[00:00:02]
HI, AND WELCOME TO THE WEDNESDAY JUNE 26TH, UM,[ Presentations and Special Recognitions]
PRESENTATIONS BEFORE THE EAST BATON ROUGE, UM, PARISH METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.UM, WE HAVE SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS, UH, TODAY, AND SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTON BROOM.
I THINK COUNCILWOMAN AMARILLO IS GONNA BE JOINING ME FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
UM, AS WE OBSERVE ALZHEIMER'S AND BRAIN AWARENESS MONTH, IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT THOSE AFFECTED BY ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND OTHER FORMS OF DEMENTIA.
THIS MONTH SERVES AS A REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF BRAIN HEALTH AND THE ONGOING FIGHT AGAINST ALZHEIMER'S.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE LOUISIANA CHAPTER OF ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION AND THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DOLORES HURST.
UM, THEIR DEDICATION AND TIRELESS EFFORTS HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED THE LIVES OF MANY INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN OUR CITY AND ACROSS OUR STATE.
DOLORES AND HER TEAM WORK RELENTLESSLY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, RESOURCES, AND HOPE TO THOSE FACING THE CHALLENGES OF ALZHEIMER'S.
SO LET US CONTINUE TO RAISE AWARENESS, SUPPORT, RESEARCH, AND EXTEND OUR COMPASSION TO THOSE AFFECTED, UM, BY THE DISEASE.
UM, BACK IN 1994 WHEN PRESIDENT REAGAN FIRST ANNOUNCED THAT HE HAD ALZHEIMER'S, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE WERE VERY, VERY UNFAMILIAR WITH.
AND NOW IT SEEMS LIKE TODAY THAT EVERYONE'S LIVES HAS BEEN TOUCHED WITH EITHER PERSONAL LIVES THROUGH FAMILY, FRIENDS, UM, HAVE BEEN TOUCHED WITH SOMEBODY THAT HAS SOME FORM OF DEMENTIA.
AND I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO, UH, BRING FOCUS TO THIS AND, AND HELP UNDERSTAND, UM, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
SO I APPRECIATE, UM, THESE FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING HARD TO FIND OUT HOW TO, UH, WHY THIS IS HAPPENING AND, UM, PERHAPS EVEN, UH, WAYS TO STOP IT.
SO, UM, DOLORES, YOU WOULD, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? YOU WRITE A LITTLE SOMETHING.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO MAYOR BROOM FOR OUR, OUR CONTINUING PARTNERSHIP AS WELL.
'CAUSE BEFORE THIS, I WAS FOR UNITED WAY, AND YOU WAS ALWAYS A GREAT PARTNER, UM, TO US AS WELL.
AND TO COUNCILWOMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CONNECTING WITH ME.
SHE HAD, SHE AND I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION A COUPLE, LIKE, MAYBE A MONTH AGO, AND SHE WAS LIKE, I'M GONNA DO SOMETHING.
SHE WAS LIKE, WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT GOING PURPLE.
UM, WE HAVE TO RAISE AWARENESS.
UM, THIS, THE, THE INITIATIVES AROUND AWARENESS AND EDUCATION.
UM, 'CAUSE WE HAVE 95,000 CITIZENS IN LOUISIANA WHO'S BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH ALZHEIMER'S IN EAST BATON ROUGE.
IT'S 8,800 PEOPLE THAT'S IN, THAT'S IN EAST BATON ROUGE ALONE.
THIS DISEASE IS VERY EXPENSIVE.
IT'S $3.5 BILLION FOR THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
IT'S $337 MILLION FOR EAST BATON ROUGE.
THAT'S A LOT OF DOLLARS FOR CARE AND SUPPORT AND EFFORTS.
SO IT TAKES US WORKING TOGETHER IN AWARENESS, BRING IN EDUCATION, BECAUSE WE WANT EARLY DETECTION.
WE HAVE ERA, WE HAVE TWO TREATMENTS RIGHT NOW.
AND IN ORDER FOR THEM TO GET THESE TREATMENTS AND ACTUALLY BE EFFECTIVE, WE HAVE TO FIND THEM AT THE MILD COGNITIVE, UM, DECLINE STAGE.
SO UNLESS WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE SPREADING AWARENESS, ADVOCATING AT THE CAPITOLS, WE GO TO THE NATIONAL ADVOCATING ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, ADVOCATING LOCALLY, WE WILL NOT GET THE EDUCATION THAT WE NEED FOR THOSE EARLY DETECTIONS, UM, FOR THE DISEASE.
WE WANT REALLY WANT TO CURE IT, BUT RIGHT NOW WE WANT TO TREAT IT.
WE WANT TO CREATE THAT PIPELINE DOWN TO TREATMENT.
[00:05:04]
THANK YOU.SO, UM, MS. HURST, I HAD THE, UM, OPPORTUNITY, UH, A YEAR AGO TO, TO ATTEND THE LUNCHEON THAT THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION HAS EVERY YEAR.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UM, YOU KNOW, I WAS SO IMPRESSED, UM, WITH THE, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S SERVICES.
THAT'S, UH, BARBARA DEN WHO HAS AMAZING RESCUE CARE PROGRAM.
UM, WE TRIED TO PARTNER WITH HER.
UM, AT THE CAPITAL, WE ACTUALLY GOT A BILL PASSED, UM, SB 46, THE FIRST, UM, ADVISORY COUNCIL THAT'S BUILT ON THE STATE LEVEL THAT'S GOING TO ACTUALLY MAKE IT A PRIORITY AND A PUBLIC HEALTH PRIORITY IN LOUIS.
SO Y'ALL ARE THE RESEARCH AND AWARENESS ARM.
THE RESEARCH ADVOCACY AND WONDERFUL.
AND NOW WE HAVE, UH, MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTERN BROOM AGAIN TO RECOGNIZE MOTHER PEARL PORTER OF BLESSING IN THE HOME MINISTRIES.
DURING FAMILIES RESTORATION MONTH, WE ARE REMINDED OF THE CRITICAL ROLES THAT STRONG HEALTHY FAMILIES PLAY IN THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS MONTH IS DEDICATED TO, UH, CELEBRATING THE EFFORTS TO REBUILD AND RESTORE FAMILIES.
UM, WE ARE ENSURING THAT EVERY HOUSEHOLD HAS THE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO THRIVE.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXTRAORDINARY WORK OF PEARL PORTER, ALSO KNOWN AS MOTHER PEARL PORTER.
FROM BLESSING IN THE HOME MINISTRY, HER UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING FAMILIES IN NEED HAS BEEN A BEACON OF HOPE AND RESILIENCE.
THROUGH HER MINISTRY, MOTHER PORTER HAS PROVIDED INVALUABLE GUIDANCE, RESOURCES, AND LOVE TO COUNTLESS FAMILIES, HELPING THEM TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES AND BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE.
SO WE ARE GOING TO DRAW AN INSPIRATION FROM MOTHER PEARL'S DEDICATION AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT INITIATIVES THAT STRENGTHEN OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.
TOGETHER WE CAN CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERY FAMILY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FLOURISH.
AND I HAVE A, UH, PROCLAMATION HERE, UH, PROCLAIMING JULY AS FAMILY RESTORATION MONTH, UH, URGING OUR CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF STRONG FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY, CELEBRATING THE DIVERSE FORMS THAT FAMILIES CAN TAKE, SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES IN NEED, AND SEEK HELP IF YOUR FAMILY IS FACING CHALLENGES.
SO WE ARE GOING TO BE, UH, WORKING, UM, WITH, UM, MOTHER PEARL PORTER AS SHE ROLLS OUT THE FAMILY RESTORATION MONTH IN JULY.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY, FIRST OF ALL, THANK GOD BECAUSE, UH, AND THANK MAYOR GROOM, MAYOR BROOM FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
THIS IS SOMETHING BEEN IN MY HEART FOR YEARS.
I, UH, SHE DID IT FOR ME IN 2018, BUT WE DIDN'T GET TO GO WITH IT BECAUSE OF THE, UH, PANDEMIC CAME.
BUT I'M JUST EXCITED TODAY BECAUSE, UH, THAT'S MY HEART, LOVE, FAITH, AND FAMILY.
SO I JUST THANK GOD FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND I'M PRAYING THAT THIS NEXT MONTH, THIS WILL BE THE BEGINNING OF A NEW THING HERE IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, RESTORING FAMILIES AND LOVE BACK INTO THE HOMES.
THANK YOU MOTHER POP PORTER FOR THE DIFFERENCE YOU'RE MAKING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND NOW OUR FINAL PRESENTATION AGAIN, MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WINSTON BROOM TO RECOGNIZE HOPE HICKERSON, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HEALTHY BR.
I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF OUR 2024 COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT, THE CHNA SURVEY.
THIS IMPORTANT SURVEY CONDUCTED EVERY THREE YEARS, ALLOWS OUR LOCAL HOSPITALS TO IDENTIFY AND PRIORITIZE THE MOST PRESSING HEALTH NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE INVITE ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS OF BATON ROUGE AND EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH TO TAKE PART IN THIS VITAL INITIATIVE.
RESIDENTS ARE ASKED TO RANK HEALTH ISSUES FROM MOST IMPORTANT, NUMBER ONE TO LEAST IMPORTANT.
THE SURVEY WILL TAKE JUST A FEW MINUTES TO COMPLETE AND WILL CLOSE IN MID-JULY.
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IS CRUCIAL IN
[00:10:01]
ENSURING THAT THE HEALTH CONCERNS OF BATON ROUGE RESIDENTS ARE HEARD AND ADDRESSED.SO PLEASE PARTICIPATE IN THE SURVEY AND SHARE IT WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
AT THE END OF THE SURVEY, PARTICIPANTS HAVE THE OPTION TO PROVIDE THEIR EMAIL ADDRESS TO RECEIVE A REPORT OF THE SURVEY FINDINGS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SURVEY.
MOST IMPORTANT, AND FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT HEALTHY BR.COM.
THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN TAKE THE SURVEY.
I WANT TO INVITE HOPE HICKERSON, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HEALTHY BR, TO SHARE A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS SURVEY AND HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, THIS SURVEY IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT REALLY GUIDES AND SHAPES THE ENERGY, THE, THE RESOURCES, THE THE TIME THAT WE PUT INTO CERTAIN HEALTH, UM, POLICIES, PROGRAMS AROUND THE CITY.
SO REALLY WHAT OUR CONSTITUENT SAY, THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME, THAT'S WHERE WE WANNA PUT OUR ENERGY AND TIME INTO.
SO THIS SURVEY IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
AND I ALSO WANNA SAY THAT WHEN YOU GO TO HEALTHY VR.COM, IT'S VERY EASY BECAUSE THE FIRST THING THAT POPS UP IS A POPUP BOX TO TAKE THE SURVEY.
IF YOU WOULD HELP US SPREAD THE WORD, WE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND LISTEN, POOR HOPE, UH, LEAVES.
UM, I WANT TO PUBLICLY, UH, CELEBRATE HER.
SHE'S ONLY BEEN ON THE JOB FOR SIX MONTHS.
AND THEN MOST RECENTLY SHE RECEIVED HER PHD IN, IN, UM, HEALTH COMMUNICATION.
HEALTH COMMUNICATION FROM LSU.
SHE RECEIVED HER PHD FROM LSU IN HEALTH COMMUNICATION.
THAT'S SOMETHING WORTH CELEBRATING.
UM, HOPE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
SO WE WILL, UH, RECESS UNTIL THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING BEGINS AT 4:00 PM THANK YOU.
WELCOME TO THE HOME OF THE EASTBOUND ROUGE PARISH METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, JUNE 26TH, 2024.
AND AS ALWAYS, IT'S SUCH A PLEASURE AND AN HONOR FOR US TO HAVE YOU TUNED IN WATCHING OUR BROADCAST AND WE'RE READY TO GO.
SO AT THIS TIME, HERE IS THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT PROTE OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DENNIS.
[CALL TO ORDER]
AND GENTLEMEN.WELCOME TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULING METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING ON THIS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26TH, 2024.
I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
ASK, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM? WE HAVE A QUORUM.
AT THIS TIME, I AM GOING TO WELCOME, UH, TO LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF IONS.
FATHER, GOD, WE THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR ANOTHER DAY THAT YOU HAVE MADE AND WE SHALL REJOICE AND BE GLAD THEREIN, OH GOD, WE COME ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS OF ANY OF OUR SINS THAT WE HAVE COMMITTED TO GOD.
WE ALSO COME ASKING THAT YOU WOULD ALLOW THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BE IN THIS MEETING TONIGHT.
LORD GOD, WE LIFT UP THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE TO YOU, THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
GOD, I LIFT UP ALL OF OUR LEADERS TO YOU, LORD GOD, OUR MAYOR, OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, OUR GOVERNORS, LORD GOD, ALL OF THOSE THAT ARE IN LEADERSHIP, HEAVENLY FATHER AND THOSE THAT STAND BY THEIR SIDE, OUR LIFT THEM UP TO YOU AND THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL.
FATHER GOD, WE PRAY THAT THIS MEETING BE DONE FOR YOUR GLORY TODAY, LORD GOD.
AND WE ASK THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO BLESS THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
IN JESUS CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY.
I PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WIDGET STANDS, ONE A NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
ONE, APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING ON JUNE 12TH, 2024 AND THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ZONING MEETING OF JUNE 19TH, 2024 BY COUNCIL, ADMINISTRATOR AND TREASURER.IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
ANY OBJECTIONS ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[INTRODUCTIONS]
WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE INTRODUCTION SECTION 2.12 INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER TWO, AMENDING THE ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET.SO IS TO REALLOCATE $2,557,000 FROM THE PROCEEDS FROM THE LOUISIANA, FROM THE LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES AS FOLLOWS, $1,040,000 FOR COMMUNITY CENTER IMPROVEMENTS AND INITIATIVES INCLUDING HOMELESSNESS.
$800,000 IN ASSISTANCE TO OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.
$400,000 FOR ECONOMIC BUSINESS INITIATIVES.
$157,000 FOR ASSISTANCE WITH AFFORDABLE
[00:15:01]
HOUSING INITIATIVES.$110,000 FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE MAYOR MAYFAIR PARK GYM.
AND $50,000 FOR THE ARTS PROGRAM BY THE MAYOR.
[CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS]
INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER THREE, EMAD ELDEN NOAL.NUMBER FOUR, EMAD ELDEN NOAL 1 2 7 2 3 BUHLER DRIVE.
1 2 5 5 1 BUELLER DRIVE, COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST.
NUMBER SIX, EMAD ALDEN NOAL AND JUDITH BUELLER BLAND.
1 2 5 5 7 BUELLER DRIVE, COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST.
NUMBER SEVEN, EMAD ELDEN NOAL 1 2 7 4 9 BUELLER DRIVE, COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST, NUMBER EIGHT, EMAD ALDEN NOFA 1 2 7 5 5 BUELLER DRIVE, COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST NUMBER NINE, TOMMY DYER, JR 1 7 3 1 NORTH 38TH STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 10, THE ESTATE OF PETER CHAMBERS IN THE ESTATE OF FLORENCE FISHER CHAMBERS 1 9 0 0 NORTH 39TH STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 11, MICHAEL DWYER AND AARON CHAPMAN DWY ON 1 7 1 5 NORTH 38TH STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN HEARST NUMBER 12, CEDRIC TERRANCE BYRD.
2 4 1 JEFFERSON DAVIS STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN ADJUDICATOR
[ADJUDICATED PROPERTY INTRODUCTIONS]
PROPERTY INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER 13 LOT SIX A SQUARE 16 DUCHENNE PLACE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 14, LOT FIVE PLUS SUBDIVISION BLUE IN PHILLIPS AND KENNER COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 15 LOT SEVEN PLUS SQUARE SIX SUBDIVISION BLUE IN PHILLIPS AND KENNER COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 16 LOT ONE PLUS SQUARE THREE SUBDIVISION GEORGETOWN COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 17 LOT 43 PLUS SQUARE SEVEN SUBDIVISION BANKS COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 18 LOT FOUR FIVE AND SIX SQUARE 31 SUBDIVISION BANKS COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 19 LOT FOUR SQUARE FOUR SUBDIVISION FAIRFIELD COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 20 LOT FIVE SQUARE FOUR SUBDIVISION FAIRFIELD COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 21 LOT THREE PART PLUS SQUARE 14 SUBDIVISION RICHMOND PARK COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 22 LOT ONE PART PLUS SQUARE 14 SUBDIVISION RICHMOND PARK COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN NUMBER 23 LOT EIGHT A SQUARE 39 SUBDIVISION BANKS COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 24 LOT ONE AND TWO SQUARE 21 SUBDIVISION EAST FAIRFIELD COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 25 LOT NINE AND 10 SQUARE 21 SUBDIVISION EAST FAIRFIELD COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN COLE NUMBER 26 LOT 100 SUBDIVISION BROOKSTOWN PLACE COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST NUMBER 27 LOT A THREE SUBDIVISION CREST COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 28 LOT D SUBDIVISION, HATTIE WOLF TRACK COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE KNOLL NUMBER 29 LOT TWO PLUS SQUARE 89 SUBDIVISION SWOT EDITION COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 30 LOT 28 SUBDIVISION WORKPLACE COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN.ALL ALL ITEMS THAT REQUIRE READING OF IN READ AND A MOTION TO DELETE ITEM 44 AT THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT AND INTRODUCE ALL OTHER ITEMS AS AN ORDER.
IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUSON TO INTRODUCE AND DELETE ITEM 44.
IS THERE A SECOND ON THE MOTION? SO MOVE, SECONDED BY MS. COLEMAN AND THE OBJECTIONS.
ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED.
[CONDEMNATIONS]
I WILL READ THE DPW RECOMMENDATIONS AS THEY WERE SENT TO US.THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 64, 67, 68, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83 AND 84.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A CONDEMNATION? IS ANYONE HERE? COME ON DOWN AND TELL US WHICH NUMBER.
STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
WHICH NUMBER IS THE CONDEMNATION? 82.
82 COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, GO AHEAD SIR.
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS PHILLIP DUP 4 2 2 9 1 CLOUT ROAD, GONZALES, LOUISIANA.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE STAFF MEMBERS OF THE CITY PARISH WHO HAVE WORKED ON THIS CASE NUMBER 82 FOR OVER SEVEN YEARS.
I HAVE OWNED AND MAINTAINED A FOURPLEX RESIDENTIAL BUILDING JUST ACROSS THE STREET FROM THIS BLIGHTED HOUSE.
AND I STRONGLY SUPPORT ITS CONDEMNATION.
BUT I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REMIND EVERYONE OF A DEEPER PROBLEM THAT HAS MADE THIS HOUSE SUCH A DETRIMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THAT DEEPER PROBLEM IS DRUGS.
I LOVE EVERY PERSON NO MATTER WHAT SITUATION THEY'RE IN, BUT I HATE DRUGS.
DRUGS HAVE CREPT INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR COUNTRY LIKE A CANCER.
FAR FROM BEING A VICTIMLESS CRIME DRUGS HAVE FILLED OUR COMMUNITY WITH CRIME AND BLIGHT,
[00:20:01]
ALTHOUGH THEY'RE FULL EFFECTS ARE NOT SEEN RIGHT AWAY.THEY ULTIMATELY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ACT LIKE ANIMALS WITHOUT CARE OR RESPECT FOR THEIR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS.
DRUGS ARE LIKE THE EVIL MEN SPOKEN OF IN THE BIBLE IN TWO PETER TWO 19, WHICH SAYS, WHILE THEY PROMISE THEM LIBERTY, THEY THEMSELVES ARE THE SERVANTS OF CORRUPTION FOR WHOM A MAN HAS OVERCOME OF THE SAME AS HE BROUGHT IN.
THE SLAVERY CREATED BY DRUGS IS A DEEPER SLAVERY THAN WHAT YOU CAN SEE.
IT IS A CHAIN AROUND THE SOUL THAT KEEPS PEOPLE FROM EVEN WANTING TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES OR THEIR COMMUNITY.
LET US PRAY TO GOD AS JESUS DID, AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
AND LET US TAKE BOLD ACTION TO CLEANSE OUR COMMUNITY OF BLIGHT AS WELL AS THE DEEPER PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE IT.
AND I'D LIKE TO PLACE A COPY OF MY COMMENTS IN THE PUBLIC RECORDS.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A CONDEMNATION? COME ON NOW.
STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD PLEASE.
I AM THE OWNER OF UM, 2 1 4 AND 2 1 6 NORTH 12TH STREET, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA.
AND I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF MY NEIGHBOR.
I'LL START WITH A BIT OF A STORY.
MY SON, UM, RECEIVED HIS MASTER'S DEGREE AT LSU UNIVERSITY AND I BEING A PROUD UM, MOTHER SAID, HEY, CAN I HELP YOU OR ANY OF THE OTHER STUDENTS TO, UM, HAVE A PROPERTY, TO HAVE SOMEONE TO LIVE? 'CAUSE HE SHARED THERE'S NO PLACE IT IS SOFT ON THE CAMPUSES.
SO AFTER MY REAL ESTATE AGENT HERE, MY HANDYMAN IS HERE, WE WENT ALL THROUGH THE CITY AND FOUND THIS WONDERFUL HOME AT 2 1 4 AND 2 1 6 NORTH 12TH STREET.
I BEGAN RENOVATING THAT PROPERTY IN JANUARY, JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, JANUARY OF, UM, 2023.
MY AMBITION WAS TO CREATE A SAFE, AFFORDABLE SPACE FOR STUDENTS OR ANYONE ELSE WHO NEEDS A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE.
SO EIGHT WEEKS IN RENOVATING THIS PROPERTY AND SITTING OUTSIDE AND WATCHING IT TRANSFORM.
AND I'VE SPOKEN TO MANY THAT ARE IN THE ROOM.
THEY KNOW THIS WHITE NEW PROPERTY THAT IS NOW ON 2 1 4 AND 2 1 6.
BUT ACROSS THE STREET I WATCHED A FIRE 2 1 5 NORTH 12TH STREET THINKING THAT NOW WE'LL DO SOMETHING BECAUSE IT'S BEEN REPORTED YEARS.
AND I NEVER UNDERSTOOD THE PROCESS.
SO I I, I COME HERE SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND.
I SAID, WELL NOW THE FAMILIES, UNFORTUNATELY, I HOPE NO ONE GETS HURT AND NO ONE DID.
IS ANYONE HURT? NO ONE'S HURT.
TWO WEEKS AFTER THE SOOT FELL DOWN, WE HAVE FAMILIES LIVING IN THAT PROPERTY ACROSS THE STREET.
WE HAVE, I HAVE SENT VIDEOS OF OUR DRUG DEALERS WHO HAVE MOVED NOW BECAUSE NO ONE'S THERE WHO SIT JUST VERY BLATANTLY AND PARK THEIR CAR.
AND PEOPLE COME FROM NEAR AND FAR.
BUT WHEN I WAS THERE FOR THAT EIGHT WEEK PERIOD OF TIME, NO ONE WAS THERE BECAUSE WE WERE WATCHING.
