Apr 24, 2024 Metropolitan Council

HOW ABOUT COMPLETE STREETS? ALRIGHT, LET'S START WITH OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MONTH.

I THINK WE HAVE THAT CROWD HERE.

WE'LL HAVE MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESSON BROOME COME UP TO RECOGNIZE THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MONTH.

MAYOR, PRESIDENT.

ACTING PRO TIM AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

AS WE OBSERVE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MONTH, I WANNA SPOTLIGHT THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOP DEVELOPMENT FOR ITS TIRELESS EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF BATON ROUGE RESIDENTS.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE.

IT'S ABOUT CREATING OPPORTUNITIES, FOSTERING INCLUSIVITY AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENTS WHERE EVERYONE CAN THRIVE.

THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY.

DURING MY ADMINISTRATION, THE OFFICE HAS FUNDED MORE THAN 1000 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS, 350 HOME REPAIRS AND SERVICES FOR THOUSANDS OF BATON ROUGE RESIDENTS FROM AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH INITIATIVES.

THEY WORK TO ENSURE THAT ALL RESIDENTS HAVE A FAIR SHOT AT SUCCESS.

THEY HAVE ALREADY MADE SIGNIFICANT STEPS THIS YEAR TOWARDS ACHIEVING THAT GOAL.

INVESTING IN BATON ROUGE'S FIRST NON CONGREGATE SHELTER WITH ST.

VINCENT DEPAUL, INVESTING IN TWO NEW YOUTH FACILITIES TO SERVE AT RISK YOUNG PEOPLE.

THE INSPIRATION CENTER AT HOWELL PARK AND THE YOUTH CITY LAB IN MID-CITY.

AND NEXT WEEK WE'LL ANNOUNCE ANOTHER 1.5, UH, MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN EXPRESSING OUR APPRECIATION FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO TO MAKE BATON ROUGE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND GROW.

WE GREATLY APPRECIATE ALL OF OUR TEAM IN THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

SORRY, DID YOU WANNA STAY? YOU? I'LL SAY, I JUST WANNA, UH, THANK, UH, MAYOR.

OF COURSE.

SO MANY OF THESE INVESTMENTS ARE, ARE GUIDED BY YOUR INPUT AND, AND YOUR VISION FOR HOW WE CAN BE INVESTING AS A COMMUNITY.

AND THEN I WANNA THANK THE STAFF FOR BEING, UH, FLEXIBLE WITH GROWING WITH US FOR, FOR ALWAYS ANSWERING THE CALL OF RESIDENTS AND OUR PARTNERS.

UH, IT'S, IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.

AND THEN, AND LAST, AND, AND ALSO VERY IMPORTANTLY IS, IS TO THANK THE METRO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

Y'ALL INVESTED IN OUR OFFICE.

YOU'VE ALLOWED OUR OFFICE TO GROW WITH ADDITIONAL STAFF, AND THAT'S GONNA MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE IMPACT THAT WE CAN MAKE.

I THINK SO.

THE FORCE BEHIND PAYMENTS FOR MANY YEARS.

THAT WAY YOU, UH, KNOW WHO TO, TO CALL ABOUT YOUR CONCERNS.

SO, UH, THIS IS LEONARD BRISCOE.

HE HAS BEEN WITH, UH, THE REHAB PROGRAM BACK FROM WHEN IT WAS IN BILL BATON ROUGE DAYS, ALL THE WAY BACK NOW TO OFFICE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

SO, UH, MANY OF YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH HIS EMAILS, ON THE REHAB PROGRAM.

SO HE'S OUR REHAB PROGRAM MANAGER.

THIS IS MS. DARRELL ANOTHER, UH, CONSTANT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UH, SHE IS OUR GRANT ADMINISTRATOR, BUT SHE REALLY HELPED WITH A LOT OF THE GRANTS REVIEW AND, AND COUNCIL PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CONTRACTS MOVE, THEY MOVE QUICKLY AND THEY MOVE COMPLIANTLY.

THIS IS MS. DEBORAH.

SHE HELPS WITH OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM, ENSURING THAT WE'RE CHECKING OFF THE LAUNDRY LIST OF COMPLIANCE BOXES WITH HUD ON, ON OUR HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS AND SUPPORTING OUR HOUSING PARTNERS.

THIS IS TY.

SHE'S NEW TO OUR TEAM.

SHE JOINED US FROM PURCHASING AND SHE KEEPS ALL OF US IN LINE.

UH, SHE KEEPS, SHE'S OUR PROGRAM ANALYST IN MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS UP TO SNUFF AND DRAWS GET PROCESSED QUICKLY.

UH, WE'RE MOVING THINGS FASTER AND SO THAT'S VERY EXCITING.

UH, AND THEN THIS IS JENNIFER.

SHE HAS BEEN WITH THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR THE LONGEST.

SHE IS OUR, ONE OF OUR LEAD PROGRAM ANALYSTS AND HAS BEEN THE,

[00:05:01]

SO WHAT GREAT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU DO IN OUR COMMUNITY.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE BROKERS PRESENT.

WE'LL DO THAT PRESENTATION.

SET ME OFF MY WING.

NEXT.

OKAY, NEXT UP.

UM, MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTON BROOME WILL RECOGNIZE THE BATON ROUGE ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE BROKERS FOR FAIR HOUSING MONTH, MAYOR OF PRESIDENT.

WELL, APRIL IS NATIONAL FAIR HOUSING MONTH, AND I AM VERY PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE BATON ROUGE ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE BROKERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN THIS IMPORTANT CAUSE.

YOU ALL PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE, OF COURSE, IN ENSURING ACCESS TO SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND UPHOLDING THE PRINCIPLES OF FAIR HOUSING LAWS.

SINCE 1968, THE FAIR HOUSING ACT HAS FOUGHT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION AND HOUSING TRANSACTIONS, ENSURING THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS, REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX, FAMILIAL STATUS OR DISABILITY, HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR HOME OWNERSHIP AND RENTAL HOUSING.

THIS LANDMARK LEGISLATION PROMOTES INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES AND EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE.

FAIR HOUSING FOSTERS SOCIAL EQUITY, DRIVES ECONOMIC VITALITY, AND ENRICHES OUR CULTURAL LANDSCAPE.

BY ELIMINATING DISCRIMINATION, WE STRENGTHEN OUR SOCIETY AND CREATE A MORE WELCOMING AND EQUITABLE COMMUNITY.

SO, AS WE RECOGNIZE FAIR HOUSING MONTH, UH, LET US RENEW OUR COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING FAIR HOUSING BY CONTINUING THE COLLECTIVE WORK TO BUILD A COMMUNITY WHERE FAIRNESS AND EQUALITY THRIVE.

SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE BATON ROUGE ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE BROKERS FOR YOUR EXCEPTIONAL EFFORTS.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? HELLO, MY NAME IS LAWRENCE TRIGGS AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE BATON ROUGE ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE BROKER.

AND WE ARE JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE.

AND WE THANK, UH, THANKFUL TO THE MAYOR AND TO THE COUNCIL AND TO THE CITY FOR THIS PROCLAMATION AND RECOGNIZING US ON THE FAIR HOUSING, UH, MONTH.

WE'VE BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 1947 AND OUR, UM, THEME IS DEMOCRACY AND HOUSING.

SO WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF FAIR HOUSING AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT OUR CONTINUATION OF PROMOTING FAIR HOUSING.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUAL WORK WITH THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.

AND WE ARE JUST THANKFUL TO BE HERE.

AND, UH, I BROUGHT WITH ME OUR SECOND GENERATIONAL, UH, REALTORS MEMBERS, UH, MS. BRITTANY BEARD, MR. TERRANCE WILLIAMS, AND ASHLEY TRU TO ASSIST ME IN RECEIVING THIS PROCLAMATION.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ADVOCACY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

MAYOR, CAN WE KEEP ROLLING? IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE SOME OF OUR, UH, NINE ONE ONE CALL CENTER PERSONNEL HERE.

WE COULD DO THAT ONE NEXT.

AS WE OBSERVE NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS WEEK, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO THE PROFESSIONALS WHO SERVE AS THE BACKBONE OF OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM.

WE'LL NOW ASK MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTON BROOM, IF SHE WOULD RECOGNIZE NINE ONE ONE CALL CENTER EMPLOYEES FOR NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS WEEK, WHICH IS THE WEEK OF APRIL 14TH THROUGH THE 20TH 2024, MAYOR, PRESIDENT.

[00:10:09]

THESE UNSUNG HEROES ARE THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT WHEN WE NEED HELP PROVIDING CALM AND CLARITY IN THE FACE OF CRISIS.

THEY'RE QUICK THINKING AND STEADY PRESENCE, SAVE LIVES AND KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.

TELECOMMUNICATORS ARE OFTEN THE INVISIBLE HEROES WORKING TIRELESSLY BEHIND THE SCENES TO ENSURE THAT HELP ARRIVES WHEN IT'S NEEDED MOST.

THEY MAINTAIN THEIR COMPOSURE UNDER IMMENSE PRESSURE, COORDINATING WITH EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND OFFERING CRITICAL SUPPORT TO THOSE IN DISTRESS.

IT'S A DEMANDING ROLE THAT REQUIRES EXCEPTIONAL SKILL, PATIENCE, AND RESILIENCE.

LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THEIR INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTION AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR COURAGE AND DEDICATION.

WITHOUT THEM, OUR COMMUNITY WOULD BE A FAR LESS SAFE PLACE.

SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN EXPRESSING OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THE WORK THEY DO TO PROTECT AND SERVE US EVERY DAY AND IN EVERY EMERGENCY.

AS A SIDEBAR, ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHOWS IS 9 1 1 .

I LOVE THAT SHOW.

YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING MR. COLA? THANK YOU MAYOR ROOM.

THE, UH, VERY WELL SAID.

THERE'S NOT ENOUGH I CAN SAY ABOUT THESE PEOPLE.

UH, THEY HAVE A VERY TOUGH JOB AND IF YOU EVER WANNA SEE THAT, COME TO THE 9 1 1 CENTER AND, AND VISUALLY SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH EVERY MOMENT THAT THEY'RE THERE.

THEY'RE THERE FOR 12 HOURS A DAY AND SOMETIMES IT'S FROM PM TO AM.

SO THEY WORK VERY HARD.

UH, THEY DO AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB WITH THE EQUIPMENT THAT THEY HAVE AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE TO CALM SOMEONE DOWN TO HELP THEM GET THROUGH THE MOST HORRIBLE TIME IN THEIR MOMENT WHEN THEY HAD TO CALL 9 1 1 FOR HELP.

AND THERE'S MANY ASPECTS OF WHAT THEY DO.

SO IN THE FUTURE WE'LL GET TOGETHER AND WE'LL ALL GO DOWN THERE AND WE'LL VISIT.

AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THESE PEOPLE.

YOU DON'T WANT, OKAY.

OH, OKAY.

THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU DO.

IS COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS READY? DID SHE STEP OUT? I THINK SHE DID.

ALRIGHT, THAT'S FINE.

LET'S DO MAYOR, YOU WANNA RECOGNIZE SIDNEY NEXT? WOULD THAT BE OKAY? ALRIGHT, NEXT UP, WE'LL ASK MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTON BROOM TO RECOGNIZE SIDNEY WILSON, UH, WITH THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR PRESIDENT INTER COMMUNICATIONS.

WELL, THIS IS KIND OF A BITTERSWEET MOMENT.

UM, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE SIDNEY WILSON, WHO HAS BEEN AN OUTSTANDING INTERN WITH OUR OFFICE OVER THE PAST YEAR.

SYDNEY IS A STUDENT AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY MAJORING IN POLITICAL SCIENCE.

AND DURING HER TIME WITH US, SHE BROUGHT PROFESSIONALISM AND CREATIVITY TO EVERYTHING SHE DID.

SYDNEY WAS A PART OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM.

SHE ASSISTED IN STAFFING ME FOR EVENTS, CREATED CONTENT FOR SOCIAL MEDIA, ASSISTED WITH GRAPHIC DESIGN AND NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTION.

HER CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE BEEN IN VALUABLE AND SHE HAS CERTAINLY MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON OUR TEAM.

AS SHE MOVES ON TO NEW ADVENTURES, WE WANT TO WISH SIDNEY ALL THE BEST IN HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

AND SIDNEY, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR,

[00:15:01]

UM, DEDICATION.

UH, SHE NEVER MUR, MURMURED OR COMPLAINED ABOUT DOING ANYTHING.

SHE SHOWED UP WITH A SMILE ALL THE TIME.

UH, AND I KNOW YOUR TALENTS ARE GOING TO TAKE YOU FAR.

I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT SAY THAT.

UM, SYDNEY IS FROM LAFAYETTE, AND WITH HER SUPPORTING HER TODAY IS HER FAMILY WHO CAME FROM LAFAYETTE, HER MOTHER, HER FATHER, HER SISTER, TWO SISTERS.

WHY DON'T YOU ALL STAND UP? FAMILY.

I THINK THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES THAT THEY CAME, UH, TO SUPPORT SID.

SO SID, THE LAST TIME WE HAD AN INTERN LEAVE, HE DIDN'T WANT TO SAY ANYTHING, BUT I'M GONNA GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY ANYTHING IF YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.

UM, I WANNA START OFF BY SAYING THANK YOU.

OF COURSE.

UH, LIKE MAYOR SAID, TODAY IS A VERY BITTERSWEET MOMENT FOR ME.

UM, OVER THE PAST 10 MONTHS OF ME WORKING AT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, I'VE LEARNED SO MANY VALUABLE LESSONS OF LIKE RESILIENCE AND LEADERSHIP.

AND OF COURSE THE INNER WORKINGS OF BATON ROUGE.

AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH MAYOR HAS REALLY, YOU KNOW, TAUGHT IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE AND IT'S TAUGHT ME, SHE'S HONESTLY SET THE STAGE AND THE STANDARD FOR LEADERSHIP, IN MY OPINION, AND FROM MY FUTURE DEV ENDEAVORS.

SO, UM, I WANNA PERSONALLY THANK HER FOR THAT.

OF COURSE, MAYOR.

AND, UH, I ALSO WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS MARK DOWN HERE TAKING PICTURES, AND AUTUMN, UH, CHASE, LYNN, MANDY, AND JUST EVERYONE IN THE OFFICE WHO WELCOMED ME WITH OPEN ARMS AND ALLOWED FOR A COLLEGE STUDENT TO COME IN AND THRIVE AND EVOLVE.

SO, THAT'S IT.

AND I WILL VERY, I WILL VERY MUCH MISS CITY HALL.

SO, , THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SIDNEY.

WE'LL DO A PHOTO WITH SIDNEY AND THEN MAYBE HER FAMILY CAN COME IN NEXT AND TAKE THE PHOTO.

COME ON FAM.

Y'ALL DROVE FROM LAFAYETTE.

COME ON.

Y'ALL'S TEAM IS HERE.

DID YOU WANNA STAY AWARE? THANK YOU ALL AND THANK YOU MAYOR BYRON COULDN'T JOIN US THIS AFTERNOON, OR HE MAY BE IN TRAFFIC, WE'RE NOT SURE, BUT IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE ON THIS COMMITTEE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR IMPORTANT WORK.

OKAY, MAYOR, WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA.

SO THIS WOULD BE THE, UM, PRESERVATION MONTH.

SO THE MEMBERS OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION, AS WELL AS OUR CITY PARISH PLANNING COMMISSION, IF THEY WILL JOIN THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT IN RECOGNITION OF PRESERVATION MONTH.

AS WE CELEBRATE PRESERVATION MONTH, WE'RE CELEBRATING A LOT OF MONTHS AROUND HERE.

, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE OUTSTANDING WORK OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND THE CITY PARISH PLANNING COMMISSION.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS NOT ONLY ABOUT SAVING OLD BUILDINGS, IT'S ABOUT CONNECTING TO OUR CITY'S RICH HISTORY TO OUR HERITAGE, AND ENSURING IT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

IT'S, IT PROVIDES A TANGIBLE LINK TO THE STORIES AND EVENTS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY.

THESE DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS DON'T JUST PRESERVE STRUCTURES.

THEY PRESERVE THE ESSENCE OF BATON ROUGE BY MAINTAINING OUR LANDMARKS AND HISTORIC SITES.

THEY KEEP OUR PAST ALIVE, ALLOWING US TO LEARN AND GROW FROM IT THROUGH THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS.

OUR CITY REMAINS A VIBRANT BLEND OF TRADITION AND PROGRESS.

SO LET'S ALL TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING THE CHARACTER AND CULTURE THAT MAKE BATON ROUGE UNIQUE.

WITHOUT THEM, OUR CITY WOULD LOSE A CRUCIAL PART OF ITS IDENTITY.

UM, WITH US TODAY IS BY, IN BYRON WASHINGTON, WHO'S THE CHAIR OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION.

IS BYRON HERE? NOT, NOT YET.

RE OKAY.

BUT REX KA IS HERE, RIGHT HERE.

AND, UH, WE WANNA THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO WITH THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION, AND I'M GLAD TO PROCLAIM THIS MONTH AS HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH.

[00:20:01]

SO THANK YOU.

MARK, ARE YOU WAITING ON ANYONE ELSE FROM THE COMPLETE STREETS? COMMIT? NO, NOT YOU.

MARK THE OTHER MARK IN THE CROWD.

MARK, SORRY.

ANYONE ELSE FROM NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.

OKAY, WELL, LET'S DO THAT ONE NEXT, UH, MAYOR, PRESIDENT, NEXT UP, WE'LL ASK YOU IF YOU'LL RECOGNIZE THE COMPLETE STREET CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND OUR CITY PARISH PLANNING COMMISSION.

UH, IN RECOGNITION OF MIKE MONTH, MAYOR, PRESIDENT, UH, THIS MONTH IS BIKE MONTH, AND, UH, WITH THE EFFORTS OF THE COMPLETE STREET CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE CITY PARISH PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, WORKING TOGETHER, WE'RE THRILLED TO HIGHLIGHT BIKE MONTH.

OF COURSE, IN A WORLD WHERE SUSTAINABILITY AND HEALTHY LIVING ARE INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT, BIKING PROVIDES A FANTASTIC WAY TO COMMUTE, EXERCISE, AND ENJOY OUR CITY'S BEAUTY.

IT'S ALSO A STEP FOR A GREENER FUTURE.

SO THE COMPLETE STREETS ADVISORY CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE CITY PARISH PLANNING COMMISSION WORK REALLY HARD TO ENSURE OUR STREETS ARE SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR CYCLISTS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES.

THEY PROMOTE A LIFESTYLE THAT REDUCES OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT, FOSTERS A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, AND ENCOURAGES A HEALTHIER WAY OF LIFE.

THEIR INITIATIVES FROM EXPANDING BIKE LANES TO ADVOCATING FOR PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY SPACES HAVE MADE BATON ROUGE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND EXPLORE.

SO WE WANNA CELEBRATE THIS TEAM FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO CREATING A MORE BIKE FRIENDLY CITY AND FOR PROMOTING AN ACTIVE, SUSTAINABLE, AND CONNECTED COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.

AND WITH US TODAY, UH, IS THE CHAIR OF THE COMPLETE STREET CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

MARK MARTIN AND REX S MR. MARTIN, DID YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING? SURPRISINGLY, I HAVE A OH, YOU HAVE A SPEECH? OKAY.

NO, I'M JUST JOKING.

UH, I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, THAT BICYCLING IN BATON ROUGE CAN ADD A POSITIVE CHANGE TO EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE IN THE CITY.

WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, ECONOMICS, TRANSPORTATION, OR ANY OTHER ASPECT OF OUR LIVES, BICYCLING AND WALKING ENHANCES OUR LIVES.

AND I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THE METRO COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING BICYCLING IN BATON ROUGE.

MARK, YOU BE NEXT.

WE'LL DO YOU NEXT? YEAH.

THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.

TO WELCOME AMU AND THE GOSPEL TRAIN OF GR NOL FRANCE.

NEXT MAYOR, PRESIDENT, UH, ALONG WITH METROPOLITAN COUNCILWOMAN SHAUNA BANKS, UH, TO RECOGNIZE ELAINE, NOW I KNOW WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER COLE GOES THROUGH INDE.

FORGIVE ME IF I BUTCHERED THAT GOSPEL TRAIN OF GRENOBLE, FRANCE FOR GOSPEL TRAIN WEEK APRIL 22ND THROUGH 29TH, 2024.

COUNCIL MEMBER, BANKS AND MAYOR, PRESIDENT.

HELLO EVERYONE.

I AM, UM, BASICALLY BRINGING UP MY CONSTITUENTS ON DOCTORS PARKER, AND THEY HAVE SOME GIFT, INTERNATIONAL GIFT GUEST.

AND, UH, I'LL TURN UP TO THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND THEN WE'LL, UM, GET RESPONSES.

IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO JOIN COUNCILWOMAN BANKS IN CELEBRATING GOSPEL TRAIN WEEK, A JOYOUS OCCASION THAT UNITES US THROUGH THE POWER OF MUSIC AND FAITH.

AND I'M ESPECIALLY HONORED

[00:25:01]

THEIR SOULFUL PERFORMANCES AND UPLIFTING MESSAGES BRING A SPECIAL SPIRIT TO OUR CITY, REMINDING US OF THE STRENGTH AND BEAUTY OF SHARED FAITH AND COMMUNITY.

THE MESSAGES OF HOPE, LOVE, AND PERSEVERANCE AND GOSPEL MUSIC RESONATE WITH ALL OF US, REGARDLESS OF OUR BACKGROUNDS.

THAT IS WHY I'M EXCITED TO PROCLAIM THIS AS GOSPEL TRAIN WEEK.

IT IS A TIME TO COME TOGETHER TO SHARE OUR STORIES AND FIND INSPIRATION THROUGH MUSIC AND SONG.

UH, THIS TALENTED GROUP REMINDS US OF THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF MUSIC AND ITS ABILITY TO BRIDGE CULTURAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL DIVIDES.

LET'S EMBRACE THIS WEEK WITH OPEN HEARTS AND ALLOW THE MUSIC TO INSPIRE US TO LIVE WITH HOPE, COMPASSION, AND A SENSE OF UNITY.

SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN EXTENDING A WARM WELCOME TO THE GOSPEL, UH, GROUP, UM, WITH ALAN IN .

DID I SAY THAT? OF DENOBLE, FRANCE.

SO LET'S MAKE THIS A WEEK TO CELEBRATE AND I BELIEVE YOU'D LIKE, SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO.

SO WE HAVE DR. PARKER HERE WHO WILL SHARE SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

WE MAY HEAR SOME FRENCH WHILE WE ARE UP HERE, WE'LL SEE .

THANK YOU, MAYOR, PRESIDENT, BRO AND, UH, COUNCILWOMAN BANKS.

IT IS INDEED A PLEASURE TO BE HERE, TO BE WELCOMED, UH, AT THIS EVENT.

UH, WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO WELCOME, UH, THIS GROUP.

WE HAVE ACTUALLY HAD, UH, A COLLABORATION WITH FRENCH, UH, AND EUROPEANS FOR, UH, SINCE 1996, HOWEVER MANY YEARS THAT IS.

BUT WE ARE ESPECIALLY GLAD TO WELCOME MY LITTLE BROTHER LAN IN, UH, WHO HAS BEEN COLLABORATING WITH US WITH THE LSU, UH, GOSPEL CHOIR, ALONG WITH STUDENTS FROM SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.

THEY HOST US WHEN WE GO OVER THERE, WE PERFORM, UH, CLASSICAL JAZZ GOSPEL.

SO IT IS A CULTURAL EXCHANGE AND WE ARE VERY GLAD THAT THEY HAVE, UH, COME TO US THIS WEEK.

AND THEY HAVE BEEN WITH US SINCE APRIL 12TH, AND THEY WILL BE LEAVING ON THE 29TH OF, UH, THIS MONTH.

UH, WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES HERE FROM GRENOBLE, FROM MILAN, AND , ALSO MEXICO CITY.

SO THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING US HERE.

AND WE ARE JUST VERY HAPPY TO SHARE OUR CULTURE WITH THEM AS THEY SHARE THEIRS WITH US WHEN WE GO OVER THERE.

SO, THANK YOU MAYOR.

PRESIDENT BACKDROP WITH THE FLAG AT THAT ANGLE.

I AM ACTUALLY THE, THE TALKER IN THE GROUP.

MY HUSBAND IS REALLY THE TALENTED ONE WHO ACTUALLY HAS THIS COLLABORATION GOING.

AND THAT IS HE RIGHT THERE.

THIS SIDE THERE, RIGHT? ALRIGHT.

IF I LOOK THIS WAY FROM IT, 9, 3, 2, 1.

ALRIGHT, HERE WE GO.

1, 2, 3.

AND I'LL DO ONE MORE BIG 1, 2, 3.

