Apr 26, 2023 Metropolitan Council

TO ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT AN ORDINANCE TO ALLOW INDIVIDUALS WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS TO HAVE CONTRACTS WITH CITY PARISH.

OH, OKAY.

ME PUT MY GLASSES ON.

CHERIE THOMAS WITH JUSTIN ACCOUNTABILITY CENTER OF LOUISIANA.

DO Y'ALL NEED MY ADDRESS? I GOT IT.

PERFECT.

SO WE'RE HERE, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE FAIR CHANCE COALITION, UH, ATTEMPTING

[00:10:01]

FOR THE LAST, I WOULD SAY OVER A YEAR NOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, ATTEMPTING TO GET SOME TYPE OF ORDINANCE PASSED AND UNDERSTANDING AND COMPROMISE IN REGARDS TO ALLOWING THIS TO BE ADOPTED.

IT IS A STATE LAW AND WE WOULD LIKE THE CITY TO ADOPT, UH, THE SIMILAR PRINCIPLES OF THE STATE LAW BY NOT DOING A BACKGROUND CHECK UP FRONT AND BANDING THE BOX ON THE INITIAL APPLICATION PROCESS AND DOING THE BACKGROUND CHECK ON THE BACK END OF THE PROCESS.

UH, CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, I KIND OF FEEL A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS WE'VE HAD HOURS WORTH OF MEETINGS AND THE ACTUAL, UH, MEETINGS, SOME HAVE BEEN PRODUCTIVE, BUT IT APPEARS THAT WE CAN'T SEEM TO GET EVERYONE NEEDED ON THE ADMINISTRATION TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS ORDEN ORDINANCE CON CONFIDENTLY.

AND SO I DO KNOW THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE ADMINISTRATION SPEAKS OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AND HELPING DISADVANTAGED BUSINESSES.

AND I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, UH, THIS PARISH TO MOVE FORWARD AND DO THAT.

AND SO WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL, WE CAN DO MOVE FORWARD AND DO THAT.

BUT WHAT I FEEL RIGHT NOW, SOME OF THE ACTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SHOWN IS SHOWING THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE ANOTHER YEAR OR SIX MONTHS TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT AND NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN WORK ON WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND WITH THE COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD AND GET PAST WHERE EVERYONE CAN BE COMFORTABLE ON HOW TO ASSIST BUSINESSES AND NOT HARM THEM.

NEXT, WE'LL HEAR FROM SHANNON WATERS.

HELLO.

THANK Y'ALL, UH, FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK TODAY.

UM, MY NAME IS SHANNON WATERS.

I'M WITH THE LABORERS UNION AND ALSO THE AFL CIO.

ALL RIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK EACH ONE OF Y'ALL FOR TAKING THIS ISSUE HEAD ON.

FAIR CHANCE IS A ISSUE THAT TOUCHES EVERYONE IN EVERY HOUSEHOLD.

IT'S NOT RIGHT TO HAVE A PERSON PUNISHED FOR A MISTAKE THEY HAVE MADE IN THEIR PAST.

THIS ORDINANCE WILL JUST HELP A PERSON TRYING TO GET A FRESH START IN A DOOR FOR A NEW CAREER.

WE'RE GETTING READY TO ENTER INTO A MONUMENTAL ERA WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE WORK THAT'S GONNA BE COMING, UM, IN FRONT OF US IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, ALONG WITH WHAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE WORK IS ALREADY GOING ON.

SO TODAY, I'VE SEEN MANY OF Y'ALL INSIDE OF THE INTERVIEW PROCESS FOR THE AFL C O DURING ENDORSEMENTS, AND MANY OF Y'ALL HAVE SAID Y'ALL WOULD ENDORSE AND VOTE FOR THIS.

SO WE'RE ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT THE FAIR CHANCE ORDINANCE.

OFTEN FOLLOW THE LEADERSHIP AND THE PRINCIPLES AND THE, AND THE, YEAH, THE PRINCIPLES AND THE LEADERSHIP SET BY GOVERNMENT.

NEXT, CALEB HOLMES.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL.

DO YOU NEED MY, UM, NAME AND ADDRESS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? GOT IT RIGHT HERE.

ALL RIGHT, GOOD.

WELL, UH, I'M NOT GONNA BELABOR THE POINT TOO MUCH BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE NEEDS BEAUTIFUL BLUE SHIRTS HERE.

UH, SUPPORTING FAIR CHANCE IS GONNA DO A MUCH BETTER JOB THAN I WILL, BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THIS FAIR CHANCE IS LITERALLY WHAT IT SAYS, A FAIR CHANCE AT A JOB.

WE ARE NOT, UM, PROHIBITING, UH, THE BACKGROUND CHECK FOR ANYONE TO GET A JOB.

UH, THAT WOULD BE DISINGENUOUS AND THAT WOULD BE IN BAD FAITH.

ALL WE'RE SIMPLY SAYING IS PEOPLE ACTUALLY HAVE A FAIR CHANCE AT GETTING A JOB.

AND ONE OF THE POINTS THAT WAS, UH, ITERATED EARLIER IS THE RUNAROUND.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE GETTING ON THIS IT, YOU KNOW, UH, ON WORDS.

EVERYONE WAS LIKE, THIS IS GREAT, THIS IS GREAT, LET'S DO IT.

SO OUR QUESTION IS, WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG? IT DOESN'T TAKE THIS LONG TO DO THIS.

AND IF THERE ARE NEGOTIATIONS BEING MADE IN BAD FAITH, WELL, WE WOULD RATHER HAVE US JUST OUTRIGHT SAY, WE DON'T LIKE IT.

WE DON'T WANT IT.

QUIT GIVING PEOPLE THE RUNAROUND BECAUSE THE SAME RUNAROUND THAT YOU'RE GIVING US IS THE SAME RUNAROUND THAT FORMERLY INCARCERATED PERSONS HAVE TO DEAL WITH TIMES FIVE.

AND THEY WOULD COME BACK AND SAY, WELL, WHY DOESN'T ANYONE WANNA WORK? OR WHY, WHY IS CRIME HAPPENING? OR WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? THIS BUSINESSES

[00:15:01]

AND IF GOVERNMENT IS NOT LEADING BY EXAMPLE, THEN HOW CAN WE EXPECT OUR BUSINESSES TO PLEASE SUPPORT FAIR CHANCE IN HIRING IN ITS ENTIRETY AND WHAT IT ACTUALLY DOES GIVE PEOPLE A FAIR CHANCE IN THE HIRING PROCESS.

LET'S GET THIS DONE.

LET'S MOVE ON AND LET'S MAKE E B R AND BATON ROUGE A MUCH BETTER PLACE TO LIVE BY ENSURING THAT OPPORTUNITY IS EQUAL AND OPEN TO EVERYBODY IN THIS PARISH, REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND.

IF THEY HAVE THE ABILITY AND THEY ARE, AND THEY THEMSELVES ARE IN GOOD FAITH, LET'S HAVE THE GOVERNMENT DO THE SAME THING.

NEXT, WE'LL HAVE CHAT WITH CHAPMAN.

UH, GOOD EVENING COUNSEL.

UH, I'M HERE TODAY SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF JERRY LANE ENTERPRISES AT ALL.

UH, THE REASON WE SUPPORT, UH, FAIR CHANCE, WE'VE BEEN SERVING THE BAD ROUGE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 50 YEARS.

UH, WHAT WE'VE FOUND IS WE DON'T LIKE TO LET A BACKGROUND CHECK, UH, PREVENT US FROM HAVING A VERY HIGHLY QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE, UH, DISQUALIFIED FROM EMPLOYMENT WITH US, UM, IN OUR TIME, UH, LIKE I SAID, OVER 50 YEARS SERVING THE BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY.

WE'VE HAD GREAT SUCCESSES, UH, GIVING SECOND CHANCE TO SECOND CHANCE EMPLOYEES REGARDLESS OF, UH, WHAT THEIR PAST, UH, CRIME WAS.

SO I JUST WANTED TO COME IN ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

LASTLY, REDUCES LITIGATION.

NEXT, WE'LL HAVE CAITLIN JOSHUA, GOOD AFTERNOON.

THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY ON FAIR CHANCE IN HIRING AN ORDINANCE THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH, WITH MANY OF YOU OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR.

I WANNA SPEAK TO THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT THIS MEASURE WILL DO.

UM, FIGURE CHANCE IN HIRING POLICIES HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO CAUSE A 40% INCREASE IN HIRING OF FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE, ACCORDING TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT PEW STUDIES AND MODELS THAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT IN ORDINANCES IN VARIOUS STATES, AS WELL AS IN NEW ORLEANS CITY, CITY, PARISH, GOVERNMENT.

UM, THEY ALSO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY BY CREATING GREATER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS, WHICH HAS PROVEN TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM, SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH BY GROWING THE QUALIFIED APPLICANT POOL AND CREATING MORE OPTIONS FOR TAX SAVINGS THAT COME WITH HIRING APPLICANTS WHO HAVE OVERCOME CRIMINAL HISTORY AND REDUCED EMPLOYEE TURNOVER BY INCREASING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO APPLICANTS WHO HAVE TRADITIONALLY EXPERIENCED BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT.

SO BY USING MEDIATION TO RESOLVE ANY ISSUES AROUND BACKGROUND CHECKS, IT'S A GREAT WAY TO BE ABLE TO AVOID ANY TYPE OF LITIGATING.

ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT, UM, THE THREE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY BY ENCOURAGING YOU ALL IMPLORING Y'ALL TO VOTE YES.

ON THIS MEASURE, WE ARE ENFORCING WHAT'S CURRENTLY ON THE BOOKS, AS Y'ALL KNOW, IN 20 15, 20 16, BARBARA FRYBERG ORIGINALLY BROUGHT IT, IT WAS EXPANDED IN 2018.

WE'RE FURTHER EXPANDING THAT IN 2023, UM, BY EXPANDING THE FAIR CHANCE IN HIRING LAW, ALSO KNOWN AS BAN IN-THE BOX BACK THEN TO CONTRACT JOBS.

THUS, CONTRACTORS WOULD HAVE TO ABIDE BY THE FAIR CHANCE IN HIRING, WHICH STATES THAT YOU CAN PULL THE BACKGROUND, CHECK THAT CONDITIONAL OFFER POINT IN THE HIRING PROCESS.

IF YOU WANNA HIRE SOMEONE AND THEIR RECORDERS PULL, LET'S SAY SOMETHING DOES COME BACK ON THEIR RECORD, THEN AT THAT POINT, WE WOULD STILL ENCOURAGE THAT CONTRACTOR TO HIRE THEM IF THE CONVICTION HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE JOB THAT THEY'RE SEEKING TO OBTAIN.

LASTLY, WE'RE CREATING SOME TRANSPARENCY HERE.

SO WE'RE CREATING PRO PROCUREMENT PROCESS, WHICH WOULD BE ESTABLISHED BY THIS MEASURE.

IT PROVIDES FOR MORE CHECKS AND BALANCES, MAKING SURE THAT THE ORDINANCE IS IN FACT BEING FOLLOWED OR MORE FOR FOLKS THAT ARE FORMERLY INCARCERATED WITH PRIOR CONVICTIONS ON THEIR RECORDS, ACTUALLY BEING HIRED BY CITY PARISH, GOVERNMENT, AS WELL AS THE CONTRACT POSITIONS.

UM, AND THEN ALSO IF AN APPLICANT INQUIRES, HEY, WE'RE IN THIS PROCESS.

DID I EXACTLY NOT GET THIS JOB? OR WAS I DISCRIMINATED AGAINST? WE CAN PULL THAT AS WELL.

AND SO JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AND IMPLORE EVERYONE TODAY TO VOTE YES ON FAIR CHANCE IN HIRING.

THANK YOU, CAITLIN.

YOUR NAME IS ON HERE TWICE.

IS YOUR SISTER COMING TO SPEAK? OKAY.

BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A, A SUPPORT SYSTEM, AND B, THEY DON'T HAVE THE FINANCES TO MAKE IT.

TIM WILKINSON.

GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL.

TIM WILKINSON HERE THIS AFTERNOON IN SUPPORT OF FAIR CHANCE IN HIRING A LOT OF THESE FOLKS THAT JUST CAME UP, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY TALK ABOUT NUMBERS AND THEY TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT DOES FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.

I'M HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT ON AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL, WHAT THIS DOES FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN FORMALLY INCARCERATED OR FORMALLY JAILED, UM, EXCUSE ME, IT GIVES THEM EVEN MORE DETERMINATION, EVEN MORE STRENGTH TO DO MORE AND DO BETTER.

A PERSON WHO'S BEEN INCARCERATED, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE COME BACK OUT HERE, WE ARE TRYING TO GET A JOB, OR WE ARE TRYING TO, TO GET THE FUNDS WE NEED.

MOST PEOPLE RECIDIVATE

[00:20:01]

YOU GIVE A GUY A JOB, HE, HE, HE SAVES ENOUGH MONEY TO OPEN HIS BUSINESS.

HE HAS ENOUGH DISCIPLINE AFTER DOING HOWEVER MANY YEARS IN PRISON OR JAIL, HE HAS ENOUGH DISCIPLINE TO SAY, I'M GOING TO PUT ASIDE MY, MY, MY PERSONAL ISSUES, AND I'M GOING TO TAKE CARE OF SAVINGS SO THAT I CAN HAVE SOMETHING TO PASS ALONG TO MY SON OR DAUGHTER.

AND HE HAS TO DISCIPLINE TO DO THAT, BUT HE CAN'T GET A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.

THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SHOULD WANT AS YOUR NEIGHBORS.

THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU OUGHT TO WANT WITH THESE CONTRACTS, BECAUSE IN MOST CASES, THEY'RE GOING TO DO A BETTER JOB THAN MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT'S BEEN DOING BUSINESS IN BATON ROUGE FOR YEARS.

NOW, I DON'T WANNA TALK NUMBERS, BUT WHAT I DO WANT TO SAY IS, IF ANY OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS MADE A MISTAKE, A BAD DECISION, ONCE, TWICE, MAYBE EVEN THREE TIMES, MAYBE FOUR, WOULD YOU WANT THEM TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES, TO CREATE AND, AND KEEP SOMETHING TO PASS ALONG TO THEIR SON OR DAUGHTER, TO YOUR GRANDSON OR YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER, OR YOUR AUNT, YOUR NEPHEW, OR YOUR NIECE? YOU WOULD, YOU WOULD, AND I SAY TO YOU TODAY, I IMPLORE YOU TO GIVE THEM THE SAME OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU WOULD WANT SOMEONE TO GIVE YOUR RELATIVES, YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR CHURCH MEMBERS.

IN MY WORLD WHERE I COME FROM, WE CALL IT GRACE AND MERCY.

HAVE A GOOD AFTERNOON, PETER ROBBINS BROWN.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

THANK YOU FOR, UH, GIVING ME THE TIME AND FOR HAVING A HEARING ON THIS.

UM, I THINK THIS IS A REALLY EXCITING ORDINANCE FOR REALLY EVERYBODY INVOLVED, UH, EMPLOYERS, EMPLOYEES, OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE, UH, SEEKING A SECOND CHANCE IN THEIR FAMILIES.

UH, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THE PROCESS HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AND WE'VE GONE THROUGH NUMEROUS DISCUSSIONS WITH STAFF TRYING TO FIND A PROCESS THAT I THINK WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.

AND I, AND I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT WE'VE COME TO THAT, THAT THE ORDINANCE IN FRONT OF YOU COVERS A LOT OF THE CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED, THAT WE REALLY TRIED, UH, EVERYBODY INVOLVED TO MEET THOSE CONCERNS.

UH, ULTIMATELY THOUGH, THIS BILL ADDRESSES A LOT OF, UH, PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN BATON ROUGE, AND IT'S REALLY ACROSS THE CO THE STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, RIGHT? SO, UM, WE DO HAVE A CRIME PROBLEM, UH, THAT IS, AGAIN, LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL.

UM, THIS, UH, THE, THE BIGGEST HURDLE FOR PEOPLE RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION, UH, TO KEEP THEM FROM, UH, CRIMINAL RECIDIVISM IS FINDING A GOOD JOB.

THIS HELPS WITH THAT.

IT DOESN'T GUARANTEE ANYBODY A JOB.

IT JUST MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER, SMOOTH THE PROCESS A TINY BIT TO HELP FOLKS, UH, WHO ARE RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION TO FIND A JOB, WHICH AGAIN, DOES REDUCE, UH, RECIDIVISM.

WE HAVE, UH, A PROBLEM WITH ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN, AGAIN, HERE IN BATON ROUGE, ACROSS THE STATE, ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THIS IS A MEASURE THAT IS GOOD FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR, FOR EVERYBODY.

UH, ON THE EMPLOYER SIDE, WE'VE HEARD FROM EMPLOYERS, AGAIN, LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL, UH, ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY OF FINDING QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES.

AGAIN, ALL WE'RE DOING IS OPENING UP A, OPENING UP THE DOOR A TINY BIT ON THE FRONT END, UH, IN EXPANDING THE POOL OF APPLICANTS, UH, WHO ARE LOOKING FOR JOBS.

UM, SO I MEAN, WE'RE REALLY COVERING A LOT OF ISSUES HERE, NOT SOLVING ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS WITH THIS ONE ORDINANCE, BUT ADDRESSING ALL THESE PROBLEMS. AND SO, IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT CRIME IN YOUR COMMUNITY, YOU SHOULD WANNA SUPPORT THIS.

IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN YOUR COMMUNITY, YOU SHOULD WANNA SUPPORT THIS.

IF YOU CARE ABOUT THE EMPLOYERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY, YOU SHOULD WANNA SUPPORT THIS.

UH, SO I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE TIME.

I URGE YOU ALL TO SUPPORT THIS, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, A GREAT DAY.

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

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, AND PLEASE FORM A LINE RIGHT BEHIND THE GENTLEMAN AT THE MIC, SIR.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M NOT OUT HERE VICTIMIZING PEOPLE.

UH, MY NAME IS KENNETH MILLION AND I SUPPORT FA CHANCE IN HIRING.

UH, I COULD SPEAK FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT, UH, I DID 37 YEARS OF MY LIFE IN, UH, LOUISIANA STATE PENITENTIARY.

AND WHEN I GOT OUT, ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS FOR ME TO DEAL WITH WAS THAT EVERYWHERE I WENT TO GET A JOB, THEY LOOKED AT THE FACT THAT I HAD BEEN TO PENITENTIARY AND I HAD DID 37 YEARS, BUT THEY DIDN'T LOOK AT THE FACT THAT I WAS A REHABILITATOR, REAR GENERATED, CHANGED PERSON WHO WAS WILLING TO COME BACK OUT AND, AND, AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOCIETY.

SO WHAT HAPPENED? I HAD TO GO THROUGH ALL KIND OF CHANGE, LIKE CUTTING GRASS AND RAKING YARDS TO DO WHAT I HAD TO DO TO MAKE IT.

AND I BELIEVE THAT IF I'D HAD OPPORTUNITY TO GET A JOB, THINGS WOULD'VE HAPPENED FOR ME MORE FAST.

EVEN THOUGH NOW I'M WORKING, I'M WORKING ON A JOB.

I'M ONE OF THE BEST WORKERS THEY GOT.

I, UH, MAKE $19 HOURS STARTED AT 10.

UH, I'LL BE GETTING A RAISE PRETTY SOON.

I'M MARRIED.

I GOT A VEHICLE, I GOT MONEY IN THE BANK, GOT MONEY ON MY CARD.

I GOT MONEY IN MY POCKET.

I'M NOT BRAGGING.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT, THAT, THAT I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHANGED.

I LEFT SOME GUYS IN PRISON WHO'S READY TO COME BACK OUT AND DO THE SAME THING.

WE'RE REMORSEFUL FOR THE CRIME THAT WE COMMITTED, AND WE JUST WANT TO COME BACK OUT AND WORK AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

[00:25:01]

I'M NOT OUT HERE WRONGING PEOPLE AND PULLING CRIMES UP ON PEOPLE, BUT I'M OUT HERE BLESSING PEOPLE AND TOUCHING PEOPLE.

SO I THINK THIS PARTICULAR, UH, PROGRAM THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO GET OFF THE GROUND WOULD BE A, A GREAT HELP TO A LOT OF GUYS COMING FROM PRISON.

AND I THINK IT, IT REALLY HELPED TO STOP PEOPLE FROM RETURNING, YOU KNOW, INTO THE REVOLVING DOORS GOING BACK.

CAUSE I KNOW MANY PEOPLE PERSONALLY, WHEN I WAS DONE MY 37 YEARS, THEY CAME BACK AND WHEN THEY CAME BACK, THEY WAS LIKE, MAN, I COULDN'T FIND A JOB EVERYWHERE I WENT, THEY DENIED ME EVERYWHERE I WENT.

YOU KNOW, I PUT IN BY 15, UH, APPLICATION MYSELF.

AND THEY JUST KEPT DENYING 'EM, KEPT DENYING AND KEPT DENYING.

I WENT TO JAW'S PERSON, THEY SAID, WE'LL, WE'LL CALL YOU BACK.

BUT I KNEW WHY THEY WERE DENYING ME, BUT I WAS DETERMINED TO GO ON.

I WAS DETERMINED TO PRESS ON.

I, I HAD WHAT YOU CALL IT, BULL ALL FATE.

I REFUSED TO GO BACK AND I REFUSED TO COMMIT MORE CRIMES.

AND RIGHT NOW I'M DOING WONDERFUL, BUT I WANT TO SEE THIS HIP PAVED TO WAY FOR MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA BE COMING BEHIND ME, GETTING OUT OF PRISON.

AND I, AND I KNOW THOUSANDS OF 'EM, HUNDREDS OF THEM WHO HAVE CHANGED AND WHO'S WILLING TO COME BACK OUT HERE AND WORK AND MAKE A LIVING AND TO PAY TAX AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN AND HELP THEIR MOTHERS AND HELP THEIR FATHERS OR GRAND.

AND RIGHT NOW, THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING.

I'M HELPING AS MANY PEOPLE AS I CAN.

I PAY BILLS FOR PEOPLE SINCE I'VE BEEN OUT, YOU KNOW, I HELPED AND NEEDED, BUT I'M OUT HERE DOING WHAT IS RIGHT.

SO I THINK FAIR CHANCE AND HIRING WILL BE A GREAT SUPPORT TO HELP MEN WHO ARE COMING OUT WHERE THEY WON'T HAVE TO ENCOUNTER A MAN OR BEING DENIED AND REJECTED BECAUSE OF THEIR PAST AND THEN HAVING TO RETURN BACK TO PRISON, BUT HAVE TO VICTIMIZE SOMEBODY.

SO I THINK THIS WILL HELP ALL THE WAY AROUND THE BOARD.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, SIR.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

I JUST WANNA REMIND, I JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYONE, UH, NO, Y'ALL CAN CLAPPER IF YOU WANT TO FINISH CLAPPING.

NO PROBLEM, NO PROBLEM.

I JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYONE, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

YOU USE YOUR TIME WISE, LIKE THAT GENTLEMAN RIGHT BEFORE YOU JUST DID.

SURE.

GO AHEAD, SIR.

STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

TURN IT AT THE BOTTOM AT THE VERY BOTTOM.

PRESS THE BUTTON.

YEP, THERE YOU GO.

PERFECT.

UH, MY NAME'S LOGAN WOLF.

UH, 51 57 AT A STREET.

UM, I START, I WANNA START OUT BY SAYING, UM, WE KNOW THE FACTS.

UM, WHEN WE ALLOW PEOPLE TO REENTER SOCIETY, WE WANNA ALLOW 'EM TO GET JOBS, IT REDUCES CRIME, RIGHT? THAT'S JUST FACTS.

UM, WE KNOW THAT, UH, THEY CAN REACCLIMATE INTO SOCIETY.

WE KNOW THAT THEY CAN BUILD THEMSELVES UP.

I MEAN, IT'S EVIDENCE WE BY WE JUST SAW.

UM, BUT I DO WANNA SAY THAT WE'VE HAD COUNTLESS MEETINGS WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, PARISH ATTORNEYS PURCHASING, UM, OVER THE PAST YEAR TO ENSURE THE EASE OF FAN CHANCE IN HIRING.

UM, ALTHOUGH WE'VE HAD LOTS OF PUSHBACK, IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE TO IMPLEMENT.

UM, IT'S JUST SAYING, HEY, YOU'RE NOT GONNA A, WE WE DON'T WANT YOU TO ASK AT THE BEGINNING BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA BE EXCLUDING A GREAT POOL OF APPLICANTS THAT YOU HAVE FOR THIS JOB THAT ARE MOST LIKELY VERY WELL QUALIFIED BECAUSE THEY HAVE A CRIMINAL HISTORY.

WHAT WE WANT YOU TO DO IS ASK ON THE BACK END, WE WANT YOU TO SAY, HEY, WE WANT, WE, WE WANT YOU TO HAVE A CONDITIONAL OFFER AND SAY, HEY, THIS IS GREAT, WE REALLY LIKE YOU.

UM, WE'RE JUST GONNA GO AHEAD AND RUN A BACKGROUND CHECK AND SAY, GO THROUGH IT.

THAT PROCESS.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE MUCH MORE FAIRER, UH, FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED.

UM, IT WOULD, UH, CREATE GREAT ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.

SO, THANK YOU.

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

AMELIA HERRERA WITH VOICES OF THE EXPERIENCE VOTE.

I'M HERE TODAY TO, UM, SUPPORT MY COLLEAGUES BECAUSE SO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES ARE LIVING WITHIN A CLOSED BOX SYSTEM.

AND WHEN YOU DO NOT ALLOW FAIR CHANCE AT, UM, OBTAINING A JOB THAT COULD BE SUPPORTING THEIR FAMILIES, YOU'RE SHUTTING OUT A MAJOR PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

BECAUSE FOLKS THAT RETURN BACK FROM BEING INCARCERATED, THEY ALREADY FACE MANY BARRIERS WHEN THEY GO OUT INTO THE JOB FIELD.

DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY'RE NOT QUALIFIED, THEY JUST HAVE THAT STAMP ON THEIR BACKGROUND THAT SAYS THEY WERE INCARCERATED.

OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS THIS TO BE IMPLEMENTED SO THAT WE CAN START LIVING BEYOND A CLOSED BOX SO THAT WE CAN HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES, SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY, AND JUST LIVE, JUST LIVE.

THAT'S ALL WE ASK.

THAT'S ALL WE WANT TO DO.

A VERY, A FAIR CHANCE IN HIRING LAB LANE BAKER, LOUISIANA.

NEXT, COME ON NOW.

HELLO, I'M, I'M JOSEPH COOK WITH POWER COALITION.

UH, I LIVE IN, UH, BAKER ON LAB LANE.

I'M RICK, I'M RICKY ALSO.

UH, STAN, WE'RE

[00:30:01]

AND, UH, YEAH, WE, WE STAND BEHIND THIS BECAUSE IT JUST SEEMS MORE OF A POSITIVE THING THAN A NEGATIVE THING.

IF YOU, UH, LOOK AT IT AS IF, YOU KNOW PEOPLE WHEN THEY GET OUT OF JAIL OR PRISON OR WHEREVER THEY WERE, THEY NEED AN EQUAL AND FAIR CHANCE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE BECAUSE THEY GET DISCRIMINATED AGAINST FOR THE THINGS THAT THEY DID IN THE PAST.

AND, UH, AN EXAMPLE OF THAT WOULD BE LIKE, WHEN I WAS 20 YEARS OLD, I'D GOTTEN IN TROUBLE WITH ONE OF MY FRIENDS AND, UH, BECAUSE I WAS WITH HIM, I GOT EVERYTHING HE GOT IN TROUBLE FOR.

AND, UH, I DIDN'T EVEN COMMIT NO CRIME.

BUT, UH, I GOT CHARGED WITH UNAUTHORIZED USE OF AN ACCESS CARD AND THEFT AND, UH, SOMETHING ELSE.

I FORGOT IT WAS 14 YEARS AGO, BUT, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE EXPUNGED OFF MY RECORD, BUT YET IT'S STILL ON THERE WHEN THEY LOOK IT UP AND IT JUST, UH, IT LOOKS BAD ON ME.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT DETERMINES WHETHER OR NOT IF I GET A JOB OR NOT, BECAUSE OF THAT LITTLE INCIDENT.

I JUST THINK THAT, UM, THERE'S JUST MORE POSITIVE THING WITH THIS FAIR CHANCE THAT PEOPLE CAN BE TREATED EQUALLY.

THANK YOU LEE.

COME ON DOWN.

NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS SARAH LOUIS AYO.

I LIVE AT 13 63 2 HOUSE OF LANCASTER.

I DRIVE BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, 7 0 8 16 DISTRICT SIX.

UM, I'M HERE TODAY CUZ THIS ISSUE IS REALLY CLOSE TO MY HEART AND MY FAMILY.

AND I, UM, I KNOW A FAMILY MEMBER WHO IS A COLLEGE GRAD, UM, WAS JUST IN THE WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME, BUT NEVERTHELESS DID HIS TIME.

UM, WHEN HE WAS RELEASED, THE OPPORTUNITIES WERE LIMITED, NONE TO SAY THE LEAST.

UM, BUT HE HAD TO MOVE TO WASHINGTON STATE TO JUST START OVER.

UM, NOW HE'S PURSUING HIS SECOND DEGREE, UM, WORKING AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN A TREMENDOUS WAY.

THAT THAT IS BECAUSE SOMEONE PROVIDED HIM A SECOND CHANCE, AND WHICH ALWAYS LEFT ME PUZZLE.

WHY MUST SOMEONE LEAVE TO CREATE A BETTER LIFE ELSEWHERE, UM, TO CREATE A BETTER LIFE ELSEWHERE.

AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE THE POWER TO, TO CREATE THAT FOR THEM HERE IN OUR BEAUTIFUL, UH, CITY.

UM, I'M THE POLICY AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZER AT LOUISIANA ORGANIZATION FOR REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANTS.

LORI FOR SHORTT.

UH, LORI'S MISSION IS TO ASSIST REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS THROUGHOUT THE VARIOUS STAGES OF INTEGRATING LIFE HERE IN THE US BY ENABLING THEM TO BECOME SELF-RELIANT.

UM, CITIZEN LORI ALSO BELIEVES THAT, UH, PERSONS FAST SHOULD NOT INVOLVE THEIR FUTURE.

THIS IS WHY WE SUPPORT THIS EXPANSION OF FAIR CHANCE ACT.

WE BELIEVE THAT THIS EXPANSION WILL PUT THEM, PUT THE STOP TO LIMITATION AND FORCE UPON COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH RECORDS.

WE BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROGRESS AS INDIVIDUALS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, AS MEMBER OF COMMUNITY, WE KNOW THAT BLACK AMERICANS AND BLACK IMMIGRANTS ALIKE MAKE UP THE HIGHEST PORTION OF ARRESTS IN INCARCERATION RATE IN THE US A PROBLEM THAT LEAVES THESE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO THAT LEGAL MEANS TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES.

SO EXPANDING THIS FAIR CHANCE AND HIRING WOULD ALLOWS CITIZEN TO ENGAGE IN FAIR OPPORTUNITIES AND HOPEFULLY THEY CAN BUILD A BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE CHANCE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS RETURNING BACK TO PRISONS ARE UNLIKELY.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT MEANS THAT IT WILL DEFINITELY HELP, UH, THE IMAGE OF OUR BELOVED STATE, MOST IMPORTANTLY OUR CITY.

BECAUSE STATISTICS AND DATA SHOWS US THAT WE HAVE THE HIGHEST INCARCERATION RATE.

AND THAT'S DEFINITELY A DATA THAT I'M NOT PROUD OF, I'M SURE YOU GUYS ARE NOT PROUD OF AS WELL.

UM, BUT TOGETHER WE CAN HELP SHAPE THE IMAGE OF OUR BELOVED CITY.

EXPANDING THIS FAIR CHANCE IN HIRING WILL BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REDUCING INCARCERATION RATE, BRINGING FAMILIES TOGETHER.

FINALLY, WHEN THOSE CITIZENS, WHEN THOSE CITIZENS ARE ENGAGED IN FAIR OPPORTUNITIES, THEY COULD DEFINITELY PAY THEIR TAXES I'M SURE OF.

AND THAT IS A GREAT REVENUE FOR OUR CITY AND A NATION AT LARGE.

LORI SUPPORTS THIS FAIR CHANCE IN HIRING ORDINANCE BECAUSE IT'S A FUTURE WITH REALIZING.

YOU ARE LOOKING, NOW THE PEOPLE THAT'S WORKING THAT USED TO BE, UM, THAT WAS FORMERLY INCARCERATED, THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOW TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS WITH THEIR JOBS.

NEXT NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.

KEISHA EDWARDS, 27 20 EDGEWOOD DRIVE.

I COME HERE TODAY THAT SPEAKS TO YOU ALL TO ASK FOR YOU ALL TO FAVORABLY PASS THIS ORDINANCE FOR THREE REASONS.

ONE IS, IS IT BRINGS SAFETY INTO THE COMMUNITY.

BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A JOB AND YOU'RE WORKING, YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO NOT SLEEP AND BE WITH THE FOOLISHNESS.

TWO, IT BRINGS TAXPAYERS MORE TAXPAYERS INTO THE COMMUNITY.

SO NOW YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE GENERATED MORE REVENUE FOR THE CITY.

THIRDLY, IT BRINGS, UH, SECURITY TO THE CITY BECAUSE NOW

[00:35:01]

THEY'RE NOW TRYING TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

YOU HEARD MR. KENNY SPEAK ABOUT FORMER INCARCERATED PEOPLE.

I AM TOO A FORMER INCARCERATED WOMAN.

AND I SUPPORT THIS BILL BECAUSE WHEN I CAME HOME IN 2016, I HAD SEVERAL DOORS SLAMMED IN MY FACE.

EVEN ONE EMPLOYER TOLD ME NEVER TO COME BACK AND APPLY AGAIN CAUSE THEY WOULD NOT HIRE ME.

THIS IS AFTER THEY TOOK ALL MY REFERENCES AND CHECKED THEM, THEM.

THIS IS AFTER THEY DID MY DRUG TEST AND I PASSED.

THIS IS AFTER I SPENT MY LAST ON RED SHIRTS, BLACK PANTS AND TENNIS.

I WAS THEN TOLD, UM, I WAS NOT HIRED.

SO I'M JUST ASKING SO THAT NO ONE ELSE HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I WENT THROUGH.

IT'S TO PASS THIS BILL.

THAT DAY WHEN I WAS TOLD NOT TO EVER APPLY AGAIN, IT MADE ME THINK WHY, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP FOR ME? WHAT SHOULD I DO? I LOST ALL HOPE.

I LOST ALL RESPECT FOR MYSELF, AND I FELT LIKE I WAS NOTHING.

AND I WAS WORTHLESS BECAUSE I MADE A MISTAKE.

I DID SOMETHING NOT RIGHT.

AND NOW I AM ALWAYS GONNA BE THAT WHITE SKIRT WITH THAT BLACK STAIN ON IT THAT I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO GET OUT.

AND I'M ASKING YOU NOT TO LET ANYONE ELSE HAVE TO ENDURE OR GO THROUGH WHAT I FELT SOMEONE TOOK A CHANCE ON ME AND GAVE ME A FAIR CHANCE AT A JOB.

AND GUESS WHAT? I'VE EXCELLED.

I'VE EXCELLED TO THE POINT WHERE MY, MY OR MY SKILLS THAT I'M IN A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN MY JOB.

I AM THE OPERATION AND ORGANIZING COORDINATOR FOR STEP UP LOUISIANA.

AND OVER 150 CITIES ALREADY KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF HIRING FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE.

HI, MY NAME IS STACY TOBIN.

I'M A CONSTITUENT AND REGISTERED, UH, VOTER OF DISTRICT 10.

I AM A REENTRY NAVIGATOR COURT ADVOCATE AND A CLIENT SPECIALIST AND CASE MANAGER FOR LOUISIANA PAROLE PROJECT.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, MY ROLE HERE TODAY IS AS A VOICE FOR THE LARGE FORMERLY INCARCERATED BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY.

I LIVE ON SOUTH 18TH STREET WHERE MY FOCUS CENTERS ON TAKING THE HOOD OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, MAKING MY COMMUNITY SAFER BY TAKING WHAT LIMITED RESOURCES WE HAVE AVAILABLE AND FOCUSING ON THE GREATEST THREATS TO PUBLIC SAFETY BY EMPOWERING THE IMPOVERISHED, ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME, AND WORKING TOWARDS A BETTER BATON ROUGE BEFORE IT GETS ANY WORSE.

OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, BATON ROUGE HAS SEEN SO, UH, MORE THAN ITS FAIR SHARE OF TRAUMA AS A CITY, WE ARE HEALING SLOWLY, BUT IT GIVES US A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO REDEFINE WHAT KIND OF CAPITAL CITY THAT WE WANNA BE AS ELECTED LEADERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

WHY ARE WE STILL TALKING ABOUT THIS? I MEAN, PUBLIC SAFETY IS NOT ONLY ABOUT ENFORCING THE LAW, BUT ALSO ABOUT BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.

WHY WOULDN'T WE GIVE OUR BATON ROUGE SONS AND DAUGHTERS EVERY ADVANTAGE AND TOOL AVAILABLE TO BECOME A CONTRIBUTING, PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY? WE CAN'T JUDGE FOLKS, UH, BASED ON THE BIGGEST MISTAKE THEY EVER MADE, OR THEIR WORST DAY THEY'VE SERVED THEIR TIME.

LET'S NOT CREATE YET ANOTHER BARRIER.

A JAIL SENTENCE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE A LIFE SENTENCE, BUT IT IS, IS THIS WHO WE ARE A SCARLET LETTER SOCIETY? OR DO WE BELIEVE IN SECOND CHANCES AND IN REDEMPTION? IT'S REALLY A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY.

IT'S SMART ON CRIME ECONOMICS AND IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

SOMETIMES A LITTLE BIT OF HOPE IS ALL A PERSON NEEDS TO TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND.

I'VE SEEN IT.

WHEN YOU TREAT PEOPLE LIKE ANIMALS AND CRIMINALS, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT THEM TO ACT LIKE WHEN YOU TREAT PEOPLE WITH HONOR AND RESPECT? LET'S DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

LET'S TRY.

IF THE LEADERS OF OUR CITY ARE WILLING TO INVEST IN US, WE WILL CONTINUE TO INVEST IN A BETTER BATON ROUGE.

WE CAN CHANGE THE LAW, BUT THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE STIGMA SURROUNDING FORMERLY INCARCERATED, BUT IT HELPS.

A LACK OF INFORMATION, UNDERSTANDABLY, CREATES FEAR.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

TAKE A LOOK AT BANK OF AMERICA, AT AND T, MICROSOFT VISA, JP MORGAN TO NAME A FEW.

THESE ARE ALL SECOND CHANCE EMPLOYERS WHO CHANGE THEIR CULTURE TO ENSURE FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE CAN SUCCEED AND WILL TELL YOU THAT THE VALUE FORMERLY INCARCERATED EMPLOYEES BRINGS TO THEIR ORGANIZATION IS AS HIGH OR HIGHER THAN THEIR EMPLOYEES WITHOUT RECORDS, MORE LOYAL, PUNCTUAL, AND ENGAGED.

IMPROVED EMPLOYEE LOYALTY MEANS LOWER TURNOVER RATES AND HIGHER QUALITY OUTPUTS, BOTH OF WHICH LEAD TO STRONGER COMPANY PERFORMANCE.

FAILING TO PASS THIS BILL MEANS THAT MANY OF BATON ROUGE'S EMPLOYEES ARE MISSING OUT ON AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW A HEALTHY, TALENTED WORKFORCE.

AS THE LEADERS OF OUR AMAZING CITY, IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SET THE PRECEDENT BY VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE.

IT'S A SMALL STEP YOU GUYS IN EDUCATING BATON ROUGE ON WHAT 36 OTHER STATES

[00:40:01]

IT'S A PIVOTAL TIME FOR US.

SO LET'S BE CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE FOR OUR BETTER BATON ROUGE.

AND THOSE WERE IMMEDIATELY DISQUALIFIED.

THANK YOU DEAR.

COME ON DOWN.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.

CHRISTOPHER LALO, UH, 37 0 2 VAN BUREN.

UH, I WASN'T PLANNING ON SPEAKING, BUT, UH, SINCE I'M HERE, UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT IT SEEMS LIKE THIRD OF, UH, LOUISIANA CITIZENS HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD.

UM, YOU KNOW, AND THIS ELIMINATES A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES, UM, FOR THOSE WORKERS AND AS WELL AS FOR BUSINESSES, UH, COMING INTO THE WORKFORCE AS A YOUNG MAN, I STARTED OFF IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY AND I'VE PERSONALLY WI WITNESSED, UH, MY MANAGER LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY TO HIRE AND HAVING A STACK OF, UH, APPLICATIONS ON HIS DESK AND GOING THROUGH THEM AND LOOKING AT THAT BOX THAT SAID, ARE YOU A FELON? YES.

UH, YOU KNOW, APPLICANTS, UM, THEY SAY YOU NEVER GET A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION.

THAT ENTIRE STACK NEVER EVEN GOT THAT CHANCE.

UM, THEY WERE LABELED A AS NOT HIREABLE BEFORE THAT PERSON WAS EVEN INTERVIEWED OR, UH, SPOKEN TO, OR THE QUALIFICATIONS ON THEIR APPLICATIONS WERE EVEN REVIEWED.

UM, I SUPPORT THIS, UM, ALSO AS A FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL.

UH, I'M CURRENTLY WORKING WITH, UH, THE LABORERS UNION.

I'M, UH, NOW THE PRESIDENT OF LOCAL 99 HERE IN BATON ROUGE.

UH, AND IT WAS BECAUSE SOMEBODY GAVE ME A CHANCE AND GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO NOT JUDGE ME ON MY PAST, BUT TO SEE WHAT I COULD BE IN MY FUTURE, UM, THAT I'M HERE TODAY.

UH, AND I JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALL CONSIDER, UH, PASSING THIS ORDINANCE BECAUSE IT WILL REALLY HELP THE, UH, CONSTITUENTS THAT YOU REPRESENT.

FACT THAT ALL PARTIES, INCLUDING THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WERE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THE LANGUAGE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WERE NO LEGAL QUESTIONS THAT NEEDED TO BE ANSWERED AS WELL AS IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT BY PURCHASING.

ANYONE ELSE? UH, EMAIL.

WE GOT EMAIL COMMENTS.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED 12 COMMENTS ON ITEM 86 11 IN SUPPORT AND ONE IN OPPOSITION.

UH, COUNCIL, I MEAN, UH, MS. CHAMBERS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS? LESLIE RECARD CHAMBERS, UH, ASSISTANT CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER HERE FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.

I WANNA CLARIFY A FEW THINGS.

UH, NUMBER ONE, I THINK THAT THESE, THAT THE PEOPLE WHO GOT UP HERE AND SPOKE ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE DURING INCARCERATION AND WHO ARE ABLE TO OVERCOME, UH, POST-INCARCERATION, SECURE JOBS, TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES, UH, KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS, PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE, THEY SHOULD BE COMMITTED FOR THOSE THINGS.

UH, AS SOMEONE WHO WORKED FOR, UH, GOVERNOR EDWARDS FOR FOUR YEARS TO IMPLEMENT JUSTICE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND TO ENSURE THAT D O C UH, PROPERLY IMPLEMENTED THOSE REFORMS BY WAY OF CREATING JOBS, HOUSING, AND OTHER, UH, THINGS THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED, THOSE OF US WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN INCARCERATED, UH, THOSE FOLKS BEHIND ME OUGHT TO BE COMMENDED.

UH, IT IS BECAUSE OF MY EXPERIENCE THERE THAT I'M COMPELLED TO SAY AND TO CLARIFY THAT MAYOR BROOM, AT NO POINT IN TIME HAS OPPOSED THE FAIR CHANCE ORDINANCE.

I REPEAT THAT SHE HAS NEVER OPPOSED THE FAIR CHANCE ORDINANCE.

UM, I AM NOT SURE OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR THAT SOME OF THEM HAVE SPOKE ABOUT, UH, WHO THEY SPOKE WITH, WHO GAVE THEM THE IMPRESSION THAT THE ADMINISTRATION, CUZ THE TERM ADMINISTRATION WAS USED TODAY, THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS OPPOSED TO THIS ORDINANCE BECAUSE THAT IS NOT TRUE.

UH, I BECAME INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS ROUGHLY MAYBE THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL IN BEGINNING OF THE SECOND WEEK OF APRIL, UH, AND WAS CONTACTED, UH, BECAUSE THE GROUP WANTED THE MAYOR TO, UH, COME OUT AND SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE.

UH, I KNEW THAT MAYOR BROOM HAD NOT BEEN BRIEFED ON WHAT THE ORDINANCE DOES.

SO THE LAWYER IN ME, UM, THE FORMER EXECUTIVE COUNSEL IN ME, UH, THOUGHT THAT IT'D BE A GOOD IDEA FOR HER TO BE CAUGHT UP TO SPEED.

AND SO, UH, A FEW FOLKS FROM, UH, THE FAIR CHANCE, UH, COALITION BEHIND ME CAME ALONG WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND SPOKE BRIEFLY ABOUT, UH, THE GOAL OF THE ORDINANCE AND THE

[00:45:01]

UH, AS OF YESTERDAY, UH, IN MY OPINION, THERE WAS LOTS OF PROGRESS THAT WAS MADE BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FROM THE LEGALITY SIDE OF IT.

UH, AND MY HOPE WAS THAT NOW WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH, UM, ENGAGING PURCHASING ON AN IN-DEPTH MATTER, UH, OR AN IN-DEPTH BASIS, UH, TO ENSURE THAT, UM, THAT THE TEAM COULD PROPERLY ENFORCE IT WITHOUT HAVING ANY, UH, BIDDING RELATED ISSUES DOWN THE PIPELINE.

UH, SO I WANTED TO GIVE THAT CONTEXT AND THAT CLARIFICATION, UM, FOR THIS BODY THIS EVENING.

WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

COUNCIL MEMBER DON.

THANK YOU, LESLIE.

I'M GONNA ACTUALLY ASK CHERITA COME UP BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT TERM ADMINISTRATION, AS I TALKED WITH, UH, LORI AND DAR, I WAS KIND OF, UH, NOT UNDERSTANDING EXACTLY WHAT SHE MEANT WITH THAT.

SO BEFORE I CONTINUE, I WANT YOU TO CLARIFY EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEAN BY WHEN YOU SAY ADMINISTRATION.

WE'VE HAD MEETINGS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION USING THE TERM, THE PARISH ATTORNEYS, THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

AND I HAVE EMAILS TO PROVE THAT THAT GOES BACK TO 2022.

SO I WANT TO ADD SOME CONTEXT TO THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE I THINK WE, WE ARE DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE LIKE IT'S A NEW ISSUE.

UM, THIS IS BASICALLY BAN THE BOX 2.0.

UH, THE CITY PARISH OR THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL, I THINK IN 2018, UH, 18 PASSED BAN THE BOX, WHICH DOES EXACTLY WHAT THIS ITEM DOES.

IT REMOVES THE BOX ON THE FRONT END.

SO INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT JUDGED ON THE FRONT END BY THE ACT THAT THEY COMMITTED OR A CRIME THAT THEY COMMITTED.

AND THEY'RE JUDGED BY THEIR RESUME, THEY'RE EXPERIENCED, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AND THEN ONCE THEY'RE OFFERED A JOB, THEN THEY DO THE BACKGROUND CHECK AND CAN FIND OUT IF THEY ARE, UH, HAVE A, HAVE A CONVICTION ON THEIR RECORD.

SO THE CITY HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

WHAT THIS DOES IS EXPANDS THIS BAN THE BOX TO THE PEOPLE WHO CONTRACT WITH CITY PARISH OR WHO DO, UH, CARPET ENDEAVOR AGREEMENTS WITH CITY PARISH.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING.

UM, IT'S JUST EXPANDING THAT TO THE PEOPLE WHO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY AND SPECIFICALLY OWN THOSE PROJECTS THAT THEY DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY OWN, NOT EVERY COMPONENT OF THEIR BUSINESS.

SO I WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE CONTEXT HERE.

AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF REVISIONS, A LOT OF UPDATES, AND SOME RECENT REVISIONS.

SO IF I MISSPOKE, IF SOMETHING HAS CHANGED SINCE I WAS LAST BRIEFED, PLEASE ENLIGHTEN ME.

BUT THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

I WON'T GET INTO THE NUMBERS AND THE FACTS AND, AND HOW THIS IS BEST PRACTICE, HOW IT'S REDUCED, YOU KNOW, RECIDIVISM AND ALL THAT STUFF.

I WANNA TAKE MY HAT OFF TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO CAME OUT FROM THE PUBLIC, WHO SPOKE WELL ON THAT FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, FROM UH, THIRD PARTY EXPERIENCE.

AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR GIVING YOUR INPUT.

I KNOW THIS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE.

I THINK WE CAN GET OUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND ANY AMENDMENTS OR ADJUSTMENTS WE NEED TO MAKE FROM THE FLOOR, AND LET'S NOT HAVE ALL THESE PEOPLE HAVE TO COME BACK OUT HERE AGAIN.

I, I DON'T THINK WHATEVER QUESTIONS THAT I'VE HEARD ABOUT, I DON'T THINK WE ARE THERE FAR OFF OF GETTING THIS THING RESOLVED.

SO I WOULD ASK US TO MOVE IN THAT SPIRIT.

AND, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY FOR NOW.

THANK YOU COUNCILOR MO.

UM, MS. STACY TOTE.

MS. STACY, YOU MENTIONED THE WALLET, UH, EARLIER IN YOUR SPEECH YOU TALKED ABOUT THE, UH, A LOT OF, UH, LARGE CORPORATIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN THE BOX OFF, MICROSOFT, UH, ORACLE, ALL THESE DIFFERENT ONES.

SO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP TO ME WAS, OKAY, YOU BAND, YOU TAKE THE BOX OFF, UH, THESE, IT IS JUST CERTAIN WAY AND SO ON, BUT EVENTUALLY WHEN THEY COME BACK, THEY COME IN FOR, UM, A SECOND TIME, YOU KNOW, TO BE INTERVIEWED OR WHATEVER AT THAT TIME, THEN THEY RUN A BACKGROUND CHECK.

I MEAN, I MEAN, I ASSUME RIGHT? LIKE MICROSOFT, ORACLE AND ALL THEM, THEY HAVE THOSE LARGE DEPARTMENTS THAT CAN DO THAT RIGHT? ON ANY EMPLOYEE THAT THEY GET OR WHATEVER.

AND MOST LIKELY LARGE CORPORATIONS LIKE THAT RUN BACKGROUND CHECKS.

SO, UM, ONE OF THE QUES THINGS THAT CAME UP TO US WAS, YOU KNOW, SMALLER BUSINESSES DON'T HAVE THAT ISSUE OR DON'T HAVE THAT OPTION TO BE ABLE TO RUN BACKGROUND CHECKS.

SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN THEY COME BACK FOR A SECOND INTERVIEW OR WHATEVER, THEY'RE JUST GOING STRICTLY BASED OFF OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY PUT ON THEIR APPLICATION.

UH, THEY DON'T KNOW THEIR BACKGROUND

[00:50:01]

AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO I, I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS YOU, YOU'D BROUGHT UP THOSE LARGE CORPORATIONS.

I JUST DON'T THINK THE ABILITY FOR SMALLER BUSINESSES.

I, I KNOW I, I DON'T HAVE THAT ABILITY THROUGH MY SMALL BUSINESS NO.

TO RUN BACKGROUND CHECKS ON EVERY IT PERSON THAT COMES IN, BUT SEEMS LIKE EVERY JOB I'VE APPLIED TO DOES RIGHT HERE.

BUT, UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, IS MS. CAITLIN AVAILABLE? HEY, CAITLIN? YES.

OKAY, COOL.

HEY, SO I, I WANTED TO TELL YOU, UM, I APPRECIATE WORKING WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, TALKING, WORKING WITH YOU, TALKING WITH YOU, UH, SINCE I, I THINK THE FIRST TIME WE HAD MET WAS LIKE SIX MONTHS AFTER THE ELECTION MM-HMM.

AND, UM, WE DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING.

UH, COUNCILMAN DUNN, I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS THAT YOU MADE A WHILE AGO AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, BEING 2.0.

SO THE CITY PARISH ALREADY DOES THIS.

WORKED IN APPLYING DIRECTLY FOR CITY PARISH.

SO I WANNA GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND MAKE SURE THAT REAL QUICK, UM, SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW, BASICALLY THEY FILL OUT AN APPLICATION MM-HMM.

, THE BOX IS NOT THERE.

THEY GOT THEIR, JUST THEIR BASIC INFORMATION MM-HMM.

, THEIR HISTORY, THEIR TRAINING, THEIR EDUCATION, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

YEP.

THEY, EMPLOYERS GO THROUGH ALL THESE APPLICATIONS.

, THEY NARROW IT DOWN TO 3, 4 56 AND WHATEVER THEY WANT TO INTERVIEW AT THAT POINT, THEY COME BACK IN FOR THE SECOND INTERVIEW.

IF THE EMPLOYER REQUEST, OR EITHER IN THEIR POLICY OR IF THEY JUST HAPPEN TO WANNA RUN A BACKGROUND CHECK ON ALL SIX OF THESE PEOPLE THAT COME IN, EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE GONE THROUGH A SECOND INTERVIEW MM-HMM.

, THEY'RE STILL CAN RUN A BACKGROUND CHECK.

SO IF, IF THEY'RE PLANNING TO OFFER A CONDITIONAL LETTER OF, IF THEY WANNA CONSIDER, ALL THESE FOLKS ARE, ARE WE CONSIDERING ALL SIX OF THEM OR WE STOPPED, THEY'RE IN FOR A SECOND INTERVIEW.

THEY, THEY'VE TAKEN 200 APPLICATIONS, THEY'VE NARROWED IT DOWN TO 6, 7, 5 31, AND THEY SAY, OKAY, WE'LL GO CALL THESE PEOPLE IN FOR AN INTERVIEW.

AT THAT POINT TO, TO THAT, TO GET TO THAT SECOND INTERVIEW.

THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK IN.

THANKS FOR TALKING TO US.

WE'RE NOW GOING TO RUN YOUR BACKGROUND CHECK.

AND THEN THEY SIGN THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM THAT THEY'RE RUNNING IT.

SO THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE.

THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE.

AND IF THEY FIND MM-HMM.

SOMETHING IN THEIR BACKGROUND, THIS ISN'T A DISCRIMINATION THING.

IF THEY GO, WE'RE NOT GONNA HIRE THEM.

SEE, THAT'S WHERE WE, OKAY.

SO IF THEY STILL HAVE THE SKILLS AND ABILITIES TO COM TO DO THE JOB, AND IT DOESN'T CONFLICT WITH WHAT THEY'RE BE APPLYING FOR, WE DO STILL ENCOURAGE THE EMPLOYER TO HIRE THEM IF THEY'RE THE BEST CANDIDATE.

SO THE, THE WAY IN WHICH YOU NARROW IT DOWN IS IF YOU'RE NOT USING THEIR, BASICALLY YOU'RE NOT USING THEIR RECORD TO BE ABLE TO NARROW IT DOWN.

SO IF, LIKE, LET'S SAY THE PERSON THAT DOES HAVE THE BACKGROUND CHECK WITH SOMETHING ON IT MM-HMM.

IS THE BEST, QU IS THE HIGHLY QUALIFIED ONE, IS THE BEST APPLICANT FOR THE JOB.

WE STILL IMP EMPLOY THAT EMPLOYER TO.

SO, SO WHO DETERMINES, WHO DETERMINES THAT ONE IS BETTER THAN THE OTHER? I THINK THAT'S UP TO THE EMPLOYER, BUT I THINK ALSO, OKAY.

SO THE EMPLOYER MAKES YOUR DECISION NOT TO HIRE THE PERSON WITH THE, DOES THEY, THEY WRITE A BACKGROUND CHECK ON ALL OF THEM, BUT DOES THE CONVICTION HAVE HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE JOB? I, SO HOW DO YOU FIND THAT OUT? THAT'S, THAT'S PART OF THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ESTABLISH TO HOLD HAND HOLD WITH, TO BE ABLE TO GET, I DON'T WANNA GO INTO MY SECOND TIME AND THIS IS WHAT'S, I'M FIXING TO SAY SOMETHING.

THIS IS WHAT'S BAD ABOUT DEBATE.

WHAT, WHAT DETERMINES THAT PROCESS? THIS IS WHERE WE, WE WALK THE FINE LINE HERE OF MM-HMM.

, CAN SOMEBODY JUST GO IN AND, AND, AND, AND SAY, I DIDN'T GET HIRED.

I HAVE BECAUSE I HAVE A CRIMINAL HISTORY.

I'M SCREAMING DISCRIMINATION.

THAT TWO PEOPLE MAY BE THE SAME QUALIFICATION.

, I'M LOOKING AT THESE TWO AND THEY, THE EMPLOYER PICKED THE OTHER PERSON.

SO BASICALLY WHAT WOULD HAPPEN THERE IF I WAS THAT APPLICANT AND I SAID, HEY, I WANNA KNOW WHY I WAS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO PULL THROUGH THAT PROCUREMENT PROCESS.

AND WE'RE NOT SAYING YOU HAVE TO MEET THAT THE BOARD THAT'S OVER THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS HAS TO MEET CONSTANTLY.

IT COULD BE A ONE YEAR THING, BUT WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING IS IF YOU PULL THAT APPLICATION, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE IN BLACK AND WHITE WHY THAT PERSON WAS NOT HIRED.

SO THAT'S FINE IF YOU DON'T HIRE THEM AS LONG AS YOU'RE ABLE TO EXPLAIN IT.

IN OTHER WORDS.

SO AS A PRIVATE BUSINESS OWNER, I HAD TO EXPLAIN TO A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHY, IF THEY DO FILE A COMPLAINT, SOMEONE CORRECT.

IF THEY DO FILE A COMPLAINT, OKAY.

AND THIS IS THE ORDINANCE AND, UM, PROCUREMENT PROCESS ALREADY ESTABLISHED IN NEW ORLEANS, IT WORKS SEAMLESSLY.

SO I'M HAPPY TO GO IN GRAVE DETAIL ON PAPER IF FOLKS NEED MORE INFO.

A CONTRACT WITH CITY PARISH FOR A PARTICULAR JOB.

NOTED.

UM, LAST THING, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE, THE, THE THINGS THAT MYSELF A COUNCILMAN DONE AND OTHER PEOPLE IN THE MEETING CAME TO IS THIS IS STRICTLY FOR EMPLOYERS MM-HMM.

EMPLOYERS THAT ARE LOOKING TO DO

[00:55:01]

THAT'S CORRECT.

AND IS CONDUCIVE OF THAT CONTRACT, IN OTHER WORDS, THE EMPLOYER IS HIRING A GROUP OF PEOPLE TO DO A CONTRACT FOR CITY PARISH THAT IS ONE SET OF APPLICATIONS.

IF THE EMPLOYER IS LOOKING TO DO A JOB FOR ME, HE CAN HAVE WHATEVER HE WANTS ON THAT GROUP OF APPLICATIONS.

CORRECT? CORRECT.

JUST WANTED IT STATED PUBLICLY, IT IS CONDUCIVE OF THE JOB THE EMPLOYER IS DOING.

BUT I WILL NOTE, FAIR CHANCE IN HIRING IS ALREADY A LOSS.

SO ESSENTIALLY THE BOX SHOULDN'T BE THERE ANYWAYS.

BUT YET AGAIN, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE LOOKING THROUGH, UM, PRIVATE EMPLOYERS RECORDS OF WHO APPLIED FOR A SPECIFIC JOB.

IF IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CONTRACT, THAT'S, THAT'S NONE OF OUR BUSINESS, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE PURVIEW OVER.

THAT'S ALL I GOT FOR RIGHT NOW.

HOPEFULLY I CAN GET A LITTLE BIT OF TIME LATER.

OH, BY THE WAY, EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL THAT SPOKE, UH, UH, AMAZING JOB FOR Y'ALL.

I, I COMMEND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL FOR YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND, AND PULLING YOURSELF UP OUT OF WHERE YOU COME FROM TO BE WHERE YOU ARE.

NOW, I COMMEND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.

SO, UM, I THINK ALL OF US HAVE A, UH, A PAST WHERE WE MADE A DECISION THAT EITHER GOT CAUGHT BY A POLICE OFFICER OR DIDN'T.

I'M GONNA BE TRANSPARENT.

WE'VE ALL DONE THINGS WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER, INTENTIONAL, UNINTENTIONAL AS ADOLESCENTS WERE JUST MAYBE JUST BEEN MISCHIEF, RIGHT? WHERE WE DID SOMETHING THAT IF SOMEBODY WAS SITTING THERE WATCHING, ALL 12 OF US COULD BE PUT IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'D BE STANDING BACK THERE TELLING THE STORY AND NOT BEING UP HERE FOR BEING VOTED ON.

IF IT WASN'T FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, ME HA HAVING A BLACK CHECK BOX ON AN APPLICATION WILL PUT ME IN THE BACK OF THAT ROOM OVER, THERE'D BE THE SAME DISCRIMINATION THAT WE'RE FIGHTING AGAINST TODAY.

IF IT WASN'T FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, HOMOSEXUALS WOULD HAVE A BOX THAT SAYS, IF YOU CHECK THIS BECAUSE YOU'RE GAY, A LESBIAN, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO GET THIS JOB.

THOSE QUALIFICATIONS HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR ABILITY TO PERFORM A JOB.

THOSE ARE PERSONAL VIEWS THAT PEOPLE GO FOR IN TERMS OF DISCRIMINATION.

AND SO MY, MY BIG PLIGHT IN NORTH BATON ROUGE IS A STOP CRIME.

I MEAN, IT IS, I WANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU ALWAYS SAY WHAT HAPPENS? THE CHICKEN FIRST, THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG, RIGHT? TILL WE BRING BUSINESS AND DO LIKE THEY DID DOWNTOWN AND RUN GOOD PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND THEN PUT THE CRIMES IN OTHER AREA OF THE COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON CRIME FIRST AND THEN REBUILDING BY MAKING THE MEDIAN INCOMES HIGHER AND THEN ATTRACTING BUSINESS BECAUSE OF THE EDUCATION LEVEL OF INCOME.

BECAUSE WE MADE INVESTMENT IN THE PEOPLE AND NOT IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WHERE WE RAN THEM OUT OF DOWNTOWN, BOUGHT THE HOUSES FOR 30,000, PUT $200,000 INTO 'EM, SELLING FOR 500,000 AND CALL THE RE GENTRIFICATION, RIGHT? SO WHAT I'M TELLING YOU IS THAT IN ORDER TO HAVE PROPER INVESTMENT IN NORTH BATON ROUGE, WHICH IS MY PLIGHT, WE HAVE TO ALLOW PEOPLE WHO COME FROM UNDERSERVED CIRCUMSTANCES, THE OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE THEIR WRONGS.

AND A LOT OF TIMES SERVING TIME DOES THAT.

I COULDN'T IMAGINE SITTING BEHIND BARS FOR ONE DAY, LET ALONE ONE YEAR, LET ALONE 10 YEARS OR 37.

THANK YOU FOR, FOR SPEAKING UP TODAY.

AND SO I SAT THERE WITH CHERIE, ONE OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE.

WE DID AN EXPUNGEMENT, UM, DEAL AT THE CHARLES R. KELLER COMMUNITY CENTER AND SRI LANKA.

PEOPLE THINK WE HAD THE OTHER DAY ABOUT 200, 300, I MEAN, THEY COULDN'T EVEN FIT IN THE BUILDING.

AND PROBABLY 50% OF THOSE PEOPLE DID NOT COMMIT A CRIME, BUT THEY STILL HAD SOMETHING LEFT ON THEIR RECORD BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO EXPUNGE THE CHARGES THAT WERE THERE AND THOSE CHARGES FOR A CRIME THAT THEY WERE NOT CONVICTED OF, LIMITED THEM THE ABILITY TO GET CERTAIN JOBS BECAUSE THE BACKGROUND CHECK STILL PULLED THOSE THINGS UP.

AND SO WHAT I'M ASKING YOU TO DO TODAY IS TO, UM, HONESTLY JUST DO WHAT JESUS WILL DO.

WE ALL SAY WE'RE CHRISTIANS.

, WE SAY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BEFORE EVERY MEETING.

SO ONLY WAY I WANNA BE A CHRISTIAN IS TO WATCH A CHRISTIAN.

AND SO, GOD, GOD IS THE ONLY ONE THAT'S GONNA JUDGE.

I'M ASKING YOU TO GIVE THE SAME GRACE AND MERCY THAT YOU GO TO CHURCH AND LEARN ABOUT EVERY SUNDAY TO VOTE YES FOR THIS BOX.

CLARIFY, UH, COUNCILMAN MOK, UH, ON THE, UM, IF A SMALL, IF SMALL EMPLOYER IS BEING ABLE TO DO BACKGROUND CHECKS, IF THEY CAN DO IT RIGHT ON THE FRONT END, I THINK THEY CAN DO IT ON THE BACK END AS WELL.

AND LOOK, I'M GONNA YIELD MY TIME TO, UH, CAITLIN, DID YOU WANT TO CLARIFY? I THINK SOME THINGS ARE YOU OKAY? DON'T.

SORRY.

OKAY, THAT'S FINE.

UM, THANKS FOR, LET ME COME BACK UP.

UH, JUST, UM, WANTED TO

[01:00:01]

AND IF SOMEBODY'S GONE THROUGH THE INTERVIEW PROCESS AND, YOU KNOW, YOU GET DOWN TO TWO PEOPLE AND ONE OF THEM HAS, YOU KNOW, AND YOU DO THAT BACKGROUND CHECK AT THE END, UM, AND ONE OF THEM HAS A BACKGROUND, YOU KNOW, HAS A BACKGROUND, THE OTHER DOESN'T, YOU DECIDE TO CHOOSE THE ONE WHO DOESN'T.

THE PERSON COULD JUST ASK YOU, BUT YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T, YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED TO HIRE THAT PERSON.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS CLEAR AS WELL ALSO ON, ON THE PROCESS.

AND I THINK WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME STUFF GOING AROUND.

I, I THINK THIS WAS A LONG NEGOTIATION PROCESS.

UH, LIKE ANY LONG NEGOTIATION PROCESS.

THERE WERE TIMES WHEN, YOU KNOW, SOME SIDE WANTED SOMETHING THE OTHER DIDN'T, OR THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, AND, AND IT TOOK SOME TIME TO GET TO THAT PLACE, RIGHT? I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH THIS FOR ABOUT A YEAR.

UM, AND SO I THINK SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME FRUSTRATIONS OR YOU GO BACK AND YOU THINK SO.

BUT I DO WANNA SAY THAT LIKE, THIS WAS A, A LONG PROCESS OF EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER, REALLY TRYING TO FIND A SWEET SPOT HERE WHERE IT WORKED FOR EVERYBODY.

AND I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT GONNA BE A HUNDRED PERCENT OF WHAT EVERYBODY WANTED, BUT THAT'S HOW THIS PROCESS WORKS IN LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE TRY TO ALL TALK, FIND THAT PLACE WHERE THERE'S THE CROSSOVER.

AND I REALLY THINK WE FOUND THAT SPOT.

HEY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO RUSH.

I GOT FIVE MORE MINUTES IF YOU NEED IT.

OH, I THINK I'M GOOD UNLESS ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS.

DID WE ANSWER WHAT YOU WERE GONNA CALL KAITLYN? OKAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER ROCK.

THANKS EVERYBODY FOR COMING UP AND TALKING.

UM, AND I UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

UM, SO FOR THE BUT THE PUBLIC AT HOME, THIS IS NEW FOR THEM.

SO I DO NOT MEAN TO BE DISRESPECTFUL IN ANY WAY BY ASKING THE QUESTIONS I'M ABOUT TO ASK, BUT OFTENTIMES LACK OF INFORMATION OR MISINFORMATION BREEDS OPPOSITION.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE EVERYONE COME THAT WE HAVE THAT HAS WORKED ON, UM, ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE TO COME AND TALK AND CLEAR SOME ITEMS UP THAT I THINK, UH, THAT, THAT WE WILL RECEIVE THESE QUESTIONS IF NOT TONIGHT WHILE WE'RE SITTING HERE, BUT LATER IN THE FUTURE.

SO, UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, CAN I HAVE OUR REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHO'S HANDLING THIS MATTER COME UP PLEASE? UM, ANYONE FROM THE PARISH? OH, COURTNEY, I'M SORRY.

UM, WHILE COURTNEY'S COMING, MS. HUMPHREYS IS COMING FORWARD, UM, I THINK THAT A COUPLE OF THE COMMENTS CONFUSE FOLKS WITH REGARD TO WHETHER THIS WAS, UH, A BOX RELATED TO THE CITY PARISH OR IF IT WAS RELATED TO PRIVATE ENTITIES OR BOTH.

SO WITH REGARD TO WHO IS IMPACTED BY THE BOX BEING REMOVED, WHOSE APPLICATION PROCESS, WHOSE, UM, INTERVIEW PROCESS, TELL ME WHO THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE WOULD IMPACT AS FAR AS EMPLOYERS ARE CONCERNED.

UM, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO IMPACT CONTRACTORS FOR THE CITY, CONTRACTORS FOR THE CITY.

SO ANYONE MOVING THROUGH THE R F P BID OR PURCHASING PROCESS? YES.

AND AND THEY WOULD BE IMPACTED ONLY BY REMOVING THE BOX WHENEVER THEY'RE APPLYING FOR BUSINESS WITH THE CITY, CORRECT? YES.

POSS POSSIBLY, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO WORK ON.

IS IS THAT PARTICULAR PART OF IT TOO, BECAUSE OF THE PUBLIC BID LAW REQUIREMENTS? I UNDERSTAND THAT PART.

I THINK MS. CHAMBERS WAS VERY ELOQUENT IN SAYING THAT.

UM, WE ARE STILL HAVING SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH BIDDING IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FOLLOW THOSE PROCESSES.

SO APPRECIATE THAT.

MY NEXT PIECE IS, UM, WITH REGARD TO CRIMINAL HISTORY AND THE TYPES OF DIFFERENT CRIMINAL HISTORY, UM, THAT FOLKS MAY HAVE, THERE ARE SOME REGULATORY REGULATIONS SURROUNDING, AND I KNOW THIS IS A SILLY QUESTION, I KNOW THE ANSWER TO IT, BUT I NEED IT TO BE HERE PUBLICLY.

