[00:00:01]
[Presentations and Special Recognitions]
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.WELCOME TO THE PRESENTATION PORTION OF OUR METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULED ON THIS JUNE 12TH, 2024 WEDNESDAY, 3:00 PM OUR FIRST UP, WE'LL HAVE MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTERN BROOM TO RECOGNIZE EMPLOYEE B, THE HEART AND ROSEBUD ACADEMY FOR NA, NATIONAL NURSING ASSISTANT WEEK JUNE 13TH THROUGH 19TH, 2024.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL NURSING ASSISTANT WEEK FROM JUNE 13TH THROUGH JUNE 19TH, RECOGNIZING THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF NURSING ASSISTANT.
THEIR DEDICATION AND COMPASSIONATE CARE ARE VITAL TO OUR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH AND WELLBEING.
AND SO TODAY I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THREE OUTSTANDING INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE ADVANCED THE TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION OF NURSING ASSISTANCE IN OUR CITY.
FIRST, LET'S APPLAUD OUR OWN EMPLOYEE, VR REPRESENTED BY BARBARA DUNN FOR PROVIDING THAT'S RIGHT ESSENTIAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.
THEIR COMMITMENT IS EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS AND HEALING OUR COMMUNITY IS DEEPLY APPRECIATED.
NEXT, WE HONOR THE HEART ACADEMY, FOUNDED BY MARSH CAGE FOR ITS NURTURING ENVIRONMENT AND QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ASPIRING NURSING ASSISTANTS, MARSHA RAY
HER VISION AND LEADERSHIP ARE TRANSFORMATIVE FOR OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
WE ALSO RECOGNIZE VICKI LEE, OWNER OF ROSEBUD ACADEMY FOR HER DEDICATION TO TRAINING FUTURE NURSING ASSISTANTS, ROSEBUD ACADEMY EXCELS IN PREPARING STUDENTS TO MEET HEALTHCARE CHALLENGES WITH SKILL AND COMPASSION.
EMPLOY VR, THE HEART ACADEMY AND ROOSEVELT ACADEMY EXEMPLIFY COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.
THEIR WORK PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ENSURES HIGH STANDARDS OF CARE.
AND SO WE CELEBRATE NATIONAL NURSING ASSISTANCE.
LET'S EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO ALL NURSING ASSISTANTS FOR THEIR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT AND HARD WORK.
THEY ARE OUR TRUE HEROES, ESSENTIAL TO HEALTH AND HEALING OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I'M GOING TO ASK MS. DUNN TO, UH, TAKE THIS PROCLAMATION IN HONOR OF NATIONAL NURSING ASSISTANCE WEEK.
YOU WANNA SAY THANK YOU MAYOR, AND EVERYONE THAT'S HERE TO JUST, UH, APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE IN THE NURSING COMMUNITY.
WEEK TWO, SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR TWO RECIPIENTS HERE AND EMPLOYEE VR IS INVESTED IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK THROUGH THIS PILOT PROGRAM, WE HAD ABOUT 150 PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH THE PROGRAM.
AND SO WE ARE HERE IF ANYONE ELSE IS INTERESTED.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR, FOR THIS PRESENTATION, AND WE'LL TAKE ALL OUR PICTURES AFTERWARDS.
UH, TODAY WE GATHER TO HONOR A, A REMARKABLE INDIVIDUAL WHOSE LIFELONG DEDICATION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICE HAS EARNED HIM A PRESTIGIOUS HONOR.
IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE RETIRED BATON ROUGE POLICE CHIEF JEFF LEDUFF, RETIRED CHIEF LEDUFF WAS INDUCTED LAST WEEK INTO THE LOUISIANA JUSTICE HALL OF FAME.
CHIEF LAD DUFF'S PUBLIC SERVICE BEGAN IN 1982 WITH THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND IN 2005, HE BECAME BATON ROUGE'S FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN POLICE CHIEF.
HIS LEADERSHIP FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND YOUTH OUTREACH.
NOTABLY ESTABLISHING A SUMMER CAMP TO INTRODUCE ADOLESCENTS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AFTER RETIRING, LAUFF FOUNDED OPEN EYES SAFETY TRAINING AND CONSULTING, A SELF-DEFENSE PROGRAM AIMED AT IMPROVING DISCIPLINE, MORALE, CRITICAL THINKING, AND PROMOTING GOOD DECISION MAKING AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLES.
HE IS ALSO VICE CHAIRMAN OF LA CAP ENHANCING SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND CONDUCTING VITAL SAFETY TRAINING FOR STAFF.
THE CAPITAL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION.
THE LOUISIANA JUSTICE HALL OF FAME HONORS THOSE WITH EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION TO JUSTICE CHIEF LEDUFF.
YOUR TIRELESS DEDICATION, INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY HAVE PROFOUNDLY IMPACTED BATON ROUGE AND BEYOND.
YOUR INDUCTION INTO THE HALL OF FAME REFLECTS THE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE YOU HAVE MADE.
ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE METRO COUNCIL AND THE CITIZENS OF BATON ROUGE, WE EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU CHIEF LEDUFF.
YOUR LEGACY OF SERVICE, LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WILL INSPIRE US FOR GENERATIONS.
AND THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS
[00:05:01]
ONCE AGAIN FOR THIS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT.AND WE'LL TAKE, WE'LL LET HIM TAKE A PICTURE, BUT WE'LL TAKE ANOTHER ONE AFTER.
YOU WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS? OH, THANK YOU.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE A PICTURE AFTER.
WELL, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, MA'AM.
YOU KNOW, BEING INDUCTED INTO THE JUSTICE HALL OF FAME WAS A SURPRISE.
UH, I GOT A CALL AND JUST AS THIS, SO, UH, I AM HUMBLED, UH, TO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN.
AND I'M HUMBLED TO STAND BACK AT THIS PODIUM AGAIN.
IT'S BEEN 14 YEARS SINCE, UH, I HAD TO STAND HERE AND TALK TO THE COUNCIL, BUT IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS TIME.
I COULD YOU LEAVE RIGHT AFTER THIS, SO IT'S GOOD.
I APPRECIATE WHAT EACH OF YOU DO.
AND NOW THAT I AM A MEMBER OF THE HALL OF JUSTICE, I GET TO NOMINATE PEOPLE, SO, OH, GOOD.
WE CAN NOW PUT SOME OF THESE OTHER FINE NAMES IN, IN, FROM BATON ROUGE INTO THE JUSTICE HALL OF FAME.
MR. ROUND, WE'RE GONNA TAKE YES, MA'AM.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UM, MAYOR PRO TEM, WE ARE HONORING TODAY ARTHUR GIAN WITH HIS AWARD-WINNING CHOIR.
ARTHUR AND FRIENDS COMMUNITY CHOIR.
IF THE MEMBERS CAN COME ON UP, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN, UH, THEIR, UH, POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE I FIRST SAW THIS, UH, RECOGNITION.
AND I'M ALWAYS GLUED TO POSITIVE, UH, PEOPLE AND THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
AND SO, AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MONTH, ARTHUR AND HIS CHOIR TRAVELED TO ATLANTA, WHERE THEY COMPETED IN THE 2024.
HOW SWEET THE SOUND CHOIR COMPETITION.
HOW SWEET THE SOUND IS A NATIONAL GOSPEL MUSIC COMPETITION TOUR THAT CELEBRATES THE SOUND OF GOSPEL MUSIC ACROSS AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.
ARTHUR AND FRIENDS COMMUNITY CHOIR SUCCESSFULLY ACHIEVED FIRST PLACE WITHIN THEIR CATEGORY OF A LARGE CHOIR THERE.
HOW MANY MEMBERS DO YOU HAVE IN THE CHOIR? 50.
YEAH, IT LOOKED PRETTY LARGE WHEN I SAW THE PICTURE.
THROUGH HIS SCHOOL OF MUSIC AND TRAINING THE A-G-A-J-G EXPERIENCE, HE IS CONSIDERED A FATHER FIGURE TO MANY OF HIS PEERS.
AND EVEN THOUGH THOSE WHO NEED A LISTENING EAR, AS HIS ADVICE AND FEEDBACK ARE BASED ON THE GUIDANCE AND VOCAL, UH, VOICE OF HIS OWN OLD SOUL.
THROUGH THIS COMMITMENT, GRON WAS ABLE TO LEAD HIS CHOIR TO VICTORY.
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO ARTHUR AND FRIENDS, COMMUNITY CHOIR, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE WAY YOUR GOSPEL CONTINUES TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE COMMUNITY.
YOU WANNA SAY TWO WORDS? DON'T GIVE US A LITTLE TASTE.
YOU WANT TO, I GONNA SAY, YOU WANT TO SAY WORDS, I'M JUST GOING TO SPEAK, BUT I DO WANT TO SAY, UH, FIRST OF ALL, TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOR THE THINGS HE'S DONE.
BUT WITHOUT HIM, WE COULDN'T DO NOTHING UNTIL MAYOR AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
BUT I DO WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF AUTHENTIC FRIENDS COMMUNITY CHOIR, BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM, THEY WOULD NOT BE ARTHUR AND FRIENDS.
SO TODAY I CELEBRATE MYSELF, BUT ALSO CELEBRATE YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT.
I DON'T WANNA GIVE US A LITTLE TASTE.
NEXT, NEXT UP, WE'LL HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER DARRYL HURST TO RECOGNIZE AS LADIES OF TOP LADIES OF DISTINCTION INCORPORATED FOR THE ANNUAL PREMIER FUNDRAISER.
YEAH, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
ANYBODY WANTS TO TAKE WHO UP FIRST? THE CHOIR.
I GOT TO GET IN THE PICTURE WITH THE CHOIR SO I CAN LIE AND SAY, Y'ALL.
LET'S GET A BIG SMILE FROM EVERYBODY.
[00:10:05]
CAN Y'ALL ADHERE TOO? ALRIGHT.HOLD, HOLD IT, HOLD IT, HOLD IT.
GET A BIG SMILE FROM EVERYBODY.
ALRIGHT, NOW CAN Y LOOK HERE? THREE, TWO.
UH, AGAIN, APOLOGIZE FOR MY TARDINESS.
AND NOW WE ARE PRESENTING AT THREE, NORMALLY AT THREE 30.
UH, I WANT TO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE SOME AMAZING WOMEN WHO ARE DOING SOME AMAZING THINGS ANYTIME THAT YOU HAVE, NUMBER ONE, A WOMEN'S ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES, UH, LEADERSHIP IN WOMEN THAT CHANGE THE LIVES OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE DEFINITELY WANNA HONOR THEM, NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO, UH, WHEN YOU ARE HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE FUTURE GENERATION OF ANY COMMUNITY, BUT ESPECIALLY BATON ROUGE AND EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, WE LEFT, DEFINITELY WANNA HONOR YOU BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH POLITICIANS, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS, NOT ENOUGH SCHOOL TEACHERS.
IT TAKES THE COMMUNITY TO CHANGE THE COMMUNITY.
AND TODAY, FOR THAT REASON, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE, UH, TOP LADIES OF DISTINCTION.
IT LOOKS LIKE I HAVE MORE PROCLAMATIONS THAN PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO ATTEND TODAY, BUT I'M GONNA READ ONE AND CALL EVERYONE'S NAME OUT.
AND AS I CALL IT, PLEASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM.
UM, IT'S A PROCLAMATION OF RECOGNITION, THE HONORABLE COUNCIL DARRYL HURST, UM, TO PRESIDENT LADY CONSTANCE CARROLL.
WHEREAS TOP LADIES OF DISTINCTION INCORPORATED IS DECIDED TO SERVING, UH, DEDICATED TO SERVING YOUTH AND ADULTS THROUGH TRANSFORMATIVE PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES THAT POSITIVELY IMPACT COMMUNITIES.
AND WHEREAS THE NON-PAR CHAPTER OF TOP LETTERS OF DISTINCTION HAS SHOWN EXEMPLARY COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY SERVICE THROUGH NATIONAL THRUST, INCLUDING THE TOP TEAMS OF AMERICA PROGRAM, WHICH I'M A FORMER TOP TEAM, UH, WHICH FOCUSES ON CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES TO DEVELOP PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS.
AND WHEREAS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF LADY CONSTANCE CARROLL AND THE DEDICATED OFFICERS, THE NON-PAR CHAPTER HAS TIRELESSLY SUPPORTED, UH, VITAL CAUSES SUCH AS ADOLESCENT SUICIDE PREVENTION, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, MENTAL HEALTH, SENIOR CITIZEN ASSISTANCE, COMMUNITY BEAUTIFICATION, AND FORMING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.
TODAY I RECOGNIZE THE TOP LADIES OF DISTINCTION AND THEIR PRESIDENT LADY CONSTANCE CARROLL.
AND BEFORE I, UH, SAY THE OTHERS, I'M GONNA LET MS. UH, CAROL SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE ORGANIZATION ON THE, LIKE FOR THE LATEST OF, UH, TODD DAVIS OF DISTINCTION TO COME PODIUM.
IT'S, UH, IT IS TRULY A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR TO BE RECOGNIZED BY COUNCILMAN HURST IN DISTRICT FIVE OF HE HAS GIVEN AND SHOWN US TREMENDOUS, UH, SUPPORT SINCE HE HAS BEEN IN THIS OFFICE.
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU A FEW THINGS THAT WE DO IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE FIVE MAJOR THRUSTS THAT WE, UH, SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY ARE TOP TEENS OF AMERICA, WHICH IS OUR MAJOR THRUST, WHICH WE ALL KNOW IS THE, OUR FUTURE.
WE DO OUR SENIOR CITIZENS, UH, STATUS OF WOMEN, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AND COMMUNITY BEAUTIFICATION.
AND SO WE ARE TRULY HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD FROM COUNCILMAN UH, HURSTON DISTRICT FIVE.
[00:15:01]
THANK YOU.UH, LADIES, WE'LL TAKE A QUICK PIC.
LET ME GET, UM, WHAT I WILL DO IS, I, THERE'S SO MANY, I WILL HAND THESE TO Y'ALL AND Y'ALL CAN HAND THEM OUT 'CAUSE I KNOW WE'RE SHORT A FEW, BUT WE'LL TAKE A QUICK PICKUP HERE.
NOW I DO HAVE, UM, ONE MORE SPECIAL, UH, PROCLAMATION, UM, FOR A YOUNG MAN THAT I GOT TO WATCH GROW UP.
HE WAS ALWAYS CHARISMATIC, ENTHUSIASTIC, SET THE TONE ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD, BUT SET THE TONE OF WHAT FUTURE LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE, NOT ONLY IN BATON ROUGE, BUT IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND SO TODAY, UM, I RECOGNIZE DONALD BARNARD, WHICH WHEREAS DONALD HAS RECEIVED THIS FOUNDATIONAL EDUCATION AT UNIVERSITY LABORATORY SCHOOL IN BATON ROUGE, WHERE EXCELLED AS A THREE YEAR START ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM AND ACHIEVED ALL METRO, ALL DISTRICT AND ALLSTATE HONORS.
AND WHEREAS DONALD WAS OFFERED SCHOLARSHIPS TO MULTIPLE PRESTIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING HARVARD UNIVERSITY, THE US AIR FORCE ACADEMY, AND THE US NAVAL ACADEMY, CHOOSING NAVAL ACADEMY FOR HIS COLLEGE EDUCATION, WHERE HE STARTED 44 CONSECUTIVE GAMES OVER FOUR YEARS ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM AND EARNED ALL CONFERENCE HONORS IN TWO OF THOSE YEARS.
AND WHEREAS, AS A DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF THE FOURTH COMPANY OF THE US NAVAL ACADEMY, DONALD GRADUATED IN 2024 WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE.
AND UPON RECEIPT OF HIS COMMISSION, WILL SERVE AS A SURFACE WELFARE OFFICER BOARD, THE USS TORTUGA, LSD 46, MARKING HIM AS THE MOST DESERVING OF THE HIGHEST RECOGNITION FOR COMPLETING HIS RIGOROUS EDUCATION AND COMMITTING TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY IN THE US NAVY.
HE IS A SHINING STAR TO REPRESENT EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, BATON ROUGE, AND I'M NOT GONNA CALL HIM DONALD.
Y'ALL GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR BISCUIT.
UM, YEAH, I, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY FOR LETTING ME BE HERE.
I WANT TO THANK GOD THANK, THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, I WANNA THANK MY FAMILY AND MY SUPPORT SYSTEM AND, UM, ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS REPRESENT BATON ROUGE AND MY FAMILY IN A GREAT WAY, UM, AT THE NAVAL ACADEMY.
AND, UM, UH, I HOPE TO CONTINUE DOING THAT IN THE FLEET AND PROVIDE HOPE TO THOSE KIDS IN BATON ROUGE THAT WERE IN MY SHOES NOT TOO LONG AGO.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE ADJOURNED TILL FOUR O'CLOCK.
[CALL TO ORDER]
HELLO EVERYBODY.WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
GOOD TO HAVE ALL OF YOU TUNING INTO OUR BROADCAST ON AT T ON COX.
AND WE'RE STREAMING ON OUR CITY PARISH WEBSITE.
HOW ABOUT YOUTUBE AND FACEBOOK? LOT.
WELCOME SO MUCH ONCE AGAIN TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.
OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT ALL OF YOU TO BE A PART OF OUR GOVERNMENT AT ALL TIMES.
AND AT THIS TIME HERE IS THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT PROTE OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
COUNCILMAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH DENNIS.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MR. POLLING COUNCIL MEETING ON THIS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12TH, 2024 AT 4:00 PM ASHLEY, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM? WE HAVE A QUORUM.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INVITE,
[00:20:01]
UH, YOLANDA BATIS.TWO'S GOING TO LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION AS WELL AS THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
MS. ESSON, LET US BOW HEADS, OH LORD, OUR GOD, HOW EXCELLENT IS THY NAME AND ALL THE EARTH.
WE COME TO YOU TODAY ASKING LORD THAT YOU WILL FORGIVE US OF ANY OF OUR SINS.
WE COME ASKING THAT YOU WILL CREATE CREATING US A CLEAN HEARTED, RENEW THE RIGHT SPIRIT DOWN ON THE INSIDE.
DEAR GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD ALLOW THIS MEETING TO GO FORTH TODAY TO BRING FORTH GLORY TO YOUR NAME.
I ASK THAT YOU BLESS OUR LEADERS OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE HEAVEN, FATHER BLESS THEM, THEIR FAMILIES INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY.
AND I ASK THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO BLESS THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
WE IN ADVANCE, THANK YOU FOR WHAT SHALL TAKE PLACE TONIGHT IN THIS MEETING ONCE AGAIN, THAT IT MAY GIVE YOU ALL THE GLORY, THE HONOR AND THE PRAISE.
IN JESUS CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.
I PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STATES ONE NATION UNDER GOD.
AND TO THIS VOTE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
ONE, APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF DOMESTIC FILING.COUNCIL MEETING ON MAY 22ND, 2024 BY THE COUNCIL, ADMINISTRATIVE TREASURER.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER.
IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
[INTRODUCTIONS (Part 1 of 2)]
ASHLEY, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE INTRODUCTIONS SECTION 2.12 INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER TWO, AUTHORIZING THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO TAKE SUCH ACTION AS MAY BE REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE PURCHASE AND ACQUISITION OF TRACK 17 DASH A DASH A DASH B VICTORIA FARM SUBDIVISION 7 2 84 GREENWELL STREET FROM J AND R FOOD BROKERS OF LOUISIANA FOR THE SUM AND APPRAISED VALUE OF $207,200 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.NUMBER THREE, AUTHORIZING THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO INSTITUTE EXP APPROPRIATION PROCEEDINGS AND OR TO TAKE SUCH OTHER ACTION AS MAY BE REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE ACQUISITION OF LAND NECESSARY FOR THE MOVE BR ENHANCEMENT PROJECT, SOUTH SHERWOOD FOREST BOULEVARD SIDEWALKS COURSEY BOULEVARD TO I 12 BY PARISH ATTORNEY NUMBER FOUR, AUTHORIZING THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO INSTITUTE EXP APPROPRIATION PROCEEDINGS AND OR TO TAKE SUCH OTHER ACTION AS MAY BE REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE ACQUISITION OF LAND NECESSARY FOR MOVE BEYOND ENHANCEMENT PROJECT GROOM ROAD LA 19 TO PLANK ROAD BY PARISH ATTORNEY NUMBER FIVE, AUTHORIZING THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO INSTITUTE EXP APPROPRIATION PROCEEDINGS AND OR TO TAKE SUCH OTHER ACTION AS MAY BE REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE ACQUISITION OF LAND NECESSARY FOR THE MOVE BEYOND ENHANCEMENT PROJECT.
BATON ROUGE BUS RAPID TRANSIT PROJECT NICHOLSON DRIVE TO FLORIDA BOULEVARD PLANK ROAD BY PARISH ATTORNEY NUMBER SIX, AUTHORIZING THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO INSTITUTE EXP APPROPRIATION PROCEEDINGS AND OR TAKE SUCH OTHER ACTION AS MAY BE REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE ACQUISITION OF LAND NECESSARY FOR THE MOVE BEYOND ENHANCEMENT PROJECT COLLEGE DRIVE ENHANCEMENTS PERKINS ROAD TO I 10 BY PARISH ATTORNEY NUMBER SEVEN, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND THE DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING ON BEHALF OF THE BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO DECLARE A LADDER TRUCK SURPLUS AND TO ALLOW DONATION OF SAID LADDER TRUCK TO THE CITY OF GRAMBLING FIRE DEPARTMENT BY THE FIRE CHIEF.
NUMBER EIGHT, AUTHORIZING AN ADDITIONAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH PURSUANT TO LOUISIANA CONSTITUTIONAL ARTICLE SEVEN, SECTION 21 OH FOR PROPERTY THAT IS OWNED AND OCCUPIED BY A FIRST RESPONDER AS DEFINED BY THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION AND PROVIDING NOTICE OF THE ADOPTION OF THIS EXEMPTION TO THE ASSESSOR BY COUNCILMAN LAMONT COLE.
NUMBER NINE, ENACTING AN ORDINANCE AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT GRANTING CROWN CASTLE FIBER LLC FOR AN ADDITIONAL TERM OF 10 YEARS.
THE RIGHT TO LAY CONSTRUCT, LEASE, AND OR OPERATE FIBER OPTIC CABLE AND ALL THE PERS AND APPENDAGES TO IT IN THE CITY.
PARISH'S RIGHT OF WAY FOR A FIBER NETWORK IN SUPPORT OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITIES BY THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND COUNCILMAN ROWDY GODDE.
NUMBER 10, AMEND THE 2024 ALLOTMENT OF POSITIONS FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE.
SO AS TO CHANGE THE ALLOTMENT OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, LEO S BUTLER COMMUNITY CENTER, EFFECTIVE JUNE 27TH, 2024 METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, LEO S BUTLER COMMUNITY CENTER, DELETE ONE CLERICAL SPECIALIST AND ONE FAMILY SERVICE WORKER UNCLASSIFIED BY THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR TREASURER AND THE HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR.