THANK Y'ALL THAT I HAVE A YOU SHOWING SOMETHING? OH, WAIT, WAIT.

WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE PRESENTATIONS.

THANK YOU ALL, UH, FOR THE TIME YOU'RE SPENDING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE.

WONDERFUL TO WELCOME YOU.

ADAMS, IF THE STAR TEAM WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND JOIN ME.

NEXT UP, UH, COUNCILWOMAN LAURIE ADAMS IS GOING TO RECOGNIZE SEXUAL TRAUMA AWARENESS AND RESPONSE OR STAR FOR SEXUAL TRAUMA AWARENESS MONTH.

COUNCIL MEMBER

[00:30:01]

HEY, GREAT TO HAVE Y'ALL HERE.

UM, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THEY ARE WEARING, UM, DENIM TODAY.

SO IT'S ACTUALLY DENIM DAY AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

NICE.

I COULDN'T FIND MY JEAN JACKET.

I LOOKED EVERYWHERE, BUT ALL MY CLOTHES ARE DIRTY AND WHO KNOWS, IT'S IN, IT'S UNDER A PILE SOMEWHERE.

SO, I'M SORRY, BUT I'M GLAD, I'M GLAD Y'ALL ARE HERE.

UM, SO IT'S JUST A LITTLE, LITTLE CHANGE OF PACE.

UM, BUT WE WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UM, SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH.

UM, JUST WANNA, WANNA, UH, GO THROUGH A FEW STATISTICS SO THAT, UM, PEOPLE CAN REALIZE HOW PERVASIVE THIS IS.

AND THIS IS NOT, UM, IT'S NOT SOMETHING TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY NEED TO NEED TO BE AWARE OF AND DEAL WITH.

OVER 53% OF WOMEN, AND OVER 29% OF MEN REPORTED EXPERIENCING CONTACT SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN THEIR LIFETIME.

MOST WOMEN AND MEN ACROSS ALL SEXUAL IDENTITIES WHO EXPERIENCED CONTACT SEXUAL VIOLENCE REPORTED THAT THE PERSON WHO HARMED THEM WAS SOMEONE THAT THEY KNEW MORE THAN ONE.

IN, IN FOUR NON-HISPANIC, HISPANIC BLACK WOMEN, 29% IN THE UNITED STATES WERE RAPED IN THEIR LIFETIME.

ONE IN THREE HISPANIC WOMEN, 34% REPORTED UNWANTED SEXUAL CONTACT IN THEIR LIFETIME.

MORE THAN FOUR IN FIVE AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE WOMEN, UH, 84% HAVE EXPERIENCED VIOLENCE IN THEIR LIFETIME.

AND 32.9% OF ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES HAVE EXPERIENCED SEXUAL VIOLENCE.

UM, SO ALL THOSE, FOR ALL THOSE REASONS, UM, AND MANY MORE, UM, IS WHY I AM RECOGNIZING SEXUAL TRAUMA AND AWARENESS RESPONSE TEAMS STAR FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UH, SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH CALLS ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS WIDESPREAD AND IMPACTS EVERY COMMUNITY.

THIS, UH, AWARENESS MONTH RAISES PUBLIC AWARENESS AND CALLS ON EACH OF US TO WORK TOGETHER TO PREVENT SEXUAL ABUSE, HARASSMENT, AND ASSAULT, AND EDUCATE COMMUNITIES ABOUT HOW TO BE INVOLVED IN PREVENTION.

WHEN ANYONE EXPERIENCES SEXUAL VIOLENCE, OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS AFFECTED.

WE RECOGNIZE STAR FOR THEIR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROVIDED TO SURVIVORS IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THEIR EXPERIENCE OF TRAUMA.

THEIR ADVOCACY, COUNSELING AND LEGAL SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO YOUTH AND ADULT SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AT NO COST AND ARE INTENDED TO ASSIST VICTIMS AT ANY STAGE OF THE HEALING PROCESS.

AND, UM, JUST, YOU KNOW, UH, FROM A PERSONAL, UM, LEVEL, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU BOTH.

I KNOW THAT THIS WORK, IT'S NOT EASY WORK.

IT'S THAT, THAT HEART, UM, GUT WRENCHING, UM, WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, UH, TRYING TO GET THINGS OUTTA YOUR HEAD AND, AND CARRYING OTHER PEOPLE'S, UM, BURDENS WORK AND, UM, UH, ONLY THE BRAVEST AND BOLDEST AMONG US DO IT.

AND WE RECOGNIZE BOTH OF Y'ALL FOR THAT.

SO, UM, IF YOU EVER WANNA JOIN ME IN THANKING THE STAR TEAM FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT Y'ALL DO IN OUR COMMUNITY TEAM, DO YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? SURE.

AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS FOR RECOGNIZING US.

OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.

UM, ORIGINALLY AS PART OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SINCE 1975, BUT IN 2012 WE BRANCHED OFF, WE BECAME A NON-PROFIT WITH THE SUPPORT OF HILLER MOORE.

SO, UM, LIKE I SAID, ALL OF OUR SERVICES ARE FREE TO SURVIVORS.

WE'VE BEEN HERE FOREVER AND WE, UM, WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK YOU DO IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I HAVE ANOTHER ONE JUST BECAUSE YEAH.

ALRIGHT, FOR OUR FINAL PRESENTATION TODAY, WE HAVE A, A CHAMBER FILLED WITH, UH, A NUMBER OF ANIMALS.

AND I'M NOT REFERRING TO THE BATON ROUGE FIREFIGHTERS.

HEY, I WAS WAITING TO USE THAT ONE.

UH, WE HAVE SOME, SOME HUMANS AND SOME DOGS HERE IN THE CHAMBERS WITH US, IF Y'ALL WILL COME ON UP.

I'LL ASK MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTON BROOM.

I'LL ASK COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN COLEMAN AND I'LL JOIN THEM AT THE PODIUM, UH, TO RECOGNIZE PET PARTNERS THERAPY FOR NATIONAL THERAPY ANIMAL DAY, WHICH IS APRIL 30TH.

MAYOR, PRESIDENT, IF YOU WILL START US OFF.

HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY.

[00:35:15]

WHERE'S IS IT? IS IT, IS IT TRUE YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO TEST SERVICE THE SERVICE DOGS? THAT'S RIGHT.

JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I'M I'M A PET.

EM.

THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW.

WE HAVE SOME VISITORS WITH US, UH, TODAY.

UM, TODAY WE ARE RECOGNIZING NATIONAL PIERRE THERAPY ANIMAL DAY WITH COUNCILWOMAN CAROLYN COLEMAN, COUNCILMAN ROWDY GO DAY AND THE REMARKABLE WORK OF MARY BETH DIRECT AND PET PARTNERS THERAPY ANIMALS HAVE A VERY UNIQUE WAY OF BRINGING COMFORT, HEALING, AND JOY TO PEOPLE IN NEED.

YES, THEY DO.

THROUGH THEIR DEDICATION, THERAPY, ANIMALS VISIT HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, AND CARE FACILITIES OFFERING COMPANIONSHIP AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT THAT IS TRULY LIFE CHANGING.

THE WORK OF MARY BETH AND DIRECT AND PET PARTNERS THERAPY HAS HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT ON COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS.

THESE THERAPY ANIMALS, ALONG WITH THEIR SKILLED HANDLERS, BRING A SENSE OF CALM AND HOPE TO THOSE GOING THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES.

THEIR VISITS CAN EASE STRESS, REDUCE ANXIETY, AND EVEN PROMOTE HEALING.

IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE BOND BETWEEN HUMANS AND ANIMALS AND A POSITIVE IMPACT IT CAN HAVE ON OUR WELLBEING.

WHILE I DON'T HAVE A QUOTE THERAPY DOG, I DO HAVE A DOG THAT BRINGS ME ALL OF THE ABOVE THAT YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT.

THAT EASE OF STRESS REDUCES ANXIETY.

THAT'S MY GREAT GERMAN SHEPHERD.

MORDECAI .

I HAVE TO GIVE HIM A SHOUT OUT.

SO WE WANT TO THOUGH, RIGHT NOW, EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE, UH, TO THE, UH, NATIONAL, UH, PET PARTNERS THERAPY, UH, ORGANIZATION HERE IN OUR CITY AND PARISH AND RECOGNIZE TODAY'S NATIONAL THERAPY ANIMAL DAY COUNCIL GO DAY.

AND COUNCILWOMAN, UH, COLEMAN, I THINK HAVE COMMENTS THEY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AS WELL.

WELL JUST WANT TO SAY WE ARE GRATEFUL HERE FOR THE BAYOU BUDDIES AND, AND WHAT, AS I LOOK AROUND AND I SEE THIS, HOW MANY WE HAVE.

NINE.

I TOLD MONGO, I SAID, YOU OUGHT TO BRING ONE AND SIT IN.

ALL COUNCIL PERSONS LEFT THERE .

AND SO THIS IS JUST GREAT.

UM, ON SATURDAY, WE EVEN SERVED OVER 300 DOGS, VACCINATION AND CATS WITH LSU.

AND SO JUST IS JUST GREAT AND SO ROWDY.

PLEASE, PLEASE READ IT.

CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION PRESENTED TO BY YOU RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THERAPY ANIMALS WHO PARTNER WITH THEIR HUMAN COMPANIONS TO BRING FORTH COMFORT AND HEALTH AND HEALING TO THOSE IN NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO, RAISING AWARENESS AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE ROLE THAT THERAPY ANIMALS PLAY IN ENHANCING THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF RESIDENTS.

SO HONORING THE MANY DEDICATED HANDLERS WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND COMPASSION DURING VISITS IN A VARIETY OF SETTINGS, INCLUDING AIRPORTS, HOSPITALS, PEDIATRIC CARE UNITS, SCHOOLS, AND YES, ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES, ENCOURAGING PET OWNERS TO BECOME THERAPY ANIMAL TEAMS, CREATING HAPPIER, HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES THROUGH GREATER ACCESS TO SAFE AND MEANINGFUL INTERACTIONS WITH THERAPY ANIMALS.

AND SO THIS HAS GIVEN THIS DAY TO ALL OF YOU.

APRIL 24TH WITH SINCERE GRATITUDE FROM COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN IN DISTRICT 10.

AND COUNCILMAN RODDY.

GO DAY DISTRICT THREE.

COME ON, RODDY.

OF, UH, INTRODUCING THE, THE GUESTS THAT COME AND JOIN US.

AND I'LL, BEFORE I ASK MARYBETH TO COME UP, WE'RE, WE'RE IN THE HABIT

[00:40:01]

SO I'LL INTRODUCE OUR GUESTS IF I CAN.

SO, LET'S SEE.

TOSHI IS HERE.

WHERE IS TOSHI? TOSHI IS, HERE IS A SHIBA SHIBA INU BREED.

AND THEN THERE'S GUS.

WHERE IS GUS IS A BASSETT HOUND.

CLYDE IS A LARGE FELLA.

HAVANESE HAVANESE, GREAT RANGER IS HERE.

KINDA SHORT.

RANGER'S, MY, MY GOOD FRIEND TOMMY LATOUR, WHO WE'VE RECOGNIZED HERE, UH, AS A VETERAN IN A, IN A PREVIOUS, UH, VETERAN'S DAY.

SO VERY GOOD TO SEE TOMMY.

UH, KT IS OUR GOLDEN RETRIEVER.

SHE'S HERE LOLLY.

LOLLY IS OUR GOLDEN DOODLE.

AND, UH, THE, THE REASON THIS GROUP IS HERE IS BECAUSE MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR IS MS. MARIBETH.

AND SO MALARKEY IS A, IS A DOG THAT, UM, MY, MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER WHO IS TRYING TO GET INTO THE BABYSITTING BUSINESS, HAS PRACTICED WITH MALARKEY A COUPLE OF TIMES.

COME OVER TO WATCH MALARKEY AND BABYSIT.

AND THEN I COME HOME AND I LOOK AT MY DOG AND SAY, WHY AREN'T YOU AS WELL BEHAVED AS MALARKEY? BUT NO.

MARYBETH, IF YOU'LL COME UP PLEASE AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT, UM, WHAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING IN THE GROUP THAT'S HERE.

PLEASE PET PARTNERS.

GOOD LUCK.

YEAH, GOOD LUCK.

SHE'S ALREADY GOT ALL HER HUGS TODAY.

WE WERE AT THE AIRPORT FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF AND SHE LOVES THAT 'CAUSE EVERYBODY IS STRESSED AND IT CALMS 'EM DOWN.

UM, BUT OUR MISSION WITH BAYOU BUDDIES, WE ARE PART OF LOUISIANA CAPITAL CITY OBEDIENCE CLUB.

AND SO, UM, THE CLUB HAS AGILITY GROUPS AND OBEDIENCE GROUPS AND ALL KINDS OF, WE ARE THE PET THERAPY.

I'M THE COORDINATOR FOR THIS.

AND WE GO TO 11 DIFFERENT, UH, SENIOR HOMES FROM ASSISTED LIVING TO, UH, NURSING HOMES, UM, TO ALZHEIMER'S PLACES.

UH, WE ALSO GO TO SCHOOLS AND WE'RE INVITED TO SCHOOLS SOMETIME DURING EXAM WEEK.

UM, AND WE GO JUST FOR THE KIDS TO READ TO THE DOGS.

UM, WE HAVE ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF PLACES WE GO TO.

UM, AND THE AIRPORT, WE TALKED THE AIRPORT INTO LETTING US GO, STARTING LAST AUGUST.

AND THE AIRPORT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THEY WERE VERY SMALL AND THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.

I SAID, WELL, WE'RE FREE.

SO WE'RE ALL VOLUNTEERS.

SO THEY COULDN'T ARGUE WITH THAT.

SO NOW WE GO TO THE AIRPORT.

UM, BUT THE PURPOSE IS TO BRIGHTEN SOMEONE'S DAY THROUGH THE HUMAN ANIMAL EXPERIENCE.

AND WE DO THAT.

WE KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE DOGS.

UM, WE LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY, OUR NETWORK OF CARING INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR DOGS.

WE HAVE ABOUT 28 PEOPLE IN OUR GROUP AND THESE ARE THE ONES THAT WE'RE ABLE TO COME TODAY.

WE'D LIKE TO BUILD CONNECTIONS BETWEEN VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS LOOKING FOR PET THERAPY.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WILL CALL US.

WE, UH, SAT IN FOR THE CYSTIC FIBROSIS 5K UH, RUN, UH, THIS PAST SATURDAY.

AND WE WERE UNDER THE MENTAL HEALTH TENT JUST FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND PET THE DOGS.

ALL OUR HAND HANDLERS ARE VOLUNTEERS.

THE DOGS HAVE ALL GONE THROUGH MAJOR OBEDIENCE, UM, TRAINING.

WE DON'T HAVE A PET THERAPY TRAINING.

A LOT OF IT'S TEMPERAMENT OF THE DOGS.

UM, AND THEY ALL GET ALONG TOO.

THAT'S ONE THING WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY ALL GET ALONG, EVEN IN A TIGHT ELEVATOR .

UM, SO WE'RE VERY, VERY EXCITED TO BE RECOGNIZED 'CAUSE WE DO A LOT OF WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE BRANCH OUT AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

SO IF YOU EVER NEED ANYBODY, ANY DOGS TO COME BY YOUR BUSINESS, LET US KNOW.

UM, AND THESE ARE THERAPY DOGS.

THEY'RE NOT SUPPORT DOGS, THEY'RE NOT SERVICE ANIMALS.

UH, THESE ARE AT, LIKE, AT THE AIRPORT.

WE HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE YOU CAN PET THERAPY DOGS.

THEY'RE HERE TO BE PET.

THEY'RE HERE FOR PEOPLE.

UM, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A, A GIFT WE'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU.

BUT IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED IN, UH, MAYBE THEIR DOG BEING SUPER SWEET.

WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH DIFFERENT GROUPS AND THIS PAST YEAR WE PARTNERED WITH JOHN JAMES OTTOMAN DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

AND WE, UH, THEIR SERVICE PROJECT WAS TO COLLECT 200 STUFFED ANIMALS OF DOGS OR CATS AND GIVE THEM OUT TO DEMENTIA PATIENTS AT NURSING HOMES.

AND SO BAYOU BUDDIES HELP THEM WITH THAT.

AND SO WE, MARGARET, TYLER, AND MYSELF, WENT TO THE AIRPORT ON EARTH DAY AND GAVE OUT PACKAGES OF FLOWER SEEDS AND ALSO GARDEN STEAKS.

AND SO WE'D LIKE TO GIVE THOSE OUT TO YOU ALSO.

I WANNA HELP PASS THIS OUT, PUT THEM.

[00:45:01]

AND WHEN I SAY SUPER SWEET, THEY HAVE TO BE SUPER SWEET AND PUBLIC TOO.

NOT JUST AT HOME.

'CAUSE EVERYBODY LOVES THEIR DOGS, BUT IT PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU ARE.

WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS, BUT THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE BEING RECOGNIZED.

UH, EVERYONE THIS WAY OVER HERE.

Y'ALL.

TREE.

OH, THEY'RE GONNA HATE ME IF I START SAYING THAT.

ADJUDICATED PROPERTY FROM THE CITY.

BIG SMILE, EVERYBODY.

THEY'RE NOT GONNA TRUST ME MORE.

THREE.

ALL RIGHT, HOLD THAT FOR ME.

9, 3, 2, 1.

HOLD IT FOR ME.

ALRIGHT, I GOT MINE AS WELL, GUYS.

THANK, THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.

WE'LL, UH, WE'LL ASK Y'ALL TO STAY AROUND FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING 'CAUSE WE WE COULD USE SOME THERAPY AFTER SOME OF OUR MEETINGS.

SO WE WE DID, UH, WE DID SOME TRAINING AT OUR HOUSE THOUGH.

NEXT TIME I'LL KNOW, I'LL COME OVER AND WHO WENT SWIMMING ONE TIME? GOT HIM.

THANK Y'ALL.

WE'LL BE ON A FIVE MINUTE RECESS TO BEGIN OUR MEETING.

PARKING FOR SOMEONE TO COME RESCUE THEIR COMMUNITY, THAT IS NOT REALITY.

SO WE ARE BRINGING TOGETHER PEOPLE FROM WHETHER YOU WANNA BUY A NEW HOUSE OR TO HAVING A HOUSE, WE WANNA BUY A SECOND PROPERTY.

WE'D LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT HOW TO GET

[00:50:01]

IF YOU WANNA KNOW ABOUT LHC, LOUISIANA HOUSING CORPORATION AND ALL THE FREE PROGRAMS THEY HAVE, UH, WE HAVE PERSONS FROM SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, WHEREAS IF A HOMEOWNER GOES THROUGH THEIR PROGRAM, THEY HAVE A FOUR TO ONE MATCH, UH, JUST, UH, FINANCING RED, UH, RED RIVER BANK, ALSO CAPITAL AREA OF FINANCE AUTHORITY, OCCASIONALLY HAVE GRANT MONEY.

IT'S JUST BASICALLY ANYTHING YOU WOULD WANNA KNOW ABOUT HOUSING.

THIS IS NOT JUST FOR PRACTITIONERS.

HOWEVER, A GREAT NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE, UM, THAT ARE INTERESTED IN DEVELOPMENT.

WHAT I FIND IS A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE LAND AND THEY'RE LIKE, I HAVE LAND, BUT I WILL WANT, I EITHER WANT SOMEBODY TO BUY IT OR DEVELOP IT.

THERE'LL BE PERSONS TO LEARN TO TEACH YOU, UM, OR TO NETWORK ON THAT.

UH, LASTLY, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BLIGHT IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY CUTTING GRASS.

WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY, UM, TEARING DOWN OR DEMOLISHING HOUSES.

HOWEVER, THE ANSWER TO BLIGHT IS PUTTING SOMETHING ON IT.

IF THERE'S A HOUSE AND WE ARE, WE DEMOLISH IT, WE STILL CHANCES ARE HAVE TO GO OUT AND CUT IT.

3 1 1 CALLS SNAKES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, ALL THAT.

BUT IF WE ARE ABLE TO GET SOMEONE TO PUT A STRUCTURE, IT WILL SOLVE OUR HOUSING CRISIS IN THIS PARISH.

AND IT WOULD ALSO SERVE OUR BLIGHT, UM, OUR BLIGHT PROBLEM IN THESE SPAN PARISH, ESPECIALLY DISTRESSED AREAS.

WE DO HAVE SINGLE, UM, FAMILY HOUSES.

WE DO HAVE MULTILEVEL, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TOWNHOUSES.

WE DON'T HAVE COTTAGES, WE DON'T HAVE SOME OF THE OTHER, UM, OTHER, UM, DIFFERENT KINDS OF HOUSING.

THAT IS WHAT WE WANT IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND IT IS GONNA TAKE EVERYBODY THAT OWNS ANY ONE PIECE OF PROPERTY TO TURN IT INTO, UM, WHERE SOMEONE CAN LIVE SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

LASTLY, THE REASON WHY I CALL IT MISSING MIDDLE IS WE TALK A LOT THAT WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT, UH, LOW INCOME IN LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND ALL THE DIFFERENT, UH, METHODS THEY HAVE TO GET HOUSING.

AND WE KNOW ABOUT THE HIGH END, BUT IN THE MIDDLE, THAT IS WHERE THE REAL CRISIS IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE, UM, MAKING WHAT WE CALL MIDDLE CLASS MONEY, TRYING TO FIND HOUSES TO GROW THEIR FAMILIES TO LIVE IN.

AND WE JUST INVITE EVERYONE TO COME.

LASTLY, THERE IS HOW MANY DOORS I CLOSED LASTLY, BUT LASTLY, IT IS A $100 REGISTRATION FOR BOTH DAYS.

THERE ARE FULL DAYS BREAKFAST AND LUNCH, AND AGAIN, LOTS OF NETWORKING.

SO IF YOU ARE WILLING TO INVEST $100 INTO THE FINANCIAL WEALTH OF YOUR FAMILY, THEN IT'S GONNA BE WORTH IT.

AND YOU'RE GONNA THANK ME LATER.

YOU READY? RIGHT.

AND ROLL.

OKAY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK AND THEN START A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING.

WE FIVE MINUTE RECESS.

YEAH, THEY TOLD HIM.

[00:56:30]

HELLO EVERYBODY.

WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

APRIL 24TH, 2024.

AND BEFORE WE GET STARTED, ON BEHALF OF MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTERN BROOME AND THIS METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LSU WOMEN'S GYMNASTICS TEAM FOR WINNING THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN FORT WORTH.

THE , THEY OUTSCORED THE COW BEARS, THE UTAH UTES AND THE FLORIDA GATORS, ONE OF THEIR RIVALS IN THE SECA BIG PARADE TONIGHT AT SIX 30.

HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU'RE HEADED THAT WAY.

AND THEN THE CELEBRATION IN THE PMAC AT THIS TIME.

HERE IS THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF EAST BATON RIDGE PARISH.

COUNCILMAN LAMONT COLE.

COUNCILMAN, THANK YOU.

YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND WELCOME TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING ON THIS WEDNESDAY APRIL 24TH, 2024.

THANK

[CALL TO ORDER]

I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.

ASK DO WE HAVE A QUORUM? WE HAVE A QUORUM.

AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO PASS IT TO COUNCIL MEMBER CLE DUN JR.

TO INTRODUCE OUR GUEST WHO LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JR.

IF, UH, PASTOR DE FLOWERS CAN, CAN APPROACH AS WELL AS PRINCIPAL BRANDON FNO AND THE CAPITAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

WE'RE GONNA START WITH THE INVOCATION BY PASTOR DALE FLOWERS, WHO IS A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SIX.

UH, WE'RE GONNA EXCUSE THE FACT THAT HE'S, UH, A FELLOW ALUMNI PRESIDENT OF THE MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, BUT THE, UH, BEST HIGH SCHOOL IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IS GONNA DO THE PLEDGE REPRESENTED BY CAPITAL HIGH SCHOOL.

THANK YOU .

ONE, APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 15TH, 2024, THE SPECIAL METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 17TH, 2024 AND THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ZONING MEETING OF APRIL 17TH, 2024 BY COUNCIL ADMINISTRATORS, ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.

OKAY, SO I'M ALLOWED TO RESPOND TO THAT BEFORE .

WELL, WE LOVE CAPITAL HIGH SCHOOL.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE TO FOLLOW THE LEADER.

SO ALL IS WELL AS WE BOW HEADS.

LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY.

WE THANK YOU GOD FOR ALL OF ITS POSSIBILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES.

WE PRAY, DEAR GOD, THAT WE LIVE THIS DAY IN A WAY THAT HAS BROUGHT YOU GLORY, HONOR, AND PRAISE AND HAS BEEN HELPFUL.

