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TO TWO, ONE, AND YOU'VE GOT IT.[CALL TO ORDER]
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.WELCOME TO OUR PRESENTATION PORTION OF OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING ON MARCH 8TH AT 3:30 PM FIRST UP, WE'LL HAVE MAYOR.
PRESENT IS SHARON WESTERN BROOM TO RECOGNIZE SUPERINTENDENT OF EAST BARRON PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM SEAT NA SEAT, DR.
NA MANN, CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM, CHIEF FINANCIAL DIRECTOR NICOLA HALL AND EXPERIENCE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR.
OH, THAT IS THE EXPERIENCE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR, A PROCLAMATION NATIONAL SCHOOL, BREAKFAST WEEK, MARCH 6TH TO 10TH.
UH, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TIM, AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL NATIONAL SCHOOL BREAKFAST WEEK IS AN ANNUAL EVENT RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF A NUTRITIOUS BREAKFAST FOR CHILDREN AND TO PROMOTE THE SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES FREE OR REDUCED PRICE BREAKFAST TO MILLIONS OF STUDENTS.
I BELIEVE MOST OF OUR STUDENTS GET FREE.
UM, BREAKFAST DURING NATIONAL SCHOOL.
BREAKFAST WEEK SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING SCHOOLS IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS ACTIVITIES TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO EAT A HEALTHY BREAKFAST EVERY DAY.
THE SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM HAS BEEN SHOWN TO HAVE MANY BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS, INCLUDING IMPROVED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, BETTER ATTENDANCE RATES, AND IMPROVED OVERALL HEALTH AND NUTRITION BY PROMOTING THE PROGRAM AND ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE.
NATIONAL SCHOOL BREAKFAST WEEK AIMS TO HELP CHILDREN START THEIR DAY OFF RIGHT WITH THE HEALTHY AND NUTRITIOUS MEAL.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART BECAUSE I HAVE NOW ASSUMED THE ROLE AS THE, UH, VICE CHAIR OF THE MAYOR'S ALLIANCE TO END CHILDHOOD HUNGER NATIONAL ORGANIZATION.
UH, YESTERDAY WE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO BE WITH, UH, ONE OF THE REGIONAL DIRECTORS FOR U S D A, WHO WAS HERE AS WE VISITED, UH, JEFFERSON TERRACE SCHOOL, AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE, UH, BREAKFAST A VERY HEARTY BREAKFAST TO, UH, THE STUDENTS.
SO I WANNA, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ALL HAD A LITTLE REFRESHMENT TODAY TOO.
SO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT THEN.
SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO SUPERINTENDENT DR.
NADINE MANN, UH, FROM THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM, ADMINISTRATIVE, UH, DIRECTOR, UH, NICOLE HALL, AND THE STAFF AT EBR R UH, PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR YOUR WORK TO ENSURE THAT OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE NUTRITIOUS MEALS.
AND I'M GOING TO PRESENT THEM, UH, WITH THE PROCLAMATION THAT I HAVE MADE, UH, DECLARING, UH, THIS WEEK SCHOOL, BREAKFAST WEEK IN THE CITY, IN PARISH.
HOW YOU DOING? GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
WE SERVE 18,000 BREAKFAST A DAY IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES ACROSS THE DISTRICT IN 75 SCHOOLS.
AND WE'RE THE FASTEST FAST FOOD RESTAURANT THAT THERE IS.
WE MAKE IT HAPPEN, AND WE'VE HIRED, RECENTLY HIRED SOME CHEFS.
SO WE HAVE, UH, THEM WITH US TODAY AND WE'RE EXCITED, UH, TO HAVE THEM.
AND THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM SOME SAMPLING OF LUNCH ITEMS, SOME NEW LUNCH ITEMS. THANK YOU, DITO.
NEXT WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER CLE DUNN, JR.
HERE TO RECOGNIZE MYRA RICHARDS FOUNDER OF 2 25 FEST AND THEIR SPONSORS.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE HERE IN THE CHAMBERS AND EVERYONE WATCHING US AT HOME.
AS YOU CAN SEE, I HAVE A DOWER HURST STACK OF CERTIFICATES OF RE RECOGNITION FORT WORTHY CALLS.
I'M GONNA ASK MARA AND ALL THE SPONSORS OF 2 25 FESTS TO COME JOIN MYSELF AND THE MAYOR UP HERE.
I'M GOING TO READ ONE OF THE, UH, CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION FOR MEYER AND THEN ONE FOR THE
[00:05:01]
SPONSORS.I'LL LET MAYER RECOGNIZE ALL THE SPONSORS.
SO FOR RICHARDSON, YOUR HARD WORK, DEDICATION, AND LEADERSHIP, AS FOUNDER OF THE 2 25 FEST, WE RECOGNIZE YOU FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING JOB OF BRINGING THE CITY TOGETHER TO ENJOY THE RICH CULTURE BATON ROUGE HAS TO OFFER THROUGH ARTS, MUSIC, FOOD RESOURCE, PERFORMANCES, AND KIDS ACTIVITIES.
AND GIVEN THIS DAY, MARCH 8TH, 2023, WE SINCERELY CONGRATULATE AND RECOGNIZE YOU.
I'M GONNA LET MARA SPEAK, BUT I WANNA READ THE, UH, CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FOR ALL OF THESE SPONSORS WHO HELPED TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE.
YOUR SPONSORSHIP SUPPORT, ASSISTANCE YOU HAVE PROVIDED FOR BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AS WE ENJOY THE RICH CULTURE OF BATON ROUGE HAS TO OFFER THROUGH ITS INAUGURAL 2 25 FEST.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
UH, MANY OF US, UH, IN THE CITY, MANY OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ATTENDED 2 25 FEST.
IT WAS A GREAT DISPLAY OF OUR CITIZENS, OF OUR CULTURE, OF OUR MUSIC.
UH, JUST A FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE WITH OVER 14,000 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE.
SO WANNA TAKE MY HAT OFF TO MA IN PARTICULAR, PER TEAM AND ALL OF THESE SPONSORS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO MADE 2 25 POSSIBLE.
AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MAYER.
THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR BEING, UM, AGAIN, PARTNERS.
UM, AND WE WANNA JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE SPONSORS AND PARTNERS WHO MADE THIS POSSIBLE.
AND MANY OF THEM ARE STANDING BEHIND ME, BUT MIND YOU, WE HAD OVER A HUNDRED PEOPLE IN ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.
SO IT WASN'T JUST ME AND MY SMALL BUT MIGHTY TEAM OF 22 PEOPLE.
BUT, UM, WE WANNA THANK LOUISIANA HEALTHCARE CONNECTIONS, THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON.
WE BROOM VISIT BATON ROUGE, THE AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION, EMERGING METHOD, BATON ROUGE, COCA-COLA CARE, SOUTH MEDICAL AND DENTAL, EXXON MOBIL, BATON ROUGE METROPOLITAN AIRPORT, THE ARTS COUNCIL OF GREATER BATON ROUGE, FRIENDS OF THE CAPITOL PARK MUSEUM, DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, PLANET FITNESS, BRICK POWER COALITION, BULL FISH BAR AND KITCHEN BOILING RU TURNER AVENUE, L L C MATADOR COMPANY, CHICKEN SHACK IMEDIA GC, DJ A TWICE GOOD LIFE PRODUCTIONS, BRANDON O. WILLIAMS, THE SELFIE STATION, FRESH AND FANCY FLORAL DESIGNS, LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ATTORNEY TEDRICK NACHE ATTORNEY.
CLAYTON ATTORNEY CHAZ COLEMAN, LIBERTY HIGH BASKETBALL TEAM, AND THE CAPITOL CITY CUES.
AND IF ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS COULD STAND UP HERE, WE'LL GET A PICTURE WITH Y'ALL AS WELL IN THE PHOTO.
AND THEN ALL OF OUR SPONSORS, Y'ALL CAN FLOOD IN RIGHT HERE.
AND THEN I'LL GET Y'ALL Y'ALL CERTIFICATES AFTERWARDS.
BUT EVERYONE COMING IN THIS WAY? ALL RIGHT, WE GOT ONE UP HERE.
ALL RIGHT, WE GOT SOME MORE RIGHT HERE.
NEXT WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER DARYL HURST TO RECOGNIZE MEMBERS OF THE BATON ROUGE SENIOR CHOIR FROM THE CHARLES R. KELLY COMMUNITY CENTER.
