Mar 27, 2024 Metropolitan Council

WE DON'T WANT THE STUDENT OF HERE DON'T WANNA SAY NOTHING TO US.

CONGRAT SAY THANK YOU.

I WAS GONNA ASK HER TO SAY SOMETHING IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE OR SHE COMING BACK.

I WAS GONNA SAY THANK YOU OR SOMETHING, JUST SO WE CAN HEAR THAT IN LIKE SPANISH OR SOMETHING, WHATEVER.

GRACIA, UH, BATON ROUGE, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT EACH BATON ROUGE PARISH AND THANKS IN THE YEAR.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR.

THAT'S AWESOME.

THAT'S AWESOME, .

YEP.

THAT'S THE ONLY THING I KNOW HOW TO SAY.

I SPEAK IN TONGUE TOO.

ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT UP MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTERN ROOM TO RECOGNIZE MICHAEL AND KENYA BYRD, THE SCOTLANDVILLE BODEGA COMMUNITY DRIVEN INITIATIVE PROVIDING FRESH PRODUCE AND MEAT FOR RESIDENTS OF NORTH BATON ROUGE MAYOR, PRESIDENT.

WHO'VE COME OUT TO SUPPORT AND HELP IN THE, UH, PROCESS.

UM, I AM EXCITED ONCE AGAIN, UH, TO SHARE, UH, AND EXPRESS GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION TO THE OWNERS OF SCOTLANDVILLE BODEGA.

THEIR INVESTMENT IN OUR CITY, UH, PARTICULARLY IN NORTH BATON ROUGE, IS TRULY COMMENDABLE AND SPEAKS VOLUMES, UH, ABOUT YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THE GRAND OPENING OF SCOTLANDVILLE BODEGA REPRESENTS MORE THAN JUST THE OPENING OF A GROCERY STORE.

IT IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD IN PROVIDING ACCESS TO FRESH, HEALTHIER OPTIONS FOR THE RESIDENTS OF SCOTLANDVILLE.

AND YOUR DEDICATION TO BRINGING SUCH ESSENTIAL RESOURCES TO OUR COMMUNITY IS BOTH ADMIRABLE AND INVALUABLE.

UM, BY CHOOSING TO ESTABLISH SCOTLANDVILLE BODEGA, YOU ARE NOT ONLY INVESTING IN BUSINESS, BUT OF COURSE YOU ARE INVESTING IN THE WELLBEING AND PROSPERITY OF OUR CITIZENS.

SO YOU ARE CERTAINLY MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS AND LIVES AND FAMILIES.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'VE HAD MANY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS

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AND WE KNOW THAT, UM, THERE ARE GREAT THINGS AHEAD FOR THE SCOTLANDVILLE COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF COMMITMENTS OF INDIVIDUALS, UM, LIKE THESE TWO WONDERFUL PEOPLE, MICHAEL AND KENYA BIRD, WHO ARE COMMITTED TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

SO IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO PRESENT YOU, UH, WITH A COMMENDATION, UH, THE OWNERS OF SCOTLANDVILLE, BODEGA MICHAEL AND KENYA BIRD IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR SUCCESSFUL OPENING, UH, AND BEING RECOGNIZING YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AND YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO? YEAH.

WELL, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU MAYOR BROOM FOR THIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THIS PRESENTATION, AND IT IS TRULY A BLESSING TO BE A BLESSING IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE'RE SERVING.

AND, UM, I JUST ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.

AND, UH, THANK YOU.

NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE GREAT, DO THEY HAVE FOOD, BUT THEY HAVE GREAT LUNCHES AS WELL.

SO, UM, AND BREAKFAST.

BREAKFAST AND LUNCHES.

SO PLEASE STOP BY.

WHO KNOWS, MAYBE ONE DAY THE MAYOR BRING LUNCH FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S AROUND.

OH, NOW I GET A RESPONSE, .

HOPEFULLY I CAN COME GET A, A SANDWICH OR SOMETHING.

UH, NEXT UP MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON, WESTERN ROOM TO RECOGNIZE LYNN CLARK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF GREATER AND BATON ROUGE.

MAYOR, PRESIDENT, UH, LYNN, WOULD YOU COME ON DOWN PLEASE? SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

UM, YOU KNOW, I LOVE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.

I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT I DO TOO.

YEAH, I KNOW YOU DO.

AND THAT'S WHY SHE'S RETIRING.

BUT HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO HABITAT FOR 20 YEARS.

20 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH CELEBRATING FOR LYNN CLARK.

SHE HAS BEEN THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.

UH, SHE'S BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY LEADER WHOSE DEDICATION AND PASSION HAVE LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK ON OUR COMMUNITY.

UH, SHE'S WORKED TO PROVIDE OVER 300 NEW AFFORDABLE HOMES TO FAMILIES IN NEED.

UM, SHE HAS ALSO EXPANDED HABITAT'S HOME REPAIR SERVICES AND HELPED FAMILIES RECOVER FROM MANY NATURAL DISASTERS THAT HAVE IMPACTED THE CAPITAL REGION OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES.

AND UNDER HER GUIDANCE, HABITAT HAS FLOURISHED, TRANSFORMING COUNTLESS LIVES AND REVITALIZING NEIGHBORHOODS.

AS LYNN TRANSITIONS INTO HER RETIREMENT, WE WANNA REFLECT ON HER REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTIONS AND THE PROFOUND IMPACT SHE'S HAD ON BATON ROUGE.

WHILE YOUR PRESENCE CERTAINLY WILL BE MISSED, YOU ARE LEAVING A LEGACY.

AND YOUR LEGACY WILL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE OTHERS TO STRIVE, UH, FOR A BETTER, MORE INCLUSIVE, UH, COMMUNITY.

WE ALSO WANNA WELCOME THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UH, RICHIE GOBEL.

GOBEL RICHIE, HOW YOU DOING, RICHIE? AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE POSITIVE IMPACT THAT YOU WILL BRING AS WELL.

UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU ALL HAVE EVER PARTICIPATED IN A HABITAT BUILD.

UH, I HAVE THE, I HAVE THIS WELL, AND IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCES OF, OF VOLUNTEERISM THAT I, UM, PARTICIPATED IN.

SO LYNN, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE.

AND LISTEN, ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT.

YOU DESERVE IT.

METRO COUNCIL FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT FOR GRANTING US ALL THOSE WONDERFUL GRANTS TO MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE.

AND THIS IS IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATED SERVICE AS DIRECTOR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HABITAT FOR MEN.

THANK YOU, .

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IT HAS BEEN MY HONOR TO SERVE WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND SO GRATEFUL TO MAYOR BROOM FOR ALL HER SUPPORT, THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WHO HAS MADE AFFORDABLE HOUSING A PRIORITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU TO THE

[00:10:01]

AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE BECAUSE WE ARE SO COMMITTED TO REVITALIZING NORTH BATON ROUGE, AND I'M JUST EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THAT WILL CONTINUE.

SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT.

CONGRATULATIONS.

ENJOY RETIREMENT.

NEXT UP, WE'LL HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER DARRYL HURST TO RECOGNIZE THE GLEN OAKS ELEMENTARY BASKET.

GLEN OAKS PARK ELEMENTARY BASKETBALL TEAM, EAST PARISH PARISH DISTRICT CHAMP FOR FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE.

COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.

THANK, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

THE, THE, THIS SCHOOL IS BECOMING A FAMILIAR FACE IN THE COUNCIL.

THE FIRST DAY THEY CAME AND THEY LOOKED ALL NERVOUS, BUT AFTER THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE CHAMPIONSHIP, THE THREE PEAK OF GLEN OAKS PARK, PANTHERS, MAN, THEY HAVE SET THE TONE AND ARE SETTING THE BAR FOR WHAT SPORTS AND EBR ALONG WITH EDUCATION LOOKS LIKE.

AND SO WE'RE EXCITED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM.

AND I, AND I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, YOU KNOW, EDUCATION IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, BUT SPORTS IS ALWAYS THE FRONT DOOR TO THE SCHOOL BEFORE THEY KNOW WHAT A CT SCORE YOU HAVE BEFORE THEY KNOW, UM, HOW GREAT THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM IS.

THEY KNOW WHO WON ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

AND SO YOU GUYS ARE SETTING AN AMAZING TONE OF WHAT AN ELEMENTARY FRONT DOOR SHOULD LOOK LIKE AND HAVE THE ACADEMICS TO SUPPORT AND BACK IT UP.

SO WE THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU DOING, BEING HERE TODAY.

BUT WE GETTING TO CHEER FROM THE CHEERLEADER.

IS THAT WHY WE HERE TODAY? ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA START OFF WITH THEM, Y'ALL COME ON AND LET'S LINE IT UP IN THE FRONT.

5, 6, 7, 8.

AND LEMME TELL YOU WHAT THEY SAID.

BEHIND EVERY GREAT MAN IS A EVEN BETTER WOMAN.

AND THESE YOUNG LADIES ARE THE BACKBONE FOR ENSURING THAT THE CROWD, FOR ENSURING THAT, UM, THE, THE ENERGY LEVEL OF THE PLAYERS GETS UP WHEN IT'S DOWN.

AND SO WE THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO.

AND TODAY LET'S SHOW THEM HOW YOU MAKE THE CROWD GO WILD.

ARE WE, NO.

ARE THEY COMING AS WELL OR NO? OKAY.

ALRIGHT, LET'S GO LATER.

WE LET, WE LET, GOOD JOB Y'ALL GIVE THESE PRINCESSES ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

IT TAKES COURAGE, BOLDNESS, TENACITY TO STAND UP IN FRONT OF PEOPLE THAT YOU DON'T KNOW AND SHOW YOUR TALENTS AND GIFTS OFF.

SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.

AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING THESE BOYS SPECIAL AGAIN FOR GLEN OAKS PANTHERS.

AND Y'ALL GOTTA COME DOWN WITH SWAG NOW.

ALRIGHT, Y'ALL READY? ALRIGHT, FIRST FOR THE EBR BASKETBALL TEAM CHAMPIONS, YOUR DEDICATION, TEAMWORK, SPORTSMANSHIP INSPIRES US ALL.

AND FIRST UP, MR. KOBE, I SEE WHY WE NEED THE CHEERLEADERS.

I GOT NEED SOME SWAG FROM THE GUYS TOO.

NEXT UP, MR. MARLEY AMMAR.

I MISS, SORRY.

AND WALLACE, THIS IS THE COED TEAM.

I WILL TELL YOU, I'VE SEEN SOME OF THE MOST AMAZING YOUNG LADIES COME FROM THERE.

DO GREAT THINGS IN BOTH MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS, SO THEY'RE SETTING THE PRECEDENCE THERE AS WELL.

NEXT WE HAVE TORY BREYER.

[00:15:07]

PAYTON DORSEY.

NOW LEMME TELL Y'ALL SOMETHING.

THIS BOY IS A MONSTER AND HIS BROTHER IS ONE TOO.

SO Y'ALL BE ON THE WATCH OUT.

I'VE SEEN HIM PERSONALLY.

NO SMILES.

I'M TELLING YOU DADDY BOY, I'M TELLING YOU.

DADDY.

SEE TRISTAN, YOU BANKS, TRENTON FISHER, ANTOINE MCCLURE.

I GUESS WHEN YOU'VE BEEN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP THREE TIMES, YOU JUST HAVE HUMBLENESS AND HUMILITY.

SO, UM, EISHA SMITH.

ELIJAH SMITH.

ALRIGHT, ELIJAH, ELIJAH SMITH.

ALRIGHT, MICHAEL THORNTON.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, TYRAN.

WE, AND WE HAVE SOME AMAZING COACHES WHERE WE HAVE A SPECIAL GIFT BEING MADE FOR YOU GUYS.

'CAUSE Y'ALL ARE STILL BUYING FOR THREE YEARS, BUT IT WAS NOT HERE IN TIME.

SO WE'LL MAKE SURE WE GET THAT TO YOU.

BUT I WILL ASK ALL MY CHEERLEADER AND COACHES TO COME TO THE FRONT.

WE'LL TAKE A QUICK PICK.

I'LL ASK THE MAYOR TO COME UP THERE WITH US.

UM, AND IF THE COUNCIL CAN STAND UP, I'D APPRECIATE IT.

THE THREE P DESERVES EVERYBODY.

EVERYBODY LOOKS STRAIGHT HERE.

GOTTA STAND UP.

YEAH, Y'ALL GOTTA STAND UP.

STAND UP.

YEAH, SO YOU CAN, YEAH.

WELL, IF THAT PODIUM WASN'T THERE, IT'LL BE, YEAH, WE COULD DO IT.

BUT THIS IS BLOCK.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET A BIG SMILE FROM EVERYBODY.

ALRIGHT, HOLD IT.

ALRIGHT, ONE MORE GUYS.

LET ME GET ONE RIGHT HERE.

I GOT IT.

HOW YOU DOING? GOOD TO SEE YOU.

LOVE YOU ON CONGRATULATIONS.

I'LL SEE YOU ALL NEXT YEAR WHEN YOU WIN FOURTH IN A ROW.

NEXT UP, WE'LL HAVE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEMBER SHAUNA BANKS TO RECOGNIZE BRETT SUPERINTENDENT CORY WILSON.

THE BATON ZOO EARNS A PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL ACCREDITATION COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.

GOOD.

A NOON.

EVERYONE.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME ORGANIZATIONS WHEN YOU, UM, WHEN YOU COME UP HERE AND YOU RECOGNIZE THEM, YOU FEEL YOU HAVE TO BUILD THEM UP AND GIVE A LOT OF INFORMATION.

THIS IS NOT ONE OF THOSE DAYS AND NOT ONE OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND NOT ONE OF THOSE TOP UM, LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

TODAY.

WE HAVE, UM, THE BATON ROUGE, UH, ZOO HERE THAT IS TAKING CARE OF AND UNDER THE, UM, UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF BRE.

AND THAT'S LEADER IS SUPERINTENDENT CORY WILSON.

[00:20:01]

AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HIM COME UP BECAUSE HE CAN GIVE MORE DETAILS, BUT I DO HAVE, UM, A CERTIFICATE AND I WILL JUST GO TOWARDS THE CERTIFICATE BECAUSE HE STAYS READY.

ALL RIGHT, WOULD CORY WILSON COME UP? ZOO DIRECTOR JIM F FLESHMAN.

AND I AM, UM, ALSO HAVING, UH, REID CHAR BECAUSE HE'S THE, THE MECHANICAL MAN THAT DOES ALL THE PLANNING.

AND SO WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT HIM.

SO IN HIS ABSENCE, I'M ALSO, UH, WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, BUT I HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION PRESENTED TO CORY WILSON, SUPERINTENDENT OF BRECK, FOR YOUR EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE AND OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN ASSISTING BREX BACKWOOD ZOO IN EARNING PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL ACCREDITATION AND IMPROVING THE EXPERIENCE OF PATRONS.

YOUR WORK, YOUR DEDICATION AND PERSEVERANCE HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN YOUR SUCCESS, AND WE ARE HONORED TO RECOGNIZE YOU BOTH FOR YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

AND THANK YOU FOR SO MUCH.

AND I KNOW YOU HAVE GREAT COMMENTS AND, UH, I WANT TO LEAVE A LOT OF TIME FOR THAT.

ALL RIGHT, SO THIS IS FOR YOU.

AND Y'ALL MAKE SURE YOU TELL RICK REID THAT I DID NOT FORGET ABOUT HIM.

AND THAT'S FOR YOU, JIM.

AND WE'RE GONNA, HUH? GONNA BE MAD AT ME FOR NOT TELLING.

I KNOW.

SO AFTER COMMENTS, AND I BELIEVE THE MAYOR HOUSEHOLD AS THE PRESENTATION WILL DO PICTURE.

WELL, THANK YOU, UM, COUNCILWOMAN BANKS FOR THIS, UH, SPECIAL RECOGNITION AND TO, TO MAYOR BROOM AND MAYOR PROTI AND ALL THE COUNCIL PEOPLE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE.

UH, TOMORROW IS OUR MARCH COMMISSION MEETING, AND SIX YEARS AGO AT OUR MARCH COMMISSION MEETING IN 2018, UH, MANY OF YOU, UM, CAME TO OUR BOARD MEETING, UH, TO LET US KNOW, AND ALONG WITH MANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, UH, THAT WE WANTED TO KEEP THE ZOO AT ITS CURRENT LOCATION.

UH, THAT DECISION WAS MADE IN LATE MARCH OF 2018, AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, ABOUT A WEEK, UH, WE GOT THE NEWS THAT WE LOST OUR ACCREDITATION AS WELL, TOO.

AND SO IT WAS A LOW POINT FOR BRECK.

UH, QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK IT HAD A LITTLE BIT TO DO WITH ME BEING SUPERINTENDENT RIGHT NOW, BUT I WON'T, I WON'T GO INTO THAT TOO MUCH.

BUT SHORTLY AFTER BECOMING A SUPERINTENDENT, WE COMPLETED A MASTER PLAN FOR IMPROVEMENTS OUT THERE.

AND IN JANUARY OF 21, WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BRING ON JIM FLESHMAN AS A DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT THE TIME.

UM, UM, AND, AND SO JIM, UM, HAS OVER 30 YEARS OF ACCREDITATION EXPERIENCE.

HE'S GREW UP IN THE ZOO.

HE'S SEEN A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS MADE AT ZOOS.

AND SO, UM, JIM WAS A KEY CORNERSTONE IN, IN TERMS OF US GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE NOW.

I'LL LET JIM COME AND SHARE A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION, UH, REGARDING ACCREDITATION.

UH, BUT IT, IT INVOLVES EVERYTHING FROM LOOKING AT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, TO HOW WE TAKE CARE OF ANIMALS.

THERE'S OVER 350 DIFFERENT STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE TO MEET, UH, AND JIM IS THE LEADER OF THE ZOO AND, AND HELP MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE MET EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE STANDARDS.

NOW, DON'T GO OVER ALL 350, JIM, BUT, UH, COME AND SHARE A LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS AND WHY IT IS SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS AWARD.

THANK YOU EVERYBODY.

THE, UM, ONE OF THE REASONS, WELL, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I ALWAYS GET IS WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO BE A PART OF THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS? AND TO BE A ZOO, BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

YOU HAVE TO BE LICENSED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND THERE ARE MORE THAN 2,700 LICENSED ANIMALS, SMART MAN EXHIBITS IN THE UNITED STATES.

THERE ARE ONLY 235 MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS. SO WE'RE IN THAT TOP 10%, AND THAT'S WHERE WE WANNA STAY.

IT'S SORT OF THAT SOME OF, YOU'LL REMEMBER WHAT THE GOOD HOUSEKEEPING SEAL OF APPROVAL IS.

THAT'S SORT OF WHAT ACCREDITATION IS.

IT'S THE GOLD MEDAL FOR ZOOS.

WE'VE GOT A GREAT PARK SYSTEM.

WE NEEDED TO HAVE A GREAT ZOO.

AND SO I APPRECIATE WHAT BRECK LEADERSHIP DID FOR US, UH, BY ALLOCATING SOME FUNDS AND REALLY KIND OF PRESSING US TO, TO SEEK EXCELLENCE.

AND WE HAVE DONE THAT.

AND, UM, I, HOPEFULLY BRECK IS PROUD OF US, BUT THE GREENWOOD GOLF ZOO PROJECT, UM, HAS TOUCHED EVERY DEPARTMENT WITHIN BRECK.

WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT THEM.

WE GET THE ACCOLADES RIGHT NOW, BUT EVERY DEPARTMENT WITHIN BRECK REALLY PUT THEIR HEART INTO THIS AND REALLY WORKED HARD TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

AND IT IS JUST A PROUD MOMENT FOR US TO BE HERE.

SO WE APPRECIATE IT.

AND SO WE NEVER, UH, LOSE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO ASK FOR MONEY.

AND SO, UM, WE, WE, WE COMPLETED THE FIRST PHASE OF THE ZOO, UH, IN GREENWOOD PARK.

UM, WELL OVER $55 MILLION INVESTMENT IN NORD BATON ROUGE THAT HELPED COMPLETE THE FIRST PHASE OF THE ZOO IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARK, THE

[00:25:01]

GOLF COURSE.

UM, AS THE ACCREDITATION TEAM TOLD US, THERE'S, IT LOOKS LIKE TWO SEPARATE ZOOS.

THERE'S A NEW ZOO AND THERE'S A OLD ZOO.

SO THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.

UM, AND SO IF THERE'S ANY FUNDING THAT'S AVAILABLE TO YOU GUYS THAT YOU WANT TO PUT TOWARDS THE ZOO, WE ARE ALWAYS, UH, WELCOME TO RECEIVE THAT.

UH, THE MASTER PLAN IS WELL OVER $200 MILLION.

AND SO, UH, THE FIRST PHASE IS FINISHED, BUT THE SECOND AND THIRD PHASE INCLUDES BRINGING LIONS AND GORILLAS AND ALL THOSE SORT OF THINGS.

AND SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT, UM, THIS FIRST PHASE, BUT LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE PHASES AS WELL.

AND AS ANY OTHER SUCCESSFUL PROJECT IN THIS PARISH, IT'S GONNA TAKE ALL HANDS ON DECK COLLABORATION FROM PRIVATE, PUBLIC, STATE, LOCAL, FEDERAL DOLLARS, EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN FIND SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A GREAT ZOO.

WE ALSO LEFT SOME INFORMATION FOR YOU IN TERMS OF UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROGRAMS ON APRIL 9TH.

WE'LL BE DOING A MASTER PLAN, UH, OUT AT ANATE JORDAN AS WE LOOK TO, UM, REVAMP THAT FACILITY EVEN MORE.

MAYOR BROOM WAS INSTRUMENTAL WHEN SHE WAS A STATE SENATOR AND GETTING CAPITAL OUTLAY FUNDING FOR IMPROVEMENTS AT THAT FACILITY.

AND SO THAT'S THE SORT OF THING I TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ZOO.

WE ALSO HAVE SOME UPCOMING MEETINGS IN CHENEY V, UH, FOR THE PRIDE PARK.

APRIL 2ND IS CHENEY V.

WE'LL BE, UH, IMPROVING PRIDE PARK, AND WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR INFORMATION THERE.

AND APRIL 5TH, UH, WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT A LATE NIGHT HYPE, UH, MIDNIGHT SORT OF BASKETBALL PROGRAM THAT WE'RE WORKING, UH, WITH EMPOWER 2, 2 5 TO BRING THAT EVENT TO THE COMMUNITY AT GUS YOUNG, UM, AT SEVEN TO 11 ON APRIL THE FIFTH.

AND SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT BRINGING THAT, UH, PROGRAM ALL ACROSS THE PARISH.

BUT THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL OF YOUR, UH, CONTINUED SUPPORT OF BRECK AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU GUYS AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.

I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO THE, UH, ACCOLADES AND COMMENDATION AND CELEBRATING THE, UH, ACHIEVEMENT OF THE ACCREDITATION OF THE, UH, ZOO.

UH, I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD.

I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS ACCREDITATION, BUT I'M EVEN LOOKING FORWARD, UH, TO THE TOTAL, UH, FRUITION OF THE, OF THE ZOO.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK.

UM, WE'VE COME A MIGHTY LONG WAYS, AS THEY SAY, WHEN IT'S COME TO THIS ZOO SITUATION.

AND, UH, I AM EXCITED THAT IT REMAINS IN NORTH BATON ROUGE AND THAT WE ARE ELEVATING IT TO BE A FIRST CLASS ZOO, JUST LIKE WE HAVE A FIRST CLASS PARK SYSTEM.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CORY.

, HONOR.

YEAH, UP AND DOWN.

HEY, I FOLLOW YOUR LEAD.

NINE YEARS OLD, UH, THEY FOUND TUMORS ON HER BRAIN ABOUT FIVE OR SIX WEEKS AGO.

1, 3, 1, 2, 3.

1, 2, 3.

WHO'S THE STOOL FOR OH, YOUNG LADY.

OH, YOU, I THINK SO.

YOU FINISHED? YEAH.

AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS.

SUPERINTENDENT WILSON.

KEEP UP TO EXCELLENT WORK.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ZOO.

UH, NEXT UP WE HAVE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEMBER CLEVE DUNN, JR.

TO PROMOTE THE REDICK RIVALRY A NIGHT NIGHT OF LIVE PROFESSIONAL BOXING AND CELEBRITY MATCHES.

COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE HERE IN THE CHAMBER AND THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING US ON, UH, LIVE TV.

I WISH I WAS HERE UNDER, UM, DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES.

UH, MANY OF YOU GUYS HERE IN CITY PARISH GOVERNMENT HAS GOTTEN TO KNOW MY LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT AND FRIEND JI JONES.

UM, HER DAUGHTER LIA,

[00:30:01]

UH, THEY'RE CURRENTLY AT ST.

JUDE RIGHT NOW GETTING TREATMENT AND WE'LL BE THERE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

UM, THE REST, THE RIVALRY WAS ALREADY UNDERWAY.

WE WAS WORKING ON PUTTING THIS TOGETHER ANYWAY.

UM, THIS IS THE THIRD FAMILY THAT MY FAMILY HAS SEEN AND KNOWN DIRECTLY THAT BENEFITED FROM THE RESOURCES OF ST.

JUDE.

UH, ALL THE MONEY THAT THEY POUR INTO THE FAMILIES, UH, THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING FOR TREATMENT, FOR HOUSING, FOR LODGING, FOR MEALS.

THEY EVEN TRANSPORT FAMILY MEMBERS UP THERE TO VISIT THEM FROM TIME TO TIME.

UH, ME AND MY FAMILY WENT THERE THIS WEEKEND TO VISIT WITH GITA AND JIA AND KIND SEE FIRSTHAND THE THINGS THAT THEY DO.

SO WE WANTED TO DEDICATE A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS TO THE FAMILY DIRECTLY AND TO ST.

JUDE.

NOW WE CONTACT THE ST.

JUDE TO LET THEM KNOW, UH, WHAT WE WERE PLANNING.

THEIR TYPICAL TURNAROUND TIME IS 30 TO 60 DAYS TO APPROVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

UM, THEY APPROVED IT IN ABOUT A WEEK.

THEY LOVE THE IDEA.

THEY SAID LOUISIANA IS IMPORTANT TO THEM.

BATON ROUGE IS IMPORTANT TO THEM, AND THEY WANTED TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS.

SO ON, UM, APRIL 6TH, SATURDAY AT BRCC, WE PUTTING ON LIVE, UH, PROFESSIONAL BOXING.

AND WE HAVE SOME CELEBRITY MATCHES WITH SOME LOCAL OR REGIONAL, UH, CELEBRITIES.

SO YOU CAN GET YOUR TICKETS AT RED STICK, UH, RIVALRY.COM.

BUT SOME OF THE FEATURE MATCHES FROM THE PROFESSIONAL SIDE ARE BATON ROUGE'S OWN.

UM, CALEB GEORGE, WHO'S A BATON ROUGE RESIDENT.

YOU CAN SEE HIM FIGHT PROFESSIONALLY.

UH, WE ALSO HAVE BATON ROUGE'S OWN CAMERON HILL, AND WE ALSO HAVE COTON, UH, NATIVE VICTOR PARIS, AND A LAFAYETTE NATIVE, UH, KELAND FRANKLIN.

THESE ARE PROFESSIONAL FIGHTS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE THAT EVENING.

AND WE ALSO BROUGHT ON SOME LOCAL REGIONAL CELEBRITIES TO KIND OF POSSESS THE THING UP.

OUR ROMAN BANKS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND VIRG AUSBERRY ASSOCIATE, OUR EXECUTIVE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AT LSU, ARE ACTUALLY GETTING IN THE RING FOR A EXHIBITION TO HAVE A LITTLE FUND TO LEVERAGE THEIR PLATFORM TO HELP US RAISE SOME MONEY FOR THIS FAMILY IN ST.

JUDE.

ALSO, UM, STATE REPRESENTATIVE LAUREN VAN VENTRELLA AND OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUE JENNIFER ROCKER, ARE GETTING IN THE RING TO HAVE A LITTLE FUN TO LEVERAGE THEIR PLATFORM TO RAISE MONEY FOR THIS FAMILY.

AND ST.

JUDE JEN JUST HAPPEN TO NOT BE HERE TODAY.

UH, SOME OF OUR OTHER, UH, MATCHES ARE, WELL, WE'RE NOT GETTING IN THE RING.

WE HAVE TEAM NEW ORLEANS VERSUS TEAM BATON ROUGE.

UH, THE COACH FOR TEAM BATON ROUGE IS OUR VERY OWN CONS, WILLIAMS. AND I'M THE TRAINER FOR TEAM BATON ROUGE.

WE WILL HAVE FIGHTERS GET IN THE RING ON OUR BEHALF.

WE WILL NOT BE, UH, FIGHTING TEAM NEW ORLEANS.

THE COACH IS LETANG SYLVESTER, WHO'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AND THE TRAINER IS COUNCILMAN OLIVER THOMAS.

EVERYBODY CALL HIM OT.

SO THESE ARE SOME EXCITING BOUTS YOU CAN COME OUT AND SEE.

UM, WE DO HAVE A POLL RUNNING ON THE WEBSITE ASKING WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE GOVERNOR GET IN THE RING WITH? AND, UH, RIGHT NOW YOU CAN GO ON THE POLL AND VOTE, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THE GOVERNOR, GET IN THE RING WITH WHOEVER WINS.

BUT THE BALLOT INCLUDES SENATOR CLEO FIELDS.

YOU CAN VOTE FOR HIM TO GET IN THE RING WITH THE GOVERNOR, ACTIVIST AND BUSINESSMAN GARY CHAMBERS, MY FRIEND, YOU CAN VOTE FOR HIM TO GET IN THE RING WITH THE GOVERNOR.

SENATOR CAMERON HENRY IS ON THE BALLOT.

YOU CAN VOTE FOR HIM TO GET IN THE RING WITH THE GOVERNOR.

