Aug 14, 2024 Metropolitan Council

UM, OF COURSE WORKING WITH HIM AS THE, UH, PRO TEAM WAS, UH, ALWAYS A GREAT COLLABORATION, UH, FROM THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM AS HIS ROLE IN HIS ROLE AS SUPERINTENDENT.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR BEING HERE.

AND THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.

UH, I WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO LAMAR COLE.

I WAS HERE WHEN HE TOOK THE SEAT THAT I FORMALLY HELD, AND I CERTAINLY WANT TO BE HERE TODAY.

I THINK YOU'VE DONE AN AWESOME JOB, AND I WISH YOU THE VERY BEST AS SUPERINTENDENT.

AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS LAMAR COLE, AND I WANTED TO TELL MS. RAZAN, MS. RAZAN, YOU'RE TAKING OVER A HOT SEAT IN WHICH I ONCE SAT IN AND I KNOW YOU'LL DO A GREAT JOB.

SO IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, I'M HERE.

I'M DISTRICT 61 AND CERTAINLY A PART OF THAT, UM, DISTRICT SEVEN.

SO I WANT TO TELL YOU CONGRATULATIONS AS WELL, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.

NEXT UP, WE'LL HAVE MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON, WE BROOME AND METROPOLITAN COUNCILWOMAN LAURIE ADAMS, RECOGNIZED PURPLE HEART RECIPIENTS FOR PURPLE HEART MONTH.

WELL, THIS HAS BEEN AN EXCITING, UH, AFTERNOON, UH, FAREWELL, BUT NOT FAREWELL TO OUR DEAR FRIEND, UH, LAMONT COLE.

[00:10:01]

AND CERTAINLY, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, UH, OUR NEW MAYOR, UH, PRESIDENT, UH, PRO TEM, UH, BRANDON NOLL.

AND I KNOW YOU WILL, UH, CARRY ON THE SAME SPIRIT, UH, THAT WAS LEFT BEHIND BY LAMONT COLE.

SO YES, TODAY IS PURPLE HEART MONTH.

WE HAVE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS HERE.

UM, SINCE 2022, THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE HAS PROUDLY BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A PURPLE HEART CITY AND PARISH.

AND THIS DESIGNATION REFLECTS OUR DEEP RESPECT AND GRATITUDE FOR THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO'VE SERVED OUR NATION WITH COURAGE AND DISTINCTION.

THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL IS ONE OF THE MOST REVERED HONORS IN OUR MILITARY, AWARDED TO MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES WHO HAVE BEEN WOUNDED IN COMBAT OR GIVEN POSTHUMOUSLY TO THE NEXT OF KIN OF THOSE WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.

IT SYMBOLIZES THE IMMENSE BRAVERY AND SELFLESSNESS OF OUR VETERANS WHOSE SACRIFICES HAVE ENSURED THE FREEDOMS THAT WE CHERISH TODAY.

I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE INCREDIBLE WORK OF THE MAYOR'S ADVISORY COUNCIL ON VETERANS AFFAIRS.

UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO HONORING OUR VETERANS AND ENSURING THAT THEY RECEIVE THE RECOGNITION THEY DESERVE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TYLER'S EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES, UH, IN ENSURING THAT OUR VETERANS HERE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH OUR PROPERLY HONORED.

AND SO I ALSO WANT TO EXTEND MY HEARTFELT THANKS TO ALINA ZARAH AND SIMONE PAULETTE, TWO INDIVIDUALS WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THIS PROCESS.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT A ELENA, A MARINE VETERAN WHO SERVES IN THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, HAS BEEN A DRIVING FORCE BEHIND OUR CITY PARISH VETERAN INITIATIVES.

AND I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THAT SHE HAS RECENTLY BEEN APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR LANDRY AS A COMMISSIONER ON THE VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION REPRESENTING THE MARINE CORPS.

SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR VETERANS, THOSE WHO ARE PURPLE HEART RECIPIENTS.

AND AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO CALL ALL PURPLE HEART RECIPIENTS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND COUNCILWOMAN LAURIE ADAMS WANTS TO JOIN ME WITH THIS RECOGNITION.

I'VE JUST GOT A, A PROCLAMATION FROM THE COUNCIL.

UM, WHEREAS THE PURPLE HEART IS TYPICALLY GIVEN TO ANY SERVICE MEMBER WHO HAS BEEN WOUNDED OR KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

UM, THE CITY PARISH OF, OF, OF BATON ROUGE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH HONORS THE STRENGTH AND SACRIFICES OF THE PURPLE HEART RECIPIENTS, ALONG WITH THEIR FAMILIES, CAREGIVERS, AND SURVIVORS.

THE PURPLE COL, THE PURPLE COLOR, REPRESENTS THE BLOOD OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE MADE SACRIFICES AND MORE AND SYMBOLIZES BRAVERY, COURAGE, AND GREAT SACRIFICE DURING TOURS OF DUTY AND DEPLOYMENTS.

PURPLE HEART RECIPIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE ENDURED CHALLENGES.

MOST AMERICANS WILL NEVER KNOW YOU REPRESENT THE BEST OF AMERICA.

AND WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR NATION.

SO ON BEHALF OF THE THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, THANK YOU.

I LOOP AROUND.

I'LL JUST MENTION REAL QUICK, AND MADAM MAYOR, THANK YOU AND METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THE HARDEST PART ABOUT BEING AROUND A BUNCH OF HEROES LIKE THIS IS THAT THEY'RE SO HUMBLE THAT THEY DO NOT WANNA SPEAK.

SO I WILL SAY ON BEHALF OF THEM, UM, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOUR SACRIFICE.

WE THANK THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, WE THANK MAYOR BROOM FOR EVERYTHING SHE'S DONE.

BUT MOST OF ALL, WE THANK YOU VETERANS, THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO TO SACRIFICE FOR THIS GREAT NATION AND FOR KEEPING US FREE.

THANK YOU FOR LEADING THE WAY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE.

[00:15:08]

I LOOK THIS WAY FOR ME.

ALRIGHT, GET A BIG SMALL THANK YOU ALL.

NEXT UP WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTON, BRO RECOGNIZE ASHLEY BROUSSARD AND GERARD BRACKEN, REDICK WAGNER'S APP, SQL SATURDAY HACKATHON WINNERS.

IF WE COULD HAVE ASHLEY BROUSSARD AND JARED BRACKEN, COME ON DOWN.

HI.

HOW YOU DOING? HI, HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING? AND WITH THEM IS ERIC ROMERO, WHO IS, UH, OUR DIRECTOR OVER OUR INFORMATION, UH, SERVICES HERE, UH, FOR THE CITY PARISH.

AND SO, UM, WE ARE RECOGNIZING SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS WHO'VE GONE, UH, ABOVE AND BEYOND TO BETTER THEMSELVES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UH, SINCE AUGUST OF 2009, THE BATON ROUGE USER GROUPS HAVE PUT ON A LOCAL SQL SATURDAY EVENT, WHICH OFFERS OUR RESIDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE THEIR SKILLS, BROADEN THEIR HORIZONS, AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SQL SERVER, UM, ITS DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER IT DISCIPLINES.

AND SO OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS, OUR LOCAL SQL SATURDAY HAS GROWN INTO ONE OF THE LARGEST EVENTS IN THE COUNTRY.

AND THIS YEAR OUR DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION SERVICES HAS WORKED ALONGSIDE THE BATON ROUGE USER GROUPS TO HOST AN OPEN DATA.

BATON ROUGE HACKATHON PARTICIPANTS WERE ABLE TO CREATE PROJECTS USING THE DATA ON OUR COMPREHENSIVE, NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED OPEN DATA BR PLATFORM.

AND SO THERE WERE A LOT OF ENTRIES, UH, BUT THE WINNING TEAM CREATED RED STICK WAGGERS RIGHT HERE, THAT WOULD BE ASHLEY BROUSSARD AND JARED BRACKEN.

IT IS AN APP THAT PROVIDES USERS WITH GEOGRAPHIC, UM, BASED INFORMATION ON DOG FRIENDLY PARKS AND FACILITIES.

SO WE WANT TO OFFER THEM A HEARTFELT, UH, THANK YOU FOR, UH, THE WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING IN THE DATA SPACE AND IN THE IT SPACE AND CONGRATULATE THEM ON BEING THE WINNERS.

ERIC, DO YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND JUST, UH, VERY BRIEFLY, AS MAYOR SAID, UM, OPEN DATA'S BEEN AROUND FOR, UH, NINE YEARS NOW AND IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT, UH, BEING TRANSPARENT WITH DATA.

WE WANTED TO, UM, ENCOURAGE INNOVATION AND WHICH IS WHY WE PARTNERED WITH THE SQL SATURDAY FOLKS TO HAVE THE HACKATHON.

AND IT WAS REALLY COOL TO SEE THE DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS THAT CAME UP USING THE CITY PARISH DATA.

[00:20:05]

NEXT WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WEIN BROOME RECOGNIZE, UH, KIERAN SHANNON, JAMIR ROGERS, DESHAUN SMITH, JOSHUA BOURGEOIS, ALICIA HOWARD WITH THE SAFE, HOPEFUL, HEALTHY BR PEACE PIT AMBASSADORS.

AND IF YOU ALL WOULD COME ON DOWN.

WE ARE SO HONORED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE REMARKABLE SAFE, HOPEFUL, HEALTHY BR PEACE PIT AMBASSADORS.

YOU JUST HEARD THEIR NAME, KYRON SHANNON J MIRACLE ROGERS, DESHAWN SMITH, JOSIAH BOURGEOIS, AND ALICIA HOWARD.

SO THESE ARE YOUNG LEADERS WHO ARE TRULY EMBODYING THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, HOPE AND UNITY THAT BATON ROUGE STANDS FOR.

THEIR DEDICATION THROUGH THE SAFE, HOPEFUL, HEALTHY SUMMER OF HOPE INITIATIVE IS NOT ONLY A SERVICE TO OUR CITIZENS, IS A POWERFUL MOVEMENT THAT INVITES EACH OF US TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN SHAPING THE BATON ROUGE THAT WE ALL DREAM OF.

SO THEIR WORK WITH THE PEACE PIT STOP IS VITAL IN CREATING THE BATON ROUGE VISION.

SO WHEN YOU VISIT THE PEACE PIT STOP, YOU'RE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN A MOVEMENT THAT BRINGS HEALING, HOPE AND HAPPINESS TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE CALL IT THE TRAVELING CORNER STORE EXPERIENCE.

AND IT'S A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN CONNECT WITH YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD HOPE DEALER, NEIGHBORHOOD HOPE DEALER.

YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF REFLECTED IN ART, PHOTOS AND POETRY, AND SHARE YOUR VISION FOR A BETTER, UH, COMMUNITY.

SO I WANT TO, UH, CELEBRATE THESE INCREDIBLE AMBASSADORS THAT WE HAVE HERE.

THANK THEM, UH, FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING TO MAKE OUR CITY SAFER, MORE HOPEFUL AND HEALTHIER.

COULD KYRON J MIRACLE NOT HERE.

DESHAWN.

JOSIAH JUST IT WRONG.

IS IT JOSHUA? OKAY.

THAT'S EASY.

ALICIA.

JOSHUA, JOSH, WOULD YOU CELEBRATE THEM? ONCE AGAIN, WE'LL GET THAT FOR YOU.

LEMME TAKE A PICTURE OF, YOU CAN OPEN IT.

THANK Y'ALL.

UH, NEXT UP WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, COUNCILWOMAN LAURIE ADAMS AND MYSELF RECOGNIZE KATIE PRYOR AND THE STAFF OF, UH, FILM BATON ROUGE.

FIND CREW, AND ALSO, UM, HELP EDUCATE THE NEXT GENERATION, NOT ONLY ABOUT, UM, JOBS IN THE FILM INDUSTRY, BUT HANDS-ON WORKING SKILLS.

UM, SO ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK THAT WE ALL LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN LOUISIANA AND BATON ROUGE IS THE HISTORY, THE ARCHITECTURE, UM, THE PEOPLE, AND THE BEAUTIFUL SCENERY.

AND IT'S, IT'S OUR BEAUTIFUL CITIES.

IT'S OUR BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES, AND IT'S OUR WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT PROVIDE SUCH A TREMENDOUS BACKGROUND, UM, FOR A, A BURGEONING, UM, VERY VIGOROUS, VERY EXCITING, UM, FILM INDUSTRY.

UM, COUNCILMAN MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, NOEL AND I HAVE HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING ON THE BATON ROUGE FILM COMMITTEE FOR THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS.

AND AS PART OF THAT, WE HAVE GOTTEN A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT THE WORK THAT, UM, OUR FILM, UM, OUR FILM, BATON ROUGE, UH, TEAM DOES TO NOT ONLY ATTRACT, UM, FILMS TO OUR AREA, UM, BUT TO HELP THEM CONNECT WITH LOCATIONS, HELP THEM

[00:25:01]

SO THIS, UM, TO ME IS ONE OF THE REAL JEWELS.

THE ONE OF THE REAL PROMISES OF THE BATON ROUGE ECONOMY IS OUR FILM.

BATON ROUGE TEAM CERTAINLY BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE ON THE FILM COMMISSION.

AND SO, UM, SO EXCITED TO HAVE KATIE PRYOR HERE TODAY.

UM, WOULD LIKE TO GIVE, UH, KATIE A COUPLE MINUTES OR A MINUTE TO TALK ABOUT THE WORK SHE HAS, UM, ATTRACTING FILMS, UM, TO THE BATON ROUGE AREA.

AND ALSO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK HER FOR HER WORK, UM, SPREADING THE BEAUTY AND THE, THE WONDER OF BATON ROUGE ACROSS THE WORLD, REALLY THROUGH FILM.

SO KATIE, THANK YOU.

AND I WANNA, UM, GIVE YOU A COUPLE MINUTES TO TALK.

AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR SERVING ON THE BOARD FOR SO LONG.

I TRY AND DO THE WORLD'S FASTEST BOARD MEETINGS WITH ESPRESSOS AND GO QUICK, SO IT'S NOT TOO PAINFUL.

UH, IT IS BEEN MY PLEASURE.

I'M MY EIGHTH YEAR OF BEING THE FILM COMMISSIONER, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TO ADVANCE THE CREATIVE ECONOMY HERE IN BATON ROUGE.

IN THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, WE'VE HAD OVER $200 MILLION OF SPEND, PRODUCTION SPEND COME IN.

THAT'S NOT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, THAT'S JUST THE SPEND.

SO THAT'S MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN WHAT'S SPENT WITH OUR LOCAL VENDORS, WHAT'S SPENT IN PAYROLL.

AND NOT TO MENTION, YOU GET TO SEE BATON ROUGE ON SCREEN.

IF YOU SAW THE DISNEY SHOW, NATIONAL TREASURE, YOU SAW BATON ROUGE REPRESENTED AS BATON ROUGE.

SO ALL OUR CITY CHARMS WERE THERE.

AND THERE IS A VALUE TO THE CREATIVE ECONOMY BEYOND JUST THE ECONOMICS, BUT ALSO THE ECONOMICS AND SPEND THE ECONOMICS AND JOB CREATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND FOR PEOPLE LOOKING TO REASSIGN THEIR SKILLS FROM OTHER CAREERS, AS WELL AS THE CULTURAL VALUE OF BEING REPRESENTED AS LOUISIANA AND LOUISIANA ON SCREEN, AND PEOPLE WHO GET TO COME HERE AND EXPERIENCE IT.

AND IT'S MY ABSOLUTE PLEASURE WITH NATHAN HALL TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT THE CITY AROUND THE WORLD AND BRING PEOPLE TO BATON ROUGE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK HERE.

LET'S GET A PICTURE REAL QUICK.

TOGETHER.

NEXT UP WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, COUNCILWOMAN SHAWNA BANKS TO RECOGNIZE KAY LYNN, SISSY THOMAS COUNCILWOMAN BANKS HERE.

DID SHE LEAVE? WE'LL COME BACK TO HER.

SOMEBODY WANTS TO GRAB HER.

SHE GOT THE NEXT ONE TOO, THOUGH.

SO COUNCILMAN HURSTON HERE.

THERE SHE IS.

COUNCILWOMAN BANKS TO RECOGNIZE KAYLYN SISSY THOMAS.

AND I DON'T WANNA MESS ANYTHING UP, BUT IF WE COULD PUT ON THE SCREEN THE PICTURES OF THE ARTWORK THAT SISSY, HOW OLD ARE YOU? 15 YEARS OLD.

YOU KNOW WHAT, WE HAD A, UH, EVENT FOR LAMONT.

ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

UM, THIS IS A VERY EXCITING EVENT, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE A YOUNG LADY, UM, THAT HAS BECOME VERY SPECIAL TO ME, AS WELL AS HER FAMILY.

AND WE CALL HER SISSY.

AND, UM, SISSY IS AN EXTREMELY TALENTED ARTIST AND WAS, UH, ACTUALLY RECOMMENDED BY HER TEACHERS AND HER, UH, ADMINISTRATOR AT HER SCHOOL TO BE PART OF AN, AN, UH, A PROGRAM THAT WAS, UM, UH, FOR PRE-ENGINEERING ART PROGRAM AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN NEW YORK.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PERSONS WERE, UM, ABLE TO RECEIVE, UM, THIS OPPORTUNITY AND A SLOT TO GO FOR HOW LONG? SISSY, FOR ONE WEEK IN NEW YORK.

BUT SHE'S THE ONLY ONE IN LOUISIANA, I BELIEVE.

CORRECT? UH, SISSY AND HER PARENTS ARE, UM, UH, RESIDENTS OF ZACHARY, LOUISIANA.

[00:30:02]

LOOK AT, LOOK AT.

LOOK AT, LOOK AT THAT, Y'ALL.

IF YOU LOOK TO THE SCREEN TO LEFT AND THE RIGHT, THAT'S FOR YOU.

SO, UM, AFTER, I'M GONNA LET SISSY TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE AND, UM, THEN WE'LL INTRODUCE HER PARENTS AND THEN THE, UH, THE CERTIFICATE.

UH, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, SISSY, I'M NOT YOUR COUNCILWOMAN.

I'M JUST YOUR BEST FRIEND, BUT COUNCILMAN NO.

IS YOUR COUNCILMAN.

HAVE A WAY WE LEARNED ABOUT SHADING AND WHERE TO PUT THINGS.

TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAM, YOUR SCHOOL OR YOUR PROGRAM.

OH, SO I GO TO BRIGHTON AND, UH, AND TELL THEM ABOUT THE, SO THE PROGRAM WAS ABOUT ART AND WE LEARNED ABOUT SHADING AND PROPORTIONS, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING AND FUN TO LEARN.

VERY GOOD.

YOU DID WONDERFUL.

UH, I'M GONNA BRING HER PARENTS AND HER SIBLINGS UP.

MS. UH, NITA AND CHUCK, I JUST WANNA SHARE.

OH, WE'LL, YEAH, YEAH.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, SISSY, UH, GETS ALL HER STEIN FROM HER FAMILY .

SO NOW SHE'S, NOW SHE'S SMILING.

UM, UH, ALSO, UH, RAN WILLIAMS THOMAS, UM, HAS JUST DONE A LOT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

SHE OWNS, UH, IN LOVING CARE PEDIATRIC CLINIC, UM, ON HARDING BOULEVARD.

AND SHE HAS SOME OTHER, BUT WHAT MAKES HER VERY SPECIAL, SHE, UM, AND I DON'T WANNA MESS THIS UP, BUT, UM, CHILDREN WHO HAVE SEVERE, UM, BORN WITH SEVERE HANDICAP, IS THAT THE RIGHT WORD? MEDICAL DISABILITIES.

MEDICAL DISABILITY.

AND I'VE NEVER SEEN, UM, A MEDICAL, UH, DAYCARE SO THEIR PARENTS CAN GO BACK TO WORK, YOU KNOW, AND HAVING FRAGILE CHILDREN.

SO I'M GONNA LET HER AND CHUCK SAY SOMETHING AND JUST TELL 'EM ABOUT, UH, EXPERIENCE.

WELL, UM, FOR, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER COLE, UH, TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, EARLIER ABOUT EDUCATION.

SISSY FAILED A LOT AT, UH, ACADEMICS AND WE FOUND OUT THAT SHE WAS DYSLEXIC.

SO DYSLEXIA IS HER SUPERPOWER.

SO WE TRIED TO FIND OUT WHAT WE COULD DO SO THAT SHE COULD KEEP HER SELF-ESTEEM UP SO SHE COULD FEEL A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT.

AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO TAP INTO HER SUPERPOWER, WHICH WAS HER ARTISTIC ABILITIES, AND SUBMITTING THESE ART PIECES TO COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY AND HAVING THEM VALIDATE HER AS ONE OF 300 APPLICANTS, 30 CHILDREN THAT WERE ACCEPTED FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

BEING ONE OF THOSE CHILDREN THAT GOT A CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PRESTIGIOUS PROGRAM.

WE WERE VERY, AS PARENTS HONORED, BUT IT GIVES HER AN OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW THAT WHEN GOD CREATED HER AND HER MOTHER'S WOMB, HE ALREADY KNEW HER.

AND THERE IS A PURPOSE FOR HER EXISTENCE.

SO THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT MOSTLY.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND MS. SISSY, MAY I PLEASE GIVE YOU A CERTIFICATE? ALL RIGHT.

SO WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION PRESENTED TO SISSY THOMAS.

I CAN'T SAY YOUR FIRST NAME.

THAT'S YOUR MOMMA'S DOING RIGHT.

UH, FOR COM, FOR YOUR COMPLETION OF THE COLUMBIA SCHOOL OF ARTS PRE COLLEGE SUMMER INTENSIVE PROGRAM IN NEW YORK.

YOUR REMARKABLE TALENT, DEDICATION, AND COMMITMENT AS AN OUTSTANDING STUDENT HAVE ENABLED YOU TO ACHIEVE THIS MILESTONE.

WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT.

CAN WE TAKE A PICTURE TOGETHER TO ADD TO OUR COLLECTION? AND, AND IF THE FAMILY, IF WE CAN ALL TAKE A PICTURE.

[00:35:22]

EVERYBODY LOOK MY WAY.

OH, YOU WAITING? OKAY.

WE'RE GONNA SNEAK IN THERE.

WE, WE LOVE Y'ALL.

SIX FIVE, GO AHEAD.

RIGHT HERE, GUYS, RIGHT HERE ON THREE.

1, 2, 3.

UH, NEXT I'D LIKE TO BRING UP LOUISIANA BLACK ADVOCATES FOR LIFE WITH MIKE AND TARA WICKER AND ROBERT LEY AND ISAIAH MARSHALL.

OKAY, YOU GONNA GO AHEAD AND ROLL IT? IF YOU WOULD WA LOOK AT THE SCREEN FOR A MINUTE WHILE JUST GIVE A LITTLE, HEY ROBERT.

UH, SO LAST FALL WE HAD, UM, AT THE GEORGIA J NEWMAN COMMUNITY CENTER, WE HAD A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY, UM, BY, UM, FORMER COUNCILWOMAN TARA WICKER TO OPEN THE FIRST MY BABY'S CLOSET.

AND BASICALLY MY BABY'S CLOSET.

UM, WAS AN INITIATIVE THAT SHE, UH, AS PART OF HER, UM, CO DIRECTORSHIP WITH THE LOUISIANA BLACK ADVOCATES FOR LIFE TO HELP YOUNG PARENTS, BOTH, UH, MOTHERS AND FATHER MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR INFANTS BY PROVIDING DIAPERS AND CLOTHING AND FOOD AND ALL KINDS OF RESOURCES.

SO, UM, IN NOVEMBER OF 2023, WE HAD A RIBBON CUTTING, UH, AND RECEPTION.

WE HAD A MOTHER THAT RECEIVED A HUGE CARE, UM, PACKAGE.

UH, I WAS NOT IN ANY WAY, UH, SURPRI.

I WAS VERY SURPRISED HOW MUCH BABY FORMULA COST.

UH, CONSIDERING I'M A 1961 BABY AND I PROBABLY GREW UP ON PET MILK INCARNATE INCARNATION, , UM, IT'S LIKE $80 FOR A CANISTER OF BABY FOOD.

UM, SO I JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, UM, PARENTS REALLY NEED HELP AND A LOT OF THESE PARENTS ARE CHALLENGED ECONOMICALLY ANYWAY.

AND SO HAVING, UM, THE BEAUTIFUL BLESSING OF HER BABY AND TRYING TO DO THE BEST AND MEETING ALL THOSE NEEDS, THEY NEED THESE RESOURCES.

SO I WAS VERY EXCITED.

UM, AND WE ARE GONNA SHOW YOU THE RIBBON CUTTING.