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EMAILED? HEY, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.UM, I DO HAVE A STACK OF DOWN HIRST TYPE PRESENTATIONS UP HERE, UM, BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME AMAZING PEOPLE THAT ARE STANDING BEFORE YOU TODAY.
UM, WHEN I FIRST WENT TO THE CHARLES R. KELLER COMMUNITY CENTER, I WAS EMBRACED LIKE NO OTHER.
AND I THINK THE BIGGEST EMBRACE WAS SEEING THEM FELLOWSHIP, UH, NOT JUST TOGETHER, BUT IN CHRIST.
AND THEY WERE SEEING JOYFUL NOISES EVERY DAY AND SPREAD THE WORD OF GOD THROUGHOUT THAT BUILDING LIKE NO OTHER.
AND SO I SAID, MAN, Y'ALL SOUND SO GOOD.
AND ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS LATER, THE CHOIR CAME TO FRUITION.
WE HAVE ABOUT 12 MEMBERS HERE TODAY, BUT WE HAVE ABOUT 40 OR 50 MORE MEMBERS SIGNED UP READY TO JOIN.
UH, AND LOOK, CHARLES KELLY FAMILY AT THE, IN THE CROWD, IF Y'ALL DON'T MIND STANDING UP.
CAUSE I THINK Y'ALL ARE SO IMPORTANT TO THIS CITY.
AND SO THIS AMAZING CHOIR'S GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME OF THAT GOOD NEWS THAT THEY SPREAD TO THE CHARLES R. KELLY CENTER.
I LOVE TO PRAISE HIM, LOVE PRAY.
I LOVE TO PUT MY HANDS TOGETHER AND PRAISE HIM.
I KNOW HE'LL NEVER, NEVER, NEVER.
HE'S MY OH LORD, I KNOW HE'LL NEVER, NEVER LET, HE'S JUST A OH LORD.
PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER TO THE HALLELUJAH.
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IN THE MORNING, IS JESUS IN THEON, MY HEALER, MY COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD IS JESUS.DO YOU LOVE HIM? DO YOU LOVE HIM? JESUS, LORD JESUS IN THE MORNING, I CAN CALL HIM.
WHEN I CALL HIM, HE'LL ANSWER.
WHEN I CALL HIM, HE COME SEE YOU ABOUT HIM.
DO YOU LOVE HIM? DO YOU LOVE HIM HIS NAME? HALLELUJAH.
WE PLEASE, HUMBLY TEACH ME YOU WORKING.
HELP ME PLEASE, THOUGH SATAN IS, GOD IS REAL.
PLEASE LORD, PRAY YOUR YOU HOLY,
[00:20:11]
MY YOUR IN YOUR ORDER, MY TONGUE IN YOUR, IN YOUR, IN YOUR, IN YOUR.SHOW ME HOW TO WALK IN YOUR, IN YOUR, SHOW ME HOW TO LOOK IN YOUR, IN YOUR, FIND ME A BRAND NEW SOUL.
I KNOW, UH, Y'ALL LIKE ONE SONG GOT ANOTHER ONE COMING.
BUT LEMME TELL YOU, UH, I NEVER RUSHED THE WORD OF GOD.
I NEVER RUSHED THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
AND WHEN IT'S MOVING, YOU GOTTA LET IT MOVE.
AND SOMETIMES WE NEED THE LORD IN THIS CHAMBERS AS ESPECIALLY THE PAST TWO SESSIONS WE NEEDED IN MORE THAN EVER.
SO I APPRECIATE Y'ALL ALLOWING LONG, THESE AMAZING SENIORS TO BLESS YOU TODAY FOR THE CHARLES R. KELLY COMMUNITY CENTER.
AND LOOK, I'M GOING TO, UH, READ, WELL, THIS IS NOT IT, BUT THIS IS, UM, CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION PRESENTED TO DARYL JOHNSON, CHOIR DIRECTOR LEADING THE BATON ROUGE SENIOR COURSE AS THE CHARLES A. KELLY CENTER AT THE CHARLES R. KELLY COMMUNITY CENTER.
I'M GONNA DO ONE MORE, UH, DIRECTLY FOR MR. GEORGE CHESTERFIELD, ADDITIONAL CHOIR DIRECTOR.
Y'ALL HEAR HIM ON THE KEYS FOR LEADING THE BATON ROUGE SENIOR CHOIR TO CHARLES OMMUNITY CENTER.
NOW I'M GONNA DO ONE OF THESE PROCLAMATIONS, BUT I'M GONNA CALL OUT EVERYBODY'S NAME, UH, PRESENTED TO MS. ALICE BLACKBURN.
STAY WHERE YOU ARE FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE CHARLES R. KELLY SENIOR CHOIR, AND FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY, UH, MS. ETHEL UNDERWOOD.
WAIT, RAISE YOUR HAND WHEN THEY CALL YOUR NAME.
THAT'S, UH, MS. BUELLER AGREES.
MS. AUDREY SCOTT, WHAT ELSE? WE GONNA TAKE A PICTURE.
AND MS. LORETTA MOORE, MS. DOROTHY FRANKLIN, UH, MR. ENOCH LEE AND MS. RITA SCOTT, LOOK, WE'RE GONNA HOLD ON 'EM, BUT LEMME TELL Y'ALL AGAIN.
WE TALKED ABOUT NOW RUSHING THE SPIRIT AND I INTERRUPT EM.
THEY HAVE ONE MORE SELECTION FOR Y'ALL.
WE'RE GONNA ALLOW 'EM TO DO THAT TODAY.
AND I'M GONNA ASK EVERYBODY TO BE CALM IN THE SPIRIT.
THAT'S ALL THINGS SONG THAT WE DO EVERY TIME WE GET TOGETHER.
EVERY PRAISE BELONGS TO OUR GOD.
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PRAISES IN THE HOUSE.EVERY, EVERY PRAISE, EVERY, EVERY COME ON ONE TIME, EVERY NOW COME.
EVERYBODY, EVERY, EVERY PRAISE, EVERY QUICK PICTURE.
QUICK TO COUNCILMAN, STAND BEHIND HIM, PLEASE.
MAKE SURE WE, WE HAVE AND OFFERING NEXT.
EVERYBODY ALL LOOK STRAIGHT HERE.
SOMEBODY SAID WHEN WE PASSED IN THE COLLECTION PLATE, I SAID, NO, WE HAVE PROPERTY AND SALES TAX.
[00:30:16]
WHO? YEAH.THAT'S MY BOY WHO DID DIRECTOR.
I WAS TALKING ABOUT YOU WHEN YOU WALK.
NEXT, WE'LL HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER SHAWNA BANKS, TO RECOGNIZE, TO RECOGNIZE QUEEN MUHAMMAD ALI, HAKEEM KALI, AND BRADLEY BROWN.
FUN SIGNING INTO LAW HOUSING FOR HEROES.
COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS THIS FRIDAY.
TURN THE MIC ON SEAN AT THE BOTTOM.
THIS FRIDAY MARKS THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE, UM, NO.
THIS SATURDAY ON 11TH MARKS THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE, UH, AMERICA RESCUE PLAN FUNDING SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT, UH, JOE BIDEN AND LIKE COUNTRIES AND CITY LIKE CITIES, AND SAY TO ALL OF AMERICA'S 65 BILLION WAS ALLOCATED TO HELP AFTER THE CORONAVIRUS IN BATON ROUGE, LIKE ALL THE OTHER, THERE WERE ALL KINDS OF PROJECTS TO AID IN MOVING AMERICA FORWARD.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT JUST ONE PROGRAM AND THREE DEVELOPERS HERE IN BATON ROUGE THAT TOOK A SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THEM.
I DISCUSSED AFFORDABLE HOUSING TODAY, I WOULD REMISS IF I DID NOT INCLUDE THE $6 MILLION ALLOCATION FOR THE HOUSING FOR HEROES DEVELOPMENT IN SCOTLANDVILLE.
AS I DISCUSSED AFFORDABLE HOUSING TODAY.
I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT INCLUDE THE $6 MILLION ALLOCATION FOR THE HOUSING FOR HEROES DEVELOPMENT IN SCOTLANDVILLE.
THIS DEVELOPMENT WOULD CREATE NEW JOBS IN NORTH BATON ROUGE, DIRECTLY INJECT DOLLARS INTO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY THROUGH THE UTILIZATION OF A LOCAL DEVELOPER, AND CREATE 36 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WITHIN OUR CITY IN PARISH.
IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT THE IMPACT OF THIS $6 MILLION ALLOCATION GOES FAR BEYOND THE AREA OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
I HAVE ALSO WAITING FOR BRADLEY BROWN TO JOIN US, AND IT SAYS, CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION PRESENTED TO QUEEN MUHAMMAD ALI FOR YOUR VISION, DEDICATION, AND PERSEVERANCE TO PROVIDE A QUALITY HOMES IN SCOTLANDVILLE COMMUNITY WITH THE HOUSING FOR HEROES, A MULTI-USE, LOW TO MODERATE INCOME HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRAM FOR ESSENTIAL HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND PROFESSIONALS.
AND GIVEN THIS DAY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8TH, 2023 WITH SINCERE APPRECIATION,
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT ON, UM, NEXT THURSDAY, MARCH, IS THAT 26TH, I BELIEVE.
MARCH 26TH, WE WILL BE HAVING A COMMUNITY MEETING THAT WILL HIGHLIGHT AND PRESENT ALL THE, UM, EVERYTHING REGARDING THE HOUSING FOR HEROES PROJECT FROM THE UNANIMOUS VOTE BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 2021.
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UP UNTIL NOW, WE WILL BE SENDING OUT A PRESS RELEASE AND INVITING ALL THE MEDIA AND ALL THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE STAKEHOLDERS IN SCOTLANDVILLE TO BE PRESENT AT THAT MEETING.AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE.
DID YOU ALL HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO SAY? THANK YOU.
UM, I KNOW MY PARTNER BRADLEY IS NOT HERE, BUT, UH, WE JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR BROOM, CHINA BANKS.
UM, WE JUST WANNA DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR SKYVILLE.
I THINK SKYVILLE HAS BEEN, UM, NEGLECTED AND I THINK WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THAT MORE PROJECTS LIKE THIS AND MORE DEVELOPERS THAT LOOK LIKE US CAN, UM, ACTUALLY HELP REDEVELOP THAT AREA.
AND WE'LL GET BRADLEY OUTSIDE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, ARE WE READY TO START THE MEETING, PLEASE? YES, WE ARE GOING TO, DENNIS, WE'RE GONNA END ONE, THE BREAKDOWN.
WE'RE GONNA END THE PRESENTATION PORTION AND ROLL RIGHT INTO THE MEETING.
I CAN, I CAN GO HERE IF YOU WANT.
I WANT YOU TO, HE'S BREAKING DOWN.
WELCOME BACK TO THE SPIRITED COUNCIL CHAMBER OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, MARCH THE EIGHTH, 2023.
THIS IS OUR LAST COUNCIL MEETING OF THE WINNER, ALTHOUGH IF YOU'RE WATCHING FROM OUT OF TOWN, IT'S 85 IN LOUISIANA'S CAPITOL CITY.
AND SO AT THIS TIME, HERE IS THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
COUNCILMAN LAMONT COLE, COUNCILMAN.
GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING ON THIS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8TH, 2023 AT 4:00 PM THE TIME NOW IS FOUR.
I HAVE OH EIGHT TIME NOW IS FOUR EIGHT.
IT IS THE TIME WE'RE STARTING AT THIS TIME.
I'M GONNA PASS IT TO COUNCIL MEMBER ROWDY GOE, REPRESENTING DISTRICT THREE TO INTRODUCE OUR GUESTS WHO E LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AS WELL AS THE INVOCATION.
UH, I'D LIKE TO INVITE PASTOR RUSS CRIPS UP TO THE, UH, MICROPHONE.
UM, SO THE WAY WE'LL DO THIS IS PASTOR CRIPS IS GONNA BLESS US WITH THE INVOCATION.
UH, WE THEN HAVE THE HONOR OF THE LOUISIANA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD YOUTH CHALLENGE PROGRAM, COLOR GUARD WHO'S HERE.
SO THEY WILL COME AND PRESENT THE COLORS, UH, AND THEN PASTOR WILL, UH, TAKE THE MICROPHONE ONCE AGAIN AND LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
UH, LET ME SAY THOUGH, PASTOR CRIPS AND I GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER, UH, SINCE I'VE COME INTO OFFICE AND TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, UH, A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK INVITED MYSELF AND THE MAYOR, UH, TO A WORSHIP SERVICE, UH, AT, UH, ACACIA CHURCH, WHERE PASTOR CRIPS IS THE LEAD, THE FOUNDER AND LEAD PASTOR.
SO WE WERE BLESSED TO ATTEND, UH, WORSHIP SERVICE THERE.
UH, AND I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW HIM AND, AND HE'S BEEN, UH, KIND ENOUGH TO, UH, ATTEND A COUPLE OF LUNCHES WITH ME.
UH, AND WE'VE STRUCK UP A VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP.
AND SO, UH, WHEN I WAS ASKED TO INVITE SOMEONE TO COME AND BLESS US WITH AN INVOCATION, UH, AND LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE, PASTOR, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU, UH, ACCEPTED THAT OFFER AND CAME AND BLESSED US.
SO, UH, PASTOR RUSS CRIPS, IF YOU WOULD LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION, PLEASE BACK YOUR HEAD TO YOU THAT AMEN.
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I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IS HANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INTO THIS LIBERTY JUSTICE.MORNING, THANK, UH, OUR GUEST PASTOR AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR COMING OUT AND BEING WITH US TODAY.
AT THIS TIME, WE'D LIKE TO CALL IN A MEETING TO ORDER.
ASHLEY, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM? WE HAVE A QUORUM ITEM ONE
[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
APPROVAL ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING ON FEBRUARY 22ND, 2023 BY COUNCIL, ADMINISTRATIVE TREASURER.IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED BY COUNCILOR ADAM, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN.
WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE INTRODUCTIONS? EXCUSE ME.
NO, NO OBJECTIONS TO ITEM ONE.
[INTRODUCTIONS]
YOU PLEASE READ THE INTRODUCTION, INTRODUCTIONS SECTION 2.12.INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER TWO, AUTHORIZED IN THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO ACQUIRE THROUGH PURCHASE EXCHANGE AND OR INSTITUTION OF EXPROPRIATION PROCEEDINGS, AND TO TAKE SUCH OTHER ACTIONS AS MAY BE REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE ACQUISITION OF LAND NECESSARY FOR CENTURION AVENUE OVER DRAINAGE BY YOU.
BRIDGE REPLACEMENT BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.
NUMBER THREE, AMEND THE 2023 ALLOTMENT OF POSITIONS FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE.
SO IS TO CHANGE THE ALLOTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AS FOLLOWS, EFFECTIVE MARCH 23RD, 2023, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, WASTEWATER COLLECTION, DELETE FIVE HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS.
MAINTENANCE WORKER, TWO AND 11 WASTEWATER MECHANIC.
AND SIX PLANT INSTRUMENT TECHNICIANS BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR.
ALL ITEMS THAT REQUIRE READING HAVE BEEN READ IN A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS AS AN ORDER.
IS THERE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS? MOTIONS BY COUNCILMAN ROCKER.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED.
[CONDEMNATIONS]
NOW TO YOUR SEPARATE SHEET FOR CONDEMNATIONS.MOVE NOW TO YOUR SEPARATE SHEET.
I'M GONNA READ YOUR D P W RECOMMENDATIONS AS THEY ARE WRITTEN.
THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 39, AND 40.
THEY ARE TO DEFER FOR 90 DAYS.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A CONDEMNATION? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A CONDEMNATION WHEN I GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS? COUNCIL MEMBERS? I HAVE YOU.
ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON ITEMS 29 AND 36.
COUNCIL MEMBER, DUN, DELETE ITEM 26 AND 30 DAYS ON 27.
THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 37, 38, AND 39.
THEY ARE TO DEFER FOR 30 DAYS.
THEY ARE TO DEFER FOR 90 DAYS.
AND THEY ARE TO DELETE ITEMS. 2026.
THAT THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONDEMNATIONS? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DON.
SECOND IT BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU WILL GO
[41. 23-00168 ]
TO PAGE SIX, WE'RE GONNA GO TO ITEM 41.I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION TO DELETE THIS ITEM.
I DON'T THINK THE PEOPLE WE NEED TO GIVE THIS REPORT ARE HERE.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA DELETE THIS ITEM AND GET SOME INFORMATION AND THEN WE'LL BRING IT BACK.