AND I ONLY SOUGHT TO, CAN I EDUCATE YOU? CAN I FIND ANOTHER PLACE FOR YOU TO LIVE? SO NOW I'M FACED WITH A DILEMMA.
I HAVE A COMPLETELY RENOVATED PROPERTY BECAUSE MY AMBITION WAS TO BE THE VOICE FOR THOSE WHO COULDN'T.
MY AMBITION WAS GO WAS TO PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE FOR THOSE TO LIVE.
I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AT LSU GOING TO MOVE IN ON JULY 1ST AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE IT'S NOT SAFE FOR THEM.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY CONDEMNATION? ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK? COME ON DOWN.
STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND LET US KNOW WHICH ITEM YOU'RE SPEAKING ON PLEASE.
HI, MY NAME IS STEPHANIE WOODSIDE.
I'M THE REALTOR THAT WORKED WITH PHYLLIS WHO JUST SPOKE CONCERNING TWO 15 NORTH TO NORTH, UH, 12TH, 12TH NORTH 12TH STREET.
UM, SO I WATCHED HER RENOVATE THE PROPERTY IN JANUARY OF 2000.
AND LONG STORY SHORT IS I'VE WATCHED THE PROPERTY GET WORSE.
WHEN WE INITIALLY LOOKED AT THE PROPERTY, IT HAD NOT CAUGHT FIRE.
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN THE PROPERTY OR WHO WERE UH,
[00:25:02]
JUST KINDA HOUSING IN THE PROPERTY ILLEGALLY CAUGHT THE PROPERTY ON FIRE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.AND LIKE SHE SAID, AFTER THE SMOKE SETTLED, TWO WEEKS LATER THEY WERE BACK IN THE PROPERTY.
'CAUSE AS SHE SAID, THERE ARE TWO STUDENTS FROM LSU WHO ARE GETTING READY TO MOVE INTO THE PROPERTY.
AND THERE WERE THREE OR FOUR MEN AND WOMEN JUST WALKING INTO THE PROPERTY DOING WHAT THEY DO, WHICH IS DRUGS.
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S NOT GOOD FOR ANYONE WHO LIVES IN THE COMMUNITY.
I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS KNOW ALL OF THAT.
MY WHOLE POINT IS WHAT DO WE DO? SINCE THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN ON THE LIST FOR A VERY LONG TIME, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WHAT DO WE DO TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A CONDEMNATION? STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND TELL US WHAT ITEM YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK ON.
UH, MY NAME IS CHARMAINE CARROLL.
AND UH, ON ITEM NUMBER 73 ON THE AGENDA, IT WAS NOT CALLED OUT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE.
AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE JUST TRYING TO, UH, DO SOME CLEANING UP OF THE, UM, MATERIALS.
WE DID GET THE PERMIT, OF COURSE THE WEATHER AND ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN A KIND OF A HINDRANCE, BUT WE ARE STILL CLEANING UP.
MA'AM, THAT ITEM IS, UH, ON THE, ON OUR LIST TO BE DELETED, SO YOU'RE FINE.
UH, ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY CONDEMNATION COUNCIL MEMBERS? WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE? THAT, UH, PROPERTY OVER THERE ON TWO 15 NORTH 12TH STREET HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED OR ANYTHING.
AND SO YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW IT WAS YOUR FIRST STEP AND THAT WOULD BE YOUR FIRST STEP IN ORDER TO REPORT IT SO THAT IN THE OWNERS OF THAT PROPERTY, I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE, BUT THIS HAS, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAS BEEN ON THERE.
SO TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
UM, I HAVE REPORTED THE PROPERTY PERSONALLY CALLING 6 1 1 PHILIS GILLEN, UM, TO THE BLIGHT.
SO I HAVE CALLED IN PERSONALLY TO REPORT BECAUSE I WAS SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE PROCESS.
MY DID I ANSWER DO I ONE, ONE TIME? NO, YOU CAN CONTINUE.
SO ALSO MY, MY REAL ESTATE AGENT HAS, UM, EVERYONE WHO HAS WORKED ON THE PROPERTY OR TOUCHES THE PROPERTY.
'CAUSE I TRY TO EMPLOY THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S A YARD SERVICE OR WHETHER IT'S ELECTRICIAN OR WHETHER IT'S THE AC MAN.
UM, MY HANDYMAN, THEY'VE ALL CALLED AND REPORTED.
I LEARNED OF THIS MEETING AND I, AGAIN, I THINK YOU, THAT I WAS, UM, INFORMED OF TO ATTEND.
UM, BECAUSE I WAS, IT WAS TOLD TO ME, THIS IS NOW WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
SO IT'S BEEN REPORTED FOR, FOR ME FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
AND THEY KEPT GIVING US UPDATES THAT IT HAD BEEN REPORTED OVER THE LAST, MY UNDERSTANDING, IT'S THREE YEARS.
SO YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IT TO BE TORN DOWN, IS THAT CORRECT? THE ASK, THE ASK SIMPLY WOULD BE, I THREEFOLD, NUMBER ONE, BECAUSE THE INDIVIDUALS ARE BREAKING IN, IF WE JUST, UM, BOARDED UP THE DOORS AND I'D BE HAPPY TO DO IT MYSELF THAT THEY CAN'T GET IN.
SO THEN THEY MOVE TO THE DRIVEWAY.
I'M HAPPY TO IF WE JUST TOOK THAT DOWN.
SO IF WE MAKE IT HARDER FOR THEM TO GET IN, BECAUSE IT'S, THIS IS SOMEONE'S PROPERTY, I DON'T WANNA KNOCK THAT DOWN.
SO I'D BE HAPPY TO BOARD IT UP.
RACHEL, GIVE US SOME INFORMATION ON THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.
DO I SAY SOMETHING? AM I DONE? MM-HMM.
SO THE PROPERTY WAS CONDEMNED IN 2020.
THEY HAD AN ISSUED BUILDING PERMIT IN 2021.
SO WE HAD GIVEN SOME TIME, UM, FOR THEM TO, TO POTENTIALLY COMPLETE THOSE REPAIRS.
UM, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME OTHER, YOU KNOW, REPORTS SINCE THEN.
WE WENT AFTER IT FOR SOME JUNK TRASH AND DEBRIS AND SOME OPEN AND UNSECURED.
UM, I THINK SOME IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE.
UM, BUT WE DID, YOU KNOW, RECENTLY, AS I'M SURE BECAUSE OF SOME OF HER REPORTS, UM, OF COMPLAINTS THAT WE SAW, AGAIN, STARTED
[00:30:01]
CONDEMNATION PROCEEDING.BUT THAT, UH, AS SHE KNOW, THAT PROCESS TAKES QUITE A WHILE.
YOU KNOW, IT TAKES, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE WE EVEN SEND IT TO THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
AND THEN THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, SOME REPORTING AND WHATNOT TO DO BEFORE IT MAKES IT TO Y'ALL'S AGENDA.
IT CAN GOT CONDEMNED, BUT THEN IT GOT RESCINDED.
SO WE GOT, THAT'S THE HISTORY THAT I, THAT I KNOW OF THIS PROPERTY.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, ANYONE WITH ANY CONDEMNATIONS? UH, THEY WANNA MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT ON COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, ANYTHING YOU WANNA YES, SIR.
THAT'S GOT TO, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT PICTURE OF THAT HOUSE, IT NEEDS TO BE TORN ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE GROUND IF YOU LOOK THAT UP.
AND SO, RACHEL, THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA ASK THAT YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND SEE WHAT IT WOULD ENTAIL FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
ALRIGHT, SO WE GONNA PROCEED WITH ITEM 82? YES SIR.
ALRIGHT, I'M GONNA READ THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS.
THEY OUGHT TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 64, 67, 68, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, AND 84, DEFER FOR 30 DAYS.
AND TO DELETE ITEM 65, 69 AND 73.
COUNCIL MEMBER, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ALL CONDEMNATIONS? SO MOVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MA ROSA.
COUNCIL MEMBER HO HOLD, HOLD UP.
OKAY, WE DON'T HAVE TWO WEEKS, SO, WELL, THEY, YESTERDAY THEN
ALL OF THOSE 30 DAYS, 84 IS 60 DAYS.
ALL RIGHT, LEMME READ THAT AGAIN, JUST TO BE SURE.
PROCEED WITH ITEM 64, 67, 68, 70, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, AND 83.
ITEMS 80 AND 81 DEFER FOR 60 DAYS.
AND DEFER FOR AND DELETE ITEM 65, 69 AND 73.
ITEM 72, 71, 72, AND 80 MM-HMM.
IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ARO, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUSSON.
CONDEMNATIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE GOING GIVE A, WE GONNA GIVE A FIVE TRUCK AWAY TO OUR FOLKS.
AND THEN WE GONNA COME BACK AND, UH, ADDRESS ITEM 1 52.
UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE, WE'RE GONNA COME BACK AND ADDRESS ITEM 1 58.
[86. 24-00646]
WE'RE GONNA GO TO ITEM 86.WE'RE JUST AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT AND DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING ON BEHALF OF THE BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO DECLARE A LADDER TRUCK SURPLUS AND ALLOW DONATION OF SET LADDER TRUCK TO THE CITY OF GRAMBLING, UH, FIRE DEPARTMENT.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT GRAMBLING IS IN DESPERATE NEED YES.
OF THE FIRE TRUCK BASED ON THEM HAVING TO PLAY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AGAIN THIS YEAR BY THE FIRE CHIEF.
ALRIGHT, SO THANK Y'ALL COUNSEL.
UH, WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS FOR OUR PARTNERS OF NORTH NORTH PART OF LOUISIANA.
DUE TO THE IMPACT THAT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDING GIVE US THROUGH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND APPROVAL OF Y'ALL, WE WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE SOME NEW EQUIPMENT AND NOW WE CAN PASS OUR EQUIPMENT ON TO PEOPLE OF NEED.
MOST OF YOU KNOW THAT OUR FIREHOUSE IN SCOTLANDVILLE COMMUNITY THAT REPRESENTS SOUTHERN, IT HAS THE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY COLORS ON IT NOW.
I TOLD MAYOR BRADLEY WHEN I MET WITH HIM, THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GONNA GIVE HIM THIS TRUCK, WHEN HE GETS TO THE GRAMBLING, IT'S GONNA PUT THE SOUTHERN COLORS.
SO, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE WITH MAYOR BROOM AND MAYOR BRADLEY HERE THAT HE WANTS SPEAK TO Y'ALL.
IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S, THE LORD HAS BLESSED US WITH ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY HERE IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, ALSO IN THE CITY OF GRAMBLING.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR THIS TRUCK.
THIS APPARATUS IS MUCH NEEDED IN OUR CITY AND IT WILL HELP US, UH, LOWER OUR FIRE RATINGS TREMENDOUSLY.
ALONG WITH CELL ALONG THAT CAME ALONG WITH ME IS THE MAYOR PRO TEAM.
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE HER.
DELORES WILKERSON SMITH, AND ALSO ONE OF OUR CITY COUNCILMAN, UH, DARIA PONTON COUNCIL LADY PONTON,
[00:35:02]
UH, THIS YEAR, NOW GONNA BE LIKE LAST YEAR WE GOT HIS NEW COACH IN GRAMBLING.AND, AND GUESS WHAT? WE GOT ONE OF Y'ALL COACHES, SO WE KNOW YOUR SECRETS.
I'M GONNA TAKE A PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE AS A FORMER SOVIET UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL PLAYER TO SAY THAT IS EXACTLY WRONG OKAY.
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK CHIEF KIMBALL FOR, UH, HIS WORK WORKING WITH US.
I'VE BEEN DOWN SEVERAL TIMES AND HE'S ALWAYS BEEN, UH, VERY NICE AND VERY KIND TO US.
SO I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, UH, CHIEF CAMPBELL AND MAYOR, UM, BROOME ELL, UH, HELP IN GETTING THIS, THIS DONE.
WE THANK YOU FOR DRIVING DOWN AND HOPE YOU HAVE A SAFE TRIP BACK.
MAYOR BROOM, DID YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING, UH, OTH OTHER THAN, UM, MAYOR BRADLEY, AND I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS, AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE, UH, FEEL GOOD MOMENTS ABOUT HELPING YOUR NEIGHBOR, YOU KNOW, RIGHT.
NOT RIGHT NEXT DOOR, BUT IN NORTH LOUISIANA.
SO I'M SO GLAD THAT, UH, WE CAN HELP THE CITY OF GLIN, UH, SUCCEED, UH, AND HELP THEM IN THEIR SAFETY EFFORTS, THEIR FIRE SAFETY EFFORTS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE, ALL OF YOU.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE OR SOMEONE, COUNCIL MEMBER MO? YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY A COUPLE WORDS.
FIRST OF ALL, UM, IT WAS NICE SEEING Y'ALL TODAY AND HANGING OUT.
I HOPE Y'ALL ENJOYED YOUR SNOWBALLS.
UM, BUT ON ON THE PART, UH, OF THE FIRETRUCK AND, AND CHIEF KIM WILL KNOW, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, AS, AS FIREFIGHTERS, YOU GET TO KNOW YOUR TRUCK, YOU GET TO KNOW YOUR EQUIPMENT.
AND EVEN WHEN IT COMES TIME TO RETIRE THOSE UNITS, I MEAN, WE, WE USED TO HAVE OLD AMERICAN LA FRANCIS, UH, AT CENTRAL AND, AND GOING INTO A NEW UNIT.
BUT, BUT TO SEE, UH, THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND Y'ALL TO, TO KEEP THAT TRUCK IN SERVICE AND, AND, AND, AND IN DUTY, UH, TO FIRST RESPONDERS AND EVERYTHING, UH, WE TRULY HOPE Y'ALL THAT, THAT IT WORKS OUT VERY WELL FOR Y'ALL.
THE FIRE RATING IS GONNA BE AMAZING, AND, UH, CONGRATULATIONS ON KEEPING THIS TRUCK IN SERVICE AND IN DUTY.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, ANY OBJECTIONS ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[158. 24-00736]
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE GONNA GO TO ITEM 1 58.UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WHO ARE HERE, UH, WE'RE GONNA DO THINGS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.
WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM THE ATTORNEYS, I'M TOLD THEY'RE GONNA MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT THIS ITEM.
AND THEN AFTER THE, THE, THE, THE ATTORNEYS MAKE A STATEMENT, IF YOU STILL WISH TO SPEAK, YOU CAN, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WE MAY BE DEFERRING THIS ITEM TO A LATER DATE AND TIME TO A LATER DATE AND TIME.
SO AT THIS TIME, ITEM 1 58, CONSIDERING AN APPEAL FOR THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION DECISION IN CASE HPC DO DASH 24, MADE ON JUNE 12TH, 2024 BY COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR, TREASURER, REASON FOR EMERGENCY, IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE UDC FOR HPC APPEALS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ORDINANCE 1 6 4 4 2.
THIS ITEM MUST BE DECLARED EMERGENCY BY TWO THIRD VERDICT OF METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.
IS THERE A MOTION DECLARED ITEM IN EMERGENCY? SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN COLEMAN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS ON DECLARING THE ITEM IN EMERGENCY? UH, WE ARE NOW GONNA GO TO A PUBLIC HEARING AND WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM THE ATTORNEY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR PRO, TIM COLE AND GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M JEFF BARBIN FROM THE LAW FIRM OF PHELPS DUNBAR IN BATON ROUGE.
THAT'S 400 CONVENTION STREET, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA.
I REPRESENT, UH, CATFISH QUEEN LLC, WHO'S THE CURRENT OPERATOR OF THE BELL OF BATON ROUGE CASINO.
THEY PURCHASED THE OPERATIONS OF THE CASINO IN 2022.
THIS IS AN APPEAL OF THE HPC DENYING OUR CLIENT THE RIGHT TO DEMOLISH THE MARITIME TWO BUILDING.
OUR CLIENT WOULD LIKE TO DEFER CONSIDERATION OF THE APPEAL TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING IN ORDER FOR US TO TAKE SOME TIME TO VISIT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND VISIT WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TRY TO COME UP WITH A RESOLUTION THAT'S ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE WOULD ASK YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR THE DEFERRAL TODAY.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
WE'LL, WE'LL CALL YOU BACK IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
SO AGAIN, THERE'S GONNA BE A REQUESTED DEFERRED ITEM TO JULY 26TH.
SO WE WILL HEAR THIS ITEM AND TAKE A VOTE ON THE ITEM ON JULY 24TH.
UH, BUT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE POLICY AND PROCEDURE, IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? AND I WANNA LET YOU KNOW WE SPEAK ON IT TODAY.
WE MAY ACTUALLY COME BACK ON JULY 24TH AND SPEAK AGAIN.
BUT IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM DAR THAT WAS CODED LANGUAGE FOR NO NEED TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM
[00:40:01]
THE PRESERVATION IS THAT MARITIME TWO COULD BE CONVERTED TO A DIFFERENT USE LIKE MARITIME.ONE HAS BEEN MARITIME ONE, ACCORDING TO THE PAMPHLET HANDOUT WAS SOLD IN 2014.
IT'S BEEN CONVERTED INTO RESIDENTIAL USE.
THE BOTTOM FLOOR OF THE BUILDING WAS HOLLOWED OUT TO CONVERT IT TO PARKING.
UM, THE BUILDING LIKE THIS ONE HAD BEEN VACANT FOR YEARS.
UM, IT WAS VACATED LONG BEFORE THE ONE AT MARITIME TWO HAS BEEN.
SO THE PHOTOS SHOW THE PARKING, THEY SHOW THE APARTMENTS AND THEY HAVE STATEMENTS.
THIS BUILDING IS MUCH SMALLER.
WE THINK MARITIME TWO IS ABOUT 150,000 SQUARE FEET.
I HAPPEN TO RUN INTO THE ARCHITECT WHO DID THIS WORK TODAY MUCH BY ACCIDENT, AND HE SAID THAT THEY HAD GREAT SUCCESS IN CONVERTING THE PARKING.
AND I THINK THIS BUILDING HAS ABOUT 40 PARKING SPACES.
MARITIME TWO IS LARGER, SO IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE EVEN MORE PARKING.
IS ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM STATE'S NAME, ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD? COME ON DOWN.
WHITNEY, UM, WHITNEY HOFFMAN SEL.
I'M WITH THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
UM, JUST WANTED TO, UM, THANK THE DEVELOPERS IN THE CASINO FOR TAKING SOME TIME TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY ON THIS.
AND THEN JUST MENTION THAT, UM, WE HAVE DOWNTOWN IS GUIDED BY OUR MASTER PLANS OF PLANNED BATON ROUGE ONE, PLANNED BATON ROUGE TWO.
UM, A LOT OF THOSE PLANS RECOMMEND THE RESTORATION OF THE BUILDINGS, WHICH WE'VE SEEN SUCCESS IN, IN THE WATERMARK AND, UM, THE, UH, RIVER MARK AND SEVERAL OTHER BUILDINGS.
AND SO, UM, JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE, THE RECOMMENDATION IN THAT AREA DOESN'T, UM, NECESSARILY SAY A PARKING LOT.
UM, AND THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY.
IS ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, COUNCIL.
STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
I LIVE DISTRICT SEVEN ANNABEL OWENS.
UM, AND I'M THE ASSOCIATE ORGANIZER FIRST SIERRA CLUB DELTA CHAPTER, AND A MEMBER OF THE BATON ROUGE TRANSIT JUSTICE TEAM.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY BECAUSE WE ARE OPPOSED TO THE DEMOLITION OF THE MARITIME TWO BUILDING IN EXCHANGE FOR A PARKING LOT.
WE ARE CONCERNED BY THE FACT THAT THE CASINO WILL LIKELY SERVE ALCOHOL AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED PARKING LOT ONLY SERVES TO INCENTIVIZE IMPAIRED DRIVING OVER OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE HOPING TO MEET PARKING CODE AND REQUIREMENTS, BUT I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS.
A MORE SUSTAINABLE WAY OF ENSURING THAT PEOPLE CAN GET TO AND FROM THE CASINO WOULD BE WORKING WITH CATS TO FURTHER BUS ACCESS.
WHILE THIS SOLUTION WOULD REQUIRE INGENUITY, COLLABORATION, AND AN EXCEPTION TO THE PARKING CODE, IT BETTER SERVES THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE.
THE CULTURE OF BATON ROUGE HAS LONG BEEN CAR-CENTRIC TO THE POINT WHERE OUR ENVIRONMENT IS BUILT FOR VEHICLES AND NOT FOR PEOPLE.
BUILDING ANOTHER PARKING LOT IS NOT CONTRIBUTING TO THE LONG-TERM SUCCESS OF THIS CITY AND ITS CITIZENS, NEARLY 10% OF WHICH LIVE IN HOUSEHOLDS WITHOUT CARS.
IT'S TIME THAT WE START INVESTING IN ALTERNATIVES LIKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, WALKING AND BIKING.
DENYING THIS REQUEST COULD BE AN HONORABLE STEP TOWARDS BUILDING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE AND NOT PERSONAL VEHICLES.
ALL WE ASK TODAY, I KNOW Y'ALL ARE DEFERRING THE BOAT, UM, BUT I'M GONNA SAY MY PIECE ANYWAY.
BUT ALL WE ASK TODAY IS THAT YOU HONOR THE DECISION OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND THE HUNDREDS OF BATON ROUGE CITIZENS MY ORGANIZATION REPRESENTS AND DENY THIS REQUEST.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ALL RIGHT, WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THERE A MOTION TO DEFER TO THE NEXT MEETING.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? GO AHEAD QUICKLY.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED 86 EMAIL COMMENTS AND OPPOSITION TO, UH, TO ITEM 1 58.
ITEM HAS BEEN DEFERRED TO THE JULY 24TH MEETING.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE NOW GO BACK TO PAGE
[87. 24-00647]
16, ITEM 87.MOTION, UH, TO APPROVE CONTINGENT ON GRANTS REVIEW.
APPROVAL IS IN ORDER FOR ITEM 87.
AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A FILE, AN APPLICATION WITH LOUISIANA HIGHWAY SAFETY COMMISSION FOR A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $89,343 TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR ALCOHOL AND BEVERAGE CONTROL AND THE JUVENILE AND UNDERAGE DRINKING ENFORCEMENT JEW TASK FORCE BY THE ALCOHOL BEVERAGE CONTROL.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS? WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODDE.
[88. 24-00682]
GO NOW TO ITEM 88, AUTHORIZING MAYOR.PRESENT ON BEHALF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE FOR THE PARISH OF EAST PANEL, SENT TO AN INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT CONTRACT WITH THE JUVENILE COURT IN THE BATON ROUGE EAST BAT ROUGE PARISH IN THE AMOUNT OF $65,268 BY JUVENILE SERVICES DIRECTOR.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM WHEN I GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.
[89. 24-00700]
[00:45:01]
89.AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT REIMBURSEMENT COST IN THE AMOUNT OF $105,090 FOR THE OFFICE OFFICER OVERTIME AND VEHICLE UNIT USAGE COSTS FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2024.
STATE OF LOUISIANA GULF COAST, HDTA GRANT FUND BY POLICE CHIEF.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCILORS.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKER.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
[90. 24-00724]
NOW TO ITEM 90.A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED IN EASTBOUND PARA SEWER COMMISSION TO PROCEED WITH A NOT TO EXCEED $175,000 FINANCING THROUGH 175 MILLION, EXCUSE ME, FINANCING THROUGH THE LOUISIANA LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITIES AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY REQUESTING LOUISIANA LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITIES, AND THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ISSUE IS NOT TO EXCEED 175 MILLION SUBORDINATE LIEN REVIEW REFUNDING BONDS BY BOND COUNCIL.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE GO TO? COUNCIL MEMBERS? IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.
ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO NOW TO ITEM 91
[91. 24-00693]
AUTHORIZING AN ADDITIONAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION OF THE EAST RIDGE PARISH PURSUANT TO LOUISIANA CONSTITUTION.ARTICLE SEVEN, SECTION 21 OF PROPERTY THAT'S OWNED AND OCCUPIED BY A FIRST RESPONDER AS DENIED BY THE CONSTITUTIONAL AS DEFINED BY THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION AND PROVIDING NOTICE OF THE ADOPTION OF THIS EXEMPTION BY THE ASSESSOR, BY THE CHAIR.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS PLEASE.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? MOTION TO APPROVE BY THE CHAIR.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
UH, COUNCILMAN COLE IS THIS WAS AN, UM, ITEM THAT WAS APPROVED BY VOTERS ACROSS THE STATE OF LOUISIANA IN 2023.
UH, EARLIER IN THE MONTH, I SUBMITTED SOME QUESTIONS TO YOU FOR THE FISCAL IMPACT, UH, THAT THIS WOULD HAVE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
HAVE YOU UNCOVERED ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THAT, UH, INQUIRY? YEAH, I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING, UH, THE FISCAL IMPACT SINCE YOU SENT THAT EMAIL.
UH, AND IN MY CONVERSATIONS IT'S BEEN HARD TO ASCERTAIN, BUT THE FISCAL IMPACT IS GOING TO BE SIMPLY BASED ON THE PROCESS AND PROCEDURE THAT HAS TO BE ESTABLISHED BY THE TAX COMMISSION IN TERMS OF IDENTIFYING THE NUMBERS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ACTUALLY LIVE, UH, IN THE PARISH, WHO IDENTIFIES FIRST RESPONDERS AND WILL, UH, REQUEST TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.
UH, THE BEST WE COULD DO IS CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ASK THEM WHO ACTUALLY LIVE IN THE PARISH, WHO ACTUALLY OWN A PROPERTY IN THE PARISH AND WHO ACTUALLY LIVE IN THE PROPERTY THAT THEY OWN.
THAT WOULD'VE REQUIRED THEM TO DO A SURVEY OR A POLL WITH THE STAFF MEMBERS WHO IDENTIFY OR WHO OFFERS RESPONDERS.
AND THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE IN DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT THOSE INDIVIDUALS, UH, WOULD BE TRUTHFUL IN THEIR EXPLANATION.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE MAY BE PEOPLE WHO, UH, LIVE IN THE PARISH BUT ARE FIRST RESPONDERS IN OTHER, UH, PARISHES AS WELL.
SO IT WAS REALLY HARD TO GATHER THAT INFORMATION IN TALKING WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS TO IDENTIFY HOW MANY WOULD ACTUALLY, HOW MANY ACTUALLY LIVE HERE WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM.
AND THEN WHAT THE ACTUAL FISCAL COST WOULD BE.
THE BEST I COULD ASCERTAIN IS THAT ONCE IT HAPPENS, THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION WOULD BE TO THE AMOUNT OF ABOUT $25,000, WHICH WOULD SAVE EACH PERSON WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY, LIVES IN THE PROPERTY, LIVES IN THE PARISH, ABOUT 300 TO $400 A YEAR.
SO ONCE THE PROCESS IS ESTABLISHED, WE'LL HAVE BETTER INFORMATION RELATIVE TO THE TOTAL IMPACT IT'S GOING TO HAVE ON THE CITY PARISH.
SO WE HAVE TO PASS IT FIRST BEFORE WE KNOW WHAT THE IMPACT IS.
DO YOU KNOW IF, IF THIS WOULD QUALIFY IN, UM, INCORPORATED CITIES? YOU MEAN INCORPORATED CITIES WITHIN THE PARISH IF THIS WERE TO PASS CORRECT, CORRECT.
WITHIN EAST BAT PARISH, IT WOULD, MM-HMM,
I MEAN, I UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATING THE INTENT OF THIS, THIS ITEM ALSO DID NOT PASS IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH DIDN'T CARRY THIS PARISH.
AND I HAVE CONCERNS PARTICULARLY AT, AT THIS MOMENT IN OUR GOVERNMENT ABOUT PROVIDING ADDITIONAL TAX INCENTIVES.
UM, DID YOU SEEK INFORMATION THROUGH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT FOR THIS? ABOUT THE FISCAL IMPACT? ABOUT THE FISCAL IMPACT? THE INITIAL CONVERSATION WITH FINANCE DEPARTMENT A LONG TIME AGO? YEAH.
BUT ONCE WE DETERMINED THAT THE PROCESS HAD TO BE ESTABLISHED FIRST, AGAIN, IT WAS ABOUT REACHING OUT TO DEPARTMENT HEADS TO DETERMINE WHO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
SO THEY WOULDN'T KNOW WITHOUT HAVING THOSE ACTUAL NUMBERS.
BUT IF ANGIE WANTS TO COME UP HERE AND CORRECT ME IF I'M INCORRECT.
[00:50:01]
HAVING THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF WHO QUALIFIES FOR IT, WE'RE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A FISCAL IMPACT.UM, LIKE COUNCILMAN COLE SAID, UH, THE AVERAGE PERSON COULD SAVE BETWEEN 300 AND $500 BASED ON HOW THE LAW IS WRITTEN.
WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.
UM, HE WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE US THE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION AS WELL.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING, IT HAS TO BE RENEWED ANNUALLY.
SO A TAXPAYER WILL HAVE TO PHYSICALLY GO BACK IN AND RENEW IT ANNUALLY.
SO THEN AGAIN, IT'S HARD FOR US TO PROVIDE YOU A FISCAL IMPACT NOT KNOWING THE DEMOGRAPHICS, AND THEN IT'S ON ONEROUS ON THE PROPERTY, UH, OWNER THAT THEY RENEW IT ANNUALLY.
SO THE, THE FISCAL IMPACT COULD CHANGE FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
UM, FIRST I WANT TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL NICOLE FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM.
UH, I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS WAS PASSED ON THE STATE LEVEL.
UH, WHEN YOU, UH, APPROACH ME ABOUT IT, YOU MADE ME AWARE OF IT.
I THINK IS A, IS A GREAT TOOL AND A GREAT ASSET TO, UH, PAY A DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO FIRST RESPONDERS.
UM, I THINK, UH, EACH OF US UP HERE, AND EACH OF US IN THE ROOM PROBABLY HAVE A STORY OF A FIRST RESPONDER MAKING A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON EITHER OUR LIVES OR THE LIVES OF A LOVED ONE.
UH, WE KNOW THAT THESE, UH, INDIVIDUALS, MEN AND WOMEN ARE, ARE GROSSLY UNDERPAID.
SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO FROM A PARISH STANDPOINT TO INCENTIVIZE THEM AND MAKE, UH, MORE OF AN IMPACT ON THEIR LIVES FOR WHAT THEY DO FOR US, THE LIVES THEY SAVE, HOW THEY PROTECT AND SERVE US.
UM, OFTENTIMES SOME OF 'EM GET A LOT OF, UH, SCRUTINY FROM, FROM MANY OF US AND, AND ME IN PARTICULAR AS IT RELATES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, UM, AND, AND THEIR INTERACTION WITH THE PUBLIC.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE RELY ON THEM.
SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN THEM, INCENTIVIZING THEM TO STAY IN THE PARISH, UM, I'M IN SUPPORT OF.
UM, AND AGAIN, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU COUNCILMAN COLE FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM.
UM, AND, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, FINANCIAL IMPACT.
AND I KNOW THAT IS A, A, UM, A PHYSICALLY RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO.
SO I DON'T THINK COUNCILMAN GODDE IS OUTTA LINE FOR, FOR REQUESTING THAT, BUT I JUST THINK ABOUT THE HUMAN IMPACT THAT THEY MAKE.
AND, AND FOR ME, THERE'S NO NUMBER, UM, THAT I COULD PUT UP THERE THAT WOULDN'T JUSTIFY ME, YOU KNOW, MAKING THIS TYPE OF INVESTMENT THREE TO $500, EVEN A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HELP THEM SAVE IN THEIR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN COLE FOR BRINGING IT.
UM, I KNOW THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE US WILL APPRECIATE IT, AND I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM.
UM, ANGIE, IF YOU'LL COME BACK UP.
SO WHILE YOU'RE COMING, I'LL, I'LL ASK THE QUESTION THAT I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE THE ONE TO ASK OR NOT.
UM, I'M CURIOUS IF WE KNOW WHAT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AROUND US OR WHAT OTHER PARISHES AROUND US HAVE ALREADY ADOPTED THIS.
UM, I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
I, UH, THE, UM, ASSESSOR HAS LET US KNOW THAT THEY ARE, THE TAX COMMISSION IS WORKING ON PROCEDURE.
THEY WANT THE, UM, ALL OF THE PARISHES IN THE STATE TO USE THE SAME PROCEDURE AND THE TAX COMMISSION IS WORKING ON THAT PROCEDURE CURRENTLY.
SO, UM, I DON'T THINK ANY, ANY PARISH KNOWS THE ANSWER TO THOSE QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT.
UM, SO I GUESS MY OTHER QUESTION, JUST UNDERSTANDING HOW THE PROCESS WORKS.
UM, THIS IS NOT JUST FOR FIRST OUR FIRST RESPONDERS HERE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH THAT LIVE IN THE PARISH.
THIS COULD BE ANY FIRST RESPONDER THAT DOES LIVE IN OUR PARISH.
SO IF YOU'RE AN ASCENSION FIREFIGHTER, YOU WOULD QUALIFY FOR A TAX DEDUCTION IN, IN THIS PARISH AS WELL.
I'M JUST SPEAKING ON EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
IT'S WOULD HAVE A FISCAL IMPACT ON OUR PROPERTY TAX FOR A HOMEOWNER THAT IS, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY MEETS THE CRITERIA OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY THAT OWNS A HOME IN OUR PARISH.
AND LIVES IN THE HOME LIVES OWN, YES, SIR.
BUT THEY COULD BE A FIRE, THEY COULD BE A FIRST RESPONDER FROM ANY OTHER PARISH OR, OR THAT KIND OF THING.
AS LONG AS THEY LIVE AND OWN THE HOME AND THEN THE RETIREES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK, I SUSPECT THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, OTHER PARISHES ARE LIKELY TO ADOPT THIS AS WELL.
UM, AND SO WE RUN THE RISK OF LOSING, UH, OR, OR HAVING KIND OF AN ANTI INCENTIVE, UH, YOU KNOW, AS WE, AS OUR SURROUNDING PARISHES, I THINK AT SOME POINT WE DO HAVE TO ADOPT THIS, BUT, UM, WE'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THE FISCAL IMPACT BEFORE WE COULD DO IT.
SO, UM, MY HOPE IS THAT WE'LL DEFER IT AND HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO UNDERSTAND, UM, AT LEAST UNDERSTAND IT AS, AS FAR AS LIKE A WORST CASE SCENARIO.
UM, AND THEN, AND THEN MOVE FORWARD ON IT FROM THERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. UM, THANK YOU.
[00:55:01]
SO IT, IT SEEMS TO ME JUST TO KIND OF, UM, ECHO, UM, WHAT, WHAT ROWDY AND DWIGHT HAVE SAID THAT IT WOULD, IT SHOULDN'T BE REALLY THAT DIFFICULT TO FIND OUT WHERE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS LIVE.THEY ALL HAVE THEIR, UM, THEIR INFORMATION ON FILE WITH, UH, THEIR HR DEPARTMENTS IN THEIR, IN THEIR DEPARTMENTS.
SO IT SEEMS TO ME IT'S A DATA PULL IN A ZIP CODE SORT FOR US TO BEGIN TO DETERMINE, UM, WHAT THE, WHAT THE FISCAL IMPACT WOULD BE TO THE CITY PARISH.
AND I THINK AT THIS TIME, WE'RE NOT ON A HARD DEADLINE.
THE TAX COMMISSION IS STILL WORKING OUT, UM, THE DETAILS.
SO I THINK WE HAVE THE TIME TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, DEFER THIS FOR 90 DAYS.
THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY TO, TO THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS, IS WHILE THEIR INFORMATION MAY BE WITH HR, WE DON'T KNOW WHO OWNS OR DOESN'T OWN THEIR PROPERTY.
THEY MAY NOT BEEN, THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE THAT INFORMATION.
SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO THAT RESEARCH TO FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY ACTUALLY OWN A PROPERTY WHERE THEY LIVE.
SO THAT WOULD BE THE QUESTION.
WELL, IT GIVES US A, I MEAN, MOST, WELL, OKAY, FAIR ENOUGH.
BUT I MEAN, BUT, UM, THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S PRETTY, THAT AGAIN, THAT'S JUST, THAT'S JUST CLERICAL WORK.
I MEAN, I, I LOOK UP WHO OWNS HOUSES WHERE ALL THE TIME.
SO I MEAN, IT TAKES SOME, SO ANYWAY, BUT 90 DAYS WOULD GIVE US THE TIME TO DO THAT.
UM, ANGIE, IF YOU COULD COME UP AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE,
UH, SO FIRST I WANNA SAY I THINK THIS IS, UH, FANTASTIC.
I DO REMEMBER THIS BEING PASSED AND, UH, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT, UH, COUNCILMAN COLE.
UM, I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH SOME OF THE STATE LEGISLATORS ABOUT, UM, DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR FOR, UH, THOSE RETIREES, UH, FIRST RESPONDERS FROM OUT OF STATE WHO COME TO LOUISIANA.
OUR SURROUNDING STATES ACTUALLY, UH, DO NOT TAX THOSE PENSIONS WHERE WE DO.
AND SO I THINK SOME OF THE POPULATION LOSS THAT WE'VE SEEN HERE, UM, THAT OUR SURROUNDING STATES HAVEN'T, YOU KNOW, ARE, UM, IS SOMETHING WE CAN ADDRESS THAT WAY.
UH, OF COURSE I'M BEING TOLD BY THEM, WELL, WE'VE GOTTA QUANTIFY IT OR AT LEAST TRY TO.
SO I, I AGREE WITH ALL OF THE SENTIMENT THAT'S BEEN SHARED HERE.
UM, I'M, I'M A SUPPORTER OF THIS.
I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC, BUT WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO TRY TO QUANTIFY IT.
SO, AND I, I APPRECIATE Y'ALL HAVE, ARE TRYING AND IT'S DIFFICULT AND THERE'S A LOT OF VARIABLES.
UM, I I GUESS MY QUESTION IS WITH, WITH, UH, A POTENTIAL 90 DAY DEFERRAL, UH, DO YOU THINK THAT'S SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TIME TO AT LEAST TRY TO DIG INTO SOME DATA TO TRY TO QUANTIFY THIS EVEN IN A RANGE? LIKE A BEST CASE, WORST CASE, I GUESS I, I'D IMAGINE Y'ALL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF HEARTBURN ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS WITHOUT KNOWING AGREE AS WE DO.
UM, I THINK JUST TO PUT THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE, WE HAVE 4,000 ALLOTMENTS OF ACTIVE ALLOTMENTS.
THEY'RE NOT ALL FIELD AND THEY'RE NOT ALL PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE PARISH POPULATION IS 450,000 MM-HMM.
SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE THAT THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING IS GONNA PROVIDE YOU ANY, ANY REALISTIC FIGURES TO WHAT THE SA THE, THE FISCAL IMPACT WOULD BE ON THIS ITEM.
I, I'M JUST, I MEAN, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THE EXERCISE.
I JUST DON'T KNOW THE VALUE OF WHAT THE INFORMATION WOULD PROVIDE.
'CAUSE IT CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES DO NOT, THEY'RE NOT THE POPULATION, THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF THE PARISH, WHICH, WHO COULD QUALIFY FOR THIS? SURE, SURE.
'CAUSE THE 4,000 ALLOTMENTS, EVEN IF THEY ALL DID, WE STILL MAY HAVE MANY WHO LIVE AND THEY NOT WHO WORK OUTSIDE BUT LIVE HERE.
AND AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT DATA MAY BE AVAILABLE, BUT, AND THE INFORMATION AGE, IT'S, IT'S MORE READILY AVAILABLE TODAY THAN IT WOULD'VE BEEN YEARS BACK.
AND SO I JUST WONDER, I MEAN, I, I GUESS, I GUESS A BETTER QUESTION WOULD BE, UM, WILL YOU ALL WORK TOWARDS TRYING TO PUT A RANGE ON THIS WITH A LITTLE MORE TIME? YES.
I JUST DO WORRY THAT IT'S STILL NOT GONNA SATISFY YOU IN THE SENSE THAT I DON'T, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD HAVE TO CALL EACH INDIVIDUAL, FIND OUT IF THEY OWN THE HOME OR NOT, OR WE CAN DO AN ESTIMATE AND JUST ASSUME EVERYONE WHO LIVES IN THE PARISH OWNS A PROPERTY.
THEN DO YOU DETERMINE THE WORST CASE THAT EVERYONE WILL GET 500? I, I WOULD, I WOULD SAY, I MEAN, I MEAN,
IT'S NOT GONNA GIVE YOU THE HOLISTIC IMPACT.
I, I, I, SO AGAIN, HOW I WOULD APPROACH IT, UH, AND THAT'S WHY I SAY A RANGE OF BEST CASE AND THE WORST CASE, I WOULD SAY, ALRIGHT, TRY TO FIND OUT IN SOME MANNER HOW MANY FIRST RESPONDERS THAT FIT THE CRITERIA LIVE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
ONCE WE HAVE THAT NUMBER, THEN YOU CAN MAKE AN ASSUMPTION FOR A WORSE CASE.
IF THEY ALL QUALIFY AND THEY ALL
[01:00:01]
COME APPLY EVERY SINGLE YEAR, IT WOULD BE THIS, THAT'LL BE A BIG NUMBER.AND THEN WE CAN HAVE REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS BEYOND THAT OF, WELL, MORE THAN LIKELY ONLY THIS MANY WILL AND THAT KIND, AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THIS MANY MOVE OUT AND THIS MANY MOVE IN.
WE COULD EVEN, YOU CAN RUN PROJECTIONS ON LOSS OF POPULATION TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT MAY BE.
BUT IF NOTHING ELSE, JUST A WORST CASE.
BECAUSE IF YOU, IF YOU HAVE A WORST CASE, THEN YOU KNOW, WELL, IF WE PLAN FOR THAT WE'LL BE FINE.
I JUST, I HAVE TO ASSUME Y'ALL WANT TO KNOW THAT WORST CASE WOULD BE AS MUCH AS WE DO.
WORST CASE WOULD BE FIRE POLICE AND EMS ALL, ALL LIVE IN THE PARISH AND WOULD ALL PAY $500, ALL WOULD GET A $500.
SO IT REALLY, THE NUMBER WE NEED TO FIND OUT IS HOW MANY POTENTIALLY QUALIFYING FIRST RESPONDERS LIVE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH AND THEN WORK FROM THERE.
THAT'LL GIVE US OUR WORST CASE.
WE CAN RUN PROJECTIONS ON POTENTIAL BEST CASE SCENARIOS, BUT, AND I SAY WORST CASE.
WORST CASE FROM A FISCAL STANDPOINT, I THINK IT'S A BEST CASE IF WE CAN HELP ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, BECAUSE I DO SUPPORT THE MEASURE.
BUT THAT MAKE SENSE? AND I THINK, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, NOR WE HAVE TO CONSIDER, WE'D HAVE TO HOPE THAT THE OTHER AGENCIES WOULD WORK WITH US TO, TO, TO GET THOSE INFORMATION.
STATE POLICE, US MARSHAL, FBI, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
I DON'T NECESSARILY SEE THE SENSE OF URGENCY THEY MIGHT HAVE IN TRYING TO GET US THAT INFORMATION, BUT WE'D HAVE TO ASK THOSE, I MEAN BY, UH, WHATEVER DATE THIS ITEM IS DEFERRED TO.
BUT WE'D HAVE TO ASK THOSE AGENCIES THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY UNDER OUR PURVIEW TO GIVE US THE INFORMATION.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MO, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP A WHILE AGO WAS, UM, WHICH, UM, PARISHES HAVE ALREADY DONE THEIRS.
JEFFERSON PARISH HAS DONE THEIRS.
ORLEANS PARISH HAS DONE THEIRS.
LI AND PARISH IS WORKING ON THEIR, THEN ASCENSION PARISH IS WORKING ON THEIRS.
WE'RE SITTING HERE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERYTHING.
WE'VE ALREADY, WE'RE ALREADY LOSING PEOPLE.
LOOK, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE STATE PUT OUT THERE THAT, YOU KNOW, IS INCENTIVES FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, TRYING TO RECRUIT FIRST RESPONDERS, TRYING TO KEEP 'EM NOT ONLY HERE IN THE STATE, TALK TO SEVERAL BATON ROUGE FIREFIGHTERS AND STUFF THAT TRAVEL TO HOUSTON QUITE OFTEN FOR WORK.
UM, COST OF LIVING AND EVERYTHING DOWN HERE.
ULTIMATELY, I THINK IN OUR HEARTS, WE KNOW THIS NEEDS A PASS AND THAT WE'RE GONNA TAKE CARE OF THESE FIRST RESPONDERS, WHETHER IT'S WHETHER IT'S ONE QUALIFIES FOR IT OR, OR 100,000 QUALIFY FOR IT.
UM, KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND BEING LAST ON THE LIST THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS JOKE ABOUT, WE END UP LAST ON THE LIST OF A LOT OF THINGS.
WELL, LET'S NOT LAST END UP ON, LAST ON THE LIST WITH THIS ONE AND TAKE CARE OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, WHATEVER THEY MIGHT BE.
UM, AND, AND GET THIS ON THE BOOKS SO WE DON'T CONTINUE TO LOSE.
AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN START REFILLING OUR RANKS THAT COME IN.
UNDERSTAND THERE'S GOTTA BE A LOT OF STUDY DONE AS FAR AS WHO ACTUALLY QUALIFIES, WHO DOES EVERYTHING ELSE.
BUT THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN SUPPORTING OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN WORKED ON FOR YEARS.
THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS CAME UP OR SOMETHING.
THERE'S ALWAYS THE STATE, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND EVERYTHING WORKING ON WAYS TO SUPPORT AND KEEP THEIR FIRST RESPONDERS, THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEIR EMS AND THEIR FIREFIGHTERS.
AND I, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD AND GET IT PASSED.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO THIS.
UM, COUNCILMAN, NO, I WANNA OFFER YOU SOME INFORMATION ON SOME QUESTIONS THAT YOU ASKED ABOUT WORST CASE SCENARIO.
SO I, I BASICALLY DID IN FIVE OR 10 MINUTES WHAT YOU ASKED.
WE DON'T NEED 90 DAYS TO DO THAT.
UM, WHEN WE LOOK AT POLICE, FIRE AND EMS, WE HAVE ROUGHLY 1300 EMPLOYEES, UH, WITHIN THE CITY, PARISH, UH, GOVERNMENT.
IF YOU REACH OUTSIDE OF THAT, LIKE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, STUFF LIKE THAT, YOU MAY ROUND THAT TO 1500.
YOU CAN EVEN GO TO 2000 IF YOU WANT TO.
BUT IF YOU TAKE THE NUMBER THAT ANGIE MENTIONED, THAT, UH, $500 IS THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, AND THEN A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WOULD HAVE TO PARTICIPATE, WHICH WE KNOW THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
IT'S NOT GONNA BE A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THEM AT 1500 PEOPLE PARTICIPATING.
THAT AT FIVE TIMES, $500, THAT'S $750,000 A YEAR.
IF YOU GO DOWN AT 1300, THAT'S 650,000 A YEAR.
AND IF YOU SAY IT'S ONLY A THOUSAND PEOPLE PARTICIPATE, THAT'S 500,000 A YEAR.
SO IT'S LESS THAN A MILLION DOLLARS.
THAT ANNUAL IMPACT, WE DON'T NEED 90 DAYS.
AND I KNOW YOU AS A BANKER, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COME IN, ASK FOR LOANS AND, YOU KNOW, GO SCENARIOS ALL THE TIME WITH 'EM, WITH NUMBERS.
YOU DON'T NEED TO TAKE 90 DAYS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE POTENTIAL FINANCIAL IMPACT IS.
[01:05:01]
THIS IS A HUNDRED PERCENT PARTICIPATION, WHICH WE KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.WE DON'T NEED TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT THAN IT IS.
IT'S VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND THE, THE, THE WORST CASE SCENARIO OR THE LESS CASE SCENARIO IN A CONVERSATION.
NOW, IF ANYBODY ELSE GOT ANY MORE DATA OR INFORMATION, THEY SUGGEST THAT WE HAVE MORE THAN 1300 TO 1500 PEOPLE WHO IDENTIFY AS FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE PARISH.
PLEASE SHARE THAT INFORMATION.
WE MAY BE MISSING, YOU KNOW, TWO, THREE, MAYBE EVEN 500.
BUT IF YOU GO UP TO AS MANY AS 2000 PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS, IT'S NOT LIKE $10 MILLION THAT THIS IS GONNA IMPACT.
SO I OFFERED THAT UP FOR YOU GUYS TO CONSIDER.
IF ANYBODY HAVE ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT SUGGESTS WHAT I'M PRESENTING IS NOT RATIONAL OR NOT REASONABLE, I, I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.
UM, I, I WILL SAY THAT WE ARE AT A FINANCIAL CRUNCH RIGHT NOW WITH THE RECENT COURT DECISION OF, UH, WHERE OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE GONNA GO IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, AND THE CITY OF ST.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT THAT WE'RE ALREADY REDUCING TAX DOLLARS.
WE'LL PROBABLY END UP REDUCING MORE, REDUCING MORE THROUGH THIS AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT FINANCIAL IMPACT WOULD BE ON US.
SO I DO THINK DUE DILIGENCE IS REQUIRED THERE.
UM, SECONDLY, YOU, I, I PREACH THIS ALL THE TIME.
UM, WE HAVE MR. UH, STEVEN JOHNSON IN THE ROOM.
WE HAVE MR. JOSEPH BUTLER IN THE BACK, AND WE HAVE MR. REGINALD BLOOMFIELD AND SOMEBODY ELSE, MAYBE TRINA'S, TRINA HALL'S IN THERE SOMEWHERE, BUT, AND FRED RAYFORD.
SORRY, FRED, I CAN'T OVERLOOK YOU, MAN.
GOD, THAT'S HOW MY BROTHER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER.
BUT, UM, DPW CLEARS THE ROADS SO THAT FIRST RESPONDERS CAN GET DOWN THE STREET.
DPW CLEANS THE MANHOLE SO THAT THE FLOODING STOPS AND THAT EMERGENCY VEHICLES CAN GET TO WHERE THEY'RE CALLED.
AND IF NOBODY ELSE IS GOING TO STAND IN THE GAP, I WILL.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A LEGAL WAY TO CONCLUDE THEM AS A FIRST RESPOND OR TO CLASSIFY THEM FROM A CITY LEVEL.
AND I'LL ASK THE PARISH ATTORNEY IF THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.
IF YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, CAN YOU RESEARCH IT FOR ME? BUT, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN RECLASSIFY DPW BECAUSE THEY'RE THE LOWEST PAID, THE MOST OVERWORKED, AND THEN THE MOST OVERLOOKED.
SO WITHOUT THEM, THERE WOULD BE NO FIRST RESPONDERS ABILITY TO DO THEIR JOB IN TIMES OF DISASTER.
SO LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO INCLUDE THEM AS A PART OF THIS, IF WE CAN RECLASSIFY THEM.
UH, WELL, I, I WOULD SAY COUNCIL MEMBER HERTZ, YOU MAY HAVE YOUR WISH.
AND, AND I THINK THE NUMBER IS GREATER THAN 1300.
THE, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT DEFINES FIRST RESPONDER.
I'M, I'M READING FROM THE LEGISLATION AS A FULL-TIME PUBLIC EMPLOYEE WHOSE DUTIES INCLUDE RESPONDING RAPIDLY TO AN EMERGENCY AND WHO RESIDE IN THE SAME PARISH IN WHICH THEIR EMPLOYER IS LOCATED.
I THINK EVERY PERSON SITTING BEHIND ME, EVERY PERSON WHO CLEARS A STREET QUALIFIES UNDER THAT FULL-TIME PUBLIC EMPLOYEE WHOSE DUTIES INCLUDE RESPONDING RAPIDLY TO AN EMERGENCY.
IF WE WERE CONSIDERED FULL-TIME, WE WOULD BE FIRST RESPONDERS UNDER THAT DEFINITION.
SO IT, IT, I GET IT, IT'S FIRST RESPONDERS AND I UNDERSTAND THE RATIONALE BEHIND IT, AND HECK, MAYBE EVEN PUT MY THUMB UP FOR IT.
BUT IF THE TAX COMMISSION IS WORKING ON RULES AND WHAT THIS ACTUALLY MEANS, AND WE COULD GET MORE INFORMATION, I, I GUESS I SEE NO PROBLEM IN WAITING.
AND NOW WE'VE HAD A CONVERSATION HERE WHERE WE ALL THOUGHT FIRST RESPONDER MEANT POLICE, FIRE, EMS, I'D THROW EP IN THERE AS WELL, BUT BASED ON THIS DEFINITION, FIRST RESPONDER MAY MEAN ANYBODY WHO'S ASKED TO SHOW UP TO WORK.
SO ANGIE, I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO COME UP ONE MORE TIME.
I APPRECIATE YOUR, I LIKE TO CALL THAT QUICK AND DIRTY MATH.
UM, AND SO I, I WOULD SAY YES, I THINK IT'S A REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT 1500 PEOPLE, EVEN 30% MORE, I, I, NO, I AGREE.
I THINK THAT WAS PRETTY SOUND.
SO ANGIE, I GUESS I WOULD ASK YOU, DOES THAT QUICK AND DIRTY MATH GIVE YOU A COMFORT LEVEL AS A WORST CASE SCENARIO FOR WHICH YOU'D BE FACING BUDGETARILY? YES, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT AFTER COUNCILMAN GODDE READ THE DEFINITION, I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAS EXPANDED.
AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT THE ASSESSOR IS ALSO CONCERNED WITH TOO,
[01:10:01]
IS, IS HOW ARE THEY GOING TO CERTIFY A FIRST RESPONDER? OKAY.AND SO, UM, SO I GUESS, I GUESS WE COULD DO WORST CASE SCENARIO AND DO YOU KNOW ALL THE ALLOTMENTS OF THE CITY PARISH, IF THE DEFINITION IS PERCEIVED TO BE THAT BROAD, I DON'T KNOW THE INTERPRETATION OF THE DEFINITION TO SAY ONE PERSON IS ALLOWABLE AND ONE PERSON'S NOT.
SO THEN I GUESS THE NEXT QUESTION IS, CAN WE NARROW THE SCOPE OF OUR DEFINITION WHEN WE PASS IT, OR DOES IT HAVE TO ADOPT EXACTLY.
NO, IT'S, IT'S THE COMMISSION'S DECISION TO CREATE AND ESTABLISH THE RULES.
SO I GUESS FROM MY STANDPOINT, I THINK THE, I, I AGREE WITH YOU UNTIL WHAT MR. GODDE POINTED OUT, I WAS, UH, COMFORTABLE WITH THE QUICK AND DIRTY MATH, AND NOW, NOW I'M NOT SO COMFORTABLE ANYMORE BECAUSE I THINK WE MIGHT, WE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER IS NOW BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHO EXACT EXACTLY IS INCLUDED.
SO I'D LIKE A LITTLE MORE CLARITY ON THAT.
I, I STILL SUPPORT THE ITEM AND I THINK WE WILL.
UM, WE JUST HAVE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS WE'RE DOING BEFORE WE DO IT.
SO, COUNCILMAN UH, COULD A PA PARISH ATTORNEY COME UP IN WRITING IN WRITING THIS, UH, WORKING ON THIS LEGISLATION WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN COLE AND EVERYTHING? OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE WENT OVER THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
IS THERE GUIDANCE IN THERE FOR US TO SET THE SCOPE OF A FIRST RESPONDER AS FAR AS IF WE AMEND THIS ORDINANCE, OR IF WE DO DEFER IT, UH, DO THEY GIVE US LEEWAY TO SET THE STANDARDS OF WHAT IS FIRST RESPONDERS AND WHATNOT AS FIRST RESPONDERS? I DON'T THINK SO.
UM, WITHIN THE, IF WE DO DEFER THIS WITHIN THIS 90 DAYS, CAN WE GET, UM, ARE WE TO SEEK GUIDANCE FROM THE LEGISLATURE TO ANSWER, LIKE, THOSE QUESTIONS THAT HE HAD SAID THAT IT INCLUDES BASICALLY EVERYBODY THAT WORKED FOR CITY PARISH GOVERNMENT THAT HAS TO GO OUT AT ANY POINT DURING THE EMERGENCY? WE'LL DO WHAT WE CAN NOW ANSWER COUNCILMAN GOD'S QUESTIONS.
AND AGAIN,
I MEAN, I THINK YOU, YOU REALLY HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.
UM, THAT IS SOMETHING TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, UM, I, I'VE ALWAYS CONSIDERED THANK YOU.
I'VE ALWAYS CONSIDERED FIRE POLICE AND EMS YOUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
BUT AGAIN, LIKE EVERY ATTORNEY IS GONNA LOOK AT THE WORDING AND IT, IT COULD GO, WHAT, WHAT THIS COULD DELVE INTO WHO ONLY KNOWS.
SO I THINK WE DO NEED TO SEEK CLARIFICATION WITH EXACTLY WHAT THEY, I THINK THE INTENT OF THE LAW, IN MY OPINION, WAS FIRE POLICE AND EMS, HOMELAND SECURITY, STUFF LIKE THAT.
UM, BUT I WOULD SAY WE PROBABLY NEED TO SEEK CLARITY IN EXACT DEFINITION.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON, UH, ANGIE, ONE, ONE LAST QUICK QUESTION.
UM, ARE WE EXEMPTING, UH, SCHOOL TAXES AS WELL? OR, OR DOES THIS ONLY IMPACT THE MUNICIPAL TAXES IN TIMES THAT EXEMPTION ON THE, YOUR ENTIRE PROPERTY TAXES? IT'S NOT, IT, IT'S NOT SPECIFIC TO PARTICULAR TAXES.
SO I'M, I MEAN, THIS IS NOT OKAY.
AN, THAT, THAT'S NOT REALLY, UM, THIS IS NOT REALLY A QUESTION.
I GUESS IT'S MORE OF A STATEMENT OF, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE EXEMPT THE VALUE OF SOMEONE'S PROPERTY WHENEVER WE DON'T, WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE A SAY IN THE, AND, AND WE'RE NOT THE TAXING AUTHORITY FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD.
UM, SO I, I'M NOT SURE HOW THE LEGISLATURE AGREED THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE, WE WERE GONNA BE HAVING AN IMPACT ON OTHER TAXING AUTHORITIES' ABILITY TO, TO COLLECT THEIR TAXES.
UM, JUST SOMETHING FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO LOOK AT IN THE FUTURE, I GUESS.
UM, THE OTHER THING I'LL SAY IS, YOU KNOW, JUST EVERYONE BE AWARE, WE HAVE TIME.
90 DAYS STILL DOES GIVE US TIME TO PASS THIS, UH, PRIOR TO PROPERTY TAX BILLS GOING OUT.
SO, UH, I THINK THE, THE PROPER THING TO DO IS TO GET OUR DUE DILIGENCE DONE AND, AND, AND THEN, UH, VOTE ACCORDINGLY FROM THERE.
UH, THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION TO, UH, DEFER THE ITEM FOR 90 DAYS BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. IS THERE A SUBSTITUTE? I MEAN, IS THERE A, UH, SECOND TO THE MOTION? THIS IS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
THERE'S A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOTON.
NO, I, I WAS, I WANTED TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION IF THERE ARE ALREADY TWO ON THE FLOOR.
THERE'S A MOTION TO APPROVE MADE BY MYSELF, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
THIS IS DEFERRED FOR 90 DAYS BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ADAM, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.
WE ARE GONNA SHOW, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCK ABSTAINING TO
[01:15:01]
ANY AND ALL MATTERS RELATING TO, IN ALL MATTERS RELATING TO NINE ONEUH, SO WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION FIRST, WHICH IS THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS TO DEFER THE ITEM FOR 90 DAYS.
MAY VOTE IN THE ORIGINAL MOTION TO APPROVE, UH, THE ITEM.
I'D LIKE TO, I CAN'T DO ANOTHER MOTION.
MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE ANOTHER MOTION.
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO DEFER FOR 30 DAYS.
ANY OBJECTIONS? I HAVE A QUESTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER MOCH PARA, UH, GREG, CAN I, YOU COME UP CAN YES, SIR.
AS SOMEBODY THAT'S GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH, UH, CLARITY FROM THE, FROM THE STATE LEVEL AND, AND THEIR INTENT AND STUFF.
DO YOU FEEL 30 DAYS IS ENOUGH OR 60 BE BETTER? I THINK I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE, THE REASON I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE 90 WAS, IS THAT TOO CLOSE TO HAVING THE TAX ASSESSOR HAVING TO GET ALL HIS INFORMATION TOGETHER AND EVERYTHING? UM, WOULD, WOULD 30 DAYS BE ENOUGH TO GET YOUR CLARITY, DO YOU THINK? NO, WE'RE GONNA DO THE BEST WE CAN.
WHATEVER Y'ALL, HOWEVER LONG Y'ALL DELAY IT, WE'RE GOING TO DO, WE'RE GONNA WORK.
THERE'S A MOTION TO DEFER FOR 30 DAYS BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JR.
UH, ANY OBJECTIONS ITEM HAS BEEN DEFERRED FOR 30 DAYS.
[92. 24-00726]
NOW GO TO ITEM 92 IN ORDER AND ACCEPT THE PROPOSED STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE RIVER CENTER COMPLEX AND DEVELOPMENT OF HEADQUARTER HOTEL SUBMITTED BY THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT TO THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ON MAY 22ND, 2024, AUTHORIZING THE CREATION OF A PROJECT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE APPOINTING THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL'S APPOINTMENT TO THE COMMITTEE AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THERE WITH AND FOREGOING BY MAYOR, PRESIDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS COLEMAN, AS WELL AS ROCKER.IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COME ON DOWN.
OH, STATE'S NAME, ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
MS. KITTER, I GOT YOU DOWN TO SPEAK 27 TIMES.
ARE YOU PLANNING TO SPEAK 27 TIMES? AM I WHAT? NO, I KNOW.
THE MICS IN HERE AREN'T THAT GREAT.
UM, LAST TIME I WAS HERE WAS ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO WHEN I GOT ESCORTED OUT.
SO I'VE LEARNED THE RULES SINCE THEN.
AND, UH, I KNOW I CAN'T ASK QUESTIONS.
SO IF I SAY A QUESTION, JUST THINK OF IT AS IT'S WHAT PENNY MAE WAS WONDERING.
UM, ACCORDING TO THE EAST BATON ROUGE ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET ON TIFF DISTRICTS, THERE ARE EIGHT ACTIVE DISTRICTS.
THE CAPITAL HOUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, THE CENTRI GROUP, KING HOTEL, SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICT, THE BLUEBONNET CONVENTION HOTEL TAXING DISTRICT, THE LIBRARY, THE LAFAYETTE MAINE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, THE OLD L AND B BUILDING, ECONOMIC REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, THIRD, FLORIDA ECONOMIC DISTRICT HARVESTING CORTANA CORRIDOR.
I'M AGAINST THIS BECAUSE I'M UNSURE THAT ALL OF THESE TIF DISTRICTS AND EDDS, WHATEVER, IF THE, THE TAXES FROM THESE DISTRICTS, WHICH I THINK WE HAVE TOO MANY, UM, ARE BEING EFFECTIVELY USED FOR ALL OF THE CITIZENS AND TAXPAYERS OF EAST BATON ROUGE.
I KNOW THAT THE TAXES LEVIED OR COLLECTED GO TO ALL THESE PROGRAMS. HOWEVER, I THINK THERE'S SOME INEQUITY IN HOW THESE TAXES ARE DISTRIBUTED.
ONE OF THE ISSUES I HAVE IS A PROJECT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE IS CALLED FOR, THERE'S SOME PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WHO, WITH THEIR BRA OR BRA OR WHATEVER, THESE COMMITTEES THAT ARE BEING FORMED RECENTLY ALL SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PEOPLE ON THEM.
[01:20:01]
IN LOOKING AT IT, THESE PEOPLE ON THESE COMMITTEES HAVE A VESTED FISCAL INTEREST IN THESE PROJECTS THAT I AS A TAXPAYER DON'T GET THE BENEFITS.SO I'M AGAINST ANY PROJECT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES.
WE, I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT A HEADQUARTERS HOTEL IS.
DO WE REALLY NEED A HEADQUARTERS HOTEL DOWNTOWN? WHAT ABOUT TAKING OUR GAZILLION DOLLAR LIBRARY THAT YOU COULD SHOOT A CANNON THROUGH AND TURN THAT INTO A HOTEL? OKAY.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT TO USE TAX DOLLARS MORE EFFECTIVELY.
OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS $35 TRILLION IN DEBT.
ENOUGH, OKAY? A LOT OF THIS FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THESE PET PROJECTS AND ALL THIS, EXCUSE MY FRENCH CRAP, IS GONNA GO AWAY.
SO EDR TAX DOLLARS TO FUND A LOT OF THIS.
SO I AM AGAINST, AGAINST, AGAINST THIS AGENDA ITEM.
AND THE NEXT ONE, GIVING $150,000.
GONNA BE GOING THE NEXT ONE TO, TO AN ATTORNEY.
WHO GONNA, WHO'S GONNA BENEFIT FROM THIS? THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
UH, NEXT UP, GEO KITTER MAYOR PRO, TIM, THANK YOU.
I I'VE GOT A, I THINK A GROUP OF US WHO ARE ALL HERE, UH, REPRESENTING DIFFERENT AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE CITY.
AND JILL KITTER, OF COURSE, VISIT BATON ROUGE.
OUR CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD IS ALSO HERE, MARY STEIN.
UH, I JUST, UM, UH, ONCE AGAIN, STAND HERE SAYING THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A GAME CHANGING, UM, UH, NEW PROJECT FOR, UH, BATON ROUGE.
AND WE CERTAINLY HOPE THAT YOU WILL APPROVE THIS, UH, PROPOSAL TONIGHT.
I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR WHO HAS BEEN, HAS BEEN VISIONARY IN OUTLINING HER APPROACH FOR HOW TO, UH, MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
AND CERTAINLY THE TOURISM ECONOMY HERE IN BATON ROUGE IS GOING TO BENEFIT.
BUT ALL OF, UH, THE CITIZENS OF BATON ROUGE ARE GONNA BENEFIT FROM THIS.
I'D BE HONORED TO SERVE IF I'M ASKED ON THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND TO WORK WITH WHOEVER YOU CHOOSE, UH, TO PLACE ON THAT COMMITTEE TO MAKE THIS PROJECT A REALITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, I DO WANT TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THE MAYOR PRESIDENT'S STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE RIVER CENTER.
THERE ARE SEVERAL STUDIES THAT I HAVE SEEN IN OUR OFFICE, UH, SOME DATING BACK TO THE NINETIES, THAT HAVE RECOMMENDED A HEADQUARTER HOTEL FOR THE CONVENTION TO MAKE US MORE ATTRACTIVE, UM, IN HOSTING CONVENTIONS.
UM, AS A PUBLIC SERVANT, I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE THE OPEN PUBLIC PROCESS INTEGRATED INTO THE PLAN.
AND HAVING SERVED AT THE DDD FOR OVER 10 YEARS, I ALSO APPRECIATE THE RECOMMENDATION FOR A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
WE'VE SEEN SEVERAL CATALYTIC PROJECTS THAT HAVE REALLY TRANSFORMED DOWNTOWN, INCLUDING THE IBM, THE SHAW CENTER WATER CAMPUS, AND OTHERS.
UM, ALSO, I SUPPORT THE SELECTION OF A PROJECT MANAGEMENT MANAGER TEAM THAT IT'S MENTIONED IN THE PLAN.
UM, I KNOW THESE SCALE OF PROJECTS TAKE A LOT OF IMMENSE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, FINANCIAL AND, AND LEGAL MANAGEMENT AND DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION EXPERTISE.
AND HAVING SOMEBODY LEAD ALL THAT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
HAVING THE EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND, MYSELF AND ARCHITECTURE, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, AND URBAN PLANNING, I LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING TO MAKE THE RIVER CENTER THE BEST IT CAN BE FOR OUR DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDERS AND BROADER COMMUNITY.
STATE'S NAME, ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
TREY GODFREY BATON ROUGE AREA CHAMBER, UH, 5 64 LAUREL STREET.
UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNCIL.
I AM, UM, GONNA STEAL FROM THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, LIKE I DID LAST TIME I WAS HERE, UH, EXCEPT NOW I REMEMBER EVERYTHING SHE SAID.
THE EPICENTER OF COMMUNITY, CULTURE AND COMMERCE, UH, IN ONE PROJECT.
UM, BUT, UH, NO, WE, UH, CERTAINLY SUPPORT THIS ITEM.
UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING ON THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO BE ABLE TO LEND EXPERTISE FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT.
WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT THAT THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO HAVE ON DOWNTOWN AND ON THE PARISH AND ON THE REGION WRIT LARGE, UH, AND ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT, UH, OF, OF THIS ITEM AND THE MAYOR'S VISION, UH, PUTTING THIS FORWARD.
[01:25:01]
FOR CHRIS MEYER.CHRIS MEYER, THE BATON ROUGER FOUNDATION ON HUNDRED NORTH STREET.
UH, I'D ECHOED MY COLLEAGUES AND JUST SAY, UH, THIS IS SUCH AN EXCITING MOMENT FOR US TO REALLY UNIFY AND TO BEGIN TO GROW THE PIE.
UH, MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE FEELS WELCOME.
EVERYONE FEELS THEY CAN HAVE QUALITY ACCESS TO ENTERTAINMENT.
WE CAN ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE TO BATON ROUGE, UH, TO THIS REGION, NOT JUST AS TOURISTS, BUT HOPEFULLY TO, TO MOVE HERE AND INVEST IN WHAT WE ALL LOVE AS A, A THRIVING COMMUNITY.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN, AS I'VE LOOKED AROUND THE COUNTRY AND STARTED TO LOOK AT OTHER COMMUNITIES IN, IN PREPARATION OF, OF POTENTIALLY BEING ON THIS COMMITTEE.
AND THIS IS A MOMENT THAT WE CAN LEARN A LOT FROM PEERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
UH, THE SERIOUSNESS, THE URGENCY WITH WHICH YOU'RE CONSIDERING, AND THE MAYOR HAS PUT FORWARD IN THIS PLAN.
UH, AS, UH, WHITNEY SHARED, UH, EVERYTHING FROM OUR LEGAL COUNSEL TO OUR STRUCTURE.
UH, THIS IS A COMMITTEE THAT'S READY TO ROLL UP ITS SLEEVES, WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND UNDERSTANDING HOW WE CAN REPURPOSE THIS ASSET AND WORK TOGETHER COLLABORATIVELY ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY.
SO, UH, IT'D BE AN HONOR TO SERVE WITH AS, AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
IS THERE
I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY MI MS. LANDRY.
I MAY BE MISTAKEN, BUT YOU SAID YOU HADN'T BEEN HERE IN SIX YEARS, AND I COULD HAVE SWORN YOU WAS HERE RECENTLY IN THE PAST THREE TO FOUR MONTHS.
I THINK IT WAS THE I 10 WIDENING.
DO DO YOU HAVE A BODY DOUBLE OUT THERE, OR WAS THAT YOU,
I JUST WANTED A POINT OF CLARITY ON THAT.
UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE? COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN MAKES A MOTION TO APPROVE.
WELL, AND I'D LIKE TO SAY BEFORE I MAKE THAT MOTION ABOUT THE PET PROJECT, Y'ALL, WE GOTTA MOVE BEYOND THAT.
AND WE MUST HAVE PEOPLE WITH EXPERTISE WHO KNOW HOW TO WORK TOGETHER, WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER AND BRINGING STUFF TOGETHER.
AND GUESS WHAT? THESE MEETINGS GOING TO BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
AND SO COME TO THE MEETINGS IF YOU WANT TO HEAR AND SEE AND STOP.
DON'T JUST BELLYACHE, COME TO THE MEETINGS.
MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT AT TIME.
AND SO I MAKE THAT MOTION WITH MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS' NAMES ARE ON THERE.
UH, I THINK THERE ARE TWO NAMES THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT OFF.
APRIL HAWTHORNE SHOULD BE ONE.
WHITNEY, SAY, ALL RIGHT, SHOULD BE THE OTHER ONE ON THERE.
SO LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT IN THE RECORD, BUT MOTION, I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.
MOTION SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKER.
ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 92 HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[93. 24-00728]
AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SERVICES WITH FISHERMAN HAYGOOD, LLLP, IN CONNECTION WITH THE RIVER CENTER STRATEGIC PLANNER, AND AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $150,000, BILLED AT A RATE NOT TO EXCEED $425 PER HOUR AND APPROPRIATING $150,000 BY THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS COLEMAN AND ROCKER.IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? EXCUSE ME.
IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON I, RUDY AGUILAR? RUDY AGUILAR, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT, UH, ENGAGING FISHMAN HAYGOOD.
THERE ARE FINE FIRMS. UH, CHARLES LANDRY AND HIS TEAM HAVE WORKED ON PROJECTS LIKE THIS WITH ME ON THE OTHER SIDE, SO I KNOW HOW, UH, THOUGHTFUL, INSIGHTFUL, AND HOW WISE THEY ARE IN THESE KIND OF PROJECTS.
BUT I SUPPORT WHOLEHEARTEDLY, UH, THEIR ENGAGEMENT.
I BELIEVE THAT THE RATE AND THE CAP ARE, ARE VERY, VERY REASONABLE.
AND, UH, I SUGGEST THAT YOU, UH, ACCEPT THAT CONTRACT.
UH, NEXT UP WE HAVE GEO KITTER.
TIM, I GUESS THIS IS ONE OF MY 27, SO I COUNTED 41 TIMES ARE YOU COUNT, OKAY.
YOU NEED A NEW COMPUTER OUTSIDE.
I REALLY, UH, BUT I, I DO WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OUR COLLEAGUE, UH, CHARLES LANDRY, WHO TO, UH, ASK YOU TO, UM, ALLOW HIM TO CONTINUE HIS DEDICATED WORK, UH, TO REBUILD OUR NEW CONVENTION CENTER.
WHILE ALL OF YOU AWARE OF THE PROJECT AND HAVE, HAVE NOW VOTED TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, UH, PLEASE CONSIDER THE INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF TIME AND EFFORT THAT CHARLES HAS TAKEN ALREADY TO PUT INTO THIS PROJECT.
UM, AND IT'S REALLY ALL ON FISHMAN HAYGOOD AND CHARLES'S DIME, TO BE
[01:30:01]
HONEST WITH YOU.AND CHARLES AND HIS FIRM ARE TRULY THE CONVENTION CENTER'S CHAMPION AND WANT TO SEE THIS PROJECT HAPPEN.
AND HE'S NOT ONLY A CHAMPION FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER, HE IS A CHAMPION FOR OUR COMMUNITY, OUR CITY, AND OUR DOWNTOWN.
AND I REALLY DO BELIEVE IT WOULD TAKE A LONG TIME FOR ANOTHER ATTORNEY TO GET UP TO SPEED, UM, AS TO ALL THE WORK THAT HE'S ALREADY PUT IN TO, TO HELP US MAKE, UH, THIS BECOME A REALITY.
AND I, I KNOW THE MAYOR, UM, IS APPRECIATIVE OF HIS WORK, I'M SURE TOO.
UM, UH, BUT NOW IS THE TIME, UH, FOR THIS NEXT STEP, AND THAT IS, UH, TO ALLOW CHARLES TO FORMALLY, UH, CONTRACT TO EMPLOY, UH, WITH THE CITY TO DO THIS WORK.
AND WE KNOW THAT, UH, HE, WE ARE GOING TO BE WELL CARED FOR AS AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, UH, IF HE IS ASSISTING US ON A DAILY BASIS.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
AND NEXT, WE'LL HEAR FROM MAC GREGORY.
I'M A PARTNER WITH THE KING MILLER LAW FIRM HERE IN DOWNTOWN BATON ROUGE.
AND I'M A RESIDENT OF, UH, THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THIS, THIS ITEM.
UM, AS A REAL ESTATE LAWYER WHO SPECIALIZES IN COMPLEX COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS, I'VE DEALT WITH CHARLES LANDRY AND MANY OTHER, UH, REAL ESTATE LAWYERS IN LOUISIANA AND AROUND THE STATE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR YEARS.
AND I'M, I'M HERE TO, TO TESTIFY THAT I THINK THE, THE RATE BEING PROPOSED TO BE CHARGED IS VERY REASONABLE.
IT'S, IT IS A, A SIGNIFICANT DISCOUNT FROM WHAT TYPICALLY AN ATTORNEY OF THAT EXPERTISE WOULD CHARGE IN A, IN A COMPLEX TRANSACTION.
AND I THINK THE CAP IS, IS VERY, IS EXCEEDINGLY REASONABLE, UH, AND, AND I THINK HIS EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE IN THIS AREA IS REALLY UNPARALLELED IN, IN THE STATE.
SO I, I SUPPORT THE ITEM AND, UH, I HOPE YOU WILL, UH, VOTE.
NEXT, WE'LL HEAR FROM LEE CANTRE.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE CHARLES WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND
UH, IN ANY EVENT, UH, I'M HERE TO ECHO THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE.
UH, WE HAVE A, A WONDERFUL, UH, UH, PRACTITIONER WHO IS EXPERIENCED IN THIS REALM AND WOULD BE A, AN ASSET TO THE CITY.
SO I WOULD ECHO THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE.
IS ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? COME ON DOWN, MS. LANDRY.
AND, UM, I'D LIKE TO SEE IT AMENDED TO SAY THAT IF PASSED, NO SUPPLEMENTAL MONEY WILL BE GIVEN TO THIS CONTRACT.
EVERY AGENDA, EVERY AGENDA OF THIS METRO COUNCIL HAS PAGES AND PAGES AND PAGES OF SUPPLEMENTALS.
SO CONTRACTS NEED TO BE FOR THE AMOUNT THAT IS APPROVED WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO COME BACK AND ASK FOR MORE MONEY, UNLESS THERE IS A LEGITIMATE REASON THAT IS PUT ON THE AGENDA ITEM SO THAT THE TAXPAYERS AND CITIZENS UNDERSTAND THE REASON THAT MORE MONEY IS BEING AWARDED BY YOU, THE METRO COUNCIL.
ANYONE ELSE? WISHING THIS BE ON ITEM, UH, CHRIS, MIKE FROM RAF.
I JUST WANNA ECHO MY COLLEAGUES AGAIN AND, UH, THE SERIOUSNESS WITH WHICH WE'RE, WE'RE TAKING THIS AND, AND FRANKLY COMMEND THE TRANSPARENCY OF THIS PROCESS.
UM, AS WE'VE LOOKED AROUND THE COUNTRY, THESE DEALS ARE INCREDIBLY COMPLEX AND, AND FIGURING OUT A WAY THAT THIS COMMUNITY CAN BENEFIT FROM A NEW AND REVITALIZED REPURPOSED ASSET, UH, THAT TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THE LATEST, UH, UH, PUBLIC FINANCING, PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
THESE ARE UNIQUE AND WE'VE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE A TEAM HERE, NOT ONLY MY COLLEAGUES, BUT BUT OBVIOUSLY WITH, WITH CHARLES IN, IN HIS DEDICATION TO PROJECTS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, I KNOW WE AT THE FOUNDATION HAVE BENEFITED OVER THE YEARS IN, IN WORKING THROUGH COMPLEX THINGS TO REVITALIZE, REINVEST IN DOWNTOWN.
I THINK YOU'VE PUT TOGETHER AN AMAZING TEAM.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE, THE CHAIRWOMAN, UH, AND OUR MAYOR, PRESIDENT TO, TO GET THIS DONE.
UH, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA COUNCIL MEMBERS, REAL QUICKLY, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 93.
UM, SO CAN I ASK CHARLES A QUESTION? SURE.
[01:35:01]
SO IN RESPONSE TO WHAT SHE SAID, ARE YOU APT TO COME BACK AND ASK FOR MORE MONEY LATER? AB ABSOLUTELY.YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS IS, THE CONTRACT IS SET UP TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN SEE IF WE EVEN HAVE A PROJECT.
UM, SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD TAKE TWO OR THREE YEARS TO ACCOMPLISH.
SO THIS IS AN INCREMENTAL STOP POINT WHERE WE'LL COME BACK, UM, AT THAT POINT AND SEE HOW VIABLE THIS PROJECT.
BUT IF WE GET TO, UH, A POINT THAT WE'RE NEGOTIATING DEFINITIVE DOCUMENTS WITH, UH, LAWYERS AND, AND THEIR LENDERS, UM, THIS, THIS, THIS WOULD NOT BE AT ALL ADEQUATE FOR THAT.
BUT THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE POINT TO COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL, UM, WITH THE COMMITTEE TO SAY, HERE'S WHERE WE ARE.
DOES THE COUNCIL WISH TO PROCEED? THANK YOU FOR YOUR HONESTY, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
'CAUSE I WAS GETTING READY TO ASK FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
THIS, THIS IS NOT A CAP IN TERMS OF GETTING TO THE POINT, THE WHOLE PROJECT, NOT FOR PROJECT, THE PROJECT.
THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE STOPPING POINT STARTING OKAY.
FOR THE COUNCIL TO SAY, IS THIS WORTH GOING FORWARD? OKAY.
AND, UM, WE, WE CAN GET PRETTY FAR DOWN THE LINE WITH HIRING A, UH, THE CONSULTANT TO HELP IDENTIFY, UH, A PROCESS TO SELECT A DEVELOPER.
WE CAN KIND OF GET THROUGH THAT.
BUT ONCE YOU GET A, A DEVELOPER, UM, IDENTIFIED, UH, FOR EXAMPLE LSU ON MONDAY, WE'LL FIND OUT FROM ITS TWO FINALISTS.
UH, THE NEGOTIATION PERIOD THAT WE ANTICIPATE FOR THE LSU PROJECT JUST ON THE CONTRACTS IS NINE MONTHS.
SO IT, IT'S A, IT IS A VERY, VERY COMPLICATED THING, BUT THIS IS JUST TO KIND OF GET US TO A, A GOOD POINT TO COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL AND GET SOME FURTHER DIRECTION.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE? COUNCIL MEMBER? YES.
MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKA AND THE OBJECTIONS ITEM NINE THREE HAS BEEN APPROVED.
WE HAVE A REQUEST, UH, BY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COLEMAN TO REVISIT ITEM 92.
WE NEED TO APPOINT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKA TO THE COMMITTEE.
MOTION TO RE UH, REVISIT ITEM 92 BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
GO AHEAD AND MAKE YOUR MOTION.
I MAKE THAT MOTION THAT JEN ROCKA IS ON THAT COMMITTEE.
AS A COUNCILPERSON MOTION TO APPOINT COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKER SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.
ANY OBJECTIONS? SHOW ME OBJECTION.
[94. 24-00610]
94 AUTHORIZING THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE MAYOR PRESENT TO TAKE SUCH ACTION AS MAY BE REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE PURCHASE AND ACQUISITION OF TRACK 17.A AB VICTORIA FARM SUBDIVISION 7 2 84 GREENWELL STREET FROM J AND R FOOD BROKERS IN LOUISIANA, INCORPORATED FOR THE SUM OF THE APPRAISED VALUE IN $207,200 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.
THERE'S A REQUEST OF THE FURTHEST ITEM TO THE JULY 24TH MEETING.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER'S MOTION TO DEFER THE ITEM TO JULY 24TH.
MEETING BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 94 HAS BEEN DEFERRED.
[Items 95 - 98]
THROUGH 98 TOGETHER AUTHORIZING THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO INSTITUTE APPROPRIATION PROCEEDINGS AND OR TAKE SUCH OTHER ACTIONS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE ACQUISITION OF LAND NECESSARY.REMOVE BEYOND ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS SOUTH.
SHARE WITH FOREST BOULEVARD SIDEWALKS,
ITEM 96, AUTHORIZED THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO INSTITUTE APPROPRIATION PROCEEDINGS AND OR TO TAKE SUCH ACTIONS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH ACQUISITION OF LAND NECESSARY MOVE BEYOND ENHANCEMENT PROJECT ROOM ROAD LA 19, THE PLANK ROAD BY PARISH RETURN ITEM 97, AUTHORIZING THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO INSTITUTE EX PROBATION PROCEEDINGS AND ORDER TO TAKE SUCH OTHER ACTIONS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE ACQUISITION OF LAND NECESSARY FROM MOVE BEYOND ENHANCEMENT PROJECT ROU BUS, RAPID TRANSIT AND PROJECT NICKERSON DRIVE TO FLORIDA BOULEVARD BY PARISH ATTORNEY ITEM 98, AUTHORIZING THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO INSTITUTE APPROPRIATION PROCEEDINGS AND TAKE SUCH ACTIONS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE ACQUISITION OF LAND NECESSARY FOR MOVE BEYOND ENHANCEMENT PROJECT COLLEGE DRIVE ENHANCEMENT PERKINS ROAD I 10 BY PARISH ATTORNEYS.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 95 THROUGH 98.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 95 AND ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 97.
UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 95 THROUGH 98? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.
MEMBER SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
ANY OBJECTIONS? THOSE ITEMS HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
[99. 24-00681]
AND DIRECTING THE COURT TO COUNCIL NOTICE.ATTEND RECORD ON NOVEMBER 9TH, 2023 AND DECISION ORDER RECORDED ON FEBRUARY 6TH IN THE MATTER OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE V, THE ESTATE OF LIVING AND B COLLINS WILSONS, THE REASON FOR RESCISSION IS AT 6 38 NORTH 38TH STREET, PROPERTY IS BEING REMODELED AND PLACED BACK IN COMMERCE BY
[01:40:01]
THE CHAIR.ANY OBJECTIONS? MOTION TO APPROVE BY THE CHAIR.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JR.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[100. 24-00683]
WE'RE SENDING IN RECORDING THE CLERK COURT COUNSEL NOTICE TO ATTEND THE RECORD ON OCTOBER 13TH, 2023 IN THE MATTER OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSUS ABER LOCKIN NELO IN THE DECISION.AN ORDER RECORDED ON FEBRUARY 14TH, 2023 IN THE MATTER OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE V OSCAR SEL CALDERA 5 9 6 4 EVANGEL STREET.
REASON FOR RESCISSION THE PROPERTY HAS NEW OWNERSHIP BY THE CHAIR.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? MOTION TO APPROVE BY THE CHAIR.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, ANY OBJECTIONS MAY GO.
[101. 24-00721]
AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT AND CLAIM OF PREVENT TAPE WOODS FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY BATON ROUGE POLICE OFFICERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $38,239 BY PARISH ATTORNEY.IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 1 0 1.
SO MOVED BY COUNCILOR MCC COLEMAN SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUS.
ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO NOW TO ITEM
[102. 24-00722]
1 0 2 AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE CLAIM OF STATE FARM INSURANCE COMPANIES AS SUBURBY OF WIL, BUT NORWOOD FOR DAMAGE RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY BAT ROUGE POLICE OFFICER IN THE AMOUNT OF $12,550 52 CENTS BY PARISH ATTORNEY.IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 1 0 2.
SO MOVED BY THE CHAIR, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
AND OBJECTIONS WE GO NOT ITEM 1 0 3
[103. 24-00694]
AND ENACT IN ORDINANCE AND AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT.THAT SHOULD AN AGREEMENT GRANTING CROWN COUNCIL FIVE LLC FOR AN INITIAL TERM OF 10 YEARS TO THE RIGHT LAKE CONSTRUCT, LEASE AND OPERATE FIBER OPTICS CABLE AND ALL OPPORTUNITIES AND APPENDAGES IN THE CITY PARISH ROAD FOR FIBER NETWORK IN SUPPORT OF THE WIRELESS TELE, I MEAN THE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES.
AND TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, TELECOMMUNICATION INFORMATION SERVICES TO BUSINESSES AND INSTITUTIONS BY MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND COUNCIL MEMBER GODA.
ANYONE HERE WE CAN SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COUNCIL MAG GODDE, WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODDE SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS. ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO NOW TO 1 0 4
[104. 24-00702]
AMENDED 2024 ALLOTMENT OF POSITIONS OF THE CITY OF BATON ROU PARISH OF EAST BAT ROUGE.SO AS TO CHANGE THE ALLOTMENT OF METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, LEO S BUTLER CENTER, EFFECTIVE JUNE 27TH, 2024 METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, LEO S BUTLER CENTER TO LEAD ONE CLERICAL SPECIALIST, ADD ONE FAMILY SERVICE WORKER BY COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR, TREASURY AND HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM WE NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR AND ANY, ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 1 0 5 HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[105. 24-00701]
AUTHORIZING THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO REFUND ERRONEOUS REMITTANCE OF SALE TAXES TO CON APPLIANCES AND INCORPORATED THE AMOUNT OF TWO HUNDRED FORTY ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED EIGHTY THOUSAND THIRTY CENTS BY FINANCE DIRECTORS.IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 1 0 5.
SOME MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODDE SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 1 0 5 HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[106. 24-00640]
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH BBI ARCHITECTS, A EC AND ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT, SRT SIM SHOOT HOUSE AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $58,930 BY BUILDING AND GROUNDS DIRECTOR.IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO ITEM TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 1 0 6.
SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN MCC COLEMAN.
ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO TO ITEM 1 0 7.
[107. 24-00645]
AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR OF PRESIDENT SHARON WESTERN BRU AUTHORIZED THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS SYSTEM AND CONSULTANTS INCORPORATED TO PROVIDE PICKUP AND RELOCATED BOXES OF FOLDERS AND BINDERS OF GRANT DOCUMENTS TO BE INDEXED AND SCANNED FOR SOME NOT TO EXCEED $85,925 60 CENTS BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.UH, WE HAVE PENNY MAC, I MEAN PENNY MAC, LANDRY PENNY.
I'M NAMED AFTER BOTH OF MY GRANDMOTHERS AND I'M PROUD OF IT.
UM, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, BUT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS 17 EMPLOYEES, OKAY? THAT ALL MAKE WONDERFUL SALARIES AND BENEFITS AND ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
ACTUALLY, I SAW ONE OF THEM ON A WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON SHOPPING AT, UH, TOTAL WINE AND MORE AT THREE O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON ANYWAY.
SO YOU WOULD THINK THAT ONE OR TWO OF THESE 17 EMPLOYEES WOULD KNOW HOW TO SCAN AND BOX DOCUMENT.
FOR US TO SPEND $85,000 TO SOMEONE TO SCAN AND BOX SOME DOCUMENTS IS RIDICULOUS.
THIS IS A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE PAID WELL TO WORK IN EAST BATON ROUGE TO WORK IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
MAYBE EACH ONE OF YOUR METRO COUNCIL ASSISTANTS
[01:45:01]
COULD GET TOGETHER AND THEY COULD DO THE SCANNING IN THE BOXING.IS THERE
ALL RIGHT, WE GO BACK NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ALL METROPOLITAN A TO COME FORTH TO THE MIC.
NO, BUT, UH, WHAT, WHAT I WILL SAY IS THIS IS, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO HOUSTON.
IT WAS MYSELF, CLEVE, AARON, MO, AND MARLEY, AND A CONSULTANT THAT WE HAD FOR THE GROCERY STORE INITIATIVE THROUGH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
AND WHILE HOUSTON HAS A TON MORE PEOPLE THAN WE DO, AND THEY HAVE A NEED FOR MORE STAFF, ONE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LEARNED WAS THAT MARLEY PITTMAN, WHO I ALWAYS TELL Y'ALL WAS ONE OF THE BEST, IF NOT THE BEST, NO OFFENSE, FRED, UH, EMPLOYEES IN THE CITY PARISH.
SO HER STAFF, HOW MANY PEOPLE DID YOU HAVE BEFORE THAT MORNING? MAYBE TWO, THREE.
COME TO THE MIC IF YOU'RE GONNA SPEAK MORE.
MAY I'M, I'M GONNA JUST MAKE AN ASSUMPTION.
HOUSTON, HOUSTON LET GO 60 PEOPLE FOR THE SAME POSITION BECAUSE EVERY FEDERAL GRANT THAT SHE DEALS WITH, SHE HAS TO DO 20 YEARS OF REPORTING ON THAT.
I CALL MARLEY AT EIGHT O'CLOCK AND SHE'S SITTING IN OUR OFFICE.
OKAY, SO, SO MY, AND THAT'S JUST ONE EMPLOYEE, DPW BABY BOOMER GENERATION.
UM, THEY GOT A JOB, THEY STAYED THERE FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.
THEY RETIRED AND THEY GOT A PENSION THAT NO LONGER EXISTS.
SO AS THESE PEOPLE RETIRE, WE DON'T HAVE EMPLOYEES TO REPLACE THEM, WHICH IS WHY I'VE REQUESTED THE PAY STUDY THAT I JUST TALKED TO THE HR DIRECTOR ABOUT TO COME BACK IN TWO WEEKS, THROW THAT ON THE MIC AND UM, JUST DROP THE PIN ON THAT ONE LOCATION RIGHT HERE.
UH, BUT THE PROBLEM IS WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE.
AND ONE A WHO ANSWERS THE PHONE ALL DAY LONG, DEALS WITH CONSTITUENT COMPLAINTS, DEALS WITH PEOPLE LIKE THE I 10 WIDEN AND I READ YOUR STUFF ON THE, ON THE INTERNET AND READ ALL YOUR COMMENTS.
THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL YOUR COMMENTS PLUS ALL, ALL, ALL 300 OTHER PEOPLE THAT, AND I'M NOT SAYING IT BAD, ALL BAD, I'M JUST SAYING WHEN YOU GIVE FEEDBACK ON ITEMS, THEY DEAL WITH THIS.
WE ARE PART-TIME WORKERS THAT MAKE $12,000 AND WE DO IT FROM OUR HEART.
BUT THE PEOPLE IN OUR OFFICE ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT WORK FULL-TIME IN OUR DISTRICT.
THE PEOPLE IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, I STILL THINK THEY UNDERSTAFFED FOR METROPOLITAN, UM, UM, AREA OF OUR SIZE.
AND I WOULD CONTRACT YOU TO COME DO IT IF YOU WANT TO DO IT.
IF YOU WANT TO DO IT, I'LL VOLUNTEER.
WE HAVE TO GO WITH THE PAST ATTORNEY TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
BUT MY POINT, MAYBE YOU SHOULD PUT IT OUT THERE.
SO, UM, SO, BUT, BUT, BUT THE BO THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IS UNTIL YOU GET ON THIS SIDE OF THE CURTAIN, AND THAT'S JUST THE HONEST TO GOD TRUTH.
UM, MARLEY'S UNDERSTAFFED, REGINALD'S UNDERSTAFFED.
THE ENTIRE CITY PARISH IS UNDERSTAFFED.
AND IN MOST GOVERNMENT POSITIONS, PEOPLE LEFT LAST ABOUT TWO YEARS, AND THEN THEY ON TO THE NEXT DAY GIVE 50.
SO, SO I, I, I, I ONLY, I ONLY SAY THAT BECAUSE, UM, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT YOU SEE ON THAT SIDE OF THE CURTAIN IS NOT WHAT HAPPENS ON THIS SIDE OF THE CURTAIN.
AND, AND HONESTLY UNTIL I GOT OVER HERE, I SAID THE SAME THING.
WHY DOESN'T GOVERNMENT OPERATE THIS WAY? WHY DOESN'T OPERATE THAT WAY? WELL, BPW PEOPLE, I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
JOE'S WORKERS WORK MAKE BETWEEN MAYBE I'M, I'M ASSUME EIGHT TO $12 AN HOUR MAX.
ALRIGHT? THEY DON'T HAVE A, THE, THE UNITED WAY SAYS THAT A LIVABLE WAGE IS $16 AND 20 CENTS FOR A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL IN THE CITY PARISH.
ANYBODY ELSE IS CONSIDERED A PART OF THE ALICE POPULATION.
AND THAT ALICE POPULATION IS PRETTY MUCH THE WORKING PORT.
AND SO IN ORDER TO MOVE BATON ROUGE FORWARD, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS, AND INCREASE THE WAGES, NUMBER ONE, BUT NUMBER TWO, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORK SEVEN DAYS A WEEK TO INCLUDE TWO TO THREE DAYS OF OVERTIME JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PUTTING MORE BURDENS ON EXISTING CITY PARISH WORKERS, I SEE THE MAYOR STAFF WORKING ALL NIGHT LONG GOING TO EVENTS.
THERE'S 3000 EVENTS A MONTH THAT THEY WANT THE MAYOR TO SHOW UP TO.
AND THE ONLY PERSON THAT'S OMNI PRESIDENT IS JESUS CHRIST, WHICH MEANS SOMEBODY HAS TO BE THERE ON HER BEHALF.
IF IT'S AN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT, MAYBE IT'S DPW, BUT IT'S STILL SOMEBODY FROM THE OFFICE THAT'S GONNA BE THERE WITH THEM.
WE HAVE LIMITED COMMUNICATIONS RESOURCES.
SO MY POINT IN SAYING ALL OF THAT IS, IS THAT UNTIL YOU GET ON THIS SIDE OF IT, UM, I, AND I DO RESPECT YOUR OPINION WHERE ALL THESE DOLLARS GOING, BUT IN TERMS OF STAFF, THAT'S THE ONE AREA WHERE I'M GONNA HAVE TO PUT THE, THE, THE RED LIGHT ON AND SAY, PLEASE STOP.
AND THE STOP SIGN DO NOT PASS,
[01:50:01]
GO DO NOT COLLECT $200 BECAUSE WE ARE UNDERSTAFFED, OVERWORKED, AND UNDERPAID.AND WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING QUALITY, OUR, OUR PARISH ATTORNEYS OVERWORKED, UNDERPAID, OUR ENGINEERS, OVERWORKED, UNDERPAID ARCHITECTS, UNDERSTAFFED, OVERWORKED AND UNDERPAID.
SO WHEN YOU COMPARE SOMEBODY TO ARCHITECT DEPARTMENT WHO'S MAKING MAYBE 80,000 TO SOMEBODY AND IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, YOU DOUBLE THAT.
ENGINEERS, SAME WAY, YOU WANT YOUR EXTRA TIME COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU NEED IT? HMM? YOU NEED IT? I SAID YOU WANT YOUR EXTRA TIME? NO.
DO I NEED IT? I'M ALMOST, YEAH, YOU'RE DONE.
ALRIGHT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL? WHAT, WHAT'S THE WHAT, WHAT WAS THE PLEASURE? MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 1 0 7 HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[Items 108 - 116]
GONNA TAKE ITEMS 1 0 8 THROUGH ONE 16 TOGETHER AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR EXECUTED FOR PROFESSIONAL GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR GEO ENGINEERS FOR THE SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVE BEYOND HANSEN PROJECT NOR BOULEVARD CORRIDOR ENHANCEMENT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $53,242 AND 50 CENTS.ITEM 1 0 9 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT EXECUTE THE CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR GEO ENGINEERS FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVE BEYOND ENHANCEMENT PROJECT FLORIDA BOULEVARD.
SEC 72 CORRIDOR SE ENHANCEMENT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED SEVENTY NINE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED SEVENTY THOUSAND TWENTY NINE CENTS.
ITEM ONE 10 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES OF THE SUNSHINE ROAD SIDEWALK LABOR, LABOR LABOR LANE TO THOMAS ROAD WITH GEOTECH FOR SERVICE ASSOCIATED WITH MOVE VR PROJECT FOR CITY, FOR CITY PARISH IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $347,755 AND 30 CENTS.
ITEM ONE 11 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT TEXT YOU THE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR THE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH GRISHA SMITH AND ADDITIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATED WITH DESIGN PLAN UPDATES AND MOVE BEYOND ENHANCEMENT PROJECT SYNCHRONIZATION AND COMMUNICATION SIGNAL REBUILDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $37,684 AND 3 CENTS BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.
ITEM ONE 12 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TEXT YOU THE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICE WITH RICHMOND SMITH FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH DESIGN AND PLAN UPDATES TO THE MOVE ENHANCEMENT PROJECT SYNCHRONIZATION AND COMMUNICATION SIGNAL REBUILDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $27,495 AND 1 CENTS BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECT ITEM ONE 13 AUTHORIZED A MAYOR, PRESIDENT CHECKS YOU A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION SERVICES WITH THE BETA GROUP ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES LLC FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVE CAPACITY PROJECT MIDWAY DRIVE BACARDIA AVENUE TO CONSTANTINE BOULEVARD IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $106,176 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.
ITEM ONE 14 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TEXT YOU TO CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION SERVICES WITH NEIL SCHAFER, INCORPORATED FOR SERVICE ASSOCIATED WITH MOVE VR ENHANCEMENT PROJECT, FLASHING YELLOW ARROWS INSTALLATION IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $437,000.
ITEM ONE 15 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL DESIGN SERVICES WITH PIVOTAL ENGINEERING LLC FOR SERVICES WITH MOVE VR ENHANCEMENT PROJECT PERKINS ROAD OVERPASS DISH ENHANCEMENT PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $98,046 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.
AND ITEM ONE 16 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE THE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR THE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH VICTORIA CONSULTANT SERVICES LLC AND ADDITIONAL SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH DESIGN AND PLAN UPDATES TO THE MOVE BEYOND ENHANCEMENT PROJECT SYNCHRONIZATION AND COMMUNICATION SIGNAL REBUILDS AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $36,251 AND 17 CENTS BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.
UH, IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 1 0 8 THROUGH ONE 16? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 1 0 8 THROUGH ONE 16? COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL, COMMENT AND OPPOSITION TO ITEM 1 0 9.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ADAMS SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 1 0 8 THROUGH ONE 16 HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
[117. 24-00716]
ONE 17 AMENDING THE 2024 CURRENT EXPENSES BUDGET.SO TO ESTABLISH A BUDGET FOR THE EBRA BUILDING SPECIAL TAX ED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CALENDAR YEAR 2024 AND AN AMOUNT OF $132,000 AND $132,050 BY E BRASS BUILDING, SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICT.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM ONE 17? WE GO NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE AHEAD RECEIVED ONE EMAIL, COMMENT AND OPPOSITION TO ITEM ONE 17, MS. LANDRY PENNY MAY MAE LANDRY OPPOSITION TO ONE 17.
UM, IT SAYS THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR, THAT CORRELATES TO AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF $22,000 PER MONTH FOR THE EBERTS BUILDING SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICT.
THERE WE GO AGAIN WITH THE TS AND THE IFS AND THE WHATEVERS.
CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW THIS ADDITIONAL $22,000 WILL BE USED PER MONTH? OH, I KNOW I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO.
I WAS JUST WONDERING AND I'M SURE SOME TAXPAYERS MIGHT BE
[01:55:01]
WONDERING HOW MUCH IS THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT OF MONEY PER MONTH AND NOW WE'RE ADDING A ADDITIONAL 22,000 FOR SIX MONTHS.AND I WAS JUST WONDERING HOW THESE MONIES ARE USED.
IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S $22, IT'S $22,000 A MONTH.
I AM OPPOSED TO AMENDING THE BUDGET TO PUT ANY ADDITIONAL MONEY INTO THE SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICT.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON? YEAH, I'LL JUST REAL QUICK, MS. LANDRY, IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE BACKUP FOR THE AGENDA ITEM, YOU'LL SEE WHERE IT SAYS GOING FORWARD THE REBATE, UH, AND THE DISTRICT'S TAX WILL BE DEDICATED TO THE RETIREMENT OF THE DEBT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROJECT AND THE DISTRICT WILL PAY A COLLECTION COST OF $500 PER MONTH.
SO THERE'S THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION.
UM, I WOULD DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE YOU IF, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE GONNA COME, AND THIS IS REALLY FOR ALL THE PUBLIC, IF, IF YOU'RE GONNA COME GET CAUGHT UP ON THE ITEMS AND, AND MAKE SURE YOU KNOW, YOU THE COMMENTS AND THAT KIND OF THING.
LOOK, THIS IS NOT, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO COME AND MAKE CAMPAIGN SPEECHES AND THAT KIND OF STUFF.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, IT, IT, IT REALLY IS PROBLEMATIC TO ME SOMETIMES WHENEVER WE DON'T SEE ANYTHING HAPPEN FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS.
A CITIZEN WHO HAS CONCERN, GREAT.
UH, DECORUM IS IMPORTANT IN THIS BODY.
YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST GET, DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND GET CAUGHT UP.
UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? ITEM ONE 17.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOOCH, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
ITEM ONE 17 HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[118. 24-00719]
AND EXECUTION DELIVERY OF AMENDED AND RESTATED COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS BY THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE WITH THE BATON ROUGE HOTEL GROUP AND THE EBRA BUILDING SPECIAL TAX DISTRICT BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ONLINE COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL, COMMENT AND OPPOSITION TO ITEM ONE 18.
COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN WAS SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MO.
ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO NOW TO ONE 19.
AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AND EXECUTE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE.
THE HABITAT FOR MAN FUNDED THROUGH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK AROUND CDBG FOR HOME REHABILITATION AND COMPLETE TWO HOME REHABILITATION PROJECTS IN THE SUM NOT TO EXCEED $27,935 AND 45 CENTS BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
UH, THERE IS A REQUEST TO DELETE THIS ITEM, UH, BY THE DEPARTMENT.
UH, IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO DELETE? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MOROCCO.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER OSA.
[120. 24-00718]
ONE 20.AUTHORIZATION OF THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACT WITH WATER MAIN EXTENSION, THE PARACHUTE THE WATER COMPANY, INCORPORATED AND ASSOCIATED WITH THE NORTH AIR PARK INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT BY AVIATION DIRECTORS.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBER, DUN, WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JR.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, NOR IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS.
[121. 24-00723]
AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND THE LEASE AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES OF EBR HEAD START PROGRAM.THE AGREEMENT OF LEASE RENEW ON THE MJ PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LLC FOR THE FACILITY LOCATED AT 73 15 EXCHANGE PLATE INCREASES THE AGREEMENT BY $26,000 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $62,000 BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTORS.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE, THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT IT'S YOUR PLEASURE.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
[Items 122 - 148]
MEMBER, WE'RE GONNA TAKE ITEMS 1 22 TO 1 48 TOGETHER, WHICH ARE ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES 1 22 LIVE.51 SQUARE EIGHT SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE, DISTRICT 10 HIGH BIDDER ACTS, NATIONAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, LLC $10,100 1 23 LOT 29 SQUARE 10 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE DISTRICT 10 HIGH BIDDER ACTS, NATIONAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC $16,100.
LOT 31 SQUARE 10 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE DISTRICT 10 HIGH BIDDER, JAFA OLDHAMS $2,000 LOT FIVE SQUARE 37.
DISTRICT 10 HIGH BID OF WHITAKER INVESTMENT COMPANY LLC $9,000.
ITEM 1 26 LOT 66 SQUARE 14 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE, DISTRICT 10, HIGH BID OF WHITAKER INVESTMENT COMPANY LLC $100.
ITEM 1 27 LOT 48 SQUARE 14 SUBDIVISION, SOUTH BATON ROUGE, DISTRICT 10 HIGH BIDDER WHITAKER INVESTMENT COMPANY LLC $100.
ITEM 1 1 28 LOT 51 POINT SQUARE 14 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE, DISTRICT 10 HIGH BIDDER WHITAKER INVESTMENT COMPANY LLC $5,500.
ITEM 1 29 LOT 21 SQUARE 14 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE, DISTRICT 10 HIGH BID.
WHITAKER INVESTMENT COMPANY LLC $4,500.
ITEM ONE 30 BY 23 SQUARE 42 SUBDIVISION SOUTH
[02:00:01]
BATON ROUGE DISTRICT 10 HIGH BIDDER PRESTIGE PAINTING AND REMODELING LLC $500.ITEM 1 31 BY 25 SQUARE NINE SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE, DISTRICT SEVEN HIGH BIDDER RICKY GRIFFIN, $100 ITEM 1 32 LOT ONE SQUARE 54 SUBDIVISION FORTUNE DISTRICT FIVE HIGH BIDDER ALDEN EIGHT CLARK $100.
ITEM 1 33, LOT TWO AND THREE SQUARE 54 SUBDIVISION FORTUNE DISTRICT FIVE HIGH BIDDER ALDEN EIGHT CLARK $200.
ITEM 1 34 LOT EIGHT, NINE AND 10 SQUARE 54 SUBDIVISION FORTUNE DISTRICT FIVE HIGH BIDDER ALDEN EIGHT CLARK $300.
ITEM 1 35 LOT 22 PLUS SQUARE TWO SUBDIVISION BOGAN.
DISTRICT SEVEN HIGH BID OF JOHN HAMPTON, $2,000 LOT 1.5 AND SIX SQUARE 29 SUBDIVISION BAKER TOWN SITE DISTRICT TWO, HIGH BID OF WHITMORE AND WHITMORE ENTERPRISES, LLC $27,200.
ITEM 1 37 LOT ONE POINT SQUARE TWO.
DISTRICT 10 HIGH BIDDER QUAS INVESTMENTS INCORPORATED $500 ITEM 1 38 LOT.
1.3 0.4 42 AND 43 SQUARE EIGHT SUBDIVISION DELMONT PLACE DISTRICT 10 HIGH BIDDER.
ITEM 1 39 LOT 0.10 0.1 SQUARE 12 SUBDIVISION BAYLESS, DISTRICT 12 HIGH BIDDER JET BROOMFIELD, $100.
ITEM ONE 40 BY SIX SQUARE 13 SUBDIVISION.
NEW DAYTON DISTRICT SEVEN HIGH BIDDER, JANICE CLARK, $5,200.
ITEM 1 41 LOT 26 SQUARE 37 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE DISTRICT 10 HIGH BIDDER POTENTIAL ASSETS, $100 ITEM 1 42 BY 65 SQUARE 10 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE DISTRICT 10 HIGH, BETTER POTENTIAL ASSETS, $100 ITEM 1 43 BY 18 SQUARE 42 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE DISTRICT 10 HIGH, BETTER POTENTIAL ASSETS, $100 ITEM 1 44 LOT 21 SQUARE 42 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE DISTRICT 10 HIGH, BETTER POTENTIAL ASSETS, $100 ITEM 1 45 LOT 24 SQUARE, 42 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE DISTRICT 10 HIGH BE POTENTIAL ASSETS, $100 ITEM 1 46 LOT 32 SQUARE 24 SUBDIVISION EDEN PARK DISTRICT SEVEN UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.
LOT VARIOUS LOT SIX IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE.
SUBDIVISION, VARIOUS SUBDIVISIONS.
UH, BEACON LIGHT BAPTIST CHURCH, BATON ROUGE, DISTRICT FIVE IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE.
ITEM 1 48 LOT 24 SQUARE 27 BANKS EDITION.
DOUGLAS AND CAROL ELLIS, DISTRICT 10 MOTOR ON.
ARE THERE ANY, IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 1 22 THROUGH 1 48? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ALL ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURST, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 1 22 TO 1 48 HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
[ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS]
AND GENTLEMEN, WE GO NOW TO ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS INTRODUCTIONS, A, A RESOLUTION APPROVED IN THE ANNUAL PAYMENT IN LIEU OF THE TAX RELATIVE TO THE PROPOSED SOLAR FORM TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN A ACADIA PARIS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN CAPITAL AREA FINANCE AUTHORITY AND MA ADA.
OKAY, ITEM B AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO COOPERATE WITH DEV AGREEMENT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WITH DMS TRAINING SCHOOL, DOING BUSINESS AS EMS. THIS CA IS THE SCHOOL OF EMS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND PARAMEDICINE, ALLOWING EMPLOYEES ELIGIBILITY FOR PARAMEDIC CERTIFICATION AND ADVANCED CLINICAL PRACTICE ABILITIES IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE NOT TO EXCEED $125,000 PER COHORT.
ITEM C AMENDING TO 2024 ANNUAL OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TO APPROPRIATE 1 MILLION LOSS ON THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES FUND BALANCE UNASSIGNED TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF 10.
FIRST RESPONDER UNIT $730,000 AND FOUR MANNEQUINS FOR EMPLOYEE TRAINING.
$270,000 ITEM D AUTHORIZING THE BROWNFIELD FIRE PROTECTION TO PURCHASE A 2.31 ACRE TRACK LOCATED AT 1 1 4 3 0 PLANK ROAD FROM SAM HUNT FOR A SUMMER OF $49,400 AND APPROPRIATING 51,180 FOR SET PURPOSE, INCLUDING THE CLOSING AND APPRAISER COST FROM THE DISTRICT'S FUND BALANCE UNASSIGNED ITEM E AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARIS OF EAST BAT ROU ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY FOR A TERM OF JUNE 1ST, 2024 TO JULY 31ST, 2025 FOR A TOTAL SUM NOT TO EXCEED $450,000 TO PROVIDE REHABILITATION SERVICES UNDER THE LEAD HEALTHY HOMES AND REHAB PROGRAM.
AND AUTHORIZED AND EXCUSE OF DOCUMENT CONNECTION THERE WITH BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
ITEM F AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH ABUSE BAT ROUGE ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND EDR CONSTRUCTION FOR THE TERM JUNE 1ST, 2024.
JULY 31ST, 2025 FOR TOTAL SUM NOT TO EXCEED $450,000 TO PROVIDE REHABILITATION SERVICE UNDER THE LEAD HEALTHY HOMES AND REHAB PROGRAM AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF ALL DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION.
THEREWITH ITEM T AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARIS OF EAST BATON ROUGE ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT URBAN RESTORATION ENHANCEMENT CORPORATION FOR THE TERM OF JUNE 1ST, 2024.
JULY 31ST, 2025 FOR A TOTAL SUM NOT TO EXCEED $450,000
[02:05:02]
BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ITEM H AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PIN CONSTRUCTION GROUP FOR THE TERM JUNE 1ST, 2024 TO JULY 31ST, 2025 FOR A TOTAL SUM NOT TO EXCEED 450,000 BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ITEM.I AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION FOR THE TERM OF JUNE 1ST, 2024 TO JULY 31ST, 2025 FOR A TOTAL SUM NOT TO EXCEED $450,000 BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ITEM J AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARIS OF EAST BATON ROUGE ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PATRIOT RESPONSE GROUP FOR THE TERM JUNE 1ST, 2024.
JULY 31ST, 2025 FOR TOTAL SUM NOT TO EXCEED $450,000 BY THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
I NEED A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES, ALLOW THE ITEMS TO BE INTRODUCED.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HIR, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
IS ANYONE HERE REACHING TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION TO WEIGH THE RULES? ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? I NEED A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS. SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HIR, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOCH.
ANY OBJECTIONS? WE NOW GO TO ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER.
EMERGENCY ITEM AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR KAY AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT ATTEMPT TO COOPERATE IN ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF LOUISIANA MAHA OF THE MAYOR'S HEALTHY CITY INITIATIVE FOR THE STATE TO PROVIDE FUNDING AND THE AMOUNT OF $100,000 FROM THE FUNDING PROVIDED IN ACT 3, 9 7 OF THE 2023 REGULAR LEGISL SESSION.
NEED A MOTION AWAY THE RULES, UH, ON THE ITEM.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A MOTIONAL AWAY THE RULES? ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTIONAL WA THE RULES? IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHAT IS THE PLEASURE? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JR.
ANY OBJECTIONS? ADMINISTRATIVE EMERGENCY ITEM HAS BEEN INTRODUCED.
[149. 24-00742]
GO TO APPOINTMENTS.LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROL, CONSIDERATION OF REPLACING REAPPOINT.
NICOLE ALMOND LIPSON, WHOSE TERM EXPIRES ON MAY 14TH, 2024.
WHO SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION? NICOLE ALMAN LYON, WHO REQUESTED FOR APPOINTMENT.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? FIRST UP, ARE ANY OF THE CANDIDATES HERE THIS EVENING? WANNA SAY ANYTHING? ARE ARE ANY OF THE TWO CANDIDATES HERE? WE'LL TAKE 'EM IN ORDER.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME BOARD.
I LIVE AT 8 3 1 2 THURMAN DRIVE IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA.
I'VE APPLIED FOR THIS POSITION TWICE.
UM, THE FIRST TIME I FAILED TO PROPERLY ADVOCATE FOR MYSELF AND THOSE POSITIONS WERE FILLED BY LIBRARY BOARD MEMBER DARRYL HURST AND RONNIE PIERCE.
BUT I CONTINUED TO BE INVOLVED IN MY SPARE TIME.
I ATTENDED BOARD MEETINGS, THEN I WOULD WAIT A MONTH, THEN READ THE OFFICIAL MINUTES EVERY SINGLE MONTH WHILE READING THE MINUTES.
I BEGAN TO NOTICE AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE THE ATTENDANCE FOR THE ROLL CALL.
I READ MONTH AFTER MONTH OF OFFICIAL MINUTES FOR THE LIBRARY BOARD AND TOOK NOTE OF EACH MEMBER'S MONTHLY ATTENDANCE.
SO WHEN BOARD MEMBER NICOLE ALMAN LYON'S TERM WAS SET TO EXPIRE, I BELIEVED I HAD A LEGITIMATE OPPORTUNITY TO FILL THAT SEAT.
I GRADUATED FROM TULANE UNIVERSITY'S BUSINESS SCHOOL IN 2015 WITH A CONCENTRATION IN LEGAL STUDIES WHILE ATTENDING TULANE, I WAS A STUDENT ATHLETE THAT BALANCED THE RIGOR OF DIVISION ONE COMPETITION WITH THE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE ACADEMIC STANDARDS EXPECTED AT TULANE UNIVERSITY.
I WAS AWARDED THE JOAN LABRET AND LEADERSHIP AWARD BY MY COACHES AFTER MY JUNIOR YEAR AND WAS VOTED A TEAM CAPTAIN MY SENIOR YEAR BY MY PEERS.
MOST PROUDLY, I DEVELOPED CLOSE FRIENDSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES, STATES AND COUNTRIES BY TRADE.
I'VE BEGAN MY CAREER AT AN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL NEAR NEW ORLEANS AND MOVED TO CENTRAL PRIVATE WHEN MY WIFE AND I DECIDE TO HAVE CHILDREN.
I'VE BEEN A HEAD VARSITY BASKETBALL COACH, ASSISTANT BASEBALL COACH, JUNIOR BETA SPONSOR, BATTLE OF THE BOOKS COORDINATOR, TEENAGE THERAPIST, AND AN ATHLETICS BANQUET COORDINATOR.
ONE THING ABOUT ME IS IF I DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE THE EXPERTISE, I SEEK OUT THE EXPERTS, ASK QUESTIONS AND TRY MY HARDEST TO BECOME ONE.
CURRENTLY I'M A MITIGATION SPECIALIST THAT HELPS INDIGENT CLIENTS IN THEIR DEFENSE.
I UNDERSTOOD AND I LISTENED TO THE CREDENTIALS OF THE FOUR ROOM BOARD MEMBER UP FOR REAPPOINTMENT.
SHE HAS AN MBA AND IS A REGISTERED PARLIAMENTARIAN.
I EARNED A TULANE BUSINESS DEGREE WHILE COMPETING IN DIVISION ONE ATHLETICS.
I TAUGHT HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS AND CURRENTLY I HELP INDIGENT CLIENTS FIGHT THEIR CRIMINAL CHARGES.
I HAD TO THROW MY NAME INTO THE RUNNING AFTER LOOKING AT HER RECORD.
SHE'S BEEN ON TIME AND PRESENT 54% OF THE TIME.
YOU FLIP THE COIN, YOU MAY KNOW WHAT SHE'S EXPECTED TO DO.
SHE WAS NOT ABSENT 25% OF THE TIME.
LET ME TELL YOU, I WENT TO BUSINESS SCHOOL IN THE TOP BUSINESS SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY.
I ATTENDED BOARD MEETINGS AND BUSINESS MEETINGS AND I, AND ONE THING I KNOW AS A LEADER, HUSBAND, FATHER, AND CITIZEN, IS THAT SHOWING UP IS A CRUCIAL,
[02:10:01]
CRUCIAL ASPECT OF ANY JOB.SHE HAS HAD SIX YEARS TO SHOW US A RECORD.
AFTER SAYING THIS, I READ THE DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERS OF THE LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROL AND I FEEL HIGHLY ALIGNED WITH THE EIGHT QUALIFICATIONS LISTED.
WHILE MY EXPERIENCE ON A BOARD IS NON-EXISTENT, I HAVE HELD POSITIONS OF GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.
I'LL ATTEND ALL MEETINGS, LISTEN TO ALL MEMBERS AND ADMINISTRATORS, AND GIVE MY ENERGY IF CONFIRMS THE LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROL.
GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M NICOLE ALMAN, LERON 1 0 1 5 2 RIDGELEY DRIVE IN DISTRICT 11.
UM, SO, SO I WANNA START BY TALKING ABOUT WHAT I AND MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ACCOMPLISHED OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS.
UM, THE ACCOLADES INCLUDE BEING, UH, DESIGNATED AS A STARRED LIBRARY IN THE, ON A NATIONAL LEVEL EACH AND EVERY YEAR FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS.
UH, WHICH USUALLY ONLY HAPPENS TO A LIBRARY IN THE STATE.
UM, YOU KNOW, TO, TO HAVE THIS DISTINCTION, ONLY ONE LIBRARY IN THE STATE TO HAVE THIS DIS DISTINCTION.
DURING THE TIME THAT I WAS ON THE LIBRARY BOARD, I'VE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH OTHER BOARD MEMBERS AND WITH OUR DUTIFUL STAFF, UH, TO PRODUCE AND IMPLEMENT A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN WITH INPUT FROM THOUSANDS OF EBR PATRONS AND CITIZENS AND LISTENED AND RESPONDED ACCORDINGLY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, I'M MOST PROUD OF IS THE FACT THAT WE'VE ALLOWED, UM, OUR, OUR BOARD TO FOCUS ON, UM, BECOMING A FINE FREE LIBRARY SYSTEM BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT ANY TYPE OF IMPEDIMENT FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL WITHIN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO LITERACY, LITERACY RESOURCE TOOLS AND BOOKS.
DURING THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE LIBRARY, I'VE WORKED DILIGENTLY IN TERMS OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THE RIVER CENTER LIBRARY.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THE RENOVATIONS AND EXPANSION THAT WE'VE DONE WITH GREENWELL SPRINGS, UM, AND WITH JONES CREEK.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE'RE WORKING TO RENOVATE, UH, WE'RE WORKING TO RENOVATE, UM, UH, SCOTLANDVILLE.
AND WHAT I ALSO WANNA SAY IS, WHILE I DO MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO BE ON THE BOARD, UH, I DO ALSO HA I ALSO HAVE MET THE REQUIREMENTS, THE ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS.
AND I'M SORRY THAT, UH, THAT, THAT YES, I HAVE BEEN, UH, TARDY, BUT I WORK FULL-TIME.
I'M A FULL-TIME MOTHER AND I SERVE ON OTHER BOARDS, UM, THAT SERVICE EBR PARISH I TRAIN BOARD MEMBERS.
I'VE BEEN ASKED TO BY, BY THIS PARTICULAR, UM, ADMINISTRATION TO TRAIN NEW COMMISSIONERS AND BOARD MEMBERS FOR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
UH, AND I DO SO WITH THE LIBRARY AND LIBRARIANS.
AND I WANNA LEAVE YOU WITH THIS VERY QUICKLY.
IF YOU DE DEMONSTRATED YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE PARISH AND YOU HAVE A, A RE A TRACK RECORD IN PLACE, AND THEN SOMEONE WHO YOU HOPE HAS THE SAME DESIRE BUT NOT A PROVEN TRACK RECORD WANTS TO COME AND UNSEAT YOU, HOW WOULD THAT MAKE YOU FEEL WHEN YOU'VE SACRIFICED YOUR TIME, YOU'VE DEDICATED YOUR LIFE, YOU'VE VOLUNTEERED YOUR EFFORTS.
MS. OMAN, I'M GONNA HAVE TO CUT YOU RIGHT THERE.
I GOTTA GIVE BOTH CANDIDATES THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME AND YOU'VE GONE OVER ABSOLUTELY ABOUT 20 SECONDS.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL GO BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS NOW AT THIS TIME.
LET ME FIRST THANK BOTH OF YOU GUYS FOR OFFERING YOURSELF A SERVICE, UM, TO THE CITY PARISH, TO THE LIBRARY BOARD.
UH, I WANT TO THANK MS. LYON FOR HER SIX YEARS OF SERVICE COMMITMENT AND, AND HELPING THE LIBRARY BOARD AND OUR LIBRARY ASSETS BE, UH, VALUABLE TO THIS PARISH, THE CHILDREN AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS PARISH.
UM, I NEVER UNDERSTOOD THE MINDSET OF AN INDIVIDUAL IN AN EFFORT TO BUILD THEMSELVES UP, UH, FEEL OBLIGATED TO TEAR SOMEBODY ELSE DOWN.
UM, FOR ME, UH, AND WE AND SOMEBODY JUST MENTIONED IT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, IN COMPETITION EVERY FOUR YEARS, UM,
[02:15:01]
I I NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED THE COMPETITION.DEFINITELY DON'T MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO TEAR 'EM DOWN.
I JUST FIRMLY BELIEVE IF, IF YOU HAVE ASSETS, CREDIBILITY, IF YOU HAVE WORTH, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT THAT.
YOU DON'T NEED TO TRY TO TEAR ANYBODY ELSE DOWN TO LIFT YOURSELF UP.
UM, I'M GONNA GO TO, UH, ASHLEY AND ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS AS, AS LORD TRY TO DISRUPT ME OVER HERE.
UH, ASHLEY, OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSION IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, UH, DO WE HAVE ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS? WE DO.
UM, BOARD MEMBERS HAVE TO ATTEND 75% OF THE MEETINGS.
HOW IS THAT, UH, GOVERNED? UH, HOW IS THE OVERSIGHT ON THAT, THE REPORTING? WHAT IS THE PROCESS IF IT'S SOMEBODY VIOLATES THAT ATTENDANCE POLICY? IN FEBRUARY OF EACH YEAR, WE RECEIVE AN ATTENDANCE REPORT FROM ALL OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
UH, THE CONTACT PERSON FOR THAT BOARD AND COMMISSION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR LETTING MY OFFICE KNOW IF ANY BOARD MEMBER HAS NOT MET THE 75% ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT.
UM, IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN WE, UH, START THE PROCESS OF REMOVAL OR REQUESTING THE BOARD MEMBER RESIGN.
UH, DID THE LIBRARY BOARD REPRESENTATIVE CONTACT YOUR OFFICE AND GIVE YOU THAT REPORT, UH, THIS YEAR IN THE PAST SIX YEARS? YES.
THEY, THEY, THEY RESPOND EVERY YEAR.
DID MS. LYSON NAME APPEAR ON THAT LIST AS SOMEONE WHO MISSED TOO MANY MEETINGS OR VIOLATED? NO.
UM, OBVIOUSLY I KNEW THE ANSWER TO ALL THOSE QUESTIONS I ASKED ALREADY, BUT I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW, UH, NO MATTER HOW MANY MEETINGS MS. LYRICS HAVE MISSED, NO MATTER, NO MATTER HOW MANY SHE'S BEEN TARDY TO, SHE HAS NOT VIOLATED THE POLICY AND THE POLICY GOVERNS WHETHER SHE'S VIOLATED IT, NOT AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE OR WHO WANTS TO REPLACE HER.
SO SHE HAS MET HER OBLIGATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS POLICY.
AND AS SHE MENTIONED, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ALL ARE HUMAN.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY THE POLICY IS IN A PLACE TO GIVE YOU GRACE AND MERCY TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES AND ALSO SERVE.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU MS. LYSON.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT YOU HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG.
YOU HAVE NOT VIOLATED ANY POLICY.
SO THAT SHOULDN'T EVEN BE A CONSIDERATION TO NOT REAPPOINT YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER MO UH, AT THIS MOMENT I'M GONNA DEFER TO, UH, COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS AND THEN SHE'S DEFER BACK TO ME.
I'M GONNA SAVE Y'ALL SOME TIME FROM FIGHTING BATTLES THAT AREN'T, DON'T NEED TO BE FOUGHT, BUT I WANT YOU TO JUST GIVE ME A LITTLE LEEWAY HERE.
'CAUSE I HAVE A COUPLE THINGS TO SAY.
WHEN I WAS, UM, A YOUNG GIRL IN THE 19 HUNDREDS
WE EACH ARRIVE ON EARTH WITH THINGS WE CANNOT CHANGE.
THEY'RE THE SAME THINGS THAT ARE ON YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE.
MALE, FEMALE, SKIN, COLOR, HEIGHT, EYE COLOR, AND OF COURSE, PRESSED TO ANSWER EACH OF YOU.
UM, PROBABLY KNOW THAT MY DAYS OF BEING A BRUNETTE WITH NO GRAY HAIRS ARE WELL PAST ME, THAT I HAVE A LITTLE CONTROL OVER.
BUT EVERYTHING ELSE ON MY DRIVER'S LICENSE I DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER.
I WAS RAISED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE THINGS THAT MATTER MOST IN LIFE ARE THE THINGS THAT I DO NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER, THAT I DO HAVE CONTROL OVER THE WAY I TREAT PEOPLE.
THE WORDS THAT I ALLOW TO COME OUTTA MY MOUTH.
DO I DARE FAIRLY WITH OTHERS? WHEN I TAKE A WRONG ACTION OR TREAT SOMEONE BADLY, DO I CORRECT THAT BEHAVIOR AND SEEK TO MAKE AMENDS FOR THAT WRONGDOING? DO I WAKE UP EACH, UH, DAY LOOKING TO SERVE OTHERS OR TO SERVE MY OWN SELF-INTEREST? DO I PUT IN THE WORK? DO I SHOW UP PREPARED? DO I FORGIVE? DO I ENCOURAGE, AM I QUICK TO ANGER AND SLOW TO FORGIVE OR SLOW TO ANGER AND QUICK TO FORGIVE? WHO AM I CHOOSING TO BE INSIDE MYSELF AND TO OTHERS EACH AND EVERY DAY? THESE ARE THE QUALITIES, CHARACTERISTICS, AND CHARACTER THAT I ABSOLUTELY HAVE CONTROL OVER.
I WAS RAISED THAT THESE ARE THE THINGS I COULD AND WOULD BE RIGHTLY JUDGED FOR HERE ON EARTH.
AND ON THE FINAL DAY, I SPENT THE MAJORITY OF MY CAREER FIGHTING AN UPHILL BATTLE TO MAINTAIN ENROLLMENT IN A PRIVATE SCHOOL.
AND IT'S NOT JUST PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
IN 2000, THERE WERE 54,000 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN EBR SCHOOLS.
LAST YEAR THERE WERE 43,000 EBR PARISHES, BLOOD YOUNG FAMILIES FOR THE LAST 23 YEARS.
AND I HAD A FRONT ROW SEAT WATCHING THEM LEAVE OUR PARENTS FOR LIVINGSTON, ASCENSION EAST FELICIAN, WEST BATON ROUGE, AND, AND OTHER STATES.
SO WHEN A YOUNG DAD CALLS ME AND SAYS, THIS IS MY HOME.
I WANNA FIGHT FOR MY HOMETOWN, I WANNA RAISE MY KIDS HERE AND BE A PART OF A BATON ROUGE RENAISSANCE, HE IS A UNICORN IN MY WORLD.
WE NEED THOUSANDS MORE DADS WITH SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN LIKE HIM, UM, TO GET THE PUBLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENT NUMBERS WHERE THEY WERE IN 2000.
AND WE NEED MORE DADS LIKE HIM WITH SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN TO GET OUR PRIVATE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT WHERE IT WAS IN 2000
[02:20:01]
AS WELL.SO THAT IS WHY I ASKED MY COLLEAGUES TO DEFER THE LIBRARY BOARD APPOINTMENT SO THAT I COULD BE HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MR. DAMPS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUNG ADULTS GETTING INVOLVED IN OUR CITY PARISH.
WHEN YOU SIT IN CHURCH ROTARY OR YOUR HOA MEETING AND DON'T SEE YOUNG ADULTS SITTING IN THE SAME ROOM, YOU KNOW THAT ORGANIZATION IS IN TROUBLE.
IF WE DO NOT HAVE A STEADY STREAM OF YOUNG ADULTS ON BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND PUBLIC SERVICE AND THE CHURCHES AND THE ROTARIES AND THE HOA, UH, MEETINGS, WE ARE LIVING IN A COMMUNITY THAT IS DYING ON THE VINE.
SO I LOOK AT THESE TWO CANDIDATES WITHOUT REGARD TO THEIR IMMUTABLE CHARACTERISTICS, THINGS OVER WHICH THEY HAVE NO CONTROL.
I HAVE, UM, I'VE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO, UM, ARE FRIENDS WITH OR HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE WITH OR SERVICE EXPERIENCE WITH MR. ALAMAN, LISA LESTER.
AND, UM, AND THEY TELL ME THAT SHE IS A WOMAN OF GOOD CHARACTER AND PURPOSE AND, UM, AND THAT SHE HAS A GREAT REPUTATION AND THAT SHE HAS A DESIRE TO CONTINUE SERVING.
SHE COMES WITH VERY GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS.
I ALSO SEE GARRETT DAMPS, WHO HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED TO ME, UM, AS A MAN OF CHARACTER AND PURPOSE.
UM, SOMEONE WHO HAS, UH, WHO'S NOT BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE HIS COMMUNITY THROUGH A BORDER COMMISSION YET, BUT WHO HAS TAKEN IT UPON HIMSELF TO DISCERN HOW HE MIGHT ENGAGE AND COMMIT TO BEING A PART OF BUILDING THE FUTURE, UM, OF OUR, OUR CITY PARISH FOR YOUNG FAMILIES.
I THINK WE HAVE TWO, UM, GOOD AND QUALIFIED CANDIDATES, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT IN THE FUTURE WE WOULD HAVE MORE THAN TWO FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE TO APPOINT PEOPLE TO, UM, APPOINTING ONE PERSON OVER ANOTHER DOES NOT SPEAK TO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO IS NOT SELECTED.
THESE ARE, THESE SHOULD NOT BE CONTENTIOUS AND UGLY.
WE, WE SHOULD EMBRACE THIS AND BE THRILLED THAT WE HAVE GREAT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SERVE OUR CITY PARISH.
I PERSONALLY AM GONNA CONTINUE TO ALWAYS BE ENCOURAGED BY YOUNG PEOPLE, AND I JUST EXPLAINED TO YOU MY, MY LIFE EXPERIENCE AND WHY THAT IS.
SO, UM, I AM, UM, UM, JUST SUBMIT BOTH OF THEM TO YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR, YOUR GOOD, YOUR GOOD CHOICE AND THE DECISION.
AND I THANK BOTH OF THEM FOR GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
AND I AM SO SORRY THAT THIS PROCESS TURNED INTO SOMETHING THAT, UM, I NEVER WANTED IT TO BE.
AND I DON'T THINK EITHER OF YOU WANTED IT TO BE AS WELL.
SO PICK, PICKING BACK UP THIS, THIS IS THE REASON AND WHERE I WAS TRYING TO GO ON THE INFAMOUS JUNE 12TH MEETING JUST TO HEAR THIS GENTLEMAN OUT.
IT WAS PREVIOUSLY DEFERRED BECAUSE CERTAIN PEOPLE WASN'T GONNA BE HERE.
IT CAME UP AGAIN AND THE SPONSOR OF THE PERSON THAT WAS WANTING TO BE HEARD WAS NOT HERE.
WE WAS JUST TRYING TO GO SO WE COULD HEAR THIS GENTLEMAN OUT, AND I'M GLAD I DID.
I ACTUALLY, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, AND I APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN SPEAKING, BUT FROM A PERSON THAT'S RAN MULTIPLE CAMPAIGNS, I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN DII DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO GO AFTER DIRECTLY LIKE THAT, SOMEONE TO, TO BE ABLE TO GET A POSITION WHERE YOU COULD BE ABLE TO SPEAK, SPEAK YOUR MIND AS FAR AS WHAT YOU OFFER, WHAT YOU'RE GONNA BRING TO THE TABLE AND, AND WHAT YOU CAN DO.
WITH THAT BEING SAID NOW, I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE HEARD THIS OUT AND THAT JUNE 12TH MEETING SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED, SHOULD HAVE NEVER CAME OUT TO DRIVE A WEDGE BETWEEN US BECAUSE I, MYSELF, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, COULDN'T GET TO THE POINT OF ASKING FOR A DEFERRAL SO I COULD HEAR THIS GENTLEMAN OUT.
IT NEVER WAS ABOUT, I AM SORRY, I CAN'T REMEMBER YOUR NAME.
IT NEVER WAS ABOUT HER ALREADY BEING ON THE BOARD.
IT NEVER WAS ABOUT THE COLOR OF HER SKIN.
IT NEVER WAS ABOUT RACE OR ANYTHING ELSE.
I WAS ASKING FOR A FAVOR OF COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS SO SHE COULD SPEAK EITHER ON HIS BEHALF SO THAT HE COULD SPEAK ON HIS OWN BEHALF, AND IT WENT INTO THAT.
SO THAT'S, I JUST WANTED, I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
I THINK WE ALL GOT LABELED FOR THE WRONG REASON.
IF ANY CONVERSATION SHOULD HAVE NEVER WENT THAT ROUTE, THIS IS THE ONE THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER WENT THAT ROUTE.
[02:25:02]
THANK YOU.OKAY, I'M GONNA ECHO SOME SENTIMENTS THAT WERE SHARED HERE TONIGHT.
UM, SO FIRST OFF, WHEN LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE, I DO APPRECIATE THAT IT WAS DEFERRED BECAUSE WHILE I ANTICIPATED BEING HERE FOR THAT PORTION OF THE MEETING, WE MOVED UP THE DISCUSSION ITEM AT THAT MEETING THAT LASTED, I DON'T KNOW, AN HOUR AND A HALF.
AND SO I HAD A, I HAD TO LEAVE, UM, WHICH IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF SITUATIONS THAT WE ALL RUN INTO FROM TIME TO TIME WHERE, UH, WHETHER IT BE LIFE HAPPENS OR, UM, WE HAVE CHILDREN AT HOME.
FOR ME, I HAD A, A WORK ENGAGEMENT THAT RARELY FALLS ON A WIND WEDNESDAY EVENING, BUT IT JUST HAPPENED TO THAT TIME.
UM, BUT I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT FROM TIME TO TIME THAT HAPPENS.
WOULDN'T YOU AGREE, SHAUNA? OH,
I'M GONNA SHOW TELLING YOU, BUT WE HAVE ALL HAD EXPERIENCES, WE ALL HAVE EXPERIENCES WHERE THIS HAS OCCURRED WHERE WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO, UH, TO ATTEND.
BUT I THINK YOU WOULD ALSO ALL AGREE THAT A LARGE PORTION, A VERY LARGE PORTION OF THE TIME AND EFFORTS THAT WE PUT INTO OUR ROLES ARE NOT, WHEN WE'RE SITTING HERE DURING THESE MEETINGS, AN EXTREMELY LARGE PORTION.
AND SO I WOULD IMAGINE FOR MS. ALMAN LYON, THAT IS TRUE AS WELL, A LARGE PORTION OF WHAT SHE PUTS INTO.
AND SHE TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OF THAT, ABOUT TRAINING NEW MEMBERS WHO COME IN.
UM, I DID GO BACK AND WATCH THAT PORTION OF THE MEETING AND I BELIEVE SHE SHARED, UM, SOME OF HER, UM, THE PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE, EDUCATING EVERYONE ON THAT, ON HOW TO, HOW TO MOVE THROUGH.
UM, SO, UH, THERE'S A LOT MORE TO IT THAN JUST WHEN YOU SHOW UP OR, OR, UM, AND AGAIN, SHE'S MET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THAT ANYWAY, SO I'M NOT GONNA HARP ON IT, BUT I WOULD AGREE WITH, UM, COUNCILMAN DUNN JR.
ON I, IT'S PROBABLY NOT SOMETHING I WOULD TRY TO HIGHLIGHT WHEN TRYING TO SEEK A POSITION.
SO, UM, BUT MR. DE DAMP, I, I, I DO APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND, AND, AND SPEAKING ABOUT WHY YOU WANT SERVE.
UM, I DO AGREE WE NEED, I'D LOVE A LAUNDRY LIST OF, OF YOUNG INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE TRYING TO SERVE.
I RAN FOR ALL AND WAS ELECTED TO OFFICE FIRST TIME WHEN I WAS 27 YEARS OLD.
AND, UM, IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO SERVE THE PUBLIC.
I CAN TELL YOU IT'S NOT FOR THE MONEY, AND I THINK Y'ALL WOULD ALL AGREE WITH THAT AS WELL.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT.
AND OFTENTIMES WHILE STRESSFUL, WHILE, UH, TAXING OF OUR TIME AND, AND STRESSFUL ON OUR FAMILIES, IT IS SOMETHING, SERVICE IS SOMETHING THAT WE FEEL LIKE OFTENTIMES, YOU KNOW, IF NOT ME, THAN WHO.
AND, AND WE FIND OURSELVES COMING BACK FOR MORE, UH, EVEN THOUGH OFTENTIMES WE CAN COMPLAIN AND WANNA PULL OUR HAIR OUT, AND IT'S VERY THANKLESS, UM, YOU KNOW, WHETHER VOLUNTEER OR ELECTED.
AND SO I APPLAUD YOU FOR, UH, APPROACHING THIS, AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONTINUE TO DO SO.
UM, AND FOR ANYONE WHO'S WILLING TO SERVE, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO THIS POSITION, UH, OFTENTIMES, UH, IF YOU FOLLOW AT ALL, IT, IT'S, IT'S A RARITY THAT WE'RE GONNA REMOVE SOMEBODY FROM A SEAT, ESPECIALLY FROM SOMETHING LIKE THE LIBRARY THAT HAS DONE SO WELL.
Y'ALL HAVE REALLY DONE A GREAT JOB.
THE LIBRARY IS AN ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, I THINK NOW, UH, A GOOD EXAMPLE IS WHAT WE SAW PREVIOUSLY, UH, WITH CATS, WHERE I THINK THERE WAS SOME, YOU KNOW, WE SAW SOME THINGS GOING ON THERE THAT MAYBE EVERYONE WASN'T HAPPY WITH.
AND SO THERE WERE SOME, SOME PEOPLE UNSEATED THERE.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE, UM, WITH THE LIBRARY.
SO I THINK, UM, AGAIN, UH, I, I WOULD AGREE, UH, WITH COUNCILMAN MOOCH ON, I THINK THINGS WERE SAID DURING THAT MEETING.
UH, MAYBE ACTIONS WERE TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT OR THE REASONING BEHIND THEM WERE, WERE NOT DISCUSSED.
AND, UM, THINGS WERE SAID THAT I THINK WERE, UH, NOT, NOT, UH, TRUTHFUL TO THE INTENTION BEHIND WHY, UM, COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS HAD, UH, ASKED ME THE SAME IF I WOULD BE, UH, WILLING TO DEFER IT SO THAT SHE COULD BE HERE TO SPEAK ON IT AND THAT, SO ALSO, UH, MR. DAMP COULD SPEAK WHEN SHE'S HERE.
UH, I WAS, HAD I BEEN HERE, I WOULD'VE GRANTED THAT DEFERRAL, UH, FOR THAT REASON ALONE.
I, I DIDN'T NEED TO ASK ANYTHING ELSE.
AND I'VE DONE THAT MULTIPLE TIMES FOR, UM, MANY OF YOU HERE WHEN YOU'VE ASKED FOR A SPECIFIC REASON ON, ON HAVING A DEFERRAL.
SO I TYPICALLY, UNLESS THERE'S SOME MAJOR ISSUE, I'M, I'M WILLING TO GRANT THAT TO MY COLLEAGUES, THAT COURTESY.
UM, BUT AGAIN, I WASN'T, YOU KNOW, I LEFT EARLY, WASN'T HERE FOR IT, BUT I'M GLAD IT HAPPENED BECAUSE IT ALLOWED US TO BE HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN THIS MANNER ON THIS TOPIC.
SO, UM, THAT'S WHERE I STAND ON IT.
AND, AND I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT MS. ALLMAN LYON IN HER REAPPOINTMENT, COUNCIL
[02:30:01]
MEMBER, UH, HURST.SO, UM, THE ONE THING I WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW IS THIS IS NOT AI UP HERE.
WE WITH REAL ISSUES IN REAL LIFE.
AND SO MY SON WAS A SENIOR THIS YEAR.
HE'S GRADUATED THROUGH, HE, UM, DID AMAZING.
BUT I REALIZED THAT I WAS COMING TO ZONING MEETINGS, I WAS COMING TO COUNCIL MEETINGS, I WAS MISSING TRACK MEETS THAT I WOULD NEVER SEE AGAIN.
SO WHILE GOD CALLED ME TO SERVE MY PARISH AND MY PEOPLE, HE CALLED ME TO BE HEAD OF MY HOUSEHOLD FIRST.
AND SO I MISSED MEETINGS TO GO TO TRACK MEET, I APOLOGIZE, APOLOGIZED TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR ALMOST 90 DAYS.
I REALIZED THAT I WOULD NEVER GET THAT TIME BACK WITH MY SON.
I APOLOGIZED TO THE COUNCIL, BUT I UNAPOLOGETICALLY DID THOSE ACTIONS BECAUSE IF I HAD TO DO THEM AGAIN, I WOULD CONTINUE AND DO THEM THE SAME WAY.
AND SO I'M GLAD YOU GAVE YOUR SPEECH AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU OFFERED YOURSELF UP FOR SERVICE.
BUT THE ONE THING ABOUT GIVING SOMEBODY AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE IS THAT YOU LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THEM.
THE ONE THING I LEARNED ABOUT YOU IS THAT ON ANY COUNCIL, WE NEED DIVERSITY.
AND THE GREAT THING IS, IS AS AN ATHLETE MYSELF, WHO ALSO WENT TO COLLEGE AND MANAGED SPORTS ALONG WITH ATHLETICS, ALONG WITH INTERNSHIPS AND CO-OPS, I CAN FEEL THAT ROLE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE FILLED ON THIS, UH, LIBRARY BOARD THROUGH THE DIVERSE ASPECTS OF WHAT YOU BRING.
BUT WE DON'T NEED DUPLICATION.
AND SO FOR THAT REASON, I DO HAVE THAT ROLE, AND I CAN DO THAT.
AND EVERYBODY UP HERE, THEY GET TIRED OF ME TALKING ABOUT SPORTS, HOW IT IMPACTED ME, AND HOW I USE IT TO IMPACT OTHERS.
SO THEY WILL TELL YOU I'M SPORTS ALL DAY LONG, NOT JUST IN MY LIFE, BUT HOW I PAID IT FORWARD FOR WHAT PEOPLE INVESTED IN ME PASSION.
I HAVE A LITTLE PASSION FOR IT,
UM, AND WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT, I GO TO MY COLLEAGUE AND I DO BELIEVE IN YOUNG ENERGY, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE IN WISDOM.
AND WISDOM COMES FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE, LIVED EXPERIENCE.
AND SO THAT YOUNG ENERGY, THOSE YOUNG IDEAS, THE, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO DO THE WORK IS GREAT.
BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THAT THAT WISDOM HAS NOT PREVAILED BECAUSE WE ARE THE NUMBER ONE LIBRARY SYSTEM IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA AND A MODEL LIBRARY SYSTEM FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO IMPROVE WHAT THEY DO.
SO, AND I, AND I WOULD SAY THAT YOUTH WOULD PLAY A ROLE AND NEW, NEW AND FRESH IDEAS WOULD PLAY A ROLE IF WE DIDN'T ACHIEVE ALL THOSE STARS THAT MARY TALKED ABOUT THE LAST TIME SHE WAS UP HERE UNDER NICOLE ALMAN LI UH, UM, YOU GOT ME, I'M ACTING LIKE LORI NOW.
NICOLE ALMAN LISTENS, UH, LEADERSHIP.
SO, AND I WILL SAY THE, THE FINAL THING IS THAT EVERY BOARD MEMBER HAS STOOD IN THE GAP.
OUR PRESIDENT IS HERE, UM, UH, MS. WASCOM WHO WE ALL RESPECT, UH, UM, MAN DON LUTHER, WHO WE ALL LOVE, WHO, WHO, WHO, WHO STANDS IN FOR US.
UH, I MEAN, LITERALLY EVERYBODY.
WE DO HAVE MALES ON THERE, WHICH IS A, IT'S ALMOST PROBABLY 50 50 IF, IF, I MEAN, IT'S SEVEN.
SO IT'S NOT RIGHT AT 50%, BUT THERE'S THREE MEN AND THE REST OF LA FOUR LADIES.
SO YOU DO GET A DIVERSE EXPERIENCE.
YOU GET DIVERSITY IN AGE, YOU GET DIVERSITY IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, YOU GET DIVERSITY IN PARTS OF TOWN THAT WE LIVE IN, AND YOU GET DIVERSITY IN WORK EXPERIENCE.
SO I DO THINK WE HAVE A GOOD MAKEUP ON THE BOARD.
I'M GLAD MARY'S HERE BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT, IT, IT IS LIKE THE SHOT THAT THAT WAS HEARD AROUND THE WORLD RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE FOR NICOLE.
AND THAT IS NOT A STRIKE AT YOU.
BY THE WAY, I WANNA MAKE THAT CLEAR.
THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU AREN'T QUALIFIED.
THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU SHOULDN'T SERVE.
THAT'S JUST SAYING THAT THIS CURRENT MAKEUP OF THIS BOARD HAS HAD SUCCESS AND THAT THAT SUCCESS WANTS TO CONTINUE.
AND NICOLE ASKED THE QUESTION, UH, WHY WOULD SOMEBODY WANNA RIP SOMETHING OUT THAT'S DOING GOOD OR DOING REALLY GREAT? AND I AGREE WITH HER ON THAT, BUT I DO THANK YOU FOR OFFERING YOURSELF UP A PUBLIC SERVICE.
MY FIRST TIME RUNNING, I DID NOT WIN.
FIRST TIME KIPP HOLDEN RAN FOR MAYOR.
HE DID NOT WIN, BUT HE EVENTUALLY BECAME THE MAYOR.
SO CONTINUE TO SUBMIT YOUR NAME, UM, CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU DO.
BUT, UH, MOVING FORWARD, I BELIEVE THAT NICOLE WILL STILL BE THERE AND I'D DEFINITELY SUPPORT HER PUBLICLY, BUT I DO THANK YOU FOR OFFERING HIMSELF PUBLIC SERVICE COUNCIL MEMBER GODDE, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO REAPPOINT MS. NICOLE ALMAN LAREN SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.
[02:35:01]
THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE APPOINTMENT? CONGRATULATIONS, MS. ALMAN.LAREN, YOU'VE BEEN REAPPOINTED.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR OFFERING YOURSELF UP FOR SERVICE.
[150. 24-00781]
WE NOW GO TO ITEM ONE 50, PARA SYNCHRONIZATION AND COMMUNICATION TRAFFIC SIGNAL COMMUNICATION CONDU AND INSTALL CONTRACTOR EARN.P BRO, ELECTRICAL CHANGE YOUR ORDER AMOUNT.
33,614 76 CENTS, WHICH IS A CREDIT.
UH, ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THAT ITEM? WE'RE NOW WITH TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ONE 50? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
[151. 24-00782]
GO TO FINAL ACCEPTANCES 1 51, PARA SIGNALIZATION AND COMMUNICATION TRAP AND COMMUNICATIONS CONDUIT INSTALL CONTRACT.ERNEST P BRO ELECTRICAL FINAL COST $3,802,675 AND 23 CENTS.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? MR. RAYFORD? I HAVE A QUESTION.
THE PARISH SYNCHRONIZATION AND COMMUNICATION TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONDUIT IS GONNA BE FOR THE ENTIRE PARISH TO SYNCHRONIZE ALL OF THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS.
THERE'LL BE JUST A FEW THAT WILL NOT BE AT THIS POINT BECAUSE THERE ARE SO FAR OUT IN THE SYSTEM, BUT THERE ARE LIGHTS OUT THERE.
BUT IT WOULD BE FOR THE MOST MAJORITY OF 'EM, 460 SIGNALS ARE GONNA BE SET UP UNDER THE SYSTEM.
AND THE SYNCHRONIZATION DOES MEAN THAT THEY'LL CHANGE GREEN AT THE SAME, APPROXIMATELY THE SAME TIME, AND THEN TURN RED AT THE SAME TIME.
OR WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? SYNCHRONIZATION? NO.
WELL, IN THIS PROCESS, BECAUSE I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT MEANT THAT I COULD RIDE DOWN FLORIDA BOULEVARD WITH GREEN FOR ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN LIGHTS, AND THEN IT MIGHT TURN RED AND THEN THE OTHER TRAFFIC COULD CROSS OVER NORTH TO SOUTH.
SO THERE ARE, THERE ARE TIMES THAT DURING YOUR PEAK HOUR MORNING AND YOUR PEAK HOUR AFTERNOONS, WE TRY TO STRUCTURE THOSE WHERE THOSE, THAT GREEN LIGHT GIVES YOU THAT THROUGH MOVEMENT.
UH, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BALANCE THAT WITH THE, YOUR SIDE STREETS, BECAUSE SOME OF YOUR SIDE STREETS CARRIES JUST AS MUCH TRAFFIC AS YOUR, YOUR MAIN THOROUGHFARE.
AND I GET CALLS ABOUT WHY I'M ONLY ONLY MAKING FOUR LIGHTS INSTEAD OF SEVEN MM-HMM,
WELL, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE SOMETHING MAY TRIGGERED.
YOU ALSO HAVE THE PREEMPTION THAT COULD BE DONE THROUGH, UH, EMS OR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHICH KINDS TO THROW THE SYSTEM OFF A LITTLE BIT.
BUT IN REALITY, COUNCILMAN, I THINK WE, WE DO HAVE SOME PROBLEM AREAS WE'RE STILL WORKING ON, BUT I, I HAVE GOTTEN LESS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SYNCHRONIZATION OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, WHICH I'M, I'M, I'M PROUD ABOUT.
'CAUSE I THINK THAT WE'RE MOVING IN THAT RIGHT DIRECTION.
DO, DO YOU HAVE TO USE MY TIME OR CAN I STILL USE ROWDY'S TIME THIS COUNTING DOWN OR GIVE MY TIME? WHATEVER YOU WANT.
NO, I, I WAS JUST, LOOK, I, I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE WITH THIS LIGHT SYNCHRONIZATION AND EVERYTHING AND, AND, UH, PROBABLY, UH, MYSELF OR, OR BRANDON COMING IN FROM, FROM ZACHARY AND ME COMING IN FROM CENTRAL, I, I TAKE THE THROUGHWAY UP TO FLORIDA BOULEVARD AND I TEST THOSE THEORIES OUT ALL, ALL THE TIME.
UM, IT'S PRETTY MUCH BASED ON SPEED, AS LONG AS THERE'S NO WRECK OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
AND I, I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, I'VE TRIED TO TELL EVERYBODY OUT SINCE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE INTERSTATE STUFF GOING ON.
I'VE TESTED GREENVILLE SPRINGS ROAD, I'VE TESTED FLORIDA BOULEVARD.
UH, AND I KNOW E EITHER, EITHER THEY'RE ONLINE OR I JUST HAPPEN TO BE HITTING GREAT LIGHT CYCLES, BUT I CAN TAKE FLORIDA BOULEVARD, IT HIT IN DOWNTOWN.
ABOUT THE ONLY TIME I RUN INTO A PROBLEM IS USUALLY COMING UP ON NORTH FOSTER, UH, WHICH IS A MAJOR CROSSOVER INTERSECTION WHERE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE FROM GRIMBLE SPRINGS ROAD ARE COMING OR, UH, DOWN BY THE BATON ROUGE GENERAL HOSPITAL.
BUT IT, IT'S, I THINK IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.
UM, AND BY THE WAY, WHILE I'M SAYING THIS, IF YOU HAVEN'T USED NORTH BOULEVARD, I THINK THAT IS THE MOST UNDERUSED STREET IN BATON ROUGE.
UM, I GET, ONCE I GET ON THAT AT NORTH FOSTER, IT IS STRAIGHT DOWNTOWN IN ABOUT TWO OR THREE MINUTES.
SO HOPEFULLY I'M NOT GIVING A SECRET AWAY, BUT I, I THINK YOU, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.
THE LIGHT SYNCHRONIZATION OR WHAT'S BEEN ACTIVE, I THINK IS GREAT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'RE GONNA GET THOSE, UM, FLASHING YELLOW LIGHTS UP IN PRIDE BAYWOOD SYNCHRONIZED AT IN BRANDON'S DISTRICT.
YOU WE'RE NOT GONNA ALLOW YOU TO BE ABLE TO TURN LEFT.
SO
MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER M SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
ANY OBJECTIONS? KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
[Items 152 - 156]
A LITTLE BID.IF YOU GONNA TAKE ITEMS 1 52 TO 1 56 TOGETHER, SALES TAX, STREET AND ROAD REHABILITATION PROGRAM.
RJ DAGAN, SONS CONTRACTORS, $1,377,100 80 CENTS.
ITEM 1 53, SALES TAX STREET AND ROAD REHABILITATION PROGRAM PROJECT 19 DASH ONE STREETS IN GREENWOOD, AMTRAK, LLC $650,065.
ITEM 1 54 DOUGLAS AVENUE, AREA 88, TRANSITION PROJECT, LUSTER GROUP $349,356.
RECORD SERVICES LESS THAN 10,000 GPW LOUISIANA TOWING AND RECOVERY, LLC $55,254 90 CENTS.
AND ITEM 1 56, THE RECORD SERVICES 10,000 GBW 30,000 GBW
[02:40:01]
LOUISIANA TOWING AND RECOVERING LLC $150,290.IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THOSE ITEMS? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL ON ITEMS 1 52 TO 1 56.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
ANY OBJECTIONS? THOSE ITEMS HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
OTHER ITEMS TO BE ADOPTED FOR EMERGENCY ITEM 1 57,
[157. 24-00795]
AMENDING AND REENACTING ORDINANCE 19,001 30, WHICH ESTABLISHED VOTING PRECINCTS WITHIN WARDS ONE, TWO, AND THREE IN EAST PARISH PARISH AND DESIGNATING POLLING PLACES SO AS TO CHANGE THE FOLLOWING, POLLING LOCATIONS, WARD ONE, PRECINCT EIGHT.JOSEPH ACADEMY TO CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL.
WARD TWO PRECINCT THREE WHITE HILLS ELEMENTARY TO BROWNSVILLE VOLUNTEER FIRE STATION WARD THREE PRECINCT 70, 75 AND 76 ST.
JOHN'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH TO GREAT HEARTS HARVESTING SCHOOL BY REGISTER VOTER READING FOR EMERGENCY TO ALLOW ENOUGH TIME TO INFORM ALL VOTERS IN THE PRECINCT.
CHANGES IN ACCORDANCE WITH ORDINANCE 1 6 4 4 2.
THIS ITEM MUST BE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY BY TWO THIRD VOTE OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.
I NEED A MOTION TO DECLARE THE ITEM IS EMERGENCY.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
ANY OBJECTIONS? UH, IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBER MOCH.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER NO.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOCH.
I WANNA THANK ALL THE CITY PARISH EMPLOYEE.
I WANNA LET EVERYONE AT HOME KNOW WE ARE GONNA BE ADJOURNED FOR 29 DAYS.
WE WON'T SEE YOU AGAIN UNTIL JULY 24TH.
UH, I WANT TO TELL EVERYONE TO BE SAFE.
IF YOU NEED SOME THERAPY, PROTECT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH.
AND WHILE YOU'RE AWAY, READ TO YOUR CHILDREN.
AND WHEN YOU'RE DONE READING TO THEM, HAVE THEM READ BACK TO YOU.
BEST WAY TO IMPROVE READING COMPREHENSION.
WANNA INVITE EVERYBODY OUT TO PACK THE SACK SCHOOL SUPPLY GIVEAWAY ON SUNDAY, JULY 22ND, ONE O'CLOCK TO 4:00 PM AT PARK ELEMENTARY.
SUNDAY, ONE IS THE 27TH COUNCIL DISTRICT SIXTH, 27TH ON A SATURDAY.
WHAT ARE WE DOING? HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS.
COUNCILMAN HURST AND CONGRESSMAN TROY CARTER, JULY 11TH, CHARLES KELLY CENTER AT THE CHARLES R. KELLY CENTER.