, AND I'M, WE'RE CHANGING HOW WE KEEP THAT DATA CUZ OUR TPA DOESN'T KEEP IT LIKE THAT.

TYPICALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS WE FOUND ON AVERAGE WE GET MAYBE EIGHT TO 10 OF THOSE CLAIMS A YEAR.

USUALLY WE PAY ONE TO TWO.

AND, UH, IN FACT, JUST RECENTLY WE PAID ONE THAT WAS ABOUT $3,300.

THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T TYPICALLY GO OVER THREE OR $4,000.

THEY'RE SMALLER CLAIMS, BUT JUST DEPENDING ON, ON WHAT THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE IS, I KNOW WE GOT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HERE TO SPEAK, SO I'M GONNA GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT WHEN THE TIME PERMITS.

BUT IT SEEMS AS IF Y'ALL NEED TO TAKE A DEEPER DIVE ON, ON SOME OF THIS DATA.

THAT HAVE, BUT WE HAVE BEEN ADVERSELY IMPACTED AND THERE'S NOT OFTEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO CRITICIZE THESE PRACTICES IN ANY MANY MEANINGFUL WAY.

I VAGUELY REMEMBER THE FLORIDA BOULEVARD INCIDENT WHERE A GENTLEMAN WAS WALKING ACROSS FLORIDA BOULEVARD AND STRUCK, WAS STRUCK AND KILLED.

UH, A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH TALKS ABOUT A POLICE PURSUIT THAT ENDS, UH, A POLICE CAR THEFT THAT ENDS IN POLICE PURSUIT AND A DEATH, AND ANOTHER ONE WHERE, UH, B R P D KILL OF FOUR PEOPLE.

SO I'M GONNA GIVE YOU SOME TIME TO DIG INTO IT.

UM, IT'S EVIDENTLY THAT YOU NEED MORE TIME TO DIG INTO IT AND GET US SOME MORE DATA.

YOU DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS ON? NO, SIR.

I DON'T HAVE IT ON THE PROPERTY DAMAGE CLAIM, SIR.

NO PROPERTY DAMAGE.

BUT I'M GONNA GET A PUBLIC AND I, AND I'M GONNA DO MY BEST RECREATE IT FOR YOU.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS? ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS? WE HAVE THAT IS SCHWART HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.

WELL, I WANNA START BY SAYING THAT I GREATLY APPRECIATE THE, UH, BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THAT I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT CHOSE TO SKIRT THE ISSUE, ESSENTIALLY NOT ANSWERING THE REQUESTS OF THIS COUNCIL THROUGH USE OF SEMANTICS.

UH, HOWEVER, ON THIS TOPIC, UH, OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY UNNECESSARY POLICE CHASES, OUR FAMILY HAS NOT HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

WE DID NOT SUFFER LOSS OF LIFE OR PHYSICAL INJURY.

I DON'T WANNA TRIVIALIZE LO TRIVIALIZE LOSSES OF THOSE

[01:10:01]

ON APRIL 8TH, 2018, AT 4:00 AM A MAN WHO LEFT A HALFWAY HOUSE IN DENIM SPRINGS AND STOLE A LARGE SUV, WAS CHASED BY BATON ROUGE POLICE FROM FOR BOULEVARD INTO THE SHERWOOD FOREST NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR ST.

THOMAS MOORE GOED ON BY POLICEMEN ON PURSUING RATHER THAN INTERCEPTING THE PURSUED CAR THIEF ACCELERATED THROUGH STREETS WHERE HE WAS UNFAMILIAR, ULTIMATELY LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ENDING THAT CHASE IN THE SPARE BEDROOM OF MY HOUSE, THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A BRICK WALL PINNING THE HEADBOARD OF THE BED AGAINST THE OPPOSITE WALL.

FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE ROOM THAT NIGHT, THOUGH THERE HAD BEEN JUST DAYS BEFORE.

HAD ANYONE BEEN IN THAT BED, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THEY WOULD'VE SURVIVED.

THE POLICE IN THIS INSTANCE, DID VERY LITTLE.

NO ONE KNOCKED ON THE DOOR TO LET US KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

NO ONE CHECKED ON US, THE INHABITANTS OF THE HOUSE.

I HAD TO CALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.

THE FOCUS OF THE POLICE AT MY HOME WAS PURELY ON PURSUIT, AND THEN THEY LEFT.

AND IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING, IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING, WHILE I WAITED ON A TOW TRUCK TO PULL THE VEHICLE FROM MY HOME, WHEN WE WERE THEN LEFT TO PICK UP THE PIECES OF OUR HOUSE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOT HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR DAMAGE CAUSED BY RECKLESS PURSUIT.

CAR THIEVES DON'T CARRY INSURANCE AND APPARENTLY ARE NOT LIABLE FOR THE DAMAGE THEY CAUSE.

IT'S NOT WORTH PURSUING RESTITUTION FOR THE DAMAGE IN COURT BECAUSE HE HAS NOTHING TO TAKE.

AND THAT'S THE LESSON IN THIS CASE.

IT'S NOT WORTH PURSUING.

HE PRESENTED NO REAL THREAT.

HE MAY HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE TO A VEHICLE AND THAT WAS IT.

INSTEAD, UNDER AN UNNECESSARY PURSUIT, HE TOLD A VEHICLE AND DID 30,000 PLUS IN DAMAGE TO A HOME.

INSTEAD, THE POLICE LEFT A FAMILY FEELING UNSAFE IN THEIR HOME, WORRIED THAT NO ONE CAN STAY IN THAT ROOM FOR FEAR THAT IT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN.

AT THE END OF EACH OF THESE ITEMS, IT STATES THAT THE REPORT SHOULD OUTLINE THE PROCESS PROPERTY OWNERS MUST FOLLOW WHEN MAKING A CLAIM FOR SUCH DAMAGE.

AND I CAN STATE THAT THAT INFORMATION IS NOT READILY SUPPLIED TO THOSE WHO ARE IN THE SITUATION.

I SPECIFICALLY CALLED AND ASKED FOR THIS INFORMATION, WAS TOLD BY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN MY CASE, THAT THAT WAS FOR MY INSURANCE TO PURSUE WITH THE CITY AND THAT I HAD NO LEGAL RECOURSE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH SIR.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? HELLO EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS ERICA RAYFORD.

I AM A RESIDENT OF THE PARK FOREST NEIGHBORHOOD AND ON DECEMBER 30TH, MY HOUSE WAS TORN APART.

BEDNER CITY POLICE CAME AND WHEN I HEARD THE ALARM GO OFF, CUZ I WASN'T AT MY HOME, I IMMEDIATELY GOT ON THE CAMERA TO TELL THEM THAT NO ONE WAS THERE.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE THEIR RULES AND THEIR RIGHTS TO FOLLOW.

HOWEVER, EVEN AFTER BEING TOLD THAT SEVERAL TIMES, MY HOUSE DOORS WERE TORN APART, THE WINDOWS WERE TAKEN APART FRONT AND BACK OF MY HOME.

AFTER FINDING OUT FROM THE NEIGHBORS WHAT WAS GOING ON CUZ THEY WERE CALLING, I WAS INFORMED BY BATON ROUGE CITY POLICE THAT THEY HAD A WARRANT FOR MY GRANDSON'S ARREST WHO'S A JUVENILE.

AND I TOLD THEM AGAIN THAT NO ONE WAS AT THE HOME.

AND AT THE TIME, AS WE WERE GOING ON THROUGH EVERYTHING AND TELLING THEM, NO ONE'S IN THE HOUSE, TELL ME WHAT THIS IS.

GIVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY I CAN, YOU KNOW, BRING THEM IN MYSELF IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR 'EM.

HOWEVER, THAT STILL DIDN'T MATTER.

IT TURNED INTO A HOSTAGE NEGOTIATION WITH NO ONE IN THE HOME.

AFTER THE HOSTAGE NEGOTIATION, MY DAUGHTER WAS THERE, MY SISTER WAS THERE, THE NEIGHBORS, EVERYBODY'S OUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

MY HOUSE HAD FLASH BANGS PUT IN IT, THE BANGS ALL THROUGH THE WINDOWS, THROUGH MY DOORS, THROUGH MY TELEVISION, BURNED THE CURTAINS, MY MATTRESS, I MEAN EVERYTHING FLIPPED APART.

THEN I GOT ANOTHER CALL THAT MY SON'S POSTER, HE'S DECEASED AND WE HAVE A SIX FOOT POSTER OF MY DECEASED SON WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE HOME.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ASSUMED THAT WAS THE PERSON IN THE HOME OR WHATEVER HAPPENED, BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT MY BACK DOOR WAS OPEN AND I STILL TOLD THEM, DID YOU GET ANYBODY OUT OF MY HOUSE? NO ONE WAS IN MY HOME WHEN I ARRIVED FROM MISSISSIPPI, CUZ I WAS OUT OF THE TOWN TO LOOK AT MY CAMERAS AND TO GO INTO MY HOUSE.

WE COULDN'T EVEN GO IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE THE SMELL IS AWFUL.

THE FLASH BANGS, THAT'S ALL OVER EVERYTHING, THE MATERIAL, THE CLOTHES WE ARE WASHING, CLOTHES, STILL WASHING, STILL TRYING TO CLEAN, STILL TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING.

I CONTACTED, UM, I SENT AN EMAIL FIRST TO CHIEF PAUL MURPHY OF THE EVERYTHING THAT TOOK PLACE AND WHAT HAPPENED.

I ALSO CONTACTED, UM, THE RISK MANAGEMENT AFTER FOLLOWING.

I SENT PICTURES OUT PERTAINING TO THE CASE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

I WAS TOLD TO TALK TO PAUL LASALLE, WHICH HE DID CALL, HE DID COME OUT, HE TOOK PICTURES.

HE ASKED ME FOR THE WARRANT.

I GAVE HIM A COPY OF THE WARRANT.

TOLD EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, THAT I NEEDED TO TELL THEM.

AND I WAS DENIED UPON IMPACT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WHEN MY

[01:15:01]

SISTER AND MY DAUGHTER WAS THERE AND I WAS ON THE PHONE, I WAS ALSO TOLD, THAT'S WHAT I HAVE HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE FOR IT.

HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE HAS A CLAUSE THAT THEY DO NOT COVER.

GOVERNMENT ACT WHEN YOU COME INTO THE HOUSE.

SO THEREFORE WE ARE THE SAME WAY.

WE ARE LEFT WITH THE HOUSE WITH CUSTOMIZED WINDOWS THAT CANNOT GET FIXED.

WE ARE LEFT VULNERABLE, WE ARE LEFT OPEN.

WE DON'T HAVE THE PROPER COVERAGE OF THE SECURITY THAT WE NEED DUE TO THE IMPACT THAT WAS MADE UPON THE HOUSE.

SO I'M JUST HERE TO JUST SAY THAT SOMETHING DOES NEED TO BE DONE.

WE UNDERSTAND HOW IT NEEDS TO GO, BUT SOME COMPASSION, CONCERN AND CARE NEEDS TO BE IN CONSIDERATION AS WELL.

THANK YOU MA'AM.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? YES SIR.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD PLEASE.

HI.

MY NAME'S LOGAN WOLF.

I AM WITH, UH, VOICE OF THE EXPERIENCED, ALSO KNOWN AS VOTE.

YOU PROBABLY SEE ME HERE ALL THE TIME.

UM, I DO WANNA JUST STATE, UM, OF COURSE THAT BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SKIRTED AROUND THE ISSUE.

WE, UH, OBVIOUSLY DID NOT GET A REPORT FROM THEM ON THEIR CURRENT PRACTICES ON ARREST WARRANTS, UM, WHICH IS NOT SURPRISING.

UM, BUT I DO WANNA START OFF BY THANKING COUNCILMAN DUNN, UH, FOR RAISING THESE ISSUES.

UH, TODAY.

UM, WE HAVE A PROBLEM HERE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, UM, IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE WITH WARRANTS.

UH, THE CITY COURT ALONE HAS 5,190 ACTIVE WARRANTS.

UH, THE AMOUNT OF ACTIVE WARRANTS IS ALMOST 15 TIMES THE NATIONAL AVERAGE HERE IN BATON ROUGE.

UM, OF COURSE, RACIAL DISPARITIES PLAGUE THE SYSTEM.

UH, BLACK PEOPLE IN THE PARISH ARE 2.4 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A WARRANT THAN WHITE PEOPLE.

UH, THE VAST MAJORITY OF WARRANTS ARE FOR VIOLATIONS THAT ARE NOT SERIOUS, DO NOT RESULT IN JAIL TIME.

1.2% OF ACTIVE WARRANTS ARE FOR VIOLENT FELONIES.

UH, LASTLY, THE WARRANTS IN BATON ROUGE ARE EXTREMELY OLD.

ABOUT 89% ARE OLDER THAN ONE YEAR.

AND SOME DATE TO THE SEVENTIES, UH, THAT'S DOUBLED MY AGE.

UH, IN JULY OF LAST YEAR, MY ORGANIZATION, UH, PUT TOGETHER A REPORT, UH, TO DESCRIBE THE ISSUE AND SOME POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS THAT WE HAVE.

MY COLLEAGUE EMAILED THE COUNCIL THIS MORNING WITH THAT REPORT.

UH, BUT IF YOU DIDN'T RECEIVE IT, I DO HAVE COPIES FOR EVERYBODY HERE.

UM, BUT JUST TO READ A LITTLE BIT FROM HER EMAIL, UH, THE REPORT REVEALS THE SYSTEMATIC AND EXCESSIVE OVER-RELIANCE ON OUTDATED WARRANTS AND THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT BACK MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

MOST OF THESE WARRANTS ARE FOR LOW LEVEL NON-VIOLENT OFFENSES THAT WOULD BE NON JAILABLE AND A MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THE WARRANT OF A RESULT OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S AVOIDANCE, UH, DUE TO THEIR NOT AB ABILITY TO PAY THEIR WARRANT OR THEY'RE FINE AND FEES.

UM, AND THIS RESULTS IN THEM BEING PUT IN THE PARISH PRISON, UH, WHICH IS A PRE-TRIAL FACILITY, NOT AN ACTUAL PRISON.

UH, NOT ONLY DOES THIS CONTRIBUTE TO UNNECESSARY OVERCROWDING, UM, IN THE JAIL, BUT IT'S WASTEFUL TAX.

IT'S, IT'S WASTEFUL TAX DOLLARS.

UM, SO YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

I ALSO DO HAVE THE PRINTED OUT, UH, REPORT IF YOU WANT IT.

YEAH, OF COURSE.

WE APPRECIATE YOU.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ASHLEY? COUNCIL MEMBERS? YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT ON THESE ITEMS. COUNCIL MEMBER.

DONE.

STANDPOINT, BUT THEY ARE FUNDED BY TAXPAYERS AND TAXPAYERS OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISHS.

I WANT TO THANK ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOR COMING OUT TO SPEAK.

I WANT TO DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT WHY I BROUGHT THESE ITEMS. UM, IT'S OBVIOUS NOT ONLY HERE LOCALLY IN BATON ROUGE AND SURROUNDING AREAS, BUT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE HAPPENING ABOUT THESE POLICE CHASES IN HIGH SPEED PURSUITS.

AS SOMEONE MENTIONED, MANY OF THESE PURSUITS END IN FATALITIES OR INJURIES, AND THESE ARE LOW LEVEL CRIMES.

I WANTED TO START A CONVERSATION AMONGST OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ABOUT THAT AND LOOKING AT THE POLICIES AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO MINIMIZE THESE INJURIES AND DEATHS AND, UH, PUT SOME NEW POLICIES IN PLACE SO WE DON'T FACE THESE CHALLENGES THAT WE SEE TAKING PLACE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

UM, I REACHED OUT TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WHEN WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CHALLENGES, UH, WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OR WITH CRIME, B R P D IS OFTEN THE ONLY AGENCY THAT IS DISCUSSED.

OUR SHERIFF, OUR CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN THIS PARISH, AND THEY MONITOR AND PATROL MANY OF, UM, OUR DISTRICTS HERE.

BUT OFTENTIMES, UH, CHIEF PAUL AND HIS AGENCY IS THE ONLY AGENCY HERE ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS AND KNOW THE SHERIFF OFFICE IS NOT, UH, TIED WITH US FINANCIALLY OR FROM AN INSURANCE

[01:20:01]

SO THEY MAY NOT NEED TO, TO ANSWER TO US OUR REQUEST FOR THESE NUMBERS, BUT YOU NEED TO ANSWER TO THE PUBLIC AND THE TAXPAYER FOR THESE NUMBERS BECAUSE THE PUBLIC AND THE TAXPAYERS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE GETTING INJURED, GETTING KILLED, AND PUTTING THEIR LIVES AT RISK FOR UNNECESSARY PURSUITS.

IN, IN MANY OF OUR OPINION, UH, WE HAVE TWO ITEMS HERE.

ONE IS THE POLICE PURSUIT, THE OTHER ONE IS THE, THE WARRANTS AND THE LIABILITY THAT'S, UH, OCCURRED FROM SOME OF THESE WARRANTS.

UM, THIS TYPE OF THING HAPPENED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD GROWING UP ALL THE TIME.

UH, I I WASN'T AWARE THAT THERE WAS A PROCESS THAT RESIDENTS OR PROPERTY OWNERS COULD GO THROUGH TO RECRUIT THAT DAMAGES.

UH, IT, IT PEAKED UP AGAIN FOR ME WHEN I GOT THE CALL FROM ERICA, WHO I GREW UP WITH, AND SHE SHARED HER EXPERIENCE WITH ME.

SHE WAS ON HER RING CAMERA, ON HER SECURITY CAMERAS, TALKING TO BRP D SAYING, LOOK, WE'RE OUT OF TOWN.

I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR MY GRANDSON.

HE'S ACTUALLY WITH US OUT OF TOWN.

I'LL BRING HIM IN WHEN WE GET BACK.

BUT YET, HER HOME WAS STILL BREACHED.

A HOME WAS STILL DAMAGED.

WINDOWS BUST OUT FLASH BANGS AS IF THEY WAS IN THERE CHASING SOMEBODY.

I GUESS THEY WAS CHASING THE POSTER.

SO WHAT I'M SAYING, THERE'S SOME INSTANCES WHERE YOU'RE CHASING SOMEBODY AND IT'S GONNA CAUSE SOME DAMAGE TO PROPERTY CUZ THEY TRYING TO GET AWAY.

BUT IF THAT'S NOT THE CASE, WE SHOULDN'T BE DAMAGING RESIDENCE'S HOME.

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IF WE DO THAT, I WANTED THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A PROCESS TO RECRUIT THOSE DAMAGES.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PROCESS IS CLEAR AND CONCISE AND PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO FA UH, FOLLOW IT.

UH, THE GENTLEMAN THAT SPOKE ABOUT HIS POLICE PURSUIT EXPERIENCE, AS WELL AS ERICA WITH HER, UM, EXECUTION OF A WARRANT EXPERIENCE, THEY DIDN'T HAVE CLEAR INFORMATION ON HOW TO FOLLOW THAT PROCESS.

CHIEF PAUL DID GIVE ERICA THE INFORMATION AND SHE FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH THAT INFORMATION.

BUT WE NEED TO MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE OF HOW THEY CAN ADDRESS THIS IF THIS ENDS UP HAPPENING TO THEM.

I WANNA MAKE THE THE PUBLIC AWARE THAT OUR POLICY, OUR VEHICLE PURSUIT POLICY IS AVAILABLE ONLINE IF YOU VISIT OUR WEBSITE, BRP.COM.

UNDER TRANSPARENCY, ALL OF OUR POLICIES ARE ONLINE AS IT RELATES TO PURSUITS, AS IT RELATES TO SEARCHES.

UH, EVERY QUARTER WE MEET, I'M SORRY.

YOU KNOW, WE OFTEN HEAR ABOUT, YOU KNOW, STUFF IS ONLINE, RIGHT? WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER, TO A PHONE, TO A DEVICE OR, OR THE INTERNET.

I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR, UH, UH, ONE OF OUR ATTORNEYS GIVE THE TELEPHONE NUMBER OUT.

YEP.

SO THE ONLINE PRESENCE OR INFORMATION IS, IS ONE WAY WE, THAT SHOULDN'T BE THE ONLY WAY.

AND I'M, I'M NOT BEING CRITICAL, I'M JUST SAYING EVERYBODY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET.

SO PAPER, TELEPHONE NUMBERS, LET'S MAKE SURE WE INCLUDE ALL OF THAT.

I WAS, I WAS.

CAUSE YOU'RE MISSING A SEGMENT OF PEOPLE WHEN EVERYTHING IS REFERENCED TO GO ONLINE.

YEAH, I WAS GETTING, EVERY QUARTER WE MEET IN PERSON, UH, OUR CHIEF ADVISORY COUNCIL, THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO THAT WHERE WE PRESENT, UH, POLICIES, UH, THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING WHERE WE GET INPUT FROM THEM.

AND I WELCOME ALL OF YOU, UH, AS WELL TO PARTICIPATE, UH, IN THOSE QUARTERLY MEETINGS.

YOU CAN CALL MY OFFICE DIRECTLY OR SEND AN EMAIL TO ME AT CHIEF PAUL BR LA.GOV AND I'LL PUT YOU ON THAT LIST AS WELL.

UM, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING, UH, WITH, WITH THE POLICIES AS IT RELATES TO PURSUITS, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S GONNA BE LEGISLATION THAT'S GOING TO BE CONSIDERED THIS UPCOMING SESSION SESSION THAT WILL IMPACT, UM, UM, TRACKING, UH, DEVICE DEPLOYMENTS OR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ACTIVELY LOOKING AT, UH, TO HELP WITH THAT.

THERE ARE SOME TECHNOLOGY THAT WE ARE BEING TOLD WHEN YOU ARE INVOLVED IN THE CHASES, THAT YOU CAN, UH, DEPLOY IT, UH, TO ATTACH TO THE VEHICLE, BACK OFF THE VEHICLE, AND THEN LET THAT TRACKING DEVICE TELL YOU WHERE THAT VEHICLE IS.

ANOTHER ONE WE'RE CONSIDERING, UH, IS, IS ACTUAL, UH, DIGITAL SIRENS WHERE, UH, THIS TECHNOLOGY WILL DEPLOY WITHIN A HALF A MILE TO A MILE, UH, DIGITAL, UM, UH, ALERTS TO EVERYBODY IN A GEOGRAPHICAL AREA, LIKE ON WAYS, UH, APPLE MAPS TO NOTIFY THOSE THAT A, UH, A, A CHASE IS NEARBY SO THAT THEY CAN ALSO BE MORE, UH, UH, VIGILANT.

ANOTHER ONE IS, UH, EXPANDING OUR DRONE AND AVIATION PROGRAM AS WELL, AND HOW WE CAN USE DRONES, UH, AND MORE OF A, UH, UH, UH, A WAY TO, TO, UH, TO, TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF, UH, PURSUITS THAT WE'RE ENGAGED IN.

I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY EXPLORING, UH, THOSE UPDATES IN OUR POLICIES AND WE WILL BE MONITORING, UH, THE LEGISLATION AS WELL.

ONE MORE THING, ANYTIME OUR SWAT, WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN ASSESSMENT, UH, WHERE WE SCORE, UM, OF, OF SEARCHES, UH, OF, OF RESIDENCES.

AND WHEN THAT SEARCH REACHES A CERTAIN NUMBER, A CERTAIN

[01:25:01]

THRESHOLD, WE ARE REQUIRED TO DEPLOY, UH, UH, S R T AND S R T EXECUTES THOSE HIGH-RISK WARRANTS BASED ON, UH, THE VIOLATOR AND BASED ON INFORMATION ON THAT, I WANT TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU ON, ON, UH, UH, WHY, UH, WE USE OUR S R T.

UH, OUR SWAT TEAM IS THE MOST HIGHLY TRAINED, HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL, UH, UH, UH, DIVISION THAT WE HAVE, UH, IN, IN, IN THAT, UM, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF IS WHEN AS THE CHIEF OF POLICE, WHEN WE USE OUR SWAT, UH, I HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ABILITY.

UH, THEY DON'T MAKE A LOT OF MISTAKES.

WE CAN FIX HOUSES IF WE MAKE A MISTAKE, RIGHT? WHERE, UH, WE CAN REPAIR HOUSES.

I LIKE USING OUR S R T.

UM, UH, I, I'M VERY, VERY CAREFUL IN IN, IN TAKING THAT PIECE AWAY.

UH, HOWEVER, UH, I DO UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SAID TO DATE.

BUT WHEN WE HAVE A SCORING ASSESSMENT SYSTEM IN PLACE TO EXECUTE WARRANTS, UH, I THINK OVERALL THAT'S NOT ONLY SAFER FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS.

I, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS ADVOCATING AGAINST THE EXECUTION OF WARRANTS IS JUST HAVING SOME DISCRETION.

I MEAN, IN A, IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS, AND I KNOW YOU DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S NOBODY IN THE HOME AND YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY TAKE SOMEBODY'S WORD THAT THERE'S NOBODY IN THE HOME.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH YOU BREACHING THE HOME.

BUT ONCE YOU GET IN THERE, I MEAN, BUSTING ALL THE WINDOWS OUT THE HOME, THE FLASH BANGS AND TEARING THE HOME UP IN, IN MY OPINION, THAT'S JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE WHEN THERE'S NOBODY IN THE HOME.

SO I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT JUSTIFIES THAT TYPE OF ACTION.

WELL, THAT PROBABLY HAPPENED BEFORE WE GOT IN THE HOME.

NOT ONCE WE GOT IT HOME.

I WOULD HOPE THAT NOW THAT THAT INCIDENT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION, UH, AS PART OF OUR STANDARD POLICY.

BUT, BUT, BUT LET ME SEE THIS, WHEN WE'RE ONLY THERE FOR FELONS OKAY, TO MEET THAT LEVEL, THEN OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOMETHING SERIOUS, UH, GOING ON OR THERE ACCUSED WARRANTS ACCUSED THAT IS CORRECT.

SIGNED BY.

WE'RE STILL IN THE COUNTRY WHERE YOU INNOCENT IS PROVEN GUILTY.

THAT IS CORRECT.

AND, AND LOOK, I HEAR YOU, I HEAR YOU WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT WHEN WE HAVE A SEARCH WARRANT, MOST OF THE TIME THOSE SEARCH WARRANTS ARE VERY SPECIFIC AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE.

SOMETIMES WE CAN'T COME BACK LATER BECAUSE THAT EVIDENCE MAY NOT BE THERE.

THE GUNS IN THERE, GO GET IT.

I JUST WANTED TO SET THAT UP.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.

SO IT WAS SO COINCIDENTAL THAT THIS HAPPENED IN PARK FOREST BECAUSE LITERALLY I CALLED A PARISH ATTORNEY, MUST HAVE BEEN THE SAME DAY OR THE NEXT DAY.

AND, UH, PARISH ATTORNEY DOCTOR SAID, MAN, WE JUST HAD THIS, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THIS, BUT IT WAS A COMPLETELY SEPARATE SCENARIO IN MY DISTRICT AND ZION CITY, WHERE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TORE THE ENTIRE FRONT OFF OF SOMEBODY'S HOUSE AND THE PERSON THAT THEY WENT AFTER WAS IN THE HOME, BUT THEY SCURRED AND RAN INTO SOMEONE ELSE'S HOME, PULLED THE FRONT OFF THAT HOME AND CREATED BLIGHT, WHICH WILL PROBABLY TURN INTO CONDEMNATION BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD TO REPAIR THEIR HOMES.

AND THE CRAZY PART ABOUT IT IS, THREE DAYS BEFORE I HAD ANOTHER CONSTITUENT, A SENIOR CITIZEN WHO WAS ON MY CONDEMNATION LIST FOR THE DISTRICT AROUND THE CORNER FROM THE HOME THAT HAD THE FRONT PULLED OFF OF IT, WHO'S A PART OF THE COUNCIL AND AGENT GROUP AT THE CHARLES KELLY CENTER WHERE MY DISTRICT OFFICE IS.

AND THEY SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, COUNCILMAN HURST, TWO YEARS AGO, THE SWAT TEAM CAME INTO MY HOME, TORE THE HOUSE TO PIECES.

I CAN'T AFFORD THE REPAIRS WITH A FIXED INCOME AS AN ELDERLY PERSON.

WHAT DO I DO? CUZ NOW THE HOME IS ON THE CONDEMNATION LIST.

SO IF IT COSTS 'EM $5,000 TO TEAR IT DOWN AND THEY PUT IT ON MY TAX ROLL, THEN WHAT DO I DO? SO I WANT TO ASK THE CHIEF TO COME BACK UP AS WELL AS, UH, ANDREW DOTSON, BECAUSE I WANT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DO THE CONSTITUENTS HAVE TO DO? CAUSE WHEN YOU BLOW THE DOOR OFF SOMEBODY'S HOUSE, I DON'T CARE IF THE PERSON IS IN THE HOUSE, YOU SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR FIXING IT.

IF NOT, WHAT LAWS WE TO CHANGE TO MAKE THE CITY LIABLE FOR DOING THAT? CAUSE ANYTIME THEY TEAR SOMEBODY'S HOUSE UP, THEY SHOULD BE IN A POSITION TO REPAIR IT.

THAT'S WHY I LOVE THE LAW.

CAUSE WE CAN CHANGE IT.

AND COUNCIL, I DON'T WANT TO PRESUPPOSE WHAT YOUR QUESTION IS, BUT I I WILL STATE TO EVERYONE WHAT YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT, UM, THE WAY THAT WE LOOK AT IT FROM A RISK MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT.

AND MR. ROME CAN ADD ANYTHING THAT I'M MISSING AND GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE.

AND LET ME MAKE SOMETHING CLEAR.

IF A BAD GUY'S IN THERE GO GET HIM THAT THE DOPE AND

[01:30:01]

BUT YOU GONNA FIX THE HOUSE WHEN YOU LEAVE THOUGH.

WELL, AND AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I TOLD YOU WHEN YOU AND I TALKED.

THERE'S A STATE STATUTE OUT THERE THAT WE RELY ON, UH, THAT ALLOWS US TO PROCEED IN THE WAY THAT THE CHIEF, UH, LAID OUT THE WAY THAT YOU LAID OUT.

AS LONG AS WE HAVE, UH, A VALID WARRANT AND WE'RE ACTING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT WARRANT AND DOING WHAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO BE DOING, THEY'RE ACTING REASONABLE AND EXECUTING THAT WARRANT, THEN BY STATUTE WE'RE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES.

HOWEVER, IF THE, IF THE A WARRANT IS EXECUTED ON THE WRONG HOME, WHICH WE'VE HAD, UH, OR THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY PICKED THE WRONG ADDRESS, THE CITY PICKS UP THE TAB AND WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN TO REPAIR THEIR HOME AND MAKE IT BACK WHOLE AGAIN.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY BY STATUTE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE IF IT'S EXECUTING AND PROPERLY EXECUTING A WARRANT ON A HOME WHERE THERE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL OR AN ITEM TO WHICH THEY HAD THE RIGHT TO BE THERE TO SEARCH FOR SOMEONE.

HAVE ONE OF OUR PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS PUBLICLY.

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE CHANGED AT THIS LEVEL OR JUST AT THE STATE LEVEL? IF IT'S A STATE STATUTE'S GOTTA BE CHANGED ON THE STATE LEVEL.

THAT'S GREAT.

CAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO WRITE A RESOLUTION AND I'M ASKING ALL MY COLLEAGUES PUBLICLY TO SIGN IT.

UM, CAUSE IF THEY TORE YOUR HOME UP BECAUSE THEY HAD THE RIGHT HOUSE, BUT THE BAD GUY WAS IN THERE AND YOU WERE HAVING A SUPER BOWL PARTY AND THEY CAME AND GOT 'EM AND TORE YOUR WINDOWS OUT, FLASH BANG, ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS SUNDAY? WHILE IT'S NOT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, WOULD YOU WANT YOUR HOUSE REPAIRED? SO I WANT TO PUBLICLY ASK YOU TO PUT A RESOLUTION TOGETHER TO BE INTRODUCED NEXT WEEK THAT I'M GOING TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES SIGN THAT WE CAN THEN SEND TO A STATE LEGISLATOR TO SUPPORT AT THE STATE LEVEL TO MAKE THAT CHANGE.

COUNCIL MEMBER M CHIEF, I GOT A QUICK QUESTION, PLEASE.

UM, YES MA'AM.

WHAT IS THE POLICY FOR, UH, PURSUING, UM, VEHICLES? IS D DO THEY LIMIT? I MEAN, ARE THEY, THEY CAN JUST GO ANYWHERE.

I MEAN, THIS GENTLEMAN BACK HERE IS MY SON-IN-LAW, MM-HMM.

, I GOT THAT PHONE CALL AT 4:00 AM IN THE MORNING.

THAT A THAT A, UH, CAR HAD GONE THROUGH THEIR FRONT.

SO I MEAN, SO THEY GO INTO, THEY'RE PURSUING A CAR INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD.

THEY'RE, THEY DON'T THINK ABOUT THE, THE, UH, HARM OR THE DAMAGE OR LIKE IN THIS CASE, A HOUSE THAT WAS GONE THROUGH.

I MEAN, POLICY, PLEASE.

VEHICLE PURSUIT ANALYSIS THAT WE COMPLETE EVERY YEAR.

YES, MA'AM.

AND OUR POLICY DOES, UH, STATE WINDOW TERMINATE, UH, IF THERE'S A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC, UH, WEATHER CONDITIONS, UH, TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, UH, IF, UH, THE, UH, UH, UH, THE SUSPECT THAT YOU'RE CHASING IS KNOWN, UH, TO THE OFFICERS.

SO THE POLICY LISTS A, UM, UH, A LIST OF THINGS THAT OFFICERS SHOULD CONSIDER, UH, WHEN, UH, UH, INVOLVED IN A PURSUIT.

UH, BUT SPECIFICALLY, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, REMAINS THE HIGHEST, UH, UH, UH, UH, STANDARD AS IT RELATES TO WHEN IT SHOULD BE STOPPED.

UM, WE HAVE VERY SPECIFIC, UH, IMPLICATIONS.

FOR EXAMPLE, SPEED IS ONE OF SUSPECTS GOING DOWN A ONE-WAY STREET, UH, IS ANOTHER.

BUT ALL OF THOSE, UH, UH, THINGS ARE CONSIDERED IN, IN OUR POLICY.