BUT THE ITEM READS, RECEIVING A REPORT.
RECEIVING A REPORT FROM TURNKEY HEALTH CLINICS L L C REGARDING THE OPERATIONS OF PRISON MEDICAL SERVICES AT THE EAST BARREN PARISH PRISON.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? AS I STATED, TURNKEY IS NOT HERE.
UH, WE'RE GONNA DELETE THE ITEM AND BRING IT BACK WHEN WE GET NOTIFICATION FROM THEM THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO BE HERE TO GIVE US THAT REPORT.
SO, UH, REVEREND ANDERSON, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO SPEAK ON IT.
[00:45:04]
GOOD AFTERNOON.I REALLY JUST WANTED A POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
WERE WE UNAWARE THAT THEY WERE NOT GONNA BE HERE? YES.
THE THE COUNCIL KNEW THEY WERE NOT GONNA APPEAR? NO, WE WERE UNAWARE THEY WERE NOT GONNA BE.
SO IT'S POSSIBLE THEY'RE STILL POSSIBLY EN ROUTE, IS THAT NO, THEY'RE NOT COMING.
THEY, THEY INFORMED THEY NOT COMING.
WHEN DID THAT OCCUR? NO, I'M ASKING WHEN, WHEN DID THAT NOTIFICATION? I FOUND OUT ABOUT 3 45 IS WHEN I FOUND OUT.
OKAY, BECAUSE MY QUESTION IS IN THE FEBRUARY 22ND MEETING, THEY IN FACT HAD A POWERPOINT THAT THEY WERE PREPARED TO PRESENT.
DID THE COUNCIL NOT GET A COPY OF THAT? WE DID NOT.
AND SO THE, THE SOLUTION IS SIMPLY TO DEFER, NO DELETE.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM THEM WHEN THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO COME IN TOWN AND PRESENT THAT REPORT AND PUT IT BACK ON THE AGENDA.
SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT'S PROBLEMATIC, BUT, OKAY.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 41? IS THERE, I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION TO DELETE IT.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKER.
ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE MO? OH, COME ON DOWN.
COUNCIL MEMBERS REGARDING TURNKEY? YES, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE DEFERRING IT, BUT I'D LIKE TO GO ON RECORD WITH THIS.
UM, PRIVATE HEALTHCARE FIRMS LIKE TURNKEY HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION WITH MASS INCARCERATION, ESPECIALLY IN THE E B R PARISH.
AND, UM, I WILL BE REMISSIVE, I DIDN'T COME UP HERE AND SPEAK REGARDING ONE PARTICULAR INCIDENT WHEN A MOTHER RECEIVED A CALL ABOUT, FROM ANOTHER DETAINEE INFORMING HER THAT HER CHILD RECEIVED THE WRONG MEDICATION AND THIS MEDICATION WAS POPPED OUT OF THE PILL CORD OF ANOTHER DETAINEE, WHICH IS AN ABSOLUTE CONTRAINDICATED THING WHEN IT COMES TO NURSING, CUZ SHE HAD THE FIVE RS, THE, UM, RIGHT PATIENT, THE RIGHT DOSAGE, THE RIGHT TIME, THE RIGHT ROUTE.
BUT NEVERTHELESS, UM, TURNKEY HAS FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES TO UPHOLD THEIR CONTRACT INSIDE OF EAST BE ROUGE PARISH PRISON.
AND AS A RESULT, THERE HAVE BEEN 14 KNOWN DEBTS WHILE THEY WERE, UM, PROVIDING HEALTHCARE.
AND THIS YOUNG MAN WAS GIVEN THE WRONG MEDICATION, WHICH IN TURN HAD HIM THREE DAYS IN ICU AT OUR LADY OF THE LAKE.
SO BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION, THEY GAVE ANOTHER PERSON'S MEDICATION TO THIS YOUNG MAN.
HE WENT INTO A HYPERTENSIVE CRISIS.
HE FELL UNCONSCIOUS WHEN THE MOTHER CALLED THE PARISH, THE TURNKEY NURSES TOLD HER, WE CAN'T HELP YOU.
THAT'S A HIPAA VIOLATION, CALL THE WARDEN IN THE MORNING.
SO SHE WENT SEVERAL HOURS NOT KNOWING IF HER CHILD WAS DEAD OR ALIVE.
SO I DID SOME READING ON THEIR WEBSITE, AND I, I'M ENDING WITH THIS.
TURNKEY SAYS THAT THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF HEALTHCARE IS WHAT THEY PRACTICE, BUT THEY ALSO SAY THAT THEY'RE COST EFFECTIVE FOR THE INSTITUTION.
SO WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW, BUT THEY'RE NOT HERE, IS AT WHAT COSTS? IS IT BY CUTTING CORNERS, NOT TAKING BLOOD PRESSURES, NOT MONITORING BLOOD SUGARS BY SUBSTITUTING MEDICATION WHEN IT'S ABSOLUTELY CONTRAINDICATED, CAUSING INJURY, HARM AND NEAR DEATH? IS THAT WHAT IT IS? THAT AN OBJECTIVE OF THEIRS TO CUT CO COST BY, BY CAUSING INJURY? BECAUSE TO ME, THAT IS VIOLATING THE, UM, NURSING FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE OATH.
AND I'VE BEEN PRACTICING NURSING FOR 27 YEARS.
FURTHERMORE, THE HIP OF THE HIPAA STATES THAT CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE 10 CERTAINLY DEFINES CONFIDENTIALITY AND JUSTIFIABLY OVERRIDDEN IN COMPELLING SITUATION.
SO WHEN THAT MOTHER CALLED AND SAID, IS MY CHILD DEAD? I THINK THAT'S PRETTY COMPELLING.
I APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 41? ANYONE ELSE HERE? WISHING THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO LEAD BY THE CHAIR, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKER.
ANY OBJECT OBJECTIONS? ITEM 41 HAS BEEN DELETED.
[42. 23-00138]
GO TO ITEM 42, RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THESE BARREN ALCOHOL[00:50:01]
BEVERAGE CONTROL REGARDING EFFORTS AND ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS TO PREVENT UNDERAGE DRINKING IN EAST BARREN PARISH BY COUNCILWOMAN LORI ADAMS. THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE REPORT FIRST AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING.I'M GLAD I BROUGHT A COPY CUZ I CAN'T SEE THAT FAR.
UM, COUNCILMAN ADAMS CONTACTED ME ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND ASKED US TO DO A REPORT.
SO WE PUT TOGETHER A BRIEF PRESENTATION.
I THINK IT'S ABOUT 11 SLIDES OF WHAT WE DO.
UM, I WON'T GET INTO ALL THE SPECIFICS, BUT I'LL KIND OF GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW AND AT THE END, THERE'LL BE A, UH, A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN ASK QUESTIONS OR TALK ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT MAYBE WE'RE GOING TO LOOKING AT DOING GOING FORWARD.
YEAH, AND I'M SORRY, I'M, I MUST REMIND YOU, MY NAME IS CHRIS CRAMFORD.
I AM THE B C DIRECTOR AND GAVE ME ENFORCEMENT, UH, DIRECTOR.
AND I HAVE A WITH ME SENIOR, UH, AGENT, UH, BARRY DURBIN.
AND BY THE WAY, I HAVE TO SAY THE CHOIR WAS GREAT AND BARRY GOT UP AND WAS GONNA TIP 'EM, AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT WAS APPROPRIATE, SO I THOUGHT WE BETTER, BETTER WAIT ON THAT.
ALRIGHT, SO LET ME GET INTO IT.
THAT'S JUST A, UH, ABC OFFICE WHERE ALCOHOL AND BEVERAGE CONTROL.
WE REGULATE ALL OF THE LICENSES IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
AND WE HAVE ABOUT, UH, DATE, I THINK WE HAVE ABOUT 1,030 OR 40 DEPENDING ON WHO RENEWS THIS YEAR.
PARTNERSHIP TO COMBAT UNDERAGE DRINKING INTO PARISH.
WE DO THAT WITH, UH, A COUPLE OF PARTNERS, PROBABLY THE TWO BIGGEST OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN THE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT HERE.
UH, WE'RE ONLY ONE PIECE OF WHAT WE DO.
AND ALL THESE AGENCIES WORKING TOGETHER WILL, UH, AS YOU'LL SEE THE NUMBERS, THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE THEY, IT, IT ALL COMES FROM THE WORK THAT WE ALL PUT TOGETHER.