DEAR GOD, TO THOSE THAT WE'VE ENCOUNTERED ALONG THE WAY, WE COME, GOD PRAYING FOR THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF OUR CITY AND INDEED OUR PARISH.

WE PRAY, GOD, NOW THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THESE WOMEN AND MEN WHO'VE OFFERED THEMSELVES UP FOR SERVICE.

WE PRAY, GOD, THAT YOUR PRESENCE BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND FELT IN THIS PLACE ASKING GOD THAT THEY HAVE PREPARED THEMSELVES FOR THE AGENDA ON THIS DAY.

THAT THEY ARE WELL-STUDIED TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS, AND THEY HAVE AN EAR TO HEAR THE CITIZENS, THOSE WHO COME IN OPPOSITION AND THOSE WHO COME IN SUPPORT.

AGAIN, GOD, HAVE YOUR WAY IN THIS PLACE AS THE BUSINESS OF THIS CITY IS CONDUCTED.

IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN.

[01:00:01]

OUR PLEASURE.

TO TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU LADIES.

THANK YOU CAPITAL.

I THANK YOU PASTOR.

WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL OF BEING HERE.

I ITEM

[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM ONE? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON SECONDARY BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA.

ANY OBJECTIONS? EXCUSE ME.

COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, ANY OBJECTIONS IT HAS PASSED.

UH, ASHLEY, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ

[INTRODUCTIONS]

THE INTRODUCTIONS? SECTION 2.12 INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER TWO, AMEND ORDINANCE 1 5 2 0 1 AND ORDINANCE 1 7 9 9 6 WHICH CREATED THE COMPETITIVE POSITIONS OF DE DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICE, SO AS TO AMEND SECTION ONE THEREOF IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF POSITIONS EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 9TH, 2024 BY CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER TO THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR.

NUMBER THREE, AMEND THE 2024 PAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED, NON-CLASSIFIED CONTRACT, FIRE AND POLICE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH BEACH, BATON ROUGE.

SO AS TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING CHANGES EFFECTIVE MAY 9TH, 2024, ADD NEW CLASSIFICATION, DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS BY PARISH ATTORNEY AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR.

NUMBER FOUR, AMEND THE 2024 ALLOTMENT OF POSITIONS FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE.

SO AS TO CHANGE THE ALLOTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT PARISH ATTORNEY AND POLICE EFFECTIVE MAY 9TH, 2024 DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION.

ADD ONE CODE ENFORCEMENT MANAGER DEVELOPMENT NEIGHBORHOOD REV REVITALIZATION.

DELETE ONE SENIOR CLERICAL SPECIALIST PARISH ATTORNEY ADMINISTRATION.

DELETE ONE ASSISTANT PARISH ATTORNEY AND ONE, ADD ONE DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS AND POLICE.

DELETE ONE POLICE MAJOR AND ADD ONE.

DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICE BY CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER TO THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR.

NUMBER FIVE, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED JOSEPH MICHAEL WINCHESTER VERSUS THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IN THE AMOUNT OF $75,000 PLUS COURT COSTS THE AMOUNT OF $699 AND 69 CENTS FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $75,699 AND 69 CENTS.

AND APPROPRIATING THAT SUM FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

NUMBER SIX, ENACTING AN ORDINANCE AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT GIVING VE FIBER A FRANCHISE FOR THE INITIAL TERM OF 10 YEARS, PROVIDING FOR THE RIGHT TO CONSTRUCT, LEASE AND OR OPERATE FIBER OPTIC CABLE AND ALL APP PERS AND APPENDAGES TO IT FOR THE PROVISION OF SERVICES TO THE CITY.

PAR IN THE CITY PARISH'S RIGHT OF WAY FOR THE OPERATION OF A FIBER NETWORK BY COUNCILMAN LAMONT COLE AND COUNCILMAN ROWDY GODDE CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS

[CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS]

NUMBER SEVEN, MELANIE SGIO AND SARAH SGIO.

9 3 2 4 CUYAHOGA PARKWAY COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX DUN JR.

NUMBER EIGHT, THE ESTATE OF JIMMY C PRATER AND THE ESTATE OF ANNIE BEE, NELL AND PRATER.

4 1 3 0 PROVOST STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT SEVEN COLE, NUMBER NINE, TERRANCE CONNOR AND SHAYA CARTER 7 0 1 NORTH ACADIAN THREEWAY, WEST COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE.

NUMBER 10, EUDORA TONITA BELL, JESSE BELL, SR.

AND SE LEE BELL BERRY 4 1 2 1 ODELL STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT SEVEN COLE, NUMBER 11, FELICIA D WILLIAMS, 4 0 8 2 PROVO STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 12, CALL B TEMPLE ONE TWO FIVE FIVE CONVENTION STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN ADJUDICATED PROPERTY INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER 13 LOT 26

[ADJUDICATED PROPERTY INTRODUCTIONS]

[01:05:01]

SUBDIVISION WOODLAWN COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST NUMBER 28 LOT 23 SQUARE 1 79 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 29 LOT 10 AND 11 SUBDIVISION MAGENTA COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 30 LOT THREE SQUARE TWO SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT 12, RACA NUMBER 31 LOT 17 SQUARE TWO SUBDIVISION NORTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS.

ALL ITEMS REQUIRE READING HAVE BEEN READ.

AND A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS AS AN ORDER.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOEY.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

ANY OBJECTION TO THE INTRODUCTIONS? ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED.

COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL NOW GO TO YOUR

[CONDEMNATIONS]

SEPARATE SHEET FOR CONDEMNATIONS.

I'LL READ THE DPW RECOMMENDATIONS AS THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO US.

THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 55, 56, 57, 60, 62, 63, 64, 65, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, AND 73.

AND THEY ARE TO DEFER FOR 90 DAYS.

ITEMS 59, 61 AND 67.

AND TO DELETE ITEMS 58 AND 66.

DOES ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A CONDEMNATION? NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

COUNCIL MEMBER ROCK.

I GOT YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JR.

YOU HAVE ANYTHING? AND I, COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, GO AHEAD.

UH, NUMBER 56 90 DAYS NUMBER 62 60 DAYS NUMBER 63 30 DAYS AND NUMBER SEVENTY ONE THIRTY DAYS.

PLEASE TURN YOUR PHONES OFF OR SILENCE THEM RATHER.

ANY OTHER COUNSEL? FOUR 90 COUNCIL MEMBER GODA.

YOU HAD SOMETHING? ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA READ THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND STATED CHANGES.

THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 55, 65, 68, 69, 70 AND 72.

THEY ARE TO DEFER FOR 30 DAYS.

ITEMS 57, 63, 71 AND 73 DEFER FOR 60 DAYS.

ITEMS 58 AND 62 DEFER FOR 90 DAYS.

ITEMS 59 60, 56, 61, 64 AND 67.

AND DELETE ITEM 66.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, I ENTERTAIN A MOTION AT THIS TIME.

I ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

THERE'S MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JR.

CONDEMNATIONS HAVE BEEN APPROVED.

THAT WAS MY APOLOGIES.

UH, I WAS ASKING ABOUT 59.

I DIDN'T REQUEST ANYTHING.

UH, IT, IT WAS SENT TO US BY DBW.

OKAY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TODAY IS ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE DAY.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THE COUNCIL AIDES WHO DO ALL THE REAL WORK IN THE COUNCIL OFFICE.

UH, WE KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS DON'T DO ANYTHING FOR OUR COUNCIL AIDS TO DO ALL THE REAL.

THEY GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

GIVE THEM ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

AND, AND, AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JACOB.

JACOB WHO GO AHEAD.

TELL HIM HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE DISTRICT NINE COUNCIL.

A JACOB SCHAFF.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

CONGRATULATIONS.

AND SO ALL OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, UH, IN, IN THE CITY PARISH, YOU WANT TO SAY, UH, HAPPY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT DAY TO ALL OF THOSE, UH, SECRETARIES WHO WORK IN THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.

AND I SEE, UH, OUR CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS HERE.

CHIEF, I HOPE YOU TOOK CARE OF YOUR SECRETARY TODAY.

TREATED TO A GOOD DINNER AT RUTH CHRIS ON YOUR DIME.

NOW I CAN'T USE TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON YOUR DIME.

ALRIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IF YOU WOULD, NOW WE'RE GONNA GO TO OUR PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS AND IF YOU RETURN COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH OH, YOU RETURN TO PAGE 16,

[74. 24-00290]

ITEM 74, A RESOLUTION ORDER AND CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024, UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE SIX, SECTION 30 OF LOUISIANA CONSTITUTION 1974.

FOR THE PURPOSE OF AUTHORIZED AND MENT COLLECTION, SPECIAL VAL TAX OF SIX MEALS ON THE DOLLAR OF ASSESSED VALUATION OF PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE STATE, LOUISIANA IN PERPETUITY, COMMENCING WITH THE TAX COLLECTION FOR THE YEAR 2025.

THE ANNUAL THEREAFTER PROVIDE FUNDS FOR THE INCREASE IN SALARIES, BENEFITS OF ALL EMPLOYEES OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE MUNICIPAL

[01:10:01]

FIRE AND POLICE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM BY PREPARED BOND COUNCIL AT THE REQUEST OF THE BATON ROUGE FIREFIGHTERS INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COME ON DOWN.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

MY NAME'S JAKE MORGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE BATON ROUGE PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION.

I LIVE ON SILLA LANE HERE IN BATON ROUGE.

UM, WHAT THIS AVALARA PROPOSITION WOULD DO WOULD BE ALLOW FOR AN INCREASE IN, UH, SALARIES FOR THE BAT FIRE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES.

UM, IT WOULD, IT WOULD PUT US IN LINE WITH, WITH WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

UM, I ASK FOR FAVORABLE PASSAGE AND CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THE MATTER.

ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.

WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER MO ASK COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 74.

COUNCILMAN MO? UH, THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE.

UH, JAKE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UM, LADIES, YOU KNOW, MUCH NEEDED.

UH, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO MAKE SOME MOTION TO FOR APPROVAL FOR THIS.

LEMME MAKE THE AMENDMENT FIRST.

SORRY.

UM, SO ANYWAY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN, UH, VERY MUCH NEEDED.

WE, WE WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO.

UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK EVEN WITH THIS PAY INCREASE THAT YOU HAVE, YOU STILL PROBABLY GOT A LONG WAY TO GO FOR THE JOB THAT YOU DO IN SERVING THIS COMMUNITY AND EVERYTHING.

SO FIRST OF ALL, THANK Y'ALL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.

UM, ALSO IN TALKING WITH, UH, JAKE AND SOME OF THE OTHER FIREFIGHTERS AND THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS, I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THIS ITEM.

AND INSTEAD OF BEING IN PERPETUITY, WE'RE GONNA PUT IT AT A 10 YEAR AVALOR TAX MOTION.

MAKE THE AMENDMENT, MAKE THE MOTION TO AMEND IT WITH A 10 YEAR SECOND.

IT, UH, MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOOCH.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKER.

ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? UH, GO AHEAD, SHALL COUNCIL MEMBER HUSSON OBJECTING.

ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? UH, THE ITEM PASSES.

UH HUH OH, YOU WANNA SPEAK? OH, GO AHEAD.

I'M SORRY.

I APOLOGIZE.

I WAS FIRST HOPING TO HEAR FROM THE MAYOR PRESIDENT'S OFFICE TO SEE IF THEY HAD AN OPINION ABOUT THIS ITEM.

ANYONE IN FROM THEIR PRESIDENT'S OFFICE, ACCORDING YOU GONNA BE UP IF, IF NO ONE SHOWS UP NEXT YOU GONNA BE UP ON IT.

YOU IN A HOT SEAT.

THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION I HAD.

COUNCIL MEMBER MOROCCO SECONDED.

UH, ALL RIGHT.

UH, ANY OBJECTIONS? UH, ITEM PASSES.

UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FIREFIGHTER.

THANK, I'M SORRY.

OH, COUNCIL MEMBER YOU WERE ASKING FOR OBJECTIONS TO THE AMENDMENT.

TO THE, TO THE MOTION.

THE MOTION WAS ON THE, TO APPROVE WITH THE AMENDMENT.

DID WE APPROVE THE AMENDMENT? WHO MADE THE MOTION? AND THE SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER MAMO MADE THE MOTION.

DID THE APPROVAL WITH THE AMENDMENT.

LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU'RE READY TO CALL FOR THE ITEM TO BE VOTED ON, I WILL OBJECT.

THAT IS WHAT JUST HAPPENED.

THAT'S WHAT JUST HAPPENED.

I, I, YOU WANNA OBJECT? I THOUGHT YOU WERE REFERRING TO THE AMENDMENT.

OKAY, I WILL OBJECT TO THE ITEM.

OBJECTING TO THE ITEM.

VOTE ON MACHINES.

ALRIGHT, SO THE MACHINES, YOU VOTE ON THE MACHINES.

UH, I, I'M SORRY, I WAS TALKING TO FRED.

CAN I HAVE THE AMENDMENT AGAIN? 10 YEARS, HUH? INSTEAD OF IN PERPETUITY.

10 YEARS.

WE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINES JUST FOR A POINT OF INFORMATION TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S CLEAR WITH WHAT WE ARE DOING.

ASHLEY, CAN YOU READ EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE DOING? IS EVERYBODY PAYING ATTENTION? ALRIGHT, GO AHEAD, ASHLEY.

THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS TO APPROVE, AND I'M GONNA READ THE ITEM, A RESOLUTION ORDERING A CALLING OF SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024, UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE SIX, SECTION 30 OF LOUISIANA, CONSTITUTION OF 1974.

AS AMENDED ANOTHER CONSTITUTIONAL STATUTORY AUTHORITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF AUTHORIZING THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF A SPECIAL AVALOR TAX OF SIX MILS ON THE DOLLAR OF ASSESSED VALUATION ON ALL PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY OF, OF BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS COMMENCING WITH THE TAX COLLECTION YEAR 2025, AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER.

THAT'S THE MOTION.

THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE THAT LANGUAGE.

THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN MULK, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN ROCKER.

COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

I DO JUST WANT TO, WANT TO GIVE SOME CLARITY TO MY OBJECTION.

WE'RE NOT SETTING OURSELVES UP TO WHERE, UH, WE'VE GOT SOME SORT OF GUARANTEE THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA PASS A TAX TO THEN REDUCE THE GENERAL FUND ALLOTMENT, I, I THINK THAT JUST IS TOTALLY WRONG TO THE TAXPAYER.

UM, SO A, A COUPLE THINGS.

ONE, WHEN WE LOOK AT BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT FUNDING, IT IS LARGELY GENERAL FUND.

UM, AND SO WE'RE GONNA PASS AN ITEM THAT GIVES THE VALOREM TAX FORUM.

UH, BUT WE'VE DONE NOTHING TO ENSURE THAT THERE WON'T BE ANY CHANGES TO THE GENERAL FUND ALLOTMENT.

UM, SO I, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE NOT DOING THIS IN CONCERT WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, UM, IF

[01:15:01]

UM, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING THAT I'VE LOOKED AT IS THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSIONS AROUND CITY PARISH ABOUT, UH, SORT OF AN ALL ENCOMPASSING PUBLIC SAFETY TAX THAT COULD BE DONE AT SOME POINT TO FUND THINGS LIKE, UH, BRPD, BATY FIRE, THE DA'S OFFICE, AND OTHER ENTITIES, UM, ALONG WITH A, A, A, A NEW JAIL AS WELL.

SO I, I THINK THAT, UH, IT'S DISINGENUOUS, UH, THAT'S PROBABLY THE WRONG WORD, BUT I I DON'T THINK IT'S OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD, UM, IF WE'RE DOING THESE PIECEMEAL, RIGHT? IF WE'RE DOING THIS ONCE AT A TIME, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA COME BACK TO THE TAXPAYERS IN ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER TWO YEARS, UH, FOR, FOR MORE ITEMS, I THINK WE NEED TO TELL 'EM WHAT WE NEED.

IF WE'VE GOT, IF IT'S GOTTA BE NEW TAXES, THEN SO BE IT.

UH, BUT WE NEED TO TELL 'EM WHAT WE NEED AND GO OUT THERE AND SELL IT TO 'EM.

I, I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF PIECEMEAL APPROACH.

UH, LOOK, I, I WANNA GET THE FIRE DEPARTMENT MORE MONEY AS WELL.

I, I KNOW YOU GUYS NEED MORE MONEY.

UH, I JUST THINK THIS IS THE WRONG APPROACH.

SO THANK YOU COUNCILMAN.

I JUST THINK WE NEED TO CLEAR UP THE RECORD FOR ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE LISTENING AND FOR THE NEWS THAT'S REPORTING.

IN NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM IS THIS COUNCIL PASSING ATTACKS.

WE'RE ACTUALLY SENDING THIS TO THE BALLOTS IN THE FALL FOR THE CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE AN EVALUATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT OUR FIREMEN AND FIRE LADIES NEED THE POTENTIAL RAISE OR NEED OR DESERVE THAT MILLAGE.

IN FACT, IF YOU WANNA TURN YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL OVER AND SEE THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE VOTE FOR MILLAGES, GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT TIME TO DO IT AND EVALUATE HOW MUCH MONEY GOES TO OTHER PROGRAMS AND THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND HOW WE COULD POTENTIALLY BENEFIT OUR FIREFIGHTERS.

IS THERE SOMEONE HERE FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT CAN COME UP AND TELL ME WHAT THE AVERAGE SALARY IS FOR SOMEONE THAT'S BEEN ON THE FORCE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 10 AND 15 YEARS? UH, STEP EIGHT FIREFIGHTER, EXCUSE ME, IS AROUND A SEVEN TO EIGHT YEAR MEMBER OF OUR DEPARTMENT.

THEIR SALARY IS AT 40,000.

THEN WITH OUR BUILT IN OVERTIME, OUR STATE PAY, THEY RECEIVES A TOTAL OF $50,001.

IS THAT COMPETITIVE? NO, MA'AM.

SO KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

AND I TRUST OUR VOTERS TO INFORM THEMSELVES AND TO DO THEIR OWN HOMEWORK AND DO THEIR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE THEY GO TO THE BALLOTS AND MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

BUT AGAIN, AT NO POINT ARE WE PASSING ATTACKS, WE ARE SENDING IT TO OUR CITIZEN, TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, TO OUR COMMUNITY, FOR THEM TO MAKE THEIR EDUCATED DECISION AND CHOICE AS TO WHAT TO DO AS A VOTER OF THIS CITY.

SO I TRUST THAT THEY'RE GONNA GO AND MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M SUPPORTING THIS MEASURE.

COUNCIL MEMBER DUNGI.

LET ME FIRST START BY AGREEING WITH, UM, MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILMAN HUDSON, THAT THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY STANDPOINT THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND WE NEED TO GET OUR HEADS WRAPPED AROUND AND FIND A SOLUTION TO SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES.

UM, IE THE, THE PRISON AND THE CONDITIONS OF THE PRISON AND SOME OTHER THINGS.

UM, I DO KNOW THAT THERE IS A CASE STUDY THAT'S LOOKING AT ALL PUBLIC SAFETY AND LOOKING AT ALL CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES.

UM, BUT JUST AS SOME OTHER INITIATIVES, UH, THAT HAVE COME BEFORE US, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO WAIT FOR A CASE STUDY ON, UH, EVALUATION IF DEPARTMENTS AND, UH, PORTIONS OF CITY PARISH COME UP WITH A SOLUTION, UH, INTERNALLY THEMSELVES THAT CAN, THAT COULD FIND THEM WITH SOME RELIEF.

AND I THINK THIS DOES THAT.

UH, WHAT I WILL DISAGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCILMAN HUDSON, IS UM, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.

THE, THE JUDICIAL BRANCH, THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

WE'RE THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.

WE DON'T NEED TO ACT IN CONCERT WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE NOW OR NO OTHER TIME.

I'M VERY SHOCKED TO HEAR HIM SAY THAT 'CAUSE HE'S ALWAYS AGAINST THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON SOME ITEMS. SO HE WON'T ACT THE, WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE RIGHT NOW AND WANT THEIR OPINION.

WE DON'T NEED THE MAYOR'S OPINION.

WE DON'T NEED TO ACT IN CONCERT WITH HER.

YOU HAVE BEEN VOTED BY THE PEOPLE TO MAKE YOUR DECISION TO VOTE FOR IT, SUPPORT IT OR NOT.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SHOULD DO HERE TODAY.

UM, COUNCILWOMAN ROCKER MAY MENTION ABOUT WE'RE NOT, UH, PASSING THE TAX, AND WE'RE NOT PASSING THE TAX.

WE ARE SENDING IT TO THE VOTERS FOR THE VOTERS TO DECIDE.

BUT I WILL VOTE TO SEND IT TO THE VOTERS TO DECIDE.

I WILL VOTE FOR IT AS A VOTER IN SUPPORT OF IT, AND I WILL ADVOCATE FOR MY COMMUNITY TO VOTE FOR IT AS WELL.

I SUPPORT YOU GUYS IN THE WORK THAT YOU DO, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS, UH, TAX PASSING TO GIVE YOU SOME RELEASE AND SOME PAY RAISE.

THE FINAL THING I WOULD SAY IS I CLOSE OUT, YOU KNOW, MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

[01:20:01]

THIS WAS THE ST.

GEORGE FIRE DEPARTMENT, I DON'T THINK WE WOULD BE HAVING THE SAME, UH, COMMENTS FROM HIM.

SO, UH, AGAIN, THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING OUT HERE AND LOOK FORWARD TO THIS PASSING AND LOOK FORWARD TO PASSING AT THE BALLOT BOX.

COUNCIL MEMBER NOLAN.

UM, SO, UH, I, I AGREE WITH A LOT THAT'S BEEN SAID.

UH, COUNCILWOMAN ROCK IS CORRECT.

WE'RE NOT PASSING ATTACKS HERE, AND I'M NOT HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR ATTACKS.

UM, THE WAY I LOOK AT THIS IS, UH, YOU ALL BROUGHT A NEED AND COMMUNICATED A NEED TO ME AS WELL AS MY COLLEAGUES.

I THINK IT HOLDS MERIT AND IT'S HAS VALIDITY.

AND SO FOR THOSE REASONS, I THINK I WILL NOT BE A BARRIER TO YOU BRINGING YOUR CASE TO THE PEOPLE.

AND JUST LIKE YOU ALL ARE HERE TONIGHT, AND YOU CAME TO US, I THINK YOU'LL DO THE SAME THING WITH THE PEOPLE, AND I THINK THEY'LL PROBABLY RESPOND ACCORDINGLY.

UM, BUT THAT'S THE WAY I VIEW THIS, IS WE, I DON'T WANT TO BE A BARRIER TO SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS VALID, WHAT YOU'RE BRINGING.

NOW, IF I THOUGHT IT DIDN'T HAVE MERIT, THEN I, I WOULD FEEL DIFFERENT AND I WOULD SPEAK DIFFERENT, AND I WOULD VOTE DIFFERENT.

BUT I'M GONNA SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I THINK WHAT YOU BROUGHT TO US HAS MERIT AND IT IS VALID.

UM, AS FAR AS, UM, HAVING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT, UM, BRINGING A COMPREHENSIVE TAX FOR PUBLIC SAFETY ALTOGETHER, I HAVE HEARD MENTION OF THAT.

I'VE NOT HAD SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT.

UM, IF YOU ALL HAVE BEEN A PART OF THAT, KNOW ABOUT IT.

MAYBE YOU DO, MAYBE YOU DON'T.

BUT I STILL THINK THAT'S UP TO YOU TO DECIDE WHETHER YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT OR YOU WANNA DO YOUR OWN THING.

AND SO, I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO YOU ALL TO, UM, HAVE TO TIE YOURSELVES TO OTHER ENTITIES.

IF YOU THINK, AGAIN, THAT YOU CAN BRING YOUR SITUATION TO THE PUBLIC AND SAY, HERE'S WHAT WE NEED AND HERE'S WHY.

AND IF YOU THINK YOU CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT WAY, THEN I THINK YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT ON YOUR OWN.

IN FACT, I THINK THE TAXPAYERS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A LA CARTE.

THIS IS WHAT I'D LIKE MY DOLLAR SPENT ON AND THIS IS WHAT I WOULDN'T, AND I KNOW I WOULD.

SO I DON'T THINK, UH, I WANT, I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO CARVE OUT EVERY PIECE THAT MY DOLLARS GO TO.

AND I THINK THE TAXPAYERS WILL APPRECIATE THAT.

SO, UM, FROM THAT STANDPOINT, I DON'T BELIEVE IN TRYING TO COMPILE A BUNCH THAT MAKES THE PILL EASIER TO SWALLOW.

I THINK I'M GONNA MOVE OUTTA YOUR WAY BECAUSE I THINK THIS HAS MERIT, AND I'M GONNA LET YOU ALL GO TO THE VOTERS AND MAKE YOUR CASE TO THEM.

SO, THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS, UH, YES.

UM, TO PRESIDENT JAY AND ALSO, UM, CHIEF KIMBALL AND ALL OF YOU GENTLEMEN.

FIRST OF ALL, UM, I LIKE TO OFFER MY CONDOLENCES.

UM, I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE HAD A LONG DAY TODAY, UM, IN, UM, PUT INTO REST YOUR COLLEAGUE.

AND, UM, FIRST OF ALL, THE FACT THAT YOU ARE STILL HERE, I COMMEND YOU FOR BEING HERE.

UM, AGAIN, I THINK ALL OF US DON'T LIKE TAXES.

AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, TAX, BUT I CANNOT.

BUT BECAUSE THAT'S NOT HAPPENING AND I'M NOT BRINGING IT AGAIN, JUST AS MY, UM, MY, UH, COUNCILMAN NOLL SAID, WE CAN'T HOLD YOU HOSTAGE.

WHILE THAT'S DONE, UM, IN THE LAST FOUR, EIGHT YEARS, FOUR TO EIGHT YEARS, I'VE, UH, UNDERSTOOD THE, THE CONCERN THAT, UM, THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED AS IT RELATES TO THE, WHERE THE DIFFERENT TAXES ARE LAYING.

BUT NOBODY'S PUT ANYTHING ON TO LEVERAGE THAT.

SO AGAIN, UH, IF THAT'S A INTEREST FOR ANY ONE OF THE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, THAT WE MAY BE PAYING HIGH TAXES ON WITH ONE AREA AND NOT THE OTHER.

IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BRING SOMETHING TO THE COUNCIL THAT, AGAIN, BRING LEVERAGE.

BUT YOU ALL DO, UM, HEART-WRENCHING WORK, UM, EVEN WHEN YOU'RE NOT DOING FIRE.

AND GOD GOT THE FARM WITH, UM, CHIEF KIMBALL.

'CAUSE I NEEDED SOMEBODY TO COME HELP ME CLEAN SCOTLANDVILLE PLAZA THIS WEEKEND.

AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER I AM CALLING, UH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR SOMETHING WITH EBR SCHOOLS TO SERVE AND COOK FOR TEACHERS OR FOR AN EVENT, YOU ALL ARE THERE.

AND SO, UM, YOUR COMMITMENT, UM, SPANS BEYOND WHATEVER 40 HOURS IS.

AND OVER TIME THAT THE STATE, YOU HAVE A COMMITMENT TO THIS COMMUNITY.

AND FOR THAT REASON, NOT ONLY DO I EXTEND MY APPRECIATION FOR YOU ALL, I DO SUPPORT THIS, UH, I WAS, UH, ON MY WAY IN, I SAID, I CAN'T, I'M NOT VOTING FOR NOTHING WITH

[01:25:01]

PERPETUITY.

AND ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES SAID, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANT.

I SAID, I GOOGLED IT .

AND SO I'M GOOD WITH 10 YEARS, YOU KNOW.

BUT, UH, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN.

AND, UH, I WISH YOU WELL AT THE POLLS.

I WON'T BE CAMPAIGNING 'CAUSE I'M TIRED OF CAMPAIGNING, BUT, UH, I DO WISH YOU WELL.

UH, COUNCIL .

CONGRATULATIONS GENTLEMEN.

UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

LOOK, ALL MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR THE INPUT.

THANK Y'ALL FOR ALL THE, THE WORDS THAT YOU SAID.

WHAT, WHAT ARE YOU FOR AGAINST IT? LOOK, I, I HAVEN'T SAT HERE AND WENT TO A LOT OF Y'ALL AND SAID, YOU KNOW, UH, OR ASKED, UM, UP TO A POINT, UH, YES OR NO, I WANT YOU TO VOTE YOUR CONSCIOUS ON THIS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE PUTTING BEFORE THE PEOPLE, YOU'RE PUTTING BEFORE THE PEOPLE TO VOTE ON A, A TAX ITSELF.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT, UM, LOOK, THEY CAME TO ME JUST LIKE ALL OF Y'ALL.

THEY ASKED IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT WE WOULD SUPPORT.

WE HAD DISCUSSIONS.

UM, I TALKED WITH JAKE SEVERAL TIMES AND OTHERS ABOUT THE PUBLIC SERVICE TAX THAT MAY BE COMING UP.

UM, WHAT SHOULD WE, YOU KNOW, WAIT FOR THAT AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

AND WE JUST FELT THAT THIS WAS RIGHT TO PUT THIS BEFORE THE PEOPLE.

UM, WITH THIS, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH THE OTHER ONE.

WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING.

Y'ALL SEEN THE EMAILS AND EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE PARISH PRISON AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO THROUGH WITH THAT.

WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT'LL BE.

WHAT, WHAT TIME IT'LL BE, THESE FIREFIGHTERS NEED THIS IN MY MIND.

THEY NEED THIS RIGHT NOW, AND WE NEED TO GET IT ON THE BOOKS AND GET IT STARTED AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.

YOU KNOW? UH, I'M JUST GONNA ASK, I'M GONNA ASK, I KNOW WE GOT TWO COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE COME OUT IN OBJECTION OF IT.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS GO THROUGH UNANIMOUS.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS, UM, SUPPORT.

I KNOW YOU'RE NOT SUPPORT, NOT NOT SUPPORTING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

DON'T GET ME WRONG.

I, I, YOU HAVE YOUR RIGHT TO MAKE YOUR OBJECTION AND EVERYTHING.

BUT AGAIN, I GO BACK TO WHAT SOME OF THE OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID AND ALL, WE'RE HERE TO REPRESENT OUR DISTRICTS AND OUR AREAS.

AND I KNOW A LOT OF US HAVE MADE A PROMISE NOT TO RAISE TAXES AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

I'M NOT SITTING HERE PASSING THIS TAX.

LIKE COUNCILWOMAN ROCKA SAID, I'M GIVING THE PEOPLE OF MY AREA, AND THERE'S NOT MANY IN MY AREA THAT ARE GONNA VOTE ON THIS TAX.

I'LL SAY THAT PUBLICLY.

I'LL SAY THAT OUTRIGHT.

BUT I KNOW IF CENTRAL CAME TO US OR PEOPLE IN THAT AREA CAME TO US, I WOULD DO THE SAME VOTE.

BUT I'M ASKING TO LOOK AT THIS FROM A STANDPOINT OF YOU ARE GIVING YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN THAT AREA THE RIGHT TO MAKE THEIR DECISION, TO MAKE THEIR MIND, JUST LIKE THEY MADE A DECISION TO VOTE FOR YOU, TO PUT YOU HERE IN THIS SEAT, TO GIVE THAT OPTION TO SUPPORT THESE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE FIRE SERVICE.

AND I'M ASKING, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN MAKE THIS A UNANIMOUS VOTE AND, AND BRING THIS BEFORE THE PEOPLE.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

I, I, JUST REAL QUICK.

COUNCILMAN DUNN MADE SEVERAL GOOD POINTS AND I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS AT LEAST ONE OF 'EM.

UH, AND THAT BEING THE ST.

GEORGE FIRE DEPARTMENT, UM, I, I DID VOTE FOR A, A, A MILLAGE ITEM TO BE PUT BEFORE THE VOTERS ON ST.

GEORGE.

AND I THINK THE DIFFERENCE THERE IS 55 MILLION IN GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, RIGHT? THAT'S THE AMOUNT OF GENERAL FUND DOLLARS THAT THIS COUNCIL, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, UH, THAT, THAT OUR TAXPAYERS SEND TO BATON FIRE.

AND SO THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.

YOU'VE GOT A, A, A ENTITY THAT IS HEAVILY SUPPORTED FROM THE GENERAL FUND, UH, WITH THE BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THEN ONE THAT IS NOT SUPPORTED AT ALL FROM THE GENERAL FUND BEING ST.

GEORGE.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I FELT LIKE THAT THAT ITEM WAS APPROPRIATE.

UM, AGAIN, I'LL JUST SAY IF THIS ITEM DOES PASS TONIGHT, THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME SORT OF MESSAGE, SOME SORT OF, UH, RESPONSE FROM THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT'S OFFICE, UH, THAT, THAT GENERAL FUND ALLOTMENT IS NOT GONNA CHANGE.

UH, BECAUSE IF WE GET INTO A SITUATION WHERE WE'VE NOW PASSED ATTACKS, UH, UNDER THE GUISE OF, UH, INCREASING REVENUES, UH, FOR PAY, AND THEN THE GENERAL FUND ALLOTMENT CHANGES, THEN YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THAT PAY, RIGHT? WE'VE SOLD A BILL OF GOODS TO THE, TO THE VOTERS THAT WE CAN'T ACTUALLY COMMIT ON.

SO THE MAYOR NEEDS TO MAKE A STATEMENT.

SHE NEEDS TO SAY WHAT SHE'S GONNA DO ON THIS ITEM.

UM, I, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN, I DON'T WANNA BELITTLE THIS, BUT AGAIN, I DISAGREE.

UM, IF WE GET TO THE POINT, EVERY ITEM COME UP, WE NEED TO MAYOR TO MAKE A COMMITMENT.

WHAT'S GONNA BE IN THE BUDGET? WHAT'S NOT GONNA BE IN THE BUDGET ON THAT ITEM? WE'LL NEVER GET ANYTHING DONE.

UM, SO I WOULD ASK THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND CALL FOR THE QUESTION.

UH, WE GONNA CALL FOR THE QUESTION.

THERE'S A VOTE.

UH, I MEAN, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY COUNCILMAN MOSS, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCK.

AND LET ME JUST SAY WHY I'M SUPPORTING THAT ITEM.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JR NUMBER ONE, I SUPPORT FIREFIGHTERS.

UH, THEY'RE ON THE FRONT LINE.

I APPRECIATE THE WORK THEY DO.

I FIRSTHAND SEEN THEM SHOW UP ON VARIOUS DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND PROVIDE SUPPORT AND CARE

[01:30:01]

TO MANY OF OUR CITIZENS.

YOU KNOW, AND ON A LIGHTER NOTE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A ELECTION YEAR AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO BE ON THE BALLOT HAVING COME OUT AGAINST OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

SO I'M GONNA VOTE FORWARD TONIGHT.

I'M GONNA VOTE FORWARD IT IN NOVEMBER AFTER I VOTE FOR MYSELF.

AND, UH, GOOD LUCK.

I HOPE YOU ALL, YOU KNOW, GET A RAISE.

I'M I SUPPORT, I SUPPORT THE FIREFIGHTERS.

WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON A MACHINE.

MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED.

YOU SAYING NOT WORK? LET'S TRY AGAIN.

MOTION.

UH, MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED.

SHE GOT IT.

MOTION CARRIES.

CONGRATULATIONS.

UH, THANK YOU.

WE, MOVING ON NOW TO, UH, AN ITEM.

WE GOT SOME PEOPLE HERE WHO HAVE COME TO VISIT WITH US.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE, UH, THE REPORT FIRST FROM, UH, LADIES AND

[139. 24-00305]

GENTLEMEN, IF YOU WOULD GO TO PAGE 29.

WE ARE GONNA RECEIVE A REPORT FROM DR. JAMES RICHARDSON ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JUNIOR.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM BATON ROUGE HIGH RIGHT AFTER THE FIRST COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JUNIOR, JIM RICHARDSON.

AND DR. RICHARDSON HERE.

YES, HE'S HERE.

UM, AS HE COMES, UM, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, AND AS THE PUBLIC KNOW, UM, I PRESENTED AN ITEM TO CREATE THE ANA COURT OR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.

THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OTHER ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN EITHER PRESENTED TO THIS BODY OR DISCUSSED AMONGST US ABOUT POTENTIALLY BRINGING TO THIS BODY, OR RK COVE IS ONE.

UH, THE RECENT RIVER CENTER, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT IS ONE, IN MY OPINION.

A LOT OF COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, AND CONCERNS WAS RAISED.

UH, SOME OF THEM, UH, I THINK WAS VALID.

UH, SOME OF THEM I THINK WAS SOME, SOME SORT OF MISINFORMATION.

AS I, AS I SHARED WITH MR. RICHARDSON, AS WHAT I THINK, AND I THINK MANY IN THE CITY AND, AND IN THE STATE, FEELS THAT HE'S A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ON EDDS.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE PROPER FOR HIM TO COME SHARE WITH US, UH, WHAT HE THOUGHT OR WHAT HIS OPINION WAS, OF WHAT EDDS ARE, WHAT THEY ARE NOT, AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE MAY HAVE.

BECAUSE JUST IN MY CONVERSATION WITH MANY OF OUR COLLEAGUES, MANY STAKEHOLDERS, MANY CONSTITUENTS, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT ARE UNANSWERED.

SO HOPEFULLY YOU CAN ANSWER SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS.

HOPEFULLY, UM, SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AS WELL UP TO MR. RICH.

SO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET ME SAY THIS.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE A REPORT FIRST, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO, UH, ANY QUESTIONS COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY HAVE.

DR. RICHARDSON, YOU GOT THE FLOOR, SIR.

AND I, I WILL TRY TO ANSWER ALL OF COUNT, UH, UH, MR. GUNS QUESTIONS AS BEST I CAN.

HOWEVER, YOU HAVE TO START OUT BY SAYING THAT EACH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT PROPOSAL IS DIFFERENT AND YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH THAT PROPOSAL.

BUT FIRST, LET'S START WITH WHAT WE CALL THE VERY BROAD DEFINITION OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT IN ITS PURPOSE IN LIFE.

AND ITS PURPOSE IS TO CREATE, ACCELERATE, MAINTAIN ECONOMIC GROWTH IN A PARTICULAR AREA, A DEFINED GEOGRAPHIC AREA.

WE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT AN ECONOMIC ART ISSUE UNIQUE TO LOUISIANA.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS ARE NATIONWIDE, THEY'RE STATE GENERATED, THEY'RE LOCALLY CONTROLLED OR LOCALLY VOTED ON.

SO THE IDEA IS THE FRAMEWORK IS, WAS, IS CREATED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE, BUT THE LEGAL ABILITY TO CREATE A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT IS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT DECISION TO MAKE.

AND THEN THE, THEN YOU ASK, OKAY, WHAT, WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF ANY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT? WHAT'S THE PURPOSE FROM THE COMMUNITY'S PERSPECTIVE? AND ONCE YOU HAVE IT, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S NOTHING, NOTHING FREE.

THERE'S A COST THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

AND THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE PAY THAT COST? HOW DO WE FUND IT? SO THAT'S THE FIRST PART.

IT'S THE PURPOSE.

AND THEN WE, WE SAY, WELL, ENHANCING ABILITY TO DEVELOP A CERTAIN GEOGRAPHIC AREA.

DO WE HAVE ANY EXAMPLES? WELL, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF EXAMPLES THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND ALSO WITHIN THIS AREA AND WITH, WITHIN THE STATE.

AND YOU CAN KIND OF SENSE HOW, HOW THEY COME TOGETHER.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE FRENCH QUARTER DISTRICT IN NEW ORLEANS, BUT FOR A SALE, A VERY SMALL SALES TAX ON THE CITIZENS TO LIVE IN THAT AREA TO HELP PAY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

IT WAS VERY SPECIFIC.

THE, THE, THE SALES TAX RATE, VERY SPECIFIC, THE USE OF THAT MONEY,

[01:35:01]

VERY SPECIFIC.

AND THAT MONEY WENT TO THAT DISTRICT.

IT DID NOT STOP AT CITY HALL.

IT DID NOT STOP AT THE, THE METRO COUNCIL OR THE CITY COUNCIL THERE.

IT WENT STRAIGHT TO THAT DISTRICT FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY SUPPORT.

THAT'S ONE.

RUSTON CREATED A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT STARTING A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO THAT DEVELOPED ALONG IN INTERSTATE 20.

IF YOU CAN REMEMBER, RUSTON 20 YEARS AGO ON ONE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE, THERE WAS ALMOST NOTHING.

TODAY, IT'S THRIVING.

IT WAS BUILT AND IT WAS DEVELOPED AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.

I HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH THE MAYOR OF AUSTIN ON DOING THAT ONE.

LAKE CHARLES IS NOW LOOKING AT DEVELOPING AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.

IN FACT, THEY'VE DEVELOPED, THEY HAVE ONE ALONG THE LAKE THERE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO STAY THERE AND LIVE THERE.

BECAUSE THE QUALITY OF LIFE ALSO ENCOURAGING ADDITIONAL TOURISTS TO COME TO THAT CITY.

IT IS IN PROCESS AS WE TALK, WILL IT BE SUCCESSFUL? AGAIN, THEY'RE BANKING ON IT, BUT THERE'S NO CLEAR, THERE'S NO CERTAINTY FOR SURE.

YOU HAVE THE OTHER ONE.

DUN SPRINGS DEVELOPED ABOUT 15 OR SO YEARS AGO, AN AREA THAT WAS EMPTY.

BASICALLY, THEY BROUGHT A BASS PRO SHOP THERE.

IT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE SUCCESS STORY.

AGAIN, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH THE MAYOR OF GENERAL SPRINGS ON BUILDING THAT ONE, WORKING IT TOGETHER, GETTING IT APPROVED BY THE VOTERS.

AND IT HAS BEEN A ENORMOUS SUCCESS.

20 YEARS, WHATEVER THE TIME WE SET, THAT WILL GO INTO THIS DISTRICT, WHICH WILL BE A ENTITY THAT WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO USE THAT MONEY FOR SPECIAL THINGS IN THAT DISTRICT ONLY.

MUCH MORE THAN JUST A BASS PRO SHOP THERE NOW.

IT JUST DEVELOPED OTHER RETAIL THINGS.

IN THAT CASE, IT WAS, IT WAS ALMOST LIKE HITTING A HOME RUN IN THIS AREA.

NOW, IN BATON ROUGE, WE, THERE'S A BATON ROUGE NORTH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.

IT'S WIDER, BIGGER REPS, A LITTLE BIT LESS DEFINED AS TO, WE KNEW WHAT WE WANTED TO DO.

BUT IN TERMS OF ONE PARTICULAR BUILDING, NO, NOT LIKE THAT.

SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT WIDER FROM THAT ANGLE.

AND THEN YOU HAD ONE THAT, WHERE JUST RECENTLY, FROM 2019, I BELIEVE, UH, UH, AUGUSTIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CAME ALONG.

AND IT IS MORE SPECIFIC, MUCH MORE SPECIFIC IN NATURE ABOUT DEVELOPING AN AREA.

YOU HAVE, UH, DEVELOPMENT HOMES, RETAIL, YOU WILL ALL HAVE IMPACT ALSO ON OUTSIDE OF THE AREA AS WELL.

SO AGAIN, THOSE ARE TWO WITHIN THE CITY LIMIT AREA.

BUT DISTRICT, AGAIN, YOU, YOU'RE LOOKING AT A PARTICULAR POINT.

NOW, I, THE ULTIMATE POINT IS YOU HAVE TO PROMOTE PRIVATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

A A GOVERNMENT CAN DO A CERTAIN AMOUNT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF A BUS PRIVATE BUSINESSES DON'T COME IN, IT'S NOT GONNA BE SUCCESSFUL.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT TYPE OF INPUT, PERIOD.

SO THAT'S THE FIRST THING.

AND IT IS, FROM THE COMMUNITY'S PERSPECTIVE, IT'S INVESTMENT.

YOU WANNA RATE A RETURN.

YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE MONEY ON THIS DEAL.

NOW, IN TERMS OF IDENTIFYING EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANT, IT COULD BE YOU MERELY WANT TO IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE OF THIS AREA.

AND YOU CAN DO THAT WITH YOUR TIFF, YOUR TIFF OR YOUR, YOUR, YOUR ADDITIONAL CELL STACKS.

BUT YOU NEED PRIVATE INDUSTRY COME IN AND HELP YOU DO THAT.

SO QUESTIONS, OBVIOUSLY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS LIKE, IS AN INVESTMENT.

WE WANT YOU TO DEFINE WHAT WE REALLY WANT YOU TO DO AND THEN FIGURE OUT, HAVE WE DONE IT OR NOT.

NOW, I THINK THAT'S THE HARD PART BECAUSE YOU CAN'T, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

A TODAY DOESN'T HAPPEN A WEEK.

IT'S HAPPENS IN YEARS.

SO YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO DO TO, TO TAKES SOME TIME.

AND THEN QUESTIONS.

OKAY, THE FUNDING, WHERE DO, WHERE DID YOU GET THE MONEY AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT? WELL, IF YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF POSSIBILITIES ACCORDING TO THE STATE LAW, YOU HAVE WHAT THEY CALL TIFS, WHICH IS TAX INCREMENTAL FINANCING.

NOW, IN THAT SITUATION THERE, YOU'RE SAYING ABOVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT.

FOR EXAMPLE, LET'S SAY WE HAVE A CERTAIN AREA OF A CITY THAT WE WANT TO DEVELOP.

THERE ARE SOME SALES TAXES COMING IN RIGHT NOW.

SO WE CAN SAY WE WANT TO, THOSE WHO WILL STAY WITH THE CITY AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, GOING TO THE GENERAL FUND.

NOW, ANYTHING ABOVE THAT, OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, 10 YEARS,

[01:40:01]

SO THAT'S INCREMENTAL FINANCING.

NOW, THAT'S BEEN DOING, AND THAT IS SUGGESTED HOW THEY, THEY'RE DOING THAT IN A NUMBER OF PLACES THAT'S HAPPENED.

BUT THERE IS THE INCREMENT, ONLY THE INCREMENT, BUT THE CITY DOES NOT SHARE IN THE GROWTH OF THAT AREA IN THE FOR SOME TIME.

BECAUSE YOU'RE SAYING WE NEED TO HAVE THAT MONEY.

AND THAT'S OUR INVESTMENT INTO CERTAIN PUBLIC AIR, PUBLIC ACTIVITIES.

COULD BE ROADS, COULD BE SEWAGE, COULD BE ANY NUMBER OF PUBLIC ITEMS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF.

IT COULD MIS BE ADVERTISING OF FOR THIS AREA AROUND.

BUT IT NEEDS, BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE.

IT'S BY THE PUBLIC SECTOR, BY THE DISTRICT.

AND IT, IT IS USED FOR PURPOSES ONLY IN THAT DISTRICT.

THAT'S INCREMENTAL.

THE OTHER ELEMENT IS YOU CAN ADD A COUPLE OF PENNIES UP TO TWO PENNIES TO THE SALES TAX.

AND THAT WILL BE ADDITIONAL MONEY.

THAT MONEY, THAT MONEY WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN PART OF THE PARISH'S MONEY TO START WITH.

BUT THIS WILL BE, IT CAN BE USED FOR FROM THAT PURPOSE THERE.

AND AS I SAID, IT IS TO, TO ESSENTIALLY INITIATE AND SUSTAIN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND ENCOURAGE PRIVATE INVESTMENT.

AND AGAIN, THE DOLLARS ARE USED FOR PUBLIC PROJECTS, FOR ITEMS THAT WE TYPICALLY FUND THROUGH A PUBLIC BUDGET.

IT COULD BE, AS I SAID, INFRASTRUCTURE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

IT COULD ENHANCING THE WORK FORCE IN THAT AREA.

ANY NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE THINK THO THOSE ARE LEGITIMATE PUBLIC FUNCTIONS THAT WE NEED TO, TO TAKE CARE OF, TO CARE OF.

AND AS I SAID, THE MONEY DOES NOT GO THROUGH THIS, THE METRO COUNCIL, IT GOES THROUGH THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, PERIOD.

AND THE QUESTION IS, OKAY, IN GENERAL, DO THEY WORK WELL? I IT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY MISS A MISSTATEMENT TO SAY, OH, SURE, IT'S A SURE THING.

IT'S NOT A SURE THING.

IT'S AN INVESTMENT.

AND YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL AS YOU WORK IT OUT TO SAY, OKAY, LET'S, LET'S WORK OUT THE DETAILS TO SAY, OKAY, DO WE THINK AS ESSENTIALLY AS BUSINESS PEOPLE, WILL THIS PROVIDE A RATE OF RETURN TO THE CITY? WE'RE NOT HELPING, WE'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE, WHO CAN MAKE INVESTMENTS THERE.

THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THEMSELVES AND THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AND THEY SHOULD.

WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL.

WILL IT WORK OUT FOR US? AND I THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART.

AND BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'RE SAYING, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECRUIT BUSINESSES IN A CERTAIN AREA.

WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SEE THAT AREA GROW.

OR IT MAY BE SOMETHING BRAND NEW THAT WE WANT TO DO.

THAT WE SAY, HOW DO WE GET THIS DONE? WELL, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT IS ONE POSSIBILITY.

IT'S AN ALTERNATIVE.

AND IT GIVES US TOOLS TO WORK WITH THAT WE HAVE TO WORK OUT VERY CAREFULLY.

'CAUSE AS I SAID, THERE IS A COST INVOLVED THERE.

AND, AND THERE IT IS.

LIKE IT'S AN INVESTMENT.

THERE'S NO CERTAINTY IT'S GONNA WORK OUT EXACTLY THE WAY PEOPLE ANTICIPATE.

UH, YOU CAN CERTAINLY, I THINK IN THESE SITUATIONS, YOU, YOU, UH, YOU CAN DO A GOOD JOB OF ESTIMATING THE ODDS THAT WILL NOT.

AND IT'S VERY EASY TO SAY NO.

THEN NOW THOSE THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT TOUGHER TO DECIDE, YOU HAVE TO, YOU, YOU, YOU SAY, OKAY, WE'RE WILLING TO TAKE THE CHANCE, WE'RE WILLING TO RISK A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE IF WE THINK IF IT DOES WORK OUT, IT WILL BE FANTASTIC NOW.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

AS I SAID, YOU HAVE ALL SORTS OF SITUATIONS WHERE I HAVE SOME THAT I'VE BEEN IN MY JUDGMENT HUGELY SUCCESSFUL.

WE HAVE OTHERS THAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.

AND THERE'S SOME WHICH HAVE NOT REALLY WORKED OUT AT ALL.

SO, BUT, SO AS YOU DO ONE, YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S AN INVESTMENT AND I THINK IT'S AN ELEMENT WHERE WE CAN DECIDE, OKAY, THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD TRY BECAUSE WE NEED TO UPGRADE THIS PARTICULAR PART OF THE CITY, OR THIS PARTICULAR PART OF THE PARISH OR, OR THIS LITTLE REGION.

IT COULD BE A VERY RELATIVELY LARGE, IT COULD BE RELATIVELY SMALL.

AND I'LL BE MORE HAPPY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AS, AS YOU MAY HAVE THEM.

THANK YOU DR. RICHARDSON.

AT THIS TIME, IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBERS?

[01:45:01]

ANY QUESTIONS, UH, FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS RELATIVE TO THE REPORT? COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, THIS IS JUST A, AN IDEA THAT I HAD AS YOU WERE TALKING, UH, NOT ONE THAT'S BEEN FLESHED OUT, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, IT, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF WE'RE GONNA EMBARK ON GIVING UP SOME CITY PARISH GENERAL FUND, ULTIMATELY THE 2% THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS, IS CITY PARISH GENERAL FUND.

THERE OUGHT TO BE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BUY-IN FROM THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CONSTITUENCY, UM, TO THAT.

SO CURRENTLY, IF YOU'RE GONNA PASS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, IT JUST REQUIRES A SIMPLE MAJORITY, SEVEN VOTES HERE ON THE COUNCIL.

IN YOUR OPINION, AND DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO, TO HAVE MORE BUY-IN, DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO HAVE A TWO THIRDS MAJORITY REQUIREMENT, UM, TO CREATE BUY-IN FOR, UH, ECOM DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT? MANY, I WOULD, I WOULD SAY IT FOR, I THINK FROM A C PERSPECTIVE, IT CERTAINLY ISN'T NICE TO HAVE A OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF PEOPLE SAY, WE THINK IT'S GONNA WORK NOW IN THE WORLD.

WE LIVE IN THE WORLD AND WE HAVE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION ABOUT EVERYTHING.

I DON'T, I DON'T, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION MUCH.

I'M QUALIFIED, ANSWER THAT QUESTION MORE.

BUT I CAN UNDERSTAND.

I THINK A, AS A GENERAL PRINCIPAL, CERTAINLY IT WOULD BE VERY NICE TO HAVE A 10 TO TWO VOTE OR 11 TO ONE, MAYBE 12 ZERO.

BUT BUT, BUT THOSE SEVEN TIMES ARE HARD TO GET.

WELL, YOU KNOW, JUST FOR THE SAKE OF DISCUSSION, I WOULD EVEN SAY AN EIGHT, EIGHT VOTE.

RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT WE DO ON, UH, SOME PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT, UH, UH, IT'S ANOTHER HURDLE, RIGHT? AND, AND YOU'D BE SURPRISED THAT EIGHTH VOTE CAN BE TOUGH TO GET SOMETIMES.

SO I, I CAN IMAGINE, , I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION.

THIS IS, THIS IS GOOD.

AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN DUNN FOR, FOR ORGANIZING.

COUNCILMAN .

I, I SIMPLY WANTED TO RECOGNIZE DR. RICHARDSON, UM, NUMBER ONE, BECAUSE WHEN I WAS IN GRADUATE SCHOOL, HE ALLOWED ME TO TAKE SOME OF HIS ECONOMICS COURSES AND, UH, AND ALLOWED ME TO COME TO HIM.

HE DID VERY WELL, TOO, WELL, ALLOWED HIM, ME TO COME TO HIM WITH MY FOURTH GRADE LEVEL QUESTIONS.

AND, UH, AND HE EXPLAINED IT TO ME, UH, VERY WELL.

UH, BUT ALSO BECAUSE HE HAS, UH, HE HAS SERVED OUR COMMUNITY, UH, HE SERVED OUR STATE, UH, AND, AND BEEN A TRUSTED ADVISOR AT THE, UH, IN THE STATE CAPITAL.

AND SO HE'S GOT A, A REPUTATION THAT THAT VERY MUCH PRECEDES HIM.

AND, UH, HIS TIME AT LSU, UH, HAS BEEN ONE THAT'S BEEN RECOGNIZED.

SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, DR.

RICHARDSONS, FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE.

APPRECIATE YOUR, UH, INPUT AND ADVICE.

RILEY.

COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS? YES, SIR.

DO YOU, UM, UH, I DON'T DO LIKE VERY, YOU MENTIONED BATON ROUGE NORTH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, AND, UM, IT'S HAD, IT IS TAKEN A LOT OF DIFFERENT, UH, CHA LOTS OF CHANGES FROM NAMES TO BOARD GOVERNANCE.

, UH, AND EVEN THE BOUNDARIES.

UM, SO DO YOU CONSULT ON THOSE THINGS ON AFTER A PEER? IS THERE A WAY TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THERE NEEDS TO BE A RESTRUCTURING OF, UM, BOUNDARIES, WHETHER, WHAT, WHAT WOULD BE MORE? UM, SO IT'S REALLY LARGE, BUT ONLY ONE PART.

IT'S, IT'S, SO IT'S, THERE'S NOT THE KIND OF, UM, WORK AND ECONOMIC INCREASE ACROSS, BECAUSE IT'S SO LARGE WITH SUCH A, A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY.

DO YOU EVER, UM, IS THERE A WAY TO LOOK AT DATA TO DETERMINE IF THAT NEEDS TO BE A BREAKUP OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT SO THAT IT COULD BE MORE, UM, PRODUCTIVE AND MORE BENEFICIAL? I GUESS THAT'S, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? YEAH.

I THINK IN THAT CASE, THE, THE NORTH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, IT GOES FROM THOMAS ROAD ALL THE WAY TO YES, IT, IT IS, I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE IT IS.

AND I, AND I, AND I, I THINK THE ATTEMPT TO IMPROVE THAT AREA OF THE CITY IS ADMIRABLE.

I THINK IT'S NECESSARY.

I'M NOT SURE THIS TOOL EXACTLY IS THE RIGHT TOOL TO USE, ONLY BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING SPECIFIC, RIGHT.

IT'S NOT LIKE THE ONE OUT, AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BASS PRO, THERE WAS A VERY SPECIFIC INVESTMENT THAT WAS GONNA BE FORTHCOMING.

IN THIS SITUATION.

THIS IS NOT THE SITU, THAT'S NOT THE SAME SITUATION.

YOU, IT IS YOU'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE A GEOGRAPHIC AREA, WHICH MM-HMM.

NEEDED IMPROVEMENT.

BUT THERE'S GOTTA BE HUMAN DRIVER THAT'S ONLY, BESIDES JUST THAT LITTLE TIP OR THAT LITTLE INCREMENTAL FINANCING, THAT'S NOT GONNA BE ENOUGH.

AND I, AND NOW ABOUT THE ISSUE, ABOUT THE BOARD, ABOUT THE, THAT'S, THAT'S ALMOST BEYOND MY EXPERTISE.

OBVIOUS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT YOU, YOU HAVE TO TAKE UP.

THE

[01:50:01]

SO I, I PROBABLY WILL CALL YOU BECAUSE I, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

UM, AND SO I WILL TALK, I'LL BE HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT, BECAUSE AGAIN, AS I SAY, I THINK IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE CITY.

IT NEEDS IMPROVEMENT.

, AND I'M NOT SURE THIS IS WORKING AS YOU HOPED IT WOULD HAVE.

COUNCILMAN ADAMS. I'LL BE BRIEF, BUT, UM, JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE, I THINK I'M CORRECT IN SAYING THAT YOU STARTED THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION DEGREE AT LSU.

IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, OR NOT EXACTLY.

I, I STARTED INSTITUTE, WE STARTED THE INSTITUTE THAT HOUSED THE PROGRAM.

IT STARTED KIND OF BY ITSELF BACK IN THE SEVENTIES WHEN I WAS STILL VERY YOUNG.

WELL, WHEN I WAS SO VERY YOUNG, UM, TOOK A NUMBER OF CLASSES WITH YOU, UM, IN THE, IN THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM.

AND I WAS ACTUALLY EXPECTING YOU TO LECTURE FOR THREE HOURS TONIGHT.

SO, UH, WELL, I THINK I WAS TOLD BY MR. DUNN, DON'T YOU DARE.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR, FOR, UH, FOR BEING HERE.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE IMPACT YOU HAVE HAD ON SO MANY OF OUR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION PROFESSIONALS.

AND COUNCILMAN MOROCCO.

SO I KNOW NOTHING, AND I TOOK NONE OF YOUR CLASSES.

I WAS, OKAY, WELL, YOU'RE LUCKED OUT, I GUESS.

I WOULDN'T SAY SO.

UM, SO I'M GONNA ASK YOU MAYBE SOME SILLY QUESTIONS AND MAYBE BASED UPON MY EXPERIENCE AND MY EDUCATION, RUN YOU THROUGH A COUPLE OF HYPOTHETICALS IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.

UM, I, I NOTICED WHENEVER YOU WERE SPEAKING, AND ALSO ON YOUR, YOUR BACKGROUND, UM, WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU TALKED ABOUT AN EXISTING TAX OR THE POTENTIAL OF HAVING 2% ABOVE AN EXISTING AN EXISTING TAX.

SO WHENEVER WE SPEAK TO, ARE THEY NAMED DIFFERENT THINGS OR ARE WE JUST GONNA EXISTING TAX OR ABOVE EXISTING? WELL, I THINK IT'S, THAT'S REALLY THE WAY THE LAW IS DEFINED IT AS SUCH AS A ONE IS IF YOU COULD, YOU CAN ARGUE THAT THERE IS A, SAY, 2% TAX.

RIGHT? NOW, WE CAN SAY ON A TIFF FOR EXAMPLE, THAT 2% TAX IS EXPECTED TO GROW AT SAY, 2% A YEAR FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS THAT BELONGS TO THE CITY.

BUT ANYTHING ABOVE THAT AMOUNT BELONGS TO THIS DISTRICT.

SO IT'S STILL 2%, THE CITY STILL GETS ITS SHARE AS OF ITS 2% AT GIVING ITS CURRENT LEVEL.

BUT YOU'RE SAYING THERE WILL BE INCREMENTS TO THAT REVENUE BECAUSE OF IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ECONOMY IN THAT AREA BECAUSE OF THE INVESTMENTS WE'RE MAKING AND, AND, BUT TO, THE MONEY HAS TO BE USED IN THAT AREA AS SUCH.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONE PART OF IT.

AND THAT'S THE EXISTING TAX THEY GO UP, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE DOLLARS GO UP THAT YOU COLLECT FROM IT.

THE OTHER SIDE IS, YOU CAN SAY YOU TAKE 2%, YOU SAY, WE'RE GOING TO TACK ON TWO MORE ONLY IN THIS DISTRICT THOUGH.

ONLY IN THIS DISTRICT, NO PLACE ELSE.

AND, AND THEN, AND THEN THIS, THAT'S THE INTERESTING ONE, BECAUSE IF WE DO THAT, WE CAN'T JUST DO IT WITHOUT A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.

THIS IS WHY IN MANY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS, WHAT DO YOU DO? YOU LOOK FOR PLACES WHERE THERE ARE NO PEOPLE .

YOU DON'T WANNA VOTE BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO.

YOU, YOU LOOK FOR A PLACE, AND, AND TO SOME EXTENT THAT CAN MAKE SOME SENSE, BUT HOW MANY OPEN FIELDS DO WE HAVE THAT WE SAY THAT WILL BE A GREAT ECONOMIC BALLOT DISTRICT? YES, SIR.

SO WHEN WE SPEAK TO GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAKING MONEY OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND BECAUSE WE CREATED AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, IF WE ARE ADDING THIS SALES TAX ON TOP OF TAX, UM, AND THIS, THIS AREA IS DEVELOPED AND DOES THRIVE, THEN ARE WE TECHNICALLY TAKING ANY MONEY OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND? BECAUSE IT IN YOUR SCENARIO, OTHERWISE IT WOULD JUST BE A FIELD, CORRECT? YEAH.

WELL, IT TYPICALLY, WHAT, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THOSE SITUATIONS, THERE'LL BE WITHIN THE DOCUMENT THAT YOU WOULD SIGN THE LEGAL DOCUMENT, THERE WOULD BE A LIMIT TO HOW MANY YEARS.

IT MIGHT BE, IT MIGHT BE 10 YEARS, COULD BE 20 YEARS LIMITED TO THAT NUMBER OF YEARS.

AT THAT POINT, IT THEN GOES BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE TIE THAT A ESSENTIALLY DOES BECOME PART OF THE GENERAL FUND.

OR IF IT'S AN EXTRA 2%, IT GOES AWAY PERIOD AFTER SO MANY YEARS.

SO, SO ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT'S A FIELD, IT'S NOTHING AND THERE ARE NO TAXES THERE.

BUT WHEN THERE'S A TIFF AND WE'RE GROWING THE AREA, WE ARE NOT STEALING TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

WE'RE JUST UTILIZING THEM TO GROW THE AREA WITH A RETURN INVESTMENT WITH THE 2% INCREMENTAL, INCREMENTAL RATES.

WRAP MY HEAD AROUND BECAUSE I'VE HEARD SO MANY MISCOMMUNICATIONS ABOUT THAT.

SO THAT PART I, I JUST COULDN'T

[01:55:01]

SO I'M SO HAPPY THAT YOU'RE HERE TODAY TO CLEAR THAT UP.

UM, I, I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR NOW.

AND I THINK OTHER ELEMENT TO, WE NEED TO ADD, WE ALWAYS NEED MAKE SURE YOU, YOU DON'T WANT TO MERELY IMPROVE AREA A AT THE EXPENSE OF AREA B.

YOU GOTTA BE, THERE MAY BE, RIGHT.

SO YOU, YOU, YOU WANT NEW DEVELOPMENT, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE AIMING FOR.

AND THAT'S WHY FROM A CITY'S PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE AIMING FOR.

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY A A PRIVATE INVESTOR, THEY DON'T CARE WHERE THEY GET THEIR BUSINESS FROM.

IT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM.

AS A CITY, THOUGH, IT IS YOUR PROBLEM.

YOU DON'T WANT TO MOVE THE BUSINESS FROM ROWDY'S DISTRICT TO MS. ADAMS DISTRICT.

MS. ADAMS AIN'T LIKE THAT.

ROWDY MAY OBJECT TO IT, .

SO YOU HAVE TO BE, YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THAT TOO.

THAT'S IT.

COUNCIL MEMBER DUNGY.

THANK YOU, MR. RICHARDSON.

THERE WERE A COUPLE THINGS THAT STUCK OUT TO ME IN YOUR PRESENTATION.

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU SAID WAS, IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT THAT GOVERNMENT DIDN'T ACT ALONE AND THAT THAT WAS PRIVATE BUSINESS INVESTMENT.

YOU, YOU TALKED HOW IMPORTANT, AND THAT WAS, UM, THE OTHER THING YOU TALKED ABOUT IS SPECIFIC INVESTMENTS.

YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW YOU FELT THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC INVESTMENT IN THE NORTH BATON ROUGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.

UM, YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW THE BASS PRO, THE, THE BASS PRO SHOP ITSELF WAS A SPECIFIC INVESTMENT IN THE DENTAL SPRINGS.

EDD, UH, FOR US IN THE CAR CORRIDOR, THE AMAZON FACILITY WAS THE SPECIFIC INVESTMENT, UH, IN THE RK COVE PROPOSED EDD.

THERE WAS A SPECIFIC INVESTMENT IN A MIXED USE INVESTMENT THERE.

UH, WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE FLORIDA BOULEVARD CORRIDOR AND IMPROVING IT.

MYSELF AND COUNCILMAN MCC COLEMAN, UH, ATTENDED A COMMUNITY MEETING, UM, ON YESTERDAY ABOUT IT.

THEY USED THE LANGUAGE CATALYST PROJECT, SOMETHING THAT CAN BE THE DRIVER AND THE CATALYST TO IMPACT THE AREA.

SO I JUST WANTED TO REINFORCE THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HEARD YOU ON SAYING THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF CREATING THE EDD.

WOULD YOU NOT AGREE? OH, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU, IT, IT, IDEALLY YOU HAVE SOME SOMEBODY COMING IN THAT YOU SAY, OKAY, THIS IS GOING TO THIS, THIS COMPANY IS GOING TO COME IN AND DO SOMETHING.

AND THEN THAT COMPANY IS GOING TO, IDEALLY IT WILL HAPPEN, IT WILL DEVELOP, BUT THEN OTHER COMPANIES WILL ALSO COME AROUND.

OTHER PRIVATE ENTITIES WILL COME AROUND AND DEVELOP AS WELL.

I MEAN, THE GREAT EXAMPLE, IF YOU WANT TO HATE TO SAY IT'S IN ALABAMA, BUT IT IS , UH, AND THEY GOT THE MERCEDES PLANT.

, THEY TOOK A BIG RISK.

YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THEY COULD HAVE LOST BIG TIME.

IT WOULD'VE BEEN THERE, BUT NOTHING ELSE WOULD'VE HAPPENED.

AND THEY PUT IN A BUNCH OF MONEY.

AS IT TURNED OUT, IT HAD TURNED OUT TO BE A TREMENDOUS INVESTMENT ON THEIR PART BECAUSE OTHER THINGS DEVELOPED AS WELL.

SO YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU REALLY, YOU WANT THIS TO COME IN AND YOU, YOU WANT THIS ACTIVITY YES.

TO BE VIBRANT, TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

IF IT IS, TYPICALLY THERE'LL BE OFFSHOOTS, THERE'LL BE OTHER THINGS COMING AROUND AS WELL.

SO YOU'LL, YOU'LL GET, THIS IS HOW YOU MAKE YOUR MONEY BACK.

THIS IS HOW YOU EARN THE RATES OF RETURN THAT YOU HAVE.

BUT EVEN OUT AS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BASS PRO, YOU GO OUT THERE TODAY, YOU, YOU HAVE TO LOOK FOR BASS PRO, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AROUND ALL THE OTHER BUSINESSES THAT ARE THERE NOW.

SO IT HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.

I SAW THE MAYOR OF THAT I WORKED WITH A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND WE SHOP AT THE SAME CLOTHING STORE.

AND WE, HE ALWAYS SAYS, RICHARDSON, YOU DID A GREAT JOB.

I SAID, ACTUALLY, YOU DID THE JOB.

I JUST GAVE YOU THE NUMBERS.

YOU HAD TO CONVINCE YOUR FELLOW PEOPLE.

IT WAS A GOOD DEAL.

IT'S TOO BLIGHTED, WE ONLY GONNA BE SUCCESSFUL, EVEN THOUGH IT NEEDS TO BE.

AND I PRO TIM, I'M GONNA NEED A DOUBLE NICKEL ON THIS ONE.

EVEN WITH THAT, I DON'T THINK IT'S ENOUGH TIME.

UM, I'M GONNA ASK A FEW QUESTIONS.

I GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

I THINK THIS IS THE START, NOT THE END OF THIS.

I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE SOME MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT.

UH, BUT JUST A FEW RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS.

UM, IF I COULD, UM, WE TALKED ABOUT EDDS.

DO IT HAVE TO BE IN A BLIGHTED OR UNDERSERVED AREA? IS THAT, IS THAT A REQUIREMENT OF WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE IN YOUR OPINION? THE LAW? I THINK THERE'S FAIRLY OPEN DEFINITION OF WHAT, WHERE IT CAN BE.

BECAUSE AS I SAID, UH, VAS PRO IS NOT A BLIGHTED AREA AS SUCH ALONG THE LAKES IN LAKE CHARLES, THAT'S NOT BLIGHTED.

IT NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED.

IT'S NOT BLIGHTED.

THERE'S CERTAIN ALSO HAVE TO, IF

[02:00:01]

SO THAT YOU MAY, YOU MAY HAVE TO SAY, WE WANT A ACCEPT THE LOWER RATE RETURN.

WE WANT THAT PART OF THE COMMUNITY TO REALLY DEVELOP, BUT WE CAN'T EXPECT MIRACLES OVERNIGHT.

IF WE ONLY TO WAIT FOR, SUGGEST TO COME.

CAN ANY BUSINESS OR INDIVIDUAL APPLY TO CREATE A EDD? UH, I, I THINK THERE'S A PROCESS ON THAT ONE.

I HAVE TO LOOK AT MY LEGAL PEOPLE TO SAY EXACTLY HOW, HOW THEY THAT'S FAIR.

THAT'S FAIR.

UM, PUBLIC BENEFIT.

IS THERE A REQUIREMENT? I KNOW GOVERNMENT IN MY POSITION, I, I REQUIRE MY EVALUATION PUBLIC BENEFIT.

IS THERE A LEGAL REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT? AND IF THERE IS, WHAT TYPE OF PUBLIC BENEFIT? I DON'T THINK THERE'S A LEGAL REQUIREMENT AS SUCH.

I THINK IT, IT BARELY IS.

BUT AS A, IT'S AN INVESTMENT.

WOULD YOU DESCRIBE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT OR A EDD AS A TAX BREAK? THERE'S THERE A TAX BREAK IN THE SENSE OF, NO, THERE'S NO REDUCTION IN TAXES.

THERE COULD BE AN INCREASE IN TAXES.

IT'S NOT REALLY A TAX BREAK AS SUCH.

IT IS CERTAINLY YOU'RE SAYING YOU ARE PROVIDING, THERE IS MONEY, PUBLIC DOLLARS BEING PROVIDED TO HELP THIS AREA IMPROVE, AND THAT IMPROVEMENT WILL HELP THE PRIVATE BUSINESSES BE MUCH MORE SUCCESSFUL.

SO THERE, BUT AS A TAX BREAK, NO, IT'S NOT A TAX BREAK AS SUCH.

NO PROBLEM.

IS THERE A SPECIFIC TYPE OF JOB, UH, REQUIREMENT THAT THE EDD IS REQUIRED TO PRODUCE, UH, AMOUNT OF JOBS IN NUMBER, UH, SPECIFIC TYPE OF JOBS? NO.

COMMERCIAL, UH, RESIDENTIAL.

UH, CAN AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BE CREATED TO CREATE A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT? I THINK THAT ONE THROUGH, I'M NOT SURE IF I, I, I CAN ANSWER DIRECTLY RIGHT TODAY ON THAT ONE.

MR. DUNN.

IS, IS BASS PRO, UH, CONSIDERED MIXED USE? OR IS THAT, IS THAT A MIXED USE, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT? PARDON ME? IS BASS PRO THE, THE DENTAL SPRINGS, EDD, IS THAT CONSIDERED MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT? WELL, IS THERE ANY ION THAT EXCUSE NOW IT WAS IF, IF, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MIXED USE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN BY MIXED USE.

EXACTLY.

RESIDENTIAL.

CERTAINLY YOU, YOU, THEY, THEY WOULD HAVE, THEY COULD HAVE, YOU COULD HAVE RESIDENTIAL IN IT.

IF THAT CERTAINLY FILE.

SO NOTHING PRE PROHIBITED.

I BELIEVE THE, I BELIEVE THE, UH, ONE, THE HARVESTING ONE IS MIXED USE.

IT HAS RETAIL, IT HAS RESIDENTIAL.

IT HAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WHAT ABOUT TRAFFIC? SHOULD THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT OR US IN EVALUATING CONSIDER THE, UH, IMPACTS ON TRAFFIC IN THE AREA? THAT'S ALWAYS ONE OF THOSE ELEMENTS YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER BECAUSE PRIVATE BUSINESSES WILL CONSIDER AS A LOCATE THERE.

, YOU HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

DO YOU CONSIDER AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TAKING TAXPAYER DOLLARS OR TAKING, UH, TAXES FROM TAX, TAX DOLLARS FROM TAXPAYERS? NO.

I THINK IT'S THE PAYING THE TAX.

YOU, YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION HOW, HOW YOU'RE USING THAT TAX MONEY.

AND THIS IS ONE WAY OF USING IT.

AND THAT'S, AS I SAID, IT'S, IT'S NOT TAKING ANYMORE.

AND THE, IF YOU'RE ADDING AN INCREMENT OR 2% TO THAT, PEOPLE IN THAT DISTRICT ARE SUPPORTING IT.

LIKE THE PEOPLE IN THE FRENCH QUARTER SUPPORTED THAT TO EXTRA TAX ON THEM FOR A VERY SPECIFIC, SPECIFIC PURPOSE.

UM, FINALLY, COULD YOU SPEAK TO THE LENGTH, I KNOW YOU BRIEFLY TOUCHED ON THAT AND LIKE YOU SAID, EACH EDD IS DIFFERENT.

THEY EXPECT IT WILL TAKE LONGER THAN FIVE TO 10 YEARS FOR THEM TO RECOUP ALL THEIR MONEY AND GET BACK A RATE OF RETURN THAT THEY THINK IS CONSIDERED FOR THEIR OWNERS OR THEIR STOCKHOLDERS OR HOWEVER THE COMPANY PUT TOGETHER.

UH, WHAT IS, WHAT IS THE STANDARD, UH, UH, ON, ON THE LENGTH OF TIME TYPICALLY, AGAIN, YOU PROBABLY LOOKING AT 20 TO 40 YEARS OR SOMETHING LIKE TIME LIMIT IT, IT WILL BE IN THAT RANGE PROBABLY.

I THINK, I BELIEVE IF I GO BACK, I KNOW THAT THE BASS PRO FINISHED MUCH EARLIER THAN IT HAD TO, BUT I THINK PROBABLY IF YOU LOOK FOR A MAJOR PRIVATE COMPANY MAKING A BIG INVESTMENT, THEY'LL WANT 20 YEARS AT LEAST.

YOU KNOW, IT IS INTERESTING.

WE HAD THIS ON, ON A COUPLE ITEMS. AND, AND IF YOU COULD JUST ELABORATE AND SPEAK ON THAT.

'CAUSE WE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE LENGTH OF, OF SOME OF THESE AGREEMENTS, WHETHER IT'S 20, 30 OR 40 YEARS.

AND IF YOU CAN TOUCH ON, FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT, HOW BUSINESSES FROM A FINANCE STANDPOINT AND A, UM, RECOUPING THEIR INVESTMENT, AND I KNOW BRANDON CAN SPEAK TO SOME OF THIS AS WELL, THAT YOU, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GO INTO SOMETHING LIKE THIS LOOKING FOR A THREE OR FIVE YEAR, EVEN A 10 YEAR, YOU NEED A LONGER LENGTH OF TIME TO AMORTIZE YOUR INVESTMENT.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? I THINK I, IF, IF THEY'RE MAKING A MAJOR INVESTMENT, THEY EXPECT IT,

[02:05:01]

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

IT'S BEEN VERY INFORMATIVE.

UM, I'M GLAD TO GET YOU HERE AND, AND ANSWER SOME OF OUR QUESTIONS.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, I, I, I ACTUALLY DON'T THINK THIS IS THE PERFECT FORUM FOR THIS 'CAUSE I'M SURE ALL OF US HAVE MANY MORE QUESTIONS AND WE'LL BE IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH YOU TO GET CLARITY ON SOME THAT WE'RE PROPOSING AND EVEN SOME THAT WE'VE ALREADY CREATED.

BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR TIME TO COME OUT AND SHARE WITH US.

APPRECIATE IT.

COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS, UH, JUST BRIEFLY, UM, IT, IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TIFF AND A EDD? WELL, A TIFF IS A TAX FINANCING.

IT'S A VERY DEFINITE, IT'S USED IN THE EDD, BUT THERE, THERE, THERE IS, THERE'RE DIFFERENT CONCEPTS THERE.

EDD IS THEN YOU, A TIF SAYS THERE WILL BE A AFTER IF, IF, IF THE TAX GROWTH AT A CERTAIN RATE ABOVE THAT.

THAT GOES INTO THE, THIS, THIS DEFINED AREA, WHICH IS, UM, DISTRICT.

SO THAT'S THE TIFF.

THAT'S THE TIFF.

AND SO IT, IT, THE TIFF ONLY MAKES SENSE IF THERE IS A DEFINED AREA FOR WHICH IT IS SUPPOSED TO GO.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S A DIFFERENCE THERE.

AND MY LAST QUESTION IS, CAN YOU HAVE, UM, BECAUSE I'M, I WAS TOLD THAT YOU CANNOT HAVE A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT IF IT, IF SOME AREA'S ALREADY IN AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, YOU CAN'T HAVE ANOTHER ONE INSIDE OF IT.

THAT PROBABLY IS A LEGAL ISSUE.

BUT ALSO, AGAIN, ALL OF THIS IS A SUBJECT TO THE LEGISLATION.

BUT IT, YOU HAVE TO ASK, DOES IT MAKE SENSE? RIGHT.

DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO DO THAT? WHY ARE YOU DOING SOMETHING WITHIN THE DISTRICT? WHY CAN'T IT BE DONE WITHIN ITS LARGE? IF IT CAN'T BE DONE WITHIN THIS LARGER DISTRICT, WHY, WHY CAN'T IT BE DONE WITHIN A SMALLER DISTRICT, WITHIN THAT DISTRICT? THAT'S RIGHT.

DR. RICHARDSON, WE SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT AND PROVIDING US WITH, UH, MUCH NEEDED INFORMATION.

I REGISTERED FOR YOUR CLASS WHEN I WAS AT LSU.

I JUST NEVER SHOWED UP.

I'M JUST JOKING.

COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKER.

HOLD UP.

DR.

GOODSON.

SO DOCTOR, I JUST HAVE ONE MORE QUICK QUESTION.

UM, AND IT, IT CAME AS A, A MESSAGE, UM, WITH REGARD TO THE, THE FUNDING, THE MONEY THAT COMES IN FROM THIS TIFF, WHERE IS, HOW IS THE MONEY HOUSED? HOW IS IT DISTRIBUTED AND WHO MAKES THOSE DECISIONS? WELL, YOU, YOU HAVE OF A, YOU COULD HAVE A DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.

THERE IS A GUTTERING GROUP.

IT'S NOT THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

IT'S A DIFF IT'S A GROUP THAT IT IS DEFINED IN THE LAW OR IN THE CONTRACT THAT IS SIGNED.

IT'S IN THERE.

AND THAT DISTRICT, IT COULD BE MADE UP OF FIVE PEOPLE, SEVEN PEOPLE COULD BE IDENTIFIED EXACTLY WHO WILL BE IN THAT AREA.

BUT IT IS DEFINED AND THAT, AND THAT MONEY GOES TO THE DISTRICT.

AND THAT DISTRICT THEN, AGAIN, WORKING WITHIN THE CONTRACT CAN USE THAT MONEY FOR THESE PURPOSES.

SO THAT, AND SO IT'S, THAT'S WHY THE CONTRACT BECOMES VERY IMPORTANT AS TO WHAT IT SAYS IT DEFINES.

AND YOU, AND, AND I THINK IT, OBVIOUSLY THE COUNCIL HAS TO VOTE ON THAT CONTRACT.

YES, SIR.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT CLARIFICATION.

COUNCIL, DR. RICHARDSON.

UM, YEARS AGO WE CREATED THE AMERICANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT IN ZACHARY.

AND AT THAT TIME, I THINK, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, WHAT WE DID, WE TOOK ONE PENNY, ONE OF THE TWO AVAILABLE PENNIES, AND WE PUT ONE ON TOP.

YOU CONTINUE WITH THE EDD? CAN THE BOARD CAN, CAN THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE EDD ADD TO THAT? OR WOULD YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT ALLOWANCE AT INCEPTION FOR THE ABILITY TO ADD TO, UH, AGAIN, THAT WOULD REALLY DEPEND HOW THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT OR AGREEMENT WAS WRITTEN UP.

SO TWO PENNIES STAY, BUT THERE'S AN EXTRA ONE ON TOP.

AND WHILE IT WASN'T DEFINED BY A TIME PERIOD, WE IDENTIFIED SPECIFIC PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED, UH, PUBLIC BENEFIT PROJECTS WITHIN THE DISTRICT.

UM, I THINK IT WAS, THERE WAS BEAUTIFICATION PORTION, THERE WAS, UH, LANDSCAPING AND A ROUNDABOUT.

THERE WAS A SEWER LIFT STATION.

THERE, THERE WERE A HANDFUL OF THINGS THAT WOULD BE FUNDED AND OR REIMBURSED THROUGH THE EDD.

UM, IN THAT VEIN, WHEN, WHEN, WHEN A EDD IS SET UP, LIKE THAT PROJECT SPECIFIC, CAN, CAN

[02:10:01]

AND IF, IF THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB, THEY MAY, THEY SAY, WE NEED TO DO THIS NOW THAT WE DIDN'T EXPECT TO DO.

AND THEY GO BACK THROUGH THE, IN THE, IN , THE CITY COUNCIL MM-HMM.

AND SAY, WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO CHANGE THIS.

AND IF, IF IT'S WORKING WELL, THE ODDS ARE NOT GONNA BE A BIG DEAL.

SO IT, IT, IT WILL BE AN ELEMENT IN THAT SITUATION.

BUT I I, I THINK AS THAT THE, THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT BECOMES VERY IMPORTANT IS TO WHAT, WHAT DO WE PUT IN THAT CONTRACT? MM-HMM.

AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WHERE THE, OBVIOUSLY THE GOVERNING BODY, THE CITY COUNCIL NOW TO BE LOOKED DOWN AT IT CAREFULLY, BUT THE PEOPLE WANT, ARE WILLING TO MAKE INVESTMENTS TOO.

THEY WANNA LOOK AT IT VERY CAREFULLY TOO.

CHARLES LANDRY WAS THE ATTORNEY INVOLVED.

WE, HOW, HOW DO WE DO THAT? AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT, IF THAT WAS A QUI THING THAT WAS THERE, THAT YEAH, CHARLES, YEAH.

CORRECT.

UM, AND I, AND ACTUALLY IN THAT SCENARIO, THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE BOARD FOR THE EDD, WHICH I THINK IN HINDSIGHT PROBABLY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN.

BECAUSE NOW THERE'S, IF THEY, I'VE HAD THIS ARGUMENT WITH CHARLES ACTUALLY THIS DISCUSSION.

I THINK NOW WHEN THOSE PROJECTS ARE COMPLETED, IT NEEDS TO SUNSET AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO CREATE A NEW MM-HMM.

BECAUSE TO ADD TWO FROM THIS POINT, ONCE DOLLARS ARE REALIZED, BECAUSE AT THE TIME IT WAS, LIKE YOU SAID, THERE WERE, NOBODY WAS LIVING THERE.

YOU HAD THE SINGULAR ENTITY THAT OWNED THE PROPERTY, AND NOTHING HAD BEEN BUILT OR CONSTRUCTED.

UH, SO IT WAS VERY EASY TO OBVIOUSLY PASS AND, AND MAKE HAPPEN.

UM, AND IT'S AN EASY SITUATION FROM, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL STANDPOINT WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT, UM, HEY, A PORTION OF SOMETHING IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN A HUNDRED PERCENT OF NOTHING.

AND SO WHEN YOU KNOW YOU'RE CREATING AN EDD TO HAVE THE EFFECT OF BRINGING SOMETHING THAT OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE MM-HMM.

AND THAT'S USUALLY WHERE IT COMES INTO THE DELIBERATION, IS, IS THIS COMING NO MATTER WHAT, AND THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO YES.

KEEP THE DOLLARS THERE, OR IS THIS ONLY COMING IF WE INCENTIVIZE IT THIS WAY THROUGH AN EDD MM-HMM.

AND THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF DISCUSSION USUALLY HAPPENS.

AND, AND WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO, UH, ASCERTAIN THE VIABILITY OF THE PROJECT WITH OR WITHOUT RIGHT.

THAT, THAT INCENTIVE.

BUT I THINK IN THAT SCENARIO, SO I THINK THE, THE GOVERNING BODY AND THE BOARD, YOU HAVE TO BE REAL CAREFUL BECAUSE IF YOU'RE GOING TO EXTEND IT, ONCE DOLLARS ARE RECOGNIZED, THEN YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT HAT YOU'RE WEARING.

AND, AND THEN AT THAT POINT, ARE YOU, DO YOU, ARE YOU HAVING A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CITY WHO HAS NOW GIVEN UP A PENNY OR TWO? OR ARE YOU WEARING YOUR BOARD HAT THAT IS TRYING TO DO WITH, AND IT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT TRICKIER FROM AN ETHICS STANDPOINT, I THINK.

WELL, THERE'S NO DOUBT.

AND, AND JUST TO BE HONEST, I KNOW CHARLES LAND VERY WELL.

HE WAY MORE THAN I, I CAN TELL YOU THAT .

UH, AND, BUT, UH, AND I'VE WORKED WITH HIM ON A NUMBER OF LITTLE SITUATIONS AS WELL.

BUT I, I THINK THE ELEMENT THERE IS OBVIOUSLY AT SOME POINT THIS BECOMES PART OF THE BIGGER COMMUNITY.

HOW WHY SHOULDN'T BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY.

THAT'S KIND OF THE ISSUE THAT I THINK YOU'RE GETTING AT.

WELL, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU MR. WOODSON.

DR.

WOODSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE NOW GO TO ITEM 1 41, RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE GLOBAL GEOSPATIAL INSTITUTE, GGI AND STUDENTS FROM BATON RIDGE MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL, THE BRIGHTON SCHOOL, REGARDING THE MAPPY CLEAN COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. HI.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

[141. 24-00391]

SO I'D LIKE TO, UH, WELCOME FRAN HARVEY FROM THE, UH, GEOSPATIAL INSTITUTE ALONG WITH, UM, THE STUDENTS FROM BATON ROUGE HIGH AND BRIGHTON.

UM, YOU KNOW, LITTER CONTINUES TO BE, UM, A RECOGNIZED ISSUE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT, UM, WHAT Y'ALL BEEN LEARNING AND WHAT YOU HAVE TO SHARE WITH US TONIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL AND, UH, LAURIE ADAMS AND THANK YOU ALL TO THE WHOLE COUNCIL FOR TAKING, UH, TIME TODAY TO HEAR FROM US AND, UM, AND RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING THIS PRESENTATION WITH THE ENTIRE METRO COUNCIL.

WE APPRECIATE THAT.

MY NAME IS FRAN HARVEY AND I'M FOUNDER OF GLOBAL GEOSPATIAL INSTITUTE.

IT IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND WE ARE LASER FOCUSED ON BRINGING GIS TO THE YOUTH ACROSS THE STATE, AND PARTICULARLY HERE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

BEFORE WE HEAR

[02:15:01]

FROM FOUR OF THESE REMARKABLE STUDENTS, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE A BOARD MEMBER OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHO'S HERE TODAY.

AND THAT'S TERRY JOHNSON.

YEAH, TERRY PLAYS MANY ROLES IN SEVERAL COMMUNITIES, BATON ROUGE AND ZACHARY, AND SHE IS OUR BOARD PRESIDENT.

SO WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE HER HERE TODAY.

AND LET ME ALSO INTRODUCE OUR PARTNERS ON THIS PROJECT.

THE PROJECT'S NAME IS MAPIC CLEAN, AND THE PRESENTATION YOU'LL HEAR TODAY WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY A GRANT FROM KEEP, LOUISIANA BEAUTIFUL, TOGETHER WITH CLEAN PELICAN AND THE PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS OF OUR PARTNER SCHOOLS, BATON ROUGE MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, NANETTE MCCANN, AND TEACHER JENNIFER WHITESELL, JENNIFER AND BRIGHTON SCHOOL PRINCIPAL CHERYL OLDMAN, AND TEACHER KIM OLA AND WESTDALE HEIGHTS ACADEMIC MAGNET SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, ALICIA KAVANAUGH, AND TEACHER MARY LONGORIA.

AND THOSE WERE FIFTH GRADERS, SO THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT HERE TONIGHT, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL RAISE THEM UP SO THEY CAN COME PRESENT TO YOU ALL.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH OUR GLOBAL GEOSPATIAL INSTITUTE, I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE, UH, WINDOW INTO WHAT THAT'S REALLY ABOUT.

MY HUSBAND, LAIA AND I ACTUALLY FOUNDED THIS ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO.

AND BECAUSE WE WANTED SCHOOLS IN THE STATE TO UTILIZE THE PHENOMENAL GLOBAL SOFTWARE AND GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY THAT TRULY REPRESENTS THE FUTURE OF OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM AND OUR WORKFORCE, THE INTENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO GET GIS INTO THE HANDS, UH, OF STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND, AND, UH, SCHOOLS.

MY TEAM AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF DOING THIS WORK EVERY DAY WITH SOME YOUNG CREATIVE MINDS ACROSS LOUISIANA IN GRADES K THROUGH 12.

A FEW OF THE TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY ARE VION.

COULD YOU GIVE A SHOUT OUT? SO, VION, UM, HAS BEEN WITH US SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE NONPROFIT OPENING, AND HE WAS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT EARNING HIS GIS INDUSTRY BASED CERTIFICATION.

WE HAVE SARAH CATHERINE GRO, WHO IS A RECENT LSU GRADUATE, AND MADISON NOLAN, WHO IS CURRENTLY AN LSU GRADUATE STUDENT.

SO WE ALL WORK TOGETHER EVERY DAY ON SIX KEY PROGRAMS, THE LOUISIANA GIANT MAP, AND THERE'S A SLIDE UP HERE THAT SHOWS A DIAGRAM OF, OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON.

THE LOUISIANA GIANT MAP IS FOR PRE-K AND ELEMENTARY STUDENTS.

AND THE MIGHTY MAPS INSTITUTE IS FOCUSED ON MIDDLE SCHOOL.

AND WE HAVE THREE PROGRAMS THERE, A DRONE PROGRAM, LITTER PROGRAM, AND WATERSHED PROGRAM.

SO YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT THE LITTER PROGRAM AND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WATERSHED PROGRAM TODAY.

AND THEN IN HIGH SCHOOL WE HAVE A GIS COURSE THAT CULMINATES IN AN INDUSTRY BASED CERTIFICATION.

AND THIS IS THROUGHOUT LOUISIANA.

AND WE ARE THE ONLY ACCREDITED ENTITY OFFERING A GIS INDUSTRY BASED CERTIFICATION IN LOUISIANA.

SO WE HAVE TWO FREE EVENTS EACH YEAR.

AND THAT IS OUR ARC, GIS ONLINE NATIONWIDE COMPETITION.

THIS IS OUR SEVENTH ANNUAL YEAR, AND THE DEADLINE FOR THAT IS, UH, FRIDAY.

AND WE ALSO HAVE INTERNATIONAL GIS DAY, AND WE HAVE BEEN THE STATE LEADS FOR LOUISIANA FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS.

AND WE USUALLY HOLD THAT EVENT AT THE GIS DAY AT THE LIBRARY ON GOOD ON ON GOODWOOD BOULEVARD.

WE ALSO OFFER GIS TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

SO WE KNOW THAT WE'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN LOUISIANA BECAUSE LOUISIANA HAS SOME OF THE BRIGHTEST STUDENTS IN THE NATION.

IN 2022, A STUDENT FROM CATO MIDDLE SCHOOL IN SHREVEPORT WON THE NATIONWIDE COMPETITION FOR ARC GIS ONLINE.

SO WHO KNOWS THIS YEAR'S WINNER COULD COME FROM RIGHT HERE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

NOW, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE AWARE OF HOW GIS PLAYS A ROLE IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES.

'CAUSE THAT'S USUALLY WHAT WE GET.

IT'S LIKE THE FIRST QUESTION IS, WHAT IS GIS? SO IF YOU USE GPS SYSTEM ON YOUR SMARTPHONE OR GOOGLE A LOCATION FOR SOMETHING, YOU ARE USING GIS.

SO KEEP THAT IN MIND PLEASE, WHEN YOU HEAR THE PRESENTATION TODAY THAT THESE STUDENTS ARE LEARNING HOW TO USE GIS, PUT IT ON A MOBILE DEVICE AND GO OUT IN THE FIELD AND COLLECT DATA.

SO TO COMPLETE THE MAPIC CLEAN PROJECT WITH THESE FOUR STUDENTS AND SEVERAL HUNDRED STUDENTS ACTUALLY WORKED ON, THEY USED 3G IS APPLICATIONS, STORY MAPS IS WHAT YOU'LL SEE ON YOUR SCREEN AS THEY GO THROUGH THEIR PRESENTATION AND SURVEY.

1, 2, 3 IS THE APPLICATION ON THEIR MOBILE DEVICE OUT IN THE FIELD, AND THEN A HUB SITE, WHICH YOU ALL WILL HAVE ACCESS TO.

AND THAT WAS A PLATFORM THAT PULLED TOGETHER ALL THREE OF

[02:20:01]

THE SCHOOLS SO THAT THEY COULD ALL SHARE THE SAME INFORMATION IN PHOTOS AND, AND POWERPOINTS AND ALL THAT.

SO THESE STUDENTS ALSO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE LOUISIANA GIANT MAP AND THE NA, WHICH IS A NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PROJECT.

SO NOW THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO INTRODUCE, UH, THE PRESENTATION TODAY, AND IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME GABRIELLE BROUSSARD FROM BATON ROUGE MAGNET AND JADA CRUMP FROM BATON ROUGE MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL, REED WILLIAMS AND NIA IAN FROM BRIGHTON.

THANK YOU ALL YOURS.

THANK GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS GABRIEL SARD AND I AM A JUNIOR AT BATON ROUGE HIGH AND SPECIAL THANK YOU TO, UH, DISTRICT, UH, SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER LAURIE ADAMS FOR GIVING US A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.

AND WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, THIS HAS BEEN OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE MAP AT CLEAN PROJECT, WHICH WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY KEEP LOUISIANA BEAUTIFUL, UM, GLOBAL GEOSPATIAL INSTITUTE AND CLEAN PELICAN.

SO THIS PROGRAM HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER SEVERAL SCHOOLS AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS AROUND, UM, EBR AND BATON ROUGE AROUND THE SURROUNDING AREAS TO HELP EDUCATE CHILDREN ALL ON LITTER ITS EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND HOW TO SAFELY PICK IT UP.

UM, IN 2023, THE UH, NATIONAL GIS DAY WAS HELD AT THE EBR MAIN LIBRARY WHERE STUDENTS WERE, UH, OR SORRY, THE APOLOGIES.

THEY PARTICIPATED IN SEVERAL ACTIVITIES AS A GROUP AND THEN THEY WERE RELEASED, UH, AROUND THE SURROUNDING CAMPUS TO PICK UP LATER, UM, AND LEARN ITS EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND HOW TO SAFELY PICK IT UP.

UM, DURING THIS CLEAN PELICAN HELP PROVIDE SAFETY EQUIPMENT.

AND AS A RESULT OF THIS CLEAN PELICAN WAS PROVIDED WITH THE HEALTHY COMMUNITIES GRANT.

UM, AND THESE GROUPS, THEY CAN, UH, SORRY, THEY CONTINUE OR THEY PLAN TO ORGANIZE MORE SERVICE EVENTS TO CONTINUE TEACHING CHILDREN AND STUDENTS ON LATER ITS EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND HOW TO SAFELY PICK IT UP SO THAT WE CAN ALL HAVE A NICER, SAFER COMMUNITY.

UM, AND NOW I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY COLLEAGUE, REED WILLIAMS. HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I AM, UH, REED WILLIAMS. I'M A 10TH GRADER AT THE BRIGHTON SCHOOL, AND I'LL BE TALKING ABOUT, UH, INTERNATIONAL JISA AND WHAT WE DID, UH, JISA WAS HELD AT GOODWOOD LIBRARY, UM, WHERE WE DID THREE ACTIVITIES.

FIRST ONE BEING FIELD DATA COLLECTION, SECOND BEING LOUISIANA GIANT MAP, AND FINALLY, THE LIFE OF A PIECE OF LITTER FLOATING THROUGH THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER STARTING, UH, SORRY, THE LIFE OF A PIECE OF LITTER FLOATING THROUGH THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER STORE MAP.

THE FIRST ONE, UH, FIELD DATA COLLECTION IS WHERE WE USED AN APP SERVING 1, 2, 3 THROUGH DROP A POINT WHERE LITTER WAS COLLECTED.

UM, WE ADDED UP THE POINTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY, AND BY THE END THERE WAS OVER 200 POINTS DEPICTING LITTER PICKUPS.

THE SECOND ONE BEING LOUISIANA GIANT MAP DISPLAYED CRUCIAL INDUSTRIES SUCH AS FISHING, OIL AND GAS.

IT ALSO SHOWED US LANDMARKS LIKE THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, AND TAUGHT US ABOUT IMPORTANT PERHAPS GOING HERE IN LOUISIANA.

LAST ONE WAS THE LIFE OF A PIECE OF LITTER FLOATING THROUGH THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

UH, THIS ACTIVITY WAS WHERE WE, WE COUNTED A PIECE OF LITTER STARTING FROM MINNESOTA, MAKING ITS WAY DOWN THROUGH THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND ENDING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU, MY PARTNER.

YOU CAN'T SEE IT.

THANK YOU, REID.

UM, HI, MY NAME IS NIA.

I AM A SOPHOMORE AT THE BRIGHTON SCHOOL.

OVER THE COURSE OF 2024 SPRING SEMESTER, THERE WERE THREE SCHOOLS THAT PICKED UP LITTER AROUND BATON ROUGE.

THE SCHOOLS ARE THE BRIGHTON SCHOOL, BATON ROUGE HIGH, AND WESTDALE HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY.

THESE LITTER PICKUP DAYS ELEMENTED 2,600 PIECES OF TRASH THAT WOULD HAVE FOUND ITS WAY INTO THE KME RIVER WATERSHED, WHICH DRAINS INTO THE LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND EVENTUALLY ENDS UP INTO GULF OF MEXICO.

THE LITTER PICKED, THE LITTER WAS PICKED UP IN TWO SMALLER WATERSHEDS.

BATON ROUGE HIGH AND WHAM ARE IN THE WARD CREEK BAYOU MANCHAC WATERSHED AND TBS IS IN THE CLAY CUT BAYOU AMY RIVER WATERSHED.

WE ALL USE A APP CALLED SURVEY 1, 2, 3.

ALL THE STUDENTS DOCUMENTED THE TYPES, UM, THE SIZE AND THE LOCATION OF THE LITTER.

WE ALSO TOOK PICTURES.

I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, SHOW YOU THE, UM, LITTER OF LIKE WHERE, UH, TBS COLLECTED 4,000, NO, I'M SORRY, 438 PIECES, WHICH IS LOCATED AT JACK'S BAYOU AROUND OUR SCHOOL.

WHAM COLLECTED 130 PIECES AROUND THEIR SCHOOL AND BRIGHTON AND BATON ROUGE HIGH COLLECTED 2004 40 PIECES AROUND THEIR CAMPUS.

THESE FOLLOWING BAR CHARTS DEPICT THE TOP FIVE MOST TYPES OF LITTER AT

[02:25:01]

EACH SCHOOL.

AS YOU CAN SEE THE MOST IS PLASTIC.

THE FOLLOWING PIE CHART SHOW ALL THE VARIOUS TYPES OF LITTER FOUND BY EACH SCHOOL.

NOT ALL LITTER WAS PICKED UP OR DOCUMENTED BECAUSE OF THE TIME CONSTRAINTS AND THE LIMITATION OF TECHNOLOGY USE.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AND NOW I WOULD LIKE TO TURN THE PODIUM OVER TO JADA CRUMP FOR OUR CONCLUSION.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS JADA CRUMP AND I'M A FRESHMAN AT BEDNER DRIVE.

WHILE WORKING WITH EPIC CLEAN, WE WERE ABLE TO TOUCH SO MANY YOUNG MINDS AND TEACH THEM BALL LITTER.

WE WERE EDUCATE THEM ON HOW IT AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND HOW TO PROPERLY DISPOSE OF IT.

COMING INTO THIS, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY COULD HAVE PREDICTED HOW MANY PEOPLE WE WERE ABLE TO BRING TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO CLEAN UP OUR CITY.

WE TRULY WERE ABLE TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE AMOUNT OF LITTER THAT COVER OUR STREETS.

WE WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU WOULD GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE MORE YOUNG MINDS ABOUT LITTER, TO PROVIDE MORE PUBLIC TRASH CANS IN PUBLIC SPACES, AND HAVE AN INCREASE IN PRODUCTION OF RECYCLABLE MATERIAL.

WE WILL BE ANSWERING QUESTIONS SHORTLY, AND WE WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ALLOWING US TO SHOW YOU THIS PRESENTATION.

ALL THIS INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON OUR HUB SITE.

WELCOME, WHICH YOU CAN GET TO BY SCANNING THIS QR CODE.

DOWN AT THE ENVIRONMENT, MAKING SURE YOU KNOW IT'S SAFE FOR YOUR CHILDREN PER SE, THAT'S WHEN YOU START TO NOTICE JUST HOW MUCH THERE IS.

AREN'T THESE STUDENTS IMPRESSIVE? SO THANK YOU AGAIN, COUNCILMAN LAURIE ADAMS AND ALL OF YOU FOR WELCOMING US AND RECOGNIZING THE BRILLIANT WORK OF THESE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS.

WE HAVE TWO ITEMS WE'D LIKE TO DISTRIBUTE TO YOU ALL.

THIS IS A REPORT, A LITTLE REPORT THAT WE TURNED INTO KEITH, LOUISIANA BEAUTIFUL.

AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR NUNGESSER AT THE BESSIE BOARD MEETING LAST WEEK.

AND SOME OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS, THESE ARE YOUR DISTRICT, THESE ARE CONSTITUENTS.

AND SO, UH, I HOPE THEY'RE INTRODUCING THEMSELVES TO YOU AS, AS YOU RECEIVE YOUR REPORT.

AND WE ALSO WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE BE AN ADVOCATE FOR GIS IN EDUCATION WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES AT THE EAST BATON ROUGE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO CONTINUE THIS GOOD WORK AND AFFORD MORE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITIES TO SUCCEED.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE TAKEAWAYS FROM THE YOUTH, WAS REALIZING WE NEED MORE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ABOUT LITTER AND HOW TO ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM.

SO WE MUST HAVE SUPPORT FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THAT.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WE WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

AND A LITTLE, UH, AT, AT THE END OF OUR PRESENTATION, THERE'S A DRONE IMAGE OF, UM, BATON ROUGE HIGH MAGNET SCHOOL, AND THAT'S ONE OF OUR G-I-S-I-B-C HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO OWNS HIS OWN DRONE BUSINESS AND FLEW DRONE IMAGERY FOR US THAT DAY.

AND, UM, AS A LITTLE FUN FACT, UH, WHEN WE STARTED TO LOOK AT ALL THE DISTRICT MEMBERS AND OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND WHERE EVERYBODY LIVE, WE TOUCH SIX DISTRICTS JUST WITH THIS ONE PROJECT.

SO, UM, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ANOTHER PROJECT NEXT YEAR TO, TO REACH OUT TO THE OTHER SIX.

SO THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE STUDENTS? WELL, BEFORE WE GO TO QUESTIONS, UH, IS THERE ANYONE HERE WANTING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM IN THE AUDIENCE? ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WANTING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ALRIGHT, NOW WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. SO AS, UM, AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE REALLY DEPEND ON, ON DATA AND, UM, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, TO HELP US MAKE GOOD POLICY AND, AND HOPEFULLY WISE DECISIONS MOVING FORWARD, UM, IN, IN PICKING UP THE TRASH AND IDENTIFYING, UM, WHERE THE TRASH WAS.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE PLASTIC WHEN, WHAT WAS THE LARGEST ITEM? THAT'S WHAT YOU FOUND THE MOST OF.

UM, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT TYPE OF PLASTIC, ANY INSIGHT AS TO HOW IT GOT THERE OR, UM, YOU KNOW, WAYS THAT WE COULD GO ABOUT DECREASING THE PLASTIC? UM, THAT'S, THAT'S BECOMING LITTER.

I'LL START, UM, AS TO WHERE IT CAME FROM.

UM, A LOT, A LOT OF WHAT WE WERE FINDING WAS BOTTLE CAPS, BOTTLES, UM, SHREDDED UP BEADS FROM POSSIBLY MARDI GRAS PARADES.

UH, A LOT OF CAUTION TAPE AS WELL.

A LOT OF THIS COULD BE LEFT OVER FROM PERHAPS CONSTRUCTION DONE AROUND BATON ROUGE HIGH AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS.

GOVERNMENT STREET AND NORTH STREET, BOTH VERY, UH, BUSY STREETS BEING IN BETWEEN THOSE TWO.

LOTS OF PASSERBYS, LOTS OF TRASH.

A LOT OF IT ALSO SEEMED TO MAY HAVE BEEN LITTER, UM, WHILE WE WERE PICKING UP SOMEWHERE DRIVEN BY AND JUST TOSSED IT OUT IN THEIR CAR, UH, WHICH IS VERY SAD TO SEE, BUT IT ADDS TO THE POINT.

UM, LOTS OF BOTTLES, THAT KIND OF STUFF.

A LOT OF SMALL PLASTICS THAT WHEN YOU'RE JUST WALKING DOWN THE SIDEWALK, YOU WOULDN'T NOTICE.

BUT ONCE YOU START TO TAKE A LOOK AND NOTICE, LOOK

[02:30:01]

RIGHT? SO, SO I GUESS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS KIND OF A, SOME THERE, YOU THOUGHT THERE WAS SOME GENERAL CARELESSNESS OR DISREGARD OR, YOU KNOW, JUST PEOPLE NOT, UM, TAKING CARE TO CONTROL AND GET IN THE PROPER, PROPER RECEPTACLES, EVERYTHING THAT PASSES THROUGH THEIR, THROUGH THEIR HANDS.

YES, MA'AM.

UM, AND I BELIEVE, I THINK IT WAS IN WHAT, UH, DISNEYLAND DISNEY WORLD.

I THINK THEY HAVE A TRASH IN WHAT EVERY 30 FEET, UM, TO ENSURE PEOPLE THROW AWAY THEIR TRASH.

THEY'RE MORE MOTIVATED.

IF I SEE A TRASH CAN A HUNDRED FEET AWAY, MAY NOT WANNA WALK THAT FAR, BUT IF WE ARE ABLE TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC TRASH CANS, UM, EVERY BLOCK, EVERY TWO BLOCKS EVEN, THAT'LL INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WILLING TO PUT IN THE EFFORT.

WALK THAT EXTRA DISTANCE, THROW IT AWAY.

GREAT.

UM, YEAH.

OH, ALSO FOR THE, AS FAR AS THE AMOUNT OF PLASTIC THAT WE FOUND, WE WOULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN PLASTIC MATERIALS IF MORE WERE BEING RECYCLED.

AND IF THE MATERIAL WAS MORE RECYCLABLE FRIENDLY, IT IS ACTUALLY REALLY HARD TO RECYCLE PLASTICS.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T FINDING THEMSELVES WILLING TO DO IT.

A LOT OF COMPANIES AREN'T WILLING TO SPONSOR OR MAKE THE INVESTMENT, BUT IF THE MATERIAL WAS MORE RECYCLABLE FRIENDLY, WE WOULD HAVE A LOT MORE BIDDERS UP FOR THE CHALLENGE.

THOSE ARE TWO GREAT, UM, POLICY, POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS.

UM, AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, IT, YOU KNOW, I DID NOT, UM, KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WATERSHEDS UNTIL AFTER I WAS ELECTED.

AND SO IT IS REALLY EXCITING TO SEE THAT THIS NE NEXT GENERATION ALREADY, UM, UNDERSTANDS WATERSHEDS.

UM, SO MR. RAYFORD, THERE IS, THERE'S HELP COMING IN THE, IN THE FUTURE GENERATIONS WHERE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND ABOUT DRAINAGE AND WATERSHEDS.

UM, THANK Y'ALL.

THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.

UM, THANK YOU FOR, UM, TAKING ON THIS PROJECT AND, AND SPENDING SOME TIME WITH US.

THESE, THESE THINGS, THESE ARE IMPORTANT ISSUES.

UM, IF ANYBODY'S PAYING ATTENTION TO ANY, ANY POLLING THAT'S GOING AROUND, UH, IN, IN ADVANCE OF THE FALL ELECTIONS, UM, LITTER AND BLIGHT ARE CONTINUING TO REGISTER, UM, AMONGST THE POPULATION, AMONGST OUR RESIDENTS AS SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE, PEOPLE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT.

SO YOUR, YOUR EFFORTS, UM, ARE, ARE ON FOCUS, ON TASK AND, AND GREATLY APPRECIATED.

THANK YOU EVERYONE.

YOUNG PEOPLE DID A PHENOMENAL JOB.

OUTSTANDING.

A RESOLUTION ORDERING AND CALLING OF SPECIAL ELECTION WILL BE HELD IN ALLISON ST.

I I PARTICULARLY THINK THE YOUNG LADY WHO LIVES IN DISTRICT SEVEN JUST DID AN AMAZING JOB.

I MEAN WE ONLY CREATE THE BEST IN DISTRICT SEVEN.

DISTRICT SEVEN.

DISTRICT SEVEN IS EIGHT, SIX AND EIGHT.

ALRIGHT, GET TO 10 COUNCIL MEMBERS IF YOU NOW WE GO TO PAGE 1675.

A RESOLUTION ORDERING TO CALL INSPECTION ELECTION TO BE HELD ON BROWNFIELDS FILE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER THREE OF THE PARISH OF EAST PARISH STATE, LOUISIANA ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024 FOR THE PURPOSE OF AUTHORIZING RENEWAL OF THE LEVY.

COLLECTION OF 10 MILLS AVALARA TAX FOR PERIOD, 10 YEARS PREPARED BY THE BOND COUNCIL DIRECTOR AT THE REQUEST OF THE MINEFIELD FILE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER THREE IS ANYONE WHO WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM COUNCIL MEMBERS IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKERS SECONDED BY THE COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO NOW.

ITEM 76,

[76. 24-00292]

A LEE, FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER NINE, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH FOR THE PURPOSE OF AUTHORIZING A RENEWAL OF 11 AND COLLECTION OF TWO MILL AT LONG TAX FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS FOR FIRE PROTECTION PURPOSES OF THE DISTRICT.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 76? WE'RE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 76? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE NOW GO TO

[77. 24-00293]

ITEM 77, A RESOLUTION ORDER AND CALLING FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER ONE OF THE PARIS OF EAST PATTERN ORDER TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH FOR THE PURPOSE OF AUTHORIZED RENEWAL OF THE LEVY, OF THE COLLECTION OF NINE MILLS AND AVALARA TAX FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS BY PREPARED BOND COUNSEL AT THE REQUEST OF THE FIRE PROTECTION NUMBER ONE.

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

MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER NOR SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? 1, 2, 3, 4.

OKAY, NOW WE

[78. 24-00393]

GO TO ITEM 78.

WE'RE SENDING IN THE RECORDING THE CLERK OF COURT.

THE COUNCIL NOTICE TO ATTEND RECORDED ON DECEMBER 27TH, 2023 IN THE DECISION ORDER RECORDED ON NOVEMBER 13TH, 2023.

CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSUS GERMAINE SERGEANT.

REASON FOR DECISION OWNER HAS BOARDED UP THE HOME, CLEANED THE YARD, AND COMMITTED TO MAKING REPAIRS OF THE HOME BY COUNCIL MCC COLEMAN, ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCILMAN MCC COLEMAN'S.

SO MOVED, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE NOW GO TO ITEM 79.

[79. 24-00403]

WE SENDING IN DIRECTING TO CLERK OF COURT.

THE COUNCIL NOTICE TO ATTEND RECORDING ON SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2023 AND THE DECISION TO ORDER RECORD ON JANUARY 12TH, 2024 IN THE MATTER OF THE CITY OF BATON

[02:35:01]

ROUGE VERSUS KEN RELL.

ALEX, 98 71 AVENUE.

A REASON FOR RESCISSION OWNER IS IN THE PROCESS OF OBTAINING PERMITS TO REMODEL THE HOME BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.

ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.

SO MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE NOW GO TO ITEM 80,

[80. 24-00429]

AMEND THE 2024 PAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED NON-CLASSIFIED CONTRACT FOR THE FIRE AND POLICE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH EAST BATON ROUGE.

SO AS TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING CHANGES THE EFFECTIVE APRIL 25TH, 2024 AMENDMENT TO THE CLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED ONE.

ADD ITEM 30, CRITICAL RETENTION HIRING FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES EMPLOYEES.

AN OPTIONAL SPECIAL RECRUITING RATE IS ALLOWABLE UP TO STEP 12 FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES.

CLASSIFICATION IS RECOMMENDED BY A DIRECTOR AND APPROVED BY THE HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR.

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES CLASSIFICATION ARE IDENTIFIED AS FOLLOWS.

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR, HIV AND AIDS BY PROGRAM, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND HUMAN SERVICE RESOURCES DIRECTORS.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 80? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER'S.

MOTION TO APPROVE BY THE CHAIR.

SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MCC COLEMAN.

THEIR OBJECTIONS ITEM 80 HAS BEEN APPROVED.

WE NOW GO TO ITEM 81

[81. 24-00363]

AUTHORIZING THE MALE PRESENT TO INSTITUTE A THREE YEAR CONTRACT CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1ST, 2023 THROUGH JULY, JUNE 30TH, 2026 ON BEHALF OF DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE SERVICES WITH THE STATE OF LOUISIANA OFFICE OF JUVENILE SERVICES FOR TITLE VE ENHANCED, EXCUSE ME.

TITLE IV E ENHANCED REIMBURSEMENT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $634,545 AND 39 CENTS.

AND TO SIGN ALL DOCUMENTS AS REQUIRED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH BY JUVENILE SERVICE DIRECTORS.

DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM NOW? GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 81? SO MOVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.

OBJECTIONS WE GO NOW TO

[82. 24-00366]

ITEM 82, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT EXECUT AGREEMENT WITH SEXUAL TRAUMA AWARENESS AND RESPONSE CENTER FOR A TOTAL SUM NOT TO EXCEED $75,000 BY THE POLICE CHIEF.

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

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

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE NOW GO TO ITEM 83,

[83. 24-00379]

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE BAT POLICE DEPARTMENT ATTEMPTING TO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH JAZZ SOLUTIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $150,000 TO SERVE THE GRANT COORDINATOR FUNDED BY THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE FISCAL YEAR 2019 COMMUNITY-BASED CRIME REDUCTION GRANT.

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

SO MOVED BY THE CHAIR.

ANY OBJECTIONS OR EXCUSE ME, IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN OBJECTIONS.

ITEM 83 HAS BEEN APPROVED.

WE GO TO EIGHT AND FOUR.

AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT EXECUTE A GRANT AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO, INCREASING THE TOTAL MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF AGREE TO 4 MILLION HUNDRED 39,000 158026 CENTS TO $5,359,289 AND 20 CENTS WITH THE STATE OF LOUISIANA DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATION OFFERS OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND GRANT ASSISTANCE UNDER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DISASTER RECOVERY BY FINANCE DIRECTORS.

ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEM UNITED WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS? THEM? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO TO 85

[85. 24-00381]

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE TO CONTRACT THE SOFTWARE SERVICES WITH BLAKE WILSON GROUP LLC FOR AN AUDIT MANAGEMENT AND ELECTRONIC WORK AND PAPER SOFTWARE SYSTEM FOR USE OF INTERNAL AUDITS IN THE CITY PARISH PROCESS AND THE AGENCIES AND THE RENEWAL OF AUDIT SALES TAX, OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE TAX, HOTEL MOTEL, TAX INSURANCE, PREMIUM TAX, AND THE PUBLIC UTILITIES TAXES IN THE EAST FAMILY PARISH FOR AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $677,507 BY FINANCE DIRECTOR.

DOES ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEM 85? WE NOT WITH TO COUNCIL MEMBER.

SOME MORE BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOLDEZ.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. THERE.

ANY OBJECTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL TAKE ITEM 86 THROUGH

[Items 86 - 93]

93 TOGETHER, AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR PRESENT TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACT WITH ARCHITECTS PLUS LLC PROVIDE CONSTRUCTION COST SERVICES IN THE COLLEGE DRIVE PERKINS ROAD TO I 10 IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $98,670 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.

ITEM 87, AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT TO ASK YOU TO CONTRACT WITH BRUCE E PRI TO PROVIDE APPRAISAL SERVICES FOR THE COLLEGE DRIVE PERKINS ROAD TO I 10 IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $121,409 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.

ITEM 87 IS ITEM 88.

AUTHORIZED THE MALE PRESENCE ACTUALLY THE CONTRACT WITH DAVID E VOL, MAI TO PROVIDE APPRAISAL SERVICES WITH THE COLLEGE DRIVE PER CONTROL TO I 10 AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $119,765.

ITEM 89 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT THE CONTRACT WITH EAG GULF COAST LLC TO PROVIDE BUSINESS VALUATION SERVICES FOR COLLEGE DRIVE PERKINS ROAD TO 10 IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $317,450.

ITEM 90 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT.

EXECUTE THE CONTRACT WITH INFIN ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS LLC TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING DESIGN SERVICES FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE BLUEGRASS DRIVE IMPROVEMENTS, THE SIDEWALK CADILLAC STREET TO FORTUNE EDITION PARK, AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $141,768 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.

ITEM 91 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT.

CHECK YOU THE CONTRACT WITH JAMES I BRANTLEY TO PROVIDE APPRAISAL SERVICES FOR THE COLLEGE DRIVE PERKIN ROAD I 10 PROJECT D,

[02:40:01]

AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $119,765.

ITEM 92 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT.

EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH MIG ENTERPRISES INCORPORATED TO PROVIDE APPRAISAL SERVICES FOR THE COLLEGE DRIVE PERKINS ROAD 10 PROJECT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $121,290 BY DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.

ITEM 93 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH MICHAEL FREEMAN TO PROVIDE ACQUISITION RELOCATION SERVICES FOR THE COLLEGE DRIVE PERKINS ROAD TO I 10 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $84,960.

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

MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 86 THROUGH 93.

SO MOVED BY, OH, COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JR.

THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT ANDY BOSCO TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT ENGINEERING SERVICES WILL TER ENGINEERING LLC ASSOCIATED WITH THE LA HIGHWAY 30 REGIONAL FORCE MAIN PROJECT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $149,500 BY BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR.

ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 86 THROUGH 93 HAVE BEEN APPROVED.

AND NOW GO TO ITEM

[94. 24-00402]

94.

AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ASK YOU TO SUPPLEMENT AGREEMENT NUMBER TWO TO THE CONTRACT WITH JACOBS ENGINEERING, FORMERLY CH TWO M HILL INCORPORATED FOR STORMWATER DIVISION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR SERVICES AND ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 1,200,000 BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR ASHLEY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL, COMMENT AND OPPOSITION TO ITEM 94.

IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER.

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

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE NOW GO TO ITEM 95.

AUTHORIZE

[95. 24-00404]

ANYONE WHO WISHED TO SPEAK ON ITEM AND WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THERE ARE MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 95.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JR.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. COUNCIL MEMBER GODDE IS YOUR PERSON HERE FOR THEIR REPORT.

WE'RE GONNA GO TO THAT REPORT NOW SO THAT WE CAN EXCUSE THEM FROM THE TIMEOUT ROOM.

WE ARE GONNA GO TO

[140. 24-00243]

ITEM ONE 40, RECEIVING THE FIRST QUARTER 2024 REPORT FROM EAST BAT RIDGE PARISH COMMUNICATIONS DISTRICT BY COUNCILMAN MAG GODDE.

WE DON'T HAVE THE REPORT FIRST AND THEN WE'LL GO TO ANY COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? YES SIR, WE IS ON YOU.

THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.

UH, JIM LANTER, DIRECTOR FOR THE EAST BAT ROU PARISH COMMUNICATION DISTRICT.

THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME AND GIVE A FIRST QUARTER REPORT FOR 2024.

UH, SO, SO FAR THIS YEAR, UH, THINGS ARE GOING, UH, REALLY WELL.

WE'RE STILL PROGRESSING WITH THE, UH, NEW ROLLOUT OF THE NEW 9 1 1 SYSTEM, UH, THAT WE HAVE.

WE HAVE ALL THE AGENCIES ON BOARD EXCEPT FOR ONE, UH, WHICH WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH, UH, SOME CHALLENGES TO FINALLY BRING THEM ON BOARD.

UH, HOPEFULLY THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN VERY SOON.

UH, WE HAVE MOVED INTO THE NEW BACKUP CENTER.

UH, WE HAVE, UH, MOST OF THE NETWORKING AND EVERYTHING COMPLETED IN IT.

WE WE'RE JUST FINISHING UP WITH INSTALLING SOME COMPUTERS AND MONITORS AND STUFF AND GETTING READY, UH, TO GET THAT THING FULLY OPERATIONAL.

UH, WE ALSO HAVE HAD, UH, MOVEMENT ON OUR NORTH, UH, TOWER PROJECT, WHICH WAS A, IT IS GONNA BE A NEW COMMUNICATION TOWER FOR, UH, THE ZACHARY AREA.

UH, WE HAD SOME SOIL TESTING DONE AND THAT CAME BACK VERY POSITIVE.

SO WE'RE, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.

WE ALSO HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH, UH, THE STATE IN REGARDS TO THE LWIN EQUIPMENT THAT THEY, UH, CAN PROVIDE, WHICH THEN CONNECTS IT AND ALLOWS FOR, UH, LIKE A SIMULCAST, UH, WITH ALL THE REST OF THE TOWERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

UM, AND THAT'S BASICALLY ALL I HAVE.

ANY QUESTIONS THAT Y'ALL MIGHT HAVE? UH, LET'S GO TO ANY COMMENTS FROM ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM NOW WE GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER.

COUNCIL MEMBER GODDE.

ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE REPORT.

WHERE'S, UH, YOU SAID THAT NORTH TOWER PROJECT'S LOCATED IN ZACHARY.

IT'S, IT'S OUTSIDE THE, THE SEA LIMITS.

EXACTLY THAT AREA.

IT'S DOWN PRIDE PORT HUDSON.

WILL THAT GIVE YOU PARISH WIDE COVERAGE OR DO Y'ALL ALREADY HAVE WE, WE ALREADY HAVE PARISH WIDE COVERAGE, BUT SOME OF THE AREAS, UH, WE HAVE PROBLEMS LIKE INSIDE BUILDINGS AND STUFF, BUT THE COVERAGE JUST ISN'T AS OKAY.

AS OPTIMAL AS WHAT WE WOULD LIKE IT.

SO ADDING THIS TOWER PROVIDES A LITTLE BIT MORE PENETRATION INTO THE BUILDINGS.

DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO A REVERSE 9 1 1? DO WE HAVE THAT CAPACITY? IN OTHER WORDS, UH, IF AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IS HAPPENING IN OUR PARISH, CAN WE PUSH OUT A MESSAGE VIA YOUR SYSTEM? N NO, WE, WE DO NOT PROVIDE THAT.

UH, I BELIEVE, UM, UH, MOAP IS IN THE PROCESS OF, OF HAVING SOME KIND OF SYSTEM THAT'S GONNA BE ABLE TO ALLOW THAT AND IT WOULDN'T INTERACT WITH Y'ALL AT ALL.

[02:45:04]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT REPORT.

APPRECIATE YOU COUNCILMAN.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE

[142. 24-00472]

ITEM 1 42 EMERGENCY ITEM TO BE ADOPTED EXPRESSING THE SUPPORT OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL FOR HOUSE BILL 3 23 AND THE 2024 REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND ORDER ADMINISTRATIVE FROM YOU FOUND PASSED TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE BILL BY THE CHAIR.

REASON FOR EMERGENCY TO ALLOW PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM PRIOR TO THE VOTE ON HOUSE BILL 3 23 IN THE LEGISLATURE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDINANCE.

1 6 4 4 2.

THIS ITEM MUST BE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY BY TWO THIRDS VOTE OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.

MOTION TO DECLARE ITEM EMERGENCY NEEDS TO SECOND MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JR.

IS SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN COLEMAN VOTE ON THE MOTION TO DECLARE THE ITEM.

IS THERE ANYONE WI UH, ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE ITEM? IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO.

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WILSON BROOM TO ACCEPTING APPROPRIATE AND ALLOCATE TO ACCEPT APPROPRIATE AND ALLOCATE FUNDS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DISASTER RECOVERY AND MITIGATION TO THE CITY PARISH FOR SOME NOT TO EXCEED.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL, COMMENT AND OPPOSITION TO ITEM 1 42.

WE NOW GO TO THE VOTE ON THE ITEM.

MOTION TO APPROVE IS COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JR.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? SHOW COUNCIL MEMBER GODA OBJECTING.

ITEM 1 42 HAS PASSED.

WE NOW GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

ITEM 90 96 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH RICK AND ASSOCIATES LLC TO PROVIDE ACQUISITION AND RELOCATION SERVICES FOR THE COLLEGE FIVE PERKINS ROAD I 10 IN THE AMOUNT I TO C $60,000 BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTORS.

ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON ITEM 96 WILL NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 96? SO MOVED BY THE CHAIR.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MAG GODA.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WILL NOW GO TO ITEM ITEM 97

[97. 24-00408]

$7,686,000

[96. 24-00405]

BY MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

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

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM? SO MOVED BY THE CHAIR, THEN SECOND ON THE HOOD.

DOLLARS SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE NOW GO TO

[98. 24-00410]

ITEM 98, AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTERN ROOM TO SUBMIT THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DISASTER RECOVERY MITIGATION RESILIENT COMMUNITIES INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM, RECOVERY PROPOSAL TO LOUISIANA OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ACCEPT APPROPRIATE ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR SOME NOT TO EXCEED $4,915,204.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODDE.

HIV AND AIDS PROGRAM, MINORITY AIDS INITIATIVE TEXT SHEET, A SUBRECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH THE CAPITAL CITY FAMILY HEALTH CLINIC IN THE AMOUNT OF $32,229 WHILE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECT ITEM 1 0 8 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, RYAN WHITE, HIV AND AIDS PROGRAM TEXT SHEET, THE SUBRECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH THE CAPITAL CITY FAMILY HEALTH CENTER IN THE AMOUNT OF $211,500 BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.

ANY OBJECTION COUNCIL MEMBERS? WE'RE GONNA TAKE 99 THROUGH

[Items 99 - 108]

1 0 8 TOGETHER.

ITEM 99 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTERN BROOM TO AUTHORIZE AN AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND EAST BAT ROUGE.

MAYOR'S ALSO OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN BATON ROUGE BLACK ALCOHOLISM COUNCIL, DOING BUSINESS AS METRO HEALTH FOR A PERIOD OF JANUARY, 2023 THROUGH JUNE, 2024 FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $58,094 AND 77 CENTS.

ITEM 100 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES, RYAN WHITE PART, A PROGRAM TO EXECUTE A SUB-RECIPIENT CONTRACT WITHOUT LADY OF THE LAKE, INCORPORATED IN AN AMOUNT OF $142,515 BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.

ITEM 1 0 0 1 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES, RYAN WHITE, HIV, AND AIDS PROGRAM, MINORITY AIDS INITIATIVE TO EXECUTE A SUBRECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH OUR LADY OF THE LAKE, INCORPORATED IN AN AMOUNT OF $22,061 BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.

ITEM 1 0 2, AUTHORIZE THE MALE PRESENT ON BEHALF OF DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES, RYAN WHITE, HIV, AND AIDS PROGRAM TO EXECUTE A SUBRECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA IN THE AMOUNT OF $58,580 BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.

ITEM 1 0 3 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES, RYAN WHITE HIV AIDS PROGRAM TO EXECUTE A SUBRECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH NO TAX FOR IN THE AMOUNT OF 55 50 $2,886 BY THE HUMAN SERVICES ECT.

ITEM 1 0 4 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES TO RYAN WHITE H HIV AIDS PROGRAM, MINORITY AIDS INITIATIVE AND SUB-RECIPIENT TO EXECUTE CONTRACT WITH HIV AND AIDS ALLIANCE FOR REGION TWO AND THE AMOUNT OF $52,996 BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.

ITEM 1 0 5 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, RYAN WHITE, HIV, AND AIDS PROGRAM TO EXECUTE A SUB-RECIPIENT CONTACT WITH HIV AND AIDS ALLIANCE FOR REGION TWO IN AN AMOUNT OF $319,091 BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.

ITEM 1 0 6 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES, RYAN WHITE, HIV AND AIDS PROGRAM EXECUTED A SUBRECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH FAMILY SERVICE GREATER BATON ROUGE IN THE AMOUNT OF $260,270 BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.

ITEM 1 0 7 AUTHORIZING THEIR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES, RYAN WHITE,

[02:50:01]

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 99 THROUGH 1 0 8? COUNCIL MEMBER PLEASE? DUN JR PLEASE SHOW ME ABSTAINING FROM 1 0 4 AND 1 0 5.

PLEASE SHOW COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JUNIORS ABSTAIN 1 0 4 1 0 5.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS NINE THROUGH 1 0 8? SO MOVED BY THE CHAIR, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

ANY OBJECTIONS THOSE ITEMS HAVE BEEN APPROVED.

DO NOT GO TO 1 0 9 1 0 9

[109. 24-00431]

AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT.

EXECUTE AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE AND THE YWCH INCREASED THE CONTRACT BY $120,000 BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

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

MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JR.

SECONDED BY THE CHAIR THERE.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE NOW GO TO ITEM 1 0 1 1 0

[110. 24-00432]

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BAT ROUGE AND URBAN RESTORATION ENHANCEMENT CORPORATION TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT BY $135,000 BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM WITH NOT WITH A COUNCIL MEMBER? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DON JR.

SECOND BY THE CHAIR.

ANY OBJECTIONS? NOW WE GO TO ADJUDICATED

[Items 111 - 129]

PROPERTIES.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'RE GONNA TAKE ONE 11 THROUGH 1 29 TOGETHER.

LOT FOUR SUBDIVISION GOODWOOD HOME SITES IS ITEM ONE 11.

UH, HIGH BIDDER ANDREW MEINE, $76,000.

ITEM ONE 12 LOT 13 POINT SUBDIVISION SCH SHORT EDITION METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 HIGH BIDDER JEROME BRAIER CARTER $100.

ITEM ONE 13 LOT 85 WEST POINT SUBDIVISION.

NORTH BATON ROUGE DISTRICT TWO, HIGH BETA JERY GREEN.

I HAVE ONE 14 LOT 88 SUBDIVISION RIVERLAND.

DISTRICT THREE.

HI BETA TD REAL ESTATE GROUP, $2,500.

ITEM ONE 15 LOT 62 SUBDIVISION SABLE CHASE DISTRICT THREE.

HI BETA.

ASK LLC $13,100.

ITEM ONE 16 LOT 48 B DASH ONE SUBDIVISION SOUTH HIGHLAND INDUSTRIAL PARK DISTRICT FIVE HIGH BID TD REAL ESTATE GROUP, $9,000.

ITEM ONE 17 LOT 87 SUBDIVISION RIVERLAND.

DISTRICT THREE HIGH BID TD REAL ESTATE GROUP $2,500.

ITEM ONE 18 LOT 52 SUBDIVISIONS.

CHASE DISTRICT THREE HIGH BID OF TD REAL ESTATE GROUP $2,500.

ITEM ONE 19 LOT EIGHT SUBDIVISION SHERWOOD METAL DISTRICT EIGHT HIGH BID OF TD REAL ESTATE GROUP.

$5,000.

ITEM ONE 20 LOT EIGHT DASH 11 SQUARE 46 SUBDIVISION BANKS.

DISTRICT 10 HIGH BID OF DAMON L WALKER, ERIC D. WALKER, SENIOR $2,300.

ITEM 1 21 LOT B SUBDIVISION SCHWART EDITION DISTRICT 10 HIGH BID ASK LLC $2,500.

ITEM 1 22 LOT 35 SUBDIVISION BAKERFIELD.

DISTRICT TWO BANKS HIGH BID OF KEVIN WILLIAMS, $67,400.

ITEM 1 23 LOT 40 PLUS SQUARE C SUBDIVISION DOTY PLACE DISTRICT SEVEN I BID A HOUSE CODE LLC $26,700.

ITEM 1 24 LOT 10 SQUARE THREE.

SUBDIVISION STANDARD HIGHEST DISTRICT 10 HIGH BID.

A ASK LLC $13,000.

ITEM 1 25 LOT 26 SQUARE 37 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE DISTRICT 10, HIGH BID OF POTENTIAL ASSETS $100 ITEM 1 26 LOT 65 SQUARE 10 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE DISTRICT 10 HIGH BID OF POTENTIAL ASSETS $100.

ITEM 1 27 LOT 18 SQUARE 42 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE DISTRICT 10 HIGH BID OF POTENTIAL ASSETS, $100 ITEM 1 28 LOT 21 SQUARE 42 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE DISTRICT 10, HIGH BID OF POTENTIAL ASSETS, $100.

ITEM 1 29 BY 24 SQUARE, 42 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE DISTRICT 10, HIGH BID OF POTENTIAL ASSETS, $100.

ANYONE HERE WE SHOULD SPEAK ON ITEMS ONE 11 THROUGH 1 29.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS? ONE 11.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

GOD SECONDED.

WAIT, GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD.

I HAVE SOMETHING HERE I WOULD LIKE TO.

UM, THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

[02:55:03]

AND IF I'VE OVERLOOKED ANY OTHER ONE THAT POTENTIAL ASSET HAS BIDDED ON.

NO.

HADN'T HEARD FROM 'EM AND THEY KNOW THE RULES.

SO WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO WITH THOSE ITEMS? UM, WHAT THAT, HUH? DEFERRAL, DELETE.

DELETE.

THEY KNOW THE RULE.

ALRIGHT, MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN TO DELETE ITEMS. 1 25, 1 26, 1 27, 1 28, AND 1 29.

SECONDED BY THE CHAIR, THEN THEIR OBJECTIONS TO DELETION OF THOSE ITEMS. THOSE ITEMS HAVE BEEN DELETED.

NOW WE GO TO A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE ITEMS. ITEM ONE 11 THROUGH 1 24.

MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN JR.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

AND THEY, OBJECTION.

THOSE ITEMS HAVE BEEN APPROVED.

WE NOW GO TO APPOINTMENTS,

[130. 24-00358 (Part 1 of 2)]

CHSD TO REPLACE JERRY HARVEY, WHO IS NOT SEEKING REAPPOINTMENT.

THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MUST SUBMIT TWO NAMES FOR CONSIDERATION, UH, BY THE GOVERNOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.

JUST AS A REMINDER, THIS IS, UM, A STATE CREATED BOARD, UH, FOR WHICH YOU NOMINATE AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE AND THE GOVERNOR SELECTS FROM THAT LIST.

UM, THERE'S SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS THAT ARE LISTED ON YOUR AGENDA.

UM, IF YOU HAVE, UH, CONSTITUENTS THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED, UH, YOU CAN ASK THEM TO REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE TO BE ADDED TO THE BALLOT FOR, UM, CONSIDERATION OF FUTURE MEETING.

YOU WANT NAMES.

NOW, UM, IF, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO MEET THESE QUALIFICATIONS AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE THEM NOW YOU CAN.

IF NOT, WE NEED A MOTION TO DEFER THIS ITEM.

A MOTION TO DEFER.

UH, THIS HAS BEEN ON THE, UH, COUNCIL ABOUT, UM, A MONTH, I THINK.

UH, COUNCILMAN DUNN, DO YOU HAVE AT LEAST ONE PERSON? I DO, BUT I HADN'T SPOKEN TO HIM.

CAN WE TAKE THIS AT THE END? BECAUSE I HAVE ONE PERSON AS WELL AND WHAT I WAS, UM, I WAS ASKING HER TO RECOMMEND ME AND THE OTHER PERSON IN HOPE THAT THE OTHER PERSON WOULD GET IT.

BUT IF YOU HAVE, IF, IF Y IF YOU GOT SOMEBODY, GO AHEAD.

BECAUSE I, IF IT'S JUST ME AND ONE MORE PERSON.

I HADN'T SPOKEN TO THE PERSON TO SEE IF THEY WOULD DO IT, BUT YOU DO YOU, DO YOU WANT MAKE THAT CALL AND COME BACK TO US? WE ALMOST AT THE END OF THE MEETING, YOU SAID THE FIRST TO THE END, BUT WE ALMOST AT THE END.

SO IT'S UP TO YOU BECAUSE I, I, I, OTHERWISE I'LL, I CAN LEMME DO THAT.

WE'LL COME BACK TO IT BECAUSE HE CAN MAKE A CALL.

IF HE GONNA MAKE THE CALL.

WE'LL JUST DISCUSS.

WE GONNA COME BACK TO IT.

VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT AL AL ALLISON, SAINT IRMA LEE, CONSIDERATION OF REPLACING BETHEL WELLS WHO DECLINED APPOINTMENT.

WE'LL COME BACK TO IT.

ALL RIGHT, ALL WE GOING TO ITEM 1 31

[131. 24-00406]

THIS IS A TWO YEAR TERM.

MUST LIVE IN HOUSE OF SAINT IRMA LEE FIRE DISTRICT.

CURRENT BALLOT IS BRENDA CHENEY AND BETTY JEFFERSON.

BOTH APPLICATIONS RECEIVED.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? SEAN, IT'S YOUR DISTRICT AGAIN.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.

MOTION TO APPROVE BRENDA CHENEY.

ANY OBJECTIONS? CONGRATULATIONS MS. CHANEY.

YOU'VE BEEN APPOINTED TO THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.

ITEM 1 32,

[132. 24-00475]

VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT ALLISON ST.

IRM LEE.

CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTING OR REPLACING CLAUDE DOUGLAS, WHOSE TERM EXPIRES ON APRIL 30TH, 2024.

THIS IS A TWO YEAR TERM.

MUST LIVE IN ST.

AND ALLISON ST.

IRM LEE FIVE DISTRICT CURRENT BALLOT IS CLAUDE DUST DOUGLAS, WHO REQUESTED REAPPOINTMENT.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS? WE REAPPOINT CLAUDE DOUGLAS? YES, PLEASE.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER NOLAN.

AND THEIR OBJECTIONS.

CONGRATULATIONS MR. DOUGLAS.

ITEM 1 33,

[133. 24-00480]

CHANGE ORDERS.

SCHOOL FLASHER, INSTALLATION CONTRACTOR, DIAMOND ELECTRICAL COMPANY, INCORPORATED CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY TWO THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED SEVENTY EIGHT THOUSAND TWENTY THREE CENTS, WHICH IS A CREDIT ITEM.

IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM THERE? MOTION TO APPROVE SOME COUNCILMAN HUS.

FRED? I KNOW THERE'S A COUPLE OF THESE THAT STILL AREN'T OPERATIONAL.

SO WE ARE, WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH, UH, THE ELECTRIC COMPANY TO ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO CONNECT IT TO THE ELECTRICAL SERVICE.

SOME, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY ENERGY.

TRYING TO DO JUST A SINGLE CONNECTION TO THAT WE MAY ULTIMATELY END UP HAVING TO GO SOLAR, WHICH IS, IT IS OKAY IN A LOT OF AREAS, BUT THERE ARE SOME PLACES, UH, THROUGHOUT THE PARISH THAT WE HAD TO DO THAT.

UM, IT, IT, IT COULD BE A CHALLENGE.

JUST WE MAY EVEN HAVE TO MOVE THE ACTIVE SIGNAL ITSELF TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.

THE FLASHERS.

'EM GOING? YEAH, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FINISH THIS UP, BUT WE ARE WORKING WITHIN ENERGY AND ALSO DEM CODE TO 'CAUSE THE AREAS WITHIN THE PARISH.

DO WE HAVE A TIMELINE ON, ON WHEN WE'RE GONNA GET

[03:00:01]

I THINK WE HAVE 20 LOCATIONS THAT WE STILL HAVE TO GET RESOLVED AS FAR AS POWER.

MOST OF 'EM CAN BE DONE BY SOLAR POWER, WHICH IS REALLY WHAT WE WANT TO DO AT THIS POINT.

'CAUSE ENERGY HAS NOT REALLY WANTED TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE, UH, FOR THESE, UH, FLASHERS.

ABOUT TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT.

ACCEPTANCE TO THE SCHOOL FLASHING INSTALLATION CONTRACTOR.

WE HAD A MOTION TO APPROVE, UH, THE CREDIT.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS SECONDED ABOUT THE SHARE.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE ARE NOW THE FINAL

[134. 24-00483]

DOMINIC, THAT YOUR COMPANY FINAL COST TO ME.

$131,157 AND 69 CENTS.

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

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM? MOTION.

MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO NOW TO ITEM 1 35.

[135. 24-00468]

JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER UPGRADES, PHASE ONE PERIMETER OFFENSE REPLACEMENT CONTRACTOR CONSTRUCTIONS INCORPORATED.

PLAN COST $1,307,414.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM WHEN I GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM? SOME MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM, ANY OBJECTION? S SHAUNA? HMM.

LOOK UP ANY OBJECTION TO WHAT ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED.

ACCEPTANCE OF LOW BIDS.

LOOK, SHAWNA, YOU TALKING TO YOU? THAT'S ALL I WAS SAYING.

OH, OKAY.

WE GO TO ACCEPTANCE.

THE LOW BID ITEM 1 36, AIRPORT

[136. 24-00427]

AIRFIELD MARK AND WATER BLASTING SERVICE.

HIGHLIGHT AIRFIELD SERVICES LLC $144 8,140 $4,084 AND 90 CENTS.

DOES ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? YOU NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 1 36.

SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JR.

AIRFIELD MARKETING AND WATER BLASTING SERVICE.

ANY OBJECTIONS? WE NOW GO TO ITEM 1 37,

[137. 24-00435]

HIGHLIGHT AIRFIELD SERVICES LLC $144,084 AND 90 CENTS IS THE ONLY ONE HERE.

WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.

WE NOW GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IS THERE A MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER? DUN JR.

I WANNA MAKE A MOTION, BUT IF MIKE, UH, UH, UH, LEWIS OR ONE OF THEM COULD COME UP AND JUST KIND OF TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE OF THESE ITEMS. UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU READ IT, IT LOOKS VERY SIMILAR.

SO IF YOU CAN JUST TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE IN THE, IN THE DIFFERENT ITEMS. YEAH, THEY'RE, UH, DUPLICATE.

SO IT WAS ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR, SO, UM, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THIS WILL BE DELETED.

SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNING IS SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN COLEMAN.

ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 1 37 HAS BEEN DELETED.

REHABILITATION N-C-M-C-L-L-C $227,000.

ITEM 1 38

[138. 24-00477]

GREENWELL STREET.

AMARILLO STREET, LARGE DIAMETER DRAINAGE PIPE.

ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM? SO, MOVED BY THE CHAIR.

SETTING IT BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.

ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 1 38 HAS BEEN APPROVED.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE NOW WILL GO BACK TO

[130. 24-00358 (Part 2 of 2)]

ITEM ONE 30.

ITEM 1 31, EXCUSE ME.

ITEM ONE 30, UH, SHA WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE? I'M SORRY.

COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS, WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE? UH, COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN HAS, OKAY, SO TWO PERSONS.

UH, KAREN MARSHALL AND DR. CHRISTIAN ISHA.

CHRISTIAN ISHA IS THAT, OR RICHARD? I'LL GIVE YOU THE CORRECT SPELLING NAME IS, UH, THERE'S A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN TO SUBMIT.

KAREN MARSHON AND CHRISTIANA ARD.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THAT? UH, THOSE TWO NAMES HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED.

PLEASE.

COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA IS NOT HERE.

SO IN HER ABSENCE, COUNCIL MEMBER NOLAN OH OH OH.

I NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER AN INTRODUCTORY ITEM.

MOTION TO RECONSIDER AN INTRODUCTORY ITEM.

WE RECONSIDER ITEM NUMBER 47.

UH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT

[47. 24-00488]

IT'S FOR A PROJECT IN MY, UM, MY DISTRICT THAT ALMOST ALREADY COMPLETED.

SECOND.

ANY OBJECTIONS? RECONSIDERATION? GO AHEAD.

COUNCIL MEMBER, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO WITH THAT ITEM? DELETE THE ITEM.

LIKE TO DELETE ITEM 47 AND INTRODUCE, IS THAT 40 47? NO, I CAN'T DISCUSS IT.

HUH? YOU WANT DISCUSS IT? WE CAN'T DISCUSS IT.

HUH? WE CAN'T

[03:05:01]

DISCUSS IT.

I DON'T WANNA DISCUSS IT, RIGHT? YEAH, I JUST SAY DELETED.

47.

THERE'S A, THERE'S A, UH, A MOTION TO DELETE.

ITEM 47.

YOU OBJECT.

THERE'S AN OBJECTION TO DELETION OF THE ITEM.

SO THE, WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON A MOTION TO, UH, DELETE THE ITEM.

ANYBODY OBJECTS TO DELETING ITEM 47 ON THE INTRODUCTORY ITEM.

ANY OBJECTION TO DELETE THE ITEM 47 ITEM YOU HAVE COME DOWN? YEAH.

DO HAVE, UH, SHOW COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON OBJECTION.

DISCUSS THE ITEM.

WHAT YOU REQUESTED TO HAVE IT DELETED.

I'M GONNA TELL Y'ALL WE GONNA TAKE A, IT'S NOT A CHANGE ORDER.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE A TWO MINUTE RECESS TO NOT DISCUSS THE ITEM.