[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:02]
WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, THE HOME OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TUNING IN TODAY.
AND AT THIS TIME HERE IS THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT PRO TIM OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, COUNCILMAN LAMONT COLE.
COUNCILMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WELCOME TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING ON THIS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH AT 4:00 PM AT THIS TIME, I LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
WE DO HAVE, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM AT THIS TIME, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER DWIGHT HUDSON TO INTRODUCE OUR GUESTS WHO WILL LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE MEMBERS.
WE HAVE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS WITH US FROM DISTRICT NINE HERE TONIGHT.
UM, YOU ALL KNOW, UH, MR. STEVEN JOHNSON AS THE DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE, BUT I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF GETTING TO WORSHIP WITH HIM NOW FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND, UH, ATTEND, ATTEND A BIBLE STUDY WITH HIM AND, UH, JUST HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY IMPRESSED WITH HIM.
SO HE'S GONNA HELP US, UH, LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION.
AND THEN I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF HAVING MY DAUGHTER, GRACE HUDSON HERE TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE AS WELL.
SO WE'LL LET STEVEN TAKE IT AWAY.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU, LORD FOR OUR LOCAL CITY GOVERNMENT.
THANK YOU HEAVENLY FATHER FOR THE CITY COUNCIL LORD THAT WILL CONDUCT BUSINESS TONIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR THE MAYOR AND HER TEAM AND, UH, THE FIRST RESPONDERS HEAVENLY FATHER, THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS, THOSE THAT ARE HERE LORD, ARE PARTICIPATE IN CONSTITUENTS.
WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THEIR PRESENCE TONIGHT.
CONTINUE TO ENABLE US TO CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THIS CITY IN THE WAY THAT IS PLEASING AND GOOD IN YOUR SIGHT.
FATHER, WE ALSO PRAY TONIGHT THAT ALL OF US WILL BE UNITED ON ONE ACCORD.
THAT LORD WE'LL COME TOGETHER TO CONDUCT BUSINESS FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF THIS COMMUNITY AND OUR CITY.
LORD, I ALSO ASK MOST OF ALL, HEAVENLY FATHER, THAT YOU CONTINUE TO ALLOW US IN THIS CITY TO BE A REPRESENTATION OF LOVE AND HOPE.
I ESPECIALLY AM GRATEFUL FOR THOSE, UH, COMMUNITY GROUPS.
LORD, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, HEAVENLY FATHER, THE, UH, THE HOMES THAT ARE REPRESENTING OUR FAMILY.
UM, I PRAY ALSO HEAVENLY FATHER FOR THE VOLUNTEER GROUPS, LORD AND THE CHURCHES.
LORD, THERE ARE REPRESENTATION OF LOVE AND HOPE.
AND LORD, I PRAY FOR A FRESH ENCOUNTER FOR ANYONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW JESUS.
THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS CAN REPRESENT YOU IN A WAY THAT'S PLEASING IN YOUR SIGHT.
NOW, LORD GRANT, THE CITY COUNCIL WISDOM AND PRUDENCE AS THEY CONDUCT THE AFFAIRS OF THIS, UH, AGENDAS ON THE ITEM AND EVERYTHING, LORD, WE GIVE YOU ALL PRAISE AND GLORY IN JESUS' NAME.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES, UNITED AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC, WHICH IS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INVISIBLE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
WE SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOU FOR JOINING US THIS AFTERNOON.
[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MATTERS OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2023 AND THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ZONING MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2023 AND THE GREATER BATON ROUGE AIRPORT COMMISSION MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2023 BY COUNCIL, ADMINISTRATIVE TREASURER.IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE? UH, WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM ONE? SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN ROSA, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE ITEM? WE NOW GO
[INTRODUCTIONS]
TO THE ITEM THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED.ASHLEY, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE INTRODUCTIONS? SECTION 2.12 INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER TWO, AN ORDINANCE CREATING THE AZTEC COVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AND DEFINING BOUNDARIES FROM WHICH AREA PARISH SALES TAX INCREMENTS WILL BE DETERMINED AND USED TO FUND A PORTION OF THE COST OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTION AS DESCRIBED IN THE ORDINANCE AND THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT, ALL OF WHICH ARE ATTACHED HERETO AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND AUTHORIZED BY CHAPTER 27 OF TITLE 33 OF LOUISIANA REVISED STATUTES OF 1950 AS AMENDED BY COUNCILWOMAN CAROLYN COLEMAN CONDEMNATION
[CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS]
INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER THREE, MARK J. BRADLEY AND TAMMY WOOD BRADLEY.COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE NOEL NUMBER FOUR,
[00:05:01]
KENTRELL ALEX 9 8 7 1 AVENUE A COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS, NUMBER FIVE, RAMON LEE MORGAN.DISTRICT TWO BANKS, NUMBER SIX, JIMMY MILLS.
4 6 5 3 PACKARD STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST NUMBER SEVEN, FREDDY BURNELL AND GLORIA BURNELL.
5 8 7 6 PACKARD STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST NUMBER EIGHT, CONNECTICUT ESTATES L L C 6 9 0 7 GOYA AVENUE COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX DUN JR.
NUMBER NINE, FRYBERG FAMILY IRREVOCABLE TRUST.
9 5 4 NORTH PARKVIEW PLACE, COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX DUNN, JR.
NUMBER 10, PROVISION HOMES L L C 1 5 9 6 NORTH 44TH STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 11.
DEREK PATRICK GAL 5 6 6 8 JACKSON AVENUE COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 12, JERMAINE SARTON.
4 4 3 ALIQUIPPA STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN ADJUDICATED PROPERTY INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER 13 LOT 16 SQUARE SEVEN SUBDIVISION BOGAN COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 14 LOT 26 SQUARE 1 63 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 15 LOT 25 PLUS SQUARE 1 63 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 16 LOT 78 SUBDIVISION DEER PARK COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE KNOLL NUMBER 17 LOT 180 4 PLUS SUBDIVISION NORTH HIGHLAND ESTATES COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST NUMBER 18 LOT 21 PLUS SQUARE 30 SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE AND NUMBER 19 LOT 19 SQUARE 3 55 SUBDIVISION DICKERSON PLACE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 20 LOT 85 PART SUBDIVISION NORTH BATON ROUGE SUB, UH, METRO COUNCIL.
DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 21 LOT 37 SUBDIVISION WHISPERING OAKS COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 22 LOT 50 PLUS SQUARE ONE SUBDIVISION PROGRESS PARK COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN NUMBER 23 LOT 48 AND 49 SQUARE ONE SUBDIVISION PROGRESS PARK COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 24 LOT THREE SQUARE ONE SUBDIVISION SCOTLANDVILLE COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 25 LOT FIVE SQUARE 14 SUBDIVISION LELAND COLLEGE ANNEX COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 26 LOT SIX SQUARE 14 SUBDIVISION LELAND COLLEGE ANNEX COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 27 LOT 15 AND 16 SQUARE TWO 10 SUBDIVISION REMA COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 28 LOT 21 SQUARE TWO 16.
SUBDIVISION ESMA COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 29 LOT FOUR SQUARE 21 SUBDIVISION PROSPERITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 30 LOT SIX SQUARE 21 SUBDIVISION PROSPERITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 31 LOT NINE SQUARE 16 SUBDIVISION PROSPERITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 32 LOT 10 SQUARE 16 SUBDIVISION PROSPERITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 33.
SUBDIVISION PROSPERITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN.
A MOTION TO DELETE ITEM 49 AT AND 50 AT THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT AND INTRODUCE ALL OTHER ITEMS IS MORE.
I'LL E I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AT THIS TIME.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH,
INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM 49 AND 50 AND ITEM TWO.
IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
WE DO HAVE SOME OBJECTIONS TO THAT.
ALRIGHT, WELL LET'S TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO GET, GET GET SET UP TO VOTE.
LET ME STATE FOR THE RECORD, IF YOU ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, YOU DON'T HAVE TO NECESSARILY VOTE AGAINST, YOU COULD JUST NOT VOTE AT ALL UNLESS YOU WANNA VOTE AGAINST IT.
SO THOSE, THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE A LITTLE TECHNOLOGICALLY CHALLENGED, IF YOU ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF THE ITEM, YOU DON'T HAVE TO VOTE AGAINST IT.
YOU COULD JUST NOT VOTE AT ALL.
ALL RIGHT, BUT WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINE.
IS EVERYBODY READY? IF YOU, CAN YOU REPEAT THE MOTION PLEASE, SIR? THE MOTION IS TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF 2 49 AND 50.
PLEASE MAKE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ONES ASHLEY MENTIONED.
MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 49 AND 50.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
[00:10:01]
SHE ALL I CAN DO.COUNSEL THE MOTION? THE MOTION IS TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 49 AND 50.
THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEMS 49 AND 50 MACHINES ARE OPEN.
MS. BANKS, IS THAT A YES? YOU GOT IT.
[CONDEMNATIONS]
GO TO YOUR SEPARATE SHEET FOR CONDEMNATIONS.I'M GONNA READ THE RECOMMENDATIONS AS THEY ARE.
THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, AND 81.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON CONDEMNATIONS? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON CONDEMNATIONS? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN? YES, SIR.
I'D LIKE TO ASK TO GIVE 30 DAYS TO NUMBER 67 TO DELETE NUMBER 68, 30 DAYS FOR 79.
SO THAT'S 30 DAYS FOR 67, 79 AND DELETE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS? UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.
ANYONE ELSE? ALRIGHT, I'M GONNA MEET THE, I'M GONNA, EXCUSE ME, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKER NUMBER 81.
I WOULD LIKE, UH, 30 DAYS ON THAT ONE PLEASE.
I'M GONNA READ THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND CHANGES.
THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 66, 69, 70, 72, 73, 77, 78 80.
THEY ARE TO DEFER FOR 30 DAYS.
ITEM 67, 74, 79 AND 81 DEFER FOR 60 DAYS.
ITEM 75 AND 76 AND TO DELETE ITEM 68 AND 71.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONDEMNATIONS? MOTION TO APPROVE.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
WE NOW COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL GO TO ITEM 1 56, RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
EXCUSE ME, THAT IS NOT THE ITEM I'M LOOKING FOR.
WE GO TO ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER.
[ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS (Part 1 of 3)]
RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE BATON ROUGE CHIEF OF POLICE MURPHY PAUL, THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTERN BROOM, REGARDING THE ALLEGATIONS SURROUNDING THE BRAVE CAVE.THE REASON FOR THE EMERGENCY ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER IS TO ALLOW AN IMMEDIATE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.
COUNCIL MEMBERS IN ACCORDANCE, NO.
I NEED A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.
MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNGY IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.
DOES ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION TO WA THE RULES? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? UH, IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? I WOULD REQUEST THAT WE HAVE THE REPORT FIRST BEFORE WE SPEAK ON THE ITEM.
SO AT THIS TIME, MAYOR, PRESIDENT, IT'S ON YOU.
I WANTED TO SPEAK WITH THIS BODY TODAY TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON, UH, THE CURRENT INVESTIGATIONS THAT WE HAVE IN THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I WANNA FIRST START OFF BY SAYING OUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF BATON ROUGE AND THE GOOD MEN AND WOMEN OF THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
[00:15:01]
AN AGENCY, WE, THE B R P D DOES NOT AVOID ACCOUNTABILITY.I WANTED TO PROVIDE A TIMELINE ON, UH, OUR INVESTIGATIVE, UH, UH, PROCESS.
WE BEGIN A FORMAL INVESTIGATION, UH, INTO THE NARCOTICS PROCESSING FACILITY LOCATED AT 44 43 PLANK ROAD.
UH, THAT FORMAL INVESTIGATION WAS INITIATED ON 8 28 OF THIS YEAR.
THE NARCOTICS PROCESSING CENTER, UH, IS A FACILITY THAT'S BEEN USED BY SPECIALIZED DIVISIONS LIKE NARCOTICS AND STREET CRIMES AS A PROCESSING ROOM FOR PRISONER PROCESSING, FOR PAPERWORK, REPORT WRITING, PACKAGING EVIDENCE AFTER ARREST.
UH, THAT FACILITY HAS NINE CAMERAS IN THE FACILITY.
UH, DIGITAL WATCHDOG, UH, IS THE NAME OF THE, UH, UM, SYSTEM, WHICH RECORDS A HARD DRIVE D V R WITH TWO TV OR TERABYTES OF VIDEO, WHICH IS RECORDED VIA MOTION DETECTION.
WHEN WE FIRST LEARNED OF THIS INVESTIGATION, UH, THAT THESE INCIDENTS AND COMPLAINTS, WE INITIATED INVESTIGATIONS BY, UH, OUR INTERNAL AFFAIRS DIVISION AS WELL AS OUR, UM, UH, DETECTIVES.
SO THERE'S PARALLEL INVESTIGATIONS THAT WERE INITIATED ADMINISTRATIVELY WHERE WE LOOK AT POLICY TRAINING PROCEDURES, UH, AND CRIMINALLY.
WAS THERE ANY CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS, UH, THAT OCCURRED DURING THESE INCIDENTS? WE CONDUCTED A PRESS CONFERENCE ON 8 29, UH, ANNOUNCING THAT THE, UH, INVESTIGATION HAD INITIATED.
UH, ON THAT SAME DAY, ONE OF THE OFFICERS WHO WAS HIGHLIGHTED IN THAT INVESTIGATION, TROY LAWRENCE, JR.
RENDERED HIS RESIGNATION PRIOR TO TERMINATION AS A RESULT OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATION.
ON 8 31, I STOOD ALONGSIDE MAYOR, PRESIDENT BRUM RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THIS FACILITY WHEN WE ANNOUNCED THE CLOSURE OF THE NARCOTICS PROCESSING FACILITY, AS WELL AS THE DISBANDMENT OF THE B R P D STREET CRIMES UNIT.
AFTER WE CLOSED THE FACILITY DOWN IN LATE AUGUST, I MET WITH MEMBERS OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION REQUESTING ASSISTANCE, UH, IN AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION BY OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS.
AS OF THIS DATE, THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY WORKING NINE INTERNAL AFFAIRS COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE COME IN BY WAY OF OUR, UH, WEBSITE THAT HAVE COME IN FROM ATTORNEYS, UH, AND BY EMAIL.
WE ALSO HAVE FOUR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING WORKED BY OUR DETECTIVES.
AS STATED EARLIER, THESE INVESTIGATIONS ARE PARALLEL.
ONE OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS THAT IS BEING WORKED HAS BEEN, UH, CLOSED BY ARREST.
WAS ARRESTED FOR A SIMPLE BATTERY AS A RESULT OF ONE OF THOSE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS.
WE STILL HAVE TWO ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE BEING CURRENTLY WORKED.
WE HAVE ANOTHER INVESTIGATION THAT LED TO THREE BATON ROUGE POLICE OFFICERS BEING PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE.
UH, THIS MORNING I PLACED DEPUTY CHIEF TROY LAWRENCE ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE.
AS A RESULT OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING SOME ADVANCEMENTS IN THAT CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION WHERE WE WILL BE PROVIDING SPECIFIC INVESTIGATIVE EFFORTS AND PROGRESS IN THAT CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.
WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR FEDERAL INVESTIGATION, UH, INVESTIGATIVE PARTNERS IN THIS PARTICULAR INVESTIGATION, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO ASK CITIZENS TO REPORT ANY INCIDENTS OF POLICE MISCONDUCT TO US.
UH, WE'RE ALSO ASKING YOU TO REACH OUT TO THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION IF YOU DON'T WANT TO, UH, UH, PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WHAT I CAN SAY, UH, WE REMAIN STEADFAST IN OUR COMMITMENT TO THIS COMMUNITY BY BEING TRANSPARENT.
UH, WE WILL HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE DEALT WITH A MATTER LIKE THIS BEFORE, UH, AND I'M CONFIDENT IN INVESTIGATIVE EFFORTS OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND WE BELIEVE THAT THOSE INVESTIGATIVE EFFORTS WILL YIELD ACCOUNTABILITY THAT'S GOING TO MEET COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS.
MAYOR, PRESIDENT, YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? SURE, SURE.
[00:20:01]
ABSOLUTELY.THANK YOU MAYOR PROTI AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
UM, I WILL TELL YOU THAT AT THIS TIME, OUR COMMUNITY IS WORKING THROUGH A CHALLENGE TO THE FOUNDATION OF HOW WE BELIEVE POLICE SHOULD ENGAGE WITH OUR CITIZENS.
AND I WANT TO BE EXTREMELY CLEAR.
I KNOW WE ARE ALL COMMITTED TO ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY, JUSTICE, AND REFORM WITHIN THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
CHIEF PAUL JUST SHARED THE TIMELINE AND CURRENT ACTIONS THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS TAKING.
I I WANNA STAND HERE AND REITERATE A FEW OF THOSE AT THIS TIME.
THERE ARE THREE SIMULTANEOUS INVESTIGATIONS HAPPENING.
THE F B I IS CONDUCTING AN UNBIASED EXTERNAL INVESTIGATION, ENSURING IMPARTIALITY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN THIS PROCESS.
B R P D, AS YOU HEARD CHIEF SAID, IS CONDUCTING BOTH CRIMINAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATIONS OF ACTIVITY CONNECTED TO THIS UNIT AND ANY OTHER BEHAVIORS THAT DO NOT ALIGN WITH 21ST CENTURY POLICING.
WE HAVE PERMANENTLY SHUT DOWN THE FACILITY KNOWN AS THE BRAVE CAVE PERMANENTLY.
IN ADDITION, THE STREET CRIMES UNIT HAS BEEN DISBANDED.
THIS DOES NOT MEAN RECKLESS BEHAVIOR WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY WILL BE TOLERATED OR ALLOWED.
THERE ARE STILL LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THE GROUND FIGHTING CRIME ON A DAILY BASIS.
THE ACTIONS OF A FEW SHOULD NOT AND WILL NOT DEFINE THE DEDICATION AND INTEGRITY OF THE HUNDREDS OF MEN AND WOMEN WITH B R P D, WHO ARE MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES EVERY DAY.
CHOICES TO TRULY PROTECT AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY UNDER THEIR SWORN OATH.
LAWFUL CONDUCT AND ACCOUNTABILITY ARE ESSENTIAL FOR CRIME FIGHTING.
THEY ARE THE FOUNDATION UPON WHICH PUBLIC SAFETY IS BUILT.
THERE ARE TRAINING PRACTICES LIKE PROCEDURAL JUSTICE THAT HAVE JUST BEEN IMPLEMENTED SINCE 2017 THROUGH OUR TRAINING ACADEMIES.
AND IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE ADVANCE THIS INTO POLICIES AND THAT ALL, NOT JUST OUR NEW OFFICERS GO THROUGH PROCEDURAL JUSTICE TRAINING.
WE MUST ALSO PROVIDE VETERAN OFFICERS WITH REFRESHER COURSES TO MAINTAIN THEIR REGULAR PARTICIPATION OF THE PRACTICES.
OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, WE HAVE REALLY WORKED TO BUILD ON INCREASING TRUST, FAIRNESS, JUSTICE AND MUTUAL RESPECT.
WITH B R P D, CHIEF PAUL AND I HAVE MADE THE INVESTMENTS.
WE HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO ADOPT NATIONAL BEST PRACTICES AND TO ADDRESS ELEMENTS WITHIN THE INSTITUTION THAT FOCUS ON EXCESSIVE FORCE, RECOGNIZING THE TRAUMA THAT IT CAN CAUSE.
OUR PROGRESS HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED THROUGH VARIOUS BENCHMARKS WE CANNOT FORGET, SUCH AS THE RELEASE FROM THE 39 YEAR CONSENT DECREE IN 2019, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROCEDURAL JUSTICE POLICIES AND EXPANDED DIVERSITY WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT TO BETTER MIRROR THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY ARE DEDICATED TO SERVE.
WHILE WE HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR THESE INVESTMENTS BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY, THESE RECENT ALLEGATIONS SHOW US WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO.
NOW, SINCE THIS INCIDENT WAS BROUGHT TO LIGHT, I HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON TAKING A DEEPER LOOK AT OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO ENSURE THAT THEY ALIGN WITH THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR PARAMOUNT OBJECTIVE IS JUSTICE AND WE ENCOURAGE ANYONE WITH PERTINENT INFORMATION OR SIMILAR EXPERIENCES TO SUBMIT THEIR COMPLAINTS THROUGH OUR ONLINE PORTAL@BRP.COM.
IN CLOSING, TO CONTINUE OUR WORK
[00:25:01]
TO FOSTER A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT SERVES OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE UTMOST INTEGRITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND TRANSPARENCY, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT ALL FACETS OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE AT THE TABLE.THAT IS HOW WE BUILT PROGRESS SINCE 2017.
AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE HOW WE WORK.
THE PATH FORWARD WILL CONSIST OF THE NECESSARY PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF HOW BATON ROUGE APPROACHES COMMUNITY-LED ACCOUNTABILITY, ENHANCING TRANSPARENCY, AND CREATING SHARED OVERSIGHT FOR THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THIS MAY COME IN THE FORM OF AN INDEPENDENT AND IMPARTIAL BODY RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWING POLICY, POLICE ACTIONS, REVIEWING COMPLAINTS, AND PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR RESIDENTS TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS, TO SHARE THEIR PERSPECTIVES, AND DIRECTLY PARTICIPATE IN SHAPING POLICIES AND PRACTICES.
THESE ACTIONS WILL IDENTIFY AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT IN POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND TRAINING.
UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WITH BEFORE WE TAKE QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COME DOWN.
STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? MY NAME IS REVEREND ALEXIS ANDERSON.
MY ADDRESS IS 2 48 STEEL BOULEVARD.
I AM A RESIDENT OF THIS PARISH AND I WANT TO FIRST MAKE TWO STATEMENTS.
THE FIRST ONE IS, I AM SO PROUD OF THE TWO YOUNG ATTORNEYS WHO HAD THE COURAGE TO CARE MORE ABOUT THE CITIZENS THAT NOBODY ELSE PAYS ATTENTION TO AND BRING THIS SITUATION TO LIFE.
I AM EXTRAORDINARILY GRATEFUL TO THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY PUBLIC DEFENDERS.
SECONDLY, I DON'T DOUBT FOR ONE MINUTE THAT THERE ARE FINE PEOPLE WHO TOOK A JOB WORKING IN ONE OF OUR OVER 40 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THIS PARISH THAT CARE TO DO A VERY GOOD JOB.
BUT THAT DOES NOT CHANGE SOME FUNDAMENTAL FACTS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU'VE SEEN PICTURES OF MY GRANDCHILDREN, I WILL TELL ANYBODY THAT GRANDPARENTING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ME.
THE IDEAL THAT A GRANDMOTHER WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY PEOPLE WHO GET PAID OFF OF MY DOLLAR IS BEYOND OFFENSIVE.
I WAS DONE WHEN TEENAGE BOYS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET WERE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION.
UNDER MY TAX DOLLARS, I HAVE FILLED IT.
PHONE CALLS, CHECKS, TEXTS, AND EMAILS FROM LAWYERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY LOOKING AT INTERNATIONAL LAW.
WE KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE WORKED OUT IN THE COURTS, BUT THE TRUTH IS RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS UNIT SITTING IN OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE THIS BEHAVIOR.
THIS WAS A FUNDAMENTALLY AND SUBSTANTIALLY PROVEN UNCONSTITUTIONAL POLICY.
LAW ENFORCEMENT MEANS YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO KNOW THE LAW.
I HAVE HAD THE HONOR OF FIGHTING WITH ALL MY STRENGTH AND HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL EVERYBODY ON THIS COUNCIL WHETHER YOU WANTED TO HEAR IT OR NOT, THAT I WAS WORKING TO MAKE THIS THE KIND OF PLACE THAT I WOULD WANT MY GRANDCHILDREN TO BE IN.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF LAWSUITS.
AND THIS IS NOT ONE SITUATION.
THIS IS A CONTINUAL SITUATION.
WE ARE ON A B C N B C C N N, FOX NEWS.
THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS COMPARES THIS TO ABU GRAVE.
[00:30:01]
COMPARISONS TO THE CHICAGO SCANDALS WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT.WE WANT TO BE A A 21ST, 22ND CENTURY.
MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST STOP BEING A MASS TERRORISM FACILITY.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? GARY CHAMBERS.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT, UH, ACCOUNTABILITY.
2017, I WALKED INTO THIS COUNCIL MEETING TO TALK, GOT CARRIED OUT AND ARRESTED FOR TALKING.
WE GOT 10 OFFICERS THAT CARRIED PEOPLE INTO A WAREHOUSE BUILDING OWNED BY THE CITY, PARISH, GOVERNMENT STRIPPING BLACK WOMEN, BLACK BOYS BY THE HUNDREDS.
IF THAT WAS MY DAUGHTER AND THAT MAN WAS GOING TO SLEEP TONIGHT IN HIS BED, I WOULDN'T BE ALL RIGHT WITH IT.
AND THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WE ELECTED HAVE BEEN SILENT ABOUT IT, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU'RE ALL RIGHT WITH IT.
NOW, IF I COULD COME IN HERE AND YOU SEE ME GET CARRIED OUTTA HERE AND ARRESTED FOR TALKING, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE WOMEN WHO HAD TO EXPERIENCE THAT FEEL LIKE ONE OF THOSE WOMEN, THEIR HUSBAND WAS THERE WHEN IT HAPPENED, HUSBAND COULDN'T DEFEND HIS WIFE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP HIS WIFE.
HOW WOULD YOU FEEL BROTHER? NO.
IF THAT WAS YOUR WIFE, YOU WON'T HARM THAT MAN AND ANYBODY ELSE IN HERE WOULD IF THAT WAS YOUR CHILD OR YOUR LOVED ONE.
AND THE QUESTION IS, IF IT WAS A WHITE WOMAN THAT WAS CARRIED INTO A WAREHOUSE IN BATON ROUGE, BENT OVER AND SPREAD OPEN, WOULD Y'ALL HAVE BEEN THIS QUIET FOR THIS LONG? WOULD IT HAVE HAD TO BE A NATIONAL STORY? BECAUSE WHEN WHITE WOMEN GET KILLED IN THIS COMMUNITY, GOT A PRESS CONFERENCE EVERY WEEK.
RES, HILLER MOORE, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, ALL ABOUT JUSTICE, HUH? CAN'T FIND HIM.
NOW HIS CHIEF HAS DONE AN HONORABLE JOB SINCE HE'S BEEN HERE, BETTER THAN ANY OF HIS PREDECESSORS.
THAT'S WHY WE WANT HIM TO MAKE AN ARREST BECAUSE WE TRUST HIM.
NOT THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS.
'CAUSE WHEN THEY HAD AL STERLING, THEY KICKED IT BACK DOWN HERE.
SO FOR ME, I DON'T WANT STATE POLICE, THEY DEALT WITH RONALD GREEN.
WHAT I KNOW IS VOTERS OF THIS PARISH ELECTED THAT WOMAN SITTING IN THAT BOX AND SHE HIRED THIS MAN SITTING IN THAT CHAIR AND WE TRUST THEM TO DO THE JOB WE ELECTED THEM TO DO.
AND PASSING THE BALL AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.
NOW, I AIN'T COME DOWN HERE BOTHERING Y'ALL SINCE Y'ALL BEEN ON THIS COUNCIL.
BUT WHENEVER BLACK FOLKS ARE TERRORIZING THIS COMMUNITY, THAT'S MY BUSINESS AND I'M GONNA SHOW UP BECAUSE TOO OFTEN WE IGNORE THE HUMANITY OF BLACK PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
IF IT WAS HAPPENING IN SOUTH BATON ROUGE, IT'D BE HELL ALL OVER THIS CITY.
THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WILL BE RAINING DOWN.
HELL ON ANYBODY INVOLVED? TROY LAWRENCE WENT TO BED IN HIS OWN BED LAST NIGHT AND SO DID NINE OTHER OFFICERS INVOLVED AND STILL WORKING ON THE STREET CRIMES UNIT.
GET HIM OFF THE STREET AND ARREST HIM LIKE YOU ARRESTED ME IN 2017 AND PUT ME ALL OVER.
THE DOGGONE NEWS FOR TALKING IN A MEETING IS COWARDICE.
IT'S WRONG AND WE SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO MAKE IT NATIONAL NEWS TO GET IT TO THIS COUNCIL, BUT I PROMISE YOU I AIN'T DONE IT.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? ALRIGHT, AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.
GINO MCLAUGHLIN, 5 8 3 8 TARRYTOWN AVENUE, BATON ROUGE.
UH, I'M ECHO MY BROTHER'S SENTIMENTS HERE.
UH, THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO MAKE NATIONAL NEWS TO BRING SOME OF US OUTTA SEMI-RETIREMENT TO COME OUT HERE AND TALK TO YOU GUYS, RIGHT? OFTENTIMES WHEN Y'ALL SEE US, WE'RE MEETING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
BUT JUST KNOW WE CAN COME HERE AND GET THE BUSINESS CLEAR TOO.
I DO APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE MAYOR AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT UH, UH, CHIEF, UM, UH, PAUL, UH, ARTICULATED RIGHT ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY STEPPED OUT AND DID.
BUT THIS WENT ON THIS, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON PRESUMABLY FOR OVER 20 YEARS, RIGHT? SO LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT WHAT YOU GUYS DON'T REALIZE.
WHEN YOU SAW ME STEP OUT ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AGO, I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM SOMEBODY ELSE, SOMEBODY ELSE TELLING ME THAT THEY WERE ALSO TAKEN TO THE BRAVE CAVE, ALSO TAKEN TO THE BRAVE CAVE.
HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAS THIS HAPPENED TO? HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAS THIS HAPPENED TO? AND WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE.
AND WE NEED TO HAVE A STRONG INVESTIGATION.
IF THERE'S ANY SORT OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, WHICH WE KNOW THERE'S PLENTY OF THAT GOING ON, THEY NEED TO BE FIRED.
THEY NEED TO BE ARRESTED AND HELD TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL ACCOUNTABLE.
I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT COUNCILMAN HURST AND COUNCILMAN DUNN BROUGHT TO THIS CHAMBER BACK IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.
[00:35:01]
YOU SEE THIS STARTED WITH JEREMY LEE AND FIVE OTHER INDIVIDUALS ON JANUARY 9TH THAT WERE ARRESTED OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOME.BUT WHAT THEY DIDN'T TELL YOU IS THAT IN THAT SAME HOME THAT THE POLICE USED A MILITARIZED UNIT TO DRIVE A HOLE STRAIGHT THROUGH THE FRONT OF THAT HOME.
MATTER OF FACT, IF YOU GO BACK AND WATCH THE TAPE, WHAT YOU'LL FIND OUT IS THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS THERE, THEY ASKED THEM NOT TO.
THEY SAID, WE'LL ACTUALLY GO OPEN UP THE DOOR FOR YOU.
THERE'S NOBODY ELSE LEFT IN THE HOME.
WE'LL GO OPEN UP THE DOOR FOR YOU.
MATTER OF FACT, THE SIDE DOOR IS UNLOCKED RIGHT NOW.
BUT INSTEAD THEY DROVE A HOLE STRAIGHT THROUGH THE FRONT OF THAT HOME.
AS IT STANDS RIGHT HERE TODAY, SEPTEMBER THE 27TH, THAT HOLE STILL STANDS IN THAT HOME RIGHT NOW OPEN TO THE ELEMENTS.
THERE'S A SIX MONTH, SIX MONTH YEAR OLD BABY THAT LIVES IN THAT HOME.
AND THESE TWO COUNCILMEN BROUGHT AN AGENDA ITEM THAT ASKED YOU GUYS TO ADDRESS SITUATIONS JUST LIKE THAT.
YOU HAVE THE POWER AS WELL TO FIX SOME OF THIS INJUSTICE AS WELL.
DON'T JUST CALL 'EM UP HERE FOR A SHOW.
GET SOME OF THE BUSINESS DONE YOURSELF.
BECAUSE AS I KNOW, AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, THOSE, THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THAT HOME, THERE'S NOBODY IN THAT HOME RIGHT NOW OVER 20, 20 YEARS OLD, RIGHT? NOBODY IN THAT HOME, OVER 20 YEARS OLD.
THEY'RE, THEY LOST THEIR MOTHER DURING C OVID 19.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE MEANS OR THE RESOURCES TO FIX A HOLE.
THEY ARE PLUGGING THAT HOLE UP RIGHT NOW WITH A BED MATTRESS, WITH A MATTRESS AND A BED SHEET AND SOME PLYWOOD, AND IT STILL GETS HOT.
IT STILL GETS COLD WHEN IT'S RAINY OUTSIDE, THE ELEMENTS COME INTO THAT HOME.
WHY HAVEN'T WE DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THAT BY THE COPS? ALSO, WE NEED TO HALT SOME OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS RIGHT NOW.
PEOPLE ARE STILL BEING PERSECUTED WITH UNJUST EVIDENCE THAT WAS TAKEN THROUGH THE SAME BRAVE CAVE.
WE NEED TO HALT ALL THE, ALL THE INVESTIGATIONS, ALL THE PRO UH, PROSECUTIONS.
BRING M HILLER MORE UP IN HERE AS WELL.
ASK HIM WHAT IS HE DOING ABOUT IT? SO BY THE COPS, BUT ALSO FIX THE HOUSE.
IS ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? STATE NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD? LARRY GRIFFIN, 2001 SOUTH SHERIFF FOREST BOULEVARD, BAT ROUGE, LOUISIANA, 7 8 1 6.
UM, I CAME UP HERE TO SPEAK BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE AFTER THIS STORY BROKE, I JUST BEEN GETTING, YOU KNOW, CALLS AND MESSAGES ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON.
UM, AND I JUST WANT TO JUST ASK, I GUARANTEE THAT MOST OF THE COUNCIL DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THIS CAVE IS OR HAVING EVEN BEEN BY IT.
I WANT YOU TO IMAGINE DRIVING DOWN A DARK ROAD OR OFF OF PLANK ROAD AFTER YOU'VE BEEN HANDCUFFED, KNOWING YOU WERE IN YOUR RIGHTS DOWN ANOTHER ROAD THAT HAS NO NAME.