MY GOAL IS TO DETER UNDERAGE DRINKING.
UM, AS I WAS REMINDED TODAY, WE'RE NOT GONNA ENFORCE OUR WAY INTO CONTROLLING THAT.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF PIECES THAT HAVE TO BE INVOLVED.
UH, FIVE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOOK AT ARE EDUCATION, TRAINING, OUR JUDE PROGRAM, WHICH I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT COMPLIANCE CHECKS AND THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND THINGS THAT WE DO, UH, OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
UH, EVERY, EVERY PERSON IN THE PARISH THAT OBTAINS A LIQUOR LICENSE FIRST HAS TO TAKE A ONLINE RESPONSIBLE VENDOR CLASS.
WE LICENSE ABOUT 9,000 PEOPLE THAT, THAT GO THROUGH THAT CLASS.
UM, THE MAJORITY OF THOSE CLASSES FOCUS ON THE PROPER WAYS TO CHECK IDS, THE EFFECTS OF DRINKING ALCOHOL AND UNDERAGE DRINKING.
IT TALKS ABOUT, EXCUSE ME, SOME OBVIOUS THINGS THAT YOU LOOK FOR IN ID CHECKING, LIKE HEIGHT AND WEIGHT, UM, ADDRESSES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
UH, THEY TALK ABOUT, UM, WAYS TO, UH, STOP OVERSERVING, UM, THE UNDERAGE DRINKING PROBLEM.
WHAT, WHAT IS THE LEGAL LIMIT FOR UNDERAGE KIDS? WHAT IS THE LEGAL LIMIT FOR ADULTS? UM, AND IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE CHARTS, I DIDN'T BRING THOSE WITH ME, BUT, UH, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, A A 200 POUND ADULT, UM, CAN HAVE TWO DRINKS OR LESS.
AND HE WOULD BE AT THAT 0.02 LEVEL LEGALLY.
UM, FOR, FOR AN ADULT, LOOKING AT THE, THE, THE 21 AND UNDERAGE FOR ADULT 21 AND OLDER, IT WOULD BE 0.08.
IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE ONE OF WHAT IT TAKES FOR YOU TO GET TO THAT LIMIT.
BUSINESSES, WE GO OUT AND EDUCATE THOSE.
WE TALK TO BARS, RESTAURANTS, CONVENIENCE STORES.
THE BIGGEST THING WITH OUR CONVENIENCE STORES, OBVIOUSLY, IS CHECKING FOR IDS BECAUSE THERE'S NO DRINKING ON THE PREMISES FOR BARS.
IT'S CHECKING IDS AND THEN ALSO WALKING THE FLOORS, CHECKING IDS AND MAKING SURE THAT UNDERAGE PERSONS AREN'T OBTAINING ALCOHOL, UM, THROUGH OTHER MEANS.
RESTAURANTS WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY, UH, ISSUES WITH, BUT WE DO CHECK THOSE.
AND I'LL TALK ABOUT COMPLIANCE CHECKS IN JUST A SECOND.
HIGH SCHOOLS, WE GO AROUND TO THOSE.
UM, AGAIN, IT'S TALKING ABOUT UNDERAGE DRINKING WITH THE LAWS IS WHAT THE LAWS ARE.
UH, AT WHAT AGE CAN THEY DRINK LEGALLY? CAN THEY DRINK WITH THEIR PARENTS? AND THERE'S, THERE'S SOME, THERE'S SOME, UH, THINGS THERE THAT THEY CAN DO.
UH, OR SOME, I GUESS SOME, UH, LAWS OR THINGS THAT ARE IN PLACE THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO DRINK AT THEY'RE 18 AND OLDER.
AND IF THEY'RE AT HOME, AND WE CAN, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THOSE IF YOU'D LIKE TRAINING.
WE GO TO THE, THE POLICE ACADEMIES.
WE TALK ABOUT THE ABC ORDINANCE.
MOST, UH, POLICE OFFICERS AREN'T AWARE OF THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
WE GO THROUGH THE ORDINANCE WITH THEM.
[00:55:01]
THAT AT THE BATON ROUGE POLICE ACADEMY, UH, THE CARTA ACADEMY.AND WE'VE ALSO GONE TO OTHER AGENCIES.
I THINK THE LAST ONE WENT TO WAS IN HAMMOND.
AND WE TALK ABOUT, UH, THE PROGRAM AND THE THINGS THAT WE DO HERE TO COMBAT UNDERAGE DRINKING, FAKE IDS.
UH, WE PROBABLY, WE HAVE A BOX.
WE STARTED TO BRINGING IT, BOXING OUR OFFICE.
WE PROBABLY HAVE 10,000 OF THOSE.
IT'S A BIG PROBLEM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT IS WAYS TO COMBAT THAT, WAYS TO STOP IT.
UH, DIFFERENT WAYS OF CHECKING IDS, UM, AND MAYBE EVEN THE AGE THAT TO ALLOW PERSONS INTO A BAR.
BUT THAT'S ONE OF MY LAST SLIDES.
AND WE CAN, WE CAN DIG INTO IT.
EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION AT BARS BEFORE EVERY, UH, FOOTBALL SEASON, WE GO AROUND TO THE BARS, ESPECIALLY IN THE PILAND AREA, AND WE TALK TO THEM ABOUT IDS, TALK TO 'EM ABOUT EXPECTATIONS.
TALK TO THEM ABOUT, UH, MY FULL WALKING MONITORING, WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE BUSINESS AS THEY'RE WORKING.
THERE'S A, THERE'S A LOT OF THEIR, THAT THAT'S, THAT GOES ON.
OUR JUDE PROGRAM, JUVENILE UNDERAGES DRINKING ENFORCEMENT.
THIS WAS STARTED PROBABLY IN 1993 OR 20, 29 YEARS AGO.
UH, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED, IT WAS FUNDED BY THE PENNINGTON FOUNDATION.
AND EVENTUALLY WE STARTED GETTING GRANTS FROM, UH, HIGHWAY SAFETY.
AND THIS YEAR, I THINK THE GRANT WE GOT WAS AROUND AROUND 88 TO $89,000.
UM, WE USED THAT GRANT IN HIGH PRIORITY AREAS.
UH, SPORTING EVENTS, CONCERTS, PARADES.
UH, YOU'LL HAVE A PARADE COMING UP, I THINK THIS WEEKEND.
PATRICK'S DAY WILL BE OUT THERE.
AND WE WE'RE LOOKING FOR, UH, GENERALLY CONCENTRATIONS OF UNDERAGE PEOPLE.
UH, WE HAVE SOME THINGS THAT WE GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND DO OUR SPECIAL OPERATIONS.
UH, I'M SURE A LOT OF YOU HAVE SEEN OR HEARD THAT WE DO RAIDS AT CERTAIN ESTABLISHMENTS.
A LOT OF THOSE ARE BASED ON COMPLAINTS.
WE'LL GO IN AND, UH, BASICALLY SHUT THE BUSINESS DOWN, TURN THE LIGHTS ON, START CHECKING IDS WITH PEOPLE COMING OUT.
WE DO AUDITS ON THOSE BUSINESSES TO SEE WHERE THEIR SALES ARE, WHAT AGE GROUPS THEY'RE THEY'RE SELLING TO, AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE WORK, UH, GENERALLY EVERY WEEKEND.
AND WE'LL HAVE SEVERAL GUYS OUT AT NIGHT GOING AROUND TO ALL THE ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE PARISH TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE, UH, THE ORDINANCE.
UH, SINCE 1993, THE JEW PROGRAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVER 16,000 ARRESTS OF UNDERAGE PERSONS FOR AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 572 A YEAR.
UH, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE AGES, EXCUSE ME, THE, THE, THE YOUNGEST WAS 12 YEARS OLD.
UH, THANKFULLY THERE'S ONLY ONE OF THOSE.
AND WE'VE HAD 1,348 OF THOSE THAT WERE ISSUED CITATIONS.
AND THOSE ARE PURCHASED ON BEHALF.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE, THE INTERESTING PART IS THE AGE OF 17, 18, AND 19.
THOSE ARE THE BIGGEST, UH, NUMBERS OF VIOLATORS.
AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE OF THE AGES THAT WE'RE SEEING IN, IN BARS NOW THAT AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE DRINKING.
NOW, KEEP IN MIND, THESE DON'T ALL COME FROM BARS.
