* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [Presentations and Special Recognitions] [00:00:09] THANKS EVERYONE, UH, TODAY. UM, AND A TRADITION THAT I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO, UH, BRING TOWARDS THIS COUNCIL FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS IS THAT I HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF CONSTITUENTS THAT ACTUALLY, UM, MAKE OUR TURN AGE 100. AND SO, ONCE AGAIN, I HAVE A CONSTITUENT WHOSE NAME IS HALLE Q DAWSON. UM, SHE LIVES IN SOUTHERN HEIGHT AND, UM, SHE'S SPECIAL. I HADN'T SEEN HER IN A WHILE AND SHE'S NOT HERE. UM, BUT HER FAMILY WANTED HER ACKNOWLEDGED, AND I AL I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH ALL OF THEM AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY LABORATORY SCHOOL, AND THEY WERE MY MOM'S STUDENTS. SO I'M DELIGHTED TO BRING HER, UM, HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREETINGS, AND ALSO TO READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MS. HALLE Q. SO, MS. HALLU DAWSON WAS BORN SEPTEMBER 20TH, 1924 IN WILLIAMSTON, SOUTH CAROLINA TO JULIA AND FREDERICK LEVERETT. SHE HAD TWO BROTHERS, FRANKLIN AND FREDERICK JR. SHE MET AND MARRIED LESLIE DAWSON FROM AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, WHILE ATTENDING SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY TO THIS UNION. FOUR CHILDREN WERE BORN. PAMELA DAWSON, JOHNSON, CONRAD LAIRD DAWSON, LORRAINE DAWSON NESBITT, AND WYMAN DAWSON. MRS. MRS. DAWSON WORSHIPED AND FELLOWSHIPED AT CAMP MEMORIAL METHODIST CHURCH. SHE WAS PART OF MANY DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CHURCH. SHE WAS A DEACONESS OF THE UNITED WOMEN MEMORIAL METHODIST CHURCH, AND I BASICALLY MET HER DURING THAT TIME, UM, BECAUSE WE DID PRISON MINISTRY THROUGH CAIROS TOGETHER, MRS. DAWSON HAD A FLOURISHING CAREER IN EDUCATION WHERE SHE SERVED AS A TEACHER AND THEN BECAME A COUNSELOR. HER SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY INCORPORATED, WORLD TRAVELER TOUR GROUP, CAMP MEMORIAL, UNITED METHODIST CHOIR AND WOMEN OF DISTINCTION AND TOP LADIES OF DISTINCTION. SHE PARTED, SHE PARTICIPATED IN ALL EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES OF HER CHILDREN AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY LABORATORY SCHOOL GIRL SCOUT LEADER, A CANCER SURVIVOR OF BATON ROUGE. HER HOBBIES CONSISTED OF TRAVELING, SEWING, READING, SHOPPING, AND COUNSELING OTHER CHILDREN ON THE RIGHT PATH TO SUCCESS. JOIN ME IN WISHING MRS. HALLE Q DAWSON, A 100 BIRTHDAY. I I'M SURE HER FAMILY IS WATCHING AND WE HAVE A PRESENTATION THAT I WILL MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET AND, AND I'M GONNA TAKE A PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE. YEAH, SO I'M LIKE A LITTLE GENERATION LOW, UH, COUNCILWOMAN BANKS, BUT I ALSO GREW UP AROUND THE CORNER AND IN THIS LADY HOUSE WITH HER GRANDCHILDREN. SO SHE WAS JUST HAD A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY LIFE AS WELL. SO THANK YOU FOR HONOR TODAY, COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS. I WAS ACTUALLY THINKING THAT I WAS GONNA HAVE YOU DROP THIS OFF AT THE HOUSE. , I LITERALLY WAS. OKAY, WE, WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE. I DON'T KNOW IF, UM, THERE'S CERTIFICATE IF YOU'LL PUT UP. [00:05:11] ALRIGHT. SO, UM, FOR THE SECOND YEAR, THE GEORGIA NEWMAN COMMUNITY CENTER, UH, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HOST A CIRCUS. UH, THIS IS VERY MUCH UNIQUE BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY HELD AT THE GEORGIA NEWMAN COMMUNITY CENTER. IT'S OUR SECOND YEAR AND IT'S CALLED DUSTY'S ALL STAR CIRCUS. AND WHAT THEY DO IS THEY COME TO THE GEORGIA NEWMAN COMMUNITY CENTER AND SET IT UP AS A CIRCUS. UM, THEY HAVE THE POPCORN, THE HOT DOG, THE COTTON CANDY, UH, CLOWNS, WHATEVER, THE PEOPLE THAT DO THIS, AND IT IS JUST REALLY A GREAT TIME. THEY ACTUALLY MOVE IN, UM, ON OUR BACK PARKING LOT WITH THEIR, UH, VAN. AND LAST YEAR THEY ONLY HAD TWO SHOWS, BUT THEY HAD SUCH A GREAT TURNOUT IN THE HOSPITALITY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE THEM AT THE GEORGIA J NEWMAN COMMUNITY CENTER. THEY WILL BE BACK THIS WEEKEND, SOUTHERN DOES NOT HAVE A GAME, SO IT IS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. ON SATURDAY, THEY HAVE MAT TWO MATINEE SHOWS AND THE EVENING SHOW AT SEVEN O'CLOCK. AND THEN TWO MATINEE SHOWS ON THAT SUNDAY, THE LAST ONE ENDING AT 4:00 PM WE DO HAVE ALL THE SCHOOLS IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, UH, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND DISTRICT TWO, AND ALSO, UH, THE CITY OF BAKER, INCLUDING, UM, OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS. WERE ALL DELIVERED 100, BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE TICKETS. SO IF YOUR CHILDREN ATTEND SCHOOL, UH, ANYWHERE IN THE COMMUNITY OF DISTRICT TWO ELEMENTARY, PLEASE ACT. GO BY, ASK YOUR, UM, THIS SCHOOL, TELL 'EM YOU WANT YOUR BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE TICKET. SO IT'S ONE ADULT AND THE CHILDREN GET IN FREE. WE ALSO HAVE SOME, UM, FREE TICKETS THAT WE'LL BE GIVING OUT, UM, OVER SOCIAL MEDIA TOMORROW, BUT PLEASE, UM, LET EVERYBODY KNOW IT'S A GREAT EVENT AND IT'S FUN RIGHT IN YOUR BACKYARD. SO THAT'S MY COMMERCIAL FOR THAT. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MR. HOWARD WHITE AND HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE, YOU ALWAYS SMILEY TO PLEASE COME UP. THANK YOU'ALL. YOU HAVE ANOTHER YOUNG MAN WITH YOU. I SEE. OH, YOU PHOTOGRAPHER. YOU LIKE THAT? OKAY. JUST A MOMENT. SO, UH, MR. HOWARD WHITE IS A FIXTURE, UM, NOT ONLY IN OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF EAST BATON ROUGE, BUT CERTAINLY IN SCOTLANDVILLE, UH, IN THE AREA OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP. BUT NOT ONLY IS HE AN EXAMPLE OF A SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR, HE HAS MADE IT HIS, UH, LIFE CAUSE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INFORMATION THAT HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO UTILIZE AND BE SUCCESSFUL FOR, FOR NOW 25 YEARS WITH TOP CHOICE PRODUCTS, THAT HE, UM, BOTH IN LECTURES, DONATION AND WRITE IN BOOK WRITING, SHARES THAT INFORMATION ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY AND AFAR. SO, I'M GONNA READ HIS BIO, IT IS VERY EXTENSIVE, BUT I'M GONNA WORK WITH IT. . OKAY. SO, MR. HOWARD WHITE, WHITE JUNIOR IS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER GRADUATE OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, TELLING FROM THE BLOOMING METROPOLIS OF PRENTICE, MISSISSIPPI BLOOMING. OKAY, YOU MEAN MAGNOLIA . OKAY. DURING HIS TENURE AT SOUTHERN HOWARD, EXHIBITED ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE HONORS COLLEGE, ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY AND HELD POSITION AT SGA PRESIDENT AND A MEMBER OF THE SOUTHERN UNI SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. VERY IMPRESSIVE POSTGRADUATE, HOWARD AMASSED INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE WORKING FOR ESTEEM. FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES ENROLLED SPANNING TECHNICAL SALES, ENGINEERING, AND MARKETING MANAGEMENT. THROUGHOUT AN EIGHT YEAR TENURE, HE DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL SALES ACUMEN, UH, EARNING RECOGNITION AS SALESMAN OF YEAR AMONGST A COHORT OF 500 SALES PROFESSIONALS WHILE RESIDING IN SIX DIFFERENT STATES. IN 1999, HE PROPELLED BY DESIRE FOR GREATER FULFILLMENT. HOWARD STARTED TOP CHOICE PRODUCTS, SITU, SITUATED ON HARDING BOULEVARD IN BATON ROUGE, IN THE BLOOMING METROPOLIS OF SCOTLANDVILLE . IN PURSUIT OF HIS PASSION FOR EDUCATION AND COACHING, HOWARD FOUND BUSINESS GROWTH DYNAMICS CONSULTING OVER EIGHT YEARS AGO. THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE, HE HAS DELIVERED AN IMA AN IMPACTFUL LEADERSHIP AND SALES [00:10:01] COACHING OF BUSINESS LEADERS AND OWNERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND INTERNATIONALLY. UM, I I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIS BOOK. SO HE HAS WRITTEN FOUR BOOKS, SOUTHERN GREEKS, SOUTHERN GREATS, I'M SORRY. LESSONS LEARNED ON THE BLUFF. REAL DADS REAL LEADERS ENCOMPASSING VALUABLE LESSONS AND INSIGHT WE'RE NOT ENGAGED WITH HIS CLIENTS. HOWARD AND GEORGE TRAVELING WITH HIS WIFE OF 20, OVER 25 YEARS, JANICE ARE SPENDING TIME WITH HIS SON HOWARD II IN HOUSTON. BUT WHEREVER YOU SEE HOWARD, YOU SEE JANICE. SO, I DON'T KNOW. YEAH. ADDITIONALLY, HE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN VOLUNTEER WORK AT HIS CHURCH, LIVING FAITH CHRISTIAN CENTER. CHRISTIAN CENTER, BIG BUDDY, 100 BLACK MEN SEES, WHICH STANDS FOR SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ENGINEERING ALUMNI SOCIETY, AND, AND SERVES ON VARIOUS NONPROFIT BOARDS. UM, GOD GUIDED BY HIS LIFE MISSION TO WORK SMARTER, PLAY HARDER, SERVE MORE. HOWARD REMAINS COMMITTED TO ASSISTING OTHERS IN ACHIEVING THEIR DREAMS AND FINANCIAL GOALS, INVITING THE ETHOS OF HELPING OTHERS WIN AND REALIZE DREAMS AND HELPING OTHERS WIN AND REALIZE DOLLARS OF THOSE LIKE PAMPHLETS. THAT'S MY NAME, HOWARD, O-W-A-R-D. OKAY. , YOU DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING. YOU ARE TRULY A SALESMAN. SO I WOULD LIKE EACH ONE OF YOU TO JOIN ME IN CELEBRATING AND ABSOLUTELY RECOGNIZING A 25 YEAR BUSINESS THAT HAS SURVIVED THE FLOOD COVID AND EVERYTHING ELSE. TOP CHOICE PRODUCTS. IF YOU WERE ANY KIND OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY OR ANY KIND OF PER PARAPHERNALIA OF THE DIVINE NINE, THERE'S A VERY GOOD CHANCE THAT IT WAS BROUGHT AT TOP CHOICE PRODUCTS. WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'LL HAVE MR. HOWARD WHITE AND HIS WIFE PLEASE ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. NO, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU. UM, COUNCILWOMAN, UM, BANKS, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT 25 YEARS, IT JUST MEANS THAT YOU'VE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH AND WAS ABLE TO BOUNCE BACK ENOUGH TO SURVIVE. BUT THE REAL BLESSING OF BEING HERE 25 YEARS IS WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE 125 PLUS STUDENTS I'VE BEEN ABLE TO TOUCH THROUGH EMPLOYMENT, THROUGH MENTORSHIP DIRECTLY. I ALWAYS TELL 'EM, WE HELP PUT SOME CHANGE IN YOUR POCKET. IF WE CAN'T AFFORD YOU, IF YOU ARE GOOD, WE HELP YOU FIND A BETTER JOB. AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE DO. STARTING WITH COUNCIL PERSON HEARST OVER THERE. I WAS ABOUT TO TAKE A PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE, BUT GO AHEAD. AND SO I WANNA SAY, YOU KNOW, TO THE COUNCIL, UH, PERSONS THAT ARE HERE, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO START NUMBER ONE, BECAUSE ONCE A SMALL BUSINESS START, THEY BECOME FABRIC OF THE COMMUNITY AND REALLY STAY HERE. IT'S HARD FOR 'EM TO LEAVE ONCE THEY START, BUT THEN IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU SUPPORT 'EM TO HELP 'EM GROW AND REALLY EMPLOY MORE AND SUPPORT STUDENTS BECAUSE ONCE THEY SUPPORT STUDENTS, THEY'RE SUPPORTING WHOLE FAMILIES EVENTUALLY. SO WITH THAT, THANKS A LOT, UH, COUNCILWOMAN AND THANKS A LOT. TO THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR, WE DO HAVE A CERTIFICATE AND THIS AS CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION PRESENTED TO TOP CHOICE PRODUCTS FOR 25 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE. YOUR BUSINESS STANDS AS A PROUD AND INTEGRAL PART OF THE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY, OFFERING UNWAVERING SUPPORT TO OUR DIVERSE AND DYNAMIC FAMILY OF STAKEHOLDERS AND THE ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE DIVINE NINE. HERE'S TO 25 YEARS OF GROWTH, UNITY, AND SUCCESS, AND MANY MORE YEARS OF BUILDING A BRIGHTER, STRONGER, AND STRONGER FUTURE TOGETHER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU WANNA DO IT NOW? OKAY. YOU WANT ME TO DO IT? IT'S GOOD. OKAY. STEP UP FRONT? YEAH. [00:15:17] OH, OKAY. NEXT WE'RE GONNA HAVE MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WEIN BROOME AND COUNCILMAN DARRELL HURST RECOGNIZE, UH, THREE PRESENTATIONS. THANK YOU. UM, MR. PROTI AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. SO WE'RE GONNA START FIRST WITH, UH, A RECOGNITION OF THE INCREDIBLE SERVICE OF TANYA COZY, WHO IS A WOMAN DEDICATED TO ZION CITY IN NORTH BATON ROUGE. SHE HAS UNDOUBTEDLY LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK ON OUR COMMUNITY. FOR 35 YEARS, TANYA HAS BEEN THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE HOLY GRILL PROGRAM, TIRELESSLY SERVING HER NEIGHBORS THROUGH HER LEADERSHIP, COMPASSION, AND COMMITMENT, BORN AND RAISED IN ZION CITY. TANYA'S JOURNEY FROM VOLUNTEERING TO LEADING THE HOLY GIRL REFLECTS HER DEEP LOVE FOR THIS COMMUNITY. THROUGH HER WORK, SHE HAS PREPARED OVER 450,000 MEALS, NOURISHED BOTH BODIES AND SPIRITS, AND ORGANIZED ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES THAT HAVE UPLIFTED COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS FROM THE KIDS CAFE PROGRAM TO HEALTH FAIRS, UH, TO TUTORING AND PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS THE CITY. TANYA'S IMPACT EXTENDS FAR BEYOND THE KITCHEN. SHE HAS BROUGHT HOPE AND JOY, AND CONNECTION TO NORTH BATON ROUGE. TANYA'S PASSION AND SELFLESS SERVICE ARE INDEED INSPIRING, AND SO WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR HER UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO ZION CITY AND THE LEGACY SHE LEAVES BEHIND. TANYA, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, WOULD YOU COME ON UP? I LOVE THOSE COLORS. SO, AS I JUST SAID IN MY STATEMENT, WE ARE CERTAINLY GRATEFUL, UH, FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO ZION CITY AND ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE OVER THE YEARS AT THE HOLY GRAIL. 35 YEARS OF REMARKABLE SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY IS IN INDEED, UM, UH, INSPIRING. AND, UH, WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU TODAY WITH THE CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION. AND AT THE END IT SAYS, YOUR EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE AND DEDICATION LEAVES A LEGACY THAT WILL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS. SO, CONGRATULATIONS TO MY BOSS LADY WHO I SEE ON A DAILY BASIS AND JUST HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPREAD LOVE, JOY, PEACE AND, UH, MEALS WITH THE COMMUNITY, HER DEDICATION TO THE ZION CITY COMMUNITY, BUT MORE SO TO THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE IS UNPARALLELED. I MEAN, NUMBER ONE, SHE'S AMAZING AT WHAT SHE DOES BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHEN SHE DIDN'T COOK THE FOOD, THEY DON'T EAT IT AS MUCH OVER THERE AT ZION CITY. BUT WHAT SHE DOES IS SHE'S DEDICATED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE FOOD INSECURITIES. WHEN IT WASN'T A BIG POPULAR TOPIC AROUND BATON ROUGE, ALONG WITH THE INTERFAITH FEDERATION, ENSURE THAT A COMMUNITY THAT AT SOME POINT WAS LEFT BEHIND AND LOST, NEVER WAS FORGOTTEN ABOUT BECAUSE MS. TANYA ZI WAS THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE REMEMBERED. AND SO, TODAY, MS. TANYA COZI IS DEDICATED 35 REMARKABLE YEARS TO SERVING THE BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY THROUGH HER TIRELESS WORK AS PROGRAM COORDINATOR COOK AND DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE HOLY GRILL AT THE INTERFACE FEDERATION OF GREATER BATON ROUGE. LEMME TELL Y'ALL, WE ARE STARTING A HOMELESS FEEDING PROGRAM AT THE CHARLES R. KELLY COMMUNITY CENTER. IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF ME, IT'S INSPIRED BY HER. I SAW THE TYLERS WORK THAT SHE DID, THE, THE, THE MEALS THAT, THAT WERE PROVIDED BECAUSE PEOPLE DID NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES. AND SHE CAME OVER THERE TO ADVISE US HOW, NOT JUST TO DO IT THERE, BUT ALSO MOVE IT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND BRING INTERFAITH FEDERATION AND AS A PARTNER. SO TODAY I HONOR YOU AS MY BOSS LADY AND MY SECOND MOTHER, AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH. [00:20:05] LOOK, I'M, I'M GONNA ASK THE COUNCIL, THIS WOMAN IS VERY SPECIAL TO ME. IF Y'ALL DON'T MIND COMING DOWN AND TAKING A PICTURE, I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. I JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR HONORING ME TODAY FOR, FOR MY 35 YEARS AT THE HOLY GRAIL. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WAS MY PASSION TO HELP AND, UH, WORK WITH PEOPLE. SO I DID IT FOR 35 YEARS. I ENJOYED DOING IT, AND IF I COULD DO IT AGAIN, I WILL. THANK YOU'ALL. UM, IT'S NOW MY HONOR TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND CELEBRATE THE 85TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY SYSTEM. A CORNERSTONE OF LEARNING CULTURE AND COMMUNITY IN OUR PARISH. OVER THE YEARS, THE LIBRARY HAS GROWN INTO AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE, PROVIDING SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE TOUCHED THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS. SO, JUST A FEW, UH, LIBRARY FACTS. UH, THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN, FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY 9,000 CURRENT ACTIVE LIBRARY CARD HOLDERS. 123 MILLION BOOKS CIRCULATED SINCE 1939. 8 MILLION ATTENDEES AT LIBRARY PROGRAMS, 26,500, I'M SORRY, 26 MILLION FIVE HUNDRED AND THIRTY EIGHT HUNDRED AND EIGHTY ONE REFERENCE QUESTIONS ANSWERED SINCE 1939. 684,533, SUMMER READING PARTICIPANTS SINCE 1970. AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. AND SO, AS WE CELEBRATE 85 YEARS OF SUCCESS, I EXTEND MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY SYSTEM FOR ITS ONGOING COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO INFORMATION FROM FOR ALL. AND I THINK MARY STEIN AND YOUR TEAM, YOU ALL WANNA COME UP, I'M SORRY. ALWAYS OUR NEW LIBRARY, LI HEAD LIBRARIAN, COME ON DOWN. TWO OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS, TWO OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS. HOW YOU DOING? OKAY. AND I THINK COUNCILMAN HURST WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING AS WELL. PROPAGANDA , NO POLITICAL SIGNS IN THE BUILDING. MAYOR, UM, , I WANT TO THANK THE LIBRARY FOR ALL THAT THEY DO FOR OUR PARISH. UH, IT'S BEEN A, IT IS BEEN A JOY BEING ON THE BOARD THIS YEAR. LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING THE PARISH AND MANY MORE. LITERACY IS A KEY TO ELEVATION IN LIFE. YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT PRISON CELLS BEING BUILT BY LACK OF LITERACY. THE, THE LIBRARY DOES A LOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CLOSE THAT GAP AND TO MAKE SURE THAT EAST BATON ROU PARISH THRIVE. SO, UH, THANK YOU TO MY LIBRARY BOARD MEMBERS, LIBRARY LEADERSHIP, AND TO THE MAYOR FOR HONORING US TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, SORRY. I AM AFRAID I WASN'T QUITE PREPARED FOR THIS SPEECH, BUT IT'S, UH, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR, UH, TO JOIN THIS TEAM. I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE SINCE FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, AND I'VE LOVED GETTING TO KNOW THE LIBRARY, THE PEOPLE THAT I WORK WITH. WE [00:25:01] ARE DOING AMAZING THINGS. WE HAVE AN AMAZING STAFF AND, UH, WE ARE ALREADY IN TALKS WITH MORE TO COME. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT, UH, OF MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE MET, UH, SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. EVERYONE HAS BEEN VERY KIND AND VERY WELCOMING. SO I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR, FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND HOPE TO SEE YOU IN OUR LIBRARY IS VERY SOON. ALL RIGHT. I'M JUST GONNA ADD, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 40 OF THOSE 85 YEARS, AND THE BUILDINGS MAY LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND THEY MAY OFFER A FEW MORE THINGS BESIDES BOOKS, BUT THE MISSION IS STILL THE SAME, AND WE'RE JUST SO BLESSED BY THE SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, OUR OFFICIALS, AND OUR PATRONS. SO, THANK YOU. HERE'S TO ANOTHER 85 YEARS. YES, . THAT'S RIGHT. FINALLY, UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, WE HAVE AN OUTSTANDING, UM, STAFF OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WORK FOR CITY, PARISH, UH, GOVERNMENT. UM, MANY OF THEM HELP US NAVIGATE EMERGENCIES, AND THEY WORK BEHIND THE SCENES. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ALL OF THE WORK THAT THEY DO BEHIND THE SCENES. AND SO RECENTLY, UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD A WEATHER EVENT. WE WERE BLESSED THAT WE WERE NOT, UM, NEGATIVELY IMPACTED TO A LARGE EXTENT DURING HURRICANE FRANCINE, BUT NEVERTHELESS, WE HAD OUR MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ON FULL ACTIVATION. AND WE ALSO HAD INCREDIBLE TEAMS WHO RESPONDED SWIFTLY DURING THIS TIME AND BRAVELY COURAGEOUSLY, UH, THE BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE EAST BATON ROUGE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. WOULD YOU ALL COME UP HERE FIRST? WOULD YOU ALL COME UP HERE TODAY? ? YES. THEY'RE, THEY'RE HUMBLE SERVANTS. OKAY, SO THESE, UH, INDIVIDUALS, UM, ARE MANY OF OUR DEPARTMENT LEADERS IN, UH, CITY PARISH, GOVERNMENT WHO I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF, UM, WORKING WITH AND HIRING FIRSTHAND. UH, WE ALSO HAVE SOME OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO PLAYED PIVOTAL ROLES IN HURRICANE FRANCINE. SO I'M GOING TO ASK ENTERGY TO COME IF ENTERGY COULD COME UP. I THINK I SAW SETH IN THE AUDIENCE. UM, DO WE HAVE THE CENTRAL FIRE DEPARTMENT? NO. OKAY. WELL, MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, WE HAVE A WHOLE TEAM FROM ENTERGY WHO IS HERE. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU ALL AND, UH, THEY WERE PART OF US DELIVERING INFORMATION DURING, UH, HURRICANE FRANCINE AS WELL. AND SO WE WANNA THANK EVERYBODY WHO WAS INVOLVED. AND THIS IS JUST A GLIMPSE OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE INVOLVED. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY AS I TRAVELED, UM, THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND TALKED TO, UH, WHETHER IT WAS, UH, PEOPLE WITH OUR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS WHO WERE OUT CUTTING DOWN TREES OR FOLKS WHO WERE OUT WORKING WITH, UH, ENTERGY. I JUST WANNA SAY THAT YOUR QUICK AND COORDINATED [00:30:01] EFFORTS DID NOT, AND DO NOT GO UNNOTICED. UH, AND THAT CERTAINLY BECAUSE OF YOUR COMMITMENT, LIVES WERE SAVED AND CRITICAL SERVICES WERE RESTORED IN RECORD TIME. SO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING OUR CITIZENS SAFETY ABOVE ALL ELSE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COURAGE AND FOR YOUR UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO BATON ROUGE. YOUR WORK TRULY EMBODIES THE SPIRIT OF RESILIENCE AND COMMUNITY, AND OF COURSE, WE ARE EXTREMELY AND DEEPLY, UH, GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE. UM, I HAVE SOME COMMENDATIONS FOR ALL OF YOU ALL, AND I BELIEVE COUNCILMAN HURST ALSO WANTS TO RECOGNIZE YOU ALL AS WELL. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU ALL DO. HEY, SO TODAY, UM, WAS AN IMPORTANT DAY TO ME BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE TO ACTIVATE THE EMERGENCY SERVICES LIKE WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO DO IN OTHER, UM, STORMS THAT WERE, UH, DISASTROUS TO OUR COMMUNITY. BUT WHAT DID HAPPEN DURING THIS PAST STORM IS WE HAD A LOT OF ELECTRICAL OUTAGES. I WANNA SAY IT WAS OVER 20,000 IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH AND SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. UM, SO THE, THE MAIN FOLKS THAT HAD TO GO CLEAR THE ROADS THAT HAD TO RESPOND TO OUTAGES AND HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITY PARISH WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY WAS THE DPW CREW, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND ENTERGY. THAT'S WHY YOU DON'T SEE EVERYBODY ELSE HERE TODAY FROM EP. EVERYBODY DID A CRITICAL JOB, BUT THESE ARE THE ONES THAT MADE SURE THAT WE RESTORED OUR COMMUNITY BACK TO NORMAL. AND I WANT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MYSELF. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE'S EXPERIENCE ON THE COUNCIL, BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS WE HAD ENERGY UP HERE AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT GETTING A DIFFERENT COMPANY AT ONE POINT BECAUSE THE SERVICE WAS BAD. UM, THE, THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WAS NOT AS STRONG AS IT NEEDED TO BE. AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT THEY HAVE DONE A COMPLETE 180 AND I WOULDN'T HAVE ANOTHER ENERGY COMPANY SUPPORT THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE. THE WAY THAT THEY'VE STEPPED UP, ANYTIME WE CALL, THEY ANSWER. ANYTIME WE EMAIL, THEY RESPOND, NIGHT OR DAY, THEY ASK, IS IT AN EMERGENCY? DO YOU NEED ME TO CONTACT YOU NOW? OR ARE YOU JUST WORKING AT MIDNIGHT? RIGHT? SO I WANNA GIVE ENTERGY A HUGE COMMENDATION FOR THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT THAT THEY PROVIDED THROUGHOUT THE STORM, BUT THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE YEAR AS WELL. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO AND THE IMPACT THAT YOU MAKE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AGAIN, DPW HAS ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT, NOT AS A FIRST RESPONDER, BUT THEY WERE AT MOST SELF THE ENTIRE TIME. THEY WERE THE ONES THAT CLEARED THE ROAD ALONG WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM. I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR MONITORING OUR CITY SERVICES TO MAKE SURE THAT IF A DISASTER WERE TO HAPPEN TO SHUT OUR SERVICE, OUR CITY DOWN, THAT THEY WOULD BE IN A POSITION TO BRING US BACK UP IN A, IN, IN A STRONG PERIOD OF TIME. I WANNA THANK OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR ALWAYS BEING ON CALL, BEING THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND BOTH DEPARTMENTS SOMETIMES BEING UNDERPAID AND OVERWORKED. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND CONTINUE THE GREAT WORK FOR THE PUBLIC AND THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IN EAST RIDGE PARISH. DESIREE HARRIS, SETH SCHILLING, AND TREY RANGER, DESIREE S OH, OKAY. FROM CITY PARISH SIDE. ADAM SMITH, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, JOSEPH BUTLER. JOE, THANK YOU, REGINALD BRUMFIELD. FRED RAYFORD [00:35:05] IS MY FIRE CHIEF, MICHAEL PIMPLE . I ALSO WANNA SAY, WE DIDN'T CALL HIS NAME, BUT, UH, CLAY REEVES, WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU STEP UP FOR A MINUTE? CLAY IS OUR DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AND HE IS THE ONE WHO, UM, CONFERS WITH ME AS WE ACTIVATE, UM, UM, EP. AND I RECENTLY FOUND OUT, AND YOU CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG WITH THESE NUMBERS, BUT THAT, UM, SINCE 2017, WE HAVE ACTIVATED HOW MANY TIMES, A HUNDRED, 126 TIMES. UH, SO THAT MEANS THAT WE HAVE, UH, STOOD UP OUR COMMAND CENTER THERE. UH, AND THAT MEANS THROUGH WHETHER IT WAS A WEATHER EVENT OR WHETHER IT WAS, UM, THE PANDEMIC, UM, WE HAD TO BE THERE TO RESPOND. BUT HE IS THE, UH, GENTLEMAN WHO'S COORDINATES ALL OF THAT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, CLAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE DR. CHRISTIE MAMU HUNT FOR YOUR DEDICATED WORK AS AN ADVOCATE FOR SUICIDE AWARENESS. IT'S TRULY COMMENDABLE BY FOSTERING A SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR INDIVIDUALS FACING INTERNAL STRUGGLES, YOU ARE HELPING TO CREATE A COMMUNITY WHERE NO ONE FEELS ALONE IN THEIR DARKEST MOMENTS. BEING AN ADVOCATE IS NOT EASY IN YOUR EFFORTS TO SHOW UP. FOR THOSE WHO OFTEN STRUGGLE TO SHOW UP FOR THEMSELVES, DO NOT GO UNNOTICED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS. AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR THIRD ANNUAL SUICIDE AWARENESS WALK. PLEASE HELP ME IN WELCOMING DR. CHRISTIE MAMU HUNT. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME HERE. UM, I AM DR. CHRISTIE MAMU HUNT. MANY OF YOU OR MANY INDIVIDUALS KNOW ME AS DR. CHRISTIE MAMU HUNT. UM, BUT I AM A WIFE, A MOTHER, COWORKER, FAMILY MEMBER, UM, FRIEND TO MANY THAT HAVE HAD THE THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE, UM, HAVE MADE SUICIDE ATTEMPTS AND, UM, HAVE ACTUALLY UNLI THEMSELVES. UM, I UNDERSTAND ON BOTH ENDS OF HOW THAT FEELS. AND IT IS MY MISSION FOR CARING MINDS TO BRING FORTH AS MANY RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY AS POSSIBLE, UM, TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WITH A SENSE OF HOPE, UM, AND A SENSE THAT THEY CAN OVERCOME THE MANY OBSTACLES THAT WE FACE YEARLY. UM, AS OF RIGHT NOW, STATISTICS ARE OVER 49,000 SUICIDE, UM, SUICIDES PER YEAR. AND WE ARE DILIGENTLY TRYING TO ASSIST MANY, AS MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING WORLDWIDE TO REDUCE THOSE RATES. SO I THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME HERE. I ASK THAT YOU ALL PLEASE JOIN IN ON THE MOVEMENT. WE DO HAVE AN EVENT THIS SATURDAY, [00:40:01] SEPTEMBER 28TH IN DOWNTOWN ZACHARY. THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION PORTION OF OUR MEETING, OUR REGULAR MEETING. WE'RE GONNA TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS. SO OUR REGULAR MEETING START 4 0 2. HELLO EVERYBODY. WELCOME TO THE HOME OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH. WE ARE ON THE BANKS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA'S STATE CAPITOL. IT'S SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2024, AND WE'RE SET TO GO. GLAD YOU'RE WITH US AT THIS TIME. HERE IS THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, COUNCILMAN BRANDON NOEL. COUNCILMAN. THANK YOU, DENNIS. WELCOME [CALL TO ORDER] TO THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2024. WE'LL CALL THE MEETING ORDER. ASHLEY, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM? WE HAVE A QUORUM. WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR INVOCATION AND PLEDGE LED BY STEVE JOHNSON, JR. FLEET MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR. STEVE. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THANK YOU COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING ME TO PRAY OVER THIS MEETING. UM, AND ALL OF THE LEADERS THAT ARE HERE REPRESENTED TODAY, AND ALSO OUR CITIZENS IN THE CITY. LET US PRAY ETERNAL FOR OUR GOD. WE JUST THANK YOU, LORD FOR ANOTHER DAY. WE THANK YOU HEAVENLY FATHER FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE GATHERED TO CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THIS CITY, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH. LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE MAYOR THAT HAS BEEN INSTALLED, LORD, TO CARRY OUT THE WORK THAT YOU CALLED HER TO DO. WE PRAY, LORD GOD, THAT YOU WATCH OVER HER, CONTINUE TO KEEP HER AND STRENGTHEN HER ADMINISTRATION AROUND HER. LORD, GOD, WE PRAY OVER THIS, UH, MEETING AT THE BUSINESS THAT'S BEING CONDUCTED. LORD, GOD IS PLEASING IN YOUR SIGHT. WE PRAY, LORD GOD, THAT YOU STRENGTHEN EVERY REPRESENTATIVE, UH, COUNSEL HERE TODAY. UH, THOSE LEADERS THAT YOU HAVE APPOINTED, WE PRAY, LORD GOD, THAT YOU CONTINUE TO POUR WISDOM OVER THEM, LORD, STRENGTHEN THEM, UH, IN THEIR LEADERSHIP. AND LORD, WE PRAY THAT YOU, UH, BLESS THE HANDS THAT HAVE, UH, BEEN PUT TO WORK TO REPRESENT YOUR PEOPLE. WE ALSO PRAY FOR THIS CITY, THIS GREAT CITY OF BATON ROUGE. LORD GOD, YOU SIT HIGH AND YOU LOOK LOW. HEAVENLY FATHER, YOU KNOW EVERY FAMILY THAT'S REPRESENTED IN THIS CITY. LORD, YOU KNOW THE PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE FACED WITH. AND HEAVENLY FATHER, WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ALL WISDOM, ALL POWER IN YOUR HAND. WE PRAY THAT ALL THE CITIZENS, LORD GOD, UH, ARE RESPONSIBLE IN THE DUTIES THAT YOU CALL THEM TO ATTEND TO CIVICALLY LORD GOD. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, MORALLY AND SOCIALLY. WE PRAY THAT YOU BIND US CLOSE TOGETHER AS ONE COMMUNITY, LORD GOD, TO CARRY OUT GOOD THINGS IN THIS WORLD. WE'RE FACED WITH SO MANY PROBLEMS TODAY, LORD GOD, WHICH WE KNOW THAT YOU KNOW EVERY ONE OF THEM. AND LORD GOD, WE, WE HOPE, AND WE KNOW BY YOUR WORD, THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD, FOR THOSE WHO LOVE GOD. AND A CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. SO LORD GOD, WE, WE PRAY OVER THIS COUNCIL. AND LORD, YOU GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE HEAVENLY FATHER, THAT THEY TAKE PATIENCE AND CARE TO NOT MAKE RA DECISIONS. BUT LORD GOD, IF THERE IS ANY, UH, REASON FOR THEM TO, TO PONDER A LITTLE BIT MORE AND ALLOW THEM TO PROCESS THOUGHTS MORE CLEARLY, WE PRAY THAT THEY BE GIVEN THE STRENGTH TO DO THAT AND THE CAPACITY TO DO THAT. IT IS AGAIN, WE PRAY ALL THESE THINGS AND GIVE ALL THESE THINGS TO YOU. IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, WE PRAY. AMEN. LET US LOOK TO THE FLAG FOR THE THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, STEVEN. WE [ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES] HAVE THE ADOPTION AND APPROVAL MINUTES APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2024, THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ZONING MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2024 IN THE GREATER BATON ROUGE AIRPORT COMMISSION MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2024 [00:45:01] BY COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR TREASURER. WE HAVE A MOTION, MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA, SECOND BY THE CHAIR. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ASHLEY, [INTRODUCTIONS] PLEASE READ THE INTRODUCTIONS. SECTION 2.12 INTRODUCTIONS. NUMBER TWO, ESTABLISHING HEALTH INSURANCE RATES AND PLAN DESIGN FOR EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, 2025 BY HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR. NUMBER THREE, AMENDING THE 2024 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE ALLISON ST. ARMEE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT. SO AS TO APPROPRIATE $80,000 FROM THE DISTRICT FUND BALANCE UNASSIGNED AND GENERAL PROPERTY TAX FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FUNDING FOR THE COLLECTION COSTS, UNANTICIPATED PERSONNEL COSTS, EQUIPMENT COSTS AND REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STATION AND EQUIPMENT BY ALISON SAN RELIEF, FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO RENEW THE RAISING CANNES RIVER CENTER RENTAL WAIVER AGREEMENT WITH VISIT BATON ROUGE AND A SM GLOBAL FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 1ST, 2025 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2028. I'M MAYOR, PRESIDENT, VISIT BATON ROUGE, A SM GLOBAL RAISING CANNES RIVER CENTER, CONDEMNATION, INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER FIVE, SUPERB PROPERTIES. LLC 5 3 1 6. GLEN OAKS DRIVE COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST, NUMBER SIX, LLOYD JONES. 6 8 2 5 AUTUMN AVENUE COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST. NUMBER SEVEN, FRED MARVIN BUTLER, SENIOR 6 7 6 5 AUTUMN AVENUE COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST, NUMBER EIGHT, HARDY THOMAS II. 6 1 0 6 CYRUS COUNCIL, DISTRICT SEVEN, DEANNE NUMBER NINE, THE ESTATE OF ORA LEE YOUNG LEE, 3 0 0 7 JACKSON AVENUE COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN DEANNE NUMBER 10, THE ESTATE OF GLORIA SINGLETON. 3 4 0 2 DALTON STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT FIVE DEANNE NUMBER 11, EQUITY CAPITAL MARKETS LLC 8 2 5 NORTH 25TH STREET. COUNT DISTRICT SEVEN, DEANNE NUMBER 12, WILLIAM HAMILTON, 5 1 9 LOUISE STREET COUNT DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 13, MELVIN C STANSBERRY IN THE ESTATE OF RUTH LEE WATKINS STANBURY. 3 6 0 MARY STREET COUNT DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 14, KING CULLINS PROPERTY LLC 1 1 3 6 NAPOLEON STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN ADJUDICATED PROPERTY INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER 15 LOT 59 SQUARE 11 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 16 LOT 1 0 2 SUBDIVISION GLEN OAKS COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST NUMBER 17 LOT ONE SQUARE 59 SUBDIVISION NORTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 18 LOT 18 SQUARE 10 SUBDIVISION STANDARD HEIGHTS COUNCIL DISTRICT COLEMAN NUMBER 19, LOT 67 SUBDIVISION LINCOLN HEIGHTS COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 20 LOT, FOUR A, FOUR B AND FIVE A SUBDIVISIONS WORK COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN NUMBER 21 LOT 26 PARTS SQUARE 43 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 22 LOT 10 SQUARE 41 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 23 LOT 35 SQUARE 15 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 24 LOT THREE SQUARE THREE. SUBDIVISION UNIVERSITY CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 25 LOT 12 SQUARE SIX SUBDIVISION BAKER TOWN SITE METRO COUNCIL. DISTRICT TWO BANKS NUMBER 26, LOT FOUR SUBDIVISION GB ANDERSON TRACK COUNCIL, DISTRICT ONE, KNOLL NUMBER 27 SUBDIVISION. ZACHARY TRUMAN STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT ONE KNOLL NUMBER 28 LOT 32 SQUARE 31 SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION COUNCIL, DISTRICT SEVEN ANNE NUMBER 29 LOT 46 SQUARE 34. SUBDIVISION BANKS COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 30 LOT 12 SQUARE 86 SUBDIVISION ESMA COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 31 LOT ONE PART SQUARE 12 SUBDIVISION PROGRESS PART COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN DRAZAN NUMBER 32 LOT TWO 30 SUBDIVISION BELFORT COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN, DEANNE NUMBER 33 LOT 17 SQUARE 15 SUBDIVISION EAST FAIRFIELD COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN, DEANNE NUMBER 34. LOT FOUR SQUARE TWO SUBDIVISION. GOOD GOODWOOD HOME SITES COUNCIL, DISTRICT SIX DUNN JR. ALL ITEMS REQUIRE READING OF IN READ AND A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS AS AN ORDER. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON. ANYONE OPPOSED? YEAH. YOU HAVE THAT AS AN INTRODUCTION. YEAH. SHE WANTS TO UH, SORRY. DELETE ITEM 14 AND . WELL, IS THAT, IS, IS THAT THE MOTION OF COUNCILWOMAN AROSE? DELETE ITEM 14. AND I ENTER ALL, WE, WE HAVE A MOTION TO DELETE ITEM 14. INTRODUCE ALL OF OTHER ITEMS BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON. ANY OPPOSED? WE HAVE AN ABSTENTION BY COUNCILWOMAN RAA. MOTION CARRIES. [00:50:01] OKAY, BEFORE CONDEMNATIONS, WE'RE [104. 24-01144] GONNA JUMP TO ITEM 1 0 4, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROL WITH VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA OF SELA FOR COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY SOCIAL WORK SERVICES AT THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY, INCLUDING ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND MANAGEMENT FOR CONTRACT WORKERS AND THE AMOUNT I TO EXCEED $160,000 BY THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR. DIRECTOR. DOES ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M KATRINA STOKES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY. AND I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON THE CONTRACT BETWEEN E-B-R-P-L AND THE VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA FOR SOCIAL WORKERS IN OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES. IN 2017, THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER REPORTED THAT 78% OF ADULTS FEEL THAT PUBLIC LIBRARIES HELP THEM FIND INFORMATION THAT IS TRUSTWORTHY AND RELIABLE. ADDITIONALLY, 56% OF THOSE SURVEYED BELIEVE THAT LIBRARIES HELP THEM GET INFORMATION THAT AIDED THEM WITH DECISIONS THEY NEEDED TO MAKE. HEREIN LIES OUR EXPERTISE, REFERENCE AND REFERRAL. WE PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE PATRON'S INFORMATION NEEDS AND WE REFER THEM TO THE PROFESSIONALS WHO CAN BEST ASSIST THEM FURTHER. BUT IN THE WORDS OF OUR REFERENCE SERVICES COORDINATOR, ANDREW TAMAN, A REFERRAL IS NOT THE SAME AS HAVING A PROFESSIONAL TALK TO THEM, TAKE THEIR TIME, UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION, AND TAKE TANGIBLE STEPS TO HELP THEM. HISTORICALLY SPEAKING, THE CONCEPT OF SOCIAL WORKERS AND LIBRARIES IS NOT NEW. BY THE TIME I BEGAN STUDYING FOR MY MASTER OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE DEGREE IN 2008, PUBLIC LIBRARIES HAD BEGUN ADDRESSING THE NEED FOR SOCIAL WORKERS IN THE PREVIOUS 10 YEARS. THE TAKEAWAY FROM THIS IS THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE COMING TO A SPACE WHERE THEY FEEL SAFE AMONG PROFESSIONALS WHOM THEY CAN TRUST. EB RPL L FIRST ADDRESSED THIS NEED PRIOR TO 2016, BUT THE NEED BECAME ESSENTIAL AFTER THE HISTORIC FLOOD. THE SOCIAL WORKERS WHO CAME TO OUR LIBRARIES THROUGH THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT PROVIDED OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY WITH MUCH NEEDED ACCESS TO RELIEF SERVICES TO BETTER EXPLAIN HOW NECESSARY THE SERVICE IS. HERE ARE ANECDOTES FROM OUR LIBRARY STAFF NEARLY EVERY DAY. OUR FRONTLINE STAFF SEE PATRONS ARRIVING AT OUR LIBRARIES IN A STATE OF DISTRESS OR NEED. HAVING A VOA CASEWORKER AVAILABLE TO ASSIST THESE PATRONS IS SIMPLY INVALUABLE. AMONG THOSE WHO RECEIVED ASSISTANCE ARE NUMEROUS PATRONS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS HAVE RECEIVED AID, GETTING INTO THE COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM FOR HOUSING. MORE SPECIFICALLY, A PATRON LIVING IN A TENT IN INDEPENDENCE PARK WAS ABLE TO SPEED UP THIS PROCESS WITH HELP FROM THE VOAA PATRON IN MENTAL DISTRESS, WHO HAD BEEN SLEEPING OUTSIDE. THE LIBRARY WAS CONVINCED TO GO TO THE BRIDGE CENTER FOR HELP AND THE VOA CASEWORKER PERSONALLY TRANSPORTED THEM TO THE FACILITY. AND FINALLY, A PREGNANT PATRON WHO WAS RECENTLY THE VICTIM OF VIOLENCE, WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE AID IN LEAVING A VERY DESPERATE SITUATION. IN SHORT, WE ASK THE METRO COUNCIL TO APPROVE THIS CONTRACT SO THAT WE, THE LIBRARY, MAY CONTINUE TO RENDER AID TO THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEE NO ONE GO TO COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN HURST. UH, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR, ASSISTANT DIRECTORS, BOARD MEMBERS FOR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE LIBRARY IS MORE THAN JUST A PLACE WITH BOOKS, A PLACE WITH VIDEOS. IT IS A PLACE, IT IS TRULY A COMMUNITY CENTER. SO WE TALK ABOUT AREAS. WE HAVE FIVE CITY PARISH COMMUNITY CENTERS. WE HAVE 22 LIBRARIES. AM I SAYING THAT RIGHT? SORRY. 14. SO WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 19 COMMUNITY CENTERS. IF YOU ASK ME THE FIVE THAT THE CITY OF PARISH RUNS AND THE 14 THAT ARE RUN THROUGH THE LIBRARY BOARD AND, AND, AND THE LIBRARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS. AND I, AND I, AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE YOU SEE THE HOMELESS POPULATION PREPARING FOR JOBS. AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU JUST TO PROMISE Y'ALL I WON'T TAKE THE WHOLE FIVE MINUTES, BUT IN THE LAST TWO DAYS, I REACHED OUT TO, UH, ABOUT, ABOUT THE LAST FIVE DAYS, REACHED OUT TO ST. VINCENT DE PAUL, SOME OTHER PLACES FOR TWO HOMELESS GENTLEMEN WHO WERE SLEEPING OUTSIDE OF CHARLES ROCK KELLY COMMUNITY CENTER EVERY DAY. BUT GUESS WHAT, I NEVER SAW 'EM THROUGHOUT THE DAYTIME. AND I SAID, HOW CAN I HELP YOU IF YOU'RE NEVER HERE DURING [00:55:01] WORKING HOURS? THEY SAID, WELL, WE'RE IN THE LIBRARY LEARNING AND FILLING OUR JOB APPLICATIONS. AND THEY COULD TELL THEY HADN'T BATHED IN A WHILE. YOU'RE SMELLING PRETTY STRONG. AND, UH, WE GATHERED A, A, A HOMELESS, UH, PROGRAM AT, AT OPENS OCTOBER 1ST SHOWED COORDINATED RESOURCE LIBRARY. WHAT WE HAVE, THOSE GENTLEMEN ARE NOW HOMED AND THEY HAVE JOBS ON THE WAY BECAUSE THEIR ABILITY TO USE THE COMPUTERS DURING THE DAYTIME AND NOT BE JUDGED, I'M GONNA SAY THAT AGAIN AND NOT BE JUDGED FOR HOW THEY LOOK, HOW THEY SMELL, UM, HOW, HOW THEIR HAIR MAY BE. BUT I'LL TELL YOU NOW, THEY HAVE HAIRCUTS. THEIR CLOTHES ARE CLEAN, THEY LOOK GOOD, THEY'RE HOMED, AND THEY'LL BE EMPLOYED BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT TURNED AWAY FROM THE LIBRARY. SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO, NOT JUST FOR LITERACY, BUT FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. AND I ASK THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT. COUNCILMAN GODA. YEAH. AND THAT WAS A MOTION TO APPROVE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. UM, MS. STOKES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I'M ACTUALLY JUST GONNA ASK YOU TO SORT OF REITERATE WHAT I, WHAT I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY IN YOUR, UM, IN YOUR REMARKS. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC UNDERSTOOD THAT THE VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA SOCIAL WORKERS ARE CONNECTED TO SOME OF THE OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY, LIKE AS YOU REFERENCED THE ONE STOP AND, AND THE, UM, THE BRIDGE CENTER AND SOME OF THOSE OTHERS. AND I WAS JUST GONNA ASK YOU TO SORT OF EXPAND UPON THAT POINT. 'CAUSE I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND IS THESE ARE RESOURCES AT THE LIBRARY THAT WILL THEN CONNECT TO THE OTHER CRITICAL RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITY. ABSOLUTELY. I WANNA INVITE, UH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MARY STEIN UP AS SHE HAS MORE, UH, STATISTICS THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR. THANK YOU. SURE. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN FOR THAT QUESTION. OF COURSE. THE CONUNDRUM IS THIS IS A WONDERFUL PARISH WITH WONDERFUL SILOS OF HELP ALL OVER SILOS OF HELP. AND WE AS THE LIBRARY, HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR YEARS TO FIND OUT WHERE THESE AC ACCESS POINTS FOR ALL THESE SILOS ARE. WE STARTED IN 1979 WITH THE COMMUNITY INFORMATION DIRECTORY, WHERE WE EVEN PUBLISHED HOW TO FIND ALL THESE VARIOUS GROUPS, CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. AND IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE CONNECT THEM. SO OUR FRIENDS WITH THE VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA NOT ONLY KNOW THE PHONE NUMBERS BECAUSE WE KNOW THE PHONE NUMBERS, BUT THEY KNOW THE INS AND OUTS OF WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON WITH EMPLOYEE BR THE BRIDGE CENTER, THE ONE STOP ST. VINCENT DE PAUL, THE SALVATION ARMY, BUT ALSO THINGS FOR YOUTH ELDER CARE. IT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE THAT YOU ASSUME ARE HOMELESS THAT ARE IN CRISIS. WE HAVE ELDERS WHO ARE IN CRISIS. WE HAVE FAMILIES THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEM, YOU DON'T KNOW THEY'RE IN CRISIS UNTIL IT ALL FALLS APART. SO HAVING THE SOCIAL WORKERS AND THE CASE MANAGERS READY, BUILDING UP THAT HABIT, BEING TRUSTWORTHY, BEING FAITHFUL FRIENDS IN THESE VARIOUS LOCATIONS WHERE THEY'RE DEPLOYED ADDS TO THAT TRUST AND CONFIDENCE SO THAT SOMEONE WHO IS IN CRISIS OR APPROACHING CRISIS WILL HAVE THAT CONFIDENCE TO, TO REACH OUT FOR HELP AND THEN BE CONNECTED. BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS THERE'S WONDERFUL RESOURCES THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT AND THROUGH NONPROFITS. THERE'S SO MANY THAT YOU, YOU LOSE TRACK OF THEM. AND TO NAVIGATE ALL THOSE THINGS. WHEN, WHEN WE TALKED TO THE CASE MANAGER FOR A PARTICULAR PERSON, THEY WERE NOT HOMELESS, THEY HAD OTHER ISSUES. AND THE CASE MANAGERS KNEW, WELL, I CAN GET YOU IN ON THIS PROGRAM AND WE CAN GET YOU TO TALK TO THAT KIND OF PERSON. AND THIS IS THE PAPERWORK FOR A FEDERAL PROGRAM AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOUR KIDS CAN USE. SHE, SHE LOOKED AT THE WHOLE, THE WHOLE FAMILY. AND SO IT WAS A VERY HOLISTIC EXPERIENCE AND SHE WAS ABLE TO DELIVER THAT HOLISTIC SERVICE TO THIS PATRON. AND NO PATRON IS ALONE. THEY HAVE BAGGAGE, THEY HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS, AND WE ARE OF COURSE ONLY AS STRONG AS OUR WEAKEST LINK. SO IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL TO HAVE THIS PROGRAM. WE WERE DEPLOYING BEFORE AUGUST OF 2016. AND LET ME TELL YOU, THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT BECAUSE, UH, WE WERE PART OF IT AND WE WANTED TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION. SO THEY REALLY HELP US OUT. IT REALLY, THEY, THEY GIVE EXPERTISE TO THE STAFF EVERY NOW AND THEN, THEY'LL COME AND DO A LITTLE TRAINING FOR STAFF. THE STAFF COMPLIMENTS THIS WITH OTHER KINDS OF TRAINING ON HOW TO BE GOOD LISTENERS AND ACTIVE LISTENERS AND THEN GET THE PEOPLE TO THE RIGHT PLACE. SO IT'S BEEN REALLY SUCCESSFUL FOR US. THANK YOU, MAYOR. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. I'LL, I'LL SECOND THE MOTION [01:00:01] COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL, COMMENT AND OPPOSITION TO ITEM 1 0 4. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN HUR. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GOEY. OH, COUNCILMAN DUN JR. YOU WANNA GO FIRST? I JUST HAVE A POINT OF CLARITY AND EXCUSE ME IF, IF I'M OFF TRACK HERE, JUST, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING WHETHER IT'S A PARISH ATTORNEY, THE ADMINISTRATION, OR YOU GUYS, IS THIS YOUR MONEY OR ARE YOU REQUESTING THE MONEY FROM THE CITY? THIS IS YOUR MONEY. THIS, THIS IS FUNDED BY THE LIBRARY'S BUDGET. OKAY. AND APPROVED BY THE LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROL. OKAY. CAN SOMEBODY GIMME A, AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHY ARE WE APPROVING THIS PARISH? YOU HAVE TO APPROVE ANY CONTRACT OVER $50,000 WITH YOU GUYS. WITH ANYBODY WITH CITY PARISH. RIGHT. SO YOU'RE DOING IT ON THE BEHALF OF THE CITY. THE LIBRARY IS A CITY PARISH DEPARTMENT. CITY DEPARTMENT, OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MO. UH, I BELIEVE Y'ALL HAVE MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES THAT THIS IS THE PROGRAM THAT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN DOING. YES, SIR. THROUGH VOLUNTEERING? NO, NO. THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION. VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA. OKAY. WE'VE BEEN DOING IT SINCE, SINCE 2016. OKAY. AT A HUNDRED AND AT A HUNDRED AT THE $160,000. NO, WE STARTED AT $50,000 FOR A LITTLE PILOT AND THEN WE DEVELOPED THE PROGRAM, FIGURED OUT WHERE WE NEEDED TO DEPLOY WORKERS AND HOW MANY HOURS WE NEEDED THEM. AND IT HAS GRADUALLY GROWN TO THIS AMOUNT. IT WAS $150,000 LAST YEAR WHEN YOU APPROVED IT. OKAY. SO WE'RE ADDING SOMETHING THIS YEAR, WHICH IS WHY THE COST WENT UP. WE'RE ADDING THE, THE USE OF THE FULL-TIME SOCIAL WORKER AS OPPOSED TO KIND OF AN ITINERANT SOCIAL WORKER. OKAY. SO NOW WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE ADDING ONE FULL-TIME SOCIAL WORKER. YES. FOR ALL THE BRANCHES. YEAH. TO, TO BE, TO BE ON CALL FOR ALL OF THE BRANCHES. OKAY. THANK YOU. MM-HMM? . OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST. THANK YOU. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GOATEE TO APPROVE. ANY OPPOSITION? ANY NONE. MOTION CARRIES. [CONDEMNATIONS] NOW WE'RE GONNA GO TO OUR SEPARATE SHEET FOR CONDEMNATIONS. OKAY. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 73, 76, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 84, 86, 89, AND 90. DEFER TO THE OCTOBER 23RD MEETING, ITEM 88 AND DEFER TO THE DECEMBER 11TH MEETING ITEMS 80, 85, 87. AND TO DELETE ITEM 74 AND 75. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? SEE NOW WE'RE GONNA GO TO COUNCIL. SO 80, WE HAVE DEFERRED UNTIL DECEMBER 11TH MEETING. UH, 81, 82, 83, 84 TO PROCEED. 85. THAT'S IT. THAT'S GOOD. MM-HMM. . UH, WE HAVE KATIE EVANS WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 81. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M ON THE COMING ON THE BEHALF OF MY MOTHER. KATIE EVANS. I'M DIANE CLARK. CAN GO ON AND TELL ME ABOUT IT. YOU, KATE EVANS, RIGHT? YOUR MOM? I'M FROM THE DAUGHTER. OKAY. YOU JUST, YOU CAN GO ON AND TALK WHILE WE, I LOOK AT THE PICTURES. OKAY. I WAS JUST COMING TO GET A 90 DAY EXTENSION. IT'S AIR PROPERTY. AND I DONE TALKED WITH ALL MY SIBLINGS. IT WAS 10 NIGHTS DOWN TO SIX. WE GET TOGETHER AND PAY THE TAXES, BUT I'M TRYING TO GET THEM TOGETHER TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE HOUSE. 'CAUSE IT WAS BASICALLY USED FOR LIKE BATTERED WOMEN. SHE ALWAYS TOOK IN ANYBODY OFF THE STREET AND GAVE 'EM A PLACE TO STAY. MM-HMM. , SINCE WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN HOMES, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT REPAIRED BY THE FAMILY, YOU KNOW, AND [01:05:01] THEY GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT'S HOMELESS. OKAY. THAT'S RIGHT. MARLEY. I'M SORRY. YEAH, SHE, I WAS JUST WONDERING, UM, JUST LOOKING AT THIS PROPERTY, I KNOW SOMETIME WE WILL ASSIST AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS, BUT BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THIS WAS A HOME THAT WILL USED FOR, UM, FOR HOMELESS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE, SHE MAY NEED TO, COULD APPLY FOR TO HELP? OR, I'M PUTTING YOU ON THE SPOT. I'M SORRY, . AND I KNOW IT'S NOT A COMMITMENT, BUT I'M JUST YEAH. I, I HAVE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT, ABOUT THE GUIDED CERTAINLY CAN SPEAK, BUT, UM, DO YOU LIVE IN A HOME OR? NO. OH, SO YOU WANNA TALK FRIENDS ABOUT UM, I DON'T WANT TO RENT IT OUT. I JUST WANT TO SEE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND STUFF. YEAH. I JUST TRANSITIONAL HOME. THAT'S WHAT MY MOTHER DID, YOU KNOW? MM-HMM. . SHE TOOK CARE OF NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT'S RIGHT. SHE REALLY DID. SHE HAD 10 KIDS OF HER OWN, BUT SHE WAS A MOTHER TO THE COMMUNITY. AND I JUST WANT TO SEE THAT CARRIED ON. IF POSSIBLE. I'M GONNA GIVE A 90 DAY THEN WOULD YOU? YEAH, I COULD CONNECT. WE'LL GO OUTSIDE TO GET, SO WE'LL DO A 90 DAY AND I JUST WANTED OFFER THAT RESOURCE. 'CAUSE I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. ADRIANA. ADRIANA MOORE WILSON ON ITEM 83. HI, I'M ADRIANA MOORE WILSON. UM, AND I HAVE A HOME, UM, SET OF DUPLEXES. UM, ALSO THEY CALL 'EM, I GUESS TRIPLEXES AS WELL. ONE SIDE IS A TRIPLEX, ONE SIDE IS A DUPLEX. UM, WE HAVE TRIED TO IMPROVE, UM, THE DUPLEXES BEFORE, AS YOU MAY HAVE SEEN A HISTORY OF, UM, PERMITS HAVE BEEN PULLED ON THAT PROPERTY BEFORE. UM, AND DURING THE TIME OF RE UH, RENOVATING IT. BUT OVER TIME, UM, UH, MATERIAL HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE, IN, FROM THE INSIDE OF THE DUPLEXES AT SOME POINT IN TIME WHEN WE WOULD KEEP MATERIAL INSIDE TO, UM, IMPROVE THE PROPERTY. MM-HMM. . UM, AND THAT WAS, UM, NOT, YOU KNOW, UM, IT WAS CONSTANTLY, UM, PEOPLE FROM I GUESS, UH, HOMELESS THAT WERE BREAKING INTO IT. BUT, UM, WE STILL CHOOSE TO IMPROVE IT. WE STILL CHOOSE TO, UM, RENOVATE IT AND, UM, TRY TO TURN IT INTO RENTAL. UM, A RENTAL PROPERTY. YEAH. SO THE, UM, THE ONLY THING ABOUT IT IS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO DO THINGS THAT HEART IS IN IT. THEY HAVE A VISION, BUT DO YOU HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO IT? YES, I HAVE, UM, OTHER PROPERTIES AND I ALSO HAVE A RENTAL HOME NOW. MM-HMM. , UM, THAT I'M RENTING OUT. AND, UM, ALSO, UM, LIKE I SAY, WE HAD MATERIAL TO IMPROVE IT, BUT THAT HAD BEEN, AND WE, WE KEEP THE LOT, WE, WE ALSO CUT THE LOT NEXT TO IT. BUT WE, WE TRY TO KEEP IT AT, UM, CUT DOWN TO A MINIMUM. UM, AT THIS POINT, JUST THE, THE TIME THAT WAS, I GUESS IT WAS A BAD TIME AND WHERE THE, UM, GROUNDS WERE NOT UP KEPT. OKAY. SO WHO WOULD BE THE PRIMARY PERSON WORKING ON THAT? UM, MY, MY, UH, HUSBAND. HE NORMALLY KEEPS UP WITH THE GRASS AND EVERYTHING. AND ME AND HIM, WE, WE HAVE TRIED, UM, LIKE I SAY, YOU CAN SEE THE PERMITS DURING THE YEAR THAT WE TRIED TO IMPROVE IT. ERIC, YOU WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING? SO JUST YOUR SUPPORTER? YES, MA'AM. SO, OKAY. I THINK SHE WAS JUST TRYING TO REQUEST SOME ADDITIONAL TIME. MM-HMM. . UM, AND WANTED TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL TIME SHE COULD GET FOR THEM TO GET IT UP TO CODE. OKAY. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE COULD DO 90 DAYS. I, I THINK WHEN PEOPLE COME IN, THE LAST QUARTER IS ALWAYS GOOD. MM-HMM. . UM, BUT THE THING ABOUT IT IS JUST MAKE SURE, BECAUSE USUALLY ONCE WE GIVE 90 DAYS, IT'S LIKE WE WANT RESULTS. SO I DO, UH, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE COULD DO. AGAIN, YOU COULD SEE IF THERE ARE, UM, ANY PROGRAMS AND YOU KNOW ABOUT LEC AS WELL THAT COULD HELP HER. BUT WE WILL GIVE 90 DAYS, THAT'LL BE DECEMBER 11TH. YOU HAVE TO COME IN AND SHOW, UM, WHAT IMPROVEMENTS YOU'VE MADE. IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S TOTALLY DONE, BUT ENOUGH WHERE YOU WOULD AT LEAST QUALIFY FOR A, UH, UH, WHAT [01:10:01] IS A PERMIT TO CONTINUE DOING THE WORK. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. 82 AND 83. YEAH. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS? OKAY. COUNCILMAN MO? UH, THIS IS, OH, I NUMBER 80 IS ALSO DEFERRED FOR 90 DAYS. OKAY. THIS IS 83 THAT WE JUST HAD DISCUSSED. SHAUNA? YES. MM-HMM. , I APOLOGIZE. THAT WAS 83 THAT WE JUST DID WITH THE DUPLEX IN THE PICTURE AND ALL. IS THERE ANYBODY IN FROM THE INSPECTIONS OR ANYTHING HERE OR ANYBODY FROM CITY PARISH THAT COULD DISCUSS THIS TIMELINE OR THE INSPECTION PART? WHEN WE SEND SOMEBODY IN AS FAR AS THESE TYPES OF STRUCTURES, AND LOOK, I, I HAVE ONE ON FAMILY PROPERTY. WHEN WE GO DO THESE INSPECTIONS, IF THEY ALLOW US, DO WE GO IN AND CHECK STRUCTURALLY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? OR ARE WE JUST EXPANDING LOOKING AT THE OUTSIDE GRASS? GROWING DOORS ARE OPEN OR WINDOWS ARE BUSTED OUT. IF THE DOORS ARE OPEN AND, AND THE STRUCTURE IS VACANT AND WE CAN, YOU KNOW, LEAN INSIDE AND LOOK TO SEE WHAT THE, YOU KNOW, CONDITION OF THE STRUCTURE IS INSIDE. UM, AND WE TRY TO ESTIMATE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE FRAMING AND THE STRUCTURE OF THE FOUNDATION, YOU KNOW, WHAT TYPE OF DETERIORATION LEVEL THAT THERE IS. THAT WOULD BE OKAY. DO WE HAVE ANYTHING IN OUR LOGS ON THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY? UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE REPORT, LIKE WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE AGENDA, THERE'S LIKE THE INSPECTOR'S REPORT AND IT TELLS YOU LIKE A PERCENT, UH, DAMAGED FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF THE STRUCTURE. SO LIKE, UM, SO 75% OF THE OUTSIDE WALLS ARE EITHER MISSING OR JUST OPEN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT 75% MEANS. YEAH. JUST 75% DETERIORATED. LIKE OPEN STRUCTURE. YEAH. OKAY. AND THE ROOFING, LIKE 50% HOLES IN IT OR? YEAH, LIKE THAT 50% OF THE, OF THE ROOFING IS, IS, IS, UH, STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT OR, AND WE GOT AND WE GOT FLOOR JOISTS AT 75%. YEAH, THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS. YES SIR. OKAY. UM, JUST FOR CLARITY, NEITHER OF THESE STRUCTURES HAVE HAD ANY PERMITS SINCE AT LEAST 2011 PERMITS AS FAR AS OPERATING AS A DUPLEX PERMITS, AS I KNOW SHE MENTIONED THAT THEY WERE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS AND THEY HAD A PERMIT AT ONE TIME, BUT MY RECORDS DO NOT SHOW ANY PERMITS THROUGH BACK THROUGH 2011. OKAY. UM, COULD THE OWNERS COME, COME BACK UP PLEASE? ARE THEY STILL HERE? I TALKING ABOUT THE SAME LADY. OKAY. YEAH, I THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK UP. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE, SHE, SHE ACTUALLY JUST LEFT. SHE THOUGHT IT WAS OVER. OKAY. UH, LOOK, I'M GONNA DEFER TO COUNCILWOMAN BANKS. UM, THIS IS IN HER AREA AND STUFF, BUT WE'VE HAD THESE SEVERAL TIMES AND I MAKE THE SAME COMMENTS TO THEM BEFORE AND I, I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOUR ASSOCIATION IS OR, OR WHAT, BUT IT GETS TO A POINT THAT IN FACT, WE HAD ONE RIGHT OFF OF LOUISE STREET, I THINK IN COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN'S DISTRICT, UM, A WHILE BACK. MM-HMM. AND IT HAVE, HAVE Y'ALL DONE A COST ANALYSIS AS FAR AS WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO BRING THIS AS STRUCTURE AS IS BACK INTO COMPLIANCE OR ANYTHING? AND IS IT GONNA BE WORTH THE COST OF REPLACING IT TO MAKE IT A RENTAL PROPERTY VERSUS TRYING TO FIX THIS ONE UP? SO I THINK KIND OF GOING WITH COUNCILMAN BANK'S SUGGESTION, OR AT LEAST THE WAY I INTERPRET HER SUGGESTION, UH, THERE'S SOME, SOME BASIC THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE. AND THEN WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE LOUISIANA HOUSING CORPORATIONS PROGRAM. CAN, DO YOU HAVE A, UH, IDEA OF SOME OF THE BASIC THINGS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING TO DO? YEAH, I CAN'T, LIKE, I CAN'T ADDRESS THAT IMMEDIATELY, BUT, UM, I DO FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT LIKE IN 90 DAYS, UH, SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS CAN BE MADE. OKAY. AGAIN, I PERSONALLY, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT HAVING TO JUST SPEND A LOT OF MONEY, I'D GET A CONTRACTOR OVER THERE AND GO, CAN THIS BE DONE? YEAH. SO, AND I WOULD THINK WITHOUT HAVING TO DO A FULL WORKUP OR STUFF LIKE THAT, YOU CAN PROBABLY LOOK AT IT AND SAY [01:15:01] NO, OR SURE. YOU KNOW, IT IS GONNA COST YOU X AMOUNT. SO JUST A RECOMMENDATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. DOING 90 DAYS BECAUSE FOR ALL OF THESE PROPERTIES, AGAIN, WHEN WE GIVE 90 DAYS, WE ARE LIKE STRETCHING IT. THE I'M, I'M OPEN TO THAT 'CAUSE THEY HAVE, THEY HAVEN'T COME BEFORE ME BEFORE, BUT IN 90 DAYS, JUST AS MY COLLEAGUE HAS SAID, THAT'S TIME FOR AN ASSESSMENT. MM-HMM. TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE THE CAPACITY, JUST LIKE THE ITEM WE ARE ABOUT TO COME ON 92. EITHER YOU HAVE IT OR YOU DON'T, BUT WE HAVE TO GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY. UM, SO ON DECEMBER 11TH, THEY HAVE TO AT LEAST BE IN A POSITION TO BE ABLE TO GET A, A PERMIT. YEAH. IF THEY'RE ABLE TO GET A PERMIT THAT SHOWS THEY'VE DONE ENOUGH WORK. SO THAT'S, AND I, I REALLY DON'T WANT TO LEAVE, UM, BURDENS ON MY CONSTITUENTS IN 2025 THAT I NEED TO RESOLVE IN 2020. UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. OKAY, RECAP HERE. UH, RECOMMENDATION, OH, GO AHEAD, COUNCILWOMAN. ALRIGHT, I'D LIKE TO, UH, DEFER FOR 30 DAYS, 76. AND YES, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY DEFERRALS, BUT I'VE DONE MY HOMEWORK MORE. AND NUMBER 77 AS WELL. SO 76 AND 77, 30 DAYS IN DISTRICT. 10 MM-HMM. . ANYBODY ELSE? STAY IN YOUR LANE. ALL RIGHT. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 73, 78, 79, 84, 86, 89, AND 90, 30 DAYS ON 76, 77, 88 TO THE DECEMBER 11TH MEETING FOR ITEMS 80, 81, 82, 83, 85, 87. AND TO DELETE ITEM 74 AND 75, WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. [91. 24-00492] ITEM 91. THERE IS A REQUEST TO DELETE THIS BY THE DEPARTMENT AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTON BROOM TO AUTHORIZE A CONTRACT AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ST. VINCENT DEPAUL FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A NON CONGREGATE HOMELESS SHELTER FOR THE PERIOD JUNE 1ST, 2024 TO JUNE 30TH, 2026 FOR A SUM NOW TO EXCEED $1 MILLION BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. AGAIN, THERE IS A REQUEST TO DELETE THIS BY THE DEPARTMENT. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. PENNY MAE. UM, CONTOUR DRIVE. I'M WONDERING WHAT IT MEANS TO DELETE, IF DELETE MEANS THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE DELETED TONIGHT, UH, AND THEN BROUGHT BACK AS AN AGENDA ITEM. I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO IT. UM, I'D LIKE THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER LOOKING AT THE INVENTORY OF CURRENTLY UNDERUTILIZED OR CLOSED BUILDINGS IF THEY DECIDE TO PROCEED WITH BUILDING A CONGREGATE HOMELESS SHELTER. UM, FOR INSTANCE, THE OLD WOMEN'S, UM, HOSPITAL ON AIRLINE WOULD BE A PERFECT PLACE FOR THE HOMELESS, GIVEN THAT THAT WHOLE AIRLINE CORRIDOR DOES HAVE A LOT OF HOMELESS, UH, PEOPLE IN THAT AREA. SO I'M OPPOSED TO BUILDING A TOTALLY NEW BUILDING, ESPECIALLY AT THE COST OF $1 MILLION WHEN WE HAVE SO MANY UNDERUTILIZED AND NOT UTILIZED AT ALL BUILDINGS THAT, UM, I'D LIKE Y'ALL TO LOOK AT. THAT MAY BE THE COST OF RENOVATING A COUPLE OF THOSE, HAVING A, NOT A SEVERAL HOMELESS, WHATEVER. THESE ARE SMALLER ONES UTILIZING EXISTING BUILDINGS. AND ALSO THE HOMELESS POPULATION DOESN'T WANNA LIVE IN A BOX. UM, THEY LIKE TO BE OUTDOORS. UH, I'D MUCH PREFER THE MONEY BEING SPENT TO BUILD PAVILIONS LIKE THEY DO IN OTHER STATES THAT HAVE OPEN WALLS, SHOWERS, UH, FACILITIES WHERE THE HOMELESS, THAT'S WHAT THEY LIKE. I'VE SEEN 'EM IN NEVADA, DIFFERENT STATES I'VE BEEN TO, AND, UH, I THINK WE NEED TO SEE WHAT'S WORKING IN OTHER STATES AND CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY REGARDING OUR HOMELESS BEFORE WE JUST SPEND A MILLION DOLLARS TO BUILD A SHELTER THAT MOST OF THEM DON'T WANNA STAY IN. [01:20:01] THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEE, NO. GO TO COUNCIL. COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA. UM, IS THERE ANYBODY WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE? THANK YOU. CAN EXPLAIN BEING DELETED. WHATEVER ELSE NEEDS TO BE EXPLAINED. UH, YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. SO WE ARE, WE'RE DELETING THIS ITEM BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING WITH ST. VINCENT DE PAUL, THE COMMUNITY AND THE STATE, TO IDENTIFY SOME ALTERNATIVE SITES FOR THIS PROJECT THAT MIGHT WORK A LITTLE BETTER WITH THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THEN ACTUALLY, UM, TO, TO ONE OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UH, POINTS THAT THEY MADE EARLIER WOULD, WOULD HELP US MAYBE WITH SOME ADAPTIVE REUSE OF SOME SPACES. SO THOSE BRAINSTORMING SESSIONS ARE ONGOING WITH THE NEW TEAM, THE NEW LEADERSHIP TEAM AT ST. VINCENT NEPAL. AND WE WANTED TO GIVE TIME TO VET OUT THE DETAILS OF THOSE, REPRESENT THAT TO THE COMMUNITY, AND, AND THEN REPRESENT THAT TO YOU IN, IN FULL. WELL, THAT WAS GONNA BE MY NEXT QUESTION, THAT IT IS GONNA COME BACK UP ON THE AGENDA. YES, MA'AM. THAT NOT A, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER KIND OF TIMELINE OR ANYTHING THAT THAT COULD HAPPEN? YEAH, SO WE, UH, WE REACH OUT TO LOUISIANA HOUSING CORPORATION 'CAUSE THE, UM, PROVERBIAL BALL IS IN, IN THEIR CORE RIGHT NOW FOR A TIMELINE. UH, WE HOPE TO, WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO, HAVE A MORE CLEAR TIMELINE WITH SOME VERY SPECIFICS, BUT THESE, THESE BIG LARGER PROJECTS WITH FEDERAL FUNDING TO TAKE SOME TIME, WE'LL HAVE TO DO ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS AND, UM, YOU KNOW, GO THROUGH SOME VARIOUS VETTING. SO IT, IT MIGHT TAKE A MINUTE. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. COUNCILMAN HUDSON. MARLA IS, SO, IS THIS SITE NOW OUT OF THE RUNNING? UM, OR IS THIS SITE STILL STILL GONNA BE CONSIDERED IN THE NEXT ROUND OR SO? UH, THE, THE PARTNER CONTINUES. ST. VINCENT BALL CONTINUES TO BE OUR PARTNER ON THIS EFFORT. THE SITE CONTINUES, THE, THE ASSESSMENTS OF SITE IS ONGOING. SO WE HAVE SOME ALTERNATIVE SITES THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO VET. THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT WE'VE PRECLUDED, UH, ANY SITES FROM, FROM BEING A POSSIBILITY. SO THIS, THIS SITE MAY STILL BE A POSSIBILITY. IT, IT, IT COULD BE STILL BE A POSSIBILITY, BUT, UM, AT THE MOMENT WE'RE BETTING OTHER SITES. SO WHAT, WHAT WAS THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS THAT LED YOU TO SELECTING THIS SITE? YEAH, SO THE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL PUT TOGETHER A FULL PROPOSAL WITH A SITE IN IT TO THE LOUISIANA HOUSING CORPORATION. UH, THE LOUISIANA HOUSING CORPORATION DID A, AN OPEN CALL FOR PROPOSALS. I WAS OPEN ACTUALLY FOR ABOUT A YEAR UNTIL A, A VIABLE PROJECT CAME THROUGH TO THEM. AND THEN WE WANTED TO PARTNER WITH THEM TO BRING THAT, THOSE, THOSE RESOURCES HERE. SO LOUISIANA HOUSING CORPORATION RAN THE, THE NOFA, UH, IF YOU MIGHT RECALL FROM THE INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT, SAME, UH, THE STATE IS ACTUALLY INVESTING ABOUT $5 MILLION IN THIS PROJECT WITH ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS IN SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AT THIS SPACE TO KEEP IT OPEN. SO ST. VINCENT DE PAUL OWNED THIS SITE ORIGINALLY, BUT THERE ARE SOME, SOME OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ASKED BY THE MAYOR TO LOOK INTO AFTER THE COMMUNITY CAME BACK AND GAVE A LOT OF FEEDBACK ABOUT WHY THIS WOULDN'T WORK FOR THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO ST. VINCENT DE PAUL, THE REASON THE SITE WAS SELECTED IS BECAUSE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL HAD PUT IT IN ITS PACKAGE WHEN IT APPLIED TO THE STATE, BUT THE STATE DID IN COOPERATION WITH US, OPEN THAT UP TO ALLOW US TO VET OTHER, OTHER THINGS IN OTHER PLACES, UH, TO SEE IF THOSE WOULD WORK AS WELL WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE FEDERAL FUNDS THAT THEY'RE MANAGING. AND, AND HAVE Y'ALL ALREADY DONE SOME OF THOSE FEDERAL SITE SELECTION PROCESSES FOR THIS? OR ARE WE REDOING WORK THAT'S ALREADY BEEN, ALREADY BEEN DONE? WELL, WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT WORKING WITH THE STATE IS THEY WERE ACTUALLY VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN DOING THE ORIGINAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW. AND, AND THEY MIGHT HAVE ALREADY DONE SOME OF THAT WORK THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE TO REDO, BUT THAT'S AT NO COST TO THE CITY PARISH. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? WISHING SPEAK ON THIS ITEM CALL ADAM MARLEY. COULD YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY WE'RE WORKING ON LOUISIANA HOUSING CORPORATION, UM, WHAT CONTINUUM OF CARE FUNDS ARE YEAH. AND, AND WHERE THOSE GO AND HOW THEY'RE USED. YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER, THAT'S, THAT'S A REALLY GREAT QUESTION. SO, IN OUR SHELTER SERVICES, THE STATE PLAYS A HUGE ROLE IN, IN KEEPING THESE OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES, MOVING AND SERVING PEOPLE. SO, UH, NOT ONLY IS IT INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR US IF WE'RE LOOKING TO OPEN A NEW SHELTER TO WORK WITH THE STATE, BECAUSE THEY CAN MAKE THAT INITIAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND BRING THOSE DOLLARS HERE, UM, THEY'RE ALSO GONNA BE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ENSURING THAT THAT SHELTER CAN CONTINUE TO BE A BENEFIT TO PEOPLE IN THE YEARS TO COME. THEY ARE THE NUMBER ONE FUNDER OF, OF SHELTERS, OF HOMELESS SERVICES, OF HOUSING FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO THEY HAVE TO BE A TRUSTED PARTNER IF WE ARE GONNA MAKE THIS BE WHAT WE KNOW IT NEEDS TO BE. ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A MOTION, MOTION TO DELETE BY COUNCILMAN OSA, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM [92. 24-00779] NINE TWO, DIRECTING THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO TAKE ALL STEPS NECESSARY [01:25:01] TO TERMINATE THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE AND THE SCOTLANDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL HORNETS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION REGARDING THE RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY GRANTED TO THE ASSOCIATION ON THE OLD FIRE STATION, NUMBER 16 BY COUNCILWOMAN SHAUNA BANKS. WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE WISHING TO SPEAK. JANICE MONTE MILES. I APOLOGIZE IF I SAID THAT WRONG. MONGU MILES, JUST CORRECT ME. GOOD. A MY NAME IS JANICE MONGU MILES. I'M THE COUNCIL FOR SCOTLANDVILLE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, ALSO A MEMBER OF THE CLASS OF 1976. TODAY I WANNA SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE CEA AGREEMENT BETWEEN SCOTLANDVILLE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND THE CITY PARISH. UH, THE, THE CEA GAVE SCOTLANDVILLE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION THE POSSESSION AND THE RIGHT TO OCCUPY THE OH FIVE STATION NUMBER 16 TO A TERM NOT TO EXCEED 99 YEARS THE CITY PARISH HAVING THE RIGHT TO TERMINATE UPON THE GIVEN OF 30 DAYS PRIOR WRITTEN NOTICE THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT. ONE, THE ASSOCIATION HAD TO ESTABLISH CONTROL AND PHYSICALLY SECURE THE USE OF THE BUILDING AND CONTROL ACCESS TO AND FROM THE BUILDING. THIS HAS BEEN DONE THEREAFTER, WE WERE TO ASSESS THE BUILDING PREMISES TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE REVITALIZATION PLAN TO RESTORE AND OCCUPY THE BUILDING. OVER THE YEARS, REPAIRS ACTIVITIES AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS HAVE ORIGINATED FROM THIS BUILDING. THE, UH, CEA ALSO MANDATED THAT WE REQUIRE ACQUIRE INSURANCE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AGREEMENT THAT'S DONE, THE RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR AND ALL REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE OF THE BUILDING. ANY REPAIRS OR MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE BY THE, UH, SCOTLANDVILLE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. THE USE OF THE BUILDING WAS FOR CHARITABLE AND PHILANTHROPIC PURPOSES, UH, AS WELL AS AN INDEMNIFICATION OF, OF THE CITY, PARISH, AND ANY OF ITS AGENTS, UH, TO BE FREE FROM ALL LIABILITY. WE FEEL WE HAVE MET THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT. COUNCILWOMAN BANKS WILL HAVE YOU BELIEVE THAT THE BUILDING IS STILL BLIGHTED AND THAT THE ASSOCIATION IS NOT, UH, USING THE BUILDING. THIS IS FAR FROM TRUE. OVER THE PAST NINE TO 10 YEARS, EFFORTS TO RESTORE HAS BEEN ONGOING ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY SERVICE EFFORTS IN LINE WITH THE ASSOCIATION'S MISSION, VISION AND PURPOSE HAS ALSO BEEN ONGOING. PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS PURSUING GRANTS AND FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES HAS ALSO BEEN ONGOING. COUNCILWOMAN BANKS CANNOT EXPOUND ON THESE THINGS PRIOR TO THE RESOLUTION TO TERMINATE THE CEA, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A FORMAL CONVERSATION BETWEEN CONGRESS, UH, COUNCILWOMAN BANKS AND THE ASSOCIATION ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THE PROGRESS OR PROBLEMS THAT WE ENCOUNTER. COUNCILWOMAN BANKS HAS NEVER APPEARED TO A PLAN MA'AM. INSPECTION TIME, MS. MY, THAT'S YOUR TIME. OKAY. CAN I AT LEAST CLOSE IT? CAN I CLOSE IT, PLEASE? OKAY. SO, ACCORDING TO THE CEA, THE CITY PARISH WAS AN ADVOCATE OF THE WORK THAT SCOTLANDVILLE, UH, WAS DOING AND DESIRED TO PROVIDE A SPACE FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF EAST BATON ROUGE SPECIFICALLY, AND VILLE SPECIFICALLY THE SCOTLANDVILLE COMMUNITY. IT WAS A GOOD DECISION THEN, AND IT'S A GOOD DECISION TODAY. THEREFORE, WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE, UH, CONTINUE THE EXISTING CEA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU HOWARD DAVIS. GOOD JOB. [01:30:05] GOOD AFTERNOON. BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION, MY NAME IS HOWARD DAVIS. I'M A PAST IMMEDIATE PRESIDENT OF SEVERAL TERMS WITH THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. OKAY. AND SO I HAVE BEEN, UH, OBSERVING IN THE MEDIA, ON THE NEWS, THE WHOLE THING, ALL FORMS OF MEDIA, THE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE COUNSELOR AND MEMBERS OF THE, UH, OF THE ORGANIZATION. I, I WOULD LIKE TO GO ON RECORD IT SAYING FIRST BEFORE WE GET INTO ANY QUESTION OR ANYTHING. I DON'T WANNA ARGUE. I PUT, ALL I'VE BEEN SAYING IS ARGUING WE'RE GONNA GET ANYTHING DONE, JUST ARGUING BACK AND FORTH. I WOULD PLEAD NOT TO BE INVOLVED IN ANY ARGUMENTS, JUST SEE IF WE CAN GET SOMETHING DONE WORKING OUT. WHEN I WAS OVER THERE, WHEN I WAS, UH, RUNNING THE, UH, NOT RUNNING, I WAS PRESIDENT AND WE MOVED IN THERE. I WAS STARTING FROM THERE. WE HAD TO TRY TO DO A FEW, THERE WAS SOME THINGS THAT NEEDED DONE, MAINLY THE ROOF, YOU KNOW, WE WORKED ON THAT, GOT THAT ROOF DONE A LITTLE BIT. THEN WE STARTED TRY TO, UH, RECRUIT AND HAVE SOME ACTIVITIES THERE. THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ARTS PROGRAM THERE. AND THEY'LL SIT UP OUTSIDE EVEN, AND THEY'D HAVE ARTS AND CRAFTS PROGRAMS. THEN THEY HAD STARTED TO HAVE A, HAD TWO LADIES, MISS JEANETTE HARRISON AND NANCY. AND THEY WERE, STARTED A CAMP, A PROGRAM WITH ARTS AND DANCE AND ALL THAT. AND THEY WENT ON INTO THE SUMMER. THEY HAD A FULL-BLOWN CAMP, WHICH WAS GREAT. THEY HAD A LOT OF GIRLS IN THERE, MOSTLY THE GIRLS PLANTS. AND IT GOT TO THE POINT, IT WAS, IT GOT KIND OF BIG. SO THE, THE CHURCH NEXT DOOR ACROSS THE STREET, LIKE, SO THEY, UH, OFFERED TO LET 'EM USE ONE OF THEIR ACTIVITIES, BUILDINGS OVER THERE. AND SO THEY DID THAT AND THEY GOT, WENT THROUGH THE CAMP, HAD A GOOD SUMMER. IN THE MEANTIME, OTHER THINGS WE DID TO TRY TO GET IT GOING PRETTY GOOD. WE HAD A, WE, WE HAD STARTED OUR HALL OF FAME. WE HAVE A HALL OF FAME AND, UH, WE, WE INDUCT PEOPLE EVERY DAY. IT'S NOT AN ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME, IT'S A COMMUNITY HALL OF FAME. OKAY. SO PEOPLE LIKE THOMAS WOODS USED TO BE A COUNCILMAN AND A FIRE CHIEF, BUT WE GOT IT. UH, IT STAFFED PRETTY GOOD. AND, AND, UH, THE ONLY, THE ONLY THING WE DON'T HAVE IS THE PLACE. WE GOT ALL THOSE AWARDS AND THINGS WE PRESENTED TO 'EM, BUT WE WERE WAITING TO GET THE BUILDING OPEN UP OVER THERE AND CLEANED OUT WHERE THEY HAVE ENOUGH SPACE TO DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS. THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH GOT INVOLVED BECAUSE THEY START ENJOYING THOSE GIRLS OVER THERE, AND THEY WAS GETTING A LOT DONE. AND SOME OF THE ARTS, THEY WAS PUTTING THAT OUT, GETTING THAT DONE ARE PRETTY GOOD. OTHER THING WE TRIED TO DO, I TRIED TO DO IT, UH, WITH THE COMMUNITY, WROTE A LETTER TO THE AREA CHURCHES AND THE PASTORS ASKING THEM TO, UH, MR. DAVIS, THAT'S YOUR TIME. I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A, HUH? HOW'S YOUR TIME? I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A COUPLE SECONDS TO CLOSE. HELL, I AIN'T NEVER STARTED TELLING YOU . COME ON, MAN. BE SERIOUS. WE, UH, WE GOT THE, THE, UH, PASTORS ON BOARD WITH A GOSPEL CONCERT, AND WE HAD A GOSPEL CONCERT AND IT WAS PRETTY SUCCESSFUL. AND SO WE WAS GONNA MAKE IT AN ANNUAL THING. AND THEN, UH, PASTOR FROM DOWN IN, UH, MCKINLEY, HE GOT IN TOUCH AND LET ME KNOW THAT HE SPONSORS PEOPLE THAT RECORD THE WRIGHT BROTHERS, MR. DAVIS. ONE TIME, I'M, I'M SORRY, BUT THAT'S YOUR TIME. EVERYBODY'S GOT THREE MINUTES AND WE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE TO GET THROUGH. I'M GONNA TAKE ONE OF THEIR NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT. CAN'T DO THAT. I'M SORRY. ANYBODY FROM THE COUNCIL CAN ASK YOU A QUESTION LATER IF THEY WANT, BUT WE GOTTA BE FAIR TO EVERYBODY. PAULA BRAXTON. I UNDERSTAND IT. OKAY. OKAY. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS PAULA MCKENZIE BRAXTON. I RESIDE AT 2 3 5 2 0 PLANK ROAD. ZACHARY, UH, LOUISIANA, 7 0 7 9 1. I AM A LIFE MEMBER OF THE SCOTLANDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CLASS OF 1970. AND I WAS PRESIDENT WHEN THE CEA WAS ENACTED IN 2015. I STAND HERE TO SPEAK PERSONALLY AND ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION [01:35:01] IN OPPOSITION TO THE COUNCIL, RESCINDING THIS AGREEMENT, AND TO PROVIDE A BRIEF HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE REGARDING OUR ACQUISITION OF THIS PROPERTY. UPON OBSERVING THAT THE PROPERTY APPEARED TO BE NEGLECTED, BLIGHTED, BUT HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BE RESTORED AS A COMMUNITY ASSET, OUR ASSOCIATION MADE INITIAL OVERTURES TO THEN COUNCILMAN ULYSSES ADDISON, AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AS FALL BACK AS 2010. IT WAS IN APRIL, 2011 THAT COUNCILMAN ADDISON PRESENTED AN AGENDA ITEM TO THE COUNCIL, BUT NO ACTION WAS TAKEN AT THAT TIME. IN LATE 2012, I INITIATED AN INQUIRY TO THE OFFICE OF PARISH ATTORNEY TO DETERMINE THE STEPS NEEDED TO COMPLETE A FORMAL REQUEST FOR DONATION OF THIS PROPERTY. WE WERE PROVIDED WITH THE PERTINENT, PERTINENT STATE AND LOCAL STATUTES GOVERNING SUCH ACTION. IN 2013, CONTACTS WERE INITIATED WITH COUNCILWOMAN BANKS AND MAYOR MELVIN HOLDEN FOR ASSISTANCE IN MOVING THE INITIATIVE FORWARD. IN AUGUST, 2014, APPROVALS FOR FIRE STATION PROPERTY TRANSFERS WERE GRANTED TO THREE DIFFERENT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, THE ALUMNI BEING ONE OF THEM. OUR CEA WAS FINALIZED AND SIGNED IN FEBRUARY OF 2015. WE IMMEDIATELY FORMED A BUILDING OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND BEGAN THE WORK OF TRASH AND DEBRIS REMOVAL, SECURING LIABILITY INSURANCE AND UTILITIES, GETTING PEST AND RODENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY INSPECTIONS. CONTRACTOR BUILDING INSPECTIONS WERE CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE AN INITIAL STRATEGY TO MAKE REPAIRS FOR IMMEDIATE AND SAFE OCCUPANCY. THE ROOF HAD SERIOUS DAMAGE THAT RESULTED IN WATER LEAKAGE, AND THERE WAS MOLD AND MILDEW THROUGHOUT. BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS VANDALISM, WE SECURED DOORS, THE GARAGE DOORS, BROKEN WINDOWS, AND THE GLASS DOOR ENTRYWAY. I INTRODUCED A RESOLUTION TO THE MEMBERSHIP TO IMPOSE A MORATORIUM ON SPENDING SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO MAKE REPAIRS. WE THEN DIRECTED ALL FUNDING EFFORTS TO THE BUILDING AND SOUGHT TO IDENTIFY ANY BRICK AND MORTAR GRANTS. BUT THAT EFFORT HAS BEEN FUTILE. THE ASSOCIATION AGREED TO DEDICATE THE BUILDING AS A COMMUNITY ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER. WE FORMED A PROGRAM STEERING COMMITTEE. WE HELD TOWN HALLS, VISITED OTHER CITIES TO LEARN OF THEIR GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY ARTS EFFORTS, AND WE ENGAGED A COMMUNITY ARTS CONSULTANT TO HELP GUIDE US. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BATON ROUGE ARTS COUNCIL AND FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SCOTLANDVILLE, WE HELD SEVERAL COMMUNITY OUTREACH CAMPS, INTRODUCING THE COMMUNITY CHILDREN TO THE ARTS. THIS WAS AN EFFORT TO SHOWCASE THE COMMUNITY YOUTH TALENT AND DEMONSTRATE THE TYPES OF PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES WE INTENDED FOR THE BUILDING SPACE. ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN AN ARDUOUS JOURNEY TO GET TO THIS POINT, WE SINCERELY BELIEVE IN AND HOLD FAST TO OUR VISION FOR THE PROPERTY. AND WE ARE DEDICATED TO MAKING IT A RESOURCE AND AN ASSET TO THE SCOTLANDVILLE COMMUNITY. WE ASK THAT YOU NOT DETER US IN THIS EFFORT, BUT INSTEAD OFFER SUPPORT AND AVENUES TO ASSIST US IN IDENTIFYING VALUABLE RESOURCES THAT COULD FURTHER ENHANCE OUR PROGRESS. SO WE ASK YOU TO PLEASE VOTE NO. THANK YOU, MS. BRAXTON. MM-HMM. KEN, NO OFFER. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. UH, MY NAME IS KENDRICK WALL FOR, I AM CURRENTLY THE CHAIR OF THE SHACK COMMITTEE, STEERING COMMITTEE AS SHE SPOKE OF, UH, TODAY I'M HERE BEFORE YOU WITH A MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE AND OP OPTIMISM REGARDING THE OLD FIREHOUSE STATION. NUMBER 16 ON ROSENWALD IN, UH, SCOTLANDVILLE, UM, ENTRUSTED TO THE SCOTLANDVILLE HIGH ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. UH, THE JOURNEY TO TRANSFORM THE FIREHOUSE INTO A ART CENTER HAS BEEN MARKED BY DEDICATION, COLLABORATION, UM, AS WELL AS, UM, PERSISTENCE IN TOWARDS THIS EFFORT. THANKS TO OUR ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, DILIGENT EFFORTS AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, PUT IN AND RAISE UP TO 75, $70,000 INTO THE BUILDING, UM, TOWARDS REPAIRS. UH, SPEAKING OF THE ROOF, SPEAKING OF OTHER REPAIRS, AND ANY INITIAL, UM, DOCUMENTS, REPORTS, UH, PLANS THAT WE NEEDED BEFOREHAND. UM, THIS, UM, INCLUDES, UM, EXPENSES, UH, TOWARDS, UM, CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS, STRATEGIC PLANNING, REPAIR OF THE ROOF, REPAIRS OF PLUMBING, UH, RENOVATION OF BATHROOMS FOR PUBLIC USE, INSTALLATION OF AC UNITS, DRAIN SYSTEMS, STRUCTURAL ENHANCEMENTS TO ENSURE SAFETY AND FUNCTIONALITY, UPDATES TO, UH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND THE IMPROVEMENTS OF ACCESSIBILITY. UM, AS WE LOOK AHEAD, THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE FIREHOUSE IN THE, INTO AN ART CENTER REPRESENTS A TRANSFORMATIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SCOTLANDVILLE COMMUNITY. IT WILL SERVE A, AS A GATHERING PLACE WHERE CREATIVITY FLOURISHES, WHERE LOCAL ARTISTS CAN SHOWCASE THEIR, UH, TALENTS, WHERE RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES CAN PARTICIPATE IN ARTS PROGRAMS AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS. THIS ART CENTER WILL NOT ONLY ENRICH OUR, [01:40:01] UH, CULTURAL LANDSCAPE, BUT ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMIC OF VITALITY OF SCOTLANDVILLE AREA. UH, THEREFORE, I URGE THE METRO COUNCIL TO VOTE NO TO ITEM, UH, 92 OF, OF THE TERMINATION OF THE CEA. UM, THERE IS A LOT OF POTENTIAL WITHIN THIS BUILDING, AS WELL AS PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY DEDICATED. UH, NOT ONLY THE GRADUATES THAT YOU SEE HERE TODAY, BUT PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME. UH, PEOPLE WHO DON'T LOOK LIKE ME, PEOPLE WHO HAVE A VESTED INTEREST, PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN, UH, THE COMMUNITY. THEY STILL ARE LOOKING TO SEE, UM, THIS BECOME MORE OF A REALITY OF TO THE SCOTLANDVILLE AREA. SO I IMPLORE YOU GUYS TO, UM, NOT ONLY VOTE NO TONIGHT, BUT, UH, ENCOURAGE OTHERS, ENCOURAGE, UH, THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT AND HELP AND, UM, SEE EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. UH, THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU ALICIA MOORE. GOOD EVENING. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ALSO ASK THAT YOU VOTE IN OPPOSITION OF TERMINATING THE CEA AGREEMENT. I KNOW THAT YOU'VE SEEN PICTURES AND BEEN GIVEN FALSE NARRATIVES. UM, JUST AS WE ALL KNOW, YOU CAN'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER. ALSO, BEAUTY IS NOT ABOUT WHAT'S ON THE OUTSIDE. WE HAVE COMMITTED TO HARD WORK, AND IT'S ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING FROM THE INSIDE AND WITH THE PEOPLE OF THIS ORGANIZATION AND WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THESE LAST 10 YEARS WITH THIS BUILDING. AND IT WAS ALL BROUGHT FORTH AFTER MEETING WITH THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ASKING THEM WHAT WOULD THEY LIKE TO SEE. THEY OVERWHELMINGLY STRESSED TO US. EVERYBODY IS NOT AN ATHLETE, AND WE WANT THINGS BROUGHT BACK WITH THE ART AND, UH, THEATER AND DANCE FOR OUR KIDS, BECAUSE PRIOR TO THIS COUNCIL PERSON, UM, TAKING OFFICE, WE HAD THOSE KIND OF PROGRAMS AT OUR COMMUNITY CENTER, AND THEY WERE NO LONGER THERE. SO THIS IS WHAT THEY EXPRESSED THAT THEY WANTED. UM, AGAIN, WE MET WITH THEM, AND ALTHOUGH THE BUILDING WAS IN DEPLOYABLE CONDITIONS AND WE COULDN'T INHABIT IT THROUGH THOSE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR IMMEDIATE NEIGHBOR, THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SCOTLANDVILLE, MOUNT PILGRIM BAPTIST CHURCH, THE ARTS COUNCIL, UM, WORLD RENOWNED SMITHSONIAN ART INSTITUTE ARTIST RDE HENRY, AND MR. JOHN GRAY OF THE MICHAEL FOSTER PROJECT, WE IMMEDIATELY STARTED PUTTING ON THESE PROGRAMS UNTIL COVID SHUT US DOWN IN 2020 WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION IN 2021 TO TODAY, WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY WORKED ON THE BUILDING AND NOT THOSE PROGRAM. SO AGAIN, I IMPLORE YOU TO ALLOW US TO CONTINUE THIS ENDEAVOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, SONYA DANIELS, GOOD EVENING METRO COUNCIL. SO, UM, I DID NOT PREPARE ANYTHING LIKE I DID LAST TIME, SO I'LL JUST SPEAK, UM, FOR MY EXPERIENCE AND FROM THE HEART. UM, BUT MY NAME IS DR. SONYA DANIELS. I'M THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT AT S DANIELS CONSULT CONSULTING. EXCUSE ME. WE'RE A LOCAL STRATEGY FIRM, SPECIFICALLY WORKING WITH MISSION DRIVEN ORGANIZATIONS. UM, A PASSION FOR MINE IS WORKING WITH ORGANIZATIONS WHO, UM, ARE DOING WORK IN HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED AREAS, BECAUSE THAT IS WORK THAT IS TRULY, UM, JUST PASSIONATE FOR ME. UM, I CAME FROM AN UNDERREPRESENTED AREA, AND SO I REALLY JUST IDENTIFY WITH THE STRUGGLES THAT THOSE ORGANIZATIONS TEND TO FACE. THE CHALLENGE IN THIS CASE IS THAT SINCE COV, UH, DOLLARS FROM FUNDERS AND PHILANTHROPISTS HAVE BEEN REALLY, UM, JUST SHORT, RIGHT? SO THERE'S JUST NOT A LOT OF GIVING THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING, UM, IN THE SOUTH. AND SO, UM, WITH THIS SITUATION AS WE EXPECT THIS ORGANIZATION TO DO WORK, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT HAVE BEEN WASTED IN THIS ITEM TO KEEP, UH, GETTING DEFERRED OVER AND OVER. UM, SO AS MANY OTHER FOLKS HAVE SAID, WE IMPLORE YOU TO, UM, MAKE THE BEST DECISION NOT ONLY FOR THE ORGANIZATION, BUT FOR THE COMMUNITY, UM, AND REALLY JUST REGAIN TRUST IN THE PUBLIC, RIGHT? WE'RE IN AN ELECTION, UH, SEASON. AND SO ISSUES LIKE THIS TEND TO INTERRUPT THE TRUST THAT FOLKS HAVE FOR POLITICIANS. [01:45:01] UM, EXCUSE ME, I'M NERVOUS . UM, AND SO WE JUST WANT Y'ALL TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT THAT THIS HAS HAD ON THESE INDIVIDUALS. UM, THEY HAVE TAKEN MONEY OUT OF THEIR ACCOUNT TO INVEST IN MY BUSINESS, TO BRING ME IN TO DO STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR THEM. AS A RESULT OF OUR ENGAGEMENT. WE HAVE DEVELOPED A REALLY, REALLY ROBUST STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THEM. AND THE WORK IS READY TO BE DONE ONCE WE MOVE PAST THIS ISSUE. SO I JUST WANT Y'ALL TO KEEP THAT IN MIND THAT THEY ARE DOING WORK. THEY HAVE BEEN DOING WORK EVEN THROUGHOUT THIS ISSUE. UM, AND THEY'RE A GREAT ORGANIZATION. I'M SURE Y'ALL KNOW THAT. UM, AND SO I WANTED TO JUST SHARE THAT. THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU, ROD. WELL, COUNCIL, I'M ROD WELLS, CLASS OF 1970. SOME OF THE THINGS I'M GOING TO SAY YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD. UM, OUR PROGRAM HAS CONSTANTLY MOVED FORWARD. WE DID HAVE SOME TIMES WHEN WE COULDN'T MOVE FORWARD, THAT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID, BUT OUR PROGRAM WAS ALWAYS DESIGNED AS AN ART CENTER, THAT, THAT WAS OUR WHOLE IDEA IN PUTTING THIS THING TOGETHER. AND THE BUILDING WAS NOT IN THE CONDITION FOR US TO BRING KIDS IN THERE. AND SOMEONE HAS ALWAYS POINTED OUT ALREADY THE, UM, FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SCOTLANDVILLE, WHICH IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. IT GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO START THE PROGRAM AND GET IT GOING. AND IT WAS GOING VERY, VERY WELL. OF COURSE, WE HAD SOME SETBACKS, BUT WE NEVER STOPPED MOVING FORWARD. OUR SUMMER CAMPS BROUGHT LOCAL PEOPLE IN. THEY'VE ALREADY MENTIONED RDE HENRY, UM, RONALD KENNEDY WITH, UH, WITH DRAWING, UH, RANDALL HENRY WITH THE ARTS, GRACIE PERKINS WITH DANCE, CHAUNCEY SLACK WITH, UH, PERFORMING ARTS. I KNOW YOU'VE SEEN CHAUNCEY SLACK ON NCIS, NEW ORLEANS. SO MY POINT IS, WE NEVER STOPPED MOVING FORWARD. YOU KNOW, WE, WE ALWAYS KEPT THIS PROGRAM AS, AND OUR, OUR FOCUS WAS ALWAYS WITH THE COMMUNITY AS A PRIMARY FOCUS. AND OUR PLANS WERE ALWAYS, UH, CENTERED ON CHILDREN. THAT'S, THAT'S HOW WE GOT STARTED. THAT'S THE POSITION AND THE DIRECTION THAT WE WANT TO GO IN. WANT TO CONTINUE TO GO IN? I'M, I'M, I'M AN OLD MAN. DON'T MAKE ME CRY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ANTHONY KENNEY. ALRIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. SO MY NAME IS ANTHONY B KENNY. UH, I'M A LIFETIME RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO, AND I'M A PROUD GRADUATE OF COLVILLE MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL. WE CAME BEFORE THIS BODY IN JA OF JULY OF 2024 TO SEE IF WE CAN GET PAST THIS SAGA. AND HERE WE ARE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2024, HAVING A TUG OF WAR, OF BEING A LIGHT TO THIS COMMUNITY. WE THINK ABOUT BATON ROUGE WHEN WE THINK ABOUT NORTH BATON ROUGE AND THE SILOS THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS CURRENTLY OPERATING IN. THIS SHACK IS SERVING AS A PILLAR, AS A BRIDGE TO COLLABORATE THIS COMMUNITY. SKYVILLE MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL IS THE HEART OF DISTRICT TWO, ALONG WITH SO MANY OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS. AND YOU HAVE SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE GET TO THIS PODIUM AND TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THIS SHACK IS TO THIS COMMUNITY. AND FOR US TO BE IN FRONT OF THIS BODY ONCE AGAIN IN A TUG OF WAR SITUATION. WE'RE DOING A DETRIMENT TO THE KIDS IN THAT COMMUNITY. WE'RE DOING A DETRIMENT TO THE FUTURE MAYORS, THE FUTURE PRESIDENTS, AND THE FUTURE COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY. SO WHEN THIS SHQ HAS TO BE A POINT OF CONVERSATION ON THE NEWS, IT SHOWS THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS A DISCONNECT. IT SHOWS THAT THIS COMMUNITY CANNOT SHOW OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, WE CANNOT COME TOGETHER FOR A COMMON GOOD. IT'S NOT MY, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE NAME OR WHOSE OWNERSHIP, BUT IT'S ABOUT THE INVESTMENT THAT THIS ORGANIZATION HAS PUT INTO THIS, THIS BUILDING. SO I ASK OF YOU TODAY TO VOTE NO ON THIS ITEM. THE KIDS ARE WATCHING, THE COMMUNITY IS WATCHING, BUT MOST OF, OF ALL, WHEN YOU SEE THE SEA OF BLACK AND GOLD, THAT'S BEHIND ME RIGHT NOW, MULTI-GENERATIONAL ALUMNI IN THIS ROOM, THEY MEAN THEY CARE ABOUT THIS BUILDING. THEY PUT THEIR HEART INTO THIS BUILDING. THEY PUT THAT INVESTMENT INTO THIS BUILDING. HOW MUCH [01:50:01] LONGER WE HAVE TO FIGHT OVER TRYING TO BE A LIGHT IN THIS COMMUNITY. HOW MUCH LONGER WE HAVE TO ARGUE ABOUT THE INVESTMENT THIS MULTI-GENERATIONAL ORGANIZATION HAS DONE. SO I ASK OF YOU TODAY, THIS BODY, THIS COUNCIL BODY, LET'S MOVE PAST THIS SAGA. LET'S SHOW THE COMMUNITY THAT NORTH BATON ROUGE CAN WORK AS ONE. LET'S SHOW THE COMMUNITY THAT DISTRICT TWO CAN MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU RANDALL HENRY. HE DIDN'T MAKE IT. ALL RIGHT. AND WE HAVE, UH, 10 OPPOSED WISHING, UH, NOT WISHING TO SPEAK. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? PLEASE COME UP. STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. MY NAME IS DR. DINA JOHNSON. AND, UM, I AM A MEMBER OF SKYVILLE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BY DEFAULT. AND, UM, , I ACTUALLY GRADUATED FROM BROADMOOR, SO I WASN'T GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO SCOTLAND BELL. SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY. BUT I KNOW MY COMMUNITY AND I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW THESE ILLUMINA AND I SEE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING. THE CRAZY PART ABOUT IT IS THAT THEY SAID THEY HAVE INVESTED $70,000 IN THIS BUILDING ALREADY ON THEIR OWN HARD WORK. NOT FROM GRANTS, NOT FROM DONATIONS, HARD WORK. AND TO SEE THAT THERE'S SO MANY OTHER ISSUES IN DISTRICT TWO, BUT YET ALONG WITH FOCUSED ON THE SHACK IS BEHOOVE TO ME. IF IN FACT, YOU SEE THAT THIS, THIS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION STANDS STRONG, AND THEN THEY'VE ALREADY DEMONSTRATED THAT THEY'RE DOING THE WORK. BUT AGAIN, IT COMES TO FUNDING. AND NOW YOU HAVE NEW PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALSO BECOME MORE ACTIVE, THE YOUTH THAT ARE NOW HAVING THE RESOURCES OR EX EX UM, SHARING RESOURCES WITH THEM THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT PREVIOUSLY. AND SO NOW WE ARE LEARNING, BUT WE ARE IN A PRO, IT'S IN A PROGRESS. AND THEN WE'RE GOING BACK TO ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PRESIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE AS WELL. OKAY. AND MAYBE SOME SETBACKS WITH HEALTH ISSUES THAT MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE DELAYS IN ADDITION TO THE PANDEMIC AND ALSO, UM, THE FLOOD. AND WITH A BAD ROOF FROM THE START THAT JUST CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE IT, THAT RAN UP THE EXPENSES OF REPAIRS. SO I STAND IN OPPOSITION FOR IT BECAUSE I KNOW SKYVILLE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CAN DO THE WORK TO GET THAT BUILDING DONE, AND IN THE SAME INSTANCE, CONTINUE THOSE PROGRAMS ONCE THEY ARE BACK INTO THE BUILDING OR SAFE FOR THE KIDS TO BE IN THE BUILDING. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY'RE DOING THE WORK. AND I ASK THAT YOU VOTE NO THANKS. ANYONE ELSE? PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. PENNY MAG. I'VE SPOKEN IN OPPOSITION TO THIS, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE TERMINATION OF THIS CONTRACT. I APPLAUD ALL OF YOU FOR SHOWING UP OVER AND OVER AND OVER IN NUMBERS. I APPLAUD YOU FOR BEING AMAZING HUMAN BEINGS WHO WANNA CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR COMMUNITY. I WAS THERE LAST NIGHT FOR THE MAYORAL DEBATE, AND IT BROKE MY HEART TO SEE SOME OF THE BLIGHT. MS. LANDRY, IF YOU'RE NOT SPEAKING TO THE MIC, THE PUBLIC CAN'T HEAR. OKAY. WELL, I APPLAUD Y'ALL. ALL RIGHT. ONE THING I WANNA SAY IS THAT SOON TO BE FORMER COUNCILPERSON BANKS, EVERY COUNCIL MEETING, SHE ASKS YOU TO VOTE FOR 90 DAY 120 DAY EXTENSIONS ON DELIGHTED PROPERTIES IN DISTRICT TWO ON EXTENSIONS FOR CONDEMNATIONS. OKAY? I DO NOT GET HER OPPOSITION OPPOSING THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE. PLEASE LET THESE PEOPLE PROCEED AND KEEP THEIR CONTRACT. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE SIDE, DEAN? NONE. WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. I [01:55:21] WE WEREN'T GONNA LET YOU PRESENT WITHOUT A POWERPOINT. YEAH. UH, I CONCUR WITH, UM, ALL THE STATEMENTS HERE REGARDING THE ENORMOUS SUPPORT. UH, THIS IS LIKE TO THE ROOM WHEN I BROUGHT THE ITEM BEFORE THE COUNCIL IN AUGUST OF 2024. UM, 20, UH, 14. UH, WE ARE GONNA START, I THINK, UM, I'M A STORYTELLER, SO I HAVE A POWERPOINT. SO TO, UH, KIND OF BRING THINGS IN LINE, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL HAVE HEARD, AND I I'M, I'M SURE I'M GONNA NEED SOME GRACE ON TIME. ONE OF THE THINGS YOU ALL HEARD IS REGARDING HOW, UH, THE ITEM CAME ABOUT. AND THAT IS TRUE, UH, THAT PAULA BRAXTON, UM, ASKED ME TO BRING IT. SHE HAD INDICATED THAT ULYSSES BONES, ADDISON AND MELVIN KEPT HOLDEN HAD BEEN ASKED PREVIOUSLY. SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHY IT HAD BEEN DONE. AND SHE ASKED ME, AND I WAS VERY DELIGHTED, UH, CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT, UM, I HAVE PROBABLY, UH, WELL, NOT ONLY MY MOTHER BEING IN THE FIRST CLASS OF SCOTLANDVILLE 1956, BUT MY SON 2007, AND ALL MY AUNTS AND OTHER COUSINS AND FIRST AND FIRST COUSINS. SO THAT PART HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU ALL. UM, I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN DEALING WITH THE WHAT'S WITHIN THE CORNERS OF THE PAPER. AND THAT KEEPS ME FOCUSED FROM NOT BEING CONCERNED ABOUT FEELINGS, BUT CHARACTER INTEGRITY AND WHETHER SOMETHING IS RIGHT OR WRONG, REGARDLESS AS TO WHO'S INVOLVED. SO FIRST OF ALL, AS YOU SEE IT, THE DEFINITION OF A CORPORATE ENDEAVOR IS A, A CORPORATE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT IS A LEGALLY BINDING CONTRACT BETWEEN TWO PARTIES THAT OUTLINES THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF EACH PARTY. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH. I CAN'T SEE THAT. HARLEY. UM, I THINK I HAVE A PRINTOUT. SO, UM, IF YOU, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU WITHOUT THE MIC, SEAN. WHAT NEXT? ANYWAY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT A CORPORATE ENG UH, CORPORATE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT, IT MAY PROVIDE FOR THE INVESTMENT PLEDGE USE OR, UM, OR DONATION OF PRIVATE FUNDS. IT ALSO TALKS ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES. IT CONSEQUENCES IF IT IS BREACH, HOW THAT, THE AMOUNT, WHATEVER THAT VALUE IS THAT THE ORGANIZATION WHO ENTERED A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT, IF THEY BREACHED IT BASED ON THE ECONOMIC VALUE, THEN IN MOST CASES THEY CAN BE ASKED TO BE, UM, TO REFUND THAT MONEY BACK TO THE INSTITUTION. IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. SO THERE, I REALLY CAN'T SEE THIS. UH, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BIGGER ON THE SCREEN, HUH? YEAH. CAN YOU READ THE HIGHLIGHTED ONE? SO THIS PART TALKS ABOUT HOW WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. CAN YOU SEE IT? OH, I CAN LOOK BACK HERE. ALRIGHT, GO BACK. I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS BEHIND ME. ALRIGHT, SO IN THE, THIS IS THE CARPET OF NO, MIKE SHANA, I COME TO THIS SIDE PODIUM. I CAN'T DO COME TO THIS SIDE. THE PODIUM. THANK Y'ALL. YAY. ALL RIGHT. SO THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE WITHIN THE CORP. THE, UH, COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT. THIS IS ALL THAT WAS NECESSARY. AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING. BUT 20 20 14 TO 2024, IT SAYS STRENGTHEN THE TIES AND CONTACT BETWEEN THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE ALUMNI. I JUST HAVE, I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THAT. I CAN'T GET ANYTHING I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE, UH, THE PRESIDENT AND THE COUNCIL. WE DON'T HAVE TO GIVE YOU THAT. PROMOTE THE SPIRIT OF ALUMNI UNITY AND COMRADERY THROUGH COMMUNICATION REUNIONS AND SOCIAL PROGRAM. I'VE ASKED FOR MINUTES. I'VE ASKED FOR A FLYER. I KNOW THAT THE HALL OF FAME THAT WAS MENTIONED, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE HELD AT THE GEORGIA NEWMAN COMMUNITY CENTER. BUT ALL I ASK FOR IS JUST SHOW ME WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. YOU DID ACTIVELY SUPPORT STUDENT ACTIVITIES [02:00:01] TO SUPPLEMENT AND DIVERSIFY THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES AVAILABLE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND OTHER PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IN SUPPLEMENTING FUNDING AND ACADEMIC ATHLETIC PROGRAM. PROMOTE THE IDENTITY AND RECOGNITION OF THE HIGH, THE HIGH SCHOOL BOTH IN THE CITY AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE. PROMOTE GENERAL FELLOWSHIP. I'VE ASKED FOR A FLYER NOTES FROM A COMMUNITY MEETING WHERE IT WAS DISCUSSED, ANYTHING THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE, WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THE ITEM WAS. ANYTHING IN 10 YEARS. THAT'S WHAT I'VE ASKED FOR. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET. COUNCILMAN YOU WANT OBJECT? GO TO THE NEXT ONE. I SAY YES. AND, AND TODAY YOU COULD STILL BRING IT. IF I'M LYING, YOU COULD BRING IT TODAY. ALL RIGHT, YOU, SO THIS SAYS, WHAT MUST A NONPROFIT DISCLOSE? SO IF YOU ARE IN THE SECRETARY, SEE Y'ALL, SEE WHAT I'LL BE DEALING WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE, NOT IN GOOD STANDING. FROM 2019 TO 20 24, 3 WEEKS AGO, I BROUGHT THIS TO THE PARISH ATTORNEY. SO ON SEPTEMBER 4TH, THAT'S WHEN IF YOU LOOK AT THE SECRETARY OF STATE, THAT'S WHEN THEY BECAME IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE STATE. INTERNAL REVENUE TAX EXEMPT NONPROFITS ARE REQUIRED UPON REQUEST TO PROVIDE COPIES OF THREE OF THE MOST FILE ANNUAL FORMER. I'VE ASKED FOR THE, THE, UH, COUNCIL. I'VE ASKED, AND I WILL PUT AS MANY PEOPLE THAT I KNOW ON. SHOW ME YOUR FINANCIALS. SHOW ME YOUR FORM. NINE 90. I AM BY STATE, BY FEDERAL LAW. ANYBODY THAT ASKS FOR IT IS SUPPOSED TO GET IT. I HAVE BEEN FLATLY DENIED. THAT WOULD'VE SHOWED WHEN YOU SAY THAT YOU SPENT 70,000, THAT WOULD BE IN YOUR FINANCIALS. IF THAT, IF YOU SAID THAT YOU'VE HAD INSURANCE FOR 10 MONTHS, THAT WOULD BE IN YOUR FINANCIAL I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM. THAT'S JUST, THAT'S JUST FIDUCIARY FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP. THE COMMUNITY, THE SKYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI CENTER HAS REFUSED ALL REQUESTS FOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION. HOWEVER, TO DEMONSTRATE A COMMITMENT OF TRANSPARENCY AND TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THOSE SEEKING FINANCIAL INFORMATION. THE BEAUTIES, DO MANY CHARITABLE NONPROFITS POST THEM ON THEIR WEBSITE? I'VE GONE TO THE WEBSITE. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 15,000 SCOTLANDVILLE RESIDENTS. 15,000. THIS IS NOT ABOUT AN ALUMNI. THIS IS ABOUT 15,000 PEOPLE IN SCOTLANDVILLE THAT DESERVE A QUALITY OF LIFE. GO TO THE NEXT ONE. SO THIS, WE ACTUALLY, UM, HAD AN, UH, WE ACTUALLY HAD THE BUILDING APPRAISED BEFORE WE GAVE IT TO YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT IT MEANT IT WOULD BE, UM, IN LINE WITH WHAT THE PURPOSES COULD BE. SO WHEN I SPOKE WITH MS. BRAXTON AND SHE SAID IT WAS GONNA BE FOR THE ALUMNI TO BRING COMMUNITY SERVICES, NOT TO YOURSELVES, BUT TO THE COMMUNITY. WHAT WE FOUND OUT BACK ON JULY 11TH, 2024, GO TO THE NEXT ONE, THAT THERE WERE ONLY TWO PURPOSES. THIS IS WHAT THE BUILDING LOOKED LIKE IN 2011. I DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN 2024 BASED ON WHEN I WAS THERE AND WHAT PICTURES OF YOUR ALUMNI SENT ME THAT. SO THAT'S, AND THEN THAT'S ANOTHER BIT. MOVING ON. ALL THIS IS PART OF WHAT WE HAD AS PART OF THE APPRAISAL. GO TO THE NEXT ONE. SO LET'S LOOK AT THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE FOR THIS VACANT BUILDING. ACCORDING TO THE APPRAISAL, IT IS THE OPINION OF THE PARADE THAT BASED ON THE MARKET ACTIVITY AND DEVELOPMENTAL AREA, THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF THE SUBJECT SITE IS VACANT, WAS FOR MULTIFAMILY OR RECREATIONAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. THAT IS WHAT SUBSTANTIATE ME BEING ABLE TO BRING THIS ITEM BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND GETTING IT APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. BUT IN CONCLUSION, THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF THE SITE, AGAIN, WE KNOW WE ARE NOT GONNA USE IT FOR FAMILY, UM, MULTIFAMILY. AND THAT'S BASED ON THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE MULTIFAMILY ACROSS THE STREET AND TO THE WEST OF THE BUILDING. BUT CERTAINLY WHAT IS MOST NEEDED IN THAT AREA, WHICH IS THE LOW, WHICH HAS THE LOWEST ECONOMIC HOUSEHOLD INCOME, WAS A RECREATIONAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTER. AND ALL I'VE ASKED YOU ALL IS SHOW ME AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET IT. GO TO THE NEXT ONE. SO ALSO, AS PART OF THIS APPRAISAL WE DID, WE DID A, A, IT SAYS AT THE, I'LL JUST GO TO THE BOTTOM. THE INDICATED VALUE OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY BY THE SALES COMPARISON APPROACH WAS ESTIMATED $38 [02:05:01] PER SQUARE FOOT. AND THE BUILDING IS THREE IS 3,533 SQUARE FEET. SO THAT WAS 1 34 26, ROUNDED OFF TO 1 34, 2 50. SO ON, IN 2014, WHAT WAS DELIVERED WAS 134,000. POTENTIAL BUILDING IN 2014. SO WHAT IT IT, ACCORDING TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHEN YOU DOING A, UM, A, A, A BUILDING AND YOU DO A CA, THAT'S WHAT YOU SUPPOSED TO GET BACK. SO BY GIVING ME FINANCIALS, I WILL BE ABLE TO SEE $134 INVESTMENT OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS. SEAN HAVEN'T GOTTEN. YEAH, THAT'S YOUR TIME. CAN SOMEBODY GIMME TIME WHERE THIS THE LAST ACTUALLY SHAUNA, I, THIS IS, THIS IS MY TIME. SHA SHAUNA, CAN YOU EXPOUND ON YOUR EXPLANATION? OH, GO ON. THE LAST ONE. GO AHEAD. CAN YOU EXPLAIN? OH, OKAY, THANKS. SO WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH NOW IS 10 YEARS FROM 2014 TO 2024, NOT 2024. AND 90 YEARS LATER HAS THE, HAS THE CEA BEEN BREACHED. SO FOR $1 IN 2024, TODAY IS A 1 33. BUT OVER 10 YEARS, THAT'S A 33% INCREASE. SO TODAY, TODAY, WHAT THE ALUMNI AGREED TO IS TO GIVE BACK WHETHER IT'S IMPROVEMENTS, WHETHER IT'S SERVICES, WHETHER IT'S PROGRAMS IS 178,000, PRODUCT FIVE, THE HUNDRED AND 12023 CENTS. THAT'S FACT. AND I'M NOT GONNA SAY YOU DIDN'T DO IT. I'M NOT GONNA EVEN SAY YOU DIDN'T WANT TO. I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOUR HEART WASN'T RIGHT. WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT FAILING. WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS, WAS IT BREACHED OR NOT? AND IF IT WAS NOT, I'VE ASKED FOR 60. WELL, I, I ASKED BEFORE I EVEN PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, FIRST OF ALL, BUT SINCE THEN, THE COUNCIL HAS GIVEN YOU 60 DAYS. AND WE HAVE MET, WE'VE MET, AND I'VE ASKED, I GOT THE EMAILS OF EVERY REQUEST I HAVE MADE AND EVERY REQUEST FROM YOUR COUNCIL THAT SAID, I DON'T HAVE TO GIVE YOU THAT YOU WERE OUT OF COMPLIANCE FROM 2019, WHICH I THINK IS WHEN MR. DAVIS STOPPED BEING PRESIDENT. AND I JUST, WHEN I MET THE YOUNG MAN ON THE ITEM AND I OFFERED TO HELP. AND THEN TO 2014 TO THREE WEEKS AGO, YOU WERE OUT OF COMPLIANCE. THE ONLY INSURANCE YOU HAVE IS FOR AUGUST OF 2024. SO THAT'S 10 YEARS YOU DIDN'T HAVE INSURANCE. AND THANK GOD THE BUSINESS DIDN'T CATCH ON FIRE. 'CAUSE THAT WOULD'VE BEEN ON THE CITY OR SOMEONE GOT HURT. AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SHOW ME THE FINANCES ACCORDING TO THE FARM. 99 R AS THEY GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO BE A 5 0 1 C3. I'M ALL ABOUT BUSINESS. THIS IS A AS MUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT TO ME AS IT IS TO YOU. SO THAT IS WHY I'M ASKING THIS COUNCIL, THIS COUNCIL TO LOOK OUT, NOT FOR THE ALUMNI, BECAUSE ALL YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE IS A STEWARD OF IT. IT WASN'T YOUR BUILDING, IT NEVER WAS. YOU WERE JUST SUPPOSED TO HELP THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO DO. AND IF YOU DID SHOW ME, BUT IF YOU DIDN'T, WHAT ARE YOU FIGHTING FOR? WHAT ARE YOU FIGHTING? NOT ONLY THAT, I OFFERED EVERYBODY. I CALLED A MEETING. YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T HAVE HELP. I GOT 10 NONPROFITS THAT SIGNED A SURVEY, SAID THEY'LL HELP YOU, INCLUDING ONE THAT KENNY, UH, WHAT'S YOUR NAME? ANTHONY KENNY STARTED CALLED ONE SKYVILLE FOUNDATION THAT HAVE SIGNED UP WITH US. OH, GO LOOK. I'LL GIVE YOU THE SURVEY. I DIDN'T SAY YOU, I SAID SOMEBODY. OH, OKAY. YEAH, SOMEBODY FROM YOUR SOMEBODY. YEAH. SEAN. SEAN, THE FOUNDATION. I HAVE THE BATON ROUGE FOOD BANK. QUIET, QUIET, QUIET. PEOPLE WANNA DO RIGHT BY THIS COMMUNITY. IT'S JUST A CHILD. Y'ALL, Y'ALL CAN'T DO IT. OR HAVE, I AIN'T GONNA EVEN SAY YOU CAN'T. YOU HAVEN'T. [02:10:01] THAT'S THE FACTS. SO WHAT ARE YOU, WHAT ARE YOU FIGHTING FOR? A BUILDING YOU DON'T BELONG TO 10 YEARS. YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO WHAT YOU NEEDED TO DO. FATHER COMMUNITY, WHO FIGHTS OVER SOMETHING THAT'S NOT THERE. IT'S FOR THE CITY AND IT'S FOR THE PEOPLE. I DON'T GET THAT. I REALLY DON'T. SO AGAIN, I'M RENEWING MY REQUEST TO THE METRIC TO MY COLLEAGUE TO TERMINATE THIS AGREEMENT. WE HAVE FUNDING AND 10 NONPROFITS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP. IF YOU DECIDE TO BRING THIS ITEM AND I GET THE SUPPORT YOU ARE ON THE NEXT COUNCILMAN, YOU WILL HAVE AN INTRODUCTORY ITEM WHERE ALL 10 OF THOSE NONPROFITS WILL BE ABLE TO COME HERE AND SHOW AND MATTER OF FACT, INCLUDING A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN INVESTMENT THAT WE ALREADY HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYBODY ELSE? ANY OTHER COUNCIL PEOPLE HAVE ANYTHING? NO. COUNCILMAN? HUH? GO AHEAD PLEASE. DARRYL. COUNCILMAN HURST. NO, HE WASN'T WORKING RIGHT NOW. SO I, YOU KNOW, ONE, ONE THING THAT STICKS IN MY HEAD, UM, IS A CONVERSATION DWIGHT HATES WHEN I CALLED HIS NAME UP HERE, BUT THAT WE HAD LAST WEEK WITH RDI, UH, WHERE WE TALK ABOUT DISPARITIES IN BATON ROUGE AND CHALLENGES AND THOSE DISPARITIES, THAT PARTICULAR DISPARITY WAS ABOUT PICKING UP TRASH AND HOW HE NOTICED THAT HIS RENTAL PROPERTIES IN NORTH BATON ROUGE DON'T GET THE SAME SERVICE AS HIS HOME IN SOUTH BATON ROUGE. AND FOR ME, WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW, IT'S SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR. WE TALK ABOUT BLIGHTED COMMUNITIES. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ONE PIECE OF PROPERTY WITH IT'S THOUSANDS. I GOT PUT ON FACEBOOK THE OTHER DAY BECAUSE I PICKED UP THE TRASH, BUT GOT BLAMED FOR THE CONTINUED DUMPING. I'M LIKE, HOW CAN I STOP IT FROM DUMPING? I DID MY JOB , THEY PICKED IT UP. BUT BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH THAT GOES ON IN THAT AREA, IT'S HARD TO KEEP UP WITH. AND BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH THAT GOES ON, THERE'S TONS OF LACK OF INVESTMENT. AND THE SAME DISPARITY THAT WE SEE AND CALLED OUT BY MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE IN CITY SERVICES TO MINORITY AREAS VERSUS MAJORITY AREAS ARE THE SAME DISPARITIES WE SEE WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCING FROM FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS SUPPORTING, UM, INTEREST RATES. THIS IS NATIONAL STUDIES, SO I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING THAT'S NOT THEIR ABILITY TO GO GET A LOAN TO REDO A FIRE STATION OR, UH, A SUSAN G. COLEMAN VERSUS A SKYVILLE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION HAVE THE ABILITY TO, TO RAISE MONEY IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA. THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT IS DIFFERENT. THERE'S DISPARITIES. THE BIG BUDDY PUTS UP, PUTS UP SOMETHING RIGHT NOW, THEY CAN RAISE A MILLION DOLLARS IN A COUPLE WEEKS. THE SCHOLAR ALUMNI PUTS UP SOMETHING RIGHT NOW, SAME PROGRAM. THEY MIGHT RAISE 15, 20,000. AND I'M SAYING THAT NOT TO TALK ABOUT, UM, THAT WE AREN'T GOOD ENOUGH IS THAT EVERYBODY DOESN'T SEE THE VALUE IN WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO. AND I, I, I ASKED, UM, COUNCILMAN BANKS HISTORICALLY, SO WE GOT A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE DO IS, NUMBER ONE, UNDERSTAND WHAT BENCHMARKS, UM, WE PUT IN PLACE THAT THEY DID OR DID NOT MEET. UM, NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, HOW MUCH MONEY DID YOU RAISE? UM, I'VE TALKED TO A NUMBER OF YOU GUYS ABOUT THE MONEY AND THE, THE NEXT STEPS. AND UM, AS LONG AS YOU WEREN'T IN BREACH OF THAT CONTRACT AND YOU HAVE THE BENCHMARKS AND YOU RAISE THE MONEY, THEN I WOULD SUPPORT THIS EFFORT TO MOVE FORWARD. SO I'M GONNA ASK THE PARISH ATTORNEY TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE. BILLY, COME ON DOWN. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT SPECIFIC TIMEFRAME IN THAT CONTRACT WAS PUT IN PLACE FOR THEM TO MAKE, BE ABLE TO MAKE THE IMPROVEMENTS. TURN THE MIC ON. BILLY. HIT THE BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM. GREAT BUTTON UP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BASE OF THE MIC. BASE OF THE MIC. YOU GOT IT KYLE. ALRIGHT, YOU GOT IT. I'M SORRY. NOT VERY SMART. THERE YOU GO. THERE IS NO TIMEFRAME IN THE CONTRACT IS BASICALLY A VERY NEBULOUS PARAGRAPH. SAYS, BEGIN OR INITIATE AN EVALUATION OF THE PROPERTY AND ASSESSMENT OF THE BUILDING AND PREMISES IN ORDER TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE REVITALIZATION PLAN TO RESTORE AND FULLY OCCUPY THE BUILDING ON THE PREMISES IN A TIMELY FASHION. THERE IS NO MONTH, DAY, OR YEAR IN THERE. IT JUST SAYS IN A TIMELY FASHION. SO THE WORDS MATTER [02:15:01] TO LAW. SO WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF TIMELY? I I DON'T HAVE A DEFINITION FOR THAT. THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THE COURT WOULD'VE TO DECIDE. I WOULD, YEAH. SO I I WE, WE LOOKED IT UP EARLIER. 'CAUSE I, 'CAUSE I I WANT TO MAKE SURE I DO THE RIGHT THINGS BY THE CONTRACT THAT'S IN PLACE TRYING TO PULL IT UP. BUT EITHER WAY, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THERE'S NO SPECIFIC TIME AND BECAUSE THERE IS NO SPECIFIC TIME IN THAT AGREEMENT, DO WE PUT OURSELF IN A POSITION TO BE SUED BY THE GARNERVILLE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION? WELL, IF THE, FOR A POTENTIAL BREACH OF CONTRACT, IF THE COUNCIL WERE TO AUTHORIZE THIS MATTER, THEN I WOULD SEND, OR THEIR OFFICE WOULD SEND A NOTICE GIVING THEM 30 DAYS TO MOVE OUT. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THEY WILL THEN EITHER JOIN AND IF WE HAVE FILED AN EVICTION SUIT OR THEY'LL FILE THEIR OWN SUIT AND THEN THE COURT HAVE TO DECIDE THAT. OKAY. AND I MEAN, I'M NOT GOING TO ASK THE QUESTION EVERYBODY HAS. DO YOU THINK WE'LL WIN OR LOSE? YOU DON'T KNOW, RIGHT? DON'T KNOW. IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE COURT. BUT, UM, THE FINAL THING THAT I'LL SAY IS, AND IF I, YOU TAKE MY TIME I GO OVER, I'LL TAKE THE NEXT 30 SECONDS, BUT, UH, BILLY, I DON'T NEED YOU ANYMORE. THANK YOU. IT WAS THE ONE QUESTION I HAD THAT THERE IS NO TIME IN THE CONTRACT. UM, IS THERE A CITY PARISH? I THINK WE DID THE SKYVILLE. I I LOVE THE EFFORT, BUT I THINK WE DID EVERY FIRE STATION THAT WAS DONATED A DISSERVICE. THE REASON WHY IT TOOK SO LONG FOR PLANK ROAD, AGAIN, DISPARITIES IN NORTH BATON ROUGE. COUNCILMAN YOU WANT YOUR TIME? I DO. I SAT DOWN WITH JOE DONAHUE, WHO'S OVER DOTD AND I ASKED HIM, I SAID, WHAT ABOUT THE AIRLINE IMPROVEMENT IN NORTH BATON ROUGE? HE SAID, OH, AIRLINE'S GREAT. I SAID, THERE'S A DIFFERENT AIRLINE BY WOMEN'S HOSPITAL THAN THERE IS BY EARL KAY. LONG. HE ACTUALLY AGREED WITH ME. IT GOES BACK TO THE DISPARITIES. OKAY. AND THERE'S NO WAY IN HELL THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE WOULD'VE ADOPTED PLANK ROAD FROM THE STATE OF LOUISIANA WITHOUT THE FUNDING TO IMPROVE IT AT THE SAME TIME. SO WE WOULDN'T EITHER. SO THE RULE FOR, AND FRED COME TO THE MIC REAL QUICK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. REALLY QUICKLY, WHAT IS THE TYPICAL STANDARD FOR US TO TAKE A ROAD FROM? ANYBODY ELSE? CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT? AND ADAM, COME TO THE MIC REAL QUICK MY TIME. COME TO THE MIC PLEASE. WELL, NORMALLY IF WE WERE GOING TO ACCEPT A ROAD, IT'D HAVE TO MEET A CERTAIN DESIGN CRITERIA STANDARD, ADD 'EM TO THE MIC AND, AND, AND THAT WOULD BE THE CRITERIA. WE WOULD ALSO HAVE TO HAVE IT EVALUATED, TESTED AND THINGS LIKE THAT IN REGARDS TO, TO ADOPTING A ROADWAY AT THAT POINT. SO THE ROADWAYS FULL OF POTHOLES, UM, THE CURB IS ALL SMASHED UP. WOULD THE CITY, WOULD THE CITY TAKE IT IN MOST CASES? IN MOST CASES, PROBABLY NOT. IF IT'S A PUBLIC ROADWAY, THEN WE SHOULD BE FIXING THE ROAD. IF IT'S OURS. NO, IT'S A STATE HIGHWAY. DON'T KNOW. ARE WE GOING TO TAKE IT FROM THE STATE WITHOUT THE FUNDING TO FIX IT? WE HAVE THE FUNDING TO FIX IT. I DIDN'T SAY THAT. SAID WILL WE TAKE IT FROM THE STATE WITHOUT THE FUNDING TO FIX IT? MAYOR, SIR, POINT OF ORDER PLEASE. WE'RE GOT, WE'RE NOT TALKING, WE'RE NOT TALKING STREETS. WE'RE NOT TALKING POTHOLES. WE'RE DISCUSSING THE ITEM NUMBER 82. I GOT YOU. I'M TALKING ABOUT CITY PRACTICES. I AM TALKING ABOUT CITY PRACTICES, WHICH IS DOMAIN TO THE TOPIC. NO, IT'S NOT. THANK YOU. NO, THAT'S THE TOPIC ON, ON ITEM 82 IS THE TOPIC. COUNCILWOMAN POTHOLE IS NOT THE TOPIC. COUNCILWOMAN, I I HEAR YOU. I I SEE THE CONNECTION. SO I'LL TALKED ABOUT COPPER OAKS THAT'S NOT IN HERE TONIGHT. HAD A MEETING LAST NIGHT WITH ADAM SMITH ABOUT A PUMP STATION THAT WAS THE DEVELOPER THAT WE WILL TAKE OVER, BUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS TO COME UP WITH A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS BEFORE WE'LL TAKE IT BECAUSE THE CITY WILL NOT ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT PUMP STATION UNTIL IT'S AT A LEVEL AT THE, IN WHICH THE CITY CAN TAKE IT OVER AND OPERATE IT WITHOUT ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE COSTS ON THE CITY. SO WHAT WE DID TO YOU GUYS IS WHAT WE WOULD NEVER DO TO OURSELVES. WE GAVE YOU A BUILDING THAT WAS DILAPIDATED WHERE ROOF LEAKING, WHERE ROOFS LEAKING. THE SAME ONES THAT RACHEL WOULD TEAR DOWN BECAUSE WITH THE ROOF LEAKING, IT WOULD MAKE THE INSIDE UNUSABLE. WE PUT YOU IN A POSITION UPSIDE DOWN FROM DAY ONE AND NOW WE'RE ASKING YOU TO SWIM OUT OF A LAKE THAT'S A THOUSAND FEET DEEP AND WE'RE GIVEN TO YOU WHEN YOU'RE ON THE BOTTOM, HOPING THAT YOU CAN MAKE IT UP BEFORE YOU BEFORE, BEFORE YOU DROWN. AND SO WE WOULDN'T DO IT TO OURSELVES. I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT TO YOU. YOU'VE DONE WHAT I'VE ASKED YOU TO DO AND THEREFORE I WILL SUPPORT THIS EFFORT. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. COUNCILMAN MO. UH, THANK YOU. UM, BILLY, COULD YOU COME UP? OH, THERE YOU GO. SORRY. UH, WE SPOKE ON A SPECIFIC TIMEFRAME AND WE'VE ESTABLISHED THAT THERE'S NO SPECIFIC TIMEFRAME IN PARTICULAR WORK TO BE DONE, CORRECT? CORRECT. OKAY. HOW LONG WAS THIS CONTRACT FOR? UH, NINE, NINE YEARS AND COMMENCED IN THE VERY FIRST PART OF 2015. OKAY. WAS THERE ANY MENTION, WAS THERE, UH, UH, FOR SOME [02:20:01] REASON I REMEMBER HEARING APPROXIMATELY I'M WRONG. UH, UH, 10 YEARS AS FAR AS, UM, RE TO RELOOK AT THE CONTRACT OR SOMETHING, OR EVERY 10 YEARS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, OR NO, THERE'S NOTHING IN THERE. I'M WRONG ON THAT. CORRECT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. UM, SO THEY'VE HAD IT HOW LONG? UM, ALMOST 10 YEARS, 2000? I THINK IT WAS ONE, ONE OF 15 WHEN IT STARTED. ALMOST 10 YEARS. OKAY. WHEN'S THE LAST TIME THAT WE HAVE WENT IN AND INSPECTED AND LOOKED AT THE BUILDING? NOT UNTIL THIS AGENDA ITEM CAME UP. WHEN WAS THAT? UM, I MEAN, WHEN, WHEN ABOUT HOW LONG AGO DID WE GO IN AND INSPECT THE BUILDING IN, WITHIN THE LAST TWO MONTHS? WITHIN THE LAST TWO MONTHS? HAD WE BEEN IN ANY TIME BEFORE THAT? UM, WITHIN THIS ALMOST 10 YEARS? NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF, NO SIR. OKAY. ON THE BREACHES OF THE CONTRACT OR WHATEVER, IS THERE, IS THERE ANY SPECIFIC BREACH THAT HAS BEEN DONE? SO I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, I MEAN, I READ YOU THAT PARAGRAPH BEFORE. I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY REAL PLAN OR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN HAS BEEN PUT FORWARD. UM, I ALSO KNOW, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A REQUIREMENT THAT ANY IMPROVEMENTS ARE GONNA BE MADE DPW WOULD'VE TO IMPROVE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS. I DON'T THINK WE'VE RECEIVED ANY REQUESTS FOR MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS. UM, OKAY. DO WE KNOW OF WHAT SPECIFIC, UM, REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE? UH, I, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY'VE DONE. I, I BELIEVE THERE'S BEEN SOME FLOORING, BUT, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, UM, OTHER THAN SECURING THE BUILDING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE. OKAY. CAN WE PULL UP THE PICTURES? OKAY. SO THIS, AND I CANNOT GIVE A DATE. SO IF SOMEBODY WILL HAVE TO, UH, QUANTIFY WHETHER THIS IS CURRENT OR WHATEVER, THIS WAS A GOOGLE IMAGE THAT I JUST TOOK A FEW MINUTES AGO THAT I JUST LOOKED UP A FEW MINUTES AGO, IS THAT THE FACILITY BOARDED UP. OKAY. THIS IS NO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I'LL, I'LL TAKE YOU ON THAT. LIKE I SAID, I DON'T KNOW THE TIME OF THE GOOGLE PICTURES, BUT YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT I'VE GOT. I'M ASKING IS THE FACILITY BOARDED UP RIGHT NOW? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO I GUESS I'M, HAVE I HAVE, WE, WE GIVE THESE FACILITIES OUT TO, YOU KNOW, I HAD THIS DISCUSSION BEFORE, FRANKLY, UH, IT, IT, IT COULD HAVE BEEN TORN DOWN IN THE COST OF THE BUILDING OR THE OTHER ONE. UM, WE GOT MULTIPLE FIRE STATIONS ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE SOME OF 'EM IN USE. I KNOW, UM, THERE IS ONE THAT'S JUST BEEN REDONE TO ADD IT TO IT AS A COMMUNITY CENTER OR WHATEVER, AND THAT'S A GREAT THING TO SEE THERE. SO BACK TO THE, I WANNA GO BACK TO THE TIMEFRAME HERE, THE INSURANCE PART AND CITY PARISH. I'M ASKING CITY PARISH OR ANYBODY THAT WOULD KNOW THIS, WHEN'S THE LAST TIME THAT WE'VE CHECKED THAT INSURANCE HAS BEEN PUT ON THIS BUILDING AND IS THERE ANY OTHER SPECIFIC TIME THAT INSURANCE HAS BEEN PUT ON THE BUILDING AND THEN CANCELED OR, OR NOT DONE AND THEN IT ADDED BACK ON AND SO ON AND SO FORTH? HAVE WE CHECKED ON THAT? THE, THE ASSOCIATION HAS PROVIDED THE PROOF OF INSURANCE AS OF WHEN, UM, WHEN THIS AGENDA ITEM CAME UP. SO MS. JANICE CAN PROBABLY TELL YOU, BUT IT CAME, THEY PROVIDED IT HERE RECENTLY IN THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS. OKAY. WAS THAT INSURANCE IN EFFECT FOR THE WHOLE TERM THAT THEY'VE HAD THIS BUILDING? THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, YES. OKAY. MS. BRAXTON ORIGINALLY HAD GOTTEN THE FIRST INSURANCE AND PROVIDED THAT WHEN WE FIRST DID THE CEA. AND THEN MS. JANICE ON BEHALF OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PROVIDED PROOF POINT OF ORDER. I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD DO THIS, BUT YOU, WHERE'S THAT INFORMATION? BECAUSE WE WERE IN THE MEETING AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE THAT? WELL, THAT FOR THE 10 YEARS, THE WHOLE 10 YEARS, I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE HER WHOLE 10 YEARS, BUT THEY PROVIDED, WHAT IS THIS THE END OF MY FIRST TIME? SHE INDICATED THEY PROVIDED IT FOR 10 YEARS? YES. OKAY. AM I, AM I ? OKAY. I, I GOT 22 SECONDS LEFT. I'D LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT THE INSURANCE THING IF INSURANCE HAS JUST BEEN ACQUIRED OR WHETHER THEY'VE HAD IT ON THE BUILDING THE WHOLE TIME. AND I'M GONNA END MY TIME RIGHT THERE AND LET SOMEBODY ELSE SPEAK. I MAY COME BACK FOR MORE. NO, NO, NO. THAT'S NOT MY TIME. NO MA'AM. BILLY. OKAY. PLEASE PUT ME OUT HERE. BILLY, I, I'M CURIOUS, UH, AND FORGIVE ME IF YOU ALREADY SURE. TALKED ABOUT THIS, BUT SHOULD, SHOULD THIS MOVE FORWARD TONIGHT, UH, WITH THE TERMINATION, YOU SAID YOU'D SEND A LETTER. WHAT, WHAT WOULD YOU REFERENCE AS THE BREACH? SO I WOULD REFERENCE THE, THE PARAGRAPH I READ BEFORE THAT NO REAL PLAN HAS BEEN PUT FORWARD TO IMPLE, YOU KNOW, IMPLEMENT THIS BUILDING, GET BACK INTO, INTO COMMERCE, AND I WOULD GO THROUGH THE, THE OTHER ASPECTS, BUT IT WOULD JUST SIMPLY SAY YOU'VE, [02:25:01] YOU'VE NOT DONE ANYTHING EXCEPT BOARD UP THE BUILDING AND MAINTAIN THE INSURANCE AND PAY THE UTILITIES. MM-HMM, . AND THEN IF THEY DID NOT LEAVE, WE WOULD FILE SOME TYPE OF EVICTION SUIT AND THEN THEY WOULD COUNTER, AND THEN THE COURT WOULD'VE TO DECIDE. OKAY. UM, WHEN YOU TALKED, WHEN WE TALKED EARLIER, IT WAS DISCUSSED ABOUT TIMELINESS IS WHILE THERE MAY NOT BE, WHILE THAT WOULD BE LEFT UP TO, UH, DISCRETION OF A COURT, UH, YOU KNOW, I WOULD ARGUE THAT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN BEING LEFT UP TO OUR DISCRETION. I MEAN, AND, AND, AND THINGS YOU MAY HAVE SEEN BEFORE, AND IF YOU HAVEN'T THAT'S FINE. BUT WOULD, WOULD 10 YEARS BE TIMELY? UH, IN, IN A, IN A, WHEN SEEN BEFORE A COURT? IS THAT, UH, I WOULD NOT THINK 10 YEARS IS TIMELY. YOU THINK THAT'S OVER, BUT I, I DON'T GET TO WEAR THE ROBES, SO I UNDERSTAND. OKAY. UM, THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. CONSTABLE RAZZA, YOU MENTIONED A PLAN. OKAY. WHO, WHO, WHO SUBMITTED THIS? I BELIEVE THIS IS, YEAH. THEY, THEY'VE SUBMITTED SOMETHING ONCE. DID WHAT IS, WHAT IS THIS? WHAT, WHAT, HOW DO YOU, WHAT IS IT? WHAT IS ITS TITLE AND PURPOSE? YES. CAN SOMEONE ANSWER THAT? FROM 2014 TO 2024, I KNOW THAT THEY PRESENTED SOMETHING. WHEN THIS AGENDA ITEM CAME UP, THIS, UH, BOOKLET WAS PREPARED FOR YOU, UH, BY THE SCOTLANDVILLE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. IT HAS A, UH, A TIMELINE THAT INDICATES THE ACTIVITY THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON WITH THE BUILDING. IT ALSO, IF WE LOOK AT THE TABLE OF CONTENTS, IT WILL ALSO SHOW THE, UH, BACK IN 2019 HOW WE, UH, ASSESSED THE BUILDING. AND WE CAME UP WITH RENOVATION CON, UH, CONCEPTIONS. ALL OF THIS IS UNDER THE VARIOUS, UH, SECTIONS THAT WE HAVE. WE ALSO HAVE A, A STRATEGIC PLAN. AND THE QUESTION WAS ASKED EARLIER, UH, WHAT TIMELINESS IS? TIMELINESS IS GOING TO BE DETERMINED INDIVIDUAL IN AN INDIVIDUAL CASE BASED ON THE CONDITION OF THE BUILDING. WE RECEIVED A DILAPIDATED BUILDING, AND, BUT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, WE BEGAN REPAIRS. WE BEGAN, UM, EFFORTS AND, AND HAD STRATEGIC, UM, CONCEPTS IN TERMS OF WHAT IT WAS GONNA TAKE TO RESTORE THIS BUILDING. AND I, MY PERSONAL OPINION, NOT BECAUSE I AM, UH, AN ALUM, BUT LEGALLY SPEAKING, TIMELINESS IS DETERMINED BY THE CONDITIONS THAT WE HAD TO ENDURE DURING THAT TIME. AND I THINK THAT THE TIME THAT WE HAVE AND THE CONDITION THAT THE BUILDING IS IN, AND EVEN THOUGH WE'RE LOOKING AT, I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE GOT THOSE, UH, THINGS FROM THAT BUILDING HAS BEEN GREATLY IMPROVED OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS. AND AS I WAS STATING EARLIER, PRIOR TO THE, UH, RESOLUTION, UH, COUNCILWOMAN BANKS HAS NOT SEEN THE INSIDE OF THAT BUILDING. THAT BUILDING IS ACTUALLY OCCUPIED. UH, YOU CAN BE OCCUPIED NOW. WE ARE CONDUCTING MEETINGS OUT OF THERE NOW, AND IT IS IN A MUCH BETTER CONDITION, AND IT WILL, UH, BE EVEN MORE. NOW, THERE ALSO, BUILDING AND GROUNDS DID AN INSPECTION ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO. THAT INSPECTION IS INCLUDED IN THE BOOKLET THAT YOU HAVE FROM YOUR BUILDING IN GROUNDS, UH, UNDER SECTION TWO. UM, AND SECTION FIVE WILL TELL YOU THE, UH, THE PLAN THAT WE HAVE GOING FORWARD FOR THE SHAQ CENTER. AND SECTION FOUR DEALS WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN FROM THE YOUNG LADY THAT SPOKE EARLIER TODAY. AND SECTION SIX ARE VARIOUS FLYERS AND, UM, GRANTS AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE'VE DEALT WITH OVER THE, AND I KNOW THIS IS A LOT OF PAPERWORK. WE DID DESIGN IT TO BE HELPFUL TO YOU. UH, YOU JUST HAVE TO LOOK AT IT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MOOCH. THANK YOU. CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE LIABILITY POLICY EFFECTIVE DATE, 7 23 24 THROUGH 7 23. EXPIRATION DATE? 7 23 25. WHERE'S THE INSURANCE PREVIOUS TO THIS? I, I'M FINE [02:30:04] UNLESS YOU HAVE A CLAIM FOR A PRIOR YEAR. THE INSURANCE THAT'S CURRENT IS WHAT'S RELEVANT. SO THEREFORE, NO, I DIDN'T GO BACK 10 YEARS IN POOL EVERY POLICY FROM 10 YEARS AGO, BUT AS, UH, OKAY. AND A FORMER PRESIDENT AND, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. TO NOT TALKING ABOUT PULLING THE POLICY AND EVERYTHING FROM PREVIOUS BEFORE. OKAY. BUT IN, IN, TO HELP YOUR DEFENSE OF TRYING TO MAINTAIN WHAT Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO DO. YES. WHICH IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS REQUIRED OF THIS CONTRACT RIGHT. IS TO HAVE INSURANCE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE THING. WE DIDN'T, I, WELL, WE DIDN'T SAY WE, I NOW DON'T KNOW. WE DO. I, I NOW DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU GOT THIS POLICY BECAUSE ALL OF A SUDDEN WE WAS UNDER SCRUTINY OR IF IT'S A RENEWAL OR AN UPDATE OF POLICY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING IS ALL THING I'M SAYING IS ONE INSURANCE SHEET THAT STARTED ON 7 23 OF 24. OKAY. I'M NOT JUST, I'M NOT SAYING YOU DIDN'T HAVE INSURANCE. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW YEAH. THAT YOU DID AND YOU JUST DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T JUST ARBITRARILY GET THIS INSURANCE POLICY BASED ON THE FACT THAT NOW WE'RE UNDER SCRUTINY OF POSSIBLY HAVING OUR CONTRACT CANCELED. THAT'S THE REASON I WAS ASKING FOR PREVIOUS COPIES OF INSURANCE. OKAY. SO MAY I, MAY I ADDRESS THAT? I'M SORRY. I, I ONLY HAVE SO MUCH TIME. OKAY. IT'S SPECIFIC TO THE INSURANCE THING. OKAY. Y'ALL MENTIONED Y'ALL HAD SUMMER CAMPS AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT. DID Y'ALL ONLY USE A SPECIFIC PART OF THE BUILDING BECAUSE THE REST IS BOARDED UP, OR NOW HAVE, AND I'M GOING BY YOUR OWN PICTURES HERE. MM-HMM. WHERE YOU'VE GOT CEILING THAT'S PULLED DOWN BECAUSE OF A LEAKY ROOF AND STUFF LIKE THAT. NO. WHAT, WHAT FUNCTIONS HAVE YOU HAD INSIDE OF THAT BUILDING? OKAY, I'M GOING TO TURN THAT OVER TO OUR COMMU UH, OUR CHAIR PERSON. OKAY. REAL QUICK, I JUST WANNA KNOW WHAT FUNCTIONS SPECIFICALLY THAT YOU'VE HAD INSIDE THAT BUILDING. A SUMMER CAMP, A CHRISTMAS, UH, GIVE CARD GIVEAWAY. OKAY. THAT'S IT. WELL, OKAY. HE, I'M GONNA LET HIM ADDRESS THAT FOR YOUR, I APPRECIATE THAT INSURANCE. YES, MA'AM. WE HAD INSURANCE FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS. I, I NEED TO SEE THAT. OKAY. AND WE CAN PROBABLY PROVE THAT. YES, SIR. JUST SPECIFIC WHAT FUNCTIONS YOU'VE HAD INSIDE OF THAT BUILDING AND USED THE FACILITY, THE WHOLE FACILITY. UH, SO IT'S NEVER BEEN A, A MOMENT. IT'S A LARGE FACILITY. WE NEVER USED THE WHOLE FACILITY. WE'VE USED THE GARAGE AREA, UH, FOR OUR, UH, FUNDRAISERS. UH, WE USED THAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, UH, OUTREACH DAYS. UH, WE USED THAT FOR OUR CLEANUP AS WELL. AND HOW ABOUT HOW MANY FUNCTIONS HAVE YOU HAD IN THIS, IN THIS MM-HMM. , 1, 3, 6, 10. JUST A NUMBER OVER 10 YEARS. OVER 10 YEARS INSIDE OF THE BUILDING. UH, THAT'D BE A ROUGH NUMBER FOR ME TO JUST, BUT OVER 10. UH, I WOULD PROBABLY SAY OVER 10 IN THE, IN THE, IN THE GARAGE. YOU TALKING ABOUT OUTSIDE OF THE, INSIDE OF THE, UH, INSIDE OF THE FACILITY. SO IF YOU CONSIDER THE GARAGE A PART OF BUILDING, UH, I WOULD SAY, UM, NONE INSIDE, MOSTLY OUTSIDE. 'CAUSE THERE'S NO, WHY, WHY WERE THERE NONE INSIDE OF THE FACILITY IN 10 YEARS BECAUSE THE FACILITY HASN'T BEEN, UM, REGULATED AND SAFER USE AS FAR AS FOR THOSE TYPE OF EVENTS. OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET. GOTCHA. THAT WE'VE HAD 10 YEARS FOR THIS FIRE STATION TO BE REDONE, TO MAKE IT USED TO MAKE IT A COMMUNITY ACTIVE CENTER. TO MAKE IT VIABLE TO MAKE IT. AND LOOK, I'M ALL ABOUT IT. I'D LOVE TO SEE THE ONE DONE AT, AT SOUTH FOSTER AND OVER BY BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE. BUT I JUST FOUND OUT IT BELONGS TO THE STATE. ACTUALLY NOW I LIKE THE PROGRAM OF TURNING THESE INTO THINGS. BUT 10 YEARS, 10 YEARS IS A LONG TIME TO STILL BE SOMEWHAT, NOT COMPLETELY WHAT Y'ALL ARE SAYING. BOARD IT UP AND NOT BEING ABLE TO USE THE FACILITIES. WHY CAN'T WE WORK WITH OTHER AGENCIES AND Y'ALL STILL BE A PART OF IT, STILL BE ABLE TO USE THE PLACE AND EVERYTHING, BUT YET WORK WITH MULTIPLE GROUPS TO GET MORE FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO REALLY MAKE THIS BUILDING SHINE. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING AFTER. THAT'S WHAT MY WHOLE THING IN, IN WANTING TO SEE THIS DONE CORRECTLY. THANK YOU. COME FROM OSA. UH, BILLY, PLEASE. SO YOU SAID THAT YOU WENT AND INSPECTED THE BUILDING. CAN YOU TELL US THE CONDITION THAT THE BUILDING WAS IN? I DID NOT, I DID NOT GO OUT, BUT DPW FOLKS DID. OKAY. CAN SOMEBODY COME AND ANSWER THAT QUESTION? THAT, UM, WENT IN AND ACTUALLY INSPECTED THE BUILDING? WHAT THE, WHAT THE BUILDING, WHAT KIND OF THE CONDITION THE BUILDING WAS IN WHEN YOU WENT IN AND INSPECTED IT? GOOD EVENING. UM, SO I DIDN'T PERSONALLY INSPECT IT. MY TEAM INSPECTED IT. SO THEY DID GO AND TAKE SOME PICTURES. THEY DID A VISUAL INSPECTION. UM, THEY HAD SOME [02:35:01] RENOVATION THAT WAS DONE TO THE FLOORING. UH, SOME DEMO TO THE CEILING, UH, WHERE THEY HAD ROOF LEAKS. SO THERE WAS SOME SHOWING OF, UH, WORK IN THE BUILDING. UM, BUT THERE'S, THERE'S STILL SOME WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. SO YOU, BUT YOU COULD SEE THAT THEY DID MAKE SOME EFFORT TO, UH, MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS. IS, IS THE BUILDING IN A CONDITION NOW THAT IT IS USABLE ON THE INSIDE? 'CAUSE THEY'RE TALKING THAT THEY DO A LOT OF ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE. YEAH, THERE IS SPACE THAT THEY CAN USE. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. COUNCILMAN GODA. UH, THANK YOU. CAN, CAN ANYONE PROVIDE ME HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN PUT INTO THE BUILDING BY THE ORGANIZATION OVER THESE MANY YEARS? CONFIDENTLY OVER $70,000. UH, IF YOU WANT A FORMAL, UM, WORKUP OF THAT, UH, I CAN GET YOU THAT AT A LATER TIME. IS IT, IS IT A FEASIBLE GOAL? I, I BELIEVE THE PACK THAT YOU ALL PROVIDED HAS ABOUT A HALF MILLION DOLLAR PRICE TAG. IS THAT FEASIBLE FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION? UH, I BELIEVE SO. UH, WITH THOSE PARTNERSHIPS THAT THEY SAID THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR AND ENCOURAGING, THOSE ARE THE ONES WE ARE CUR CURATING NOW, UH, UNDER NEW ADMINISTRATION IN 2021, UH, HAS KIND OF BEEN A RE UH, OVERHAUL OF PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING. SO, UH, WITHIN THAT I SEE IT AS BEING A VIABLE GOAL. UM, TO, TO DO, OF COURSE. I'M GONNA ASK A, A WHY QUESTION. I DON'T MEAN IT TO TO BE CONFRONTATIONAL ALL, BUT WHY AREN'T YOU ALL THE ONE COMING TO US WANTING TO WALK AWAY FROM THIS BUILDING? HOLD ON, SAY IT AGAIN. I'M SORRY. WHY AREN'T YOU ALL MM-HMM. . WHY DON'T YOU GET A ROOM AT THE HIGH SCHOOL? RIGHT. AND START FROM THERE AND BUILD OUT FROM THERE. SO I THINK TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, UM, I THINK THE OPPORTUNITY THAT, UH, WAS GIVEN TO US WAS ONE THAT WAS APPRECIATIVE WHEN WE DID GET IT. UM, SAYING, WHY WOULD WE WALK AWAY NOW? THERE, THERE, 'CAUSE WE HAVE A PASSION FOR THIS. WE HAVE, UH, A PLAN FOR THIS. WE HAVE A POTENTIAL OF WHAT WE KNOW THIS COULD TO, TO BE. SO, UH, THE, TO WHY TO WALK AWAY, UM, WHY WE WON'T WALK AWAY IS 'CAUSE WE STILL HAVE FAITH IN WHAT WE, WE ARE TRYING TO DO. WE STILL KNOW THAT THEY ARE POSSIBILITIES TO DO THESE THINGS WITH PARTNERSHIPS, WITH, UM, GRANTS, WITH FUNDING. UH, WE DO SEE THIS TO BE A THING. UM, THERE HAS BEEN, UM, CERTAIN THINGS, BUT LIKE I SAID, UH, WITHIN THE NEW, UH, REGIME, WITHIN THE NEW, UH, PARTNERSHIPS, UH, EVER SINCE THIS, UH, WE'VE ALSO BEEN, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE REACHED OUT TO US, UM, AS WELL AS FAR AS WORKING WITH US SO CONFIDENTLY NOW I CAN SAY NOW MORE THAN EVER, THAT WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN GET TO THAT GOAL. ALRIGHT. WELL, I MEAN, THIS ONE, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU CAN SEE FROM THE AMOUNT OF QUESTIONS YOU'VE GOT. AND THIS ONE'S, IT'S A TOUGH ONE. UM, YOU KNOW, BUT I THINK MY COLLEAGUE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS HAS ASKED A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT QUESTIONS. UM, YOU KNOW, I I, I WOULD LIKE ON, IN THIS INSTANCE TO, TO SIDE WITH THE PEOPLE. UM, BUT I WILL TELL YOU IF, IF MY COLLEAGUE, IF THIS DOESN'T GET THROUGH AND MY COLLEAGUE BRINGS FORWARD A REWORK, CEA WITH SOME SIGNIFICANT ADJUSTMENTS AND TIMELINES AND DEADLINES AND, AND METRICS, I'D BE IN FAVOR OF THAT. UM, I CAN, I CAN APPRECIATE A, A 10 YEAR, UM, 10, 10 YEARS NOT BEING CONSIDERED TIMELY. UM, SO MY ENCOURAGEMENT IS GONNA BE, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I, WHILE I KNOW FEELINGS MAY BE HURT, I THINK YOU ALL, IF THIS DOESN'T GET THROUGH, NEED TO WORK AGGRESSIVELY TO PRESENT THE PLAN AND THE, AND THE, UM, DOCUMENTATION SHE'S BEEN SEEKING. COUNCILMAN DON, JR. THANK YOU. IF THE LEGAL COUNSEL COULD COME UP, UH, FOR A MINUTE, PLEASE. UH, NOT OURS. THEIRS, THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION LEGAL COUNSEL, MS. MILES, UH, COUNCILMAN MOOCH WAS ASKING SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INSURANCE. I SHOWED HIM THE PROOF OF INSURANCE IN THE PACKET AS HE STATED THAT THE PROOF OF INSURANCE SHOWS THAT THIS CURRENT POLICY STARTED IN JULY OF THIS YEAR AND EXPIRES NEXT YEAR IN JULY. UM, THAT'S ALL THAT'S REQUIRED TO TYPICALLY SHOW PROOF OF INSURANCE. BUT WAS THERE A POLICY PRIOR TO THIS? TO MY UNDERSTANDING, IT WAS A RENEWAL. I, I'M NOT PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE ASSOCIATION, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IT WAS A RENEWAL. YOLANDA, ANYBODY FROM THE ADMINISTRATION? CAN Y'ALL COME UP AND JUST CONFIRM THAT PLEASE? YES. WE'VE HAD, SPEAKING OF MIKE, PLEASE. YES, WE HAVE HAD INSURANCE. AND TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE, HOW MANY YEARS BACK DID THE INSURANCE GO? UH, STARTING, UH, LIKE MS. BRAXTON SAID, STARTING FROM THE BEGINNING. OKAY. THAT'S, WE HAD TO HAVE IT. THAT'S ALL I NEED. THANK YOU. OKAY. AND TO ADDRESS, UH, COUNCILMAN GOD'S, UH, REMARKS, WE HEARD THE COUNCIL THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, WE HEARD THAT YOU ASKED US TO HAVE OPEN COMMUNICATION WITHOUT COUNCILWOMAN AND TO, UH, DEVELOP SOME BENCHMARKS TO MAKE THIS CEAA LITTLE BIT MORE WORKABLE. WE DID. WE [02:40:01] PRESENTED THE COUNCIL AND COUNCILWOMAN BANK'S BENCHMARKS THAT WE THOUGHT WERE REASONABLE. PUT SOME TIMELINES IN THERE THAT WE SAID, WE, WITH AN EXPECTATION, WE, WE WILL BE ABLE TO PERFORM THIS. THAT, UH, THOSE NOTES HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED SINCE THEN. WE GAVE THEM, THEY DID NOT RESPOND TO THEM. A COMMUNICATION WITH THE COUNCIL. I INDICATED TO HIM THAT I FELT LIKE BECAUSE WE SUBMITTED THAT TO THEM IN THE MEETING, THAT THEY NEVER RESPONDED, NEVER GAVE US AN ALTERNATIVE THAT THEY NEVER INTENDED TO PURSUE THAT. OKAY. IN THE FIRST PLACE. THANK YOU. BUT WE DID WHAT YOU ASKED US TO DO. THANK YOU. COME ON. UH, JOE, JOE, CAN YOU COME BACK UP TO THE MIC AS WELL? I GOT A QUESTION THAT MAYBE BOTH OF YOU ARE ONE, AND YOU CAN ANSWER. JOE COUNCILWOMAN BANKS DID RESPOND TO THE NOTES THAT ATTORNEY MONTAG GAVE. OKAY, GOOD. AND THERE SHOULD BE EMAILS TO THAT EFFECT. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR ONE OR BOTH OF Y'ALL. THE, THE FACILITY IN ITS CURRENT STATE, IS IT, UH, OPERABLE OR IS IT, UH, CONDEMNABLE, IS IT, UH, SAFE TO OPERATE IN CURRENTLY? UM, THE BUILDING HAS CHALLENGES. UH, YOU DO HAVE AREAS YOU CAN'T OPERATE IN. UH, YOU KNOW, IT DOES NEED A NEW ROOF. UM, BUT IT IS STILL SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. BUT I, I CAN'T SAY THAT IT NEEDS TO BE CONDEMNED. YOU, IT NEEDS SOMETHING TO GO IN AND ACTUALLY FROM PERMIT TO SAY THAT. BUT, UM, FROM WHAT I CAN SEE, YOU DO HAVE SPACES AS USED. GOTCHA. SO, SO I WANTED TO ASK THAT QUESTION. YOU AGREE? YES. ALRIGHT. I WANTED TO ASK THAT QUESTION BECAUSE I KNOW THEY HAVE A, UH, A MODEL AND A GOAL FAR AS THE RENOVATIONS THEY WANT, UH, HAVE DONE AND A TIMELINE AND ALL THAT STUFF. AND, UH, A DOLLAR AMOUNT ASSOCIATED WITH GETTING THAT DONE. BUT I WANTED TO ALSO MAKE THE POINT, IT SEEMS AS IF YOU GUYS FEEL LIKE WHETHER THEY REACHED THAT GOAL OR NOT, THE BUILDING IN THIS CURRENT STATE CAN BE USEFUL AND PUT IN USE. IS THAT NOT CORRECT? YES. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. AS THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I, AS COUNCILMAN GODDE SAID, AND I'VE SAID PREVIOUSLY, THIS IS A TOUGH ONE FOR ME AS WELL, AS I'VE STATED TO YOU GUYS, UM, WE HAVE A GENTLEMAN AND A GENTLE LADY AGREEMENT WHERE WE TYPICALLY DEFER TO THE COUNCIL PERSON WHOSE DISTRICT IS IN. UH, MY PERSONAL APPROACH TO, UM, BLIGHTED PROPERTIES IN DISTRICT SIX IS TO WORK WITH THE CURRENT PROPERTY OWNER TO PUT THE PROPERTY BACK INTO COMMERCE. IF THEY DON'T WANNA DO IT, PARTNER THAT PROPERTY OWNER WITH SOMEBODY WHO'S INTERESTED IN DOING IT. UM, WE HAVE A MORE THAN WILLING, INTERESTED PARTY HERE TO WORK ON THIS PROPERTY AND PUTTING IT BACK INTO COMMERCE. UM, I CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE, AS I'VE TOLD MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE SUPPORT THIS, THIS ENDEAVOR AND, AND WHAT SHE'S DOING. UM, I ASKED YOU GUYS AND HER TO GET THIS THING WORKED OUT. I KNOW SHE HAVE A DIFFERENT VISION, UH, OF WHAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UH, HAPPEN. AGAIN, I WISH WE WASN'T HERE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION DOWN HERE. AGAIN, I, I WISH IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IN SKYVILLE AND WE COULD HAVE RESOLVED THIS ISSUE. UM, I ALSO THINK, AS I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE, THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A SCHOLAR ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ISSUE OR THIS IS NOT A COUNCILWOMAN BANKS ISSUE. WE HAVE MANY PROPERTIES, UH, VERY SIMILAR TO THIS, THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO ORGANIZATIONS WITH NO STRUCTURE, NO TIMELINE, NO PLAN. SO CITY PARISH, WE HAVE TO TAKE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THAT AS WELL. IT'S JUST NOT THE INDIVIDUAL OR THE GROUP WHO'S RECEIVED THIS, UH, THIS PROPERTY, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, TO THE STAFF THAT I LIKE TO SEE SOME SORT OF BEST PRACTICE PUT IN PLACE. SOME SORT OF AGREEMENT WITH ALL THESE BENCHMARK TIMELINES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE IN PLACE. SO IT'S NOT SO BROAD. UH, WHEN COUNCILMAN HURST ASKED ABOUT SOME OF THE LANGUAGE IN THE AGREEMENT IS VERY BROAD TO ME. UH, THERE ARE NO REAL BENCHMARKS AND TIMELINES. IT'S VERY OPEN-ENDED. AND I THINK WE NEED TO GO AWAY FROM THAT SO WE DON'T END UP HERE AGAIN WITH A CONFLICT WITH AN ORGANIZATION AND A COUNCIL PERSON HAVING DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS ON WHAT THE DELIVERABLES ARE. AND AGAIN, I DON'T THINK THAT'S JUST ON THE INDIVIDUAL WHO RECEIVES THE PROPERTY. WE ENTERED INTO AGREEMENT AND GAVE THEM OPERATING RIGHTS TO THE PROPERTY. COUNCILMAN SHOULD STOP. PLEASE, PLEASE, THANK YOU. WE, IN MY OPINION, HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF ESTABLISHING WHAT THOSE EXPECTATIONS ARE, MAKE SURE THEY'RE REALISTIC, AND MAKE SURE THAT THE RECEIVING PARTY CAN AGREE TO THOSE EXPECTATIONS. SO CITY PARISH, IN MY MIND, HAS TO TAKE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY ON THIS THING. UM, AND I'LL BE VOTING IN SUPPORT OF THE ASSOCIATION. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. THANK, THANK YOU. UM, SO I, I WORKED IN SCHOOLS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND, AND ONE OF MY MAIN DUTIES WORKING IN SCHOOLS WAS I DID THE FUND DEVELOPMENT, UM, FOR, FOR THE SCHOOLS I WORKED FOR. AND I ALSO SERVED ON THE BATON ROUGE HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION, UM, BOARD FOR SIX, FOR SIX YEARS. [02:45:01] AND SO, UM, IT'S BEEN HARD FOR ME TO WATCH ALL THIS. 