NUMBER 11, AMENDING THE 2024 CURRENT EXPENSE BUDGET SO AS TO ESTABLISH A BUDGET FOR THE EBRA BUILDING SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CALENDAR YEAR 2024 AND THE AMOUNT OF 13,000, I'M SORRY, $132,050 BY THE EBRA BUILDING, SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICT NUMBER 12, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SEWAGE COMMISSION TO PROCEED WITH THE NOT TO EXCEED $175 MILLION FINANCING THROUGH THE LOUISIANA LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITIES AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY REQUESTING THAT THE LOUISIANA LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITIES AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ISSUE, ITS NOT TO EXCEED 1 170 $5 MILLION SUBORDINATE LIEN REVENUE REFUNDING BONDS BY BOND COUNSEL NUMBER 13, AUTHORIZING THE
[00:25:01]
MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SERVICES WITH FISHMAN HAGOOD LLP IN CONNECTION WITH THE RIVER CENTER STRATEGIC PLAN IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $150,000 AND APPROPRIATING $150,000 FROM GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE ON ASSIGNED FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTERN BROOME COUNCILWOMAN CAROLYN R. COLEMAN COUNCILWOMAN JEN ROCKA[CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS]
CONDEMNATION.INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER 14, HENRY HARRISON, AKA HENRY HARRIS, 1 0 4 2 7 BERTHA STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS, NUMBER 15, GERALD TO, UH, GERALD JOHN CHARLOTTE, AND SUSAN CHARLOTTE.
5 2 4 8 HAMMOND STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST.
5 2 9 0 AIRLINE HIGHWAY COUNCIL, DISTRICT FIVE HEARST.
EVAN STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT SEVEN COLE.
NUMBER 18, AMISHA COCKERHAM 6 6 5 EDUCATION STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN.
NUMBER 19, ELLIOT BAYHAM IN THELMA BAYHAM, 2 1 5 NORTH 12TH STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 20, DONALD NAR 3 4 1 4 OSCEOLA STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 21, THE LEONARD A BROWN AND GERALDINE S BROWN REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST.
5 6 9 EAST BUCHANAN STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 22, SAMSON CARROLL JR.
AND LINDA COLEMAN CARROLL, 6 4 2 EAST BUCHANAN STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN ADJUDICATED
[ADJUDICATED PROPERTY INTRODUCTIONS]
PROPERTY INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER THREE, NUMBER 23 LOT 32 SQUARE 34.SUBDIVISION EDEN PARK COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 24.
SIX IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE IN VARIOUS SUBDIVISIONS IN COUNCIL.
DISTRICT FIVE HEARST 25 LOT 24 SQUARE 27 SUBDIVISION BANK EDITION COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN.
ALL ITEMS THAT REQUIRE READING HAVE BEEN READ.
AND A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS AS AN ORDER THERE.
A MOTION TO APPROVE ALL INTRODUCTIONS.
SO MOVE ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
UH, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND ABOUT THE CHAIR? ANY DISCUSSION? OBJECTION.
THE MOTION TO APPROVE ALL ITEMS EXCEPT THE ITEM INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON AND COUNCILWOMAN ROCK.
49 49 THERE IS A MOTION TO INTRODUCE OUR ITEMS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM 49.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, UH, THERE'S AN OBJECTION.
WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THEM AND WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINES.
FIRST, WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION FIRST, WHICH IS COUNCILMAN DUNN'S, UH, MOTION.
AND THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE ALL ITEMS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM 49.
MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM 49.
VOTING ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM 49.
WE NOW GO TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
WE JUST INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS. ANY OBJECTIONS? ANY OBJECTIONS? OBJECTION.
MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS. NO MOTION FAILS.
WE'LL COME BACK TO INTRODUCTIONS.
WE'LL COME BACK TO INTRODUCTIONS.
[CONDEMNATIONS]
GO TO CONDEMNATIONS.I'LL READ THE DPW RECOMMENDATIONS AS THEY ARE.
THEY OUGHT TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON CONDEMNATIONS? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON CONDEMNATIONS? WE GO BACK NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
YOU HAVE TO GO TO 60 OR 90 DAYS, SIR, YOU HAVE TO GO TO 60 OR 90 DAYS.
ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE? 90 DAYS ON 56, PLEASE.
[00:30:01]
ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA READ THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND STATED CHANGES.THEY ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 53, 55, 57, 58, 59, AND 63.
THEY ARE TO DEFER FOR 60 DAYS.
THEY ARE TO DEFER FOR 90 DAYS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONDEMNATIONS? MOTION TO APPROVE CONDEMNATIONS.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS CONDEMNATIONS HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE NOW GO TO PAGE 60.
[64. 24-00615 ]
EXCUSE ME.ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE MAYORS EAST CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT AS TO APPROPRIATE 95,800 FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE 2024.
A POST FEES FOR THE PURPOSE OF AIDING AND CRIME PREVENTION AND ADDING SECURITY FOR OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE DISTRICT.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT 1 39 OF THE 2009 LEGISLATIVE SESSION BS 90 38 BY MERRILL EAST CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? IF SO, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM, YOU CAN LINE UP RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF THE PODIUM, PLEASE.
HOW ARE Y'ALL? GOOD AFTERNOON.
GREG GOCHE, 1971 WOODLAND DRIVE, BATON ROUGE.
UM, I HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS AND, UH, TWO BUILDINGS THAT ARE JOINED IN THE MELROSE E SUBDIVISION.
AND, UH, WE'RE HERE TO, I BELIEVE THERE'S SOME MONEY THAT WANTS TO BE, UH, APPROPRIATED.
THE, THE CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT DID NOT SPONSOR THIS, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS AT THE END OF THE, THE NOTICE.
UM, EXCUSE ME, I WASN'T PREPARED TO GO THIS QUICKLY.
THE, UM, REGULAR SESSION OF 2009, HOUSE, HOUSE BILL, 4 68, ACT NUMBER 39.
1 39 THAT WAS APPROVED, HAD A NUMBER OF PROVISIONS IN IT.
THAT ADMIN THAT SORT OF DEFINED HOW THE, UM, THE DISTRICT WOULD BE FORMED, UH, ADMINISTRATED, WHO IS IN CHARGE OF RUNNING IT, HOW FUNDS WOULD BE APPROPRIATED AND DISPERSED AND SO FORTH.
UH, AS PART OF THAT SAYS THAT THE AMOUNT OF THE FEES, UM, THE APPROPRIATION OR THE THE ANNUAL FEES FOR PROPERTY TAXES SHOULD BE DECIDED UPON, UM, SHOULD BE AS REQUESTED BY DULY ADOPTED RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD.
WE HAVE A DOCUMENT GOING BACK TO, TO 2010 AND AT, UH, EXCUSE ME, 2023 IN JANUARY.
AND THE, THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS WE PASSED THAT IN JANUARY OF 23.
IN APRIL OF 24, WE HAD A, UM, QUARTERLY MEETING OF THE CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT.
ON APRIL 24TH, THERE WAS A METRO COUNCIL MEETING.
THERE WAS NO INTRODUCTION OF AN ITEM TO APPROVE THAT.
UM, ANNUAL ASSESSMENT ON MAY 8TH, THERE WAS A COUNCIL MEETING.
THE THIRD TO LAST ITEM, AND WE WERE NOT ADVISED OF IT WAS AN EMERGENCY MEASURE TO RAISE IT FROM $200 FOR, UH, RESIDENTIAL AND $200 FOR COMMERCIAL, UP TO $200 FOR RESIDENTIAL AND $500 FOR COMMERCIAL.
IT WAS CONSIDERED AN EMERGENCY.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR IS THAT FOR AN EMERGENCY MEASURE THAT'S TACKED ON SORT OF THE END OF THE AGENDA, THERE IS NO, UH, 30 DAY INTRODUCTORY NOTICE REQUIRED ONLY SIX DAYS NOTICE VIA THE ONLINE PORTAL.
SO WE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS HAPPENING.
UM, THE REASON FOR THE EMERGENCY WAS TO ALLOW THE FEE TO BE IMPOSED.
NOW, THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE AN EXISTENTIAL PROBLEM.
IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THAT WAS MADE UP JUST TO ALLOW THAT TO BE PUT ONTO THE AGENDA.
IT'S JUST TO ALLOW THE FEE TO BE IMPOSED, THAT'S REGULAR BUSINESS.
AND THAT WOULD NORMALLY REQUIRE, UM, A MONTH AHEAD NOTICE TO THE NEIGHBORS.
UH, SO THERE WAS NO INTRODUCTION OF THIS, NO NOTICE TO THE NEIGHBORS.
UM, THE MEASURE PASSED BECAUSE NO ONE WAS THERE.
THERE WAS NO ONE TO SPEAK FOR IT OR AGAINST IT.
IT WAS THE THIRD TO LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
AND NOBODY HAD A WORD TO SAY ABOUT IT BECAUSE NO ONE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MEETING.
FIVE SECONDS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
UH, NOW THERE'S AN ITEM THAT'S INTRODUCED ON MAY 22ND FOR HEARING TODAY OF A $95,800 APPROPRIATION.
THE GREGORY CONTROLLING MR. ATE.
THE CONTROLLING LEGISLATION HAS NO MECHANISM IN IT FOR THE COUNCIL TO APPROPRIATE ANYTHING.
THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OF THE BUDGET OF INDIVIDUAL CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICTS.
MR. MILTON FRANKLIN, I JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYONE THREE MINUTES.
[00:35:01]
UH, MILTON FRANKLIN.MY ADDRESS IS 1 5 6 2 3 CHINO AVENUE.
I'VE BEEN A PROPERTY OWNER IN MELROSE EAST FOR I GUESS AROUND 30 YEARS NOW.
AND THE LAST QUARTER OF 22, THE, UH, CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT UNANIMOUSLY VOTED.
THERE WAS FIVE MEMBERS PRESENT.
THEY UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO REDUCE THE COMMERCIAL PARCEL FEES TO $200.
AND SO WE GOT THE RESOLUTION IN, UM, JANUARY OF 23 FROM THE, FROM THE SECRETARY WILL BELTON.
AND SO IT TOOK US ABOUT TWO WEEKS TO ACTUALLY SEE MR. DUNN TO ACTUALLY GET TO FACE HIM AND SEE HIM AND TALK TO HIM ABOUT BRINGING IT TO THE COUNCIL.
AND BELIEVE ME, I WAS UNDERWHELMED BY THE WHOLE MEETING.
AND THEN, UH, WHEN WE LEFT, I WAS, I HAD NO IDEA, YOU KNOW, HIS, HIS DEMEANOR JUST WAS NOT POSITIVE AT ALL.
AND SO MY QUESTION IS WHY HE DIDN'T BRING IT TO THE COUNCIL TO BE VOTED ON.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE WENT DOWN THERE, WAS JUST ASKING HIM TO DO HIS JOB.
BASICALLY, THE ONLY VOICE HE HAS IN THE CPD IS ONLY ONE, AND THAT IS UNTIL 0.1 MEMBER ONE.
HE'S KIND OF CHANGED THE COMPLEXION OF THE, THE BOARD HERE RECENTLY.
BUT ANYWAY, UM, WHAT HAPPENED ON THE, THE, WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED WAS HE WOULD NOT PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.
I TALKED TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND SAID, WE'VE TALKED TO MS. BECK AND WE GOT IT ON THE AGENDA OURSELVES TWICE, TWICE NOW, OVER A YEAR AND A HALF PERIOD TO GET IT ON THE AGENDA.
AND RIGHT BEFORE THE MEETINGS, MR. DUNN WOULD PULL IT OFF.
AND SO WE'VE HAD NO CHANCE TO GET OUR FOOT IN THE DOOR.
BELIEVE ME, I COULD HAVE FILLED THIS ROOM, WHAT WITH PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HE'S DONE.
AND I HOPE THE, THE MEDIA PICKS UP ON THIS.
'CAUSE IT'S A BIGGER STORY TO IT, I CAN ASSURE YOU.
AND I WANT THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE OF WHAT THIS GUY HAS PULLED OFF.
AND HE IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE AT ALL.
YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE I, I'M NOT HIS CONSTITUENT AT ALL.
AND I ASK SOMEBODY ON THIS, THIS METRO COUNCIL TO, YOU KNOW, HELP US WITH OUR CAUSE.
'CAUSE WE NEED TO GET THE PROPER, UH, EVERYTHING LINED UP SO WE CAN DO THE ROLLBACK.
AND BY THE WAY, THERE'S NO EMERGENCY SITUATION.
THERE'S $180,000 IN THAT ACCOUNT.
SO WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO IS TO FORCE THE ASSESSOR TO DO IT WITH A, IT IS A BACKDOOR METHOD.
THE COUNCIL GOT DUPED ON MAY THE EIGHTH, AND YOU'RE GETTING DUPED TONIGHT BY WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO.
AND I GUARANTEE YOU THANK YOU.
I DIDN'T THINK YOUR NAME WAS EVELYN SIR
GOOD EVENING METRO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M EVELYN WARE JACKSON, A RESIDENT OF MELROSE PLACE SUBDIVISION AND PROPERTY OWNER WITHIN THE MELROSE EAST CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT.
AS A STAKEHOLDER, I'VE WORKED IN MELROSE EAST IN COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS AND HELPED CREATE BOTH THE MELROSE PLACE CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT AND THE MELROSE EAST CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT.
AND, UM, THE AGENDA ITEM ITEM, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF I SU SUPPORT IT OR, OR NOT, BUT I, I WOULD SUPPORT IT WITH CORRECTIONS TO THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENT BECAUSE THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENT DOESN'T MATCH THE REQUEST OF THE MEL ROSIE'S, UH, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS THROUGH ITS RESOLUTION THAT THEY ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY IN EARLY 2023.
I'M NOT ON THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, BUT I DO ATTEND THE MEETINGS.
AND, UH, I WAS HOPING THAT YOU ALL HAD A COPY, MR. UM, THE SPEAKER.
HE, HE HAS COPIES OF THE RESOLUTION.
UM, BUT IF YOU HAVE THE RESOLUTION, IT'S IN THE FOURTH PARAGRAPH OF THE FIRST PAGE AND IT READS, WHEREAS THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME, SOMEBODY ELSE'S AS HAS THE MIC, JUST GIVE EM TO MR. GOEY, HE'LL PASS 'EM OUT TO US OVER THERE.
UH, WHEREAS IT'S ON THE FOURTH PARAGRAPH OF THE FIRST PAGE.
WHEREAS THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE MELROSE CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT DESIRES THAT THE METRO COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE LEVY AND COLLECT AN IMPROVED PROPERTY PARCEL FEE OF $200 FOR IMPROVED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AND $200 FOR IMPROVED COMMERCIAL
[00:40:01]
PROPERTY ON EACH PARCEL WITHIN THE DISTRICT.AND ADD SUCH FEE TO THE PROPERTY TAX BILLS TO BE ISSUED BY THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE TO THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY WITHIN THE DISTRICT, AND SUBJECT TO THE FEE FOR THE TAX YEAR COMMENCING 2023.
THIS REQUEST IS REPEATED ON THE SECOND PAGE AT THE END OF THE RESOLUTION STATING, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE METRO COUNCIL OF BATON ROUGE IS HEREBY REQUESTED TO COLLECT AND LEVY THE $200 PER IMPROVED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY PARCEL AND $200 PER IMPROVED COMMERCIAL PROPERTY PARCEL FEE APPROVED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HAS ENOUGH IN ITS RESERVE FUNDS TO COVER THE BUDGET AS ITS STATED IN THE WORDING OF THE AGENDA ITEM.
PLEASE, PLEASE MAKE THE NECESSARY CORRECTIONS TO THIS AGENDA ITEM BEFORE MOVING IT FORWARD SO THAT THE PARCEL FEES OF THE RESIDENTIAL OWNERS AND THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS MATCH AS REQUESTED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
THIS WAY, THERE IS NO HARDSHIP TO COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AS WE ATTEMPT TO IMPROVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN MELROSE EAST.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, DAVID DANSKY.
I'VE OWNED PROPERTY IN MELROSE EAST FOR CLOSE TO 20 YEARS.
FROM A TIME WHEN IT WAS EMBARRASSING TO SAY YOU HAD AN OFFICE IN MALL CITY.
UH, I'VE SEEN THE HIGHS AND THE LOWS AND IT'S A MUCH BETTER PLACE THAN IT IS TODAY, THAN IT EVER HAS BEEN.
UM, THE MORE I RESEARCH THE CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICTS, THE MORE I SEE EVERYONE IS DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT.
UM, MY CONCERN AND SOME OTHER, SO MANY OTHER FELLOW BUSINESS OWNERS IS WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE IN CONTROL.
THE BOARD FOR MELROSE EAST IS SUPPOSED TO BE MAKING THE DEC DECISIONS ON HOW MELROSE EAST IS BEST SERVED.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS HAS COME FROM, AND I'M JUST HERE TO SAY THAT I SUPPORT THE CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT, BUT THE PLAYING FIELD NEEDS TO BE LEVELED FOR COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES AS WELL AS RESIDENTIAL.
AND WE NEED SOME TRANSPARENCY IN HOW THIS IS HANDLED.
IS ANYONE HERE STILL OF WISHING THIS TO BE ON ITEM? WE NOW VOTE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
I AM A RESIDENT AND A PROPERTY OWNER IN MELROSE EAST.
MY ADDRESS IS 8 25 NORTH CARROLLTON.
I'VE BEEN BACK THERE FOR 32 YEARS.
AND ALL I WANNA SAY IS THAT THE CRIME PREVENTION BOARD OR WHATEVER THEY CALL, YES, IT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED, BUT THIS YOUNG, THIS, THIS KIND OF PERSON, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT THE PROBLEM IS IN MAYOR ROSE EAST.
IT STARTED FROM THE BEGINNING AND I WISH THE NEWS MEDIA WOULD COME INVESTIGATE BECAUSE MAYOR ROSE EAST, A LOT OF MONEY HAD BEEN SPENT.
AND IF NO ONE HAD, NO ONE CAN TELL YOU WHERE THAT MONEY WENT.
BUT START INVESTIGATING WHAT I HAVE, THEY WELCOME TO SEE IT AND I'LL SHOW IT TO THE AUTHORIZED PEOPLE, BUT HE'S NOT TO BLAME WISE A FAILURE.
MAYOR ROSE IS GOING DOWN AND THE MONEY IT'S BEING SPENT.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JR.
LET ME SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON A FEW THINGS.
UM, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DATES, BUT THE FIRST TIME I WAS APPROACHED BY TWO OF THE THEN MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION OR THE CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT WAS TO REDUCE THE FEE ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT WAS BEING COLLECTED BY PROPERTY OWNERS.
UH, I MET WITH THOSE REPRESENTATIVES AND SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE TASKED WITH PROVIDING SAFETY, SECURITY AND, AND BEAUTIFICATION.
HOW DOES A REDUCTION IN FEE IMPACT YOUR BUDGET AND YOUR OVERALL GOAL? CAN YOU SHOW, SHOW ME A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF WHAT IMPACT THIS WILL HAVE TO THOSE SERVICES YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE? THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
AND FURTHER, I ASKED THEM, YOU KNOW, THE MEETING THAT YOU SAID YOU VOTED ON THIS, WHO WAS IN ATTENDANCE, WHAT WE FOUND, THEY COULD NOT PRODUCE AN ATTENDANCE ROLE OR RECORD.
UH, THEY ALSO COULD NOT PRODUCE, UH, ARTICLES, INCORPORATION.
UM, THERE WAS A LOT OF MEMBERS THAT WAS MISSING NOT SHOWING UP.
SO I DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH MAKING ANY CHANGES WITH ALL OF THIS ORGANIZATION THAT, UH, EXISTED WITHIN THE ENTITY.
I THEN CALLED OUR THEN PARISH ATTORNEY, ANDY DOTSON AND COURTNEY IN WITH A MEETING WITH THEIR ATTORNEY AND ONE OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES.
AND COURTNEY AND ANDY FOUND THE SAME INFORMATION.
UH, WHAT WE SHARED WITH THEM WAS, GET YOUR MEETINGS
[00:45:01]
TOGETHER, UH, GET EACH BOARD MEMBER SEATED ON THE BOARD, GET YOUR ARTICLES IN COOPERATION TOGETHER AND GET US A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF WHAT THE IMPACT OF A DECREASE FROM 500 TO 250 WOULD BE.SO YES, WHEN IT GOT ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA, I PULLED IT OFF THE COUNCIL AGENDA BECAUSE WE HAD NO DATA, NO INFORMATION TO SAY WHAT IMPACT THIS WILL MAKE TO SERVICES BEING PROVIDED.
UH, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, UH, NEW MEMBERS WERE PLACED ON THE BOARD.
A NEW PRESIDENT WAS NAMED THE VICE PRESIDENT NAMED NEW TREASURER.
UH, THOSE INDIVIDUALS CAME TO MEET WITH ME IN MY OFFICE AND THEY SAID, COUNCILMAN DUNN, THE FEE WAS DECREASED.
UH, THE, THE ASSESSOR SENT OUT NOTICES THAT THE FEE WAS DECREASED FROM 500 TO 250.
I SAID, WELL, I DON'T THINK THAT CAN BE DONE BECAUSE IT HAS TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL FOR US TO APPROVE OF IT BEFORE WE SEND A NOTICE TO THE ASSESSOR FOR HIM TO ACT.
AND THEY SAID, NO, WE HAVE THE NOTICE, WE HAVE COPIES OF THE NOTICE.
SO I THEN CONTACTED OUR NOW PARISH ATTORNEY, GREG ROME, TALKED TO ASHLEY ABOUT IT.
WE ALL SAT IN A MEETING WITH THE NEW BOARD.
THEY GAVE PROOF TO US THAT THIS FEE WAS REDUCED, UH, BY THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.
UH, PARISH ATTORNEY ROME CONTACTED THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE TO SEE WHY DID THAT HAPPEN? UH, CLARIFIED THAT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT IT COME BEFORE THIS BODY.
SO, UM, WHAT WE DID WAS THEN PUT AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA TO RECTIFY IT AND PUT THE FEE IN PLACE LIKE THE LEGISLATION SAID.
UM, SO THIS IS JUST SIMPLY THE ITEM TO EXECUTE ON WHAT THE LEGISLATOR DECIDED.
THIS CURRENT BODY OR BOARD THAT'S IN PLACE NOW HAS NOT TAKEN A VOTE TO CHANGE THE FEE.
UM, I WELCOME ANYBODY TO LOOK INTO THE CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT AND LET ME CLEAR SOMETHING UP.
I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER EVEN ATTENDED A MEETING AT THE CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT.
I DON'T HAVE A SAY IN WHAT THEY DO, WHAT, UH, WHAT DECISIONS THEY MAKE.
THAT IS THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE, OF THE COMMISSION OF THE BODY.
WHAT YOU WILL ALSO SEE IS NOT ONE PERSON THAT CAME TO THAT.
MIKE SAID THAT I'M A CURRENT, UH, COMMISSION MEMBER ON THE CRIME PROVISION DISTRICT.
I'M A CURRENT BOARD MEMBER BECAUSE THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE SEATED NOW, THEY DIDN'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN.
THESE ARE FORMER BOARD MEMBERS WHO ONCE CONTROLLED THE CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT THAT ARE UPSET.
BUT I WANNA GET GREG TO COME UP AND, AND STATE HIS OPINION ON WHERE WE ARE, HOW WE GOT HERE, AND VERIFY IF WHAT I JUST SAID IS TRUE OR NOT.
THE ONLY THING THAT THAT WASN'T QUITE ACCURATE IS I DIDN'T CONTACT THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.
I BELIEVE MS. BECK DID, OR WE GOT INFORMATION FROM THEM.
BUT BASICALLY WHAT YOU SAID, EVERYTHING WAS CORRECT THAT THE VOTERS VOTED IN A FEE.