IS IT BOTH OF 'EM OR JUST MINE? MM-HMM.

CAN USE TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN.

OKAY, GREAT.

YOU READY? TRACY WOODARD HAS BEEN TAKING CARE OF FAMILIES IN EAST BATON ROUGE FOR 20 YEARS NOW, BONDING WITH THE FAMILIES, WATCHING THE CHILDREN GROW UP.

UM, I'VE BEEN IN THE PRACTICE SO LONG OF DOING THIS THAT NOW SOME OF THE PATIENTS THAT I SAW, THEY'RE BRINGING THEIR CHILDREN.

BUT BEING A PHYSICIAN AT THE JEWEL J NEWMAN COMMUNITY CENTER, SHE KNOWS THE BARRIERS FAMILIES FACE WHEN IT COMES TO ACCESSING HEALTHCARE.

SOMETIMES IT'S JUST BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY EITHER GET TO THE APPOINTMENT OR HAVING THE SUPPORT OF MAYBE ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER BRINGING THE CHILD TO THE APPOINTMENT.

SOMETIMES IT BECOMES A CHALLENGE.

YAY.

WOO.

NOW A NEW RESOURCE IS OPENING TO BETTER MEET THEIR NEEDS.

A RESOURCE, AN ACTUAL RESOURCE TO, UH, ANOTHER, UH, TOOL THAT PARENTS

[00:40:01]

BLACK DADS FOR LIFE AND METRO COUNCILWOMAN SHAUNA BANKS ARE OPENING MY BABY'S CLOSET.

A PLACE WHERE EXPECTING FAMILIES IN NEED CAN GET ESSENTIAL ITEMS LIKE DIAPERS AND FORMULA, AND THE SAME PLACE THEIR DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS ARE.

BANK SAYS COMMUNITY DONATIONS WILL HELP KEEP THE CLOSET GOING.

THE COMMUNITY WILL MAKE SURE THAT THIS PANTRY IS FOREVER FULL.

THIS CLOSET IS FOREVER FULL AND THAT IT MEETS THE NEED OF AS MANY OF THE RESIDENTS IN THE SCALLON BEAR COMMUNITY AS POSSIBLE.

PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR BLACK DADS FOR LIFE.

ROBERT SLY SAYS THE CLOSET OFFERS MORE THAN JUST BABY SUPPLIES.

THEY'RE OFFERING RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR SOON TO BE DADS TOO.

DADS COME IN AND THERE ARE ANY, UM, ANY NEED AS FAR AS COUNSELING, SUPPORT, ENCOURAGEMENT, UM, YOU KNOW, TOOLS THAT, ANYTHING THAT THEY MAY NEED.

UH, WE ARE HERE.

WOOD IS EXCITED TO OPEN THE CLOSET AND ADD A WIC PROGRAM AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER TO BETTER SERVE THE NORTH BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY.

WE'RE HERE TO ADDRESS THE HEALTH DISPARITIES OF THE COMMUNITY AND TO INCREASE ACCESS.

AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY WAYS WE CAN DO THAT.

MAKING IT A ONE STOP SHOP FOR FAMILY CARE.

IT WARMS MY HEART.

UM, 'CAUSE NOW WE DON'T HAVE TO SEND OUR PATIENTS ACROSS TOWN ANYMORE.

GABRIELA MERCURIO W AFB NINE NEWS.

INSIDE THE JEWEL JANE NEWMAN COMMUNITY CENTER ON CENTRAL ROAD, THERE'S A NEW ADDITION SURE.

TO HELP PARENTS IN BETTER ROOMS. ARE YOU ABLE TO OPEN THE SECOND ONE? MM-HMM.

ROBERT HINSLEY, PROGRAM OUTREACH COORDINATOR, ISAIAH MARSHALL.

THERE'S A SECOND ONE.

THE NEW RESOURCE STATION IS AVAILABLE FOR EXPECTING FAMILIES THAT NEEDS BATON ROUGE PARISH, NBC LOCAL 30 THREES.

KAYLA GAS STONE TAKES US INSIDE AND TELLS US HOW IT'S PROVIDING ESSENTIAL ITEMS TO THE COMMUNITY.

BLACK DADS FOR LIFE IN COLLABORATION WITH LIGHTHOUSE CHURCH.

OPEN A SECOND LOCATION OFFERING A HELPING HAND WITH COSTS FOR ALL THINGS NEEDED FOR BABY.

HOW AM I GONNA TAKE CARE OF THIS KID? DO I HAVE DIAPERS AND ALL THAT'S NECESSARY? TARA WICKER WITH LOUISIANA BLACK ADVOCATES FOR LIFE INVITES THOSE IN NEED TO JUST COME OPEN THE CLOSET LITERALLY AND GET WHATEVER YOU NEED.

THE CLOSET OPERATES FROM DONATIONS AND LSU ATHLETES RECOGNIZE ITS IMPORTANCE PERFECTLY.

I COME FROM A SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLD, SO I KNOW I KIND OF GOTTA SEE, YOU KNOW, MY MOM STRUGGLE THROUGH CERTAIN THINGS AND KIND OF HAVE TO WORK HARDER THAN OTHER PEOPLE WERE.

UH, I KIND OF THROUGH HAVING TO THOSE, SO, SO IT KIND OF FEEL GOOD TO COME BACK AND BEING ABLE TO GIVE BACK.

MY BABY'S CLOSET IS EXPANDING TO OTHER LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE AREA.

WE'VE ALREADY BEEN CONTACTED BY OTHER COMMUNITY CENTERS AS WELL AS ABOUT FOUR OTHER CHURCHES THAT SAID, HEY, WE ALSO WANNA OPEN UP A MY BABY'S CLOSET.

THE LIGHTHOUSE CHURCH IS HERE TO HELP AND SAYS TO GIVE THEM A CALL TO ACCESS THE CLOSET.

KAYLA GASTON, NBC LOCAL 33 NEWS.

VERY GOOD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UM, WHEN WE OPENED OURS LAST FALL, WE WERE GETTING CALLS, UM, FROM OTHER PARISHES AND IT IS AN OPEN OPPORTUNITY.

SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO SAY THAT THE THIRD LOCATION WAS OF MY BABY'S CLOSET WAS JUST OPEN LAST SATURDAY.

UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT LIVE IN WEST BATON ROUGE AT, UH, WESTGATE CHURCH, 1622 COURT STREET AND PORT ALLEN, LOUISIANA.

AND WE JUST KEEP OUR THINGS IN THE LOBBY.

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF BABY FOOD.

A LOT OF BABIES HAVE SPECIALTY NEEDS, BUT WHEN THEY COME IT'S NO STRESS.

YOU JUST COME IN.

SO I HAVE CERTIFICATES FOR EVERYONE.

IT'S BASICALLY THE SAME WORDING.

AND UPON, UM, GIVING THE CERTIFICATE, I'LL HAVE, UH, TARA WICKER TO ACCEPT.

AND MAYBE MRS. HE ALREADY HAD HIS ACTION 'CAUSE UH, WE ARE RUNNING A LITTLE LATE.

UM, BUT ANYWAY, IT SAYS TO ALL OF YOU, YOUR HIGH LEVEL OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT TO BRING MY BABY'S CLOSET TO FAMILIES IN NEED OF BABY ESSENTIALS.

YOUR EFFORTS TO BUILD CONNECTIONS, FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS, AND POSITIVELY IMPACT MOTHERS AND FATHERS OF INFANTS.

REFLECT THE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION AND COMPASSION.

PASTOR, WHERE IS HE? OKAY, I THINK PLEASE GIVE IT TO HIM.

AND OF COURSE, MADAM TARA WICKER.

YOU, YOU CAN HAVE YOUR DAD'S, HUH? PROGRAM COORDINATOR.

THANK YOU MA'AM.

ALRIGHT, AWESOME.

THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.

IT IS JUST SO WONDERFUL TO SEE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

WE JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCILWOMAN BANKS FOR BEING THE PIONEER FOR THIS ACTIVITY AND EVENT.

UH, IT HAS BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED BY THE COMMUNITY.

UM, BEING A MOM OF SIX, UH, I THINK FOUR OF WHICH I WAS EITHER PREGNANT OR AT SOME POINT ALL I THINK ONE NEWS REPORT SAID I WENT INTO LABOR AT A COUNCIL MEETING.

[00:45:01]

SO, UH, JUST BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE SUPPORT FOR MOMS AND DADS AND FAMILIES THAT ARE IN NEED IS INCREDIBLE.

AND SO IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO SUPPORT, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY, WE ARE LOOKING TO HAVE MY BABY'S CLOSETS IN LOCATIONS VERY CLOSE TO COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IN NEED.

SO PLEASE REACH OUT TO US.

LET US KNOW IF, UM, YOU'RE INTERESTED IN OPENING A MY BABY'S CLOSET, WE WILL BE THERE WITH THE RIBBON CUTTING AND AND SUPPORT.

WE DO DIAPER DRIVES THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THOSE CLOSETS HAVE ALL THE SUPPLIES THAT THEY NEED.

AND WE JUST WANNA BE HERE TO BE A SUPPORT.

AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

WE GONNA, OKAY.

EVERYBODY LOOK THIS WAY FOR ME.

ALRIGHT, LET'S GET A BIG SMILE FROM YOU.

CAN'T GET IN IT RIGHT NOW.

I WORK AROUND MR. ANDREW WHITE.

NEXT.

COUNCILMAN DARRELL HURST, UH, TO RECOGNIZE US, EXPRESS TRACK LOVE.

SO IN, UH, KEEPING WHAT LAMONT COLE SAID, VERY TRUE.

I DO HAVE THREE PRESENTATIONS TODAY AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO SPEED THEM UP JUST FOR TIME'S SAKE.

BUT TODAY IS ABOUT CELEBRATING YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S ABOUT CELEBRATING THE FUTURE GENERATION OF, OF LEADERS, BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT CELEBRATING THE PEOPLE THAT PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO SPREAD THEIR WINGS, TO BECOME VOCAL, TO COMPETE AND, AND, AND ACHIEVE THINGS THAT THEY NEVER THOUGHT THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO DO.

AND TODAY IS ABOUT YOU SPORTS.

AND SO THE FIRST SET OF PRESENTATIONS THAT I HAVE TODAY IS FOR US EXPRESS, I'M GONNA READ ONE, BUT THEN I'LL CALL EVERYBODY UP.

SERENITY, EARLY AGES 13 TO 14 GIRLS DIVISION.

WHEREAS A DEDICATED MEMBER OF THE US EXPRESS TRACK CLUB PARTICIPATED IN THE US A MASTER'S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HELD IN CALIFORNIA.

WHEREAS THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THIS PRESTIGIOUS EVENT REFLECTS THEIR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN SPORTSMANSHIP.

AND WHEREAS THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS HAVE BROUGHT PRIDE AND RECOGNITION TO THEIR TEAM AND COMMUNITY.

AND HER ACHIEVEMENTS ARE SECOND PLACE IN THE 200 METER HURDLES.

SEVEN PLACED IN A HUNDRED METER HURDLES.

AND AGAIN, IT GIVES KIDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE NOT JUST ON A LOCAL BUT A NATIONAL PLATFORM.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.

MISS SERENITY.

EARLY.

NEXT UP, CADEN MONROE.

1112 BOYS DIVISION, SIXTH PLACE IN A HUNDRED METERS.

1112 BOYS, DIVISION SEVEN.

PLACE IN THE 800 METER.

SIXTH PLACE IN THE 1500 METER.

FOURTH PLACE IN THE 3000 METER.

1112 BOYS DIVISION, MS. LUCY GRANT KRAMER, YOUTH DIVISION, NATIONAL CHAMPION, AND NATIONAL MEAT RECORD BREAKER IN THE 2000 METER STEEPLE.

CHASE.

I SAID RECORD BREAKER.

GIVE FOR A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

WE HAVE NOT JUST THE YOUTH, BUT ALSO THE MEN WHO ARE STILL COMPETING AND SETTING THE EXAMPLES.

AGES 35 TO 39.

I MISSED THIS BY A COUPLE OF MONTHS.

MR. JODY SHEPHERD, USA MASTERS NATIONAL CHAMPION IN 110 HURDLES.

400 METER HURDLES AND 200 METER 35 39 MEN DIVISION.

YEAH, HE'S IN RIGHT NOW.

OH, SO HE'S IN SWEDEN.

SWEDEN STILL COMPETING.

SO, UM, SETTING THE TONE AND SETTING THE BAR FOR PEOPLE, UH, A YEAR UNDER THAN ME, YOU KNOW, OTHERWISE I'LL BE THERE TOO.

BUT I'VE BEEN KNOWING THIS GUY FOR AN EXTREMELY LONG TIME.

CHURCH MEMBER, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBER FRIEND, CONSTITUENT, UM, COACH BYRON TURNER, PRESIDENT HEAD COACH,

[00:50:01]

US EXPRESS TRACK CLUB.

UM, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN HURST.

UM, ONE THING I JUST WANNA SHARE, UM, OUR TEAM MOTTO IS THAT WE BUILD CHAMPIONS.

UM, WE HAVE BEEN THE LARGEST TRACK AND FIELD ORGANIZATION IN THE STATE FOR QUITE A NUMBER OF YEARS, REPRESENTING SEVERAL COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THIS STATE.

UH, THE ATHLETES YOU SEE BEFORE YOU ALL COME FROM THE, THE METROPOLITAN CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND HAVE REPRESENTED US EXTREMELY WELL THAT THE U-S-A-T-F, NATIONAL JUNIOR OLYMPIC MEET, WHERE OVER 8,000 COMPETITORS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY COMPETED, UH, IN TEXAS A FEW WEEKS AGO.

YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT WHAT DO WE DO FOR THE YOUTH? AND I THINK JUST HAVING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THEIR EFFORTS MEANS A WHOLE LOT.

SO I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY LAST MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL FOR WHAT THEY DO AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING FOR THE YOUTH.

WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SHOW LOVE, RESPECT, AND ADMIRATION FOR THE AMAZING PEOPLE WHO ARE SETTING THE TONE, NOT JUST IN BATON ROUGE, BUT AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AND YES, IT IS AGAIN, IT IS, IT IS.

THE COMPETITORS OF US EXPRESS THE KY TRACK CLUB.

THEY PRACTICED RIGHT OUT OF, UH, GREEN OAKS HIGH SCHOOL.

I ONCE WAS A KY TRACK MEMBER UNDER THE BANNON BOYS GROUP, RAN ONE YEAR AND REALIZED THAT OTHER SPORTS WERE FOR ME.

BUT, UM, WE DO WANNA RECOGNIZE THEM FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP, THEIR COURAGE, THEIR, THEIR COMMITMENT, BUT MOST OF ALL THEIR COMPETITIVE NATURE WHERE THEY GO OUT AND NOT ONLY REPRESENT BATON ROUGE, BUT THE ENTIRE PARISH.

SO WHEREAS A DEDICATED MEMBER OF THE KY TRACK CLUB PARTICIPATED IN THE 2024 A A U JUNIOR OLYMPICS HELD IN GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA AT NORTH CAROLINA A AND T.

AND WHEREAS THEIR EXCEPTIONAL TALENT AND SPORTSMANSHIP EARNED RECOGNITION ON THE NATIONAL STAGE.

AND WHEREAS THEY EARNED ALL AMERICAN STATUS THROUGH HARD WORK, PERSEVERANCE, AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, AND THEREFORE BE A PROCLAIMED WHEREBY WE CELEBRATE AND HONOR THEIR REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS AND DEDICATED EFFORTS ALONGSIDE THE COLLECTIVE EXCELLENCE AND TEAMWORK OF THE KY TRACK CLUB.

THIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT SERVES AS A TESTAMENT TO THE INDELIBLE IMPACT MADE ON THE BROADER ATHLETIC COMMUNITY.

UH, COUNCILMAN DARRYL HURST, THE FIRST PERSON WE'LL ACKNOWLEDGE FIFTH PLACE A HUNDRED METERS.

MR. ARMANI.

JAMES, YOU HEARD THE, THE MEDALS CLINKING.

NEXT UP FOUR BY 100.

THIRD PLACE, THE VARIOUS JOHN PIERRE JR.

FOUR BY 100.

THIRD PLACE, MR. CHASE SHAMBERG.

FOUR BY 100 METER, THIRD PLACE, BLAKE HUGHES.

AND WE TALKED, WE, WE, WE HONORED A LOT OF COACHES EARLY ON, UM, THROUGHOUT THE, EITHER LAST YEAR, EARLY THIS YEAR, WE TALKED ABOUT COACH JIMMY DOUGLAS, WHO WAS MY COACH, WHO'S BEEN OUT THERE FOR I BELIEVE OVER 40 YEARS NOW.

WHAT THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN DOING THE SAME THING.

UM, AND THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN THERE THAT LONGEST, WELL, ACTUALLY LONGER THAN ME.

SO WE WANT THEM TO PROVIDE CONTINUED SUPPORT TO OUR YOUTH.

'CAUSE THEY COULD BE SOMEWHERE ELSE.

BUT WHEN THEY'RE WITH YOU, WE KNOW THEY'RE SAFE AND THE COMMUNITY IS AS WELL.

SO FIRST COACH WILL HONORS MR. DE VARIOUS JEAN PIERRE SR.

WE DON'T HAVE YOURS MISSING ONE.

BUT, UH, WE DO HAVE MY, MY, MY YOUTH CHURCH MEMBER, COMMUNITY MEMBER NEIGHBORHOOD, UH,

[00:55:02]

KEPT, KEPT ME STRAIGHT IN LINE, MR. VICTOR MCGEE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO BRING UP ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS.

I DON'T HAVE A CERTIFICATE FOR 'EM.

I THINK THEY GAVE COACHES AND PLAYERS.

BUT, UH, MR. WILLIE WILLIAMS HAS BEEN MAKING AN IMPACT ON KIDS FOR AN EXTREMELY LONG TIME.

AND, UH, NOT ONLY IS HE FIGHTING FOR THOSE KIDS, BUT HE PULLED ME IN THE BACK AND SAID, MAN, I GOT THREE THINGS TO TALK ABOUT THIS POTHOLE OVER THERE BY GLEN OAKS AND A COUPLE OTHER THINGS.

SO WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET WITH REGINALD BROOMFIELD.

RAISE YOUR HAND, REGINALD, BEFORE YOU LEAVE TO MAKE SURE IT GETS TAKEN CARE OF.

BUT, UH, I WANNA INVITE COACH WILLIE WILLIAMS TO THE, UH, TO THE MICROPHONE TO TALK ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION.

OTHER PROGRAM IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

UH, COUNCILMAN, THANK YOU TO THE COUNCILS AND UH, HI SHANA.

RECOGNIZING OUR KY TRACK CLUB.

THESE YOUNG MEN DID A FANTASTIC JOB AT THE NATIONALS.

THEY CAME IN, UM, IN THAT THIRD PLACE IN THAT FOUR BY ONE, BUT THEY ALSO CAME IN IN THE FOUR BY FOUR IN 19 FOUR BY EIGHT, THEY ONLY MISSED GETTING ON A PODIUM BY ONE.

THEY WORKED REAL HARD.

NOW KY IS ONE OF THE OLDEST TRACK CLUBS IN THE NATION.

WE'VE BEEN AROUND, I'VE BEEN AROUND 49 YEARS AND KY WAS THERE A YEAR BEFORE I CAME.

SO THIS, WE ARE ONE OF THE OLDEST TRACK CLUBS IN THE UNITED STATES.

NOW.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR ATHLETES.

WE ONLINE, YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND REGISTER FOR KY.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR SPONSORSHIP TOO.

WE NEED, WE NEED THAT SPONSORSHIP.

SO IF YOU DIG DOWN AND YOU NEED TO GIVE SOMETHING, GIVE IT TO KY.

WE ARE, WE ARE, WE TRY TO REACH OUT TO ALL KIDS ACROSS THIS PARISH.

BUT IT, IT IS REAL HARD TO GET, GET THE TOP KIDS LIKE WE REALLY WANT BECAUSE OF SO MANY OTHER, SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT GOING ON IN BATON ROUGE WITH THE YOUTH.

BUT NOW IF YOU WANT TO PUT YOUR KIDS IN TRACK AND FIELD, GO ONLINE AND REGISTER FOR KY TRACK CLUB.

NOW THEY TOLD ME TO TAP HIM.

THEY SAY HE TALK AS LONG AS I DO.

THAT'S HARD TO COMPETE WITH.

NOW LISTEN, ONE OF OUR PARISH ATTORNEY MEMBERS WAS CHIQUITA HAS BEEN WITH TRACK WITH KY SINCE I WAS A YOUNG KID.

SHE WAS THERE WHEN I GOT THERE, WHEN I LEFT AND DECIDED IT WASN'T FOR ME.

SO I WANNA THANK HER FOR HONORING THEM, RECOGNIZING THEM, AND UH, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO RIGHT HERE ON 3 1, 2, 3.

SO WE HAVE A YOUNG, YOUNG LEADER THAT WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING ON THE MICROPHONE.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR, FOR THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THIS.

AND I WANNA SAY ONE THING, UH, FOR FOUR ROW ONE WE REALLY COULDA GOT FIRST, BUT, UH, BUT IT WAS A LANE VIOLATION.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER GOD IS GOOD.

GOD IS GOOD.

DJ, DJ, DJ.

LISTEN, HE, HE SAID THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WAS SPOKEN ON THE MIC ALL DAY.

TELL HIM ONE MORE TIME, YOUNG MAN, GOD IS GOOD.

ABSOLUTELY.

SO FINAL PRESENTATION, MAKE IT EVEN QUICKER.

'CAUSE IT'S ALL, IT'S ALL COACHES FOR THESE FOLKS HAVE DONE A REMARK, A REMARKABLE JOB.

UM, Y'ALL KNOW, I PLAYED COLLEGE FOOTBALL, BUT I COACHED YOUTH BASKETBALL.

MY SON DECIDED FOOTBALL WASN'T HIS PATH.

AND I SAID I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO COACH HIGH SCHOOL BALL FOR SOME OTHER KIDS AND MISS MY KIDS' GAME OR LEARN THE, THE, THE GAME OF BASKETBALL TO MAKE SURE THAT I COULD BE THERE AND SHOW LEADERSHIP.

BUT HIS COUNSEL TOOK ME OUT OF THAT ROLE BECAUSE I SAID I CAN MAKE MORE IMPACT HERE THAN I COULD ON THE COURT AND I DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME TO DO IT.

BUT TO WATCH OTHER COACHES MAKE IT EVEN GREATER IMPACT, IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME.

AND THIS PROGRAM IS TAKING GIRLS, BRINGING THEM TO EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH FROM ALL OVER THE STATE OF LOUISIANA AND COMPETING ON THE NATIONAL STAGE AND WINNING AND BEING RANKED.

THEY ARE THE LOUISIANA PUMA TEAM, UH, THE LOUISIANA UNITED.

THEY'RE PUTTING MORE YOUNG LADIES IN COLLEGE FROM LOUISIANA THAN ANY

[01:00:01]

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT, GETTING THE KIDS TO HIGHER EDUCATION AND TO FULFILL THEIR PURPOSE IN LIFE.

SO TODAY I AM GOING TO, UH, RECOGNIZE THE LOUISIANA UNITED BASKETBALL CLUB.

WHEREAS A DEDICATED COACH, THE LOUISIANA UNITED BASKETBALL CLUB AND ALL GIRLS ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING YOUNG ATHLETES HAS PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN SHAPING THE TEAM'S SUCCESS.

AND WHEREAS THE LEADERSHIP AND MENTORSHIP HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE ATHLETIC AND PERSONAL GROWTH OF THE PLAYERS FOSTERING AN ENVIRONMENT OF EXCELLENCE AND TEAMWORK.

AND WHEREAS THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE BROUGHT PRIDE AND RECOGNITION TO LOUISIANA UNITED BASKETBALL CLUB AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY.

UM, AND SO I WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW THEY HAVE GIRLS TALKING ABOUT BABIES SECOND, THIRD GRADE, ALL THE WAY UP TO, UH, SENIOR, UH, RISING SENIORS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

SO WHEN I TELL YOU THEY WORK HARD, THEY HAVE MORE GIRLS IN THEIR PROGRAM THAN ANY PROGRAM IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

SO IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME TO SEE THEM DO WHAT THEY DO, BUT ALSO TO ALLOW THOSE KIDS TO REACH OUR HEIGHTS.

UM, SO THE FIRST PERSON I'LL BRING UP IS TRIAN JOHNSON.

NEXT PERSON IS MYRON KELLER.

NEXT, A MAN WHO ALMOST NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION.

MR. DION.

WELL COACH CHRIS PRICE.

