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HERE WE GO.GOOD AFTERNOON, GENTLEMEN, AND WELCOME TO THE PRESENTATION PORTION OF OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING ON THIS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH, 2023 AT 3:30 PM FIRST UP, WE WILL HAVE MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTERN BROOM TO RECOGNIZE PRINCIPAL JOHN HAYMAN OF TARA HIGH SCHOOL AND THE NINTH GRADERS RANKED NUMBER ONE FOR THE CENTER OF HIGH SCHOOL SUCCESS.
THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, IT'S WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT I ACKNOWLEDGE TARA HIGH SCHOOL AND THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE TO KEEP THEIR NINTH GRADERS ON TRACK FOR GRADUATION.
THIS INCLUDES THE CURRENT FRESHMAN CLASS AND LAST YEAR'S CLASS WHO ARE NOW SOPHOMORES.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THEIR REMARKABLE PRINCIPAL, JOHN HAYMAN, ALONG WITH HIS STAFF AT TERRA HIGH SCHOOL, ALONG WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENT FOR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOLS.
CTO CE TERRA HIGH SCHOOL MADE HISTORY NOT JUST FOR BATON ROUGE, BUT FOR OUR NATION.
THEY HAVE ACHIEVED THE REMARKABLE RANKING OF NUMBER ONE FOR THE CENTER FOR HIGH SCHOOL SUCCESS OUT OF 164 SCHOOLS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
THAT'S WORTH OF APPLAUSE RIGHT THERE.
THIS ACHIEVEMENT IS NOT ONLY A TESTAMENT TO THE DEDICATION OF THE SCHOOL'S FACULTY AND STAFF, BUT ALSO TO THE UNWAVERING COMMITMENT OF THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES.
OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, TARA HIGH SCHOOL HAS DEMONSTRATED AN IMPRESSIVE 173% IMPROVEMENT IN THE NUMBER OF NINTH GRADERS WHO ARE ON TRACK FOR GRADUATION.
THIS IS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT THEIR WORK ETHIC AND THEIR POTENTIAL PRINCIPAL.
HAMAN HAS BEEN LEADING FROM THE FRONT WITH PASSION, VISION, AND A STEADFAST BELIEF IN THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY STUDENT UNDER HIS CARE.
I'VE HAD THE, UH, PRIVILEGE OF BEING THERE, UH, TO SEE PRINCIPAL HAMAN AND HIS STAFF AT WORK, UH, AS WE CELEBRATED THIS WONDERFUL ACCOMPLISHMENT.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT HIS LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN SHAPING TARA HIGH SCHOOL'S CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE.
THIS ACHIEVEMENT IS NOT JUST ABOUT NUMBERS ON A PAGE, IT'S ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY.
IT'S ABOUT THE PROMISE OF A NEW GENERATION WHO ARE DETERMINED TO SUCCEED, TO FULFILL THEIR DREAMS, AND TO BECOME THE LEADERS AND CHANGE MAKERS OF TOMORROW.
SO, CONGRATULATIONS, TARA HIGH SCHOOL AND PRINCIPAL JOHN HAYMAN FOR THIS REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT.
LET THIS BE THE START OF AN EVEN BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
AND BATON ROUGE IS BEHIND YOU CHEERING EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
UH, JOINING THE PRINCIPAL TODAY IS THE ASSISTANT CHIEF OF SCHOOLS, CHIEF OF SCHOOLS, MR. BRICKHOUSE.
SO WE WANT TO WELCOME BOTH OF THEM TODAY AND, UH, PRINCIPAL HAYMAN OR DR.
DO EITHER OF YOU ALL WANT TO ADD A FEW COMMENTS? GOOD AFTERNOON.
UH, GOOD EVENING, RATHER, UH, JUST ON BEHALF OF, UH, SUPERINTENDENT DR.
CITO NARCISS, WE'RE JUST EXCITED ON THE PROGRESS THAT TARA HIGH SCHOOL IS HAVING.
UM, IT COULD NOT BE DONE WITHOUT AN OUTSTANDING LEADER, AND WE WANT TO GIVE CREDIT TO, UH, MR. HAMAN FOR AN OUTSTANDING, OUTSTANDING WORK AND CONTINUE TO, UH, HAVE STUDENTS TO REACH THEIR REACH FOR THE HIGHEST EXPECTATIONS AND REACH FOR THE DREAM OF GRADUATING ON TIME AND BECOMING PRODUCTIVE CITIZEN.
CITO NARCISSA SUPERINTENDENT, WE ARE EXCITED AND WISH AND WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS.
YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? PRINCIPAL HAMMOND? I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, ESPECIALLY TO THE MAYOR FOR COMING TO THE EVENT AND, UH, THAT IT WAS A TEAM EFFORT ALL THE WAY.
YOU KNOW, I THINK TARA HIGH SCHOOL IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST SCHOOL IN ALL THE WORLD.
THE TARA HIGH SCHOOL PRODUCES OUTSTANDING CITIZENS.
I SHOULD KNOW I GRADUATED FROM NINE ONE.
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NEXT, WE FROM MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTERN ROOM TO RECOGNIZE KARA RAINWATER SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY STUDENT AND CONTENT CREATOR, HBCU STUDENT SELECTED TO ATTEND NEW YORK ADVERTISING WEEK.KARA RAINWATER IS A DEDICATED AND TALENTED SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY STUDENT, AND SHE HAS ACHIEVED SOMETHING REALLY REMARKABLE.
SHE HAS BEEN SELECTED TO REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY AT THE NEW YORK ADVERTISING WEEK AS AN HBCU STUDENT AND CONTENT CREATOR.
KARA, YOUR DEDICATION, YOUR HARD WORK AND CREATIVE TALENTS HAVE BROUGHT YOU TO THIS REMARKABLE POINT IN YOUR JOURNEY.
AND WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU.
YOU'RE NOT ONLY REPRESENTING BATON ROUGE AND SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, BUT ALSO THE INCREDIBLE POTENTIAL THAT OUR YOUNG TALENTS POSSESS.
YOUR JOURNEY, OF COURSE, IS AN INSPIRATION TO ALL OF US, AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE GREAT THINGS THAT YOU WILL ACHIEVE IN THE FUTURE.
UH, WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE THE CONNECTIONS, OF COURSE, THAT YOU WILL MAKE, THE KNOWLEDGE YOU WILL GAIN, AND THE INSPIRATION YOU WILL BRING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.
KARA, AS YOU, AS YOU EMBARK ON THIS EXCITING ADVENTURE, PLEASE KNOW THAT THE ENTIRE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IS BEHIND YOU.
WE'RE PROUD OF YOU AND YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING YOUR FUTURE SUCCESSES.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO KARA RAIN RAINWATER, AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING US BATON ROUGE PROUD.
YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? FIRST? I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR BROOM.
UH, AS A CALIFORNIA NATIVE, COMING TO LOUISIANA WAS A BIG STEP FOR ME, AND EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN AT, UH, SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, I'VE BEEN GRANTED WITH A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND A LOT OF, UH, EXPOSURE.
UH, NEXT MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND COUNCIL MEMBER CLEVE DUN JR.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER SHAUNA BANKS TO RECOGNIZE MIKE EDWARDS AND STAFF FOR BEING NAMED THE 2023 LOUISIANA COMMERCIAL SERVICE AIRPORT OF THE YEAR BY LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT.
YOU WANNA START
BUT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE MAYOR.
THAT IS A, UM, REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT, UH, FOR OUR BATON ROUGE METROPOLITAN AIRPORT.
AND WE ARE SO EXCITED, UH, THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED THIS HONOR OF BEING THE 2023 LOUISIANA COMMERCIAL SERVICE AIRPORT OF THE YEAR, UH, THAT IS GIVEN BY THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT.
I BELIEVE THAT, UH, THIS AWARD IS CERTAINLY A TESTAMENT, UH, TO THE DEDICATED EFFORTS OF OUR AIRPORTS TEAM AND ITS DIRECTOR OF AVIATION, MIKE EDWARDS, WHO HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATING EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP.
AND I BELIEVE IT ALSO REFLECTS OUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING, PROVIDING SAFE, EFFICIENT, AND TOP TIER AVIATION SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WE WANT TO THANK MIKE EDWARDS AND THE ENTIRE AIRPORT TEAM FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING WORK.
THE BATON ROUGE METROPOLITAN AIRPORT IS NOT JUST A TRANSPORTATION HUB, IT'S A VITAL DRIVER OF OUR CITY'S GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, OUR COUNCILMAN, UH, COUNCILMAN CLEVE DUNN, UH, COULDN'T BE A BETTER, UH, REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE AIRPORT AND THE AIRPORT, UH, COMMISSION AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, THIS MORNING I ANNOUNCED, UM, THAT I WILL BE IMPLEMENTING A NEW PURCHASING POLICY THAT WILL PRIORITIZE THE USE OF THE BATON ROUGE AIRPORT WHEN OUR CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES TRAVEL FOR ANY CITY PARISH BUSINESS.
SO, THROUGH IMPLEMENTING THIS POLICY, IT'S MY HOPE THAT WE WILL DEMONSTRATE THAT OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS PREPARED TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL AIRPORT.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTIONS AND, UH, HERE'S TO A PROMISING FUTURE FOR BATON ROUGE.
I THINK WE'VE ALSO, UH, PUT OUT SOME REINFORCEMENTS THAT WE WANT EVERYONE TO.
UH, I'M GONNA LET YOU TALK ABOUT THAT.
COUNCIL, WE BROUGHT SOME GIFTS FOR THE COUNCIL, AND WE HAVE A FEW LEFT OVER FOR DEPARTMENT HEADS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, YOU HAVE A ADVERTISING SIGN THERE THAT LOOKS LIKE A BILLBOARD THAT YOU SEE ON THE STREETS.
IT REMINDING YOU OF OUR NEW DIRECT FLIGHT TO DC.
WE WANNA ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO USE THAT.
SO AS IT SITS ON YOUR DESK, WE HOPE IT'S
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A CONVERSATION PIECE THAT PEOPLE ASK YOU ABOUT IT AND YOU ENCOURAGE THEM TO UTILIZE THAT FLIGHT.AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MIKE TO, UH, GIVE SOME REGARDS ON THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AS WELL AS THE DC FLIGHT.
UM, YOU KNOW, FIRST JUST LEMME START BY THANKING THE ENTIRE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL AND THE BATON ROUGE, UH, AIRPORT COMMISSION FOR THE WAY THEY'VE, YOU'VE ALL SUPPORTED OUR AIRPORT OVER THE YEARS.
UM, WE WOULDN'T HAVE ACHIEVED THIS MILESTONE WITHOUT ALL OF THAT SUPPORT AND HARD WORK FROM EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
YOU KNOW, I'M VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A EXTREMELY DEDICATED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE TEAM.
UM, SO THIS AWARD DEFINITELY, UH, IS, IS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK AND EFFORTS.
UM, IT RECOGNIZES AIRPORTS THAT HAVE, UM, SHOWN, UH, EXCEPTIONAL, UH, CAPABILITIES IN EACH FACET OF AIRPORT OPERATIONS.
UM, WE'RE THE THIRD AIRPORT TO RECEIVE THE AWARD SINCE IT WAS, UH, UH, ANNOUNCED IN 2021.
SO VERY PROUD OF THIS ACHIEVEMENT AND, AND MY TEAM AND THANK YOU ALL.
AND THEN ON THE, UH, BATON ROUGE TO DC PLEDGE CAMPAIGN, WE ANNOUNCED THAT THIS MORNING, UH, DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE AIRPORT.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, THE BTR TO DCA CONNECTION WAS THE MOST REQUESTED BY THE PUBLIC.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS TO SECURE THIS SERVICE, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT EXCEEDS OVER THE LONG TERM.
SO WE'RE JUST ASKING EVERYONE TO PLEDGE.
IF YOU'RE FLYING FROM BATON ROUGE TO DCA, PLEASE USE THE SERVICE AND WE'LL KEEP IT AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADD MORE.
READY? I WANNA TAKE A FEW PICTURES.
I AM GONNA GRAB ONE REAL QUICK.
EVERYBODY LOOK THIS WAY FOR ME.
AT THIS TIME, MYSELF, MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTERN BROOME AND COUNCIL MEMBER LAURIE ADAMS GOING TO RECOGNIZE IRISH NETTLES AND TJ PUGH, THE OWNERS OF THE PEACH COBBLER FACTORY, WHO JUST HAD THAT GRAND OPEN THIS PAST WEEKEND.
SINCE 2013, THE PEACH COBBLER FACTORY HAS BEEN DEVOTED TO CRAFTING DELIGHTFUL DESSERTS THAT EVOKE A FEELING OF GRANDMA'S KITCHEN.
THEIR PASSION FOR CREATING PREMIUM PRODUCTS MATCH ONLY BY THEIR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE.
FROM COBBLERS TO BANANA PUDDING, CINNAMON ROLLS, SHAKES, AND COOKIES, AND PEACH COBBLER FACTORY OFFICE, AN INDULGENT SELECTION OF TREAT THAT WILL SATISFY ANY SWEET TOOTH.
EVERYTHING THEY MAKE IS PREPARED WITH CARE AND LOVE OF EACH FLAVOR FILLED BITE.
COME OUT AND ENJOY THE TASTE OF NOSTALGIA AT THE PEACH COBBLER FACTORY.
I HAVE KNOWN, UH, MS. NETTLES AND MR. PEW FOR OVER 25 YEARS.
THEY HAVE OPENED A NUMBER OF SMALL BUSINESSES HERE IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
UH, AND THIS IS THE NEW VENTURE.
AND I WAS DELIGHTED, UH, TO BE THERE FOR THE GRAND OPENING.
UH, I BOUGHT A LOT OF PEACH COBBLER.
I BOUGHT A LOT OF PEACH COBBLER, ALL DIFFERENT FLAVORS.
I THINK MY FAVORITE IS THE BLACKBERRY AND PEACH MIX TOGETHER, BUT IT IS A, A TREMENDOUS, UH, BUSINESS HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY, RIGHT, IN DISTRICT 11.
AND, UH, SO I'M GONNA ASK MS. ADAMS TO COME AND SAY A FEW WORDS.
IT'S WAY TOO CLOSE TO MY HOUSE.
UH, WE'RE SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU IN DISTRICT 11, AND LIKE I SAID, YOU'RE SO CLOSE TO MY HOUSE AND I LOVE, I MEAN, EVERYTHING YOU NAMED, YOU HAD ME AT, UM, AT, UH, UH, BANANAS, UM, WASH, WAS IT? ANYWAY, BANANA PUDDING.
UM, SO ANYWAY, WELCOME TO DISTRICT 11.
WE'RE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, MANY YEARS OF GREAT BUSINESS SUCCESS MEMO.
I HAVE SOME CERTIFICATES HERE FOR MS. NETS AND HER WHOLE TEAM, MS. NETS.
AND I DON'T THINK THE WHOLE TEAM IS HERE, BUT YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING TO INTRODUCE WHO YOU HAVE WITH YOU.
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ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TODAY.I HAVE THE MANAGER, MR. SAM WASHINGTON, AND I HAVE MY, UH, INTERN FROM LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL, MS. RACHEL ALBERT WITH US TODAY.
AND I DO HAVE A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FOR YOU GUYS.
I LEFT IT IN THE CAR, BUT I'M GONNA RUN AND GET IT AND MAKE SURE THAT MR. COLE GETS IT TO YOU.
IF IT AIN'T COBBLER, WE DON'T WANT IT.
WELL, IT'S A CARD FOR A FREE COBBLER.
I JUST FORGOT IT IN THE CARD, BUT I'M GONNA GO GET IT.
YEAH, I JUST, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, SAY, UH, DITO TO EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID.
I HAVEN'T HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING THAT PEACH ACCOMPLISHED, SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
BUT WE WANT TO, UH, THANK YOU FOR ADDING TO THE ECONOMIC FABRIC OF OUR, UH, COMMUNITY.
WE LOVE ENTREPRENEURS AND WE LOVE NEW BUSINESSES THAT ARE, UH, TAKING PLACE.
SO I ALSO WANNA PRESENT YOU WITH A CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION.
JUST COME OVER HERE AND EVERYBODY SQUEEZE TOGETHER.
NEXT WE HAVE MAYOR, PRESIDENT TO RECOGNIZE ANTHONY WINTERS REDICK VETERANS WEEK, NOVEMBER 5TH THROUGH 11 AND RED IN VETERANS MONTH PROCLAMATION.
IF IT IS, UH, OKAY WITH YOU, I'D LIKE TO SWITCH THINGS UP A LITTLE BIT WITH THE PRESENTATION.
AS MR. WINTERS IS ATTORNEY WINTERS IS, UH, ON HIS WAY.
UM, WE, WE ARE STILL VERY, VERY, UH, PROUD, UH, TO DECLARE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THIS WEEK AS I'M SORRY, THIS MONTH AS, UM, VETERANS MONTH HERE IN OUR CITY, UH, THE MAYOR'S ADVISORY COUNCIL ON VETERAN AFFAIRS HAS INVITED A REMARKABLE, UH, ORGANIZATION TO JOIN US TODAY.
UH, THIS ORGANIZATION IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO TURN PAIN INTO PURPOSE.
THE GROUP WAS FOUNDED IN 2018 BY NAVY PETTY OFFICER MICHAEL EDMOND, WHO WAS DEPLOYED THREE TIMES, AND AS A RESULT, HE DEVELOPED PTSD.
HIS ORGANIZATION ONCE WAS, IS FOCUSED ON ASSISTING SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE IMPACTED BY PTSD AND ADDICTION.
OUR SERVICE MEMBERS ARE TRAINED TO DEFEND OUR NATION, BUT THEY ARE OFTEN NOT ADEQUATELY TRAINED TO ADDRESS THE IMPACTS THAT SUCH SACRIFICES CAN HAVE ON THEIR PERSONAL LIVES.
THAT'S WHY ALL MONTH LONG WE STAND AS A COMMUNITY UNITED IN OUR SUPPORT FOR OUR VETERANS.
WE PLEDGE TO CONTINUE WORKING TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT NO VETERAN OR THEIR FAMILY MEMBER IS LEFT BEHIND, AND THAT THEY RECEIVE THE CARE AND RECOGNITION THAT THEY SO RIGHTFULLY DESERVE.
TODAY, ONCE WAS WE'LL PIN RED, WHITE, AND BLUE RIBBONS ON OUR VETERANS TO HONOR THEIR DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND SYMBOLIZE OUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT AND GRATITUDE.
SO ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, I WANT TO EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO ALL OF OUR VETERANS AND ALL THOSE WHO SUPPORT AND ADVOCATE FOR THEM.
YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE DOES NOT GO ON NOTICE.
AND TODAY WE STAND TOGETHER TO SAY THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS.
AND WE WANT TO, UH, THANK YOU, UH, MR. EDMOND, UH, FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING, UH, IN YOUR INITIATIVE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? YOU WANNA PIN THE RIBBON ON ME? OKAY.
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THANK YOU SO MUCH.UM, ALSO I WOULD, UH, LIKE I WOULD BE REMISS, BUT I WANT TO, UH, ASK SOME OTHER PEOPLE TO COME UP HERE, UH, BEFORE ATTORNEY WINTERS GETS HERE.
AND, UM, THOSE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE MAYOR'S ADVISORY COUNCIL ON VETERAN AFFAIRS, INCLUDING COUNCILWOMAN ROSO.
UM, ALSO I HAVE TO BRING UP ELENA ZARO, UH, WHO IS ONE OF OUR PARISH ATTORNEYS, BUT SHE'S ALSO A VETERAN.
AND OF COURSE YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ME SAY TIME AND TIME AGAIN, MY FAVORITE VETERAN, WHO I SEE EVERY DAY IS HERE WITH US TODAY.
AND THAT'S NONE OTHER THAN THE FIRST GENTLEMAN, MY HUSBAND MARVIN BROOME.
SO I'M GONNA ASK HIM TO COME UP AS WELL.
AND I DO HAVE A, UH, PROCLAMATION, UH, TO, UH, GIVE THAT CERTAINLY PROCLAIMS THIS MONTH AS, UH, VETERANS MONTH.
THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE HONORS THE STRENGTH AND SACRIFICES OF THE FAMILIES, CAREGIVERS AND SURVIVORS OF OUR VETERANS.
UM, TO BE A VETERAN OR SERVICE MEMBER IS TO HAVE ENDURED AND SURVIVED CHALLENGES.
MOST AMERICANS WILL NEVER KNOW FAMILIES WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON HOLD.
SO OUR MILITARY CAN HOLD THE LINE, REPRESENT THE BEST OF AMERICA, AND WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER WHAT THEY DO FOR OUR NATION.
COUNCILWOMAN, DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING? I'M GOOD.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCEPT THIS FOR VETERAN'S MONTH? OKAY.
DO A LITTLE BIT OF CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE VETERANS.
WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UH, ELENA HAS A PROCLAMATION THAT HAS BEEN SIGNED, UH, BY EACH MEMBER OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL AND RECOGNITION OF, UH, VETERANS DAY, AS WELL AS VETERANS WEEK.
AND SO WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THE FREEDOMS, UH, WE EXPERIENCE LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.
SO SINCERELY, UH, WE SAY THANK YOU AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TO ALL OF OUR VETERANS WHO ARE HERE, THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING, AND I'M SURE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF VETERANS WHO WORK, UH, FOR THIS CITY PARISH.
AND SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO, AND WHAT YOU WILL DO SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO LIVE THE LIVES WE LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY.
BACK TO YOU, MAYOR BRO, BACK TO YOU.
I'M GONNA ASK ATTORNEY ANTHONY WINTERS TO COME UP.
HE, UM, HAS JUST ARRIVED AND HE HAS CERTAINLY BEEN, UM, THE CATALYST AND HAS BEEN A COLLABORATOR.
UM, HE'S A DEDICATED VETERAN AND HE HAS ORGANIZED THE SECOND ANNUAL RED STICK VETERANS, UH, WEEK.
AND SO WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENTS OF REDICK VETERANS WEEK, UH, AS WE CONTINUE TO THANK OUR VETERANS FOR THEIR SERVICE.
UM, ATTORNEY WINTERS HAS CERTAINLY, UM, BEEN VERY DEDICATED TO OUR VETERANS AND HIS VISION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CERTAINLY, UH, MANIFESTED OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.
SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU ANTHONY WINTERS, FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING WORK AND HONORING OUR VETERANS.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE AS A VETERAN AS WELL.
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UH, THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR AND ALWAYS SUPPORTING VETERANS ELAINA AND YOUR, YOU ARE OUTSTANDING COUNCIL SIMONE, UH, TO THE COUNCIL.THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH, UH, UM, MAYOR PRO TEMP COLE FOR, FOR DOING THE MC TODAY.
AND TO ALL OF YOU, COUNCIL, ESPECIALLY TN, WHO ALWAYS GOT OUR BACK AND, AND HEARS, UH, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
UH, THE BIBLE SAYS, WHO IS GREATEST? SIMONE, YOU SHOULD BE A SERVANT.
AND DR. KING WENT FURTHER TO SAY, UM, ANYBODY CAN BE GREAT BECAUSE ANYBODY CAN SERVE.
GOD BLESS MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER TO HAVE ABOUT 40 OF HER LINEAGE TO SERVE TO RETIREMENT.
AND ABOUT, UH, 90% OF THE MEN IN MY FAMILY HAVE SERVED IN THE ARMY.
UH, SO NO OTHER SERVICE REALLY MATTERS TO US, BUT NO, NO, ALL VETERANS.
BUT I, I WOULD NOT, THIS CAN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT OUR TEAM MEMBERS.
UH, RITA
WE HAVE SOME, WE'VE GOTTEN WITH CLAY YOUNG AT DON ONES FRIDAY.
WE'VE GOT THE MARINE CORPS BALL.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT SOLD OUT SATURDAY MORNING.
WE GOT THE DOUBLE DOG DASH WITH THE MARINES ON THE LEVY FROM LAIR, THAT'S A FIVE K.
AND THEN WE HAVE A CONCERT WITH MICHAEL FOSTER PROJECT AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY MILITARY AND VETERANS APPRECIATION GAME.
GO TO REST STICK VETERANS WEEK AND FIND IT OUT ON THE EVENT.
AND AT THIS TIME, AT THIS TIME, UH, ELENA ZARO, WHO IS, UH, A VETERAN AS YOU HEARD A MARINE AND WHO, UH, IS WORKING WITH THE MAYOR'S VETERAN, WITH THE MAYOR'S COUNCIL ON VETERAN AFFAIRS, IS GOING TO RECOGNIZE, UH, VETERAN MONTH PROCLAMATION AND THANK A VETERAN PROGRAM.
HELLO COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY AND TWO DAYS BEFORE THE MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY, I'LL SAY HAPPY OR BIRTHDAY TO ALL THE MARINES THAT ARE LISTENING, MY FAVORITE BRANCH.
UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO AND CONTINUE TO DO FOR THE VETERANS.
AND I HAVE IN FRONT OF ME A PROCLAMATION THAT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS RECOGNIZING THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE AND CITY OF EAST BAT OR BATON ROUGE AS A VETERAN MONTH.
AND WITH THAT VETERAN MONTH COMES A PROGRAM THAT THE VETERANS COUNCIL HAS STARTED CALLED THANK A VETERAN.
AND EACH COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, WAS ASKED TO HAVE A VETERAN OR VETERANS THAT ARE NEAR TO THEM TO RECOGNIZE THEM FOR THE SERVICES THAT THEY HAVE PROVIDED AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE WHETHER OR NOT IS A LOVED ONE, UH, A MEMBER, ANYONE THAT YOU KNOW, THAT'S A VETERAN.
AND SO THIS PROGRAM IS VERY SPECIAL.
WE HAVE ONCE WAS, AND I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND CALL THEM UP TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT ONCE WAS MS. UH, RAQUEL, THEY'LL BE DOING THE PINNING CEREMONY.
OH, WELL, I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR INVITING US, AND AS ALWAYS, I'M TICKLED RED, WHITE, AND BLUE TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY.
UM, OUR STORY, OUR NAME IS OUR STORY OF HOW YOU CAN OVERCOME.
WE TELL THE STORY OF HOW WE DEALT WITH ADDICTION, HOW WE'VE OVERCOME PTSD, AND ANYTHING THAT YOU THINK IS A CHALLENGE HAS BECOME AN OR IS AN OBSTACLE THAT YOU CAN TURN INTO A PURPOSE.
SO WE MAKE IT A PRESENT A POINT TO BE A PRESENT HELP AMONG OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY AND HELP THEM TO GET ANCHORED BACK INTO THE COMMUNITIES THEY FOUGHT SO RICHLY TO PROTECT FOR US.
SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY AND WE'RE HONORED.
AND I'M GONNA START WITH COUNCIL, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MR. NOEL, UM, FOR DISTRICT ONE.
AND ANY VETERAN THAT YOU'VE GOT, WE'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND PIN THEM AND TAKE ANY APPROPRIATE PICTURES AND TO PRESENT YOUR CERTIFICATES.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING ME.
AND I WILL ALSO ADD THE MAYOR'S ADVISORY COUNCIL HAS ACTUALLY DONE A LITTLE SURPRISE FOR EVERY VETERAN THAT IS GETTING A CERTIFICATE TODAY.
AND THAT INCLUDES HAND-PAINTED ORNAMENTS BETWEEN THE AGE OF EIGHT TO 98 FOR THE, FROM THE CITIZENS OF BATON ROUGE.
IT'S, UH, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO, UH, INTRODUCE AND RECOGNIZE, UH, JOSHUA GILLICH FOR 19 AND A HALF YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE.
YOUR COURAGE AND DEDICATION AND SACRIFICE ARE COMMENDABLE AND WE'LL BE FOREVER INDEBTED FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO PROTECT FREEDOM IN OUR NATION.
MR. GILLICH, THANK YOU SERVICE.
[00:30:02]
THANK YOU.THANK COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO, MS. COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK, UH, THE CHAIR OF OPERATIONS, SIMONE PAULETTE, FOR ASSISTING WITH EVERYTHING THAT SHE DOES FOR THE COUNCIL.
AND THANK YOU TO THE, UH, VETERANS COMMITTEE AND THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT FOR DECLARING, UH, IN BATON ROUGE THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER AS VETERANS MONTH.
I HAVE TWO, UM, VETERANS AND, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO I, UH, WANTED TO RECOGNIZE TODAY.
UM, THE THEME OBVIOUSLY IS SERVICE.
AND, AND OFTENTIMES VETERANS NOT ONLY GIVE OF SERVICE, UH, TO THEIR COUNTRY, BUT WHEN THEY RETURN TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, THAT SENSE OF SERVICE REMAINS IN THEIR HEART AND THEY GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES IN SO MANY WAYS.
AND SO, UM, THERE WERE TWO FOLKS WHO I REACHED OUT TO WHO I'VE COME TO KNOW THROUGH THEIR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND THROUGH THAT INTERACTION, UH, FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE IN FACT VETERANS.
AND SO, UH, SO I WANNA BRING THEM UP INDIVIDUALLY AND I'LL READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT A BOTH, UM, THE FIRST YOU ALL WERE RECOGNIZED, UH, BECAUSE SHE IS AN HONORARY MEMBER OF THIS METRO COUNCIL, AND THAT IS REVEREND ALEXIS.
SO I'M GONNA READ A LITTLE BIT, UH, ABOUT HER SERVICE AND, AND BOTH IN THE MILITARY AND IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, REVEREND ANDERSON OBVIOUSLY WAS, SHE'S VERY PROUD OF IT.
BORN INTO A FAMILY WITH A LEGACY OF MILITARY SERVICE.
HER FATHER WAS A DECORATED KOREAN WAR VETERAN.
UH, SHE HAS A HISTORY OF SERVICE MEMBERS ON BOTH SIDES OF HER FAMILY.
AND SHE CONTINUED THAT LEGACY THROUGH HER OWN MILITARY SERVICE AS WELL AS HER ADVOCACY, UH, ON MANY NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, SHE JOINED THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE IN 1984, ATTENDING THE PRESTIGIOUS DEFENSE INFORMATION SCHOOL LOCATED AT FORT MEAD MARYLAND.
THERE SHE WAS AWARDED THE GOLDEN QUILL AWARD IN EDITORIAL WRITING, SERVING FOUR YEARS AS A PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST, AND BEING SELECTED AS AIRMEN OF THE YEAR IN 1987.
HER COMMITMENT TO THE VETERAN COMMUNITY IS LIFELONG AND INCLUDES A LONG HISTORY AS AUSO VOLUNTEER, WORKING WITH THE LATE GREAT SADIE ROBERTS JOSEPH IN HER COMMITMENT TO HONORING OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY AND HER LATEST EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT ALL JUSTICE IMPACTED VETERANS ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT.
SHE'S ALSO, UH, HELPED RECENTLY COORDINATE THE VETERAN SPECIALTY TREATMENT COURT COMMUNITY TOWN HALL.
AND DURING OUR DISCUSSIONS, UH, LEADING UP TO TODAY, SHE SHARED WITH ME A A NUMBER OF TIMES THAT IT'S, IT'S PART OF HER GOAL AND HER DISTINCT HONOR TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THOSE WHO SERVED ARE HONORED IN ALL FACETS OF THEIR LIFE.
WE OBVIOUSLY KNOW HER AS AN ORDAINED, UH, SERVANT TEACHER, MINISTER, FOUNDER, AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PREACH A NONPROFIT, UH, MINISTRY, FOCUSING ON THE THREE CS OF LITERACY.
AND THAT'S COMPETENCE, COMPUTERIZATION, AND COMMERCE.
SHE SERVES ON A NUMBER OF VARIOUS BOARDS.
I'M NOT GONNA READ THEM ALL OUT, THAT'S A LONG PARAGRAPH.
UH, BUT THAT'S HOW WE KNOW HER.
UM, BUT I HAVE TO SAY ON A VERY PERSONAL LEVEL, MY INTERACTIONS WITH HER AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I'VE COME OBVIOUSLY TO RESPECT AND ADMIRE HER.
SHE GIVES ME A LESSON EACH TIME WE TALK, WHICH I VALUE.
UH, AND SO I, I REALLY WANTED TO TAKE THIS, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE HER AND THANK HER FOR HER SERVICE.
THERE'S NO WAY YOU'RE NOT GONNA SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS.
UM, THE MILITARY MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO ME AND THE AIR FORCE IS THE SERVICE, BUT I WAS MARRIED TO A MARINE, SO THERE'S THAT.
AND I WAS BORN OF THE SEED OF THE ARMY, SO THERE'S THAT.
BUT TODAY I COME WITH MY HEART FULL, BUT ALSO BRINGING NAVY VETERAN PAUL CLEVELAND INTO THIS SPACE WITH ME WHO DIED IN THE EAST BATON ROUGE JAIL.
I BRING ARMY VETERAN CARL FRANKS, WHOSE SON LAMAR DIED IN THAT FACILITY.
IT HAS BEEN THE HONOR OF MY LIFE TO SERVE VETERANS THAT COME THROUGH THE COURTS.
IT HAS BEEN THE HONOR OF MY LIFE TO
[00:35:01]
STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE FAMILIES.AND SO AS I AM SO APPRECIATIVE, I CONTINUE TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT OUR GREATEST SERVICE TO THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED IS WHETHER THEY ARE JUSTICE IMPACTED, WHETHER THEY STRUGGLE WITH P-T-D-P-T-S-D, WHETHER THEY ARE SLEEPING ON OUR SIDEWALKS AND IN OUR TREES.
THEY HAVE SERVED IN A WAY NOBODY ELSE SERVES.
AND LET US NEVER, EVER STOP HONORING THAT SERVICE AGAIN.
THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR AND THIS PRIVILEGE.
THE SECOND PERSON I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE, UH, AND BRING UP, UH, JUST SO HAPPENS TO BE MY PRIEST.
UH, SO FATHER RANDY, IF YOU WOULD COME UP, UH, CHAPLAIN COLONEL.
FATHER RANDY CUEVAS, A LONGTIME BATON ROUGE RESIDENT IS A DECORATED VETERAN, UH, AND HAS SERVED SINCE 2015 AS THE HEAD PASTOR AT ST.
FATHER RANDY RETIRED FROM THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE RESERVE CHAPLAINCY IN 2009 WITH THE RANK OF COLONEL AFTER 30 YEARS OF SERVICE, HE'S BEEN A MEMBER OF THE RESERVE CHAPLAIN CORPS COUNCIL, REER RESERVE, CHAPLAIN CORPS FORCE DEVELOPMENT TEAM AND RESERVE CHAPLAIN RECRUITING TEAM.
AND HE WAS EMBEDDED IN COMBAT ZONES FOR TWO DEPLOYMENTS DURING OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM WITH BOTH THE US ARMY AND THE MARINES IN AFGHANISTAN BETWEEN 2004 AND 2006.
FATHER RANDY, WHILE HE'S A NATIVE OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, GREW UP IN BATON ROUGE AND ACTUALLY ATTENDED ST.
WHILE HE WAS GROWING UP AND GRADUATED FROM ST.
JOSEPH CATHEDRAL PREP HIGH SCHOOL, HE ATTAINED HIS BA IN POLITICAL SCIENCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ST.
THOMAS IN HOUSTON, A DEGREE IN THEOLOGY FROM PONTIFICAL UNIVERSITY OF ST.
THOMAS IN ROME, ITALY, AND A DEGREE IN DOGMATIC SACRAMENTAL THEOLOGY FROM A UNIVERSITY IN ROME THAT WHOSE NAME IS HARD TO PRONOUNCE, HE WAS, UH, ORDAINED A PRIEST IN 1982 AT ST.
HE'S WORKED ACROSS SEVERAL PARISHES, UH, ACROSS SOUTH LOUISIANA.
AND, UH, BLESSED TO HAVE HIM WHERE HE IS NOW AMONG HIS MIL, UH, MANY MILITARY
THROUGH HIS ROLE AS PASTOR, FATHER RANDY WAS AWARDED THE DISTINCTION RECENTLY OF THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC EDUCATION ASSOCIATION'S LEAD, LEARN, AND PROCLAIM AWARD.
HE WAS ONE OF JUST 13 PEOPLE AND ONLY TWO PRIESTS IN THE UNITED STATES WHO WERE HONORED THAT YEAR WITH THIS DISTINCTION.
HE WAS ALSO SELECTED IN 2022 AS DISTINGUISHED DIOCESAN SCHOOL PASTOR OF THE YEAR WHEN IT COMES TO SERVICE, UH, FATHER RANDY, UH, EPITOMIZES, UH, THAT THAT TERM.
AND SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT HE HAS DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY VERY PERSONALLY, FOR MYSELF AND MY FAMILY.
UH, AND I WANTED TO HONOR HIM TODAY.
JUST WANT TO THANK, UH, EVERYONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, UH, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT HONOR.
THANK YOU, THANK ALWAYS OF ALLINA.
SOMEBODY'S, UH, NEEDS TO LEAVE, SO WE'LL GO WITH DISTRICT SIX, OKAY? OKAY.
DISTRICT SIX, I'M GONNA RECOGNIZE LIEUTENANT COLONEL JERRY BRANDON AND SERGEANT THOMAS FLEMING.
UH, LIEUTENANT COLONEL WAS IN THE US AIR FORCE
[00:40:01]
AND THOMAS FLEMING WAS IN THE US ARMY.BOTH OF THESE, UH, CERTIFICATES SAY THE SAME THING.
I'LL READ ONE OF THEM IN GRATITUDE AND RECOGNITION OF YOUR 24 YEARS IN, UH, LIEUTENANT COLONEL BRANDON'S, UH, SITUATION AND NINE YEARS IN THOMAS FLEMING'S SITUATION OF SERVICE IN THE US ARMY OR AIR FORCE.
YOUR COURAGE, DEDICATION, AND SACRIFICE ARE COMMENDABLE AND WE ARE FOREVER INDEBTED FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO PROTECT THE FREEDOMS OF THIS NATION.
I'LL GIVE BOTH OF 'EM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
AND THAT'S LUKE LIEUTENANT, UH, COLONEL BRANDON.
I'M SORRY THAT WE ARE MOVING A LITTLE FAST, BUT HE HAS HIS, UH, STUDENTS HERE WITH HIM AND HE GOTTA GET THEM BACK TO CATCH THE BUS.
SO WE'RE MOVING A LITTLE FAST, BUT I GIVE HIM A CHANCE TO SPEAK AND RECOGNIZE HIM.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UH, I ALWAYS SAY I'M PROUD TO SERVE AGAIN BECAUSE I TEACH JUNIOR ROTC.
AND I KNOW THIS PROGRAM WORKED BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS THAT CAME OUTTA OUR PROGRAM THAT ARE STATIONED AT LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE RIGHT NOW.
AND I KNOW IT WORKED BECAUSE, UH, MY DAUGHTER JUST PINNED ON FIRST LIEUTENANT AND SHE'S A NURSE IN THE AIR FORCE AT LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE.
AND WE GOT A CHANCE TO SERVE TOGETHER FOR NINE MONTHS ON ACTIVE DUTY TOGETHER, MY DAUGHTER AND I.
SO I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK MY STUDENTS THAT ARE IN JUNIOR ROTC AND ALL THE VETERANS THAT, THAT ARE HERE AND AIR FORCE IS THE WAY TO GO.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND I DON'T REALLY WANT TO SAY NOTHING ABOUT MYSELF, BUT YOU HAVE SOME ROTC STUDENTS.
Y'ALL LIKE TO DRESS BEFORE THEY LEAVE.
UH, WHAT I WANT TO TELL 'EM IS THAT, UH, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU KNOW AND HOW MUCH TRAINING YOU RECEIVE, IT'S GOING TO BE YOUR ATTITUDE THAT'S GOING TO TAKE YOU THE FURTHEST IN THE MILITARY.
SO ADOPT THE RIGHT ATTITUDE AND YOU CAN GO FURTHER AS YOU WANT TO GO.
I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE DISTRICT FOUR.
I'D LIKE TO CALL OUT MR. SCOTT GARCIA.
HAVE I RECOGNIZE MR. SCOTT GARCIA, SERGEANT UNITED STATES ARMY, NATIONAL GUARD, AIR GUARD AND MARINE CORPS AND GRATITUDE AND RECOGNITION FOR YOUR 25 YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY.
YOUR COURAGE, DEDICATION, AND SACRIFICE ARE COMMENDABLE AND WE ARE FOREVER INDEBTED FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND GIVEN TO PROTECT FREEDOM IN OUR NATION.
MR. SCOTT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND, AND CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE.
UH, NOT ONLY SERVING IN THE MILITARY, BUT HE SERVES IN OUR BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALSO.
YEAH, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING, ALL I'VE GOTTA SAY IS THAT I AM OVERWHELMED BY THIS AND, UM, I DO APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH AND, UH, BATON ROUGE, YOU'RE A GREAT CITY.
LET'S COME TOGETHER AND DO SOME GOOD STUFF AND IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO SERVE.
[00:45:09]
AND I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE DISTRICT FIVE.UM, WE HAVE A SPECIAL GROUP OF SENIORS IN DISTRICT FIVE AND WHAT I'LL TELL YOU IS THAT SERVICE DID NOT END WHEN THEY LEFT THE MILITARY.
THEY CONTINUE TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS IN BATON ROUGE AT THE CHARLES KELLY COMMUNITY CENTER, PROVIDING COMMODITIES, UH, EVEN PET RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CLOSE THE GAP ON ALL INSECURITIES IN BATON ROUGE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES A WHOLE AND THE PIECE OF THAT VILLAGE THAT MAKES SURE THAT BATON ROUGE CONTINUES TO BE THE BEST CITY TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY IS A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF MR. ARNOLD, MIKE GRIFFIN, AS WE CALL HIM MR. G.
AND GRATITUDE AND RECOGNITION OF YOUR 18 YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
YOUR COURAGE, DEDICATION, AND SACRIFICE ARE COMMENDABLE AND WE ARE FOREVER INDEBTED FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO PROTECT FREEDOMS IN OUR NATION.
ON A CALL OF MR. ARNOLD, MIKE GRIFFIN, Y'ALL GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
AND TWO, DISTRICT SEVEN, MY PERSON'S STILL ON THE WAY, SO WE'LL CATCH 'EM IF THEY GET HERE.
UM, I DON'T HAVE SOMEONE FROM MY DISTRICT, BUT I HAVE SOMEONE HERE THAT I WANNA RECOGNIZE, UM, THAT IS A VETERAN.
SHE GOES, UH, TIRELESSLY ENDLESSLY.
SHE SERVED IN OUR MILITARY AS A MARINE
UM, AND I WANT TO, UH, RECOGNIZE ELENA BRANDS
IF YOU EVER ENCOUNTER THIS WOMAN, SHE WILL PUT A FIRE UNDERNEATH YOU AND GET YOU ROLLING.
UM, SHE HAS MORE WONDERFUL IDEAS.
UM, I CAN THROW AN IDEA OUT AT HER AND SHE SAID, LET'S GET THIS THING DONE.
SHE'S THE ONE THAT GOT OUR FLAGS, UH, TAKEN CARE OF AND, AND ALL.
SO ANYWAY, WE DO THANK YOU FOR NOT ONLY YOUR SERVICE IN THE MILITARY, BUT YOUR SERVICE TODAY.
CAN I GET NOW I GET MY PEN
I THINK THEY KEPT THE BEST FOR LAST.
AND SO I SAY GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYBODY ELATED HERE TODAY.
TO ACKNOWLEDGE A GENTLEMAN, A CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION IS HEREBY PRESENTED TO MR. WARREN MADISON.
MR. MADISON SERVED IN THE VIETNAM WAR, BUT HE'S A US MARINE CORPS
[00:50:02]
IN GRATITUDE AND RECOGNITION OF YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE.COME ON UP MR. WARRING, YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, YOUR COURAGE, YOUR DEDICATION, AND YOUR SACRIFICE, OUR COMMENDABLE AND WE'RE FOREVER INDEBTED FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO PROTECT FREEDOM IN OUR NATION.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I'D LIKE TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE BATON ROUGE VETERANS VILLAGE OF BATON ROUGE.
AND THAT'S, UH, CHRIS DAVENPORT.
COME ON UP, MS. CHRIS AND CHRIS IS HERE WITH MR. MADISON AND I, UH, SHE HAS BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE 2013, TAKING CARE OF THOSE WHO TOOK CARE OF US.
AND SO I'M GOING TO YIELD TO YOU, MR. MADISON.
WELL, I ONLY HAVE ONE THING TO SAY, RIGHT? AND HERE YOU GO.
AND COME ON, LET'S TAKE A PICTURE OF YOU.
THIS IS ALWAYS A VERY EMOTIONAL DAY FOR ME.
I HAVE SEVERAL VETERANS IN MY FAMILY AND, UM, IT'S JUST ALWAYS, UH, HARD FOR ME.
BUT ANYWAY, TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION TO MR. COREY HATFIELD, SERGEANT COREY HATFIELD FROM THE UNITED STATES ARMY IN GRATITUDE AND RECOGNITION OF HIS 10 YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
YOUR COURAGE, DEDICATION, AND SACRIFICE ARE COMMENDABLE AND WE ARE FOREVER INDEBTED FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOM IN OUR NATION AND IN OUR CITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UM, I HAVE ONE MORE VETERAN THAT IS NOT HERE TONIGHT,
IT'S HIS BIRTHDAY AND IT IS MY DAD.
HE DIED, UM, WITH SERVICE RELATED INJURIES.
HE SERVED IN VIETNAM PROUDLY FOR THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
SO FOR ALL THOSE VETERANS THAT HAVE BEEN LOST AND ARE GONE, ALL THOSE FAMILIES THAT WAITED FOR VETERANS TO COME HOME WHEN THEY DIDN'T RETURN, CAN WE ALL PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THIS? THANK YOU ALL.
MAYOR PRO TEM COLE, ARE THERE ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE VETERANS? ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WISHING TO RECOGNIZE VETERANS? BUT IF THERE ARE VETERANS IN THE UH, CHAMBER TONIGHT, WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED? ANY VETERANS IN THE CHAMBER? WOULD YOU ALL STAND AND PLEASE BE RECOGNIZED AT THIS TIME.
THANK YOU ELENA, FOR ALL YOU DOING.
AGAIN, HAPPY VETERANS WEEK AND I'LL BE SAYING HAPPY VETERANS DAY THIS WEEKEND.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE THANK YOU ALL, COUNCIL MEMBER DARL HURST TO
[00:55:01]
RECOGNIZE THE GLEN OAKS PARK FLAG FOOTBALL TEAM.OH, ARE YOU READY? YOU READY? DISTRICT 11, WE HAVE ONE MORE RECOGNITION.
I'D LIKE TO CALL UP SANDRA WATTS AND JEFFREY JOHNSON.
UM, SANDRA WATTS IS A SPECIALIST WITH THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND JEFFREY JOHNSON IS A, WAS SERGEANT, UM, WITH THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS FROM 2005 TO 2010.
SO, UM, WE'RE SO HONORED, UM, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND HONORED TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE, UM, TO RECOGNIZE YOU TODAY.
THANK YOU, UM, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.
AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR SERVICE REALLY QUICKLY? UM, I AM AN ARMY VETERAN AND I'M THE MOM OF TWO PROUD MARINES, BUT WE ALREADY KNOW ARMY LEAKS THE WAY
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A COUPLE WORDS ABOUT YOUR SERVICE? UH, MARINES.
THE MARINES DON'T SAY A WHOLE LOT, DO THEY? THEY'RE, UH, THEY'RE STRONG SILENT TYPES.
SO, UM, AGAIN, SO HONORED, UM, TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY AND TO BE ABLE TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF, UM, YOUR CITY, UM, AND YOUR PARISH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS.
ALL RIGHT, SO HE'S ALREADY ANNOUNCED THE AMAZING KIDS THAT WE HAVE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.
AND I WANNA GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO A GENTLEMAN WHO I DON'T SEE, BUT WHO RUNS THE SHOW, WHICH IS PRINCIPAL BERNARD WILLIAMS AT GLEN OAK PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN IN SO MANY SCHOOLS, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, BUT THEY'VE TORN DOWN THE GYMNASIUMS AND CREATED SPECIFICALLY ART AUDITORIUMS INSTEAD OF MAKING A MULTIPURPOSE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT AS MUCH AS KIDS NEED TO LEARN, THEY NEED TO HAVE FOCUS ON RECREATION AND SPORTS AS WELL BECAUSE IT, IT IT BUILDS THE CHARACTER AND OTHER PIECES THAT MAKE A HOLISTIC INDIVIDUAL AND NOT JUST A SCHOLASTIC ONE.
AND SO BERNARD WILLIAMS, AG OAKS PARK HAS MADE AN, UH, AN EXTENSIVE, UM, ATTEMPT TO CREATE SPORTS PROGRAMS THAT ADD THAT ADDITIONAL CHARACTER AND HAS PROVEN ITSELF TRUE.
AND I'M SO GLAD TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR THESE AMAZING YOUNG MEN TODAY BECAUSE LAST YEAR, AS A MATTER OF FACT, EARLIER THIS YEAR, MATTHEW FORTENBERRY, 11 YEAR OLD WHO WAS SLAIN BY SENSELESS VIOLENCE, THEY WON ON A FRIDAY.
THEY WERE SLATED TO COME HERE WITH GLEN OAKS PARK ON A WEDNESDAY.
AND DUE TO THAT VIOLENT ACT HE WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND.
AND SO TODAY THEY'VE DONE IT AGAIN.
THEY'VE WON ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP.
GLEN OAKS PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HAS WON THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH FLAG FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
DO Y'ALL GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE? AND WE HAVE SOME AMAZING INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ABOUT TO COME UP HERE.
I NEED TO SEE ALL YOUR SWAG WHEN YOU STEP UP HERE, MAN.
SO LOOK, I'M GONNA CALL YOUR NAME, CALL YOUR NUMBER OUT, AND I WANT Y'ALL TO START LINING UP AROUND THE, UH, THE PERIMETER OF THE INTERIOR COMING TO THE STAGE.
YOU WANT INDIVIDUAL? COME ON, COME ON.
NO, I'M MAKE SURE THEIR PARENTS GET IT.
NEXT WEARING NUMBER 10, MR. BRYSON DEREK.
[01:00:05]
AND MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE READ THE PROCLAMATION.IT SAYS, WINNING THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL'S FLAG FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IN LIFE, YOU'LL HAVE YOUR BACKUP AGAINST THE WALL MANY TIMES YOU MIGHT AS WELL GET USED TO IT.
WINNING ISN'T EVERYTHING BUT IT SHOULD BE ANYTHING THAT COMES.
SECOND COACH PAUL, BEAR BRYANT.
AND Y'ALL GIVE IT UP A NUMBER ONE.
I WAS HOPING TO SEE TOUCHDOWN, DANCES, GRITS, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF, MAN.
NUMBER NINE, MR. PEYTON DORSEY.
NUMBER 15, ELISHA SMITH, NUMBER 11.
NOW YOU KNOW WHAT? SEE REAL CHAMPIONS, THEY DON'T.
THEY SAY, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A LITTLE SAUCE 'CAUSE REAL CHAMPIONS, WE'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE, SO IT'S NOTHING NEW TO US, BUT Y'ALL GIVE IT UP FOR NUMBER TWO, MR. JAR GOZA.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT IT WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE THAT WE'RE HERE WITHOUT HARD WORK OR ANY DEDICATION, UH, TO EVERYONE THAT WAS ON THE TEAM.
AND IT'S GOOD THAT YOU MAKE IT BECAUSE WE COULD BEEN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
I LIKE THAT IT'S THE NEXT, UH, POLITICIAN RIGHT THERE.
NUMBER 12, MR. KOBE, CJ ABBOT, NUMBER THREE, MR. AB NUMBER FIVE, MR. TRENTON FISHER.
NUMBER SEVEN, MR. ANTOINE MCC.
AND THEN WE HAVE A LITTLE BREAK.
AND NUMBER FOUR, MR. O NETTER.
MR. WILLIAMS. LEMME TELL Y'ALL SOMETHING.
I'VE BEEN COACHING FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
Y'ALL GET TIRED HEARING MY SPORTS STORIES, BUT I UNDERSTAND THE SACRIFICE THAT IT TAKES.
YOU START UNDERSTANDING THE INSECURITIES AT HOME.
YOU START UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE KIDS NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL
[01:05:01]
AS MEN, AND IT WILL NOT HAPPEN FOR THE AMAZING COACHES THAT VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO ENSURE THAT THESE KIDS HAVE THE RESOURCE THAT THEY NEED.SO I'M GONNA CALL YOU OUT, UP TOGETHER.
HOWELL, I'M SORRY, HARRELL, SORRY, I'M NOT COACH ANDERSON BRIGGS COACH DANIEL FISHER AND COACH EDMUND WEBER.
Y'ALL GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
AND MAYOR, CAN YOU TAKE A PICTURE WITH US PLEASE? ALRIGHT, LET'S, LET'S MAKE OUR WAY AROUND.
ONE, TWO, AND THREE AND ONE MORE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS.
THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT HERE FOR COUNCIL MEETING, PLEASE USE THAT TIME TO ASK THE CHAMBER.
[CALL TO ORDER]
HELLO EVERYBODY.WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, THE HOME OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.
AND ON BEHALF OF MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTON BROOME AND ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE WANNA WELCOME OUR VETERANS WATCHING TODAY AS VETERANS DAY APPROACHES ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER THE 11TH.
AT THIS TIME HERE IS THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
TO MY RIGHT IS COUNCILMAN LAMONT, CO COUNCILMAN
THANK YOU VERY MUCH DENNIS AND SHAUNA.
UH, WELCOME TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING ON THIS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH, 2023 AT 4:00 PM AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER LAURIE ADAMS TO INTRODUCE OUR GUEST THIS EVENING WHO WILL LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM.
I'D LIKE TO, UM, ASK MR. UH, JIM SOLOMON TO COME TO THE, THE PODIUM TO SAY OUR, OUR PRAYER.
UM, JIM, I CAME TO KNOW, UM, SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN HE, UM, RETURNED TO BATON ROUGE OR CAME TO LIVE IN BATON ROUGE, UM, WITH HIS, HIS HIS WIFE WAS AN ORIGINAL BATON ROUGE RESIDENT.
UM, AND HE HAD BEEN SERVING AS A, A PASTOR IN, UH, THE NORTHEAST ACTUALLY WAS THE FIRST PASTOR ON SITE, UM, AT THE SANDY HOOK, UM, AT THE TERRIBLE TRAGEDY THAT TOOK PLACE AT SANDY HOOK.
AND SINCE, UM, FROM FROM SERVING THE FIRST PRESS, HE WENT ON TO, TO NOW BE THE EXECUTIVE PASTOR AT COMMUNITY BIBLE CHURCH.
UM, JIM IS A TALENTED, UH, COUN COUNSELOR.
HE IS A TERRIFIC, UM, PASTORAL CARE PASTOR AND HE IS ALSO A CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR TO SOME OF THE CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL BOOKS.
SO, UM, JIM, WE'RE SO HONORED, UH, TO HAVE YOU HERE TO SAY OUR OPENING PRAYER.
THANK YOU COUNCILMAN ADAMS. IT'S A PLEASURE.
I'M HUMBLED AND HONORED AND IN LIGHT OF OUR EARLIER DELIBERATIONS IN THIS WOM, I HAVE TO SAY AS THE PROUD SON OF A WORLD WAR II VETERAN, MITCHELL SOLOMON FROM PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, THAT THE ARMY IS DEFINITELY THE BEST OF THE BRANCHES.
DEAR FATHER IN HEAVEN, THANK YOU FOR COUNCILWOMAN LORD WHITE ADAMS AND ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL PUBLIC SERVANTS, ENDLESS PLACE TODAY.
LORD, WE THANK YOU ESPECIALLY FOR OUR VETERANS AND ALL WHO HAVE PUT ASIDE THEIR RIGHTS FOR THE SAKE OF OUR NEEDS, NAMELY OUR NEED FOR FREEDOM, WHILE ENJOYING OUR FAMILIES AND ULTIMATELY OUR FAITH AND OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH YOU AND OUR FELLOW CITIZENS.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXAMPLE BEING THE ONE WITH ALL THE AUTHORITY IN THE
[01:10:01]
UNIVERSE WHO USED YOUR AUTHORITY NOT TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE AND TO GIVE YOUR LIFE AS A RANSOM FOR OTHERS.MAY WE DO THE SAME AS WE SEEK TO SERVE OTHERS AND NOT OURSELVES AND ALL THAT TRANSPIRES NOT ONLY THIS EVENING BUT IN THE DAYS TO COME.
BUT WE THANK YOU IN CHRIST'S NAME.
AND NOW I'D LIKE TO ASK, UM, JEFFREY JOHNSON, A RETIRED SERGEANT FROM THE UH US MARINES TO SAY OUR PLEDGE WOULD FACE THE FLAG, A PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH GENTLEMEN.
ASHLEY, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM? WE HAVE A QUORUM.
[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF OCTOBER 25TH, 2023.IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM ONE? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. ANY OBJECTIONS? ASHLEY,
[INTRODUCTIONS]
WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE INTRODUCTIONS SECTION 2.12 INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER TWO TO AMEND THE 2023 ANNUAL OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TO APPROPRIATE $1.5 MILLION FROM EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES FUND BALANCE UNASSIGNED TO BUILD AN EMS STATION IN THE PRIDE AREA OF THE PARISH BY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DIRECTOR NUMBER THREE, A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR CANVASSING THE RETURNS AND DECLARING THE RESULT OF A SPECIAL ELECTION HELD IN THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 14TH, 2023 FOR THE PURPOSE OF AUTHORIZING THE RENEWAL OF THE LEVEE AND COLLECTION OF A 3.13 MILS AT VALOREM TAX TO BE USED EXCLUSIVELY AND ENTIRELY TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES FOR THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA TO BE USED ENTIRELY AND EXCLUSIVELY TO PAY THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE COSTS AND EXPENSES OF PROVIDING EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WITHIN THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE BY THE BOND COUNCIL.NUMBER FOUR, ADOPTING THE FOLLOWING AVALOR TAX MILLAGE RATES WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE FOLLOWING TAXING JURISDICTIONS ON ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY EXCEPT THAT THE MILLAGE RATE FOR THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT SHALL BE LEVIED ON REAL PROPERTY ONLY TO BE LEVIED DURING THE YEAR.
2024 EAST BATON ROUGE OPERATING TAX 3.15 MILLS, CITY OF BATON ROUGE OPERATING TAX 5.75 MILLS CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
THREE PLATOON POLICE TAX 0.87 MILLS EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH MOSQUITO ABATEMENT AND RODENT CONTROL DISTRICT 1.06 MILLS EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH MOSQUITO ABATEMENT AND RODENT CONTROL DISTRICT.
ADDITIONAL 0.37 MILLS EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY, 10.52 MILLS EAST BATON ROUGE COUNCIL ON AGING 2.13 MILLS MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, 1.42 MILLS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES 3.13 MILLS, BATON ROUGE MUNICIPAL FIRE SALARIES AND BENEFITS 6.0 MILLS CONSOLIDATED ROAD LIGHTING DISTRICT NUMBER ONE 1.85.
MILLS, ALLISON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER NINE 10 MILLS ALLISON, FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER NINE.
ADDITIONAL FIVE MILLS BROWNSFIELD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER THREE 10 MILLS BROWNSFIELD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER THREE, ADDITIONAL FIVE MILLS BROWNSFIELD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER THREE, ADDITIONAL 10 MILLS BROWNSFIELD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER THREE, ADDITIONAL 10 MILLS DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
10 MILLS EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER ONE NINE MILLS PRIDE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER EIGHT 10 MILLS PRIDE, FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER EIGHT, ADDITIONAL 15 MILLS CHENEY, FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN 10 MILLS HANNEY, FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN, ADDITIONAL 10 MILLS HANNEY, FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN.
ADDITIONAL 10 MILLS BY FINANCE DIRECTOR.
THIS ITEM IS INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON DECEMBER 12TH, 2023.
[CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS]
INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER FIVE, LIVING SOLUTIONS.LLC 1 2 3 8 8 LEONA STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS, NUMBER SIX, SYDNEY TRAHAN JR.
5 2 5 7 BANK STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST NUMBER SEVEN, THE ESTATE OF TOMAL AUGUSTA SENIOR 6 3 3 4 BLACKBERRY STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX DUNN JR.
NUMBER EIGHT, THE ESTATE OF LILLIAN AND COLLINS WILSON.
6 3 8 NORTH 38TH STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER NINE, THE ESTATE OF LONNIE WHITE.
3 1 1 6 DALTON STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 10, HUEY THIBODAUX ET AL.
2 6 1 5 VANDERBILT DRIVE COUNCIL DISTRICT EIGHT AMAROSA NUMBER 11, LINDA CLARK AND INAL C RILEY 2 0 2 2 TENNESSEE STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 12 DUDLEY MILES ETAL 1 8 1 5 BAY, UH, STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 13, THE ESTATE OF DEL SCOTT DALE SCOTT.
6 3 7 MARCELLUS LANE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 14, TCO AZAR BOATNER 3 4 4 5.
[01:15:01]
STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 11 ADAMS ADJUDICATOR[ADJUDICATED PROPERTY INTRODUCTIONS]
PROPERTY INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER 15 LOT 99 SUBDIVISION COLONIAL HILL COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 16 LOT 10 PART SQUARE 2 63 SUBDIVISION SWOT EDITION COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 17 LOT 15 SQUARE RUN SUBDIVISION MOROCCO COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 18 LOT 10 AND EAST HALF OF SQUARE OF 11 SQUARE 12 SUBDIVISION BATON ROUGE TERRACE COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 19 LOT E TWO SUBDIVISION SHARON HILLS COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 20 LOT 1112 AND 15 PLUS SQUARE 48 SUBDIVISION FORTUNE COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE, HEARST NUMBER 21 LOT SIX SQUARE THREE SUBDIVISION MORNINGSIDE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN NUMBER 22 LOT NINE SQUARE FOUR SUBDIVISION NORTH BATON ROUGE SQUARE.UH, SUB UH, EXCUSE ME, ME, COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 23 LOT SIX AND EAST 20 FEET OF LOT EIGHT SQUARE 25 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN.
THE MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS IS IN ORDER.
IS THERE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BAMA.
ALSO SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED.
[CONDEMNATIONS]
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE TURN TO YOUR SEPARATE SHEET FOR CONDEMNATIONS.I'LL READ THE DPW RECOMMENDATIONS.
AS AS FOLLOWS, THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 53, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, AND 72.
AND THEY ARE TO DELETE ITEM 55.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON CONDEMNATIONS? ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON CONDEMNATIONS? WE NOW GO TO CHARLES DEEK.
ALL RIGHT, WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER.
I GOT YOURS, DWIGHT, IS THERE ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER? UH, COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN? UH, NUMBER 69 60 DAYS NUMBER 72, 30 DAYS.
NUMBER 64, EXCUSE ME, FOR 30 DAYS.
ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER WITH CONDEMNATIONS? I'LL READ THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND CHANGES.
WHAT ITEMS? 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 68, 70 AND 71.
THEY ARE TO DEFER FOR 30 DAYS.
ITEM 53, 64 AND 72 DEFER FOR 60 DAYS.
ITEM 66 AND 69 DEFER FOR 90 DAYS.
ITEM 67 TO DELETE ITEM 55 TO DELETE ITEM 55.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE UH, AT THIS TIME I ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ACCEPT ALL CONDEMNATIONS.
61 30 DAYS IS ANYONE ELSE? WE'RE GOING TO DEFER ITEMS 53 61 64, 72 FOR 30 DAYS.
ITEM 67 FOR 90 DAYS AND DELETE ITEM 55 AND DEFER FOR 30 DAYS.
ITEM 58, ALL THE ITEMS WILL BE PROCEED.
WILL PROCEED BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF DPW.
IS THERE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE CONDEMN? I MEAN, EXCUSE ME TO APPROVE CONDEMNATION.
SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? WE NOW GO TO CONDEMNATIONS ADMINISTRATIVE
[ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS (Part 1 of 2)]
MATTERS.B CONDEMNATION BATON ROUGE MULTIFAMILY HOLDINGS, LLC 68 80 C AVENUE COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX, PROCEED, NO IMPROVEMENTS MADE.
C CONDEMNATION, THE INTERNATIONAL PENTECOSTAL HOLINESS CHURCH EXTENSION LOAN FUND, INCORPORATED ONE THREE A FIVE NORTH 46 DISTRICT SEVEN DELETE ABATED BY OWNERS D CONDEMNATION, JERRY HIRSCH AND JONATHAN ROBINSON.
SEVEN SEVEN HORSESHOE DRIVE, LOT 21.
IS THERE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? SO MOVE.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? IF THERE ARE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES BY THE COUNCIL? NOW I NEED A MOTION TO INTRODUCE THE ITEMS. MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE
[01:20:01]
ITEM? SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN MOROSA.MOTION TO DEFER ITEM D FOR 90 DAYS BY COUNCILMAN A HUNDRED SECOND AND BY THE CHAIR.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM D HAS BEEN DEFERRED FOR 90 DAYS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ENTER TO APPROVE THE ITEM? SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN OSA.
ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEMS B AND C HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
WE'LL NOW GO TO ITEM E AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THIS.
WE'LL COME BACK, WE'LL COME BACK.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU WOULD OUTTA RESPECT FOR A REQUEST,
[122. 23-01432]
WE'LL GO TO ITEM 1 22, RECEIVING A A DATE REPORT FROM THE BATON ROUGE UPTODATE REPORT FROM THE BATON ROU, CHIEF POLICE MURPHY PAUL AND MERE PRESIDENT SHARON WEST BROOM REGARDING ALLEGATIONS OF BROWNING.A BRAVE CA BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN JR.
COUNCIL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BORDER.
CAN WE HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE COME UP, PLEASE? COME ON AND YES MA'AM.
MR. DOTSON, UM, THERE ARE TWO MATTERS PENDING.
WE'VE BEEN PERSONALLY NAMED AS THE CITY AND I THINK THE CHIEF HAS BEEN PERSONALLY NAMED IN LAWSUITS IN THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA, CORRECT? OH, THERE'S MORE THAN TWO THERE'S MORE THAN TWO MM-HMM.
UM, IS IT PRUDENT TO GO FORWARD WITH QUESTIONING AND, AND CONVERSATIONS AND STATEMENTS BEING MADE? I ASK BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT STATEMENTS IN THIS ARENA CAN BE USED AGAINST SOMEONE IN A COURT OF LAW.
IN FACT, I BELIEVE IN ONE OF THE MOTIONS.
THERE WERE TWO COUNCIL MEMBER IN ONE OF THE PETITIONS.
THERE WERE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WERE, UM, BASICALLY, UH, I THINK ONE WAS SHAUNA BANKS, AND THEN ONE OF THEM, UM, WAS UNNAMED.
BUT ONE OF THEIR STATEMENTS, THEY WERE USED IN THE PETITION AGAINST US, UM, TO PROVE THE ALLEGATIONS ASSERTED THEREIN.
SO IS IT PRUDENT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS IN AN OPEN SETTING AND ESPECIALLY WITHOUT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ATTACHED? MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD NOT, HOWEVER, TO THE EXTENT THAT IS THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL TO STILL HAVE THIS REPORT, I, I THINK IT COULD BE DONE.
BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A VERY TRUNCATED, UH, UH, REPORT WITH VERY LIMITED INFORMATION OUTSIDE OF US GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH, WHICH IS NOT NOTICED FOR.
SO WE CAN'T GO IN EXECUTIVE SESSION THIS EVENING REGARDING THIS MATTER.
BUT I GUESS THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE IS TO UNDERSTAND THAT ANYTHING THAT IS SAID TODAY, CORRECT, I AGREE WITH YOU, CAN BE USED AGAINST US IN THOSE LAWSUITS MOVING FORWARD, CORRECT? I AGREE WITH YOU.
I AGREE WITH YOU A HUNDRED PERCENT ON THAT COUNCILWOMAN ROCK.
MATTER OF FACT, IN PREVIOUS CASES WE'VE HAD CITATIONS AND MOTIONS AND, AND AT TRIAL REGARDING, UM, INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED AT THIS COUNCIL.
STATEMENTS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
ARE THERE CRIMINAL MATTERS PENDING AS WELL, SIR? I CAN'T ANSWER THAT 'CAUSE IT IS NOT WITHIN MY JURISDICTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY IN CITY COURT OR NOT.
BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, UH, ANYTHING RELATED TO THIS HAS, THERE IS SOME IN DISTRICT COURT, BUT I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHETHER THEY'RE PENDING OR NOT.
WHAT ABOUT A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION? I CAN'T YOU HAVE TO ASK CHIEF ABOUT THAT.
I DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THAT, MA'AM.
COUNCIL MEMBER, DUN, THE CONCERNS THAT COUNCILMAN ROCKER BROUGHT UP WERE DISCUSSED WITH, UH, THE PARISH ATTORNEY AND THE CHIEF, AND ASKED THE CHIEF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE CONCERNS IN MIND.
AND, AND HE CAN GIVE US AN UPDATE WITHOUT, UM, WITHOUT CREATING AN ISSUE FOR US IN THE COURT OF LAW.
AND WE HAVE HAD REPORTS WHERE PRESENTERS HAVE COME BEFORE US AND GIVEN UPDATES OR REPORTS, AND, UM, WAS ABLE TO GIVE THAT REPORT WITHOUT JEOPARDIZING THE CASE, THE OPEN CASE.
I DON'T, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOU ON THAT.
AGAIN, I JUST ASK THAT THERE'S CERTAIN INFORMATION THAT SHOULDN'T BE VU.
THE CHIEF UNDERSTANDS THAT, AND I'M SURE HE KNOWS WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE.
UH, BUT, YOU KNOW, IN ALL SAFENESS, I DO AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN ROCK.
IT MAY BE SAFE NOT TO DO IT, BUT AGAIN, TO THE EXTENT IT'S THE WILL TO GO FORWARD, WE'D ASK THAT IT BE TRUNCATED.
THANK I WILL HAVE THE REPORT FIRST, THEN THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT.
COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL CHIEF PAUL? GOOD EVENING TO THE COUNCIL.
I'D LIKE TO, UH, PROVIDE A, A QUICK SUMMARY ON WHERE WE'RE AT AS IT RELATES TO COMPLAINTS THAT THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS DIVISION HAS RECEIVED.
UH, TO DATE, WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING 13, UH, INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATIONS.
UH, SIX OF THOSE INVOLVE COMPLAINTS OF AN IMPROPER, UH, STRIP SEARCH.
UH, THREE, INVOLVE USE OF FORCE.
TWO INVOLVE BEING TAKEN TO THE NARCOTICS PROCESSING CENTER, AND, UH, TWO OF THOSE INVOLVE MISSING MONEY OR JEWELRY.
[01:25:01]
WE INITIATED FOUR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS.THREE OF THOSE ARE STILL ONGOING.
ONE WAS CLOSED, UH, BY WAY OF AN ARREST, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, UH, STILL HAS THEIR ONGOING INVESTIGATION AS WELL.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 22? ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 22? PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
REVEREND ALEXIS ANDERSON, 2 48 STEEL BOULEVARD.
UM, I HAVE A COUPLE OF, UH, VERY, UH, UH, CONCERNING QUESTIONS.
ONE IS THAT, UM, CAN WE AT LEAST FIND OUT HOW MANY LAWSUITS THERE ARE? CAN WE FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN NAMED IN INVESTIGATIONS AT THIS POINT HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE BRADY LIST? CAN WE FIND OUT WHAT THE STATUS OR GET AN UPDATE ON HOW MANY ADDITIONAL AGENCIES ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THESE SUITS? AND QUITE FRANKLY, WHAT ADDITIONAL, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE ALSO NOW PART OF THIS, UH, PROCESS? I DON'T THINK ANY OF THOSE KIND OF QUESTIONS WOULD VIOLATE, UH, ANYTHING.
BUT I THINK THE TAXPAYERS WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW THE BASICS OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN THIS PARISH.
WHO'S DOING WHAT, WHAT THE PROCESS IS, AND QUITE FRANKLY, UH, WHAT ARE WE ALREADY ALLOCATING IN TERMS OF DOLLARS AND CENTS TO THIS COST? THANK YOU.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING, UH, TO SPEAK ON ITEM? WE DO HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS NOTED.
UH, REVEREND ANDERSON, UH, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.
AND, AND, AND, AND WHILE HE'S COMING, UH, ANNIE, IF YOU GOT ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS, I WOULD ASK.
IF YOU CAN RESPOND TO THOSE, PLEASE BE PREPARED TO DO SO.
GREG, IF YOU COULD COME AND ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT, UH, REVEREND ANDERSON HAD, THOSE THAT YOU COULD, AS FAR AS THE NUMBER OF LAWSUITS, I'M COUNTING THEM IN MY HEAD.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER.
I THINK THERE'S LIKE EITHER FOUR TO FIVE THAT ARE INTERTWINED WITH WHAT'S BEEN CHARACTERIZED AS THE BRAVE, AS THE BRAVE CAVE.
WHAT ABOUT THE AGENCIES INVOLVED? CAN YOU ANSWER THAT? BATON ROUGE CITY POLICE AND, UH, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS, AS PARTIES? I THINK, I'M SORRY, A QUESTION.
CLARIFY, WAS IT, WAS IT THE, THE TARGETS OF THE INVESTIGATION OR THE AGENCY THAT'S CONDUCTED THE INVESTIGATION? REV, REVEREND ANDERSON, HER QUESTION SPEAKS TO WHO'S CONDUCTING THE INVESTIGATION.
IT'S, WHO'S CONDUCTING THE INVESTIGATION IS WHAT SHE MEANS.
I GOTTA, I, I I WOULDN'T KNOW.
I, I CAN'T SPECIFICALLY SAY WHO'S INVESTIGATING.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, CONCERNS, QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBERS? WE MOVE NOW TO ITEM 1 21,
[121. 23-01431]
RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT OF THE ABILITY TO USE PUBLIC FUNDS TO ADDRESS AND REMEDIATE PRIVATE PROPERTY DAMAGE THAT RESULTS FROM ACTIONS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND EXECUTING WARRANTS, INCLUDING DAMAGE CAUSED BY PRIVATE PROPERTY AS A RESULT OF THE BRAVE CASE RELATED ARREST AND DETENTIONS, THE WAY THE PROCESS WILL WORK.WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM THE PARISH ATTORNEY FIRST WITH THE REPORT, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE.
I DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT MORE TO REPORT.
I GOT TO TALK TO COUNCILMAN DUNN BEFORE THE MEETING.
SINCE THE LAST TIME THIS WAS BROUGHT UP, WE HAVE PAID ONE CLAIM.
UH, I DON'T HAVE THE TOTAL AMOUNT.
I KNOW THE LADY WAS VERY SATISFIED.
SHE HAD AN ATTORNEY THAT WE DEALT WITH.
THERE ARE SOME LINGERING, THERE ARE A FEW LINGERING THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
THERE'S ANOTHER CLAIM THAT I'VE COMMITTED TO COUNCILMAN DUNN THAT, THAT I WOULD MEET WITH HIM OUTSIDE OF THIS MEETING TO SEE IF THERE'S A POSSIBILITY TO RESOLVE IT.
BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD A WHOLE LOT MORE CLAIMS COME IN SINCE THE LAST, SINCE THE LAST TIME IT WAS ON THE AGENDA.
IF ANYBODY HAS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, AND GREG, IF YOU WILL, CAN YOU JUST TOUCH ON THE PROCESS FOR THOSE WHO YES.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY MAY BE GOING THROUGH THIS SITUATION.
WHO TO CONTACT, WHO TO REACH OUT TO? WHAT IS THE APPROVAL PROCESS? ALL THAT STUFF? YES.
SO IF SOMEONE HAS A CLAIM, THEY CAN REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE DIRECTLY.
WE, SEDGWICK DOES OUR ADJUSTING.
TYPICALLY ON A, ON A CLAIM LIKE THAT, PAT LASALLE, WHICH MOST OF YOU HAVE MET BEFORE, WOULD ADJUST THAT CLAIM.
[01:30:01]
REPORTS BACK TO ME.AND THEN, UH, IT, IT CAN PROBABLY BE DISCUSSED BETWEEN US AND MR. DOTSON AND MS. HUMPHREYS.
AND THERE'S A DECISION MADE ON WHETHER THE CLAIM WILL BE PAID OR NOT.
AND DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF THE CLAIM DETERMINES IF IT HAS TO GO BEFORE CLAIMS REVIEW AND THEN BROUGHT IN FRONT OF Y'ALL TO APPROVE, THERE IS A LEVEL THAT OUR OFFICE HAS THE ABILITY TO APPROVE.
WHAT I'LL BRINGING TO THE COUNCIL, WHICH IS LESS THAN 10,000.
AGAIN, FOR THOSE WHO WATCHING THE HOME THAT MAY NOT KNOW IN THE CONTACT NUMBER 3 8 9 3 1 1 4, THEN ASK FROM ME DIRECTLY.
GREG ROME, THE OFFICE OF, UH, RISK MANAGEMENT AND LITIGATION.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 21? PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
UM, LAST TIME I WAS HERE, UH, I DID SPEAK TO THIS AND SO I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT AGAIN.
UM, UH, APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN DUNN, UH, AND THE OTHERS THAT, UH, PLUGGED IN ON THE ISSUE.
UM, IF YOU GUYS WILL REMEMBER, UH, THE INITIAL CASE, UH, UH, COMING OUT, THE JEREMY LEE CASE, UH, THERE WAS A HOME TIRE FRONT OF THE HOUSE, GETS RAN INTO, UH, MISSING FOR ALMOST AN ENTIRE YEAR.
UH, I THINK I REMINDED YOU GUYS THAT THERE WAS A SEVEN MONTH OLD BABY AT THE TIME THAT WAS LIVING IN THAT HOME.
UH, AND SO AT, YOU KNOW, SINCE THAT POINT, UH, THANKFUL TO MAYOR BROOM, UH, TO OBVIOUSLY COUNCILMAN DUNN, UH, TO A HOST OF OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
UH, LARRY GRIFFIN, UH, UH, AMBER SHERMAN IN OUR NAMES NETWORK.
UH, I SHOULDN'T HAVE STARTED NAMING ALL THE NAMES, BUT THERE WERE A HOST OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT REALLY DID PLUG IN TO PROVIDE NOT JUST, UH, FIX THE FACADE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY NOW COMPLETELY FIXED.
THAT WAS DONE WITHIN, UH, TWO WEEKS.
UH, AGAIN, WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN DUNN'S PARTNERSHIP AND A HOST OF PRIVATE, UH, PARTNERS AS WELL.
UH, BUT ALSO THOSE COMMUNITY, UH, PARTNERS THAT CAME IN TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS, UH, WERE ABLE TO, UH, BE MADE SOMEWHAT WHOLE.
UH, MY QUESTION WOULD BE THOUGH, UH, FOR GREG AND, UH, FOR, I GUESS ON BEHALF OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED, UH, AND PRESUMABLY WILL BE IMPACTED GOING FORWARD, UH, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THAT INFORMATION IS NOT, IS, IS RAISED UP TO A LEVEL TO WHERE PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO, UH, NAVIGATE THAT PROCESS.
AND THEN TWO, IS WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR, UH, ADJUDICATION ON THOSE SORT OF MATTERS? UH, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD, YOU KNOW, UH, BE INTERESTED.
UH, JUST WHEN PEOPLE COME TO ME, I CAN MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND HOW TO, UH, SUBMIT A CLAIM, BUT ALSO HOW TO HAVE THAT, UH, MITIGATED AS WELL.
UM, BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALL THE INDIVIDUALS THAT DID PLUG IN.
THAT DOES INCLUDE THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, UM, AS WELL AS COUNCILMAN DUNN AND EVERYBODY ELSE THAT DID CARE ABOUT THAT FAMILY.
UH, THE LAST THING I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH IS THIS DOES HAPPEN FAR MORE OFTEN THAN WE, THAN WE KNOW.
UM, I'VE HAD SOME INDIVIDUALS SINCE THEN, UH, AS MUCH OLDER CASES, BUT THEY HAD THE SAME, UH, TYPE OF SITUATION HAPPEN TO THEM.
AND SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY MINDFUL OF THE TYPE OF, UH, RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE PLACE WITH OUR, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THERE'S ALSO A EQUAL RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE FAMILIES ARE MADE WHOLE, BECAUSE OFTENTIMES THAT'S DONE WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GUILTY OR NOT, AND THEY'RE OFF, THEY'RE OFTEN LEFT TO, TO PAY FOR THOSE CLAIMS THEMSELVES.
NEXT PERSON UP, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
ATTORNEY FOR MS. MR. JEREMY LEE AND MS. TURNELL BROWN.
UH, I RESIDE HERE IN BAT ROU, LOUISIANA.
I WILL WITHHOLD MY ADDRESS GIVEN THE SENSITIVE NATURE OF WHAT IT IS THAT'S GOING ON.
FIRST OFF, THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE, THANK YOU TO THIS BODY.
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN CLEVE DUNN FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA.
TODAY, ACCORDING TO THE BROOKS INSTITUTE, PATHWAYS TO WEALTH FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IS INTRICATELY TIED TO HOME OWNERSHIP.
HOME OWNERSHIP IN AFRICAN AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS AMERICA IS VALUED AT $48,000 LESS THAN WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS.
MAYOR PRO, TIM, MAY I APPROACH THE BODY? I HAVE PICTURES TO PROVIDE, NOT, UH, TO EXCLUDE ANYONE.
BUT IF YOU COULD SHARE ON, NOT ON APRIL 6TH, 2023.
IN WHAT WE KNOW IS IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS, A PARAMILITARY UNIT DRESSED IN FULL MILITARY STYLE GEAR, SAME WITH FULL FACE, SURROUNDED A HOME.
A BATTERING RAM WAS USED TO TEAR DOWN THIS HOME UNANNOUNCED.
THEY THREW AN EXPLOSIVE UNIT INSIDE OF THE HOUSE WHERE A SEVEN YEAR OLD FEMALE WAS INSIDE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE IS MARKINGS LEFT ON THE FIRST PICTURE THAT SHOWS THIS MILITARY GRADE STYLE.
[01:35:01]
APRIL 26TH, 2023.A MILITARY STYLE UNIT FORCED ITS WAY INTO A HOME.
ONCE INSIDE THE UNIT KICKED DOWN THE DOOR OF THE MASTER BEDROOM, BUSTED OPEN A SAFE INSIDE OF THE BEDROOM.
WHILE EVERYONE WAS DETAINED, THIS UNIT HAD THE KEYS TO A TRUCK.
INSTEAD OF USING THOSE KEYS TO THE TRUCK, THEY DECIDED TO BREAK THE WINDOWS OUT AGAIN.
AND THIS TRUCK WAS LEFT IN RUINS ON MAY 23RD, 2023, A MILITARY STYLE UNIT BATTERED AROUND THE DOOR DOWN, PULLED AN AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN OUT OF HER HOME, BARELY CLOTHED.
DEPUTIES, SUBSEQUENTLY BROKE THE SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS AT THE HOME BY PULLING THEM DOWN AND TRASHED THE HOME.
THIS HAPPENED, LEAVING AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN HOME IN RUINS.
THIS MAY SOUND LIKE AFGHANISTAN.
THIS MAY SOUND LIKE THE GAZA STRIP.
IT IS HERE IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA.
THIS IS HAPPENING TO AMERICAN CITIZENS.
SO THE QUESTION THAT WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELF IS ARE WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW OUR TAX DOLLARS, OUR POLICE UNITS, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT, ZACHARY POLICE DEPARTMENT, TO ALLOW TO CONTINUE TO TREAT AMERICAN CITIZENS WHOSE PRIMARY WEALTH BUILDING VEHICLE IS THEIR HOMES TO BE DESTROYED? THANK YOU, GOD.
ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEMS WE'RE NOW WITH TO COUNCIL MEMBERS? COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
MR. ROME, IF YOU COULD COME BACK UP AND JUST PROVIDE SOME CLARITY.
I DIDN'T SEE THE GENTLEMAN GETTING UP TO COME AND SPEAK.
WERE YOU COMING TO SPEAK, SIR? COME ON DOWN.
STATE'S NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
HOW YOU DOING? DOING WELL, UH, MY NAME IS CRAIG HALL.
I COME, I WANT TO KEEP MY ADDRESS PRIVATE FOR SECURITY REASONS.
BUT ON, UM, APRIL 18TH, 2018, I LIVE ON A CORNER HOUSE HOME AT WOODCOCK AND AVENUE J AT FOUR FOUR 5:00 AM WE WAS BRUTALLY ATTACKED WITH, UH, GRENADE STAR BOMBS THROWN INTO OUR HOME.
I HAD A HONOR ROAD KID IN THE MAGNET PROGRAM IN VILLE MAGNA HIGH SCHOOL, TAKING TWO COLLEGE COURSES AND A 14 YEAR OLD SON WHO, UM, IMMEDIATELY CRAWLED ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WITH BUMS GOING OFF OUTSIDE OUR HOME FOR NO REASON TO OUR KNOWLEDGE WHATSOEVER.
SO I DIALED 9 1 1, UM, FOR WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A EMERGENCY.
AND, UM, I WAS TOLD THAT THE POLICE WAS ON THE WAY AND THEY WAS GONNA MAKE CONTACT WITH US TO HELP US GET OUTTA OUR HOME.
BUT TO ALL JUST MADE NOBODY ARRIVE.
UH, WE WERE SITTING INSIDE THERE TERRIFIED, YOU KNOW, FOR 42 MINUTES, SCARED TO SPEAK WITH ONE ANOTHER BECAUSE WE WASN'T SURE IF ANYONE WAS WALKING AROUND OUR HOME AT THE TIME.
AND, UH, SO I DIALED 9 1 1 AGAIN, IT'S KIND OF HARD FOR ME.
AND AT THAT TIME THEY HAD PUT 40 BULLET HOLES IN OUR HOME AND SHOT MY KID TWICE, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, GOOD WITH MY MILITARY TRAINING THAT I WAS ABLE, WE WAS ALL ABLE TO GET OUT OF THERE ALIVE.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I'M, I'M JUST IN FRONT OF YOU ALL BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN REACHING OUT EVERYWHERE FOR HELP.
YOU KNOW, WE WAS TOLD TO LIVE IN HOTELS BECAUSE WE WAS AFRAID TO.
WE RAN OUTTA ALL OUR MEANS AND EVERYTHING.
SO WE HIRED AN ATTORNEY RUN HALEY PRO BONO, WHICH I'M SURE, UH, SOME PEOPLE IN THE ROOM IS AWARE OF.
AND HE WAS TELLING US FROM DAY ONE, EVERYTHING HE TOLD US WAS A LIE.
SO, YOU KNOW, I, IT'S BEEN MANY TIMES WE SHARE ONE PACK OF HOT DOGS TO FEED ONE ANOTHER.
I JUST DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO NO ONE, NO ONE.
I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE IT HAPPENING TO MY WORST INNING.
AND WE ARE HERE ACTUALLY SCREAMING FOR HELP AT THIS MOMENT BECAUSE WE FILED A COMPLAINT.
IT IS JUST SITTING THERE, NO ONE IS RESPONDING.
EVERY DOOR WE GO TO IS TURNED AND SLAMMED IN OUR FACE AND WE TOLD, WE ARE TOLD A BUNCH OF UNTRUTHS.
SO I'M HERE BEGGING YOU ALL FOR HELP OR TO HELP MY SONS BECAUSE THEY HAS CHANGED THEIR LIVES TO HELP SUPPORT US NOW.
AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO TURN.
DID THE, DID THE POLICE CAUSE THE DAMAGE TO YOUR HOME? NO, SIR.
[01:40:01]
IF THEY WOULD'VE CAME BECAUSE I LIVED THREE MINUTES FROM THE POLICE UNIT WITHOUT THE LIGHTS ON IT.SO I'M MORE THAN POSITIVE WITH THAT.
AND I'M NOT HERE TO POINT FINGERS AND BLAME ANYTHING.
I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT VICTIMS ARE SUPPOSED TO DO IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR.
UH, MS. HARRIS, TALK, SPEAK WITH THIS GENTLEMAN.
GET ALL HIS INFORMATION PLEASE.
MS. HARRIS, GET ALL HIS INFORMATION.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? LARRY GRIFFIN? UH, 2001 SOUTH SIERRA FOREST BOULEVARD.
UH, FIRST I WANNA SPEAK ON, UH, FAR AS PROPERTY DAMAGE, YOUR CAR AND INTENTION OF YOUR HOME.
AND FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN AS FAR AS THE LAWSUITS THAT COME THROUGH THESE SETTLEMENTS, IT'S ALWAYS A POLICE CRASH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WITH THE CITY.
THAT ALL THAT IMMEDIATELY GETS PAID.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE HOUSING, IT'S, IT'S A QUESTION, IT'S A LOOPHOLE THAT DOESN'T GET HANDLED.
AND THAT'S A, THAT'S A REAL PROBLEM FOR ME.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? THAT'S BY LAW, YOUR CAUSED ATTENTION OF YOUR HOME.
AND THOSE THINGS SHOULD BE PAID, YOU KNOW, IN THE RIGHT TIME.
UH, SO THAT FAMILY, UH, SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO WAIT A YEAR IN ORDER TO GET THEIR HOME FIXED WITH ORGANIZATIONS AND ALL THE EXTRA CALLS, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED IMMEDIATELY.
UM, AS FAR AS WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH IN THE COMMUNITY, IT'S STILL HAPPENING AT A VERY HIGH RATE.
JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, UM, A MAN CALLED ME UP IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD I GREW UP IN, IN GLEN OAKS, AND HE SAID THE SHERIFFS JUST PULLED HIM OVER, NOT PULLED HIM OVER, BUT, UH, SEQUESTERED HIM TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
UH, THOUGHT HE WAS A SUSPECT IN A ROBBERY AND PRETTY MUCH BEAT HIM TO WHERE THREE OF THE CHIEFS KNOCKED OUT.
AND, AND IT WAS JUST, UH, DETRIMENTAL TO HIM BECAUSE HE'S JUST A MAN TRYING TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, A COMMUNITY THAT I GREW UP IN.
AND HE TRIED TO, UH, HANDLE THE SITUATION HIMSELF WITH HIS FAMILY, BUT HE WAS ALSO MET WITH THE SHERIFF'S, UH, UH, NOT EVEN A DAY LATER TO SIGN A SIMPLE BATTERY CHARGE AGAINST A POLICE OFFICER WHEN HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WHEN HE WAS HANDCUFFED.
SO THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH, UH, POLICING AROUND IN OUR COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY WITH THE BRAVE TEAM AND WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING THE PAST FEW YEARS.
'CAUSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SAYING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON.
AND NOW YOU SEE IT WITH THESE LAWSUITS, HOW UGLY IT'S BEEN.
AND THAT'S JUST A FEW INSTANCES.
IT'S NOT, IT'S, IT'S, IT IS REALLY, AND IN EVERY DISTRICT YOU CAN FIND SOMEONE WHO HAS DEALT WITH THEM, WHO HAS SEEN THEM DRIVING UP AND DOWN THE ROAD, UH, SPEEDING, GOING THROUGH RED LIGHTS.
UH, THAT'S A SITUATION, UH, WHERE MY SISTER HAD, UH, LAST YEAR TO WHERE SHE SAW BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT GOING, UH, UP THE WRONG WAY ON THE AIRLINE HIGHWAY, AND SHE HAD TO PULL OVER BEFORE GETTING HIT.
SO THESE POLICIES IN PLACE AS FAR AS CHASING AND HOW THEY CONDUCT THEMSELVES NEED TO BE LOOKED AT THOROUGHLY.
UM, BUT I, I, I ALSO WANNA SAY THAT IT'S, I, I'M, I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT CLEVE DUN BRINGING THIS UP.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US, TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT I ASKED YOU TO EMPLOY YOURSELF TO ASK YOUR COMMUNITY WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHAT COULD, WHAT COULD THEY REALLY, REALLY CHANGE WITHOUT POLICE, WITHOUT ANY COUNSEL, WITHOUT ANY OTHER PEOPLE THERE TO KIND OF TAKE OVER A MEETING.
BUT ASK THEM WHAT DO THEY NEED AND WHAT HAVE THEY SEEN ON A REGULAR DAY BESIDES WHAT THEY DEAL WITH ON, BESIDES WHAT THEY DEAL WITH THEMSELVES IN, IN THEIR COMMUNITY, BUT THE PEOPLE WE PAY.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? IT'S, IT'S JUST VERY HURTFUL.
AND THEY COME IN WITH MILITARY STYLE GEAR.
THEY COME WITH HIGH ATTITUDES TREATING US LIKE, LIKE WE'RE LESS THAN NOTHING.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? SO, UH, I, I DEFINITELY WANT THIS TO BE LOOKED AT AND NOT BE BRUSHED TO THE SIDE AS I BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN ON MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS, UH, BECAUSE OF, WE LOOK AT ONE PERSON WHO WAS VERY CHARISMATIC AT THE TOP AND THAT'S FINE.
BUT YOU HAVE A ENTIRE COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN TRAMPLED UPON SO FAR, FAR TOO LONG.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
UH, MR. ROME, IF YOU WOULD COME BACK UP, I JUST WANNA GET SOME CLARITY.
'CAUSE I THINK THE LAST TIME THAT WE HAD THIS ITEM, UH, WE WERE ADVISED THAT, THAT IN MOST INSTANCES WHERE THERE IS FOUND TO BE LEGITIMATE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, WE, WE CANNOT PAY THESE CLAIMS. IS THAT STILL ACCURATE OR THAT'S WHAT, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT HERE? THAT STATUTE'S STILL ACTIVE.
IT'S OUR IMMUNITY STATUTE AND, UH, THE, THE CLAIM I WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH COUNCILMAN DUNN WAS WE, WE WERE, I DON'T THINK WE WERE CORRECT IN THAT SITUATION.
WE HAD SOME BAD INTEL AND WE PAID THAT LADY'S, UH, PROPERTY DAMAGE.
TYPICALLY WHEN WE'RE CORRECT AND WE'RE AT THE RIGHT PLACE, WE HAVE IMMUNITY FROM THAT AND THAT STATUTE IS STILL IN EFFECT.
AND THEN, UH, JUST TO CLARIFY, IF YOUR OFFICE DOES RECEIVE A CALL, ALTHOUGH THEY, ALTHOUGH WE CAN'T NECESSARILY PAY A CLAIM, DO YOU ALL STILL CONNECT THEM WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO SEE IF THERE'S HOUSING PROGRAMS THAT THEY CAN LOOK INTO OR, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? THE SHORT ANSWER TO THAT IS NO.
[01:45:01]
WHAT MY OFFICE DOES, WE INVESTIGATE THAT CLAIM AND THERE'S A DECISION MADE WHETHER TO PAY OR NOT TO PAY.AND THAT'S, THAT'S BASICALLY WHERE WE LEAVE IT.
WELL, I, I'LL JUST LEAVE THAT AS A RECOMMENDATION.
LOOK, I, I UNDERSTAND, UH, LOOK, THERE'S FAMILIES OUT THERE THAT ARE IMPACTED ON THE CRIMINAL'S SIDE, RIGHT? UH, WHERE THEIR FAMILY MEMBER MAY HAVE BEEN GUILTY OF A CRIME.
SO, UM, THEY'RE NOT ELIGIBLE TO FILE A CLAIM, BUT THEY'RE STILL NEGATIVE.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE A VICTIM OF THE CRIME AS WELL, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S THEIR FAMILY MEMBER.
UM, AND SO AT LEAST CONNECTING THEM WITH THOSE RESOURCES, HAVING THAT AS A POLICY MAY BE A POSITIVE THING, MAY BE SOMETHING FOR US TO LOOK AT.
SO, UM, JUST A RECOMMENDATION.
ALRIGHT, SO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN AND I BROUGHT A SIMILAR ITEM UP EARLIER THIS YEAR.
UM, ONE OF OUR BIGGEST, AND IT WAS ZION CITY.
SO, UM, UH, I, I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN DUNN.
ONE THING WE DON'T MIND, WE STEP IN EACH OTHER'S TERRITORIES ALL THE TIME, JUST OUTTA RESPECT BASED ON RELATIONSHIPS.
AND I WANT TO THANK GINO AND EVERYBODY ELSE WHO SHIPPED IN TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS HOUSE IS RESTORED.
UM, SIMULTANEOUSLY, I WAS TAKING A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO, TO RESTORE THE SAME HOUSE.
I WANTED TO HOLD THE CITY ACCOUNTABLE TO REPAIR THE HOME.
SO, BECAUSE HERE'S THE DEAL, THEY SPENT ABOUT 12 TO $15,000 ON ONE HOME, WHICH IS EXTREMELY COMMENDABLE, BUT THAT CAN'T HAPPEN FOR 10 HOUSES A YEAR.
I HAVE THREE HOUSES AT THE SAME TIME.
I CALLED ANDY AND I SAID, HEY ANDY, I HAVE A, UM, AN ISSUE IN MY COMMUNITY, UH, WHERE A, A HOME WAS KICKED IN, BUT IT'S NOT ACTUALLY THE CURRENT ADDRESS, BUT IT WAS A PREVIOUS ADDRESS FOR, UM, SOMEONE WHO WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A, UH, SUSPECT, WHICH I TALKED TO Y'ALL ABOUT.
AND HE SAID, AS LONG AS HIS ONLY LICENSE, HE LIVED THERE.
AND, BUT THE POLICE THOUGHT THAT HE, THAT HE WAS AT THAT RESIDENCE, THEY KICK THE DOOR IN, RIGHT? PULLED THE WHOLE FRONT OFF THE HOUSE.
IT WASN'T THIS ONE WAS ANOTHER ONE.
THEN HE HAD THE SAME INCIDENT THE FRIDAY BEFORE.
SO ANDY THOUGHT IT WAS THE SAME INCIDENT.
NOW IN THIS CASE IT WAS A PREVIOUS ADDRESS.
SO HOW DOES THAT PLAY INTO THIS? BECAUSE HERE'S THE DEAL.
I KNOW YOU AS AN ATTORNEY, YOU HAVE KIDS.
DO YOU KNOW EVERYTHING A KID DOES EVERY SINGLE THING.
I DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING MY CHILDREN DO.
NO MATTER HOW GOOD YOU RAISE 'EM, RIGHT? YES SIR.
SO IF THEY COME AND PULL THE DOOR OFF YOUR HOUSE, SOMEBODY'S GONNA HAVE HELL TO PLAY.
YOU GOING TO TAKE YOUR LAW DEGREE, YOUR GREAT CRITICAL THINKING MIND, AND YOU GONNA FIGURE OUT HOW TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.
AND SO, I KNOW STATE STATUTE, UM, SUPERSEDES AND GIVE US, GIVES US THE ABILITY, I'M GONNA SAY THIS PUBLICLY FOR EVERYBODY, HALF THE TIME, CITY PARISH OFFICIALS KNOW WE NEED TO PAY THESE DAMN CLAIMS, BUT THEY'RE SO WORRIED ABOUT IF WE LET ONE FLY BY, THEN WE HAVE TO PAY A MILLION.
WHAT IS THAT GONNA LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF LIABILITY FOR CITY? I REALLY DON'T CARE.
SO WE HAVE OCD MONEY THAT IS THERE TO FIX BLIGHTED AND DILAPIDATED HOMES DEEP.
AND THAT'S WHAT MY FIGHT WAS WITH CITY PARISH.
'CAUSE WE JUST ANNOUNCED $2.5 MILLION TO FIX HOUSES.
AND WE ONLY ASKED FOR WHAT, 12, 15,000.
SO WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO TO PRIVATE DONORS.
THAT SHOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE POOL THAT ANYBODY IN THIS CASE CAN GO TO.
AND I WANNA MAKE SURE I SAY THAT ON PUBLIC RECORD 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT THOSE FUNDS ARE FOR.
AND THAT'S NOT AN ADMISSION OF GUILT.
WHAT IT'S DOING IS HELPING SOMEBODY WHO NEEDS HELP WITH THEIR HOMES.
SO I'M GOING TO CHALLENGE CITY PARISH AND ANYBODY WHO HAS, 'CAUSE LEMME TELL Y'ALL THIS.
THREE OF THESE HOMES BECAME BLIGHTED IN THE SAME COMMUNITY.
AND NOW YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT FIX THE CONDEMNED HOMES BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.
A LOT OF 'EM ARE ON FIXED INCOME.
OR IN THAT CASE, THE MOTHER JUST PASSED FROM COVID.
SO YOU GOT, WHAT, A 17 AND 19 YEAR OLD, I THINK I'M SAYING THAT RIGHT? UH, WHO ARE IN A HOME DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES, LET ALONE FIX THE FRONT OF THEIR HOMES.
SO THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN ACROSS FLORIDA BOULEVARD WITHOUT SOME TYPE OF A RECONCILIATION.
SO WHAT I'M GOING TO CHALLENGE YOU TO DO IS FIGURE OUT NOT WHAT LOOPHOLE, BUT WHAT ALLOWANCES WE HAVE FROM A RISK MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE AS A CITY TO MAKE THESE PEOPLE WHOLE.
SO AS MUCH AS YOU FOCUS ON HOW NOT TO FIX 'EM, 'CAUSE I'M GONNA TELL YOU HOW THE LAWYER'S JOB IS TO MAKE SURE CITY PARISH DOES NOT PAY MAY BE VERY CLEAR.
OKAY? WE ALSO NEED TO FIGURE OUT, WHEN WE KNOW MORALLY THAT WE ARE OUT OF COMPLIANCE, I, I DON'T CARE WHAT THE LAW SAYS AND WHEN IT, WHEN IT COMES TO THAT.
'CAUSE SOMETIMES THE, THAT'S WHY THE LAWS CAN BE CHANGED, RIGHT? UNFORTUNATELY, WE CAN'T CHANGE STATE LAW, FIGURE OUT WHAT POSITIONS WE ARE AS A CITY PARISH OR WHAT POSITION WE CAN WE PUT IN A CITY PARISH THROUGH OCD AND OTHER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DOLLARS THAT WE GET TO, UH, RECTIFY THESE WRONGS AND MAKE SURE THAT THESE HOUSES ARE WHOLE AGAIN.
'CAUSE WHAT LEMME TELL Y'ALL WHAT DOES NOT HAPPEN.
[01:50:01]
YOU COULD HAVE THE BIGGEST INSURANCE POLICY IN THE WORLD, THE MINUTE THE POLICE SAID HAD JUST CAUSED TO BREAK YOUR DOOR DOWN, YOUR INSURANCE WILL NOT PAY FOR THAT REPAIR.SO I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE INSURANCE, DON'T TALKING ABOUT, UH, FOR THE PEOPLE THAT DO AS WELL.
SO WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT CONTROLS WE HAVE AS A CITY PARISH, WHICH WE DO ALL THE TIME.
NOT TO CIRCUMVENT, BUT A ALLOW, BUT WHAT ALLOWS, UH, LOCAL, MUNICIPAL, LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES TO TAKE AUTHORITY IN THESE SITUATIONS.
I'M GONNA CHALLENGE YOU TO DO THAT AND THEN COME BACK, GIVE A, UH, COUNCIL REPORT.
UM, DWIGHT BROUGHT UP, UH, COUNCILMAN HUSBAND BROUGHT UP SOME GOOD POINTS.
AND I DO UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, THERE ARE SITUATIONS WHERE DAMAGE, UH, MAY BE JUSTIFIABLE, UH, UM, IN A HOSTAGE SITUATION OR SOMEBODY'S, YOU KNOW, RUNNING AND RUNNING INTO A HOME UNDERSTAND POLICE PURSUIT MAY CAUSE SOME DAMAGES IN THE SITUATIONS THAT WE BROUGHT UP.
AND MANY OF 'EM THAT WE HEAR OF THAT HAPPENS IN THE COMMUNITY, THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE SITUATIONS THAT COULD HAVE TOOK PLACE ON THE GROUND.
UM, THIS CADILLAC STREET, UM, PROPERTY HAD TWO ENTRANCES.
ONE OF THE ENTRANCES WAS LOCKED WITH A BURGLAR BARS, THE OTHER ENTRANCE WAS NOT.
AND PEOPLE ON THE GROUND SHARED THAT WITH OFFICERS ON THE GROUND THAT HEY, THE SIDE DOOR IS OPEN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TEAR THE FRONT DOOR OFF.
WHERE THEY DECIDED TO TEAR THE WHOLE FRONT DOOR OFF AND TO THE WALL OFF.
UM, THE OTHER SITUATION IN PARK FOREST, UH, NO ONE WAS HOME.
UH, I UNDERSTAND THEY BREACHED THE HOME, BUT WHEN THEY GOT IN THE HOME, THEY STILL THREW FLASH BLANKS THROUGHOUT THE HOME.
THEY STILL BROKE OUT EVERY WINDOW IN THE HOME EXTERNAL WINDOW.
SO IN SITUATIONS LIKE THAT, WE FEEL LIKE THAT'S EXCESSIVE AND AND SHOULDN'T HAPPEN.
SO WHEN IT IS NOT JUSTIFIABLE, WE THINK THE CITY SHOULD STEP IN AND, AND TAKE CARE OF THOSE CLAIMS. I AGREE WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN HURST THAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO RESOLVE TO, TO PRIVATE MONEY TO DO THAT.
AND BEFORE I FORGET, I WANT TO THANK BLAKE AND HIS TEAM AND, AND, AND THE STAFF OVER THERE BECAUSE THEY RESPONDED IN A VERY FAST MANNER TO HELP THE CONSTRUCTION TEAM TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO FROM A PERMITTED STANDPOINT AND INSPECTION.
SO I WANT TO THANK BLAKE AND THEM FOR THAT.
UM, THOUGH, DWIGHT, I THINK WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT POLICY IN SITUATIONS LIKE THAT AND MAYBE MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS, BUT ALSO TOO, JUST SOME COMPASSION BY THE OFFICERS ON THE GROUND.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO GET TO A POINT OF LITIGATION WHEN THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO, UH, HANDLE SOME OF THESE SITUATIONS.
IF, AND THAT COULD BE DONE THROUGH TRAINING, THAT COULD BE THROUGH, YOU KNOW, CONVERSATIONS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
BUT JUST SOME COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE.
I THINK WE, WE WON'T HAVE A LOT OF THESE SITUATIONS.
AND THE FINAL THING I WANNA DO BEFORE I GIVE, UH, COUNCILMAN HURST SOME OF MY TIME IS JUST WANT TO UPLIFT THE PROCESS LIKE, UH, GINO MENTIONED AND, AND MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE.
UM, AND GINO, WHAT WE'LL DO, ME AND MY, MY OFFICE, WE'LL WORK WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY AND THE CLAIMS DEPARTMENT TO TRY TO PUT SOME TYPE OF FLYER TOGETHER, A PAMPHLET THAT WE CAN GET OUT DIGITALLY AND, AND PASS OUT.
SOMEBODY MENTIONED, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS SOMEBODY ON THE COUNCIL OR SOMEBODY EXTERNAL MENTIONED THAT SOME AGENCIES ACTUALLY ON THE GROUND WHEN DAMAGES HAPPEN, THEY GIVE A CARD TO RESIDENTS OR CITIZENS TO LET THEM KNOW HOW TO FOLLOW UP ON THE GROUND WHEN DAMAGES HAPPEN.
SO MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LOOK AT AND I'LL, I'LL RESERVE THE REST OF MY TIME FOR COUNCILMAN HURST.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE COMMENT AS IT RELATED TO THE SPECIFIC HOME IN ZION CITY OR IN FOR EDITION.
UM, THE YOUNG LADY, THE SISTER THAT WAS IN THE HOME, SHE TOLD THE POLICE, PLEASE DON'T TEAR MY HOUSE DOWN HERE.
THE KEYS, AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE SIDE DOOR IS OPEN, BUT I CAN GIVE YOU THE KEYS TO THE FRONT DOOR.
SO THIS IS AT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, UM, THERE WAS NO NEED TO GO INTO THAT PARTICULAR HOME AND TEAR IT DOWN BECAUSE THE HOMEOWNERS WERE WILLING TO GIVE EVERYTHING THEY HAD TO SALVAGE THE LAST THING THAT THEIR MOTHER LEFT THEM, UH, BEFORE SHE LEFT THIS EARTH.
SO A LOT OF TIMES THERE ARE FACTS THAT ARE NOT STATED IN SPECIFIC CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LIABILITY.
AGAIN, BECAUSE ONCE THE CITY GETS A JUDGMENT, IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN USE IN COURT.
SO I WANNA LET Y'ALL KNOW PUBLICLY SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE DON'T WANT THE JUDGMENT 'CAUSE WE DON'T WANT Y'ALL TO USE THAT IN FUTURE LITIGATION.
SO IF IT IS UP TO ME, I SAY TAKE ALL OVER THE TRIAL.
COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN? YES, SIR.
UM, COUNCILMAN DUNN, THANK YOU FOR GRABBING THE BATON AND GOING WHEN THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN, NEED TO HAPPEN, SHOW BOLTON ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
ALSO, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THAT AS COUNCIL PERSONS, AND I KNOW I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF, THAT'S PART OF MY JOB AND THAT IS TO LET CONSTITUENTS KNOW ABOUT THE SERVICES THAT ARE OUT THERE
[01:55:01]
AND SO TO, TO GO AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE WE CAN LINE OUT FOLK TO DO OUR JOB.AND, UH, ALONG THOSE LINES, BLAKE, WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR GROUP BECAUSE WHEN THERE ARE SITUATIONS I KNOW IN TAN AND THERE IS, AND ALSO MARLEY, WHEN THERE ARE SITUATIONS IN TAN, THAT'S WHAT WE DO IS REACH OUT IN ORDER TO GET THE SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE.
AND SO WE MUST BE AWARE OF KNOWING THE DIFFERENT ENTITIES OUT HERE THAT CAN TRULY SERVE OUR CONSTITUENTS AND THEN REACH OUT TO THEM.
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE STAFF IN OUR OFFICES TO ASSIST WITH THIS.
COUNCILMAN BANKS
IS THERE AN OFFICER OR REGARDING POLICE REPORTS? NO POLICE IN THE HOUSE.
MYRON, CHIEF DANIELS IS COMING.
SO MY, UM, CHIEF, DEPUTY CHIEF, UM, MYRON DANIELS.
SO DOING, UM, THE POLICE REPORT, IS THERE A PORTION WHEREAS, UM, YOU MAY HAVE TO INDICATE OR WRITE WHAT THE, THE METHOD BY WHICH YOU HAD TO ENTER, IF IT WAS EXCESSIVE FORCE, IF YOU HAD TO BREAK DOWN A DOOR AND THEN JUSTIFICATION, IS THAT PART OF THE REPORT? AND IF NOT, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WOULD, UM, ASSIST IN THE DOUBLE ACCOUNTABILITY? OKAY, SO, UH, COUNCILWOMAN TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES, UH, THERE IS MENTION IN ALL OF THOSE REPORTS, UH, FOR OFFICERS TO ENTER BY BREACHING A DOOR IN ANY MANNER, THEY HAVE TO HAVE A WARRANT THAT'S SIGNED BY THE JUDGE.
SO THAT IS PART OF THE CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT GOES INTO THAT PROCESS AS WELL.
SO, UH, THE, THE, THE, THE EXAMPLES AND SITUATIONS WE'VE HEARD TODAY, THEY DID NOT HAVE A WARRANT, A JUDGE'S WARRANT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S MESSING UP ANYTHING LEGAL, BUT NO, I DON'T, I IF I, I DON'T WANT TO GUESS.
IF I CAN LOOK AT THE CASES I CAN TELL YOU.
BUT SPEAKING ON IT, 99 TIMES OUT OF A HUNDRED MM-HMM,
SO IN THE, IN THESE SITUATIONS, WELL, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO KIND OF GET TO IT BECAUSE IF IT'S THAT COMMON, WHAT IS THERE, UM, FOR INSTANCE, THE, THE EXAMPLE WHERE THE YOUNG LADY OFFERED THE KEY TO THE HOUSE AND SAID A SIDE DOOR WAS OPEN.
WHAT WOULD BE, UM, A WAY TO JUSTIFY AS PART OF REPORT IF THEY, WHAT, THEY JUST LEFT THAT PART OUT OR I, I DON'T KNOW.
I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE TIGHTEN THE ACCOUNTABILITY PART? UH, ARE THERE PICTURES? DO YOU ALL REQUIRE PICTURES OF THE HOME, UM, ONCE THEY GO IN? IS THAT PART OF THE, THE EVIDENCE? UH, YES.
SO USUALLY THE, THE DAMAGE ASSOCIATED WITH EXECUTING A WARRANT IS DOCUMENTED, UH, THROUGH PHOTOS, UH, AS WELL AS A WRITTEN REPORT.
SO, UM, BUT STAYING SPECIFIC TO THESE CASES, SURE.
I'M NOT SURE, UH, AS TO THE WHY, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF TACTICAL DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE ON WHY THEY CHOOSE ONE DOOR.
BECAUSE I'M, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT BEFORE WE CAN EVEN GET TO A PLACE WHERE, UM, A CLAIM IS FILED, I'M, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE, WHERE FROM THE POLICE POINT OF VIEW IS.
SOMEBODY LIKE LOOKING AT THE PICTURES, LOOKING AT THE DYNAMICS, LOOKING AT THE REPORT AND ASKING QUESTIONS AS TO WHY, UM, WHY WAS A CERTAIN METHOD USED? BECAUSE OTHERWISE PEOPLE REALLY WON'T HAVE ANY DEFENSE.
AND YOU KNOW, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENT AND TO PROVEN GUILTY.
SO I, I WOULD ONLY IMAGINE THAT WHEN, UM, WE'RE NOT, EVEN IF SOMEONE IS IN A HOME WHERE A RELATIVE OR WHATEVER IS, UM, IS IS THE PERSON THAT THE POLICE ARE PURSUING, THEY'RE STILL INNOCENT AND THAT GUILTY CHARGE IS SOMETIME,
[02:00:01]
COULD BE EVEN A YEAR AWAY.AND, BUT THEN YOU HAVE 12 MONTHS OF A INHABITED HOME.
SO HOW, HOW DO WE, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE HOW DO WE WORK THAT OUT? YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW THIS, BUT THOSE ARE THE KIND OF GAPS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
UM, EVEN GREG, MR. UH, ATTORNEY ROME, MAYBE YOU CAN ANSWER, BUT THERE'S A TIMELINE.
UM, I THINK I AM CROSSING THAT QUESTION CROSSES OVER INTO MR. ROME'S EXPERTISE AND NOT SO MUCH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO, SO WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION? I GUESS I'M TRYING TO SAY THAT IF THEY HAVE A REPORT YES, MA'AM.
AND AS A RES THE REPORT INDIC SHOWS ALL THIS DAMAGE.
UH, HOW ARE WE GONNA TRANSITION FROM JUSTIFYING WHAT THE OFFICER SAID IN THE REPORT THAT IS WRITTEN THAT DAY TO YOU DOING A CLAIMS, UH, INVESTIGATION? SO, AND I HOPE THIS ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
TYPICALLY WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS SOMEBODY WOULD FILE A CLAIM BASED ON WHAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED, OUR ADJUSTER WOULD GET THAT REPORT FROM THE POLICE AND USE THAT IN HIS EVALUATION OF THE CLAIM.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? AND, AND IT DOES, BUT AT SOME POINT IT, IT, WHERE WOULD IT COME UP THAT THE OFFICERS USE UNNECESSARY TACTIC? BECAUSE IF THEY DID, THAT'S WHERE THE DECISION I WOULD ASSUME, REGARDING WHETHER OR NOT TO PAY THE CLAIM POSSIBLY.
BUT THERE'S, THERE'S NOTHING THERE.
TO BE HONEST, I HADN'T SEEN A CLAIM LIKE THAT.
I'M NOT SAYING ONE NEVER EXISTED, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN ONE.
AND MR. LASALLE'S NEVER BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION THAT DAY.
HEY, MAYBE WE NEED TO RE-LOOK AT THIS.
MAYBE THEY USE TOO MUCH FORCE HERE.
AND AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING THERE.
I I KNOW, I I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
I HADN'T PERSONALLY SEEN THAT.
I'M NOT SAYING IT'S, IT HASN'T EVER OCCURRED.
AND I DOUBT IF IT HAS EVER OCCURRED.
BUT IN THAT WE ARE NOW DEALING IN AND, AND TALKING ABOUT, UM, FIRST OF ALL, WE WANT, WE WANT OUR, UM, PERSONS TO KNOW THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO FILE A CLAIM.
'CAUSE I THINK IN THE PAST THEY PROBABLY DID NOT BELIEVE THAT.
I THINK THE INFORMATION WASN'T OUT THERE.
AND SO WE HAVE THAT, AND THEN WE HAVE OFFICERS WHO PROBABLY NEVER HEAR ONE WAY OR THE OTHER THAT THEY USE EXCESSIVE FORCE AND THAT IT COSTS NOT ONLY THE, THE PERSON BUT NOW THE CITY.
AND SO IF THERE'S NEVER, UH, SOME KIND OF MERGE IN TRAINING AND CULPABILITY, UH, WHERE IT'S NOT THE BURDEN OF THE PROOF ON THE HOMEOWNER, THEN WE KIND OF GOING AROUND IN CIRCLES BECAUSE THE ADJUSTER IS NOT THINKING ABOUT DID THE OFFICER USE, UM, UNNECESSARY FORCE, THE OFFICER'S NOT THINKING ABOUT, OH, THIS IS GONNA CAUSE THE CITY MONEY AND, AND WE LEFT WITH A HOMEOWNER OR A RESIDENT WHO'S HOLDING THE ENTIRE BAG AND RESPONSIBILITY.
I'M JUST, AND AND MY QUESTION TODAY IS IN FIXING ALL THIS, WE HAVE TO HAVE POLICY THAT ADDRESSES THOSE TWO, UM, DEFINING MOMENT.
AND I DON'T KNOW, WHERE DO WE GO FROM THERE TO DO THAT? UM, COUNCILMAN DUN.
UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, A TAKE HOME MESSAGE, FILE YOUR CLAIM IN THE EVENT THAT YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION AND WANT TO THANK GINO RYAN AND CLEVE FOR JUMPING ON TOP OF THAT SITUATION AND MAKING SURE, UH, THE FAMILY HAS SOME RESTITUTION AS SHANNON SHARP WOULD SAY.
UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IS SHARON MANN.
[117. 23-00031]
GONNA GO TO ITEM ONE 17 IN RECEIVING A THIRD QUARTER OF THE 2023 REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE AND PERFORMANCE ON GARBAGE, TRASH, BULKY ITEM WOODY WASTE AND RECYCLE PICKUP PICK UP.I HAVE THE REPORT AND THAT COMMENTS HOW YOU OUT? GOOD EVENING.
COUNCIL MEMBERS DID THIS ONE A A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, UH, HOPING TO COVER THE, UH, A LOT OF THE HAPPENINGS OF THE, UH, TRANSITION PERIOD.
UH, SO WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH THE, THE Q THREE UPDATES, COVER UP A COUPLE OF THE ITEMS THAT, UH, WE'RE STILL CONTINUING TO, TO TRANSITION.
AND THEN, UH, YOU'LL HEAR THE REPORT DIRECTLY FROM REPUBLIC THERE AIR NO.
[02:05:01]
FIRST ONE, SO MISSED GARBAGE.UH, THIS IS A, A WEEKLY TABULATION OF THE, THE MISSED GARBAGES FOR, FOR Q THREE.
UH, YOU CAN SEE, UH, VERY DISTINCTLY THE FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER AND THEN INTO THE SECOND WEEK OF DECEMBER, I'M SORRY, SEPTEMBER WHEN THE, THE TRANSITION PERIOD STARTED, HOW THE, THE SERVICE REQUEST, UH, RAMPED UP DRAMATICALLY.
A AS WE WE TALKED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY, THIS WAS THE, THE FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS WHERE THE ENTIRE PARISH WAS REROUTED IN SOME FORM OR FASHION.
EVEN IF YOUR COLLECTION DAY REMAINED THE SAME, THE, THE ROUTES WITHIN THOSE COLLECTION DAYS WERE CHANGED, AND THAT WAS DONE IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS PER ROUTE TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE ROUTES WERE WERE COVERED CONSISTENTLY.
UM, SO WITH THAT CAME A LOT OF CHALLENGES AND, AND SHARON WILL WILL GET INTO THAT A LITTLE MORE, BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF AREAS THAT WERE ONCE SERVED BY, UM, RELOAD TRUCKS THAT ARE NOW BEING SERVED BY THE AUTOMATED TRUCKS.
THERE'S OTHERS WHERE THE COLLECTION DAYS CHANGED, AND THEN THERE'S, THERE'S OTHERS THAT JUST HAVE SOME, SOME CIRCUMSTANCES IN, IN SOME FORM OR FASHION.
YOU, YOU CAN SEE AFTER GOING INTO ABOUT THE, THE THIRD WEEK, IT, IT REALLY TAPERED OFF AND THEN WE'RE, WE'RE STILL NOT EXACTLY WHERE WE NEED TO BE, BUT EVERYTHING CONTINUES TO, TO TREND IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
ON THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE, UH, MISSED RECYCLING.
THIS ONE, IT ACTUALLY RAMPED UP ON THE SECOND WEEK OF SEPTEMBER VERSUS THE FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER.
AND A LOT OF THESE HAD TO DO WITH NOTIFICATIONS THAT WERE NOT RECEIVED BY THE RESIDENTS.
SO THEY DID NOT KNOW THAT THEIR RECYCLING DAY HAD CHANGED.
REPUBLIC SENT THEM OUT, BUT THEY DID NOT GET DELIVERED BY THE POST OFFICE.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER THEY WERE, UH, SENT OUT, THE, THE POST OFFICE DROPPED OFF ABOUT 2,500 NOTIFICATIONS TO REPUBLIC'S OFFICE SAYING THAT THEY WERE, UH, UNDELIVERABLE.
WHEN, WHEN THEY REFU THEM, IT, UH, THE ADDRESSES WERE PERFECTLY FINE.
THEY WERE LEGITIMATE ADDRESSES, THEY JUST, THEY DIDN'T GET SENT OUT.
UM, I, I KNOW VERY SPECIFICALLY A LOT OF 'EM HAPPENED IN, UH, COUNCILMAN HUDSON'S DISTRICT ALONG JEFFERSON HIGHWAY FOR, FOR SOME REASON THERE WAS JUST, THERE WAS A STRETCH OF JEFFERSON HIGHWAY THAT THEIR DAY CHANGED, BUT THEY, THE NOTIFICATIONS DID NOT GO OUT.
SO THE NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT BACK OUT AGAIN.
AND, AND, AND AT THAT POINT, THE, THE RESIDENTS GOT 'EM ABOUT THREE WEEKS AFTER THE CHANGE.
SO I DID, UNDERSTANDABLY, THERE WAS A, SOME, SOME FRUSTRATION THERE THAT, HEY, I'M GETTING THIS THREE WEEKS LATER.
BUT THAT WAS THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE THAT WAS ACTUALLY THE, THE SECOND NOTIFICATION THAT WENT OUT IN THOSE AREAS THAT WE KNEW DID NOT GET THE, UH, THE NOTIFICATIONS.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE TRIED TO DO IN THE INTERIM WAS WHERE WE HAD EMAIL ADDRESSES AVAILABLE FOR THE, UH, CUSTOMERS THAT DO GET AN ELECTRONIC BILL.
WHEN, WHEN WE HAD A, A SUBDIVISION THAT WE KNEW IT HAPPENED, WE EMAILED THE RESIDENTS AND THEN ALS AND THEN FOLLOWED UP WITH THE, UH, THE POSTCARDS TO, TO ALL THE RESIDENTS.
BUT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THAT INTERIM STEP OF NOTIFYING EVERYONE TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THEY KNEW THAT THEIR DAY HAD CHANGED IN THAT TIME PERIOD AS WELL.
REPUBLIC SERVICED THEM ON BOTH DAYS.
THEY SERVICED THEM ON THE OLD COLLECTION DAY, AND THEN THEY SERVICED THEM ON THE NEW COLLECTION DAY TO, TO TRY TO HELP WITH THAT CHANGE.
SO THE, THE ITEMS THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THE, THE EXTRA CART FEE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE PRESENTED HERE, I BELIEVE IT WAS IN JULY WHEN WE PRESENTED THE THE Q TWO REPORT.
UM, ONE OF THE, THE SUGGESTIONS FROM Y'ALL BACK TO US WAS, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS, IS NOTIFIED OVER AND OVER AGAIN OF THESE EXTRA COLLECT EXTRA CART FEES SO THAT THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SURPRISED WHEN THEY GET THEIR BILL FOR SEPTEMBER THAT THEY'VE GOT AN
[02:10:01]
ADDITIONAL CART.SO WE, WE DID SOME SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, CAMPAIGNS.
WE ALSO SENT OUT A PRESS RELEASE.
WE, WE PUT OUT, UM, A SURVEY TO WHERE PEOPLE COULD, COULD SIGN UP AND TELL US IF THEY HAD AN EXTRA CART.
IF THEY DID HAVE AN EXTRA CART, THEY COULD TELL US WHETHER THEY WANTED TO KEEP IT OR WHETHER THEY WANTED TO GET RID OF IT.
SO, SO FAR SINCE THE THE NEW, UH, FEE HAS GONE OUT, WE, WE'VE HAD 94 CUSTOMERS CONTACT US AND ASK US TO, UH, REMOVE THAT FEE FROM THEIR BILL.
THEY SAID THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE AN EXTRA CART.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, THE SERVICE FEE OFFICE IS, THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT ARGUING WITH THEM.
THEY'RE JUST, IF YOU CALL AND YOU SAY, HEY, I DON'T HAVE AN EXTRA CART, I WANT THAT OFF MY BILL, THEY IMMEDIATELY, THEY, THEY TAKE IT OFF THE BILL, THEY THEN SEND US A REPORT AND FROM THERE WE'RE GONNA GO AND, AND TAKE A LOOK.
THE REASON THEY GOT ON THERE TO BEGIN WITH WAS ONE OF TWO WAYS.
EITHER REPUBLIC'S DRIVERS TOOK A PICTURE OF MORE THAN ONE CART AT THEIR HOUSE OR FROM THE SURVEY WHERE THEY SAID, HEY, WE'VE GOT TWO CARTS OR MORE AND WE WANT TO KEEP OUR ADDITIONAL CARTS.
SO IF, IF SOMEONE IS SAYING, HEY, I DON'T HAVE AN EXTRA CART, WELL, FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER, AT ONE POINT WE, WE THOUGHT THAT THEY HAD AN EXTRA CART, BUT AGAIN, AT SO FAR, UM, THE, THE FEE WENT IN WAS EFFECTIVE NINE ONE.
AND YOU KNOW, HERE WE ARE, UH, NOVEMBER 8TH I BELIEVE, AND WE'VE ONLY HAD 94 PEOPLE CALL US AND TELL US THAT THEY DON'T, UH, THEY DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD BE PAYING THAT FEE.
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE THOSE AS THEY COME IN.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH FROM A TRANSITION STANDPOINT IS THE, THE MULTI-FAMILY CART TO DUMPSTERS AS, UH, THOSE PEOPLE TRANSITION FOR MAINLY THE FOURPLEXES.
A FOURPLEX WAS NOT CONSIDERED MULTI-FAMILY IN THE OLD CONTRACT, BUT THEY ARE CONSIDERED MULTI-FAMILY IN THE NEW CONTRACT.
SO WE'RE LOOKING TO CONVERT THOSE TO, TO DUMPSTERS WHERE POSSIBLE.
UM, WE'VE GOT JUST OVER 900 BUILDINGS THAT ARE FOUR PLEXES.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT FROM, THAT'S JUST OVER 3,600 UNITS WHERE, UM, THAT ARE FOUR PLEXES THAT NEED TO BE TRANSITIONED OVER.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH THAT.
WE ADDED A NEW, UH, SERVICE, UH, REQUEST TYPE IN 3 1 1 CALLED MULTIFAMILY CART TO DUMPSTER.
SO IF YOU PUT THAT IN, OR THE OWNER OF THE, UH, THE FOURPLEX PUTS THAT IN, AUTOMATICALLY GOES TO REPUBLIC AND THEIR TEAM, AND THEN THEY GO OUT, THEY TAKE A LOOK AT THE AREA, MAYBE THE PERSON HAS MORE THAN ONE, MAYBE THEY WANT TO PUT ONE DUMPSTER IN THE MIDDLE OF TWO FOURPLEXES, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO EVERY CASE IS DIFFERENT, SO THAT'S WHY THEY GO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND THEN FIGURE OUT HOW THEY'RE GONNA HANDLE IT.
SO WE'RE, WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK THROUGH THOSE.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'VE, UH, WE'VE CROSS REFERENCED THAT LIST WITH THE OWNER'S INFORMATION FROM THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE, AND WE'RE, THE NEXT STEP IS GONNA BE TO, TO DO A MAIL OUT TO THE OWNERS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN IN TOUCH WITH US YET TO GET THEIR ATTENTION THAT WAY THROUGH MAYO AND, AND GET THEM TO CONTACT US SO WE CAN START WORKING THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
THERE ARE QUITE A FEW THAT, UH, THERE'S MULTIPLE PEOPLE THAT THEY OWN MULTIPLE PROPERTIES.
WE'VE GOT, UH, NINE OWNERS WHO OWN MORE THAN 10 PROPERTIES, AND WE'VE GOT 26 OWNERS WHO OWN MORE THAN FIVE PROPERTIES.
SO REALLY IF WE CAN, UH, GET IN TOUCH WITH THOSE FOLKS IF THEY HAVEN'T, UH, CONTACTED US YET, AND THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE BUILDINGS.
SO THEN YOU MULTIPLY THAT TIMES FOUR FOR, FOR THE OVERALL UNITS.
BUT E EVENTUALLY EVERYBODY WILL GET A, A, A NOTICE, BUT IF, IF WE START WITH THOSE LARGER ONES AND REALLY GET, WE CAN GET A LOT KNOCKED OUT AT ONE TIME.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO SHARON WITH REPUBLIC.
SO REROUTING THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE WAS A CHALLENGE AFTER NOT DOING IT FOR 20 YEARS, BUT WE WERE SURPRISED TO SEE THAT THERE WERE ACTUALLY SOME AREAS THAT PEOPLE WERE STILL USING GARBAGE CANS THAT THEY HAD PURCHASED FROM HOME DEPOT AND THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT STILL DIDN'T HAVE BATON ROUGE CARTS.
SO WE WERE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED THAT WE HAD TO GO PICK THOSE UP AND DELIVER BATON ROUGE CARTS TO THEM.
AND WE'RE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT.
SO WITH THAT, UM, WE HAD TO REEDUCATE PEOPLE ON THE AUTOMATED TRUCK HAVING
[02:15:01]
TO PUT YOUR CART OUT AT TO THE CURB SO THAT THE ARM COULD REACH IT AND THAT NOT PUTTING IT IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR YARD.AND PEOPLE ON RAILROAD TRUCKS HAVE A TENDENCY YOU CAN GO GET THE CART, RIGHT? SO, AND WE CAN'T GO IN YOUR BACKYARD AND GET IT, AND WE CAN'T GO ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
SO WE'RE DEALING WITH THOSE ONE-OFFS AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE, UH, SOME, UH, OTHER AREAS THAT WE'VE HAD TO, WE'VE DECIDED TO CONVERT TO DUMPSTERS BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SAFE FOR US TO DO.
AND, AND WE'VE NOTIFIED SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WE NEEDED TO DO THAT.
AND WE'VE WENT OUT AND PUT FLYERS AND MY TEAM HAS MET A LOT OF RESIDENTS INDIVIDUALLY AS A RESULT OF DOING THIS.
I TELL YOU WE'RE ABOUT 96% ON COMPLETION OF DOING ALL OF THAT.
WE STILL DO HAVE SOME IN SOME RURAL AREAS THAT WE'VE GOTTA GET SOME MORE CARTS OUT TO THAT THEY DO HAVE THOSE OLD METAL GARBAGE CANS THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE USING AND EVEN SOME HOME DEPOT CARTS.
SO WE ARE GETTING THOSE PUT OUT AS QUICKLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
UM, BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE GLAD TO SEE THAT OUR ROUTES ARE BEING FINISHED EARLIER.
DRIVERS ARE COMING IN AND A A A MUCH, UH, EARLIER TIME PERIOD AROUND THE THREE O'CLOCK TIME IN THE AFTERNOON, THREE 30 SOME DAYS, SOME DAYS A LITTLE BIT LATER.
BUT IT JUST DEPENDS ON IF IT'S A ONE-OFF IF THERE'S TRAFFIC.
BUT THE REROUTE HAS WORKED FOR, WHAT WE WANTED IT TO DO IN COUNCILMAN HUDSON, WHICH YOU ASKED, IS BY US SEPARATING IT LIKE WE NEEDED TO.
WELL, NOW THERE'S SOME TWEAKING THAT WE'RE HAVING TO DO JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT WE'RE HAVING TO GO BACK AND LOOK AND SAY, OKAY, WE HAVE TO SERVICE THIS WITH A REAR LOADER JUST BECAUSE BY DESIGN WE CAN'T USE AN AUTOMATED TRUCK.
AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART, WE'RE REALLY HAPPY WITH THE REROUTE AND WE THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO, IN THE LONG, LONG RUN, IT'S GONNA BE GREAT FOR THE CITIZENS OF BATON ROUGE AS WELL.
ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO TO QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? WE'RE GONNA HAVE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 21 AND EXCUSE ME? NOT ITEM 1 21.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM NOW? WE GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
NO, I'M GONNA LET SOMEBODY ELSE BE BEFORE YOU COUNT.
UH, ON THE CART THING YOU MENTIONED THAT Y'ALL PASS BY, THEY TAKE A PICTURE, THEY SEND Y'ALL HOW MANY CARTS THEY HAVE.
DOES THAT INCLUDE CARTS? Y'ALL PURPOSELY LOOK UP BY THEIR HOUSE TO SEE HOW MANY CARTS THEY HAVE ALSO? OR IS THIS JUST CARTS THAT THEY PUT OUT BY THE ROAD? IF THEY CAN PHYSICALLY SEE THAT THERE'S MULTIPLE CARTS, THEY'LL TAKE A PICTURE AND THEN WE TAKE THE PICTURE AND WE SEND IT TO THE CITY, THEN THEY, THE CITY HAS INSPECTORS AND THEY WILL GO AND RE AND CERTIFY THAT AS WELL.
AREN'T WE GETTING NEW CARTS IN THIS CONTRACT? NO, NO, WE'RE NOT GETTING NEW CARTS.
SO THERE'S NO DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN WHAT THEY'VE HAD BEFORE SERVICE CHANGED AND WHAT THEY HAVE NOW CART WISE, OTHER THAN A CART.
EVERY CART HAS ITS OWN NUMBER ON IT THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TELL THAT THERE'S DIFFERENT CART.
I GUESS IT'S JUST, IT IS KIND OF, IT'S A LITTLE CONCERNING THAT, UM, IF WE TAKE PICTURES OF CARTS UP BY, I MEAN, IF THEY'RE ONLY PUTTING ONE CART OUT, IT'S ONE CART PERIOD.
UH, IF THEY HAVE LEFTOVER CARTS FROM YEARS AGO, OR SAY THEY HAVE LEFTOVER CARTS THAT FLOATED UP DURING A FLOOD MM-HMM.
I WOULD SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THEY PUT TWO CARTS OUT AT A TIME FOR PICKUP OR THEY PUT, START PUTTING MULTIPLE CARTS OUT THAT WE WOULD HAVE A PICTURE OF AND CHARGE THEM.
BUT IF THEY JUST PUT ONE CART OUT THAT'S FOR YOU, AND THEY HAVE MULTIPLE CARTS UP BY THEIR HOUSE, BUT THEY ONLY PUT ONE CART OUT AT A TIME, WOULD THAT STILL COUNT AS ONLY ONE CART BEING PUT OUT? IT'S OKAY.
THE PICTURES THAT WERE TAKEN IN JANUARY WERE CARTS AT THE CURB.
THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY AT THE HOUSE.
BUT AGAIN, I'M JUST TRYING TO, FOR, FOR PURPOSES OF CONSTITUENTS CALLING, THEY HAVE BY NOW, OF THE LENGTH OF THIS CONTRACT OVER 10 YEARS.
AND I UNDERSTAND WE JUST REDID IT.
THEY HAVE MULTIPLE CARTS, PERIOD.
AND WE'RE NOT CHANGING THE CARTS, WE'RE NOT CHANGING THE LOOK OF THE CARTS.
THEY JUST HAVE 'EM STACKED UP BY THEIR HOUSE.
HOWEVER THEY GOT 'EM OVER THE YEARS, WHETHER THEY BOUGHT 'EM, RENTED, YOU KNOW, SO ON, NOW WE'RE CHARGING RENT, BUT THEY ONLY PUT ONE CART OUT AT A TIME IF THEY PUT MULTIPLE CARTS OUT.
I UNDERSTAND WE CHARGE RENT OR WHATEVER ELSE, BUT IF THEY'RE ONLY PUTTING ONE CART OUT AT A TIME AND WE JUST HAPPEN TO SEE MORE CARTS UP BY THE
[02:20:01]
HOUSE, ARE WE GOING TO CHARGE THEM FOR MULTIPLE CARTS? I, I THINK WHAT, WHAT WE'RE ASKING TO DO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST TO DO RIGHT NOW IS JUST SEE WHAT'S AT THE CURB.I, I JUST, I DON'T WANNA GET A CALL FROM SOMEBODY GOING, HEY, WE HAD A BUNCH OF CARTS UP BY THE HOUSE, THEY SENT ME THIS PICTURE OF IT, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME, UH, WITHOUT AT LEAST GOING TO 'EM OR, OR GETTING SOMETHING THAT SAYS, HEY, I EITHER WANT TO KEEP THESE OR YEAH, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO TAKE 'EM.
COUNCILMAN MOGUE, ANYBODY THAT'S CALLED AND ASKED US TO SEND THEM A PICTURE.
IT WAS ACTUALLY OF THE NUMBER OF CARTS THAT WERE AT THE CURB.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, UH, SH SHARON, I KNOW YOU GUYS HAD SOME ISSUES WITH, UH, FULFILLING PART OF THE CONTRACT WITH THE UPDATED TRUCKS DUE TO AN ISSUE OUT, OUT OF YOUR CONTROL.
WHERE ARE WE AT? UM, WHAT ARE THE HOLDUPS AND THAT KIND OF THING? YES.
SO UA UH, UAW SO MAC MACK TRUCKS IS CURRENTLY ON STRIKE NATURALLY AND IT IS AFFECTING PRODUCTION AND DELIVERY OF OUR TRUCKS.
BUT BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF THE YEAR OF THE, THIS YEAR, BY DECEMBER 31ST, WE WILL HAVE 18 OF 'EM COME IN, AND THEN THE REST OF OUR DELIVERY SCHEDULE BY THE END OF MARCH OF THE NEXT YEAR.
SO THOSE WILL ALL BE PUT INTO PLACE.
AND THEN BETWEEN THAT TIME, BECAUSE WE GOT WORD OF THAT, WE BROUGHT IN NEW EQUIPMENT FOR US TO USE UNTIL OURS COME IN.
SO MY OTHER QUESTION WAS, UM, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS REPORTING AND BEING ABLE TO REPORT, UM, THE NUMBER OF HOMES WHEN WE DON'T COMPLETE A ROUTE.
AND WE'RE, WE'RE, I KNOW FROM THE ROUTE CHANGE WE CAN SEE WHERE WE'RE REALLY STARTING TO ADDRESS THAT.
BUT WE DO STILL HAVE ISSUES WHERE MAYBE A TRUCK BREAKS DOWN YEAH.
OR SOMETHING HAPPENS AND, AND A ROUTE DOESN'T GET COMPLETED.
UM, ARE Y'ALL AT A POSITION WHERE YOU CAN START REPORTING THAT DATA OR NOT? AND IF NOT, WHAT'S THE HOLD UP? WE CAN PROBABLY START DOING IT, BUT WE'RE GONNA BE VERY EFFICIENT WHENEVER OUR NEW TRUCKS COME IN BECAUSE OF THE NEW TRUCKS, CAMERAS ON THE ARM AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO RECORD IT AND IT'LL BE LIVE ALL DAY.
UM, ADAM, I, I, LET ME ADVOCATE THAT I, I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE THESE REPORTS IN ADVANCE OF MM-HMM.
IT'S BENEFICIAL FOR ME TO LOOK AT THE INFORMATION, UM, IN ADVANCE OF COUNCIL MEETINGS.
SO I'D ASK THAT MOVING FORWARD JUST TO BUILD OFF OF THE NEW TRUCK'S CONVERSATION.
UM, AM I CORRECT THAT THOSE TRUCKS ARE NEW TRUCKS? ARE, ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE CAMERAS ON THEM? THEY'LL HAVE SEVEN CAMERAS AROUND THE ENTIRE TRUCK AND THERE'S ONE SPECIFICALLY ON THE ARM OF THE TRUCK.
SO IT'S GONNA BE A SERVICE VERIFICATION.
YOU'LL BE ABLE TO TELL THE CUSTOMER THAT THEY WERE SERVICED OR NOT.
JUSTIN, WOULD YOU MIND PULLING UP SLIDE THREE I THINK WAS MISSED SERVICES WAS THE TITLE OF THE SLIDE.
AND ADAM, I'M THE QUESTION I HAVE ON, UH, SLIDE THREE, MISSED SERVICE PER GARBAGE.
WHAT, WHAT DOES MISSED GARBAGE MEAN? AND I GUESS MORE SPECIFICALLY, DOES THAT MEAN I WAS MISSED, THEREFORE I CALLED 3 1 1 AND AND NOW I'M A NUMBER ON THAT CHART.
OR I WAS MISSED? I CALLED 3 1 1 AND NO ONE CAME BACK TO GET IT WITHIN A 24 HOUR PERIOD.
THIS, THIS IS, UH, THE FIRST ONE, THE FIRST THESE, THESE ARE RAW NUMBERS IS THE NUMBER OF SERVICE REQUESTS THAT COME IN FOR MISSED GARBAGE PER WEEK.
SO THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT SCRUBBED IN ANY WAY.
IF THERE WAS A DUPLICATE, IT'S IN THERE.
IF IT WAS, IT MAY HAVE BEEN A MISSED SERVICE.
IT IT, IT'S RAW DATA THAT'S IN THERE.
THE, THAT GUESS I'LL CALL IT RESOLUTION RATE.
SO IF I'M A MISSED SERVICE, I CALL AND IT IS PICKED UP, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT THAT PERCENTAGE LOOKS LIKE.
THOSE THAT ARE VISITED WITHIN 24 HOURS.
AND, AND I GUESS MORE IMPORTANTLY, IF IT'S NOT PICKED UP IN 24 HOURS AND THAT'S A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER, THAT'S, THAT'S DATA I WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
AND AGAIN, I, I KNOW EVERYBODY'S, UH, WE ALL WANT THE NEW TRUCKS AND, AND I KNOW IT, IT'S FRUSTRATING WAITING ON THE NEW TRUCKS, BUT THEY'RE GONNA BE SO BENEFICIAL IN REPORTING THAT INFORMATION.
UH, THE, THE FIRST THING'S GONNA BE, IT'S LIKE LOOKING AT THE GPS.
HEY, WAS THE TRUCK THERE OR NOT? PEOPLE, SOME PEOPLE CALL IN, HEY, THE THAT'S RIGHT.
MY STREET WAS MISSED THE WHOLE, THEY MISSED THE WHOLE STREET.
WELL FIRST THING THAT'S WE'RE GONNA DO IS DID, DID THE TRUCK GO DOWN THE STREET OR NOT? YES OR NO? VERY GOOD.
AND THEN SECONDLY IT, THAT, THAT ANSWERS THE FIRST QUESTION.
IF IT DID, THEN THAT'S WHEN WE START LOOKING AT THE CAMERA TO SEE DID THEY SERVICE IT AND THAT THEY DID NOT SERVICE IT.
WHY DID THEY NOT SERVICE IT? WAS THERE AN ISSUE OR DID THEY JUST,
[02:25:01]
DID THEY DRIVE BY IT? AND THAT AGAIN, THAT THAT'S GONNA BE, UH, WHERE THESE, THESE NEW TRUCKS ARE GONNA BE SO BENEFICIAL IN, IN THE ACCOUNTABILITY STANDPOINT.AND WE'LL GET SHARON TO GO SOLVE THAT UAW STRIKE AND TAKE CARE OF THIS TRUCK
SO, AND THAT WAS, UM, THAT WAS ACTUALLY WHY WE DEFERRED IT FROM THE LAST TIME BECAUSE SHE WAS MEETING WITH THEM DURING THE, THE COUNCIL.
OH, YOU LITERALLY WERE WORKING ON IT.
SO I KNOW, AND THIS IS JUST TRASH IN GENERAL, WOODY WASTE DEBRIS, EVERYTHING ELSE WE TALK ABOUT.
IF I DON'T KNOW ALL THE RULES, I KNOW FOR SURE THE POPULATION OF BATON ROUGE DOES NOT KNOW ALL THE RULES TO TRASH, DEBRIS AND JUNK AND WHATEVER IT IS.
'CAUSE WE'VE CHANGED THEM SO MUCH, UM, IN THE PAST THREE TO SIX MONTHS OF HOW WE WANT TO PROCEED WITH THINGS.
SO THE ONE THING THAT I'VE CONSISTENTLY ASKED YOU AS MS. MANN, AND I'M GONNA ASK PAUL WITH RDI, IS TO EDUCATE THE PEOPLE.
I'VE, I'VE PROVIDED RESOURCES FOR POTENTIAL FILM CREWS THAT ARE, UM, INEXPENSIVE THAT CAN CREATE CARTOON BASED VIDEOS.
NOT, THERE'S OTHER COMPANIES YOU CAN CHOOSE OUT THERE, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE BILLBOARDS.
WHEN I, WHEN I GET A, A ADVOCATE UPDATE OR SOMETHING, WE NEED TO LEVERAGE THOSE PLATFORMS THAT SHOW PEOPLE PROPER WAY TO PUT OUT TRASH, UM, UH, JUNK AND DEBRIS AND UM, OR WHATEVER MEDIANS YOU CAN USE THAT ENSURE THAT WE PROPERLY INFORM PEOPLE.
AND YOU CAN GEO-TARGET THE ENTIRE CITY OF BATON ROUGE FOR PENNIES ON DOLLAR COMPARISON, WHAT YOU DO WITH OTHER PLACES.
BUT EXPECTING PEOPLE TO KNOW THE RULES JUST DOESN'T WORK.
UM, I, I EVEN CHALLENGED VINCE THAT WITH THE NEW THING WITH SEVEN TWO HOUR RULE, RIGHT? SO THIS STUFF HAPPENS IN HERE SO FAST, WE JUST TO PROVE WHAT WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.
BUT IT HAS A RESOUNDING EFFECT ON THE PEOPLE THAT HAS VOTED, UH, ON HAVE TO EITHER PAY IT AND SUPPORT THOSE SERVICES, UM, OR GET A LETTER IN THE MAIL SAYING YOU'RE GETTING FINED OR, UM, WHATEVER IT MAY BE THAT GOES TO VINCENT FOR YOU GUYS WITHIN, WHICH IS SUCH A DRASTIC INCREASE IN THE PRICE OF WHAT THEY PAY ON A MONTHLY BASIS AND TO RECEIVE SUCH PORT SERVICES IN THE FIRST 45 DAYS.
AND, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
WE KNOW IT'S PART OF TRANSITION, RIGHT? SO WE'VE GIVEN YOU SOME GRACE AS A COUNCIL BODY, BUT THE AVERAGE PERSON DOESN'T CARE.
'CAUSE I KNOW MY, MY CAR, MY OFFICERS FLOODED WITH CALLS INITIALLY.
THE TRASH WAS MISSED AND THEY DID PICK IT UP THOUGH.
SO I WANT GIVE THEM KUDOS THAT IF I CALLED WILLIE OR I CALLED SHARON OR I DIDN'T HAVE JUST RELATIONSHIP WITH PAUL UNTIL RECENTLY, BUT THEY DID WHATEVER WE ASKED HIM TO DO.
SO IT WASN'T, THAT WOULDN'T GO BACK AND GO GET IT.
BUT A LOT OF IT WAS FROM MISINFORMATION.
SO WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING BETTER THAN SENDING A CARD IN THE MAIL THAT'S GOING TO TRASH.
IT'S GOING TO TRASH AT YOUR HOUSE.
IT'S GOING TO TRASH AT MY HOUSE.
AND PROBABLY EVERYBODY UP HERE.
SO IF A DIGITAL PLATFORM IS A WAY THAT PEOPLE PUT OUT MESSAGES, DON'T WANNA REACH THE MASSES 'CAUSE EVERYBODY HAS THEIR PHONES IN THEIR HAND.
WE NEED TO START USING THAT PLATFORM AS WELL TO, UM, TAKE SOME OF THESE DOLLARS THAT WE PAY THESE CONTRACTORS AS A PART OF A MARKETING OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE THAT GAP OF INFORMATION.
AND I KNOW, UH, SHARON HAS TALKED ABOUT A, A COMMERCIAL IN THE PAST, SO, WE'LL, WE'LL WORK ON THAT.
COUNCILOR MCC COLEMAN, JUST A QUICK, UH, QUESTION HERE AND MAYBE, UM, CLARIFICATION, BECAUSE TIGERTOWN HAS CONCERNS ABOUT THE DUMPSTERS.
YOU KNOW, YOU GOT THE MULTIPURPOSE BUILDINGS AND ALL OF THAT.
AND SO WE'VE GOT IN, UH, QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT MULTIFAMILY BUILDING AND THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE ABOUT THE DUMPSTER REQUIREMENT.
AND SO THAT'S FOR THE COMMERCIAL AND FOR THE RESIDENTS.
THEY SO CLARIFY THAT AS TO WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW, PLEASE.
SO ANYTHING THAT IS OVER A TRIPLEX IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE MULTI-FAMILY IN THE NEW CONTRACT.
AND AS, AS PART OF THAT, THE CONTRACT STATES THAT THOSE, THAT MULTIFAMILY WILL BE SERVICED BY DUMPSTERS.
SO NOW THAT THAT WENT INTO EFFECT SEPTEMBER ONE, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE STOPPED PICKING UP CARTS, UH, UH, SERVICING THE CARTS ON SEPTEMBER ONE IF THEY HADN'T CONVERTED OVER.
WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO, TO WORK WITH THEM RIGHT NOW AS WE,
[02:30:01]
UH, CONTINUE THIS, THIS TRANSITION PROCESS.BUT IF, IF THEY'VE GOT A A, A FOURPLEX OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEN THEY SHOULD CONVERT TO TO, TO DUMPSTERS.
AND AGAIN, THEY CAN DO THAT BY, UH, GOING TO 3 1 1.
THERE'S A SERVICE REQUEST TYPE CALLED MULTIFAMILY CART TO DUMPSTER.
IT GOES DIRECTLY TO REPUBLIC'S OFFICE AND THEY GO OUT AND MEET WITH THE LANDOWNER TO LOOK AT THAT SITE IN PARTICULAR TO DETERMINE WHAT THE, THE BEST OPTION IS FOR, FOR THAT PROPERTY.
AND ALSO JUST FOR THE RECORD, ONE OF THE CONCERN WAS WHERE THE DUMPSTERS WERE PLACED AND THAT THEY WERE NOT ALL IN GOOD SPOTS AND, AND WAS YEAH.
IN PLACES THAT WE'RE BLOCKING FOLK FROM BEING ABLE TO MANIPULATE, UH, MATRICULATE.
AND, AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON FOR THE, THE SITE VISIT 'CAUSE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN BE PLACED, NUMBER ONE, WE CAN'T PUT 'EM IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
WE CAN'T BLOCK, UH, SOMEONE'S, UH, SITE BEING ABLE TO, TO PULL OUT ONTO THE STREET.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS TO, TO LOOK AT.
AND THAT, THAT'S THE INTENT OF THE SITE VISIT BEFORE THEY, THEY MAKE THAT CONVERSION.
COUNCIL MEMBER MO UH, I GOT ONE THING I WANNA TELL YOU ABOUT THE, UH, MULTIFAMILY AND THE CONVERSION AND EVERYTHING Y'ALL, I WANT TO COMMEND Y'ALL ON WORKING WITH THE, UM, THE DWELLINGS ON, UH, GRANDFATHERING IN THEIR CARTS POSSIBLY.
I KNOW WE HAD TWO OR THREE OF 'EM THAT Y'ALL VISITED, UM, IN CENTRAL THAT THERE JUST WAS NOWHERE TO PUT DUMPSTERS.
UM, ARE, ARE Y'ALL STILL LOOKING INTO A LOT OF THOSE? WHAT IS OUR KIND OF POINT OF CONVERSION AS FAR AS PEOPLE CONVERTING OVER? UH, OR DO WE STILL HAVE JUST MOST A LOT STILL OUT THERE? THERE THERE'S A LOT OUT THERE.
UM, AND, AND WE WILL HAVE TO, WE WILL JUST HAVE TO SEE HOW WE HANDLE IT FROM A, WHEN WE DRAW THAT LINE TO WHERE, OKAY, IT'S NOW YOU'RE NON-COMPLIANT.
I CAN TELL YOU IT AT THIS POINT.
IT'S AT LEAST THE END OF THE YEAR BEFORE WE, WE START LOOKING INTO O OTHER AVENUES.
BUT LIKE YOU SAID, THE, THERE WERE, WE'RE TRYING TO CONVERT PROPERTIES THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN DESIGNED FOR DUMPSTER.
THEY WERE DESIGNED FOR, FOR CARTS.
SO THE, THE INTENT IS TO CONVERT THEM OVER, BUT IF IT JUST ABSOLUTELY DOESN'T WORK FOR WHATEVER REASON, AND IT, IT'S NOT AN ISSUE TO CONTINUE TO SERVICE THEM AS CARTS, THEN THAT'S THE WAY IT'S GONNA BE.
AND LIKE YOU SAID, THERE, THERE'S BEEN A HANDFUL OF THOSE CASES.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART WE, WE'D LIKE TO, UH, TO CONVERT 'EM TO DUMPSTER.
RIGHT? AND I ASKED ABOUT THAT PROCESS EARLY ON.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT, UM, THEY CAN CALL Y'ALL.
NO, DON'T JUST SIT THERE AND LEAVE, KEEP PUTTING YOUR CARTS OUT UNTIL YOU KNOW, Y'ALL GET A OUT OF, OUT OF, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU DRAW THE LINE, YOU GET OUT OF THE AREA THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE NOT SERVICING THEM OR WHATEVER.
SO JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYBODY DO KNOW THAT IF YOU, IF THEY HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT WHERE THEY CAN PUT ONE OR WHATEVER, PLEASE GIVE Y'ALL A CALL.
LIKE I SAID, THE ONES THAT THREE OR FOUR THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH IN MY DISTRICT, I I THINK HAVE COME OUT PRETTY WELL.
Y'ALL WENT OUT THERE PRETTY QUICK, LOOKED AT IT.
UM, EVEN TO THE POINT THAT EVEN INSTEAD OF DOING THE WHOLE AREA IN, IN DUMPSTERS, YOU DID A MULTI-USE THING.
'CAUSE IT WAS MULTIPLE OWNERS DOWN ONE STREET AND SO ON.
SO SOME OF 'EM GOT TO KEEP THEIR CARTS, SOME OF 'EM HAD TO CONVERT TO A DUMPSTER 'CAUSE IT WAS IN THE BACK.
ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT I'M HAVING RIGHT NOW IS I'VE GOT TWO CONSTITUENTS, AND THIS IS FOR RDI THAT HAVE SENT PICTURES.
THEY'VE SENT REQUESTS FOR PICKUP OF, UH, LIMBS OR TREES OR STUFF THAT THEY HAVE IT BUNDLED OR, OR TRIMMINGS.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF 'EM ARE, UH, PRETTY GOOD SIZE.
WOODY WASTE IS, I DON'T THINK IT'S A WHOLE TREE AS FAR AS LIKE CUTTING DOWN A OAK TREE, BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY'RE TELLING ME NOW THROUGH EMAILS IS THE FACT THAT, OH, WE SENT THIS OUT BEFORE THE NEW, UM, GUIDELINES, BEFORE THE NEW RESTRICTIONS AND EVERYTHING WENT IN AND SO ON AND SO FORTH, AND IT NEVER GOT PICKED UP.
NOW AFTER THE CHANGEOVER, UM, WE'RE GOING OUT THERE PUTTING NOTES ON THE DOOR TO, HEY, WE'RE NOT GONNA PICK THIS UP.
UH, I DID EMAIL, UM, FORWARD THOSE EMAILS TO Y'ALL TO LOOK INTO, BUT JUST WANTED TO LET IT BE KNOWN THAT I DO HAVE A A TWO, IT'S JUST TWO.
BUT I DO HAVE SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE COMING IN WITH, IN THE TRANSITION PART.
THEY FELT LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PICKED UP BEFORE THE CONVERT OVER AND THEN IT WASN'T.
SO I WOULD'VE ASKED Y'ALL TO PLEASE LOOK INTO THOSE IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS THOSE TYPE OF COMPLAINTS.
IT'S STILL ON THAT EDGE OF SOME STUFF COULD
[02:35:01]
BE LEFT OUT.COUNCILMAN? NO, UH, ADAM, I KNOW WE'VE SPOKEN BEFORE ON THE, THE MULTIFAMILY, THE DUMPSTER SITUATION.
UM, I I, I STILL THINK THAT'S PROBLEMATIC IN A LOT OF AREAS.
UM, I'M GLAD TO SEE THERE'S A PATH AND WE'RE WORKING WITH PEOPLE WHERE IT DOESN'T FIT.
UM, IS THERE, WHO, WHO IS THERE A A, A PATH OR IT, WHAT DO WE SEEING IN THE SCENARIOS WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, WE KNOW IT WON'T FIT, WE'VE ALREADY LOOKED AT IT, IT WON'T FIT.
IS IS THERE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE REGULAR CARD SERVICE AT THOSE EVEN THOUGH THE CONTRACT SAYS SOMETHING DIFFERENT? OR DOES THE CONTRACT SPEAK TO THAT SCENARIO? I, I DON'T THINK IT SPEAKS TO THAT SCENARIO, BUT I'LL, IF, IF REPUBLIC MAKES THE DECISION THAT WE CAN'T PUT DUMPSTERS, THEN WE WILL CONTINUE TO SERVICE THE CARTS.
AS FAR AS WHAT SPECIFICALLY DROVE THAT DECISION.
I, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO SHARON BECAUSE SHE'S, HER TEAM'S THE ONE GOING DO THE SITE VISITS.
THERE'S SEVERAL REASONS WHY, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S OVERHEAD SPACE, WHATEVER.
BUT WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS WE'RE, IF WE CAN'T PUT IT OUT THERE, IF WE CAN'T PUT A DUMPSTER THERE FOR WHATEVER THE REASON, WE'RE ACTUALLY USING IT ALSO AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REEDUCATE THE RESIDENTS ON HOW TO SET THEIR CARTS OUT.
BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS NOT JUST THAT THEY CAN'T HAVE A DUMPSTER BECAUSE WE'D RATHER THEM HAVE A DUMPSTER, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO REEDUCATE 'EM ON HOW TO SET THE CARTS OUT.
SO WHAT COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN WAS TALKING ABOUT IN TIGERLAND, THAT'S OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE RIGHT THERE, IS HOW THEY'RE ALL BEING SET OUT AND HOW WE CAN GET 'EM.
SO IT REALLY HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL FOR US TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
SO I THINK TO YOUR POINT, IN SOME OF YOUR AREA, THERE ARE AREAS THAT WE'RE JUST NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO IT.
BUT IN EDUCATING THEM HOW TO PUT THEM OUT HAS BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL.
AND, AND I THINK ANOTHER PART OF THAT IS WHEN YOU HAVE, UH, SOME SCENARIOS WHERE IT'S MULTIPLE OWNERS YEP.
THEN, THEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, IT IS A REALLY DIFFICULT THING TO TRY TO WEDGE IN.
BUT EVEN IN A SCENARIO WHERE IT'S A SINGLE OWNER MM-HMM.
UH, GARBAGE SERVICE TO THE LANDLORD.
AND USUALLY IF YOU'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, LANDLORD NEEDS TO PROBABLY INCREASE RENT TO OFFSET THAT EXPENSE.
AND SO TIME SOMETIMES MAY BE, UM, IT MAY BE PRUDENT TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, IF THEY SAY, HEY, GIVE ME TIME TO MAKE THESE ADJUSTMENTS, I, I'D HOPE WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE LANDLORDS IN THAT SITUATION.
WORKING WITH THEM VERY CLOSELY, AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY KIND OF TAG TEAM AND THEN SOME OF 'EM ARE SHARING DUMPSTERS.
SO INSTEAD OF A TWO YARD, THEY'RE SAYING, HEY, LET'S GET TOGETHER AND GET A FOUR YARDER.
AND THEN WE'RE, THEY'RE SHARING THOSE DUMPSTERS TOGETHER.
AND THEN, UM, I, I GUESS THE, THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS IS ON ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY PLAN RIGHT NOW ON MULTIFAMILY, BUT ARE, ARE WE GETTING WITH PERMITTING AND MAKING SURE WE'RE, UM, ON THE FRONT END, UH, HAVING, HAVING THIS READY AND SET UP FOR DUMPSTERS? YES.
IN THE, IN THE, YOU KNOW, IN THE BEST CASE SCENARIO THAT FITS FOR PICKUP FOR PUBLIC.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID, UH, ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO NOW, IS WE, WE STARTED LOOKING AT THE, THE PLANS I STARTED IN SEWER ENGINEERING YEARS AGO.
AND THEN WHAT WE, WE DID WAS, AS WE'RE REVIEWING THEM FROM A SEWER PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT 'EM FROM A SOLID WASTE PERSPECTIVE.
WHAT ORIGINALLY CAME UP WAS SOME OF THESE SUBDIVISIONS THAT ARE, UH, THEY'VE GOT THE ALLEYWAYS, IT'S VERY NARROW.
WE WERE FINDING THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE TURNING RADIUS THAT WAS NECESSARY TO, FOR THE GARBAGE TRUCK TO MANEUVER THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT.
SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE, THAT'S HOW WE KIND OF GOT STARTED ON THIS, WAS MAKING SURE THAT THE, THE GARBAGE TRUCKS COULD SERVICE THE DEVELOPMENTS WHEN, UH, WHEN THEY WERE BEING DESIGNED.
SO NOW THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER ASPECT OF IT.
IF THEY'RE DESIGNING FOURPLEXES, IT WOULD NEED TO BE DESIGNED FOR A DUMPSTER INSTEAD OF BEING DESIGNED FOR A CAR.
UM, I, I THINK, UM, LOOKS LIKE THERE'S SOME RAIN COMING IN THE FORECAST.
UH, AND, AND I WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK AT REMOVING THE BURN BAND, BECAUSE THAT'S TYPICALLY HOW WE TAKE CARE OF WOODY WASTE IN MY AREA.
SO I KNOW I'VE GOT A FIRE PIT THAT'S OVERFLOWING AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN MY AREA DO SO.
I'M GONNA HAVE IT ON THE AGENDA.
[02:40:01]
AMAROSA, I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF SOMEONE WAS FROM RICHARDS THAT WAS HERE TONIGHT.MIGHT WANT TO GIVE SOME KIND OF AN UPDATE OR ANYTHING.
COUNCILMAN ULYSSES ADDISON, REPRESENTATIVE RICHARD'S DISPOSAL.
UM, ACCORDING TO OUR 3 1 1 CENTER, WE ARE CAUGHT UP ON ALL OF OUR, UM, UH, UH, ISSUES REGARDING, UH, OUTER CART.
UM, THERE IS A DISTINCTION BETWEEN OUTER CART, ADDITIONAL SERVICE THAT IS BEYOND THE 40, UM, 10 ITEMS AND 40 POUNDS IS WHAT WE DIAL A CART, THE ADDITIONAL SERVICE.
WE ALSO TAG THAT A NOTICE ON THE, ON THE PICKUP.
ANYTHING WOODY WORTH THAT IS BEYOND WHAT COUNCILMAN MOCHA SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT BEING OUT BEFORE THE SEPTEMBER DATE.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, UM, UM, REPUBLIC AS WELL AS MS. MANN TO GET THAT OUT, OFF THE GROUNDS BEFORE, UH, IF IT'S STILL OUT THERE NOW WE WORK WITH COUNCIL SAFF AND WORK WITH THE, UH, REPUBLIC, UM, AGENCY TO BE SURE THOSE OFF THE GROUND AS WELL.
BUT AS OF TODAY, WE GET OUR CALLS AS REPORTS FROM THE 3 1 1 CENTER AND WE ARE UP TO DATE ON ALL THAT.
COUNCILOR MO, I DIDN'T KNOW WE'D GET TO ASK BONES QUESTIONS.
THIS, THIS IS GONNA GET INTERESTING NOW.
THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT YOU ASKED FOR CERTAIN, NOT LEAST, UH, FOR ME.
I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT.
WE, WE GET CALLS OF, OF STREETS NOT BEING PICKED UP.
SO I DO APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE, UH, TO THOSE CALLS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
UH, NOTHING LIKE A CONSTITUENT WHOSE TRASH HADN'T BEEN PICKED UP.
I THINK ALL OF US UP HERE KNOW.
SO THANKS FOR WORKING WITH US TO DO THAT.
[Items 73 & 83]
TURNING TO PAGE 13, WE'RE GONNA TAKE ITEM 73 AND 83 TOGETHER.ITEM 73 IS SUPPLEMENTAL RESOLUTION, AMENDING THE SUPPLEMENTING AND AMENDING THE RESTATED GENERAL BOND RESOLUTION NUMBER 4 4 8 9 3, PROVIDING FOR EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF LOAN AGREEMENT BY BETWEEN EAST RIDGE PARISH SEWAGE COM COMMISSION AND LOUISIANA LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITIES AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BY BOND COUNSEL.
AND ITEM 83, AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATIONS OF NOT TO EXCEED 164,408, EXCUSE ME, $164,408,925 OF BOND PROCEEDS AND OTHER FUNDS FROM SEWER SYSTEM TO PARTIALLY REFUND CERTAIN MATURITIES OF THE 2020 A SEWER REVENUE BONDS THROUGH THE TENDER OFFICE TRANSACTION, DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND THE FINANCE DIRECTOR.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 73 AND 83? COUNCIL MEMBERS A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKER? SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 73 AND 83 HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
[74. 23-01368]
AUTHORIZING THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL TO GRAND LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT, ACCESS RIGHTS, INCLUDING INGRESS AND EGRESS FOR PARCEL AR 12 DASH FIVE AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT EXECUTE AGREEMENT WITH THE ACQUISITION OF ACCESS RIGHTS BY THE PARISH ATTORNEYS.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 74, COUNCIL MEMBERS? MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, SECONDED BY THE CH BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO NOW TO ITEM 75,
[75. 23-01367]
AUTHORIZED NEW METROPOLITAN COUNCIL DECLARE PARCEL 30 DASH SEVEN A SURPLUS PROPERTY AND NOT NEEDED FOR PUBLIC PURPOSE IN AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF THE ST.LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT FOR THE APPRAISED VALUE OF SUM OF $99 IN AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, PRESENT, EXECUTE AND PURCHASE AGREEMENT, CASH SALE.
CLOSING DOCUMENTS BY PARISH ATTORNEY, ANYONE HERE WISHES TO SPEAK ON ITEM 75? WE NOW WILL TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED BY MS. COLEMAN.
COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. ANY OBJECTIONS? WE NOW GO TO ITEM 76
[76. 23-01369]
AUTHORIZING THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL TO DECLARE A PARCEL OF 33 DASH ONE AND 33 1 DASH C DASH ONE AS SURPLUS PROPERTY AND NOT NEEDED FOR PUBLIC PURPOSE AND AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF THE SAME TO LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE APPRAISED VALUE IN THE SUM OF $120,099 AND 17,000 $105 RESPECTIVELY.AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A PURCHASE AGREEMENT CASH SALE.
CLOSING DOCUMENTS BY THE PARISH ATTORNEYS.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 76? COUNCIL MEMBERS? IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. ANY OBJECTIONS? WE NOW GO TO ITEM 77,
[77. 23-01421]
AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION.NEXT SHOOTER INTERGOVERNMENT AGREEMENT WITH EAST RIDGE PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO LEASE 10,000 SQUARE FOOT HANGER FOR A PERIOD OF 15 YEARS AT A RENTAL RATE OF $32,500 PER YEAR BY AVIATION DIRECTOR.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS? SO MOVE.
IS THERE, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN? ANY OBJECTIONS? WE NOW GO TO ITEM 78.
[78. 23-01424]
AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE BATMAN POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ENTER TO A SUB RECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH THE 19TH JUDICIAL COURT IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $200,000 TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR A JOINT POLY ELECTRONIC MONITORING PROGRAM BY THE CHIEF OF POLICE.IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING SPEAK ON ITEM 78? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
[02:45:03]
IT, IT, I, I'M, I'M CURIOUS IS IF THIS IS, THIS SEEMS VERY SIMILAR TO AN ITEM WE HAD, I THINK IT WAS EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND, UM, WE KIND OF DISCUSSED IT AT LENGTH AND ULTIMATELY DENIED IT, UM, FOR A MYRIAD OF REASONS.CAN Y'ALL GIVE US A, A, AN IDEA OF WHY THIS IS DIFFERENT OR IF IT'S DIFFERENT? IT IS, UH, IT'S QUITE DIFFERENT.
UH, BEFORE WE WERE HERE, UH, TRYING TO MOVE THROUGH THE CJCC, UH, THIS SUB RECIPIENT AGREEMENT IS, UH, DIRECTLY THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM.
UM, THE, IT, THE COURT SYSTEM WILL BE THE MONITORING AGENCY, UH, FOR THOSE ELECTRONIC MONITORS, UH, BASED OFF OF THE NEW LEGISLATION.
AND, UH, AGAIN, IT, THE PILOT FOR THIS ONE WILL BE DIRECTED TOWARD DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
SO YOU'RE SAYING IT'S GONNA BE MONITORED BY THE COURT? IS THAT THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE HERE? UH, YES.
THE COURT SYSTEM ALREADY HAS, UH, THOSE MONITORS IN PLACE, BUT THEY'RE GONNA HIRE PERSONNEL, UH, TO, UH, OVERSEE THAT PROCESS.
DO YOU KNOW, IS ANY PART OF THE 200,000 GOING TO OFFSET THE EXPENSE THAT'S TYPICALLY INCURRED BY THE PERSON WHO'S BEING MONITORED? UH, I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER TO THE 19TH JDC ON THAT.
BECAUSE I THINK PART OF, I THINK WHAT IS, UH, I THINK A, A GOOD PART OF THE PUNISHMENT IS THE EXPENSE THAT THEY INCUR WHEN THEY HAVE TO BE MONITORED.
SO I WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE ANY OF THE FUNDS GOING TO OFFSET THAT FOR THEM.
BUT IF IT'S FOR THE FACILITATING JUST HAVING MORE BANDWIDTH, UH, OR, OR MONITORS OR CAPACITY TO MONITOR, THEN I THINK I WOULDN'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IT.
BUT I, I, I WOULD PROBABLY WANT THAT ANSWERED.
HEY, I'M GONNA LET CLEVE GO MORE CLARITY FIRST.
YOU REMEMBER I STRONGLY OBJECTED TO THIS ITEM BEFORE, PRIMARILY BECAUSE AS UM, WAS MENTIONED BEFORE, THIS WAS PROPOSED TO GO THROUGH THE CC JCC, CJ CCC, AND IN MY MIND THIS WAS A WORKAROUND TO, UM, DO THIS WITHOUT THE CURRENT VENDORS WHO ARE PROVIDING SERVICES NOW AND PUT THEM OUT BUSINESS.
AND THIS MODEL, THE VENDORS ARE INCLUDED THROUGH THE 19 JDC AND THEY HAVE SELECTED VENDORS WHO ARE DOING THIS WORK THAT'S GONNA USE THESE BEST PRACTICES THAT THEY RECOMMEND, UH, TO EXECUTE THIS MONITORING.
SO I REMOVE MY OPPOSITION BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING IT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE VENDORS WHO ARE DOING IT AND I ELIMINATE THOSE VENDORS.
BUT THAT'S A, THAT'S A DIFFERENCE IN THE STRUCTURE AND THE FRAME AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
SO I WILL, UH, I, I'VE TALKED TO JUDGE DON JOHNSON ABOUT THIS AND I DIDN'T GO INTO DETAIL.
WHAT HE TOLD ME IS THAT I'D GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IT.
SO I'M GONNA ASK FOR A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DEFER FOR 30 DAYS AND HAVE THEM COME PRESENT TO US EXACTLY WHERE THIS MONEY'S GOING AS IT RELATES TO ANKLE MONITORING.
'CAUSE UM, JUST, I I JUST ASKED FOR A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
YOU DID YOUR MOTION TO APPROVE SECOND BOARD.
YEAH, WE GOT A, UM, MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE.
ARE YOU WITHDRAWING YOUR MOTIONS, PLEASE? ALRIGHT.
MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS TO APPROVE AS ISAIAH SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
THERE'S A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DEFER FOR 30 DAYS OF A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER NOLL, COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.
NOT SURE IF, UM, IF YOU ARE AWARE, AWARE OF THIS, BUT, UM, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION THAT I'VE BEEN INVOL INVOLVED WITH, WITH, UM, A COUPLE OF THE JUDGES FROM THE, UM, FROM BOTH THE, UH, FROM THE JUVENILE COURT JUDGE AND TWO OF THE, UH, 19TH DISTRICT WHERE, UM, THERE'S A LOT MORE TECHNOLOGY THAT IS BEING USED AND THEY HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A WAY TO GET IT INTO OUR SYSTEMS BECAUSE THE ANKLE MONITORS, UH, ARE CAUSING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL TRYING TO WORK.
UM, AND IT HAS BECOME A HINDRANCE.
SO THEY HAVE THE BRACELET, THE, UM, LIKE A IPHONE DEVICES AND SO YEAH, THE WATCHES AND, UH, THE TECHNOLOGY HAS, SO THIS IS LITERALLY, UM, SAYING ELECTRONIC MONITOR MONITORING, BUT HOW DO WE, IS THERE A WAY TO DO WHERE THERE'S SOME, UM, CHANGE OR VENDOR WHERE THEY CAN USE SOMETHING ELSE? BECAUSE
[02:50:01]
IF SOMEBODY'S WILLING TO WORK AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GREAT, WE WANT TO KEEP 'EM WORKING, BUT, UM, AND I DO BELIEVE IT, IT, IT SHOULDN'T FEEL GOOD AND THEY SHOULD, UM, UH, FEEL THE, UH, IMPACT OF, UM, WHATEVER THE SITUATION IS.BUT IF PEOPLE ARE, ARE LITERALLY TRYING TO WORK, AND THAT'S A BARRIER.
I THINK ALSO THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TRY TO WORK ON, UM, KEEPING THEM WORKING SO THEY COULD PAY FOR THE MONITORING.
SO I WANTED TO KNOW HOW DO, HOW CAN, UM, WE GET THAT TOGETHER OR, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS PILOT PROGRAM, I WASN'T AWARE OF IT, BUT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT, UH, IN THOSE MEETINGS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT PILOTING THE, UM, THE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND IF IT COULD BE DONE THROUGH THE NEW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT, THAT'S IDEAL.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW, THE CARDINAL ALREADY LEFT, WHATEVER.
WELL, I CAN SAY THIS COUNCILWOMAN, I THE, WE OFTEN SPEAK OF ANKLE MONITORS.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES.
UM, I KNOW THERE WAS SOME RESEARCH DONE ON COST EFFECTIVENESS AND, AND BASICALLY, UH, WE WANTED TO BE RESPONSIBLE WITH THE MONEY.
UM, BUT AGAIN, THAT PROCESS, UH, WE, WE ARE JUST ASSISTING THE 19TH JDC, UH, IN THAT PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THAT SAFETY.
THE BIGGEST THING RIGHT NOW FOR US IS PROTECTION OF THOSE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND THAT IS OUR MAIN PRIORITY AS WELL AS THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE OFFENDERS.
UM, THERE AGAIN, THERE, THERE MAY BE SOME, SOME THINGS AS FAR AS, BECAUSE OF COURSE WE HAVE HEARD OF THE WATCH THE ANKLE, AND THEN THERE ARE SOME OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE OUT ON THE MARKET.
BUT AGAIN, AND CHANCES ARE IT'S UP TO THE VENDOR.
I, I I THINK DEVICE THEY PROBABLY WOULD PREFER TO USE.
NO, I WAS JUST, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT DICTATING COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN DUNN FOR WORKING COLLABORATIVELY.
YOU KNOW, I, I WAS OKAY WITH THE WAY IT WAS DONE LAST TIME, BUT WHAT'S ULTIMATELY IMPORTANT IS THAT WE REFORM THE SYSTEM, RIGHT? WE KNOW WE HAVE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE FUNCTION OF MONITORING WITHIN THE COURT SYSTEM.
UH, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, GOING INTO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
WE KNOW IT'S A VULNERABLE POPULATION.
UM, UH, I'M GLAD THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN WORK THROUGH THE DIFFERENCES AND, AND COME TO SOMETHING THAT WILL, UH, HOPEFULLY BE VERY POSITIVE THING AND WOULD JUST URGE EVERYONE TO SUPPORT IT TONIGHT.
COUNCILMAN HARRIS? SO, UM, WHAT COUNCILMAN BANKS SAYS, WELL, SOME OF WHAT, SOME OF THE REASONS THAT I DIDN'T HAVE CLARITY ON JUST IS, UM, WHAT WERE SOME OF THE MANDATES THAT WERE A PART OF THIS? I SUPPORTED LEGISLATION THAT BRE PUT IN PLACE.
I BELIEVE WE NEEDED TO IMPROVE ANKLE MONITORING ACROSS THE BOARD, BUT AS COUNCILWOMAN BANKS SAID, YOU HAVE SOMEBODY AT WORK WITH A SUPER LARGE ANKLE MONITOR ON WHO'S NOT PROVEN GUILTY.
AND SO IT CREATES A PERCEPTION FOR THAT PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL.
AND SO SOME OF MY CONCERN WAS IS HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD? AND THEN WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF USING ADDITIONAL TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN STILL, WHAT DID YOU USE, WHAT TERM DID YOU USE? THE REAL ELECTRONIC MONITORING SYSTEMS? YEAH, ELECTRONIC LOCATION.
UM, BUT THERE'S SEVERAL WAYS THAT HAPPENS IN THE CAR, RIGHT? I CAN, I CAN CHECK MY WATCH, I CAN MONITOR MY PHONE, I CAN PUT A LOCATION DEVICE.
THERE'S, SO, THERE'S SO MANY THINGS I CAN DO YOUR IPAD, I CAN CREATE A APP, WHAT, WHAT, WHATEVER IT IS.
BUT THE POINT IS THAT I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHERE THESE FUNDS WERE GOING, HOW THEY WERE BEING IMPLEMENTED.
I'M NOT AGAINST IT, BY THE WAY.
I THINK WE DO NEED TO PUT TIGHTER REINS ON IT.
I JUST WANTED A PRESENTATION TO SHOW HOW THEY'RE BEING USED AND IMPLEMENTED, NOT JUST A RUBBER STAND, BUT THIS KNOWING THAT THIS MONEY'S GONNA DIRECTLY AFFECT SOMEBODY'S LIFE.
JUST TO HELP YOU OUT, SIR, JUST A LITTLE BIT.
SO, UM, THE FUNDS ARE GOING TO BE USED, THERE'S $200,000 AND IT WOULD BASICALLY, THOSE FUNDS WOULD BE USED, UH, FOR ABOUT 20 INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ACCUSED OF A DOMESTIC BATTERY, A DOMESTIC ABUSE TYPE OF CRIME.
UM, IT WILL OFFSET SOME OF THE FEES AND THE DIFFERENCE WITH THIS PROGRAM AS, UH, COMPARED TO THE DIFFERENCE WITH SOMEONE THAT IS OUT ON,
[02:55:01]
UM, A FELONY, UH, AGGRAVATED RAPE OR MURDER, OR ATTEMPTED SECOND DEGREE MURDER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IS OFTENTIMES IN YOUR DOMESTIC PROGRAMS, YOU HAVE A HUSBAND AND A WIFE THAT ARE FIGHTING.UM, AND THERE ARE ALLEGATIONS THAT ARE MADE THAT TECHNICALLY I COULD GO AND MAKE THOSE ALLEGATIONS NOW, AND THEY, THEY'RE NOT SUBSTANTIATED ON THE FRONT END.
AND YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LONG COURT PROCESS IN ORDER TO DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, WHO'S RIGHT AND WHO'S WRONG, WHO GETS THE CHILDREN, WHO GETS THE HOUSE.
UM, THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE INVOLVED THAT INDUCE FOLKS, UNFORTUNATELY TO LIE.
UM, THE WAY THAT DOMESTIC ABUSE, UM, LAW IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, IT ALMOST BENEFITS A SPOUSE TO CLAIM A DOMESTIC ABUSE, UM, CRIME AGAINST ANOTHER SPOUSE BECAUSE THEY COME OUT WITH MORE MONEY, MORE PROPERTY, AND MORE RIGHTS TO THE CHILDREN IMMEDIATELY IF THERE'S A PROTECTIVE ORDER IN PLACE.
UM, THIS PROGRAM AND H HOW IT HAS BEEN REVAMPED INTO THE DOMESTIC PROGRAM WILL ALLOW FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF THIS PARTICULAR CRIME TO BE MONITORED AND FOR THE COURT SYSTEM TO SEE THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY DOING THE RIGHT THING.
WHEREAS CURRENTLY AS IT STANDS, IT IS A PRIVATELY FUNDED PROGRAM, AND THE, UH, ACCUSED PERSON WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE MONITORING SYSTEM, WHICH MEANS THAT, UM, THEY COULD GET A NEGATIVE RESPONSE OR A NEGATIVE REPORT, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING WRONG, IF THEIR BATTERY DIES.
AND REALLY, THIS IS JUST A PILOT PROGRAM TO SEE IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA WITH REGARD TO DOMESTIC, WHETHER OR NOT IT'S GOING TO WORK AND MOVE FORWARD IN THE 19TH JDC.
SO BASED UPON THAT INFORMATION AND BEING THAT IT IS NOT BEING USED FOR, UM, HARDENED FELONS ACCUSED OF PRETTY SERIOUS CRIME, UM, I THINK, I THINK WE'RE IN A BETTER POSTURING THIS TIME LOOKING AT THIS PROGRAM RATHER THAN WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT LAST TIME.
SO WITH THAT INFORMATION AND MY UNDER, THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING, I BELIEVE IT TO BE, AND I, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT YOU ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT.
UM, I BELIEVE IT TO BE A BETTER PROGRAM THIS TIME, THIS GO-ROUND, AND AS YOU WERE SPEAKING, THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE 19 JDC JUST SHOWED.
SO YEAH,
I'M THE JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE 19TH JDC.
SO I JUST SPOKE WITH ONE OF THE JUDGES TO GET SOME CLARITY IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM.
SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, AND YOU CAN CONFIRM THIS, IS THIS IS BEING FOCUSED, THIS PROGRAM'S BEING FOCUSED ON DOMESTIC ABUSE, BATTERY AND, AND FOLKS THAT ARE ACCUSED OF THAT PARTICULAR CRIME IN THE 19TH JDC, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
IT, IT'S A, IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM, AND THE FIRST PHASE OF THAT IS GONNA FOCUS ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
IF IT IS SUCCESSFUL DOWN THE ROAD, WE MAY EXPAND IT TO INCLUDE, UM, ANYONE WHO, WHO COULD BE SUBJECT TO LOCATION MONITORING.
BUT AT FIRST, RIGHT NOW, LIMITING IT IS JUST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND WITH THAT, WHEN YOU'RE MONITORING SOMEONE WHO COLLECTS THAT DATA, WHO WILL BE IN COLLECTING THAT DATA.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE, THAT'S WHAT THE FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR.
WE ARE GOING TO, FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S GONNA BE A COMMITTEE THAT WILL HELP TO FOLLOW WITH THE LEGISLATURE JUST ENACTED TO SET STANDARDS FOR THE, UM, THE VENDORS, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, SO THAT THERE ARE STANDARDS IN PLACE.
SO THE 19TH WILL KIND OF TRY TO TAKE A STEP FORWARD FROM, FROM THE STATE AND SAY, OKAY, THESE ARE THE STANDARDS THAT YOU NEED TO MEET.
THERE'S AN APPLICATION PROCESS, AND THEN ONCE THEY'RE APPROVED, THERE'LL BE A LIST.
SO THEN WE HAVE THESE, THIS LIST OF APPROVED VENDORS WHO MEET THESE STANDARDS.
AND WHENEVER SOMEONE IS, IS, UM, REQUIRED TO BE ON LOCATION MONITORING, THEY CAN CHOOSE FROM THAT LIST OF APPROVED VENDORS.
THOSE VENDORS NEED TO REPORT TO OUR CENTRAL LOCATION IN OUR PRETRIAL PROGRAM.
AND SO THEY'LL HAVE COURT STAFF WHO WILL RECEIVE THAT DATA FROM THESE VARIOUS VENDORS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY THERE'LL BE, BUT THAT INFORMATION WILL COME INTO A CENTRAL LOCATION WITHIN THE COURT.
THEN THAT WILL ALLOW THAT CENTRAL COMMAND CENTER, OR WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT, TO GO AND DISSEMINATE THE INFORMATION TO THE JUDGES, TO THE PRETRIAL PROGRAM SO THAT THE INFORMATION IS SENT OUT IN A TIMELY FASHION TO THE PEOPLE THAT IT NEEDS TO GET TO.
LET ME MAKE YOUR TIME, PLEASE.
SO WITH THAT PROGRAM, UM, I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE CONCERNS PREVIOUSLY WHENEVER THIS CAME BEFORE US WAS THAT WE DID NOT, AND THE LEGISLATION HAD NOT BEEN PASSED.
WHENEVER WE WERE LOOKING AT THAT, UM, IT WAS, WE HAVE SOME ACTUAL REALLY GOOD VENDORS IN THE 19 JDC THAT PERFORM THIS FUNCTION CURRENTLY.
[03:00:01]
AND, UM, THEY'RE NOT ALL EQUAL OB OBVIOUSLY.SOME, SOME HAVE CHALLENGES AND OTHERS HAVE ADVANTAGES.
UM, WE ARE NOT PUTTING ANY OF THE PRIVATE VENDORS OUT OF BUSINESS BY MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS TONIGHT, ARE WE? NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
AND, AND THE STANDARDS THAT ARE GOING TO BE PUT INTO PLACE AND ESTABLISHED BY THE COMMITTEE ARE SIMPLY WHAT IS GOING TO BE ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE YEP.
BY THIS LEGISLATION THAT'S BEEN ENACTED.
SO IT'S JUST, WE ARE TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THAT AT THE 19TH AND, UM, AND CREATE SOME KIND OF RULES OF THE GAME, SO TO SPEAK.
'CAUSE IT'S ALL NEW, IT'S ALL BRAND NEW.
SO YOU GUYS ARE AHEAD OF THE GAME AND YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE KINKS ARE BY ESTABLISHING THIS PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE'S PROTECTED AND EVERYONE'S SAFE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, AND THAT WE'RE ENFORCING THE NEW LEGISLATION PROPERLY IN THE 19TH.
I, I WOULD LIKE TO GO WITH MISS, UM, COUNCIL COUNCILMAN DUNN'S, UH, PREVIOUS MOTION AND MOVE FORWARD ON THIS TONIGHT.
I HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION AND I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT IN, UM, YOUR PROGRAM AND WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING A PRESENTATION.
OH, YOU WITHDRAWING YOUR SECOND.
I DON'T HAVE A CARD, BUT THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUN SECONDING BY THE CHAIR.
[79. 23-01426]
TO ITEM 79, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT THE GRAND WAR FROM THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE FISCAL YEAR 23 NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERSHIP IN THE AMOUNT OF $500,000 WHILE THE CHIEF OF POLICE IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.IS THERE A MOTION? SO MORE BY COUNCILMAN COLEMAN? SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS WE GO TO NOW? ITEM 80.
[80. 23-01467]
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ALLOW A ONE TIME DONATION TO SPARE POLICE.UNIT NUMBER 3 0 6, THE BRIDGE CENTER FOR HOPE BY THE POLICE CHIEF.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO THE COUNCIL.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMANS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM, IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS WE'RE NOT.
[81. 23-01425 ]
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT THE GRANT AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $35,758 TO ENHANCE COLLABORATIVE PLANNING FOR THE MASS DISPENSING RESPONSE BY HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DIRECTOR.IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? WE NOW GO TO THE COUNCIL.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
ANY OBJECTIONS FOR THE ITEM 82
[82. 23-01427]
AMENDING THE PRELIMINARY CURRENT EXPENSE BUDGET AND CAPITAL BUDGET OF SUBSID OF BATON ROUGE PARISH ABUSE BATON ROUGE FOR THE YEAR 2024, SUBMITTED BY THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND ADOPTING THE FINAL CURRENT EXPENSE BROUGHT BY THE CAPITAL BUDGET OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE FOR THE YEAR, YEAR OF 2024.THIS ITEM MUST BE RECESSED TO THE DECEMBER 12TH, 2023 METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISION OF THE PLAN GOVERNMENT BY THE MAYOR.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM WHEN HOUR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS? IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION TO RECESS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO RECESS? SO MOVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
ANY OBJECTIONS? THE ITEM HAS BEEN RECESSED TO THE DECEMBER 12TH, 2023 MEETING.
COUNCIL MEMBERS WE GO TO ITEM 84.
[84. 23-01470]
AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH THE SOFTWARE SERVICES WITH 13 SOFTWARE AND SERVICES LLC FOR TAX COLLECTION DELINQUENT PROCESSING AND AUDIT ASSESSMENT SOFTWARE SYSTEM IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $778,015 BY FINANCE DIRECTOR.IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER'S.
MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
ANY OBJECTIONS WE REGARD TO COUNCIL MEMBER NOLL, SOMEBODY FROM FINANCE SPEAK ON THIS OR THE ADMINISTRATION? I'M JUST CURIOUS WHETHER THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE UTILIZED IN THE PAST.
IF THIS COUNTRY IS SOMEBODY WE'VE UTILIZED OR IF THIS IS NEW.
UM, THIS SYSTEM, THE SYSTEM WE CURRENTLY HAVE, WE'VE HAD FOR ABOUT 16 YEARS AND, UM, WE WANTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME NEW TECHNOLOGY.
SO WE, WE DID AN RFP AND WE HAD SIX VENDORS THAT, UH, SUBMITTED PROPOSALS TO US AND WE NARROWED IT DOWN TO THIS VENDOR.
UM, THERE ARE CURRENTLY ABOUT 45 PARISHES IN LOUISIANA THAT ARE USING THIS COLLECTION SOFTWARE.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY COMFORTABLE THAT IT'S GONNA BE ABLE TO HANDLE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO.
SO IS THE OLD ONE JUST NOT HANDLING THE CAPACITY OR WHAT'S IT IT JUST HAS NOT HAD ANY UPGRADES THERE.
MM-HMM
WE ALSO CAL, WE COLLECT OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE, INSURANCE, PREMIUM TAX, HOTEL MOTEL.
SO THE QUANTITY OF DATA THAT WE PROCESS THROUGH THIS SYSTEM IS MASSIVE.
AND SO THE MOST EFFICIENT PROCESSES WE CAN, YOU KNOW, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.
SO THAT, THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN USING THE SAME ONE FOR 16 YEARS, SO, SO THIS IS GONNA BE, IT'S GONNA MONITOR, BUT IT'S ALSO GONNA FACILITATE COLLECTION FROM
[03:05:01]
UH, THIS IS THE SYSTEM THAT WE INPUT ALL OF THE, UH, SALES TAX RETURNS INTO AND IT HELPS US CALCULATE THE DISTRIBUTION.SO IT TELLS US, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH WE HAVE TO GIVE TO CITY OF BAKERS, ZACHERY CENTRAL, THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THAT KIND OF THING.
SO IT FACILITATES THAT PROCESS SO WE CAN GET THAT ALL DONE WITHIN THE TIMELINES.
IS THIS ALSO THE SAME SYSTEM THAT BUSINESSES USE TO PAY TAXES TO CITY PARISH? IT? NO, WE DOWNLOAD FROM THAT SYSTEM.
PARISH E-FILE IS THE SYSTEM THAT THE STATE, UM, ACTUALLY PAYS FOR AND WE DOWNLOAD RETURNS FROM PARISH E-FILE INTO THE CITY PARISH COLLECTION SYSTEM.
AND THOSE FILINGS ARE WHAT TELLS YOU WHO TO SEND TO BASED ON YES, DEPENDING ON WHAT COLUMN THEY FILE IN.
SO IN THE EVENT THAT THE STATE MOVES TO A CENTRALIZED SALES TAX COLLECTION MODEL, DOES THIS SOFTWARE BECOME OBSOLETE? UH, OR WOULD WE STILL BE USING THIS? WE WOULD STILL BE USING THIS SOFTWARE.
UM, THE ONLY CENTRALIZATION THAT THEY'RE EVEN DISCUSSING AT THIS POINT IS FOR SALES TAX AND WE DO CALCULATE, UM, OR WE DO COLLECT OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE, HOTEL, MOTEL, UM, INSURANCE, PREMIUM TAX, PUBLIC UTILITY TAX.
SO WE DO HAVE OTHER TAXES, BUT EVEN, UM, THE, THE DISCUSSIONS THEY'VE HAD TO DATE ON THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE SALES TAX IS ACTUALLY JUST THE ONLINE FILING SECTION OF IT AT THIS POINT.
IT'S NOT THE COLLECTION OF THE TAX, IT'S BEING CONSOLIDATED, IT'S THE FILING OF THE TAX.
SO THERE'LL BE A SINGLE RETURN THAT THE UNIFORM LEGAL SALES TAX BOARD WILL BE PROVIDING TO BUSINESSES AND THEY CAN FILE, YOU KNOW, WHERE IT GOES.
AND THEN THE UNIFORM SALES TAX BOARD SYSTEM IS WHERE WE WILL DOWNLOAD FROM, BUT WE WILL STILL DOWNLOAD INTO A COLLECTION SYSTEM.
WE STILL NEED ONE THAT WILL CALCULATE THE DISTRIBUTION AND ALL THAT FOR OUR SIDE.
I ASKED FOR ANY OBJECTION, ANY OBJECTIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBER ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[85. 23-01469]
AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT ATTENTION TO AN EXECUTING AMENDMENT NUMBER NINE TO THE GRANT FUNDED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND HUNT AND GILLARD AND ASSOCIATES, LLC AMENDING DETERMINATION DATE TO JANUARY 31ST, 2024 AND INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION BY $1,770,460 75 CENTS FOR A TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $8,083,476 AND 87 CENTS BY THE MAYOR PRE BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.DOES ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM COUNCIL MEMBER? YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 85.
COUNCILMAN BUSS THERE, SOMEBODY FROM THE ADMINISTRATION, I GUESS MARLEY THAT CAN COME AND SPEAK TO THIS ONE.
SO THIS WAS JUST A BIG CHANGE.
SO, SO IT, YOU KNOW, GRABBED MY ATTENTION WITH BEING 1.7 MILLION.
UM, BUT THE OTHER THING THAT GRABBED MY ATTENTION WAS THAT WE, IN INTRODUCTIONS, AND I'M ASSUMING THESE ARE SORT OF CONNECTED, BUT CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, UM, IN INTRODUCTIONS FOR NEXT WEEK, THERE'S ALSO WHERE WE'RE REALLOCATING OR, OR REASSIGNING FUTURE OR, OR PREVIOUS YEAR BUDGETS.
WHAT, WHAT ARE WE DOING AND SURE.
UH, SO, UH, IN RESPONSE TO C OVID 19, WE RECEIVED EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE DOLLARS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN LIEU OF KIND OF EXPANDING A DEPARTMENT IN A REALLY BIG WAY FOR TEMPORARY DOLLARS.
IT'S, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ADMINISTRATION AT THAT TIME, UH, CONSULTED WITH HGA TO, TO REALLY ADMINISTER THAT PROGRAM IN COORDINATION WITH SEVERAL LOCAL PARTNERS, YWCA URBAN RESTORATION ENHANCEMENT CORPORATION, MID-CITY REDEVELOPMENT AND OTHERS TO, TO RUN THIS RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN, IN COOPERATION WITH COMMUNITY.
UM, SO, UH, THIS EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS, IS ENDING VERY SOON, IS SUPPOSED TO END AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, AND WE NEED SOME TIME FOR CLOSEOUT.
AND SO THIS A, A BIG CHUNK OF THIS FINAL AMOUNT OF MONEY IS FOR THAT CLOSEOUT OF THIS PROGRAM.
AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS IS A PART OF THAT.
UM, THERE'S ALSO SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN THAT BUDGET PROVIDING CONTINUAL KIND OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW ASSISTANCE, OTHER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM HUD AND ALL OF THE FUNDING FOR THIS, UM, AMENDMENT IS COVERED THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATIVE DOLLARS WE RECEIVE FROM OUR FEDERAL FUNDING.
AND SO JUST NOT INCREASE ANY GENERAL FUND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROGRAMS. THANK YOU.
I'M GONNA TAKE A PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE, UH, DURING THIS TIME MYSELF.
COUNCILMAN CLEVE DUNN, COUNCILMAN MOCH HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO GO TO HOUSTON LAST WEEK WAS LAST WEEK.
IT FEELS LIKE ALREADY ELECTED THOUGH.
WITH, UH, MARLEY AND Y'ALL KNOW, I'M VERY VOCAL, SO I WOULD TELL SOMEBODY WHEN THEY'RE NOT GOOD FOR CITY PARISH, YOU THINK.
BUT I WILL, UH, ALSO TELL SOMEBODY WHEN THEY'RE AMAZING FOR CITY PARISH AND I'M GONNA TELL Y'ALL A COUPLE THINGS Y'ALL DID NOT KNOW, KNOW MARLEY TURNED DOWN YALE, MIT, AND HARVARD TO WORK FOR CITY PARISH BECAUSE SHE BELIEVED AND WANTED TO MAKE OUR
[03:10:01]
CITY BETTER.NUMBER TWO, SHE LITERALLY DOMINATED EVERY CONVERSATION IN HOUSTON AND BECAME THE EXPERT WHERE THEY WANTED TO BUILD A PARTNERSHIP WITH BATON ROUGE 'CAUSE OF THE TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT BRING TO THE TABLE.
AND IN THE AIRPORT, SHE WAS OFFERED A VICE PRESIDENT JOB AT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF HOUSTON AND TURNED IT DOWN BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO SEE BATON ROUGE BE THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.
SO I WANT TO JUST COMMEND YOU ON ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND THANK YOU FOR BEING THE BEST PART OF CITY PARISH.
I WANNA ECHO MANY OF THOSE SENTIMENTS THAT COUNCILMAN HURST, UH, MADE, UH, AS I JOKED WITH HIM AND MARLEY IN HOUSTON.
AND WHEN HE MADE SOME OF THE COMMENTS TO HER PERSONALLY, UH, I SAID, I TOLD MARLEY, I SAID, I ALREADY KNEW THOSE THINGS ABOUT YOU, ALTHOUGH COUNCILMAN HIRST JUST FOUND THAT OUT.
SO WE, WE BELIEVED IN YOU BEFORE HOUSTON
BUT I ALSO ASKED MARLEY RESPECTFULLY, I PULLED HER ASIDE AND SAID, MARLEY, PLEASE STOP TALKING.
I THINK THEY'RE GONNA TRY TO OFFER YOU A JOB
AND IT ACTUALLY DID HAPPEN THE NEXT DAY AFTER ME AND COUNCILMAN MOOG LEFT.
MIKE SHAR, I'M SO RED RIGHT NOW.
I THINK WE WERE ABLE TO SEE SOME REALLY INCREDIBLE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WORKFORCE HOUSING AND INVESTMENTS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS CAN MAKE ON THE CITY AS A WHOLE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH.
AND SO, SO EXCITED TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU ALL TO BRING SOME OF THAT HERE.
AND I JUST WANNA MAKE ONE OTHER COMMENT TOO, THAT MARLEY HAS A OFFICE OF FIVE PEOPLE AND WHAT I FOUND OUT IS SHE HAS 20 YEARS OF COMPLIANCE FOR EVERY FEDERAL, UM, DEAL.
SHE WORKS WITH HOUSTON, LET GO OF 60 PEOPLE IN THE SAME DEPARTMENT THAT MARLON HAS FIVE IN.
SO SHE HAS EARNED A LOT OF GRACE FROM ME WITH SOME OF THE COMPLIANCE WORK THAT SHE DOES TO GET SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF OUT.
COUNCIL MEMBER, IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? NO.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? MOTION BY COUNCILOR MCC COLEMAN? SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 85 HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[86. 23-01471]
THANK YOU.COUNSEL AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND BRISCO INVESTMENTS, INCREASING THE CONTRACT BY $18,250 2 CENTS BY MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 86? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? WE CAN NOW GO TO ITEM 87.
[87. 23-01472]
A MOTION TO APPROVE WILL BE CONTINUED UPON GRANTS REVIEW.AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO AUTHORIZE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITHOUT SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA LEGAL SERVICES TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL AID CASE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE WITH EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $499,767.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 87? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 87? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCC COLEMAN.
[88. 23-01502]
WE AND DIRECTING THE CLERK OF COURT TO COUNCIL NOTICE TO ATTEND IN THE MATTER OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSUS PRUDENT ACQUISITIONS LLC 2 8 6 3 THOMAS H DELL PUT REASON FOR DECISION OWNERS OBTAINING PERMITT FOR REPAIRS BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCC COLEMAN.ANY SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COUNCILMAN COLEMAN? SO MOVED.
[89. 23-01492]
AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT IN THE MATTER OF ENTITLED STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY AND MATTHEW HURLEY IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,550 PLUS COURT COSTING THE AMOUNT OF $302 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $10,852 BY PARISH ATTORNEY.IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM WE GO TO? COUNCIL, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER NOLES SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO TO ITEM 90,
[90. 23-01493 ]
AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT IN THE MATTER ENTITLED VICTOR SIMMONS AND CITY OF BATON ROUGE ETAL IN THE AMOUNT OF $14,500 PLUS COURT COSTS IN AMOUNT OF $533 50 CENTS FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $15,023 50 CENTS BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE'RE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE SOME MOVE BY COUNCILMAN MINNO? SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN COLEMAN? ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO TO ITEM 91
[91. 23-01495]
AUTHORIZING THE SETTLEMENT, THE CLAIM OF ANDREW ELL AND FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEE IN THE AMOUNT OF $16,500.WHILE PARISH ATTORNEY IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM, WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE SOME MOVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS? SECONDED BY THE CHAIR? ANY OBJECTIONS? WE NOW GO TO ITEM 92.
[92. 23-01497]
AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO TEXT YOU THE SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPLEMENT TO AN EXISTING CONTRACT FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES OF THE GROOM ROAD, LOUISIANA LA 19, THE PLANK ROAD FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING CONSULTING CORPORATION IN THE MILE, NOT EXCEED $15,707 AND 40 THROUGH CENTS BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.[03:15:01]
TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN NICOLE.
ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO NOW TO ITEM 93,
[93. 23-01499]
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACT WITH CARBO LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE.PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION FOR THE PERKINS OVERPASS DISTRICT ENHANCEMENT PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $134,250 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAIN DIRECTOR MARK MARTIN.
I LIVE AT 5 0 5 UNIVERSITY WALK AND I WANT TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
UM, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS IN BATON ROUGE AND WHEN I GOT HERE, THERE WAS ALREADY A GOAT PATH UNDER THAT OVERPASS.
IT HAS ONLY GOTTEN BIGGER AND MUDDIER AND ALL THAT.
UM, THIS WAS DRIVEN LARGELY BY THE FACT THAT THE INTERSTATE PROJECT IS COMING ALONG AND IT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE BUSINESSES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE.
UM, DOESN'T MAKE IT A A A NONVIABLE PROJECT, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY VIABLE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ALREADY USING IT, UH, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S NOTHING THERE BUT DIRT.
UM, THE THING THAT IT'S NOT GOOD ABOUT IT, AND THIS DOES NOT MEAN IT SHOULDN'T BE APPROVED, IT'S NOT IN THE PED BIKE MASTER PLAN.
AND BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN THE PED BIKE MASTER PLAN, IT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING ABOUT IT TO CONNECT IT TO A LARGER NETWORK, WHICH IS WHAT THE PED BIKE MASTER PLAN IS ABOUT DOING THAT WOULD BE FAIRLY LOW COST.
UH, IT WOULD ONLY INVOLVE UPGRADING, REPAIRING, REPLACING THE SIDEWALK ALONG PERKINS, BETWEEN CITY PARK AND WHATEVER THE ENTRANCE WILL BE TO GO UNDER THE OVERPASS AND SOME WAY FINDING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BRIDGE.
ONE TO TAKE PEOPLE DOWN, RAYMOND TO PARKER AND GET THEM UP.
SO WHERE THEY CAN GET INTO CLAY, CUT AND ARD, WHICH THEN GOES FURTHER EAST AND WEST ON THE OTHER SIDE TO CONNECT TO THE LAKES AND FROM THERE WHERE THEY WANT TO GO.
IT'S DESERVING OF YOUR SUPPORT.
IT COULD BE A REALLY GREAT PROJECT IF WE JUST PUT A LITTLE MORE INTO IT.
UH, THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME, BUT IT SHOULD HAPPEN.
FRED, I SAW YOU RESPONDING, SHAKING YOUR HEAD.
CAN YOU RESPOND TO SOME OF THIS COMMENTS? YES, MA'AM.
AND CERTAINLY WHILE IT MAY NOT BEEN IN THE MASTER PLAN AT, AT THAT POINT, AND BECAUSE WHEN WE FINALLY REALIZED THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE, 'CAUSE WE DO HAVE ROUTES THAT WE WERE TRYING TO PROVIDE CONNECTIVITY, WE KNOW THAT'S IMPORTANT.
THAT'S ONE OF THE MAYOR'S MAJOR GOALS, IS TO HAVE CONNECTIVITY FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS.
WE ALSO KNEW THAT, UH, THE PERKINS ROAD OVERPASS WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE, UH, BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE WORK THAT THE DOTD IS DOING FOR THE INTERSTATE.
THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO DO SOME WORK ON PERKINS.
SO THAT IS PLUGGED INTO THE PLAN, UH, TO THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
UH, ALSO ON RAYMOND, WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME OTHER AREAS ALONG PERKINS ROAD, WHAT WE CAN DO TO ADDRESS HAVING MORE, UH, PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY, UH, SIDEWALK ACCESSIBILITIES BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT, THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE WILL LOOK AT, UH, WHEN WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PLAN.
OUR GOAL AND OBJECTIVE FROM DAY ONE HAS BEEN CONNECTIVITY.
AND WE, WE HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS GOING ON.
WE WANT TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE SURE ALL THAT IS CONNECTED.
AND WHEN WE DO HAVE THAT PLAN, WE CERTAINLY WILL HAVE NO PROBLEM GOING BACK TO THE BOARD, WHICH WE CAN DO TO ASK THAT, UH, THE ED GROUP TO APPROVE COUNCIL MEMBER.
I CAN SAY THAT THIS GENTLEMAN BACK HERE, MR. MARTIN, UM, DOES NOT OWN A CAR.
SO YOU'RE VERY, UH, CONSCIENTIOUS OF SINCE 1991.
UM, AND I'LL, I'LL ECHO MR. MARTIN'S COMMENTS, BUT FRED, I'LL USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADVOCATE THAT WE NEED A PEDESTRIAN BICYCLE MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTER.
WE NEED A POSITION, AND DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE IN YOUR SHOP, FRED.
IT CAN BE IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
BUT SOMEONE WHO'S CONVENING WITH MR. MARTIN AS A MEMBER OF THE COMPLETE STREETS COMMITTEE, WITH THE MOVIE VR TEAM, AND WITH BRECK AND WITH MANY OTHERS ON IMPLEMENTING THAT MASTER PLAN.
[03:20:01]
REPORT ON IT IN THE PAST.WE ARE MISSING OPPORTUNITIES AND, AND IN MANY SENSE, WE ARE BURNING DAYLIGHT.
SO I THAT'S IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT DIRECTED AT YOU, FRED.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO RESPOND.
I'M ADVOCATING AS WE'RE IN BUDGET SEASON, THAT WE NEED A POSITION WITH HIGH LEVEL AUTHORITY, UH, WHO CAN, UH, BE AN IMPLEMENTER.
IF YOU DON'T MY MIND, PLEASE, I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT.
'CAUSE NUMBER ONE, THAT IS PART OF THE COMPLETE STREET, UH, UH, PROGRAM THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.
WE, WE REALIZE THAT IS ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WE WERE SHORT ON.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT CHANGING SOME OF THE TITLES TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.
AND I REALLY DON'T CARE IF IT'S IN PLANNING OR, OR, OR MY DEPARTMENT OR WHATEVER.
WE NEED THAT, THAT, THAT POSITION TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THIS THING WORK TOGETHER A LITTLE BETTER BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GROUPS DEALING WITH THAT.
BETWEEN BRECK, BETWEEN THE BRIGHT COMMITTEES AND ALL THESE OTHER GROUPS WE'RE TRYING TO MEET UP WITH AND MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
UH, IT, WE NEED TO HAVE SOMEBODY REALLY TO LOOKING AT THE BIGGER PICTURE FOR US.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALL, YOU'LL PROBABLY SEE IN THE BUDGET.
AND I'D ALSO SAY WE SHOULD TALK TO BRECK AND MAYBE GO 50 50 ON THIS, UH, UM, FT FTE AND HAVE BRE HELP TO FUND IT.
UH, AND, AND THE INDIVIDUAL COULD REPORT AND RESPOND HERE AT THE CITY PARISH, BUT BRETT COULD PARTICIPATE IN FUNDING THEIR SALARY OR BENEFITS.
SO WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION WITH THE AGENCIES THAT WE FEEL THAT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE.
AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
FIND WAYS TO MULTI TO MULTITASK IT, BUT ALSO MULTI FUND IT TOO.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INPUT ON THE BIKE PATH INFORMATION.
I THAT IS, THAT IS REALLY GREAT INFORMATION TO HAVE.
UM, I WANNA TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ABSOLUTELY COMMEND, UM, FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THIS AREA ALL REACHES A POINT.
IT ALL PIES OFF AT A POINT WITH THREE DIFFERENT COUNCIL DISTRICTS, ONE OF WHICH IS MINE.
THE OTHER IS MAYOR PRO TEM LAMONT COLES, AND THE OTHER IS COUNCILWOMAN CAROLYN COLEMAN.
AND THIS TRULY WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL.
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, UH, FRED HAS BEEN A CHAMPION, AN ABSOLUTE CHAMPION, UM, FOR THE PEOPLE IN THAT AREA.
AND A LOT OF FOLKS, A LOT OF BUSINESS OWNERS UNDER THE OVERPASS THAT ARE PRIVATE AND THEY'VE ATTEMPTED TO RAISE PRIVATE FUNDS IN ORDER TO GET THIS PATH COMPLETED.
UM, WE'VE ALSO HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STATE BECAUSE WE'RE ALL AWARE OF THE OVERWHELMING I 10 WIDENING PROJECT THAT WILL DEFINITELY IMPACT THIS AREA.
SO THERE ARE CONTRIBUTION CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY THEM AS WELL.
UM, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK WE HAVE TO APPLAUD THE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT AND THE CONNECTIVITY, UM, THAT WE'VE GIVEN TO THIS PARTICULAR AREA THAT'S GONNA MAKE IT COMPLETELY WHITE WALKABLE.
UM, AND IT'LL ALLOW PEOPLE TO NO LONGER HAVE TO CROSS OVER THE TREACHEROUS OVERPASS TO GET TO SOME OF THESE RESTAURANTS, UM, TO GET TO TRADER JOE'S, TO GET TO WALMART.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THAT AREA, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PANDEMIC HAVE UTILIZED THOSE SIDEWALKS AND THEY'VE WALKED AROUND WITH THEIR SMALL CHILDREN AND THEY'VE, UM, THE GROWTH IN THAT AREA HAS ALLOWED A LOT OF VENDORS TO POP UP AND A LOT OF PEOPLE TO GET OUTSIDE AND EXPLORE THAT AREA.
AND I'M, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE UNDER THE OVERPASS.
BUT AGAIN, FRED RAYFORD, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT YOU.
CAROLYN COLEMAN, UH, LAMONT COLE, THANK Y'ALL SO VERY, VERY MUCH.
UM, IT'S A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR DISTRICTS AND I COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER TEAM, UM, AND WORKED WITH BETTER PEOPLE TO TRY TO GET THIS DONE.
I WANTED, BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S ASKING ABOUT WHERE WE ARE WITH THE RAILROAD COMPANY, YOU KNOW, AND BECAUSE OF ALL THE CHANGES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE RAILROAD OWNERSHIP AND STUFF, UH, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE RAILROAD FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW, TRYING TO GET THIS PERMIT.
AND I THINK, 'CAUSE WITHOUT THE PERMIT, IT'S NOT GONNA BE, THE PLAN REALLY WON'T WORK VERY WELL.
I HAVE RECEIVED RESPONSE BACK THAT IT IS ACTUALLY AT THE RIGHT RAILROAD COMPANY, AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT FROM THE LEGAL ASPECT TO BE SURE THAT THE PERMIT IS, WILL BE APPROVED.
THEY INDICATED TO ME, AND I DIDN'T SEE ANY REASON BECAUSE WE MET WITH BOTH COMPANIES AND EVERYBODY HAS AGREED TO DO WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
AND CERTAINLY WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PAY FOR THE CROSSING, WHICH IS, THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE.
BUT AT THIS POINT, I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT WE ARE PUSHING THIS THING EVERY DAY.
UH, THEY'RE TIRED OF ME CALLING BECAUSE THEY ALREADY PUT ME ON THE HIT LIST, BUT THAT WAS OKAY BECAUSE THE PUBLIC WANTS TO KNOW.
AND IT'S THE BIGGEST HANGUP RIGHT NOW IS THAT, AND IT'S
[03:25:01]
NOT REALLY A HANGUP, BUT IT'S, IT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE GOTTA GET ADDRESSED.'CAUSE WITHOUT THAT PERMIT, WE CAN'T DO WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO DO.
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO US.
BUT I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY KNOWS THAT IT'S SITTING IN ON SOMEBODY'S DESK RIGHT NOW, AND I'M GONNA FIND OUT WHO THAT DESK IS, AND I'M GOING TO SEE HOW WE NEED TO DO TO GET TO THEM NEXT.
SO I JUST WANNA BE SURE THE COUNCIL KNOWS THAT, AND ALSO IF THE PUBLIC IS LISTENING TO THAT.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MOROCCO, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MCC COLEMAN, ANY OBJECTIONS ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[94. 23-01498]
94, AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT TO, TO ACCEPT FUNDING FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HEALTH RESOURCE AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES OF THE RYAN YHIV AND AIDS PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,127,806 BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR, ANYONE HE WISHES TO BE ON ITEM.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN MCC COLEMAN.
[95. 23-01500]
ITEM 95, AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT FUNDING FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HEALTH RESOURCE AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES OF THE RYAN WHITE HIV, AND AIDS PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT, NOT IN THE AMOUNT OF $139,827 BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.WOULD ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MCC COLEMAN, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO TO ITEM 96,
[96. 23-01501]
AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, EXCEPT FUNDING FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FOR THE BY HIV AND AIDS PROGRAM FOR AN AMOUNT OF $3,145,902 BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTORS.ANYONE HERE, WHICH SHOULD SPEAK ON ITEM 96? SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN MCC COLEMAN.
ANY OBJECTIONS REGARD TO ITEM 97?
[97. 23-01505 ]
AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND THE SUB-RECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH NO AGE TASK FORCE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF $18,530 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $299,616 AND 59 CENTS BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO NOW TO ITEM 98,
[98. 23-01507 ]
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND THE SUBRECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH HIV AND AIDS ALLIANCE FOR REGION TWO FOR AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF $56,576 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF NOT TO EXCEED $556,826 AND 55 CENTS BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR, NO ADJUDICATED PROPERTY.LET'S GO TO ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER.
SHOW ME ABSTAINING FROM A 98 SHOW COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JR.
OH, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 98.
SO PLEASE, DUN JUNIOR ABSTAINING ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS (Part 2 of 2)]
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.AUTHORIZE, AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE INTO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH JAMILA SHAW BELL.
THE PROVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANCE WITH FOR THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.
JUST FILING AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $65,000.
THE REASON THIS ITEM IS BEING REQUESTED AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER, THIS MATTER IS BROUGHT AS AN ADMINISTRATOR MATTER INTRODUCTION, AS AN AGREEMENT IS SCHEDULED TO COMMENCE ON DECEMBER 1ST, 2023.
WE NEED A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES ON THE ITEM SO THAT OUR ITEM CAN BE INTRODUCED.
IS THERE A MOTION TO WEIGH THE RULES? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.
UH, IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES FOR THE ITEM TO BE INTRODUCED? IS THERE A SECOND FOR THE MOTION TO WEIGH THE RULES? ITEM FAILS FOR LACK OF A SECOND ON A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.
ITEM FAILS ON LACK OF A MOTION TO WEIGH THE RULE.
UH,
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ANY OBJECTIONS ON THE MOTIONAL WAY? THE RULES? WE NEED A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ITEMS CO MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURS.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN JUNIOR.
ANY OBJECTIONS? WE NOW GO TO ITEM E AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IN THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE TO, TO A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH JOHN O FOR THE USE OF HIS PROPERTY.
LOCATED ON THE CORNER OF BIG BEND AND NORTHSHORE FOREST BOULEVARD BY COUNCIL MEMBER HIRST, I NEED A MOTION TO WEIGH THE RULES FOR THE ITEMS TO BE INTRODUCED.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.
IS THERE A SECOND ON THE MOTION? A SECOND.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE MOTIONAL WAY? THE RULES.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE MOTIONAL WAY? THE RULES.
WE NOW NEED A MOTION TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM.
[03:30:01]
BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.IS THERE A SECOND TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBER.
MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.
E SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.
UH, WHAT'D YOU SAY? YOU WANT SOME DISCUSSION? OH, I'M NOT, I'M JUST CHECKING.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? UH, THE ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED.
ITEM F AUTHORIZING AS THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH REMI JANITORIAL SERVICES FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $502,008 FOR JANITORIAL SERVICES AT THE BATON ROUGE METROPOLITAN AIRPORT.
MOTION AWAY THE RULES BY TO PUT ITEMS TO BE INTRODUCED.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.
AND IF ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM, IS THERE A MOTION? ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION? AWAY THE RULES.
EITHER A MOTION TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM OR IS THIS APPROVED? MOTION TO APPROVE.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.
ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO TO ITEM.
[99. 23-01571]
ITEM 99, DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.PRESIDENT'S RECOMMENDATION TO REAPPOINTMENT REPLACE THE PRESCOTT BAILEY.
THAT HAS REQUEST A REAPPOINTMENT BY LETTER OF THE MERE PRESIDENT.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS APPOINTMENT? NOW WE GO TO THE COUNCIL.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPOINT PRESCOTT? BILL? SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN OSA.
SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MCC COLEMAN PRESCOTT.
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE ITEMS ONE HUNDRED AND ONE OH ONE
[Items 100 & 101]
TOGETHER, GREATER BATON ROUGE AIRPORT DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.CURRENT BALL IS S SHAUNA BANKS AND VALERIE LOWRY SENIOR.
AND THEN ITEM 1 0 1, GREATER BATON ROUGE AIRPORT DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
UH, WHO'S TO, TO REPLACING? VALARA.
SEEING WHOSE TERM EXPIRES ON JANUARY 1ST, 2024.
THIS IS A FIVE YEAR TERM AND IT WAS THE REAPPOINTING AND REPLACING SHAUNA BANKS FROM TERM EXPIRE ON JANUARY ONE.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE APPOINTMENTS? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON APPOINTMENT NOW? GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, AND THAT ENDS ON DECEMBER 31ST.
AND THEN, SO, UM, I'M, I'M COOL.
WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL? COUNCIL MOTION TO APPOINT VAL ALLEN.
SO WHAT CAN I HAVE A, OH, SORRY.
YOU WANNA EXPLAIN? SO, UM, ITEM 100, WE CAN OPEN THE FLOOR TO NOMINATIONS IF Y'ALL WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE ANYONE FROM THE FLOOR.
IF NOT, WE CAN DEFER THE ITEM, UM, TO, WHENEVER Y'ALL WOULD LIKE TO HEAR IT.
UM, ITEM 1 0 1, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REAPPOINT MR. LOWRY, UH, THAT THE MOTION WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO REAPPOINT HIM ON ITEM 1 0 1.
I, I'LL NOMINATE MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN AARON MO FOR THIS ONE.
THERE'S A NOMINATION OF COUNCIL MEMBER AARON MOOCH.
AND A SECOND, WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF IT NEEDS A SECOND.
COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. OH, SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH, AND FIFTH.
ANY OBJECTIONS? WE HAVE ONE OBJECTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER M COUNCILMAN ROCK'S.
COUNCIL MEMBER MO, YOU'VE BEEN APPOINTED ITEM 1 0 1, CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTED AND PLACING VAL LOWRY, WHOSE TERM EXPIRES.
COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS HAS REMOVED A NAME.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN? MOTION TO APPROVE VALE LOWRY.
ANY OBJECTIONS? CONGRATULATIONS MR. LOWRY.
[102. 23-01576]
GO NOW TO GREATER BAT AIRPORT DISTRICT BOARD CONSIDERATION OF REPLACING TREY WELSH'S TERM LIMITED.UH, THERE'S A REQUEST OF DE FURTHEST ITEM.
UH, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? THANK YOU.
YOU CAN DEFER THE ITEM OR YOU CAN NOMINATE SOMEBODY FROM THE FLOOR.
WHAT IS THE PLEASURE? COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS? UM, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM SENATOR FRANKLIN FOYLE TODAY ASKING, UM, TO BE APPOINTED TO THE AIRPORT COMMISSION.
UM, HE WOULD BE A, A, YOU KNOW, FULL MEMBER, NOT, NOT HIS DESIGNEE.
AND SO HE WOULD BE REQUIRED, UM, TO MAINTAIN THE ATTENDANCE, UM, THAT EVERYONE WHO IS, UM, ON THE BOARD IS REQUIRED TO DO.
AND I THINK IT'S EXCITING TO HAVE, UM, ONE OF OUR, OUR PARISH, UH, ELECTED OFFICIALS, LONG SERVING LEGISLATOR, WHO IS SO, UM, INTERESTED AND MOTIVATED TO, UM, WORK TOWARDS
[03:35:01]
THE, THE BETTERMENT OF, UH, BATON ROUGE THROUGH THE AIRPORT COMMISSION.SO THERE'S A NOMINATION FOR FRANKLIN FOYLE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A NOMINATION FOR JOY WOMACK.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO, UM, SAY THAT THE LEGISLATOR HAS FOUR DESIGNEES, TWO STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND TWO STATE SENATORS CURRENTLY SERVING ON THE AIRPORT COMMISSION.
I THINK IT'S REDUNDANCY TO ADD ANOTHER LEGISLATOR.
UH, THAT WOULD BE MORE THAN 50% OF THE BODY.
I THINK OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS SHOULD HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND NOT ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS.
IF YOU INCLUDE THE FOUR LEGISLATORS AND THE TWO COUNCIL PEOPLE, THAT'S SIX ELECTED OFFICIALS ON THE AIRPORT COMMISSION.
OFFER THAT UP FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
SO THE BALLOT NOW IS FRANKLIN FOIL AND JOY WOMACK.
HUH? ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINES IN THE ORDER THAT THE INDIVIDUALS ARE NOMINATED.
SO WE'LL BE VOTING FIRST FOR FRANKLIN FOIL.
MACHINES ARE OPEN FOR FRANKLIN FOIL.
WE NOT, WE ARE NOT GONNA VOTE.
WE GONNA HEAR FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? YEAH.
WHAT WE DOING? WE GONNA VOTE? OR COUNCIL? NO, NO, GO AHEAD.
I WAS JUST GONNA CONCUR MY TIME ON THE COUNCIL.
UM, I I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS REDUNDANT THAT THERE ARE EVEN FOUR, UM, STATE ELECTED POSITIONS.
UM, I LITERALLY, UM, DURING MY TENURE SAW ONE.
I MEAN, I THINK I MAY HAVE SAW ONE ONCE, ONCE ONE TWICE, AND A COUPLE OF THEM.
AND I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
UH, IS THAT A MAKEUP, UM, ASHLEY THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BOARD, THE MAKEUP OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS? YES.
IT, THE COUNCIL, UH, YEAH, I'LL, I'LL DEFER TO MICHAEL DE FARRO, BUT THERE IS, UM, THERE'S STATE LAW THAT GOVERNS IT AS WELL AS, UM, CITY PARISH ORDINANCE.
MICHAEL FERRO, AIRPORT LEGAL COUNSEL.
UH, NINE MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED BY THIS BODY, UH, ACCORDING TO ACT 1, 51 OF 1969.
UH, AND THEN OVER THE YEARS, THAT ACT HAS BEEN AMENDED ON TWO OCCASIONS TO ADD, UH, TWO STATE SENATORS AND TWO STATE REPRESENTATIVES.
UH, THE STATE SENATORS ARE DISTRICTS 14 AND 15.
UH, AND THESE, UM, STATE REPRESENTATIVES IS 63 AND 64, I BELIEVE.
UM, ARE THE, UH, THE, I BLANKED OUT ON THE NUMBERS, I'M SORRY, BUT, UH, BUT, BUT IT'S, IT'S BEEN AMENDED OVER THE YEARS.
THE OTHER TWO, THE, THE REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATORS MAY SERVE OR APPOINT A DESIGNEE TO SERVE.
UM, AND THERE ARE SOME OTHER QUIRKS IN THE LA RULES ABOUT QUORUMS, BUT THEY ARE FULL MEMBERS FOR VOTING PRIVILEGES.
SO IN THE, UM, ON THE, THE PICTURES, IT SHOWS ALL OF THE STANDARDS.
WE HAVE PICTURES OF BOTH THE ACTUAL MEMBERS AND THE DESIGNEES AS WELL TOO.
WHY? UH, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN CARRIED OVER A YEAR OF THE YEAR.
BUT THAT'S NOT ANYTHING IN LAW, RIGHT? NO, NO, NO.
THAT, THAT, THAT DOESN'T GIVE ANYBODY AUTHORITY OR ANYTHING WE NEED TO FIX.
COUNCILMAN ADAMS. UM, SO THE, THE S AND REPRESENTATIVES THAT SERVE NOW, OR HAVE THEIR DESIGNEE, UM, ON THE BOARD THAT'S, THAT'S IN STATE STATUTE.
UM, THIS WOULD ACTUALLY BE THE ONLY PATH, UM, FOR SENATOR FOIL TO SERVE AND HE WOULD NOT, UM, BE ABLE TO APPOINT A DESIGNEE.
IS THAT CORRECT? IF HE, IF WE APPOINT HIM, THERE'S NO DESIGNEE.
HE IS A, A MEMBER JUST LIKE ANY OTHER PERSON FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WE WOULD APPOINT, AND HE WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THOSE ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
THAT WOULD BE CORRECT, WHICH IS NOT CORRECT NECESSARILY THE CASE FOR OUR OTHER, UH, STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO HAVE A DESIGNEE.
THEY HAVE THAT BY RIGHT, BY VIRTUE OF THEIR POSITION AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, ENSHRINED IN STATE STATUTE.
SO THIS IS THE SENATOR SAYING, I'M, UH, YOU KNOW, AN EVERYDAY PERSON IN THE COMMUNITY.
I HAVE A GREAT INTEREST IN THE AIRPORT.
I'M NOT ASKING FOR ANY SPECIAL PRIVILEGES.
I WILL SERVE, UM, IN THE WAY THAT ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WOULD BE REQUIRED TO, CORRECT? YES, HE WOULD, HE WOULD BE CONSIDERED ONE OF THE NINE.
HE WOULD NOT BE PERMITTED TO HAVE A DESIGNEE AND, AND WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE METRIC COUNCIL'S, UH, ESTABLISHMENT OF THE 75% RULE.
UM, EXPLAIN TO ME THE, THE RULES FOR THE STATE LEGISLATORS AND THEIR DESIGNEES.
IS IT A, IS IT, SAY A MEETING'S COMING UP AND THEY CAN DESIGNATE SOMEONE RANDOMLY? OR IS A DESIGNEE PICKED TO AUTOMATICALLY BE THERE WHENEVER THE STATE LEGISLATOR IS NOT AVAILABLE? IS IT ONE PERSON THAT'S A DESIGNEE OR EACH MEETING THEY CAN APPOINT A DESIGNEE TO GO TO THAT PARTICULAR MEETING? WE MUST RECEIVE IN WRITING FROM THEM APPOINTING A SPECIFIC DESIGNEE.
[03:40:01]
NOT WHOEVER THEY SEND TO THE MEETING.SO, UH, EACH PERSON HAS APPOINTED SOMEONE, LIKE FOR INSTANCE, UM, REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER HAS APPOINTED HER AIDE, HERMIT JOHNSON.
AND WHEN SHE CANNOT BE THERE, HE SITS IN THAT, IN, IN THAT PLACE.
SENATOR BARROW HAS APPOINTED MR. DARREN MILES WHEN SHE CANNOT BE THERE.
UM, HE CAN, HE SITS IN THAT PLACE.
THEY, THEY CAN'T SEND SOMEONE ELSE.
IT HAS TO BE IN WRITING AND, AND, AND FROM THAT.
AND THEN, UM, I BELIEVE THE OTHER TWO, UM, HAVE ALSO HAVE DESIGNEES, UH, AND THE DESIGNEES ARE MAJORITY OF THE TIME WHO ARE THERE FOR, FOR THE MEETING.
WELL, THAT'S, THAT WAS LEADING ME TO MY NEXT QUESTION IS WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE ACTUAL ATTENDANCE, ACTUAL MEETINGS ARE THE REPRESENTATIVES SHOWING UP? AND WHAT PERCENTAGE ARE THE DESIGNEES SHOWING UP? UH, I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBERS WITH US TONIGHT, UH, FOR, FOR THIS PURPOSE.
WE DO COUNT THAT SEAT THERE, WHETHER IT'S THE REPRESENTATIVE OR, OR THE DESIGNEE.
SOMETIMES THE REPRESENTATIVE OR THE SENATOR DOESN'T SHOW UP.
AND SOMETIMES IT, IT, UM, IT, IT, IT FLUCTUATES DEPENDING ON WHAT'S GOING ON AT, AT, AT THE SESSION.
AND THEN ALSO I'D LIKE TO KNOW THE PERCENTAGE OF THE DESIGNEE AND OR THE REPRESENTATIVE ACTUALLY SHOWING UP FOR THE MEETING ITSELF.
UM, YOU KNOW, NOT NECESSARILY HOW MANY TIMES HAS THE REPRESENTATIVE SHOWN UP? HOW MANY TIMES HAS THE DESIGNEE SHOWN UP? HOW MANY TIMES HAS EITHER ONE OF 'EM NOT SHOWN UP, WE CAN GET YOU THAT.
DO THEY FOLLOW, DO THEY FOLLOW AS FAR AS THEM NOT SHOWING UP AT ALL? DO THEY FOLLOW THE SAME GUIDELINES AS FAR AS THE 75% RULE? NO.
SO THEY COULD, SO THEY COULD JUST CHOOSE NOT TO SHOW UP UNLESS IT'S JUST SOMETHING, ONE SPECIFIC TOPIC THEY WANT TO COME SPEAK ON.
AND AT THAT POINT, THEY CAN THEN EITHER SHOW UP THEMSELVES OR SEND THEIR DESIGNEE TO SPEAK ON THAT PARTICULAR TOPIC.
I GUESS YOU COULD ARGUE THAT POINT.
BUT THEY, BUT, BUT, BUT WE, WE DO HAVE ACTIVE LEGISLATORS WHO DO ATTEND OUR MEETINGS AND OR THE, THEIR DESIGNEE.
WE DON'T HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS CONSISTENTLY ABSENT FROM ALL THE MEETINGS.
I, I, THAT'S JUST INFORMATION.
I DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE US BEING APPOINTED TO THESE BOARDS OF COMMISSION, I, I WOULD THINK THAT WE WOULD NEED TO SHOW UP, UM, AND BE THERE WITHOUT A DESIGNEE IF YOU WANT TO TAKE ON THAT ROLE.
IF YOU WANT TO BE ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THESE GROUPS AND COMMITTEES.
AND IF WE ARE GOING TO REQUIRE, UM, THE PUBLIC THAT WANT TO, TO BE ON THESE COMMITTEES TO BE THERE AT A CERTAIN TIME, I WOULD THINK THESE SAME RULES SHOULD APPLY TO EVERY ONE OF US, WHETHER WE'RE ELECTED OFFICIALS OR NOT.
WELL, THAT WOULD REQUIRE A MODIFICATION OF STATE LAW WITH, WITH, WITH REGARDS TO THE DESIGNEE.
THAT'S WHY THEY'RE ENTITLED TO A DESIGNEE.
SO THE DESIGNEE IS A STATE LAW ON OUR COMMISSION? NO, THE, THE, THE, THE REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATORS WHO WERE APPOINTED THROUGH THE ACT.
IT SAYS, OR HIS OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE IN THE ACTUAL ACT.
UM, THE BODY OF LAW, THE, THAT SAYS THAT.
AND SO THAT'S WRITTEN INTO IT, NOT SO WAS THIS NOT, NOT CREATED, WAS THIS COMMISSION CREATED BY THE STATE OR BY THE STATE? YES.
WELL, THAT'D BE A LONG ROAD, BUT I, AGAIN, I JUST STATE MY POINT THAT IF YOU CHOOSE TO TAKE ON THIS ROLE, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER ELECTED CAPACITY IS, YOU SHOULD FOLLOW THE SAME RULES AS WE'RE EXPECTING THE PUBLIC TO FOLLOW THAT WE ARE POINTING TO THESE BOARDS.
SO, UM, THAT, THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT TO SAY.
I, I, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THESE NUMBERS AND EVERYTHING.
UH, SO I, I, I KNOW THE ORIGINAL THING WAS TALKING ABOUT A DEFERRAL, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE NUMBERS.
I'M GOOD IF WE WANNA MOVE FORWARD, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THESE NUMBERS AND EVERYTHING, AND IF EVERYBODY WANTS A DEFER, WE GO FOR A DEFER.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, I, I'M JUST GLAD THAT WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION, UH, BECAUSE IT, IT, IT SORT OF LENDS TO A FURTHER DISCUSSION OF JUST HOW SCREWY OF A, OF A GOVERNANCE MODEL THIS IS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I I CERTAINLY RESPECT, UH, THE IMPACT THAT THE AIRPORT HAS ON THOSE INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS.
UH, BUT THE FACT IS THAT THE AIRPORT SERVES THIS ENTIRE PARISH AND REALLY IT, IT SERVES THE ENTIRE CAPITAL REGION.
UM, SO THE IDEA THAT, UH, WE'RE CARVING OUT CERTAIN SEATS ON THE AIRPORT COMMISSION, UH, FOR CERTAIN DISTRICTS, AND, UH, IT, IT REALLY, I THINK IS PROBLEMATIC.
IF WE'RE EVER GONNA GET TO A POINT WHERE WE CREATE SOME AUTONOMY AND, AND HAVE THAT AIRPORT BE ITS OWN AUTHORITY, UH, I THINK WE'VE ABSOLUTELY GOTTA CORRECT THIS ISSUE.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, I RECOGNIZE THAT STATE LAW, BUT I THINK BY WAY OF RESOLUTION, THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO, UH, REPORT TO THE STATE AND SAY, HEY, WE RECOGNIZE THIS GOVERNANCE MODEL IS AN ISSUE.
UH, WE NEED TO CORRECT IT AS FAR AS NUMBER OF SEATS, AND THEN ALSO, UH, THE ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS.
UM, SO THAT'LL BE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE FUTURE.
[03:45:01]
COUNSEL BANKS, I, I CONCUR.UM, AND THIS IS PROBLEMATIC WITH A LOT OF OUR DIFFERENT DISTRICTS.
UM, BECAUSE IF, IF THERE'S A STATE ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT DOES NOT LIKE THEY'LL APPOINTEE OF ANOTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL, THEN THEY CAN JUST CHANGE THE, UM, THE GOVERNANCE BODY.
EVERY, EVERY, UH, WE'VE SEEN THAT IN OUR, OUR COMMUNITY.
EVERY, UH, SESSION THERE'S A CHANGE.
UM, BECAUSE THAT PARTICULAR, UH, STATE ELECTED OR OFFICIAL SIZE, I DON'T LIKE, UH, THE MAKEUP OF THE BODY, UH, BECAUSE CERTAIN PEOPLE MAY GET TO SERVE OR I DON'T LIKE THE MAKEUP OF THE BODY BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE THE APPOINTEE OF ANOTHER.
AND, AND ALL OF THAT HA IS CREATING HAVOC.
UM, EVEN, UH, THE FREE ADVERTISEMENT THAT ON THE AIRPORT THAT, UM, ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE GETTING ALONG WITH THEIR APPOINTEE, UM, IN THE LOBBY OF THE AIRPORT, ALL OF THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE.
I THINK THOSE ARE NOT, UH, GOVERNANCE.
I THINK THOSE CAN BE MADE BY, UH, THE ADMINISTRATORS OF THE, UH, AIRPORT.
AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE THAT MAYBE BY RESOLUTION THAT WE WILL INDICATE THAT IT'S EITHER YOU, YOU OR YOUR APPOINTEE WHO'S GONNA BE THERE BECAUSE THERE'S NOBODY, NO OTHER BOARD THAT I KNOW THAT YOU COULD SWITCH BACK AND FORTH, UM, AS IT RELATES TO THE ATTENDANCE.
AND THEN OFTENTIMES, I MEAN, IN MY, MY TIME, UH, WHERE THE, UH, ELECTED OFFICIAL AND THE, UH, APPOINTEE WERE THERE, AND THEY BOTH HAD TALKING TIME.
SO IT, IT IS A, IT IS A, A, A ZOO, UH, AS IT RELATES TO GOVERNANCE.
AND WE DO NEED TO, UM, MODIFY THAT IN SOME WAY.
WE HAVE TWO CANDIDATES ON THE FLOOR TO VOTE FOR.
WE'RE GONNA VOTE FOR THE ORDER MAKE IN WHICH THEY CAN MAKE MOTION.
CAN I MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS? YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER.
THERE IS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS.
IS THERE A SECOND ON A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE CANDIDATES.
WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE CANDIDATES IN THE ORDER THEY WERE NOMINATED.
FIRST UP IS FRANKLIN FOIL MACHINES ARE OPEN FOR FRANKLIN FOIL.
YOU ONLY NEED TO VOTE YES IF YOU WANNA VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATE.
WOMMACK MACHINES ARE OPEN FOR JOY WOMMACK.
YOU WANNA GO A SECOND ROUND, SECOND ROUND, SECOND ROUND, SECOND ROUND.
THERE IS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DEFER AGAIN.
WHAT ARE WE DOING? OH, WE STILL STAY ON SECOND ROUND.
YOU CAN GO THROUGH ANOTHER ROUND OF VOTING IF YOU WOULD LIKE SECOND BEFORE YOU DECIDE.
WE'RE GONNA GO, WE'RE GONNA GO THE SECOND TIME.
FRANKLIN FOIL MACHINES ARE OPEN FOR FRANKLIN FOIL.
MACHINES ARE OPEN FOR JOY WOMMACK SEVEN VOTES.
MS. WOMMACK HAS BEEN APPOINTED.
[103. 23-01577]
BOARD AND COMMISSION OF LANE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER.CONSIDERATION OF DALE YOUNG, WHO IS TERM LIMITED.
CURRENT BALLOT IS BENJAMIN CA.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 1 0 3? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER'S.
MOTION TO APPROVE BENJAMIN CA.
IS THERE A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MAG GODA? ANY OBJECTIONS? CONGRATULATIONS MR. CAB.
YOU'VE BEEN APPOINTED TO LANE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER.
[Items 104 - 106]
GONNA TAKE ITEMS 1 0 4 AND 1 0 6 TOGETHER,[03:50:01]
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTING AND REPLACING JODY BOYD.JODY BOYD RECEIVED A LETTER REQUEST OF REAPPOINTMENT.
CLIFFORD GROUT RECEIVED A LETTER OF REAPPOINTMENT.
TODD STERLING RECEIVED A LETTER REQUESTING REAPPOINTMENT 1 0 5, PLANNING HIS ZONING COMMISSION CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTING CLIFFORD GROUT.
ITEM 1 0 6, CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTING TODD STERLING.
ALL THREE CANDIDATES HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER AND REQUESTING TO BE REAPPOINTED AS ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 1 0 4 THROUGH 1 0 6.
AND NOW COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. WE DO HAVE A MEMBER FROM THE PUBLIC HERE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK.
UH, AND UM, I'M HERE AS A LONGTIME BATON ROUGE LOCAL WHO'S BEEN TO EVERY CORNER OF OUR HOMETOWN.
AND I BELIEVE IN WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER.
I'VE LIVED IT FROM PLAYING IN THE PARKS OF SOUTHEAST BATON ROUGE AS A KID TO HELPING KIDS DREAM BIG IN THE BIG BUDDY PROGRAM.
THIS CITY ISN'T JUST WHERE I WORK, IT'S WHERE MY HEART IS.
SO LEMME TELL YOU WHY I'M UP HERE ASKING FOR YOU FOR YOUR TRUST.
IT'S NOT ABOUT TITLES OR ROLES FOR ME, IT'S ABOUT THE LOVE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I'VE SPENT 20 YEARS UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE'S HOMES AND BUSINESSES THROUGH SELLING REAL ESTATE AND, AND APPRAISING PROPERTIES.
BUT MORE THAN THAT, I'VE LEARNED WHAT MAKES A PLACE SPECIAL TO SOMEONE.
IT'S THAT INSIGHT THAT I WANNA BRING TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MAY SEEM LIKE A SMALL FACET OF THE BROADER VISION YOU OVERSEE FOR BATON ROUGE, YET I SEE IT AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE STEWARDSHIP.
WE ARE ONE CITY, YET WE EMBODY 12 UNIQUE PARTS, EACH WITH ITS OWN VOICE AND NEEDS.
I'M HERE BECAUSE I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR NEIGHBORS, TO OUR KIDS, AND TO EVERY PERSON'S DREAM OF A BETTER LIFE HERE AND PLANNING AND ZONING.
IT'S ABOUT LAYING DOWN THE PAST WHERE OUR KIDS CAN PLAY SAFELY, WHERE BUSINESSES CAN BLOOM, AND WHERE EVERY UNIQUE VOICE IN OUR CITY CAN FIND RESONANCE.
SO I ASK FOR YOUR VOTE, NOT JUST BECAUSE I KNOW THE INS AND OUTS OF REAL ESTATE, BUT BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN A BATON ROUGE THAT'S BUILT ON THE DREAMS OF ALL ITS PEOPLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COUNCILMAN ADAMS? UM, THANK YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, PLACE MR. UH, BLAKE FOWLER'S NAME IN NOMINATION FOR ITEM NUMBER 1 0 6.
WE'LL CHECK ITEM 1 0 6 SEPARATELY.
ANYONE ELSE WANNA NOMINATE ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT.
IS THERE A MOTION ON ITEM 1 0 4? SO MOVED ON.
ANY THERE? SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? JODY BOYD HAS BEEN REAPPOINTED ON 1 0 4 AND 1 0 5.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPOINT ANYONE? COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON REAPPOINT.
CLIFFORD GR IS THERE SECOND ON CLIFFORD GR.
SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODDE.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS ON CLIFFORD GROUT? WE NOW GO TO ITEM 1 0 6.
AND MR. FOWLER, WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINES.
I'D LIKE TO, OH, JUST A QUICK QUESTION.
THE THE ITEM AS LISTED ON THE AGENDA HAS NINE VOTES REQUIRED.
IS THAT FOR ANY NOMINEE? NO, THE NINE VOTES IS ONLY FOR MR. STERLING.
THIS WOULD BE HIS THIRD TERM AND HE WOULD REQUIRE NINE VOTES TO BE APPOINTED.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER HEARS.
HEY, I WANT TO, UH, I I TALKED TO MR. FOWLER.
I DIDN'T REALIZE, UH, WHEN I SPOKE WITH YOU, HONESTLY, THAT, UH, TODD WANTED TO BE REAPPOINTED.
'CAUSE AFTER I SPOKE WITH YOU, I GOT BACK WITH HIM.
AND ONE THING I'LL TELL YOU IS TODD HAS BEEN EXTREMELY, UH, INSTRUMENTAL IN WORKING WITH MOVE PR.
UM, HE, HE'S A TRUE BATON ROUGE REPRESENTATIVE EVERYWHERE HE GOES, WORKING WITH BOTH UNIVERSITIES, HE HAS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE OF, OF CITY BEST PRACTICES, AND I BELIEVE WOULD DO A GREAT SERVICE TO THE BOARD TO, UH, TO HAVE HIS THIRD, UH, UH, AN ADDITIONAL TERM.
SO, UM, AGAIN, I WANT TO REQUEST THAT TODD BE REAPPOINTED.
HE ASKED THAT TO ME PERSONALLY.
'CAUSE I WENT ON YOUR BEHALF WHEN WE TALKED TO SEE WHERE HE WAS.
UM, AND I BELIEVE HE'S BEEN FAIR.
HE UNDERSTANDS THE RULES AND, UH, THE, THE ADDITIONAL TERM, WHICH IS ADD VALUE TO THE CITY.
AND, AND, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S MY, UH, NOMINATION.
UH, WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINES FOR TODD STERLING AND MR. FOWLER, WE'RE GONNA VOTE FIRST FOR MR. STERLING.
[03:55:01]
MACHINES ARE OPEN FOR TODD STERLING.YOU ONLY NEED TO VOTE YES IF YOU WANT TO VOTE FOR YES.
I THINK EVERYBODY ON THERE VOTE NOW FIVE VOTES.
EXCEPT NOW THE MACHINES ARE GONNA BE OPEN FOR MR. FOWLER.
MACHINES ARE OPEN FOR BLAKE FOWLER.
Y'ALL CAN VOTE ANOTHER ROUND OR YOU CAN DEFER THE ITEM.
I RECOMMEND DEFERRAL FOR TWO WEEKS.
OH, Y'ALL WANNA GO A SECOND ROUND? AND I HAD A QUESTION FOR MR. GO AHEAD.
WHO, WHO IS YOUR COUNCIL PERSON? UH, MS. JEN.
A SECOND ROUND, UH, MS. COUNCIL PERSON? HUH? JEN? JEN.
HE LIVES IN, I'M SORRY, I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM MR. TODD STERLING AND I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT HE WAS NOT, UM, REAPPLYING FOR THIS TERM.
DID HE TELL SOMEBODY THAT? NO, HE DIDN'T.
THAT WAS A MISNOMER WHEN I CALLED HIM AND SAID, NO.
I WOULD'VE REMOVED MYSELF FROM THE VALLEY.
AND MR. FOWLER CAME TO MY OFFICE, MET WITH ME, ASKED FOR THIS APPOINTMENT, AND I SUPPORT HIM.
SO WE NEVER CLARIFIED IT WITH MR. MR. HUDSON.
I, I'LL ONLY MENTION THAT I, I KNOW MR. FOWLER IN A PROFESSIONAL SENSE.
I'VE WORKED ALONGSIDE HIM ON, UH, DEALS BEFORE AND, AND, UH, SEEN HIM ADVOCATE, UH, FOR VERY POSITIVE THINGS AS IT REFERS TO DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA.
UM, SO I, I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO THROW YOUR HAT IN THE RING.
IT'S A THANKLESS JOB, AND I KNOW YOU'RE A BUSY GUY, SO THANK YOU.
I JUST HAVE, UM, HOW MANY REAL ESTATE PERSONS DO YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE? UM, I DO LIKE THE IDEA THAT WHEN WE, WHEN WE HAVE THESE COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS, THAT WE DO HAVE, UM, UM, CITIZENS A VARIETY, UH, ECLECTIC GROUP.
BUT I, I KNOW WE HAVE A HOME BUILDER.
I, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT PROFESSION THE MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISS CONCERNS, WHOEVER SAID DEFER.
I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, TO SECOND THAT BECAUSE I DO THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE, UM, LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE A, A, A TERRIBLE, UM, OFF BALANCE IF EVERY, IF WE HAVE A HEAVY, A HEAVY PRESENTATION OF REAL ESTATE, UH, HOME DEVELOPERS AND THEN, UH, AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE, WE ARE HAVING COME BEFORE US.
IF Y'ALL CHOOSE TO DEFER THE ITEM, I WILL RESEARCH THAT.
DID I HEAR SOMEBODY? YOU MEAN PROFESSIONAL
IF WE HAVE A HEAVY PRESENTATION OF NOTHING BUT REAL ESTATE AGENTS, UH, DEVELOPERS AND BANKERS, THEN, THEN, UM, THE STACK I'M ON IS, YEAH, I KNOW THAT IS TRUE.
UM, THEN WE ARE, I'M JUST SAYING THAT IT, UM, IT NEED, WE, IT'S BARE IT BEAR IT'S BARE LOOKING AT, UM, TO THE, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PRESENTING OURSELF IN A WAY THAT, UH, THE COMMUNITY AND THOSE THAT COME BEFORE US FEEL THAT THEY HAVE AN EQUAL SHOT.
UM, BOTH AT THE COMMISSION LEVEL AND AT THE COUNCIL LEVEL.
COUNCIL MEMBER MO, IS THERE ANYONE FROM PLANNING OR ANYBODY HERE THAT COULD ANSWER THIS QUESTION? NOW? I KNOW I TURNED AROUND AND LOOKED.
I KNOW THERE, THERE PROBABLY IS NOT.
SO, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WE MIGHT WANNA LOOK AT DOING IS MOVING THIS OVER TO, UH, OUR COUNCIL PLANNING NIGHT.
SO PEOPLE WOULD BE HERE THAT WOULD ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS.
BUT I KIND OF LOOK AT THE SAME THING WITH THE MAKEUP OF THE, UM, THE, THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION AND EVERYTHING.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE A LOT OF THE TIMES I QUESTION WHY DO WE HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER ON A PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION WHERE YOU'RE GONNA VOTE TWICE ANYWAY.
YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT THE VOTE IS COMING INTO THE COUNCIL MEETING.
UM, SOME OF THESE THINGS WITH, UH, AS FAR AS WHO'S ON THE COMMISSION AND EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TO SEVERAL PLANNINGS, ZONING COMMISSIONS.
I THINK THERE'S A GREAT MAKEUP.
AND I THINK THIS GENTLEMAN HERE, UH, MR. FOWLER WOULD BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THE PLAINTIFF'S ZONING.
AGAIN, HE CAME AND MET, I MET, ACTUALLY MET WITH HIM YESTERDAY.
UH, HAD GREAT DISCUSSIONS WITH IT.
HIS, HIS VISION AND, AND THE WAY HE LOOKS AT, UM, DOING A LOT OF THESE UH, THINGS ON THE BOARD.
I THINK HE WOULD BE A GREAT ADDITION.
TODD STERLING MACHINES ARE OPEN FOR TODD STERLING.
[04:00:03]
FOUR VOTES.ALRIGHT, WE'LL BE VOTING FOR MR. FOWLER.
F MACHINES ARE OPEN FOR BLAKE FOWLER.
MR. FOWLER HAS BEEN APPOINTED.
[Items 107 - 109 ]
MOVING RIGHT ALONG.COURT ROOM RENOVATIONS CONTRACTED LUSTER GROUP LLC, CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, $15,538.
ITEM 1 0 8, FLORIDA AREA 80 A COMPLIANCE PROJECT CONTRACTOR TRIUM CONSTRUCTION, LLC.
CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, $15,399 AND 11 CENTS, WHICH IS CREDIT AND ITEM 1 0 9, SALES TAX, STREET AND ROAD REHABILITATION PROGRAM.
CONTRACT AND MATERIAL RESOURCES INCORPORATED.
CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, $782 AND 53 CENTS, WHICH IS A CREDIT.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 1 0 7 THROUGH 1 0 9.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE 1 0 7 THROUGH 1 0 9? SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN MOROSA, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR AND THEIR OBJECTIONS.
WE GOING OUT A FINAL ACCEPTANCES.
[Items 110 & 111]
ITEMS ONE 10 THROUGH ONE 11 FLORIDA 80 A AREA COMPLIANCE PROJECT CONTRACTED TRIUM CONSTRUCTION LLC FINAL COST $768,692 53 CENTS.ITEM ONE 11, SALES TAX STREET ROAD REHABILITATION PROGRAM.
CONTRACT MATERIAL RESOURCES INCORPORATED.
FINAL COST, TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED TWENTY TWO THOUSAND NINETY SEVEN CENTS.
AND ITEM ONE? THAT'S ITEM ONE 11.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE TWO ITEMS? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE TWO ITEMS? IS THERE A MOTION BY THE COUNCIL ITEMS? ONE 10 AND ONE 11.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOEY.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? WE NOW GO TO ITEMS
[Items 112 - 115]
ONE 12 TO ONE 15.WE'LL TAKE TOGETHER ACCEPTANCE OF
ITEM ONE 12, CORPORATE MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR, $70,000.
ITEM ONE 13 AHU AND VAV CONTROL UPGRADES AT LOUISIANA ARTS AND SCIENCE MUSEUM.
ITEM ONE 14, INSTALLATION OF NEW EVAPORATIVE COOLING TOWER AT UNITED WAY BUILDING CORPORATE MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR, $140,000.
ITEM ONE 15 PARISH Y PAVEMENT AND REMARKING EASTBOUND RIDGE PARISH WIRE PAVEMENT AND MARKING LLC 798,080 $798,080.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS ONE 12 TO ONE 15? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS? ONE 12 TO ONE 15.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HERS SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
[116. 23-01208]
16.THIS HAS BEEN A REQUEST OF DEFER ITEM ONE 16 TO DECEMBER 13TH, RECEIVING A REPORT FROM MS. ST.
GEORGE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT ON MEDICAL AND SAFETY TRAINING OFFICE.
THE SCHOOLS IN THE COMMUNITY BY COUNCIL MEMBER DENISE AMAROSA.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE 16? COUNCILMAN AMAROSA.
MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER TO ITEM TO DECEMBER 13TH.
ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM ONE 16 HAS BEEN DEFERRED.
[Items 118 - 120]
BEEN A REQUEST TO DEFER ITEMS ONE 18 THROUGH ONE 20 BY THE SPONSOR.RECEIVING A REPORT FROM MAYOR SHARON WESTERN BROMAN OF CITY PARISH PROCUREMENT, PAYMENTS, REIMBURSEMENT AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROCESSES.
THE REPORT SHOULD INCLUDE THE EVALUATION OF INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES, WAYS TO IMPROVE, WAYS TO STREAMLINE AND STRENGTHEN CITY PARISH'S, PROCURE PAYMENTS AND REIMBURSEMENTS AND FINANCIAL SYSTEM PROCESS BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JR.
ITEM ONE 19, RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE FINANCE DIRECTOR LINDA HUNT ON THE CITY PARISH PROCUREMENT PAYMENTS AND REIMBURSEMENT OF FINANCIAL AS SYSTEM PROCESS.
THE REPORT SHOULD INCLUDE AN EVALUATION OF INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICE, WAYS TO IMPROVE, WAYS TO STREAMLINE AND OF CITY PARISH PROCUREMENT PAYMENTS, REIMBURSEMENT AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROCESS BY COUNCIL MEMBER QUEEN DUN JR.
ITEM ONE 20 RECEIVING REPORT FROM THE INTERIM PURCHASING DIRECTOR PAUL
PROCUREMENT, PAYMENTS REIMBURSEMENT AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROCESS TO REPORT SHOULD INCLUDE AN EVALUATION OF INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICE, WAYS TO IMPROVE, WAYS TO STREAMLINE AND STRENGTH OF CITY PARISH PROCUREMENT, PAYMENTS, REIMBURSEMENT AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROCESS BY COUNCIL MEMBER CLE JOHN JR.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE 18 THROUGH ONE 20? THERE'S A, A REQUEST TO DEFER ITEM ONE 18 THROUGH ONE 20.
MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN TO DEFER TO HOW LONG COUNCIL.
NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, WHICH IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST.
THIS CHANGES AS A RESULT OF THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.
UH, AT THIS TIME, COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA, SECONDED BY EVERYONE.
[04:05:01]
ALWAYS, PROTECT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH.UH, READ TO YOUR CHILDREN AND WHEN YOU'RE DONE READING THEM AND HAVE THEM READ BACK TO YOU.
UH, WE READ ON WEDNESDAYS COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M INVITING ANY COUNCIL MEMBER TO COME TO THE SCHOOL AND READ TO THE CHILDREN.
7:00 AM WHY WEDNESDAY? HUH? WEDNESDAY IS WHAT WE ALL READ.
YOU GONNA READ TO 'EM? SAY IT AGAIN.
COUNCIL MEMBER BUDGET MEETING.
BUDGET MEETINGS ARE ABOUT TO BEGIN.
UH, PLEASE STAY TUNED AND NOTIFIED FOR THE BUDGET MEETINGS.