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AND IT'S YOUR GOOD AFTERNOON,[CALL TO ORDER]
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.WELCOME TO OUR PRESENTATION PORTION OF OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING ON THIS WEDNESDAY, MAY 10TH, 2023 AT 3:30 PM FIRST UP, WE WILL HAVE MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTERN BROOM TO RECOGNIZE THE 2023 GRADUATES OF THE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS ACADEMY OF BATON ROUGE MAYOR.
THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM, AND MEMBERS OF THE, UH, COUNCIL.
IT'S MY GREAT PLEASURE TO EXTEND A WARM CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRADUATES OF THE 2023 YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS ACADEMY FOR A JOB WELL DONE.
THE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS ACADEMY OF BATON ROUGE TRANSFORMS AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS INTO CONFIDENT ENTREPRENEURS.
AND WE KNOW THAT CREATING ENTREPRENEURS IN OUR CITY AND IN OUR COMMUNITY IS INDEED A PRIORITY OVER THE ACADEMIC YEAR AND UNDER THE INSTRUCTION OF THE LSU EJ ORSO COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, SELECT STUDENTS LAUNCH THEIR VERY OWN COMPANIES AS THEY GENERATE BUSINESS IDEAS TIED TO THEIR INTERESTS.
WRITE BUSINESS PLANS, FILE THEIR BUSINESSES WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, PITCHED TO A SHARK TANK LIKE PANEL FOR SEED FUNDING.
GRADUATION FROM THE YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR'S ACADEMY IS INDEED AN ACCOMPLISHMENT AND A TESTAMENT TO YOUR DEDICATION AND HARD WORK IN PURSUING YOUR DREAMS OF STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESSES.
AS MAYOR PRESIDENT, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT TO ME TO PROMOTE AND FOSTER SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH IN OUR CITY.
AS WE KNOW, BATON ROUGE HAS A RICH HISTORY OF INNOVATIVE SMALL BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS, AND THEY TRULY SERVE AS THE BACKBONE OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
SO I WANT TO TODAY, UH, COMMEND EACH OF YOU FOR TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM AND FOR SHOWING THE DETERMINATION TO SEE YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL IDEAS COME TO FRUITION.
YOU ARE THE FUTURE OF BATON ROUGE, AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS CITY PROUD WITH YOUR INNOVATIVE IDEAS AND HARD WORK.
AND SO I'M GOING TO ASK OUR YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF GRADUATES TO COME UP.
ANNA BAUMGARTNER, CHRISTIAN FRAZIER, NALA GIBSON, CAMERON GREEN, NOR CLYBER, JARED LANE.
BRENDAN MORRIS, JAYLA WALKER, RYAN YANG, COYA GORDON, AND AHAB.
AND IS DEBORAH STERNBERG HERE TODAY? AW, I WAS LOOKING FOR YOU.
DEBORAH STERNBERG IS THE BRAINCHILD BEHIND THE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURIAL PROGRAM, AND I REMEMBER WHEN SHE FIRST CAME TO ME ABOUT THIS IDEA, AND I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF GOING TO, UH, SOME OF THE FIVE YEARS.
SO, UH, DEBORAH, AS WE CELEBRATE THESE, UH, YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS, WOULD YOU TELL OUR PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR ACADEMY? THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS ACADEMY OF BATON ROUGE HERE TODAY WE ARE ENTERING OUR SIXTH COHORT FOR Y E A B R.
THESE ARE ABOUT HALF OF OUR CLASS.
WE USUALLY ACCEPT 25 STUDENTS FROM THE GREATER BATON ROUGE AREA.
AND, AND BATON ROUGE IS USUALLY A STRONGHOLD OF OUR SCHOOLS.
WE HAD 18 SCHOOLS REPRESENTED.
UM, OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, OVER A HUNDRED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, UM, HAVE LAUNCHED AND FILED WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE, THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, 85 STARTUPS.
SO WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE HARD WORK THAT THESE STUDENTS, UM, PUT FORTH.
AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
ANNA, WHAT SCHOOL DO YOU GO TO? ANNA UNIVERSITY LAB SCHOOL.
SAY IT OUT LOUD SO EVERYBODY CAN HEAR.
WHAT SCHOOL DO YOU GO TO? CHRISTIAN WOODLAWN HIGH.
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OKAY.NEXT WE'LL HAVE MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTERN BROOM TO RECOGNIZE RUSTY JABOR, PRESIDENT OF THE BATON, GREATER BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY TENNIS ASSOCIATION BOARD NATIONAL TENNIS MONTH.
I'M GONNA ASK RUSTY JABORA AND YVONNE BEING THE NEW TO COME ON UP.
I'M PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE MAY AS NATIONAL TENNIS MONTH.
DO WE HAVE ANY TENNIS PLAYERS ON THE COUNCIL? SUCH A QUESTION.
ANY PEOPLE WHO LIKE TENNIS
WHO LIKE TENNIS? UM, WELL, MAY IS NATIONAL TENNIS MONTH AND TENNIS IS A SPORT THAT HAS BEEN ENJOYED BY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD FOR CENTURIES.
HERE IN BATON ROUGE, TENNIS HAS A RICH HISTORY, AND OUR COMMUNITY HAS PRODUCED SOME OF THE BEST PLAYERS FROM YOUTH PROGRAMS TO ADULT LEAGUES.
TENNIS IS A SPORT THAT BRINGS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS TOGETHER TO COMPETE, LEARN, AND HAVE FUN.
AND SO, IN RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL TENNIS MONTH, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEDICATION OF OUR LOCAL TENNIS PLAYERS, COACHES, AND ORGANIZATIONS, AND ENCOURAGE BATON ROUGE RESIDENTS TO GET INVOLVED IN THE SPORT OF TENNIS.
WHETHER YOU'RE A BEGINNER OR AN EXPERIENCED PLAYER, THERE ARE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO GET ON THE COURT AND IMPROVE YOUR GAME.
UM, JOIN A LOCAL TENNIS LEAGUE, TAKE A LESSON WITH A COACH AT ONE OF OUR BRICK PARKS, OR SIMPLY GATHER SOME FRIENDS FOR A CASUAL GAME.
AND SO AS WE CELEBRATE NATIONAL TENNIS MONTH, LET US ALSO CELEBRATE THE VALUES OF DISCIPLINE, SPORTSMANSHIP, AND HARD WORK THAT IS THIS SPORT THAT THIS SPORT REPRESENTS.
AND SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH, RUSTY AND YVONNE.
YOU WANNA SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT NATIONAL SOMETHING FOR YOU AS WELL? OH, OKAY.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW TENNIS, COME LEARN HOW TO PLAY TENNIS.
WE HAVE, UH, UH, TENNIS IN EVERY DISTRICT, ALL OVER THE, ALL OVER THE LAND.
AND, UH, IT'S JUST AN OPEN INVITATION FOR EVERYBODY TO DRAW ATTENTION DURING THIS MONTH.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL MONTH TO GET OUTSIDE AND PLAY, AND WE ALWAYS HAVE A PLACE FOR EVERYONE.
YOU KNOW, UM, RUSTY, I WAS JUST THINKING AS YOU WERE, AS YOU WERE SAYING THAT, THAT WE ARE RELAUNCHING OUR MOVE WITH THE MAYOR, SO IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR AND HER ADMINISTRATION TO GO OUT AND HAVE A TENNIS MATCH WE COULD TAKE.
SO WE, WE, WE, YOU MAY NEED TO HELP COORDINATE THAT FOR US.
LET'S TAKE A PICTURE REAL QUICK.
LET'S GET THE REST OF OUR GROUP CAN.
MAYOR, THIS IS FOR CAJUN CLASS.
AND ONE OF THE EVENTS THAT THEY HAVE EVERY YEAR IS THE, UH, PAGEN CLASSIC WHEELCHAIR IN ITS TOURNAMENT.
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THANK YOU.NEXT WE'LL HAVE MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON, WESTERN ROOM TO RECOGNIZE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH.
UH, I AM PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH IN OUR CITY.
THIS MONTHLONG OBSERVANCE CELEBRATES THE VAST CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICANS HAVE MADE TO OUR NATION.
REFLECTING ON THE CHALLENGES STILL FACE AND RECOMMITTING TO MAKING THE AMERICAN DREAM A REALITY FOR ALL ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER.
HERITAGE MONTH BEGAN AS A WEEKLONG OBSERVATION IN 1978, WHICH WAS LATER EXPANDED TO A MONTHLONG OBSERVATION IN 1992 THROUGH PUBLIC LAWS 95 4 19 AND 1 0 2 540.
RESPECTFULLY, IT WAS RENAMED ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH IN 2009.
SO IT'S FASCINATING TO KNOW, UH, THAT THE HISTORY OF ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS COUNTRY GOES BACK CENTURIES FROM EDUCATION TO TECHNOLOGY, HEALTHCARE TO SERVICES AND LEADERSHIP AT ALL LEVELS.
THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO OUR CITY'S GROWTH AND PROSPERITY.
UM, YOU ARE INVITED TO TAKE PART IN THE ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE CELEBRATION ON MAY 11TH FROM SIX TO 9:00 PM AT THE ELECTRIC DEPOT.
AND I AM GOING TO ASK, UH, THE MEMBERS OF THE, UH, MAYOR'S, UH, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMISSION AND OUR CELEBRANTS TO COME UP SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE YOU.
I'M GOING TO, UH, ASK, UM, VAUGHN IYENGAR, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THAT LAST NAME,
I'M GONNA ASK VAUGHN, WHO IS THE CHAIRPERSON, UM, FOR THE FILIPINO AMERICAN ASSOCIATION AND THE CHAIRPERSON OF OUR, UH, SHE'S THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THAT ORGANIZATION, BUT THE CHAIRPERSON FOR OUR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMISSION TO ADD TO THIS AND INTRODUCE OUR, UH, GUEST HERE TODAY.
IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT WE ARE HERE TODAY, UM, TO REPRESENT OUR ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER C COMMUNITY HERE IN BATON ROUGE.
AND OF COURSE, IT IS OUR PRIVILEGE AS WELL TO HAVE THE MAYOR, UM, PROCLAIM MAY AS OUR A A P I HERITAGE MONTH, SINCE WE ALL KNOW THAT ASIANS HAVE BEEN HERE IN BATON ROUGE AND IS, UM, INTRICATELY WOVEN IN THIS WONDERFUL COMMUNITY OF OURS FOR CENTURIES, AND HAVE COLLABORATED, ENGAGED, AND HAVE PARTICIPATED IN A, IN A LOT OF ACTIVITIES AND CIVIC WORKS HERE IN THE CITY.
SO WE ARE SO HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT THAT GROUP AND IN COLLABORATION WITH LAURA, UH, WN, WHO IS THE ORGANIZER OF A NIGHT, UM, NIGHT MARKET BAT MA ROUGE.
SO OUR EVENT IS TOMORROW TO KICKSTART THIS WONDERFUL MONTH OF, UH, CELEBRATION OF OUR ASIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE.
AND WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE, OF COURSE, AS I'VE MENTIONED, LAUREN WYNN, OUR NIGHT MARKET, BEN ROUGE ORGANIZER.
SHE'S STILL MAKING SOME SWEET SOCIETY STUFF.
UM, WE HAVE VICTORIA HUANG WITH OUR, UH, NIGHT MARKET PARTICIPANT.
SHE WILL BE HAVING HER ARTWORKS, UH, DISPLAYED TOMORROW.
UM, DO WE HAVE FK TODAY? NO, NOT TODAY.
WE HAVE MR. TODA, OUR IRC MEMBER AND PRESIDENT OF LOUISIANA ORGANIZATION FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS.
THANK YOU, SIR, FOR BEING WITH US TODAY, SHRI FROM THE CORBRIDGE FINANCIAL AND NAMASTE BATON ROUGE MEMBER.
WE HAVE, UM, I'M NOT START IF IT'S MINA AND MS. AMI HERE ALSO WITH IRC, BUT WE ARE DELIGHTED TO BE HERE TODAY AND TO HAVE THIS PROCLAMATION FROM THE MAYOR AND TO BE PRESENTED TO THE CITY AS WELL, OUR CULTURE THAT WE WANNA SHARE WITH Y'ALL.
I'M, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THE PROCLAMATION, BUT I SAW A FAMILIAR FACE BACK HERE WITH Y'ALL AND, UH, I WAS TRYING TO SEE.
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YEAH.SO, SO THE FIRST GENTLEMAN HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES SINCE HE RETIRED, SO HE'S A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE COMMISSION HELPING THEM.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE METRO COUNCIL MEMBER AARON MOK.
UH, GOOD EVENING LADIES, GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNCIL.
I HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION TONIGHT THAT HOPEFULLY, UH, WE'LL START OFF ON A JOURNEY.
BUT, UH, IT'S, AS PARENTS, WE GET VERY PROUD AT CERTAIN TIMES AND, AND THINGS THAT, THAT OUR CHILDREN DO IN THEIR LIFE.
AND UPCOMING TOMORROW WE HAVE ONE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU HAVE THESE WONDERFUL KIDS THAT YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THEY'RE BORN AND YOU THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA RAISE THEM AND, AND GET THEM THROUGH LIFE AND EVERYTHING.
AND, BUT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF 'EM, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S KIND OF TOUGH.
IT'S, THEY ACT OUT, BUT YOU KEEP GOING AND DO IT.
WAIT, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE YOUNGEST ONE, RIGHT? NOT THE OLDEST ONE.
UH, SO IT'S SUCH A WONDERFUL TIME WHEN YOU HAVE A SECOND CHILD THAT ACTS SO WELL THAT, UH, SO GROWN UP AND EVERYTHING, BUT NO, HERE TONIGHT I'M HERE WITH MY FAMILY AND, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO EVERYONE AND CONGRATULATE MY YOUNGEST.
MY MOST FAVORITE SECOND BORN SON, UH, IS GRADUATING TOMORROW FROM BRULEY HIGH SCHOOL.
AND I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE HIM BEFORE WE ALL TAKE OFF ON A TRIP THIS WEEK ON A BOAT THAT ONE OF US MIGHT NOT COME BACK HOME FROM
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION PRESENTED TO CARSON MO BRULEY HIGH SCHOOL, REACHING THIS INCREDIBLE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION MILESTONE.
CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST OF LUCK ON YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
YOUR MOM AND DAD ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU AND LOVE YOU VERY MUCH.
HEY, Y'ALL SEEN HIM PLENTY OF TIMES AT THE COUNCIL MEETING, WATCHING AND ALL TOO, SO WE LIKE TO GET A PICTURE.
YOU READY? ALL OF YOU READY? CONGRATULATIONS.
NEXT WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN COLEMAN TO RECOGNIZE MEMBERS OF THE 19 J D C RECOVERY COURT STAKEHOLDER.
I SAY GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE WHO HAS ASSEMBLED HERE.
AND JUSTICE MAYOR PROTE SAID THAT THE COUNCIL PRESENTATION AT THIS TIME IS FOR THE 19TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT RECOVERY COURT.
AND SO IT'S ONE OF LOUISIANA'S 43RD THREE JUDICIAL DISTRICTS AND HAS ORIGINAL JURISDICTION OF ALL CIVIL AND CRIMINAL MATTERS IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
SO SUBSTANCE USE AND ABUSE INVOLVEMENT IS A PRIMARY FACTOR IN THE CAUSATION OF CRIME WITHIN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
AND SO THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS RECOVERY COURT IS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF NON-VIOLENT OFFENDERS THAT ARE INCARCERATED IN E B R PARISH AND REDUCE THE REARREST RATE AND INCREASE SUPERVISION FOR NON-VIOLENT OFFENDERS.
INCREASE EDUCATION OF THE 19TH J D C ADULT DRUG COURT PARTICIPANTS AND GRADUATES, INCREASED EMPLOYMENT OF THE 19TH J D C ADULT DRUG COURT PARTICIPANTS AND GRADUATES, AND REDUCED SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ADDICTION IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
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SO THIS AFTERNOON, THOSE PERSONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED ARE, AND SO ELI ALLEN, AND WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, COME RIGHT ON UP.COUNSELOR TANYA MILES WITH SET FREE INDEED.
I WAS ABOUT TO SAY, AM I SPEAKING TO MYSELF? YES.
AND SO TRI SHARPENER, SHARPER SHARPEN, GOT THE FIRST PART RIGHT? THE VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVE, WILSON FOUNDATION, TRUDY WICKHAM P PREVENTION, VERNA BRADLEY JACKSON, ONE-TOUCH MINISTRY, WESTERN SHIELD CAPITAL AREA ALLIANCE FOR THE HOMELESS.
JAMES SWALLOW, THE REENTRY PROGRAM MANAGER.
RENEE TAYLOR, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FAMILY SERVICES OF GREATER BATON ROUGE, RICK MORTON, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OF THE GROVE.
EMILY TILLEY, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF O'BRIEN HOUSE.
CHARLOTTE CLAYBURN, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BRIDGE CENTER FOR HOPE.
RANDALL GOMEZ, THE DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AT WOODLAKE.
SAY IT, LAUGHING HOUSE, LAUGHING UP.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CAPITOL AREA HUMAN SERVICES.
JUDGE WILL JORDAN, JUDGE OF THE 19TH J D C RECOVERY COURT.
CHRISTOPHER SANKA SJC, PROJECT COORDINATOR AND JUDGE DONALD JOHNSON.
AND SO ALL OF THESE PERSONS HERE ARE A PART, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OF THE 19 JUDICIAL DISTRICT RECOVERY COURT.
ALL RIGHT, SO MS. ALLEN WITH TURNKEY.
I'M GONNA GIVE THIS TO YOU ALL.
THANK YOU RENEE FOR SHOWING UP.
CHARLOTTE CLAYBURN, CHARLOTTE, RANDALL GOMEZ, JAN LA HOUSE.
NO, SHE'S NOT HERE, BUT WE GOT IT RIGHT.
JUDGE WILL JORDAN, I GUESS I SHOULD HAVE PASSED.
CHRISTOPHER, THERE'S YOU, THERE'S YOU, THERE'S YOU, CHRIS, AND JUDGE DONALD JOHNSON.
OKAY, YOU CAN PASS THAT TO HER.
SO YOU ALL GO RIGHT UP THERE SO WE CAN GET THIS PICTURE AND I CAN MOVE ON TO THE LADY OF THE HOUR.
NEXT UP AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN COLEMAN TO RECOGNIZE KELSEY TILLAGE, SENIOR AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY LABORATORY SCHOOL.
AND SO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
IT DOES MY HEART GOOD WHEN WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOUNG PEOPLE AND WE'RE, WHEN WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE GOOD THAT THEY DO.
AND I WOULD BE REMISS AS BEING THE COUNCILWOMAN IN DISTRICT 10 WHERE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY LABORATORY SCHOOL RESIDE.
HAD I NOT, OR COME ON, DARLING, YOU GOT TO STAND UP HERE.
HAD I NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS YOUNG LADY HERE? AND I WANT EVERYBODY TO SEE THIS
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YOUNG LADY HERE.MAYOR, YOU CAN COME ON OVER WITH ME.
KELSEY TILLICH, YOU ALL IS A SENIOR AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY LABORATORY SCHOOL.
SHE'S DUALLY ENROLLED AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
SHE HAS MAINTAINED OVER A 4.0 GRADE POINT AVERAGE.
SHE'S A PUBLISHED AUTHOR WITH HER ANTHOLOGY SERIES, UNPOPULAR OPINIONS.
SHE'S INVOLVED IN VOLUNTEERING, ATH ATHLETICS, STUDENT GOVERNMENT AND PHOTOGRAPHY.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THIS YOUNG LADY HAS DONE.
THIS YOUNG LADY HAS EARNED 1.2 MILLION IN ACADEMIC AND MERIT SCHOLARSHIP FOR COLLEGE.
AND YOU ALL COULD DO BETTER THAN THAT IF SHE HAD STOLEN 1.2 MILLION.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S 1.2 MILLION.
AND SO, AND LET ME, I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T BRING A MAMA UP BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T DO IT ALONE.
AND MAMA YOU TO BE COMMENDED, YOU AND DAD TO BE COMMENDED HERE THIS DAY.
AND SO, KISE, THIS IS FOR YOU.
I THINK I CALL YOU KELSEY, BABY KISE HERE.
AND SO KISE, I WANT YOU TO TELL THE FOLK, ALRIGHT, KELSEY, ALRIGHT.
I WANT YOU, SO I DID GET IT RIGHT.
SO I WANT YOU TO TELL EVERYBODY, SEE THAT 1.2, THAT'S THE REAL DEAL.
BUT I WANT YOU TO SPEAK INTO THE MIC AND TELL 'EM WHAT SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR PLANS, WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE WHEN YOU FINISH GROWING UP.
AS OF NOW, I'M PLANNING TO ATTEND SPELMAN COLLEGE IN ATLANTA, IS THE NUMBER ONE H B C U.
I'LL BE MAJORING ANTHROPOLOGY ON A PRE-LAW TRACK.
AND SO, UH, THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN FOR ACKNOWLEDGING KELSEY'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WHICH ARE AND INDEED STELLAR.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING WITH KELSEY AND HER FAMILY, UH, BECAUSE SHE WAS ALSO NAMED AS ONE OF THE L P B HEROES.
AND SO WE CELEBRATED THEM RECENTLY AT A BREAKFAST.
UH, BUT STORIES LIKE THIS SHOULD BE ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE PAPER, STORIES LIKE THIS.
AND SO WE HONOR YOU, WE CELEBRATE YOU, AND WE'RE SO GLAD WE'RE SO BATON ROUGE PROUD OF YOU TODAY.
LET HER MOM GET IN THE PICTURE.
HUH? KYLE, YOU BULLYING EVERYBODY ELSE? YOU AIN'T TELL MOM, GET THE PICTURE.
I TOLD MOM TO GET IN THE PICTURE, SAID, HEY, NO PROBLEM, NO PROBLEM.
NEXT WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER CLEVE DUNN JR.
I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE SCHEDULER CUZ YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS A TALL TASK WHEN YOU FOLLOW COUNCILWOMAN.
CAROLYN COLEMAN, WE GONNA DO OUR BEST TO MEET THAT STANDARD THAT SHE, SHE PUT FORTH OUT HERE.
UH, IF YOU CAN CUE THE VIDEO, UH, JUSTIN, BEFORE WE GET STARTED, COREY KANYE, CELEBRITY FITNESS TRAINER WHO IS BEHIND SOME OF THE INCREDIBLE PHYSIQUES YOU CAN SEE ON THE BIG SCREEN.
YOU'RE THE MIND BEHIND TWO OF THE FINEST PHYSIQUES IN HOLLYWOOD RIGHT NOW, MAYBE EVER.
UM, I'VE ALSO BEEN TAKING TIPS FROM COREY, YOUR TRAINERS BEASTS.
I'M COMPETITIVE AND COREY'S COMPETITIVE AS WELL.
AND WE REALLY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING BEFORE HE WANTED TO RAISE THE BAR LEAD LEAD THE WAY.
I'M ABOUT TO LEAD THE WAY, BUT FOLLOW ME, LEAD THE WAY.
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I WANTED TO SHOW EVERYBODY THIS VIDEO SO YOU CAN GET A GLIMPSE OF WHO COREY IS BEFORE WE TELL YOU WHO HE IS.AND IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO RECOGNIZE PEOPLE HERE IN THE CITY, FROM THE CITY DOING AMAZING THINGS IN THE CITY.
BUT IT'S ALSO GREAT TO RECOGNIZE PEOPLE THAT ARE FROM THE CITY, THAT ARE MOVE AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD DOING AMAZING THINGS.
AND THAT'S THE CATEGORY THAT COREY FITS IN.
I'M GONNA, UH, PRESENT HIM WITH THIS CERTIFICATE, WHICH I'LL READ THEN I'LL LET YOU HEAR FROM HIM DIRECTLY.
UH, YOUR SUCCESSFUL ENDEAVORS AS A CELEBRITY TRAINER, BODY TRANSFORMATION SPECIALIST, MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER AND ACTOR.
WE RECOGNIZE YOU FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, WORKING WITH CELEBRITIES SUCH AS MICHAEL B. JORDAN IN THE MOVIES, CREED, ONE, TWO, AND THREE, AS WELL AS BLACK PANTHER.
CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL YOUR SUCCESS.
WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE AFTER, BUT I WANT YOU TO HEAR FROM HIM.
TELL HIM A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU.
UM, IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE, UH, MY FITNESS JOURNEY STARTED HERE IN BATON ROUGE.
AND FITNESS WASN'T SO BIG WHEN I STARTED AND I KIND OF TOOK THE WORLD BY STORM BY STARTING HERE AND GOING TO HOLLYWOOD.
TRAINING MICHAEL B. JORDAN BEING ON REVENGE BY CHLOE KARDASHIAN AND ACTING AND DOING SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS.
BUT IT DIDN'T JUST START RIGHT THERE.
STARTED FROM, I WAS A POSTAL WORKER HERE.
SO I WORKED FOR THE POSTAL SERVICE FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS BEFORE I SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.
AND IT'S THAT PART WHERE YOU CAN'T BE COMFORTABLE ANYMORE.
YOU HAVE TO STRIVE FOR GREATNESS.
AND I TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF BATON ROUGE WITH ME ALL AROUND THE WORLD, TRANSFORMING LIVES FROM HERE TO AFRICA, TO AUSTRALIA, AROUND THE WORLD.
AND JUST KNOWING THAT THIS IS WHERE IT STARTED.
AND I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE, IF I CAN DO IT, YOU CAN TOO.
SO MORE THAN JUST THE TRAIN OF BEING AN INSPIRATION FOR SO MANY YOUNG KIDS, SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD TODAY, NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE, IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN DO MORE, DO IT.
I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE COREY AS WELL.
AND I HAVE ANOTHER CHALLENGE FOR THE COUNCIL WHEN HE HAS SOME FREE TIME.
HE'S GOING TO TRAIN THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MOVE WITH THE MAYOR EXPERIENCE WITH COREY.
SO FOR THOSE OF YOU ALL WHO DIDN'T WANNA DO THE TENNIS, NOW WE CAN TRAIN WHEN YOU HAVE SOME FREE TIME, THAT'S OKAY.
DON'T YOU DON'T LIKE THE BEACH? DON'T NOBODY WANT HEAR FROM YOU.
CAUSE YOU DON'T EVEN LIKE, NOBODY NOT LIKE THE CONGRATULATIONS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT STAYING FOR THE, UH, REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AT THIS TIME, AS WE SAY IN SCHOOL, YOU ARE DISMISSED.
UH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK AND THEN WE'LL START THE COUNCIL MEETING.
LADIES, GENTLEMEN, TAKE YOU SEAT.
UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TAKE YOUR SEATS.
HELLO, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF YOUR METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.
GOOD TO HAVE ALL OF YOU TUNED IN TODAY.
WE ARE LIVE ON OUR, UH, FACEBOOK SITE.
WE'RE ON THE STREAMING VIDEO@BRLA.GOV ON COX CHANNEL 21.
WE'RE ON FACEBOOK LIVE AND ALSO SOON WE'LL BE LAUNCHING ON YOU TOO.
A PART OF OUR MEETING AT THIS TIME HERE IS THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
COUNCILMAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH DENNIS.
WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING ON THIS WEDNESDAY, MAY 10TH, 2023 AT 4:00 PM I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
ASHLEY, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM? WE HAVE A QUORUM.
I'M GOING TO PASS IT TO COUNCIL MEMBER HURST TO INTRODUCE, UH, THE GOOD PEOPLE WHO WILL LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION AS WELL AS THE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE.
[00:35:01]
A SPECIAL GUEST, AN AMAZING MAN THAT SAVED SO MANY SOULS AND LIVES, UM, IN OUR DISTRICT.I, I SAID THIS IN HIS CHURCH, BUT I WANNA SAY THIS PUBLICLY AGAIN.
I DIDN'T MEET HIM IN THE CHURCH.
I MET HIM ON THE BASKETBALL COURT WORKING WITH KIDS OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH.
AND NOW WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT HOW POST COVID, THE CHURCH HAS FOUR WALLS AND WE NEVER DO ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF IT TO INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND ONE THING I WILL SAY IS THAT, UH, PASTOR ERIC KAY WILLIAMS IS A MAN, NOT JUST OF THE WALLS, BUT OUTSIDE AS WELL, AND MAKE SURE THAT THE RESOURCES MEET THE PEOPLE THAT NEED THEM.
SO LEADING US IN THE, UH, PRAYER TODAY, WE'LL BE PASTOR ERIC KAY WILLIAMS FROM, UH, BEACON LIGHT, HER BATON ROUGE.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, LET US ALL PRAY TOGETHER.
FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY THAT YOU HAVE MADE AND TRULY YOU HAVE BLESSED US, UH, TO REACH THIS POINT IN TIME OF THE DAY.
FATHER, I PRAY NOW THAT YOUR BLESSINGS CONTINUE TO BE UPON US.
GOD, WE THANK YOU NOW FOR WISDOM.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE GREAT KNOWLEDGE THAT IS IN THIS ROOM ON TODAY.
AND FATHER, WE PRAY NOW AS WE WOULD ALLOW YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR GUIDANCE.
BUT MOST OF ALL, GOD, YOUR PRESENCE TO BE WITH US ON TODAY, FATHER, WE THANK YOU NOW FOR THIS WONDERFUL CITY CALLED BATON ROUGE THAT WE ALL HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO BE IN.
AND WE ASK NOW, GOD, THAT YOU ARE BLESSED.
NOW THIS COUNCIL, THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL COME ON TODAY.
AND FATHER, WE PRAY NOW THAT EVERYTHING BE SHALL BE DONE TO YOUR GLORY AND TO YOUR GLORY ALONE.
THANK YOU NOW FOR YOUR FAVOR AND YOUR BLESSINGS AND ALLOWING US TO REALIZE WHO WE ARE.
AND IT'S ONLY BY YOUR GRACE THAT WE ALL WHERE WE ARE AND WE ARE WHO WE ARE.
AND GOD BLESS US NOW ON THIS DAY UNTIL YOUR GLORY, IT SHALL BE DONE.
AND I, AND I DIDN'T KNOW AARON, MOST KIDS WERE GONNA BE HERE TODAY, BUT MY KIDS ARE COMING FROM PRACTICE.
BUT UM, AND I ALWAYS, I TELL EVERYBODY I WAS ON EVERYBODY ELSE'S KIDS SOMETIMES LEAVE MINE IN THE DUST.
BUT WHEN I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PICK, UM, TWO SOMEBODY TO LEAD THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TODAY, I SAID, WHO BETTER THAN THE TWO KIDS OUTTA MY HOUSEHOLD? SO I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MY NAMESAKE, DARRYL HURST II, AS WELL AS, UH, THE BOSS OF MY LIFE, MY DAUGHTER HAILEY HILTON HURST.
I PLEDGE, PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE, OF THE UNITED STATES, OF, OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INVISIBLE LIBERTY.
THANK YOU PASTOR WILLIAMS. THANK YOU SIR.
THANK YOU YOUNG HURST CHILDREN.
[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
AT THIS TIME WE'LL GO TO ITEM ONE, APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 26TH, 2023 BY COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR.IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE WHEN I GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HER SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER AND ROSA.
UH, AT THIS TIME I'M GONNA TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
FIRST I WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR NEW HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SUPPLY DIVERSITY.
MS. RAQUEL SQUARE OVER THERE, PLEASE WAVE SO EVERYONE CAN SEE WHO YOU ARE.
AND WE WANT TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE OUR COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR TODAY IS HER 16TH BIRTHDAY.
SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR AND SHAWNA BANKS IS GONNA LEAD US IN A RENDITION HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
SHAWN
GREAT, GREAT, GREAT JOB SHAWNNA.
AND AT THIS TIME, ASHLEY, HAPPY A BIRTHDAY.
[INTRODUCTIONS]
THE INTRODUCTIONS SECTION 2.12 INTRODUCTIONS.NUMBER TWO, GRANTING A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $8,955 PER YEAR FOR ASSOCIATED GROCERS, LOCATED AT 28 31 MONTEREY BOULEVARD FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENCOURAGING PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND RESTORATION OF PROPERTY BY PLANNING DIRECTOR NUMBER THREE, AUTHORIZING THE BROWNSFIELD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT, EAST BATON ROUGE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER THREE TO PURCHASE AND OR THE RATIFICATION OF THE PURCHASE OF
[00:40:01]
A 2.13 ACRE TRACK, FORMERLY PART OF KLEIN PETER PLACE, LOCATED AT 11 4 20 PLANK ROAD FROM THE LOUISIANA ALLIANCES LEAGUE FOR CRIPPLED CHILDREN, INCORPORATED FOR THE SUM OF $50,000 IN APPROPRIATING.$30,000 FOR SAID PURPOSE FROM THE DISTRICT'S FUND BALANCE BY THE BROWNSFIELD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT.
NUMBER FOUR, AMENDING THE LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUND.
SO IS TO REALLOCATE $100,000 FROM THE RE-ENTRY PROGRAM TO A Y W C, A PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS HOMELESSNESS, EDUCATIONAL, AND QUALITY OF LIFE PROGRAMS. AND AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH Y W C A FOR THIS AMOUNT AND PURPOSE BY THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER FIVE, CLIFFORD WARREN SANFORD, 84 86 SCOTLAND AVENUE, DISTRICT TWO BANKS, NUMBER SIX P B D REALTY INCORPORATED 97 32 AVENUE B COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS, NUMBER SEVEN, KEVIN SPICER.
1344 SORA STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT TWO BANKS, NUMBER EIGHT, EDWIN REYES, 67 75 SPRING DRIVE COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HURST.
NUMBER NINE, COREY VAUGHN, 84 69 MAD MADRID AVENUE COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX DUNN JR.
NUMBER 10, THE SUCCESSION OF DOMINIC BON FANNY.
51 63 GREENWELL SPRINGS ROAD COUNCIL, DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 11, DIANA.
PAGE 1251 NORTH 46TH STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 12, THE ESTATE OF WILLIE STEWART.