AND THEN DRIVING DOWN THAT BUMPY RAGGEDY ROAD THAT HAS POTHOLES.
THERE'S NO STREET, THERE ARE NO STREET LIGHTS PASSING BY THE FIRST PRECINCT, PASSING BY ANOTHER BUILDING, ANOTHER LARGE PARKING LOT AND PASSING BY ANOTHER BUILDING AND THEN ALSO PASSING BY CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION TRUCKS AND THEN PASSING BY ANOTHER BUILDING THAT IS ALL WHITE, ALL 10.
AND YOU KNOW, IN BATON ROUGE, IF THERE'S NO STREETLIGHTS, IT IS DARK.
AND THEN SOMEONE STEPPING OUT OF THEIR VEHICLE, SLIDING OPEN A CHAIN LEAF GATE FENCE AND THEN TELLING YOU TO GET OUT OF THAT CAR AND GO INSIDE THIS BUILDING.
I GUARANTEE MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT STEPPED INSIDE OF THAT BUILDING DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE GOING BACK HOME.
THOSE PEOPLE WERE COERCED, HUMILIATED.
THEY ARE MENTALLY TRAUMATIZED, HUMILIATED.
AND, AND I, I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE ALSO BEING A LAW ABIDING 47 YEAR OLD GRANDMOTHER.
AND I'VE BEEN IN SOME SITUATIONS WHERE I THOUGHT I WASN'T COMING BACK BECAUSE I WAS IN THE MILITARY.
THE POLICE FORCE HAVE BEEN MILITARIZED HERE IN BATON ROUGE AT A LARGE DEGREE AND IT'S BEEN GOING UNCHECKED FOR WAY TOO LONG.
AND ALSO IMAGINE AFTER YOU'VE BEEN HUMILIATED AND ASSAULTED, WHETHER YOU ARE A TEENAGER OR A GRANDMOTHER TO BE DROPPED OFF AT AVERY'S IN NORTH BATON ROUGE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, MAYBE WITH NO CELL PHONE, NO WAY TO GET HOME.
WHERE ARE MY FRIENDS? I WAS BY MYSELF.
WHAT WOULD YOU FEEL LIKE? AND HOW LONG HAS THAT BEEN GOING ON? THIS IS, THIS IS JUST VERY DISGUSTING.
I DO NOT, I DID NOT REALIZE WHEN I MOVED BACK TO BATON ROUGE 11
[00:40:01]
YEARS AGO, THAT MY FRIENDS AND MY FAMILY WERE GOING THROUGH THIS.AND THAT'S WHY I HAVEN'T LEFT.
AND I DO THANK THE LAWYERS AND THE COUNCIL PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT AND THE MAYOR AND THE POLICE CHIEF HAD, WHO HAVE BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT AND OPEN ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON.
BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
IF THIS BUILDING HAS BEEN USED FOR THIS REASON SINCE ITS INCEPTION, IT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED BECAUSE IT HAS NO OTHER REASON TO BE THERE.
THERE ARE EXCAVATORS AND FRONT END LOADERS RIGHT NEXT TO THE BUILDING.
WE DON'T WANNA, WE, WE KNOW THAT THE MAYOR SAID IT IS SHUT DOWN, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE AND REALIZE THAT IT, IT IS REALLY SHUT DOWN.
WE WANT THE DOORS OPEN AND WE WANT THOSE 10 BUILDINGS ON THE GROUND.
SO NO ONE ELSE USES THAT BUILDING FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
IT IS A 10 BUILDING BUT HAS A LOT OF TRAUMA INSIDE OF IT.
TOO MUCH TRAUMA, LIFELONG TRAUMA.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
UM, YOU SAID STATE MY ADDRESS TOO? YEAH.
1 67, UM, WEST WASHINGTON, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA.
UM, I'M BASICALLY HERE BECAUSE I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY, UM, EVER SINCE WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THE BRAVE CAVE.
AND I HONESTLY REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WHERE EVERYONE IS REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT WAS, WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE LEVEL OF TRAUMA AND TERRORISM IS BEING DONE TO OUR PEOPLE.
AND IT'S QUITE FRANKLY, DISGUSTING BECAUSE WHEN WE ELECT YOU ALL INTO OFFICE, WE KNOW THAT WE CAN TRUST YOU.
THERE SHOULD BE A LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY.
AND I BASICALLY DON'T BELIEVE THAT YOU ALL ARE OPERATING WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S EVEN MORE, UM, DISHEARTENING.
AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT, UM, I ACTUALLY WAS ABLE TO GO WITH, UM, WITH LARAMIE WHO JUST SPOKE.
WE WENT TO THE BRAVE CAVE AND ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT IS THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE.
AND IT REALLY, HONESTLY, IT JUST, THE, THE WORST COMPARISON I CAN REALLY THINK ABOUT IS WHEN YOU GO TO THOSE SLAVE CASTLES, LIKE THE GORY ISLANDS.
SEE, I'VE BEEN IN THOSE PLACES AND I CAN, I CAN HEAR THE TRAUMA AND TERRORISM, THE WHISPERS OF MY PEOPLE.
AND, AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE IN THERE TO BE STRIPPED, TERRORIZED, TRAUMATIZED, UM, JUST BASICALLY DEHUMANIZED.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN ALLOWING TO HAPPEN, IFU TO BELIEVE SOMEBODY DIDN'T KNOW, SOMEBODY KNEW.
SO IT'S YOUR JOB TO FIX THAT WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY BECAUSE IT'S, IT IS TAKEN A LITTLE BIT TOO LONG.
AND, AND I ACTUALLY HAVE SOME PEOPLE WITH ME WHO, WHO HAVE CAME ALL THE WAY FROM ALL ACROSS LOUISIANA THAT THEY ALSO WANTED TO SPEAK.
SO I'M GONNA JUST GO AHEAD AND PASS IT TO THEM REALLY QUICKLY.
THEY ALL GET THREE MINUTES, SO TAKE YOUR TIME.
I, I MEAN, I THINK I MIGHT'VE SAID ALL THAT I COULD SAY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I'M, I'M JUST, IT IS, IT JUST, IT MAKES ME REALLY EMOTIONAL TO KNOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? EVERYONE WHO COMES TO THE MIC HAS THREE MINUTES.
I'M PASTOR REVEREND WILFORD JOHNSON FROM NEW WHITE BURIAL, LOUISIANA.
AND I'M HERE IN REPRESENTATION OF A NEW CHAPTER PUSH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION AS WELL AS BLACK VOTERS MATTER.
UM, WE HERE GAVE ME SUPPORT OF THE RONALD GREEN PROTESTS AT THE CAPITOL AND ALSO TO STAND BEFORE YOU, UH, TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE SAW THIS, WE WATCHED THIS.
AND TO KNOW THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE AS LONG AS IT HAS BEEN, AND KNOW THE EFFECT THAT IT HAS HAD UPON THE PEOPLE THAT WENT THROUGH THAT BUILDING TOUCHES MY HEART.
WHY? BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE BEEN ME, COULD HAVE BEEN MY GRANDSON, IT COULD HAVE BEEN ANYBODY.
EVEN THOUGH WE ARE NOT FROM HERE.
WE TRAVELED THROUGH BATON ROUGE A LOT.
WE COULD HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE PULLED OVER AND BROUGHT INTO THAT BUILDING AND TERRORIZED JUST LIKE THOSE YOUNG MEN AND THE GRANDMOTHER AND ALL THOSE THAT HAD WENT THROUGH THERE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE TO EVERY ONE OF YOU THAT ARE SITTING HERE TODAY, AND AS, AS I LOOK INTO YOUR FACES, THERE SHOULDN'T BE PERSON, AFTER PERSON AFTER PERSON TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS.
I KNOW ALREADY IN YOUR HEART YOU ARE BEING CONVICTED.
'CAUSE I CAN FEEL THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT MOVING THROUGH THIS ROOM.
AND I THINK THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THE BETTER JUDGMENT AND FOLLOW YOUR HEART AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS INJUSTICE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE OFFICERS WHO CONDUCTED THIS.
LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY DID NOT GET AWAY WITH WHAT THEY DID.
[00:45:01]
I'M TELLING YOU, IT'S NATIONAL IN BATON ROUGE.Y'ALL MAKE US LOOK BAD TO SEE US, THE CAPITAL OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA TO TOLERATE BULL CRAP LIKE THIS AND NOT DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.
STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
I'M FROM LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA.
I'M HERE WITH, UH, THE VILLAGE 3, 3, 7, UH, BLACK VOTERS MATTER.
WE ARE PARTNERED WITH A NEW CHAPTER PUSH, UH, THE NAACP, UM, IS HERE AS WELL.
AND WE JUST WANT TO SAY, UM, THAT AGAIN, ECHOING THE WORDS OF REVEREND JOHNSON.
IT IS EMBARRASSING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR STATE CAPITOL.
UM, I LIVED HERE FOR THREE YEARS.
I SERVED THIS COMMUNITY WORKING AS A FAMILY SERVICE COUNSELOR AND EE SPECIALIST AT GREEN OAKS MEMORIAL PARK AND FUNERAL HOME, SERVING PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT CREEDS, UM, CULTURES AND BACKGROUNDS, UM, TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT WAS ABLE TO HAPPEN, UH, AT A FUNERAL HOME.
IT'S SAD THAT WE CAN'T DO THAT AS A CITY.
IT'S SAD THAT WE CAN'T COME TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT, LOVE AND SERVE OUR PEOPLE AS A COMMUNITY.
UM, AND I, AND I THINK THAT WE, WE, WE OUGHT TO CALL IT LIKE WE SEE IT, THE FACT THAT WE ARE SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT THIS EXISTED, YOU KNOW, OR, OR WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT THAT THAT THINGS LIKE THIS WAS HAPPENING.
I MEAN, I LIVED IN THIS CITY, UH, MORE THAN FOUR YEARS AGO AND I KNEW STUFF LIKE THIS WAS GOING DOWN.
UM, I DON'T THINK IT'S EVER A SECRET WHEN PEOPLE ARE BEING TORTURED AND BEATEN AND BRUTALIZED.
AND I, I THINK THAT EVEN WE, PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF POWER HAVE A WHOLE LOT, UH, MORE OF A, AN AWARENESS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING THAN PEOPLE ON THE STREETS.
AND SO WE WANT TO LET IT BE KNOWN THAT ALL ACROSS SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA, UH, WE ARE WATCHING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CAPITOL.
AND WHEN WE ARE CALLED ON BY OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS HERE, UH, WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
WE DO COME TO THE CAPITOL WHEN WE CAN AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO COME.
WE'VE BEEN HERE, UH, WE'VE MARCHED IN FRONT OF THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION.
WE'VE MARCHED AT THE STATE COMPOUND.
UH, WE MARCHED AND, AND WE MADE THE CURRENT, THE FORMER COLONEL RESIGN.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO PUT THAT TYPE OF PRESSURE IF WE HAVE TO ON WHOEVER WE HAVE TO AS WE CONTINUE TO WATCH THIS UNFOLD.
WE WILL DO OUR OWN INVESTIGATIONS AND RESEARCH AND CO IN PARTNERSHIP AND COALITION WITH ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU SEE HERE TODAY AND MORE.
AND TRUST ME, THERE ARE MANY MORE BACK HOME WATCHING ALL ACROSS THAT SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA REGION.
AND WE PLAN TO EXTEND THAT ALL THE WAY UP TO THE NORTH OF THIS STATE AND WHEREVER ELSE WE HAVE TO, OF COURSE, EVEN PETITIONING ON OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GET INVOLVED, WHICH I WOULD THINK WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO PETITION, UH, FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR THEM TO GET ENGAGED AND GET INVOLVED AGAIN.
IT'S EMBARRASSING THAT WE HAVE TO CALL BATON ROUGE OUR STATE CAPITOL AND WE SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CAPITOL.
IF, UH, IF WE KNOW ONE THING LOUISIANA IS GONNA BE IN THE NEWS FOR, IT'S GONNA BE FOR SOMETHING RACIST, SOMETHING MESSY AND SOMETHING DIRTY.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE? WISHING COME ON DOWN.
MA'AM, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
9 5 22 WEST CORONA DRIVE, V ROUGE, LOUISIANA, 7 0 8 1 5.
I WASN'T GONNA COME 'CAUSE I DIDN'T EVEN THINK I WOULD HAVE A VOICE.
IT REALLY HURTS MY HEART WHEN I WAS ON THAT MEETING AND HEARD ABOUT THE INCIDENT WITH THE YOUNG WOMAN WHEN THEY PUT THE THING THROUGH THE HOUSE AND, AND NOT JUST THAT IT HAPPENED 'CAUSE IT'S NOTHING SURPRISED ME ANYMORE HERE, BUT THAT IT HAPPENED.
WE IN JANUARY, NOTHING WAS DONE.
I WAS LIKE, WAIT, I'LL BUY A DOOR.
IT'S MORE THAN A DOOR TO HOLD DAMN FRAME.
AND, AND AND, AND IT IS EMBARRASSING TO LIVE SOMEWHERE WHERE PEOPLE DON'T CARE ENOUGH.
'CAUSE I'LL TAKE MY WHOLE DAMN PAYCHECK AND FIX THEIR HOUSE.
HOW COULD Y'ALL BE OKAY? HOW COULD ANYBODY BE OKAY WITH A FAMILY LIVING IN THE HOUSE? IT'S BEEN DAMN HOT.
I HAVE A C I HAVE FANS AND THE CEILING FANS AND IT'S STILL HOT AND MY HOUSE.
SO COULD YOU JUST IMAGINE THAT I WAS SO MAD? AND, AND JUST TO SAY, SO I'M NOT GONNA REPEAT ALL THE STUFF THAT'S BEEN SAID, BUT WHAT I WANNA SAY, BECAUSE I STOOD BEFORE YOU ALL A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO ABOUT ANOTHER SITUATION AND ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUT PEOPLE BACKS AGAINST THE WALL.
Y'ALL TALK ABOUT Y'ALL WANNA MAKE OUR CITY SAFE, WE NOT SAFE.
I'M SCARED AS F**K, I WANNA GO GET ME AN AUTOMATIC GUN BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE Y'ALL ARE PUTTING US IN A SITUATION WHERE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN HERE.
SO PEOPLE THINKING THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO TAKE STUFF IN THEIR OWN HAND BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT WE TRUST AND ELECTED OF NOT DOING IT ARE NOT DOING IT.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO LOOK AT ONLY Y'ALL, 'CAUSE I MEET WITH A LOT OF YOU ALL ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND I WANNA KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER THIS IS GONNA GO HOME.
HOW MUCH LONGER ARE YOU GONNA BE OKAY WITH THIS HAPPENING AND NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT? THAT WOMAN SHOULDN'T EVEN BE IN THAT HOUSE.
I MEAN, MOVE HER IN A HOTEL OR SOMEWHERE.
THEM CHILDREN SHOULDN'T BE THERE.
THESE, OUR CHILDREN, OUR CHILDREN HAVE BEEN ABUSED AND, AND TRAUMATIZED FOR FAR TOO LONG.
[00:50:01]
DON'T CARE WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT HOUSE.BUT THE CHILDREN SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SUFFER LIKE THAT.
AND SO WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING AND WE NEED TO DO IT NOW.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? I AM REVEREND FREDERICK MCDANIEL, 1507 WILLOW STREET, FRANKLIN, LOUISIANA.
I COME FROM A FAMILY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
UH, MY GRANDFATHER, MY MY UNCLE, UH, MARSHALL BROTHER COME OUT THE MILITARY, WENT INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FOR SOME REASON HE DECIDED TO GET OUT OF IT.
AND HE SHARED WITH ME WHY HE GOT OUT OF IT BECAUSE THINGS WAS NOT THE WAY HE THOUGHT IT WAS.
AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IS FOR, TO SERVE AND PROTECT.
BUT THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT WERE DOING WHAT THEY WANT TO DO BECAUSE THEY WAS COVERED BY SOMEBODY ELSE WATCHING THEIR BACK.
AND WHAT IS GOING ON NOW TODAY? WE SHOULDN'T BE GOING BACKWARD.
WE SHOULD BE GOING DOING POSITIVE THINGS, NOT ALLOWING THESE THINGS TO GO ON TO PEOPLE.
NOT JUST BLACK, NOT JUST WHITE, BUT JUST ANYBODY.
BECAUSE THERE ARE THINGS GOING ON TODAY THAT SHOULDN'T BE GOING ON.
WE SHOULD BE GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE, NOT BACK IN THE PAST.
WE SHOULD BE STEPPING FORWARD TO LOOK TO OUR, SO OUR CHILDREN CAN HAVE A FUTURE.
NOT BEING SCARED TO, TO TAKE ON A JOB THAT THEY KNOW THEY DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER.
TO BE, TO GET INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A POSITIVE THING, BUT TO BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO TRUST OUR OFFICERS, BE ABLE TO TRUST OUR, THE PEOPLE THAT'S IN CHARGE, THAT'S OVER THEM.
NOT ALLOWING THINGS TO GO ON LIKE THIS AND PUTTING FEAR IN THE PEOPLE'S HEART THAT BROUGHT YOU GUYS IN TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS ARE GOING IN THE DIRECTION THAT THEY SHOULD BE GOING IN FORWARD AND NOT BACKWARDS.
FORGET THE THING THAT'S BEHIND US, LET'S PRESS ON FORWARD, BUT THE BEST THAT'S IN FRONT OF US.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? GOOD EVENING.
I'M MARJA BROUSSARD, UM, 3 0 8 NORTH SANTINE LAFAYETTE.
I'M ALSO THE NAACP LOUISIANA STATE CONFERENCE DISTRICT D VICE PRESIDENT AND THE STATE'S POLITICAL ACTION CHAIRPERSON.
I'M HERE TO ADD MY VOICE TO THE MANY WITH THE DEEP CONCERNS OF ALL THESE ALLEGATIONS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TERRORIZING PEOPLE.
YOU ALL KNOW WE KIND OF S SINGING TO THE CHOIR.
YOU GUYS KNOW THAT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
WHY YOU HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, UH, AGENCIES HAVE A CRITICAL ROLE OF MAINTAINING LAW ORDER WHILE PROTECTING THE RIGHTS IN THE WELLBEING OF ALL RESIDENTS.
IT IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANT THAT WE HOLD THESE AGENCIES ACCOUNTABLE.
YOU KNOW THIS, I I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING THAT YOU DON'T KNOW.
YOU KNOW THAT THESE OFFICERS NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
I URGE THIS CITY TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE.
WE HAVE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
UM, UH, IT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ALSO DO SOMETHING TO REBUILD THE TRUST IN THE COMMU LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY.
THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THE TRUST OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND YOU GUYS HERE.
I WE HAVE TO TRUST THAT IF SOMETHING IS, IS DONE.
I SAW THE PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT THE YOUNG LADY, BY THE WAY GUYS, I'M A PROUD MOM OF EIGHT DAUGHTERS.
AND TRUST ME, IF THOSE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WAS TO TAKE ANY ONE OF THEM SOMEWHERE AND HAVE 'EM SPREAD THEIR CHEEK AND SPREAD THEIR VAGINA, IT WOULD BE A PROBLEM.
BUT WE KNOW THIS, THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.
SO I JUST URGE YOU GUYS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
UH, WE ARE PART OF NAACP, WE WANT RESOLUTIONS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR PLAN IS, BUT I I LIKE TO BELIEVE WHEN I LEAVE HERE THAT I HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT I HAVE ADDRESSED YOU.
MANY OTHERS HAVE ADDRESSED YOU AND YOU GUYS ARE GONNA GET TOGETHER AND YOU'RE GONNA TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM.
IS ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM AM COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKER.
[00:55:01]
ALRIGHT, SO I'M LOOKING AT MY COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE.YOU WANNA SPEAK AND THEN SHE COME AFTER YOU OR YOU WANT TO KEEP ON YOU UP TO HER? OH, YOU NOT COMING MA'AM.
SO I'M LOOKING AT ALL 11 OF MY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MY QUESTION IS, AFTER HEARING ALL THESE COMMENTS, WHO'S GONNA TELL THE PEOPLE, WHICH ONE OF US ARE GONNA TELL THEM WHO'S GONNA STAND UP RIGHT NOW WITH ME AND TELL THEM THAT THIS ISSUE CAME BEFORE US MONTHS AGO AND WE ASK FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE YET? HERE WE SIT TONIGHT.
ANYBODY ELSE GONNA STAND WITH ME? 'CAUSE I KNOW Y'ALL ARE ALL IN THE ROOM WITH ME.
ALRIGHT, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I AM SORRY TO DISAPPOINT EACH AND ONE OF EVERY ONE OF YOU OUT THERE.
THE COUNCIL HAS NO POWER TO DO ANYTHING OVER THIS.
THE ONLY THING THAT WE HAVE THE POWER TO DO IS TO NOT APPROVE FUNDING.
SO I AM HERE TO TELL YOU THAT IT DID NOT FALL ON DEAF EARS TONIGHT.
WE HEARD THE PLEAS LONG BEFORE YOU STOOD IN THIS COUNCIL CHAMBER.
WE HEARD THE PLEAS WHEN THE FIRST LAWSUIT CAME BEFORE US FOR A BAD ACTOR THAT ACTED IN THE SAME MANNER AS BLAINE ALIMONY YEARS AGO.
THAT EXCUSES WERE MADE AND HE WAS LEFT ON THE FORCE.
YET HERE WE SIT YET AGAIN WITH INNOCENT VICTIMS IN OUR CITY BEING VICTIMIZED WHETHER THEY COMMITTED A CRIME OR NOT.
SO WE HAVE FOLKS COMING UP AND LOOKING TO US AND TELLING US WHAT WE DID AND DIDN'T DO.
AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU WE HAVE DONE WHAT WE COULD.
AND I KNOW THE BUCK DOESN'T STOP HERE.
AND I HAVE SAID THE SERENITY PRAYER OVER AND OVER AGAIN EVERY DAY AND EVERY NIGHT.
AND I AM TELLING YOU, I MAY NOT HAVE THE WISDOM, I MAY NOT HAVE THE SERENITY, BUT I STAND WITH ALL OF YOU AND SAY, I HAVE THE COURAGE.
AND IF THE F B I WANTS TO COME AND TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN AND WHAT HAS BEEN IGNORED, I WELCOME THEM TO IT.
COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER HEAR, UH, MA'AM, YOU WANNA SPEAK? YES.
ANYONE WHO IS HERE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING, PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND THE LOVELY YOUNG LADY IN THE, THE THE CANARY YELLOW JACKET.
IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK, GO AHEAD MA'AM.
I'VE RESIDED IN THIS CITY OF BATON ROUGE FOR 27 YEARS NOW.
ACTUALLY, I WAS CARRYING MY SON DION WILLIS, THAT WAS MURDERED BY THE EAST BATON ROUGE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT ON JANUARY THE EIGHTH, 2022, JUST A YEAR AND A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, RIGHT IN MY RESIDENTIAL HOME.
I FEEL IGNORED AS A CITIZENS HERE, AS A RESIDENT HERE, I FEEL IGNORED.
I MY, YOU KNOW, MY SON WAS ACTUALLY SHOT, MURDERED THROUGH MY RESIDENTIAL DOOR.
UM, I'VE REACHED OUT, I'VE REACHED OUT TO SEE A GORO.
I KNOW WE ARE NOT IN THAT PARTICULAR SETTING RIGHT NOW, BUT I'VE REACHED OUT TO SEVERAL OF OUR CITY COUNCIL LEADERS CONCERNING THIS EVENT THAT HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY.
AND I AM, I'M HERE TO BE A VOICE BECAUSE MY SON, DION WILLIS NO LONGER CAN SPEAK.
HE WAS 25 WHEN HE WAS MURDERED THROUGH OUR DOOR.
AND AS A LEADER OF MYSELF IN THIS CITY, I'VE BEEN A NURSE FOR 18 YEARS NOW, AND I WAS SAVED SO MANY LIVES.
BUT THAT DAY WHEN I WAS VIOLATED OF MY CIVIL RIGHTS, I COULD NOT PROTECT MY OWN SON THAT WAS MURDERED IN MY LIVING ROOM AREA WITH MY HUSBAND AND MY YOUNGER TWO CHILDREN IN THE HOME.
AND DION WAS 25, JUST RECEIVED THIS NEW JOB FROM AT GEISER BROWN AND RUTH THE DAY BEFORE.
AND THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT CAME TO MY HOME UNANNOUNCED.
WE STEADY KEPT ASKING, WHO IS IT? WHO IS IT? WHO IS IT? THEY CAME WITH FORCE WITH AN AR 15 POINTED AT MY RESIDENTIAL DOOR.
EVERY DAY, I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT MY SON OF WHERE HE COULD HAVE BEEN RIGHT NOW TODAY, HE WOULD'VE BEEN 27, APRIL THE FIFTH OF THIS LAST YEAR.
BUT INSTEAD, I DON'T HAVE HIM ANYMORE.
HE LEFT ME WITH ONE GRANDDAUGHTER AND SHE DON'T HAVE A DAD NOW.
BUT I FEEL LIKE MY FAMILY WAS NOT TREATED EQUALLY, JUST LIKE ALL THE REST OF THE BULLIES IN A UNIFORM DON'T TREAT OUR FAMILIES EQUALLY.
WHY DID I HAVE TO BE PUT AS I'M RECOVERING FROM A SURGERY WHEN THAT DAY ON JANUARY THE EIGHTH, 2022, WHEN THEY CAME TO MY HOME VERY VICIOUSLY.
AND WE STARTED ASKING, WHO IS IT? AND I HAVE A NINE ONE ONE CALL TELLING THEM I NEED HELP.
[01:00:01]
MY DOOR THAT MADE ME THINK THAT IT WAS AN INTRUDER COMING THROUGH MY DOOR.BUT INSTEAD THEY, WHEN MY SON PEEPED OUT THAT DOOR, MY SON WAS SHOT THROUGH OUR RESIDENTIAL DOOR.
I CANNOT SIT HERE AND ACT LIKE NOTHING EVER HAPPENED ON JANUARY THE EIGHTH, JUST BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE IS ACTING LIKE NOTHING NEVER HAPPENED.
IF YOU HADN'T HEARD ABOUT MY SON TODAY, YOU NEED TO KNOW HE WAS A REAL PERSON.
HE WAS A FATHER, A LOVING FATHER AT THAT HE DIDN'T BOTHER ANYBODY.
THE FIRST THING THEY ASKED ME AND WANTED TO FIND OUT WAS HE A CONVICTED FELON? NO, DION WAS NOT A CONVICTED FELON.
EVEN IF HE WAS A CONVICTED FELON, HE DID NOT DE DESERVE TO DIE THAT DAY WHEN THEY HAD A AR 15 POINTED AT MY DOOR.
I GRADUATED FROM BARBER COLLEGE IN THIS COMMUNITY IN 2005.
I'VE, I'VE BEEN A NURSE FOR 18 YEARS HERE, RIGHT IN THIS CITY.
BUT I'M AFRAID NOW TO LIVE IN THIS CITY BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SON ON THAT DAY.
HE WAS A, HE WAS A YOUNG MAN THAT LOVED HIS FAMILY.
HE HAD SUFFERED DEPRESSION A YEAR AND A HALF BEFORE.
AND I WATCHED HIM GET THROUGH THAT DEPRESSION.
BUT THAT PARTICULAR DAY I COULD NOT SAVE MY SON.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TONIGHT.
I HAVE TO BE A VOICE FOR HIM AND SO MANY ON THE OTHER YOUNG BLACK MALES THAT'S BEING BRUTAL TO ME, TALKING THEIR LIVES BEING TAKEN BY THE PEOPLE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTING US AND EVERYBODY WITH THEIR HEAD DOWN LIKE HIS LIFE DIDN'T MATTER AND THOSE LIVES DON'T MATTER.
HE HAS, HE LEFT BEHIND A FAMILY THAT LOVE HIM.
I'M A MOTHER OF SIX SONS AND HE WAS ONE OF MY SONS, A SET OF, HE WAS A TWIN.
TWO SETS OF TWINS I GAVE BIRTH TO.
AND I'M PROUD OF THAT BECAUSE WHEN I WAS A YOUNG LADY, I WAS A FOSTER KID AND I PRAYED TO HAVE A BIG FAMILY AND GOD BLESSED ME WITH A BIG FAMILY AND I HAD TO BURY ONE OF MY SONS AT 25 YEARS OLD.
AND YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT HERE UNDERNEATH YOUR NOSE IN THIS CITY.
WILLIS LIFE MATTER AND ALL THE REST.
THESE YOUNG MEN WHO'S GETTING DEALT, THE BRAVE AND YOUNG WOMEN LIVES ARE BEING AT THE BRAVE CAVE.
YOU NEED TO HEAR OUR VOICE BECAUSE WE'RE REAL PEOPLE AND WE LOVE OUR FAMILIES.
JUST AS ANY OTHER RACE, LOVE THEIR FAMILIES.
AND THAT'S HOW I CAN STAND HERE RIGHT NOW TODAY.
AND I STILL SERVE MY COMMUNITY BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S NOT ABOUT US.
AND I TRUST GOD THAT JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED FOR MY SON AND SO MANY OTHER CHILDREN THAT'S BEING MISREPRESENTED AND NOT EVEN REPRESENTED.
NOBODY HAS A VOICE ANYMORE BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID.
WHEN I SEE THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT, I'M AFRAID WHEN I SEE THEM, THERE'S A FEAR.
BUT I PRAY EVERY DAY THAT I CAN HAVE A VOICE AND MY SON NAME WILL BE KNOWN ALL OVER THIS WORLD THAT HE DID NOT DESERVE TO DIE THAT DAY.
ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'M GETTING READY TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I'LL PAUSE IF THERE'S ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK, BUT ONCE WE GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M NOT GONNA ALLOW ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK.
I DON'T EVEN HAVE A LOT TO SAY AND I DIDN'T INTEND TO SPEAK TODAY, BUT STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD PLEASE, MA'AM.
I RUSHED OVER HERE FROM ANOTHER PROTEST FOR ANOTHER DEAD CHILD OF ANOTHER GRIEVING MOTHER WHO DOESN'T HAVE JUSTICE FOR HER CHILD THAT WAS KILLED BY BILLY.
AND I THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT SHE SAID ABOUT THE FEAR AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THE FEAR THAT I HAVE.
AND MY HUSBAND, WHO HAS SERVED 25 YEARS IN THE MILITARY AND IS, HAS ONE MORE YEAR TO GO AND HIS PLAN IS TO TRY TO GET HIS SON OUT OF THIS COUNTRY AWAY FROM THE POLICE.
HE HAS SERVED HIS COUNTRY FOR 25 YEARS IN THE MILITARY AND HIS PLAN IS TO GET HIS SON AWAY FROM THE POLICE.
MY SON JUST TURNED 13 ON SUNDAY.
[01:05:01]
POUNDS AND HE KNOWS THAT THE POLICE DON'T SEE HIM AS A CHILD.HE'S 13 YEARS OLD AND ALL HE WANTED TO DO FOR HIS 13TH BIRTHDAY WAS GO TO A BAY BLADE TOURNAMENT IN HOUSTON AND SIT ON THE FLOOR AND PLAY WITH TORY.
BECAUSE HE'S A CHILD, HE'S NOT EVEN PROBABLY AS MATURE AS YOUR CHILD OR YOUR CHILD OR YOUR CHILD OR YOUR CHILD OR YOUR CHILD BECAUSE MY 13 YEAR OLD IS A BABY BECAUSE I KEEP HIM IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE I'M AFRAID.
HE'S SUCH A BABY THAT ALL HE WANTED TO DO FOR HIS 13TH BIRTHDAY WAS SIT ON THE FLOOR, PLAY WITH TOYS IN THE BACK OF A COMIC BOOK STORE.
BUT MY HUSBAND, WHO IS DEDICATED HIS WIFE TO SERVING HIS COUNTRY, COUNTING THE DAYS UNTIL HE CAN GET MY CHILD OUT TO SAVE HIS LIFE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HURST, UH, FIRST OF ALL, MY HEART GOES OUT TO ANYONE HAS LOST A CHILD FOR WHATEVER REASON, BUT DEFINITELY TO SENSELESS VIOLENCE, WHETHER IT BE FROM A, UH, REGULAR CITIZEN, A POLICE OFFICER, UM, MILITARY, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
SO MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU AND YOUR TEARS ARE, UH, WATERING THE SEEDS AND PLANTED BY MANY SO THAT, UH, WE CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE THAT WE NEED TO.
SO THAT THIS STOPS HERE IN BATON ROUGE.
UM, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.
UH, THE PARISH ATTORNEY WILL COME UP TO THE, UH, PODIUM.
UM, AND SHE MAY NOT HAVE THE ANSWER, BUT AGAIN, C AND I I'M GONNA TACKLE A COUPLE OF THINGS, AND I MAY NEED BOTH MY TIME.
BUT FIRST THING IS THE, THE, THE HOUSING.
YOU KNOW, COURTNEY, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE PART OF THOSE CALLS.
I KNOW GREG ROME WAS, I KNOW ANDY WAS.
AS IT RELATED TO, UH, BUSTING IN THE DOORS, GETTING WITH RISK MANAGEMENT, ASSESSING SITUATIONS.
CAN YOU, ARE YOU, UM, ADEPT ENOUGH TO DISCUSS HOW OR WHAT LAWS ARE IN PLACE TO ALLOW POLICE TO OPEN THOSE DOORS AND HOW WE CAN GET THOSE RECTIFIED? UM, I BELIEVE THE LAST TIME THIS CAME UP, I THINK COUNCILMAN DUNN TRIED TO PASS SOME LEGISLATION ABOUT IT.
WE BOTH DID, AND WE COULDN'T DO IT.
'CAUSE OF STATE LAW SUPERSEDING, OR, AND I, I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION ON RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU, THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING.
AND, AND I, BECAUSE I WANTED THE PUBLIC TO HEAR IT BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THEY APPEAL TO THE COUNCIL AND LIKE, UH, COUNCILMAN ROCK SAID, YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN THE BACK.