SO NEIGHBORHOODS AREN'T TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL.

YES, MA'AM.

NEIGHBORHOODS, TRAFFIC, UH, THE VIOLATION, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE, UH, CONSIDERED.

SO COULD IT JUST HAVE BEEN A THING THAT, WELL, IT'S 4:00 AM IN THE MORNING.

THERE'S PROBABLY NO ISSUES.

SO WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GO AFTER THIS GUY.

AM I, THIS GUY HAD BEEN LIKE IN A HALFWAY HOUSE, SO WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HIS CRIME WAS.

IT'S THE VIOLATION, IT'S THE CRIME.

UH, ALL OF THOSE ARE FACTORS THAT ARE OUTLINED IN OUR POLICY.

AND THE OFFICER IS, UH, REQUIRED TO TERMINATE A CHASE, UH, WHEN, UH, IT MEETS THAT THRESHOLD OF, OF DANGER TO THE PUBLIC, UH, AS WELL AS A SUPERVISOR.

UH, OUR POLICY SPECIFICALLY TALKS ABOUT, UH, ENLIST THE SUPERVISOR'S RESPONSIBILITY TO TERMINATE A CHASE AND WHEN HE SHOULD, UH, UH, CONSIDER, UH, TERMINATING A CHASE WHEN IT'S, UH, UH, A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC.

SO ALL OF THAT IS OUTLINED VERY, VERY SPECIFICALLY IN OUR POLICY.

I THINK I STATED EARLIER, I THINK AROUND 11% IN 2021, UH, UM, UM, THERE WERE, UH, CHASES OR PURSUITS WERE TERMINATED BY THE OFFICER OR SUPERVISOR, AND I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE DOWN IN 2022.

I DON'T HAVE THE FINAL NUMBERS ON THAT.

WE PUT THAT OUT EVERY YEAR.

WE DO AN ANALYSIS ON ALL CHASES.

I HAVE THAT DATA FROM 2018, UH, TO 2022.

THAT REPORT SHOULD BE READY WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

UH, THAT OUTLINES EVERY CHASE THE REASON FOR THE CHURCH, THE CHASE, UH, THE PURSUIT, UH, HOW IT ENDED, WHAT WERE THE RESULTS OF THE PURSUIT, THE TIME OF DAY AT THE PURSUIT.

UH, BUT THAT IS ACTUALLY OUTLINED IN OUR

[01:35:01]

THE 2021 REPORT IS ONLINE OF OUR TRANSPARENCY TAB.

UH, AND WE WILL BE POSTING THE 2022 WHEN, WHEN IT'S COMPLETED.

SO YOU THINK THE 2018 HAS HIS PURSUIT ON THERE? YES.

DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE THAT ONE? IT WILL BE, IT IS.

I HAVE THAT REPORT.

IT WILL BE, UH, UH, IT, IT WILL BE PART OF THAT REPORT.

I ACTUALLY HAVE THE 2018 REPORT ALREADY.

AND I TAKE YOU, THAT'S PUBLIC INFORMATION COMPLETED.

YES, MA'AM.

I CAN MAKE THAT AVAILABLE.

UH, I CAN EMAIL EACH ONE OF YOU THE LAST FIVE YEARS OF PURSUITS, IF YOU LIKE, FROM 2018.

COUNCIL MEMBER MO CHIEF.

ONE SECOND.

UM, WE TALKED ABOUT POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR THESE CHASES AND EVERYTHING, AND I DON'T KNOW THE COMPLETE POLICY AND PROCEDURE, BUT JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

UM, DO WE, IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, NOT HERE TO ANSWER, AND I KNOW THEY HAVE, UH, LARGER AREA.

DO WE PURSUE IN AND OUT OF CITY LIMITS? DO WE GET PERMISSION TO CONTINUE PURSUIT? OR IS IT JUST A GIVEN THING TO PURSUE IN AND OUT OF CITY LIMITS OR PARISH LIMITS? YES, SIR.

WE DO, UH, PURSUE OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS AS WELL AS, UH, OUTSIDE THE PARISH.

UH, A SUPERVISOR HAS TO GIVE APPROVAL TO THE OFFICER TO, UH, CONTINUE A PURSUIT OUTSIDE HIS JURISDICTION.

SO THEY'RE PURSUING, THEY KNOW, THEY'RE HEADING TO, TO THE PARISH.

THEY REPORT IN THAT THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A ROUTE WE'RE TAKING OR WHERE WE'RE GOING.

AND A SUPERVISOR WILL ADVISE THEM TO CONTINUE PURSUIT.

THAT IS WHAT THE POLICY STATE, SIR.

IN THE POLICY WITH THE POLICIES, AND I KNOW THERE'S, THERE'S GUIDELINES FOR SHUTTING DOWN, OBVIOUSLY WHAT YOU SAID HERE, THERE'S GUIDELINES FOR CALLING OFF A PURSUIT, UH, FOR SAFETY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IF A PURSUIT IS GOING ON OR A PURSUIT IS IMMINENT AND THE OFFICER HIMSELF DECIDES EITHER TO SHUT IT DOWN HIMSELF, EVEN HE MAY NOT REACH THE GUIDELINES OR, OR WHATEVER HE JUST FELT UNCOMFORTABLE AT A CERTAIN POINT OR DID NOT PURSUE, IS THERE RECOURSE AGAINST THE OFFICERS FOR MAKING THEIR OWN CALL TO SHUT DOWN A PURSUIT THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE REACHED A THRESHOLD OF SHUTTING IT DOWN? SO, ANYTIME OR ALL PURSUIT, THERE IS A REVIEW, UH, AND THERE'S, IT IS A PROCEDURE.

UH, AND THAT IS CORRECT.

THERE IS A SUPERVISOR REVIEW.

UH, ANYTIME THERE'S AN INJURY, AN ACCIDENT RELATED TO A PURSUIT, EVERY SINGLE ONE GOES BEFORE, UH, A REVIEW BOARD.

THAT REVIEW BOARD THEN LOOKS AT IT, UH, MAKES A DETERMINATION IF POLICIES WERE VIOLATED.

AND IF DISCIPLINE IS, IS WARRANTED, THEN THAT WILL GO BACK, UH, TO ME, IT WILL COME TO ME AND I'LL SIGN IT.

I HAVE SIGNED, UM, UM, UH, ISSUED DISCIPLINE TO OFFICERS FOR NOT VIOLATING A POLICY.

UM, THAT CAN ALSO BE MORE TRAINING FOR THE OFFICER.

THAT'S ONE OF THE TAKEAWAYS WE ALSO GET, UH, FROM THOSE POLICY VIOLATIONS.

I, I GUESS WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS, UM, A AGAIN, WE FOCUSED ON ALL THE, THE POINTS THAT WAS SHUT DOWN A PURSUIT.

UM, AND IT, YOU KNOW, IF IT GETS UP TO, UH, A CERTAIN AREA OR LIKE YOU SAID, ONE-WAY STREETS OR, OR DIFFERENT THINGS, UM, I, I GUESS MY WHOLE THING WAS, UH, IS A LOT OF IT LEFT UP TO THE OFFICER HIMSELF THAT HE, HE'S ABLE TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION HIMSELF WITHOUT SUPERVISOR OR WITH THE, YOU KNOW, SAY HE IS GOT SOMEBODY PULLED OVER AND, AND, AND BEFORE HE EVEN GETS OUT THE VEHICLE, THEY TAKE OFF MM-HMM.

, BUT HE NOTICES HE'S IN A CERTAIN AREA, HE JUST DECIDES NOT TO PURSUE.

IS THAT, IS THAT LEFT UP TO HIS DISCRETION THAT IS, OR DOES IT HAVE TO REACH A CERTAIN THRESHOLD BEFORE HE CAN MAKE A CALL? SO, LOOK, LET ME BE CLEAR.

THE, AND OUR POLICY SPECIFICALLY STATES THIS, THERE WILL BE NO DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST A POLICE OFFICER FOR VOLUNTARILY TERMINATING A PURSUIT.

IF HE FEELS, UH, THE CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT, UH, DISCONTINUATION, THANK YOU.

HE WILL NOT, AND OUR POLICY SPECIFICALLY STATES WE CANNOT DISCIPLINE HIM FOR NOT DOING THAT.

THE COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE WITH.

YEAH, APPRECIATE IT.

[84. 23-00108]

THANK YOU EVERYONE.

IF YOU WOULD, NOW WE'RE GONNA GO TO ITEM 84.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE GOING TO ITEM 84, AWARDING A CONTRACT FOR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES TO THE SELECTED VENDOR OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL, THE EXECUTION OF THE CONTRACT FOR A TENURED TERM WITH AN OPTION OF A TENURED TERM BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 84? PLEASE COME DOWN AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 84? UH, YES, COUNSEL, MY NAME IS TERRENCE RICE.

I OPERATE A OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE COMPANY CALLED FULCRUM ENTERPRISES.

AND THIS CONTRACT WAS, UH, ON OUR RADAR SCREEN.

WE PUT A LOT OF DUE DILIGENCE INTO IT.

WE WENT OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY TO FIND OUT WHAT TYPE OF COMPANIES THAT

[01:40:01]

IN MY RESEARCH, I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A, UH, ESPECIALLY IN THE GUARD COMMUNITY WHERE I SPENT THE MOST TIME, UH, I, WE HAD COMMUNITY MEETINGS.

WE TALKED TO PEOPLE TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT WOULD THEY WANT FOR A OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE COMPANY IN THAT AREA.

IN THAT RESEARCH, I FOUND OUT THAT THEY WANTED COMPANIES THAT WERE SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE, UH, COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY, AND THEY WANTED TO USE THIS CONTRACT AS A, A TOOL TO CLOSE THE DISPARITY GAPS IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.

THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE OPERATES A ONE POINT WHATEVER BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET.

AND THAT ONE POINT, WHATEVER BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET CAN U BE USED AS A CATALYST TO CLOSE THE DISPARITY GAPS IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.

AND, AND THEY ALWAYS SAY CHARITY STARTS AT HOME.

AND THIS WAS A CONTRACT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED TO CLOSE THE DISPARITY GAPS, BUT YET THEY HAD NO, UH, D B E COMMITMENTS ARE IN THIS CONTRACT.

ALTHOUGH THE PARTIES DID SELECT DBES, THERE'S NO WAY TO ENFORCE WHETHER OR NOT THEY USED THE DBES.

SO THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE INVESTED ALL THIS MONEY IN THE DISPARITY STUDY.

THEY KNOW THAT THERE'S A DISPARITY, AND YET THEY USING A 10 YEAR CONTRACT WITH 10 YEARS RENEWABLE AND NOT USING THE RESOURCES THEY HAVE TO PUT BACK INTO COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS PAY TAXES TOO.

THEY'RE PAYING THE SYSTEM AND THEY SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN PROCUREMENT MONEY BECAUSE THEY'RE VESTED.

THEY PUT MONEY INTO THE SYSTEM TOO.

SO IT WAS VERY DISHEARTENING TO ME AS A BUSINESS OWNER TO SEE THAT YOU HAD NO CONCRETE D B E STANDARDS OR POLICIES OR PROCEDURES WRITTEN INTO THE CONTRACT.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU GUYS ARE HERE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK THROUGH PROCUREMENT IS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT YOU COULD CLOSE THE DISPARITY GAP I READ IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, FOR EVERY DOLLAR A MAN MAKES, A WOMAN MAKES 46 CENTS.

AND THEN IF YOU PUT DIVERSITY COMMUNITIES IN ON TOP OF THAT, IT'S EVEN WORSE.

SO I JUST WANT TO SPEAK OUT TO SAY THAT YOU GUYS SHOULD REALLY CONSIDER MOVING FORWARD TO PUT SOLID D B E PARTICIPATION GOALS IN EVERY CONTRACT MOVING FORWARD.

AND IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING SOCIALLY CORRECT, IT'S ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT THING.

I MYSELF, AS A BUSINESS OWNER, ONE SECOND'S I'M ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU, SIR.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

NEXT.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK? GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME'S JOE TACKETT WITH VIOLA.

WE PROPOSED ON THE O AND M AND UH, CONTRACT OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES HERE IN, IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.

I JUST WANTED TO TALK FOR A SECOND.

SO, VIOLI OPERATES 90% OF THE LARGEST WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANS IN THE UNITED STATES.

OUR COMPETITORS OPERATE THE OTHER 10%.

VIOLA OFFERED UP IN OUR PROPOSAL, 50 MILLION IN DBE COMMITMENTS OVER THE FIRST 10 YEARS OF THE CONTRACT.

50 MILLION.

WE WERE ASKED DURING THE SELECTION PROCESS TO ACTUALLY LOWER THAT.

WE CHOSE NOT TO.

WE CHOSE TO STICK AT THE 35% DB COMMITMENT, INSIDER PROPOSAL.

WE OFFERED $10 MILLION IN WAGE INCREASES.

WE OFFERED $1 MILLION IN GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

WE OFFERED $2.5 MILLION IN THE EDUCATION OF THE EMPLOYEES.

WE ASKED WHEN WE FIRST CAME IN PRIOR TO THE RFP GOING OUT, WHAT'S THE BIGGEST ISSUE THE CITY HAS? IT WAS FLOODING OF HOME STREETS.

50% OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT WAS OFFLINE.

WHEN WE WENT AND INSPECTED IT, WE DID A THREE DAY WALKTHROUGH.

THE CITY SPENT 1.6 BILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT YET THAT'S STILL HAPPENING.

I WANTED TO STATE, OLI IS AN OPERATIONS FIRM.

WE DON'T DABBLE IN OPERATIONS.

WE'RE NOT AN ENGINEERING COMPANY.

WE ARE SOLELY AN OPERATIONS FIRM THAT WANTS TO DO GOOD IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAS THE BACKING.

WE ARE THE LARGEST WATER AND WASTEWATER FIRM, NOT ONLY IN NORTH AMERICA, BUT IN THE WORLD.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM?

[01:45:08]

GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL.

MY NAME IS FOREST BROWN.

I'M AN INSTRUMENT TECH AT THE NORTHWEST HEART TREATMENT PLANT.

AND I HAVE QUESTIONS BECAUSE WE RECEIVED TWO MEMOS.

THAT'S IT.

TWO, THE FIRST MEMO SAID WE WEREN'T GOOD AT OUR JOB, SO WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT AWAY.

THE SECOND MEMO SAID, OMI GOT THE JOB.

PACK YOUR STUFF UP BY MARCH 31ST.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO MY QUESTION IS, WHAT DOES THE CITY PLAN ON DOING? WHAT THE EMPLOYEES LEFT THE PLANT, WHO CAME TO THE CITY FOR THE JOB SECURITY AND THE BENEFITS TO RETIRE FOR BATON ROUGE? BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW.

AND AND OUR SUPERVISORS WON'T TELL US.

THE THE DIRECTOR, I COULDN'T, I COULDN'T POINT THE DIRECTOR OUT IN A CROWD.

I'VE NEVER MET THE MAN.

HE'S NOT ONE WHO SPOKE TO US.

HE SENT US TWO MEMOS AND I GOT THE MEMO THROUGH A TEXT MESSAGE AT 10 O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON FROM MY SUPERVISOR.

SO, I MEAN, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW, DO I HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR? I I CAME TO BATON ROUGE ON MY HIRE DATE IN 2018 AND THEY ASKED ME, WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS? AND MY PLAN WAS TO RETIRE WITH THE CITY, LIKE MY PARENTS AND THEIR PARENTS BEFORE THEM.

SO ARE WE GONNA GET MOVED TO A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT OR ARE WE GONNA GET LAID OFF OR WE GONNA GET A SEVERANCE? OR DO WE WE NEED TO DO QUESTION WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO QUESTION.

YEAH, WE'LL, WE'LL GET TO IT.

WE'LL GET TO IT.

I THOUGHT HE WAS PAUSING CUZ HE WAS CONSIDERING MORE TO SAY I WAS GIVING HIM THE WHOLE THREE MINUTES.

I WAS GIVING HIM MORE TIME.

IF YOU WANTED MORE TIME, YOU GOT MORE TIME IF YOU WANT TO, I'LL LET, I'LL LET MY COWORKER.

NO, HE GONNA GET THREE MINUTES TOO THOUGH.

SO IF YOU GOT MORE, YOU GOT ANOTHER MINUTE AND 10 SECONDS TO GO IF YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE.

THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I, I JUST WANTED ANSWERS.

I MEAN WE, WE JUST WENT THERE AND WE GONNA GET SOMEBODY TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.

BUT YEAH, IF YOU HAD MORE TO SAY AND IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT Y'ALL, A LOT OF Y'ALL WEREN'T AWARE OF SOME OF THE STUFF, YOU KNOW, LIKE HOW WE WERE TOLD WE WEREN'T GOOD AT OUR JOB WHEN WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR RESOURCES FOR YEARS.

I MEAN, MY COWORKERS CAN SPEAK BETTER ON THAT THAN ME CUZ THEY'VE BEEN THERE LONGER.

BUT I'M UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WE HAD EQUIPMENT, IT WAS, UH, CRUCIAL TO BEING IN COMPLIANCE AND THEY ASKED FOR PARTS AND, UH, YOU KNOW, RESOURCES TO GET THIS EQUIPMENT INTO COMPLIANCE AND WAS DENIED FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS PUTTING SCREENS IN SOME PIPES SO THAT SNAILS DON'T PASS THROUGH THE SYSTEM TO LOWER OUR, OUR SOLIDS WOULD'VE PUT US IN COMPLIANCE AND THEY WOULDN'T AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE OF THESE SCREENS TO PUT 'EM IN PIPES FOR YEARS.

AND IT, AND IT'S TRIVIAL, ALL THE MONEY WE SPENT IN THE PAST YEARS, THEY COULD'VE JUST MADE THAT ONE PURCHASE AND MADE THINGS 10 TIMES BETTER.

AND, BUT THE DIRECTOR WANTS TO BLAME US AND SAY WE COULDN'T HANDLE IT.

SO LET A CONTRACTOR COME IN AND DO IT.

NEXT, PLEASE COME ON DOWN.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE, SIR.

GOOD EVENING COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS JAMES GIBBS JR.

BEEN EMPLOYED WITH THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE FOR 22 YEARS.

IT'S A SETUP.

WE AIN'T FAIL.

OUR UP UPPER MANAGEMENT FAILS.

THEY WANNA PUT THE BLAME ON THE EMPLOYEES AND I'M REPRESENTING NORTH BATON ROUGE TREATMENT PLANT IN SCOTLAND, BORN AND RAISED IN SCOTLAND, ROUND THE CORNER FROM IT ON AVENUE J.

IT'S A BUNCH OF LIES.

PI US OUT.

WE THEY, THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN US NO ANSWERS.

THEY KEEPING US IN THE RED.

WANT US TO GO OUT AND APPLY FOR OTHER JOBS WITHIN THE CITY.

THAT'S NOT THE ANSWER.

WE PUTTING IT OUT TO YOU GUYS CUZ WE KNOW Y'ALL DON'T KNOW THE FULL TRUTH.

Y'ALL KNOW ONE SIDE Y'ALL NEED TO HEAR OUTSIDE AND IT'S A BUNCH MORE WANT TO COME BUT AFRAID TO COME AND SPEAK BECAUSE THEY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR JOB.

I AIN'T AFRAID THEY TRIED TO COME OUT THE DATE AFTER THEY FOUND OUT.

WE HAD SOME PERSON COME TO HEAR FROM THE EMPLOYEES.

NOW THEY WANT TO TARGET US, BUT I'M READY TO FIGHT.

I AIN'T GONNA LAY DOWN 22 YEARS AND I'M GONNA RETIRE FROM THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE JUST LIKE MY FATHER.

AND YOU'RE GONNA HEAR FROM A LOT MORE THAT HAVE THE CONCERNS LIKE I DO.

[01:50:01]

HEAR HIM OUT.

THAT'S ALL WE ASK.

BE FAIR CUZ THEY'RE NOT FAIR WITH US NOW.

NICE.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COME ON DOWN.

ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? I'LL SEE A FEW OF YOU DISCUSSIONS, BUT COME ON DOWN.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD PLEASE.

THAT'S HENRY JACKSON.

I'VE BEEN EMPLOYED WITH THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE FOR UH, GOING ON 14 YEARS.

AND AGAIN, LIKE MY COWORKERS ARE SAYING, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THIS STUFF THAT HADN'T BEEN HAPPENING WITH THE UH, PRIVATIZATION ACT AND ALL THAT STUFF, YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T, IT'S NOT OUR FAULT.

SO WHY ARE WE BEING CON WHY IS THIS STUFF BEING CONTRACTED OUT? IT'S, IT WASN'T US, IT'S PEOPLE THAT WE NEED.

I'M AN ELECTRICIAN, I'M A PLANT ELECTRICIAN.

I COME FROM DIAL CHEMICAL SO I KNOW I'M CAPABLE OF DOING MY JOB, YOU KNOW, BUT HOW CAN I, HOW CAN WE BE, HOW CAN WE BE TARGETED AND SAYING THAT WELL THE WORKERS DON'T KNOW THEIR JOB.

THEY NEED TO BE, UH, THEY THEY NEED TO BE TRAINED AND, AND THEY DON'T WANT TO DO ANY TRAINING AND ALL THAT KINDS OF STUFF WHERE WE TELL YOU WE NEED CERTAIN PARTS AND THIS AND THAT AND THEN IT'S PUT TO THE SIDE.

THEY SAY, OH WELL HOLD ON A MINUTE.

DON'T.

WE'RE GONNA HOLD OFF ON THAT.

WE WE'RE JUST HIRE MIGHT COME OUT AND DO THIS AS A PARTICULAR, PARTICULAR, UH, JOB THEY HAD.

I USED TO INSTALL, ME AND MY COWORKER HERE FOR US, WE WOULD INSTALL DRIVES.

THOSE DRIVES WILL TAKE US.

WE NORMALLY WORK ON THE WEEKEND.

WE MAY WORK TWO DAYS ON THIS DRIVE TO INSTALL IT.

THEY CONTRACTED IT OUT.

IT COST OVER $30,000 TO INSTALL THOSE JOBS.

ME AND FOREST WILL MAKE $30,000 IN TWO DAYS.

YOU KNOW, SO, SO, SO WHAT IS THE, JUST OF CONTRACTING THIS STUFF OUT, WHY CONTRACT IT OUT? JUST GIVE US WHAT WE NEED.

THAT'S ALL I GOTTA SAY.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COME ON DOWN SIR.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

DEPUTY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS LOUIS MOORE.

I'M A WASTEWATER MECHANIC AT THE NORTH WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

UM, THAT THEY'RE GIVING THEM A 10 YEAR CONTRACT.

THAT'S ALL WELL AND GOOD.

UH, A SUGGESTION, EVEN IF THE WORKERS THERE DON'T GET A FAIR SHAKE, WHY NOT GIVE THEM THE SOFT PLANT? THAT'S WHERE YOUR ISSUES ARE.

THAT'S WHERE YOU HAD TO SPEND THE MONEY.

THAT'S WHERE THEY SAY THAT, AS I'VE HEARD BEFORE, 50% OF THE EQUIPMENT'S DOWN GIVE THEM SOFT PLANT.

LET'S NOT CONSOLIDATE THE WORKERS THAT WE HAVE AT THE NORTH PLANT, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THOSE ISSUES WHERE A LITTLE BIT OF FUNDING WOULD MAKE THIS BETTER.

I THINK BETTER.

ALL OF US, ALL PARTIES INVOLVED.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED OR ARE THEY JUST GOING TO WHOLESALE GIVE THEM BOTH PLANS? THAT'S THE QUESTION I WOULD HAVE.

OH, APPARENTLY YOU DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION RIGHT NOW.

WILL SOMEONE GET BACK WITH US WITH THIS INFORMATION? WELL, WELL WHAT WE'RE GONNA TRY TO DO TONIGHT IS GET THOSE PROFESSIONALS IN THE ROOM TO ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS YOU'VE ASKED.

AND IF YOU DON'T GET THE ANSWERS, WE GOING TO SEEK TO GET 'EM FOR YOU.

BECAUSE IF WE TRY TO CONTACT OUR DIRECTOR, WE, WE CANNOT GET THROUGH.

I TRIED TO FIND OUT, AS MY COWORKER STATED, UM, DO WE KEEP OUR PAY GRADES BEING THAT THEY'RE DOWNSIZING OUR DEPARTMENT? DO WE KEEP OUR MONIES THAT CALLED THE STATE SERVICES BOARD DOWN TO THE CITY DOWN THE PAYROLL AND BENEFITS? THE ANSWER THAT I RECEIVED WAS THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CALL RICK EXPERIENCE DIRECTLY, BUT I ATTEMPTED TO CALL RICK EXPERIENCE NUMEROUS TIMES I COULD NOT GET THROUGH.

SO IF WE CAN'T SPEAK TO OUR DIRECTOR, TO OUR HIRE, UM, WHAT CHANCES WE HAVE? I KNOW THAT YOUR TIME IS PRECIOUS.

WHAT CHANCES DO WE HAVE? WHAT IS OUR RECOURSE? THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

KEEP THEIR SAYING NOT ONLY PAY RETIREMENT BENEFITS, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS? AND SO IF THERE WAS ALSO A STATEMENT MADE THAT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THE CONTRACT WAS SUBMITTED FOR WOULDN'T EVEN BE ENOUGH TO DO WHAT THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? I DON'T THINK ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON UH, THE ITEM.

WE'RE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

COUNCIL MEMBERS.

COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN REAL QUICKLY, I'M SORRY COUNCILMAN COLEMAN.

Y'ALL SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 84.

THIS PARTICULAR NORTH BATON ROUGE TREATMENT PLANT IS IN DISTRICT 10.

I I, I WOKE UP DURING THE NIGHT AND I SAID I WILL NOT VOTE ON THIS WITHOUT HAVING HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THESE, THE PEOPLE THAT WORK THERE AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MALE AND FEMALE.

AND SO THE GENTLEMAN ALLUDED TO SOMEONE COMING UP THERE AND I WAS THAT SOMEONE, I WENT THERE ON YESTERDAY TO HAVE A

[01:55:01]

CONVERSATION.

AND WHEN I LEFT AWAY FROM THAT NORTH BATON ROUGE TREATMENT PLANT, I I TELL YOU WHAT, IF, IF I WOULD'VE BEEN NEAR MY BED, I WOULD'VE GOTTEN IN IT BECAUSE LET ME TELL YOU ALL SOMETHING AND LET THE RECORD REFLECT THESE PEOPLE BETTER NOT RECEIVE NO BACKLASH FROM NOBODY BECAUSE THEY HAVE SPOKEN OUT.

NOBODY.

THERE'S A WAY TO DO ANYTHING AND I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE, THERE IS A WAY TO DO ANYTHING.

CHANGE IS ALWAYS A CONCERN.

IT'S THE UNKNOWN.

AND THAT'S FROM EVERY LAST ONE OF US THAT'S SITTING HERE.

AND JUST AS WE TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY MEETINGS, WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT INCREASING THE AMOUNT THAT WAS GOING TO BE WITH REPUBLIC, JUST AS WE TALKED ABOUT COMMUNITY MEETINGS, WHEN WE WERE GOING TO INCREASE WITH STORM WATER, HOW MUCH MORE WOULD A COMMUNITY MEETING BE WARRANTED FOR HUMAN CAPITAL FOR THESE PEOPLE? AND SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK OF THE GOLDEN RULE DONE UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD WANT OTHERS TO DO UNTO YOU.

THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.

AND YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN LOYAL, THAT HAVE RESPECTED THEIR JOB WITH THIS CITY, THE LONGEVITY THAT'S THERE INVESTED, INVESTED IN THE CITY, THE CITY, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT WORKING SOMEWHERE.

Y'ALL THE CITY, BUT YET HERE WE ARE.

WE'VE TREATED THEM LIKE NOTHING.

AND SO WHEN I VISITED I MET WITH MANY WASN'T ONE, WASN'T TWO, WASN'T THREE, WASN'T FOUR.

IT WAS MANY IN THAT ROOM.

AND THESE PEOPLE FELT LIKE THEY DID NOT COUNT.

AND I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT FEELING THERE.

THEY WERE TOLD THAT THEY NEEDED TO GET THEIR DUCKS IN A ROW.

YEAH, THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE TOLD.

THEY WERE, THEY FELT AS IF THEY WERE TRYING TO BE INTIMIDATED IN ORDER THAT THEY WOULD QUIT.

Y'ALL THIS 2023 WE STILL DOING THIS.

THIS IS HORRIBLE.

THEY WERE TOLD THAT THEY HAD TO REAPPLY, REAPPLY AND SUBMIT A RESUME.

AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT A LIE CUZ RICK SP TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD SOME EQUIPMENT THAT HAVE BEEN DOWN FOR 12 YEARS AND THAT HAD BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

AND YOU ALL HAVE HEARD 14 YEARS, 22 YEARS, FOUR YEARS, THESE, THESE PEOPLE LIVELIHOOD AND THEY ARE WORKING, THEY ARE WORKING.

AND I DON'T KNOW NOBODY HERE THAT WORKS FOR THIS CITY.

THAT WOULD BE ALL RIGHT IF THE MAYOR WOULD COME UP THERE AND TELL YOU THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A JOB ANYMORE.

I DON'T KNOW NOBODY THAT WOULD BE ALL RIGHT OR TELL YOU THAT YOU GOT TO REAPPLY AND THEN YOU GO TO ANOTHER SPOT AND YOUR MONEY MAY NOT BE THE SAME.

THAT THERE WERE 42 PERSONS AND THIS WAS WHAT I WAS TOLD, THAT THERE WERE 42 THAT MAY REMAIN WITH THE CITY BUT THEY HAD TO REAPPLY AND THAT THEY HAD TO SUBMIT THEIR RESUME AND THAT THEY MAY NOT MAKE THE SAME MONEY THEY HAD TO SEE IF THEY COULD FIND A PLACE FOR THEM.

BUT YET HERE WE ARE OUT HERE.

I'M OUT HERE TELLING FOLK COME WORK FOR THE CITY, COME WORK FOR THE CITY AND HAVE HAD SOME FOLK EMPLOYED AS A RESULT OF THAT.

JACOB'S OM I WHATEVER WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T GO IN AND HAVE A CONVERSATION BECAUSE THE CONTRACT HAD NOT BEEN SIGNED.

BUT CERTAINLY CITY PARISH LEADERSHIP SHOULD HAVE.

THE MAIN QUESTION WHEN I LEFT AWAY FROM VA ON YESTERDAY IS DO WE KEEP OUR SAME PAY WHEN THESE CONTRACTORS COME IN, IF THIS PASSES TONIGHT, DO THEY

[02:00:01]

AND IMMEDIATELY I THOUGHT OF CHANGE ORDERS THAT ALWAYS COME BEFORE US.

THIS IS NOT YOUR FIRST TIME DOING ANYTHING JACOBS.

SO I'M GONNA TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, NO CHANGE ORDER AND I MEAN THAT NO CHANGE ORDERS, NO, THERE ARE NO GOALS AND POLICIES IN PLACE FOR DBE AND THAT'S WHERE WE FAIL IN SO MANY AREAS.

NO GOALS, NO POLICY.

WE JUST SHOOT FROM THE HIP AND DO WHAT WE DO.

AND THAT'S WHY WE BE AN ERROR.

RIGHT HAND DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE LEFT HAND DOING.

THAT'S WHY WE CAUSE SO MANY ERRORS.

AND THIS IS DISHEARTENING WHEN I SAW THAT LADY UP THERE THE OTHER DAY AND THEN ASK ME, ARE YOU COMING BACK? I, I TELL YOU, I COULD HAVE JUST FALLEN ON THE GROUND.

SO AS WE SIT HERE, PEOPLE LET US NOT TAKE THIS THING LIGHTLY AND I WANT SOMEBODY TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.

I DON'T CARE IF IT'S HR, I DON'T CARE IF I RICK, DON'T WORRY YOURSELF.

I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHO ELSE NEED TO ANSWER THIS, BUT I WANNA KNOW IF THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THEIR MONEY, THEIR RETIREMENT, THEIR EVERY, EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAVE AND DO NOT HAVE TO REAPPLY AND DO NOT HAVE TO SUBMIT A RESUME.

YES, COUNCILWOMAN, WE UM, ARE GOING INTO A LAYOFF AVOIDANCE IF THIS CONTRACT IS APPROVED.

AND THAT MEANS WE ARE GONNA MAKE EVERY EFFORT THAT WE CAN TO LATERALLY MOVE THOSE EMPLOYEES TO TO SOMEPLACE WITHIN PUBLIC WORKS.

PREFERABLY THAT IS THE SAME PAY GRADE AND THE SAME STEP.

IF WE CANNOT FIND A POSITION FOR THEM, WE'RE GONNA MOVE THEM AS CLOSE TO THE CURRENT PAY GRADE AND STEP THAT THEY'RE ON.

ONCE WE HEARD THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE PLANTS COULD BE PRIVATIZED, WE BEGAN TO COMPILE A LIST OF PERSONS THAT WERE WORKING THERE AND STARTED LOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVES FOR THEM TO MOVE.

AND WE HAVE STARTED THAT WORK ALREADY AND WE ARE READY AS SOON AS TOMORROW MORNING IF, IF IF NEED BE FOR MYSELF AND MY STAFF TO GO OUT AND TALK TO THE EMPLOYEES AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE ARE WORKING TO KEEP THEM AT THE SAME PAY IF POSSIBLE, THE SAME STEP THEY MAY HAVE TO MOVE TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT OR ANOTHER DIVISION.

AND THE REASON THAT I ASKED THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS TO ASK THESE EMPLOYEES TO UPDATE THEIR APPLICATIONS IS NOT FOR THEM TO APPLY FOR OTHER JOBS, BUT THAT THEIR UM, EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS, SOME OF 'EM HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 20 YEARS, THEY MAY NOT HAVE APPLIED FOR AN ADDITIONAL JOBS FOR MAYBE FIVE OR 10 YEARS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE PLACE THEM THAT WE HAVE THE MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION ON THEM IF THEY'VE GOT ADDITIONAL EDUCATION, ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE, ADDITIONAL LICENSES AND SO FORTH.

SO THAT'S WHY WE ASK FOR THAT SO WE CAN PLACE THEM AS CLOSE TO WHERE UH, THEIR PAY IS AS POSSIBLE.