I CALL HIM THE CRAZIEST COACH ON THE COURT COACH KEITH HAMPTON , COACH RUDY DEMPSEY.

AND AS MUCH AS WE TALK ABOUT SEEING MEN WITH YOUNG BOYS IN LEADERSHIP, WE ALSO WANNA SEE WOMEN DOING THE SAME THING IN ORGANIZATIONS AND THE LADY BEHIND ALL THE MAGIC THAT KEEPS THE THE THE SPECIAL SEASON AND GOING COACH FALLON WARD.

SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO FIRST THANK AI FOR PREPARING MY SPEECH, .

I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING PREPARED.

THEY SAID I HAD TO SAY SOMETHING.

ME AND CHET GPT ARE BEST FRIENDS, BUT IT, IT KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT I WANNA SAY.

SO LOUISIANA UNITED BASKETBALL CLUB IS HONORED TO RECEIVE RECOGNITION FROM THE BATON ROUGE METRO COUNCIL AND CITY AND COUNCILMAN DARRELL HURST.

WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE SERVED THE ASPIRING GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYERS IN THE CAPITAL CITY, PROVIDING A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR THEIR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT FROM ELEMENTARY THROUGH POST-SECONDARY, UM, EDUCATION.

OUR PROGRAM SUCCESS IS EVIDENT IN THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR ATHLETES.

WE PROUDLY BOAST THREE GRADUATING CLASSES.

PLEASE MIND YOU, WE'RE ONLY THREE YEARS OLD.

WE'VE GRADUATED THREE GRADUATING CLASSES AND WE HAVE PUT 33 TALENTED INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE GONE ON TO PLAY COLLEGE BASKETBALL AND THEY'RE NOW COLLEGE, UH, STUDENT ATHLETES.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE COUNCIL'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF OUR EMPOWER, OUR DEDICATION AND EMPOWERING OF YOUNG WOMEN THROUGH SPORTS AND EDUCATION.

AND MOST OF THE TIME, IF YOU'LL SEE ALL THESE GUYS HERE, UM, I'M USUALLY THE LONE RANGER AND HE'S RIGHT.

I DO KIND OF KEEP THEM.

I DON'T WANNA SAY IN CHECK 'CAUSE THAT'S NOT IT, BUT THAT'S, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I DO.

PARTICULARLY, UH, THANKFUL FOR THE REMARKABLE MALE INFLUENCE, UM, THAT WE HAVE COMPRISED OF THESE DEDICATED DADS AND COACHES WHO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE THEIR DAUGHTERS AND THEIR TEAMMATES ALIKE.

UM, SO FOR THAT, WE ARE DEEPLY HUMBLED AND GRATEFUL TO LEAD AN ORGANIZATION LIKE LOUISIANA UNITED BASKETBALL CLUB, WHERE OUR COACHES SELFLESSLY GIVE UP THEIR TIME, WE GIVE OF OUR RESOURCES.

WE WILL ALL HAVE A PAY RAISE ONCE WE DECIDE TO RETIRE, TO EMPOWER YOUNG, UH, FEMALE ATHLETES.

I AM

[01:05:01]

AS A FORMER FEMALE COLLEGE STUDENT ATHLETE TURNED EDUCATOR, I UNDERSTAND THE PROFOUND IMPACT THAT POSITIVE ROLE MODELS CAN HAVE ON YOUNG BROWN FEMALES.

UM, OUR MISSION IS TO FOSTER GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENT ATHLETES.

AND THAT RESONATES DEEPLY WITHIN ME.

I'M COMMITTED TO CONTINUING THIS VITAL WORK WITH THESE GUYS AND ANY OTHER LADY WHO WANTS TO COME AND COACH WITH US.

UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

UM, COACHES, THANK YOU FOR OUR STAFF.

THANK YOU FOR OUR SUPPORTERS AND, UM, WE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR FREE GYMS RIGHT HERE ON 3 1, 2, 3.

OKAY, THAT'S IT FOR PRESENTATIONS.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE ABOUT A FIVE MINUTE RECESS BEFORE WE START THE COUNCIL MEETING.

[CALL TO ORDER]

HELLO EVERYBODY.

WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF EAST BAT RIDGE PARISH ON BEHALF OF OUR METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.

SO GOOD TO HAVE ALL OF YOU WATCHING ON COX, ON AT T FACEBOOK LIVE, YOUTUBE, AND STREAMING ON OUR WEBSITE@VLA.GOV.

AND NOW, AT THIS TIME, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BRING ON THE MAYOR PRESIDENT PRO OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, COUNCILMAN BRANDON NOEL.

COUNCILMAN, THANK YOU DENNIS.

THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.

UM, FIRST I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES, UM, FOR TRUSTING ME WITH THIS ROLE.

I DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY.

UM, I'M, I'M A LITTLE OVERWHELMED ABOUT IT TO BE HONEST, AND, UM, I'M EXCITED THOUGH AND I HOPE I, I'VE GOT HUGE SHOES TO FILL AND I HOPE I CAN DO WELL IN THIS ROLE, HELPING MOVE THE MEETINGS FORWARD AND, UM, YOU KNOW, UNIFYING US EVEN MORE SO THAN WE ALREADY ARE.

I LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

Y'ALL KNOW THAT.

UM, AND, UH, TO COUNCILWOMAN RAZAN, WELCOME.

CONGRATULATIONS.

BUCKLE UP, .

WELCOME TO THE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14TH, 2024 REGULAR METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING.

UH, CALL, MEETING TO ORDER.

ASHLEY, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM? WE HAVE A QUORUM.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO ADOPTION APPROVAL OF MINUTES, APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 24TH, 2024 BY COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR TREASURER.

TODAY WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR INVOCATION AND PLEDGE LED BY BATON ROUGE POLICE CHIEF TJ MORRIS, CHIEF STAND FOR THE PLEDGE.

PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND FOR WHICH STANDS FOR ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

BOW YOUR HEADS.

HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING US HERE.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US, INCLUDING JUST BE ABLE TO COME BEFORE YOU AND, UH, AND PRAYER.

PRAY FOR THIS COUNCIL.

PRAY FOR OUR MAYOR, ALL OUR LEADERSHIP AS THEY GUIDE US.

JUST GIVE THEM THE WISDOM THAT, UH, CAN COME FROM YOU.

SAY A SPECIAL PRAYER FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN, BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT ARE PROTECTING THE STREETS AND SERVING THE CITIZENS, UM, OF THIS CITY.

CONTINUE TO BE WITH US THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THIS YEAR AND GUIDE US IN YOUR HAND AND PRAY.

AMEN.

THANK YOU CHIEF.

[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

WE HAVE A MOTION, MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MOAT, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HEARST.

ANY OPPOSITION SEEING NONE.

ASHLEY, PLEASE READ

[INTRODUCTIONS]

INTRODUCTIONS SECTION 2.12 INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER TWO, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO AND ENHANCED MEDICAID PAYMENT SUPPORT AGREEMENT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WITH THE LOUISIANA AMBULANCE ALLIANCE NOT TO EXCEED $300,000 PER YEAR BY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DIRECTOR NUMBER THREE, TO AMEND THE 2024 CURRENT EXPENSE BUDGET FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TO APPROPRIATE $5 MILLION FROM FUND BALANCE UNASSIGNED TO PROVIDE FOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSFERS TO THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HOSPITALS FOR THE UPPER PAYMENT LIMIT MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM BY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DIRECTOR.

NUMBER

[01:10:01]

FOUR, A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE ISSUANCE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE NOT TO EXCEED $10 MILLION.

REVENUE ANTICIPATION NOTE SERIES 2024, THE ST.

GEORGE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER TWO OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA BY THE ST.

GEORGE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER FIVE, A RESOLUTION RATIFYING THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NUMBER 5 7 5 7 7 5 2 BY THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE AND CITY OF BATON ROUGE ON MARCH 27TH, 2024 RELATING TO THE PROPOSED VARIOUS AMENDMENTS TO THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT OF THE PARISH, EAST BATON ROUGE AND CITY OF BATON ROUGE AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN THE SUMMARY, PROPOSED AMENDMENTS BY BOND COUNSEL NUMBER SIX ADOPTING THE FOLLOWING AVALOR TAX MILLAGE RATES WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE FOLLOWING TAXING JURISDICTIONS ON ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY TO BE LEVIED DURING THE YEAR 2024 IN ORDER TO ADJUST DOWNWARD THE 2024 MILLAGE RATES AS COMPARED TO THE 2023 MILLAGE RATES AS REQUIRED BY ARTICLE SEVEN.

SECTION 23 B OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH OPERATING TAX 3.15 MILLS TO 2.96 MILLS CITY OF BATON ROUGE OPERATING TAX 5.75 MILLS TO 5.44 MILLS CITY OF BATON ROUGE THREE.

PLATOON POLICE TAX 0.87 MILLS TO 0.82 MILLS EAST BATON ROUGE, PARIS MOSQUITO ABATEMENT AND RODENT CONTROL DISTRICT.

ADDITIONAL 3.7 UH, I'M SORRY, 0.37 MILS TO 0.35 MILS EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY 5.2 MILS TO 9.89 MILS DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT 10 MILS TO 9.5 MILS.

COUNSEL ON AGING 2.13 MILS TO TWO MILS, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE 1.42 MILS TO 1.33 MILS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES 3.13 MILS TO 2.94 MILS CONSOLIDATED ROAD LIGHTING DISTRICT NUMBER ONE 1.85 MILS TO 1.71 MILS BATON ROUGE MUNICIPAL FIRE SALARIES AND BENEFITS 6.0 MILS TO 5.68 MILS.

ADDITIONAL FIVE MILS TO 4.91 MILS BY THE FINANCE DIRECTOR.

THIS ITEM IS INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC MEETING AND HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2024.

NUMBER SEVEN, ADOPTING THE FOLLOWING AD VALOREM TAX MILLAGE RATES WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE FOLLOWING, TAXING JURISDICTIONS ON ALL PROPERTY TAXABLE PROPERTY AND ADOPTING OTHER AD VALOREM TAX MILLAGE RATES WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE FOLLOWING TAXING JURISDICTIONS ON ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY EXCEPT THAT THE MILLAGE RATE FOR THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT SHALL BE LEVIED ON REAL PROPERTY ONLY TO BE LEVIED DURING THE YEAR 2024 AS PERMITTED BY ARTICLE SEVEN, SECTION 23 C IN THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA AND ADOPTING ALL OTHER MILLAGE RATES FOR 2024.

ADOPTION OF INCREASED AVALOR TAX MILLAGE RATES FOR 20 20 24 ROLL FORWARD EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES 2.94 MILS TO 3.13 MILS.

COUNSEL ON AGING TWO MILS TO 2.13 MILLS BATON ROUGE MUNICIPAL FIRE SALARIES AND BENEFITS 5.68 MILLS TO SIX MILLS BATON ROUGE.

THREE PLATOON POLICE AX 0.82 MILLS TO 0.87 MILLS.

ALLISON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER NINE 9.82 MILLS TO 10 MILLS ALLISON, FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER NINE, ADDITIONAL 4.91 MILLS TO FIVE MILLS.

ADOPTION OF ALL OTHER ADVIL ALARM TAX.

MILLAGE RATES FOR 2024 EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH OPERATING TAX 2.96 MILLS, CITY OF BATON ROUGE OPERATING TAX.

5.44 MILLS EAST BATON ROUGE MOSQUITO ABATEMENT AND RODENT CONTROL.

1.06 MILLS EAST BATON ROUGE MOSQUITO ABATEMENT AND RODIN CONTROL DISTRICT ADDITIONAL 0.35 MILLS EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY 9.89 MILLS DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT 9.5 MILLS MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ONE ABUSE 1.33 MILLS CONSOLIDATED ROAD LIGHTING DISTRICT NUMBER ONE 1.71 MILLS BROWNSFIELD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER THREE, ADDITIONAL 10 MILLS CHENEY, FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN, ADDITIONAL 10 MILLS.

ALLISON, FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER NINE.

ADDITIONAL 10 MILLS BY THE FINANCE DIRECTOR IN THE VARIOUS TAXING DISTRICTS.

THIS ITEM IS ALSO INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC HEARING AND MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2024.

[01:15:02]

NUMBER EIGHT, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH SHOULD BE BATON ROUGE A CREATING THE RIVER CENTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT WITHIN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA.

ON THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED ON EXHIBIT A, DEFINING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE PROPERTY FROM WHICH ANY NEW SALES AND USE TAX AND HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX MAY BE LEVIED BY THE DISTRICT AND USED TO FUND A PORTION OF THE COST OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

I AS DESCRIBED ALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND AS AUTHORIZED BY CHAPTER 27 OF TITLE 33 OF THE LOUISIANA REVISED STATUTES OF 1950 AS AMENDED C DESIGNATING THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE DISTRICT D REQUIRING THE BASELINE SALES AND USE TAX AND HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTION RATE WITHIN THE DISTRICT TO BE CERTIFIED E REQUIRING THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS IN THE DISTRICT TO BE CERTIFIED AND F PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION.

THEREWITH BY COUNCILWOMAN CAROLYN COLEMAN COUNCILWOMAN JEN ROCKA, COUNCILMAN CLEVE DUNN JR.

COUNCILMAN AARON MOOCH AND COUNCILMAN DWIGHT HUDSON.

NUMBER NINE, AMENDING ORDINANCE 8 9 3 1 ADOPTED MAY 24TH, 1989 WHICH ESTABLISHED THE ENGINEERING AND SURVEY SELECTION BOARD SO AS TO AMEND SECTION FIVE THEREOF IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE FEE FOR SELECTION UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF SAID BOARD FROM $150,000 TO $300,000 AND TO AMEND SECTION SIX THEREOF IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE FEE FOR SELECTION UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF SAID BOARD FROM $150,000 TO $300,000 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR NUMBER 10, AMENDING ORDINANCE 8 9 3 2 ADOPTED MAY 24TH, 1989 SO AS TO AMEND SECTION FIVE THEREOF IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE FEE FOR SELECTION UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF SAID BOARD FROM $150,000 TO $300,000 AND TO AMEND SECTION SIX THEREOF IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE FEE FOR SELECTION UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF SAID BOARD FROM $150,000 TO $300,000 BY BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.

NUMBER 11, AMEND THE 2024 ALLOTMENT OF POSITIONS FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE 1 9 0 8 4.

SO AS TO CHANGE THE ALLOTMENT OF METROPOLITAN COUNCIL JEWEL J NEWMAN COMMUNITY CENTER EFFECTIVE AUGUST 29TH, 2024 METROPOLITAN COUNCIL JEWEL J NEWMAN COMMUNITY CENTER DELETE ONE BUILDING ATTENDED AND ADD ONE HOUSEKEEPER BY COUNCIL, ADMINISTRATOR, TREASURER AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR NUMBER 12 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND THAT CERTAIN CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SERVICES WITH JAMES BALLER AND SEAN STOKES OF KELLER AND HECKMAN LLP TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF REPRESENTATION TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL FRANCHISE AGREEMENT AND TELECOMMUNICATION ISSUES OF LAW INCREASING AND APPROPRIATING FROM THE GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE.

UNASSIGNED $50,000 FOR SAID PURPOSE FOR A TOTAL COMPENSATION NOT TO EXCEED A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS BY PARISH ATTORNEY.

NUMBER 13, AMENDING THE ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET SO AS TO REALLOCATE $420,000 IN PROCEEDS FROM THE LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUND THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.

FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH BLIGHT ELIMINATION EXPENSE CATEGORY TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE STORMWATER CATEGORY FOR STORMWATER, CAVEN, POINT, REPAIRS, AND COUNCIL DISTRICTS THREE AND NINE BY MAYOR PRESIDENT CONDEMNATION

[CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS]

INTRODUCTIONS 8 6 0 6 SCENIC HIGHWAY, S-P-V-L-L-C 8 6 0 6 SCENIC HIGHWAY COUNCIL, DISTRICT TWO BANKS.

NUMBER 15, THE ESTATE OF LESLIE T MCCOY AND THE ESTATE OF CARRIE MCCOY 9 2 0 0 SCOTLAND AVENUE COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS, NUMBER 16, AARON EDDIE.

UH, I'M SORRY, EDDIE AARON JOHNSON.

1 9 4 0 ROSENWALD ROAD COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 17, THE ESTATE OF DENO M MILES.

6 0 1 MILLS AVENUE, COUNCIL, DISTRICT TWO BANKS, NUMBER 18, LINDA PEACE, BOWIE AND ROBERT BOWIE.

9 2 3.

GLORIA DRIVE, COUNCIL, DISTRICT FOUR, MOOC NUMBER 19 CBS ENTERPRISES, INC.

5 3 6 1 EAST BROOKSTOWN DRIVE, COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST.

NUMBER 20, THE ESTATE OF CHRISTIE HOWELL ODOM.

6 0 7 7 TIJUANA DRIVE, COUNCIL, DISTRICT FIVE HEARST.

NUMBER 22, THE RUCKER GROUP, LLC 4 3 6 7.

NOAH STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT SEVEN, NUMBER 22, THE ESTATE OF EZEKIEL MURPHY.

3 7 2 6 WASHINGTON AVENUE, SEC COUNCIL, DISTRICT SEVEN, NUMBER 23, AGAPE REALTY OF LOUISIANA.

FOUR.

UH, 5 4 0 7 FAIRFIELD AVENUE COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN, NUMBER 24, WARREN T DOUGLAS 3 8 5 1 BRADY STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT SEVEN, NUMBER 25.

CAROLYN A, UH, ANNE SSO 2 1 6 3 HOOD AVENUE COUNCIL DISTRICT 12 ROCK.

ALL ITEMS REQUIRE READING 'EM IN READ AND A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS AS AN ORDER.

RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 53 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67 AND 68.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA.

ANY OBJECTION? SEEING NONE.

ITEMS THEY INTRODUCED.

LET'S GO TO

[CONDEMNATIONS]

CONDEMNATIONS.

I SEE YOU SEPARATE SHEET FOR THE DPW RECOMMENDATIONS.

I'M GONNA HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THE ITEMS? 53 THROUGH 68? YES, MA'AM.

ITEM FIVE.

I'M SORRY.

THE INTRODUCTION ITEM? NO, THIS,

[01:20:01]

THIS, NO PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE INTRODUCTIONS.

WE'RE ON CONDEMNATIONS.

DO YOU, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK WITH ON ITEM 53 THROUGH 68? WE CAN'T MAKE A COMMENT ON INTRODUCTIONS.

ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 53 THROUGH 68? SEEING NONE, PUBLIC HEARINGS CLOSED.

WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

YES, MA'AM.

NUMBER 55, 30 DAYS NUMBER 56, 60 DAYS NUMBER 65 90 DAYS AND 66, 60 DAYS.

AND, UH, DISTRICT SEVEN? UH, I HAVE SOME FROM DISTRICT SEVEN.

UH, ITEM 60 FOR 30 DAYS.

ITEM 61 FOR 30 DAYS.

62 FOR 30 DAYS, AND 63 FOR 90 DAYS.

AND DELETE ITEM 54 62.

OKAY, I'M GONNA READ THAT.

53 AND 59, 30 DAYS PLEASE.

LET'S SEE IF WE GOT THIS RIGHT.

ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY, SO WE ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 53, 57.

I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T MARK THOSE.

OKAY, WE'RE GONNA PROCEED WITH ITEMS 57 58, 64, 66.

NO, I'M SORRY, NOT 66.

UH, 67 AND 68, 30 DAYS ON ITEM 53, 55, 59, 60, 61, 62, 60 DAYS ON ITEM 56 AND 66, 90 DAYS ON ITEM 63 AND 65, WE'RE GONNA DELETE ITEM 54.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GOLDEY, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN.

ANY OPPOSED? SAY NONE APPROVED.

ALRIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE, UH, WE'RE GONNA SKIP AROUND.

WE'RE GONNA GO TO PAGE 18, UH, TO APPOINTMENTS, ASHLEY.

COUNCIL MEMBERS FIRST APPOINTMENT,

[106. 24-00896]

UM, ITEM 1 0 6, MUNICIPAL FIRE AND POLICE, CIVIL SERVICE BOARD CONSIDERATION OF REPLACING WILLIAM BILL JOHANNESSON, WHO HAS RESIGNED.

THE CURRENT BALLOT IS JOSHUA RANDALL NEWVILLE.

IS THERE A MOTION I'D LIKE TO MAKE? A MOTION TO APPOINT MR. JOSHUA RANDALL NEWVILLE.

SECOND BY MR. COLE.

MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

ANY OBJECTIONS? ANY OBJECTIONS? HE IS PRESENT TODAY AND I'D LIKE TO TELL HIM THANK YOU FOR COMING.

CONGRATULATIONS MS. NUELL.

VISIT BATON ROUGE, CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTING OR REPLACING CLAUDE RAIN.

UH, ITEM 1 0 7,

[107. 24-00897]

CLAUDE RENO, JR.

CURRENT BALLOT IS CAUGHT.

CLAUDE RENO, JR.

SO MOVED.

MOTION BY MS. COLEMAN FOR A SECOND.

MR. GODDE? MM-HMM.

ANY OBJECTIONS? MR. RENO HAS BEEN REAPPOINTED.

UH, ITEM 1 0 8,

[108. 24-00973 ]

CAPITAL AREA HUMAN SERVICES DISTRICT.

CONCURRING IN THE NAME SUBMITTED BY THE C-A-H-S-D FOR SUBMISSION TO THE GOVERNOR FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD.

THE C-A-H-S-D RECOMMENDS THE REAPPOINTMENT OF SHALANDA B HARRIS.

UM, IS THERE A MOTION COMMISSION BY MS. BANKS? SECOND ADAM? ANY OBJECTION? UH, ITEM 1 0 9,

[109. 24-00974]

COMPLETE STREETS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

ONE APPOINTMENT TO CONCUR IN THE NOMINATION OF THE BATON ROUGE NORTH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.

THIS IS A FOUR YEAR TERM.

UH, THE BATON ROUGE NORTH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT HAS NOMINATED MS. APRIL HAWTHORNE.

IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION COLEMAN? I SECOND.

SECOND.

10 COMPLETE STREETS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

BY MR. NOLL.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? MS. HAWTHORN HAS BEEN APPOINTED, UH, ITEM ONE

[110. 24-00976]

ONE.

APPOINTMENT TWO, CONCURRENT THE NOMINATION OF THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.

THIS IS A FOUR YEAR TERM CURRENT BALLOT.

IOR BUDDO.

UM, I APOLOGIZE IF I GOT THAT VERY WRONG.

UM, IS THERE A MOTION, THE MOVE BY MS. COLEMAN? SECOND BY MS. RAA? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION?

[01:25:01]

COMPLETE STREETS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

UM, ITEM ONE 11,

[111. 24-00977]

ONE APPOINTMENT TO CONCUR THE NOMINATION OF THE CENTER FOR PLANNING EXCELLENCE.

THIS IS A FOUR YEAR TERM.

CURRENT BALLOT IS JESSICA KEMP.

IS THERE A MOTION MOVED BY MS. COLEMAN GOE, SECOND BY MR. GOE.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION, MS. KEMP'S BEEN APPOINTED? OKAY.

AUTHORIZING AN ADDITIONAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH PURSUANT TO LOUISIANA CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE SEVEN, SECTION 21 FOR PROPERTY THAT IS OWNED AND OCCUPIED BY FIRST RESPONDER AS THE V BY THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION, AND PROVIDING NOTICE OF THE ADOPTION OF THIS EXEMPTION TO THE ASSESSOR.

BACK TO PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER 69,

[69. 24-00693]

ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? YES, SIR.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.

YES, SIR.

MR. MAYOR PRO TEM JAKE MORGAN, BATON ROUGE PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION.

I WANNA SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS.

UM, THIS OBVIOUSLY WOULD BE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION TAX BREAK FOR FIRST RESPONDERS THAT WORK AND LIVE IN THE, IN THE PARISH.

SO LIVE IN EAST BAT ROUGE PARISH SERVICE, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, UM, SURROUNDING PARISHES AROUND EAST BATON ROUGE PARISHES HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED THIS.

UM, I THINK THIS WOULD BE A GREAT THING FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND ASK FOR YOUR FAVORABLE PASSAGE.

ANYONE ELSE SPEAKING ON WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS? SEEING NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL, PLEASE.

DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CREATE AN ORDINANCE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL THAT WOULD THEN ALLOW DPW TO HAVE THE SAME PRIVILEGES THAT WHEN SHE, UH, DESCRIBED AS FIRST RESPONDERS WOULD BEES? MY INITIAL IMPRESSION IS THAT WE PROBABLY WON'T BE ABLE TO, 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF ADDING ANOTHER CLASSIFICATION NORMALLY, I DIDN'T HAVE TO SAY FIRST RESPONDERS.

UH, COUNCILMAN HURST.

HEY, I'VE BEEN IN FAVOR OF THIS SINCE DAY ONE, UH, BUT I WOULD ASK THAT REGINALD BLOOMFIELD, STAND UP.

ANYBODY ELSE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS? RACHEL LAMBERT.

THEY FIRST, WHEREVER YOU ARE, TRINA, IF YOU ARE HERE, THESE ARE THE, UH, MEN AND THE WOMEN THAT ARE TRULY ON THE FRONT LINES THAT CLEAR THE ROADS, THE DRAINAGES THAT UNCLOG THE, UH, THE PIPES, UH, HERE WITH THE, THE OVERFLOWING SEWERS.

AND WE NEVER CONSIDERED THEM FIRST RESPONDERS.

AND MY APPEAL THE LAST TIME THIS CAME UP, WHICH WILL ALSO BE MY APPEAL TODAY, IS THAT THE POLICE CAN'T MAKE IT DOWN THE ROAD IF THEY DON'T DO THEIR JOB TO CLEAR FIRST DURING COVID, THEY DIDN'T GET HAZARD PAY BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T CONSIDERED FIRST RESPONDERS, BUT HAD TO SHOW UP EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE THE CITY PARISH HAD WHAT IT NEEDED TO SURVIVE IN TERMS OF KEEPING OUR BUILDINGS OPEN, UH, KEEPING OUR CITY MOVING FORWARD TO ENSURE THAT THE MAYOR COULD MAKE HER PUBLIC, UH, SPEECHES.

AND THAT CITY HALL WAS OPERABLE TO BE ABLE TO NOTIFY THE CITIZENS OF THE PARISH ABOUT WHERE WE WERE DURING COVID, DURING THE FLOOD, DURING HURRICANES.

SO I ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THEM TO BE FIRST RESPONDERS.

AND I'M GONNA BRING, UH, WHOEVER, PARISH ATTORNEY OR WHOEVER HR NEEDS TO COME UP TO BE ABLE TO VERIFY THAT BECAUSE THEY NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS, UH, PROPERTY EXEMPTION.

Y FELLAS, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.

HAVE A SEAT.

BUT WHOEVER NEEDS TO COME TO THE MIC, THAT CAN DETERMINE IF THEY'LL BE CONSIDERED FIRST RESPONDERS OR NOT.

OF COURSE NOT.

THAT DETERMINES HOW I MOVE FORWARD WITH MY VOTE.

I DUNNO IF IT'S HR, SOMEBODY, ANYBODY, EVERYBODY ON SCREEN.

WE FIRST TURN, THERE'S AN ATTORNEY FROM THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE HERE.

WE OKAY.

AN ATTORNEY FOR THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.

LET'S GO.

COUNCILMAN HURST.

I DID SOME RESEARCH ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH.

THE DEFINITION IS VERY CLEAR.

IT ONLY COVERS POLICE, FIRE, EMS AND COMMUNICATIONS PEOPLE FOR THOSE DEPARTMENTS.

IT DOES NOT COVER OTHER PEOPLE.

THEY ARE ENUMERATED IN THE PARAGRAPH.

I SPOKE TO THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE IN NUMEROUS PARISHES.

THAT IS HOW THEY DETERMINED WHO FITS UNDER THAT BILL.

EVERY ASSESSOR'S OFFICE THAT I SPOKE TO THAT PASSED AN ORDINANCE IS CRAZY.

ONLY USES IT FOR POLICE FIRE, EMS AND THOSE COMMUNICATIONS DISTRICTS.

THAT WAS LAFAYETTE, JEFFERSON, ST.

CHARLES, NEW ORLEANS, ASCENSION, AND LIVINGSTON.

SO IS THAT A LAW OF BEST PRACTICE? THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW.

IT'S TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY USE IT AS.

I WANNA KNOW.

CAN WE USE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DPW? MY LEGAL OPINION IS NO.

YOU CAN ONLY USE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LISTED IN THAT SPECIFIC LAW.

AND IT'S VERY SPECIFIC.

AND IT LISTS PEACE OFFICER, WHICH MEANS SHERIFF, POLICE OFFICER, OR OTHER PERSON DEPUTIZED.

IT GOES ON TO SAY, FIRE PROTECTION PERSONNEL, INDIVIDUALS WITH EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL.

AND THE LAW GOES ON, BUT IT DOES NOT COVER DPW WORKERS.

SO DO, UH, COURTNEY, CAN YOU COME TO THE MIC PLEASE?

[01:30:08]

I WANNA SAY DPW GETS THE SAME THING THAT THEY GET.

CAN I CREATE AN ORDINANCE HERE THAT DOES THAT? MY FIRST IMPRESSION IS, IS NO, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT.

SO IF WE CAN DO IT, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE NEXT MEETING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. THERE WE GO.

UM, SO I, I'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH, UM, WITH OUR FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE PARISH AND LET THEM KNOW WHERE I AM ON THIS.

AND MY, MY, MY PROBLEM WITH THIS, UM, THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION, THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, IS THAT IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT EQUITABLE FOR ME TO VOTE FOR THIS.

IT'S FOR ME TO SAY THAT I VALUE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS WHO WORK INSIDE THE PARISH AND LIVE INSIDE THE PARISH MORE THAN I VALUE THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE SURROUNDING PARISHES.

IT'S ALSO FOR ME TO SAY THAT I VALUE, UM, FIRST RESPONDERS WHO ARE PROPERTY OWNERS INSIDE THE PARISH MORE THAN I VALUE.

UM, THOSE WHO, FOR WHATEVER REASON, UM, DO NOT OWN PROPERTY IN THE PARISH, MAYBE THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO AFFORD TO OWN PROPERTY.

IT COULD BE A SINGLE MOM RENTING AN APARTMENT, WORKING AS A, A DISPATCHER WITH SEVERAL CHILDREN.

UM, THIS IS ESSENTIALLY, UM, IT'S A PAY INCREASE, BUT IT'S NOT APPLIED EQUALLY ACROSS.

AND, UM, I'VE HAD POLICE OFFICERS TELL ME THAT, UM, THEY'RE VERY SPECIFIC REASONS WHY THEY LIVE OUTSIDE THE PARISH BECAUSE, UM, WHEN THEY GET OFF THEIR SHIFT, THEY WANT TO BE OUTSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY POLICE.

UM, YOU, YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, FIREFIGHTERS, YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO LIVE IN SURROUNDING PARISHES BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THEIR FAMILIES, UM, WHAT'S, THAT'S WHERE THEIR FAMILIES PROPERTY IS.

THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE, THEY'RE CLOSE TO, UM, TO FRIENDS OR THEIR CHURCH.

IT, THERE, THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS WHY PEOPLE LIVE WHERE THEY LIVE.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE A FIRST RESPONDER IN, UM, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, UM, I VALUE ALL OF THESE, UM, PEOPLE EQUALLY.

AND IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE, UM, I THINK IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE TAX DOLLARS FLOWING INTO THE PARISH SO THAT WE CAN PAY ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS WELL, AND AS THEY DESERVE TO BE, UM, PAID RATHER THAN HAVE, UM, TAX POLICY THAT INCENTIVIZES PEOPLE TO TAKE AN ACTION THAT THAT MAY NOT BE WHAT'S BEST FOR THEMSELVES OR THEIR FAMILY.

SO, UM, I, I THINK I'M ON RECORD AS BEING VERY SUPPORTIVE OVER AND OVER AGAIN OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

BUT THIS TO ME IS, UM, IS, IS JUST NOT GOOD TAX POLICY.

AND SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I CAN SUPPORT BANKS.

BANKS, UH, CAN AN WOULD ANGIE, COME UP PLEASE.

PERCENT WOULD BE ABOUT 20,000 BECAUSE OUR MILLAGES FOR OUR GOVERNMENT ARE VERY SMALL.

I WAS JUST WONDERING, HAD YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW, UM, THIS AGENDA ITEM IN TERMS OF HARD NUMBERS REGARDING THE NUMBER OF FIRST RESPONDERS THAT WOULD BENEFIT AND WHAT THAT WOULD, HOW, UM, WHAT WOULD BE THE LOSS IMPACT TO CITY PARISH? SO, YES, MA'AM.

WE DID, UH, SURVEY A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT, UM, ORGANIZATIONS AND COMPANIES WITHIN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH THAT WE THINK, UM, HAVE, UH, EMPLOYEES THAT MEET THIS CRITERION COULD BE ELIGIBLE.

SO THAT WAS OVER, UM, ALL THE FIRE DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE PARISH.

WE CALLED THE BAKER POLICE, ZACHARY POLICE, WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES STATE POLICE, UM, ACADIAN AMBULANCE AND EMS BASED ON THE DEFINITION OF WHAT WE DEEMED ELIGIBLE.

AND THEN WE DID, UH, DIFFERENT QUALIFICATIONS, LIKE A HUNDRED PERCENT QUALIFIED, 75, 50 AND 25 MM-HMM.

SO THE BIGGEST IMPACT IS 1.2 MILLION.

AND WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING THIS WITH THIS DOLLARS YES, MA'AM.

WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING THIS WITH THE ASSESSOR, YOU ARE THE GOVERNING BODY OF THIS ENTIRE PARISH.

SO YOU'RE EXEMPTING IT FOR ALL TAXING JURISDICTIONS.

SO IT'S NOT JUST THE ONES THAT WE HAVE CONTROL OVER.

YOU'RE EXEMPTING IT FROM CITY OF BAKERS, CITY OF ZACHARY.

AND SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT'S UNDERSTANDING AND THAT'S THE IMPACT ON TOTAL FOR THE CITY PARISH, THOUGH THE GENERAL FUND, IT WOULD BE ABOUT A HUNDRED

[01:35:01]

SO, UM, I MEAN, WE DID, AGAIN, THIS IS BASED ON TWO, LIKE I SAID IN THE BEGINNING, I DON'T KNOW WHO OWNS A HOME HERE.

A LOT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS DID NOT WANNA DISCLOSE THAT INFORMATION.

SO I, THE, THE 25% IS IMPACT ON ALL IS 300,000.

SO I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THAT'S A GOOD NUMBER.

AND I, I SAID THAT WHEN I STARTED THIS, THIS IS JUST, YOU KNOW, EMPLOYERS DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DISCLOSING LOCATIONS OF EMPLOYEES.

THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEY OWN HOMES.

AND SO, I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE CERTIFYING THESE NUMBERS.

Y'ALL JUST ASKED ME TO PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER TO GIVE YOU SOME KIND OF PERSPECTIVE.

BUT I, AGAIN, I CAN'T SAY THAT THIS IS SOMETHING I WOULD EVEN STAND BEHIND BECAUSE IT'S JUST A SHOT IN THE DARK.

RIGHT.

SO, UM, I, I DEFINITELY CONCUR WITH, UM, COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, BUT ALSO IN THINKING ABOUT, UM, WHEN WE HAVE MA AND ALL THE TIMES THAT WE HAVE, UM, MADE CONCESSIONS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, IT IS NOT, UM, FOR THEIR BENEFIT, IT HAS BEEN FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PARISH AND THEIR ABILITY TO SERVE.

UM, BECAUSE FOR ME, IT'S UNETHICAL TO CARVE OUT A PARTICULAR PROFESSION, UM, FOR FINANCIAL GAIN.

UH, WHEN, WHEN WE HAVE EVEN INTRODUCED, UH, RESIDENTIAL BENEFITS.

IT HAS BEEN FOR SPECIFICALLY, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT SO THAT LIVED OUT OF THE PARISH, BUT SO THAT THEY WOULD BE, FIRST OF ALL, SEEING A POLICE CAR IN THE RESIDENCE WITHIN, UH, THE PARISH ARTIST CITY WAS JUST LIKE HAVING 24 HOUR SECURITY, OR, UH, IT, IT HELPED WITH, UH, THE MILEAGE OF THOSE DRIVING IN AND OUT OF THE PARISH WITH, UH, POLICE, UH, VEHICLES AND FUELING.

WHILE ALL OF THAT, IT HAS NEVER BEEN WHERE A PARTICULAR PROFESSION THAT THEY CHOSE, UM, BENEFITED PERSONALLY.

AND SO FOR ME, THIS ISN'T SOMETHING, UM, THAT WE SHOULD BEGIN TO EVEN VENTURE INTO BECAUSE FOR ME, I'M A FIRST RESPONDER.

UM, YOU KNOW, IF, IF, AND BECAUSE I WAS THE FIRST WHO WENT ON THE, TO OPEN THE SHELTER FOR THE FLOOD, ALL OF THAT PANDEMIC, WE WERE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

BUT I CHOSE TO DO THAT.

AND THERE'S NO BENEFIT, UM, OTHER THAN GOODWILL.

AND WE CAN'T ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, I, I TURN, I MEAN, OUR WHOLE, UH, UH, CITY PARISH RUNS ON THE BACK OF DPW.

I'VE BEEN SAYING THAT FOREVER, BUT THIS ISN'T THE WAY.

AND TO ADD A FINANCIAL BURDEN THAT WITH NO HEART NUMBERS, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY WHERE THAT SOME, UM, WHO WE ARE BEING DISCRIMINATORY, WHERE WE'RE ALMOST SAYING, YOU KNOW, YOU TO GET THIS FINANCIAL GAIN FOR YOURSELF, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THAT BENEFIT.

AND WHAT IF THEY, THEY COULD ALWAYS PUT THEIR PARENTS' NAME IN THEIR HOUSE FOR THAT BENEFIT.

IT'S JUST TOO MANY UNKNOWNS AS YOU'VE INDICATED.

AND, UH, I THINK THERE ARE A LOT IN THIS SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME THAT, UH, ARE IN PANDORA'S BOX THAT HAS NOT BEEN OPEN.

SO, AS MUCH AS I LOVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND AGAIN, ALSO ON RECORD OF SUPPORTING THEM, THIS TO ME IS UNETHICAL.

UM, BECAUSE IT SERVES NOT AT THE PLEASURE OR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMON OF THE GOOD OF THE ENTIRE PARISH.

BUT FOR SAY SHE DIDN'T KNOW INDIVIDUAL PROFESSIONAL COUNCILMAN MO, WE'LL LET HAVE THAT FEW SECONDS BACK.

I'LL, I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND TAKE FROM THAT TIME RIGHT THERE AND GO FORWARD , BUT YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME.

YOU KNOW, NOT RECOGNIZE ME LIKE THE PREVIOUS, BUT , KAMAN MO.

THAT HAS TO BE THERE FOR SO MANY HOUR SHIFT OF A POLICE DEPARTMENT, KNOWING THAT THEY'RE GONNA GET CALLED OUT AND SHOT AT EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT THEY COULD GET SHOT OUT EACH TIME.

UM, YEAH, OPEN THAT WITH A JOKE BECAUSE I'M SITTING HERE TRYING TO CHOKE BACK COMPLETELY, JUST GOING OFF THE RAILS HERE, AND I'M GONNA TRY AND KEEP IT AS PEACEFUL AS I CAN.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE ELECTED.

WE SIT UP HERE, WE DON'T HAVE SO MUCH TIME TO SAY OUR PEACE AND EVERYTHING.

YOU EITHER SAY IT OR YOU HOLD IT IN FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

I'M GONNA SAY THIS RIGHT NOW, AS HARD AS OUR DPW WORKERS ARE WORK AS MUCH AS THEY DO FOR THIS PARISH, AS WONDERFUL AS THEY ARE FOR WHAT THEY GET, FOR BEING OUT THERE WHEN WE NEED THEM SOMETIMES AND EVERYTHING, I RESENT THE FACT THAT YOU WANT TO COMPARE A DPW WORKER TO A FIRST RESPOND, CLASSIFIED FIRST RESPONDER.

THAT IS A POLICE OFFICER FIREFIGHTER OR EMS THAT HAS TO RUN INTO A BURNING BUILDING THAT HAS TO SHOW UP FOR A 24 HOUR SHIFT

[01:40:01]

AN EMS WORKER THAT HAS TO TAKE SOMEONE THAT THE FIREFIGHTERS DRAG OUT OF A BUILDING AND TRY AND SAVE THEIR LIFE OR UNWRAP THEM FROM A TREE THAT THEY'VE BEEN WRAPPED AROUND IN A WRECK TO SIT HERE AND PUT OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS IN A POSITION TO SAY THAT IF WE DON'T ADD DPW WORKERS, AND WHETHER THAT'S YOUR INTENT OR NOT, IT'S WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE, THAT IF WE DON'T PASS THIS BECAUSE CERTAIN PEOPLE AREN'T ADDED IN, THAT SUCKS.

AND I HATE THAT VERY MUCH, THAT IT EVEN HAS TO COME UP.

WE HAVE OTHER PARISHES AROUND US THAT HAVE PASSED THIS.

THEY WILL DEAL WITH IT.

WE WILL DEAL WITH IT.

WE TALK ABOUT IT FROM AN EMPLOYEE EMPLOYMENT STANDPOINT AND EVERYTHING, AND WE WORRY ABOUT THAT.

WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WHEN WE DON'T DO THIS, AND WE'RE NOT GETTING THE POSITIONS FILLED OR ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE GONNA GO TO WORK FOR THOSE PARISHES THAT THEY LIVE IN, WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT, THEY'RE ALREADY GOING TO PLACES LIKE HOUSTON AND DALLAS ON THEIR FOUR DAYS OFF SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE MONEY.

THEY'RE LEAVING US NOW AS IT IS.

WE'RE GONNA LET ALL OUR OTHER PARISHES AROUND US DO THIS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE STATE IS ALLOWING US TO DO.

IT COULD POSSIBLY BE 1.3 MILLION IN REVENUE, BUT IF IT KEEPS OUR PUBLIC CITIZENS SAFE, IF IT KEEPS THE EMPLOYMENT ROLLS FULL, IF IT INCENTIVIZES PEOPLE TO COME IN AND PROTECT OUR PARISH DAILY THAT HAVE TO SHOW UP EVERY SINGLE TIME, THEN OF COURSE I'M ALL FOR THIS.

AND I WOULD HOPE YOU WOULD BE FOR IT ALSO.

BUT PLEASE DON'T CONSTRUE THAT.

MY ARGUMENT HERE IS, IS NEGLECTING OR DENYING THE HARD WORK THAT DPW DOES.

I KNOW THEY DO.

I SEE 'EM EVERY DAY.

I CALL 'EM OUT WHEN I NEED SOMETHING.

I KNOW THEY RESPOND.

I KNOW THAT THEY HELP DELIVER SAND DURING EMERGENCY, AND THEN THEY GO HOME.

THAT'S NOT DIMINISHING THE HARD WORK THAT THEY DO.

IT'S NOT DIMINISHING WHAT THEY ASSIST WITH.

BUT TO COMPARE 'EM TO THE FIRST RESPONDERS THAT THIS LAW WAS CREATED BY THE STATE FOR US TO LOOK AT, I, I, I THINK IS, IS IT'S WRONG.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE SUPPORTING HERE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING OVERALL.

COUNCILMAN GODDE.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN ONLY BE DONE BY THE LEGISLATURE WITH RATIFICATION OF THE PEOPLE THROUGH A STATEWIDE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

UH, FIRST I WANTED TO THANK, UH, KIM BROOKS.

I, I HAD, WHENEVER THIS CAME UP IN JULY, I HAD RAISED THE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THE DEFINITION, UH, WAS BROAD.

UM, I I STILL RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH HER INTERPRETATION BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE SAYS, FIRST RESPONDER SHALL ALSO MEAN A FULL-TIME PUBLIC EMPLOYEE WHOSE DUTIES INCLUDE RESPONDING.

UM, SO I ASKED, UM, UH, MR. BRIAN EDINGTON WITH THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE TO COME TO THIS MEETING.

HE'S AN ATTORNEY WITH ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.

MR. EDING, THANK YOU.

IF YOU'LL COME UP, UM, IF YOU'LL JUST KIND OF START WITH SOME OF THE INPUT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE ME, UH, FROM YOUR REVIEW OF THIS LEGISLATION AND, AND IMPLEMENTATION.

SIR, MY NAME IS BRIAN ATKIN.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE COUNSEL TO THE LOUISIANA ASSESSORS ASSOCIATION.

AND THE DEBATE I'M HEARING HERE TODAY IS THE DEBATE I'VE HEARD IN OTHER PARISHES, UH, AROUND THE STATE.

UH, AND I'LL TELL YOU, I KNOW IT'S UNPOPULAR OPINION, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WHAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH IS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, AND IT IS A MATTER OF CONSTITUTIONAL IMPLEMENTATION ONLY.

UH, COUNCILMAN HURST? TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, NO, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THIS COUNCIL DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO GRANT AN ADDITIONAL EXTENSION TO THIS.

NOW, THERE IS A QUESTION.

IT IS A, IT'S A POORLY DRAFTED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, AND THAT IS WHAT HAS LED TO PROVINCE, NOT ONLY HERE.

I'M, I'M HEARING THESE SAME QUESTIONS FROM DIFFERENT CORNERS OF THE STATE, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER, SINCE THIS IS A CONSTITUTIONAL EXEMPTION, RULES OF STRICT CONSTRUCTION APPLY.

AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HEARING THE COMMENTS THAT NO, APPARENTLY, REALLY ONLY THOSE ENUMERATED CATEGORIES TEND TO APPLY.

I'LL TELL YOU, THERE ARE SEVERAL PARISHES THAT HAVE VOTED NO AND PETITIONED THEIR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES AS THE SENATE TO, TO REINTRODUCE THIS NEXT YEAR AND TRIED TO EXPAND IT.

THERE ARE PARISHES THAT HAVE VOTED YES AND ALSO PETITIONED THE REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS.

UH, THERE IS A COMPELLING NEED TO HAVE SOME OF THE SHORTCOMINGS ADDRESSED.

[01:45:02]

I'M GRATEFUL.

THANK YOU FOR THAT INPUT.

UH, I WOULD ALSO ADD AN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

WHEN THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT APPEARED, UH, ON THE BALLOT IN EBR PARISH, IT, IT WAS NOT APPROVED BY VOTERS.

WE HAD, UM, MORE NO VOTES FOR THIS ONE THAN YET NOW.

IT, IT WAS APPROVED STATEWIDE.

BUT I'M REFERRING TO JUST IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, SO I APPRECIATE IT.

YOUR, YOUR INPUT AND ASSISTANCE WAS REALLY HELPFUL.

UH, I JOINED THAT CHORUS OF SAYING THIS, THE LANGUAGE SHOULD BE MASSAGED.

AND I'LL TELL THIS COUNSEL, I, I, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA SUPPORT THIS.

UM, UH, BUT, BUT UNDER THE, UNDER THE GUISE THAT I'M CONFIDENT THE ASSESSORS, THE LOUISIANA ASSESSORS ASSOCIATION WILL WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE IN THE FUTURE TO, TO FIX IT.

HOWEVER, THAT, UH, PATH NEEDS TO GO FORWARD.

WE INTEND TO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COUNCILMAN HUDSON? UH, MR. IS IT EDINGTON? YES.

YOUR DISCUSSION MADE ME THINK OF ANOTHER QUESTION.

UM, IF THE LEGISLATURE DOES GO BACK AND CHANGE IT, UH, WILL WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THIS EXERCISE AGAIN? YES, YOU WILL.

SO, SO WE COULD LOOK AT THIS AGAIN.

IT WILL, EVEN IF IT'S AN AMENDMENT, IT WILL, IT'LL EFFECTIVELY BE TREATED AS A NEW EXEMPTION, WHICH WILL REQUIRE NEW ACTION BY THE LOCAL GOVERNING AUTHORITIES.

AND SO IF WE WERE NOT TO DO ANYTHING AT THAT POINT, THIS EXEMPTION WOULD EXPIRE.

AND, AND NO, IT WOULD JUST CON IF TO MAKE AN ASSUMPTION, UH, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING IS IF YOU WERE TO VOTE YES IN ITS CURRENT FORM YEP.

GO TO THE LEGISLATURE, THE LEGISLATURE AMENDS A BILL, ADDS DPW OR, OR A BROAD DEPOSITION THAT WOULD ENCOMPASS D-P-D-P-W AND FOR WHATEVER REASON THIS COUNCIL DID NOTHING.

THE ANSWER IS THAT FIREMEN, POLICEMEN EMERGENCY RESPONSE PERSONNEL WOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE THE EXEMPTION.

BUT THE DPW WORKERS WOULD NOT, IT WOULD NOT EXPIRE.

IT JUST WOULD NOT BE EXPANDED OR EXTENDED.

GOTCHA.