WE'RE FIGHTING JUST LIKE Y'ALL ARE.
Y'ALL DON'T SEE IT ALL THE TIME BECAUSE IT'S AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE GET P****D OFF AT THE POLICE.
BOY, YOU SOMETIMES, AND IT'S NOT EVERY POLICE OFFICER, BECAUSE WE HAVE GREAT POLICE OFFICERS, LIKE ANY JOB, YOU'RE GONNA HIRE SOMEBODY, THEY'RE GONNA PASS THE TEST, THOUGH IT IS LIKE A RELATIONSHIP.
SOMETIMES THEY GET PAST THAT 90 DAY WINDOW AND THEY TURN INTO SOMEBODY ELSE YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU SHOULD HAVE DATED.
RIGHT? BUT A LOT OF TIMES WHEN THOSE OFFICERS SITUATIONS, IT'S IN A POSITION WHERE A SUPERVISOR CAN'T SEE 'EM.
THEY DO THINGS, WHAT THEY SAY, WHAT GOES ON THE DARK COMES TO THE LIGHT, AND TODAY THE LIGHT IS SHINE.
SO, UH, A A NUMBER OF US WERE IN DC LAST WEEK REPRESENTING THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
AND WE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS IN DC.
UM, AND SO ONE THING THAT I DO WANT IS, IS BETTER COMMUNICATION FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE ADMINISTRATION AND HOW THEY COMMUNICATE.
YOU CAN COME TO THE CHIEF IF YOU WANT TO SOMEBODY AND HOW YOU COMMUNICATE WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
'CAUSE AS, AS MUCH AS YOU THOUGHT WE KNEW IS AS MUCH AS WE DID NOT KNOW.
SO WE ARE IN DC I'M, I'M COMING UP TO CLEAVE SAYING, CLEAVE, WHAT'S GOING ON IN BATON ROUGE? THE FBI'S THERE, I'M GETTING CALLS FROM MY CONSTITUENTS.
I HAVE NO ABILITY TO ANSWER WHAT THEY'RE ASKING ME.
I SAID, BUT THEY PUT ME IN THIS DEPOSITION TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
WHAT'S GOING ON? HE SAID, HEY, MAN, I DON'T KNOW.
SO I DID ASK SOMEONE ON THE ADMINISTRATION AND I FOUND OUT A LITTLE BIT OF DETAIL ABOUT IT.
I, I, I WANNA SAY EVEN THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WAS THE ONE THAT BROUGHT THE F B I IN.
SO THAT WAS A PAT ON THE BACK FOR THEM FOR DOING THAT.
SO I WANT TO ADDRESS SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS.
SO, NUMBER ONE, WE KNOW WHAT BAD ACTORS ARE.
I'M GONNA USE THE CHIEF'S WORDS ON THAT, AND WE WANNA HOLD BAD ACTORS ACCOUNTABLE AS MUCH AS YOU DO.
NUMBER TWO, IN TERMS OF BUSTING IN SOMEBODY'S HOUSE IS NOT ONE.
THE CRAZY PART IS CLEVE HAD CALLED THE PARISH ATTORNEY ON A FRIDAY.
[01:10:01]
I CALLED THE PARISH ATTORNEY ON A MONDAY.THE PARISH ATTORNEY THOUGHT THAT IT WAS THE SAME THING WE WERE CALLING ABOUT WHEN THERE WAS TWO DIFFERENT INCIDENCES THAT HAPPENED IN A COUPLE OF DAYS ABOUT GOING INTO HOMES, TEARING THEM APART, AND NOT, THEY'RE NOT REPAIRING THEM BACK.
AND THEN INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER IT.
AND SO THAT STUFF IS MANAGED AT THE STATE LEVEL.
SO WHAT WE DO IS REACH OUT TO OUR STATE LEGISLATORS, WHICH IS ALSO WHAT YOU SHOULD DO.
LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD, NOT JUST IN THIS COUNCIL CHAMBERS, BUT AT THE STATE LEVEL AS WELL.
UM, UH, SOME OF THE CONCERNS I HAVE AS WELL IS HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TORTURED, UM, TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM IN THE SAME SITUATION? 'CAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE, WE TALK ABOUT, UH, PEOPLE WHO DEAL WITH MENTAL TORMENT IS BECAUSE THINGS HAPPEN AS CHILDREN THAT THEY ARE SCARED TO SPEAK ABOUT.
AND AS ADULTS HAD A COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER WHO HAD BEEN MOLESTED, WHO PLAYED WITH ME AS SOUTHERN, AND, UM, AS THEY STARTED TELLING ME A STORY AFTER WE HAD GRADUATED, I WOULD'VE NEVER KNOWN THIS GUY THAT PLAYED ON THE TEAM WITH ME WAS MOLESTED HIS ENTIRE, UM, YOU, HIS, HIS ENTIRE LIFE FROM A, FROM ABOUT A BABY TILL ABOUT 13 OR 14 YEARS OLD.
SO I'M ENCOURAGING EVERYBODY TODAY THIS EXPERIENCE.
I DO THAT'S EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU SPEAK UP.
THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNCIL WILL BE THERE TO PROTECT YOU, HAVE YOUR BACK, AND MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING ELSE HAPPENS AND THAT WE CAN'T GUARANTEE.
UM, THE OTHER PART OF IT, WHAT THIS REMINDED ME OF WAS STOPPING FRISK IN NEW YORK.
YOU KNOW, YOU COULD JUST PULL ANYBODY OVER AT ANY TIME AND STRIP 'EM APART.
AND WHAT IT DID IS IT BUILT DISTRUST IN THE POLICE SYSTEM IN NEW YORK, AND IT TOOK A HELL OF A LONG TIME TO RECOVER.
AND I THINK WE'RE JUST RECOVERING FROM ELTON STERLING.
AND WHAT THIS DID WILL DRIP THE BANDAID BACK OFF.
SO THIS IS RODNEY KING, 2.0 IN BATON ROUGE.
DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S BLACK, WHITE, OR ANY OTHER, IF WHOEVER'S DOING THIS WRONG NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE INVESTIGATION IS, BUT I STAND WITH EVERYBODY IN THAT CROWD WHEN I ASK THE POLICE TO PUT HANDCUFFS ON SOMEBODY THAT DESERVES 'EM.
UM, AND YOU HEAR ME SAY ALL THE TIME, WE TALK ABOUT ADD MORE POLICE TO THE STREET, PUT MORE MONEY IN THE POLICE FORCE, GIVING THEM A RAISES SO WE CAN HIRE MORE POLICE BADGES.
AND GUNS DON'T CHANGE OUR COMMUNITY 'CAUSE WE DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE TALKING TO 'EM.
WE TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY POLICING.
THIS IS, AND I WOULD SAY THIS, AND THIS IS JUST PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS WITH CHIEF.
HE HAS HAD A HUGE EFFORT OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS THROUGH HIS COMMUNITY POLICING DIVISION TO BUILD TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY.
PEOPLE THAT FELT MORE COMFORTABLE GIVING DETAILS TO PREVENT CRIMES, TO RESOLVE CRIMES.
AND WHAT THIS DID WAS SEND US 10 YEARS BACKWARDS.
SO CHIEF, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
UM, ONE BAD APPLE JUST SPOILED A BUNCH OR 12 BAD APPLES, WHOEVER WAS A PART OF THAT.
BUT NOW I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO JUST COME TO THE MIC REALLY QUICKLY.
CHIEF, WHILE YOU WEREN'T IN THAT CAVE, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WORK.
AND MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS, NUMBER ONE, WHAT IS THE PLAN IN TERMS OF ARREST? 'CAUSE I'M GONNA GO DIRECT ON THAT.
AND THEN NUMBER TWO, WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS TO RESTORE TRUST IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY? YEAH.
SO FIRST LET'S TALK ABOUT THE INVESTIGATIONS.
UM, UH, WE'VE BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING THIS INVESTIGATION SINCE AUGUST, UH, THE CRIMINAL SIDE WHEN WE FIRST LEARNED ABOUT IT.
UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE ON FRIDAY, UH, DURING THAT PRESS CONFERENCE ON FRIDAY.
IT'S GOING TO BE AT THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT AT 11 O'CLOCK.
I WILL BE ANNOUNCING, UH, SOME, UM, ACCOUNTABILITY IN OUR INVESTIGATIVE EFFORT.
WHEN I SIT HERE AND I LISTEN TO THE PAIN IN THE MOTHER'S VOICE, AND I KNOW THAT WASN'T A BAT ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THE HURTING PAIN, UH, IN HER VOICE AND SOME OF THE OTHERS.
PARTICULAR WITH THE, UH, A COMPLAINT IN REFERENCE, THE SEARCH OF A FEMALE.
UM, I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.
MY INVESTIGATIVE EFFORTS ARE NOT JUST ABOUT THE NARCOTICS PROCESSING CENTER OF THE BRAVE GAVE, MY INVESTIGATION IS ABOUT THE UNIT AS A WHOLE.
IT'S NOT FOCUSED ON 30, JUST ONE INDIVIDUAL, BUT ON THE PATTERNS AND PRACTICES OF THAT
[01:15:01]
UNIT.I WAS APPALLED WHEN I HEARD SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS.
AND I BELIEVE FRIDAY WHEN YOU HEAR OUR INVESTIGATIVE EFFORTS, HOW WE GOT HERE.
WE'VE COME A LONG WAY, BUT YET WE STILL SO FAR AWAY.
UH, A COUNCILMAN ABOUT AGITATED THAT SCAR AND TOOK US RIGHT BACK.
I PROMISE YOU THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO HOLDING THOSE ACCOUNTABLE, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR SOME OF THAT ACCOUNTABILITY ON FRIDAY.
UM, AND I WILL REVEAL THE SPECIFICS OF THOSE INVESTIGATIVE EFFORTS ON FRIDAY.
AND THEN I, I HAD A SECOND QUESTION, WHICH WAS, UM, ABOUT RESTORING.
AND NOT THAT ONE WALK, I GOT BLANK MY MIND.
BUT HOW DO YOU PLAN ON RESTORING? BECAUSE I MEAN, HAVING A PRESS CONFERENCE AND SAYING, I'M PUTTING HANDCUFFS ON, SOMEBODY DOES NOT RESTORE IT.
AND I KNOW WHAT THE SECOND QUESTION WAS, AND KIND OF GO TO IT HAND, HAND, BECAUSE IF I FLIPPED IT AROUND AND HAD A VIDEO OF A CITIZEN BEATING THE BRAKES OFF A POLICE OFFICER, THERE WILL BE NO QUESTIONS OF WHO WILL BE HANDCUFFED THAT DAY.
SO HOW DO YOU PLAN ON USING WHAT'S IN YOUR POWER TO RESTORE THE TRUST IN YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT? A PRESS CONFERENCE, NOT GONNA SOLVE IT.
AND, AND THAT CAN GO TO MAILROOM AS WELL.
SO, SO LET ME BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SET OUT IN 2018 AND, AND WE SHOWED THAT WHEN, UH, WE SIT AND WORK TOGETHER, THERE CAN BE SO MANY IMPROVEMENTS.
AND WE SEEN THAT THIS IS ONLY ONE PART OF ACCOUNTABILITY, RIGHT? ADDRESSING THAT BEHAVIOR.
UH, I, I THINK THIS IS MORE THAN JUST ABOUT THAT FACILITY.
THIS IS ABOUT, UH, UH, THE BEHAVIOR OF, OF A GROUP, UH, THAT IS BEING INVESTIGATED.
AND I PROMISE YOU IT WILL BE A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION.
UH, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK THE MAYOR HIGHLIGHTED EARLY YOUR, WHEN SHE FIRST SPOKE, UH, ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION.
UH, WE ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, UH, SOME TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING, UH, THAT'S GOING TO COME IN.
UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE IMPLEMENTED OUR PROCEDURE JUSTICE TRAINING TO EVERYBODY WHO COMES THROUGH THE POLICE ACADEMY.
AND, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT THOSE FOUR TENETS OF VOICE AND TRANSPARENCY AND RESPECT.
UH, IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT, UH, OBVIOUSLY SOME OF THAT TRAINING, UH, WASN'T, UH, GETTING TO SOME INDIVIDUALS AND WE'RE GONNA HOLD THOSE INDIVIDUALS ACCOUNTABLE.
BUT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE, UH, WITH THE TRAINING.
UH, I THINK THAT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, UH, THAT OVERSIGHT BODY THAT THE MAYOR MENTIONED IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I KNOW WE HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR THERE TO NOW, BUT I THINK THIS WILL TAKE IT TO A DIFFERENT LEVEL.
UH, MY GOAL WHEN I SOUGHT OUT THE FEDERAL SYSTEMS WAS IN PART BECAUSE I KNEW I WOULD NOT BE HERE.
UH, EVERYBODY KNEW I ANNOUNCED MY RETIREMENT, UH, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF INDEPENDENT, UH, FEDERAL OVERSIGHT.
UH, AS I MOVE ON TO THE NEXT CHAPTER OF MY LIFE COUNCIL MEMBER, BANKS, TURN YOUR MIC ON.
I I DIDN'T HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
UM, THERE ARE SO MANY, UM, SYSTEMIC ISSUES THAT ALLOW INCIDENTS LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
UM, EVEN HERE ON THE COUNCIL, UM, I AM NOT SURE HOW MANY, I'VE LOST COUNT ON HOW, WHO ALL WAS HERE IN 2016.
UM, AND I'VE HAVE LISTENED AS A DEFENSE MECHANISM.
SO I WON'T GO BACK TO WHAT HAPPENED IN 2016 AND HOW I FELT IN THE COUNCIL MEETINGS AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, UH, COMING IN REGARDING ALTON STERLING, UM, ASKING FOR POLICE REFORM, ALL THOSE THINGS.
IT'S NOT JUST, UM, A SITUATION WHERE, AND I'M JUST GONNA SPEAK FROM THE POINT OF A COUNCIL MEMBER HERE.
I GOT A CALL FROM LARAMIE ASKING ME TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA.
[01:20:02]
I TOLD HIM, I SAID, UH, LARAMIE, I CAN'T PUT THAT ON THE AGENDA.I SAID, I WOULD GET SO MUCH READ, SO MANY REASONS AS TO WHY I COULDN'T DO IT, BASICALLY FROM THE PARISH ATTORNEY.
I SAID, THAT WOULD BE CON, I WOULD HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT DON'T LOOK LIKE ME, WHO WOULD BE CALLING THE PARISH ATTORNEY SAYING, YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN INVESTIGATION.
I SAID, AND OUR PARISH ATTORNEY WILL FAVOR WITH THE SEVEN OUT OF FIVE.
I SAID, AND IT WON'T BE HEARD, AM I? AM I LYING? I TOLD YOU THAT.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE, WHEN YOU TALK, Y'ALL TALKING ABOUT IN INEQUITY IN THE, IN THE CITY AND ON THE STREETS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
BUT THAT'S THE KIND OF FIGHTS I FIGHT HERE ON THE COUNCIL WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY THAT LOOKS JUST LIKE US.
UM, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE GARY HERE.
THEY WERE ARRESTED THE LAST TIME THERE EVER WAS A CROWD LIKE THIS TWO WEEKS AGO.
BUT FOR LIKE THREE WEEKS, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE PARISH ATTORNEY TO SETTLE THEIR CASE.
WE DIDN'T STOP WHEN PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT OTHER THINGS.
BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE.
SO WE, WE, WE, WE JUST HAD A CONVERSATION AND LET SOMEBODY TALK ABOUT, UH, THE DOOR BEING KNOCKED.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, AND I WANTED TO SAY POINT OF ORDER THEN, BUT THEY WERE ALLOWED TO TALK.
BUT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUE, NOT A PERSON.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IT, IT'S ABOUT GARY.
HEY, HEY, HEY, DON'T Y'ALL DO THAT.
YEAH, BUT LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT A PERSON I REFRAME.
ALRIGHT? UM, SO SYSTEMICALLY, YES, WE HAVE BAD ACTORS, UM, IN THE LAW, ENFOR AS IT RELATES TO, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT.
BUT WE BA WE HAVE BAD ACTORS IN THE LEGAL FIELD.
HOW MANY TIMES HAS CHIEF PAUL COME BEFORE US TO GET HIS OWN LEGAL COUNSEL AND THE MAJORITY SO THAT HE COULD GET A HANDLE ON THESE KIND OF INSTANCES? AND WE CANNOT GET SEVEN PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR HIM.
THAT'S WHY I SAY, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT.
WE NEED, WHEN WE GET A NEW CHIEF, WE NEED A NEW PARISH ATTORNEY.
WE, ANYTHING THAT'S ABOUT BLACK INJUSTICE THAT GOES ON IN THIS CITY, WE DO NOT HAVE A BACKING OF OUR BLACK PARISH ATTORNEY.
BUT I'M THE ONLY ONE SAYING IT.
AND SO FOR ME, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, AND, AND MY COLLEAGUE ASKED ME, WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS? YOU THIS, YOU KNOW, AND IT MAY NOT BE ANYTHING WE COULD DO TODAY, BUT THE WHAT THE THING THAT PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT WHEN BLACK PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A VOICE, THEY HAVE TO BE CREATIVE IN THE WAYS THAT THEY GET THE MESSAGE OUT TO THE MASSES.
SO YES, WE CAN'T VOTE A YES OR NO, BUT IT'S, IT IS, IT NEEDED TO BE THAT, THAT MOTHER, IF NOBODY ELSE NEEDED THAT, THAT, UM, ABILITY TO STAND AND SHARE HER TRUTH ON A GRANDER STAGE.
THAT IS, I WAS JUST ON A PODCAST ABOUT COMMUNITY TRAUMA.
COMMUNITY TRAUMA DOES NOT END WITH THE INCIDENT.
IT LINGERS ON FOR GENERATIONS.
I HAD A COLLEAGUE WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT SETTLING CASES FOR PEOPLE JUST LIKE Y'ALL, WHO SAID, WELL, WHERE THEY NOT THE OTHER LAWYER'S NOT PAID ANYMORE.
WHAT? WHY IT HURTS, WHY IT MATTERS.
THAT'S THE KIND OF INSENSITIVITY THAT WE HAVE SITTING ON THIS COUNCIL.
IT'S HORRIBLE, Y'ALL, IT WAS NICE TO HEAR THAT GRAND STAND PERFORMANCE EARLIER, BUT IN THE MIDDLE, IN THE END OF THE DAY, LOOK AT THAT.
I'M JUST TELLING YOU, WE GOT A SHERIFF RUNNING RIGHT NOW.
PEOPLE IN PARISH PRISON DYING LIKE THIS EVERY DAY.
I'VE BEEN BRINGING IT TO THE COUNCIL SINCE 2013.
THAT BROTHER GONNA SLIDE RIGHT THROUGH FOR ANOTHER ELECTION EVERY FOUR YEARS.
HE SAID, I'M RETIRING, BUT Y'ALL AREN'T LETTING IT HAPPEN.
THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.
AND WE GOING TO SEE IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
AND, AND, AND THE PEOPLE SITTING
[01:25:01]
RIGHT HERE, THEY'RE GONNA KEEP ON HOLDING US TIGHT AND GIVING THE MOST FOOLISH UNFEELING REASONS AS TO WHY THEY NOT VOTING.THAT'S WHAT I'M DEALING WITH UP HERE.
BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S MY TIME COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA.
UM, I DO APPRECIATE CLEEF BRINGING THIS BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
UM, I THINK THE PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED, UM, AND THEY WANNA BE HEARD.
AND I'M REALLY GLAD AND APPRECIATE EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL COMING OUT TONIGHT.
WE'RE ALL FRUSTRATED ABOUT THE SITUATION.
THERE WAS A FEW MONTHS AGO THAT ANOTHER POLICE OFFICER, UM, HAD TO BE LET GO.
UH, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, HE WAS LET GO WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE HE HAD SEXUALLY, UH, MOLESTED A YOUNG MAN AND A WOMAN WITHIN, INSIDE, WITHIN HER HOUSE.
EVEN THEN, AFTER HE WAS LET GO, HE WAS REHIRED NOT TOO LONG AGO.
WELL, WHEN THE WHOLE THING CAME TO LIGHT, UM, HE WAS LET GO AGAIN.
AND COUNCILWOMAN BANKS IS CORRECT.
THIS THING IS GOING ON AND ON AND ON, AND IT REALLY HAS TO BE STOPPED.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME PLACE BECAUSE I TOO AM A GRANDMOTHER AND WE ALL WANT TO BE ABLE TO TEACH OUR YOUNG CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN AND OUR, OUR OUR OWN CHILDREN.
LOOK, THERE'S A POLICE OFFICER.
YOU CAN TRUST HIM IF YOU NEED HELP, YOU GO SEE HIM.
BUT WE ARE GETTING TO A POINT TODAY THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN ACTUALLY TELL MY GRANDCHILDREN, IF YOU NEED HELP, GO FIND A POLICE OFFICER BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
I ASKED THE QUESTION, UM, ABOUT THE OTHER POLICE OFFICER SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THAT WE WAS LET GO.
I ASKED AN ATTORNEY, I SAID, SO LET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION.
IF HE WAS A REGULAR CITIZEN, WOULD HE HAVE TO, UM, WOULD HE HAVE TO REGISTER AS A SEXUAL PREDATOR AND THAT GOES ON FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE? AND THAT OFFICER SAID, YES, HE WOULD, HE'D HAVE TO REGISTER.
SO IS THAT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WITH THIS SITUATION HERE? THE WAY THAT THIS WOMAN WAS TREATED THE OTHER DAY IS FOR, FOR WHATEVER REASON, SHE WAS PICKED UP BECAUSE SHE HAD PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IN HER CAR.
THAT IS JUST, THAT IS JUST INCREDIBLE.
I HAVE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IN MY CAR.
YOU HAVE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IN MY CAR.
GOD FORBID THEY SEE MY LITTLE PACKAGE OF, OF VITAMINS THAT I MIX TOGETHER BECAUSE THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.
BUT THE QUESTION IS TODAY, IF THESE POLICE OFFICERS THAT ABUSED THESE FOLKS OBVIOUSLY SEXUALLY ABUSED THIS WOMAN, WOULD THEY TOO HAVE TO BE REGISTERED AS A SEXUAL OFFENDER, SEXUAL PREDATOR? THANK YOU COUNCILMAN MO.
UH, LOOK, I HAVEN'T EVEN TAKEN ANY NOTES AND I JUST, IT, IT'S FIRST OF ALL, TO THE PEOPLE THAT CAME AND SPOKE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UM, FOR COMING UP AND SPEAKING AND, AND, AND SAYING WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND.
AND I FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHAT KIND OF ENCOURAGED ME TO DO THIS RIGHT NOW TO SAY SOMETHING.
UM, WHEN, WHENEVER WE HEARD ABOUT THIS AND, AND JIM, UH, COUNCILWOMAN ROCKER BROUGHT IT UP A WHILE AGO, AS FAR AS OUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY AS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO, UM, LOOK, THIS HAS BEEN, WE KNOW THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S OFFICERS THAT ARE BEING INVESTIGATED.
AND A LOT OF THE TIMES, A LOT OF THESE DISCUSSIONS LIKE THIS THAT WE HAVE IT, IT ALL COMES BACK TO, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT AND, AND WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHO'S GOING AFTER WHO, AND SO ON.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, CHIEF PAUL, YOU, I THINK SEVEN YEARS YOU'VE BEEN WITH US.
7, 6, 7 YEARS YOU'VE BEEN WITH US.
I APPRECIATE THE FACT OF FINDING THE BAD ACTORS IN THIS DEPARTMENT AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND WE TALK ABOUT TRUST IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND EVERYTHING, BUT THE BUCK STOPS WITH YOU.
WE ALL KNOW THAT YOU'VE SAID THAT BEFORE AND SO ON.
AND I WANT THESE PEOPLE THAT PERPETRATED THIS AND, AND THAT TOOK PEOPLE TO THAT PLACE AND ASSAULTED THESE PEOPLE OR WHATEVER THAT HAPPENED OR CLAIMED TO HAPPENED AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
BUT IT'S SUSTAINED ON EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
IT SUSTAINED ON THE CITY OF BATON
[01:30:01]
ROUGE SUSTAINED ON THE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.AND EVERYONE HAS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
AND I, I CAN'T IMAGINE WHETHER IT IS YOU AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME.
PREVIOUS POLICE CHIEFS AND SO ON THAT WOULDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS, THAT WOULDN'T KNOW ANYTHING OR, OR HAD COMPLAINTS BEFORE OR ENOUGH COMPLAINTS.
SEVERAL PEOPLE STOOD UP HERE AND SAID THAT THEY'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT.
THEY BROUGHT IT TO PEOPLE'S ATTENTION, AND YET NOTHING WAS DONE UNTIL SOME INVESTIGATOR OR HOWEVER IT GOT OUT, FOUND OUT.
AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO YOUR POSITION, POLICE CHIEF, I THINK, AND I WOULD ASK THAT YOU STEP BACK FOR A WHILE FROM YOUR POSITION.
I KNOW YOU'RE FIXING TO LEAVE, BUT I THINK IT ALL HAS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, EVERYONE TO PUT TRUST BACK IN THE COMMUNITY.
EVERYONE HAS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE UNTIL THE INVESTIGATION IS GOING THROUGH.
I GO AHEAD AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, EVEN FORMER POLICE CHIEFS AS FAR AS THIS INVESTIGATION GOES WITH THE F B I, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN SHOW THE PUBLIC THAT WE'RE TRULY INVESTIGATING INTERNALLY OR WHATEVER ELSE.
WHEN YOU SAY YOU'RE SITTING HERE, DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT, OR YOU SAID BEFORE YOU DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT OR HASN'T ACTED ON SOMETHING PREVIOUSLY THAT HAPPENED.
HEY, HEY, HEY, CHIEF, CHIEF, CHIEF, I'M GONNA LET YOU COME TO THE MIC THOUGH.
I'M GONNA LET YOU COME TO THE MIC.
LOOK, LOOK, I WANNA GET THIS, I WANNA GET THIS STRAIGHT.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'M GONNA LET CHIEF PAUL COME TO THE MIC AND RESPOND.
I'M GONNA LET CHIEF PAUL COME TO THE MIC AND RESPOND.
WE OFFICERS, WE DON'T WANNA ARREST ANYBODY.
IF YOU LET ME DO MY JOB, I'M GONNA DO MY JOB.
WE DON'T WANT TO ARREST ANYBODY A MEETING, BUT Y'ALL CAN'T ARREST OTHER COPS.
NOBODY ASKING ME WHAT IS HIS NAME.
WHAT MR. MR. CHAMBER DO WITH MR. MO? I, THIS MAN HAS A RIGHT TO DO THE JOB.
THE JOB GARY, YOU CAN'T TAKE OVER THE MEETING.
NO, I CAN'T TAKE OVER THE MEETING BECAUSE Y'ALL SHOULDA DID THIS WEEKS AGO.
GARY, YOU CAN'T TAKE OVER THE MEETING.
YOU IN THE MEETING YOU'VE BEEN ALLOWED TO SPEAK.
IT'S A HARD THING TO I KNOW, I KNOW, BUT WE GONNA KEEP THROWING WHAT AHEAD, COUNCILOR MO, IF I CAME OFF ACCUSING YOU DIRECTLY OF NOT SPECIFICALLY DOING ANYTHING, WHATEVER, WHAT I'M SAYING IS WITH THE INVESTIGATION GOING ON FOR THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT, YOU ARE THE TOP POLICE CHIEF.
WOULD IT NOT BEHOOVE US TO STEP BACK, LET YOU STEP BACK.
AND I KNOW YOU'VE CONTACTED THE F B I AND THE F B I HAS BEEN THERE TO MAKE IT MORE TRANSPARENT, IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.
UH, MR. CHAMBERS, I APOLOGIZE IF IT CAME OFF.
HE THE ONLY WE TRUST BROTHER KNOW MY NAME.
HE ONLY WE TRUST DON'T TRUST NOBODY ELSE IN RPD.
SO WE WANT, I WANT THIS MATTER RESOLVED AND I WANT THE PLACE SHUT DOWN.
AND I WANT ALL OF THIS RESOLVED.
BUT WE CAN'T ACCEPT THE FACT OF WHERE EVERYTHING, THE BUCK STARTS AND STOPS.
I'VE BEEN QUIET FOR FOUR AND A, I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE SEVEN YEARS.
BUT I'M GONNA SPEAK MY HEART ON THIS ONE.
'CAUSE LET'S TALK ABOUT PROCESSES.
LET ME, LET ME COUNT BECAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT.
14 POLICE OFFICERS WERE TERMINATED.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, RESIGNED UNDER INVESTIGATION.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DO? YOU STRIP MY FUNDING.
ARE YOU GOING TO PAY THE ATTORNEY ALL THE MONEY THAT I ALREADY OWED THEM FOR THE BAD COPS THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD? WHERE WE GOING TO BE HERE TOMORROW? AND NONE OF Y'ALL GOING TO BE HERE? AND Y'ALL SITTING HERE TRYING TO DEAL OFF THESE PEOPLE'S EMOTIONS? AND SOME OF Y'ALL THE PROBLEM.
JEN ROCKER, YOU SIT THERE, DEFUND, DEFUND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT
[01:35:01]
AND THEN COME HERE.'CAUSE I DON'T HAVE LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND I GOTTA PLAY LAWYER TO FIGHT THESE BAD ACTORS.
AND THEN WHAT YOU DO THEN YOU GO AND YOU APPOINT PEOPLE TO THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD THAT HAVE DIRECT TIES TO THE UNION.
THERE ARE FIVE PEOPLE ON THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH GOOD LAW ABIDING CITIZENS? YOU PUTTING PEOPLE ON THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD WITH DIRECT TO THE TIES TO THE UNION AND WONDER WHY THEY REVERSE THE DECISIONS THAT I MAKE.
I'VE BEEN QUIET, BUT I'M NOT GONNA BE QUIET NO MORE.
WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THEY CALLED MY KIDS GANG BANGERS? WHERE WERE YOU? YOU KNOW ABOUT THE PICTURES WHEN THEY CALLED MY BLACK BOYS GANG BANGERS.
AND I PRAYED FOR 'EM WHEN THE FORMER CHIEFS OF POLICE SIT DOWN AND SHARE PICTURES OF ME AND MY GIRLFRIEND AND I PRAYED FOR 'EM.
WHERE WERE YOU MOCHA? WHEN THEY WENT TO TEXAS TO THE CAMP, THEY CALLED ME A N****R.
'CAUSE I WAS TRYING TO BRING A REFORM IN THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WHERE WERE YOU THEN? SPEAKING UP FOR HIM.
DON'T SIT HERE AND PLAY LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS GROUP OF BODY THAT TRY TO FORCE THE MAYOR TO SIT THERE AND FIRE ME FOR LIES AND SAY, I ONLY DISCIPLINE WHITE FOLKS.
DON'T PRETEND LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW THAT.
DON'T PRETEND LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW THAT.
TALK ABOUT MY LITTLE BLACK KIDS AND I PRAYED FOR Y'ALL.
AND YOU SIT HERE LIKE YOU DIFFERENT, LIKE YOU NOT IN CAHOOTS.
'CAUSE I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHAT THEY SAID.
THEY GOT SIX OF Y'ALL IN THEIR POCKET FACTS.
THE SAME UNION TOMORROW WHEN WE HAVE A HEARING RIGHT HERE BEFORE THIS BODY WHERE I SAID THAT THE SEARCH AND SEIZURES WERE IMPROPER AND ILLEGAL.
HOW MANY OF Y'ALL GONNA BE HERE TOMORROW WHEN THE ATTORNEYS FIGHT AND SAY, I SHOULD NOT HAVE DISCIPLINED THAT OFFICE.
I'VE BEEN QUIET FOR FIVE AND A HALF YEARS, BUT AFTER NOVEMBER THE EIGHTH, I'M NOT GONNA BE QUIET NO MORE.
I'VE I'VE BEEN PRAYING FOR Y'ALL.
YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE BACKDOOR MEETINGS Y'ALL HAVE WITH THESE PEOPLE AND YOU SIT HERE LIKE YOU SOME.
SO I'VE GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
CHIEF, CHIEF, CHIEF GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
MY BLACK BOYS, YOU KNOW HOW IT FEELS FOR A BLACK MAN, CHIEF, CHIEF TO HAVE LITTLE BLACK KIDS THAT I HAVE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THEY SHARING PICTURES, CALLING MY KIDS GANG BANGERS.
THE SAME PEOPLE YOU HAVE THESE BACK DOOR MEETINGS.
DO YOU KNOW HOW THAT FEELS? STOP THIS TIME BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
DO YOU KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO HAVE POLICE OFFICERS TELLING OTHER OFFICERS? TELL ME WHEN YOU SEE THE CHIEF OUT THERE SO WE CAN COME IN CASE HE'S DRINKING SO THEY CAN PULL ME OVER THE SAME PEOPLE Y'ALL HAVE THESE BACKDOOR BEATINGS WITH.
LET'S HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS TODAY.
AND I PRAY FOR Y'ALL AND EVEN IN MY RETIREMENT WHEN YOU KNOW I'M LEAVING AND THERE'S GONNA BE ACCOUNTABILITY.
YOU STILL DOING WHAT YOU DO? SHAME ON YOU WHEN YOU GO HOME AND YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN.
I LOVE MY BLACK BOYS THE SAME WAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON CHIEF, GIVE ME A LITTLE HISTORY ON THE BRAVE CAVE.
HOW, HOW DOES IT GET ITS NAME? HE WASN'T THE CHIEF.
UH, GARY, LET THE MAN ANSWER THE QUESTION.
THIS MAN SOMETHING AIN'T ASK HIM.
THE FACILITY WAS FORMED WAS WAS CREATED ABOUT 19 YEARS AGO, SIR.
AND SO, SO IT'S IT THAT FACILITY HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR 19 YEARS AND IT'S BEEN USED IN IN THAT CONTEXT FOR 19 YEARS.
OR HAS IT SERVED DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS THROUGHOUT THAT TIME? UM, WHAT I CAN TELL YOU, HOW'S IT BEEN USED? UH, PROBABLY THE PAST DECADE.