UH, DISTRICT ATTORNEY TONY CLAYTON IS ON THE BALLOT.

YOU CAN VOTE FOR HIM TO GET IN THE RING WITH THE GOVERNOR, STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND BLACK CAUCUS CHAIR, UH, EDMUND JORDAN.

YOU CAN VOTE FOR HIM TO GET IN THE RING.

AND FINALLY, CONGRESSMAN GARY GRAVE, YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE FROM ANY OF THOSE OPTIONS TO CONVINCE THEM TO GET IN THE RING WITH THE GOVERNOR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

GOOD JOB.

PLEASE, PLEASE GO OUT AND SUPPORT THE REST OF ROBBERY.

UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION PORTION OF OUR MEETING.

WE'LL TAKE A QUICK BREAK AND THEN WE'LL START MOMENTARILY.

IT TO COUNCIL MEMBER ROWDY GODDE OF DISTRICT THREE TO INTRODUCE OUR GUESTS WHO'LL BE LEADING US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND, UH, A MOMENT OF PRAYER.

THOSE WHO HAVE TO GIVE A PRESENTATION FOR THIS MEETING, STUDY YOUR NOTES.

HELLO EVERYBODY.

WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH AND ON BEHALF OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TUNING IN FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING THE 27TH OF MARCH, 2024, ALREADY SPRINGTIME, OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE HERE, THEY'RE READY TO GO.

AND AT THIS TIME HERE IS THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, COUNCILMAN LAMONT COLE.

THANK YOU, DENNIS.

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING ON THIS, UH, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27TH, 2024 AT 4:00 PM AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO PASS

[00:35:01]

THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WANT TO INTRODUCE A COUPLE OF VERY SPECIAL GUESTS WHO ARE JOINING US TODAY.

UH, FIRST FOR OUR INVOCATION, MS. MARCELLA HERNANDEZ.

SHE IS THE PROGRAM AND ORGANIZING MANAGER FOR THE LOUISIANA ORGANIZATION FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS KNOWN AS LORI.

UH, UH, MARCELLA AND THAT ORGANIZATION HAVE BEEN VERY KIND TO ME AND A FEW OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, INVITING US TO SEVERAL, UH, EVENTS.

AND, UH, AND SHE AND I HAVE STRUCK UP A REALLY GOOD FRIENDSHIP.

AND SO I ASKED IF SHE WOULD COME AND GRACE US WITH, UM, THE INVOCATION TODAY.

UH, AND THEN AT ONE OF THOSE EVENTS THAT SHE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO INVITE ME TO, I GOT TO KNOW, UH, HER BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER VALENTINA.

AND SO I ASK THAT VALENTINA, WHO IS A KINDERGARTNER AT FLAME, WOULD GRACE US WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

NOW, COUNCIL MEMBERS, NORMALLY DURING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, SOMEONE STARTS WITH THE FIRST THREE WORDS AND THEN WE ALL JOIN IN.

BUT FOR PURPOSES OF MS. VALENTINA, SHE WOULD LIKE TO READ THE PLEDGE OF PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ALL BY HERSELF, AS WE HAVE OUR HANDS OVER OUR HEARTS AND FACE THE FLAG.

SO I'D ASK THAT WE IN THIS INSTANCE, UH, REFRAIN FROM REPEATING, BUT LET MS. VALENTINA LEAD THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

SO I'M GONNA ASK, UH, MARCELLA TO COME ON UP AND GET US UNDERWAY WITH THE INVOCATION.

GONNA START THIS.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

GOOD AFTERNOON, .

HOW ARE YOU? I HAVE NO IDEA.

DEAR FATHER, TODAY I COME TO YOU TO THANK YOU FOR OUR LIVES AND FOR YOU, INFINITE, MERCY AND LOVE TOWARDS US.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR EACH OF THE PEOPLE PRESENT HERE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, AND FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE A NEW DAY.

LORD, I WISH TO PUT OUR LIVES IN YOUR HANDS, THAT YOU GRANT US WISDOM TO SPEAK, ACT AND THINK.

I PLACE IN YOUR HANDS EVERY DECISION THEY MUST TAKE FOR THE WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I ASK THAT YOUR HOLY SPIRIT GUIDE THEM ALONG THE PATH OF JUSTICE AND SOLIDARITY.

THANK YOU FATHER, FOR ALLOWING THEM TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN THE CITY.

AND I PLACE EVERY DECISION THEY WILL MAKE TODAY IN YOUR HANDS.

PROTECT US LORD AT ALL TIMES FROM ALL EVIL AND TEMPTATION, AND GUIDE US ALONG THE PATHS OF LIGHT IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON JESUS.

AMEN.

OKAY, .

YOU WANNA DO IT TOGETHER? CAN WE DO IT TOGETHER? YES.

YOU READY? I PLEDGE ALLIANCE 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.

LIKE TO MOVE TO ITEM ONE NOW, APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 13TH, 2024, THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL'S ZONING MEETING OF MARCH 20TH, 24 BY THE COUNCIL, ADMINISTRATIVE TREASURER.

AWESOME JOB.

AWESOME.

ASHLEY, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM?

[00:40:01]

WE HAVE A QUORUM.

I'D

[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

ASHLEY, WOULD YOU PLEASE

[INTRODUCTIONS]

READ THE INTRODUCTIONS? SECTION 2.12 INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER TWO, A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE ISSUANCE OF A TAX EXEMPT LIMITED TAX REVENUE BOND SERIES 2024 OF CENTRAL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,500,000 BY COUNCILMAN AARON MOOCH.

NUMBER THREE, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED TINA CRANE VERSUS DANIEL BALDRIDGE IN THE AMOUNT OF $350,000 PLUS COURT COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $626 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

NUMBER FOUR, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE WALLS PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $150,000 TO STRENGTHEN THE EDUCATIONAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD BY MAYOR PRESIDENT CONDEMNATION

[CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS]

INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER FIVE, ALVIN CARTER.

4 8 2 3 FORD STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST.

NUMBER SIX, JOYCE LONG WILLIAMS, 5 1 5 3 ENTERPRISE STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT FIVE HEARST.

NUMBER SEVEN, THE SUCCESSION OF CAROL RALLY JR.

6 3 5 NORTH 33RD STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE, NUMBER EIGHT, BEVERLY WADE BRISTER, 1 5 1 8 GOLDEN RIGHT AVENUE COUNCIL, DISTRICT SEVEN COLE, NUMBER NINE, LOUISE JACKSON BINGHAM AND FRANK BINGHAM.

1 9 3 8 ARIZONA STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 10, THE ESTATE OF GLADYS TAYLOR.

WALLS 2 5 6 1 DAYTON AVENUE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN.

NUMBER 11, TERRANCE M JACKSON.

1 3 6 NORTH BAXTER STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 12, ELIZABETH WASHINGTON, 2 0 2 6 TENNESSEE STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 13, CFB 1 9 5 6 LLC 4 7 3 6 LOYOLA DRIVE COUNCIL DISTRICT 12 ROCKA

[ADJUDICATED PROPERTY INTRODUCTIONS]

UK.

PROPERTY INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER 14, LOT FOUR SUBDIVISION GOODWOOD HOME SITES COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX DUN JR.

NUMBER 15 LOT 13 PART SUBDIVISION SWOT EDITION COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 16 LOT 85 WITH PART COUNCIL, UH, I'M SORRY, SUBDIVISION NORTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 17 LOT 88 SUBDIVISION RIVERLAND COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE, GOD.

DAY NUMBER 18, LOT 62 SUBDIVISION SABLE CHASE COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE, GODDE NUMBER 19 LOT 48 B ONE SUBDIVISION SOUTH HIGHLAND INDUSTRIAL PARK COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST NUMBER 20 LOT 87 SUBDIVISION RIVERLAND COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE, GOE NUMBER 21 LOT 52 SUBDIVISIONS.

ALL ITEMS THAT REQUIRE READING HAVE BEEN READ.

AND A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS AS AN ORDER.

IS THERE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE THE ITEMS? I'LL MOVE BY.

COUNCIL MEMBER A SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

ANY OBJECTIONS? ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU GO TO THE SEPARATE

[CONDEMNATIONS]

SEAT FOR CONDEMNATION, I'M GONNA READ DPW RECOMMENDATIONS AS THEY WERE GIVEN TO US.

THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 51, 52, 54, 55, 56, 57, 62 63 AND DEFER FOR 90 DAYS.

ITEMS 58, 59, 60 AND 61.

AND TO DELETE ITEM 53.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY CONDEMNATION? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A CONDEMNATION? COME ON DOWN.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND IF YOU COULD TELL US WHAT ITEM IT IS AS WELL, THE ADDRESS.

TELL US THE ADDRESS.

SPEAKING TO THE MIC MA'AM, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

ITEM 62 2.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY, GOOD.

[00:45:02]

ALRIGHT, GO AHEAD MA'AM.

WHAT'S YOUR, YOUR, YOUR QUESTION WAS, WAS IT HERE FOR CONDEMNATION? IS THAT, WHOSE QUESTION WAS IT? YEAH, ARE YOU HERE FOR A CONDEMNATION? IS ANYONE YES.

I ASSUME THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR.

UM, I'M NOT CERTAIN, I'M NEW TO THIS, SO I'M ASKING YOU GUYS TO BEAR WITH ME ON THIS.

UM, I WAS TOLD TO, UH, BOARD UP THE HOUSE AT 2 54 LOUISE STREET IN WHICH I'VE DONE THAT.

I, I TRY TO KEEP THE, THE, UH, GRASS CUT AND EVERYTHING.

THE HOUSE IS NOT IN ANY, IN ANY ENDANGERMENT TO ANYBODY.

AND I AM, I PERSONALLY FEEL LIKE I'M CONSISTENTLY BEING HARASSED BECAUSE THERE'S A PERSON IN THE AREA WHO WANTS TO BUY MY PROPERTY.

AND I'M GETTING THESE, UH, CERTIFIED LETTERS ALL THE TIME.

FOR EVERY LITTLE THING THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO, I DO IT, BUT BECAUSE THIS PERSON IS HARASSING ME OR JUST, YOU KNOW, FOR ANY LITTLE THING, I GET IT WITH BLIGHTED PROPERTY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT IT TO BE BLIGHTED.

I'VE, I'VE WORKED FOR THE, UH, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE FOR 32 YEARS, AND I RETIRED BACK IN 2009.

AND I'M BACK IN THE WORKFORCE.

BUT I WOULD LOVE TO, YOU KNOW, I'VE INQUIRED ABOUT GRANTS TO HAVE RENOVATIONS DONE FOR THAT PROPERTY SO IT CAN GENERATE AN INCOME FOR ME, BUT, UH, I'M BACK IN THE WORKFORCE.

UM, DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER I WOULD BE WORKING, BUT IT WOULD BE AN INCOME FOR ME.

I'VE REACHED OUT TO DIFFERENT PLACES.

I'VE REACHED OUT TO THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

I'VE REACHED OUT TO THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, BUT TO NO AVAIL EVERY TIME THE PROP, THERE'S NO MORE GRANTS.

I'M STRAPPED AND JUST TRYING TO KEEP MY OWN HEAD ABOVE THE WATER AND TRYING TO LIVE AND SURVIVE.

I AM A WIDOWED WOMAN AND ALL I'M ASKING, UH, IS FOR SOME TYPE OF ASSISTANCE.

I CAN'T TAKE IN A LOAN AT THIS TIME, BUT I COULD, YOU KNOW, LIKE IF IT'S SOME KIND OF WAY THAT I CAN HAVE A GRANT TO HELP ME, THAT I, THIS COULD BE A WIN-WIN FOR ME AND A WIN-WIN FOR SOMEBODY WHO NEEDS A PLACE TO STAY.

SO I'M BEING HARASSED AND I KNOW THAT THIS PERSON, ALL HE WANTS IS TO, HE MAY, YOU KNOW, HE MIGHT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO GENERATE THIS HOUSE TO WHAT, RENT IT TO SOMEBODY ELSE AND GENERATE AN INCOME.

I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO DO THAT MYSELF.

BUT I, IN THE MEANTIME, UNTIL THAT CAN TAKE PLACE, I, I DON'T WANNA BE HARASSED ABOUT WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO.

I'M DOING THE BEST THAT I CAN DO THAT I KNOW HOW TO DO.

I DON'T WANT IT BLIGHTED.

I THINK ABOUT THIS THING DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

SO YES, I'M HERE FOR CONDEMNATION, BUT I KNOW THAT EVEN IF YOU HAD SOME PIECE OF PROPERTY ON THE LAND, THAT IT WOULD BE WORTH MORE THAN JUST CLEARED LAND.

YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? SO I'M, I I, YOU KNOW, THIS IS MY SECOND TRIP HERE.

I, I DO WHAT THEY ASKED ME TO DO AND I'M JUST BEING HARASSED AND IT'S JUST VERY TIRING AND TAXING ON ME.

MA'AM, WHAT, WHAT IS YOUR NAME? MY NAME IS CHARMAINE, C-H-A-R-M-A-I-N-E.

AND THE LAST NAME IS CAROL, C-A-R-R-E-L-L.

AND I'M MORE THAN CERTAIN THAT IT'S NOT THE ONLY BLIGHTED, UH, HOUSE IN THE DISTRICT.

R IN THE CITY.

THANK YOU MS. CARROLL.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE? WELL, MY PLEASURE IS CHARMAINE, WHAT ARE YOU ASKING FOR? BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURE OF THAT HOUSE AND COUNCIL PEOPLE, IF YOU LOOK AT THAT, UM, IT IS, UM, IN AND SOME CONDITIONS THAT, UH, IT JUST LOOKED LIKE IT WOULD TAKE A LOT.

AND YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T HAVE IT.

AND YES, YOU DID ASK ABOUT A GRANT AND I, UH, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY GRANTS THAT, BECAUSE A LOT OF FOLK WOULD WANT THAT.

I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY HARASSMENT.

AND SO THIS IS THE REASON WHY IT'S ON THIS LIST.

UH, MAYOR PROTEL.

SO WHAT DO YOU, I MEAN, I DON'T HAVE ANY GRANT.

I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HARASSMENT.

WHAT ARE YOU ASKING FOR? I'M LIKE, I SAID, UM, JUST GIVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY.

I AM TRYING AND, UH, LIKE I SAID, I'VE REACHED OUT TO THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

I'M TRYING TO FORM AND TAKE WHATEVER STEPS THAT I'M BEING ADVISED TO MAYBE FORM AN LLC THAT I POSSIBLY CAN GET A GRANT FOR RENOVATIONS OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.

LISTEN, THIS IS ALL NEW TO ME.

AND I DON'T KNOW ALL THE NECESSARY STEPS TO TAKE.

[00:50:01]

BUT I AM TRYING TO TAKE SOME STEPS.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, LIKE I SAY, THE HOUSE IS NOT LEANING.

IT'S NOT DOING ANY OF THAT IS BOARDED UP.

IT'S IN BETWEEN TWO HOUSES.

IT'S NOT A, UH, IT'S NOT, IT'S IN BETWEEN MY MOM'S HOUSE AND ANOTHER HOUSE.

AND IT'S NOT IN ANY ENDANGERMENT.

THEY DON'T HAVE ANY DRUG ADDICTS UP IN THERE.

AND THE DOORS ARE NOT KICKED IN OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE.

IT'S NOT A PRETTY PICTURE.

I AGREE WITH THAT.

I MEAN, I GET IT WITH BLIGHTED.

LIKE I SAY, I DON'T WANT IT TO BE BLIGHTED.

I WOULD PREFER IT TO, TO TO BE RENOVATED AND OCCUPIED.

THAT'S WHAT I REALLY WOULD LIKE.

BUT AT THIS TIME, I DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO THAT.

SO I AM, AND I HAVE BEEN, I'M TRYING TO FIND SOME RESOURCES THAT I CAN GET IT IN, UH, A LIVABLE CONDITION, 30 DAYS, 60 DAYS.

I MEAN, THAT'S ALL THAT I CAN DO AT THIS POINT HERE.

SO I DON'T KNOW OF ANY GRANTS AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANYBODY HARASSING YOU.

WELL, WHEN I SAY THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO OFFER, WELL, I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU ARE HARASSING ME.

I'M NOT EVEN MAKING THAT INDICATION.

NOT AT ALL.

THERE, THERE'S THIS PERSON IN THE COMMUNITY.

I UNDERSTAND THAT KNOCKS ON THE DOORS.

, MS. CARROLL, HOW MUCH TIME WOULD YOU LIKE ON THAT, THAT FACILITY? 30 OR 60 DAYS? WELL, I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS THAT? HOW MUCH TIME WOULD YOU LIKE? 30 OR 60 DAYS? 60.

COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

IS THAT OKAY? AND IN THE RESULT OF, IF IT'S NOT DONE IN 60 DAYS, THEN WHAT IS THE REPERCUSSION OF THAT? REACH OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN'S OFFICES IN HER DISTRICT AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER AND SHE'LL WORK THROUGH, THROUGH THE PROCESS.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY KINDLY.

SO IS THAT A MOTION FOR 30 DAYS ON 60 DAYS ON THAT ITEM? 60 DAYS? YES.

60 DAYS ON ITEM 62.

UH, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A CONDEMNATION? ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A CONDEMNATION? COUNSEL MOORE? MA'AM, COULD YOU COME BACK UP? YES, MA'AM.

I AM GOING THROUGH THE PICTURES, THE FRONT AND THE BACK.

UH, I DON'T HAVE ANY INSIDE PICTURES.

HAVE YOU? AND THIS DOESN'T, I DON'T IMAGINE COST ANYTHING, BUT FIRST QUESTION IS, HAVE YOU DONE, OTHER THAN LOOKING FOR GRANTS, AND I ASSUME YOU'VE DONE THAT ONLINE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, HAVE YOU DONE ANYTHING PHYSICALLY BY HAVING A CONTRACTOR COME OUT THERE AND SEE ANYTHING, UM, HAVING NEIGHBORS COME BY AND, AND ASK FOR RENOVATION HELP OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? HAVE YOU HAD ANYBODY LOOK AT THE PLACE AND GIVE YOU ANY KIND OF IDEA OF THE FEASIBILITY OF ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING WITH THIS PROPERTY? I MEAN, AND WHEN I SAY PROPERTY, I MEAN THE HOUSE ITSELF.

YES, I UNDERSTAND BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THE, THE PROPERTY AND, AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE PROBABLY CORRECT.

THERE'S, THERE'S NOBODY LIKE HIDING IN IT.

UH, THERE'S PROBABLY NOT DRUG DEALS GOING ON IN IT.

UH, BUT WHEN, WHEN THEY GET TO THIS POINT, YOU HAVE NO ROOF, YOU HAVE NO, EVERYTHING STARTS ROTTING AND THEN YOU START HAVING INFESTATIONS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

AND IT AFFECTS EVERY, AND, AND YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE RIGHT THERE ON SIDE OF EACH OTHER.

SO MY QUESTION IS, HAVE YOU HAD ANYONE PHYSICALLY COME LOOK AT THE PROPERTY AND GIVE YOU THE FEASIBILITY OF THIS THING ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO BE RESTORED? I HAD, UM, A GENTLEMAN TO COME OUT THERE AND HE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THE ROOF ON THE PROPERTY.

DID DID HE GIVE YOU A ANYBODY TO SAY YES OR NO? JUST CAN BE DONE AS CONTRACTOR? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF? NO.

ANYBODY, I GUESS YOU WAS ASKING FOR FIRST STEPS OR WHATEVER.

MY RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU TO BE, AND, AND I DON'T, I DON'T IMAGINE IT WOULD COST YOU ANYTHING.

SOMEBODY COULD PROBABLY COME OUT AND GIVE YOU AN ESTIMATE.

DON'T EVEN THINK THEY HAVE TO GIVE YOU A COST TO REDO IT.

OR WE COULD HELP YOU FIND SOMEONE POSSIBLY TO GIVE YOU AN ESTIMATE.

BUT I WOULD NOT ONLY ASK 'EM, HEY, CAN I GET AN ESTIMATE ON RESTORING THIS AND OR IS THIS EVEN FEASIBLE AT THIS CONDITION TO BE ABLE TO BE RESTORED? I THINK BEFORE YOU START GOING THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS OF GRANTS AND ALL THIS KIND OF STUFF, YOU NEED TO FIND OUT IF IT'S ACTUAL FEASIBILITY FE THE FEASIBILITY OF ACTUALLY RESTORING THIS.

BECAUSE I, I'M LOOKING AT THESE PICTURES HERE AND I, I MEAN, I, I JUST DON'T SEE, I, I WISH THE BEST FOR YOU.

I JUST DON'T SEE A GRANT BEING GIVEN WHEN IT COULD PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, MOVE THE HOUSE AND, AND HAVE SOMETHING BUILT FOR LESS THAN, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT WOULD BE TO RESTORE THIS.

SO I'M JUST GONNA GIVE YOU A LITTLE RECOMMENDATION AS TO GET A, GET SOMEBODY TO COME OUT THERE AND GIVE YOU A FREE ESTIMATE.

AND I

[00:55:01]

I WOULD JUST ASK THEM, CAN IT BE DONE? OKAY.

A RESOLUTION PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT AND THE OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, CITY OF BATON ROUGE.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE CONDEMNATION? ANYONE ELSE HERE? COUNCIL MEMBERS? COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JR.

I HAVE YOU ANYONE ELSE? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, UH, NUMBER 51 30 DAYS AND OF CO UH, NUMBER 54 60 DAYS.

63 60 DAYS.

AND 62 60.

ANYONE ELSE? I'M GONNA READ THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE SENT TO US AS WELL AS CHANGES.

THEY OUGHT TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 55 AND 56.

THEY OUGHT TO DEFER FOR 30 DAYS.

ITEMS 51 AND 52 DEFER FOR 60 DAYS.

ITEM 54, 62 AND 63 DEFER FOR 90 DAYS.

ITEMS 58, 59, 60, 61 AND 57.

AND TO DELETE ITEM 53.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE A CON? EXCUSE ME, CONDEMNATIONS COUNCIL MEMBER HURST THE MOTION SECONDARY BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA.

ANY OBJECTIONS CONDEMNATIONS HAVE BEEN APPROVED.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU WILL GO TO NOW, PAGE 14, ITEM 64,

[64. 24-00302]

AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN THE SUMMARY OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT ORDERING AND CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024.

FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE VOTERS OF THE PARISH TO PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN THE SUMMARY OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROWDY GODDE.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 64? ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 64? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

COUNCIL MEMBERS REAL QUICKLY, UM, WE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 64.

ALRIGHT, WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 64? COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN JR.

COUNCILMAN GODDY, YOU AUTHOR THIS.

I KNOW YOU MAY WANT TO GO LAST, BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO GO TO THROUGH SOME OF THE SUBSTANCES CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED AND THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED.

YOU WANNA DO THAT LAST OR YOU WANT TO DO IT NOW? OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, GODDE, WHY DON'T YOU GO THROUGH IT NOW AND I'LL STILL GIVE YOU ALL OF YOUR TIME AT THE END.

SO IF YOU WANNA SPEAK LAST SO THAT WE CAN BE AWARE, FOR THOSE OF US WHO MAY NOT HAVE DUG DEEP.

YOU, YOU HAD THE PUBLIC HEARING.

SO THE, THE ASK WAS FOR THE SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES.

SO I'LL HIT, YOU KNOW, WHAT I'LL CALL A FEW OF THE HIGHLIGHTS, BUT LET ME JUST SAY THERE ARE AMENDMENTS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF OUR PLAN OF GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT 12 CHAPTERS.

UH, AND THERE ARE WHAT, WHAT HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO AS ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES.

SO, UH, OUT OF DATE REFERENCES, TITLE UPDATES FOR DEPARTMENT LEADERS, UH, THOSE ARE, UH, FOUND THOSE AMENDMENTS ARE PROPOSED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF THE DOCUMENT.

UM, I THINK THE, WHAT'S WHAT'S GENERATED THE MOST ATTENTION AND DISCUSSION I WILL START IN, IN CHAPTER FOUR.

THAT IS THE CHAPTER FOR THE MAYOR PRESIDENT'S OFFICE, UH, IS NUMBER ONE, A RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT FOR ANYONE WHO IS SEEKING THE OFFICE OF MAYOR PRESIDENT.

THAT IS A TWO YEAR RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT, MEANING THAT TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THE DATE IN WHICH THAT PERSON QUALIFIES TO RUN FOR OFFICE, THEY HAVE TO HAVE RESIDED IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

UH, AND THEN SECONDLY, UH, CHANGING THE TITLE OF THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER TO CITY PARISH MANAGER.

THE DUTIES OF THAT CITY PARISH MANAGER POSITION IS TO HAVE DEPARTMENT HEADS REPORT DIRECTLY TO, UH, THAT CITY PARISH MANAGER POSITION OR THEIR DESIGNEE.

AND, UH, THAT THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHALL MAKE THE APPOINTMENT OF THE CITY PARISH MANAGER SUBJECT TO METRO COUNCIL.

CONFIRMATION, UH, THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT MAY REMOVE THE CITY PARISH MANAGER AT ANY TIME.

UH, ADDITIONALLY RELATED TO THE CITY PARISH MANAGER, THERE ARE SOME EDUCATIONAL AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS.

AND THOSE ARE AT LEAST FIVE YEARS EXPERIENCE IN ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY IN EITHER MUNICIPAL OR STATE GOVERNMENT OR IN AN EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT CAPACITY AND A BACHELOR'S OR MASTER'S DEGREE, PREFERABLY IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE RELATED FIELD, OR A RELATED FIELD OF MANAGEMENT, OR WITH A DEGREE IN LAW.

UH, ADDITIONALLY, UNDER THE MAYOR PRESIDENT'S, UH, CHAPTER, IT ADDS TWO ADDITIONAL POSITIONS.

ONE, BEING A

[01:00:01]

CHIEF OF STAFF, UH, THAT THAT POSITION HANDLES POLICY DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND RELATIONSHIP WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AND THEN SECONDLY, IT ADDS THE POSITION OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TO FALL UNDER THE MAYOR PRESIDENT'S OFFICE TO PROVIDE INDEPENDENT LEGAL ADVICE AND GUIDANCE.

THAT POSITION OF A, UH, EXECUTIVE COUNSEL WOULD NOT FALL UNDER THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

UH, ADDITIONALLY, THAT POSITION OF EXECUTIVE COUNSEL WOULD NOT REPLACE ANY OF THE DUTIES THAT CURRENTLY FALL TO THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

UH, FINALLY UNDER THE MAYOR'S CHAPTER, I'LL REFERENCE THAT THERE IS A SECTION THAT ADDS A STATE OF THE PARISH ADDRESS, UH, IN THESE CHAMBERS BEFORE THE COUNCIL BODY, NO LATER THAN JANUARY 31ST OF EACH CALENDAR YEAR.

UH, I'LL GO BACK NOW TO CHAPTER TWO OF THE, UH, DOCUMENT THAT'S REFERRING TO THE GOVERNING BODY OR THE METRO COUNCIL, UH, UH, RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT HERE AS WELL, A CANDIDATE FOR METRO COUNCIL MUST HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE PARTICULAR DISTRICT THEY'RE GONNA RUN FOR, FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR BEFORE THEY QUALIFY FOR OFFICE.

UH, SECONDLY, UH, WE REMOVE THE REFERENCE TO A SPECIFIC COMPENSATION AMOUNT FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.

PRESENTLY, THERE'S A REFERENCE, UH, THAT SAYS COUNCIL MEMBERS EARN $1,000 PER MONTH.

UH, THE, THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT WOULD REMOVE THAT SPECIFIC REFERENCE, AND IT WOULD REQUIRE THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVE THE COMPENSATION OF COUNCIL MEMBERS BY ORDINANCE AT LEAST ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF EACH TERM, UH, WHICH IS HOW THIS BODY SETS THE SALARY FOR THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, THE CONSTABLE, AND OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS.

UM, I WILL MOVE TO, UH, CHAPTER EIGHT.

THAT IS THE CHAPTER ON FINANCE.

WE CHANGED THE DATES THAT THE BUDGET IS DELIVERED TO THE METRO COUNCIL.

SO PRESENTLY, OUR PLAN OF GOVERNMENT SAYS THAT BUDGET MUST BE DELIVERED TO THE COUNCIL NOVEMBER, UH, ON NOVEMBER 5TH, AND THAT THIS BODY MUST PASS A BUDGET, UH, OR, OR PASS, PASS A FORM OF THAT BUDGET BY DECEMBER 15TH.

SO THESE CHANGES PROPOSE THAT THE BUDGET IS DELIVERED TO THE METRO COUNCIL BY OCTOBER 15TH.

SO IT BACKS THAT DATE UP BY AN ADDITIONAL 21 DAYS, AND THEN ON THE BACK END, INSTEAD OF DECEMBER 15TH AS THE DATE TO BE PASSED, WE HAVE UNTIL DEC THE COUNCIL HAS UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST.

SO THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL 16 DAYS ON THE BACK END.

SO IN TOTAL, UNDER THIS PROVISION, AN ADDITIONAL 37 DAYS FOR BUDGET REVIEW EVALUATION AND PUBLIC HEARINGS RELATED TO THAT.

UM, THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY SEVERAL OTHER PROVISIONS IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE SPECIFICS ON THAT, BUT THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT, LIKE I SAID, HAVE GENERATED THE MOST BY ATTENTION AND DISCUSSION.

BUT I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO OUTLINE ANY OTHERS IF FOLKS HAVE SPECIFICS OR, OR WANT, UH, SPECIFIC PROVISIONS CALLED OUT.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

I'LL COME BACK TO YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

UH, AND AS I HEAR ALL OF THIS, I ASK THE QUESTION WHY NOW? THAT'S ME.