IT WAS IN REAFFIRM BY ANOTHER VOTE AND IT NEVER CAME BACK FOR THE COUNCIL TO REDUCE ALL OF THAT'S CORRECT.
SO DO WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS OR ME AS THE COUNCIL PERSON WHO REPRESENT MELROSE HAVE ANY IMPACT ANY SAY ON WHAT THE CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT DOES OR THE FEES THEY COLLECT OR HOW THEY SPEND THE MONEY? NO, YOU DO NOT.
THAT'S ALL THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CRIME PREVENTION BOARD MEMBERS.
IS THAT NOT CORRECT? YES, SIR.
FIRST, BEFORE YOU GO, DID WE NOT HAVE A MEETING WITH THE CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS AND THE CURRENT BOARD? YES.
AND WHAT WAS THEIR WISHES TO SEE HAPPEN IN THIS SITUATION? I, I THINK THEY WERE FINE EITHER WAY.
I THINK THEY JUST WANTED TO, THEY JUST WANTED TO GET IT CORRECTED.
THEY WANTED TO DO THE RIGHT THING BASED ON OUR MEETING.
ARE WE CORRECTING IT HERE? ARE WE DOING SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT BE DONE? IS THIS IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW? NO, WE WE'RE TRYING TO, BUT I, BUT I THINK I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT MAY NOT BE WRITTEN EXACTLY HOW WE NEED TO, NEEDED IT TO BE DONE.
IS THAT CORRECT, ASHLEY? OR, AND THIS ITEM, NO.
AND FINALLY, WHO PUT THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA? DOES COUNCIL MEMBERS PUT THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA? IS THERE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS AUTOMATICALLY BY LAW AND STATUTE? OH, I THINK AUTOMATIC BY LAW AND STATUTE, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, FINANCE THERE YOU PUTS THESE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
ALRIGHT, WELL, FINANCE IS NOTIFIED WHEN, WHEN THE, UH, VOTE IS.
COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS? NO, THE GENTLEMAN WHO SPOKE OF, UH, THE MAKEUP OF THE BOARD, UH, WHO SPOKE OF THE CHANGES TO THE BOARD.
YOU DON'T MIND COMING TO THE MIC? CAN I PUT
[00:50:01]
MY GLASSES ON HERE? YES, SIR.I HAVE, UM, TWO CRIME DISTRICTS IN, UM, MY DISTRICT, TWO OR THREE.
AND, UM, THE, WHEN I'M CALLED AS IT RELATES TO CHANGES, UM, THE MAKEUP, I BASICALLY HAVE ONE APPOINTMENT ON THAT BOARD.
AND I KNOW YOU INDICATED THAT COUNCILMAN DUNN HAD CHANGED THE COMPLEXITY, UM, OF THREE BOARD MEMBERS.
CAN YOU KIND OF EXPAND ON THAT? WELL, TWO BOARD MEMBERS.
WELL, HE HAD ONE APPOINTMENT AND THAT'S WHAT HE GETS, JUST LIKE YOU SAID.
AND, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK HE HAD SOME INFLUENCE ON THE OTHER APPOINTMENT TOO, BECAUSE THERE WAS A NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS THAT WENT IN AND BASICALLY THOSE FOLKS, AND I KNOW THOSE PEOPLE AND I LIKE 'EM AND I FEEL LIKE I CAN WORK WITH HIM.
I JUST FEEL LIKE I HAVE NO REPRESENTATION HERE FROM THIS MAN.
SO YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF ADDRESS THAT BECAUSE I, EXCUSE ME ONE SECOND.
SHAUNA, LET'S NOT MAKE THIS A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE COUNCIL MILLER.
OH, NO, I ASK, I'M NOT GONNA HAVE THAT.
WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER.
Y'ALL GOT A COPY OF THE, THE RESOLUTION THAT IS THE IMPORTANT THING, SIR.
SO WHAT IS THE BREAK? UM, WHAT IS THE MAKEUP OF YOUR BOARD AS IT RELATES TO APPOINTMENTS? THE MAKEUP OF OUR BOARD? YOU MEAN WHO APPOINTED WHO? YES.
WELL, I THINK THE ASSESSOR POINT SOMEONE AND, UH, LIKE I'M ON THE, UH, MELROSE EAST COMMUNITY AS ASSOCIATION BOARD.
UH, BUT, BUT, UH, I THINK THAT MELROSE EAST COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, THE PRESIDENT OF THAT ASSOCIATION, AND THEN ONE MEMBER FROM THE BOARD, SOMEBODY HAS, SOMEBODY HAS THE SPECIFICS.
UH, THE MEMBER OF MEMBERS OF LOUISIANA, LET'S SEE, UH, THE PRESIDENT OF MELROSE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF MELROSE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION APPOINTS, UH, ONE MEMBER.
SO THAT'S TWO APPOINTMENTS FROM MECCA, THE MEMBER OR MEMBER OF THE LOUISIANA HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES, THE MEMBER OR MEMBERS OF THE LOUISIANA SENATE WHO REPRESENT THE AREA, THE ASSESSMENT FOR THE PARISH, THE MAYOR PRESENT FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
AND THE MEMBER, OR MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, WHO REPRESENT THE AREA COMPRISING THE DISTRICT SHALL APPOINT ONE.
SO THAT MEANS, SO THERE, I I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF Y'ALL, YOUR MAKEUP WAS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT, UM, I HAD IN MY DISTRICT, BUT IT SOUNDS, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT, UM, WITH THAT BREAK, WITH THAT MAKEUP, IT'S NO WAY THAT ONE COUNCIL MEMBER CAN INFLUENCE TO THE DEGREE THAT YOUR ORIGINAL STATEMENT SAID THEY HAD, HAD CHANGED.
BUT, SO I JUST WANTED, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD EVER SEEN THE THING, BECAUSE WHEN I GET CALLS, THEY ACT THAT THE, THE, THE, THE ADMINISTRATORS ALREADY KNOW WHO THEY WANT.
AND USUALLY THEY CALL ME BECAUSE I DON'T LIVE WITH THEM.
I DON'T KNOW WHO'S IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S USUALLY THEIR PRESIDENT OR THEIR, UH, BOARD.
AND THEY WILL SAY, THIS IS WHO WE HAVE.
AND WE AS AN ADMINISTRATION WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU WOULD AGREE TO APPOINT THAT PERSON.
'CAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME.
SO I JUST WANT DON'T WANT YOU TO GO OUT WITH A FALSE NARRATIVE THAT JUST LISTEN.
BECAUSE, BECAUSE YOU, YOU MADE AN EMPHATIC STATEMENT AT THE BEGINNING AND THEN YOU SAID, I THINK MM-HMM.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE AND HAVE YOU READ HOW THE MAKEUP OF THE, THE BOARD, HOW THEY'RE APPOINTED SO THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD GO OUT WITH SOME KIND OF, UH, CONFIDENCE THAT, UH, THE LAW, NOT YOUR FEELINGS, THAT IT'S DELEGATED, THAT IS LEGISLATED BY LAW.
BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND, AND I THANK YOU.
BUT IT DEPENDS ON THE INTEGRITY OF PARTICULAR.
COUNCIL MEMBER DUN, JR IF I CAN BRING A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARITY TO, TO, UM, SHAUNA'S STATEMENT THAT ACTUALLY DID HAPPEN.
I DID GET A CALL FROM THEN REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DISTRICT THAT WANTED THIS GENTLEMAN TO BE APPOINTED.
THAT'S SOME OF HIS FRUSTRATION.
AND I DO NOT ALWAYS APPOINT WHO THEY RECOMMEND.
I LOOK INTO INDIVIDUALS, I LOOK INTO THE MAKEUP, I LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON.
I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT CURRENT LEADERSHIP, WITH ALL THE DISORGANIZATION, WITH NO PAPERWORK, WITH MEETINGS BEING MISSED, WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE MONEY WAS BEING SPENT.
SO I DID NOT WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT REMAINING LEADERSHIP THAT WAS IN PLACE.
THIS IS A LOT OF THE FRUSTRATION, THE MEMBERS THAT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT CAME UP, NOT ALL OF THEM ARE, ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO CONTROLLED THIS CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT FOR YEARS.
AND IT'S BEEN A LOT OF DISORGANIZATION.
WE'VE COME IN AND SAID, LISTEN, I DON'T HAVE A POSITION ON WHETHER YOU REDUCE THE FEE OR INCREASE THE FEE.
[00:55:01]
SHOW ME SOME DATA THAT SAYS IT'S BENEFICIAL.ONE AND TWO, THAT YOU WON'T LOSE SERVICES THAT YOU'RE PROMISED ON TO DELIVER.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S MUCH OF THEIR FRUSTRATION.
THE CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT.
UM, AS, AS MS. PATSY SAID THAT A LOT OF QUESTION MARKS ABOUT HOW MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT.
I WELCOME ANYBODY TO DO AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT AND, AND ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
HOW HAS MONEY BEEN SPENT? WHO HAS BEEN RUNNING, RUNNING THE DISTRICT? WHO HAS BEEN THE TREASURER? WHO'S BEEN WRITING THE CHECKS? AND WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN DOING WITH THAT MONEY? THOSE ARE MANY QUESTIONS I HAD, SO I DIDN'T WANNA APPOINT THE SAME PEOPLE.
I'D JUST LIKE TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION ON WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THE VOTE AND WHAT MOTIONS ARE BEING MADE.
THE STATE, THE STATE, UM, ASSESSED THE $500 FEE.
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE, THE PREVIOUS BOARD REDUCED IT TO TWO 50.
IT NEVER GOT CODIFIED THROUGH THE COUNCIL, NEVER GOT CODIFIED THROUGH THE COUNCIL.
ALL WE'RE DOING IS CODIFYING WHAT EVERYBODY AGREES IS OKAY WITH THE FEE THAT IT IS NOW.
WE'RE JUST CODIFYING THROUGH THE COUNCIL TONIGHT WHAT THE VOTERS VOTED ON.
COUNCILMAN MOOCH, IF I CAN, IF I CAN PROVIDE A LITTLE CLARITY.
UM, THE COUNCIL ALREADY, THE COUNCIL ALREADY, YOU ALREADY VOTED TO IMPOSE THE PARCEL FEES.
THIS ITEM IS ALLOWING THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO APPROPRIATE THE FUNDS THAT THE CITY HAS ALREADY RECEIVED TO THE CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT.
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AMOUNT OF THE FEE.
IF THAT NEEDS TO BE REVISITED, WANTS TO BE REVISITED, THAT WOULD BE A SEPARATE ITEM.
THIS IS SIMPLY TO ALLOW THE CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT TO RECEIVE THOSE PARCEL FEES.
OKAY? SO, SO WE APPROVED THE FEE.
IT, IT JUST KEPT COMING BACK UP THAT THE, THE QUESTION WAS ACTUALLY THE AMOUNT OF THE FEE AND MAKING IT FAIR AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO WE ALREADY DID THE FEE THAT'S ALREADY SET.
WE, WE CORRECTED ALL THAT BY THAT MAY VOTE.
UM, AT THE $200, THE, THE FEES THAT THE COUNCIL IMPOSED IN MAY WERE $200 PER RESIDENTIAL PARCEL AND $500 PER COMMERCIAL PER COMMERCIAL PARCEL.
THIS IS ALLOWING, THIS IS THE NEXT STEP TO ALLOW US, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO RELEASE A CHECK TO THE CORRECT FEE.
IS THERE A MOTION? MOVED? SECOND.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MO SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUN, JR.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? THE ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[98. 24-00560 ]
MEMBER, IF YOU WOULD, WE GO TO PAGE 1898.WE'RE GONNA DEFER THIS ITEM TO THE JULY 24TH MEETING, RECEIVING A REPORT FROM BREX 2024, ECONOMIC OUTLOOK, STRATEGIC PLAN, AND THE COUNCILMAN OF BREX, SUPERINTENDENT COREY WILSON, BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.
WE'RE GONNA DEFER THAT ITEM TO THE 2024 MEETING.
IS ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM WE'RE NOT WITH A COUNCIL MEMBER'S.
MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER D SECONDED BY THE CHAIR TO DEFER THE ITEM TO THE JULY, 2024 TO THE JULY 24TH, 2024 MEETING.
UH, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR AND ANY OBJECTIONS.
[97. 24-00495 ]
RECEIVING A-S-D-B-E FAIR SHARE PROGRAM REPORT FROM THE PURCHASE DIRECTOR PAUL NAIS AND THE FAIR CHAIR DIRECTOR BY COUNCIL MEMBER CLEVELAND JUNIOR.MR. NAIS COUNCIL, UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN ARE GONNA HAVE THE REPORT FIRST AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM, UH, IF THERE'S ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.
COUNCIL MEMBER NARCISS, EXCUSE ME.
DIRECTOR NARCISS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU READY TO SIT ON THIS BODY? DO IT WHILE YOU COME.
AND THANK EVERYBODY IN CITY PARISH FOR BEING HERE.
DO WE HAVE THE, UH, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION AS WELL? MM-HMM?
WELL, LET ME START, UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT, UM, THE ORDINANCE THAT'S BEEN PUT IN PLACE SINCE SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2022 IN REGARDS TO SOCIALLY, ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE.
UH, A LOT OF WORK HAS BEEN DONE SINCE.
AND THE PRESENTATION TODAY, WHAT WE'RE GONNA GO OVER IS THE ORDINANCE ITSELF, THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF THE ORDINANCE, AND THEN WHAT WE HAVE DONE AS A TEAM.
UM, THE TEAM HERE IS MYSELF AS THE, UH, DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING, UH, AS WELL AS MS. CAMPBELL ARVIN JONES, IKE, AND DANIEL.
UH, JUST ONE NOTE, THERE'S ONLY TWO HEADCOUNTS THERE.
UH, THE OTHER TWO ARE CONTRACTORS THAT ARE ASSISTING US WITH THAT.
AND DANIEL, JUST TO BE, UH, TRANSPARENT, UM, THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION, I'M GONNA LET SOME OF MY TEAM MEMBERS TALK
[01:00:01]
BECAUSE IT'S BEEN COLLECTIVELY WORKED TOGETHER THAT WE PUT IN PLACE.IT HASN'T BEEN A ONE MAN TEAM.
UH, I WHY DON'T YOU LEAD US WITH THE AGENDA? ABSOLUTELY, PAUL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
EK, DERU, ONE OF THOSE CONTRACTORS.
UM, SO WE'RE GONNA START WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE ORDINANCE, UM, A GUIDE, THE GUIDE AND FOUNDATION OF OUR WORK.
NEXT, WE'LL HIGHLIGHT SOME ACHIEVEMENTS, UH, KEY ACHIEVEMENTS AND MILESTONE, WHAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR.
UM, THEN WE'LL DISCUSS ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH EFFORTS.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY, WE'LL LOOK AHEAD AT WHAT'S TO COME FUTURE PLANS AND INITIATIVES FOR THE S-E-D-B-E PROGRAM.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING US PUT THE ORDINANCE IN PLACE.
IT'S OUR GUIDELINES AND IT'S OUR RULES OF ENGAGEMENT.
I'M NOT GONNA READ THIS VERBATIMLY, BUT THE PRIMARY FUNCTIONS OF THE ORDINANCE ITSELF IS OUTREACH ENGAGEMENT TRAINING.
THAT'S THE AWARENESS PIECE OF IT.
SECOND IS THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS.
THIRD IS ACTUALLY THE GOAL SETTING, THE VETTING AND THE COMPLIANCE.
AND THE LAST PIECE OF THIS ORDINANCE IS THE CAPACITY BUILDING.
WE HAVE STRATEGIES THAT'S BEEN PUT IN PLACE.
HENCE MY TEAM IS ALWAYS TRYING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE AND QUALIFIED, UM, DIVERSE BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.
UH, WE'RE ALSO ALWAYS ENSURING THAT WE HAVE COMPLIANCE METHODS IN, UH, HOW WE TRACK OUR GOALS.
UM, IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY A LOT OF WORK, BUT THE WORK HAS BEEN FRUITFUL.
HENCE HERE YOU'LL SEE, AND WE'RE GONNA TOUCH ABOUT AND WE'RE GONNA TOUCH ABOUT THE GOAL SETTING A LITTLE BIT LATER ON WITHIN THE ORDINANCE.
THIS IS PRETTY MUCH STANDARD DOTD, THE STATE'S ACTUALLY USING SOMETIME OF THE SAME METHOD AND STUFF.
IT'S TAKING A LOOK AT CENSUS DATA.
IT'S ALSO LOOKING AT IN GENERAL, WHO'S CERTIFIED WITHIN THE PRO, UH, WITHIN THE PROGRAM AND AS WELL AS WHO IS TECHNICALLY EXPERIENCED.
SO WE ALWAYS WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT DOES THE ORDINANCE DO FROM A NON-COMPLIANCE PERSPECTIVE.
AND THIS IS WHERE I'M ALWAYS TRYING TO, SINCE WE'VE ALREADY STARTED THE ORDINANCE AND WE'RE STARTING TO TRACK IT, WE'RE STARTING TO GET SOME TRACTION.
I'M LOOKING AT THE ENFORCEMENT METHODS TO THIS ORDINANCE, AND I'M USING THESE FOUR GUIDELINES TO HELP ME PUT SOMETHING IN PLACE FOR THOSE THAT DON'T REALLY FALL, UH, THAT DON'T ADHERE TO OUR PROGRAM.
AND HERE YOU'LL SEE, YOU KNOW, THE WITHHOLDING OF ANY PORTION OF PAYMENTS.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S STIPULATED DAMAGES, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, PRETTY MUCH THE DEFICIENCY OF, OF THE PROCESS.
SO WITH THAT SAID, IT'S THE ORDINANCE.
WHAT HAVE WE DONE? THIS IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY PART OF THIS TEAM.
WHAT AM I BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR? NEXT SLIDE.
SO WE HAVE THE CERTIFICATION DATA.
WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE HERE, AND I REMEMBER I MENTIONED IN THE PRIMARY FUNCTIONS OF THIS, IS THAT YOU'LL SEE WE HAVE 271 VENDORS CERTIFIED ALREADY IN THIS PROGRAM.
A LOT OF WORK HAS BEEN BEING DONE.
TAKE A LOOK AT THE PIE CHARTS, THE NUMBERS.
SOME NUMBERS ARE HIGHER THAN OTHERS.
YOU WANNA KNOW WHY? ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS, MORE ENGAGEMENT, MORE OUTREACH.
THAT'S THE REASON WHY THE MORE WE PUT MORE AND REACHING OUT TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND OUR VENDORS AND ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, WE'RE GETTING MORE TRACTION.
IT DOES TAKE SOME MONEY TO DO THAT AS WELL.
UM, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY PROACTIVELY TRYING TO INCREASE IT.
MY GOAL IS TO CONTINUE TO DOUBLE THIS AMOUNT.
AND I'VE GOT AN AGGRESSIVE PATH OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO OUTREACH AND DEFEND ENGAGEMENT.
THAT'S LATER ON DURING THE SLIDE.
SO HERE ARE SOME OF THE EVENTS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS IS, UH, AS YOU TAKE A LOOK AT IT REQUIRES A VILLAGE TO GET THIS WORK DONE.
UM, SOME OF THE PARTNERS HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL INTO THE GROWTH OF, THIS HAS BEEN SJB GROUP, THE LOUISIANA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
WE'VE GOT EXXONMOBIL THAT'S ALSO HELPING ME IN, AND ME AND THE ENTIRE TEAM, THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
UH, COULDN'T DO THE WORK WITHOUT THEIR ASSISTANCE.
SO I'M TRYING TO EXTEND AS MUCH AS CAPACITY THAT I HAVE WITHIN THE TEAM TO REACH
[01:05:01]
OUT TO OTHERS.YOU'LL SEE THE EVENTS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE QUADRANT.
YOU'LL SEE WHAT WE'VE DONE, GET CERTIFIED, HOW MANY ATTENDANCE APPEARED.
YOU KNOW, UM, YOU TAKE A LOOK AT, UM, SOME MEETINGS.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, MATCHMAKING SESSIONS.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE'VE HAD A VENDOR FAIR THAT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.
YOU KNOW, GREAT TURNOUT FOLKS WERE ABLE TO COME OUT AND SHOWCASE THEIR BUSINESS.
AND, UM, GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH SOME OF OUR KEY STAKEHOLDERS, AGENCY, DEPARTMENT HEADS AND EVERYTHING.
SO WE TALKED ABOUT OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENTS.
I HAVE TO TELL YOU, IT'S BEEN VERY, VERY INSTRUMENTAL OF LEARNING THIS AND ABSORBING BEST PRACTICES.
I AM PART OF THE NLC FOR SOUTHERN STATES NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.
BEEN ABLE TO MEET WITH NORFOLK, TALLAHASSEE, SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES, UNDERSTANDING WHAT ARE THEIR GROWING PAINS, HOW ARE THEY GROWING THIS BUSINESS? HOW ARE THEY PROACTIVELY REACHING OUT TO OTHERS AND TO ENSURE THAT THEIR PROGRAMS ARE GROWING? IT'S BEEN INSTRUMENTAL LEARNING A LOT, BUT ALSO PROVIDING FEEDBACK.
AND BY THE WAY, THEY THINK THAT WE'RE DOING FANTASTIC.
SO THE GOAL SETTING, I'M GOING TO ALLOW MS. CAMPBELL, WHO IS ONE OF OUR, UM, UH, WHO'S ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO'S DOING A FANTASTIC JOB IN ENSURING THAT WE GET THIS DONE.
PLEASE BE MINDFUL OUR GOAL SETTING.
I JUST WANT TO PUT A SMALL DISCLAIMER OUT THERE.
I HAVE A THIRD PARTY CONSULTANT BY THE NAME OF SJB GROUP THAT HAS WELL OVER 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY WORKING WITH OUR AIRPORT AND SOME OF DOTD.
AND SO THEY'RE ASSISTING US WITH THE GOAL SETTING.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AGAIN, MY NAME IS BENICIA CAMPBELL.
I'M CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE CHIEF PURCHASING ANALYST FOR THE SUPPLY DIVERSITY TEAM.
UM, AND I'LL BE GOING OVER THE GOALS, HOW THEY'RE ATTAINED IN THE AVERAGES, UH, FOR THE PROGRAM THUS FAR.
UM, SO THERE ARE CERTAIN JOBS OR PROJECTS I SHOULD SAY THAT REQUIRE GOALS TO BE ATTAINED FOR THEM.
THAT IS ALL RF QS, ALL RFPS, ALL PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTS, FORMAL AND INFORMAL, AS WELL AS ALL PSAS OVER $50,000.
NOW THERE IS, UM, A PROCESS TO GETTING THOSE GOALS ATTAINED AND TYPICALLY IT'S AS FOLLOWS, EITHER THE AGENCY OR THE PROJECT LEAD ON THAT SPECIFIC PROJECT WOULD NEED TO FORWARD ME THE INFORMATION OF A SUMMARY COST ESTIMATED BREAKDOWN THAT HAS IT ITEMIZED AND TOTALS OUT TO THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT, AS WELL AS THE SCOPE OF WORK, UM, FOR THE PROJECT AT HAND.
ONCE THAT INFORMATION IS PROVIDED, I TAKE THAT AND SUBMIT IT TO OUR THIRD PARTY CERTIFYING, UM, AGENCY OR CONSULTING AGENCY, I SHOULD SAY, SJB GROUP.