1565 NORTH 49TH STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN, COLE NUMBER 13, LET INVESTMENT PROPERTIES INC.
UH, I'M SORRY, LLC 35 35 TOPEKA STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 14, MULLEN PETERSON 84 8 NORTH 48TH STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN, UH, I'M SORRY, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN.
UH, ALL ITEMS THAT REQUIRE READING HAVE BEEN READ AND A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS AND DELETE.
IS THERE A MOTION? INTRODUCE AND DELETE ABOUT 16 BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOK.
ANY OBJECTIONS? ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED IN ITEM 16 HAS BEEN DELETED.
[CONDEMNATION]
GO TO YOUR SEPARATE SHEET FOR CONDEMNATIONS, I'LL READ THE RECOMMENDATIONS.THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 35, 37, 38, 39 AND 44.
DELETE FOR, UM, EXCUSE ME, DEFER FOR 90 DAYS ITEMS 34, 36, 42 AND 43.
AND DELETE ITEMS 39, 40 AND 41.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A CONDEMNATION? ANYONE HERE? COME ON DOWN.
STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND WHAT DISTRICT YOU HERE FOR.
HOW DO YOU DO? UH, GREG GOCHE.
UM, 1971 WOODLAND DRIVE, BATON ROUGE.
UM, I LIVE IN THE COLLEGE DRIVE AREA, BUT THE PROPERTY IS IN MS. BANKS'S DISTRICT, UH, DISTRICT TWO.
UM, THIS WAS OWNED BY MY, HIS PROPERTY WAS OWNED BY MY MOTHER-IN-LAW WHO PASSED AWAY IN 20.
AND THE ESTATE'S BEEN TIED UP IN PROBATE UNTIL THAT TIME.
AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE PROPERTY ISSUES.
UH, I'VE COMMITTED TO, UH, COUNCILWOMAN BANKS THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE PROPERTY CLEARED AND DEMOLISHED IN THE NEXT 45 DAYS.
IF WE COULD AVOID, UH, A CONDEMNATION THAT WOULD CAUSE UH, I GUESS A VERY HIGH PRICE DEMOLITION ON THE PART OF THE, UH, CITY PARISH COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS HAS GIVEN YOU CK A WHAT NUMBER IS THAT? 1 38 COUNCIL.
WE DON'T HAVE A MEETING IN 60 DAYS BECAUSE OF THE JULY HOLIDAY, SO 90 DAYS WOULD BE AUGUST 9TH.
I'LL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOUR OFFICE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IT'S DONE.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A CONDEMNATION? I'M GONNA READ THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND CHANGES.
THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 35, 37 AND 44.
THEY ARE TO DEFER FOR 90 DAYS.
AND THEY ARE TO DELETE ITEMS 39 40 AND 41.
AND YOU HAVE ITEM 36 FOR 90 DAYS.
HAVE ITEM 36 FOR 90 DAYS? YES.
YOU WANT 35 FOR 90 DAYS? 35 PROCEED.
PROCEED WITH 37 44, DEFER FOR 90 DAYS, 34, 35, 36, 38, 42 AND 43.
AND TO DELETE ITEMS 39, 40 AND 41.
ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE CONDEMNATION? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ALL CONDEMNATION? SO MOVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM SECOND AND BY COUNCIL MEMBER NOEL CONDEMNATIONS HAVE BEEN APPROVED TO GO TO YOUR SEPARATE SHEET.
COUNCIL MEMBERS WE'RE GONNA GO TO IT.
[45. 23-00403]
TO PAGE SEVEN,[00:45:01]
COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL GO TO ITEM 45 IN ORDINANCE REQUIRING FAIR CHANCE HIRING STANDARDS FOR PERSONS, CORPORATIONS, AND ENTITIES THAT HAVE A CONTACT OR COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH EAST BATON ROUGE BY LIMITING CONSIDERATION OF CRIMINAL HISTORY OF ANY APPLICANT AND TO PROVIDE OTHERWISE WITH RESPECT THERE TOO BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.THE ITEM WAS DEFERRED FROM THE APRIL 26TH MEETING.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 45? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 45? OKAY.
UH, 1855 OLD CARRIAGE LANE 7 0 8 0 6.
UM, I WANTED TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS.
UM, I THINK, UH, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A FAMILY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS THAT HAVE HAD MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED AND HAVE HAD RECORDS.
AND WHEN THEY'VE SPENT SEVERAL YEARS IN PRISON, THEY HAVE PAID THEIR TIME.
UM, THE PARTICULAR PERSON I'M THINKING OF HAS HAD A HARD TIME GETTING A JOB NOW THAT SHE'S OUT, WHICH MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO LIVE A PRODUCTIVE LIFE WHEN YOU ARE OUT, WHEN NO ONE WILL GIVE YOU A JOB.
UM, SO I THINK, UH, IF, UH, UH, IF WE AGREE THAT PEOPLE HAVE PAID THEIR TIME, THEN WE NEED TO, TO TRY TO GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYONE YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, UH, WHEN YOU COME UP TO SPEAK.
UH, JONATHAN HILL, 38 81 TOPEKA STREET, 7 0 8 0 5 AND I'M HERE TO LEND MY VOICE IN SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE.
AS YOU WILL HEAR A COURSE OF INDIVIDUALS COME BEFORE YOU ON THIS AFTERNOON, WE REALIZE THAT EMPLOYMENT IS A KEY ELEMENT IN OUR SOCIETY.
AND A FEW YEARS AGO, UH, THIS COUNCIL TOOK A BOLD EFFORT TO REMOVE THE BOX THAT WAS ON CITY PARISH JOB APPLICATIONS.
AND IT'S MY HOPE AND MY PRAYER THAT WE WILL CONTINUE THAT COLLABORATIVE EFFORT ON TODAY AS WE SEEK TO MAKE SURE INDIVIDUALS ARE TREATED FAIRLY AND EQUITABLY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT JUSTICE IN THE BROADEST SENSE, IT'S THE CONCEPT THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE TO BE TREATED IN A MANNER THAT IS EQUITABLE AND FAIR.
AND SO OFTEN WE TALK ABOUT JUSTICE BEING SERVED AND INDIVIDUALS HAVE DONE THINGS THAT ARE WRONG AND WE SEEK JUSTICE.
BUT JUSTICE IS ALSO APPLICABLE WHEN INDIVIDUALS HAVE DONE THEIR PART AND WE OWE THEM A FAIR CHANCE AT SOCIETY.
AND SO LET'S GIVE JUSTICE TODAY BY REMOVING ANY OTHER BARRIERS ON THAT APPLIED TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE TRYING TO REENTER SOCIETY.
UH, WE TALK ABOUT LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, AND WE JUST SAID THAT IN THE PLEDGE.
AND TODAY, UH, WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN IN A VERY TRUE SENSE.
AND SO I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THE WORDS OF SCRIPTURE THAT SAYS, LEARN TO DO GOOD, SEEK JUSTICE, HELP THE OPPRESSED, DEFEND THE CAUSE OF THE ORPHANS, AND FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS.
IT'S MY PRAYER THAT YOU WILL PASS THIS ORDINANCE.
ANYONE ELSE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEM COME DOWN.
STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
I LIVE AT 8 0 7 NORTH 35TH STREET, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, UH, 7 0 8 0 2.
AND I'M A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN.
UM, I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU, UM, BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF MY STORY.
UH, FROM 2004, I'M SORRY, 2002 TO TO 2004.
UM, PRIOR TO THAT TIME I HAD WORKED AS A NURSE, A GERIATRIC NURSE, FOR A PERIOD OF 27 YEARS.
UH, WHEN I CAME HOME, OF COURSE I HAD NO MONEY.
I HAD NOTHING BUT A SUPPORTIVE FAMILY.
UH, AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO FIND EMPLOYMENT, SO MANY DOORS SLAMMED IN MY FACE.
UH, IT SEEMED LIKE I HAD A NEON LIGHT ON MY FOREHEAD SAYING, HEY, I'M A CONVICTED FELON.
I IN TURN DECIDED, UH, AT THAT POINT I WAS SUICIDAL, BUT I DECIDED TO EDUCATE MYSELF.
I WENT ON TO SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, UH, OBTAINED A BLACK BACHELOR'S DEGREE, WENT ON TO SUNO, GOT A MASTER'S IN SOCIAL WORK.
IT WAS 10 YEARS LATER BEFORE SOMEONE GAVE ME A FAIR CHANCE.
UM, I'M HERE NOT ONLY TO SUPPORT MYSELF, BUT ANYONE PRIOR TO AND COMING AFTER ME.
I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM FOR THE FAIR CHANCE IN HIRING ORDINANCE.
CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL YOUR SUCCESS.
STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
HI, MY NAME IS EVA WILLIAMS. MY ADDRESS IS 71 21 DIER ROAD, BAKER, LOUISIANA, 70,714.
[00:50:01]
AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE AND I'M ASKING THAT EACH OF YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE.BECAUSE WE ALL WANT TO LIVE IN A SAFE COMMUNITY, I WANT MY COMMUNITY TO BE SAFER.
AND PASSING DISCORDANCE IS THE FIRST STEP IN SAFETY.
I BELIEVE THOSE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS DESERVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE REDEMPTION AND TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS.
MOST PEOPLE WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD CONVINCE OR UNLIKELY TO OFFEND IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN WILLFUL EMPLOYMENT.
THEREFORE, WE'RE SAYING EMPLOYMENT BRINGS AN UNMATCHED SENSE OF STABILITY AND SELF-CONFIDENCE IN AN INDIVIDUAL LIFE, WHICH CAN LEAD TO A REDUCED CHANCE OF REGRESSING INTO DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR THAT LED THEM TO THEIR CRIMINAL CONVICTION AND WAS POLITE AS THE COMMUNITY IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
IF WE WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO BE SAFE, WE MUST PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO ARE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND BY GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO EARN A LIVING AND CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
I ALSO SAY THAT ASKING YOU TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY BY SUPPORTING THIS AUDIENCE, I THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SUPPORT.
IS ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE IEM? CAITLIN JOSHUA, 48 21 ENSW ROAD.
UM, I'M A POLICY ORGANIZER WITH THE POWER COALITION FOR EQUITY AND JUSTICE AND A MEMBER OF THE BATON ROUGE FAIR CHANCE COALITION.
I WANNA KIND OF TAKE A MOMENT TO GROUND US HERE AND I WANNA SPEAK TO WHY WE BROUGHT THIS MEASURE IN THE FIRST PLACE, WHICH HAS COME UP QUITE A BIT IN CONVERSATIONS WITH MANY OF YOU AND HAS LED US TO THIS POINT AS ORGANIZERS, ACTIVISTS, FORMERLY INCARCERATED, PEOPLE RETURNING CITIZENS AND ATTORNEYS WORKING TOGETHER IN COALITION.
SO THIS MEASURE WAS ACTUALLY BORN OUT OF A SURVEY THREE, ALMOST FOUR YEARS AGO.
UM, AT THE TIME ONE OF OUR COALITION PARTNERS, STEPPA LOUISIANA, CONDUCTED A POLL IN OUR COMMUNITY TO FIND OUT WHAT WERE THEIR TOP THREE ISSUES.
THE FOLKS CARE ABOUT EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH OF THOSE TYPE THREE ISSUES.
WE HAD $15 MINIMUM WAGE, EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN, AND MORE PROTECTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE.
SO GARNERED THIS DATA, WE WENT TO THE PEOPLE, MEETING FOLKS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, BUS STATIONS, LIBRARIES, COFFEE SHOPS, CHURCHES, RESTAURANTS, AND OTHER PLACES WHERE OUR PEOPLE FREQUENT.
SHORTLY AFTER I MET WITH MERU AND SHE IMMEDIATELY SIGNED OFF TO THE PLATFORM INCLUDING THE EXPANSION OF THE BAN THE BOX ORDINANCE, OR ALSO KNOWN AS FAIR CHANCE AND HIRING ACT.
WE IMMEDIATELY STARTED DOING RESEARCH UPON COLLECTING THIS DATA AND STARTED CONVERSATIONS WITH MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN CITY PARISH GOVERNMENT FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO.
WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR TODAY IS VERY SIMPLE.
IT'S AN EASY LIFT COMPARED TO SOME OF THE HARDER MEASURES SET BEFORE YOU IN PAST MEETINGS.
AND WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CONSISTENTLY FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, YEARS, SITTING IN MEETINGS FOR A COUPLE HOURS A WEEK TO CURATE A LANGUAGE THAT IS DIGESTIBLE FOR ALL OF US, AN EASY AND IMPLEMENTATION FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.
WE'VE INCORPORATED EVERYONE'S CONCERNS OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF AND THAT IS REFLECTED IN THE LATEST DRAFT YOU ALL HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY.
PURCHASING DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN PROVIDED THE SAME DOCUMENTS WE USE IN NEW ORLEANS TO BE ABLE TO SERVE AS A BLUEPRINT OR A PLAYBOOK IF YOU WILL.
AS YOU MAY ALSO NOTICE IN THE FINAL DRAFT, WE HAVE MOVED THE DATE OF THE ENACTMENT FROM 60 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF APPROVAL TO 180 DAYS.
SO SIX MONTHS, ADDITIONAL FOUR MONTHS BECAUSE WE WANNA HONOR THAT THIS WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE ACCURATELY, NOT SWIFTLY.
MAYOR BRU HAS ALSO SENT OUT A PROCUREMENT SURVEY WHICH COULD FURTHER INFORM OUR WORK AND INFORM THE WORK OF THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT AS IT RELATES TO CONTRACT JOBS AND THE USE OF THE PROCUREMENT.
CURRENTLY, THEIR STAFF HAS HELPED US WORK WITH PARISH'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND PURCHASING TO CREATE A FULLY VETTED ORDINANCE THAT SEEKS TO DO THE FOLLOWING AND THE FOLLOWING ONLY ENFORCES WHAT'S CURRENTLY ON THE BOOKS, EXPANDS THE FAIR CHANCE IN HIRING LAW, ALSO KNOWN AS BAN THE BOX.
THUS CONTRACTORS WOULD HAVE TO ABIDE BY THE FAIR CHANCE IN HIRING ACT, WHICH STATES THAT YOU CAN PULL THE BACKGROUND CHECK AT THE END OF THE HIRING PROCESS DURING THE CONDITIONAL OFFER.
AND FINALLY, THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS THAT I TALKED ABOUT WOULD BE ESTABLISHED.
THIS PROVIDES FOR MORE CHECKS AND BALANCES WITHIN THE SYSTEM.
LETS US FIGURE OUT IF WE'RE HIRING MORE FORMERLY CHRIST STATE PERSONS.
IF SOMEONE INQUIRES ABOUT A JOB OR WHY THEY WEREN'T DENIED, WHY THEY WEREN'T DENIED A JOB, THEY'RE ABLE TO FIND OUT THAT INFORMATION.
WE ALSO TOOK THE LIBERTY TO PULL A VARIETY OF BUSINESSES AND BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE ORGANIZATIONS AND NONE OF THEM HAVE PROVIDED OPPOSITION OR CONCERNS AROUND OUR WORK OR OUR MEASURE.
[00:55:01]
IS BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND WE HAVE TO FILL VACANCIES, WE HAVE TO GET PEOPLE WORKING AND WE HAVE TO KEEP A SUSTAINABLE WORKFORCE, ELIMINATE TURNOVER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.THERE'S ALSO BEEN A SUMMARY RECENT TO EACH OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL SAYING AN EXPLANATION OF THE ORDINANCES LINE BY LINE AS WHY THIS SHOULD BE ASKED PASSED FAVORABLY.
I'M HOPING TODAY WE CAN PASS AND MEASURE AS THE CAPITAL CITY OF LOUISIANA THAT WILL IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO SUPPORT, SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH, REDUCE EMPLOYEE TURNOVER, REDUCE LITIGATION, AND ULTIMATELY GIVE A SECOND CHANCE TO OUR CITIZENS.
THERE IS DATA THAT STATES THAT BY PROVIDING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FORMER INCARCERATED PERSONS, THERE ARE A HOST OF POSITIVE OUTCOMES.
IT IS A WIN FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, A WIN FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO LET'S TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE OUR OWN DATA AND BE A CHAMPION FOR THE MEASURE.
I'M REVEREND JIM VANDER WHEEL.
I CURRENTLY LIVE AT 1 48 STEEPLECHASE AVENUE, BATON ROUGE 7 0 8 0 8 DISTRICT 12.
BUT THERE ARE TWO REASONS WHY I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE FAIR CHANCE BILL.
FIRST I TURNED TO JESUS PRAISE FOR THOSE WHO HELPED PEOPLE WHO NEEDED ASSISTANCE.
HE PUT THEMSELF IN THEIR SHOES.
HE SAID I NEEDED CLOTHES AND YOU CLOTHED ME.
I WAS SICK AND YOU LOOKED AFTER ME.
I WAS IN PRISON AND YOU CAME TO VISIT ME.
THESE WORDS OF MERCY LINKED WITH BLESSED ARTHUR MERCYFUL FOR THEY SHALL INHERIT THE GATES OF HEAVEN.
AN INSPIRATION TO ME WHEN I MOVED MIDLIFE TO SEMINARY AND THEN TO COMMUNITY CHURCH UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST IN 2002.
SECOND INCARCERATION RESONATES OUT THROUGH THE COMMUNITY.
IT HITS THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO ARE INCARCERATED.
PARENTS OF MY IN THIS ROOM WILL UNDERSTAND THAT I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT MY SONS AS THEY GREW UP.
MY HOPES ROSE AND FALL WITH THE ALLEGED REPORTS ARE HEARD ABOUT THEIR PROGRESS IN LIFE.
TWO MONTHS AFTER KATRINA, WHEN I MOVED BACK TO NEW ORLEANS, DOING MY BEST TO REACH OUT TO MY CONGREGANTS, MY YOUNGEST SON CALLED AND TOLD ME HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE THAT SEMESTER AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO.
IT WAS CERTAINLY A WORRY THOUGH BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN ARRESTED TWICE IN HIGH SCHOOL.
FORTUNATELY, HIS ARREST RECORD WAS ERASED WHEN HE RECEIVED HIS HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AS STIPULATED BY THE JUDGE, TIME OF HIS VERDICT.
BUT THEN IN 2010, MY OLDER SON PREVIOUSLY ARRESTED TWICE FOR DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED LEFT A PARTY AFTER MIDNIGHT.
AND DESPITE MANY OBJECTIONS FOR PEOPLE AROUND HIM, CLAIMED IT WAS OKAY TO DRIVE.
BUT HE TOLD ME THE LANE TO THE HOUSE WAS LONG.
THERE WERE CARS THAT WERE MIS PARKED.
WHEN YOU BLACK OUT HIS CAR FOUND A POND.
THE HOSE CLAIMED HE HAD DEFENDED EVERYBODY, INCLUDING HIM.
AND HE SPENT THREE MONTHS IN JAIL.
EACH OF MY SONS HAS HAD OPPORTUNITIES.
THEY NOW MAKE MORE THAN I EVER MADE AT ANY TIME IN MY LIFE.
OPPORTUNITIES SECOND, CHANCES ARE SOMETHING THAT ARE BLESSED WITH MERCY.
UH, THEY ARE SENTIMENT THAT I THINK IS ENDEMIC IN THE TRADITION IN WHICH I WAS RAISED.
AND A HOPE FOR MANY OF YOU HERE AS WELL.
YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO PROVIDE SECOND CHANCES THAT WILL HELP NOT ONLY INDIVIDUALS, BUT ALSO FAMILIES GOING FORWARD.
I URGE YOU TO TAKE IT AND I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THESE WORDS FROM ST.
THERE IS NO SAINT WITHOUT A PAST, NO SINNER, WITHOUT A FUTURE.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 45? GOOD AFTERNOON.
I WANT TO THANK GOD AND THANK Y'ALL FOR HAVING ME HERE, HERE TODAY.
I'M A FORMER INCARCERATED INMATE CURTIS MILLER.
I STARTED ALMOST 20 YEARS IN ANGOLA AND I'M A FAIR CHANGE ORIGINS FOR THE JOB SITUATION.
WELL CUZ IT TOOK ME TWO YEARS TO GET A JOB DUE TO THE FACT ABOUT ME BEING INCARCERATED AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE AND NEVER HAD A JOB.
BUT WHEN I CAME HOME, I, IT TOOK TWO YEARS FOR ME TO GET A JOB CUZ EVERYBODY WAS LIKE, WOULDN'T GIVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY.
BUT THE OPPORTUNITY THAT I WAS GIVEN AT DEFENSE COMPANY, I HAVE A TRADE NOW AND I'VE BEEN HOME 25 YEARS.
AND I THINK EVERYBODY DESERVE THAT OPPORTUNITY MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THE WORLD.
CAUSE YOU ARE RATHER A MAN TO BE WORKING THAN, THAN JUST WALKING AROUND
[01:00:01]
DOING NOTHING.AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS SITUATION REAL HARD BECAUSE EVERYBODY AIN'T GONNA HAVE THE PATIENCE.
I HAD TWO YEARS OF STAYING OUT HERE WITHOUT A JOB AND I APPRECIATE YOU AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING ME.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 45? COME ON DOWN.
STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR PROAM, FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS CITIZENS LE BATON ROUGE.
I STAND BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING, THIS AFTERNOON.
I'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT UNTAPPED TALENTS.
WE HAVE TOO MANY INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE QUALIFIED, OTHERWISE QUALIFIED, BUT UNQUALIFIED TO WORK IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THEY PAY TAXES, THEY BUY GROCERIES, THEY OWN CARS.
THEY LIVE IN VARIOUS COMMUNITIES.
I LIVE IN A COMMUNITY, BUT MOST OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE RECORDS CANNOT GET A JOB BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GIVEN AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.
THEY'RE NOT GIVEN THAT SECOND CHANCE.
THE OTHER NIGHT WHEN I WAS CALLING INDIVIDUALS TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE FAIR CHANCE HIRING ACT, ONE MAN SAID TO ME, HE SAID, YOUNG LADY, I WORK FOR AN INDUSTRY.
WELL, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT APPLY ALL THE TIME AND WE CAN'T HIRE THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR RECORD, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A RECORD.
I SAID, WELL, HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE FAIR CHANCE HIRING ACT? HE SAID, BUT ONCE YOU LOOK AT THEIR RECORDS, YOU CAN'T OFFER THEM A JOB.
I SAID, UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT IT'S GONNA TAKE EDUCATION.
IT'S GOING TO HA TAKE ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE A CHANGE, TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, TO HAVE A QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERYBODY.
MY CHILD TODAY, YOUR CHILD TOMORROW.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO ANY OF US.
WE STAND, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHERE WE MAY FALL.
SO LET'S LOOK AT THIS ACT AND LET'S GIVE EVERYBODY A CHANCE, A CHANCE TO HAVE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING.
STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEN, WOMEN, UM, AMELIA HERRERA WOULD VOTE, VOICE OF THE EXPERIENCE VOTE IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS MADE UP OF FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE, FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND ALLIES.
SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WE FIGHT FOR THOSE RIGHTS THAT WERE ONCE TAKEN AWAY.
WHEN FOLKS REENTER INTO SOCIETY, THERE ARE SO MANY BARRIERS THAT THEY FACE.
SO WHEN YOU PUT SOMETHING LIKE FAIR CHANCE IN HIRING AS ANOTHER OBSTACLE, YOU'RE CLOSING OUT A WHOLE SECTOR OF PEOPLE THAT ARE OTHERWISE CAPABLE OF FULFILLING A JOB.
LIKE MS. LINDA, I DID NURSING FOR OVER 35 YEARS.
NEVER MADE A MISTAKE, NEVER ERR IN MEDICATION, ANYTHING.
BUT BECAUSE MY HUSBAND WAS MURDERED AND MY MOM DIED SIX MONTHS APART, I HAD A MENTAL CRISIS WHICH LED ME TO BECOME INCARCERATED.
I WAS ONE OF THE FORTUNATE ONES.
MY CHARGES WERE DROPPED, BUT NOT UNTIL I SPENT SEVERAL MONTHS IN ONE OF THE WORST JAILS IN LOUISIANA.
BUT WHEN I GOT OUT AND TRIED TO GET MY NURSING LICENSED BACK, THERE WERE FEES, THERE WERE BARRIERS, THERE WERE ROADBLOCKS, THERE WERE CHALLENGES.
I'M STILL THE SAME PERSON THAT NEVER EARNED IN JUDGMENT, THAT NEVER HAD A WRITE UP IN 35 YEARS.
THE SAME PERSON THAT GRADUATED NURSING WITH HONORS.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF A MISTAKE AND SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL FOR ONE
[01:05:01]
MOMENT AND OFFICERS NOT KNOWING HOW TO HANDLE A MENTAL CRISIS AND LOCKING ME UP, I WAS UNABLE TO OBTAIN THAT NURSING LICENSE BACK WITHOUT THOSE CHALLENGES.SO ALL I'M SAYING TODAY IS FAIR CHANCE HIRING ORDINANCE IS NECESSARY BECAUSE WE ARE THE SAME PERSON THAT WE WERE BEFORE.
SOME OF US ARE EVEN BETTER, WE'RE DEDICATED.
WE DO NOT WANNA COME OUT AND SUE ANYONE.
WE DO NOT WANT TO BE CALLED CRIMINALS.
WHAT WE WANT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK FOR A JOB AND GIVE IT OUR ALL.
NOT TO BE JUDGED WITH THE LETTER A ON OUR FOREHEADS.
STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
UM, I MADE 64 54 AIRLINE HIGHWAY, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA 7 0 805.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY START OFF FIRST, START OFF SAYING THAT, UM, SOME THINGS ARE JUST COMMON SENSE.
UM, AND IF YOU SEE THE PROBLEM, EVERYONE'S PRETTY HA PRETTY MUCH HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I'M HEARING AND THEY'RE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THINGS.
I MYSELF HAVE AN UNCLE THAT IS CURRENTLY INCARCERATED.
HE'S PRETTY MUCH BEEN INCARCERATED IN AND OUT OF JAIL MY WHOLE LIFE.
UM, NOW I FEEL LIKE THE SYSTEM COULD BE A LOT BETTER WHEN IT COMES TO GIVING THESE, UM, FELONS AND ANYONE THAT'S BEEN INCARCERATED SECOND CHANCES.
UM, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EVERYONE ELSE.
MY UNCLE IS, LIKE I SAID, IS STILL CURRENTLY INCARCERATED.
UM, AND HAD THE SYSTEM WOULD'VE BEEN A LOT BETTER, NOT NECESSARILY THE SYSTEM, HE WOULD'VE HAD A SECOND CHANCE OR EVEN WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO DO BETTER YEARS AGO.
I I DON'T THINK HE WOULD'VE BEEN INCARCERATED, UM, THIS LONG OR SO MANY TIMES.
THE SECOND CHANCE PROGRAM IS GREAT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING TO, UM, CHANGE THEIR LIFE TO MAKE A BETTER LIVING FOR THEMSELVES, READY TO BE INDEPENDENT TO SOCIETY AND, UH, READY TO MAKE THAT NEXT STEP AND TAKE THAT NEXT STEP TO BE, UM, INDEPENDENT IN SOCIETY AND NO LONGER BE, UM, INSTITUTIONALIZED, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS HERE IN BATON ROUGE OR NECESSARILY THE 7 0 805 ZIP CODE.
THERE'S A LOT OF CRIME BEING COMMITTED, UM, A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.
BUT IF THERE WAS A PROGRAM IN PLACE FOR THESE YOUNG ONES OR UM, ADOLESCENTS OR ADULTS, I THINK THAT THINGS WOULD BE A LOT BETTER.
UM, AND ONCE AGAIN, WHAT THEY'VE DONE IN THE PAST IS WHAT THEY'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
IF THE SYSTEM, IF THE JAIL SYSTEM WAS THERE TO CORRECT THINGS, WHY DO WE HAVE TO PUT THEM THROUGH SO MUCH AFTER WITH GETTING EMPLOYMENT AND BECOMING INDEPENDENT TO SOCIETY AFTERWARDS IF THE JAIL SYSTEM IS SET IN PLACE TO CORRECT A PROBLEM OR IS IT THERE TO CORRECT A PROBLEM? UM, AND THAT'S, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH, PRETTY MUCH IT.
SO LAST WEEK I CAME LIKE TWO WEEKS AGO.
I CAME AND I TOLD Y'ALL MY STORY, BUT I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO TELL YOU ALL OF IT BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE THREE MINUTES.
SO I'M GONNA BE SPEAKING REALLY FAST.
SO PLEASE PAY ATTENTION SAYS AS I SAY THIS TO Y'ALL.
SO THE REST OF MY STORY WAS, THE REST OF MY STORY THAT I DIDN'T TELL Y'ALL WAS THAT I DID GET A CHANCE TO FIND A JOB, BUT WHEN I DID FIND THAT JOB, I WORKED AT A, A TRUCK STOP OVERNIGHT MAKING $8 AN HOUR, A WOMAN WORKING WITH MEN COMING IN AND OUT OF TRUCK STOP OVERNIGHT MAKING $8 AN HOUR.
HAD I HAD A CHANCE, HAD HAD, THERE WERE OTHER JOB OPPORTUNITIES THAT I COULD HAVE APPLIED FOR.
FIRST OF ALL, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN MAKING $8 AN HOUR.
SECOND OF ALL, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AT A TRUCK STOP FEARING FOR MY LIFE.
SO I COME BACK AGAIN TODAY AND I BROUGHT SOME FRIENDS WITH ME AND, AND, AND SO THIS IS NOT JUST A, A ORGANIZATION CHECKING A BOX.
THIS IS REAL PEOPLE, REAL HUMANS WITH REAL SITUATIONS WHERE REAL LIVES.
I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO SOME OF YOU ALL THAT RESPONDED TO ME.
AND, UM, EXPLAIN HOW SERIOUS THIS WAS AND HOW IMPACTFUL THIS IS AND HOW MUCH IT, IT IT DID TO MY HEART AND, AND, AND BRINGING THESE PEOPLE BACK.
Y'ALL DON'T KNOW THE LAST TWO WEEKS WHAT I'VE SUFFERED MENTALLY RELIVING THIS SITUATION TO TELL IT TO YOU ALL.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT FACED WITH THAT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT.
[01:10:01]
SURE NONE OF YOU ALL HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED CUZ I DON'T THINK Y'ALL WILL BE UP HERE BEFORE ME.AND IF YOU HAVE, MAYBE YOU HAD FRIENDS OR YOUR YOUR PARENTS KNEW SOMEONE THAT GOT YOU OUT, THAT'S GREAT.
BUT WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT Y'ALL TODAY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR LIVELIHOOD.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR LIVES, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW THIS IMPACTS US.
AND IT IMPACTS US IN A WAY THAT YOU WOULDN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT THERE.
YOU'RE NOT THERE WHEN THE DOOR SLAMS IN YOUR FACE.
YOU'RE NOT THERE WHEN YOU'RE TOLD NO REPEATEDLY.
YOU'RE NOT THERE WHEN YOUR SELF-ESTEEM IS DOWN AND YOU DON'T HAVE NO OTHER RECOURSE OF ACTION.
SO AGAIN, I COME TO YOU ALL AGAIN TODAY AND I ASK YOU, PLEASE DO NOT DEFER THIS ANYMORE.
DO NOT HOLD THIS UP ANY LONGER.
YES, LET'S GET WITH WITH WHOEVER WE NEED TO GET WITH TO GET THE, THE PROCUREMENT STUFF TOGETHER.
AND THAT'S ALL I CAN TELL Y'ALL.
I SPENT MY TIME BETWEEN BATON ROUGE AND NEW ORLEANS.
UH, BAT ROUGE ADDRESS 48 21 IN SWA ROAD, BAT ROUGE, LOUISIANA, 7,809.
ALL RIGHT, SO I AM, UH, THE OUTGOING CHAPTER LEADER FOR MOM'S DEMAND ACTION.
WE'RE A GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION ORGANIZATION AND WE STARTED AFTER SANDY HOOK.
AND I'M ACTUALLY REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY BECAUSE FOR ONCE, I'M NOT PUSHING BACK ON SOME CRAZY GUN BILL, BUT INSTEAD TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE OFFER PEOPLE WHEN THEY'VE DONE THEIR TIME AND WE WANNA REINTRODUCE THEM TO SOCIETY AND GIVE THEM FULL OPPORTUNITIES.
I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE FACT THAT WE DESERVE WHOLE COMMUNITIES.
AND IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THAT AND START TO REALLY CLOSE THE GAPS BETWEEN THE HAVES AND THE HAVE NOTS, WE'VE GOTTA PASS ORDINANCES LIKE THIS ONE.
I ALSO IMPLORE YOU TO THINK ABOUT ARE WE COMMITTED TO THROWING AWAY ENTIRE GENERATIONS? BECAUSE CURRENTLY WE HAVE TWENTIES AND THIRTIES AND 40 AND 50 YEAR OLDS THAT JUST DON'T HAVE A CHANCE.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, YOU GUYS MEET OFTEN IF, IF A YEAR FROM NOW WE HATE THIS, WE CAN REEVALUATE AND REASSESS, BUT WE NEED TO TRY SOMETHING.
WE'VE GOTTA GIVE PEOPLE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO AND PROVIDE SOME HOPE FOR FOLKS WHEN THEY GET OUT OF EITHER A CONVICTION OR AFTER THEY'VE SERVED THEIR TIME AS INCARCERATED PEOPLE.
AND MY LAST THING IS JUST, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT IT'S THIS HUGE KIND OF NATIONAL DEBATE AROUND LIFE, AND THEN THERE'S LIFE WITH DIGNITY.
AND WE'VE GOTTA START GIVING PEOPLE AND WORKERS IN BATON ROUGE AND EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIFE WITH DIGNITY, NOT JUST EXISTING, JUST TO EXIST.
LET'S TAKE SOME STRESS OFF OF PEOPLE'S SHOULDERS AND GIVE THEM MORE OPPORTUNITIES, MORE CHANCES, AT A BETTER LIFE.