SPECIALIZED DIVISIONS HAS BEEN USING IT FOR PROCESSING EVIDENCE, UH, WHEN THEY MAKE ARRESTS INVOLVING, UH, NARCOTICS, UH, SPECIALIZED UNITS LIKE NARCOTICS IN STREET CRIMES USED FOR PRISONER PROCESSING AND ALSO THE PACKAGE, UH, DRUGS FOR, UH, UM, UH, EVIDENCE PURPOSES.
ARE WE STORING ANYTHING THERE? NO, SIR.
HOW ARE THOSE LEGITIMATE FUNCTIONS THAT THE FACILITY WAS BEING USED FOR? HOW ARE THOSE BEING HANDLED TODAY? THAT FACILITY IS SHUT DOWN.
THERE IS NO RIGHT USE AT THAT FACILITY.
AS THE MAYOR STATED, THERE'S NONE SO THAT, BUT THERE WERE, THAT RESPONSIBILITY HAS BEEN PUSHED TO OTHER FACILITIES.
[01:40:01]
HAVE SIMILAR FACILITIES AT OTHER PRECINCTS, AT HEADQUARTERS, AT THE VIOLENT CRIME UNIT AS WELL AS PRECINCTS.WHERE DOES STREET CRIMES FALL WITHIN YOUR ORGANIZATION CHART? IF I'M LOOKING AT YOUR DEPUTY CHIEFS AND THAT SORT OF THING, IS IT IN PATROL OR IS IT IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS? HOW, HOW IS IT HANDLED UNDER THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION? OKAY, SO MY LAST QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, WE AS A COUNSEL HAVE DEALT WITH ISSUES WITH THAT PARTICULAR OFFICER, TROY LAWRENCE JR.
I THINK WE ALL KNOW ABOUT HIS HISTORY AND THE, THE ISSUES THAT HE'S HAD.
MY QUESTION IS, WITH HIS RECORD, WITH HIS IN INTERNAL AFFAIRS RECORD, HOW DOES HE END UP IN STREET CRIMES AS OPPOSED TO SOMEWHERE ELSE WITHIN THE FORCE WHERE HE'S NOT INTERACTING WITH, WITH THE PUBLIC? HE WAS TRANSFERRED THERE BY HIS FATHER FROM, I'M SORRY, BY HIS FATHER.
BUT I'M LOOKING AT YOUR ORG CHART HERE.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS IS UNDER MR. DARREN MOSES, IT LOOKS LIKE.
SO HOW DOES, HOW DOES THAT DECISION GET MADE? HE SAID HE COORDINATED WITH DEPUTY CHIEF DARREN MOSES ON THE TRANSFER.
AND LOOK, CHIEF, I'VE WORKED WITH YOU IN THE PAST WHENEVER YOU'VE BROUGHT TO US CONCERNS ABOUT MS. CHERRY IN THE UNION AND, AND THAT KIND OF THING.
SO I THINK YOU AND I HAVE A PRETTY GOOD STANDING WITH EACH OTHER.
I FELT, I'VE ALWAYS FELT LIKE WE HAVE.
UH, BUT THAT'S AN ISSUE FOR ME, RIGHT? IF, IF AN OFFICER THAT WE ALL KNOW HAS HAD AN ISSUE IS DOCUMENTED IN THE MEDIA, IT'S OUT THERE EVERYWHERE.
IF HE'S ABLE TO GO AND GET INTO A SPECIALIZED UNIT LIKE STREET CRIMES, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN A RED FLAG TO ME.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT NEEDS, WHERE THAT INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO GO.
I DON'T KNOW WHO WHO NEEDS TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, BUT THAT, THAT'S AN ISSUE FOR ME.
UH, THAT ISSUE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED WITH HIM.
UH, OBVIOUSLY I PUT HIS FATHER ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE, UH, ON ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH MY INVESTIGATIVE EFFORTS.
SO, UH, I DO UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERNS ON, ON ON THAT PIECE RIGHT THERE.
THERE WERE SOME MISTAKES MADE IN THAT AND IT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED.
SIR, I'M NOT GONNA ASK THE MAYOR TO STAND UP BEFORE US FOR MY NEXT REQUEST, BUT I DO HAVE TO SAY IF THIS IS WHAT DEESCALATION LOOKS LIKE IN A PROFESSIONAL SETTING, I NEED THE POLICE CHIEF TO BE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED.
THAT IS THE MOST UNPROFESSIONAL DISPLAY OF SOMEONE THAT IS IN ADMINISTRATION THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN.
THEY, WE WE'LL REMOVE YOU FROM BEING DRUNK.
LET'S, HEY, HEY, HEY, LET'S FINISH.
LET'S LET COUNCIL MEMBER FINISH.
IN FACT, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, IF I REMEM WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO KEEP ME FROM SCARED? GARY, ARE YOU SCARED? GARY? ARE YOU SCARED? LET ME TELL YOU, HE CAME UP TO THIS PODIUM AND SAID, HOLD THE FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE.
YOU WANT ME TO HOLD THE, AND THEN I GOT ACCUSED OF GRANDSTANDING.
WE HAD A SETTLEMENT COME BEFORE US WITH TROY.
LAWRENCE, DID YOU GO? HE CAME BEFORE US.
GARY, WITH A SETTLEMENT FOR TROY LAWRENCE, PLEASE GET HERE.
HEY, HE HAS BEEN A REPEATED GARY.
GARY HAS HE, HE HAS BEEN A RE DARRELL.
HE HAS BEEN A REPEATED BAD ACTOR, AND HE HAS STAYED ON OUR POLICE FORCE.
HE HAS BEEN A REPEATED BAD ACTOR, AND HE HAS REMAINED ON OUR POLICE FORCE.
I, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO REMAIN CALM BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY, VERY SERIOUS MATTER THAT EVERYONE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT.
AND WE'VE SEEN A SERIES OF EMOTIONS TAKE PLACE, BUT WE CANNOT LOSE ALL CIVILITY IN TERMS OF HOW WE CONDUCT BUSINESS NOW.
FOLKS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO BE PASSIONATE, SPEAK THEIR PEACE, AND, AND, AND LET'S CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD A VERY, VERY PRODUCTIVE MANNER.
WE DON'T HAVE TO, AS I'VE SAID TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WE CAN BE HARSH, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO BE HARSH ON EACH OTHER.
IT'S A VERY, VERY EMOTIONAL ISSUE.
PEOPLE ARE UPSET AND, AND THINGS ARE NOT RIGHT.
AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
UH, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A, A, A LONG HISTORY OF OF
[01:45:01]
ATROCITY THAT'S TAKEN PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THERE ARE VERY, VERY MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE.BUT TONIGHT WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE OF THE BRAVE CAVE.
AND SO LET'S TRY TO KEEP THE CONVERSATIONS GERMANE TO THE TOPIC AND LET'S TRY TO MAINTAIN A CERTAIN LEVEL OF RESPECT IN DECORUM, NOT FOR EACH OTHER, BUT FOR YOURSELF.
BECAUSE BEFORE YOU CAN RESPECT SOMEONE ELSE, YOU GOTTA RESPECT YOURSELF.
LET'S CONTINUE WITH THE MEETING.
IT'S 5 49 GENERAL, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
PLEASE CONTINUE WITH YOUR COMMENTS.
SO FOLKS CAME UP TO THIS PODIUM AND ASKED US TO HOLD THE PARTIES RESPONSIBLE.
I TOLD YOU THAT WE ARE AWARE OF TROY LAWRENCE ACTIONS LONG BEFORE THE BRAVE CAVE CAME OUT.
I TOLD YOU THAT A SETTLEMENT CAME BEFORE THIS COUNCIL.
NOW IT'S THE SAME ACTOR THAT'S ESCORTING PEOPLE BACK AND FORTH.
AND I TELL YOU, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE WERE AWARE AND WE ASK FOR ACTION TO BE TAKEN.
YET WE SIT HERE AND WE HAVE SCAPEGOATING GOING ON.
WE HAVE PEOPLE MAKING COMMENTARY WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO HOLD THE FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE.
AND APPARENTLY THE TRUTH DOESN'T WANT TO BE HEARD.
YOU DON'T WANNA HEAR THE TRUTH, THAT'S FINE.
NO ONE CAN DENY THAT THAT MAN HAS STAYED ON THE POLICE FORCE THIS ENTIRE TIME.
NO ONE CAN DENY THAT HE WAS WITHIN THE EMPLOYEE OF B R P D.
WHY CHIEF MURPHY? PAUL IS THE CHIEF.
IF THAT TRUTH DOESN'T RESONATE WITH YOU, THEN I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW OR WHY.
AND IS IT BECAUSE YOU'RE LOOKING AT ME AND MY SKIN'S WHITE? YEAH.
DOES MY TRUTH NOT RESONATE BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF MY SKIN? WE'RE TELLING YOU WE TRUST HIM.
THERE'S A BRAVE CAVE THAT HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING HAULED BACK AND FORTH TO.
BUT WE ARE TO BELIEVE THAT NO ONE KNEW ABOUT IT.
WE ARE TO BELIEVE THAT THIS JUST NO ONE WITHIN ADMINISTRATOR, NO ONE HAD ANY IDEA IT EXISTED.
AND THEN WE'RE TO BELIEVE THAT ON AUGUST 28TH WHEN THE FIRST REPORT WAS MADE, WAS WHEN EVERYONE CAME ALL OF A SUDDEN AWAKE TO REALIZE THAT THERE WAS AN ACTUAL BRAVE CAVE.
WE ARE NOT TO UNDERSTAND OR BELIEVE THAT WE WEREN'T.
OUR FOLKS WEREN'T MADE AWARE MONTHS AHEAD OF TIME THAT THAT EXISTED, THAT THERE WEREN'T COMPLAINTS FROM CONSTITUENTS FROM BEFORE THAT TIME.
SO THAT'S MY QUESTION TO ASK YOU.
I'M SITTING HERE TRYING TO BE HELPFUL AND TRYING TO TELL YOU THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT I FEEL LIKE NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR IT.
SO I WAS ACCUSED OF NOT APPROVING THE POLICE CHIEF'S FUNDING FOR HIS LAWYERS.
WELL, LET ME TELL YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HE'S HIRED BRAZIL SAXE.
HE HAS A PERSONAL LAWYER FROM THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CALLED DELEY MORRIS.
AND HE HAS THE WHOLE HOST OF ATTORNEYS FROM THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
WE DIDN'T APPROVE FUNDING FROM BRAZIL SAXE BECAUSE WE FOUND OUT THEY WERE OVERBILLING THE CITY, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
WE ALSO FOUND OUT THERE WERE PEOPLE WORKING ON THAT CONTRACT THAT WEREN'T LISTED TO WORK ON THAT CONTRACT.
WHAT? YEAH, HERE WE ARE UNDER ORDER.
WE'RE DEFLECTING ON WHAT IS THE REAL ISSUE HERE.
COUNCIL COUNCILWOMAN BANKS SPOKE TWICE.
I WAS THINKING WE SHOULD HAVE A RECESS.
CAN WE HAVE A RECESS? DWIGHT, CAN WE HAVE A RECESS? I THINK WE SHOULD.
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM COUNCILMAN BANKS FOR A 10 MINUTE RECESS.
WE ARE IN RECESS FOR 10 MINUTES.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'LL ASK YOU TO TAKE YOUR SEATS.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL PLEASE ASK YOU TO TAKE YOUR SEATS.
START QUIETING DOWN ITEM WHAT WE WANT.
UM, SO I CAN JUST, ALRIGHT, SAY THAT AGAIN.
MOTION WHAT? ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE HAVE A QUORUM.
WE CALL THIS MEETING BACK THE ORDER COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF WE'RE NOT FINISHED WITH THAT ITEM, WE'RE GONNA COME BACK.
WE WILL COME BACK TO THE OTHER ITEM.
[82. 23-01135]
GONNA MOVE TO ITEM 82 AND GET SOME BUSINESS DONE.[01:50:01]
ITEM 82, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE CHARLES ALL R KELLY COMMUNITY CENTER TO EXECUTE A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH CREATIVE IMPLEMENTATION LEARNING CENTER FOR THE BENEFIT OF AREA RESIDENTS CREATIVE IMPLEMENTATION LEARNING CENTER IS TO PAY $300 PER MONTH FOR OFFICE SPACE AND EQUIPMENT STORAGE BY COUNCILMAN DARRELL HIRSCH HAS REQUESTED, DELETE THIS ITEM.WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 82.
ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK.
SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE, THE ITEM IS DELETED.
[83. 23-00911]
83.THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL SITTING AS BOARD OF REVIEW ON PARISH ASSESSMENTS BY COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR TREASURER WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, FOR ITEM 83, SEEING NO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, WE WILL OPEN THE FLOOR TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS NORMALLY, UH, IF THERE ARE ANY APPEALS OF A PERSON'S PROPERTY ASSESSMENT, THIS IS WHEN YOU WOULD HEAR THAT APPEAL.
WE RECEIVE NO APPEALS THIS YEAR, SO THERE'S NO, UM, NECESSARY ACTION TO BE TAKEN ON THIS ITEM.
[84. 23-01162]
OKAY.WE'LL JUST MOVE ON TO ITEM 84.
IN THE CASE OF A PRESIDENTIAL DECLARATION OF A MAJOR DISASTER OR EMERGENCY, THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE HEREBY AUTHORIZES A WAIVER OF THE LAND USE REGULATIONS RELATIVE TO APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE, AS WELL AS ENFORCEMENT OF ALL APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF TITLE EIGHT A OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE.
IN ORDER TO ALLOW TEMPORARY HOUSING IN THE FORM OF MOBILE HOMES, RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, AND OTHER TEMPORARY HOUSING FOLLOWING A DECLARED STATE OF EMERGENCY.
THIS WAIVER SHALL BE EFFECTIVE FOR 12 MONTHS AND APPLICABLE DURING A PRESIDENTIAL DECLARATION OF A MAJOR DISASTER OR AN EMERGENCY.
UPON SUBMISSION OF THE PARISH'S REQUEST TO THE STATE OF LOUISIANA FOR ASSISTANCE OF THE EXPEDITED TEMPORARY HOUSING ASSISTANCE, E T H A PROGRAM BY HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DIRECTOR WILL OPEN THE FLOOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 84.
ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK, SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN THE FLOOR TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, SO THIS, THIS IS THE QUESTION I HAVE BY APPROVING THIS, HOW DO YOU DETERMINE HOW DOES LOCATION PLAY INTO IT? THAT WOULD, SO THIS IS JUST TO OPT IN.
IF WE, IF THE PARISH WANTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM, IT WOULD COME BEFORE YOU BECAUSE MY THING IS, UM, HAVING IN, IN DISTRICT TWO, WE ALWAYS END UP WITH THE BLUNT, I DON'T KNOW IF IT SHOULD BE CALLED BLUNT, BUT I GUESS BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH, UM, CITY PARISH LAND IN THE AREA THAT WE ALWAYS END UP THE ONES IN THE AREA BETWEEN, UH, SCHOLARLY AND BAKER WITH THE TRAILER PARKS.
UM, AND THEY STAY A LONG TIME.
WE JUST, WE RIGHT NOW WE STILL HAVE ALL THE, THE ON STATE PROPERTY.
WE HAVE ALL THE, UM, TR NOT TRAILER VAN.
FROM, YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENT ON A GROOM ROAD.
AND I DO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME STATE OWNED AND SOME CITY OWNED, BUT IT'S LIKE IT'S, WE ARE ALWAYS THE FIRST PERSON.
AND SO IN THE PAST, UM, I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE.
'CAUSE IF PEOPLE WANTED TO PUSH, UH, THE ISSUE, I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD, UM, ANYTHING I COULD DO.
BUT I REALLY DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A WAY TO BE EXCLUDED OR IF THIS MAKES IT AN ISSUE.
'CAUSE IT IS AN EMERGENCY AND IT SOUNDS SELFISH, BUT WE ARE ALWAYS SACRIFICING IN, IN THOSE TWO COMMUNITIES, UM, FROM KATRINA DAYS ONWARD.
SO, SO THIS LAW WAS A RESULT OF HURRICANE IDA, RIGHT? NORMALLY AS IN 2016, WHICH, UH, WE HAD, UH, THE SAME ISSUE THAT WAS A FEMA MM-HMM.
IF WE OPT INTO THIS PARTICULAR, UM, THIS, THIS STATUTE THAT, UM, THE E T H A, WE, IF WE SAY THAT, YEAH, WE WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF IT.
WE DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO TO DO IT.
IT JUST, THE STATE, UM, THE STATE DOES IT NOW.
SO YOU, RIGHT AFTER DISASTER, THEY CAN BRING TRAILERS IN
THEY WOULD COME BEFORE THIS BODY TO SEE IF Y'ALL WANTED TO DO THAT.
'CAUSE I MEAN THEY ACTUALLY PEEL UP TRAILER PARKS.
IT WOULD, IT WOULD, IT WOULD COME BEFORE, UNLESS IT'S STATE PROPERTY.
IT WOULD COME BEFORE THE, UM, COUNCIL.
I UNDERSTAND COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA.
I THINK SHE WAS UP THERE NEXT BECAUSE, I'M SORRY.
I THINK SHE KIND OF ANSWERED MY QUESTION, BUT, UM, SO THIS
[01:55:01]
IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR.SO THIS IS SOMETHING, SOMETHING.
AND LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR I BROUGHT IT BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND IT WAS APPROVED.
UM, SO EVERY YEAR I HAVE TO BRING IT BEFORE COUNCIL BY STATUTE WE HAVE TO OPT IN EVERY YEAR OR OPT OUT.
SO IS THIS JUST FOR, UM, CITY PARISH PROPERTY OR FOR ALL PROPERTIES WITHIN THE PARISH TO RELAX THE, THE USE CITY PARISH PROPERTIES, EACH MUNICIPALITY WOULD HAVE TO ADOPT IT.
SO THIS ISN'T SAYING THAT ANY PROPERTIES, ANYWHERE THAT THE STATE CHOOSES TO, LIKE PRIVATE PROPERTY WITHIN THE PARISH, THAT THE STATE WOULD SAY, HEY, WE COULD, WE WOULD LIKE TO USE YOUR FIELD FOR THIS.
THAT'S NOT, THIS ISN'T SAYING WE'RE RELAXING THE USE FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY JUST FOR PARISH OWNED PROPERTY.
SO THIS WOULD BE, UM, THIS WOULD BE THANK YOU.
KIM BROOKS IN THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
UM, I'M THE LEGAL ADVISOR FOR THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS OFFICE.
ALL THIS PROGRAM MEANS IF YOU VOTE FOR THIS, IS THAT WE AS A CITY CAN OPT IN TO GET MONEY.
IF GHOST UP HAS A POOL OF MONEY TO HELP DURING AN EMERGENCY AND IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO PUT A TRAILER IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE, IT WAIVES THOSE U D C REGULATIONS SO THAT YOU CAN PUT A TRAILER IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE IF YOUR HOUSE IS DESTROYED IN A STORM.
AND BASICALLY, EVEN THOUGH YOU OPT IN, WHEN YOU OPT IN, ALL THAT ALLOWS US TO DO IS GET IN LINE FOR THE MONEY.
SO IF YOU DECIDED YOU DIDN'T WANT TO WAIVE THE REGULATIONS, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO.
SO THIS IS APPLICABLE TO PRIVATE PROPERTY? YES.
BUT DOES IT ALSO APPLY TO LIKE COUNCILWOMAN BANKS WAS TALKING ABOUT? IT APPLIES.
IT APPLIES IN SUBDIVISIONS ONLY.
JUST LIKE WE DID IT IN 2016 WHEN WE HAD THE FLOOD.
SO THIS, SO IT WOULD NOT AFFECT THE, HEY, WE'RE GONNA SET UP A BIG STAGING FEMA TRAILER PARK.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN IN THE OPPOSITION.
SEEING NONE, THE ITEM CARRIES.
[89. 23-01163]
GONNA MOVE FORWARD IN YOUR AGENDA TO ITEM 89, ADOPTING THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN 2023 UPDATE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN IDENTIFIES NATURAL AND MANMADE HAZARDS AND RISKS WITHIN THE PARISH, AND RECOGNIZES THE PARISH'S HAZARD MITIGATION STRATEGY TO BUILD A LESS VULNERABLE AND MORE DISASTER RESILIENT COMMUNITY BY HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PRAYER DIRECTOR, WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 89.SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING MOTION BY THE CHAIR SECOND BY COLEMAN IN THE OPPOSITION.
[90. 23-01164]
ITEM 90, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT A GRANT AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,266,430 UNDER THE LOUISIANA WATERSHED INITIATIVE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FLOOD RISK MITIGATION IN THE DAWSON CREEK WATERSHED BY HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DIRECTOR, WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR ITEM 90 OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.SEEING NONE WE'LL CLOSE THE FLOOR COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION BY ADAM SECOND BY COLEMAN.
ANY OPPOSITION? SEE, A NONE ITEM CARRIES.
[91. 23-01207]
ITEM 91, AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT THE GRANT AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $188,923 AND 74 CENTS AND EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH UNDER THE STATE HOMELAND SECURITY PROGRAM FISCAL YEAR 2023 BY HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DIRECTOR OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 91.SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING MOTION BY ADAMS SECOND.
ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE THE ITEM CARRIES.
[92. 23-01176]
ITEM 92 WILL HAVE A MOTION TO DELETE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO AN EXEC.ENTER INTO AND EXECUTE A SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARIS OF EAST BATON ROUGE AND HOTEL LINCOLN, L L C.
TO ADDRESS THE FACADE AND CODE VIOLATION REPAIRS IMPACTING COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY BY MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 92.
SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE FLOOR MOTION BY DUNN SECOND BY THE CHAIR TO DELETE MR. DUNN.
THE DEPARTMENT REQUESTED TO DELETE THE ITEM.
[93. 23-01177]
ITEM 93.AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND A SU SUBSCRIPTION SOFTWARE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARIS OF EAST BATON ROUGE AND OVATE L L C DOING BUSINESS AS NEIGHBORLY TO COVER ADDITIONAL SUBSCRIPTION IMPLEMENTATION FEES TO AFFORD O C D STAFF,
[02:00:01]
THE ABILITY TO TRACK MULTIPLE FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS, NOT TO EXCEED $64,100 BY MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION BY ADAMS SECOND.
ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE THE ITEM CARRIES.
[94. 23-01209]
ITEM 94, AUTHORIZING THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO RE REFUND AN ERRONEOUS REMITTANCE OF SALES TAX TONER CLINIC FOUNDATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $150,719 59 CENTS FOR REMITTING SALES TAX ON PURCHASES FOR RESALE AND PAYING OR ACCRUING SALES TAX AT THE INCORRECT RATE FOR MEDICAL DEVICES FOR THE AUDIT PERIOD.JANUARY 1ST, 2017 THROUGH JULY 31ST, 2018 BY FINANCE DIRECTOR.
WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 94.
SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING MOTION BY THE CHAIR SECOND BY ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE.
[95. 23-01215]
ITEM 95.AUTHORIZATION FOR THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND OR CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO EXECUTE A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH FIRST CHOICE COURIERS L L C TO LEASE 3000 SQUARE FEET BUILDING LOCATED AT 92 10 CE WOOLMAN DRIVE FOR WAREHOUSE SPACE FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR WITH A ONE YEAR MUTUAL OPTION TO RENEW AT A RENTAL RATE OF $18,000 PER YEAR BY AVIATION DIRECTOR.
WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 95.
SEEING NO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR TO COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION BY DUNN.
SECOND BY ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE.
[96. 23-01218]
96, AUTHORIZATION FOR THE, THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND OR CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH STANLEY CONSULTANTS INC.TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT THE TAX, THE TAXIWAY F RECONSTRUCTION AT THE BATON ROUGE METROPOLITAN AIRPORT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $636,551 15 CENTS BY AVIATION DIRECTOR.
OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 96.
SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION BY ADAM SECOND BY THE CHAIR.
ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE THE ITEM CARRIES.
[97. 23-01221]
97, AUTHORIZATION FOR THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND OR CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH GARVER L L C TO PROVIDE PAVEMENT ANALYSIS ON RUNWAY AND TAXIWAYS AT THE BATON ROUGE METROPOLITAN AIRPORT.IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $60,000 BY AVIATION DIRECTOR.
VOTE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 97.
SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING MOTION BY DONE.
[98. 23-01222]
ITEM 98.AUTHORIZATION FOR THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND OR CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO FORMALLY REQUEST LOUISIANA D O T D DIVISION OF AVIATION TO PROVIDE FUNDS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE AIRPORT IMPROVEMENTS AT THE BATON ROUGE METROPOLITAN AIRPORT.
ANDREW, PROVIDE $20,000 LOCAL CONTRIBUTION BY AVIATION DIRECTOR.
OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 98.
SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCIL MEMBER'S MOTION BY DUNN, SECONDED BY HEARST.
[99. 23-01228]
ITEM 99, AUTHORIZATION FOR MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND OR CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT WITH CIVIL AIR PATROL IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE LAND FROM 125 FEET BY 400 FOOT AT TRACT LAND TO 125 FEET BY 208 FEET TRACT LAND BY AVIATION DIRECTOR.WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION BY DUNN SECOND BY COLEMAN.
[100. 23-01229]
100.AUTHORIZATION FOR THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND OR CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO EXECUTE A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH BATON ROUGE JET CENTER L L C TO LEASE 1.395 ACRE TRACT OF LAND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW HANGAR FOR A PERIOD OF UP TO 42 YEARS AT A RENTAL RATE OF $14,581 92 CENTS PER YEAR, OR $1,215 AND 16 CENTS PER PER MONTH BY AVIATION DIRECTOR.
WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 100.
SEEING NONE WE HAVE MOTION BY DUNN AND A SECOND BY RAA.
ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE THE ITEM CARRIES
[101. 23-01234]
ITEM 101.ITEM 101 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF LOUISIANA ON BEHALF OF THE BROWNSFIELD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT FOR THE STATE TO PROVIDE FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $350,000 FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND STATION RE REHABILITATION BY BROWNSFIELD FIRE CHIEF.
OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 1 0 1.
SEEING NONE, UH, WE HAVE A MOTION BY BANKS SECOND BY THE CHAIR.
[102. 23-01237]
ITEM 1 0 2 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE[02:05:01]
ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF LOUISIANA ON BEHALF OF THE LEO S BUTLER COMMUNITY CENTER FOR THE STATE TO PROVIDE FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000 BY COUNCILWOMAN CAROLYN COLEMAN.WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING TO ITEM 1 0 2.
MOTION BY DONE SECOND BY ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE, THE ITEM CARRIES
[Items 103 & 105]
ITEM NUMBER 1 0 3.WE'RE GONNA TAKE WITH NUMBER 1 0 5.
I'M GONNA READ BOTH OF THOSE IN AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO A EXEC, ENTER INTO AND EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TO PROVIDE HOME REHABILITATION, LEAD TESTING AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES BY MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ITEM 1 0 5 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO AND EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TO PROVIDE HOME REHABILITATION, LEAD TESTING, AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES AT LOCATIONS BY MAYOR'S OFFICE.
WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEMS 1 0 3 AND 1 0 5.
PLEASE COME UP AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
UM, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FOR THE HOME REHABILITATION.
HOW WOULD THOSE FUNDS BE DETERMINED? HOW THEY WILL BE SPENT? IS THAT THE END OF YOUR QUESTION? YEAH.
OKAY, WE'LL WE'LL HAVE, UH, STAFF COME UP IF, IF A COUNCIL MEMBER SEES IT APPROPRIATE, BUT THIS IS, UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS A CHANCE FOR YOU TO SAY YOUR PIECE AND THEN WE'LL, WE'LL WAIT FOR STAFF AFTER THAT.
ANY OTHER MEM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 1 0 3 AND 1 0 5.
SEEING NONE WILL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCILMAN AMAR? IS THERE A STAFF MEMBER THAT CAN COME AND ANSWER HER QUESTION? THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER AND, AND FOR YOUR QUESTION.
UM, SO I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SPEAK TO YOU BEFORE ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT PROGRAM IN OUR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE ITS EFFICIENCY AND, AND THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SERVE.
UM, SO WHENEVER WE GO INTO A HOME, WE HAVE A WAIT LIST OF PEOPLE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SERVE AND GET THROUGH.
SO WE'LL GO IN, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A, A CONSULTANT WHO SPECIALIZES IN THIS.
THEY'LL GO IN, THEY'LL DO A HEALTH AND SAFETY CHECK OF THAT HOME.
IT'S NOT OFTEN THE NEW COUNTERTOPS WE WOULD LOVE TO PROVIDE, BUT MOSTLY AROUND MAKING THAT HOME WHOLE AND, AND SAFE FOR THAT FAMILY TO LIVE IN.
WE CREATE A SCOPE OF WORK, UH, AND THEN WE BID THAT OUT THROUGH PROPER CITY PROCESSES.
SO WITH EACH CONTRACT, THERE IS ACTUALLY A VERY LIKE A HUNDRED PAGE SCOPE OF WORK WITH A LOT OF DETAILS TO IT.
AND IT'S ALL AROUND MAKING THE HOME SAFE AND LIVABLE FOR THAT FAMILY.
UM, I, I MET LAST WEEK WITH THE, UM, SOUTHERN HEIGHTS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION AND SO THEY, YOU PROBABLY TALKED TO ANGELA WHITE AS WELL.
UH, 2 6 6 5 70 SEVENTH AVENUE.
AND THEIR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THESE ARE, THESE ARE, UM, HOMES THAT ARE ALREADY OCCUPIED AND THEY IS THAT RIGHT? IT'S USUALLY THAT CASE.
WHAT I, WE HAVE FOUND IN SOME SITUATIONS THE HOME ISN'T A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE AND MAYBE, MAYBE THAT, UH, SENIOR HAS GONE TO LIVE WITH ONE OF HER CHILDREN.
BUT IS IS GOING TO OCCUPY IT ONCE THE HOME IS REPAIRED.
SO ARE WE REPAIRING BASED ON THE APPLICANT OF THAT, UH, INDIVIDUAL THAT RESIDES IN THE HOME OR OWNS IT OR HOW, I KNOW THAT WAS THE APPLICATION PROCESS, BUT IS SO SOME, SO THEY WERE, THEY FELT COMFORTABLE BECAUSE, UH, THEY, IT WAS SOMEONE THEY KNEW LIVED IN AND THAT MIGHT BE THE CASE, BUT I WOULD JUST, I DON'T KNOW.
ACROSS THE BOARD ARE ALL JUST, DO YOU KNOW JUST ABOUT THESE HOMES OR ARE THEY ALL UM, ON OR RENTAL OCCUPIED AND IF SO, OUT OF THE BACKLOG, HOW ARE YOU DETERMINING WHICH ONES TO GO FORTH WITH? SO, UH, WHEN THE PROGRAM APPLICATIONS WERE ORIGINALLY ACCEPTED, THE REQUIREMENT WAS, IS THAT IT WAS A HOMEOWNER.
AND THAT THEY LIVED IN THE HOME.
WHAT WE FOUND IS BECAUSE IN, IN PART, 'CAUSE WE'VE TAKEN A LONG TIME, RIGHT.
WE, I CAN'T ASK SOMEBODY TO LIVE IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION.
WE JUST NEED TO KNOW THAT ONCE WE REPAIR IT, THEY'LL COME BACK INTO IT.
BUT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A HOMEOWNER WHO, AT LEAST AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION, OCCUPIED THAT HOME.
UM, WE'VE PROVIDED A LITTLE BIT OF GRACIOUS, GIVEN THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN, BUT HOPEFULLY MOVING FORWARD, ONCE WE GET PAST THIS BACKLOG, WE'LL GET BACK TO THAT REQUIREMENT.
AND HOW DO YOU DETERMINE, HOW DID YOU DETERMINE THESE? UH, IN THE MASSIVE OF A, OF LIST THAT WE HAVE.
SO WHENEVER I CAME TO THE OFFICE, THEY HAD A, A LIST OF PEOPLE BASED OFF OF, UH, SOMETIMES RESIDENTS CALL AND THEY SAY THAT THEY'RE IN AN EXTREME SITUATION, YOU
[02:10:01]
KNOW? MM-HMM.AND SO THOSE, THOSE PEOPLE, MAYBE BECAUSE THEY'RE SENIORS OR OTHER SORTS OF THINGS, WILL GET A LITTLE HIGHER, UH, ON THAT LIST SO THAT WE CAN SERVE THEM.
UM, YOU KNOW, FOR INSTANCE, SOMEBODY WAS VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND HAD HOLES IN HER FLOOR.
SO THAT BECAME AN EMERGENCY FOR OUR OFFICE TO DEAL WITH MOVING FORWARD.
I KNOW Y'ALL, Y'ALL SAW A CONTRACT EARLIER COME BEFORE YOU.
FOR NEIGHBORLY, THEY'RE ACTUALLY GONNA HAVE A WAY, UH, THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY SCORE FOR PRIORITY BASED OFF OF ARE THERE CHILDREN IN THE HOME, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO WE'LL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO HAVE A SYSTEM AND A SCORING SYSTEM FOR OUR PRIORITIZING MM-HMM.
SO I, I KNOW IT HAS BEEN A WHILE, BUT I KNOW OF ONE PARTICULAR SUCCESS STORY, UM, IN THE MIDST OF, UM, THE PROGRAM NOT NECESSARILY FUNCTIONING, AND IT WA IT CAME TO THE, THE, THE LADY HAD, UM, HOLES IN HER BATHROOM.
THE CITY CAME AND DID A FANTASTIC, THEY, THEY ACTUALLY HAD TO MOVE AND WERE LIVING IN THEIR VAN.
AND, UH, SO THEY, THE, UM, THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, SHE WAS ABLE TO GET HELP.
I THINK THAT THAT WAS HELP WHERE, UM, THE AMOUNT THAT SHE INITIALLY QUALIFIED FOR, YOU KNOW, WORKED TO GET IT MORE THAN IT WAS, BUT HAPPENS, UH, THAT IS ONE OF THE GOOD AND THE, ONE OF THE BRIGHT SPOTS IN THE MIDST OF WHERE THERE WAS A PRIORITY, WHERE THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY, WHERE THE PROGRAM IS FUNCTIONING EVEN AT A CRAWL.