OKAY, MY QUESTION IS TO GET THAT INFORMATION AND SINCE Y'ALL HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM, COULDN'T THAT QUESTION JUST BE ASKED TO THEM? ANOTHER CONCERN OF MINE IS IF WE CAN, THAT'S THE GREAT AREA FOR ME Y'ALL, THAT IF WE CAN, THESE THEIR, THEIR MORTGAGES, THEIR BILLS IS NOT GOING BE, UH, IF WE CAN, THEY AIN'T GOING NOWHERE.

YEAH, THERE, THERE ARE, THERE ARE ENOUGH VACANCIES COUNCILWOMAN THAT NO, OUR PLAN IS NOT TO LAY ANYONE OFF.

WE HAVEN'T DONE A LAYOFF OF PERSONS, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG, 10 YEARS, MAYBE LONGER 20 YEARS.

BUT WE WILL FIND SOMEWHERE FOR THEM TO GO WHERE THEY MAINTAINED AS CLOSE TO THEIR CELL.

HERE AND QUESTION HERE IS BECAUSE THEY ARE REPRESENTING EVERYBODY UP MM-HMM.

WE GOING TO TRY TO KEEP THEM RIGHT WHERE THEY ARE.

AND I CAN TELL YOU FOR, FOR THE GUYS THAT SPOKE FOR MOST OF THEM, I WAS WATCHING, UH, AND GETTING THEIR NAMES AS THEY WERE SPEAKING AND WE HAVE ALTERNATIVES FOR THEM ALREADY.

AND SO THESE PEOPLE REPRESENT THE GROUP.

THEY ARE NOT JUST HERE TALKING FOR THEMSELVES THOUGH.

THEY REPRESENT THE GROUP.

AND SO WHAT I'M GONNA COME BACK TO YOU, I'M GONNA GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER HERS CUZ YOU'RE OUT OF TIME.

I'M GONNA COME BACK TO YOU, OKAY? I'M GONNA COME BACK TO YOU.

I'M GONNA COME BACK TO YOU, BUT I, I WANT TO BE FAIR, YES.

SOME OF MY TIME SHE WON'T GO AHEAD.

SO MY STATEMENT

[02:05:01]

, YOU KNOW YOURSELF, IF YOUR MONEY WAS CUT, YOU'D BE MAD AS HELL OR WOULDN'T I WOULD BE.

THAT'S WHY.

YES SIR.

YOU AND EVERYBODY ELSE MM-HMM.

AND SO WHAT, WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD IT MAKE WITH THE CITY? YOU ALREADY PAYING THEM SO WHY CUT THE PEOPLE AND THEY DON'T CARE IF YOU GOT 'EM PICKING UP TRASH, DON'T CUT THE FOLK MONEY GOING WITH JACOBS OR WHATEVER.

THAT'S A CHOICE.

IF THEY SO CHOOSE.

BUT I'M TELLING YOU, I AM TOTALLY AGAINST DOING THAT TO ANY OF THOSE FOLK THAT WORK AT, AT, AT, AT EITHER OF THOSE PLANS.

YES MA'AM.

HEY BRIAN, YOU CAN STAY RIGHT THERE, MY MAN.

SO I, I BRING THIS UP EVERY MEETING AND GUESS WHAT? I'M GONNA BRING IT UP AGAIN.

IF WE TAKE AND I, AND MY, AND MY UM, MY CALCULATIONS MAY BE WRONG CAUSE RICK TOLD ME IT'S 8 MILLION.

BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THIS CONTRACT, IT SAYS ANOTHER 3,339,707 $6.

SO WHEN I ADD THAT UP, THAT'S $11,427,415 DIVIDED BY IS EITHER 86 OR 84 EMPLOYEES AT THAT PLANT.

SO IF IT'S 86, THAT'S $132,876 AND 91 CENTS PER EMPLOYEE.

IF IT'S 84, THAT'S 136,000, $40 AND 65 CENTS.

YOU MEAN TO TELL ME WE CAN'T FIND PEOPLE FOR THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY AND NOT AGAINST JACOBS? I LIKE JACOBS.

I THINK THEY'RE A GREAT ENGINEERING FIRM.

BUT MY ISSUE IS WE'RE GONNA CONSTANTLY OUTSOURCE THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE INSTEAD OF GIVING THE SAME MONEY TO THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR US.

WHO'D RATHER PICK SOMEBODY ELSE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PER EMPLOYEE? CAUSE I'VE BEEN COMING TO YOU, I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE MAYOR, WE DO HAVE A PLAN TO GET TOGETHER, BUT I WANNA MAKE THIS PUBLIC MAN, WE WOULD RATHER PAY $136,000 PER HEAD INSTEAD OF GIVING IT TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY HERE AND DOING THE RESTRUCTURING AND HR THAT WE NEED TO DO.

I PROPOSED GENERATION, I MIGHT GET 'EM WRONG, BUT X, Y AND Z DON'T CARE ABOUT PENSIONS.

THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE HERE LONGER THAN FIVE YEARS.

YOU KNOW THAT.

I KNOW THAT THEY'RE GONNA GO TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER.

THEY'RE GONNA COME GET EXPERIENCE, THEY MAY LEAVE, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, THEN THEY GONNA COME BACK TO THE CITY ONCE THEY HAVE THE EXPERIENCE TO GET THE HIGHER PAY.

MM-HMM .

SO WHY ARE WE STILL PROMOTING $8 AN HOUR? NO ONE CAN'T PAY 'EM THAT OR $10 AN HOUR, HOUR.

WE MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN A RAISE, BUT WE'RE STILL PROMOTING THE LOWEST PAY SCALE.

SO WE DON'T GET APPLICANTS, BUT WE TALKING ABOUT WE'RE GONNA HIRE 'EM ON, ON ON PAY SCALE SIX.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT PAY SCALE SIX IS.

THEY SEE THE PUBLISHED RATE.

THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHY WE NEED TO IMMEDIATELY AND URGENTLY AND TOMORROW START WORKING ON A HR PLAN TO NOT PAY SOMEBODY $136,000 PER EMPLOYEE QUIT AND KEEP THEIR MONEY IN HOUSE AND MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE STAY HOME.

THE ONES WHERE HAVE PENSIONS KEEP BUT THE ONES THAT DON'T CLOSE.

RICK, COME TO THE MIC QUICK CAUSE I'M BURNING MY TIME.

WOULD YOU LIKE THE EXTRA TIME I WAS GONNA GIVE HIM MS. COL.

UH, WELL HOLD ON TO THAT RIGHT QUICK.

RICK, HOW MANY VACANCIES DO YOU HAVE, SIR? YEAH, WE HAVE UH, THIS YOUR DEPARTMENT.

I KNOW, I KNOW DPW, THIS YOUR DEPARTMENT.

I'M THE VACANCIES.

TOTALLY.

IT'S 109.

SO WE HAVE 109 VACANCIES IN HIS DEPARTMENT.

RICK, IF YOU PUBLISHED A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS JOBS FOR ENGINEERS, NOT JUST UM, FOR SKILLED OR OR UNSKILLED LABOR, WHAT KIND OF APPLICANTS DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD GET RICK FOR A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR WORKING FOR THE CITY? GUARANTEED JOBS? PROBABLY A HUNDRED PERCENT.

I'M DONE WITH YOU RICK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'M GONNA BURN MY TIME.

SO MR. BERNARD? YES SIR.

I'M GONNA ASK YOU PUBLICLY, I'M GONNA ASK THE MAYOR, I'M GONNA ASK EVERYBODY ELSE PUBLIC CAUSE I'M SICK OF SAYING THIS.

MA'AM, WE HAVE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

WE KNOW IT'S A DISPARITY.

THE LAST STUDY WAS DONE IN 2015.

WE HAVE NOT MET THOSE NUMBERS.

LET'S MAKE THIS PUBLIC.

2023 IS BEYOND COVID.

THE PAY SCALE IS WAY UP HERE.

IF WE DO A PAY STUDY STUDY, WE ARE GOING TO EMBARRASS THE CITY.

AND IT'S OKAY.

CAUSE IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON THE MAYOR'S WATCH.

IT HAPPENED BEFORE THE MAYOR GOT HERE.

BUT THE DISPARITY STUDY HAS TO BE DONE, MAN.

IT HAS TO BE DONE TO CLOSE THAT GAP.

OR IT'S GONNA BE JACOBS TODAY, IT'S GONNA BUY SOMEBODY ELSE TOMORROW.

AND I'M NOT, I'M NOT, I'M NOT, I'M NOT MAD AT OUTSOURCING WHEN NEEDED, BUT IN THIS CASE, IT DIDN'T NEED TO BE DONE.

WE NEED TO TAKE HUMAN RESOURCE.

THE JOB IS TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN TALENT.

AND GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS REALLY P****S ME OFF WHEN KNOWING WE HAVE GREAT TALENT THAT WE LET SLIP FROM THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, FROM OUR LC, TCS FROM SOUTHERN, FROM LSU, FROM ULL, FROM SOUTHEASTERN.

MAN, WE GOTTA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT THAT'S BOTH SKILLED AND UNSKILLED LABOR.

THE OTHER PART, MAN, IF THEY TARGET ONE OF Y'ALL, MAN, YOU JUST DON'T, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO

[02:10:01]

WORRY ABOUT.

I GUARANTEE THAT NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

MAKE YES, NO, YOU DON'T NEED REPRESENTATIVE.

YOU DON'T EVEN NEED A LAWYER.

YOU NEED TO COME STAND IN FRONT OF THIS MIC AND TELL US WHAT THEY DID.

BUT THEY SHOULDN'T BE TARGETING YOU, NUMBER ONE.

SO, UM, AND IT'S 240 VACANCIES IN D P W AS A WHOLE.

AND LEMME TELL YOU WHY I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

BECAUSE WE HAVE 12 PEOPLE UP HERE THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR 456,000 PEOPLE.

AND WHEN THEY CALL BRANDON NOLAN, ZACHARY, OR SHAWN AND SCOTLAND, CAROLYN DOWN IN SOUTH BATON ROUGE, DENISE OVER THERE NEXT TO BALLING ROOM, DWI, , DWIGHT AND SHANNON DO.

NICE.

JIM ROCKA AND ROSEANNE CLEVE DUNN OVER AT THE AMAZON PROJECT.

LORI OPEN BOTH CARS, AARON AND CENTRAL, AND, AND ROWDY AT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

GUARDE.

SO, WELL, THEY MIGHT, THEY GONNA CALL ME IN GLEN OAK EXON MOBILE.

ALRIGHT? SO WHEN THEY CALL US AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THREE 11, MY ANSWER RIGHT NOW IS, MAN, THEY GOT PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH FOUR YEAR, 311 TICKETS.

I'M SORRY, I GOTTA PUT YOU IN LINE.

CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE WORKERS, AND I'M GONNA SAY THIS PUBLICLY AS WELL, WHEN I WAS ASKED, HOW DO WE FIX THE STORM WATER, I SAID, YOU RAISED THE DOG ON WAGES.

AND YOU GET PEOPLE THAT CAN MAINTAIN THEIR STUFF ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS INSTEAD OF MAKING EXCUSES.

THIS IS HOW CIVIL SERVICE WORKS.

THAT IS, THAT IS AN EXCUSE.

IF YOU ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU ALWAYS DID, YOU ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU ALWAYS GOT.

SO IF YOU DON'T, IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO MAKE CHANGES, THE MAN, THIS AIN'T THE PLACE FOR YOU.

I DON'T CARE WHO IT IS.

I TELL EVERYBODY I WORK FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE INCORPORATED.

CAUSE IF WE TREATED LIKE A COMPANY, HALF OF Y'ALL WOULDN'T HAVE YOUR JOBS.

AMEN.

BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A FOR-PROFIT OPPORTUNITY AND YOU WOULDN'T BE A PERSON THAT MADE THE CITY RUN.

WELL, IT'S NOT A TARGET THAT YOU, BRIAN, I'M JUST TALKING IN GENERAL ACROSS THE BOARD.

THE, THE MAYOR IS A CEO.

GLENN IS A COO.

THE ACOS ARE THE VPS, THE DEPARTMENT HEADS OR THE DIRECTORS AND SO ON, AND MANAGEMENT.

ALL THOSE PEOPLE REALLY QUALIFIED TO DO WHAT THEY DO.

WE GOTTA START EVALUATING THAT.

IF WE WANNA MAKE BAT ROUGE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.

IT STARTS WITH YOU, BRIAN.

I'M CHALLENGE YOU TODAY PUBLICLY TO MAKE THIS KNOWN, TO START DOING THINGS SO WE CAN MITIGATE JACOBS.

WERE COMING IN.

NOTHING AGAINST JACOBS, NOTHING AGAINST VIYA.

ANYBODY ELSE IS OUTSOURCING.

BUT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

HAVE WE TAKEN THE RESPONSIBILITY TO CITY AND TAKEN IN OUR OWN HANDS AND DONE WHAT THE TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING US TO DO.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M RIGHT HERE MAKING THIS COMMENT BECAUSE THEY ELECTED ME TO DO THIS.

AND MY JOB IS TO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY DO.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

GOOD JOB, DARRYL.

COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, BANKS.

UH, YES.

UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT THIS ITEM BE DEFERRED FOR AT LEAST 30 DAYS.

AND THESE ARE THE REASONS WHY.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, UH, WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY THE WORST MAYOR AND MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION THAT I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED IN MY 61 YEARS.

YOU NEED TO GET, I'D LIKE TO RECLAIM MY TIME.

PART OF THE PROBLEM.

WHAT YOU, WHAT DO YOU SEE RIGHT NOW IS WHY THIS HAPPENS? BECAUSE WE HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE TRYING ON THIS COUNSELOR THAT TRIES TO PROTECT THE PERSON WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE THINGS HAPPENING.

THERE'S NO WAY WE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN TO THIS POINT WHERE YOU WHO ARE THE DIRECTOR OF HR WAS NOT GOING OUT TALKING TO THESE PEOPLE HOLDING IN INFORMATIONAL WHERE ALL OF THEM GET TOGETHER.

YOU SHOULD ALREADY, WHEN THEY CAME IN HERE BEFORE THIS MM-HMM.

, THEY SHOULD KNOW WHAT POSITION THEY HAVE.

SEE THIS MY THIRD TIME SEEING THIS HAPPEN MM-HMM.

WITH PARISH PRISON.

THEY, UH, THEY HAD THOSE REGISTERED NURSES THAT IS THE ONLY WEAR PLACE IN THE CITY PARISH WHERE NURSES ARE HIRED.

THAT'S CORRECT.

THEY WERE ALL TOLD THEY WOULD GO TO A, THEY WOULD TRY TO FIND A COMPARABLE PLACE.

THEY WERE PUT OVER AT EMS. MM-HMM.

AND THEY WERE ANSWERING THE PHONE THAT THEY HAD.

THEY TOO SAID THE SAME THING THIS YOUNG MAN SAID, HAD NEVER SEEN THE DIRECTOR HAD NEVER GOTTEN A PHONE CALL, HAD NEVER BEEN VISITED.

THAT'S YOU.

I HAVE BEEN AND WORKED ENOUGH JOBS TO KNOW THAT WHEN THERE IS AN, AN IMMINENT, UH, A POSSIBLE, UH, LAYOFF MM-HMM.

OR CHANGE OR TRANSIT, THAT'S A HR THAT'S NOT A A D P W.

RICK SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.

PLUS RICK HAS HORRIBLE COMMUNICATE HORRIBLE SKILLS WHEN IT COMES TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE DEAL WITH WHEN WE SEND HIM PROBLEMS. SO I KNOW THESE FOLKS NOT GETTING NOTHING WITH HIM.

THESE CONTRACTORS, THEY HIRE INTERNATIONALLY.

BECAUSE HE SEES THEM.

IT'S LOWER YOU, THAT'S YOUR JOB.

AND YOU WORK FOR THE MAYOR.

HAVE YOU HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR ON HOW THIS TRANSITION SUPPOSED TO TAKE PLACE? I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE MAYOR ON HOW WE WILL MAKE THE TRANSITION.

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

I'M TALKING ABOUT PRIOR TO

[02:15:01]

DO YOU HAVE A PLAN? DID SHE GIVE YOU INSTRUCTIONS? SHE, SHE DID NOT GIVE ME INSTRUCTIONS.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

BUT, BUT I, BUT IT'S, THAT'S MY JOB.

COUNCILWOMAN.

BUT NO, YOU SUPPOSED TO, THAT'S HER JOB.

THEIR NINING FLOWS FROM THE HEAD DOWN.

SHE'S SUPPOSED TO TELL YOU, READ ME WHAT THE PLAN IS.

WHAT JOB ARE WE PUTTING JAMES GIBBS IN? WHAT JOB ARE WE PUTTING SO AND SO? HE SHOULD KNOW THAT.

HE SHOULD KNOW THAT TODAY.

HE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT YESTERDAY, THE DAY BEFORE.

AND COUNCILWOMAN, IF I CAN FOR THE, FOR THE PRIOR TRANSITIONS OR LAY AVOIDANCES THAT WE DID.

I PERSONALLY MET WITH EVERY INDIVIDUAL.

AND WHY THIS TIME? BECAUSE THERE IS, AS SOON AS THE CONTRACT IS GIVEN, WE, THAT IS NOT TRUE.

THIS IS ALL PUBLIC INFORMATION.

THEY HAVE THAT STUFF ON THEIR WEBSITE.

ALL YOU DOING IS GIVEN A PRESENTATION.

THEY ALREADY A PRIVACY.

THEY DIDN'T EVEN NEED YOUR PERMISSION.

THEY DIDN'T, JACOBS DIDN'T NEED, BY ALL, THEY DIDN'T NEED THE PERMISSION.

THEY COULD HAVE HAD AN INFORMATIONAL CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES.

THEY COULD HAVE HAD ANYBODY ELSE WHO WANTED TO COME.

NO, THIS COULD, THEY'RE IN THIS ADMINISTRATION.

THERE IS, THEY, THEY WANT TO KEEP EVERYTHING ON THE LOCK AND KEY AND NOT BE ACCOUNTABLE AND NOT BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THINGS.

SO AGAIN, THE D P W NO, THOSE WORKERS WERE TOLD THE SAME THING.

THEY CAME UP HERE POURING OUT THEIR HEART AND WE THE COUNCIL THEN STILL VOTED.

THAT HAPPENED.

THEN SAME THING.

FIRST THING RODDY GOE WAS THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATOR.

LET A, A WHOLE OC D DEPARTMENT GO.

ONE MAN CAME UP HERE AND SAID HE WAS GONNA LOSE $40,000 IN RETIREMENT.

ALL THE INTELLECTUAL KNOWLEDGE.

AND FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS THAT WE'VE HAD THIS MAYOR, WE'VE GIVEN AWAY MORE MONEY BACK TO HUD.

WE HAVE THE LARGEST HOUSING CRISIS.

WE HAVE THE WORST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SHE RAN ON A ISLAND WHERE SHE SAID THAT 40% THAN SHE WAS GONNA, IT WAS GONNA BEGIN WITH 20%.

D B E.

WE HAD A STUDY BEFORE HER, BUT WE PAID FOR SOMETHING UNDER HER ADMINISTRATION THAT SHE, SHE TAUGHT IT FOR AND SAID WAS GONNA BE SO WONDERFUL BUT NO IMPLEMENTATION.

AND NOW WE GONNA GO GIVE SOMEBODY A 15% D B E WHEN SHE RAN ON 20 AND SAID BY THE END OF OUR ADMINISTRATION IT WOULD BE 40.

WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? THIS IS CRAZY.

THIS IS CRAZY.

AND, AND IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.

AND I'M TIRED OF COVERING UP.

Y'ALL COULD CALL ME ANGRY BLACK WOMAN.

YOU COULD CALL ME CRAZY CLEVE.

Y'ALL COULD SAY WHATEVER, BUT YOU WON'T CALL ME A FOOL BECAUSE THIS IS WRONG.

ALL OF THESE PEOPLE, THEY, WE SHOULD HAVE HAD, THIS COUNSELOR SHOULD HAVE HAD IMPACT EMPLOYEES.

WHAT THEIR POSITION, THE SALARY AND THE YEAR THE COUNSELOR SHOULDA HAVE HAD THAT.

AND WHAT THE JOB YOU WAS GONNA PUT 'EM IN, YOU GOT A HUNDRED PERCENT VACANCY TO ADD SOME OF 'EM TOGETHER.

YOU HAVE GOT THREE VACANCY THE BOTTOM AND GIVE TWO OF 'EM SO THEY CAN GET AN INCREASE.

THAT'S WHAT SMART AND I AIN'T HR, BUT I KNOW THAT THEN HUMAN RESOURCE HAVE MET WITH THE CURRENT EMPLOYEES WITH THE COMPARABLE POSITIONS THAT THEY COULDN'T DO TRANSITION INTO.

THEY HAD NO BUSINESS, NO BUSINESS HAVING TO APPLIED WHEN THEY GOT A JOB.

AND THIS IS NOT THEIR FAULT.

AND YOU GOT 107 VACANCIES AND YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE ONE GO TALK TO THOSE PEOPLE.

AND I, AND I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM DOING THAT.

YOU SAID HAVE ALREADY DONE IT.

BUT THERE IS NO CONTRACT FOR THIS VENDOR.

IT DOESN'T WHERE, WHERE IN PLAYING THE GOVERNMENT SAY YOU CAN'T JUST TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR FUTURE.

BUT IF THE CON THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE, IT'S A, IT'S A POP.

YOU WERE SAYING THESE ARE THE PROPOSALS.

THAT'S ALL YOU HAD TO DO.

THAT'S NOT MY FIRST RODEO.

I WORK WITH PRIVATE SECTOR, PUBLIC SECTOR, SCHOOL CENTER.

THAT'S WRONG.

NO TRANSITION IN PLACE.

THEY SHOULD KNOW ALREADY.

CURRENT EMPLOYEES COULD HAVE, SHOULD HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW OFFSITE.

THE PEOPLE WOULDN'T LET 'EM COME IN.

THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN SAID.

BUT YOU CAN GO TO THE HOLIDAY IN AND YOU CAN'T INVITE ALL OF THEM.

NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THAT.

JACOB IS A PRIVATE BID.

THEY DOING WHAT THEY SUPPOSED TO DO.

I AIN'T GOT NO PROBLEM WITH JACOB.

, VIOLA.

I DON'T SEE HOW ANY MAYOR WHO TALKS ABOUT DISPARITY WOULD NOT WANT TO GET A MILLION DOLLARS TO A COMMUNITY.

WHY SHE WOULDN'T WANNA DO 2 MILLION WITH ALL THAT OTHER STUFF TO DO.

ACT TALKED ABOUT, ABOUT JACOB'S.

UH, CURRENT EMPLOYEES DESERVE FULLY AND FORWARD INFO.

JACOBS SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAY WHAT THEY'RE HIRING IS.

THAT'S, THAT'S NOTHING.

BUT GIVING YOU A FOLDER, GIVING THEM A, A BENEFIT PACKAGE.

, THERE'S NO VIOLATION THERE.

THAT SHOULD BEEN PART OF THE PROCESS BY WHICH Y'ALL MAKE A DECISION.

WHAT, WHO'S GONNA GET THE BEST DEAL OF OUR EMPLOYEE? WHO'S GONNA MAKE SURE OUR EMPLOYEES KEEP IT? ALL OF 'EM KEEP THEIR JOB.

NOT, MAYBE NOT POSSIBLY HORRIBLE ADMINISTRATION IS WHAT

[02:20:01]

HAS HAPPENED HERE.

RICK IS NOT A ACCOUNT.

RICK SHOULD HAVE LEFT WITH CALVIN, LEFT WITH THE STORMWATER.

THAT'S THE REAL DEAL.

THE SAME THING.

THESE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID WITH PARISH PRINTING.

ALL THE PEOPLE WANTED WAS SOME BLOOD SAMPLES, SOME TESTS, SOME TESTS.

AND THEY LAID THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT ON PRIVATE.

AND NOW WE PAID 5,000 MORE AND GOT MORE PEOPLE THAN DIED.

SINCE THEY PRIVATIZED, WE'VE HAD MORE LAWSUITS SINCE THEY PRIVATIZED.

CAUSE THEY DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT MONEY UNLESS IT'S COMING TO BLACK FOLKS.

THAT'S A PROBLEM.

AND IT'S GOTTEN WORSE.

IT'S GOTTEN WORSE.

NOT BETTER, WORSE.

AND SO, YEAH.

I'M I'M SAYING IT RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS A HORRIBLE ADMINISTRA.

EVERYBODY DOING WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

EVERYBODY.

WHY WE HAVE A MALE WHO WANT TO BE ON THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF THIS, THE COUNCIL OF THIS, THE BOARD OF THIS, THAT THIS IS ABOUT IT.

THIS IS THE ISSUE.

THE ISSUE IS ABOUT POOR ADMINISTRATION AND IT'S HORRIBLE.

AND I'M TIRED OF LYING AND I'M TIRED OF TALKING AND I'M TIRED OF BEING WORRIED ABOUT IT.

IF I'M GONNA SAY BLACK WOMAN ON BLACK WOMAN AND ALL THAT RIGHT IS RIGHT AND WRONG AND WRONG.

IT IS WRONG.

BLACK, WHITE, GREEN, PURPLE, ORANGE, YELLOW.

IT'S WRONG.

AND YOU, IT IS HOW YOU START.

I DON'T CARE HOW IT LOOKS AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S GONNA GO LEFT.

IT'S GONNA GO LEFT.

AND WE NEED TO START HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

AND I'M NOT HOLDING MY TONGUE NO MORE.

CAUSE I'M GONNA GET TALKED ABOUT ANYWAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

OH, SURELY THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT WANTS TO SPEAK BEFORE ME.

NAH, YOU GOT IT.

YOU GOT IT.

UH, BRIAN MM-HMM.

, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK TONIGHT ABOUT HOW HR COULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED, BUT I, I WANT TO START LOOKING FORWARD.

TELL US, TELL US THE EMPLOYEES, TELL US, UH, TO THE PUBLIC MOVE FORWARD MOTION BY THE WAY.

I GOT YOU.

SHAWN, JUST GIMME A SECOND.

TELL US, MOVING FORWARD, WHAT'S YOUR NEXT STEPS? WHAT DOES THE TIMELINE LOOK LIKE? WHAT DOES OUTREACH TO THE, TO THE EMPLOYEES LOOK LIKE? WALK ME THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

OKAY, SO, UM, AS I STATED BEFORE, WE, WE HAVE STARTED THE WORK.

WE HAVE THE EMPLOYEES LISTED.

IT IS, UH, ABOUT 44 EMPLOYEES.

WE HAVE THEIR CURRENT PAY AND WHERE THEY ARE NEXT STEPS.

IF THIS IS APPROVED, WE CAN GO OUT AS EARLY AS TOMORROW TO START.

AND EVEN IF IT'S NOT APPROVED, IF THE EMPLOYEES WANT US THERE TO SPEAK TO THEM, I CAN DO THAT AS EARLY AS TOMORROW AND START MEETING WITH THEM.

AND THEN WE ARE GONNA COMPILE AND, AND FIGURE OUT WHICH VACANCIES ARE THERE AND HAVE AT LEAST ONE OR TWO, AT LEAST TWO OPTIONS IS MY, IS MY, UM, UH, PREFERRED OPTIONS FOR THEM IS TO GIVE 'EM AT LEAST TWO OPTIONS.

ONE WITH THEIR CURRENT PAY IN STEP AND MAYBE ONE THAT DOES NOT KEEP THEIR CURRENT PAY IN STEP, BUT MAYBE ONE PAY GRADE LESS.

AND WE HAVE TO MOVE 'EM UP IN STEP TO MAKE THEM WHOLE.

UM, FROM THERE WE GONNA STOP ADVERTISEMENTS FOR POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AS POSITIONS THAT WE'RE GONNA PLACE THESE EMPLOYEES IN.

SO THERE'LL BE NO PROMOTIONS FOR PERSONS, UM, UNTIL WE PLACE ALL OF THESE EMPLOYEES IN THE POSITIONS WE HAVE IDENTIFIED.

FROM THAT POINT, WE'RE GONNA CREATE A LETTER THAT GOING TO GO OUT INDIVIDUALLY TO EACH EMPLOYEE.

AND LIKE I SAID IN THE OTHER FOUR EXAMPLES THAT, UH, THREE EXAMPLES THAT THE COUNCILWOMAN SAID, I PERSONALLY WENT OUT AND MET WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE, SHOWED 'EM THEIR OPTIONS, AND THEN GAVE THEM SOME TIME TO THINK, YOU KNOW, GET AN OFFER FROM THE OTHER COMPANY AND THEN COME BACK AND LET US KNOW, HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON.

I SAID FROM THE PREVIOUS, UM, LAYOFF AVOIDANCE ISSUES FROM O C D, FROM THE PARISH PRISON, FROM THOSE PLACES.

UM, AND THEN MEET WITH EACH EMPLOYEE TO SHOW THEM THE OFFERS THAT THAT WE HAVE FOR THEM AND THE POSITIONS WE HAVE FOR THEM.

AND THEN, UH, MEET PRIOR WITH THEM, AFTER THEY HAVE SOME TIME TO THINK ABOUT IF THEY WANNA STAY WITH US, THEY'RE GONNA PROBABLY GET AN OFFER FROM THE COMPANY THAT'S COMING IN.

THEY CAN WEAR THEIR OPTIONS FOR THE TWO.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GO BACK WITH A BINDING OFFER FROM THEM TO SAY, ARE YOU GOING WITH THE COMPANY OR ARE YOU STAYING WITH US? AND IF YOU STAY WITH US, HERE'S YOUR OPTION.

HERE'S WHERE YOU REPORT, HERE'S YOUR SUPERVISOR.

AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS FOR THEM FOR THEIR FIRST DAY OF REPORTING.

UM, WE HAVE FROM MARCH 1ST TO MAY 31ST IS THE TRANSITION, BUT WE GONNA MOVE AS SOON AS, UM, IF, IF THIS IS APPROVED, TO START MOVING THEM IMMEDIATELY OUT TO TAKE THE ANGST OUT OF THEM WORRYING ABOUT IF THEY HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO.

I GOTCHA.

UM, CARLOS, IF YOU WOULD COME UP REAL QUICK, WALK US THROUGH HOW THIS PROCESS WILL WORK FROM, UH, AN OMI PERSPECTIVE.

WHAT'S YOUR OUTREACH GONNA LOOK LIKE? UH, GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

SO THE ONE THING THAT, THAT I WANNA SAY IS, YOU KNOW, JACOBS, WE ARE A PEOPLE COMPANY.

THAT IS WHAT WE, UM, PROVIDE TO OUR CLIENTS, RIGHT? PEOPLE ARE OUR GREATEST ASSET.

SO WE WANT ALL THE, ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED IN CONTINUING TO WORK AT THE FACILITIES TO

[02:25:01]

COME TO WORK FOR US.

AND IT'S NOT JUST GONNA BE A JOB, IT'S GONNA BE A CAREER.

UM, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ALL OF THEM COME MORE FOR US.

OUR OUTREACH WOULD START MARCH 1ST.

WE'RE GONNA DO MULTIPLE EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITIES, BRING THEM IN, TELL THEM ABOUT US, ASK THEM TO BRING THEIR FAMILIES IN.

CUZ THIS IS A FAMILY DECISION, UM, FOR THESE EMPLOYEES.

IT ISN'T JUST AN INDIVIDUAL DECISION.

AND, AND I MEAN, I TALK ABOUT THE JACOB'S WORK FAMILY ALL THE TIME.

UM, WE WANT THEM COMFORTABLE.

WE WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COMPENSATION WOULD LOOK LIKE, WHAT OUR BENEFITS PACKAGE ARE.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA MAKE A HUGE INVESTMENT IN ALL OF THESE STAFF.

AND, AND NOT JUST THEIR TRAINING, BUT IN THEM.

AND THE LAST THING WE WANT THEM TO DO IS BE UNHAPPY AND LEAVE US.

RIGHT? IT'S A CAREER.

UM, I'VE MET A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT STARTED IN THE EXACT SAME ROLE AS SOME OF THESE GUYS.

THEY BASICALLY WERE AN EMPLOYEE, UM, WORKING IN ONE PART OF A WASTEWATER PLANT.

AND YOU KNOW, NOW THEY'RE TRAVELING AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THEY'RE, UH, A LEADER IN TRANSITIONING.

BUT, UH, THE ONE PIECE I WANT TO TALK TO IS THE TRANSITION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART, RIGHT? THESE NEXT THREE MONTHS, THE CITY NEEDS A GOOD PARTNER IN THIS TRANSITION.

UM, AND YOU DIDN'T ASK ABOUT IT, BUT I, I HAVE TO SPEAK TO, UH, COUNCILMAN COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

UM, SO WE'VE BEEN SUPPORTING THE PARISH FOR 15 YEARS.

WE'VE NEVER SUBMITTED A CHANGE ORDER, RIGHT? IN 15 YEARS, CARLOS.

SO WE THANK YOU.

I WANNA MAKE SURE AND AND GET TO MY NEXT PART BEFORE MY 30.

I'M SORRY.

YOU'RE GOOD, , BUT THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

EVERYBODY, ANYTIME THERE'S A POTENTIAL TRANSITION,

UM, SO, SO AS WE VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT, I DO WANNA ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES, REMEMBER WE'VE INVESTED ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS INTO PROCUREMENT FOR THIS CONTRACT.

UH, THIS IS A DIRECTION THAT WE'VE BEEN HEADED FOR A WHILE NOW.

UH, AND, AND WE REALLY, I FEEL LIKE OUR, OUR FIRST OBLIGATION IS TO CONS TO THE CONSTITUENTS, RIGHT? OUR FIRST OBLIGATION AS A COUNCIL, AS THE, THE BOARD FOR ROSCOE, UH, IS TO MAKE SURE THE TOILETS ARE FUSSING, TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING 1 MILLION GALLON SPILLS.

UM, THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING TO BUY OUT PROPERTIES AND PAY CLAIMS FOR SPILLS AND THAT SORT OF THING.

UM, SO, SO THAT'S MY FOCUS.

UM, I I KNOW THAT THIS IS NEVER DONE PERFECTLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PRIVATIZING, UH, A COMPONENT OF CITY PARISH.

I GET IT.

I UNDERSTAND IT.