UM, AND WITH THAT, I SAY THANK YOU.
PETER ROBBINS BROWN, 65 NORTH SIXTH STREET, UH, 78 0 2.
UH, JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THIS IS, UH, A MEASURE THAT IS BEING DONE IN CITIES, COUNTIES, STATES, ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, HAS BEEN, UH, RAPIDLY EXPANDING IN ALL OF THESE PLACES FOR ABOUT A DECADE OR SO.
UH, WE HAVE NOT SEEN THOSE PLACES ROLL THIS BACK.
WE HAVE NOT SEEN, UH, MAJOR OPPOSITION FROM BUSINESS GROUPS.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE CERTAINLY HAVE A VERY ACTIVE CHAMBER AND, UH, OTHER BUSINESS INTERESTS IN THIS PARISH AND IN THIS STATE.
UH, I, YOU KNOW, I COULD BE WRONG AND MAYBE THEY'RE GONNA COME UP RIGHT AFTER ME, BUT SO FAR WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY OPPOSITION, AT LEAST ORGANIZED OPPOSITION.
I CAN'T SPEAK TO, YOU KNOW, WHO MIGHT HAVE REACHED OUT TO YOU.
BUT IN, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN VERY PUBLIC ABOUT THIS.
THERE'S BEEN, UH, YOU KNOW, REPORTS IN THE NEWSPAPER ALL OVER THE PLACE.
AND, AND WE HAVE YET TO SEE ANY PUSHBACK HERE LOCALLY.
WE'VE NOT SEEN ANY PUSHBACK NATIONALLY.
UH, THIS IS A RELATIVELY SIMPLE MEASURE, AND I, UH, HOPE Y'ALL CAN SUPPORT IT.
ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 45.
I DO HAVE ADON WINBUSH, WHO IS HERE, BUT WISHING NOT TO SPEAK, BUT IS IN FAVOR OF THE ITEM.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ASHLEY? COUNCIL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED 13 EMAIL COMMENTS ON ITEM 45, 12.
WERE IN SUPPORT, ONE WAS IN OPPOSITION.
HI, MY NAME IS TAMMY JONES, 95 22 WEST CORONADO DRIVE, HEADING ROUGE, LOUISIANA.
THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME TO SPEAK.
I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT, UM, I WAS IN FLORIDA WHEN I HAD MY SITUATION, SORT OF LIKE MY COWORKER SPOKE.
I WAS WORKING IN SURGERY, HAD AN INCIDENT, AND IT ENDED UP GETTING HOOKED ON DRUGS.
AND I WASN'T ALLOWED THAT SECOND CHANCE.
BUT THEN I HAD A JUDGE THAT HEARD ME, AND HE GAVE ME THAT SECOND CHANCE.
I BECAME A LICENSED ADDICTION COUNSELOR, WHERE I'M STILL AM TODAY, ABLE TO HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE 32 YEARS CLEAN.
AND I, I, I MENTOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
AND NOW I WORK FOR AN ORGANIZATION CALLED VOTE BECAUSE I HAD A LOT OF OPPOSITION STILL AT ALL THIS TIME.
AND SO NOW I'M ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR OTHER PEOPLE
[01:15:01]
BECAUSE OF THAT.BECAUSE WHEN YOU TAKE AWAY HOPE AND YOU HELP PEOPLE OUT, THEY'RE DESPERATE.
YOU PUT 'EM IN A SITUATION WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT PEOPLE THAT HAVE A FAMILY, THEY HAVE CHILDREN, LIKE I WAS, I HAD NO FAMILY HERE.
SO IT WAS LIKE, WHAT, WHAT ELSE WOULD I DO? THINK ABOUT IT.
IF YOU CAN'T GET A JOB OR YOU CAN'T GET A AFFORDABLE WAGE WEDGE AND YOU HAVE CHILDREN TO FEED, THAT'S LOOKING AT YOU DEPENDING ON YOU.
OR ARE YOU LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE TO STAY? YOU CAN'T AFFORD A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR CHILDREN.
YOU BECOME DESPERATE AND YOU DO DESPERATE THINGS.
AND SO LET'S START PUTTING PEOPLE IN THESE SITUATIONS.
IF THEY HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND THEY'RE WILLING TO WORK, IT'D BE DIFFERENT.
THEY NOT LOOKING FOR A HANDOUT.
THEY LOOKING FOR A OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TO MAKE THEIR OWN WAYS SO THEY COULD TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES.
AND WE COULD HAVE A SAFER COMMUNITY.
BUT WHEN YOU FORCE ALL THESE PEOPLE TO BE DESPERATE, THEN YOU PUT OUR COMMUNITY IN A UNSAFE SITUATION.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 45? IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER HURST? UM, SO THIS DIRECTLY GOES TO CRIME PREVENTION THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS IN THE CITY PARISH.
AND WHEN YOU CREATE AN INABILITY FOR SOMEBODY TO GET GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT AND MAKE A LIVABLE WAGE, YOU AUTOMATICALLY, UM, CREATE RECIDIVISM IN MOST CASES.
IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN THE PHYSICAL, IT HAPPENS IN THE MIND.
AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS A STUDY DONE WHERE THEY TOOK MILLIONAIRES, STRIPPED ALL HIS MONEY, PUT HIM IN A POOR SITUATION, AND HE ENDED UP GOING THROUGH DESPERATE TIMES, DESPERATE MEASURES, AND ENDED UP DOING SOME THINGS THAT HE'D NEVER THOUGHT HE'D DONE BEFORE OR HE WOULD DO.
AND IN THIS SITUATION, WE ARE TAKING PEOPLE WHO SERVED THEIR TIME, WHO DESERVE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK INTO SOCIETY AND NOT BE JUDGED, BUT TO BE CONSIDERED REFORMED.
AND SO THE OTHER THING ABOUT IT IS THAT WE TALK ABOUT CRIME AND WE LOOK AT CRIME.
WE LOOK AT LOW MEETING INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE LOOK AT HIGH CRIME NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, THAT PREVENTS ECONOMIC GROWTH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND, AND SO PREVENTING THESE FOLKS FROM GETTING GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT, IT DIRECTLY PLAYS INTO LACK OF ECONOMIC GROWTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE TALK ABOUT CRIME REDUCTION, BUT WE WANT TO MAINTAIN BARRIERS IN PLACE, PREVENTING JOB SEEKERS FROM OBTAINING JOBS.
THEN WE LABEL THEM AS LAZY AND UNDESIRABLE.
WHEN THEY GET TO A POINT WHERE THEY FEEL DEFEATED, ONCE THEY FEEL DEFEATED, AND YOU SEE 'EM WALKING AROUND COMMUNITIES, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THAT PERSON IS GOING THROUGH THAT PUT THEM IN THAT SITUATION.
NOT ONLY DO WE LOSE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS IN THE WORKPLACE, BUT WE ALSO LOSE VOTERS.
AND THE REASON WHY I SAY WE LOSE VOTERS IS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE PUT US IN PLACE TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS FOR THEM.
AND REGARDLESS HOW MANY TIMES THEY GO TO THE POLLS AND THEY TRY TO VOICE THEIR OPINION, THEY STILL FEEL LIKE THEY ARE OPPRESSED BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT THEY PUT IN OFFICE WON'T PROTECT THEM.
UM, I'M ASKING MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE.
LET'S CLOSE OUR GAPS IN THE WORKFORCE THAT WE COMPLAIN ABOUT SO MUCH.
UM, BRING HOPE TO THE HOPELESS, STIMULATE OUR ECONOMY, UM, BY CREATING PEOPLE, UH, WHO HAVE A LI WAGE.
AND, AND THE ONE THING THAT WE TALK ABOUT IN THE CONSTITUTIONS IS, IS INALIENABLE, RIGHT? INALIENABLE, INALIENABLE RIGHTS.
AND THAT'S THE RIGHT TO LIFE, LIBERTY PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS AND THE, UH, ACQUIRING A POSSESSION OF A PROPERTY.
AND TO ME, NOT ALLOWING SOMEONE TO GET A JOB IS NOT ALLOWING THEM TO LIVE LIFE, TO PURSUE HAPPINESS, OR TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE LIBERTIES THAT ANYBODY SHOULD HAVE.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOR COMING OUT AND LETTING YOUR VOICES BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE, NOT ONLY, UH, TODAY, BUT ALSO, UH, WHEN WE HEARD IT BEFORE.
AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? SHOW COUNCIL MEMBER.
HU WE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINES.
ANYBODY ELSE IS ON? UH, YOU GOT PRESSURE? I'M NOT READY TO VOTE ON THIS.
UH, I CANNOT REMEMBER THE YOUNG LADY'S NAME THAT SPOKE A WHILE AGO.
[01:20:01]
MS. CAITLIN? YES.MY WHOLE THING HAS BEEN ABOUT PROCESS THROUGH THIS WHOLE THING, AND I'VE SPOKEN WITH YOU AND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE AT YOUR ORGANIZATION AND WE'VE WALKED THROUGH IT STEP BY STEP BY STEP.
AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL DOING THAT.
THE THE PROBLEM I HAVE, AND THE REASON I'M I'M ASKING THIS RIGHT NOW, IS IN THE PROCESS THAT WE WALK THROUGH THESE WHOLE STEPS UP TO THE POINT OF CALLING IN FOR INTERVIEWS, APPLICATIONS GO OUT, APPLICATIONS COME BACK IN, THEY DON'T HAVE THE BOX ON IT.
YOU'VE GOT A HUNDRED APPLICATIONS, YOU'RE CALLING 10 BACK IN FOR AN INTERVIEW.
AT THAT POINT YOU CAN ASK OR NOTIFY OR TELL THEM THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE DOING A BACKGROUND CHECK.
THAT'S, AM THAT CORRECT? CORRECT.
YOUR STATEMENT A WHILE AGO WAS THEY CAN PULL THE BACKGROUND CHECK AFTER A CONDITIONAL OFFER UPON THE CONDITIONAL OFFER, HUH? UPON THE CONDITIONAL OFFER.
SO LIKE, YOU CAN HAVE THEM SIGN THE AUTHORIZATION FORM, WHICH IS NOW IN SECTION TWO, I BELIEVE, OF THE ORDINANCES.
UM, IT WAS REQUESTED BY PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHO SUGGESTED THAT WE PUT IN THAT WE ARE IN FACT REQUIRING OR ASKING THAT EACH APPLICANT SIGN OFF ON THE NOTIFICATION THAT THEY WILL HAVE THEIR BACKGROUND CHECK CHECKED, AND ULTIMATELY THEY'RE AWARE OF IT.
AND SO ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT THIS CANDIDATE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE PROBABLY GONNA, YOU'RE LEANING TOWARDS HIRING THEM AND ESSENTIALLY YOU'RE RUNNING THAT BACKGROUND CHECK, LETTING THEM KNOW, RUNNING THE BACKGROUND CHECK, AND THEN YOU DECIDE FROM THERE IS WHEN YOU NOTIFY THEM THAT YOU'LL BE RUNNING THE BACKGROUND CHECK.
ARE YOU CONSIDERING THAT A CONDITIONAL OFFER OF HIREMAN? NO.
THE THE BACKGROUND CHECK ITSELF IS NOT A CONDITIONAL OFFER.
SO, YEAH, BECAUSE, AND AGAIN, IT, THIS HAS GONE BACK AND FORTH SEVERAL TIMES FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT PEOPLE SPEAKING, AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I NAIL THIS DOWN.
UM, AND IT'S BEEN BACK AND FORTH THAT THE, UM, BACKGROUND CHECK CAN BE DONE AFTER THE CONDITIONAL OFFER.
TO ME, A CONDITIONAL OFFER IS I'M CALLING YOU BACK IN, I'M OFFERING YOU A JOB, YOU ARE GOING TO, I'M OFFERING YOU A JOB OF DRIVING THIS BULLDOZER ON THIS NEXT CONTRACT WE HAVE WITH CITY PARISH.
NOW I'M GONNA RUN A BACKGROUND CHECK, BUT YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THAT CAN BE DONE MM-HMM.
AND AGAIN, THE WORDING, THE WORDING IS, IT'S ALL ABOUT WORDING TO ME.
I JUST ASKED, CAN IT BE DONE BEFORE THE CONDITIONAL OFFER IS MADE? AND YOU SAID IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING WHEN I SAID THAT.
AND SO I DO THINK WE'RE SAYING THE SAME THING.
WHAT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I MAKE CLEAR, AND I KNOW I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, IS WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS THE BACKGROUND CHECK USED IN THE PROCESS OF ELIMINATION OVER A VARIETY OF, BUT THAT'S WHAT IF I APPLICANTS, IF I SEND OUT, IF I'VE GOT A HUNDRED APPLICATIONS BACK AND I CALL 10 BACK IN FOR AN INTERVIEW, THAT IS THE WEEDING OUT PROCESS THAT I'M CALLING BACK IN THE INTERVIEW TO ONE-ON-ONE WITH THESE PEOPLE TO LOOK AT 'EM IN THE EYE, GET THEIR REACTION.
ARE THEY GONNA FIT IN WITH MY BUSINESS? ARE THEY GONNA FIT IN WITH WHAT I'M DOING? UH, I, I, I'LL JUST BE HONEST WITH YOU, AS AN IT COMPANY OWNER AND, AND MY TYPE OF BUSINESS, IF SOMEBODY COMES IN WITH TATTOOS FROM HERE ALL THE WAY DOWN THEIR SHOULDERS AND, AND DOWN THEIR ARMS AND FINGERS AND EVERYWHERE ELSE, I'M GONNA LOOK AT THAT DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE I'M SENDING THOSE PEOPLE TO REPRESENT MY BUSINESS.
AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO THEY ARE, WHAT ETHNICITY, WHAT, WHAT GENDER.
I'M SENDING THOSE PEOPLE TO MY BUSINESSES TO REPRESENT COMPUTER EVOLUTIONS.
I HAVE THAT SAME, DO I HAVE THAT SAME OPPORTUNITY WHEN I CALL 'EM IN FOR AN INTERVIEW TO DO, TELL THEM THAT I'M GONNA DO A BACKGROUND CHECK? MM-HMM.
I DON'T WANNA RUN INTO MY SECOND TIME YET, SO, OKAY.
UM, ESSENTIALLY IF YOU'RE BASICALLY TELLING SOMEONE, OR YOU KNOW THAT
[01:25:01]
YOU WANT THEM, YOU'RE LIKE, HEY, I'M GONNA RUN THIS BACKGROUND CHECK.BASED ON WHAT COMES BACK, I WILL CONSIDER HIRING YOU.
IT'S THE SAME DIFFERENCE AS A CONDITIONAL OFFER.
SEE, I DON'T ASK ANY MORE QUESTIONS IF YOU, WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO SAY, UM, I SUPPORT BAN THE BOX FOR CITY PARISH, UM, AND I SUPPORT SECOND CHANCES, THIRD CHANCES, FOURTH CHANCES.
UM, I, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
UM, IF, IF WE HAVE, UH, BASICALLY WHEN SOMEONE'S SENTENCED IN THE 19TH JDC AND THEY'RE GETTING THEIR SENTENCE HANDED DOWN AND IT'S A PROBATION TYPE SENTENCE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE JUDGE, ANY JUDGE, ALL OF THE JUDGES OVER THERE SAY IS FINE AND MAINTAINED GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT.
AND THAT IS CON A CONDITION OF PROBATION.
UM, MR. BERNARD, CAN YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD? IF YOU DON'T MIND.
AND I'M GONNA NEED THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT AND I'M GONNA NEED ALL OF THE ATTORNEYS.
I AM NOT TRYING TO PICK THIS APART.
I AM TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE IT RIGHT.
UM, WE ONLY HAVE ONE ATTORNEY, MS. MIKE.
UM, ANYWAY, SO WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 4,000 EMPLOYEES.
WE HAVE, JUST SO THAT IT'S CLEAR FOR EVERYONE TO KNOW, WE HAVE BANNED THE BOX WITHIN OUR CITY PARISH WALLS.
IT IS NOT, WE'VE, WE'VE EFFECTIVELY DONE THAT WITHIN CITY PARISH, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
UM, SO FOR THE ATTORNEYS IN THE ROOM, WHOMEVER WANTS TO COME UP AND ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS, UM, AS HI, HI, NEW FACE.
SO, UM, NOT TOO NEW, BUT, OKAY, WELL, NEW FACE WITH REGARD TO THIS ITEM.
SO FOR THE ORDINANCE, UM, ON SECTION TWO, IT SAYS ALL CONTRACTS.
SO WHEN I HEAR THE WORD, ALL MY LAWYER MIND JUST, OOH.
SO CURRENTLY WE HAVE CONTRACTS THAT ARE IN PLACE WHERE THIS IS NOT IN EFFECT.
SO HOW ARE THOSE CONTRACTS IMPACTED? CUZ I KNOW WE HAVE MOVIE VR PROJECTS, WE HAVE SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT SPAN THE COURSE OF 10 YEARS PLUS OF TIME.
SO IF A CONTRACT HAS CURRENTLY BEEN AWARDED, HOW DOES, HOW IS THAT AFFECTED AND IMPACTED? UH, THAT'S GONNA BE, THAT, THAT'S GONNA BE ADDRESSED IN SECTION SEVEN.
WHICH TALKS ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS, EXCUSE ME.
I THINK BELIEVE IT'S SIX AND SEVEN, WHICH, OH, WAIT, HOLD ON.
SEVEN TALKS ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS, UH, 180 DAYS FOLLOWING ADOPTION.
AND IT, IT SAYS, UNLESS THIS ORDINANCE SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY AGREEMENTS EXECUTED BEFORE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ORDINANCE.
SO IF A CURRENT CONTRACT IS IN PLACE, UH, IT, WE'RE NOT GONNA GO BACK, BACK AND ADD TERMS AND CONDITIONS TO THOSE CONTRACTS.
BUT MOVING FORWARD FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE, THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS WILL BE IN THOSE CONTRACTS.
AND SO, UM, MY NEXT PIECE IS WITH REGARD TO, UM, WHAT HA AND THIS MAY BE PURCHASING DIRECTOR, BUT PLEASE STAY CLOSE BY.
UM, SO MR. NARCIS, IF WE ARE, UM, IF WE HAVE CONTRACT, IF WE HAVE A BID THAT GOES OUT, SO I'LL USE AN EXAMPLE, I THINK IT WAS AMAZON FULFILLMENT CENTER.
WHENEVER THEY CAME IN, THERE WAS A PUSH TO USE DBS FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE POSSIBLY COULD WITH THE AMAZON FULFILLMENT CENTER.
UM, SOMEONE MADE A COMMENT, UM, DURING THAT PROJECT THAT WE COULDN'T POSSIBLY DO THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS A STEEL FABRICATOR, UM, IN ANOTHER STATE THAT COULD NOT, UM, PROVIDE WASN'T A D V E AND THOSE SERVICES COULD NOT BE PROVIDED, UM, BY ANYBODY ELSE.
SO WE HAD TO USE THAT FABRICATOR TO DO THAT PARTICULAR JOB AT THE AMAZON PLACE.
SO IF WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS CONTRACT THAT SAYS ALL CONTRACTS, AND WE HAVE A JOB THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BY THIS OUTSIDE SOURCE WITHIN ANOTHER STATE, AND THEY DON'T CURRENTLY FOLLOW THESE PRACTICES, DOES THAT PROHIBIT US FROM CONTRACTING WITH THEM IN THE FUTURE? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
UM, BASED ON MY KNOWLEDGE, I WOULD SAY NO.
SO WHAT DO WE, OKAY, I APPRECIATE THAT.
SO WHAT DO WE DO IN THAT PARTICULAR SCENARIO? AND IF THE ATTORNEY NEEDS TO COME BACK, COME ON FORWARD.
UH, LET ME DEFER THAT TO MIKE.
SO THE, THIS, THIS ORDINANCE WILL ONLY APPLY TO ANY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE BEING HIRED TO PERFORM THE SERVICES UNDER THOSE PARTICULAR CONTRACTS.
AND SO, YES, UH, AS, UH, ONE OF THE GENTLEMEN SAID BEFORE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS SWEEPING ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN DIFFERENT COUNTIES AND DIFFERENT, UH, UH, MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS.
AND SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD TO BE ADDRESSED.
IT WOULD BE WITHIN THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE CONTRACT.
THAT'S SAYING THAT THEY WILL ABIDE BY THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE.
SO MAYBE NOT FOR THEIR ENTIRE EMPLOYMENT BODY, BUT ANYONE THAT THEY HIRE TO WORK WITH THE, ON THIS PARTICULAR, ON THAT PARTICULAR CONTRACTOR
[01:30:01]
OR AGREEMENT WOULD HAVE TO BE VETTED UNDER A CERTAIN APPLICATION PROCESS WHEREIN THEY, THEY SIMPLY DON'T ASK THEM THEIR CRIMINAL BACKGROUND BEFORE THE OFFER OF CONDITIONAL OF EMPLOYMENT.IS THERE LANGUAGE THAT SOMEONE ELSE HAS PROVIDED IN A SIMILAR ORDINANCE THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY PROTECT US IF THAT PARTICULAR SCENARIO CAME UP? UM, CAN IT BE TWEAKED TO WHERE OR COULD WE MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO WHERE, UM, THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE COVERED? UM, WE WOULD'VE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND SEE, BUT, UH, I BELIEVE IT SAYS, I'M TRYING TO LOOK AND SEE.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY IN THE ORDINANCE, THOSE EX EXACT VERBIAGE THAT, THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING.
BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT MAYBE WE COULD WORK INTO THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OF THE ENFORCEMENT OF IT, WHICH IS NOT, WHICH WOULD NOT BE, WE DON'T DETAIL EVERYTHING OUT IN AN ORDINANCE THAT THERE ARE JUST AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OR OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE RULES OUT THERE.
SO PERHAPS THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN WORK INTO AS WELL AS THE ACTUAL CONTRACT LANGUAGE.
AND THAT'S, AND THAT, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE ASK FOR THE, THAT THAT WE ALL AGREE TO 180 DAYS SO WE CAN, THIS IS GONNA BE A GROWING, YOU KNOW, UH, A GROWING PROCESS.
CUZ THERE'S A LOT OF CONTRACTS, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT AGREEMENTS.
UM, SO WE'LL THAT'S MORE ALIGNED PROBABLY THE ENFORCEMENT AND THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.
THE OTHER QUESTION THAT I HAVE, UM, IT COMES WITH THE, THE, THE MOST RECENT CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE APPROVED THROUGH THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT THROUGH THAT WE'VE ALL VOTED ON.
AND THAT WAS, UM, I'LL THROW OUT A FEW NAMES.
JACOBS VIOLIA, UM, REPUBLIC WASTE MANAGEMENT.
WE HAVE THESE LARGE COMPANIES COMING IN AND ASKING FOR SERVICES WITH BATON ROUGE, BUT MUCH LIKE REPUBLIC, THERE WERE NO OTHER VALID BIDDERS.
ARE WE, ARE WE LIMITING OUR POOL OF CONTRACTORS OR PEOPLE THAT CAN CONTRACT WITH THE CITY BY EXPANDING, BY PUTTING THESE PROVISIONS ON THERE? UM, BECAUSE I KNOW, I KNOW, AND I CAN TELL YOU, I KNOW ALL OF THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT SIT HERE TODAY HAVE HAD THE UGLY COMMENTARY THAT, UH, WITH THE MOST RECENT TRASH CONTRACT ABOUT PRICES GOING UP AND WHY DIDN'T WE GET OTHER BIDS FROM OTHER PEOPLE? AND THEN FOLKS WANNA LOOK AT OUR CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS AND THEY SAY, OH, REPUBLIC OWNS THE COUNCIL.
AND IT GOES, IT GOES FAR EXTENSIVELY INTO THOSE TYPES OF COMMENTS.
BUT THE REALITY OF IT IS, IS WE DON'T HAVE FOLKS MAKING BIDS ON THOSE CONTRACTS.
SO ARE WE LIMITING OUR SCOPE EVEN FURTHER BY PUTTING THIS, IS IT PUTTING THESE, UM, THESE SPECIFICATIONS IN PLACE? I, I DON'T BELIEVE WE ARE BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, LIKE I SAID, THERE'S, THERE'S ACTUALLY A STATE LAW WHICH KIND OF COINCIDES WITH THIS IS NOT, YOU KNOW, NOT THIS, BUT IT'S SOMETHING WHERE THEY, THEY SHOULDN'T USE ARREST CON EVIDENCE OF ARRESTS OR PENDING CHARGES AGAINST THEM IN, IN HIRING.
SO, SO THERE ARE SOME PROVISIONS ALREADY OUT THERE IN STATE LAW THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO HIRE UNDERNEATH.
UH, AND IN, IN, IN, IN THAT INSTANCE, WITHOUT KNOWING EVERYBODY'S HIRING PRACTICE, IT'S NOT A FAIR QUESTION TO ANSWER BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW, BUT THEY, BUT WE WANT TO EDUCATE.
THEY WILL KNOW GOING INTO THIS, THAT, THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPELLED OUT JUST LIKE OUR MANY OTHER, WE HAVE O OTHER PROVISIONS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW, UH, WHETHER IT BE ETHICS TRAINING OR CYBERSECURITY TRAINING, THAT THESE EMPLOYEES KNOW WE'RE GONNA TELL 'EM THAT THEY HAVE TO DO THIS.
THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO CERTIFY TO US THAT THEY DO, I, I'M NOT GONNA BE LOOKING IN THEIR WIN.
WE CAN'T BE LOOKING IN THEIR WINDOWS ON EVERY SINGLE CONTRACT.
AND IF A COMPLAINT ARISES, WE'LL, WE'LL ADDRESS IT THROUGH THE DEFICIENCY PROCESS.
I'M RUNNING OUTTA TIME REAL QUICK, BUT CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THE STATE LAW CURRENTLY SAYS AND HOW IS THIS A MIRROR IMAGE OF WHAT STATE LAW IS? HOW DOES NO, IT'S NOT A MIRROR IMAGE.
SO IF IT'S NOT, HOW IS IT DIFFERENT AND WHY? UH, THE STATE LAW ACTUALLY CALLS FOR, IT'S, UM, IT'S IN TITLE 23.
THIS IS ABOUT THE CRIMINAL HISTORY AND HIRING DECISIONS.
AND IT SAYS, UNLESS OTHERWISE, PROVIDED BY LAW, WHEN MAKING A HIRING DECISION, EMPLOYER SHALL NOT REQUEST OR CONSIDER AN ARREST RECORD OR CHARGE THAT THAT DID NOT RESULT IN A CONVICTION IF SUCH INFORMATION IS RECEIVED IN THE COURSE OF A BACKGROUND CHECK.
SO THIS ISN'T, THIS IS JUST KIND OF, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S PULLING FROM THAT THE, THE, THE, THE SPIRIT OF THAT LAW TO DO SO.
AND WE'RE JUST ASKING, THIS ORDINANCE IS ASKING THAT IF YOU WANT TO CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF PARISH, YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE APPLICATIONS, CONDUCT AN INTERVIEW, OFFER CONDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT, OFFER CONDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT, AND THEN YOU CAN LOOK INTO THE CRIMINAL HISTORY AND THEN DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANNA FINALIZE THAT CONDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT.
AND THEN FINALLY, MY LAST QUESTION, I BELIEVE IS WITH REGARD TO ENFORCEMENT.
CAN YOU TELL ME HOW IT WILL BE ENFORCED? WHO WILL BE ENFOR ENFORCING THIS OF COURSE, AND HOW DOES THAT WORK? UM, WITH, I KNOW WHAT THE ORDINANCE SAYS, BUT I NEED THE PUBLIC TO KNOW YEAH.
[01:35:01]
SOMEONE IS NOT PROPERLY FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES OR WHATEVER, JUST ALL THE INSTANCES.THE, THE ENFORCEMENT WILL COME THROUGH THE, THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT.
THEY, IF, IF THERE IS AN ISSUE OF, OF A COMPLAINT THAT COMES IN, THEY'LL BE A DEDICATED EMAIL OR A DEDICATED INDIVIDUAL TO TAKE THE CALL TO DO SO.
UH, WE ASK FOR THE, UH, IT TO BE IN WRITING AND THEN THIS, THE CITY PARISH WILL THEN CONTACT THE EMPLOYER AND ADDRESS IT.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE WEED OUT ANY SORT OF LEGITIMATE COMPLAINTS VERSUS DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEES WHO MAY JUST BE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, NOT, NOT HAPPY THAT THEY RECEIVE THE JOB.
WE'RE DE OR, OR GOT TURNED DOWN FOR A JOB.
UH, IT IS A VERY SENSITIVE TOPIC, SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ALL PARTIES ARE HEARD.
UM, AND THEN AT THAT POINT, IT'D BE JUST LIKE ENFORCING ANY OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS UNDER A CONTRACT.
IF IT REQUIRES A NOTICE DE DEFICIENCY THAT CAN'T BE CURED, THEN THERE'S GROUNDS TO EITHER SUSPEND THE WORK OR TERMINATE THE CONTRACT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR ANSWERS.
IT'S, IT'S BEEN REALLY NICE HAVING THEM HERE.
UM, COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED TO CLEAR UP.
AND, UH, SO WHEN SHE ASKED SOME QUESTIONS, IT STARTED TO BE A LITTLE THOUGHT PROVOKING FOR ME THAT SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS, TO ME I NEED CLARITY CUZ IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE AS IT RELATED TO THE QUESTION, BUT ALSO THE RESPONSE.
AND, AND WHAT THAT ONE IS, IS IF SOMEBODY'S ALREADY DOING BUSINESS WITH US AND THESE PEOPLE ARE ALREADY HIRED, THEN IT'S AN IRRELEVANT CONVERSATION, CORRECT? I BELIEVE SO, YES.
SO IT'S ONLY PERTAINING TO NEW HIRES.
SO IF WE WANT TO CONTRACT WITH SOMEBODY OUTTA STATE THAT ONLY MAKES STEEL AND THEY ALREADY HAVE THE MACHINES AND THE EMPLOYEES, THEN IT'S A MUTE POINT, CORRECT? IT COULD BE, YES, SIR.
I, I, I THINK OF A SCENARIO, MAYBE THERE COULD BE A SCENARIO WHERE AN ONGOING CONTRACT IS OCCURRING AND THEN THEY NEED TO HIRE A SUB OR ANOTH SOMEBODY ELSE FOR A PARTICULAR PART OF THAT JOB OFF TOP AHEAD, TOP OF MIND.
MAYBE A SCENARIO WHERE IT COULD APPLY.
UM, BUT I GUESS WOULDN'T WITH REGARDS TO THIS, CUZ THAT CONTRACT WAS ALREADY ISSUED.
BUT, UM, SO LAST MEETING, MR. NARCIS, YOU, YOU SAID YOU NEED ABOUT 30 DAYS TO COME UP WITH THE PROCEDURES.
I KNOW WE ONLY GAVE YOU TWO WEEKS.
UM, AND, AND I TALKED WITH MS. CAITLIN, AND I REALIZE IT'S NOT IN HERE, BUT PART OF THE DISCUSSION WAS THAT'S PART OF WHAT THE 180 DAYS IS FOR.
UM, MY CONCERN WITH THAT IS I WANTED THE PROCEDURES IN THIS BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER YOUR PROCEDURES BEYOND THIS.
AND, AND THAT'S, IT'S NOT SAYING THAT, UH, I WON'T AGREE WITH IT OR, BUT IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A, IT'S A VERIFIABLE THING RIGHT NOW.
IF IT WAS IN THIS, I COULD KNOW BECAUSE WHAT I DON'T WANT TO OCCUR IS SOMETHING, UM, IT'S A DIFFERENT SCENARIO.
BUT WHAT WE SAW WITH THE ROTOR REHABILITATION JUST A, A FEW WEEKS BACK WHERE WE HAD TO DEFER AND IT KEPT GETTING PUSHED BECAUSE THERE WAS KIND OF A CONFLICT AND, AND IT WAS, IT WAS UP IN THE AIR ON WHAT TO DO.
AND I THINK WHEN WE ALL ULTIMATELY DECIDED THIS NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD, WE CAN'T STOP THE PROGRESS OF AWARDING A CONTRACT AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THE ROAD REHABILITATION.
AND SO, UM, THE MAIN REASON I, I WANTED TO SEE THAT IN HERE IS TO KNOW THE PROCEDURES SPECIFICALLY ON WHEN A COMPLAINT IS FILED, WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE MOVE FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING A SCENARIO WHERE IT STOPS AWARDING OF A CONTRACT OR IT STOPS, UM, PAYMENT WITHIN A CONTRACT OR ANYTHING THAT WOULD STOP THE PROGRESS OF WHATEVER THE CONTRACT IS TRYING TO DO.
UM, AND SO HAS THAT, DID Y'ALL DISCUSS, AND I THOUGHT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN TWO WEEKS AGO.
DID THAT, WHO DETERMINED THAT IT WASN'T, WE'RE JUST NOT GONNA WORRY ABOUT THAT PART AND, AND, AND DEAL WITH IT LATER? SO SINCE TWO WEEKS I'VE MET WITH MY TEAM AND I'VE MET WITH OUR AGENCIES.
I MET WITH, YOU KNOW, OUR CITY PARISH ATTORNEYS.
UH, WE PUT A PROCESS, I WROTE AN SOP, UH, JUST LIKE MIKE JUST ALLUDED EARLIER, WHERE, HOW WE'RE GONNA VET THE PROCESS AND HOW WE'RE GONNA KEEP THE INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL, LOG TRAINING, IMPLEMENTATION.
AND I HAVE SOMETHING WRITTEN OUT IN THAT WITHIN THE TWO WEEKS.
UH, SO MIKE, THIS WITH, UH, REGARD TO STATE LAW, AND I THINK FEDERAL LAW KIND OF TOUCHES THIS TOO, CORRECT? A LITTLE BIT, YES, SIR.