A LOT OF 'EM ARE, THEY MAY BE STOPS IN PARKING LOTS AT CONVENIENCE STORES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT, UH, THOSE NUMBERS THROUGH US ARE, ARE THE MOST ALARMING.
UH, IF YOU LOOK AT THAT, YOU HAVE SOME COMPANION STATUTES.
YOU HAVE TITLE 14, WHICH IS A, UH, WHICH IF YOU'RE CITED WITHOUT, YOU WOULD GO TO DISTRICT COURT.
AND THEN YOU HAVE TITLE 13, WHICH IS CITY STATUTES.
AND THOSE ALL DEAL WITH EITHER SELLING OR SERVING ALCOHOL, THE UNDERAGE PERSONS.
AND THEN THE BOTTOM ONE THERE IS, UH, A MISREPRESENTATION CHARGE.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD USE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL THAT'S TRYING TO GET INTO A BAR WITH A, WITH A, UH, FAKE ID OR OBTAINING, UH, ALCOHOL COMPLIANCE CHECK PROGRAM.
WE HAVE ABOUT, UH, OVER 5,000 BUSINESSES THAT WE'VE CHECKED 1500, UH, I'M SORRY, 515 OF THOSE BUSINESSES.
IN THAT TIME, SOLD FOR ABOUT, UH, A NINE, A NON-COMPLIANCE FOR EIGHT OF ABOUT NINE AND A HALF PERCENT.
THAT NUMBER TYPICALLY, I GUESS PRIOR TO COVID WAS AROUND THE THREE TO 5% RANGE.
I THINK AFTER THAT, THAT NUMBER WENT UP.
AND PART OF THAT WAS BECAUSE WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GO OUT AND CHECK.
[01:00:01]
A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE WORKING IN BUSINESS AT THAT TIME WERE NOT ABLE TO COME IN AND GET LICENSED AND GO THROUGH OUR VENDOR SERVER CLASS AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.UH, WE DO THAT IF, IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED, WE'LL GENERALLY GET A UNDERAGE PERSON.
WE'LL SEND THEM ANY OF THOSE STORES TO SEE IF, UH, STORAGE RESTAURANT BARS TO SEE IF, UH, THEY'LL BE SOLD TO.
TYPICALLY THEY DO NOT HAVE AN ID.
UH, IT'S AS SIMPLE AS A CLERK BARTENDER ASKING FOR AN ID, UH, AND THEY JUST FAILED TO DO SO.
LICENSED BUSINESSES IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
WE HAVE AROUND, I THINK I DO THE MATH.
THAT'S AROUND 970 ON THIS LIST.
LIKE I SAID AT THE BEGINNING, IT'S A LITTLE OVER A THOUSAND NOW.
AND HUNDRED 97 OF THOSE ARE, ARE BALLROOMS. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
UH, WE DO COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY EVENTS, CHURCHES, UM, HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION SCHOOLS, BUSINESS ASSOCIATING MEETINGS, UH, COMMUNITY PROJECTS.
WE JUST GOT THROUGH DOING THE, THE PROJECT STICKER SHOCK, UM, CAMPAIGN A FEW WEEKS AGO WHERE WE GO OUT AND ACT.
AND THE KIDS WILL ACTUALLY COME FROM SCHOOLS AND LABEL, UM, ALCOHOL TO REMIND ADULTS NOT TO PURCHASE IT FOR UNDERAGE KIDS, WHICH IS, IS PRETTY COOL.
NATIONAL LIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME.
WE DO THAT RIGHT THERE AT THE OFFICE, UH, A COUPLE OF TIMES A YEAR.
WELL, A COMMUNITY WILL COME THROUGH AND WE'LL SET UP A BOOTH AND TALK TO 'EM ABOUT UNDERAGE DRINKING AND WHAT OUR JOB AS A ABC OFFICE IS.
THIS IS SOME THINGS THAT WE'VE CONSIDERED.
UM, AGAIN, THIS IS, I GUESS BASED ON WHAT WE SEE.
UM, THE FIRST THING THAT WE'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IS RAGING, RAISING THE AGE TO ENTER BARS TO 21.
UM, OUR THOUGHTS ARE THAT IF YOU ASK MOST BAR OWNERS, STORE OWNERS, THEY'RE GONNA TELL YOU THAT THEY DON'T WANNA SELL TO ANYBODY THAT'S UNDERAGE.
SO IF THAT'S THE CASE AND IF, UH, 18, 19 AND 20 YEAR OLDS CAN'T DRINK AND THAT'S THE LAW AND THEY DON'T RELY ON THAT INCOME, THEN WHY NOT CHANGE THE LAW? I DON'T, I DON'T SEE ANY NEGATIVE SIDE TO IT.
IF BORROW OWNERS, THEY'RE GONNA TELL YOU THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA SELL TO 'EM.
WE DON'T BENEFIT FROM IT, THEN WHY NOT CHANGE IT? BUT THAT, AGAIN, THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.
AND, AND IT'S BASED ON SOME OF THE STATUTE THAT WE HAVE IMPROVING ID CHECKING REQUIREMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY.
UH, SOME OF THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE SEE OUT THERE NOW IS OUTDATED.
UM, AS SOON AS WE GET TECHNOLOGY THAT WORKS, THE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO GET IN BARS ILLEGALLY FIND TECHNOLOGY THAT'S BETTER THAN OURS AND THEY GET IN, UH, ARE BETTER THAN WHAT THE BAR OWNERS HAVE IN PLACE AT THIS TIME.
UH, WE SUGGESTED MAYBE DOING SOME THINGS WITH, UH, THAT I, I CAN'T GET IN A LOT OF DETAILS WITH, BUT MAYBE FINGERPRINTING AND DOING SOMETHING WITH SOME OF THE, THE STATE IDS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING USED.
UH, SOME CHANGES WITH THAT, THAT WOULD PROBABLY PREVENT, UH, A LOT OF KIDS FROM BEING ABLE TO USE A FAKE ID MAKE BUSINESS OWNERS AND IT SHOULD SAY, UM, KIDS MORE ACCOUNTABLE.
UM, THE GOAL OF, OF JUDE AND THE GOAL OF ABC IS NOT TO PUNISH PEOPLE.
AND IF, IF WE CITE SOMEBODY AND IT GOES TO COURT OR IT GOES TO PRETRIAL OR WHEREVER IT GOES, IF, IF THEY'RE NOT HELD ACCOUNTABLE DOWN THE ROAD, THEN WE'RE KIND OF SPINNING OUR WHEELS.
SO WE'VE, ALL OF US TOGETHER HAVE TO HOLD THOSE KIDS, THOSE BUSINESSES MORE ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY DO.
UH, THE LAST THIS DISCONTINUED BANDING AND STAMPING, UH, IDEAS AT THE POINT OF SALE.
WHAT WE'VE LEARNED, UH, OVER THE YEARS IN KI REALLY HERE RECENTLY IS THAT THE BANDING AND STAMPING OF PEOPLE THAT, THAT CAN GET INTO A BAR AT AGE 18, BUT THEY CAN'T DRINK TILL THEY'RE 21, THEY'LL STAMP 'EM OR BAND.
AND WE'RE FINDING OUT THAT THAT JUST DOESN'T WORK.
UH, THEY GET STAMPS FROM FRIENDS, THEY GET BANDS FROM FRIENDS.
UM, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT MAYBE CHANGING THAT BY ORDINANCE AND ALSO HAVING, UH, THE ID CHECKED AGAIN AT THE PONYTAIL, EXCUSE ME, AT POOF SALE AT THE BAR AS THEY SELL THAT, UH, THAT DRINK.
CHRIS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
BEFORE WE TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, SO IS THERE, ARE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM? WE DO HAVE BRANDY MELISSA, WHO IS HERE TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK.
AND CHECK ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS?
[01:05:01]
EXCUSE ME.FINALLY, UM, FOR Y'ALL THAT DON'T KNOW ME, I'M GONNA READ THIS BECAUSE, UH, IT'S KIND OF EMOTIONAL, PERSONAL HEATING FOR ME BECAUSE OF EXPERIENCE.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW ME YET, I WAS CONCEIVED IN SEXUAL VIOLENCE.
I ALSO LIVE WITH THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL WEAPONIZED BY SOMEONE WHOSE PRIORITY WASN'T THE SAFETY OF VULNERABLE HUMAN BEINGS.