AND, UH, THEY USE A METHODOLOGY TO GENERATE THE OVERALL GOAL RECOMMENDATION FOR THAT SPECIFIC JOB.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE ON THE CHART THAT'S PROVIDED FROM JANUARY, 2024 TILL UH, NOW THERE'S BEEN ABOUT 34 PROJECTS THAT HAVE HAD GOALS ATTAINED ON THEM.
UM, THAT RANGED FROM ABOUT A 2% GOAL ATTAINMENT TO ABOUT TWO FOUR, UH, TOPPING OFF AS THE HIGHEST GOAL THAT WAS ATTACHED TO ANY OF THESE PROJECTS.
UM, SO WE'RE CURRENTLY TRENDING AT ABOUT 11% FOR THE CURRENT, UM, AVERAGE OF THE GOALS THAT WE'VE ATTAINED FROM SJB GROUP.
NOW IT IS, UM, IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT CURRENTLY THERE'S A STATUTORY LIMITATION FOR A 25% CAP ON THESE GOAL ATTAINMENTS.
UM, AS WE ALL KNOW, THE MAYOR DOES HAVE, UM, A GOAL OR TARGET FOR US TO REACH A 25% OVERALL ON ALL CONTRACT AND DBE PARTICIPATIONS THAT COME THROUGH CITY PARISH.
UM, SO MAYBE IN THE FUTURE THERE WOULD NEED TO BE SOME CONSIDERATION REGARDING, UM, EITHER REMOVING THE CAP OR RAISING THE CAP SO THAT WE CAN BRIDGE THE GAP TO REACH THAT ACTUAL 25% MARK, UH, SINCE WE'RE TRENDING AT 11 NOW.
OKAY, SO THIS KIND OF GETS INTO HOW EACH INDIVIDUAL GOAL IS BROKEN DOWN AND DETAINED.
SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, FOR EACH COMMODITY CODE THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE SPECIFIC SCOPE OF WORK OF THE JOB, THERE NEEDS TO BE AN AVAILABILITY PERCENTAGE CALCULATED, WHICH IS THE FORMULA THAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN ABOVE.
SO HOW THAT IS, UM, DONE IS ESSENTIALLY WE WOULD REFER TO THE DATABASE THAT WE HAVE NOW, THE 271 VENDORS.
THEY WOULD ASSESS WHICH VENDORS CAN PROVIDE THAT SPECIFIC COMMODITY CODE OR SATISFY THAT SCOPE OF WORK ON THE JOB THAT ARE ALREADY CERTIFIED THROUGH THE CITY AND DIVIDE THAT BY THE AMOUNT OF VENDORS THAT CAN ACTUALLY PERFORM THAT SAME SCOPE OF WORK OR COMMODITY CODE WITHIN THIS DEMOGRAPHIC.
[01:10:01]
UM, THAT IS DONE AGAIN FOR EACH COMMODITY CODE, EACH SCOPE OF WORK ON THAT SPECIFIC PROJECT, AND THEN CALCULATED TO PROVIDE US WITH THE OVERALL RECOMMENDATION, UH, OF THE GOAL.UM, WHICH I'LL FURTHER GO INTO WITH THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO, AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, EACH COMMODITY CODE IS, UM, DERIVED TO HAVE A AN AVAILABILITY AND THAT AVAILABILITY PERCENTAGE, UM, FOR EACH IS THEN MULTIPLIED BY THE WORK SCOPE AMOUNT.
THE SUMS OF THOSE ARE THEN ADDED UP TO PROVIDE US WITH A TOTAL WORK SCOPE AMOUNT.
AND THEN THAT AMOUNT IS DIVIDED BY THE TOTAL OVERALL COST OR BUDGET FOR THE PROJECT AT HAND, AS WE CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN, THAT IS THEN DIVIDED UP AGAIN.
AND THEN THAT IS HOW WE ATTAIN THE OVERALL GOAL RECOMMENDATION FOR THAT SPECIFIC PROJECT.
NOW, IT IS PERTINENT TO MENTION THAT THESE ARE GOAL RECOMMENDATIONS THAT AT THE FULL DISCRETION OF OUR DIRECTOR, MR. CE, AGAIN MOVE FORWARD WITH SAID RECOMMENDATION OR CHOOSE TO ADJUST THAT RECOMMENDATION.
UM, IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WE DO HAVE B TWO G NOW COMING ON, THAT WILL KIND OF TAKE OVER, UM, THIS PORTION OF, OF THE PROCESS.
AND IT DOES HAVE MODULES TO, UH, FOR GOAL ATTAINMENT CERTIFICATION, UH, VENDOR ENGAGEMENT, AND THE LITANY OF OTHER, UH, FACETS THAT IT OFFERS.
AND, UM, THIS METHODOLOGY OR ALGORITHMS SPECIFICALLY IS ALSO PRACTICED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, STATE AND MUNICIPAL IN IN OTHER, UM, AGENCIES.
SO IT WOULD ALSO BE THE SAME ALGORITHM THAT IS PRACTICED THROUGH B TWO G NOW, WHICH IS THE SOFTWARE WE INTEND TO UTILIZE.
UM, I'LL NOW PASS IT BACK OVER TO DIRECTOR NARCISS AND MR. GURU TO GO OVER VETTING AND COMPLIANCE.
SO WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO BE FACT-BASED.
UH, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THIS PROGRAM IS NOT BIASED OR ANYTHING.
IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WE DO.
NOW I'LL TOUCH A LITTLE BIT LATER ON IT.
MAJORITY OF THE CITIES ARE USING IT AND IT'S WONDERFUL.
SO, AS I MENTIONED, SOME OF THE PRIMARY FUNCTIONS OF THE ORDINANCE, RIGHT, IS VETTING AND COMPLIANCE.
SO YOU GET THE GOAL ONCE THE GOAL'S BEEN ATTACHED TO IT, THE PRIME COMES UP WITH WHO THEIR SUBS ARE GOING TO BE.
THAT'S WHERE WE DO THE VETTING.
WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE EXPERIENCE NUMBER OF YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
WE TAKE, UH, THE WORK THAT THEY'RE ABOUT TO DO AS WELL AS TWO.
IF THERE'S ANY GOALS THAT'S BEEN ATTACHED TO IT THROUGH WHAT SJB HAS SUBMITTED TO US, I WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S THE SAME GOAL THAT'S BEEN REFERENCED EARLIER WHEN WE STARTED PURSUING IT.
AND NUMBER THREE, WE WANNA MAKE SURE TOO THAT THEY'RE CERTIFIED WITH THIS CITY.
ONCE THE VETTING IS DONE, HOW DO WE TAKE A LOOK AT COMPLIANCE? AND I'M GONNA LET IKE SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MUCH MORE ABOUT THAT 'CAUSE HE'S OVER COMPLIANCE.
BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I DON'T STOP, EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN AWARDED.
I'LL SAY A CONTRACT'S BEEN AWARDED $46 MILLION.
MY GOAL IS TO ENSURE FROM A COMPLIANCE PERSPECTIVE THAT IF THE SUB HAS 10% OF THAT, THAT THEY'RE GETTING PAID ALL FULL 10%.
I DON'T STOP TO, ONCE THE CONTRACT'S BEEN AWARDED, COMPLIANCE HAS TO BE DONE TO MONITOR PAYMENT, TO MONITOR THE WORK.
IT'S JUST LIKE I'M DOING WITH ANYTHING WITH DEFICIENCY REPORTS THAT I SIGN UP WITH A VENDOR, THEIR SCHEDULE TO DO THE WORK THAT'S BEEN, THAT THEY THEY'RE SCHEDULED TO DO.
AND IF THEY'RE NOT DOING THAT, THEN I NEED TO DOCUMENT THAT AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
SO WHAT I HAVE GOING AROUND IS FORM THREE, FORM THREE OF THE, THE PACKET OF APPLICATION WHEN YOU WANT TO WORK WITH THE CITY.
THIS IS OUR PRIMARY METHOD OF COMPLIANCE.
UM, THIS SUBMISSION, THIS REPORT IS SUBMITTED TO THE PROJECT MANAGER AND OR PROJECT INSPECTOR.
UM, SEPARATE FORMS ARE REQUIRED BY EACH FIRM, UH, PARTICIPATING ON THE PROJECT, SOME KEY INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THE REPORT, THE AMOUNT PAID TO THE SUBCONTRACTOR, THE PERCENTAGE OF THE PROJECT THAT THE SUBCONTRACTOR, UM, WILL WORK ON.
UM, AND UH, OBVIOUSLY A DESCRIPTION OF ALL THE WORK DONE BY ALL PARTIES.
UM, FINALLY IN THAT, IN THAT PIECE, IF THE WORK DIFFERS FROM WHAT WAS APPROVED AT THE TIME OF THE AWARD AND AN ADDITIONAL FORM WILL BE COMPLETED, UM, ESSENTIALLY THAT THAT FORM SERVES AS A, UM, A, A COMPLIANCE AND A A THAT SHOWS THAT THERE'S A FAIR AND EQUITABLE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN, UM, PART A OUR PRIME CONTRACTOR AND
[01:15:01]
OUR B OUR SUB.UH, SINCE THE, YOU KNOW, ENCLOSING CLOSING, UH, SINCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROGRAM, UM, SPECIFICALLY THE MONTHLY COMPLIANCE REPORT, ACHIEVING COMPLIANCE, UM, WITH RECEIVING THESE REPORTS HAS BEEN CHALLENGING.
UM, ULTIMATELY OUR GOAL IS TO ENSURE VENDORS KNOW THAT WE ARE OPERATING POTENTIAL VENDORS AT THAT KNOW THAT WE'RE OPERATING WITH ETHICS INTEGRITY AND WE'RE RELYING ON FACTS AND NOT HUMAN ERROR.
UM, ULTIMATELY WE WANT TO, WE WANT TO, UM, WE WANT VENDORS TO HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT THE CITY PARISH IS COMMITTED, THE SUPPLY OF DIVERSITY.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO DIRECTOR NARCISS TO DISCUSS TOTAL, UH, SPEND OF S-E-D-B-E.
SO, JUST BACK, JUST ONE THING BEFORE I MOVE ON AND TALK ABOUT ANALYTICS.
WHAT WE'VE DONE FROM A SPEND PERSPECTIVE RIGHT NOW, WE'RE CURRENTLY USING MUNIS AS WE TRACK PAYMENT.
IT'S NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT.
AND SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE B TWO G NOW COMING, WHICH WILL COLLECTIVELY, UM, TAKE ALL THE INFORMATION FROM THE MONTHLY COMPLIANCE REPORTS AND WE CAN START TRACKING IT THAT WAY.
THAT'S THE MOST CLEAN AND MOST EFFICIENT WAY MUST I HAVE TO GIVE, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.
ADAM SMITH, UH, UH, KUDOS 'CAUSE UH, HE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN SUPPLYING ME WITH THE, UH, COMPLIANCE, UH, MONTHLY COMPLIANCE REPORTS.
SO LAST YEAR, 2023, WHAT DO WE DO? UM, AND OVERALL, $63 MILLION, RIGHT? REMEMBER WHAT THE DISPARITIES THAT HE STATED, WE WERE AT 4%.
SO WE STILL GOT WAYS TO GO, YOU KNOW, UM, 48 MILLION CAME FROM MOVE VR.
EVERYTHING ELSE WAS 15 MILLION, WAS THE REST.
STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO YEAR TO DATE FOR 2024 FROM JANUARY THROUGH, UM, NOW IT'S ABOUT $27 MILLION.
UM, I STILL HAVE SOME WORK I HAVE TO DO IN COLLECTING THE DATA.
THAT'S THE OTHER PAIN PIECE OF IT.
THERE'S A LOT OF ANALYSIS THAT'S BEING PUT BECAUSE THERE'S TRANSPARENCY.
I WANT TO ENSURE THE NUMBERS ARE RIGHT 'CAUSE WHEN WE PUBLISH THE NUMBERS, WE, ME PAUL NARCISSIST IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT.
SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY I DON'T LIKE SUBMITTING NUMBERS UNTIL I FULLY PUT MY BLESSING ON IT.
IT TAKES ME AT LEAST A FULL WEEK TO GATHER DATA.
BUT AGAIN, I'M HAVING IS ERIC ROMERO'S ASSISTING ME WITH THAT.
WE'RE GONNA GET B TWO G NOW WHERE THE REPORT'S GONNA BE LIVE AND CLEAN.
AND EVEN IF MY LEADER, MAYOR BROOM OR DANTE BIDWELL WOULD LOVE TO PRESS THE BUTTON, THEY CAN GET ALL THE INFORMATION THEY WANT TO.
IT PEELS THE ONION FROM EACH CATEGORY.
SO WE'RE COMING TO THE END OF IT.
SO WE SPOKE WITH MAJORITY ABOUT BTG.
NOW, UM, WE STILL FOLKS, UM, AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE IN, WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS, BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU, WE'RE SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERSTAFFED FOR THIS GREAT WORK TO HEADCOUNTS.
WHEN I RUN OUTTA MONEY, I HAVE NO MORE HELP.
SO JUST SOMETHING TO PUT A NOTE ON.
WE BOUGHT SOME PPE STUFF WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME FIELD AUDITS.
HEY, SUB PRIME, HOW'S IT WORKING? WE'RE GONNA GO TO SITES AND WE'RE GOING TO, UM, SPEAK WITH OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND TELL THEM WHEN WE'RE GOING TO VISIT.
NUMBER FOUR, SOMETHING I WANTED TO DO, I DID THIS BACK AT THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
THIS HERE NOW IT'S CALLED A HEAT MAP.
WHAT THE HEAT MAP DOES IS TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR FINANCIAL CAPABILITIES, YOUR INCOME TO DEBIT RATIOS FOR YOUR COMPANY.
SO I CAN TELL YOU IF I CAN, 'CAUSE I HAVE MY BACHELOR'S DEGREES IN FINANCE.
I CAN TELL YOU IF A COMPANY'S ABOUT TO GO BANKRUPTCY, WHY WOULD I WANT TO DO BUSINESS WITH A VENDOR THAT'S GONNA BE BANKRUPT? THAT'S WHAT THE HEAT MAP WAS GONNA DO.
SO I'M GOING TO LOOK INTO IMPLEMENTING THAT FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.
THE LAST THING IS NATIONAL LEAGUES OF CITIES.
I'VE BEEN TRAVELING, UM, THEY'VE BEEN PAYING FOR IT.
I HAVE BEEN TO NORFOLK, I HAVE BEEN TO ATLANTA.
UM, LEARNING FROM A LOT OF THEM AS WELL.
THAT'S IN THE SAME GROUNDWORK.
DOING, UM, DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT BEST PRACTICES.
DO I KNOW EVERYTHING? NO, BUT I'M WILLING TO LEARN AND CONTINUE TO PUSH THIS PROGRAM TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE 'CAUSE I'M HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT.
WE'RE GONNA LEAVE THE Q AND A.
THANK Y'ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND TIME.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
[01:20:02]
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE DETAILED PRESENTATION.I CAN TELL THE HARD WORK THAT WENT INTO IT.
ALSO WANNA GIVE YOU A, A PAT ON THE BACK AND, AND A THANK YOU FOR THE OUTREACH THAT YOU DO.
I MEAN, I'VE HEARD IT FROM EVERYBODY ACROSS THE PARISH THAT THAT LEVEL OF ACTIVITY IN TERMS OF TRYING TO ENGAGE, UH, SCDB PARTICIPANTS HAS EXTREMELY INCREASED.
AND YOU COME TO MY COMMUNITY MEETING.
SO, UM, SOMETHING AS SMALL AS 30 TO A HUNDRED MEMBERS, YOU GUYS ARE THERE.
I DO STILL HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
'CAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, THERE'S NO PERFECT, UH, SITUATION.
THERE'S ALWAYS GAPS IN OPPORTUNITIES.
SO THE YOUNG LADY ALLUDED TO SOMETHING EARLIER, UM, TALKING ABOUT HAVING A GOAL OF 25%, BUT CAP AT 25%.
THAT MATH IS NEVER MATH TO ME BECAUSE HOW CAN I AVERAGE SOMETHING WHEN MY CAP IS WHAT I WANT MY AVERAGE TO BE? SO IN ORDER FOR THAT AVERAGE TO BE THERE, IT HAS TO RAISE, NOT HOPEFULLY RAISE, BUT I BELIEVE HOPEFULLY, SO MR. ADMINISTRATION WILL TAKE A LOOK AT AND PUT ON THE AGENDA.
UM, NUMBER ONE, BECAUSE AGAIN, IF I CAP AT 25, I CAN'T AVERAGE AT 25 UNLESS I'M PERFECT, RIGHT? ALL RIGHT.
NUMBER TWO IS, IN A PREVIOUS MEETING MYSELF, COUNCIL MEMBER COLE, COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN, UM, REQUESTED A LIST OF DBE OR SEDB PARTICIPANTS THAT IT'D BE UPLOADED.
AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE THEY, THERE MAY BE SOMETHING SPECIALTY, RIGHT? I'LL GIVE YOU LIKE ELOS IS A GREAT COMMUNITY PARTNER.
WE MAY NOT HAVE E DBES IN ENVIRONMENTAL SPACE, BUT WE MIGHT HAVE SOMEBODY THAT SELLS 'EM A CAMERA OR DOES SOMETHING, A JANITORIAL SERVICE THAT THEY CAN PUT AS A, SO IT'S NOT ALWAYS DIRECTLY INVOLVED WITH THE OUTCOME OF THAT CONTRACT, BUT JUST PARTNERS THAT HELP THAT BUSINESS RUN, UM, AS A PART OF THAT PROJECT.
SO HAVING A LIST, I THINK IT GETS RID OF, I CAN'T FIND THE DBE TO HELP ME IN THIS SPACE.
THERE'S ALWAYS MONIES TO ALLOCATE TOWARDS THE PROJECTS IF WE HAVE A LIST.
SO I'M WANT TO ENCOURAGE, I'M GONNA ASK AND I'M GONNA DEMAND THAT THE LIST BE DONE.
'CAUSE IT'S BEEN ABOUT THREE MONTHS NOW SINCE WE DID IT, SINCE WE REQUESTED IT.
UM, I'M GONNA GO BACK BEFORE I SAY MY LAST THING.
GO BACK TO SOMETHING YOU SAID ABOUT A COMPANY GOING BANKRUPT.
I ACTUALLY ENCOURAGE THAT WE DO BRING ON THOSE PARTNERS, BUT ACTUALLY HAVE COACHES THAT CAN HELP THEM BECAUSE GOVERNMENT OPPORTUNITIES CAN SAVE BUSINESSES AND NOT HELP KILL OUR ECONOMY.
BECAUSE WHEN THOSE BUSINESSES GO BANKRUPT, SO DO THE JOBS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE BUSINESSES.
AND THEN IT HAS A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR LOCAL ECONOMY BECAUSE IT TRENDS IN US LOSING MONEY IN RETAIL AND OTHER THINGS THAT GENERATES THE SALE TAX, SALES TAX THAT RUNS OUR STATE AND RUNS OUR CITY PARISH.
SO AT THAT POINT WE CAN BE A HELPING HAND AND HELP TO TAKE A DEEPER DIVE BY BRINGING THEM WITH SOME OF OUR PARTNERS, LIKE, UM, WHOMEVER YOU TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.
AND THEN THE FINAL PIECE OF IT IS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT NEXT STEPS, I'M GOING TO COMPARE WHAT YOU HAVE TO THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT SOUTHERN AND LSU.
THEY WILL TEACH SOMEBODY WHO HAS NO CLUE ABOUT BUSINESS, HOW TO OPEN A BUSINESS, BUT THEY'RE ONLY STEP ONE IN THE PROCESS.
STEP TWO, WHICH IS SUSTAINABILITY IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART.
AND THAT'S WHERE THE GAP IS IN THE MARKET.
AND WHY SMALL BUSINESSES CLOSE SO FAST.
THEY NEED, UH, ACCESS TO CAPITAL, THEY NEED BEST PRACTICES.
UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S ALSO A GAP IN THIS PROGRAM AS WELL, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE.
WE'VE INCREASED THE OUTREACH, BUT THE ONE THING THAT WE HAVE NOT DONE IS HAD THAT MENTOR, THAT HANDHOLDING PROCESS TO DETAIL BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT BID AND ARE DISQUALIFIED BECAUSE THEY FILL OUT THE BID PACKET WRONG OR THEY DO SOMETHING VERY SMALL THAT DOESN'T ALLOW THEM TO BE A PART OF THIS LONG TERM AND GROW THAT SCALE THEIR BUSINESS TO WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE A DBE.
I'M, AM I SAYING THAT CORRECTLY? YES, SIR.
SO WE DO WANT TO GRADUATE THEM FROM SE DBES TO MBS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE, YOU AND I HAVE HAD THAT CONVERSATION PREVIOUSLY OF HOW DO WE HAVE THAT SECOND TIERED APPROACH? AND I STILL ENCOURAGE YOU, WE TALKED ABOUT SOME STRATEGIC PARTNERS THAT HAVE, UM, OPPORTUNITIES IN THAT SPACE THAT WON'T BREAK THE BANK, BUT CAN HELP WALK PEOPLE THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
SO, UM, THOSE ARE MY TWO THINGS ARE REALLY THREE THINGS.
MAKE A LIST OF DBES REALLY FOR DON'T DETER AND, AND RUN AWAY BUSINESS THAT ARE FAILING.
HELP THEM TO SURVIVE BY GIVING 'EM GOVERNMENT ACCESS.
AND THEN NUMBER FOUR IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HANDHOLD THE PEOPLE THROUGH THE INITIAL START OF BIDDING SO THAT THEY DON'T LOSE OUT ON OPPORTUNITIES THAT IT COULD HAVE CAPITALIZED ON.
[01:25:02]
WE RESPOND HOW YOU WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH.THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS.
SO I'M GONNA GO THROUGH ALL FOUR REAL FAST.
THE LIST IS UP, IT'S ON OUR METRO NET.
NUMBER TWO, IN REGARDS TO, YOU KNOW, BEING, UH, BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE MODEL FOR THOSE THAT DO FALL BANKRUPTCY.
WE HAVE, WE HAVE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS, GUEST SPEAKERS, BANKS, EVERYONE TO TEACH, UH, THOSE WHO ARE, UM, IN NEED OF HOW TO KEEP A BUSINESS AND HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS.
SO WE'VE GOT CLASSES COMING UP FOR THAT.
NUMBER THREE, WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT, UM, UM, GOING BACK INTO MODIFY THE STATUE BECAUSE OF COURSE, YOU'RE TOTALLY RIGHT.
IF WE'RE TRENDING AT 11 AND IT'S CAPPED AT 25, THERE'S NO WAY WE'RE GONNA MAKE UP GROUND UNLESS YOU GET 4, 5, 6, OR SEVEN OR EIGHT PROJECTS THAT ARE WELL OVER 40 OR 50 TO DO A WEIGHTED AVERAGE.
UM, I THINK I, I THINK PRETTY MUCH I ADDRESSED IT AND, AND I YOU WANT YOUR EXTRA TIME? THAT'S FINE.
AND LOOK, I, I THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT.
I'VE BEEN OUT, UM, AND GETTING BACK HADN'T HAD ANY UPDATES.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING, UH, THE TIME TO EXPLAIN THAT TO ME.
AND THE, THE, THE FINAL PIECE OF IT IS MARKETING.
I TELL EVERY DEPARTMENT OF CITY PARISH THAT WE HAVE, WE DO A POOR JOB OF TELLING PEOPLE THE LAWS THAT WE CHANGE.