SO IF THERE'S A COMPLAINT AND IT'S VALID, WOULD, UH, YOU KNOW, SCENARIO WHERE SOMEBODY, UM, EITHER ASKED ABOUT IT BEFOREHAND, THEY SAID, HEY, NO, THEY ASKED ME IN THE INTERVIEW AND THERE WAS NO CONDITIONAL OFFER, SO IT WAS TOO SOON.
THAT KIND OF SCENARIO WOULD BE PROBLEMATIC, OR
[01:40:02]
THEY WERE DENIED AFTER THE BACKGROUND CHECK CAUSE OF THAT, OR THEY FEEL LIKE IT WAS BECAUSE OF THAT AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THE REASON FOR INCARCERATION DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE JOB ACCORDING TO THEM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE THE COMPLAINT'S COMING FROM.UM, WOULD FEDERAL OR STATE LAW APPLY IN THAT SITUATION FOR THEM? IS THAT HOW IT READS? UH, WELL, THE, THE WAY IT READ FOR THEM TO HAVE ACTION, I'M SORRY.
SO UNDER STATE LAW, THERE, THERE'S A CAUSE OF ACTION FOR SOMETHING ALONG THESE LINES.
IN, IN, IN DOING SO, FEDERAL WOULD, WOULD BE DEPEND ON IF THE FEDERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS GENERATE IN THAT CON GENERATE THE, UH, OPERATION OF THAT CONTRACT.
SO THE, IF THEY FEEL, IF THEY HAVE A CAUSE OF ACTION, THEY WOULD'VE TO CONSULT WITH SOMEBODY AND SEE WHAT WOULD BE DONE.
THERE'LL BE INVESTIGATION DONE ON THEIR PART OR BY THEIR ATTORNEYS OR WHOMEVER TO DETERMINE THERE'S A VALID CAUSE OF ACTION IN, IN DOING SO.
LIKE FOR INSTANCE, IF SOMEONE COMPLAINS THAT THE TRASH CANS AREN'T BEING CLEANED OUT IN, IN THE, IN THE LIBRARY, THEY WOULD CONTACT PURCHASING AND FILE A COMPLAINT AND OR PURCHASING OR THE DIRECTOR OR THE MANAGER WOULD THEN DO SO, AND THEN WE WOULD LOOK IN TO SEE IF IT CAN BE REMEDIED.
MAYBE IT HAPPENED, MAYBE IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
MAYBE IT'S A, A, A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM.
MAYBE IT ISN'T, MAYBE IT'S A ONE TIME OR MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING THAT JUST SOMEBODY WAS MAD AND THOUGHT SOMETHING HAPPENED, BUT, BUT DIDN'T MM-HMM.
WITH THE, THE, THE CONTRACTOR.
WE'RE NOT GETTING INTO THE HUMAN RESOURCES ASPECT OF IT WITH THEM, DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO DETERMINE IF THEY HAVE A VALID CAUSE.
BUT WITH REGARDS TO THIS, THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS WITH REGARDS TO THIS, WHAT WHAT MATTERS IS THAT THEY'RE, THEY ARE GIVING THESE, THESE INDIVIDUALS AN OPPORTUNITY AFTER, BEFORE A CONDITIONAL OFF, EXCUSE ME, AFTER A CONDITIONAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT IS MADE, IT IS TO GET THEM THROUGH THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THOUGH, THE, THE, IF THERE IS A COMPLAINT THAT OCCURS MM-HMM.
SO BASICALLY THEY SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE GONNA GO A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, SOMEBODY ELSE, RIGHT? MAYBE THIS IS THE NUMBER TWO PERSON.
MAYBE THEY GAVE TWO CONDITIONAL OFFERS THAT WOULD NOT VIOLATE THIS ORDERS.
UH, NOW LAST TIME IT WAS SAID THAT AT I KEPT HEARING IT DEPENDS ON THE REASON IT SAYS BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE IF, IF, IF IT WAS JUST THE FACT THAT THEY WERE INCARCERATED AND NOT THAT IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE JOB.
SO HOW DOES THAT WORK? WELL, IN, IN, IN, IN THIS INSTANCE, IF SOMEONE WERE TO RUN A BACKGROUND CHECK AFTER A CONDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT AND A CONVICTION CAME UP, THEY ARE NOT COMFORTABLE.
NOTHING PROHIBITS THAT, THAT PERSON FROM WITHDRAWING THAT CONDITIONAL OFF EMPLOYMENT, REGARDLESS OF THE REASONING AND INCARCERATION, WHETHER IT HAS ANYTHING YES.
DON'T GET INVOLVED TO DO WITH THE JOB.
DOES STATE LAW SAY DIFFERENTLY? STATE LAW DEALS WITH, UH, ARRESTS RECORDS THAT DO NOT RESULT IN A CONVICTION? OKAY.
HOW ABOUT FEDERAL LAW? FEDERAL LAW, I DON'T HAVE THAT.
QUOING, I HAD TO LOOK INTO THAT AS WELL TOO, BECAUSE YOU DEALING, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING, THE REASON WE HAVE THE CONDITIONAL OFFER, UH, IN VERBIAGE IN HERE WAS BECAUSE THAT WAS TO COMPLY WITH WHICH STATE LAW AND FEDERAL LAW READ.
BECAUSE MY THOUGHT WAS THIS WOULD ACTUALLY SERVE BETTER IN THE INTERVIEW PROCESS RATHER THAN AFTERWARDS.
AND I'LL GIVE YOU MY REASONING ON THAT.
I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE INTERVIEWING, YOU'RE, YOU'RE SELLING YOURSELF FOR A POSITION YOU'RE TRYING TO SELL YOURSELF.
AND SO NOW PERSONALLY, IF I'M INTERVIEWING SOMEONE AND I SEE A GAP, YOU KNOW, IN EMPLOYMENT, I'M GONNA ASK ABOUT THAT ANYWAY.
BUT AT THAT POINT, THAT'S TO ME WHEN I THINK IT'S BEST TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.
UM, SO YOU, MR. MO'S, UH, EXAMPLE, YOU GOT A HUNDRED APPLICATIONS, YOU END UP INTERVIEWING 10.
SO YOU'VE ALREADY NARROWED, YOU ALREADY LIKED SOMETHING ABOUT THOSE 10.
SO IF YOU'RE SITTING IN, IF, IF I'M THE PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL AND I'M SITTING IN THAT INTERVIEW, THAT'S THE POINT IN TIME WHEN I WANT TO SAY, HEY, LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.
THIS IS, LET ME TELL YOU WHY IT'S NOT GONNA HAVE ANY BEARING ON MY PERFORMANCE TO, TO FULFILL THE DUTIES THAT YOU'RE HIRING BEFORE.
AND I THOUGHT THAT WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER PLACED, BUT I WAS TOLD IT HAD TO BE AT CONDITIONAL OFFER BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN STATE OR FEDERAL LAW STATED.
IS THAT NOT ACCURATE? WELL, I, I THINK WHAT IT'S BEING DONE IS THAT IT'S, IT, WE, WE PUT IT IN THE SENSE OF THE CONDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT.
I THINK ELENA MAY HAVE TO SPEAK TO THIS ONE A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN, THAN ME ON THAT ONE.
BUT THE, THE CONDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT, A ASPECT OF IT IS THAT IT WAS TO MAKE THEM, IT WAS TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO GET TO THAT JOB.
THEY CAN STILL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT, WELL LOOK, LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU WHAT HAPPENED.
I WAS A KID, OR I WAS, I DID SOMETHING STUPID MM-HMM.
BUT, BUT, BUT I RESOLVED THAT THAT CONVERSATION CAN STILL TAKE PLACE.
BUT IT'S AFTER THE CONDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT IS, IS IS
[01:45:01]
MADE, AND IF THE EMPLOYEE ENTITY INTERVIEWEE VOLUNTARILY SAYS SOMETHING DURING THE INTERVIEW, SURE.THAT THAT SHOULD NOT BE HELD AGAINST THE EMPLOYER AS WELL.
UM, THE ONLY OTHER THING I SAW THAT, UH, AND, AND, AND I SPOKE WITH, I MENTIONED THIS TO SHAUNA AND I TOLD MS. CAITLIN ABOUT IT AS WELL, IS HOW MANY EXEMPTIONS WE HAVE IN SECTION SIX FOR, YOU KNOW, A LOT WAS SAID LAST TIME ABOUT THE, THEY MAY HAVE COMMITTED A CRIME THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE JOB.
AND SO, AND I THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY PLAUSIBLE.
UM, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CONTRACTORS THROUGH THESE DEPARTMENTS, IT MAY BE SOMEBODY WHO WAS PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED THAT WOULD FIT WELL WITH THAT, BUT, AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT THAT JOB IS.
SO FOR SOME REASON WE WANT TO APPLY THIS TO, UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DO CONTRACTS, BUT WE'VE EXEMPTED QUITE A FEW DEPARTMENTS HERE.
UM, I BELIEVE JUST BECAUSE THERE WAS A COMPROMISE AND THERE WERE SOME DEPARTMENTS WHO SAID, WE DON'T WANT TO COMPLY.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF, I THINK THAT'S DISINGENUOUS AND WE SHOULD PROBABLY EAT OUR OWN COOKING.
WELL, DID THESE DEPARTMENTS IN SECTION SIX MIMIC THE FAIR CHANCE HIRING OF THE CITY PARISH? MM-HMM.
BUT THIS IS TALKING ABOUT CONTRACT.
BUT SO, SO WE, WE, WE PULLED THOSE OVER BECAUSE OF THE, THE, THE PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECT OF IT.
AND SO THOSE MIMIC WHAT, WHAT THEY ARE, UH, VOCE WAS ADDED BECAUSE WE, WE, WE SAW THAT, UH, DONE IN NEW ORLEANS AND A LOT OF THIS, THIS KIND OF SECTION MIMICS WHAT WHAT THE ORDINANCE IN NEW ORLEANS HAD HAD IS AS WELL, UH, SIMILAR TO DEPARTMENTS IN, IN DOING SO.
AND THEN FINANCE WAS ADDED AT, AT, AT THEIR REQUEST.
I MEAN THAT, THAT FINANCE WAS THE ONE THAT, THAT REALLY STRUCK OUT TO ME.
CUZ YOU KNOW, JUST WHY, OR, OR, OR, YOU KNOW, IF I, IF I HAD, IF I WAS, UH, IF I HAD A MONEY, MONEY LAUNDERING ISSUE AND, YOU KNOW, DOESN'T MEAN I CAN'T BE A GOOD CONTRACTOR FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO DO WORK ON A, ON, ON A BUILDING.
SO ANYWAY, THAT'S ALL MY TIME, I THINK.
THANK YOU COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
I I WANNA JOIN MY COLLEAGUES IN THANKING THOSE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT CAME OUT AND SPOKE TONIGHT.
THERE WAS SOME REALLY COMPELLING STORIES THAT WERE GIVEN.
UM, AND I JUST WANNA COMMEND YOU GUYS FOR COMING OUT AND, AND SPEAKING YOUR PIECE.
UM, MY ISSUE WITH THE ORDINANCE IS NOT SO MUCH THE NUANCE OR THE PARTICULARS OF, OF ALL OF THE, THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF IT.
MINE IS MORE SO WITH THE CONCEPT, RIGHT? SO, UM, YOU KNOW, INCREASINGLY CITY PARISH LOOKS TO, UH, THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR EXPERTISE.
UH, WE LOOK TO THEM FOR THEIR FLEXIBILITY AND THE HIRING PROCESS TO GET US FOLKS TO STAFF UP QUICKLY.
UH, WE LOOK TO THEM FOR A NUMBER OF THINGS TO MAKE US MORE EFFICIENT.
UH, AND THIS IS AN INSTANCE WHERE I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE STARTING TO KIND OF MICROMANAGE THEIR PROCESS.
UH, I WILL COMMEND ANY BUSINESS THAT ON THEIR OWN WOULD COMPLY WITH THIS TYPE OF, UH, POLICIES AND PROCEDURE IN THEIR OWN HIRING.
I PERSONALLY HAVE WRITTEN LETTERS, UH, FOR, FOR FOLKS THAT HAVE COMMITTED CRIMES TO GET STATE BOARD LICENSING FOR DIFFERENT PROFESSIONS AND THAT SORT OF THING.
UH, THERE CERTAINLY IS A GROWING, UH, WAVE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHERE WE ARE LOOKING TO FORMALLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE, UH, TO FILL SOME OF THESE POSITIONS.
UH, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT HAS TO BE A MANDATE FROM CITY PARISH.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO GO IN AND TELL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE PUT IN THEIR CAPITAL AT RISK, UH, ON HOW TO, HOW TO MANAGE THEIR BUSINESS.
SO FOR THAT, I'LL BE OPPOSING THE ITEM.
MIKE, IF YOU COME BACK UP, PLEASE.
SO, UH, THE POINT WAS MADE EARLIER, UH, OR THE, UH, QUESTION WAS MADE EARLIER ABOUT THE CONCERN, WHICH I THINK IS A GOOD CONCERN ABOUT LIMITING THE POOL OF, UH, POTENTIAL VENDORS TO OFFER A CERTAIN SERVICE, UM, IN YOUR ROLE FOR QUITE SOME TIME AT THE AIRPORT AND, AND KNOWING THE ENDEAVORS THERE.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, UH, THE AIRPORT OFFERS SOME OF THE MOST SOPHISTICATED, UH, PROCUREMENT PROCESSES AND SERVICES THROUGHOUT CITY PARIS GOVERNMENT.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL MANDATES, THE STIPULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS AS IT RELATES TO INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY ARE MUCH MORE STRENUOUS THAN ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT.
CAN YOU KIND OF SPEAK THROUGH THAT AND TALK ABOUT HOW IT HAS NOT AFFECTED OUR ABILITY TO PROCURE OR IDENTIFY VENDORS TO DO SOME OF THE SPECIFIC SERVICES THAT, THAT ARE OFFERED OR NEEDED TO BE BE DONE AT THE AIRPORT? YEAH.
SO, UH, IN, IN AIRPORT PROCUREMENT, WE HAVE PROVISIONS IN THERE THAT DETAIL THE TSA REQUIREMENTS ABOUT SECURITY AND PEOPLE WHO CAN AND CAN'T WORK ON THE AIRFIELD.
WE ALSO HAVE, I KNOW DB WAS TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST DB PROGRAM AS
[01:50:01]
WELL TOO.UM, RARELY DO WE HAVE, UH, CONTRACTS THAT DO NOT HAVE MULTIPLE BIDDERS, UM, ON THEM, ESPECIALLY THE SERVICE TYPES OF CONTRACTS.
I I, I THINK THE JANITORIAL HAD TO, AT ONE POINT IN TIME, WE HAD 13 BIDDERS THAT WENT ON IT.
UM, IT'S WHEN YOU GET, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WE HAVE HAD SOLD BIDDERS, BUT IT, OR ONE OR TWO BIDDERS.
BUT IT'S BECAUSE IF IT WAS A SPECIALIZED ITEM, YOU KNOW, LIKE WHEN YOU'RE BIDDING OUT THE MOST RECENT ONE JET BRIDGES, THERE'S ONLY TWO COMPANIES IN THE COUNTRY THAT THAT MAKE THEM.
SO YOU, YOU'RE ONLY GONNA HAVE TWO PEOPLE THAT, THAT DO THAT.
SO, UM, IN, IN THAT INSTANCE, UH, BUT, BUT THESE, THE, THESE TYPES OF PROVISIONS ABOUT, UM, SECURITY OR DBE OR, UM, INSURANCE OR INDEMNITY AND ALL THOSE THINGS ARE IN THERE AND WE HAVE, WE, THE AIRPORT HAS NOT EXPERIENCED A, UM, A LACK OF BID, A LACK OF BIDDERS.
SUGGESTION IS GONNA JUST PLAY A VIDEO.
APRIL IS DESIGNATED A SECOND CHANCE MONTH, AN OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE BARRIERS FACED BY FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS.
IN RESPONSE, THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS, LOUISIANA WORKFORCE COMMISSION AND SEVERAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS HAVE LAUNCHED THE RETURN FOR GOOD CAMPAIGN TO STOP FURTHER PUNISHING MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE PAID THEIR DEBT TO SOCIETY.
THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS RELEASES ABOUT 16,000 INDIVIDUALS EACH YEAR WHO RETURN TO THEIR FAMILIES AND TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.
OFTEN INDUSTRY CERTIFIED TO WORK IN MANY DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONS, FROM CONSTRUCTION TO WELDING, THE CULINARY ARTS, AUTOMOTIVE, HORTICULTURE, AND MANY MORE.
THEY CAN BE INCREDIBLE EMPLOYEES.
EMPLOYMENT IS ESSENTIAL TO REDUCING CRIME.
AND THE DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN EXTENSIVE MEASURES TO ENSURE THEIR SUCCESS THROUGH EDUCATION, SKILL DEVELOPMENT, EMPLOYMENT PREPARATION PROGRAMS, AND PRE-RELEASE PLANNING SUPPORT THESE RETURNING CITIZENS CAN BE A POWERFUL NEW TOOL IN YOUR WORKFORCE TOOLBOX.
LEARN MORE AT THE WEBSITE BELOW.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS THE OTHER VIDEO SHOWS.
SO, UM, IF ANYONE SAW THE BATON ROUGE BUSINESS REPORT, I'M TRYING TO THINK, IT'S ALL I DELETE SO MUCH, BUT THERE WAS A, A REPORT AGAIN TODAY IN THE BATON ROUGE BUSINESS REPORT, AND IT TALKED ABOUT, UM, THE CONDITIONS BY WHICH SMALL BUSINESS TALK, SAY HOW, FEEL ABOUT THEIR ABILITY TO DO WELL.
AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON WAS NOT HAVING SKILL WORKERS HERE, UH, ON AN AVERAGE ABOUT 300,000 LOUISIANANS BECAUSE LOUISIANANS ARE RELEASED FROM THE PRISON CENTER SYSTEM.
AS YOU KNOW, MANY OF US, INCLUDING EMPLOYEE BR, HAVE CONTRACTS WHERE WE MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A RE-ENTRY AND A TRANSITIONAL PROGRAM.
MANY OF THE, UM, PERSONS THAT ARE JUSTICE INVOLVED, THEY DON'T, AREN'T JUST, THEY ARE ACTUALLY CERTIFIED EDUCATED TO DO THE WORK.
UM, THE ONLY WAY THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP OUR LABEL FOUR STRONG IS THAT WE HAVE AN INCLUSION, UM, PROCESS.
UM, I WANTED TO TALK TO, UM, SHARON MANN, I KNOW YOU WASN'T EXPECTING THIS
I'M, IT'S, IT'S NOT HARD
AND, AND THAT WAS, I MEAN, THAT WAS THE ISSUE NOT ONLY WITH YOU ALL, BUT THROUGHOUT.
AND I REMEMBER YOU, UM, YOU AND I DISCUSSING HAD YOU LOOKED INTO, UH, RE-ENTRY AND AT THE TIME AS A NATIONAL COMPANY, UM, THAT WASN'T SOMETHING YOU HAD DISCUSSED, BUT YOU DID HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE.
AND I KNOW THERE'S NO MATTER WHAT, THERE'S A, A TURNOVER, YOU KNOW, AND DATA SHOWS WHETHER SOMEONE IS INCAR, UM, JUST AS INVOLVED OR NOT DEPENDING ON THE INDUSTRY, THE RATE OF, UM, OF TURNOVER IS THE EXACT SAME.
SO IF YOU WOULD JUST KIND OF SHARE WHAT YOUR EXPERIENCE WERE, HOW YOU ALL, UH, WORKED IT, OF COURSE IT WAS VOLUNTARY AND OF COURSE NOW I WOULDN'T, BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT, UM, TO HEAR WHAT YOUR EXPERIENCE UPON OPENING YOUR HIRING PROCEDURES TO
[01:55:01]
JUST AS INVOLVED CITIZENS.WE HAD GONE THROUGH DURING COVID, YOU KNOW, UM, A HIGHER TURNOVER RATE, ESPECIALLY NOT ONLY IN THE DRIVING WORKFORCE, BUT IN THE TECHNICIAN WORKFORCE AND IN THE LABOR WORKFORCE WITH THE HELPERS ON THE BACK OF THE TRUCK.
AND, UM, JUST TRYING TO REACH OUT AND GO LOOKING AND BROADER AND NOT JUST FEMALE WORKFORCE, EVERYTHING.
UH, TO YOUR POINT, WE DISCUSSED IT AND AS A RESULT WE WENT IN AND WE LOOKED AT GOING AND UH, LOOKING AT JUST SCHOOLS AND PEOPLE BRINGING PEOPLE BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE.
AND IT WAS A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM FOR US.
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE STILL LOOKING INTO THAT PROGRAM WHERE PART-TIME WORKERS AND RETIRED WORKERS WHO BRINGING THEM BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE AND ALLOWING THEM TO WORK, YOU KNOW, 25 TO 30 HOURS A WEEK, A WEEK BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE SOME EXTRA WORK, SOME EXTRA MONEY.
AND JUST TRYING TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX AND TRYING TO, UH, GIVE PEOPLE BETTER WAGES AND UH, EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS.
SO, UM, I KNOW LONG BEFORE THIS WAS AN ISSUE, BAND INBOX, MOST INCARCERATED PERSONS CAME OUT, THEY WERE WELCOMED IN THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY.
SO IF THERE'S A, UM, RE-ENTRY PERSON AND THEY HAVE ALL THE CERTIFICATIONS AS IT RELATES TO CDLS AND WHATEVER, AND THE TRUCKING WOOD REPUBLIC SERVICES, UM, HAVE A PROBLEM.
AND HOW DO YOU ALL, I MEAN, ARE YOU, THIS IS NOT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY OPEN.
IT'S AGAIN, OPENING THE OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE EMPLOYER, IT'S ABOUT OPENING TO ANOTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE.
BUT WOULD, HOW WOULD THAT PLAY SPEAKING FROM A BUSINESS AND A NATIONAL COMPANY? SO AS A NATIONAL COMPANY, WE, THEY GO, YOU STILL GO THROUGH A BACKGROUND PROCESS, RIGHT.
BUT YES, THEY HAVE BECOME MORE LENIENT WITH IT AND THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT COME THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND WE ALSO GO THROUGH, WE BRING PEOPLE THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND WE HELP THEM TO GET THEIR CDLS TOO.
AND WE ALSO HELP PEOPLE TO GET THEIR, UH, FROM A TECHNICIAN.
WE START THEM OUT AS A LABORER, WE START THEM OUT, THEN WE BRING THEM ON AS A PM TECH, THEN A B A CLASS, B TECH, AND THEN AN A TECH.
AND THEN WE'LL ALSO GET 'EM TO A MASTER TECHNICIAN TOO.
IS JUANITA COEN IN WITH EMPLOYER BR NO.
ANYBODY, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE, THEIR RE RE-ENTRY PROGRAM? NO.
UM, SO EMPLOYEE BR ACTUALLY THROUGH THEIR W I O A, THEY LIST A NUMBER OF, UM, PERSONS THAT THEY HAVE TO REALLY WORK TO GET EMPLOYMENT.
AND THEY INCLUDE NOT ONLY JUSTICE INFORMED VETERANS, WOMEN WHO, UM, ARE FOR NON-TRADITIONAL JOBS.
AND IT'S ONE, OR IT'S LIKE FOUR CATEGORIES.
AND IF WE HERE WITH EMPLOYEE BR HAVE NARROWED OUR SCOPE FOR, UM, MAKING SURE THAT THERE ARE A ROBUST WORKFORCE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE ARE ACTUALLY PAYING FOR THESE TRAININGS, THESE PERSONS WILL RECEIVE UP TO 30 HOURS A WEEK, $15 A HOUR.
AND I THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH.
UM, I JUST SENT EVERYBODY AN EMAIL FROM THE WORKFORCE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY I CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WHERE THEY ARE ACTUALLY HAVING A CAREER FAIR AND, UH, THE PERSON GET SENT HER INFORMATION.
SO THE, UM, THE RE-ENTRY WORKFORCE, WHICH IS ON WOODDALE, UM, THEY HAVE A CAREER RESOURCE COMMUNITY EVENT.
SO IT'S VETERANS JUSTICE AS INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS, YOUNG ADULTS GRADUATING SENIORS, UNEMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS AND INDIVIDUALS EXPLORE EX EXPLORING NEW CAREER OPTIONS AND BASICALLY JUST SAYING THAT WE ARE BEHIND IF WE AREN'T, IF WE DON'T APPROVE THIS.
UM, SOME OF THE CONTRACTORS ARE PELICAN STATE CREDIT UNION.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD THINK BANKING WOULD, WOULD NOT BE INTERESTED IN HIRING, UH, JUSTICE INVOLVED.
BUT PELICAN STATE CREDIT UNION MASTER BACK INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, AMAZON, ALL BRANCHES OF THE US ARMED FORCES FOR ALL OF OUR PEOPLE WHO TALK SO MUCH AND SPEAK SO HIGHLY OF THOSE THAT ARE IN THE, UM, ARMED SERVICES AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, GUESS WHAT? THERE ARE SOME OF THOSE
[02:00:01]
PERSONS ARE IN RE-ENTRY, UM, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF LOUISIANA KIDS CAROUSEL ACADEMY, THAT'S A DAYCARE FOR CHILDREN.WHEN THEY DO THEIR BACKGROUND CHECK, THEN THEY'RE GONNA HIRE PERSONS THAT MAY THAT DO NOT POSE, UM, A CONCERN WORKING WITH CHILDREN, SUN, ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENTATION AND MANY MORE.
UM, 30 EMPLOYERS FROM ALL INDUSTRIES THAT PAY HIGHER END SALARIES, 10 RESOURCE PARTNERS WITH A VARIETY OF PROGRAM AND SERVICES.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN WE ARE SPENDING ALL THIS MONEY AND WHY ARE WE GONNA DO IT? AND THEN SAY CLOSE THE DOOR.
SO, UH, I THINK THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO APPROVE.
THERE MAY HAVE BEEN ONE TO SECOND, BUT I CERTAINLY CONCUR COUNSEL.
CAN I HAVE THE, UH, PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE? MS. CAITLIN, UM, FIRST THINGS FIRST TO THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, PLEASE GIVE ME A, UH, I GUESS I, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE RIGHT AN QUESTION TO ASK, BUT GIMME A DEFINITION OF INTERVIEW VERSUS CONDITIONAL OFFER.
SO, UH, THE BASIC APPLICATION PROCESS FROM THE BASIC INTERVIEW PROCESS OR HIRING PROCESS WOULD BE, I GO APPLY FOR A JOB.
ON A PIECE OF PAPER, TURN IT IN.
AND ON THAT JOB, ON THAT, ON THAT PIECE OF PAPER, THERE WOULD BE NO UNDER THE DOORS UNDERSTOOD THERE, NONE OF THAT THEN THAT, THEN THAT EMPLOYER SITS ME DOWN AND, AND INTERVIEWS ME FOR THE JOB.
I CALL YOU BACK FOR AN INTERVIEW.
AND THEN AT THAT POINT IN TIME, WE, WE DISCUSS PROS AND CONS OF THE JOB, THE JOB DO YOUR TYPICAL IN INTERVIEW STOP AT THAT POINT IN TIME, THE EMPLOYER UNDER THE ORDINANCE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION OF WHETHER OR NOT TO OFFER YOU A CONDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT.
THE JOB IS OFFERED CONDITIONALLY ON YOU PASSING A BACKGROUND CHECK.
OR A PHYSICAL OR DRUG SCREEN OR, OR OR ANYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
NOW CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG AND I APOLOGIZE CUZ I'M DOWN TO THREE MINUTES AND 50 SECONDS, BUT, AND, UH, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I HAVE ASKED SEVERAL, SEVERAL TIMES MM-HMM.
AND I'VE GIVEN EXAMPLES, I'VE WALKED THROUGH THE PROCESS AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD MULTIPLE DIFFERENT WAYS OF WHEN THE POINT THAT IT IS LEGAL, NOT LEGAL OR WHATEVER, OF ASKING IN ANY PARTICULAR WAY IF YOU HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OR IF YOU HAVE A RECORD OR FELONY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND EVERYONE KEEPS TELLING ME, OR A LOT OF PEOPLE, ONCE I KEEP TELLING ME, I CAN ASK DURING THE INTERVIEW PROCESS OR NO, I CAN STATE IT IN THERE.
AND THEN OTHER PEOPLE SAY, NOT TILL YOU MAKE AN ACTUAL OFFER OF A JOB.
NOW WHICH ONE IS IT? WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT SECTION SE IF, IF, IF, IF YOU LOOK AT SECTION ONE, IT SAYS THAT, THAT YOU SHOULD NOT INQUIRE BEFORE THE CONTRACTOR EXTENDS A CONDITIONAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT.
SO WHEN I HAVE TO OFFER, I HAVE TO OFFER THESE PEOPLE A JOB.
BEFORE I CAN DO A BACKGROUND CHECK.
SO I ACTUALLY HAVE TO MAKE A JOB OFFER.
I CAN'T DO ANYTHING IN A JOB INTERVIEW.
WE MAKE THE, WE GET TO THAT POINT AND I OFFER FOUR PEOPLE A JOB.
WHAT IS, I DO NOT HIRE THE PERSON THAT WAS INCAR INCARCERATED.
YOU WOULD NOT VIOLATE THIS ORDINANCE.
I WOULD NOT VIOLATE THIS ORDINANCE.
ANY RECOURSE ON THE BUSINESS OWNER, CITY, PARISH OR ANYTHING ELSE? NOT UNDER THIS ORDINANCE.
THE OTHER THING, WE TALKED EARLIER, MISS CAITLIN, I APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME THAT YOU AND THE OTHER GENTLEMEN, I CANNOT REMEMBER HIS NAME IN CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE HAD, AND I MIGHT GO OVER A LITTLE BIT, I APOLOGIZE, BUT I DO WANT TO TELL Y'ALL I HA I AM WORKING VERY HARD AND I WANT THIS TO PASS.
I'VE SAID IT TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES.
WE SET LAWS AND ORDINANCES EVERY DAY WITH PENALTIES AND FINES IF WE HAVE TO SET THOSE ORDINANCES AND PENALTIES AND FINES OF WHAT THEY GET AND SO ON.
JUST LIKE FROM A STATE LEVEL OR FEDERAL LEVEL OR WHATEVER ELSE, WE EXPECT YOU TO GO TO PRISON, YOU PAY YOUR TIME AND YOU'RE DONE.
AND I'VE, I'VE DONE THIS PROCESS BEFORE.
I'VE WORKED WITH DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND SO ON AND I WANT THIS TO PASS, BUT I WANT THIS TO DEFINITELY NOT BE A LARGE BURDEN ON OUR PRIVATE BUSINESSES, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE DOING PRIVATE CONTRACTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO NAIL DOWN.
ONE LAST THING THAT I HAVE IS YOU ASKED, I ASKED Y'ALL JUST BACK THERE
[02:05:01]
YEAH.YOU MA THIS IS MAINLY FOR DATA.
WE WANT DATA, WE'RE NOT HERE TO SUE EVERYBODY.
AND I, I APPRECIATE Y'ALL TELLING US THAT THERE'S NO RECOURSE AS FAR AS LAWSUITS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT AGAINST AN EMPLOYER OR CITY PARISH.
IN ESSENCE, THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS OFFERS TRANSPARENCY FOR BOTH THE APPLICANT AND ALSO CITY PARISH GOVERNMENT SO THAT THEY CAN PULL AND SEE WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE HIRING PROCESS IF FOLKS ARE FOLLOWING THE LAW.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE NOT DISCRIMINATING BEFORE THAT CONDITIONAL OFFER.
NOW LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT REAL QUICK, DISCRIMINATION AND, AND DO REAL QUICKLY IS YOU SAID YOUR FREAKING DATA USAGE.
SO I GAVE THE EXAMPLE OF MY BUSINESS.
THE PERSON COMES TO Y'ALL OR, OR SEE IF SOMEONE AND SAYS, I FEEL LIKE I DIDN'T GET HIRED BECAUSE OF MY PAST.
YOU COME TO ME OR, OR YOU KNOW, GUESS THE ORGANIZATION, WHOEVER COMES TO ME AND WE DON'T HAVE TO SIT DOWN, I'M OH SURE, LET'S SIT DOWN.
I, I DID NOT HIRE THIS PERSON BECAUSE OF THEIR, THEIR PAST CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS.
I TELL YOU FLAT OUTRIGHT AS A BUSINESS OWNER.
AND I'M USING THIS AS AN EXAMPLE OR WHATEVER.
YOU COLLECT THAT DATA AND SAY, OKAY, THIS GENTLEMAN OR THIS CONTRACT WENT THIS WAY, THESE MANY PEOPLE DIDN'T GET HIRED AND SO ON.
NOW YOU'RE EQUATING THAT DATA IN GENERAL AS FAR AS WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THIS PROGRAM'S BEEN IN PLACE.
WE'VE HAD 30 PEOPLE NOT GET HIRED CUZ THEY HAD PASSED ONCE THEY WAS OFFERED A JOB OR IN THAT DATA.
IS IT COMPUTER EVOLUTIONS DID NOT HIRE X AMOUNT OF PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR CRIMINAL CONVICTION.
DOES THAT LABEL COMPUTER EVOLUTIONS? NO.
AND DOES THAT PUT IT IN THE DATABASE? MM-HMM.
AS IT'S LAID OUT RIGHT NOW, THE ANSWERS COME.
LATE AS IT'S LAID OUT IN THE ORDINANCE.
NO, THERE IS NO LARGE RAMIFICATION.
IN FACT, WE ACTUALLY TOOK OUT THE PIECE AROUND THAT MIRRORED NEW ORLEANS THAT STATED IF A CONTRACTOR DOES NOT ABIDE BY FAIR CHANCE IN HIRING, THEY WILL NOT BE ISSUED ANOTHER CONTRACT OR NOT PAID.