UH, IN FACT, I DON'T EVEN SAY I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT CAUSE I'VE NEVER BEEN IN THAT POSITION.

UM, UH, BUT I DO THINK THAT THIS IS BEST MOVE FOR NEBRASKA.

IT'S THE BEST MOVE TO SERVE THE CONSTITUENTS.

AND SO WITH THAT, I WILL MOVE TO APPROVE.

I MEAN, LET ME ASK A QUESTION FIRST.

SHAUNA, DO YOU WANT YOUR MOTION TO GO BEFORE IS OR YOU WANT YOURS TO BE THE SUBSTITUTE? I'LL GIVE YOU YOUR OPTION FAVOR.

I'LL SE I'LL SECOND HER.

MOTION TO MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANK.

SECOND, IF BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.

NOW WE GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO APPROVE AS IS, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY LORI ADAMS. UH, WE NOW GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.

THANK YOU FIRST OF ALL, YOU, YOU CAN SIT DOWN, CARLOS, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME TALK, UH, TAKE MY HAT OFF TO THE EMPLOYEES FOR COMING TO SPEAK AND LETTING YOUR VOICES BE HEARD.

AND, AND NOT ONLY YOUR DIRECT COLLEAGUES, BUT ANY EMPLOYEES WITHIN CITY PARIS GOVERNMENT.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME SPEAK TO US, COME SPEAK PUBLICLY AND, AND DO IT EARLIER THAN LATER.

I'M GLAD Y'ALL CAME TONIGHT, BUT DON'T HESITATE TO COME SPEAK TO US BECAUSE WE REPRESENT YOU GUYS.

SO WE NEED TO KNOW THESE THINGS.

SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME SPEAK TO US.

AND I ECHO CAROLYN SENTIMENTS AND DAR SENTIMENTS ABOUT THAT, THAT NOT BE ANY TARGETING OF ANY ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO CAME TO SPEAK UP.

UM, TODAY, THE PROCESS ON THIS THING WAS FLAWED FROM THE BEGINNING ON MULTIPLE LEVELS.

WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS.

UH, THEY WANTED TO APPROVE THIS THING TWO, THREE MONTHS AGO, BUT WE SLOWED IT DOWN BECAUSE OF THE PROCESS.

VIOLA IS HERE REPRESENTED, Y'ALL KNOW I'M A BIG HUGE DBE PERSON.

THEY HAD A LARGER D B E, UH, PLATFORM AND PORTFOLIO THAT THEY PRESENTED, PRESENTED TO THE CITY PARIS.

I WAS TOTALLY OFFENDED THAT SOMEBODY IN CITY PARIS ASKED THEM TO MINIMIZE THEIR D B E PERCENTAGE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE INTERVIEW PROCESS, UH, CITY PARISH ADMINISTRATION ORIGINALLY ONLY INTERVIEWED JACOBS, DIDN'T INTERVIEW ANYBODY ELSE, WHICH SEND THE INDICATION THAT YOUR MIND WAS ALREADY MADE UP.

THAT THE DECISION WAS ALREADY MADE.

NOT THAT YOU, NOT ONLY THAT YOU WAS MOVING FORWARD, BUT YOU WANTED TO, YOU KNEW WHO YOU WAS GONNA MOVE FORWARD WITH.

THERE WAS NO COMMUNICATION WITH THESE EMPLOYEES.

I WANNA KNOW WHY I WANT ANSWERS TO THAT.

THESE FOLKS WORK FOR CITY PARISH, GOVERNMENT, HAVE COMMITTED 14, 20, 25, WHATEVER YEARS, AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RESPECT FOR THEM TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM ABOUT THEIR FUTURE.

THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

WE GOTTA DO BETTER.

[02:30:01]

WE SHOULD GIVE OUR EMPLOYEES THE RESPECT OF HAVING THE CONVERSATION, LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT THEIR OPTIONS ARE.

YOU KNOW, WE HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR COMING TO WORK, FOR DOING THEIR JOBS, BUT WE CAN JUST QUICKLY TAKE IT AWAY FROM THEM.

TAKE THEIR LIVELIHOOD AWAY FROM 'EM.

THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

I THINK, I DON'T REMEMBER THE GENTLEMAN'S NAME WHO SPOKE THAT, TALKED ABOUT A HYBRID MODEL, NORTH PLANT, SOUTH PLANT.

I'M NOT AGAINST OUTSOURCING.

I DO THINK IT SERVES LOCAL GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT WELL, BECAUSE ALL GOVERNMENT HAVE A ISSUE WITH LEGACY COSTS.

SO SOME VERSION OF OUR SOURCING, IN MY OPINION, SHOULD TAKE PLACE TO RELIEVE US FOR SOME OF THE LEG LEGACY COSTS.

BUT A, A HYBRID MODEL, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO NEED TO DISCUSS.

WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT AND WE CONTINUE TO SEE OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS RUSHING THESE PROCESSES.

AND EVERY TIME WE RUSH TO DO SOMETHING, THERE'S A CHALLENGE.

WE'VE HAD THESE DISCUSSIONS PRIVATELY, BUT YOU CONTINUE TO WANNA RUSH THESE PROCESSES AND THIS IS THE OUTCOME.

EVERYBODY WANNA RUSH TO DO THINGS.

NOBODY WANT TO BE PATIENT.

NOBODY WANNA TAKE THEIR TIME.

NOBODY WANNA CHECK ALL THE BOXES.

YOU JUST WANNA RUSH TO DO THIS.

AND NO, SEAN, I'M NOT GONNA CALL YOU CRAZY.

YOU MADE A LOT OF VALID POINTS.

A LOT OF THOSE POINTS WERE MADE TO THE ADMINISTRATION PRIVATELY.

BUT YET WE STILL HERE.

WE'RE STILL HERE.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO EVALUATE HOW WE MOVING ON THESE THINGS CUZ WE CONTINUE TO SEE THE SAME THING HAPPEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

SO I SUPPORT YOUR MOTION TO DEFER THE ITEM AND I'D ASK US TO ALL TO EVALUATE OURSELVES HOW WE WORK AND, AND DEAL WITH OUR EMPLOYEES, HOW WE TRANSITION AND HOW WE APPROACH THESE SITUATIONS SO WE DON'T END UP IN THESE FUMBLES AND FALSE THOUGHTS AND BLUNDERS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

MUCH OF THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED, BUT FOLKS WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD AND MOVE FORWARD FAST AT ALL COSTS.

AYE, YOU COUNCIL MEMBER NOEL.

FROM HIS CONSTITUENTS IN THE AREA.

I AGREE WITH MUCH OF WHAT'S BEEN SAID THIS EVENING.

UM, I THINK, UH, I DO WANT TO APPLAUD THE EMPLOYEES FOR COMING, UH, AND SPEAKING UP AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE 'EM TO DO SO OFTEN, UM, AND EARLY, RIGHT? YEAH.

UM, I I THINK SO MANY TIMES, UH, WHEN WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED LAST FALL AND, AND JUST, AND THIS, YOU, I SEE THIS IN, IN, IN PRIVATE SECTOR AND BUSINESSES THAT I'M A PART OF, UM, COMMUNICATION OR LACK THEREOF, UH, CAN JUST BE CANCEROUS AND OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY ARE IMPERATIVE TO, UH, HAVING SUCCESS AND IMPROVING EFFICIENCIES.

AND, AND I THINK WE ALL NEED TO WORK HARDER ON IMPROVING COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY ACROSS CITY GOVERNMENT.

I KNOW, UM, OFTENTIMES WE STRIVE TO BRING THAT TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND, AND OFTENTIMES THERE'S ROADBLOCKS AND WE STRUGGLE TO DO SO.

AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO TAKE EXTREME MEASURES TO GET TO THAT POINT AND THAT SHOULD NOT BE.

UM, SO I THINK WE, I DO THINK WE NEED SOME REFLECTION.

UH, COUNCILMAN DUNN.

I, I, I AGREE.

I THINK WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO LOOK INWARD AND FIGURE OUT A, A BETTER WAY.

UH, WE, WE NEED TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND REALLY TRY TO SEE, BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WE, WE REALLY ARE ALL ROWING IN THE SAME DIRECTION, BUT WE JUST DON'T REALIZE THAT, THAT WE ARE, AND WE'RE FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER BECAUSE THERE'S JUST A LACK OF COMMUNICATION.

BECAUSE TYPICALLY WHAT'S GONNA OCCUR IS SOMEBODY'S GONNA HEAR SOMETHING AND SAY, WELL, WAIT, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT THAT.

AND THEN YOU'RE IMMEDIATELY ON THE DEFENSE AND THEN THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES START WHEN IT MAY HAVE BEEN INNOCENT.

BUT WE ALL FEEL LIKE SOME, SOME IF, IF I DIDN'T KNOW IT'S BECAUSE SOMEBODY DIDN'T WANT ME TO KNOW, WHY DIDN'T THEY WANT ME TO KNOW? AND YOU START GOING DOWN THAT RABBIT HOLE AND REALLY IT WAS JUST LACK OF COMMUNICATION.

SO I DO THINK THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE IN THAT REGARD.

I, I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN HUDSON ABOUT WE, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS.

I LOOK AT IT CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, I I TYPICALLY LOOK AT NUMBERS AND, AND FROM A FISCAL STANDPOINT, I'VE SEEN THE PAYOUTS THAT WE'VE HAD FROM THE, UH, THE, THE SEWER BACKUPS AND THE, AND THE HOMES.

AND, AND THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK CLOSE AT.

UM, THAT'S AFFECTING A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE CONTINUOUSLY.

AND IT'S A, AND IT'S AFFECTING EVERY TAXPAYER FROM A, UM, BUDGETARY STANDPOINT WHEN WE'RE HAVING TO PAY, UH, THESE FEES AND, AND THESE, UH, SETTLEMENTS FROM THE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.

UM, I'M SURE COUNCILMAN GODES HAS HEARD QUITE A BIT OF THAT

[02:35:01]

UM, CARLOS, IF I CAN HAVE YOU FOR A MINUTE, I'M CURIOUS.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, THE HISTORY OF YOUR COMPANY ON TAKING OVER PROJECTS LIKE THIS.

HA HAVE Y'ALL DONE THIS BEFORE COMING IN, IN THIS KIND OF SCENARIO? AND IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO HOW MANY TIMES AND, AND TYPICALLY WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AS FAR AS THE TRANSITION.

SO, ABSOLUTELY.

UM, WE'VE LITERALLY DONE THIS HUNDREDS OF TIMES.

WE'VE TRANSITIONED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CITY EMPLOYEES OVER TO JACOBS, RIGHT? UM, WE, WE ALWAYS DO A SURVEY WITH THEM WHEN THEY'VE, WHEN THEY'VE COME, COME ON AND A YEAR LATER.

AND EVERY SINGLE TIME WE KIND OF SEE IT AS A VALIDATION THAT WE'RE TREATING OUR EMPLOYEES, RIGHT? THOSE EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION SURVEYS GO UP.

AND THIS IS A, IT'S A BIG CHANGE FOR THE CITY TO MOVE TO A CONTRACT OPERATIONS I'D, I'D ACTUALLY LIKE TO ASK, WE HAVE OUR, OUR O AND M, UM, GROUP PRESIDENT HERE, UH, TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

HE CAN TALK MUCH MORE BROADLY ABOUT WHERE ELSE WE'VE DONE THIS, UM, THE, THE, THE NUMBER OF YEARS WITH THAT HE'S BEEN, UM, IN THAT, IN THAT ROLE AND WITH US.

STEVE, HANG ON.

GOOD EVENING COUNSEL.

UM, YEAH.

UH, I'VE BEEN WITH JACOBS FOR 30 YEARS, UH, IN THE O AND M GROUP FOR 27 YEARS.

WE OPERATE HUNDREDS OF WATER AND WASTE WATER FACILITIES.

WE'RE ONE OF THE LEADERS IN THE INDUSTRY.

THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO US.

WE'RE A PEOPLE COMPANY, UH, EMPLOYEES.

I KNOW THIS IS A TOUGH TIME LIKE THIS.

THERE'S A LOT OF UNKNOWN THROUGH THESE, THESE SITUATIONS.

AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, HAVING GONE THROUGH IT SO MANY TIMES, I KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE AND I KNOW IT'S VERY BRIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO COME WORK FOR US, BUT IT'S HARD TO GIVE THEM COMFORT UNTIL THEY GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

AND AS CARLOS SAID, WE, THIS IS IMPORTANT TO US.

WE SURVEY IT, OUR RENEWAL RATE FOR OUR CONTRACT OPERATIONS BUSINESS IS 98% OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS.

SO WE STAY WHERE WE ARE AND WE GET THE RENEWALS BECAUSE OUR CLIENTS, OUR PEOPLE ARE HAPPY WITH THE PERFORMANCE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST A FEW.

AND OTHER PLACES, WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, LARGE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON, LARGE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS, UM, RIO RANCHO, NEW MEXICO.

UM, WE DO THIS A LOT.

VERY SUCCESSFUL.

AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY FOR 15 YEARS, RIGHT? THIS IS A DIFFERENT WHAT MM-HMM.

, BUT WE'RE GONNA DO THE WORK THE SAME WAY, PARTNER WITH THE CITY AND, AND I THINK ULTIMATELY THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

SO NOW TELL ME THIS, WITH THIS SITUATION, AND I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVEN'T HAD, UH, DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE EMPLOYEES AT THE PLANTS.

DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF THEIR CURRENT PAY STRUCTURE AND RETIREMENT PLANS? UH, MAYBE NOT ON A, A REAL GRANULAR INDIVIDUAL LEVEL, BUT A PRETTY, UH, DECENT, ARE Y'ALL PRETTY HONED IN ON WHAT THEY HAVE AND, AND DO Y'ALL, SO HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOUR PLAN IS TO OFFER? IS IT COMMISERATE WITH WHERE THEY ARE NOW? IS IT BETTER? IS IT, IT'LL IT'LL BE MORE.

CAN YOU, CAN YOU GIVE ANY, CAN YOU GIVE US ANY MORE INDICATION TYPICALLY FROM A RANGE STANDPOINT? FROM A PUBLIC SERVICE TO A PRIVATE? YEAH.

I MEAN, IT'S HARD TO SAY EXACTLY, BUT WE'VE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF PAY AND COMPENSATION FOR ASSOCIATES AND, YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTAND THE VACANCY RATE AND THE RETENTION ISSUES AND WE, IT, IT'S CRITICAL TO US, AND WE HAVE LESS OVERALL STAFF THAN THE, THE FULL STAFF LEVEL.

IF YOU ARE FULLY STAFFED AND PART OF THE, UM, YOU KNOW, IMPORTANCE TO US IS THAT WE RETAIN THE PEOPLE.

SO, AND WE, WE RESPECT THE KNOWLEDGE THAT PEOPLE HAVE.

SO WE WANT AS MANY PEOPLE TO STAY AS POSSIBLE.

WE WANT THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE.

WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT WE BRING IN TO BE SUPPORTIVE AND HELP TRAIN ON SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE DO THINGS AND THEN GET INPUT AND REALLY ELEVATE THE OVERALL SITUATION.

IS, IS OUR GOAL.

UM, SO, AND, AND LOOK, AND, AND I KNOW I'M ASKING QUESTIONS THAT Y'ALL MAY NOT BE PREPARED TO ANSWER TODAY, BUT I'M TRYING TO GIVE THESE EMPLOYEES THE BEST INFORMATION I CAN IN THIS MEETING, UM, SO THAT THEY DO HAVE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE IF TONIGHT SOME KIND OF AN IDEA IF ALL 44 OF THESE EMPLOYEES, UM, IF, IF Y'ALL WERE ABLE TO KEEP THEM ON AT HIGHER, UH, RATE OF PAY.

UM, AND, AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT SOUNDS WONDERFUL TO EVERY ONE OF THEM.

DO Y'ALL HAVE CAPACITY FOR ALL 44 OF 'EM? DO YOU KNOW THAT? AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW IT, THAT'S OKAY.

BUT I'M TRYING TO GIVE THEM AS, AS BEST THE INDICATION AS POSSIBLE SO THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO THINK ON AND KIND OF HAVE SOME, NOT NECESSARILY GUARANTEED, BUT THEY HAVE SOME, SOME IDEA.

IF, IF THERE'S 44 PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME WORK FOR US AND THEY'RE QUALIFIED, WE'LL HIRE OFF 44.

WE, WE HAVE 42 POSITIONS THAT WE, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE FILLED BY STAFF.

BUT

[02:40:01]

LIKE, WE'RE, WE'RE, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE A PEOPLE COMPANY.

WE WANT THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE.

WE WANT TO HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFUL.

AND, AND THERE'S A, A LOT OF EXAMPLES, SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLES OF THESE TRANSITIONS.

AND WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANNA BRING IN AND OR HIRE, YOU KNOW, 44 DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

WE, WE PREFER TO GET THE EXISTING STAFF AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, A VERY SUCCESSFUL, UH, MODEL.

BEYOND THAT, UM, ONCE, UH, YOU RECEIVE APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT, HOW QUICKLY DO YOU TYPICALLY GET INVOLVED WITH THE EMPLOYEES? WHEN, WHEN WOULD, WHEN WOULD Y'ALL GET INVOLVED ON MEETING WITH THEM TO MAKE THOSE OFFERS? HOW SOON AFTER? UH, VERY QUICKLY AFTER LIKE, WITHIN DAYS OF LIKE, WE'RE, THERE'S URGENCY TO, TO DO THAT.

WE UNDERSTAND THE CRITICALITY OF IT, WHICH IS WHY WE DON'T ON ONLY MEET WITH THE STAFF.

WE ALSO MEET WITH THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS, UH, TO HELP EDUCATE EVERYONE ABOUT THE COMPANY'S BACKGROUND, THE BENEFITS, THE, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS BEING OFFERED.

SO CUZ WE KNOW THERE'S MULTIPLE DECISION MAKERS IN THESE THINGS.

UM, 90% OF THE LARGEST WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLAN, NOT ONLY IN NORTH AMERICA, BUT AROUND THE WORLD.

, IT'S NOT, IT'S OFTEN NOT JUST THE EMPLOYEE.

WHEN I SECOND, UH, COUNCILWOMAN BANKS'S, UH, MOTION, I WAS ASKED BY ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES WHAT WOULD 30 DAY DEFERRAL DO? AND I ANSWERED THE QUESTION.

BUT I WANT THE PUBLIC AND OTHER COLLEAGUES TO HEAR THIS AS WELL.

I THINK FOR ANY OTHER REASON, A 30 DAY DEFERRAL WILL GIVE THE STAFF AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED THE TIME TO COMMUNICATE TO THE EMPLOYEES.

I THINK WE OWE THEM THAT RESPECT TO COMMUNICATE TO THEM EFFECTIVELY WHAT THEIR OPTIONS ARE.

AND I DON'T THINK IT NEED TO BE, YOU KNOW, RUSHED TONIGHT.

THERE'S SOME QUESTIONS THAT THE STAFF CAN'T ANSWER TONIGHT.

THERE'S SOME QUESTIONS THAT, UH, JACOBS CAN'T ANSWER TONIGHT.

I THINK A 30 DAY DEFERRAL JUSTIFIES GIVING THEM THE RESPECT OR HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THE ENTIRE STAFF, NOT JUST THE ONES WHO CAME AND, AND JEOPARDIZED THEIR FUTURE AND THEIR JOBS TO COME OUT AND SPEAK OUT.

I THINK WE NEED TO OPEN IT UP AND, AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEM AND LET THEM KNOW THEIR OPTIONS.

I ASKED, UH, ANDY TO GIVE ME AN OPINION CUZ WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT, WE COULDN'T HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM.

I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT ANDY, DO YOU HAVE A LEGAL OPINION ON THAT? GOOD EVENING.

AGAIN, I'M, I'M GONNA TELL YOU, LIKE I ALWAYS TELL YOU, COUNCILMAN, I I GAVE YOU KIND OF SOME TALKING POINTS WHEN YOU AND I WERE TALKING, BUT I DON'T, I HAVEN'T RESEARCHED THAT.

I DON'T KNOW A LOT OF THE INTENDED FACTS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PARAMETERS WERE BETWEEN JACOBS DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CITY, WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY UNION ISSUES INVOLVED.

SO I CAN'T REALLY GIVE YOU AN ANSWER, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T WANNA SAY ALL I WAS ABOUT TO SAY, THE BOTTOM LINE IS I, I'D HAVE TO RESEARCH IT AND SEE, BUT I DON'T MIND DOING THAT IF I'M GIVING ALL THE ATTENDING FACTS.

NOPE, NO PROBLEM.

YEAH, WHATEVER THE PARAMETERS OR BARRIERS ARE THAT'S PREVENTING US FROM GIVING OUR EMPLOYEES THE RESPECT OF HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE OPTIONS, I WOULD ASK THAT WE REMOVE THEM AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND REVISIT THIS ITEM.

COUPLE OTHER THINGS I WANNA REINFORCE, AND CAROLYN KIND OF TOUCHED ON IT BEFORE, THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, UM, JACOBS PROPOSED 20 EMPLOYEES LESS THAN VIOLA PROPOSED.

UM, THAT'S WHAT CAROLYN WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN THE JACOBS PROPOSAL WAS SAID TO BE NOT ADEQUATE ENOUGH TO SERVICE THIS ACCOUNT AND SPOKE ABOUT THE CHANGE ORDERS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO I WANT TO GIVE VIOLA AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME UP AND SPEAK TO THAT AND, AND, AND TELL US YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON, YOU KNOW, THOSE 20 EMPLOYEES AND, AND HOW YOU SAW IT VERSUS WHAT THEY PROPOSED.

AND THE OTHER THING, WHEN YOU SPOKE EARLIER, YOU TALKED ABOUT YOU GUYS BEING MORE EXPERTS IN THIS FIELD AND NOT NOVICE.

AND I KNOW CARLOS TALKED ABOUT THEIR TRANSITION, THEY'VE DONE HUNDREDS OF TRANSITIONS.

BUT I THINK THE QUESTION, AND IF IT WASN'T MY QUESTION IS MORE SO HOW MANY OF THESE PROJECTS HAVE YOU DONE? NOT NECESSARILY TRANSITIONS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN AN ENGINEERING TRANSITION, BUT WASTE WATER AND YOU TALKED ABOUT YOU GUYS HAVING 90% OF THE MARKET SHARE AND YOUR COMPETITORS HAVING 10%, BUT YET OUR STAFF WAS, WAS SO IN A HURRY TO GIVE THIS TO SOMEONE WHO, WHO PROJECTED LESS CAPACITY TO PERFORM THE DUTIES AND DON'T HAVE THE MARKET SHARE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE.

SO COULD YOU SPEAK TO THAT JOE? NO, A ABSOLUTELY COUNCILMAN IT.

IT WAS ALARMING TO HEAR THAT THERE WAS MEETINGS BEING HELD, YOU KNOW, WITH, UH, WITH OUR COMPETITOR KIND OF OFFLINE AND OURS WAS CANCELED.

SO I'LL JUST SAY THAT FIRST.

UM, SO I'LL SAY VELIA DOES OPERATE, LIKE I SAID BEFORE,

[02:45:01]

UM, WE DID, UH, COMPLETE ANALYSIS ON SITE FOR THREE DAYS.

WE DID TESTING OF PUMPS, MOTORS, VIBRATION TESTING, EVERYTHING THAT HAD TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO BRING THE PLANT BACK INTO COMPLIANCE AND A HUNDRED PERCENT ONLINE.

WITHIN THE FIRST 90 DAYS IN OUR PROPOSAL, WE OFFERED UP TO THE CITY IN THE FIRST 90 DAYS THAT VLI WOULD COME IN AND DO THE TRANSITION FOR FREE.

WE WOULD NOT CHARGE THE CITY.

WE WERE GONNA EMPLOY ADDITIONAL 27 NEW JOBS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO RUN THESE WASTEWATER PLANS.

27.

WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE WE DO RUN FACILITIES LIKE THIS ALL OVER THE WORLD.

WE HAD A A, A MASSIVE TEAM COME INTO HERE AND LOOK AT THIS AND DECIDE WHAT'S IT GONNA TAKE.

AND WE'RE, WE'RE COMPETITIVE.

WE'RE COMPLETELY COMPETITIVE.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE CAME IN AND SAID, OKAY, WE'RE GONNA NEED A HUNDRED MORE JOBS BECAUSE IT'S GONNA, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA RUN THE BELL UP ON THE CITY OR ANYTHING WE'RE TRYING TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH, WITH A GREAT COMPETITOR, WHICH, WHICH IS JACOBSON OMI.

UM, BUT WE ALSO KNEW THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EMPLOYEES ARE TAKEN CARE OF, WHICH WE WERE GONNA GIVE A 10% RAISE TO EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE.

DAY ONE, EVERY EMPLOYEE WOULD BE OFFERED A JOB DAY ONE PLUS A 10% INCREASE.

BUT THAT'S HOW WE CAME UP WITH IT.

WE, WE DID A COMPLETE ANALYSIS ON IT.

WE RUN TREATMENT POINTS LIKE THIS NEWER ORLEANS.

SIR, SIR, THAT'S THE TIME.

I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A FEW MORE MINUTES TO ANSWER, UH, COUNCILMAN DUNN'S QUESTION TO COMPLETE YOUR THOUGHT.

APPRECIATE IT.

AND THEN WE WE ARE GONNA HAVE A, A VERY BRIEF DISCUSSION.

NO, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT BE TAMPA BAY WATER, RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA, WE'RE BUILDING A PLANT IN, IN SAN DIEGO.

UH, WE RUN GOVERNMENT FACILITIES AS WELL.

I BWC DOWN ACROSS THE MEXICAN BORDER THERE.

UM, WE KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO TO, TO RUN A TREATMENT PLANT LIKE THIS.

WE KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO STAY IN COMPLIANCE AND WE WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE SURE THE EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY THE EMPLOYEES AND THE CITIZENS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE TAKEN CARE OF AND THAT WE HOLD THE RATES THE SAME FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

THANK YOU LADIES.

BOTH OF YOU HAVE SPOKEN TWICE.

SO LET ME FINISH, LET ME FINISH.

I'M GONNA GIVE YOU SOME TIME, BUT LET'S STICK TO THE ISSUE.

I'M GONNA GIVE YOU TIME, BUT LET'S STICK TO THE ISSUE.

COUNCIL MEMBER CALLED ME.

I I JUST HAVE A QUESTION.

JUST, YOU KNOW, HE JUST ANSWERED THE QUESTION I WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT INCURRING THE LIABILITY, BUT JACOBS COME, YOU SAID THAT YOU ARE UNDER 15 YEARS IF NOT DONE CHANGE ORDERS.

I THINK YOU ALL CALL 'EM CONTRACT AMENDMENTS.

SAME THING.

SO WE WE'VE HAD AN ANNUAL AMENDMENT, CORRECT? UHHUH, , SAME THING.

NO, IT'S NOT.

OKAY, TALK TO ME.

TELL ME THE DIFFERENCE.

SO A CHANGE ORDER IS TYPICALLY FROM A CHANGE OF CONDITION.

SO IF, UH, I'LL USE AN ANALOGY.

IF YOU'RE REDO, IF YOU'RE REDOING YOUR KITCHEN AND, UM, YOU DECIDE TO GO FROM LAMINATE TO, UH, HARDWOOD, RIGHT? IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE, RIGHT? SO THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED A, A CHANGE ORDER.

THERE'S ALSO, YOU COULD HAVE A CONTRACTOR THAT JUST DOES A REALLY BAD JOB AND THEY COME BACK TO YOU AND THEY SAY, HEY, UM, I NEED SOME MORE MONEY.

THAT CAN BE A CHANGE ORDER.

SO IT CAN BE OWNER DIRECTED, IT CAN BE A CHANGE IN CONDITION.

THEY CAN TEAR DOWN THE CABINETS AND THEY CAN FIND TERMITES.

THEY SAID, LET'S GO, WELL NOW WE'VE GOT A, THIS CHANGE CONDITION.

SO THERE'S KIND OF THREE VARIATIONS OF CHANGE ORDERS, BUT NO, WE'VE NEVER SUBMITTED A CHANGE ORDER, UM, TO THE CITY.

WE'VE HAD ANNUAL AMENDMENTS, WHICH COVER OUR, OUR ONE YEAR FEE THAT WERE, WHERE WE'VE WORKED FOR THE CITY PARISH.

DOES, DOES THAT MAKE DID I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? NO, IT DOESN'T BECAUSE AMENDMENT MEAN CHANGE TO ME.

CONTRACT CHANGE, CHANGE ORDER, MEANING CHANGE TO ME.

SO AMENDMENT WOULD BE TO WORK FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

THAT'S WHY WE'VE HAD AMENDMENTS.

BUT WE'VE NEVER COME TO THE CITY MID-YEAR AND SAID WE NEED ADDITIONAL DOLLARS.

THAT WOULD BE A CHANGE ORDER.

SO YOU'VE NEVER ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY TO DO WHAT YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE GOING TO DO.

CORRECT? THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YES, MA'AM.

TRANSFERS OVER TO US AS YOUR CONTRACT OPERATOR OF THE, OF THE FACILITIES COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.

AND SO ABOUT INCURRING THE LIABILITY, IF THIS WAS AWARDED TO YOU, TALK TO ME ABOUT INCURRING THE LIABILITY THAT MAY BE OUT THERE WITH THE PLANTS BEING LIKE THEY ARE AND YOU ALL SAY NOT UP TO PAR AND WHATEVER.

YES MA'AM.

AFTER THE TRANSITION, UM, IT'S A, IT'S A FIXED FEE.

IT'S THE ONE COST.

THAT'S WHY IT LIMITS, UH, IT, IT LIMITS YOUR LIABILITY ON CHANGE ORDER CUZ WE'RE SAYING THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IT FOR PER YEAR.

UM, AND THEN THE LIABILITY AND THE RISK

[02:50:01]

TURN YOUR MIC ON PLEASE.

YES, COUNCILMAN? SO WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF, UM, BETWEEN, UM, WITH BIO VIOLA AND JACOBS.

YES MA'AM.

UM, I, I, I HAVEN'T HAD A CONVERSATION WITH YOU, BUT I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS ASKED TO WHY ONE WAS CHOSEN OVER THE OTHER.

WILL YOU, UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD A A, UM, THAT UH, WHEN THE GENTLEMAN SAID ALL THE WORK THEY WENT INTO TO BE ABLE TO EXACT THEIR BID ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY SAW, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE RFP REQUIRED OR THEY JUST TOOK, THEY ACTUALLY WAS JUST MAKING SURE THEY WERE A STUDENT IN THEIR AND DID JACOBS DO THE SAME? SO I APOLOGIZE, I'M GONNA TRY TO ANSWER IT AND IF I DON'T, PLEASE CORRECT ME.

UM, BOTH FIRMS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME ACTUALLY SPEND TIME IN THE PLANTS.

THREE DAYS.

THEY GOT TO SEE THE OPERATIONS, THEY GET TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

THEY ALSO GOT TO DO CONDITION ASSESSMENTS.

SO BOTH FIRMS SHOULD HAVE BEEN STARTING FROM THE SAME POINT.

OF WHAT THE CURRENT CONDITION WAS.

BOTH FIRMS PROPOSED A CAPITAL INVESTMENT, EITHER AROUND AUTOMATION OR, UH, OVERALL MAINTENANCE IMPROVEMENT.

BOTH FIRMS WERE, WHAT WERE THE DIFFERENCE IN THOSE COSTS? UH, I BELIEVE LIA WAS $2 MILLION MORE THAN, THAN JACOB'S.

NOW THEY, EACH ONE WAS TARGETING SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THINGS IN TERMS OF AUTOMATION, SCADA STATISTICAL CONTROLS, PREDICTIVE AND PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE.

SO BOTH KIND OF HAD A DIFFERENT STRATEGY THERE, BUT BILIO WAS $2 MILLION MORE IN THEIR, SO WITH THAT 2 MILLION WITH, UM, AND, AND ALSO THEY WERE GOING TO HIRE, THEY'RE GOING TO HIRE 27 MORE PEOPLE.

CAN I, CAN I PROVIDE SOME CLARIFICATION FOR THAT? CAUSE I BELIEVE THAT'S SLIGHTLY MISLEADING.

UM, WHEN WE LOOKED AT JACOB'S PROPOSAL MM-HMM.

, THEY TALKED ABOUT SUSTAINING HEADCOUNT.

WHEN WE LOOK AT VEOLIA'S HEADCOUNT MODEL, THEY TALK ABOUT THE ALL IN HEADCOUNT.

SO PART OF THE 77, THEY'RE CHARGING YOU FOR THE PRESIDENT.

NORTH AMERICA PRESIDENT IS ONE OF THOSE FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT THAT THEY'RE SAYING IS GONNA SPEND THE FULL YEAR HERE.

I THINK WE BOTH KNOW THE PRESIDENT'S NOT GONNA BE HERE FOR THE FULL YEAR.

HEY, HEY, LET'S NOT TALK TO THE AUDIENCE.

SO LET ME ASK YOU THIS, IS THAT SOMETHING IN YOUR, BECAUSE I'M SURE YOU, YOU WHATEVER DEFICITS AND YOU WANTED TO CLARIFY, DID YOU TELL, DID YOU SAY THAT TO THEM PRIOR TO TODAY? I, I WENT THROUGH THEIR PROPOSAL.

I KNOW, I MEAN ABOUT LIKE THE PRESIDENT, I, I WOULD NOT GO BACK AND WE'RE IN A QUIET PERIOD, MA'AM.

AND THAT REALLY WOULDN'T HAVE CHANGED THE OUTCOME.

BUT I'M HAPPY TO GO IF THEY WANT TO.

I'M HAPPY TO GIVE YOU ANOTHER 10 EXAMPLES OF HEADCOUNT THAT THEY HAD THAT WE DID NOT BELIEVE WE HAD ASKED FOR.

BUT I JUST WANNA KNOW, DID YOU HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEM WHERE YOU'VE SAID THESE ARE EXAMPLES WHERE WE SEE POSSIBLY AN INFLATION AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLARIFY.

DURING THE ORAL PRESENTATION, WE SPENT TIME SPECIFICALLY FOCUSING IN ON THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE.

THEY ACTUALLY PROVIDED US AN ORGANIZATIONAL TRUCTURE.