IT'S, UM, THAT'S THE HEARTWARMING PART OF THE JOB.
I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER ROWDY ALSO BROUGHT A, A HOME TO OUR ATTENTION IN HIS DISTRICT WHERE THERE WAS A SUCCESS STORY.
SO, UM, THAT'S ALWAYS VERY, UH, YEAH.
IT'S ALWAYS VERY MEANINGFUL FOR OUR STAFF.
ANY OPPOSITION SEEN TO APPROVE.
AND THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE CONTINGENT UPON GRANTS AND CONTRACTS REVIEW.
ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE ITEMS 1 0 3 AND 1 0 5.
[104. 23-01240]
ITEM 1 0 4, AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE SEWAGE COMMISSION TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT REGARDING THE FACILITATION OF UTILITY RELOCATION FOR LA DODS.UH, I 10 WIDENING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LA FOUR 15 TO ESSEN ON I 10 AND I 12 BY PARISH ATTORNEY.
WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING TO ITEM 1 0 4.
SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
OPEN THE FLOOR TO COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION BY ADAMS SECOND BY NOEL.
UH, ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE.
ITEM 1 0 4 CARRIES ITEM 1 0 6.
[Items 106 - 109]
UH, TAKE THESE TOGETHER.WE'LL TAKE ITEMS 1 0 6 THROUGH 1 0 9 TOGETHER, ITEM 1 0 6 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH DEMCO, LOUISIANA FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVE VR CAPACITY PROJECT SOUTH CHOCTAW DRIVE WIDENING IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $14,051 99 CENTS BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR ITEM 1 0 7, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR PHASE TWO ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT SERVICES WITH TERRACON CONSULTANTS FOR SER SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVE VR CAPACITY PROJECT OLD HAMMOND HIGHWAY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED TWO $2,500 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.
ITEM 1 0 8 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT PROFESSIONAL FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH URA CONSULTING SERVICES L L C FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVE BR ENHANCEMENT PROJECT BLUE BONNET BOULEVARD, PEDESTRIAN MIDBLOCK CROSSING IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 54,000 816 38 800 $16 38 CENTS BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR, OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEMS 1 0 6 TO 1 0 8 OH, I'M SORRY.
WE'LL READ IT IN 1 0 9 AS WELL.
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR UTILITY RELOCATION WITH BELLSOUTH TELECOMMUNICATIONS, L L C A GEORGIA LIMITED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY DOING BUSINESS AS AT AND T LOUISIANA FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVE BR CAPACITY PROJECT HOOPER ROAD JAW ROAD TO SULLIVAN ROAD IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,718,952 AND 80 CENTS BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE.
DIRECTOR, OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEMS 1 0 6 TO 1 0 9.
SEE, AND NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION BY COLEMAN.
ANY OPPOSITION? SEE? AND NONE THE ITEM CARRIES.
[110. 23-01245]
ITEM ONE 10, AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN ENTITY STATE AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN CONNECTION WITH STATE PROJECT I 10 LA FOUR 15 TO ESSEN ON I 10 AND I 12 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM ONE 10.
[02:15:01]
CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION BY THE CHAIR.
SEEING NONE, THE ITEM CARRIES.
[111. 23-01246]
11, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH G E C INC.IN CONNECTION WITH THE TERRA STREET DRAINAGE PUMP STATION RENOVATIONS PROJECT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $266,098 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR, WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM ONE 11.
SEEING AND NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING MOTION BY COLEMAN.
ANY OPPOSITION SEEING AND NONE.
[112. 23-01247]
12 CERTIFYING TO THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT THAT THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE AGREES TO CERTAIN STIPULATIONS REQUIRED BY THE L A T O D D O T D AS PREREQUISITES FOR PARTICIPATION BY THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE IN THE OFF SYSTEM BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR, WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM ONE 12.SEEING A NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION BY GOD.
DAY SECOND BY ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE, THE ITEM CARRIES
[113. 23-01235]
ITEM ONE 13, RESENDING AND DIRECTING THE CLERK OF COURT TO CANCEL THE NOTICE TO ATTEND RECORDED ON MAY 12TH, 2023.AND THE DECISION AND ORDER RECORDED ON MAY 25TH, 2023 IN THE MATTER OF CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSUS P D B REALTY AND INVESTMENTS.
REASON FOR RESCISSION THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN SECURED AND CLEANED UP BY COUNCILWOMAN SHAUNA BANKS.
WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM ONE 13.
SEEING NONE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
COUNCILWOMAN BANKS FOR SENDING CONMAN MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BANKS TO APPROVE.
UH, SECOND BY THE CHAIR IN THE OPPOSITION, SEEING NONE.
ITEM ONE 13 CARRIES ITEM ONE 14 AUTHORIZING THE SETTLEMENT OF THE CLAIM OF ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY A S O GERALD AND LINDA LANDRY FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY A DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEE IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,980 AND 78 CENTS BY A PARISH ATTORNEY.
[114. 23-01248]
FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM ONE 14.SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION BY THE CHAIR.
AND I HAD TO GO HAVE A CONVERSATION.
UH, WE'RE NUMBER MORE, WE'RE ON 86 85.
ESTABLISHING HEALTH INSURANCE RATES FOR THE PLAN.
[ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS (Part 2 of 3)]
COUNCIL MEMBER GUNN, GO AHEAD.WHAT'S THE ITEM? THE, THE ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS ITEM.
I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK ON IT.
THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS I WANNA MENTION THAT I WANT THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE OF.
THE ITEM THAT WE LEFT OFF ON THE REPORT? YES.
UH, WE NEVER THE ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER? NO.
SO THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS I WANNA LET THE PUBLIC KNOW.
I DON'T, I DON'T WANT TO GET LOST BECAUSE THE BRAVE CAVE AND THE FACILITY IS ONE THING.
BUT AS YOU HEARD MANY PEOPLE MENTION THE ITEM THAT MYSELF AND DAR BROUGHT IN FEBRUARY ABOUT THE PROPERTY DAMAGE IS ANOTHER ISSUE.
AND I DON'T WANT THAT TO GET LOST IN THE CONVERSATION.
SO I'M NOT GONNA REHASH IT HERE, BUT I'M JUST LETTING THE PUBLIC KNOW I'M GONNA BRING ANOTHER ITEM IN TWO WEEKS WHERE WE CAN DIG DEEP INTO THAT.
TAKE ANOTHER BITE OF THAT APPLE, SEE WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE INTERIM OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS TO RESOLVE THAT FAMILY THAT WAS MIS MENTIONED ISSUE AND HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE OTHER FAMILIES WERE AFFECTED BY THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, KNOW HOW TO RESOLVE IT AND GET THEIR LIABILITY COVERED SO THEY'RE NOT IN THE SAME SITUATION.
SO I WANT TO OFFER THAT UP AND MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT IF WE DIDN'T OVERLOOK IT, WE WON'T OVERLOOK IT.
I'M GONNA BRING IT BACK IN TWO WEEKS SO WE CAN DIG DEEP INTO IT.
THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY ON IT.
COUNCILMAN IT? I HAVE A, I CAN, I WAS GONNA WONDER IF MARLEY, IF THAT, IF IT COULD BE THROUGH, UH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
WE GONNA EXPLORE ALL IDEALS AND COME BACK IN TWO WEEKS AND DISCUSS IT.
[85. 23-01250]
WILL GO TO ITEM 85, ESTABLISHING HEALTH INSURANCE RATES AND PLAN DESIGNED FOR EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES.EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2024 BY HUMAN JANUARY 1ST, 2024 BY HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR.
UH, IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? GOOD MORNING, DOWN.
[02:20:01]
FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.WELL, GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME'S JAKE MORGAN, THE PRESIDENT OF THE BATON ROUGE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING OUR 580 BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS' LIVES AND PROPERTY EVERY DAY.
I'M HERE TO, I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE PROPOSED HEALTHCARE COST INCREASE ON OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
WHAT IS RECOMMENDED BY THE CITY PARISH IS A 8% INCREASE IN MONTHLY HEALTHCARE AND A 25% INCREASE IN DEDUCTIBLE COSTS FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLAN.
OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE AMONGST THE LOWEST PAID CAREER FIREFIGHTERS IN THE NATION ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
AND THE RISE IN INFLATION HAS MAGNIFIED THIS SITUATION.
THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE ONCE HAD VERY APPEALING BENEFITS FOR ITS EMPLOYEES, AND EVERY FEW YEARS THESE BENEFITS BECOME MORE COSTLY OR DIMINISH.
WHEN OUR BENEFITS DIMINISH, THEY DO NOT COME BACK AS A FAMILY MAN.
LIKE MOST OF MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
WE LOOK FORWARD, WE LOOK FORWARD TO REACHING OUR MEDICAL INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE SO IT CAN EASE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON OUR FAMILIES WHEN PAYING MEDICAL BILLS.
A 25% INCREASE IN, IN THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE FROM $4,000 TO $5,000 IS SIGNIFICANT AND ESSENTIALLY HITS OUR EMPLOYEES SAVINGS ACCOUNTS.
I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO ASK THE METRO COUNCIL FOR HELP IN PRE IN PREVENTING THIS INCREASE IN OUR HEALTHCARE COSTS ON OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.
GENERAL COUNCIL MEMBER BROCKER.
UM, CAN MR. DANTE BIDWELL, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
YOU AND I BRIEFLY SPOKE ABOUT THIS MATTER AND I GAVE YOU SOME NAMES TO GET A SECOND OPINION.
WAS THAT SECOND OPINION OBTAINED FROM ANY OF THOSE FOLKS? NO, I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A SECOND OPINION FROM ANY OF, OKAY.
I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
SO, UM, THE REASON WHY I ASKED THAT IS BECAUSE SECOND OPINIONS ARE FREE.
WE HAVE CONSULTANTS, UM, THEY'RE TRUSTED, THEY'RE GREAT, BUT IT COSTS NOTHING BESIDES A TELEPHONE CALL AND DOING SOME HOMEWORK TO ATTEMPT TO GET A SECOND OPINION TO MAKE SURE ALL OPTIONS WERE EXPLORED.
UM, INSURANCE ISN'T EASY, BUT IT'S NOT HARD EITHER.
AND A SELF-FUNDED PLAN, THOSE PLANS CAN BE NEGOTIATED, PRICES CAN BE NEGOTIATED.
PLAN DESIGNS CAN BE MANEUVERED.
WHEN YOU HAVE A SELF-FUNDED PLAN, YOU CAN MAKE YOUR PLAN DESIGN LOOK HOWEVER YOU WANT IT TO LOOK.
UM, ALSO, WHENEVER A BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD QUOTE COMES IN WHERE YOU'RE SPENDING $83 MILLION A YEAR, YOU CAN CALL UNITEDHEALTHCARE AND SAY, HEY, I HAVE A QUOTE.
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO FOR ME? THERE ARE WAYS THAT YOU CAN CARVE OUT PHARMACY.
THERE ARE WAYS THAT YOU CAN LOOK AND SAVE BESIDES SENDING THE COST TO THE MEMBERS, THE OVER 4,000 EMPLOYEE, 3000, 4,000 EMPLOYEES WE HAVE, AND THE 2000 RETIREES THAT WE HAVE.
AND WHILE I BELIEVE THAT YOUR CONSULTANTS PROBABLY DID THE BEST JOB AND EXPLORED ALL THOSE OPTIONS, HAVING A SECOND OPINION AND SOMEONE TELLING US THAT THEY DID THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND THAT THEY AGREE WITH WHAT THIS PRICE HIKE LOOKS LIKE, WOULD'VE GIVEN US ALL THE EXTRA ASSURANCE TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE PRICES ARE RISING.
EVERYBODY'S ON OZEMPIC RIGHT NOW.
BLOOD PRESSURES ARE HIGH, BELIEVE ME, AFTER THIS MEETING, THEY ARE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
AND WE'RE SITTING HERE BEING ASKED AS A COUNCIL TO RUBBER STAMP ANOTHER INCREASE THAT'S PASSED DOWN ONTO OUR EMPLOYEES WITHOUT HAVING A SIMPLE SECOND OPINION.
UM, DON, IF YOU CAN COME UP OR WHOEVER CAN ANSWER IN THE YES, SIR.
SO WHEN WE, WHEN WE TALKED AND, AND YOU TOLD ME THIS WAS GONNA BE COMING UP, UM, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW LONG IT'S BEEN SINCE WE'VE INCREASED THE RATES, UH, TO THE EMPLOYEES.
SO I BELIEVE ON THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLAN, WE HAVEN'T CHANGED THE RATES FOR OVER 10 YEARS AND FOR THE OTHER PLANS IT'S BEEN AT LEAST FIVE.
FIVE YEARS BEF SINCE THE LAST TIME WE'VE HAD AN EMPLOYEE INCREASE.
SO, SO WE'VE EATEN THESE COSTS, THESE INCREASES AND EVERYTHING.
WE'VE EATEN 'EM AS CITY PARISH AND I THINK THAT'S GREAT.
UH, WE, WE'VE, WE'VE TRIED TO DO OUR PART,
[02:25:01]
WE TRIED TO DO EVERYTHING, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT WAS ULTIMATELY THIS DAY YOU, YOU HAVE TO PAY, EVENTUALLY YOU HAVE TO PAY.AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, ESPECIALLY AN INCREASE INFLATION AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON NOW WE'RE TAKING THE TEN FIVE YEAR PART AND WE'RE DUMPING IT ALL AT ONE TIME.
UH, I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS, UH, LOOKING FORWARD OR WHATEVER, THERE'S ACTUALLY TWO THINGS I'D LIKE TO SAY LOOKING FORWARD OR WHATEVER.
UH, WE MAY JUST NEED TO BITE THE BULLET EACH YEAR IF THERE'S AN INCREASE, BECAUSE HERE WE ARE, WE'RE THROWING A, A RAPID AMOUNT OF INCREASE ALL AT ONE TIME ON TOP OF THESE EMPLOYEES.
UM, AND, AND, AND I AGREE WITH, WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WITH THEIR PAY AND EVERYTHING ELSE, EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS.
THEY GET STATE SUPPLEMENTAL PAY AND, AND, AND LOOK, THIS IS THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
THEY JUST TOOK IT TO $600 AND NOW WE'RE EATING MORE OUT OF THAT.
SO WHAT RAISE DID THEY ACTUALLY GET EVEN WITH STATE SUPPLEMENTAL PAY? UM, SECOND THING, CAN THE, IF WE GO BACK AND REVIEW THIS, YOU KNOW, ALL I'VE HEARD, AND I'VE TALKED TO 'EM, SEVERAL OF 'EM, SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, THE 8% AFTER ALL THIS TIME, IT'S MANAGEABLE.
THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GONNA PAY OUTTA THEIR POCKET UNTIL THEY REACH THAT.
SO I WOULD ASK THAT WE GO BACK AND WE DEFINITELY LOOK AT THAT AND I MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER THIS ITEM UNTIL WE GET OTHER OPTIONS ON THE TABLE.
OR WE LOOK AT AT LEAST THE DEDUCTIBLE PART.
I SECOND, COULD I YOU GOTTA PICK A DATE, SIR.
COULD I HAVE A MOMENT TO RESPOND? YOU, YOU MAY.
SO, UH, 30 DAYS, THAT DEFINITELY IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOOKED AT.
AND ONE OF THE, UM, AND ON THE PRICE SHEET THAT I WAS GIVEN BY, UM, OUR FOLKS HERE, AND WE DO HAVE A BIT OF A PRESENTATION IF GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOOKED AT WAS, UH, EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AND NOT ELIMINATING THE RAISE THAT WAS JUST GIVEN LAST YEAR OR THE 3% MERIT INCREASE THAT WAS GIVEN.
SO, UM, ONE OF THE COUNCIL FOLKS ASKED ME ABOUT SOME SPECIFIC NUMBERS.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOOKED AT WAS, SO SAY AN EMPLOYEE THAT WAS MAKING $40,000 LAST YEAR GOT A 5% RAISE, RIGHT? SO ABOUT ANOTHER $2,000 OR SO A YEAR.
THEN COME JANUARY THEY GET THEIR STEP INCREASE, THEY GET ANOTHER 3%.
SO NOW WE'VE GOTTEN THEM TO ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW, ANOTHER $3,000 OR SO A YEAR.
THE MOST THAT WE WOULD BE INCREASING ANYBODY WITH WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED AS FAR AS, UM, THESE PREMIUM RATES WOULD BE ABOUT $50 A MONTH.
SO THAT'S THE MOST, THE MAJORITY OF FOLKS WOULD NOT BE EXPERIENCING THAT LEVEL OF AN INCREASE.
ALRIGHT? UH, BUT IF YOU ARE NOW MAKING, LET'S SAY, ANOTHER $300 A MONTH BASED ON THE TWO RAISES THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN IN THE LAST YEAR, UH, WE YOU'RE STILL COMING OUT ON TOP.
SO I DON'T WANT ANYBODY IN THIS CHAMBER TO THINK THAT WE ARE COMPLETELY ELIMINATING THE RAISES THAT WE'RE GIVEN OVER THE LAST YEAR.
I THINK WE'RE COMPLETELY ELIMINATING, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE TAKING QUITE A BIT OFF.
UM, AGAIN, THE, THE, THE RATES THEMSELVES, THE MONTHLY RATES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, I, YOU KNOW, I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.
I I CAN SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE WAITED A LONG TIME TO DO THAT AND, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK AT THAT MONTHLY THING.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A FAMILY AND, AND YOU'VE, YOU'RE TRYING TO KEEP THEM, WELL, YOU HAVEN'T GO TO THE DOCTOR.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE PUTTING THAT OUT OVERALL UNTIL YOU REACH THIS, THIS HUGE AMOUNT.
AND AGAIN, I, IF THERE'S A WAY FOR US TO LOOK AT THE DEDUCTIBLE PART, UM, WHETHER LIKE COUNCILWOMAN ROCKET SAID IN, IN, IN DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND, AND PULL THIS AND GIVE THEM THOSE OPTIONS AND SO ON, THEN I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK INTO THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE EXHAUSTED ALL MEANS.
AND I WOULD FEEL BETTER KNOWING THAT, GETTING A REPORT ON ALL OF THAT, UM, BEFORE I MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS VOTE.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING TO DEFER.
AND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
SO NO, WHAT WE HAVE IS A MOTION, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A HOW MANY DAYS? OH, 30 DAYS.
MOTION TO DEFER THE ITEM FOR 30 DAYS.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA BE BE BEFORE WE ENTERTAIN THAT, CAN I ASK THE QUESTION? NO, NO, WE'RE NOT GONNA VOTE ON IT.
WE DON'T HEAR THE SPEAKERS HERE.
UH, I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS AND I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS WE HAVE.
AND LINDA IS HERE AS WELL FROM FINANCE.
UM, I FIRST WANNA SAY THAT WE ARE SOLVING FOR A $10 MILLION DEFICIT TO MAKE UP FOR THE DEFICIT FOR 23 AND THE PROJECTED DEFICIT OF 24.
UM, WE HAVE, HAVE DONE ALL WE COULD NOT TO BURDEN EMPLOYEES WITH ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR HEALTHCARE.
UM, THE TAXPAYERS HAVE PICKED UP FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
UM, WE ARE AT THE POINT IN HEALTHCARE WHERE TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING ALMOST 80% OF EMPLOYEE PREMIUM, 80%.
UM, WE HAVE ABOUT A $80 MILLION,
[02:30:02]
UM, HEALTHCARE BUDGET PREMIUMS FROM EMPLOYEES MAKE UP ABOUT 17 MILLION OF THAT, AND TAXPAYERS PAY ABOUT 59 OR 60 MILLION OF THAT.WE DID THE THINGS THAT WE THOUGHT WAS MOST PALATABLE.
UM, THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLAN IS THE LEAST PERFORMING PLAN.
WHEN PEOPLE ARE MEETING THEIR DEDUCTIBLES, THEY'RE HAVING SURGERIES THAT ARE NECESSARY IN MEDICAL COSTS, BUT THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO, UM, TO, IT IS THE LEAST PERFORMING PLAN.
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN IT ARE USING IT.
AND SO, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLAN.
YOU CAN GO INTO THE H M O PLAN AND YOU PAY DEDUCTIBLES.
ONCE YOU, ONCE YOU MEET YOUR, YOUR DEDUCTIBLE, YOU START PAYING COPAYS.
SO THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS, BUT WE HAVE, I HAVE MANDATES ACCORDING TO THE HEALTHCARE INSURANCE, UM, LEGISLATION OF NOTICES THAT HAVE TO BE DONE 30 DAYS WILL RUN ME PAST THOSE NOTICES TO GET, WE WON'T MAKE IT FOR JANUARY 1ST.
AND SO, ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND, UM, YOU KNOW, EMPLOYEES ARE ANGST ABOUT THIS, WE'VE DONE ALL WE CAN OVER THE YEARS TO SHIELD THEM FROM ADDITIONAL COSTS.
AND THIS YEAR WITH THAT LUMEN $10 MILLION DEFICIT, WE, WE HAVE TO TAKE STEPS, UM, TO HELP PAY FOR THAT.
UM, YOU PASSED YOUR 10 MINUTES, BUT GO AHEAD.
I ONLY HAD ONE FIVE MINUTE AND HE I TALKED TO TODAY.
HE TOOK THE LAST FIVE MINUTES, BUT GO AHEAD.
I LOOK, I GUESS THE REASON I'M EVEN, EVEN, I WAS GONNA FINISH UP, BUT I, THE REASON I'M, I'M CONTINUING THIS TALK IS BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED JUST A SECOND AGO THAT YOU'RE, YOU, YOU'RE UNDER THE GUN AND 30 DAYS IS GONNA DO SUCH AND SUCH OR WHATEVER MM-HMM.
I MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW WHEN THIS CAME UP OR WHEN THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED ABOUT, BUT THESE OPTIONS AS FAR AS DEFER AND THINGS LIKE THAT ARE OUR OPTIONS.
AND WE'RE GONNA LOOK FOR THE BEST OPTIONS ON THE TABLE.
I APOLOGIZE, BUT I CAN'T, I CAN'T HELP YOU THAT YOU'RE UNDER THE GUN WHEN I FEEL LIKE THERE'S, THERE'S MORE.
AND HOPEFULLY SOME OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL AGREE THAT THERE'S MORE WE NEED TO LOOK INTO.
WELL, FROM, FROM A
HEY, THIS IS GONNA BE ON THE AGENDA.
I I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE HEADS UP ON IT, BUT NOW WE'RE UNDER THE GUN.
WE HAVE TO PASS THIS FOR, YOU KNOW, OR, YOU KNOW, 30 DAYS IS GONNA BE DETRIMENTAL TO US.
I I CAN'T HELP YOU WITH THAT ONE.
WELL, THE, THE THING IS THAT WE NOT, WE DIDN'T WAIT FOR THE SAKE OF WAITING LAST YEAR WHEN WE MET WITH, WITH THE COUNCIL, UM, WE PREMATURELY SAID THAT A, A PAY AN INCREASE IN INSURANCE WAS NOT NEEDED.
THAT WAS DONE BEFORE WE HAD OVER SIX MONTHS OF CLAIM COSTS.
SO THE FIRST SIX MONTHS IT LOOKED GREAT, BUT THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR IT TANKED.
AND SO WE WAIT UNTIL WE GET AT LEAST ENOUGH CLAIMS DATA TO BE ABLE TO MAKE PROJECTIONS.
THAT'S WHY IT'S THAT CLOSE TO THE DEADLINE BECAUSE WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE BEST AVAILABLE INFORMATION TO MAKE THOSE CALLS.
AND LAST YEAR THE TAXPAYERS PICKED UP A 15% INCREASE IN OUR HEALTH INSURANCE AND EMPLOYEES PAY NOTHING.
SO TAXPAYERS ARE PICKING UP THEIR SHARE.
WE ARE JUST ASKING EMPLOYEES WHO USE OUR MEDICAL PLAN, THEIR DEPENDENTS AND RETI AND, AND THOSE RETIREES DEPENDENTS WHO ARE NOT EVEN OUR EMPLOYEES THAT WE PAY FOR.
SO WE JUST ASKING THEM TO PAY WHAT WE FEEL IS THEIR FAIR SHARE AND NOT BE BURDENSOME.
WE'VE, WE'VE DONE SOME OTHER THINGS.
WE'VE USED THE, UM, THE RESERVE FROM THE, UH, HEALTH INSURANCE RESERVE.
WE'VE TAKEN IT DOWN TO JUST THE BARE MINIMUM, WHICH IS RUN OUT CLAIMS. UM, WE'VE USING $2 MILLION OF THAT.
WE DID ALL WE COULD TO MAKE THE BURDEN AS LEAST CUMBERSOME AS WE CAN ON EMPLOYEES, BUT WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE EMPLOYEES ARE GONNA HAVE TO START SHARING SOME OF THAT BURDEN.
I THINK THE HEALTH INSURANCE GOING UP IS INEVITABLE, UM, ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
IT'S NOT JUST HAPPENING HERE IN BATON ROUGE, BUT I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS THAT I'VE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT.
UM, I DO HAVE A QUESTION IS I KNOW DANTE SAY MAX $50, IS THAT A MONTH OR PER PAY PERIOD? A MONTH? SLOWER.
THAT'S ON THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLAN.
SO, YOU KNOW, GO BACK TO THE CASE STUDY, TALK ABOUT YOU NOT TALKING ABOUT IT IS NO, IT IS, IT IS DEFINITELY JERMAINE TO THE TOPIC.
AND THE REASON WHY WE'RE DOING THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE WAGES THAT PEOPLE MAKE IN CITY PARISH TO SEE WHAT THEY SHOULD MAKE.
[02:35:01]
SO SOME OF YOU GUYS WHO AT THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN THAT MAKE THESE DECISIONS DON'T FEEL THE $50 IMPACT THAT THE PERSON AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CHAIN FEELS.AND I TALKED TO LINDA, LINDA SON WORKS FOR CITY PARISH, UH, AND UM, UH, UH, OTHER DEPARTMENTS OR WHATEVER.
AND WE HAVE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE RELATIVES AND NIECES AND NEPHEWS THAT WORK HERE THAT ARE FEELING SOME OF THIS PAIN THAT WE'RE DOING.
SO DIRECTLY IMPACTS YOUR LOVED ONES, BUT THE PEOPLE AT THE BOTTOM IS FOOD CHAIN ARE FEELING THAT.
AND SO SOMEBODY WHO'S ALREADY STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND WORKS MULTIPLE JOBS, THAT $50 MIGHT NOT MEAN A LOT TO YOU, BUT IT DOES TO THEM.
SO I ALWAYS TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, WHICH IS WHY I UNDERSTAND WHY MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ASKED TO PROLONG IT FOR 30 DAYS.
UM, I DID GET SOME, SOME QUESTIONS, GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS, BUT PRIMARILY ABOUT THE DEDUCTIBLE INCREASE FOR 4,000 TO $5,000.
UM, I DO WANT TO ASK YOU AT ONE POINT TO UH, UH, ASK RIGHT NOW YOU CAN JUST ADDRESS IT.
WERE THERE ANY OTHER OPTIONS THAT WERE EXPLORED? MAYBE GOING TO 4,500 INSTEAD OF 5,000? I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF PLANS AND IT HADN'T ALWAYS BEEN A SOLID NUMBER WITH ZEROES.
OUR CONSULTANT GAVE US MULTIPLE OPTIONS TO SAVE MONEY.
THOSE OPTIONS RESTRICTED ACCESS TO A VAST MAJORITY OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
SO WE COULD OPT TO DO SEVERAL THINGS THAT WOULD SAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY AND MAYBE NOT HAVE TO RAISE RATES ON THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE, BUT IT MAY MEAN A NARROW NETWORK WHERE ALL EMPLOYEES GO TO ONE PARTICULAR HOSPITAL.
IF YOU NEED SPECIALIZED CARE, YOU WANT TO GO TO THE BEST HOSPITAL AVAILABLE.
SOME OF THOSE PLANS, IF WE MOVE EVERYBODY TO THE H M O WOULD SAVE US MONEY.
BUT IF YOU NEED TO GET TO MD ANDERSON, MAYBE YOU CAN'T.
BUT WE DON'T WANNA RESTRICT THOSE KIND OF ACCESSES TO EMPLOYEES.
UM, JUST CERTAIN THINGS THAT THEY RECOMMENDED WOULD BE REALLY DISRUPTIVE TO OUR EMPLOYEES AND RESTRICT THEIR ACCESS.
AND WE DIDN'T, WE, WE PROPOSED WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS THE BEST OPTION AND TO THE PLAN THAT'S THE LEAST PERFORMING AND NOT THE PREMIUMS ARE NOT PAYING FOR THE SERVICES THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE.
COUNCILMAN BANKS, BASICALLY YOU ANSWERED BECAUSE I WAS, UM, ALSO WANTED TO KNOW IN THAT 30 DAYS IF, UM, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THOSE ADDITIONAL QUOTES AND FOLLOW UP WITH THE, UM, THE PERSON WHO WAS REFERRED TO YOU, BUT MAYBE A ONE OR TWO.
BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE IN YOUR LAST, UH, EXPLANATION YOU'VE GONE THE, THE, UM, THE ROUTE OF CHECKING MORE THAN ONE.
BUT DO YOU THINK IT'S WISE TO, UH, SPECIFICALLY AND I DON'T KNOW THE INSURANCE BUSINESS, BUT SPECIFICALLY FOLLOW UP WITH THE RECOMMENDED, UM, COMPANY THAT MAY BE ABLE TO GIVE SOME SATISFACTION IN THE BATON ROUGE AREA AND MAYBE COUNCILWOMAN ROCKER KNOWS SOMETHING THAT I DON'T? BLUE CROSS IS BY FAR THE MOST COMPETITIVE, HAS THE BEST PRICES.
BUT IN BATON ROUGE, NO ONE HAS THE DISCOUNTS, THE DOCTORS, THE NETWORK THAT BLUE CROSS OFFERS.
AND THAT IS BASED ON GETTING ANOTHER PRICE OR JUST WHAT WE DID A COMPETITIVE BID JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.
AND WE DIDN'T GET OTHER COMPETITORS.
AND I HAD OUR CONSULTANT GO OUT AND SAY, WHY AREN'T WE GETTING YOU ALL TO BID? THEY SAID, WHY WOULD WE PUT IN ALL THIS TIME TO, TO PUT A BID IN WHEN WE KNOW WE CAN'T COMPETE WITH THE DISCOUNTS OF BLUE CROSS BLUE CROSS IN THIS AREA, NEW ORLEANS WITH THEM BEING, UM, ABOUT TO BE SOLD.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING PUBLIC OR ARE PUBLIC WITH THAT.
DOES THAT IMPACT IT AT ALL? WE ARE UNDER A CONTRACT WITH BLUE CROSS.
SO, SO THEY'RE LOCKED INTO OUR PRICE PRICES AND DISCOUNTS THAT WE HAVE WITH THEM.
COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN? YEAH, I WAS ACTUALLY GONNA BRING UP BEFORE BRIAN, SOME OF THE STUFF YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE DEADLINES.
I KNOW OPEN ENROLLMENT NOVEMBER AND I WAS GONNA OFFER UP TO, UH, THE BODY AND, AND, UH, COUNCILMAN MOOCH TO SEE IF WE CAN DO TWO WEEKS.
MAYBE YOU GUYS CAN EXPLORE THOSE POSSIBILITIES IN TWO WEEKS THAT'LL HELP YOU WITH THE DEADLINE APPROACHING.
SO I'M ASKING THAT OF ACTUALLY BOTH OF Y'ALL.
UM, IT IS TWO WEEKS ENOUGH TIME FOR YOU TO LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS AND WILL THAT, WILL THAT HELP YOU WITH THE DEADLINE? AND THEN SECOND IS, IS COUNCILMAN MOOCH OPEN TO CHANGING HIS, UH, MOTION TO TWO WEEKS VERSUS 30 DAYS? WE HAVE LOOKED AT OTHER OPTIONS.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE OTHER OPTIONS.
[02:40:01]
LIKE FOR EMPLOYEES TO HAVE AN INCREASE.WE HAVE COST OUT WHAT NOT HAVING THEM MAKE THAT INCREASE WOULD COST.
SOMEBODY'S GONNA HAVE TO PAY, RIGHT? SO IF THE EMPLOYEES DON'T AGREE, OR IF THE COUNCIL DON'T WANT EMPLOYEES TO, TO BEAR AN ADDITIONAL BURDEN OF THAT EXPENSE, I'M GONNA ASK FINANCE TO COME UP AND TELL YOU HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST.
BECAUSE IN TWO WEEKS IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE SAME THING.
BUT, BUT, BUT I THINK THE QUESTION WAS, WAS OTHER OPTIONS IN OTHER PROVIDERS WHO MAY CAN LOOK AT THE BID AND PROVIDE ANOTHER BID NOT IN TWO WEEKS.
CAN IT BE DONE IN TWO WEEKS? THAT TAKES ABOUT FOUR MONTHS.
THAT'S A R F P IN A, IN BIDS ON INSURANCE.
WE ARE LOCKED IN THE CONTRACT WITH BLUE CROSS RIGHT NOW.
LET'S, WE ARE IN THE CONTRACT.
I I'M GOOD WITH TWO WEEKS AS LONG AS YOU GET ME.
EVEN IF IT'S WITH THIS PARTICULAR ONE, THE CONTRACT AND THE OPTIONS AND THE, THE THINGS THAT, THAT MAYBE THAT WE'RE NOT SEEING.
AND AGAIN, I'M NOT SAYING THAT THIS ISN'T THE BEST OPTION.
I JUST HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OTHER OPTIONS.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO GO OUT AND BID IT OUT.
I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT OR ELSE WAS ON THE TABLE THAT I MIGHT BE AGREEABLE TO, UH, EATING SOME OF THE COST.