UM, SO I'LL JUST ALSO ECHO THE, THE SENTIMENTS OF COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, BUT I, I WANNA EXPOUND ON 'EM JUST A LITTLE BIT IN THAT, UM, CERTAINLY NOT THAT I'M SOME TAX POLICY EXPERT, BUT WHEN I'VE LOOKED AT ISSUES AROUND TAXES, GENERALLY MY FOCUS, OR, OR THE WAY I, THE LENS THAT I VIEW IT IS THAT THEY'RE, UH, BROAD, FAIR, AND LOW.

UM, AND WHENEVER YOU VIOLATE ONE OR MORE OF THOSE, UH, KIND OF TENANTS, UM, I THINK THAT'S WHEN WE START TO SEE PROBLEMS, UH, WITH TAX POLICY.

THIS WOULD SEEM TO VIOLATE AT LEAST TWO OF THOSE FOR ME.

UM, SO THAT'S MY ISSUE WITH IT.

AND, UM, UM, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

COUNCILMAN HURST.

UM, I'M, I'M BAD WITH NAMES, BUT THE, THE GENTLEMAN WITH THE NICE BLUE SUIT CAN MR. TON, ATTORNEY TON.

SO, UM, CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT AUTHORITY WE HAVE AS A LOCAL BODY WITH OUR PROPERTY TAXES THAT WE COLLECT, THAT GO INTO OUR GENERAL FUND? DO WE HAVE ANY AUTHORITY AT ALL TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS ON HOW WE DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD IN TERMS OF PROVIDING ANY CONCESSIONS TO MEMBERS OF A CERTAIN BODY OF THE CITY PARISH? WITH ALL RESPECT, YOU HAVE NO AUTHORITY IN, IN THAT REGARD.

IT IS PURELY A MATTER OF CONSTITUTIONAL IMPLEMENTATION.

UH, YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN HUDSON COMMENT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE, THE BASICS OF TAX POLICY.

UM, I STATE, STATE THERE, SAY A LITTLE, LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

THAT GOOD TAX POLICY IS A TAX POLICY THAT HAS THE MOST PEOPLE PAYING THE LOWEST TAXES.

UNIFORMITY IS THE WATCH WORD THAT ASSESSORS GO BY.

AND IT'S EMBEDDED IN OUR, IN OUR CONSTITUTION THAT ANY DEVIATION FROM THE GENERAL PRINCIPLE THAT EVERYBODY PAYS THE SAME AMOUNT OF TAXES CAN ONLY BE DONE THROUGH A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, SPECIFICALLY ARTICLE SEVEN, SECTION 20, OR ARTICLE SEVEN, SECTION 21 OF THE LOUISIANA CONSTITUTION.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE UNFORTUNATE LIMITATION IS THAT THAT POWER DOES NOT DEVOLVE TO THE LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES.

UH, IT'S UNFORTUNATE.

I I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M ALSO A BELIEVER THAT THE LOWEST LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT IS OFTEN THE MOST RESPONSIVE, BUT THAT'S JUST NOT, UNFORTUNATELY THE WAY THE SYSTEM IS SET UP.

I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND HAVE A SEAT.

I JUST, NO, THAT'S IT, THAT'S IT FOR ME.

BUT I THINK THE WAY THAT IT CAME ACROSS WAS TO DIMINISH WHAT THEY DO IN DISASTERS VERSUS WHAT, UH, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND LOOK, MIKE COLA WILL TELL YOU, MAN, I TELL HIM ALL THE TIME, I DON'T SEE HOW YOU GO AND SEE SEVERED BODIES AND OTHER THINGS AND THEN GO HOME.

UM, I DO HAVE ONE COMMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, AND I'M, I'M, IT'S NOT AN ARGUMENT, IT'S A, IT'S AN OPINION.

'CAUSE THE SUBJECTIVENESS OF WHAT COUNCILMAN MOGUE SPECIFICALLY STATED ABOUT DPW NOT BEING IN A POSITION AND, UM, TO SOMEWHAT, I DON'T THINK THAT WAS HIS INTENT,

[01:50:01]

DO YOUR, DO YOUR PEOPLE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING? SO I, I AM ALL FOR MAKING SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT RESPOND DAILY HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.

BUT AGAIN, DURING COVID, POLICE OFFICERS HAD THE SAME RESPONSIBILITY AS DPW WORKERS WITH NO HAZARD PAY DURING STORMS DURING ANY DISASTER.

UM, THEY CONSTANTLY GET LOOKED OVER.

SO NO, THERE'S NO COMPARISON IN TERMS OF SOMEBODY GOING INTO A BURNING BUILDING OR HAVING TO PULL A GUN ON SOMEBODY.

I MEAN, THERE'S NO DIFFERENT THAN SAYING AN EMS WORKER CHOSE NOT TO BE A COP.

A COP CHOSE NOT TO BE A FIREMAN.

I'M NOT GONNA SAY THAT A FIREMAN IS BETTER THAN THE POLICE OFFICER OR A POLICE OFFICER IS BETTER THAN EMS WORKER.

BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT PEOPLE RESPONDING TO DISASTER, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING.

IT'S LIKE SAYING THE THREE BRANCH OF THE MILITARY AIR FORCE IS BETTER THAN MARINES.

THEY'RE STILL ON THE FRONT LINES FORCE.

I DON'T CARE WHAT DEPARTMENT YOU GO TO.

OH, WHAT, WHAT BRANCH MILITARY, THEY'RE STILL FIRST RESPONDERS TO PROTECT THE LAND WE CALL THE UNITED STATES.

RIGHT? AND SO, IN THE CITY OF PARIS, WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT, IN RESPONSE, DPW HAS HELD THE HEADS HIGH, UM, A NUMBER OF YEARS FOR SOME OF THE LOWEST PAY, THE LOWEST PAY OF ALL OF THEM.

AND I CONSIDER THOSE FOLKS THE FORGOTTEN PEOPLE.

SO MY ONLY RESPONSE IS THAT IT'S NOT A COMPARISON TO SAY THAT ONE IS GREATER THAN THE OTHER.

EACH DEPARTMENT DOES.

IT PLAYS ITS ROLE.

WHAT I WANT TO HAPPEN RIGHT NOW IS I WANT US TO GO BACK TO 2016 AND TELL THE POLICE OFFICER TO GO DOWN THE ROAD WITHOUT DPW GOING FIRST AND LET SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

THEY PUT THEMSELVES ON THE LINE TO DROWN, PUT THEMSELVES ON THE LINE TO, IN HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS THAT COULD AFFECT THEMSELVES TO NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES.

THEY CAME HERE IN COVID WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE WAS HUNKERING DOWN.

SO, I MEAN, IT IS, NO, IT IS NO COMPARISON.

YOU PUT YOURSELF IN HARM'S WAY.

I DON'T CARE WHAT, WHAT, WHAT THE CALL OF DUTY IS WHEN NOBODY, WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE GETS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT AT HOME, CROSS THEIR LEGS AND WATCH NEW HULU AND NETFLIX, YOU ARE THE FIRST RESPONDER TO ME.

SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THERE'S NO COMPARISON.

I'M NOT TRYING TO SAY ONE IS BETTER THAN THE OTHER.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT THEY DESERVE EQUAL, UM, OPPORTUNITY IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, UM, TAX, TAX ABATEMENT OR TAX CONCESSIONS FOR THEIR PROPERTY.

THAT'S ALL IT WAS.

AND, AND I HOPE IT DOES PASS TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE IN THE UPCOMING SESSION.

I'LL MAKE SURE TO, TO REACH OUT TO MY LEGISLATOR TO SPONSOR.

WE DO WORKING TOGETHER TO KEEP THIS PARISH RUNNING.

COUNCILMAN MOOCH.

BUT IT STILL COMES OUT AS A COMPARISON AND HOWEVER YOU WANNA PUT IT.

AND YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU BROUGHT UP A SECOND AGO THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU TOOK WHAT I SAID A CERTAIN WAY, AND IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU, YOU TOOK THE INTENTION THAT WHAT I SAID WAS I WAS, I WAS, UH, DENIGRATING OR, UH, DOWNING DTW WORKERS.

I WASN'T.

AND I SAID, PRETTY MUCH CLEARLY STATED THAT OVER AND OVER, THAT I'M NOT DIMINISHING THEIR WORK.

AND I'M NOT DIMINISHING THAT THEY DID WORK DURING COVID.

I'M NOT DIMINISHING THAT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WEREN'T OUT DURING COVID OR WORKING DURING COVID, WHETHER THEY WERE, UH, WORKING REMOTELY OR THEY WERE KEEPING THE ECONOMY WORKING, OR THE PEOPLE THAT WORK AT GROCERY STORES.

'CAUSE THEY HAD TO BE OPEN FOR PEOPLE TO GO SHOPPING OR THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER.

THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAD TO WORK DURING COVID.

AND IF YOU WANT TO SPECIFICALLY SPECIFY THAT AREA OF WHATEVER POLICE, FIRE AND EMS NOT ONLY HAD TO WORK DURING COVID, WHETHER IT WAS AN EMERGENCY OR WHATEVER, OR WHETHER IT'S A NATURAL DISASTER OR WHATEVER ELSE, THEY'RE DOING IT 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK ON A REG THAT'S FIREFIGHTERS.

THEY'RE DOING IT ON A REGULAR SHIFT WHERE IT'S A EIGHT HOUR SHIFT OR A 12 HOUR SHIFT THROUGH EMS OR A EIGHT HOUR SHIFT THROUGH POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT ROLLS THROUGH THREE A DAY.

THAT'S EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT THEY'RE PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE.

AND LIKE I SAID, BY NO MEANS IS IT EVER, UH, A, A DOWNING TO DPW WORKERS, THE SAME AS AS FINANCE THAT KEEPS THE CITY PARISH RUNNING.

UM, HR THAT KEEPS THE EMPLOYEES HERE, THAT, THAT, THAT WORK TIRELESSLY.

EVERYBODY THAT WORKS FOR CITY PARISH DOES AN AMAZING JOB.

WE'VE ALL SEEN IT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS OF WHAT THEY ACCOMPLISH AND, AND WHAT

[01:55:01]

BUT THIS RIGHT HERE WAS TARGETED FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, A SPECIFIC CATEGORY.

AND TO ADD INTO THAT, OR TO TRY AND CHANGE THAT BY, BY NOT SUPPORTING THIS, I, I JUST, I TAKE OFFENSE TO THAT.

SO I WOULD ASK THAT SOME OF Y'ALL THAT MIGHT BE ON THE FENCE.

SOME, LET'S GO BACK TO THE, THE TAX THING AND KEEP IT FAIR AND KEEP IT LOW.

I THINK IT, I, I THINK IT IS FAIR.

WE CONSTANTLY TALK ABOUT WAYS TO BRING IN PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS TO KEEP THOSE ROLES FULL.

EVERYBODY SAYS YOU SEE THE POSTINGS ONLINE.

YOU SEE EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND A COP CAR COMING UP BEHIND THEM AND GET OUT THE WAY BECAUSE THEY MAY, WHEN THEY PASS YOU, THEY MAY BE GOING TO YOUR HOUSE, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW IT YET.

THEY MAY BE GOING TO A FAMILY MEMBER'S HOUSE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND THEY WANT THOSE PEOPLE THERE.

JUST LIKE WE VOTED EARLIER TO GIVE THE BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT AN OPTION TO PUT AN INITIATIVE ON THE BALLOT TO LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE.

THIS IS THE SAME THING HERE WITH LETTING PEOPLE DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO SEE THEIR PUBLIC EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDERS GET A TAX BREAK.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY.

AND I ASK Y'ALL TO SUPPORT THIS FOR THEM.

COUNCILMAN DUN JR.

COUNCILWOMAN RAA COUNCILMAN DUNN.

ED IS SIMPLY FORM, THIS IS A RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION TOOL.

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION BENEFIT FOR THE CITY PARISH AND FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

UM, WHEN THESE EMPLOYEES ARE CONSIDERING WHERE THEY WANNA WORK AND WHERE THEY WANNA LIVE, I GUARANTEE THIS IS BE SOMETHING THEY WOULD CONSIDER WITH THOSE PARISHES WHO DO HAVE THIS BENEFIT.

WILL I WORK FOR THEM OR WILL I LIVE IN THAT PARISH? AND WE NEED TO BE IN THE NUMBER TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THAT BENEFIT.

UM, RECRUITING AND RETAINING EMPLOYEES AND TALENT IS A HARD THING RIGHT NOW FOR BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS.

UM, I ASKED MY COLLEAGUES TO CONSIDER SUPPORTING THIS.

UM, MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILWOMAN WHITE, UH, MENTIONED THAT SHE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS FAIR AND EQUITABLE 'CAUSE IT WASN'T OFFERED TO EVERYBODY.

WELL, RIGHT NOW, WE'RE OFFERED THOSE OF US WHO ARE HOMEOWNERS, UH, HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

THAT'S NOT OFFERED TO EVERYBODY.

THAT'S OFFERED TO HOMEOWNERS.

UH, THAT'S NOT OFFERED TO RENTERS.

HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IS OFFERED TO HOMEOWNERS.

AND THIS IS JUST AN EXPANSION OF THAT THAT'S OFFERED TO HOMEOWNERS BECAUSE OF THE INVESTMENT THAT YOU MAKE INTO A PLACE WHEN YOU BUY A HOME.

SO EVERY BENEFIT IS NOT OFFERED TO EVERYBODY, AND THAT'S OKAY.

UM, THERE, THERE ARE BENEFITS TO BEING A RESIDENT AND A CITIZEN OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

UH, SOME OF OUR GOVERNMENT IN QUASI GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, YOU KNOW, BRETT HAS A, A TREMENDOUS PROGRAMS FOR THE SUMMER FOR KIDS AND CAMPS.

THOSE CAMPS ARE PRIORITIZED FOR RESIDENTS OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, THE BRIDGE CENTER, WHICH PROVIDES, YOU KNOW, SO MANY SERVICES FOR PEOPLE.

WE, WHEN THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE, WE MADE SURE THAT THAT WAS PRIORITIZED FOR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH RESIDENTS.

SO YES, THIS IS A BENEFIT FOR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH RESIDENCE, THOSE WHO LIVE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH AND THOSE WHO WORK IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

UM, AND AS IT RELATES TO FIRST RESPONDERS, ANY WAY THAT WE CAN OFFER A BENEFIT TO THEM, A TAX BREAK, A A PAY INCREASE FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO, THE, THE TIMES THEY PUT THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE FOR MANY OF US, UM, I'M ALWAYS IN SUPPORT OF THAT.

SO I WOULD URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM.

WELL DONE.

I'M SO HAPPY THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE SUPPORTING OUR FIRST RESPONDERS TODAY.

TODAY.

YES, SIR.

UM, I HAVE TO SAY THIS FOR THE RECORD 'CAUSE I WOULD BE SADDENED TO WALK OUT OF HERE WITHOUT GIVING AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY I CANNOT VOTE ON THIS ITEM TODAY.

MY HUSBAND IS A FIRST RESPONDER, AND I LIVE IN THE SAME HOME AS HIM.

SO THEREFORE, I WOULD DIRECTLY BENEFIT FROM A POTENTIAL EXEMPTION THAT HE MAY RECEIVE.

UM, LET, I WOULD BE ALSO BE VERY REMISS TO SAY THAT, UM, MY HUSBAND AND I SPEND PROBABLY OVER $10,000 IN ONE HOME ON PROPERTY TAXES.

SO THIS TINY DROP IN THE BUCKET IS NOT GOING TO MAKE OR BREAK THE CITY IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.

AND WE'RE NOT GONNA BE RICHER BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS TINY TAX EXEMPTION.

BUT WHAT I DO NEED TO STATE AND I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S BEEN LOOKED OVER TIME

[02:00:01]

AND AGAIN, THROUGH ALL THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THAT IS THE SIMPLE TERM, FIRST RESPONDER WHEN SOMEONE LIVES WITHIN YOUR PARISH AND THEY GET UP OUT OF BED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO GO TO A FIRE, TO GO RESCUE A PERSON OR TO GO TO A SHOOTING FOR AN INVESTIGATION.

USUALLY THE ONES THAT LIVE IN YOUR PARISH OR IN YOUR CITY LIMITS, THEY'RE FIRST, YOU KNOW, WHY THEY'RE FIRST BECAUSE THEY LIVE WHERE THEY WORK.

OKAY? SO THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME.

AND I DON'T, I'M, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ANYBODY ELSE.

THE OTHER PIECE THAT I THINK WE'VE ALSO MISSED, WHICH IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, IS OUR FIREFIGHTERS.

THEY GO INTO BURNING HOUSES AND EXPOSE THEMSELVES TO A ASBESTOS.

THEY HAVE SEVERE RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES LATER IN LIFE.

THEY HAVE CANCER LATER IN LIFE.

THEY CANNOT WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY LEAVE CITY PARISH AND THEY GO AND LIVE THEIR LIVES AFTER THEY RETIRE, THEY CAN'T GET INSURANCE THE SAME WAY WE ALL CAN.

THEY CAN'T GET LIFE INSURANCE THE SAME THAT WE ALL CAN.

SO WHEN WE'RE MAKING THOSE IMPORTANT DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN WHAT A FIRST RESPONDER IS AND HOW THEIR LIVES ARE DIFFERENT THAN OURS, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THERE IS VERY IMPORTANT DISTINCTIONS THAT TRAVEL WITH THEM THROUGH THEIR LIFESPAN.

THE OTHER PIECES ARE POLICE OFFICERS THAT GO OUT AND RESPOND TO THESE THINGS THAT I CAN TELL YOU, I PASSED THE HUB IN MY DISTRICT AND THEY WERE SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO SEVEN OR EIGHT BRPD OFFICERS THERE EARLIER THIS WEEK.

UM, THEY NEVER KNOW IF THEY'RE COMING HOME, OKAY? THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GETTING SHOT.

THEY'RE WEARING KEVLAR VEST, THEY'RE IN A HUNDRED DEGREE WEATHER DOING THEIR JOBS, THEIR PTSD THAT THEY HAVE AFTER THEY'VE COMPLETED THEIR JOBS.

IT GOES WITH THEM FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

SO PLEASE JUST KEEP THOSE THINGS IN MIND WHENEVER YOU'RE CASTING YOUR VOTES AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FIRST RESPONDERS, BECAUSE THE IMPACT ISN'T WHILE THEY'RE HERE AND WHILE THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOBS, THEY CARRY THAT WITH THEM FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

I AGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT'S BEEN SAID.

I ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES.

UH, I FEEL LIKE OFTENTIMES, UM, I LIKE, I LIKE TO SEE ANY OPPORTUNITY TO LOWER PEOPLE'S TAXES, LET 'EM KEEP MORE OF THEIR MONEY.

I THINK THAT'S A POSITIVE THING.

I THINK THE LEGISLATURE SAW IT, SAW IT, UH, NECESSARY TO START THAT WITH FIRST RESPONDERS.

AND I, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT PLACE TO START.

UM, SO OFTEN WE SEE PROPERTY TAX IS WHERE IT'S THE TROUGH THAT EVERYONE ALWAYS GOES THROUGH FOR TAXES.

IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS.

UM, I, YOU KNOW, I I WOULD SAY ANY, ANY SCENARIO WHERE WE CAN LESSEN THAT IS A POSITIVE THING, UNDERSTANDING THAT TAXES ARE NECESSARY AND WHERE THEY ARE NECESSARY.

I THINK IF WE CAN WASH 'EM FROM PROPERTY TAX AND, UH, AND, AND FIND IT SOMEWHERE ELSE, UH, I'D, I'D BE IN FAVOR OF THAT BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS EVERY TIME FOR THIS.

AND NON-PROPERTY OWNERS VOTE FOR THOSE TOO.

AND WHEN WE HAVE MORE AND MORE NON-PROPERTY OWNERS THAT'S GOING TO, THEY'LL HAVE NO PROBLEM PASSING 'EM AT THAT POINT.

UM, SO I THINK AGAIN, UH, THE LEGISLATURE SAW IT FIT TO, UM, START THIS, AND I'M SAYING START THIS BECAUSE THEY MAY VERY WELL BRING SOMETHING FOR DPW.

UM, I'M BIASED.

MY WIFE'S AN EDUCATOR.

I THINK EDUCATORS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS TOO.

YOU TALK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO, UM, PUT A LOT OF TIME IN AND, AND AREN'T COMPENSATED WELL FOR IT.

UM, BUT AGAIN, THE LEGISLATURE SAW IT FIT TO START WITH FIRST RESPONDERS, AND I THINK, I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER PLACE TO START WITH THIS.

UM, AND SO I'D BE HAPPY TO SUPPORT, UM, SEEING THEM HAVE A, HAVE A LITTLE BIT LOWER TAX BILL, UM, FOR THOSE THAT ARE HERE.

UM, IT WAS, IT WAS TALKED ABOUT AS A, UH, POTENTIAL RETAINING AND RECRUITMENT TOOL.

AND, AND I AGREE WITH THAT.

I THINK OUR, UM, I'M, I'M PRETTY SURE OUR SURROUNDING, ALL OF OUR SURROUNDING PARISHES HAVE ALREADY ADOPTED THIS.

SO, UM, THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK TO LOOK AT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT JUST, JUST, YOU KNOW, IN THE MOMENT RIGHT NOW, IF OUR, OUR SURROUNDING PARISHES HAVE DONE THIS AND WE HAVEN'T, UM, THAT'S HOW PEOPLE LEAVE IF THEY WANNA SEEK IT ELSEWHERE, POTENTIALLY.

UM, SO I THINK WE NEED TO, UM, TRY TO, UH, BE IN LIGHT KIND WITH THEM AND, AND, UM, THAT'S WHERE I AM ON IT.

COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA AS WELL, THAT I'M GONNA HAVE TO ABSTAIN.

UM, MY SON IS A FIRST RESPONDER.

WE DO SHARE A HOME TOGETHER AT THIS MOMENT BEFORE HE GETS MARRIED IN DECEMBER.

[02:05:01]

BUT, UM, ANYWAY, Y'ALL HAVE ALL HEARD ALL OF IT.

I DON'T NEED TO SIT UP HERE AND REPORT TO Y'ALL WHAT THEY SEE.

HE'S, HE'S, UH, HE'S A PARAMEDIC AND HE HAS COME HOME WITH SOME HORRIFIC STORIES OF THINGS THAT HE HAS SEEN.

UM, AND RIGHT NOW HE IS WORKING OUT OF TOWN BECAUSE HE JUST CANNOT MAKE THE MONEY HERE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH THAT HE ABSOLUTELY WELL DESERVES BECAUSE HE'S BEEN AT THIS JOB FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME, AND HE'S GOT SKILLS AND DOES THINGS THAT I GUARANTEE YOU THAT 99.9% OF US THAT ARE SITTING IN THIS ROOM TODAY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO.

HE HAS DEALT WITH, UM, PEOPLE THAT HAVE MENTAL ISSUES WITH DRUG ADDICTS, WITH, UH, BODIES THAT HAVE BEEN BURNED.

UM, IT JUST, I MEAN, I COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON.

SO, UM, YEAH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DO GIVE A LOT, BUT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, THEY'RE BORN FOR THIS.

THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY BORN FOR THESE JOBS BECAUSE WE DON'T WANNA DO THESE JOBS AND WE'RE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL.

SO I JUST, I DID WANT TO EXPLAIN THOUGH THAT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR THIS, UM, THIS ITEM.

MOTION TO APPROVE MR. PROTON.

WE, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JR.

WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINES.

UH, MAY I HAVE ONE LAST MINUTE? OKAY.

I'M SORRY.

YES, MA'AM.

PARISH ORGANIZATION, CHAPTER ONE, GOVERNING BODY OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE.

UM, AND NOT, NOT TO POUR ON IT, BUT I ALSO WANT TO MENTION, UM, THAT IF YOU LOOK AT IT STATISTICALLY AND EVEN RECENTLY, UM, ONE OF THE FIREMEN, UM, PASSED AS A RESULT OF SUICIDE.

AND WHAT DO YOU, WHAT YOU FIND WITH FIRST RESPONDERS BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY SEE ON THE DAY, DAY IN AND DAY OUT, IS THAT, UM, MANY TIMES AFTER THEY'RE, UH, ON DRUGS, THEY'RE DO ALCOHOL, SUICIDE, DEPRESSION, ALL OF THOSE POST-TRAUMATIC, UM, CHARACTERISTICS.

SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IT IS NO COMPARISON.

I THINK WE'VE SAID THAT AND WE'VE PROVEN THAT CASE, BUT NEVERTHELESS, UM, THIS ISN'T HOW WE WILL REMEDY THAT.

AND, UH, I DEFINITELY READY TO VOTE.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUN, JR.

TO APPROVE.

WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINES.

MACHINES ARE UP IN, ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE.