WE TOOK THAT OUT ENTIRELY CUZ WE DIDN'T WANT ANY GRASS, YOU KNOW, EXCUSE ME, GRAPH, UM, UH, WHAT AM I TRYING TO SAY? ANY TYPE OF RAMIFICATION THAT ISN'T COMPLETELY VETTED OUT AND THAT WE'RE NOT USED TO YET.
LA LAST THING IS, UH, AND I APPRECIATE THAT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYONE THAT CAME AND SPOKE.
I WOULD ASK THAT THE DATA WOULD BE NOT SPECIFIC TO BUSINESS OWNERS, EMPLOYER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THANK Y'ALL, EVERYONE THAT CAME AND SPOKE FOR YOUR TIME.
NO, YOU'VE ALREADY SPOKEN TWICE.
YOU, YOU HAVE IT IS 5 44 AND WE ONLY OWN THE FIRST ITEM OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO YOU GOT A QUESTION? YOU GOOD? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, MICHAEL.
UM, I WANT TO GET SOME CLARITY ON THE, THE LAST PIECE OF THAT JUST NOW.
LET'S, LET'S SAY SOMEONE, UH, YOU SUBSTANTIATE THAT SOMEONE HAS VIOLATED THE ORDINANCE HAS, HAS VIOLATED THE TERMS OF THEIR CONTRACT.
WE WOULD, WE WOULD LOOK INTO IT, WE WOULD SEE WHAT HAPPENED, DETERMINE THE RAMIFICATIONS, THE SERIOUSNESS OF IT.
IF IT WAS A ONE AND DONE OR AN OFFSHOOT OR IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT'S MORE OF A PROBLEM.
WE CAN DO EVERYTHING FROM OFFER A WARNING LETTER, HAVE THEM REMEDY IT, UH, ALL UP, UP, UP TO TERMINATION OF THE CONTRACT FOR, FOR BREACH.
SO FOR CLARITY SAKE, THIS ORDINANCE AND THE, THE SUBSEQUENT, UM, SORRY.
THIS ORDINANCE AND THEN THE SUBSEQUENT, UH, CONTRACTS THAT WILL BE DRAFTED AS A RESULT OF THIS ORDINANCE WOULD ALLOW YOU TO CANCEL A CONTRACT IF SOMEONE IS FOUND IN VIOLATION OF THIS ORDINANCE AND THE CONTRACT.
JUST LIKE ANY OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
OH, WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINES.
THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS TO APPROVE.
I THINK Y'ALL RECEIVE SOME AMENDMENTS.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A SECONDARY MOTION FOR DEFERRAL TILL AFTER SUMMER, UH, BREAK.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT DATE THAT IS.
UH, 90 DAYS WOULD BE THE FIRST MEETING IN AUGUST.
I, I DON'T, THE REASON I'M ASKING FOR AFTER SUMMER BREAK IS I THINK THERE'S SOME LANGUAGE THAT SEVERAL OF US HAVE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN WRITING.
EVEN EVEN THE GENTLEMAN WITH PURCHASING, UM, STATED THAT EVEN WITHIN TWO WEEKS HE WAS PUTTING TOGETHER
[02:10:01]
SOME POLICIES AND STUFF THAT, THAT WE CAN SEE.UM, I, AGAIN, I'M WANTING THIS TO PASS
I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS AND I THINK COUNSEL, I WOULD LIKE THE MOTION TO PASS.
YOUR MOTION IS TO DEFER FOR 90 DAYS.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND HERE.
WE GONNA VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DEFER FOR 90 DAYS.
FIRST, MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DEFER FOR 90 DAYS.
WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION, WHICH IS TO APPROVE.
MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
[46. 23-00481]
A RESOLUTION.ORDERING AND CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE PARISH.
OF BEACH BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
UNDER THE PROVISIONS, EVERYBODY DONE
MAKE AN APPLICATION IN LOUISIANA STATE BOND COMMISSION PROVIDING NOTICE AT THE PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING ADOPTING THE RESOLUTION OF METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.
SHOULD BE HELD WEDNESDAY, MAY 10TH, 2023 AT 4:00 PM AT THE REGULAR MEETING PLACE OF METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, THIRD FLOOR, CITY HALL 3 4 8 2 22 ST.
LOUIS STREET, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, AND PROVIDING FOR MATTERS AND CONNECTION THERE WITH BY BOND COUNSEL.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 46? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL, COMMON AND OPPOSITION TO ITEM 46.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 46? ANYONE? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR IN THE OPPOSITION.
[47. 23-00457 ]
ITEM 47 AUTHORIZING METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.20 SQUARE 15 FAIRFIELD SUBDIVISION MUNICIPAL ADDRESS, 28 40 WASHINGTON AVENUE AT SURPLUS PROPERTY, NOT NEEDED FOR PUBLIC PURPOSE AND AUTHORIZING SELLER PURSUING LOUISIANA.
12 LAMAR AUGUSTUS FOR DECEMBER 17,000 AUTHORIZING AM MAYOR PRESENT, EXECUTE, PURCHASE AGREEMENT, CASH SALE, CLOSING DOCUMENTS, AND ALL OUR DOCUMENTS AND FEDERALS OF THIS SALE WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ARE PREPARED FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF SUCH DOCUMENTATION.
OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 47? COUNCIL MEMBERS? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 47.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUN, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
[48. 23-00458]
GO NOW TO 48.AUTHORIZED THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.
DECLARE LIE 81 BEAR HOME SUBDIVISION MUNICIPAL ADDRESS 2115 BATEMAN BATEMAN CIRCLE IS SURPLUS PROPERTY NOT NEEDED FOR PUBLIC PURPOSE AND AUTHORIZED AND SELL THE SAME PURSUANT TO THE REVISED STATUTE OF 33 47.
12 ELLIS GREEN FOR THE SUMMER OF 5,800 AND AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR PRESENT, EXECUTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT AND SALE CLOSING DOCUMENTS IN THE DOCUMENTS IN FURTHERANCE OF THIS CELL WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO PREPARE FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL ALL SUCH DOCUMENTATION BY OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 48? MOTION BY THE CHAIR.
IS THERE SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.
ITEM, IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 48 HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[49. 23-00541]
ITEM 49, A AMEND ORDINANCE 9 40 90 AS A AMENDED BY PARISH ORDINANCE 5 1 23 PARTICULAR LIST OF EXCEPTIONS IN A REQUIRED PARKING FEE AND UNPAID PARKING FEE.EVENTS ONLY FOR MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND MEMBERS OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN ROCKER AND COUNCIL MEMBER MOK.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 49? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL.
IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MOROCCO.
ANY OBJECTIVE ITEM 49 HAS BEEN APPROVED.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON? UH, I WANTED TO OFFER A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO, UH, DETRACT THE COUNCIL DISTRICT NINE OFFICE FROM THIS ORDINANCE.
YOU GOTTA MAKE YOUR MOTION TO READ THAT WAY, SIR.
[02:15:01]
REMOVE METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT NINE.I WOULD OFFER COUNCIL MEMBER YOU SAY DURING YOUR TERM AND OFFICE, THE NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER MAY WANT IT IN THERE.
THERE IS A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT.
I'LL SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON'S, UH, AMENDMENT.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION THE ITEM HAS PASSED? SO, COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
[50. 23-00542]
ITEM 50, AMENDING TITLE EIGHT, BUILDING REGULATIONS.CHAPTER EIGHT FEES AND SCHEDULE A PERMIT FEE.
SO AS TO ADDING PERMIT FEE FOR SHORT TERM RENTAL REGISTRATION BY DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 50? WHEN I GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 50? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THEM? DON'T MOVE BY THE CHAIR.
ANYBODY ELSE? NOBODY PAYING ATTENTION.
UH, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 50 HAS BEEN
[51. 23-00594]
APPROVED.WE GO TO ITEM 51, A AMEND CODE ORDINANCE IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, TITLE IX, LICENSED AND REGULATION OF TRADE OCCUPATION CHAPTER 20, MASSAGE STAFF.
SO THAT TO PROVIDE REGULATIONS FOR COMPREHENSIVELY UPDATED WITH THE CURRENT PRACTICE OF THIS TRADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
DO YOU WANNA SPEAK ON THE ITEM OR? OH, YOU WANNA SPEAK ON THE ITEM? YES.
STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
SHERRY MORRIS, 8,900 BLUE BONNET BOULEVARD, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA.
I REPRESENT THE, I'M THE GENERAL COUNSEL FOR THE MASSAGE THERAPY BOARD, AND I WAS ASKED TO INFORM THE COUNSEL.
I BELIEVE SOME OF YOU ALL RECEIVED INFORMATION CONCERNS ABOUT THE ORDINANCE, BUT THAT THE STATE LAW PRECLUDES, UH, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM, UM, ASSESSING FEES ON LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPY ESTABLISHMENTS.
AND THIS ORDINANCE DOES IMPOSE A FEE.
AS LONG AS THERE'S NOBODY ELSE ON THE PUBLIC THAT NEED TO SPEAK.
ANYBODY ELSE? ANYBODY ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER? I DO.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, Y'ALL SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 51.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.
LET ME FIRST STATE THAT, UH, MYSELF AND COUNCIL MCG GOK HAS HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS, EMAILS, TEXT MESSAGE.
I I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR YOU RIGHT NOW.
SHERRY, UH, ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE.
UM, THE PERSONAL CARE PROFESSION, WHICH, UH, MASSAGE THERAPY IS A PART OF HIS NEAR AND DEAR TO MYSELF.
UH, I'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR 25 YEARS TO A COSMETOLOGIST WHO'S BEEN A COSMETOLOGIST FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
I WAS A HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS DISTRIBUTOR AND A, A A SALON OWNER, CURRENT SALON OWNER.
UH, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT I HAVE WITH THIS, UH, ORDINANCE IS IT'S POTENTIAL TO AFFECT NOT ONLY THE MASSAGE THERAPY BOARD, BUT GO AND AFFECT OTHER BOARDS IN THE PERSONAL CARE PROFESSION.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES I HAVE AND THE SURPRISES, I DON'T KNOW IF COUNCILMAN GOK IS EVEN AWARE OF THIS, UH, THAT THE PEOPLE THAT DISECT MOST WERE NOT AT THE TABLE AND, AND A PART OF THIS PROCESS.
I KNOW HE DID HAVE SOME COLLABORATION WITH SHERE, WHO'S THE ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD AND MAYBE EVEN TALK TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
BUT THERE WERE 2000 LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPIST IN THE STATE AND ABOUT 130 IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
AND NONE OF THEM HAVE BEEN AT THE TABLE OR BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE.
UH, THE BOARD HAS NOT EVEN MET TO REVIEW THIS DRAFT.
SO I HAVE A HUGE ISSUE WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IMPACTED MOST NOT BEING AT THE TABLE TO GIVE INPUT.
UM, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE DISCUSSED WITH COUNCILE, I THINK MOST OF THEM, IF NOT ALL OF THEM, ARE GONNA BE FLOOR AMENDMENTS, BUT JUST TO POINT THEM OUT, THE HOURS OF OPERATION, UH, THERE'S SOME LIMITATIONS ON HOURS OF OPERATION.
WE DON'T CURRENTLY RESTRICT ANY OTHER BUSINESS FROM LIMITATIONS ON THEIR HOURS OF OPERATION OUTSIDE OF THOSE WHO SERVE ALCOHOL.
UH, THERE'S A CUTOFF TIME WHEN YOU CAN SERVE ALCOHOL, BUT YOU CAN STILL SELL FOOD OR WHATEVER OTHER PRODUCTS AND SERVICES YOU OFFER, UH, THEIR CONSTRUCTION, UH, SUNSETS AND, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT YOU CAN'T BEGIN CONSTRUCTION AT A CERTAIN TIME AND END IT PAST A CERTAIN TIME.
OUTSIDE OF THAT, WE DON'T INTERFERE WITH ANY OTHER BUSINESS HOURS OF OPERATION, AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE DICTATING TO THESE FOLKS WHEN THEY CAN OFFER THEIR SERVICES.
MANY, UH, PERSONAL CARE PROFESSIONALS, SERVICE CLIENTS WHO WORK DURING THE DAY AND CAN'T COME DO REGULAR HOURS.
BUT WE HAVE CLIENTS THAT COME TO THE SALON AT THREE OR FOUR O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, STAY AT TWO OR THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING IN THE EVENING BECAUSE THEY COME AFTER THEY GET OFF.
SO THIS WOULD, THIS WOULD AFFECT THAT.
SAME THING WITH MASSAGE THERAPISTS.
UH, AS THE ORIGINAL DRAFT SAID IT, IT RESTRICTED FELONS FROM ENTERING INTO THIS INDUSTRY.
[02:20:01]
LOT OF TESTIMONY ABOUT THE LIMITATIONS OF FELONS AND, AND GETTING JOBS AND GAINING EMPLOYMENT.UH, THE PERSONAL CARE PROFESSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WHO WERE CONVICTED WERE WELCOME, AND MANY OF THEM GOT THEIR TRADES WHILE THEY WERE INCARCERATED AND ENTERED INTO SOCIETY AND PROVIDED AN INCOME FOR THEM AND, AND THEIR FAMILIES UTILIZING THAT TRADE.
UH, SHERRY SPOKE TO THE, THE REDUNDANCY ON THE FEES AND, AND THE REGISTRATION PROCESS.
BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS TO DO, A LOT OF PAPERWORK, A LOT OF FEES.
UM, THIS IS BASICALLY A, A TAX IN THE FORM OF A FEE WHEN THE STATE IS ALREADY DOING THIS.
SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE PROPOSING TO, TO IMPOSE THIS FEE ON THEM.
UH, THE OTHER THING, THE ORDINANCE IS DRAFTED NOW WHERE IT GIVES LAW ENFORCEMENT THE RIGHT TO ENTER THE PROPERTY AT WILL.
UM, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD RESTRICT ANY RESIDENT OR ANY BUSINESS FROM THEIR RIGHT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO HAVE A WARRANT TO ENTER THEIR PROPERTY.
SO I'M, I'M AGAINST IT FOR THAT.
UM, THE OTHER, UH, ISSUE THAT I HAVE WITH IT IS A, IS A, A CLAUSE IN THERE THAT SAYS THE ESTABLISHMENT CANNOT BE A PLACE WHERE SOMEONE LIVES IN THE PERSONAL CARE PROFESSION.
UH, MANY PEOPLE OPERATE THEIR BUSINESS OUT OF THEIR HOMES.
UH, BARBARA'S STYLISTS, MASSAGE THERAPISTS, NAIL TECHNICIANS.
IF THAT PROVISION IS STILL IN THE ORDINANCE, YOU WILL PUT A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT OF BUSINESS.
UH, ALL OF THESE ISSUES I'VE EXPRESSED TO COUNCILMAN GOE, UH, AND SHARED WITH HIM MY CONCERNS BASED ON KNOWLEDGE THAT I ALREADY HAD AND TALKING TO THE FEW MASSAGE THERAPISTS THAT I INFORMED ABOUT, UH, THE ORDINANCE BEING PROPOSED.
BUT MY CONCERN IS I ONLY HAVE LIMITED KNOWLEDGE BASED ON ASSOCIATION.
YOU KNOW, THESE FOLKS ARE DOING THIS BUSINESS EVERY DAY.
I, I PREFER TO HAVE THEM AT THE TABLE GIVING INPUT, UH, SHARING WITH US, SHARING WITH COUNCIL MCG, GOK, WHAT WILL AFFECT THEM NEGATIVELY SO THEY CAN BE AT THE TABLE TO, TO GUIDE US AND HELP US THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
UM, I'LL WAIT TO HEAR FROM COUNCIL AND SEE IF YOU'VE ADDRESSED MOST OF ALL OF MY ISSUES.
BUT THE BIGGEST ISSUE I HAVE IS THAT THE, THE MASSAGE THERAPIST WILL NOT AT THE TABLE ON THIS.
I DO KNOW THE MOTIVATING FACTOR HE'S TRYING TO DO IS ADDRESS THE, THE SEX CRIME THING.
AND I, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, AGAIN, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THE NUMBERS.
OVER 2000 LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPISTS IN THE STATE, 130 IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, BASED ON THE ACTIVITY THAT TOOK PLACE LAST YEAR, THAT THAT RAISED EVERYBODY'S EYEBROWS.
THERE WAS FIVE ARRESTS, FIVE LOCATIONS THAT WAS TARGETED.
SO OUT 130 IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, YOU HAVE FIVE BAD ACTORS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.
SO DO WE MAKE WHOLESALE CHANGES BECAUSE 4% WERE BAD ACTORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, DID THEY JOB AND IDENTIFIED 'EM AND ARREST THEM AND DO, OR DO WE MAKE THE OTHER 126 PAID BECAUSE OF THE FOUR, THE THE 4%? SO THOSE WAS A QUESTIONS I THINK WE SHOULD CONSIDER.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HEARST.
SO I'VE HAD A FEW CONVERSATIONS AS WELL WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN GOK.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR THE MASSAGE BOARD FOR BEING HERE.
AND WE KNOW THAT YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT TO DO.
AND, UM, YOU'RE HERE TO PROTECT YOUR, UH, PEOPLE WHO HAVE INVESTED IN THE INDUSTRY.
I'VE ALSO HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH COUNCILMAN DUNN AND A FEW OTHER COLLEAGUES PERTAINING TO THIS.
AND I HAD SIMILAR, UH, CALLS FOR PAULS LIKE COUNCILMAN, UH, DUN DID, AND HE CAN SPEAK BECAUSE HE OWNS A SALON.
I CAN SPEAK CUZ I OWNED THE MASSAGE BUSINESS AND I DID HAVE CONTRACTS WITH, WITH MULTIPLE PEOPLE, PHYSICAL LOCATION, BUT ALSO DID MOBILE MASSAGE THROUGHOUT THE PARISH.
UM, ONE THING WE TALKED ABOUT WAS, YOU KNOW, WE WE'RE, WE'RE A BIG INDUSTRY FOCUSED, UH, PARISH.
AND SO SHIP WORK, PEOPLE GET OFF AT SIX O'CLOCK.
THAT LEAVES TWO HOURS FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO GRAB A MASSAGE, GET THEIR GROCERIES, WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO SUPPORT THEIR BUSINESS.
SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO GET MASSAGES BEFORE THEY GO TO WORK.
THAT'S MY EXPERIENCE BASED ON ME OWNING A BUSINESS.
AND SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, THE, UH, CRIMINALITY.
UM, FIRST IT WAS ALL CRIMINALS AND THEN IT WENT, WENT TO SEX-BASED CRIMES, WHICH I DO SUPPORT THAT.
SO, UH, I WANT TO APPLAUD COUNCILMAN GO THERE CAUSE HE'S DONE A HECK OF A JOB TO MAKE THE AMENDMENTS AND TO WORK WITH US TO STILL GIVE IT TEETH.
UM, BUT THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I'VE ADDRESSED WITH HIM THAT I STILL HAVE SOME CONCERN WITH, AND ONE OF 'EM IS A TIME.
SO I I, AND I MAY HAVE MISSED IT, BUT, UH, COUNCILMAN GO.
WE ADDRESSED THAT IN MOVING THE HOURS TO REPLICATE.
UM, AND, AND I MAY HAVE MISSED THAT IF I DID, BUT, UH, WE, WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM MASSAGE ENVY WHO IS, I MEAN, AN UPSTANDING, UH,
[02:25:01]
BUSINESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.I BELIEVES THERE'S THREE LOCATIONS AND THEIR CORPORATE AGREEMENT REQUIRES THAT THEY CLOSE AT 10 O'CLOCK.
SO WHEN YOU SIGN UP AS A FRANCHISEE, THE LAST MASSAGE YOU TAKE IS NINE.
BUT THE DOORS HAVE TO CLOSE AT 10 THAT IMMEDIATELY DISQUALIFIES THEM FROM THE, UH, EIGHT O'CLOCK HOUR.
AND THERE MAY BE SOME MY, I MEAN, MY, MY, MY AMENDMENT, IF, IF I COULD RECOMMEND ONE, I'M GONNA LET COUNCILMAN GO THERE, BE THE ONE TO, UH, UM, OFFER IT BECAUSE IT'S HIS BILL.
BUT I SAID 6:00 AM TO 12:00 PM I THINK WOULD BE SOME GOOD HOURS.
I DON'T WANNA RESTRICT ANYBODY, BUT IF WE ALL WANNA PUT SOME RESTRICTIONS, THE ONES THAT I COULD SUPPORT, WE MEAN 12:00 AM I MEAN YEAH, I'M SORRY, 6:00 AM TO 12:00 AM UM, AFTER 12:00 AM I'M AT THAT POINT.
YOU KNOW, I I I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN MASSAGE PARLOR, RIGHT? SO, UM, BUT 6:00 AM FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO GO BEFORE THEY GO TO WORK.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF STRESS FOCUS JOBS, A LOT OF 'EM IN THE BUILDING.
YOU HAVE EMS, YOU HAVE FIRE, YOU HAVE POLICE OFFICERS, FIRST RESPONDERS.
SO WHAT IF THEY WANT TO GO DO IT BEFORE WORK BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DO IT AFTERWARDS? AND SO I I, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU DO THOSE AMENDMENTS AND ALSO REMOVE THE, UH, THE LANGUAGE THAT SAYS THAT YOU CAN JUST BUST MY DOOR DOWN AT ANY TIME.
AND I'LL SAY WHY? BECAUSE ALTHOUGH WE EVOLVED INTO A BUSINESS THAT THAT WAS, UH, REPRESENTED THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, UM, MY WIFE STARTED OFF DIRECTLY OUTTA COLLEGE, UM, UH, MASSAGE SCHOOL, WORKING FOR A BUSINESS, BUT THEN SHE HAD HER OWN BUSINESS IN HER HOME WITH A DEDICATED ROOM BECAUSE IT TAKES A WHILE TO BUILD THAT CAPITAL, TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE RENT, THE INSURANCE, OTHER THINGS THAT GO WITH IT OUTSIDE THAT HOME.
SO THOSE WILL BE MY TWO AMENDMENTS, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, ROWDY AND ALL THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD.
SO, UM, I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT, THAT COUNCILMAN GOE BROUGHT THIS, UM, THIS MEASURE.
UM, WHILE I WAS WORKING ON THE HOTEL MOTEL ORDINANCE, UM, I CAME, UM, TO BE AWARE OF THE AMOUNT OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING THAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR CITY.
AND, UM, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'M SO MAD AND UPSET ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR CITY THAT I REALLY FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SPEAK.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, YOUNG LADIES, UM, WHO MAYBE GREW UP WITHOUT PARENTS OR WITHOUT PARENTS WHO WERE DEEPLY INVESTED IN THEM, WHO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF, UM, BAD ACTORS, VERY BAD ACTORS.
UM, THESE MEN OFTEN, UM, ACT LIKE THEY'RE THEIR BOYFRIENDS.
AND THEN WITHIN SEVERAL WEEKS, SEVERAL MONTHS, ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY FIND THEMSELVES BEING TRAFFICKED.
IF THEY FIGHT BACK, THEY, UM, ARE TURNED OVER TO, UH, GORILLA PIMPS WHO BEAT THEM INTO SUBMISSION.
AND THEN THEY'RE RETURNED BACK TO THEIR ROMEO PIMP, UH, PIMP AND, UM, AND, AND TRAFFICKED.
UM, THESE YOUNG LADIES ARE LITERALLY MODERN DAY SLAVES.
THEY'RE HELD AGAINST THEIR WILL.
THEY'RE CONTROLLED AND THEIR BODIES, UM, THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THEIR BODIES.
UM, THAT'S SOME OF THE LADIES, SOME OF THE OTHER LADIES ARE BROUGHT INTO THE COUNTRY.
THEY DON'T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE.
AND THEY ARE HOUSED AND HELD IN THESE MASSAGE PARLORS.
AND WHEN THE POLICE GO INTO THESE MASSAGE PARLORS, THEY FIND DIRTY MATTRESSES AND A LITTLE REFRIGERATOR AND THESE WOMEN.
SO THESE, THESE WOMEN LITERALLY LIVE IN THESE ESTABLISHMENTS.
ONE OF THE ONES THAT, UM, WAS BUSTED RECENTLY IS JUST A FEW BLOCKS DOWN FROM MY HOUSE.
AND I PASS BY THERE FREQUENTLY.
AND I AM ALWAYS LOOKING, UM, THE PARKING IS IN THE BACK AND I'M ALWAYS LOOKING TO SEE WHEN AND WHAT TYPES OF VEHICLES ARE THERE.
AND THERE ARE FREQUENTLY TRUCKS IN THE LATE EVENING.
AND EVERY SINGLE CITIZEN IN THIS PARISH SHOULD BE HORRIFIED THAT WE ARE ALLOWING THIS TO GO ON.
UM, I, IF WE DON'T GET CONTROL OF THIS, IF WE DO NOT CARE ABOUT ALL OF THE YOUNG WOMEN IN THIS PARISH AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW, GOD HAVE MERCY ON ALL OF US, UM, BECAUSE WE'LL DESERVE THE RFT THAT WE GET.
ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER WITH? ANY COMMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER? GO THERE.
LET'S DO THE, UH, AMENDMENTS, IF THAT'S APPROPRIATE.
UH, THERE'S A FEW AMENDMENTS TO BE OFFERED FROM
[02:30:01]
THE FLOOR, I GUESS.UM, ANDY, I WOULD LOOK TO YOU TO OFFER THOSE.
DO YOU WANNA DO THOSE NOW OR RIGHT BEFORE WE VOTE? DO YOU WANT SPEAK? IF YOU CAN, UH, PRESENT 'EM NOW AND THEN I'LL SPEAK TO YOU.
CAUSE IT ADDRESSES SOME OF THE CONCERNS.
COUNCIL MEMBER DON VOICED? YES, SIR.
WE REQUEST A MOTION TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS.
ANDY, COUNCIL MEMBER? NO ONE WANTS TO SPEAK ALWAYS.
COUNCIL SPONSOR THE LAST WORD.
I, YOU KNOW, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS IN THE CONTEXT WHEN MS. ADAMS WAS TALKING.
UM, I CAN TELL YOU THERE WERE, UH, THERE'S BEEN TWO SITUATIONS WHERE THERE WERE BUSS THAT OCCURRED IN ZACHARY, AND ONE OF THEM CAME BECAUSE OUR CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL UPON THE OCCUPANCY PERMIT WAS THERE AND NOTICED WHAT HE THOUGHT WERE YOUNGER GIRLS THAT DID NOT SPEAK ENGLISH.
AND SO HE REPORTED IT, AND ULTIMATELY, UM, UH, A STING OPERATION OR WHATEVER WAS PERFORMED AND THEY WERE FOUND TO BE DOING, UH, ILLICIT THINGS AND, AND WERE BUSTED.
AND, UM, THAT'S EXACTLY, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS GETS TALKED ABOUT SOMETIMES AND YOU HEAR IT TALKED ABOUT WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, SNICKERS AND, AND PEOPLE LAUGH ABOUT IT AND JOKE AND, UH, BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING THAT GOES ON, UM, IT IS, IT'S DISGUSTING AND IT'S SAD.
AND WE ARE SMACK IN THE MIDDLE.
I THINK, UH, THE HOUSTON TWO, NEW ORLEANS CORRIDOR IS THE, UM, IS THE NUMBER ONE TRAFFICKING CORRIDOR, HUMAN TRAFFICKING CORRIDOR IN THE COUNTRY.
AND SO WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
AND SO I THINK, YES, THIS MAY BE IN MANY WAYS BURDENSOME FOR, UM, THESE BUSINESSES BY A SMALL AMOUNT.
I CAN TELL YOU IF I OPERATED ONE OF THESE BUSINESSES, UM, THE AMOUNT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE FOR THE APPLICATIONS AND, AND ALL OF THAT, I THINK IT'S JUST A, I'D BE HAPPY TO PAY IT AND BE PROUD TO PAY IT.
UM, BECAUSE IF IT GETS THE BAD ACTORS OUT OF MY INDUSTRY TO STOP GIVING MY INDUSTRY A BAD NAME, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TO DO IT.
I WILL SAY I AGREE, UH, WITH SOME OF WHAT WAS BEING SAID ABOUT THE TIME.
SO I, I KNOW WE'RE GONNA DISCUSS AMENDMENTS.
I, I WILL, I WOULD SAY A SIX TO 10 O'CLOCK SEEMS APPROPRIATE.
UM, YEAH, 6:00 AM TO 10:00 PM UM, I, I WOULD APPRECIATE SEEING THAT AS AN AMENDMENT, BUT I THINK THIS IS, UH, I, I, I APPRECIATE YOU CHAMPIONING THIS, AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING.
AND, UM, AGAIN, IN OUR PARISH, IN ZACHARY, THIS, THIS, UH, THERE WAS A SITUATION THAT, UM, WAS SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OF AN INSPECTOR BEING THERE AND SEEING SOMETHING AND SAYING SOMETHING.
SO I THINK IF THIS, IF WE COULD HELP THIS AND WE COULD HELP SOME OF THESE YOUNG GIRLS IN THIS SITUATION, WHAT A WONDERFUL THING THAT COULD BE.
COUNCIL MEMBER OSA, I APPRECIATE, UM, UM, WHAT COUNCILMAN GODDE IS DOING AS WELL.
I DID HAVE A CONSTITUENT ASK ME ABOUT THIS JUST THE OTHER DAY.
SHE SAID, WHAT ABOUT THESE PLACES THAT ARE STAYING UP, STAYING OPEN ALL NIGHT LONG? UM, SO THEY ARE CONCERNED, AND THE CONCERN IS, IS THAT THESE BUSINESSES ARE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
I'VE GOT ONE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM ME.
SO THAT IS A HUGE, UH, CONCERN.
AND WITH WHAT, UM, MS. ADAMS SAID, IT'S, IT'S AN ABSOLUTE SHAME, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON.
WE DO HAVE GOOD LEGITIMATE BUSINESSES OUT THERE, UM, THAT, THAT NEED TO BE PROTECTED.
AND I FEEL LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH THESE GOOD BUSINESSES OUT THERE, THEY'RE ANXIOUS TO GET RID OF THE BAD ACTORS AS WELL.
AND SOMETIMES WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE EXTREME BEHAVIORS, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH EXTREME MEASURES IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO CARE FOR THESE THINGS.
WE'LL GO OVER THE, UM, AMENDMENTS AND ALL, BUT I DO APPRECIATE HIM DOING THIS AS WELL.
COUNCIL MEMBER MO, SHERRY, GO AHEAD.
COULD YOU COME TO THE PODIUM PLEASE? I DIDN'T KNOW I'D BE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS OF YOU SITTING ON THIS BEHIND THIS BENCH, BUT IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
UM, THE LEGAL STANDPOINT THAT YOU BROUGHT UP WITH THE, THE, THE FEE AND VERSUS VIOLATING STATE REGULATIONS, UM, IN YOU WORKING WITH THE BOARD.
UM, I MEAN, IS THIS A, UH, I GUESS AS FAR AS A LEGAL ISSUE OR WHATEVER, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT, UM, LET'S SAY WE PASSED THIS ORDINANCE AND WE DECIDED
[02:35:01]
TO JUST TAKE IT ON WITHOUT THE FEE OR WHATEVER.UH, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT, UH, IS THE BOARD OKAY WITH THE REST? AND I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY ELSE NEEDS TO SPEAK TO THIS, IS THE BOARD OKAY WITH THE REST OF THE ORDINANCE, THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS, AND I RELAY THOSE TO, UM, COUNCILMAN GOK.
THERE ARE AREAS WHERE THIS ORDINANCE CONFLICTS WITH THE STATE LAW, BUT OF COURSE, THE MASSAGE THERAPY BOARD KNOWS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM.
THEY DEDICATE A LOT OF THEIR TIME AND ENERGY, UM, TO WORKING ON THIS PROBLEM.
WE'VE ALL BEEN TRAINED, UM, ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
OUR INSPECTORS ARE LOOKING FOR THOSE SIGNS.
THEY'RE WORKING WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THAT'S THE REASON THAT YOU SAW THE RECENT ARRESTS.
UM, BUT THE WAY THE ORDINANCE IS STRUCTURED, THE STATE LAW SPECIFICALLY SAYS IN TITLE 37 THAT, UM, THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE PROHIBITED FROM IMPOSING ANY ADDITIONAL RULES OR ORDINANCES REGARDING ZONING EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS OR FEES FOR LICENSURE.
AND SO ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH ILLICIT BUSINESSES IS THEY DON'T ALWAYS GET THE LICENSES THEY'RE SUPPOSED SUPPOSED TO GET.
SO SOME, SOME OF THE ARRESTS, THOSE INDIVIDUALS NEVER APPLIED FOR LICENSURE AND THEY WEREN'T LICENSED BY THE STATE BOARD.
IN ORDER TO REGISTER WITH THE CITY OF PARISH, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE A STATE LICENSE.
SO THE ONLY BUSINESSES THAT ARE GONNA PAY THIS FEE ARE THE ONES THAT ACTUALLY GOT THE STATE LICENSE.
THE ONES THAT ARE OPERATING ILLEGALLY WITHOUT A LICENSE FROM THE STATE ARE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO REGISTER WITH YOU ALL BECAUSE THE REQUIREMENT, THE REQUIREMENT THAT, UM, THE CITY PARISH CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THAT A BUSINESS ADVERTISING MASSAGE IS LICENSED WITH THE STATE BOARD IS A WONDERFUL REQUIREMENT.
AND ASCENSION PARISH HAS ADOPTED AN ORDINANCE, AND THE CITY OF DENI SPRINGS HAS ADOPTED AN ORDINANCE.
SO OTHER THAN WORKING OUT THE NUANCES OF THE REST OF THE ORDINANCES, UH, IS IT MAINLY JUST THE FEE? AGAIN, AND I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING WHAT THE OTHERS HAVE DONE WITHOUT THE FEE.
I GUESS THAT WOULD BE OUR OPTION TO TAKE THAT ON.
BUT I IS THE FEE PART, THE ONLY LEGAL RAMIFICATION PART AS FAR AS THE CITY PARISH IMPOSING BASED ON THE STATE LAW.
THE OTHER PORTION IS THE BACKGROUND CHECKS.