UM, I KNOW THAT SUCKS, BUT WE HAVE THOSE, WE HAVE THAT, THOSE DOLLAR AMOUNTS.
NOW, IF YOU WOULD LIKE, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNCIL MEETING.
I WANNA GO OVER, MAYBE WE WANNA SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH Y'ALL.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND WE TOOK THIS LONG TO PUSH IT UP RIGHT ONTO THE EDGE AND EVERYTHING.
SO WHAT'S TO SAY? TWO WEEKS IS GONNA BE LONG ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY GO OVER THIS, WHO WE, YOU KNOW, DON'T, I DON'T MIND DOING TWO WEEKS, BUT DON'T GET MAD IF I, IF I ASK FOR ANOTHER ONE.
SO WE'VE MAXED OUT THE WHOLE 30 DAYS AND THAT'S FINE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THE COUNCIL'S AGREEABLE TO, BUT THIS ISN'T GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT WE PUSH IT AGAIN RIGHT UP TO THE EDGE.
IT'S WE START CALLING TOMORROW AND TALKING WITH THE COUNCIL OR, OR WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO.
IF YOU HAVE TO BRING US IN, UH, SET, SPLIT US UP, BRING US IN TO HAVE SIT DOWN WITH US.
WELL, WELL, LET'S CONSIDER THAT.
MY MOTION TO TWO WEEKS MOTION HAS BEEN AMENDED TO TWO WEEKS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER OSA, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKER.
WELL, A COUPLE OF THINGS JUST TO CLEAR UP THE RECORD.
UM, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU, SIR.
UH, BUT I DO HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOUR CONSULTANTS THAT ARE SITTING IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM OVER THERE.
UM, WHENEVER, WHENEVER YOU HAVE NO CLAIMS DATA OR YOU DON'T HAVE HIGH CLAIMS FOR THIS FIRST SIX MONTHS, THE REASON WHY YOU DON'T IS BECAUSE YOU'RE ON A HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLAN AND YOUR EMPLOYEES ARE USING ALL OF THEIR OWN MONEY TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR, HE THEIR HEALTHCARE.
SO WHEN YOU THOSE CLAIMS START ROLLING IN, THAT'S WHEN, THAT'S WHENEVER YOU FIRST SEE YOUR EMPLOYEES STARTING TO USE THEIR BENEFIT.
THE OTHER PIECE IS, SO THERE WERE CONTRADICTING STATEMENTS FIRST WAS WE HAVEN'T GONE OUT TO BID FOR TWO YEARS.
I CAN TELL YOU FROM BEING IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY FOR SEVEN YEARS, THAT YOU SHOULD GO OUT TO BID EVERY YEAR.
THAT'S HOW YOU GET COMPETITIVE RATES.
AND I'M SITTING HERE TO TELL YOU, WITH AN EMPLOYER THAT HAS 4,000 EMPLOYEES, A CONSULTANT IS GETTING PAID HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO DO THAT JOB FOR YOU.
I'M NOT GONNA EMBARRASS ANYBODY, BUT I WILL LIKE EVERYBODY TO NOTE THAT I ASKED THE CONSULTANTS TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND THEY'RE STILL SITTING THERE IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM.
SO I GUESS MY QUESTIONS ARE DONE.
HI, MR. EUGEN, HOW ARE YOU? HI.
CAN YOU TELL ME YOUR NAME AND WHO YOU WORK FOR? SURE.
I'M WITH LOCKTON COMPANIES, UM, AND WE ARE ONE OF THE CONSULTANTS THAT WORKS WITH THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
AND CAN YOU TELL ME YOUR HUSBAND'S NAME AND WHO HE WORKS FOR? UH, SCOTT FONTANO.
HE'S WITH FONTANO BENEFITS AND ACTUARIAL.
AND HOW ARE Y'ALL EMPLOYED UNDER THIS CONTRACT FOR THE CITY? UNDER THIS CONTRACT, SCOTT FONT'S ACTUARIAL FIRM HOLDS THE FEE BASE PRIMARY CONTRACT, LOCKTON COMPANIES DOES, UM, SUBCONTRACTING SUPPORT, INCLUDING REPORTING COMMUNICATIONS, UM, AND ALSO ASSISTING THE CITY WITH LOOKING AT DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES.
IS YOUR D B E HERE TONIGHT? WHO WAS THAT? HE IS NOT.
THAT IS, UH, MR. CARLOS HORNBROOK.
HE IS THE OWNER OF BLACK SWAN EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.
OKAY, SO CAN YOU CLEAR UP FOR US ON THE RECORD PLEASE? DID YOU GUYS GO OUT AND GET A QUOTE FROM ANY OTHER INSURANCE CARRIERS THIS YEAR? OKAY, SO THE QUOTING OF INSURANCE CARRIERS IS HANDLED BY
[02:45:01]
THE CITY PARISH.IT WAS DONE LAST YEAR, A FORMAL R F P.
SO WE ARE NOT AT LIBERTY TO GO OUT AND BID THE CITY'S BUSINESS.
THAT HAS TO COME THROUGH THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT.
AND WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE THAT IS YOUR PROCESS THAT I, I CAN'T GO OUT AND COLLECT BIDS.
THOSE ALL HAVE TO BE DONE THROUGH THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT WITH THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS THAT COME FROM ACTUALLY BIDDING.
UM, AND THEN YOU ALL USUALLY HAVE A COMMITTEE OF FOLKS THAT GET TOGETHER AND REVIEW THE PROPOSALS.
AND SO WHO DID THE BIDS GO OUT TO? UM, LAST YEAR IT WAS PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPER.
AND SO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO RESPOND CAN RESPOND.
I WILL TELL YOU IN LOUISIANA, WE ARE CONSIDERED AN UNCOMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE.
IN THE LAST, CALL IT SIX YEARS, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF CARRIERS LIKE HUMANA'S PULLING OUTTA THE COMMERCIAL BUSINESS MARKET.
AETNA ALSO DOES NOT PARTICIPATE MUCH IN THE COMMERCIAL MARKET.
SO IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE SPECIFICALLY, YOU'RE DOWN TO BASICALLY BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD AND UNITEDHEALTHCARE.
THE PROBLEM WITH THAT, WHEN YOU LOOK AT COMPETITIVE INFORMATION, THE CITY HAS AN H M O PRODUCT, WHICH IS GREAT.
IT IS YOUR BEST PRODUCT THAT YOU HAVE.
IT IS THE LOWEST COST IN TERMS OF CLAIMS FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.
THE ISSUE WITH THAT IS THAT UNITEDHEALTHCARE DOES NOT HAVE AN H M O NETWORK IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE OR LOUISIANA FOR THAT MATTER.
SO ARE YOU SAYING WITH A SELF-FUNDED PLAN, YOU CAN'T CREATE YOUR OWN PLAN DESIGN AND YOU CAN'T CARVE OUT NETWORKS? YOU CAN CERTAINLY CREATE YOUR OWN PLAN DESIGN.
THE H M O CONTRACT COMES FROM THE PHYSICIAN AT THE PHYSICIAN LEVEL.
SO FOR UNITEDHEALTHCARE TO COME INTO BATON ROUGE AND BUILD AN H M O NETWORK WOULD BE, UM, VERY TIME CONSUMING.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT TYPE OF DISCOUNTS THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO ASCERTAIN.
ARE YOU SURE? YOU'RE NOT SURE? NO, I'M SURE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE THIS SIZE? I HAVE PLENTY OF GROUPS.
YOUR SIZE AND ACTUALLY LARGER? YES.
AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE? I LIVE IN LAFAYETTE AND NEW ORLEANS.
I SPLIT MY TIME BETWEEN THE TWO.
SO CAN YOU TELL US WHAT GROUPS YOU HAVE THIS SIZE AND LARGER PLEASE? UM, I, I'M NOT GONNA NAME COMPANIES, BUT I DO WORK WITH THE LARGEST SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IN THE STATE.
I WORK WITH SEVERAL OTHER CITIES.
I WORK WITH THE SECOND LARGEST SCHOOL BOARD IN THE STATE.
WE WORK WITH A LOT OF COMMERCIAL COMPANIES AND MOST OF OUR CLIENTS ARE SELF-FUNDED.
WHICH CITIES ARE BIGGER THAN BATON ROUGE, I'M SORRY, BY POPULATION OR BY EMPLOYEE SIZE? EMPLOYEE COUNT.
I WOULD SAY YOU GUYS ARE ON TRACK, UM, WITH YOUR TOTAL EMPLOYEE COUNT.
YOU'RE SIMILAR IN SIZE TO LAFAYETTE.
WHAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT ABOUT YOU ALL THOUGH IS THAT YOU STILL COVER RETIREES AFTER THE AGE OF 65, WHICH MOST CITIES IN LOUISIANA HAVE GONE AWAY FROM THAT BENEFIT.
SO AT 65 RETIREES MOVE OVER TO MEDICARE ADVANTAGE OR THEY MOVE COMPLETELY OFF THE CITY PLAN.
CITY OF NEW ORLEANS OFFERS OF MEDICARE PART D CARD.
CITY OF LAFAYETTE DOES NOT COVER RETIREES AFTER 65, NOR DOES CITY OF ALEXANDRIA AND OTHER CITIES ARE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION AS WELL.
DO YOU HAVE JEFFERSON PARISH? JEN? JEN, I'M GONNA LET YOU ASK A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS.
TWO MORE QUESTIONS, BUT THAT'S YOUR TIME.
DO YOU REPRESENT JEFFERSON PARISH? I DO NOT REPRESENT JEFFERSON PARISH GOVERNMENT, NO.
HEY, I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION BECAUSE I I I NOT FOR YOU.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
UM, IT WAS ONE I I LEFT OFF MY LIST BEFORE AND, AND IT MAY BE HER, I DON'T KNOW, BUT MY, IT SEEMS LIKE A BIG DUMP LUMP AT ONE TIME.
IN THE SAME WAY, JUST IN TERMS OF INCREASED COST, I KNOW THAT WE TRIED TORAY THEM FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.
MY QUESTION, AND, AND ONE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, I DON'T KNOW IF I EVER GOT A CLEAR ANSWER ON THIS, BUT IS THERE A POSSIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE INCREMENTAL INCREASES ON AN ANNUAL BASIS THAT ARE VERY MINIMAL SO THAT THESE BIG LUMPS DON'T HAPPEN AT A SINGLE TIME AND THAT THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT AND THE COST OF INSURANCE ADJUSTMENT ARE, UH, ARE AT PARITY ON, ON, ON AN ANNUAL BASIS? WE ACTUALLY HAVE HAD THAT RECOMMENDATION FROM OUR CONSULTANT THAT WE INCREASE MEDICAL, UM, FEES, UM, RATES ON EMPLOYEES EVERY YEAR.
WE DID NOT THINK THAT WAS, UM, THE MOST PRUDENT THING TO DO IF WE DIDN'T HAVE TO.
WELL, WE DOING ONE OR 2% A YEAR, AND THEN WE, INSTEAD OF A LUMP SUM OF EIGHT, TO ME, THAT MAKES MORE SENSE.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANYBODY ELSE, BUT IT, I, AS I ADJUST WITH MY, MY RAISE, SO DOES MY PAY AND I START WORKING ON A CERTAIN NET BASED ON WHAT THAT INCREASE LOOKS LIKE.
AND NOT ALL OF A SUDDEN COMING AND SAYING, HEY, I'M REDUCING IT BY ANOTHER $50.
AGAIN, FOR SOMEBODY WHO MAKES $10 AN HOUR, $50 IS NOT, IS NOT A SMALL MM-HMM.
IF WE WOULD'VE, IF WE WOULD'VE DONE IT THAT WAY SINCE 2015, WE WOULD'VE BEEN UP TO ABOUT 10% NOW ON INCREASES TO EMPLOYEES, I MEAN, DURING THE 2%.
[02:50:01]
NOT, I'M NOT MAD AT THAT MEANS IT GOES BACK TO PUTTING MONEY BACK IN THE GENERAL FUND TO BE ABLE TO USE FOR OTHER PURPOSES FOR, UH, PUBLIC INTENT, UH, WHERE WE CAN MAKE CITY BATTERIES BETTER.SO THAT PART, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE SHOCK AND AWE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH NOW AND THE CONVERSATION YOU'RE HAVING THAT KIND OF GOES AWAY IF YOU MAKING AN ANNUAL, UH, GRADUAL INCREASE SUBSTANTIAL, AND WE CAN, AND WE CAN DO THAT, THAT COUNCILMAN, UM, WE CAN DEFINITELY TAKE THAT UNDER CONSIDERATION.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH COVID, WE DID NOT WANT TO PUT THAT ON OUR EMPLOYEES, YOU KNOW, AND THAT, THAT I DO UNDERSTAND.
I THINK THAT WAS EVERYBODY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT I'M JUST TALKING ON A, IN A NON COVID ENVIRONMENT, COUNCILMAN HUDSON? WELL, I, I'LL JUST SAY THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST REFRESHING CONVERSATIONS OF THE NIGHT, UH, BECAUSE THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT, UH, ULTIMATELY IF WE DON'T SETTLE IT, IF WE DON'T FIGURE IT OUT, IT HAS A MASSIVE IMPACT ON THE GENERAL FUND.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE SPENT OUR LAST MEETING TALKING ABOUT HOW ARE WE GONNA FUND, UH, NEW, UH, JUVENILE FACILITIES.
UH, WE TALK EVERY MEETING ABOUT HOW WE'RE GONNA FUND, UM, DRAINAGE AND ROAD MAINTENANCE AND ALL THESE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS THAT, THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THE GENERAL FUND.
UM, TO COUNCILMAN HURST'S POINT, I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD ME DURING THE BUDGET HEARINGS EVERY YEAR, TALK TO YOU ABOUT THESE DOLLARS AND, AND OUR NEED TO GO AND, AND UPDATE 'EM.
AND I HAVE APPRECIATED, 'CAUSE I'M ON CITY PARISH, UH, THE PREMIUM AS WELL THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD 'EM, BUT, BUT ULTIMATELY WE DO HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO LOOK AT THESE EVERY YEAR.
UM, I I, I DO THINK WE NEED TO START DOING THAT MORE OFTEN.
SO I'LL JUST, I'LL JUST ECHO THAT SENTIMENT.
UM, I APPRECIATE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU GUYS GAVE.
I, I DO UNDERSTAND THE WEIGHT THAT IS BEHIND IT.
ANYTIME WE TALK ABOUT JEOPARDIZING ADDITIONAL GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, THAT'S WHEN I GET, GET NERVOUS.
THAT'S WHEN MY ANTENNA GOES UP.
UM, I DO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT TO THE EMPLOYEES.
THAT'S THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO.
AND WE DO HAVE AN OBLIGATION, JUST LIKE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
THEY REEVALUATE THESE EVERY YEAR.
THEY GO BACK TO THEIR EMPLOYEES EVERY YEAR AND THEY'RE, THEY TELL 'EM, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
UM, AND I THINK AS A CITY PARISH, UH, WE NEED TO HOLD OURSELVES TO THAT SAME STANDARD.
SO, UM, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
THERE IS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO APPROVE.
IS THERE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION ON, I MEAN, IS THERE A SECOND ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE? IS THERE, THERE'S A SECOND ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GORE, UH, NO OTHER SPEAKERS.
WE GONNA VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE.
MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
MOTION TO DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION TO DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS? ANY OBJECTIONS? MOTION TO DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS IS CARRIED.
[88. 23-01171]
MEMBERS, IF YOU WILL, WE'RE GONNA GO TO ITEM 88, CONSIDERING THE INDUSTRIAL TAX EXEMPTION PROGRAM APPLICATION FOR EXXONMOBIL CORPORATION FOR $74,620,500 FOR A PROJECT IN EASTBOUND RIDGE PARISH BY COUNCIL, ADMINISTRATIVE TREASURER.IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? YEAH, YOU HAVE, I'M GONNA CALL 'EM IN THE ORDER THAT I'VE RECEIVED THEM.
WISHING TO SPEAK, UH, BRA, WHO'S REPRESENTING, I'M GONNA CALL 'EM IN ORDER FIRST.
UH, METRO COUNSEL, JOSHUA COMBS, REPRESENTING BRAG 5 6 4 LAUREL STREET.
WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS, UH,
UH, IT'S COINED THE INNOVATION, UH, INNOVATION SUITE.
SO YOU MENTIONED THAT IT WAS 74 MILLION, UH, DOLLARS.
IT'S ACTUALLY $155 MILLION TOTAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT WITHIN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
74 MILLION OF THAT BEING ELIGIBLE FOR THE TEP UH, PROJECT.
SO THIS PROJECT, OVER THE COURSE OF 20 YEARS, WILL GENERATE 13.4 MILLION APPROXIMATELY FOR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
AND THIS, THIS IS ON A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 5.8 MILLION BEING ABATED OVER A 10 YEAR PERIOD.
AND SO, AGAIN, I WOULD THANK YOU FOR EACH METRO COUNCIL MEMBER'S TIME OVER THE SUMMER.
UH, YOU GUYS HAVE BILLED YOURSELF TO BE BRIEFED ON THIS PROJECT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
UH, I AM SPEAKING BRIEFLY ON BEHALF OF TOGETHER BATON ROUGE.
AND THEN ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, I'M GONNA ASSUME THAT I KNOW, UH, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN ROCK THE OTHER WEEK.
I KNOW Y'ALL HAD PRESENTATIONS FROM EXXON, AND I'M GONNA ASSUME THAT Y'ALL HAVE MADE UP YOUR MINDS ALREADY.
[02:55:01]
I FEEL LIKE I JUST HEARD, UH, THE PREVIOUS GUY SAY, WE HAVE A $10 MILLION DEFICIT.I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A ONE DEPARTMENT, THE WHOLE CITY.
UH, AND WE'RE PROJECTING A BIGGER DEFICIT NEXT YEAR.
UM, THIS PROJECT IS A $74 MILLION PROJECT, WHICH MEANS, AND EVERY YEAR THERE'S A 1,000,070 $6,000 EXEMPTION.
SO IF YOU DON'T GRANT THAT, UM, THERE'S 10% OF YOUR DEFICIT, UH,
STEP TWO IS, UM, WHEN I WAS TALKING TO COUNCILWOMAN ROCKA, UH, I NOTICED THAT IN THE APPLICATION, IT DOES NOT SAY THAT THERE JOBS CREATED, BUT I FEEL LIKE WHEN WE TALKED, YOU TALKED ABOUT JOBS.
SO I WOULD LIKE SOME UNDERSTANDING OF IF IT SAYS NO JOBS, BUT SHE UNDERSTOOD THERE WERE JOBS.
WHAT'S THE STORY WITH THE JOBS, UM, FROM TOGETHER BATON ROUGE'S STANDPOINT? UM, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S NOT CREATING JOBS, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING, UH, THAT WE SHOULD APPROVE.
SO, UM, THAT'S MY T B R SPIEL, MY PERSONAL FEELINGS, UH, MY PERSONAL, UM, UH, OPINIONS ABOUT THIS.
UM, START WITH, UH, I APPRECIATE THE, THE WORD AND THE EXCITEMENT AROUND RECYCLING PLASTIC AND REDUCING PLASTIC IN OUR LANDFILL.
UM, UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO NOT, UM, NOT LET THAT TAKE AWAY FROM THE CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT REDUCING, USING PLASTIC SO GREAT THAT WE COULD RECYCLE.
UM, THAT'S NOT THE WHOLE CONVERSATION.
UM, SECOND OF ALL, LOOKING AT THE, AT THE APPLICATION, UH, IN, IN THE FIRST LITTLE SECTION THAT TALKS ABOUT MANUFACTURE, IT TALKS ABOUT, UH, MELTING DOWN THE PLASTIC FOR FUEL.
AND THEN IN THE SECOND SECTION, IT TALKS ABOUT IT BECOMING, UM, PLASTIC.
SO I'VE READ, I'VE, I'VE TRIED TO READ AND I'VE TRIED TO UNDERSTAND IT, TALKED ABOUT PI, UH, I GOT A C IN CHEMISTRY, SO I'M NOT DOING WELL WITH THIS, BUT PILAR, REIS, REIS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UH, IF, IF YOU GOOGLE THAT, THERE'S ALL SORTS OF TALK ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS, UH, WHAT EXACTLY IS HAPPENING? IS IT FUEL? IS IT PLASTIC? MY NEXT QUESTION, AND I HOPE THAT Y'ALL ARE, AND IF IT IS FUEL OR IF IT IS PLASTIC, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, FROM WHAT I'VE RESEARCHED, IT IS MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE THAN VIRGIN, UH, PRODUCT.
SO DO YOU HAVE A BUYER SET UP TO BUY YOUR VERY EXPENSIVE PLASTIC OR YOU'RE VERY EXPENSIVE FUEL? AND THEN WHAT KIND OF EMISSIONS AND WHAT KIND OF BYPRODUCTS AND WHAT KIND OF WATER USE AND WHAT KIND OF, OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? BECAUSE, UM, I'M SORRY.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER WE'RE DOING IS GOOD, BUT IT'S NOT ALSO POISONING US AT THE SAME TIME.
SO I HOPE WE'RE ASKING QUESTIONS.
ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE WE SAY YES.
NEXT SPEAKER, STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
4 6 6 9 BENNETT DRIVE, DISTRICT 12.
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO DENY EXXON XAP APPLICATION.
EXXON MADE $56 BILLION IN PROFIT LAST YEAR, RECORD SETTING, AND YET HERE THEY COME AGAIN, ASKING THE PEOPLE OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH TO GRANT YET ANOTHER TAX ABATEMENT.
REMEMBER IN 2021, THE METRO COUNCIL GRANTED EXXON A 23 MILLION TAX ABATEMENT OVER 10 YEARS.
SO THAT ONE IS STILL GOING ON.
EXXON CLAIMS OR IMPLIES THAT THEY ARE GENEROUS THIS TO THIS COMMUNITY.
LET'S LOOK AT THEIR FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS.
ACCORDING TO THIS APPLICATION, THE TOTAL PROPERTY TAXES PAID IN THE MOST RECENT YEAR FOR THE SITE IN QUESTION WAS $14,598,412.
EXXON'S REQUEST FOR THIS ABATEMENT IMPLIES THAT THAT'S JUST TOO MUCH MONEY FOR THEM TO PAY IN TAXES TO THE PEOPLE IN THIS PARISH.
BUT LET'S PUT THAT AMOUNT INTO PERSPECTIVE.
DO YOU KNOW THE TOTAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE IN THE MOST RECENT YEAR FOR EXXON'S, C E O $35,950,331.
AND YET, EXXON CLAIMS OF ALMOST $36 MILLION IN ONE YEAR TO ONE PERSON.
AND YET EXXON CLAIMS THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY $14 MILLION TO THE PEOPLE OF E B R PARISH.
BUT TANYA, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
EXXON PAYS ITS EMPLOYEES MORE AND THEN THEY SPEND MORE MONEY IN THE PARISH, AND THAT GENERATES TAX REVENUE.
LET'S LOOK AT, LOOK AT A COUPLE PROXY STATEMENTS.
IN 2017, EXXON'S COMPENSATION, CA'S COMPENSATION PACKAGE WAS 17,000,495 $119.
THE MEDIAN OF THE ANNUAL COMPENSATION OF ALL OTHER EXXON EMPLOYEES WAS $161,562
[03:00:03]
108 TO ONE.THE C E O MADE 108 TIMES MORE THAN THE MEDIAN EMPLOYEE IN EXXON IN 2017.
IN 2022, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE CEO'S COMPENSATION WAS NEARLY $36 MILLION MORE THAN DOUBLE THE AMOUNT FROM 2017.
YOU'D EXPECT THE COMPENSATION OF THE MEDIAN EMPLOYEE TO DOUBLE TOO, RIGHT, WRONG.
THE MEDIAN OF THE ANNUAL COMPENSATION OF OTHER ALL OTHER EXXON EMPLOYEES IN 2022 WAS $171,582.
FIVE YEARS LATER, PROFITS ARE DOUBLED.
C E O COMPENSATION HAS DOUBLED.
AND THE IMMEDIATE COMPENSATION OF ALL OTHER EMPLOYEES IS ONLY $10,000 MORE.
I DON'T THINK THAT EVEN ADJUSTS FOR INFLATION.
BUT TANYA EXXON PAYS SO MUCH IN TAXES TO THE US NOT REALLY TAXES.
THE TAXES EXXON PAID TO THE US IN 2022 WAS 8% OF REVENUE GENERATED IN THE US.
THE TAXES THEY PAY TO OTHER COUNTRIES, 15% OF NON-US REVENUE, ALMOST TWICE AS MUCH.
AND THEY'RE STILL DOING BUSINESS IN THOSE COUNTRIES, AND THEY'RE STILL INVESTING HEAVILY IN THOSE COUNTRIES.
THEY DON'T, AS THEIR LOBBYISTS CLAIM SCRAP PROJECTS OR LEAVE.
THEY WILL POLLUTE OUR AIR AND DRAIN OUR AQUIFER.
SO WE WILL SOON HAVE TO DRINK FROM THE MISSISSIPPI, BUT THEY WILL NEVER ON THEIR OWN VOLITION, PAY THE PEOPLE OF THIS PARISH FAIRLY.
THEY ARE OUR ABUSER, AND WE ARE SUFFERING FROM A CORPORATE STOCKHOLM SYNDROME IF WE THINK OTHERWISE.
IT IS LONG PAST TIME FOR US TO LEARN A SENSE OF SELF-WORTH AND DEMAND.
DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE PEOPLE IN THIS PARISH.
AND IF YOU'D LIKE COPIES OF THEIR PROXY STATEMENT OR THEIR 10 K, YOU CAN GET 'EM FROM ME OR FIND THEM ONLINE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT OPPOSED TO ITEM 80.
WHAT ARE WE ON? 88, RIGHT? ITEM 88, SORRY, ONE EMAIL COMMENT OPPOSED TO ITEM 88.
THERE IS A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOCH.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER NOEL.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE MOTION TO APPROVE? ITEM 88 HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[87. 23-01227]
GO TO ITEM 87.A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION OF THE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS FOR THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH HOUSING AUTHORITY IN ORDER TO OFFSET IDENTIFY DEVELOPMENT USER FEES AND TO FACILITATE THE CREATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND REDEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODDE AND COUNCIL.
COUNCIL MEMBER GOE, COUNCILMAN COLEMAN AND THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? MOTION TO APPROVE BY REAL QUICK COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED TWO EMAIL COMMENTS AND OPPOSITION TO ITEM 87.
MOTION TO APPROVE BY THE CHAIR.
JUST SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON? I JUST HOPE SOMEONE CAN UPDATE ME ON THE IMPACT TO THE GENERAL FUND FOR THIS ITEM.
SO I'LL, I'LL LEAVE IT IF ONE OF THE SPONSORS, OR IF THERE'S A STAFF MEMBER WHO CAN TELL ME, GIVE ME A PROJECTION ON WHAT THE IMPACT IS TO THE GENERAL FUND.
I, I, YEAH, I THINK THAT'S FINE.
YOU COULD SPEAK TO WHAT THE, WHAT THE FEES GENERALLY MEAN TO ONE OF THESE, ONE OF THE PROJECTS FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, BUT YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
UH, IF LINDA OR ANGIE, AND I'M GONNA LET, LINDA, YOU WANT TO BACK ME UP ONCE I MADE MY COMMENTS.
JAY DANIEL, C E O EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH HOUSING AUTHORITY ONE.
THANK YOU FOR THE PARTNERSHIP.
UM, OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE PARISH.
UM, THIS PARTICULAR MEASURE IS REALLY TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, I'LL GIVE YOU A PERFECT EXAMPLE.
WE JUST, GRAND OPEN, DID THE GRAND OPENING FOR A 95 9 99 UNIT SENIOR DEAL, $25 MILLION.
UH, ONE OF THE ISSUES IS THE FACT THAT WE REMITTED OVER $200,000 TO THE CITY PARISH.
AND SO I LIKEN THAT TO A HUSBAND CHARGING, UM, HIS WIFE TO LIVE TOGETHER, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE DON'T RECEIVE ANY MILLAGE.
WE'RE PROBABLY THE BEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAT THIS OR THAT THIS PARISH HAS.
UM, THE FACT THAT WE INVEST OVER $35 MILLION WITH OUR HOUSING CHOICE LANDLORDS PER ANNUM, WE CREATE OVER 25, 20 5 MILLION TO $70 MILLION IN ANNUAL DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO WHAT WE, UM, CREATED TODAY THROUGH STAFF MEMBERS AND COORDINATION, PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION BEING THE FOUNDATION OF THAT RELATIONSHIP IS REALLY HAVE THE CITY PARISH COMMIT A PORTION OF THOSE FEES.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE CAN PRODUCE AN ADDITIONAL UNIT, UM, FOR EVERY DEVELOPMENT THAT WE, THAT WE CREATE.
AND SO THAT MEANS EVERYTHING TO A FAMILY THAT HAS NO QUALITY HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.
SO WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT TODAY, BUT WHAT'S THE IMPACT TO THE GENERAL FUND? SO THERE WE GO.
SO WHEN THE, WHEN THE ITEM FIRST CAME TO US AND WE STARTED DISCUSSING IT, AND THE NEED FOR, UM, SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE CRISIS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR PARISH, IT CAME TO ME, UM, CAME TO US AT FIRST AS A WAIVER OF CERTAIN FEES.
WELL, THERE WERE SOME ISSUES WITH WAIVING FEES BECAUSE I, I THINK THAT THAT'S NOT AS TRANSPARENT
[03:05:01]
AS I WOULD LIKE TO BE BECAUSE WHAT IT IS, IS IT'S BASICALLY A FUNDING SOMETHING THAT'S A SUBSIDY FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO COVER THE FEES.THERE'S PROBLEMS WITH WAIVING, UM, SEWER IMPACT FEES, LEGAL PROBLEMS WITH THAT.
SO I DIDN'T THINK THE WAIVER OF FEES WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
AND I THINK THE MORE TRANSPARENT THING TO DO IS TO DO A GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATION.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE TALKED WITH COUNCILMAN GODDE AND HE AGREED, WE MET WITH THE MAYOR AND SHE AGREED THAT WHAT WE WOULD DO AS PART OF THE BUDGET CYCLE PROCESS IS THAT WE WOULD GET TOGETHER AND WITH THEM TO SEE WHAT THEY HAD IN THE PIPELINE FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.
AND WHEN WE DO THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THAT YEAR, WE WILL PRESENT THE, THE APPROPRIATION BASED ON THE ACTIVITY THAT THEY THINK'S GONNA GO ON.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT FOR NEXT YEAR, RIGHT NOW, PRELIMINARILY, I HAVE $250,000 THAT'S GOING TO BE PUT IN THE BUDGET FOR THIS PURPOSE.
THAT IS BASICALLY A, UM, REDEDICATION OF SOME OTHER O C D TYPE FUNDING THAT WE HAD IN THE BUDGET.
SO RIGHT NOW IT'S TWO 50, BUT IT'LL BE SUBJECT ANNUALLY TO APPROPRIATION BY THE COUNCIL, AND A MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO APPROVE THE AMOUNT AT THAT TIME.
AND SO AND SO OTHERWISE, IF WE WEREN'T DOING THIS FROM THE GENERAL FUND, HOW ARE THESE FEES CURRENTLY FUNDED? ARE, IS IT THROUGH O C D GRANTS? SO, NO, I BELIEVE THAT THE, I, I WILL LET SOME, SOME OF THEM COULD BE FUNDED THROUGH O C D GRANTS, BUT IT'S THE GRANTS TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
IT, IT, IT, IT IS REALLY PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
SO PARTIALLY, UM, FROM OUR REAL ESTATE INVESTORS THAT, THAT WE, UM, PARTNER WITH TO PRODUCE.
UM, AND THAT'S TYPICALLY HOW IT'S PAID.
ULTIMATELY WHAT IT DOES IS IT REDUCES THE COST OF HOUSING, YOU KNOW, BUT WE'RE HITTING IN, IN A, IN REALLY THE PERFECT STORM BETWEEN INSURANCE INCREASES, INFLATION AND INTEREST RATES.
IT GETS, IT'S EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE DEALS HAPPEN THIS YEAR.
SO WE ARE LOOKING FOR EVERY TYPE OF INVESTMENT FROM ALL OF OUR PARTNERS, JUST NOT OUR MUNICIPALITIES, BUT ALSO OUR INVESTORS AND ALL THE OTHER, UM, INTERESTING PARTIES THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH.
UM, WHEN WE ARE COMPETING FOR ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDS TO BRING TO THE CITY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING MEASURES LIKE THIS ACTUALLY HELP TO SERVE AS MATCH AND CAN HELP US TO COMPETE FOR NOT JUST ENTITLEMENT FUNDS, BUT FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT WE COULD BRING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR OTHER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.
SO IT'S ANOTHER SIGN OF GOOD FAITH WITH OUR FEDERAL FUNDERS AS WELL.
SO HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE CAN HELP US SECURE EVEN MORE RESOURCES AND THIS MIGHT COST US.
SO, SO YOU'RE SAYING Y'ALL WON'T HAVE TO COME FOR AS MUCH MATCH IN THE FUTURE? YOU CAN ACTUALLY APPLY THIS IN THE GRANT APPLICATION AS THE MATCH? THIS WILL COUNT TOWARDS OUR MATCH OBLIGATIONS WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS.
LOOK, IT CAN GO TOWARD THE MATCH THAT'S NEEDED.
THEY, THEY'RE NOT JUST GONNA VIEW HOW MUCH IS IN THE FUND AND GO, OKAY, YOU, YOU HAVE X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GIVE YOU THE MONEY.
IT'S WHEN YOU MATCH, YOU TAKE OUTTA THAT FUND AND GIVE TO THEM TO GET THE REST OF THE MONEY.
YOU PUT IT IN WITH THE PROJECT? YES, YES SIR.
SO THE MATCH REQUIREMENT, THEY'RE NOT JUST LOOKING AT THE FUND GOING, OH LOOK, YOU GOT $250,000 THE BANK, WE'RE GONNA 30 NO WANNA SEE US PUT IN ACTION.
IT'S CALLED MEETING ACTUAL OBJECTIVE.