MOTION CARRIES AMENDING TITLE ONE MUNICIPAL

[70. 24-00739 ]

SO AS TO AMEND SECTION ONE TWO C ONE TO ADD THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE PARISH ATTORNEY APPROVE ALL ITEMS SEEK AND SETTLEMENT PRIOR TO THE SUBMISSION OF THE AGENDA BY COUNCILWOMAN JEN ROCKA AND COUNCILMAN DWIGHT HUDSON, DO WE HAVE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS? MS. LANDRY? PENNY MAYE LANDRY.

UM, Y'ALL ARE GONNA BE SHOCKED.

I AM IN FAVOR, UH, OF THIS, UH, AMENDMENT ARE SHOCKED.

AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO APPLAUD, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, ROCK AND HUDSON FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS AMENDMENT.

ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? SAY NONE.

COUNCIL MEMBERS COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR.

CASH ATTORNEY, PLEASE.

GREG ROME.

SIR, YES.

YOU WERE PRESENTED WITH A QUESTION TO ASK YOU, YOUR OPINION ON WAS THIS IN CONFLICT WITH THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, UH, BEING THAT WE ARE THE ELECTED BODY TO REPRESENT THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH AND, UH, THIS IS OUR DUTY TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS.

UH, IT WAS ASKED, WAS THIS A TRANSFER OF OUR POWER TO YOUR OFFICE? UH, WHAT WAS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT OPINION? DO YOU REQUIRE, DO YOU REMEMBER THAT QUESTION? I DO NOT.

WELL, I JUST GAVE IT TO YOU SINCE YOU GOT SELECTIVE AMNESIA.

WHAT'S THAT? YOU DIDN'T HEAR THE QUESTION? I HEARD THE QUESTION.

I TELL YOU.

I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT I SAID.

JUST ANSWERED IT.

WHETHER IT'S A TRANSFER OF POWER TO ME.

NO, I, I THINK YOU CAN PUT WHATEVER YOU WANT ON THE AGENDA.

BUT IS IT IN CONFLICT WITH THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT? IS IT IN CONFLICT WITH LAW? I DON'T THINK IT'S IN CONFLICT WITH LAW.

YOU DON'T THINK? NO.

YOU NEED SOME TIME TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON IT.

I MEAN, I CAN IF YOU WANT

[02:10:01]

ME TO.

I, I I DON'T, I WANNA I WANT YOU TO GIVE ME A DEFINITIVE ANSWER, NOT A, I THINK A MAYBE A POSSIBILITY.

BUT IF YOU NEED MORE TIME TO RESEARCH THAT, PLEASE SIR.

RESEARCH THAT.

UM, I'M TOTALLY AGAINST THIS ITEM.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WISHES OF THE BODY IS.

UH, AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO TRANSFER ANY, UH, POWER THAT WE HAVE OVER TO A NON-ELECTED MEMBER IN THE PARISH ATTORNEY WHO, WHO WORKS FOR US.

UH, THIS ITEM WAS BROUGHT BECAUSE OF MYSELF AND OTHERS WHO BRING SETTLEMENTS ON LAWSUITS AND, AND REQUEST THIS BODY TO CONSIDER THOSE SETTLEMENTS AS WE DO ALL THE TIME.

IN MY OPINION, I SEE THIS AS US ASKING THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S PERMISSION OR GETTING THEIR PERMISSION, UH, TO DO THAT.

AND I'M AGAINST GETTING THEIR PERMISSION TO BRING AN ITEM UP HERE TO CONSIDER FOR SETTLEMENT WHEN A LAWSUIT IS BROUGHT BY, UH, A CITIZEN OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

THAT'S MY 2 CENTS.

I'LL WAIT FOR, UH, GREG AND HIS TEAM TO GET THAT INFORMATION BACK TO US, WHETHER THAT'S THIS MEETING OR IN THE FUTURE, BUT I WANTED TO GET HIS OPINION ON TO SEE IF THAT WAS IN CONFLICT.

I WOULD TELL YOU ONE MORE THING, COUNCILMAN.

IT DOES ACTUALLY TRACK THE STATE LAW.

I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING, BUT IT DOES NOT.

IT DOES.

YEAH.

IT'S NOT IN CONFLICT.

IT IT TRACKS STATE LAW.

READ IT.

THE STATE LAW IN ANY SUIT FILED AGAINST THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, A STATE OFFICER, A STATE AGENCY, A LOCAL PUBLIC OFFICIAL, OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISION.

THE DEFENDANT OR PROPER REPRESENTATIVE THEREOF UPON THE ADVICE AND WITH THE CON CON CONCURRENCE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, PARISH ATTORNEY, CITY ATTORNEY, OR ANY OTHER PROPER OFFICIAL, AS THE CASE MAY BE, MAY COMPROMISE OR SETTLE CLAIMS PREVENTING PRESENTING IN SUCH SUIT THAT'S REVISED STATUTE 13 51 0 9.

WELL, I DIDN'T, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, I DIDN'T HEAR, REQUIRES APPROVAL OF YOUR ITEM SAYS REQUIRE APPROVAL OF DID I DID IHE YOU, THE ITEM ON MY AGENDA SAYS, REQUIRE APPROVAL OF THE PARISH ATTORNEY THAT WE HAVE TO GET YOUR APPROVAL.

DID DID YOU SAY THAT? JUST NOT READING THE STATE STATUTE? NO, I SAID UPON MY ADVICE.

APPROVAL AND ADVICE IS DIFFERENT.

SO IT'S NOT IN CONCURRENT WITH THE STATE LAW.

DO YOU DISAGREE? YOU THINK APPROVAL AND ADVICE IS THE SAME? I MEAN, YOU DO IT UPON MY ADVICE.

I I'M NOT SAYING IT'S MY APPROVAL, BUT IT'S THE SAME THING.

BUT THE ITEM SAYS UPON YOUR APPROVAL, I DIDN'T WRITE THE ITEM.

I'M JUST TELLING YOU WHAT THE ITEM SAYS.

SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT THE SAME.

HANG ON, HANG ON.

SO AGAIN, UH, EVEN THOUGH MR. ROME TRIED TO STATE IT WAS THE SAME AS THE STATE LAW, APPROVE AND ADVICE, IN MY OPINION, ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

SO IT'S NOT THE SAME AS THE STATE LAW.

THIS ITEM SAYS WE HAVE TO GET THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S APPROVAL TO BRING SUCH A ITEM.

GO AHEAD.

IT SAYS UPON ADVICE AND WITH CONCURRENCE, I MEAN, I WOULD ASSUME CONCURRENCE WOULD BE APPROVAL, BUT IF YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T .

I'M JUST ASKING YOU DO, DO, DOES THAT MEAN DOES THAT MEAN APPROVAL? IT WOULD TO ME.

UM, GREG, COULD YOU COME BACK UP PLEASE? SO, SO IF YOU CAN REAL QUICK, AND, AND I KNOW I'M ASKING YOU REAL QUICK 'CAUSE I ONLY GOT FIVE MINUTES.

UM, THE PROCESS.

NOW, WHAT IS THE PROCESS NOW IN SETTLING A CLAIM? IF WE CAN PUT IT IN A NUTSHELL, IF, IF OUR OFFICE CONSIDERS A CLAIM TO EXCEED $9,999 AND 99 CENTS, IT GOES TO CLAIMS REVIEW.

IF CLAIMS REVIEW APPROVES A PARTICULAR AMOUNT, CLAIM CLAIMS REVIEW IS WHO IS A GROUP ATTORNEYS IN, IN MY OFFICE.

MOSTLY OUTTA LITIGATION SECTION.

AND OUR THIRD PARTY ADJUSTER, PAT LASALLE.

THEY VOTE ON AN ITEM, THEY MAY VOTE A PARTICULAR NUMBER AND THEIR VOTE'S A RECOMMENDATION.

ALL, ALL WE DO IS RECOMMEND Y'ALL.

OKAY? YEP.

A MAJORITY OF US SAY, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO SETTLE THIS, TAKE IT TO THE COUNCIL, YOU AS A PARISH ATTORNEY, BRING IT TO US AS A COUNCIL.

I BRING THAT MATTER TO Y'ALL AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO SETTLE X CASE FOR X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS.

SO Y'ALL EITHER VOTE TO APPROVE OR YOU DON'T.

SO ONCE YOU, A GROUP OF ATTORNEYS MAKE A VOTE AFTER IT'S $9,000, THEY MAKE A VOTE.

THEY GO TO YOU AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, UH,

[02:15:01]

WE THEN PUT IT ON THE AGENDA AND WE VOTE ON IT.

WHETHER WE, AND IT ULTIMATELY IT'S THE COUNCIL APPROVES OR DENIES IT.

WELL, I, MY OFFICE PUTS IT ON THE AGENDA BE YES.

SO EACH COUNCIL MEMBER THOUGH, CAN TAKE THAT SAME THING AND THEY CAN PUT IT ON THE AGENDA THEMSELVES FOR US TO VOTE ON A SETTLEMENT THEMSELVES.

RIGHT NOW, THEY, IT'S, LET'S TAKE THAT SAME CASE, $9,001.

I GOT A CASE OUT THERE.

I'VE COME TO, UH, ASHLEY AND I COME TO YOU AND SAY, I'M PUTTING AN ITEM ON THE, I'M PUTTING AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA TO SETTLE X, Y, Z CASE FOR $9,001.

I WANT IT ON THE AGENDA.

DO YOU TELL ME YES OR NO? I CAN'T OR CANNOT DO THAT.

YOU CAN PUT WHATEVER YOU WANT ON IT.

SO YOU HAVEN'T IMPEDED MY ABILITY AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA.

I WOULD NOT IMPEDE YOUR ABILITY.

WE TAKE THIS ORDINANCE, THIS ORDINANCE NOW ADDS, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IT ADDS A STEP THAT SAID, IF I WANT TO PUT SOMETHING ON THIS AGENDA FOR $9,001, I NEED TO RUN IT BY YOU OR THE, THE, THE COMMITTEE REVIEWS IT.

THE COMMITTEE THAT REVIEWS IT IS GONNA GIVE A YES OR NO.

THAT THAT COMMITTEE OR REVIEWER IS GOING TO THEN TELL ME, HEY, WE DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT TO SETTLE OR YEAH, GOOD IDEA.

GO AHEAD AND RUN WITH IT.

CORRECT.

THAT'S WHAT THIS ORDINANCE IS DOING.

AM I RIGHT? OKAY.

IF THIS ORDINANCE, BY ADDING THAT IN, ALL WE'RE DOING IS ADDING THIS ORDINANCE IN THAT SAYS, HEY, WE WANT YOU TO TAKE THIS TO THE REVIEW COMMITTEE BEFORE IT GOES ON THE AGENDA.

JUST LIKE THE ITEMS THAT Y'ALL BRING UP.

YOU'RE ASKING US TO, WE'RE VOTING ON FOLLOWING A PROCEDURE, BUT EVEN IF IT COMES BACK AS A NO FROM YOUR REVIEW COMMITTEE OR A RECOMMENDATION BY YOU NOT TO DO THIS, CAN I STILL PUT IT ON THE AGENDA? YEAH, I THINK YOU COULD STILL PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.

SO YOU'RE NOT HAMPERING MY ABILITY IN ANY WAY.

YOU ARE JUST ADVISING THIS IS GOOD OR BAD BY A YES OR NO VOTE BY YOUR REVIEW COMMITTEE OR YOUR OPINION.

I THINK THAT'S WHY THIS STATUTE WAS ENACTED.

WHATEVER IT IS.

UH, 13 51 0 9.

I I, IF I'VE GOT WHAT THIS ORDINANCE IS, THAT'S THE GIST OF THIS ORDINANCE, THAT INSTEAD OF US JUSTRIGHT GOING AND SAYING, LOOK, I'M GONNA PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA.

I'M GONNA PUT THIS FOR A SETTLEMENT.

MY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE EITHER GONNA PASS IT OR NOT AND JUST NOT EVEN REVIEW IT.

NOT EVEN ANYTHING.

THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON.

NOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IS ADD TO THIS ORDINANCE TO GIVE US A PROCESS TO WHERE WHEN WE COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL, WE HAVE ACTUAL ATTORNEYS IN THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, PEOPLE THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE REVIEWING THIS, GIVE US AN OPINION, A RECOMMENDATION, BUT NOT TELL US, NO, YOU CANNOT PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA.

YOU CAN STILL DO IT, BUT IT IS OUR OPINION OF THIS.

WE ASK FOR THOSE ALL THE TIME WHEN WE GET THESE.

IF I'M WRONG, JUST PLEASE, WHENEVER YOU TURN AND TALK, LET ME KNOW.

BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING THIS ORDINANCE IS SO I DON'T SEE HOW THIS IS IMPEDING US IN ANY KINDA WAY FROM STILL DOING OUR CIVIC DUTY AS ELECTED OFFICIALS BY PUTTING SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA.

IN, IN THAT, UH, IT DOES NEED YOUR STAMP OF APPROVAL BEFORE IT GOES ON.

COUNCILMAN HUDSON, UH, GREG, JUST STAY, STAY RIGHT THERE.

UH, IF I COULD GET COURTNEY HUMPHREY TO PLEASE COME UP.

UM, SHE HELPED US WRITE THIS ORIGINALLY.

YES, SIR.

YOU WERE UP THERE QUICK.

YOU KNEW I WAS GONNA CALL YOU .

SO YOU, YOU WERE UP THERE QUICK.

YOU KNEW I WAS GONNA CALL YOU, DIDN'T YOU? YES.

UM, ALRIGHT, SO JUST FOR EVERYBODY'S UNDERSTANDING, UH, IN YOUR, UH, DOCUMENTATION ON THE AGENDA, WE ARE LOOKING AT SECTION 1.2 C ONE AND PARTICULARLY THE LAST, UH, SENTENCE IN C ONE.

AM I, AM I CORRECT IN IN SAYING THAT? I BELIEVE SO, BUT I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME.

I GOT YOU.

I CAN, I CAN GO GRAB IT.

UM, SO I'M GONNA READ SECTION C ONE REAL QUICK JUST SO THAT WE'RE ALL, WE ALL GET ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT WHAT THIS DOES AND, AND THEN I'LL TALK ABOUT WHY WE'RE DOING IT.

UM, SO IT READS ONLY THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND THE HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER AGENCIES, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT MAY PLACE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA ITEMS SEEKING AUTHORITY TO SETTLE OR COMPROMISE CLAIMS SHALL NOT BE SUBMITTED TO THE AGENDA WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

UH, SO RESPECTFULLY, GREG, UM, IN, IN ANSWERING COUNCILMAN MO'S QUESTION, YOU'RE A LITTLE BIT OFF

[02:20:01]

NOW THE TRUE INTENTION, UH, IS TO BASICALLY DO WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING, UH, AS A MATTER OF PROCEDURE AND HAVE THE, UH, SETTLEMENTS GO THROUGH CLAIMS REVIEW BEFORE THEY ENTER HERE.

UM, SO COURTNEY, I JUST WANNA HEAR FROM PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT INTERPRETATION OF THAT, UM, THAT'S CORRECT.

WHAT I, WHAT I JUST SAID.

UM, HAVING SAID THAT, AS ONE OF THE SPONSORS, AND I WOULD LOOK TO MY CO-SPONSOR COUNCILMAN ROCCA, UM, TO SEE IF THIS IS ACCEPTABLE TO HER TOO.

I I'M OPEN TO THE IDEA THAT, UM, THAT WE CHANGE THE WORDING JUST A LITTLE BIT.

I THINK IT WOULD BE JERMAINE ASHLEY CAN ADVISE US ON THAT, BUT IT COULD READ SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF ITEMS SEEKING AUTHORITY TO SETTLE OR COMPROMISE CLAIMS SHALL NOT BE SUBMITTED TO THE AGENDA WITHOUT FIRST GOING THROUGH THE CLAIMS REVIEW PROCESS.

UH, TRULY MY INTENTION IS TO GET SOUND LEGAL ADVICE, UH, TO THIS COUNCIL BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE ON SETTLING THINGS.

THAT, THAT'S REALLY MY ONLY INTENTION OF, OF SEEKING THIS ORDINANCE.

UM, SO, UM, BUT LEMME TELL YOU WHERE I DISAGREE WITH YOU.

OKAY? YES.

I'M NOT GONNA STOP YOU FROM PUTTING AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA THAT, THAT I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT HE, HE ASKED ME WOULD I, CAN I STOP HIM FROM PUTTING AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA IF HE COMES AND PUTS, YOU KNOW, X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS TO SETTLE THIS CASE ON THE AGENDA, I'M NOT GONNA STOP IT.

I THINK THIS IS THE PROCEDURE WHAT YOU'RE AFTER, BUT, SO I'M NOT OFF IN THAT RESPECT AND I DISAGREE WITH, BUT THIS IS THE PROCEDURE.

EITHER YOU WANT DO IT OR YOU DON'T.

SO YOU'RE SAYING AS A MATTER OF PRACTICE, YOU WOULDN'T, YOU, IF A COUNCIL MEMBER KANICK CAME AND SAID, HEY, I WANT GIVE THIS A SHOT ON SETTLING THIS ONE, YOU'RE ALWAYS GONNA APPROVE IT.

AND THAT'S, I'M NOT SAYING I'M GONNA APPROVE, APPROVE IT.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

IF YOU WANNA GO, I'M SORRY.

YOU'RE ALWAYS GONNA APPROVE PUTTING IT ON THE AGENDA.

I GOTCHA.

WELL, UH, SECOND TO THE CLAIMS. COUNCILMAN ROCCO, WHAT IF I CAN GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM YOU? ARE YOU, I AMENABLE TO THAT ONLY COUNCIL MEMBERS TALK.

ONE, TWO, MAYBE EVEN THREE TIMES.

BEFORE I GET A CHANCE TO TALK THOUGH, UM, I, LET'S JUST TALK THE ONE TIME I KNOW AND NOT YOU.

, UH, I'M GONNA WAIT TO GET FEEDBACK AND, AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT, ABOUT YOU.

DON'T MIND.

I WANNA PUT THAT OUT THERE IN THE UNIVERSE, UH, FOR US TO DISCUSS.

WITH REGARD TO HOW MUCH WE CAN PAY OUT.

YEAH, THANKS.

PLEASE, IF YOU DON'T MIND, UM, TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT MR. HUDSON WAS SAYING, LOOK, THE REASON WHY I WAS INTERESTED IN, IN SPONSORING THIS ITEM WAS REALLY TO SERVE AS A PROTECTION TO NOT ONLY COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT TO FISCAL INTEREST.

AND I'LL EXPLAIN TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THOSE PROTECTIONS ARE.

UM, FIRST, WITH REGARD TO THE FISCAL INTEREST, IF YOU HAVE A MATTER THAT IS, UM, MID DISCOVERY, AND YOU HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT BRINGS THAT ITEM AND STARTS TALKING ABOUT SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS, BUT WE HAVEN'T COMPLETED THE DISCOVERY IN THE CASE, WE DON'T HAVE DEPOSITIONS DONE.

UM, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO GO AND TALK TO OUR PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HANDLING THE CASE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT IMPEDING OR WE'RE NOT DISCUSSING AMOUNTS THAT ARE NOT CALCULATED AND THE RISK ARE NOT CALCULATED, AND THOSE THINGS ARE NOT PROPERLY GIVEN TO US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR ACTUAL LIABILITY IS.

THE OTHER PIECE IS WE ARE A POLITICAL BODY.

WE GET CONTACTED BY SEVERAL FOLKS, ATTORNEYS, EVERYONE TO TRY TO SETTLE THEIR MATTERS.

UM, AND WE HAVE, WE FEEL THE PRESSURES OF PEOPLE BRINGING THESE THINGS FORWARD, ASKING US TO MOVE THESE THINGS THROUGH.

THIS PROTECTION IS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALL OF US, ALL 12 OF US.

SO WE DON'T HAVE THOSE POLITICAL PRESSURES PLACED UPON US TO PUT THINGS ON AN AGENDA WITHOUT FIRST SENDING IT TO OUR, OUR LAWYERS AND HAVING THE LAWYERS SAY, YES, THIS IS APPROPRIATE.

YES, THIS IS GOOD TIMING, AND YES, THIS IS WHAT THE MONETARY AMOUNT SHOULD LOOK LIKE AND WHAT OUR LIABILITY LOOKS LIKE.

FINALLY, IT'S, IT'S NOT TO KEEP ANYONE FROM BEING ABLE TO MANEUVER OR WORK WITH THE PUBLIC OR DO THE JOBS THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN.

IT'S REALLY JUST A PROTECTION FOR ALL PARTIES INVOLVED.

THE OTHER PIECE IS, SOME OF US ON THIS COUNCIL HAVE DECIDED WHENEVER WE WERE SWORN IN AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE WERE ALSO SELF ORDAINED LAWYERS.

AND WE COULD INTERPRET THE LAW.

WE COULD SAY WHAT THE LAW IS.

WE COULD GIVE LEGAL ADVICE, AND WE COULD ALSO, I'M TALKING ABOUT YOU, ERIN.

UM, WE COULD, WE COULD ALSO SETTLE CASES AND LOOK, JUST TO KEEP US SAFE AND TO KEEP OUR HEART ETHICS ALL IN LINE.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA JUST TO HAVE THIS MECHANISM IN PLACE.

FINALLY, HERE'S THE OTHER PIECE, AND I DON'T KNOW, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ALL OF YOU, BUT I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN THE COFFERS

[02:25:01]

THAT IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WHENEVER WE HAVE MULTIPLE FOLKS COMING AND ASKING US.

AND THERE THAT HAS TO BE A CALCULATION.

AND LET'S SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, WE DECIDE A CASE NEEDS TO BE SETTLED.

THE OTHER IMPORTANT PIECE THAT WE ABSOLUTELY NEED OUR PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR IS TO TELL US HOW WE PAY IT.

OFTENTIMES, WE CAN'T JUST WRITE THAT BIG FAT BLANK CHECK.

WE HAVE TO PAY IT OUT OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

AND THAT PIECE AND THE EXTENSION OF THAT PAYMENT OVER MONTHS OR YEARS EVEN, THAT HAS TO BE NEGOTIATED WITH OTHER ATTORNEYS AS WELL.

SO THIS IS NOT TO IMPEDE ANYBODY'S POWER OR ANYBODY BRINGING THESE ITEMS BEFORE THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

IT'S JUST SOME SAFETY MECHANISMS TO KEEP US OUT OF TROUBLE, TO KEEP THE MONEY WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PERFECTLY ACCOUNTED BOOKS WHILE MOVING FORWARD, WHILE ALSO SERVING THE PUBLIC THAT WE MAY HAVE INJURED.

AND THEY MAY HAVE, WE MAY HAVE LIABILITY, WHICH HAPPENS MORE OFTEN THAN NOT.

AND YES, DWIGHT, I'LL DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.

COUNCILWOMAN BANKS, UH, ANGIE, WOULD YOU COME UP PLEASE? WHILE SHE'S COMING UP? UM, ANYONE THAT THINKS THAT THE PARISH ATTORNEY IS IMMUNE FROM POLITICAL PRESSURE IS A DELUSIONAL, UM, THE PARISH.

I HAVE NEVER HAD ANYONE CALL ME AND ASK ME TO SETTLE A CASE IN 12 YEARS, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THE PARISH ATTORNEY GETS THOSE CALLS, AND I DO KNOW THAT THERE'S EVIDENCE.

UM, AND THE REALITY IS THEY OPERATE, THEY'RE HUMAN AND THEY OPERATE JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, UM, BASED ON THEIR OWN BIASES, PREJUDICES, RELATIONSHIPS, WHAT HAVE YOU.

UM, I WANT TO KNOW, AT WHAT POINT DOES THE PARISH ATTORNEY, UH, CONSULT YOU REGARDING, UM, A SETTLEMENT OFFER? UH, IT DEPENDS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

COULD BE WEEKLY, MONTHLY.

I, I, I MEAN, LIKE ON A PARTICULAR CASE, UH, USUALLY IT'S A CERTAIN THRESHOLD.

SO WE, AND I DON'T HAVE THE POLICY IN FRONT OF ME, BUT ONCE IT MEETS A CERTAIN THRESHOLD, THEY WILL CONTACT US AND SEE IF THERE IS FUNDING AVAILABILITY OR IF WE SHOULD STRUCTURE IT TO WHERE IT'S DIFFERENT KIND OF PAYMENTS.

AND, UM, WE'LL TALK IT THROUGH DEPENDING ON THE FUNDING AVAILABILITY.