NO, BUT SEE IF I'M, WHAT I'M SAYING IS THEY WOULDN'T BE SAYING THAT'S NOT TRUE TO YOUR STATEMENT IF, AND IT SOUND LIKE THEY NEVER HEARD IT BEFORE.

SO I'M ASKING YOU, DID YOU GO BACK TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT YOU WERE INTERPRETING WAS CORRECT DURING THE Q AND A PERIOD OF THE ORALS? WE HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

DID I AT THAT MOMENT COMPARE THEM TO WHAT JACOBS HAD? NO, NO, NOT WITH JACOBS.

BUT BASED ON WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THEY'RE LOOKING AT THEIR ENTIRE MANAGEMENT IN HERE, INCLUDING, AND WHAT DID THEY SAY WHEN YOU, YOU BROUGHT THAT WE HAD THE DISCUSSION OF HOW MANY HEADCOUNT WOULD BE DEDICATED DURING TRANSITION, HOW MANY WOULD BE FADING OFF, HOW LONG WE THOUGHT THAT TRANSITION HEADCOUNT WOULD BE SUPPORTING MM-HMM.

AND WHAT THEY'RE SUSTAINING HEADCOUNT MODEL LOOKED LIKE.

SO IN, AND SO WHEN YOU SAY YOU WERE INCLUDING ALL THESE, UM, OTHER EMPLOYEES THAT WE KNOW NOT GONNA MOVE HERE AND TOP MANAGEMENT AND ALL THAT, WHAT DID THEY SAY THAT I'VE ASKED THAT FOUR TIMES.

SO I'LL GIVE YOU SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF I NEED YOU TO ANSWER ME.

I'M GONNA, LEAVING EXPLICITLY THAT ANSWERS THAT THEY SPECIFICALLY HAD REDUNDANT LAB SAMPLING HEADCOUNT.

WE ARE KEEPING THAT IN HOUSE.

WE ASKED THEM, WHY DO YOU HAVE THAT? MM-HMM.

WE'RE ALREADY PROVIDING THAT SERVICE.

THEY SAID, WELL, BECAUSE WE WANT TO.

THEY COULDN'T TELL ME WHY.

SO THEY THEY IS ARE WE STILL TALKING ABOUT THE EMPLOYMENT? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TOTAL 77 HEADCOUNT, MA'AM, VERSUS THE LOWER HEAD COUNT.

SO THEY WERE SAYING THAT THEY WERE GONNA BRING STAFF ON THEM.

AND, AND I SAID, OKAY, BUT OKAY, WE SHOULDN'T NEED TO, PART OF THEIR HEADCOUNT IS FOR INTERNS.

WOULD THAT STAY WITH THE CITY? I THINK IT WOULD BE BASED ON WHAT THE DRIVER OF THE CLAIM WAS, MA'AM.

SINCE MY TIME IS ABOUT TO GO, UM, I I JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE WHEN SH WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LIABILITIES, CUZ THIS WAS ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THE PARISH MM-HMM.

, UH, WE, WE TAKE ON THE, IF SOMEONE, UH, MY COLLEAGUE MENTIONED ALL THE LAWSUITS OR CLAIMS THEY WERE, SO WILL JACOBS, IF THEY'RE APPROVED, ALSO INCUR ANY CLAIMS? OR

[02:55:01]

SO WE HAVE OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, KEY FOREIGN SYNDICATORS, THOSE GET AROUND UPTIME, CHEMICAL USAGE AND ALL THAT.

SO THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, USUALLY THEY, THEY, WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT KIND OF, WHAT OUR NORMAL CLAIMS ARE USUALLY BACKUPS.

BACK.

SO A A PER SOMEONE CALLED IS A BACKUP WHO'S GONNA PAY THAT COST? LAST QUESTION, SHAUNA, GO AHEAD AND ANSWER THAT ONE.

AND I'LL, I MIGHT HAVE TO DEFER A LITTLE BIT TO THE PARISH ATTORNEY VAN, BUT IF IT'S A BACKUP THAT CAME FROM RIGHT OFF THEIR HOUSE AND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT OCCURRED THERE, JACOBS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PIPING THAT GOES INTO YOUR HOME.

SO THAT WOULD STILL BE THAT THE LAW COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER.

YOU GOT TO ANSWER THOUGH.

YEAH, YOU GOT 15 MINUTES.

I MEAN, SHE'S CHRIS, I MEAN 19 MINUTES.

SHAWNA, ALL I'M JUST TRYING THIS THAT IS MY LAST QUESTION.

I JUST HAVEN'T GOT NAIL WAIT, HOLD UP COUNCIL NUMBER.

NO.

CHRIS, YOU SAID, UH, THERE WAS A $2 MILLION DIFFERENCE IN THE CONTRACT.

2 MILLION.

THAT'S OVERALL OR PER YEAR? ANNUAL, RIGHT? ANNUAL.

IT'S ACTUALLY SLIGHTLY BIGGER THING WAS 2.2, 2.3, BUT THE INITIAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT WAS ANOTHER 2 MILLION RIGHT UP IN THE FIRST YEAR.

SO THAT WAS SEPARATE FROM THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET.

AND IF I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, IT APPEARS THAT THERE WERE EXTRA ITEMS PUT IN THAT WEREN'T PART OF THE PROPOSAL, WHETHER IT BE, UH, UH, PERSONNEL OR OTHER IS THAT THERE'S, WHEN WE LOOKED AT JACOB'S HEADCOUNT, THEY PROVIDED US WHAT THEY BELIEVE THEIR SUSTAINING HEADCOUNT WAS.

THAT WOULD BE AFTER 24 MONTHS IN THE PLANT.

THE FIRST 24 MONTHS, THEY HAD SIGNIFICANTLY MORE.

THEY HAD EIGHT OR 10 TRANSITION FOLKS.

THEY HAD HUMAN RESOURCES, THEY HAD FINANCE, THEY HAD OSHA SAFETY.

SO THE, THE 54 HEADCOUNT YOU KEEP REFERENCING TO JACOBS IS THEIR SUSTAINING HEADCOUNT.

IF WE LOOKED IN, BACKED INTO WHAT VELIA HAD PROPOSED, THEIR SUSTAINING HEADCOUNT WAS ABOUT THREE MORE.

I DON'T COUNT INTERNS, WE DON'T COUNT INTERNS AS A FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT.

I'M DIDN'T ASK JACOBS TO GO HIRE ONE, BUT COMING OUTTA THE PROFESSIONAL SECTOR, THAT'S NOT A DEDICATED HEADCOUNT.

IT'S USUALLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO LEARN THE BUSINESS.

UH, I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY NEED FOUR EXTRA FOLKS TO, TO MOVE THE SOLIDS.

WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOREVER WITH TWO, THEY HAD SIX.

SO IT'S SOLIDS, IT'S TRASH MOVING.

SO THERE WERE CERTAIN THINGS WHERE WE JUST LOOKED AT IT AND WE SAID, THIS DOESN'T QUITE FEEL RIGHT.

NOT SURE WHY THEY HAVE IT.

SO APPLES TO APPLE SCOPES, SIR, IN A SUSTAINING MODEL, BOTH FIRMS HAD THE SAME HEADCOUNT.

AND PLUS OR MINUS ONE IN THE PROPO.

BUT THE PROPOSAL, THE, UH, LET ME, LET ME REPHRASE.

SO DID BOTH OF THEM MEET THE MINIMUM STANDARDS OF THE PROPOSAL THAT WE WERE REQUESTING? A ABSOLUTELY.

TECHNICALLY THEY BOTH SCORED VERY WELL.

I BELIEVE THERE WAS A HALF A POINT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.

SO THEY BOTH MET AND THEN IT JUST CAME DOWN TO NUMBERS.

LIKE WE, YES.

ONE MAY HAVE HAD EXTRA THIS OR EXTRA THAT THE OTHER ONE MAY HAVE HAD INTERNS, WHATEVER.

BUT BY AND LARGE WE SAID, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT.

, HOW MUCH WILL IT COST US? AND ONE WITH $2 MILLION MORE PER YEAR.

THAT, THAT'S WHAT I NEEDED TO KNOW.

COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE.

UM, SO SPEAKING OF THE, THE EMPLOYEE RETENTION AND, AND THE EXTRA EMPLOYEES AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE SET THE BASE, HOW MANY OF 'EM ARE NON-SUSTAINABLE, I GUESS IS WHAT YOU SAY? UH, THEY'RE, THEY'RE JUST, THEY'RE JUST BROUGHT IN TO INITIATE THE INITIAL STARTUP AND, UH, AND THEN THEY, THEY'RE NOT ON THE LIST ANYMORE.

THE, THERE'S USUALLY A TRANSITION AND A TRANSFORMATION TEAM.

SO A LOT OF THIS WILL BE TRANSFORMING THE CULTURE, IMPLEMENTING THINGS SUCH AS STATISTICAL PROCESS CONTROLS, PREDICTIVE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE.

THEY'LL HAVE FOLKS IN THE ENGINEERING SIDE REVIEWING OUR PREVIOUS PRINTS, LOOKING AT THE HAS BUILT.

SO THAT'S USUALLY OVER THE FIRST 24 MONTHS THEY'RE LOOKING TO STABILIZE THE OPERATIONS AND IMPLEMENT THEIR CULTURE.

THAT'S BOTH FIRMS. AND PLEASE KNOW, BOTH FIRMS ARE HIGHLY TECHNICAL AND HIGHLY CAPABLE.

BUT THERE, BUT THERE IS A PROCESS OF INTEGRATING THOSE EMPLOYEES.

IN ADDITION, AS THOSE EMPLOYEES MAY STEP AWAY FOR A WEEK OR TWO FOR TRAINING, YOU HAVE GAPS IN THE HEADCOUNT.

SO BOTH FIRMS WERE PROPOSING TO BRING IN OR SUPPLEMENT DURING THE TRANSITION, 15 TO 20 STAFF MEMBERS, BUT ONE ONLY INCLUDED IN THEIR NUMBERS, THE SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYEES.

WHEN WE REFERENCE JACOB'S HEADCOUNT NUMBER, THAT IS THE SUSTAINABLE MODEL, THAT'S THE SUSTAINING MODEL.

WHEN WE KEEP REFERENCING VEOLIA'S HEADCOUNT MODEL, THAT IS REALLY THEIR TOTAL HEADCOUNT WITH TRANSITION.

IS THERE A GUARANTEED SUSTAINABILITY AS FAR AS AMOUNT OF EMPLOYEES, UM, IN THE CONTRACT? AND I DON'T MEAN BY, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE LEAVES, UH, ON THEIR OWN OR SOMETHING HAPPENS AND DISCIPLINARY ACTION OR WHATEVER ELSE, BUT IS THERE A MINIMUM NUMBER OF SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYEES THAT THEY MUST HAVE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE CONTRACT? NO, SIR.

FOR THE FIRM, IT'S AN OUTCOME-BASED CONTRACT.

SO IT'S UPTIME, IT'S

[03:00:01]

TOTAL COST, IT'S SAFETY.

SO EITHER, EITHER CONTRACT THAT WINS, THEY COULD GET THIS PLANT RUNNING INTO 100% EFFICIENCY, AUTOMATION OR WHATEVER ELSE AND START DROPPING THE EMPLOYEES.

ABSOLUTELY.

NOW, THIS WAS NOVEMBER 16TH, 2022.

UM, RICK, CAN YOU COME UP PLEASE? UM, I WANTED TO GO BACK TO THE, ALL THE, THE, ONE OF THE BIG TALKS TONIGHT HAS BEEN ABOUT EMPLOYEES AND EM, EMPLOYEE PROCESSES.

THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I, I HEAVILY DISCUSSED WITH YOU AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP WAS THAT WE, WE NEVER MAKE CONTACT WITH OUR EMPLOYEES.

AND AGAIN, I, I APPRECIATE THEM COMING UP.

I, I'LL JOIN THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES AND SAYING, I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO COME UP HERE AND SPEAK AND TALK AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE AND, AND HAVE DONE OR GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO.

SO.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS, I'VE GOT A, A MEMO HERE FROM NOVEMBER 16TH, 2022.

DID THIS LETTER, THIS MEMO, WHICH IS BASICALLY STATING, I HOPE THIS GIVES EVERYONE SOME INSIGHT TO OUR PLANS FOR THE NEAR FUTURE.

AS I MENTIONED IN FEBRUARY, IT IS MY SENIOR BELIEF THAT IS THE BEST VOTE, UH, COURSE FOR THE CITY OF, IF I MOVE TO THIS CONTRACT, YOU GIVE A STATEMENT OF WHAT CAN BE DONE AND WHAT THEIR OPTIONS ARE.

DID THIS GO OUT TO ALL THE EMPLOYEES OR DID THIS JUST GO OUT TO THEIR IMMEDIATE SUPERVISORS AT THE PLANT? NO, IT, IT WAS DISTRIBUTED TO EVERYONE IN DEPARTMENT ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.

NOT EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE.

NOT JUST THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT EMPLOYEES, BUT EVERY EMPLOYEE IN THE DEPARTMENT.

ANY RESPONSE FROM THAT OR DID WE COLLECT ANY RESPONSE FROM THIS TO KNOW THAT THEY GOT IT OR WAS IT PUT IN THEIR PAYCHECKS? OR IS IT, WAS IT PUT IN THE, YOU KNOW, IT IT WAS NOT ONLY EMAILED TO THEM, IT WAS ALSO POSTED ON ALL THE BULLETIN BOARDS AT EVERY LOCATION, UH, AT DS HAS EMPLOYEE.

SO, AND THE SUPERVISORS HAVE TALKED TO EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE.

UM, WHENEVER THEY SPEAK WITH THEM, DO THEY HAVE ANY KIND OF NOTIFICATION OR, UM, UH, I GUESS REFERRAL BACK TO THAT, YES, WE DID SPEAK WITH THIS PERSON.

UM, I E UH, A NOTE, HEY, SPOKE WITH SUCH AND SUCH TODAY ABOUT, OR ANY KIND OF CONFIRMATION ON THAT.

YES, I HAVE, UH, UH, A SPREADSHEET FROM THAT AT SUPERVISOR JUSTIN SHARPER OF THE TIMES THAT HE'S SPOKEN TO EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE DATE AND TIME.

AND NOT TIME, JUST DATES.

YOU MENTIONED, UH, IN THE BOTTOM OF THIS THING, IT SAYS, GIVES HIM INSIGHT TO THE NEAR FUTURE.

NOW THIS IS BACK NOVEMBER 16TH OF 22.

YOU IN THE NEARBY FUTURE, AS I MENTIONED IN FEBRUARY, WHAT WENT OUT IN FEBRUARY, SO OF 22 OR IN FEBRUARY 22, WHERE WE WERE CONTRACTING WITH, UH, BLACK AND BEACH AND WE HAD A, UH, AN ITEM IN FRONT OF THIS COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL FOR THEIR CONTRACT TO, TO DEVELOP THE RFP FOR THIS WORK.

I SENT OUT A MEMO EXPLAINING THAT AND WHAT THE PROCESSES WERE AND WHY WE WERE DOING THIS PROCESS.

AT ANY POINT IN THAT FEBRUARY MEMO OR ANYTHING, DID IT START TALKING ABOUT PROCESSES OF TRANSITIONING OR JUST THAT WE WERE LOOKING TO PRIVATIZE? NO, I, I DID STATE THAT THE GOAL IS THAT EVERY EMPLOYEE WILL HAVE A JOB IS WITH EITHER THE CI REMAINING WITH THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE OR HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY WITH THE CONTRACTOR THAT GETS SELECTED.

THAT'S, THAT WAS STATED IN, THAT WAS STATED IN THE RFP TO EVERY, TO ALL THE CONTRACTORS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO HIRE EVERY EMPLOYEE THAT WANTS TO GO TO WORK WITH THEM.

PLUS, UH, BUT WE ALSO, IF THEY WANNA STAY WITH THE CITY THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH HR FOR THAT PROCESS.

THE PROCESS.

NOW, ONE THING THAT WE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT, WE, WE TALK ABOUT UPDATING THEIR RESUME VERSUS REDOING AN APPLICATION.

AND, AND I HAD THIS DISCUSSION WITH YOU, I SEE IT AS TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

A RESUME IS SOMETHING THAT THE EMPLOYEES JUST HAVE TO SIT DOWN AT THEIR DESK, TYPE IT UP ON THEIR COMPUTER, WHETHER THEY FILE A FORMAT, THEY BRING IT TO THE EMPLOYER AND THEY SAY, HEY, HERE'S MY RESUME.

I'D LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER ME.

TO REDO A WHOLE NEW APPLICATION AND THIS MAY BE BETTER FOR HIM TO ANSWER OR ARE WE ASKING THEM TO UPDATE THEIR CITY PLOY, THEIR CITY STATUS AND INFORMATION? UH, THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE WHOLE THING ALL OVER AGAIN.

BUT THE ACTUAL PROCESS IS, AND I ASKED YOU, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT CITY PARISH DOES HAND HOLD FROM STEP ONE TO THE END? WHEN THEY GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, THEY'RE BASICALLY, THEY'RE ALREADY CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES.

ARE WE ASKING THEM

[03:05:01]

THEY DO NOT.

AND SO WE ARE ASKING THEM TO UPDATE IT.

SO WE CAN HAVE THE MOST, UM, CURRENT INFORMATION ON THEM.

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, UH, EDUCATION THAT THEY MAY HAVE OBTAINED AT YOUR EXPERIENCE SO THAT WE CAN PLACE BETTER PLACE THEM.

ARE THERE OPTIONS FOR THESE EMPLOYEES THAT WHEN THEY UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AND THEY DECIDE TO STAY WITH CITY PARISH, IF THEY SO CHOOSE, ARE THERE ALSO OPTIONS TO MOVE WHEN THEY MOVE INTO THESE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS? THEY COULD GO FOR A HIGHER STEP OR THEY MAY QUALIFY FOR SOMETHING BETTER? THAT'S CORRECT.

THEY CAN DO THAT WITH RESPECT.

I DO UNDERSTAND YOU SAID A WHILE AGO, YOURSELF, IF THAT'S SOMETHING NOT AVAILABLE, THEY MAY HAVE TO GO DOWN.

BUT A AGAIN, I HAVE TO AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES.

I, I DON'T THINK THERE SHOULD BE AN OPTION AS FAR AS ANY DOWN AT ANY POINT.

I, I THINK WHATEVER WE NEED TO CREATE AS A COUNCIL TO COMBINE JOBS TO TO, TO AUTOMATICALLY PUT THEM IN A DIFFERENT STEP, I THINK THAT DOES NEED TO BE GUARANTEED.

AND I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT THEY MAY BE DOWN FOR, THEY MAY BE HAVE TO TAKE A, A, A CLASS DOWN, UH, MAYBE FOR A MONTH OR SO, SOMETHING'S COMING AVAILABLE.

I HOPE THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

AND IT'S NOT A LONG TIME.

I WOULD HOPE THAT WE CAN CLOSE THAT GAP AND THEY WOULD BE GUARANTEED THAT IF THEY DECIDE TO STAY WITH CITY PARISH, THEY HAVE NO DOWN WHATSOEVER.

IF WE HAVE TO, IF WE HAVE TO INCREASE THAT CLASS MM-HMM.

FOR THAT SPECIFIC EMPLOYEE, OR IF WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT CLASS BECAUSE THEY'RE TRANSITIONING FROM ONE TO ANOTHER DUE TO A PRIVATIZATION ISSUE.

, I UNDERSTAND WE MIGHT GET INTO AN ISSUE ISSUE TO WHERE WE CAN'T JUST OVERALL RAISE THE BOARD OF THAT CLASS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO, BECAUSE THEN THAT WOULD AFFECT EVERYBODY IN THAT DEPARTMENT OR WHATEVER, OTHER THAN THE ONES THAT ARE TRANSITIONING.

BUT IF, EVEN IF WE HAVE TO CREATE A SPECIAL RULE THAT IF THEY'RE, THEY DON'T FIT INTO A HIGHER CLASS TO GET EITHER A BETTER PAY OR THE SAME PAY EVEN TEMPORARILY, WHATEVER ELSE, IF THEY HAVE TO GO FOR A, A LOWER CLASS.

AND, AND WHAT I MEAN BY LOWER CLASS IS NOT YOUR QUALITY OF WORK, RIGHT.

I JUST MEAN IT'S A STEP, A LOWER STEP, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.

WE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY KEEP THEM AT THE SAME PAY, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE AT A LOWER STEP.

I WOULD THINK AS A CITY PARISH WE COULD DO THAT AND GUARANTEE THAT PART.

WE WE'RE GOING TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO DO THAT IN MATTER MANUFACTURE.

I, I DON'T WANNA MAKE EVERY EFFORT.

I WANT TO, I WOULD LIKE GUARANTEE.

I, I'M JUST, WAS THAT UNLIKE SOME OF THE OTHER TRANSITIONS THAT WE'VE HAD TO MAKE, THESE EMPLOYEES ARE IN POSITIONS AND THEY'RE HIGHLY SKILLED EMPLOYEES AND WE HAVE A NEED FOR THOSE HIGHLY SKILLED EMPLOYEES, YOU KNOW, UNLIKE THE NURSE, JUST SWITCH FOR, TO ME, I KNOW I'M COMING UP ON 30 SECONDS AND, UH, EVERYBODY GOT A LITTLE EXTRA TIME, SO I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL GET IT CUZ YOU KNOW, THAT'S WAY IT WORKS, , BUT, UH, NO.

UM, CAN WE CHANGE THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE EMPLOYEE OR WHATEVER WE CAN, IF THAT'S NECESSARY.

AS, AS FAR AS THE PRELIMINARY, PRELIMINARY REVIEW OF THEIR CLASSES, WE DON'T THINK THAT'S GONNA BE NECESSARY.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO FIND PLACES FOR THEM ALL.

I, I'LL RESERVE MY OTHER FIVE MINUTES AND WHATEVER THAT EVERYBODY ELSE.

NO, I'M JUST JOKING.

WELL, LET ME SAY THIS, UH, COUNSEL, I'M, I'M NOT SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO COUNSEL.

THERE ARE, UH, A NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.

IT IS 6 55.

I'M GONNA MAKE A SUGGESTION THAT WE COME BACK TO THIS ITEM LATER IN THIS MEETING, UH, SO THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HANDLE ALL THE OTHER BUSINESS ON OUR AGENDA, BECAUSE IF WE STAY ON THIS ITEM, WE WILL RUN OUT OF TIME ON ALL THE OTHER ITEMS. SO I'M JUST SPEAKING TO THE COUNCIL.

I'M SOME, I'M SUGGESTING THAT ONE OF YOU REMOVE YOUR MOTION SO THAT WE CAN ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO DEFER TO LATER IN THE MEETING.

WE TAKE CARE OF THE OTHER BUSINESS ON OUR AGENDA, AND THEN WE COME BACK TO THIS ITEM AND GIVE IT THE TIME THAT OBVIOUSLY IT DESERVES BECAUSE MANY OF YOU WANT TO SPEAK AGAIN.

MANY OF YOU WANT TO TALK AGAIN.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT ENOUGH THAT WE GIVE IT THE TIME IT DESERVES.

BUT I DO THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT WE ADDRESS THE OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

WHAT'S, SO YOU, YOU'VE BASICALLY INDICATED ONE OF THE REASONS, UM, THAT WE NEED THE 30 DAYS AND INSTEAD OF US GO, I MEAN, THE MORE WE TALK, THE MORE CONCERNED WE ARE ABOUT A LOT.

SO I WAS JUST, I WAS JUST WONDERING IF DURING THE, IF WE GO AHEAD AND DEFER AND THEN WE COULD SET UP THE MEETINGS THAT ARE NECESSARY, NOT ONLY WITH THE COUNCIL.

I'M NOT GONNA DO THAT, COUNCILMAN FOR THIS REASON.

THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TALK JUST LIKE YOU WANTED TO TALK.

SO NO, I, I WASN'T MEAN.

I JUST SAW TWO OF YOU.

SO IF YOU DON'T WANNA DO THAT, WE CAN ENTERTAIN THE MOTION AFTER JEN SPEAKS.

BUT I KNOW WE GOT OTHER PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SPEAK ON ITEM MM-HMM.

SO I WANT TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ITEM TONIGHT.

AND THESE PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR REBUTTAL AND I WANT THEM TO SPEAK ON IT TONIGHT.

SO AGAIN, I'M, I'M SAYING TO THE COUNCIL, UH, THAT'S MY SUGGESTION.

NOW, IF Y'ALL DON'T WANNA DO IT, WE GOT TWO ITEMS ON THE FLOOR AND FOR PROTOCOL, WE GONNA GO CONTINUE THIS AND THEN WE'LL GO FORWARD.

UH,

[03:10:01]

LET'S JUST STAY WITH IT.

JEN ROCK COUNCIL MEMBER ROCK.

EXCUSE ME.

THANK YOU, SIR.

UM, SO I, YES, Y'ALL DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE END OF THE MEETING, BUT GO AHEAD.

I'LL MAKE IT QUICK.

UM, I PARTICIPATED YEARS AGO, YEARS AND YEARS AGO IN THE PURCHASING, UM, IN AN RFP PROCESS.

AND IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST PROFESSIONALLY EXHAUSTING, UH, PROCESSES I'VE EVER BEEN THROUGH.

AND I ACTUALLY CAME BEFORE MEMBERS, SOME MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL, AND I WANTED TO BANG MY HEAD AGAINST THE WALL FOR MONTHS AFTER COMING BEFORE THEM AND SPEAKING TO OUR HR DEPARTMENT.

SO, IN FAIRNESS, I WOULD LIKE, I, I KNOW THAT, UM, PEOPLE ARE SHAKING THEIR HEADS WITH REGARD TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN SET HERE TONIGHT.

SO IF VIOLA OR JACOBS HAS ANYTHING TO REBUT, I'D LIKE TO GIVE MY OR MINUTES AND 24 SECONDS TO YOU TO COME UP AND SPEAK ABOUT ANYTHING THAT WAS SAID OR MISSTATED.

I, I, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY, UH, VELIA HAD 77 EMPLOYEES TO EN INCLUDE FOUR INTERNS IN OUR PROPOSAL.

AND THAT WAS SUSTAINED.

THAT DID NOT INCLUDE ANYBODY THAT WAS NOT WORKING AT THE FACILITIES.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT MR. GRANTSON WAS LOOKING AT.

WE, WE DIDN'T GET ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT.

THERE IS 77 EMPLOYEES WORKING AT THE FACILITY FULL-TIME PERIOD THAT I, I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THE $2 MILLION DIFFERENCE, 35% DB COMMITMENT AND 77 EMPLOYEES.

THERE'S 54 51 ON SITE TODAY.

YOU'RE PAYING OVER $300,000 TO A THIRD PARTY COMPANY TO RUN THE THIRD SHIFT.

THE MATH DOESN'T ADD UP OUR NUMBER'S.

MY NAME IS JOSH PERSKY WITH VELIA.

JUST TO ADD TO THAT, THE SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF THE LAB, THE REASON THAT WE HAVE, UM, LAB PERSONNEL AT EACH FACILITY IS FOR PROCESS CONTROL.

SO THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF LAB PROCESSES.

ONE IS INTERNAL PROCESS CONTROL TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SYSTEMS, THE FACILITIES, ALL THE EQUIPMENT IS RUNNING THE WAY WE NEED IT TO.

IF WE SEE SOMETHING OUT OF NORMAL RANGE, WE CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS RIGHT THEN AND THERE.

AND THERE'S ALSO STATE REPORTING, UH, THAT HAS TO BE DONE THROUGH CERTAIN LABS, WHICH IS MOSTLY DONE THROUGH OUTSIDE LABS.

WE FELT THE BEST WAY THAT WE COULD RUN A FACILITY IS THAT WE ARE IN CHARGE OF THE PROCESS CONTROL.

SO NOT HAVING TO WAIT FOR CITY STAFF TO, UM, RUN SAMPLES.

WE WANNA BE ABLE TO DO IT OURSELVES.

WE WOULD COLLECT THE SAMPLES FOR THEM AND FOR US AS PART OF THE SAMPLERS, UM, THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE FOUR TOTALS BETWEEN THE TWO TO RUN THE LAB.

UH, SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT ONE POINT.

UH, GENERAL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO, UH, SAY ANYTHING, UH, UH, UH, DANTE? SURE.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

SO THE FIRST THING I'D LIKE TO SAY, AND UH, I HOPE IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING, BUT I WANT TO DIRECT, GO DIRECTLY TO THE EMPLOYEES AND LET YOU KNOW, NUMBER ONE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.

AND NUMBER TWO, THERE WILL BE ABSOLUTELY NO RETALIATION FOR ANYONE AT ANY POINT WHO COMES UP AND SPEAKS THEIR MIND ON BEHALF OF WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS RIGHT IN CITY PARISH.

I JUST WANNA ADDRESS THAT TO YOU GENTLEMEN DIRECTLY.

UM, NUMBER TWO, I ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT WE DEFINITELY DO SUPPORT COUNCILMAN BERST MOVE TO DO A PAY STUDY BECAUSE WHILE WE WANT TO PROVIDE THE BEST, AND YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR WE DID PROVIDE PAY RAISES ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES.

WE KNOW IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

LIKE YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, IN THIS POST COVID ENVIRONMENT, EVERYBODY'S PRICES ARE GOING UP, SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STICKING WITH THAT.

UM, ALSO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SAYING THAT WE SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER MOK IN HIS CALL, THAT NOBODY RECEIVE A DROP IN PAY.

AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY WHAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARD.

UM, FINALLY ON THE CONTRACTING AND THE PROCUREMENT PIECE, UH, I WANNA REITERATE SOMETHING THAT CHRIS SAID.

BOTH OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS WERE ABSOLUTELY CLOSE IN SCORING, AND I TAKE NOTHING AWAY FROM JACOBS OR VIOLIA IN THE PROPOSALS.

WHAT WE REALLY CAME DOWN TO WAS THIS EXTRA 2.3 MILLION PER YEAR.

THAT WAS THE BIG DIVIDING LINE.

THAT WAS THE BIG SEPARATOR.

WHEN YOU PUT THAT OUT OVER 10 YEARS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 23 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS.

SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO GET UP AND SAY ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

AS SOME OF THOSE EMPLOYEES CAME UP AND SAID, SOME OF THEM STARTED WORKING FOR OUR CITY PARISH WITH AN INTENT AND A DESIRE TO RETIRE FROM OUR CITY PARISH.

AT, AT, AT THIS JUNCTURE, I'M, I'M LESS CONCERNED, UH, WITH THE VENDOR WHO IS GOING TO GET TO WORK AND MORE CONCERNED AT THIS POINT IN THIS CONVERSATION WITH SOME OF THE EMPLOYEES WHO FEEL AS IF THOUGH THEY WEREN'T TREATED FAIRLY DURING THE PROCESS.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS A CITY PARISH AND AS A COUNCIL, WE HAVE TO THINK VERY, VERY DEEPLY ABOUT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE ALL INFORMATION RELATIVE TO THEIR FUTURE, UH, IS ADDRESSED.

BECAUSE HERE'S THE REAL DEAL.

[03:15:01]

AND SO WHILE IT MAY BE AN OPTION AND A CHOICE TO TRANSITION TO, UH, ANOTHER COMPANY, WHAT THEY WILL BE LEAVING FOR THOSE OF THEM WHO HAVE 22, 23 YEARS, THERE'S RETIREMENT ON THE TABLE.

AND SO WHEN WE START THINKING ABOUT THEIR RETIREMENT AND THEN A TRANSITION, WE'RE TAKING ABOUT THEM RECEIVING TWO SALARIES.

SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT DEEPER THAN JUST THEM HAVING THE OPTION TO GET A BETTER JOB.

THEY THERE, THERE'S A LOT OF FINANCIAL RISK, UH, FOR THEM IF IN FACT, UH, THIS IS NOT HANDLED PROPERLY.

BUT THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE GONNA ENTERTAIN BOTH MOTIONS.

UH, THERE IS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION ON THE FLOOR MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M SORRY, BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. CAN I, CAN I MAKE ONE LAST COMMENT, 10 SECONDS OR LESS? UM, LAST MONTH, AND I BELIEVE IT WAS MENTIONED, UH, RECENTLY, LAST MONTH WE CAME BEFORE YOU WITH A PROPOSAL TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT FOR BLACK AND VETCH, WHO IS PROVIDING THAT THIRD SHIFT SUPPLEMENTAL COVERAGE.

IF WE DO DEFER THIS FOR 30 DAYS, WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO COME BACK AND PUT FORTH ANOTHER AMENDMENT TO INCREASE THAT COVERAGE FOR ANOTHER 30 DAYS.

SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT AS WELL.

WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

EXCUSE ME.

WE'RE GONNA, THERE'S A SUBSTITUTE MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON SECOND AND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS TO APPROVE AS IS ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING.

AND THEN THE ORIGINAL MOTION IS TO DEFER FOR 30 DAYS.

WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

FIRST OPEN THE MACHINES.

MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

I MEAN THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO APPROVE.

YES, MACHINES ARE OPEN.

MOTION PASSES.

[81. 22-01754]

WE'RE GONNA GO TO ITEM 81.

AMENDING TITLE ONE, CHAPTER FOUR, SECTION ONE CODE 7 0 3, SUCH AS TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF LIABLE FOR INFORMAL QUOTES ON MATERIALS.

AND PARAGRAPH D TO 60,000 BY PURCHASING DIRECTOR THAT HAS BEEN A REQUESTED, THE FURTHEST ITEM THAT HAS BEEN REQUESTED.

THE FURTHEST ITEM.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 81? ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 81? COUNCIL MEMBERS? YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 81.

WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL THERE.

MOTION TO DEFER FOR 30 DAYS SET.

MOVED BY US AND SECONDED BY ANYONE SECONDED BY ADAMS. ITEM 81 HAS BEEN

[82. 23-00103 ]

DEFERRED.

ITEM 82, REPEALING AND REPLACING SALES IN USE TAX ORDINANCE THOUSAND 107 ADOPTED DECEMBER 14 1 9 94.

SO AS TO INCORPORATE THE STATUTORY AUTHORIZATION BY REFERENCE INTO THE ORDINANCE AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR ADMINISTRATION AND LOCAL SALES AND USE TAX COLLECTION OF EAST PARENTS PARIS, INCLUDING ADOPTING, EXCUSE ME, UPDATING THE LEVEL OF INTEREST ON DELINQUENT SALES AND TAX U USE TAX PAYMENTS.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 82? WE NOW GO COUNCIL.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 82? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. ITEM 82

[83. 23-00104]

HAS BEEN APPROVED.