IN 2021, THE LEGISLATURE, UM, PUT INTO THE STATE LAW THAT THE MASSAGE THERAPY BOARD HAS TO DO BACKGROUND CHECKS.
SO TO HAVE TWO BACKGROUND CHECKS, THAT'S A COST THAT'S GONNA BE PASSED ON TO THE LICENSEE TWICE.
UM, AND IT'S AN ANNUAL BACKGROUND CHECK RIGHT NOW, LIKE I SAID, THE, THE LEGISLATION WAS IN 2021, IT'S STILL BEING FULLY IMPLEMENTED.
UM, BUT A LOT OF THE HEALTHCARE BOARDS HAVE WHAT'S CALLED A WRAP BACK.
AND SO, UM, ONCE YOU DO THE BACKGROUND CHECK, IF THEY'RE IN YOUR LICENSING SYSTEM, WHEREVER, UM, THE, THE STATE POLICE IS GONNA REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD.
SO IF THERE IS A SUBSEQUENT ARREST, YOU WOULD GET THAT REPORT.
THAT'S HOW MOST OF THE HEALTHCARE BOARDS OPERATE.
THERE IS A SPECIAL REQUIREMENT TO GET THAT WRAP BACK, BUT THE BOARD IS ACTIVELY WORKING ON GETTING THE WRAP BACK REPORTS.
SO IT WOULD BE REDUNDANT AND A COST THAT THE LICENSEES WOULD PAY TWICE.
UM, AND WELL, I, I'LL CONCUR WITH THE, WITH OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, ON, YOU KNOW, TAKING A STANCE ON THE TRAFFICKING AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
I, I ALSO DON'T WANNA SIT HERE AND JUST SAY, OKAY, THIS IS THE ONLY TYPE OF BUSINESS THAT IS DOING TRAFFICKING.
WE KNOW IT'S A, WE DO KNOW THAT IT HAS A BAD REP, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU TALK ABOUT MASSAGE ENVY AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
THEY HAVE A WONDERFUL PLACE OUT IN CENTRAL, UM, AND IT, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.
THEY VERY REPUTABLE AND SO ON.
AND, BUT THEN AGAIN, LIKE BRANDON, UH, COUNCILMAN NOEL AND ZACHARY, WE HAD ONE PLACE THAT WAS RAIDED OUT IN CENTRAL YEARS AGO AND SHUT DOWN AND, AND IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE SOME, SOME THINGS GOING ON.
BUT I DON'T KNOW, I FEEL LIKE WE STILL NEED TO FIND THIS BALANCE.
AND I'M GONNA BE INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE AMENDMENTS AND EVERYTHING, UH, TO FIND THIS BALANCE.
AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS TO ME THE THE MASSAGE, THE, THE BETTER KNOWN OR THE LARGER SCALE, WELL, REPUTABLE MASSAGE PLACES WOULD, WOULD BE, BEF WOULD BE FOR THIS TO WEED OUT A LOT OF THE BAD REP THAT THEY GET FROM SOME OF THESE PLACES THAT HAVE BEEN RATED AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
BUT I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A LITTLE WAYS TO GO TO POSSIBLY FIND THAT.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, LET, LET'S HEAR THE AMENDMENTS, BUT, UM, POSSIBLY IF WE DON'T GET THE LANGUAGE WE WANT, UH, WE'LL STILL GET A DEFERRAL.
COUNCIL MEMBER, DON BLAKE, WOULD YOU COME UP PLEASE? SHERRY BROUGHT UP A POINT ABOUT, UM, THE BACKGROUND CHECKS.
Y YOUR DEPARTMENT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ENFORCING THIS, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.
[02:40:01]
SO YOU'RE GONNA START DOING BACKGROUND CHECKS? NO, SIR, WE ARE NOT, UH, WE'RE GONNA RELY ON ANOTHER AGENCY TO PERFORM THOSE BACKGROUND CHECKS AND JUST REPORT BACK TO US THEIR FINDINGS.MY STAFF ISN'T, ISN'T TRAINED TO INTERPRET BACKGROUND CHECKS AND, AND, AND LOOK AT THOSE THINGS.
SO IS ANY OTHER COMPONENT OF THE ORDINANCE YOU'RE GONNA OUTSOURCE OR EVERYTHING ELSE YOU ALREADY DO? UH, CAN DO IN-HOUSE.
EVERYTHING ELSE WE WOULD DO IN-HOUSE AS FAR AS CONDUCTING THE REGISTRATION, UM, SENDING OUT THE RENEWALS, PERFORMING INSPECTIONS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE, WE WOULD DO THAT WITHIN THE OFFICE OF PERMITS AND INSPECTIONS.
UM, SHERRY, CAN YOU COME BACK UP? YOU MENTIONED, UH, ONE OF THE CONFLICTS, ME AND MY COLLEAGUES WANTED TO KIND OF KNOW A COUPLE.
COULD YOU POINT OUT A COUPLE OTHER CONFLICTS WITH STATE LAW? ARE THERE ANY, WELL, ADDITIONAL ONES THAT YOU DIDN'T MENTION? THE STATE LAW WAS ADOPTED AF YOU HAVE A CURRENT LAW, UM, ORDINANCE ON THE BOOK, WHICH YOU ALL ARE AMENDING, WHICH PREDATES THE STATE LAW.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT WAS NEVER ENFORCED BECAUSE IT CONFLICTED WITH THE STATE LAW.
SO, UM, WHAT THE STATE DID WAS TO PUT IN A LICENSING SCHEME SO THAT IT'S UNIFORMED THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
SO THE BOARD EMPLOYS INSPECTORS THAT GO OUT ON DO RANDOM CHECKS, AND THEY ALSO DO, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN ENFORCEMENT DRIVEN PROCESS.
SO IF ANYBODY SENDS A COMPLAINT, SO HOW THEY WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT IN JURISDICTIONS.
AND IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, REALLY SINCE THE 2021 LEGISLATION, THERE HAS BEEN A HUGE EFFORT TO, UM, COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THE ILLICIT BUSINESSES.
IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME, BUT THEY WORK WITH THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
NOW THE WEBSITE IS INTERACTIVE, SO LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN GO ONTO THE WEBSITE AND THEY CAN SEE IF, IF IT'S A LICENSED ESTABLISHMENT, IF IT IS A LICENSED ESTABLISHMENT, THEY CAN REPORT THAT TO THE BOARD.
IF IT'S NOT A LICENSED ESTABLISHMENT, THEY CAN ALSO REPORT THAT TO THE BOARD.
AND THEN THE BOARD WILL PROCESS THAT.
AND IF THERE'S EVIDENCE OF THE COMPLAINTS, THEY WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY ACTIVELY WITH THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
AND THAT'S WHY YOU SAW TWO DIFFERENT SETS OF ARRESTS.
UH, OUR INSPECTORS ARE GOING, THEY WERE NOT YEARS AGO GOING ON THESE ROUTINE INSPECTIONS, BUT NOW THEY'RE ON A ROUTINE SCHEDULE, BUT IT'S RANDOM.
SO THE BUSINESSES DON'T KNOW WHEN THE INSPECTORS WILL SHOW UP.
AND THEN THEY'RE ALSO COMPLAINT INSPECTIONS SO THEY CAN COORDINATE WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THE BOARD INSPECTORS CANNOT, UM, ENFORCE CRIMES IF THERE ARE DRUGS, IF THERE'S PROSTITUTION, IF WHATEVER CRIMES ARE BEING COMMITTED, THAT HAS TO GO BACK TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, CURRENTLY THERE'S A PROCESS IN PLACE FOR ROUTINE INSPECTIONS YES.
THAT LOOK FOR THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY.
AND THERE'S ALSO A MECHANISM BY SOME, WHEN SOMEBODY CAN REPORT TO YOU GUYS TO GO OUT ON A NON-ROUTINE INSPECTION, RIGHT? YES.
THE 2021 LEGISLATION MANDATED THAT ALL THE INSPECTORS BE TRAINED, UM, TO RECOGNIZE SIGNS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AND IT'S ALSO BEING REPORTED TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THAT'S WORKING ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING AS WELL.
AND ONE MORE THING, BEFORE MY TIME RUN, I MADE THE STATEMENT EARLIER THAT THE MASSAGE THERAPIST WERE NOT AT THE TABLE AS OF WEDNESDAY.
UH, THEY HAD NOT BEEN COMMUNICATED TO VIA EMAIL, VIA LETTER, OR VIA PHONE.
IS THAT STILL CORRECT THAT YOUR LICENSEES THROUGHOUT THE STATE WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS ORDINANCE? UM, COUNCILMAN GOE HAS BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH ME THROUGH THE BOARD.
THE BOARD MEETS EVERY OTHER MONTH.
NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE LICENSEE, NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
THE BOARD HAS NOT SENT OUT ANYTHING.
THE BOARD HAS NOT SENT OUT ANYTHING.
THEY HAVE NOT MET SINCE THIS ORDINANCE WAS INTRODUCED.
SO THE BOARD HADN'T EVEN SEEN THE ORDINANCE AS PROPOSED.
SOME OF THE MEMBERS HAVE, UM, SOME OF ONE OF OUR MEMBERS BUSINESSES IN EAST BATON ROUGE, BUT AS A BOARD, THEY CAN'T TAKE ANY ACTION INDIVIDUALLY, JUST LIKE YOU CAN.
AND SO THEY, AS A BOARD, THEY'VE NOT REVIEWED THE ORDINANCE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. SHERRY, WOULD YOU COME BACK FOR A MINUTE? UM, AND YOU MAY HAVE MENTIONED THESE NUMBERS AGAIN, BUT I JUST WANNA GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN.
HOW MANY MASSAGE, UM, LICENSE, MASSAGE, UH, ESTABLISHMENTS ARE THERE IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA? 11.
11 2,700 LICENSEES, BUT 1100 ARE ESTABLISHMENTS.
OUR ESTABLISHMENT A HUNDRED, A LITTLE BIT OVER A HUNDRED IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
AND HOW MANY INSPECTORS DO Y'ALL HAVE? WE HAVE A CONTRACT COMPANY.
UM, SO AS MANY INSPECTORS AS WE NEED TO, UH, COVER, WE DO NOT HAVE IN-HOUSE INSPECTORS.
WE CONTRACT WITH A SERVICE TO DO THAT.
AND YOU, YOU, HOW OFTEN DO YOU DO INSPECTIONS? THEY ARE FOLLOWING UP ON COMPLAINTS, AND THE GOAL IS TWICE A YEAR.
TWICE A YEAR FOR ONGOING ESTABLISHMENTS.
AND THEY'RE INSPECTED BEFORE THEY BEGIN OPERATION
[02:45:01]
OR IF THEY MOVE OR CHANGE SOMETHING.AND SO THOSE ARE JUST THE LICENSE ESTABLISHMENTS.
SO THE ONES THAT ARE OPERATING IN THE PARISH AS MASSAGE PARLORS, MASSAGE THERAPY, PLACES THAT ARE NOT LICENSED, YOU REALLY HAVE NO INTERACTION WITH THEM.
WE ISSUE CEASE AND DESIST ORDERS.
IF YOU GO TO THE WEBSITE, I THINK THERE WERE 80 CEASE AND DESIST ORDERS ISSUED IN THE LAST 60 DAYS.
UM, BUT WE HAVE LESS ABILITY TO DEAL WITH THE UNLICENSED ESTABLISHMENTS.
BUT THAT, I THINK THAT'S CORRECT OF ANY LICENSING BOARD.
UM, WE KIND OF HAVE TO FIND THEM FIRST.
UM, BUT WE DO HAVE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE A CEASE AND DESIST AND FOLLOW UP ON AN, AN INJUNCTION.
AND SO THAT AD IS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
THAT'S NOT 80 IN, IN BATON ROUGE.
THEY WERE MOSTLY IN BATON ROUGE.
UM, THERE'S, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ACTIVITY IN EAST BATON ROUGE.
UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER THIS.
IT, IS IT TWO OR THREE WEEKS? WHAT ARE WE ON NOW? TWO, TWO WEEKS? WE COULD STILL DO TWO.
UM, IT APPEARS, FIRST OF ALL, UM, I CONCUR WITH MY COUNCILMAN, UM, CLEVE DUNN, THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH, UH, CONVERSATION THAT, THAT INCLUDED THE VERY PROFESSION AND PROFESSIONALS THAT THIS WOULD IMPACT.
UM, IT IS SAD TO SAY THAT I'VE NEVER HAD A MASSAGE, AND THAT MAY GIVE YOU ALL, A LOT, A LOT OF INSIGHT TO MY, UM, MY FRUSTRATION, UM,
SO, UM, SO BESIDES THE FACT THAT I'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE BEFORE I VOTE, I THINK THAT, UM, WE DO NEED TO, WE DO NEED TO, UM, ALLOW THE, THE, UM, THE PROFESSION KNOWS, AND THE, WHAT'S THE LADY, EVERYBODY KNOWS HER ON FIRST NAME BASIS, BUT THE, LIKE SHERRY, THE LICENSING PROFESSIONALS TO EDUCATORS, BECAUSE WE ARE ALL SP WE ARE SPEAKING FROM, UM, THE EXPERIENCE OF KNOWING, UM, INCIDENTS WHERE, UH, OR THAT IS SUSPECTED THAT THERE IS SOME, SOME THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AND I DO KNOW THAT I, I SEE IT ALL THE TIME.
UH, IT'S ALMOST LIKE WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, YOU HAVE TO ALMOST TRAIN YOURSELF TO BE, UM, AWARE OF THOSE SITUATIONS.
AND STILL, IN SPITE OF THAT, WE WOULD DO ALL OF THIS.
BUT THERE ISN'T A LOT AS IT RELATES TO HELP.
WHERE DO THEY GO? UM, MANY OF THESE, UH, PERSONS IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING, THEY ARE THE SAME POPULATION THAT WE SEE AS BEING HOMELESS.
WHERE, UM, WHAT, TWO OR THREE MONTHS AGO WE VOTED THAT THEY GO TO JAIL OR, YOU KNOW, WE WERE PRETTY HARD ON, UH, THEM.
SO WE HAVE TO, AGAIN, ALONG WITH LEGISLATION, ALONG WITH MAKING SURE THAT, UM, THE LEAST OF THESE, WHICH ARE THE UNDERAGE, UM, SOME YOUNG LADIES AND, UM, AND MEN HAVE A WAY TO GO.
SO RIGHT NOW, BASED ON WHAT I'M, I'M HEARING IS THAT IF THERE IS A SITUATION AND THERE'S A BUST, EVERYBODY GOES TO JAIL.
OR IF THEY'RE UNDERAGE, THEY GO TO JUVENILE.
WELL, WHAT, WHERE IS, ISN'T THAT LIKE A DOUBLE VICTIMIZATION? AND SO I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW INFORMATION CUZ IT REMINDS ME OF THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY.
AND, UM, THEY, THEY'RE, THEY'RE REGULAR REGULATIONS.
I DON'T HAVE THAT EDUCATION FROM THE LICENSING WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE PEOPLE ASSIGNED, UM, TO THESE, UH, FACILITIES TO GO IN.
UM, AND IT IS JUST, LIKE I SAID, I THINK THERE'S A BIT MORE EDUCATION.
I'M ALSO CONCERNED THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON MASSAGE POLY POLLERS, BECAUSE I WOULD SUSPECT THIS IS THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENS IN STRIP CLUBS.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THESE THINGS ARE SEGUES INTO OTHER AREAS WHERE, UH, YOUNG WOMEN ARE, ARE, ARE EXPLOITED.
SO I JUST THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF EDUCATION BECAUSE I THINK THAT ALL OF THE THINGS AND VIOLENCE THAT WE HAVE AGAINST WOMEN, UM, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT HOLISTICALLY AND SAY WHERE, WHERE'S THE HELP.
AND SO IF WE COULD DEFER THIS ITEM, UM, COUNCILMAN GOK FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
I CERTAINLY HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
AND, UM, UH, THAT'S MY MOTION TO COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.
YOU SURE? TWO WEEKS IS ENOUGH TIME? WELL, I GUESS I NEED TO ASK THE, THE PARTIES, WHAT PARTIES ARE THOSE? UH, I GUESS IS COUNCILMAN GO ITEM.
[02:50:02]
CAN WE CERTAINLY, I ONLY NEED TWO WEEKS FOR A MASSAGE, BUT IF YOU NEED MORE MOTION.OH, Y'ALL DON'T HAVE ME IN ETHICS OVER THIS.
OH, DID YOU WANT YOU, I CAN ASK HER.
SO I'M MAKING A MOTION FOR TWO WEEKS.
UM, WHAT FOR YOU TO GET, BE INVOLVED WITH YOUR BOARD AND ALL THE PROFESSIONALS AND CONCUR AND ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS.
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT AMOUNT OF TIME DO YOU THINK WOULD SATISFY THE BOARD'S NEXT MEETING IS JUNE 12TH.
SO WHAT'S AFTER JUNE 12TH? LAST MEETING IN JUNE, JUNE 28TH WITH THAT SURFACE.
THAT WOULD GIVE THE TIME, THAT WOULD ALLOW COUNCILMAN GOATED TO COME TO THE MEETING AND PRESENT IT AND OR CONVERSE WITH THE BOARD.
I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M ALMOST READY TO MAKE A MOTION, LIKE, UM, COUNCILMAN MO, CAN WE WAIT AFTER THE SUMMER
AND THEN IN AUGUST, IT'S AUGUST 9TH AND AUGUST 23RD.
SO I'M AT, AT THE PLEASURE OF YOU ALL FOR ME.
JULY 26TH IS GOOD, BUT I DON'T KNOW, UH, WHAT Y'ALL THINK.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL NUMBER DUN UH, ANDY? YES, SIR.
AGAIN, UH, UH, COUNCIL MCG, THEY WOULD ASK FOR SOMEONE OR COUNCIL GO, THEY MAY MAKE THE MOTION, UH, FOR THESE AMENDMENTS.
AND I'LL GO OVER THESE AMENDMENTS.
THE FIRST ONE, AND WE'LL GO IN ORDER THE BEST I CAN.
UH, THE FIRST ONE IS IN, UH, NINE SECTION 1104.
UH, IT WOULD REMOVE THE WORD VIOLENT FROM THE PROOF, THE, UH, LANGUAGE, UH, TO NOW HAVE IT READ SECTION 11 1 11 0 4, UH, PER TWO, THE APPLICANT HAS NO RECORD OF FELONY CONVICTION FOR A CRIME THAT IS SEXUAL IN NATURE IN THE STATE OR ANY OTHER STATE.
AGAIN, REMOVING THE WORD VIOLENT.
THE SECOND, UH, FLOOR AMENDMENT WOULD BE SECTION 9 11 0 6 1, WHICH WOULD CHANGE THE TIME FROM 9:00 PM OR EIGHT P AM TO 10:00 PM OR 6:00 AM SO WE NOW READ NO MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENT SHALL PROVIDE MASSAGES OR ANY OTHER SERVICES AFTER 10:00 PM OR BEFORE 6:00 AM IS THAT, IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY.
THE NEXT ONE WILL BE, UH, 9 11 0 6 6, WHICH CURRENTLY READS, NO INDIVIDUAL SHALL RESIDE AT A MESSIAH ESTABLISHMENT.
THE NEW LANGUAGE WOULD READ, AND THIS IS PRETTY LONG, BUT I'M GONNA READ IT.
NO INDIVIDUAL SHALL RESIDE IN HABIT OR OTHERWISE SLEEP OVERNIGHT AT AN ESTABLISHMENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A MESS.
MASSAGE THERAPIST WHO OPERATES AN ESTABLISHMENT IN HIS OR HER OR HIS SLASH HER HOME OR RESIDENCE.
WITH RESPECT TO MASSAGE THERAPISTS WHO OPERATED AN ESTABLISHMENT OUT OF HIS PER HOME OFFICE OR RESIDENCE, NO INDIVIDUAL LIVING IN THAT HOME OR RESIDENCE SHALL RESIDE, INHABIT, OR OTHERWISE SLEEP IN THE PORTION OF THE HOME OR RESIDENCE AS DEVOTED TO THE PRACTICE OF MASSAGE THERAPY.
THE NEXT PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS SECTION 9 11 0 6, SUBSECTION EIGHT.
THE WORDS POLICE OFFICERS WILL, WILL, AND WILL BE DELETED SO THAT THE AMENDED SENTENCE NOW READS FOR PURPOSES OF ASCERTAINING VIOLATION OF THIS CHAPTER AND CONDUCTING INSPECTIONS, THE BUILDING OFFICIAL OR THEIR DESIGNEE SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT OF ENTRY ONTO THE PREMISES OF ANY MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENT DURING THE HOURS SUCH ESTABLISHMENT IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS.
THAT WOULD BE THE, UH, PROPOSED FLOOR IN MEMBERS.
IS THAT ACCURATE? COUNSEL, SIR? THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THE THOROUGH DISCUSSION.
UM, SHERRY AND, UH, UH, MAY I ASSUME THAT'S MS. LOVE NEXT TO YOU.
THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR ENGAGING WITH ME THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
YOU SHARED A LOT OF RESOURCES WITH ME.
YOU SHARED YOUR BEST PRACTICES, AND, UH, I FEEL LIKE I'VE INCORPORATED THOSE AND SO I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.
ALSO, WANNA SHARE MY COLLEAGUES THROUGH THEIR, UH, PARTNERSHIP ON THIS.
I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK WITH, UH, MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENT OWNERS THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
SO I'LL, I'LL DISPEL THAT STATEMENT.
THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NO OUTREACH TO THAT, SIMILAR TO THE HOTEL MOTEL ORDINANCE THAT WAS DONE.
YOU DIDN'T SPEAK TO EVERY HOTEL MOTEL IN THE PARISH.
YOU DID A SAMPLING, YOU GOT SOME INPUT.
THAT'S THE EXACT APPROACH I TOOK, UH, WITH, WITH THIS PARTICULAR, UH, ORDINANCE.
SO I APPRECIATE Y'ALL LETTING ME
[02:55:01]
EXPLAIN WHERE THAT IS.UH, SHERRY, UH, MS. MORRIS, EXCUSE ME, MS. MORRIS, UH, BROUGHT FORWARD THE CONCERN FROM THE BOARD ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS NOT ASSESSING FEES FOR LICENSURE.
UM, I WANNA READ TO THE COUNCIL FROM NEW ORLEANS CURRENT ORDINANCE, WHICH IS SECTION LABELED APPLICATION FEE.
ANY PERSON DESIRING TO OBTAIN A LICENSE TO OPERATE A MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENT SHALL MAKE AN APPLICATION TO THE DIRECTOR.
A FEE OF $100 AND 50 CENTS MAY PAYABLE TO THE CITY SHALL ACCOMPANY TO DEFRAY THE COST OF ADMINISTRATION AND INVESTIGATION.
SO, NEW ORLEANS HAS IN THEIR STATUTE, UH, A FEE THAT THEY CHARGE.
UH, SHE RAISED A CONCERN WITH THE BACKGROUND CHECK.
I'LL READ AGAIN FROM NEW ORLEANS CURRENT ORDINANCE, ALONG WITH YOUR APPLICATION, YOU MUST PROVIDE YOUR PREVIOUS ADDRESS FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.
DATE OF BIRTH, FOUR
ALL CONVICTIONS, INCLUDING ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS WITH A BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE NATURE OF THOSE CONVICTIONS.
A PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION INCLUDING YOUR HEIGHT, WEIGHT, SEX, COLOR OF YOUR EYES, COLOR OF YOUR HAIR, BIRTH MARKS AND SCARS.
I'M SKIPPING OVER A FEW, A COMPLETE SET OF FINGERPRINTS TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
SO NEW ORLEANS HAS, UH, IN THEIR ORDINANCE, UH, NOT ONLY A BACKGROUND CHECK, BUT THEY GO BEYOND THAT YOU ONE INCH BY ONE INCH PASSPORT PHOTOGRAPH.
SO I ASSURE MY COLLEAGUES, WHAT'S INCORPORATED IN THIS ORDINANCE IS UNDER THE GUISE OF WE MUST DO SOMETHING AT A LOCAL LEVEL TO CURB THIS BEHAVIOR.
AND I'M, I'M HOLDING DOWN MY, MY PASSION BECAUSE MY COLLEAGUE REFERENCED THAT THERE WERE JUST FIVE, UM, SITUATIONS LIKE THIS LAST YEAR.
THE FIRST, THE NUMBER'S INCORRECT, BUT SECOND, IF THE NUMBER IS FIVE, YES, IT'S WORTH UNDERTAKING THIS AND DOING A WHOLESALE REWRITE.
IF THAT MEANS FIVE BUSINESSES, THAT TRAFFIC LITTLE GIRLS WON'T DO THAT.
SO I WELCOME, IF I MISUNDERSTOOD THAT COMMENT, I WELCOME YOU TO CLARIFY IT.
I CERTAINLY DIDN'T, DON'T MEAN TO TAKE THAT OUT OF CHARACTER.
UM, BUT THAT, THAT RAISED MY PASSIONS A BIT.
AND I WOULD SHARE WITH YOU THE, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION SHARED WITH ME THEIR DATA, UH, THAT JUST IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2023, THERE ARE 27 REPORTS, UH, IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH OF THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY.
SO, RESPECTFULLY, THE STATE IS DOING A GREAT JOB.
I CALL YOU A PARTNER FOR A REASON.
WE'RE ALONG I 10, WE'RE BETWEEN MAJOR CITIES.
ONE WAS OPERATING THE BUSINESS, THE OTHER WAS BRINGING GIRLS FROM NEW ORLEANS.
I DON'T WANT IT IN OUR PARISH.
AND SO, YES, IT'S WORTH IT TO ME, UH, TO, TO UNDERTAKE THIS ACTIVITY.
I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE FEEDBACK, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE INPUT.
THERE WAS LANGUAGE ABOUT, UH, FELONY CONVICTIONS.
UH, WE MASSAGE THAT LANGUAGE, EXCUSE THE PUN THERE,
THERE WAS LANGUAGE ABOUT HOURS OF OPERATIONS.
I'VE BEEN OPEN TO THAT AS A DISCUSSION.
I DON'T WANT TO GET CAUGHT UP ON THE NUANCES HERE.
THE GOAL IS WE CAN DO MORE ON A PROACTIVE LEVEL.
WE AGREED AS A COUNCIL WITH HOTEL MOTEL, THIS WAS THE APPROACH.
WE MAKE 'EM RE-REGISTER ANNUALLY BECAUSE WE HAD BAD ACTORS.
I TOOK THAT ORDINANCE AND I SAID, COURTNEY HUMPHREY, WHO I WANNA GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO, SHE'S NOT HERE, BUT I APPRECIATE ALL HER WORK.
COURTNEY, LET'S MIMIC THIS BECAUSE IT'S THE SAME APPROACH FOR MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS.
THERE WERE FOUR CO-AUTHORS ON THAT.
I BELIEVE I'M CORRECT IN SAYING THAT IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
SO I MAKE A, IF I DIDN'T ADDRESS ANY, UH, UH, UH, CONCERNS THAT WERE STATED, UH, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE I, I TALK THROUGH ALL OF THEM.
UM, BUT I MAKE AN IMPASSION PLEA.
I, I APPRECIATE THE DESIRE FOR THE DEFERRAL.
I APPRECIATE THAT THERE'S A, A WANT TO STUDY IT MORE.
UH, IF THAT'S THE WILL OF THIS BODY, I'LL GO ALONG WITH IT.
BUT I FEEL VERY PASSIONATELY THIS THING IS READY.
THIS THING NEEDS TO BE PASSED.
AND, AND I ASK MY COLLEAGUES FOR APPROVAL.
OH, WAIT, UH, IS THAT A MOTION? RODDY, DON, I HAVE A MOTION.
WE HAVE A, THAT'S A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO YOUR ORIGINAL MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
AND YOU WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING? NO, SIR.
UH, THERE IS A REQUEST THAT YOU, YOU WANT TO HEAR THE AMENDMENTS AGAIN? THERE IS A REQUEST THAT YOU READ THE, THE AMENDMENTS AGAIN.
[03:00:03]
HOLD ON.FIRST AMENDMENT WILL BE TO SECTION 9 11 0 61, WHICH WILL NOW READ NO MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENT SHALL PROVIDE MASSAGES OR ANY OTHER SERVICES AFTER 10:00 PM OR BEFORE 6:00 AM THE SECOND PROPOSED AMENDMENT WOULD BE, AND I'M TAKING 'EM OUTTA ORDER NOW, A 9 11 0 4 SUBSECTION TWO, WHICH WILL NOW READ.
THE APPLICANT HAS NO RECORD OF FELONY CONVICTION FOR A CRIME THAT IS SEXUAL IN NATURE IN THIS STATE OR ANY OTHER STATE.
9 11 0 6 SUBSECTION EIGHT NOW READS FOR PURPOSES OF ASCERTAINING VIOLATIONS OF THIS CHAPTER AND CONDUCTING INSPECTIONS, THE BILLING OFFICIAL OR THEIR DESIGNEE SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT OF ENTRY ONTO THE PREMISES OF ANY MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENT DURING THE HOURS SUCH ESTABLISHMENT IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS 9 11 0 6.
NO INDIVIDUAL SHALL RESIDE IN HABIT OR OTHERWISE SLEEP OVERNIGHT.
AND AN ESTABLISHMENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A MASSAGE THERAPIST WHO OPERATES AN ESTABLISHMENT IN HIS SLASH HER HOME OR RESIDENCE, WITH RESPECT TO MASSAGE THERAPIST WHO OPERATE AN ESTABLISHMENT OUT OF HIS OR HER HOME OFFICE OR RESIDENCE, NO INDIVIDUAL LIVING IN THAT HOME OR RESIDENCE SHALL RESIDE, INHABIT, OR OTHERWISE SLEEP IN THE PORTION OF THE HOME OR RESIDENCE THAT IS DEVOTED TO THE PRACTICE OF MASSAGE THERAPY.
AND FINALLY, NINE SECTION, UH, 9 11 0 7 SUBSECTION THREE WILL NOW READ FELONY CONVICTION OF ANY OWNER SLASH OPERATOR FOR A CRIME THAT IS SEXUAL NATURE IN THIS STATE OR ANY OTHER STATE.
IT'LL BE THOSE FIVE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
UM, SO I, I, UM, STILL BELIEVE AT THAT THERE IS INFORMATION THAT, UM, THE LICENSING BOARD AND THE PROFESSIONALS CAN ADD TO THIS THAT WE MADE, THAT I'M, I'M SURE THERE ARE PEOPLE WITHIN THE PROFESSION THAT ARE ALSO, UM, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, THIS PRACTICE.
AND THEY HAVE MORE INFORMATION.
UH, I WAS HEARING THE PART ABOUT THE ROOM.
THERE MAY BE SOME INFORMATION THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY ADD AS IT RELATES TO THE KIND OF EQUIPMENT, UM, THE BED, THE WHATEVER.
SO, BUT THERE'S, SO, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT WHAT WE DO, UM, I DO THINK THAT THERE'S NO PROBLEM IN, UH, RUNNING THIS INFORMATION BY, IN A WORKING COLLABORATIVE WAY WITH THE LICENSING BOARD, UM, HAVING COUNCILMAN GODDE, UM, ENGAGE IN THAT COMMUNICATION.
UM, BASED ON THE, THE SERIOUSNESS AND THE URGENCY, I TOO BELIEVE THAT, UH, UH, A JULY, UH, MEETING WOULD BE TOO LONG.
UM, BUT I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD ALLOW, UM, THAT CONVERSATION.
I MEAN, HASTE MAKES WASTE, UM, WHERE WE, IF WE'RE GONNA DO THIS, LET'S DO IT RIGHT.
LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE COVERED THE AREAS FROM BOTH OUR PERSPECTIVE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE CONCERNED TO, UM, LI ALIGNED WITH PROFESSIONALS WHO CAN ALSO ADD TEETH AND, UM, AND, AND KNOWLEDGE TO THIS THAT WILL, UM, MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE COVERED ALL OUR BASES.
SO MY MOTION STANDS, UH, WITH THE, TO HAVE THE ITEM DEFERRED UNTIL THE LICENSING BOARD CAN COLLABORATE WITH COUNCILMAN GODDE, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKER ON THE FINE ISSUE THAT WE SPOKE OF.
IS THAT AN AMENDMENT THAT'S CONTAINED THAT MS. MS. SHERRY, UM, IF I'M CORRECT, IF THAT'S YOUR NAME.
UM, SHE SPOKE ABOUT THE, UH, THE STATE, UM, SAYING THAT THERE COULD NOT BE A FINE, IMPLEMENTED A FEE.
WELL, YOU MEAN IN TERMS OF IT BEING A DOUBLE FEE, RIGHT? OKAY.
UH, IS THAT REMOVED FROM THE ORDINANCES WRITTEN? I DIDN'T SEE IT.
IT'S NOT REMOVED FROM THE, IT'S NOT REMOVED FROM THE ORDINANCE.
UH, CUZ YOU KNOW, UH, COMAN, GOK CAN TALK FURTHER TO IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE REVIEWED THAT.
WE, WE UNDERSTOOD SHERRY AND THE BOARD'S, UH, POSITION ON THAT.
BUT WE, YOU KNOW, OUR COUNCIL, THE COUNCILMAN GO DAY WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS, IT'S DIFFERENT.
UH, SHERRY AND THE BOARD FOR THE STATE ARE LICENSING MASSAGE THERAPISTS.
UH, THIS IS FOR MASSAGES ESTABLISHMENTS TO BE INSPECTED BY THE CITY.
AND IT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE, UH, WHICH IS, UH, WHICH INCLUDES YOUR REGISTRATION AND IT HAS OFFSET THE COSTS FOR THE APPLICATION AND THE, UH, ONGOING THINGS, UH, TIED WITH THE ORDINANCE.
SO IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT A DOUBLE FEE.
THEY'RE NOT BEING LICENSED AT THE END.