THERE ARE SOME REGULATIONS WITH REGARDS TO FELONS IN POSSESSION OF A FIREARM, OR THERE ARE SOME REGULATIONS WITH REGARD TO REGISTERING AND BEING AROUND CHILDREN OR BEING WITHIN A CERTAIN VICINITY WHERE CHILDREN, UH, PLAY OR EXPLORE WHATEVER THIS ORDINANCE DOES CONTAIN.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THAT, UM, THIS ORDINANCE PROTECTS, UM, WITH REGARD TO THOSE TYPES OF CRIMES? UM, IF, I DON'T KNOW IF OUR PER PERSONNEL ATTORNEY IS HERE, ELENA, CUZ THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATION AND, AND I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT.

THIS REALLY HAS BEEN A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.

WE'VE HAD TO HAVE OUR CONTRACTS ATTORNEY PERSONNEL I UNDERSTAND COUNSEL.

UM, AND THEY WERE THE ONES THAT WERE RESPONDING TO LIKE THE CRIMINAL HISTORY ASPECT OF IT.

SO THERE MAY BE SOME LAWS SUCH AS YOU MENTIONED, OR FELON IN POSSESSION OF A FIREARM AND IT SHOULD SAY UNLESS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY LAW.

HI, GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, COUNCIL MEMBER RACA IT IS UNLESS AS OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY LAW,

[01:05:01]

UM, BUT I THINK, I THINK WE NEED TO GO BACK TO LET'S, IF WE HAVE, UM, SOMEONE THAT IS A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER THAT'S POTENTIALLY WORKING AT THE LIBRARY AND THEY HAVE SCHOOL OUTS THERE REGULARLY, THAT OBVIOUSLY WOULD CREATE SOME SORT OF ISSUE.

SO DOES THIS ORDINANCE TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT? I THINK THE ORDINANCE TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE CONDITIONAL OFFER OF HIRE.

AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH LOUISIANA LAW, THOSE QUESTIONS CAN BE ASKED ONCE THERE'S A CONDITIONAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT TO THE INDIVIDUAL UNDER THAT CONTRACT.

AND IF THAT IS TAKEN INTO EFFECT AND THERE IS SOMEONE, SUCH AS THE EXAMPLE YOU JUST GAVE, THEN THAT WOULD THEN LOOK AT THE APPLICANT OR THE POTENTIAL CANDIDATE AND BE ABLE TO USE THAT IN MAKING THE FINAL HIRING DECISION.

AND, AND WITH THAT, IS IT MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE DO NOT KNOW DEFINITIVELY HOW THAT WILL IMPACT OUR BID PROCESS? SO DOES IT GO TO THE NEXT BIDDER? LIKE HOW DOES THAT WORK? IS THAT WHERE WE'RE HAVING AN ISSUE? AND I'M GOING TO DEFER THAT TO LISA SMITH.

WE KEEP THE SMITH TEAM UP HERE.

IT'S A APPROACH WE'LL GET, WE'LL GET EVERYBODY UP HERE.

I'M, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET CLARITY SO WE UNDERSTAND FULLY AND THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS FULLY WHERE WE'RE AT ON THIS.

IS THAT, UH, TO REPEAT MY QUESTION, IS THAT WHERE WE'VE HAD THE HICCUP WHERE WE CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? UM, WE CANNOT, UH, PER PUBLIC BID LAW INSERT THIS, UH, AS PART OF THE, UM, BID PROCESS.

SO WHAT IT WILL BE IS WHEN WE PUT OUT LIKE AN RFP, ET CETERA, THERE WILL BE LIKE INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS A UH, SECTION THAT SAYS THAT IF YOU GET, UH, THIS CONTRACT WITH THE CITY PARISH, YOU WILL HAVE TO, UH, SIGN AN AFFIDAVIT THAT SAYS THAT YOU DO NOT ASK THIS QUESTION.

SO IT WILL NOT BE PART OF THE PROCESS OF CHOOSING WHO GETS THAT CONTRACT.

BUT ONCE THEY'RE AWARDED THAT CONTRACT, THEY HAVE TO INDICATE THAT THEY WILL NOT ASK THE QUESTION UNTIL IT'S APPROPRIATE.

THE QUESTION IS ASKED.

THE, OR THE BACKGROUND CHECKS ARE MADE.

WE, WE FINALIZE A A GROUP OF PEOPLE TO WIN THIS CONTRACT.

THE BACKGROUND CHECK IS MADE AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE, THERE'S SOME NATURES OF THE BACKGROUND THAT PROHIBIT THEM FROM WORKING IN THE ENVIRONMENT AS TO WHICH THEY'RE CONTRACTING IN.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WITH THE BID PROCESS? MY UNDERSTANDING, AND ELENA CAN, UH, STEP IN IF I'M DOING IT INCORRECTLY, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WE'RE TELLING OUR CONTRACTORS THAT THEIR HIRING PROCESS MUST NOT INCLUDE THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE, UH, HAVE BEEN CONVICTED PRIOR TO A CONDITIONAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT.

SO WHEN THEY GET, WHEN A CONTRACTOR IS HIRED BY US OR SELECTED, THEY HAVE TO SIGN AN AFFIDAVIT THAT SAYS THAT THEY DO NOT DO THAT WITH THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL BE WORKING ON CITY PARISH CONTRACT.

LET ME, LET ME, LEMME WAIT.

I, I STILL HAVE NOT HAD A QUESTION, AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION THAT I'VE ASKED.

SO HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON.

GO AHEAD.

I I WOULD REALLY LIKE, IS THERE SOMEBODY FROM PURCHASING THAT COULD POTENTIALLY TELL ME THE ANSWER WITH REGARD TO BID PROCESSES? BECAUSE WE, I ASKED THE SAME QUESTION TWICE AND GOT NOT AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.

AND MY QUESTION IS THAT JUST THE APPLICATION? SO NO, YOU UNDERSTAND THE , I, I JUST, I, AND I'M MAYBE NOT BE ASKING IT PROPERLY AND MAYBE IT'S A QUESTION TO WHOEVER'S OVER RFPS AND BIDS NOW.

AND I KNOW THAT PERSON IS LO NO LONGER HERE.

WE HAVE AN INTERIM.

PERHAPS THAT'S YOUR QUESTION TO ANSWER.

COME TO THE MIC.

UH, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

UM, PAUL NARCIS, INTERIM PURCHASING DIRECTOR.

THAT'S CORRECT.

THAT'S THE VETTING, THAT'S THE PROCESS THAT I'M ASKING FOR EVERYONE TO JUST GIMME 30 DAYS TO FULLY VET THAT OUT.

SO WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER IS, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT CONDESCENDINGLY, I'M JUST SAYING THAT THAT IS ONE OF OUR MISSING PIECES CURRENTLY AS WE'RE, AS WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS WHOLE PROCESS, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

I UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE CITY HA DOES NOT AND HAS NOT SET MANDATES ON WHAT A PRIVATE ENTITY DOES OR A CONTRACTOR DOES FOR THEIR HIRING.

UM, MY NEXT QUESTION, AND IT MAY BE FROM ONE OF THE THREE ATTORNEYS THAT ARE UP THERE, UM, WE'VE HEARD PEOPLE REFERENCE THE STATE LAW THAT IS CURRENTLY IN PLACE.

UM, CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US HOW THAT STATE LAW IS IN PLACE AND HOW THE CITY, JUST FOR THE PUBLIC PURPOSES, WHY THE CITY IS NOT COMPLYING WITH THE STATE LAW, HOW THAT WORKS OUT AND, UM, HOW DO WE, HOW DOES THAT WORK OUT FOR US? UM, IT IS ON THE CRIMINAL HISTORY FOR HIRING DECISIONS, BUT BECAUSE OF THIS IS UNDER CONTRACTS AT THIS POINT, FROM WHAT

[01:10:01]

AND WHAT THIS FAIR CHANCE ORDINANCE WOULD DO WOULD BE TO CREATE THAT OBLIGATION FOR THE CONTRACTORS TO HIRE SOMEONE.

AND THEREFORE IT WOULD BE, UM, A VIOLATION IF SOMEONE WERE TO VIOLATE THIS ORDINANCE, IF THEY HAD A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY.

SO IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THE PRIVATE BUSINESSES ARE NOT ALREADY FOLLOWING THIS, BUT WE DON'T KNOW, AND ESPECIALLY FROM A CONTRACTOR POSITION, WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE FOLLOWING IT.

BUT WE'RE NOT IN ANY WAY NON-COMPLIANT WITH STATE LAW OR ARE WE? NO, WE'RE NOT.

WE HAVE OUR OWN FAIR CHANCE IN HIRING FOR CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES, UM, THAT WAS CREATED IN 2018 AND SOME OF THIS LANGUAGE OVERLAPS ONTO THE ONE THAT WE USE FOR CURRENT CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES AND IT IS COMPLIANT WITH STATE LAW.

PERFECT.

THAT'S THE ANSWER I WAS LOOKING FOR.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

YES, MA'AM.

THANK YOU ALL.

I HAVE NO MORE QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

I JUST REALLY WANTED TO GET THOSE CLARIFYING ANSWERS OUT THERE FOR THE PUBLIC TO HEAR.

AND LIKE I SAID, MISINFORMATION OR LACK OF INFORMATION BREEDS OPPOSITION.

UM, I, I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I DO BELIEVE THAT WE DO NEED TIME AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT MEANS THAT IT WOULD BE FOLKS COMING BACK, BUT WE CAN'T FORCE THE BID PROCESS WITHOUT HAVING THOSE ANSWERS.

BUT WE CAN, WE CAN ASK OUR ADMINISTRATION AND, UM, THE FOLKS HERE IN THE CITY TO WORK AS HARD AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN TO REACH SOME SORT OF SOLUTION SO WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT WITHOUT SUBJECTING OURSELF TO LITIGATION, UM, FOR THE, THE VERY COMPLICATED BID PROCESS THAT IS ALREADY IN PLACE.

SO THANK YOU ALL VERY, VERY MUCH.

UM, I APPRECIATE YOUR CANDOR, YOUR ANSWERS.

UM, AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE, I'M HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT.

COUNCIL NUMBER HUDSON.

SO MR, IS IT NARCIS OR, OR NARCIST? NARCIS.

NARCIS, OKAY.

WELL, WELL, FIRST I WANNA SAY THANK YOU AND, AND IF THE ATTORNEY TEAM WOULD NOT GO FAR, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.

FIRST, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO YOU.

YOU KNOW, YOU'VE KIND OF GOT THROWN INTO THE, INTO THE FIRE HERE AND, UH, WITH THE LAST ISSUE YOU DEALT WITH, HE DID AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB.

AND WE HAD A CONVERSATION ON THE SIDE THERE A MINUTE AGO, AND YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

UM, THERE'S A COUPLE SECTIONS IN HERE WHICH INVOLVE YOUR OFFICE, ALTHOUGH THE LANGUAGE IS UNCLEAR, MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT SECTIONS TWO AND SIX WILL APPLY TO YOUR OFFICE.

DO YOU, IS IT, DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT OR? YES.

UM, I, I KNOW YOU, YOU WANT MORE TIME TO COMPLY WITH IT OR, OR TO, TO MAKE SURE THE LANGUAGE IS RIGHT.

BUT IF YOU WERE, IF WE WERE TO VOTE ON THIS TODAY, DO YOU HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE TO COMPLY WITH THOSE SECTIONS? A AS THE LANGUAGE IS WRITTEN TODAY? YES, I'LL HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE.

I JUST, WE, WELL, DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE TO COMPLY WITH THOSE SECTIONS? NOT NOW, NO.

SO, UH, THANK YOU PAUL.

SO, OF COURSE, UM, PART OF THAT QUESTION WILL BE ANSWERED BY PURCHASING WHEN THEY GO THROUGH THE STEPS THAT THEY NEED TO GO THROUGH FOR ENFORCEMENT, ET CETERA.

, UH, IF THE ATTORNEY TEAM WOULD COME BACK UP, I, I'D LIKE FOR SOMEBODY TO WALK ME THROUGH THE PROCESS.

UM, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CONTRACTORS FOR CITY PARISH THAT, THAT HAVE CONTRACTS, NOT JUST WITH US, BUT WITH PRIVATE ENTITIES, WITH, UH, WITH STATE ENTITIES, WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, THAT TYPE OF THING.

UM, IF FOLKS ARE, IF THEY'RE HIRING PEOPLE AND USING, UH, A PROCESS THAT DOESN'T COMPLY WITH THIS ORDINANCE, UM, WHAT HAPPENS THEN IF THEY COME TO US AND APPLY? AND, AND CAN THEY, CAN THEY MAKE A HIRING PROCESS JUST FOR, UH, CONTRACTS THAT DEAL WITH US? UH, ARE WE EXPECTING THEM TO CHANGE ALL OF THEIR HIRING PRACTICES MOVING FORWARD, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY'RE BIDDING ON? MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE INTENT OF THE DRAFT LANGUAGE IS THAT IT WOULD ONLY APPLY TO CITY PARISH CONTRACT.

NOT ALL OF THEIR CONTRACTS WITH EVERYONE, JUST THOSE FOR EMPLOYEES WHO WORK ON CITY PARISH CONTRACT.

SO I KNOW WE LOVE HYPOTHETICALS HERE.

UH, I KNOW COURTNEY DOES .

UM, IF WE GET INTO A SITUATION WHERE, UH, WE'RE BUILDING A ROAD, UH, A CONTRACTOR HAS HIRED SOMEONE, UH, AND ASKED FOR A BACKGROUND CHECK CUZ THEY'RE BUILDING IT OVER IN ASCENSION PARISH.

NOW THEY'RE GONNA COME BUILD ROADS IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

UH, WHAT ARE WE EXPECTING 'EM TO DO? I MEAN, ARE THEY NOT ALLOWED TO USE THAT EMPLOYEE? HOW, HOW DOES THAT PROCESS WORK? I COULDN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S GO BACK TO THE BID PROCESS THEN.

UM, WE, WE GET TO A POINT WHERE WE'VE AWARDED A BIDDER AND NOW, UM, WE'RE GONNA SEND THEM AN AFFIDAVIT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY COMPLY WITH THE ORDINANCE.

THEY COME BACK AND SAY, OH, WE DON'T, WE DON'T, WE'RE NOT GONNA SIGN THIS.

WE DON'T COMPLY WITH THIS ORDINANCE.

THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN AWARDED THE BID.

WHAT HAPPENED?

[01:15:02]

UM, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY WILL BE PUT ON NOTICE THROUGH THE BID PROCESS IF WE DO CONTRACTS GOING FORWARD, THAT THIS WILL BE A REQUIREMENT.

HOWEVER, IF THEY ARE AWARDED AND THEY REFUSE TO SIGN IT, THEN WE WILL HAVE TO GO TO THE NEXT BIDDER.

AND, AND WOULD THAT POTENTIALLY GIVE THEM CAUSE TO PURSUE US? I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.

THAT'S ALL I GOT FOR NOW.

THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.

COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN LOCK IS TICKING.

THANK YOU, SIR.

CAN YOU, MR. MAY, AND I GUESS THIS PART HERE, WHERE, WHERE, SEE, IN READING THIS ORDINANCE HERE, IT SAYS BASICALLY ABOUT THE BOX.

BUT NOW WE'VE BROUGHT IN SOME MORE STUFF HERE ABOUT THE, UH, CONTRACTS BEING GIVEN TO SOMEBODY ELSE IF THEY DON'T, UH, CONCUR WITH WHAT IT IS THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE.

AND THAT APPEARS TO BE SOMETHING THAT OUGHT TO BE EASILY TAKEN CARE OF, IF THAT'S GOING TO BE A PART OF WHAT THIS ORDINANCE IS.

BUT IN ALL WHAT I WANTED TO SAY BEFORE ALL OF THAT.

AND AS I ASKED BEFORE, WILL THE EMPLOYEE BE ABLE TO HAVE THE LAST WORD ON WHETHER THE APPLICANT WILL BE HIRED? AND I WAS TOLD YES.

CONSIDERED AND MAYOR PRO TEM, I HAD 45 SECONDS LEFT.

THE OTHER THING IS, YOU KNOW, OVERALL EMPLOYEES TAKE CHANCES ON THE CLEAN CUT, THE SUITED, THE HIGH HEELS, THE, ALL OF THAT EMPLOYEES TAKE CHANCES ON ALL OF US THAT'S SITTING HERE.

I JUST WANT TO PUT SOME STUFF OUT HERE FOR ALL OF US TO CONSIDER.

ALSO, IF THESE, AND, AND, AND I CAN TELL YOU THIS BECAUSE I, I HAD THIS WITH ONE PERSON WHO IS EMPLOYED NOW OVER AT THE LEOS BUTLER CENTER.

TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS KEPT THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO BE HIRED.

AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE.

UH, I TELL YOU, OUT OF ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WAS GIVEN, LET ME TELL YOU, MR. KENNETH MEAD AND MS. KEISHA EDWARDS, PROOF IN THE PUDDING, ALL OF THIS OTHER STUFF, I'M NOT EVEN PHASED WITH THAT.

SEE, WHEN MR. MEAD TELL ME HE GOT MONEY IN HIS POCKET, DID THEM 37 YEARS AND GOT MONEY IN HIS POCKET, MONEY IN THE BANK, A JOB, A JOB.

CAUSE EVERYBODY OUGHT TO BE WORKING A CAR, A HOME, A WIFE, CHILDREN, ALL OF THAT.

AND THEN WHEN MISS KEISHA SAID THAT, SHE BELIEVES THAT EVERYBODY, OR TO WORK, AND IF YOU WORKING, YOU AIN'T GOT TIME FOR THIS OTHER.

I CONCUR WITH YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

I THINK I COULD WEAR A T-SHIRT WITH THAT ON IT.

EVERYBODY OUGHT TO BE WORKING.

AND IF WE LEAVE THESE PEOPLE OUT HERE JUST SPINNING, THEN THE NEXT THING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT IS THE CRIME AND HOW IT'S UP.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE KIND OF DAMNED IF YOU DO AND DAMNED IF YOU DON'T.

AND THAT'S WHAT I SEE NOW WHAT I, AND THEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOUBLE JEOPARDY.

SO WE NEED TO CONSIDER THAT.

THE OTHER THING IS THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS POWER COALITION DO AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ALIGN THEMSELVES.

SEE, WHEN I SEE GROWN FOLK, OLDER FOLK, I'M GOOD WITH THAT.

BUT WHAT I THINK ABOUT ARE THE CHILDREN THAT MAY BE SITTING HEARING THIS, WHAT ARE WE, WHAT MESSAGE ARE WE SENDING? SO I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE MAKE SURE THAT THIS POWER COALITION IS ALIGNING THEMSELVES WITH ANOTHER COALITION TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE TOUCHING CHILDREN, TO TALK TO THEM, TO TELL THEM ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT THING IN ORDER THAT THEY WON'T BE CAUGHT UP IN THIS, IN THIS MANNER.

AND THEN ALSO FOR THE RECORD, YES, WE DID EXPUNGEMENT AND HAD 300 PLUS OVER THERE AT THE LEOS BUTLER CENTER.

SO ALL OF THIS IS A PART OF WHAT, WHAT WE OUGHT TO CONSIDER HERE, BUT, UH, 37 YEARS, MR. MEAD YEAH.

YOU'RE TO BE COMMENDED FOR COMING OUT HERE DOING.

AND THE FACT THAT YOU SAY THERE ARE MANY IN THERE THAT'S WAITING FOR THIS SAME OPPORTUNITY IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE OUGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE

[01:20:01]

YOU DID A GOOD JOB, .

EXCELLENT.

YOU'RE NOT THE ONE I'M WORRIED ABOUT.

COUNCIL MEMBER NOEL.

UM, SO INITIALLY, I THINK MY FIRST, UM, QUESTION, I THINK COUNCILMAN HUDSON KIND OF TOUCHED ON IT, BUT COURTNEY, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CLARITY, UH, BECAUSE WE HEARD A FEW THINGS AND I, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, AND I MIGHT BE REDUNDANT AND I APOLOGIZE TO EVERYBODY.

IN 2018, WE APPLIED SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS, TO OURSELVES AS CITY PARISH FOR CITY PARISH EMPLOYEE HIRES, CORRECT? YES.

SO THIS APPLIES TO CONTRACTS.

UM, COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENTS, GRANT AGREEMENTS, UH, WITH CITY PARISH.

UH, SO ESSENTIALLY IF A CONTRACTOR IS, UH, GETTING AWARDED THE CONTRACT, UM, WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE APPLYING THE SAME STANDARDS IN THE HIRING OF A SUB OR AN INDIVIDUAL TO PERFORM WORK SPECIFIC TO THE CONTRACT WITH CITY PARISH.

UH, COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENTS IS IN HERE.

WE DO COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.

, WOULD WE THEN REQUIRE THAT THOSE MUNICIPALITIES DO THE SAME THING? IT MENTIONS IT HERE.

THIS WITH A CONTRACT, IF IT WAS PASSED THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN, I WOULD ASSUME THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO, THAT WOULD BE OUR ORDINANCE OF CONTRACT.

SO THAT WOULD PROHIBIT US FROM HAVING A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR WITH ANOTHER ENTITY.

IF THEY DON'T, WE COULD ALSO HAVE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENTS, WHICH ARE NOT LISTED.

SO WE MAY CHOOSE TO USE THOSE IN SUCH STANCES.

AND SO, UM, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, THE, THE WORK THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND THIS MAY BE FROM MR. NARCIS, I, I I BELIEVE, AND WE TOUCHED ON IT, WAS SECTION SIX, UH, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, BROADLY WRITTEN SAYING THAT THE APPROPRIATE CITY, PARISH DEPARTMENT ST.

SHALL ESTABLISH AND PUBLISH A PROCEDURE IN WHICH THE APPLICANT FOR A POSITION RELATED TO CONTRACT COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT OR GRANT MAY SUBMIT A COMPLAINT RELATING TO COMPLIANCE OR LACK THEREOF.

SO IS THAT, GO, GO AHEAD.

I NEED TO CORRECT MYSELF.

THERE.

THERE IS AN EXCEPTION FOR GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENTS.

SO IT WOULDN'T MATTER WHAT IT'S CALLED.

SO WITH REGARDS TO SECTION SIX, IS THAT THE PORTION THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? WE'RE GONNA NEED 30 DAYS TO WORK OUT.

I THINK PAUL WOULD HAVE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

I THINK IT'S GONNA BE, UH, SECTION.

IT'S HAPPEN.

WELL THAT'S IN THE NEW SECTION.

IF WE, IF WE DID FLOOR AMENDMENTS TONIGHT, BUT IT MIGHT BE THE CURRENT SECTION NINE, COUNCILMAN SECTION NINE.

IF IT'S A, IF YOUR, IF YOUR SECTION NINE READS THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE EFFECTIVE 180 DAYS.

IT, IT JUST SAYS XX X X XXX FOLLOWING THE OKAY.

SHALL BE EFFECTIVE XXX MM-HMM.

DO YOU HAVE THE, I'M SORRY, I PUT A RED LINE ON EVERYBODY'S, YEAH.

GOT IT.

SO CHECK, SORRY, CHECK SECTION SEVEN THERE ON THE, ON THAT RED LINE.

SO THE LANGUAGE AFTER THAT, THIS ORDINANCE SHALL APPLY TO ANY CONTRACT COOPERATIVE, NEVER AGREEMENT OR GRANT EXECUTED ON OR AFTER, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

THAT LANGUAGE MM-HMM.

, THAT'S THE LANGUAGE I HIGHLIGHTED AND PUT A NOTE SAYING WE NEED PURCHASING'S INPUT.

SO THAT ONE, BUT ALSO, SO SECTION FIVE, SECTION SECTION FIVE IS THE ONE WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT THE, THE PROCEDURE THAT NEEDS TO BE PUT IN PLACE.

SO, YEAH, MR. NARCI WOULD NEED TIME FOR THAT.

SO THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE REFERRING TO EARLIER ON THE SECTION THAT YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO WORK ON.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT PROCEDURE'S GONNA LOOK LIKE YET.

THAT'S RIGHT.

CUSTOMER.

LIKE YOU SAY, I THINK WE'RE MAYBE 30 DAYS OUT FROM BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT.

UM, I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, UH, BECAUSE HOW THAT PROCEDURE GOES, I THINK WE NEED, BECAUSE THAT'S GONNA OUTLINE, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THAT'S GONNA OUTLINE SHOULD THERE BE A COMPLAINT, HOW THAT COMPLAINT IS VETTED, DOES THAT STOP ALL WORK? UH, AND THERE, THERE, I THINK WE NEED TO RUN DOWN THE UNATTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

AND I THINK THAT SECTION, UM, I, I THINK I LIKE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS.

I LIKE HOW WE'RE MOVING.

I THINK EVERYTHING ABOUT HOW WE'RE MOVING WITH THIS IS, IS FINE.

BUT I THINK THAT PORTION, UH, FOR ME, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT AND BE ABLE TO THINK THROUGH SOME OF THE POTENTIAL UNATTENDED CONSEQUENCES BEFORE MOVING FORWARD WITH IT WRITTEN BROADLY.

UM, AND, AND

[01:25:01]

IS THAT AND THAT'S CORRECT.

BECAUSE YEAH, AS YOU JUST ELOQUENTLY STATED THAT I, AGAIN, I GOTTA WHEN IT WAS, BUT I APPRECIATE IT.

I GOTTA MEET WITH MY TEAM, PUT A FLOW CHART IF NO, YES.

ALL DIRECTIONS.

AND SO MAKE SURE WE'RE COVERED.

, COUNCIL MEMBER DUN LEGAL TEAM.

PAUL, YOU CAN, YOU CAN STAY THERE AS WELL.

LEGAL TEAM.

I'M, I'M KIND OF SCRATCHING MY HEAD WHY NO ONE COULD SPEAK TO THE RFP SITUATION THAT, UH, COUNCILWOMAN ROCKER ASKED ABOUT.

UM, ARE YOU GUYS FAMILIAR WITH THE TERM CONDITIONS OF A CONTRACT? YES, SIR.

CAN YOU TELL THE PUBLIC WHAT THE CONDITIONS OF A CONTRACT IS? WHATEVER CONDITIONS THAT YOU AND THE OTHER INDIVIDUAL AGREE TO DO? WE HAVE CONDITIONS OF A CONTRACT WITH EVERY CONTRACT THAT WE ISSUE IN CITY BRANCH GOVERNMENT.

THIS IS SIMPLY ANOTHER CONDITION OF THE CONTRACT.

THIS WILL NOT APPLY THROUGHOUT THE RFP PROCESS.

THIS WILL HAPPEN ON THE BACK END.

I DON'T, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY Y'ALL NOT SAYING THAT IT WILL NOT AFFECT THE BID PROCESS.

IT WOULDN'T EVEN COME INTO PLAY IN THE BID PROCESS.

I APOLOGIZE.

I I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS WHAT I WAS MISINTERPRETING COUNCILWOMAN RAS AND ANSWERING THAT VERY QUESTION.

YOU WANT TO RESPOND AGAIN? WE, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO CONSIDER IT IN THE BID PROCESS IN THE RFP.

AND AS YOU STATED, WE WOULD ISSUE CONDITIONS FOR A CONTRACT AND ONCE THE AWARDS WERE GIVEN OUT, THEN THOSE CONDITIONS LIKE INSURANCE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO AGREE TO.

AND IF THEY DID NOT AGREE TO IT, THEN THAT WOULD AFFECT WHO WAS CHOSEN FOR THAT PROJECT.

EXACTLY.

I'M SO SORRY.

I WASN'T CLEAR EARLY AT ALL.

SO MY COLLEAGUE WANTS TO KNOW, HOW DO YOU CHOOSE NEXT? AGAIN, IT WAS NOT COME INTO PLAY THROUGHOUT THE BID PROCESS.

IT WILL NOT AFFECT WHO GETS AWARDED OR ANYTHING.

WELL, UNLESS THIS WILL ONLY COME INTO PLAY ONCE THE AWARD IS MADE.

UNLESS THEY CAN'T PROVIDE OR REFUSE TO SIGN THE AFFIDAVIT, NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER CONDITION OF, OF A CONTRACT ONCE AWARD.

I'M JUST TRYING TO BE CLEAR.

NO, IT WON'T COME INTO PLACE AFTER THAT.

SHE'S STILL CONFUSED.

BUT I, I, I THOUGHT WE CLEARED IT UP.

ANDY, YOU WANT TO, YOU WANNA SPEAK TO IT? GOOD EVENING.

SHE, SHE WANTS CLARITY.

LET ME SAY THAT.

GOOD EVENING.

WHAT SHE'S, WHAT COUNCILWOMAN AND ROCK IS ASKING TO ADD ON TO YOU IS ANY RFP PROCESS.

IF THAT INDIVIDUAL DOES NOT COMPLY FOR WHATEVER REASON WITH THE REQUIREMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FAIR CHANCE INITIATIVE OF THE ORDINANCE, WHERE DOES THE CONTRACT GO OR WHO GETS THE CONTRACT? AND THE ANSWER IS, IT DEPENDS.

DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF CONTRACT, IT COULD GO TO THE SECOND HIGHEST BIDDER.

DEPENDING ON WHAT LEVEL OF CONTRACT IT IS AND, AND, AND WHAT'S GOING ON, UH, WHAT THE BID IS, IT MAY HAVE TO GO AND BE REBI AGAIN, IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE, ON THE TYPE OF, AND I KNOW THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, IT MAY NOT BE, INSURANCE MAY BE SOMETHING ELSE IN THE EVENT.

CURRENTLY, IF A CONTRACTOR WINS AN AWARD AND THEY DON'T COMPLY WITH ANY CONDITION, WHETHER IT'S THE INSURANCE REQUIREMENT OR OTHER CONDITION, WHAT DO WE DO RIGHT NOW? IT DEPENDS.

IT COULD EITHER GO TO THE SECOND BID OR IT MAY HAVE TO BE REBI.

AGAIN, IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF SITUATION.

SO THIS WOULD BE THE SAME AS WHAT WE ALREADY DO.

SO THERE'S ALREADY A SYSTEM IN PLACE TO DO THAT WITH OTHER CONDITIONS? YES.

COULD YOU SPEAK ON THE MIC AND SAY THAT PLEASE? MR. NARCIS? IS THERE A SYSTEM IN PLACE ALREADY AS IT RELATES TO CONDITIONS OF A CONTRACT THAT SAYS WHERE THE CONTRACT GOES IF THE AWARDEE DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE CURRENT CONDITIONS OF THE CONTRACT? YES.

BASED ON THE CURRENT SOURCING DOCUMENT, WHETHER IF IT'S AN INVITATION TO BID OR IT'S AN RFP, THERE IS ONE IN PLACE.

SO MY POINT IS, THERE'S A SYSTEM ALREADY IN PLACE.

WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT OR LOOKING AT RECREATING THE WHEEL WHEN THE SYSTEM IS ALREADY THERE? AND IF ANYBODY WANT TO FOLLOW UP, YOU CAN, BUT IF NOT, I'M DONE.

YOU GOT MORE TIME? I TOLD YOU.

I'LL GIVE YOU SOME OF MY, MY TIME.

I'M, I GOT A MINUTE AND 22ND.

THANK Y'ALL ALL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

I JUST TOLD HIM WHAT'S GOING ON.

I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON SECTION ONE.

I THINK THIS QUESTION IS BEST FOR COURTNEY.

LISA.

UM, SO MY, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING SECTION ONE CORRECTLY, UH, IF I'M THE EMPLOYER, I'M THE CONTRACTOR BIDDING ON A, ON A JOB.

UM, I'M HIRING FOLKS FOR THAT JOB.

I JUST CAN'T ASK THE QUESTION.

BUT I DO HAVE THE ABILITY AT ANY TIME DURING THE PROCESS THAT IF I WANNA DO MY OWN BACKGROUND CHECKS, I CAN DO THAT.

RIGHT? I JUST CAN'T ACTUALLY ASK THE QUESTION.

AM I, AM I READING THAT RIGHT? I THINK ELENA WILL NEED TO ANSWER THAT FOR YOU.

SHE'S THE PERSONNEL

[01:30:01]

ATTORNEY.

DO I, CAN I DO THAT OR DO I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL I ACTUALLY CONDITIONAL OFFER OF HIRE? SO I ACTUALLY HAVE TO MAKE A CONDITIONAL OFFER OF HIRE BEFORE I CAN EVEN GO ON MY OWN AND, AND, AND DO, DO A BACKGROUND CHECK? YES, SIR.

UH, YOU'RE SCHEDULING INTERVIEWS.

SO THIS IS, THIS IS MY MAIN ISSUE WITH THIS ORDINANCE.

AND THAT, THAT THIS, THIS IS A STATEMENT, WELL, I'M NOT ASKING QUESTIONS.

UH, I REALLY FEEL LIKE WE'RE BEING ONEROUS ON THE BIDDING PUBLIC.

RIGHT? UM, SO IT'S EXPENSIVE TO GO THROUGH A HIRING PROCESS WHEN YOU'RE INTERVIEWING EMPLOYEES.

YOU'RE TA TAKING TIME AWAY FROM, UH, OTHER EMPLOYEES THAT ARE, UH, DOING THE HIRING.

YOU MAY BE HAVING TO, TO EXPEND MONEY FOR THAT.

YOU MAY BE HAVING TO PAY TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR SOME OF THESE FOLKS, DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE WORK.

UH, HIRING FOLKS IS NOT CHEAP.

IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY.

UH, AND SO IF WE'RE DOING THAT, UH, AND CAUSING PEOPLE TO THEN HAVE TO GO ON THE BACK END, UH, WHERE WE COULD HAVE TAKEN OUT PEOPLE THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED OTHERWISE, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE BEING REALLY ONEROUS TO OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

UM, BUT THAT'S MY ISSUE.

SO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.

BANKS, I'LL LET YOU GO LAST COUNCIL MEMBER HURST, COUNCIL MEMBER MOK, ACTUALLY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UM, DARRELL TIME.

UM, ATTORNEYS AGAIN, I WANNA GO BACK TO WHAT DWIGHT WAS ASKING ABOUT THE, THE BACKGROUND CHECK AND WHEN IT CAN BE CALLED FOR.

SO, I, I CAN'T RUN A BACKGROUND CHECK ON ANY APPLICANTS UNTIL I ASK THEM, UNTIL I'M ASKED TO HIRE THEM, UNTIL YOU'VE GIVEN THEM A CONDI AND UNLESS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY LAW.

SO THERE MAY BE SOME EXAMPLES THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO ASK IN ADVANCE FOR A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR, BUT THAT'S, UNLESS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY LAW, YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OFFER A CONDITIONAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT.

YOU CAN'T DO A BACKGROUND CHECK UNTIL YOU GET A CONDITIONAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT.

SO THAT WOULD BE LETTING THEM KNOW, UH, I, I'M CONSIDERING YOU FOR HIRE THE WAY THE ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN.

I'M CONSIDERING YOU FOR HIRE.

HOWEVER, I'M GONNA OFFER YOU A CONDITIONAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT CONTINGENT UPON A BACKGROUND CHECK.

DO YOU HAVE TO DO THAT? THAT'S, I MEAN, THAT'S A BUT THAT'S A NATURAL PROCESS.

IT'S FOR SOME EMPLOYERS, FOR SOME EMPLOYEE, YES.

THE, THE BACKGROUND CHECK CAN BE DONE ON THE BACK END, NOT THE FRONT END SOMETIMES THERE.

AND THAT'S WHAT BANNED THE BOX WAS, IS THAT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, AND THAT'S WHERE THEY HAD MENTIONED 36 STATES.

NOW FOLLOW THE BAN THE BOX.

AND SO THERE WERE A NUMBER OF STATES THAT WERE RIGHT IN THE VERY BEGINNING OF AN APPLICATION, HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ARRESTED OR CONVICTED OF A CRIME? IF SO, PLEASE EXPLAIN.

AND SO THE BAN THE BOX IS A WAY ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WITHIN WHICH NOT TO, IF ASK THE QUESTION IN THE BEGINNING, BUT ONLY TO DO IT AFTER CONDITIONAL OFFER HAS BEEN CONSIDERED.

PROVIDED, SO APPLICATIONS HAVE ALL KIND OF INFORMATION ON IT.

SO YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S, UH, DATE OF BIRTH, SOCIAL, ALL THAT STUFF'S ON YOUR APPLICATION, NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, DATE OF BIRTH, EVERYTHING.

IF WE TAKE THE BOX OFF THAT, HAVE YOU BEEN CONVICTED FOR A FELONY? WHAT'S TO SAY? I DON'T PUT A BOX ON MY APPLICATION THAT SAYS, DO YOU SUBMIT BY SUBMITTING THIS APPLICATION, YOU AGREE TO A POSSIBLE OR YOU AGREE TO A BACKGROUND CHECK, YOU CAN DO THAT.

SO WE GET RID OF ONE BOX, WE ADD ANOTHER, YOU RENAME IT, WHATEVER, UH, PUT IT IN A DIFFERENT SECTION.

IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME.

BUT YOU ARE LEGALLY TELLING THE PEOPLE THANK YOU FOR APPLYING.

YOU COULD POSSIBLY, WE COULD POSSIBLY RUN A BACKGROUND CHECK ON YOU.

WHETHER THEY DID IT RANDOMLY AT THEIR DISCRETION OR WHATEVER ELSE, THEY COULD STILL DO THAT IF, IF THE APPLICANT ACQUIESCES TO IT.

IF THEY CHECK THE BOX, IT SAYS I AM.

I AGREE.

I, I AGREE THAT YOU MAY RUN A BACKGROUND CHECK ON ME.

AND THAT'S AT THE BEGINNING OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

YES SIR.

HAVE WE DEFEATED THE PURPOSE? I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

NEXT THING, IT, IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU GO INTO AN ESTABLISHMENT AND THERE'S A BIG SIGN UP THAT SAYS YOU MAY BE VIDEOED YOU BY BULKING ON THESE PREMISES, YOU CONSENT TO DOING WHATEVER.

SO JUST SOMETHING, UH, ANOTHER THING TO CONSIDER THERE, UM, EVERYONE AS FAR AS THAT GOES, CUZ WE, WE MAY JUST POSSIBLY AND THROUGH THIS PART AND MAY HAVE TO WORK OUT DIFFERENT WAYS, IS WE'RE JUST MOVING THE BOX TO A DIFFERENT QUESTION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT IF SOMEONE CHOOSES TO DO THAT.

I, I UNDERSTAND.

AND, AND I MEAN, WE CAN CHOOSE WHETHER TO DO BUSINESS WITH 'EM, I GUESS AS A CITY PARISH AGENCY.

UM,

[01:35:01]

COUNCILMAN ADAMS. SO I AM, UM, FOCUSED ON THE, THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR, UM, AGREEMENT AND, AND WONDERING, YOU KNOW, IF WE WERE TO, UM, GO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH, UM, SOMEONE LIKE BIG BUDDY AND BIG BUDDY, UM, YOU KNOW, HAS, HAS ADULTS THAT WORK WITH CHILDREN, AND THEY WOULD WANT TO KNOW IF SOMEONE HAD BEEN, UM, YOU KNOW, ARRESTED FOR, YOU KNOW, OR BEEN CONVICTED OF, OF A A SEX CRIME WITH A MINOR.

WOULD, WOULD, WOULD THIS, WOULD THIS PREVENT THEM FROM, WOULD THIS PREVENT THEM FROM HA CONTRACTING WITH US? SO IT, IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE VERY SPECIFIC FACTS OF THE SITUATION, BUT IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH THAT WOULD FALL UNDER THE, UM, EXCEPTION OF IF ANY OTHER LAW REQUIRES THAT YOU HAVE A BACKGROUND CHECK.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WORKING WITH CHILDREN.

SO THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO HAVE BACKGROUND CHECKS IF ANOTHER LAW, UH, ALLOWED FOR THAT.

GOT IT.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE CATCHALL THAT MAKES SURE THAT THAT DOESN'T CATCH.

SO IF A CONTRACTOR, IF HE GET, IF HE'S AWARDED THE BID, AWARDED THE CONTRACT, AND HE SIGNS THE CONDITION, THE AFFIDAVIT STATING THAT HE'S GONNA ABIDE BY THIS ORDINANCE AND HE, HE HE'S GONNA HIRE A SUBCONTRACTOR, WHAT IF THAT SUBCONTRACTOR'S HIRING PRACTICES INCLUDE SOMETHING THAT IS AT ODDS WITH THIS? SO I WOULD ASSUME THAT IT WOULD BE, UH, SIMILAR TO THE INSURANCE SITUATION, WHICH IS OUR CONTRACT TYPICALLY TELL CONTRACTORS THAT IF THEY HIRE SUBCONTRACTORS THAT THEY MUST MEET ALL OF THE INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS REQUIRED BY THE CITY PARISH.

MANY OF OUR CONTRACT TERMS ARE PASSED ALONG TO SUBCONTRACTORS.

SO THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO, WOULD THE SUBCONTRACTOR HAVE TO SIGN AN AFFIDAVIT TOO? NO.

WHY? YOU WOULD BE AGREEING THAT, UH, YOUR CONTRACT TERMS, JUST AS IN THE INSURANCE, THERE WOULD BE A STATEMENT THAT SAID, UH, THIS IS THE INSURANCE THAT'S REQUIRED FOR THIS CONTRACT.

IF YOU HAVE ANY SUBCONTRACTORS, YOU MUST REQUIRE THEM TO HAVE THAT IN TERMS SO, SO THEN, SO THEN THE CONTRACTOR THEN THAT IS THE WAY THAT I WOULD ENVISION IT.

OF COURSE, I'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.

SO THEN YEAH, I UNDERSTAND.

SO THE CONTRACTOR WOULD THEN HAVE TO, UM, ENSURE THAT THE SUBCONTRACTOR HAS THE SAME KIND OF HIRING PRICES THAT HE HAS IF THEY'RE WORKING ON CITY PARISH CONTRACT.

FOR THAT CONTRACT.

IT'S CUMBERSOME, BUT, OKAY.

I THINK ALSO, I, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T POINT OUT THAT IF, FOR EXAMPLE, SOMEONE DOES MAKE A COMPLAINT AND INDICATE THAT ONE OF OUR CONTRACTORS, UM, DISCRIMINATED OR RATHER, UH, CHO DISCRIMINATION IS THE WRONG WORD, BUT IT VIOLATED, UM, THEIR TERMS AND WERE, UM, SORRY, I LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT.

AND THAT THEY FELT THAT THEY, UH, WERE VIOLATED IN THAT WAY.

WE DON'T HAVE A PROCEDURE UNDER WHICH THEY COULD COMPLAIN AND WE WOULD KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THAT CONTRACT.

WELL THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE PART FIVE COMES IN, WHICH IS WHAT I SPOKE TO EARLIER.

SO, YES, SIR.

AND, AND I THINK THAT MAY NEED SOME CLARITY CUZ WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TIMELINES ON, UH, COUNCILMAN DUNN WAS CORRECT THAT THE PROCEDURE TO, IF WE KNOW SOMEBODY DOES NOT SIGN OR DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE AFFIDAVIT, IF THEY, THEY DON'T SIGN IT AND THEY'RE SAYING, I'M NOT AGREEING TO THAT CONDITION.

WE KNOW WE HAVE A PROCEDURE.

IT MIGHT BE A DEPENDS, BUT WE STILL HAVE A PROCEDURE TO DEAL WITH THAT.

BUT IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE'S A COMPLAINT THAT MAY NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED OR VETTED, THAT IS WHAT SECTION FIVE SPEAKS TO THAT WE DON'T HAVE CLARITY ON.

COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.

AYE.

LABOR, MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD.

UM, SO THIS AGENDA ITEM IS ONLY IF WE'RE FOR THE PE FOR RFP AND RFQ THAT GO THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.

IT IS NOT FOR, UM, ANYONE ELSE.

UM, THE LOUISIANA UNIFORM PUBLIC WORK GRID ALREADY HAS ADDRESSED THE SPECIFIC THINGS THAT WILL GO IN EACH CONTRACT.

ALL OF THOSE ARE ALREADY IN LAW.

THIS ITEM WOULD COME UNDER LABOR.

THERE ARE ALREADY SEVERAL ITEMS THAT ALREADY

[01:40:01]

COME UNDER LABOR.

LABOR.

ALL YOU ARE ADDING IS THAT THE BAND A BOX, WHICH IS AN APPLICATION THAT, THAT GOES, THAT IS REMOVED FROM THE APPLICATION FOR THESE, UM, FOR CITY PARISH THEME, I AM THE ONE THAT AUTHORED THE BAN THE BOX FOR CITY PARISH WORKER.

I HAD ONE PERSON THAT I WAS DEALING WITH AND IT WAS MORRISON FOWLER, EVERYBODY THAT WAS NECESSARY TO TALK TO.

HE DID.

HE TALKED TO HR, HE SPOKE WITH THE, UM, THE HR COMMITTEE.

HE SPOKE WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

HE DID ALL THE DUE.

HE AND I WORKED WITH IT.

IT WAS SEAMLESS.

AND HE, THE P AS A PAR, THE PARISH ATTORNEY WHO IS CHARGED WITH HELPING ME MAKE SURE THAT THIS TOUCHED EVERYTHING.

HE GOT UP THERE AND LED THE EFFORT.

AND WHEN YOU'VE HAD THAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, INCOMPETENCE WHEN YOU SEE IT, WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM AND I, AND, AND, UM, COUNCILMAN MO PROBABLY DOESN'T REALIZE WHEN YOU AND COUNCILMAN DUNN CAME TO MY OFFICE, THAT THE GEORGIA NEWMAN COMMUNITY CENTER, THAT WAS LAST SUMMER.

THAT IS WHEN I BROUGHT THIS TO YOU ALL.

THIS IS NOTHING NEW FOLKS.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

WE HAVE WORKED ON THIS PROGRE PROCESS FOR ALMOST A YEAR.

HOLD, HOLD UP, HOLD ON.

LET FINISH, LET FINISH IT IS THE EXACT, IT IS THE WORD.

JUST AS THEY INDICATED, THIS IS THE WORDING THAT WAS DONE BY A MASTER WITH MAR AND FOWLER.

AND THE ONLY PART OF IT WAS TO ADD TO THE LABOR, THE RULES AS IT RELATES TO THE, UM, LOUISIANA, UH, PUBLIC BID.

IT'S ALREADY IN WRITING.

IT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY THE STATE.

WE ARE JUST ASKING THAT OUR CONTRACTOR, NOT OUR, NOT THEIR SUBS OR ANY OF THAT, WE ARE STRICTLY TALKING ABOUT OUR CONTRACTORS.

IF EV EVERY CONTRACTOR THAT USUALLY COMES THROUGH CITY PARISH, THEY ALREADY KNOW WHAT IS EXPECTED IN THE RFP AND THE RFQ.

SO THEY'RE NOT GONNA BID ON SOMETHING AND THEN AT THE END COME BACK AND SAY, OH, I'M NOT GONNA SIGN THIS.

COME ON Y'ALL.

NOBODY DOES THAT.

SO THE THING THAT EVEN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COME UP IN A RF IN A, UM, PUBLIC BID IS THAT YOUR ADMINISTRATION COST SHOULD NOT BE MORE THAN 15%.

HAS A CONTRACTOR EVER SAID, OH, I NEED 25 AND NOT SIGN THE CONTRACT? NO, IT SAYS THAT YOUR EQUIPMENT NEEDS TO BE A, WITH THE ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT, DEALER'S RENTAL RATE.

HAS SOMEBODY, HAS ANYBODY EVER COME BACK AND SAY, OH, I'M NOT GONNA FOLLOW THAT? NO.

IT IS SO DISHEARTENING WHEN YOU WORK IN GOOD FAITH WITH THE VERY PEOPLE WHO'S SUPPOSED TO BE LOOKING OUT FOR THE PEOPLE, THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT ACCORDING TO DEPARTMENT OF CH OF, OF, UM, CHAMBER IS HURTING FOR WORKERS.

WE'RE SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TRAINING, UM, INCARCERATED PERSONS AT THAT, AT, AT, UM, ALL THE PENAL INSTITUTION.

WHY ARE WE DOING THAT IF WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET HIRED? NOBODY ASKS.

WHEN YOU GO TO AN INTERVIEW, YOU GO TO YOU IN, THEY, THEY, FIRST OF ALL, NO EMPLOYER.

THEY, IF IT'S A MATTER OF PRACTICE, THEY GONNA RESPECT THE APPLICATION.

FIRST OF ALL.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING.

DO I WANT TO INTERVIEW 'EM OR DO I DON'T? THAT'S THEIR CHOICE.

THE NEXT THING IS THEY'RE GONNA GO THROUGH, CALL THEM IN AND SPEAK TO 'EM.

IF THEY LIKE 'EM, THAT'S THEIR CHOICE.

IF THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T.

HOW MANY TIMES DO THEY ASK YOU FOR YOUR, A COPY OF YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE BEFORE THEY MAKE YOU A OFFER? THIS IS NO DIFFERENT.

HOW MANY TIMES DO, WOULD, WOULD THEY ASK YOU TO BRING IN A COPY OF YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CARD? NOT INTO AN OFFER IS MADE.

THIS IS COMMON SENSE.

THIS ISN'T ANYTHING HARD UNLESS YOU DON'T WANT IT.

IT HAS BEEN AN UPHILL BATTLE FROM DAY ONE WITH A PARISH ATTORNEY STARTING WITH THEY D THIS WAS APPROVED IN NEW ORLEANS.

[01:45:02]

WE HAD, WE EVEN, THEY, THEY, WE WERE TOLD THAT IT, WHAT NEW ORLEANS HAD APPROVAL WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

HOW COULD AN ORDINANCE BY A CITY GOVERNMENT THAT PASSED BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND ATTORNEY GENERAL, NOT CHECK IT, BUT OUR PARISH ATTORNEY TOLD IT WOULD, TOLD US IT WAS A, IT WAS, UM, AGAINST THE LAW.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH.

WE HAVE SENT THIS FORM, THE, THE, THIS FARM OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

WE HAVE ACTUALLY SPOKE WITH NOT THEN, WHICH IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THEIR JOB, THE POWER COALITION.

THEY ARE THE ONE WHICH IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THEM THAT HAD TO GO AND SPEAK TO EACH DEPARTMENT.

THE MAYOR'S OFFICE THEY SAID THEY HAD, DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.

SPOKE WITH THE, UM, NOT ONLY THIS INTERIM, BUT ALSO THE PREVIOUS.

WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PUT THIS ON HOLD FOR A YEAR BECAUSE THE MAYOR FIRED THE LAST PURCHASE DIRECTOR THAT WE HAD GOT HIM STRAIGHT WITH EVEN THIS GENTLEMAN HAD HAD IT FOR OVER A WEEK.

AND HE SAID HE, YOU KNOW, HE SAID HE'S, IF YOU HAVE A INTERIM IN HIS POSITION AND THEY DON'T KNOW, HAVE NO CLUE ON HOW TO ADD THIS TO THIS PROCESS, AND YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORK IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND YOU NEED 30 DAYS, YOU SHOULD NOT BE IN THAT POSITION.

COULD THIS EASY WORK, THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS.

A COPY AND PASTE EFFORT.

SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN LESLIE CHAMBERS IN A YEAR ON THIS, BUT WE HEAR ABOUT IT HERE THIS WEEK.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN PAUL NACY IN A YEAR.

IT IS INCOMPETENT FOR OUR, ME AS A COUNCIL MEMBER TO WORK FOR OVER 12 MONTHS ON SOMETHING.

SPEAK TO THEM AT NINE O'CLOCK.

WHAT MONDAY MORNING WE STRAIGHT AND THEN GET HERE AT THE COUNCIL MEETING AND HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS.

AND YOU NEED A WHOLE TEAM.

YOU NEED FIVE PARISH ATTORNEYS TO DEAL WITH THIS ONE LITTLE WORD THAT'S INCOMPETENCE PEOPLE AT ITS CORE.

I'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS WITH, WITH, WITH, UH, WITH THE, WITH I KNOW WHAT GOOD LEADERSHIP AND GOOD LEGAL COUNSEL MEANS WHEN YOU WORKING OUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS THAT'S GONNA HELP.

EVEN LOBBY SAYS THAT.

BUT THEY DID RESEARCH.

THEY SAY THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE IS A LACK OF, OF, OF WORKFORCE WELDERS ARE GETTING HIRED, ARE GETTING TRAINED AT ANGOLA MANUFACTURING AUTOMOBILE.

AND WE'RE GONNA SAY, WE DON'T WANT THAT.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH US? WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY? SEAN, COME ON, SHAWN.

SO AS A MATTER OF PRACTICE, IF, IF THE, UM, IF THE PURCHASING DIRECTOR NEEDS TIME, I RESPECT THAT.

YOU KNOW, I RESPECT THAT.

IT'S A, IT'S A NEW THING.

HE'S NOT THROWING ME EAR.

AND IT'S A, IT'S A NEW PRACTICE.

SO I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DEFERRED FOR TWO WEEKS.

THERE'S A MOTION TO DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS AND A SECOND, UH, BY COUNCIL NUMBER.

DUN.

UH, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION TO DEFER? I HAD A WHOLE LOT OF NOTES BEFORE YOU, UH, I WAS ABOUT TO SAY SOMETHING, BUT I'LL WAIT FOR TWO WEEKS.

NO OBJECTIONS.

ITEM 70.

OH, UH, ONE OBJECTION.

ANY OB OBJECTION? YOU OBJECT OR YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? WE, YOU READY? MOVE ON.

GOT 71 ITEMS. I DON'T WANNA MAKE, UH, I WANT TO AMEND, I WANT TO MAKE A SECONDARY MOTION FOR 30 DAYS.

I DON'T, TWO WEEKS.

WE STILL HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION MOTION ABOUT THIS.

SUBSTITUTE MOTION FOR 30 DAYS.

WE'RE WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION FIRST, MA'AM, IS THERE A SECOND FOR THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION? MOTION FAILS FOR LACK OF A SECOND.

WE GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION IS WE GOT ONE OBJECTION TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION FOR TWO WEEKS.

ITEM 72 HAS BEEN APPROVED.

WE NOW, I MEAN, EXCUSE ME, HAS BEEN DEFERRED FOR TWO WEEKS.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO NEEDS

[143. 23-00556 ]

TO LEAVE.

SO WE'RE GONNA GO TO ITEM ONE.

[01:50:01]

WE GOT 72 MORE ITEMS TO GO.

APPOINTMENT TO FILL THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF APRIL.

HAR THIRD'S TERM EXPIRES ON DECEMBER 31ST.

2023.

EXCUSE ME, I'M, I'M SORRY.

1 43 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT.

GREATER BATON ROUGE AIRPORT DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.

ONE APPOINTMENT TO FIELD THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF ALFRED BUCKLEY.

THIS TERM EXPIRES ON JANUARY FOUR, FIRST, 2024.

CURRENT BALLOT.

SHAWNA BANKS, KEN PERRET AND ERICA TAYLOR.

UH, IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBERS? MOTION TO APPOINT COUNCIL ONE.

MS. SHAWN BANKS.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER NOEL.

COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

MOTION TO APPOINT COUNCILMAN, LOOK, WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE APPOINTMENT AND THE ORDER THEY HAVE BEEN NOMINATED.

WE'LL VOTE ON COUNCIL BANKS FIRST AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE BALLOT AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE PERSON WHO IS NOMINATED.

SO YOU COUNCIL NUMBER MO SAID.

CONGRATULATIONS APPOINT CONGRATULATIONS.

ANYONE ELSE? ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA VOTE FIRST FOR SHAWN BANKS.

HMM? WE'RE VOTING ON FOUR PEOPLE.

WE'RE GONNA RUN THE BALLOT.

YOU CAN ONLY VOTE FOR ONE.

IF YOU ARE NOT VOTING FOR THE CANDIDATE, PLEASE DO NOT VOTE.

MACHINES ARE OPEN ON SHAWN BANKS.

I SEE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE.

I DON'T WANT TO TAKE TOO MUCH OF THEIR TIME.

LET'S GO TO

[Items 144 & 145 ]

ITEMS 1 44 AND 1 45.

HOW'S GONNA AUTHORITY EAST PARENTS PARISH 40? WE, WE GONNA DO IT.

WE GONNA DO IT? I MEAN, I'M, I'M, I THINK I, I GOT IT.

I BELIEVE , UH, UH, ONE APPOINT HOUSING AUTHORITY EAST BARRON PARISH.

ONE APPOINTMENT OF FIELD UNEXPIRED TERM OF PHYLLIS SMITH.

THIS TERM EXPIRES ON AUGUST 9TH, 2025.

CURRENT BALLOT IS BRANDON KELLY, TERRY LANDRY AND ERICA TILL.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 44? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL.

MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT TERRY LANDRY.

MOTION TO APPOINT TERRY LANDRY.

SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO TERRY LANDRY BEING APPOINTED? CONGRATULATIONS MR. LANDRY.

IS HE HERE? STAND UP SO WE CAN SEE YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR OFFERING YOUR SERVICE.

ITEM 1 45 HOUSING AUTHORITY.

I GOTTA TAKE A PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE.

EXCUSE ME, SIR.

UH, AS ONE OF MY GOOD LINE BROTHERS FROM OMEGA SOUTH FIVE FOR TRYING INCORPORATED.

SO I WANNA DO THAT.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THIS TERM EXPIRES JULY 23RD, 2026.

ONE APPOINTMENT TO FIELD UNEXPIRED.

TERM OF RETIRE STERLING.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? WHAT? NO.

BRANDON, BRANDON KELLY.

I MAKE THE MOTION.

MOTION.

BRANDON, IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO BRANDON KELLY? NEED A SECOND? BRANDON KELLY HAS BEEN A, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HEARST.

UH, ANY OPPOSITION? MS. UH, MR. KELLY HERE THIS EVENING? PLEASE STAND SO WE CAN SEE.

THAT IS CHARLES KELLY'S SON RIGHT THERE.

THANK YOU FOR OFFERING UP THE SERVICE.

WE SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOU.

WE NOW GO

[142. 23-00560 ]

TO ITEM 1 42.

ONE APPOINTMENT TO FILL THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF APRIL HAWTHORNE.

THE TERM EXPIRES DECEMBER 31ST, 2023.

THIS PERSON MUST BE RURAL OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS APPOINTMENT.

WE HAVE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER NOEL.

THIS IS TO FILL UNEXPIRED TERM FOR OF MS. APRIL HAWTHORNE.

WHO'S, UH, ZACHARY RESIDENT.

AND, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A NOMINATION, MAKE A MOTION TO, UM, APPOINT JODI BOYD TO FILL THAT.

THERE'S A MOTION TO APPOINT JODI BOYD.

AND A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKER.

COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.

I, UH, UH, HAVE A MOTION TO APPOINT CHRISTOPHER ARD.

HE, UM, IS THE PRESIDENT OF GLEN OAKS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION SERVICES 4,400 HOUSES.

HAS GREAT KNOWLEDGE OF DEALING WITH, UH, COMMUNITY-BASED DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS THE, THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY.

SO IT'S MULTI MULTIFACETED ASKIA, SUPPORT.

SUPPORT.

WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE BALLOT SINCE TWO OF THE NAMES NOMINATOR OWN THE BALLOT.

WE GONNA VOTE THE BALLOT STARTING WITH JODY BOYD.

MACHINES ARE OPEN FOR JODY BOYD.

JODY BOYD, YOU CAN ONLY VOTE FOR ONE.

PLEASE VOTE YES.

CONGRATULATIONS.

MR. BOYD HAS BEEN APPOINTED COUNCIL

[01:55:01]

MEMBERS.

IS HE HERE? MR. BOYD? IS MR. BOYD HERE.

PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.

THANK YOU FOR OFFERING YOURSELF.

FOR SERVICE

[120. 23-00501 ]

COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'RE GONNA GO TO ITEM ONE 20.

AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT INTO PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH THE RIPPING THE AMOUNT OF $108,000 TO PROVIDE MANAGEMENT AND CONSULTING FOR TECHNIC ASSISTANCE SERVICES AND ASSISTANT DEPARTMENT WITH DEVELOPMENT OF GRANT STRATEGY AND PROPOSALS TO SUPPORT ESTABLISHED GOALS AND PRIORITIES BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM OR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE 1 21 20.

WE ON ONE 20.

MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

DUN.

THERE.

ANY OBJECTIONS? ANY OBJECTIONS ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED.

I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO RECOGNIZE AN INDIVIDUAL, MY BIG SISTER WHO RETIRED FROM A 30 YEAR CAREER IN THE FAA TO COME BACK AND WORK HERE IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.

AND I'M DELIGHTED TO HAVE HER HERE TO BORROW MONEY FROM HER AND .

HAVE HER BABYSIT.

MS. WOODLEY, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED? MS. WHITLEY, YOU'RE NOT IN HERE.

I THOUGHT I SAW HER IN HERE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE GO TO ITEM 87 REQUESTING THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE PERMIT OFFICE, AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO STUDY AMENDING REGULATIONS, ADDITION REQUIREMENTS FOR TOBACCO RETAILERS, SPECIFICALLY VAPE SHOPS AND THOSE RETAILERS SELLING CIGARETTES AND VAPE PRODUCTS BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROWDY.

WELL WE MOVE ON.

SHE MIGHT HAVE STEPPED OUT.

ALL RIGHT, WE MOVE ON.

[87. 23-00437 ]

GO THERE.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER A.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 87? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 87? COUNCIL MEMBER HEARS.

I JUST HAVE A QUESTION.

THIS IS LIMITATIONS FROM WHAT? ALL RIGHT.

YOU WANT SOMEONE TO ANSWER THAT? OKAY.

I'M GONNA MAKE SURE WE GETS, OKAY.

IS IT FROM SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, NEIGHBORHOODS, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, UM, SPECIFICALLY, UH, PLACES OF, UH, WORSHIP.

IT'S JUST TO, TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS EVEN POSSIBLE TO DO, UM, TO SEE IF IT'S A DISTANCE REQUIREMENT.

JUST LIKE THEY HAVE SIMILARITIES TO BARS.

HAVE A 300 FOOT.

SO THAT'S ALL IT IS.

COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

WELL, I WANNA FIRST SAY, FORGIVE ME ROWDY AND DENISE FOR ASKING THIS QUESTION CUZ IT, IT JUST LITERALLY DAWNED ON ME.

UM, WOULD IT BE, JERMAINE, AND THIS IS REALLY A QUESTION FOR ASHLEY.

WOULD IT BE JERMAINE FOR US TO ADD PROVISIONS TO LOOK AT, UM, DELTA EIGHT AND NINE C B D AS WELL INTO THIS? I'M NOT KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THOSE PRODUCTS.

UM, WOULD THOSE BE CONSIDERED VAPE PRODUCTS? SO THEY CAN BE IN THE FORM OF VAPE? THEY COULD BE IN THE FORM OF, UH, BUDS.

IT COULD BE IN THE FORM.

IT COULD TAKE LOTS OF DIFFERENT FORMS. I THINK IT, BUT IT'S A SPECIFIC STRAIN OF, UH, CBD OR THC THAT IS CURRENTLY LEGAL.

UM, BUT THERE IS SOME CONCERN IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT IT.

SO, AND THEY ARE TYPICALLY SOLD AT VAPE SHOPS, BUT, BUT SOMETIMES THEY'RE, THEY'RE SOLD AT JUST IN REG IN REGULAR STORES AS WELL.

SO YOU COULD MAKE A FLOOR AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE THOSE AND WE CAN INCLUDE THAT INTO THE STUDY AS WELL.

AND I KNOW CURRENTLY AT THE LEGISLATOR LEGISLATION RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE LOOKING AT CRAO AND SOME OTHER, UH, ASPECTS OF THE CBD PRODUCTS AS WELL.

SO WE COULD MAKE A FLOOR AMENDMENT INCLUDE THAT AS WELL.

I WOULD OFFER THAT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, UH, IF THE AUTHORS WOULD CONSIDER IT, UM, TO INCLUDE THATUM AND, UH, MARIJUANA AS WELL.

THAT'S AN AMENDMENT.

AND A SECOND.

WELL, YOU OFFERED THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.

WAS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE OR IS THAT, OR IS THAT THE MOTION? HMM.

ARE THE AUTHORS MOTION TO APPROVE? YES.

LET'S GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.

UH, I ACTUALLY THINK DWIGHT IS ON SOMETHING HERE.

I THINK YOU PROBABLY NOT NEED TO JUST SAY DELTA EIGHT, BUT JUST SAY C, B D, WHICH, WHICH CLASSIFIES ALL C B D FORMS AND, AND MAYBE CONSIDERED TO THE AUTHOR'S, UM, THC AS WELL.

I KNOW IT'S NOT CURRENTLY LEGAL, BUT SINCE YOU'RE DOING THE STUDY, I THINK IT, IT MAY BE GOOD TO LOOK AT ALL THIS STUFF.

CAN, CAN I PIGGYBACK OFF HERE REAL QUICK? SURE.

UM, I, I I THINK THE LANGUAGE SHOULD WOULD BE THC AS OPPOSED TO C B.

UM, Y'ALL IN Y'ALL IN THE BUSINESS OR SOMETHING.

DON'T FEEL LIKE WE, MAYBE WE KNOW TOO MUCH.

GOODNESS.

I THINK YOU, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, DWIGHT, BECAUSE CD IS, IS AN ELEMENT OF T C ALL COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE.

GOODNESS.

AND DWIGHT COUNCIL MEMBER MO.

YEAH, I

[02:00:01]

I I'M GOOD.

I I AGREE WITH THE AMENDMENT AND I THINK THERE'S, I, I DON'T KNOW, APOLLO, CAN YOU COME UP THERE? LOOK, IF WE'RE GONNA DO A STUDY CHIEF AND CHAR YEAH.

IF WE'RE GONNA DO A STUDY, UM, AND, AND I SEE 'EM POPPING UP ALL OVER THE PLACES, LIKE CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS THAT GO OUT BY GAS, BUY GAS STATIONS AND THEY JUST, IT TURNS INTO A, UM, CRANIUM CBD, E E EVERYTHING.

NOW THE CBD SHOPS OR THEMSELVES ARE LIKE STANDALONE, CORRECT? NOT EV NOT, NOT NECESSARILY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF, UH, RETAIL STORES THAT SELL CBD PRODUCTS, BUT AGAIN, THAT GOES THROUGH THE STATE ATC OFFICE THAT REGULATES, UH, CBD.

SO THEY WOULD REGULATE THAT.

SO WE CAN CERTAINLY INCLUDE ANY AND ALL OF THOSE PRODUCTS, UM, TO BE INCLUDED IN THE STUDY.

SO I, I JUST WANT CLARIFICATION CUZ I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL'S INCLUDED OR THE, THE ACTUAL LEGAL PART OF MARIJUANA OR THE, THE NOT LEGAL PART OF MARIJUANA.

UM, WITH, WITH THE STATE LOOKING INTO HALL, LOOSENING OTHER REGIS, UM, RESTRICTIONS AND EVERYTHING ON LEGAL MARIJUANA AND STUFF, POSSIBLY DO WE JUST INCLUDE THE WHOLE BATCH OR DID WHAT THEY JUST SAY INCLUDES ALL TYPES OF MARIJUANA? UH, SO THE STATE MAKES A DISTINCTION BETWEEN CBD AND THEN THC.

UM, AND SO CURRENTLY WE WOULD INCLUDE, I I THINK JUST FOR, YOU KNOW, JUST FOR CLARITY'S SAKE, JUST DOING INCLUDE THC AND CBD TOGETHER, UH, CRA DELTA EIGHT AND ANY OTHER BYPRODUCTS LIKE THAT? WE'LL, WE'LL YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO GET AS SPECIFIC AS THAT.

WE'LL, OKAY.

WE'LL INCLUDE ALL OF THOSE, BUT THIS JUST AUTHORIZES THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO ENGAGE IN THAT STUDY.

ITEM 88, AUTHORIZED IN THE MAYOR PRESENT TO EXECUTE IN AGREEMENT WITH THE GRACE HERBERT CURTIS ARCHITECTS LLC FOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER, UPGRADES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED YOU.

SO WE WILL INCLUDE THAT.

BUT YOU KNOW, FOR CLARITY'S SAKE, I WOULD JUST INCLUDE T H C C B D, PRUM AND ANY THE OTHER OF THOSE TYPE OF PRODUCTS.

SO, UH, JUST ONE THING I'D LIKE Y'ALL TO BE COGNIZANT OF AS Y'ALL DO THIS STUDY.

UM, WE RAN INTO THIS YEARS AGO WITH, UH, WHEN IT CAME TO, UM, LIER LICENSE AND ZACHARY, UM, WITH PROXIMITY TO SCHOOL AND CHURCH, UM, WHEN THAT LAW WAS INITIATED YEARS AND YEARS AGO, IT WAS, UM, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE INTENT OF YOUR TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.

HOWEVER, WE STARTED TO SEE, UM, SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES POP UP IN STRIP MALLS, AND THEN THEY EVEN STARTED TO QUESTION, WELL, WHAT KIND OF SCHOOL WAS A DANCE SCHOOL WAS A DRIVING SCHOOL? AND SO I THINK, UM, AS WE APPROACHED THIS, PLEASE TRY TO BE VERY, UH, COGNIZANT OF THAT AND GET REAL GRANULAR ON SOME OF THOSE ITEMS. UH, WE HAD A, A SITUATION WHERE THERE WAS A, A MEXICAN RESTAURANT THAT HAD BEEN THERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND A, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A SCHOOL OR A CHURCH, SOMETHING CAME INTO THAT SAME STRIP MALL.

AND THEN THAT RESTAURANT WENT TO CHANGE HANDS WITHIN THE SAME FAMILY, AND THEY WERE RUNNING INTO AN ISSUE GETTING A LIQUOR LICENSE BECAUSE OF THAT.

UM, JUST BECAUSE NOW IT WAS WITHIN PROXIMITY TO, UH, A CHURCH OR A SCHOOL.

SO ANYWAY, UM, I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S WAYS AROUND THAT AND, UM, I'M SURE OUR LEGAL TEAM CAN PROVIDE FOR THAT.

SO I JUST WANTED THAT TO BE TOP OF MIND AS WE APPROACH IT.

JUST BE THINKING OF IT.

SO THAT'S ALL BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

LET'S ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

WHAT IS THE MOTION? THE MOTION IS TO ADD THAT LANGUAGE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON AS AMENDED.

SECOND AS AMENDED.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOE.

ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 87 HAS BEEN APPROVED.

AND NOW GO.