WE GO TO ITEM 83, REPEALING AND REPLACING THE SALES AND USE TAX ORDER.

95 37.

ADOPTED NOVEMBER 25TH 1, 19 92.

SO AS TO INCORPORATE A STATUTORY AUTHORIZATION BY REFERENCE INTO THE ORDINANCE AND TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THE OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE TAX COLLECTION IN THE EAST PARISH, INCLUDING UPDATE THE LEVY OF INTEREST ON THE LENGTH WITH OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE TAX PAYMENTS.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 83? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 83? SO MOVE BY COUNCIL HUDSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOE.

ANY OPPOSITION ITEM

[85. 23-00111]

HAS BEEN APPROVED.

WE GO TO ITEM 85 OR AMEND IN THE REENACTOR ORDINANCE 9 31.

ESTABLISHING ENGINEERING SURVEY SELECTION BOARD.

SO AS THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEMBER, AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD BY COUNCIL MEMBER DARRYL HURST.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COME ON DOWN.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD PLEASE.

GOOD EVENING.

I AM MICHAEL THOMASK.

I AM AN ENGINEER.

I REPRESENT, UH, AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES OF LOUISIANA.

I'M CURRENTLY THE CHAIRMAN THERE.

I'M ALSO HERE.

I'M A MEMBER OF, UH, LOUISIANA ENGINEERING SOCIETY.

UM, ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER.

UH, BOTH ORGANIZATIONS ARE FIRMLY OPPOSED TO THIS.

UM, THE NEW SEAT, YOU KNOW, FOR A COUNCILMAN COUNCIL PERSON ON THE ENGINEERING SELECTION BOARD.

UM, UH, BEST INTEREST OF EVERYONE'S TIME.

GO AHEAD AND LET YOU GUYS KNOW.

I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU GUYS MAY HAVE.

BUT OUR ORGANIZATIONS TOGETHER REPRESENT OVER 3000 ENGINEERS IN LOUISIANA.

AND QUALIFICATIONS BASED SELECTION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US.

AND WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT HEARING BACK FROM MANY MEMBERS THAT THIS WOULD BE A HUGE STEP BACKWARDS AND IT'S GOING AGAINST NATIONAL BEST PRACTICE.

IT'S GOING AGAINST WHAT WE FEEL IS THE APPROPRIATE THING TO DO.

UM, REALLY GLAD TO DISCUSS IT IN MORE DETAIL, BUT IN JUST THE TIME, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU GUYS MAY HAVE.

THE ITEM ON ITEM 85? ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING SPEAK ON.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON

[03:20:01]

WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER HURS COUNCIL MEMBERS.

YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 85.

HEY, SO, UM, HERE, HERE'S THE DEAL.

YOU REPRESENT THE ENGINEERS.

I REPRESENT THE PEOPLE THAT PUT US IN OFFICE.

AND SO WHEN WE, WHEN I MAKE THIS DECISION, IT'S NOT ABOUT KEEPING YOU GETTING YOUR FAT CONTRACTS AND I'M, I'M, I'M NOT TRYING TO INTERRUPT IT CAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

SO THEY TRIED TO WOO ME LAST WEEK.

TAKE ME TO LUNCH AND DO SOME OTHER STUFF AND, AND HAVE SOME, SOME, SOME, SOME CONVERSATION WITH ME AND TALK ABOUT MESSING UP A PROCESS.

AND WHAT I TALKED ABOUT IS PHYSICAL RESPONSIBILITY, BECAUSE I AM VOTING, LET ME TELL Y'ALL SOMETHING, BUT WHEN BLACK AND BEACH COMES UP, I GUARANTEE YOU WE'RE GOING IN THE BACK ROOM.

CAUSE WE'RE GOING TO GO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

A LOT OF THE TIMES WE LEAVE OUTTA HERE, WE'RE ARGUING OVER 20,000, 50,000, 30,000, $60,000.

BUT I'M RUBBER STAMPING 2 MILLION THAT GO TO YOU GUYS BASED ON THE SELECTION BOARD.

SO THAT, THAT, THAT'S MY ONLY ISSUE IS FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY.

THE, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS A SEAT ON THE BOARD REALLY TOO, WITH TOM IS FRED AND TOM THAT SIT ON THE BOARD.

YET THE LEGISLATIVE PART OF THE COUNCIL HAS NO STAKE IN THE GAME.

I DON'T CARE IF IT'S ME, IT'S SOMEBODY ELSE.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY.

AND YOU GUYS HAVE THE BIG BIGGEST BUCKET OF APPROVAL OF MONEY.

AND IF YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHY I BROUGHT IT UP IS BECAUSE WHAT I SAID EARLIER ABOUT THE HR SIDE OF THINGS.

SO IT'S A BIGGER PLAY.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH Y'ALL.

HAS NOTHING.

EVERYBODY THINKS I WANT MORE MINORITY PARTICIPATION.

DO WE NEED THAT? ABSOLUTELY.

BUT WE ALREADY HAVE 35% DBE THAT WE'RE NOT MEETING.

SO I CAN'T INCREASE THAT.

IT IS NOT ABOUT MINORITY PARTICIPATION.

IT'S ABOUT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND REPRESENTATION FROM THE LEGISLATIVE BODY, WHICH IS COMPLETELY ABSENT.

WHEN I SAT IN THAT MEETING WITH L E S STATE, L E S, BATON ROUGE AND A C E C, THE ONE THING WE TALKED ABOUT WAS Y'ALL HAVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORD.

I SAID, WE REALLY DON'T.

WE HAVE NO ACCESS TO SCORING RUBRIC.

WE HAVE NO ACCESS TO ANY OF THE PROPOSALS THAT YOU GET.

ALL WE DO IS GIVE YOU A RUBBER STAMP OVER HERE FOR WHATEVER YOU GO TO HALF, YOU GET SELECTED, 1, 2, 3, THEN YOU SUBMIT YOUR BIG GO THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS.

IT COMES TO US.

I PULLED UP THE AGENDA ITEM FROM THIS FOR, FOR FOR TODAY AND I WENT THROUGH IT WITH 'EM.

I SELECTED 1, 2, 3.

THEY SAID, WOW, THAT'S ALL YOU GET.

I SAID, ABSOLUTELY.

SO WHILE MY COLLEAGUES THINK COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ABOUT BEING A POLITIC, Y'ALL ARE THE MOST POLITICAL BOARD IN THE ENTIRE EAST BAY NEWS PARISH BECAUSE I KNOW IF I GET CALLS FROM EVERY ENGINEER IN ARCHITECT AND I GET POLITICS AND LOBBY BY THEM MORE THAN ANYBODY IN THE PARISH, I KNOW THAT YOU DO AS WELL.

BUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME AND YOU IS I'M ACCOUNTABLE TO THE TAXPAYERS CUZ THEY CAN GET ME OUTTA OFFICE IF I DON'T DO THE RIGHT THING.

THE PROBLEM IS THE WAY THAT THE ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN, WE HAVE TO GO TO YOUR BOARD AND HOPE THAT THEY REMOVE YOU FROM THE, FROM THE UH, SELECTION COMMITTEE.

IF YOU DON'T DO THE RIGHT THING, IT'S A HOPE OF WISH, A PRAYER THAT THEY GET SOMEBODY OFF OF DOING THE WRONG THING.

AND SO THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO SIT ON THE BOARD IS SO THAT I WOULD HAVE TRANSPARENCY NO DIFFERENT THAN WE DO WITH ANY OTHER BOARD.

I KNOW IT'S A SELECTION BOARD, BUT CLEAVE IS NOT A PILOT.

HE'S NOT A AVIATION EXPERT, BUT HE HAS AN APTITUDE TO LEARN WHAT HAPPENS IN THE AIRPORT.

SO HE SITS ON THAT BOARD.

CHINA BANKS IS NOT A, UH, CONTRACTOR DEVELOPER, SHE'S NOT AN ENGINEER, BUT SHE SITS ON PLANNING IT OWN BECAUSE SHE HAS AN APTITUDE.

ROWDY GOK IS NOT ALAR EXPERT EITHER.

SHE A TRAVEL EXPERT, BUT HE SITS ON VISIT BATON ROUGE.

CAROLYN COLEMAN SITS ON CATS.

I BET YOU CAN'T JUST DISSECT THE BUS, BUT SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT PEOPLE'S INTERESTS IN THE BUS LINES.

MY POINT IS, AND JEN IS ON THE, SOME OTHER BOYS AND ERIN IS TOO, ALL OF THEM MAKE FINANCIAL DECISIONS FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.

AND THIS IS NOT JUST YOU, THIS IS ABOUT THE LIBRARY BOARD AS WELL.

CAUSE IT'S NOT JUST Y'ALL BY THE WAY.

WE JUST MANAGE THIS.

IT'S ABOUT BRICK AS WELL.

THE LIBRARY BOARD HAS A 52 MILLION SURPLUS, BUT WE HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST LITERACY RATES.

ANY GREAT CITY HAS INFRASTRUCTURE AND EDUCATION.

SO IN THAT SPACE, I'M LOOKING AT HEAD START, I'M LOOKING AT LIBRARIES.

HOW CAN WE TAKE THAT $52 MILLION TO CLOSE THE LITERACY RATE BECAUSE THE PIPELINE OF PRISON IS BASED ON THIRD OR FOURTH GRADE LITERACY RATE TO DETERMINE HOW MANY JAIL CELLS ARE COMING UP.

SO YOU, YOU THINK IT'S ABOUT ME TAKING YOUR MONEY, BUT IT'S ABOUT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY TO BAKE BATON ROUGE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.

THAT'S ALL IT'S ABOUT.

WHAT IS ONE MORE VOTE GOING TO DO ON THAT BOARD? NOTHING, BECAUSE THE MAYOR HAS A VOTE FOR FRED RAYFORD AND TOM AND I WANTED A LEGISLATIVE BODY THERE.

SO MY COLLEAGUES WANT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON.

WHAT ARE WE RUBBER STAMPING TODAY? WE ARE RUBBER STAMPING $642,889.

AND I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT THE HECK IS GOING, WHAT I'M RUBBER STAMPING TODAY.

CAN'T TELL YOU.

THERE'S NO DOCUMENTATION ON MY AGENDA ITEM.

AND UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMEBODY DEDICATED

[03:25:01]

TO THAT BOARD WHO'S IMMERSED IN THOSE MEETINGS LIKE WE ARE WITH CATS, LIKE WE ARE AT THE AIRPORT LIKE WE ARE WITH VI BATON ROUGE, THERE'S NO WAY YOU KNOW WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON.

CAUSE I'M NOT AN ENGINEER AND NEITHER IS ANYONE UP HERE.

NEITHER IS FRED RAYFORD.

AND IF FRED WAFER WASN'T IN THOSE MEETINGS AND HAD THE, HAD HADN'T BEEN IMMERSED AND HAVE THE EXPERTISE THAT HE HAS, HE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS AS WELL.

THAT'S ALL IT BOILS DOWN TO.

SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO TODAY, CAUSE I GUESS WHAT WE, WE DON'T NEED A COUNCIL MEMBER.

I WAS GONNA MAKE AMENDMENT FROM THE FLOOR, BUT I CAN'T DO IT TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE TO DELETE IT AND RE-ADD IT.

SO NEXT WEEK I'M GONNA COME BACK WITH SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT I PROMISE YOU WOULD'VE PROBABLY BEEN EASIER TO HAVE ME ON THE BOARD OR ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD.

THEN MY NEXT STEP, WHICH IS GONNA BE TOTAL TRANSPARENCY TO WHAT YOU DO, AND IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES VOTES AGAINST IT, MAN, IT'S, I GOTTA, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S GOING, IT'S, IT'S A PROBLEM.

IS THAT A MOTION TO APPROVE? IT'S A MOTION TO DELETE, BUT I'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

SO WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT KIND OF, UM, BOARDS WHEN WE, UH, AND BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT WE, UM, ARE AFFILIATED WITH.

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.

WELL, HEY, LOOK, LOOK, YEAH, LET'S GO FOR A VOTE.

I'LL TAKE A VOTE ON IT.

I, I'LL, I'LL GO WITH A MOTION TO APPROVE ON THIS ONE.

ABSOLUTELY.

IS THERE A SAYING? I I WANT IT ON THE MACHINES.

PLEASE, SIR.

OH, IS THERE A SECOND? HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

DARRYL.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.

NO SIR.

TESTING BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.

IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO THE ITEM? THERE'S OPPOSITION.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINES.

OH, COUNCIL MEMBER MO, YOU WANNA GO LAST SO I CAN GIVE YOU EXTRA TIME? OR YOU WANNA GO FIRST SO I CAN CUT? WON'T BE.

UM, COUNCILMAN HEARST, I APPRECIATE ALL THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE HAD ON AND EVERYTHING.

AND I, AND I'VE, I'VE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT WHERE MY POSITION IS ON THIS.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE BROUGHT OUT SEVERAL BOARDS AND EVERYTHING AND WE AS A COUNCIL HAVE OVERSIGHT OVER A LOT OF THINGS.

AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S MY OPINION.

UM, AND I GUESS BECAUSE I'VE SEEN BOTH SIDES OF IT TO WHERE I'VE SERVED ON BOARDS THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, COUNCIL CONTROLLED.

I'VE SEEN, SERVED ON BOARDS WHERE THEY'VE HAD COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THEM.

I'VE, UH, APPOINTED PEOPLE TO BOARDS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

AND YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I BROUGHT UP A LOT OF THE TIMES IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH EVERYBODY IS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NO DISRESPECT TO COUNCILWOMAN BANK.

THIS IS NO DISRESPECT TO, UH, COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, ANYBODY ELSE THAT SERVES ON A BOARD.

UM, I DON'T THINK THAT THE COUNCIL IN OUR POSITION NEEDS TO BE SERVING ON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE BOARDS.

UM, THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.

UH, WHEN I SERVED ON PLANNING AND ZONING FOR THE CITY OF CENTRAL, I NEVER WENT TO A CENTRAL COUNCIL MEETING UNLESS IT WAS SOME OTHER TOPIC THAT I NEEDED TO TALK ABOUT.

THE REASON I DID THAT IS CUZ I DIDN'T WANT TO LOOK TO SWAY.

I MADE MY VOTE AT A CERTAIN TIME.

I DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE TWO VOTES WHENEVER I WAS SITTING ON THE PLANNING AND ZONING.

AND AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I DIDN'T GO TO PLANNING AND ZONING CUZ I DIDN'T WANNA SWAY ANY OF THE OPINION OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING MEMBERS THAT ARE THERE TO DO THEIR JOB THAT WE APPOINTED THEM TO DO.

UH, MS. CAROLYN, WITH WHAT WE GOT GOING ON WITH KATZ.

UH, I, WE WORK GREAT TOGETHER AT THE COMMITTEE AND EVERYTHING ELSE, AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR, FOR BEING WITH US AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO ON A THING.

BUT AS A BOARD MEMBER, I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GETTING TIED UP IN THAT.

AND, AND I HATE TO SEE THAT.

AND THAT'S WHY, AGAIN, I GO BACK TO US SERVING ON THESE BOARDS THAT WE MAY HAVE TO TAKE ACTION OVER OR DO CERTAIN THINGS AND IT, AND IT CAUSES US TO BE, YOU KNOW, WELL, WELL WHY ARE, WHY DO YOU HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER ON THIS BOARD? YOU'RE GOING AFTER 'EM, OR YOU'RE DOING THIS, OR YOU'RE TRYING TO INVESTIGATE THEM OR WHATEVER ELSE YOU'RE INVESTIGATING YOUR OWN COUNCIL MEMBER.

UH, TO ME, I THINK, AND THIS IS WHAT I WANTED TO WORK WITH HIM WITH, WAS I, I SEE WHERE HE IS GOING.

I SEE WHAT YOU WANT WITH OVERSIGHT.

I, UM, I DO FULLY SEE THAT.

I THINK I WOULD HOPE THAT WE COULD WORK OUT ANOTHER PROCESS, WHETHER IT BE BY ORDINANCE REPORTING, NOT NECESSARILY JUST REPORTING WHERE THEY COME UP ONCE A MONTH AND GIVE WHATEVER.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT IF THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON IN OUR DISTRICTS, WE GET THE INFORMATION ON THAT AND WE GET INVOLVED WITH IT AND SO ON.

I, I HOPE WE CAN WORK OUT A WHOLE DIFFERENT PROCESS TO ACCOMPLISH A SAME THING WITHOUT HAVING TO PUT A COUNCIL MEMBER ON THERE.

AND YOU TALK ABOUT POLITICS AND PEOPLE TALK ABOUT FLOATING THINGS AND WHO'S MAKING MONEY AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

PUT A PUT A POLITICIAN ON A BOARD AND YOU'VE GOT THE SAME PUBLIC SENTIMENT THAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS THINKING ABOUT THIS BOARD.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M AGAINST THIS AS FAR AS PUTTING A COUNCIL MEMBER ON, WHETHER IT BE THIS BOARD OR ANY OTHER BOARDS THAT ARE COMING UP AND SO ON.

SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY MY PIECE ABOUT THAT.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THIS VOTE.

I APPRECIATE YOU GOING FORWARD WITH IT.

AND WE GO FROM THERE.

WE CAN MAKE IT BETTER.

I'M GOING TO COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS THERE.

YOU ALREADY SPOKE TWICE.

I'LL COME BACK TO YOU IF NECESSARY.

COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.

[03:30:01]

ONE IS THE INTERNAL BOARDS, UH, LIKE PLANNING AND ZONING AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

AND THEN WE HAVE THE EXTERNAL, UM, BOARDS, UM, LIKE CATS, COUNCIL ON AGE AND LIBRARY, BRICK, WHAT HAVE YOU.

I AM A PROPONENT OF, UM, AN AIRPORT.

I AM A PROPONENT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS BEING ON OUR INTERNAL BOARDS, NOT, UH, BECAUSE WE SERVE AS A LIAISON TO THE PROCESS.

UM, PRIOR TO ME BEING ON THE COUNCIL, WE HAD A LOT OF COMMITTEES, UH, COUNCILWOMAN COULD TELL YOU.

AND THEY WERE VERY TIME CONSUMING.

UM, AND THEY DID AWAY.

AND A LOT OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAVE, THE REASON WE WERE IN COUNCIL MEETINGS FOUR AND FIVE HOURS IS BECAUSE, UM, THERE IS A BREAKDOWN IN THE INTERIM BETWEEN SELECTIONS AND WHEN WE COME TO COUNCIL.

SO FOR ME, WHEN WE ARE FOR, YOU KNOW, SPECIFICALLY ON PLANNING AND ZONING, IF THERE IS AN INTEREST IN A PARTICULAR COUNCIL, UH, PERSON'S DISTRICT AS A REPRESENTATIVE, THEY EITHER I, YOU KNOW, AS COUNCILMAN, I CAN EXPLAIN TO COUNCIL MEMBERS OR TO THE AUDIENCE FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF BEING, UM, A COUNCIL PERSON, WHAT IT IS THAT WE ARE, WE ARE FACING, BUT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.

AND SO I THINK THAT THIS IS GOOD.

AND WE HAVE SEEN, AND AND AGAIN, I HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, THE, THE MOST, THE CLOSED, UM, PROCESS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AROUND THE AIR ENGINEERING AND THE ARCHITECTS.

UM, THE GENTLEMAN THAT'S THAT GOT UP, WHERE IS HE, SIR BEHIND? ARE YOU SITTING RIGHT THERE? OKAY, I HAVE A QUESTION.

WHAT IS YOUR MEMBERSHIP, YOU SAID? SO I'M THE CHAIRMAN FOR THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES OF LOUISIANA.

AND I'M A MEMBER OF LOUISIANA ENGINEERING SOCIETY.

I'M A FORMER BATON ROUGE CHAPTER IN THOSE, BOTH OF THOSE, WHICH WHAT IS YOUR PERCENTAGE AS IT RELATES TO D B E PARTICIPANTS? SO THOSE ARE ENGINEERING ORGANIZATIONS.

AND TO BE CLEAR, WE DON'T HAVE, WE, I DON'T, I DO NOT SIT ON THE SELECTION BOARD THAT'S BEING DISCUSSED.

SO I'M A, I'M A ENGINEER MYSELF, A MANAGER.

BUT YOU DON'T KNOW THE NUMBERS.

THEY ARE HOW MANY, WHERE WERE ENGINEERING ORGANIZATIONS HAVE A THOUSAND MEMBERS.

LET'S JUST SAY YOU HAVE A THOUSAND MEMBERS STATEWIDE.

OF THOSE MEMBERS, HOW MANY OF THEM ARE DBE PARTICIPANTS? I, I DON'T KNOW.

I KNOW WE DO ABSOLUTELY HAVE SOME AND WE DO WORK WITH THEM.

INDIVIDUAL COMPANIES WORK WITH EACH OTHER.

BUT I DON'T HAVE A NUMBER FOR YOU.

SO, SO THAT IS, IT'S AN OPEN MEMBERSHIP.

I UNDERSTAND.

SO, YEAH.

SO ANYWAY, THAT IS KIND OF WHY WE NEED TO HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, PARTICULARLY, UM, ESPECIALLY IF WE ARE GOING TO, WE ARE TRYING TO BE, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T TELL BY THE LAST VOTE, BUT IF WE WANNA BE PROGRESSIVE AND EQUITABLE, THEN YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT LOOKS THROUGH A LENS THAT IS NOT AS TECHNICAL AS THE, UM, YOUR YOURS IS TO LOOK AT THE PROFESSION.

BUT A COUNCIL MEMBER IS TO LOOK AT BOTH THE PROFESSION, BUT ALSO WHETHER OR NOT IT MAKES SENSE AS IT RELATES TO PUBLIC SERVICE.

AND SO FOR ME, THAT'S A PERFECT MARRIAGE.

I DON'T KNOW WHY ANYBODY WOULD NOT WANT THAT.

UM, IF YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB, YOU WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW IT.

SO YOU HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT'S ON YOUR COUNCIL THAT'S ABLE TO CHAMPION.

AND IT'S BEEN DONE SO LONG, SO LONG, 200 AND YEARS, IT'S BEEN DONE YOUR WAY AND IT IS TIME, UH, NOW THAT WE OPEN UP THE FLOOD WATERS, IF YOU WILL, OF TRANSPARENCY.

AND YOU LET PEOPLE KNOW, YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU DON'T SIT ON THE BOARD, BUT, AND THAT, THAT'S UNFORTUNATE AS SOMEONE WHO ISN'T ON THE BOARD IS NOT UP HERE TO KIND OF GO THROUGH WHAT, HOW THAT PROCESS LOOKS.

BUT THERE ARE OFTENTIMES HERE IN CITY PARISH, UH, GOVERNMENT WHERE YOU ARE HERE THAT THINGS ARE NOT DONE WELL.

UM, THERE IS NO WAY LIKE, LIKE, UH, WE DON'T SEE THE SCORE SHEET.

UH, WE JUST CHOSE A PERSON, UM, THAT FOR, TO DO OUR, WHAT IS IT? UM, CENSUS WHATEVER BREAKDOWN.

AND HE GOT POINTS.

IT WAS ONE WHITE MAN AND A BLACK MAN WITH FIVE PEOPLE AND HE GOT POINTS FOR, UM, DIVERSITY.

SO WE KNOW THE PROCESS STINKS, YOU KNOW, SO WE DO NEED TO HAVE KIND, NOT TO INVADE, BUT TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS AND BE A LIAISON TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE COUNCIL AS TO HOW

[03:35:01]

THE MECHANISM WORKS.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

SO DON'T THINK OF IT AS A NEGATIVE THING CUZ IT'S NOT.

NO, NO.

I THINK INVOLVEMENT AND TRANSPARENCY IS A GREAT THING AND WE'D LOVE TO MEET WITH ANYBODY WHO'S INTERESTED.

UH, IF YOU GUYS COME TO THE SELECTION BOARD MEETINGS, I THINK YOU GUYS WILL SEE IT.

IT'S WHAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE THEY'RE PUBLICLY, THEY'RE NOT ME.

YOU KNOW, THEY, I'M, I'M JUST A REPRESENTATIVE IN AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S NO, THAT LEADS ANOTHER DISADVANTAGE.

IT'S A CITY RUN FUNCTION.

DOESN'T A DISADVANTAGE.

THE REASON WHY THE BEST PRACTICES NATIONALLY, THAT'S THE TIME ARE GOING TO LOOK.

I, OKAY, I'M GONNA GIVE 'EM TIME TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, BUT THAT'S YOUR TIME.

YOU KEEP, YOU CAN'T KEEP ASKING.

I WAS JUST GONNA EXPLAIN THE REASON WHY THE NATIONAL TREND OF BEST PRACTICES TO REMOVE THE POLITICIANS FROM THESE SELECTION BOARDS, BECAUSE THE SUBMITTALS ARE PRETTY TECHNICAL AND I UNDERSTAND THAT'S, IT'S MORE THAN JUST THE TECHNICAL.

BUT, UM, THE, SOME OF THESE ENGINEERING PROJECTS ARE VERY DETAILED, TAKE SPECIALIZED ENGINEERS AND CONSULTANTS TO PERFORM.

AND SO THE SELECTION BOARD IS MADE UP BY A REPRESENTATIVE OF SOUTHERN LSU.

SIR, SIR, THAT'S YOUR TIME.

OKAY, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON.

WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON.

COUNCIL NUMBER HEARST.

HEY, I JUST HAVE SOMETHING VERY QUICK THAT I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I WISH THE CITY WORKERS WERE STILL HERE SO I COULD APPLAUD THEM AGAIN BECAUSE THIS ITEM DIDN'T COME UP BECAUSE I WANTED IT TO COME UP ALONE.

IT CAME UP BECAUSE IN MY RESPONSE TO, UH, TO ASKING ENGINEERS QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROCESS, THEY AGREED WITH ME.

BUT THEY, FOR FEAR OF RETALIATION BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT PROTECTED BY CIVIL SERVICE AND THEY'RE NOT PROTECTED BY THE COUNCIL.

AND THEY DON'T, AND, AND LISTEN, COLLEAGUES GOT CALLED, SO I JUST, I WON'T SAY WHO IT WAS AND WHO CALLED THEM, BUT THEY WERE TOLD THAT, HEY, I GAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT.

SOME OF THEM I WENT TO WERE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS ON PRIVATE ENGINEERING GROUPS THAT DIDN'T, UH, FOCUS ON CITI, BUT THEY WERE STILL WORRIED ABOUT BEING BLACKBALLED CUZ THEY SAID, EVEN THOUGH I'M A, I'M A SUB, IF I GO PUBLICLY, THE PRIMES WILL NO LONGER USE ME OR USE SOMEBODY ELSE.

AND IF I'M A PRIME AND I GO OUT THERE, THEN THE SELECTION BOARD WON'T CHOOSE ME.

AND NOW I'LL HAVE TO LOOK FOR SUB OPPORTUNITIES.

SO IT'LL IMPACT THE BOTTOM LINE OF MY BUSINESS.

AND IF I GO AT IT AS A PRIVATE, UH, ENGINEER, THEN WHAT'LL HAPPEN IS I'LL BE BLACKBALLED FROM THE INDUSTRY WHERE PEOPLE WHO NORMALLY PARTNER WITH ME ON PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS WON'T GIMME THAT OPPORTUNITY.

SO, WHILE THE CITY WORKER, YEAH, SOME OF 'EM ARE STILL HERE, MAN, RON, APPLAUSE TO YOU FOR BEING HERE IN SPITE OF SOME OF 'EM.

I WILL TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

SOME OF 'EM WERE SITTING IN THE ROOM TONIGHT THAT I'VE TALKED TO, BUT THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T PUT A COMMENT ONLINE.

I CALLED ASHLEY YESTERDAY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY COULD ANONYMOUSLY DO IT CAUSE THEY WERE SCARED TO SUBMIT FOR FEAR BLACK BEING BLACK BALLS IN THAT INDUSTRY.

SO IT'S NOT JUST ME, IT'S YOUR ENGINEERS THAT ARE PART OF YOUR ORGANIZATION THAT FEEL THIS WAY, BUT ARE CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE GOOD OLD BOY SYSTEM.

THAT IF THEY COME OUT AND, AND THEY'RE VOCAL, THAT YOU ALL WILL PUT 'EM IN A POSITION WHERE THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES AND NEITHER WILL THEIR EMPLOYEES.

SO DON'T THINK IT'S COUNCIL MEMBERS, IT'S ENGINEERS TOO.

AND WITHOUT BLOWING THE WHISTLE, MY COLLEAGUES GOT SOME OF THOSE SAME CALLS TO THE SECOND.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SO YOU MAKING A MOTION OR YOU ST.

STAND WHERE YOU'RE AT, BUT MY MOTION IS TO WITHDRAW AND, AND, AND THEN YOU WITHDRAW YOUR FIRST WE NEED TO SECOND TO WITHDRAW THE SECOND.

ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD.

MOTION TO DELETE.

THERE'S A MOTION TO DELETE.

IS THERE A SECOND TO DELETE THE ITEM? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.

IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO DELETE THE ITEM? ITEM HAS BEEN

[110. 22-01698]

DELETED.

WE NOW GO TO ITEM ONE 10.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ONE 10 RECEIVING A REPORT FROM BEVERAGE AND DIAMOND PC REGARDING THE WORK PERFORM FOR THE SIR PARISH TODAY.

THIS ITEM MAY BE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET ME SAY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE MEETING, I'M ONLY GONNA ALLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SPEAK TWO TIMES, NO QUESTIONS ASKED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE MEETING, ONLY TWICE.

UH, WE'LL HAVE THE REPORT AT THIS TIME AND THEN WE'LL TAKE ANY COMMENTS FROM, UH, WE'LL HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

UH, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO, TO PRESENT TO THE COUNCIL.

UH, OUR OUTSIDE COUNCIL'S BEEN ASSISTING US WITH THE, UH, MS FOUR WORK, UH, FOR THE CITY PARISH.

UH, WE HAVE HERE, UH, REPRESENTING BEVERAGE AND DIAMOND, TWO OF THEIR PARTNERS, UH, THAT WORK IN THE AREAS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THE SPECIALIZED TYPE OF PRACTICE THAT WE'RE DOING.

WE HAVE, UH, JULIUS RED AND WE HAVE DREW TILTER.

SO THEY'RE GONNA COME UP AND, AND, AND PRESENT, UH, THE REPORT AND PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION YOU NEED.

SO ANY DISCUSSION WE HAVE HAS TO BE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT THE REPORT CAN BE PUBLIC.

WELL, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WE WANT TO DO, AND I'LL LET THEM KIND OF FRAME IT, BUT WHAT WE HAD DECIDED TO DO, UH, MAYOR PROTEOR, IS TO ANSWER AS MANY QUESTIONS OR PROVIDE AS MISINFORMATION AS WE CAN SO THAT THE PUBLIC HAS IT, BUT WHEN IT GETS TO A CERTAIN EXTENT THAT WE CAN'T, THEY WILL GIVE THE INDICATION WHEN WE NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

IF THAT WORKS FOR YOU, SIR, THAT WORKS FOR ME.

CITY PARISH IS INVOLVED WITH, WITH THE, UH, US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, UH, US E P A, AND, UH, LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS JULIUS RED, UH, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUE DREWSON.

WE ARE PRIVILEGE AND HONORED TO REPRESENT THE CITY PARISH IN THE, UH, MS FOUR MATTER THAT YOU ARE.

THE

[03:40:01]

UM, AS, UH, MR. DODSON OUTLINED, WE PLAN TO FIRST INTRODUCE OURSELVES, UM, GIVE A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE, UH, WORK THAT WE'RE DOING FOR, FOR THE CITY.

AND THEN AFTER THAT, UM, IF THERE ARE ANY, UH, QUESTIONS THAT, UM, WE, WE BELIEVE MAY CALL FOR, UH, THE DI DIVULGING PROBLEM INFORMATION, WE WILL BE HAPPY TO, UH, DISCUSS FURTHER WITH YOU IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

UM, BEFORE I GO FURTHER, LET ME ALLOW MY COLLEAGUE, DREW SOTON TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF.

UM, AND THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM COLE AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

UM, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

UM, AND AN HONOR TO BE HERE, UH, STANDING HERE AS THE CITY PARISH'S LAWYER.

UM, MY NAME IS DREW HILTON.

UM, I AM A PRINCIPAL IN BEVERAGE AND DIAMONDS, UH, WASHINGTON DC OFFICE LIKE MR. RED, UH, WHERE I'M ALSO THE CO-CHAIR OF THE FIRM'S WATER PRACTICE GROUP.

UM, JUST A BRIEF THING ABOUT MYSELF.

UM, I DEVOTE VIRTUALLY MY ENTIRE PRACTICE, UM, TO ISSUES ARISING UNDER THE FEDERAL CLEAN WATER ACT AND VARIOUS ANALOGOUS STATE PROGRAMS. UM, I TAKE PARTICULAR PRIDE IN THE WORK I DO ON BEHALF OF MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHICH HAVE INCLUDED, UH, PITTSBURGH, THE PITTSBURGH WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY, UM, WORKING HERE IN LOUISIANA WITH THE SEWER AND WATER BOARD OF NEW ORLEANS, UM, AS WELL AS REPRESENTING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO, UM, MOST PROMINENTLY, UM, IN THEIR HIGH PROFILE NINTH CIRCUIT APPEAL OF A PERMIT IN WHICH EPA IS TRYING TO MAKE THE SAN FRANCISCO REVISIT ITS MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW CONTROL PROGRAM.

UM, AND I'M ALSO ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CLEAN WATER AGENCIES, UH, WHICH IS THE, BASICALLY THE TRADE ASSOCIATION, ALTHOUGH THAT'S NOT AN ACCURATE TERM NECESSARILY TO USE, UH, FOR MUNICIPAL, UM, WASTEWATER AND STORMWATER UTILITIES.

UM, I FREQUENTLY SPEAK AT THEIR EVENTS, UM, AND HAVE ADVISED THE ASSOCIATION ITSELF.

UM, SO, UH, IT'S MY PLEASURE AND EXPERIENCE TO BE PUTTING, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BE PUTTING MY EXPERIENCE TO WORK FOR THE CITY PARISH.

BUT I'LL, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO, TO MR. RED BRIEFLY.

MY PRIMARY PRACTICE INVOLVES ENVIRONMENTAL LITIGATION.

MY PRACTICE IS SIMILAR TO, UH, MR. SULTAN'S, BUT NOT EXACTLY THE SAME.

UH, I AM AN ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER AS WELL.

I REPRESENT, UH, MUNICIPALITIES, CORPORATIONS, AND VARIOUS KINDS OF ENVIRONMENTAL DISPUTES.

UH, MOST RELEVANT HERE.

I REPRESENT, UH, DC WATER, UM, IN ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT ISSUES.

I'VE ALSO, ALONG WITH MR. STK AND SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES AT BEVERLY DIAMOND, WE REPRESENTED A CLASS ONE, UH, RAIL OPERATOR IN A CLEAN WATER ACT SUIT THAT WENT TO LITIGATION IN A A FEW SEPARATE YEARS AGO.

PLAINTIFFS FOR THAT MATTER, WERE ALLEGING $4 TRILLION IN DAMAGES.

AFTER ABOUT WEEK OF TRIAL, WE SUCCESSFULLY SETTLED THAT CASE AND SUFFICE TO SAY THE CLIENT WAS VERY HAPPY WITH THE SETTLEMENT, THAT WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, NEGOTIATE.

A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT I, UH, DEAL WITH INVOLVE VARIOUS REGULATORS INCLUDING, UH, DOJ AND US EPA, OUR FIRM BEVERAGE INDICTMENT.

WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 120 ATTORNEYS OR SO.

ALL OF US ARE DEVOTED TO SOME ASPECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW FROM LITIGATION TO, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE COUNSELING, TO, UH, REGULATORY ISSUES.

ALL OF US HAVE SOME ASPECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW THAT IS A CORE IMPORTANT PARCEL, PARCEL OF OUR PRACTICE OF LAW.

OUR, OUR COLLEAGUES ALSO INCLUDE MANY FORMER FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATORS, INCLUDING THE, UH, FORMER HEAD OF THE, UH, DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL, UH, DEPARTMENT OF UH, ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES AT THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

MR. SOTON IS GONNA GIVE YOU A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF GENERALLY HOW, UM, MUNICIPAL ENFORCEMENT CASES WORK TOWARD BASED ON, UH, UH, HIS AND, AND OUR EXPERIENCE AS A FIRM, BUT BE BEFORE HE DOES.

SO, I THINK, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, AS, UH, LAWYERS TO THE STATE PARISH, UH, WE DID WANT TO ALSO NOTE THAT, UH, CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS ARE COVERED BY THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE.

AND IN ORDER NOT TO, UH, DIVULGE ANY CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, IF ANY QUESTIONS, UH, CALL FOR THAT, WE, UH, MAY, UH, SUGGEST TO YOU THAT WE STEP INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

WITH THAT, I WILL TURN OVER TO MR. SULTAN TO, UH, GIVE A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF OUR, THE WORK THAT WE'RE PRIVILEGED AND HONOR TO DO.

FIRST AID PARISH.

THAT AUTHORIZES THE CITY PARISH TO DISCHARGE FROM.

SO THERE, THERE ARE REALLY TO, TO LAY, LAY OUT THE FIELD FOR EVERYBODY.

THERE ARE TWO, TWO DIFFERENT SORT OF PROCEEDINGS INVOLVING, UH, THE CITY PARISHES STORM SEWER SYSTEM AND HOW IT'S REGULATED, UM, THAT WE'RE FACING.

AND, AND I WANT TO EXPLAIN WHAT THEY ARE.

THE FIRST IS L DQS REISSUANCE OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT PERMIT, UM,

[03:45:01]

ITS, UH, MS FOUR.

UM, THIS IS, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S A CLEAN WATER ACT PERMIT, UH, BUT ISSUED BY LOUISIANA D E Q.

AND THIS PERMIT, IN ADDITION TO JUST AUTHORIZING THE SYSTEM'S DISCHARGES, IS WHAT CALLS FOR, UM, THE CITY PARISH TO HAVE A STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

UH, UM, A TERM THAT I BELIEVE MOST OF Y'ALL HAVE HEARD BEFORE, UM, WHETHER IT'S PRONOUNCED SWIM OR SWAMP, UM, IT IS THE, THE, BASICALLY THE BIBLE, UM, FOR HOW YOU ARE OPERATING YOUR MS FOUR, UM, TO PROTECT YOUR RECEIVING WATER QUALITY.

UM, AND AS PART OF THIS REISSUANCE PROCESS, AND THERE'S BEEN, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN, UH, ACTUAL PRESS COVERAGE ABOUT THIS.

UM, AS PART OF THAT REISSUANCE PROCESS, L D E Q HAS SET DEADLINES, UM, FOR THE CITY PARISH TO BE RESUBMITTING A REVISED SW.

UM, THAT THAT FIRST DEADLINE, UM, WAS SET IN, I BELIEVE, A, A SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2022 LETTER, UH, CALLING FOR A JANUARY 17TH, 2023 SUBMISSION OF A FULLY REVISED SW.

UM, THEN THE CITY PARISH ASKED FOR AN EXTENSION AND RECEIVED IT, UH, THAT WAS GRANTED SPECIFICALLY IN A JANUARY 12TH, UH, 2023 LETTER.

AND NOW THE CITY PARISH HAS A DEADLINE.

AND THIS WAS MOST RECENTLY COVERED OF SEPTEMBER 15TH TO SUBMIT A REVISED STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

NOW, THAT'S THE FIRST PROCEEDING THAT'S PERMITTING.

THERE'S A SECOND ONE, WHICH IS THE ENFORCEMENT INVOLVING THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY, THEY'RE BASICALLY THINK OF THEM AS OUTSIDE COUNCIL TO EPA, UM, AND LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.

THAT INVOLVES ALLEGATIONS OF NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY PARISH'S MS FOUR, UH, PERMIT UNDER THE CLEAN WATER ACT.

AND SO, WHILE THE SPECIFICS OF THE CASE GET INTO PRIVILEGED ISSUES, I CAN SAY GENERALLY HOW THESE TYPES OF CASES WORK.

UM, WHEN DOJ IS BRINGING A CASE ON BEHALF OF EPA UNDER ONE OF THESE ENVIRONMENTAL STATUTES, IT HA IT CAN END IN ONE OF TWO WAYS, BASICALLY, ONE IS YOU MAKE THEM SUE, THEY GO TO COURT AND GET A JUDGMENT, AND THAT JUDGMENT TELLS YOU WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.

THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, THE ONE WHERE THE VAST, VAST MAJORITY OF CASES GO, IS YOU NEGOTIATE A CONSENT DECREE.

UM, BASICALLY YOU COME UP WITH THE TERMS OF A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, UM, THAT WORKS FOR, IN THIS CASE, FOR THE MUNICIPALITY, UM, THAT IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE REGULATORS.

AND YOU SUBMIT THAT AND FILE IT IN COURT, AND IT BECOMES A, AN ACTUAL JUDGMENT OF THE COURT.

BUT IT'S A SETTLEMENT THAT YOU'VE AGREED TO.

AND THESE CONSENT DECREES, UM, GENERALLY HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS.

UH, THE FIRST IS PAYMENT OF A CIVIL PENALTY.

NOW THE CLEAN WATER ACT CALLS FOR $64,000 PER VIOLATION PER DAY, UM, FOR NON-COMPLIANCE.

UM, I I CAN SAY THOSE SORT OF IN MS FOUR CONSENT DECREES THAT HAVE BEEN ENTERED IN THE LAST, YOU KNOW, 10 YEARS, THE, THE FIGURE YOU TYPICALLY SEE IS IN THE LOW TO MID SIX FIGURES.

UM, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COLORADO SPRINGS, WHICH ROLLED THE DICE ON, ON LITIGATING, UM, WENT PRETTY FAR THROUGH LITIGATION AND SETTLED, ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE AFTER AT LEAST A PARTIAL TRIAL AND PAID A 2 MILLION PENALTY.

UM, AND THAT'S TO BE EXPECTED THAT THERE'S A PREMIUM BEING PAID IN PENALTY, UM, UH, AFTER, AFTER YOU'VE GONE THROUGH LITIGATION.

UM, BUT THEN THE SECOND PIECE OF THESE CONSENT DECREES, UM, IS, UH, YOUR COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS.

UM, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO GET BACK INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE CLEAN WATER ACT WITH YOUR PERMIT? AND, AND IN THESE MS FOUR CASES, THIS REVOLVES AROUND, UH, THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SWIM OF YOUR STORM WATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

UM, AND THAT'S REALLY, I TALKED ABOUT CIVIL PENALTY, BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY, THIS COMPLIANCE ELEMENT IS WHERE THE BIG DOLLARS ARE, UM, JUST BECAUSE THAT INVOLVE, THAT'S ALL OF THE THINGS YOU'RE DOING, UM, WHETHER IT'S OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE, WHETHER IT'S SAMPLING, WHETHER IT'S IN AN MS FOUR CONTEXT, UM, HAVING THE REGULATORY PROGRAMS IN PLACE THAT YOUR PERMIT REQUIRES.

AND, UM, ALSO AS PART OF THIS, QUITE OFTEN MUNICIPALITIES WILL HAVE TO REVISE THEIR ORDINANCES, UM, IN ORDER TO HAVE ADEQUATE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO CARRY OUT THEIR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS. AND THE LAST PIECE OF THIS I'LL ADD IS CONSENT DECREES ALSO TYPICALLY INCLUDES STIPULATED PENALTIES.

SO YOU'VE AGREED TO HOW YOU'RE GOING TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE, BUT THE DECREE ALSO SAYS, HERE'S THE CHECK YOU HAVE TO WRITE IF YOU, IF YOU DON'T COMPLY WITH CERTAIN PARTS OF YOUR DECREE.

UM, SO IT'S AUTOMATIC, IT DOESN'T REQUIRE A SEPARATE ENFORCEMENT ACTION TO BE BROUGHT, JUST YOU DON'T COMPLY WITH THIS PROVISION.

YOU KNOW WHAT THE BILL WILL BE.

UM, AND THE DECREE TELLS YOU WHERE TO SEND THE CHECK.

UM, AND SO IF, IF WE SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATE A DECREE ON BEHALF CITY PARISH, UM, WE OF COURSE UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, THIS BODY WILL HAVE TO APPROVE THE SETTLEMENT.

UM, AT WHICH POINT, ONCE THE DECREE IS SIGNED, UM, ACTUALLY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, UH, FILES THE DECREE IN COURT.

IT'S CALLED LODGING.

[03:50:01]

UM, AND AT THAT POINT ACTUALLY PUTS OUT A PUBLIC NOTICE AND SOLICITS PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE DECREE.

UM, AND IF THERE ARE NO SHOW STOPPERS AFTER THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, UM, THEY'LL THEN ASK THE COURT TO ENTER IT, BASICALLY ASKING THE COURT TO APPROVE.

UM, AND AT THAT POINT IT BECOMES BINDING.

UH, IT BECOMES ENFORCEABLE BY THE COURT DIRECTLY, UM, WITHOUT THE NEED TO, FOR DOJ TO FILE A NEW LAWSUIT.

UM, SO THAT'S BASICALLY THE PROCESS, UM, FOR CONSENT DECREES.

SO THEN THERE'S WHERE OUTSIDE COUNCIL COMES IN WHERE BEVERAGE AND DIAMOND COMES IN.

UM, AND THE ROLE OF OUTSIDE COUNCIL IN THESE TYPES OF CASES IS, IS REALLY, I THINK, TWOFOLD.

ONE I'LL CALL BASIC ADVOCACY, UM, REPRESENTING OUR CLIENT'S INTERESTS.

UM, IN ANY, ANY LITIGATION CONTEXT, UM, PARTIES ASK FOR THINGS RANGING FROM THE REASONABLE TO THE UNREASONABLE.

UM, IT'S OUR JOB.

IT'S OUR JOB AS OUTSIDE COUNCIL, ANY OUTSIDE COUNCIL'S JOB TO PUSH BACK AGAINST THE UNREASONABLE.

UM, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE ADVOCATING, YOU'RE ADVOCATING FOR POSITIONS AND PROTECTING THE CITY PARISHES INTERESTS IN DEALING WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

UH, THE SECOND IS ADVISING ON STRATEGY AND SUBSTANCE.

UM, OUTSIDE COUNCIL IN THESE TYPES OF CASES, NEEDS TO WORK WITH THEIR CLIENT TO COME UP WITH THE BEST COMPLIANCE SOLUTIONS.

UM, THAT ONE OBVIOUSLY ACTUALLY BRING YOU INTO COMPLIANCE, BUT TWO, ACTUALLY FIT YOUR COMMUNITY.

UM, FROM A BUDGETARY STANDPOINT, FROM AN ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION STANDPOINT, HOW IS YOUR GOVERNMENT SET UP AND HOW CAN YOU ACTUALLY EXECUTE ON WHAT YOU SAID YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE GONNA EXECUTE AND JUST WHAT WORKS FOR HOW BUSINESS IS DONE IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

UM, BUT THESE ARE A NUMBER OF CONSIDERATIONS THAT ARE IN PLAY.

UM, I WILL CONFESS THAT WE JUST CAN'T SOLELY ADVISE ON, ON, ON SUBSTANCE ALONE.

UM, WE, WE DON'T RUN STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS OURSELVES.

WE'RE JUST LAWYERS.

UM, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE INVOLVED, UM, MARCY LEACH, WHO'S ANOTHER CONSULTANT AT A FIRM WHO'S A CONSULTANT AT A FIRM CALLED IMAG, UM, WHO WE'VE WORKED WITH BEFORE ON OTHER CASES, WHO'S AN EXPERIENCED STORMWATER PROFESSIONAL, AND WHO HAS ACTUALLY WRITTEN, UH, HAS ACTUALLY BEEN INVOLVED IN AN MS FOUR CONSENT DECREE NEGOTIATION IN WRITING, UM, A STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, UM, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PURPOSES OF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS, WHICH IS WHEN YOU'RE WORKING WITH TRYING TO NEGOTIATE A CONSENT DECREE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM WRITING A RUN OF THE MILLS STORMWATER PROGRAM BECAUSE YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE, UM, YOU'RE COMING UP WITH, WITH A PROGRAM THAT YOU KNOW EACH AND EVERY TIME YOU CAN IMPLEMENT IT CONSISTENTLY.

SO YOU AREN'T PAYING THOSE, UH, STIPULATED PENALTIES I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT.

UM, SO THAT'S, I, I THINK OUR GENERAL OVERVIEW AND, AND TO PROVIDE THE, THE COUNCIL OF, UH, PROVIDE THE COUNCIL A PICTURE, UH, OF OUR ROLE, UM, IN THESE MATTERS.

UM, HAVING DONE THAT, WE, WE, WE DO WELCOME QUESTIONS AND, AND WE ARE, WE ARE HERE FOR COUNCIL.

THANK YOU DREW VERY MUCH.

AND THANK YOU, JULIUS.

I JUST WANT TO, UH, RECOGNIZE THAT, UH, MARCY LEACH, WHO, UH, JU UH, DREW, UH, MENTIONED IS HERE.

MS. LEACH IS HERE IN THE BACK OVER HERE WITH IED CORPORATION.

SHE CAME DOWN AS WELL AND HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME SINCE SHE WAS HERE WORKING WITH RICK SPEARS AND HIS GROUP AND SEEN THE DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE CITY BEARS AND GETTING MORE INFORMATION SHE NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO ASSIST THE CITY PARISH IN DOING THIS MS FOUR PROGRAM.

SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT Y'ALL KNOW THAT SHE WAS HERE AS WELL.

THANK YOU, MARCY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE REPORT.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SINCERELY.

APPRECIATE IT.

COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS, I HAVE, I HAVE JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

SO, UM, YOU SAID THAT IN THESE, UM, INSTANCES WHERE A MUNICIPALITY IS, UH, REFERRED BY THE EPA TO THE DOJ, THERE ARE TWO OUTCOMES, UH, NORMALLY ON AVERAGE, AND THAT THAT'S EITHER, UM, A CONSENT DECREE, WHICH I THINK IS PREFERABLE OR THERE'S LITIGATION.

UM, HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A MUNICIPALITY FIND A WAY OUT OF EITHER OF THOSE OPTIONS ONCE, ONCE THEY'VE BEEN REFERRED TO THE DOJ? I CAN'T THINK, I, I CAN'T THINK OF A SPECIFIC INSTANCE FROM MY PRACTICE.

I, I, NO, I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH MY PARTNERS, UM, 1955 TONIGHT IN WHICH THERE ARE, THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES WHERE IF YOU CAN WORK OUT AN ENFORCEMENT PATHWAY WITH YOUR STATE REGULATOR, UM, THAT IS SATISFACTORY AND THE STATE REGULATOR WOULD PREFER TO GO DOWN THAT PATH RATHER, UM, THAN THE FED, THAN PARTNERING WITH U S D O J ON A, ON A FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT ACTION.

UM, IT'S POSSIBLE, UM, THAT, THAT THERE MIGHT BE A WAY, UM, BUT THAT, THAT'S THE ONLY SORT, SORT OF CIRCUMSTANCE I'M GENERALLY AWARE OF.

THERE.

THERE MIGHT BE OTHERS, BUT THAT'S WHAT WHAT I KNOW.

GOT IT.

BUT ARE YOUR EXPERIENCES BEEN MM-HMM.

THAT'S REALLY RARE OR MAYBE YOU'VE NEVER EVEN WORKED, YOU'VE NEVER WORKED IN THAT KIND OF SITUATION? I, I HAVE NOT PERSONALLY ENCOUNTERED THAT.

NORMALLY TAKE TO DESIGN AND KIND OF NEGOTIATE, RIGHT? CUZ NOW WE HAVE TO NEGOTIATE A A A SW, UM, HOW LONG DOES THAT PROCESS NORMALLY TAKE? UM, I, I, I CAN'T SPEAK, YOU KNOW, TO EVERY, I'LL, I'LL HAVE TO DO THE LAWYERLY THING OF EVERY CASE IS DIFFERENT.

UM, HOW LONG DOES IT

[03:55:01]

UM, ORDINARILY IT'S A COUPLE YEARS.

UM, IT'S TYPICALLY A PROCESS YOU THINK OF, IT'S NOT MERE MONTHS.

UM, IT IS TYPICALLY, UH, A A A COUPLE YEARS RIGHT.

UM, TYPE OF PROCESS.

AND WE, WE KNOW IT'S BEEN IN THE PRESS, IT'S BEEN IN THE NEWS THAT, THAT WE ARE ON A, A SEPTEMBER DEADLINE RIGHT NOW.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO GET DONE FROM TODAY TO TO SEPTEMBER.

UM, AND THIS AGAIN, I'M GONNA ASK YOU ANOTHER QUESTION THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO LAWYER.

UM, BUT ON AVERAGE, UM, WHEN WITH THE MUNICIPALITIES YOU'VE WORKED WITH THAT ARE OF SIMILAR SIZE TO US, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY NEGOTIATE THEIR SWIM AND THEY, THEY, THEY'VE GOT THEIR MINIMUM CONTROL MEASURES.

THEY KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO, UM, TO, TO MEET, UH, THE, THE REQUIREMENTS OF THEIR PERMIT AND THE CLEAN WATER ACT.

UM, WHAT, WHAT KIND OF, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FINANCIALLY A LOT OF TIMES FOR, UM, AS FAR AS, NOT FINES, BUT AS FAR AS JUST THE WORK, THE ENFORCEMENT, UM, THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO FOR YOUR MINIMUM CONTROL MEASURES? I MEAN, AND, AND I'M THINKING OF JUST THINGS I'VE SEEN IN, IN REALLY JUST, I CAN SPEAK TO PUBLIC FILINGS, I'VE SEEN WHEN, WHEN COMMUNITIES SUBMIT THEIR EITHER ANNUAL REPORTS OR, OR OTHER, OTHER FILINGS, IT'S REALLY, IT VARIES BY SIZE, SORT OF IN THE FIVE TO 10 MILLION RANGE.

UM, I, I THINK IS PROBABLY IN THE BALLPARK, BUT FOR US RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NOT REALLY A WAY FOR US TO PUT A PRICE TAG ON IT BECAUSE WE ARE IN, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS, RIGHT.

SO WE'RE, SO THERE'S, WE CAN, WE CAN KIND OF LOOK ON AVERAGE, BUT UNTIL, UNTIL THE PLAN IS FINALLY, UM, CODIFIED AND AGREED TO, THAT'S WHEN WE WOULD, WE WOULD REALLY BE ABLE TO PUT A, UH, UM, A DOLLAR FIGURE ON IT.

IS THAT FAIR? I, I, I'M NOT, I'M NOT SURE WHETHER I, I, I, HON I CAN'T BELIEVE, DON'T KNOW.

UM, I THINK THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS.

THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE FOR RIGHT NOW.

COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT.

THANK YOU GUYS.

UM, JUST FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION.

WE MET WITH, WITH YOU YESTERDAY.

UM, AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT BEVERAGE AND DIAMOND HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY TRANSPARENT AND HELPFUL IN UNDERSTANDING EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE COUNCIL DID NOT HAVE ANY CLUE OR IDEA AS TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

UM, SO, UH, FOR CLARITY PURPOSES, I'M GONNA ASK SOME SIMILAR QUESTIONS AND I'M GONNA GO OVER SOME THINGS.

UM, BUT COULD YOU PLEASE, AND I'M, I'M SORRY, I KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHEN YOU WERE HIRED BY A CITY PARISH? APPROXIMATELY IS FINE.

WE WERE FIRST CONTACTED, UM, BY ONE OF MY CONTACTS, I BELIEVE IN APRIL OF LAST YEAR, 2022.

AND THEN WE HAD INITIAL CONVERSATION WITH, UH, MEMBERS OF THE CITY, UH, PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND THEN THEREAFTER, I BELIEVE WERE FORMALLY RETAINED IN MAY OF 2022.

PERFECT.

AND DURING THAT PERIOD OF MAY UNTIL YOU STAND HERE BEFORE TODAY, WHO DID YOU PRIMARILY CORRESPOND WITH? UM, UNDER OUR CONTRACT, UH, COUNCILWOMAN RCA, UM, THE, THE PARISH ATTORNEY OFFICE, UH, SUPERVISES OUR WORK, SO WE PRIMARILY CORRESPOND WITH THEM.

I I WILL NOTE THAT THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY AN UNUSUAL, UH, PROCEDURE OR SETUP WITH RESPECT TO ATTORNEYS', UH, OUTSIDE COUNSEL CORRESPONDING WITH THE, THE ATTORNEYS IN ANY ORGANIZATION, BOTH FOR MUNICIPALITIES AND PRIVATE CORPORATIONS AS WELL.

AND SO YOU GUYS WERE MOVING FORWARD, MOVING ALONG IN THE PROCESSES, UM, TALKING ABOUT THE THINGS THAT YOU JUST SPOKE OF WITH REGARD TO GETTING THAT PERMIT REISSUED AND, UM, THE MS FOUR ISSUES THAT WE WERE SEEING.

UM, AND, AND THEN IN AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER, IS THAT WHEN THINGS STARTED TO HEAT UP A LITTLE BIT POTENTIALLY? IS THAT WHEN THINGS, UH, WAS THERE, WHAT, WHAT WERE THE TRIGGERS IN AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER? UM, I, I THINK TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE, TO DISCUSS MORE SPECIFICALLY, I THINK TO RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTION, WE MAY NEED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

UM, ALRIGHT.

WELL, I GUESS I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND THE MEETING AND MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

I WANT, I WANT TO BE CLEAR, UH, IF WE EXTEND THE MEETING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO 8 55 BECAUSE WE DIDN'T START THE MEETING UNTIL 4 25.

SO WE'RE GONNA EXTEND TO 8 55, JUST SO I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

SO IS THERE A MOTION TO EXTEND 8 55? SO OLD SECONDED IS ANY OPPOSITION? SO

[04:00:01]

WE'RE GOING TO 8 55 NOW.

WOULD THAT BE, BUT I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG WE EXPECT TO DO THIS, BUT IT'S RIGHT AT AN HOUR.

UM, YOU'RE KILLING MY TIME.

JUST STOP.

IT'S ALL GOOD.

BUT I JUST WANT TO KNOW, ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT WE CAN MOVE OUT TO NEXT MEETING SO THEY'RE NOT SITTING THERE WAITING A WEEK? WELL, WHAT, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S DEAL WITH THE EXECUTIVE SESSION PIECE FIRST.

I, THERE'S A MOTION TO MOVE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

IS THERE A SECOND? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL NUMBER MOORE.

UM, THE MOTION NEEDS TO STATE THE REASON FOR ENTERING EXECUTIVE SESSION.

CAN YOU STATE THAT? THERE YOU GO.

I, I DON'T REALLY NEED IT TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION UNLESS I THINK THE, THE PEOPLE SPEAKING NEED IT TO GO IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

I'M HAPPY TO HAVE IT OUT HERE IN THE PUBLIC.

SOMEBODY'S GONNA MAKE A MOTION TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION.

STATE THE REASON, STATE THE REASON I'LL MAKE IT COULD, SINCE I SECOND IT, CAN I GIVE THE REASON OR DOES SHE HAVE TO I'LL PROVIDE YOU THE REASON.

THE REASON IS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU INFORMATION REGARDING CONFIDENTIAL NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY IN LOUISIANA, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.

SIR.

WHAT HE SAID.

DOES THAT WORK? DOES THAT WORK? UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, MS. BECK.

UH, IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? THERE'S OPPOSITION.

SO WE CANNOT GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

WELL, WE VOTE ON THE MACHINES.

IT'S TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF THOSE PRESENT, SO, ALL RIGHT.

UM, EIGHT.

EIGHT VOTES.

NEGOTIATIONS IS NOT A COURT ORDERED, AM I CORRECT? IT'S, IT'S JUST A VOLUNTEER CONVERSATION.

WE GO TO 87 AUTHORIZED MAYOR, PRESIDENT, CHIEF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH BILL BATON, WRITTEN THE AMOUNT OF 900,000 FOR PROFESSIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND IDENTIFY, ELIMINATE BLIGHT THROUGHOUT THE EASTBOUND PARISH AND MORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THE EASTBOUND PARISH BY STRENGTHENING NEW AND PROPOSED INVEST BY MAYOR PRESENCE.

SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE, THOSE CONFIDENTIAL NEGOTIATIONS BREED OUT OF ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE INFORMATION COUNCILWOMAN, AND SO THEY INTERTWINE.

AND SO THERE'S INFORMATION THAT WE ATTAINED THERE THAT WE THEN PROVIDED TO OUR CLIENTS THAT WE THINK WOULD BE INTERTWINED IN ANYTHING THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SAY TO YOU TODAY.

SO THAT OH, OH.

AND LIKE WHAT? GIVE AN EXAMPLE.

HARM AND TRYING, WE GONNA VOTE ON A MACHINE, RIGHT? MACHINES ARE OPEN ON, MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION.

WE'RE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

WE ARE BACK.

THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT.

THANK YOU FOR

[86. 23-00105]

THAT REPORT.

WE NOW GO.

ITEM 86, AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO SUBMIT EXECUTED GRANT APPLICATION AND FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION FOR THE AIRPORT PASS LOADING BRIDGES PRECINCT IN THE AMOUNT OF 11 MILLION HUNDRED $11,111 BY AVIATION DIRECT.

ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON 86? MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUN.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, HURST HEARST.

OPPOSITION.

[87. 23-00106]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 87? COUNCIL.

SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN MOK.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN OPPOSITION.

[88. 23-00109]

GO TO 88.

AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT INTO A CORROBORATIVE ADE AGREEMENT OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA AND THE STATE TO APPROPRIATE FUNDING AND THE AMOUNT OF 1,950,000 FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

OPERATIONAL EXPENSES BY MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND POLICE CHIEF.

ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 88? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL.

SO MOVED BY HERS, SECONDED BY COLEMAN AND THE OPPOSITION

[89. 23-00117]

89.

AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT INTO THE SUB RECIPIENT GRANT WITH THE HUNDRED BLACK MEN FOR THE AMOUNT OF 150,000 TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY BASED VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS FUNDED BY AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT BY MAYOR PRESENT.

ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM WE GO TO COUNCIL.

SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN MCC COLEMAN.

SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HER ANY OBJECTION.

89 PASSES 90 CONTINUED ON GRANT'S CONTRACTS.

REVIEW AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO

[90. 23-00118]

AMEND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH BRISCOE AND INVESTMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $73,000 ON EXTENDED CONTRACT PERIOD OF DECEMBER 31ST, 2023 TO PROVIDE GRANTS AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON 90? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL.

IS THERE MOTION? MOVED BY ADAM, SECONDED BY COLEMAN.

ITEM 90 WITH BEEN APPROVED WITH NO OPPOSITION.

[91. 23-00119]

ITEM 91, AUTHORIZED TO MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO AMEND THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH GOATED EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND STAFF.

AND THE AMOUNT OF $60,000 EXTENDED CONTRACT PERIOD TO SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023.

AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE CONTINUED UPON GRANTS AND CONTRACTS REVIEW.

ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON 91 WILL NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS'S.

MOTION TO APPROVE BY IT.

SECONDED BY HER OPPOSITION,

[92. 23-00120]

WE GO TO 92.

AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO AMEND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT.

AND DEBRA HOLDING THE AMOUNT OF FIFTY THREE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED THIRTY THREE THOUSAND THIRTY FOUR CENTS TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT PERIOD OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023 TO PROVIDE GRANTS

[04:05:01]

AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON 92 WILL NOW GO TO COUNSEL.

MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN MOK.

SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MAHERS.

ITEM 92 HAS BEEN APPROVED WITH NO OPPOSITION.

WE GO TO

[93. 23-00121]

93 AUTHORIZED TO APPROPRIATE 550,000 FROM THE AIRPORT'S CASH ACCOUNT AND CLOSING OUT AVAILABLE BALANCES FROM COMPLETED PROJECTS TO BE PLACED ON A REPLACEMENT OF PASSENGER LOADING BRIDGES BY THE AVIATION DIRECTOR.

IS ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM? SO MOVE BY.

COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. ITEM 93 HAS BEEN APPROVED.

[94. 23-00124]

GO TO ITEM 94, AMENDING THE 2023 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE DR.

LEO AS BUTLER COMMUNITY CENTERS TO APPROPRIATE 59,000 FROM THE FUND BALLOTS ASSIGNED FOR COMMUNITY CENTERS TO PURCHASE THE KITCHEN EQUIPMENT AND THE, THE CENTER TO SERVE AS A SHORT TERM EMERGENCY SHELTER.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON? 94? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS NO OBJECTIONS.

ITEM 94 HAS BEEN APPROVED.

WE'RE

[95. 23-00214 ]

GOING TO APPOINTMENTS NOW.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, EAST BARR PARISH MOSQUITO AND ABATEMENT.

DISTRICT CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTED REPLACING STEVEN WHITTER.

STEVEN WHITTER HAS REQUESTED APPOINTMENT ITEM 96.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE THESE TWO TOGETHER.

EASTBOUND PARIS MOSQUITO AND ABATEMENT DISTRICT RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT OF RODRICK ARTHUR WELLS TERM LIMITED AND NOT ELIGIBLE TO SERVE ANOTHER TERM.

UH, 95.

ANYONE SPEAK ON ITEM? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPOINT STEVEN WHITTER? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ADAM, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOE.

STEVEN WHITTER HAS BEEN APPOINTED 96

[96. 23-00217]

WE NEED DEFER THIS ITEM UNTIL WHEN? UH, MARCH.

WE'RE GONNA REFER THIS ITEM TO MARCH 8TH.

IS ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? IS THERE A MOTION TO DEFER TO MARCH 8TH, SAM? MOVE BY.

DONE, SECONDED BY HERS.

ITEM 96 HAS BEEN DEFERRED.

ITEM

[97. 22-01276]

97, CAPITAL AREA TRANSIT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.

CONSIDERATION OF PLACEMENT, PRAYER TIME.

WHO RESIGNED? THE TERM EXPIRES ON DECEMBER 31ST.

KE BATTLE FRANKLIN, NASA, ANDREA SIMMONS, PARIS TAYLOR, FREDERICK THOMAS, AND JOHN BUK.

ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM? MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT, UH, PARIS TAYLOR.

EXCUSE ME.

HARRIS STATE, YOU WANNA MAKE YOUR MOTION TO APPOINT PARIS TAYLOR? YES.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.

ITEM 97.

ANY OPPOSITION? PARIS TAYLOR HAS BEEN APPOINTED OVER TO 98.

CAPITAL AREA.

TRANS COMMISSIONER KAZ.

CONSIDER REP PATIENT KALIA COCHRAN, WHO HAS NOT SUBMITTED A REQUEST TO BE REAPPOINTED.

YOU PASS ON, UH, CURRENT BALLOT.

YOU WANNA GO BACK TO THE OTHER ITEM? YEAH, WE CAN GO ON THERE.

FRANKLIN LANCE, ANDRE SIMMONS PARISH, FREDERICK THOMAS AND JOHN VVI.

IS ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? THAT'S SOMEBODY SPEAK ON THAT AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE MIC.

THERE YOU GO.

TO PROVIDE GREAT SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS OF EBR R PARISH, UH, UH, FOR THE TRANSPORTATION FOR THESE PEOPLE.

UH, GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.

MY NAME IS ANDREAS SIMMONS.

I AM THE COMMUNITY LIAISON FOR THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM, UH, WHERE I AM THE FOUNDER OF A, UM, YOUTH GUIDANCE PROGRAM AT GLEN OAKS MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE WE TEACH KIDS ABOUT, UH, LIFE SKILLS THAT THEY'RE SO DEF DESPERATELY NEED, SUCH AS, UH, FINANCIAL LITERACY AND LEADERSHIP AND GROWTH.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU A BRIEF MOMENT ABOUT WHY, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO BECOME, UM, YOUR NEXT CAT BOARD MEMBER.

UM, ONE, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF OWNING A TRANSPORTATION COMPANY, UM, FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

UM, AND THEN KATRINA, HURRICANE KATRINA HAPPENED, HAPPENED, UH, BUT I OPERATED THOSE WAYS THAT THEY CAN GET THERE.

UH, THEIR, THEIR MEANS OF GETTING TO WORK TO DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS, TO THE GROCERY STORE.

UH, SO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, UH, AND EBR R SYSTEM IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE ON THIS BOARD BECAUSE I WANNA CARRY OUT THE MISSION OF THE BOARD TO HELP ASSIST THESE PEOPLE, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEED.

UH, WE CAN HELP IN ANY AREA THAT WE CAN, UH, SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THEM WITH THE SUPPORT THEY SO DESPERATELY.

I ALSO WANT TO BE A PART OF THE STRATEGY, THE IMPLEMENTATION, AND THE EXECUTION OF HOW WE CAN CONTINUE

[04:10:01]

AND LASTLY, I'M DRIVEN.

I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT I DO, UH, GETTING THE JOB DONE IS WHAT I'VE DONE.

UH, THIS IS WHY I'M SO, UM, UH, PASSIONATE ABOUT WANTING TO DO THIS.

UH, SO I DO ASK THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU APPOINT ME AS YOUR NEXT CAP BOARD MEMBER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 98? COUNCIL MEMBER? NO.

I WAS GONNA MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO, UH, NOMINATE FREDERICK THOMAS.

ILL SECOND THAT MOTION.

THERE'S A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO FREDERICK THOMAS? ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINES IN ORDER OF THE BALLOT.

COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS, UM, JOHN FVE.

UM, WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINES IN ORDER THE BALLOT CUZ YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE ENOUGH VOTES.

WE GO AHEAD.

YOU WANNA NOMINATE VVI? YEAH, I DO.

I DO A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? WELL, THAT ONE FAIL.

IS THERE A SECOND? OH, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? SO THE PROCESS IS THAT WE, I'M, YOU COULD NOMINATE IF THERE'S NO OPPOSITION, WE VOTE ON THE BALLOT.

IN ORDER THAT THEY'RE A MACHINE.

SO SINCE THERE WAS A NOMINATION, THERE WAS AN OBJECTION.

NOW WE TAKE THAT MEMBERS IN ORDER OF THE BALLOT ON THESE PARTICULAR ITEMS. SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO NOW IS VOTE IN ORDER OF THE BALLOT.

NOW, IF YOU'RE NOT VOTING FOR THE PERSON ON THE BALLOT THROUGH PROCESSES, COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECONSIDER? 97? MAKE A MOTION TO READ.

CONSIDER PLEASE.

I'D LIKE TO RECONSIDER 97.

IS THERE A SECOND? THERE'S A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO RECONSIDER 97? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.

I DON'T KNOW ALL HAVE A PERMISSION TO THE FIRM UP THERE FIRST.

NO OPPOSITION.

WE GONNA FINISH 98 AND THEN WE GONNA GO TO 97.

I WE GONNA VOTE.

I THINK, I THINK WE DIDN'T.

I'D LIKE TO DO A, UH, UH, I I THINK WE DID NOT DO 97 CORRECTLY.

RIGHT? WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO WE'RE GO BACK TO THE LADY.

BUT, BUT I DON'T BUT WE SHOULDN'T DO THAT BECAUSE WE MISS AN OPPORTUNITY.

THIS YOUNG LADY IS ON BOTH OF THEM, CORRECT? MM-HMM.

AND WE, YOU'RE, WE ARE ELIMINATING HER OPPORTUNITY TO BE CONSIDERED FOR 97.

THAT IS CONCERNED.

YOU'RE BUT, BUT SHE MAY, SHE MAY.

IF SHE MADE, I THINK WE SHOULD GO IN THE ORDER THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE BEGINNING AND WE MOVE TOO FAST.

LISTEN, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT HERE, MY, MY POSITION, SHE SPOKE ON 98.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE 98 BECAUSE YOU WENT TOO FAST.

LISTEN, SHAUNA, OKAY.

SHE SPOKE ON 98.

WE'LL TAKE 98 BECAUSE SHE SPOKE ON 98.

IF SHE'S NOT SELECTED, IT'S THE SAME EXACT PEOPLE ON 97.

SHE CAN COME BACK UP AND SPEAK ON 97.

BUT THIS LEMME TELL YOU WHAT, LET'S GO UP YOUR WITH SHAWN.

MY PROBLEM IS' TAKE 97.

97.

WE ON 97.

LET'S GO 97.

I'D LIKE TO, I WOULD LIKE NOT TO BE, UH, WHATEVER MY THING IS, I MADE A COMMITMENT TO FREDERICK THOMAS THAT 97.

THAT'S PERSON.

THAT'S WHAT I, SO I'M READY TO VOTE FOR HIM FOR 97 AND THEN HERE 98.

BUT THAT'S MY POINT.

BUT IF, LET'S SAY WE DO FREDERICK 98, I DON'T HAVE, YEAH, WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON 97.

LET'S GO BALLOT TURN.

FRANKLIN, NASA 97 MACHINES ARE OPEN FOR FRANKLIN, NASA ITEM 97.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO VOTE IF YOU'RE NOT VOTING FOR THE PERSON.

IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU.

ANDREA SIMMONS.

97 MACHINES ARE OPEN FOR ANDREA SIMMONS.

THIS IS SO DISGUST, YOUR HONOR.

WHO YOU UH, PARIS.

TAYLOR.

PARIS TAYLOR MACHINES ARE OPEN FOR PARIS.

TAYLOR, AT WHAT POINT CAN WE MAKE COMMENT? THREE VOTES.

FRED THOMAS MACHINES ARE OPEN FOR FREDERICK THOMAS.

SEVEN VOTES.

MR. THOMAS HAS BEEN APPOINTED FOR ITEM 97.

WILL NOW GO TO 98 CONSIDERATION.

THE REPLACING OF KALE COCHRANE, WHO HAS NOT SUBMITTED A REQUEST TO BE REAPPOINTED CURRENT.

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

COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS? UM, I'D, I'D LIKE TO MOVE APPOINTMENT OF, UM, JOHN VUKOVICH.

IS THERE A SECOND? IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINES

[04:15:01]

FRANKLIN ASSA MACHINES ARE, MACHINES ARE OPEN FOR ANDREA SIMMONS.

ANDREA SIMMONS.

MY SCREEN IS DOWN.

BUT AT WHAT POINT DO WE GET TO MAKE COMMENT? I JUST GAVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE COMMENTS WHEN I SAID POP AGAIN.

COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THAT WAS ANDREA SIMMONS.

ONE VOTE.

LORD.

MACHINES ARE NOW OPEN FOR PARIS.

TAYLOR.

PARIS TAYLOR.

OH, YOU AYE.

THIS IT'S A HORRIBLE COUNCIL IN THE HARBOR ADMINISTRATION.

FIVE VOTES MACHINES ARE NOW OPEN FOR JOHN OF IT.

LET ME DO THE V OF THIS MAN TOO.

GOTCHA.

EIGHT VOTES.

AND I'D LIKE TO DO SEAN ON FREDERICK TOO, PLEASE.

WHEN I GO TO 99, HE GOT IT.

EIGHT VOTES.

IF WITH SHAWN, I NEED TO LOOK AT THE VOTES.

IF YOU VOTED FOR, UH, MS. SIMMONS ON A PRIOR ROUND.

YOU CAN'T VOTE TWICE IN ONE ROUND.

NEEDS TO GO TO A SECOND.

WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA GO TO A SECOND ROUND.

[98. 23-00061]

WELL, 98 Y'ALL .

UH, WE'RE GONNA GO FOR A SECOND ROUND OF VOTES BETWEEN PARIS, TAYLOR AND JOHN VVI.

FIRST PARIS TAYLOR GOT FIVE VOTES.

JOHN VVI, I THINK GOT SIX .

UM, MACHINES ARE OPEN FOR PARIS.

TAYLOR.

THREE VOTES MACHINES ARE NOW OPEN FOR JOHN VVI.

JOHN, ARE YOU A YES, I'M I AM, BUT I'M DOWN.

I GOTCHA.

NINE VOTES.

MR. BUK HAS BEEN APPOINTED HERE.

[99. 23-00212]

99 GROUND.

99 GROUND AREA GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION COMMISSION APPOINTING A MEMBER TO REPRESENT THESE BOUND PARIS.

THIS IS A THREE YEAR TURN.

THE CURRENT BALANCE IS NOLAN R BROWN, PATRICK KERR.

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

COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE.

SO FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND WITH THE, UM, EMAIL THAT WE GOT EARLIER TODAY, WE JUST GOTTA SUBMIT THESE TWO NAMES AND ADD ANOTHER ONE TO IT.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE, UH, RECEIVED COMMUNICATION FROM THE CAPITOL AREA GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION COMMISSION TODAY THAT THE GOVERNOR'S PREFERENCE IS TO RECEIVE AT LEAST THREE NAMES.

UM, IN THE PAST, THE PRACTICE HAS BEEN TO FORWARD ONE NOMINATION.

UM, SO THE FLOOR CAN BE OPEN FOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MAKE OTHER NOMINATIONS FROM THE FLOOR.

AND WE CAN FORWARD, UH, ANY THREE NA THREE OR MORE NAMES THAT, UH, THE COUNCIL WANTS TO FORWARD FOR CONSIDERATION.

I, I, I, I'D SAY, UH, TAKE THESE TWO NAMES AND GOOD LUCK, DWIGHT.

UH, NOMINATE YOU TO THE WATER COMMISSION.

THERE A SECOND FOR ME.

I'LL SECOND.

SO WHEN I HAVE THREE NAMES, NOLAN ARM, BROWN, AND PATRICK.

COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. OH, I'M, I'M SO SORRY.

I DIDN'T THOUGHT WE WERE DOING THAT GUY.

UH, I WAS TOLD THAT GUY PAT WAS SUING.

I HAD A LAWSUIT OR SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THE, I MIGHT BE WRONG ABOUT THAT.

UM, SOME, SOME DEALING WITH B R WATER AND NOT IN THE METERS.

IS THAT THE WRONG PERSON? I'M NOT FAMILIAR.

I'M SORRY.

HEY, I'M, WE DO OKAY.

IF WE CAN'T COME UP A NOMINATION FROM THE FLOOR REAL QUICK AND JUST CLEAR THAT UP.

IF I'M, AM I WRONG WITH SOMEBODY FROM GROUNDWATER? ARE YOU BACK? DO YOU HAVE A LAWSUIT GOING? PATRICK'S WATER.

COME TO THE MIC.

TO THE MIC, SIR.

SORRY.

I, PATRICK KERR, PRESIDENT OF THE BATTERIES WATER COMPANY, THE BATTERIES WATER COMPANY IS, UM, IN LITIGATION WITH A GROUNDWATER COMMISSION OVER AN ISSUE OF METERING.

IN INDUSTRY AND OF THE WATER UTILITIES WERE TAKEN OFF THE GROUNDWATER COMMISSION.

THERE IS A LAWSUIT GOING ON.

ONE OF THE ISSUES WE'VE HAD IS THAT, UM, ALL OF THE REPRESENTATIVES

[04:20:01]

UM, WE ACTUALLY GOT, UH, LEGISLATION LAST YEAR THAT THE GOVERNOR SIGNED.

IT ALLOWS WATER COMPANY EMPLOYEES TO SERVE ON THE GROUNDWATER COMMISSION.

AGAIN, IT'S SO CONTENTIOUS RIGHT NOW.

I DIDN'T WANT TO ASK SOMEONE WHO WORKS FOR US TO DO THIS IN OUR NAME.

I WANT TO STEP UP IN CASE THERE AND THEN LET THINGS SETTLED DOWN.

SO THE WATER COMPANY WILL GET ITS VOICE AGAIN ON THE COMMISSION.

I THINK WE'LL GET THIS ALL SETTLED.

UM, I'LL RECUSE MYSELF ANYTIME THAT I NEED TO.

UM, AND, AND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD.

I CHAIRED THE GROUNDWATER COMMISSION IN 2002, 2003.

I'VE GOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH IT.

SO YES, SIR.

THERE IS LITIGATION ONGOING.

IT'S NOT PERSONAL.

IT'S NOT ME.

THE BATON ROUGE WATER COMPANY IS IN FACT THE LITIGATION WITH THE GROUNDWATER COMMISSION.

WELL, I, I WILL TELL YOU PERSONALLY, BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE WITH L EES, A C E C AND THE REST OF 'EM, ENGINEERING, UH, ORGANIZATION, UH, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU NOT, OR IT IS JUST NOMINATE, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THIS THING, MAN.

BUT CAN I BE CONSIDERED CAUSE OF THE MIDDLE LITIGATION? HE WOULD BE ON THE GROUNDWATER COMMISSION THAT WILL MAKE THE DECISION FOR A COMPANY THAT HE'S RUNNING THAT'S IN LITIGATION CONFLICT WITH THE GROUNDWATER'S, A CONFLICT INTEREST.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE REMOVE THAT JUST, AND MAYBE COME BACK A LATER DATE, BUT, UH, MAYBE MAY, WHAT WE'LL DO IS MAYBE POST, I DON'T KNOW, WE'LL TURN IT IN, BOB, BUT SUBMIT ONE AND POSTPONE THE OTHER OWNER WORKS.

UH, YOU CAN DEFER THE ITEM, BUT, UM, THE, THE PERSON CURRENTLY SERVING ON BEHALF OF EAST SPANNERS PARISH, WILLIAM DANIEL, AND THAT PERSON BY LAW CONTINUES TO SERVE UNTIL, UH, AN APPOINTMENT IS MADE.

I KNOW, I MEAN, I'LL DEFER TO MY COLLEAGUES ON THAT, BUT I THINK THAT'S A CONFLICT.

WOULD THE QUESTION BECOMES, CAN WE AS A COUNCIL, WITHOUT VOTING, REMOVE HIM FROM THE LIST OF CANDIDATES? I DON'T THINK WE CAN.

NO.

YOU, YOU CAN'T, UM, REMOVE SOMEBODY WHO HAS, UM, SUBMITTED A, AN APPLICATION AND ASKED TO BE CONSIDERED.

YOU JUST DON'T HAVE TO VOTE FOR THE PERSON.

AND THAT, THAT'S WHAT I MEAN.

I MEAN, WHATEVER.

AND THERE'S NOTHING AGAINST YOU PERSONALLY.

I JUST THINK THERE'S A CONFLICT THERE, BY THE WAY.

AND YOU MAY NOT THINK SO.

I UNDERSTAND, SIR.

I, AND I DO.

I KNOW THAT THERE IS, AND I WILL RECUSE MYSELF FROM ANY CONVERSATIONS LIKE THAT.

I, I'M ASSURE YOU OUGHT WOULD DO THAT.

WELL, I, I, I JUST THINK WE OUGHT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT TAKING A POSITION THAT'S HIS CONFLICT AND NOT OURS.

SO I THINK WE OUGHT TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT TAKING A POSITION FOR A CANDIDATE.

HE'S GONNA PICK ANYWAY.

WE JUST SENDING THE, THE CANDIDATES TO HIM.

WE NEED TO COME UP.

ONE MORE.

I CAN'T GET COUNCIL MEMBER GLASS.

NO, NO, I KNOW YOU'RE DOWN OVER THERE.

WE DID GET, UM, SOME COMMENTS, UM, FROM GENERAL HONORE AND ALSO WITH MAYOR OR WITH LEAN ASKING, UM, THAT WE DEFER THE ITEM.

AND ALSO THEY MENTIONED ABOUT THE LAWSUIT WITH BATON ROUGE GENERAL, I MEAN, BATON ROUGE WATER BEING A CONFLICT.

UM, SO I THINK WE OUGHT TO DEFER BECAUSE WE ARE, THIS IS KIND OF NEW TO US AND I JUST THINK WE OUGHT TO DEFER TO GIVE MORE INFORMATION.

IS THAT A MOTION? THAT'S A MOTION TO DEFER.

IS THERE A SECOND OBJECTION UNTIL, OBJECTION.

OBJECTION.

SO WE'RE GONNA, UH, VOTE ON THE MACHINE ON THE MOTION.

WE'VE GOT TWO MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, WAIT.

WE HAVE TWO MOTIONS ON THE COUNCIL.

WHAT ARE THE MOTIONS? THE FIRST MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCILMAN MO, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN NOEL TO SEND THE NOMINATIONS OF NOLAN R BROWN, THE THIRD PATRICK KERR AND DWIGHT HUDSON TO THE GOVERNOR FOR CONSIDERATION.

THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS TO DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS, DWIGHT POSITION AGAIN.

SO IF SOMEONE WOULD WITHDRAW THEIR MOTION, I, I DO HAVE A REQUEST TO MAKE A MOTION.

UM, FIRST I'LL ADDRESS THE QUESTION OF THE LAWSUIT.

UH, YES, I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE LAWSUIT IS THERE.

UM, BUT STATE LAW HAS BEEN CHANGED TO ALLOW FOR SOMEONE FROM THE BATON ROUGE WATER COMPANY TO SERVE ON THIS COMMISSION.

UH, BECAUSE THEY PLAY SUCH AN INTEGRAL PART IN GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION.

UH, SO THAT'S THE REASON THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE STATE LAW WAS CHANGED.

UM, SO I DO THINK THAT MR. KERR WOULD, WOULD SERVE WELL ON THE COMMISSION IF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, UH, CONFIRMS HIS NOMINATION.

UH, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO WITHDRAW.

I RECOGNIZE THAT THE MOTIONS ARE FILLED RIGHT NOW, BUT MY MOTION WOULD BE TO APPOINT MR. PATRICK KERR, MR. RYANS CARDINA, WHO HAS, WHO HAS BEEN A WATER COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE ON THE COMMISSION IN THE PAST, AND SERVED WELL, UH, AND MYSELF TO SEND THOSE NAMES TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

I'LL WITHDRAW MY SECOND ON AARON'S MOTION.

I SHALL SAY I WITHDRAW THE MOTION.

ALSO, I'D LIKE THE LITTLE POINT OF ORDER THAT, UH, UNLESS COUNCILMAN DON CHANGE HIS NAME TO AARON MO.

HE'S BEEN ON THE LIST TO SPEAK FOR A WHILE NOW.

I THINK I DID CHANGE MY NAME TO AARON MO.

COUNCIL NUMBER DONE ABOUT 10 MINUTES AGO.

I WANTED TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT, UH, OR INCLUDE ERIC LEWIS FROM THE FLOOR.

HE'S HERE IN THE AUDIENCE AND INTERESTED IN SERVING.

SO WE HAVE FIVE NAMES

[04:25:02]

AND WE SENT OFF FIVE.

YOU CAN, YOU CAN SEND AS MANY NAMES AS YOU WANT.

WE CAN SEND ALL FIVE COUNCIL MEMBER ROUND.

WAIT, WE HAVE, UM, SO WE HAVE TWO MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR.

NOW, WE, WE CAN'T ADD MR. UM, LEWIS AT THE MOMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR.

UM, THE FIRST, NOW ORIGINAL MOTION IS TO DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS.

THE SECOND IS TO APPOINT, TO SEND THE NAMES OF RYAN'S GARINA, BRIAN'S SCARDINA, PATRICK KERR, AND DWIGHT HUDSON TO GOVERNOR FOR CONSIDERATION.

SO THOSE ARE THE, THOSE ARE THE, YOU CAN CONTEND COUNCIL MEMBER HEAR.

UH, I WILL REMOVE MY SECOND.

AND SO ADD HERE TO THE LIST.

SO WHAT YOU NEED TO REMOVE, YOUR HONOR, I'D LIKE TO REMOVE MY MOTION.

BUT NOW MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

NOW SUB SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO SEND ALL FIVE NAMES TO THE GOVERNOR.

YOU CAN READ WHAT THOSE FIVE NAMES ARE.

SO THE ORIGINAL MOTION IS TO GO AHEAD.

YOU GOT IT.

THE, YEAH.

THE ORIGINAL MOTION IS NOW TO SEND THE NAMES RYAN SCARDINA, PATRICK KERR, AND DWIGHT HUDSON TO THE GOVERNOR FOR CONSIDERATION.

THE, THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS TO SEND THE NAMES NOLAN A BROWN, THE THIRD, PATRICK KERR, RYAN SCARDINA AND, AND ERIC LEWIS AND DWIGHT HUDSON.

THAT'S GOOD.

IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH.

BARB, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 NAMES.

IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION OPPOSITION? WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINES.

WE'RE VOTING ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO SEND, UH, IT'S 1, 2, 3.

THERE'S SIX NAMES.

WE'RE SENDING CARDINA BROWN KERR HUDSON LEWIS BROWN KERR LEWIS SCARDINA.

OH, I'M SORRY.

I HAVE, I HAVE TO WAIT.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

TURN ON THE MACHINES.

MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE SUBSTITUTE.

MOTION TO SEND FIVE NAMES TO THE GOVERNOR.

YOU'RE A YES.

FIVE NAMES.

MOTION CARRIES.

[ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS]

LADIES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE GO TO ADMINISTRATIVE MANNERS.

A, A RESOLUTION OF PROVEN ANNUAL PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES, THE SHERIFF'S OF OFFICE OF EAST PARENTS PARISH, AND AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $500 IN ACCORDANCE, BUT A MEMORANDUM AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CAPITAL AREA FINANCE AUTHORITY AND THE HOUSING PRESERVATION BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

JOHN, THE REASON THIS ITEM IS BEING REQUESTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER GAVE HIM APPROVAL BEFORE THE CLOSING OF THE PROJECT ON FEBRUARY 28TH.

NEED A MOTION TO AWAIT THE RULES.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HERS PUBLIC HEARING.

HAS ANYONE SPEAK ON THE MOTION TO AWAIT THE RULES? GONNA VOTE ON THE MOTION.

ANY OBJECTIONS? NOW WE NEED A MOTION TO INTRODUCE THE ITEMS. COUNT.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

UH, DONE.

ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM A HAS BEEN AN INTRODUCED ITEM B, AUTHORIZED AND SETTLEMENT IN THE MATTER OF BLOOD MINOR ET ALL AND BATON ROUGE ET ALL.

DOCKET NUMBER THREE 17 AND A TOTAL AMOUNT OF 1,000,100 THOU 170,000 INCLUSIVE OF COST, INTEREST, ATTORNEY FEES, AND OTHER AMOUNT AND APP REASON 1,170,000 FOR SAID PURPOSE FROM THE INSURANCE RESERVE FUND.

THE REASON THIS MATTER IS BEING REQUESTED AS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER, THE MATTER IS CURRENTLY IN THE JURY TRIAL AND THE PARTIES NEED TO RESOLVE THE MATTER BEFORE THE TRIAL CONCLUDES.

MOTION TO WA THE RULES.

SO MOVED BY THE CHAIRS THERE.

SECOND.

SO MOVED BY COLEMAN PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MOTION.

ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MOTION AND OBJECTIONS.

WE NEED A MOTION TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCC COLEMAN.

SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EDITION DISTRICT SEVEN HIGH

WE NOW GO TO ITEM C.

THESE ARE, UH, ADJUDICATED PROPERTY.

I'M GONNA TAKE C THROUGH S TOGETHER.

LOT.

37 SQUARE 36 GREENVILLE EXTENSION DISTRICT SEVEN.

HIGH BIDDER ROBBINS RENTAL.

$10,000 LOT.

15 SQUARE 51.

DISTRICT 10 HIGH BIDDER.

LOW LOWEST CLOCK $500.

E LOT.

18 PLUS SQUARE.

71 SUBDIVISION BANK.

DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BETA.

$500 F LOT 40 SUBDIVISION HOLIDAY WOOD DISTRICT FIVE, HEARST HIGH BETA ELOISE.

BETHANY $2,500 G LOT.

34 AND 35 SQUARE SIX.

SUBDIVISION BANKS.

DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN.

HOW BIT OF VMJ MANAGEMENT LLC.

$35,000.

LOT H, EXCUSE ME.

LOT H LETTER H LOT.

18 SQUARE 1 0 5 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE.

DISTRICT 10.

COLEMAN HIGH BID OF SWEET HOME BC $2,000 LOT.

I LOT 20 SQUARE 1 0 5.

DISTRICT 10.

COLEMAN HIGH BID OF SWEET HOME BC $2,500 LOT.

26 SQUARE 1 0 5 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE.

DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN, HOW BETTER A SWEET HOME BC $200 K LOT.

27 PLUS SQUARE THREE.

[04:30:01]

BITTA.

SHE IS SCOTT.

$300 L L LOT.

EIGHT DASH TWO DASH A SQUARE 29 LELAND COLLEGE ANNEX DISTRICT TWO BANKS, HIGH BETA NEAL BURRELL JR.

$18,000 LOT 19 SQUARE THREE SUBDIVISION BADMAN.

DISTRICT SEVEN HIGH BID OF LAURA MITCHELL.

$100 LOT 24 PLUS SQUARE 45 SOUTH BATON ROUGE.

DISTRICT 10.

COLEMAN HIGH BID OF JOHNNY E. WILSON.

$400 OH LOT.

SECTION FIVE SQUARE WD TWO.

SUBDIVISION TRACK FOUR B DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BID OF CHANTEL CORTEZ PERKINS $10,000 LOT.

THREE 12 SUBDIVISION EAST K DISTRICT EIGHT HIGH PREEMINENT INVESTMENT, $60,000 Q LOT B SQUARE THREE DELMONT PLACE DISTRICT FIVE HIGH BIDDER ACHILLE V JACKSON $100 RS 30 LOT 39 SQUARE I DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER.

ELI JACKSON $100 S LOT 21 SQUARE 19 NORTH BATON ROUGE.

DISTRICT TWO HIGH BID OF QUENTIN VILLES.

$3,800.

WE NEED A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.

SO MOVED BY THE CHAIR.

SECONDED BY SAM ROSE.

ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ANY OPPOSITION TO THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? WE NOW NEED A MOTION TO INTRODUCE OR MOVE BY THE CHAIRS.

UH, IS ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEMS? NOT NEED A MOTION.

MOTION TO INTRODUCE THE ITEMS. SO HAVE NO INFORMATION TO APPROVE.

MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEMS. OH, THIS IS OKAY.

MOTION TO APPROVE.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROSA, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER NOEL.

ITEM C THROUGH S HAVE BEEN APPROVED ACCEPTANCE OF LOW BID T BELAIRE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE T AND Z TOGETHER.

T THROUGH Z, PELICAN PLAYGROUND LLC, 249,409 $83.

YOU WON THE LAND HEAD START CENTER PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, PELICAN GROUND, LLC, $249,374 V.

PROGRESS ROAD TO HEAD START CENTER, PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, PELICAN PLAYGROUND, LLC, $220,204 W FREEMAN MATTHEWS HEAD START CENTER, PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, PELICAN PLAYGROUND, LLC, $246 $651 X NEW HORIZON, HEAD START CENTER, PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT PLAYGROUND, PELICAN PLAYGROUND, LLC, $248,711 Y PROGRESS ROAD NUMBER ONE, HEAD START CENTER, PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, PELICAN PLAYGROUND, LLC, $243 830, EXCUSE ME.

$243,831 A ZEKE RESTROOM RENOVATIONS AT HUMAN RESOURCES BUILDING CAPITAL AREA CONSTRUCTION LLC, $223,000.

NEED A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.

IS THERE A MOTIONAL AWAY THE RULES.

SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN MC DUN.

SECOND THERE BY COUNCILMAN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON A MOTIONAL WA THE RULES, WE GO BACK.

WE NEED TO VOTE IS IN ANY OBJECTIONS ON THE MOTION TO WA THE RULES? WE NEED A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ITEMS. ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON? ITEMS T THROUGH Z WILL NOW NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA.

WILL NOW GO TO ITEM AA.

AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR.

PRESIDENT.

SIR, I'M SORRY MAN.

CHRIS, QUICK QUESTION.

I SEE PELICAN WAS AWARDED THE CONTRACT FOR ALL OF THESE WAS DID THEY WIN THE BID FOR ALL OF THESE? UH, YES SIR.

SO, UH, WE HAD A STATE BID WIN OR A STATE BID PRO AND THEY WERE HIGHER.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAD SOMEBODY THAT CHOSE NOT TO BID IT.

AND I WOULD ADD THAT, UH, PELICAN IS A WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY AND HAS EXCITING, UH, SHE'S VERY PURPOSELY TRYING TO ENGAGE LOCAL DBES IN TERMS OF THE CONCRETE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

SO I THINK WHEN WE THINK OF THE HOLISTIC VIEW OF OUR DBE PROGRAM, SHE'S A GREAT EXAMPLE.

TWO BIDDERS AND ONE UNRESPONSIVE.

AND I WOULD ALSO THANK YOU ALL.

I MEAN, RECESS WAS THE BEST THING EVER IN YOUNG SCHOOLS.

SO WE'RE GONNA GIVE THESE KIDS A SAFE PLAYGROUND TO PLAY ON AND HOPEFULLY THEY CONTINUE TO BE EXCITED ABOUT COMING TO SCHOOL WITH US.

GOOD DEAL.

SO PELICAN WAS THE LOW BID ON ALL OF THESE? YES SIR.

YEP.

GONNA GO TO CHANGE ORDERS.

ITEM AA AUTHORIZED MAYOR, PRESIDENT EXECUTING AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE EXTENDED THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT.

DECEMBER 31ST, 2024 WITH THE STATE OF LOUISIANA DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND GRANT ASSISTANCE UNDER THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAM THROUGH THE RESTORE, LOUISIANA INFRASTRUCTURE.

FEMA PUBLIC ASSISTANCE NON-FEDERAL SHARE MATCH PROGRAM RELATED TO THE 2016 FLOOD IN ORDER TO AVOID THE LOSS OF THE LOCAL MATCH PROVIDED BY THE STATE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN THE 2016 FLOOD EXPENSES COUNCIL RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED THE EXTENSION IS ACQUIRED BY FEBRUARY 13TH, 2023.

ITEM IS CONTINUED UPON GRANTS AND CONTRACTS.

UH, REVIEW.

UH, NEED A MOTIONAL WAY OF THE RULES.

IS THERE A MOTIONAL WAY? THE RULES.

SO MOVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.

UH, PUBLIC HEARING ON A MOTIONAL WAY OF THE RULES.

WE'RE GONNA VOTE.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION ON THE MOTIONAL WAY OF THE RULES? THERE'S AN OBJECTION ON THE MOTIONAL WAY TO RULE.

WE CALLED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.

ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NEED A MOTION TO, TO APPROVE THE ITEM.

UH, SOME MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.

SECONDED BY THE CHAIR IN THE OBJECTION.

ALL ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED.

WE'RE

[Items 100-102 ]

WE'RE GONNA TAKE ITEMS 1 0 1 100 THROUGH 1 0 2.

NICHOLSON DRIVE, BEN, HER CONTRACTOR OMEGA FOUNDATION SERVICES CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, $342,465 AND 52 CENTS.

ITEM 1 0 1 MCKEE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS CLEARING GRING CONTRACTOR

[04:35:01]

SPRINGS CONSTRUCTION CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT CREDIT, $14,313 AND 42 CENTS.

ITEM 1 0 2.

PARISH WIDE PAVEMENT REMAKING CONTRACT, THE PAVEMENT MARKINGS LLC.

CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT.

$0 APPROVED ITEMS. 1 0 2 81 HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 100 TO 1 0 2.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE 100 THROUGH 1 0 2? IS THAT A CHANGE ORDER FOR JACOB? FRED? IS THAT A CHANGE ORDER FOR JACOB? BY MOTION, MY COUNCIL MEMBER GO.

THEY SAYING BY COUNCIL DONE.

ITEM 1 0 1 0 2 HAS

[Items 103-106]

BEEN APPROVED.

WE'RE TAKE ITEMS. 1 0 3 TO 16 TOGETHER.

RIVER CENTER ARENA RAILING IMPROVEMENTS CONTRACTED BY YOU.

FABRICATED PRODUCTS, HUH? UH, WE GOT FINAL COST.

104 BODY FABRICATED PRODUCTS.

FINAL COST, $147,938.

ITEM 1 0 4 M WWTP, ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING RENOVATION CONTRACTOR SIDE TECH CONSULTING CONSTRUCTION.

FINAL COST $435 282079 CENTS.

1 0 4 MCKEE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS CONTRACTOR EXPENSE CONSTRUCTION LLC.

FINAL COST $216.

$811 AND 16 1 0 6.

PARISH WIDE PAVEMENT MARKING CONTRACTED PAVEMENT MARKINGS, LLC.

FINAL COST.

$445,700.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEMS? 1 0 3 TO 1 0 6.

MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUN.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER

[107. 23-00153]

ADAMS. WE HAVE TWO MORE ITEMS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

1 0 7.

ACCEPTANCE OF LOPEZ MANS OF ELEVATOR ESCALATED DUMB WAGES, PRECISION ELEVATED COMPANY $148,030.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 0 7? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUN.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. UH,

[108. 23-00145]

NO OBJECTIONS.

WE GO TO ITEM 1 0 8 JONES CREEK REGIONAL BRANCH LIBRARY OF WATER MAIN RUPTURE REPAIRS JW CONTRACTOR $64,000.

ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 0 8? THEIR MOTION TO APPROVE.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN, SECONDED BY THE

[109. 23-00221]

CHAIR.

ITEM ONE NUMBER NINE, SALES TAX STREET ROAD REHABILITATION PROGRAM PRIOR TO 18 DASH TWO.

TIGER BEND STREETS IN THE OAK HILLS PLACE, PARK AND HIGHLAND SHADOW SUBDIVISION MTRA, LLC, $2,879,125 AND 75 CENTS.

THERE'S A MOTION TO THE LEAD TO ITEM UNTIL MARCH 8TH.

ANYONE YOU TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM DEFERRED TO MARCH 8TH ANYWAY TO SPEAK.

MOTION TO DEFER BY ADAM, SECONDED BY

[111. 23-00001]

DUNN.

ITEM ONE 11, RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE EASTBOUND PARISH DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, DRAINAGE AND TRAFFIC MITIGATION MEASURES.

AND KEY ALTERNATIVE COURT ROUTE DURING INTERSTATE 10, WIDENING CONSTRUCTION ON ALSO MOVE R PROJECT PLANS AND TIMELINES.

BUT 2023 BY COUNCILMAN GODA.

ANYONE TO SPEAK ON ITEM MOTION TO DEFER TO TWO WEEKS BY COUNCILMAN MAGDA.

ANY UH, OBJECTIONS? ITEM HAS BEEN DEFERRED FOR TWO WEEKS.

IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MS. AMAROSA? MOTION TO ADJOURN.

MOTION TO ADJOURN BY MS. AMAROSA.