UH, YOU HAD MENTIONED A SECOND AGO ABOUT, UM, A RETURN ON INVESTMENT OR GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND I KNOW, I KNOW GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IS LOWERING HOUSING COSTS, BUT YOU HAD MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT $200,000 THAT YOU GAVE BACK TO EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
WE ACTUALLY REMITTED THAT IN THE FORM OF BUILDING PERMIT FEES, PLAN REVIEW FEES, SEWER TAP FEES, UM, AND THAT WAS THE BILL, IF I CAN GIVE YOU, UH, OKAY.
COULD WE TAKE PERCENTAGES OF THOSE FEES AND BUILD THIS FUND INSTEAD OF DIRECTLY EVERY YEAR WE DO, YOU KNOW, 200, $250,000, WHATEVER, AND WE CAN JUST KEEP BUILDING THE FUND THROUGH THOSE FEES.
SO THE, THE SEWER, THE SEWER IMPACT FEE.
YOU'RE FIXING TO GET ME, AREN'T YOU?
OF THE PARISH ATTORNEY IS SEVERAL PAST PARISH ATTORNEYS ARE ABOVE BEHIND THAT.
SO, SO THAT ONE, YOU COULDN'T DO THAT WAY.
YOU, YOU COULD WAIVE THE FEE, YOU COULD TAKE THE MONEY.
IN THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S GENERAL FUND REVENUES.
IT'S A GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATION, IT'S A, IT'S MONEY COMING OUT THE GENERAL FUND.
SO I GUESS TO ME, THIS WAS A LOT MORE TRANSPARENT OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WERE, THAT WAS GOING INTO THESE PROJECTS.
AND THIS ALSO ALLOWS YOU ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO WEIGH YOUR PRIORITIES.
SO LET'S SAY RIGHT NOW, IT, IT'S GREAT AND, AND THIS, THIS IS A PRIORITY OF OURS AND WE'RE DOING GOOD.
LET'S SAY WE FOLLOW UP THE FISCAL CLIFF IN THREE YEARS, WELL THEN WE CAN REEXAMINE WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE AND WE'RE NOT, NOT STUCK WITH WHAT WE'VE WAIVED ALL THESE FEES FOR 20 YEARS.
SO THAT, THAT'S WHY I TRULY THINK THAT THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO APPROACH THIS
[03:10:01]
AND THEN TO DO IT AND LOOK AT IT WHEN YOU'RE DOING THE ANNUAL BUDGET.I, I THINK THE, THE, THE, THE BIGGER QUESTION NEEDS TO BE, HAD A CONVERSATION NEEDS TO BE HAD, WOULD A PARTNER OR ENTITY LIKE, UH, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, SHOULD THOSE FEES OR ENTITIES FEES BE PLACED UPON THEM? I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE CONVERSATION NEED TO GO.
UM, SELF-GENERATED REVENUE, UH, A PARTNER THAT'S PROVIDING A, A SERVICE TO THE CITY AND THE PARISH IN, IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SHOULD WE BE CHARGING THEM ANYTHING? I KNOW YOU SAY SOME PARISH ATTORNEYS FOR FROM YEARS BACK HAVE, HAVE ALL SAID, LEGALLY WE CAN'T WAIVE SOME OF THOSE FEES.
BUT I THINK THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO LIFT, TO LIFT UP.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I SUPPORT THIS ITEM.
IT, IT, IT IS SOMEWHAT LAUGHABLE THAT WE ARE HAVING SO MUCH DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM, WHICH IS ABOUT $250,000 LAST ITEM, WHICH IS, UH, YOU KNOW, EXEMPTED SEVEN, $4 MILLION.
SO IT'S INTERESTING THAT WE ARE HAVING THIS, THIS LINE OF CONVERSATION.
WE COULD DO THIS WITH THEM ANOTHER A HUNDRED TIMES AND WON'T GET TO $74 MILLION.
SO I SUPPORT THE ITEM TO MOVE FORWARD.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS TO, UM, THE DEVELOPMENTS JUST, UH, WANTED TO KNOW, LIKE HOW DO YOU, UH, IS IT, IS IT BASED ON A PROPERTY OR JUST GOES INTO YOUR GENERAL BUDGET TO USE AS YOUR DISCRETION? I HEARD LINDA TALK ABOUT, UM, THE BEST WAY FOR TRANSPARENCY.
AND I KNOW PER PROJECT I COULD SEE THAT BEING TRANSPARENT, BUT HOW DOES THIS GO AS IT RELATES TO THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S
AND, AND, AND, AND WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, MR. MOCA ABOUT THE RETURN ON INVESTMENTS.
SO OUR PIPELINE CONSISTS OF PRODUCING A THOUSAND UNITS OVER THE NEXT 36 MONTHS.
THAT'S DIRECT INVESTMENT INSIDE OF THIS PARISH.
WE'RE GONNA DO 3,700 UNITS OVER THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS MM-HMM.
AND THAT'S $1.1 BILLION THAT'LL BE INVESTED HERE IN THE PARISH.
SO WHEN WE COME UP FOR EACH PROJECT, WE'LL WORK WITH, UM, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND SAY, THIS IS OUR NEW PROJECT.
THIS IS THE PROJECTED FEES, AND IT'LL BE ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS.
THERE'S NO WAY THERE'LL BE NO OVERAGE, HERE ARE THE PROJECTED FEES, AND THEY'LL REIMBURSE US THROUGH THE PROJECT.
SO IT'S NOT A, IT'S NOT AN OPEN CHECKBOOK.
COME GET IT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE PROJECT ITSELF.
THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION TO APPROVE, UH, BY THE CHAIR, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS I NEED TO ABSTAIN.
I'M GONNA, WE HAVE ONE PERSON TO ABSTAIN.
ANY OTHER PERSONS WITH ANY, THE MOTION CARRIES.
[86. 23-01232]
MEMBERS, WE GO NOW TO ITEM 86.THANKS TO TO, TO COUNCIL MEMBER
COUNCIL REQUESTING THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO INITIATE A STUDY TO AMEND THE U D C RELATED TO FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS TO CREATE A NEW USE WITH THE CORRECTIONAL COMPONENT AND ALLOW AND PREDETERMINED ZONING DISTRICTS WITH DISTANCE LIMITATIONS AND VISUAL SCREENING BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ANYONE? HERE? COME ON DOWN.
MA'AM, I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE YOU THE FIRST TIME.
UM, I HAVE GREAT CONCERNS OVER THIS STUDY AND I HAVE GREAT CONCERNS OVER THIS STUDY FOR TWO REASONS.
ONE IS THAT, UM, WE ARE PACKING PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND THAT JAIL, AND THAT IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE WHEN JUDGES ASSIGN SANITY COMMISSIONS, AND THEY ARE, PEOPLE SIT THERE BECAUSE THERE IS NO FORENSIC HOUSING AVAILABLE FOR THEM AND THEY CAN ONLY GO TO A FORENSIC HOSPITAL.
AND SO THE SHEER FACT THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DOING ANOTHER, WHAT I WILL CALL, NOT IN MY BACKYARD STUDY, I DO BELIEVE BECAUSE I'M ON THE LOUISIANA BEHAVIORAL ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR THE STATE, THERE IS SUFFICIENT WORK THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE.
AND I WOULD ASK THAT THE COUNCIL, INSTEAD OF INITIATING A NEW STUDY, ACTUALLY REACH OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HOSPITALS AND PULL TOGETHER THE, THE STUDIES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE ON THIS WORK.
BECAUSE AT THE MOMENT WE HAVE TWO CHALLENGES.
ONE, MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE JUST GOTTEN MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATIONS AND BEEN DONE WITH IT.
WE ARE LITERALLY CRIMINALIZING PEOPLE FOR HAVING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES.
BUT SECONDLY, AND I SAY THIS WITH NO APOLOGY TO ANYBODY, I UNDERSTAND THE WORD FORENSIC HOSPITAL SCARES PEOPLE.
AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT IS BECAUSE THERE'S NO REAL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT
[03:15:01]
A FORENSIC HOSPITAL IS.AND I KNOW A PREVIOUS SPEAKER THAT WAS HERE AT ONE OF THE EARLIER MEETINGS SPOKE TO THAT CONCERN.
AND WE HAVE TO STOP TRYING TO FIGURE OUT NEW WAYS TO DEMONIZE PEOPLE WHO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE COMING THERE, NOT BECAUSE THEY NECESSARILY ARE IN ANY WAY A, A THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH, WHICH A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE NOT.
THEY MAY BE MORE OF A THREAT TO THEMSELVES THAN PUBLIC HEALTH, BUT BECAUSE WE ARE CONTINUING TO ZONE THEM OUT OF THE FACILITIES THAT WOULD IN FACT HELP THEM.
SO I HAVE GREAT CONCERNS ABOUT YET ANOTHER STUDY WHEN I FIRMLY BELIEVE IN THE WORK THAT I DO, THAT THERE IS SUFFICIENT RESEARCH AVAILABLE THAT THE COUNCIL COULD USE.
ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBER HEARST.
SO REVEREND ANDERSON, I WANT TO ADDRESS THE STUDY AS BEING COMPLETE AND PRESENTED ALREADY.
I THINK YOU MISSED THAT MEETING.
AND THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE SITUATION BECAUSE IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, THERE HAVE BEEN NO PRIVATELY OWNED FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS.
ONE WAS IN JACKSON, ONE WAS IN LAKE CHARLES, AND ONE WAS FORMALLY IN GREENWELL SPRINGS.
GREENWELL SPRINGS HAS BEEN DEMOLISHED.
SO LEMME MAKE THAT CLEAR THAT THE REPORT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE AND ALREADY REPRESENTED TO US.
AND SO THIS WAS SET PRECEDENT, NOT JUST THESE SPANISH PARISH, BUT FOR THE STATE.
AND I THINK JILL DID A GREAT JOB.
I'M NOT, I'M NOT, I DON'T NEED TO MEAN SHE CAN.
I WAS JUST LOOKING AND SAY IT INITIATE GO AHEAD.
OH, I DON'T WANT, I'M, I'M NOT TRYING TO DEMONIZE.
'CAUSE NUMBER ONE, I'VE DEALT WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES MYSELF.
I THINK A LOT OF US HAS HAD AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH LIFE.
SO MY CHILDREN, MY WIFE, OTHER, IT IS NOT DEMONIZING MENTAL HEALTH.
I SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH TO NOT BE IN THE PRISON OR JAIL SYSTEM AND GET THE ADEQUATE HEALTHCARE THAT THEY NEED.
BUT THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS SITUATION IS TO AVOID CONSENT DECREE.
THE GOVERNOR HAS TAKEN THE BALL BACK INTO HIS COURT AND ALREADY DESIGNATED FACILITIES FOR THIS PARTICULAR EVENT.
SO IT WON'T HAPPEN IN OUR PARISH.
BUT WHAT IT DOES IS IT ENSURES THAT WHEN AND IF IT DOES HAPPEN THAT WE PROTECT OUR PROPERTY VALUES.
WE DO CERTAIN THINGS THAT ADD VALUE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND DON'T NECESSARILY DETER, DETERIORATE THE VALUE OF THE CORE OF WHERE WE LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.
AND A MENTAL HEALTH, A PERSON WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGE DOES NOT DO THAT.
SO WHILE WE SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH, WE WANT THEM TO PUT IT IN MORE OF A COMMERCIAL ZONE AND NOT IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA.
HERE, HERE, BEFORE YOU, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND.
THIS ITEM IS TO REQUEST THE, THE STUDY THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE OR STUDY THAT IS WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO ASK.
THIS IS NOT TO REQUEST A STUDY.
THIS IS GOING BEFORE PLANNING THE ZONE AND THE STUDY'S ALREADY BEEN DONE.
IF I CAN, UM, SHED A LITTLE LIGHT REAL QUICKLY, AND IF PAUL'S HERE, HE MAY, HE MAY WANNA BACK ME UP OR CORRECT ME.
UM, THE METRO COUNCIL CANNOT INITIATE CHANGES TO THE U D C.
THOSE HAVE TO BE DONE AFTER A STUDY IS DONE BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF.
SO COUNCILMAN HURST ALREADY REQUESTED THIS TYPE OF STUDY TO BE DONE, BUT IN, IN, UM, RESPONSE TO THAT, YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY REQUEST ANOTHER STUDY TO BE DONE SO THAT THE U D C RECOMMENDATIONS CAN BE MADE.
AND I WILL POINT OUT THAT IN CASE YOU WERE NOT AWARE YET, ANOTHER LAWSUIT IS ALREADY ON THE TABLE, UH, REGARDING THE FORENSIC, UH, HOSPITAL SITUATION AND THE FACILITIES.
AND THERE ARE THREE DETAINEES CURRENTLY FROM THE EAST BATON ROUGE JAIL THAT ARE AWAITING TO FIND OUT WHETHER THEY CAN BE ADDED TO THAT.
AND IT WILL PROBABLY END UP BEING A CLASS ACTION.
AND AS MANY THINGS THAT WE DO, WE WILL PROBABLY END UP PAYING A LOT OF MONEY.
AND SO MY CONCERN IS SORT OF THIS SILOED CONVERSATION INSTEAD OF, UH, COLLABORATION AND CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HOSPITALS ON THIS KIND OF WORK MAKES ME VERY NERVOUS.
AND AGAIN, I I REPEAT WHAT I SAID, WE ON YOUR TIME AND I'M GONNA GIVE YOU EXTRA TIME.
SO ALL OF THAT WORK HAS BEEN DONE BY PLANNING THE ZONE OF RYAN.
UH, GUILL IS HERE, THEY'RE GONE.
BUT THEY CONTACTED NOT ONLY THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, THEY CONTACTED MISSISSIPPI, I DON'T WANNA GET IT WRONG, BUT ABOUT FIVE OTHER STATES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HOSPITALS PLANNING THE ZONE TO DETERMINE WHAT THEY'D DONE IN OTHER STATES AS WELL AS LOUISIANA.
THERE WAS NO PRECEDENCE IN LOUISIANA FOR ANY LOCAL MUNICIPALITY WORKING WITH GOVERNING REGULATIONS SUPPORTING FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS.
'CAUSE THIS WAS THE FIRST ONE OF ITS KIND.
SO TO BE CLEAR, THEY DID DO THAT, BUT THEY WENT TO OTHER STATES THAT HAD ALREADY HAD PRECEDENTS SET AND MIRRORED SOME OF THOSE THINGS AND CREATED BEST PRACTICES THAT WE CAN ADOPT IN EAST
[03:20:01]
BATON ROUGE PARISH.I'M, I'M NOT GONNA DO A BACK AND FORTH.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS UNDERSTANDING, I KNOW IT REMINDS ME OF WHAT YOU DO WITH PARISH.
WELL, WHEN WE'VE DEALT WITH PARISH PRISON, YOU ALL HAVE SEVERAL, UM, ORGANIZATIONS MM-HMM.
AND BASED ON THE FACT OF WHAT I KNOW YOU'VE BROUGHT TOGETHER, UM, WITH US AND EVEN MEETING WITH THE MAYOR, YOU, WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS IN DOING THIS, THAT THOSE PARTNERS THAT ARE DOING THIS WORK EVERY DAY MM-HMM.
AND SO WHAT WE SUPPOSED TO DO IN GOVERNMENT IS TO TALK TO THOSE THAT WE WANT TO UTILIZE THESE SERVICES AND SEE HOW TO E HOW TO, UM, EFFECTIVELY PUT IN PLACE MEASURES WHERE THEIR NEEDS ARE SET.
NOW, I PARTICULARLY LIKE THINK THAT SET, FOR INSTANCE, THIS KIND OF POSITION, BE PART OF A HEALTH DISTRICT.
UH, I'M SURE THAT THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER NOT IN MY BACKYARD BASED ON WHERE THE HEALTH DISTRICT IS LOCATED, BUT I ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND IN MY COUNCILMAN, HE'S TALKING ABOUT PROTECTING, UM, THE DIFFERENT SUBDIVISION.
BUT I ALSO THINK THAT WE COULD DO BOTH.
AND ONE, YES, WE MAKE SURE THAT THE U D C IS REFLECTIVE WHERE IT IS, UH, SENSITIVE TO SAY RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN, IN DOING THIS WORK, WE COULD BRING YOU ALL IN TO SAY WHATEVER THOSE LOCATIONS ARE, WHAT ARE THE COMPANION SERVICES OR THE OTHER NEEDS, WHETHER IT'S ON A, A, A, WHATEVER ROUTE, BUS ROUTE, WHETHER THEY ARE OTHER MEDICAL SERVICES IN THE, IN THE SAME DOMICILE.
AND I DO THINK THAT ALL OF THAT COULD BE WORKED TOGETHER.
BUT APOLLO, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE, WE LOOK AT WHEN WE ARE DOING THIS STUDY? YEAH.
SO THE STUDY HAS BEEN, HAS HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
AND THIS IS JUST THE PROCESS BY WHICH IT GOES TO PLANNING COMMISSION, WHICH, WHICH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN YOU'RE ON MM-HMM.
AND, AND AT THAT POINT IT WOULD, UH, WHETHER IT PASSES OR NOT, IT WOULD THEN COME TO, TO THIS BODY, UM, TO MAKE A DECISION.
BUT IT'S LOOKED AT IN THE GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE OF PLANNING OUT FOR THE CITY AND WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY IS THROUGH THE WISDOM OF THIS COUNCIL.
SO, SO, AND I, AND SO I DO GET THAT, AND I, I KNOW THAT'S IN LINE WITH WHAT, UH, COUNCILMAN HERSEY IS DOING, BUT I, FROM THE ADVOCACY PART, IS THAT NOT, SO THAT NEEDS TO BE HANDLED IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT, NOT NECESSARILY INCLUDED.
IT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE CONVERSATION.
UM, AND THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE AT THE, AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT WOULD COME FORWARD AND, AND PROPOSE ANY ADJUSTMENTS THAT THEY WOULD MAKE TO IT AT THAT TIME.
AND THEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION CAN MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS.
SO THE ADVOCACY, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO USE THE APPROVED STUDY THAT THE COUNCIL HAS ALREADY.
WELL, YOU COULD BE USING THAT.
BUT WE CAN MAKE CHANGES OF IT.
BUT IT COULD BE MADE CHANGES IN PLANNING.
AND THEN IT WOULD COME BACK TO, DEPENDING ON WHAT WAS APPROVED THAT UH, PLANNING, WE COULD THEN COME TO THIS BOARD.
HOW, HOW, WHEN DO WE MEET ON THAT? IF THIS APPROVED? WELL, DEPENDS ON THE, ONCE THIS IS APPROVED OR IF IT IS APPROVED, THEY SHOULD SAY MM-HMM.
IT PROBABLY WOULD BE NOVEMBER, JUST BECAUSE OF THE DATE.
I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE ABLE TO GET ON FOR THE, THE, UH, OCTOBER MEETING.
UM, IT WOULD BE ON THE NOVEMBER MEETING.
SO, UM, REVEREND ALEXANDER ANDERSON.
YEAH, WE DO LIKE YOUR NEW HAIR.
UM, WHAT I WANNA SAY IS, WHAT I ALWAYS TELL, TELL, SAY TO YOU IS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO THE WORK TO GET WHATEVER YOU WANT US TO CONSIDER.
AND YOU NEED, THERE NEEDS TO BE A SPECIFIC ONE OR TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO EXPLAIN.
WE ARE THE, YOUR VOICE AND WE ARE SPEAKING ON YOUR BEHALF.
BUT WE, WE DON'T HAVE THOSE ALL THE EXPERTISE.
AND I KNOW YOU, YOU HAVE, EVEN THOUGH I SAY COMMUNICATE, SO YOU WENT FROM GOING TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER MEETING AT THE LAST MINUTE TO TELL, TO
[03:25:01]
SPEAK WHEN WE READY TO MOVE TO DOING A METRO, A METRO COUNCIL AT B R L A, LIKE THROWING IT IN THE AIR.BUT I CAN TELL YOU SPECIFICALLY, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY OTHER THAN ME TO NO, BUT SOMEBODY, UH, ON THE COUNCIL SPECIFICALLY GO THROUGH THAT WITH YOU SO THAT WE ARE, WE CAN SPEAK INTELLIGENTLY TO THE ISSUE AND BE ABLE TO ADVOCATE ON YOUR BEHALF.
AND, AND MY REAL POINT WAS THAT THERE'S SOME JURISDICTIONAL ISSUES AROUND THESE THINGS.
ALL, ALL THAT GOTTA BE THE CONVERSATION.
ALL I WAS REALLY POINTING OUT.
BUT WE DON'T KNOW THEM UNLESS YOU TALK TO US.
NOT WHEN WE ARE ABOUT TRYING TO LEAVE.
YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? I, THAT'S ALL I'M TALKING.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN HUDSON.
WELL, FIRST I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THAT THIS COUNCIL IS ALWAYS SUPPORTIVE OF HAIRSTYLES, WHETHER THE HAIR'S COMING OR GOING.
UM, SO QUESTIONS ON, UM, THE, WHAT I'M READING HERE IS TO CREATE A NEW USE WITH A CORRECTIONAL COMPONENT AND ALLOW AND PREDETERMINED ZONING DISTRICTS.
DO WE HAVE A LIST, PAULO, OF THOSE PREDETERMINED ZONING DISTRICTS? SO IT WAS IN, UH, IT'S GONNA BE, IT WAS BASICALLY THE COUNCIL WAS PRESENTED WITH FOUR OPTIONS AND IT'S OPTION NUMBER FOUR.
SO IT'S GONNA BE IN A PREDETERMINED AREA THAT WOULD BE IN A COMMERCIAL AREA WITH, UH, FENCING AND SCREENING IS THE, IS THE, IS BASICALLY THE PARAMETERS OF WHERE IT WOULD BE.
SO IT WOULD BE IN A COMMERCIAL OR IN AN INDUSTRIAL TYPE OF AREA.
AND OUR EXISTING HOSPITALS, UH, AND OUR EXISTING PSYCHIATRIC FACILITIES, ARE THEY ALREADY INCLUDED IN THOSE COMMERCIAL AREAS? SO EXISTING FACILITIES WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE EXEMPT FROM ANYTHING.
BUT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A VERY SPECIFIC, UH, GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BEING HOUSED OR FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, HOUSED THERE.
SO YOU BRINGING THAT UP BRINGS ME TO MY NEXT POINT.
UM, ARE WE RUNNING, UH, IT, IT WORRIES ME THAT WE MAY BE RUNNING A FOUL OR GETTING CLOSE TO THE LINE ON FAIR HOUSING LAWS, UH, AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT TYPE OF LAWS.
HA HAVE YOU ALL EVALUATED THE PROPOSAL ON ON THOSE? YES, WE'VE EVALUATED IT AND YES, THERE ARE SOME HURDLES THAT WE MAY HAVE TO OVERCOME, BUT, UH, THROUGH THE PLANNING AND ZONING, FEEL THAT VERY CONFIDENT AS TO WE'RE CARVING OUT A VERY NICHE AREA OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND THAT NICHE AREA WOULD NOT RUN A FILE OF, OF, DUE TO THE DEFINITIONS THAT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE U D C, WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR THAT TO BE PUT INTO A CERTAIN AREA.
COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS, YOU DID SAY, DID YOU SAY RETAIL? I MEAN COMMERCIAL AND IN, IN INDUSTRIAL.
IS IT KIND OF THE AREAS THAT WE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? WELL, WHY INDUSTRIAL? BECAUSE USUALLY THEY'RE ALSO, THEY'RE IN AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES AND THEY'RE ALONG THE CANCER ALLEY.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SET OF ISSUES.
WHY ARE WE, AND, AND WE ARE TRYING TO ACTUALLY MINIMIZE THE NUMBER OF INDUSTRIAL.
SO WHY IS THAT, WOULD WE SAY INDUSTRIAL VERSUS HEALTHY DISTRICTS? WELL, IT'S JUST BECAUSE OF THE, THE, WHERE WE LOOKED AT ON THE MAP MM-HMM.
UH, BUT THERE ARE PARTS OF THE CITY THAT ARE, THAT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET RID OF THIS.
AGAIN, THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING CONVERSATION TO ALLOW PLANNING AND ZONING TO GO FORWARD WITH THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER SST, UH, I'M GONNA SAY THANK YOU SHANA.
'CAUSE I ACTUALLY DO WANT TO KILL AS MUCH INDUSTRIAL AND NORTH BATON ROUGE AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN MAKE IT USABLE SPACE FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL.
UM, BUT I WANT TO ADDRESS THIS IS NOT, UH, AND I, WHEN I SAY I SAY LIKE, M ONE, M TWO JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN IN MY DISTRICT.
SO I SEE LOOK LOOKING DWIGHT, BUT I WANT TO ADDRESS TWO THINGS WITH YOU.
UM, THIS DOESN'T AFFECT HOSPITALS AT ALL BECAUSE IT'S NOT BEING LABELED IN THE HO IT IS NOT BEING LABELED AS A HOSPITAL.
SO I REALLY WANTED TO ANSWER YOU ON THAT ONE.
IT'S NOT BEING LABELED IN A HOSPITAL SO IT DOESN'T ADDRESS IT AND IT DOES NOT ADDRESS FAIR HOUSING.
IT DOES NOT ADDRESS FAIR HOUSING.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE A GROUP HOME.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WHERE PEOPLE WANNA POLICE GROUP HOMES AND YOU CAN'T DO IT BECAUSE IT CAN, IT IS A FAIR HOUSING VIOLATION TO, TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
JUST WANTED TO CLEAR THAT UP 'CAUSE THAT WAS ONE THING WE TALKED ABOUT PRIOR TO THE STUDY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I WILL AT THIS MOMENT ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO EXTEND THE MEETING 'CAUSE WE ONLY HAVE EIGHT MINUTES LEFT.
MOTION TO EXTEND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN JR.
[03:30:01]
MEETING WILL BE EXTENDED, UH, TO EIGHT 30.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, HURST IS THERE, ARE THERE ANY SECONDS TO THE, TO THE ITEM? YOU WANNA MAKE A COMMENT? GO AHEAD.
JUST QUICK COMMENT ON THE EXTENSION.
I THINK WE STARTED LATE AT AT 4 0 4, SO YEAH, EIGHT 30.
THERE'S BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND.
COUNCIL MEMBER MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE MOTION? ANY OBJECTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBERS? WE NOW A MOTION PASSED.
[115. 23-01249]
AUTHORIZING THE SETTLEMENT IN THE MATTER ENTITLED CRYSTALLINE HICKS, THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE ET ALL, AND THE AMOUNT OF 125,000 PLUS COURT COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $264 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $125,264 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM NOW? GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKER.
[116. 23-01251]
ITEM ONE 16 AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE CLAIM OF JAYLEN HOON AND DAMAGE RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY BAT ROU POLICE OFFICER AND THE AMOUNT OF $16,000 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM WHEN I TO COUNCIL MEMBERS? IS THERE A MOTIONS TO MOVE BY COUNCILMAN MOROCCO? SECONDED BY THE CHAIR? ANY OBJECTIONS? THEY GO TO ITEM
[117. 23-01257]
7 1 17 AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF CLAIM OF DARRYL HAMILTON FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THE BATON ROUGE POLICE OFFICER IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,000.ARE ANY OBJECTIONS? EXCUSE ME.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO THE COUNCILORS.
COUNCIL MEMBER NOLL, SECONDED BY CHAIR.
ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM ONE 17 CARRIED.
[118. 23-01259]
NOW GO TO ITEM ONE 18 AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT, THE CLAIM OF JEFFREY JOHNSON VERSUS CITY OF BATON ROUGE E M S PATIENT COMPENSATION FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,000 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEYS.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO THE COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER NOLL, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
[119. 23-01260]
ONE 19 AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT.THE MATTER ENTITLED BEVERLY HEIM RAFFERTY VERSUS BRADLEY BENNETT ETAL IN THE AMOUNT OF $45,515 AND 20 CENTS AND APPROPRIATING $45,550 AND 20 CENTS FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.
IS ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM ONE 19.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODDE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOCH.
ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO TO ITEM ONE.
[120. 23-01255]
GO TO ONE 20.AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES, EASTBOUND RIDGE PARISH HEAD START PROGRAM TO AMEND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH THE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,000 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF 81,000 TO PROVIDE ONGOING TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE HEAD START PROGRAM BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR CONTINGENT ON GRANTS COMMITTEE APPROVERS.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE 20? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED BY THE CHAIR.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CODAY.
[121. 23-01256]
WE NOW GO TO ITEM 1 21.AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN AND DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES, OFFICE OF SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE CAPITAL AREA, UNITED WAY FOR THE VITA PROGRAM, AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 10,500 FOR THE ACCEPTED INCOME TAX RETURN.
PREPARED AND SUBMITTED TO THE I R S DURING THE 2023 TAX SEASON BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 21? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 1 21? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOEY, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CODAY COL COLEMAN, EXCUSE ME.
[122. 23-01253]
1 22.AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES HEAD START PROGRAM TO SUBMIT A CONTINUATION GRANT APPLICATION TO THE OFFICE OF THE HEAD, START AND RECEIVE FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $12,586,819 FOR OPERATIONAL BUDGET AND $124,351 FOR TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $12,711,170 IN AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF ALL DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION THERE WITH BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTORS.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 22? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 1 22? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOR ROCKA, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, ANY OBJECTIONS ITEM HAS
[123. 23-01252]
PASSED.WE NOW GO TO ITEM 1 23 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION OF RECEIVING FUNDING FROM LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, OFFICE OF NUTRITION SERVICES FOR CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM ON BEHALF OF DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES HEAD START PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,425,660 BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 23? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 1 23.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM PASSES
[124. 23-01258]
1 24.AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT AN AMENDMENT ON BEHALF OF DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES OFFERED OF SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE LOW INCOME ENTITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, LA HEAP CONTRACT WITH LOUISIANA HOUSING CORPORATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $672,004 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF 4,349, EXCUSE ME.
[03:35:02]
BY THE HUMAN SERVICE DIRECTOR.IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 24? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 24? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODDE SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 1 24 HAS PASSED ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE 1 25 THROUGH 1 1 45
[Items 125 - 145]
TOGETHER.ITEM 1 25 LOT 23 SQUARE 10 SUBDIVISION SOUTH ST.
GERARD PLACE, DISTRICT FIVE HIGH BIDDER, WHITMORE AND WHITMORE ENTERPRISES, L L C $53,100.
ITEM 1 26 LOT 3.4 SQUARE, FIVE POINT SQUARE 20 SUBDIVISION BANK DISTRICT TWO HIGH BIDDER DANDRIDGE SALVAGE $100.
ITEM 1 27 LOT 180 7 SUBDIVISION COLONIAL HILL DISTRICT SEVEN HIGH BIDDER TROY CA R MCGEE $100.
ITEM 1 28 LOT 8 180 9 SUBDIVISION COLONIAL HILL DISTRICT SEVEN HIGH BIDDER TROY CA R MCGEE $100.
ITEM 1 29 LOT TWO SQUARE FOUR SUBDIVISION DAYTON, DISTRICT 10 HIGH BIDDER KENKO, L L C $11,000.
ITEM ONE 30 LOT 95 SUBDIVISION CASTLE PLACE DISTRICT ONE HIGH BIDDER WHITMORE WHITMORE ENTERPRISES L L C $10,100.
ITEM 1 31 LOT 39 SQUARE 59 SUBDIVISION UNIVERSITY PLACE.
ITEM TWO BANKS HIGH BID OF SAM GREEN, $11,500.
ITEM 1 32 LOT 10 SUBDIVISION CYPRESS WOODS DISTRICT TWO BANKS HIGH BID OF LASHAWN VENICE GOS LIVING TRUST.
SUBDIVISION HOLIDAY ACRES DISTRICT TWO BANKS HIGH BID HAW VEN GOINS LIVING TRUST 100 ITEM 1 34 LOT SEVEN SQUARE 15 SUBDIVISION LELAND COLLEGE ANNEX DISTRICT TWO BANKS HIGH BID LESHAUN VEN GOS LIVING TRUST, $100.
ITEM 1 35 LOT 10 SQUARE 28 SUBDIVISION LELAND COLLEGE ANNEX DISTRICT TWO BANKS HIGH BILL LESHAUN VEN GOS LIVING TRUST.
ITEM 1 36 LOT 16 AND 17 POINT IN HALF SQUARE FIVE SUBDIVISION LELAND COLLEGE ANNEX DISTRICT TWO BANKS HIGH BIDDER DAVID CHAMBERS, $2,000 ITEM 1 37 LOT 1 41 SUBDIVISION NEW FAIRFIELD DISTRICT SEVEN HIGH BIDDER, PEGGY AND GREGORY BEASLEY.
$350 ITEM 1 38 LOT 38 SQUARE 38 SUBDIVISION UNIVERSITY PLAY DISTRICT TWO BANKS, HIGH BIDDER SOUTHERN UNITED INCORPORATED.
$4,000 ITEM 1 39 LOT 39 SQUARE 38 SUBDIVISION UNIVERSITY PLACE DISTRICT TWO BANKS HIGH BID OF SU SOUTHERN UNITED INCORPORATED $4,500 ITEM ONE 40 LOT, 17 SQUARE HALF AND 18 SQUARE FIVE SUBDIVISION LELAND COLLEGE ANNEX DISTRICT TWO BANKS HIGH BID OF LASHAWN VENICE GOS LIVING TRUST $100.
13 SQUARE 18 SUBDIVISION SOUTH ST.
GERARD PLACE, DISTRICT FIVE, HIGH BED OF CLARK FAMILY HOME, $71,000.
ITEM 1 42 LOT V SQUARE 31 SUBDIVISION GRACIE, DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BED OF DEEPER LIFE BIBLE CHURCH, $5,500.
ITEM 1 43 LOT SIX SQUARE THREE.
SUBDIVISION WALDEN DISTRICT 10.
COLEMAN HIGH BID OF PROFICIENT PROPERTIES AND CONSULTING L L C $300.
SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION DISTRICT SEVEN.
HIGH BID OF JEROME SCALES $100.
SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION DISTRICT SEVEN.