'CAUSE I REALLY JUST WANNA, UM, APPROACH IT LIKE A, A FUNDRAISING CONSULTANT BECAUSE IT, THERE'S SO MANY, THERE'S SO MANY FUNDRAISING, UM, ISSUES HERE THAT, THAT I KNOW NEED TO BE WORKED THROUGH. UM, A COUPLE QUESTIONS AND WHOEVER IS BEST TO ANSWER THESE, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME, WHOEVER HAS THIS INFORMATION. UM, I SEE THAT Y'ALL HAVE, Y'ALL HAVE MEMBERSHIP, LIKE MEMBERSHIP FEES. SO HOW MANY CURRENT MEMBERS, UM, ARE, ARE, ARE PAYING THEIR DUES ANNUALLY RIGHT NOW? UM, IT CAN BE ON AVERAGE. ON AVERAGE. AND THEN WHAT IS, WHAT IS OUR TOTAL REVENUE PER YEAR FOR THE, FOR THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION? SO WE HAVE 195 CURRENT PAYING MEMBERS, UM, AND TOTAL REVENUE. UM, MR. MELVIN, UH, OUR, UH, ACCOUNTANT WOULD PROBABLY BE ABLE TO BETTER ANSWER THAT, BUT, UM, I DON'T, IT CAN BE A SPITBALL. IT'S OKAY. JUST LIKE A GENERAL, LIKE I'VE, UM, LET'S SEE WHAT THE, WHAT ARE THE DUES? I'VE GOT IT RIGHT HERE. AND I DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOU ANYTHING THAT'S INACCURATE. EVEN A BALLPARK. I'M SORRY. OKAY. THAT'S OKAY. I MEAN, 195 MEMBERS AND DUES ARE $50. RIGHT. SO, SO THAT, THAT ALLOWS US, SO THAT'S, THAT, IS THAT, IS THAT YOUR ONLY SOURCE OF FUNDING RIGHT NOW? UH, NO MA'AM. UH, WE HAVE, UM, UH, FUNDRAISER, UM, I'M SORRY. WE HAVE A EVENTS THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR, HALL OF FAME AS WELL AS THE CHRISTMAS PARTY. AWESOME. UH, WE DO FUNDRAISERS, UM, AS WELL ON THE SIDE. UM, AND AS WELL AS, UM, SELL T-SHIRTS, UM, MERCHANDISE. UM, SURE, OKAY. SO WE JUST HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS OF DIFFERENT FUNDRAISERS. YES, MA'AM. SO THAT THE MEMBERSHIP FEES MAY BE BRINGING ABOUT 10,000. AND THEN FUNDRAISERS, I, I DON'T, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I, UM, ANOTHER, I DON'T KNOW HOW BIG THE HALL OF FAME DINNER IS AND YOU COULD DO, YOU KNOW, 5, 6, 7 OFF THAT. YES. YEAR 10, MAYBE ANOTHER 10 OR 15. YES MA'AM. SO MAYBE, MAYBE 20 TO 25 A YEAR. ROUGH, ROUGHLY. I DON'T WANNA COMMIT TO ANYTHING, BUT ROUGHLY. OKAY. ALRIGHT. UM, AND, AND WHAT, DO Y'ALL HAVE A DATABASE OF ALL THE ALUMNI WHO GRADUATED? OR IS SOMEONE MAINTAINING OR BUILDING A DATABASE OF THE, OF THE ALUMNI? NOT MEMBERS, BUT JUST POTENTIAL MEMBERS? YEAH, SO BETWEEN US, UH, WE DO TRY TO REACH OUT TO THE HIGH SCHOOLERS THAT WHO JUST, UH, RECENTLY GRADUATE AS WELL AS BACKDATE. UM, JUST ALUMNI. A LOT OF THIS, THERE'S NO CENTRAL, UM, LOCATION. BUT, UH, WE DO HAVE A DATABASE BUILT WITHIN THE ALUMNI OF THE PEOPLE WE REACH OUT TO WHO MIGHT NOT BE MEMBERS, BUT WE KNOW OF BEING ALUMNI. DO YOU KNOW WHAT, DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR POPULATION IN THAT DATABASE IS? WHEW. UM, OVER IT IS, IT'S, IT'S A LOT. I CAN'T GIVE YOU THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT, UM, IT'S THOUSAND. HOW MANY IT GO GOES BACK TO 1956 AS FAR AS THE, THE GRADUATION DATES AS FAR BACK WE GOT. AND Y'ALL, DO Y'ALL HAVE A, DO, ARE Y'ALL PAYING A STAFF MEMBER TO MANAGE THAT DATABASE? NO, MA'AM. WE ARE, WE'RE ALL, UH, IT'S ALL VOLUNTEERS, ALL VOLUNTEER WORK. AND I LOOK, I'M JUST TRYING TO DO SOME CALCULATIONS ON WHAT YES, MA'AM, WHAT'S POSSIBLE TO RAISE. SO YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE NOT NECESSARILY, I'M NOT SURE THAT YOU KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THAT DATABASE, IN THAT UNIVERSE ARE CURRENT ADDRESSES, PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE CURRENT EMAILS ON OR, OR CURRENT RELATIONSHIPS WITH. SO, YEAH. YES MA'AM. OKAY. SO, SO THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF UNKNOWN, BUT THERE IS, UM, ALRIGHT. SO MS, I SAW MS. DANIELS. Y'ALL HAVE HIRED MS. DANIELS? YES, MA'AM. AND IS THAT A RECENT HIRE? DID Y'ALL JUST RECENTLY HIRE HER TO COME IN? UM, SO THIS WAS DONE PREVIOUSLY. UH, TALKS MAY HAVE STARTED IN MARCH OR APRIL. OKAY. UM, AND THEN WE STARTED IN MAY. OKAY. AND, UM, MS. DANIELS, ARE YOU STILL HERE? DO, DO YOU DO FUNDRAISING CONSULTING? I, I LOOKED, I LOOKED, I I TRIED TO GLEAN AS MUCH INFORMATION AS I COULD ABOUT YOU OFF THE, THE WEB. UM, AND I DO SEE LIKE, STRATEGIC PLANNING AND I DO SEE, YOU KNOW, I THINK, I MEAN THIS IS THE BEGINNINGS OF A, A, A FUNDRAISING PLAN HERE. WELL, YEAH. SO IN THE, IN THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS, WE DID TALK THROUGH POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING IN DIVERSE STREAMS OF REVENUE. UM, SO WE DID TALK THROUGH OPPORTUNITIES THAT CURRENTLY EXIST IN THE ORGANIZATION AND THEN EXPLORING OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, BRINGING IN LARGER GRANTS THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY BE ABOUT $500,000 IN ONE GRANT OPPORTUNITY. UM, SO IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN, WE DID LAY OUT ALL OF THE POTENTIAL, UM, FUNDING THAT COULD BE AVAILABLE TO THE ORGANIZATION. AND, UM, BUT YOU HAVEN'T DONE ANY, ANY KIND OF FEASIBILITY STUDY? YOU HAVEN'T, YOU HAVEN'T TALKED WITH POTENTIAL DONORS YET? WELL, SO THE CHALLENGE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS, THIS ISSUE CAME UP AND IT ACTUALLY, UM, DEFERRED A LOT OF THE WORK THAT WE WERE PLANNING TO DO. SO WE KIND OF HAD TO PIVOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN. COUNCILWOMAN, YOU WANT EXTRA TIME? I DO. SO THERE'S, YOU DON'T HAVE A FUNDRAISING CHART YET? YOU DON'T, YOU HAVEN'T DONE A FUNDRAISING PYRAMID? WELL, I HAVEN'T DONE A FUND, SO I'M NOT TRADITIONALLY A FUNDRAISER. I LEAN MORE TOWARDS STRATEGY AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. OKAY. SO, YES. OKAY. AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I THOUGHT FROM LOOKING FOR STUFF ONLINE. MM-HMM. . OKAY. SO THEN THERE WOULD BE NEED TO BE AN ADDITIONAL [02:50:01] FUNDRAISING CONSULTANT THAT WOULD BE HIRED AND BROUGHT IN. AND SO IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN, THERE'S ACTUALLY A PLAN TO BRING IN A DEVELOPMENT PERSON TO SUPPORT, UH, BRINGING IN ADDITIONAL FUNDS. OKAY. SO LIKE, UM, ON A CONTRACT BASIS OR ON A, LIKE AN EMPLOYEE EMAIL? UM, IT WOULD BE CONTRACT, WOULDN'T IT? CONTRACT DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR? UH, YES. YOU DO A CONTRACT. OKAY. AND THEN, UM, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. UM, AND THEN WHAT, UM, THIS IS GONNA SEEM LIKE A DUMB QUESTION. MM-HMM. . BUT THIS TO ME IS THE MOST CRITICAL QUESTION WHENEVER YOU'RE DEALING WITH A NONPROFIT, WHAT IS THE MISSION STATEMENT OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF, I COULD GET YOU THE EXACT ONE. I WAS LOOKING FOR IT ON THE WEB. IT'S PROBABLY ME. I JUST COULDN'T SPOT IT. SO I, I WILL JUST TELL YOU MY CONCERNS. HAVING DONE FUNDRAISING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS IS THIS, IS, THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY. YES. UM, AND I, AND, AND, UH, CONTRARY TO, TO WHAT MY COLLEAGUE MR. HURST HAS SAID, I, I, I HAVE, YOU KNOW, UM, STRUGGLED THROUGH THESE, THESE FUNDRAISER FUNDRAISERS BEFORE. AND, AND I HAVE NEVER FOUND IT EASY TO, TO COME UP WITH A MILLION DOLLARS IN JUST A COUPLE WEEKS THAT IT, OR EVEN $500,000, THESE, THIS IS YEARS AND YEARS OF, OF, OF WORK. CORRECT. THAT I'VE, I'VE DONE AND, AND SOMETIMES HAD A, HAD A GOAL OF, YOU KNOW, 1.2, 1.3, RIGHT. AND CAME IN AT, YOU KNOW, 400,000, YOU KNOW, AFTER A COUPLE YEARS OF REALLY HARD WORK. RIGHT. SO, TO, TO SPEAK TO THAT, UH, OUR BIGGEST MENTION RIGHT NOW WOULD BE GETTING, UH, WILL BE RAISING THAT, UH, GETTING OUR BUILDING UP TO CODE. SO, UM, I THINK WE ARE PROBABLY CLOSE TO MAYBE 20 OR 30,000. SO WE SEE THAT AS SOMETHING FEASIBLE. I THINK IT'S MORE, IT GIVES MORE INCENTIVE TO, UH, THOSE AROUND US TO GET TO A LEVEL LIKE THAT, TO GET TO A GOAL LIKE THAT. UM, 700 AND, UH, JUST WHATEVER WE PLAN TO RAISE, UH, EVEN GETTING TO THAT NUMBER, UH, YES, IT MAY BE CONSIDERED HARD IN SOME INSTANCES, BUT LIKE SOMEONE SPOKE OF EARLIER, IF THIS WAS BIG BUDDY, IF THIS WAS ANY OF THESE OTHER THINGS, IT'LL BE ALMOST INSTANT. SO, UH, LET ME ASK YOU, DID YOU FIND THAT MISSION STATEMENT? YOU YES, MA'AM. I'M SO SORRY. I'M NOT, I'M PROMISE YOU I'M NOT TRYING TO NO, NO, NO. UM, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE A PAIN AT ALL. SO THE MISSION STATEMENT FOR THE SHACK FOR THE ORGANIZATION? FOR THE ORGANIZATION, I'M SORRY. APOLOGIZE. THE ORGANIZATION, UM, OKAY. IT WAS IN SECTION ONE. I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T SEE IT. UM, BUT OF COURSE I'VE BEEN TRYING TO READ THROUGH THIS. OH. UM, SCOVILLE IS A NONPROFIT CORPORATION ORGANIZED AND EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF STATE LOUISIANA DURING BUSINESS IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, WITH A STATED MISSION TO PROVIDE NEEDED SERVICES, ASSISTANCE, SKILLS, AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS OF THE SCOTLANDVILLE COMMUNITY WITH STATED OBJECTIVES AS FOLLOWS, STRENGTHENING THE TIES AND CONTEXT BETWEEN HIGH SCHOOL AND ALUMNI, PROMOTE A SPIRIT OF ALUMNI UNITY AND COMRADERY THROUGH COMMUNICATION REUNIONS AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS, ACTIVELY SUPPORT STUDENT ACTIVITIES TO SUPPLEMENT AND DI DIVERSIFY THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE AVAILABLE TO THE HIGH SCHOOL AND OTHER PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IN SUPPLEMENTING FUNDING FOR ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC PROGRAMS. AND PROMOTE THE IDENTITY AND RECOGNITION OF HIGH SCHOOL BOTH IN THE CITY AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE, PROMOTE GENERAL FELLOWSHIP AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WITHIN THE GREATER SCOTLANDVILLE COMM, UH, COMMUNITY. OKAY. THANK, THANK YOU. NO FOR THAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND, AND SO I'M GONNA ACT AS A FUNDRAISING CONSULTANT FOR, FOR JUST A MINUTE, MA'AM. AND DO JUST APPRECIATE IT. DO NOT TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY AT ALL. YES, MA'AM. DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BUILDING TO DO THOSE THINGS? AND I'LL, LEMME TELL YOU WHY I'M SAYING THIS BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, I WAS ON THE BATON ROUGE HIGH FOUNDATION BOARD FOR SIX YEARS. THE, THE HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI FUNDRAISING IS REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HARD. RIGHT. AND, UM, AND, AND WE HAD AN OFFICE AT THE SCHOOL AND WE REALLY, I MEAN, WE RAISED MONEY, RIGHT? AND WE WERE, WE WERE ABLE TO PAY FOR KIDS TO TAKE AP TESTS. WE WERE ABLE TO PAY FOR, UM, PLANE TICKETS FOR KIDS TO, TO GO TO CONFERENCES. RIGHT. WE, WE, EVERY PENNY WE RAISED, WE, WE PUT DIRECTLY INTO KIDS. AND I'M JUST, I JUST DON'T WANT THIS. I UNDERSTAND THE DREAM OF THIS BUILDING AND I UNDERSTAND THE HEART AND SOUL OF, OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE. YES, MA'AM. I MEAN, IT TOUCHES ME. IT'S, IT'S THE WORLD I'VE LIVED IN. YES, MA'AM. UM, I JUST DON'T WANT A BUILDING AND THIS TO TAKE, TO TAKE Y'ALL OFF MISSION. GOTCHA. AND SO I'M JUST MAKING THAT STATEMENT AND THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. NO PROBLEM. CAN I USE THE LAST 10 SECONDS? UH, SO I THINK THOSE THINGS CAN WORK IN TANDEM. UM, EVEN AS SOON AS THIS SATURDAY, WE DO HAVE AN OUTREACH. SO THOSE THINGS WITH THE KIDS, THOSE THINGS DOESN'T STOP WITH THE BUILDING. ALTHOUGH, UM, I UNDERSTAND YOU SAID, AND I DON'T MEAN THIS ANYWAY, I UNDERSTAND YOU SAID THAT WITH, UH, BAT HIGH FOUNDATION, AND THAT MIGHT'VE BEEN A STRUGGLE FOR Y'ALL, BUT OH, IF WE BELIEVE WE COULDN'T DO IT, OR IF WE, WE GAVE, HAD THE MINDSET OF, OH, THERE'S THIS BIG OLD THING AND [02:55:01] WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IT. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO OR SEE OURSELVES TO DO. SO GROWING UP, UP IN BATON ROUGE, GOING TO SCOTLANDVILLE, GRADUATING FROM SOUTHERN, A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY WHAT WE CAN'T DO OR WHAT'S HARD TO DO, AND WE STILL FIND A WAY TO OVERCOME IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN CAN ADDRESS IT. WITHIN THAT DATABASE THAT YOU HAVE OF ALL OF YOUR GRADUATES, DO YOU HAVE SOME RESOURCES YOU CAN TAP IN FROM THESE GRADUATES, ELECTRICIANS, PAINTERS, UM, SHEET ROCKERS OR WHATEVER? YES, MA'AM. YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE SKILLS YES, MA'AM. THAT YOU WOULD NEED TO HELP YOU TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS BUILDING JUST BY YES, MA'AM. SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING MONETARILY. YES, MA'AM. CAN WE TALK ABOUT SOME VOLUNTEER LABOR? YES, MA'AM. SO, UH, TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THAT, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES. UM, A LOT OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE UP UNTIL THIS POINT HAS BEEN THE, THROUGH THE EITHER DONATION OF MATERIALS OR THE DONATION OF LABOR, UH, EVEN CURRENTLY, UM, OUR FLOORS THAT, UH, WE HAVE PUT IN, THEY WERE ALL DONATED, UH, BY SOMEONE AND THEN WE ALL GOT ALL THE LABOR AS WELL. SO THERE HAS BEEN CALL TO ACTIONS. UH, WE ARE, UH, INCREASINGLY GETTING CALLED TO ACTIONS, UM, TO REMAIN IN, UH, CODE AND TO REMAIN WITH REGULATION. WE DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FINDING PEOPLE WHO ARE LICENSED, UM, INSURED, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF. SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE CALL TO ACTION HAS BEEN THERE. WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF, MAJORITY OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO HAS BEEN EITHER FROM DONATION OR FROM FREE LABOR OR, UH, WITH MAYBE US PURCHASING THE MATERIALS AND GETTING THE REST DONE. SO WE ARE PRETTY MUCH STRICTLY RUNNING OFF OF, UM, OUR OWN NETWORK, UH, AS OF NOW TILL WE ARE ABLE TO PAY THESE LARGER, UH, ENTITIES. FOR SURE. YES MA'AM. COUNCILOR MCC COLEMAN COME BACK. YES, MA'AM. I WANT TO SAY TO YOU, YOUNG MAN, THAT IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU STAND FIRM AND WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN. YES MA'AM. IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU IN THE MIDST OF THE NOT SO YOUNG. AND THAT'S THE EPITOME OF WHAT WE OUGHT TO SEE, THE YOUNG AND THE NOT SO YOUNG. AND KNOW THAT THAT WAS A PROFOUND STATEMENT THAT YOU MADE, THAT LAST STATEMENT THAT YOU MADE. AND YOU'RE TO BE COMMENDED FOR THAT. THANK YOU. AND I WANT TO SAY TO YOU THAT THIS COUNCIL UP HERE, THE BADGERING THAT YOU ALL HAVE RECEIVED TONIGHT HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT WALKED TO THAT PODIUM. SO I WANT TO SAY TO YOU, DO NOT, DO NOT GIVE UP AND DO NOT BE MOVED BY SOME OF THE STUFF, BUT YOU YEAH. IF YOU HAVE THE VISION AND THE DETERMINATION FOR ALL OF YOU ALL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT WHICH YOU BELIEVE IN. AND THEN WHEN I SIT HERE AND THINK ABOUT SCOTLANDVILLE THAT AREA, AND I WORKED AT SCOTLANDVILLE HIGH, AND I KNOW THAT THAT WAS THE PRINCIPLE OF SCOTLANDVILLE HYDE. SO I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT JUST, UH, A FLY BY NIGHT OR EMOTIONAL, WHATEVER, BUT I KNOW THAT AT ONE TIME WHEN EVERYTHING SCOTLANDVILLE HAD OR NEEDED, I SHOULD SAY IT WAS THERE. YEAH. THE GROCERY STORE, THE EVERYTHING, IT WAS SELF-SUFFICIENT. YES, MA'AM. AND I KNOW THAT. SO I SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY AND YES. MM-HMM. , YOU KNOW, ELEVATION OF SOME RECOGNITION OF SOME THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE. YES MA'AM. AT THIS POINT. YES. AND IF WE DON'T LEARN, THEN WE JUST MAY AS WELL NOT BE EVEN IN EXISTENCE. AND SO I KNOW THAT ALL OF US HERE TONIGHT AND ESPECIALLY THE ALUMNI, HAVE GLEANED SOME INFORMATION THAT CAN BE USED. YES, MA'AM. TO GROW AND GO. YES, MA'AM. THE SAME THING WITH THE COUNCIL HERE WITH ME, I SHALL SAY. AND SO I SAY TO YOU AND THE REST, TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD IN WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN ORDER TO DO SOMETHING WITH A BLIGHTED BUILDING IN ORDER TO DO SOMETHING IN THE MIDST OF US TALKING [03:00:01] ABOUT BLIGHT AND EVERY LAST ONE OF OUR DISTRICTS. BUT YOU ARE TO BE COMMENDED AND DO NOT GIVE UP. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT. GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN BANKS, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON. WE HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DELETE BY COUNCILMAN HURST, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JR. WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION FIRST. DO WE HAVE ANY OPPOSITION TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION? WE HAVE OPPOSITION. WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON MACHINES. WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE. MOTION TO DELETE FIRST. HANG ON QUESTION. IF THE DELETION PASSES, WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS OF IT COMING BACK? MS. BIGS CAN PUT IT BACK ON THE AGENDA. AT WHAT POINT? ANYTIME CAN IT BE AS FAR AS WHEN IT COMES BACK ON THE AGENDA? CAN IT BE MODIFIED OR ADDED TO? YES. I MEAN, IT COULD BE. IT COULD BE CHANGED. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE SUBSTITUTE. MOTION TO DELETE. MOTION FAILS. MACHINES ARE NOW GONNA BE OPEN ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION TO APPROVE. MACHINES ARE OPEN. YES. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, JESUS. THANK YOU LORD. THANK YOU, JESUS. ALL RIGHT, [93. 24-00800 ] MOVING ON. ITEM NUMBER 93. THANK YOU, JESUS, THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL SITTING AS THE BOARD OF REVIEW ON PARISH ASSESSMENTS BY THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATIVE TREASURER. THERE HAVE BEEN NO APPEALS RECEIVED. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. WE HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION TO DECLARE THE HEARING HELD. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM C. GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO DECLARE HEARING HELD MOTION BY CHAIR SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 94, [94. 24-01143 ] AMENDING THE ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET SO AS TO REALLOCATE 345,000 IN PROCEEDS FROM THE LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT. FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH BLIGHT ELIMINATION EXPENSE CATEGORY TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE STORMWATER CATEGORY FOR STORMWATER, CAVE IN POINT, REPAIRS. AND COUNCIL DISTRICT EIGHT BY MAYOR, PRESIDENT, ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? THANK YOU, LORD GOD. SEE NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL. THANK YOU. MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA. ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU FATHER. MOTION CARRIES. [96. 24-01120] ITEM 96 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT A GRANT AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $35,758 TO ENHANCE COLLABORATIVE PLANNING FOR MASS DISPENSING RESPONSE AND COORDINATION WITH THE STATE OF LOUISIANA'S OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH, BUREAU OF COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS FOR STRATEGIC NATIONAL STOCKPILE CITY'S READINESS INITIATIVE BY HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? I DID. I'M GONNA GO BACK TO NINE FIVE. SEEING NONE. GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GODDE. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES. APOLOGIZE. BACK [95. 24-01089 ] TO NINE FIVE AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT A GRANT AWARD FROM LOUISIANA HIGHWAY SAFETY COMMISSION IN THE AMOUNT OF $897,448 AND 50 CENTS. THE GRANT PROGRAM ALLOWS BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN OVERTIME ENFORCEMENT OF SPEEDING. DWI SEAT BELT, DISTRACTED DRIVING AND UNDERAGE DRINKING BY POLICE CHIEF. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEE NONE. GO TO COUNSEL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM [97. 24-01126] 97 AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED ANGELA MCGEE VERSUS RICHARD COLLINS AT ALL IN THE AMOUNT OF 12,500 PLUS COURT COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $164 50 CENTS FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT, $12,664 [03:05:01] AND 50 CENTS BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEE NONE. GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON? SECOND BY THE CHAIR. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES. YES, MA'AM. AND, AND I GUESS WITH SO MUCH MOVEMENT AND WHATEVER, I'D LIKE TO GO BACK TO THAT ISSUE. THE NUMBER 70. WHAT THAT WAS THAT WE JUST, THE NUMBER 92. THE MOTION? YES. TO RECONSIDER. AND ON 92 AND MY VOTE, I BELIEVE, AND I MAY HAVE ERRED, BUT MY VOTE WAS TO ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE WITH WHAT THEY WERE DOING. AND SO I GUESS MAYBE THE WAY IT WAS WORDED, I MISSED IT, BUT I HAVE TO BE ON RECORD FOR STANDING FOR WHAT? WHAT I YEAH. WHAT MY INTENT, WHAT MY BOAT, WHAT MY EVERYTHING IS THE MOTION TO APPROVE WA THERE WERE THE YE'S. WERE ADAMS ASO BANKS. HUDSON MO KNOLL ROCKA COLEMAN VOTED NO, DID NOT VOTE. DEANNE DUNN JR. GOEY AND HURST. SO YOU DID VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATES. OKAY. THANK YOU. IT IT DID, IT PASSED ANYWAY, THOUGH THE, THE MOTION TO APPROVE PASSED WAS SEVEN VOTES. YOURS WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE. ALRIGHT, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE. OKAY. ITEM [98. 24-01127] 98, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED MAKEISHA VEAL VERSUS DANIEL NAAN. ETAL IN THE AMOUNT OF 45,000 PLUS COURT COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $305 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $45,305 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEE, I'M GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCK? A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUN, JR. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. [99. 24-01128 ] ITEM 99 AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT IN THE MATTER ENTITLED LAINA SEALS VERSUS JASON LEE AND CITY OF BATON ROUGE IN THE AMOUNT OF 57,500 PLUS COURT COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $290 AND 50 CENTS FOR TOTAL AMOUNT OF $57,790 AND 50 CENTS BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE. GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN. AND THE OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES ITEM [100. 24-01148] A HUNDRED, RESCINDING AND DIRECTING THE CLERK OF COURT TO CANCEL THE NOTICE TO ATTEND. RECORDED ON AUGUST 22ND, 2023. AND THE DECISION AND ORDER RECORDED ON NOVEMBER 13TH, 2023 IN THE MATTER, CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSE NADIA LES MENDEZ, 31 55 CHARLOTTE DRIVE. REASON FOR RESCISSION THE PROPERTY IS BEING SOLD AND RENOVATED BY COUNCILMAN DUN, JR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEE NOW WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUN JR. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. [101. 24-01149] ITEM 1 0 1, AMENDING TITLE NINE, CHAPTER ONE, PART SIX, CARNIVAL STREET FAIRS, CIRCUSES, ET CETERA. SO AS TO ADD AN EXEMPTION UNDER SECTION 9 1 17 WAIVING THE SURETY BOND REQUIREMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 9 1 16 FOR ANY AMUSEMENT ENTERPRISE OR FUNCTION, WHICH IS TO BE HELD AT THE BRECK FACILITY AND KNOWN HIS AIRLINE HIGHWAY PARK BY COUNCILMAN DWIGHT HUDSON. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. COUNTY MAY. UM, FIRST I'D LIKE TO MAKE A REQUEST THAT THE COUNCIL READ INTO THE MEETINGS, ANY COMMENTS THAT ARE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY. SO MY QUESTION IS, DID EVERYONE READ THE ELECTRONICALLY SUBMITTED COMMENT ON THIS ITEM IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM? MS. ADAMS? ANYONE READ IT? MS. MAY THIS IS YOUR TIME. OKAY. WE'RE NOT GONNA CONVERSE. SO I KNOW SOMEONE WHO SUBMITTED AN ITEM. I HAPPEN TO AGREE WITH IT, SO I'M GONNA READ IT. OKAY. AND IN OPPOSITION, THE WORDING, ANY COMPANY ASSOCIATION OR ENTITY MAKING AN APPLICATION FOR A LICENSE OR PER PERMIT UNDER THIS PARK FOR ANY AMUSEMENT ENTERPRISE OR FUNCTION, WHICH IS TO BE HELD AT THE BRECK FACILITY KNOWN AS AIRLINE HIGHWAY PARK, IS EXEMPT FROM PROVISIONS OF SECTION 9 1 1 6 REQUIRING A CASH OR SURETY BOND IN ANY AMOUNT. [03:10:01] THIS WORDING IS TOO BROAD WITHOUT KNOWING THE, AN, THE ACTUAL FINANCIALS, ET CETERA, OR STATUS OF ANY COMP, UH, COMPANY ASSOCIATION OR ENTITY TO WHICH THIS TITLE IX LICENSING, WHICH I THINK IS PART OF THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT. SO I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU CAN MAKE AMENDMENTS LIKE THIS TO THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT WITHOUT IT GOING TO THE VOTE OF THE PEOPLE LIKE YOU HAVE BUNDLED 12 THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN INTO ONE, YES OR NO VOTE FOR THE CHANGE TO THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS VERY DISRESPECTFUL TO THE CITIZENS THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO VOTE ON EACH ITEM INDIVIDUALLY. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF Y'ALL ARE GONNA MAKE CHANGES AS AGENDA ITEMS, THEN EACH ONE OF THE CHANGES TO THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE AN AGENDA ITEM THAT THE CITIZENS, THE TAXPAYERS, YOUR CONSTITUENTS NEED TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, SIR. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CLIFF BARTON. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER BATON ROUGE STATE FAIR. AND I'M HERE ASKING YOU TO PLEASE APPROVE THIS CHANGE. OUR FAIR BEGAN 60, UH, YEARS AGO, 58 YEARS. THIS IS OUR 58TH EVENT. OUR 60TH YEAR. WE STARTED AS A PROJECT OF THE BATON ROUGE JCS. AND AT THAT TIME WE WERE AN ALL VOLUNTEER PROJECT AND WE STILL ARE. WE HAVE NO PAID EMPLOYEES. I DON'T GET PAID, NONE OF MY STAFF GET PAID. THE PEOPLE WHO PUT THIS PROJECT ON AND OPERATE IT DON'T GET PAID. WE TOOK THE PROJECT OVER FROM THE JCS IN 1985 WHEN THEY DECIDED TO GET OUT OF THE FAIR BUSINESS. AND OUR MISSION IS VERY SIMPLE. WE RAISE MONEY AND WE GIVE IT TO OUR FOUNDATION WHO DONATES IT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN THE FORM OF GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND SPONSORSHIPS. AND WE SUPPORT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED WITH CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND QUALITY OF LIFE. SOME OF THE ONES THAT WE SUPPORT, YOU'VE HEARD OF, UH, THE ST. VINCENT DEPAUL BACK TO SCHOOL UNIFORM PROGRAM, FOES OF HONOR. SOME YOU MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH, UH, THE NORTH BATON ROUGE, UH, YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION. AND, UH, WE ALSO, UH, SUPPORT, UH, THE READ FOR REED PROGRAM, A SUMMER READING PROGRAM. IN ORDER FOR US TO MAINTAIN OUR, WHAT WE DO, WE HAVE TO CUT EVERY COST WE CAN. AND THIS, UH, EXTRA FEE IS GONNA RAISE OUR OPERATING COST. THE PERMITS WOULD, UH, GO UP QUITE A BIT AND WE, UH, REALLY THINK THAT BECAUSE WE ARE LOCAL, WE DON'T TRAVEL. WE, WE LIVE HERE, WE THINK THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD BE ALLOWED A LITTLE LEEWAY BECAUSE WE PAY TAXES IN THE, IN THE AREA. AND SO I'M ASKING THAT YOU PLEASE, UH, SUPPORT THIS CHANGE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL, COMMENT AND OPPOSITION TO ITEM 1 0 1. COUNCILMAN HUDSON. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE CONTEXT THEN AND JUST SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE ITEM AND, AND ITS ORIGINATION. SO AS MR. BARTON MENTIONED, THE FAIR HAS BEEN IN OPERATION FOR A NUMBER OF DECADES, UH, AND HAS NEVER IN THE PAST NEVER BEEN ASKED FOR THIS SURETY BOND. UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAME UP AFTER, UH, APPARENTLY ANOTHER TYPE OF CIRCUS OR CARNIVAL, UH, ISSUE CAME UP AND, UH, THIS PROVISION IN THE ORDINANCE WAS FOUND. AND SO THEY'VE STARTED MAKING ALL OF THE, UH, FARES AND, AND THAT SORT OF THING, UM, PROVIDE THE SURETY BOND. THE REASON FOR THE SURETY BOND, UH, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT IF ANY CITY PARISH INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE RIGHT OF WAY IS DAMAGED, THAT IT, THE BOND IS THERE TO PROTECT IN THIS INSTANCE. AND THAT'S WHY WE WORDED IT FOR JUST THIS SITE. UH, WE HAVE NO INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, IN THE RIGHT OF WAY AT THAT SITE. OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, AIRLINE HIGHWAY IS A STATE HIGHWAY. UM, UH, FURTHERMORE THERE'S NO SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE THERE, THERE'S NO, UH, DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE THERE. IT'S ALL OPEN DITCHES. UM, THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THEY WON'T STILL BE REQUIRED TO HAVE SOME SORT OF INSURANCE POLICY. I'M CERTAIN THAT AS A PROVISION OF BREX, UH, AGREEMENT WITH THEM TO OPERATE THERE, THEY WILL, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT. UH, BUT THIS IS JUST SOMETHING [03:15:01] THAT IN THIS INSTANT, BECAUSE OF THE UNIQUE UNIQUENESS OF THE SITE IS NOT NEEDED, UH, AND IS GONNA BE A SIGNIFICANT COST. I THINK, UH, MR. BARTON GAVE ME SOME FIGURES. THE SURETY BOND WAS GONNA COST THEM ABOUT $7,500, SO THAT'S $7,500 THAT, THAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE GOING TO NON-PROFITS OTHERWISE BEING GOING TO, YOU KNOW, HELP OUR COMMUNITY GET THE PROGRAMMING IT NEEDS. UH, INSTEAD WE'RE SENDING IT TO SOME INSURANCE COMPANY OUT STATE PROBABLY. SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THE ITEM, SUPPORT THE STATE FAIR AND SUPPORT THE NONPROFITS THAT THEY SUPPORT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN DUN JR. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU COUNCILMAN HUDSON FOR THAT CLARITY THAT, THAT CLEARED A FEW THINGS UP FOR ME. 'CAUSE AGAIN, I WAS GONNA ASK, NOW I KNOW BRECK IS NOT A DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY. WHY IS THIS COMING BEFORE US? BUT IT'S ABOUT THE CITY PARIS INFRASTRUCTURE. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD OFFER UP, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT FUTURE PLANS ARE, I DON'T KNOW IF BRETT KNOWS WHAT FUTURE PLANS ARE. THE CITY KNOWS WHAT FUTURE PLANS ARE, BUT THERE COULD BE A TIME WHERE THERE IS CITY PARISH INFRASTRUCTURE ON THIS PROPERTY WITH, WITH FUTURE PLANS. UH, MAYBE NOT, BUT IT'S POSSIBLE. UM, SO I WOULD OFFER UP SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT GIVES BRETT THE ABILITY TO MAKE THE AUTONOMY, TO MAKE THE DECISION INSTEAD OF JUST SAYING ALL, UH, BUT GIVE, ADD SOME LANGUAGE THAT GIVE THEM THE, THE AUTONOMY TO MAKE THE DECISION BASED ON INDIVIDUAL APPLICATIONS AND THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE TIME, UM, IS SOMETHING I WILL OFFER UP. AND I WAS GONNA ASK WHY IS AN ASSURITY BOND BEING REQUIRED AND NOT JUST A GENERAL LIABILITY POLICY, BUT, BUT YOU CLEARED THAT UP, BUT JUST WANTED TO GET YOUR, UH, THOUGHT PROCESS ON FLEXIBILITY FOR BREX STAFF TO KIND OF MAKE THE DECISION BASED ON THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT, CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE INSTEAD OF JUST SAYING ALL BECAUSE WE DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHERE THE FUTURE WILL LIE. YEAH. SO IT REALLY WON'T BE A, A LONG TERM ISSUE FOR US, UH, 'CAUSE OF THE CITY OF ST. GEORGE. SO IT, IT REALLY ONLY AFFECTS THIS YEAR IS FAIR. UH, IN THE FUTURE, ST. GEORGE WOULD BE THE ONE MAKING THE, MAKING THAT DECISION, UM, WHETHER THEY, WHETHER OR NOT THEY NEED A SURETY BOND OR, OR WHATEVER IT IS FOR THAT SITE. OKAY. JUST, JUST AS LONG AS Y'ALL DON'T ASK US TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE FOR YOU . NO, SIR. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN BANKS. UH, YES. UM, IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS WE'VE HAD MEETINGS WITH BRECK ON, UM, THEIR, IN WHAT IS IMPROVED THREE YEARS. AND THIS SITE HAS BEEN ONE OF THE, UM, MAIN, UM, INDICATORS OF WHAT THEY PLAN TO DO. CAN YOU ANSWER WHETHER OR NOT YOU'VE SPOKEN WITH THEM AT ALL? BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS ONE OF THE LOCATIONS. IS IS IT JEAN, MR. JEAN CLIFF AND WHAT'S YOUR WIFE'S NAME? VICKY. THAT'S RIGHT. CLIFF AND VICKY . OKAY. . UM, THAT'S MY CLAIM TO FAME. I'M VICKY'S HUSBAND. THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT. SO WHETHER OR NOT, UM, YOU KNOW, AND I, I DEFINITELY SUPPORT THIS, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE ARE, THAT'S WHERE A SAFE HOUSE IS GONNA BE AND A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, DRAINAGE AND INFRASTRUCTURE. SO HOW DOES THAT IMPACT YOU ON FUTURE PLANS? WHAT, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STILL COLLABORATE ON THAT SITE AS UM, STATE FAIRGROUND? WELL, SEVERAL WAYS TO ANSWER THAT. YES, THERE ARE FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES. THE MASTER PLAN THAT HAS BEEN LAID OUT, UM, THE FIRST PART OF IT IS IN THE PARKING AREA, RIGHT. AND NOT IN THE FAIRGROUNDS ITSELF. AND WHILE IT DIRECTLY AFFECTS ME, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANY PLACE TO PARK CARS, UH, IT DOES NOT AFFECT, WE'VE ALREADY ALREADY BEEN DOWN, UP AND DOWN AIRLINE ANYWAY. WELL, THAT'S TRUE, BUT I WANT TO KEEP 'EM ON THIS SIDE OF THE AIRLINE SO THEY DON'T CROSS IT. OKAY. BUT, UM, IT DOES AFFECT US IN THAT WAY AND, BUT INSIDE THE GROUNDS THERE IS NO CHANGE. THEY'RE NOT DOING ANY WORK THERE AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING SCHEDULED FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS. UM, IT'S ALL OUTSIDE OF THE, UH, FAIRGROUNDS PROPERTY. EVEN A SAFE HOUSE. YEAH. THAT'S OUT IN THE RIGHT NEXT TO THE BALL FIELD. OKAY. SO IT IS, UH, AND I, I'M GLAD. SO IT IS A POSSIBILITY THAT EVEN PAST THIS YEAR, YOU ALL WILL CONTINUE TO BE AT THAT SITE. WE PLAN TO BE. YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. THANK THAT'S GOOD NEWS. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN BANKS. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 1 0 2 [102. 24-01169 (Part 1 of 2)] AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND. THERE IS A, THERE IS A REQUEST TO DEFER THIS TO THE OCTOBER 9TH MEETING AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT TO AMEND THAT CERTAIN CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SERVICES WITH BRIAN BLACKWELL, LLP TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF REPRESENTATION TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CASES AND AUTHORIZING A BUDGET TRANSFER FROM COMPROMISE JUDGMENT [03:20:01] ACCOUNT. THE LEGAL SERVICES ACCOUNT IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000 JUST HAD PURPOSE FOR A TOTAL COMPENSATION NOT TO EXCEED A HUNDRED THOUSAND BY PARISH ATTORNEY. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SCENE? NONE. WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL MOTION TO DEFER BY COUNCILMAN DUN, JR. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MOOCH TO THE, TO THE OCTOBER 9TH MEETING. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. [103. 24-01172 (Part 1 of 2)] ITEM 1 0 3, UH, ALSO REQUESTED DEFER TO OCTOBER 9TH AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND THAT CERTAIN CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SERVICES WITH TAYLOR PORTER TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF REPRESENTATION TO INCLUDE, INCLUDE ADDITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CASES AND AUTHORIZING A BUDGET TRANSFER FROM COMPROMISED JUDGMENT ACCOUNT TO THE LEGAL SERVICES ACCOUNT IN THE AMOUNT OF $175,000 PER SET PURPOSE FOR A TOTAL COMPENSATION NOT TO EXCEED $175,000 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MO TO DEFER TO THE OCTOBER 9TH MEETING. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. [105. 24-01150] ITEM 1 0 5, AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT FUNDING FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES SERVICES ADMINISTRATION ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES FOR THE RYAN WHITE HIV AIDS PROGRAM AND THE AMOUNT OF $34,560 BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? OCTOBER. SEE NONE. WE'RE GONNA GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MO. WE HAVE A SECOND. SECOND BY THE CHAIR. MOTION. MOTION CARRIES. Y'ALL WANNA RECONSIDER 1 0 3, ALL 1 0 2 AND 1 0 3. ALL RIGHT. MOTION TO RECONSIDER. [102. 24-01169 (Part 2 of 2)] WE HAVE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCKA, ITEM 1 0 2. ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. ITEM 1 0 2, AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND THAT CERTAIN CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SERVICES WITH BRIAN BLACKWELL, LLP TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF REPRESENTATION TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CASES AND AUTHORIZE A BUDGET TRANSFER FROM COMPROMISE JUDGMENT ACCOUNT TO LEGAL SERVICES ACCOUNT IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000 FOR SAID PURPOSE FOR A TOTAL COMPENSATION NOT TO EXCEED $100,000 PER PARISH ATTORNEY. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? STATE NOW WILL GO TO COUNSEL. DO WE HAVE A SPECIFIC MOTION? NOVEMBER 9TH. FIRST OUR MEETING. IS THAT 13TH? YES, PLEASE. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR. TO DEFER TO THE NOVEMBER 13TH MEETING. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ROKA. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES. [103. 24-01172 (Part 2 of 2)] WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JR. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN ROCKET TO RECONSIDER ITEM 1 0 3. ANY OPPOSITION THEN ON 1 0 3 AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND THAT CERTAIN CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SERVICES WITH TAYLOR PORTER TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF REPRESENTATION TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CASES AND AUTHORIZING A BUDGET TRANSFER FROM COMPROMISE JUDGMENT ACCOUNT TO THE LEGAL SERVICES ACCOUNT IN THE AMOUNT OF $175,000 FOR SAID PURPOSE FOR A TOTAL COMPENSATION NOT TO EXCEED 175,000 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JR. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCKA TO DEFER TO THE NOVEMBER 13TH COUNCIL MEETING. ANY OPPOSITION? COUNCILMAN GODDE? I I'D LIKE US TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THIS ITEM ON ITEM 1 0 3. ITEM 1 0 3. WE NEED TO HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A MOTION FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION BY COUNCILMAN GODDE. WHAT'S THE, THE REASON OR DO I NEED TO READ THE REASON DISCUSS AS ASHLEY WOULD ELOQUENTLY SAY TO DISCUSS THE DETAILS OF I I WON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE DEFERRING SO HARM US BECAUSE EXECUTIVE SESSION. BECAUSE IT WOULD HARM US. COUNCILMAN GO THERE. THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. BECAUSE IT WOULD HARM US. WE NEED JUST LIKE A ONE BULLET POINT ON WHY ARE WE GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSIONS. I CAN SAY IT EVERY TIME. IF , UM, I'M MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION BECAUSE DISCUSSION IN PUBLIC WOULD, UM, UN WOULD COMPROMISE THE CITY'S BARGAINING POSITION. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A SECOND FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MOOCH. ANY OPPOSITION TO EXECUTIVE SESSION? OBJECTION TWO. WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MACHINE IF YOU GO. [03:25:01] WE, UH, IT'S A TWO THIRDS VOTE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE NEED EIGHT VOTES. SO MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON ITEM 1 0 3. IS IT A YES OR A NO? NO. OKAY. MOTION FAILS. OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE SECOND TO DEFER TO NOVEMBER 13TH MEETING. IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? ANYBODY ELSE? MOTION CARRIES DEFERRED TILL NOVEMBER 13TH, [106. 24-01152 ] ADAM 1 0 6 AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT TO APPLY AND ACCEPT FUNDING FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES FOR THE RYAN WHITE HIV AIDS PROGRAM IN AN AMOUNT OF $2.2 MILLION BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEN KNOWN WILL GO TO COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBERS. YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 1 0 6. WE NEED A MOTION CONTINGENT ON, UH, MOTION TO APPROVE CONTINGENT ON APPROVAL OF THE GRANTS AND CONTRACTS REVIEW. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MO. WE HAVE A SECOND. WE HAVE A SECOND. ANYONE? COUNCILMAN ADAMS? ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES ITEM [107. 24-01156] 1 0 7 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO APPLY AND ACCEPT FUNDING FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES OF THE RYAN WHITE HI AIDS PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,834,355 BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR. THIS ALSO REQUIRES AN APPROVAL CONTINGENT ON APPROVAL OF GRANTS AND CONTRACTS. REVIEW COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL, COMMENT AND OPPOSITION TO ITEM 1 0 7. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MOOCH. WE HAVE A SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. [Items 108 - 116] WE'RE GONNA TAKE ITEMS 1 0 8 THROUGH ONE 16 TOGETHER AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND A SUB-RECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH CAPITAL CITY FAMILY HEALTH CLINIC FOR AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF $506,557 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $718,057 AWARDED UNDER THE RYAN WHITE HIV AIDS PROGRAM BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND A SUB-RECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH H HIV AIDS ALLIANCE FOR REGION TWO FOR AN INCREASING IN THE AMOUNT OF $152,832 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $205,828 UNDER THE RYAN WHITE HIV AIDS MINORITY AIDS INITIATIVE PROGRAM BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND THE SUBRECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA FOR AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF $144,928 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $203,508 UNDER THE RYAN WHITE HIV AIDS PROGRAM BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT TO AMEND THE SUBRECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH THE CAPITAL CITY FAMILY CLINIC FOR AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF $77,751 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $109,980, AWARDED UNDER THE RYAN WHITE H HIV AIDS MINORITY AIDS INITIATIVE PROGRAM BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND A SUB-RECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH FAMILY SERVICES OF GREATER BATON ROUGE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF $623,121 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $883,328, AWARDED UNDER THE RYAN WHITE PART A AND MAI PROGRAM BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND THE A SUB-RECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH HIV AIDS ALLIANCE FOR REGION TWO FOR AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF $846,896 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $1,165,987 UNDER THE RYAN WHITE HIV V AIDS PROGRAM BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND A SUBRECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH NO AIDS SLASH TASK FORCE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF $69,118 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $122,004 BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR, AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND A SUBRECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH OUR LADY OF THE LAKE, INC. FOR AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF $321,470 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $463,985 AWARDED UNDER THE RYAN WHITE HIV'S PROGRAM BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR, AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT TO AMEND A SUBRECIPIENT [03:30:01] CONTRACT WITH OUR LADY OF THE LAKE, INC. FOR AN INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF $53,348 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT, $75,409 AWARDED UNDER THE RYAN WHITE MINORITY AIDS INITIATIVE PROGRAM BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. PENNY MAE. UM, ITEMS, I'M SPEAKING IN AN OPPOSITION TO ALL OF THE ITEMS. UM, THE THREE PREVIOUS ITEMS, 1 0 5, 1 0 6, 1 0 7 AMOUNT TO APPROXIMATELY $7 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDING. UH, THE ITEMS EIGHT THROUGH 16, UH, TOTAL, UH, APPROXIMATELY $4 MILLION OUT, UH, FOR TAXPAYER FUNDED CONTRACTS. THE H UH, I'M SO TIRED. HIV EPIDEMIC, IT'S PRETTY MUCH OVER. I DID SOME RESEARCH TO FIND OUT HOW MANY ACTIVE AIDS CASES THERE ARE IN EAST BATON ROUGE. DOES ANYBODY KNOW HOW MANY ACTIVE AIDS HIV CASES WE HAVE THAT WE'RE GETTING READY TO SPEND, UH, $4 MILLION ON? ANYBODY KNOW? IS THERE ANYBODY HERE? WHO KNOWS? IS THERE SOMEBODY WHO COULDN SPEAK TO THAT MS. MAY I? I KNOW YOU'VE, YOU'VE BEEN COMING HERE BECAUSE YOU RUNNING, RUNNING FOR OFFICE. I, I GOT IT, BUT NO, NO, NO. 'CAUSE I WANNA CLARIFY BECAUSE YOU KEEP ASKING. LISTEN, SOMEBODY FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HERE, LISTEN, LISTEN. YOU KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS TO THIS BODY, AND THE PUBLIC MAY LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, GOD, THIS COUNCIL'S RUDE. THEY'RE NOT ANSWERING ANY OF HER QUESTIONS. BUT I WANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING'S FOR. OKAY? THIS IS YOUR TIME DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING TO TALK. THEN WE'LL TAKE IT TO THE COUNCIL. IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO ADDRESS YOUR QUESTION, OKAY, I'LL ASK YOU A QUESTION. I'LL, THEY'RE WELCOME TO DO THAT, BUT I WANT THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT, UNDERSTAND, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT RESPONDING TO YOU FOR THAT REASON. I'M GONNA GIVE YOU EXTRA TIME, OKAY? I WAS WONDERING HOW MANY ACTIVE HIV CASES THERE ARE IN EACH BATON ROUGE TODAY. SO I DID SOME RESEARCH AND WHAT I CAME UP WITH WAS THE LATEST FIGURES WERE FROM 2020. AND AT THAT TIME, WHICH WAS FOUR YEARS AGO, WHEN THERE WAS MORE OF AN EPIDEMIC THAN THERE IS NOW, IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 1800 CASES. SO DO THE MATH. WE'RE GONNA GET 7 MILLION IN FUNDING. I'M ASKING Y'ALL TO OPPOSE THE FOUR MIL MILLION TOTAL OF THESE AGENDA ITEMS AND, UM, YOU KNOW, PUT THAT MONEY INTO MENTAL ILLNESS BECAUSE I RARELY SEE TAXPAYER MONEY COME UP TO GO TOWARDS ADDRESSING THE SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS ISSUES, WHICH ARE FAR GREATER THAN THE HIV AIDS. SO, PLEASE CONSIDER OPPOSE OPPOSING THESE ITEMS AND LETTING THE 7 MILLION IN GRANTS TAKE CARE OF THE LESS THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE THAT THIS IS IMPACTING. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL, COMMENT AND OPPOSITION TO ITEMS 1 0 8 TO ONE 16. GO TO COUNCIL COUNCILMAN DUNN JR. MS. LANDRY, I DON'T KNOW THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH NUMBERS, AND I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO COMMENT, I'M JUST RESPONDING TO YOUR QUESTION. BUT THE, THE NATIONWIDE NUMBERS, UH, IN 2023, THERE WAS AN ESTIMATED 1.3 MILLION DO MILLION PEOPLE AFFECTED WITH AIDS AND HIV WORLDWIDE. THAT'S DOWN 39% FROM 2010. SO, TO YOUR POINT, THERE HAS BEEN A DECLINE IN AFFECTED INDIVIDUALS WITH AIDS AND HIV. BUT WHAT I WOULD IMPRESS UPON YOU AND OTHERS IS THAT IS THE RESULT OF THE WORK THAT MANY OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING, AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO FUND THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING FROM AN EDUCATION STANDPOINT, FROM AN AWARENESS STANDPOINT, FROM A PREVENTION STANDPOINT, THOSE NUMBERS DIDN'T DECLINE BY THEMSELVES. THOSE NUMBERS DECLINED BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING ON THE GROUND TO MAKE SURE THESE NUMBERS ARE NOT INCREASED. SO I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THESE ITEMS. LET ME LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT I'M ABSTAINING FROM NUMBER 1 0 9, BUT THE WORK THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE DOING, CAPITAL CITY, UH, AIDS AND HIV ALLIANCE FOR REGION TWO VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA, UH, US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CITY PARISH, THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING AND THEY ARE DOING ON THE GROUND, IS THE RESULT OF THESE NUMBERS DECREASING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD, AND THESE NUMBERS DECREASING IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MOOCH. 22,497. [03:35:01] 22,497. NOW THAT STATISTICS FROM 23, AGAIN, LIKE MY COLLEAGUE SAID, THESE PROGRAMS ARE IN PLACE NOT ONLY TO PREVENT OUR HIV PATIENTS FROM CONTRACTING FULL BLOWN AIDS, WHICH AT THAT POINT THERE'S NOT A LOT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. SO WE HAVE TO HAVE THESE PROGRAMS IN PLACE ALSO, THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT JUST FOR THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THIS IS FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS. YOU KNOW WHAT I, I'M JUST GONNA SAY IT LIKE THIS. I'M APPALLED THAT YOU WOULD STAND THERE IN FRONT OF THIS COUNCIL AND TALK ABOUT HOW WE DO NOT NEED TO ASSIST THE COMMUNITY OR ASSIST THESE PEOPLE IN TRAINING EDUCATION, AND ALSO PROVIDING MUCH NEEDED DRUGS AND MEDICATIONS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF HIV AND THEN PREVENT THE SPREAD OF HIV BECOMING FULL-BLOWN AIDS. IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE FOUGHT SINCE THE EIGHTIES TO HAVE THE RECOGNITION THAT PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE TO BE ABLE TO COME OUT AND GET THIS. YOU KNOW, WHY, THE BEST I CAN DESCRIBE IT IS, AND WE EVEN LOOK AT THIS IN OUR COMMUNITY, IS YOU ARE A LITTLE BIT RIGHT AT THE POINT THAT HIV ISS KIND OF LIKE HERPES. NOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT, IT'S NOT A DEATH SENTENCE WHEN YOU GET IT. IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT WITH THE RIGHT PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN LIVE A NORMAL HEALTHY LIFE. AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THESE PROGRAMS RIGHT HERE THAT PEOPLE RECOGNIZE ARE NEEDED. AND WE RELY ON THESE SERVICES OF THESE DIFFERENT PEOPLE TO GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY OR HAVE PLACES THAT NOT ONLY I'LL SAY IT LIKE THIS, MY COMMUNITY CAN GO TO AND NOT FEEL ASHAMED OR ANYTHING ELSE. SO IF IT COMES TO EVERY RYAN WHITE HIV, FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, OR WHATEVER TO KEEP THESE NUMBERS DOWN AND KEEP GOING DOWN, I WILL APPROVE EVERY SINGLE BIT OF THOSE DOLLARS. AND YOU CAN SIT THERE AND YOU KNOW WHAT? NEVERMIND, I'M STOPPING, RIGHT? UH, CONSTABLE AKA. SO A VERY SIMPLE, VERY QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH ON THIS SHOWS THAT IN 2022, LOUISIANA RANKED FOURTH IN THE NATION FOR HIV DIAGNOSIS RATES. NEW ORLEANS RANKED 11TH AND THE BATON ROUGE, UM, POPULATION RANKED FIFTH. AS OF MARCH 31ST, 2024, 23,126 PEOPLE WERE LIVING WITH HIV IN LOUISIANA. 10,969 OF THEM HAD EIGHT IN 20 23, 875 PEOPLE WERE NEWLY DIAGNOSED WITH HIV IN LOUISIANA, WITH 25% OF THOSE DIAGNOSES OCCURRING IN THE NEW ORLEANS AND 19% IN THE BATON ROUGE AREA. SINCE 2018, LOUISIANA HAS SEEN AN 11% DECREASE IN NEW HIV CASES. THEN IT GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT THE POPULATIONS THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE FOR, UM, HAVING AIDS OR HIV. WHAT YOU SEE IS, UM, A DECREASE IN, IN THE AIDS AND HIV POPULATION DUE TO TESTING VIRAL SUPPRESSION AND, UM, PRE-EXPOSURE PRESCRIPTIONS. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOR ANYBODY THAT KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT HOW DISEASES SPREAD AND HOW HEALTHCARE IS PROVIDED THROUGH MEDICAID AND MEDICARE, YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THE REASON WHY A LOT OF THESE FEDERAL GRANTS ARE GIVEN ARE TO REDUCE THE COST ON THE BACK END. IT'S LESS EXPENSIVE FOR ME TO GIVE SOMEONE A VIRAL SUPPRESSANT OR TO FIGHT HIV THAN TO PAY FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN HOSPITALIZED FOR FULL-BLOWN EIGHT, AND TAXPAYERS PAY FOR BOTH. SO WE LOOK AT CERTAIN THINGS AND WE SEE THE BEGINNING, BUT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE END. WE LOOK AT CERTAIN THINGS THAT GOVERNMENT PROVIDE, AND WE DON'T FULLY COMPREHEND WHY THE GOVERNMENT IS INCENTIVIZING THESE THINGS AND WHY THE GOVERNMENT IS MOVING THESE THINGS FORWARD. AND IT'S OFTEN BECAUSE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE GOVERNMENT WAS SMART ENOUGH TO DO A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS AND SEE THAT PREVENTION ON THE FRONT END IS WAY LESS EXPENSIVE FOR THE POPULATION THAN FIGHTING FULL BLOWN AIDS ON THE BACK END. SO WITH THIS GOVERNMENTAL GRANT, I UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, THERE ARE POPULATIONS IN NEED, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE COST OF HEALTHCARE, THE RISING COST OF PRESCRIPTIONS, AND HOW THIS HELPS IN [03:40:01] SEVERAL WAYS AND IN SEVERAL MANNERS. BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL WELCOME TO DO OUR OWN RESEARCH. COUNCILMAN HURST, I JUST ASK ONE QUESTION, HOW MUCH IS LIFE WORTH? IF YOU CAN TELL ME HOW MUCH SOMEBODY'S LIFE IS WORTH, THEN I CAN TELL YOU WHAT PROGRAMS NEED TO BE DEFUNDED AND UNTREATED. THIS IS A DISEASE THAT TAKES LIVES. AND SO WHEN I LOOKED AT THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR ANNUAL TREATMENT FOR HIV AND AIDS, UH, THIS GOES BACK TO 2010, SO I'M SURE IT'S AN INCREASE. THAT'S ONLY NUMBER I COULD FIND. IT WAS $23,000. SO IF IT'S $23,000 PER THE 1800 PEOPLE THAT YOU SAY WE HAVE IN THIS PARISH, THAT'S $41.4 MILLION A YEAR. SO IF THE GOVERNMENT IS ONLY HAVING A SUPPLEMENT 11 MILLION, WHICH INCLUDES EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH, I WOULD SUPPORT THEM IN ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. SO WHEN YOU BRING YOUR NUMBERS, MAKE SURE YOU DO THE MATH ON ALL THE NUMBERS AND ENSURE THAT, UM, WHAT YOU SPEAK ABOUT REPRESENTS THE WHOLE AND NOT A PORTION. AND SO THIS IS ONLY A PORTION OF WHAT WE DO TO MAKE THE IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY. 'CAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT CANNOT AFFORD THESE DRUGS, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT WERE INCARCERATED. WE TALKED ABOUT THE COST OF, OF HIV DRUGS AS IT RELATED TO WHAT'S THE, UH, WHAT'S THE, UH, PRISON MEDICAL FOLKS TO TURNKEY. AND NOW THAT BECAME A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THEM GETTING, UH, UM, REFUNDED FOR HIV AND AIDS TREATMENT, AND HOW IT WAS REALLY BRINGING DOWN THE CONTRACT AND TO WHERE THERE WAS ALMOST NO PROFITABILITY FOR THEM WHEN THEY WERE LOSING BECAUSE IT WAS THAT MUCH TREATMENT REQUIRED WITHIN EAST BATERS PARISH PRISON. SO, AND THAT'S A SMALL PORTION OF THE POPULATION. SO I JUST SAY BE SENSITIVE TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE. AND AGAIN, I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. NEVER PUT A VALUE ON THE LIFE. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN BANKS. YES, I HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. UH, IN A FORMAL LIFE, I WAS A H HI, HIVI WAS A, UM, CHILD PROTECTION INVESTIGATOR. AND THERE'S A POPULATION OF STUDENTS THAT WE RARELY, UM, THINK OF WHEN WE THINK OF HIV AND AIDS. WE MOSTLY THINK IT'S AS IT RELATES, AS IT RELATES TO, UM, UH, SEXUAL ACTIVITY. BUT I REMEMBER AS A CHILD PROTECTION INVESTIGATOR, THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN THAT WERE BORN TO HIV PARENTS, UM, IT WAS OUR JOB TO ACTUALLY GO TO THE HOME AND WE COULDN'T TELL THE FATHER, BUT WE WOULD TELL THE MOTHER AND IF THEY WEREN'T GETTING MEDICAL CARE. SO WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT A LOT, WE DON'T HEAR. BUT THESE ARE FUNDS THAT ALSO GO TO ELIMINATE THE TRANSMISSION OF HIV AIDS FROM MOTHER TO CHILD, WHICH CAN COME, UM, NOT ONLY, UM, UH, WHILE IN THE WOMB, BUT ALSO THROUGH BREASTFEEDING. AND SO THIS IS, UM, AND I MEAN SIGNIFICANTLY NOW ONLY 2% OF, UM, CHILDREN THAT ARE BORN THAT WHERE THERE IS A TRANSMISSION WHERE IT CANNOT BE TREATED THROUGH DRUGS. SO, UM, THERE'S RARELY THAT WE HAVE A DISCUSSION AS IT RELATES TO RYAN WHITE, UH, FUNDING BECAUSE, UM, BY NOW 20 YEARS LATER, THERE'S SUCH A GREAT UNDERSTANDING ON WHERE WE'VE BEEN IN THE LAST 20 YEARS. UM, COUNCILMAN, UM, MOOG DURING THE EIGHTIES WHEN, UH, I ACTUALLY WORKED FOR THE AMERICAN RED CROSS TEACHING AIDS, UH, EDUCATION, WE COULD NOT, WE COULD NOT EVEN USE THE TERM, UM, HOMOSEXUALITY. WE HAD TO SAY MEN HAVING SEX WITH MEN BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY MEN WHO WERE, UH, NOT IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES AS HOMOSEXUAL. THEY WERE MARRIED OR THEY WERE IN HETEROSEXUAL RELATIONSHIP. SO WE HAD TO IDENTIFY BASED ON, UM, THE, THE, THE SEXUAL BEINGS AND THE ACTIVITY SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE, WOULD GET THE SERVICE AND GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEEDED. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY THAT IN, UM, 2024, WE ARE EVEN HAVING THIS DISCUSSION, UM, BECAUSE AGAIN, IT DOES SAVE LIVES, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT SAVES INNOCENT CHILDREN LIVES. COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, UM, I HAVE, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR WHOEVER ON, ON THE STAFF CAN ANSWER THIS. IF WE WERE TO NOT APPROVE THESE FUNDS, COULD THESE FUNDS BE USED FOR MENTAL HEALTH PURPOSES? GOOD AFTERNOON [03:45:01] TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. NO, MA'AM. WE HAVE TO USE IT FOR THE PUR PURPOSE THAT THEY WERE INTENDED. OKAY. SO THESE ARE FEDERAL FUNDS, AND WE EITHER USE 'EM FOR WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS YOU USE 'EM FOR, OR WE JUST SEND THEM BACK. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. AND FOR THE RECORD, WE SERVE NON PARISHES. THANK YOU. SO, UM, MY HUSBAND AND I HAD THE ABSOLUTE HONOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO. WE WERE ABLE TO FOSTER A NEWBORN BABY WHO HAD BEEN BORN FROM MOM, WHO WAS NOT ABLE FINANCIALLY TO CARE FOR THIS CHILD, BUT THE MOM WAS, WAS HIV POSITIVE AND HAD HAD BEEN ABLE TO BE A PART OF ONE OF THESE PROGRAMS AND WAS SO PROUD BECAUSE THESE ARE NOT EASY MEDICATIONS. THEY'RE, THEY'RE VERY STRICT REGIMENS THAT YOU'RE ON. AND THIS SWEET LITTLE MOM HAD DONE EVERYTHING, UM, SHE NEEDED TO DO FOR HER UNBORN CHILD. AND THAT CHILD HAD NO VIRAL LOAD WHATSOEVER WHEN THAT BABY WAS BORN. AND, UM, SUCH AN HONOR TO BE A PART OF THAT BABY'S LIFE AND THAT MOTHER'S JOURNEY, AND JUST ALL THE RESPECT IN THE WORLD FOR HER AND THAT THE SACRIFICES SHE NEED, AND THEN THE WORK THAT, THAT Y'ALL DO, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT CHILD IS NOW, YOU KNOW, AT FOUR, FOUR AND A HALF, ACTUALLY, SHE'S PROBABLY ABOUT, SHE PROBABLY JUST HAD HER BIRTHDAY IN AUGUST AND, UM, AND IS, IS A HEALTHY, UM, YOUNG, UH, GIRL WITH EVERYTHING, UM, WONDERFUL AND LIFE AHEAD OF HER. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. THANK, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT. COUNCILMAN MO. THANK YOU. UM, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THIS IN CLOSING. AND I, UM, AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AND AS A PERSON, AS I AM, I HAVE, YOU KNOW, I'VE NEVER SAT HERE AND PUSHED AN AGENDA. I'VE NEVER, YOU KNOW, TRY TO CHANGE, UH, THE WORLD OR HOW A GOVERNMENT TREATS PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY OR, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. AND, AND I NEVER WILL. BUT WHEN I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY SITTING HERE ON THIS ME METRO COUNCIL SINCE COMING ON, THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE NEVER DEALT WITH AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL BEFORE THIS. BUT WHEN I, I WORK WITH THESE DEPARTMENTS AND I, I WORKED WITH THEM PROBABLY FOR A YEAR AND A HALF IN GETTING THE EXTRA FUNDING FOR THE, UM, INCARCERATED AND GETTING, WORKING WITH TURNKEY AND OPEN HEALTH AND, AND THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BEING WITH THIS FUNDING. UM, IT IS SOMETHING THAT I'M PROUD OF. IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M GLAD I GET TO BE A PART OF IT IN THE POSITION THAT I'M IN AS THE PERSON THAT I AM. AND I JUST WANTED TO TELL Y'ALL IN CLOSING, AND Y'ALL SPEAKING AND EVERYTHING, I APPRECIATE IT IS OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS OF BEING WITH Y'ALL, EVERY TIME SOMETHING OF THIS HAS COME UP, Y'ALL HAVE BEEN 100% SUPPORTIVE AND THERE FOR THESE PROGRAMS AND EVERYTHING. AND I THANK Y'ALL FOR THAT. HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MOGUE, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON TO APPROVE ANY OPPOSITION ABSTENTION ON ITEM 1 0 9, DON JR. MOTION CARRIES [117. 24-01167] ITEM ONE 17, AUTHORIZED MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND OR BRASCO TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER 10 TO THE CONTRACT WITH SJB GROUP, INC. OWEN AND WHITE, INC. A JOINT VENTURE FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES DURING THE CONSTRUCTION IN CONNECTION WITH THE ZACHARY AREA OF TRANSMISSION NETWORK IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT FOR THE RELOCATION OF 48 INCH FORCE MAIN, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMEY RIVER DIVERSION PROJECT FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $225,605 BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? CNU WILL GO TO COUNCIL. MOTION TO APPROVE BY CHAIR. HAVE A SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MOAT. UH, COUNCILMAN HUDSON. UH, REAL QUICK, I JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TO THE DISTRICT 11 DEBATE TONIGHT, AND, UH, YOU'LL HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. NOT SURE THAT'S JERMAINE, BUT NO. ANY OPPOSITION. MOTION CARRIES ITEM [118. 24-01168] ONE 18. MAYOR, PRESIDENT, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES, RYAN WHITE, ENDING HIV EPIDEMIC PROGRAM IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO AMEND THE, AND EXTEND THE CONTRACT PERIOD TILL FEBRUARY 28TH, 2025, AND INCREASE THE CONTRACT WITH CLAY YOUNG ENTERPRISES IN THE AMOUNT OF 95,000, NOT TO EXCEED $265,000 BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NUMBER WILL GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MOOCH. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM [119. 24-01170] ONE 19, AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER FIVE TO THE CONTRACT WITH CLEAN EARTH ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS, INC. TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT FROM 250,000 TO 500,000 ANNUALLY BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE [03:50:01] EMO COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM ONE 19. WE HAVE A MOTION, MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM [120. 24-01171 ] ONE 20, AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AMENDMENT NUMBER SEVEN, WITH GRADY CRAWFORD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH THE ANNUAL STORMWATER PIPE REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT PROJECT, RESULTING IN AN INCREASE IN THE CONTRACT AND THE AMOUNT OF $765,000 BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEE NONE. GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON. WE HAVE A SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MULKIN. THE OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 1 21, [121. 24-01174 ] AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE JAMESTOWN MITIGATION BANK, LLC TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF WETLAND MITIGATION ASSOCIATED WITH MOVE BEYOND ENHANCEMENT PROJECT MCCO ROAD, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $98,670 BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE. GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY THE CHAIR. HAVE A SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. [122. 24-01175] ITEM 1 22, AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER TWO FOR SURVEYING SERVICES WITH LAND SOURCE INC. FOR THE RIGHT OF WAY, MAP REVISIONS ASSOCIATED WITH EAST BATON ROUGE PA, EAST BATON ROUGE FLOOD RISK REDUCTION PROJECT, AMY RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES WATERSHED, FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT PROJECT, AND AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $4,875 BY TRANSPORTATION DRAINAGE DIRECTOR, ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEE NONE. GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECOND MATTER CHAIR. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 1 23, [123. 24-01117] AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES, OFFICE OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO AMEND CONTRACT WITH LOUISIANA HOUSING CORPORATION FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF LOW LOW INCOME HOME AND ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND THE AMOUNT OF 1.5 MILLION AMENDING RESOLUTION TO CORRECT GRANT PERIOD DATES ABOUT A HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? NU GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCKA. WE HAVE A SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM [124. 24-01173] 1 24, AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES HEAD START PROGRAM TO AMEND THE PROJECT PERIOD OF A ONE-TIME FUNDING RECEIVED FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FROM APRIL 1ST, 2021 THROUGH MARCH 31ST, 2023, AND EXTENDING UNTIL NOVEMBER 30TH, 2024, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF ALL DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH BY THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN AKA. WE HAVE A SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN DEZA. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM [126. 24-01124] 1 26 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT A GRANT ON BEHALF OF THE LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD, 21 FROM LOUISIANA WORKFORCE COMMISSION, OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO ADMINISTER THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,553,321 AND EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE GO TO COUNCIL? THIS REQUIRES AN APPROVAL CONTINGENT UPON THE APPROVAL OF GRANTS AND CONTRACTS REVIEW. DO WE HAVE A MOTION IN THAT ORDER? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MOOCH. WE HAVE A SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. DID I APOLOGIES. [125. 24-01119] ITEM 1 25 AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH ROSEBUD HEALTHCARE, LLC TO PROVIDE SCHOOL-BASED WORKSHOPS RELATIVE TO OPIOID PREVENTION, EDUCATION, INTERVENTION, AND TREATMENT NOT TO EXCEED $98,010 PURSUANT TO THE STATE APPROVED OPIATE ABATEMENT STRATEGIES BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN BANKS, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. [127. 24-01125] ITEM 1 27 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT OF THE LIVE AFTER FIVE INC. FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE FALL OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES FROM 75,000 TO AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 82,500 AND AUTHORIZE A BUDGET TRANSFER FROM EXISTING APPROPRIATIONS, THE AMOUNT OF $7,500 BY THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON, ON THIS ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL, COMMENT AND OPPOSITION TO ITEM 1 27. NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCKA. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. [128. 24-01183] ITEM 1 28, AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH THE, WITH THE FORCE TO USE THE CITY PARISH OWNED BUILDING AT 1 1 1 1 NORTH 28TH STREET TO PROVIDE EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AT A WAIVED OR REDUCED RATE IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN THE FAIR MARKET LEASE VALUE OF $6,113 PER MONTH FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS BY THE OFFICE OF MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? [03:55:02] GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUR. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. I'M COUNCILWOMAN ROCKA. COUNCILMAN HUDSON. IS THERE SOMEBODY HERE FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES THAT CAN TALK ABOUT THIS ITEM? SO MY QUESTION IS THE, THERE'S A PART IN THE AGENDA SPACE REQUEST, UM, WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT CONTINGENT UPON WRITTEN APPROVAL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO USE FACILITIES OUTSIDE OF THE CURRENT SCOPE AND FUNDING FOR HEAD START. SO EXPLAIN THAT TO ME. WHY, WHY ARE WE GOING OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF HEAD START? BECAUSE THE, UH, WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING HERE IS TO CHANGE THE DELIVERY SERVICE MORE DIVERSE SO THAT WE CAN REACH MORE CHILDREN WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. SO WE WILL NOT BE USING, THEY WILL NOT BE SERVING HEAD START CHILDREN. WE STILL BE OPERATING OUR HEAD START PROGRAM, BUT IT WILL ALLOW US TO HELP THOSE WORKING FAMILIES THAT GO TO WORK THAT NEED REDUCED RATES FOR CHILDCARE. WE ALSO WORKING WITH THE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY THAT WILL HELP US SERVE ADDITIONAL KIDS AT NO CHARGE. SO THIS IS GONNA BE A DIVERSE DELIVERY ON THE SAME CAMPUS AS A HEAD START, BUT NOT UTILIZING HEAD START FUNDING. WHAT WILL BE THE FUNDING MECHANISM FOR OPERATION? THEY, WELL, THERE WILL BE SOME PAYING CUSTOMERS AND THEN THERE WILL BE SOME CUSTOMERS WHICH ARE RECEIVING CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE AND THEN THERE WILL BE SOME PHILANTHROPIC DOLLARS. WHEN YOU SAY CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE, WHAT'S THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THAT STATE? OKAY, SO THERE'S NO CITY PARISH, LOCAL DOLLARS? NONE AT ALL SUBSIDIZED, NONE AT ALL. JUST, JUST HEAD START DOLLARS WOULD BE DOING THAT. NOT HEAD START DOLLARS. HEAD START DOLLARS WON'T BE DOING NONE. THE HEAD START DOLLARS WILL JUST BE SERVING HEAD START CHILDREN. THIS IS A DIVERSE DELIVERY. OKAY, I GOT YOU. RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION. COUNCILWOMAN BANKS, YOU READ THIS, UM, AND IT DOES SOUND LIKE IT'S GONNA BE A, UM, PRIVATE PUBLIC MM-HMM. , UH, ENDEAVOR. IS THAT BASICALLY WHAT IT SUMS UP TO BE? EXACTLY. OKAY. AND I NOTICED, UH, I THINK PARKER IS NUMBER ONE IS OPEN, BUT TWO ISN'T. RIGHT? OKAY. SO IS THIS GOING TO BE TWO THAT'LL YES. THAT ALLOW US TO USE THESE UNUSED FACILITIES SO THAT WE CAN MEET THE PRESSING NEEDS OF CHILDCARE SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY? OKAY. SO WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY BUILDING NOT USED WHEN THERE'S A NEED. AND SO THIS IS A GREAT PARTNERSHIP, PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH GOVERNMENT SO THAT WE CAN EXTEND THE USE, UH, TO REACH MORE KIDS IN NEED. CHILDCARE SYSTEM, CHILDCARE SERVICES. OKAY. BECAUSE, UH, NOW WHAT AGE GROUP, AGAIN? WELL, THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP, THEY CAN DO BIRTH THROUGH FOUR YEAR OLDS. OH. SO THAT'S A SERVICE THAT WE DON'T PROVIDE. AND THIS PARTNERSHIP ALSO WHAT WILL PROVIDE BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE, WHICH WE DON'T PROVIDE. SO THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THIS PARTNERSHIP THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE SERVICES THAT WE DON'T PROVIDE, EXTENDING OUR ABILITY AS CITY GOVERNMENT TO REACH ALL THE KIDS THAT NEED THESE SERVICES. ARE THEY LOCAL? OF COURSE. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. UM, PRIVATE, PUBLIC, PRIVATE, PRIVATELY OWNED. MM-HMM? . YES. NONPROFIT. OKAY. OH, IT'S A NON-PROFIT. PRIVATE NON-PROFIT. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THIS SOUNDS REALLY GOOD, BUT IT DOES PROVIDE A LITTLE, UM, COMPETITION FOR OTHER DAYCARES. BUT I MEAN, THERE'S A, A WELL, EVERYBODY HAS A WAITING LIST, RIGHT? SO NOT REALLY, BUT I'M JUST SAYING THIS, IT'S NEW TERRITORY WHERE YOU ALL ARE DOING THIS. IT'S NEW TERRITORY. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. MM-HMM. . BECAUSE EVERYBODY WON'T QUALIFY FOR HEAD START SERVICES, RIGHT? THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE THAT GO TO WORK EVERY DAY THAT NEED LOW COST CHILDCARE SERVICES THAT THEY CAN'T AFFORD. THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE GREATER COMMUNITY, NOT JUST THE HEAD START. ALGEBRA. THIS IS GREAT. THIS, THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. BEEN PROPERLY MOTION. SECOND, DO WE HAVE ANY OPPOSITION? ITEM 1 28 CARRIES ITEM 1 29 [129. 24-01184] AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH LA FOREST TO USE CITY PARISH OWNED BUILDING AT 1-881-PROGRESS ROAD TO PROVIDE EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AT A WAIVED OR REDUCED RATE AND A TOTAL AMOUNT EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN THE FAIR MARKET LEASE VALUE OF $14,919 PER MONTH FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS BY THE OFFICE OF MAYOR, PRESIDENT DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. [130. 24-01185 ] ITEM ONE 30, AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH THE FORCE TO USE CITY PARISH HOME BUILDING AT THE 1 9 1 9 NORTH CHRISTIE DRIVE TO PROVIDE EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AT A WAVE OR REDUCED RATE IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN THE FAIR MARKET LEASE VALUE OF $7,902 PER MONTH FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS BY OFFICE OF MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK [04:00:01] ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN MADERA AND SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. [131. 24-01088] ITEM 1 31, AMENDING RESOLUTION 5 7 3 9 9. CREATING AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES REGARDING THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH JUVENILE COURT, AND THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH PRISON. SO AS TO EXTEND THE EXPIRATION PERIOD, AN ADDITIONAL 12 MONTHS FROM OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 BY COUNCILMAN DARRELL HURST. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN HURST? WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. UH, MOTION TO DEFER 'CAUSE I DIDN'T PUT THIS ITEM UP THERE. . THANK YOU. . MOTION TO DEFER FOR 30 DAYS. OH, THIS THE, THE EXTENSION. I'M SORRY. YES, I DID PUT THIS ONE UP HERE. I'M SORRY. I DID. I APOLOGIZE. I, I, I, I, YEAH, I, WE GOOD? YES. YES. I PROMISE THIS IS CORRECT. MOTION TO APPROVE? YES. MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN BY COUNCIL. MAN, I WAS ZONE OUT. I THOUGHT I HEARD SOMETHING ELSE. I'M LIKE, HOLD COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN MO. HOW, HOW LONG HAVE WE BEEN IN EFFECT WITH THIS SO FAR? SIX OR SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR ALREADY? UH, RIGHT AT A YEAR, MAN. WE STARTED IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR. WE WENT ON TOURS FOR ABOUT FOUR MONTHS. UM, YEAH, SO, BUT WE'RE AT THE FINISH LINE RIGHT NOW WHERE WE, UM, THAT, THAT'S WHAT I'M WONDERING IS, I MEAN, WE, WE SET THESE COMMITTEES FOR X AMOUNT OF TIME AND I'M JUST WONDERING, UM, HOW LONG, SO DO WE NEED TO HOLD 12 MONTHS OR IF WE, IF WE SET A SHORTER DATE, CAN WE GIVE A A, A TIMELINE TO GET THE GOAL? I GUESS WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS WE, WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION ON THE PARISH PRISON NOW, AND I DON'T KNOW. SO I, LET ME, LET ME EXPLAIN SOMETHING TO Y'ALL. OR WHILE THE TIMELINE IS NEEDED REALLY QUICKLY ALL MY TIME. YEAH. AND PLEASE DO. THAT'S FINE. TELL US ALL ABOUT IT. GO AHEAD. IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE PREVIOUS TIMELINE BEFORE YOU WOULD'VE OPPOSITION FROM EVERYBODY IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, IT TOOK AN EDUCATION PERIOD. IT TOOK THE TOURS, IT TOOK ALL OF THAT KIND OF STUFF TO GET THE PRISON RIGHTS ADVOCATES ON OUR SIDE. IT TOOK US TO GO TO OTHER FACILITIES TO SEE WHAT GOOD LOOKED LIKE. WE DIDN'T JUST TWIDDLE OUR THUMBS. IT TOOK US TIME TO BRING IN BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND WORKFORCE AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF TO FIGURE OUT WHAT PROGRAMS ARE. NOW WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE WE'RE HAVING PUBLIC MEETING, WHICH ARE FIVE PUBLIC MEETINGS, A VISION SESSION, WHICH HAPPENED LAST NIGHT, WHICH IS PRETTY WELL ATTENDED. AND FOUR SESSIONS. WHICH ONE COMES TO CENTRAL? ONE COMES TO ZACHARY, ONE COMES TO JONES CREEK AND ONE GOES TO SCOTLANDVILLE LIBRARY BRANCH. AND THEN WE HAVE A FINAL PRESENTATION OF WHAT THE DESIGN LOOKS LIKE IN GOODWOOD. SO ONCE WE HAVE THE DESIGN TOGETHER, THEN IT'LL TAKE A LITTLE TIME TO DETERMINE WHAT FUNDING MODEL. SO WE HAVE TO FIND, I MEAN, THE, WHEN'S THE LAST TOOL? WE, I DON'T HAVE THE LAST STOP. NOVEMBER 25TH. AND THEN AFTER THAT, THE DESIGN COMES AND WE PRESENT THE DESIGN TO THE PEOPLE MAYBE JANUARY, FEBRUARY OF NEXT YEAR KNOW HOLIDAYS. IT KIND OF KILLS US. AND THEN FROM THERE WE LOOK AT THE FUNDING MODEL OF PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP OR MILLAGE OR WHATEVER WE DECIDE TO DO. SO IT COULD BE DONE BY NEXT SUMMER, BUT IF, IF WE MISS THAT, WE NEED A TIME FOR THE TASK FORCE TO STILL COME TOGETHER TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT, WHICH WOULD BE IN THE FALL IF WE HAD TO GO THAT ROUTE. SO, SO WE WILL PROBABLY NEED THE WHOLE YEAR. 'CAUSE IF WE DON'T PUT ON A SPRING BALLOT, IT HAS TO GO ON THE BALLOT AND THEN IT HAS TO GO NEXT FALL. BUT WE HAVE THE FINISH LINE. YEAH, WE ARE. AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND COMMENT ON THAT COMMITTEE, BECAUSE YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB. AARON MOS. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. ANYTIME, LET ME KNOW. COUNCILWOMAN BANKS. JIM WALKER, UH, HAS BEEN PRESENT IN THE, IN THE SPIRIT AND NOT IN THE BODY, BUT I THANK HER FOR THAT ONE AS WELL. COUNCILWOMAN BANKS. UM, WOULD, UH, DANTE, PLEASE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE SAME COMMITTEE, BUT I, I SAW SOMETHING WHERE THE MAYOR HAS SOMETHING AS IT RELATES TO THE JAIL AND GRACE ABERT. IS THIS SOMETHING DIFFERENT? NO, MA'AM. THAT ACTUALLY IS SOMETHING THAT CAME ABOUT THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THIS COMMITTEE. SO TO THE COUNCILMAN'S POINT, THE IDEA WAS TO GET AS MUCH PUBLIC INPUT AND EDUCATION AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE. UM, AND I CAN OFFER AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU'D LIKE. UH, MY COLLEAGUE JULIE, HAS BEEN OUR PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT FROM OUR OFFICE ON THIS. MM-HMM. . BUT YEAH, THESE ARE THE SAME THINGS. SO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS BEEN DIALED IN WITH COUNCILMAN HURST AND THIS COMMITTEE TO MAKE SURE, SO ALL THIS IS GOING ON IN SYNC. OKAY. YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WAS CHECKING. I, UM, THE FIRST PERSON WHO MENTIONED IT WAS GRACE ABERT ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO. SO HE'S BEEN WANTING AND HAD ME, UM, VISIT, I THINK IN JEFFERSON PARISH BEFORE. AND SO I AM GLAD THAT IT IS MOVING BECAUSE IT WAS HARD TO GET IT [04:05:01] IN SYNC, LIKE WHAT IT IS NOW. SO, GREAT. UNDERSTOOD. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. SO WE HAD A MOTION BY COUNCIL HURST. YEAH, THIS IS MY MOTION. SECOND BY COUNCIL MOROCCO. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM [132. 