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO VET 'EM, LICENSE 'EM WHEN THEY GO INTO AN ESTABLISHMENT, THEN THIS ORDINANCE WOULD KICK IN TO DEAL WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT.
THANK YOU THAT I NEEDED CLARITY ON THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS, YOU SPOKE TWICE.
I'M GONNA COME BACK TO YOU THOUGH AFTER I GO TO THE OTHER TWO INDIVIDUALS.
[03:05:01]
COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.I, I JUST WANT TO THANK AGAIN, THE ROBUST DISCUSSION.
UM, CERTAINLY SOME FOLKS FROM THE LICENSING BOARD DID REACH OUT TO ME AS WELL, UH, SHARED SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS THAT THEY BROUGHT WITH COUNCILMAN GODDE AND, AND I APPRECIATE HIM BEING WILLING TO ADDRESS THEM.
UH, ANDRE, ADDRESS THEM QUICKLY.
UM, Y YOU KNOW, IT, IT JUST SEEMS TO ME WE, WE'VE GOTTA FIND WHATEVER TOOLS ARE OUT THERE, UH, IN, IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS CARE ABOUT.
UH, I WILL TELL YOU, WE, WE HAD ONE OF THESE ARRESTS THAT HAPPENED ON JONES CREEK ROAD JUST OUT IN FRONT OF MY SUBDIVISION.
UH, A RELATIVELY AFFLUENT AREA.
UM, THE DONUT SHOP THAT I TAKE MY KIDS TO ON SUNDAY MORNINGS BEFORE CHURCH, UH, IS, IS THREE DOORS DOWN FROM, UH, WHERE THE ARREST HAPPENED.
UH, THIS IS HAPPENING IN OUR BACKYARDS.
UH, IT'S HAPPENING IN BAD AREAS, IT'S HAPPENING IN GOOD AREAS.
UH, IT'S HAPPENING EVERYWHERE.
UM, AND IT'S NOT JUST THAT IT'S A NUISANCE OR AN ISSUE, SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T WANT TO SEE.
UH, THIS IS YOUNG WOMEN'S LIVES BEING IMPACTED.
UM, UH, THE IDEA THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE A TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX, UH, TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE REALLY, REALLY WORRIES ME.
UM, IT, IT GIVES ME A LOT OF HEARTBURN TO THINK THAT, THAT WE WOULDN'T JUST MOVE ON THIS NOW AND GET THE JOB DONE.
THIS IS, THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE, THE BETTER EFFORTS THAT I'VE SEEN AS FAR AS CRAFTING AN ORDINANCE, UH, AND DOING IT WITH ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED.
SO, UH, KUDOS TO, TO COUNCILMAN GOODE FOR THAT.
AND I WOULD ASK THAT WE, UH, WE PASS THIS TONIGHT.
COUNCILMAN ANDERSON, BE A FEW MINUTES.
UM, SO JUST WANNA SAY REALLY QUICKLY, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND, UM, ABOUT WANTING TO BRING EVERYBODY TO THE, THE TABLE, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T COME TO THE TABLE ARE THESE YOUNG GIRLS WHO ARE TRAPPED IN THESE, IN THESE ESTABLISHMENTS, SLEEPING ON MATTRESSES, LIVING AT A REFRIGERATOR AND AGAINST THEIR WILL, UM, BEING ABUSED, UM, DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY.
SO I'M GONNA SPEAK FOR THEM RIGHT NOW.
PLEASE LET ME LIVE A LIFE WHERE I CAN GO OUTSIDE AND CHOOSE WHAT I DO.
EAT EACH DAY AND HAVE A HOME, AND HAVE SAFETY AND BE PROTECTED, PLEASE.
UH, THERE IS A SUBSTITUTE ORDINANCE ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE AS AMENDED.
WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINES.
THE SUBSTITUTE ORDINANCE MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER NOEL.
AND WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINES.
MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED.
[83. 23-00627]
COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU WOULD GO TO YOUR GO TO PAGE 12.WE'RE GONNA DO APPOINTMENTS VERY QUICKLY.
A CHAPEL, I TRACE COMMISSION CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTED AND REPLACING HILLARY COLLINS, WHOSE TERMS EXPIRES ON MAY 12TH, 2023.
HILLARY COLLINS, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY AT THE NATURE CONSERVANCY IS HILLARY COLLINS HERE.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW COME BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
ARE WE APPOINTING HILLARY COLLINS? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPOINT HILLARY COLLINS? WE JUMPED, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
HILLARY COLLINS HAS BEEN, UH, HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO THE
[84. 23-00628]
LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROLLED CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTED AND REPLACING DONALD HUNTER DONALD LUTHER, WHOSE TERM EXPIRES ON MAY 16TH, 2023.THE, UH, APPLICANT'S ARE DONALD LUTHER, CHRISTOPHER RECARD AND KATHLEEN WASCOM.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COME ON DOWN, SIR.
STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
MY NAME IS JASON JACOB, 46 52 FALWELL DRIVE.
I AM THE, UH, CURRENT LIBRARY BOARD PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANNA RISE, UH, IN FAVOR OF SUPPORT OF MY TWO FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS.
I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF SERVING WITH THEM FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW.
THE BOARD HAS A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF IT.
WE STILL NEED TO HIRE LIBRARY DIRECTOR AND THERE'S GONNA BE A TAX, UH, RENEWAL COMING UP IN 2025.
SO THAT CONTINUITY IS GONNA HELP.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORTING THEIR REAPPOINTMENT.
MOTION TO REAPPOINT DON LUTHER.
THERE IS A MOTION TO APPOINT DON LUTHER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, HURST.
ANY OBJECTIONS? CONGRATULATIONS MR. LUTHER.
[85. 23-00629]
LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROLLED CONSIDERATION OF RE REPORTING.KATHLEEN WASK, WHOSE TERM EXPIRES ON MAY 16TH, 2023.
APPLICANTS ARE CHRISTOPHER RECARD AND KATHLEEN WASCO.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, I MAKE
[03:10:01]
A MOTION FOR MS. WASCOM TO BE CONSIDERED THAT LIBRARY CONTROL.SECOND BY MS. ROCKHAM, MS. ADAMS, MS. AMAROSA, MYSELF.
UH, ANY OBJECTIONS TO MS. WAKIN BEING APPOINTED TO THE LIBRARY BOARD? CONGRATULATIONS MR. LUTHER.
MS. WAKIN, YOU BOTH HAVE BEEN REAPPOINTED TO THE LIBRARY BOARD.
THANKS FOR SITTING HERE WITH US THROUGH ALL OF THESE ROBUST CONVERSATIONS.
[98. 23-00415]
YES, THERE HAS BEEN A REQUEST TO TAKE THIS ITEM BY PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.ITEM 98, A DISCUSSION OF THE MATTER ENTITLED MIKE MCCLENAN ET ALL VERSUS SCOTT WILSON ET ALL ON THE DOCKET OF THE US DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.
WE DO HAVE SOME ATTORNEYS WHO TRAVELED HERE FROM A LONG DISTANCE.
SO WE, IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM COME DOWN.
STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
I'M THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFFS TO IN THIS MATTER AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM NUMBER WILL? 98.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? GOOD.
OH, SHE'S SITTING RIGHT THERE.
WE ON YOUR ITEM COUNCIL MEMBERS, JUST SO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW, THIS IS, UH, SENIOR CANGELOSI, SHE'S, UH, THE CONTRACT ATTORNEY THAT WAS HANDING THAT UH, CONFLICT MATTER, UH, FOR, UH, ON BEHALF OF, UH, WAS, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, MAYOR PROTON, SCOTT WILSON, NOW MAYOR PRO, TIM LAMONT COLE.
THE LAWSUIT AGAINST ME NOW
UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS ON COUNCIL MEMBER? COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS SHOULD MOVE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION IF WE YEAH, RIGHT.
I'D MAKE A MOTION TO GO TO, INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THERE'S A MOTION TO GO ON EXECUTIVE SECONDARY.
SECOND, WE JUST NEED THE, THE JUSTIFICATION SAY THE REASON FOR GOING BECAUSE I DO NOT BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE SPEAKING ON OPEN LITIGATION.
IT WOULD BE ADVERSARIAL TO OUR CASE.
THERE A SECTION, ANY OBJECTION TO GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE ARE ADJOURNED TO EXECUTIVE SECTION.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'VE HAD A DISCUSSION ON ITEM 98.
[52. 23-00562]
52 ON PAGE EIGHT.COUNCIL MEMBERS PLEASE PAY ATTENTION SO WE CAN MOVE THROUGH THE AGENDA.
ITEM 52 AUTHORIZED THE SETTLEMENT OF CLAIM OF AUSTIN INSURANCE COMPANY THE JEFF MCGEE FOR DAMAGES RESULTING IN THE AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEE IN THE AMOUNT OF $23,045 92 CENT PAID TO ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY IN SUGE OF DEBORAH MCGEE BY PARISH ATTORNEY.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 52? MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN ROCKER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.
ANY OBJECTIONS WE GO TO ITEM 53
[53. 23-00574]
AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE CLAIM OF SHELTER INSURANCE COMPANY AS CROSSED DONE FOR DAMAGE RESULTING IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THE VETERANS POLICE OFFICER IN THE AMOUNT OF FOURTEEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY FOUR THOUSAND EIGHTY ONE CENTS PAID TO THE SHELTER INSURANCE COMPANY OF SUBROGATE OF CROSS DONE BY PARISH ATTORNEY.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 53 WHEN I GO TO COUNSEL, A MOTION TO APPROVE BY ROCKER SECONDED BY COLEMAN ANY THE OBJECTIONS WE GO TO ITEM 54 AUTHORIZED
[54. 23-00583]
A SETTLEMENT THE CLAIM OF STATE FARM INSURANCE COMPANY JOYCELYN NICHOLSON FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT CALLED BY BAT ROUGE POLICE OFFICER IN THE AMOUNT OF $14,279 87 CENT PAID TO THE STATE FARM INSURANCE COMPANY AT SUGE OF JOYCE NICHOLSON BY PARISH ATTORNEY.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 54 MAY GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MORK, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
[55. 23-00585]
ITEM 55 AUTHORIZING A SETTLEMENT OF THE CLAIM OF JOHN TA SMITH FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM A SEWER BACKUP IN THE CLAIMANT'S HOME FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF 20,000 HUNDRED $39 AND 34 CENTS BY PARISH ATTORNEY.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MOR SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MCMAN AND THE OBJECTIONS WE GO
[56. 23-00589]
TO ITEM 56, COUNCIL MEMBER DONE YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON ONE ONE OF THESE? ITEM 56 AUTHORIZED THE SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED LAUREN BEJO AT ALL THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AT ALL AND THE AMOUNT OF $125,000 PLUS COURT COSTS OF $1,227 62 CENTS FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $126,227 AND 62 CENTS BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 56? SO MORE DOWN JUST BRIEFLY.
UM, CUZ MY CLIENTS REALLY WANTED TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
MR. AND MRS. BAWA, JUST IN CASE YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT 'EM, THEY ARE LIFELONG RESIDENTS OF EAST BATON RIDGE PARISH AND THEY ARE FARMERS.
THE REASON THEY'RE NOT HERE TONIGHT IS BECAUSE THEIR ONLY OTHER SON, IN ADDITION TO UM, KEVIN WHO DIED IN 2015, THE SUBJECT OF THE SETTLEMENT, THEIR OTHER SON DIED AT THE END OF APRIL.
[03:15:01]
UM, SO THEY WANTED ME AS I SPOKE TO 'EM THIS MORNING TO CONVEY TO YOU THAT THEY WISH TO BE HERE.THEY CANNOT FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.
UM, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT KEVIN'S CASE, I'M HERE TO ANSWER 'EM.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 56? UH, THERE'S A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.
ANY OBJECTIONS SHOW COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON OPPOSING, WE NOW
[57. 23-00599]
GO TO ITEM 57, AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, OR CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO EXECUTE A SERVITUDE OF PASSAGES WITH WILLIAMS JET CENTER CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION BY AVIATION DIRECTOR.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 57? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUN SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
[58. 23-00546]
ITEM 58, AMENDING THE 2023 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE DR.LEO S BUTLER COMMUNITY CENTER AS TO APPROPRIATE $9,000 FROM THE FUND BALANCE ASSIGNED COMMUNITY CENTER TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE 2023 KIDS SUMMER CAM BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, ANYONE HERE FIRED 58.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HER THE
[59. 23-00587]
OBJECTIONS ITEM 59 AMENDED 2023 ALLOTMENT OF POSITIONS FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE.SO AS TO CHANGE THE ALLOTMENT OF BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS AS FOLLOWS, EFFECTIVE MAY, 1123 BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS ADMINISTRATIONS LEAD CONFIDENTIAL SECONDARY UNCLASSIFIED 35 12 AND ADD ONE.
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CLASSIFIED BY BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS DIRECTOR AND HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR ASHLEY COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 59.
ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 59? COME ON DOWN.
HELLO, MY NAME IS JARED MAR, UH, LIVE AT 51 10 MANCUSO LANE, UM, ZIP CODE 7,809 UH, DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN TO ADDRESS AN AGENDA ITEM THAT HAS RAISED SIGNIFICANT QUESTION.
THE ISSUE AT HAND RESOLVES REVOLVES AROUND THE PROPOSED CHANGE AND THE JOB ROLE WITHIN THE BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS DEPARTMENT.
SPECIFICALLY THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CURRENT CONFIDENTIAL SECRETARY WITH A LOWER PAYING LESS EXPERIENCED EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHED LIGHT ON SOME KEY ASPECTS AND SEEK CLARIFICATION THIS MATTER.
IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE CURRENT CONFIDENTIAL SECRETARY WHO HAS FAITHFULLY SERVED FOR A DECADE EARNS AN ANNUAL SALARY OF $59,363.
SURPRISINGLY, THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT STARTING AT THE SAME LEVEL AFTER 10 YEARS WOULD ONLY MAKE $56,994.
THIS APPARENT DOWNGRADE AND THE JOB ROLE RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT'S INTENTION TO PAY LESS FOR SIMILAR DUTIES PERFORMED BY THE SUBSEQUENT REPLACEMENT.
FURTHERMORE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE CURRENT CONFIDENTIAL SECRETARY HIRED IN 2013 IS ELIGIBLE FOR RETIREMENT AS PER THE CITY PARISHES RETIREMENT POLICY FOR EMPLOYEES HIRED PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2015.
GIVEN THIS ELIGIBILITY, ONE MIGHT QUESTION THE DECISION TO REPLACE THE POSITION RATHER THAN FINDING A QUALIFIED SUCCESSOR WHO CAN CONTINUE THIS ROLE.
ADDING TO THE CONFUSION, THE BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE OF $114,570 IN THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET FOR THE YEAR 2023.
THIS REPRESENTS A STAGGERING 55.25% INCREASE COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
AND CONTRAST OTHER ESSENTIAL AREAS SUCH AS ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES, PUBLIC BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND PRISON MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS. I RECEIVED FAR MORE MODEST INCREASES OF 16.4, 14.4 AND 8.26% RESPECTIVELY.
AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN, I'M EAGER TO UNDERSTAND THE RATIONALE BEHIND THIS CHANGE IN JOB ROLE.
WHY IS A LOWER PAYING POSITION REPLACING THE CURRENT ROLE? WHEN THE DEPARTMENT HAS EXPERIENCED SUCH AS SIGNIFICANT BOOST AND ITS ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET, IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR A TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY THAT WE KNOW WHERE THESE INCREASED ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ARE BEING ALLOCATED AND HOW THEY WILL BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY.
IN CONCLUSION, I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO PROVIDE CLARITY ON THE REASONS BEHIND THE PROPOSED CHANGE IN JOB ROLE WITHIN THE BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS DEPARTMENT AS CITIZENS INVESTED IN THE WELFARE AND EFFICIENCY OF OUR CITY'S OPERATIONS, WE DESERVE A COMPREHENSIVE EXPLANATION FOR THIS DECISION, PARTICULARLY CONCERNING THE CONSIDERING THE INCREASED ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET ONLY THROUGH OPEN DIALOGUE AND UNDERSTANDING AND WE ENSURE THAT OUR CITY'S RESOURCES ARE BEING ALLOCATED RESPONSIBLY AND IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, I ALSO HAVE SOME SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS, UM, JUST WHERE I, UM, DERIVE MY ANALYSIS.
AND, AND MR NO COUNCIL MEMBER, NOEL, PASS 'EM AROUND FOR US.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 59?
[03:20:01]
ANYONE ELSE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEM 59? COUNCIL MEMBER HURST? HEY, SO I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH, UH, DIRECTOR JOE BUTLER ABOUT THIS POSITION AND UH, I WON'T SPEAK FOR HIM, BUT THROUGH THAT CONVERSATION, UH, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR DOING SUCH A WELL ASSESSED, UM, UM, SPEECH OF CITY PARISH.BUT ONE THING I WILL SAY IS WHEN YOU SEE THE INCREASE IN BUDGETS, HU BECAUSE BUILDING THE GROUNDS REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY.
HE USED THE MONEY FROM EVERY DEPARTMENT TO FIX THAT BUILDING.
GIVE AN EXAMPLE ABOUT CHARLES KELLY.
UM, HE'S DONE A LOT OF WORK OVER THERE, BUT A LOT OF THAT WORK THAT HE'S GONNA DO, HE'S GONNA COME OUTTA MY BUDGET, NOT NECESSARILY HIS.
SO HE'S INCREASED HIS BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO DO MORE THINGS, UM, DIRECTLY FROM A BUILDERS AND GROUNDS BUDGET STANDPOINT THAT ARE EATING INTO OTHER AGENCIES.
SO FOR THAT REASON, I I, I ASKED FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE.
THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO APPROVE.
IS THERE A SECOND? NOT SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUS.
[60. 23-00462]
BEEN APPROVED.WE NOW GO TO ITEM 60 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH GUI ARCHITECTURE LLC FOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH PRIDE FIRE DISTRICT NUMBER EIGHT IN THE AMOUNT STATION IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $78,500.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 60? WE GO TO COUNCIL.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER NOEL.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOK.
[61. 23-00505 ]
GO NOW TO ITEM 61.AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT AN INCREASE IN THE ORIGINAL PROJECT AWARD OF $2,794,187 UNDER THE HADDEN MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM FOR 2077 GENERATORS PROJECT BY HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DIRECTOR.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 61? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A, A MOTION TO APPROVE ON THE COUNCIL? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARRISON.
[62. 23-00516]
PENAL TO ITEM 62 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO AUTHORIZE EXECUTION OF THE SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH THE BAT ROUGES BLACK ALCOHOLISM COUNCIL, DOING BUSINESS AS METRO HEALTH TO PROVIDE HOUSING CASE MANAGEMENT AND FOLLOW UP SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH HIV AND AIDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $300,000 BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 62? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOK SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.
[63. 23-00538]
WE GO TO ITEM 63 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT INSTITUTE TO ENTER INTO A SUB AGREEMENT WITH THE EASTBOUND PARISH CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL IN THE AMOUNT OF $300,000 TO PROVIDE REENTRY SERVICES UTILIZING FUNDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 63 WHEN I GO TO, SO MOVE BY COUNCIL.
I WAS JUST HOPING THAT THERE WOULD BE A PRESENTATION OR SOME INFORMATION ABOUT SPECIFICALLY WHAT THIS ITEM IS.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE ANY MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOK? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOE? ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? THE ITEM
[64. 23-00564]
HAS BEEN APPROVED.WE NOW GO TO ITEM 64 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND THE SERVICE OF RON WHITE PROGRAM, THE AMENDED SUB RECIPIENT CONTRACT FOR VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICAN SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA IN THE AMOUNT OF $273,546 FOR A TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT OF $494 $494,316 BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 64? YOU NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE SOME MOVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN? SECONDED BY THE CHAIR? ANY OBJECTIONS? GO.
[65. 23-00566]
65 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, PRESENT ATTENTION TO A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN THE COORDINATING WITH THE PURCHASE OF SUBSCRIBED HIV MEDICATION TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV AND THE CUSTODY OF THE EAST PARENTS PARISH JAIL BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 65? ANYONE HERE? COME ON MS. ANDERSON.
AND THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING TO MY LAST REQUEST, UH, MAYOR PROTE.
UM, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THIS ITEM.
UH, AS THE COUNCIL KNOWS THAT THE PRESENTATION THAT TURNKEY DID, IT INDICATED THAT IT HAD SOME OVERAGES AND ONE OF THE CONCERNS I HAD ABOUT A NUMBER OF THE ITEMS IN THAT REPORT, BUT SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE MEDICATIONS, WAS WHETHER THERE IS ANYBODY MONITORING AND REPORTING OUT THESE OVERAGES ARE UNDERAGE OR ANY OF THE OTHER ISSUES AROUND THE MEDICATIONS AND THE COST.
I ALSO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT, SINCE QUITE FRANKLY, THE, THE CONTRACT WITH TURNKEY ACTUALLY HAS PROVISIONS FOR IF THERE ARE OVER, UH, COST ESTIMATES AND WHETHER OR NOT THIS ITEM WILL BE, UH, CONSIDERED
[03:25:01]
IN THAT PROCESS.SO I REALLY WOULD, I KNOW, UM, TURNKEY WILL BE COMING BACK, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF WE HAVE A PROTOCOL FOR EXAMINING THIS AND IF WE DO WHAT IT IS, IF WE HAVE A PROTOCOL FOR EXAMINING THE PRICING PER MONTH.
SO IF THERE ARE OVERAGES OR IF WE ARE GOING OVER THE ASSIGNED BUDGET, THAT THE CONTRACT ITSELF SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT THERE'S A METHOD FOR ADDRESSING THAT, BUT IF WE'RE NOT MONITORING IT OR WE ONLY FINDING OUT ABOUT IT AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT.
UH, UH, MR. NARCIS, CAN YOU MAKE SURE YOU GIVE WITH REVEREND ANDERSON TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS THAT SHE JUST ASKED? NO, SHE DO.
WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS SECOND BY MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MO SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HEARST.
IS THERE ANY, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? WE NOW
[Items 66 - 72]
GO TO ITEM 66.WE'RE GONNA TAKE 66 TO 72 TOGETHER.
OTHERWISE, THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT OF SERVICES TO AMEND A SUB RECIPIENT CONTRACT WITHOUT LADY OF THE LAKE INCORPORATED FOR AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF $249,684 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $359,684 BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.
ITEM 67, AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES TO AMEND A SUB RECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH NO AGE TASK FORCE FOR THE RYAN WHITE ANY THE HIV EPIDEMIC PROGRAM TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF 200,000 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $336,056 BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.
ITEM 68, AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES TO AMEND A SUB CONTRACT HIV AND AIDS ALLIANCE FOR REGION TWO FOR AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF $300,000 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $502,917 BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.
ITEM 69 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE HUMAN DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES TO AMEND THE SUBRECIPIENT CONTRACT FOR FAMILY SERVICES.
A GREATER BAT RULES FOR AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF $246,145 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $349,145 BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.
ITEM NUMBER 70, AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES TO AMEND THE SUB RECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH CAPITAL CITY FAMILY HEALTH CLINIC COIN INCREASE IN AN AMOUNT OF $280,625 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $488,625 BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.
ITEM 71, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES TO ACCEPT FUNDING FROM A US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION FOR THE RYAN WHITE HIV AND AIDS PROGRAM IN AN AMOUNT OF $3,876,366 BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.
ITEM 72 AUTHORIZED AND AM MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES TO ACCEPT FUNDING FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION FOR THE RYAN WHITE HIV AND AIDS IN AN AMOUNT OF $1,794,200.
WE GOT ANYTHING BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR? IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 66 THROUGH 72? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 66? 2 72? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOK SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MA'AM, SUSTAIN, LET THE RECORD REFLECT OUR STATE.
SO COUNCILMAN DUNN ABSTAINING FROM 68.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 65 THROUGH 72 HAVE BEEN APPROVED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN JR.
[73. 23-00575]
73.AUTHORIZED AND MAYOR PRESENT IN THE EXECUTE A LIGHTING AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT AND CONNECTION WITH THE STATE PROJECT LA 3 0 64 TO LA 1 24 PHASE TWO CONSTANTINE AVENUE BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MOTION TO DELETE THIS ITEM.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 73? AT THIS TIME I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO DELETE THE ITEM.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER NO SECOND AND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKER.
ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 73 HAS BEEN DELETED.
[74. 23-00576]
ITEM 74 AUTHORIZED AND MERIT PRESENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER ONE TO THE CONTRACT FOR ENGINEER SERVICES WITH GC INCORPORATED IN CONNECTION WITH THE TERRACE STREET DRAINAGE PUMP STATION RENOVATIONS AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $266,098 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 74? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL.
SO MOVE BY COUNCILMAN SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
[75. 23-00580]
WE GO TO ITEM 75 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT IN ENTERING INTO A THREE MONTH EMERGENCY EXTENSION OF CONTRACT FOR WC CLAIMS ADJUSTING SERVICES TO JUNE 30TH, 2023 WITH CEDRIC CLAIM MANAGEMENT SERVICES BY PARISH ATTORNEYS.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 75? WHEN NOW GO TO COUNCIL.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 75? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KOLAND.
[76. 23-00581]
NOW GO.ITEM 76 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT TO ENTER TO A THREE-MONTH EMERGENCY EXTENSION OF THE CONTRACT FOR GENERAL LIABILITY CLAIMS ADJUSTING SERVICES THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2023 WITH CEDRIC CLAIMS MANAGEMENT
[03:30:01]
SERVICES INCORPORATED AND ADDING $40,000 TO SAY CONTRACT BY PARISH ATTORNEY.ARE THERE ANY OF ANYONE HERE TO, IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCCOMB.
[77. 23-00582]
ITEM 77 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER TWO FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES AT AECOM TECHNICAL SERVICES FOR A PARTIAL ALLOWANCE OF INITIATE FINAL DESIGN SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOBILE QUARTER ENHANCEMENT PROJECT COLLEGE DRIVE PERKINS ROAD ONE 10 IN AN AMOUNT OF $800,000 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTORS.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 77? WHEN NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 77 COUNCIL MEMBERS? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOK SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM.
[78. 23-00584]
WE GO TO ITEM 78, AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT.EXECUTED CONTRACT FOR ACQUISITION SERVICES WITH RU THOMAS REALTOR TOO FOR SIR? HUH? OH, FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVE CAPACITY PROJECT JEFFERSON HIGHWAY AND CORPORATE BOULEVARD INTERSECTION AND AMOUNT C $85,300.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 78? WE'RE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
[79. 23-00588]
9 79 AUTHORIZED AMER PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT TO ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT UTILITY RELOCATION AGREEMENT IN THE CITY OF BAKER FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOBILE CAPACITY PROJECT MCKEE ROAD ROOM TO LOWER ZACHARY AND IN MOUNTAIN NOT TO EXCEED $300,000 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 79? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER NOEL SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? ITEM 79 HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[80. 23-00595]
WE NOW GO TO ITEM 80, AUTHORIZED A MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE BATTERY CITY COURT ATTENTION TO A CONTRACT PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH CLAIRE NEEDLING.THE CONTRACT IS NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF $72,000 FOR TERM OF THE CONTRACT.
THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY LICENSED CERTIFIED COURT REPORTERS BY CLERK OF COURT JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATORS.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 80? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM SECONDED BY THE COUNCIL MEMBER NOEL.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? I AEM HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[81. 23-00596]
ITEM 81 IS A REQUESTED LEAD.THIS ITEM AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE BAT CITY COURT TO ENTER TO A CONTRACT WITH PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH AMBER CLARK.
THE CONTRACT IS NOT TO EXCEED THE SUMMER $72,000 FOR THE TERMINAL OF THE CONTRACT.
THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY A LICENSED CERTIFIED COURT REPORTER BY THE CLERK, COURT AND JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATOR.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 81? AT THIS TIME, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO DELETE THIS ITEM.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 81 HAS BEEN DELETED.
[82. 23-00597]
TO 82 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE BAT CITY COURT TO ENTER TO A CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENTS WITH JODI A BEAR.THE CONTRACT IS NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF $72,000 FOR THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT.
THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY LICENSED CERTIFIED COURT REPORTERS BY CLERK COURT AND JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATOR.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 82? COUNCIL MEMBER MULT? YEAH, WHICHEVER.
I'M NOT SURE WHICH DEPARTMENT TO CALL UP, BUT WE JUST DID THREE ORDINANCES.
THE OTHER ONE, THIS IS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND IS COURT REPORTING.
WE'RE BRINGING ON SOMEBODY WITH A PRIVATE CONTRACT.
DO OUR COURT REPORTING INDIVIDUALLY UNDER PRIVATE CONTRACT? I DON'T KNOW IF MR. ALFORD IS STILL HERE, BUT, UM, THESE ARE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR CON UH, CONTRACT COURT REPORTERS AT THE CITY COURT AND ONE OF THE COURT REPORTERS, UM, MS. CLARK JUST, UH, SUBMITTED A RESIGNATION SO THEY'RE NOT RENEWING HER CONTRACT, OBVIOUSLY.
WE WE'RE DOING PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT.
DIDN'T WE JUST DO AN ORDINANCE AS FAR AS INCREASING PAY? THAT WAS AT THE 19TH.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. ITEM 82 HAS BEEN APPROVED.
COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL GO TO ADMINISTRATIVE
[ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS]
MATTERS NOW A RECEIVING A REPORT FROM SET FREE.FROM SET FREE INDEED AND THE EAST BAR DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THE WHEN YOU READY BE OUR DRUG OVERDOSE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN ON OVERDOSE THEFTS IN THE EXPERIENCE PARISH.
THE REASON THIS ITEM IS BEING REQUESTED AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER IS TO ALLOW THE ITEM TO BE HEARD ON MAY 24TH.
I NEED A MOTION TO WA THE RULES SO THE ITEM CAN BE INTRODUCED.
IS THERE A MOTION GO TO, IS THERE A MOTION AWAY? THE RULES? YES, SIR.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANK.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A MOTION AWAY THE RULES? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION? AWAY THE RULES.
NOW WE NEED A MOTION TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL NUMBER BANK, SECONDED BY COUNCIL NUMBER COLEMAN.
WE NOW GO TO ITEM B RECEIVING AN UPDATE ON THE PAY STUDY FROM THE
[03:35:01]
MAYOR'S OFFICE.AND COUNCILMAN DARRY HURST BY COUNCILMAN DARRY HIRST.
THE REASON FOR EMERGENCY OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER IS TO ALLOW THE ITEM TO BE HEARD ON MAY 10TH.
IS THERE A MOTION TO WA THE RULES? MOTION TO WA THE RULES.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKA.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER? NO.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION TO WA THE RULES? UH, WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MOTION.
ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE MOTION TO WA THE RULES? UH, WE CALLING FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM AND COUNCIL MEMBER MOK HAS OBJECTED TO HEARING THE ITEM TONIGHT OH, OH OH.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAM OBJECTS TO HEARING ITEM TONIGHT.
THAT IS ITEM ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER B.
ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE GO TO WE, WE GO
[Items 86 - 91]
WE GO TO ITEM 86 THROUGH 91.UH, 86 BECKHAM DRIVE, DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS CON CONTRACTED MCCOY GROUP LLC, CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, SEVENTEEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED FIFTY TWO THOUSAND SIXTY TWO CENTS.
ITEM 87 S WWTP BUFFER IMPROVEMENTS CONTRACTOR, HACKLEY ENTERPRISES, LLC.
ITEM 88, SALES TAX STREET AND ROAD REHABILITATION PROGRAM.
PROJECT 18 DASH THREE STREETS HYUNDAI, LEAD CONTRACTOR, BARRIER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, LLC.
ITEM 89, PLACE REGIONAL PUMP STATION CONTRACTOR NCMC LLC.
$30,000 $630,644 AND 88 CENTS.
VALVE REPLACEMENT CONTRACTOR, NC M MC, LLC, CHANGE YOUR ORDER AMOUNT.
ELEVEN THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED THIRTY THREE THOUSAND THIRTEEN CENTS 91.
SHARON HILL CITY, GLEN AREA REHABILITATION CONTRACTED GULF COAST UNDERGROUND LLC.
THREE $31,542 19 CENTS, WHICH IS A CREDIT.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 86 2 91? I'LL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER NOEL.
ITEM, ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 86 THROUGH 91 HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
[Items 92 - 96]
NOW GO TO FINAL ACCEPTANCES.92 THROUGH 96 BECKHAM DRIVE, DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS CONTRACTOR MCCOY GROUP, LLC, FINAL COST ONE AND THIRTY THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED EIGHTY TWO THOUSAND TWO CENTS.
ITEM 93 S WW TP BUFFER IMPROVEMENTS CONTRACTOR, HACKLEY ENTERPRISES, LLC.
FINAL COST $332,701 AND 30 CENTS.
ITEM 94 PCU PLACE, REGIONAL PUMP STATION CONTRACTOR NCMC LLC.
FINAL COST $1,057,644 AND 88 CENTS.
ITEM 95 PUMP STATION 44 VALVE REPLACEMENT CONTRACT, NCMC LLC.
FINAL COST FIVE HUNDRED EIGHTY TWO THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED THIRTY THREE THOUSAND THIRTEEN CENTS.
SEE THE GLEN AREA REHABILITATION CONTRACTOR, GULF COAST UNDERGROUND LLC.
FINAL COST 600 AND SIX HUNDRED ONE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED TWENTY EIGHT THOUSAND THIRTY FOUR CENTS.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 92 THROUGH 96? WE GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? WE
[97. 23-00603]
NOW GO TO ITEM 97, ACCEPTANCE OF LOPEZ BIDS, JANITORIAL SERVICES FOR PUBLIC FACILITIES, JUVENILE SUPPLEMENTAL PROJECT 8 21 AS 0 4 0 5 S, BETTY SD, BETTY S AND D CLEANING SERVICES, LLC, $88,426 83 CENTS.IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 97? WE NOW GO TO, UH, COUNCIL.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? WHO IS ITEM 96 HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[99. 23-00598]
WHEN I GO TO ITEM 99, HAVE TO APPROVE RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE ON RECYCLING FEES.IN THE POSSIBILITY OF WAIVING SUCH FEES, WE'RE GONNA HIT A REPORT AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I I DID GET A LIST OF, UH, QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILWOMAN ROCK'S OFFICE.
SO WE'RE GONNA RUN THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION AND, UH, TRY TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
SO, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ON THE, ON THE USER FEE.
IT'S BEEN IN EFFECT SINCE 1991.
UH, THE RECYCLING PROGRAM BEGAN SOMETIME IN THE MID NINETIES.
WE STARTED OUT WITH THE, THE GREEN CONTAINERS, IF YOU REMEMBER, THE GREEN CONTAINERS.
AND THEN WE MOVED OVER TO CARTS IN 2005.
[03:40:01]
RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN PAYING FOR, UH, RECYCLING SERVICE AS PART OF THAT PROGRAM.SINCE THE USER FEE HAS HAS BEEN IN PLACE.
UM, THERE IS NO OPT OUT POLICY.
UH, THERE IS AN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IF YOU FALL WITHIN CERTAIN, UH, THRESHOLD FOR LOWER INCOME.
AND WE, WE'VE GOT THE WEBSITE THERE.
IT'S, IT'S ON THE, UH, THE USER FEE WEBSITE.
AND OF COURSE WE CAN GET THAT OUT TO EVERYBODY HERE IF YOU NEED IT.
I THINK THERE WERE SOME CHANGES TO THE, UH, THE WAY THE BATON ROUGE WATER BILL LOOKS.
AND COINCIDENTALLY, THAT KIND OF WENT INTO EFFECT RIGHT AROUND THE SAME TIME THAT THE, THE NEW, UH, USER FEE WENT INTO THE PLACE.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT NECESSARILY CAUSED THE CONFUSION.
WE'LL GET INTO THAT IN A SECOND, BUT I, I DID WANT TO TOUCH ON THE ITEM.
THEY DO HAVE A NEW LOOK TO THE BILL.
UM, WE ARE GONNA, YOU CAN SEE IN THAT SLIDE THERE, THEY'VE GOT WATER AND THEN THEY'VE GOT SEWER AND SOLID WASTE COMBINED.
WE ARE TALKING TO THEM RIGHT NOW TO GO AHEAD AND SPLIT THOSE OUT INTO THREE ITEMS INSTEAD OF TWO SO THAT YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S WATER, WHAT'S SEWER, INDIVIDUALLY, AND THEN WHAT'S GARBAGE.
AND THEN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE, THE NEXT PAGE OF YOUR BILL, IT DOES BREAK OUT WHAT YOU'RE PAYING IN SEWER AND THEN THE, THE TOTAL AMOUNT FOR GARBAGE.
AND AGAIN, UH, THIS IMAGE IS ON BATON ROUGE WATER'S WEBSITE.
THAT'S THE WEBSITE THERE DOWN AT THE BOTTOM.
AND THEY'VE GOT EVERYTHING THAT EXPLAINS NOT ONLY OUR ITEMS, BUT THE ITEMS THAT'S PERTINENT TO, TO THEM SPECIFICALLY ON THE BILL.
THIS IS PROBABLY THE ONE THAT CAUSED, UH, MORE OF THE QUESTIONS.
THIS WAS A, UH, A, A FULL PAGE INSERT THAT WE, WE PUT INTO THE BILL.
THIS IS JUST TWO, UH, EXCERPTS FROM, FROM THAT.
BUT IN, IN AN EFFORT TO BE TRANSPARENT, WE WERE TRYING TO SHOW HOW THE BILL WAS BROKEN OUT, WHAT MADE UP THE $35 AND 23 CENTS OF THE SOLID WASTE USER FEE.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT SECOND ITEM THERE IS THE RECYCLING ITEM.
I KNOW, UM, JUST AT, AT OUR OFFICE, WE, WE DID GET A LOT OF CALLS ONCE THIS WAS PUT OUT CUZ PEOPLE THEN REALIZED THAT THERE WAS A, A SEPARATE LINE ITEM FOR RECYCLING.
SO THEY, THEY WANTED TO, TO KNOW THAT IF THEY COULD TAKE, GET THAT TAKEN OFF OF THEIR BILL.
SO AGAIN, THIS IS NOT IN THE WATER BILL EVERY SINGLE MONTH.
THIS WAS A ONE-TIME INSERT WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO EXPLAIN A BUNCH OF THINGS WITH MOST OF WHICH REGARDING THE, THE SOLID WASTE USER FEE.
SO WITH THAT, SO THE, THE BENEFITS OF RECYCLING, WE WANT EVERYBODY TO RECYCLE.
OKAY? 15,000 TONS ARE DIVERTED FROM THE NORTH LANDFILL EVERY YEAR, WHICH ULTIMATELY EXTENDS THE LIFE OF THE LANDFILL.
OKAY? SO WE WANT EVERYBODY TO RECYCLE THAT, THAT TONNAGE.
THAT'S JUST WHAT, WHAT WE DO THAT DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR, UH, COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS.
IT DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR BIG INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS.
IT DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT, THAT GOES THROUGH THE RECYCLING FACILITY.
THAT, THAT'S JUST SPECIFICALLY US.
AND IT, IT ALSO, IT ALLOWS US TO PARTNER WITH, WITH L D E Q TO MEET OR EXCEED THEIR GOAL.
THEY, THEY DO HAVE A 25% WASTE REDUCTION GOAL.
AND JUST, WE ALL HEAR ABOUT THE, IT TAKES THOUSANDS OF YEARS FOR A WATER BOTTLE TO BREAK DOWN, OKAY? IN THAT PICTURE, THEY ARE JUST A HANDFUL OF RECYCLABLE ITEMS. THE ONLY THINGS THAT'S GONNA DECOMPOSE IS, IS THE PAPER.
EVERYTHING ELSE, IF IT GOES IN THE LANDFILL, IT, IT'S GONNA BE THERE FOR GENERATIONS.
AND WE WANT TO, WE WANT TO GET RID OF THAT.
WE WANT TO, WE WANT TO BE SUSTAINABLE.
WE WANT TO, UM, DIVERT IT FROM THE LANDFILL AND, AND EITHER REUSE IT OR RECYCLE IT, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
SO WITH THAT, UH, AGAIN, WHAT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DO, WE, WE TRY TO PROMOTE RECYCLING.
WE DO IT THROUGH VARIOUS FORMS OF MEDIA.
WE'VE GOT SCHOOL OUTREACH PROGRAMS. WE USE SOCIAL MEDIA.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANNA START DOING IS WHEN, WHEN PEOPLE CALL US AND SAY, HEY, CAN I, CAN I GET THE WATER, THE RECYCLING TAKEN OFF MY BILL? WE, WE WILL EX EXPLAIN TO THEM WHY THEY, WE CAN'T.
AND THEN WE'LL TRY TO CHANGE THAT NARRATIVE
[03:45:01]
AND SAY, WELL, OKAY, WELL HOW ABOUT YOU LET US BRING A RECYCLING CART TO YOUR HOUSE INSTEAD, WHY DON'T, HOW ABOUT YOU LET US, YOU KNOW, START RECYCLING, UTILIZE THAT SERVICE SO THAT WE CAN BE A MORE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY.UM, I THINK ONE OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS WAS IF, IF WE ARE DIRECTING FOLKS TO THE, THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S OFFICES, THE, THE TALKING POINT WAS IF SOMEBODY CALLS ABOUT THE NEW USER FEE, THEY WERE EXPLAINED WHAT'S IN THE USER FEE.
IF THEY CONTINUE TO ASK QUESTIONS, AND THEY ASKED, OKAY, WELL WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY THIS? THE, THE SERVICE FEE OFFICE WOULD TELL THEM THAT IT IS PART OF THE SOLID WASTE USER FEE ORDINANCE.
OKAY? THAT WAS PASSED BY THE METRO COUNCIL.
CAUSE WHAT THE SEWER FEE OFFICE WAS JUST TRYING TO, TO EXPLAIN IS THAT, HEY, WE'RE WE'RE JUST DOING OUR JOB AND WE'RE PUTTING IT ON THE BILL.
LIKE, LIKE WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO IT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO.
AND THIS IS HOW THAT CAME ABOUT.
SO WE'VE, WE WERE NOT DIRECTING PEOPLE TO, TO CALL THE THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S OFFICES.
WE'VE RE CLARIFIED THAT AGAIN TO MAKE SURE, HEY, DON'T DO THAT.
UM, THE OTHER THING TOO, AND THEN BATON ROUGE WATER, JUST TO BRING IN THE BATON ROUGE WATER PIECE, IF PEOPLE DO CALL BATON ROUGE WATER, THEY ARE DIRECTED TO THE SERVICE FEE OFFICE WHO IS INTERNAL TO US HERE AT THE CITY PARISH.
AND THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE FIELDING THOSE QUESTIONS ALONG WITH ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS PUBLIC HEARING FIRST BEFORE WE TAKE QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ITEM 98? COME ON DOWN.
I'M A PARENT AND DISABILITIES ADVOCATE.
UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS BECAUSE AS A TAXPAYER CITIZEN, WE DON'T GET TO RECYCLE.
YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE WE NEVER RECEIVED THE RECYCLING BIN.
AND YOU DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING SET UP FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO BE ABLE TO CALL AND ACTUALLY REPORT THAT THEY NEED A RECYCLING BIN.
IN FACT, IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY TO BE ABLE TO MATRICULATE THROUGH ANY OF THE STATE AGENCIES THAT YOU HAVE IN THE CITY.
SO WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT THAT? YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT YOU WANNA EDUCATE CHILDREN, THEY'RE NOT EDUCATING CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.
SO EXACTLY HOW ARE WE GONNA DO THAT? SEE, WE CAN'T SIT HERE AND TALK ABOUT THAT.
WE ARE GONNA ACCEPT MONEY FROM EVERYBODY, BUT WE ARE NOT GONNA HELP EVERYBODY.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT TO WHERE WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WHERE IS THIS TRASH GOING? BECAUSE THE ROBINSON LANDFILL AND ELSON CONTINUES TO GET BIGGER AND BIGGER EVERY SINGLE TRASH DAY.
AND NOBODY SEEMS TO BE SPEAKING ABOUT THAT.
THE LAST TIME I CAME HERE, I SPOKE AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE IN ELSON COULD ACTUALLY LOOK OUTSIDE THEY WINDOW AND NOT CONTINUE TO LOOK AT 20 PLUS STORIES OF TRASH THAT DOES NOT COME FROM EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, BUT FROM OTHER PLACES THAT THEY HAVE TO LOOK AT.
BREATHE IN THE SOUL FOR THE AMMONIA.
OH, AND BY THE WAY, HAVE FIRES.
WE DON'T WANT YOUR TRASH COMING FROM OTHER PARACHUTES WHEN WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PAY TAX DOLLARS.
SO WHAT IS EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH CITY COUNCIL PLANNING ON DOING? BECAUSE MY CHILD WITH A DISABILITY CONTINUES TO GO TO 16 DOCTORS COURTESY OF DISABILITIES THAT HE RECEIVED FROM A LANDFILL THAT CONTINUES TO GET TRASH THAT IS NOT COMING FROM MY YARD.
SOMEBODY HAS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
AND UNTIL YOU ADDRESS IT, I WILL MAKE IT MY BUSINESS TO BRING HIM IN HERE.
I DO NOTICE THAT YOUR ROOM IS NOT EQUIPPED TO HANDLE A CHILD WITH DISABILITIES, BUT I WILL MAKE IT MY BUSINESS TO HAVE HIM IN HERE.
AND THEN WE WILL BE IN COURT FOR AMERICAN DISABILITIES ACT VIOLATION BECAUSE HE HAS TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND.
EVEN THOUGH HE'S NONVERBAL, HE CAN COMMUNICATE WITH AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE AND WITH A COMMUNICATION DEVICE, WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO PAY PEOPLE OR ENTITIES THAT ARE REFUSING TO HELP PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME OR PEOPLE THAT HAVE IN DISABILITIES.
AND I WOULD LIKE AN ANSWER BEFORE I LEAVE, CUZ I JUST WATCHED Y'ALL PUT ALMOST 10 MILLION TOWARDS HIV AIDS, BUT NOTHING TOWARDS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
AND THE PEOPLE IN ALLISON THAT HAVE TO LI LOOK AT RONALD LANDFILL AND THE GARBAGE.
SO I I DEFINITELY WELCOME ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
AND I GUESS SINCE Y'ALL HAVE NONE, THAT MEAN THAT Y'ALL GONNA MOVE IN FAVOR TO MAKE
[03:50:01]
SURE THAT WE HAVE NO MORE TRASH.COME OVER THERE TO ROBINSON LANDFILL AND YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEM.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, SHARON AND ADAM.
IF, IF Y'ALL WOULD, UM, TO, TO THAT POINT, I KNOW WE HAVE A PROGRAM FOR, UH, CART SERVICE.
DO WE DO THAT WITH THE RECYCLE CARTS AS WELL? NOT WITH RECYCLING.
BUT YOU TALKING ABOUT THE THE WHERE WE SERVICE IT AT THE HOUSE, LIKE WE GO GET IT? NO, NOT FOR THE RECYCLE.
WE CAN LOOK, I MEAN, NEVER BEEN SORRY, GO AHEAD.
WE NEVER, WE NEVER REALLY GET ASKED THAT QUESTION.
IT'S MAINLY FOR GARBAGE, BUT IT'S ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING THAT WE CAN GET, WE CAN LOOK INTO FOR THE RONALDS LANDFILL.
IT'S A DIFFERENT COMPANY FOR US.
BUT WE CAN ABSOLUTELY DO THAT.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ABSOLUTELY LOOK INTO.
CAN CAN YOU DO IT WITHIN THE CURRENT FEE STRUCTURE? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PASSION.
AND JUST REMIND YOU, THIS IS A, A REPORT.
SO YOUR INPUT WAS GREATLY, UH, NEEDED AND HELPFUL.
AND I THINK THEY GONNA LOOK TO IT.
YEAH, IT'S, IT'S NOT AN ACTION ITEM.
SO WE WON'T, WE WON'T BE TAKING ANY ACTION TONIGHT.
IT'S FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES AND GET FEEDBACK FROM US IN THE PUBLIC.
ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS? COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS? NOT TO LONG, BUT I'D LIKE TO JUST SPEAK WITH YOU AFTER COUNCIL.
CAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN TO SOMEHOW RON FIELD MEETING COUNCIL MEMBER ROCK.
AND I, UM, APPRECIATE ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THANKING ME FOR PUTTING THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
UM, I KNOW THAT BAN ROUGE WATER WAS SENDING CALLS TO MY OFFICE AND THERE WERE MANY QUESTIONS WITH REGARDS TO THE $6 FEE AS IDENTIFIED.
THANK YOU FOR THAT ILLUSTRATION.
UM, WE HAVE FOLKS THAT WERE VERY, VERY ANGRY ABOUT THAT $6 FEE, NOT REALIZING THAT THEY HAVE PAID IT FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
ALSO NOT REALIZING, UM, STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A CART, HAVE NEVER HAD A CART.
UM, AND I'M, I'M THINKING THAT MAYBE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM THAT A CART CAN BE DELIVERED TO THEM AND THEY CAN START UTILIZING THAT SERVICE MAY BE HELPFUL.
UM, MY ONLY REQUEST IS CAN WE PLEASE HAVE, UM, THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION IF, IF IT'S POSSIBLE SHARED TO US SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE IT ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES AND ALSO TO CONSTITUENTS THAT DO STILL HAVE QUESTIONS AND THAT ARE NOT TUNED IN TONIGHT WATCHING THIS MEETING.
CUZ IT HAS GONE EXTREMELY LONG.
IT WAS, IT WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, THE TIME NOW IS 8 0 6.
I NEED TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO EXTEND THE MEETING IF WE'RE GONNA GO BEYOND EIGHT 10.
UH, WE STARTED AT FOUR 10, SO THE MEETING IS TO END AT EIGHT 10.
UH, SO IF THERE'S GONNA BE A MOTION TO EXTEND, WE CAN ENTERTAIN THAT.
UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO EXTEND THE MEETING.
I'M ASKING FOR 10 MINUTES OF YOUR TIME.
THE GENTLEMANS FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN HERE FOR MONTHS AFTER MONTHS.
AND THAT ITEM BACK THAT WE TURNED DOWN A WHILE AGO WAS ABOUT THEM FOR THEM TO SPEAK.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THEM A FEW MINUTES.
THEY'VE BEEN COMING TO COUNCIL MEETINGS TO BE HEARD.
IS THERE SECOND? SECOND MOTION? THERE'S A SECOND ON THE MOTION TO EXTEND.
THE ONLY WAY WE CAN HEAR THE ITEM IS THE PERSON ON THE PREVAILING SIDE HAS TO MAKE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER.
THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO RECONSIDER.
IS THERE SECOND? THERE'S A SECOND.
SO WE'LL GO TO, WE'LL GO TO ITEM B.
UH, SO WHAT DO WE, WHO'S, WHO'S GIVING THE UPDATE? HUH? DO WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO WAIVE THE RULES AND ALL THAT AGAIN, OR NO? WELL, IS THERE, THERE'S A, SO WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.
IS THERE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? SO MOVE.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION TO WA THE RULES? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE MOTIONAL WAY OF THE RULES? NO.
ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTIONAL WAY OF THE RULES? NOW WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? THERE'S NO OBJECTION.
I'D LOVE TO SAY, UH, SAY A FEW WORDS ON THE ITEM.
WELL, WOULD YOU RATHER HEAR THE UPDATE FIRST OR YOU WANT TO SPEAK FIRST? UM, IS THERE AN UPDATE ON, ON THE, THANK YOU.
I THINK YOU HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION ALREADY.
WELL, I'D LIKE TO HEAR THE UPDATE.
I LIKE, I DON'T OKAY, WELL Y'ALL GO.
HEY, DID WE GET, SO WE ACTUALLY STARTED A KICKOFF MEETING, UM, TO BEGIN THE PROJECT ON, UH, MONDAY, MAY 8TH.
UH, WE HAVE A TWO WEEK CADENCE FOR, UH, MEETING WITH, UH, EMERGENT METHODS WHO'S GONNA HELP US PREPARE THE RFP FOR THE STUDY.
UM, UH, JUNE 26TH THROUGH JULY 20TH.
THE COMMITTEE WILL LOOK AT THE DRAFT OF THE RFP THAT, UM,
[03:55:01]
EMERGING IS GONNA PUT TOGETHER FOR US.WEDNESDAY, JULY 26TH IS OUR TENTATIVE DATE TO RELEASE THE, UH, PUBLISHED RFP, UH, AUGUST 11TH.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, UH, WILL BE DUE FROM VENDORS IF THEY HAVE ANY.
AFTER THE RFP HAS BEEN PUBLISHED AUGUST 16TH, WE'RE GONNA RESPOND TO ANY, UH, QUESTIONS THAT, UH, VENDORS HAVE.
THE RFP WILL CLOSE ON AUGUST 25TH, AND THEN BY SEPTEMBER 25TH WE HOPE TO HAVE A FINAL VENDOR SELECTED TO BEGIN THIS STUDY.
UM, THAT'S GONNA TAKE QUITE SOME TIME TO CONDUCT.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COME ON DOWN, SIR.
I'M, UH, THE LOCAL 5 57, THE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, UH, UNION PRESIDENT HERE.
UM, SPEAKING ON THE ITEM, I THINK MY, MY, MY ITEM TO SPEAK ON TONIGHT WAS, UH, SOME SENSE OF URGENCY TO GET WHATEVER THE STUDY'S DONE, PAY RAISES HAVE TO GO OUT.
THESE FIREFIGHTERS ARE OUT THERE.
SOME OF 'EM ARE MAKING $11 AN HOUR STARTING NOW.
THEY ARE, UH, WORKING THREE JOBS RIGHT NOW.
WE ARE RESPONDING TO EVERY EMERGENCY THAT COULD COME UP.
AND, UH, WE'VE BEEN PATIENT THROUGH A LOT OF CRISES IN THE CITY, KNOWING THAT YOU DON'T JUST HAVE MONEY TO THROW AT A PROBLEM.
WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING TO YOU IS, IS YOU'VE NOTICED US, YOU'VE SEEN ABOUT US HERE.
YOU'VE SEEN US UP HERE, YOU'VE SEEN US, UM, TAKING TIME OUT OF OUR SCHEDULES AND THOSE JOBS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND EVERY OTHER THING.
AND, UH, MY REQUEST TO Y'ALL IS TO LET'S MOVE FORWARD WITH IT AS FA AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
A PAY STUDY IS, I MEAN, FROM, FROM MY END IS NOT NECESSARY.
WE'RE 21% IN LOSSES RIGHT NOW IN, IN, UH, INFLATION.
AND RIGHT NOW I'VE GOT A 5% RECOVERY ON IT.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL FIND THAT ACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE, THE DANGERS AND RISKS THAT WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW.
UM, WE'RE NOT THE ONLY AGENCY THAT'S FACING THAT PROBLEM.
I THINK, UH, I THINK, UH, EVERYBODY IN THE CITY IS PROBABLY UNDERPAID, INCLUDING YOURSELVES FROM BEST I CAN TELL.
I'VE SEEN WHAT YOUR PAY IS AND IT'S NOT REAL GREAT EITHER,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MS. LINDA AND, AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
UM, BUT THAT HASN'T RECOVERED WHERE WE'RE AT.
UM, I SUPPOSE RIGHT NOW I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS WITH IT, BUT MY, MY REQUEST TO Y'ALL HAS PUT SOME URGENCY IN THIS.
WE'VE BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY FOR A VERY LONG TIME TO, TO BE RECOGNIZED AND, UM, NOTICED AND IF, IF THE PAY HAS TO BE, I, I THINK WHAT'S WHAT'S GOT ME SO SCARED LOOKING AT THIS COMING UP IS YOU'RE LOOKING AT WHAT SEPTEMBER BEFORE WE'RE, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON ANYTHING NEGOTIATIONS ARE OVER WITH.
I MEAN, THE, THE BUDGET'S ALREADY ALMOST SET BY THAT POINT.
AND WHERE ARE WE GONNA BE INCLUDED IN THAT? WHERE'S THE PAY GONNA BE? UM, SO I WOULD HOPE Y'ALL WOULD, Y'ALL WOULD DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO MOVE FORWARD AND, UH, MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE ARE GETTING PAID AND RETENTION AND, AND RECRUITMENT IS A BIG PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM.
SO ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? UH, WE'RE GOING TO WAIT AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER, UH, MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WANTING TO SPEAK.
AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL CALL YOU BACK UP IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
DOES ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER? HER? SO ONE THING THAT, UH, JUST CAME TO MIND WHEN MIKE, UM, STARTED TALKING ABOUT SENSE OF URGENCY, I THINK IT'S NOT JUST A SENSE OF URGENCY FOR HIM.
I THINK IT'S A SENSE OF URGENCY FOR US AS WELL AS THE COUNCIL, AS WELL AS THE ADMINISTRATION.
AND THE REASON WHY I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE NEXT YEAR WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE COMPETING TO KEEP OUR SEATS AND THE VISION THAT WE HAVE NOW TO PUT THE PAY STUDY IN PLACE AND MAKE EVERY POSITION IN BATON ROUGE A LIVABLE WAGE.
WITH THE CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION, THE CHANGE IN POTENTIAL CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION, POTENTIAL CHANGE AND COUNCIL WILL FOLLOW ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR.
UM, IF WE'RE GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO SUPPORT THIS AND TO SUPPORT THE WORKERS THAT GO OUT AND, AND PUT THEIR THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR US.
SO THE ONES THAT MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A GREAT BUILDINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS AND ROADS IN PLACE, THEN IT NEEDS TO, IF, IF THERE'S SOME KIND OF VOTING THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE INVOLVED WHEN ONCE THE STUDY'S DONE IT WOULD NEED TO GO ON THE SPRING BALLOT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE CAUSE WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THAT POINT.
MAYBE IT DOES, MAYBE IT DOESN'T.
BUT IF WE PUT IT ON THE FALL BALLOT AND JUST TRANSPARENTLY, DISTRICT ONE THROUGH 12 IS GONNA BE FOCUSING, UH, MINUS DISTRICT TWO, UM, IS GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON REELECTION AND SUPPORTING THE FOLKS TO CONTINUE TO DO THE GREAT WORK, RIGHT TO, AND
[04:00:01]
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR, DO THE GREAT WORK FOR THE PEOPLE.BUT IT, WHAT WHAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR WITH THEM MAY GET LOST IN TRANSLATION.
WHAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR IN TERMS OF OURSELVES, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT REDISTRICTING AND IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS THEY WERE LIKE, LOOK MAN, THIS IS ABOUT SELF-PRESERVATION TO MAKE SURE THAT I CONTINUE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE THAT PUT ME IN PLACE.
AND NEXT YEAR WE'RE GONNA BE IN THAT SAME SURVIVAL MODE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN CALLED TO DO.
SO I SUPPORT MICHAEL, THAT STATEMENT OF MAKING THIS HAPPEN EXPEDITIOUSLY, JUST TO ENSURE THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT, REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS NEXT FALL, THAT THE PEOPLE OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO MAKE BATON ROUGE THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.
THAT MEANS THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE TALENT, BUT ALSO, UM, REWORKING SOME OF THOSE THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, WE CLEAR UP AND FREE SOME MONEY.
SO I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE THROUGH A PAINT STUDY WE'RE GONNA FIND WE MAY NOT NEED AS MUCH MONEY AND WE CONSOLIDATE POSITIONS, JUST OPEN HEAD COUNT, PUT MORE MONEY BEHIND CERTAIN POSITIONS WHERE WE INCREASE.
PEOPLE ARE ALREADY GETTING PAID A CHANGE OF TITLES.
EVERYTHING THAT COMES WITH IT, IT'S GONNA MAKE CITY PARISH AND THIS, THIS IS NOT AN EXERCISE FOR ME TO DO.
AND IF IT REQUIRES A VOTE, I'M GONNA COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND ASK YOU GUYS TO PUT IT ON THE SPRING BALLOT.
BUT ASHLEY, DO YOU KNOW THE LAST DATE IN DECEMBER TO, UH, PUT SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT FOR THE SPRING? ARE ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT A POTENTIAL TAX? YEAH.
UH, IT CANNOT GO ON IN THE SPRING.
THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.
SO HOW DOES SCHOOL BOARD GO IN THE SPRING? MY QUESTION.
WELL, UM, EVEN GOING INTO THE FALL BOTTOM LINE IS, IS SOONER THAN LATER, UM, SUPPORTING THE, THE, THE WORKERS OF, OF THE PARISH AND, UM, AS I FIGHT TO, TO CONTINUE TO BE A PART OF CITY PARISH NEXT YEAR, HOW ALSO TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO MAKE THE WORKERS OF CITY PARISH NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
YEAH, I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, COUNCILWOMAN OSA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THANK Y'ALL REHEARING THIS, THANK Y'ALL FOR EXTENDING THE MEETING FOR THE FEW MINUTES.
SO THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT HAVE SHOWN UP HERE TO THE LAST, IF YOU NOTICED THE LAST SEVERAL COUNCIL MEETINGS, PROBABLY FOUR OR FIVE COUNCIL MEETINGS BACK, THANK YOU FOR STAYING FOR THE TIME TO SPEAK AND EVERYTHING.
ALSO, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'VE INVITED THESE FINE GENTLEMEN, UH, SINCE THEY'VE BEEN HERE SO LONG TO JOIN US FOR DINNER TONIGHT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, I'M NOT SURE WHO FROM THE ADMINISTRATION DEPOSED THIS QUESTION TO.
WE CAN MAYBE ASK BRIAN, BUT, UM, I, I JUST WANT SOME CLARITY BASED ON SOME OF THE COMMENTS IS THE, IS THIS PAY STUDY BEING DONE IN AN EFFORT TO, TO START A DISCUSSION ABOUT A MILLAGE INCREASE OR PAY RAISES OR, OR FROM US? WE JUST, WE TRYING TO GET DATA TO DETERMINE WHERE EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE PAID.
NOW THIS IS GONNA COME WITH, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY AT THIS JUNCTURE ENTERTAINING OR, OR FEELING LIKE WE'RE GONNA BE MOVING TOWARDS A MILLAGE INCREASE.
UM, BRIAN, WE KNOW WE'RE DEFICIENT IN PAY, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
SO WE HAVE A BASELINE TO GO FROM.
UM, AND I DON'T, I MEAN WE HAVE 450 OR 480 CLASSES, SO IT, IT HAS TO BE COMPREHENSIVE IN ORDER TO, SO THAT WE KNOW WHERE WE NEED TO PAY FOLKS.
SO DO YOU KNOW ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GONNA PAY EMERGENT METHOD TO, TO CREATE THE RFP? UM, SOMEWHERE AROUND $40,000.
AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE ESTIMATE FOR THE ULTIMATE, UH, COST OF, OF OF THE PAY STUDY WILL BE? HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
500 THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS? PROBABLY NOT THAT HIGH.
I THINK THE LAST ONE, RIGHT? BRP D PAY STUDY WAS LIKE 300,000.
UH, THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAD.
UM, I, I'LL ONLY JUST, JUST MENTIONED QUICKLY THAT ON COUNCILMAN HURST'S POINT, I'M LITERALLY SAYING THIS JUST FOR CLARIFICATION'S SAKE.
IF THIS COUNCIL WERE TO DETERMINE A, UH, THAT THIS WAS A, AN EMERGENCY ITEM, YOU COULD PUT IT ON A SPRING BALLOT.
I MEAN THAT'S THE LE THE BURDEN, I THINK IT HAS TO BE EIGHT VOTES TO DO THAT, RIGHT? CLOSING.
I THINK IT'S EIGHT VOTES, BUT I'M NOT, I'M, WE CAN CHECK ON THAT.
THANK YOU COUNCILMAN HUDSON FOR CLEARING THAT UP FOR ME.
UM, AND I'M JUST MOVING FORWARD LIKE,
[04:05:01]
UH, THAT KIND OF DETAIL THAT WE ASKED AND JUST SAY, HEY, IT CAN'T BE DONE TRADITIONALLY, BUT NON-TRADITIONAL.THERE'S THE SAME ISSUE WE HAD WITH THE BOARDS AND OTHER THINGS WHERE I ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT SERVING AS A CITIZEN VERSUS AS A COUNCIL PERSON.
BUT, UM, WHAT I WANTED TO CLEAR UP IS THAT, UM, IT'S NOT JUST A STUDY OF ABOUT HOW WE COMPARE TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
IT'S A STUDY ABOUT HOW WE'RE COMPARING THE LOCAL MARKET TO INDUSTRIES THAT ARE TAKING OUR TALENT.
CUZ THEY HAVE FIREMEN IN THE, IN THE CHEMICAL PLANTS THAT PAY A LOT MORE MONEY AND THE AIRPORT.
SO, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE THE SAME PAY SCALE, THE AIRPORT UP, BUT THE, THE INDUSTRY AT THE, UH, PLANT IS, IS NOT, AND SO WILL WE MEET INDU INDUSTRY PAY? PROBABLY NOT, IS NOT NECESSARILY TO, TO LOOK AT HOW TO CREATE A TAX AND HOW TO CREATE A MILLAGE.
BUT THAT'S WHY I SAID THROUGHOUT THE PAY STUDY, THEY'LL GIVE US DEFINITIVE INFORMATION ABOUT ALSO, IT'S ALSO WORKING WITH THE, UH, THE, THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM AS WELL.
NOT TO DO AWAY WITH, UM, THE PENSIONS.
BUT FOR GENERATIONS X, Y AND Z WHO DON'T CARE ABOUT A PENSION, THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT PAY, IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO POTENTIALLY CREATE SOME TYPE OF HYBRID SOLUTIONS TO WHERE WE HAVE 401KS FOR SOME PENSIONS FOR OTHERS AND DETERMINE HOW WE GET ALL OF THAT DONE.
SO IT'S GONNA TAKE A SPECIALIST TO COME IN TO WORK WITH MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS, TO WORK WITH HR, TO WORK WITH THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM, TO, UH, PROVIDE SOME INSIGHT ON THAT TO DETERMINE HOW WE NEED TO PROCEED TO GIVE THE CURRENT WORKERS, BUT ALSO THE FUTURE WORKER WORKERS THE BEST, UM, OPTION TO JOIN CITY PARISH.
SO, NO, I'M NOT LOOKING FOR A VILLAGE DWIGHT.
I KNOW IF IT WAS UP TO YOU WOULD DIE IMMEDIATELY.
YOU ARE NOT THE FAN OF MILS MAN.
BUT UM, WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT THIS IS FOR US TO HAVE TRANSPARENCY AND CLARITY OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET TO THE END GOAL OF GIVING US A LIVABLE WAGE IN CITY PARISH.
ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WISHING TO SPEAK BUT NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? I DO HAVE A FEW.
PLEASE, UH, JOIN US ON JUNE 9TH, FRIDAY, JUNE NINE, SIX, 6:00 PM FOR THE SIXTH ANNUAL FOR PEACE EVENT.
GOVERNMENT STREET SHOP IS VALUE AND YOU ALL CAN RIDE WITH US.
UH, WE'RE AT A FIRE TRUCK TO LEAD US.
AND SO WE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING AN OUTSTANDING OPPORTUNITY, OUTSTANDING TIME AS REPETITIVE FOR PEACE.
AS ALWAYS, READ TO YOUR CHILDREN AND WHEN YOU'RE DONE READING TO THEM, HAVE THEM READ BACK TO YOU.
BEST WAY TO INCREASE READING COMPREHENSION AND, UH, PROTECT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH.
IF YOU NEED TO SEE A THERAPIST, GO SEE A THERAPIST.
MS. ADAMS. NO, NOT A MASSAGE THERAPY, A MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST.