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TO THE WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 25TH, UH, METROPOLITAN COUNCIL PRESENTATION.UH, WE'LL START TONIGHT WITH THANKING MS. ZARIA FOR HELPING US GAVEL.
IN THE MEETING, EVERYBODY GIVE MS. ZARIA A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
UH, ITEM NUMBER ONE, WE'LL HAVE DR.
JIM LORENZ ON BEHALF OF MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTON BROOME.
RECOGNIZE THE ICARE PROGRAM, MS. TANYA CHAPMAN GRIFFIN, DR. SUSAN THORNTON.
PAMELA HOWARD HOPE'S CHILD JOY HAN.
JENNIFER DEGRA, CALVIN MCCLINTON, INGER SANFORD, AND CECILE WASHINGTON.
UH, AND AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE FOR, UH, MAYOR BROOM NOT BEING HERE, BUT IT'S A GREAT HONOR FOR US TO PRESENT THIS PRESENTATION TO THE ICARE PROGRAM AND TO THE INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED.
UM, AND GOOD AFTERNOON, JIM LORENZ.
I AM CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER AND HONORED TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY ON BEHALF OF MAYOR PRESIDENT BROOME TO RECOGNIZE RED RIBBON WEEK OBSERVED FROM OCTOBER 23RD THROUGH THE 31ST.
THIS WEEK IS A TIME TO REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO CREATING A HEALTHIER, SAFER BATON ROUGE AND TO EXPRESS OUR DEEP APPRECIATION FOR THE INVALUABLE WORK OF THE ICARE PROGRAM IN OUR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THE ICARE PROGRAM IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF ALCOHOL, DRUG ABUSE, AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN OUR EBR SCHOOLS.
THIS PROGRAM PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES AND PROVIDING PREVENTION EDUCATION IN AREAS SUCH AS ALCOHOL, DRUGS, VIOLENCE, AND CRISIS RESPONSE.
THE HEART OF THE ICARE PROGRAM LIES IN ITS DEDICATED STAFF, INCLUDING LICENSED PREVENTION PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE NOT JUST EDUCATORS, BUT ALSO CHAMPIONS OF OUR STUDENTS' WELLBEING.
THEIR DEDICATION IS UNWAVERING, AND THE PROFOUND IMPACT THEY HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITY IS IMMEASURABLE.
THE ICARE PROGRAM OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF SERVICES FROM INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP CONSULTATIONS TO FAMILY SUPPORT, CLASSROOM EDUCATION, STAFF, AND PARENT TRAINING AND CAMPAIGNS FOR PREVENTION.
IT EMPOWERS OUR STUDENTS TO MAKE INFORMED RESPONSIBLE CHOICES AND BUILD RESILIENCE AGAINST THE CHALLENGES THEY MAY FACE.
RED RIBBON WEEK REMINDS US THAT THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG ABUSE, ALCOHOL MISUSE, AND VIOLENCE IS A COLLECTIVE ENDEAVOR.
THE ICARE PROGRAM EMBODIES THE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN EDUCATORS, FAMILIES, AND OUR COMMUNITY, CREATING A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR BATON ROUGE.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR A PROGRAM AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO PRIORITIZE THE DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURAL, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AND EMOTIONALLY SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS.
ON BEHALF OF MAYOR, PRESIDENT BROOM, SHE SAYS, THANK YOU, AND MAY YOU CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND A PROCLAMATION FROM THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT CITY OF BATON ROUGE VALUES THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ALL CITIZENS, AND WHERE SUBSTANCE ABUSE IS PARTICULARLY DAMAGING TO ONE OF OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCES, OUR TEACH OUR CHILDREN IN CONTRIBUTING, AND A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE LEADING CAUSE.
YOU NEED STAND IF, IF WE HAVE, THAT'S SAY ALL OF YOU, PLEASE.
WE GATHER AROUND AND TO CONTINUE ON READING THE PROCLAMATION ITSELF.
WHEREAS SUBSTANCE ABUSE IS PARTICULARLY DAMAGING TO ONE OF OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCES, OUR CHILDREN, AND THE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR TEENAGERS, ACCIDENTS, HOMICIDES, AND SU SUICIDES.
AND WHEREAS IT IS A GOAL OF RED RIBBON WEEK IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE TO INVOLVE FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, CHURCHES, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS IN ALL ASPECTS OF THIS CAMPAIGN, AND ESTABLISH AN ATMOSPHERE THAT SUPPORTS AWARENESS, EDUCATION, AND ONGOING INITIATIVES TO PREVENT ILLEGAL DRUG ABUSE.
AND WHEREAS THE RED RIBBON, WE CAMPAIGN THEME PROMOTES FAMILY AND INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR LIVING HEALTHY DRUG FREE LIFESTYLES WITHOUT ILLEGAL DRUGS OR THE LEGAL USE OF LEGAL DRUGS.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE ENCOURAGES ITS CITIZENS TO JOIN WITH TEACHERS, PARENTS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND PARISH OFFICIALS IN ENCOURAGING ALL PERSONS TO BECOME PREDICTIVE, PRODUCTIVE INDIVIDUALS AND TO CREATE, ACHIEVE, AND MAINTAIN CARING AND RESPONSIBLE LIFESTYLES.
WHEREAS THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD ENCOURAGES ALL SCHOOLS TO PLAN AND DEVELOP ACTIVITIES IN CONJUNCTION WITH RED RIBBON WEEK, WHERE THOUSANDS OF
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STUDENTS PROMOTE HEALTHY, SAFE, AND DRUG FREE LIFESTYLES.NOW, THEREFORE, I SHARE IN WESTERN BREW MAYOR, PRESIDENT OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IN PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE THROUGH HEREBY RECOGNIZE THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 23RD, 2023 TO OCTOBER 30TH, 2023 AS RED RIBBON WEEK, AND CALL THIS OBSERVANCE TO THE ATTENTION OF OUR CITIZENS AND WITNESS WHEREOF.
I HAVE SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IN PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE TO BE AFFIXED UPON THIS 25TH DAY OF OCTOBER IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 2023 SHARON WESTERN BROOM.
YOU WANT ME BACK HERE? THANK YOU.
NEXT UP, WE'LL HAVE COUNCILMAN DARRELL HURST TO RECOGNIZE MS. EL NORA BEIN, HELAINE JOHNSON, MOZILLA MACKEY, AND ETHEL UNDERWOOD FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS.
WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE STILL FIGHTING THROUGH THE TRAFFIC TO GET HERE, BUT AS OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, UH, THE THE BIGGEST HIT THAT I'VE EVER HAD IN MY FAMILY WAS DUE TO, UH, THE, THE IMPACT THAT BREAST CANCER CAN HAVE, NOT JUST ON A LOVED ONE, BUT THE PEOPLE, UM, AFFECTED BY THE LOSS OF THAT LOVED ONE.
AND WE WATCHED THAT PERSON GO THROUGH THE BATTLE, WHO WAS MY MOTHER-IN-LAW, SHOOK OUR FAMILY, SHOOK, SHOOK OUR HOME.
UM, TOOK SEVERAL YEARS TO RECOVER AND I, I DON'T THINK IT'S EVER RECOVERED FROM IT, BUT, UH, CREATED AN OPPORTUNITY TO COPE WITH IT LONG TERM.
JUST, JUST LEARNING THAT PROCESS FROM MY KIDS TO MY WIFE, TO MY IN-LAWS, TO EVERY PERSON WHO SHOPPED AT HER STORE.
UM, SO THIS, THIS MONTH MEANS A WHOLE LOT TO ME.
AND IN RECOGNITION OF BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, WE WANNA CELEBRATE PEOPLE AND GIVE THEM THEIR FLOWERS WHILE THEY'RE HERE.
AND SO WE HAD FOUR PEOPLE FROM DISTRICT FIVE TO BE RECOGNIZED TODAY.
SO BEING RECOGNIZED AS A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR DEMONSTRATING BRAVERY, INNER STRENGTH, HOPE, COURAGE AND DETERMINATION, MAY THE FULLNESS OF LIFE BE YOURS IN THE DAYS AHEAD.
AND GIVEN THIS DAY, OCTOBER 25TH, 2023, WITH SINCERE GRATITUDE AND TESTIMONY, WHEREOF, I HAVE HERE SET MY HAND, UM, AS MY OFFICIAL SIGNATURE AND CAUSE TO BE AFFIXED, THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARIS EAST BATON ROUGE.
MS. MLA MACKEY, GLORY TO GOD, YES, MR. THE HEAD OF MY LIFE.
MY NAME IS MLA MACKEY AND I'M A 16 YEAR CANCER SURVIVOR.
IT WAS A HARD ROAD, BUT I MADE IT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.
THAT IS A LIGHT, AND YOU ALWAYS KEEP HOPE, FAITH, AND UNDERSTANDING AND SHARING LOVE WITH EVERYONE.
NEXT UP, WE'LL HAVE METRO COUNCILWOMAN CAROLYN COLEMAN TO RECOGNIZE HELIX MENTORSHIP STEM ACADEMY.
I SAY, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
YOU ALL CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT.
OH, NOW YOU ALL ARE IN THE BUILDING BECAUSE TODAY, TODAY THIS RECOGNITION OF EK'S MENTORSHIP STEAM ACADEMY PRESENTATION IS WHAT'S UP? COME ON, JEFF.
YOU RIGHT ON TIME, YOU CAN SALVAGE YOURSELF.
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MENTORSHIP STEAM ACADEMY STRIVES TO CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP AMONG STUDENTS.STRENGTHEN EACH INDIVIDUAL STUDENT BY USING STEAM BASED LEARNING.
ENHANCE FOUNDATIONAL DEPTH, CULTIVATE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, AND TO ENSURE STUDENTS ARE MASTERING RIGOROUS CONTENT.
EK'S MENTORSHIP, STEAM ACADEMY IMPLEMENTS A TECHNOLOGY RICH CURRICULUM IN ORDER TO PREPARE STUDENTS TO ATTEND A FOUR YEAR COLLEGE.
IT ALSO PREPPED FOR CAREER READINESS THROUGH SHADOWING AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS.
ALSO, THE HELIX MENTORSHIP STEAM ACADEMY FOSTERS GOOD CITIZENSHIP TO INFLUENCE GOOD DECISION MAKING AND TAKING PART IN POLITICS AND VOTING.
SO GIVE IT UP FOR HELS MENTORSHIP STEAM ACADEMY.
AND SO I'M GOING TO ASK, COME ON UP HELS MENTORSHIP, COME ON.
OKAY, SO YOU'RE GONNA STAND OVER THERE.
ANGELA DOMAIN, WHO IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HELIX, UH, MENTORSHIP STEAM ACADEMY.
AND SO EXEMPLIFYING THE MISSION OF PREPARING THESE STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE CAREER AND CITIZENSHIP, AND CLOSING THAT ACHIEVEMENT GAP AND STRENGTHENING EACH INDIVIDUAL STUDENT BY USING STEAM BASED LEARNING.
AND GIVEN THIS DAY, OCTOBER 25TH, 2023, WITH SINCERE GRATITUDE AND TESTIMONY THEREOF, I HAVE HERE UNTO SET MY LITTLE HANDS AS MY OFFICIAL SIGNATURE AND CALLS TO BE A FIX.
THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, CAROLYN R. COLEMAN, METRO COUNCILWOMAN HERE AND DISTRICT 10, THE ONLY DISTRICT THAT I KNOW,
WE THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMAN COLEMAN FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
WE ENJOY BEING ABLE TO SAY THAT DOWNTOWN IS OUR PLAYGROUND.
AND SO WITH ALL THAT WE CAN OFFER IN, UH, IN STEAM WITH OUR CYBERSECURITY COURSES AND OUR ENGINEERING COURSES, AND SOME OF YOU WHO WORK DOWNTOWN MAY HEAR OUR BAND, OUR OUR BAND THAT HAS JUST GOTTEN STARTED THIS YEAR, THERE IS SUCH A PLETHORA AND DEPTH TO THE CURRICULUM THAT WE OFFER THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO GROW, TO LEARN, TO DEVELOP, TO FIGURE OUT WHO THEY ARE.
UH, WE ARE PROUD TO DO WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY FOR THE, THE, THE DYNAMIC STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE FROM ALL ACROSS, UH, THE PARISH AND THE PARENTS WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO ENTRUST US WITH THE EDUCATION OF THEIR CHILDREN.
SO WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
WE LET YOU KNOW THAT THE BEST IS YET TO COME.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
JIM LORENZ ON BEHALF OF MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WEST IN BROOME AND METROPOLITAN COUNCILMAN DARRYL HURST TO RECOGNIZE SEAN WALLACE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL COACH.
SO I'M GONNA CALL A COUPLE MORE FOLKS UP HERE 'CAUSE I KNOW IT'S KINDA GETTING A LITTLE BIT LATE.
BUT, UH, STATE REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA CARPENTER, UH, COACH P RICHARDSON.
AND, UH, WE HAD TROY CARTER AND CLEO THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TODAY, BUT THEY ALL REPRESENT THAT DISTRICT.
UM, BUT SEAN WALLACE, I DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY WITH HIM, BUT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ENTERTAINED BY HIM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
'CAUSE WHEN YOU MEET SEAN, YOU NEVER FORGET HIM.
I TELL HIM, HE, HE IS THE EPITOME OF WHAT A NEW ORLEANS PERSON LOOKS LIKE.
YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS THE BEST IN NEW ORLEANS.
EVERYTHING IS SO PASSIONATE, RUBBING YOUR HANDS TOGETHER, JUST TALKING ABOUT HOW GREAT EVERYTHING IS THERE.
BUT, UH, THE ONE THING THAT HE DEFINITELY MADE EVERYONE PROUD OF
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WAS TO, UH, BE A SOUTHERN JAGUAR.WHILE I DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY WITH HIM, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHEER ON, CHEER HIM ON, ON SATURDAY NIGHTS, AND WISHED THAT I WAS SEAN WALLACE.
AND I HAD A CONVERSATION THIS MORNING WITH TREY, GOD, FRED BRACK, AND, UH, SEAN, I'M GONNA TELL YOU, HE SAID, MAN, SEAN USED TO TALK TO HIMSELF ON THE SIDELINES AND MOVE HIS HANDS.
AND HE SAID, I USED TO GO TO EPISCOPAL AND ACT LIKE I WAS SEAN WALLACE AND DO THE SAME THING ON THE SIDELINES.
SO WHAT YOU DID NOT KNOW IS THE ENTHUSIASM THAT YOU HAD ON THE FIELD WAS INFECTIOUS EVEN THEN.
IT AFFECTED EVERYBODY OFF THE FIELD AS WELL.
NOT JUST YOUR TEAMMATES, BUT THE FANS, THE CITIZENS OF BATON ROUGE AND
TODAY, I HAVE A CERTIFICATE SIGNED BY EVERYONE, BUT, UH, COUNCILMAN HON.
BANKS, AND I'LL MAKE SURE WE TAKE A PICTURE WITH IT, BUT I WANT EVERYBODY'S SIGNATURE ON IT BEFORE I GET IT TO YOU.
SHE HASN'T ARRIVED YET, BUT THIS CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION IS FOR SEAN WALLACE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SAFETIES FOOTBALL COACH.
UM, SEAN WALLACE, THE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY LEGEND, BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD, HIS SELFLESSNESS AS A TEAMMATE, COMMUNITY ADVOCATE, AND NOW AS A SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY COACH DEMONSTRATES HIS BELIEF IN GOD AND HOW HE IS USING HIS GIFTS AND TALENTS TO, TO BE A SERVANT LEADER.
SEAN IS NOW FACING THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF HIS LIFE WITH PANCREATIC CANCER.
WHEN YOU INVEST IN OTHERS, YOUR RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENT WILL COME WHEN YOU NEED IT.
MOST TODAY, YOUR SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL TEAMMATE STAFF, AND BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY AND THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, JOIN TOGETHER TO, TO STAND SEAN STRONG.
Y'ALL WELCOME, UH, COACH FOR SU SAFETIES, MR. SEAN WALLACE.
NEXT WE HAVE THE, UH, THE MAYOR PRESIDENT'S OFFICE.
SO THE CA O DR. JAMES, JAMES LOREN WILL STEP UP.
CONS, UH, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR APOLOGIZE FOR, FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO JOIN US THIS MORNING.
SHE, UH, SHE LEFT THIS MESSAGE, SAID, WE HAVE GATHERED HERE TO RECOGNIZE A TRULY EXCEPTIONAL COACH, COACH SEAN WALLACE.
WE CELEBRATE NOT ONLY HIS REMARKABLE CAREER IN COACHING, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HIS UNWAVERING COURAGE AND INSPIRATION IN THE FACE OF A CHALLENGING BATTLE WITH PANCREATIC CANCER.
COACH WALLACE, YOUR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE ON THE FIELD OF TOUCH COUNTLESS LIVES.
HOWEVER, RECENTLY, IT IS YOUR JOURNEY OFF THE FIELD THAT HAS IMPACTED US EVEN MORE PROFOUNDLY.
YOUR RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY IS NOTHING SHORT OF EXTRAORDINARY.
YOUR FIGHT SYMBOLIZES WHAT IT MEANS TO PERSEVERE.
WHEN FACED WITH THE MOST FORMIDABLE OF CHALLENGES, YOUR TENACITY IS A BEACON OF HOPE, A REMINDER THAT THE HUMAN SPIRIT CAN OVERCOME THE SEEMINGLY INSURMOUNTABLE.
AS YOU CONTINUE THIS BATTLE, PLEASE KNOW THAT YOUR COMMUNITY STANDS WITH YOU.
YOUR STRENGTH AND PERSEVERANCE CONTINUE TO GUIDE YOU.
AND WE ARE ALL INSPIRED BY YOUR EXAMPLE.
COACH, MAY YOUR STRENGTH CONTINUE TO LIGHT THE WAY YOU ARE AND WILL ALWAYS BE A SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, THE JAGUAR NATION AND BATON ROUGE.
AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF MAYOR, PRESIDENT BROOM, COUNCILMAN HURST AND THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, GOD BLESS.
AND WE'LL HAVE THE CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION FROM THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, PRESIDENCY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH BASE, BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION PRESENTED TO COACH SEAN WALLACE.
IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR HONOR, WAIVER ENCOURAG AND INSPIRATION IN THE FACE OF YOUR BATTLE WITH PANCREATIC COACH PANCREATIC CANCER, YOUR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE HAVE TOUCHED THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS PLAYERS AND COACHES.
YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL.
MAY YOUR STRENGTH AND PERSEVERE CONTINUE TO GUIDE YOU AS CONTINUE YOUR FIGHT.
SHARON WESTERN, BRO, MAYOR, PRESIDENT TODAY, HE'S GONNA GET A LOT OF LOVE, MAN.
AND WE'RE GOING TO BE PATIENT.
AND IF WE START A LITTLE BIT LATE, I'M OKAY WITH THAT.
SO NEXT WE HAVE UP REPRESENTING SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, UH, MS. TRACY WOODS.
THIS IS A FAMILIAR PLACE FOR ME.
MY FATHER SERVED ON THIS COUNCIL MANY YEARS AGO.
BUT ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, UM, WE ARE HERE TO ACKNOWLEDGE COACH SEAN HAYES FOR HIS REMARKABLE JOURNEY
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THAT HE'S HAVING.AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT HE KNOWS THAT SOUTHERN, THAT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM LOVES HIM AND IS HERE WITH HIM.
AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE LOVE THAT THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IS SHOWING HIM TODAY.
SO, ON BEHALF OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM PRESIDENT DENNIS SHIELDS, INTERIM CHANCELLOR JOHN PIERRE, CHANCELLOR JOHN PIERRE, AND ALL OF THE OTHER PEOPLE HERE REPRESENTING SEAN AND SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, WE THANK YOU AND WE LOVE YOU, SEAN.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA CARPENTER.
I'M HONORED TO BE HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE LOUISIANA STATE LEGISLATURE.
AND SO, AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF WHICH SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY IS LOCATED, I'M TRULY PLEASED TO BE HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY.
THIS RESOLUTION IS ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND ME, BARBARA CARPENTER.
AND SO TODAY WE HONOR MR. SEAN WALLACE, A TRUE WARRIOR IN HIS BATTLE AGAINST PANCREATIC CANCER, AS HE PREPARES TO JOURNEY TO MD ANDERSON IN HOUSTON FOR FURTHER TREATMENT.
LET US RALLY AROUND HIM, SENDING WAVES OF LOVE, STRENGTH, AND PRAYERS ILLUMINATING HIS PATH WITH UNWAVERING COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
COACH SEAN, YOUR COURAGE AND DETERMINATION ARE A BEACON OF HOPE, AND WE STAND BY YOUR SIDE AS YOU EMBARK ON THIS JOURNEY.
AND SO THIS, OF COURSE, IS SIGNED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE PLAYS SHA SCHNEIDER AND ME, BARBARA WEST CARPENTER.
AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE, AS A THREE YEAR BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR, ACTUALLY THIS MONTH, I CAN SAY TO YOU, SEAN, THAT THERE ARE PRAYERS AND THERE ARE PEOPLE, AND THEY BOTH COME TOGETHER TO HELP IN THIS FIGHT.
AND I HAVE A PERSONAL TOKEN BECAUSE AS YOU ARE IN HOUSTON, YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO BUY A COCA-COLA EVERY NOW AND THEN AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOUR FAMILY AND YOU MIGHT NEED WHILE YOU ARE THERE.
SO YOU TAKE THIS CHECK AND DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH IT.
I LOVE YOU, AND I'M ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO LISTEN.
SO WE HAVE TWO MORE PRESENTERS.
THE NEXT MAN NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION.
UH, I, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF I COULD SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HIM, BUT HE WAS LIKE A SECOND FATHER TO ME ON CAMPUS AND EVERYBODY ELSE THAT HE COACHED.
UM, SO Y'ALL GIVE A, A ROUND OF APPLAUSE 'CAUSE NOT JUST FOR WHAT HE DID THEN, BUT HOW HE STILL INSTILLS IN US NOW FOR COACH P RICHARDSON.
UH, BUT, UH, I WOULDN'T BE STANDING HERE IF IT WASN'T FOR THESE TWO BACK HERE.
AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU, THEY WERE HAIL RAISERS WHEN I CAME IN.
BUT I'M REALLY PROUD OF 'EM BECAUSE THEY'RE ALMOST LIKE MY KIDS NOW BECAUSE I'VE SEEN THEM GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF, OF STAYING IN SCHOOL AND NOT ONLY WITH THAT EDUCATIONAL ASPECT, BUT THEY, BOTH OF 'EM HAVE TWO TREMENDOUS FAMILIES.
AND FOR TWO INDIVIDUALS TO BE INVOLVED IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND THE CITY SYSTEM, I WOULD NEVER THINK WHERE THEY CAME FROM
BUT, BUT REALLY, LIKE I SAID, THEY'RE JUST LIKE MY KIDS.
AND, UH, I'M PROUD OF 'EM AS, AS EVER CAN BE.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M SURE THAT, UH, WE'RE GONNA PRAY FOR ONE.
I HAVE SOMEBODY THAT HAS BECOME VERY SPECIAL, NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART IN THE LAST 24 HOURS I CALLED.
I'M TELLING YOU, I CALLED THIS GUY DAN, HE MAKES HIS ZY CODE SHIRTS AND HAS MADE SOME
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FOR ME AND SEAN.SEAN WAS SUPPOSED TO CALL ME THIS WEEKEND.
SEAN CALLED ME AT NINE O'CLOCK YESTERDAY MORNING AND SAID, DARRY, I'M GONNA MAKE IT.
AND SAID, IF YOU GONNA MAKE IT, WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR YOU.
HE DIDN'T KNOW ALL OF THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT THIS HAPPENED LESS THAN 24 HOURS.
AND I CALLED DAN MCNAMARA WITH, WITH, UH, BAYOU APPAREL, AND I SAID, DAN, I SAID, I CAN I BUY 50 SHIRTS FROM YOU AND CAN YOU MAKE THEM BUY TOMORROW? I, HOW MANY PEOPLE GONNA SHOW UP? BUT BETWEEN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE COUNCIL, FORMER FOOTBALL PLAYERS WE'RE GONNA BE SEAN STRONG TOMORROW.
SO HE SAID, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU EVERYTHING I HAVE.
SO HE MADE LIKE 143 SHIRTS IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS TO SUPPORT SEAN.
SO Y'ALL GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
BUT HE SAID, I'M GONNA DONATE TWO 50 AND WHATEVER IS DONATED AND NOT PROVIDED AT THE COUNCIL MEETING WILL THEN BE SOLD AND ALL THE PROCEEDS WILL GO TO SUPPORT SEAN'S FAMILY.
UM, AND THEN BEYOND THAT, EVERY SHIRT THAT'S ABOVE $5 WILL GO TOWARDS SEAN'S FAMILY.
SO I WANNA BRING UP, I CALL HIM DAN, THE MAN NOW, AND HE HAS A PRESENTATION FOR SEAN, AND HE'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS.
AND SOUTHERN'S BAND, IF YOU UNDERSTAND WHY, THERE YOU GO.
YEAH, IT'S SHORT NOTICE USUALLY.
BUT NO, WHEN, WHEN COUNCILMAN CALLED US, YOU KNOW, HE HAD THIS IDEA AND WE LOOKED AT THE LOGO AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A, JUST AN OUTSTANDING IDEA TO HELP THE FAMILY AND COACH.
AND SURE, A LOT OF YOU IN HERE, EVEN IF YOU DON'T KNOW A COACH THAT WELL, MET HIM A FEW TIMES.
I KNOW I DO PERSONALLY FOLLOW THE CAREERS OF THE GUYS THAT LEAVE LOUISIANA.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF, A LOT OF COACHES TRAVEL ALL AROUND.
YOU ALWAYS WANT TO SUPPORT THEM NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY COME BACK AND DO SO MUCH FOR THE STATE.
SO THAT WAS OUR REASONING FOR JUMPING IN.
AND AFTER WE FOUND OUT WHAT WE COULD GET DONE TODAY, WHAT WE COULD DO, I CALLED THE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY BAND THE HUMAN JUKEBOX, AND I MEAN, WITHIN MINUTES THEY WERE ON BOARD.
SO WE DID A DEAL WITH THEM WHERE THE WHOLE BAND, THE DANCING DOLLS, INSTEAD OF THEIR NORMAL DRESS ON, UH, GAME DAY SATURDAY BEFORE THEY PUT THEIR UNIS ON, OF COURSE THEY ARE GONNA HAVE THE SEAN STRONG T-SHIRTS ON.
AND THEY, THEY WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND THE PRICE BECAUSE WE LET 'EM KNOW THAT WE WERE GONNA GIVE BACK TO THE FUND ON ANYTHING THEY PURCHASED.
SO THEY'RE OUTFITTING EVERYBODY.
AND JUST FROM THAT SALE, WE HAVE A CHECK FOR $5,000 FOR SHAWN AND THE FAMILY, BUT THE BAND IS HERE IF THEY WANNA SAY ANYTHING.
'CAUSE THEY STEPPED UP, THEY, THEY DID A HELL OF A JOB.
SO THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION.
BUT I WOULD ASK ALL MY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO STEP DOWN HERE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH SEAN, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GET EVERYBODY, BECAUSE THERE'S A BUNCH OF PLAYERS AND LOVED ONES, HIS WIFE.
SO I'M ASK HIS WIFE TO COME UP RIGHT NOW.
BUT JUST A COUNCIL MEMBER, STEP DOWN IF YOU DON'T MIND AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH SEAN WHEN HE LEAVES HERE.
HE'S HEADING DIRECTLY TO MD ANDERSON.
SO WE WANNA GIVE HIM AS LU AS MUCH LOVE AND SUPPORT AS POSSIBLE.
WE, WE HAVE A BRIEF REQUEST TO SPEAK FROM COUNCILMAN BANKS.
SO, UH, I'M, THIS IS JUST AWESOME.
UM, WHEN, UH, I'VE KNOWN VINO AND KENO, THE WIFE IS VINO, IN CASE Y'ALL DON'T KNOW IT, UH, FROM THE DAY THEY WERE BORN, AS WELL AS, UH, THEIR MOTHER'S GRANDMOTHER, GREAT-GRANDPARENTS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN IN MINISTRY THEIR ENTIRE MARRIAGE.
THEY ARE BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS AND THEY MINISTER TO YOUTH AND YOUNG PEOPLE.
SO I JUST SEE THAT THIS IS A TESTIMONY THAT GOD IS GOING TO USE OF HIS HEALING GRACE AS IT RELATES TO SEAN.
AND, UH, WE ALL JUST GONNA CONTINUE TO DECLARE AND DECREE THAT HE SHALL LIVE AND NOT DIE TO PRO CLAIM THE WORKS OF THE LORD.
MY FATHER HAD PANCREATIC CANCER AND HIS SISTER HAS IT NOW, SO IT'S NOT FOREIGN TO ME, BUT SEAN WILL LIVE AND NOT DIE TO PROCLAIM THE WORKS OF THE LORD.
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JOHN STRONG ON THREE.EVERYBODY ELSE WITH BLUE SHIRT? Y'ALL.
EVERYBODY READY ON 3, 1, 2, 3.
WE'LL TAKE A BRIEF FIVE MINUTE RECESS TO CLEAR THE CHAMBERS AND WE'LL START IN FIVE MINUTES.
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WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, THE HOME OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.
GOOD TO HAVE ALL OF YOU TUNED IN ON THIS OCTOBER 25TH AFTERNOON, AND GLAD TO HAVE YOU LIVE ON METRO 21.
THAT'S, UH, ON COX, ON AT T STREAMING ON OUR WEBSITE@VLA.GOV AND ALSO ON YOUTUBE.
AND THANKS TO OUR COUNCIL MEMBER TO MY RIGHT FACEBOOK LIVE AT THIS TIME, HERE IS OUR COUNCIL MEMBER WHO IS CHAIRING TODAY'S MEETING, DISTRICT NINE COUNCIL MEMBER DWIGHT HUDSON.
[CALL TO ORDER]
HAVE OUR CALL TO ORDER.ASHLEY, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM? WE HAVE A QUORUM.
WELCOME TO THE WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 25TH, 2023 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING.
I'LL HAND IT OVER TO COUNCILWOMAN CAROLYN COLEMAN TO HELP INTRODUCE OUR INVOCATION, UH, AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, FOLKS.
AND SO THIS AFTERNOON I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF HAVING A MOM AND A DAUGHTER FOR THE PLEDGE AND THE PRAYER.
AND BELIEVE YOU ME, THEY CAN DO BOTH.
AND SO, AZARIA ROCHELLE DOMAIN AND THIS YOUNG LADY IS A FOURTH GRADER AT ST.
AND SHE HAS EARNED NOT JUST ONE A, BUT ALL A'S FOR THE FIRST NINE WEEKS.
SHE, YEAH, SHE PLAYS THE PIANO, SHE TAKES BALLET AND WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE BATON ROUGE BALLET THEATER'S PRODUCTION OF THE
[00:40:01]
NUTCRACKER FOR THE SECOND YEAR.ANGELA DOMAIN, WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HELS MENTORSHIP STEAM ACADEMY.
AND BECAUSE THEY SHARE A LOVE OF LITERACY TOGETHER, AZARIA AND HER MOM HAS PROVIDED BOOKS TO LOCAL PRE-K STUDENTS AND CREATED AN ONLINE SERIES.
READ ME A STORY IN WHICH AZARIA READS HER FAVORITE BOOKS TO THE AUDIENCE.
AND SO, AZARIA AND MOM, IF YOU ALL COME RIGHT ON UP AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT I GIVE AZARIA ROCHELLE DOMAIN THIS CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION.
YOU'RE SO WELCOME AND LET'S GET THIS, WE PULL THIS IN.
ANGELA DOMA, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EKS MENTORSHIP LEADING THE INVOCATION HERE TODAY AND THE CO-CREATOR, YOU ALL HAVE READ ME A STORY.
AND YOU, YOU ALL OKAY, AZAR, YOU COME ON, YOU INVITATION.
BLESS THE LEADERS OF OUR LAND THAT WE MAY BE A PEOPLE AT PEACE AMONG OURSELVES AND A BLESSING TO OTHER NATIONS OF THE EARTH.
SEND DOWN UPON THOSE WHO HOLD OFFICE IN THIS STATE, GOVERNOR JOHN BELL EDWARDS, OUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTERN BROOM, THE MEMBERS OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM, CHARITY AND JUSTICE, THAT WITH STEADFAST PURPOSE, THEY MAY FAITHFULLY AND FULLY SERVE IN THEIR OFFICES TO PROMOTE THE WELLBEING OF ALL PEOPLE.
TEACH OUR PEOPLE TO RELY ON YOUR STRENGTH AND TO ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENSHIP THAT WE MAY ELECT TRUSTWORTHY LEADERS AND MAKE WISE DECISIONS FOR THE WELLBEING OF OUR SOCIETY.
MAY THIS MEETING AND THE DECISIONS AND ACTIONS RESULTING THEREOF REFLECT YOUR WILL BEING DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS ALREADY IN HEAVEN THROUGH THE ONE UPON WHOSE SHOULDERS THE GOVERNMENT RESTS.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN SAYING THE PLEDGE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, AND WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, ALL MEN.
AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND SAY IT, THE FUTURE DR.
DOMME AS WELL WITH MR. LITTLE MRS. ARIA ADOPTION AND ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF
[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
THE MINUTES.ITEM ONE, APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF OCTOBER 11TH, 2023, THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ZONING MEETING OF OCTOBER 18TH, 2023 AND THE GREATER BATON ROUGE AIRPORT COMMISSION MEETING OF OCTOBER 10TH, 2023 BY COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR TREASURER.
ANY OPPOSITION SEEING NONE? ITEM ONE PASSES INTRODUCTIONS.
[INTRODUCTIONS]
PLEASE READ THE INTRODUCTIONS.SECTION 2.12 INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER TWO, AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION OF NOT TO EXCEED $164,408,925 OF BOND PROCEEDS AND OTHER FUNDS FROM THE SEWER SYSTEM TO PARTIALLY REFUND CERTAIN MATURITIES OF THE 2020 A SEWER REVENUE BONDS BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR AND FINANCE
[00:45:01]
DIRECTOR.NUMBER THREE, AMENDING THE PRELIMINARY CURRENT EXPENSE BUDGET AND CAPITAL BUDGET OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH V BATON ROUGE FOR THE YEAR 2024.
SUBMITTED BY THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND ADOPTING THE FINAL CURRENT EXPENSE BUDGET AND CAPITAL BUDGET OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH EAST BATON ROUGE FOR THE YEAR 2024 BY THE MAYOR PRESIDENT.
NUMBER FOUR, A SUPPLEMENTAL RESOLUTION AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING, AMENDED AND RESTATED GENERAL BOND RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THE LOAN AGREEMENT DATED NOVEMBER 1ST, 2023 BY BOND COUNSEL CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER
[CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS]
FIVE, SUCCESSION OF KAREN LYNN SMITH DAWSON, 1 3 8 5 SWAN AVENUE COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS, NUMBER SIX, JA MA JAVIER, LLC 1 6 2 3 BRIGHT BRIGHTSIDE DRIVE COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE.NUMBER SEVEN TON WICK SIN PIO 5 6 0 5 SILVER RELIEF AVENUE COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST.
NUMBER EIGHT, ZITA MARIE POLK DE PASS.
1 2 1 2 NORTH 28TH STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE, NUMBER NINE, MARY SHAONE BROUSSARD, 5 0 6 5 FAIRFIELDS AVENUE COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE, NUMBER 10, HAYWOOD REED.
4 2 8 5 PROVO STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 11 KI.
INVESTMENTS, LLC 2 0 5 0 HEMLOCK STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 12, REVEREND BEN ROSS IN ST.
SPIRITUAL CHURCHES OF CHRIST UNITED 1 2 2 5 PARISH STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 13, CHIPPEWA PROPERTIES INC.
2 7 7 3 HURON STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 14, EARL MARCEL JUNIOR, ET AL.
1-848-GEORGIA STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN
[ADJUDICATED PROPERTY INTRODUCTIONS]
ADJUDICATED PROPERTY INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER 15 LOT THREE AND FOUR SQUARE TWO 19 SUBDIVISION ESMA COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 16 LOT EIGHT SQUARE TWO 19 SUBDIVISION ESMA COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 17 LOT NINE SQUARE TWO 19 SUBDIVISION ESMA COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 18 LOT 18 SQUARE TWO 20.SUBDIVISION ESMA COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 19 LOT 19 SQUARE TWO 20.
SUBDIVISION ESMA COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 20 LOT SIX SUBDIVISION RIVERLAND COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE, GODDE NUMBER 21 LOT 85 SUBDIVISION RIVERLAND COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE, GOD.
DAY NUMBER 22 LOT TWO 11 SUBDIVISION MERIDIAN CON CONDOMINIUMS COUNCIL DISTRICT 11 ADAMS NUMBER 23 LOT DC SUBDIVISION BROOKSTOWN PLACE COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST NUMBER 24 LOT NINE PLUS SQUARE NINE.
SUBDIVISION STANDARD HEIGHTS COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 25 LOT 17 SQUARE SIX SUBDIVISION EDEN PARK COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 26 LOT 19 THROUGH 22 SQUARE 51 SUBDIVISION FORTUNE COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST NUMBER 27 LOT EIGHT PARTS SQUARE FIVE.
SUBDIVISION QUA AND LAYMAN TOWN COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 28, LOT ONE PARTS SQUARE TWO.
SUBDIVISION ROSEDALE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 29, LOT THREE AND FOUR INDUSTRIAL CENTER SOUTH COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 30 LOT FIVE SQUARE TWO SUBDIVISION STANDARD HEIGHTS COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 31 LOT TWO.
SUBDIVISION HOLIDAY WOODS COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE, HEARST NUMBER 32 LOT 12 SUBDIVISION VICTORIA GARDENS COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 33 LOT SEVEN PART SQUARE SEVEN SUBDIVISION BELLEVUE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 34 LOT SEVEN PLUS SQUARE 12 SUBDIVISION ZION CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST.
ALL ITEMS REQUIRE READING HAVE BEEN READ.
AND A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS AS AN ORDER.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS BY COUNCILMAN ADAMS. SECOND BY DUNN.
ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE ITEMS ARE INTRODUCED.
MOVE TO CONDEMNATIONS MEMBERS, PLEASE SEE YOUR SEPARATE SHEET.
UH, ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON A CONDEMNATION ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 78 71 THROUGH 88.
SEEING NONE WILL MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE HAVE SOME STATED CHANGES FROM MEMBERS.
ANYONE THAT HASN'T BROUGHT ONE YET? YES, I'D LIKE TO GIVE, UH, NUMBER 75, 30 DAYS.
ALRIGHT, ANYBODY ELSE? YES SIR.
MR. GOODDAY, I NEED ASHLEY FOR ITEM 73.
I JUST NEED A LITTLE GUIDANCE.
FOR ITEM 73, I WAS GONNA DO A 60 DAY DEFERRAL, BUT RECOGNIZE IN DECEMBER WE ONLY HAVE THE ONE MEETING.
IS THAT APPROPRIATE OR IS IT A 45 DAY DEFERRAL? YEAH, THAT, THAT WOULD NOT BE,
[00:50:01]
UM, A 60 DAY DEFERRAL.YOU CAN, YOU CAN JUST ASK TO DEFER IT TO THE DECEMBER 12TH TO THE DECEMBER, UH, 13TH MEETING.
ALSO, NUMBER 77, 60 DAYS NUMBER, 77 60 DAYS AND WHAT, WHENEVER.
THAT WAS 87 NUMBER, 75, 30 DAYS NUMBER, 77, 60 DAYS AND NUMBER 87 90 DAYS.
THE MOTION IS TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 71, 72.
ASHLEY, TELL US WHAT THE MOTION IS.
IF I DON'T HAVE ONE THAT YOU'VE REQUESTED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
I HAVE TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 71, 74, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83 AND 88 TO DEFER FOR 30 DAYS.
87 TO DEFER TO THE DECEMBER 13TH COUNSEL MEETING ITEM 73 AND 77.
AND TO DELETE ITEM 85, I BELIEVE WE'LL ALSO DEFER ITEM 78 FOR 30 DAYS.
ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING, SEEING NONE CONDEMNATIONS ARE SO MOVED.
[PUBLIC HEARING / MEETING]
PUBLIC HEARING, WE'RE GONNA TAKE ITEM ONE 60, UH, BECAUSE SOME OF THE FOLKS FROM THE PUBLIC SAT THROUGH OUR ENTIRE LAST MEETING WAITING ON THAT REPORT.SO, UH, MEMBERS, IF YOU WILL MOVE FORWARD IN YOUR AGENDA TO ITEM ONE 60, REQUESTING A REPORT FROM THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT ON THE GROUP HOMES IN THE PARISH.
THE PURPOSE OF GROUP HOMES, THE NUMBER OF GROUP HOMES IN EACH DISTRICT, THE PROCESS FOR ESTABLISHING A GROUP HOME AND THE ORDINANCES, STATE STATUTES, FEDERAL LAWS AND JURISPRUDENCE PERTAINING TO GROUP HOMES BY COUNCILMAN LAURIE ADAMS. WE'LL HEAR THE REPORT PRIOR TO OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING, SO, RIGHT, MR. MESSINA.
SO IF YOU RECALL AT THE LAST MEETING, WE WERE KIND OF AT THE TAIL END OF THE MEETING AND WE, UH, PRETTY MUCH FINISHED THE REPORT.
BUT IF YOU GO TO SLIDE SEVEN, UM, THIS KIND OF PICKS UP WHERE THE, FOR THE OXFORD HOUSE CASE, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY THE CASE THAT RULES THE, THE, UH, CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND HOW WE HANDLE, UM, GROUP HOMES.
AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE COURT FOUND WAS THAT OUR DEFINITION OF, UH, FOR, WE HAD A SPECIAL HOME VERSUS A GROUP HOME.
AND THE COURT FOUND THAT A LITTLE, A LITTLE HARD TO SWALLOW.
AND SO WE HAD TO GO BACK AND CHANGE OUR DEFINITION OF SPECIAL HOME TO GROUP HOME.
AND, AND ESSENTIALLY IT WAS OVERNIGHT SUPERVISION.
THAT WAS REALLY THE PROBLEM THAT AT HAND.
SO BASED UPON THE OXFORD HOUSE RULING, UM, WE HAD CHANGED SOME OF OUR INTERNAL PROCEDURES AT PLANNING AND ZONING.
AND WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE COURT ORDER AND THE OXFORD HOUSE.
NOW, WHAT HAS COME OUT RECENTLY, UM, AND I SAY RECENTLY IN 2000 AND, UH, 22 IS A FORT LAUDERDALE CASE, UH, CALLED SAILBOAT.
AND IN THAT PARTICULAR CASE, THE COURT RULED THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE UNDER, UH, A SPECIAL NEEDS GROUP OR A PROTECTED CLASS, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO COMPLY WITH OXFORD HOUSE RULING.
AND IN FACT, IT WENT THE EXACT OPPOSITE WAY.
IT FELT THAT THE COURT OVERREACHED AN OXFORD HOUSE.
AND, BUT THERE ARE SOME SUBTLE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN, UH, OUR CASE AND THE OXFORD HOUSE CASE.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE TO BE, UH, CAREFUL ABOUT COMPLIANCE WITH, STILL COMPLYING WITH THE OXFORD HOUSE, BUT MAKING SOME INTERNAL CHANGES.
UM, THAT WOULD MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO HAVE GROUP HOMES, UH, IN BATON ROUGE.
UM, BUT STILL IN COMPLIANCE WITH, UH, WITH THE LAW.
IT'S KIND OF WHERE WE LEFT OFF AT THE END OF LAST MEETING.
UH, I CAN OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE, UH, FOR Y'ALL BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN YEAH, WE'LL, WE'LL BACK, WE'LL DO THE PUBLIC HEARING FIRST.
UM, SO WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE 60? YES MA'AM.
STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD PLEASE.
[00:55:02]
HI, I AM DEBORAH SIMINO.I'M THE PRESIDENT OF SHERWOOD FOREST AND I'M AN OFFICER OF THE FEDERATION OF GREATER BATON ROUGE CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS REPRESENTING OVER A HUNDRED HOAS.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO THANK LORI ADAMS FOR, UM, GOING FORWARD WITH THIS ENDEAVOR AND THIS, UM, THIS EFFORT GROUP HOMES.
THE INTENTION WAS VERY GOOD IN THE BEGINNING.
WE KNOW THAT, UM, BECAUSE WE DEFINITELY WANT EVERYONE TO BE ABLE TO, UM, GET CONNECTED TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, THAT HAS, UM, WITHOUT SOME GUIDELINES WE SEEM TO FIND THAT EVERYTHING GOES VERY BAD AND VERY WRONG.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE FOUND THAT WE, WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS STUDY AND MAYBE BEING ABLE TO PUT SOME, UM, GOOD PRINCIPLES INTO PLACE.
UM, WE FIND, NOT JUST IN MY SUBDIVISION, BUT THROUGHOUT BATON ROUGE AND THOSE OLDER SUBDIVISIONS WITH LARGE HOMES, THAT DENSITY OF GROUP HOMES IS A BIG PROBLEM.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS WAS THAT, UM, WE, WE WANT TO TAKE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD ISSUES IN THE PAST, WE WANT TO HELP BRING THEM INTO THE COMMUNITY AND GET CONNECTED.
BUT WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS ON SAY, ONE PARTICULAR STREET THAT'S VERY SHORT, THERE ARE NINE GROUP HOMES.
WELL WAIT, ALL OF YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE GROUP HOMES.
AND SO HOW ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO START FEELING CONNECTED TO YOUR COMMUNITY IF THAT'S ALL YOU'VE GOT AROUND YOU IS GROUP HOMES.
AND THEN THOSE FEW HOMES THAT ARE ACTUALLY OCCUPIED BY, UM, SINGLE FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE JUST SURROUNDED.
AND SO THEIR QUALITY OF OF LIFE HAS CHANGED CONSIDERABLY.
SO DENSITY IS AN ISSUE, LIKE I SAID, ON A VERY SHORT STREET.
UM, WE, WE SEE CLUSTERS OF GROUP HOMES ON A COUPLE OF LITTLE STREETS WHERE, UM, YOU'LL, YOU'LL HAVE A, A MALE GROUP HOME AND A FEMALE GROUP HOME RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM EACH OTHER.
AND SO ONCE AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS FOR THIS EFFORT BECAUSE I THINK THAT WITH SOME GUIDANCE TO OUR GROUP HOME OPERATORS, IT CAN BE BETTER FOR EVERYONE.
THE, THE, UM, RESIDENTS WHO LIVE AND OWN HOMES AND THEN THE RESIDENTS WITHIN THE GROUP HOMES.
SO THANK Y'ALL FOR CONSIDERING THIS.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
UH, YOU NEED MY ADDRESS? NO, NO MA'AM.
UM, THERE'S A GROUP HOME IN MY SUBDIVISION.
UM, AT TIMES THERE ARE 15 TO 20 CARS THERE AND, UH, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS LOOKED INTO WHAT IS THE, THE CODE FOR NUMBER OF VEHICLES THAT CAN BE PARKED.
'CAUSE THEY'RE FILLING THE FRONT YARD.
WE ALSO, WERE TRYING TO FIND OUT ABOUT CODE FOR THESE.
THE BACKYARD IS FILLED WITH PORTABLE BUILDING SHEDS, WHATEVER THAT HAVE BEEN CONVERTED TO LIVING SPACES.
NOW, IN CHECKING WITH THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, THEY SHOW NO LICENSURE FOR A GROUP HOME AT THIS ADDRESS.
SO THEY SAID EAST BATON ROUGE HAS TO BE THE ONE TO, YOU KNOW, WRITE THE RULES OR WHATEVER.
SO I WOULD, UM, REQUEST THAT MAYBE YOU HAVE A TOWN HALL TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE SO THAT THE HOMEOWNERS IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS WHO ARE DEALING WITH THESE GROUP HOMES CAN ACTUALLY HAVE THE TRUE TOWN HALL OF BEING ABLE TO DIRECT QUESTIONS, GET ANSWERS, AND HAVE US BE ABLE TO EXPRESS OUR CONCERNS.
ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE 60? YES, SIR.
STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
UM, I HAVE A HOME IN SHORT FOREST, AND I, UH, MOVED TO TERRA AFTER THE FLOOD.
I'M THE CHAIR OF THE TERRA CRIME DISTRICT AND A FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE SHORT FOREST CITIZENS ASSOCIATION AND, UM, THE SHORT FOREST CRIME DISTRICT.
UM, SO I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A GRAPHIC.
SO SHERWOOD FOREST IS REALLY SORT OF THE, THE IS GROUND ZERO FOR THE, THE, UH, THE GROUP HOME PROJECT OR THE GROUP HOME ISSUE IN LOUISIANA.
WE HAVE 56 GROUP HOMES IN SHERWOOD FOREST.
AS DEBORAH SAID, MANY OF THEM ARE CLUSTERED.
[01:00:01]
WE'RE SEEING GROUP HOMES, UH, DRIVING RESIDENTS OUT.UH, AND IT'S THESE GROUP HOMES BECAUSE WE DEAL WITH THEM FROM THE CRIME DISTRICT LEVEL.
UH, THEY HAVE, WE SEE THEM, THERE'S A LOT OF NEGATIVE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE RESIDENTS OF OTHER HOMES AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE GROUP HOMES.
UH, WE DRUG DEALING, WE HAD AN OVERDOSE IN SHOREWOOD FOREST, AN OVERDOSE DEATH IN SHOREWOOD FOREST WITHIN THE LAST THREE MONTHS, UH, ON SHOREWOOD FOREST FIGHTS, UH, THEFT.
UH, WE HAVE SEX OFFENDERS, NOT JUST ONE, BUT MULTIPLE SEX OFFENDERS IN SOME OF THESE GROUP HOMES.
AND, AND AS I SAID, PLENTY OF OVERDOSES.
SO WE HAVE A GROUP HOME, WE HAVE A GROUP HOME FOR EVERY 58 GROUP HOMES IN, IN SHORT FOREST.
SO ONE GROUP HOME FOR EVERY 58 HOMES INSURED FOREST WE'RE OVERRUN.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THIS, UH, WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH.
UH, WE'VE READ THOUSANDS OF CASES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
COURTS ARE ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE, UH, FROM THE NINTH CIRCUIT TO THE THIRD CIRCUIT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
THERE'S LOTS OF NEW LAW SINCE THE OXFORD HOUSE CASE, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE SAILBOAT ISSUE.
BUT THERE'S NEW LAW ALL OVER AND, UH, CIRCUIT COURTS OF APPEALS ARE ADDRESSING THIS.
UM, WHAT WE SEE IS IN SHEARD FOREST, WE HAVE ONE GROUP HOMEOWNER THAT OWNS FIVE DIFFERENT GROUP HOMES.
UH, GROUP HOMES ARE BIG BUSINESS.
UH, THEY ADVERTISE JUST LIKE THEY LIKE ANY OTHER BUSINESS WOULD FROM SOCIAL MEDIA TO WHATEVER FOR RESIDENTS.
SO WITH THAT SAID, I AM EXCITED ABOUT WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP.
SO IN REVIEWING WHAT YOU HAVE, UH, POSTED AT THE LAST MEETING FROM THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, IT'S, IT FROM MY RESEARCH FALLS IN WITH THE GUIDANCE OF THAT IS ACCEPTABLE BY THE, UM, THE US SUPREME COURT, ACCEPTABLE BY, UH, THE, UH, BY HUD AND, AND OTHERS.
SO I HAVE A, UM, JUST SO THAT YOU CAN SEE, UM, THAT THIS IS A, A JOINT STUDY BY THE, THE, UH, JOINT STATEMENT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
AND WHAT IT SAYS IN THIS IS THE FAIR HOUSING ACT IS NOT A LAND USE OR ZONING STATUTE.
IT DOES NOT PREEMPT LOCAL LAND USE AND ZONING LAWS.
THIS IS AN AREA WHERE THE STATE LAW TYPICALLY GIVES LOCAL GOVERNMENT, UH, PRIMARY POWER.
SO YOU DO HAVE THE POWER TO ADDRESS THIS.
AND UH, AGAIN, I THINK THE PLAN THAT'S COME, COME OUT IS, UH, IS A VERY GOOD START TO WHERE WE NEED TO GO.
UH, I'D ALSO SAY THAT I FORWARDED TO COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, UH, PLAN FROM ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, ORANGE.
THAT REALLY, IF YOU WOULD JUST GIVE YOU 10 MORE SECONDS, BUT THAT'S YOUR TIME THAT REALLY ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE.
SO WE ARE NOT REINVENTING THE WHEEL IN BATON ROUGE.
UH, AND I THINK THE PLAN PUT PUT FORTH IS A VERY GOOD START.
ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE 60? SEEING NONE.
WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
COUNCILMAN ADAMS? UM, I WANNA, I WANNA THANK, UM, MR. MESSINA AND THE, THE PLANNING STAFF, GILL AND, UM, RYAN FOR THIS REPORT.
UM, AND I, I'VE GOT A FEW QUESTIONS.
UM, BRIAN PAO, WHOEVER, UH, GIL.
UM, SO IN THIS REPORT WE'VE IDENTIFIED SOME INTERNAL CHANGES THAT WE CAN, WE CAN MAKE IN THE WAY THAT WE, WE PROCESS, UM, OR ADMINISTRATIVELY HANDLE GROUP HOMES.
CAN YOU JUST BRIEFLY GO THROUGH WHAT, WHAT THAT, WHAT THOSE CHANGES ARE? YES, MA'AM.
UH, I, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNEW THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN GROUP HOMES AND I GUESS A HOME THAT HAS GONE THROUGH THE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION PROCEDURE.
SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT.
THE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION IS ONLY FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE A, A PROTECTED CLASS.
UM, GROUP HOMES CAN BE ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH UNDER THE SUN.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT Y'ALL UNDERSTOOD THAT WHEN YOU IDENTIFY GROUP HOMES, THE CHANCES ARE THEY HAVE NOT COME THROUGH THE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION PROCEDURE.
THEY HAVEN'T COME TO US FIRST.
SO DO THEY HAVE, SO, UM, IF IT'S A HOME THAT IS HOUSING, UM, PEOPLE WITH, WITH AN ADDICTION ISSUE, UM, DO THEY NEED TO COME THROUGH US? I MEAN, THAT WAS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS.
WE, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF HOMES THAT HAVE NOT GONE THROUGH THE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION PROCESS.
SO, AND, AND LIKELY SHOULD HAVE.
SO ADDICTION IN AND OF ITSELF, WHETHER IT BE ALCOHOL OR DRUGS, DOES NOT MAKE IT A, A PROTECTED CLASS PER SE.
YOU HAVE TO PROVE, AND I SAY YOU, THE HOMEOWNER WHO WANTS TO HAVE THE GROUP HOME HAS TO PROVE AND ATTEST THE FACT THAT THE PEOPLE NEED THAT GROUP HOME TO REACCLIMATE INTO SOCIETY.
AND THEY, WITHOUT THAT, THEY WOULD GO BACK
[01:05:01]
TO DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.THEY NEED TO PUT FORTH AN AFFIDAVIT, UH, TO THAT.
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IS UNREGISTERED GROUP HOMES.
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT THE PUBLIC CALL 3 1 1 REGISTER THE COMPLAINT.
UM, PERMITS WILL, CODE ENFORCEMENT WILL GO OUT AND INVESTIGATE THAT.
AND IF NECESSARY, WE CAN BEGIN THE PROCESS TO EITHER GET THEM IN COMPLIANCE OR SHUT 'EM DOWN.
UM, THAT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING, 'CAUSE WE DON'T, WE JUST DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT WITHOUT THE PUBLIC'S INPUT, WE JUST CANNOT.
WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO GO OUT AND WE WON'T KNOW THAT.
SO WE ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO CONTACT 3 1 1 AND WE CAN BEGIN THE PROCESS.
SO IF IT, IF IT'S A, A HOME OR AN OPERATION THAT IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, THEN ESSENTIALLY IT WOULD BE A ALMOST A BOARDING HOUSE.
SO ANYBODY WHO KNOWS ABOUT OR SUSPECTS THAT THEY HAVE ONE, UM, OPERATING ON, ON WITHOUT A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, IS IT ALSO, IS THAT, DOES THAT REQUIRE AN OCCUPANCY PERMIT OR IS THERE SOME BUSINESS LICENSING ALSO THAT HAS TO, SO THEY DO NEED TO HAVE, JUST AS ANY INDIVIDUAL THAT OWNS A HOME, YOU WOULD NEED TO GET A, A, AN OCCUPANCY.
UM, AND SO THAT WOULD THEN KICK IT INTO POTENTIALLY, DEPENDING UPON HOW MANY PEOPLE THERE WOULD MAYBE HAVE TO HAVE STATE OR, UH, LOCAL FIRE MARSHAL SIGN OFF ON THAT.
BUT THAT YOU HAVE TO RE REACH A CERTAIN THRESHOLD, UH, FOR THAT TO, TO OCCUR AND NOT, WHAT IS IT, 10 PEOPLE I THINK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
10 ABOVE 10 THAT STATE FIRE MARSHAL WOULD NEED TO GO OUT THERE ABOVE 10 AND IT REQUIRES A, A VISIT.
I, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY THAT HAVE, WE HAVEN'T, NONE OF THAT HAS COME ACROSS MY DESK THAT HAS BEEN 10.
I'VE, I'VE HEARD RUMORS THAT THERE MIGHT BE A COUPLE OUT THERE.
I, AND THERE AGAIN, NONE THAT HAVE COME ACROSS MY DESK HAVE REACHED THAT THRESHOLD, THAT F 10.
NOW THERE ARE PROBABLY SOME THAT ARE OUT THERE.
UM, THE YOUNG LADY THAT JUST SPOKE.
UH, TALKED ABOUT THE ONES WE, I'VE NEVER HEARD ABOUT THAT ONE BEFORE.
UM, LET'S ADDRESS THE PARKING ISSUE.
UM, HOW DO, HOW DO AGAIN, THAT, THAT'D BE A THREE.
ONE ONE AND THAT DOES FALL INTO THE, IF THERE ARE ANY VIOLATIONS OF ANY CRIMINAL ACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT HOME, IT CAN BE SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY.
THAT DOES INCLUDE TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS, PARKING IS IMPERATIVE.
ANOTHER THING THAT IS ALSO DEEDED RESTRICTIONS, PRIVATE DEEDED RESTRICTIONS ARE ANOTHER WAY THAT NEIGHBORHOODS CAN GO IN AND PREVENT, UM, GROUP HOMES.
THAT IS ANOTHER AVENUE THAT IS AVAILABLE.
UM, WHAT, HOW MANY CARS IS A AN A ONE, UM, HOME, UH, BY ORDINANCE ABLE TO HAVE PER MINIMUM? YEAH.
BUT YOU COULD HAVE MORE THAN THAT.
IT'S JUST DEPENDING UPON WHERE THEY PARK, WHERE THEY PARK, CAN'T BE PARKED IN THE FRONT.
CAN, CAN I PARK IN THE FRONT YARD, YOUR HONOR? OKAY.
AND CARS CAN'T BE PARKED ON THE STREET LONGER THAN NINE CONTINUOUS HOURS, I THINK.
BUT IT'S HARD TO RIGHT, RIGHT.
THAT'S REALLY KIND OF DIFFICULT.
YEAH, NO, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT.
UM, SO, UM, AND I'LL TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, I HAVE, UM, GROUP HOMES OPERATING IN MY DISTRICT THAT ARE VERY WELL RUN AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, EMBRACE THESE HOMES.
AND THEY'RE VERY, THEY'RE VERY HAPPY WITH THEM.
AND I RECENTLY HAD A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT DIDN'T WANT A GROUP HOME TO LEAVE AND TURN INTO NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE.
SO, UM, THIS IS NOT ABOUT EVERY, EVERY SINGLE GROUP HOME THAT'S OPERATING, BUT WE HAVE HAD, HAVE GROUP HOMES, UM, IN INSTANCES IN MY DISTRICT WHERE, UM, MENTALLY DISABLED RESIDENTS WERE NOT RECEIVING THE CARE.
UM, IS THERE, UM, IS THERE, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT IS THE INTERVENTION? SO WE HAD IN, IN MY DISTRICT, UM, PEOPLE WHO WERE MENTALLY DISABLED AND THERE WAS NO FOOD IN THE HOME.
AND SO THEY WERE KNOCKING ON DOORS OF THEIR NEIGHBORS TRYING TO GET FOOD.
I MEAN, THAT'S CLEARLY NOT WHAT WE ARE EXPECTING.
UM, COUNCILMAN ADAMS BEFORE YOU, HE ANSWERS, DO YOU WANT YOUR ADDITIONAL TIME? YES, PLEASE.
UM, SO WHAT, WHAT IS THE REMEDY FOR THAT? SO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WE WOULD ASK THAT THEY CONTACT 3 1 1, THEN WE WOULD BEGIN OUR INVESTIGATION.
WE WOULD CONTACT LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ALSO TO, TO PARTNER WITH US AS WELL AS THE, THE FIRE MARSHAL, BECAUSE THAT RISES TO THE LEVEL OF, UM, THAT INHABITANTS OR UNSAFE IN THAT AREA.
AND THAT IS, THAT BECOMES A, THAT BECOMES AN ISSUE.
SO WE CAN ADDRESS THAT RATHER QUICKLY.
AND THEN, UM, LET'S, UH, MS. LANDRY, UM, I BROUGHT UP THE, THE ONE IN HER, UM, AREA WHERE THE SHED, THE SHEDS THAT THEY'VE BUILT, AND I'VE HEARD THIS ABOUT OTHER HOMES WHERE, UM, PEOPLE WILL BE OPERATING, YOU KNOW, GROUP HOMES AND THEY WILL LITERALLY BUILD SHEDS IN THE BACK AND ACCOMMODATE MORE, MORE PEOPLE.
IS AGAIN, IS THAT A 3 1 1? THAT'S A 3 1 1 COMPLAINT.
AND WE DO NOT TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
WE LOOK AT JUST THE FOOTPRINT OF THE HOME ITSELF.
[01:10:01]
STRUCTURES THAT PEOPLE COULD LIVE IN, LIKE THE SHEDS.UM, WE DON'T, WE DON'T TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AT ALL WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT COME IN.
SO WHEN, WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN SOMEBODY PUTS AN APPLICATION IN, WE LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF THE, THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE HOME, THE NUMBER OF BEDS IN THAT THEY HAVE IN THERE, AND WE LOOK AT THAT AND MAKE IT A, UH, MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT COULD SAFELY AND ADEQUATELY LIVE IN THAT, IN THAT HOME.
UM, AND, BUT IF THOSE SHEDS ARE PUT UP, UNPERMITTED, THAT'S 3 1 1 A CONCERN AS WELL? YES.
MS. LANDRY, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEAT, MS. LANDRY, MS. LANDRY, MS. LAND LANDRY, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEAT AND, UH, IF COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS RECOGNIZES YOU, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SPEAK.
UM, SO I MEAN THAT'S, UM, MS. LANDER, YOU CAN COME.
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.
SHE WAS JUST SAYING THAT SHE HAD FILED IT TO 3 1 1 AND, AND THAT THERE WAS NO COMPLAINT.
SO BLAKE IS GONNA, UH, ASSIST HER WITH THAT.
AND SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT RESOLVED.
UM, THAT, THAT IS, UM, THAT IS TREMENDOUS.
IS THERE, IS THERE ARE, ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS? UM, ARE THERE, DOES ANYONE HAVE TO BE, IS THERE ANY LICENSING TO OWN A GROUP HOME? ANY CERTIFICATION THAT PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE OR CAN REALLY ANYONE? IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH? THERE'S NO RESTRICTIONS.
BUT WHAT WE DO FIND IS THAT SOME COMPANIES, OXFORD HOUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, WILL GO IN AND, AND GENERALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY GO INTO AREAS THAT HOUSES THAT HAVE SAT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME ON THE MARKET, BUY 'EM ON THE CHEAP, AND THEN THEY'LL BE ABLE TO, UH, TURN AROUND AND PUT SIX PEOPLE IN THERE AT $500 A POP.
AND MAKE A, MAKE A NICE LITTLE OF PROFIT OFF OF IT.
UM, SO, AND IS THERE ANY, UM, IT LOOKS LIKE IN OUR ORDINANCE THAT WE SAY THAT, THAT A GROUP HOME HAS A ROOM AND BOARD, WHICH I THINK MEANS MEALS.
IS THAT CORRECT? DO WE EVER CHECK AND MAKE SURE THERE'S, WELL, THEY DO HAVE TO HAVE A KITCHEN, A FULLY OPERATIONAL KITCHEN.
SO IT WASN'T, THEY, IT'S NOT LIKE JUST A ROOM.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE BED, BATH, YOU KNOW, KITCHEN, FULL SIZE KITCHEN, NOT JUST LIKE A KITCHENETTE.
IT WOULD NEED TO BE A FULLY OPERATIONAL AND FUNCTION FUNCTIONING KITCHEN.
SO IT'S NOT ABOUT HAVING MEALS PREPARED, JUST THE ABILITY, JUST THE ABILITY TO PREPARE, UM, MEALS.
BUT AGAIN, JUST TO CONFIRM, THE, THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL DOES NOT HAVE TO COME IN UNLESS IT'S 10 OR MORE RESIDENTS.
AND THAT'S BY STATE STATUTE OR BY OUR ORDINANCE? BLAKE CAN BE, BE THE BETTER PERSON TO ANSWER THAT, JUST TO BE, MAKE THAT PERFECTLY CLEAR.
UH, SO IT DEPENDS ON IF THE RESIDENTS ARE TRANSIENT OR NON-TRANSIENT.
SO IF WE GET TO 10 OR MORE TRANSIENTS, UH, THEN IT WOULD REQUIRE, YOU KNOW, A A, AN APPROVAL FROM THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE.
IF IT'S NON-TRANSIENT, THEN THE THRESHOLD IS 16.
AND HOW WE CAN YOU, CAN YOU DEFINE FOR US TRANSIENT VERSUS NON-TRANSIENT? UH, SO IF THE RESIDENTS ARE GONNA STAY THERE FOR LESS THAN SIX MONTHS.
AND THAT IS ORDINANCE OR THAT'S STATE STATUTE? THAT'S IN STATE STATUTE.
I THINK, I THINK THAT'S ALL THE, UM, THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD.
THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.
UM, YOU KNOW, IN BEGINNING TO DO A, A CURSORY, A READ OF SOME DIFFERENT CASES THAT HAVE, UM, BEEN DECIDED AT DIFFERENT APPELLATE COURTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, UM, I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT AND, BUT I, I'M VERY, UM, THANKFUL FOR THESE, UM, THESE UPDATED, UH, UH, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION PROCEDURES.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH Y'ALL TO SEE HOW ELSE WE CAN MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, MY, MY NUMBER ONE INTEREST IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN THESE HOMES ARE RECEIVING, UM, THE CARE AND THE HEALTHY LIVING ENVIRONMENT THAT WE ALL WANT, UM, TO SEE AND THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE, ARE, ARE KEPT, UM, IN A, IN A GOOD AND HEALTHY, UM, PLACE AS WELL.
UH, Y'ALL CAN, IF Y'ALL DON'T MIND, STAY UP.
SO I'M GONNA, AT THIS FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT, I CAN GO BY A HOUSE, MULTIPLE HOUSES IN A SUBDIVISION AND JUST START PUTTING PEOPLE IN IT.
Y'ALL TALK IF THEY'RE A PROTECTED CLASS, I MEAN, WHAT'S THAT? IF THEY'RE A PROTECTED CLASS.
OKAY, SO LET'S SAY THEY ARE A PROTECTED CLASS.
DO THEY HAVE TO MEET COMPLIANCY, AADA, A COMPLIANCY, ANYTHING LIKE THAT? YEAH.
YEAH, THEY WOULD HAVE TO, BUT DEPENDS ON THE, THE, THE PROTECTED CLASS THAT IS BEING PLACED INTO THE HOME.
SO YOU WOULD HAVE, IF YOU HAVE A PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED INDIVIDUAL OR A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS, THEY MAY NEED ADDITIONAL HANDRAILS AND STUFF OF THAT NATURE VERSUS A, YOU KNOW, A DRUG ADDICT OR ALCOHOLIC WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO, UM, WHO IS THAT? DOESN'T NEED THAT.
CAN YOU TURN THE MIC OFF? THANK YOU.
SO, COUGHING IN THE BACKGROUND AGAIN, IF THEY HAVE A PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HANDICAP THAT WOULD PREVENT THEM AND THEY WOULD MAYBE NEED SOME ADDITIONAL HANDRAILS
[01:15:01]
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY WOULD NEED TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THAT.BUT IF IT'S A, DO THEY, SO THESE HOMES THAT WE KNOW ABOUT YES SIR.
ARE THEY CLASSIFIED AS ONE OR THE OTHER? OR ARE THEY CLASSIFIED THEIR DISABILITIES, HAVE THEY CLASSIFIED THEIR MENTAL CAPACITIES? YEAH, WE MAKE THEM STATE WHAT THE PROTECTED CLASS IS.
SO IF IT IS A PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HANDICAP, WE, WE, THEY HAVE TO STATE THAT IT'S PHYSICAL OR MENTALLY, UH, HANDICAP.
OR IF IT IS A DRUG OR ALCOHOL, WE MAKE 'EM SAY IT'S DRUG OR ALCOHOL.
SO, BUT WOULDN'T ALL OF THAT FALL UNDER THE DISABILITIES ACT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? DRUG DRUG ABUSE AND, AND THINGS WERE, THEY WERE INTO A HOME, UM, MENTAL CAPACITY INTO A HOME.
UH, PHYSICAL HANDICAP, PHYSICAL HANDICAP PART INTO A HOME, ALL OF THAT.
WOULD THAT FALL? FALL UNDER AADA A COMPLIANCY CASE'S CASE ADA, A COMPLIANCY CASE? IT'S CASE.
CASE BY CASE DEPENDING ON WHAT CATEGORY OF AD COMPLIANCY? YES, SIR.
THESE ONES THAT YOU WERE, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT THE ONES THAT WE KNOW ABOUT.
SO DO WE HAVE A RIGHT TO GO IN NOW THAT THEY'VE FILED UNDER REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS, UM, TO INSPECT FOR COMPLIANCY? WITHOUT A COMPLAINT, WE WOULD NOT HAVE A REASON TO GO AND DO AN INVESTIGATION.
I DON'T THINK YOU WANT ANYBODY KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU, YOU'RE SMOKE DETECTORS ARE IN PLACE WITHOUT A COMPLAINT.
BUT THERE, BUT I'M NOT REGISTERED WITH A GROUP HOME AND I UNDERSTAND AND HAVING MULTIPLE FAMILIES OR, OR DIFFERENT PEOPLE LIVING IN MY HOME.
SO YES, I AGREE WITH YOU IN COMING TO SEE MY SMOKE DETECTOR, BUT I DISAGREE WITH THE PART OF THESE, THESE PEOPLE ARE OPERATING AS A BUSINESS.
Y'ALL STATED A WHILE AGO, PEOPLE WILL COME IN AND THEY'LL BUY MULTIPLE HOMES.
SAME PERSON BUYING MULTIPLE HOMES.
IT, IT, I MEAN, THIS SOUNDS WONDERFUL.
I, I KNOW OF MULTIPLE HOMES THAT I CAN JUST GO BUY RIGHT NOW AND I'LL START LOADING 'EM UP WITH PEOPLE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, LET'S, LET'S TALK TO FACTS HERE.
SO THIS IS WHAT I'M WONDERING IS IF THESE ONES THAT WE HAVE AND KNOW ABOUT, IF THEY HAVE TO MEET ON COMPLIANCY, THEN WHY CAN'T WE ARBITRARILY GO IN AS A BUSINESS? SAME WAY YOU COME INTO MY BUSINESS AND INSPECT ON ON THOSE CLASSIFICATIONS.
ALSO, WE TALK ABOUT SERVING FOOD JUST A SECOND AGO.
AND WHAT, AND WHETHER THE FIRE MARSHAL HAS TO BE IN THERE OR NOT, DO THEY HAVE TO MEET THE COMPLIANCY OF, UH, KITCHEN APPLIANCES? LIKE A RESTAURANT OWNER WOULD HAVE TO, A RESTAURANT OWNER HAS TO GO IN AND PUT A $50,000 HOOD IN THAT AUTOMATICALLY DUMPS WHATEVER, IF A FIRE GOES OFF AND, AND ALL THIS STUFF THAT COSTS THEM MONEY AFTER MONEY AFTER MONEY, WHETHER IT'S A MEDICAL FACILITY OR A, UM, MENTAL FACILITY OR A HOMELESS FACILITY OR WHATEVER.
THEY HAVE CERTAIN THINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO MEET TO SERVE FOOD LIKE A RESTAURANT OR WHATEVER.
DO THESE PLACES HAVE TO DO THAT? SO, OKAY, WHILE IT'S A BUSINESS FOR YOU AND I, WE MAY THINK ABOUT IT AS A BUSINESS, THE WAY THE THE COURTS HAVE INTERPRETED IT IS THAT IT IS NOT A BUSINESS, OKAY? IT IS AN INDIVIDUAL.
THEY DON'T LOOK AT IT AS THE BUSINESS, OXFORD HOUSE PER SE.
THEY LOOK AT IT AS THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE LIVING THERE AS THEIR RIGHT TO LIVE THERE.
NOT AS OXFORD HOUSE IS RUNNING A BUSINESS AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING THERE.
THAT'S A DISTINCTION THAT THE COURTS HAVE MADE.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I, OR YOU MAY AGREE WITH, BUT THAT'S WHAT THE COURTS HAVE HAVE SAID.
NOW, AS FAR AS WHAT COMPLIANCE TO HAVE, BLAKE MAY BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO ANSWER THAT.
COUNCILMAN MO, WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR ADDITIONAL TIME FOLLOW? UM, SO, SO COUNCILMAN MOOCH, I, I THINK YOU'RE, UH, ABSOLUTELY GOING DOWN THE RIGHT TRACK WITH THIS.
UH, BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO THINGS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ZONING, AND THEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING CODE SAFETY.
SO WHEN IT COMES FROM A BUILDING CODE PERSPECTIVE, IF THE OCCUPANTS WITHIN THE STRUCTURE REQUIRE SOME SORT OF AMBULATORY CARE OR, OR 24 7 MEDICAL ATTENTION, OR IF THEY CAN'T EXIT THE HOME UNDER THEIR OWN POWER, YES, THAT WOULD TRIGGER ADDITIONAL BUILDING CODE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS THAT WE CAN THEN INSPECT FOR.
HOWEVER, IF THAT HOME CAN CONTINUE TO FUNCTION AS A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE, REGARDLESS OF THE RELATIONSHIP STATUS OF THE OCCUPANTS, UH, THEN IT CAN BE TREATED JUST LIKE A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
SO IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW THEY'RE USING THE STRUCTURE, WHETHER OR NOT THOSE REQUIREMENTS COME INTO PLACE.
DO YOU FEEL THAT SOME OF THESE PLACES THAT ARE USING THE STRUCTURE ARE PUSHING RIGHT UP TO THAT LINE, NOT TO HAVE TO DO THE COMPLIANCIES AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT GOES ALONG WITH ACTUAL BUSINESS OPERATIONS? UH, I HAVEN'T HAD THAT SPECIFIC COMPLAINT COME TO OUR OFFICE YET.
I THINK MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT WE'VE HAD
[01:20:01]
HAVE BEEN IN REGARDS TO PARKING, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, THE, JUST THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITHIN THE STRUCTURE, NOT NECESSARILY, BUT ANY ONE OF THOSE, LIKE PARKING AND ANY, ANY ONE OF THOSE COMPLAINTS SHOULD TRIGGER A WHOLE LOOK INTO THE, THE, THE, THE BUSINESS OR THE WHOLE PLACE ITSELF.OR DO WE JUST DRIVE OUT THERE AND GO GET OFF THE STREET? UH, SO IF IT WAS A PARKING ISSUE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD FOLLOW TO EITHER SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AS LONG AS THEY HAD THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES, PERMITS, AND PLANNING AND ZONING, WE DON'T ACTUALLY ENFORCE PARKING REGULATIONS.
SO THAT WOULD GET MOVED ON IT.
AND WHAT, I GUESS, AND, AND LIKE I SAID, I'M GLAD THIS IS A DISCUSSION.
THE CONCERN IS, IS THAT ANYBODY COULD GO IN, MOVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE IN, AND, AND THE, THE RECOURSE AND, AND LOOK, PEOPLE NEED ASSISTANCE.
AND I, I'VE SEEN SOME OF THESE PLACES THAT, THAT WORK OUT REALLY WELL, AND I'VE SEEN SOME PEOPLE MAYBE, YOU KNOW, HAVE THEIR HOME, UH, OPEN AND, AND THEY DO THEIR THING.
BUT, BUT FOR, FOR SOMEBODY TO OPERATE AS A FULL-BLOWN BUSINESS, OPENING MULTIPLE PLACES WITHIN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD, KNOWING THAT THEY'RE JUST BUYING HOMES FOR YOU, THAT IS A BUSINESS.
AND, AND WE, WE SHOULD TREAT THEM AS A BUSINESS.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WOULD DO MULTIPLE HOMES IN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD ANYWAY, WHEN IT'D PROBABLY BE CHEAPER FOR THEM TO BUY A PIECE OF LAND IN A FACILITY.
BUT THEN, BUT THEN YOU GO BACK TO THE WHOLE THING IS THEY DON'T WANT TO MEET COMPLIANCY.
THEY DON'T WANNA GO THROUGH ALL THE RULES AND REGULATIONS.
SO I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE PUSHING RIGHT UP TO THAT LINE.
AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT, THAT WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK INTO IS, IS WHERE WE CAN ENFORCE, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND WE NEED THE COMPLAINTS THAT COME IN ON 3 1 1 TO BE NOTIFIED OF IT, BUT DEFINITELY THE ONES THAT WE KNOW ABOUT, I, I THINK THERE'S SOME STEPS THAT WE COULD TAKE.
LOOK, IF THEY FALL INTO COMPLIANCY AND, AND EVERYTHING IS ON THE, ON THE UP AND UP IN NORM, AND THEY MEET ALL THE GUIDELINES, LET 'EM HAVE THEIR HOME IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT IF THEY'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT, AND IT'S A OBVIOUS BLATANT FACT OF, OF SOME THINGS, THEN I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO LOOK INTO AND, AND, AND EITHER DISCUSS WITH THEM OR TALK WITH THEM ABOUT HOW TO EITHER GET THERE.
LOOK, WE, WE DON'T MIND ASSISTING YOU.
OR YOU'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO FIND A, A FACILITY ITSELF AND MOVE EVERYBODY INTO THERE.
UH, THAT'S, THAT'S JUST MY, MY TAKE ON IT.
I, I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION AND EVERYTHING ABOUT IT.
UM, I I, SOME OF THE LIMITS, IT SEEMS LIKE ME, A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION WAS ABOUT THE LIMITS OF WHAT WE COULD AND WHAT WE COULD DO.
AND I, I FEEL LIKE IF WE NEEDED TO GET INTO THIS, WE COULD REALLY, UH, DIG INTO IT AND FIND THAT COMPLIANCE.
COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS BROUGHT IT UP ABOUT THAT.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THESE PEOPLE ARE TAKEN CARE OF, AND THEY'RE NOT JUST ARBITRARILY SOMEBODY BUYING A HOME AND SAYING, LOOK HOW MANY PEOPLE I CAN STACK IN HERE FOR $500 A MONTH.
SO, UH, SO I KNOW THAT IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, UH, SOBRIETY HOMES ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE LEG HAVE LICENSING OR, UM, ANY CERTIFICATION.
IS THAT CORRECT? UNDER, UNDER 10 BECAUSE I I RECALL SOME, YEAH.
SO AGAIN, THERE, THERE'S NOT A SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT FOR THEM TO HAVE.
IT'S NO MANDATORY REQUIREMENT.
AND SO WHAT I'VE NOTICED IS THAT WHAT OXFORD HOUSE MAKES SURE THAT THEY FALL, UH, AS IT RELATES TO THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN SIX AND NINE, TO AVOID, UM, THAT THRESHOLD THAT WOULD REQUIRE LICENSING, UH, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH LDH, UH, OR, OR DCFS.
AND SO FOR, BASED ON A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAVE, THEY'RE REALLY, UNTIL THERE'S SOME LEGISLATURE LEGISLATION THAT IT REQUIRES, UM, ANY SOBRIETY RESIDENTIAL FACILITY TO HAVE LICENSING AND CERTIFICATION, IT REALLY LEAVES, UM, PLANNING, UH, AND THE CITY AT A DISADVANTAGE WHERE ALL WE COULD DO IS SAY THE BUILDING IS IN COMPLIANCE.
BUT AS IT RELATES TO THE, THE, THE REQUIREMENTS THAT HAD IT HAD IT BEEN LICENSED THERE, UH, ARE MANDATES AS TO, AS DOWN TO HOW MANY MEALS ARE SERVED.
YOU KNOW, WE HEARD THEM TALKING ABOUT, UM, PERSONS KNOCKING ON DOORS.
WELL, UNDER LICENSING, THREE MEALS ARE GONNA BE REQUIRED AT A CERTAIN TIME.
UM, THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT OPERATION, IF IT WAS UNDER LICENSE, I MEAN, THEY MIGHT, THEY MIGHT HAVE NO ONE IN THE HOME AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, UM, TAKING CARE OF THEMSELVES WITH NO SUPERVISION OR WITH THAT COULD BE VERY WELL, AND THERE'S NO MANDATE THAT THEY HAVE TO.
BUT WITH LICENSING, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN, UH, STAFF PERSON WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TRAINING
[01:25:01]
AND, UM, A NUMBER PER INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ON DUTY ALL THE TIME.SO A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT ARE, UM, ARE BEING TALKED ABOUT NOW, EVEN 3 1 1 CAN'T HANDLE, THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THERE'S NO MANDATE, THERE'S NO LICENSING REQUIREMENT.
AND IT, OTHER THAN SOMETHING HAPPENING TO ONE OF THESE ADULTS WHERE YOU CALL ADULT ADULT PROTECTION, WHICH IS UNLIKELY, UM, IT, IT, IT LOOKS TO ME THAT STATUTE NEEDS TO CHANGE AT THE, AT THE, UH, STATE LEVEL BECAUSE IT'S, IT IS REALLY NOTHING YOU COULD DO.
WE, WE WOULD DEFINITELY LOOK FOR THE STATE FOR SOME GUIDANCE IN, IN SETTING THE PARAMETERS OUT THERE.
I I DEFINITELY THINK THAT WOULD CERTAINLY HELP, UH, NOT ONLY OUR PARISH, BUT ALL OF THE PARISHES, FRANKLY, FROM THE STATE IN THAT MATTER.
I MEAN, SO CERTAINLY LOOK TO THE STATE FOR SOME ASSISTANCE WITH THAT.
AND, AND YOU ARE CORRECT FOR, ESPECIALLY FOR THE, UM, DRUG, UH, AND ALCOHOLIC, UM, HOMES, THERE GENERALLY IS NOT SOMEBODY THAT IS STAYING THERE OVER THE NIGHT THAT THEY'RE SELF-SUFFICIENT.
NOW, THE, THE PURPOSE OF THE GROUP HOME IS TO TREAT IT AS A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENT.
AND THAT'S HOW THE, THE, THE COURTS HAVE INTERPRETED IT AS WELL, RIGHT? SO THAT'S HOW WE'RE ABLE TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE PER BEDROOM.
THAT'S HOW WE'RE ABLE TO LIMIT IN, IN THAT.
RIGHT? BUT FOR THE INDIVIDUALS THAT DO HAVE, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS FOR A MENTAL OR PHYSICAL HANDICAP, THEY USUALLY HAVE A PERSON THAT IS EITHER STAYING THERE OR STAFFING IT, UH, ALL, ALL THE TIME.
SO, SO GENERALLY THAT HAPPENS WITH THOSE, BUT THE, THE DRUG AND ALCOHOL ONES ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT.
IF, IF IT WAS SOMEONE THAT, UM, I KNOW THAT I THINK THERE ARE LIKE FOUR, UM, YOU COULD, IT IS FOSTER SHELTER, UM, YOU KNOW, PHYSICAL DISABILITY AND ONE OTHER UNDER, UNDER STATE LEGISLATION, ALL OF THEM, REGARDLESS AS TO NUMBER, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, UM, IN THE, THEY STILL REGULATE.
THEY STILL HAVE TO HAVE CERTIFICATION.
BUT THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT WHEN THERE'S SOBRIETY, AND THAT IS THE PART THAT IS THE, UM, ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO BE, UM, A CONCERN TODAY.
BUT THEY JUST, AS WE SAID, THEY'RE, THEY'RE SAYING THERE'S NO REAL HANDICAP, IF YOU WILL.
SO YOU JUST HA YOU ARE HA YOU'RE HAVING A PROBLEM AND THIS IS GIVING YOU A PLACE TO DO, BUT IT'S NOT A TREATMENT CENTER.
AND SO ALL OF THAT KIND OF LEAVES US AND THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE IN THIS PREDICAMENT WITH NOTHING IT HAS TO CHANGE IN, IN, AS IT RELATES TO STATUTE.
SO THAT, AND I MEAN, EVEN, I KNOW, I KNOW MS. PENNY WAS ABOUT TO MENTION, UM, THE USELESS 3 1 1 CALL, BUT AT THIS POINT, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES I HAVE TO DEFEND 3 1 1 BECAUSE IT REALLY AND TRULY WHAT CAN THEY DO? AND IT IS LIKE, IT'S YOUR HOME, AND IF SOMEONE CALL, YOU CAN'T JUST WALK IN AND SAY, WHAT Y'ALL DOING? AND LET ME LOOK, LOOK AROUND.
NONE OF THAT HAS, HAS COMPLIANCE AT THIS TIME.
SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS WILL MOVE BACK TO PAGE 18, ITEM 89,
[89. 23-01334]
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT REIMBURSEMENT COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $127,385 FOR OFFICER OVERTIME AND VEHICLE UNIT USAGE COSTS BY POLICE CHIEF OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 89.SEEING NONE WILL MOVE TO COUNCILPERSONS MOTION BY THE CHAIR.
SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN HURST IN THE OPPOSITION.
SEEING NONE, ITEM 89 CARRIES ITEM 90, AUTHORIZING
[90. 23-01362]
THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT THE GRANT AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $75,750 15 CENTS, AND EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH UNDER THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE GRANT BY HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DIRECTOR, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 90.SEEING NONE WILL MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST.
[Items 91 - 103]
1 0 3 TOGETHER.ITEM 91, GRANTING A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $1,509 PER YEAR FOR RBR GOVERNMENT.
LP LOCATED AT 1 1 2 DELPHINE STREET BY PLANNING DIRECTOR.
ITEM 92, GRANTING A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $1,580 PER YEAR FOR RBR GOVERNMENT.
LP LOCATED AT ONE 10 DELPHINE STREET BY PLANNING DIRECTOR.
ITEM 93, GRANTING A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATE ESTIMATED AT $1,496 PER YEAR FOR RBR GOVERNMENT.
LP LOCATED AT ONE 18 DELPHINE STREET BY PLANNING DIRECTOR.
ITEM 94, GRANTING A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $1,632 PER YEAR FOR RBR GOVERNMENT.
LP LOCATED AT ONE 20 DELPHINE STREET BY PLANNING
[01:30:01]
DIRECTOR.ITEM 95, GRANTING A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $1,425 PER YEAR FOR RBR GOVERNMENT.
LP LOCATED AT 1 22 DELPHINE STREET BY PLANNING DIRECTOR.
ITEM 96 GRANTING A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $1,555 PER YEAR FOR RBR GOVERNMENT.
LP LOCATED AT 2 0 4 DELPHINE STREET BY PLANNING DIRECTOR.
ITEM 97, GRANTING A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $1,555 PER YEAR FOR RBR GOVERNMENT.
LP LOCATED AT 2 0 6 DELPHINE STREET BY PLANNING DIRECTOR GRANTING A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $1,627 PER YEAR FOR RBR GOVERNMENT.
LP LOCATED AT 2 0 8 DELPHINE STREET BY PLANNING DIRECTOR.
ITEM 99, GRANTING A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $1,624 PER YEAR FOR RBR GOVERNMENT.
LP LOCATED AT TWO 10 DELPHINE STREET BY PLANNING DIRECTOR.
ITEM 100, GRANTING A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $1,624 PER YEAR FOR RBR GOVERNMENT.
LP LOCATED AT TWO 12 DELPHINE STREET.
ITEM 1 0 1 GRANTING A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $1,624 PER YEAR FOR RBR GOVERNMENT.
LP LOCATED AT TWO 14 DELPHINE STREET.
ITEM 1 0 2 GRANTING A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $1,552 PER YEAR FOR RBR GOVERNMENT.
LP LOCATED AT TWO 16 DELPHINE STREET BY PLANNING DIRECTOR.
ITEM 1 0 3, GRANTING A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $1,552 PER YEAR FOR RBR GOVERNMENT LP LOCATED AT TWO 18 DELPHINE STREET BY PLANNING DIRECTOR.
WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEMS 91 THROUGH 1 0 3.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK? YES MA'AM.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
UM, WE DO A LOT OF TAX ABATEMENTS HERE IN EAST BATON ROUGE.
UH, THESE 13 PROPERTIES ON DELPHINE.
UM, WHO IS THE OWNER OF THESE PROPERTIES? IF YOU WOULD JUST FINISH YOUR COMMENTS AND THEN, UH, IF A COUNCIL MEMBER WANTS TO, UM, OKAY.
UM, IS IT ONE OWNER OR 13 DIFFERENT OWNERS OR MULTIPLE OWNERS? ARE THEY INDIVIDUALS? IS THIS AN LLC? UM, IS THIS PART OF AN EDD? UH, WHAT IS THE CURRENT ZONING FOR THESE PROPERTIES ON DELPHINE AND OR IS THIS TAX ABATEMENT ALSO GONNA ALLOW THEM TO ASK FOR CHANGES IN ZONING? WHAT TYPE RESTORATIONS WILL BE DONE ON THESE PROPERTIES AND WHAT EBR ENTITY HAS OVERSIGHT TO MAKE THEIR SURE THAT THESE RESTORATIONS ARE MEETING CODE? AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I WOULD LIKE THAT IN THE FUTURE WHEN THESE TYPE OF ITEMS ARE PUT THERE, THAT I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR THE TAXPAYERS AND THE CITIZENS OF EAST BATON ROUGE TO HAVE THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS, TYPES OF QUESTIONS AS PART OF THE AGENDA ITEM, INSTEAD OF HAVING TO COME HERE AND ASK AT THE PODIUM.
PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEAT AND WE'LL FINISH THE PUBLIC HEARING SO I CAN'T GET ANSWERS.
THE WAY THE PUBLIC HEARING WORKS IS THAT WE, WE LISTEN TO YOUR FEEDBACK, UH, AND THEN WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PERSON.
THEN IF A COUNCIL MEMBER WANTS TO ADDRESS THOSE, UM, SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, THEY CAN DO THAT.
SO WE, WE CAN'T EVEN KNOW WHO THE OWNER IS.
MS. LANTER, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEAT AND WE'LL, WE'LL MOVE ON.
ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC? UH, WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM, UH, 91 THROUGH 1 0 3.
SEEING AND NONE WILL MOVE TO COUNCILMAN COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, REAL QUICKLY, Y'ALL SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEMS 91 THROUGH 1 0 3, COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. UM, SIR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME AND ADDRESS, UM, HER, HER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
HOW'S EVERYONE DOING TODAY? MY NAME IS SAGE MULKEY WITH GULF COAST HOUSING PARTNERSHIP.
WE ARE A NONPROFIT REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER, AND THE PROPERTIES THAT WE ARE REQUESTING A TAX ABATEMENT FOR ARE LOW INCOME HOUSING, HISTORIC REDEVELOPMENT IN THE GOVERNMENT CORRIDOR DISTRICT.
WE'VE DONE ABOUT 80 UNITS ALREADY IN THAT AREA, AND WE'RE WORKING TO REVITALIZE THAT AREA AND KEEP THAT GENTRIFYING AREA AFFORDABLE.
SO, UH, AS FAR AS THE ZONING'S CONCERNED, I DO NOT KNOW IT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT, UM, THE REASON IT'S IN A DIFFERENT ENTITY AND NOT IN GULF COAST HOUSING PARTNERSHIP IS BECAUSE THE WAY THE STRUCTURING OF TAX CREDITS, THE WAY IT HAS TO BE DONE, YOU HAVE SYNDICATORS AND IN ORDER FOR SYNDICATORS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE CREDITS, YOU HAVE TO PUT IT IN THE ENTITY FOR THEM TO BE A PART OF THE PARTNERSHIP.
SO IT'S NOT SOME SORT OF RUSE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT JUST THE NATURE OF WHAT WE'RE
[01:35:01]
DOING, THAT IS WHY IT'S IN AN ENTITY OTHER THAN GOLF COURSE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP.WE HAVE AN $80 MILLION DEVELOPMENT IN NEW ORLEANS.
WE'VE DONE MULTIPLE PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, AND WE JUST WANNA KEEP DOING GOOD WORK.
SO NOTHING NEFARIOUS GOING ON WITH US REQUESTING A TAX ABATEMENT.
WHAT OTHER, WHERE, WHERE ELSE HAVE YOU DONE PROJECTS? WE'VE DONE PROJECTS IN OPELOUSAS.
WE'VE DONE PROJECTS IN LAFAYETTE, MISSISSIPPI, HOUSTON.
UM, OUR LARGEST PROJECT IS 80 MILLION, BUT WE'VE DONE THINGS FROM AS SMALL AS 5 MILLION TO 30 MILLION AND WE'RE JUST CONTINUALLY GROWING.
AND HAVE YOU DONE, YOU'VE DONE OTHER PROJECTS IN BATON ROUGE? ABSOLUTELY.
WHERE ARE THOSE? UH, THE ALL LESIONS, WE HAVE THREE ALLELES.
THOSE ARE LOCATED, UH, LOTUS VILLAGE IS SENIOR DEVELOPMENT.
UH, WE PARTNER WITH THE COUNCIL ON AGING.
I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT STREETS OF THE TOP OF MY NAME, BUT IF I WAS TO GET IN THE CAR AND DRIVE THERE, I'D BE ABLE TO GET THERE.
AND IF SOMEONE FROM THE PLANNING STAFF WANNA ADDRESS THE ZONING AND, AND, UM, ALSO JUST THIS PROGRAM AND HOW THIS PROGRAM IS, IS UTILIZED TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION ABOUT THE CHANGES IN ZONING.
THIS, THE ISSUE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT DOES NOT CHANGE THE ZONING.
THE EXISTING ZONINGS ON THESE PROPERTIES REMAIN THE SAME.
THE OVERVIEW OF THE RESTORATION TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM IS IT'S AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE CREATED BY THE STATE.
SO THEY APPLY AT LED, THE PLANNING COMMISSION THEN PROCESSES THE APPLICATION ON AND EVENTUALLY GOES TO COUNCIL.
UM, IT, IT'S A STATE INCENTIVE PROVIDING UP TO A 10 YEAR ABATEMENT ON PROPERTY TAXES, ON RENOVATIONS AND, AND IMPROVEMENTS TO EXISTING COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES IN A QUALIFYING ZONE.
SO THESE PROPERTIES ARE ELIGIBLE, THEY DO QUALIFY, AND THEY, UH, THEY HAVE COMMITTED TO MAKE, UH, SIGNIFICANT RENOVATIONS TO THESE PROPERTIES.
AND HOW DO WE CONFIRM THAT THOSE RENOVATIONS ARE MADE? UH, JUST LIKE ANY RENOVATION THAT REQUIRES A PERMIT, THE PERMIT OFFICE WOULD INSPECT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE BUILT TO BUILDING CODE STANDARDS.
COUNCILMAN DUNN? THAT'S MAINLY WHAT I WANTED THE STAFF TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE, UM, THE LATEST QUESTIONS.
I THINK ONE OF THE OTHER CONCERNS SHE HAD ABOUT NOTICE, UH, OF US PROPERLY NOTICING SOME OF THIS STUFF OR MORE INFORMATION, WHO, WHO COULD SPEAK TO THAT? CERTAINLY WE SEND OUT NOTIFICATIONS TO ALL THE TAXING ENTITIES MAKING THEM AWARE OF THIS.
UM, SO THEY HAVE A, A TIME PERIOD TO COMMENT AND, AND CERTAINLY PROVIDE ANY CONCERNS THEY HAVE AND, AND WE HAVE RECEIVED NO CONCERN.
UH, JUST FOR THE RECORD, IS IT A PERMITTED TAX ABATEMENT? NO, IT'S FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS.
THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO COME BACK AFTER THAT FIVE YEAR AND, AND ASK FOR ONE ADDITIONAL FIVE YEAR ABATEMENT, SO UP TO 10.
BUT THIS ACTION TONIGHT WOULD BE WHETHER OR NOT TO ABATE IT, UH, PROPERTY TEXAS FOR FIVE YEARS.
AND, AND ALSO FOR THE RECORD, THIS IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT WE DO ALL ACROSS THE CITY FOR MULTIPLE PROJECTS.
IS THAT NOT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
COUNCILMAN HURST? YEAH, AND NO, YOU'RE GOOD, RYAN.
I JUST WANT TO ACTUALLY GIVE THEM, UH, A KUDOS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TO THEIR PROPERTIES.
THEY'RE WELL MAINTAINED, THEY'RE WELL BUILT.
THEY ACTUALLY ADD VALUE TO THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, CITY OF BATON ROUGE IN TERMS OF AESTHETICS.
EVERYBODY DOES NOT DO RIGHT BY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE PRESENTED.
SO, UM, JUST AND I, I'M, I'M ONE TO CALL A SPA PAY.
IF THEY WERE HORRIBLE, I WOULD TELL 'EM, TAKE THE MONEY AWAY.
BUT THEY'VE CREATED A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE WOULDN'T HAVE ONE.
SO I WANNA TELL YOU THANK YOU.
WE'LL ENTERTAIN MOTIONS MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST, SECOND BY ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE.
ITEMS 91 THROUGH 1 0 3 CARRY ITEM NINE, ITEM 1 0 4,
[104. 23-01366]
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES, TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH CASEWORTHY INC.IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $87,036 TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE HUMAN SERVICES CASE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.
WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING TO ITEM 1 0 4, ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK, SEE, AND NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION BY THE CHAIR, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GODDE.
ANY OPPOSITION? SEE, AND NONE.
[105. 23-01397]
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AUTHORIZE EXECUTION OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT AMENDMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES, DHDS AND CASE WORTHY FOR GRANT MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE WITH THE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.A NEW TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $369,485 BY MAYOR'S OFFICE.
WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 1 0 5.
SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
[01:40:01]
MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN GOEY.SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
[106. 23-01398]
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT AND EXECUTE A GRANT AWARD ON BEHALF OF THE BATON ROUGE CITY CONSTABLE'S OFFICE RECEIVED FROM THE LOUISIANA COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $84,707 BY CITY CONSTABLE, OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 1 0 6.SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN GOEY, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE.
ITEM 1 0 6 CARRIES ITEM 1 0 7,
[107. 23-01385]
RESCINDING AND DIRECTING THE CLERK OF COURT TO CANCEL THE NOTICE TO ATTEND RECORDED ON JUNE 9TH, 2023 IN THE MATTER OF CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSUS IRMA OIA.REASON FOR RESCISSION NEW OWNER RULE, REPAIR THE PROPERTY AND USE IT FOR RENTAL PROPERTY BY COUNCILMAN CAROLYN COLEMAN.
WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 1 0 7.
SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN COLEMAN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN ASO.
ITEM 1 0 7 CARRIES ITEM 1 0 8,
[108. 23-01404]
AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE CLAIM OF MICHAEL MOORE, JR.FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY A PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEE IN THE AMOUNT OF $45,000, WHICH AMOUNTS SHALL BE PAID FROM THE ACCOUNT DESIGNATED INSURANCE AUTO LIABILITY BY PARISH ATTORNEY, OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 1 0 8.
SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MOTION TO APPROVE BY THE CHAIR.
SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN HURST IN THE OPPOSITION.
SEEING NONE, ITEM 1 0 8 CARRIES
[109. 23-01405]
ITEM 1 0 9 AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE CLAIM OF COLBY NEFF.FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY A BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE IN THE AMOUNT OF $12,500 BY PARISH ATTORNEY.
OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 1 0 9.
SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. SECOND BY THE CHAIR.
ITEM 1 0 9 CARRIES ITEM ONE 10 AUTHORIZING
[110. 23-01407]
SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED JAMERSON JACKSON VERSUS CALVIN JONES AT ALL IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,000 BY PARISH ATTORNEY, OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM ONE 10.SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN ADAMS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN NOEL.
IN THE OPPOSITION, SEEING NONE, ITEM ONE 10 CARRIES ITEM
[111. 23-01417]
ONE 11 AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED JAMIE ALVARADO VERSUS BRANDON TAYLOR ET AL IN THE AMOUNT OF $140,000 PLUS COURT PLUS COURT COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $641 FOR TOTAL AMOUNT OF $140,641 AND APPROPRIATING $140,641 FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY PARISH ATTORNEY, OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM ONE 11.SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COUNCILMAN GODDE SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
ITEM ONE 11 CARRIES ITEM ONE 12
[112. 23-01408]
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH MCKIM AND CREED, INC.IN THE AMOUNT OF $19,615 FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE WARD CREEK AT SEAGATE LANE CHANNEL TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT TO AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $270,795 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR OPEN TO THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM ONE 12.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
UH, I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT THIS IS THE ONLY SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT, UM, ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT BECAUSE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO THERE WERE 30, WHICH WERE ALL APPROVED WITH NO OPPOSITION.
UM, A CONTRACT, ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S A BID PROCESS, THE CONTRACTOR SAYS HIS PRICE, HE GETS THE CONTRACT.
AND THERE'S NOTHING IN OUR PLAN OF GOVERNMENT THAT I CAN FIND THAT STATES THAT SUPPLEMENTAL CONTRACTS WILL NOT BE AWARDED UNLESS THE SPECIFIC REASONS FOR THE ADDITIONAL MONIES ARE NOTED.
NOW ON EVERY SUPPLEMENTAL CONTRACT, IT'S JUST, UH, IN THE AMOUNT OF THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT WAS 277 95.
NOW THEY'RE ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL 20,000.
DOES ANYONE HERE KNOW ON THE METRO COUNCIL THE REASON WHY AN ADDITIONAL 20,000 IS NEEDED FOR THIS CONTRACT AND YET YOU'RE GONNA VOTE ON IT? THEY WERE AWARDED A CONTRACT AS A BIDDER, YOU APPROVED A NUMBER AND NOW THEY'RE COMING BACK AND SAYING THEY WANT 20,000 MORE.
I IMPLORE WITH YOU GUYS, PLEASE, BEFORE YOU KEEP OKAYING AND APPROVING THESE SUPPLEMENTAL CONTRACTS, MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS LEGITIMATE REASON FOR THE ADDITIONAL
[01:45:01]
MONIES I AM AGAINST THIS ITEM.ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE 12? SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL CONTRACTS, YES, WE SEE THESE ALL THE TIME.
YOU, YOU START A PROJECT, YOU PLAN OUT, UH, I I DO IT IN IT.
UH, WHENEVER I'M BUILDING OUT A BUILDING OR A NEW OFFICE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I, I TRY, I GET SO NERVOUS WHEN I DO A QUOTE OR A CONTRACT OR WHATEVER ELSE THAT I'M EITHER GONNA ACCIDENTALLY LEAVE SOMETHING OUT, I'M GONNA FORGET ABOUT SOMETHING, OR THEY'RE GONNA MOVE THE AIR CONDITIONER FROM ONE SIDE OF THE BUILDING RIGHT ON TOP OF WHERE I'M DOING ALL MY IT WORK AND NOT TELL ME.
OKAY? SO THEN I HAVE TO GO BACK TO THEM AND SAY, WELL, I CAN'T DO IT HOW I ORIGINALLY DID.
SO I NEED TO DO IT THIS WAY NOW THAT WE'RE ALREADY THREE QUARTERS INTO THIS PROJECT.
I HAVE TO DO IT THIS WAY UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, THEREFORE I NEED TO ADD TO THE CONTRACT.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE, SULLIVAN ROAD BEING BUILT IN FRONT OF MY PARENTS' HOUSE FOR SEVEN YEARS.
WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED TO DIG ALL THE SEWER WORK, WE SAID THERE'S A SPRING THAT RUNS UNDER THIS WHOLE PROPERTY AND IT'S BEEN THERE, WE'VE RAN INTO IT, WE'VE DUG WELLS OUT OF IT AND EVERYTHING ELSE THERE'S A SPRING.
SEVEN YEARS LATER, WE STILL HAVEN'T FINISHED THE SEWER WORK IN FRONT OF THE PARENTS' HOUSE BECAUSE THEY GOT TO DO ANOTHER CONTRACT FOR THREE TIMES IN A ROW TO GET IT DONE.
SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED.
I UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION AND YOU'RE THINKING THAT, WELL, THEY'RE JUST GOING IN LOW BALLING THEIR BID AND THEN THEY'RE COMING IN AND JUST ADDING MORE MONEY ON TOP OF IT.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SUPPLEMENTAL CONTRACTS.
NOW, IF SOMEBODY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE DETAIL OF THIS PARTICULAR SUPPLEMENTAL CONTRACT AND STATE WHAT THE REASON WAS, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE TO ANSWER HER QUESTION.
UH, ORIGINALLY THE SCOPE HAS CHANGED FROM WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY, UH, PROPOSED.
THAT'S THE REASON FOR THE SUPPLEMENT.
AND IT WASN'T NECESSARILY GENERATED BY US.
IT WAS, UH, ACTUALLY GENERATED BY FEMA.
THIS IS A FAIRLY, A FEDERAL PROJECT UNDER HAZARD MITIGATION PROGRAM.
THEY'VE ASKED US TO DO SOME ADDITIONAL, UH, SURVEY WORK AND ALSO ENVIRONMENTAL WORK ON SOME RELOCATION OF SOME OF THE UTILITIES, WHICH WAS NOT PART OF THE SCOPE OF THE ORIGINAL PROJECT.
AND WE, WE'VE, OUR, OUR GROUP LOOKS AND EVALUATES THE PROPOSAL THAT COMES IN THE SUBMITTALS.
AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE TONIGHT TO BE ABLE TO TRY TO GET THIS ADDRESSED.
BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S ALSO GONNA LOOK AT THIS TOO.
SO WE GOTTA BE SURE WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE FROM THAT STANDPOINT.
AND, UH, MR. RAYFORD, I I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS ON THAT.
AND WE'VE SEEN THAT PLENTY OF TIMES BEFORE WHERE WE START A PROJECT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMEBODY EITHER MAKES A COMPLAINT, IT, IT REWRITES THE WHOLE THING AND, AND, YOU KNOW, HERE WE GOTTA FIGURE OUT WHERE THE FROG CROSSES THE ROAD SO WE DON'T INTERFERE WITH SOMETHING AND WE GOTTA DO A NEW CONTRACT TO, TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THAT.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT ON THIS.
I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION AS FAR AS SUPPLEMENTAL CONTRACTS AND THIS PARTICULAR SUPPLEMENTAL CONTRACT.
MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN MOOCH, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE.
ITEM ONE 12 CARRIES ITEM ONE 13,
[113. 23-01409]
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH MANAGEMENT ADVISORY GROUP IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 149,000 TO CONDUCT A TOTAL COMPENSATION AND JOB SPECIFICATION REVISION STUDY FOR THE CLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED NON-CLASSIFIED CONTRACT, FIRE AND POLICE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE.AND TO FURTHER AND TO PROVIDE FURTHER AUTHORIZATION TO INCREASE THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT FOR AD HOC SERVICES AS REQUESTED AT THE HOURLY HOURLY RATE OF $200 BY HUMAN SERVICES, HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM ONE 13.
ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE 13? PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE BATON ROUGE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS CASE STUDY.
UH, THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THESE FIREFIGHTERS AND THESE E-M-L-E-M-S PERSONNEL HERE TONIGHT.
UH, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS CASE STUDY.
I WOULD ASK THAT THE COUNCIL, UM, ASK MANAGEMENT ADVISORY GROUP TO, TO, TO KIND OF FIND OUT WHEN WE SHOULD EXPECT THIS PAY STUDY BACK.
I KNOW IT'S A ONE YEAR CONTRACT WITH AN OPTION FOR EXTENSION.
UM, SO KIND OF HELP US HOLD, YOU KNOW, TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHEN WE SHOULD EXPECT THIS BACK FROM, FROM AN EMPLOYEE STANDPOINT.
ANYONE ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE 13? SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. MR. BERNARD? IS HE HERE? BRIAN? WE HAVE A, UM, A 2019 PAY STUDY FOR THE, THE POLICE.
UM, IS IT, IS IT NECESSARY TO STUDY,
[01:50:01]
UM, POLICE PAY AGAIN? WELL, IN LIGHT OF, UM, THE CHANGES AND, UM, JUST HOW HARD IT IS TO, TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN, I THINK THAT A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF ALL CLASSES IS, IS WHAT WE SHOULD DO.HAVE WE, HAVE WE MET THE BENCHMARKS OF THE 2019 STUDY FOR THE POLICE YET? UH, I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THAT RECENTLY.
I, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT RIGHT NOW.
I'M, I'M NOT SURE IF WE HAVE OR NOT.
SO, SO DO THIS IS WHAT, I GUESS, DO YOU EXPECT, UM, THAT WE WILL GET A DIFFERENT OUTCOME? SO ARE YOU SAYING SINCE 2019, UM, LIKELY PAY SCALES FOR POLICE HAVE CHANGED AND SO THIS, NOW THIS WOULD BE AN EVEN HIGHER BENCHMARK THAT WE WOULD NEED TO REACH WITH THE POLICE? IS THAT, IS THAT YEAH.
CON CONSIDERING WHAT HAS GONE ON, UM, WITH THE RECRUITMENT OF EMPLOYEES? MM-HMM.
I'M THINKING THAT IT'S GONNA BE HIGHER, MUCH HIGHER THAN IT WAS IN 19, BUT SOME OF THESE SAME CLASSES THAT WERE SURVEYED THEN.
SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
'CAUSE I KNOW WE, WE GOT SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2019 STUDY AND, UH, BENCHMARKS NOT BEING MET.
THAT 2019 STUDY, WAS THAT KIND OF LIKE THIS HERE AN OVERALL COMPENSATION OR WAS THAT JUST POLICE? I THINK THAT WAS JUST THE POLICE AND I THINK IT WAS INITIATED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, THAT WAS A SINGLE DEPARTMENT COMPENSATION STUDY? YES.
AND WERE YOU PART OF THAT? WERE YOU ON, I THINK THAT WAS DONE, UM, AT THE REQUEST OF THE POLICE CHIEF.
BUT WERE YOU IN YOUR POSITION AT THAT TIME WHEN IT WAS CALLED FOR? YES, I WAS, BUT I, IT WAS DONE BY A CONSULTANT THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CHOSE.
IT WAS NOT CHOSEN BY, AND THEY TURNED THAT INFORMATION OVER TO Y'ALL.
DID WE AGREE AT THAT TIME TO MEET THOSE BENCHMARKS? I'M SURE THERE WAS SOME COST IMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE AND THAT MAY BE WHY THE, UM, THE COST OR THE IMPLEMENTATION WASN'T FULLY DONE.
I'M ALMOST CERTAIN OF THAT BECAUSE IT, I'M ALL FOR THIS JOB STUDY AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
I, I HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE A WHOLE YEAR.
UM, WITH, YOU KNOW, KEEPING UP TO DATE OR HOPEFULLY WE WON'T HAVE TO EXTEND IT OR WHATEVER, BUT IT, IT'S A CONCERN THAT WE HAD ONE STUDY DONE FOR ONE DEPARTMENT.
AND WE'RE FIXING TO DO A STUDY FOR ALL OF CITY PARISH.
AND I HOPE THAT WE, AS WE GET THIS INFORMATION BACK, WE START GEARING UP AND PREPARING TO MEET SOME OF THOSE BENCHMARKS SOMEHOW.
UM, SO I JUST, I WANTED TO GET MY CONCERN THERE.
IT'S GONNA BE EXPONENTIALLY HIGHER AND IT'S PROBABLY GONNA NEED A SUPPLEMENTAL CONTRACT ADDED TO IT EVENTUALLY DOWN THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY IF WE HAVE TO CONTINUE OR WHATEVER.
UM, BUT LIKE I SAID, I JUST, I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME, SOME OF THE BENCHMARKS AND ONCE THEY COME IN WE SET DATES, GOALS AND, AND OPTIONS TO SAY, OKAY, THIS IS WHEN THIS WILL BE DONE THAT WE CAN REPORT BACK TO THESE PEOPLE THAT, THAT ARE HOPING TO GET A TRUE AND CORRECT SALARY FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE WORKING FOR CITY PARISH.
COUNCILWOMAN BANKS,
I THOUGHT IT WAS FOR, UM, I THOUGHT IT WAS CITYWIDE.
I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS JUST FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT, UH, SINCE WE PAID FOR IT CAN, AND THE PURPOSE IS TO MONITOR, GAGE AND MEET THOSE BENCHMARKS.
CAN WE GET A REPORT ON THAT? AND UH, MAYBE I'LL PUT IT ON THE NEXT AGENDA AS AN INTRODUCTION.
YOU ARE YOU SAYING WHERE THE RESULTS OF WHAT WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2019? YEAH.
WHAT WERE THE RECOMMENDATIONS? MM-HMM.
[01:55:01]
I CAN'T GET ALL THOSE ANSWERS TODAY.BUT I WOULD, I I WOULD LIKE TO PUT THAT ON THE AGENDA.
UM, BUT I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH TIME WOULD YOU NEED? UM, I, I FIRST NEED TO AND IS THAT PART OF THE CONTRACTOR THAT HE GIVES A REVIEW OR THAT PERIODICALLY HE REVIEWED THE STATUS AND WHERE YOU WERE? WELL, THAT, THAT STUDY WAS NOT COMMISSIONED BY US.
IT WAS SPECIFICALLY DONE BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO I FIRST HAVE TO GET THAT, UM, THAT INFORMATION FROM THEM OR WHOEVER THAT CONTRACTOR WAS.
I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SSA SO I CAN GET THAT INFORMATION THAT'S LOCAL.
AND, AND GET THAT INFORMATION TO YOU.
UM, WE HAVE MADE SOME STEPS TOWARDS, UH, INCREASING THE PAY OF POLICE OFFICERS.
SO I CAN, I CAN DEFINITELY GET YOU THAT INFORMATION.
UM, AND ALSO AS PART OF, UH, THE REVIEW FROM THIS, UM, VENDOR, THEY HAVE ASKED FOR PREVIOUS STUDIES.
SO THEY, THEY'VE ASKING US TO PROVIDE THOSE STUDIES TO THEM SO THEY CAN TAKE ALL OF THOSE THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION.
AND THE TIMELINE THAT THEY HAVE GIVEN US IS, UM, FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS FROM THE INITIATION OF THE CONTRACT JUST TO BEGIN AND WHAT TO HAVE COMPLETE THE PROJECT IF THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL CONTINGENCIES ADDED.
SO THIS IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PACE STUDY THAN WHAT WE'VE EVER DONE IN CITY PARISH.
AND UM, LET ME TAKE ONE STEP BACK.
PRE COVID NUMBERS VERSUS POST COVID NUMBERS ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
NUMBER TWO, HIRING IN ANY CAPACITY, WHETHER IT BE IN CITY PARISH OR IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IS EXTREMELY TOUGH.
AND EVERYONE THAT WANTS A POSITION NOW THAT'S THOROUGHLY QUALIFIED CAN GO TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER.
THE HIGHEST BIDDER MAY NOT BE THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
SO SOMEBODY WILL COME HERE, GET TRAINED AND MOVE ELSEWHERE, RIGHT? SO YOU WANNA RETAIN OUR TALENT IN ALL SECTORS, PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND ELSEWHERE.
NOW THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS STUDY VERSUS OTHER PAY STUDIES IS THAT, UM, WE HAVE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, AND I WANT TO GIVE, I WANT TO PUT MY AID ON ON THAT.
I'M GONNA TELL A LITTLE BIT OF BUSINESS, BUT I, SHE, SHE'S MOVING TO DALLAS IN, UH, IN DEC ON DEC IN DECEMBER.
SO I HAVE A NEW AIDE COMING ON BOARD DECEMBER 1ST, I SAID, BRIAN, I CAN'T AFFORD THE QUALITY OF AID THAT I WANT TO HIRE IN TODAY'S MARKETPLACE.
THERE'S SO MANY JOBS OUT THERE, WHAT CAN I DO? SAID, WHAT IS THE TOTAL COMPENSATION FOR MY AID? HER TAKE HOME PAID BEFORE TAXES 53,000.
I WISH I COULD ASK Y'ALL TO RAISE Y'ALL'S HANDS TO GUESS WHAT A TOTAL COMPENSATION WAS, BUT I WON'T DO THAT.
TOTAL COMPENSATION WAS $88,500, WHICH MEANS WE ARE SPENDING ALMOST $40,000 IN BENEFITS ON HER IN THE CORPORATE WORLD.
HER TAKE HOME PAY A TOTAL COMPENSATION WITH 6% MAXIMUM 4 0 1 K AND BENEFITS WOULD BE $68,000, WHICH WOULD LEAD FOR ABOUT $28,000 TO GO TOWARDS HER TAKE ON PAY.
NOW I BELIEVE IN PENSION PLANS AND I BELIEVE THAT Y'ALL COME HERE AND FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE VESTED, WE ARE NOT TRYING TO TAKE AWAY YOUR PENSION PLANS BY ANY MEANS.
BUT TO THE REASON WHY YOU CAN'T BACKFILL THE POSITIONS AFTER THE PEOPLE WHO ARE VESTED IN THE PENSIONS LEAVE IS BECAUSE GENERATION Z AND WHATEVER THE NEW ONE IS CALLED, THEY DON'T WANNA WORK FOR WHATEVER YOU WORK FOR.
AND THERE ARE COMPANIES THAT ARE OFFERING THE MONEY NOW, WHICH LIMITS OUR ABILITY AS CITY PARISH TO FILL THOSE VACANCIES.
SO WHAT I'VE ASKED, UH, UM, HR DIRECTOR BERNARD TO DO IS TO LOOK AT THREE OPTIONS AND, AND WHICH WILL BE, 'CAUSE LEMME TELL YOU, GM WENT UNDER BECAUSE OF PENSION.
THE GOVERNMENT SAVED HIM AT AND T WHERE I, WHERE I FORMALLY WORKED, UH, WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST PENSION PLANS IN THE, IN THE COUNTRY.
THEY GOT RID OF IT ABOUT SEVEN TO 10 YEARS AGO AND THEY PHASED IT OUT.
SO PEOPLE WHO WERE FULLY VESTED KEPT IT PEOPLE WHO WERE PARTIALLY VESTED.
THEY KEPT THAT PARTIAL INVESTMENT, BUT THEY ALSO GOT A 4 0 1 K AND THEN PEOPLE WHO WERE NEW HIRES WHEN 4 0 1 K OWNED.
NOW IT'S, THAT SCARES EVERYBODY.
'CAUSE HEY, I PLANNED ON RETIRE BY THE AGE OF 50.
THAT MAY NOT DIRECTLY AFFECT YOUR RETIREMENT.
YOU KNOW, CHANGE AFFECTS PEOPLE IN A WAY THAT MAKES YOU RATTLE.
AND THE FEAR OF CHANGE AS IT RELATES TO BENEFITS.
WHERE AM I GOING? WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? WELL, ALL ACROSS THE WORLD HAS CHANGED AND WE SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR HEALTHCARE.
BUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS LOOK AT WHAT THOSE OPTIONS ARE SO THAT YOU GUYS CAN TAKE HOME THE 80,000 INSTEAD OF PUTTING 40,000 INTO YOUR BENEFITS.
AND THEN HOW CAN WE TEACH YOU WORKING, WHETHER EDWARD JONES OR A FIDELITY OR SOME OTHER RETIREMENT COMPANY COME IN AND SHOW YOU HOW YOU CAN STILL RETIRE AT THAT SAME TIME, BY TAKING MORE OUT OF YOUR CHECK AND PUTTING IT IN AN IRA OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF INVESTMENT ACCOUNT SO THAT YOU STILL RETIRE WHEN YOU PLAN TO RETIRE, BUT YOU STILL TAKE HOME MORE MONEY, UH, IN, IN, IN, IN THE SAME PROCESS.
SO THIS IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
[02:00:01]
STUDY THAN WHAT WE'VE DONE PREVIOUSLY.'CAUSE WE'VE NEVER LOOKED AT THE RETIREMENT PLAN, WHICH IS THE HEAVIEST PART OF WHY YOU GUYS DON'T GET PAID A LOT OF MONEY.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE GONNA CHANGE IT, WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT IT.
UM, WE'RE ALSO COMPARING HOW WE, UH, LOOK NOT JUST THE MUNICIPALITIES OF SIMILAR SIZE, BUT ALSO TO THE INDUSTRY THAT TAKES OUR TALENT.
SO, AND TRYING TO LOOK AT SOME KIND OF HYBRID PLACE WHERE WE GO IN BETWEEN.
NOW WHAT I JUST TOLD YOU WAS IS EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO FUND IT.
AND WE DON'T LOOK AT TRANSITIONING AWAY FROM PENSIONS, THEN WE HAVE TO GO TO THE PUBLIC FOR SOME SORT OF MILLAGE OR SOMETHING ELSE, WHICH IS GOING TO BRING OUT A TON OF PUBLIC OUTCRY.
SO THE FIRST THING WE WANNA LOOK AT IS HOW DO WE TAKE YOUR SALARY, WHICH HAS AN ADDITIONAL 40,000 ON TOP OF WHAT YOU MAKE, AND USE THAT TO, TO GIVE YOU AN OPTION TO GET MORE TAKE ON PAY.
AND IF YOU CHOOSE TO GO FULL PENSION, YOU'LL JUST MAKE LESS MONEY.
SO THIS IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT'S BEEN DONE.
ALSO TOO, FRED RAYFORD, WHO'S SITTING IN THAT CROWD WILL TELL YOU, I'M LIKE A PIT BULL THAT TAKES A BITE.
I'M NOT LETTING GO TILL I GET WHAT I WANT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT I'M TRYING TO GET THE GREATEST BENEFIT FOR.
AND IT TOOK ME SIX MONTHS TO GET IT ON THE AGENDA, TO GET IT APPROVED, AND I WAS RELENTLESS.
I'M GONNA BE RELENTLESS TILL I GET WHAT YOU NEED IN TERMS OF PAY FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A GREAT LIVING.
NOT JUST A LIVING, NOT HAVING TO WORK THREE JOBS OVERTIME.
OVERTIME SHOULD BE OPTIONAL, NOT REQUIRED FOR YOU TO MAKE A LIVABLE WAGE.
I KNOW THE PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, PERIOD IS OVER, BUT MR. CECIL HAD A QUESTION AND A CONCERN THAT I WANNA, UH, LIFT UP.
UH, HIS QUESTION WAS, DID WE HAVE TO SPEND A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO DO THIS? IS THERE A THIRD PARTY LIKE THE STATE OR ANOTHER ENTITY? UH, MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILWOMAN ROCK MENTIONED INSURANCE COMPANY CAN DO THIS.
OUR VENDOR FOR INSURANCE CAN DO THIS.
JUST WANT YOU TO SPEAK TO THOSE CONCERNS, BRIAN.
SO THERE WE, UM, WE ACTUALLY PUT IT OUT FOR PUBLIC BID.
UM, AND WE EVALUATED THE PROPOSALS WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THE COSTS WERE.
SO THE COMMITTEE, UM, THE RFP COMMITTEE, WE SCORED, UM, THE, THE, THE VENDORS BASED ON SOME OBJECTIVE CRITERIA THAT WAS SET FORTH.
WHEN THE RFP WENT OUT, WE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT PRICE AND THAT WASN'T FACTORED IN ACTUALLY, THE COMMITTEE MADE THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND TURNED, TURNED THEM OVER TO PURCHASING, AND THEN PURCHASING INCLUDED THE PRICE AND THEN THAT'S HOW WE ARRIVED.
I, I DON'T THINK THE QUESTION IS ABOUT THE PROCESS AND MM-HMM.
I THINK THE QUESTION AND CONCERN IS, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, I I'M SURE THERE'S, THERE'S DATA OUT THERE AND I CAN ASK, YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN HURST REALLY PUSHED FOR THIS AND WE WANTED AN OBJECTIVE VIEW OF THAT AND I THINK THE MOST OBJECTIVE WAY TO GET THAT WAS THROUGH A OPEN COMPETITIVE PROCESS.
COUNCILWOMAN ROCCO, CAN SOMEONE FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PLEASE COME UP? YOU WANT CHIEF CAMPBELL OR DO YOU WANT, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
WHOEVER WANTS TO TALK ABOUT PAY.
CAN YOU TELL ME, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO EMBARRASS ANYONE OR PUT YOU ON BLAST, BUT IT IS PUBLIC RECORD, CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT A, A STARTING SALARY LOOKS LIKE FOR A YOUNG FIREMAN OR FIRE FIREWOMAN? YES MA'AM.
IT'S, UH, $33,700 FOR A STARTING FIREFIGHTER.
WHAT ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN ON FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS? ABOUT 10 YEARS.
WHAT ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN ON FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS? I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER WITHOUT HAVING THAT PAID THE PAY SCALE RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM.
MA'AM, IT'S GONNA BE HARD TO GIVE YOU EXACT NUMBERS.
I DON'T NEED EXACT NUMBERS, BUT I THINK THAT PRETTY MUCH LETS EVERYBODY IN THIS AUDIENCE AND PROBABLY LISTENING AT HOME SEE THAT WE DON'T NEED A PAY STUDY TO UNDERSTAND THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE HIGHLY UNDERPAID.
UM, WITH RESPECT TO THE CONVERSATION.
UM, THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS, THIS STUDY AS FAR AS COMPENSATION GOES, JUST TO BE CLEAR IN THE PRIVATE ARENA, UM, AND I THINK BRECK MOST RECENTLY CONDUCTED A COMPENSATION STUDY THROUGH THEIR INSURANCE CONSULTANT WHERE THEY FOUND THAT INFORMATION AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THAT INFORMATION FROM THEIR INSURANCE CONSULTANT.
WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST INSURANCE CONSULTANTS, UM, CALLED LOCKTON.
THEY ARE ACTUALLY OUT OF DALLAS, BUT THEY'RE, THERE'S ALSO GALLAGHER, THERE'S HUB, THERE'S MULTIPLE OTHERS THAT CAN PULL THIS INFORMATION AND PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION FOR US WITHOUT A COST OF TAXPAYERS.
NOW WE'RE IN A POSITION I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD TODAY, BUT I'VE SAID THIS MULTIPLE TIMES AND I'LL CONTINUE TO SAY IT.
WE PAY ALL OF THESE CONTRACTORS MONEY
[02:05:01]
TO DO A JOB AND WE DON'T FULLY EXPLORE THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE WITH THOSE PARTICULAR CONTRACTORS.SO, UM, I WOULD, I WOULD JUST ASK THAT PEOPLE IN, UM, THE POSITIONS THAT ARE DEALING WITH THESE CONTRACTORS, WHICH OFTENTIMES IS NOT THE METRO COUNCIL, UM, THAT WOULD BE ADMINISTRATION, THAT YOU TALK TO THOSE CONTRACTORS, YOU GET TO KNOW WHAT THEIR SCOPE OF SERVICES ARE AND LEARN WHAT THEY DO WHILE YOU'RE USING THOSE TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO PAY THEM FOR THOSE SERVICES.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COUNCILMAN ROCKA, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN HURST.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION, MR. BERNARD.
SO THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I HAD CONSIDERED.
UM, CAN YOU TOUCH ON THAT? IS OUR CURRENT CONTRACT WITH OUR INSURANCE CONSULTANT, IS THAT WITHIN THEIR SCOPE THAT WE COULD GO AND, AND HAVE THEM PERFORM THIS WORK? UM, PROBABLY SO BECAUSE THEY PUT A BID IN, THEY JUST WEREN'T THE SUCCESSFUL WINNER OF THE RFP.
UM, AND THEN I I, I RECALL THE PREVIOUS, UH, POLICE PAY STUDY AND THEN THAT INSURANCE STUDY AS WELL.
UH, I RECALL THOSE BEING MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE.
SO THIS ONE'S ONLY AT 1 49 AND YOU'RE SAYING Y'ALL DID NOT FACTOR IN PRICE AS YOU EVALUATED THIS WHEN YOU DID? WE DID NOT.
WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ANY OF THE COST.
UM, WE PROVIDED AN OBJECTIVE VIEW AND THEN TURNED OUR SCORES OVER TO THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT INTO TO THE PURCHASING DIRECTOR AND THEY FACTORED IN COST AND, AND GAVE THAT TO US AT THE, AT THE VERY END.
AND THEN I'M SURE YOU DON'T KNOW THIS OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, BUT I'LL ASK IT ANYWAY.
DO YOU KNOW THE HOURLY RATE OF THOSE E EITHER OF THOSE TWO PREVIOUS CONTRACTS? I DON'T.
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE.
IT'S BEEN PROPERLY SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN HURST.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE.
ITEM ONE 13 CARRIES ITEM ONE 14
[114. 23-01410 (Part 1 of 2)]
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH WASTE PRO LOUISIANA INC.FOR DEBRIS HAULING SERVICES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 100,000 BY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM ONE 14.
SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION TO, OH, COUNCILMAN AMAROSA.
CAN SOMEBODY ADDRESS THIS AND TELL US EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS FOR? HAVE WE DONE BUSINESS WITH WASTE PRO IN THE PAST? WE HAVE THE INTERIM DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AVAILABLE.
VINCE THE OKAY, I SECOND THAT MOTION TO DEFER.
WE'LL WE WILL RUN THROUGH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FIRST.
COUNCILMAN DUNN THAT, THAT WAS MY CONCERN IS WHERE I WANTED SOMEBODY TO COME UP AND GIVE US SOME CLARITY.
WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM COUNCILMAN AROSO TO DEFER.
IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN CAROLYN COLEMAN.
UH, ANY OPPOSITION? TWO WEEKS.
SEEING NO OPPOSITION WILL DEFER FOR TWO ITEM ONE 14 FOR TWO WEEKS.
[115. 23-01411]
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT OR THEIR DESIGNEE TO ACCEPT AND EXECUTE THE GRANT AWARD FOR THE LOUISIANA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT HVAC PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $580,215 FROM THE LOUISIANA DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATION BY BUILDING AND GROUNDS DIRECTOR OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM ONE 15.SEE A NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN CAROLYN COLEMAN.
UH, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN DUNN.
ITEM ONE 15 CARRIES ITEM ONE 16.
[116. 23-01414]
THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH STANTEC CONSULTING SERVICES INC.ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONFIGURATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF EBU IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $113,286 BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR.
OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM ONE 16.
SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN GODES.
[117. 23-01415]
17 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH SET FREE ADDICTION RECOVERY SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $160,900 TO PROVIDE VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES IN THE FORM OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BY HOSTING AND FACILITATING MONTHLY COMMUNITY HEALING CIRCLES BY MAYOR'S OFFICE.WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM ONE 17.
SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODDE.
[02:10:01]
DUNN.ITEM ONE 17 CARRIES ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES
[Items 118 - 145]
WE'LL TAKE ITEMS ONE 18 THROUGH 1 45 TOGETHER.ITEM ONE 18 LOT 16 SQUARE SEVEN SUBDIVISION BOGAN METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE HIGH BIDDER REDEEMED.
ITEM ONE 19 LOT 26 SQUARE 1 63 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER WHITMORE AND WHITMORE ENTERPRISES LLC $10,000 INTENDED USE INVESTMENT ITEM ONE 20 LOT 25 SQUARE 1 63 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER WHITAKER INVESTMENT COMPANY LLC $700 LOT 78.
UH, ITEM 1 21 LOT 78 SUBDIVISION DEER PARK METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE KNOLL HIGH BIDDER.
ITEM 1 22 LOT 8 180 4 SUBDIVISION NORTH HIGHLANDS ESTATE METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST HIGH BIDDER GRAYLAND HAMMOND AND LISA HAMMOND.
$2,000 ITEM 1 23 LOT 21 SQUARE 30 SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE HIGH BIDDER LULU AND SAM REVOCABLE TRUST $100.
ITEM 1 24 LOT 19 SQUARE 3 55 SUBDIVISION DICKERSON PLACE METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER ENCHANTED GREEN ESTATES $4,500.
ITEM 1 25 LOT 85 PARK SUBDIVISION NORTH BATON ROUGE METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS HIGH BIDDER JABRE M GREEN 26,000 JABOR M GREEN $26,000.
WHISPERING OAKS METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS.
HI BIDDER SAM GREEN $100 LOT 50 SQUARE ONE SU.
ITEM 1 27 LOT 50 SQUARE ONE SUBDIVISION PROGRESS PARK METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE HIGH BIDDER JOHAN DR.
ITEM 1 28 LOT 48 AND 49 SQUARE ONE SUBDIVISION PROGRESS PARK METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE HIGH BIDDER JOHAN DRAPER.
$100 ITEM 1 29 LOT THREE SQUARE ONE SUBDIVISION SCOTLANDVILLE METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS HIGH BIDDER A-S-S-K-L-L-C $17,500.
ITEM ONE 30 LOT FIVE SQUARE 14 SUBDIVISION LELAND COLLEGE ANNEX METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS, HIGH BIDDER, WHITMORE AND WHITMORE ENTERPRISES LLC $600.
ITEM 1 31 LOT SIX SQUARE 14 SUBDIVISION LELAND COLLEGE.
COLLEGE ANNEX METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS, HIGH BIDDER, WHITMORE AND WHITMORE ENTERPRISES LLC $7,600.
ITEM 1 32 LOT 15 AND 16 SQUARE TWO 10 SUBDIVISION ESMA METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER ROBINS RENTAL LLC $100.
ITEM 1 33 LOT 21 SQUARE TWO 16 SUBDIVISION REMA METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER ROBINS RENTAL LLC $100.
ITEM 1 34 LOT FOUR SQUARE 21 SUBDIVISION PROSPERITY METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER ROBINS RENTAL LLC $100.
ITEM 1 35 LOT SIX SQUARE 21 SUBDIVISION PROSPERITY METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN.
HI BIDDER ROBINS RENTAL LLC $100.
ITEM 1 36 LOT NINE SQUARE 16 SUBDIVISION PROSPERITY METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN.
HI BIDDER ROBINS RENTAL LLC $100.
ITEM 1 37 LOT 10 SQUARE 16 SUBDIVISION PROSPERITY METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN.
HI BIDDER ROBINS RENTAL LLC $100.
ITEM 1 38 LOT 11 SQUARE 16 SUBDIVISION PROSPERITY METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER ROBINS RENTAL LLC $100.
ITEM 1 39 LOT FOUR FOUR AND FIVE SQUARE 10 SUBDIVISION PARADISE PARK METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS, UH, MOTOR OWN PROGRAM ITEM ONE 40 LOT SIX AND E 20 FEET OF LOT EIGHT SQUARE 25 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN MODA OM PROGRAM ITEM 1 41 LOT 22 SQUARE FIVE.
SUBDIVISION BOGAN METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE MODA OM PROGRAM ITEM 1 42 LOT 15 SQUARE FOUR.
SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE MODA OWNED PROGRAM.
ITEM 1 43 LOT 10 SUBDIVISION PARKLAND TERRACE METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 11 MODA OWNED PROGRAM.
LOT VARIOUS, LOTS EIGHT IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE SUBDIVISION, VARIOUS SUBDIVISIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS HEARST AND COLEMAN.
TAXES DUE IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE.
ITEM 1 44 LOT Q SQUARE 31 SUBDIVISION GRACIE METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN TAXES DUE IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE.
[02:15:01]
PUBLIC HEARING.UH, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEMS ONE 18 THROUGH 1 45.
ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS ONE 18 THROUGH 1 45.
SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN THE FLOOR TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN? YES, SIR.
UM, NUMBER 1 33, NUMBER 1 34, NUMBER 1 35, NUMBER 1 36, 1 37, 1 38, 1 40, 1 44, AND 1 45.
SO WANT 'EM DELETED? HADN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM ANYBODY.
THERE ARE NO PLANS AND JUST TO BUY UP LOTS.
DO YOU WANT 'EM TO DELETE 'EM OR DEFER 'EM SO THEY CAN REACH OUT TO YOU IF THEY, IF YOU DELETE 'EM? WE, WE CANCEL THE FILE.
THEY LOSE WHAT MONEY THEY PUT UP TO OPEN THE FILE.
THEY DIDN'T CONTACT ME, SO, UM, YOU TALKING TO ME? I WAS GONNA SAY, I, I, IF WE DELETE THE FILES, THEY WILL LOSE WHAT MONIES THEY'VE PUT UP TO OPEN THE FILES AND WE URGE THEM TO CONTACT YOU.
IF THEY HAVEN'T DONE THAT, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO IT AGAIN IF YOU DIDN'T WANT TO.
IF YOU URGE THEM AND THEY DID NOT.
AND PARTICULARLY THE ONES THAT ARE MO OWNER IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE.
ALRIGHT, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM COUNCILMAN CAROLYN COLEMAN TO, UH, APPROVE ITEMS ONE 18 THROUGH 1 45 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEMS 1 33, 1 34, 1 35, 1 36, 1 37, 1 38, 1 40, 1 44, AND 1 45.
IS THERE A SECOND? THERE'S NOT A SECOND CURRENTLY.
BY COUNCILMAN BANKS? UH, I HAVE A QUESTION.
BILLY, WALK ME THROUGH THIS MOTOR OWNED PROGRAM.
I KNOW I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT IT OVER THE YEARS.
AND I'M, I'M SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR WITH IT, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IS THAT'S FOLKS WHO HAVE TAKEN CARE OF A, A PROPERTY ADJACENT TO THEIRS AND, UH, CORRECT.
IF, IF YOU OWN A PIECE OF PROPERTY AND THE PROPERTY NEXT TO YOU TOUCHING YOUR PROPERTY IS ADJUDICATED AND OF COURSE IT'S BEEN ADJUDICATED FOR THREE YEARS OR PLUS AND YOU'VE CARED FOR THAT PROPERTY BY TAKING CARE OF THE LITTER AND CUTTING THE GRASS IN EXCESS OF ONE YEAR, YOU CAN OPEN A FILE WITH US.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR REGULAR FILES AND THE MODA OWN IS WE DON'T TAKE PUBLIC BIDDING.
THEY CAN MAKE AN OFFER FOR WHATEVER OFFER THEY WOULD LIKE.
SO THE IDEA IS WE REWARD THEIR, WHAT WE CALL SWEAT EQUITY BY NOT ALLOWING THEM TO MAKE AN OFFER WITHOUT A PUBLIC BIDDING.
SO THAT'S THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FILES.
SO I, I WOULD YIELD, UH, TO MY COLLEAGUE, I WOULD JUST MAKE A RECOMMENDATION OR AT LEAST REQUEST, UH, THAT WE MIGHT CONSIDER MOVING PAST THIS ITEM FOR A MINUTE.
FINDING THE MODE TO OWN ITEMS AND PULLING THOSE OUT.
UM, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER? TELL ME WHY.
UH, SO THE MOTO OWNED PROGRAM, AS HE WAS SAYING, IS, IS WHERE AN ADJUDICATED PROPERTY IS NEXT TO A HOMEOWNER OWNED PROPERTY.
UH, AND THEY ARE, I KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT TELL ME WHY.
UH, BECAUSE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE CARE OF THESE ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES, GET 'EM BACK INTO COMMERCE AND ADDRESS AN ADJUDICATED PROPERTY NEXT TO A HOMEOWNER.
THE PROPERTY, THEY'VE BEEN CARING FOR THE PROPERTY AND IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA, THESE ARE JUST, UM, LOTS AND THEY ARE NO HOMEOWNERS.
BUT LET ME MAKE ONE CORRECTION THAT JEFF HAS POINTED OUT.
THE REST OF THEM, THERE'S NO PLAN.
AND I'VE HAD THAT CONVERSATION PUBLICLY.
SO 1 38 WAS A PART OF YOUR MOTION, YOU WANTED TO STRIKE THAT ONE.
1 32 THROUGH 1 38 THE PLANS WERE SUBMITTED.
SO I THINK, I THINK IT WOULD BE WISE TO WITHDRAW THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
AND LET'S REGE I RE WITHDRAW THE ORIGINAL MOTION WITH THE, AND THAT WOULD BE, LET ME GO BACK AND CALL THE NUMBERS OUT AGAIN.
COUNCILMAN COLE IS 1 40, 1 44 AND 1 45.
YOU KNOW YOU GIFTED AND TALENTED
SO THAT WOULD BE A MOTION TO DELETE ITEMS 1 41 44 AND 1 45 AND APPROVE ALL OTHER ITEMS. ONE 18 THROUGH 1 45.
ALRIGHT, SO IT'S BEEN MOTIONED
[02:20:01]
BY COUNCILMAN CAROLYN COLEMAN SECOND AND BY COUNCILWOMAN BANKS.THE ONES THAT ARE REQUEST TO BE DELETED ARE ALL THOSE IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE.
SO ONE 40 IS MO TO OWN AND THEN 1 44 AND 1 45 ARE IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE.
SO 1 44 AND 1 45 IS BASICALLY A BUSINESS TRYING TO BUY A LOT OR TAKE A LOT.
ON 1 44, THAT COMPANY WAS DOING SEVERAL LOTS.
IT WAS EIGHT LOTS AND THEN THE OTHER ONE WAS JUST ONE LOT.
THE OTHER ONE, THE, WHAT WAS THE FIRST ONE YOU SAID MODA OWNED? THAT WAS MOTOR OWN? YES, SIR.
IS THAT THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER THAT GOT THAT LOT? CORRECT.
SO HOW LONG HAVE THEY BEEN REQUIRED TO TAKE CARE OF THAT PROPERTY? UH, ABOUT, SHE'S BEEN DOING IT FOR QUITE A WHILE, BUT YOU HAVE TO DO IT FOR ONE YEAR.
SO IT'S A SINGLE FAMILY HOME AND SHE'S BEEN TAKING CARE OF IT LIKE IT'S HER LOT.
SHE, SHE, I I, I KNOW THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR.
'CAUSE I'VE SPOKEN TO THE WOMAN, SHE'S INHERITED THIS PROPERTY AND HAS WAITED SOME TIME TO DO IT.
SO SHE MAY NOT HAVE ANY PLANS TO DO ANYTHING.
SHE MAY JUST HAVE A LARGER LOT NOW.
BUT I DON'T KNOW, I ASSUME HER PLANS WAS JUST TO ADD TO HER PROPERTY.
I MEAN, SHE COULD, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
SHE GETS MORE LAND IN SPANISH TOWN THAT WHEN SHE GOES TO SELL HER HOUSE, SHE HAS MORE LAND TO GO WITH IT NOW BECAUSE SHE'S TAKING CARE OF IT FOR THE PAST YEAR OR HOWEVER MANY YEARS IT'S BEEN REQUIRED.
WHAT NUMBER ARE WE ON NOW? ONE 40.
SO THIS WAS JUST A, I DON'T REMEMBER EVERY ONE OF 'EM, BUT I DO REMEMBER THIS LAND.
I, WELL, LOOK, I I DEFER TO MS. CAROLYN.
IT'S, IT'S HER DISTRICT, HER LOT, WHATEVER.
I AGREE WITH HER ABOUT THE, IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE.
'CAUSE I FEEL LIKE THAT'S A BUSINESS JUST TRYING TO SCOOP UP LOTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
I WILL TELL YOU, WE, WE HAVE BEEN DIRECTING PEOPLE WHO ARE PURCHASING PROPERTIES.
IN CO COUNCIL CUOMO DISTRICT TO CONTACT HER AND REACH OUT.
AND I AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
THEY DON'T REACH OUT TO HER, BURN 'EM DOWN.
YOU KNOW, LET IT GO, BUT BURN THEM DOWN.
SO, NO, I MEAN, THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T, IF THEY DON'T GO THROUGH THE CORRECT PROCESS OR WHATEVER, THEN SHE HAS THE RIGHT TO DO WHAT SHE WANTS.
I'VE JUST ASKED, I WOULD JUST ASK COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, I, I DON'T THINK, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT MAYBE SHE DIDN'T CONTACT YOU.
I DON'T KNOW THE PERSON THAT LIVES IN THAT HOUSE, BUT THE, THE MODE TO OWN ONES THAT WHERE THEY'VE JUST BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AND ARBITRARILY THEY HAVE NO PLANS FOR THE PLACE OR ANYTHING.
THEY JUST SUBMITTED THE PAPERWORK THAT SAID, LOOK, THIS WOULD BE A GREAT ADDITION TO MY LOT.
I WOULD ASK THAT, UH, IT, IT, I'LL TAKE YOUR LEAD ON IT, BUT ONE 40 COULD BE PULLED ALSO.
'CAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S JUST A, A HOMEOWNER NEXT DOOR THAT WANTS TO ADD TO THEIR PROPERTY AND VALUE COUNCILMAN HURST.
HEY BILLY, I'VE NEVER SEEN WHERE YOU CONNECT TWO EIGHT PROPERTIES ON ONE ITEM.
'CAUSE I MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT VISION FOR WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IN MY DISTRICT AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING AT 10 MM-HMM.
SO I I BELIEVE TWO OF THOSE LOTS WERE IN YOUR SECTION.
THAT'S WHY I PUT YOU ON THERE AS WELL.
SO I I'M NOT GOING, I SHE'LL MANAGE 10, BUT ON MINE YOU CAN PULL THOSE TWO OUT 'CAUSE HE HAS $2,000 FRONT COST AND I'LL DEFER IF I CAN DEFER IT THAT WAY.
JUST THAT ONE ITEM SO THAT WE CAN SEPARATE IT.
'CAUSE I DON'T EVEN KNOW, I THINK, UM, SOUTHERN GRID, I THINK THE MOTION WOULD BE TO DEFER ITEM 1 44 AND THEN WE PROBABLY NEED TO WORK WITH MR. AARON ON WE COULD, WE COULD RESUBMIT IT.
AND I'M, YEAH, AND THAT'S AND YEAH.
SO LET ME MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND.
IS THAT A SUBSTITUTE, SUBSTITUTE MOTION? SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO IT WOULD BE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
JUST THE ONE ITEM THOUGH TO, UM, DELETE ITEM ONE 40 AND 1 45 AND DEFER ITEM 1 44 PER WHAT? BILLY 30 DAYS? PROBABLY.
'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA NEED TO RESUBMIT IT CORRECTLY.
AND THEN IS HE APPROVING? AND I, AND MY, MY MY, UM, SUGGESTION TO YOU MOVING FORWARD IS PLEASE DON'T PUT MULTIPLE ITEMS LIKE THAT COLLECTIVELY TOGETHER.
EVERYBODY KNOW KEN DUNCAN, SOUTHERN GRID GROVE MM-HMM.
SO I'M GONNA ASK THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR TO RESTATE THE MOTION JUST SO THAT WE'RE ALL HAVE SOME CLARITY.
THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY MR. HURST WAS TO DELETE ITEM ONE 40 AND 1 45 AND TO DEFER ITEM 1 44 FOR 30 DAYS AND IT'S NOT, AND APPROVE ALL THE OTHER ITEMS IN ONE 18 THROUGH 1 45.
WELL THAT, THOSE OTHER ONES THAT YOU MAY DO, YOU SURE.
YOU REQUESTED TO DELETE ONE 40.
MR. HURST HAS REQUESTED TO DEFER 1 44 BECAUSE IT INCLUDES PROPERTIES IN BOTH DISTRICT 10 AND DISTRICT FIVE.
[02:25:01]
ALRIGHT.DO WE HAVE A SECOND TO MR. HURST? OH, DO WE HAVE A SECOND TO MR. HURST'S MOTION? SECOND BY MOOCH.
OH, WE'LL WE'LL GET, WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU IN JUST A MINUTE, MR. MOAT.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MULTI OWNED, I NEED A MIC, YOUR MIC TO OWN, WHICH, UM, FROM A COUNCILWOMAN, TARA WICKER, UM, UH, UH, INTRODUCED TO THE COUNCIL AND WHAT'S PROVED THE PURPOSE AS AS, UM, AS BILLY IS SAYING IS IT WAS LIKE, IF YOU ARE SINGLE FAMILY, HAVE A SINGLE FAMILY HOME AND THE PROPERTY NEXT TO YOU IS NOT BEING MAINTAINED, THEN YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY BASED ON YOU TRYING TO CLEAR IT OUT TO OBTAIN THAT PROPERTY.
WHAT'S STICKY TO ME IS, YOU KNOW, UM, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD EVEN DEAL WITH ARE IF WE SHOULD, BUT WHEN WE ARE HAVING, UH, NOW QUASI DEVELOPERS OR PERSONS, OUR INVESTORS WHO, WHO HAVE, HAVE ACQUIRED THESE PROPERTIES UNDER EITHER ADJUDICATION OR THROUGH MOTOR ON, AND THEY'RE CONTINUED TO ADD TO THEIR STOCK ACCORDINGLY.
AND SO FOR ME, THAT WASN'T THE ORIGINAL INTENT.
IT WAS TO HELP PEOPLE AND TAKE THE BURDEN, UM, OFFER PERSONS WHO WERE MAINTAINING THESE PROPERTIES FOR THEIR OWN, UH, SAFETYNESS, UM, SECURITY IN WHERE THEY LIVE.
AND SO IT'S LIKE, NOW IN A WAY, IT LOOKS LIKE THE SYSTEM IS BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.
UM, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, HAVING THAT MY, NOW I AUTHORED IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE.
AND IT WAS REALLY GEARED TOWARDS NONPROFITS LIKE CHURCHES.
UM, IF THERE WAS SOMEBODY THAT WANTED TO, UH, OPEN UP ANY ADJUDICATED PROPERTY WE HAVE FOR PUBLIC USE AND YOU KNOW, NOT TO CALL OR TO CALL OUT, UM, BEING ON A COUNCIL, I KNOW I REMEMBER THE, THE PROPERTY NEAR, UM, SPANISH TOWN AND MAIN STREET, THAT, THAT'S A $65 MILLION PROJECT.
THAT MR. THE APPLICANT, THE APPLICANT ACQUIRED THROUGH ADJUDICATION.
BUT WHEN HE SOLD IT TO THE COUNCIL ON AGENT, HE GOT SIX DIGITS FOR IT.
AND SO THAT'S A CONCERN FOR ME, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS, UM, THAT, THAT IT WAS A CHOIR WHEN DOWNTOWN WASN'T THE PLACE TO BE AND NOT IT'S A HOTSPOT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE GETTING RICH OFF OF IT.
AND THOUGH THAT'S THEN, AND MAYBE WE DIDN'T HAVE MECHANISM, BUT NOW WE'RE SEEING IT, UH, A PROLIFERATION OF IT AGAIN, WE'RE SUDDENLY BEING REINTRODUCED AS A NONPROFIT, AS A FOUNDATION WHERE BEFORE AS AN INDIVIDUAL, THE SAME INDIVIDUAL HAS REQUIRED THESE PROPERTIES AND GOTTEN RICH.
SO NOW THAT WE'VE ADDED IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE, AND ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS IS THAT YOU ARE A NON-PROFIT ALSO.
NOW WE HAVE, WE HAVE A FAMILY FOUNDATION AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE, WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ANYTHING BUT CERTAINLY I DON'T THINK THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THREE AND FOUR AND FIVE PROPERTIES UNDER EITHER ONE OF THESE.
UM, UNLESS, UM, UNDER JUST THESE AS IS DESIGNED, THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS THAT WE USE WHEN THERE'S A PLANNING.
WHAT IS YOUR PLAN? WHAT IS YOUR STRUCTURE? AND IS IT GONNA SERVE, SERVE PUBLIC? YOU ARE YOU, YOU CAN'T SELL THIS, YOU KNOW, FOR 10 YEARS OR, YOU KNOW, ARE YOU LIVING THERE PHYSICALLY? ALL OF THOSE THINGS NOW NEED TO BE BROUGHT IN TO PLAY BECAUSE DEFINITELY WE WANT ADJUDICATED PROPERTY AND WE WANT IT TAKEN CARE OF AND WE WANT, DON'T WANNA STIFLE THAT, BUT LITERALLY IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE, THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF MOTOR OWN.
AND IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE, SO WITH MOTOR OWN, I THINK IT'S A VERY SMALL WAY TO QUALIFY FOR MOTOR OWN.
YOU GOTTA OWN THE PROPERTY NEXT TO IT.
IT'S GOT TOUCH YOUR PROPERTY, IT'S GOT TO BEEN ADJUDICATED AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE TAKEN CARE OF IT.
SO WHILE THERE MAY BE SOME BUSINESSES THAT ARE APPLYING FOR MOTO OWN, THOSE BUSINESSES ARE DOING WHAT THE MOM AND POPS ARE DOING AS WELL.
SO, AND, AND, AND BACK TO, AND, AND SO IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE IT IS YOU, WE STILL REQUIRE NONPROFITS.
THEY STILL HAVE TO HAVE THAT STATUS WITH THE IRS.
IT'S NOT JUST SOMEONE THAT FORMS ONE WITH THE LL WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE A REAL, NOT-FOR-PROFIT.
AND WHAT I'M SAYING IS, LET'S SAY THAT I ACQUIRED ADJUDICATED PRODUCT, I
[02:30:01]
DON'T LIVE.SO THE INTENT WAS IF YOU LIVED THERE OR YOU HAD A ALL YOU, YOU LIVE THERE OR YOU MAINTAIN A, A BUSINESS, BUT NOT IF YOU ACQUIRED A VACANT LOT AND YOU JUST KEEP ADDING TO THAT VACANT LOT.
ANYTHING YOU WANNA TWEAK TO EITHER PROGRAM, WE CERTAIN I'M JUST, WE CERTAINLY CAN DO IT.
JUST PART OF THE CONVERSATION NOW THAT I SEE.
AND I, YOU KNOW, I'M RECOGNIZING NAMES THAT SOMEBODY LITERALLY GOT ACQUIRED 10 YEARS AGO, ADJUDICATED PROPERTY WHEN DOWNTOWN WASN'T THE PLACE TO BE AND NOW THEY MADE A MILLION DOLLAR SALE OFF.
ANY, ANY TWEAKS YOU WOULD RECOMMEND, WE CERTAINLY WILL BRING BEFORE YOU GUYS WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT.
JUST A QUESTION ON, ON THESE, WHETHER IT'S MOD ON OR IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE, IF, UH, IF, IF WE'RE NOT SATISFIED WITH THAT APPROACH ON THAT PROPERTY, CAN WE DIRECT IT TO GO BACK THROUGH THE TRADITIONAL BID PROCESS? YOU, WELL YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY DO WHAT COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN IS.
YOU CAN DEFER OR YOU CAN DELETE.
PEOPLE STILL HAVE THE OPTION TO COME IN AND OPEN ANOTHER FILE, OPEN A REGULAR FILE.
SO THEY CAN STILL COME IN AND OPEN A REGULAR FILE, WHICH WOULD GO TO BIDDING.
JUST LIKE OUR, JUST LIKE THE FIRST 20 THAT CAME UP BEFORE YOU WOULD DO.
SO A A AND DO WE IDENTIFY ON OCCASION WHEN ONE IS COMING IN, WHETHER IT BE MOTOR OWN OR IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE WHERE UH, OKAY, THIS ACTUALLY PROBABLY HAS A, A BETTER VALUE.
AND I KNOW SOMETIMES WE SEE ASSESSED VALUES AND, AND WE MAY SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS ACTUALLY WE COULD RECOUP SOMETHING HERE IF WE WENT THE BID ROUTE VERSUS, AND DO WE, DO WE EVER LOOK AT IT THROUGH THE LENS OF, SO POTENTIAL RECOUPING OR RECOVERY FOR THE PARISH WITH EVERY FILE THAT WE OPEN UP? I DO AS MUCH RESEARCH AS I HAVE TIME TO DO.
BUT WHAT I LIKE TO DO IS SEE IS THIS ON A ROAD PROJECT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING? IS THIS ANYWHERE NEAR A SEWER PROJECT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING? I WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT GIVING AWAY SOMETHING WE MAY HAVE TO BUY BACK FROM THESE FOLKS LATER.
SO WE DO AS MUCH RESEARCH AS YOU CAN.
I ALSO RESEARCH ON THE MOTOR OWNS, I LOOK TO SEE IF THERE'S WEEDED LIENS OR CONDEMNATION LIENS OR THINGS TO SHOW IF PEOPLE HAVE REALLY BEEN TAKING CARE OF THE PROPERTY.
'CAUSE IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN CUT, I DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO ALL OF THE RESEARCH.
BUT THE ONES THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, WE GO LOOK AND SEE IF IT ACTUALLY HAS BEEN BEEN CUTTING THE PROPERTY.
I I HAVE TOLD LOTS OF PEOPLE, NO.
AND I JUST TELL 'EM, COME AND OPEN UP THE REGULAR FILE.
BUT AS FAR AS VALUING THE PROPERTIES, WE DON'T APPRAISE THESE THINGS ANYMORE.
A LOT OF THEM ARE CON YOU KNOW, HAVE CONDEMNATION LIENS, THE PROPERTY'S BEEN KNOCKED OVER.
SO THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY IS GONNA BE WORTH THREE GRAND.
AND IF THE PEOPLE CAME TO REDEEM THE PROPERTY, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO SPEND 10 GRAND TO REDEEM IT.
SO I DON'T GO REVIEW 'EM OTHER THAN IF I SEE SOMETHING ON A PARTICULAR CORNER THAT I THINK COULD BE A ROAD PROJECT OR SOMETHING WE NEED, I DO, I DO HONE IN ON THAT.
AND, AND COUNCILMAN HUDSON HAD KIND OF MENTIONED THIS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PUTTING THESE PROPERTIES BACK INTO COMMERCE AND GETTING THEM, I MEAN THAT'S THE WHOLE REASON FOR THIS PROCESS IN GENERAL, RIGHT? IS TO REMOVE IT FROM US AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT 'EM BACK IN COMMERCE EVEN THOUGH COMMERCE TO AN EXTENT IS DIFFICULT WITH ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCING CORRECT.
UM, ALTHOUGH SOME PEOPLE DO WORK THROUGH THAT TYPE OF PROCESS TO, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE IT TRULY BACK IN COMMERCE.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY IF, IF NOTHING ELSE, BY PUTTING IT THROUGH THIS PROCESS, EVEN IF SOMEBODY CAN'T, I, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SOMEBODY BEING ABLE TO MAKE MONEY DOWN THE ROAD THROUGH APPRECIATION OR DEVELOPMENT OR ANYTHING ELSE.
BECAUSE THEY ARE PAYING TAXES THAT ENTIRE TIME WANTS IT, TAKES IT BACK, WHICH IS AGAIN THE REASON WE WANT TO REMOVE IT AND PUT IT BACK INTO, EVEN IF IT'S A QUASI COMMERCE SITUATION, BECAUSE THEN TAXES AT LEAST ARE BEING PAID ON THOSE PROPERTIES.
WE, WE, WE FORGIVE, SO TO SPEAK THE TAXES UP UNTIL THE POINT WE CLOSE THE SALE AND THEN IT GOES BACK ON THE TAX ROLLS UNLESS IT GOES TO AN EXEMPTED COMPANY.
BUT IT GOES BACK ON THE TAX ROLLS AS AN, AS A TAX PROPERTY.
COUNCILMAN COLEMAN AND I AGREE WITH THE PUTTING BACK IN COMMERCE, THAT'S THE REASON AND THE RATIONALE WHY AS FOLK WHO WAS INTERESTED IN PROPERTY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AND TO BRING THEIR PLANS.
AND LET ME TELL YOU OVER THERE IN THAT SAME AREA, I LIKE YOU RIDE AND SEE THE SAME FOLK THAT ARE TRYING TO GET MORE VACANT LOTS EIGHT AND 10 IN ALL OF THIS.
THERE ARE, THEY HAVE SOME PROPERTY OVER THERE THAT'S NOT MAINTAINED AND IT HAS NOT BEEN MAINTAINED FOR SOME TIME.
AND SO THE RULE, AND ALL I ASKED WAS BRING ME YOUR PLAN.
AND SO WHEN SOME FOLK FOLLOW RULES
[02:35:01]
AND SOME DON'T, YOU TAKE YOUR LICK, WHATEVER THAT IS, AND YOU'VE MADE IT VERY CLEAR SIR.AND SIR, WE, WE TELL EVERYBODY TO CONTACT YOU SO AND SO THAT'S WHERE I AM WITH IT.
THERE IS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY COUNCILMAN HURST, SECONDED BY MOOCH.
I'LL ASK ASHLEY TO READ BOTH MOTIONS.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS TO DELETE ITEMS ONE 40 AND 1 45 TO DEFER ITEM 1 44 FOR 30 DAYS AND TO APPROVE ALL OTHER ITEMS IN ONE 18 TO 1 45.
AND THEN, AND THE ORIGINAL MOTION WAS BY, UH, MS. COLEMAN, SECONDED BY MS. BANKS IS TO DELETE ITEMS 1 41 44 AND 1 45 AND APPROVE ALL OTHER ITEMS. AND THAT'S ONE 18 TO 1 45.
AND NOW WE'RE HERE FOR COUNCILMAN DUN.
JUST A POINT OF CLARITY ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION AND THE ORIGINAL MOTION IS, UH, REMOVING COUNCILMAN HURST'S ITEMS FROM INCLUDING IN COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN'S ITEMS, RIGHT? YES SIR.
YOU'RE DEFERRING THAT ITEM FOR 30 DAYS.
UNDER COUNCILMAN HURST'S MOTION.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL OPEN THE MACHINES ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
THIS I'M ABOUT TO OPEN THE MACHINES.
THIS MOTION ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION ON THE FLOOR DEFER ITEM 1 44 FOR 30 DAYS.
APPROVE ALL OTHER ITEMS IN ONE 18 TO 1 45.
HEAR FROM COUNCILMAN? DONE? ONE MORE TIME.
SO, SO I JUST WANNA APPEAL TO COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, UH, WITH THE POINT OF CLARITY.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS REMOVING COUNCILMAN HERSCH'S ITEMS. DO YOU WANNA REMOVE YOUR, YOUR MOTION AND COUNCILWOMAN BANKS REMOVE YOU SECOND? 'CAUSE I THINK THAT MAKES IT SIMPLER.
THEY CAN, THEY CAN DO IT TOGETHER.
SO, UH, LET ME ASK IT THIS WAY.
UH, THERE'S A SUBSTITUTE MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION, WHICH IS, I WANNA BE CLEAR.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS TO DEFER ITEM 1 44 FOR 30 DAYS TO DELETE ITEM ONE 40, DELETE ITEM 1 45, APPROVE ALL OTHER ITEMS IN ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES ONE 18 TO 1 45.
YES, I'LL WITHDRAW AND I'LL DO THAT.
THE ITEMS CARRY, WE'LL MOVE TO GO TO ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS NOW.
[ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER]
MATTERS.ITEM A AUTHORIZATION FOR THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND OR CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH ELLI JANITORIAL SERVICE, INC.
FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $502,808 FOR JANITORIAL SERVICES AT THE BATON ROUGE METROPOLITAN AIRPORT BY AVIATION DIRECTOR.
INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON MEETING ON NOVEMBER 8TH, 2023.
THE REASON FOR THIS ITEM IS BEING REQUESTED AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER INITIAL DEADLINE FOR AGENDA PASSED.
MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES TO ALLOW ITEMS TO BE INTRODUCED.
WE HAVE AN OBJECTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, SO WE WILL NOT HEAR THE ITEM CORRECT.
ALRIGHT, ITEM B AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH JOHN O JI FOR THE USE OF HIS PROPERTY LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF BIG BEND AND NORTH SHOREWOOD FOREST BOULEVARD BY COUNCILMAN HURST.
INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC HEARING MEETING ON NOVEMBER 8TH, 2023.
THE REASON, THE REASON THIS ITEM IS BEING REQUESTED AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER, THIS MATTER IS BROUGHT AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER INTRODUCTION AS THE AGREEMENT WITH THE LANDOWNER WAS JUST FINALIZED YESTERDAY.
AS THIS AGREEMENT DEALS WITH COMMUNITY EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR THE EARLY PART OF DECEMBER, IT NEEDED TO BE SET.
IT NEEDED TO BE SET FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO ALLOW THE CEA TO BE COMPLETED AND SIGNED IF THE ITEM WERE TO BE APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL.
MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES TO ALLOW THIS ITEM TO BE INTRODUCED.
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST, SECONDED BY NOEL.
ANY OBJECTIONS? WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.
C AND NO ONE FROM THE PUBLIC WILL VOTE ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? C AND NONE WILL HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE THE ITEMS. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST.
SECOND BY ADAMS. ITEM B HAS BEEN INTRODUCED, MOVE TO APPOINTMENTS.
[146. 23-01483]
ITEM 1 46, BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS, METROPOLITAN CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTING OR REPLACING MICHAEL TILLAGE CURRENT BALLOT.[02:40:01]
REAPPOINTMENT PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 1 46.SEE A NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN MOOCH, SECONDED BY ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE, MR. TILLAGE HAS BEEN REAPPOINTED.
[Items 147 & 148]
1 47 AND 1 48 WILL TAKE TOGETHER ITEM 1 47, CAPITAL REGION PLANNING, COMMISSION, CONSIDERATION, AND OF REPL, REAPPOINTING OR REPLACING DWIGHT HUDSONWE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 1 47.
ITEM 1 48, CAPITAL REGION PLANNING COMMISSION, CONSIDERATION OF REPOINTING OR REPLACING TARA WICKER CURRENT BALLOT.
DWIGHT HUDSON AND TARA WICKER.
OPEN THE FLOOR FOR BOTH OF THESE ITEMS. SEEING AND NONE WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE HAVE ANY MOTIONS? COUNCIL COUNCILWOMAN ROCCA AND COUNCILWOMAN AMAR SECONDS SEE AND NO OPPOSITION.
WE HAVE BEEN REAPPOINTED TO THOSE.
[149. 23-01487]
CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.CONSIDERATION OF REPLACING CANDACE TEMPLE WHOSE TERM EXPIRED ON JULY 31ST, 2023.
THIS IS A FOUR YEAR TERM NOMINATED BY THE GREAT GREATER BATON ROUGE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS CURRENT BALLOT.
WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FROM THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 1 49.
SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MAKE A MOTION BY THE CHAIR TO APPOINT JAMIE BELL.
ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE, MS. JAMIE BELL.
THE COMPLETE STREETS CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
IS THAT WHAT WE CREATED WHEN WE FIRST CAME ON? NO, THIS COMMITTEE HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
UH, ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE, MS. BELL HAS BEEN APPOINTED.
[150. 23-01504]
50, DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT DDD CONCURRING IN THE MAYOR.PRESIDENT'S RECOMMENDATION TO REAPPOINT OR REPLACE PATRICK MICHAELS CURRENT BALLOT.
PATRICK MICHAELS REQUESTED REAPPOINTMENT AND LETTER FROM THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT HAS BEEN RECEIVED.
WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM ONE 50.
SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCIL MEMBERS COUNCILMAN HURST.
ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE, MR. MICHAELS HAS BEEN REAPPOINTED.
[151. 23-01491]
ITEMS. ITEM 1 51 70 SECOND AVENUE PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS.PHASE TWO CONTRACTOR BOONE SERVICES, LLC.
CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, $9,205 AND 24 CENTS.
OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 1 51.
SEE? AND NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN.
ANY OPPOSITION? ITEM 1 51 CARRIES FINAL ACCEPTANCES.
[152. 23-01494]
ITEM 1 52 70 SECOND AVENUE PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS.PHASE TWO CONTRACTOR BOON SERVICES FINAL COST $668,405 24 CENTS.
OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 1 52.
SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION BY COUNCILMAN COLEMAN.
[Items 153 - 159]
ACCEPTANCE OF LOW BIDS.WE'LL TAKE ITEMS 1 53 THROUGH 1 59 TOGETHER.
ITEM 1 53 NORTH AIRPARK UTILITY CORRIDOR, HENDRICK CONSTRUCTION, $1,190,699 88 CENTS.
MOWING OF FIELDS AND LOTS AT BR METRO AIRPORT, WP ENTERPRISES, LLC $76,322.
ITEM 1 55, CITY CONSTABLE OFFICE RENOVATIONS, RYAN M. CURTIS, LLC $138,880.
ITEM 1 56, INSTALLATION OF 25 TON PACKAGE UNIT AT JUVENILE COURT BUILDING CORPORATE MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR, $171,000.
ITEM 1 57 HVAC EQUIPMENT AND BR ARCHIVES BUILDING TRAIN $224,899 26 CENTS.
UPGRADE TO TO EXISTING AIR HANDLING UNITS AT A-T-M-E-O-C BUILDING CORPORATE MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR, $117,800.
ITEM 1 59 HVAC EQUIPMENT AT MARTIN LUTHER KING COMMUNITY CENTER TRAIN $238,568 2 CENTS.
WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE.
OH, OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEMS 1 53 TO 1 59.
SEE, AND NONE WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS TO APPROVE.
ANY OPPOSITION? SEE? AND NONE ITEMS 1 53 THROUGH 1 59 HAVE BEEN
[02:45:01]
APPROVED.[161. 23-00031]
THERE'S A REQUEST TO DEFER THIS ITEM FOR TWO WEEKS.RECEIVING A THIRD QUARTER OF 2023.
REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES PERFORMANCE FOR PERFORMANCE FOR GARBAGE TRASH, BULKY ITEM WOODY WASTE AND RECYCLABLE PICKUPS BY COUNCILMAN DWIGHT HUDSON.
WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 1 61.
AGAIN, THERE HAS BEEN A REQUEST TO DEFER THIS ITEM FOR TWO WEEKS, SEEING AND NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THERE'S A MOTION BY THE CHAIR TO DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS.
SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION SEEING, AND NONE.
ITEM 1 61 HAS BEEN DEFERRED FOR TWO WEEKS.
[162. 23-01263]
RECEIVING A REPORT AND UPDATE FROM THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT.AND ITS I 10 WIDENING PROJECT TEAM REGARDING CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS, TIMELINES, AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR THE INTERSTATE 10 RECONSTRUCTION AND EXPANSION PROJECT IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH BY COUNCILMAN ROWDY GODDE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA RECEIVE THE REPORT FIRST.
UH, SO COUNCILMAN GOODDAY, IF YOU HAVE SOME FOLKS THAT WANNA COME AND GIVE US A REPORT, WE'LL ASK THEM TO APPROACH THE PODIUM.
UH, THANK, THANK YOU COUNSEL FOR HAVING US HERE TONIGHT.
I WORK FOR A COMPANY CALLED VAL ENGINEERS.
AND WITH ME TONIGHT IS SHERRY LEBO FROM GEC AND JAMES TAYLOR FROM FRANKLIN ASSOCIATES.
UH, MY ROLE ON THIS PROJECT IS THE DESIGN MANAGER AND, UH, SHERRY'S ROLE IS WE WORK VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER TO MANAGE THE REST OF THE DESIGN TEAM.
AND JAMES IS A COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONAL THAT HELPS US GET OUR, YOU KNOW, MESSAGES OUT AS APPROPRIATE.
SO MEETINGS LIKE THIS TO INFORM THE COMMUNITY OF, UH, THE PROJECT.
OF COURSE, IT'S A VERY, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT.
SHERRY AND I'S BACKGROUND ARE AS PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND PROFESSIONAL TRAFFIC OPERATION ENGINEERS.
AND SO, UM, TOGETHER WITH JAMES AS THE COMMUNICATIONS GUY, UH, WE'VE BEEN GOING AROUND ON BEHALF OF DOTD AND MAKING PRESENTATIONS LIKE THIS IN THE COMMUNITY TO COMMUNITY GROUPS, TO BUSINESSES, TO CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE TO INDUSTRY, TO ELECTED OFFICIALS, TO NEIGHBOR, TO NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, TO ANY, YOU KNOW, TO ANYBODY YOU CAN THINK OF.
IT'S BEEN A VERY ONGOING PROCESS TO INFORM THE PUBLIC AND THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT.
SO, BUT, UH, SHERRY AND JAMES ARE GONNA LEAD A PRESENTATION FOR YOU.
I THINK YOU'LL FIND IT VERY INFORMATIVE.
UM, BUT BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO THEM REAL QUICK, I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON A COUPLE OF THINGS.
UM, COURSE I 10 IS A, A SUPER CRITICAL CORRIDOR.
IT'S, IT'S NOT ONLY CRITICAL FOR BATON ROUGE, BUT IT'S CRITICAL BECAUSE IT ALSO GOES ALL THE WAY FROM LOS ANGELES TO JACKSONVILLE AS THE CHIEF MOST SOUTHERLY, UH, FREIGHT AND TRAFFIC CORRIDOR IN THE COUNTRY.
AND OF COURSE, WHEN YOU COME THROUGH BATON ROUGE, THE, UH, IT'S A VERY OLD SYSTEM.
IT WAS BUILT IN THE EARLY 1960S, SO IT'S ABOUT 60.
THE BIRTHDAY IS ABOUT 60 YEARS OLD OF THIS YEAR.
AND BECAUSE IT'S OLD, IT WAS NOT BUILT TO MODERN STANDARDS.
IT HAS NUMEROUS, UH, WHAT WE WOULD CALL DEFICIENCIES IF WE WERE DESIGNING IT TODAY.
OF COURSE, THEY WEREN'T DEFICIENT WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY DESIGNED IT AND BUILT IT TO BEGIN WITH.
BUT BY TODAY'S STANDARDS, UM, IT, IT DOESN'T MEASURE UP TO MODERN TO MODERN HIGHWAYS.
SO, UM, JUST A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF THAT.
LIKE, UM, THERE'S TWO MILE LONG BRIDGES IN THE, IN THE SEGMENT RIGHT THROUGH THE HEART OF BATON ROUGE.
ONE IS WHAT WE CALL THE WASHINGTON BRIDGE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, CLOSEST TO THE I ONE 10 INTERCHANGE.
ONE IS WHAT WE CALL THE PERKINS ACADIAN BRIDGE IN THE PERKINS ROAD BUSINESS DISTRICT AREA.
AND, AND ACADIAN THREE-WAY, BOTH OF THOSE BRIDGES ARE A MILE LONG.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY SHOULDERS.
SO IT'S NOT ONLY UNCOMFORTABLE FOR DRIVERS TO DRIVE THROUGH, UM, BUT THERE'S NO PLACE WHEN VEHICLES BREAK DOWN FOR THEM TO PULL OFF.
AND SO THAT WOULD NEVER BE DONE IF WE WERE BUILDING THIS HIGHWAY TODAY.
OF COURSE, IT DOESN'T HAVE TRAFFIC CAPACITY.
WE SEE DAILY BACKUPS COMING BOTH EASTBOUND.
IF YOU'RE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE RIVER TRYING TO GET INTO BATON ROUGE, WE SEE THAT WESTBOUND.
IF YOU'RE ALREADY IN BATON ROUGE OR DENI SPRINGS ARE CENTRAL TRYING TO GET DOWNTOWN OR TRYING TO GET ACROSS THE RIVER.
UM, AND THEN SOMETHING THAT WE FOCUS ON A LOT AS ENGINEERS AND AND DESIGNERS IS THE GEOMETRY OF THE ROAD.
UM, IS IT, IS IT SAFE? IS IT FUNCTIONAL? AND AN EXAMPLE OF GEOMETRY THAT DOES NOT, YOU KNOW,
[02:50:01]
MEET, WHAT WE WOULD DO TODAY IS IF I'M COMING EASTBOUND INTO BATON ROUGE, ACROSS OVER THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BRIDGE AND THERE, THERE'S A RIGHT HAND CURVE.YOU GO AROUND THE CURVE, RIGHT? THERE'S TWO LANES, BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN ONE OF THOSE LANES JUST DROPS OFF INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD SURROUNDING THE WASHINGTON STREET EXIT.
AND, UM, OF COURSE THAT LEAVES ONLY ONE LANE ON I 10 GOING EASTBOUND.
UH, SOME SAY THAT IT'S THE ONLY PLACE ON I 10 IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY THAT IT GETS DOWN TO ONE, ONE TRAVEL LANE.
SO, UM, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE, UM, THAT WE'VE INHERITED FROM THE EARLY 1960S WHEN THIS PROJECT WAS CONSTRUCTED.
AND THAT, UH, THROUGH THE PROCESS JUST OF OBSERVATION, HEY, THERE'S SOMETHING OUT THERE, WE NEED TO FIX IT.
AND THROUGH THE PLANNING PROCESS THAT DOTD HAS INITIATED AND CONDUCTED STARTING IN 2017, UM, WE HAVE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY, WHICH IS THAT THE PROJECT IS UNDER DESIGN AND IT'S GETTING READY FOR CONSTRUCTION.
AND IN FACT, WHEN YOU DRIVE THROUGH THE CORRIDOR, YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN SEVERAL BIG CRANES THAT ARE MOBILIZING TO REALLY BEGIN THE CONSTRUCTION, UH, PROCESS IN EARNEST.
AND SO THE NEW ROAD, IT, IT WILL HAVE FOR WHICH SHOULDERS, IT'LL HAVE MORE LANES.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'M MOST PROUD ABOUT IS, UM, YOU KNOW, AS ENGINEERS, SOMETIMES WE, PEOPLE SAY WE'RE NOT SENSITIVE OR WHATEVER, WE'RE JUST TOO LOGICAL AND BY THE NUMBERS.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I'M MOST PROUD ABOUT IS THAT WHEN THIS NEW PROJECT IS CONSTRUCTED THROUGH THE OLD HEART OF BATON ROUGE, IT'S GONNA BE DONE IN A VERY ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE MANNER AS IT GOES THROUGH THE WASHINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD AREA.
UM, UH, YOU KNOW, IN THE OLD DAYS, WE WOULD JUST RAM IT THROUGH, BUT NOW WE DON'T.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A CONTEXT SENSITIVE INTERSTATE.
IT'S GONNA HAVE MUCH LONGER SPANS, IT'S GONNA HAVE ARCHITECTURAL PEERS, IT'S GONNA HAVE ACTIVITIES UNDER THE INTERSTATE, AND IT'S GONNA BE AN ASSET TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS OPPOSED TO AN EYESORE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THERE ARE OTHER THINGS TOO THAT YOU'LL SEE ABOUT IN THE PRESENTATION.
BUT, UM, AND, AND ONE LAST THING I WANNA SAY BEFORE I TURN IT OVER IS THAT, UH, THIS IS NOT FROM AN ENGINEERING STANDPOINT, THIS IS NOT AN EASY PROJECT.
IT, IT IS FRAUGHT WITH CHALLENGES.
AND THE BIGGEST SINGLE CHALLENGE THAT THAT, THAT WE ARE, UH, BOUND TO ADDRESS AND WE HAVE HEIGHTENED AWARENESS OVER IS THE MAINTENANCE OF TRAFFIC DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THIS PROJECT.
SO SURE, IF WE COULD SNAP OUR FINGERS AND WE GET EXTRA LANES AND EVERYTHING'S DONE OVERNIGHT, THAT'D BE GREAT, RIGHT? BUT WE CAN'T, IT'S GONNA TAKE US FIVE YEARS TO GET THERE.
SO WE HAVE PAID SPECIAL ATTENTION AND YOU'LL SEE IN THE PRESENTATION TO DO ALL THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO TO MAINTAIN TRAFFIC THROUGH THE CORRIDOR AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.
AND SO IT'S VERY INTERESTING THE WAY IT'S GONNA WORK AND YOU'LL SEE.
AND, UM, WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO JAMES.
THANK YOU COUNCILMAN GODDE FOR INVITING US HERE TONIGHT.
UH, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE REPRESENTING THE PROJECT TEAM AND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT.
IS THERE A CLICKER OR SOMETHING I MIGHT USE TO ADVANCE SLIDES OR HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? NOPE.
JUST, UH, REITERATE JUST A BIT OF HISTORY.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THIS PROJECT OCCURRED BETWEEN 2011 AND 2019.
IN, UH, NOVEMBER 19TH, A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD ON THE WEST BANK, UH, IN WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH FOR THE EA.
AND ON THE 20TH, A COMPLIMENTARY PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD HERE IN BATON ROUGE FOR THIS PROJECT.
CONSEQUENTLY, AFTER A LITTLE BIT OF ADDITIONAL STUDY IN FEBRUARY ON FEBRUARY 12TH, 2021, THE FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT WAS ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT, THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT BEING, UH, THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION.
SO THAT BRINGS US TO MARCH OF 2021 WHEN THIS CURRENT, UH, CMAR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK, UH, SEGMENT ONE PROJECT BEGAN.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE REPRESENTING HERE TODAY.
SO ADVANCE TO SLIDE TWO, PLEASE.
SO THE TOTAL PROJECT LIMITS OVERALL EXTEND IN WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH FROM FOUR 15, WHICH IS THE LADALE EXIT EASTWARD ACROSS THE RIVER THROUGH BATON ROUGE AND BEYOND.
THE SPLIT TO ESSEN LANE ON BOTH I 10 AND I 12.
THIS PROJECT, AS I SAID, I DESCRIBED THIS, UH, ACRONYM CMAR, THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK.
[02:55:01]
DELIVERY MODEL.IT'S DIFFERENT FROM THE STANDARD DESIGN BID BUILD, WHICH IS TYPICAL OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS YOU MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH, WITH THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK.
WE'VE BROUGHT ON BOTH THE DESIGN TEAM REPRESENTED ON THIS, UH, CHART AS COREX 10.
AND THE CONTRACTOR, THE GREEN BOX Q IT BOW CONCURRENTLY SO THAT DIALOGUE OCCURS REGULARLY WITH MEETINGS AND THAT EFFICIENCIES CAN BE IDENTIFIED AS THE PLANS, THE FINAL PLANS ARE WORKED OUT ADVANCE, PLEASE.
SO LET'S REVIEW THE PURPOSE AND NEEDS STATEMENT AS CONTAINED IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT.
SO IN WITHIN THE EA THERE WERE 11 PUBLIC HERE, PUBLIC MEETINGS.
AND NOW DURING CMAR SEGMENT ONE, THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN EIGHT PUBLIC MEETINGS.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 130 STAKEHOLDER BRIEFINGS.
SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND PUBLIC OUTREACH.
SO THAT'S IN EXCESS OF 2300 TOUCHES.
SO THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY 2300 INDIVIDUAL PERSONS BECAUSE WE HAVE MANY FOLKS WHO COME TO MULTIPLE EVENTS.
SO THAT'S INDIVIDUAL TOUCHES AND CONTACT POINTS WITH THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE PROJECT ADVANCE PLEASE.
UH, THE PURPOSE AND NEED IS THE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY IN EACH DIRECTION IS NEEDED TO ALLEVIATE CONGESTION AND TO REDUCE TRAVEL TIMES.
AND NUMBER TWO, TO UPDATE THE CURRENT DESIGN BY THE ADDITION OF SHOULDERS FOR EMERGENCY USE, LONGER ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION LANES FOR INCREASED MERGE DISTANCES, LANE ARRANGEMENTS THAT ARE RE THAT REDUCE WEAVING AND TO EXTEND THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE BY REPLACING IT.
SO, ANTICIPATED BENEFITS AT FULL PROJECT COMPLETION INCLUDE THE ADDITIONAL THROUGH LANES PROVIDED ADDITIONAL CAPACITY.
SO WE'RE GOING FROM THREE THROUGH LANES IN EACH DIRECTION TO FOUR THROUGH LANES IN EACH DIRECTION AT COMPLETION.
THE NEXT BULLET, TRAFFIC MODELING HAS SUGGESTED THAT AFTER CONSTRUCTION, THE TRAVEL TIMES MAY BE REDUCED ANYWHERE FROM TWO TO 18% DURING PEAK TRAVEL TIMES.
FROM THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BRIDGE TO THE I 10 12 SPLIT.
THIS I 10 PROJECT ALONE WILL NOT SOLVE THE CAPITAL REGION'S, UH, TRANSPORTATION AND VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, UH, WOES WE'VE GOT, IT IS ONE OF A NUMBER OF REGIONAL MEGA PROJECTS THAT DOTD IS EXAMINING.
IN ADDITION TO THIS, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE NEW SOUTH BRIDGE, WHICH IS CURRENTLY BEGINNING THE NEPA ANALYSIS OF THAT.
THERE'S A NORTH BYPASS THAT IS PART OF THE STATEWIDE PLAN.
THERE'S THE LA ONE TO LA FOUR 15 CONNECTOR, WHICH IS CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH DESIGN.
THERE'S A WIDENING OF I 10 FROM HIGHWAY 73 TO HIGHWAY 22, WHICH IS IN THE PLANNING STAGE.
AND THEN THE WIDENING OF I 12 AND AT THE SATSUMA TO HAMMOND AREA, WHICH IS IN THE PLANNING STAGE.
SO THEN IN SUMMARY, AT A HIGH LEVEL, WE BELIEVE THAT COMMUTERS NEED TO EXPECT PREDICTABILITY AND RELIABILITY AS THEY TRAVEL ON I 10 THROUGH BATON ROUGE THAT I IMPROVEMENTS TO I 10 WILL REDUCE CONGESTION AND ALLOW DRIVERS TO PLAN THEIR TRIPS WITH INCREASED ASSURANCE THAT THEY WILL REACH THEIR DESTINATION AT THE SCHEDULED TIME.
THIRDLY, THE SAFETY BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT INCLUDE A NEARLY 10% REDUCTION OF ANTICIPATED CRASHES AND AN EVEN GREATER REDUCTION IN VITALITY OR INJURY CAUSING CRASHES.
AND THAT IMPROVED INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDES, INCLUDES NOISE REDUCTION, COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, CONTEXT SENSITIVE SOLUTIONS, AND THESE ALL PROVIDE AMENITIES TO AREA RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.
SO THERE ARE A COUPLE OF, THESE ARE TWO GRAPHICS PULLED FROM A-A-D-O-T-D WEBSITE AND A GOCHE PUBLIC WEBSITES THAT ILLUSTRATE AND DESCRIBE THE, UM, EVACUATION ROUTES OF SOUTH LOUISIANA.
AND THE KEY THINGS WE WANT TO POINT OUT HERE IS THAT CONTRAFLOW ON AN INTERSTATE SYSTEM SERVES NEW ORLEANS.
THERE IS NO CONTRAFLOW THROUGH BATON ROUGE EVER.
UM, DOTD WHEN IMPLEMENTED, YES.
NOW THAT DOESN'T SAY THAT AFTER AN LSU HOME GAME, WE DON'T HAVE CONTRAFLOW ON LOCAL STREETS, BUT THAT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT ANIMAL THAT IS NOT INTERSTATE CONTRAFLOW.
SECONDLY, THEY WANT TO EMPHASIZE ON THESE GRAPHICS THAT THE MAIN IMPETUS IS TO GO NORTH AND NOT EAST OR WEST TO ESCAPE STORM HAZARDS.
SO THE PROJECT LIMITS, UH, I MENTIONED THAT SMAR WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SEGMENT ONE.
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SO ENCIRCLED IN THE OVAL, THERE IS SEGMENT ONE OF THE PROJECT, AND THAT EXTENDS FROM WEST OF WASHINGTON STREET, WHICH NOW HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THE I ONE 10 INTERCHANGE EXTENDING EASTWARD THROUGH DOWNTOWN BATON ROUGE TO INCLUDE FULLY THE ACADIAN THROUGHWAY INTERCHANGE.AT THIS POINT, I'M GONNA ALLOW SHERRY LEBA TO CONTINUE WITH THE PRESENTATION.
AS JAMES SAID, THE SEYMOUR SEGMENT ONE EXTENDS FROM THE I 10, I ONE 10 INTERCHANGE OUT TO JUST, UH, EAST OF ACADIAN THROUGHWAY.
AND IF YOU COULD ADVANCE THE SLIDE.
SO STEPPING BACK A LITTLE BIT, IN MARCH, UH, SEVENTH, I BELIEVE IT WAS OF THIS YEAR, MARCH 7TH OF THIS YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WENT OUT TO A PUBLIC MEETING AND PRESENTED AN OPTION.
AND TO BACK UP A LITTLE BIT, THIS PROJECT IS JUST LIKE ALL PROJECTS, UH, WILL BE CONSTRUCTED IN STAGES.
SO BACK IN, IN MARCH, THE DEPARTMENT WENT OUT TO A PUBLIC MEETING AND THEY PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC THE, UH, PROPOSAL TO SHORTEN THE CONSTRUCTION TIME AND TO PROVIDE TWO LANES IN EACH DIRECTION THROUGH WHAT WERE CALLED, WHAT'S CALLED STAGE TWO CONSTRUCTION.
AND I'LL GO INTO A LITTLE BIT OF DETAIL IN THAT IN A MINUTE.
BUT THIS DURATION WOULD'VE LASTED ABOUT 12 TO 14 MONTHS.
AND SO THE FONZI, AS JAMES SAID, WAS RECEIVED IN 2021.
IN ANY TIME YOU MAKE, UH, UH, CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS TO AN ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT THAT HAS RECEIVED FEDERAL APPROVAL, THEN YOU GO OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND YOU RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THOSE CHANGES.
THE CHANGES THAT WE RECEIVED, UH, CONCERNS EXPRESSED FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE TRAFFIC IMPACTS DURING STAGE TWO OF CONSTRUCTION RESULTED IN THE DEPARTMENT GOING BACK JUST LIKE IT SHOULD.
THAT'S WHAT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IS ABOUT, GOING BACK AND LOOKING AND ANALYZING, CAN WE GO TO THREE LANES IN EACH DIRECTION? AND THE DEPARTMENT IS, UH, THE ENGINEERS ARE ANALYZING THAT, THAT'S GONNA BE PRESENTED TO THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION IN DECEMBER.
AND THEN DOTD WILL MAKE A, A DECISION IF DOTD MAKES THAT DECISION TO PROVIDE THREE LANES IN EACH DIRECTION DURING STAGE TWO, THEN THAT MEANS THROUGH ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION FOR THE PROJECT, THREE LANES IN EACH DIRECTION FROM I 10 I ONE 10 TO ACADIAN WILL BE IN PLACE FOR THE TRAVELING PUBLIC, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE TODAY.
TODAY WE HAVE THREE LANES IN EACH DIRECTION, AND AS JAMES SAID, THIS PROJECT IS TO ADD ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION AND OTHER THINGS TOO THAT HE MENTIONED.
SO LET ME WALK YOU THROUGH AND WE'LL SPEND SOME TIME ON THE, ON THE SCHEDULE.
SO STAGE ONE, AGAIN, THE PROJECT'S BROKEN UP INTO DIFFERENT STAGES AND STAGE ONE, WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IS THE WIDENING OF THE WESTBOUND LANES, THE NEW CONSTRUCTION OF THE CITY PARK, LAKE BRIDGE, THE SERVICE ROAD, UH, THAT EXTENDS ALONG THE EASTBOUND LANES.
AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE WIDENING OF THE FLOW OVER, AND I'LL, I'LL GO THROUGH THIS IN MORE DETAIL, BUT AS YOU'RE TRAVELING INTO THE WESTBOUND DIRECTION, YOU KNOW, WE ALL KNOW THAT CURVE WHERE I THINK IT WAS COWS THAT FELL OVER THE, THE EDGE OF THE BARRIER.
AND SO DOTD CAME AND BUILT THAT, THAT HIGH WALL.
UM, THAT CURVE IS GOING TO BE WIDENED IN STAGE ONE.
AND THEN CONTINUING ON WITH MORE TEMPORARY WIDENING TO PREPARE THE WESTBOUND LANES SO THAT WE CAN SHIFT ALL THE EASTBOUND TRAFFIC TO THE WESTBOUND LANES.
AND THEN IT WOULD ALSO, UH, THE WESTBOUND LANES WOULD BE ON THE WESTBOUND LANES AS WELL.
SO THAT PROJECT, AND, AND YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN THE CONSTRUCTION OUT THERE, THERE'S SOME, UM, CRANES OUT THERE THAT ARE DRIVING PILES FOR THE TRESTLE BRIDGE.
IT'S A TEMPORARY TRESTLE BRIDGE THAT'LL BE USED TO BUILD THE WESTBOUND LANES OF THE CITY PARK, LAKE BRIDGE.
AND THEN IN NOVEMBER IS WHEN STAGE ONE WILL BEGIN
[03:05:02]
IN 2025.UM, STAGE TWO HAS GENERATED QUITE A LOT OF CONVERSATION.
THIS IS WHEN TRAFFIC WILL BE MOVED, ALL TRAFFIC WILL BE MOVED TO THOSE NEWLY WIDENED, TEMPORARILY WIDENED EXCEPT FOR THE CITY PARK, LAKE BRIDGE.
THAT'LL BE PERMANENT CONSTRUCTION TO THE WESTBOUND LANES AND E THE EASTBOUND LANES WILL BE COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED AND REBUILT AGAIN.
AND WE HAVE A NOTE ON HERE IN YELLOW THAT THE OTD IS ANALYZING, PROVIDING THREE LANES IN EACH DIRECTION DURING STAGE TWO, AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHER STAGES.
ONCE STAGE TWO IS COMPLETE, THEN WE MOVE TO STAGE THREE.
STAGE THREE WE PUT THE WESTBOUND TRAFFIC WILL BE ON THE WESTBOUND LANES.
THE THREE LANES OF EASTBOUND TRAFFIC WILL BE ON THE THREE, THE EASTBOUND LANES, AND WE'LL DO, THE CONTRACTOR WILL DO SOME FINISHING WORK AND THEN WE'LL MOVE TO STAGE FOUR, WHICH AT THIS TIME THE TRAFFIC WILL SHIFT TO THE BRAND NEW MUCH WATER EASTBOUND LANES.
AND THEN THE WESTBOUND LANES WILL BE DEMOLISHED AND RECONSTRUCTED TO MEET THE CURRENT STANDARDS AS JANE HAD MENTIONED IN THE PURPOSE AND NEED.
THEN AFTER STAGE FOUR, THE, UH, THE PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETE AND IT'LL BE FOUR LANES IN EACH DIRECTION WITH LONGER ACCELERATION LANES, LONGER DESAL LANES, SHOULDERS, UM, BETTER SIGHT DISTANCE, ET CETERA.
SO THE NEXT, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A VIDEO FOR YOU AND, UH, I'M HOPING THAT IT'S GONNA PLAY, BUT THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, UH, PICTURES AND VIDEOS ARE WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS.
SO I THINK THIS VIDEO IS VERY TELLING AND IT GIVES YOU, UH, A MODEL LOOK AT THE SEQUENCE OF CONSTRUCTION.
SO, UM, I'M HOPING IT'LL PLAY JAMES, I THINK YOU WERE.
AND I, IF WE DO GET IT TO PLAY, WHICH I HOPE WE DO, UM, I WILL TALK THROUGH IT, UM, AS IT'S SHOWING YOU THE GRAPHICS AND THE VIDEO OF THE PROJECT.
AND A LOT OF THIS INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT OUR I 10 VR.COM SITE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THAT CODE IS UP IN THE, IT'LL BE CENTERED AROUND, OH, WELL, SOMETHING STARTED, NO, THE AUDIO'S THERE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WE PULLED THE VIDEO.
WE, WE HAVE A ONE VIDEO WITH JUST MUSIC AND ONE WITH, UH, SOMEONE TALKING.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE THE ONE, SO I MAY NOT NEED TO TALK THROUGH IT.
WELL, WHY, WHY DON'T WE, WHY DON'T WE MOVE ON THEN? YEAH, WE'LL CIRCLE BACK IF THEY, IF THEY'RE ABLE TO GET IT READY AGAIN.
I BELIEVE JAMES, THIS, THE VIDEO'S ONLINE TOO, RIGHT? YEAH, IT'S ON THE I 10 PR.COM SITE.
ALRIGHT, SO LET'S GO AHEAD TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
ALRIGHT, SO I WENT THROUGH THE SCHEDULE AND NOW WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS JUST, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA GO INTO EVEN MORE DETAIL, UM, TO EXPLAIN THE SEQUENCE OF CONSTRUCTION.
SO AGAIN, WE'LL BE STARTING WITH THE PERMANENT WIDENING OF THE WESTBOUND LANES OF THE CITY PARK, LAKE BRIDGE, AS WELL AS THE SERVICE ROAD THAT EXTENDS ALONG THE EASTBOUND LANES.
THREE LANES WILL BE PROVIDED IN EACH DIRECTION FROM I 10 I ONE 10 TO THE ACADIAN THROUGHWAY.
THE NEXT PART, DURING STAGE ONE, AS I TALKED ABOUT THE, AGAIN, THAT WESTBOUND CURVE AS IT GOES TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BRIDGE WILL BE WIDENING THE INSIDE OF THE CURVE, WHICH IS SHOWN ON THE RIGHT, THE LOWER SIDE.
AND THEN WE'LL BE WIDENING ON THE HIGH SIDE, WHICH IS SHOWN ON THE LEFT SIDE.
DURING THIS TIME, AS YOU KNOW, DURING THROUGH THIS CURVE THERE'S TWO LANES THAT ARE PROVIDED AND DURING THIS CONSTRUCTION, THOSE TWO LANES WILL CONTINUE
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TO BE PROVIDED THROUGH THIS CURVE.SO THAT'S WHAT EWP THREE, R THREE A THREE B, UH, UH, IS INVOLVED WITH, AS WELL AS NEXT SLIDE STAGE ONE, CONTINUING WITH STAGE ONE.
AND, AND WHAT WE'RE USING HERE IS ACADIAN THROUGHWAY AREA, JUST AS A, A REFERENCE AND AN EXAMPLE TO SHOW YOU THE SEQUENCE OF CONSTRUCTION.
ALSO IN STAGE ONE WE'LL BE DOING THE REMAINDER OF THE WIDENING, THE TEMPORARY WIDENING OF THE WESTBOUND LANES.
REMEMBER WE'RE, WE'RE WIDENING THE WESTBOUND LANES SO THAT WE CAN SHIFT TRAFFIC FROM THE EASTBOUND LANES OVER TO THE WESTBOUND LANES WHILE WE FULLY DEMOLISH AND RECONSTRUCT THE EASTBOUND LANES.
SO ALL OF THAT HAPPENS IN STAGE ONE.
ALRIGHT, SO THIS DEPICTS AGAIN THE TRAFFIC MOVING FROM THE EASTBOUND LANES TO THE WESTBOUND LANES.
THE WESTBOUND LANES ARE ON THE WESTBOUND LANES AS WELL.
AND YOU'LL SEE THE NOTE ON HERE, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE TWO ARROWS IN EACH DIRECTION ON THE GREEN PART, WHICH IS THE WESTBOUND LANES, DOTD IS ANALYZING, PROVIDING THREE LANES IN EACH DIRECTION DURING STAGE TWO.
AND THEY'LL BE COMING OUT WITH THAT DECISION, UH, RELATIVELY SOON IN DECEMBER.
SO THIS IS STAGE TWO CONSTRUCTION.
SO LET'S LOOK AT, REMEMBER IN STAGE ONE WE WIDENED THAT WESTBOUND MAIN LINE CURVE, RIGHT? WE WIDENED IT ON THE INSIDE, WE WIDENED IT ON THE OUTSIDE, AND WE DID THAT SO THAT IN STAGE TWO WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE TWO LANES IN THE WESTBOUND DIRECTION.
AND ONE LANE IN THE EASTBOUND DIRECTION.
AND THIS IS SO WE'LL, WE'LL BE MOVING THE EASTBOUND OVER THERE SO THAT WE CAN RECONSTRUCT THE CURVE THAT'S IN THE, THE HIGHLIGHTED IN RED, THE EASTBOUND, IN THE EASTBOUND DIRECTION.
CURRENTLY, AS YOU KNOW, AS YOU'RE COMING FROM THE BRIDGE AND YOU'RE COMING ONTO I 10 BOUND IT, YOU'RE IN TWO LANES.
THOSE TWO LANES COME IN, BUT ONE OF THOSE LANES EXIT AT WASHINGTON.
SO PEOPLE ARE MERGING OVER, MOVING OVER IT.
BUT YOU REALLY HAVE ONE LANE IN THE EASTBOUND DIRECTION ON I 10.
AND, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, YOU KNOW, BATON ROUGE IS ONE OF THE ONLY PLACES WHERE THE INTERSTATE I 10 GOES DOWN TO ONE LANE.
WE WANNA REMEDY THAT THE NEW CURVE WILL BE WIDER AND PROVIDE TWO LANES SO THAT WHEN YOU'RE IN THOSE TWO LANES, EITHER ONE OF THOSE LANES, YOU JUST KEEP ON GOING, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT TRAFFIC MERGING IN BECAUSE THERE'S GONNA BE A, UH, BARRIER SUCH THAT IF YOU'RE COMING FROM I ONE 10 SOUTHBOUND, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO CROSS OVER IN THOSE LANES.
YOU WILL HAVE TO GET OFF AT, UH, THE TERRACE STREET EXIT THAT'S IN PLACE RIGHT NOW.
OH, AND I DID WANNA POINT OUT, GO BACK TO THAT OTHER SLIDE.
SO ON STAGE TWO, THE PREVIOUS SLIDE WE SHOWED 12 TO 16 MONTHS.
THIS SHOULD ALSO SAY 12 TO 16 MONTHS.
THE REASON, UM, SO BEFORE WHEN WE SHOWED STAGE TWO, WE HAD 12 TO 14 MONTHS.
THE REASON THAT IT NOW SHOWS 16 MONTHS IS TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THE LITTLE BIT MORE TIME THAT IT'S GONNA TAKE, UH, TO ACCOMMODATE AND GO TO THE SIX LANE MOT.
IF YOU STAYED AT THE, AT THE FOUR LANE MOT, THEN YOU WOULD NEED THOSE EXTRA TWO MONTHS.
BUT, BUT I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WHEN YOU ANALYZE THIS IS, IS TIME AND COST.
SO STAGE THREE, UH, WE HAVE OUR BRAND NEW EASTBOUND LANES, OUR WESTBOUND LANES.
UH, WE ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE THREE LANES AND, AND THE CONTRACTOR'S JUST DOING SOME FINISHING WORK.
WE WANNA TRY TO GET THESE LANES OPENED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
NEXT, NOW THE, WE'RE SHIFTING THE WESTBOUND TRAFFIC TO THE EASTBOUND LANES, THREE LANES IN EACH DIRECTION BECAUSE IT'S A MUCH WIDER NEWER STRUCTURE.
WE DEMOLISH THE WESTBOUND LANES AND WE REBUILD THE WESTBOUND LANES IN STAGE FOUR.
NEXT SLIDE, THEN IN STAGE FIVE WE PUT THREE LANES IN EACH DIRECTION.
THE CONTRACTOR DOES SOME FINISHING WORK FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS,
[03:15:01]
AND THEN VOILA, IT'S DONE.AND WE HAVE OUR FOUR LANES IN EACH DIRECTION WITH THE WIDER SHOULDERS, THE LONGER XL AND DESAL LANES AND, UH, A MORE MODERN INTERSTATE UP TO STANDARDS.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA HAND THIS BACK OVER.
WELL, I THINK I DO HAVE ONE MORE SLIDE.
ALTERNATE CORRIDORS DURING CONSTRUCTION, WE WANNA SHOW THIS, THAT THESE ALTERNATE CORRIDORS AROUND BATON ROUGE, THIS IS NOT MANDATORY THAT PEOPLE TAKE THESE CORRIDORS.
AGAIN, WE'LL BE PROVIDING THREE LANES IN EACH DIRECTION DURING ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION ON THE MAINLINE, UH, IF AND WHEN.
DOTD APPROVES THE THREE LANES IN EACH DIRECTION FOR STAGE TWO.
BUT THESE ALTERNATE CORRIDORS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED SO THAT TRAFFIC DOES HAVE ANOTHER MEANS TO, UH, FACILITATE IN AND AROUND BATON ROUGE, WHICH, UM, YOU KNOW, WE NEED ALL OF THIS NOW TOO, DON'T WE? SO YOU'LL SEE THAT WE HAVE ADAPTIVE SIGNAL, UM, CON WORK CORRIDORS THAT'LL BE GOING ON IN THESE CORRIDORS.
THIS WILL BE IN PLACE BY THE TIME OF STAGE TWO EWP THREE R.
THE FIRST PROJECT THAT WILL BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION STARTING IN NOVEMBER, THREE LANES EACH DIRECTION.
UM, THE LANES IN THE WESTBOUND DIRECTION WILL BE REDUCED TO 11 FEET WIDE.
THE EASTBOUND WILL REMAIN 12 FEET WIDE LANES.
THAT'S THE TYPICAL LANE WIDTH IS 12 FEET.
UM, BUT THE, DURING THREE R YOU'LL JUST HAVE NIGHTTIME CLOSURES OF LANES JUST LIKE YOU REGULARLY DO WITH ANY INTERSTATE MAINTENANCE OR CONSTRUCTION THAT GOES ON IN A TYPICAL FACTION.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA HAND IT BACK OVER TO JAMES.
SO THE REMAINING SLIDES FALL INTO TWO CATEGORIES.
THE FIRST GROUP IS TO DISCUSS, UH, A NUMBER OF TRAFFIC MITIGATION STRATEGIES THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO OFFSET THE TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC DISRUPTED BY CONSTRUCTION DURING THAT PERIOD.
AND THE SECOND GROUP, UH, DESCRIBES A NUMBER OF THE CONTACT SENSITIVE SOLUTIONS AMENITIES THAT ARE PART OF THE PROJECT.
SO WITH THE, UH, MAINTENANCE OF TRAFFIC AND THE CONSTRUCTABILITY SLIDE HERE, UH, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT A, A NUMBER, ROUGHLY 15 I BELIEVE, TRAFFIC MITIGATION STRATEGY.
SO THE FIRST STRATEGY IS OFFSITE IMPROVEMENTS AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO READ IN THE DISTANCE ON THAT MAP, BUT THERE ARE THREE CIRCLES IN WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH AROUND HIGH VOLUME INTERSECTIONS OR INTERCHANGES AT, UH, SO THAT'S LA ONE THAT'S, UH, FOUR 15 AND THEN, UH, I 10 AT FOUR 15.
AND THOSE ARE INTERSECTIONS ON SURFACE LEVEL HIGHWAYS WHERE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE GEOMETRICS OF THOSE INTERSECTIONS ARE RECOMMENDED AND THEY WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED IN ADVANCE OF INTERSTATE CONSTRUCTION TO ALLOW AN IMPROVED FLOW OF TRAVEL ON THOSE ARTERIALS.
THE FOURTH ONE IS AN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER OF THE MAP, IT IS THE ACADIAN INTERSECTION AT I 10.
THE NUMBER TWO, UH, MITIGATION STRATEGY ON THIS SLIDE IS THE ADAPTIVE SIGNAL TIMINGS ALONG MAJOR ALTERNATE ROUTES.
AND SO THIS PROJECT IS DOVETAILING WITH THE CITY PARISH'S MOVE VR PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE PARISH, WHICH HAS BEEN INSTALLING FIBER OPTIC CABLES ALONG MANY OF THESE ROUTES TO CONNECT THE, UH, SIGNALS AT EACH INTERSECTION.
THOSE WOULD BE COMPUTER CONTROLLED BY, UM, MR. RAYFORD AND MS. PENNINGTON'S, UH, SHOP THERE.
AND THAT WOULD, UH, FACILITATE THE EFFICIENT MOVEMENT OF TRAFFIC ON THESE ALTERNATE ROUTES.
NUMBER THREE IS STATEWIDE ADVANCED SIGNAGE.
SO ALONG THE VARIOUS INTERSTATE ROUTES AND MAJOR HIGHWAYS THROUGHOUT LOUISIANA, THIS MAP DEPICTS THE PLACEMENT OF VARIABLE MESSAGE SIGNS ALONG WHERE PEOPLE ENTERING THE STATE FROM TEXAS, FROM ARKANSAS, FROM MISSISSIPPI WOULD ENCOUNTER THESE SIGNS AND THEY WOULD DISPLAY MESSAGES TO DRIVERS INFORMING THEM OF THE CONGESTION PERHAPS, OR THE CONSTRUCTION FOR SURE IN THE CAPITOL AREA.
IT WOULD, AS THEY PROCEEDED CLOSER TO BATON ROUGE, THERE WOULD BE ADDITIONAL SIGNS WHICH MIGHT RECOMMEND ALTERNATE ROUTES THEY MIGHT CONSIDER OR DETOURS, UH, THINGS
[03:20:01]
LIKE THAT.UH, NUMBER FOUR IS THE QUEUE DETECTION SYSTEM.
SO THIS IS A COMPUTER CONTROLLED, UH, MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT WOULD REGULATE SIGNAL TIMINGS TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE STACKING OF VEHICLES ON ALTERNATE ROUTES.
NEXT SLIDE, FIVE THROUGH NINE.
SO THESE HAVE TO DO WITH MITIGATING THE, UH, PEAK HOUR TRAFFIC THROUGH BATON ROUGE.
SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO STATE AGENCIES TO LARGE EMPLOYERS AND INDUSTRY WHERE POSSIBLE, MAYBE THEY CAN CONSIDER SHIFTING WORK HOURS FOR SOME OR A NUMBER OF THEIR EMPLOYEES AND ENCOURAGED THE SAME FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES.
AND WE ALSO WANT TO NUM WITH NUMBER NINE.
WE'RE POINTING OUT THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN DOTD AND, UM, THE, UH, RIDE SHARING PROGRAM THAT IS PART OF COMMUTER CREW.
SO, 10 THROUGH 13, UH, THERE'S THE PRESENCE OF ADDITIONAL MOTOR ASSISTANCE PATROL TRUCKS THAT WILL BE ON THE, WITHIN THE CONSTRUCTION CORRIDOR.
THEY'RE A MEMBER OF EACH, UH, QUICK RESPONSE TEAM NUMBER 11 IS THE PRESIDENT PRESENCE OF DEDICATED LAW ENFORCEMENT AT THE HEAD OF TRAFFIC QUEUES AND ADDITIONAL OFFICERS WILL BE PATROLLING THE CORRIDOR.
NUMBER 12 IS THE REGIONAL COORDINATION AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
I'LL TOUCH ON THAT IN A MOMENT.
AND NUMBER 13 IS ANOTHER APP, DODD'S 5 1 1 APP.
AND THAT INCLUDES, UH, MAP ROUTING, UH, WHICH IS FED BY LIVE TRAFFIC DATA.
SO IN THE COORDINATION WITH, UH, LOCAL AND REGIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS, WE HAVE ARE FORMING AND PREPARING AN INCIDENT MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT'S WELL UNDERWAY, UH, THAT HAS BEEN UNDERTAKEN BY THE INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TASK FORCE, WHICH IS MADE UP OF THESE MEMBERS LISTED HERE, THE L-A-D-O-T-D ITSELF, BATON ROUGE POLICE, BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT, EMS, THE MOTOR ASSISTANCE PATROL, UH, THE LOUISIANA STATE POLICE, WEST BATON ROUGE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND EAST BATON ROUGE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND OF COURSE, THE DESIGN TEAM.
SO, COMPONENTS OF THAT PLAN INCLUDE A ROSTER.
AND SO FOR EACH ROSTER, THAT WOULD BE TWO MOTOR ASSISTANT PATROL TRUCKS ON A MAINTENANCE CONTRACT, THAT WOULD BE QUICK RESPONSE TEAMS. AND EACH CONSISTS OF ONE MAP TRUCK, ONE TOW TRUCK, AND ONE OFFICER ALSO COMMITTED TO THE CORRIDOR DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD WOULD BE ONE HEAVY HAUL TOW TRUCK TO DEAL WITH LARGE RIGS THAT MIGHT BREAK DOWN.
AND THEN OFFICERS STATIONED AT THE QUEUES OR HEADS OF, UH, TRAFFIC QUEUES TOOLS THEY'LL BE IMPLEMENTING INCLUDE GATES, AND THAT'S PICTURED ON THE SLIDE.
THERE'D BE, UH, UM, METAL GATES THAT CAN BE OPEN WHERE THE, UH, CONCRETE SEPARATES ONCOMING TRAFFIC.
THESE GATES COULD BE OPEN IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS TO ALLOW FIRST RESPONDERS TO GAIN ACCESS TO INCIDENTS ON THE OPPOSITE LANES.
UH, AND YOU CAN SEE ALSO ADDITIONAL MAP TRUCKS WITH PUSHING AND PULLING CAPABILITIES.
AND THEN THE CONTRACTOR WILL ALSO HAVE FOUR TRUCK MOUNTED ATTENUATORS.
SO NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE AMENITIES AND BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT.
THESE ALL CAME OUT OF THE, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND THE COURT REPEATED COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITIES INVOLVED ALONG THE CORRIDOR.
SO THE ACRONYM CC STANDS FOR COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS.
THAT IS A, A NATIONAL PROGRAM SPONSORED BY THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
A COMPONENT OF COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS IS CONTEXT SENSITIVE SOLUTIONS, AND THOSE ARE WAYS TO DESCRIBE THE ACTUAL AMENITIES THAT WOULD BE CONSTRUCTED WITHIN THE INTERSTATE RIGHT OF WAY.
SO WITHIN SEGMENT ONE, THERE ARE FOUR CSS PROJECTS.
THE FIRST CITY PARK LAKE BRIDGE, WHICH WOULD BE REPLACED THE GREENWAY THROUGH OLD SOUTH BATON ROUGE, ALONGSIDE AND BENEATH THE NEW REPLACED INTERSTATE NOISE WALLS LINING THE CORRIDOR, AND THEN THE PERKINS ROAD AREA IMPROVEMENTS.
THIS IS A ARTIST ILLUSTRATION OF THE PROPOSED REPLACEMENT OF THE CITY PARK LAKE BRIDGE.
YOU'LL NOTICE THE ARCHITECTURAL ENHANCEMENTS, THE AT THE CORNERS, THERE ARE TOWERS, UH, TO ACCENTUATE YOUR ARRIVAL AND PASSAGE THROUGH OUR CITY.
IT WOULD, IT WOULD FEATURE NIGHT LIGHTING, DECORATIVE LIGHTING, AND ALSO TYPICAL SAFETY LIGHTING.
YOU'LL ALSO NOTICE ON THIS PICTURE, THE, UH, ALONG THE EDGES OF THE BRIDGE ARE THE, UH, CLEAR NOISE WALLS.
THESE WOULD BE CLEAR ACRYLIC PANELS WHICH MEET CRASH TEST RATINGS AS REQUIRED, BUT ALSO PRESERVE VIEWS.
[03:25:01]
SO THIS ONE, HOPEFULLY THIS WILL WORK.THIS IS THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT'S MASTER PLAN FOR CONTEXT SENSITIVE SOLUTIONS IN THE WASHINGTON BRIDGE AREA, NOW RENAMED, UH, LAURIE BURGESS AVENUE.
BUT THIS EXTENDS THROUGH OLD SOUTH BATON ROUGE FROM THE, UH, EXPRESSWAY PARK, UH, DOWN TO THE SOUTH TO CONNECT TO, UH, DOWN RUMPLE DRIVE NEXT TO EAST POLK STREET PARK.
SO NOW YOU CAN SEE AS WE PAN TO THE SOUTH, THERE'S A NUMBER OF NODES DEPICTED ON THIS MASTER PLAN WHERE IMPROVEMENTS WOULD BE FOCUSED.
WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT AS MANY OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS AS POSSIBLE CAN BE IMPLEMENTED.
THEY ARE CONTINGENT UPON MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS WITH LOCAL ENTITIES INCLUDING, UH, THE CITY PARISH ITSELF AND, UH, BRECK AND BATON ROUGE GREEN.
THIS IS AN ARTIST ILLUSTRATION OF WHAT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE NEW INTERSTATE IN THAT AREA OF TOWN MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
YOU'LL NOTICE THE, UH, GREENWAY PATH.
SO THAT WOULD BE A BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN SAFE LINKAGE BETWEEN THE EXISTING BIKE TRAILS AND NETWORK AND DOWNTOWN BATON ROUGE TO FUTURE IMPROVED BIKE TRAILS AROUND THE UNIVERSITY LAKES AS PART OF THE SEPARATE UNIVERSITY LAKES PROJECT.
OTHER AMENITIES YOU CAN SEE THERE IN THE PHOTO.
THIS, UH, IMAGE IS OF THE, UH, NOISE WALLS.
AS I MENTIONED, BECAUSE OF THE, UH, CONSTRAINTS OF RIGHT OF WAY, THE WALLS NEEDED TO BE CONSTRUCTED ON TOP OF THE, UH, CONCRETE CRASH BARRIERS ALONGSIDE THE INTERSTATE.
THEY NEEDED TO BE LIGHTWEIGHT, AND THAT'S WHY WE COULD NOT CONTINUE TO USE THE STANDALONE, UH, CONCRETE NOISE WALLS AS WE HAVE TODAY.
BUT THESE, UH, THESE WALLS ARE CRASH TESTED AND DO PASS THE DOTD REQUIREMENTS.
YOU CAN SEE IN AREAS WHERE THE INTERSTATE IS ELEVATED, WE WOULD GO WITH, UH, CLEAR ACRYLIC TO PRESERVE THE VIEWS, AND IT WOULD BE OPAQUE OR SOLID COLORED ACRYLIC IN AREAS WHERE IT PASSES BY RESIDENCES OR BUSINESSES TO PRESERVE THEIR PRIVACY.
THIS IS A, UH, THE PERKINS OVERPASS AREA.
AND SIMILARLY, UH, WE WORKED WITH LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FIRM AND THE, UH, LOCAL COMMUNITY TO DERIVE THIS MASTER PLAN FOR IMPROVEMENTS BENEATH AND ALONGSIDE INTERSTATE 10 AS IT CROSSES PERKINS ROAD.
SO AS WE CLICK THE NEXT BUTTON, IT WILL PAN TO THE LEFT.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE PARKING IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY, IT'S A, A SORT OF DANGEROUS AND HAZARDOUS AND POORLY LIT PARKING LOT BENEATH THE ELEVATED I 10, SERVING THOSE LOCAL ESTABLISHMENTS.
THIS NEW PLAN WOULD CALL FOR LEAVING BEHIND A MUCH IMPROVED ENVIRONMENT FOR COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY AND FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ENJOY AT LARGE.
THE, UH, ON AND OFF RAMPS TO I 10 FROM PERKINS ROAD WOULD BE REMOVED PERMANENTLY AS PART OF THIS PROJECT.
THAT LAND WOULD REMAIN STATE RIGHT OF WAY.
AND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THIS IMAGE, YOU CAN SEE HOW A NEW, UH, DRIVEWAY CONNECTING NEW PARKING IN THAT AREA WOULD WIND THROUGH THAT AREA.
IT WOULD CONNECT TO PERKINS ROAD.
ALSO, THE BIKE PEDESTRIAN TRAIL WOULD CONNECT PERKINS ROAD AROUND THE BACKSIDE THERE THROUGH THE PROJECT AREA, AND IT WOULD LINK UP WITH, UH, WORK PROPOSED BY OTHERS, THE PERKINS UNDERPASS GROUP, TO LINK TO, UH, THAT PROJECT CONNECTING THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE NORTH.
THIS IS AN ARTIST RENDERING OF WHAT THOSE IMPROVEMENTS MIGHT LOOK LIKE BENEATH PERKINS ROAD IN THAT O OVERPASS AREA.
SO AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE SAFETY LIGHTING AS WELL AS DECORATIVE LIGHTING THAT COULD, WHERE COLORS COULD BE ADJUSTED AND CHANGED THROUGH THE SEASON TO CELEBRATE EVENTS, A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PEDESTRIAN AND, UH, COMMUNITY AMENITIES IN THAT AREA.
THIS IS A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF THE, UH, PROPOSED, UH, INTERSECTION WHERE THE CURRENT PERKINS RAMPS JOIN PERKINS ROAD FROM I 10 THAT WOULD BE REPLACED WITH THIS, UH, DRIVEWAY TO ENTER PARKING AVAILABLE FOR THOSE BUSINESSES IN THAT AREA.
UH, CURRENT CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY.
LET'S LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE GOT SURVEYING AND RIGHT OF WAY UTILITY WORK GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
THERE HAVE BEEN BUILDING SURVEYS OF BOTH RESIDENCES NEAR THE INTERSTATE AND BUSINESSES IN THAT AREA, AND INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS KNOCK KNOCK MUSEUM.
UH, THOSE ARE BUILDING CONDITION SURVEYS, NOT A LAND SURVEY.
[03:30:01]
A, ESTABLISH A BENCHMARK FOR THE STATUS OF THOSE BUILDINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A DOCUMENTATION OF WHAT THEY ARE NOW BEFORE CONSTRUCTION BEGINS, SO THAT AFTER CONSTRUCTION IS OVER THAT ANY CLAIMS MIGHT BE MADE AT THAT TIME, PILINGS ARE BEING, UH, INSTALLED THERE ACROSS CITY PARK LAKE AND THEN EQUIPMENT IS BEING MOBILIZED.UH, SOON YOU'LL ALSO SEE THE FOLLOWING CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY.
THAT WOULD BE THE CITY PARK, LAKE BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION, AND THE I 10 MAINLINE CONSTRUCTION.
AND MUCH OF THAT WOULD BEGIN IN IN MID-NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
SO, AGAIN, THE PROJECT WEBSITE IS I 10 B.COM.
UH, MUCH OF THIS INFORMATION IS THERE AND THIS PRESENTATION WILL ALSO BE THERE SHORTLY.
UH, I ALSO WANNA POINT OUT DODD'S, MY DOTD SERVICE.
YOU CAN ACCESS THAT FROM THE FOOTER, THE BOTTOM RIGHT OF I 10 VR.COM.
AND THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO DODD'S HOMEPAGE OR PAGE WHERE YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR THE MY DOTD SERVICE, WHICH CAN PROVIDE YOU CUSTOMIZED NOTIFICATIONS OF ROADWORK AND, UH, ROAD CONDITIONS SPECIFIC TO ROUTES IN YOUR AREA.
WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 62.
IF YOU WOULD STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
AND AS A REMINDER, UH, IT'S THREE MINUTES.
MY NAME'S CECIL KAVANAUGH, UH, CHAIRMAN OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE, INITIALLY IT WAS GOING TO 2038 OR 2037.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT TIMELINE? ARE WE STILL DOING THAT? AND YOU HAD ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE SEGMENTS.
ARE Y'ALL DOING STILL DOING THAT? OR HOW LONG IS THE TOTAL PROJECT GOING TO BE? MR. KAVANAUGH, YOU TALKED ABOUT TWO SEGMENTS, RIGHT? HANG ON JUST A MINUTE, JUST A MINUTE.
MR. KAVANAUGH, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE, UH, MAKE ALL YOUR COMMENTS.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, YOU CAN CERTAINLY ASK ALL THOSE AS WELL.
AND THEN WHEN, UH, WHEN THAT TIME IS UP, A COUNCIL MEMBER CAN CALL 'EM BACK UP AND, AND GET SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
OKAY, WELL, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE SOME OF MY QUESTIONS.
THE OTHER THING THAT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THE PROJECT, WE NEED TO DO THAT, BUT I THINK THE ALTERNATE ROUTES THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT, UH, WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO IMPROVE THOSE BEFORE WE START THE CONSTRUCTION ON I 10 WIDEN, WHICH I THINK IS GONNA AFFECT THE TRAFFIC.
THE OTHER, UH, AIRLINE IN FLORIDA ARE MY BIG THING.
YOU, IF YOU WOULD DO SOME, SOME MORE FROM OLD BRIDGE TO I 12 ON AIRLINE, MAYBE SOME OVERPASSES THAT WOULD HELP SPEED TRAFFIC AND DO FLORIDA FROM AIRLINE TO MAYBE WALKER, WIDEN IT, DO SOME OVERPASSES FIRST, THAT WOULD HELP.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD WARN Y'ALL AGAINST, WHICH Y'ALL HAVE, I'VE READ IN PAPER Y'ALL EITHER APPROVED OR TALKED ABOUT, IS DOING THE SAME THING TO FLORIDA THAT YOU DID TO GOVERNMENT DOWNTOWN.
AND IF YOU DO THAT DURING THIS CONSTRUCTION PERIOD, YOU'RE GONNA KILL THE, THAT'S NOT GONNA BECOME AN ALTERNATE ROUTE.
YOU'RE GONNA NARROW IT TO ONE LANE UNLESS YOU'RE RIDING A BIKE.
AND HOW MANY OF Y'ALL RIDE A BIKE TO WORK? ANY OF Y'ALL DO THAT TODAY? I DIDN'T.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE DOING THAT, BUT Y'ALL DO THAT.
SO WE GOTTA BE CAREFUL OF THAT.
I, AND I THINK TOO, LIKE I 49 EXTEND IT FROM LAFAYETTE TO NEW ORLEANS, UH, BECAUSE GOOGLE SAYS IT'S A 37 MINUTE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOING DOWN, UH, US 90 FROM LAFAYETTE TO SLIDELL OR DOING 10 12.
I KNOW I DON'T HAVE MUCH LEFT, BUT YOU HAVE BRIDGE PROBLEMS. THE BRIDGE IS THERE.
TRUCKERS CAN'T GO THAT ROUTE BECAUSE OF THE WEIGHT LIMITS ON THE BRIDGE.
WE COULD DO SOMETHING THERE AND THAT WOULD HELP.
WE'VE GOTTA REALIZE THAT I 10 IS THE ECONOMIC ENGINE OF THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES.
WE'RE GONNA GO TO TWO LANE FOR 14 MONTHS.
AND I, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT IT BEING FROM 23 TO 38, 15 TO 16 YEARS FOR THE WHOLE PROJECT.
NOW THEY TALK ABOUT SEGMENT ONE, SEGMENT TWO, WHERE BEFORE THEY TALKED ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE SEGMENTS, WHICH IS IT? I DON'T KNOW WHICH REPORT I'M GETTING TODAY.
[03:35:02]
ANYONE ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK IF YOU WOULD PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.UM, JERRY MENTIONED THE MARCH 7TH OPEN HOUSE THAT DOT DID.
OH MY, WHAT SHE DIDN'T MENTION WAS THAT THE REASON DOTD HAD TO DO THAT OPEN HOUSE WAS BECAUSE AFTER THEY SUBMITTED THE PLAN TO FHWA, THEY CHANGED IT FROM THREE LANES TO TWO LANES INTO ONE.
SO FHWA SAID, YOU GOTTA GO BACK AND GET PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO ACCORDING TO JAMES AT FRANKLIN ASSOCIATES, I SUBMITTED MY COMMENTS.
THE INVITATION FOR US TO ATTEND WENT OUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE MARCH 7TH.
I KEEP LOOKING FOR MY COMMENTS.
I CALLED JAMES AT FRANKLIN AND HE GOES, OH, THEY MAY HAVE GONE INTO A SPAM FOLDER.
I SAID, WELL, JAMES, HOW MANY TOTAL COMMENTS DID Y'ALL GET TWO WEEKS BEFORE MARCH 7TH TO TWO WEEKS AFTER MARCH 7TH? HE SAID, 155.
BECAUSE FHWA RECEIVED GOT SO MANY COMMENTS, 88.
SO AS A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTOR TO THIS DEBACLE, BECAUSE AS I UNDERSTAND IT, YOU APPROVED $12 MILLION TO GO TO DOTD TOWARDS THIS POTENTIAL ECONOMIC AND QUALITY OF LIFE DEBACLE FOR THE CITIZENS OF EAST BATON ROUGE.
THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL.
OUR GROUP MET WITH THE MAYOR, I'M GONNA GET EMOTIONAL.
THE FONZI IS A FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
WE REQUESTED OF THE MAYOR THAT THERE BE A REQUEST OF DOTD TO DO AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY, AS WELL AS A QUALITY OF LIFE IMPACT STUDY TO THE PEOPLE THAT YOU REPRESENT.
THE MAYOR NEVER GOT BACK WITH US.
SO WE CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO THE MAYOR.
WE REACHED OUT TO YOU, EMAILS WENT OUT TO ALL OF YOU REQUESTING A TOWN HALL VERSUS AN OPEN HOUSE.
AN OPEN HOUSE IS BASICALLY A DOG AND PONY SHUT.
THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
HOWEVER, IT'S NOT A FORUM WHERE PEOPLE CAN ASK QUESTIONS AND GET ANSWERS.
THAT'S WHAT A TOWN HALL IS AT THE PRESS CLUB MEETING ON 8 26.
I ASKED THE MAYOR, I SAID, MAYOR, WE'VE BEEN EMAILING YOU ASKING FOR A TOWN HALL ABOUT THIS FIVE 10.
I'M GIVE YOU ABOUT 30 MORE SECONDS TO WRAP IT UP.
THAT'S WHAT CAN HAPPEN IN A TOWN HALL.
SO THE MAYOR SAYS, OH, WELL, I DON'T THINK THE METRO COUNCIL IS, IS DENYING Y'ALL REQUESTS.
I'M NOT DENYING YOUR REQUESTS.
I'M JUST NOT GONNA DO A TOWN HALL.
THERE ARE PEOPLE SITTING IN TRAFFIC TODAY TRYING TO GET KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS TO SCHOOLS.
THOSE KIDS ARE SITTING IN TRAFFIC FOR HOURS, OKAY? WHEN THIS IS DOWN TO TWO LANES, AND IT STILL COULD POTENTIALLY BE ONE LANE IF FHWA APPROVES THIS, OKAY? IT'S A DEBACLE FOR OUR QUALITY OF LIVES, THE CITIZENS, AND IT'S AN ECONOMIC MESS.
AND I WOULD LIKE Y'ALL AS MS. LAND MONEY CONTRIBUTORS CONTRIBUTING TAX YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO THIS, YOUR, TO LOOK INTO IF DOTD MS LAND ASKED ARBITRARILY CENSORING PUBLIC COMMENTS BECAUSE THEY ONLY SUBMITTED.
THANK YOU MS. LAND 88 OF THE 155.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS, JOE DONAHUE, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL FROM THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
I SENT YOU ALL AN EMAIL SHORTLY BEFORE, UH, THIS MEETING STARTED.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST BEGIN BY SAYING THAT I AM NOT CRITICIZING MR. SCHMIDT, MR. LEBA OR MR. TAYLOR.
UH, I WAS FAMILIAR BOTH WITH MR. SCHMIDT AND MS. LEBA PRIOR TO THIS PROJECT AND HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ENGINEERING ABILITIES.
UH, NOR AM I ARGUING THAT THIS PROJECT IS UNNECESSARY.
[03:40:01]
UH, IT'S A, IT'S A LEGAL ISSUE.UM, THAT BEING SAID, THOUGH, I DO TAKE ISSUE WITH A A FEW THINGS THAT WERE SAID EARLIER, UH, BY ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CMAR TEAM.
THEY PUT UP THE DIAGRAM ABOUT HOW THERE ARE MULTIPLE DIFFERENT, UH, MEMBERS.
YOU WILL NOT SEE ANOTHER PUBLIC SERVANT SPEAK OVER HERE, NOT FHWA, NOT DOTD.
THEY ARE NOT HERE TO DISCUSS THIS PROJECT.
AND IT IS THE DUTY OF A PUBLIC SERVANT TO INSPIRE CONFIDENCE IN YOUR GOVERNMENT.
AND COUNCILMAN GODDE, I APPRECIATE YOU TRYING TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS PROJECT AND GET INFORMATION ABOUT IT OUT TO THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE I HAVE ENGAGED IN THE SAME ENDEAVOR SINCE NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR.
AND IT HAS BEEN VERY, VERY FRUSTRATING.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SAID, MR. SCHMIDT SAID, WE CAN'T GO TO THREE LANES.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVAL THAT THEY HAVE CURRENTLY REQUIRES THEM TO MAINTAIN EXISTING CAPACITY.
WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO SINCE FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR IS TO DEVIATE FROM THAT DOCUMENT TO CUT DOWN KNOWING THAT IT WILL CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.
AND IF THEY HAD SAID THAT UPFRONT, IT WOULD'VE REQUIRED THE FULL ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY.
MS. LABAS SAID THAT DOTD IS STUDYING WHETHER IT IS POSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN THREE LANES.
IT IS POSSIBLE THE CONTRACT WITH KIEWIT BO THE CMAR CONTRACTOR, REQUIRES THEM TO MAINTAIN EXISTING CAPACITY.
UH, SHE ALSO SAID THAT DOT WILL DECIDE WHETHER IT IS GOING TO BE TWO OR THREE LANES, ABSOLUTELY FALSE.
FHWA DECIDES WHETHER THEY CAN DEVIATE FROM THEIR EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVAL.
NOW, UH, COUNCILMAN GODDE, IF, IF THE INDIVIDUALS HERE HAD VIEWED THE MARCH 8TH, 2023 METRO COUNCIL MEETING WHERE MR. RAYFORD PRESENTED ABOUT THE CITY PARISHES PLANS FOR THIS PROJECT, THEY WOULD'VE KNOWN THE INFORMATION THAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR.
AND ANY, ANY OF THE SLIDES THAT WERE ON THE SCREEN TODAY THAT HAD THAT INFORMATION HAVE DRAFT, HAVE SUBJECT TO CHANGE? HAVE, WE MAY DO THIS, WE MAY DO THAT.
THEY CANNOT GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION THAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW IT THEMSELVES.
UH, AT THAT MARCH 8TH MEETING, UH, MR. RAYFORD SAID THAT HE HAD ASKED FOR ALTERNATE ROUTES FROM DOTD.
AND HE MAY CORRECT ME IF, UH, IF I GET IT, WHAT, WHAT HE STATED WRONG, BUT THAT THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY ANY.
SO HE IDENTIFIED SOME HIMSELF AND HE PUT THEM UP ON THE SCREEN AND THEY WERE AVAILABLE.
SIR, THE ONES THAT ARE IN THE SLIDE SHOWED TODAY, SIR, DIFFER FROM THE ONES MR. RAYFORD SHOWED SIR, IN MARCH.
IF YOU WOULD MAKE YOUR LAST COMMENTS AND CERTAINLY, UH, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S FUNDAMENTAL.
YOU KNOW IT'S KINDERGARTEN, IT IS.
DON'T SAY ONE THING AND THEN DO ANOTHER.
IT'S NOT THEIR CONSULTANTS, IT'S NOT THEIR CONTRACTOR.
IT IS A LEGAL ISSUE, NOT AN ENGINEERING ISSUE.
AND I FELT LIKE YOU SHOULD HAVE THE INFORMATION TO KNOW THAT WHAT IS BEING TOLD TO YOU IS NOT ACCURATE, IS NOT CORRECT.
ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK? SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCILMAN MOOCH? I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO START HERE.
UM, THE ORIGINAL PROJECT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A YEAR AND A HALF.
DID Y'ALL MENTION THAT BEFORE? IT WAS NEVER A YEAR AND A HALF.
IT WAS LIKE, WE'RE GONNA GO IN THERE, WE'RE GONNA DO THIS, THIS, AND THIS.
LET'S, LET'S THROW SOME STREAK DOWN.
WHEN IT, THERE WAS NEVER TALK ABOUT THAT.
IF YOU WOULD, MS. LOBOS, IF YOU WOULD, UH, USE A MICROPHONE, PLEASE.
I GUESS FOR CLARITY, WHAT, WHAT PART OF THE PROJECT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? THE ENTIRETY FROM I 10, I ONE 10 TO EAST OF ACADIA? YEAH.
YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S, I WISH YOU COULD DO IT IN A YEAR AND A HALF.
I TELL YOU, I WISH WE COULD TOO.
I TAKE DOWN, I'D TELL YOU, TAKE IT DOWN TO DRIVE ON THE SHOULDERS.
I JUST, IT IT, IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE DONE.
I MEAN, THIS, THIS, WE'RE, WE'RE, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE, WE'RE BEATING THIS DOWN EVERY SINGLE TIME.
THIS PRESENTATION YOU JUST GAVE TONIGHT? MM-HMM.
IS THAT THE, IS THIS THE SAME ONE THAT YOU GAVE AT THE CROWN PLAZA? WAS IT THE CROWN PLAZA WE ALL WENT TO? OKAY.
SO THE CROWN PLAZA WAS, WELL, YOU SET UP THE MODELS AND THE DIFFERENT STATIONS.
SO THAT WAS MARCH 7TH AND OF LAST YEAR.
AND SO, AND, AND, AND REAL QUICK, 'CAUSE I ONLY HAVE SO MUCH TIME, BUT THE, THE PRESENTATION ARE SOME CHANGES OR THE STRUCTURE OF IT.
[03:45:01]
BE A CHANGE IN THERE THAT WAS DONE REAL QUICK? UH, THAT WE'RE, THAT DOTD IS ANALYZING, GOING TO THREE LANES DURING STAGE TWO INSTEAD OF, UH, TWO IN EACH DIRECTION.SO THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY CONSISTENT CHANGE THAT FROM MARCH TO TO WHATEVER TO TO NOW TO THIS PRESENTATION RIGHT NOW? AS FAR AS I CAN REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, THAT IS CORRECT.
MR. FRED? WELL, I DID, I DID MR. FRED BECAUSE HE'S BEING QUICK.
SO WE GOT, WE, WE WENT FROM TWO LANES BACK TO THREE LANES OR Y'ALL ARE STUDYING THAT'S RIGHT.
WE PRESENTED TWO LANE AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT THREE LANES.
NOW WE'RE, YES, WE'RE AT THREE LANES TO THE WHOLE PROJECT.
THE SAME AMOUNT OF LANES THAT WE HAVE ON THE INTERSTATE RIGHT NOW.
IT'S GONNA BE THE SAME, SAME NUMBER OF LANES.
MR. FRED? YES, I APOLOGIZE MR. RAFFORD.
I'VE BEEN CALLING A LOT OF THINGS.
ONE THING, ONE THING THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING AS A COUNCIL, BECAUSE THIS IS A STATE PROJECT WITH THE INTERSTATE THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA DICTATE TO THEM WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
BUT WE HAVE ACTIVELY, AND WE'VE HAD PLENTY OF MEETINGS OVER THIS, ACTIVELY BEEN DISCUSSING, PROMOTING, PUTTING INFORMATION OUT THERE, UPDATING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO MITIGATE OFFLINE TRAFFIC.
IN FACT, I THINK THE ORIGINAL MITIGATION OF OFFLINE TRAFFIC WAS TO MITIGATE IF THEY WENT DOWN THE TWO OR ONE LANE.
THAT'S HOW MUCH WE WERE PLANNING ON MITIGATING.
NOW WE'RE STILL AT THREE LANES, BUT WE'RE AT THE SAME MITIGATION PROJECT ON THE OUTSIDE IF PEOPLE HAVE DECIDE TO GET OFF THE INTERSTATE, AM I CORRECT? YES SIR.
OUR PLAN HAS NOT CHANGED IN REGARDS TO OUR OVERALL, UH, CORRIDORS THAT WE WANT TO UPGRADE TO HELP THE FACILITATE MOVING TRAFFIC.
SO OUR MITIGATION AND OUR MOVING TRAFFIC THROUGH EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH IS THE SAME AS IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT SHUT THE WHOLE THING DOWN.
OR THERE WAS DOWN THE ONE LANE, OR THEY CONTINUE AT THREE LANES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH PUBLIC MEETING WISE AND ROWDY.
I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THIS IN THIS COUNCIL MEETING.
UH, COUNCILMAN GODDA, I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THIS IN THIS COUNCIL MEETING.
I HAD A TOWN HALL MEETING STRICTLY ON THIS, THAT DOTD SHOWED UP.
EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SHOWED UP.
I HAD ONE, I WILL GET YOU THE PUBLIC RECORDS AND EVERYTHING ANNOUNCED.
IT WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE MEDIA THING.
YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO COME TO CENTRAL, BUT I ANNOUNCED A PUBLIC MEETING MEETING FOR THIS ONLY THIS.
AND IT WAS A ONE-ON-ONE BACK AND FORTH.
NOW IT WAS ANNOUNCED PARISH WIDE, THE SAME AS EVERY OTHER MEETING, BUT I HAD SIX PEOPLE SHOWED UP PROBABLY.
'CAUSE THEY, MAYBE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO COME TO DISTRICT FOUR, BUT IT WAS IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH TO STRICTLY DISCUSS THIS.
COUNCILMAN MO, WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR ADDITIONAL TIME? NO.
SHERRY, IF YOU WOULD, AND JUSTIN, COULD YOU PULL UP SLIDE 16 PLEASE, SIR? WE'RE AT, UM, THE TITLE OF IT IS STAGE TWO.
IT'S THE FIRST STAGE TWO SLIDE CHAIR WISE DOING THAT.
FIRST OF THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR, UH, ACCOMMODATING THE REQUEST.
UM, SLIDE 16, STAGE TWO SHOWS.
THE CONSOLIDATION, UH, OF TWO-WAY TRAFFIC ON THE EASTBOUND SIDE.
YOU TALKED ABOUT WESTBOUND, RIGHT? OH, THANK YOU.
ON THE WESTBOUND SIDE, YOU TALKED ABOUT DEMOLITION OF THE EASTBOUND SIDE.
GIVE ME THE, THE, THE SECTION PLEASE OF WHAT WOULD BE DEMOLISHED ON THE EASTBOUND SIDE.
STARTING WHERE AND ENDING WHERE.
ALRIGHT, SO IF YOU GO TO, LET ME SEE WHICH SLIDE MAY GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
SO DO YOU SEE THE, THE RED HERE AS I DO? WE'RE COMING OFF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BRIDGE.
AND THE EASTBOUND DIRECTION, THE RED? YES, I DO.
SO THE DEMOLITION WOULD START AT THAT RED, WHERE THAT RED STARTS.
I DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE THE WHOLE CORRIDOR RIGHT UP HERE, BUT IF JUST CONTINUE ALONG THAT EASTBOUND ALL THE WAY.
SO NOW GO TO THE PREVIOUS SLIDE TO THIS POINT RIGHT HERE.
THAT IS WHAT IS BEING DEMOLISHED.
[03:50:01]
SAM RIGHT THERE.THIS IS, UM, NAREN, NAREN UHHUH THAT GOES OVER HERE.
THAT, THAT'S IN THE NEXT, UH, PHASE.
SO THE, IT WOULD BE DEMOLISHED TO THIS POINT.
AND SO THE REMAINDER PAST WHAT YOU HAVE SHOWN RED UP HERE WOULD STAY IN PLACE AND NOT BE DEMOLISHED.
THAT IS IN THE NEXT, UM, PHASE, THIS, THIS PROJECT.
AND, AND ONE THING THAT WE DID NOT SHOW, WE CAN CERTAINLY GET IT TO YOU WHEN THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WAS DONE.
THERE ARE NUMEROUS SECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT.
WHAT THIS PROJECT, SEAMAR SEGMENT ONE IS THE MOST CRITICAL PART OF THE INTERSTATE AND THE MOST CHALLENGING PART.
AND IT ENCOMPASSES, UH, A NUMBER OF THOSE SECTIONS.
SECTION THREE, AND IT'S LIKE THREE A, THREE B, THREE C, FOUR A, FOUR B, FOUR C.
SO A LOT OF SECTIONS THROUGH FIVE.
THERE'S OTHER SECTIONS FROM HERE TO COLLEGE DRIVE THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE IN THE, I GUESS YOU COULD CALL IT CMAR SEGMENT TWO.
SO DUR IN THAT CMAR SEGMENT TWO, WE HAVE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE NAREN UHHUH STREET BRIDGE.
WE ALSO HAVE A DEMOLITION AND WE'RE LOOKING AT REPLACING THE COLLEGE DRIVE BRIDGES OVER COLLEGE DRIVE.
BUT THAT PROJECT IS NOT UNDER DESIGN AS OF YET.
WHEN THE PROJECT ITSELF WAS ORIGINALLY ANNOUNCED, DEMOLITION WAS NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL PLAN.
AM I CORRECT? I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT.
THERE WERE STRUCTURES, UH, THAT WERE GOING TO BE REPLACED.
UH, IT'S AN AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND I'M GONNA ASK BOB TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND TALK ABOUT, UH, ANY CHANGES FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT TO THIS STAGE.
UM, JUST SO DURING THE PLANNING PHASE, DURING THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT STUDIES DONE ON THE, UM, THE STRUCTURAL SUFFICIENCY AND, UH, LIFESPAN REMAINING ON THE EXISTING BRIDGES IN THE CORRIDOR.
I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING THAT EVERYTHING OUT THERE IS 60 YEARS OLD.
SO AS A RESULT OF THAT PROCESS, AT THE END OF THE NEPA PROCESS, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO REPLACE ALL THE BRIDGES AS THE BEST DECISION UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
UM, THE WASHINGTON BRIDGE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER IN SEGMENT ONE, THE PERKINS MAINLINE BRIDGE IN SEGMENT ONE, THOSE ARE TWO OF THE BRIDGES TO BE REPLACED.
AND THEN THE COLLEGE DRIVE WOULD BE IN SEGMENT TWO, AND THAT BRIDGE IS SLATED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL.
WITH A NEW BRIDGE BECAUSE IT TWO IS 60 YEARS OLD.
UM, SHARE, IF YOU COME BACK, SO UNDER THE SCENARIO THAT'S SHOWN HERE ON SLIDE 16, WHERE YOU'VE GOT TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC ON THE WESTBOUND SIDE.
IF I AM TRAVELING EAST, DO I HAVE AN EXIT LANE? IF YOU'RE TRAVEL, IF, IF YOU'RE TRAVELING EAST, AND WHILE THIS IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, YOU CAN EXIT AT NICHOLSON.
IF, AND WE'RE SAYING THAT YOU'RE COMING EAST FROM ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
SO THIS AR THIS WOULD NOT BE AN EXIT ROUTE FOR SOMEONE COMING EASTBOUND UNDER THIS SCENARIO.
AND THEN IF YOU'RE BUT NOT ACADIAN.
AND THEN SIMILARLY, WHEN COLLEGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, THERE WOULD BE NO EASTBOUND COLLEGE EXIT.
BUT PARDON ME? NO, THAT WOULD BE IN SMAR SEGMENT TOO.
THAT EXIT WILL NOT BE CLOSED, BUT YOU'D HAVE ACADIAN AS WELL.
IN THE EASTBOUND I'LL TAKE MY EXTRA ROWDY.
YOU WANT YOUR ADDITIONAL TIME? I'LL TAKE MY EXTRA AND PLEASE EXTRA AND NO, I'M KIDDING.
UM, SO YEAH, THE COLLEGE DRIVE EASTBOUND EXIT WILL NEVER BE CLOSED EITHER IN SEGMENT ONE, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE BUILDING RIGHT NOW, OR SEGMENT TWO, WHICH IS THE NEXT ONE TO COME AFTER THIS.
BUT I DO WANNA SAY, UM, BOTH TO BOTH DIRECTIONS OF TRAFFIC, ALL ALL OF THE RAMPS AT COLLEGE DRIVE WILL REMAIN OPEN ALL THE TIME DURING CONSTRUCTION.
UM, I I DID WANT TO COMMENT ON YOU MADE THE POINT, AND IT, AND IT, AND IT, AND IT'S A, YOU KNOW, IT'S A GOOD OBSERVATION THAT IN STAGE TWO WHEN WE HAVE ALL THE EASTBOUND TRAFFIC ON THE OLD WESTBOUND BRIDGE MM-HMM.
[03:55:01]
THAT MEANS THAT THE EXISTING WASHINGTON EXIT AND THE EXISTING DOW RUMPEL EXIT AND THE EXISTING ACADIAN EXIT WOULD BE CLOSED DURING THAT 12 MONTH TO 16 MONTH PERIOD.AND WE WORK CLOSELY WITH FRED, WHERE'S FRED? SO, AND, AND CINDY, AND THEY, AND THEIR CONCERN RIGHTFULLY SO, IS THAT WHEN WE CLOSE THOSE RAMPS, YOU KNOW, HOW IS TRAFFIC GONNA GET AROUND? SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM ON THAT TO MANAGE LOCAL TRAFFIC.
THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT IS THAT WHEN YOU CLOSE RAMPS, OR IF YOU HAVE FEWER RAMPS TO BEGIN WITH, RAMPS CREATE TURBULENCE, TRAFFIC COMING ONTO THE INTERSTATE TRAFFIC, TRYING TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE WEAVING SECTIONS AND ALL THAT.
SO THEY CREATE TURBULENCE IN THE TRAFFIC FLOW.
AND SO THAT, UH, RESTRICTS TRAFFIC FLOW ON I 10.
SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT, UM, IF WE HAVE A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND WE HAVE NARROWER LANES AND YOU'RE, AND, AND WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT, UM, TRAFFIC FLOW ON I 10 BEING CONSTRICTED BECAUSE OF THAT, IF YOU THINK OF THE POSITIVE THING, IT'S, IT'S BECAUSE THERE'S GONNA BE LESS TURBULENCE IN THE TRAFFIC STREAM.
THE NEGATIVE IMPACT WILL NOT, WILL NOT BE AS GREAT.
YOU MIGHT, YOU MIGHT NOT EVEN KNOW THE DIFFERENCE ON THE MAIN LINE.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SHERRY, I'M GONNA CONNECT IN THE COLLEGE FLYOVER.
IS THAT STILL IS, HAVE THOSE PLANS CHANGED FOR THE COLLEGE DRIVE FLYOVER? UH, WHAT DO YOU MEAN CHANGED? IS IT STILL A COLLEGE DRIVE FLYOVER? YES.
I MEAN WE'RE, UH, IT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION, SO MOVING FORWARD.
SO I WOULD SAY HAS NOT NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES BECAUSE OF ANYTHING RELATED TO SIGNIFICANT OH NO.
BECAUSE THAT, THAT PROJECT WAS DESIGNED IN CONCERT WITH WHAT WAS GONNA OCCUR ON THE SMAR SEGMENT ONE.
SO IT WAS PROCURED DIFFERENTLY.
IT'S NOT PART OF IT, BUT IT WAS PART OF THE OVERALL PLAN.
UH, JAMES, IF YOU WOULD, REAL QUICKLY, DO Y'ALL, DOES YOUR FIRM STAY ON THROUGH THE COURSE OF CONSTRUCTION AS A COMMUNICATION TO THE, SO ACTUALLY THE CONTRACT IS SPLIT, UH, AS YOU SAW ON THE DIAGRAM.
I REMAIN IN BOB'S GOOD GRACES.
I GET TO REMAIN INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNICATIONS RELATED TO DESIGN, BUT THE CONTRACTOR QO IS BRINGING ON THEIR INDEPENDENT OKAY.
THEY'RE BEGINNING TO WORK, IN FACT, AT THEIR FIRST PUBLIC, UH, OUTREACH EVENT.
WHAT WAS THAT TUESDAY NIGHT AT THE LAD COOK CENTER? ONE OF THE THINGS I'M HOPEFUL TO START SEEING IS THE COMMUNICATION TEAM PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL MEDIA DURING CONSTRUCTION.
WELL, I, WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT THE CONTRACTOR IS DEVELOPING A PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT MAP PLAN.
AND SO AT SOME POINT THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE TO A REVIEW.
THE, AND WHEN YOU SAY THE CONTRACT, YOU'RE REFERRING THE QQO? YES.
ONE THING THAT I REALLY HATE ABOUT DISCUSSION ITEMS IS IT LEADS THE PUBLIC TO BELIEVE QUESTION, ESPECIALLY THE PUBLIC HAS FAILED TO READ THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, UM, THAT THE METRO COUNCIL WIELDS THIS POWER FOR CHANGE AND THIS AUTHORITY THAT WE DO NOT HAVE.
SO I WANNA MAKE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR TONIGHT, UM, WHAT OUR POWER IS OVER DOTD.
SO, UM, MS. BECK, CAN YOU TELL, UH, TELL US WHAT THE POWER IS THAT WE HAVE OVER THIS PROJECT AND DOTD? UM, THIS, THE METRO COUNCIL DOESN'T HAVE ANY AUTHORITY OVER DOTD.
SO, BUT MOVING FORWARD, UM, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE SOMETIMES LOOK AT FUNDING, BUT BASED UPON THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD TONIGHT, I THINK IT'S BEEN MADE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT NO ONE HAS COME TO THE METRO COUNCIL AND SAID, HEY, HOW SHOULD THESE ROADS LOOK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IT? WE HEAR THAT THEY'RE TALKING TO MR. RAYFORD, WHO'S VERY QUALIFIED AND THAT THEY'RE TALKING TO TRAFFIC ENGINEERING.
BUT NOT A SINGLE PERSON HAS COME TO ROA AND SAID, HEY, TELL ME HOW YOU WOULD LIKE THIS BRIDGE DRAWN.
SO I, I JUST WANT FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR POWER IS LIMITED AND WE HOLD THESE DISCUSSION ITEMS AND PEOPLE THINK THAT THEY CAN COME IN AND THE METRO COUNCIL CAN JUST SAY, WE WANT THIS CHANGE THAT'S NOT HAPPENING ON ALL SORTS OF OTHER LEVELS.
SO I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO BE CONFUSED BECAUSE THAT'S NOT TYPICALLY CLEAR.
[04:00:01]
IS WE WILL DEAL WITH THE IMPACT, AND WE'RE CURRENTLY DEALING WITH THE IMPACT OF THAT WIDENING.AND THOSE IMPACTS CURRENTLY ARE GOING TO AFFECT DISTRICT 12.
AND IT'S GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANT.
MY DISTRICT HAS ALL OF PERKINS ROAD, WE HAVE THE OVERPASS, UM, WE HAVE COLLEGE DRIVE AND COUNCILWOMAN, CAROLYN COLEMAN IS DISTRICT 10.
SHE HAS SOME OF THE EXIT RAMPS THAT THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT, AND I UNDERSTAND IT'LL IMPACT THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
UM, MR. KAVANAUGH MENTIONED THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, I 10 IS THE ECONOMIC CORRIDOR, SO THERE WILL BE LARGER IMPACTS.
BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND WHAT WE'VE ACTIVELY DONE IS TALK TO THE HOMEOWNERS.
WE'VE CREATED RESOLUTIONS FOR BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE AREA UNDER, UM, UNDER PERKINS ROAD, WHICH HAS COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
UM, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT JUST VERY RECENTLY WITH FRED RAYFORD LAST NIGHT WITH SOUTHBOUND CIVIC ASSOCIATION, WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE WHEN FOLKS ARE NOT ON THE INTERSTATE, BUT FLOODING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WITH TRAFFIC ON LEE DRIVE, ON HIGHLAND ROAD, ON PERKINS ROAD, ON NICHOLSON, ON BURBANK, AND WHAT THAT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE FOR KIDS THAT PLAY IN THIS NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE HAVE PREPARED, UM, POTENTIAL TRAFFIC STUDIES.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER ON THAT PIECE.
UM, THE OTHER PIECE THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
'CAUSE I CAN TELL YOU WHAT NIGHTMARE IT IS FOR ME IN THE MORNING WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN HIGHLAND ROAD.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THAT WAYWARD REPUBLIC TRUCK IS DRIVING DOWN HIGHLAND AT EIGHT 30 IN THE MORNING WHEN EVERYONE IS, IS, IS DRIVING AND TRYING TO BREACH THESE OTHER STREETS.
UM, AND USING THESE STREETS THAT AREN'T USUALLY TRAVELED AND TRAFFIC BACKS UP FOR, FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
SO THOSE ARE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAVE CONTROL OVER THAT WE ARE WORKING ON.
UM, I WILL SAY THIS WITH REGARD TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN DISTRICT 12.
WE'VE TALKED TO NEIGHBORS, WE'VE TALKED TO SUBDIVISIONS.
THIS TEAM HAS COME OUT AND THE NEIGHBORS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THAT ABUT THEIR BACKYARDS ABUT THE INTERSTATE.
THEY, THEY, WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM AND THEY WERE NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE NOISE, WHICH SHOCKER, I MEAN, WE'RE ALL WORRIED ABOUT NOISE, WHAT THAT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE.
THEY WEREN'T WORRIED ABOUT WHAT THOSE, THE, IT LOOKS LIKE THE AESTHETICS.
THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT THE TEMPORARY FENCE THAT WAS TAKEN DOWN AND THE CRIME THAT WILL CREEP INTO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS WHILE IT IS GONE.
AND THESE FOLKS MADE SURE THAT THEY PUT A TEMPORARY FENCE UP AS SOON AS ONE WAS REMOVED AND IT'S MUCH HIGHER THAN THE ONE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY PLACED.
SO THOSE ARE THE CONCERNS THAT MY CONSTITUENTS HAVE.
MY CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE ACTUALLY IMPACTED BY THIS CRIME WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT I 10 WIDENING, WE'RE, WE HAVE CONCERNS OF CRIME, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FEAR OF PEOPLE LEAVING THE INTERSTATE AND CRAWLING THROUGH THEIR BACKYARDS AND ENTERING THEIR HOMES IN WHAT IS TYPICALLY A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS POWER OVER.
NOT SO MUCH CRIME, BUT SOME OF THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT I LISTED.
UM, CAROLYN COLEMAN HAS WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH ME AND I APPLAUD HER.
UM, SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT UNDER THE OVERPASS, WE DIDN'T HAVE POWER OVER THOSE, BUT THEY HAVE TOLD US THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE AGREED, THEY HAVE PROMISED TO PUT LIGHTING.
IF ANYONE HAS WALKED ANYWHERE FROM LET'S SAY IVARS OR TRADER JOE'S, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE LACK INFRASTRUCTURE.
THAT AREA OF TOWN IS, UM, NEEDS INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS, SIDEWALKS.
UM, IT NEEDS SIDEWALKS, IT NEEDS INFRASTRUCTURE, IT NEEDS LIGHTING, IT NEEDS PARKING.
THIS LITTLE HUB WITHIN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE GENERATES A LOT OF SALES TAX REVENUE.
IT HAS A LOT OF FOLKS FROM ALL OVER TOWN THAT LIKE TO MINGLE IN THAT AREA.
UM, AND, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO GO THROUGH, THROUGH GREAT STRIDES TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND I, I'M HERE TO SAY ON THE RECORD, THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.
UM, BUT AGAIN, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE CAN WORK THROUGH AS A COUNCIL.
THE OTHER THINGS, I DON'T WANT TO MISREPRESENT WHAT OUR POWER IS.
I DON'T WANNA LEAD THE PUBLIC TO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE SOME POWER THAT WE CAN CHANGE.
UM, ALL OF ALL OF THE THINGS, WE CAN MAKE ALL THOSE, RIGHT? I DON'T WANT PEOPLE AT HOME TO BELIEVE THAT IF THEY SEND US EMAILS THAT WE CAN CHANGE WHAT THIS, WHAT THIS ENTIRE PROJECT LOOKS LIKE, THAT WOULD NOT BE FAIR.
THAT WOULD NOT BE FAIR TO THE PEOPLE AT HOME.
THAT WOULD NOT BE FAIR TO THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE.
UM, SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IS, IS ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTOOD.
THE OTHER PIECE, I JUST REALLY BRIEFLY,
[04:05:01]
IF Y'ALL DON'T MIND, I THINK THERE WERE A COUPLE QUESTIONS THAT I WROTE DOWN.UM, THERE WAS AN A QUESTION ABOUT A 2037 TIMELINE.
I THINK WE CLEARED IT UP, BUT, UM, DO YOU STILL HAVE THAT QUESTION? HE STILL HAS THAT QUESTION.
CAN SOMEBODY ADDRESS THAT FOR HIM PLEASE? SO IN THE, IN THE NEPA DOCUMENT, RIGHT, IT'S THE ROADMAP OF THAT LETS YOU BUILD, ACTUALLY DESIGN AND BUILD THE PROJECT.
SO WE HAVE THIS CORRIDOR ALL THE WAY FROM LA FOUR 15 TO THE I 10, AND THAT'S ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE RIVER TO THE I 10 I 12 INTERCHANGE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE RIVER.
AND WITHIN THAT LONG CORRIDOR, THE PROJECT'S BROKEN UP INTO MANY DIFFERENT PIECES.
UH, SO WHILE THE CORRIDOR IS CALLED A, UM, SEGMENT OF INDEPENDENT UTILITY UNDER THE NEPA PROCESS, EACH OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL PIECES ARE, ARE LOOKED, ARE BROKEN OUT SEPARATELY AS POTENTIAL INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS.
AND SO WHEN SOMEBODY WAS DOING THAT NEPA DOCUMENT SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND THEY LOOKED AT THE MONEY ON HAND, THE CASH FLOW AVAILABLE TO BUILD THIS $2 BILLION PROJECT, UM, BASED ON THAT FLOW, THEY SAID, WE CAN METER OUT THESE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS OVER TIME.
AND IT COULD TAKE UP TO THAT LONG, COULD TAKE, NOBODY SAID IT WOULD TAKE.
THEY SAID, HERE'S A POTENTIAL PLAN.
AND SO AS WE HAVE GOTTEN INTO DESIGN, AS SHERRY SAID, UM, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COMBINE MANY OF THOSE SEGMENTS INTO WHAT IS NOW CALLED SEGMENT ONE.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT HERE TODAY AS THE FIRST PROJECT TO GO FORWARD.
THAT PROJECT WILL BE BUILT IN FIVE YEARS.
NOW SEGMENT TWO IS THE NEXT ONE IN LINE THAT COVERS THREE OR FOUR ADDITIONAL OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS GOING OUT TO THE I 10 I 12 INTERCHANGE.
IF THE MONEY IS FOUND AND IS AVAILABLE, SEGMENT TWO WILL COMMENCE IMMEDIATELY AFTER SEGMENT ONE, POSSIBLY WITH SOME OVERLAP IN SEGMENT ONE.
SO THAT SEGMENT WOULD BE FINISHED IN ANOTHER THREE OR FOUR YEARS.
AND THEN IF THE REST OF THE MONEY IS FOUND, THEN THE WEST SIDE OF THE RIVER CAN BE DONE AND THE TIMELINE WILL NOT BE THAT LONG.
BUT IF THE MONEY'S NEVER FOUND TO BUILD THE PROJECT, THEN, THEN YES, IT, IT, IT WILL STRETCH OUT.
IF YOU, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY NOW, YOU HAVE TO WAIT AND DO SOMETHING WHEN, WHEN YOU GET IT.
BUT THE POINT I WANNA MAKE IS SEGMENT ONE BY ITSELF TO BE FINISHED IN FIVE YEARS IS A WHOLLY INDEPENDENT FUNCTIONAL SECTION OF INTERSTATE 10 THAT WILL BENEFIT BATON ROUGE FOREVER, EVEN IF NONE OF THE OTHER STUFF EVER COMES ALONG BECAUSE WE CAN'T FIND FUNDING FOR IT.
AND I'M NOT SAYING WE WON'T, BUT I'M SAYING IF, IF THAT HAPPENED, IF I MAY SO FIVE YEARS TO GET SEGMENT ONE PERMANENT BENEFIT, EVEN IF NONE OF THE EX OTHER, UH, SECTIONS COME ALONG AND WE HAVE FUNDING FOR THE SEGMENT ONE.
WE DO, WE HAVE A HUNDRED PERCENT FUNDING FOR SE A HUNDRED PERCENT FUNDING FOR SEGMENT ONE TO GET YOU THROUGH THE END OF THE FIVE YEARS.
MR. KAVANAUGH, I HAVE 45 SECONDS.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME UP, BUT YOU GOTTA RUN.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
I MEAN, WHAT, WHAT YOU GOTTA REALIZE IF THIS GOES 15 OR 16 YEARS, THERE'S OUR BUSINESSES TALKING ABOUT WE CAN'T HAVE ONE BUSINESS IN BATON ROUGE.
WE GOTTA HAVE ONE IN THE, ON THE WEST SIDE AND WE GOTTA HAVE ONE IN HAMMOND OR SOMEWHERE BECAUSE I 12 IS GOING TO, I 10 IS GONNA BE BLOCKED FOR 15 YEARS.
SO WE HAD ONE BUSINESS TELL US IT'S GONNA COST THEM A MILLION A YEAR.
SO THEY DOTD IS TELLING US, OH, IT'S FIVE YEARS.
HE JUST SAID THAT PHASE ONE, THEY DON'T SAY PHASE ONE, THEY DON'T TELL YOU THE WHOLE STORY.
THEY TELL YOU PART OF THE STORY.
NOW, IF THEY WANT TO DO THE WHOLE THING, THEY'RE GONNA TIE UP GARVEY BONDS, MR. KAVANAUGH, WHEN OUR GRANDCHILDREN WILL BE PAYING IT ALL.
WE'RE NOT GETTING THE WHOLE STORY FROM DOTD.
AND I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT SMAR ON, ON ANOTHER TIME.
UM, COUNCILWOMAN ROCK, I THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UM, I APPRECIATE YOU E ESPECIALLY THE PART ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, WHAT POWER WE HAVE AND EVERYTHING.
LOOK, IF WE HAD SO MUCH POWER OVER THIS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU AT SIX LANES ON EACH SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE.
BECAUSE I MEAN, LOOK, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT, THAT I GOT WAS HOW LONG AND, AND PLEASE AS SHORT AS YOU CAN, WHAT IS THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF ADDING ONE
[04:10:01]
MORE LANE TO THE INTERSTATE ON I 10 THROUGH BATON ROUGE? BECAUSE THAT'S, I MEAN, ESSENTIALLY THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.WE'VE GOT A FIVE YEAR PRO THIS, THIS PHASE ONE IS A FIVE YEAR PROJECT TO ADD ONE LANE ON EACH SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE THROUGH BATON ROUGE.
SO IN, IN THE, IN THE TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS, THIS IS UNIVERSAL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
UM, WHEN NEW HIGHWAY PROJECTS ARE PLANNED AND CONSTRUCTED, THE, THE OUTLOOK FROM A TRAFFIC STANDPOINT WHEN YOU DO THE ANALYSIS IS A 20 YEAR HORIZON.
SO, SO THIS PROJECT, UH, WITH THE TRAFFIC GROWTH PROJECTIONS OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS, ONCE, ONCE THE PROJECT IS OPEN, UM, UH, WILL SATISFY THOSE TRAFFIC DEMANDS NOW BEYOND 20 YEARS.
SO BASICALLY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A 20 YEAR LIFESPAN.
WELL, AT LEAST WE'RE LOOKING AT A 20 YEAR LIFESPAN TO EASE TRAFFIC.
SOME, SOME THROUGH BATON ROUGE BY ADDING ONE LANE TO EACH SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE.
'CAUSE WE'RE AT A THREE LANE NOW, AND WHEN WE'RE DONE, WE'LL HAVE FOUR LANES.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS POINT.
SO WE ARE ADDING ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION, WHICH ADDS A LANE OF CAPACITY AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT.
BUT BECAUSE WE'RE PROVIDING SHOULDERS ON THE ROAD, BECAUSE WE'RE PROVIDING SHOULDERS, THAT ACTUALLY INCREASES THE CAPACITY MORE THAN JUST ADDING ONE LANE.
BASED ON TRAFFIC ANALYSIS AND THEORY AND OBSERVATION.
LIKE I SAID, IF WE HAD THAT, IF WE HAD THAT MUCH POWER AND CONTROL OVER THIS, I'D JUST ASSUME YOU HAD THREE LANES ON EACH SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE.
AND BECAUSE I'VE SEEN, I'VE SEEN IT IN TEXAS, I'VE SEEN IT IN, UH, YOU KNOW, KATY FREEWAY.
THEY BUILT THAT SUCKER ALL THE WAY OUT THERE AND IT WAS CAPACITY BEFORE THEY EVEN FINISHED IT.
NEW ORLEANS IS ADDING, YOU KNOW, THEY WENT THROUGH ALL THAT STUFF ABOUT, WHAT, 10 YEARS AGO AND THEY'RE ALREADY ADDING LANES BACK ONTO NEW ORLEANS NOW.
SO YOU KNOW THAT, THAT I UNDERSTAND THEIR THING.
IF WE'RE GONNA RIP THIS BANDAID OFF, LET'S GET IT ALL DONE AND SO ON.
SO THAT WOULD BE MY WISH IF WE HAD CONTROL OVER IT AND I COULD TELL YOU, HEY, HERE'S ALL YOUR MONEY, GO DO IT.
UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, YOU KNOW, TO THE PUBLIC, AND SINCE WE'RE SPEAKING TO THE PUBLIC IN THIS, UH, GREAT PUBLIC FORUM THAT WE HAVE, BEING THE COUNCIL MEETING, I THINK US AS EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH AS A COUNCIL, THE APPROVALS THAT WE'VE DONE, THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE WITH THE MONEY THAT THE STATE HAS GIVEN US, THE THINGS THAT FRED, MR. RADFORD'S DEPARTMENT HAS DONE TO PREPARE FOR THIS CARMAGEDDON IS WHAT SOME PEOPLE ARE CALLING IT OR WHATEVER ELSE, WHAT WE'VE DONE AS A PARISH.
THE INFORMATION THAT WE'VE PUT OUT I THINK HAS BEEN ABOVE PAR, I THINK HAS BEEN GREAT.
MR. FRED, I APPRECIATE YOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE PUBLIC INFORMATION THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS.
UM, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE EVEN TALKED ABOUT AT THE PUBLIC MEETING THAT WE HAD STRICTLY ON THE I 10 N THING WAS, YOU KNOW, EVEN THE CITY PARISH AND EVEN THOUGH CATS DOESN'T GO OUT TO CENTRAL, WE WAS TALKING ABOUT EVEN ADDING A LINE DOWN FLORIDA BOULEVARD PARKING SPOT OUT THERE, PEOPLE CAN RIDE IT IN.
THERE'S SO MANY OPTIONS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PUT ON THE TABLE TO ALLEVIATE THE TRAFFIC.
I EVEN PROPOSED DOING A SHUTDOWN DAY, BUT YOU JUST MADE, LET'S, LET'S PUT INFORMATION OUT THERE.
LET'S, LET'S GIVE IT ABOUT TWO OR THREE WEEKS OF PUBLIC INFORMATION AND SAY WE'RE GONNA PRETEND THIS IS, AT THE TIME WHEN I THOUGHT WE WAS GOING DOWN THE ONE LANE AND I SAID, LET'S TAKE THE INTERSTATE DOWN THE ONE LANE, PUT IT OUT THERE FOR THREE WEEKS THAT WE'RE GONNA DO THIS ON THIS DAY, AND THEN LET EVERYBODY FLOOD THE CITY PARISH AND SEE WHAT THE RESPONSE IS AND SEE, YOU KNOW, JUST DO A TEST OF THE SYSTEM, SEE WHAT THE RESPONSE IS AND EVERYTHING.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE PROPOSED TO DO.
I THINK YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO, I THINK I GOTTA GIVE IT TO MR. UH, RADFORD'S DEPARTMENT THAT I THINK WE AS A PARISH AND THE APPROVAL THAT WE'VE DONE, I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE WORKING WITH THE STATE TO GET EVERYTHING COMPLETED BEFORE ALL OF THIS STARTS.
THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
UH, UM, I I I CONCUR WITH WHAT COUNCILMAN MOOCH JUST SAID ABOUT FRED.
FRED HAS BEEN OUR POINT PERSON AND HAS HELPED US TREMENDOUSLY AND JUST GRATEFUL.
ALSO, I NEED TO SAY THAT YES, WE HAD A COMMUNITY MEETING THAT WAS HELD AT THE LEO BUTLER CENTER AND IT WAS WELL ATTENDED AND EVERYBODY WAS THERE.
DOTD, THE CITY JAMES CREW, THEY, EVERYBODY AND THEIR MAMA WAS THERE.
THE OTHER QUESTION THAT I, THE QUESTION THOUGH THAT I HAVE IS ONE OF THE CONCERNS WAS FAIRVIEW BAPTIST CHURCH FRONT OPENING AND THE ENCROACHMENT UPON THE FRONT OF THEIR CHURCH AND THEM NOT BEING ABLE TO, SO JAMES COME ON UP, THEM NOT BEING ABLE TO USE THAT FRONT PART OF THEIR CHURCH.
AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE CONCERN.
AND THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS, WITH ALL OF THIS, HOW MANY HOMES OVER IN 10 WILL BE
[04:15:01]
AFFECTED? UH, I AM NOT AN ENGINEER, BUT AS MY, I APPRECIATE THE PLANS.FAIRVIEW BAPTIST CHURCH THERE FRONTING BRADDOCK STREET, THE ACQUISITION OF ADDITIONAL RIGHT OF WAY ALONG BRADDOCK STREET FROM NOT ONLY FAIRVIEW BUT OTHER CONTIGUOUS PROPERTIES WAS SO THAT DOTD COULD INSTALL A SIDEWALK THERE FOLLOWING CON RECONSTRUCTION OF BRADDOCK.
THAT O THE ENTRANCE AND EGRESS INTO THE CHURCH THERE AT THE FRONT WOULD CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE, IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
OKAY, SO TO GET A DEFINITE YES, WHO DO I CONTACT ON THE CENSUS? YOU'LL UNDERSTAND.
SO I'M CONTACTING YOU NOW AND I NEED YOU TO GET THAT FOR US.
UH, YEAH, PASTOR SPERLOCK REALLY SURE NEEDS TO KNOW THAT.
NOW TELL ME ABOUT HOW MANY HOMES, HOW MANY HOUSES, HOW MANY FAMILIES WILL BE AFFECTED AND, YOU KNOW, NO HOUSES.
WE HAD NOBODY'S, UH, NOBODY REGARDING THE SIDEWALK ACQUISITION.
NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT INTENT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE INTERSTATE COMING THROUGH AND USUALLY INTERSTATE COMING THROUGH.
THOSE ACQUISITIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED, IS MY UNDERSTANDING BY DODD'S REAL ESTATE.
BUT WE CAN, WE CAN GET THAT TOTAL NUMBER, NUMBER FOR YOU.
WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO EXTEND THE MEETING FOR 30 MINUTES.
ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE, WE WILL EXTEND THE MEETING.
NOW LET ME, UH, FIRST, UH, PIGGYBACK ON COUNCILMAN ROCKER'S, UH, COMMENTS ABOUT SETTING EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT THIS BODY CAN DO AND WHAT OUR AUTHORITY IS.
I THOUGHT YOU, YOU STATED THAT.
UM, ALSO, FRED SAID IN, IN, UH, THE LAST TIME WE ADDRESSED THIS, HE WAS VERY CLEAR WITH THAT THIS IS NOT OUR PROJECT, THIS IS THE STATE PROJECT.
UM, I DO THINK WE EXPECT THE STATE TO BE A GOOD, GOOD PARTNER AND, AND HAVE COLLABORATION AND COMMUNICATION.
IT LOOKS AS IF, UM, THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE.
UM, COUNCILMAN MOCH? I WAS TOLD TO NOT SAY THIS OUT LOUD, BUT I'M GONNA SAY IT ANYWAY.
I LIKE YOUR IDEA OF THE TEST AND, AND THE SHUTDOWN DOWN.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO SEE WHAT THE IMPACT WILL BE, UH, TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA,
AND, UM, FINALLY, I WANT TO TIP MY HAT AND DON'T NOBODY FALL OUT TO, TO COUNCILMAN GODDE, UH, FOR RAISING THE I THE ISSUE.
UH, I DO THINK THAT THE PREVIOUS TIME WE RAISED THE ISSUE, UH, MANY OF THE POINTS IN THE, THE, THE DIRECTION IN MY OPINION WAS MISGUIDED.
IT WAS GUIDED AT, AT FRED AS IF THIS WAS OUR PROJECT AND HE HAD SOME, OR WE HAD SOME AUTHORITY ON, UH, THE COMMUNICATION AND, AND THE DIRECTION.
I WANNA TIP MY HAT TO HIM FOR HAVING THE RIGHT PARTIES HERE THIS TIME.
I THINK THE QUESTIONS AND THE CONCERNS ARE BEING DIRECTED AT THE RIGHT PARTIES, BEING THE STATE, THEIR CONTRACTORS, DOTD AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND FINALLY, JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING OUT AND BEING PART OF THE PROCESS AND THE PUBLIC AS WELL FOR, FOR GIVING YOUR INPUT.
SO I JUST ENCOURAGE AND, AND, UH, IMPRESS UPON YOU GUYS TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT COLLABORATION WITH US, WITH THE, WITH THE PUBLIC AND THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN GOD'S REQUEST WITH THE MEDIA TO MAKE SURE WE GET MORE INFORMATION OUT, UH, TO THEM, TO, TO CLEARLY COMMUNICATE TO THEM WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE.
COUNCILWOMAN BANKS, THE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM DOTD MAY BE, UH, YOU, YOU ARE THE, UH, VENDOR? CORRECT.
AND I, I DON'T RECALL WHO SAID THAT.
SOMEONE MENTIONED, UH, CONSIDERATION AS IT RELATES TO, UH, COUNTRY FLOW.
SO YEAH, WOULD YOU TESTING THERE WAS A, THERE WAS A MAP IN THE PRESENTATION THAT, UM, WAS FROM THE CURRENT PARK AND EVACUATION PLANS MAINTAINED BY DOTD AND
AND SO THE, THE, THE REASON WE SHOWED THAT WAS TO MAKE THE POINT THAT I 10 THROUGH BATON ROUGE IS NOT A CONTRAFLOW ROUTE BECAUSE WE HAD HEARD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT DURING CONSTRUCTION, WHAT HAPPENS TO HURRICANE EVACUATION.
AND SO WHILE I 10 WILL ALWAYS BE OPEN THREE LANES IN EACH DIRECTION DURING CONSTRUCTION.
[04:20:01]
ALL THE LANES GOING IN ONE DIRECTION, RIGHT? RIGHT.SO THE, THE, THE IDEA THAT BECAUSE WE'RE OUT THERE CONSTRUCTING THE ROAD, IT'S GONNA HAVE AN IMPACT ON HURRICANE EVACUATION.
I THINK WE WERE JUST TRYING TO EASE PEOPLE'S MINDS THAT THAT'S, THAT WOULD NOT BE TRUE.
SO THAT BRINGS ME TO, UM, ONE POINT.
SO WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF TIMES WHEN THERE IS A HURRICANE, THE COUNTRY FLOW AS IT RELATES TO A MEGA SHELTER IS IN ALEXANDRIA.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THAT WOULD, I GUESS I DON'T KNOW IF LOT, BUT THAT'S WHY THAT WOULD NOT BE, UH, MAYBE A PROBLEM WITH I 10.
HOWEVER, UM, THERE ARE PLANS TO HAVE A MEGA SHELTER, UH, OFF HIGHWAY 61 IN BAKER.
AND I WAS WONDERING ARE, AND SO THEREFORE THAT WOULD BRING IN I ONE 10 NORTH AS WELL.
AND ALL OF THAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED AS, UH, PART OF THE CONTRA FLOW.
AND I WAS WONDERING, ARE THOSE CONVERT, HAS ANYONE BROUGHT UP THE FACT THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A MEGA SHELTER IN BAKER? UH, IS MY NUMBER ONE.
YOU WANT ME TO LET YOU ANSWER BEFORE I GET TO THE OTHER TWO? NO, I GO DO ALL THREE.
SO, SO, UH, I 10 IN BATON ROUGE, IF WE DIDN'T EVER HAVE ANY CONSTRUCTION DURING A HURRICANE, EVACUATION WOULD OPERATE THREE LANES IN EACH DIRECTION.
IT WOULD NEVER BE CHANGED TO OPERATE, SAY SIX LANES ALL IN ONE DIRECTION.
SO HOW WILL, SO THE ABILITY TO REACH A SHELTER IN BAKER, UM, IT WILL NOT BE CHANGED IN ANY WAY UN UNDER THIS PROJECT.
YOU WOULD STILL HAVE THE SAME NUMBER OF LANES THAT FEED INTO US, I ONE 10 NORTH AND US 61 TO GET, YOU KNOW, TO BAKER OR LA 19 OR WHATEVER, WHEREVER IT IS.
NUMBER TWO IS THE, AND, AND I GUESS I'VE BEEN, UM, THIS HAS NOT BEEN ON THE FOREFRONT OF MY MIND BECAUSE I DO REPRESENT THE NORTHERN PART OF THE MEMBERS.
I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, DON'T TAKE AWAY MS. BANKS', UH, OPPORTUNITY FOR QUORUM TO FINISH HER, UH, COMMENTS.
IF Y'ALL WOULD PLEASE MAKE SURE WE HAVE SEVEN MEMBERS IN THE CHAMBERS.
SO THE NORTH, UM, SO I'M IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE PARISH.
SO, AND I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, UH, I KNOW I WILL ATTEND OTHER THAN THAT ORDER, THAT ARTERY, BUT SO MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE PARISH ALL THE WAY TO MISSISSIPPI ST.
FRANCISVILLE, ALL OF THEM STILL WORK ON I 10 NORTH.
AND I GUESS IT ALWAYS JUST KIND OF BOTHERS ME WHERE THERE'S MORE, THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN LIKE OVER THE, YOU KNOW, THE, OVER THE RIVER, BUT, UM, EAST WEST, BUT NOT NORTH SOUTH.
AND SO THAT'S A REAL CONCERN OF MINE.
AND I JUST THINK, UM, WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT, UM, UH, TRANSPORTATION AND COUNTRY FLOW OR ANY BILL, YOU SHOULD THINK HOLISTICALLY BECAUSE THEN EVENTUALLY WE GO, GO BACK AND SAY, AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO STILL DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES, BUT NOW WE'RE GOING TO, THAT THESE ISSUES ARE GONNA MAKE IT HARD.
SO I WAS JUST WONDERING, IS THAT AT ALL PART AND IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BE BRINGING TO OUR RESIDENTS AS THEY HAVE IN THE SOUTH? UM, SHOULD THAT, IS THERE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO BE PREPARING MENTALLY OR WHATEVER? SO, SO I, I'M GONNA ASK JAMES TO TAKE A NOTE ON THIS BECAUSE WE CAN MEET WITH OUR DOT UM, CLIENTS, YOU KNOW, THE OWNERS OF THE SYSTEM, BUT THE QUESTIONS YOU ARE ASKING TO ME AS I HEAR THEM, ARE MORE OF POLICY, LARGER POLICY QUESTIONS.
AND SO I, I'M NOT SURE IF I HEARD IT RIGHT THAT, THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY IS AT A PROJECT LEVEL THAT WE COULD HAVE ANY INFLUENCE ON, ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
AND SO, I I THAT'S THAT THE SECOND PART, I'M SORRY.
THE SECOND PART IS KIND OF LEADS TO WHERE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION WITH THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE BEING IMPACTED.
SO BECAUSE OF THEIR PROXIMITY TO, BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT THE A A HUGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE PARISH WORKING FROM, COMING FROM MISS MISSISSIPPI, MISSISSIPPI, YOU KNOW, CLINTON ST.
FRANCISVILLE, THEY'RE GONNA BE STUCK IN THAT SAME TRAFFIC GETTING HOME.
AND I'M SAYING THAT THE SAME, LIKE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, UM, THE SAME COMMUNICATION PLAN.
THEY NEED TO BE INVOLVED SO THAT THEY TOO CAN BE PREPARED.
[04:25:01]
'CAUSE LIKE WE ALL THINKING, LIKE I, I'VE SPENT A WHOLE YEAR THINKING THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME, BUT NOW HEARING THE, THE PROJECT TODAY, IF I LIVE IN THE NORTH AND I'M WORKING IN ASCENSION, YEAH.THAT'S HOW I'LL GET MORE GETTING HOME.
SEEING NO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER SPEAKERS, WE ARE FINISHED WITH THAT ITEM MEMBERS.
[114. 23-01410 (Part 2 of 2)]
A REQUEST TO REVISIT I ITEM ONE 16.ONE 14 BY COUNCILMAN GODDE, SECOND BY THE CHAIR.
ANY OBJECTIONS TO REVISITING ITEM ONE 14? SEEING NONE WILL REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
DO I NEED TO, I THINK YOU, YOU ALRIGHT.
I'LL READ THE ITEM INTO THE RECORD.
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH WASTE PRO OF LOUISIANA, INC.
FOR DEBRIS HAULING SERVICES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 100,000 BY A DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM ONE 14.
SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL FOR REVISITING.
I WAS ABLE TO GO OUT IN THE HALL AND TAKE A PHONE CALL.
UH, THIS IS A CONTRACT WHENEVER WE DEMOLISH A HOUSE, UH, IN-HOUSE WITH OUR CREWS.
UH, WASTE PRO IS ACTUALLY THE ONES THAT HAULS OFF THE DEBRIS.
UM, WE'VE USED THIS, UH, CONTRACTOR BEFORE.
WE'VE REACHED THE END OF THAT PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT AND WE'RE TRYING TO RENEW IT.
I'M SORRY, I DO HAVE A COUNCILWOMAN BANKS, I'M SO SORRY.
BUT YOU BROUGHT, THEY BROUGHT SOMETHING TO MY MIND AND I'M NOT EVEN SURE IF IT'S WASTE PRO, BUT, UM, THERE, THERE'S A GENTLEMAN WHO SAID THAT, UM, FOR MANY YEARS, I DON'T HOW LONG WE BEEN WITH WEST WASTE PRO.
I MEAN, NOT YOU
I I'M WITH SOUTH CENTRAL PLANNING AND I'VE WORKED WITH YOU GUYS SINCE 2020.
OKAY, SO THAT'S NOT WASTE BROS.
SO WHY ARE YOU UP HERE,
UH, WHO I THOUGHT YOU WORKED CLOSELY.
I, I SERVE AS YOUR BUILDING OFFICIAL.
I MANAGE PERMITS AND INSPECTIONS.
I WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE BLIGHT DEPARTMENT ON GOD MAJOR.
SO THE ONLY THING I'M GONNA SAY IS THAT THERE ARE SOME MINORITY VENDORS WHO SAID THAT EARLY ON THEY WERE GETTING A LOT OF, A LOT OF BUSINESS, UH, WITH THE DEMOLITION AND NOW AND NOT NOW.
GOTTA REMEMBER IF IT WAS WASTE PRO, THAT IS, THEY FEEL THAT ARE NOW TAKING THEIR PROJECT.
AND I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A SPECIFIC MM-HMM,
UM, THERE WERE FOUR DUPLEXES THAT WERE TORN DOWN ON PROGRESS ROAD.
AND INSTEAD OF THE DEVELOP THAT THAT THEY, THE GUY, THE ONE CONTRACTOR HAVING ALL FOUR, THEY HAD TWO AND THE OTHER PERSON HAD TWO.
AND WHAT THE, WHAT THE CONTRACTOR WAS SAYING IS HOW THAT WAS MORE EXPENSIVE BECAUSE THEY HAD TO TAKE OFF THEIR BIG EQUIPMENT AND THEN OTHER PEOPLE HAD TO BRING IT ON.
AND I, AND, AND THIS IS JUST A COMMENT 'CAUSE I'M THINKING ABOUT IT, BUT I, WHO WOULD I TALK TO ABOUT HOW THOSE, UM, DEMOLITION AND DEBRIS CONTRACTS AND HOW THE WORK IS DISTRIBUTED? SO, UH, THAT, THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAT, THAT DEALS WITH ARP GO.
SO UNDERSTAND, KNOW I CAN'T GET IN.
I JUST WANNA, IF YOU GET WITH ME, I'LL PUT YOU IN CONTACT WITH ALICIA PERCHARD AND SHE CAN ASSIST SHE WITH AND SHE'S WITH WHO? SHE'S WHERE SHE'S THE MANAGER OF THE BLANK DIVISION.
YOU GONNA EMAIL ME OR ARE YOU GONNA WRITE IT DOWN? I I WILL EMAIL YOU AND PUT YOU IN CONTACT WITH HER.
THERE IS A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM THE CHAIR.
COUNCILMAN AMAR, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION TO ADJOURN.
ANY OPPOSITION? SEE? AND NONE.