WE DO A POOR JOB OF IN, UH, OF INFORMING PEOPLE ABOUT THE THINGS THAT IMPACT THEM WITH THEIR TAX DOLLARS.
SO, AND YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF OUR OUTREACH JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE APPLIED THAT WE CONSTANTLY INFORM THEM.
IF YOU'RE NOT, YOU MAY BE DOING THAT, PROBABLY SHOULD ASK THE QUESTION.
BUT, UM, JUST MAKE SURE YOU INFORM THEM OF THOSE RESOURCES.
'CAUSE I THINK THOSE ARE PIVOTAL TO, TO HAVE SUCCESS WITH THIS PROGRAM.
COUNCIL HURST CE THANK YOU, UH, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UH, TWO THINGS AND UM, ONE IS MARKETING, BUT, UM, IN, YOU'RE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB IN TRYING, IN WORKING WITH THE MECHANISMS, POLICY PROCEDURES, MAKING IT, UM, MAKING THE COMMUNITY AWARE AND GETTING THEM WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
HOWEVER, WHAT MY CONCERN IS, IF THERE, THERE, PROBABLY AS IT RELATES TO CITY, PARISH GOVERNMENT, UM, THERE STILL IS, UH, A CONCERN WHERE WHEN, WHEN, UM, WHEN A MINORITY CONTRACTORS ARE INTERESTED IN DOING WORK IN THE CITY, I FIND THAT FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE POINT OF VIEW, THAT, UM, IT, IT BECOMES A, THERE'S LIKE A FEAR FACTOR OF CONCERN THAT SOMEBODY'S GONNA SAY SOMETHING, SOMEBODY'S GONNA REJECT IT, THEN THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL DO SUCH A, A JOB ON THAT CONTRACTOR, THEN THE ADMINISTRATION BACKS AWAY.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'VE, I I FEEL AS, UM, AS A BLACK COUNCILWOMAN, THAT MY JOB IS NOT ONLY TO WORK AND ADVOCATE FOR AN INCREASE OF MINORITY CONTRACTORS, BUT ALSO BE THE PERSON THAT REFERS BE THE PERSON.
AND, AND BECAUSE WE ARE ON THE GROUND, AND THIS IS SOMEWHAT NEW TERRITORY FOR THE MASSES, THEY COME TO US FIRST.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ON WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GONNA GET INVESTIGATED BY THE FBI, IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE STATE POLICE AFTER US, IF WE'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION.
AND THOUGH I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH GOING THROUGH THAT, I HATED THAT.
IT'S LIKE, UM, A TWOFOLD ISSUE THAT THE CITY HAS GONE THROUGH ALL THESE EFFORTS TO SAY THAT THEY WANT TO DO MORE DBE BUSINESS.
THEY FOLLOW THE RULES TO A T BUT THEY DON'T TRUST THEMSELVES OR WHAT WILL BE SAID.
AND THIS IS THE ONLY AREA BECAUSE WE GET, UM, THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE COUNCIL GET BACKLASH ABOUT ALL KINDS OF THINGS, INCLUDING THE RIVER CENTER.
THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WE HERE FOR DON'T WANT THE RIVER CENTER DEAL AS WE HEARD IT.
STILL WE HAVE, THERE'S NOBODY BACKING UP FROM THE ADMINISTRATION OR THE COUNCIL.
BUT AS SOON AS A BLACK CONTRACTOR HAS ANYTHING GOING ON AND THEY, YOU'VE DONE YOUR DUE DILIGENCE AS A CITY, YOU GONNA CATCH HELL AND THAT.
AND SO THEN THEY DON'T WANNA DO BUSINESS WITH US BECAUSE THEY'RE SCARRED.
I'M NOT AFRAID TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK.
BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS YOU SAID IS I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF STAFF.
WELL, WE ARE AN EXTENSION OF THAT AS COMMUNITY LEADERS.
AND IF SOMEBODY COMES AND THEY KNOW I SUPPOSED TO SAY, OH, WELL I'M GONNA REFER YOU TO PURCHASING, OR I KNOW SOMEBODY THAT
[01:30:01]
COULD DO THAT, THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU GIVE IT TO THEM AND NOBODY ELSE.THAT DOESN'T MEAN SOMEBODY TAKING A KICKBACK.
AND I DON'T WANNA BE WHERE I'M AFRAID TO DO A EMAIL TO YOU OR THE MAYOR TO RECOMMEND A COMPANY THAT'S REPUTABLE, UM, BECAUSE I'M GONNA GET A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST.
SO, AND UNTIL WE HAVE, AND I BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART THAT, UM, LEADERSHIP BEGINS AT THE TOP AND IT FLOWS DOWN.
AND SO IF IN AS, AS AS, UH, AN ADMINISTRATION AND A METRO COUNCIL, IF WE DON'T STOP DOING THAT AND WE START SAYING, WE STAND BEHIND THIS.
WE DID WHAT WE SUPPOSED TO DO, BRING IT ON, THEN YOU, YOU, YOU WASTE A LOT OF TIME, BRO.
I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY DOING IN TALLAHASSEE.
BATON ROUGE IS NOT UNTIL WE START MARKETING AND SHOWING PICTURES OF BLACKS THAT ARE GETTING CONTRACT INSTEAD OF BEING SCARED.
INSTEAD OF BEING HIDING, INSTEAD OF BEING ABLE TO SAY, OH, WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT TO THIS BIG CONTRACTOR.
'CAUSE WE SCARED TO GO OUT AND SAY WE GAVE SOMEBODY 25%.
AND THAT IS WHERE I SEE, I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
YOU'RE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB, BY THE WAY.
YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'VE BEEN WORKING OUT AND I LIKE IT.
I'VE BE OUT THE COUNTER SINCE SIX MONTHS.
BUT REALLY, UH, MR. NAIS, YOU KNOW, I'M CRAZY, BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT'S THE REAL, THAT'S THE REAL, I COULD WORK MY TAIL OFF AND GET EVERY CONTRACTOR, BLACK CONTRACTOR, BUT IF IT'S STILL GOING, THEY GONNA HAVE TO GO THROUGH HELL AND HIGH WATER.
THEY COULD HAVE MADE, WORKED, DID FIVE PRIVATE JOBS, WAITING ON OUR ONE, AND THAT'S WHEN THEY BECOME BANKRUPT.
THAT'S WHEN THAT CREDIT GET BAD COUNCIL.
BUT I SHOULD HOPE YOU CAN ADDRESS THAT FOR ME.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MO YOU WANT TO ANSWER THAT COUNT? UH, MR. NAIS.
OKAY, I WAS JUST CON CONFIRM CONFIRMING TIME.
SO MY, MY QUESTION IS WHAT? GIVE ME THE, UH, QUALIFIED GROUPS FOR DBES 271? NO, GIMME THE, THE, THE QUALIFIED GROUPS, BLACKS, LATINOS.
SO YOU'VE GOT VETS, YOU'VE GOT SMALL BUSINESSES.
ABOUT HOW MANY GROUPS IS IT? UH, I BELIEVE IT'S ABOUT SIX.
AND CAN YOU GIMME THOSE SIX GROUPS THAT QUALIFY TO BE LABELED AS A DBE? SO YOU HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES, YOU'VE GOT WOMEN OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES, MEANING X AMOUNT OF EMPLOYEES OR LESS.
DOESN'T MATTER RACE OR THERE'S A DOLLAR DISABILITY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THERE'S A DOLLAR THRESHOLD ATTACHED TO THAT.
SO SMALL BUSINESS, WOMEN OWNED, WOMEN OWNED, VETERAN OWNED VET.
WHO ELSE AM I MISSING? WHAT'S THAT? COME TO THE MIC.
UH, WHY DON'T YOU STEP UP FOR A SECOND.
THERE'S TWO MORE THAT I'M MISSING.
UM, SO AS WELL AS ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED BUSINESSES YEAH.
SO IF THE BUSINESS MAKES LESS THAN 30, WOULD THAT BE CONSIDERED SMALL BUSINESS? WOULD THAT BE IN THAT SMALL BUSINESS CATEGORY? SO ECONOMIC IS SMALL BUSINESS.
IT'S FOR THE BUSINESS ENTITY AS WELL AS THE INDIVIDUAL, RIGHT? SO YOU CAN QUALIFY INDIVIDUALLY IF YOUR PERSONAL NET WORTH IS LESS THAN 1.3 MILLION.
AND WHAT'S THE 6 1 2 3 0 5 RACE, RELIGION, ANY OF THAT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT? NO.
THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW THERE.
UM, WHEN A, HOW MANY LIST OF VENDORS DO YOU HAVE FOR DBES? FOR SE NOW, RIGHT? DBES OR DBES? UH, WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING HERE.
IF THEY'RE CERTIFIED WITH THE CITY, ABSOLUTELY.
SO THE SAME VENDORS CAN GET THE JOBS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
HENCE THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE NEED TO GROW THE CERTIFICATION THERE.
[01:35:01]
IN OUR BUSINESS.SO OUTTA 271, IF THERE WAS X AMOUNT OF JOBS OR, OR, OR BIDS COMING UP YES SIR.
20 OF 'EM COULD KEEP GETTING BID AFTER BID AFTER BID AFTER BID.
SO YOU'RE DOWN TO 250 THAT ARE STILL OUT THERE NOT GETTING JOBS.
WELL, I, I WOULD LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.
SO I WOULD HAVE TO SEE THE ANALYSIS.
I GUESS WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS, IS IF WE'RE GONNA MAKE, IT SEEMS LIKE IF WE'RE GONNA SIGN THESE PEOPLE UP AND GIVE 'EM AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO JOBS WITH THE CITY, PARISH AND EVERYTHING ELSE, THEN WHAT'S THIS, WHAT'S TO SAY YOU TAKE THAT LIST OF 270 PEOPLE AT THE SAME PEOPLE JUST LIKE OUT OF, OUTSIDE OF NON DBE THAT ARE DOING CITY PARISH JOBS AND STUFF, THE SAME PEOPLE GETTING THE SAME JOBS, GETTING THE JOBS OVER AND OVER AND OVER.
SO YOU'RE STILL LEAVING OUT A WHOLE LIST OF THIS GROUP.
THERE'S, THERE'S, LET ME ANSWER IT THIS WAY.
UH, COUNCILMAN HOPE THERE'S A LOT.
THE SAME THING GOES FOR THOSE THAT ARE NON SEDV.
SO MY GOAL IS THIS RIGHT? TO REMOVE ANY BIAS OUT OF IT.
IF THEY ARE TECHNICALLY EQUIPPED, IF THEY'RE CERTIFIED WITH THE CITY AND FROM A GOLD PERCENTAGE AND THEY PUT THEIR BEST FOOT EFFORT DOWN, THEN I SHOULDN'T HOLD THEM AGAINST FOR CONTINUING TO GET AWARDED AN AWARD IN THE AWARD.
I, AND, AND LOOK, I'M AGREEING WITH YOU.
UM, WE WANT TO HELP PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS, BUT THE SAME ONES GO OVER AND OVER.
I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO EARN THEIR BID.
I I NEED TO FIGHT AND STRUGGLE AGAINST DELL EVERY DAY TO GET CONTRACTS.
THAT'S WHY I DON'T EVEN DEAL WITH CITY PARISH.
I DON'T DEAL WITH, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I'M A COUNCIL.
I DON'T DEAL WITH STATE CONTRACTS.
I'VE NEVER DEALT WITH CITY PARISH CONTRACT EVEN BEFORE BEING ELECTED.
I'VE NEVER DEALT WITH LOCAL MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS AT ALL BECAUSE I KNEW I WAS GONNA GET SMOKED IN THE END.
I CAN'T PUT A, A $3,000 COMPUTER OUT THERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CONTRACT BID FOR A THOUSAND DOLLARS AND WAIT FOR THE PRICE TO DROP SO THAT IT ACTUALLY MAKES ME MONEY.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IF, IF WE'RE GOING TO PROMOTE THESE BUSINESSES AND ASK THEM TO SIGN UP, I, I, I MAYBE MAYBE FOLLOW ALONG WITH COUNCILWOMAN BANK.
WE NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY'RE JUST NOT GONNA GET SMOKED OVER AND OVER AND OVER EVERY TIME.
SO HERE'S WHAT I CAN SAY THOUGH.
'CAUSE IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT PROCESSES, RIGHT? THEY HAVE AN OPTION TO PUT A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST, DO A DEBRIEFING.
WE DO MEET WITH SO MANY S-E-D-B-E VENDORS AND TELL 'EM THE REASONS WHY WE GO AND WE PEEL THE ONION WHY YOU DIDN'T WIN THE AWARD AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT'S A MECHANISM OF TEACHING THEM TO, UH, ALLOWING THEM TO BE MORE BETTER PREPARED.
SO WE'RE DOING THAT NOW, CONSTANT MEETINGS.
SO I HEAR YOUR POINT, BUT I, I, AGAIN, AND LIKE I SAID, IT JUST CONCERNED ME THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS LATEST GROUP OF VENDORS THAT, THAT WON ALL THESE BIDS AND STUFF, IT EVEN MAKES 'EM MORE QUALIFIED TO WIN THE NEXT SETS OF BIDS.
SO YOU'RE GETTING THAT CYCLE AGAIN AND SO ON.
SO THAT, THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHT ON IT.
I'D LIKE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GOING TO PROMOTE GIVING SMALL BUSINESS, NEW BUSINESS THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND STUFF, THEN LET'S, LET'S ACTUALLY SHOW THEM THAT YOU HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY POINT WELL TAKEN.
EVEN IF THEY'RE IN THE DBE CATEGORIES, S-D-B-E-D-B-E CATEGORY OR WHATEVER.
IS THERE ANY WAY WHERE LOCALLY, LIKE ALL OF THE MAJOR, UM, EMPLOYERS OR EVERYBODY THAT'S IN THIS SCOPE OF WORK CAN GET TOGETHER 'CAUSE AND WORK ON? UM, LIKE THERE MIGHT BE SOMEONE WOULD SAY EBR SCHOOLS AND THEY HAVE A FAIR SHARE, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THEIR LIST THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE OR WHATEVER.
I WAS JUST WONDERING, I KNOW YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITY AND HOW BENEFICIAL IT HAS EVERYBODY.
IS THERE ANYTHING ON A LOCAL, AND EXXON IS WONDERFUL AS WELL, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING, SOME KINDA, UH, COALITION OR ADVOCACY OR, UH, ADVISORY WHERE COUNCIL WHERE YOU ALL WORK TOGETHER AND SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND I WAS JUST WONDERING ABOUT THAT.
WE'RE ACTUALLY, UM, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH AMAZON TO BUILD THE BUSINESS OUT AS WELL.
THERE'S SOME OTHER BUSINESS PARTNERS I'M LOOKING AT OKAY.
LOCALLY TO CONTINUE TO PUSH THIS EFFORT OUT.
TO YOUR POINT, IT'S NEEDED AND WE'RE DOING THAT.
[01:40:01]
ON SEAN, OUR COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS' QUESTION, UM, THE AIRPORT, CITY PARISH, UH, BRE, COUNCIL ON AGING, UM, I MAY BE MISSING, ONE OR TWO HAVE BEEN HAVING MEETINGS AND COLLABORATING TO TRY TO ONE, CREATE A DATABASE WHERE EVERYBODY THAT'S ON THE FAIR SHARE AND EACH DEPARTMENT OF QUASI GOVERNMENT AGENCY IS IN THE OTHER'S AGENCIES AS WELL.I KNOW THEY DO MEET REGULARLY AND, AND DISCUSS OPPORTUNITIES AND LOOK AT VENDORS WHO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO PERFORM THOSE, UM, OPPORTUNITIES.
SO THAT COLLABORATION IS HAPPENING.
UH, IT'S BEEN HAPPENING, UM, LONG BEFORE, UH, PAUL WAS IN HIS POSITION.
UM, SO THAT IS, THAT IS ONGOING COMMUNICATION WITH THESE, UH, ORGANIZATIONS, ACQUIRE OUR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, UH, AS WELL AS THE PRIVATE SECTOR, UH, LEADERS IN OUR, IN OUR MARKET.
UH, BUT PAUL, I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE DETAILED INFORMATION.
THANK YOUR TEAM FOR TAKING THE TIME AND, AND, AND DOING THE WORK.
UM, AS COUNCILMAN HURST MENTIONED, Y'ALL BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, PUTTING THE WORD OUT THERE, TALKING TO VENDORS, HELPING THEM BUILD CAPACITY, GAIN EXPERIENCE, AND GETTING THEM EXPOSURE TO, TO THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST, AS WELL AS HELPING THEM TO, TO UNDERSTAND THE OPPORTUNITY.
AND I KNOW, UH, KENYA IS NOT HERE.
WE HAVE ANOTHER SJB UM, REPRESENTATIVE AND I JUST WANT HER TO, TO TALK ABOUT, UH, WHAT THE THEY BRING TO THE TABLE IS NOBODY HERE FROM SJB.
OKAY, WELL ONE OF THE THINGS I KNOW, AND PAUL, YOU CAN SPEAK TO IT, UM, YOU KNOW, BEING CERTIFIED, UH, UH, WITH FAIR SHARE OR, OR WHAT HAVE YOU WITHOUT CERTIFICATION THAT OPENS THE VENDORS UP TO SOME, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE.
COUNCILWOMAN BANKS TALKED ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAKEHOLDERS BEING AN EXTENSION OF THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES AND HELPING.
BUT, BUT TALK ABOUT THE ROLE AND THE WORK THAT SJB DOES TO SUPPORT THESE SMALL VENDORS, UH, WITH SOME OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE STUFF AND WALKING 'EM THROUGH THE PROCESS.
THEY'VE BEEN EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY, UH, INSTRUMENTAL IN THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM AS WELL.
NOT ONLY JUST, YOU KNOW, ENSURING FROM A COMPLIANCE PERSPECTIVE THAT WE HAVE EVERYTHING TO START, UM, AND PUT A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, BUT THEY'RE MEETING DAILY, THEY'VE GOT MEETING SCHEDULE.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY FROM START TO FINISH, HANDHOLDING THEM JUST LIKE WE ARE TO THE EXECUTION PHASE.
UM, KENYATA SPARKS WORKS EXTREMELY HARD, SO DOES MS. JACKIE, THE ENTIRE TEAM.
AND, UM, UM, WITHOUT THEM WE COULDN'T BE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THEY'RE MEETING AT ALL KINDS OF HOURS AND ENSURING THAT THEIR AVAILABILITY OPEN UP TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.
AND LET ME ALSO EXTEND MY, UM, THANKS TO MANY OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS.
UM, NOT JUST PAUL, BUT YOU KNOW, SOME OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES.
AS COUNCILWOMAN BANKS MENTIONED, OFTENTIMES THEY'LL CONTACT US.
UH, DO YOU KNOW ANYBODY THAT DOES THIS TYPE OF WORK? WE MADE OUR GOOD FAITH EFFORT, BUT WE CAN'T SEEM TO FIND ANYBODY.
BUT WE WANTED TO JUST KIND OF CHECK WITH YOU AND YOUR NETWORK TO SEE IF YOU COULD POINT US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION SO THEY'RE AWARE OF ADMINISTRATION'S, UH, GOALS AND, AND VISIONS OF INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY AND MANY OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, SO I WANT TO THANK MANY OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS FOR BEING ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MORE, UH, INCLUSIVE AND D DIVERSE IN OUR OFFERING FAR AS OUR PROCUREMENT TO COUNCILMAN OCH CONCERNED.
I, I, I AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT THE REPEAT, UH, AWARDEES, WHETHER IT'S SMALL, UH, LARGE BUSINESSES OR SMALL BUSINESSES IN MY MIND, UH, INCLUSION DIVERSITY IS NOT JUST ABOUT, UH, RACE AND GENDER AND, AND DISADVANTAGE, BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT EXPOSING FOLKS TO THESE OPPORTUNITIES WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO PARTICIPATE.
UH, WHAT WE ALSO KNOW IS MANY BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS DON'T EVEN KNOW, UH, GOVERNMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO 'EM.
UM, MOST OF US PAY INTO THE TAX SYSTEM, BUT DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CAN PARTICIPATE AND GET PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND RE RECEIVE INTO THE SAC SYSTEM THAT YOU PAY.
AND A LOT OF YOUR OUTREACH OR EDUCATION MAKES THEM AWARE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND KNOW THEY CAN PARTICIPATE.
UM, MANY OF OUR COMPANIES, UH, DEAL WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS COUNCILMAN MOOCH MENTIONED, BUT SOME OF 'EM DO HAVE THE DESIRE TO, TO DO BUSINESS WITH GOVERNMENT.
WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, UM, IT'S A PROCESS.
UH, YOU KNOW, YOU DO THE WORK TODAY, YOU MAY NOT GET PAID 30, 60, 90 DAYS IN MANY INSTANCES.
JUST BE PREPARED TO, UH, FLOAT THAT, WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH A LINE OF CREDIT OR WHETHER THAT'S PERSONAL FINANCING.
OFTENTIMES YOU DON'T GET PAID RIGHT AWAY.
UH, WE ALSO STEP IN THERE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CONVERSATION WITH FINANCE, HAVE CONVERSATION WITH PROCUREMENT, HAVE FINANCE CONVERSATION WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS ABOUT SPEEDING THE PROCESS UP OF REIMBURSEMENTS AND, AND PAYMENTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
UH, WE'RE WORKING ON SOME, UH, SOME, UH, REPORTING AND EVALUATION OF THE SYSTEM TO TRY TO IMPROVE THAT, BUT WE ARE AWARE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT EXIST THERE.
WE PAYING, WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE OBLIGATIONS AND BILLS TO PAY.
SO WE ARE DOING OUR PART TO TRY TO RECTIFY SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT EXIST
[01:45:01]
IN THE SYSTEM.BUT THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS TO EXPECT THAT THIS MOMENT, NOT JUST WITH CITY PARISH, BUT IN IN MANY GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, UM, YOU KNOW, THE SPEED OF GOVERNMENT IS NOT THE SPEED OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
BUT JUST KNOW WHEN YOU APPROACH THE GOVERNMENT IN DOING WORK WITH GOVERNMENT IS, IS NOT A QUICK TURNAROUND.
SO BE AWARE OF THAT, UH, BE KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THAT, AND HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION TO BE ABLE TO, UM, OPERATE IN THAT TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT.
UH, APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO.
THANK YOU COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBERS NO FOR THE VERY THOROUGH REPORT.
[65. 24-00617 ]
YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.WE GO NOW TO ITEM 65, A AMENDING OF 2024 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE ALLISON SAINT EE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT.
SO THAT'S YOUR APPROPRIATE $58,509 FROM THE DISTRICT'S FUND BALANCE UNASSIGNED TO PURCHASE A NEW PUMPER TRUCK FOR THE REPLACE THE DISTRICT'S RADIO SERVER BY ALLISON ST.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBERS WAS YOUR PLEASURE.
SO MORE BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOLD THERE.
[66. 24-00566 ]
WE GO NOT ITEM 66 TO AUTHORIZED AND APPROVEMENT OF SELECTION OF THE ADVOCATE AS THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, CITY OF BATON ROUGE FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1ST, 2024 UNTIL JULY JUNE 30TH, 2025.IN ACCORDANCE WITH LOUISIANA REVISED STATUTE 43 1 41 A BY COUNCIL, ADMINISTRATIVE TREASURY.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODES.
[67. 24-00570 ]
NOW TO ITEM 67, APPROVING THE ANIMAL CERTIFICATION REQUIRED FOR THE PARISH TRANSPORTATION FUND AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT PRO TEMPO TO SIGN CERTIFICATION BY FINANCE DIRECTOR.IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM WHEN I TO COUNCIL MEMBER SOMO BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
[68. 24-00568 ]
REGARD TO ITEM 68 AMENDING TITLE TWO, CHAPTER ONE OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE.SO AS TO AMEND SECTION TWO 90 COMPLETE STREETS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND AS SECTIONS 2 91 DEFINITIONS 2 92, APPLICATION 2 93 COMPLETE STREETS ADVISORY STANDARDS 2 96 PERFORMANCE MEASURE AND 2 97 EXEMPTIONS AND EXCEPTIONS BY COUNCILWOMAN CAROLYN COLEMAN AND COUNCILWOMAN.
ARE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? WE'LL START FIRST WITH MARK MARTIN.
I LIVE AT 5 0 5 UNIVERSITY WALK IN BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN BATON ROUGE.
UH, MY COMMENT BASICALLY IS THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT OF THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS TO, UM, CONSIDER THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE AND, UM, APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY LAST MINUTE QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
1613 BEACH GROVE DRIVE, 7 0 8 0 6.
UM, I'M WITH THE CENTER FOR PLANNING EXCELLENCE AND UM, 10 YEARS AGO, THE, UH, METRO COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED A COMPLETE STREETS POLICY.
AND SINCE THEN, THE CITY PARISH, ALONG WITH PARTNERS SUCH AS BRACK AND THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TOWARDS CREATING A TRANSPORTATION NETWORK THAT TRULY SERVES ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS.
THE PROPOSED COMPLETE STREETS ORDINANCE IS A FITTING CELEBRATION OF THOSE 10 YEARS OF PROGRESS.
IT WILL SERVE TO INSTITUTIONALIZE AND STRENGTHEN MANY OF THE GOOD PRACTICES THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE, CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, AND ENSURE THAT PROGRESS CONTINUES WELL INTO THE FUTURE.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I WANNA SAY DURING MY TIME IS THANK YOU TO THE MANY ADVOCATES, ORGANIZATIONS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, CITY PARISH STAFF, AND ENGAGED CITIZENS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS EFFORT, NOT JUST THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE, BUT THE COMPLETE STREETS MOVEMENT IN GENERAL.
WHERE WE ARE TODAY, WHERE WE ARE TODAY, IS THE RESULT OF ONGOING EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN UNDERWAY FOR CLOSER TO TWO DECADES AND HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE SUPPORT AND EXPERTISE OF SO MANY INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT BATON ROUGE AND ABOUT THE LEVEL OF SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENTS THAT A WELL-DEVELOPED COMPLETE STREETS NETWORK CAN PROVIDE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
MY NAME IS AMANDA ADA, 2 4 8 MAXIMILIAN STREET.
UH, MY HUSBAND AND I ARE HERE TONIGHT IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE AS WELL AS I BELIEVE A FEW MORE ALLIES WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SPEAK.
UH, WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING UP THIS ITEM AND I REQUEST YOUR FAVORABLE PASSAGE.
[01:50:02]
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY IN STRONG, UH, SUPPORT OF THE COMPLETE STREETS ORDINANCE.I'M THE CAPITAL AREA HEART WALK DIRECTOR WITH THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION.
THE CAPITAL AREA HEART WALK IS A LOCAL MOVEMENT THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER ABOUT 4,500 PEOPLE FROM 76 LOCAL COMPANIES TO WALK IN SUPPORT OF HEART HEALTH AND RAISED $580,000 TO BE THE FIRST STEPS TOWARD ENDING HEART DISEASE.
I HOPE YOU JOIN US NEXT YEAR ON APRIL 12TH.
I'M HERE TODAY ON THEIR BEHALF AND ON THE BEHALF OF OUR LOCAL STAFF, BOARD AND VOLUNTEERS.
THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION'S MISSION IS TO BE A RELENTLESS FORCE FOR LONGER, HEALTHIER LIVES.
AND WE ARE CELEBRATING A HUNDRED YEARS OF ADVANCING THAT MISSION.
WE'RE IMAGINING A BATON ROUGE WHERE EVERY TRIP YOU TAKE, WHETHER BY CAR, BIKE, OR ON FOOT, IS SAFE AND PLEASANT.
COMPLETE STREETS MAKE THIS VISION A REALITY BY ENSURING THAT ALL USERS OF OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, INCLUDING MOTORISTS, CYCLISTS, PEDESTRIANS, TRANSIT USERS, PARENTS PUSHING STROLL, STROLLERS, CHILDREN WALKING TO SCHOOL, SENIORS, EVERYONE ARE CONSIDERED AS WE DESIGN, PLAN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN OUR STREET NETWORK.
LET ME SHARE A STORY THAT ILLUSTRATES WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT.
JUST LAST MONTH, A LOCAL CYCLIST WAS HOSPITALIZED DUE TO AN ACCIDENT WITH A VEHICLE.
THANKFULLY, THEY RECOVERED, BUT IT WAS A STARK REMINDER THAT OUR CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE DOESN'T ALWAYS PROTECT THOSE WHO USE ALTERNATE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION.
COMPLETE STREETS HELP PREVENT SUCH INCIDENCES FROM HAPPENING, MAKING OUR STREETS SAFER FOR EVERYONE.
WE ARE THANKFUL THAT EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH ALREADY HAS A COMPLETE SEA SHOCK PROCESS IN PLACE, BUT IT NEEDS SOME ROUTINE MAINTENANCE.
THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE BUILDS ON THAT STRONG FOUNDATION CODIFYING, CLARIFYING, AND MAKING SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL RESULT IN A SAFER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
IT ALIGNS OUR LOCAL COMPLETE STREETS ORDINANCES WITH NOT TO KNOW BEST PRACTICES BY ENSURING THAT ALL USERS ARE CONSIDERED AS THE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK IS DESIGNED, WE'RE BUILDING A SAFER AND HEALTHIER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.
I WANNA SEND A HEARTFELT THANKS TO THE CENTER FOR PLANNING EXCELLENCE AND THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHO CONTRIBUTE TO, TO THIS EFFORT.
THEIR DEDICATION PROVES THAT MAKING OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM SAFER AS A COLLABORATIVE IN, UH, ENDEAVOR ENC CLOSING ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THE COMPLETE STREETS ORDINANCE.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? COME ON DOWN.
MA'AM, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
1 2 9 3 2 TOLLWAY BATON ROUGE, 7 0 8 1 6.
I'M HERE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE PUT IN ALL OF THE HARD WORK TO BRING SOME MORE MEAT ON THE BONES OF, OF THIS, UH, PROPOSAL THAT IS HERE WITH BEFORE US TODAY.
I AM A MEMBER OF THE LOUISIANA A A RP, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR RETIRED PERSONS.
AND WE AS A SENIOR CITIZEN GROUP AND THOSE OVER 50, LOVE TO HAVE BETTER STREETS, LOVE TO HAVE MORE SAFETY, WOULD LOVE TO HAVE LARGEST STREET SIGNS AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT COME WITH YOU ALL AGREEING TO DO THIS.
AND I DO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN AND PARTICULARLY THOSE, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHERE I HAVE WORKED IN AND, UH, OVER THE YEARS.
SO THANK YOU ALL AND I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL AS IT IS LISTED HERE TODAY.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I JUST WANTED TO ELEVATE THIS ITEM, UM, AND, AND RECOGNIZE ALL THE ENTITIES THAT, UH, WORK SO HARD TO, TO BRING IT FORWARD.
UM, C PEX IN PARTICULAR, UH, FOR THE LEADERSHIP ON DRAFTING MARK AND THE BIKING COMMUNITY, I SEE MS. JEAN AND A A RP.
AND YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR SO MANY YEARS, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AS WELL, YOU KNOW, BATON ROUGE, UM, YOU KNOW, HAS A DATED INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEM.
AND SO BRINGING US WHERE OUR, OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IS BETTER AND SAFER FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BIKES CAN SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE AN UPHILL BATTLE.
I SEE, I SEE REED AND I'M SORRY I DIDN'T MENTION BRE AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING AS WELL.
UM, SO IT CAN FEEL LIKE AN UPHILL BATTLE, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO COMPLETE STREETS IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT YOU ALL ARE DOING THE WORK TO, TO BRING US TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO SAY, I THINK IT'S
[01:55:01]
A, UM, A POWERFUL MESSAGE THAT THIS ITEM IS SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN AND COUNCIL MEMBER AROSO.I THINK IT SPEAKS VOLUMES, UH, IN SO MANY WAYS.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMARILLO.
A SECOND BACK TO, OH, COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN AGAIN, WE SAY THANK YOU, BUT I'D BE REMISS IF I DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE REST OF THAT CREW BACK THERE WITH, UH, STAND UP BECAUSE SOME OF THESE ARE MY SENIOR CITIZENS.
AND SO WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL AND YES.
SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN COLEMAN.
ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 68 HAS BEEN APPROVED.
ITEM 69 REAL QUICK, REAL, REAL QUICKLY.
COUNSEL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED FIVE EMAIL COMMENTS ON ITEM 65.
FOUR WERE IN SUPPORT, ONE WAS IN OPPOSITION.
I HAVE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT WHICH WE DISCUSSED WITH THE COMMITTEE ABOUT ADDING, UH, THE NORTH BATON ROUGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AS A MEMBER OF THE ADVISORY, UM, COMMITTEE.
UH, I WANTED TO ADD THAT AS A, A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, WHICH THEY, THEY ACCEPTED.
CAN WE APPROVE WITH THAT FRIENDLY AMENDMENT PLEASE? SO MOVING SECONDARY BY COLEMAN COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN AND COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA WITH THE AMENDMENT AND OBJECTIONS.
ITEM 69 HAS BEEN 68 HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[69. 24-00564 ]
TO 69.AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT RECEIVING MORGAN EQUIPMENT SERVICES LLC TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $460,423 AND 2 CENTS FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 1,810,000 A $23 AND 2 CENTS BY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ASHLEY? UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT OPPOSITION TO ITEM 69.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 69? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 69? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
[70. 24-00565 ]
GO TO ITEM 70.AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTING AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION COMING TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY ONE MILLION THIRTY FIVE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED SIXTY SIX THOUSAND FIFTY THREE CENTS FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED TWO MILLION TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY THREE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED SIXTY SIX THOUSAND FIFTY THREE CENTS BY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SHE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 70.
COUNCIL MEMBER, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, GO THERE.
[71. 24-00582 ]
WE NOW GO TO ITEM 71.AUTHORIZE THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO ACQUIRE THROUGH PURCHASE EXCHANGE AND OR INSTITUTION OF APPROPRIATION PROCEEDINGS AND TO TAKE SUCH OTHER ACTION AS MAY BE REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE ACQUISITION OF LAND NECESSARY FOR LOUISIANA HIGHWAY 30 REGIONAL FORCE MAIN PROJECT BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOLDEY SECONDED BY COUNCILOR COLEMAN.
[72. 24-00583 ]
BUT GO NOT ITEM 72.AUTHORIZE THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO ACQUIRE THROUGH PURCHASE EXCHANGE OR INSTITUTION OF APPROPRIATION PROCEEDINGS TO TAKE SUCH OTHER ACTIONS AS MAY BE REQUIRED CONNECTION WITH THE ACQUISITION OF LAND NECESSARY FOR THE NORTH REGIONAL WASTEWATER CONSOLIDATION PROJECT BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTORS.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 72? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCKER.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
[73. 24-00584 ]
TO ITEM 73, AUTHORIZED MAYOR, PRESENT AND OR BRASCO TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER ONE TO THE CONTRACT WITH SUSTAINABLE DESIGN SOLUTIONS, LLC ASSOCIATED WITH THE NORTH REGIONAL WASTEWATER CONSOLIDATION PROJECT AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $12,560 BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTORS.ANYONE WHO WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.
IS THERE A MOTION? SO MORE BY COUNCILMAN MCC COLEMAN, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
[74. 24-00585 ]
WE NOT GO TO ITEM 74, AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT ANDY ROSCO TO EXECUTE AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE TO THE CONTRACT WITH ATCO SERVICES LLC FOR ANNUAL PARISH WIDE SANITARY SEWER AND STORMWATER PUMP STATION, WET CELL CLEANING FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,200,000 BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR.IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM COUNCIL MEMBERS? YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL, COMMENT AND OPPOSITION TO ITEM 74.
THERE SOME MORE BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN SECONDARY BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODDE.
[75. 24-00612 ]
75 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE BATON BURY CITY COURT TO ENTER TO A CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENTS WITH JODY ABERT IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF $72,000 BY THE CLERK OF COURT JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATOR.IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING SPEAK ON THE ITEM WHEN I THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM
[02:00:01]
75? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOLD.[76. 24-00613 ]
ITEM 76 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE BAT OF CITY COURT TO CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH GINA B LEE NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF $72,000 BY CLERK OF COURT JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATOR.IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CODAY.
[77. 24-00614 ]
NOW TO ITEM 77.AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE BATTER WITH CITY COURT TO ENTER A CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENTS WITH CLAIRE NEELY NOT TO EXCEED 72,000 BY CLERK OF COURT, JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATORS, ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM WHEN I THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN SECONDED BY COUNCIL MAGO.
[78. 24-00628 ]
GO NOT ITEM 78.AUTHORIZATION FOR THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION ATTENTION TO A PARKING AGREEMENT WITH THE OFFICE OF STATE TRAVEL FOR STATE EMPLOYEES AT A RATE OF $4 50 CENTS PER DAY BY THE AVIATION DIRECTOR.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS WE NOT GO
[79. 24-00632 ]
TO ITEM SEVEN NINE, AMEND THE 2024 PAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED NON-CLASSIFIED CONTRACT FIREARM POLICE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF BEIRUT, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROU SO AS TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING CHANGE EFFECTIVE JUNE 29TH, 2024 IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT OVER TIME PAYROLL ROUTE CHANGE, WHICH INCREASES ANNUAL SALARY THRESHOLD FROM $35,568 TO $43 $888 AS OF JULY 1ST, 2024, DELETE PAY GRADES 21 80 21 90 2222.CHANGE THE PRAY RAISE FOR ALL IMPACTED CLASSIFICATIONS FROM EXEMPT TO NON-EXEMPT AND REMOVE THE EXECUTIVE EXEMPT STATUS FROM IMPACTED CLASSIFICATION BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.
IS ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEM? WE NOW HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER.
IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BARAKA SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
[80. 24-00633 ]
NOW GO TO ITEM 80, AMENDED 2024 PLAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED, NON-CLASSIFIED CONTRACT, FIRE AND POLICE EMPLOYEES OF CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE.SO ESTIMATE THE FOLLOWING, CHANGE, EFFECTIVE JUNE 13TH, 2024 INAPPROPRIATE AND 733,700 FOR SAID PURPOSE.
AND ITEM 31 A 20 24 9 PRINCIPAL MEDICAL EQUIPMENT FOR GEAR ALLOWANCE OF 3,200 WILL BE PAID ON THE PAYCHECK DATED JUNE 21ST, 2024 TO ACTIVE ELIGIBLE FULL-TIME.
FRONTLINE MEDICAL SERVICE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE PASSED THEIR INITIAL WORKING TEST PERIOD BEFORE AND DURING THE PAY PERIOD.
BEGINNING JUNE 1ST, 2024 BY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR AND HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? WE NOW GO.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
[81. 24-00626 ]
WE GO TO 81 AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESENCE EXECUTE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROU, CITY OF BATON ROUGE ON BEHALF OF THE GLJ NORMAN COMMUNITY CENTER AND JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, TRACY BATIS.WOODARD FOR A FOUR YEAR TERM FROM JUNE 30TH, 2024 TO JUNE 30TH, 2028 AT A RATE OF $500 A MONTH BY COUNCIL MEMBER SHAUNA BANKS.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBER? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
[82. 24-00624 ]
WE GO NOW TO ITEM 82 AUTHORIZING A SETTLEMENT IN THE MATTER OF MICHAEL HAR AND TAMAN HOLDINGS.LLC VERSUS THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE IN AN AMOUNT OF $250,000 PLUS QUOTE, COSTING THE AMOUNT OF $944 AND 50 CENTS BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.
IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE'RE NOT WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, ANY ANYONE? COUNCIL MEMBER GODDE.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL COLE, ANY OBJECTIONS? HOLD ON.
UM, COUNCIL, STATE YOUR REASON, UH, TO DISCUSS THE DETAILS OF THE MATTER, DISCUSSION IN PUBLIC COULD POSSIBLY, UM, NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE CITY PARISH'S BARGAINING POSITION.
UH, SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA.
ANY OBJECTIONS? WE ARE ADJOURNED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING BACK TO ORDER ON ITEM 82, COUNCIL MEMBERS IS THERE, UH, IS THERE, WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
YOU SECONDED? UH, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
[83. 24-00629 ]
AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT IN THE MATTER OF, IN THE MATTER ENTITLED MIKE MCCLANNAHAN ETAL VERSUS SCOTT WILSON IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,000 BY COUNCIL MEMBER CLEVE DUN JR.IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? COME ON DOWN.
[02:05:01]
SO ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO, THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL PUT US OUTTA HERE, MIKE, MYSELF, AND EUGENE.AND WE SUED YOU FOR VIEWPOINT DISCRIMINATION.
THIS COUNCIL, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE A BETTER COUNCIL, CONTINUES TO NOT ALLOW A SETTLEMENT TO COME FORTH ON THAT CASE.
ME AS A CITIZEN CAME TO THIS MICROPHONE TO SPEAK AFTER TWO OTHER PEOPLE ATTEMPTED TO TALK AND THEY WERE PUT OUT.
DRUG OUT OF THE MEETING PLASTERED ON SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, DRUG DOWN TO THE POLICE STATION BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T LIKE WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TODAY HAS A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION UNDER IT FOR SOME OF THE THINGS WE WERE SAYING BACK THEN.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TODAY CONTINUES TO BE A NUISANCE TO THIS COMMUNITY FROM SOME OF THE THINGS WE WERE SAYING BACK THEN THAT THIS COUNCIL DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR.
AND NOW YOU GUYS HAVE GONE TO FEDERAL COURT.
A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS SAID TWO YEARS AGO WE WENT TO FEDERAL TRIAL.
YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM PAYING YOUR LAWYERS, BUT THIS COUNCIL DOESN'T WANT TO PAY OUR LAWYERS.
WE DIDN'T SUE FOR MONEY BECAUSE WE FELT LIKE WHAT WAS DONE WAS WRONG AT SETTLEMENT.
SCOTT WILSON ISN'T ON THE COUNCIL ANYMORE.
WE CAN'T GET AN APOLOGY FROM HIM, BUT THIS COUNCIL CAN SAY THAT WE ARE NOT LIKE THAT.
WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE THAT STAIN ON US.
AND WE WANT THE THINGS FROM 2017 TO FINALLY GO AWAY SO WE CAN DEAL WITH THE THINGS WE'RE DEALING WITH TODAY.
I'M A CITIZEN OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT WAS WRONGED BY MY GOVERNMENT AND I SUED THE GOVERNMENT.
AND A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS ASKED THIS COUNSEL NUMEROUS TIMES TO SETTLE THIS SUIT SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY US.
YOU PAID YOUR LAWYERS AND YOU'RE ULTIMATELY GONNA HAVE TO PAY OUR LAWYERS WHEN THE FEDERAL COURTS RULE.
BUT THIS COUNSEL HAS THE ABILITY TO INTERVENE NOW AND SETTLE THIS CASE AND SHOW THAT YOU'RE NOT LIKE YOUR PREDECESSORS.
BUT THE TRUTH IS, MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL DON'T WANT TO HEAR WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY TOO.
AND THE PROOF OF THAT IS THAT YOU COULD SETTLE A DISGRACE MEDIA OF THE MEM MEMBER OF THE MEDIA'S LAWSUIT FOR 30,000 BECAUSE SHE ANTAGONIZES THE CITY FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
BUT THOSE WHO ANTAGONIZE YOU ALL BECAUSE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS BRUTALIZING US, YOU WON'T SETTLE OUR LAWSUIT.
KIERAN ALAH WAS FIRED FROM WAFD.
SHE WASN'T JUST STARTED A BLOG BECAUSE SHE WAS A GREAT JOURNALIST.
SHE LOST HER JOB FOR HELPING A-B-R-P-D OFFICER POST THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOU GUYS SELL TO HER LAWSUIT 'CAUSE SHE'S AN ANTAGONIST ON BEHALF OF THE POLICE.
SEVEN YEARS THAT YOU GUYS DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THIS.
AND IF YOU GIMME JUST A FEW MORE SECONDS, MR. COLE, TO ME THERE'S CLEAR DISTINCTIONS IN HOW THIS COUNCIL MAKES THIS DECISION.
IF THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT WE TALK ABOUT, THERE'S ALWAYS A REASON OR A JUSTIFICATION WHY YOU CAN'T GET IT DONE.
BUT WHEN PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE YOU COME HERE OR FROM YOUR COMMUNITIES OR THAT ARE ADVOCATING FOR THE THINGS YOU AGREE WITH, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THEY GET OFF SUBJECT.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THEY SAY.
YOU ALLOW THEM THE ABILITY TO DO SO.
YOU DON'T DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THEIR VIEWPOINT.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE BEING SUED FOR.
YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS IN FEDERAL COURT RIGHT NOW FOR THE SAME THINGS.
MAYBE YOU CARE IF THERE WERE WHITE CITIZENS GETTING BEATEN IN THE CITY AND THEY WERE COMING UP HERE SPEAKING AND YOU SETTLED THEIR LAWSUITS.
IF, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? NOW WE GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL? MOTION TO APPROVE.
MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JR.
SECONDED BY THE CHAIR OF ANY OBJECTIONS? LET'S VOTE ON THE MACHINES.
MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
SOME PEOPLE ARE HAVING SOME DIFFICULTY.
ARE Y'ALL, UM, IS EVERYBODY MACHINES WORKING? LET ME, IS THERE A DESIRE TO GO IN EXECUTIVE SESSION? IS THAT YOUR RECOMMENDATION? NO HONOR.
YES, BECAUSE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION.
WHAT IS, WHAT IS MY LINE? MS. ASHLEY
BECAUSE DISCUSSION OF THE MATTER MAY HURT THE THAT'S CORRECT.
ANY OBJECTIONS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION? WE ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WHO WAS THE SECOND? LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER.
[02:10:01]
ITEM 84 BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JR.SECONDARY BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? THERE ARE TWO OBJECTIONS.
I'LL MAKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO AMEND IT TO $10,000.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER GODDA HAS OFFERED A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
SO DO YOU ACCEPT THE AMENDMENT? DID HE SAY A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS MR. TO GODDA
I'M GONNA GO TO THE MACHINE COUNCIL MEMBER.
WELL, THERE'S ONLY TWO OBJECTIONS.
SO IF THERE'S ONLY TWO OBJECTION, THAT MEANS ITEM PASSES.
BUT COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS, WHAT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? THE ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED.
I AM TRYING TO SPEAK, DON'T YOU SAYING OKAY.
GO COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS, YOU WANNA SPEAK? GO AHEAD.
WHO IS IT? JUST GO AHEAD AND SPEAK.
I WAS JUST, I MEAN IT, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS THINK BACK TO HOW WE TALK ABOUT THE VALUE OF ONE MAN AGAINST ANOTHER.
AND IT ALWAYS COMES DOWN TO COLOR.
UH, WE HAVE ONE WOMAN, UM, THAT WE GAVE 30,000 THAT WAS NOT AN ATROCITY, BUT THE, THERE WERE, IT WAS CLEARLY DISPLAYED THAT THREE AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN WERE BEING PREJUDICED BEFORE OUR, UH, COUNCIL COL COUNCIL PRO TEAM.
AND IT'S JUST LIKE WE DEALT, OUR VALUE SYSTEM IS ALMOST LIKE THE SLAVE MARKET WHERE BLACKS, YOU KNOW, ARE, ARE, ARE CHATTEL AND THEY DON'T HAVE FLESH AND BLOOD VERSUS SOMEONE OF ANOTHER RACE.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN IN BATON ROUGE WE WOULD STOP BEING SO PREJUDICIAL, SO RACIST AND SO INEQUITABLE IN HOW WE SLEEP AT NIGHT AND TEACH SUNDAY SCHOOLS AND GO TO CHURCH AND ALL OF THAT.
AND IT'S A POOR EXAMPLE BECAUSE WE ARE, MANY OF US ARE PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS.
AND THIS CYCLE THAT STARTED PROBABLY 450 YEARS AGO OF THESE PREJUDICE IDEAS OF THIS RACISM WILL CONTINUE WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR GRANDCHILDREN BECAUSE THEY LOOK UP TO US AND IT'S LIKE NOBODY, I MEAN, I JUST, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE.
I'M, HOW MUCH DO WE HAVE TO LOSE IN PERSONAL LOSSES BECAUSE WE DON'T DO RIGHT.
AND WE WONDER WHY THINGS HAPPEN.
BUT YOU WANT PEOPLE TO CRY FOR YOU AND FEEL BAD FOR YOU, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE FEELINGS FOR OTHER PEOPLE IN TREATING THEM FAIRLY.
SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE GO FROM HERE, BUT THE SEEDS WE SOLD, THEY COMING BACK TO US EVERY LAST ONE OF US.
THE MACHINES MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
IS IT, IS THE, THE RULES THAT THE AUTHOR OF THIS THING GETS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE AMENDMENT CARRIES? OR DO WE VOTE ON THAT? THE, THE, THE PERSON WHO MADE THE MOTION GETS TO ACCEPT YOUR AMENDMENT OR NOT? OKAY.
MR. DUN CHOSE NOT TO ACCEPT YOUR AMENDMENT.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, YOU CAN, BUT DID I MAKE A MOTION? NO, YOU DID, YOU DID NOT MAKE A MOTION.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO AT THIS POINT.
THE MOTION RIGHT NOW IS TO APPROVE THE ITEM.
CORRECT? IS THAT CORRECTLY? CORRECT? YES.
AS IS, AS IS AS IS WRITTEN ON YOUR AGENDA PROPERLY.
AND SECOND IT, I MAKE A MOTION WITH TWO OBJECTIONS.
WE'RE GONNA, I'M GONNA OPEN THE MACHINES ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
YES, MS. BANKS, YOU WANT A YES? GOTCHA.
MAY TIM, I LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AT THE SETTLEMENT AT A HUNDRED THOUSAND.
UH, THERE'S NOT PROPER NOTICE FOR THAT MOTION.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN ONLY GO UNDER $30,000.
CAN WE, WHAT IS THE AMOUNT THAT'S BEEN SPENT ON THIS LITIGATION THAT THE CITY HAS ALREADY
[02:15:01]
PAID? CAN WE GET UH, GREG UP? COME ON GREG, COME ON TO THE MIC.UH, IT'S BEEN SAID IN SEVERAL MEETINGS.
I JUST, UM, YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT.
I DIDN'T GO IN THOSE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT I'M GONNA GET IT FOR YOU PERSONALLY.
I'M KIND BEFORE WE, MA'AM, BEFORE WE LEAVE.
'CAUSE I WAS TOLD IT WAS OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND.
IS DO YOU HAVE THE FILE IN HERE WITH YOU? THE FILE? NO, I DON'T HAVE A FILE.
CAN YOU GET THE FILE? I OH, OKAY.
IT WAS HANDLED BY OUTSIDE COUNSEL.
I DON'T PHYSICALLY HAVE A FILE.
I SO THERE, THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY TO YOU WITHOUT OUTSIDE COUNSEL? OH YEAH.
SO THAT'S, THE BILLS ARE AUDITED.
SO NOW WE, WE DON'T TALK ABOUTY, BUT I'M SAYING THAT LIKE WHEN PEOPLE GO TO COURT OR THEY SEE AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA, I WOULD JUST ASSUME THAT THE LEGAL COUNSEL WOULD COME WITH IN, YOU KNOW, TO FILE OR SHE DIDN'T COME AT MY REQUEST BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT HER TO COME AND BILL A CITY HERE.
NO, I'M, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE, THE INFORMATION LIKE, UH, THE BILL OR I, I DON'T HAVE HER IN FRONT A EMAIL OR NO, I DON'T HAVE HER BILL IN FRONT OF HIM.
IS IT ON THE EIGHTH FLOOR? OH, I'M ON THE NINTH FLOOR.
IS IT ON THE NINTH FLOOR? IT SHOULD BE.
CAN CAN YOU GET IT BEFORE WE LEAVE? I CAN TRY.
Y'ALL, Y'ALL RECORD'S NOT IN ORDER.
WELL, LET'S DO THIS, LET'S DO THIS.
GREG, IF YOU CAN RETRIEVE THAT ITEM, PLEASE DO.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL COME BACK TO IT.
IS THAT THAT PLEASE? SHAWONA, HE GONNA GO RETRIEVE IT.
JUST, JUST A POINT OF ORDER, A POINT OF CLARITY.
CAN WE COME BACK TO IT OR DO WE NEED TO STAY ON IT? YEAH, WE CAN COME BACK.
OH, THE, THE ITEM HAS BEEN CONSIDERED AND VOTED ON.
IF Y'ALL WANT TO RECONSIDER THE ITEM AFTER NO, WHAT DID WE VOTE? WE MOVE ON TO ANOTHER ITEM.
IT WILL REQUIRE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER.
I DON'T THINK THE VOTES ARE GONNA BE THERE FOR THAT.
UH, GREG, COULD YOU COME BACK TO THE PODIUM PLEASE? LORD MERCY, I NEED YOU TO COME BACK TO THE PODIUM.
IF YOU WANT SOMEBODY TO GO GET THE FILE, YOU UH, I WOULD ASK YOU TO SEND SOMEBODY ELSE TO GO GET IT 'CAUSE I DON'T WANNA MOVE ON FROM THE ITEM AND, OKAY.
HAVE THE NEED A VOTE TO RECONSIDER? YES, SIR.
TO, TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION.
I KNOW COUNCILWOMAN BANKS HAS ASKED YOU SOME VERY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE THE ANSWER TO RIGHT NOW WITHOUT HAVING THAT FILE.
BUT COULD YOU JUST STATE FOR THE RECORD WHO THE OUTSIDE COUNSEL IS THAT HANDLED THIS CASE? CELIA.
AND JUST FOR CLARITY, IS THAT AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY PARISH? OH NO.
OR IS THAT A, THAT A CONTRACT THAT WE CONTRACTED CONTRACTED OUTSIDE? YES, SIR.
HOW LONG HAS THIS CASE BEEN GOING ON? I THINK MR. CHAMBERS WAS PRETTY CLOSE.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE TRIAL WAS TRIAL.
MR. MR. ROME, LET'S NOT ENCOURAGE IN INDIVIDUALS OF THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK FROM THE SEATED AREA.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T, WE DON'T ALLOW THAT HERE.
SO WE WANT YOU TO WORK WITH US ON IT.
ALL RIGHT? AGAIN, HOW LONG, SIR? THAT'S, HE'S PROBABLY RIGHT SINCE ABOUT 2017.
ANY IDEA OF WHAT HER BILLABLE HOUR RATE IS? OR AN ATTORNEY WHO, WHO DOES THIS TYPE OF WORK? BILLABLE HOUR RATE IS WHATEVER THAT WE DO.
SO, AND I DON'T SEE HOW Y'ALL BE EATING WITH THEM.
YEAH, I CAN'T, I CAN'T PLAY AROUND WITH, I CAN'T
[02:21:52]
CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER.
UH, MR. ROLL COUNCILWOMAN HER RATE BANKS, COUNCILWOMAN BANKS, HE'S SPEAKING TO YOU.
HER RATE REASON'S NOT VOTING FOR THIS
SHAWN, LET HIM LET HIM ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
YOU DO? WE DIDN'T VOTE HER BECAUSE OF HER FAULT.
AND THAT WAS NOT THE PAY THAT WAS ABOUT HOW WAS NOT 23 YEARS BEFORE HER DID.
SO RIGHT NOW DON'T CARE IF YOU SPENT A MILLION DOLLARS.
WELL, I WANT, I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE NUMBERS 'CAUSE YOU ASKED FOR ABOUT, SHE'S STILL WORRIED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE DID THAT.
SHE SAID WE BOTH, WELL GIMME THE COURTESY OF GIVING YOU THE INFORMATION YOU ASKED FOR.
AND TO DATE, SHE'S BEEN PAID $113,986.
SO, SO MR. ROME, UH, AS THIS CASE GOES ON, NO, I THINK I'M ON, I'M ON THE CLOCK.
AS THIS CASE GOES ON, THAT BILLABLE RATE OF WHAT, AGAIN? 225 AN HOUR.
THERE IS A STRONG POSSIBILITY AS SHE DOES MORE WORK THAT UH, NUMBER OF A HUNDRED PLUS THOUSAND DOLLARS WILL INCREASE.
IF SHE DOES MORE WORK, SHE'S GONNA BE PAID MORE BY AN HOUR.
AND SO DO YOU, IT'S NOT A POSSIBILITY.
IF SHE WORKS, SHE'S GONNA GET PAID.
RIGHT? SO DO YOU THINK IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY PARISH TO SETTLE THIS AT 30, 50, $60,000 TO STOP THAT CLOCK AND STOP THAT BILLABLE RATE OR KEEP THIS OPEN AND, AND KEEP THIS ATTORNEY ON RETAINER AND BILLABLE HOURS TO, TO GET TO TWO AND $300,000? I DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT SHE TOLD ME 'CAUSE IT'S ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE.
I'M JUST NOT GONNA SAY THERE THE CURRENT CONTRACT IS ONLY $115,000.
YEAH, SHE COULDN'T EXCEED THAT WITHOUT, YEAH, SHE COULDN'T EXCEED THE 115.
BUT IF SHE DID MORE WORK, SHE'D HAVE TO BE PAID.
YEAH, BUT IF SHE DID MORE WORK, WE WOULD HAVE TO, UH, EITHER, UM, INCREASE THE VALUE OF THE CONTRACT OR, OR GIVE HER ANOTHER CONTRACT.
IF SHE GETS, UH, IF SHE GETS CLOSER TO 115, I'M GONNA HAVE TO BRING IT BACK IN.
WELL, MS. SMITH IS, BUT MY OFFICE GONNA HAVE TO BRING IT BACK IN FRONT OF Y'ALL.
YOU GOOD? COUNCIL MEMBER DUN JR.
[84. 24-00635]
ITEM 84 85.[02:25:04]
CONSIDERATION OF REPLACING A REAPPOINTED FOUR OH AUTHORIZED A SETTLEMENT OF CLEAN CHAD SCALE FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THE BATON ROUGE POLICE OFFICER IN THE AMOUNT OF $19,120.IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM.
ITEM WE GO TO? COUNCIL MEMBER.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? IS I, YEAH.
ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO NOW TO 85 LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROL.
CONSIDERATION OF REPLACING OR REAPPOINTING NICOLE AHMAN LAREN WHOSE TERM EXPIRES? I'M SORRY.
[ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS]
TO ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.ACCEPTANCE OF LOW BID SALES TAX AND ROAD REHABILITATION PROJECT.
20 DASH ONE COLLEGE DRIVE PERKINS 10, BARRY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LLC $534,597 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR WHILE REQUIRED TO MEET THE DEADLINE AND E CARRY BID LAWS.
IS THERE A MOTION AWAY? THE RULES NEED A MOTION.
SECONDED BY SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUR.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON A MOTION AWAY THE RULES? ARE THERE ANY OBJECTION ON A MOTION? WA THE RULES? IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER? A.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURST SECONDING ABOUT THE CHAIR.
ANY OBJECTIONS? WE GO TO ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER B 24 0 0 7 3 2.
ACCEPTANCE OF LOW BID CITY HALL FIRE ALARM UPDATES.
PROJECT 21 CONCEPTS ELECTRONICS INCORPORATED WITH RULE BID OF TWO THOU $296,800.
$419,595 BY THE BUILDINGS AND GROUND DIRECTOR.
YARP PROJECT FUNDING NEEDS TO BE INCUMBENT BY THE END OF JUNE, 2024.
ANY MOTION? WA THE RULES? IS THERE A MOTION AWAY? THE RULE? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, HER SECONDED THE CHAIR.
UH, IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE MOTIONAL? RATE THE RULES.
ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE MOTION TO RAID THE RULES? IS ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS? WE GOT BACK TO YOU ON.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER B.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MOCH.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER B HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[85. 24-00730]
LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROL.CONSIDERATION OF REPLACING THE REAPPOINTMENT.
NICOLE ALMAN LYON, WHOSE TERM EXPIRES ON MAY 14TH, 24.
GARY DAMP SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION.
NICOLE AM LYON RECEIVED REQUESTS FOR REAPPOINTMENT? IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? HI, MY NAME'S DONALD LUTHER.
I LIVE AT 9 0 0 5 HIGHLAND ROAD AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK Y'ALL TO PLEASE CONSIDER REAPPOINTING MS. NICOLE AMMAN.
UH, SHE IS OUR PARLIAMENTARIAN CURRENTLY SERVING ON THE BOARD.
UH, SHE'S GOT AN MBA SO SHE BRINGS GOOD INFORMATION BACK TO US AND HELPS US ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT ASPECTS, DEALING WITH THE BUSINESS OF RUNNING THE BOARD AS WELL AS, UH, SHE IS ON THE STATE, UH, LIBRARY'S BOARD AND IS A VICE CHAIR FOR THE STATE LIBRARY BOARD.
UH, SHE'S THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE POSITION AND I HOPE THAT Y'ALL CONSIDER REAPPOINTING HER.
ANYONE ELSE? YOU'RE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM WHEN I WOULD.
I, UH, RESIDE AT 1 0 1 5 2 RIDGELEY DRIVE HERE IN BATON ROUGE.
I'VE SERVED FAITHFULLY ON THIS BOARD.
I'VE MET THE, UH, ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS.
UH, I HAVE A PASSION FOR OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM.
I PREVIOUSLY SERVED ON THE BOARD, UH, A LIBRARY BOARD SYSTEM, UH, WHEN I, UH, UM, TEMPORARILY BECAUSE I FELL AND BUMPED MY HEAD.
LEFT LOUISIANA
UM, BUT OF COURSE, I I, I CAME TO MY SENSES AND CAME BACK HOME.
UH, AND SO I ASKED THAT, UH, HUMBLY ASK THAT YOU ALL CONSIDER MY REAPPOINTMENT SO WE CAN CONTINUE THE HARD WORK THAT, THAT WE WE'VE STARTED AND THE, THE PLANS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE TO MAKE, UH, THE, TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE EBR PARISH LIBRARY SYSTEM BE AN ASSET TO OUR PARISH.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM COUNCIL MEMBERS? YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN SUPPORT OF MS. LAREN.
ALRIGHT, WE NOW GO TO COUNSEL.
UH, THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO REAPPOINT MS. LAREN ALMOND LEWISON AND SECONDED.
MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUNN.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURST.
[02:30:01]
AL, WE CAN, UH, WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINES.YOU WANT ME TO RUN IT? LET'S VOTE ON THE MOTION.
UH, MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPOINT MS. ALMAN LYON, YOU WANT A YES? YEAH.
MS. UH, MS. BANKS MACHINE WASN'T WORKING.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, IF YOU'RE MACHINE ISN'T WORKING, YOU WANT ME TO VOTE FOR YOU, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
SO WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE ASHLEY BECK ON THE LIBRARY BOARD.
WE DON'T, WE WE, WE ARE WINGING IT WITH PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES AND TRYING TO FIGURE LIFE OUT.
WE HAVE GREAT ADMINISTRATORS FOR THE LIBRARY.
UM, GREAT DIRECTOR FOR THE LIBRARY.
BUT NICOLE BRINGS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE TO THE BOARD THAT NOBODY ELSE BRINGS.
I MEAN, IT'S REALLY A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE HER AND HER LEVEL OF EXPERTISE ON THAT BOARD.
AND WE TALK ABOUT MANAGING MONEY, DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY, MAKING SURE THAT THE VOTE, EVERYTHING GOES.
LIKE WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ASHLEY AND SAY, HEY ASHLEY, DID WE DO IT CORRECTLY? THAT'S WHAT NICOLE PROVIDES FOR THE LIBRARY BOARD.
SO I KNOW IT LOOKS LIKE WITH ONE VOTE SHY, I WANT TO URGE FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT US TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.
THAT ONE VOTE WOULD JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET NICOLE TO CONTINUE TO SERVE AS SHE DONE, AS SHE'S DONE SO GRACIOUSLY ON BOTH THE STATE LEVEL AND THE LOCAL LEVEL.
THE MACHINES ARE ABOUT TO BE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPOINT MS. ALMAN LYSON.
IF YOU NEED ME TO VOTE FOR YOU, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
ALRIGHT, RUN THE, WE'RE GONNA RUN THE BALLOT.
MACHINES ARE ABOUT TO BE OPEN FOR MR. GARRETT DESK.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER OR HAVE ANOTHER VOTE? YOU WANNA RUN THE BALLOT? LET'S RUN THE BALLOT.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE MACHINES ARE NOW OPEN FOR MS. NICOLE ALMAN.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER THE ITEM? A MOTION TO MOTION TO DEFER BY COUNCIL MEMBER SECONDED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HU TO THE NEXT MEETING.
ANY OBJECTIONS ITEM HAS BEEN DEFERRED TO THE NEXT MEETING.
WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON A MACHINE.
MACHINES ARE NOW OPEN ON THE MOTION TO DEFER TO JUNE 26TH.
IS THAT A YES? THAT'S THE NEXT MEETING.
COUNCILOR MCC COLEMAN, CAN I MAKE A STATEMENT? UH, IS THAT APPROPRIATE? YEAH, WE CAN COME, GO AHEAD.
UM, THIS IS YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE STRONGHOLD THAT THIS SEVEN FIVE HAS ON THIS COUNCIL.
AND I KNOW EVERYBODY'S NOT PRESENT, BUT, UM, WHEN ISSUES COME DOWN TO PARTY AND SPECIFICALLY RACE, AND THIS SEVEN FIVE THAT REPRESENTS THIS CITY, PARISH GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS NOT A REFLECTION OF THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THIS CITY, MAKES A DECISION THAT THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING, UH, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS.
UH, NICOLE IS VERY WELL QUALIFIED.
UH, NICOLE NOT ONLY SERVES ON THIS BODY, BUT SERVES ON THE STATE BODY AND IS A LEADER, UH, ON THIS BOARD.
HAS THE EXPERIENCE, HAS THE QUALIFICATIONS, AND YET WE WANT TO APPOINT A NOVICE TO REPLACE HER.
AND, UM, IS NOT IGNORED, IS NOT UNRECOGNIZED THAT SHE'S A BLACK FEMALE.
AND THIS SEVEN FIVE MAJORITY WANT
[02:35:01]
TO APPOINT A WHITE MALE TO REPLACE HER.YET WE, SOME OF US WANT TO SAY THAT WE DON'T SEE COLOR.
AND IT'S NOT ABOUT RACE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
IT'S JUST LIKE THE ISSUE THAT CAME BEFORE US.
THE $30,000 SETTLEMENT FOR KAREN CHARLA WAS OKAY.
BUT THE $30,000 SETTLEMENT FOR EUGENE COLLINS, FOR GARY CHAMBERS AND FOR MIKE MCCLANNAHAN IS NOT OKAY BECAUSE THE SEVEN FIVE MAJORITY REPUBLICANS ON THE COUNCIL WANT IT.
THIS IS WHY WE NEED REDISTRICTING.
THIS IS WHY WE NEED AT MINIMUM A SIX SIX COUNCIL.
AND IT'S PROBABLY JUSTIFICATION WITH THE DEMOGRAPHICS TO BE SEVEN FIVE THE OTHER WAY.
BUT AGAIN, THIS IS REFLECTIVE OF WHY THIS IS PROBLEMATIC.
AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE MORE REPRESENTATION FAR AS PEOPLE IN THIS PARISH, BUT YET WE HAVE LESS REPRESENTATION ON THIS BODY.
AND THAT'S WHY THIS IS PROBLEMATIC.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ABOUT EXPLAINING THIS AND RATIONALIZING WHY WE ARE HERE.
SO I VOTED FOR MS. NICOLE EVERY SINGLE TIME HER NAME CAME UP.
AND LAST TIME I CHECKED I WAS CAUCASIAN.
AND LAST TIME I CHECKED KAREN CHARLOTTE WAS NOT.
SO, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAS TO BE THE NARRATIVE.
EVERY TIME A VOTE DOESN'T GO A CERTAIN WAY, COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS.
SO THE NARRATIVE IS BASED ON EXTREMES.
WE HAVE SOMEONE THAT IS TOP HEAVY IN THIS POSITION.
AND AS A COUNCIL, WE NEVER, EVER TAKE SOMEONE THAT IS STANDING IN A POSITION UNLESS THEY'VE DONE SOMETHING FOUL.
SHE HAS AN MBA, SHE HAD, THEY HER, HER PEOPLE ARE HERE.
THE LIBRARIES, UM, CEO, ALL OF THEM ARE HERE.
SO IT'S NOT THE NARRATIVE ALWAYS, BUT THIS IS EXTREME.
AND WE'VE ALREADY HAD, YOU MAY BE THE ANOMALY, UH, ROCKER.
THAT MIGHT NOT BE YOU, WHICH IS YOU, YOU ONE OF SEVEN.
IF YOU CONTINUE, YOU'LL GET BLACKBALLED.
BUT I DON'T BLAME THE WHITE REPUBLICANS.
I BLAME THE BLACK DEMOCRATS THAT SAT DOWN AT THE TABLE AND EAT WITH HIM ALL THE TIME.
I BLAME THOSE THAT GET ON THIS COUNCIL AND WORK ON THE GENDER ITEM.
IF YOU DENY ME IN ANY AREA OF MY LIFE OR PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME FOR OBVIOUS RACISTS TERM, I'M NOT GONNA BE FELLOWSHIPING WITH YOU LIKE JUDAH 'CAUSE IT'S A SLAP.
BUT UNTIL WE STOP PLAYING FOOTSY WITH THE WHITE REPUBLICANS AS BLACK COUNCIL MEMBER, KNOWING THEY DON'T THINK NOTHING OF YOU KNOWING THAT YOU LESS THAN THEY GONNA KEEP ON KISSING, KICKING YOU IN THE BUTT.
THEY PLAY KUMBAYA AFTER EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER AND AFTER EVERY EVENT, COMMUNITY EVENT.
THIS FOR ME, SINCE JANUARY WHEN THEY DENIED 60% OF THE AFRICAN MEN SITTING NOT TO HAVE A SEAT.
I AIN'T, I AIN'T BEEN TO NOTHING.
I GET IT TO GO BY BECAUSE IT IS A JU SYNDROME AND WE NEED TO STOP PLAYING.
'CAUSE YOU AIN'T NEVER GONNA BE ACCEPTED.
I DON'T CARE HOW MANY SEVEN VOTES SOMEBODY GOTTA STAND.
I DON'T VOTE ON PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR RACE.
I BASED ON THEIR QUALIFICATIONS.
THIS GIRL IS TOP HEAVY AND SHE'S NOT GETTING PAID.
IT'S HUMILIATING, BUT THEY DON'T CARE.
COLD ICE WATER GOING THROUGH THE BURNT VEINS, NOT BLOOD, THEY MEAN AND HATEFUL.
THEY'RE JUST LIKE THEIR SLAVE MASTER ANCESTORS WHO DID NOT CARE ABOUT THE BEATINGS, WHO DID NOT CARE ABOUT THE HANGINGS.
'CAUSE IT'S A GENERATIONAL CURSE THAT ALL OF YOU, ALL, ALL OF YOU ALL, ALL OF Y'ALL CAME HERE.
ALL OF US CAME HERE AS IMMIGRANTS, NOTHING.
BUT THE INDIANS ARE AMERICANS, ALL OF US.
BUT THEY RACIST BECAUSE THEY SCARED OF NOT BEING IN CONTROL.
SO I APOLOGIZE ON BEHALF OF THIS COUNCIL,
[02:40:02]
MS. LARSON, I HOPE ONE DAY YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SHARE THIS STORY TO YOUR CHILDREN AND YOUR GRANDCHILDREN ON HOW YOU GOT OVER.BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, I WANT AMERICA TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A RACIST COUNCIL AND THAT IT, THAT IT IS NOTHING ABOUT 'EM GONNA CHANGE.
THE CLOSER WE GET TO ELECTIONS, THE CLOSER WE GET TO THEM BEING CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THEIR, UH, RACIST COUNTERPARTS ARE SAYING, THEY'VE BEEN ENERGIZED BY ST.
I DON'T HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH ST.
'CAUSE WE GAVE 'EM ALL THE, ALL THE TOYS AND WE NEGLECTED BLACK COMMUNITIES.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT, IT IS PART OF IT.
BUT THAT IS THE REAL SITUATION THAT WE STAND HERE ON.
THIS COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER M FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T APPRECIATE YOU APOLOGIZING FOR ME AS A COUNCIL MEMBER.
I TAKE MY VOTES AND I WEIGH MY OPTIONS.
I WEIGH WHAT'S OUT THERE AND I TALK TO COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES.
AND DON'T SIT ACROSS THIS AISLE AND TELL ME ABOUT BEATINGS, ABOUT HANGINGS, ABOUT BURNING, ABOUT BEING LIT ON FIRE, ABOUT BEING STRUNG UP ON A FENCE POST AND SIT OVER THERE AND CALL ME A RACIST WHEN I CAN KIND OF KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING FROM IN A DIFFERENT COMMUNITY.
AND I SIT HERE AND I LISTEN TO THIS WHEN I'VE WORKED BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE FROM CENTRAL FOR THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS, AND TO JUST BE COMPLETELY CALLED OUT TONIGHT AND SEVERAL OTHER NIGHTS.
BUT TONIGHT ESPECIALLY, YES, I HAVE A REASON FOR NOT VOTING FOR THIS LOVELY LADY.
SHE PROBABLY DOES A GREAT JOB.
BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT I HAVE ANOTHER COLLEAGUE THAT HAS SOMEONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOMEONE SPEAK ALSO, THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THEM OUT TOO.
IT'S NOT RACIST, NOT LET HIM SPEAK, LET HIM SPEAK.
IT'S NOT LET ABOUT BEING RACIST.
JUST BECAUSE I'M NOT READY TO MAKE A DECISION TONIGHT.
I MAY WIND UP, I HOW MANY MORE TIMES IS SHE GONNA CALL WHEN I KEPT MY MOUTH SHUT.
SO DON'T TELL ME ABOUT ALL THE PAIN.
I KNOW, I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT.
I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT TO BE A PART OF A DIFFERENT GROUP.
I KNOW THAT THE MAKEUP OF THE COUNCIL IS DIFFERENT, BUT THE CLAIM EVERY TIME THAT A VOTE JUST DOESN'T GO A CERTAIN WAY, THAT IS NOTHING BUT RACIST, I THINK IS APPALLING.
I THINK THE FACT THAT WAY THAT WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER OVER THESE THREE AND A HALF YEARS, MOSTLY THAT WE CAN AGREE TO DISAGREE ON OTHER THINGS.
BUT TONIGHT I AM JUST DUMBFOUNDED IN WHAT I AM CLAIMED TO BE OR SPOKEN OF TO BE WHEN I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO DON'T EVER SIT THERE AND CALL ME OUT AND TELL ME I'M LOOKING AT A THING AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
JUST TO BRING SOME CLARITY, UM, I DIDN'T SAY AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON'S NAME.
UM, AND I'VE SAID THIS TO EACH OF YOU GUYS.
I THINK EACH OF MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MY SEATMATE LORI, AND I'VE TOLD HER THIS HAS CROSSED OVER ON SOME IMPORTANT VOTES.
THE PROTE VOTE, THE, THE SETTLING OF THE STERLING VOTE, THE PROTESTORS ON GOVERNMENT STREET VOTE, UM, DENISE, DWIGHT, JEN, AARON AND ROWDY HAS DONE THAT.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S THE NORM, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.
THIS BODY HAS IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL, HAVE DONE A MUCH GREATER JOB.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE THIS SETTLEMENT, THINGS LIKE REDISTRICTING WHERE WE KNOW THE DATA AND A NUMBER SUGGESTS THAT BLACK FOLKS DESERVE AND SHOULD HAVE MORE REPRESENTATION.
THIS SEVEN FIVE SAID, NO, YOU DON'T.
NO, WE DON'T WANT YOU TO HAVE IT.
SO IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU INDIVIDUALLY, IT'S ABOUT THE SEVEN FIVE COLLECTIVELY.
[02:45:01]
WE BE HONEST, IT IS REALLY NOT ABOUT ANY OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S YOUR, IT'S YOUR CONSTITUENTS OR THE EXTREME VERSIONS OF YOUR PARTY OR THE POWER STRUCTURE IN BATON ROUGE WHO DON'T WANT BLACK FOLKS TO HAVE MORE REPRESENTATION OR EQUAL REPRESENTATION UNDER THIS BODY.BECAUSE IF, IF WE'RE HONEST, WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU GUYS AND WE'RE TALKING TO YOU GUYS PRIVATELY, YOU, YOU HAVE COMPASSION, YOU HAVE UNDERSTANDING, BUT POLITICALLY THEY WON'T LET YOU DO IT.
SO TAKE OFFENSE, DON'T TAKE OFFENSE, YOU KNOW, HOWEVER YOU WANNA DO IT.
BUT I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW IT'S ABOUT THE OUTCOME ON THESE MAJOR DECISIONS LIKE THAT.
WHEN YOUR CONSTITUENTS, WHEN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WHEN THE, WHEN THE SHADOW GOVERNMENT SAYS, WE DON'T WANT IT, WE DON'T WANT YOU TO SUPPORT IT.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR.
WE HAVE REACHED ACROSS THE PARTY, ACROSS PARTY LINES, WE HAVE WORKED.
AND I THINK THE BEST, THE BEST, THE BEST PART ABOUT THIS COUNCIL, THE SUCCESS OF THIS COUNCIL IS WE HAVE IMPROVED THE COUNCIL CULTURE.
THIS TYPE OF MEETING HAPPENED EVERY OTHER WEEK OR OR EVERY WEEK.
UM, AND I WANNA ADDRESS MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE COUNCILMAN HUDSON PUBLICLY, YOU KNOW, HE ASKED ME A QUESTION.
HE SAID, YOU KNOW, DID YOU GET THE OUTCOME YOU WANTED? UM, IS THIS THE CULTURE AND THIS THE ENVIRONMENT YOU WANT TO CREATE? AND I HAVE TO COMMUNICATE TO HIM, IN MY OPINION, WE SEE GOVERNMENT AND SPECIFICALLY THIS GOVERNMENT DIFFERENT, IN MY OPINION, HE VALUES THIS GOVERNMENT AND THINK IT'S SOME GOOD AND NOBLE AND HAS HELPED HUMANITY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
UH, GOVERNMENT HISTORICALLY DISCIPLINED.
AND THOSE AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD HAVE OPPRESSED MY PEOPLE AND HAVE NOT BEEN A VALUE TO MY PEOPLE.
SO I DON'T VALUE IT IN THE SAME WAY.
I WANT TO TEAR DOWN BRICK BY BRICK.
UH, I'M SORRY, COUNCILMAN, UH, GODDA.
BUT YOU KNOW, WE HAD A SIDEBAR CONVERSATION LIKE THAT.
AND, AND, AND I CAN'T SPEAK FOR NOBODY ELSE, BUT I DON'T VALUE GOVERNMENT AS IT BEEN A VALUABLE ASSET.
I THINK IT CAN BE A VALUABLE ASSET, BUT HISTORICALLY IT HAS MINIMIZED, UNSEEN AND DIMINISH THE VALUE OF MY PEOPLE.
SO NO, I DON'T, I DON'T WANT IT TO STAND AS IS.
I DON'T WANT THIS GOVERNMENT TO STAND AS IT HAS FOR THE PAST 200 YEARS.
ONE OF THE REASONS I RAN AND BECAME A PART OF THIS, UH, PROCESS AND A PART OF THIS BODY IS TO CHANGE IT FROM WITHIN.
BECAUSE I USED TO BE OUT THERE TRYING TO CHANGE IT FROM, FROM THE OUTSIDE.
AND THERE ARE STILL SOME PEOPLE DOING THAT, BUT I'M ON THE INSIDE CHANGING IT BECAUSE THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT I FEEL THAT ARE NOT RIGHT AND NOT JUST, AND NOT PROPER AND DON'T SEE MY PEOPLE AND TREAT MY PEOPLE IN THE WAY THAT HAVE TREATED YOUR PEOPLE AND, AND SPECIFICALLY WHITE PEOPLE AND BLACK PEOPLE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE HIM THAT UNDERSTANDING AND EVERYBODY ELSE THAT UNDERSTANDING, I DON'T VALUE THIS GOVERNMENT OR GOVERNMENT IN THE WAY THAT COUNCILMAN GDAY VALUES IT.
SO YES, I THINK THERE NEED TO BE SOME CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE SOME, SOME TEARING DOWN.
THERE NEED TO BE SOME, UM, ADJUSTMENTS MADE.
THE WHOLE CLAIMS REVIEW SITUATION WITH LOOKING AT THIS SETTLEMENT OF THE PREVIOUS ITEM.
I DISCUSSED WITH THEM ABOUT SETTLING THAT ITEM.
THE CLAIMS REVIEW COMMITTEE WAS A HUNDRED PERCENT WHITE.
I SHARED WITH GREG ROME THAT I'M DISAPPOINTED THERE'S NO DIVERSITY IN THIS ROOM.
SO WHEN THESE ISSUES COME UP AND THERE'S NO CULTURAL COMPETENCE ON THESE ISSUES, THERE'S A DISCONNECT WITH UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE AT HAND.
AND I KNOW MY TIME IS RUNNING OUT AND I WON'T GO OVER OUR ARREST THERE.
SO I'M GONNA TRY TO REEL THIS THING BACK IN, UM, TO THE FACTS.
SO, UM, NICOLE, CAN YOU COME TO THE MIC FOR ME PLEASE? HOW LONG HAVE YOU SERVED ON THE LIBRARY BOARD? SO THIS'LL BE MY, UM, MY SECOND, UH, TERM, FULL TERM.
SO FOR, AND PRIOR TO THAT, UM, I WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED BY THE, THE PREVIOUS, UH, COUNCIL, UH, TO SERVE AN UNEXPIRED TERM.
SO HOW, HOW MANY YEARS? SO THAT WOULD BE, UH, SIX YEARS.
MAYOR, DO YOU MIND COMING TO THE MIC FOR ME PLEASE? IN THE PAST SIX YEARS, HOW MANY AWARDS HAS THE LIBRARY PERCEIVED WITH ALL THE HARD WORK THAT Y'ALL DONE? OH, WE ARE STAR, STAR, STAR, SIR.
SO CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT MEANS TO THE PUBLIC UNDER NICOLE'S LEADERSHIP?
[02:50:02]
SO NICOLE HAS BEEN SERVING ON A BOARD THAT HAS HELPED, UH, FOCUS THE LIBRARY'S ENERGY, GET THE STRATEGIC PLAN DONE, UH, TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE THE LIBRARY IN LOUISIANA.WE ARE THE STAR RATED LIBRARY, WE ARE THE LIBRARY THAT PEOPLE LOOK UP TO.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE THE LIBRARY THAT OUR LOCAL CITIZENS LOOK UP TO.
SO ESSENTIALLY YOU'RE SAYING UNDER HER LEADERSHIP WERE HER ACCESS TO THE STATE BOARD, UM, HER KNOWLEDGE OF LIBRARY SYSTEMS AS A WHOLE, HER PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE EXPERTISE, AND HER OVERALL VOTES AND IMPACT ON THIS LIBRARY SYSTEM.
WE ARE THE NUMBER ONE SYSTEM IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, CORRECT? ABSOLUTELY.
SO WHY WOULD WE SWITCH OUT THE LEADERSHIP THAT HAS DRIVEN US TO BE A PLUS RATED OR WHATEVER THAT MEANS ACROSS THE BOARD? STAR, STAR, STAR, STAR, STAR FOR SOMEBODY BE GIVING UP SOMETHING GOOD OR SOMETHING GREAT.
HOPING THAT YOU GET SOMETHING GREAT, RIGHT? MM-HMM,
SO I, I'LL, I'LL REST ON THAT.
AND I HOPE THAT THAT SETTLES IN SOMEBODY'S MIND AS REMAINING IN THE COUNCIL TODAY, THAT WE'RE GIVING UP AN APPLE THAT WE KNOW TASTES REALLY GOOD FOR AN ORANGE THAT WE HOPE CAN COMPARE.
UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, UH, WHILE THERE MAY BE SOME WHO, UH, DON'T APPRECIATE THESE CONVERSATIONS, LET ME JUST SAY THIS, THESE, THESE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS ARE WHAT WILL LEAD TO US BEING BETTER AS INDIVIDUALS IF WE JUST ALLOW OURSELVES TO OPEN UP AND HEAR, UH, THE, THE, THE WORDS THAT ARE BEING SAID AND THEN TRULY, TRULY, TRULY UNDERSTAND THE THINKING AND, AND, AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND SOME OF THE STRUGGLES.
SO IF THIS ITEM IS NOT, UH, APPROVED TONIGHT, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, THERE'S NO DEFERMENT, UH, THERE IS NO, UH, APPROVAL, UH, THEN WE'LL SEE THE ITEM AGAIN.
AND I DO WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW THE GENTLEMAN WAS HERE TONIGHT.
HE CHOSE TO LEAVE BEFORE HIS ITEM CAME UP.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT NOT GIVING HIM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, I DON'T KNOW WHO SENT HIM A TEXT MESSAGE AND TOLD HIM TO GO HOME BECAUSE NOBODY WOULD SIT HERE FOR AN APPOINTMENT AND NOT WAIT TILL YOUR ITEM COMES ON THE AGENDA.
I HOPE THAT HE RESPECTS THE, THE SYSTEM AND THE VOTING AND I HOPE THAT HE BRINGS HIS RECORD NEXT TIME.
AND NICOLE, YOU BRING YOURS AS WELL.
[Items 86 - 88]
ON TO ITEMS, CHANGE ORDERS.ITEM 86 THROUGH 88, EASTBOUND PARISH FIRST RESPONDER, SAFE ROOM TRAINING CENTER, CONTRACTED MAY CONSTRUCTION, LLC, CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, $14,612.
ITEM 87 EASTBOUND PARISH, NEW SOUTH BRANCH LIBRARY, RADCLIFFE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
TWENTY EIGHT THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY TWO THOUSAND TWENTY TWO CENTS, WHICH WAS A CREDIT ITEM.
88 NICHOLSON DRIVE HAD BEEN HER CONTRACT.
OMEGA FOUNDATION SERVICES INCORPORATED.
FOUR THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY SIX THOUSAND FORTY FIVE CENTS.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEMS? COUNCIL MEMBERS? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE, UH, ITEMS 86 THROUGH 88.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURST, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN KODA.
ANY OBJECTIONS? NO FINAL ACCEPTANCES ITEM HAS BEEN APPROVED.
THERE ARE NO FINAL ACCEPTANCES.
[89. 24-00563]
WE NOW GO 89 COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'LL, UH, ENTERTAIN THE ITEM TO DELETE THIS ITEM.IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM? GO AHEAD.
Y'ALL ACTUALLY APPROVE THIS ITEM AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER TONIGHT.
MOTION TO DELETE BY COUNCIL HUDSON.
[90. 24-00643]
HAS BEEN THE LEAD ITEM 90, CAPITAL AREA 90 WAY RENOVATIONS BILL, COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION, $1,072,490.IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? WE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM? SO COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS, JOE, PLEASE.
THERE ARE, UM, SEVERAL BIDS ON HERE.
SO THE FUNDS, AND I CANNOT PULL WHERE NOW UP, BUT WHERE ARE THESE FUNDS COMING FROM? UH, THESE ARE A RP FUNDS.
HOW ABOUT, UM, THE, SO HOW ABOUT THE ONE THAT WAS AT CITY HALL OR THE PREVIOUS ONE? THAT I THINK FOR THE FOLLOW ONE, UHHUH
HOW ABOUT ON THE RESTART? THE, HAVE WE GOTTEN TO 91 92? NO, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN NINE ONE YET.
WHAT, IF YOU DON'T MIND STAYING BECAUSE FOR EACH ONE OF THE ONES THAT WE CONTINUE, I, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE THE FUNDS OCCUR.
SO IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 90? COUNCIL MEMBER HURS? I JUST GOT A POINT OF CLARITY.
[02:55:01]
GIVES YOU A RULE BOOK, THE CITY OF PARISH TO GIVE YOU A BINDER AND TELL YOU, HEY, YOU GET A COUNCILMAN NOW.SO MY QUESTION JUST FOR, UH, POINT OF CLARITY, WE OWN THE CAP, THE CAPITAL AREA, UNITED WAY BUILDING IS, IS, IS? YES.
SO IS IT, IS IT, ARE THEY A QUASI OR DO WE JUST THEY JUST RENT THE BUILDING THAT WE OWN OR HAVE A LEASE STRUCTURE? JUST ASKING.
YEAH, WE HAVE UH, A AGREEMENT WITH THEM.
I THINK IT'S A HUNDRED YEAR AGREEMENT, UH, FOR THEM TO UH, BE IN THAT FACILITY.
OH, SO WE JUST INNER CITY BUILDING.
AND IS THAT ON FLORIDA? WHERE IS THAT? UH, THAT, YEAH, THAT'S ON FLORIDA.
THAT'S SO, SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLEMAN SECOND AND BY COUNCILMAN HEARST.
ANY OBJECTIONS? ITEM 90 HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[91. 24-00644]
THE MOTIONS TO DELETE ITEM 91.CITY HALL FIRE ALONG UPGRADES.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS? YOU WANTS YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? I THINK THAT, I THINK 91 AND, UH, EIGHT OR NINE THE SAME.
SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUR, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON AND OBJECTIONS.
ITEM NINE ONE HAS BEEN DELETED.
[Items 92 - 96]
ITEMS 92 THROUGH 96 TOGETHER.92 DHDS RESTROOM RENOVATION, BARRISTER CONSTRUCTION, DOING BUSINESS AS PELICAN PRIOR CONSTRUCTION, $291,734 AND 24 CENTS.
ITEM 93, NEW SURFACE PARKING LOT, STRICKLAND AND PORTER CONSTRUCTION, LLC $531,854 AND 41 CENTS.
ITEM 94 D-H-D-S-B-R PD UP ONE ROOF REPLACEMENT, STRICTLY PORT OF CONSTRUCTION, PARDON? ROOF AND LLC $1,046,000.
TRAFFIC COMMAND LLC $255,500 96 WOODRIDGE FILINGS 1 2 3.
DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS OR CONSTRUCTION? LLC $163,856.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK? WE GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS, IF YOU DON'T MIND, JUST, UM, THE SOURCE FUNDING FOR EACH ONE.
RESTROOMS, UH, THAT IS A RP FUNDS ITEM NINE THREE.
THAT IS, UH, A RPA FUNDS ITEM NINE FOUR D-H-D-S-B-R-P-D.
THAT'S, UH, A RP FUNDS AND NINE FIVE OH, THAT'S NOT YOU.
SO IS THAT REGINALD? IS THAT YOU?
WHERE YOUR FUNDING FROM? NINE SIX.
THE TRAFFIC PROJECT IS A MOVE MONEY ABSENT SALES TAX.
GOOD EVENING, DIRECTOR REGINALD.
I JUST, WHEN I SEE YOU IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S WHAT I CALL YOU.
NO MEAN, NO DISRESPECT TO YOUR TITLE OR YOUR POSITION OR THE WORK.
DEFINE TACTIC WORK YOU DO IN THE COMMUNITY.
UH, IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLMAN.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUDSON.
[INTRODUCTIONS (Part 2 of 2)]
GENTLEMEN, WE NEED TO GO BACK TO INTRODUCTIONS.MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 49.
MOTION TO, UH, WELL, NEVERMIND.
MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS WITH EXCEPTION ITEM NUMBER 40 MINUTES.
THERE'S A SECOND ON THE MOTION.
UH, WE'LL ENTERTAIN A SUBSTITUTE MOTION AT THIS TIME.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO, UH, INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS. SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS. UH, IS THERE A SECOND ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION? SUBSTITUTE.
MOTION HAS BEEN SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER AMAROSA.
WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINES TO WHAT? ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
AND THE SUBSTITUTE IS SECOND ALL ITEM.
ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE MACHINES ARE FIRST GONNA BE OPEN ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS. MACHINES ARE OPEN, ALL INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS. SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
I GOT TO HAVE MY POSITIONS AND STUFF.
SUBSTITUTE ON ITS ORIGINAL MOTION.
PARDON? MACHINES ARE NOW OPEN ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS EXCEPT ITEM 49
[03:00:06]
SUPPOSED.MOTION TO ADJOURN BY COUNCILMAN MEMBER AMAROSA.
AS ALWAYS, WE WANT TO INTRODUCE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OUR NEW HR DIRECTOR WITH OUR NEW HR DIRECTOR.
COME TO THE MIC AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
WOULD YOU PLEASE DO THAT, PLEASE? YES.
LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR THE NEW HR DIRECTOR.
LET US SEE WHO WE TALK TO ABOUT THESE EMPLOYEE ISSUES OUT HERE.
YOU HEAR ME? SO I'M LATOYA PEARSON.
UM, I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES FOR ABOUT 19 YEARS.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW ROLE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE.
AND, UH, CONTINUE TO DO OUTSTANDING WORK.
CONTINUE TO DO OUTSTANDING WORK.
AS ALWAYS, PROTECT ONE THANK PARISH ATTORNEYS FOR BEING HERE.
PROTECT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND AS ALWAYS, READ TO YOUR CHILDREN AND WHEN YOU'RE DONE READING TO THEM, HAVE THEM READ BACK TO YOU.