I ASK THE QUESTION WHY NOW, THE PART THAT SAYS THE MAYOR MAKES THE RECOMMENDATION, BUT THE COUNCIL MUST APPROVE.

YOU'RE THE MAYOR.

YOU HAVE CHOSEN WHO YOU WANT TO WORK WITH, YOU BASED ON YOUR VISION, YOUR WHATEVER, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL, WHOEVER THAT MAY BE, AND DEPEND ON THEIR APPROVAL.

AND THAT MAY NOT HAPPEN.

AND SO WE BACK AND FORTH AND UP AND DOWN.

THE OTHER BIGGER THING, CONCERN OF MINE IS I WENT TO THE CITY OF MAYOR'S CONFERENCE AND THERE WERE SOME MAYORS THERE THAT HAD THIS, UM, THE POSITION OF CITY MANAGER.

AND FROM WHAT I GATHERED IT, IT WAS A DIFFICULT SPOT TO BE IN.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE ALL THE MAYOR WOULD BE DOING IS KISSING BABIES AND CUTTING RIBBON, AND THE MANAGER WOULD RUNNING THE CITY, Y'ALL.

SO ALL OF THIS SOUNDS GOOD.

AND THEN ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT, THE CONSTITUENTS ARE THE ONE THAT VOTED FOR THE MAYOR.

[01:05:01]

THAT'S JUST LIKE ANY ONE OF US UP HERE.

THE CONSTITUENTS VOTED FOR US.

AND THEN IF YOU DECIDE THAT YOU WANT TO PUT A POSITION, UH, ON THE BALLOT OR IN THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT FOR US, I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW YOU'VE GOT THE CHIEF ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, THE ASSISTANT CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, THE UH, UH, UH, UH, CHIEF OF STAFF.

SO ON ALL THESE THINGS THAT WERE TALKED ABOUT AND SENT TO ME ABOUT WHAT THE MANAGER WOULD DO, THEN ALL OF THIS OUGHT TO BE TAKEN CARE OF UNDER THAT THE CITY MANAGER SHALL REPORT DIRECTLY AND SHALL PERFORM THE FOLLOWING.

MANDATORY DUTY, SUPERVISED EXECUTIVE BRANCH, UH, DEPARTMENTS.

MAYOR, YOU OUGHT TO BE DOING THAT AS DESCRIBED IN THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, MAKE STUDIES OF THE INTERNAL ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURES OF ANY OFFICE, DEPARTMENT OR BOARD, AND REQUIRES SUCH REPORTS FROM ANY OF THESE WHICH HE OR SHE DEEMS NECESSARY.

MAYOR, YOU OUGHT TO BE DOING THAT.

MAKE REPORTS, PRESCRIBING ACCEPTED STANDARDS OF ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICE FOR ALL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES, DEPARTMENTS, AND BOARDS.

MAYOR, YOU OUGHT TO BE DOING THAT.

THEN PREPARE AN ANNUAL STATISTICAL REPORT OF CITY AND PARISH OPERATION FOR SUBMISSION TO US.

AND THEN THAT PERSON, THAT MANAGER GOING TO SUBMIT THAT TO US AND THE MAYOR, INCLUDING APPROPRIATE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REVISION AND CHANGES IN ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICES.

THEN COORDINATE WITH THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT.

SO ALL OF THIS OUGHT TO BE IN PLACE ALREADY, BUT HERE IT IS, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, AND IT MAY JUST SOUND SO GOOD, BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, FIRST OF ALL, THE CONSTITUENTS HAVE PLACED THE PERSON IN AS MAYOR, AND THEN HERE WE ARE ASKING TO GO THERE AND DO A CITY MANAGER WHO WOULD MANAGE THE CITY, WHO, WHAT THE MAYOR OUGHT TO ALREADY BE DOING IN ADDITION TO ALL OF HER DEPARTMENTS.

AND THAT'S WHY SHE HAS DEPARTMENT HEADS AND MEETING OUGHT TO BE MEETING WITH THEM WEEKLY AND HEARING FROM THEM.

AND SO I JUST DON'T SEE THE RATIONALE HERE WITH THAT BUDGET REVIEW EXTRA DAYS.

OKAY? AND I'M NOT MOVED BY, YOU KNOW, THE THOUSAND DOLLARS AND THE THIS AND THAT, NOT MOVED BY THAT.

I'M TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE ORDER HERE, YOU ALL.

AND I JUST HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT ALL OF THIS, AND I GUESS THAT'S WHY I WASN'T CONTACTED REGARDING HAVING SOME OF THIS CONVERSATION HERE BEFORE A DAY OR SO.

BUT I I JUST DON'T SEE US.

YES, SIR.

I JUST DON'T SEE US IN GOOD CONSCIOUSNESS TALKING ABOUT A, UH, UH, MAKING A PLAN, A CHANGE IN A PLAN OF GOVERNMENT.

WHEN I FIRST CAME ON THIS COUNCIL, THAT WAS THE FIRST THING, THAT WAS THE FIRST THING THAT WAS BROUGHT TO ME, UH, BY A GROUP.

AND I TOLD THEM THEN, NO, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO EVEN ADDRESS.

AND DEFINITELY NOT A ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION WITH THAT GROUP.

AND SO IT LAID BY THE WAYSIDE UNTIL NOW, HERE WE ARE FOUR, RIGHT AT FOUR YEARS LATER READY TO DO THIS.

SO A CITY MANAGER, YOU ALREADY HAVE DEPARTMENT HEADS, YOU ALREADY HAVE THE MAYOR, YOU ALREADY HAVE ALL OF THE STAFF THAT THE MAYOR HAVE.

YOU GOT A CHIEF OF STAFF, YOU GOT ALL OF THIS.

SO I DON'T SEE THE RATIONALE UNLESS IT'S SOMETHING UNDERLYING.

THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE REQUIREMENTS AND I SIT AND LISTEN, IT APPEARS TO ME THAT SOMEBODY IS ALREADY BEING THOUGHT OF AND CHOSEN TO SIT IN THIS SEAT BECAUSE NOW YOU ARE GOING TO TELL THE PERSON, THE MAYOR, WHAT THE PERSON THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO WORK WITH, YOU MUST HOW, WHAT THEY MUST HAVE, WHAT DEGREE, HOW, WHAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE, WHATEVER THAT.

SO IT APPEARS TO ME THAT A PERSON HAS ALREADY BEEN CHOSEN FOR THIS.

I JUST THINK THAT WE OUGHT TO, UH, STAY IN OUR LANE AND DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN DO AS COUNCILPERSONS AND THEN ALLOW THE MAYOR TO

[01:10:01]

CONTINUE WHOEVER IT IS.

AND THIS IS NOT JUST FOR NOW.

SO LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THIS IS NOT JUST FOR NOW.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE, AND SO THAT'S MY STORY AND I'M STICKING TO IT.

COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS, FIRST OF ALL, RODDY, I THINK, UM, YOU DID, UM, A VERY EXPLORATORY, UM, AND DIVERSE DIVE INTO THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT.

UM, THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT TO ME IS ALMOST LIKE READING A BOOK OF REVELATIONS.

YOU KNOW? UH, IT'S, IT'S JUST SO MUCH, YOU KNOW, SO MUCH TO GRAVEL.

UM, I DEFINITELY, UM, HAVE ONE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ASKED FROM THE ADMINISTRATION WHEN THIS CAME UP, AND I WISH WE DID DO LIKE, UM, IN DOING THIS, I KNOW IT'S KIND OF LIKE A PIGGYBACK FROM WHEN WE, UM, DURING THE LAST FOUR YEARS WHERE THERE WAS A COMMITTEE THAT THAT DIVED IN MADE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT, UH, AND THE REASON WHY THE BE FOUR YEARS AGO, IT WASN'T NECESSARILY, UM, SOMETHING THAT I PARTICIPATED IS THAT I WOULD HOPE THAT NOW THAT WE HAD A WHOLE NOTHER GROUP, THAT WE WOULD KIND, THAT IF IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ANYONE, AND IT WASN'T NECESSARILY IMPORTANT TO ME, BUT THAT WE WOULD, UM, KIND OF ENGAGE THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, AT THAT TIME I FELT THEY DID THE NEW MID, THE BOARD, THE COUNCIL HAD CHANGED OVER, UH, LIKE 50% AND I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS FAIR TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.

BUT NOW BEING FULLY ENGAGED, IT WOULD'VE BEEN GREAT TO, UM, KIND OF BRING EVERYONE UP TO SPEED WITH SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEN TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THEIR, UM, HOW THEY HAVE VIEWED THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND RECOMMENDATIONS THEY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE.

UM, OTHER THAN THAT, YOU KNOW, AND I STILL HOPE THAT THAT'S SOMETHING WE WOULD DO.

I DO, AGAIN, I DO THINK, UM, A LOT OF THE CHANGES ARE GREAT.

I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE, AS YOU INDICATED IS THE CHANGES TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE.

UM, FOR ME, UM, WHAT I HAD ASKED AND DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO GET IS THAT, UM, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE PROVIDE A ORGANIZATIONAL CHART, UM, THAT, UH, ITS CURRENT ORGANIZATIONAL CHART.

AND FOR ME, UM, FOR, TO JUSTIFY ANY CHANGES, THERE NEEDS TO BE WHERE THERE ARE GAPS, UM, IN IT.

AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT I THINK IT WOULD BE PRUDENCE TO DISCUSS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, UM, TO EITHER GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS, AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT VACANCIES, BUT I MEAN, REALLY ORGANIZATION TO ADDRESS OR, UM, WE AS A COUNCIL BE ABLE TO SAY, WELL, I CAN SEE WHERE THERE'S A NEED FOR THIS.

UH, ONE OF THE THINGS WORKING FOR EBR THAT IS A CONSTANT, UM, ISSUE AS IT RELATES TO SALARIES AND, UH, THE ADMINIS, THE, THE TEACHERS AND EVERYTHING IS TOP HEAVINESS.

AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME IS THAT WE ARE GONNA BE TOP HEAVY, BECAUSE IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THERE'S AN ELIMINATION OF MANY OF THESE POSITIONS, BUT THEY'RE ADDITION TO THE POSITION.

SO WHAT CO WHAT, WHAT COMES WITH THAT IS SALARIES.

UM, IT ALSO COME WITH THE BENEFITS AND AGAIN, TOP HEAVINESS WHEN WE HAVE THIS, UM, UH, ISSUE WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO BRING OUR, UH, WORKFORCE INTO A, A, A REASONABLE PAY.

BUT YET, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THESE POSITIONS ARE PROBABLY SIX DIGITS.

HOW TO CHOOSE THEIR ADMINISTRATION.

UM, THE OTHER THING IS, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE ALWAYS, UH, BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT, EVEN WHEN WE, BECAUSE WE SOMEWHAT SHARE THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

AND SO FOR ME, THAT ALWAYS LOOKS LIKE A TWO HEADED MONSTER.

AND IT'S LIKE, WHERE DO YOU DO, WHERE DO YOU GO WITH THAT? AND THE, THE WAY THIS, UM, CITY MANAGER OR CITY ADMINISTRATOR, IT WOULD PUT THEM IN A VERY VULNERABLE POSITION, KIND OF LIKE THE TWO-HEADED MONSTER WHERE THE MAYOR SUPPOSEDLY IS CHOOSING SOMEONE TO DO BASICALLY HER JOB OR HIS JOB.

BUT THEN THE COUNCIL IS APPROVING THIS PERSON.

AND SO THROUGHOUT THEIR CAREER, BESIDES THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE NO JOB SECURITY, UM, IT'S LIKE 13 BOSSES.

AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A REASON WHY WE HAVE, UH, THREE BRANCHES OF, UH, GOVERNMENT.

AND WITH THE MAYOR BEING THE EXECUTIVE, US BEING THE LEGISLATOR AND THE JUDGE, IF WE WOULD NOT TELL A JUDGE HOW TO PROVE, HOW TO, UM, CHOOSE HOW THEY GET SOMEONE TO DO THE CITY COURT, WE SHOULDN'T BE TELLING THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

[01:15:01]

SO I THINK, UM, WE, AT THIS TIME, THIS IS NOT, UH, SOMETHING, I THINK IT'S WORKABLE, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IN ITS CURRENT FORM.

AND I DO THINK THAT, UH, WE ALL NEED TO GO BACK.

'CAUSE I NEVER, I WASN'T INCLUDED.

I WAS, I, I, I'M THE KIND OF LIKE SURVEYS, Y'ALL KNOW, I LIKE POWERPOINTS.

SO FOR ME, THERE'S, FIRST OF ALL, I BELIEVE THAT MATTERS MUCH ADDITIONAL TIME.

COUNCILMAN, I'M I POWER WITH THAT.

I'M, I'M CLOSING UP.

SO, SO I JUST THINK, FIRST OF ALL, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION ORGANIZATION WITH NO CHART AND NOT JUST ADD POSITIONS, UH, WITHOUT THAT INFORMATION.

COUNCIL MEMBER MO THANK YOU.

SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE, UH, COUNCIL OVERSEEING, UM, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND, AND, AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

I, I, I JUST, I DON'T SEE IT THAT WAY.

WE'VE ALWAYS, UM, UH, WHETHER IT'S A DIFFERENT FORM OF GOVERNMENT OR LAREN ACT OR WHATEVER ELSE, UH, WE'VE ALWAYS DONE THIS THROUGH OUR, OR MY PREVIOUS COUNCIL SHIPS THAT I'VE SERVED ON.

UH, THE MAYOR FINDS SOMEONE APPOINTS TO GO THROUGH ALL THE QUALIFICATIONS, PRESENTS THOSE PEOPLE TO THE COUNCIL.

THE COUNCIL'S APPROVED, UH, OR, OR NOT APPROVED MOST OF THE TIME IT GETS APPROVED.

WHAT I SEE IT AS IS THE PUBLIC IS SEEN.

THERE ARE, THERE'S A QUITE A FEW ELECTED OFFICIALS IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, BUT THERE ARE 13 GOVERNMENT ELECTED OFFICIALS, 12 OF US THAT SIT UP HERE AND THE MAYOR, UM, THAT, THAT PEOPLE LOOK AT.

WE GET CALLS EVERY DAY.

OUR OFFICES GET CALLS EVERY DAY.

WHAT I SEE THIS AS, IT, IT'S JUST, IT'S AN ENHANCEMENT AND A, A SECURITY TO THE PUBLIC AS FAR AS WE ARE HAVING BUY-IN, NOT JUST THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE.

FOR EXAMPLE, HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN SIT HERE AND ACTUALLY SAY, JUST LIKE WITH THE POLI ANY POLICE SITUATION, THE MAYOR APPOINTS, THE MAYOR FINDS, HIRES, APPOINTS THE BATON ROUGE POLICE CHIEF, EVERY TIME SOMETHING HAPPENS OR WHATEVER, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE GOES IN FOR BLAME.

IS THAT NOT RIGHT? YOU KNOW, THE POLICE CHIEF GETS BLAMED, BUT THEN IT ALL ULTIMATELY GOES TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OR WHATEVER.

ALL WE'RE DOING IS WORKING WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR THE BEST THING FOR CITY PARISH IN GOVERNMENT OVERALL IN RUNNING.

AND WE TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT BECAUSE WE ARE, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE ALSO A LEGISLATIVE BODY, BUT WE ASSIST.

WE'RE NOT TAKING THE POWER AWAY FROM 'EM.

WE CAN'T FIRE THE PERSON ONCE THEY'RE BROUGHT ON.

WE CANNOT REMOVE THAT PERSON.

IT'S UP TO THE MAYOR TO REMOVE THAT PERSON NO MORE THAN WE CAN REMOVE THE POLICE CHIEF OR OTHER POSITIONS THAT ARE IN THAT SAME THING.

WE'RE JUST GETTING BUY-IN THE CAO POSITION IS BASICALLY REALLY BEING RENAMED TO CITY MANAGER WITH QUALIFICATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN COMING DOWN THE PIPE FOR YEARS FOR CITIES OUR SIZE.

UM, I RESPECT THAT YOU'VE TALKING TO OTHER CITIES, EVERYBODY CAN SAY, I'VE TALKED TO OTHER CITIES AND EVERYTHING JUST ABOUT OUR SIZE AND, AND GOING TO DIFFERENT CONFERENCES AND SOME OF THOSE CITIES LOOK AT US LIKE, I CAN'T BELIEVE Y'ALL DON'T HAVE A CITY MANAGER YET.

SO I I I GET WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM, WHERE IT, IT, IT LOOKS AT TWO DIFFERENT THINGS AND IT, AND YOU THINK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO RUN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

I, I DON'T SEE IT THAT WAY.

I SEE IT AS US WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH AS A WHOLE.

I SEE IT AS THE CAO POSITION, WHICH IS ALREADY THERE BECAUSE THE, THE CHANGE IN RESPONSIBILITIES OR STILL THE SAME.

WE'RE JUST ADDING QUALIFICATIONS AND WE'RE ADDING CERTIFICATIONS ON TOP OF THIS.

SO THAT, THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

I, I DON'T THINK IT'S, I DON'T WANNA BE TAKEN AS A, UH, METRO COUNCIL OF TRYING TO, UH, TAKE POWER FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, OR THE MAYOR DOESN'T HAVE ANY RESPONSIBILITY.

JUST LIKE THE MAYOR GETS RESPONSIBILITY FOR, FOR POLICE ACTIONS AND, AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ACTION AND, AND DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT'S ACTIONS, WE'RE STILL GONNA HAVE, SHE'S STILL GONNA HAVE THAT SAME RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE, OR IF THE PERSON'S NOT DOING THEIR JOB, SHE TELLS 'EM, HEY, THIS ISN'T WORKING OUT.

YOU NEED TO GO.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT RESPONS, WE DON'T HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

SO ALSO IN, IN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONSTITUENTS HIRING THE MAYOR, WE'RE ALSO ASKING THAT WE'RE NOT CHANGING THESE RULES.

WE'RE ASKING IF CONSTITUENTS TO LOOK AT THESE RULES AND PUT AN ITEM ON THE BALLOT FOR THEM TO LOOK AT AND GO OVER AND

[01:20:01]

STUDY SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE THAT DECISION.

SO IT'S STILL IN THE HANDS OF THE CONSTITUENTS.

ALL OF THIS IS IN THE HANDS OF THE CONSTITUENTS.

WE'RE JUST MAKING THE DECISION TODAY TO ALLOW THE CONSTITUENTS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT CHOICE.

AND I'M ALL FOR LETTING THE, THE, THE PUBLIC BODY AND CONSTITUENTS MAKE THESE CHOICES THAT AFFECT THEIR LIVES DAILY.

THEY'RE JUST, THEY'RE WHERE WE ARE LOCATED AND THE CHALLENGES THAT, THAT WE FACE, UM, JUST BECAUSE OF, OF WHO WE ARE AND WHAT OUR WEATHER, OUR WEATHER, UM, CAN BE, AND OUR FLOODING CAN BE AT TIMES.

COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

WELL, FIRST THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN GOODDAY FOR BRINGING THE ITEM.

YOU'RE TO BE COMMENDED FOR YOUR LONG TERM VISION FOR GETTING THIS TO US.

UM, I, I WANNA FIRST REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THIS ISN'T JUST AN ITEM BROUGHT BY A COUNCIL MEMBER, THOUGH THIS WAS A PROCESS, RIGHT? UH, THIS WAS A, A VERY LARGE COMMITTEE WITH MANY STAKEHOLDERS THROUGHOUT THE PARISH THAT CAME TOGETHER, UM, TO LOOK FOR BEST PRACTICES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY ON, UH, ON PLANNERS OF GOVERNMENT AND ON HOW TO STRUCTURE OURSELVES TO BE MOST EFFICIENT.

UM, WHEN THEY DID THAT SURVEY, ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT THEY FOUND WAS THIS STRUCTURE FOR A CITY MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

UM, I ACTUALLY GOT TO GO TO THE, UH, NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, UH, MEETING AS WELL THIS YEAR.

AND, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT REALLY STRUCK ME, UM, WAS THAT AS YOU LOOKED AT THE, THE GROWING MUNICIPALITIES, THE NEWER MUNICIPALITIES, UM, THE ONES THAT WERE REALLY THE MOST EFFICIENT, THEY HAD THIS CITY MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

UH, THEY HAD PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS IN PLACE FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND THE FOLKS THAT WERE RUNNING, AND THEN THEY HAD BUY-IN ACROSS THE BOARD FROM THEIR MAYORS AND FROM THEIR COUNCILS, RIGHT? AND SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY STRIKES TO THE HEART OF, OF WHAT THIS PROVISION AND THIS PLAN OF GOVERNMENT UPDATE IS.

UH, IT'S AN EFFORT TO CREATE BUY-IN AMONGST TWO DIFFERENT BODIES, UH, WHO CAN SOMETIMES BE AT ODDS ON DIFFERENT ISSUES.

UM, UH, SO I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO DO.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE IN THERE.

UM, AND I'M, AND I'LL ALL FOR IT.

UM, I WILL ALSO JUST QUICKLY COMMEND THE COUNCIL THAT, UM, WE SEEM TO BE STUCK ON THIS ONE ISSUE.

IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

IT DESERVES DEBATE, UM, BUT IT REALLY SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S BUY-IN FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE CHANGES.

UM, SO I THINK AS A COUNCIL, WE SHOULD BE COMMENDING OURSELVES THAT, UH, WE'VE GOTTEN TO THIS POINT WHERE WE CAN HAVE A GOOD DISCUSSION LIKE THIS.

SO, UM, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN ADAMS. THANK YOU.

UM, AND AGAIN, ALSO JOIN IN, I'D LIKE TO SAY KUDOS TO, UM, COUNCILMAN GODDE FOR HELPING US, UM, GET TO THIS, THIS PLACE TONIGHT.

UM, UH, COUNCIL APPROVAL OF, UM, THE, THE MAYOR'S APPOINTMENT OF CITY MANAGER, UM, IS NO DIFFERENT THAN CONGRESS'S APPROVAL OF ALL OF THE CABINET SECRETARIES THAT SERVE, UM, THAT SERVE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL OF ALL OF THE AGENCY HEADS THAT, UH, SERVE, UM, SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE GOVERNOR.

UM, THIS IS AN ADVICE AND CONSENT FUNCTION THAT IS, IS FOUND, UM, IN, IN GOVERNMENT, UH, FROM CITIES ALL THE WAY, UM, TO, TO NATIONS.

AND SO I, I DO THINK IT'S AN APPROPRIATE, UM, IT'S AN APPROPRIATE, UM, CHECK AND BALANCE.

UH, AS SOMEONE MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW, MIGHT BE THE ONLY PERSON IN THE ROOM, OR AT LEAST UP HERE ON THE DICE WHO HAS A MASTER'S IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.

UH, I WENT TO GRAD SCHOOL TO LEARN HOW, UM, HOW GOVERNMENT WORKED, WHAT'S THE FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT.

UM, I FIND IT FASCINATING AND I, THERE, I GUESS THE THING THAT REALLY CATCHES ME ABOUT THIS IS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, AMERICA STARTED OUT AS A VERY RURAL NATION, RIGHT? I MEAN, YOU HAD LITTLE SMALL CITIES AND YOU COULD ELECT SOMEONE TO BE YOUR MAYOR, AND THEY, THEY COULD KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THE OPERATION AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES IN YOUR COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND AS OUR NATION GROWS, AS, UM, AS WE BECOME MORE SOPHISTICATED, UM, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT ALSO ESPECIALLY, UH, IN BATON ROUGE, WE ARE NO LONGER THE, THE LITTLE TINY KIND OF RURAL CAPITAL OF LOUISIANA.

UM, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE, THE COUSIN TO THE, THE BIG METROPOLIS OF NEW ORLEANS.

WE ARE NOW THE LARGEST PARISH IN THE STATE, IN THE SEAT O OF CITY OF STATE GOVERNMENT.

AND, UM, I THINK, UH, THAT REQUIRES A DIFFERENT, UM, LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT.

UM, AND, AND WE WANT TO BE AS ABSOLUTELY PROFESSIONAL, UM, IN ALL OF, OF ALL THE DECISIONS WE MAKE AND ALL THE ACTIVITIES WE, WE UNDERTAKE.

AND I THINK THIS IS A REALLY WISE MOVE INTO THE, THE FUTURE OF, UM, OF, OF CITY GOVERNMENT.

I ALSO THINK WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AS A CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT, WE ARE ASKING OUR MAYOR, PRESIDENT TO BE BOTH MAYOR OF THE CAPITAL CITY.

UM, AND I ALWAYS SAY WE ARE A MID-SIZE CITY WITH SOME BIG CITY PROBLEMS AND A SMALL TIME MENTAL, A SMALL TOWN MENTALITY.

UM, EVERYBODY IN BATON ROUGE STILL KNOWS EACH OTHER AND WE LOVE THAT.

UM, BUT WE HAVE, WE HAVE BIG CHALLENGES.

UM, SOME OF, SOME OF, THERE ARE PROBLEMS THAT WE BROUGHT ON OURSELVES AND A LOT OF 'EM ARE PROBLEMS THAT WE DID NOT BRING ON OURSELVES.

[01:25:01]

UM, AND, AND THEN WE ARE ALSO ASKING ONE PERSON TO ALSO BE PRESIDENT OF THE PARISH.

AND AS EACH OF US KNOWS JUST FROM OUR DISTRICTS, OUR OUR JUST OUR DISTRICTS THEMSELVES HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES AND, AND THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

AND WE'RE ASKING ONE HUMAN BEING, UM, TO ALSO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE PARISH WHILE BEING THE MAYOR OF, UH, OF THE, OF THE CITY AS WELL.

SO, UM, I THINK THAT THE JOB HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY AS THE, THE, THE CITY PARISH HAS GROWN.

AND I THINK THAT WE WOULD, UM, DO A GREAT SERVICE, UM, NOT ONLY TO THE, THE CITIZENS OF OUR CITY PARISH, BUT ALSO TO OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND TO COUNCIL MEMBERS TO, UM, TO, TO BRING A, A CITY MANAGER, UM, ON STAFF AND, UM, AND TO, TO OPERATE IN THAT MANNER.

UM, SO I, UM, AM IN, IN SUPPORT OF THIS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FOR ADOPTION OF, UM, OF THE MEASURE MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

DUN.

PAPER OR A DEGREE, BUT SOMEONE WHO SERVED AS A, IN A BUSINESS CAPACITY THAT COULD DO THAT ROLE AS WELL.

I'LL START MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE, MR. HUDSON, UH, AS HE COMPLIMENTED OUR COLLEAGUE, MR. GOE, ON HIS LEGISLATION.

I REMEMBER HIM COMPLIMENTING ON, UH, COUNCILMAN GOE, AND HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT WITH THE MASSAGE LEGISLATION THAT IT WAS THE BEST LEGISLATION THAT HE EVER SEEN DRAFTED OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT WE'VE BEEN BOMBARDED WITH CALLS AND LORI AND ROWDY HAVE ABOUT THE ISSUES WITH THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

AS I TOLD YOU, I HAD PLENTY OF ISSUES WITH THAT LEGISLATION BRINGING IT FORWARD WHEN WE DID IT, BUT WE MOVED FORWARD ON IT ANYWAY.

AND IT'S, IT IS A LOT OF PROBLEMS NEVERTHELESS, ON, ON THIS ITEM HERE, I GOTTA COMMEND, UH, COUNCILMAN GOEY AS FAR AS MY EXPERIENCE WITH HIM ON THIS.

WE DID SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT THIS AND, UH, DISCUSS IT AND, AND, AND MADE SOME CHANGES.

WHAT I WOULD TELL YOU IS I SHARE COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN'S CONCERN, I SHARE COUNCILWOMAN BANKS'S CONCERN.

ALL OF THOSE CONCERNS ARE ROOTED IN PRETTY MUCH THE PAST OF WHERE THIS ORIGINATED, HOW IT STARTED, WHO ROLLED IT OUT, THE ORIGINAL DRAFT OF IT, AND THE THINGS THAT IT DID.

THE ORIGINAL DRAFT WAS PRESENTED WAY BEFORE THIS BODY WAS SEATED.

UM, IT SEEK TO TAKE THE POWER AND AUTHORITY AWAY FROM THE MAYOR.

IT SEEK TO, IN MY OPINION, TAKE THE VOTING BLOCK AND THE POWER AWAY FROM MINORITIES AND AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THIS PARISH.

SO I THINK THE ISSUES THAT IS BEING FACED WITH TODAY IS NOT NECESSARILY THE WORK THAT COUNCILMAN GODDE HAS DONE TODAY.

SOME OF HIS ORIGINAL DRAFT, WHEN HE FIRST, UM, GOT APPOINTED OR, UH, RAN ON A POLL ON THE COUNCIL BEFORE ANY OF US GOT SWORN IN AND HE WAS PROMOTING AND MARKETING, UH, THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION HAD SOME OF THAT STUFF IN IT.

UH, BUT TO GIVE HIM CREDIT, HE'S HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WITH SEVERAL OF US, AND A LOT OF THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT.

I DO THINK THIS FORM IS A MUCH BETTER FORM.

I THINK WHAT THE MISTAKE IS THAT COUNCILMAN GOEY FAILED TO TALK WITH EACH AND EVERY COLLEAGUE, EACH AND EVERY STAKEHOLDER.

AND I KNOW ALL OF US DON'T DO THAT ALL THE TIME.

MAYBE YOU COUNT YOUR VOTES AND YOU GET YOUR VOTES AND YOU MOVE FORWARD.

BUT WITH SOMETHING THIS DELEGATE, I WOULD URGE YOU AND URGE YOU TO MOVE FORWARD HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

BECAUSE AS SOMEONE SAID, I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE, THE, THE CONTEXT OF THIS CURRENT DRAFT IS THE ISSUE.

IT'S THE PAST AND IT'S THE DISTRUST IS WHAT YOU'RE HEARING.

SO I WOULD URGE YOU TO DEFER THIS, HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS, HAVE THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE CHANGES YOU'VE MADE, THE EDITS YOU'VE MADE, SO IT CAN MOVE FORWARD HARMONIOUSLY AND WON'T MOVE FORWARD UNDER SOME CLOUD OF SUSPICION OR, OR DISTRUST.

UM, ONE THING IN PARTICULAR, UH, THE CITY MANAGER, JUST TO NAME THE TITLE, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT SERVES IN SOME MUNICIPALITIES AND SOME GOVERNMENT, IT DOES REPLACE THE MAYOR.

IT DOES TAKES THE POWER AWAY FROM THE MAYOR AS I READ THIS DRAFT.

I DON'T BELIEVE MY UNDERSTANDING OF THAT DOES THAT I THINK IS BASICALLY WHAT DANTE DOES NOW.

AND I'M GONNA ASK DANTE, COME, COME UP AND TELL ME DANTE, IF I'M, IF I'M OFF IN THIS, I DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME, COME ON, MOVE IT A PURPOSE.

I WONDER WHERE YOU HEARD THAT AT? WHEN, WHEN YOU READ, WHEN YOU READ THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY MANAGER, IS IT BASICALLY WHAT YOU DO NOW OR IS IT SOMETHING DIFFERENT? UH, FUNCTIONALLY IT'S NOT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN MY ROOM.

THE, THE, THE OTHER THING ON THIS, UM, EDUCATION REQUIREMENT ON THE, ON THE CITY MANAGER AND, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND THERE WAS SOME SPECIFIC DEGREES THAT WERE REQUIRED.

UH, I ALSO ASKED, UH, COUNCILMAN GOEY TO PUT IN THERE, UH, ADEQUATE, UH, BUSINESS EXPERIENCE.

AND SO IT WON'T BE SO HEAVY ON JUST A PIECE OF

[01:30:01]

COUNCILMAN GOODDAY, WOULD YOU SAY THAT IS IN THIS LEGISLATION? I DON'T THINK THE PUBLIC URGE, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE MIC PLEASE, SIR? 100%.

AND WE ARE FORCED TO, UH, WORK WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS OR THAT WE DON'T CHOOSE, OR OTHER PEOPLE IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE THAT MAY NOT HAVE THE SAME INTEREST IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

SO I JUST THINK COUNCILWOMAN BANKS, COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, AND MAYBE SOME OTHERS DIDN'T HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

SO, UM, AS THEY STAND, I WOULD ACT, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A SUB, I WANNA MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DEFER TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATION.

IF COUNCILMAN GDAY.

AND THOSE WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE HERE WHO SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION AND BEEN PROMOTING THIS TYPE OF LEGISLATION, BATON ROUGE AREA CHAMBER FOLKS, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THEY WANT THIS TO BE HARMONIOUS.

THEY WANT EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND AND TRUST WHAT'S GOING ON.

THEN SUPPORT A DEFERRAL FOR TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.

SO EVERYBODY UP HERE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON, FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH MOVING FORWARD WITH IT AS IS CURRENTLY, UH, STANDS I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE BECAUSE I THINK MOST OF MY CONCERNS WERE ADDRESSED AS IT RELATES TO, UM, US CONFIRMING THE MAYOR'S APPOINTEE.

I'VE SEEN STATE GOVERNMENTS DO THAT ALL THE TIME.

I'M FINE WITH IT, I'M FINE WITH US, WITH US NOT APPOINTING IT.

IT, IT, IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME.

WHATEVER THE BODY DETERMINES, THAT'S NOT A, A HANGUP FOR ME.

BUT AGAIN, I I, I LAY THAT AT THE FEET OF COUNCILMAN GODDE TO CONSIDER, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU DO, IT'S YOUR PLEASURE.

THERE IS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DEFER THE ITEM TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.

IS THERE A SECOND ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION? SO MOVE SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.

UM, I, I'VE ALSO HAD THE PLEASURE OF, UH, WORKING WITH COUNCILMAN GOEY AND LITERALLY AIRING OUT ALL OF MY QUESTIONS, UH, BETWEEN HE AND THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

UM, LIKE SOME OF THIS LANGUAGE IN HERE TALKS ABOUT, UM, HAVING A INDEPENDENT ATTORNEY FOR THE MAYOR.

I OFFERED THAT UP LAST YEAR.

IT JUST WASN'T A PLAN OF GOVERNMENT FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT CHANGE.

THERE'S NO DIFFERENT THAN, UM, WANTING TO HAVE INDEPENDENCE FROM A STANDPOINT, BUT ALSO STILL HAVING TO WORK WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY ON OTHER, ON OTHER SPACES THAT WE CURRENTLY APPOINT.

RIGHT? AND SO SOME OF THOSE OTHER RULES I WOULD CHANGE AS WELL.

UM, BUT FOR THE ONES AND HOW, AGAIN, HOW THIS STARTED, IT STARTED OFF AS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD NEVER SIGN OFF ON.

UM, I THINK HE'S DONE A GOOD JOB AND I ACTUALLY GAVE HIM THE SAME COMPLIMENT, DWIGHT, ABOUT THE MASSAGE, JUST ABOUT HOW HE PRESENTED THE DATA, HOW HE WORKED WITH ALL HIS COUNSEL COLLEAGUES, HOW HE WAS ABLE TO LITERALLY ADOPT EVERYTHING AND STILL KEEP THE, UH, IMPACT OF THAT LEGISLATION TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS FROM HUMAN TRAFFICKING, BUT ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICES.

SO, UM, I HAD THE FORTUNE OF, OF BEING WITH THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT A FEW WEEKS BACK, WHO WAS A FORMER CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF, FOR WALTON, NOT NECESSARILY KNOWING THAT THIS WAS GONNA BE INTRODUCED TWO WEEKS AGO.

AND AS HE, I, I STARTED ASKING HIM THOSE QUESTIONS BECAUSE I KNEW THAT, THAT THESE, UH, DISCUSSIONS WERE HAPPENING.

AND BY THE TIME WE FINISHED THAT DISCUSSION, HIS RESPONSE WAS, I WOULD HAVE IT NO OTHER WAY.

AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT MAKES SURE THAT A BUSINESSMAN, UM, IS DOING THE BUSINESS FOR THE CITY.

SOMEONE WHO EITHER HAS EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE, STATE GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE, UM, SOME OF THOSE REPORTS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GETTING BACK, THAT'S CORPORATE AMERICA 1 0 1, YOU JUST BRINGING IN.

SO NOW WE'RE FINALLY MAKING THE BUSINESS OF THE PEOPLE NO DIFFERENT THAN THE BUSINESS, UM, IN, IN, IN THE CORPORATE WORLD.

AND I THINK THEM COMING BACK TALKING ABOUT BEST PRACTICES, HOW TO IMPROVE PROCESSES, GIVE THE REPORT, AND I WENT OVER TO ASKED DANTE DIRECTLY, AND CLEVE ALWAYS BEATS ME TO IT.

UM, HOW WOULD THIS DIRECTLY AFFECT YOUR CURRENT ROLE? HE SAID IT WOULDN'T CHANGE.

AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW PUBLICLY, UM, IF THIS WERE TO GO INTO EFFECT, WOULD THAT CHALLENGE YOUR POSITION OR WOULD YOU GRANDFATHER IN COULDN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR YOU.

SO I'M GONNA ASK THE PARISH ATTORNEY TO ANSWER THAT ONE FOR ME.

SAY HIS EXPERIENCE.

OH, UH, ASHLEY BECK, EITHER ONE.

UM, IT WOULD NOT AFFECT ANY CURRENT EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THAT IS ABOUT THE HIRING OF A NEW, UM, NEW SITTING PARISH MANAGER AND NOT EXISTING EMPLOYEES.

I JUST WANTED TO HAVE THAT ANSWER ON PUBLIC RECORD.

SO, UM, THAT'S IT.

THAT'S IT.

THAT WAS SO SAME DUTIES WOULDN'T AFFECT YOUR ROLE.

UM, BUT WE'D ALSO GET SOMEBODY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH.

AND BECAUSE, UM, AND I GO BACK TO WHY I THINK THIS WOULD BE GOOD FOR MINORITIES, NOT WHY IT WOULDN'T BE GOOD, IT WOULD BE GOOD BECAUSE WE GET TO TAKE A BIPARTISAN APPROACH TO SELECT SOMEBODY THAT WE WANNA WORK WITH.

AND SO THAT'S THE OTHER PART OF IT.

I MEAN, IF YOU ARE IN MINORITY DISTRICTS, YOU ARE IN SOME OF THE MOST UNDERSERVED, UH, MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES THAT EXIST IN BATON ROUGE, A LOT OF TIMES.

LOW EDUCATION, HIGH CRIME AND OTHER THINGS.

[01:35:02]

AND SO FOR ME, IT WOULDN'T CHANGE THE DAY.

I DIDN'T GET ASKED IF THEY WANTED DANTE.

RIGHT? UM, AND I DIDN'T GET TO ASK ON HIS CREDENTIALS.

NOW, I MEAN, HE'S HERE.

I THINK HE DOES A GOOD JOB AT WHAT HE DOES, AND WE WORK REALLY WELL TOGETHER.

WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE GET IT DONE.

BUT THEIR APPROACH, THEIR APPROACH IS TO REPRESENT THE CITY, NOT REPRESENT AN INDIVIDUAL AREA OF THE CITY.

UM, I'M OKAY WITH, WITH, WITH, WITH THE COUNCIL APPROVING IT.

UM, I HAVE NO ISSUE THERE.

ROWDY HAS ANSWERED ALL OF MY QUESTIONS.

UM, TAKING THE POWER AWAY FROM THE MAYOR WAS REMOVED FROM THAT PART.

I DIDN'T AGREE WITH THAT.

UM, BUT I THINK WE'RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND, UH, IF I COULD BE A THIRD, I WOULD BE THE SUPPORTER TO MOVE FORWARD.

COUNCILMAN BANKS, UH, JUST BRIEFLY, UM, I WAS JUST THINKING, UM, FIRST OF ALL, UM, I PARTICULARLY THINK IT'S GREAT TO KNOW WHO, UM, WHERE IF THERE'S AN EFFORT FOR BLAME, I THINK IT'S, UM, PROFESSIONALLY, IT ALWAYS, THE HEAD ALWAYS ROLL FROM THE TOP.

AND THAT'S WHETHER IT'S GOVERNMENT OR UM, OR BUSINESS.

UM, AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A SAYING THAT THE ANOINTING FLOWS FROM THE HEAD DOWN AND THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.

UM, I THINK IF WE JUST SAW AN EXAMPLE OF THAT TWO WEEKS AGO, UH, WITHOUT PARISH ATTORNEY, UM, WHO BASICALLY, UM, SAID, WHATEVER COMES OUTTA MY OFFICE, IT'S ON ME REGARDLESS TO WHO SIGNATURE IS AT THE END OF THE LETTER.

AND THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.

UM, ONE JUST CURRENTLY, WE HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM AT PARISH PRISON BECAUSE OF WHAT I WOULD SAY THE TWO HEADED MONSTER, UH, WHERE WE HAVE, UM, THE SHERIFF OFFICE, UM, BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INMATES, BUT THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE OWNING THE BUILDING AND CONTRACTING THE MEDICAL SERVICES.

AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS EVERY TIME SOMETHING GOES LEFT THERE, IT'S A BLAME GAME.

AND NO ONE ENDS UP TAKING, UM, RESPONSIBILITY AND ACTUALLY MOVING FORWARD IN GETTING SOMETHING RESOLVED.

UM, I DO LIKE ALL THE PROCESS STREAMLINING AND, UH, WHEN OPERA MONEY WAS FLOWING, UH, UH, THERE WERE, AND I WOULD BE RESEARCHING WHAT PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, UH, WAS DOING WITH THEIR OPERA FINANCES, UM, THROUGH THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.

SOMETHING THAT WAS REOCCURRING WAS THAT CITY GOVERNMENT USED PART OF THAT FUNDING TO LOOK INTO JUSTICE AS WHAT, UM, UM, COUNCILMAN GODDE DID LOOK INTO THEIR PROCESS, STREAMLINING, THEY DON'T HAVE PLAN, PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, BUT WHAT ARE THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES? AND THE FOUNDATIONAL GOAL OF THAT WAS NOT, UH, NECESSARILY TO, UM, HELP THE ADMINISTRATION, BUT HOW TO BETTER FUNCTION FOR THE PEOPLE.

AND THO THERE WAS NEVER IN THIS PROCESS, YES, WE DID HAVE A MEET, THERE WAS A GROUP, UM, THAT MET ON THE, UM, PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, UH, FIVE YEARS AGO, WHICH Y'ALL FIVE YEARS AGO.

BUT THE ONLY PURPOSE OF THAT REALLY, THEY WERE JUST TRYING TO GET, UM, GET A, UH, AT LARGE C OR TWO, ONE OR TWO.

AND MANY OF THE CHANGES THAT, UM, COUNCILMAN GODDE HAS ADDED, UH, THOSE ARE NOT THINGS AS COUNCILMAN DUNN SAID, THAT WERE DISCOVERED AND CONSIDERED FIVE YEARS AGO.

SO FOR ME, I THINK IT'S A TIME FOR US TO DO OUR OWN WORK, UM, NOT, UH, MUDDLE IN, UH, A PAST, UM, WHERE MANY OF THOSE PERSONS WHO ARE PART OF THOSE COMMITTEES HAVE ACTUALLY MOVED ON.

SO FOR ME, SINCE WE ARE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY, THEN THE RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD NOT BE ON A, UM, A, A GROUP THAT WAS, UM, PUT TOGETHER FIVE YEARS AGO WHERE HALF THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE GONE, HALF OF THE PERSONS THAT LED THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE PART OF, UM, THE GROUP.

BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY EITHER WHERE I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD NECESSARILY START WITH A NEW GROUP, BUT AGAIN, WHERE, UM, WE ARE ABLE TO DISCUSS THIS, UM, WITH COUNCILMAN AND GIVE OUR OWN IDEAS BASED ON THE SPECIFIC, UM, THE, THE SPECIFICS OF THIS GROUP.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS A COUNCIL, UM, THIS IS THE BEST COUNCIL GROUP OF 12, UM, OF THE THREE THAT I'VE SET ON.

SO I COULD SEE SOME REALLY

[01:40:01]

GOOD WORK COMING OUT OF IT.

AND, UM, I, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE SECOND THE DEFERRAL, BUT I'D LIKE TO DO SO ALREADY BEEN, UH, SECONDED, BUT YOU'VE BEEN THIRD IT, UH, COUNCILOR MO, SO, SO YEAH, I THINK YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ON THE, THE COMMITTEE'S DONE THEIR PART AND IT CAME TO US RIGHT BEFORE, RIGHT WHEN WE CAME INTO OFFICE.

AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF US WERE READY FOR THAT AT THAT GIVEN MOMENT.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE, UH, ROWDY, STICKING WITH THIS.

UM, HE, YOU KNOW, FROM THE BEGINNING, HE'S BEEN IN PUSHING THIS THROUGH.

IT'S SPEARHEADING RESPONSIBILITY AS FAR AS WHEN, WHEN THE ORDINANCE GETS INTRODUCED.

AT THAT POINT, ONCE I SAW THIS INTRODUCED AND I STARTED READING OVER WHAT WAS THERE AND EVERYTHING, UH, I, I CALLED OUT THROUGH ROWDY, ASKED HIM TO GO OVER EVERYTHING.

UH, I TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO GO TO HIM AND, AND LET'S, LET'S BREAK THIS DOWN.

I WANNA SEE WHAT THIS IS, UH, CITY MANAGER WISE.

YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, I, I HAD HEARD ABOUT 'EM, I HAD TALKED ABOUT 'EM, AND, AND THAT'S WHY I, I, I LIKE WHAT I SEE IN HERE.

UH, COUNCILMAN DUNN WAS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

I THINK FILTERING OUT, YOU KNOW, NOT PASSING IT WHEN WE FIRST CAME ONTO COUNCIL WAS THE BEST, PROBABLY THE BEST IDEA.

'CAUSE IT GAVE US TIME TO ANALYZE AND GO OVER EVERYTHING.

AND WHETHER YOU'VE LOOKED AT THIS OVER THE, THE, THE, THE FOUR YEARS THAT YOU'VE BEEN ON, OR YOU JUST STARTED LOOKING AT IT AT INTRODUCTION, WHICH WAS TWO WEEKS AGO, UM, I GUESS IT WAS TWO WEEKS AGO OR MORE, DEPENDING ON HOW THE DATES FALL OUT.

UM, BUT I, I, I THINK WE'RE READY FOR THIS AS FAR AS THE CITY GOES.

AND I, LOOK, I APPRECIATE THE DEBATE THAT WE'VE HAD.

I I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT CHANGING A, A PLAN OF GOVERNMENT NOT TO AN EXTREME EX EXTENSION.

WE'VE TAKEN EVERYTHING FROM THE COMMITTEE, WE'VE BROKEN IT DOWN.

UM, WE'RE HAVING GREAT DEBATE TONIGHT.

SO I, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US, YOU KNOW, MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AND, AND LET'S, LET'S GET THIS DONE.

ROWDY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR GETTING US TO THIS POINT AND, AND, AND STAYING ON TOP OF THIS BASICALLY FOR ALMOST FOUR YEARS NOW.

TO PROVIDE THE MAYOR PRESIDENT'S OFFICE WITH AN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

COUNCIL MEMBER .

ALL RIGHT, THANKS.

THANKS TO EVERYBODY FOR THE, THE DISCUSSION ON THIS.

UM, I WILL, UM, PROVIDE RESPONSES FOR COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN AND BANKS, ALTHOUGH, UH, I, I INTENTIONALLY DON'T CALL IT A REBUTTAL.

I THINK THE POINTS YOU ALL ARTICULATED TONIGHT, UH, IS A PERSPECTIVE THAT WE'LL HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC, UH, IF THIS GOES THROUGH.

AND SO, UH, THE, THE POINTS THAT YOU BROUGHT FORWARDS WITH RESPECT TO THE CITY PARISH MANAGER AND SORT OF WHERE ARE THE GAPS IN THE ORGANIZATION, UH, I THINK ARE THINGS THAT THE PUBLIC IS CURIOUS TO KNOW ABOUT.

UM, AND SO, AGAIN, NOT, NOT A REBUTTAL, BUT A, A PROVIDING OF INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE CITY PARISH MANAGER.

UH, THE, THERE'S A SECTION IN CHAPTER FOUR THAT OUTLINES, UH, SECTION 4.03 THAT THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT IS THE CEO, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THIS PARISH.

THERE ARE NO AMENDMENTS TO THAT SECTION UNDER, UNDER THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.

THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT REMAINS THE CEO OF THIS PARISH.

SECTION 4.04 OUTLINES THE DUTIES OF THE MAYOR PRESIDENT.

THERE IS ONE EDIT TO THAT SECTION, AND IT'S BECAUSE, AND IT'S BECAUSE IT REFERS TO THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT AS HIM, INSTEAD OF HE OR SHE.

THAT'S THE ONLY EDIT TO THE DUTIES OF THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT.

COME DOWN TO THE SECTION ON, THANK YOU.

COME DOWN TO THE SECTION ON, UH, THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER.

OUR CURRENT PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, THE DUTIES OF THE CAO AS THEY WERE READ TONIGHT, ARE EXACTLY WHAT WAS READ, EXCEPT FOR TWO CHANGES TO THE CURRENT PLAN OF GOVERNMENT.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER MAKES STUDIES OF THE INTERNAL ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURES OF ANY OFFICE, DEPARTMENT, OR BOARD, MAKES REPORTS.

PRESCRIBING ACCEPTED STANDARDS OF ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICE FOR ALL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES, DEPARTMENTS, AND BOARDS, PREPARES AN ANNUAL STATISTICAL REPORT OF CITY AND PARISH OPERATION FOR SUBMISSION.

THOSE DUTIES ARE IN OUR CURRENT PLAN OF GOVERNMENT.

FOR THE CAO ROLE, THE AMENDMENTS ARE COORDINATE WITH THE CHIEF OF STAFF, WHICH IS A NEWLY CREATED POSITION UNDER THESE AMENDMENTS AND SUPERVISE THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH DEPARTMENTS.

NOW, IF YOU GO UP TWO SECTIONS UNDER OUR CURRENT PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IS CHARGED WITH ASSISTING IN THE SUPERVISION AND COORDINATION OF THE DUTIES OF THE MAYOR PRESIDENT'S OFFICE.

SO THE CAO AS, AS DANTE OUTLINED PRESENTLY HOLDS THE SAME DUTIES AS WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED FOR THE CITY PARISH MANAGER.

UM, WITH RESPECT TO GAPS IN THE ORGANIZATION, OUR CURRENT MAYOR, PRESIDENT STOOD AT THAT PODIUM SOME MONTHS AGO AND SAID, WE SHOULD AMEND THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT

[01:45:01]

AND I THINK WE HAVE A LIVED EXPERIENCE AS TO WHY THAT THAT CHANGE IS, IS NECESSARY.

IN TERMS OF THE CONFIRMATION BY THE METRO COUNCIL, THE, THE MAYOR PRESIDENT SELECTS THE, UM, CITY PARISH MANAGER, THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, THE, THE CITY PARISH MANAGER SERVES AT THE PLEASURE OF THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT.

AND THE, THAT POSITION OF THE, OF THE CITY PARISH MANAGER CAN BE FIRED SOLELY BY THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT.

NOW, I BELIEVE THAT THE COUNCIL SHOULD PLAY A VERY MEANINGFUL ROLE IN THE SELECTION OF THAT KEY PERSONNEL THAT HAS A CRITICAL FUNCTION IN THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE SERVICES, UH, PROVIDED TO OUR, TO OUR, UH, PARISH.

THE METRO COUNCIL UNDER THIS PROVISION WOULD PLAY A ROLE IN CONFIRMING THAT SELECTION THAT ENSURES BOTH THE EDUCATION AND THE EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS ARE MET AS OUTLINED IN THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT SHOWS THAT WE ARE A LOCAL DEMOCRACY AND A TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT.

THAT WE AS 12 COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE RESPONSIVE TO OUR RESIDENTS, OUR CONSTITUENTS FROM OUR DISTRICTS, IN HOW THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THIS GOVERNMENT IS CARRIED OUT.

I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT ROLE FOR US TO PLAY, AND I THINK IT'S GOOD PUBLIC POLICY.

SO I WOULD OFFER UP THAT THESE AMENDMENTS ARE, ARE READY TO MOVE FORWARD.

UH, AND I WOULD ASK THAT THE, THE MOTION TO DEFER BE REMOVED, UH, BASED ON COMMENTS, I THINK WE CAN SEE THIS COUNCIL IS READY TO SEND THESE FORWARD.

UH, AND SO I, I WOULD ASK THAT THAT MOTION BE REMOVED NOW.

UM, THE PROCESS THAT I WENT THROUGH TO GET TO THIS POINT, I FOLLOWED THE SAME PROCESS THAT I'VE ALWAYS FOLLOWED WITH LEGISLATION.

AND THAT IS, FOR INSTANCE, SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING LEGISLATION THAT I CO-AUTHORED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

I WENT TO COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN GAVE A BRIEFING ON THAT LEGISLATION, ASKED FOR HER INPUT, ASKED FOR HER TO BE A CO-SPONSOR, THEN SHARED THAT LEGISLATION OUT WITH THE COUNCIL AND SAID, THIS IS FOR YOUR REVIEW.

IT WILL APPEAR ON THIS AGENDA.

I'M HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

I FOLLOWED THAT SAME PROTOCOL HERE.

I APPROACHED COUNCIL MEMBER COLE, GAVE HIM A BRIEFING, GOT HIS INPUT, REMOVED SOME SECTIONS THAT WERE UNCOMFORTABLE, ASKED HIM TO BE A CO-SPONSOR.

UH, UH, IT WAS NOT HIS CHOICE TO DO SO, BUT THEN MOVE FORWARD WITH SAYING, HERE, COUNSEL, THIS APPEARED ON THE LAST AGENDA, BOTH OF THESE DOCUMENTS, THE SUMMARY AND THE FULL, UH, EDITS.

AND THEN THE FOLLOWING DAY, UH, I SENT OUT AN EMAIL TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS SAYING, HERE THEY ARE ATTACHED, THEY'RE AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE.

I AM AVAILABLE.

I FOLLOWED THE PROCESS.

I'VE ALWAYS FOLLOWED THAT I HAD, I HADN'T HEARD PUSHBACK ON.

SO PLEASE KNOW THAT THE PROCESS I WENT THROUGH WAS, WAS ONE THAT I THINK WE ALL GO THROUGH.

YOU BOUNCE IT OFF OF FOLKS YOU HAVE, YOU'RE INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH, OR YOU WANT TO CO-SPONSOR, AND THEN YOU SHARE IT OUT AND SAY, I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

SO I I, I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO THINK THAT I'VE VEERED FROM THAT PROCESS.

LOOK, EVERY PROPOSED AMENDMENT IN THIS DOCUMENT IS MADE OUT OF A PUBLIC POLICY PERSPECTIVE.

THERE IS NO, THIS GIVES A WIN TO THE MAYOR PRESIDENT'S OFFICE.

THIS GIVES A WIN TO THE COUNCIL.

THERE'S NO, THIS DIMINISHES POWER HERE.

THERE'S NO, THIS INCREASES POWER HERE.

THIS IS FROM A PUBLIC POLICY PERSPECTIVE.

THE WIN HERE IS FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE A CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVING LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

AND I THINK THEY DESERVE A PROFESSIONAL MANAGER TO IMPROVE THE SERVICES THAT ARE DELIVERED TO THEM.

AND I THINK THEY DESERVE SOMEONE WHO WAKES UP DAILY TO WORK ON THAT.

AND, AND I THINK THIS IS WHAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE CALLING FOR.

SO I WILL MAKE THE REQUEST THAT THE, UH, UH, MOTION TO DEFER BE REMOVED NEGATIVE.

I WILL SAY I HAVE A COMFORT LEVEL WITH DELAYING IT FOR TWO WEEKS.

IF IT PASSES BY APRIL 10TH, IT WILL STILL STILL APPEAR ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, WHICH WHEN IN 2021, WHEN THIS ITEM CAME UP, I WAS TASKED BY SOME FOLKS WHO CAME TO THE MICROPHONE WITH, PUT THIS ON A BALLOT WHEN THERE'S A LARGE TURNOUT AND PUT THIS ON A BALLOT THAT HAS YOUR NAME ON IT.

AND I'M DOING THAT, OR I'M ATTEMPTING TO DO THAT.

SO IF IT, IF, IF THE ANSWER IS NEGATIVE, I'M COMFORTABLE AND DEFER IT TWO WEEKS, WE'LL COME BACK AND, AND, AND

[01:50:01]

REVIEW IT IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AT THAT COUNCIL MEETING.

UM, BUT I THINK WE'VE HEARD THAT THIS COUNCIL IS READY TO MOVE THIS FORWARD, AND I THINK OUR RESIDENTS ARE READY TO RECEIVE IT.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN HURST.

UH, I, I CONCUR WITH ROWDY, AND I THINK WE'RE IN A POSITION TO ALLOW THE PEOPLE TO DECIDE.

THE GREAT THING ABOUT THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT IS THAT IT'S NOT DECIDED ON BY THE METRO COUNCIL, BUT IT'S DECIDED ON BY THE VOTERS.

SO AT THIS POINT, UM, I'LL JUST ASK A LOT, A LOT OF PEOPLE TO DECIDE.

UH, UH, DANTE, UH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO OFFER UP A PERSPECTIVE FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON ANY OF WHAT YOU HEARD BEFORE WE VOTE? I APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, AND COUNCILMAN GODDE, I DO APPRECIATE YOU GETTING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, BOTH MYSELF, JULIE, AS WELL AS THE MAYOR HERSELF, AND FAILED TO MENTION THAT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE INPUT AS WELL.

APPRECIATE THAT.

NO, NO, ABSOLUTELY.

UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SENDING IT TO US.

UM, UH, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE MAYOR, JULIE AND I DID SEND A NUMBER OF, UH, SUGGESTED REVISIONS, SOME AREAS OF CONCERN.

COUNCILMAN GODDE DID ADDRESS MANY OF THOSE BEFORE COMING UP HERE.

UM, JUST TO TALK ABOUT THE ONE THING THAT SEEMS TO BE A STICKING POINT FOR THIS GROUP.

AND COUNCILMAN SI APPRECIATE YOU ASKING ABOUT MY JOB SECURITY.

THAT'S VERY KIND OF YOU , BUT, UH, NOW THAT I KNOW I'M NOT IN DANGER, UM, I LIKE TO SPEAK OBJECTIVELY ON THE MATTER.

UM, SO WHILE WE DO HAVE A VERY STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS COUNCIL, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THINGS THAT WE BRING BEFORE YOU WE'RE ABLE TO HASH OUT, GET APPROVED, UM, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.

I DO WANT TO KIND OF FOCUS IN ON THE EXAMPLE THAT COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS GAVE ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

UM, AND WE'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF KEY POSITIONS BE HELD UP CONSISTENTLY DUE TO PARTISAN POLITICS.

AND SO WHILE WE HAVE A STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIP HERE TODAY, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT 2025 IS GONNA LOOK LIKE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION'S GONNA LOOK LIKE, BOTH ON OUR SIDE OF THE HALL AS WELL AS THIS SIDE OF THE HALL.

SO ON THE POINT OF COUNCIL APPROVAL OR APPOINTMENT, THAT IS ONE AREA THAT WE ARE STILL CONCERNED ABOUT AS FAR AS THIS ADMINISTRATION.

SO I APPRECIATE THE TIME TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO IT UNLESS YOU HAD ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

NO, SIR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON A SUBSTITUTE MOTION FIRST, WHICH IS TO DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS IF YOU OPEN THE MACHINES, UNLESS THERE'S NO OPPOSITION TO DEFERRING FOR TWO WEEKS, WE ARE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINES.