IT A HEAVY PRESENTATION ON THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

SO, UH, FOR ME, WHEN I, WHEN I HEAR THE REASONS, UM, IT'S, IT IS SEVERAL THINGS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST KNOWING THAT PART OF THE LEGISLATION, IF THERE WAS GONNA BE, UM, A THRESHOLD BY WHICH, OR, UM, A METHOD BY WHICH WE SHOULD PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, IT SHOULD BE ONCE, UM, IT SHOULD BE IN, IN RELATIONSHIP.

NOT ONLY THE ADVICE.

AND REMEMBER, THE ADVICE OF A PARISH ATTORNEY, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER ATTORNEY, IS OPTIONAL.

UM, AND THAT AS THE CLIENT, UH, YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO EITHER ACCEPT IT OR NOT, BUT YOU ARE MAKING AN INFORMED DECISION.

BUT ONE, IF YOU, IF THE OTHER DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD, IT IS IN CONSULTATION WITH FINANCES THAT WE MAKE THAT DETERMINATION, UH, NOT THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT, UM, THE STATE STATUTE, AND I THINK IT REALLY DOESN'T, BASED ON THE, UH, THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN D UH, DWIGHT HUDSON, UH, INDICATED.

WE, WE DO SUPPOSED TO CONSULT WITH THE, THE PARISH ATTORNEY HOW IN, IN, IN THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT.

BUT IN THE STATE STATUTE, IT JUST SAYS THAT IT NEEDS TO BE IN CONCURRENCE.

THAT MEAN WE NEED TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE.

UM, SO THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT I DON'T AGREE, UM, BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S NOT EVENLY STACKED, FOR INSTANCE.

IT'S NOT JUST THE PARISH ATTORNEY AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER, THE PARISH ATTORNEY, UM, HAS TO CHOOSE WHICH PARTS OF HIS DEPARTMENT TO BE ON THAT COMMITTEE.

WE DON'T HAVE THE PRIVILEGE AT THIS TIME OF BEING A PART OF THAT SELECTION.

SO THERE MAY BE, YOU KNOW, IF THIS IS GOING TO BE FAIR AND IMPARTIAL, THEN ARE WE TO CHOOSE, UM, WHICH PART OF THE OFFICE OF, UH, YOU KNOW, I WOULD THINK THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD, WOULD WANT THAT TO BE LEFT TO THE DISCRETION OF THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

WE, WE ALL, WE CANNOT DENY THAT PEOPLE HAVE BIASES AND THAT, UM, WE HAVE TO HAVE, UM, KIND OF A CHECK AND BALANCE.

AND WE ARE MAKING

[02:30:01]

AND WE ARE DELEGATING OUR AUTHORITY AS BEING ELECTED OFFICIALS TO LOOK OUT FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL OUR CITIZENS.

UM, THE PARISH ATTORNEY IS, UH, AND, AND THIS IS NO DISTRICT WAY.

THEY'RE HIDE HANDS FOR US.

THEY'RE TO GIVE US THEIR LEGAL OPINION.

AND IF THEIR LEGAL OPINION STOOD WITHOUT, UM, ANY RECOURSE OR DISCUSSION, THEY WOULD NEVER GO BEFORE A JUDGE.

SO IT IS, UM, UP UNTIL IT IS, UM, TO THE DISCRETION OF BOTH, UM, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL AS THE PARISH ATTORNEY WORKING AS THE STATE INDICATE IN CONCURRENCE, BUT ALSO NOT AT ALL.

IF YOU ARE ABLE TO READ OR WRITE OR HAVE ANY KIND OF, UH, UH, INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AS IT RELATES TO AMERICAN HI HISTORY AND CIVICS, YOU CAN MAKE A A, A VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE DECISION ON BOTH WHAT IS, UM, WHAT IS THE LAW AND WHAT IS NOT.

I DO IT ALL THE TIME FROM THE, UH, UH, GOOGLE UNIVERSITY OF LAW, , AND SO COME FROM BANK.

YOU WANT EXTRA TIME? NO.

SO I JUST THINK THAT, UH, WE SHOULD, WE, WE SHOULD NOT, AND YOU, AND EVEN YOU, YOU SHOULDN'T BE COMFORTABLE NOT HAVING, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A BALANCE IN POWER WHERE IT'S YOURSELF AND THE COUNCIL.

AND RIGHT NOW YOU EVEN ADVISED THE MAYOR, WHAT CAN THE MAYOR PUT AN ITEM ON? I I SAID NO, AND THEN KEPT TALKING.

SO YOU, IT, IT, ITS RUNNING.

RUN YOUR SECOND TIME.

TAKE, RUN, LET RUN.

YOU GOT FOUR MINUTES, 37 SECONDS, ALL NEGATIVE.

OKAY? SO THAT'S THE OTHER THING, YOU KNOW.

SO ARE WE NOW GONNA SAY THAT IF THE MAYOR IS INTERESTED IN AN ITEM, BECAUSE SHE HAS THE SAME REPRESENTATION, THAT IF SHE WANTS TO DO SOMETHING THAT THE PARISH ATTORNEY, UM, SHE'S GONNA HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS WHOLE THING.

SO IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FINANCE, WE NEED TO DEAL WITH FINANCE.

BUT POLITICAL POWER, THERE'S A REASON WHY THERE'S A DEFENDANT, WHY THERE'S A, WHAT ELSE ARE THEY? DEFENDANT CLAIM, WHATEVER, CLIENTS, LAWYERS, BECAUSE THEY ALL HAVE, UM, HAVE TO BE TOGETHER.

AND I WOULDN'T WANT ANYBODY TO SETTLE A CASE FOR ME, A LAWYER, AND NOT CONSULT ME AND NOT KNOW THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I NEED YOU TO DO WHAT I NEED YOU TO DO.

SO THAT'S IT.

SO I'M AGAINST THIS ITEM.

COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

UH, AS SOMEONE WHO ALSO HAS THE GOOGLE UNIVERSITY LAW DEGREE, UH, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE WITH THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENT ITEMS. UH, I'M SORRY.

UH, SECTION 1.2 C ONE, THE LAST SENTENCE WILL READ.

ITEM SEEKING AUTHORITY TO SETTLE OR COMPROMISE CLAIMS SHALL NOT BE SUBMITTED TO THE AGENDA WITHOUT PREVIOUSLY GOING THROUGH THE CLAIMS REVIEW PROCESS.

UM, AND I'LL JUST ADD A QUICK ANECDOTE, UH, FOR EVERYONE TO KNOW THIS, THIS ACTUALLY WOULD MIMIC THE PROCEDURE, UH, THAT EVENTUALLY, UH, RESULTED IN THE SETTLEMENT OF THE ALTON STERLING SUIT.

UH, IF YOU REMEMBER THE, THE PROCESS ON THIS COUNCIL WAS THAT ITEM WAS BLOCKED SEVERAL TIMES.

UH, COUNCILMAN BANKS EVENTUALLY, UH, AGREED THAT SHE WOULD TAKE IT THROUGH CLAIMS REVIEW PRO PROCESS FIRST, AND THEN WE WOULD INTRODUCE IT.

UM, AND THAT HAPPENED AND, AND WE ENDED UP WITH THAT RESULT.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S A, WELL, IT WAS A, NOT EXACTLY, YOU'RE RIGHT, NOT EXACTLY, IT WAS A LITTLE, LITTLE CONVOLUTED, BUT, UH, BUT IT, BUT ULTIMATELY IT'S A SIMILAR TO THAT PROCESS.

SO I THINK IT CAN WORK FOR ALL OF US, AND I THINK IT, UM, REPRESENTS THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CONSTITUENTS AND THE CITY PARISH FI.

HURST.

I WANT BOTH, UH, DOUBLE NICKEL ON THIS ONE.

I'M JOKING.

NO.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE COMMENT BECAUSE I HEARD, UH, PA ROME, UH, TALK ABOUT, I'M GONNA LET IT GO THROUGH.

AND I DON'T THINK IT'S ABOUT YOU.

I THINK IT'S ABOUT WHEN YOU SET PRECEDENCES AND, AND RULES IN PLACE THAT IF YOU'RE NOT HERE, WHAT DO WE FOLLOW? AND SO YOU MAY HAVE LET IT GO THROUGH, BUT MAYBE ANDY WOULDN'T HAVE OR MAYBE, UH, THE PRIOR PERSON WOULDN'T HAVE.

SO THESE RULES ARE NOT NECESSARILY FOR YOU SPECIFICALLY, BUT FOR MOVING FORWARD, THE COUNCILS THAT COME BEHIND US TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE GOOD LEGISLATION IN PLACE.

SO I DO SUPPORT DWIGHT'S, UM, MOTION.

SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCKA.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED.

WE .

WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

DO WE HAVE ANY OPPOSITION? SEEN NONE.

GRANTED A FIVE YEAR RENEWAL PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $202,045 PER YEAR FOR DALE OAKS APARTMENTS, LLC LOCATED AT 2 1 3 6 NORTH DALE BOULEVARD.

[02:35:03]

ITEM 71,

[71. 24-00808]

THIS APPLICATION IS REFERRED BY LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESTORATION TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM BY PLANNING DIRECTOR.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SAY NONE.

GO TO COUNCIL.

HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MOOCH.

HAVE A SECOND.

SECOND, MY CHAIR.

ANY OPPOSITION? ANY NONE.

73 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PARISH EAST BATON ROUGE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS DISTRICT TO PROCEED WITH THE ISSUANCE OF NOT EXCEEDING $220 MILLION OF MOVE BEYOND SALES TAX REVENUE BONDS BY BOND COUNSEL.

WE'RE GONNA JUMP TO ITEM

[73. 24-00900]

DOES ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? YES, MS. LANDRY PENNY MAY LANDRY, UH, I AM IN OPPOSITION TO $220 MILLION IN BONDS TOWARDS, UM, MOVIE BR SALES TAX REVENUE BONDS.

UM, IT APPEARS SOMEWHAT TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF DOUBLE TAXATION 'CAUSE WE PAY SALES TAX AND THEN WE'RE ALSO GONNA HAVE TO PAY INTEREST ON THESE BONDS.

UH, THE REASON I'M IN OPPOSITION TO THIS IS BECAUSE SEVERAL MOVE EBR PROJECTS THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD.

WE LEFT NOW, UM, PARTICULARLY DEALING WITH, UM, SIDEWALKS.

I THINK THOSE NEED TO BE PUT ON THE BACK BURNER UNTIL WE GET OUR STREETS, UM, FIXED.

FIRST, I, I, YOU KNOW, I AGREED WITH BICYCLES AND PEDESTRIANS, WHATEVER, HOWEVER, THE MAJORITY OF TAXPAYERS AND CITIZENS ARE IN CARS, ON OUR ROADS AND, UM, THROUGHOUT NORTH BATON ROUGE, CENTRAL BATON ROUGE, EVERYWHERE.

EVERYWHERE I'M DRIVING, UM, IT'S LIKE THIRD WORLD COUNTRY ROAD.

SO I'M AGAINST INITIATING ANY MORE BOND MONEY, ESPECIALLY $220 MILLION UNTIL WE RETHINK PRIORITIES, UH, FOR THESE MOVE EBR PROJECTS.

MOTION COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

ANYONE ELSE BE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS STATE YOUR NAME.

I'M GOING QUICK ON MY TIME.

I'M SPEND MY TIME FAST, QUICK TO MY COUNCILWOMAN.

UH, I'M GONNA, UH, GET MORE INFORMATION BEFORE I SUPPORT THIS, UH, FOR MY COUNCILWOMAN, UH, ON THIS ITEM.

AND I'M GOING TO STAND MY TIME BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN HERE ALL DAY AND I'M A MINISTER AND WE DO THE STUFF DECENT IN ORLEANS, SO I SPEND MY TIME.

WELL, THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? WISHING SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

SEEING NONE? I'M GOING TO COUNCIL, WE HAVE A MOTION? SURE.

SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MO.

AUTHORIZING THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO REFUND AN ERRONEOUS REMITTANCE OF SALES TAXES TO PRODUCTION PRINT SOLUTIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $79,085 AND 64 CENTS FOR REMITTING SALES TAX ON REPAIR PARTS COVERED BY A MAINTENANCE CONTRACT BY FINANCE.

ITEM 74,

[74. 24-00869]

WE DO 72.

DOES ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEE, I'M GONNA GO TO COUNCIL.

HAVE A MOTION.

MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT, TO APPROPRIATE STATE FUNDS FOR ACT 3, 9 7 OF THE 2023 REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000 FOR EDUCATION AND PUBLIC SERVICE OUTREACH FUNCTIONS OF AND ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE MAYOR'S HEALTHY CITY INITIATIVE.

ITEM 75,

[75. 24-00870]

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN GODES, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

AMENDING THE 2024 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER ONE TO APPROPRIATE $20,560 TO FUND THE PURCHASE OF OPERATIONAL SUPPLIES FOR A NEW FIRETRUCK BY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER ONE.

ITEM 76,

[76. 24-00877]

GO TO COUNCIL.

MOTION BY CHAIR.

SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSED? SEEING NONE.

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF BATON ROUGE CITY COURT TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL

ITEM 77

[77. 24-00874]

[02:40:01]

SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH EUGENE WHITE, JR.

SO AS TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR OUR SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR AS A SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR FOR THE BATON ROUGE CITY COURT SOBRIETY COURT FOR A TOTAL OF 33,000 TO COVER THE PERIOD FROM OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025 BY CLERK OF COURT, JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATOR, ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, SEEING NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL.

HAVE A MOTION.

MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF BATON ROUGE CITY COURT TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH TICE L LANDRY SO AS TO PROVIDE SERVICES AS A SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR FOR THE BATON ROUGE CITY COURT SOBRIETY COURT FOR A TOTAL OF $14,000 TO COVER A PERIOD FROM OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025 BY KIRK COURT JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATOR.

ITEM 78

[78. 24-00875]

ANYONE WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE GO TO COUNCIL.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS? SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

ADAM 79

[79. 24-00876]

AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF BATON ROUGE CITY COURT TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH IVORY K WILSON SO AS TO PROVIDE SERVICES AS A SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR FOR THE BATON ROUGE CITY COURT SOBRIETY COURT FOR A TOTAL OF $19,000 TO COVER THE PERIOD FROM OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025 BY CLERK OF COURT, JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATOR, ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

SEEING NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM 80,

[80. 24-00878]

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF BATON ROUGE CITY COURT TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH LACEY UH, DICE.

THE CONTRACT IS NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF $61,258 FOR THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT.

THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY LICENSED CERTIFIED COURT REPORTERS BY CLERK OF COURT, JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATOR, ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE GO TO COUNCIL.

AN ORDINANCE AND AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT GRANTING COX COMMUNICATIONS LOUISIANA, LLC FOR OUR INITIAL TERM THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2038.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM 81, ENACT

[81. 24-00884]

THE RIGHT TO CONSTRUCT TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THE CABLE SYSTEM TO PROVIDE CABLE SERVICE IN THE CITY.

PARISH'S RIGHT OF WAY CO COMMUNICATIONS LOUISIANA, LLC SHALL PAY THE CITY PARISH AS COMPENSATION FOR USE OF CITY PARISH RIGHT AWAY A FRANCHISE FEE EQUAL TO 5% OF THE GROSS REVENUES BY MAYOR PRO TE LAMONT COLE , ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, SEEN NONE.

WILL GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DON JR.

SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN DEZA.

ANY OPPOSED, ANY NON MOTION CARRIES.

GO BACK TO

[72. 24-00831]

ITEM 72, WAIVING THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE NINE, CHAPTER 18, SECTION 1006 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF CITY OF BATON ROUGE IN PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE.

SO AS TO EXTEND THE HOURS OF OPERATION FOR ALL CLASS A AND CLASS R LICENSE HOLDERS IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH ACCEPTING THE CITY OF ZACHARY BAKER AND CENTRAL TWO HOURS FROM 12:00 AM ON 2:00 AM MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND, 2024 BY COUNCILWOMAN AKA ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, SAY NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL.

NO.

MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN AKA.

SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GOEY.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES NUMBER

[82. 24-00879]

READY TO AUTHORIZE AND SETTLEMENT IN THE MATTER OF DANISHA PATE VERSUS JEREMY GIBBONS ET.

ALL IN THE AMOUNT OF 25,000 PLUS COURT COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $603 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $25,603 BY PARISH ATTORNEY.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SAME.

NONE WILL GO TO COUNSEL.

MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN GOEY, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN.

AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE CLAIM OF CAESAR ALTA MURANO FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY A PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEE IN THE AMOUNT OF 23,000 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

NUMBER 83

[83. 24-00888]

AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE CLAIM OF EMILY POSEY FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY A BATON ROUGE FIREMAN IN THE AMOUNT OF $11,845 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GOEY.

SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ROA, ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES NUMBER 84

[84. 24-00891 ]

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SAME.

NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GOE? SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON IN THE OPPOSITION.

MOTION CARRIES NUMBER 85

[85. 24-00898 (Part 1 of 2)]

AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT IN THE MATTER OF TITLE CODY HAMILTON UCS VERSUS SAFEGUARD CAPITAL FUND,

[02:45:01]

LP ET ALL IN THE AMOUNT OF 25,000 PLUS COURTS COURT COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $284 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $25,284 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. I I'D

[Additional Item]

LIKE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION BECAUSE TO DISCUSS THIS IN OPEN, UM, CHAMBER MIGHT DAMAGE OUR, OUR CASE.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE ITEM MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN MOOCH.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION? SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

ANY OPPOSED? ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER.

IS THERE A MOTION? ALRIGHT,

[85. 24-00898 (Part 2 of 2)]

WE HAVE A SECOND? NO.

SECOND.

IS THERE A SECOND FOR THE MOTION? SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GOEY.

WE HAVE AN OBJECTION.

ANYBODY ELSE OBJECT? WE HAVE OBJECTION.

LET'S VOTE ON THE MACHINES.

UM, WE ARE, THERE IS A MOTION TO APPROVE ON ITEM 85 AND WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINES.

MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE.

GOD BLESS.

I APOLOGIZE.

I MISSED COUNCILWOMAN DEANNE'S VOTE.

UM, WITH HER VOTE AT, OH, IT IS SIX VOTES TO APPROVE.

COUNCILMAN, WHY ARE YOU MESSING AROUND WITH? ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINES.

WE'RE VOTING ON THE MACHINES.

ON ITEM 85, THERE'S A MOTION TO APPROVE ON THE FLOOR.

MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE.

ON A MAY 6TH AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT ON THE MATTER ENTITLED LEE SCHAFER VERSUS CITY OF BATON ROUGE.

MOVING

[86. 24-00907]

AT ALL THE AMOUNT OF 39,000 AND APPROPRIATING 39,000.

SUCH PURPOSE BY PARISH ATTORNEY.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? NO.

MOTION.

MOTION TO APPROVE.

COUNCILMAN HUDSON? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DON, JR.

IN ANY OPPOSED ONE.

OPPOSITION UP.

TWO.

LET'S VOTE ON THE MACHINES COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THERE IS A MOTION TO APPROVE ON ITEM 86.

THE MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE.

MOTION FAIL.

DO WE NEED TO DO IT AGAIN? MOTION TO RECONSIDER.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA VOTE AGAIN ON THE MACHINES.

IS EVERYBODY PREPARED? COUNCILMAN GOEY? COUNCIL, Y'ALL READY? I THINK SO, YEAH.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, THERE IS A MOTION TO APPROVE ON THE FLOOR FOR ITEM 86.

MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE, UH, ITEM 1 26 FIRST HERE.

OKAY,

[126. 24-00940]

SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH ORDINANCE 1 6 4 4 2, THIS ITEM MUST BE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY BY TWO THIRD VOTING METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO DECLARE ITEM 1 26 IN EMERGENCY.

SO MOVED BY COUNCILMAN DUN JR.

ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION TO DECLARE EMERGENCY CARRIES.

[02:50:04]

ANYONE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM 1 26.

AUTHORIZATION FROM AIR PRESIDENT AND OR CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO SUBMIT AND EXECUTE A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AND STATE OF LOUISIANA OFFICE OF AVIATION FOR THE TAXIWAY L PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $16 MILLION BY AVIATION DIRECTOR.

REASON THIS ITEM'S AN EMERGENCY IS DEEMED AN EMERGENCY TO MEET CERTAIN FAA GRANT DEADLINES.

DOES ANYBODY WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SAYING NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN DON JR.

SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

[87. 24-00835]

AND WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO ITEM 87.

AUTHORIZATION FOR MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND OR CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER ONE WITH ELOS ENVIRONMENTAL LLC AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $80,101 AND 17 CENTS BY THE AVIATION DIRECTOR.

GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DON JR.

SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

88, AUTHORIZATION FOR MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND OR CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO SUB TO SUBMIT AND EXECUTE A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AND THE STATE OF LOUISIANA OFFICE OF AVIATION FOR THE TERMINAL HVAC IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,240,236 BY AVIATION DIRECTOR, ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM SAYING NONE.

ITEM

[88. 24-00922]

GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DON JR.

SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE

[Items 89 - 95]

GONNA TAKE ITEMS 89 THROUGH 95 TOGETHER AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE CONTRACT PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH GEO ENGINEERS INC.

FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOVE VR ENHANCEMENT PROJECT, HIGHLAND ROAD AT PKU, AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $65,351 25 CENTS BY TRANSPORTATION DRAINAGE DIRECTOR AUTHORIZING, UH, ITEM 90, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENT AGREEMENT NUMBER ONE FOR UTILITY RELOCATION SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MO CAPACITY PROJECT, OLD HAMMOND HIGHWAY, SEGMENT ONE BOULEVARD PROVINCE TO MILLERVILLE IN AN AMOUNT ITX EXCEED $202,879 AND 20 CENTS BY A TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.

ITEM 91 AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR TO CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH STANTEC CONSULTING GROUP, INC.

FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOVE BEYOND CAPACITY PROJECT PERKINS ROAD, SEGAN LANE TO PICO LANE IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $11,608 AND 86 CENTS BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.

ITEM 92, AUTHORIZED MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH SUSTAINABLE DESIGN SOLUTIONS, LLC FOR DESIGN, STUDY AND FINAL PLAN SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOVE VR ENHANCEMENT PROJECT, GOODWOOD BOULEVARD SIDEWALKS AND BIKE PATH AIRLINE HIGHWAY TO SHARP ROAD AND A AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $308 437 300 $8,437 38 CENTS BY TRANSPORTATION DRAIN DIRECTOR AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENT, UH, ITEM 93, AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER ONE FOR ABSTRACTING SERVICES WITH RICK BEON AND ASSOCIATES, LLC FOR ADDITIONAL ABSTRACT ASSOCIATED WITH THE EAST BATON ROUGE FLOOD RISK REDUCTION PROJECT.

AIM E RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES WATERSHED FLOOD MANAGEMENT PROJECT ON AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $5,000 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.

ITEM 94, AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE CONTRACT WITH STANTEC CONSULTING SERVICES INC.

TO TO PROVIDE FOR A SUPPLEMENT TO THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT AND A TWO YEAR EXTENSION OF PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND ASSOCIATION WITH THE MOVE VR COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT, IMPROVING EXISTING CORRIDORS AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROJECTS IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 17,630,000 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR ADAM 95 AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH CSRS INC.

TO PROVIDE A TWO YEAR EXTENSION OF PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND ASSOCIATION WITH THE MOVE VR, NEW CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND THE AMOUNT I TAKE EXCEED $10,796,486 BY TRANSPORTATION AND CHANGE DIRECTION.

DIRECTOR, DOES ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? MS. LANDRY? MS. LANDRY, MAKE SURE THE MIC'S DON'T HIT THE BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM THERE.

I THINK THAT CONTRACT AMOUNTS, UM, WHEN THE CONTRACTOR SAYS, I CAN DO THE JOB FOR THIS AMOUNT, THAT ADDING, UM, YOU KNOW, 10 $20,000 IS OKAY, BUT ADDING UM, 200,000 IS RIDICULOUS.

THANK YOU, FRED.

THANK YOU FRED.

UH, SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 90, I AM AGAINST ALL SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENTS, PARTICULARLY RELATED TO MOVE EBR.

UM,

[02:55:01]

SO I'M AGAINST 90 91.

I'M ALSO AGAINST 92.

UM, YOU WOULD THINK WITH ALL OF THE DESIGN STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE BY MOVIE VBR RELATED TO BIKES AND SIDEWALKS, THAT WE WOULD NOT NEED TO SPEND ANOTHER $308,000 TO STUDY ONE SECTION OF SIDEWALKS AND BIKE PATHS.

I THINK THEY OUGHT TO UTILIZE PREVIOUS STUDIES.

HOW MUCH DIFFERENCE CAN THERE BE IN A BIKE PATH STUDY? IN A SIDEWALK STUDY? AND I'M AGAINST SPENDING ANOTHER $300,000 TO STUDY A SIDEWALK, UM, AGAINST, UH, SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT.

93 FOR MENTIONED BEFORE 94 AND 95 ARE PARTICULARLY DISTURBING TO ME.

UH, I AM AGAINST A $17 MILLION PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICE AGREEMENT.

DO WE NOT THINK THAT WE COULD NOT HIRE SOMEBODY INTERNALLY TO DO SERVICE MANAGEMENT FOR LESS THAN $17 MILLION? THIS ISN'T DOING ONE THING OTHER THAN MANAGING PROJECTS.

WE NEED TO HIRE PEOPLE.

CAN WE GET FRED, SOMEBODY WHO CAN MANAGE THESE THINGS AND NOT SPEND $17 MILLION? SO THE SECOND ONE IS FOR ALMOST $11 MILLION, AND IT'S FOR A PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES CONTRACT.

SO TO APPROVE TWO SERVICE MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS FOR $29 MILLION IS AN INSULT TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THIS CITY.

AND I STRONGLY REQUEST THAT YOU RECONSIDER AND GO AND LOOK BACK AT HOW THIS $29 MILLION MANAGEMENT SERVICE IS GONNA SERVE THE TAXPAYERS OF V BATON ROUGE.

WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO FOR THE SERVICE.

ANYONE ELSE SPEAKING? WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? ARE THESE ITEMS, COUNCIL MEMBERS? COUNCIL MEMBERS? YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 92 94 AND 95 THAT WILL GO TO COUNCIL COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA FRED? YES.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS ANY OF HER CONCERNS, PLEASE? SURE.

NUMBER ONE, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT AS SIDEWALK PROJECTS ARE DIFFERENT.

UH, YES, YOU'RE BUILDING A FOUR OR FIVE FOOT SIDEWALK, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT LOCATIONS OF WHERE THESE SIDEWALKS ARE GONNA BE BUILT, EVERY, ALL THE GEOGRAPHIC STUFF HAS TO BE LOOKED AT.

I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME PLACES THAT HAVE PIPE, SOME DON'T WHO DO NOT, BUT THE SIDEWALK'S GONNA BE PLACED THERE.

SO IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS JUST A HUGE OLD STUDY.

EVERYTHING HAS TO BE LOOKED AT AT, FROM A DESIGN STANDPOINT TO MEET THE CRITERIA, PARTICULARLY WITH THE A DA ISSUES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.

IS IT ONE OF THE CONCERNS? I KNOW ONE OF THE CONCERNS IN MY DISTRICT, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE ARE, PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO PUT IN SIDEWALKS.

UH, AM I CORRECT? YES, MA'AM.

AND YOU KNOW, I, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN PEOPLE WHO ASK ABOUT IT, AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY IT WAS INCORPORATED IN THE MOVIE YARD.

BECAUSE IT'S CRITICAL FOR, FOR INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PEOPLE TO MOVE AROUND, ALSO FOR SCHOOL KIDS TO WALK TO AND FROM WHERE THEY NEED TO GO FROM, FROM SCHOOL OR TO HOME.

SO THAT, THAT IT'S ESSENTIAL ASSET THAT WE FELT LIKE NEEDS TO BE PART OF THE PROGRAM.

AND THAT'S WHAT, AND QUITE FRANKLY, MOST OF THESE ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS ARE PROJECTS THAT WE ASK THE COUNCIL, I MEAN THE COUNCIL TO LOOK AT.

AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT THEY WANTED DONE.

AND CERTAINLY I FEEL LIKE, AND THE PEOPLE THAT I TALKED TO, SIDEWALKS ARE VERY IMPORTANT FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT, BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES THEM, UH, MORE AREA TO DO THINGS THEY WANNA DO FROM A HEALTH, UH, SAFETY STANDPOINT.

IN REGARDS TO THE FEES, THIS, JUST REMEMBER THE NUMBERS SHE MENTIONED.

THIS IS A TWO YEAR CONTRACT.

UH, SO I MEAN, IT'S NOT ONE YEAR THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS.

AND I'LL HAVE TO TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, UH, I STILL QUESTION SOME OF THE THINGS SOMETIMES, BUT WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AND THE, THE ISSUES DEALING WITH BOTH PROJECT, UH, PROJECT, UH, INSPECTION PROJECTS, UH, FOR THE CAPACITY AND ALSO FOR THE ENHANCEMENT AND THE, UH, THE, UH, SIDEWALK ISSUES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THESE ARE THE PROGRAMS THAT WE SET UP.

WE MET WITH THE, UM, MOVIE OR PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT

[03:00:01]

WE HAD ISSUES.

AND I THINK MOST COUNCIL KNOWS THAT WE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH, UH, UH, DO TDS.

SOME OF THOSE HAVE BEEN RESOLVED.

I COULD NOT COME AND SIT HERE AND SAY, LET'S DON'T DO ANYTHING 'CAUSE OF THAT ISSUE.

WE MOVE FORWARD WITH MOVING WITH THE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMS WITH MOST OF THOSE ARE WHAT WE ASK THE COUNCIL TO DO, AND THEY GIVE US THE LIST OF WHAT WE WANT TO DO AND WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

SO IN REALITY, WE STILL MOVING.

WE'RE BUILDING ROADS.

WE FINISHED CHOCTAW, THERE'S A SECTION OUT.

WE ALSO, UH, FINISHED BEN, HER, YOU KNOW, AND WE HAVE PROJECTS TO JUST WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, READY TO MOVE ON HAMMOND HIGHWAY.

SO ALL PROJECTS ARE MOVING IN A DIRECTION THAT THEY NEED TO, BUT IT DOES COST TIME AND COST MONEY.

PEOPLE HAVE TO HELP OVERSEE THESE THINGS.

SO IT GETS DONE RIGHT AND IT GETS EXPENDED.

THE FUNDS GET EXPENDED CORRECTLY.

YOU ARE GONNA HOLD ME RESPONSIBLE IF THE PROJECT IS NOT DONE CORRECTLY.

UH, I'M HOLDING THOSE PROGRAM MANAGERS, UH, RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM NOT GETTING IT DONE CORRECTLY.

UH, I CERTAINLY FEEL, I KNOW THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY AND TO ME IT IS TOO.

I, I, IF I WON'T SITTING OUT THERE ASKING THAT QUESTION, YES.

BUT IT'S SERVICES THAT WE ARE GONNA NEED.

AND I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, UH, WHILE I MAY BE ABLE TO FIND SOMEBODY TO, TO WORK FOR A COUPLE YEARS, UH, WITH A PROGRAM AND THING, IT IS, THAT'S WHY IT WAS MORE ECONOMIC FROM US TO LOOK AT HIRING A FIRM FROM THE OUTSIDE TO DO THESE SERVICES.

THAT WAS WHAT WAS DONE UNDER THE GREEN LIGHT PLAN AND WORKED VERY, VERY WELL.

UH, AND THAT'S WHY WE CONTINUE TO DO WHAT THE MOVIE ARE.

I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

AND I WOULD ASK THE COUNCIL FOR SUPPORT ON THIS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO DELAY THE THING ANY LONGER BECAUSE I GOT PROJECTS THAT, THAT WHEN I GO TO PUBLIC MEETINGS, THEY VERY MUCH TELL ME WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET THIS DONE? WHEN IS THIS PROJECT? AND I, I WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE CAN MOVE THE PROJECTS WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

AND PART OF THAT IS THROUGH THESE CONTRACTS.

WE HAVE A MOTION ON ITEM 89 TO 95 COLEMAN.

SO MOVE BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

ITEMS CARRIED.

THAT WAS THROUGH NINE.

THAT THROUGH NINE FIVE, SORRY.

89 THROUGH NINE FIVE.

ALL

[96. 24-00916]

RIGHT.

ITEM NINE SIX.

AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH TANDEM MOBILITY LLC TO PROVIDE BIKE SHARE OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND ASSOCIATION WITH THE BATON ROUGE BIKE SHARE SYSTEM IN AMOUNT NOT TO, NOT TO EXCEED $60,000 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR, ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 96.

NONE.

GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GOEY.

WE HAVE A SECOND.

SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

OH, SORRY.

COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

UH, FRED? YES, SIR.

SO WHEN WE ORIGINALLY, UH, DID THE BIKE SHARE PROGRAM, I THINK WE HAD A GRANT TO FACILITATE THAT, IF I REMEMBER IT WAS ABOUT THOUSAND DOLLARS.

UM, I I RECALL BEING TOLD AT THAT TIME THAT THAT WAS ALL THE MONEY THAT WE WERE GONNA HAVE TO SPEND ON BIKE SHARE.

IT WAS A SELF-SUPPORTING PROGRAM.

UM, AND, AND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE JUST WANTED TO HELP START 'EM UP.

AND WE WERE MOSTLY USING A GRANT TO DO THAT.

97, AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT OR HER DESIGNEE TO APPLY FOR AN AUTHORIZED RECORDING OF THREE GRANTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,025,585 $4,013,493 AND $7,212,606, TOTALING $13,251,684.

UM, SO WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE PROGRAM? IS IT NOT SELF-SUSTAINABLE? UH, WHY ARE WE SPENDING $60,000? 60,000 IS STILL WHAT'S LEFT IN THE GRANT BECAUSE THE COMPANY THAT WAS DOING THE BIKE SHARE PROGRAM, UH, FAILED TO COMPLY WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WENT OUT OF BUSINESS.

WE HAVE A GROUP THAT'S, UH, WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS TO LOOK AT TRYING TO USE THE REMAINING FUNDS TO, TO LOOK AT LOCATIONS THAT WE COULD HELP IMPROVE SOME OF THE, UH, BIKE, UH, BIKE ASSETS IN THE AREAS ALONG THESE STREETS.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS FOR, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WERE ASKED TO DO.

SO WE'RE NOT A, WE'RE NOT BEING ASKED TO PUT UP ANY ADDITIONAL NEW CITY PARISH DOLLARS TO THE PROGRAM.

NO, SIR.

THIS IS JUST EXISTING GRANT.

GREAT.

MOTION OF PROOF.

SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES ITEM

[97. 24-00921]

UPON RECEIPT OF AWARD NOTIFICATION RECEIVED FROM DOTD AS RELATED TO THE PLANK NICHOLSON BUS RAPID TRANSIT PROJECT, WHICH IS COMPRISED PARTLY BY MOVE VR ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS, FLORIDA BOULEVARD CORRIDOR ENHANCEMENT SEGMENT ONE I ONE,

[03:05:01]

10 TO 22ND STREET AND PLANK ROAD CORRIDOR ENHANCEMENT SEGMENT ONE 22ND STREET TO DAWSON BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR, ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL, COMMENT AND OPPOSITION TO ITEM 97.

I'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN HURST, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO AMEND A SUBSCRIPTION SOFTWARE AGREEMENT ADDING $52,700 FOR TOTAL FOR A TOTAL OF NOT TO EXCEED 116,800 BETWEEN CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARIS OF EAST BATON ROUGE, AND ATE LLC BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

ITEM 98,

[98. 24-00899]

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? ANY? I WILL GO TO COUNCIL MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DON, JR.

AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES, OFFICE OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO AMEND CONTRACT WITH THE LOUISIANA HOUSING CORPORATION FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF LOW INCOME HOME AND ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF 1.5 MILLION FOR GRAND PERIOD.

ITEM 99,

[99. 24-00910]

OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025 BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? THEME NUMBER WILL GO TO COUNCIL.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST? COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS? I HAVE A QUESTION.

UM, SO THIS ITEM AUTHORIZES APPLICATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF L-I-H-E-A-P FUNDS THROUGH SEPTEMBER, 2029.

CAN, CAN SOMEBODY TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT THOSE FUNDS ARE? UM, WELL ANYWAY, I I THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING THAT WE USUALLY DON'T EXTEND THINGS OUT THAT, THAT FAR GOOD EVENING.

WE'RE ASKING FOR THIS EXTENDED PERIOD BECAUSE IT TAKES US TOO LONG INTERNALLY TO PROCESS IT, WHICH MEANS WE DON'T, WE DON'T GET THE MONEY TO THE COMMUNITY FAST ENOUGH.

SO THAT MEANS WE'RE NOT ABLE TO MEET OUR BENCHMARKS, UH, AND EXECUTING THE FUNDS AND AWARDED TO US.

SO, I MEAN, SO WE ARE GOING AHEAD AND, I MEAN, THIS IS THE NEXT COUNCIL WILL BE IN PLACE AND, BUT WE'RE GOING AHEAD AND AUTHORIZING THE RECEIPT OF THESE FUNDS FOR, FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

STILL REQUIRING US TO GO TO GRANTS REVIEW NORMALLY, LIKE WE NORMALLY DO, IT'S JUST THAT IT WILL ALL, WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO THE MAYOR SIZE THE CONTRACT.

WE CAN'T GET THE CONTRACT SIGNED UNTIL WE GET THROUGH, GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, AND IT'S DELAYING OUR ABILITY TO GET THE FUNDS BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S JUST UNUSUAL TO SEE 2029.

IT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION.

100, AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH TAMARA DAWSON, SABINE, AND THE AMOUNT OF 85,000 TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE AS SAFE, HOPEFUL, HEALTHY BATON ROUGE GRANT ADMINISTRATOR RESPONSIBLE FOR IDENTIFYING AND RESEARCH AND POTENTIAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AND FUNDING SOURCES RELEVANT TO THE COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

UH, COUNCILMAN DON JR.

SECOND.

ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES ITEM

[100. 24-00829]

UH, THERE'S A REQUEST TO HAVE THIS DELETED BY THE DEPARTMENT.

ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? PENNY MAY.

UM, I'D JUST LIKE TO REMIND COUNSEL THAT OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS $35 TRILLION IN DEBT.

AND I, I WOULD THINK THAT, UM, PAYING $85,000 TO SOMEONE TO BE A GRANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR ONE PROGRAM IS, IS A WASTE.

I MEAN, THIS SAYS IT'S FOR ONE PROGRAM, WHICH IS CALLED SAFE HOPEFUL HEALTHY BATON ROUGE.

NOW, THE LIKELIHOOD IS THAT NEXT YEAR THERE WILL BE NO GRANT MONEY COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND YET WE WILL HAVE A PERSON ON STAFF BEING PAID $85,000.

NOW, I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY OTHER GRANT ADMINISTRATORS WE HAVE, BUT I WOULD LIKE Y'ALL TO DEFER THIS UNTIL YOU SEE IF THIS, THIS 85,000 CAN BE SAVED AND THAT IT CAN BE SHARED BY ANOTHER, HOWEVER MANY GRANT ADMINISTRATORS WE HAVE ON STAFF.

UH, SO THAT, THAT WAS COUNCIL, THAT WAS THE, UM, FIRST THING I WAS GONNA SAY.

ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? I'LL REMIND Y'ALL WE HAVE A, A REQUEST BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO DELETE THIS ITEM.

COUNSEL.

[03:10:01]

NUMBER ONE, IT WAS BEING DELETED.

NUMBER TWO, I GUESS WE CAN HIRE THEM TO SHRED THE PAPERS YOU WANTED US TO SHRED TOO WITH OUR OFFICE CLERKS.

BUT, UM, THE OTHER PART IS, AND FOR Y'ALL THAT WEREN'T HERE, THAT WAS FROM A PREVIOUS MEETING, YOU MISSED THE, YOU MISSED THE JOKE ON THAT ONE.

THE THE PUNCHLINE.

BUT, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO GRANT ADMINISTRATORS AND SO MANY FEDERAL REPORTING GUIDELINES THAT IF YOU GO INTO THE CORPORATE WORLD, THESE PEOPLE ARE MAKING SIX FIGURES.

THEY'RE NOT MAKING $85,000.

AND SO A LOT OF THESE REPORTING GUIDELINES JUST FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THEY HAVE 5, 10, 15, 20 YEARS OF REPORTING.

SO EVERY TIME YOU GET ANOTHER GRANT, YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE TO REPORT THAT AND LAYER THAT ON TOP.

AND I'M ONLY SAYING THAT BECAUSE WHEN I WENT TO HOUSTON WITH MARLEY, AND I'M GONNA ALWAYS HAVE A BACK ON THIS ONE, THEY LAID OFF 60 PEOPLE IN THE DEPARTMENT WHERE SHE HAD ONLY HAD THREE OR FOUR AT THE TIME.

SO MY POINT IN SAYING THAT IS THE, SHE NEEDS MORE HELP.

UM, THE CITY PARISH FROM A GRANT STANDPOINT NEEDS MORE HELP.

Y'ALL TALKED ABOUT DPW, UM, AND EARLIER NOT BEING ABLE TO BE HIRED TO HIRE PEOPLE.

WE HAVE MAYBE TWO CARPENTERS.

MAYBE WE, WE HAVE ONE REAL ELECTRICIAN FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.

'CAUSE WE CAN'T HIRE PEOPLE 'CAUSE WE'RE NOT PAYING THEM ENOUGH.

AND YOU ARE CON CONCERNED WITH $85,000 WHEN A GRANT WRITER'S PROBABLY A HUNDRED OR 200,000, IT GETS A PERCENTAGE OF THE GRANT THAT THEY COME IN FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE STANDPOINT, WHICH IS UP TO ABOUT 20 TO 30% PER GRANT THAT CAN BE APPLIED TOWARDS THAT.

SO IT WAS A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR GRANT.

THIS IS VERY INSIGNIFICANT IN TERMS OF PAY AND IN TERMS OF MANAGEMENT.

SO SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA KNOW YOUR FACTS BEFORE YOU COME IN.

AND WHEN YOU MAKE THOSE COMMENTS ON THE MIC AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC HEARS THAT STUFF, IT SENDS A WRONG SIGNAL TO WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH CITY PARISH.

I THINK WE ACTUALLY NEED THE OPPOSITE.

WE NEED MORE MONEY, MORE OVERSIGHT IN TERMS OF HOW WE MANAGE OUR PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE WE STAY CORRECT UNDER FEDERAL GUIDELINES SO THAT WE DON'T END UP IN A SITUATION WHERE TAXPAYERS ARE BEING PENALIZED FOR MAKING WRONG DECISIONS.

COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA? UH, CAN SOMEBODY IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE COME TELL US WHY IT'S BEING DELETED OR DOES ANYBODY KNOW? NO.

THANK YOU JULIE, WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

UH, I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY IT'S DELETED.

AND I, IF YOU CAN HOLD A SECOND, I CAN GET YOU THAT ANSWER.

I APOLOGIZE.

I DON'T .

ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION'S DELETED.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GODDE TO DELETE.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY THE CHAIR.

UH, ITEM DELETED, ITEM

[101. 24-00830 ]

1 0 1, AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO AUTHORIZE EXECUTION OF AN AMENDMENT ON BEHALF OF EDR CONSTRUCTION FOR WORK TO BE PERFORMED AT 2000 AT 2 0 7 4 70 FIRST STREET, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA FOR A TOTAL SUM NOT TO EXCEED $72,910 22 CENTS BY THE MAYOR MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE GO TO COUNCIL.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON? SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN IS ANY OPPOSITION? YEP.

ITEM 1 0 2, AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO AUTHORIZE EXECUTION OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF HUNT, GEAT AND ASSOCIATES COMMENCING AUGUST 1ST, 2024 AND TERMINATING DECEMBER 31ST, 2025 FOR HOME REHABILITATION PUBLIC FACILITIES IN NEW CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS FOR A SUM NOT TO EXCEED $150,000 BY MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

[102. 24-00913 ]

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GOEY? SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE.

MOTION CARRIES ITEM 1 0 3,

[103. 24-00915]

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES TO AMEND CONTRACT WITH CASEWORTHY INC.

IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,436 NOT TO EXCEED $89,471 BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.

WOULD ANYBODY, IS ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL.

1 0 4, AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENTS TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF LOUISIANA FOR THE, FOR THE STATE,

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GODDE, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES ITEM

[104. 24-00917]

[03:15:01]

AND TO OPERATE APPROPRIATE FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $80,000 FOR DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE SERVICES FOR PROJECT RESET BY THE OFFICE OF MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE SERVICES.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN? SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR.

ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES ITEM 1 0 5

[105. 24-00918]

AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH RESET TAX INC.

FOR $80,000 TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT FROM 40,000 TO AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 120,000 TO EXTEND A PILOT PROGRAM THAT USES SOFTWARE TO TREAT YOUTH AS STUDENTS WITH A FOCUS ON REHABILITATION AND RECOVERY BY OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE SERVICES.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN GOEY.

SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

CRAWFORD CONSTRUCTION INC.

WE'RE GONNA GO TO CHANGE

[Items 112 - 116]

ORDERS.

PAGE 19.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE ITEM 1 12 1 16 TOGETHER THROUGH ONE 16 TOGETHER.

ITEM ONE 12 EBRP, EMERGENCY GENERATORS, CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS, BUFFALO ELECTRIC CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT ZERO IS THE CHANGE IN CALENDAR DAYS.

ITEM ONE 13 BEACH HOLLYWOOD AREA A DA TRANSITION PROJECT CONTRACTORS, THE LUSTER GROUP, LLC.

CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, $26,566 85 CENTS NUMBER ONE 14 I 12.

LARGE DIAMETER SEWER REHAB CONTRACTOR IS N-C-M-C-L-L-C.

CHANGE ORDER ON MOUNT CREDIT.

$9,757 46 CENTS.

ITEM ONE 15 I 12.

LARGE DIAMETER SEWER FLOW CONTROL CONTRACTOR N-C-M-C-L-L-C, CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, $550,000.

ITEM ONE 16 CHIPPEWA STREET AREA A DA TRANSITION PROJECT PHASE CONTRACTOR IS GRADED.

CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT IS CREDIT.

$29,660 AND 25 CENTS.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? SEEING NONE WILL GO TO COUNSEL.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR ITEM ONE 12 THROUGH ONE 16? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

A REPORT FROM THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, UH, ASSESSOR BRIAN WILSON ON THE MELROSE EAST CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT BOARD REGARDING THE RECENT PARCEL FEE CHANGE AND OR REDUCTION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE PROCESS FOLLOWED FOR THE PARCEL FEE REDUCTION AS WELL AS THE PROCESS FOR DISTRIBUTING NOTICES TO FEE PAYERS WITHOUT ACTION TAKEN BY THE METRO COUNCIL AND THE STEPS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN, IF ANY, TO REMEDY THE ISSUE BY COUNCILMAN CLE DON JR.

[Items 117 - 121]

FINAL ACCEPTANCES.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE ITEMS 1 17 1 THROUGH 1 21 TOGETHER.

ONE 17 BATON ROUGE METROPOLITAN AIRPORT, NORTHWEST TAXIWAY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT CONTRACTOR HENDRICK CONSTRUCTION INC.

FINAL COST $3,122,378 AND 53 CENTS.

ITEM ONE 18 BEACH HOLLYWOOD AREA A DA TRANSITION PROJECT CONTRACTOR.

THE LUSTER GROUP FINAL COST $752,889 AND 90 CENTS.

ITEM ONE 19 I 12.

LARGE DIAMETER SEWER REHAB CONTRACTOR N-C-M-C-L-L-C FINAL COST.

$1,107,242 AND 54 CENTS.

ITEM ONE 20 I 12.

LARGE DIAMETER SEWER FLOW CONTROL CONTRACTOR NCMC.

FINAL COST, $2,547,000.

ITEM 1 21 CHIPPEWA STREET AREA A DA TRANSITION PROJECT PHASE CONTRACTOR, GRADY CRAWFORD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC.

FINAL COST $347,671 AND 25 CENTS.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEMS ONE 17 THROUGH 1 21? SEEING NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR.

SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS? ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES ACCEPTANCE OF LOW BIDS.

UM, NONE.

WE GOT, WE'RE GOING TO OTHER ITEMS. ITEMS 1 22 AND 1 23.

WE HAVE A, UH, REQUESTED DEFER THESE ITEMS. I'M GONNA READ THEM RECEIVING

[122. 24-00740]

DOES ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, GO TO COUNCILMAN DON JR.

MOTION TO DEFER UNTIL NEXT MEETING.

SECOND BY THE CHAIR.

ITEM 1 23, RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH ATTORNEY GREG ROME, COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR ASHLEY BECK ON THEIR FINDINGS AND OR COMMUNICATION WITH THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH ASSESSOR, BRIAN WILSON AND THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE REGARDING THE MELROSE EAST CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT AND THE RECENT PARCEL FEE CHANGE AND OR REDUCTION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE PROCESS FOR REDUCTION OF THE PARCEL FEE AND THE PROCESS FOR DISTRIBUTING REDUCED NOTICES, FEE PAYERS WITHOUT ACTION TAKEN BY THE METRO COUNCIL BY COUNCILMAN CLE DUN JR.

[123. 24-00741]