24-01146 ] 1 32 TO URGE AND REQUEST CITY, PARISH, GOVERNMENT OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH TO NAME A PORTION OF THE BUILDING OR ROOM AT THE CHARLES R. KELLY COMMUNITY CENTER, LOCATED AT 3 5 3 5 RILEY STREET IN HONOR OF JUDGE WILSON O'. FIELDS BY COUNCILMAN HURST. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL COUNCILMAN HURST. UH, MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE WITH AMENDMENT TO REFLECT THE CORRECT NAME AND THE TITLE, WHICH IS WILSON E FIELDS. NOT WILSON O FIELDS. IT IS THE REST OF THE BODY IS CORRECT. IT'S THE TITLE THERE. A SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN MOROCCO. COUNCILWOMAN BANKS. WHAT SPECIFICALLY? RON? I REMEMBER THE, THE MATTHEWS. I HAD THAT. SO WE'RE GONNA DO TWO OF AT ONE TIME. SO IT'S GONNA BE PHIL'S FOYER AND MATTHEW'S MULTIPURPOSE ROOM. OKAY, THANK YOU. AND SO WE'LL DO THAT IF APPROVED TONIGHT, OCTOBER 10TH. AND I WANNA INVITE THE HOT WHOLE COUNCIL TO COME AND CELEBRATE WITH HIM OCTOBER 10TH. AND AARON GETS TALL NUMBER THREE. WHAT TIME? UH, UH, SIX O'CLOCK. AND I WILL SAY THAT THIS WAS STARTED BY COUNCILWOMAN BANKS, SO THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS? UM, I JUST WANNA SAY, WHEN I FIRST READ THIS ITEM, I, I REALLY FELT LIKE IT, IT RAN IN OPPOSITION TO STATE LAW. I UNDERSTAND THAT NAMING A ROOM OR SOMETHING INSIDE DOESN'T, DOESN'T MEET THE, THE, THE, THE LETTER OF THE, THE STATE LAW. BUT, UM, BUT I, I DO, I DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT, UM, NAMING, UM, EVEN PARTS OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS, UM, AFTER, AFTER PEOPLE WHO ARE, ARE STILL ALIVE. I HAVE, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT, THIS IS NOT A COMMENT ON, ON, UM, WILSON FIELDS. I KNEW HIM IN COLLEGE AND I DON'T KNOW JOHNNY MATTHEWS, BUT I DO, I DO HAVE A CONCERN. UM, I FEEL LIKE IT, IT VIOLATES KIND OF THE SPIRIT OF WHAT WAS INTENDED BY THE STATE LAW. SO COUNCILMAN MO, DO, DO WE HAVE TO HAVE ACTUALLY, DO WE HAVE TO HAVE A ORDINANCE TO NAME A ROOM? OR CAN THE COUNCIL MEMBER JUST DESIGNATE THE ROOM AS SUCH AND SUCH? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER COMES IN? DO THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH, IF THEY WANNA DO A NAME CHANGE OF EACH INDIVIDUAL ROOM? DO WE, I MEAN, THE BUILDING'S NAMED ALREADY. DO WE HAVE TO DO AN ORDINANCE FOR EACH ROOM? THE, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS FOR NAMING INDIVIDUAL ROOMS IN SIDE CITY PARISH BUILDINGS. DID ANYBODY HAVE THAT PARISH ATTORNEY? WHY I SPEAK ON THERE? BLESS. ONE SECOND. LET'S GET OUR AMAZINGLY AWESOME PARISH ATTORNEY UP HERE TO SEE IF HE HAS ANY COMMENTS ON IT. OR THE AMAZINGLY AWESOME ASSISTANT PARISH ATTORNEY. YES. SO DO WE NEED ORDINANCE TO NAME A ROOM INSIDE OF A PUBLIC BUILDING? AND I GUESS IT WOULD TAKE AN, LET'S SAY THE NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER COMES ALONG AND SAYS EITHER THEY DIDN'T LIKE THAT PERSON, OR IT'S A, YOU KNOW, THEY WANTED THE ROOM NAMED AFTER SOMEBODY ELSE. DOES IT HAVE TO GO BACK THROUGH ORDINANCE TO DO THAT? OR CAN THE COUNCIL MEMBER THAT'S PRESIDING IN, IN CHARGE OF THAT FACILITY JUST DESIGNATE THE ROOM AS SUCH AND SUCH NAME? SO BASED ON THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, I HAVEN'T FOUND WHERE A ROOM OR A PORTION OF THE BUILDING HAS BEEN NAMED, BUT I HAVE FOUND WHERE A BUILDING HAS BEEN NAMED. AND CERTAINLY, AS YOU ALL KNOW, ROAR SQUARE, SQUARE WAS NAMED IN THE SAME FASHION, UM, BY RESOLUTION. SO NOT ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO THE ANSWER THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR. OKAY. AND LOOK, MM-HMM, COUNCILMAN HURST. I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS. IT'S YOUR, IT'S YOUR COMMUNITY CENTER AT THE MOMENT. I GET IT. BUT I MEAN, INSTEAD OF SETTING THIS IN ORDINANCE, WOULD YOU FEEL BETTER ABOUT DOING IT BY RESOLUTION? RESOLUTION HAS BEEN COMMON PRACTICE. YEAH. YEAH, I DID. IT IS A COMMON PRACTICE. BUT, BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS, IS, UM, I WOULD HATE, THERE'S SO MANY OTHER ROOMS AND SO MANY, EVEN IN THAT SAME BUILDING THAT COULD STILL BE NAMED IF SOMEWHERE ONE WERE TO COME IN, LEMME TELL YOU A LITTLE [04:10:01] HISTORY. SO JUDGE JOHNELLE MATTHEWS, HER HUSBAND, HIS JOHNNY MATTHEWS, HE ACTUALLY PUT THE FUNDING UP THE BUILDING BUILDING, OKAY. SO THAT'S WHY I'M DOING, WILSON WAS THE FIRST ONE TO TAKE HOLD OF THE BUILDING AND DO SOME AMAZING STUFF IN THE DISTRICT. BUT I WANT IT TO STICK. I DON'T WANT IT TO CHANGE. I WOULD'VE WANT IT TO COME BEFORE THE BODY TO HAVE TO BE UNDONE, UM, FROM A RESOLUTION STANDPOINT, NOT JUST SOMEBODY COMING IN AND TAKE A PICTURE OFF THE WALL. I THINK IT WOULD BE EMBARRASSING FOR ME TO NAME STALL NUMBER THREE, AARON MOOCH. AND THEN, UH, I SAY THAT JOKINGLY, BUT SERIOUSLY, I KNOW, I KNOW. THAT'S FINE. AND THEN COME BACK, UM, YEARS LATER AND CHANGE IT BECAUSE MY GRANDMOTHER DIDN'T LIKE YOUR GRANDFATHER OR WHATEVER, WHATEVER IT WAS. MY PERSONAL ISSUES GET IN WAY OF THE PURPOSE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING THIS FOR. AND SO I JUST ASK FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL. AND, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WANNA ADDRESS WITH LORI, I KNOW ON YOUR TIME, 'CAUSE I, BUT I BELIEVE IT'S JERMAINE TO YOU AS WELL, IS THAT I HAVE A LITTLE DIFFERENT, I KNOW THE LAW SAYS YOU CAN'T NAME A BUILDING UNLESS SOMEONE IS DECEASED, BUT NOT A PARTICULAR ROOM. AND I BELIEVE IN GIVING PEOPLE FLOWERS WHILE THEY'RE LIVING. I DON'T WANNA CELEBRATE 'EM WHEN THEY'RE 10 FEET UNDER OR SEVEN FEET UNDER, OR FIVE FEET UNDER. I WANT THEM TO BE A PART OF THE CELEBRATION THEIR FAMILY, SO THAT THEY CAN SEE THE IMPACT THAT THEY'VE MADE AND ARE STILL MAKING, AND THIS IS A PART OF THEIR, THEIR, THEIR, THEIR TIME IN HISTORY NOT, MAY NOT BE THE LAST PART OF THEIR JOURNEY, BUT THIS IS A TIME THEY WERE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIETY AND SPECIFICALLY DISTRICT FIVE. AND I, I APPRECIATE THE INTENT. I I, I THINK YOU PROBABLY HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR, FOR BOTH OF THESE PEOPLE. I, I PERSONALLY DON'T KNOW THEM. UM, I, THEIR HISTORY THAT YOU JUST SAID AND EVERYTHING ELSE, IT JUST CONCERNS ME THAT BY SETTING THESE, UH, I MEAN, WE WANNA JUST COME UP WITH A WHOLE LIST AND WE'LL JUST DO, GO AHEAD AND DO, DO ALL THE OTHER ROOMS ALSO. OR IT'S A PUBLIC BUILDING THAT YOU'RE IN CHARGE OF FOR X AMOUNT OF TIME, FOUR YEARS OR 12 YEARS, AND EVERYBODY HAS DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH THE BUILDING, HOW THEY'RE GONNA USE THE BUILDING, AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. AND LIKE I SAID, I, THESE PEOPLE MAY BE GREAT AND I, AND I IT'S YOUR BUILDING, BUT I JUST FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE AS RESOLUTION. UM, KIND OF THE SAME THING, LIKE WHEN THE MAYOR DOES EXECUTIVE ORDERS, THOSE THINGS ARE IN PLACE DURING THEIR TERM AND THAT THEY'RE THERE AND THEY CAN, THEY CAN BE CONTINUED. THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO AWAY. BUT IT'S KIND OF THE SAME THING WITH THIS HERE. YOU STILL ACCOMPLISH THE SAME GOAL. AND I, I JUST, AGAIN, I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE POSITION AS A WHOLE IN THE FUTURE AND ANYTHING ELSE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN HURST. SO I JUST HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL POINT, WHAT I'M DOING NOW. YOU CAN HAVE MY TIME. YOU WANT SOME MORE? NO, THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT'S HAPPENED PRIOR TO ME BEING THERE. SO ONE MULTIPURPOSE ROOM IS NAMED AFTER RONNIE EDWARDS, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER. THE BUILDING IS NAMED UP THE CHARLES KELLY FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER. YEAH, NO, THE ROOF. YEAH. I, I DON'T THAT PART, I DON'T THE DON'T THINK WE LOOKED THAT PART OF IT UP. I CAN FIND OUT. YEAH. BUT, BUT THE, BUT THE BOTTOM, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE ROOMS IN THE BUILDING HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY NAMED AFTER THE FORMAL COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE SERVED IN THAT BUILDING AS A DISTRICT OFFICE. AND THAT'S ALL I'M DOING. I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENT. THESE GUYS IN THEIR SEVENTIES, UM, JO JOHNNY MATTHEWS IS AND WILSON FIELDS, AND HE'S IN THE SIXTIES, LATE, LATE, LATE FIFTIES, WELL, EARLY FIFTIES. BUT, UM, I, THIS IS JUST CONSISTENT IN HOW THE REST OF THE BUILDING HAS BEEN NAMED. SO I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENT. YEAH, YOU GO, YEAH, OF COURSE. I WOULD LIKE MY MIC . UM, AND, AND, AND FOLLOWING ON WHAT YOU JUST SAID RIGHT THERE WITH, WITH THAT, I WOULD, I THINK IT WOULD BEHOOVE US TO FIND OUT THAT ROOM THAT IS NAMED IN THERE, HOW IT WAS DONE AND OUTTA RESPECT. I DON'T, I DON'T DOUBT THAT OTHER PEOPLE WOULD, WOULD DO IT FORWARD, BUT BY DOING IT BY ORDINANCE, IT IS JUST, I, I THINK RESOLUTION OR LET'S AT LEAST FIND OUT HOW THAT ROOM WAS DONE AND OUTTA RESPECT AND DOING IT THAT SAME WAY WITH THE OTHERS. RONNIE. SO HERE, HERE'S THE DEAL. THE GOOD THING ABOUT AN ORDINANCE IS LIKE ANY LAW, IT CAN ALWAYS BE CHANGED. SO, SO, SO FROM A RESOLUTION STANDPOINT, WE CAN ALWAYS COME IN HERE AND UNDO IT THE SAME WAY. IF SOMEBODY SAYS FOR A SPECIFIC REASON, UM, I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO REMOVE THIS PERSON'S NAME FROM THE WALL, IT CAN ALWAYS BE DONE. SO, UM, BUT WHAT IT DOES IS, IS IT PROTECTS THE PERSONAL ISSUES FROM GETTING IN THE WAY OF OBSTRUCTING WHAT THE POSITIVITY OF, OF IT IS BASED ON SOMEONE'S PERSONAL OPINION OF PAST HISTORY. IT MAKES IT ALL ABOUT THE BUSINESS. I DON'T HAVE ANY HISTORY WITH WILSON OR JOHNNY MATTHEWS. IT'S ALL ABOUT THEIR RECORD AND RESPECTING [04:15:01] AND REFLECTING ON WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO MAKE THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AT EAST BAPTIST PARISH BETTER. SO I ASKED TO PROCEED WITH THE MOTION TO APPROVE. JUST, JUST A REMINDER, Y'ALL, WE DO HAVE TWO REPORTS AT THE END OF THE MEETING, ONE OF WHICH PEOPLE FLEW IN FOR TO GIVE US. SO JUST GIVING Y'ALL A HEADS UP, WE MAY HAVE TO EXTEND COUNCILMAN DON JR. THANK YOU. I'LL BE BRIEF. I JUST WANTED TO OFFER A POINT OF INFORMATION OR POINT OF CLARITY. UM, WE DO HAVE OTHER COMMUNITY CENTERS OR OTHER PAR CITY PARISH FACILITIES THAT HAVE, UH, ROOMS NAMED AFTER INDIVIDUALS. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST, UH, DARREN MENTIONED, UH, COUNCILMAN HEARST MENTIONED THE RONNIE EDWARDS ROOM AT, AT, UH, AT THE CHARLES R. KELLY. BUT THERE'S ALSO, UH, THE JERRY JOHNSON ROOM AT MLK THAT I'M AWARE OF, AND THERE MAY BE SOME OTHERS. SO THIS IS NOT THE FIRST, UM, NO, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY BY RESOLUTION OR ORDINANCE, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THEIR NAMES ARE OWNED. THE BUILDINGS, THERE WAS A CEREMONY ON THE ROOMS, THERE WAS A CEREMONY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WERE DONE BY ORDINANCE A RESOLUTION, BUT THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT HAVE ROOMS NAMED AFTER INDIVIDUALS. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HER SECOND BY CONST ROCCA. ANY OPPOSITION BY ALL MEANS SUBSTITUTE MOTION. OKAY. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DEFER THIS TO THE NEXT MEETING. OKAY. DO WE HAVE A SECOND CLARIFICATION TO THE NEXT MEETING? OH, HOW THESE ROOMS WERE NAMED? NO. SECOND. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? NO. SECOND. WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION. OH, YOU GONNA SECOND? SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION. WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION. LET'S VOTE ON MACHINES. MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE SUBSTITUTE. MOTION DEFER TO DEFER TILL OCTOBER 9TH. MOTION FAILS. I'LL VOTE ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION. IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO APPROVAL? ONE, TWO. WE'LL VOTE ON THE MACHINES. MACHINES. MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM [133. 24-01147 ] 1 33 TO URGENT AND REQUEST, CITY, PARISH, GOVERNMENT OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH TO NAME A PORTION OF THE BUILDING OR ROOM AT THE CHARLES R. KELLY COMMUNITY CENTER AT 3 5 3 5 RILEY STREET. IN HONOR OF ATTORNEY JOHNNY MATTHEWS BY COUNCILMAN DARRYL HURST. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SAME. NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN MOROCCO. ANY OPPOSED? ONE. WE HAVE TWO OPPOSITION LESS VOTING MACHINES. MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE. ITEM 1 33. MOTION FAILS. MOTION WE DIDN'T, WE HAD LET'S RESET IT. OH, WE GET A DO OVER PASS. COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER, BANKS COUNCIL, WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE. ITEM 1 33 MACHINES ARE OPEN. AMEN? YES MA'AM. MOTION CARRIES. WE'RE GONNA [ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES] TAKE ITEMS 1 34 AND ONE THROUGH 1 53 TOGETHER ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES LOT 62 SQUARE 11 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER TD REAL ESTATE GROUP, A HUNDRED DOLLARS LOT 66 SQUARE 11 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE MESSER COUNCIL 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER FELICIA MATTHEWS. $200 LOT 26 SQUARE 11 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER TD REAL ESTATE GROUP. A HUNDRED DOLLARS LOT 50 SQUARE 11 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER TD REAL ESTATE GROUP, A HUNDRED DOLLARS LOT 33 SQUARE 10 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER TD REAL ESTATE GROUP, A HUNDRED DOLLARS LOT 45 SQUARE 10 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER. FELICIA MATTHEWS. $200 LOT 43 SQUARE 10 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER. FELICIA MATTHEWS. $200 LOT 31 SQUARE 29. SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN DEANNE HIGH BIDDER, DAY ONE AUTO SALES LLCA HUNDRED DOLLARS LOT 32 SQUARE 29. SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION METRO COUNCIL [04:20:01] DISTRICT SEVEN DEANNE HIGH BIDDER, DAY ONE AUTO SALES LLCA HUNDRED DOLLARS LOT 15 SQUARE FIVE. SUBDIVISION VALLEY PARK ANNEX METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 12 ROCK. A HIGH BIDDER WILFORD L BILL $10,200. LOT FOUR SQUARE EIGHT SUBDIVISION VALLEY PARK METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 12 ROCK. A HIGH BIDDER CLARK FAMILY HOMES LLC $14,000 LOT TEN EIGHT SQUARE 2 73. SUBDIVISION SWART METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER MAYHEM CONSTRUCTION, $10,000 LOT 18 SUBDIVISION BROOKSTOWN METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN DRAZAN HIGH BIDDER PROSPERITY REALTY LLC $20,000 LOT 15 SQUARE 32 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER. JOHN D. FARMER 600 LOT 32 SQUARE 11 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER EUGENE MCNEELY $500 LOT 55 SQUARE 12 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER MARISE KEMP $200 LOT 37 SQUARE 16 SUBDIVISION OF EDEN PARK COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN RAZAN HIGH BIDDER HENRY THOMPSON, $13,100 LOT 21 SUBDIVISION PETTY PLACE DISTRICT TWO BANKS HIGH BIDDER. BYRON JONES, 20,100 LOT 1 69 SUBDIVISION SUBDIVISION VILLAGE COTE DISTRICT FOUR MO HIGH BID. JOSEPH CASHIO A HUNDRED DOLLARS LOT 78 SQUARE ONE SUBDIVISION PROGRESS PARK COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN RAZAN MOTOR OWN HAVE PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS? UH, 1 34 TO 1 53. ANY ONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS. THEME? I'M GONNA GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR, UM, ALL EXCEPT NUMBER 1 4 7 ALITO DEFER. 1 47. WE CAN, UH, DEFER 1 47 FOR TO THE NEXT MEETING. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 1 34 THROUGH 1 53 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM 1 47, WHICH WILL BE DEFERRED TO THE NEXT MEETING. WE HAVE A SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN MOSA. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. LET'S GO TO [ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS] ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS. WHERE IN FRONT POCKET AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO RENEW, ENTER INTO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS INC. FOR THE ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION COST OF THE COMMAND CENTRAL AWARE PROGRAM. THE ESTIMATED COMPENSATION OF THE AGREEMENT WILL NOT EXCEED $63,860 ANNUALLY AND NOT EXCEED 319,300 OVER FIVE YEAR LIFE OF THE SUBSCRIPTION BY THE POLICE CHIEF. REASON, REASON, THE ITEMS BEING REQUESTED AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER, IN ORDER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS OF THE CONTRACT, IT NEEDS TO BE EXECUTED BY OCTOBER 20TH, 2024. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO MAY THE WAIVE THE RULES AND ALLOW ITEMS TO BE INTRODUCED? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JR. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. OH, I APOLOGIZE. PUBLIC HEARING ON A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS? SEEING NONE. COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUN JR. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ADAMS BEEN INTRODUCED [154. 24-01257] FOR APPOINTMENTS. BROWNSFIELD FIRE VOLUNTEER FIRE, CIVIL SERVICE BOARD. CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTING OR REPLACING TODD CAMPBELL, WHOSE TERM EXPIRES ON SEPTEMBER 29TH, 2024. THIS IS A THREE YEAR TERM CURRENT BALLOT. TODD CAMPBELL REQUESTING RE REAPPOINTMENT. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? YOU NOW GO TO COUNCIL. MOTION TO REAPPOINT BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. [155. 24-01258] VOLUNTEER FIRE DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FIRE DISTRICT SIX HOOPER ROAD. CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTING OR REPLACING STANLEY PULLMAN, WHOSE TERM EXPIRES ON SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2024. THIS IS A TWO YEAR TERM CURRENT BALLOT. STANLEY PULLMAN, PULL, APOLOGIZE, PULL. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? NONE. GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUR. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCKA. ANY OPPOSED? STANLEY PULLUM APPOINTED. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A MOTION TO EXTEND THE MEETING. 30 MINUTES. WE HAVE A SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. [156. 24-01151 ] ITEM 1 56, RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION AND DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN [04:25:01] RESOURCES ON THE CITY PARISH CASE STUDY BY COUNCILMAN HURST. YEAH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE REPORT AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AFTERWARDS. RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. HELLO, HUMAN RESOURCES CONTRACTED WITH MANAGEMENT ADVISORY GROUP. IT'S BETTER. THANK YOU. HUMAN RESOURCES CONTRACTED WITH MANAGEMENT ADVISORY GROUP TO COMPLETE A TOTAL COMPENSATION STUDY AND A JOB SPECIFICATION REVISION ON ALL CITY PARISH CLASSIFICATIONS. UM, OUR LEAD CONSULTANT WITH MEG, DR. RUSSELL CAMPBELL, IS HERE TO PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY. UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR PROTI, UH, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, DR. RUSSELL CAMPBELL. I'M SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT WITH MANAGEMENT ADVISOR GROUP. WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS GIVE YOU, UH, A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE, UH, STUDY IN TERMS OF THE METHODOLOGY AND PROCESS THAT WAS USED TO PUT THE, UH, REPORT TOGETHER AS WELL AS THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. UH, THE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT, UH, HAS BEEN DELIVERED TO HUMAN RESOURCES AS WELL AS AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. I, I, I THINK THE, UH, COMPREHENSIVE REPORT IS ABOUT 600 PAGES, BUT THERE'S A 12 PAGE, UH, EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THAT, UH, PROVIDES THE, UH, UH, THE MEAT AND BONES OF THE, UH, STUDY. COULD YOU FLIP? NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. UH, JUST BRIEFLY, UH, WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 25 YEARS. WE'RE HEADQUARTERED OUTSIDE OF, UH, WASHINGTON, DC AND FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA. WE SPECIALIZE IN WORKING FOR GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, MUNICIPALITIES, COUNTIES, PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, AND U PUBLIC UTILITIES. UH, WE'VE DONE WORK PREVIOUSLY IN THE STATE OF L LOUISIANA, UH, NEW ORLEANS ST. TAMMANY SCHOOLS, ST. TAMMANY PARISH, UH, HAMMOND, ALEXANDRA, UH, AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER ORG UH, ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE STATE. NEXT SLIDE. UH, THE STUDY WAS DESIGNED TO CAPTURE JOB INFORMATION FROM THE EMPLOYEES BY WAY OF A JOB QUESTIONNAIRE, WHICH EACH EMPLOYEE COMPLETED OR GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLETE ONLINE. UH, THE STUDY ESTABLISHES THE INTERNAL RELATIONSHIP IN TERMS OF VALUING THE POSITIONS BASED ON DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND THE EDUCATION EXPERIENCE NEEDED FOR THE POSITIONS. WE ALSO CONDUCTED A, UH, EXTENSIVE MARKET SURVEY TO LOOK TO SEE WHAT WAS BEING, UH, PAID IN TERMS OF JOB VALUES FOR SIMILAR JOBS IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS. AND WE PROVIDED, UH, DIFFERENT IMPLEMENTATION MODELS, UH, TO ASSIST THE CITY WITH IMPLEMENTATION. AND THE STRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE WILL ALLOW AND ACCOMMODATE, UH, NEW POSITIONS IN THE FUTURE AS WELL AS RECLASSIFICATION OF EXISTING POSITION. NEXT SLIDE. STUDY WAS NOT, UH, DESIGNED TO LOOK AT STAFFING LEVELS TO RESTRUCTURE, REORGANIZE ANY DEPARTMENTS, EVALUATE PERFORMANCE, UH, GUARANTEE SALARY INCREASES, OR RECOMMEND ANY DECREASES. EVEN IF WE FOUND SOMEONE WHOSE CURRENT PAY IS OVER THE MAXIMUM VALUE THAT WE'VE DEDICATED FOR THEIR POSITION, WE WOULD NOT MAKE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS TO REDUCE THEIR UH, SALARY. THIS STUDY IS ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE, UH, JOB, NOT THE VALUE OF THE PERSON. NEXT SLIDE. UH, IN TERMS OF SCOPE OF WORK, UH, THERE WERE OVER 625 JOBS IN THE STUDY. UM, WE ALSO LOOKED AT THE, UH, BENEFITS, UH, PACKAGE, UH, OF THE, UH, CITY PARISH, UH, AS WELL AS IDENTIFIED, UH, OTHER ISSUES SUCH AS SALARY COMPRESSION, UH, LOOKING TO IDENTIFY WAYS TO IMPROVE SALARY GROWTH, AS WELL AS THE INTERNAL EXTERNAL, UH, RELATIONSHIPS THAT I TALKED ABOUT. NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS THE TIMELINE THAT ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT. UH, IT WAS 180 DAY PROJECT. THE INITIAL CONTRACT WAS SIGNED DECEMBER 23RD, 2023. UH, WE ISSUED, UH, A, UH, KICKOFF LETTER, WHICH DETAILED DIFFERENT TYPES OF INFORMATION WE NEEDED TO GET THE STUDY STARTED. SPECIFICALLY, WE REQUESTED, UH, AN EXCEL DATA FILE WITH ALL THE EMPLOYEE INFORMATION, WHICH WE INITIALLY RECEIVED IN MID-JANUARY, UM, AFTER SOME BACK AND FORTH TO FINALIZE IT TO UH, UH, CORRECT SOME INFORMATION THAT WAS, UH, UPLOADED INTO OUR DATABASE AROUND FEBRUARY THE SEVENTH. AND THE FINAL REPORT WAS ISSUED AUGUST THE SEVENTH, WHICH IS EXACTLY 180 DAYS FROM WHEN WE, UH, FORMALLY GOT STARTED ON FEBRUARY THE SEVENTH. THERE'S ONE REMAINING ITEM THAT WE HAVE TO PROVIDE TO THE CITY PARISH, AND THAT IS THE JOB SPECIFICATIONS OF JOB DESCRIPTIONS WE HAD INITIALLY PROVIDED THEM, UH, BUT AFTER CONSULTING WITH HR, UH, THEY REQUIRE SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO BE ADDED TO 'EM. SO WE ARE, UH, IN THE PROCESS OF FINISHING IT UP. WE SHOULD HAVE THOSE TO THEM. UH, NEXT WEEK. NEXT SLIDE. IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH THE VALUE OF THE JOBS, IT'S A TWO STAGE PROCESS. THE FIRST PROCESS IS TO ESTABLISH THE HIERARCHAL RELATIONSHIP, OR INTERNAL EQUITY, AS WE CALL IT, BY GRADING THE JOBS BASED ON THE JOB FACTOR OR CRITERIA YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU. THERE'S 14 OF THOSE. WE LOOK AT EVERYTHING FROM DATA THAT THE EMPLOYEES WORK WITH TO HOW THE EXERCISE JUDGMENT THEIR PEOPLE RESPONSIBILITY IN TERMS OF SUPERVISION, HOW COMPLEX THE JOB IS, UH, ASSET OR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, IMPACT DECISION MAKING, EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, EQUIPMENT, UTILIZE PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS, [04:30:01] COMMUNICATION, MATH OR STATISTICAL REQUIREMENTS, UNAVOIDABLE HAZARDS, SAFETY OF OTHERS. MY JOB AS A CONSULTANT IS TO GRADE THE JOBS ON A SCALE, A DIFFICULTY SCALE OF ONE TO 10, UH, IN EACH ONE OF THOSE CATEGORIES. AND AS I DO THAT, THE SOFTWARE APPLICATION, UH, PRODUCES A REPORT THAT SHOWS ME BASED ON THE OVERALL QUANTITATIVE POINT SCORE, UH, IN DESCENDING ORDER SHOWS ME THE, UH, MOST COMPLEX POSITION BASED ON QUANTITATIVE POINT SCORE. AND THEN IN DESCENDING ORDER TO THE LEAST COMPLEX JOB BASED ON THE LOWEST, UH, QUANTITATIVE POINT SCORE, UH, OF THE PROCESS. NEXT SLIDE. SO THE SECOND, UH, STEP, OR THE SECOND PART OF THE PROCESS IS TO COLLECT, UH, WAGE AND SALARY INFORMATION FROM OTHER PEER ORGANIZATIONS. WHAT YOU'LL SEE ON THE SCREEN NOW ARE THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE MUTUALLY AGREED UPON, UM, BY THE COMPANY. AND, UH, THE COMMITTEE THAT WE STEERING THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, UH, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE, UH, UH, ORGANIZATIONS ARE IN LOUISIANA AND THE SURROUNDING STATES. UH, WE ALSO LOOKED OUTSIDE OF THE STATE. UH, WE, WE WERE LOOKING AT, UH, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAD SIMILAR CHARACTERISTICS SUCH AS THEY WERE COMBINED CITY, COUNTY, OR CITY PARISH, UH, ORGANIZATIONS, UH, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WERE CONSIDERED UNIVERSITY TOWNS HAD, UH, MULTIPLE, UH, HIGHER EDUCATION, UH, INSTITUTIONS WITHIN THEIR BORDERS. AND THEN THE LAST ITEM THAT SAYS O NET, UH, WHICH IS WHERE WE GET OUR PRIVATE SECTOR DATA FROM. SO ANY JOBS THAT EXISTED IN THE CITY PARISH, WE WERE ABLE TO FIND, UH, PAY INFORMATION OF COMPARABLE JOBS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. SO, IN A NUTSHELL, IN ORDER TO DO THIS, AND IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO OUR COMPANY OR ME AS A CONSULTANT, YOU'VE GOT TO GRADE THE JOBS BASED ON THE JOB FACTOR CRITERIA. YOU'VE GOT TO COLLECT MARKET DATA ON THE AVERAGE ANNUAL VALUE OF THE POSITIONS THAT EXIST, SIMILAR IN OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. AND THEN WE USE, UH, INFERENTIAL STATISTICAL ANALYSIS, UH, KNOWN AS LINEAR REGRESSION TO CREATE THE NEW SALARY SCHEDULES. UH, AND THEN WE GO THROUGH A HOST OF COSTING, UH, GYRATIONS TO DETERMINE THE FINANCIAL IMPACT BY DEPARTMENT, BY INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE, AND THE ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WE CREATED THREE DIFFERENT PAY PLANS, UH, FOR THE ORGANIZATION. WE CREATED ONE FOR FIRE POLICE, AND THEN ANY EMPLOYEE WHOSE POSITION WAS NOT IN FIRE. POLICE WERE ASSIGNED TO A PAY PLAN KNOWN AS THE UNIFIED PLAN, WHICH IS THE LARGEST, UH, PLAN. IT HAS THE MOST PEOPLE AND THE MOST DIVERSE GROUP OF JOBS IN IT. WHEN WE BUILT THE STUDY, UH, WE INCLUDED A 3.5% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR EVERY EMPLOYEE. SO EVERYONE GETS THAT BASELINE OF 3.5, AND THEN WE BUILD, UH, UP UPWARD FROM THERE BASED ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEIR EXISTING SALARY AND THE PAY RANGE THAT WE'VE ASSIGNED TO THEIR PARTICULAR PAY GRADE, UH, AND POSITION TO IMPLEMENT. THE RESULTS FOR THE, UH, FIRE PLAN IS $3.9 MILLION, WHICH REPRESENTS AN INCREASE IN PAYROLL OF 11.7%. UM, THE, UH, 11.7% DOES NOT INCLUDE FRINGE BENEFITS COST. THAT'S DIRECT SALARY, 3.9 MILLION TO IMPLEMENT THE FIRE PLAN. THERE ARE 630, UH, UH, TWO POSITIONS, OR 612 POSITIONS WITHIN THE FIRE. UH, PLAN. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AND THE FIRE PLAN. THERE'S, UH, A POLICE PLAN. THERE'S 798 POSITIONS. UH, ALSO WE BUILT IN A 3.5% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT. THE TOTAL COST TO IMPLEMENT THE STUDY FOR THE, UH, UH, POLICE, UH, IS A 4.7 MILLION, WHICH IN IS A INCREASE TO CURRENT PAYROLL OF 11.2%. AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE, UH, BENEFITS COST AS WELL. NEXT SLIDE. THE FINAL PLAN, UH, IS THE UNIFIED PLAN, WHICH IS THE LARGEST GROUP. THERE ARE 3018 POSITIONS OR PEOPLE IN THAT PLAN. THEY ALSO GET THE 3.5% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT. THE TOTAL COST OF THAT PLAN IS 11.4, UH, MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH INCREASES PAYROLL BY 8.8%. NEXT SLIDE. AND IN TOTAL, IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE STUDY, UH, WHICH HAD A TOTAL OF 4,428 POSITIONS OR PEOPLE IN IT, THE TOTAL COST TO IMPLEMENT THE STUDY IS $20,255,775, WHICH REPRESENTS A SEVEN, UH, EXCUSE ME, A 9.8% INCREASE, UH, TO CURRENT PAYROLL. AND AGAIN, THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COST OF FRINGE BENEFITS. A COUPLE OF COMMON, UH, UH, ANECDOTAL COMMENTS. THE CURRENT PAY SCALES OF THE CITY PARISH ARE WOEFULLY LOW AND SIGNIFICANTLY BEHIND THE MARKETPLACE. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE CURRENTLY EMPLOYED, UH, WITH, WITH THE CITY PARISH THAT ARE MAKING A LITTLE OVER $10 AN HOUR. THIS WOULD MOVE THE LOWEST LEVEL JOBS TO ABOUT $13 AN HOUR. ALRIGHT, UH, AND NEXT SLIDE. UH, SOME ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. WHEN WE STARTED THE STUDY, THE CITY WAS, UH, CITY PARISH WAS AT THE 45TH PERCENTILE AMONG THE PEERS, UH, IN COMPENSATION, CONSULTING AND COMPENSATION IN GENERAL, YOU CANNOT, UH, UH, OPERATE EFFECTIVELY AT [04:35:01] THE 45TH PERCENTILE AS EVIDENCED BY HUMAN RESOURCES. THEY HAVE STATISTICS THAT SHOW THAT SOME JOBS, UH, ARE POSTED FOR MONTHS ON END. JUST DON'T GET QUALIFIED PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO APPLY, EVEN IF THEY KNOW YOU'RE WILLING TO NEGOTIATE. THE SALARY SCALES ARE SO FAR BEHIND. MOST PEOPLE FEEL YOU'RE NOT GONNA NEGOTIATE TO THAT DEGREE. SO OFTENTIMES JOBS HAS TO BE REPOSTED. OR WHAT HAPPENS IS, UH, THE ORGANIZATION WINDS UP HIRING SOMEONE THAT'S NOT COMPLETELY QUALIFIED, BUT HOPING TO TRAIN AND DEVELOP THEM. UH, BASED ON RESULTS OF THE STUDY THAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER. IT MOVES YOU TO THE 65TH PERCENTILE, WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY WILL IMPROVE RECRUITMENT, UH, AND RETENTION, UH, IN THE ORGANIZATION. THE CITY IS QUICKLY BECOMING A TRAINING GROUND, UH, FOR, UH, UH, INDIVIDUALS THAT COME IN. UH, THEY GET THEIR EXPERIENCE, UH, AND THEN THEY MOVE ON TO GREENER PASTURES, UH, BASED ON PAY. UH, AND SO IT IS A DIFFICULT SITUATION. THE HR DEPARTMENT HAS DONE, UH, A REALLY GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO PUT BANDAIDS, UH, ON WHAT IS, CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS A, UH, GUSHING WOUND AT THIS POINT. UM, THEY'VE TRIED TO INCREASE HIRING RATES FOR SOME JOBS, ABOUT 50 OR 60 JOBS. BUT WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU CREATE DISPARITIES INTERNALLY BECAUSE OTHER JOBS RATES AREN'T BEING INCREASED. SO IT, IT REALLY COMPOUNDS THE SITUATION. UH, ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS IN THIS ORGANIZATION IS THE COST OF YOUR FRINGE BENEFITS. YOUR OVERALL BENEFITS PACKAGE IS VERY GOOD. YOU, YOU ARE IN LINE WITH THE MARKET, UH, AND EVERY MATRIX IN TERMS OF BENEFITS, BUT IT IS YOUR PENSION PLANS THAT ARE CAUSE FOR SIGNIFICANT CONCERN. IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, THE AVERAGE FRINGE BENEFIT COSTS ARE AROUND 33 TO 38%. YOUR FRINGE BENEFIT COSTS ARE 75%. THE AVERAGE 33 TO 38, YOURS ARE AT 75%. SO IF I'M A $20,000 A YEAR EMPLOYEE, CAN YOU START THAT PART BACK OVER ONE TIME FOR ME? OKAY. JUST . THE AVERAGE GOVERNMENTAL FRINGE BENEFIT COSTS RANGE FROM 33 TO 38%. ON AVERAGE, YOUR FRINGE BENEFIT COSTS ARE 75%. SO IF I'M A $20,000 A YEAR EMPLOYEE, NOT ONLY IS THE CITY PAYING ME $20,000 IN SALARY, BUT YOU'VE GOTTA PAY ANOTHER 75% OF THE 20,000 TO COVER MY FRIENDS' BENEFITS. UM, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 25 YEARS. I'VE DONE 300 OF THESE STUDIES AROUND THE COUNTRY. I'VE NEVER SEEN FRINGE BENEFIT COST TO THAT LEVEL. YOUR PENSION PLANS ARE VERY, VERY GENEROUS, UH, BUT UNSUSTAINABLE. YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THAT INDEFINITELY WITHOUT EITHER MASSIVE TAX INCREASES OR SOME OTHER REVENUE SOURCE. YOU'RE JUST NOT. UH, AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU DEFINITELY NEED TO LOOK AT. I DO KNOW WE RECOMMENDED EARLY ON IN THE PROCESS AND THE CITY DID MOVE FORWARD, UH, AND ISSUED AN RFP TO HAVE, UH, A FIRM THAT SPECIALIZES IN, IN BENEFIT, UH, UH, UH, DEVELOPMENT, UH, AND ACTUARIAL, UH, ACCOUNTING STAFF TO COME IN AND LOOK AT, TO SEE HOW LONG CAN YOU CONTINUE TO AFFORD SUCH A, UH, LUXURIOUS, UH, PENSION PLAN, PENSION PLANS, AS WELL AS TO LOOK TO SEE ABOUT MAYBE RECONSTITUTING, UH, UH, SOME OF YOUR, YOUR, YOUR BENEFITS, PRIMARILY THE PENSION PLAN GOING FORWARD. UH, AND SO I THINK THAT PROCESS IS UNDERWAY. UH, HR AND DANTE CAN SPEAK, UH, MORE TO THAT THAN I CAN NEXT LOT. I JUST SAID THE, THE, THE CITY PARISH HAS HIRED A, A, A FIRM THAT SPECIALIZES IN BENEFITS TO COME IN AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, UH, UH, THE CURRENT SERVICE OFFERINGS TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE, UH, GOING FORWARD. UM, ALSO WE THINK, UH, THE CITY WOULD BENEFIT GREATLY FROM HIRING SOMEONE TO COME IN AND DO AN OPERATIONAL REVIEW, TOP TO BOTTOM OF EVERY DEPARTMENT AND EVERY FUNCTION IN THIS LOCAL GOVERNMENT. UM, JUST IN A SHORT TIME I'VE BEEN HERE AND I'VE BEEN AN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, AND I'VE WORKED IN SOME LARGE CITIES, UH, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY THAT PROBABLY HAS 10,000 PEOPLE AS WELL AS, UH, CITIES IN TEXAS AND FLORIDA THAT ARE FOUR OR FIVE TIMES THE SIZE OF THIS ORGANIZATION. THERE ARE SOME DUPLICATION OF EFFORT. UH, THERE'S SOME INEFFICIENT PROCESSES. UH, THERE IS LIMITED USE OF TECHNOLOGY TO MINIMIZE STAFFING. UM, AND SO I THINK IN LIGHT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE NEWLY CREATED CITY THAT'S COMING ON BOARD, IT WOULD BE WHO THE ORGANIZATION TO TAKE A LOOK AT. THE ORGANIZATION AS IT PRESENTLY STANDS TO SEE IF IT'S, UH, SUSTAINABLE, TO SEE IF OPERATIONS CAN BE APPROVED, IMPROVED, STREAMLINED, UH, GOING FORWARD. UH, IT LOOKS LIKE THINGS HAVE BEEN SORT OF, UH, CHANGED INCREMENTALLY. UH, BUT SOMETIMES IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH BUDGETING, YOU KNOW THAT ZERO BASED BUDGETING IS CONSIDERED THE IDEAL APPROACH TO BUDGETING. WHEREVER YOU, YOU START FROM ZERO AND JUSTIFY YOUR PROGRAMS. WHAT I'M SAYING IN TERMS OF OPERATIONS AND HOW THE CITY PARISH OPERATES, YOU NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE [04:40:01] COME IN AND LOOK AT IT FROM THE GROUND UP, UH, TO SEE HOW IT CAN BE RECONSTITUTED IN LIGHT OF WHAT IS PROBABLY GONNA BE SOME CHANGES IN YOUR REVENUE O ONCE THAT NEW CITY COMES ON BOARD. I'VE SEEN THIS SITUATION IN GEORGIA MULTIPLE TIMES. UM, NEXT SLIDE. I APOLOGIZE FOR GOING THROUGH THIS RATHER QUICKLY, BUT I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE FOR FOUR AND A HALF HOURS. UH, I'VE KIND OF HAD ENOUGH TO BE QUITE FRANK. YOU GONNA MEET BOTH? UH, AND SO, UH, LIKE I SAID, WE PROVIDED THE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT. WE PROVIDED AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. WE'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE. I'M ALWAYS AVAILABLE, UH, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, OR ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED. BUT THERE'S A LOT OF HEAVY LIFTING TO BE DONE HERE. YOUR SALARIES ARE ABYSMAL, AND I'M SAYING THAT NICELY ABYSMAL. YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO HIRE THE TYPE OF PEOPLE YOU NEED. WHEN YOU LOOK AT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE DIVERSITY OF JOBS THAT EXIST IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO HIRE COMPETENT, QUALIFIED PEOPLE ON THE SALARIES THAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE. YOU'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO HIRE PEOPLE THAT ARE MARGINALLY QUALIFIED AND HOPE THAT YOU CAN TRAIN THEM AND DEVELOP THEM. BUT THEN WHEN YOU DO, SOMEBODY ELSE IS GONNA TAKE THEM BECAUSE THE SALARIES ARE SO LOW. I'LL BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS SOME QUESTIONS. SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN WE'LL COME TO THE COUNCIL AND I'M SURE THEY HAVE QUESTIONS. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? AND NOW I'LL GO TO COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN HUDSON, THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT. THAT WAS THOROUGH AND, AND WELL RECEIVED. UM, YOU TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE FRINGE BENEFITS, THAT 75% NUMBER, UM, BREAK THAT DOWN BETWEEN INSURANCE COSTS AND I CAN'T DO THAT. YOU'D HAVE TO GET THAT FROM HR. I, I, I DID. I I DID NOT GO INTO THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL IN BREAKING IT OUT. UH, AND I CERTAINLY WEREN'T PREPARED TO DO THAT FOR THIS MEETING. OKAY. BUT THAT INFORMATION ALREADY EXISTS IN HR AND THEY CAN PROVIDE IT TO YOU. LET ME JUST ASK THIS. DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE BULK OF THAT EXPENSES IN THE PENSION AND, AND NOT IN INSURANCE? MOST OF IT'S IN PENSION. MOST OF IT'S IN PENSIONS. OKAY. UM, YOU GAVE A FIGURE, JUST FOR EXAMPLE, ON POLICE PAY OF 4.7 MILLION FOR IMPLEMENTATION. MM-HMM. TAKING THAT FIGURE, WHAT WOULD BE THE STARTING PAY? BECAUSE I, IN YOUR REPORT, I SEE LOW END, AVERAGE AND HIGH END. IF WE WERE TO IMPLEMENT, IF WE WERE TO FUND ADDITIONAL 4.7 MILLION TO POLICE, WHAT, WHAT WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE AS OUR STARTING POLICE PAY? WELL, FOR SOMEONE THAT DIDN'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE, THEY JUST CAME OUTTA THE ACADEMY. THE MINIMUM THAT WE PROVIDED WOULD BE THE STARTING PAY FOR SOMEONE WHO'S ALREADY CERTIFIED, MAYBE COMING FROM ANOTHER JURISDICTION. UM, THE CHIEF, UH, WHOEVER THE HIRING MANAGER WOULD NEGOTIATE WHERE THEY WOULD FOLLOW WITHIN THE PAY RANGE. SO, BUT EVERY JOB IS ASSIGNED TO A GRADE. EVERY GRADE HAS A SALARY RANGE, A MINIMUM, WHICH IS INDICATIVE OF THE STARTING SALARY OR ENTRY LEVEL, THE MIDPOINT, WHICH IS INDICATIVE OF THE MARKET AVERAGE. AND THEN THE MAXIMUM IS CONSIDERED THE TOP VALUE OF THE JOB AT THIS POINT IN TIME. SO POLICE DOES HAVE, UH, A MINIMUM, UM, SALARY LEVEL. SO SHE HAS, UM, BASED OFF THE PROPOSED PAY SCHEDULE FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS, THE INCOMING, OR THE STARTING SALARY IS PROPOSED AT 52,657. OKAY. AND THEN THAT NUMBER BELOW IT THAT I'M SEEING, THAT'S OUR CURRENT LEVEL, 36, 3 45. OUR CURRENT LEVEL FOR OUR POLICE OFFICER IS AT 40,906. GOTCHA. GOTCHA. ALRIGHT. SO UNDER THAT PLAN, 52,657 WOULD BE THE STARTING POLICE PAY? YES. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. COUNCILMAN MO. THANK YOU. UM, REAL QUICK, WE MENTIONED THE FIRE PLAN AND, UH, SEVERAL COUNSEL, WELL, A WHILE BACK, IT'S GONNA BE ON THE BALLOT. THIS, UH, GO AROUND, UH, THEY HAVE A BALLOT INITIATIVE FOR A PROPERTY MILLAGE STRICTLY TO INCREASE THEIR PAY. UH, DEDICATED TO THAT, UM, IS, WAS THAT TOO LATE IN THE GAME WHEN WE APPROVED THAT TO BE ON THE BALLOT TO BE IN THIS REPORT? OR HOW MUCH THEY WOULD, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IT'S $9 MILLION. THAT IS NOT FACTORED INTO THE STUDY. OKAY. SO THAT WOULD REDUCE DOWN. IT WOULD SOME YOU HAVE TO RERUN THE NUMBERS. OKAY. AND THAT'S EASY. I'M SURE THAT'S EASILY DONE IN Y'ALL'S MATRIX ONCE WE DO THAT. YES. OKAY. AND WE GOT 9 MILLION SHORTFALL FOR FIRE, 4 MILLION FROM, FOR POLICE. WHY DID WE NOT, UH, IN A LOT OF THESE THINGS, WHY DO WE NOT INCLUDE THE FRINGE BENEFITS OR THE, THE INCLUDE BENEFITS IN THE, HOW MUCH WE WOULD YOU, YOU, I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO, YOU SAID SAY WE NEED TO BE AROUND $20 MILLION SHORTFALL TO INCREASE ALL THESE PAYS. MM-HMM, , WHY WOULD WE NOT INCLUDE THE, THE BENEFITS TO GET A TOTAL NUMBER OF WHAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY NEED? BECAUSE, UH, COMPENSATION COMES IN TWO FORMS. THERE'S DIRECT COMPENSATION, WHICH IS SALARY, UH, AND THEN THERE'S INDIRECT COMPENSATION, WHICH IS THE BENEFITS. OKAY. SO ESSENTIALLY, SO WE WERE TASKED WITH, UH, ESSENTIALLY [04:45:01] WHAT WE COULD DO IS TAKE THE $20 MILLION AND DO 75% OF THAT . THAT WOULD BE AN INTERNAL DECISION. AND THAT'S HOW MUCH WE WOULD NEED TO ACTUALLY MAKE UP TO DO A COMPLETE, I WOULDN'T ADVISE THAT. NO, THE 75% HAS THE HEALTH INSURANCE IN IT. SO YOU WOULD JUST DO RETIREMENT, SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, AND, UH, OPEP. AND THAT'S 58%. SO WE HAVE THE NUMBERS TO FIGURE THAT OUT THOUGH. 17 IS THE HEALTH INSURANCE OF THE 75. OKAY. SO WE HAVE THE NUMBERS TO FIGURE THAT OUT. THE TOTAL THAT WE WOULD NEED TO COME UP WITH 32 MILLION. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. SEE? UM, ALL RIGHT. LAST THING IS, UM, WE TALK ABOUT THE, THE, THE PERCENTAGE OF BENEFITS OR, OR PENSION AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. HOW MUCH, AND IF WE HAVE THESE NUMBERS, GREAT. UH, IF ANYBODY CAN ANSWER IT, HOW MUCH, IF WE, IF WE REALIGN OUR BENEFITS PACKAGES AND STUFF TO WHERE THEY SHOULD BE NORMALLY, INSTEAD OF EXORBITANTLY THAT THEY ARE, THEN THAT REDUCES THAT 32 MILLION FINANCE QUESTION. SO WE HAVE, I GUESS THEY WOULD ALL SET EACH OTHER. WELL, WE HAVE LOOKED INTO THAT AND, UM, I THINK WE HAD ALL MADE A COMMITMENT TO Y'ALL LAST BUDGET YEAR THAT WE WOULD LOOK INTO REDUCING OUR COST AND BENEFITS AS THEY CURRENTLY ARE AND ARE UNFUNDED LIABILITIES. WE HAD SOME LEGAL OPINIONS DRAWN UP. AND OUR PROBLEM IS, IS THAT YOU CAN'T, THE WAY OUR ORDINANCES ARE WRITTEN AND THE, THAT PEOPLE SIGNED CONTRACTS, YOU CANNOT CHANGE BENEFITS FOR PEOPLE. LET'S SAY YOU CAN CHANGE THE BENEFIT FOR SOMEONE HIRED TOMORROW, BUT NOT ANYONE HIRED TODAY AND PREVIOUS. SO THEREFORE, THE, THIS CAUSES A FINANCIAL KIND OF UPSIDE DOWN BECAUSE YOU'VE STILL GOTTA PAY THAT RETIREMENT FOR PEOPLE. AND I'LL JUST USE ME, OKAY. ME AND THE PEOPLE HIRED BEFORE ME. SO WHERE YOU MADE THE PEOPLE WHO YOU'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE TO FUND THAT RETIREMENT COST. SO MAYBE IT'S 58% TODAY, BUT AFTER YOU DID THAT EFFECT, IT'S STILL, IT MIGHT BE 80%. SO THE TRUE SAVINGS MIGHT NOT BE THERE. OKAY. DOES, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? YEAH, GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. 'CAUSE HE DOES THE, THE, THE TYPICAL WAY THIS IS HANDLED IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS THAT YOU, YOU'VE, YOU'VE TAKEN STEP ONE, YOU'VE HIRED AN EXPERT THAT, UH, SPECIALIZES IN BENEFITS PLAN DEVELOPMENT. AND SO WHATEVER THEY COME BACK WITH, YOU DECIDE TO ADOPT IT. GENERALLY THOSE THAT ARE ALREADY EMPLOYED WOULD BE GRANDFATHERED IN. YOU'D SET A CUTOFF DATE WHERE NEW EMPLOYEES WOULD COME UNDER THE NEW PLAN. RIGHT. BUT THOSE THAT ARE ALREADY HERE, THEY WOULD BE GRANDFATHERED IN. THAT'S, THAT'S GENERALLY HOW, UH, IT'S DONE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. OTHERWISE, YOU, YOU, YOU'RE GONNA WIND UP LITIGATION. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. UH, AGAIN, GREAT REPORT. VERY EYE OPENING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYBODY ELSE? COUNCILMAN HURST? UH, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR, UH, PRESENTING TONIGHT. THANK Y'ALL FOR ADOPTING THE CASE STUDY AND SHOWING WHERE WE SHOULD BE VERSUS WHERE WE ARE. I DO HAVE, MY FIRST QUESTION IS, UM, WHEN I INITIALLY ASKED THAT THIS BE, UH, DONE, ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO CONSIDER WAS HOW WE COMPETE IN THE MARKETPLACE. AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS AN ELECTRICIAN FOR THE CITY VERSUS AN ELECTRICIAN FOR EXXON, RIGHT? SO DID WE TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION TO UNDERSTAND SOME MIDDLE GROUND BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PAY? 'CAUSE WE'RE STILL COMPETING FOR THE LIMITED WORKFORCE. UH, AS I SAID, UH, DURING THE PRESENTATION, YOU'RE AT THE 45TH PERCENTILE OF THE MARKET. WE ARE MOVING YOU TO THE 65TH PERCENTILE AT THE 45TH PERCENTILE. YOU CAN'T COMPETE, UH, WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR BECAUSE YOU CAN'T COMPETE WITH SOME OF THE SMALLER LOCAL GOVERNMENT JURISDICTION, UH, THAT PAY BETTER AND NO DISRESPECT. BUT THAT WASN'T MY QUESTION. I WAS ASKING WAS IT CONSIDERED TO LOOK AT, AND I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION. WE LOOKED AT PRIVATE SECTOR AND PUBLIC SECTOR. OKAY. I APPRECIATE IT. YEAH, I DID. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THEN IN TERMS OF BENEFITS, UM, I KNOW THAT WE'RE STILL EXAMINING THOSE BENEFITS. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW? 'CAUSE I, I DON'T ALWAYS UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON. THIS, THIS IS YOUR DEPARTMENT, BUT WHEN I DID THE MATH HISTORICALLY, I LOOKED AT, UM, UH, MY LEGISLATIVE AID THAT WAS THERE BEFORE TOTAL COMPENSATION. THE TIME SHE WAS MAKING 53 TOTAL COMPENSATION WAS 88 5. WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO, 'CAUSE I WORKED WITH AT T FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND I SAW WE MIGRATED AWAY FROM PENSION. WE HAD ONE OF THE LARGEST PENSION SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY, AND THERE WAS AN OPTION FOR 401K, ONLY FOR NEW HIRE, NEW HIRES. THERE WAS A PENSION AND 401K HYBRID, AND THEN THERE WAS A PENSION ONLY IF PEOPLE WANTED TO STAY GRANDFATHERED IN. SO IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN OFFER SO THAT WE CAN LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE AND TAKE SOME OF THAT WEIGHT OFF OF THE [04:50:01] SYSTEM, WHICH WILL ALLOW 'EM TO PAY MORE? AND THE REASON WHY IT'S THAT QUESTION IS BECAUSE OUR PEOPLE ARE RETIRING POOR AND THEY, THEY, I MEAN, A COUPLE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, UNLESS THEY'RE IN A HIGHER PAYING POSITION, UM, WITHIN CITY PARISH, THEY'RE RETIRING STILL TO GET OTHER JOBS A FEW YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, NOT ABLE TO ENJOY THE FRUIT OF THEIR LABOR. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS RECOMMENDED WITH THIS STUDY IS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO BRING IN ANOTHER CONSULTANT TO EXTENSIVELY LOOK AT OUR BENEFITS AND WHAT WAS SUGGESTED OF CONSIDER THE 401K, WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY OFFERING. THIS STUDY DID NOT ENCOMPASS THAT. SO THAT WOULD BE A NEED TO BE A SEPARATE STUDY. UH, THAT WAS, CAN SOMEBODY FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE COME TO THE MIC, PLEASE. OKAY. THIS WAS EXPLICITLY TALKED ABOUT THAT IT HAD TO BE INCLUDED AND THAT WE WOULD ADD DOLLAR PER HOURS AS A PART OF THE CONTRACT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT INITIALLY PUT IN. I SAT OUTSIDE IN THE SAME HALL WITH, WITH BRIAN, AND HE SAID, WELL, COUNSEL, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS WE'RE GOING TO INCLUDE DOLLAR PER HOUR, UM, OVER THE ALLOCATED AMOUNT THAT YOU CAN CHARGE TO DO OTHER THINGS. SO WHERE DO WE DROP THE BALL ON THIS MAN? I'M NOT, I'M NOT SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING YOUR QUESTION WHEN YOU SAY DOLLAR PER HOUR. SO THAT WAS EXTENSIVE. CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN? I DON'T WHAT I MEAN BY THAT. UH, YOU WANT ME TO CALL BRIAN? I PUT MY PHONE TO THE MICROPHONE. I'M, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE FUNNY. I GENUINELY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION SERIOUS. SO THIS WAS NOT INCLUDED IN INITIAL STUDY. THAT'S WHY I TOLD BRIAN, I DIDN'T GIVE YOU THIS IDEA. 'CAUSE THEN Y'ALL DIDN'T COME UP WITH IT. I DIDN'T GIVE YOU THIS IDEA TO NOT DO THE FULL STUDY. IT MAKES NO SENSE TO TELL PEOPLE THEY SHOULD MAKE WHEN YOU CAN'T PAY HIM. SO THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE INITIAL STUDY. THAT'S, I WANT THANK THE FIREMEN FOR MOVING, FOR DOING THE MILLAGE. 'CAUSE THE GOLD POST IS MOVING, JUST LIKE YOU TOLD ME A THOUSAND TIMES. SO I'M, I HOPE YOUR MILLAGE GOES THROUGH, 'CAUSE THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I ASKED, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN JULY, WHICH INCLUDED THE BENEFITS SO THAT WE COULD USE THE BENEFITS TO SEE IF THERE WAS MONIES LEFT IN THERE TO OFFSET SOME OF THE COSTS OF THE 20 MILLION, 32 MILLION. THEN WE NEED TO MAKE UP BY RESTRUCTURING BENEFITS AND OFFERING OTHER OPTIONS. SO THE FACT, BUT I, BUT I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S NOT INCLUDED RIGHT NOW, IS ASININE, BUT I THINK THAT'S WHAT, UM, ANGIE WAS TRYING TO ARTICULATE IS THAT WE CAN'T ADJUST THE BENEFITS FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY HERE. YOU CAN, YOU CAN ONLY DO GOING, WHICH IS WHAT I ASKED FOR, MAN. YOU CAN DO THE STUDY. I GOT AN EMAIL TO THE MAYOR, YOU, ANGIE, EVERYBODY ELSE, BRIAN, TO MAKE SURE THE BENEFITS WERE INCLUDED. THIS IS A WASTE OF EVERYBODY'S TIME, MAN. THANK YOU , EVERYONE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. AND SIR, I'M SORRY I DID NOT CATCH YOUR NAME, BUT I DO. MR. RUSSELL, I WANNA TELL YOU, UM, IN MY FORMER PREVIOUS CAREER, I HAD, UH, I'VE PARTICIPATED IN COMPENSATION STUDIES AT 20, 30, 40, 50 FOR PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ENTITIES. AND YOUR PRESENTATION TONIGHT AND HOW INCREDIBLY THOROUGH YOU ARE IS JUST INCREDIBLY IMPRESSIVE. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING SO COMPACT, SO PRESENTED SO QUICKLY, SO ELOQUENTLY. UM, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VAST AMOUNT OF INFORMATION AND ANGIE AND OUR HR TEAM AND, UM, MR. BIDWELL. UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT ALL OF THESE THINGS CANNOT BE LOOKED IN A VACUUM AND YOU HAVE TO BUILD UPON THE INFORMATION. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE PEOPLE IN PLACE THAT CAN, THAT CAN LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS AND FIGURE OUT THOSE THINGS. AND I THINK, UM, I'LL, I'LL TAKE SOME TIME TO EXPLAIN THAT TO COUNCILMAN HURST LATER ABOUT HOW THAT INFORMATION, NOW THAT WE'VE GATHERED THOSE NUMBERS, THAT INFORMATION CAN BE BACKED OUT AND IT'S GONNA BE VERY SIMPLE BASED UPON HIS EXCELLENT WORK THAT HE'S DONE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE EVALUATIONS. UM, SO YES, SIR, GO AHEAD. I I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE LAST COMMENT. UM, IN, IN LINE WITH WHAT, UH, COUNCILMAN HURST WAS TALKING ABOUT, WE DID A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE BENEFITS TO SEE WHAT, UH, WAS BEING OFFERED BY THE PEERS VERSUS WHAT YOU'RE CURRENTLY OFFERING. OUR RESULTS SHOW THAT YOU ARE OFFERING VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING THE PEERS ARE OFFERING. THE PIECE THAT MR. HEARST IS ALLUDING TO IS THE COSTING PIECE. WE'RE NOT ACTUARIES. I UNDERSTAND. SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE TO COME IN WHO'S AN ACTUARY THAT CAN LOOK AT THE COST GOING FORWARD TO SEE AT WHAT POINT THERE'S A BREAKING POINT, AND THEN ALSO CAN REDESIGN YOUR BENEFITS PACKAGE TO CREATE A FOUR ONE K OR A 4 57. SO WE DID REVIEW BENEFITS FROM A COMPARATIVE STANDPOINT, BUT THE COSTING ASPECT OF IT, THAT'S A SPECIALIZED SKILL THAT REQUIRES SOMEONE WITH THAT EXPERTISE. YES, SIR. I, I ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND THAT AND THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THAT FOR OUR GROUP. UM, I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE. UM, BUT THE ONE QUESTION THAT I HAD, AND IT'S BASICALLY BASED IN ON YOUR PROFESSIONAL OPINION ON WHAT YOU'RE SEEING. SURE. WITH REGARD TO TRENDS, JUST SO WE UNDERSTAND PEOPLE COMING IN, THE DIFFERENCES IN GENERATIONS. UM, IS THE YOUNGER GENERATION, ARE THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS LOOKING FOR THAT ROBUST BENEFIT PACKAGE OR ARE THEY LOOKING FOR MORE PAY? NO, AND, AND I'VE GOT TWO MILLENNIALS, UH, DAUGHTERS. UM, THEY [04:55:01] ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE ANNUAL SALARY IS. OKAY. UH, MILLENNIALS TEND TO FOCUS ON PAY TIME OFF, AND WHAT ELSE CAN I GET IN TERMS OF WORK LIFE BALANCE? YES, SIR. AND I, I FIGURED THAT WAS GONNA BE YOUR ANSWER, BUT I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH MY COLLEAGUES BECAUSE GENERATIONALLY SPEAKING, PEOPLE'S INTERESTS HAVE CHANGED. THERE'S, PEOPLE DON'T STAY WITH COMPANIES FOR 20 YEARS NOW, AND THEY, AND CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW, HOW PEOPLE MOVE THROUGHOUT POSITIONS AND THEY, THEY DON'T REALLY WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND THE TREND LOOKS LIKE CURRENTLY THE AVERAGE PERSON IN THEIR LIFETIME WILL PROBABLY CHANGE JOBS SEVEN, EIGHT, MAYBE NINE TIMES, WHERE 20 YEARS AGO, 25 YEARS AGO, THEY MAY CHANGE JOBS THREE TIMES FOUR AT THE MAX. AND SO GENERAL, GENERATIONALLY SPEAKING, UH, THE VIEW OF, UH, EMPLOYMENT HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY. WHERE, UH, I'M IN MY, UH, EARLY FIFTIES AND SO I WAS RAISED THAT YOU WORK, YOU WORK AND THEN EVENTUALLY YOU RETIRE. WHERE NOW THE MINDSET IS I'LL WORK AS LONG AS I LIKE THE PAY, I LIKE THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT WHEN I GET TO THE POINT WHERE I DON'T LIKE THE PAY OR I DON'T LIKE THE ENVIRONMENT, I'LL JUST FIND ANOTHER JOB. THAT'S THE MENTALITY THAT WE SEE NOW. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN'T TAKE A BENEFIT FROM ANYONE OR WE CAN'T ALTER THAT AND IT'S A GRANDFATHER PROCESS. BUT BASED UPON WHAT YOU SEE WITH OUR, WITH THE NUMBERS THAT YOU EVALUATED, WOULD IT BE FAIR TO SAY THAT OUR SYSTEM CURRENTLY OUR SYSTEM OF PAY, OUR BENEFIT SYSTEM IS SOMEWHAT ANTIQUATED? IT'S BROKEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND I I, THIS IS AN AMAZING REPORT. I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANKS. APPRECIATE IT. COUNCILMAN HURST. YEAH. SO I, I UNDERSTAND 100% WHAT SHE'S SAYING. CAN I HAVE HR COME TO THE MIC PLEASE? WAS THERE AN ABILITY TO DO A SIMULTANEOUS CASE STUDY TO SEE WHAT OPTIONS WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS PACKAGES WHILE WE WERE BREAKING, UM, DOWN THE SALARIES? IT WOULDN'T BE THE BEST OPTION TO RUN IT SIMULTANEOUSLY. WE WOULD NEED THE INFORMATION FROM THIS SALARY SURVEY AND THEN COME IN AND DO A SEPARATE ANALYSIS OF OUR BENEFITS. OKAY. FROM THE PERSPECTIVE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR. AND, AND I, AND I'LL RECEIVE THAT IF, IF THE INITIAL DATE OF MAY TO JUNE, WHICH I HAVE ON MY EMAIL RIGHT HERE, WAS, UH, WAS ADHERED TO. BUT AGAIN, THE, THE GOAL POST KEEPS MOVING AND I SENT THIS TO PAUL. I'M TRYING TO FIND THE RESPONSES, WHICH I WILL GET TO HERE FOUR MINUTES. THAT'S FINE. I'LL TELL YOU. ALRIGHT, I'LL, I'LL READ THIS FIRST ONE. PAUL CASE STUDY WITHOUT CONSOLIDATION DOES NOT ALLOW US TO EFFECTIVELY CLOSE THE GAPS IN OUR WORKFORCE. AND WE DON'T WANT TO ASK FAMILIARITIES UNLESS NECESSARY. THEN THE TWO OPTIONS THAT MAKE THE MOST SENSE ARE TO CONSOLIDATE POSITIONS AND OR ATTEND RECONSTRUCTIVE PENSION AND EXAMPLES. I PAY MY EIGHT 53,000, BUT TOTAL COMPENSATION 88 5 48 IN THE CORPORATE WORLD, 6% MATCH ON 401K WILL BE ABOUT $3,180. AND ON THE HIGH END OF BENEFITS WILL BE ABOUT 12,000 FOR TOTAL COMPENSATION AROUND SIX 8,180. THIS WILL LEAVE TWENTY THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED SIXTY EIGHT THOUSAND NINETY CENTS ON THE TABLE TO PUT TOWARDS COMPENSATION. IT WILL KEEP THE SAME RETIREMENT PLAN AS IS CONSOLIDATION OF VACANT POSITIONS. THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN GET THE INCREASE WITHOUT, UH, GOING FORWARD MILLAGE, HIGH MILLAGE BASED ON PREVIOUS NUMBERS. CAN WE PULL OUR RP BACK AND ADD ADD CONSOLIDATIONS? THIS IS A DISCUSS. SO, SO I KNOW THAT YOU WEREN'T THE DIRECTOR AT THE TIME AND I KNOW EVERYBODY'S JUMPING IN NOW AND I APPRECIATE THE, THE COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS TO PUT THIS TOGETHER. BUT THERE WERE SPECIFIC THINGS THAT WERE ASKED ABOUT CONSOLIDATION OF POSITIONS. NUMBER ONE IS TELL YOU, 'CAUSE YOU TALKED ABOUT DUPLICATION EARLIER. ALRIGHT, YOU LEVERAGED THE TECHNOLOGY, WHICH WAS ALREADY ASKED IN THERE WHETHER WE USE IT OR NOT. AND, AND THEN NUMBER TWO WAS, I'M TRYING TO FIND ANOTHER ONE. WHAT, BUT THE OTHER ONE, WHAT IT WAS ABOUT, UM, THE, THE STUDY AND THE RESPONSE WAS, IS THAT THAT'S WHY WE ADDED THE ADDITIONAL MONIES ON THERE FOR DOLLAR PER HOUR. ANYTHING OVER, OVER WHAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE. I BELIEVE IT WAS TWO, 300 HOURS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. UM, BECAUSE THE AMOUNT CAME IN UNDER WHAT WE EXPECTED ABOUT 300,000, THEN Y'ALL A HUNDRED SOMETHING THOUSAND AND THAT THE MONEY LEFT OVER CAN BE CHARGED DOLLAR PER HOUR TO DO, THERE'S NOT ADDITIONAL CONTRACTS. SO I, I LOOK, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE PICKED, YOU GOT HANDED THE, THE, THE BATON. BUT THIS IS, YEAH, I, I MEAN I HEAR YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE BENEFITS. THE SALARY DATA THAT WAS PROVIDED DID REPRESENT A COMPRESSION OF SOME OF THE CLASSES. SO IF YOU GO THROUGH MISS A BIG REPORT, BUT IT DOES REPRESENT A CON CONDENSED CLASSIFICATIONS AS WAS REQUESTED. ALRIGHT. AND THEN I ALSO ASKED, IS JAMES VIN A PART OF THIS AS WELL? UH, NO. I HAVE AN EMAIL ON FIVE SEVEN THAT GOES TO DANTE BIDWELL, SHARON, WESTERN BROOM, LINDA HUNT, BRIAN BERNARD, [05:00:01] AND EVERYBODY IN MY OFFICE THAT SAYS, SHOULD WE INCLUDE JAMES MACK WITH THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM IN THIS CONVERSATION, HE'LL BE PLAN ON POTENTIALLY ALTERING IT TO BETTER SERVICE OUR CITY EMPLOYEES. SO THIS IS WHERE THE FRUSTRATION COMES IN. MY ANSWER WAS THAT HE WAS INCLUDED. SO SOMEBODY LIED. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, HE HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED. THANK YOU CONVERSATIONS. COUNCILMAN HUDSON, I JUST WANTED TO RE REQUEST REAL QUICK, CAN WE GET, UH, COPIES OF YOUR SLIDES IN ADDITION TO THE STUDY? THEY'RE ALREADY HERE. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN DUN, JR. THANK YOU. UM, LET ME FIRST SAY, UH, MR. CAMPBELL, UH, MS. PEARSON, EVEN MR. BERNARD IN HIS ABSENCE. THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR WORK. UH, AS MY COLLEAGUES MENTIONED, THE REPORT WAS VERY THOROUGH, UH, CLEARED UP A LOT OF THINGS FOR US. THANK YOU TO THE STAFF, UH, THE ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE, EVERYBODY. AND ALSO THANK YOU TO, TO COUNCILMAN HURST FOR, YOU KNOW, REALLY PUSHING THIS ISSUE AND ASKING FOR THIS STUDY. UM, WHAT I THINK YOU HEAR FROM HIM IS SOME OF HIS FRUSTRATIONS WITH SOME OF HIS EXPECTATIONS LOOK LIKE THERE WAS SOME, SOME MISCOMMUNICATION, UM, THAT TOOK PLACE AS IT RELATES TO HIS EXPECTATIONS. BUT WHAT I WOULD IMPRESS UPON HIM AND EVERYBODY ELSE THAT IT IS, IT IS ALL NOT, UH, FOR NOTHING. WE GOT, WE, WE MADE SOME STRIDES HERE. UM, I DO THINK HE ANTICIPATED BEING AT A FINISH LINE AT THIS POINT, BUT, YOU KNOW, SOME GOOD INFORMATION, GOOD DATA WAS PRESENTED. ONE QUESTION, MS. PEARSON, THAT ADDITIONAL COMPONENT, EVEN MR. CAMPBELL, YOU MAY BE AT A OFFER SOME, UH, INPUT ON THIS. THE ADDITIONAL COMPONENT THAT HE ANTICIPATED WOULD BE DOING GOING ON SIMULTANEOUSLY, WHICH AS YOU MENTIONED WOULD BE BETTER DONE AFTER THIS INFORMATION WAS PRESENTED. WHAT IS THE, UH, REALISTIC EXPECTATION ONCE WE TAKE THAT NEXT STEP, UH, TO GET THIS ADDITIONAL PROCESS COMPLETED? SO, UM, AS DR. CAMPBELL MENTIONED, WE WOULD NEED AN ACTUARY TO ACTUALLY DO THAT COMPREHENSIVE PROCESS. SO WE WOULD NEED TO POSSIBLY GO OUT FOR RFP TO, SO TO SELECT SOMEONE TO DO THAT, THAT PART OF THE STUDY. SO WE, WE KNOW INTERNALLY HOW LONG THE RFP TAKES FOR US, BUT MM-HMM. , I'M ASKING ONCE THAT PROCESS IS COMPLETED, YOU OR MR. CAMPBELL, WHAT IS A REALISTIC TIMELINE FOR THAT ACTUARY TO FINISH THEIR WORK? AND THE REASON I ASK THAT QUESTION, BECAUSE ALL OF US HAVE BEEN ANTICIPATING, YOU KNOW, THIS DATA, THIS INFORMATION, WE'VE HAD OTHER DEPARTMENTS COME BEFORE US WITH THEIR OWN PLANS AND SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN TOLD TO WAIT FOR THIS DATA AND THIS INFORMATION, THIS REPORT, AND, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD JUST KIND OF LIKE TO COMPLETE THIS PROCESS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SO WHAT IS A REALISTIC EXPECTATION ONCE SOMEONE'S ON BOARD ABOUT 60 DAYS? 60 DAYS? MM-HMM, . OKAY. UM, ADMINISTER. DANTE, UH, UH, UH, CAN YOU COME TO THE MIC? YES, SIR. JUST REMINDER, WE HAVE ANOTHER REPORT. WE HAVE EIGHT MINUTES LEFT. OKAY. YES, SIR. WHETHER THESE COMMITMENTS WERE MADE OR NOT, IT WAS MISCOMMUNICATION THERE, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY AN EXPECTATION FOR THIS NEXT STEP TO BE DONE AT SOME POINT. WHAT IS THE ADMINISTRATION'S COMMITMENT TO GETTING THIS RFP DONE AND, AND, AND GETTING THIS PROCESS MOVING? SO WE CAN START THE CLOCK ON THAT 60 DAYS TO GET IT BACK HOPEFULLY BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. UH, I THINK THAT WE CAN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'M GONNA HAVE TO DISCUSS WITH THE FINANCE TEAM BECAUSE WE HAD NOT, UH, ALLOCATED ANY FUNDING TO DO THAT STUDY BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR. SO LET US GET BACK TO YOU BEFORE THE TIME THIS BODY MEETS NEXT. ANY IDEA ON WHAT THAT ADDITIONAL COMPONENT WOULD COST? I DO NOT, I CAN'T SAY MR. CAMPBELL. YOU GOT ANY? I DO 80 TO A HUNDRED. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ONCE IT'S, UH, BEEN APPROVED, UH, THE BID WENT OUT AND ACCEPTED FROM RP SAID BY 60 DAYS. THE, THE OTHER THING I WANNA MENTION, AS WE HAD SOME OF THESE OTHER DEPARTMENTS COME BEFORE US FOR, UM, FOR THEIR OWN, GOING THROUGH THEIR OWN PROCESS AND COMING UP WITH THEIR OWN SOLUTION. ONE OF THE THINGS THEY ALWAYS ASKED OF US, EVEN ONCE WE GET THIS DATA AND GET THESE NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE GONNA FUND IT? THAT'S, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF YOU COME UP WITH A REPORT TODAY, TOMORROW, THE NEXT DAY, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE YOU GONNA FUND IT? BUT THESE OTHER DEPARTMENTS HAD A MECHANISM OF HOW THEY COULD FUND THEIR DEPARTMENT. GO AHEAD, MR. K. PROBABLY 75% OF THE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES THAT WE WORK FOR, UM, USUALLY ARE ABLE TO FUND THE STUDY THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. HOWEVER, ABOUT 25% OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE WORK FOR DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO IT IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. SO THEY STAGGER IN OR PHASE IN THE STUDY. GENERALLY SPEAKING, IF YOU'RE GONNA PHASE IT IN, YOU DON'T WANT TO EXCEED A THREE YEAR PHASE IN BECAUSE BY THE TIME YOU GOT TO THE THIRD YEAR, THE MARKET WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY MOVED FORWARD AND YOU'LL BE PERPETUALLY TRYING TO CATCH UP. SO IF YOU'RE GONNA PHASE IT IN, UH, DO A TWO OR THREE YEAR PLAN TO PHASE IT IN. [05:05:01] SO YOU'VE SEEN OTHER, OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, OTHER CITIES PHASE IN A GAP OF 20 TO $30 MILLION? YES. IN TWO TO THREE YEARS? YES. OKAY. NOW THAT USUALLY IN INVOLVES, UH, AS A MATTER OF FACT, I'M WORKING WITH AN ENTITY NOW IN GEORGIA WHERE THEY'RE GOING THROUGH A SIMILAR THING. AND SO THE FIRST STEP WAS TO DEMAND THAT, UH, DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS SLASH BUDGETS BY, YOU KNOW, 18%. UM, AND THEN THEY LOOKED AT FEES AND, UH, RESERVES TO, TO, TO MAKE IT UP AND THEY'RE DOING A TWO YEAR IMPLEMENTATION. THANK YOU, SIR. MM-HMM. COUNCILMAN GO. DR. CAMPBELL, DID I HEAR YOU SAY THIS WAY? DID I HEAR YOU SAY OVER HERE TO YOUR RIGHT? OH, HEY, DID I HEAR YOU SAY, UH, YOU WERE A CITY MANAGER. A GUY WAS TALKING TO ME. YOU WERE A CITY MANAGER AT ONE POINT? THAT'S RIGHT. AND ARE THESE THE KINDS OF ISSUES YOU WOULD FOCUS ON AS CITY MANAGER IMPROVEMENT OF DELIVERY OF SERVICES, , THE CHANGE, THE NEEDED CHANGES TO COMPENSATION? YES. AND THEN YOU WOULD REPORT THOSE RESULTS TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH? YES. I APPRECIATE THAT DR. CAMPBELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MM-HMM, , THANK YOU. [157. 24-01180] ITEM 1 57, RECEIVING A REPORT BY BATON ROUGE YOUTH COALITION REGARDING THEIR PERFORMANCE AGAINST THEIR 2024 KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, AS WELL AS KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS AT THE CENTER OF THEIR 2025 FUNDER REQUEST BY COUNCILWOMAN. COLEMAN WILL HEAR THE REPORT IN A PUBLIC HEARING. IF WE HAVE TIME, A MINUTE, ONE MINUTE, FOUR MINUTES. OKAY. I'LL GIVE YOU THESE AFTER LUCAS, UH, FOUR MINUTES. YOU CAN COME BACK. YOU CAN COME BACK AND WE'LL TAKE YOU FIRST. COME BACK AND DO IT NOW. IT'S UP TO YOU. I THOUGHT I COULD JUST DO IT. EXTEND IT A SECOND TIME. OKAY. ALRIGHT, Y'ALL, I'M GONNA GO AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE. UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, GIVING YOU AN UPDATE OF WHERE WE HAVE USED YOUR, THE CITY PARISHES FUNDS FOR THE BATON ROUGE YOUTH COALITION, UM, AND WHAT WE HOPE TO DO WITH YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. UM, I'M ALLIE DINOR, OUR CHIEF OF PROGRAMS, AND GOING TO GIVE YOU A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THAT. YOU CAN KEEP GOING. LUCAS . UM, QUICK UPDATE OF OUR 20 23 20 24 INVESTMENT UPDATE. THE GOAL IS TO GET OUR ALUMNI TO USE OUR CAREER AND PERSISTENT SERVICES. UM, 75% OF OUR ALUM, UM, ENGAGED WITH BRICK THROUGH REGULAR MONTHLY TOUCH POINTS. 12 OF OUR IN-STATE SCHOOL PARTNERS REGULARLY COLLABORATED TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS. AND 83% OF OUR ALUM WHO HAVE COM ARE, HAVE COMPLETED OR ARE ON TRACK TO COMPLETE THOSE TWO AND FOUR YEAR DEGREES FOR CAREER SERVICES. THE GOAL WAS TO GET OUR, UM, ALUM TO BE USING THE SERVICES TO SECURE LOCAL JOBS. UM, AS A DIRECT RESULT OF YOUR INVESTMENT IN US, WE WERE ABLE TO HIRE TWO NEW TEAM MEMBERS, UM, A C FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, A DIRECTOR OF CAREER SERVICES AND A BRAND NEW PERSISTENCE MANAGER. THEY'VE LAUNCHED CAREER CONSORTIUM PARTNERSHIPS WITH G-B-R-S-H-R-M AND EXXONMOBIL, AND 80% OF OUR ALUM ARE EMPLOYED IN CAREER TRACK JOBS IN GRAD SCHOOL OR IN THE MILITARY. I'M GONNA SKIP, I SKIP A LOT OF STUFF HERE. UM, AND SO GIVE YOU A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF WHAT OUR, THIS IS, UM, UH, SCOPE OF OUR SERVICES THAT WE ARE OFFERING WITH OUR PERSISTENCE PROGRAM, AGAIN, AS A DIRECT RESULT OF YOUR INVESTMENT IN US, THAT IS ALUMNI CASE MANAGEMENT, CAREER SERVICES, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP, AND INSTITUTIONALIZATION. UM, BUT I REALLY WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UH, OUR NEWEST INITIATIVE, WHICH IS OUR CAREER INSTITUTE. THIS CAME FROM, UM, WAS BORN FROM A STUDY CALLED TALENT DISRUPTED THAT I'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL, UM, THAT LOOKED AT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COLLEGE AND EMPLOYMENT. IT FOUND THAT THERE ARE KEY FACTORS THAT, UM, IMPACT A GRADUATE GETTING INTO A COLLEGE LEVEL JOB OR BEING UNDEREMPLOYED, WHICH MEANS YES, MA'AM, OVER THERE IF YOU DON'T WANNA HEAR THE REPORT, WHAT I MEAN, COME ON NOW. THANK YOU. UM, WHICH LOOKS AT, UM, WHETHER COLLEGE GRADUATES ARE ENTERING CAREER LEVEL JOBS OR BEING UNDEREMPLOYED UPON GRADUATION. UNDEREMPLOYMENT HERE MEANS YOU HAVE A JOB, BUT YOU ARE NOT USING YOUR DEGREE. AND SO TWO OF THE FACTORS THAT THIS STUDY LOOKED AT WAS, UM, THE FIRST JOB OUT OF COLLEGE BEING CRUCIAL, UM, FOR REMAINING IN A COLLEGE LEVEL JOB POST-GRADUATION. THE OTHER WAS HAVING AN INTERNSHIP. SO SECURING AT LEAST ONE INTERNSHIP REDUCED UNDEREMPLOYMENT BY 48.5%, UM, WHILE IN COLLEGE. SO AS A RESULT OF THIS DATA, WE HAVE COME UP WITH THE CAREER INSTITUTE, WHICH WILL LAUNCH IN SEPTEMBER OF 2025. UM, THIS WILL BE AN EIGHT MONTH JOB TRAINING PROGRAM TO SUPPORT BRICK ALUM IN MEETING THOSE MILESTONES, WHICH ARE COLLEGE LEVEL JOBS AND SECURING AN INTERNSHIP. [05:10:01] THE GOAL IS FOR A HUNDRED PERCENT OF OUR PARTICIPANTS TO GRADUATE FROM THE INTERNSHIP WITH FORMAL INTERNSHIPS, SUMMER ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES, UM, FULL-TIME JOBS, OR GRADUATE SCHOOL ADMISSIONS FOR THOSE COLLEGE SENIORS. WE'LL HAVE MONTHLY PROGRAMMING ONE-ON-ONE, MENTORSHIP, NETWORKING, UM, PROFESSIONAL LIAISON, AND EACH OF OUR FELLOWS WILL EARN A STIPEND. YOU'RE YOU'RE, WE'RE DONE. YOU'RE GONNA KEEP GOING. OKAY. WONDER, UM, UH, EARLIER I WAS GOING TO SHOW YOU A LOOK. YOU HAVE IT IN YOUR PACKETS, BUT IT'S A LOOK AT ALL OF OUR ALUM. UM, AND I WANT YOU TO, THOSE ARE THE REAL PEOPLE, UM, THAT ARE A RE THE ROI IS RELATED TO HERE. AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS ON THIS SCREEN, UM, THAT YOU ALL KNOW A LOT BETTER THAN I DO. UM, BUT THESE ARE OUR FELLOWS WHO ARE, UM, AS A RESULT OF YOUR INVESTMENT, UM, GENERATING ECONOMIC INCOME FOR OUR CITY, THEY'RE SECURING, UM, FAMILY, UM, FAMILY SUSTAINING WAGES AS A RESULT OF THIS. SO OUR PROGRAMMING THAT GOES BEYOND JUST OUR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING IMPACTING OUR ALUM, AND AGAIN, A DIRECT RESULT OF YOUR INVESTMENT IN US. UM, AND WITH YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, WE'RE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO GROW THOSE NUMBERS. THANK YOU. THERE'S A TON MORE IN THE PACK IN THE, IN THERE. IF YOU CAN LOOK AT IT. AND THANK YOU. THAT IS TOM COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA. MOTION TO ADJOURN. THANK YOU. NO, NO. YOU GUYS GO HOME. YOU WELCOME TO ASK QUESTIONS. OKAY. SO AFTER THE FACT, AND IT'S JUST BEEN RANDOM TALKING, I APPRECIATE THE REPORT AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE, UM, EVER SINCE FIRST MEETING Y'ALL, I FELT LIKE THE EXCITEMENT THAT Y'ALL HAD, THE WORK THAT Y'ALL HAD DONE BEFORE, I'M VERY PROUD OF THIS INVESTMENT THAT WE HAD MADE AND VERY PROUD OF THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAT WE GOT. AND Y'ALL ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU'RE OKAY, , BUT RECOMMEND THAT Y'ALL NOW WE JUST HAD GENERAL DISCUSSION. YEAH, YEAH. YOU, SO, SO I'M GONNA TELL YOU, I, I LOVE WHAT Y'ALL DO. I MEAN, LUKE AND I HAVE HAD PRIVATE CON PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS, AND I THINK EVERY NONPROFIT SHOULD PRESENT DATA THE WAY THAT YOU DO IT. MM-HMM. TO SHOW WHERE THE MONEY GOES AND THE IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SERVE. SO THANK YOU, Y'ALL, Y'ALL KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT Y'ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. ALLIE. I HAVE, I HAVE A QUESTION. YEAH, OF COURSE. ON THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT, UM, SO WE SAVE 458 MORE BACHELOR'S DEGREES, 74 MORE WORKFORCE PARTICIPANTS. SO THAT 74, IS THAT IT'S THE NEXT TO LAST PAGE? YES. IS THAT 74? ARE THOSE IN, IN LOUISIANA OR, SO I'M HAVING TROUBLE RECTIFYING THOSE TWO NUMBERS. THE 74 ARE, THE 74 ARE NATIONALLY, BUT THE, SO WHAT THIS STUDY LOOKED AT WAS COMPARING LOW INCOME STUDENTS WITH OUR BRICK STUDENTS. UM, AND I ALSO HAD QUESTION ABOUT THIS BECAUSE 74 FELT REALLY LOW. YEAH. BUT IT'S ACTUALLY, IT'S NOT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT BECAUSE IT'S ASSUMING THAT YOU ARE, UM, YOU'RE, YOU ARE GETTING A JOB NO MATTER WHAT ONCE YOU GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL. RIGHT. SO, SO IT'S COMPARING TO OTHER LOW INCOME STUDENTS WHERE SOMEONE MIGHT BE WORKING AT FAMILY DOLLAR. OKAY. VERSUS OUR, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR ALUM WHO ARE WORKING AT LE MOINES. AND SO THEY'RE EARNING THOSE AT LEAST 74 MORE, AND THOSE 74 MORE ARE EARNING SO MUCH MORE, AND THEN AGAIN, INVESTING SO MUCH MORE INTO THE ECONOMY. OKAY. THAT MAKES SENSE. YES. SO IT IT'S KIND OF AN AVERAGE. TOTALLY. THIS IS THE VALUE ADDED. OKAY. CORRECT. UM, OKAY. AND, AND SO 458 BACHELOR'S DEGREES, UM, DO, SO WHAT, WHAT IS, WHAT, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE KIDS WHO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO GO THROUGH BRICK DO GET THEIR BACHELOR'S DEGREES? IS IT, SO THEY, GREAT QUESTION AND I LOVE ANSWERING THAT ONE. FAIR. AND SO OUR, UM, OUR FELLOWS ARE PERSISTING AT A RATE OF 83% COMPARED TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, WHICH IS 15%. WOW. UM, SO ALMOST SIX TIMES THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. WOW. YEAH. WOW. AND THAT IS, THAT'S, I MEAN, LARGELY, I, I CANNOT OVERSTATE HOW MUCH YOUR INVESTMENT, UM, CAN CONNECTS DIRECTLY TO THAT BECAUSE IT IS THOSE WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOLLOWING THEM ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND BEYOND THEIR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE. YOU HAVEN'T MET LAMONT COLE. WE LOVE LAMONT. YEAH. . BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO TALK TO EM. AND, AND SO THE LAST TIME WE TALKED, UM, Y'ALL HAD ADDED I KNOW, SORRY, I JUST HAVE TO QUESTION YOU. I LOVE TIMER. OKAY. THE LAST TIME WE HAD TALKED, Y'ALL WERE ADDING A, A, A, A FULL-TIME PERSON TO REALLY FOCUS IN ON THOSE COLLEGE RELATIONSHIPS. YES. RIGHT. AND WE, THIS IS ALSO IN HERE. OKAY. AS TRULY AS A DIRECT RESULT OF YOUR, OF THE FUNDS, WE WERE ABLE TO HIRE, UM, TWO NEW TEAM MEMBERS, ONE OF WHOM IS COMPLETELY FOCUSED ON CAREER SERVICES. SO KENYA, WARREN HOLLANDS IS, WE HAVE A CAREER SERVICES TEAM NOW BECAUSE OF YOUR INVESTMENT. UM, AND WE HAVE ANOTHER NEW PERSISTENCE TEAM MANAGER WHO IS, UM, GOING, SHE'S THE ONE WHO GOES TO OUR SCHOOL. SHE'S VISITING ON CAMPUSES, WHETHER IT IS LSU OR A SCHOOL IN CALIFORNIA. RIGHT. SHE'S MAKING THOSE VISITS TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS GETTING WHAT THEY NEED. OKAY. THAT, THAT IS, THAT'S GREAT. THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE THE, THE [05:15:01] QUESTIONS, UM, THAT I HAD. AND I'LL GO BACK THROUGH THIS AND, AND REACH OUT IF I HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. BUT, UM, BUT YOU KNOW, THANK Y'ALL FOR CONTINUING TO IMPACT THIS COMMUNITY, IMPACT LIVES AND JUST GENERALLY, YOU KNOW, KNOCK IT OUT OF THE PARK. SO, AND THANK YOU FOR SITTING THROUGH A VERY LONG MEETING. MY PLEASURE. I APPRECIATE BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR EXTENDING THE MEETING STATION. YOU KNOW OF THAT FACT. DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S MORE THAN IT'S, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU HAD TO PRESENT. IT'S NOT NEXT TIME YOU HAVE TO PRESENT THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, SAID, WE COME INTO YOU. THAT'S RIGHT. I LOVE IT. AND AMEN. AWESOME. THANK YOU. AMEN. THANK, AND WE SENT, WE SENT THE SLIDES WITH ALL MY NOTES, SHARE WITH SYSTEMS. OKAY. AWESOME. I JUST NEED A LITTLE TIME. I JUST WANT A LITTLE TIME TO DIGEST IT, BUT THAT JUST SAW A FEW LITTLE THINGS I WANTED TO ASK RIGHT AWAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK Y'ALL. THANK Y'ALL FOR STAYING MARATHON MEETING. APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE. CONTINUE TO SERVE YOUR FAMILIES COMMUNITIES. FIRST OF ALL, SERVE GOD. GOD BLESS. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.