HOLD ON.

IF WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA CLOSE THAT CLOSE.

THAT MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS.

MOTION FAILS.

ITEM FAILS.

WE'RE NOW GONNA VOTE ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION, WHICH IS TO APPROVE THE ORIGINAL MOTION, WHICH IS TO APPROVE.

MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE.

MOTION CARRIES.

CONGRATULATIONS MR. GOLDEY ON ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

WE NOW GO TO ITEM 65, A APPOINTMENT OF RESPONS PROVIDED BY MAYOR, MAYOR, MAYOR, MAYOR, LOUISIANA.

MAYOR, MAYOR, PRO TEMP.

GO AHEAD.

A VERY, VERY BRIEF MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

WE REFERENCED.

THERE WAS A PLAN OF GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE THAT WAS FORMED SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER DONNA COLLINS LEWIS, WHO, WHO GENERATED THAT.

AND I WANTED TO THANK HER.

UH, SHE PUT A LOT OF TIME, ENERGY, AND EFFORT, AS DID THE MEMBERS OF THAT COMMITTEE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE MEMBERS OF THAT COMMITTEE.

MANY HAVE RETIRED, MOVED INTO OTHER ROLES.

THERE WAS ONE CONSISTENT LINCHPIN THAT STAYED THROUGHOUT AND, AND WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE A LOT OF INPUT AND HISTORY ON THAT.

AND THAT WAS MS. ASHLEY BECK, WHO I'M GONNA EMBARRASS RIGHT NOW, WHO PROVIDED A LOT OF, UH, INPUT.

SHE HELPED ME WITH EDITS.

SHE ADDED, SHE GAVE A GOOD, GOOD INPUT, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT SHE DID.

SHE'S BEEN WITH THIS SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING, UH, IN HER ROLE, AND I'M THANKFUL TO HER.

SO I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE HER EFFORTS.

THANK YOU, ASHLEY.

KISSING UP TO THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR.

I LIKE IT, .

UH, WE NOW GO TO ITEM 65 APPROVING THE RESPONSE PROVIDED BY THE ANNUAL LOUISIANA COMPLIANT QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE YEAR 2023 AS REQUIRED BY A LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR AND THE STATE LOUISIANA BY THE FINANCE DIRECTORS.

[65. 24-00272]

ANYONE WHO WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEM, WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM? SO, MOVED BY THE CHAIR.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

ANY OBJECTIONS WE GO OUT.

ITEM 66,

[66. 24-00263]

GRANTING THE RENEWAL OF A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT, ESTIMATED AT $141,607 PER YEAR FOR BROWN EAGLE WAREHOUSE LLC AT 7 8 0 8 AIRLINE HIGHWAY BY THE PLANET DIRECTOR.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? WE

[01:55:01]

NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM SIX, REAL QUICKLY, COUNCIL MEMBERS, Y'ALL SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 66.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 66.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURST, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE WILL NOT.

ITEM

[67. 24-00281]

67, A AMEND TO 2024 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE CHARLES R. KELLY COMMUNITY CENTER SO THAT YOUR APPROPRIATE $35,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE BY THE MAYOR.

PRESIDENT.

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

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.

COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA.

UM, I'M JUST CURIOUS, IS THIS 35,000 IN ADDITION TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY CENTER ALREADY RECEIVES? IT IS.

THERE WAS SOME COMMITMENT FOR A, UH, SOME EQUIPMENT THAT NEEDED TO BE UPGRADED WITHIN THE FACILITY.

SO, SO WE USE OUR EXISTING BUDGET TO DO SO.

AND SO THIS IS A SUPPLEMENT TO REPLACE THE, FOR THE EQUIPMENT THAT WAS, THAT WAS PURCHASED FOR THE C CENTER.

SO WHY CAN'T WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN PUT INTO THE BUDGET BE USED INSTEAD OF GETTING AN ADDITIONAL 35,000? IT, IT WA IT WAS USED AND IT PUT US IN A DEFICIT BASED ON A PROJECTION FOR A YEAR.

AND SO THIS $35,000 WILL SURE UP THAT DEFICIT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE OPERATE IN THE BLACK.

SO I GUESS, I GUESS I'M CURIOUS AS TO HOW CAN IT R YARD BE IN DEBT? THIS IS ONLY FE MARCH.

IT IS NOT, IT'S BASED ON ANNUAL PROJECTION.

SO BASED ON THE ANNUAL PROJECTION OF WHERE WE ARE DUE TO THE EQUIPMENT PURCHASES.

AND THAT WAS PRIMARILY, UM, BEING ABLE TO FEED THE HOMELESS.

SO THAT'S WHAT THAT WAS FOR.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THE, UM, SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT WAS REQUIRED TO BE ABLE TO DO SO.

THAT'S LITERALLY IT.

SO I BROUGHT THIS UP IN THE OTHER MEETING AND THAT'S WHAT IT WAS FOR.

SO THAT SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT, UH, UM, UH, KITCHEN EQUIPMENT THAT WAS NON-FUNCTIONING WAS UPGRADED TO BE ABLE TO COOK FOR THE HOMELESS PEOPLE AS A PARTNER OF, UH, WHAT ST.

VINCENT DEPAUL CURRENTLY DOES IS ST.

JARED.

THEY CURRENTLY FEED 400 HOMELESS PEOPLE ON TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, AND THERE'S A GAP MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY.

SO THEY'LL BE COMING OVER TO THE CHARLES KELLY WHERE THE COUNCIL AGENT WILL BE ON ONE SIDE AND THE HOMELESS POPULATION WILL BE ON THE OTHER TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A MEAL.

AND SO THIS WAS TO UPGRADE SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT TO BE ABLE TO SERVICE THEM.

COUNCIL MEMBER HU UH, LINDA, IF, IF YOU CAN COME UP REAL QUICK.

SO THAT BRINGS AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

I, I'M ASSUMING THAT WE HAVE CONTROLS IN PLACE TO, TO NOT OVERSPEND.

HOW DO WE END UP IN THIS SITUATION WHERE WE'VE GOTTA DIP INTO THE GENERAL FUND? THIS IS NOT A BIG AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT I WANNA UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE, IF WE'RE RUNNING OVER BUDGET AND THEN HAVING TO DIP INTO THE GENERAL FUND, IT BECOMES A BIG ISSUE.

SO BASICALLY, UM, THE 2024 BUDGET FOR THE CHARLES KELLY COMMUNITY CENTER IS, UM, APPROXIMATELY 400,000.

AND WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT FUNDS IS, IT FUNDS THE STAFF OUT THERE, THE BENEFITS FOR THE STAFF, SOME SUPPLIES, UM, AND THERE IS SOME MONEY THAT THEY USE TO DO COMMUNITY FUNCTIONS.

SO IF WE DON'T ALLOW THE USE OF THE FUND BALANCE FOR THE ONE TIME EQUIPMENT PURCHASE, BASICALLY THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO DO THEIR COMMUNITY FUNCTIONS THIS YEAR.

AND SO, UM, COUNCILMAN HURST TALKED TO THE MAYOR AND SHE APPROVED, UM, THE PURCHASE OF THE EQUIPMENT AND SAID THIS IS THE BUDGET SUPPLEMENT THAT WILL PROVIDE THE FUNDING FOR THAT PURCHASE.

SO, SO WHAT CONTROL IS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T OVERSPEND? AGAIN, WE, I MEAN, AS THE EXPENSES MOVE THROUGH WORKFLOW, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THAT THERE HAS TO BE A SUFFICIENT BALANCE IN ORDER TO PROCESS A PAYMENT AGAINST IT.

SO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS, IS EVENTUALLY TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR, UM, IF WE DO NOT ADHERE TO OUR PROJECTIONS AND ADDRESS AN ISSUE WHEN IT'S AT HAND, YOU RUN OUTTA MONEY IN NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER OR, OR YOU, YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THINGS DURING THE YEAR WITH, WITH THE EXISTING BUDGET AND THEN WE JUST COME TO THE MAYOR AND GET MORE MONEY.

WELL, I THINK THAT UNDER THIS CIRCUMSTANCE, THIS WAS EQUIPMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER.

I MEAN, WE, WE'VE BEEN UP HERE SEVERAL TIMES.

THE MAYOR HAS, HAS PROVIDED FUNDING FOR, UM, THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY CENTERS BEFORE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.

SO, UM, I DON'T WANNA SAY THAT YOU RUN OUTTA MONEY, BUT, BUT YOU KNOW, IF, IF IT'S A GOOD PURPOSE AND YOU GO AND ASK THE MAYOR AND SHE'S IN AGREEMENT WITH IT, UM, THEN WE WILL PREPARE A BUDGET SUPPLEMENT BASED ON HER APPROVAL AND PROVIDE THE FUNDING.

WELL, I'VE GOT SOME GOOD THINGS TO DO IN DISTRICT NINE, SO I I'LL BE CALLING YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS?

[02:00:01]

UM, I THINK IT WAS MAYBE A WEEK OR TWO.

UM, WHAT'S HER NAME? CARISSA.

I THINK MY GIRL IS CARISSA OR SOMEBODY.

BUT ANYWAY, THEY SENT A, UM, I GUESS IT'S LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE AND, UM, BUT THEY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ALWAYS COME UP IS THAT THERE IS ALWAYS, AND I DON'T PLAN TO LEAVE IT IN DECEMBER, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS, WHAT IS THAT ROLLOVER MONEY IT'S CARRIED FOR? YES MA'AM.

SO THE PLAN, SO DID Y'ALL INCLUDE THAT, UM, FOR DISTRICT FIVE? WE, WE, WHENEVER SOMEONE COMES TO US AND ASKS FOR MONEY, THAT'S REALLY, WE, WE DO THAT.

THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE LOOK AT.

DID THEY, DO THEY HAVE CARRY FORWARD MONEY RIGHT? CARRY FORWARD FROM A PRIOR YEAR FROM SAVINGS WITHIN THEIR OPERATING BUDGET THAT COULD BE CARRIED FORWARD AND USED FOR THIS PURPOSE AND THIS INSTANCE THE, THIS CENTER DID NOT.

COUNCIL MEMBER HIRST, JUST A QUICK QUESTION.

SO IF I GOT THIS RIGHT, UM, AND LINDA, IF YOU CAN MAKE, STAY THERE FOR A SECOND, IF I GOT THIS RIGHT, YOU SPENT MONEY ON FIXING EQUIPMENT AT YOUR COMMUNITY CENTER THAT CAME OUT OF A PARTICULAR BUDGET TO DO PROJECTS, WHICH IS FEED THE HOMELESS, YES OR NO? UH, YEAH.

DO YOU HAVE X AMOUNT OF BUDGET TO DO PROJECTS OUTTA YOUR COMMUNITY CENTER? SO LET ME, LET ME, UH, I I I, I GOT MY, MY ANSWER FOUR MINUTES IS 29 SECONDS.

I I DO, BUT I, I WANT TO, I DO THE ANSWER'S.

SO YOU DO THOSE PROJECTS.

EVERYONE, EVERYBODY HAS COMMUNITY CENTERS, DOES THOSE PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR BASED ON THE BUDGET THAT THEY HAVE, AND I UNDERSTAND, I GET IT.

NO SIR.

MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE.

NO SIR.

SO YOU ASKED ME A QUESTION.

YOU GOT A LOT TO ANSWER.

THERE WAS A $300,000 UPGRADE FOR BATHROOMS AT THE, AT THE, AT THE, AT THE LEO BUTLER.

THERE WAS A $250,000 UPGRADE FOR AIR CONDITIONING AT THE MLK CENTER.

AND THIS BATHROOM'S BEING DONE OVER AT WHERE RECENTLY, EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME ONE SECOND.

HOLD ON.

HOLD HOLD ON JUST A SECOND.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MAINTENANCE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MAINTENANCE.

CORRECT.

SO THE REPAIR OF THE KITCHEN EQUIPMENT AND EVERYTHING COMES OUTTA YOUR MAINTENANCE BUDGET IF THERE'S MONEY THERE.

CORRECT.

THERE'S NOT ALWAYS MONEY THERE, BUT YES.

IS THERE MAINTENANCE? DO Y'ALL HAVE MAINTENANCE BUDGET? I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T HAVE A COMMUNITY CENTER.

IS THERE MAINTENANCE IN THE, IS THERE MAINTENANCE IN THE BUDGET FOR COMMUNITY CENTERS? HE DOES NOT.

HE HAS SOME, A VERY SMALL BUDGET FOR REPAIR MAINTENANCE OF OUR OFFICE EQUIPMENT.

UM, A LOT OF TIMES WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THAT THE MAINTENANCE EXPENSES COME OUT OF BUILDING MAINTENANCE, BUILDING AND GROUNDS IS BUDGET FOR JUST ROUTINE MAINTENANCE.

BUT IF IT IS SOMETHING THAT BUILDING, OKAY, SO BUILDING GROUND IS ORDINARY, LIKE A NEW AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM.

BUILDING MAINTENANCE DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THAT.

SO WE DO A BUDGET SUPPLEMENT AND WE APPROPRIATE THE MONEY IN THE COMMUNITY CENTER'S BUDGET TO DO THOSE THINGS THAT ARE NON-ROUTINE MAINTENANCE.

AND THEN WE'RE REPLACING THIS BUDGET ITEM, THE AMOUNT SPENT TO FIX THE KITCHEN.

WE ARE APPROPRIATING FUNDS TO BE USED FOR THE, PER THAT, FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE KITCHEN EQUIPMENT THAT WAS PURCHASED.

SO IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WAS, IT WAS LIKE THE REFRIGERATOR, A STOVE, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT ARE EQUIPMENT USED AT THE CENTER FOR COOKING, NOT ONLY FOR THIS, BUT THEIR FUNCTIONS ALSO.

DISHWASHER, THAT WAS ROTTED ON THE SIDE.

YEAH, IT WAS, IT WAS FLOWED IN MY KITCHEN.

SORRY.

THINGS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT FOR IF WE'RE APPROPRIATING, LIKE COUNCILMAN HUDSON SAID, HEY, I WOULD LOVE TO COME TO YOU FOR $35,000 TO DO SOMETHING IN MY AREA.

BECAUSE SOMETIMES IN, IN THIS CONVERSATION IT GOT BROUGHT UP THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU SPENT THE MONEY TO, TO DO THE, TO TO HOST THE EVENTS, FEEDING THE HOMELESS.

UH, START THAT THAT, WELL YOU, SOMEBODY HAD SAID A WHILE AGO THAT BASICALLY WE HAD TO FIX THE KITCHEN AND STUFF BECAUSE WE STARTED NEW PROGRAMMING, FEEDING THE HOMELESS OUTSIDE OF THE NORMAL FEEDING AND PARTNERING WITH WHAT, WHICHEVER ORGANIZATION IT WAS YOU WAS TALKING ABOUT.

AGAIN, I'M GONNA GO BACK TO COUNCILMAN HUDSON AND, AND WHAT HE HAD SAID, I GUESS I'M LOOKING AT THIS, WE GOT THIS 35,000 APPROPRIATION.

A LOT OF PLACES HAVE COMMUNITY CENTERS AND STUFF.

THERE'S SEVERAL OF US THAT DON'T HAVE COMMUNITY CENTERS.

WE DON'T HAVE THESE BUDGETS TO HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE THESE PROJECTS AND, AND PLACES TO DO THESE THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY COMMUNITIES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

AND, UM, I GUESS I, I'M JUST SEEING THIS AS IF YOU'RE COM, IF YOU HAVE A COMMUNITY CENTER AND HAS A BUDGET, YOU, YOU KINDA STAY WITHIN THAT BUDGET.

I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THIS IS A MAINTENANCE, UH, GROUNDS AND MAINTENANCE TYPE THING THAT'S BEING TAKEN CARE OF AND IT'S BEING REPLENISHED.

BUT I, I WOULD JUST, AGAIN, IT'S ONE OF THOSE

[02:05:01]

UH, WHETHER IT'S UH, SET UP A, A TEMPORARY PLACE TO FEED THE HOMELESS EVERY SO MANY TIMES, I, EVERYBODY CAN SAY, OH WELL YOU ARE DISTRICT FOUR, YOU CITY OF CENTRAL.

I'VE GOT A AMAZING AREA OUTSIDE THAT IS JUST AS BAD AS A LOT OF THE OTHER PEOPLE'S THAT HAS IN THEIR DISTRICTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THAT I WOULD LOVE TO DO PROJECTS IN.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS? YEAH, JUST BRIEFLY.

SO FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF, UM, BEING A DEPARTMENT HEAD FOR COMMUNITY CENTER, WE DO HAVE THE BUDGET AS A LOT OF OUR BUDGET.

UH, FIRST OF ALL, PROBABLY 60% GOES TO SALARIES.

UM, WHEN THERE'S A BIG PROJECT, IF WE PAY FOR IT OUTTA OUR BUDGET, WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING LEFT.

INCLUDING BEING ABLE TO PAY FOR OUR, UM, OUR SALARIES AND JUST DO REGULAR PROGRAMMING.

THE ELECTRIC BILL COMES OUTTA OUR BILLS, UM, CABLE, IT, EVERYTHING.

WHERE I AM HAVE A LITTLE BETTER SITUATION IS I HAVE A FULL SERVICE MEDICAL CLINIC THAT PAYS RENT AND I ALSO HAVE THE LARGEST, UM, MULTIPURPOSE ROOM, I GUESS A GYM.

SO, AND IT'S BOOKED ALMOST EVERY WEEK.

SO I'M GETTING BETWEEN $802,000.

SO I ALWAYS END UP WITH A SUPPLEMENT.

THE OTHER THING, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS LIKE WHEN YOU GO SHOPPING, I, AND I DO WITH, UM, BUT WHEN I GOT LIKE NEW FLOORING, I HAVE TO GO A BUDGET SUPPLEMENT BECAUSE IT WOULD'VE WIPED OUT MY BUDGET.

UM, I'M ON THE LIST, HOPEFULLY JOE WILL GET MY BATHROOMS DONE BECAUSE THEY HAVE, THEY ARE, IT WAS BUILT IN, UM, IT WAS BUILT.

OUR BUILDING IS 50 YEARS OLD AND WE STILL HAVE OLD STUFF.

UM, SO I CAN'T AFFORD THAT, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

SO 35,000 ISN'T A LOT.

WE BOUGHT A KIT, UH, ONE OF THOSE FREEZERS IT COST $7,000 AND IT DIDN'T FIT IN THE KITCHEN 'CAUSE THEY SENT THE WRONG ONE.

AND, BUT IT WOULD, THEY SAID WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY ALL THIS ANOTHER THOUSAND TO RETURN IT.

BUT ELECTRICAL, I MEAN ANYTIME YOU GET THAT EQUIPMENT, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER INFLATION AND WHEN YOU START SAYING RESTAURANT OR COMMERCIAL, IT LOOK LIKE THEY SEE DOLLAR SIGNS.

SO, UM, THAT THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS HAPPENED.

ONE SUGGESTION THAT ALSO IS, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE A FOOD BANK, BUT LIKE THE FOOD BANK BOUGHT A FREEZER FOR ME.

UH, I'M, I NEED TO DO A LOBBY.

SO I'VE ASKED DSS SINCE THEY'RE IN OUR OFFICE AND THEY'RE NOT, UM, THEY DON'T PAY RENT.

I'M LIKE, I NEED TO BUY SOME LOUNGE CHAIRS.

YOU BUY TWO, I BUY TWO.

SO WE RENT IF WE JUST LIKE SPEND IT LIKE IT'S HOURS WITHOUT A BUDGET SUPPLEMENT, WITHOUT SOME CREATIVITY, I'M ALREADY MY FURNITURE FROM WAYFAIR BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD WHOEVER Y'ALL BUY YOUR IS FOR THIS ROOM.

SO I'M GOING TO COMMERCIAL WAYFAIR.

I'M LIKE, OR IS IT COMMERCIAL? BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR ME TO PAY SEVEN THOU $5,000 FOR A LOUNGE SEAT.

I'M GONNA WAYFAIR.

SO THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS, AND I KNOW IT'S HARD IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE, BUT LIKE 35,000, THAT'S LIKE FIVE APPLIANCES REALLY IN THE COMMERCIAL WORLD.

COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JR.

TWO, TWO QUICK POINTS.

NUMBER ONE TO COUNCILMAN HURST.

UH, WHEN YOU'RE GONNA BE A DECIDE AND VOTE ON THE ITEM, MAKE SURE YOUR ITEM REQUESTED FOR MONEY GOES BEFORE BEING A DECIDE VOTE ON ITEM .

THAT'S POINT NUMBER ONE.

UH, POINT NUMBER TWO, UH, I DON'T HAVE A COMMUNITY CENTER LIKE COUNCILMAN MOOCH.

I DON'T HAVE A COMMUNITY CENTER LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, YOU KNOW, SO THESE ARE FOREIGN ISSUES TO US.

UH, BUT I'VE BEEN AROUND COMMUNITY CENTERS A LOT AND UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE INNER WORKINGS OF IT.

NOT LIKE THESE WHO, WHO HAVE A COMMUNITY CENTER.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS, THIS IS A GENERAL FUND REQUEST.

UH, WHAT WE DON'T SEE IN THIS ITEM IS THE, UH, MLK CENTER, GEORGE, A NEWMAN, LEO BUTLER, AND THE, UH, CHARLES R. KELLY, WHAT'S THE NAME OF YOUR CENTER BRAND? CHENEY VILLE COMMUNITY CENTER.

UH, ALL OF THEM HAVE MECHANISMS THROUGH RENTING TO BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS AND ALSO RENTING OUT FOR EVENTS THERE, UH, A MEETING SPACE WHERE THEY GENERATE SELF-GENERATED REVENUE AND ALL THESE COMMUNITY CENTERS BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS AND THOSE DOLLARS GO INTO THE GENERAL FUND.

SO ALTHOUGH THIS LOOKS LIKE THIS IS MONEY THAT'S JUST COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND EARMARKED FOR SOMETHING ELSE, THESE COMMUNITY CENTERS HAVE BEEN POURING INTO THE GENERAL FUND FOR YEARS.

AND OFTENTIMES OUR MAYORS NOT NECESSARILY THIS MAYOR RIGHT NOW, BUT PREVIOUS MAYORS DID NOT ALLOW THEM TO GIVE THAT MONEY OUT AND UTILIZE IT FOR IMPROVEMENTS

[02:10:01]

AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO I JUST WANNA OFFER THAT UP, UH, FOR THE CONVERSATION.

COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS, JUST A COUPLE, JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

UM, SO I SEE WASHER AND DRYER AND ICE MACHINE, HOT FOOD TABLE AND THEN CARPET REPLACEMENT.

BUT THE OTHER OPERATING IN M MT SUPPLIES OF 11,000, I JUST DIDN'T LIST WHAT THAT IS.

SO, UM, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF MORE ITEMS, UM, THAT WE WANT TO IMPROVE AND JUST TO TALK TO WHAT COUNCILWOMAN BANKS HAS DONE.

AND I HAVEN'T GONE TO, UH, BRANDON'S WHAT I HEARD HIS LOOKS LIKE, THE TAJ MAHAL, SO I GOTTA COME CHECK IT OUT.

AT LEAST THE IMPROVEMENTS THEY DID.

BUT LAST YEAR WHEN, WHEN SHE ASKED ABOUT THE CARE FOR FUND, YOU KNOW, I LITERALLY HAD PSYCHEDELIC CARPET UP, UP TO MY HEAD ON THE WALL.

THAT'S, THAT'S HOW OLD THE COMMUNITY CENTER WAS.

WE HAD LEAKS, WE NEEDED PAINT.

SO MY CARRY FOR MONEY THAT I HAD, THE LITTLE THAT I HAD WENT TOWARDS DOING THE BASICS TO BE ABLE TO GET MORE RENTALS 'CAUSE NOBODY WOULD RENT IT.

'CAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE WE WERE IN THE SEVENTIES TO BE ABLE TO DO THE BASIC IMPROVEMENTS JUST TO TRY TO GET SOME REVENUES THERE SO WE USED THAT MONEY FOR THAT.

AND MOVING FORWARD, THIS OTHER MONEY, UH, WILL BE MOVED.

WE STILL HAVE ANOTHER KITCHEN THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

THIS IS ONE ON ONE SIDE, BUT, UM, WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

SO ARE YOU, ARE YOU SAYING THAT 11,000 IS GOING TO THE KITCHEN? IS THAT I'M, I'M, IT'S PRIMARILY GOING TO KITCHEN EQUIPMENT, YES.

AND I'M JUST NOTICING OFF YOUR BUDGET REQUEST FROM THIS YEAR, YOU REQUESTED 22,000 FOR FOOD AND SUPPLIES FOR THE SWEEP PROGRAM.

IS THIS MONEY GONNA BE ABLE TO BENEFIT SWEEP, OR IS THIS STRICTLY IT? IT, IT DOES.

AND SO WHEN YOU, SO WE HAVE THE LARGEST BEFORE COUNCIL ON AGE NEVER BECAME THE MAGNITUDE OF WHAT IT WAS.

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME.

THIS IS A CHARLES KELLY THING.

I'M GONNA GIVE HIM A SHOUT OUT.

WE HAD THE LARGEST GROUP OF SENIORS IN THE PARISH.

AND SO THAT WAS THE SUITE PROGRAM BEFORE CHARLES CHARLIE TOOK OVER.

SO THERE WERE PROGRAMS IN PLACE TO SUPPORT SENIOR CITIZENS THAT WERE LESS FORTUNATE THAT DID NOT DISCONTINUE.

AND THOSE THINGS WERE ALREADY ALLOCATED IN THOSE BUDGETS.

AND THEN THE COUNCIL AGENT TOOK OVER AND REALLY ALL THEY DID, FOR THE MOST PART WAS SUPPLEMENT SOME OF THAT FOOD COST.

BUT THE REST OF IT IS STILL IN PLACE.

SO THAT, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.

'CAUSE THE BUILDING'S RAGGEDY, THE BUILDING IS SUPER RAGGEDY.

AND, AND I WILL TELL Y'ALL RIGHT NOW, FOUND OUT YESTERDAY AND JOE AND CONFIRMED, WE HAD A ROOFING PEOPLE, UH, PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT WE HAD BULLET HOLES IN OUR ROOF.

SO NOW WE HAVE WATER THAT'S POURED ALL INTO OUR WALLS AND WE NEED MORE IMPROVEMENT OUT THERE.

SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO DO.

BUT IF WE DON'T CHANGE ALL THE 1994 DISHWASHER AND, UH, AND A 1995 WASHING MACHINE AND, AND A ICE MAKER AND OTHER STUFF, AT SOME POINT IT JUST ADDS UP.

AND SO WHAT WE DID, JUST FOR ONE SIDE OF OUR BUILDING AT THIS POINT IS WE UPGRADED IT.

AND THEN NEXT YEAR OUR GOAL IS THROUGH THE OTHER SIDE AS WELL, IF THE REVENUES PRESENT THEMSELVES.

AND THE ONE THING I WILL TELL YOU TOO, DWIGHT, 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE A BIG NUMBERS GUY, THE COMMUNITY CENTER BUDGETS ARE LIKE THE CRAZIEST THING TO MANAGE.

'CAUSE EVEN THOUGH THEY COME TO YOU AND BRAND IT, YOU MIGHT BE BETTER THAN US 'CAUSE YOU'RE A BANKER, BUT THEY COME TO US WITH PROJECTIONS BASED ON PREVIOUS YEAR'S RENTALS.

SO CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT COVID YEAR WAS LIKE? CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT 21 AND 22 WAS LIKE WITHOUT THOSE RENTALS? SO RENTALS WILL GO UP AND DOWN AND FLUCTUATE, AND I DON'T HAVE THAT BIG MONSTROSITY THAT, THAT, THAT COUNCILWOMAN BANKS HAS.

SO MY RENTALS LIKE 300 BUCKS, AND I STILL HAVE TO PAY AN OFFICER.

I STILL HAVE TO PAY THE STAFF TO BE THERE.

SOMETIMES I PAY SOMEBODY TO COME IN ON SUNDAY, SO I MIGHT PROFIT $150.

GO AND CHECK WITH MR. TUBES TO SEE IF I'M GOOD.

AND EVEN FOR THE ONE OR TWO OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE RENTED OUT, THEY'RE LIKE TWO 50 A MONTH.

THEY'RE NOT, I MEAN, THEY'RE, THEY'RE LITERALLY FOUR PUBLIC PURPOSE.

SO WE DON'T MAKE AS MUCH MONEY TO OFFSET THAT.

COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, UH, WITH 200,000, BUT I, I DON'T KNOW WHERE I GOT 300,000 FROM.

I DON'T KNOW.

SO LET THE RECORD REFLECT.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT NUMBER CAME FROM.

ALSO, MY RESTROOMS AT THE LEOS BUTLER CENTER ARE NOT NEW.

BUT LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I DID.

MY EMPLOYEES PAINTED THE LEOS BUTLER CENTER.

MY EMPLOYEES CLEAN THE LEO WEST BUTLER CENTER.

SO I GUESS THAT'S WHY FOLK MAY THINK IT'S NEW STUFF IN THERE.

BUT, UH, MY PEOPLE DO THAT.

COUNCIL ON AGENT BOUGHT TWO HANDICAP TOILETS.

ONCE I GET MY BUDGET, IT'S JUST LIKE YOUR BUDGET AT YOUR HOUSE.

YOU STAY WITHIN THAT BUDGET.

AND SO I DON'T GO OVER, I DON'T, IF ANYTHING, HMM.

BUT I, I HAVE TO STAY WITHIN AND CONSTANTLY

[02:15:01]

BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE 300,000, BUT MY RESTROOMS ARE NOT NEW.

BUT I HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT KNOW HOW TO CLEAN AND THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.

HOW MANY EMPLOYEES I HAVE AS FAR AS FOR THE CLEANING PART, I HAVE A BUILDING MANAGER, AND THEN I HAVE A, UM, THE EMPLOYED VR FELLAS.

AND WHEN YOU GET THESE FELLAS, YOU GET PEOPLE WITH WHO KNOW HOW TO DO SOMETHING.

AND THAT'S HOW I GOT MY BUILDING PAINTED.

COUNCILMAN NOLL.

$10 EACH WAY TO GO INTO TOWN AND TO COME BACK BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO HELP 'EM.

SO JUST WANNA ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THINGS.

UM, I CAN TELL YOU I DID DO SOME RENOVATIONS AT MY, MY, UH, COMMUNITY CENTER A FEW YEARS AGO.

IT HADN'T NEVER BEEN UPDATED.

AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS ASKING FOR.

I WENT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND ACTUALLY WE HAD NOT, UH, WE HAD A, A SURPLUS AND I, I MATCHED THE, THE FUNDS THAT THEY GAVE US TO DO IT, AND, UM, OUT OF, OUT OF THE BUDGET.

AND WE DID THE FLOORING AND PAINTED AND UPGRADED IT.

AND EVERYBODY'S BEEN VERY HAPPY ABOUT IT.

UM, SOME OF IT, THE THE REASON, UH, OR ANOTHER REASON BEHIND WHY I HAD THOSE RENOVATIONS DONE IS BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE IT MORE APPEALING FOR SOMEBODY TO COME.

UH, THEY HAD BEGGED TO BRING MEDICAL BACK BECAUSE IT USED TO HAVE MEDICAL AND DENTAL AND, UM, PEOPLE WERE STILL CALLING.

AND IT, THEY HAD, THEY HADN'T HAD IT AT THAT POINT FOR QUITE SOME TIME, I THINK, UM, IT HAD, IT HAD BEEN MAYBE A DECADE AND PEOPLE WERE STILL CALLING ASKING IF THEY, IF IT WAS COMING BACK, THEY WANTED TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS.

UM, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WHERE CHENEY V IS, WHERE THIS COMMUNITY CENTER IS, IT'S IN A VERY RURAL AREA.

PEOPLE IN THAT AREA, TYPICALLY, IF THEY DON'T DRIVE, THEY HAVE TO PAY SOMEBODY TO BRING 'EM INTO TOWN, EITHER ZACHARY OR BAKER TO GO AND DO ANYTHING.

SO, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO GET, UM, MEDICAL BACK IN THERE TO LEASE THE SPACE, BUT PART OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS WENT TOWARDS MAKING THAT APPEALING FOR SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND, AND OPERATE OUT OF THERE.

SO, UM, SO THAT WAS A BIG WIN.

AND IT'S HELPING THE COMMUNITY.

I CAN TELL YOU WE FEED A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE, THE BOXES OF FOOD.

UM, WE HAVE COUNCIL ON COME IN AND DOES THE MEALS, BUT WE GIVE A LOT OF FOOD AWAY THAT THEY GET FROM THE FOOD BANK.

SO MUCH SO THAT WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF SPACE.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING I'M LOOKING AT DOING, IS TRYING TO GET SOME KIND OF A, WHETHER IT'S A T BUILDING OR, OR SOMETHING SMALL IN THE BACK WITH, UH, AIR CONDITION JUST FROM MORE FOOD, FOOD STORAGE.

BECAUSE WE, WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE ROOM.

UM, BUT I WILL TELL YOU AS FAR AS THE COMMENTS ON, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T LOOK AT THIS ARE FUNDS LIKE THIS AS WELL.

THIS DISTRICT'S GETTING IT.

AND, AND I DON'T HAVE ONE, SO I NEED SOMETHING TOO.

UM, BECAUSE THIS IS SERVING PEOPLE WHO, UM, NEED TO BE SERVED.

AND, AND I KINDA LOOK AT THIS ITEM JUST AS ANYTHING ELSE.

UM, IF YOU'RE SERVING THE PUBLIC, UH, ESPECIALLY NEEDY, I DON'T, I DON'T LOOK AT AN AGENDA ITEM THAT'S DOING THAT IN ANY DISTRICT AS WELL.

JUST BECAUSE THAT SERVICE GENERATES IN YOUR DISTRICT MEANS THAT I NEED TO GET SOMETHING IN MY DISTRICT TOO.

SO, UM, I, I THINK THESE, THESE COMMUNITY CENTERS SERVE A PURPOSE AND SERVE A NEED FOR NEED.

THE NEEDIEST IN OUR COMMUNITY SOMETIMES, AND CERTAINLY FOR THE ELDERLY, AND DEPENDING ON WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMS YOU HAVE GOING ON.

UM, BUT THAT'S, UH, THAT TO ME, I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AS WELL.

YOU HAVE THAT, THEREFORE, I SHOULD HAVE THE SAME THING IF I DON'T HAVE THAT.

BECAUSE IN, IN, IN SOME INSTANCES, IT'S, IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T HAVE IT.

IF YOU HAVE A NEED AND YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO SERVE, I THINK THAT'S FINE.

BUT I DON'T LOOK AT AN AGENDA ITEM THAT ADDRESSES BEING ABLE TO BETTER SERVE THE NEEDS OF, UH, SOME OF THE NEEDIEST IN THE COMMUNITY AS, UH, A SITUATION WHERE THAT, THAT SHOULD BE SPLIT EQUALLY AMONG 12 DISTRICTS JUST BECAUSE.

UM, SO I THINK, UH, THE COMMUNITY CENTERS, IT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST, UM, QUESTION MARKS I HAD WHEN I CAME INTO THIS ROLE.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS, WAS HOW IT OPERATED.

I WAS VERY NERVOUS ABOUT IT.

I HAD TO HIRE A NEW DIRECTOR RIGHT IN THE BEGINNING.

BUT IF ANY OF YOU HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH ME ABOUT IT, IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE MOST, UH, IT'S AN ABSOLUTE BLESSING BECAUSE I SEE THE GOOD WORK THAT'S BEING DONE, UH, FOR A SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION THAT I, I REALIZE ESPECIALLY OUT THERE NEED, THEY NEED THAT.

AND IT IS, UM, IT'S THE ONLY PLACE WHERE THEY HAVE ANY KIND OF SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND WHERE THEY CAN GET THINGS THAT I, WHEN I TELL YOU, THERE'S PEOPLE WHO USED TO HAVE TO PAY SOMEBODY

[02:20:01]

AND THEY CAN USE THE COMMUNITY CENTER THAT'S RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SO THIS IS, THIS IS SERVING PEOPLE THE WAY WE SHOULD ALL STRIVE TO SERVE IN EVERY CAPACITY.

AND SO AGAIN, WHEN I SEE AN AGENDA ITEM LIKE THIS, I DON'T, I DON'T LOOK AT IT AS, WELL, WAIT, WHERE'S MY 35 TOO? OR THIS SHOULD BE SPLIT EQUALLY AMONG 12.

NO, IF THIS IS SERVING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, I THINK IT'S, IT'S, UH, IT'S A PROPER, UH, UH, THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.

SO THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN HURS.

HEY, SIR, I DO WANNA MAKE SOMETHING CLEAR.

UH, AND I APOLOGIZE, COLE, I JUST, I KNOW YOU GOT A NEW AIR CONDITIONING MAN.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GOT IT.

NEVER.

BUT, UH, I GET ONE, BUT, UH, I SUPPORT IT.

UH, BUT I, I, I, I DO KNOW THAT, UM, THAT LAST YEAR WE DID DO A, A MIDYEAR BUDGET SUPPLEMENT FOR THE LEO BUTLER CENTER TO PUT SHOWERS IN THERE.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE MONEY IS OR WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR HERE.

IT'S THE EXACT SAME THING.

THE COMMUNITY HAS A NEED.

UM, I, UNFORTUNATELY, I COULDN'T AFFORD SHOWER.

SO I WANT TO TELL Y'ALL, THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX, BECAUSE I KNOW HOMELESS PEOPLE, WHEN YOU ARE IN A COMMUNITY CENTERS, LIKE BRANDON SAID, YOU DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH THEY FUNCTION.

WE LITERALLY HAVE PROSTITUTES.

WE HAVE DRUG DEALERS, WE HAVE, UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST NEEDING FOOD.

WE HAVE EVERYBODY THAT COMES AND SAYS, CAN YOU HELP ME CHANGE MY LIFE? HE MAY NOT HAVE THAT IN AS MUCH IN THE RURAL AREAS, BUT AT 7 0 8, 0 5, THEY WALK THE STREETS AND THEY COME TO US FOR HELP.

I WENT TO, UH, CLAY REEVES WITH WHO KNOW CLAY IS HERE TODAY, BUT I SAID, CLAY, CLAY, I CAN'T AFFORD TO SHOWER IN MY FACILITY.

HE SAID, WELL, DARRYL, I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO GET A SHOWER THROUGH MOAP, AND WE NEED TO USE IT ANYWAY, JUST SO THE TRAILER DOESN'T ROT.

AND SO WHAT WE CAN DO IS PARK IT OUTSIDE THE BACK OF COMMUNITY CENTER SO THAT HOMELESS POPULATION CAN BE SERVED AND HAVE SHOWERING FACILITIES AND WHATEVER ELSE.

OTHERWISE, JUST LIKE ANY TRAILER DOES, IT JUST SITS UP AND ROT.

SO I DON'T WANT Y'ALL TO THINK THAT I'M NOT TRYING TO DO, UM, THE SMALL THINGS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I'M TRYING TO DO THE BIG THINGS AND WORK WITHIN THE BUDGET WITHOUT GOING OVER.

AND WHEN YOU'RE IN THESE FACILITIES, IT TOOK ME ABOUT A YEAR.

LIKE BRANDON'S BEEN HERE ABOUT A YEAR LONGER.

BUT IT TOOK ME ABOUT A YEAR TO REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS.

BUT ALSO, WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, YOU ALSO UNDERSTAND THE NEED.

AND, AND, AND ALTHOUGH WE CAN'T DO EVERY NEED BY FIXING THE CENTER UP, YOU GET MORE RENTALS BY GETTING, WHICH IS WHAT YOU DID.

I, I COULDN'T DO MY MEDICAL CLINIC.

THEY WANT THAT TOO.

BUT, UM, BUT WITH THE FACILITY BEING FIXED UP, THE WHOLE GOAL IS TO OFFSET SOME OF THESE COSTS THROUGH THE RENTALS BECAUSE WE DO HAVE, UM, NO LONGER HAVE THE 1970S FOR MICAH.

SOMEBODY CAN HAVE A RENTAL IN THERE AND FEEL COMFORTABLE.

UM, WE NEED, I MEAN, I'M JUST, IT'S JUST BAD.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THERE'S NOWHERE NEAR, UM, THAT WE'VE MET OUR GOAL OF WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

THIS IS JUST WHAT WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO DO FOR THE BARE BASICS.

UM, A FUNCTION, A STOVE THAT DOESN'T FUNCTION, UM, BREAKER BOXES THAT NEED TO BE PUT IN.

I MEAN, JUST BASIC STUFF THAT GOES TOWARDS OUR BUDGET.

AND, AND JOE HAS DONE A GOOD JOB AT HELPING WHERE HE COULD, BUT THEN THERE'S SOME LIMITATIONS OF WHAT HE CAN AND CAN'T DO BASED ON MAINTENANCE VERSUS BUYING NEW EQUIPMENT AND WHATEVER ELSE.

AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE ARE.

SO THANK YOU COUNCIL.

COUNCILMAN MO.

SO I, I COUNCILMAN NOLA, I APPRECIATE THE FACT AS YOU KNOW, WHAT THE COMMENTS YOU MADE ABOUT, UM, UH, YOU, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH, UM, FACILITIES AND THEY GET MONEY, THEREFORE WE SHOULD GET MONEY.

I, I DON'T, I DON'T, I DON'T SEE IT THAT WAY.

AND, AND I, I DON'T TAKE ANY DISRESPECT TO WHAT YOU HAD SAID.

WHAT, WHAT, WHAT I LOOK AT IT IS, IS WHEN I HEAR ABOUT Y'ALL ARE ABLE TO DO THESE THINGS IN YOUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE YOU HAVE A FACILITY AND YOU HAVE A PLACE, AND, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

I THINK THEY SERVE GREAT CAUSES.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU GET, WHETHER IT'S FIXING STUFF OR TO, TO DO PROJECTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I SEE IT AS, I WISH I HAD SOMEWHERE IN MY PLACE TO DO THAT.

I WISH I COULD DO THAT IN MY DISTRICT WITHOUT HAVING TO GO FIND A RENTAL PLACE OR SOMEWHERE PERMANENT OR PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES SOMEHOW.

IF I HAD, UH, AND I WOULD HAVE TO RENT A PLACE TO PROVIDE THE PERMANENT MEDICAL SERVICES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, IT WOULD BE A CONSTANT DRAIN ON THE BUDGET AND ALL THAT.

SO I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL DO AT YOUR COMMUNITY CENTERS.

I, I, I, I HOPE I DIDN'T COME ACROSS AS WELL, YOU GOT THIS MONEY.

I WANT THAT MONEY JUST SO I CAN HAVE IT IN MY DISTRICT AND GO DO, UH, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER

[02:25:01]

I PLEASE, I WOULD LIKE TO, BECAUSE OF THE AREA THAT I DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT I THINK A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS GET FROM MY DISTRICT IS THE FACT THAT, OH, YOU'RE FROM THE CITY OF CENTRAL.

YOU NOT NOTHING OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF CENTRAL, SINCE 80% OF IT'S IN THAT AREA.

AND I MADE A PROMISE TO THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE, YOU KNOW, KNOW THAT, THAT I WOULD, I WOULD STEP UP, I WOULD DO MORE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND A LOT OF MY AREAS OUTSIDE OF THAT AREA ARE THE SAME ONES AND THE SAME TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT, THAT EVERYONE SERVES AT YOUR COMMUNITY CENTERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO, YOU KNOW, I, I NEVER TAKE IT, I NEVER TOOK IT AS CONDESCENDING, BUT I, I, I SEE THIS AS, AND ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THE COMMENT WAS, I WOULD LIKE TO DO THOSE SERVICES IN MY AREA, UH, AND HAVE A PLACE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

I THINK CLEVES DONE AN A, COUNCILMAN DUNN HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB WHEN HE FIRST CAME ON.

AND I MEAN, HE RAN WITH THE WHOLE IDEA AND CREATED A MECHANISM TO BE ABLE TO DO A COMMUNITY CENTER.

I DON'T HAVE AN AREA THAT LARGE OUTSIDE OF MY AREA, UH, TO CREATE EVEN THOSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS.

SO, UH, AGAIN, I'LL CLOSE ON THIS, I COMMEND Y'ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO AT YOUR DISTRICTS, AND I THINK IT'S MORE OF A POINT OF, I THINK SOME OF US WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE WITH THOSE SAME TYPE OF THINGS IN OUR AREAS.

SO THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.

COUNCILMAN MARK, JUST A QUICK FOLLOW UP ALSO TO COUNCILMAN NOEL'S, UH, COMMENTS.

UM, I, I DID MEAN IT THE WAY YOU SAID IT.

UH, I WANT, I WANT THAT MONEY IN MY DISTRICT BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE IS GETTING IT.

UH, LOOK, I'M VERY CAREFUL EVERY YEAR, UH, THAT IN DISTRICT NINE, UM, WE ALWAYS HAVE A SURPLUS AND WE FIND THAT A, A, A VERY INTERESTING WAY, OR A A, A VERY GOOD WAY TO GO OUT AND TAKE THAT SURPLUS DOLLARS AND PUT IT INTO THE DISTRICT, RIGHT? UM, IF I CAN ACHIEVE THAT SAME GOAL BY JUST OVERSPENDING AND GOING OUT AND ASKING FOR MORE MONEY, WELL THEN I'LL DO IT THAT WAY.

UM, SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, BUDGETS MATTER.

UM, IF THEY'RE, IF WE PROGRAM THESE DOLLARS AND THERE'S A, A MID-YEAR BUDGET SUPPLEMENT, THAT'S ONE THING, UH, I, I WOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

UM, BUT IF YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THIS HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF, UH, OF NOT BUDGETING PROPERLY, THEN THAT'S A, THAT'S A BIG ISSUE.

AND IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE GOTTA HAVE CONTROLS IN PLACE FOR, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'M OKAY WITH APPROVING THIS ITEM TONIGHT.

I, I'M NOT TRYING TO HOLD UP WHAT WE'RE DOING.

WE DON'T WANNA PUT IN ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS IN AN ISSUE WHERE THEY CAN'T PAY THEIR BILLS.

UM, BUT MOVING FORWARD, THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE.

WE'VE GOTTA MAKE SURE TO ADDRESS IT.

WE'VE GOTTA MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

I, ITEM 68, AUTHORIZED MAYOR, PRESIDENT, EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL READING NUMBER ONE TO THE CONTRACT WITH WTD ARCHITECTURE FOR ADDITIONAL DESIGN SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR CONTRACT FOR THE NEW EMS STATION.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

MOTION TO APPROVE BY ACTUALLY COUNCIL MEMBER, HER SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS ON THE $35,000 STOVE? ANY OBJECTIONS ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED, ITEM HAS BEEN, ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED, ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED.

ITEM 68

[68. 24-00233]

NUMBER NINE IN THE AMOUNT TO EXCEED $4,500 BY BUILDING GROUND DIRECTORS.

ANYONE YOU WISHING TO, TO SPEAK ON ITEM 68 WHEN I, WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO, MOVED BY THE CHAIR.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLE.

MANY OBJECTIONS.

WE GO.

NOT ITEM 69,

[69. 24-00234]

AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT EXECUTING AGREEMENT WITH THE WTD ARCHITECTURE, LLC AND ARCHITECTURE DESIGN SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH THE BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT, SARS BUILDING IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $115,625 BY BUILDING GROUND DIRECTOR.

IS ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE GO DOWN TO COUNCIL MEMBER.

SO, MOORE, BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR AND THE OBJECTIONS.

THERE'S A, UH, THE ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED.

ITEM 70, THERE'S

[70. 24-00247]

BEEN A REQUEST BY THE DEPARTMENT TO DELETE THIS ITEM.

AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE THE SUPPLEMENT AGREEMENT.

NUMBER ONE, THE CONTRACT WITH GRACE ABBE CURTIS, LLC FOR ADDITIONAL DESIGN SERVICE IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONTRACT ON THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER, UPGRADES IN AMOUNT NOT TO CA HUNDRED $44,220 BY BUILDERS AND GROUNDS DIRECTOR, ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM AT THIS TIME? WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE A MOTION TO DELETE THIS ITEM.

SO MOVED BY, COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.

ANY OBJECTIONS? THE ITEM HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO BE DELETED.

UH,

[71. 24-00254]

ANY OBJECTIONS WILL NOW GO TO ITEM 71.

SAME THING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ON ITEM 71, AND REQUEST BY THE DEPARTMENT TO DELETE AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROU ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, KINGDOM BUILDINGS, DEVELOPERS OF LOUISIANA, A LC, FOR A TOTAL SUM NOT TO EXCEED $62,864, $800 AND 64 CENTS BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

UH, YOU, YOU WANT TO, EXCUSE ME, THE REQUEST TO DELETE CAME FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER.

[02:30:03]

AUTHORIZING THE SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED KYLE, KYLE WILLISON IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,000 PLUS COURT COST IN THE AMOUNT OF $741 AND 96 CENTS FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $25,741 96 CENTS BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

SO WE, AT THIS TIME, WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO DELETE THE ITEM.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

HMM.

WHO YOU WANTED TO REQUEST? MM-HMM.

YOU WANT TO GET SOME CLARITY? UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DON JR.

I WANT SOME CLARITY ON ITEM 71.

THERE'S A REQUEST BY A COUNCIL MEMBER TO DELETE THE ITEM.

I SAID DEPARTMENT, BUT I SPOKE IN ERRORS, A REQUEST BY A COUNCIL MEMBER.

MARLEY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME IN? YEAH, I THINK THEY SAID MOTION TO DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS TO LET THE PARISH ATTORNEY IN.

TWO WEEKS BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HEARST.

ANY OBJECTIONS? THE ITEM HAS BEEN DEFERRED FOR TWO WEEKS.

ITEM 72,

[72. 24-00269]

IS ANYONE HERE? WISH YOU TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.

WE NOW WITH COUNSEL MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM? MOTION TO APPROVE.

SO MOVE BY THE CHAIR.

ANY AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON? ANY OBJECTIONS? WE NOW

[73. 24-00270]

GO TO ITEM 73, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT IN THE MATTER OF ENTITLED DESHAUN THOMAS VERSUS THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,000 PLUS CUT COURSE IN THE AMOUNT OF $268 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $25,268 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER THERE.

MOTION.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE NOW

[74. 24-00282]

GO TO ITEM 74, AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENCE AT AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND EAST BATON PARISH ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ST.

VINCENT DE PAUL BISHOP, OUT FOR A TOTAL SUM NOT TO EXCEED $125,342 BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

IS ANYONE HERE WE SHOULD SPEAK ON ITEM? I HAVE A QUESTION.

WE'RE NOT WITH A COUNCIL MEMBER'S.

MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

SECONDED BY.

CAN I HAVE A, CAN I, COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.

COUNCILMAN BANKS HAS A QUESTION THOUGH.

BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD, COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS WHO, WHO COULD TELL US ABOUT HOW MUCH WE JUST GAVE ST.

VINCENT DE PAUL LAST WEEK, UH, TWO WEEKS AGO.

, DID YOU WANNA ASK ABOUT THIS ITEM SPECIFICALLY OR ABOUT THE CONDITIONAL AWARD LETTER? I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, I JUST KNOW WE JUST APPROVED LIKE A GAZILLION DOLLARS.

I WISH WE HAD A GAZILLION DOLLARS TO PROVE, BUT IT WAS A, UM, , ALTHOUGH THAT'D BE A LOT OF COMPLIANCE WORK.

UM, OH GOSH, , WE, WE DID APPROVE A CONDITIONAL AWARD LETTER IN, IN COOPERATION WITH THE STATE LOUISIANA HOUSING CORPORATION, A MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT.

AND THE STATE IS PUTTING IN A $5 MILLION INVESTMENT FOR A NEW FACILITY.

OF COURSE, AS WE'VE ALL HEARD HERE TODAY, YOU GOTTA BUILD A FACILITY, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO OPERATE THOSE FACILITIES.

SO THIS IS FOR SHELTER OPERATIONS.

KEEP THE LIGHTS ON, KEEP THE SECURITY GUARDS PAID.

THAT'S AFTER IT IS BUILT.

THAT'S FOR AFTER.

BUT OF COURSE, ST.

VINCENT PAUL'S ALREADY OPERATING FACILITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY TODAY.

SO THIS IS SPECIFICALLY FOR, UH, THEIR, THEIR OPEN FACILITIES.

SO EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANTS IS AN ENTITLEMENT FUND.

WE RECEIVE EVERY YEAR WE DO AN AWARD PROCESS.

THIS RIGHT HERE? YES, MA'AM.

UM, SO I'M GONNA GO BACK TO WHAT COUNCILMAN HUDSON TALKED ABOUT BUDGETING.

SO THEY ARE ALREADY, FOR YEARS, BEEN DOING THIS WORK, PAYING THEIR BILLS.

WHAT'S DIFFERENT? BECAUSE I'M, SO THIS IS NOT A, THIS IS NOT A SUPPLEMENT IN THAT WAY.

SO THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WE RECEIVED FEDERAL FUNDS TO KEEP SHELTERS OPEN.

, UH, WE RAN AN AWARD PROCESS LATE LAST YEAR, SCORING COMMITTEE, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.

AND, AND THIS IS THE DETERMINATION OF THE SCORING COMMITTEE AROUND THE AWARDS THAT WE WOULD PROVIDE WITH THOSE GRANTS.

SO, SO THIS IS, THIS IS KIND OF A COMPETITIVE STANDARD BUSINESS.

SO IT'S JUST LIKE, I MEAN, THAT WAS ONE THING, AND THIS IS ANOTHER.

YES, MA'AM.

TWO DIFFERENT SOURCES OF FUNDING.

OF COURSE.

IT'S ALL A APART OF, OF, OF A STRATEGY.

YOU CAN'T HAVE ONE BE SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT THE OTHER.

UH, BUT THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES AND TWO DIFFERENT AWARD PROCESSES FOR THE, UH, UH, THE NON CONGREGATE SHELTER DEVELOPMENT.

THAT ACTUAL NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY WAS RUN BY THE STATE.

BECAUSE THEY HAD THE BIG MONEY.

UM, AND, AND THIS ONE WE RAN LOCALLY AT THE CITY PARISH LEVEL.

WE RAN A NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY THROUGH OUR GRANT PORTAL.

SO WHAT WE WERE DOING LAST TIME WAS JUST APPROVING THEM TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE.

YES, MA'AM.

SO ALWAYS WITH OUR AWARDS, WHAT HAPPENS IS, IS WE DO SOME SORT OF PROCUREMENT PROCESS.

IT VARIES DEPENDING ON WHAT IT IS.

PUT THAT IN FRONT OF THE MAYOR.

MAYOR SAYS, OKAY, WE PUT THAT IN FRONT OF YOU.

YOU SAY, OKAY, WE PUT THAT FROM THE GRANTS, UH, REVIEW COMMITTEE.

THEY SAY, OKAY.

AND THEN WE EXECUTE IT.

SO THE, THE, AND I THINK IT GO TO GRANTS COMMITTEE THEN ALL THAT OTHER STUFF.

RIGHT? IT, IT DO THAT KIND OF DEPENDS, RUNS SIMULTANEOUSLY.

IT DEPENDS ON HOW EFFICIENT WE, YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS.

BUT, UH, FOR, FOR INSTANCE, THAT NON CONGREGATE SHELTER, THAT AWARD MAYOR SIGNED OFF ON IT, THAT WILL COURSE COME BEFORE

[02:35:01]

THIS BODY.

GOTCHA.

SAME WITH THE YOUTH PUBLIC FACILITIES THAT MAYOR, UH, UH, ANNOUNCED THIS MORNING FOR CONDITIONAL AWARD.

, UH, WHICH I KNOW WE'RE ALL VERY EXCITED ABOUT AND, AND, UH, DISTRICT I GREW UP IN.

SO, UH, AND WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT OF COURSE, TO THIS BODY AS WELL FOR YOUR APPROVAL.

75, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT EXECUTING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ST.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

OF COURSE.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE NOW GO TO ITEM

[75. 24-00283]

VINCENT, THE BALL SPEECH MEANS FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $178,890 BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

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

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

ITEM 76, AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND THE EAST BAT ROUGE PARISH.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE NOW GO TO

[76. 24-00284]

ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO YOUTH OASIS, FOR A TOTAL SUM NOT TO EXCEED $97,339 BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

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

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO NOW TO ITEM 77.

[77. 24-00285]

AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROU PARISH OF EAST BATON ROU ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND CATHOLIC CHARITY SANCTUARY FOR LIFE.

FOR A TOTAL SUM NOT TO EXCEED $63,456 BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER'S.

MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.

ANY OBJECTION? WE GO TO ITEM 78,

[78. 24-00286]

AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT EXECUTING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CATHOLIC CHARITIES JOSEPH HOLMES FOR A TOTAL SUM NOT TO EXCEED $50,007 BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM WHEN I WOULD A COUNCIL MEMBER? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.

AND OBJECTION.

WE GO TO 79

[79. 24-00287]

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TEXAS EXECUTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH EAST BATON ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND OPEN HEALTHCARE CLINIC'S HEART PROGRAM FOR A TOTAL SUM NOT TO EXCEED $453,288 BY MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CONTINGENT UPON GRANTS AND CONTRACTS REVIEW COMMITTEE.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE'RE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL HUDSON.

OBJECTIONS? WE GO TO ITEM 80, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND THE SUB-RECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH HIV AIDS ALLIANCE FOR REGION TWO.

WE NOW GO TO ITEM.

ANY

[80. 24-00289]

INCREASING BY $29,378 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $653,670 BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTORS.

ANYONE HERE WHICH NEEDS SPEAK ON ITEM, GO TO COUNCILS.

MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.

AND THE OBJECTION NOT WITH

[81. 24-00296]

81.

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT, EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR THE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH ALL TECHNICAL CONSULTANTS, LLC FOR SERVICES AND AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,575,870 82 CENTS BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.

DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNSEL TO A MOTION TO APPROVE.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MO SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

ITEM 81 HAS BEEN APPROVED WITH NO OBJECTION.

ITEM 82, AUTHORIZED

[82. 24-00297]

THE MAYOR PRESENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE IN THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA PROGRAM FOR A TOTAL SUM NOT TO EXCEED $419,755 BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

IS ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEM WE'RE NOT WITH TO COUNCIL MEMBERS? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT ITEM? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.

AND OBJECTION.

WE GO.

9 83.

[83. 24-00298]

AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT FUNDING THROUGH THE FHWA TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM AND TO EXECUTE AGREEMENTS WITH THE STATE OF LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT AND CONNECTION WITH THE BUREAU CHOICE MULTIMODAL PATH AND CONNECTOR BRIDGE PROJECT.

1,750,000 FEDERAL AND 435,000 LOCAL FUNDING BY TRANSPORTATION AND TRAINING DIRECTORS.

ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM COUNCIL MEMBERS? YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL, COMMENT AND OPPOSITION TO ITEM 83.

WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL.

IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

ANY OBJECTION? WE NOW GO TO ITEM 84.

[84. 24-00299]

AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON PARISH ABUSE AVENUES ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND THE START PROGRAM FOR A TOTAL SUM NOT TO SEE 300,000 BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

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

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 84? SOME MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

SECONDED BY THE CHAIR AND THE OBJECTION.

WE GO TO 85.

AUTHORIZED

[85. 24-00300]

THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT TO EXECUTING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH EAST BAT ROU ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT METRO HEALTH PROGRAM FOR A TOTAL SUM NOT TO EXCEED $290,258 BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE'RE NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE SOME MOVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER? HER SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON? WE NOW GO TO

[86. 24-00301]

ITEM 86,

[02:40:01]

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND BRIGHTSIDE CLINIC PROGRAM FOR A TOTAL SUM NOT TO EXCEED $150,000 BY MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

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

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 86? MOTIONS BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

A RESOLUTION PROVIDED FOR THE LIMITATION ON THE NUMBER OF PRESENTATIONS OR RECOGNITIONS ANY INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBER MAY PLACE ON THE PRESENTATION AND SPECIAL RECOGNITION AGENDA BY METROPOLITAN COUNCILMAN, BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON AND COUNCILMAN COLEMAN, ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN COLEMAN.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE WILL NOW TO ITEM 87.

[87. 24-00232]

ANY OBJECTIONS ITEM HAS

[88. 24-00303]

BEEN APPROVED.

WE NOW GO TO ITEM 88, WAIVING THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE ONE, PART ONE, CHAPTER ONE, SECTION ONE, TWO, A ORDER OF BUSINESS AND REGULAR MEETINGS IN THE CODE OF ORDINANCE OF CITY PARISH EAST BARON.

SO AS TO BEGIN PRESENTATIONS AND SPECIAL RECOGNITION AT 3:00 PM BY COUNCIL MEMBER BRANDON NOLL.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM YOU NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER SOMO BY COUNCIL MEMBER NOLL.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 88 HAS BEEN APPROVED.

COUNCIL MEMBERS WE'RE GONNA TAKE

[Items 89 - 114]

ITEMS 89 THROUGH ONE 14 TOGETHER.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER, THESE ARE ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES.

ITEM 89 LOT 13 SQUARE THREE SUBDIVISION MAGNOLIA PLACE DISTRICT 10, UH, MOTOR OWN ITEM 90 LOT FIVE SQUARE ONE SUBDIVISION PARK, PARKVIEW DISTRICT 10 IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE.

ITEM 91 LOT 22 SQUARE 43 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE, POINT OF MOTION, DISTRICT 10, HIGH BID OF WHITAKER INVESTMENT COMPANY.

$100.

POINT OF ORDER OR SOMETHING? UH, I GET OFF AT THREE O'CLOCK SO I WAS WONDERING IF WE COULD DO THREE 15? YEAH, WE'LL GO BACK, BUT YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE TO START AT THREE.

WE JUST CAN START AT THREE.

WE DON'T HAVE TO START AT THREE.

OH, OKAY.

BASED ON THE NUMBER ON THERE.

RIGHT? OKAY.

START AT THREE.

I'M NOT, WE'RE GONNA NOTICE.

SO BECAUSE OF OPEN MEETINGS REQUIREMENTS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO NOTICE THE MEETING FOR THREE O'CLOCK.

CURRENTLY WE NOTICED THE MEETING FOR THE, THE PRESENTATIONS PORTION OF THE MEETING FOR THREE 30.

UM, IT WILL NOW BE NOTICED FOR THREE O'CLOCK.

GOT YOU.

I I SEE Y'ALL WHEN I SEE YOU.

I CAN'T GET HERE FOR THREE EVERY, EVERY MEETING.

SO WE PROBABLY WON'T START.

IT'S UP.

IT'S, IT'S UP TO Y UNLESS SOMEBODY ELSE WANTS TO START.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER, YOU ARE DETERMINED.

WELL, JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE AGAIN, BECAUSE OF OPEN MEETINGS ISSUES, WE HAVE TO MM-HMM.

SAY THAT THE MEETING WILL START AT THREE O'CLOCK.

I GOT SO CAN I ASK, CAN I ASK, SO HOW SOON IN ADVANCE DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT? UM, WELL I, SO BECAUSE Y'ALL JUST ADOPTED THAT IT'S PLAN GOVERNMENT, IT IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE AT THREE O'CLOCK.

IT'S PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, JUST LIKE A COUNCILMAN .

IT'S OKAY.

IF WE GOT 30 PRESENTATIONS, WE'RE WE GONNA HAVE TO START AT ONE O'CLOCK? SOLUTION.

BUT LET'S GO, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S FINISH THE ADJUDICATED IF WE CAN.

ALRIGHT, WE ON ITEM 92 LOT 16 PLUS SQUARE 18, SQUARE 43 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE, DISTRICT 10, WHITAKER INVESTMENT COMPANY 100, ITEM 93 LOT 20 AND A SQUARE 43 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE, DISTRICT 10, HIGH BID OF WHITAKER INVESTMENT COMPANY 94 LOT 49 A SQUARE 17 SUBDIVISION, SOUTH BATON ROUGE, DISTRICT 10 HIGH BID OF LINDA COLEMAN.

$500, EXCUSE ME.

ITEM 95 LOT 12 B SUBDIVISION, SOUTH HIGHLAND INDUSTRIAL PARK DISTRICT THREE, HIGH BID OF SOUTH UNITED INCORPORATED $130,000.

ITEM 96 LOT NINE SQUARE, 27 SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION DISTRICT SEVEN HIGH BIDDER AX, NATIONAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, $40,100.

ITEM 97 LOT 18 SUBDIVISION LANE WALL PLACE, DISTRICT FIVE, HIGH BIDDER AX, NATIONAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, $45,100.

ITEM 98 LOT 11 SUBDIVISION ROSEBERRY.

DISTRICT 10, HIGH BID OF DISTRICT 10, $500.

ITEM 99 LOT ONE SQUARE 14 SUBDIVISION SCOTLAND EDITION DISTRICT TWO HIGH BID OF SHARON JACKSON, $5,200.

ITEM 100 LOTS TWO SQUARE 14 SUBDIVISION SCOTLAND, DISTRICT TWO HIGH BID.

SHARON JACKSON, $4,700.

ITEM 1 0 1 LOT THREE SQUARE 14 SUBDIVISION SCOTLAND EDITION DISTRICT TWO HIGH BIDDER.

SHARON JACKSON, $4,100.

ITEM 1 0 2 LOT 34 SQUARE 26 SUBDIVISION EDEN PARK DISTRICT SEVEN HIGH BID OF ROY THOMPSON, $100.

ITEM 1 0 3 ABOUT 29 SQUARE, 35 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE DISTRICT 10 HIGH BID OF ERICA SCOTT.

$900.

ITEM 1 0 4 LOT 13 SQUARE 13 SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION DISTRICT SEVEN HIGH BID OF

[02:45:01]

GEORGE HARDY, $300.

ITEM 1 0 5 LOT 14 SQUARE 13 SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION DISTRICT SEVEN, HIGH BID OF GEORGE HARDY, $300.

ITEM 1 0 6, LOT 12 SUBDIVISION SCHWART EDITION.

DISTRICT 10 HIGH BID OF JEROME BRAZIER CARTER $100.

ITEM 1 0 7 LOT 12 SUBDIVISION GUARDIAN VIEW DISTRICT THREE.

HI, BID OF TD REAL ESTATE GROUP, LLC $2,500.

ITEM 1 0 8, LOT NINE SUBDIVISION RIVERLAND.

DISTRICT THREE.

HI, BID OF TD REAL ESTATE GROUP FOR $2,500.

ITEM 1 0 9 LOT 12 SUBDIVISION RIVERLAND, DISTRICT THREE HIGH BIDDER TD REAL ESTATE GROUP, $2,500.

ITEM 1, 1 0 LOT 35 B SUBDIVISION.

SOUTH HOLLAND INDUSTRIAL PARK DISTRICT THREE, HIGH BIDDER, TD REAL ESTATE GROUP, LLC $2,500.

ITEM 1 1 1 LOT 1315 SUBDIVISION MONTE ST.

HOLLAND FARM DISTRICT 10 MO OWN ITEM 1 1 2 LOT D SQUARE 2 78.

SUBDIVISION SUBURB, SCHWART DISTRICT 10 MOTOR ON ITEM ONE 13 LOT ONE POINT AND THREE SQUARE FOUR SUBDIVISION WILSON PLACE DISTRICT 10 MOTOR ON ITEM 1 1 4, LOT 26 SUBDIVISION MCCLURE.

PLACE DISTRICT TWO MOTOR ON.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES AT THIS TIME? WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

SO MOVE COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.

THIS IS SOMEWHAT, UM, A, A THOUGHT, AND I KNOW WILLIAM IS IN HERE, BUT, UM, AS PART OF, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF LIKE AS PART OF THE PLANNING, UM, AND THE PERMITTING AREA, YOU KNOW, WE, THAT IT'S ADVISED THAT PERSONS TALK TO THE, UM, THE COUNCIL MEMBER TO, SO THAT THEY CAN GET THE SUPPORT AND MAKE SURE THERE'S NO, UM, A LOT OF TIME IT'S SO THAT THERE'S NO EITHER DUPLICATION OR THEY, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA THAT WOULD EITHER PREVENT US FROM SUPPORTING WHATEVER.

AND WHEN WE HAVE OUR E CONVERSATIONS GOING ON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

SO I'M LOOKING AT, I'M LOOKING AT TD REAL ESTATE, 1, 2, 3, UM, FOUR, FOUR IN COUNCILMAN GOD'S DISTRICT.

AND I THINK I SAW HIM SOMEWHERE ELSE.

UH, I THINK THAT WAS ALL.

BUT WHEN I, WHEN I HEAR ABOUT THE MULTIPLE PERSONS THAT WOULD LEAD ME TO THINKING THIS MIGHT BE AN AGENDA ITEM TOO, THAT YOU KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS.

BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE WHO DO THIS AS A SPORT.

AND NOT TO SAY THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE DOING THAT, BUT THEY, UM, THEY BID AS A SPORT AND THEN THEY JUST HOLD THE PROPERTY.

YOU KNOW? SO COUNCILMAN COLEMAN IS THE ONLY ONE CURRENTLY THAT ASKS THAT THE PEOPLE CONTACT HER.

BUT IF ANY OF THE OTHER COUNCILMEN WANT THAT, A WOMAN, WOMEN WANT THAT, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.

AND I DON'T WANT ALL OF THEM, BUT WHEN I SEE SOMEBODY GETTING FIVE AND 10 AND 15 IN A CERTAIN AREA, TO ME, THAT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE A LARGER PLAN THAN JUST RENOVATING A HOUSE OR JUST MOWING THE LAWN.

AND I DON'T KNOW, LIKE I SAID, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS SHOULD BE AN AGENDA ITEM WHERE ANYONE THAT BIDS, UM, OR WIN A BID, UH, OF THREE CONSECUTIVE PROPERTIES THAT THEY HAVE THAT CONVERSATION OR IT'S JUST RECOMMENDED.

BUT THAT DOES LEAD ME TO CONCERN FOR ONE, UM, THE QUESTIONS COME TO US, YOU KNOW? WELL, CURRENTLY WHEN THEY START SEEING, WE DO THAT FOR COUNCIL MCC.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE PUT IN AN, AN ORDINANCE OR A RESOLUTION.

WE JUST DO IT.

BUT IF YOU, IF YOU WOULD LIKE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO IT.

SO IF YOU WANNA TELL, TELL ME WHAT YOU YEAH, WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT.

HAPPY TO DO IT.

I WOULD JUST, HAD YOU SPOKEN WITH THIS GENTLEMAN, UH, THIS, THEY HAVE FOUR IN YOUR PROPERTY? THE, THE TD? I HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO THEM.

I'M FAMILIAR WITH THEM AS AN ENTITY.

THEY OWN SOME OTHERS.

THAT'S THAT NET AVENUE IS ALL IN THE GARDENIER AREA.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALL I WAS THINKING.

LIKE, HE KNOWS HIM.

HE, HE, I GUESS HE HAS, UH, CONFIDENCE IN HIM DOING.

BUT I DO KNOW IN MY DISTRICT, I HAD PEOPLE DO THIS AS A SPORT AND RIGHT WHEN THEY'RE BIDDING, THEY HAVE SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S ON CONDEMNATION.

AND SO ALL THAT JUST, UH, IT IS JUST I GUESS A CONVERSATION FOR EVERYBODY THAT WHEN YOU SEE MULTIPLE, UM, UH, SOMEBODY BIDDING MULT ON MULTIPLE PROJECTS THAT YOU, UM, MAY TALK TO YOU OR YOU TELL THEM, LOOK, YOU MIGHT WANNA TOUCH WHATEVER MIGHT WANNA DO.

THAT A MOTION TO APPROVE COUNCIL MEMBER.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.

VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, FIRE DISTRICT FOUR.

ANY OBJECTIONS ITEMS? EIGHT.

ITEMS 89 THROUGH ONE

[02:50:01]

14 HAVE BEEN APPROVED.

WE GO NOW TO APPOINTMENTS.

[115. 24-00354]

ESSENTIAL CONSIDERATION OF REPLACING CHRIS CHOKE WHO RESIGNED.

THIS IS A TWO YEAR TERM.

CURRENT BALANCE IS MICHAEL J WILLISTON.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

COUNCIL MEMBER? MT.

IS MR. MICHAEL HERE? MR. MICHAEL.

MICHAEL? OKAY.

I DON'T SEE CHIEF, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT MR. MICHAEL YOU'D LIKE TO GIVE? WE'LL GIVE MY REGARDS.

I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE HIM.

MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOCH.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM.

CONGRATULATIONS MR. WILLISTON.

YOU'VE BEEN APPROVED.

ITEM

[116. 24-00358]

1 1 6 C-A-H-S-D TO REPLACE JERRY HOY, WHO IS NOT SEEKING REAPPOINTMENT.

METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.

MUST SUBMIT TWO NAMES FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE GOVERNOR.

NOMINEES MUST MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA, HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE IN FINANCE, ACCOUNTING, BUSINESS ENTERPRISE AUDITING HAS A PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE IN THE FIELD OF MENTAL HEALTH.

THREE.

IS A PARENT, CONSUMER, OR ADVOCATE OF THE FIELD OF MENTAL HEALTH.

CURRENT BALLOT.

WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE AT THE MOMENT.

COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU'LL PROBABLY REMEMBER.

UM, THE CAPITAL AREA HUMAN SERVICES DISTRICT IS, UM, A UNIQUE STATE CREATED ENTITY.

UM, THE METRO COUNCIL HAS TO FORWARD THE NAMES OF, UH, NOMINEES TO THE GOVERNOR FOR HIM TO ACTUALLY MAKE THE APPOINTMENT.

UM, IT'S, IT'S FREQUENTLY DIFFICULT TO FIND PEOPLE, UM, WHO MEET ONE OF THESE CRITERIA AND WHO ARE WILLING TO SERVE ON THE BOARD.

UM, SO WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT MS. HOY IS NOT INTERESTED IN, UM, SEEKING REAPPOINTMENT.

SO, UM, I'M PLACING THIS ON, I PLACED THIS ON THE AGENDA SO THAT Y'ALL COULD, UM, BE THINKING OF CONSTITUENTS OR, UM, NEIGHBORS, COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THIS BOARD BECAUSE WE DO HAVE TO SEND AT LEAST TWO NAMES.

UM, WE CAN SEND MORE.

BUT, UM, SO MY REQUEST WOULD BE FOR, UH, TO DELETE THIS FOR, I MEAN, I'M SORRY TO DEFER THIS FOR 30 DAYS.

TO GIVE Y'ALL TIME TO SUGGEST, UH, PEOPLE TO APPLY.

CONTACT MY OFFICE, UM, ABOUT THEIR INTEREST.

MOTION TO DEFER FOR 30 DAYS BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

ADAM, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM HAS BEEN DEFERRED FOR 30 DAYS.

WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM

[117. 24-00342]

1 1 7, CHANGE ORDERS.

EBR, UM, BRANCH LIBRARY RENOVATIONS COUNCIL, LEMME SEE.

CONTRACTOR.

TERRY HONORARY CONSTRUCTION CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, $65,229.

IS ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM WHEN I TO COUNSEL? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 1 1 7? YES.

IS THERE A MOTION? IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MO SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE'RE

[118. 24-00360]

GOING NOW TO ONE ONE.

EL GROVE GARDENS DRIVE.

PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS CONTRACTED TRIUMPH CONSTRUCTION CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, $22,121 63 CENTS.

IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE'RE NOT WITH TO COUNCIL MEMBER? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM? SO MOVED BY THE CHAIR.

IS THERE SECOND.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUSSON.

WE NOW GO TO FINAL ACCEPTANCES.

[119. 24-00352]

ITEM 1 1 9 BATON GER, PORT CONCOURSE AT ROOF REPLACEMENT CONTRACTOR, LAKE SHORE ROOFING AND CONSTRUCTION.

FINAL COST, $33.

THERE IS A REQUEST OF DELETE THIS ITEM.

COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL, COMMENT AND OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A TYPO ON THE ITEM AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING TO DELETE IT.

THERE IS A TYPO.

MOTION.

UH, MOTION TO DELETE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNTON JUNIOR.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA.

ANY OBJECTION? ITEM HAS BEEN DELETED.

ACCEPTANCE OF LOW BIDS.

[120. 24-00321]

DHDS, EXTERIOR PAINTING.

RYAN CURTIS, LLC $177,900.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCILMAN BAIER.

MOTION TO APPROVE SOME MOVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.

ANY OBJECTIONS COUNCIL MEMBERS?

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO TO ITEM 1 2 1

[121. 24-00361]

EAST BOULEVARD AREA 88.

TRANSITION PROJECT PRO VILLE LLC $428,348 AND 30 CENTS.

DOES ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 1 21.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.

[123. 24-00305]

WE'RE GONNA DELETE ITEM 1 23, RECEIVING A REPORT FROM DR. JAMES RICHARDSON ON THE, OH YEAH, DEFER, I'M SORRY.

RECEIVING A REPORT FROM DR. JAMES RICHARDSON, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, DUN JR.

UH, THERE'S A REQUEST TO DEFERRED ITEM TO APRIL 24TH.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JR.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MUL.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE NOW GO TO ITEM 1 22,

[122. 24-00242]

RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES ON THE UPDATED GARBAGE CONTRACT, ESPECIALLY THE D-B-S-S-D-B-E

[02:55:01]

REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTRACT BY COUN BY THE CHAIR.

UH, VERY QUICKLY, IF I MAY, UH, I ASKED ADAM TO KEEP THIS REPORT BRIEF.

UH, UH, AND, AND, AND TRULY I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE, THE, UH, SEDB PROGRAM FOR ALL OF THE CONTRACTS IN CITY PARISH, BEING THAT I KNOW WE ESTABLISHED A GOALS PROGRAM SOME TIME AGO, SO I JUST WANTED TO GET AN UPDATE FROM HIM ON THAT.

AND, UH, I REALLY DIDN'T NEED A POWERPOINT, UH, ADAM, BUT MY COLLEAGUE LIKES THEM, AND SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I ADHERE TO HER REQUEST.

SO IF YOU WOULD .

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.

AND SO I, I DID TRY TO, UH, TO CHANGE IT UP A LITTLE BIT AND IT, IT NOW KIND OF COVERS THE MAJOR CONTRACTS THAT WE'VE, UH, THAT HAVE GONE OUT FOR SELECTION OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

SO IF YOU COULD, UH, THE THIRD SLIDE PLEASE.

SO, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A TIMELINE OF EVENTS.

SO THE, THE S-E-D-V-E ORDINANCE, IT WAS APPROVED BY THE, THE METRO COUNCIL ON APRIL 28TH, 2021.

THE THREE MAJOR CONTRACTS THAT ARE REFERRED TO EARLIER, THE SOLID WASTE COLLECTION CONTRACT, THAT ONE ADVERTISED IN APRIL OF 2022.

SO ABOUT A YEAR LATER, AS Y'ALL REMEMBER, WE DID NOT GET, UH, ANY BIDS ON THE OUTER SERVICES PORTION OF THAT CONTRACT.

SO WE WENT OUT FOR SELECTION, JUST FOR THE OUT OF SERVICES PORTION.

THAT WAS DONE IN JULY OF 2022.

AND THEN ALSO IN JULY OF 2022, WE WENT OUT FOR A SELECTION ON THE O AND M CONTRACT FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLAN.

NOW, EVEN THOUGH THE ORDINANCE ITSELF WAS PASSED OR ADOPTED IN APRIL OF 2021, IT WAS NOT EFFECTIVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2022.

SO NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

THAT KIND OF GOES INTO, SO WHERE ARE WE NOW? WELL, SINCE THOSE THREE, UH, CONTRACTS WERE ADVERTISED PRIOR TO THE, THE ORDINANCE BEING, UH, OR PRIOR TO THE, UH, THE ORDINANCE BEING EFFECTIVE, THE DBE LANGUAGE THAT WE, WE KNOW TODAY AND THAT WE USE TODAY, THAT WE PUT INTO BID DOCUMENTS, RFPS, THAT TYPE OF THING WITH A GOAL ESTABLISHED WAS NOT IN THOSE, UH, RFPS.

THERE WAS SOME, THE, THE TWO SOLID WASTE RFPS, THEY HAD SOME, UH, I I WOULD CALL IT SOME VAGUE OR UH, DBE LANGUAGE IN IT.

BUT THERE WAS NOTHING SPECIFIC AS FAR AS GOALS ESTABLISHED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

AND THEN THE, THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLAN O AND M CONTRACT DID NOT HAVE A-A-D-B-E COMPONENT TO THE SELECTION OF IT.

NOW WE ARE, BUT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT IN THE, UM, THE RFP, WE ARE WORKING WITH ALL OF THOSE VENDORS TO, UH, CREATE A DBE PARTICIPATION IN ALL OF THOSE CONTRACTS.

UM, WE'RE WORKING WITH PURCHASING, UH, AND, AND THIS IS WHAT WE DO ON EVERY PROJECT NOW.

WE TAKE A SCOPE OF WORK, WE SEND IT TO PURCHASING, WE TELL THEM WHAT THAT SCOPE OF WORK IS.

IF IT'S A, A PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT WHERE IT'S GOT BID ITEMS, THAT TYPE OF THING.

WE TAKE THE BID ITEMS, WE TAKE THE, THE COST ESTIMATE, WE SEND THAT TO PURCHASING, THEY EVALUATE IT, AND IT COMES BACK TO US AND IT SAYS, YOUR, YOUR GOAL IS X.

SO WE'VE SENT THEM THE, UH, THE DOCUMENTS FOR THE, THE GARBAGE COLLECTION CONTRACT.

I JUST RECENTLY SENT THEM, I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AS RECENT AS YESTERDAY.

THE, UM, THE SCOPE OF WORK ON THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT O AND M CONTRACT.

UM, AND WE ARE WORKING TO, TO PUT THOSE IN THERE.

THE, UM, THE SOLID WASTE CONTRACT, IT CAME BACK, WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING ON, IT'S A LITTLE IN EXCESS OF 15%.

SO WE DON'T HAVE ONE RIGHT NOW ON THE, UH, O AND M CONTRACT.

BUT WHEN WE, UH, MET WITH THEM LATE LAST YEAR AND WORKING ON THE RENEWAL, THEY HAD, UH, AGREED THAT THEY WOULD GRADUALLY INCREASE THEIR, UH, THEIR PARTICIPATION.

I THINK THEY WERE AT 4% LAST YEAR, AND THEY'RE LOOKING TO INCREASE THE 10% THIS YEAR.

THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE AT NOW.

BUT THEN, BUT AGAIN, WE, WE SENT THE, THE DOCUMENTS OVER TO PURCHASING SO THEY CAN ANALYZE IT AND SEE WHERE OR SHOULD THEY BE.

IS WE ARE SENDING VENDORS THAT WE KNOW THAT ARE, UM, THAT WE THINK WOULD QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAM.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE DOING

[03:00:01]

WE'RE SENDING THOSE TO PURCHASING SO THAT THEY CAN EVALUATE THOSE VENDORS TO SEE IF THEY COULD BE ADDED TO THE LIST SO THAT WE COULD, AND THEN ONCE THEY'RE ADDED TO THE LIST, THEY CAN, UH, THOSE VENDORS, THE PRIMES CAN SAY, HEY, I'M USING THIS VENDOR.

AND THEN IT ALSO SHOWS UP ON THE LIST SO THAT WHENEVER OTHER PROJECTS ARE ADVERTISED, THOSE VENDORS ARE, ARE ON THE LIST.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW.

AND THEN AGAIN, ANYTHING THAT GO GOING FORWARD.

AND IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS OR SO, ANYTHING THAT WE'VE PUT OUT FOR BIDS OR PUT OUT FOR SELECTION HAS GONE THROUGH, UH, PURCHASING FIRST AND HAS HAD A AN S-C-D-V-E GOAL IN THE CONTRACT.

I THINK OUR, OUR FIRST SET WAS IN, I THINK WE ADVERTISED IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR.

WE HAD THREE PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS WHERE THEY WERE, UH, ADVERTISED WITH GOLD.

DO YOU KNOW WHEN THE FIRST, UH, PROJECTS WHERE THE GOLD WERE ADVERTISED? YOU SAID THAT WAS OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR? THOSE WERE THE FIRST.

THOSE, THOSE WERE, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES PROJECTS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WERE OH, THIS OKAY.

OTHER PROJECTS.

UH, LET'S GO AHEAD.

IS THAT THAT COMPLETE THE REPORT? YEP.

THAT THAT, YEAH.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THAT? WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

ANYBODY ELSE GOT ANY QUESTIONS? I, I GOT A FEW QUESTIONS I WANT TO ASK ADAM.

COUPLE OF THINGS.

SO WE DON'T HAVE A STANDARD GOALS PROGRAM NUMBER, DO WE, I'M SORRY, WE DON'T HAVE A STANDARD GOALS PROGRAM NUMBER FOR THE SCDB PROGRAM.

SAY 25%, 40%.

DO WE HAVE A STANDARD NUMBER FOR THE PROGRAM? AND, AND THIS MAY BE BETTER FOR PURCHASING TO ANSWER.

I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT I PROBABLY BETTER FOR THEM.

I'M THE ASSISTANT PURCHASING DIRECTOR.

ARE YOU NEW TO THE, THE DEPARTMENT? UM, LITTLE, ALMOST A YEAR.

ALMOST A YEAR.

TO, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, UH, I BELIEVE THERE IS AN OVERALL GOAL FOR US TO TRY AND ACHIEVE OF 25%, UM, FROM THE MAYOR'S INITIATIVE.

UH, BUT LIKE ADAM WAS SAYING, EACH PROJECT WILL BE INDIVIDUALLY, UM, ANALYZED TO, TO DETERMINE A GOAL, UM, BASED, BASED OFF THE DBE PARTICIPANTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

AND IF COMPANIES PRIMES ARE NOT MEETING THE GOAL, DO WE HAVE A MECHANISM IN PLACE TO EVALUATE? IS THERE A REPORTING SYSTEM? IS IT EVERY MONTH, TWICE A MONTH? DO WE HAVE ANY OF THOSE THINGS IN PLACE? AND IF WE DON'T, DO WE HAVE A TIMELINE TO ESTABLISH THOSE THINGS? BECAUSE I THINK, AND HERE'S WHAT I'M GOING WITH THIS, THIS PREVIOUS COUNCIL WORKED EXTREMELY HARD TO ESTABLISH FIRST, UH, UH, THE DIVERSITY STUDY, RIGHT? AND THEN WE WORKED EXTREMELY HARD TO ESTABLISH THE BONE, THE, UH, GOALS PROGRAM.

AND THEN, UH, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, AND MAYOR BROOM, UH, WORKED TO SET UP THE OFFICE OF SUPPLY DIVERSITY.

AND SO I JUST, MANY OF THE COMMENTS AND CONVERSATIONS I HAVE IS WITH SMALL BUSINESSES WHO ARE SEEKING TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES, UH, WITH CITY PARISH AND MAY NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO A LOT OF THE WORK.

AND SO ARE LOOKING TO PARTNER WITH A PRIME TO DO THIS WORK.

AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE AS A CITY PARISH ARE KEEPING THAT COMMITMENT TO THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO SAY, HEY, LISTEN, IF YOU REACH, IF YOU MEET THE STATUS OF AN S-C-D-B-E OR A DBE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE MAKING SURE THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU.

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE'S A PROCESS IN PLACE TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THOSE COMPANIES ARE DOING THEIR PART IN TERMS OF REACHING OUT, WORKING WITH, AND MAKING SURE THOSE VENDORS GET AN OPPORTUNITY.

I PERSONALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS WORK.

AND WHEN THEY DON'T, THEN WHAT ARE WE DOING AS A CITY PARISH? BECAUSE I, WHILE I THINK IT'S THE PROCESS OR I THINK IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PRIME TO DO THE OUTREACH, I THINK IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY PARISH TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR DOING SO AND THEN PUT IN PLACE PARAMETERS OR PROCEDURES OR CONSEQUENCES WHEN THEY DON'T.

SO, UH, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING THAT, IF THAT MAKES ANY SENSE.

AND IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN PLACE NOW, YOU KNOW, WE CAN, UH, TABLE THIS CONVERSATION AND, UH, I'LL RECEIVE THE REPORT AND THEN I'LL BE ASKING PURCHASING TO COME BACK AND DO A REPORT ON THAT PROCESS.

TIMELINE AND PROCEDURES FOR THOSE, THOSE THINGS TO TAKE PLACE.

NO, SIR.

ABSOLUTELY.

UM, YOU HIT ON A LOT OF POINTS.

I WAS TRYING TO KEEP TRACK, BUT, UM, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF THOSE THINGS IN PLACE.

UH, A LOT OF MATCHMAKING EVENTS HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE WITH OUR NEW NEWLY ESTABLISHED S-E-B-D-B-E UH, TEAM.

UM, THE, THE MANAGER WAS HIRED AND IN PLACE LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AGO.

UM, SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE GETTING A TEAM TOGETHER IS GETTING OFF

[03:05:01]

THE GROUND.

WE JUST RECENTLY HAD A VENDOR FAIR AT THE RIVER CENTER HERE.

UM, WE ARE, UH, CONSTANTLY REACHING OUT TO THE SMALL, UM, BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE YOU MENTIONED, TO GET THEM CERTIFIED IN THE PROGRAM.

AND OUR LIST IS GROWING.

I BELIEVE IT'S OVER 200 AND SOMETHING VENDORS NOW.

UM, SO ALL THOSE THINGS YOU TOUCHED ON, UH, EVEN THE COMPLIANCE PIECE, ALL OF THAT IS IN PLACE.

COUNCIL MEMBER HURST, UH, I'M GONNA LET HIS, HIS COMPUTER'S NOT WORKING, SO WE GET THE FIRST FIVE.

BE PLEASE.

THEMSELVES FROM FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES.

COUNCILMAN COLE, UH, MAY APPROACH HIM.

COLE, I WANT TO ECHO EVERYTHING YOU SAID.

I THINK THAT YOU, YOU WERE DEAD ON.

I WOULD ALSO ADD TO IT, UM, THERE'S A THING, UH, CALLED A GOOD FAITH EFFORT WHERE SOME OF THESE PRIMES ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE, UH, AND IT DEPENDS ON YOUR DEFINITION OF WHAT A GOOD FAITH EFFORT IS TO REACH OUT TO A SUB OR A LOCAL SMALL MINORITY BUSINESS, UH, DETERMINE IF IT'S BEEN A REAL SINCERE EFFORT OR NOT.

OFTENTIMES IT MAY BE JUST MAKING ONE OR TWO PHONE CALLS OR SENDING ONE OR TWO EMAILS.

UM, SO THAT'S A PART OF THE, THE, THE PARAMETERS IN THEIR REQUIREMENTS TO GET LOCAL SMALL MINORITY VENDORS INVOLVED.

WHAT I WOULD DO AND TAKE THE EXTRA STEP IS ASK THE ADMINISTRATION, WHETHER IT'S PROCUREMENT OR ANY OF THESE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE PROCURING OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH US AS MEMBERS OF, UM, THE COUNCIL WHO MAY KNOW VENDORS WHO CAN FULFILL SOME OF THESE ROLES.

I'VE DONE THAT WITH MANY DEPARTMENT HEADS, WHEREAS THE PRIME HAS MADE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT, OR THE DEPARTMENT HAS MADE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT AND THEY STILL WAS NOT ABLE TO COME UP WITH A VENDOR TO PARTNER A PRIME WITH TO DO SOME OF THIS WORK.

BUT I WAS ABLE TO REACH OUT INTO MY NETWORK AND IDENTIFY SOMEBODY AND LET 'EM KNOW THAT THIS IS A COMPANY OR BUSINESS THAT CAN CONDUCT THIS PRODUCT OR SELL THIS PRODUCT OF SERVICE.

SO THAT, THAT WOULD BE THE EXTRA STEP I WOULD ENCOURAGE EACH OF MY COUNSELING COLLEAGUES TO MAKE AND ALSO THE DEPARTMENT HEADS TO CONNECT WITH US.

WHEN YOU RUN INTO A SITUATION WHERE YOU CAN'T FIND A VENDOR OR YOU'VE MADE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT AND, AND YOU COME UP EMPTY, WE OFTENTIMES HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR NETWORK THAT COULD FILL THESE ROLES AND TAKE ON SOME OF THESE PROJECTS.

OKAY, ONE MORE TIME.

GO AHEAD COUNCILMAN FIRST.

YEAH, AND SO I ECHO WHAT HE'S SAYING AND WE, I THINK THE MAJORITY OF THE MAJORITY OF US HAVE CBES THAT COME TO US.

AND, AND WE'VE HAD SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS WITH ADAM AND OTHER THINGS.

AND I WILL SAY THIS THOUGH, ADAM IS LISTENING.

HE'S NOT, SO LET ME MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR.

HE IS LISTENED 'CAUSE WE'VE SEEN THE, THE EFFECTS OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT.

BUT THERE, UH, WE WERE, I WAS TALKING TO CLEVE EARLIER JUST AS WE NOTICED SOMETHING HERE AND ON ANOTHER ITEM ABOUT HOW JEFFERSON PARISH OPERATES, JUST ONE PORTION OF WHAT THEY DO.

UM, THERE'S A GROUP WHERE THEY HAVE PRE-CERTIFICATION ALMOST, RIGHT? AND THEN THERE'S A LIST AND SO IT'S A SPECIFIC ITEM, NON-RELEVANT TO THIS, BUT I BELIEVE IT IS RELEVANT IN TERMS OF CITY PARISH CREATING A VENDOR LIST OF SE DBES SO THAT WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS THEY CAN'T FIND ONE FOR SURVEYING FOR, UM, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, THAT WE SAY, HEY, HERE'S THE 20 PEOPLE YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM.

IF YOU HAVEN'T CALLED ALL OF THEM, THEN YOU HAVEN'T DONE YOUR DUE DILIGENCE AND UNFORTUNATELY YOUR BID ISN INVALID, RIGHT? AND SO I THINK THAT THAT SHOULD BE A, A GREATER APPROPRIATE STEP FOR PEOPLE PRE-QUALIFY BASED ON THEIR CERTIFICATIONS FOR WHATEVER IT IS THEY HAVE EXPERTISE IN.

AND THEN ONCE THEY QUALIFY, WE PUT THEM ON A LIST AND THAT LIST IS THEN USED TO, UH, HELP TARGET, UM, THAT 25% QUOTA.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, IF IN FACT, UH, A VENDOR SUBMITS A BID WITH A DBE LISTED, BUT THEN THE WORK BEGINS AND THEN THAT DBE THAT WAS LISTED, UH, DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO THE WORK FOR SOME STRANGE REASON, THEN WHAT HAPPENS IF IN THE REPORTING MECHANISM THEY'RE NO LONGER WORKING WITH LIST THE DBE LISTED FOR THE BID TO RECEIVE IT? WHAT DO WE DO THEN? UH, ARE WE REQUIRING THEM TO GO OUT AND FIND ANOTHER, ARE THEY DOING THE WORK THEMSELVES WITHOUT WORKING WITH, UH, A DB OR STB? I THINK WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS SOME TRANSPARENCY AND SOME REPORTING IN TERMS OF, UH, THE BIG, UH, CONTRACTS, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY ALL CONTRACTS, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME REAL BIG ONES, UH, WITH THE CITY PARISH AND JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE SMALL GUYS HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME OF THIS WORK SO HE OR SHE CAN STAND THEIR OWN BUSINESS UP AND THEN BE ABLE TO DO EVEN MORE WORK AND COMPETE FOR MORE CONTRACTS AND EVENTUALLY BECOME A PRIME THEMSELVES.

UH, SO, UH, I I'M GONNA GET TO LET JUST, YOU MADE A VALID POINT THAT WAS ECHOING, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

BUT I'M GONNA SAY ONE OTHER THING TOO, I THINK THAT HE ALLUDED TO BUT DIDN'T NECESSARILY SAY WAS THAT THERE'S SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES WHERE YOU HAVE MINORITY CONTRACTORS THAT ARE PUT ON A BID AND THEY STILL NEVER GET TO WORK.

NOT BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T, COULDN'T DO IT, BUT THEY DON'T WANNA BLACKBALL

[03:10:01]

SO THEY SAY, HEY, I'M NOT GONNA ARGUE THIS ONE 'CAUSE YOU GAVE ME THE LAST ONE.

RIGHT? AND SO YOU HAVE TO SHOW PAYMENTS TO THOSE PARTICULAR VENDORS ABOUT, IS THAT CORRECT? MM-HMM, , YEAH.

SO WE, WE'VE ALL EXPERIENCED THAT WHERE SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN USED LITERALLY JUST TO WIN THE BID, BUT NEVER GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MONEY FROM THAT, UH, THAT THAT BID WIN.

SO JUDGE, JUST FY THOSE MECHANISMS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, I BELIEVE WE CORRECT THAT.

COUNCIL ALONG WITH THE LIST COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, MAYOR PROTE, THANK YOU FOR THIS REPORT.

ADAM, THESE ACRONYMS, I WANT YOU TO SPELL THIS OUT INSTEAD OF S-E-D-B-E, YOU PUT ON THERE EXACTLY WHAT THAT MEANS SO THAT ANYBODY THAT WOULD PICK THIS UP, IT WOULD BE NO QUESTION.

MY OTHER QUESTION, MY QUESTION IS, UH, YOU SAID WHERE ARE WE, WHERE ARE WE NOW? AND THERE WERE NO GOALS IN THE THREE RFPS BECAUSE THEY WERE ADVERTISED BEFORE THE PROGRAM WAS EFFECTIVE.

I GO BACK TO WHAT COUNCILMAN DUNN SAID IN GOOD FAITH.

SO MY QUESTION IS, HAVE YOU REACHED OUT TO ANY OF THEM, HAD A CONVERSATION, TOLD THEM WHAT'S ON DECK RIGHT NOW, AND SEE WHERE THEY ARE WITH OPERATING IN GOOD FAITH? IF THEY ARE, WE ARE ACTIVELY HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THOSE THREE.

WITH THOSE THREE.

WELL, AND WELL THE ONE OF THEM IS, UH, UH, I GUESS RDI I'S A MINORITY OWNED CONTRACTOR, SO I WAS IT'S REALLY THE THE OTHER TWO YEAH, WE'RE SO WITH THE OTHER TWO.

AND, AND, AND AGAIN, MY, MY REASON FOR WANTING TO REPORT IS BECAUSE I'M HAVING, UH, A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS, I'M SORRY, COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH, WITH WITH FOLKS AND, AND LOOK, AND IF I'M BEING EXTREMELY TRANSPARENT, IT'S A CAMPAIGN YEAR.

AND SO ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, YOU HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, YOU KNOW, WE ARE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO DO WORK WITH THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, AND WE JUST DON'T SEE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES EXISTING.

WHAT IS THE GOALS PROGRAM? WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? WHAT ARE THE MECHANISMS IN PLACE? WHAT'S PROCESS AND PROCEDURE? WHAT'S THE ACCOUNTABILITY MATRIX? WHAT'S THE COMPLIANCE MATRIX? WHAT IS THE PENALTIES WHEN BIG COMPANIES DON'T DO WHAT THEY SAY THEY'RE GONNA DO IN TERMS IN A GOOD FAITH EFFORT? SO, YOU KNOW, JUST WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AND CONTINUE TO BRING IT TO THE FOREFRONT.

UH, BECAUSE WE DO, UH, WANT TO SEE SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, WITH THE SERIES OF, UH, INCIDENTS WE'VE HAD RELA RELATIVE TO VIOLENT CRIME IN THE CITY.

I THINK WE KNOW IF WE CAN EMPLOY PEOPLE, PUT THEM TO WORK, UH, WE CAN SEE A CHANGE AND THAT A DECREASE IN THAT.

AND SO THAT IS GOING TO ASSIST.

SO JUST WANT TO KEEP IT ON THE FRONT OF, OF YOUR BRAIN, ADAM, AND THEN THE, THE FRONT OF PURCHASER'S BRAIN PURCHASING HIS BRAIN SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO OUTREACH, IDENTIFY, WORK WITH, AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.

COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

SO IT, IT MAY HAVE BEEN SAID IN COUNCILMAN COLE WHEN COUNCILMAN COLE ASKED QUESTIONS EARLIER, BUT I I DIDN'T CATCH IT OR I, I'VE FORGOTTEN IT.

WHAT IS OUR CURRENT PARTICIPATION FOR DBES PARISH WIDE? UM, IF, UM, AND IF, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, IF YOU DON'T, IF YOU NEED TO FOLLOW UP, THAT'S FINE.

I JUST, I CAN GET YOU AN EXACT ANSWER, BUT I WANT TO SAY WE, WE IT'S OVER 10%.

I KNOW, I KNOW THAT FOR SURE.

I I, I CAN GET THAT FOR YOU THOUGH.

AND, AND DO WE KNOW WHAT OUR GAIN HAS BEEN SINCE THE S-E-D-B-E PROGRAM HAS STARTED? YES.

'CAUSE IT, I BELIEVE IT STARTED AT 4%.

UH, WAS WHAT THE DISPARITY STUDY IDENTIFIED.

AND SO I BELIEVE NOW I I HAD THOSE NUMBERS.

THAT'S FINE.

LOOK, I'M JUST TRYING TO ESTABLISH WE ARE MOVING FORWARD, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY.

WE'RE ALL MAKING SOME PROGRESS.

AND GO AHEAD, DANTE.

ABSOLUTELY.

UH, JUST TO OFFER SOME CONCRETE NUMBERS, AND I DON'T HAVE THE PERCENTAGE IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I CAN SAY AS OF LAST WEEK I GOT THIS UPDATE, UM, FROM DIRECTOR PAUL NARCISS.

SO LAST YEAR WE SPENT APPROXIMATELY $63 MILLION IN CONTRACTS WITH DBE FIRMS, MINORITY OWNED, WOMEN OWNED, VETERAN OWNED FIRMS. UM, THIS YEAR WE HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED $27 MILLION IN CONTRACTS TO THOSE SAME FIRMS OR THOSE SAME TYPES OF FIRMS. SO WE ARE ON PAGE TO SURPASS THAT NUMBER FROM LAST YEAR.

GOTCHA.

HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

SO NOW THIS QUESTION IS SPECIFICALLY ON THE DES, THE THE THREE CONTRACTS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

SO THOSE WERE PASSED, UH, BEFORE THE PROGRAM WENT INTO EFFECT, AND NOW WE'RE GOING, ARE, WERE WE GOING BACK AND ASKING THEM TO CHANGE THEIR CONTRACTS OR WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE DOING? YEAH, WE'RE, WE'RE, UH, AMENDING THEIR CONTRACTS TO, OR WE'RE, WE'RE DISCUSSING AMENDING THE CONTRACTS TO INCLUDE THE, THE GOALS AND SO FAR THEY'RE AMENABLE TO THAT OR I MEAN, WE'RE, YEAH, WE'RE HAVING THOSE, WE'RE

[03:15:01]

LIKE I SAID, UH, THE, THE JACOBS ONE, I MEAN THEY, WHEN WE WERE HAVING THOSE, UH, WHEN WE WERE HAVING, GOING THROUGH THE SELECTION PROCESS, WRAPPING IT UP, I GUESS, WHILE THE, THE GOALS WEREN'T IN THERE BECAUSE IT WASN'T EFFECTIVE WHEN IT WAS ADVERTISED, IT WAS EFFECTIVE WHEN WE WERE HAVING THE, UM, THE ORAL PRESENTATION.

SO IT WAS A QUESTION TO ALL OF THEM, AND WE ASKED THAT, UH, QUESTION, THEY COMMITTED TO IT DURING THE ORAL PRESENTATIONS.

UH, AGAIN, THERE JUST, THERE WASN'T A GOAL BECAUSE IT WASN'T IN THE CONTRACT, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE NOW, UM, WORKING TO, TO ADD THOSE GOALS IN.

AND I GUESS, COUNCILMAN, TO YOUR POINT, I, I CAN TELL YOU JUST FROM A REPORTING STANDPOINT, I KNOW, UH, WE'VE BEEN ASKED A LOT MORE INFORMATION, UH, LATELY, AND THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA START DOING IS I, I'M GONNA START REPORTING THE PURCHASING ON A MORE FREQUENT BASIS OF WHERE WE ARE WITH DB PARTICIPATION ON ALL OF OUR CONTRACTS.

WE'RE ALSO LOOKING TO WORK IT INTO OUR, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE MOVING OVER TO EBU, WHICH IS A SOFTWARE THAT HANDLES A LOT OF OUR, UH, CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, AND THEN IT ALSO HANDLES OUR, OUR INVOICING.

WE'RE GONNA TRY TO CAPTURE THAT AS PART OF THE INVOICING PROCESS SO THAT IT'S EASY, WE CAN JUST DUMP OUT A REPORT AND MAKE IT A LOT EASIER TO MAKE THAT REPORT TO PURCHASING.

AND I WOULD OFFER TWO THINGS.

ONE, WHILE I APPRECIATE WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, MY QUESTION IS ARE ALL MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION WITH THE SAME EXACT VENDORS EVERY TIME? UH, I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF NEW BUSINESSES IN THIS TOWN.

UH, WE, WE, WE, WE'VE SEEN, UH, CONFERENCES AND WE'VE SEEN SEMINARS ON HOW PEOPLE CAN, UH, GET PB CERTIFIED AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO I KNOW WE GOT A BUNCH OF NEW BUSINESSES LOCALLY, WE STILL NEED THE OPPORTUNITY.

SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT GROWTH HAPPEN WITH NEW VENDORS.

AND NEW VENDORS HAVE NOT THE SAME, UH, PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES EVERY SINGLE TIME, BUT NEW VENDORS HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.

IT'S NOT JUST POLICY, IT'S NOT JUST PUTTING IN PERCENTAGES, BUT IT'S ALSO THE WAY WE ARE DOING WORK.

UM, YES, THIS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PURCHASING AND, YOU KNOW, CONTRACTING AND ALL OF THAT, BUT, UM, EVEN AS IT RELATES TO ANY AWARDS, ANY CAS, ANY, UM, MOUS, WHATEVER THAT, UM, THE CITY PARISHES IS DEALING WITH, THERE IS, UM, UH, AND THIS GOES BACK TO WHAT, UM, PRO TEM COLE HAS TALKED ABOUT THE USAGE OF THE SAME CONTRACTORS OVER AND OVER.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THE COUNCIL, THE PROBLEM WAS WE WERE USING THE SAME, UM, JUST REGULAR, REGULAR BLACK, BIG WHATEVER, NOT BLACK, WHITE HAIL CONTRACTS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CALL 'EM.

I'M NOT TO BE POLITICALLY CORRECT, I DO APOLOGIZE.

BUT ANYWAY, MY POINT IS THAT, THAT, THAT WE ARE USING THE SAME PEOPLE OVER AND OVER.

SO EVEN THOUGH WE'VE MADE PROGRESS AS IT RELATES TO DBES, WE'RE STILL HAVING THE SAME PRACTICE OF USING THE SAME ONES OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

AND IT, AS IT RELATES TO CONTRACTING WHAT, UM, EVEN WITHIN THOSE RANKS, WHAT THEY SAY, AND EVEN IF IT'S A OCD CONTRACT, WHATEVER, BECAUSE OF THAT, THE CITY IS CHOOSING VENDORS THAT COULD FLOAT MONEY.

AND BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT, FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S NO POLICY AT THE FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL LEVEL THAT SAYS THAT YOU CANNOT, UM, INCENTIVIZE OR GIVE ANY AMOUNT OF FUNDING IN ADVANCE.

BUT BECAUSE ALMOST EVERYTHING IS ON A REIMBURSABLE, AND BECAUSE IT, IT IS TITLED A QUESTION TO GET IT IN A 30 DAY NET AS IT RELATES TO CITY PARISH, THEN THOUGH THE SAME PERSONS ARE GETTING THE CONTRACTS AND BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE GETTING THE CONTRACT THAT ALSO CLOSES THEIR MOUTH TO COMPLAIN.

AND I MEAN, AS I SAID, THIS IS STATED, UM, BY THOSE VERY BENEFIT BENEFACTORS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY BELIEVE IT IS STILL FRUSTRATING TO THEM.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE HAPPY TO HAVE THE WORK, THEY'RE HAPPY TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, BUT BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE, UM, A SYSTEM WHERE PEOPLE ARE BEING PAID ON WHATEVER ARRANGEMENTS, BECAUSE WE ARE SO UNTRUSTING OF THE PEOPLE WE ARE DOING WORK WITH THAT WE HOLD THEM, UM, WE DON'T ADVANCE ANY MONEY.

THAT IS WHAT IS ALSO CLOSING THE POOL.

[03:20:01]

AND I, UH, IN A, THE PREVIOUS ITEM WHEN I TALKED ABOUT A A RP, SOME, UM, COMMUNITIES TRYING TO LOOK, THEY USE THAT MONEY TO LOOK AT HOW THEY COULD GET MONEY TO OUT THE DOOR QUICKER AND EFFECTIVELY.

WE HAVE TO STOP ACTING LIKE MAKING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BE THE BIG BAD WOLF WOLF IN SOME CASES BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEIR POLICY, THEY'RE JUST ASKING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU, IN MANY CASES IT IS AN INTERPRETATION.

AND I JUST THINK THAT, UH, WE SHOULDN'T JUST SAY, PUT IN THE AMOUNT, PUT IN THESE, UH, ACRONYMS, BUT STILL HOLD BUSINESSES THAT DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY HOSTAGE AND PREVENT THEM FROM GETTING IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY.

AND WE NEED TO STOP STARVING PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST SO HAPPY TO GET A CONTRACT.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, A LOT OF THEM DON'T EVEN COME BACK BECAUSE, OR EVEN GIVE UP ON GETTING PAYMENT.

I'VE HEARD SOMEONE SAY, I NEVER DID GET MY PAYMENT, I JUST GAVE UP.

AND THAT IS A BAD REPUTATION THAT THIS CITY PARISH HAS.

UM, AND THAT TO ME IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT.

THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT.

I'M GONNA SAY IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN DBE, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE WORKED SIMULTANEOUSLY.

COUNCILMAN MO, JUST A QUICK QUESTION.

CAN WE FIND OUT HOW MANY OF THESE DBES WE HAVE IN OUR DISTRICTS? DOES GIS TAG MINORITY AND, UH, HEADQUARTERS? IN OTHER WORDS, IF I CALLED YOUR OFFICE, COULD I FIND OUT IF THERE'S ANY REGISTERED DBES IN MY DISTRICT? I THINK WE CAN.

IT'S POSSIBLE WE HAVE THEIR, THEIR, THEY'RE REGISTERED WITH THE CITY.

AND VSS, SO WE HAVE THEIR ADDRESSES SO WE CAN DETERMINE THEIR DISTRICT.

YES, SIR.

AND WE HAVE, UM, DO WE HAVE LIKE TRAINING PROGRAMS IN PLACE TO WORK WITH THEM ON HOW TO APPLY THE PROCESS AND, AND GET ON LISTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT? UH, YES.

OUR DBE TEAM HAS BEEN, UH, DOING THAT, BUT WE'VE HAD A LOT OF OUTREACHES, UH, AND DIFFERENT EVENTS WHERE WE HAVE ALL THESE, UM, DBE FIRMS COME AND WE GIVE THEM MATERIAL, WE HELP THEM, WE TELL 'EM WHAT AVENUES THEY HAVE TO OKAY.

TO DO THAT.

SO TO GET 'EM REGISTERED TO HELP 'EM WITH A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WAS MENTIONED ABOUT FUNDING, UH, WE CAN POINT 'EM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

OF OUR OPPORTUNITIES WENT TO MINORITY OWNED VENDORS WHEN THAT DISPARITY STUDY WAS, WAS PRODUCED.

WELL, SINCE I DON'T HAVE A COMMUNITY CENTER, AS SOON AS I FOUND A PLACE TO RENT, I WILL HAVE A CLASS OUT IN MY DISTRICT.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN JR.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MO.

THAT INFORMATION IS READILY AVAILABLE TO YOU, UH, FOR DBES IN YOUR DISTRICT OR DBES THAT ARE PARISH Y.

THEY HAVE THAT INFORMATION, YOU CAN REQUEST THAT INFORMATION.

UM, AS IT RELATES TO SUPPORTING LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES, I THINK TOO MANY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES THAT WE PROCURE, UH, GO TO VENDORS WHO ARE OUTTA STATE.

AND I KNOW WE CAN'T LEGALLY ONLY PROCURE OPPORTUNITIES WITH THOSE WHO LIVE IN BATON ROUGE OR LIVE IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, BUT WE SHOULD GIVE THEM EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE.

UH, THOSE BUSINESS OWNERS PAY PROPERTY TAXES, SELL TAXES, INVENTORY TAXES, PAYROLL TAXES RIGHT HERE.

SO WHEN THOSE RESOURCES GO TO A LOCAL BUSINESS, IT MAKES A GREATER IMPACT ON OUR CITY PARISH ECONOMY.

IT MAKES A GREATER IMPACT ON THE HIRING PRACTICES AND THE JOBS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WHO LIVE RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY.

SO WHETHER IT'S ELECTION TIME OR NON-ELECTION TIME, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO MAKE SURE LOCAL BUSINESSES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE FOR MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE PROCURE.

I DON'T THINK WE DO A GOOD ENOUGH JOB OF MAKING SURE LOCAL BUSINESSES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE AWARE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE.

NOW, THERE IS SOME RESPONSIBILITY ON LOCAL BUSINESSES, UH, TO KNOW THAT THESE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES THAT WE PROCURE ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM AS WELL.

BUT THE REALITY OF IT IS MANY PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO BUSINESS WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

SO THAT'S, THAT BRINGS US IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS AND THOSE AROUND THE PARISH ARE AWARE THAT THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE OUT HERE.

GET ON THE APPROVED VENDORS LIST, GET THE SOLICITATIONS THAT COME OUT BASED ON YOUR NEXT CODE.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU SELL, UH, TRICKS, IF YOU, UH, PROVIDE CONSTRUCTION, UH, MANAGEMENT SERVICES OR WHATEVER YOU DO, YOU TELL THE CITY PARISH WHAT YOU DO.

AND AS THOSE OPPORTUNITIES COME AVAILABLE, YOU WILL GET AN EMAIL NOTIFYING YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO BID ON THOSE THINGS.

CONTACT THE PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT, GET ON APPROVED VENDORS LIST, AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE PROCURE.

UM, A REFERENCE WAS MADE TO THE DISPARITY STUDY.

UH, YES, IT, IT SHOWED THAT WE PROCURED 4%

[03:25:01]

UH, IT ALSO SAID THAT WE HAVE THE CAPACITY IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH TO PROCURE UP TO 21 TO 25% BASED ON THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH AT THAT TIME.

BUT TO PRO TEM COLE'S, UM, POINT, THERE HAVE BEEN MORE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE, UH, THAT HAVE COME INTO THE FOLD SINCE WE DID THAT STUDY.

SO THAT NUMBER MAY BE GREATER RIGHT NOW.

SO WE, WE AT LEAST KNOW BASED ON THAT STUDY IN 2017 OR 18, WHENEVER THAT WAS, THAT WE HAD UP TO 21 TO 25% CAPACITY.

SO WE GOT A LONG WAYS TO GO.

UM, AS IT RELATES TO REDOING THE CONTRACTS, COUNCILMAN HUDSON SPOKE ON THIS.

UM, LEGALLY I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THE LATITUDE TO MAKE SOMEBODY REDO THEIR CONTRACT BASED ON THE CONTRACT THEY SIGNED.

HOWEVER, WE DO ASK OF OUR PRIME VENDORS AND OUR SUB VENDORS TO BE GOOD PARTNERS, BE GOOD CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS WITH US.

AND I WANNA DO BUSINESS WITH PRIME VENDORS WHO UNDERSTAND THE SPIRIT OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AS A COUNCIL AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AS AN ADMINISTRATION.

AND IT BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GET SMALL MINORITY, LOCAL BUSINESSES INVOLVED.

SO WHETHER IT IS IN THE CONTRACT OR NOT, I WILL BE PERSONALLY, I IMPRESSIVE UPON THESE, UH, PRIMES, WHETHER IT'S JACOBS, WHETHER IT'S REPUBLIC OR WHETHER WHOEVER IT IS TO PARTNER WITH US IN THAT AND BE A GOOD CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY PARTNER AND HELP US DO THAT.

THE POLICY OR THE DEPARTMENT WASN'T IN PLACE AT THE TIME YOU SIGNED YOUR AGREEMENT, BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, WE WANT YOU TO HELP US IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, SOME OF THESE SERVICES AND PRODUCTS THAT WE PROCURE ARE SO SOPHISTICATED AND SO UNIQUE.

SOMETIME IT MAY ONLY BE ONE OR TWO FIRMS IN THE COUNTRY THAT CAN PRODUCE SOME OF THIS STUFF.

SO YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO, UM, USE SOMEBODY LOCAL.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT IN THE EVENT THAT YOU MAKING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM CITY PARISH, WE EXPECT YOU TO HELP US INVEST IN OUR PEOPLE AND HELP THEM BUILD CAPACITY SO THEY'LL BE AVAILABLE TO, TO GROW THEIR COMPANY, GROW THEIR BUSINESS, AND ULTIMATELY TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILY.

SO THAT'S THE EXPECTATION.

THANK YOU COUNCILOR HARRIS.

YEAH, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, UM, I SPOKE WITH PAUL, UM, UPON SOME CONCERNS.

AND I WILL SAY COUNCILWOMAN BANKS HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF OUTREACH AT THE GEORGIA NEWMAN COMMUNITY CENTER, JUST HOSTING MEETINGS UP THERE.

BUT, UM, MY DISTRICT MEETINGS, UM, MOVING FORWARD, UH, THEY WILL CONTINUOUSLY HAVE, UH, PERSON THERE TO LET, PRIMARILY WHERE I AM, MINORITY COMMUNITIES TO KNOW WHAT OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE.

AND SO THEY DID COME TO THE LAST MEETING, THEY GOT A GREAT RESPONSE.

SO I JUST ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES, REGARDLESS OF WHAT PART OF THE CITY YOU'RE IN, TO MAKE SURE THAT PURCHASE ING COMES TO YOUR DISTRICT MEETINGS TO TALK ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME A VENDOR, AND THAT'S FOR DBE AND NON DB, JUST PEOPLE WHO ARE UNINFORMED.

SO I APPRECIATE Y'ALL FOR COMING OUT.

THANK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REPORT.

AND I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU UP FRONT WHERE I LIKE TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR TO GET A REGULAR UPDATES ON, UH, THE PARTICIPATION AND THE PRIME VENDORS AND HOW THEY'RE DOING AROUND, UH, THE GOALS PROGRAM.