[88. 23-00429 ]

$136,323 BY THE BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS DIRECTORS.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 88? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 88? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. NO OBJECTIONS.

[89. 23-00430 ]

GO TO ITEM 89, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE D N A WORKSHOP FOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, SERVICE AND CONNECTION WITH THE CAPITOL AREA, UNITED WAY ENVELOPE REPAIRS, AND THE AMOUNT NOW TO EXCEED $58,805 BY THE BUILDING AND GROUND DIRECTOR.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 89? WE GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

WE GO TO ITEM

[90. 23-00478 ]

80, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE 90, EXCUSE ME, AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR PRESENT TO EXECUTE A, AN AGREEMENT WITH MUGO

[02:05:02]

ARCHITECT LLC FOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH CITY HALL SECURITY UPGRADES IN THE MOUNTAIN C $87,000.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 90 OR TO COUNCIL MEMBERS? IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

QUICK QUICK QUESTION.

COUNCIL MEMBER, DONNA, CAN ANYBODY SPEAK TO THIS? IS, DOES THIS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE, UM, THE SCANNERS WHEN WE'RE SAYING SECURITY UPGRADES? WE'VE TALKED ABOUT GETTING THESE SCANNERS AS PEOPLE IN THE CITY HALL.

IS IS THIS THAT ALL RIGHT, THAT'S ALL I NEED.

92 AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF L A D O T D REVIEW OF PERMIT REQUEST FOR GUIDE SIGNS ON STRAIGHT RIGHT OF WAY FOR PLACEMENT OF GUIDE SIGNS AT THE INTERSECTION OF PLANK ROAD AND BLUNT ROAD FACING NORTH AND SOUTH IN ORDER TO DIRECT VEHICLE TRAFFIC TOWARD THE AVIATION ACADEMY, LOCATED AT AIR PARK BOULEVARD, THE SIGN SHE HELIS AVIATION ACADEMY AND HAVE AN ACCOMPANYING DIRECTION, RAILROAD BY AVIATION DIRECT.

MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CURTISS DURING OBJECTION.

ITEM 90 HAS BEEN

[91. 23-00432 ]

APPROVED.

91 AUTHOR AUTHORIZATION FOR THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMENCE AN EXCUSE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER ONE WITH SHRED KIRKENDALL AND ASSOCIATES FOR NORTHWEST AVIATION DEVELOPMENT TAXI WAY TO PROVIDE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT NOW TO EXCEED 104,009 82006 CENTS.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 91? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

ANY OBJECTIONS REGARDING

[92. 23-00433 ]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 92? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DON SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMAR.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO TO

[93. 23-00434]

ITEM 93, AUTHORIZATION FOR MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO EXECUTE A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH TOTAL DELIVERY AND LOGISTICS L L C TO LEASE 6,250 SQUARE FEET OF CARGO SPACE FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS WITH ONE TWO YEAR MUTUAL OPTION TO RENEW AT A RENTAL RATE OF $34,375.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 93? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO TO ITEM

[94. 23-00431]

94, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT TO APPLY, ACCEPT AND EXECUTE GRANT AGREEMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 24 EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER GRANT WITH FEMA IN THE AMOUNT OF $994,900 AND APPROPRIATE $250,000 FOR THE LOCAL MATCH REQUIREMENT BY HOMELAND SECURITY.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 94? WE GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOK.

WE NOW GO

[95. 23-00439]

TO ITEM 95 AUTHORIZING AMER PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,450,000 WITH HUNT GILIARD AND ASSOCIATES UNDER THE HAZARDOUS MITIGATION OUTREACH PROJECT BY HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 95? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SO MOVE BY COUNCILMAN MAGO, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO TO ITEM 96,

[96. 23-00453]

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT NEXT FEW GRANTS FROM THE WALMART FOUNDATION IN THE AMOUNTS OF 5,000 TO 4,000 TO DR.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

COMMUNITY CENTER FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO PROVIDE SUPPLIES, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND DISTRICT SEVEN THAT ARE IN NEED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE DR.

MARTIN LUTHER KING CENTER.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 96? MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GOK SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

YOU KNOW, I LOVE IT.

UH, ANY OBJECTIONS? UH, ITEM 96 HAS BEEN APPROVED.

WE GO

[97. 23-00454]

TO ITEM 97, AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL RECREATION AND TOURISM OF TRACE COMMISSION TO ACCEPT THE GRANT AWARD FOR THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT IN THE AMOUNT OF $12,500 FOR THE BATON ROUGE RIVERFRONT WAYFINDING AND GATEWAY SIGNAGE PROJECT.

THE GRANT REQUIRES MATCHING FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF 12,500, WHICH WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH THE DDS BUDGET FOR THE TOTAL PROJECT COST OF 25,000 BY DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 97? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL.

MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN SECOND HERE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO TO

[98. 23-00455]

ITEM 98 APPROVING THE RESPONSES PROVIDED TO THE ANNUAL LOUISIANA COMPLIANCE QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE YEAR 2022 AS REQUIRED BY THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT, THE STATE OF LOUISIANA BY FINANCE DIRECTOR.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 98? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HER SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. ANY

[99. 23-00460]

OBJECTIONS? WE NOW 99 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT EXECUTING AMENDMENT WITH THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH PAUL WADE ANNVILLE APAC FOR THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT AND THE RAISING KINGS RIVER CENTER MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT AUDIT FOR 2022 AUDIT YEAR TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT FROM 352,000 TO AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 376,000 BY FINANCE DIRECTORS.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 99? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. ANY OBJECTIONS WE GO TO

[100. 23-00463]

ITEM 100? AMENDING TITLE 10, SECTION 10, 400 DEFINITIONS SO AS TO AMEND DEFINITIONS TO ADVANCE LIFE SUPPORT OPERATIONAL CONTROL PARAMEDIC UNIT AND PROTOCOLS

[02:10:01]

BY DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MURDER MEDICAL SERVICES.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 100 COUNCIL MEMBERS? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MOROCCO.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCC COLEMAN.

ANY OBJECTIONS MAY GO TO ITEM

[101. 23-00464]

1 0 1 AMENDING THE TITLE 10 TRANSPORTATION SECTION TEN FOUR ZERO ONE.

DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

SO AS TO ADD LANGUAGE, ESTABLISHING OPERATIONAL CONTROL BY DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 0 1? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MCMAN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKA.

ITEM 1 0 1 HAS BEEN APPROVED.

SORRY, GO AHEAD COUNCIL MEMBER.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

UH, COUNCIL COUNCILMAN COLE.

THERE'S A REQUEST BY EMS FOR, UH, A FLOOR AMENDMENT.

THE FLOOR AMENDMENT.

AND I, I DID, UH, MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS DID GET IT IN ADVANCE FOR ITEM 1 0 1.

THE FLOOR AMENDMENT FOR THIS IS GONNA BE THE SUBSECTION D.

IT'S THE SAME LANGUAGE.

THEY JUST HAVE THESE, UH, SENTENCE RESTRUCTURED AND ENUMERATED FOR CLARITY.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BROCK.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

ITEM 1 0 1 HAS BEEN APPROVED.

[102. 23-00465]

ITEM 1 0 2, AMENDING TITLE 10 TRANSPORTATION, SECTION TEN FOUR ZERO THREE.

AMBULANCE SERVICE BY PRIVATE PROVIDER.

SO AS TO AMEND SUBSECTION E TO CHANGE CERTIFICATION FROM ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT LEVEL, THE BASIC LIFE SUPPORT LEVEL BY DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 0 2? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN MCC COLEMAN.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.

ITEM 1 0 2 WITH NO OBJECTIONS HAS BEEN

[103. 23-00466]

APPROVED.

WE GO TO 1 2, 3.

AMENDING TITLE 10 TRANSPORTATION.

SECTION TEN FOUR ONE TEN QUALIFICATIONS TO OPERATE AMBULANCES EQUIPMENT PERSONNEL.

SO AS TO AMEND SUBSECTION NINE TO CHANGE CERTIFIED EMT TO ADVANCE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS BY DIRECTOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 0 3? WE NOW THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S.

MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ASO SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 1 0 3 HAS BEEN APPROVED.

ITEM 1 0 4

[104. 23-00467]

AMENDING TITLED 10 SECTION TEN FOUR FIFTEEN, FAIR CHARGE OR FEE FOR AMBULANCE SERVICES.

SO AS TO AMEND THE FEE SCHEDULE, ESTABLISHED PARAMETERS FOR BILLING, USER CHARGES, AND ESTABLISH A SPECIAL EVENTS FEE SCHEDULED BY DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON 81 0 4? YOU GOT AN AMENDMENT, COURTNEY? YES, SIR, GO AHEAD.

UH, THIS AMENDMENT IS GOING TO BE TO THE SECOND PARAGRAPH OF SECTION FOUR 15.

THE AMENDMENT, UM, IS GONNA BE STARTING WITH, UH, LET'S SEE THAT, SORRY, THAT PARAGRAPH STARTS WITH, NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE AMENDMENT IS DELETION OF SHALL AUTOMATICALLY, AND THE ADDITION OF THE WORD MAY, MAY INCREASE ANNUALLY ON THE FIRST OF EACH YEAR.

NEXT, THE ADDITION OF SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL, THE APPROVAL OF THE METRO COUNCIL WITH THE DELETION OF, OF APPROVAL OF THIS AMENDED SECTION TEN FOUR FIFTEEN.

AND THEN IT CONTINUES ON WITHOUT EFFECT.

THAT'S THE AMENDMENT.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GO.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

NO.

ITEM 1 0 4 HAS BEEN APPROVED WITH NO OBJECTIONS.

WE GO TO ITEM

[105. 23-00468]

1 0 5, AMENDING TITLE VI SIX, PUBLIC HEALTH.

CHAPTER EIGHT, MISCELLANEOUS.

SO AS TO AS SECTION SIX, CODE 6 44 BALLOON RELEASE PROHIBITED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LORI ADAMS. IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? MAKE SURE YOU COME FORWARD.

STATE YOUR NAME.

OH, I GOT A LIST YOU WANNA READ FROM THE LIST.

WE'LL START WITH EMILY TAYLOR.

HI, I'M EMILY TAYLOR, AND, UM, I'M A VETER, A VETERINARIAN.

AND, UM, ONE RE RESPONSE I OFTEN GET WHEN PEOPLE FIND OUT I'M A VETERINARIAN IS, OH, YOU MUST REALLY LOVE ANIMALS.

AND IT'S A LITTLE ANNOYING, UM, BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF OBVIOUS, BUT I REALLY DO.

I REALLY DO LOVE ANIMALS.

UH, ALL KIND OF ANIMALS, UH, CATS, DOGS, UH, BIRDS, FISH, TURTLES, UH, SEA LIONS.

I LOVE 'EM ALL INSECTS.

I LOVE 'EM ALL.

UM, AND, AND I REALLY STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS ASSIGNED US DOMINION OVER HIS CREATION.

AND THAT WE ARE, WE NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE WITH HIS CREATION.

UM, AND THAT MEANS ALL THE ANIMALS.

UM, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT BALLOON RELEASES ARE PRETTY, THEY REALLY ARE.

THEY'RE REALLY BEAUTIFUL FOR A FEW MINUTES, BUT THEN WHEN THEY COME DOWN, WHICH THEY ALL DO, EVERY BALLOON THAT HAS EVER BEEN RELEASED HAS FALLEN DOWN TO EARTH.

UM, THEY JUST TURN INTO UGLY LITTER.

THEY'RE JUST LITTER.

AND I FIND THEM EVERYWHERE.

I FIND THEM OUT IN THE MARSHES

[02:15:01]

WHEN I'M OUT FISHING.

UM, I FIND THEM ON THE BEACH.

I HAVE PICKED THEM UP OUTTA MY BACKYARD.

I'VE SEEN THEM HANGING IN TREES OVER MY STREET.

UM, AND, AND THEY'RE JUST NOT ONLY, THEY'RE UNCI UNSIGHTLY, BUT THEY'RE JUST TERRIBLE FOR ANIMALS BECAUSE, UH, THE NATURE OF BALLOONS IS THEY'RE SOFT.

WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY LAND, THEY OFTEN LAND ON WATER AND THEY FLOAT.

UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT MARDI GRAS BEADS.

WELL, WE THROW MARDI GRAS BEADS.

WELL, MARDI GRAS BEADS, IF YOU THROW A MARDI GRAS BEAD IN A LAKE, IT'S GONNA SINK INTO THE MUCK AT THE BOTTOM.

IT'S NOT GONNA FLOAT ON THE SURFACE OF THE WATER AND LOOK LIKE, UM, A JELLYFISH THAT A TURTLE'S GOING TO EAT.

UM, AND THEN JUST PLUS THE NATURE OF THE, THE BALLOON, THE, THE MATERIAL THAT IT'S MADE OF, IT BLOCKS INTESTINAL TRACKS WAY WORSE THAN ANY OTHER KIND OF PLASTIC THAT AN ANIMAL MIGHT ACCIDENTALLY EAT.

IT'S LIKE I SAW SOMETHING THAT SAYS IT'S LIKE 30 TIMES MORE DANGEROUS FOR ANIMALS TO SWALLOW A BALLOON.

UM, THAT'S NOT EVEN TO MENTION THE STRINGS.

SO, AND THEY DON'T BREAK DOWN FOR YEARS.

SO THEY STAY OUT THERE FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

UM, AND SO I HOPE Y'ALL GOT THE LITTLE HANDOUT AND YOU SAW THE PICTURES.

I'VE GOT MORE PICTURES HERE.

JUST HEARTBREAKING, HEARTBREAKING IMAGES OF SEAGULLS, TURTLES, UH, ALL KIND OF ANIMALS WRAPPED UP IN BALLOON STRINGS, DYING HORRIBLE DEATH.

AND IT'S JUST, IT'S SO UNNECESSARY.

IT'S SO UNNECESSARY BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY OTHER WAYS TO MEMORIALIZE SOMEBODY.

UM, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT GONNA KILL ANIMALS.

UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S LOTS OF IDEAS OUT THERE.

UM, YOU KNOW, CANDLE LIGHTING, PLANT TREES, YOU KNOW, PUT SOMETHING LASTING LIKE A TREE OR A GARDEN THAT'S GONNA LAST.

UM, THROWING FLOWERS ON THE, ON THE RIVER.

WE'VE GOT THIS GREAT BIG RIVER HERE.

MA'AM.

MA'AM, THAT'S THE TIME.

UM, YOU WANNA WRAP IT UP? UM, I'M JUST SAYING IF YOU WANNA MEMORIALIZE SOMEBODY, ASK IF THEY LIKED, IF THEY LIKED ANIMALS, AND IF THEY WOULDN'T WANT TO BE MEMORIALIZED THAT WAY.

NEXT, WE'LL HAVE LETICIA DORSEY.

GOOD EVENING COUNSEL.

UM, I'M JUST GONNA GET TO THE POINT, I UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE SAID ABOUT THE ANIMALS OR WHATEVER, BUT MY BALLOON RELEASE IS AN HONOR OF MY BABY GIRL.

I'VE LOST MY ONLY DAUGHTER AT THE TENDER AGE OF FIVE, I'M SORRY, FIVE MONTHS AND FIVE DAYS OLD.

AND I BROUGHT A PICTURE SO Y'ALL COULD SEE MY ANGEL BABY GIRL.

BUT YOU KNOW, MY BABY WAS ACCIDENTALLY KILLED, Y'ALL.

AND I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK OF A WAY, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LADY WAS SAYING ABOUT THE, THE PUTTING THE, THE, THE FLOWERS IN THE WATER, WHATEVER.

I REALLY DON'T CARE.

I JUST WANNA MAKE TO HONOR MY CHILD.

I'LL NEVER SEE LARA.

THAT'S MY BABY'S NAME.

I'M LATISHA.

I NAMED HER LARA, YOU KNOW, AND I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO THANK YOU.

I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO HOLD MY BABY AGAIN.

AND I JUST DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER WAY I COULD HONOR MY CHILD.

YOU KNOW, I LOOK IN INTO HEAVENS AND I TALK TO HER FREQUENTLY, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I'M A CHRISTIAN AND I KNOW THAT MY ANGEL BABY GIRL IS IN HEAVEN, YOU KNOW? AND I JUST WISH THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD NOT BAN THE BALLOON RELEASES.

I HEARD THAT YOU ALL VOTED TO ALLOW 10 BALLOONS TO BE RELEASED.

GUESS WHAT? MY ANGEL BABY GIRL WOULD BE 10 THIS YEAR.

SHE DIED IN ON JUNE 4TH, 2013.

SO I WANTED TO TAKE, MAKE JUNE 4TH, 2023 A DAY WHERE I WILL DO AN ANGEL, UM, BALLOON RELEASE IN HONOR OF MY BABY GIRL LAIRA.

AND SO I, YOU KNOW, I HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL WILL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION MY GRIEF AND WHAT I'M DEALING WITH, YOU KNOW, ARE ANIMALS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MY BABY GIRL? NO, INDEED.

YOU KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, THIS CHURCH CHILD, SHE TALKED ABOUT THE BALLOONS BEING EATEN BY THE ANIMALS OR WHATEVER.

THEN SHE SAID, BALLOONS BEING EATEN BY THE CHILDREN.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT.

YOU KNOW WHAT MOTHER WOULD ALLOW THEIR CHILD TO EAT A BALLOON OFF THE GROUND AT THEM? NO.

BUT JUST, JUST KEEP MY CHILD IN MIND WHEN YOU'RE VOTING ON WHETHER OR NOT TO BAN THE BALLOON RELEASE.

DON'T

[02:20:01]

DO IT.

PLEASE.

JUST THINK ABOUT ME AND YOU KNOW, THE WAY THAT I'M TRYING TO HONOR MY BABY GIRL.

GOD BLESS Y'ALL.

THANK Y'ALL FOR LISTENING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? AM I CONDOLENCES ON THE LOSS OF YOUR BABY GIRL.

COME ON DOWN, SIR.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.

UM, HI.

UM, MY NAME IS JOSEPH LONDON.

UM, I TRULY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LADY SAID ABOUT THE ANIMALS EATING THE BALLOONS AND, YOU KNOW, THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN REGARDLESS, YOU KNOW, TO MANY PEOPLE.

228 THAT I KNOW OF, BECAUSE I PUT THE QUEST OUT THERE ONCE I SAW, UM, THE THING, UM, ABOUT BANNING BALLOON RELEASES.

YOU MAY LOOK AT IT AS A MEMORIAL, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? ONE PERSON DOING THIS.

BUT IT'S, IT'S LIKE A GATHERING TO REMEMBER WHOEVER IT IS.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WHETHER IT BE YOUR CHILD, YOU KNOW, MY GRANDSON, YOU KNOW, MY BROTHER-IN-LAW, WE DO THESE ANNUAL BALLOON RELEASES, NOT JUST TO PUT BALLOONS IN THE AIR.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IT'S A WAY OF PEOPLE GETTING TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S JUST A SYMBOL, YOU KNOW, OF RESPECT, OF UNDERSTANDING THAT, HEY, THIS IS A MEMORY THAT NEEDS TO KEEP GOING.

YOU KNOW? AND BANNING BALLOON RELEASES.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO WILL SAY, OH, WELL, IT'S JUST A BALLOON RELEASE, BUT IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, YEAH, YOU CAN DO THE FLOWERS, YOU CAN JUST GET TOGETHER.

THERE ARE MANY OTHER WAYS TO DO THAT.

BUT THIS IS A, A TRADITION THAT'S BEEN GOING ON THIS LONG.

AND I'M 54, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? AND I, I SEE 'EM ALL THE TIME.

THE NUMBER OF BALLOON RELEASES BANDING THE 10.

THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.

THAT'S A THOUGHT.

BUT JUST TO BAND IT ALL TOGETHER, I, I SEE NO, NO REASON BEHIND IT.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? MAYBE SHE DOES THE STUDY OF THE ANIMALS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

I'VE NEVER HEARD OF IT, YOU KNOW, NOT SAYING IT'S NOT TRUE, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S LARGE ENOUGH AS FAR AS THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS BEING AS OPPOSED TO WIPING MEMORIES AWAY.

THAT'S HAD, UH, TRADITIONS AWAY.

THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBER HURST? I MIGHT NEED SOMEBODY ELSE'S TIME FOR THIS ONE.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, UH, I THINK THAT IT IS CULTURALLY INSENSITIVE, NUMBER ONE TO, UH, PUT THIS OUT THERE.

NO, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT GETTING COMMUNITY BUY-IN.

I BELIEVE THIS IS A TOPIC THAT, UM, IS VERY MINUSCULE IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT OF LITTER THAT WE HAVE IN THE PARISH.

UM, YOU SAW HOW IMPORTANT THESE BALLOON RELEASES WERE DURING COVID 19 BECAUSE WE HAD TO SOCIALLY DISTANCE.

AND YOU SAW, AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME, NOT JUST PEOPLE FROM URBAN COMMUNITIES, UH, TO COME OUT AND, AND DO, WHICH IS A CULTURAL THING ON A REGULAR BASIS, BUT PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE SINCE WE WERE VERY LIMITED IN WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO, UM, FOR THE FEAR OF CONTRACTING COVID 19.

UM, I'M GOING TO CHALLENGE, I, I I'D LIKE THE VETERINARIAN TO COME BACK TO THE MIC, PLEASE.

IF SHE'S STILL IN THE BUILDING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND GIVING A, UH, AND TESTIFYING NO MATTER WHAT SIDE OF THE AISLE YOU WANT, THINK IT'S ALWAYS BOLD FOR YOU TO COME AND, AND SPEAK OUT.

SO I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING TODAY.

I WANT TO KNOW, HAVE YOU EVER PARTICIPATED IN MARDI GRAS? YES, I HAVE.

AND I ABOUT, AND I ADDRESSED THAT.

I I ADDRESSED THAT.

YES, I ADDRESSED THAT IN MY COMMENTS.

RIGHT? I HAVE PARTICIPATED IN, UM, WE TEND TO THROW GLASS BEADS, , OKAY.

INSTEAD OF PLASTIC BEADS.

BUT YES, THE, AS I MENTIONED, YES, I KNOW THE MARTY MCGRAW BEADS ARE TRASH.

THEY GO ON THE GROUND.

THEY DON'T FLY FROM AISLE AND END UP FLOATING ON THE OCEAN.

I, I'M NOT THAT, THAT'S ALL I WANNA DO IS ASK THOSE QUESTIONS IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN SAINT PATRICK.

DAN MAR.

AND HOW OUR WATERWAYS ARE BEING DESTROYED BY OUR LACK OF, UM, FOCUS ON MAKING SURE THAT WE GET TRASH AND DEBRIS FROM ON THE GROUNDS, HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE YOU HAD ABOUT BALLOONS? ZERO.

STEVEN JOHNSON, CAN YOU COME TO THE MIC FOR ME PLEASE? STEVEN JOHNSON.

I WANNA RECLAIM MY TIME.

PLEASE, MAN, IS STEVE, I DIDN'T HEAR THAT HE WAS BY THE WALL.

RACHEL, CAN YOU COME TO THE MIC PLEASE? BROOKFIELD.

SO, RACHEL, IN ALL THE PICTURES THAT YOU GET FOR BLIGHTING COMMUNITIES, CAN YOU TELL ME THE NUMBER OF BALLOONS THAT YOU'VE SEEN? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

ADAM, CAN YOU COME TO THE MIC PLEASE? OKAY.

EZRA, AS IT RELATES TO THE MS FOUR PERMIT

[02:25:01]

HOW MANY? OKAY, I NEED, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, SHARON MANN AND WILLIE PRADER, CAN YOU COME TO THE MIC PLEASE? IN ALL THE COMMUNITY CLEANUPS THAT WE'VE DONE, WHICH HAVE BEEN TONS AND TONS OF DEBRIS AND TRASH THAT YOUR PE PEOPLE HAVE PICKED UP, UM, HOW MANY BALLOONS HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE IN THE, IN THE, IN THE HEAVILY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WHERE WE CLEAN BLIGHT ON A WEEKLY OR MONTHLY BASIS? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

CAN YOU COME TO THE MIKE DONALD HAYES? I GOT ALL MY PEOPLE HERE TODAY.

SHE SAID NONE.

I I HEARD IT REALLY QUICKLY.

I'M TRYING TO PRESERVE MY TIME.

IT WAS A, IT WAS A SOFT NOTE.

SO AS YOU GUYS MONITOR THE LANDFILLS, CAN YOU IN, IN YOUR, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN THERE? SIX YEARS.

CAN YOU QUANTIFY HOW MANY BALLOONS YOU'VE SEEN IN THE LANDFILL? OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

STEVEN JOHNSON, I NEED YOU.

OKAY, WHAT ARE WE WAITING ON? STEVEN JOHNSON? IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

I'M GONNA RECLAIM MY TIME NOW.

ARE YOU PAUSING IT FOR ME, JUSTIN? NO, YOU'RE NOT RECLAIMING YOUR TIME.

YOU ON YOUR TIME.

NOBODY ELSE TOOK YOUR TIME.

YOU ON IT? ALL RIGHT, I'M RECLAIMING CAUSE I NEED, OKAY.

HOW YOU DOING? SO YOU'VE BEEN THE INTERIM DIRECTOR FOR HOW LONG NOW? UH, ABOUT FOUR MONTHS NOW.

SO DURING THAT FOUR MONTHS, WHAT PARADES DO WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE? UH, WE GOT ABOUT NINE OR 10.

HOW MANY PEOPLE IN YOUR DEPARTMENT DID YOU HAVE TO ALLOCATE TOWARDS THOSE PARADES FOR CLEANUPS? UH, WE HAVE STREET SWEEPING CREW.

WE HAVE, UH, GENERALLY WE HAVE, UH, LABORERS AND MAINTENANCE WORKERS FROM OUR, UH, HOW MANY, HOW MANY PEOPLE? JUST GIMME A NUMBER? UH, ABOUT 10 TO 13.

HOW MANY POUNDS OF DEBRIS HAVE YOU PICKED UP FROM MARDI GRAS PARADES? UH, I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE PICKED UP ABOUT 40 TONS.

SO 40 TONS.

THAT WAS FOR THE SPANISH TOWN PARADE.

AND SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW IS TO PAINT THE PICTURE OF A CULTURAL BIAS.

SO IT'S OKAY FOR, BECAUSE I WANT TO HAVE FUN, DRINK MY BEER, GET WASTED, PLAY MARDI GRAS BEES THAT I'M NEVER GOING TO USE AGAIN IN LIFE.

I JUST CATCH 'EM ON A SATURDAY AND THROW 'EM IN THE TRASH ON A MONDAY, CUZ IT'S SOMETHING TO DO IN SOUTH LOUISIANA.

BUT IT'S NOT OKAY FOR ANOTHER CULTURE IN SOUTH LOUISIANA TO CONTINUE TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE DO TO REPRESENT OUR LOVED ONES IN THE MEMORIAL STATE AS WE GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO EXPRESS HOW WE FEEL IN THAT CAPACITY.

SO I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE HAD OVER 40 TONS OF BEES AND, AND DEBRIS COLLECTED, BUT THAT'S OKAY.

AND, AND, AND ADAM, CAN YOU STEP TO THE MIC ONE SECOND PLEASE.

HAVE YOU EVER JUST HEARD OF MARDI GRAS GOING IN A SEWER? FIND THEM ALL THE TIME.

OKAY, BUT YOU'VE NEVER GOT A BALLOON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH CUZ YOU SAID THAT EARLIER.

OKAY, SO THE POINT THAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT NO, YOU'RE GOOD.

I'VE ALSO DONE STATE PUBLIC RECORD REQUESTS AND I'VE GOTTEN THEM BACK FROM BOTH D EQ AND THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY.

THE ONLY ONES THAT CAME BACK, DQ SAID ZERO OR ONE OF THE OTHER SAID ZERO.

BUT THE ONLY OTHER ONE THAT CAME BACK WAS A RADIOACTIVE BALLOON THAT HAPPENED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO.

ONE BALLOON, BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THAT IT WAS RADIOACTIVE.

THEY PUT IT IN A BAG AND SECURED IT UNTIL, UH, D EQ GOT ON SITE WITH EITHER DQ OR FORESTRY.

SO IN ALL THE PUBLIC RECORD REQUESTS AND ALL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT HANDLE DEBRIS, WE'VE NEVER HEARD OF BALLOONS BEING AN ISSUE.

BUT WE HAVE HEARD OF MARDI GRAS BEADS.

I KNOW ANIMALS, I KNOW FISH EAT MARDI GRAS BEADS.

YOU CAN PUT A, YOU CAN PUT A GOLDEN HOOK IN THE WATER AND, AND, AND, AND, AND A FISH IS GOING TO BITE IT.

CAUSE I'VE GOT, I'VE CAUGHT FISH WITHOUT PUTTING ANYTHING ON MY LINE BEFORE ONE FISH BITES MY WORM OFF.

THE OTHER ONE BITES THE HOOK.

I KNOW THAT MARDI GRAS BEADS ARE REFLECTIVE AND SHINY JUST LIKE HOOKS.

SO I CAN GUARANTEE YOU OUR CATFISH ARE EATING THEM, BUT THEY'RE ALSO AFFECTING OUR MS FOUR PERMIT.

AND THEY'RE ALSO AFFECTING THE STORM WATER DISTRICTS THAT WE TRIED TO CRAVE BEFORE BECAUSE OF OUR LIMITED ABILITY TO MONITOR AND MAINTAIN WHAT'S GOING INTO OUR WATERWAYS THROUGHOUT THE, UH, BY THE WAY OF OUR SEWER.

SO IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO BAN ST.

PATRICK'S DAY PARADE, IF WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT GONNA BAN KIWANIS.

IF WE'RE NOT GONNA BAN MARDI GRAS, IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE AWAY THE CULTURE OF SOUTH LOUISIANA THAT DON'T TAKE THE AWAY THE CULTURE OF MINORITIES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, COUNCIL

[02:30:01]

MEMBER ROCKHAM.

SO LOTS GOING ON HERE.

UM, I JUST WANT TO COMMEND, UH, LORI ADAMS WHITE FOR PUTTING THIS BILL OUT THERE, FIRST AND FOREMOST, BECAUSE SHE'S A REPUBLICAN THAT CARES ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, AND OFTENTIMES WE HAVE A BAD RAP FOR NOT CARING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR EXTENDING YOURSELF IN THAT, IN THAT, IN THAT WAY.

UM, I, I HEARD MY CO-COUNSEL PERSON OVER HERE TALKING ABOUT CULTURALLY INSENSITIVE AND MINORITIES AND I DON'T KNOW, UM, WHAT EVERYONE'S EXPERIENCE IS HERE.

BUT MY PEOPLE, UM, ALSO HAVE TRADITIONALLY DONE BALLOON RELEASES.

AND I COME FROM SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA AND I'VE LIVED IN BATON ROUGE FOR SEVERAL, SEVERAL YEARS NOW, AND I'VE SEEN THEM DONE AND I'VE HAD FRIENDS THAT HAVE DONE THEM.

SO I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S A CULTURAL LINE OR MINORITY LINE.

UM, AND IF THIS ITEM DOESN'T PASS TONIGHT, I DON'T.

I THINK THE POSITION WE NEED TO ALL TAKE AND REFLECT UPON IS WE'VE, WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN, IT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THIS MAY BE AN ISSUE, THAT ANIMALS MAY BE HAVING THESE ISSUES.

WE MAY WANT TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT IN THOSE WAYS, AND WE MAY WANT TO EXPLORE ALTERNATIVES.

IT'S ABOUT LEARNING AND GROWING AND FOCUSING ON WHAT CAN BE DONE.

I'M TYPICALLY NOT, UM, IN FAVOR OF ORDINANCES THAT WILL NOT BE ENFORCED OR THAT CANNOT BE ENFORCED.

I FEEL LIKE IT'S JUST PUTTING LAWS ON BOOKS.

UM, AND WE, WE HAVE SEVERAL THAT AREN'T CURRENTLY BEING ENFORCED THAT WE FIGHT REGULARLY, UM, THOSE ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS.

BUT I THINK TODAY, AS WE SIT HERE AS A COMMUNITY, UM, WE CAN SIT AND LEARN AND THINK OF ALTERNATIVE WAYS WE CAN HONOR OUR LOVED ONES IN THE WAYS THAT WE TRADITIONALLY CHOOSE TO.

UM, IF IT'S BALLOONS, THEN GREAT, BUT JUST KNOW THAT IT DOES HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.

UM, AND IT'S BASICALLY THE MORE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LEAVE HERE, WE'VE LEARNED SOMETHING TODAY.

SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION.

UM, I, I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'M IN A POSITION TO TELL PEOPLE HOW TO MOURN.

I'M ALSO NOT IN A POSITION CURRENTLY TO PUT MORE ORDINANCES ON THE BOOKS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO NOT BE ENFORCED, MUCH LIKE OUR CURRENT LITTER SITUATION FOR ALL THE OTHER ITEMS THAT DARRELL SO AGGRESSIVELY JUST POINTED OUT.

SO, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY FROM THE VETERINARIAN, FROM THE FOLKS THAT HAVE LOST LOVED ONES.

COUNCIL MEMBER MOK.

UH, I'M TAKING HIS TIME.

LIKE I GAVE IN MIND, I PULLED UP ONE THING THAT I THOUGHT WAS IMPORTANT JUST TO LET Y'ALL KNOW YOU DIDN'T WANNA SAY ANYTHING.

COUNCIL MEMBER MOK.

HERE ALSO ONE DAY THAT'LL COME UP WHERE YOU GOT BIODEGRADABLE BEADS ONLY FOR MARDI GRAS PLAYS TWO.

I, I DEFER AT LEAST THE FIRST IF HE NEEDS THE FIRST ROUND, BUT I DO NEED SOME TIME TO SPEAK, SO I DO DEFER TO HIM SOMETIME.

NO.

AND LOOK, I KNOW THIS IS, THIS IS LIKE, SOMETIMES WHEN I SEE THESE THINGS, I'M VERY PASSIONATE, SO I MAY TALK AGGRESSIVE.

THAT'S THE FOOTBALL PLAYER AND ME COMING OUT.

BUT I RESPECT LORI.

I RESPECT, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT, ABOUT THIS IN A BUNCH OF OTHER ORDINANCES.

UM, IT'S JUST A PASSION THAT COMES OUT.

BUT, UM, THE, THE, THE ONE COMMENT I WANT TO MAKE IS IF WE'RE GONNA BLOW BUBBLES AT MARDI GRA INSTEAD OF THROW BEES NEXT YEAR.

BUT, UH, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ALTERNATIVES, WE TALK ABOUT CANDLE WAX AND CANDLE RELEASE AND CANDLE, UH, CANDLELIGHT VIGILS.

SO WHEN I GOOGLE IT AND IT SAYS CANDLE WAX IN THE ENVIRONMENT, PARAFIN WAX IS MADE FROM PETROLEUM AND PARENTHESIS SAYS CRUDE OIL, WHICH IS A NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCE THAT REQUIRES INTENSIVE MACHINERY TO MINE.

AND REFINED BY DEFINITION, A NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCE PARAFIN WAX IS NOT SUSTAINABLE, THEREFORE, IT IS MOST CERTAINLY IS NOT ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.

SO AS WE PROVIDE THESE ALTERNATIVES, THE SAME BALLOON THAT GOES IN THE AIR IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE CANDLE WAX THAT HITS THE GROUND.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

COUNCIL MEMBER MO UH, LOOK, I TURNED THE MIC OFF CAUSE I WELL, OKAY, SO I I'M NOT GONNA CALL EVERYBODY BACK UP THAT HAD GOT THE RAPID FIRE QUESTION AND WAS ASKED TO SIT DOWN AND SO ON, BUT SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT GOT ASKED WAS, YOU KNOW, HAVE YOU SEEN THIS? HAVE YOU SEEN THAT? AND IT'S LIKE, NO.

AND MY, I GUESS MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS, WELL, DID YOU LOOK FOR A BALLOON? BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE THINGS, I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW YOU COULD NOT ACTUALLY GO THROUGH IT AND NOT FIND A BALLOON IN IT.

TWO MARDI GRAS BEADS FROM AN EXAMPLE, I THINK, UH, IN NEW ORLEANS ACTUALLY DOES THIS, IS BY X AMOUNT OF TIME, A CERTAIN TIME, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE OR USE BIODEGRADABLE BEADS.

NOW, DO I THINK SOMEBODY'S GONNA RUN NEXT TO AFLOAT AND CHECK EVERY BEAD BEFORE IT GETS THROWN? I DON'T KNOW.

BUT I DO KNOW AFTER THE LAST CLEANOUT THAT THEY DID IN NEW ORLEANS AND THEY TALKED ABOUT PULLING CARS AND HOW MANY TONS AND TONS OF BEADS, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE BIODEGRADABLE BEADS.

SO WE MAY HAVE TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION

[02:35:01]

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS, AND YOU KNOW, YOU BROUGHT UP, UM, SPECIFICALLY PARADES AND EVERYTHING.

PARADES GET A PERMIT.

THEY HAVE A SPECIFIC ROUTE THAT THEY FOLLOW.

THEY ARE CLEANED AND SWEPT AND, AND THEY'RE REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH A CERTAIN THING TO TRY AND CLEAN UP THE BEST THEY CAN WITH A BALLOON RELEASE.

THEN YOU HAVE, ONCE YOU RELEASE THOSE, YOU ARE UNLEASHING THAT GOD ONLY KNOWS WHERE THAT IT'S GONNA END UP AT.

SO I GET WHERE COUNCILWOMAN WHITE'S COMING, LORI ADAMS COMING FROM.

BUT, AND, AND I MEAN, LOOK, I, I'M, I'M NOT FOR PASSINGS THIS DON'T GET ME WRONG.

I'M JUST TRYING TO CLARIFY SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT YOU BRING UP.

I I, I NEVER KNOWN IT TO BE A, A, A RACIAL ISSUE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, OR A CULTURAL ISSUE.

WE HAD BALLOON RELEASES AND EVERYTHING.

AND, UH, IN FACT, WHEN THIS CAME UP, I GOOGLED A BALLOON RELEASES AND Y'ALL GOTTA DO THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS ONE IN CINCINNATI OR SOMETHING WHERE THE RELEASE, LIKE, THEY WERE DOING THE WORLD'S RECORD, AND IT JUST TOTALLY OBLITERATED THE WHOLE SKYLINE AND EVERYTHING.

SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY SOME OF THAT.

I I APPRECIATE BOTH OF Y'ALL'S PASSION ON THIS, UH, BUT THERE'S SEVERAL OTHER ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO WORK THROUGH.

WE'RE THE DECISION TO ORDER FROM JANUARY, 2026.

COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. OKAY.

UM, DR.

TAYLOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UM, FOR COMING TODAY.

AND WHEN YOU WERE TALKING, YOU KNOW, WE ALL GROW UP IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND HAVE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES, AND YOU DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR UNIQUE EXPERIENCE IS UNTIL, YOU KNOW, THINGS HAPPEN IN ADULTHOOD.

BUT WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT BEING A VETERINARIAN, UM, I WAS RAISED BY A MOM WHO WANTED TO BE A VETERINARIAN, BUT, UM, THE TIMES WEREN'T SUPPORTIVE OF HER GOING TO VET SCHOOL.

UM, BUT I WAS RAISED IN A HOUSE, UM, WHERE, UM, ANIMALS AND WILDLIFE WERE, UM, HONORED.

UM, MY DAD USED TO ALWAYS SAY THAT IF HE COULD EVER, YOU KNOW, COME BACK, HE WANTED TO BE ONE OF MY MOM'S PETS BECAUSE THEY HAD A GOOD LIFE.

UM, AND THEN I MARRIED MY HUSBAND AND MY MOTHER-IN-LAW, UM, YOU KNOW, PRECIOUS WOMAN.

UM, IF, IF YOU FOUND A SQUIRREL, UM, IF YOU FOUND BABY RACCOONS, YOU COULD TAKE THEM TO MY MOTHER-IN-LAW AND SHE WOULD, SHE WOULD RAISE THEM BY HAND.

AND SO MY CHILDREN GREW UP IN A, WITH, IN A GRANDPARENT'S HOUSE WHERE THERE WERE, THERE WAS A RACCOON THAT VISITED AND BROUGHT HER BABIES, UM, TO COME SEE HER, HER MOM, MY MOTHER-IN-LAW.

SO I DO HAVE A DEEP, UM, LOVE AND RESPECT FOR WILDLIFE.

AND SO FOR ALL OF YOU WHO ASKED, WHY HAVE I, YOU KNOW, SPONSORED THIS, WHY WAS THIS IMPORTANT TO ME? UM, IT'S THAT, IT'S OUT OF, IT'S OUT OF MY, MY GROWING UP.

UM, JUSTIN, IF YOU COULD PUT THE, UM, THE IMAGE UP.

SO, UM, THIS IMAGE I, I THINK HAS BEEN BECOME PRETTY ICONIC, UM, IN BATON ROUGE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

UM, A A BEAUTIFUL PHOTO TAKEN BY A LOCAL, UM, PHYSICIAN, UM, HERE, HERE ON ONE OF OUR LAKES.

AND IT'S A PELICAN OF GORGEOUS CREATE CREATURE ON BEAUTIFUL WATER WITH A BEER CAN IN ITS MOUTH.

AND, UM, I THINK THIS IMAGE HAS BECOME REALLY POPULAR BECAUSE IT IS, IT'S THE JUXTAPOSITION OF GOD'S, UM, CREATION, GOD'S BEAUTIFUL DESIGN, AND THEN MAN'S, UM, MAN'S INTERFERENCE AND IMPACT ON, UM, ON THE, THE BEAUTIFUL WORLD AROUND US.

NOW, UM, I ALSO THINK THAT THIS IS KIND OF A HOPEFUL IMAGE BECAUSE HOPEFULLY THAT PELICAN IS ABOUT TO JUST WHACK THAT BEER CAN OUT OF ITS BEAK.

UM, AND THE GOOD NEWS IS FOR THE PELICAN THAT, UH, THAT HE FOUND A BEER CAN AND NOT A BALLOON, BECAUSE, UM, BALLOONS ARE 32 TIMES MORE LIKELY, UM, TO KILL WILDLIFE THAN ANY OTHER FORM OF LITTER OR TRASH.

UH, THE OTHER, UM, CONCERN THAT I'VE HEARD FROM YOUNG PEOPLE, UM, IS THAT, THAT THESE BALLOONS BREAK DOWN, UM, AND BECOME MICROPLASTICS.

AND THAT MICROPLASTICS MATERIAL IS IN OUR WATER, UM, HAS NOW BEEN FOUND IN HUMAN PLACENTA SO THAT THOSE MICROPLASTICS ARE, ARE TRANSFERRING TO, TO BABIES IN UTERO AND, UM, HAVE ENTERED OUR FOOD CHAIN.

SO, UM, MAYBE NOT A CONCERN FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE IN OUR FIFTIES OR SIXTIES OR SEVENTIES, BUT DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT MY KIDS ARE, ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.

SO, AS FOR, UM, WHETHER YOU FIND BALLOONS ON, UH, UH, LITTER PICKUPS OR NOT THIS WEEKEND, UM, COUNCIL, UM, COUNCILMAN, UH, GODDE, COUNCILWOMAN RAA AND MYSELF, WERE ALL IN, IN TIGERLAND DOING A CLEANUP.

AND I'VE GOT A PICTURE, AND I WASN'T LOOKING FOR THIS.

WE WERE JUST, WE JUST WERE CLEANING UP AND, UM, WE FOUND LIKE REALLY COUNCILWOMAN RACA LIKE IN THE FIRST 30 MINUTES WE FOUND, UM, A MYLAR, UH, BALLOON IN THE AREA THAT WE

[02:40:01]

WERE CLEANING.

UM, AND LOOK, THANK YOU JUSTIN FOR KEEPING THE PICTURES GOING.

HERE'S SOME PICTURES.

YOU CAN JUST SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO WILDLIFE WHEN THE ENCOUNTER, UM, BALLOONS.

AND SO MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW, I KIND OF WONDERED IF DARYL WAS MAKING MY, LIKE, IF NOBODY FINDS ANY BALLOONS ANYWHERE, MAYBE THE ANIMALS ARE EATING 'EM ALL RIGHT? I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO, UM, IF JUSTIN, IF YOU COULD, IF I MEAN , THAT'S, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IF THERE'S A BIRD THAT'S GOD CAUGHT UP, UM, AND, AND, AND DIED HANGING UPSIDE DOWN, HERE'S A, A NEST.

AND, AND THE MOM THOUGHT IT WAS, THIS WAS FOOD AND HAS DROPPED THIS OFF FOR HER BABY.

AND IT'S NOT JUST BIRDS.

UM, IT'S ALSO CATTLE, UM, AND, AND HORSES.

SO, UM, HERE, ANYWAY, THE, THOSE ARE, THOSE HORSE PICTURES ARE NOT, ARE NOT HERE.

I DIDN'T HAVE, UM, I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, EXAMPLES OF WHAT, OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN.

I KNOW THEY'RE GONNA MAKE FUN OF ME, SO .

SO, UH, ANYWAY, UM, I USUALLY, USUALLY DON'T SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT MYSELF, AND I'M KIND OF SHARING A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT MY FAMILY AND THE WAY I WAS RAISED ANYWAY.

UM, SO LOOK, MS. MS. DORSEY, UM, I WOULD, I WANNA CONNECT WITH YOU AFTER THIS.

I WOULD LOVE, UM, TO PURCHASE A TREE OR A FRUIT TREE AND PLANT IT FOR YOUR BABY GIRL.

SHE'S BEAUTIFUL.

SHE'S JUST GORGEOUS.

AND, UM, I THINK MAYBE IF MAYBE A SATUM OR SOMETHING THAT WOULD PRODUCE FRUIT EVERY YEAR, UM, THAT WOULD JUST BE A WAY THAT WE COULD CELEBRATE HER LIFE, I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO DO THAT FOR YOU.

UM, YOU KNOW, MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH BALLOON RELEASES HAS BEEN, UM, IN SCHOOLS FOR AWARENESS DAYS FOR BIRTHDAYS OR SPECIAL EVENTS.

UM, BEFORE I SPONSOR SPONSORED THIS MEASURE, I WASN'T AWARE OF ANY CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE TIED TO BALLOON RELEASES.

UM, I WAS RAISED IN A FAMILY THAT, THAT LOVED, UM, ANIMALS AND WILDLIFE.

SO, UM, THERE WAS NOTHING NEFARIOUS ABOUT THIS.

THIS WAS, UM, ME HOPING, UH, TO START CONVERSATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY, UM, ABOUT HOW WE CAN THINK HOLISTICALLY, UM, ABOUT EACH OTHER, ABOUT, UM, ALL GOD'S CREATURES AND OF COURSE, UM, THIS GREAT BEAUTIFUL EARTH THAT GOD CREATED FOR US TO SHARE TOGETHER.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I WOULD CERTAINLY BE THRILLED TO SEE, TO SEE BATON ROUGE, UM, FOLLOW, BUT, BUT REALLY KIND OF LEAD.

I MEAN, OTHER CITIES ARE DOING THIS AND FOUR STATES HAVE TAKEN THIS SAME ACTION.

UM, SO WE WOULD BE ON THE FOREFRONT OF ACKNOWLEDGING, UM, THE IMPACT THAT WE HAVE ON WILDLIFE AND OUR ENVIRONMENT IF WE WERE TO PASS THIS MEASURE.

UM, SO I'D APPRECIATE, UM, YOUR CONSIDERATION AND I, UM, I MOVE, UH, ADOPTION OF THIS ORDINANCE.

MOTION TO APPROVE.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN.

I KNOW THERE ARE SOME OBJECTIONS WE'RE GONNA HOLD ON THE MACHINES, MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE.

MOTION FAILS.

WE NOW

[106. 23-00482]

MOVE TO ITEM 1 0 6.

WE'RE SENDING A DECISION IN ORDER FROM THE MARCH 8TH, 2023 METRO COUNCIL MEETING IN THE MATTER OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUTE VERSUS GENERAL JAMES CALL BE SENT.

AND CLAUDIA PHILLIPS, THE REASON FOR RECISION OF PROPERTY WAS CONDEMNED WHEN COUNCILMAN INTENDED TO DEFER THE DECISION TO GIVE MONA MORE TIME AND CLEAR VIOLATIONS BY COUNCILMAN HUS.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON 1 0 6? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL.

THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE 1 0 6.

SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECONDED BY THE CHAIRS.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO TO ITEM 1 0 7.

[107. 23-00496]

JANUARY 26TH, 2020, TRU METRO COUNCIL MEETING IN THE MATTER OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSUS THE STATE OF CHARLOTTE MICHELLE WILSON.

1523 OSA STREET.

REASON FOR RESCISSION TO PROPERTY OWNER WILL OBTAINED PERMIT DEMOLISHED THE PROPERTY BY COUNCILMAN MCC COLEMAN.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 0 7? MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO TO ITEM 1 0 8.

[108. 23-00489]

WE'RE, WE'RE SENDING A DECISION ORDER FROM THE FEBRUARY 22ND, 2023 METRO COUNCIL MEETING IN THE MATTER OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSUS LANE WIRE PROPERTIES, LLC.

REASON FOR RECISION, THE PROPERTY OWNER WAS OUT OF TOWN WHEN THE PROPERTY WAS CONDEMNED AND HAS SINCE CLEANED UP THE PROPERTY AND INTENT TO ACQUIRE PERMITS TO REMODEL AND MAKE REPAIRS BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 0 8? COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA HAS MOTION TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCC COLEMAN, ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 1 0 8 HAS BEEN APPROVED.

[109. 23-00487]

ITEM 1 0 9 AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT IN THE MATTER OF LENA DUGAS PATRICK VERSUS THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IN THE AMOUNT OF FOURTEEN THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED NINETY TWO THOUSAND TWENTY CENTS PLUS COURT

[02:45:01]

COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF 468028 CENTS FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF FOURTEEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED SIX THOUSAND FORTY EIGHT CENTS BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 0 9? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER'S.

MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR ON ANY OBJECTIONS WE

[110. 23-00490 ]

GO TO ITEM ONE 10, EXPRESSING THE OPPOSITION OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL TO HOUSE BILL 1 34 AND THE 2023 LOUISIANA LEGISLATIVE SESSION BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? YES, SIR.

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

BRANDON WILLIAMS, 13,568 LANDMARK DRIVE.

AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OF YOUR OPPOSITION TO MY HOUSE.

BILL TO THE HOUSE BILL 1 34.

UM, LEMME GIVE YOU A BRIEF HISTORY ON WHO I AM.

MY NAME'S BRANDON WILLIAMS. I'M A, UH, BUSINESS OWNER IN THIS COMMUNITY.

UH, I BEGAN MY, UH, WHAT I, WHAT I CONSIDER MY CIVIC DUTY SERVING ON THIS BOARD IN 2019.

UM, SUBSEQUENTLY ABOUT SIX MONTHS IN, UM, TO MY, TO MY SERVICE, MY ELIGIBILITY WAS CHALLENGED, RIGHT? SO THEY SAID I DID NOT LIVE WITHIN THE CITY.

I SUBMITTED MY RESIGNATION, BUT I EXPLORED ALL OPTIONS AVAIL AVAILABLE TO ME AT THE TIME, WHICH INCLUDING CHANGE IN THE LAW, WHICH HAD ALREADY BEEN CHANGED.

AND THAT LAW WAS THAT THEY ALLOWED FIREMEN AND POLICE TO NOT LIVE IN THE PARISH AND STILL SERVE ON THIS BOARD.

SO THE LAW CHANGED THAT WE PROPOSED THAT IF YOU HAVE AN ADDRESS BASICALLY IN BATON ROUGE, YOU CAN STILL SERVE ON THIS BOARD.

AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

AND CONSEQUENTLY, I WAS ABLE TO GET BACK ON THIS BOARD.

SO IT'S BEEN A, IT'S BEEN A HARD ROLE JUST TO BE, UH, A PUBLIC SERVANT.

I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR THE POLICEMEN AND THE FIREMEN WHO RISK THEIR LIFE EVERY DAY, AS WELL AS THE CONSTITUENTS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY SERVE.

AND THE BALANCE BETWEEN THE TWO.

AND I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN IT.

SO MUCH SO THAT I FOUGHT VI VIGOROUSLY USING MY PER PERSONAL FUNDS TO DEFEND SOME OF THE STUFF THAT HAS COME BEFORE ME.

AND WITH THIS HOUSE BILL 1 34.

UM, IT IS A QUESTION.

THIS, THIS PROPOSED STATUTE IS A POLICY QUESTION ABOUT CIVIL SERVICE BOARD MEMBER QUALIFICATIONS.

UH, COUNCILMAN ROCKA, AS YOU STATED EARLIER FOR, UM, ITEM NUMBER 86, AT WHAT POINT DOES THE CITY ORDINANCE NOT, UH, RESPECT THE STATUTE THAT GOVERNS THEM? RIGHT? SO THIS HISTORY, THIS BOARD HAS HAD A HISTORY 10 YEARS BEFORE ME.

THEY DIDN'T RESPECT THIS ORDINANCE.

WE HAD PEOPLE WHO SERVED ON, UH, WHO WERE EMPLOYED BY LSU AND SERVED ON THIS BOARD.

THERE WAS NO DISSENSION, THERE WAS NO QUESTIONING OF THEIR ABILITY TO SAY, SERVE ON THIS BOARD.

20 YEARS AGO.

THEY HAD PEOPLE WHO SERVED ON LFA, WHICH IS THE PREDECESSOR TO LHC, WHICH CHANGED IN 2011 FROM A STATE ENTITY TO A QUASI-PRIVATE ENTITY.

AND, UH, THERE WAS NO QUESTION WHETHER THESE PEOPLE COULD SERVE ON THIS BOARD AT THIS TIME.

SO I ASK YOU, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE NOW? WHY, WHY IS THERE A DIFFERENCE? WHY IS THERE SUCH A, A STRUGGLE ON THIS BOARD AT EVERY, AT EVERY TURN TO EVEN APPROVE SOMEONE NOW TO, UH, GET APPOINTED TO THESE BOARDS? THEY'RE QUESTION VIGOROUSLY NOW AT THIS POINT WHERE THEY HADN'T BEEN BEFORE.

AND IT'S, I MEAN, LET, LET'S POINT TO WHAT, WHAT, WHAT THE ISSUE IS.

THE POWER DYNAMICS OF THIS BOARD HAS SHIFTED DRAMATICALLY, RIGHT? THAT'S WHY THERE'S A, THAT'S WHERE THERE'S FIGHT.

BUT GUESS WHAT? FAIRNESS HAS ALSO SHIFTED BY DYNAMICALLY.

SO ARE WE FIGHTING FAIRNESS HERE? MY QUESTION.

SO IF THE, YOU GUYS HAD BEEN BASICALLY THREATENED WITH LETTERS SAYING THAT, HEY, LOOK, IF WE HAVE ILLEGITIMATE PEOPLE SERVING ON THIS BOARD, THEN YOU GUYS FACE, UM, SUIT, RIGHT? THEY'RE THREATENING YOU WITH THAT.

WELL, WHAT ABOUT ALL THE TIMES THAT, THAT THESE PEOPLE SET ON THIS BOARD AND WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE HERE? WHAT I PROPOSE TAKES AWAY THAT QUESTION.

I'M FOLLOWING SUIT FOR WHAT HO HAS ALREADY DONE.

IT SAYS THAT YOU CAN BE A PUBLIC, UH, UH, A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE AS LONG AS YOU'RE NOT AN EMPLOYEE OF THE MUNICIPALITY.

ALSO, IT ALSO GOES ON TO DEFINE AND CLEAR UP THE LANGUAGE ON WHAT A PUBLIC OFFICIAL IS.

SO I, I JUST COME TO YOU APPEALING ON BEHALF OF SOMEONE WHO'S FIGHTING TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND, UH, MY CIVIC DUTY AND NOT LIMIT THE POOL OF PEOPLE TO THAT.

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

POLICE FIRE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD, UH, THEY NEED TO HAVE THE ABSOLUTE MOST ATTENTION, RIGHT? IF THERE'S ANY BOARD WHERE YOU OUGHT TO HAVE FOCUS, IT'S WHEN YOU'RE MAKING JUDGEMENTS ON PEOPLE'S CAREERS.

MEMBERS, UH, THANK YOU FOR ENTERTAINING THIS ITEM.

UM, SO THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT, UH, ESSENTIALLY WE WANT THE POLICE, THE POLICE, FIRE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD TO BE TREATED THE SAME THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

UH, I DON'T THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR BATON ROUGE, UH, IN THIS REGARD.

AND I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO HAVE YET ANOTHER CARVE OUT THAT, THAT OF, OF A LAW THAT REALLY IMPACTS JUST ONE PERSON.

I THINK IF, IF WE'RE DOING THAT, UH, IT BECOMES VERY PROBLEMATIC.

UM, SO I PERSONALLY, I BELIEVE THAT THE POLICE CIVIL, THE

[02:50:01]

UH, AND SO THAT'S WHY THE PROVISION IN THE LAW EXISTS NOW, THAT YOU CAN ONLY SERVE ON ONE PUBLIC ENTITY.

UM, SO LOOK, I THINK IT'S VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

I THINK WE NEED FOLKS ON THE POLICE FIRE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD THAT ARE FOCUSED ON WHAT THEY'RE DOING THERE.

I DON'T THINK WE NEED SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS JUST FOR PATTERS PARISH.

AND I DON'T THINK WE NEED SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS FOR JUST ONE PERSON.

UH, I TAKE NO ISSUE WITH MR. WILLIAMS OR HIS SERVICE, UH, IN GENERAL.

UM, BUT I DO THINK THAT, UH, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WE'RE DOING RIGHT BY, BY THE, BY THE FOLKS WHO ARE GONNA BE JUDGED BY THIS, UH, BY THIS BOARD.

SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, OTHER INSTANCES, EVEN WHEN I BROUGHT ABOUT THE DISTANCE LIMITATIONS FOR THE FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL.

EVERYBODY UP UP HERE TALKED ABOUT IS IT LEGAL? IS IT LEGAL? IS IT LEGAL? IS IT LEGAL? WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? THE LAW IS WRITTEN AND UPHELD IN COURTROOMS. BRANDON WAS CHALLENGED.

HE WENT TO THE 19 JD C HE GOT A RULING THAT SAYS HE CONCERNED FROM A JUDGE.

SO WE NOW SAYING THAT WE DON'T RESPECT OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIALS CAUSE WE'RE NOT UP HERE FIGHTING AS AN APPELLATE COURT.

WE'RE SAYING WE'RE GONNA UPHOLD THE LAW AND THE LAW, WHICH IS NO DIFFERENT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT JUDGEMENTS AND HOW THINGS, DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE CAN BE USED MOVING FORWARD.

IN OTHER CASES, IN THIS CASE, THE LAW PROVIDED A DECISION FOR HIM.

HE PAID MONEY, HE HIRE ATTORNEYS, HE WENT TO COURT, HE WON.

HOW ARE WE AS A COUNCIL SUPPOSED TO CHALLENGE THE 19 JDC? THAT'S NOT OUR JOB.

THIS, WHEN BRANDON COME TO THE MIC, WHEN WAS THIS RULING? UH, THIS RULING WAS IN APRIL.

AND MY QUESTION IS, IS SO THIS, THIS, THIS MONTH.

SO, UM, SO HE JUST GOT, UH, THE, THE RULING FOR HIM TO SIT ON THE BOARD JUST GOT UP APPEALED, UM, BY, BY THE 19 J JDC.

SO EVEN IF WE CHANGED THE, THE, WHAT'S THAT? I MEAN, IT WAS 19 JDC THAT WAS RULED.

THAT RESOLUTION UNTIL SOMEBODY CHALLENGES IT IN THE APPELLATE COURT.

IT'S A, IT'S A RULING THAT WE HAVE A COPY OF THE RULING.

IF YOU LIKE IT, IT IT'S AVAILABLE TO YOU.

I, SO, SO LET ME SAY THIS.

UH, I, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IT MAY BE APPEALED, BUT WHAT I STAND ON IS WHAT IS THE, THE RULING AND THE LAW TODAY, AS OF TODAY UNTIL THERE'S A JUDGMENT THAT SAYS OTHERWISE, I AM A LEGAL PART OF THIS BOARD.

AND YOU KNOW, IT, IT, IT'S YOU.

THIS IS BEING BILLED AS A HOUSE BILL.

1 34 IS FOR ME, THIS RULING IS WHAT MADE ME LEGITIMATE, RIGHT? WHAT I'M DOING IS, IS TO CLEAR UP.

SO THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.

THE REAL THING IS THE LIABILITY THAT WOULD GO BEFORE YOU AND NOT TO BE COMPLICIT IN AN AGENDA THAT IS NOT THAT, THAT HADN'T EVEN PUT THEIR HEAD IN THIS ROOM.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO STAND ON.

WHAT'S RIGHT TODAY.

AND I'M APPEALING TO YOU BASED UPON THE LAW.

I AM WITHIN MY RIGHTS TO SERVE ON THIS BOARD TODAY.

WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS TO CLARIFY ANY FUTURE PERSON COMING ON THE BOARD THAT DID NOT BE SOMETHING THAT'S, THAT'S ABLE TO BE CONTENDED.

AND, AND I'M GONNA GO BACK TO THE FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIC RESOLUTION THAT I ATTEMPTED TO DO UP HERE THAT CAUSE THE LAW COULD HAVE SAID OTHERWISE, IT COULD HAVE PUT US IN A POSITION TO BE IN A LAWSUIT.

AND SO EVERYBODY UP HERE SAID, WELL, THE LAW DOESN'T SUPPORT THAT.

SO IF WE PRE, UM, PUT A RESOLUTION IN PLACE UNTIL IT GOES TO THE APPELLATE COURT, THEN WE ARE POSITIONING OURSELVES FOR A LAWSUIT.

WELL, I COULD TELL YOU DEFINITELY THAT THERE IS UNDERLYING, UH, CIRCUMSTANCES OR UNDERLYING ISSUES THAT WILL LEAD TO A LAWSUIT.

I'M NOT NECESSARILY SAYING YOU GUYS AT THIS POINT, BUT THERE WILL BE A LAWSUIT.

SO MY POINT OF TELLING YOU GUYS, THAT IS THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED BEFORE.

IF, IF SOMEONE CHOOSES TO, UH, GO TO THE APPELLATE COURT, WHETHER IT BE ANDY, WHETHER IT BE A THIRD PARTY THAT THAT CHOOSES TO CHALLENGE THAT RULING, I THINK US APPROVING A RE A RESOLUTION TODAY AND SUPPORTING SOMETHING THAT THE 19 JDC SAID IS LEGAL.

I BELIEVE IT'S VERY PREMATURE, NO DIFFERENT.

WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL.

AND WE SHOULD WAIT FOR THAT APPELLATE RULING TO COME BACK BEFORE WE PUT OURSELF IN A BINDING SITUATION TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO PAY DAMAGES FOR TARNISHING HIS CHARACTER, ESPECIALLY AS A BUSINESS OWNER THAT MAY CHALLENGE HIM IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND IMPACT HIS WAY THAT HE MAKES HIS LIVELIHOOD.

SO I JUST ASK THAT WE YIELD NOT GET RID OF, UH, DWIGHT, BUT THAT WE JUST YIELD, UH, AT THIS MOMENT AND, AND PAUSE

[02:55:01]

BECAUSE AT THIS POINT IT IS CONSIDERED A RULING BY THE 19 JDC.

NO DIFFERENT THAN GOING TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL GETTING A RULING AND THEN SAYING, I DON'T CARE WHAT HE SAYS, I'M GONNA DO A RESOLUTION ANYWAY.

Y'ALL WOULDN'T DO THAT WITH THE FORENSIC PSYCH HOSPITAL.

I'M GOING ASK YOU TO STAND ON THE RULING OF THE 19 JDC AND IF, IF IT, IF IT IS UPHELD IN APPELLATE COURT OR IF IT'S OVERTURNED IN THE APPELLATE COURT, THEN I'LL SUPPORT YOUR RESOLUTION.

IF IT'S NOT, THEN I ASK THAT YOU WAIT UNTIL, UM, THAT RULING HAPPENS BEFORE WE SIGN AND AGREE ON AS A RESOLUTION AND PUT OURSELF IN A BONDING SITUATION ATTACKING THIS CHARACTER.

BUT AGAIN, IF WE CAN GO BACK TO, UM, LIKE THE UNDERLYING, UH, AGENDA.

THERE WAS A, A, UH, ATTEMPT TO GET AN ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION FROM THIS COUNCIL TO SAY WHETHER I COULD STAND ON THE BOARD, UH, STAY ON THE BOARD.

BUT IN THE STATUTE IT READS THAT YOU CAN ONLY BE REMOVED FROM THE BOARD BY A DECLARATORY DECISION.

SO THAT IS WHAT I SOUGHT IS THAT IS WHY I SUED TO GET A DECLARATORY DECISION TO SAY WHETHER I CAN BE WHERE I AM NOT INFER OR ANYTHING ELSE.

SO YOU FILED THE LAW, THE LAW RULE IN YOUR FAVOR.

I'M ASKING MY COLLEAGUES TO UPHOLD THE 19 J D C UNTIL AN APPELLATE COURT MAKES OR OVERTURNS THAT DECISION.

COUNCILMAN HURST TOUCHED ON, UM, ONE POINT I WANTED TO MAKE AND YOU COME BACK UP, BRANDON, UM, ONE THAT THIS HAS WENT TO COURT AND THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD, UM, AS I TALKED TO YOU AND OTHERS, UH, HAS IT BEEN APPEALED? HAS THE APPEAL PROCESS, UH, EXPIRED OR THE DEADLINE EXPIRED? I'M, I'M NOT AWARE, BUT AS WE LEFT THE COURTROOM, THE, UM, THE OTHER ATTORNEY SAID HE HAD AN INTENT TO APPEAL.

SO I, I'M NOT AWARE OF AN APPEAL.

OKAY, SO FAR THE OTHER POINT I WANNA MAKE, UM, AFTER REACHING OUT TO THE AUTHOR OF THIS, THIS BILL, TRYING TO GET CLARITY AND SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE GOAL IS TO CLEAN UP THE LANGUAGE.

SO IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL, BUT USING YOUR EXPERIENCE MOVING FORWARD.

SO NO OTHER PERSON IN YOUR POSITION WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS SITUATION.

I WOULD THINK WE WOULD WANT TO SUPPORT CLEANING UP SOME LANGUAGE AND BRINGING CLARITY TO THIS SITUATION SO WE'RE NOT HERE BASICAL WITH IT.

AGAIN, I WOULD ASK MY COLLEAGUES NOT TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.

LET THIS PROCESS PLAY OUT.

IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN EXPLORING ANY OTHER ISSUE THAT WE'RE EXPLORING TO MAKE SURE THERE'S CLARITY THERE.

THERE'S, UM, A A DEFINITIVE DIRECTION.

SO IT WON'T BE SOMETHING THAT'S UP IN THE AIR.

AND DO WE WANT TO, AND I KNOW THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE MAY NEED TO TAKE A POSITION, UH, AGAINST ITEMS IN THE LEGISLATION AND OTHER BODIES, BUT DO WE WANT TO, DO WE WANT THIS TO BE THE ISSUE TO, TO TAKE A, UH, OFFICIAL STATEMENT AGAINST SOMETHING THAT'S BRINGING CLARITY.

THIS IS NOT A, I DON'T THINK THIS IS ONE THAT WE SHOULD BE, UH, CONTESTING BECAUSE IT'S TRYING TO CLEAN UP SOME THINGS SO WE WON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS MESS THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

SO I'D ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT AND VOTE AGAINST THIS ITEM COUNT.

AGAIN, THIS, THIS IN NO WAY BENEFITS ME.

COUNCIL MEMBER NOEL.

SO, UM, AND I ACTUALLY, WHAT YOU WERE JUST SAYING, I, I APPRECIATE, I THINK, UH, DARRELL, I WAS, I WAS SLIGHTLY CONFUSED ON, ON YOUR POINT BECAUSE I, I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE SAYING THIS RESOLUTION IS MADE TO OPPOSE A RULING THAT JUST HAPPENED AT 19 J JDC, BUT AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE, UH, THE LEGI THE LEGISLATION THAT'S BEING BROUGHT DOESN'T TALK ABOUT THAT RULING AT ALL.

AND SO, AND, AND MR. WILLIAMS SAID CLEARLY THAT THIS IS NOT, IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ABOUT, UH, A SITUATION SO IT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN? UM, I THINK WHAT, WHAT THIS RESOLUTION IS DOING IS SAYING IT'S IN OPPOSITION TO, UH, AS COUNCILMAN HUDSON SAID, A CARVE OUT.

SO I GUESS ONE QUESTION I HAD, DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHY THIS ISN'T STATEWIDE? WHY, WHY? I, I COULD TELL YOU CARVE OUT YEAH.

AS, AND I DID HELP AND INITIATE THIS ON PURPOSE.

AND THE REASON THAT IS, IT'S NOT A CARVE OUT.

IT'S MUCH LIKE WHEN YOU GO TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION AND YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT SOMETHING IN DISTRICT 10, THEY'RE GONNA WANT TO KEEP IT JERMAINE TO HER DISTRICT, AND THEY'RE GONNA ASK HER WHAT SHE NEEDS TO, YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT A BILL OUT THERE AND YOU DON'T KNOW THE POLITICS OF THOSE.

YOU DON'T WANT TO GET MONROE VOTING ON HERE.

THAT'S LIKE THEIR, THEIR METRO COUNCIL IN FACTING, THEIR WILL ON YOU.

SO WE KEPT IT JERMAINE TO WHOSE BUSINESS IT WAS.

AND WITHOUT GETTING INTO THE BUSINESS, IT'S THE NEEDS OF YOUR PATH.

AS A LOCAL, YOU DON'T KNOW.

YOU DON'T, WELL, IT, WHEN IT'S BROAD.

I DON'T KNOW THE POLITICS OF OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.

I DON'T KNOW THE NEED OF OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.

SO THIS FIT OUR MUNICIPALITY AND TO CLEAR IT UP, TAKE BRANDON OUT THE EQUATION AGAIN.

YOU GO BACK 10 YEARS, THIS WOULD'VE CURED THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAD HERE.

THAT WOULD'VE LED YOU INTO A LAWSUIT.

YOU GO BACK 20 YEARS, THIS WOULD'VE CURED THE PROBLEM THAT YOU WOULD'VE HAD.

[03:00:01]

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT BRANDON, IT'S ABOUT MAKING IT, IT'S HARD ENOUGH YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN WHERE THEY APPOINT SOMEBODY, AND THEN WE DON'T HAVE A POOL LARGE ENOUGH TO APPOINT PEOPLE TO DO THEIR CIVIC DUTY.

SO WHY WOULD YOU NARROW IT TO SAY THAT SOMEBODY WHO WORKED, JUST BECAUSE THEY WORKED FOR THE STATE, THEY CAN'T BE ON, ON THE BOARD.

WHAT, WHAT DOES A STATE AND EMPLOYEE HAVE TO DO WITH A CONFLICT FOR POLICE? UH, PROTECT.

I UNDERSTAND.

FOR, I UNDERSTAND.

SO, SO LET ME, UH, LET ME, LET ME CONTINUE WITH MY THOUGHT THOUGH.

UM, I, I BELIEVE WHEN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FACT THAT THIS WAS A CARVE OUT OR IS A CARVE OUT, IS, IS MORE OF THE REASONING BEHIND OPPOSITION TO IT.

BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU'RE RIGHT ON LETTING THE COURT PLAY OUT.

I THINK THAT THIS LEGISLATION MAY BE PREMATURE BECAUSE THE COURT MAY FIX IT ITSELF.

AND SO OPPOSITION TO, UM, TO THIS LEGISLATION IS, IS IN A WAY SAYING, HEY, MIGHT NOT BE NEEDED.

THE COURT'S ALREADY WORKING ON THIS.

IT'S ALREADY WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH.

SO, UM, I, I AGREE OF LETTING THE COURT PLAY OUT, AND I THINK THIS MAY GET IN THE WAY OF THAT POTENTIALLY AS WELL.

SO THAT'S ALL.

COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON? UH, YEAH, AGAIN, I, I DON'T WANNA GET TOO HUNG UP ON THE 19TH J D C RULING BECAUSE IT REALLY, IT REALLY DEALS WITH JUST WITH HIS SPECIFIC SITUATION.

UM, UH, BUT THERE CERTAINLY ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT IN THAT REGARD.

I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE, THE TIME OR PLACE TO DO IT.

UH, I THINK IF WE NEED A SEPARATE DISCUSSION ITEM, IF Y'ALL WANT TO DO THAT, THAT'S FINE.

UH, BUT AGAIN, THIS, THIS RESOLUTION HERE TONIGHT DEALS WITH A STATE BILL, UH, THAT WILL BASICALLY MAKE A CARVE OUT JUST FOR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

UH, AND IT WILL ALLOW FOLKS, UH, TO LOSE FOCUS ON THAT BOARD.

AGAIN, THE WAY THE THE STATE LAW CURRENTLY READS, UH, YOU HAVE TO BE ON JUST ONE BOARD, POLICE, FIRE, CIVIL SERVICE.

UH, IF YOU OPEN IT UP, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE FOLKS ON THERE, UH, WHO ARE MAKING DECISIONS AND, AND NOT HAVE ENOUGH FOCUS ON EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY WEIGHTY DECISIONS THAT INFECT AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS.

UM, SO JUST TO ADDRESS COUNCILMAN HEARST, I, I, I DON'T KNOW WHERE TONIGHT I I I'M SAID TO HAVE HEARD SOMEONE'S CHARACTER OR ATTACKED ANYONE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

I, I DON'T THINK I'VE PARTICIPATED IN THAT.

IF, IF FOLKS DISAGREE, THEY CAN CERTAINLY CHIME IN.

UH, BUT AGAIN, I, I ASK YOU TO LOOK AT THIS, EVALUATE THIS, UH, AS IT'S WRITTEN, UH, AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE FOLKS ON POLICE, FIRE, CIVIL SERVICE THAT ARE FOCUSED ON THE WORK AT HAND, UH, ON THAT BOARD.

SO, UH, MOVE THAT WE PASSED.

YOU'RE GONNA GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS? UM, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, AS A, AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC POLICY, YOU KNOW, I, I FIND IT CONCERNING ANYTIME THERE'S LEGISLATION, UM, THAT DEALS WITH, WITH SOMETHING SO VERY NEARLY FOCUSED, WHICH I THINK IS EXACTLY WHAT DWIGHT, UM, WAS TALKING ABOUT.

SO, UM, IF THIS WAS A BILL THAT WAS, UM, DEALING WITH THIS, YOU KNOW, ACROSS THE ENTIRE, UH, STATE, UM, I THINK THAT WOULD, I THINK THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT.

BUT THIS IS A BILL, UM, YOU KNOW, AIMED JUST AT EAST BAT ROUGE PARISH, JUST AT A PARTICULAR, UM, YOU KNOW, CIRCUMSTANCE.

AND, AND THAT, THAT'S NOT, THAT TO ME IS, IS NOT THE WAY LEGISLATION SHOULD BE, SHOULD BE WRITTEN.

COUNCIL MEMBER, DON, JUST AS A POINT OF INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY FOR MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE LOOKING TO GO TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A TERM CALLED LOCAL BILLS WHERE THEY DEAL WITH ISSUES THAT JUST AFFECT ONE MUNICIPALITY, ONE CITY.

SO HAVING A BILL OR A LAW PRESENTED OR PASSED, THAT JUST AFFECTS ONE AREA.

IT'S NOTHING NEW, IT'S NOTHING FOREIGN THAT HAPPENS EVERY DAY IN THE LEGISLATION.

THERE'S A TERM CALLED LOCAL BILL, SPECIFICALLY FOR BILLS THAT ONLY AFFECT ONE AREA OR ONE CITY.

SO I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE HER COMMENTS ARE COMING FROM.

LIKE, THAT'S AN OUTLIER OR SOMETHING LIKE, THAT'S NORMAL COUNCIL MEMBER HEAR.

SO I HATE TO GO HERE CUZ I REALLY LOVE ALL MY COLLEAGUES, Y'ALL KNOW, JUST TALK AGGRESSIVELY.

SO IT'S JUST LIKE, AGAIN, IT'S A FOOTBALL PLAYER IN ME, BUT WE TALKED ABOUT BALLOONS INSTEAD OF TALKING ABOUT ALL LITTER.

SO IT'S NARROW FOCUS ON ONE ENTITY INSTEAD OF ALL LITTER THAT GOES INTO OUR WATERWAYS.

IT'S NO DIFFERENTLY.

SO I CHALLENGED THAT THOUGHT ON THAT.

NUMBER TWO IS, IF YOU'VE SEEN THE RECENT NEWS ABOUT THE ATTACK ON SENATOR BARROW IN THE STATE HOUSE, IT WAS BECAUSE WE GET THE TAX TAXATION FROM RAILWAYS ACROSS THE, THE ENTIRE STATE.

DEPARTMENT AND TO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS. SO THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

HOW, HOW DID IT EVER PASS? I DON'T KNOW, BUT I, HEY, I LIKE IT CUZ WE GET THE MONEY HERE IN BATON ROUGE, BUT WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT TAKING THAT MONEY AWAY, IT WAS STRICTLY FOCUSED ON THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.

AND SO WE BECAME AN OPPOSITION OF IT CAUSE THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION WAS SINGULARLY FOCUSED ON USING RAILWAYS TO ADD MONEY TO OUR SHERIFF'S

[03:05:01]

I JUST, THIS CAME OUT YESTERDAY, THE DAY BEFORE.

SO THAT'S ONE PIECE THAT'S BEING DEFENDED TODAY.

SO AGAIN, I GO BACK TO SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE SAY IT'S NOT ABOUT BRANDON, THEN WE SAY IT IS ABOUT BRANDON.

THEN WE SAY IT'S NOT ABOUT BRANDON AND SAY IT IS ABOUT, I'M GONNA TELL Y'ALL DIRECTLY IT'S ABOUT BRANDON.

HE MAY NOT SAY IT, BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHAT IT IS.

SO, UM, THE 19 J D C HAS HELD UP A RULING AND I'M ASKED THAT WE HOLD THAT SAME RULING UP UNTIL IT GOES THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM.

AND AT THAT POINT WE, WE RELINQUISH OURSELVES OF ANY CULPABILITY OF TARGETING AN INDIVIDUAL WHO CONSTANTLY STAYS IN THE PAPER FOR THE SAME BOARD AND US ATTACKING HIS CHARACTER ABOUT ILLEGALLY SITTING ON THE BOARD.

CAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS, IS WHEN, WHEN, WHEN YOU ATTACK SOMEBODY'S CHARACTERS ON THE FRONT PAGE, WHEN YOU APOLOGIZE ON THE BACK PAGE.

AND SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HOLD THIS MAN IN HIGH REGARD AS A BUSINESSMAN AND WE ALLOW THE 19 J D C RULING FOR HIM TO STAND AND NOT DO ANY RESOLUTIONS TO SUPPORT THIS UNTIL WE GET A FINDING BACK FROM AN APPELLATE COURT IF AN APPEAL HAS BEEN FILED, WHICH NONE OF US ARE AWARE OR ARE AWARE OF AT THIS POINT.

SO WE DON'T KNOW IF THE COURT'S GOING TO DECIDE IT OR NOT.

IF THEY DO, FINE, IF THEY DON'T, THEN THE RULING SHOULD BE UP APPEALED AND WE SHOULD SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION, UH, UH, NOT SORRY OR SUPPORT THE HOUSE BILL BECAUSE THE COURT SUPPORT THE HOUSE BILL.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER MO, WHEN DOES THE HOUSE BILL GO FOR A VOTE? THAT'S THE CASE.

THAT COULD BE IN DAY, THERE'S NO SET SCHEDULE FOR THE VOTE.

WHEN, WHEN DOES THE COURT APPEALS GO THROUGH? DON'T KNOW.

THERE'S NO SET SCHEDULE FOR THAT EITHER.

SO IF THE HOUSE BILL GOES THROUGH BEFORE THE COURT OF APPEALS, THEN WHAT'S THE MATTER? WHAT'S GOES TO THE COURT OF APPEALS OR NOT? WELL, THAT'S NOT THE DEBATE.

SO JUST MY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

GOT IT.

MY, MY MY CONCERNS ABOUT A A A RESOLUTION THAT WE OFFER UP IN OPPOSITION OF ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE BODY IS THAT IT'S NOT GONNA BE UNANIMOUS, BUT ONCE IT GETS TO THAT LEGISLATIVE BODY, IT WILL BE RECEIVED AS IF THOUGH THE ENTIRE COUNCIL IS IN SUPPORT OF IT.

WHEN HALF OF US HERE TONIGHT ARE NOT GONNA BE IN WEALTH, ALMOST HALF ARE NOT GONNA BE IN, IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION.

AND I THINK AS A BODY, WE SHOULD WANT TO STAND IN ONE VOICE WHEN WE CHOOSE TO CHALLENGE WHAT ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE BODY, UH, IS THINKING ABOUT DOING OR IS CONSIDERING DOING.

I DO UNDERSTAND THE POLITICS AND I DO RECOGNIZE, UH, THINGS HAPPEN, UH, FOR VARIOUS DIFFERENT REASONS.

I, I RECOGNIZE THAT WE, WE ALLOWED THOSE MEMBERS WHO LIVE OUTSIDE THE PARISH TO SERVE ON THE BOARD FIVE YEARS BEFORE BEING APPOINTED TO THE BOARD.

AND SO THIS, THIS CIVIL SERVICE BOARD DOES COME UP OFTEN IN VERY MANY CONVERSATIONS, BUT THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION IS GONNA, IF PASSED TONIGHT, IS GONNA GO TO THE STATE AND IT'S GONNA BE WRITTEN AS IF THOUGH BATON ROUGE OPPOSES THE LEGISLATION WHEN THIS COUNCIL AS A WHOLE DOES NOT NECESSARILY OPPOSE THE RESOLUTION.

AND THEN SOME OF US WILL PROBABLY GO DOWN AND SPEAK ON, UH, BEHALF OF THE RESOLUTION.

AND I OFTENTIMES, AS I'VE SAID TO ALL OF YOU BEFORE, WANT US TO, AS BEST WE CAN LOOK AS A UNIFIED BODY.

SO JUST MY THOUGHTS ON THE MATTER.

UH, THERE IS A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HU SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. WE'RE GONNA HOLD ASK POINT ORDER.

HMM.

CAN I JUST ASK ONE ORDER? SO ASHLEY, AS, UH, TO COUNCILMAN COLE'S POINT, UM, IN, IN THE DRAFTING OF THE LETTER, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO JUST STATE THE VOTE TALLY? YES, I CAN DO THAT.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

BEFORE, UH, WE VOTE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THERE WAS ONE COMMENT, UH, EMAIL COMMENT THAT Y'ALL SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED IN SUPPORT OF ITEM ONE 10 MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE.

MOTION CARRIES.

WE NOW

[111. 23-00480 ]

GO TO ITEM ONE 11.

AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TURN TO A SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH AGILE PLANNING SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,000 TO ADMINISTER AND OPERATE COMMUNITY-BASED VIOLENCE INTERVENTION THROUGH OPERATION FOR THE BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY STREET TEAM.

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

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN HEAR.

SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN DUNN.

ARE THERE ANY OPPOSITION? ANY OPPOSITION? OKAY.

YEAH, WE GOING? WE GOING? THANK YOU.

THE TAPE.

TO ONE 12 AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND OR BRASCO TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER 17 TO CONTRACT WITH ARCO COMPANY SERVICES INCORPORATED FOR MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, INSTALLATION AND STORAGE OF GENERATORS FOR PUMP STATION SITES FOR A FEE NOT TO EXCEED $2,150,000 BY

ANY OPPOSITION? ALL RIGHT.

NO OPPOSITION.

MOVED NINE

[112. 23-00483]

[03:10:01]

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE 12? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM ONE 12.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MAROSE SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PER ANY OBJECTIONS.

ITEM ONE 12 HAS BEEN APPROVED.

WE NOW GO TO

[Items 113 - 117]

ITEM ONE 13 THROUGH ONE 17.

AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENT AGREEMENT NUMBER ONE TO A CONTRACT WITH WT AA ENGINEERS FOR AN ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVE BR ENHANCEMENT PROJECT AMBR GARDEN PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS NOT TO EXCEED $483,000.

ITEM ONE 14 AUTHORIZED TO BE A PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH PIVOTAL ENGINEERING LLC FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED REMOVE BEYOND CAPACITY PROJECT COOPER ROAD, BLACKWATER BAYOU TO JU ROAD IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED THIRTY SEVEN THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED SEVENTY SIX THOUSAND FORTY TWO BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.

ITEM ONE 15.

AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH INFINITY ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS LLC FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOBILE CAPACITY PROJECT JONES CREEK ROAD EXTENSION ALLY HIGHWAY, THE TIGER BEND ROAD AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $33,180.

ITEM ONE 16 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT EXECUTE THE CONTRACT FOR GEOTECHNICAL SERVICES WITH TERRACON CONSULTANTS INCORPORATED FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOBILE CAPACITY MICKENS ROAD, HOOPER ROAD, THE DRILL ROLE IN THE MOUNT C $86,240 AND 34 CENTS BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.

ITEM ONE 17 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT, EXECUTE THE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES REGRESSION SMITH FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOBILE BR ATM SYSTEMS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IN THE MOUNTAIN NOW TO EXCEED $120,929 AND 62 CENTS.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE 13 TO ONE 17? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY THE COUNCIL? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, HER SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER NOR ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS.

WE NOW GO TO ITEM ONE 18.

[118. 23-00499]

AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE THE RIGHT OF WAY INSTRUMENT AGREEMENT GRANTING ENERGY L LOUISIANA LLC.

ENERGY RIGHT OF WAY, SERVITUDE AND EASEMENT 30 FEET IN WITH OVERHEAD FACILITIES AND 10 FEET WIDTH FOR UNDERGROUND FACILITIES BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTORS.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ONE 18? MAY NOW GO TO COUNCIL.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM ONE 18.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER EARTH.

SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.

ANY OBJECTIONS? MAY NOW GO TO ITEM ONE 19.

[119. 23-00500]

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE LIGHTING AGREEMENT WITH LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT AND CONNECTION WITH THE STATE PROJECT NUMBER 30 64 TO LOUISIANA.

1 12 48.

1248.

PHASE TWO BY TRANSPORTATION.

A DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE 19? YOU NOW GO TO COUNCILORS.

THERE ARE MOTION TO APPROVE.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HEARD.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. WE NOW GO TO ITEM ONE.

[120. 23-00501]

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO TO ITEM ONE 20.

HMM, ID ONE 20.

WE GO TO 1 21

[Items 121 - 141]

THROUGH 1 41.

ADJUDICATED PROPERTY.

ITEM 1 21 LOT 33 SQUARE 18 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE, DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER.

JONATHAN DILLON.

$500 1 22 LOT SIX AND SEVEN SQUARE TWO.

DISTRICT SEVEN HIGH BIDDER BEAUTY IN MY HANDS LLC.

$100.

ITEM 1 23.

LOT 20 SQUARE.

22 SUBDIVISION EAST FAIRFIELD.

DISTRICT SEVEN HIGH BITTA.

GLORIA XENO STERLING $500.

ITEM 1 24 LOT 38.

SUBDIVISION AIRLINE TERRORIST.

DISTRICT 10 HIGH BITTA TELFORD WILLIAMS. $100 LOT 45 SUBDIVISION GREEN RIDGES.

DISTRICT FIVE HEARST HIGH BITTA BRANDY WILSON LOT 12 A ONE SQUARE 33 SUBDIVISION BANKS.

DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN.

UH, WHAT IS THAT? THAT'S NOT HOW OLD HIGH BIT OF GLORIA CARROLL.

$3,500.

ITEM 1 27 LOT ONE PLUS SQUARE.

3 4 4 DASH A SUBDIVISION FAVOR.

RO PAV.

DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BID OF DILLON HOLDEN COMPANY.

DYLAN HOLDEN'S COMPANY.

$3,000 1 28 LOT.

12 SQUARE SIX SUBDIVISION LEADING COLLEGE ANNEX DISTRICT TWO BANKS HIGH BID OF DAVID CHAMBERS.

$4,400 AND 1 29 LOTS.

18 SQUARE D SUBDIVISION DOHERTY PLACED DISTRICT FIVE HERTZ HIGH BIDED CHRISTIAN RICHARDSON.

$100 ITEM ONE 30 LOT 54 SUBDIVISION WOODLAWN.

DISTRICT FIVE HERS HIGH BETA FARRELL JOHNSON III $33,700.

ITEM 1 31 LOT CASE SQUARE FOUR.

SUBDIVISION DELMONT PLACE DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN HIGH BITTA CLARK FAMILY HOMES $25,500.

ITEM 1 32 21 PLUS SQUARE THREE SUBDIVISION GEORGETOWN DISTRICT SEVEN, KELLY GOCHE $2,900 1 33 LOT 11 PLUS SQUARE 12 SUBDIVISION FORTUNE DISTRICT FIVE HIGH BID OF KIRK SHARPER $2,300 ITEM 1 34 LOT 39 SQUARE TWO.

DISTRICT 10 HIGH BID OF WILSON J LEONARD JR.

$500 AT 1 35 LOT ONE PLUS SQUARE 2113 LOTS.

SUBDIVISION STREAMER.

DISTRICT 10.

WE DON'T HAVE A BIDDER ON THAT ONE.

TAXES TO YOU.

SO HOW DOES THAT WORK?

[03:15:03]

HOW'S THAT? DOES THAT WORK? BILLY? 1 35 IS THE ONE WE WERE ASKING TO DELETE.

WE ARE REBIDDING IT TO THE NEXT BIDDING AND WE WANTED TO DEFER IT TO THE SECOND MEETING IN MAY.

SO YOU WANNA DELETE THIS ONE THAT WELL NOT DELETE.

DEFER TO MAY 24TH.

MAY DEFER.

WHY IS THAT? WE HAD SOME FOLKS COME IN TO BID AND THE PERSON THAT MADE THE INITIAL BID WAS TOLD THAT NO ONE ELSE WAS BIDDING.

SO HE LEFT.

WELL SOMEONE HAD ACTUALLY SIGNED UP TO BID SO WE DIDN'T WANNA MESS ANYBODY UP.

SO WE JUST RESET IT TO THOSE TWO GUYS FOR THE NEXT MEETING.

TO ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS NOW.

THAT'S VERY ADMIRABLE TO YOU BILLY.

IS THERE A MOTION TO DEF? WELL I'LL DO THAT.

THE END.

1 36 LOT 11 SQUARE FOUR SUBDIVISION ONE.

UNIVERSITY CITY METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS HIGH BIDDER.

CARLTON J ALLEN.

$2,200.

ITEM 1 37 LOT 1 0 1 SUBDIVISION WOODLAWN, DISTRICT FIVE HEARST HIGH BIDDER.

JAMES L. WILLIAMS, $10,500 1 38 LOT 35 SUBDIVISION AIRLINE TERRACE DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER SHANNON CRIER.

$500 1 39 LOT.

16 EIGHT SUBDIVISION FOREST SQUARE DISTRICT SIX HIGH BIDDER CHRISTOPHER ROBBINS, $8,000 ITEM ONE 40 BY 23 8 DASH ONE SUBDIVISION FOREST SQUARE DISTRICT SIX HIGH BIDDER CHRISTOPHER ROBBINS, $5,000 1 41 LOT 34TH SQUARE NINE SUBDIVISION NORTHDALE DISTRICT 10 HIGH BIDDER 29 11 ACADEMY $3,700.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 1 21 THROUGH 1 41? COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT OPPOSED TO ITEMS 1 21 THROUGH 1 41.

COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED TWO THINGS.

A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS. 1 31 21 THROUGH 1 34 AND 1 36 THROUGH 1 41.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GO.

THEY SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKER.

AND WE NEED A MOTION TO DEFER ITEM 1 35 FOR HOW LONG? BILL? MAY 24TH TO MAY 24TH.

IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MADAY.

SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.

ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEMS 1 21 THROUGH 1 41 HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED.

WE ARE GONNA GO

[ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS]

COUNCIL MEMBER.

SEPARATE SHEET FOR ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER.

A 20 3005.

NOW THEY RECEIVING REPORT FROM DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES ON RECYCLING FEES.

AND THE POSSIBILITY OF WAIVING SUCH FEES.

YOU NEED A MOTION? CAN I DO BOTH OF 'EM TOGETHER? MM-HMM.

ITEM B, AUTHORIZATION OF THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT.

COMMISSIONER TO THE SERVITUDE P WILLIAM JET CENTER CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED HIM NEED A MOTION TO WA THE RULES SO ALLOW OF ITEMS TO BE INTRODUCED.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MOROCCO.

SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN OMAROSA.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A MOTION TO WA THE RULES? WE NEED TO VOTE ON A MOTION TO WA THE RULES.

THERE ARE A MOTION TO WA THE RULES.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MORAS AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOROSA.

ANY OBJECTIONS ON THE MOTION TO WA THE RULE? MR. PROTE, LET THE RECORD REFLECT OB ABSTAIN FROM ANY ACTION ASSOCIATED WITH ITEM EIGHT.

WITH ITEM A.

GOT YOU.

WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER.

MADE A MOTION TO, OH.

NEED A MOTION TO INTRODUCE, BUT SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MOR.

SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MA.

THE IN ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.

HMM.

ANY OBJECTIONS? ANY OBJECTIONS? ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED.

WE'RE NOW GONNA TAKE ITEMS. 1 40 61 49

[Items 146 - 149 ]

TOGETHER.

1 46.

MAINTENANCE ELEVATOR ESCALATORS.

DUMB WAIT IS CONTRACTOR PRECISION ELEVATED COMPANY CHANGE ORDER, $75,000.

ITEM 1 47 RIVER CENTER THEATER FOR PERFORMING ARTS IMPROVEMENTS, CONTRACTED BA BANQUET AND LELONG INCORPORATED.

CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, $668,805.

ITEM 1 48.

DEPARTMENT ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES RENOVATION CONTRACTOR, BLUNT GENERAL CONTRACTOR, LLC.

CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, $377,627.

ITEM 1 49 MANCUSO LANE, DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTOR INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISE INCORPORATED.

CHANGE YOUR ORDER ABOUT $80,322 AND 19 CENTS.

ANYONE WHO WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 1 46 TO 1 49.

WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE COUNCIL ASHLEY? UH, REAL QUICKLY, Y'ALL SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL, COMMENT AND OPPOSITION TO ITEMS 1 47 AND 1 48.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS? 1 46 TO 1 49.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE NOW GO TO FINAL ACCEPTANCES

[150. 23-00591]

ONE 50 MAN LANE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS, CONTRACTOR, INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISE AND INCORPORATED FINAL COST.

280 3007 $54 AND 44 CENTS.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE 50? WHEN I GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS? THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO TO 1 51

[Items 151 - 154]

THROUGH 1 54 LO ACCEPTANCE OF LOPEZ BIDS, LEAD

[03:20:01]

JANITORIAL SERVICES EBR R MAIN LIBRARY, GOODWILL SOUTHERN BAY, LLC, $147,885 AND 89 CENTS I 1 52 PQ, REG BOONE SERVICE, LLC.

THREE MILLION THREE MILLION EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS.

ITEM 1 53.

ANNUAL PARISH WATCH, SEWER REPAIR REPLACEMENT ALLEN AND LALO, LLC, $1,089,374 1 54 IN VAL STREET, WASTE AREA 88 TRANSITION PROJECT.

GRADY CRAWFORD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY OF BATON ROUGE, $399,512.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 1 51 THROUGH 1 54? THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 1 51 THROUGH 1 54.

SO MOVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

ITEMS 1 51 THROUGH 1 54 HAVE BEEN APPROVED.

ITEM 1 55

[155. 23-00029]

RECEIVING THE FIRST QUARTER 2023 REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES FOR PERFORMANCE OF GARBAGE, TRASH.

BULKY ITEM WOODY ERASE AND RECYCLE.

PICKED UP BY COUNCIL MEMBER DWIGHT HUDSON.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE REPORT FIRST AND THEN WE'LL HAVE ANYONE WISHING TO COMMENT ON THE REPORT.

CAN DO.

SO WHO'S GONNA BE FIRST? UH, ADAM SMITH.

YOU UP FIRST? YES, SIR.

DO HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR YOU? OKAY.

GOOD TO GO.

GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WE'LL, UH, JUST RUN THROUGH A, A COUPLE ITEMS FOR YOU REAL QUICK.

SOME UPDATES AND THE COLLECTION STATS THAT WE'VE TYPICALLY BEEN GIVEN YOU ON THESE QUARTERLY REPORTS.

AND THEN WE'LL MOVE INTO THE, THE REPORT FROM REPUBLIC.

WE DID MAJOR THING WE DID THIS QUARTER WAS MOVE INTO THE, THE NEW CONTRACT.

IT WAS EFFECTIVE MARCH 1ST.

THERE IS A, A TRANSITION PERIOD AND, AND SHARON WILL GET INTO THAT, BUT FROM A, WHAT THE, THE RESIDENTS SEE FROM A SERVICE PERS PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S NOT GONNA CHANGE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE TRANSITION PERIOD.

SO WHAT THEY'RE SEEING NOW ISN'T, AND WHAT HAPPENED IN IN MARCH AT THE END OF THIS QUARTER WAS, WAS REALLY NO DIFFERENT THAN THE, THE OTHER TWO MONTHS OF THE QUARTER.

UM, WE DID AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, STARTED COLLECTING EARLY IN SOME AREAS.

UM, THAT'S, AND AND WE ARE GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT MORE OFFICIALLY CHANGING THAT IN THE ORDINANCE.

IF, IF IT'S OKAY WITH Y'ALL, I'D, I'D LIKE TO WAIT A LITTLE BIT AND SEE HOW THIS, THE I 10 WORK AFFECTS THAT.

CUZ WHAT WE'RE THINKING RIGHT NOW WHERE WE THINK WE MAY NEED TO START RIGHT NOW, WE MAY NEED TO START EVEN EARLIER THAN THAT.

WHENEVER THE I 10 WORK GETS STARTED AND ALMOST BE COLLECTING GARBAGE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

SO, UM, WE COULD DO ONE NOW AND ONE LATER, OR I, IF IT'S OKAY, WE CAN JUST GO AHEAD AND PUSH IT ON TO, TO LATER ON.

AND THIRD THING THAT KIND OF GOT INTO IT REAL LATE INTO THIS QUARTER, AND THEN, BUT MOVING INTO, UH, INTO APRIL, WE WERE, UM, MOVING INTO A DIFFERENT AREA OF THE CELL AT THE NORTH LANDFILL.

SO WHAT THAT IS, AS THE GARBAGE STARTS TO PILE UP, IT, IT GETS HIGH.

AND WHEN THE, WHEN THE TRUCKS GET AND BACK UP TO IT THERE, THERE'S GARBAGE THERE.

SO IT'S JUST, IT'S A SLOWER PROCESS FOR THE GARBAGE TRUCK TO DUMP INTO THE LANDFILL.

KEEP THE CALLS DOWN TO ABOUT 60 PER DAY.

UM, WE WERE WORKING ON MOVING OVER TO THE NEXT PART OF THAT CELL, WORKING ON THE TIPPING PADS BETWEEN WEATHER ISSUES HERE, UH, RAINS HERE, AND THEN WHEN WE ORDER STONE SO THAT WE CAN BUILD A ROAD.

AND WASTE MANAGEMENT GUYS ARE A LOT MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE THAN ON THIS.

AND THEY CAN TOUCH ON SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS IF YOU WANT.

BUT AS WE'RE ORDERING STONE, SO NOT ONLY DOES THE RAIN AFFECT US HERE, BUT THE RAIN IN OTHER PLACES THAT WE MAY NOT BE GETTING HERE WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO GET MATERIALS FROM OTHER PLACES AND BRING 'EM IN.

IT, IT JUST, IT WAS A SLOWER PROCESS THAN ANTICIPATED.

SO IT, IT TOOK A LITTLE WHILE TO GET THAT THROUGH.

THE, THE NEW TIPPING PADS ARE, THEY'RE DONE.

THEY'RE IN PLACE.

THEY'RE IN PLACE AT THE END OF LAST WEEK.

WE STARTED ON 'EM ON MONDAY.

WE WERE DOING REALLY GOOD, THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA BE HOME FREE.

AND THEN ANOTHER TRUCK COMES IN AND GETS STUCK IN THE LANDFILL AND EVERYBODY'S BACKED UP FOR A COUPLE HOURS IN THE AFTERNOON.

SO IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

BUT I, I DO THINK YOU'LL, YOU'LL CONTINUE TO SEE, ESPECIALLY ON THOSE, THOSE MONDAY ROUTES THAT ARE FAR AWAY FROM WHERE THE LANDFILL IS, YOU WILL START TO SEE SOME, SOME IMPROVEMENTS THERE.

UM, WITH THAT, JUST GETTING INTO A LITTLE STATISTICS, UH, THE GOAL THAT WAS SET, UH, LAST YEAR AS PART OF AN IMPROVEMENT PLAN WAS TO

[03:25:01]

WE WERE AVERAGING IN THE FIRST QUARTER, A LITTLE BIT OVER 60.

THEY KIND OF TICKED UP IN THAT TIME WHEN EVERYBODY'S CLEANING OUT THEIR YARDS IN THE SPRING AND THAT TYPE OF THING.

BUT OVERALL, WE WERE, WE WERE A LITTLE HIGH, BUT WE WERE, WE WERE RIGHT AT THAT MARK OR THAT WAS SET PRIOR.

SO WITH THAT, I WILL, IF Y'ALL DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR ME, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO REPUBLIC.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR ADAM? I LOST THE PRESENTATION.

I'M NOT SURE WHERE IT WENT, BUT, UM, SO WANTED TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT THE, THE TRANSITION PLAN.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD TALKED TO DWIGHT BEING, AND, AND IN DENISE AND IN ROWDY'S AREA, IT'S JUST THE FURTHEST POINT FROM THE LANDFILL.

SO WE HAD DID AN EXPERIAN EXPERIMENT WHERE WE STARTED EARLY ON MONDAY AND THURSDAYS.

AND WHEN I SAY EARLY, IT'S LIKE 3:00 AM UM, AND WE'RE ABLE TO DO BETTER.

UH, THE LANDFILL WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE AND, YOU KNOW, TO NO FAULT OF THEIRS IS JUST HOW IT WORKED OUT.

WHEN, LIKE ADAM SAID, WHEN ONE CELL FILLS UP, IT STARTS GETTING SLOWER.

GETTING THE OTHER CELL READY WAS JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A CHALLENGE FOR US AND FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT.

BUT THEY DID GET A LOT OF THAT, UH, COMPLETED.

SO WE SHOULD SEE THAT IMPROVE.

SO NOW GOING INTO THE TRANSITION PLAN.

UM, SO AGAIN, MARCH 1ST, THE NEW CONTRACT STARTED.

THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT CHANGED WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE TAKING OVER THE CART DELIVERY AND THE CART REPLACEMENTS AND EXCHANGES AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

UM, WE DID SEE A HIGHER UPTICK IN VOLUME OF CALLS AS A RESULT OF THE PRICE INCREASE FOR SURE.

UM, WITH PEOPLE CONCERNED, YOU KNOW, ABOUT GOING TO TWICE A WEEK INSTEAD OF ONCE A WEEK.

AND JUST HAD A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS ON THAT.

SO WE'RE, YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE GOING ALONG, THE NEXT CHANGES THAT ARE COMING UP ARE GONNA BE ON JUNE 1ST.

WE ARE GOING TO DO SOME CHANGES ON RECYCLING.

IT'S STILL, THE, THE ROUTES ARE BASICALLY STAYING THE SAME.

I KILLED IT.

KILLED IT.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? OKAY, SO WE ARE GONNA CHANGE SOME DAYS ON RECYCLING JUST TO BALANCE OUT THOSE ROUTES.

RIGHT NOW, MONDAY AND THURSDAY, RECYCLING ROUTES ARE THE HEAVIEST.

SO WE NEED TO BALANCE IT OUT THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.

IT'S ONLY GONNA AFFECT ABOUT 10,000 CUSTOMERS ON DAY CHANGES.

AND WE'RE DOING A REALLY, UH, I, I THINK WE'RE DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB OF HOW WE'RE GONNA NOTIFY RESIDENTS.

IT'S GONNA BE PER HOUSEHOLD INDIVIDUALLY WITH, UM, CARDS BEING MAILED TO THEIR HOUSE AND SOME TEXT MESSAGE MESSAGES THAT ARE GONNA BE SENT OUT ALONG WITH ADAM AND, UH, HIS TEAM ARE GONNA DO SOME PUBLIC OUTREACH AS WELL.

UH, THE NEXT THING THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN JUNE IS ANYBODY THAT HAS THE ADDITIONAL CARTS ARE GONNA SEE THEIR $7 A MONTH INCREASE FOR ANYTHING OVER ONE CART.

UM, YOU KNOW, YOU'D BE SURPRISED WE'VE DONE AN AUDIT AND THERE'S A FEW HOUSES OUT THERE THAT HAVE 10 CARTS, BUT THEY WANT THEIR 10 CARTS AND THEY SAID THEY'LL PAY FOR THEIR 10 CARTS.

SO WE'RE OKAY WITH IT.

SO, UM, THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN FOR JUNE IS THERE'S GONNA BE AN INTRODUCTION TO THE, UH, ANYTHING ABOVE A THREE PLEX.

SO FOUR PLEXES AND ABOVE THAT CURRENTLY HAVE CARTS, UM, ARE GOING TO CONTACT THOSE, UH, OWNERS, LANDLORDS AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO TRANSITION FROM CARTS TO DUMPSTERS.

SO ADAM AND HIS TEAM, ALONG WITH US AND FEW OTHER PEOPLE ARE REALLY TRYING TO WORK ON HOW THAT'S, YOU KNOW, HOW WE'RE GONNA DO THAT.

SO, ADAM, AND I MEAN, I THINK THE CITY IS THE ONE THAT'S GONNA DO THE EXECUTION AND I GUESS YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT IT REALLY.

WE HAVE A, A MEETING TOMORROW WITH THE APARTMENTS ASSOCIATION AND TRYING TO START THOSE TALKS AND THEY'LL HAVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER ONE TO GET THOSE COMPLETED.

AND IF THERE'S ANY THAT SAY, LOOK, I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE ROOM FOR A DUMPSTER, WE'LL DEAL WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALLY.

THEN AFTER THAT IT'S GONNA CALM DOWN FOR A LITTLE BIT AND THEN THE BEAK CHANGE IS COMING UP ON SEPTEMBER ONE, AND THAT'S WHEN THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF CHANGES TO THE OUTER CART.

UM, AND WHERE WE WILL NO LONGER PICK UP OUT OF CART, THAT'S WHEN THE DIFFERENT CONTRACTORS ARE GONNA BE DOING.

UH, WE'LL HAVE GARBAGE AND RECYCLING AND DELIVERY OF CARTS AND THEN RICHARD'S DISPOSAL WILL HAVE THE OUT OF CART ALONG WITH EXPLAIN, YOU KNOW, WITH THE LIMITATIONS TO THE OUT OF CART.

SO WE'VE GOT A, A BIGGER OUTREACH PROGRAM THAT WE WANT TO DISCUSS AND, AND TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT SO THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE GONNA BE AT THE CURB.

AND

[03:30:01]

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

DEWITT, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FIRST.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MO, IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM WHEN I GO TO COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBERS? YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT ON THE REPORT.

COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE, DO WE WANT TO READ THAT EMAIL OUT LOUD OR JUST KEEP IT TO OURSELF? .

UH, MY QUESTION ON PROCESS, UM, YOU TALK ABOUT THE SWAPPING OF THE CARTS, THESE PEOPLE HAVE 10 CARTS, THEY WANT THEIR CARTS, FIVE HAVE YOUR CART.

IS THERE ANY NOTIFICATION OR ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO NOTIFICATION WISE OR CONFIRMATION WISE, OTHER THAN THEIR BILL JUST GOES UP $7 A MONTH ALL OF A SUDDEN? AND I KNOW WE CAN SIT HERE AND SAY ALL DAY LONG, JUST LIKE YOU SAID WITH THE PERSON WITH THE 10 CARDS, OH, THEY WANT THEIR 10 CARDS, BUT WHEN YOU SEND 'EM A BILL FOR THAT 10 CARDS, THEN THEY'RE ALL OF A SUDDEN LIKE, NOBODY TOLD ME ABOUT THIS.

THAT'S, THAT'S THE THING I'M TRYING TO GET ACROSS TO INDIVIDUALS AND SO ON.

UM, IS THERE GOING TO BE ANY, ANY KIND OF, UH, RECORD KEEPING NOTIFICATION? I THINK Y'ALL ARE DOING THE NOTIFICATION PART.

I LIKE ALL THE IDEAS AND EVERYTHING.

I JUST DON'T LIKE ALL THE IDEAS OF WE WEREN'T NOTIFIED AND THERE'S NO WAY FOR, THERE'S NO WAY.

OH, WELL YEAH, WE DID NOTIFY Y'ALL.

NO, YOU DIDN'T NOTIFY US.

THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE'S NO CYA.

SO HOW DO WE DO THAT? SO WE'VE DISCUSSED, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOTTA MEET WITH THE CITY AND, AND TALK TO GRETA, WHO'S GONNA BE THE PERSON THAT'S GONNA SEND THESE BILLS OUT.

UM, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE CITY, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT'S GONNA AFFECT ABOUT 20,000 RESIDENTS AS OF RIGHT NOW.

AND I EXPECT A MASS EXODUS OF CARTS CALLS COMING IN NOT WANTING THE CART.

BUT I DO EXPECT THAT PEOPLE WILL ABSOLUTELY WANT TO KEEP THE CART BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF CALLS RIGHT NOW FOR ADDITIONAL CART DELIVERY.

AND THEY UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THREE 11 IS CURRENTLY TELLING PEOPLE, IF YOU WANT A AN EXTRA CART, IT'S GONNA BE AN ADDITIONAL $7 A MONTH.

THAT I KNOW FOR A FACT IS BEING DONE.

BUT I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE CITY ON THE OTHER NOTIFICATION.

I THINK IT'S MORE OF A GRETA QUESTION.

WELL, I I GUESS FROM A CITY STANDPOINT, WE SEND A BILL OUT, YOU KNOW, THESE PEOPLE, AGAIN, I'VE, I'VE GOT FOUR CARTS MYSELF.

UH, THEY FLOATED UP, I KEPT 'EM , OKAY.

I MEAN FAT SINCE 2016.

I DON'T CARE.

THEY'RE ALL OUT FRONT.

I'M NOT, THEY'RE NOT HIDING.

THEY'RE ALL LINED UP OUT THERE TO TAKE MY GARBAGE OUT.

I JUST TAKE THE ONE OUT THAT'S FULL EVERY WEEK, YOU KNOW, SO YOU PASS BY YOUR LITTLE GUY LOOKS OUT THE WINDOW, HE IS LIKE, OH, THERE'S FOUR CARTS OVER THERE.

NEXT THING I KNOW I GET AN INCREASE OF $28.

UM, SORRY, I, YOU KNOW, I GET THIS INCREASE.

SO IS THERE A TIME PERIOD WHERE WE MIGHT COULD SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M CLAIMING I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS.

I'VE HAD THESE CARTS SINCE THE FLOOD, UM, I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS OR WHATEVER.

IS THERE POSSIBLY A TIME PERIOD WHERE WHEN THEY DO MAKE THAT CALL, CAUSE WE'RE ALL THE ONES THAT ARE GONNA GET THE CALL, WE'RE GONNA GET THE CALL THAT, YOU KNOW, WE SCREWED THIS UP AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY BILL WENT UP ONCE AND NOW IT'S GOING UP AGAIN AND IT'S JUST, I LOGISTICALLY IT'S GONNA BE A NIGHTMARE.

CAUSE WE ALREADY GOT THAT WHEN THE BILL INITIALLY JUMPED FOR THE NEW CONTRACT.

SO I'M JUST TRYING TO PREPARE US AND Y'ALL AND THE CITY AND EVERYONE ELSE FOR THIS PROCESS.

MY THING OR POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION IS YES SIR, YOUR, YOUR BILL WENT UP $14 OR WHATEVER.

YOU HAVE ALL THESE EXTRA CARTS.

I APOLOGIZE YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

WE'LL KICK IT OFF ON THE NEXT BILL, BUT WE'RE COMING BY TO PICK UP YOUR CART.

I MEAN, I, I DON'T JUST, JUST SUGGESTIONS INSTEAD OF JUST SAYING, WELL, IT WAS OUT THERE LAST TIME WE PASSED BY, PAY THIS MONTH AND WE'LL COME BY AND GET THE CARD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO WE'RE GETTING YEAH.

SO BASICALLY WE'RE DOING THIS AUDIT, RIGHT? SO WE'VE GOT, WE'VE TAKEN PICTURES.

WE KNOW EVERYBODY, I SAY EVERYBODY POSSIBLY, NOT EVERYONE, BUT WE KNOW THE 20,000 PEOPLE.

WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE EXTRA CARTS.

AND I CAN ONLY SPEAK TO WHAT I SEE.

UM, I, I, I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHAT YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

BUT, UM, AGAIN, FOR US, I THINK WHAT W WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THIS IS HISTORICALLY THE CITY HAS SPENT OVER $2 MILLION A YEAR ON CARTS, WHICH IS A LOT OF MONEY.

OKAY? WE'VE ONLY HAD THE CARTS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THEM SINCE MARCH THE FIRST.

[03:35:02]

UM, WE WILL, IF WE DO, FOR EXAMPLE, A HUNDRED ACTIONS A DAY THAT COME IN, WE ACTUALLY ONLY COMPLETE 50.

BUT LET ME TELL YOU WHY.

SOMEONE WILL CALL IN AND SAY, THE GARBAGE TRUCK ATE MY CART.

WE SHOW UP, WE SEE THE CART AT THEIR HOUSE, WE TAKE A PICTURE, WE DON'T LEAVE ANOTHER CART.

AND THEN THEY GET A LI THEN WE ARE CALLING THEM TO LET THEM KNOW YOU CURRENTLY HAVE A CART, SO DO YOU WANT THE ADDITIONAL CART AND THERE'S GONNA BE A $7 FEE OR, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE'RE KIND OF GOING THROUGH WITH THAT.

AND SO OUR GOAL IS TO FOLLOW THE CART PROGRAM TO TRY TO SAVE THE CITY FROM SPENDING 2 MILLION AND ALSO UTILIZE THE WARRANTY PROGRAM TO WHERE YOU CAN GET FREE CARTS AND, UM, TO ALSO, AND NOW WHAT WE'RE DOING TOO IS WE'RE GOING OUT, INSTEAD OF JUST DROPPING A NEW CART, WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING REPAIRS ON SITE.

SO IF SOMEBODY SAYS, MY LIDS BROKEN, MY GUYS ARE OUT THERE WITH LIDS AND THEY'RE DOING THE REPAIRS, AND THEN THEY JUST MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.

SO FROM A CART PROGRAM STANDPOINT, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING TO ANSWER THE QUESTION AND, AND WHAT YOUR COMMENTS ARE.

I I DON'T NECESSARILY DISAGREE, I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW WE'LL DO THAT.

I'LL LET ADAM SPEAK TO THAT.

NO, I, I AGREE.

AND WE, WE NEED TO OVERCOMMUNICATE, I THINK WE CAN DEFINITELY COMMIT TO SOME TYPE OF SOCIAL MEDIA NOTIFICATION, UM, IN INDIVIDUAL NOTIFICATIONS.

UH, LET ME, LET ME LOOK INTO THAT.

I'M JUST THINKING OF THE LOGISTICS OF TRYING TO NOTIFY THAT MANY PEOPLE AND GET, I GUESS MY MAIN, MY MAIN CONCERN WITH THE EXTRA FEE OR EVERYTHING IS, LIKE I SAID, THOSE CARTS ARE OUT THERE, YOU SEE 'EM, YOU'VE AUDITED IT, THEIR HOUSE OR WHATEVER, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEIR BILL GOES UP.

THEY CALL IN.

MY THING IS JUST BE MINDFUL AND RESPECTFUL THAT POSSIBLY THEY DID KNOW ABOUT IT.

THEY JUST, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO'S HAD THESE CARTS FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND THEY'VE NEVER GOTTEN CHARGED EXTRA AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY'RE DOWN TO ONE CART AND THEY'RE GONNA GET CHARGED EXTRA.

AND AGAIN, IT'S KIND OF THE SAME WAY WITH THE FEES STRUCTURE WITH THE NEW CONTRACT.

THE AMOUNT OF PHONE CALLS THAT I GOT THAT SAID, I DIDN'T KNOW THE FEES WERE GOING UP.

I, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT NEWS CHANNEL YOU WATCH.

I I DON'T KNOW WHAT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, L P B I GUESS.

I DON'T KNOW.

UM, BUT I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN ON THIS NEXT JUMP WHEN IT'S FORCED.

AND I, I FEEL LIKE WE LEARNED A LESSON FROM THE JUMP IN CONTRACT.

LET'S BE PREPARED FOR THE NEXT ONE WITH SOME KIND OF RECOURSE THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE OR, OR WHATEVER FOR THESE PEOPLE THAT GET THAT EXTRA BILL.

AGAIN, JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.

GO THERE.

HEY, UH, ADAM, DON'T, UM, WALK ME THROUGH PLEASE THE CHANGE FOR FOUR PLEXES AND TELL ME SPECIFICALLY HOW Y'ALL ARE GONNA WORK WITH ME TO COMMUNICATE IN GUARDER WITH OUR RESIDENCE THERE PLEASE.

SO AS YOU MAY, WE ARE, UM, WE'RE MEETING WITH THE BATON ROUGE DEPARTMENT ASSOCIATION TOMORROW, UH, VIRTUAL MEETING.

WE'RE GONNA TRY TO GET SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THEM.

DO WOULD KIND OF, UH, FOR ORDINANCE CHANGES, POOR OR JUST FOR COMMUNICATION TO, TO COMMUNICATE ALL RIGHT.

TO THE FOLKS WHAT, WHAT THE CHANGES ARE.

UM, WE'VE ALSO, WE DO HAVE A LIST OF THE MAIN, UH, LANDLORDS, I'M GONNA CALL IT IN THE MM-HMM.

IN THE PARISH MM-HMM.

THAT WE CAN, I, I FEEL GET THE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE FOLKS AND, AND GET THE WORD OUT THAT WAY AS WELL.

SO THAT, THAT IS, THAT'S TWO THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, IS TO COMMUNICATE WITH, WITH ORGANIZATIONS.

THEN I KNOW THIS DOESN'T ANSWER YOUR QUESTION SPECIFICALLY, BUT THEN THE NEXT STEP'S GONNA BE GOING OUT TO THE HOAS AND I, I GUESS THAT GOES BACK TO SOME OF THE THINGS COUNCILMAN MOK WAS TALKING ABOUT, GOING OUT TO THE HOAS AND COMMUNICATING WITH THOSE FOLKS AND GETTING THE WORD OUT THAT WAY AS WELL.

BUT WE'VE GOT, WE'RE GONNA COMMUNICATE WITH THOSE FOLKS AND WITH THE LANDLORDS INDIVIDUALLY.

HERE, BUT AS, AS I APPRECIATE IT, THAT SOLID WASTE ORDINANCE MIMICS WHATEVER IS IN THE, THE SOLID WASTE CONTRACT.

WE'VE GOT THAT.

DOES THIS REQUIRE ANY CHANGE IN ORDINANCES OR POLICY TO, FOR THE FOURPLEXES SPECIFICALLY TO GO FROM CARTS TO BINS? THAT I DON'T KNOW.

I WILL.

THE, IT'S COMING IN JUNE.

THE, THE ORDINANCE, THE ORDINANCE IS BASED ON THE SOLID WASTE ORDINANCE IS BASED ON THE COLLECTION CONTRACT.

SO AS I AND RACHEL'S COMING OVER

[03:40:01]

SO WHAT WE'VE, THE NEW LANGUAGE THAT WE'VE PUT INTO THE CONTRACT, ALL RIGHT.

IS NOW EFFECTIVE THROUGH THE ORDINANCE.

I'D SAY THAT FROM A COLLECTION STANDPOINT, THE ORDINANCE GIVES SOME DISCRETION TO THE D P W DIRECTOR TO, UH, A MAKEUP POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE COLLECTION AND, AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE GONNA DO CANS OR BINS.

SO FOURPLEXES, MOVING FROM INDIVIDUAL CANS TO BINS IS A POLICY LEVEL DECISION THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE NEW CONTRACT.

SO WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT THOUGH, WE, WE KNOW, I THINK THEY KNOW AND WE KNOW WHO OWNS OR WHO HAS THOSE.

SO IT'S NOT GONNA BE HERE'S YOUR BILL, YOU GOTTA DO THIS BECAUSE THEY CAN GET THEIR DUMPSTER FROM WHOEVER THEY WANT TO.

YEAH, RIGHT.

REPUBLIC WOULD SERVICE IT, BUT THEY WOULD GET THE DUMPSTER FROM WHOEVER THEY WANT TO.

SO THAT NOTIFICATION HAS TO HAPPEN TO THE INDIVIDUAL.

SO IT'S NOT GONNA BE JUST HERE AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE TIME PERIOD UNTIL SEPTEMBER ONE TO KIND OF WORK THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

GO INTO EFFECT JUNE, THEY HAVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER TO GET THE BIN IN PLACE, AND THEN IN SOMETIME AROUND SEPTEMBER Y'ALL WILL DO A GARBAGE CAN PICK UP.

WE'RE GONNA TRY TO PICK 'EM UP AS THEY GET THEIR DUMPSTERS DELIVERED.

THAT WOULD WOULD BE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE THAT MUCH MORE.

USE ME PLEASED AS A VESSEL FOR COMMUNICATION.

YEP.

UM, AS WE'VE HAD A PUBLIC MEETING ON THIS AT THE BLUE BONNET LIBRARY, HAD SOME, UH, GOOD COMMUNICATION ON, I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO DO THAT, PLEASE.

AND THEN FURTHER THE, THE DEFINITION OF A MULTI-FAMILY UNIT HAS CHANGED AS WELL.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT WE'RE GONNA BE COMMUNICATING AT.

IT WAS FOUR, NOW IT'S THREE.

UH, MR. PROTEM? YES, SIR.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE, UH, THREE EMERGENCY ITEMS. UH, SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.

IF WE'RE GONNA EXTEND THE MEETING, WE, WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION AFTER COUNCIL MEMBER NO SPEAKS COUNCIL MEMBER.

NOS.

UM, SO I WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, UH, DUMPSTERS TOO.

I THINK, UH, THE FOURPLEXES THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE A BIGGER ISSUE.

UM, BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU HAVE, IT'S, IT'S AN APARTMENT UNIT, SOMETIMES IT'S INDIVIDUALLY OWNED, SOMETIMES IT'S CONDOS WITH AN ASSOCIATION, SOMETIMES IT'S A TOWN HOME.

UH, THERE'S A LOT OF VARIATION THERE.

AND YOU, IF YOU HAVE CARTS NOW, MORE THAN LIKELY IT'S INDIVIDUALS PAYING IT AND YOU'RE GONNA BE MOVING THAT TO WHO, WHO'S GONNA PAY FOR IT.

AND HOW WHEN YOU HAVE INDIVIDUAL OWNERSHIP, UM, I, I DON'T, I I THINK THAT'S PROBLEMATIC AND IT'S HARD TO RETROFIT THAT.

UM, THAT'S NOT EVEN GETTING INTO, OFTENTIMES THESE ARE PLANNED, AND I KNOW YOU SPOKE TO THIS A LITTLE BIT, UM, OFTENTIMES THESE ARE PLANNED AROUND HAVING SO MUCH PARKING AND SO MUCH, AND I, I THINK YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SCENARIOS WHERE A DUMPSTER IS GOING TO BE IN THE WAY OFTENTIMES OF PARKING WHEN CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PARKING IS REQUIRED.

UM, I JUST, I I GOT A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT THAT ONE.

SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CONDOS, TOWN HOMES, THOSE ARE NOT CONSIDERED FOURPLEXES EVEN THOUGH THERE MIGHT BE FOUR IN A UNIT.

, THOSE ARE INDIVIDUAL.

SO A FOURPLEX IS DEFINED AS A TRUE FOURPLEX UNIT.

DO YOU KNOW, LIKE THERE'S A UPSTAIRS, A DOWNSTAIRS FOUR IN A BUILDING AND THE LANDLORD OWNS THAT.

AND I WILL TELL YOU, OVER 50% HAVE DUMPSTERS.

NOW ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ONE LANDLORD OR MULTIPLE? THERE'S BOTH.

THERE'S A BUNCH.

YEAH, LIKE RIGHT NOW, I MEAN, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT, THAT THEY'VE CHOSEN TO PUT DUMPSTERS JUST TO, FOR WHAT Y'ALL TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, LITTER AND THE WAY, YOU KNOW, THE, THE LOOK OF IT AND TRYING TO KEEP IT CLEANER.

UM, BUT FOR US, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THEY HAVE, BUT YOU KNOW, THEY, THAT'S, I THINK THAT IS WHY ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THEY'RE TRYING TO GET IT ALL DEFINED IS TO TRY TO GET IT CLEANED UP A LITTLE BIT MORE.

BECAUSE I THINK IF YOU'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE AN ASSOCIATION THAT MAY DEAL WITH, UH, COMMON AREAS AND UM, MAYBE SOME EXTERIOR MAINTENANCE STUFF, UH, SHARED, SHARED SPACE, UM, THEY'RE NOT ACCOUNTING FOR THIS NEW EXPENSE.

ASSOCIATION OR MULTIPLE LANDLORDS OR MULTIPLE OWNERS OR A VARIATION OF THOSE.

AND IF YOU'RE GONNA MOVE IT FROM A TENANT OR AN OWNER, UM, OCCUPANT INTO AN ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS, UH, THE ONLY WAY THAT WOULD SEEMS THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD WORK.

IT'S EITHER GONNA BE AN

[03:45:01]

UM, IT, IT, IT'S GOING TO, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SHIFT AND FIGURE OUT IN, IN A, IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE LANDLORDS DEALING WITH TENANTS WITH LEASES, THEY CAN'T JUST PASS THAT ALONG.

AND SO, UH, I DON'T KNOW.

AGAIN, I'VE GOT A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT THAT ONE, ADAM, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO, I MEAN, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS, AND THEN DON'T ANSWER.

I JUST, JUST SAYING, OH, IT'S GONNA, I THINK IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE MORE CUMBERSOME THAN, THAN WE MAY BE THINKING.

AND SO, UM, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A, THERE'S NOT A BLANKET ANSWER.

THERE'S NOT.

CUZ A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH HOW THEY'RE METERED OR THEY INDIVIDUALLY METERED.

, DO THEY HAVE A MASTER METER? HOW DO THEY PAY THEIR WATER, SEWER, OR GARBAGE BILL? IT'S THAT IT, IT'S NOT A, IT'S NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL FOR SURE.

UM, THE ONLY OTHER THING IS ON, ON THE EXTRA CARTS, IS IT SAME SIZE CARD OR A SMALLER CART FOR SECOND CARD? NO, IT USED TO BE TO BE A 64 GALLON, BUT NOW IT'S A 96, SO IT'S GONNA BE THE SAME SIZE.

I WANT TO TRADE MY SMALL SECOND ONE IN FOR A BIG SECOND.

, I HAD A, I HAD A CLARIFICATION POINT FOR THAT.

FOURPLEX OR WHATEVER.

SO WHEN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT FOUR, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FOUR DWELLING UNITS ON ONE PIECE OF PROPERTY, MEANING THE SAME OWNER OWNS ALL FOUR UNITS.

THAT WOULD BE WHAT THEY'RE CONSIDERING A FOURPLEX, NOT LIKE FOUR TOWN HOMES WHERE THERE ARE FOUR INDIVIDUAL UNITS, WHEREAS THERE'S ONE DWELLING UNIT ON ONE PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT'S STILL A SINGLE FAMILY, NOT A FOUR, NOT A FOURPLEX MULTIFAMILY.

SO I'M TALKING ABOUT THERE'S FOUR PLEXES THAT ARE WHOLLY OWNED BY ONE INDIVIDUAL MM-HMM.

AND THEN THERE'S SOME THAT LOOK ABSOLUTELY IDENTICAL AND SOMETIMES THEY WERE BUILT AT THE SAME TIME.

THEY JUST, THEY'RE OWNED IN A DIFFERENT WAY NOW.

AND TYPICALLY MOST OF THE FOUR PLEXES, WHEN THEY'RE ON ONE TRACT LAND, THEY'RE OWNED BY ONE OWNER.

CAUSE THEY OWN THAT TRACT OF LAND.

THAT'S TYPICALLY HOW THE FOURPLEX IS THAT WHERE THEY'RE LIKE STACKED ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.

OF HOW THEY EXIST.

BECAUSE IT'S HARDER TO SELL THAT ONE, WE'LL CALL IT DWELLING UNIT AWAY FROM THE CONDO CONVERSION.

CONDO CONVERSION IS, IS WHAT OCCURS THERE.

AND THEY SELL THE INTERIOR SPACE.

WALL TO WALL AND THE EXTERIOR STAYS WITH THE ASSOCIATION IS USUALLY, BUT SEE, THERE'S STILL, THERE'S STILL A, THERE'S STILL A SITUATION WHERE THERE'S A PARENT OF RESPONSIBLE FOR FOR LAND AND UPKEEP.

SO, OKAY.

COUNSELING HURST, I JUST WANT TO LET THIS FIVE MINUTES RUN OUT.

SO I'M GONNA SING A LITTLE SONG AND Y'ALL, I'M JOKING .

UH, NO, JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION.

Y'ALL TALKED ABOUT, UM, I'M GONNA GIVE AARON THE REST OF MY TIME, BUT AS Y'ALL TALKED ABOUT THE, UH, THE BILLING AND ACTUALLY HAVING CARTS REMOVED, I'M GONNA TELL YOU ONE ISSUE THAT I CAN SEE THAT WILL ARISE IS THAT THEY WANNA SAY, I CALLED YOU ON THURSDAY TO COME GIVE MY CARD.

IT TOOK YOU FOUR WEEKS TO COME GET IT AND YOU STILL BILL ME FOR IT.

SO I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE COMMUNICATED TO THE PUBLIC, WHETHER IT'S UPON YOUR CALL OR WHEN THAT CARD IS PICKED UP, BUT ALSO SET AN EXPECTATION OF TIME OF WHEN THAT CARD SHOULD BE PICKED UP TO STOP BILLING.

SO I THINK THAT WILL PROBABLY SAVE YOU SOME TIME IF YOU THINK ABOUT THAT IN ADVANCE.

I THINK IF, I THINK IT SHOULD STOP PROBABLY WHEN THE CALL'S GENERATED TO PICK IT UP.

THAT, THAT, THAT POINT.

AND IF IT ME, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD THINK.

COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

HEY, THANK Y'ALL AGAIN FOR COMING OUT AND I KNOW IT'S, IT'S ALWAYS PAINFUL FOR YOU GUYS TO HAVE TO SIT THROUGH THE ENTIRE MEETING, SO I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU, YOU'RE ALWAYS WILLING TO DO THAT AND, AND JUST THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.

UM, FIRST A LITTLE FEEDBACK ON THE FORMATTING OF THE REPORT.

UM, PREVIOUSLY, UH, THERE WAS A LINE WITH LIKE BASICALLY WAS CALCULATED BY MATRIX THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO KINDA GET A VISUAL OF THE PERFORMANCE.

I WOULD LOVE FOR THAT TO STILL BE INCLUDED IN THE FUTURE REPORT.

SO JUST, JUST SOME FEEDBACK ON THAT.

UM, I DID HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.

UM, YOU MENTIONED THE REBALANCING OF THE RECYCLE ROUTES, BUT THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT REBALANCING OF SOME OF THE GARBAGE ROUTES TOO.

SO ARE WE STILL LOOKING AT THAT OR ARE WE NOW THINKING THAT'S NOT NECESSARY? I'M SORRY, DWIGHT.

THEY'RE DONE.

OKAY, GREAT.

SEPTEMBER ONE, ALL OF THE ROUTES ARE GONNA BE 800 HOMES OR LESS.

AND I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT IT UP CUZ I DID FORGET TO TELL Y'ALL THERE ARE GONNA BE SOME DAY CHANGES ON GARBAGE.

IT'S NOT A LOT, BUT, WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

IT, IT IS A LITTLE BIT, IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE HOW MANY? YEAH, ABOUT 20,000 ON THE DAY CHANGES AND UM, I WAS, I I REALLY DID PAY ATTENTION TO IT BECAUSE EVERYBODY WANTS MONDAY PICKUP, BUT WE HAVE TO MOVE SOME MONDAY AROUND SO I MOVE MY AREA THAT I LIVE IN, SO I'LL LET THEM SCREAM AT ME.

TWO DIFFERENT DAYS JUST BECAUSE MONDAY AND, UM, SOME OF TUESDAY ARE REALLY SOME HEAVIER DAYS.

AND WE'RE GONNA CHANGE, MY HUSBAND'S SO MAD AT ME, BUT WE'LL MOVE THE, WE'RE GONNA MOVE THOSE OVER

[03:50:01]

SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'VE DONE THE ROUTE BALANCING IT LOOKS GREAT AND WE'VE ADDED ROUTES AND IT'S GONNA BE LESS HOMES ON A ROUTE.

UM, ADAM, THIS QUESTION IS FOR YOU.

UH, YOU MENTIONED ORDINANCE CHANGES AND, AND POSSIBLY WAITING TO DO THAT.

I, I'M JUST CURIOUS SINCE WE'VE RUN THIS TEST AND WE'VE FOUND THAT THERE REALLY WAS, I MEAN I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A SINGLE CALL.

I DON'T KNOW OF ANY CALLS THAT HAVE COME IN ARGUING THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE DOING THIS.

UH, IS THERE A HARM IN US DOING IT NOW AND GIVING US THE FLEXIBILITY? THE REASON WHY I ASK IS BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY IN THE SPRING WHENEVER THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEVER KNOW WHEN THAT THAT HEAVY SPRING SEASON IS GONNA COME UPON US.

YOU KNOW, IT JUST REALLY DEPENDS ON THE WEATHER OF LIKE THE WEEKEND, RIGHT.

BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN IT COMES AND THEN WE CAN'T REACT BECAUSE THE ORDINANCE IS, IS IN PLACE.

I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GONNA GET THAT AGAIN AT THE START OF THE SUMMER.

WE USUALLY SEE IT NOT TO THE DEGREE OF THE SPRING, BUT WE GET ANOTHER BUMP IN OUT OF CART, UH, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER WHEN SCHOOL LETS OUT.

SO WOULD IT HURT US RIGHT NOW TO GO AHEAD AND GET THIS GOING AND, AND GIVE US THE FLEXIBILITY IF WE SEE AN, AN INCREASE? UH, OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, NO.

WE CAN START FLOATING SOMETHING INTERNALLY NOW.

UM, SO FEEDBACK ON THE NOTIFICATION ISSUE AS WELL.

I THINK WE HAVE, OR WE CAN GET THE DATA FROM THE WATER COMPANY FOR PHONE NUMBERS AND CERTAINLY WE CERTAINLY KNOW THE ADDRESSES.

UM, I COULD UNDERSTAND THAT MAIL MAY BE COST PROHIBITIVE, BUT IS THERE A WAY THAT WE COULD GET THE DATA FROM THE PHONE? NU BASICALLY THE PHONE NUMBERS FROM THE WATER COMPANY? AND I, I KNOW YOU CAN'T GIVE A SPECIFIC CALL TO EVERYONE.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE LABOR, UM, PROHIBITIVE.

BUT IF WE COULD PUT OUT A GENERAL PHONE MESSAGE TO THESE FOLKS SAYING, HEY, CALL US ABOUT YOUR, UH, ABOUT YOUR EXTRA CARTS OR CALL US ABOUT YOUR, UM, FOURPLEX ISSUE THAT, I MEAN, IS THAT SOMETHING WE'VE EXPLORED OR CAN WE EXPLORE? WE HAVE NOT EXPLORED IT, BUT I WILL, I WILL EXPLORE IT.

AND SO THE LAST THING I HAVE IS, UM, Y'ALL MENTIONED THE ISSUE THAT THE, THE, THE, THE FOURPLEXES THAT ARE GONNA NEED DUMPSTERS HAVE TO BE IN PLACE BY SEPTEMBER.

DO WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE WHERE WE ARE GONNA FORCE PLACE DUMPSTERS IF FOLKS HAVEN'T CONTRACTED ON THEIR OWN TO GET TO GET THE, TO GET THE DUMPSTER? I JUST, I WANNA MAKE SURE WE DON'T END UP IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'VE COLLECTED ALL THE CARTS, THEY HAVEN'T PUT A DUMPSTER, YOU GUYS ARE SHOWING UP TO SERVICE A DUMPSTER AND THERE'S JUST A BUNCH OF TRASH BAGS LAND ON THE GROUND.

RIGHT? WE WANT TO, WE WANNA AVOID THAT IF WE CAN.

SO WHAT WE'LL PROBABLY END UP DOING, DWIGHT, IS AT THAT POINT WE'LL HAVE THAT LIST AND THEN WE'RE GONNA TAG TEAM IT PROBABLY ALONG WITH THEIR, WITH WHOEVER'S COUNCIL DISTRICT IT IS TO TRY TO IDENTIFY WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE AND JUST, YOU KNOW, BE A LITTLE BIT MORE AGGRESSIVE ON HELPING TO THEM TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT OWN SOME OF THESE FOURPLEXES THAT LIVE IN, YOU KNOW, CANADA OR WHATEVER.

SO WE'VE GOTTA GET THOSE NOTIFIED.

NOTIFIED.

SO IT'S ALWAYS THE CANADIANS THAT GIVE US THE PROMISE .

SO WHAT I'M JUST SAYING, I THINK THAT WHEN WE GET DOWN TO THAT LIST, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO REALLY BE CREATIVE ON HOW WE'RE GONNA DO THAT.

THANK Y'ALL.

EMERGENCY ITEM AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO AMEND THE CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR DEMOLITION AND ABATEMENT SERVICES WITH THE AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION DEMOLITION TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY 398,000 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 898,000 BY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE REPORT.

IT'S VERY, VERY GREAT COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE HAVE SEVEN MINUTES LEFT WITH THREE EMERGENCY ITEMS. UH, I CAN ENTERTAIN A MOTION NOW TO EXTEND AT EIGHT O'CLOCK.

MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKER SECONDED UNTIL EIGHT 30.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

YOU GOOD? OH, ALRIGHT.

WELL WE DON'T HAVE TO EXTEND.

WE GONNA GO TO ITEM 1 56.

[Items 156 - 158]

MOST SET DIRECTOR REASONS FOR EMERGENCIES TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS IN ORDER TO EXPEDITE THE DEMOLITION.

ITEM 1 57.

WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON 'EM SEPARATELY.

I'M GONNA READ 'EM AND READ THE RULES.

AUTHORIZED THE MERIT TO AMEND THE CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR DEMOLITION ABATEMENT SERVICES FOR CB MORGAN EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES LLC TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $550,500 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,050,500 BY DEVELOPMENT AND DIRECTOR AND MOST SELF DIRECT.

THE REASON FOR EMERGENCY TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS.

ORDER TO EXPEDITE EXPEDITE OF DESTRUCTION, EXCUSE ME, EXPEDITE THE DEMOLITION OF THE STRUCTURES.

ITEM 1 58, LOT TWO SQUARE 50 AND LOT 56 SQUARE 52.

SUBDIVISION GREEN MILL EXTENSION DISTRICT SEVEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDINANCE 16 4 42.

THESE ITEMS MUST BE DECLARED IN EMERGENCY BY TWO THIRD VOTE OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.

IS THERE A MOTION TO DECLARE ALL THREE ITEMS IN THE EMERGENCY? YOU'RE GONNA VOTE ON A MOTION TO DECLARE ITEM 1 56 IN THE EMERGENCY.

ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 1 57

[03:55:01]

IN THE EMERGENCY.

ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 1 58 ON THE EMERGENCY.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ITEM.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WHAT'S NEXT? I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE.

ITEM 1 56.

SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN COLEMAN.

SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN.

HEAR ANY OBJECTIONS? MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 1 56.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN COLEMAN.

COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HEARST.

MOTION TO ANY OBJECTIONS ON 1 57 ITEM 1 58.

MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.

COUNCIL MEMBER, ANY OBJECTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA.

MOTION TO ADJOURN BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.

AS ALWAYS, READ TO YOUR CHILDREN AND WHEN YOU'RE DONE READING TO THEM, HAVE THEM READ BACK TO YOU.

BEST WAY TO ACHIEVE READING THE COMPREHENSION.

AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS IN EAST BARRON PARISH TAKING LEAP 2025 THIS WEEK.