MY MOM, BEFORE SHE PASSED FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, TRAUMA, MADE SURE THAT I KNEW THAT MY BIOLOGICAL DAD WAS STONED OUT OF EARTH DRUNK BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER HER PREGNANCY WITH ME THE NIGHT BEFORE, HE FORCED HER TO KEEP A PREGNANCY TERMINATION APPOINTMENT.
HE SERVED THEIR DINING ROOM TABLE AGAINST HER STOMACH.
AND THAT IS WHEN SHE THINKS THE ABSOLUTE WORST DAMAGE WAS DONE TO MY BRAIN AND SKULL.
THAT LOOKS NO DIFFERENT TWO WEEKS AGO ON MY LAST MRI THAT IT DID IN 2020, OR HAS SINCE I DEFIED THE ODDS OF 1983.
I THINK Y'ALL SHOULD HAVE A COPY OF THAT PICTURE.
UM, WHEN YOU'VE TIGHTENED RESTRICTIONS ON BARS, PLEASE DON'T IGNORE THE EFFECTS.
THE WEAPON AT ALL CAN BE USED TO INFLICT ON VICTIMS THAT ARE LEFT UNABLE TO FIGHT BACK.
MY MOM NEVER REGRETTED ME NOT COMPLAIN WITH THE ACTS SHE WAS FORCED TO DO TO ERASE EVIDENCE OF THE CRIMES AGAINST HER DURING HER PREGNANCY.
HER DETERMINATION FOR ME TO BE INDEPENDENT IS WHY I AM TODAY.
WHEN MEDICAL SCIENCE WAS NOT IN FAVOR OF THAT, I DO NOT TAKE FOR GRANTED BEING ABLE TO FUNCTION WITH A SMASH BRAIN AND CRUSHED GIRL.
LIKE NOTHING IS WRONG WITH ME.
THAT'S ALSO BECAUSE OF MY MOM.
PLEASE HAVE THE SAME PASSION FOR FUNDING PREVENTION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND RAPE IN EAST BATON ROUGE AS YOU HAVE SINCE PATTY'S DEATH FOR CURVING DRINKING IN THE EBR R I LIVED LESS THAN A MILE FROM REGGIE'S BAR FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS.
MADDIE ISN'T THE FIRST UNDERAGE TO BE SERVED ALCOHOL THERE.
SHE'S JUST THE LATEST THAT MADE HEADLINES.
AND THAT'S LIKELY ONLY BECAUSE SHE'S NO LONGER WITH US.
REGGIE'S LICENSE SHOULD BE REVOKED INDEFINITELY WITHOUT QUESTION.
AND JUST SO Y'ALL KNOW, THE COUNCILPERSON WHO ASKED FOR THIS A B ABC REPORT WAS NOT ON MY BALLOT.
AND WHILE MINE IS VERY RESPONSIVE, I'M SORRY MS. LORI, BUT, UH, I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN A RESPONSE FROM YOU ABOUT ANYTHING.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? REVEREND HENSON, COME ON DOWN AGAIN.
I ACTUALLY JUST HAD SOME QUESTIONS, UH, AND POINTS OF CLARIFICATION ON THE REPORTING.
UM, I UNDERSTAND FROM THE REPORT THAT ABC HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND I WAS JUST INTERESTED IN WHETHER THERE'S DATA, STATISTICS, FACTS ON WHERE SPECIFICALLY THEY HAVE WORKED WITH THE SCHOOLS, THE UNIVERSITIES, THE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS, THE ASSORTED, UH, SCHOOL DISTRICTS WE HAVE HERE, AND WHAT PROGRAMS, IF ANY, THAT THEY ARE USING.
UH, THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS IN REGARDS TO, UH, ONCE AGAIN, SORT OF THE ISSUE OF, OF ENFORCEMENT ITEMS THAT IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY REPORTING ON, FOR INSTANCE, WHICH, UH, BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN CITED AND REPEATEDLY AND WHAT HAS BEEN, UH, THE PRACTICE WITH THOSE BUSINESSES.
BECAUSE IT IS ONE THING TO DISCUSS UNDERAGE DRINKING IN A COLLEGE ENVIRONMENT.
AND THAT IS NOT JUST PRIVATIZED BUSINESSES, THAT IS ALSO LOCALIZED.
BUT QUITE FRANKLY, AS A PARENT, I KNOW A LOT OF CHILDREN STARTED THEIR DRINKING, NOT NOT IN A LIQUOR STORE, NOT IN A CLUB, BUT IN THE LIQUOR CABINET.
AND SO I WOULD BE VERY CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT EFFORTS WE ARE USING TO ACTUALLY DO EDUCATION ON THE CHILDREN AND THE PARENTS.
NOT, NOT CRIMINALIZATION EDUCATION, BUT I'D ALSO BE EQUALLY, UH, INTERESTED IN KNOWING HOW MANY BUSINESSES ARE WE EITHER GIVING TAX INCENTIVES TO THAT HAVE REPEATEDLY SHOWN UP ON SOME OF THESE
[01:10:01]
LISTS, OR WE HAVE NOT IN FACT USED THE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS IN OUR, OUR, OUR TOOLBOX.IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 42? ASHLEY? COUNCIL MEMBERS? YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT ON ITEM 42.
CHRIS, IF YOU COME BACK TO THE MIC, PLEASE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER ROSA.
THANK YOU CHRIS FOR COMING IN.
UM, I, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU, BEFORE I ASK MY QUESTION, IF YOU COULD ANSWER REVEREND ANDERSON'S QUESTION ABOUT ENFORCEMENT, UM, UH, FOR THE BUSINESSES, THE CONSEQUENCES.
UH, I TRIED TO JOT DOWN A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
I TRIED TO JOT SOME OF 'EM DOWN.
UH, AS FAR AS THE SCHOOLS GO, MOST OF THAT IS BY INVITE ONLY IF THEY CALL US AND ASK US TO COME, I DON'T WANT TO NAME SPECIFIC SCHOOLS, BUT IF THE PRINCIPAL OR A SOCIAL WORKER WILL CALL US AND ASK US TO COME TALK TO THE STUDENTS, WE DO THAT.
SO YOU'VE BEEN TO THE SCHOOLS? WE HAVE BEEN TWO SCHOOLS.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT, LIKE I SAID, I DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU EXACTLY THE SCHOOLS THAT WE WENT TO SPECIFICALLY CUZ I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN DO THAT.
BUT IF WE'RE ASKED, WE CERTAINLY GO.
UM, AS FAR AS STATISTICS, WE HAVE STATISTICS ON ALL THE, THE BUSINESSES THAT WE'VE CITED.
WE HAVE FILES ON ALL THAT, HOW MANY TIMES THEY'VE BEEN CITED, WHAT THE, WHAT THE VIOLATIONS WERE, WHAT THE FINES WERE, UH, WHAT THE BOARD'S DECISIONS WERE BASED ON THOSE FINES.
UM, THEY'RE THERE IF THEY WOULD LIKE, ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THAT.
THEY CAN, UH, I THINK SHE MENTIONED TAXES.
I DON'T KNOW OF ANY TAX BREAKS THEY GET.
UH, BUT BEFORE ANY BUSINESS CAN OPERATE, THEY DO HAVE TO HAVE A TAX CLEARANCE LETTER LETTING US KNOW THAT THEIR TAXES ARE CLEARED BEFORE THEY CAN GET A LICENSE AND BEFORE THEY CAN KEEP THAT LICENSE.
WHAT ARE THE FINES, CHRIS? UH, JUST, JUST ANYWHERE FROM $250 UP TO A THOUSAND.
UM, IF A BI, JUST TO GIVE YOU EXAMPLE, IF A BUSINESS SELLS TO A, AN UNDERAGE PERSON, THAT FINE IS SEVEN 50 FOR THE BUSINESS AND TWO 50 FOR THE CLERK THAT, OR THE EMPLOYEE THAT SOLD THE ALCOHOL.
SO, UM, WE, WE HAVE A WHOLE LIST OF FINES, SO I'D HAVE TO PULL THOSE UP.
SO YOUR PROGRAM, YOUR PROGRAM THAT YOU SEND, UM, UNDERAGE INTO A BUSINESS, IS THAT, WHAT AGE IS THAT? THAT'S THE ONE IS IT, WHAT IS IT CALLED? THE UNDER HCI, JUST COMPLIANCE CHECKS.