HIGH BID OF JEROME SCALES $100.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 1 25 THROUGH 1 45? WE HAVE A MOTION TO DELETE ITEM ONE.
WE NEED A MOTION TO DELETE ITEM 1 43.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBER ROSA.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KIN.
ANY OBJECTIONS ON DELETING ITEM 1 43.
ITEM 1 43 HAS BEEN DELETED NOW 1 25 THROUGH 1 45.
COUNCIL MEMBER MOCH? YEAH, I, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE REST OF Y'ALL, BUT I FELT LIKE I WAS ACTUALLY AT THE AUCTION WHERE WE WAS BIDDING THESE THINGS OFF WHILE YOU WERE READING THEM, BUT I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE IT ALL.
MOTION TO PROVE 1 25 THROUGH 1 45 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 1 43 SECONDS BY THE CH COUNCIL MEMBER.
AMAROSA, ANY OBJECTIONS? THOSE ITEMS HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
WE HAVE DONE ALL ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS OR NO, WE HAVE NOT.
[ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS (Part 3 of 3)]
MATTERS.A 23 0 1 2 62 MINUTE AND 23 AND THREE CURRENT EXPENSE BUDGET FOR THE CITY CONSTABLE EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING FUND.
SO AS TO APPROPRIATE $54,430 FROM THE FUND BALANCE UNDERSIGNED FOR THE PURPOSE OF PERSONAL REPLACEMENT, LAPTOPS AND RADIOS NEED A MOTION TO WA THE RULES SO THE ITEMS SHOULD BE INTRODUCED.
SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN MEMBER ROSS.
SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN ADAMS. IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A MOTION TO WA THE RULES? ANY OBJECTION ON THE MOTION? AWAI THE RULES.
IS THERE MOTION TO APPROVE SOME MORE ABOUT MOTION? TO INTRODUCE SOME MORE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOR ROCK.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOCH.
ANY OBJECTIONS? WE NOW GO TO ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER B UH, UH, C DID DON'T WANNA GO BACK TO B C RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE BATON ROUGE CHIEF OF POLICE.
DON'T WANNA DO THAT ONE, HUH? SHE DOESN'T WANNA DO THAT.
OKAY, WE GO ON ITEM D, AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND THEIR DESIGNEE TO ACCEPT AND EXECUTE GRANT AWARD FOR LOUISIANA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK RAN HVAC PROGRAM IN AN AMOUNT OF $580,215 FROM THE LOUISIANA DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
[03:40:01]
I NEED A MOTION TO WA THE RULES MOTION.ANYONE HERE TO WISH TO SPEAK ON MOTION? WEIGH THE RULES.
ANY OBJECTION ON THE MOTION TO WA THE RULES? IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW OPEN THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR, D HAS BEEN APPROVED.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU WOULD, WE GO TO ITEM 1 46, THE CAPITAL AREA HUMAN SERVICE DISTRICT TO REPLACE THOMAS SAWYER.
YOU DON'T, UH, THE, THE MAYOR REQUESTED NOT TO HAVE THE ITEM HEARD, AND SINCE IT WAS PUT ON ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER, YOU DON'T NEED TO CONSIDER IT.
[146. 23-01085]
1 46, CAPITAL AREA HUMAN SERVICES DISTRICT.TO REPLACE THOMAS SAWYER, WHO HAS RESIGNED, THE METRO COUNCIL MUST AT LEAST NAME MUST AT LEAST TWO NAMES TO THE GOVERNOR FOR CONSIDERATION.
THE CURRENT BALLOT IS PAMELA FORD, SHEILA LEWIS AND JERMAINE STERLING.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU REMEMBER, THIS IS, UM, YOU'RE FREE TO, UH, SEND ALL THREE NAMES TO THE GOVERNOR OR ANY TWO OF THE THREE.
MOTION TO SEND 'EM ALL BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOCH.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCILMAN MOR.
[147. 23-01224]
TO THE GOVERNOR.ITEM 1 47 BROWNSVILLE VOLUNTEER CIVIL SERVICE BOARD.
UH, CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTING AND REPLACING JUSTIN RIDDLE.
WHO TERMS EXPIRES ON SEPTEMBER 29TH, 2023.
JUSTIN RIDDLE HAS REQUESTED TO REAPPOINTMENT.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM IS JUSTIN RIDDLE HERE ALL IS COUNCIL.
IS THERE MOTION TO APPOINT JUSTIN RIDDLE BACK TO THE BOARD? SO MOVED BY, SAY THAT AGAIN.
MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER NOEL.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS OR COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS SECONDED BY NOEL.
UH, ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 1 47 HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[Items 148 - 150]
1 48 AND ONE 50 TOGETHER.TRAFFIC CENTER CONNECTION AND COMMUNICATION INSTALLATION CONTRACTOR.
ELECTRICAL AND INCORPORATED CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, $1,333 AND 20 CENTS.
ITEM 1 49 N W W T P FINALLY FLEW AND PUMP ELECTRICAL UPGRADES CONTRACTOR.
ELECTRICAL, L L C CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, ONE HUNDRED NINETY TWO THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED SIXTY THOUSAND TWENTY ONE CENTS.
ITEM ONE 50, TWIN OAKS BRIDGE, REPLACEMENT COUN, EXCUSE ME, CONTRACTOR COASTAL CONTRACTORS INCORPORATED.
CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, NINETY FOUR THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED SIXTY TWO THOUSAND NINETY ONE CENTS? I DON'T EITHER.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEMS? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 1 48 TO ONE 50.
COUNCIL MEMBER SEL, UH, SHOW ME ABSTAIN FROM ITEM 1 48 AND 1 49.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 1 48.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER NOLL THROUGH ONE 50.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEMS 1 48 THROUGH ONE 50 HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
[151. 23-01329]
ITEM FINAL ACCEPTANCE IS 51 TWIN OAKS BRIDGE REPLACEMENT CONTRACT.COASTAL CONTRACTS INCORPORATED.
FINAL COST, $1,544,938 71 CENTS.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER NO.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. ANY OBJECTION? ITEM PASSES.
[152. 23-01325]
1 52, HANKS DRIVE, LAND DRIVE PETE IMPROVEMENTS PHASE TWO AND THREE.TRIUMPH CONSTRUCTION, L L C $2,770,000.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM.
[153. 23-01330]
WE NOW GO TO ITEM 1 53, STAIN ROAD BRIDGE OVER DRAINAGE BY YOU.GULF STATE SERVICES L L C $1,998,050 AND 55 CENTS.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 1 53 HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[154. 23-01208]
IS A REQUEST TO DEFER ITEM 1 54, RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE ST.GEORGE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT ON MEDICAL AND SAFETY TRAINING OFFERED TO SCHOOLS AND THE COMMUNITY BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? THERE'S A MOTION TO DEFER BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA.
ANY OBJECTION FOR TWO WEEKS TO THE OCTOBER 11TH MEETING? UH, ANY OBJECTIONS ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[155. 23-01233]
WE NOW GO TO ITEM 1 55, RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE ON MEDIA POLICIES FROM PIERCE CITIES, PARISHES, COUNTIES THAT INCLUDE TRADITIONAL MEDIA AS WELL AS EMERGING MEDIA, INCLUDING SOCIAL MEDIA BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. GREAT, THANK YOU.UM, SO YOU ALL HAVE A REPORT IN FRONT OF YOU.
I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA, UM, READ IT REALLY QUICKLY.
UM, THIS IS THE REPORT, UH, PREPARED FOR US FROM THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION.
AS INSTRUCTED, OUR OFFICE HAS JUST COMPLETED A THOROUGH SURVEY OF BEST PRACTICES AT PRESS CONFERENCES AMONG LOUISIANA CITIES AND CAPITAL CITIES AND OTHER STATES WITHIN THE REGION WITH SIMILAR GOVERNMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES.
LOUISIANA CITIES AND THE SURVEYS WERE IN IN THE SURVEY WERE NEW ORLEANS LAKE, CHARLES, AND MONROE.
OTHER NEIGHBORING STATE CAPITAL SURVEY INCLUDED AUSTIN, TEXAS,
[03:45:01]
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, AND TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA TO GET THE MOST COMPLETE AND ACCURATE EXAMINATION OF THE INDUSTRY STANDARD IN PROTOCOL AND IN PRACTICE, WE SURVEYED NOT ONLY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICES AND PRESS SECRETARIES FOR THE CITY'S MENTIONED, BUT ALSO RELEVANT MEMBERS OF THE WORKING PRESS.CITIES, COUNTIES AND PARISHES IN EVERY CASE USE A SIMILAR PROCESS BASED ON EXPERIENCE.
PRESS CONFERENCES ARE REGULATED BY THE PERSON OR ENTITY OVERSEEING THE MEDIA EVENT, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE PLACEMENT OF CAMERAS AND SEATING OF REPORTERS.
IN NO CASE DID WE FIND EVIDENCE OF A COUNTY OR PARISH ORDINANCE OR OFFICIAL ACTION DICTATING HOW THE CONFERENCES ARE CONDUCTED.
THEIR GOAL CONSISTENT WITH OURS IS TO GET THEIR INFORMATION OUT IN A TIMELY, CLEAR AND PRECISE WAY THROUGH ALL MEDIA SOURCES UNANIMOUSLY.
THEY INVITE THE CREDENTIALS, PRESS FROM THEIR DIVERSE MEDIA LIST, WHICH IS CONTINUALLY UPDATED.
HIGH ATTENDANCE OF DESIRED WITH NO INTENTION OR BIAS TO EXCLUDE ANY PHILOSOPHY OR MEDIA STYLE.
MEDIA INCLUDES RADIO, TELEVISION, NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES, INTERNATIONAL, I'M SORRY, INTERNET, SOCIAL MEDIA, NEWS OUTLET, OUTLETS AND PODCASTS.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR COMPILING THIS.
UM, UH, DENNIS AND STAFF, UM, THIS IS VERY HELPFUL AND I THINK, I THINK THIS IS GOOD INFORMATION FOR US TO USE AS WE, UM, WE DISCUSS AND CRAFTING SOME TYPE OF MEDIA POLICY, UM, FOR THE, THE METRO COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT, UM, PEOPLE KNOW WHAT, WHAT THE RULES ARE, WHO IS CONSIDERED THE PRESS, WHO IS INVITED TO PRESS CONFERENCE SO THAT WE PRESS CONFERENCES, AND WHO IS, UM, ALSO ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE PRESS RELEASES.
UM, IT, IT LOOKS LIKE, UH, SIMILAR, SIMILAR CITIES, UM, TO US, UH, HAVE A VERY OPEN, UH, DOOR POLICY WITH REGARDS TO THEIR PRESS CONFERENCES AND, UM, AND PRESS RELEASES AND ALSO, UM, ARE VERY ACCEPTING OF, OF NEW AND EMERGING MEDIA, WHICH I THINK IS, IS CRITICAL, UM, IN, IN OUR, THIS TIME AS WE, WE SEEK TO, UM, REACH AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AND BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE.
UM, WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE, UM, AND HAVE OUR INFORMATION GO THROUGH ALL THE CHANNELS, UH, AVAILABLE TO US.
SO I'M, HOLD ON, HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
SO ANYWAY, I THINK THIS IS VALUABLE, UM, INFORMATION AND I THINK WE SHOULD, UM, YOU KNOW, DIGEST THIS AND THEN OVER THE NEXT, UH, SEVERAL WEEKS BEGIN A GOOD, HEALTHY CONVERSATION ON, ON CRAFTING A POLICY COUNCIL MEMBER.
SS HEY, SO I JUST WANNA MAKE A COMMENT ONE, ONE SECOND.
I NEED TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM COUNCIL MEMBER? OKAY, SO, UM, JUST OUT TO MY COLLEAGUES, I MEAN, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CREATE SOME SORT OF ORDINANCE AS IT RELATES TO MEDIA OR WHATEVER.
I, I WANT TO ASK THAT BECAUSE I THINK IF WE DO THE DUE DILIGENCE TO USE TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CRAFT WHAT MEDIA LOOKS LIKE, IT SHOULD JUST BE FOR THE ENTIRE PARISH IN EVERY DEPARTMENT.
IT SHOULD BE A STANDARD THAT WE SET FOR THE CITY, WHETHER IT BE ANY DEPARTMENT THAT WE DEAL WITH, AIRPORT, IT COULD BE THE, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
IT COULD BE, AND, AND THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO PUT SOME INPUT IN THERE AS WELL.
BUT I THINK IT SHOULD BE A STANDARD POLICY ACROSS THE BOARD FOR CITY PARISH COUNCIL MEMBER MO UH, COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, IF YOU WANT TO, I WAS GONNA, I WAS ON YOUR, UM, YEAH, WHAT I, I DON'T THINK, I, I DON'T THINK FROM MY CONVERSATIONS, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THE ABILITY, UM, TO DO IT BY ORDINANCE AND ENFORCE IT ON OTHERS, BUT WE CAN CREATE, I THINK A MODEL POLICY THAT WE WOULD HOPE THAT OTHERS, OTHER DEPARTMENT WOULD ACCEPT.
YEAH, I WAS GONNA FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
I THINK WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION BEFORE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT DOING IT BY ORDINANCE AND STUFF, BUT, UH, EACH DEPARTMENT IS DIFFERENT IN WHAT THEY, THEY TALK ABOUT JUST LIKE POLICE FIRE OR WHATEVER.
THEY HAVE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS AND EVERYTHING AND SPECIFICS ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN SAY AND SO ON.
SO I, I AGREE WITH BOTH OF Y'ALL ON, IF WE CAN COME UP WITH A GENERAL THAT WE COULD GIVE OUT TO THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND THEN LET THEM MODIFY THEM AND REPORT THEM BACK TO US.
ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, UH, SO MUCH.
COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS FOR THAT REPORT.
[156. 23-01312]
1 56 RECEIVING, UH, AN A REPORT FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO DEVELOPERS, CONTRACTORS, AND NONPROFITS TO JOIN OUR OFFICE EFFORTS TO SOLVE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT HOUSING CHALLENGES FACING OUR CITY, HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND HOUSING AND QUALITY BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.REASON FOR EMERGENCY TO ENSURE THAT O C D IS ABLE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO COUNCIL IN ADVANCE OF A SERIES OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS HOSTED BY O C D AND TO PREVENT DELAYS IN ALLOCATING IMPORTANT RESOURCES RELEVANT TO REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AND REQUEST FOR CO QUALIFICATIONS.
UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE REPORT FIRST.
[03:50:01]
GONNA HAVE THE REPORT.WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES IN ACCORDANCE WITH ORANGE 1 6 4 4 2.
THIS ITEM MUST BE DECLARED EMERGENCY BY TWO THIRD VOTE OF METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.
IS THERE A MOTION TO DECLARE THE SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER NALL SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JR.
IS THERE ANY OBJECT? ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? UH, PUBLIC HEARING IS THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE, UH, REPORT FIRST IN THE HEARING, SO GO AHEAD, MARLEY.
I, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S QUITE LATE.
UH, MY POWERPOINT, UH, IS MAYBE LONGER THAN I UNDERSTOOD THIS COMMUNITY, THIS, THIS MEETING TO ALLOW.
SO I'M GONNA BE SKIPPING A LOT OF SLIDES, BUT I WILL BE PROVIDING THOSE SLIDES TO YOU.
I'LL BE EMAILING THOSE OUT TO ALL OF YOU.
THERE'S A LOT OF DETAIL AND THEN INFORMATION ABOUT THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
SO JUST, I APOLOGIZE IF I JUST GO, JUST, JUST SKIP IT, UH, AND WE'LL GET TO THE MEAT OF WHAT I NEED.
UH, OR I HOPE TO, UH, SHARE WITH YOU ALL IN ADVANCE OF OUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS NEXT WEEK.
SO I KNOW WE HAVE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION.
UH, SO GO AHEAD AND CLICK TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO, THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
WE MANAGE THE FEDERAL ENTITLEMENT FUNDS THAT COME TO THE CITY PARISH FOR HOUSING, HOMELESSNESS, UM, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
UM, WE LOOK AT DATA PRETTY STRATEGICALLY AROUND SOME OF OUR, OUR HOUSING CHALLENGES.
AND WE USE THAT TO CREATE ACTION PLANS AND THEN TO GUIDE THE FUNDING DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE.
AND SO I'M, THERE'S SOME DATA ON THIS.
I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH ALL OF IT TODAY, UH, OUT OF, UH, KIND OF RESPECT FOR, FOR THE TIME THAT WE HAVE.
BUT IT HELPS TO DEFINE WHERE OUR KEY TARGET PRIORITIES ARE.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A CONCENTRATION OF LOW INCOME HOUSING IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A CONCENTRATION OF BLIGHT AND CRIME IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS.
UH, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A HOUSING STOCK THAT IS NOT SERVING PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING UNDER $20,000 A YEAR.
UH, WE KNOW THAT HOUSING IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE THAT COMES INTO 2 1 1.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE 19TH HIGHEST EVICTION RATE BY THE, UH, BY THE PRINCETON EVICTION LAB, WHICH IS, UM, A A REALLY BIG CHALLENGE THAT I, I DON'T KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ENOUGH ABOUT.
WE ALSO HAVE COMPLETE DISPARITIES AND OUTCOMES FOR OUR BLACK RESIDENTS VERSUS OUR WHITE RESIDENTS IN TERMS OF HOME OWNERSHIP AND OTHER HOUSING CHALLENGES.
SO, UH, THERE'S LOTS MORE HOUSING DATA, UH, THAT I'M HAPPY TO SHARE.
BUT JUST TO MOVE THROUGH THIS VERY QUICKLY, OUR HOUSING PROBLEM.
SO WE HAVE AN AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGE.
WE HAVE HOUSING THAT IS NOT RESILIENT, IT'S NOT HIGH QUALITY, AND IT'S NOT AFFORDABLE TO OUR RESIDENTS.
UH, WE HAVE DISINVESTED NEIGHBORHOODS WITH HIGH LEVELS OF BLIGHT, AGING HOUSING STOCK, AND POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES IN THOSE, UH, IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND WE HAVE A STABILITY PROBLEM BETWEEN EVICTION AND HOMELESSNESS, UH, AND, AND, AND VIOLENT CRIME.
IN OUR, IN, IN AND AROUND OUR HOUSING STOCK.
WE HAVE A HOUSING STABILITY CHALLENGE.
SO THESE ARE THE RESOURCES, UH, THAT WE HAVE GOING INTO THE NEXT YEAR.
OF COURSE, THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF MONEY.
THIS IS MORE MONEY THAN I'LL PROBABLY SEE IN MY LIFETIME.
UH, BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO SOLVE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE FACING.
UM, WE HAVE ACTION PLANS FOR ALL OF THESE.
WE'RE CURRENTLY ACTUALLY WORKING WITH HUD TO GET OUR ACTION PLAN FOR THIS COMING YEAR APPROVED.
DO PUBLIC HEARINGS AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS WITH THAT.
UM, BUT, UH, WE WILL DEFINITELY BE GETTING THIS POWERPOINT TO YOU SO YOU DO NOT HAVE TO REMEMBER EVERY SINGLE, UH, NUMBER ON THE SCREEN.
BUT GO AHEAD TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO, UH, WE'RE GONNA ROLL THROUGH THESE, BUT THIS JUST EXPLAINS WHAT SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES ARE.
'CAUSE THERE'S A BUNCH OF RULES AROUND THEM.
I CAN'T SPEND THEM, OR WE AS A COMMUNITY, CANNOT SPEND THEM ON, ON ANYTHING THAT WE WANT.
BUT JUST AS A QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHAT THESE RESOURCES ARE AND WHAT THEY CAN DO, AND PERHAPS SOMETIMES, MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT THEY CAN'T, UM, I'VE PROVIDED SOME SLIDES ON THIS, ACTUALLY.
COUNCIL MEMBER GODDE, YOU'RE IN ONE OF THESE PHOTOS,
UH, BUT GO AHEAD TO THE NEXT ONE TOO.
UH, THIS WILL BE PROVIDED TO YOU SO THAT YOU CAN READ IT.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE.
C D B G, DISASTER RECOVERY AND C D B G MITIGATION, THESE ARE ACTUALLY THE FIRST TIME THAT THE CITY PARISH WILL BE RECEIVING OUR, OUR DIRECT ALLOCATION OF THAT.
WE RELEASED A, LIKE A 300 SOMETHING PAGE ACTION PLAN EARLIER THIS SUMMER.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
SO TODAY, UH, OR YESTERDAY WE RELEASED OUR FIRST DIGITAL, UH, REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND THESE ARE THE RESOURCES ROUGHLY THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE FOR THAT REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, AS WELL AS THE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS THAT PURCHASING IS RUNNING FOR OUR HOME, UH, REPAIR PROGRAM.
I'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING TO STREAMLINE THAT, THAT INSTEAD OF BIDDING OUT EVERY SINGLE HOUSE, WHICH TOOK A LOT OF TIME, NOW WE'RE JUST BIDDING THEM OUT IN BATCHES AND WE'RE TAKING THOSE CONTRACTS TO YOU ALL.
NOW, WE'RE ACTUALLY JUST GONNA DO AN R F Q, SO I DON'T HAVE TO BID IT OUT EVERY TIME.
I CAN MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE VENDORS IN OUR LIST ARE ABLE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AND WE JUST, WE JUST MOVE THROUGH THAT A LOT QUICKER BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT THREE WEEK BID PROCESS.
I WILL SHARE, UH, THAT THE HOME REPAIR R F Q PROCESS HAS A D B E, UH, PRIORITY INCENTIVE FOR THAT PROGRAM.
UH, AND THAT IS A, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WORK, PARTICULARLY WITH, UH, SOME OF OUR UP AND COMING, UH, CONTRACTORS AND DEVELOPERS WHO ARE LOOKING TO WORK WITH THE CITY.
[03:55:01]
FOR THAT AND ABOUT 1.1, 1.2 MILLION FOR THE HOME REPAIR PROGRAM.SO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING R F P.
SO REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, THAT'S, UH, WHERE THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO TELL ME WHERE THEIR SITE IS, WHAT THEIR SITE'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE, HOW MANY UNITS IS GONNA BE IN THAT SITE.
IS THERE GONNA BE, UM, AN EFFORT TO BRING A GROCERY STORE TO THAT SITE? IS THERE GONNA BE OTHER GREAT, UH, AND EXCITING COMPONENTS OF THAT? THEY WILL DESIGN THAT AND LET ME KNOW WHAT THEY WANT, AND THEN WE'LL SCORE IT.
WE'LL HAVE A SCORING COMMITTEE FOR IT.
UH, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING R F P CAN FUND HOME OWNERSHIP, RENTAL, SINGLE FAMILY MULTIFAMILY COUNT CONDOS.
IT'S OPEN TO ALL THESE DIFFERENT TYPES OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.
AND SO IT'LL JUST BASICALLY BE BASED OFF OF WHAT PEOPLE DESIGN AND WHAT THE SCORING COMMITTEE THINKS MAKES SENSE, UH, FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
UH, ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES, CONSTRUCTION, ACQUISITION, ALL THE THINGS INVOLVED WITH, UH, THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THIS IS A VERY QUICK SCREENSHOT OF THE NEW SYSTEM THAT WE'RE GONNA BE USING, UH, TO DO, TO RUN THIS.
I KNOW THAT MANY OF US, UH, WHO HAVE WORKED WITH DEVELOPERS, UH, OR WHO HAVE WORKED WITH PEOPLE WHO'VE WORKED WITH THE CITY, KNOW THAT WE MIGHT NOT BE AS RESPONSIVE.
WE NOT BE, MIGHT NOT BE GETTING INFORMATION OUT AS QUICKLY.
WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA HAVE ALL OF OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS CAN HAVE THEIR OWN PORTAL THAT THEY CAN LOG INTO, SEE THEIR CONTRACT, MANAGE THEIR APPLICATION, DO THEIR REPORTING, UH, TRACK THESE THINGS OVER YEARS BECAUSE AFFORDABLE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IS A 20 YEAR PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THIS CITY PARISH AND THOSE DEVELOPERS.
AND SO WE'RE EXCITED TO BE MOVING INTO THE 21ST CENTURY, UH, IF NOT THE 22ND AS MENTIONED EARLIER, UH, WE'LL BE HOSTING A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS THOUGH BECAUSE IT'S A NEW SYSTEM AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO ACCESS IT, THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE'LL ALSO BE PROVIDING A LOT OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED NEIGHBORLY.
UM, SO THE SECTIONS OF THAT REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A LONGER APPLICATION THAN WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST.
WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH HUD AND NATIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ADVISORS TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE ROBUST TO PROVIDE PEOPLE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY'RE GETTING THEMSELVES INTO.
SO FROM COMPLIANCE, UM, TO, UH, INFORMATION ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS AND THOSE THINGS, THAT'S ALL IN THAT APPLICATION.
SO THEY, THEY HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING THE TIMELINE.
UM, SO THIS IS THE TIMELINE FOR THE R F P.
AS YOU CAN SEE, PROPOSALS WILL DO IN DECEMBER 15TH.
WE'LL HAVE COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
WE'LL HAVE PERIODS OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PERIODS WHEN PEOPLE CAN ASK QUESTIONS, AND WE'LL PROVIDE FORMAL WRITTEN RESPONSES.
UH, BUT WE'VE GIVEN THEM A FEW MONTHS TO REALLY PUT TOGETHER THEIR CONCEPTS, UH, AND, AND PREPARE THOSE FOR SUBMISSION.
THERE'S THE PERSON IS BEHIND YOU.
YOU CAN PRESS THE SLIDE AGAIN.
JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A KIND OF A, A TRADITIONAL REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS THAT YOU SEE ALL THE TIME THAT PURCHASING IS RUNNING.
UH, WE'LL BE, UH, BASICALLY LOOKING TO SEE WHO'S A QUALIFIED CONTRACTOR IN OUR CITY, NONPROFIT, WHOMEVER, WHO'S INTERESTED IN BEING A PARTNER WITH US AND GETTING CONTRACTS FOR THIS PROJECT.
UH, ONCE WE GET THOSE QUALIFICATIONS, WE WILL DO AN ASSESSMENT TO MAKE SURE, AND THEN IF THEY'RE INTERESTED, THEY CAN JOIN OUR, BASICALLY OUR ROTA OF CONTRACTORS THAT WE CAN SELECT.
THIS IS FOR, AS WE DISCUSSED EARLIER, THE REPAIR OF HOMEOWNER OWNED AND USUALLY OCCUPIED SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING.
UH, EVERYTHING FROM REPAIRS TO ADMINISTRATIVE WORK MIGHT BE REQUIRED.
CASE MANAGEMENT, LEAD TESTING, LEAD HAZARD MITIGATION.
THINGS OF THIS NATURE COULD BE WITHIN THAT SCOPE.
AND THE R F Q HAS A LOT MORE DETAILS IN IT TOO.
UM, LIKE I MENTIONED, KIND OF A TRADITIONAL R F Q THAT WE'RE DOING WITH PURCHASING.
AND THEN ONCE WE'VE DONE THIS R F Q, WE EXPECT TO WORK WITH THAT GROUP OF VENDORS FOR THE NEXT ONE TO TWO YEARS AND THEN REDO THIS SO THAT WE CAN ADD MORE TO THE LIST EACH YEAR.
THE MORE CONTRACTORS WE HAVE IN OUR PORTFOLIO, THE FASTER WE CAN MOVE REPAIR PROJECTS.
THE R F Q SECTION IS, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN A PURCHASING R F Q.
UH, THIS IS A SUMMARY OF THE SECTIONS INCLUDED IN THAT, JUST TO GIVE, UH, YOU A GENERAL IDEA OF SOME OF THE INFORMATION IN IT.
THIS IS THE TIMELINE FOR THAT SET BY, UH, BY THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT.
UH, SO THE ACTUAL R F Q WILL BE RELEASED FOR PEOPLE TO SUBMIT BIDS IN OCTOBER.
UM, AND, UH, THE, THE, THE DEADLINE FOR THAT WILL BE AT THE END OF OCTOBER.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, WE HAVE COMMUNITY MEETINGS NEXT WEEK.
I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU, IF YOU KNOW ANY DEVELOPERS, IF YOU KNOW ANY CONTRACTORS, ESPECIALLY ANY D B E CONTRACTORS, UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE FROM THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SERVE, PLEASE ENCOURAGE THEM TO COME OUT.
UM, WE, WE REALLY WANT TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM AND, AND ESPECIALLY OUR HOME, UH, REPAIR.
R F Q CAN BE A REALLY GREAT POINT OF ENTRY TO DOING WORK WITH CITY PARISH,
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AFFORDABLE HOUSING, R F P, THAT'S, THAT'S A BIG PROJECT.UM, BUT IT CAN BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AS WELL.
SO THAT WAS, THAT WAS LIKE AS FAST AS I COULD DO THAT.
I'LL SEND YOU A COPY OF THE POWERPOINT AS WELL AS THOSE GRAPHICS.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? NO ONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM.
WE HAVE EXACTLY 11 MINUTES LEFT IN THE MEETING.
I HAVE A QUESTION, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER, ADAM DAME, COUNCILMAN BANKS, JUST A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, UM, DWIGHT, HOPE YOU'RE OKAY WITH ME DOING THIS, BUT DWIGHT'S FORMER AIDE PASSED AWAY THIS MORNING.
AND WE, WE DEFINITELY GONNA GET, GET THERE FOR SURE.
UH, COUNCILMAN BANKS, UM, MARLEY, BECAUSE I, I GOTTEN A TEXT.
SO THE R F P THAT CAME OUT TODAY, WHAT IS THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FUNDING AVAILABLE THERE? THERE, THERE'S A BUDGET IN THERE THAT, UH, EVEN SPLITS THAT A LITTLE FURTHER, BUT IT'S ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF MILLION.
SO, UM, SO WHEN WE WOULD, SO HAVE YOU ACCEPTED, HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY APPLICATIONS FOR THAT? NO.
I, SO WE OPENED IT UP LATE LAST NIGHT.
WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANYTHING BUT MY TEST APPLICATION TODAY.
BUT WE'RE, IT TAKES A WHILE TO PUT TOGETHER THOSE RFPS TO BE HONEST.
AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WAITING FOR THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO REALLY LEARN HOW TO DO IT.
THE REASON I ASK IS 'CAUSE THAT, THAT IS THE RUMOR ON THE STREET THAT HALF THE MONEY HAS ALREADY BEEN, UM, PROMISED TO SOME PEOPLE.
WELL, UH, WE'VE GOT A, WE'VE GOT A FIVE AND A HALF MILLION, SO THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
I KNOW OUR, OUR PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING, YOU KNOW, MAYBE DEVELOPED BY DEVELOPERS, THINGS THAT PEOPLE WANNA SEE HAPPEN AND, AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE THOSE APPLICATIONS COME THROUGH.
SO I HAVE, I HAVE THE NAME, SO WE'LL SEE IF THEY COME UP ON THE LIST.
I'M HOPEFUL I I'LL SHARE THAT.
SOME OF THOSE, IT'S NOT JUST NO, I HAVE THE NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO SAVED THE MONEY ALREADY OUT THE LIST.
IF THOSE NAMES COME UP ON THE LIST, WE'LL SEE.
UH, MANY OF YOU HAVE KNOWN OVER THE YEARS AND, AND GOTTEN TO LOVE AND, UH, GOTTEN TO WORK WITH LIZ ALCH, MY FORMER LEGISLATIVE AIDE.
I'M SAD TO REPORT THAT SHE, UH, UNEXPECTEDLY PASSED AWAY THIS MORNING.
UM, WE LOVE HER AND WE MISS HER.
UH, WE SEND OUR REGARDS AND OUR PRAYERS OUT TO HER FAMILY.
UH, LIZ, ONE OF THE, ONE OF A KIND PUBLIC SERVANT.
UM, THIS CITY PARISH IS A BETTER PLACE FOR, UH, HER SERVICE.
SO, UH, BEFORE WE ADJOURN, I WOULD ASK THAT WE TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT OF SILENCE.
COUNCILMAN ADAMS. UM, I THINK WE ALL SHOULD, SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IS RACHEL'S LAST MEETING.
RACHEL, THIS IS YOUR LAST MEETING.
COME ON TO THE MIC AND TELL US.
YOU SEE, CALL ME IN YOUR LAST MEETING.
TALK ABOUT BLIGHT
UM, WE'VE SPENT PROBABLY ROUGHLY HALF, I GUESS, OR NO, NOT HALF, ABOUT A MILLION AND A HALF OF BUDGET OF BLIGHT.
NO, I APPRECIATE WORKING, UH, AND REALLY CHERISH WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU.
AND I THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT, UM, Y'ALL HAVE DONE AND, AND I KNOW YOU'LL CONTINUE TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY WELL.
AND I, UH, HOPE TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY WELL, ALONG WITH THE OTHER SIX PARISHES IN THE AMY RIVER BASIN COMMISSION, WHICH IS WHERE I'M GOING.
UM, AND CONTINUE TO, UH, REDUCE FLOOD RISK AND PROVIDE HAZARD MITIGATION AND, YOU KNOW, IMPROVE THE DRAINAGE IN OUR, UH, THE AMY RIVER BASIN.
SO, UM, AND I, I'M, I'M EXCITED AND, AND I KNOW THAT IT'S IN GOOD HANDS WITH YOU ALL.
I, I, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU TOO, RACHEL, BECAUSE YOU WERE ALWAYS VERY RESPONSIVE.
I CALL YOU, YOU'D ANSWER RIGHT AWAY OR CALL ME BACK AND IT'S MY PLEASURE.
YOU DIDN'T ALWAYS TELL ME WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
CODE ENFORCEMENT ISN'T PUPPIES AND KITTENS AND RAPE.
BUT WE APPRECIATE, WE APPRECIATE YOU AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU DID.
COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA MOTION TO MOTION TO ADJOURN BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA, UH, SECONDED BY EVERYONE.
I THINK AFTER A MEETING TONIGHT, EVERYONE RECOGNIZES WHY I SAY PROTECT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH.
READ TO YOUR CHILDREN AND WHEN YOU'RE DONE READING TO THEM, HAVE THEM READ BACK TO YOU.