IT'S WHEN WE GO IN AND CHECK, SEND AN UNDERAGE PERSON INTO BUSINESSES TO CHECK.
HOW OLD IS THAT PERSON? THAT USUALLY GOES IN GENERALLY BETWEEN 18 AND 20.
MOST OF THE TIME, I WOULD SAY 18 AND 19.
CAN Y'ALL STILL DO THAT? ARE Y'ALL STILL ALLOWED TO BE ABLE TO SEND THOSE FOLKS IN? YES.
BECAUSE I WAS TOLD DIFFERENT YES, WE DO.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO BE ABLE TO GO TO AN ABC BOARD MEETING, SOMETIMES
UM, THOSE THINGS THAT REVEREND ANDERSON WAS DISCUSSING ABOUT FINES AND ALL THOSE OTHER KINDS OF THINGS COME, DO, COME FOR THE BOARD.
COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. UM, THANK YOU CHRIS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, YOU PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND COMING TODAY.
SO YOU, YOU SAY YOU'VE GOT A 88 80 $9,000 GRANT FOR, UM, UNDER UNDERAGE, JUVENILE UNDERAGE, I'M SURE I'M NOT THE JUDE PROGRAM.
HOW, HOW FAR DOES THAT GO? SO WE'RE, UM, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT, UH, YOUR OFFICE IS ENGAGED IN WEEKLY, MONTHLY? YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THIS, IS IT SEASON? IS IT SEASONAL? LIKE FOOTBALL SEASON? UH, NO, WE APPLY FOR THE GRANT EVERY OCTOBER.
I THINK IT GOES OCTOBER TO OCTOBER IS THE WAY THE STATE'S YEAR GOES.
UH, WE WORK IT EVERY WEEK THAT WE HAVE INVESTIGATORS AVAILABLE.
SOMETIMES THEY CAN'T WORK OR DON'T WANNA WORK IT FOR WHATEVER REASON.
SO WE, WE CAN'T DO IT EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND OR, OR WEEK.
UM, SO, SO ONE OF THE, THE ISSUES THAT I THINK IS, IS OUT THERE, AND I'M NOT REALLY SURE HOW WE DEAL WITH, IS, UM, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDERAGE, BUT THEY'RE ABLE TO BE IN THE BAR OR ALLOWED IN THE BAR AND THEY'RE NOT BEING SERVED, BUT THEY'RE DRINKING OUT OF OTHER PEOPLE'S CUPS.
WHAT, WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT, WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THAT? BECAUSE THAT'S, I KNOW, I WE SUGGEST IT'S A TOUGH ONE, HUH? WELL KEEP 'EM OUT OF THERE FOR ONE THING.
I MEAN THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING I I THINK THAT, THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT.
IF YOU'RE GONNA ALLOW AN 18 YEAR OLD IN A BAR, UNFORTUNATELY MOST OF 'EM ARE GONNA TRY TO DRINK 18, 19, AND 20.
SO I DON'T SEE THE, I DON'T SEE THE POSITIVE SIDE OF HAVING THEM IN THERE, BUT IF THEY ARE GONNA BE IN THERE AND THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO AND WANNA ALLOW
[01:15:01]
THEM TO BE IN THERE AT 18, 19, AND 20, THEN THE BARS ARE GONNA HAVE TO BE MORE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE, FOR THAT AGE GROUP.THEY MAY NEED TO HIRE MORE FLOOR WALKERS, THEY NEED TO HIRE MORE EMPLOYEES, WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MONITOR ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE.
AND THEN IF YOU START BANDING, YOU SAY, WELL, WE'LL BAND THOSE KIDS AND WE'LL STAMP THEIR HANDS SO WE CAN IDENTIFY 'EM.
WELL, THEY'LL TAKE THE STAMP FROM ONE HAND AND PUT IT ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY'LL SWAP BANDS.
ALL THAT SORTS OF STUFF HAPPEN.
AND IT'S, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO GO SIT IN THERE AND WATCH THAT, OR THE POLICE OR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE BUSINESS IS GONNA HAVE TO PUT MORE EFFORT TOWARD DOING AND MONITORING THOSE, THOSE PEOPLE IF WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO ALLOW 'EM IN THERE.
NOW, I, I'M OUT THERE EVERY WEEK AND I'M ACTUALLY ON THE FRONT LINES AND WE GO TO THE BARS ALL THE TIME.
UH, WHEN WE TALK TO THE BAR OWNERS, WE TALK TO THE FOLKS, THEY SAY THEY HAVE LIMITS.
SO EACH, THEY SET UP TWO DRINKS AT A TIME.
UH, THAT'S ALL THEY CAN HAVE TO TRY TO ELIMINATE PASSING BACK.
BUT THEY DO THAT, UH, THEY GOT APPS, ABCS IN, IN THE AREA, AND THEN THEY STRAIGHTEN UP.
YOU WALK IN, THEY SCREAM AT ABCS HERE, EVERYBODY STRAIGHTENS UP AND THERE'S NO PASSING.
BANDS ARE GOING ON THE FLOOR, DRINKS ARE GOING IN THE GARBAGE.
SO TO REALLY, TO FIGHT IT IS EDUCATION.
AS FAR AS WHAT WE DO RIGHT NOW UNTIL THINGS CHANGE, WHAT DO WE DO AS FAR AS, UM, EDUCATION FOR, UM, I GUESS BOUNCERS? UM, SO THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE, I MEAN, ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY INEBRIATED OR ARE THEY ALLOWED TO, TO WALK INTO A BAR? OR ARE THEY, IS THERE'S AN EDUCATION THAT TAKES PLACE? YOU KNOW, THERE IS, UM, THE RESPONSIBLE VENDOR CLASS THAT I MENTIONED RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING MM-HMM.
ALCOHOL IS REQUIRED TO GO TO TAKE THAT CLASS ONLINE.
UH, WE USED TO TEACH THE CLASS IN THE OFFICE, BUT WHEN COVID STARTED, WE HAD TO STOP DOING THAT.
SO, BUT THEY STILL TAKE THE CLASS ONLINE AND THE CLASS GOES THROUGH ALL THOSE THINGS SELLING, YOU KNOW, WHAT AGE DO YOU SELL TO SELLING TO, UH, PEOPLE THAT ARE INTOXICATED? HOW DO YOU KNOW IF SOMEBODY'S INTOXICATED? UM, AND I'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S BEING ABLE TO COUNT THE NUMBER OF DRINKS, HAVING AN IDEA OF WHAT THE PERSON WEIGHS, HOW LONG THEY'VE BEEN IN THERE, AND YOU CAN KIND OF GET A ROUGH IDEAS IF WHETHER OR NOT YOU'VE OVER YOU'RE OVERSERVING OR YOU WOULD OVERSERVE.
UM, PART OF THE CLASS ALSO HAS A SECURITY PIECE IN IT WHERE BOUNCERS HAVE TO BE, UH, SECURITY CERTIFIED.
THEY, THAT'S ALSO INCLUDED IN THE CLASSES THEY TAKE, BUT THEY GET EDUCATION PIECE AND THEY GET THE SECURITY PIECE.
AND ONCE THEY PASS THAT CLASS, THEY BRING US A CERTIFICATE SHOWING THAT THEY'VE TAKEN IT AND THEN WE'LL ISSUE A LICENSE.
WOULD YOU, UM, ARE YOU, ARE YOU ABLE TO COMPARE US TO OTHER CITIES OF A SIMILAR SIDE, OTHER COLLEGE TOWNS? DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE OF WHETHER WE ARE ON PAR? WE HAVE MORE PROBLEMS, LESS PROBLEMS, ANY, I WANT YOU CHECK YOUR TIME.
WE HAVE NOT, I KNOW THAT I TALKED TO THE STATE, UH, A FEW WEEKS AGO.
THEY ARE LOOKING IN INTO SOME THINGS LIKE THAT AND OTHER OPTIONS, SEE WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING AND OTHER STATES ARE DOING.
SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT.
BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD WHAT THE, THEIR FINDINGS WERE YET.
UM, THAT'S, THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE.
UM, IF IT'S OKAY, I'D LIKE TO JUST ADDRESS MS. MELISSA.
UM, BRANDY, I DID, I DID RECEIVE A GENERAL EMAIL THAT YOU SENT, UM, TO THE ENTIRE COUNSEL.
I TOOK IT AS A, AN EMAIL TO THE, TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL.