[00:00:04] >> HANG ON ONE SECOND. HERE WE GO. THEY JUST SWITCHED FIVE. READY JOHNSON? IT GOES IN 5, 03, 2, 1. YOU'RE ON. >> WELCOME EVERYBODY TO THIS PRESENTATION PORTION OF OUR MEETING THIS FEBRUARY 26TH, [Presentations and Special Recognitions] 2025, I'M GOING TO START OFF MAYOR-PRESIDENT SID EDWARDS TO RECOGNIZE BLACK HISTORY MONTH. MAYOR. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. GLAD EVERYONE'S HERE, AND IT IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WHICH IS AMERICAN HISTORY. WE WANTED TO GIVE AN AWARD TO THE NAACP FOR ALL THE WORK THEY DO, THEY DO THE WORK NATIONWIDE, BUT IN PARTICULAR IN OUR COMMUNITY. IF THE REPRESENTATIVE WOULD COME ON UP AND ACCEPT THIS AWARD. IT'S YOU. [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] >> MY NAME IS ELDER GAYLE GRISWOLD. I'M THE SECOND VICE PRESIDENT NAACP. WE WEREN'T AWARE THAT WE WAS GETTING THIS AWARD, BUT WE DO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. WE APPRECIATE THE MAYOR WHO ALWAYS ANSWERS MY REQUESTS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. AGAIN, THANK YOU, AND WE'RE HERE TO DO WORK. WE ASK ANYONE WHO WANTS TO JOIN THE NAACP TO CONTACT US. MY NAME IS ELDERGAYLEGRISWOLDNAACPBRMEMBERSHIP@EMAIL.COM. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. >> LET'S TAKE A PICTURE. >> NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MAYOR-PRESIDENT SID EDWARDS TO RECOGNIZE THE FAMILY OF CASON WALTER. MAYOR? >> WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL AWARD HERE FOR A SPECIAL FAMILY AND A SPECIAL YOUNG MAN. CASON WALTERS PASSED AWAY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. DAD IS A BRPD OFFICER. HE WAS A LITTLE ATHLETE AS WELL. WE WOULD LIKE THE FAMILY TO COME UP. THIS HONOR IS HONORARY MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO CASON WALTERS. [APPLAUSE] ANYBODY IN? >> NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MAYOR-PRESIDENT SID EDWARDS TO RECOGNIZE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY HUMAN JUKEBOX MARCHING BAND FOR REPRESENTING BATON ROUGE AT THE PRE-SHOW TO SUPER BOWL. MAYOR? >> JUST SO PROUD OF THE HUMAN JUKEBOX ON A NATIONAL STAGE AT THE LOUISIANA SUPERDOME, REPRESENTING BATON ROUGE. NOW, COUNCILMAN COLEMAN, WOULD YOU COME ON UP BECAUSE IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THE JUKEBOX JUKES IN YOUR DISTRICT. IT'S WHERE IT'S AT. >> I APPRECIATE YOU, MAYOR. FROM HIS OFFICE, BUT FROM DISTRICT 10, THE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY MARCHING THEN, COME ON UP, HUMAN JUKEBOX. COME ON UP. WHOEVER IS THERE. COME ON. [APPLAUSE] YES. FOR YOUR EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT OF REPRESENTING BATON ROUGE AT ONE OF THE WORLD'S BIGGEST STAGES, AND THAT'S THE SUPER BOWL PRE-SHOW. I KNOW YOU ALL REMEMBER THAT, YOUNG MEN AND LADIES. THIS MOMENT IS A TESTAMENT TO THEIR HARD WORK, TALENT, DEDICATION, BRINGING NATIONAL RECOGNITION NOT ONLY TO SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, BUT ALSO TO THE ENTIRE BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY. IT'S GIVEN THIS DAY, FEBRUARY 26TH, 2025, WITH SINCERE CONGRATULATION. THIS IS GIVEN BY, SIGNED BY EMILE SID EDWARDS, OUR MAYOR-PRESIDENT. [APPLAUSE] COME ON, SAY SOMETHING. >> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THIS IS TRULY A HONOR. THE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY HUMAN JUKEBOX HAS BEEN VERY BUSY THIS SEMESTER. NOT ONLY DID WE PLAY AT THE SUPER BOWL, [00:05:01] BUT WE'VE BEEN TO CALIFORNIA. WE'VE BEEN ON THE JENNIFER HUDSON SHOW, SHANNON SHARPE AND OCHOCINCO. WE DEFINITELY PRIDE OURSELVES ON BEING AMBASSADORS NOT ONLY FOR SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, FOR THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, SO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU ALL AGAIN, AND KEEP SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS. THEY ARE WORKING VERY HARD. I ALWAYS TELL THEM WHAT YOU PUT IN IS WHAT YOU GET OUT, AND IT'S JUST A TESTAMENT OF WHAT THEY'VE PUT IN. THANK YOU ALL. [APPLAUSE] >> I'VE GOT A QUESTION. THIS ONE RIGHT HERE, IS THIS ONE OF YOUR FORMER STUDENTS, CHASLYNN GRANT? >> DEFINITELY ONE OF MY FORMER TRUMPET PLAYERS. >> I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT. [LAUGHTER]. >> COME HERE, SO WE CAN GET YOU A GOOD PICTURE. COME ON GENTLEMEN. THIS IS YOUR-ALL'S DAY. [BACKGROUND]. >> I'M COMING COUNCILWOMAN >> LET ME GO FIRST. LET'S GET A BIG SMILE FROM EVERYBODY. GOOD. LOOK RIGHT THIS WAY FOR ME. [APPLAUSE]. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MAYOR-PRESIDENT SID EDWARDS TO RECOGNIZE VARIOUS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS. MAYOR? >> STATE CHAMPS, THE BEST IN THE STATE. THAT'S AN HONOR THAT IS HARD TO COME BY, AND I KNOW ALL THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WORK VERY HARD AND PUT IN A LOT OF SWEAT EQUITY TO GET TO THIS POINT. I'M TO ASK OUR COUNCILMEN THAT ARE IN SESSION, IF THIS IS A SCHOOL IN YOUR DISTRICT, COME ON UP AND HELP REPRESENT THEM. THE FIRST CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION, AS WELL AS A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS GOES TO UNIVERSITY LAB BOYS SOCCER TEAM STATE CHAMPS. [APPLAUSE] COME ON UP. >> CONGRATS, MAN. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU-ALL. ANYBODY A KICKER FOR THE FOOTBALL TEAM IN HERE? GET UP THERE. >> MASON MELOSONG. >> CONGRATS. >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD JOB. >> THANK YOU. >> ASK US ALL US HOW MANY MINUTES WE GET. >> GOOD JOB. >> CONGRATULATIONS, GENTLEMEN. I LIKE THOSE COURT, YOU-ALL. I ALWAYS GIVE YOU A HUG JUST BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE BEEN THROUGH TOGETHER. HEY. >> THANK YOU GUYS. >> THANK YOU-ALL. >> HOW ABOUT MY FIVE NOW. YOU CAN GIVE ME MY FIVE NOW. PLEASE. I'LL TAKE A PICTURE OF YOU, THOUGH. GET IN THERE, MAN. GOT IT. EVERYBODY LOOK THIS WAY FROM ME? BIG SMILES FROM EVERYBODY. THAT'S ALL RIGHT FOR ME, 3, 2, 1. >> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE PARENTS OF THESE YOUNG MEN. I DON'T WANT TO JUST SAY YOUNG MEN AND LADIES ARE PART OF THIS. BUT STAND UP PARENTS BECAUSE OF YOU, IT'S THEM. GIVE IT UP FOR THE PARENTS, YOU-ALL [APPLAUSE]. [00:10:38] >> BATON ROUGE, THE CITY OF CHAMPIONS. NOW WANTS TO CONGRATULATE ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY, GIRLS INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD STATE CHAMPIONS. >> RED STICKERS AND THEIR WELL ESTEEMED COACH. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> COACH VERNON LANGLEY. CONGRATULATIONS. I WAS WORKING WITH THIS MAN ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU COACH. CONGRATULATIONS. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? >> THANKS, COACH. YOUNG LADIES HAVE BEEN WORKING REAL HARD. THEY PUT IN THE TIME. THEY PUT IN THE SWEAT EQUITY, AND THEY REALLY DESERVE THIS AWARD, AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP ON WORKING AND TRY TO BRING A LITTLE MORE PRIDE BACK IN THE OUTDOOR SEASON. >> LET'S GET A PICTURE COACH. CONGRATS. >> EVEN IT OUT. THANK YOU. >> LET'S GET A BIG SMILE FROM EVERYBODY. GOOD. HOLD UP FROM ME. NICE, 3, 2, 1. >> I WANT TO TAKE ONE PICTURE. >> CONGRATULATIONS >> THANK YOU. >> I KEEP SAYING, CITY OF CHAMPIONS. WE ARE NOW GOING TO HONOR THE CATHOLIC HIGH BOYS INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD STATE CHAMPIONS. COME ON, NOW, BEARS. I THINK THIS IS LIKE THE THIRD ONE THEY'VE WON IN THE HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL. I THINK. DID YOU KNOW HOW MANY YOU HAVE WON? >> LET ME SAY THAT. >> I WAS JOKING WHEN I SAID PRIOR TO THIRD, THIS IS THE SCHOOL'S 20TH INDOOR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE. COACH, YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? >> MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU. WE HAVE A SMALL REPRESENTATION OF A GROUP THAT SHOWED UP AT THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP THIS PAST WEEKEND. MEMBERS OF OUR FOUR BY FOUR TEAM AND A SHOT PUTTER ARE HERE. ON BEHALF OF CATHOLIC HIGH, WE'D LIKE TO THANK YOU MUCH FOR THIS AWARD, AND I APPRECIATE IT AND HOPE TO SEE YOU SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE. >> THANK YOU. LET'S GET A PICTURE. >> LADIES WILL WIN THE STATE CHAMPION. >> WE COMING, MAYOR. WE COME IN. >> WE GOT THIS ONE? I GOT. >> EVERYBODY LOOK THIS WAY FROM ME. GOOD, 3, 2, 1. [00:15:03] >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> NEXT UP, WE ARE NOW RECOGNIZING PARKVIEW BAPTIST HIGH SCHOOL, GIRLS INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD STATE CHAMPIONS. HELLO. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING, COACH? >> DO I HAVE TO. >> YOU DON'T HAVE TO. >> THANK YOU. >> A PICTURE. >> YOU'LL WANT TO DO IT TOGETHER. >> WELL THEY'RE ON BOTH TEAMS. >> THEY HAVE. PARKVIEW JUST REIGNING STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS. I LOVE IT. >> NOW, FROM THE SAME SCHOOL, THE PARKVIEW BAPTIST GIRLS SOCCER TEAM STATE CHAMPIONS. COME ON UP. THEY ALL HUNG BACK FROM THE COFFEE. CONGRATULATIONS. COME ON UP. >> I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO GLORIFY GOD FOR THIS INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT, AND WE'RE JUST VERY PROUD TO REPRESENT BATON ROUGE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO SO. TAKING BATON ROUGE, NOT ONLY TO THE HIGHEST STAGE IN LOUISIANA, BUT ALSO IN THE NATION LIKE WE'VE DONE THIS YEAR. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR CELEBRATING THIS WITH US [APPLAUSE]. >> EVERYBODY LOOK THIS WAY FROM ME. BIG SMILES FROM EVERYBODY. A GOOD HOLD AT 3, 2, 1. >> CONGRATULATIONS [APPLAUSE]. >> YOU TALK ABOUT GROUNDBREAKING STUFF. GROUNDBREAKING. THIS AWARD GOES TO THE BATON ROUGE HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS WRESTLING TEAM. COME ON UP. I GOT TO POINT OUT, I HATE TO POINT OUT. IT'S A TEAM. LOOK, THEY BROUGHT THEIR TROPHY. COME UP HERE, MY FRIEND. LOOK. [APPLAUSE] I'M ADDICTED TO DIET COKES, AND THIS IS MY FAVORITE WRESTLER IN BATON ROUGE BECAUSE SHE SERVES ME MY DIET COKE IN CANS. >> I GOT YOU. >> I HAD TO PUT IT IN. >> I GOT YOU. >> COME ON UP. WHERE'S COACH? >> I'M RIGHT HERE. HEY, COACH. >> IT'S YOU? >> YEAH. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? >> I WOULD. YOU-ALL GO AHEAD AND LINE UP. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU-ALL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS REALLY A GROUNDBREAKING THING. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE LHSAA SANCTIONED GIRLS WRESTLING IN LOUISIANA. FOR US TO WIN THE INAUGURAL EVENT IS REALLY SOMETHING TO ATTRIBUTE TO THESE GIRLS. WE HAD A GREAT TEAM, ONE CITY CHAMPIONSHIP, ONE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. THANKS TO OUR PRINCIPAL WHO LOBBIED TO GET THE SPORT SANCTION, MS. MCCANN, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU. NOW, I JUST WANT TO TAKE NOTE WITH THE COUNCIL AT THIS MOMENT. COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS IS WHOOPING EVERYBODY'S TAIL IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP DISTRICT. YOU BETTER COME ON, MS. COLEMAN. Y'ALL BETTER GET IT. CONGRATULATIONS. MS. NAOMI, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? YOU'RE GOOD. LET'S GET A PICTURE. >> DO YOU MIND LOOKING THIS WAY FROM ME? BIG SMILE. I KNOW THAT. CONGRATULATIONS. [BACKGROUND] [00:20:23] >> WE'D LIKE TO RUN IT BACK. WE'RE HONORING CASON WALTERS [PHONETIC], SON OF A BRPD OFFICER. CASON WENT TO BE WITH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST A COUPLE OF WEEKS BACK. HE WAS A SPECIAL YOUNG MAN, AN ATHLETE AT THAT. THE FAMILY OF CASON WALTERS, WE'RE GIVING AN HONORARY MAYOR-PRESIDENT TAG FOR CASON. IF THE FAMILY WOULD PLEASE COME ON UP AND LET'S GIVE THEM A HAND. [APPLAUSE] I'LL PUT IT RIGHT THERE AND WILL HOLD IT RIGHT THERE. >> THANK YOU. >> GOD BLESS YOU. I'VE BEEN PRAYING FOR Y'ALL. >> THANK YOU. >> APPRECIATE IT. I'LL HOLD IT OVER HERE. YOU-ALL WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE? ANY WORD ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY? >> NEXT UP, WE HAVE MAYOR-PRESIDENT SID EDWARDS, METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEMBERS CAROLYN COLEMAN, TWAHNA HARRIS, AND JENN RACCA TO RECOGNIZE PAT SHINGLETON FOR THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF BATON ROUGE'S ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE, WEARIN' OF THE GREEN. MAYOR. >> THIS ORGANIZATION HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR BATON ROUGE. WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE MR. SHINGLETON, AND BASICALLY, FROM A GRATEFUL HEART, THANK HIM AND HIS WHOLE BOARD FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO. I'M GOING TO LET THEM SPEAK AS WELL. THEY'VE BEEN TO MORE ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADES THAN ME, I'M SURE, BUT WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE PAT SHINGLETON AND THE ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE GROUP. COUNCIL LADIES. >> MAN, IT'S YOUR DAY. >> COME ON UP. >> THIS CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION IS PRESENTED TO THE ONE AND ONLY, PAT SHINGLETON. THE MEMBERS OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, CONGRATULATE YOU FOR THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WEARIN' OF THE GREEN, ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE. WE THANK YOU FOR BRINGING A FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT TO THE CITIZENS OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH. >> THANK YOU. >> IN ADDITION TO THAT HONORING, WE WANT TO HONOR A HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBER. THAT WOULD BE PRESENTED TO MABIN SHINGLETON [PHONETIC]. >> THAT'S FOR MABIN. >> THAT'S FOR MABIN. >> SHE'S GOING TO ENJOY THAT. MABIN, IT IS OUR DISTINCT HONOR TO PROCLAIM YOU AS THE HONORARY COUNCIL MEMBER, AND A CHAIR IS OVER THERE. >> SHE'S WATCHING RIGHT NOW. I TOLD SHE NEEDED TO BE HERE. >> RIGHT THERE. YOUR UNWAVERING DEDICATION, MABIN, TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY EXEMPLIFIES THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF LEADERSHIP. YOU MAKE SURE YOU GIVE THAT TO MABIN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS FOR BEING WITH US. >> YES, INDEED. YES. >> THANK YOU. >> THIS IS YOURS. YOU GOT TO COME AND TELL THEM ABOUT IT. >> I DON'T HAVE TO SPEAK. >> YOU GOT TO SPEAK. YOU'RE ACCUSTOMED TO THAT. >> MAYOR, THAT WAS SCARY. ALL THOSE ACCOLADES. I THOUGHT THE RAVEN HURST BOYS WERE COMING IN AT ANY TIME, BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH. BEFORE YOU, SOME MOMENTOS OF THE PARADE AND FOR THE MAYOR AS WELL. THESE ARE OUR SHAMROCK APPLIQUES. THERE'S A GLASS THERE THAT RECOGNIZES OUR SHAMROCK RUN. I WANTED TO INCLUDE A BOTTLE OF JAMESON IN THAT, [00:25:02] BUT MABIN SMACKED ME AND SHE SAID, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE DOING THAT. AT LEAST SHE DIDN'T HIT ME WITH A [INAUDIBLE] MABIN AND I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THE INAUGURATION. AFTERWARDS, WE WENT OVER TO LSU FOR THE RECEPTION. AS I WAS WALKING UP, I PULLED AN ENVELOPE OUT OF MY POCKET AND I HANDED IT TO MAYOR EDWARDS. HE SAYS, PAT, I CAN'T TAKE THAT. IT WAS RIP COLLINS DAUGHTER. I FORGOT HER NAME. SARAH. SARAH COLLINS BENNETT SAID, MAYOR, THAT'S JUST AN INVITATION TO THE ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE. EVERY MAYOR SINCE 1986 HAS EXPERIENCED THE WEARIN' OF THE GREEN. THE LATE PATS GREEN AND TOM ED MCCU WERE DESIGNATED AS GRAND MARSHALS. PEOPLE ASK ALL OF US TO DO SOMETHING. THEY ASK YOU TO RUN FOR MAYOR. THEY ASKED THE CITY COUNCIL FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO SERVE AS WELL. FOR ME, SOMEBODY ASKED ME TO DO COACH FOR KIDS. IT WAS FRANK KEEN AND MY WIFE. SOMEBODY ASKED TO BE INVOLVED WITH FILL A PRESCRIPTION FOR THE NEEDY, AND OF COURSE, THAT WAS DR. REDFIELD BRIAN AND FATHER MIKE MARONE, BUT MANY YEARS AGO, AT ZEE ZEE GARDENS, A PUB THAT WE HAD ON PERKINS ROAD THAT REPLICATED THE PUBS IN PITTSBURGH, I SAID, I'M GOING TO START A PARADE. WELL, THE TWO KEVINS, MY BROTHER KEVIN AND KEVIN RILEY SAID, GOOD LUCK. WE STARTED IT THERE, AND WE GOT TOGETHER, WENT UP TO THE GOLF COURSE AND WALKED BACK DOWN, AND THAT'S ALL THAT IT WAS, BUT PAT SCREEN ASKED THAT WE CONTINUE THAT, AND WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER THAT. AS IS CUSTOMARY FOR SO MANY EVENTS IN LOUISIANA, WE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTIES. THERE'S ADJUSTMENTS, CHANGES, AND CONSIDERATIONS, BUT TODAY, AND FOR 36 YEARS, THIS HAS STARTED AT THE HEART OF THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE. IT HAS STARTED RIGHT THERE ON ACADIAN AND 100 OAKS. IT COMES DOWN TO SOUTH EUGENE TO TERRACE TO PERKINS ROAD. ON THAT DAY, THERE ARE REUNIONS AND THERE'S WEDDINGS GOING ON AND RECEPTIONS AND CRAW FISH BOILS. IT INCORPORATES A GREAT COMMUNITY. THANKS TO YOU FOR SUPPORTING US IN THAT REGARD, BUT AGAIN, THE WEARIN' OF THE GREEN, THEY SAID, WHERE'D YOU GET THAT NAME? WELL, IT SYMBOLIZES PRIDE INDEPENDENCE, IDENTITY, AND NATIONALISM, SIMILAR TO THE COLONIES AND STATES WHEN WE WERE UNDER THE BRITISH RULE, OFTEN CALLED THE EMERALD OWL DUE TO THE LUSH GREENERY IN THE WEARIN' OF THE GREEN. WE EXPERIENCE HERE AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR THE GREENERY IN THE WEARIN' OF THE GREEN, EXCEPT FOR THE STUFF THAT APPEARS ON OUR CARS AND PORCHES MAKES US SNEEZE AND WHATNOT. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THE TUNE. IT GOES, OH, PADDY, DEAR, AND DID YOU HEAR THE NEWS THAT'S GOING ROUND? THE SHAMROCK IS BY LAW FORBID TO GROW ON IRISH GROUND. SAINT PATRICK'S DAY NO MORE WE'LL KEEP, HIS COLORS CAN'T BE SEEN FOR THEY'RE HANGING MEN AND WOMEN FOR THE WEARING OF THE GREEN. IT'S A TOUGH TUNE, BUT THE MESSAGE THERE AND THE SHAMROCK OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT CERTAINLY INCORPORATE WHAT WE DO AS YOU HAVE IN YOUR APPLIQUES BEFORE YOU. NO MATTER WHAT THE RACE, CREEK, COLOR, ETHNICITY, THE IRISH ROOTS RUN TRUE FOR BATON ROUGE, AND THE GREAT STATE OF LOUISIANA, THE LATE JUDGE JOSEPH KEO USED TO DRAPE THE IRISH FLAG AROUND HIMSELF WHEN HE WALKED THIS ROUTE. IT WAS THE SAME FLAG THAT FLUTTERED AFTER THE EASTER UPRISING IN IRELAND IN 1916. IN NEW ORLEANS, THE IRISH CHANNEL, NOT ONLY BUILT BY THE IRISH, BUT ALL THE ETHNICS. TODAY, UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE PARADE GROUP, LLC, THE SHINGLETON, MAXIE WEISS FAMILIES THAT CONSTRUCT THIS PARADE AND THE RUN THROUGH BRITTANY AND OUR DAUGHTER, KATIE, THEY CHOSE NOW THE GRAND MARSHALS. THEY CHOSE TODD GRAVES, TIM MOCKLER, SIMONA AUGUSTUS. THEY WERE THE ONES THAT SELECTED. LEARNING THROUGH THE INVITATION OF JOHN SPAIN AND ALTON ASHE, THAT SENATOR BETH MIZELL WAS LAUNCHING A COMMISSION, THE LOUISIANA IRELAND TRADE COMMISSION. I HEARD ABOUT IT, WAS ABLE TO BE INTRODUCED TO HER. SHE, IN TURN, INTRODUCED ME TO A SENATOR FROM IRELAND BY THE NAME OF MARK DALY. I SAID TO MIKE, IF YOU WANT [INAUDIBLE] AS YOUR GRAND MARSHAL THIS YEAR, I CAN MAKE THE CALL. NO, ADD. YOU AND MOM NEED TO GO OVER THERE AND VISIT WITH HER. WE WENT OVER, BUT I WASN'T ALLOWED TO PLAY GOLF. I SAID THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY GOLF. WE WERE AT PARLIAMENT IN IRELAND BY HIS INVITATION. WE HAD DINNER THERE THAT NIGHT. THE NEXT DAY, WE SHOWED UP IN THE MORNING, SAT IN THE GALLERY LIKE THIS. HE RECOGNIZED IN IRELAND, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, WEARIN' OF THE GREEN, COATS FOR KIDS, [00:30:01] FILL A PRESCRIPTION, ALL THE THINGS WE DO, LSU AND SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, HE DID ALL OF THESE THINGS TO FURTHER THAT. WE MET WITH MICHAEL CLAUSEN AND JULIETTE O'LEARY FROM THE US EMBASSY AND RICHARD TIERNEY WHO RUNS THE PARADE IN DUBLIN, REPRESENTATIVES OF JAMESON AND GUINNESS. WITH THIS COMMISSION, THE GOVERNOR WAS GOING TO APPOINT FIVE, TWO FROM THE HOUSE, AND TWO FROM THE SENATE. I WAS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR TO BE ON THIS COMMISSION. BETH DECIDED THAT I NEEDED TO BE THE CHAIRMAN OF THIS COMMISSION, WHICH WHEREBY, WE ARE GOING TO INCREASE OUR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOUISIANA AND IRELAND IN ALL THAT WE DO IN THE ECONOMICS, IN EDUCATION, IN MEDICINE, IN EVERYTHING TO CREATE THAT. ONCE AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE REPRESENTATIVES OF DPW AND THE POLICE. WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH CHIEF MOORES. WE WORKED CLOSELY ALSO WITH OUR DEAR FRIEND FROM MANY YEARS GONE BY. HE HAS BEEN WITH DPW, I THINK SINCE THEY STARTED IT. HE'S SUCH A GREAT GUY. THANKS TO HIM AS WELL. FRED AND DPW, CHIEF MOORES, LIEUTENANT BRANDON JOHNSON, SERGEANT MIKE DOMAIN, AND, OF COURSE, THE GREAT COUNCIL PEOPLE. WITH THAT NOTED, WHAT YOU'LL EXPERIENCE ON SATURDAY MORNING IS THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT LEADING THE PARADE RIGHT BEHIND THE COLOR GUARD OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS BAND. BEHIND THAT WILL BE THIS MARVELOUS FLOAT THAT HAS ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ON IT. AFTER THAT, WE HAVE THE OTHER GUYS, WHICH IS SHERIFF SID GOTRO, AND DA [INAUDIBLE], BUT WE HAVE MARVELOUS BANDS. WE HAVE MARVELOUS FLOATS. OUR COVERAGE BEGINS AT 9:30. WE WILL HAVE REPRESENTATIVE DIXON MCMACHON STARTING IT. INVITATION TO GOVERNOR LANDRY AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BILLY NUNGESSER, REPRESENTATIVE BETH MIZELL, OF COURSE, MAYOR EDWARDS AND [INAUDIBLE] OUR GRAND MARSHAL. I JUST WANTED TO LEAVE YOU WITH THE OLD IRISH TOAST. SOMETIMES I PUT A FLASK IN MY POCKET, BUT ANYWAY, MAY THE ROAD RISE TO MEET YOU, MAY THE WIND BE AT YOUR BACK, MAY THE SUNSHINE WARM UPON YOUR FACE, MAY THE RAINS FALL SOFT UPON YOUR FIELD UNTIL WE ALL MEET AGAIN. MAY GOD HOLD YOU IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND. THANK YOU. >> WELL DONE. >> I HOPE I DIDN'T GO TOO LONG, MAYOR. >> WELL DONE. >> APPRECIATE YOU. LET'S GET A PICTURE. >> YOU BET. >> THANK YOU, MR. SHINGLETON, FOR THAT HISTORY LESSON. WE DEFINITELY APPRECIATE IT. NO, YOU'RE GOOD. NEXT UP OUT OF DISTRICT 2, WE'RE RECOGNIZING REVEREND CLEE LOWE FOR THE GREATER MOUNT CARMEL BAPTIST CHURCH OF SCOTLANDVILLE. LET ME START OVER AGAIN. I'M HERE TO RECOGNIZE REVEREND CLEE LOWE FOR THE GREATER MOUNT CARMEL BAPTIST CHURCH OF SCOTLANDVILLE. MR. LOWE HAS BEEN A PILLAR IN THE SCOTLANDVILLE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 14 YEARS. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE HIM. TODAY, HE'S ALSO DOING OUR INVOCATION AND PLEDGE, AND SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE RECOGNIZE HIM FOR HIS WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AND HIS 14 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP [INAUDIBLE] LEADERSHIP TO OUR SCOTLANDVILLE AND NORTH BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY. I'D LIKE TO BRING UP REVEREND CLEE LOWE FOR A COUPLE OF WORDS. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN KENNEY, AND TO ALL OF YOU, WE ARE APPRECIATIVE FOR THIS RECOGNITION, BUT WE WORK TIRELESSLY IN OUR COMMUNITY TRYING TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY AND TO CREATE A MUCH BETTER ENVIRONMENT, AND WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU-ALL ARE DOING HERE ON THE METRO COUNCIL TO MAKE OUR CITY [00:35:03] PARISH A QUALITY PLACE IN WHICH WE ALL CAN THRIVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> GET A PICTURE. [APPLAUSE] >> NEXT UP BY THE DISTRICT 2, ONCE AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO BRING UP MR. BYRON WASHINGTON, HIS WIFE, JANELL WASHINGTON. THEY'RE BOTH OF THE LEADS FOR THE KREWE OF OSHUN PARADE AND FESTIVAL IN THE SCOTLANDVILLE, NORTH BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY. ALSO THEIR PART OF THE LEADERSHIP FOR THE NORTH BATON ROUGE NOW COMMUNITY. FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE KREWE OF OSHUN. THE KREWE OF OSHUN PARADE IS A ANNUAL MARDI GRAS PARADE THAT KICKS OFF IN NORTH BATON ROUGE IN SCOTLANDVILLE, LOUISIANA. I HAD THE BLESSING TO BE THIS YEAR'S GRAND MARSHAL. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO BYRON AND HIS TEAM FOR AMAZING PARADE THIS YEAR. FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT GET A CHANCE TO MAKE IT THIS YEAR, I WANT TO INVITE YOU TO COME OUT NEXT YEAR FOR THE SIXTH ANNUAL KREWE OF OSHUN PARADE IN SCOTLANDVILLE, LOUISIANA. I HAVE BYRON AND HIS WIFE COME ON UP AND GET A FEW REMARKS. >> THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR KREWE OF OSHUN. AS LABOR OF LOVE, WHAT IS DONE FOR THE NORTH BATON ROUGE SCOTLANVILLE COMMUNITY. I WANT TO THANK OUR BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN TIRELESSLY WORKING WITH US. I WANT TO THANK MY WIFE AS WELL FOR WORKING. ALL THE IN HOUSE WORK TO MAKE THIS THING REALLY GO OFF. BUT REALLY AND TRULY, IT'S FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND IT'S AGAIN, LABOR OF LOVE AND REALLY SHOW THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST OF WHAT WE CAN DO WITHIN SCOTLANDVILLE, AND NORTH BATON ROUGE AND REALLY SHOWCASE THE GREAT HEADLINES WITHIN OUR CITY. I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR PARTNERS AND OUR SPONSORS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE. I SEE MISS JILL. HE WAS HEY JILL VISIT BATON ROUGE, AND THE COUNCIL PEOPLE. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY, COUNCILMAN EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED US OVER THE YEARS TO CONTINUE. JANE, YOU HAVE ANY WORDS, YOU'RE WANT TO. >> NOT MUCH, BUT WE'RE HERE FOR THE PEOPLE AND AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE PEOPLE, WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO KEEP TRUCKING, KEEP MOVING ALONG. MR. PAT SHINGLETON, HE DEFINITELY INSPIRED US. IT IS A PROCESS, AND WE'RE GROWING, AND WE'RE LEARNING, AND WE'RE EXCITED AND SO MORE AND MORE TO COME FOR SURE. >> THANK YOU, JEANNE BYRON. I WANT TO HAVE ON BEHALF OF THE METRO COUNCIL IN THE DISTRICT 2. THIS IS A TYPICAL RECOGNITION FOR YOU ALL HARD WORK, DEDICATION, AND LEADERSHIP IN THE SCOTLANDVILLE, NORTH BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY. CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU. >> I KNOW YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT. LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND TO APPLAUSE. >> DARRYL BIG. >> NEXT UP WE HAVE COUNCILMAN DARRYL HURST TO RECOGNIZE GAYLYNNE MACK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BIG BUDDY TO PROMOTE DANCING FOR BIG BUDDY. >> THANK YOU. WELL, GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEN AND WOMEN. MY NAME IS GAYLYNNE MACK. I'M THE PROUD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BIG BUDDY PROGRAM. BIG BUDDY IS A LOCAL YOUTH ORGANIZATION HERE IN BATON ROUGE, BORN HERE, WE SERVE HERE AND WE ALSO LEAD UP THE EIGHT WEEK INTERNSHIP PROGRAM THAT THIS COUNCIL SUPPORTS DURING THE SUMMER. WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO NOT ONLY BE ABLE TO HAVE FUNDING FROM THIS COUNCIL, BUT WE LEVERAGE THAT WITH FUNDING THAT WE RAISE EVERY YEAR BY HOLDING AN EVENT CALLED DANCING FOR BIG BUDDY. WE EACH YEAR FIND 10-17 LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, A PERSONALITY PEOPLE TO DANCE AND INVITE THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO COME AND WATCH THEM AND HELP TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION. WE ARE VERY EXCITED THIS YEAR TO ARE ASKING COUNCILMAN HURST TO DANCE FOR BIG BUDDY. HE WILL BE DANCING FOR OVER 1,400 YOUNG PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE MENTORING AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS AND THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. IF YOU THINK THAT'S, FUNNY, EXCITED, WE WANT YOU TO COME AND SUPPORT COUNCILMAN HURST. I'M SURE HE'D BE VERY SURPRISING. TO SHOW HOW PROUD WE ARE. [00:40:03] FIRST, WE NEED TO ASK AND WE LIKE TO DO IT IN A PUBLIC SETTING. WE HAVE IT ON RECORD. COUNCILMAN HURST, WILL YOU DANCE FOR BIG BUDDY THIS YEAR? >> JUST CALL ME TWINKLE TOES. >> TWINKLE TOES. WELL, WE HAVE THIS ITEM FOR YOU THAT WILL MAKE YOU AWESOME THIS YEAR. WE WANT YOU TO TAKE THAT. >> I BRING FOR A DANCE. >> BEFORE DANCE. THEN WE HAVE SOME PACKETS TO SHARE WITH YOU IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SEEING COUNCILMAN HURST ON THE DANCE FLOOR. IT WILL BE AT THE PMAC ARENA ON LSU'S CAMPUS ON APRIL 26TH. MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW APRIL 26TH. IT IS A WONDERFUL EVENT, AND LIKE I SAID, IT SUPPORTS OVER 1,500 YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, >> I ACCEPT THIS AS A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR. ANYTIME WE GET TO SERVE THE YOUTH OF THE PARISH, ESPECIALLY THROUGH A WAY THAT UNIQUELY RAISES MONEY AND ALLOWS ME TO EMBARRASS MYSELF ON CAMERA. LOOK, I TOLD THEM, I'M GOING TO GET SO EXCITED THAT I GET OFFBEAT. BUT I JUST THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR THE CITY OF PARISH IN THE SUMMERTIME AND WHAT YOU DO FOR THE KIDS OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. YOUR ORGANIZATION IS A BEACON OF HOPE, OF GREATNESS THAT PEOPLE SEE ALL ACROSS THE NATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS MACK FOR WHAT YOU DO, AND I ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE. >> IT IS A CHALLENGE. >> FINALLY, WE'LL HAVE COUNCILMAN DARRYL HURST TO RECOGNIZE JEWEL THOMAS AS GREENBRIER ELEMENTARY STUDENT OF THE YEAR. >> THERE ASSUME. WE TALKED ABOUT AMAZING KIDS IN OUR PARISH THAT BIG BUDDY HELPS AND I REALIZED SHE WAS SO TALL. MAN, I GOT A RECRUITER FOR BASKETBALL. BUT ONE OF THE AMAZING KIDS FROM MY DISTRICT HAS STOOD OUT AMONGST ALL OF HER PEERS AND HAS SET THE BAR FOR WHAT EDUCATION LOOKS LIKE, NOT JUST IN DISTRICT 5, BUT THROUGHOUT ALL OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH. TODAY IT'S MY PLEASURE AND HONOR TO RECOGNIZE MISS JEWEL THOMAS AS STUDENT OF THE YEAR FOR GREENBRIER ELEMENTARY. YOUR HARD WORK, DEDICATION, AND PERSEVERANCE HAVE TRULY SET YOU APART. WE ARE THRILLED TO RECOGNIZE YOUR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS, BEING NAMED STUDENT OF THE YEAR IS A TESTAMENT TO YOUR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, LEADERSHIP, AND PASSION FOR LEARNING. YOUR DETERMINATION AND POSITIVE IMPACT ON THOSE AROUND YOU INSPIRE US ALL. WE CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESS TODAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL THE INCREDIBLE THINGS YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH IN THE FUTURE. YOU-ALL GIVE MISS JEWEL THOMAS A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. >> AROUND ONE WILL YOU. GO AHEAD, TALK TO THE PEOPLE. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THANK YOU TO MY PARENTS FOR ENCOURAGING ME TO PUSH MYSELF TO BE THE BEST THAT I COULD BE. I ALSO WANTED TO THANK MY TEACHERS FOR HELPING ME GET THROUGH THIS SCHOOL YEAR AND TO ALSO HELPING ME BECOME STUDENT OF THE YEAR. >> THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION PORTION OF OUR MEETING. REGULAR MEETING TO START AT FOUR O'CLOCK. >> GIVE ME A THREE BIT. HELLO, EVERYBODY. [CALL TO ORDER] WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH. [00:45:03] GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU WATCHING OUR MEETING ON FEBRUARY 26TH, 2025. GOOD TO HAVE YOU TUNED IN ON COX ON AT&T, ON FACEBOOK LIVE YOUTUBE AND AT OUR WEBSITE VIA LA.GOV. AT THIS TIME, HERE IS THE MAYOR PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH COUNCILMAN BRANDON NOEL. >> THANK YOU, DENNIS. WELCOME, EVERYBODY TO THE FEBRUARY 26TH, 2025 METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A INVOCATION AND PLEDGE BY REVEREND CLEE LOWE OF GREATER MOUNT CARMEL BAPTIST CHURCH OF SCOTLANDVILLE, REVEREND? >> SHALL WE STAND? ALL EYES CLOSE, ALL HEADS BOW. ETERNAL GOD, OUR FATHER, WE BOW AND HUMBLE SUBMISSION BEFORE THEE AND THEE ALONE. WE THANK YOU GOD FOR THIS DAY. NOW WE FIND OURSELVES GATHERED IN THIS HOLLOW CHAMBER TO ATTEND TO THE AFFAIRS AND THE BUSINESS OF THIS CITY PARISH. WE PRAY THAT YOUR HOLY SPIRIT WILL DWELL IN THE MIDST AND SHALL GUIDE EVERY HEART, MIND, AND TONGUE AS THEY DELIBERATE AND TAKE CARE OF THE BUSINESS AT HAND. WE LIFT UP THIS HONORED COUNCIL, AND ALL OF THE CITIZENS HERE, GOD, THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE DONE DECENTLY AND IN ORDER. WE ASK YOUR RICHEST BLESSINGS NOW UPON ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR GREAT CITY PARISH, AND ALL OF THE CITIZENS OF OUR STATE AND OUR NATION. BLESS US, NOW, FATHER, AS WE GO FORWARD IN THIS MEETING OF OUR METRO COUNCIL, WE GIVE YOU ALL THE GLORY, THE HONOR, AND THE PRAISE, FOR IT IS IN THE NAME OF YOUR RISEN SON, THE CHRIST JESUS, WE PRAY, IN EVERY HEART SAID, AMEN. >> SHALL WE RECITE THE PLEDGE TO THE ALLEGIANCE TO OUR FLAG? >> >> THANK YOU, REVEREND. CALL THE MEETING THE ORDER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A ROLL CALL, ASHLEY. DO WE HAVE A QUORUM? >> WE HAVE A QUORUM. [ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES] >> ADOPTION APPROVAL OF MINUTES. APPROVAL OF ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 12TH, 2025 OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ZONING MEETING ON FEBRUARY 19TH, 2025 BY COUNCIL ADMINISTRATIVE TREASURER. >> DO WE HAVE A MOTION? >> MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ASHLEY CAN YOU READ INTRODUCTIONS? [INTRODUCTIONS] >> SECTION 2.12 INTRODUCTIONS, NUMBER 2, AMENDING THE 2025 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE JULE J NEWMAN COMMUNITY CENTER, SO AS TO APPROPRIATE $63,340 FROM THE FUND BALANCE ASSIGNED TO JULE J NEWMAN COMMUNITY CENTER GENERATED THROUGH PRIOR YEAR RENTAL REVENUES AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER FOR OPERATIONAL SUPPORT, BUILDING REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS AT THE CENTER BY JULE J NEWMAN COMMUNITY CENTER DIRECTOR. NUMBER 3, AUTHORIZING THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO REFUND AN ERRONEOUS REMITTANCE OF SALES TAX TO RESTAURANT DEPOT IN THE AMOUNT OF $134,959 FOR REMITTING SALES TAX DUE TO ORLEANS PARISH FOR THE REVIEW PERIOD OF JUNE 2024, WITH THE COST OF SUCH REFUND TO BE CHARGED AGAINST SALES TAX REVENUE BY THE FINANCE DIRECTOR. NUMBER 4, AUTHORIZING AN OFFER OF JUDGMENT IN THE MATTER ENTITLED TERRELL BROWN V. BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON THE DOCKET OF THE US DISTRICT COURT, MIDDLE DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA, AND THE AMOUNT OF $90,000 AND APPROPRIATING $90,000 FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY. NUMBER 5, AUTHORIZING AN OFFER OF JUDGMENT IN THE MATTER OF LORENZO GAGE V. BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT, ON THE DOCKET OF THE US DISTRICT COURT, MIDDLE DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA, THE AMOUNT OF $15,000 AND APPROPRIATING $15,000 FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY PARISH ATTORNEY. NUMBER 6, AUTHORIZE AN OFFER OF JUDGMENT IN THE MATTER ENTITLED JEREMY LEE V. TROY LAWRENCE JR. ET AL ON THE DOCKET OF THE US DISTRICT COURT, MIDDLE DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA, THE AMOUNT OF $100,000 AND APPROPRIATING $100,000 FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY. NUMBER 7, AUTHORIZING AN OFFER OF JUDGMENT IN THE MATTER ENTITLED CARRIE MEALEY V. THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE ER ALL ON THE DOCKET OF THE US DISTRICT COURT, MIDDLE DISTRICT, LOUISIANA, THE AMOUNT OF $75,000 AND APPROPRIATING $75,000 FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY. NUMBER 8, AUTHORIZING AN OFFER OF JUDGMENT IN THE MATTER ENTITLED LAKEISHA VARNADO V. JOSEPH CARBONI ET AL ON THE DOCKET OF THE US DISTRICT COURT, MIDDLE DISTRICT, LOUISIANA, AND THE AMOUNT OF $40,000 AND APPROPRIATING $40,000 FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY. NUMBER 9, AUTHORIZING AN OFFER OF JUDGMENT IN THE MATTER ENTITLED ALEX WOODS V. THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE ET AL ON THE DOCKET OF THE US DISTRICT COURT, MIDDLE DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA IN THE AMOUNT OF $65,000 AND APPROPRIATING $65,000 FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY. [00:50:03] CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS, NUMBER 10, LUCILLE GREEN ARMSTRONG, 2750 70TH AVENUE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 KENNEY. NUMBER 11, GERVEA FERGUSON, 1735 74TH AVENUE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 KENNEY, NUMBER 12, MICHAEL WALTON, 904 ST. ARMEE WAY, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 KENNEY. NUMBER 13, WILBERT JONES, 5221 FORD STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 HURST. NUMBER 14, MELVIN RAY MOTON, AND THE ESTATE OF MILDRED MTON 3355 CONRAD AVENUE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS. NUMBER 15, CHARLES CROCKETT AND CAROLYN CROCKETT WILLIAMS, 1606 NORTH 29TH STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS. NUMBER 16, SANG NGUYEN AND YENBACK VO, 4666 PRESCOTT ROAD, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS. NUMBER 17, TIMOTHY PAUL MCCOY, 4018 CHIPPEWA STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS. NUMBER 18, JOSEPH COLLINS AND LINDA COLLINS, 5136 MADISON AVENUE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS. NUMBER 19, EDWARD T HENDERSON, 360 ROSELAN AVENUE, CUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS, NUMBER 20, KAREN WILLIAMS, 1560 NORTH 38TH STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS. NUMBER 21, MACK WILLIS JR AND THE UNOPENED SUCCESSION OF RHONDA COLEMAN AND THE SUCCESSION OF MARY GREEN WILLIS, 2735 WASHINGTON AVENUE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS. NUMBER 22, SAMUEL DAVIS JR. ET AL, 4438 WELLS STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS. NUMBER 23, MONIQUE SCOTT SPAULDING, 1763 DEER MEADOW AVENUE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 9 HUDSON. NUMBER 24, ALBERT WALLACE JUANITA TATE LANE AND CALVIN BAILEY, 4122 UNCLE STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN. NUMBER 25, RENA AHMED, 1837 ARIZONA STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN. NUMBER 26, DOROTHY JEAN SIMMONS, 3870 KEOKUK STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN. NUMBER 27, VANESSA GOSSERAND 1955 GEORGIA STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN, ALL ITEMS THAT REQUIRE READING AND BE READ IN A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS IS IN ORDER. >> I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR DEFERRAL FOR NUMBER 10 AND NUMBER 11 FOR 60 DAYS. >> JUST INTRODUCTIONS. MOTION INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO TO CONDEMNATIONS. [CONDEMNATIONS] GRAB YOUR SEPARATE SHEET. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 71, 73, 74, 76, 78, 81, 84, 86, 89 90, 91, 92, 94, 95, AND 96. 30 DAYS ON ITEM 75, 82, 83, 85, 87, 88, 90 DAYS ON ITEM 80, AND TO DELETE ITEM 72, 77, 79, AND 93. IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS? >> SAY NONE. WE GO TO COUNCIL? >> YES. NUMBER 92, DEFER FOR 90 DAYS, PLEASE. >> WHO'S THIS? ANYBODY ELSE? OH, YES, SIR. >> YES. MY NAME IS ROBERT SANDERS. I HAVE TO FIND WHICH ONE IT IS. I THINK IT'S A CONDEMNED PROPERTY. BUT I'M HERE ON BEHALF AS WELL AS FOR MY MOTHER AND MY WIFE. WE WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED WITH HAVING I GUESS, AN ASSESSMENT DONE FOR DEMO OF THE PROPERTY. >> DO YOU KNOW WHICH ITEM? >> ONE SECOND. >> I THINK HE'S REFERRING TO ITEM NUMBER 96. IS THAT IRENE WILSON, ROBERT SAM'S ONE? >> YES, THAT'S THE ONE. I FOUND IT. >> ON SOUTH 12TH STREET 962? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> OKAY. WHAT ARE YOU ASKING FOR? >> MY MOTHER SPOKE TO A GENTLEMAN OUTSIDE AND THEY WERE SAYING THAT WE HAD TWO OPTIONS. [00:55:06] WE'RE FINE WITH DEMO AND THE STRUCTURE 1 WOULD BE FOR US TO GET A QUOTE OR BID FROM CONTRACTORS, BUT WE COULD ALSO, THE CITY WOULD GO OUT, ASSESS THE PROPERTY AND PROVIDE AN ESTIMATE OR COST TO DEMO THAT STRUCTURE. WE WERE BASICALLY GOING TO SEE WHAT STEPS NEEDED TO BE DONE TO HAVE THE CITY GO OUT, ASSESS AND PROVIDE. >> ON HERE IS 96. RACHEL COME AND ANSWER THIS BECAUSE NO IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE OPTION WOULD BE IF THE CITY GOES OUT. RACHEL, CAN YOU GIVE THE AMOUNT FOR IT? I DON'T THINK SO. ARE YOU ASKING TO DO THIS YOURSELF? >> WELL, WE WERE TOLD THAT WE HAD TWO OPTIONS. >> LEAVE IT AS IT IS, AND THE CITY WOULD DO, OR YOU COULD DO. >> YES, WE WOULD EITHER GET IN CONTACT WITH CONTRACTORS, SOLICIT BIDS FOR IT, OR THE CITY WOULD GO OUT AND THEY WOULD ASSESS IT AND GIVE US A COST TO DEMO IT. >> WHAT ARE YOU ASKING FOR? >> I'M ASKING IF THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO WHICH IS GET TO HAVE THE CITY GO OUT ASSESS THE PROPERTY AND GIVE US A COST FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE STRUCTURE. >> RACHEL, ANSWER THAT FOR ME PLEASE. >> WE DON'T GO OUT AND ASSESS PROPERTIES FOR COSTS AND GIVE OUT THOSE NUMBERS. IF THE PROPERTY IS CONDEMNED, THEN WE'RE GOING TO TEAR IT DOWN AND SEND YOU A BILL. >> WHAT OPTIONS DO WE HAVE THEN? >> THAT OPTION OR YOU CAN DO IT YOURSELF. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO? I TELL YOU WHAT I'M GOING TO DO, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU 30 DAYS TO DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO? >> YES, MA'AM. >> THEN YOU NEED TO LET US KNOW. >> THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> I'M GOING TO RECAP, WE ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 71, 73, 74, 76, 78, 81, 84, 86, 89, 90, 91, 94, AND 95, 30 DAYS ON ITEM 75, 82, 83, 87, 88, 96, 90 DAYS ON ITEMS 80 AND 92, AND TO DELETE ITEM 72, 77, 79, 85, AND 93. WHO HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO, SECOND, BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, AND HE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 97, A RESOLUTION PROVIDED FOR THE CANVASSING AND [97. 25-00124] RETURNS AND DECLARING THE RESULT OF THE SPECIAL ELECTION HELD IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024, FOR THE PURPOSE OF AUTHORIZING THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF SIX MILLS AD VALOREM TAX TO BE USED ENTIRELY AND EXCLUSIVELY TO PAY FOR INCREASING SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF CITY OF BATON ROUGE, WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE MUNICIPAL FIRE AND POLICE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS COMMENCING WITH THE TAX COLLECTION FOR THE YEAR 2025 AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER, TWO AND INCLUDING THE YEAR 2034 AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH BY BOND COUNCIL. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. SAY NONE, WE GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MOAK, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN KODE. ANY OPPOSED. ITEM 98, A RESOLUTION PROVIDED FOR CANVASSING AND RETURNS AND DECLARING THE RESULT OF [98. 25-00125 ] THE SPECIAL ELECTION HELD IN THE ALSEN IRMA LEE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 9 OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024, FOR THE PURPOSE OF AUTHORIZING THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF 10 MILLS AD VALOREM TAX ON THE DOLLAR OF ASSESSED VALUATION ON ALL PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE DISTRICT FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS, COMMENCING IN THE YEAR 2026 TO AND INCLUDING THE YEAR 2035 AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH BY BOND COUNCIL. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SAY NONE, WE GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO, SECOND BY COUNCIL MCKINNEY, ANY OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 99, A RESOLUTION PROVIDED FOR THE CANVASSING AND RETURNS AND DECLARING THE RESULT OF [99. 25-00126] [01:00:03] A SPECIAL ELECTION HELD IN THE BROWNFIELD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 3 OF THE PARISH BEAST BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024, FOR THE PURPOSE OF AUTHORIZING THE RENEWAL AND THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF 10 MILLS AD VALOREM TAX FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS COMMENCING THE YEAR OF 2026 TO AND INCLUDING THE YEAR 2035 AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS CONNECTION THEREWITH BY THE BOND COUNCIL. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SAY NONE, WE GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECOND BY COUNCIL MCKINNEY, ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES, ITEM 100. [100. 25-00127] RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR THE CANVASSING AND RETURNS AND DECLARING A RESULT IN SPECIAL ELECTION HELD IN FIRE PREDATION DISTRICT NUMBER 1 OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024, FOR THE PURPOSE OF AUTHORIZING THE RENEWAL OF THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF NINE MILLS, AD VALOREM TAX FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS, COMMENCING IN THE YEAR 2026, TO AND INCLUDING THE YEAR 2035, AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH BY BOND COUNCIL. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SAY NONE, WE GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECOND, BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO, ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. [101. 25-00128 ] ITEM 101, A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR CANVASSING AND RETURNS AND DECLARING THE RESULT OF SPECIAL ELECTION HELD IN PARISH EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024, FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE VOTERS OF THE PARISH, VARIOUS PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT AND CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE HAS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN THE SUMMARY OF BOTH PLAN GOVERNMENT AMENDMENTS AND PROVIDING FOR THE MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH BY BOND COUNCIL. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. SAY NONE, WE GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION, MOTION BY COUNCILMAN KODE, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, ANY OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 102, [102. 25-00147 ] ADOPTING LEVYING AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAX MILLAGE RATE OF SIX MILLS ON ALL PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF CITY OF BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA TO BE LEVIED FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS COMMENCING WITH THE TAX COLLECTION FOR THE YEAR 2025 AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER, TO AND INCLUDING THE YEAR 2034, TO PROVIDE FUNDS. FOR INCREASING SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, CITY OF BATON ROUGE OR ARE MEMBERS OF THE MUNICIPAL FIRE AND POLICE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM, AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH BY THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SAY NONE, WE GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION, MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MOAK. WE'VE GOT A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, ANY OPPOSE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 103, AMEND THE 2025 PAY PLAN FOR [103. 25-00182] CLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED NON CLASSIFIED CONTRACT FIRE AND POLICE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, SO AS TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING CHANGES EFFECTIVE MARCH 8, 2025 AND APPROPRIATED $14,063,560 FOR SET PURPOSE. MUNICIPAL FIRE PAY PLAN INCREASE, 19%. ALL MUNICIPAL FIRE CLASSIFICATIONS ACROSS THE BOARD INCREASE FOR THE ENTIRE MUNICIPAL FIRE PAY PLAN. PAY PLAN IS ATTACHED BY THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? YES, SIR. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. JAKE MORGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE BATON ROUGE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION. ASSUMING THAT THIS IS GOING TO PASS, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT AND GIVE THANKS. THIS IS AN EFFORT. THIS IS A LOT OF HARD WORK FROM OUR FIREFIGHTERS, TOOK A LONG TIME TO PLAN THIS. STARTED WITH MAYOR BROOME'S ADMINISTRATION. SHE GAVE US THE GREEN LIGHT. OF COURSE, YOU BROUGHT IT TO YOU GUYS. YOU VETTED IT, YOU ALLOWED US TO BRING IT TO THE PEOPLE. WE WORKED VERY HARD ON PROMOTING THIS THING BECAUSE OF THE VERBIAGE ON EVERYTHING, AND WE WERE UP AGAINST THE WALL ON IT. BUT IT PANNED OUT FOR US, AND ULTIMATELY, I WANT TO THANK THE PUBLIC. THEY SAW THE NEED, THEY KNOW THE SERVICE WE PROVIDE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE THIS IN 25 YEARS. THIS ISN'T SOMETHING WE NORMALLY DO, BUT IT WAS TIME. THIS IS GOING TO BRING OUR ENTIRE FIRE DEPARTMENT UP TO INDUSTRY STANDARD PAY. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT AND THANK YOU. NOW THAT I THANK YOU, I HOPE YOU DON'T RIP US APART. THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I JUST REALIZED THIS WAS ABOUT THE FIREFIGHTERS, AND I'M GOING TO ECHO WHAT WAS JUST SAID. THEY EARNED IT. >> ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SAY NONE, WE GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JUNIOR, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MOAK. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 104, [104. 25-00123] AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT A SUB GRANT AWARD ON BEHALF OF BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ROUGE ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATOR AND THE AMOUNT OF $4,740 UNDER THE NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS. WE COMMUNITY AWARENESS, PROJECT GRANT PROGRAM. WELL, I'M SORRY. BY POLICE CHIEF. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SAY NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION. [01:05:03] MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. SECOND BY THE CHAIR, ANY OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. [105. 25-00129] ITEM 105, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF BUILDING THE GROUNDS TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH JOHNSON COLES FOR THE OPERATIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT FOR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE ON BUILDING EQUIPMENT, MEDICINES ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND FIRE ALARM SYSTEM FOR THE 19TH JDC COURT BUILDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $151,716 BY THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SAY NONE, WE GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION, MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO, ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 106, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF [106. 25-00130] THE DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND GROUNDS TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH JOHNSON COLES FOR THE OPERATIONAL SERVICE CONTRACTOR OF THE ENERGY MANAGEMENT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF THE DOWNTOWN MEDICINE SYSTEM IN THE AMOUNT OF $54,132 OF THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SAY NONE, WE GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN KODE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 107, [107. 25-00131] AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND GROUNDS TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR COMPANY FOR THE OPERATIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT, ELEVATOR MAINTENANCE FOR THE 19TH JDC BUILDING AND THE AMOUNT OF $59,691.72 BY THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SAY NONE, WE GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO? A OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 108, [108. 25-00139] AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH BILL BATON ROUGE FOR A PROFESSIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TO IDENTIFY AND ELIMINATE BLIGHT THROUGHOUT EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH AND TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT EAST BATON PARISH BY STRENGTHENING NEW AND PROPOSED INVESTMENTS, AND APPROPRIATION OF $920,000 HAS BEEN APPROPRIATED FOR 2025 BY THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? >> COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 108. >> WE'LL NOW GO TO COUNCILMAN KODE. >> JUST WANTED TO GIVE THE ADMINISTRATION OPPORTUNITY TO OUTLINE THIS AGREEMENT AND THE SUBSEQUENT PROGRAM. >> THIS AGREEMENT IS THE CONTINUATION OF THE OPERATION SUPPORT THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE APPROVES EVERY YEAR. THIS IS ONE OF THE OUTSIDE AGENCIES THAT WERE MOVED TO THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, AND THEN ADDITIONAL FUNDING WAS APPROPRIATED WHEN WE DID THE 200,000 FROM THE ADDITIONAL GENERAL FUND FROM THE FRANCHISE FEE AGREEMENT. THE COMBINATION OF BOTH OF THOSE EQUAL THE 920,000. THE PAST AGREEMENT THAT WE HAD WITH THEM TO CONTINUE TO GIVING THEM FUNDING EVERY YEAR ACTUALLY EXPIRED FOR SOME REASON LAST YEAR IN DECEMBER. WHEN WE WENT FORWARD TO GIVE THEM THEIR MONEY THIS YEAR, WE NOTICED THAT THE AGREEMENT HAD ELAPSED IN IT. THIS AGREEMENT IS GOING TO BE WRITTEN LIKE ALL THE OTHER AGREEMENTS, WHERE IF FUNDING IS PROVIDED IN THE BUDGET, WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT FUNDING ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. >> THIS GETS THE AGREEMENT. YOU SAID THE AGREEMENT EXPIRED? >> IN DECEMBER. YES, SIR. >> THANK YOU, ANGIE. >> IT HAD A SUNSET AND SAID THIS ONE WILL SUNSET IF THERE'S NO APPROPRIATION. >> IT'S 720,000 FROM ARP DOLLARS? >> YES, SIR, AND 200,000 FROM THE FRANCHISE FEE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, ANGIE. >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> COUNCILMAN HUDSON. >> CAN I HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE ORGANIZATION TO THE MIC, PLEASE? >> YOU MEAN BBR? >> YEAH. >> I'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS, AND I THINK THE INTENT OF THE ORGANIZATION IS AMAZING, ESPECIALLY FOR NORTH BATON ROUGE WHERE MY HEART IS. MY QUESTION IS, WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE? BECAUSE I'M STILL IMAGINING A PLANT ROAD SEVEN YEARS LATER, AND A LOT OF STUFF BEING APPROVED, AND IT'S STILL AS RUSTED AND DILAPIDATED, IF NOT WORSE THAN IT WAS WHEN THE PROGRAM INITIALLY STARTED. I DEFINITELY SUPPORT ECONOMIC GROWTH. YOU KNOW THAT PERSONALLY. >> I DO. >> BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M SUPPORTING SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE VIABLE AND PROVIDE REVITALIZATION FOR THE COMMUNITY AS IT WAS INTENDED. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN HURST. RODNEY BRAXTON, CHAIR OF BATON ROUGE. I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION. YOU'RE CORRECT. IT'S BEEN A WHILE, AND WE'VE HAD SOME UPS AND DOWNS, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT YOU WILL SEE A CHANGE VERY SOON. [01:10:01] WE'RE ABOUT TO NAME A NEW CEO WHO WILL HELP CHART A NEW COURSE. YOU WILL SEE SOME ACTIVITY ON PLANK ROAD SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. THERE ARE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF US, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU AND I HAVE HAD ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST, AND I CAN SPEAK FIRMLY THAT I BELIEVE YOU WILL SEE A DIFFERENCE, AND YOU WILL SEE A DIFFERENCE SOON. >> I JUST ASKED, ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC PROJECTS? I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF LAND, BANK, AND SOME OF THAT STUFF, TITLE. [OVERLAPPING] >> I CAN SPEAK TO ONE. >> WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? >> THERE IS A PROJECT WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW AT PLANK AND CHOCTAW THAT WE THINK WILL BE A VERY TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECT. IT WILL BE A GATEWAY PROJECT TO PLANK ROAD THAT YOU WILL SEE, AND IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. >> THAT'S THE WAREHOUSE, MIX USE? >> GIVEN THAT WE HAVE NOT FULLY ANNOUNCED EVERYTHING ABOUT IT, COUNCILMAN HURST, I THINK YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND IF I DON'T GIVE YOU SPECIFICS YET. WE ARE STILL IN NEGOTIATIONS. BUT IT'S COMING. >> THANK YOU. I SECOND. >> MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JR. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. >> THANK YOU. >> ITEM 109, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT [109. 25-00140 ] TO THE CONTRACT FOR VINFORMATIX LLC IN AN AMOUNT OF $10,000, NOT TO EXCEED AN AMOUNT OF 87,500 FOR DATA ANALYTIC SUPPORT SERVICES THAT ENHANCES THE TRANSPARENCY REGARDING ALLOCATION AND UTILIZATION OF FUNDS RECEIVED THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT 2021 BY THE FINANCE DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE I'LL GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JR. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 110, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT [110. 25-00141] WITH GOVERNMENT REVENUE SOLUTIONS HOLDINGS INC. IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $72,000 FOR A LICENSED SOFTWARE PROGRAM USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR TAX REVENUE COLLECTIONS IN THE GEOGRAPHICAL JURISDICTION OF THE CITY PARISH BY THE FINANCE DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL? DO WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 111, RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION, [111. 25-00144] DELIVERY OF LOCAL SERVICES AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, CITY OF BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, AND VISIT BATON ROUGE, AUTHORIZING AN APPLICATION TO THE LOUISIANA STATE BOND COMMISSION IF NECESSARY, APPOINTING BOND COUNSEL TO THE CITY PARISH IF NECESSARY, AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH BY MAYOR-PRESIDENT SID EDWARDS, COUNCILMAN ROWDY GAUDET, AND COUNCILWOMAN CAROLYN COLEMAN. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? >> COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 111. >> SEEING NO ONE I'LL GO TO COUNCIL. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST. ANY OPPOSED? COUNCILMAN GAUDET. [112. 25-00143 ] >> I WAS GOING TO JUST MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC IS AWARE WHILE THIS IS ABOUT A LOCAL SERVICES AGREEMENT, WHAT IT REALLY TIES TO IS THE PURCHASE AND RENOVATION OF A DOWNTOWN BUILDING, WHAT IS CURRENTLY A VACANT BUILDING DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE DOWNTOWN HILTON, TO BE THE NEW EXPANDED HEADQUARTERS FOR VISIT BATON ROUGE, OUR TOURIST OPERATION HERE. THAT AGENCY CONTINUES TO MAKE POSITIVE STRIDES UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF JILL KIDDER, WHO'S HERE WITH US TODAY. I'M VERY EXCITED THAT THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE WHAT IS CURRENTLY ESSENTIALLY A BLIGHTED BUILDING NEXT TO ONE OF OUR CRITICAL HOTELS DOWNTOWN, AND TRANSFORM IT INTO THEIR HEADQUARTERS, WHICH WILL THEN OPEN UP THEIR CURRENT OFFICE, WHICH IS DOWNTOWN, AND MAKE THAT SOME VERY MARKETABLE SPACE. LOCAL SERVICES AGREEMENT IS WHAT WE'RE APPROVING, BUT THE PROGRESS WITHIN OUR DOWNTOWN. I'LL EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT AND TO COUNCILMEMBER COLEMAN FOR JOINING WITH ME TO BRING THIS FORWARD, AND THANKS TO VISIT BATON ROUGE. >> ITEM HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOTIONED AND SECOND. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 112, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE CLAIM OF PROGRESSIVE PALOVERDE INSURANCE COMPANY, A SUBROGATE OF BRADY [INAUDIBLE] FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY A BATON ROUGE POLICE OFFICER IN THE AMOUNT OF $34,237.20 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE I'LL GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 113, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE CLAIMS OF DEMETRIUS' WIFE FOR DAMAGES RESULTING [113. 25-00145 ] FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THE BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE IN THE AMOUNT OF 21,000 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY. [01:15:03] ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE, I'LL GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 114, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT IN THE MATTER [114. 25-00149] ENTITLED AMY THOMAS VERSUS CITY OF BATON ROUGE, IN THE AMOUNT OF $40,000 PLUS COURT COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $627.78 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $40,627.78, WHICH AMOUNT SHALL BE PAID FROM THE ACCOUNT DESIGNATED INSURANCE AUTO LIABILITY BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE I'LL GO TO COUNSEL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 115, [115. 25-00185] AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED BRANDON WILLIAMS VERSUS CITY OF BATON ROUGE, IN THE AMOUNT OF $40,000 WHICH SHALL BE PAID FROM THE ACCOUNT DESIGNATED INSURANCE GENERAL LIABILITY BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? >> STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> BRANDON O'NEIL, PRESIDENT OF THE BATON ROUGE UNION OF POLICE. I NOTICED THIS ITEM WAS ON THE AGENDA, AND THE UNION WAS SLIGHTLY INVOLVED IN THIS. MR. [INAUDIBLE] WAS SITTING ON THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD WHEN THIS OCCURRED, AND THE ITEM CAME BEFORE HIM THAT NEEDED INVESTIGATION, WHICH HE DID LEGALLY. THE STATE POLICE PROVED THIS. ALSO, BRPD POLICIES WERE DISPROVED IN THIS MATTER. THINGS WERE RUN BY RECORDS. AGAIN, STATE POLICE DISPROVED ALL THIS, AND I'M WONDERING IF ANY OF THESE ITEMS, WHEN THEY WENT TO COURT, IF THEY WERE BROUGHT BEFORE THE COURT FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT. BEFORE WE JUST PAY SOMEBODY OUT $40,000, I THINK WE NEED TO BE INVESTIGATING THIS MORE AND TAKING SOME OF THESE THINGS TO TRIAL. I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THEM CAN'T BE TAKEN TO TRIAL FOR COST SAVING EFFORTS. BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS ONE OF THEM, AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THEY'VE DONE DISCOVERY ON ANY OF THIS TO FIND OUT IF THESE STATEMENTS ARE ACCURATE BEFORE WE PAY $40,000, AND ALL THE OTHER ONES THAT WE'RE PAYING OUT, I WONDER IF THEY WERE DONE THE SAME WAY. >> ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. SEEING NO ONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. >> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. BECAUSE WE'RE IN LITIGATION WE MIGHT HURT OUR CASE IF WE DISCUSSED THIS IN THE CHAMBER. >> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> DO WE HAVE A SECOND FOR THE ORIGINAL MOTION? WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON PROCEDURAL MOTION FIRST FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS THE MATTER. IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? LET'S VOTE ON THE MACHINES TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. MOTION FAILS. NOW YOU HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE FROM COUNCILMAN DUNN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN HURST. >> THAT'S NOT A SUBSTITUTE MOTION. THAT IS THE MOTION. >> SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DELETE. >> WE HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DELETE. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. WE'LL VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION FIRST TO DELETE. IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO THE MOTION TO DELETE? >> OBJECTION. >> WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE MACHINES. >> MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DELETE THE ITEM. MOTION FAILS. >> NOW WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION TO APPROVE. WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE MACHINES. >> MACHINES ARE NOW OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE. [01:20:01] MOTION FAILS. >> I'D LIKE TO HAVE MY TIME TO CALL THE PARISH ATTORNEY TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE. MR. ROME, OR WHOMEVER CAN RESPOND, THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS AND SOME CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR DUE DILIGENCE, AND YOUR OFFICE'S DUE DILIGENCE, AND YOUR EXPERT OPINION ON WHAT WE SHOULD DO WITH THIS ITEM. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO THAT, AND SPEAK TO WHY YOU BROUGHT THIS ITEM BEFORE US AND YOU THOUGHT WE SHOULD SETTLE IT, WITHOUT GETTING TOO FAR IN THE WEEDS? >> IT'S GOING TO BE HARD FOR ME NOT TO, BUT I THINK WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE NEEDED TO DO TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HELPS YOU COUNCILMAN DUNN. >> I THINK THAT YOU HAVE DONE YOUR DUE DILIGENCE IN THE PAST, AND IF YOU THINK SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE APPROVED, YOU'LL BRING THAT BEFORE US. IF NOT, YOU WON'T. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE GENTLEMAN CALLED YOUR EVALUATION, OR YOUR PROCESS INTO QUESTION. BUT I HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT YOU AND YOUR OFFICE DID YOUR DUE DILIGENCE AND THOUGHT THIS WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PARISH. I DO HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION. HE USED THE TERM "WE". ARE THESE FUNDS COMING OUT OF BRPD UNION BUDGET, OR RETIREMENT FUND, OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT? >> NO, SIR. >> THIS IS COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND LIKE ANY OTHER SETTLEMENT DOES, OR THE SETTLEMENT FUND? >> YES, SIR. BASICALLY. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? >> THAT DOES, BUT DO YOU FEEL CONFIDENT THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF DID THEIR DUE DILIGENCE, AND IS ACTING IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PARISH IN RECOMMENDING THAT WE SETTLE THIS ITEM? >> I WOULDN'T HAVE LET MR. [INAUDIBLE] PUT IT ON THE AGENDA IF I DIDN'T THINK SO. >> MR. [INAUDIBLE] YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? >> I THINK YOU SAID IT ALL, COUNCILMAN. I WISH I COULD ANSWER MORE QUESTIONS FOR YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> COUNCILMAN MOAK? >> WITH THIS ONE HERE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE QUESTIONS ARE, BUT I FEEL A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE HOW I'M GOING TO VOTE KNOWING MORE [INAUDIBLE] DETAILS IF I CAN BRING UP OR FOLLOW UP ON THE MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. I'D JUST LIKE TO HEAR IT OUT. MAKE THE MOTION TO GO BACK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> WE HAVE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION BY COUNCILMAN MOAK, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN RACCA. IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION TO GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? SEEING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE CAN CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER. I ENTERTAIN A MOTION FROM THE COUNCIL. I ENTERTAIN A MOTION FROM ANYBODY. >> [INAUDIBLE] >> MOTION TO APPROVE, COUNCILWOMAN? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JR. >> A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DELETE. >> WE HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DELETE. A SECOND. WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON A SUBSTITUTE MOTION FIRST. WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE MACHINES. >> [INAUDIBLE] >> THERE WAS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DELETE BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. THE ORIGINAL MOTION TO APPROVE, COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JR. >> COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE MACHINES ARE NOW OPEN ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DELETE THE ITEM. MOTION FAILS. >> NOW WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION TO APPROVE. WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE MACHINES. >> MACHINES ARE NOW OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE. >> POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. [BACKGROUND] >> WE'LL STOP. I'LL RESET IT. >> THAT'S FINE. >> I'VE RESET IT. >> I DIDN'T VOTE. MINE DIDN'T COME UP. >> YOU'RE UNLOCKED. >> [LAUGHTER] NOW WE'RE GOING TO ENTERTAIN THE MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MACHINES ARE NOW OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MOTION CARRIES. >> MOVING ON. ITEM 116, [116. 25-00180] AUTHORIZE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 36,000 BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JR. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. [01:25:03] ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 117, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO [117. 25-00188] THE PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH SEAN STOKES OF KELLER AND HECKMAN LLP, INCREASING THE CONTRACT BY 30,000 FOR A REVISED AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 130,000 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? [BACKGROUND] SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JR. ANY OPPOSED? [BACKGROUND] ITEM 117. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 118, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE [118. 25-00163 ] AN ENTITY STATE AGREEMENT BETWEEN LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT TO PROVIDE FOR THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNDING FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE LRSP ARDENWOOD ROAD DIET PROJECT BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. >> COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 118. >> MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 119, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR [119. 25-00165] PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH QUALITY ENGINEERING SERVICES, LLC, FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVEBR PROJECT, PROGRESS ROAD, SIDEWALKS, BLOUNT ROAD, SCOLANDALE AVENUE IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 324,926.76 BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? >> COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 119. >> MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 120, AUTHORIZING MAYOR OR PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF [120. 25-00168] THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES RYAN WHITE PROGRAM TO AMEND THE SUB RECIPIENT AND CONTRACT WITH FAMILY SERVICES OF GREATER BATON ROUGE FOR AN INCREASE, IN THE AMOUNT OF $46,201 FOR A TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $757,622 AWARDED UNDER THE RYAN WHITE ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC PROGRAM BY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST, ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 121, AUTHORIZE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO [121. 25-00179 (Part 1 of 2)] THE CONTRACT WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT RENEWABLE ENERGY LLC TO SPAN THE GAS COLLECTION SYSTEM AT THE NORTH LANDFILL FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $5,327 BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? YOU WANT TO JUST COME BACK TO THOSE? ONCE YOU'RE ABLE TO PULL IT UP ON THE COMPUTER? IS SOMEBODY WORKING ON YOUR COMPUTER? [BACKGROUND] WE'RE GOING TO GO TO ITEM 123. WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO ITEMS 121 AND 122, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF 123, [123. 25-00184] AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO AMEND CONTRACT, 800-003-615 BY ADDING $79,787.18 TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE AND URBAN RESTORATION ENHANCEMENT CORPORATION BY THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JR. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY, ANY OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES ITEM 124, [124. 25-00189] AMENDING AND REENACTING ORDINANCE 15791 AND ORDINANCE 16011 TO APPROVE THE SALE OR TRANSFER OF NATURAL GAS ASSETS OPERATED BY ENERGY GULF STATE, LOUISIANA LLC, TO DELTA CAPITAL GAS COMPANY LLC, ACCEPTING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ORDINANCES 15791 AND 16011, AND AGREEING TO COMPLY THERE WITH AND PRESCRIBING TO ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS AS SET FORTH BY THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL BY COUNCILWOMAN JENN RACCA AND COUNCILMAN CLEVE DUNN JR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, SIR. >> I'M RYAN KING, HERE ON BEHALF OF DELTA UTILITIES. WANTED TO MAKE OURSELVES AVAILABLE. MIKE JACKSON IS WITH ME AS WELL. HE'S OUR PP OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AND WANTED TO MAKE OURSELVES AVAILABLE TO ANY QUESTIONS OF THE COUNCIL RELATED TO THE TRANSFER OF THE EXISTING ENERGY GAS FRANCHISE FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE. [01:30:04] >> THANK YOU. IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD, AND THEN ONCE WE GO TO COUNCIL, IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS, THEY CAN BRING YOU UP. >> WELL, I CAN GIVE A LITTLE RUNDOWN OF DELTA UTILITIES. DELTA UTILITIES IS A NEW MULTISTATE GAS UTILITY. IT WILL BE HEADQUARTERED IN LOUISIANA, AND WE'LL BE PROVIDING SERVICE AT THE CLOSE OF THESE TWO TRANSACTIONS TO APPROXIMATELY 600,000 GAS CUSTOMERS ACROSS TWO STATES. FOR CONTEXT, THAT'S ROUGHLY THREE TIMES THE CURRENT GAS CUSTOMER ACCOUNT OF ENERGY. WITH THAT SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL CUSTOMER ACCOUNT, WE'LL BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE SOME ECONOMIES OF SCALES AND EFFICIENCIES TO THE BENEFIT OF THE CUSTOMERS, INCLUDING THE BATON ROUGE CUSTOMERS. THE ITEM BEFORE YOU ALL TODAY IS THE APPROVAL TO TRANSFER THE EXISTING ENERGY FRANCHISE FOR THE GAS SERVICE AS IT STANDS TODAY TO DELTA UTILITIES, SO THAT AS OF THE CLOSING, DELTA UTILITIES WILL BE ABLE TO OPERATE UNDER THAT FRANCHISE MOVING FORWARD. THERE'S NO REQUESTED CHANGES TO THE TERMS OR CONDITIONS OF THE FRANCHISE, AND IMPORTANTLY, THERE'S NO CHANGES TO RATES ATTRIBUTED TO THE DECISION BEFORE YOU TODAY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU ALL AND HAVE APPRECIATED THE WORK OF THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING A PART A LONG TERM SOLUTION AND PROVIDER OF GAS SERVICE IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? >> PRO TEM, COUNCIL? THIS IS SESS SCHILLING ON BEHALF OF ENERGY LOUISIANA. JUST WANTED TO EXPLAIN THE REASON FOR THIS AGENDA ITEM. ENERGY AND DELTA UTILITIES ENTERED AN AGREEMENT IN OCTOBER OF 2023 TO SELL OUR GAS BUSINESS. IT OBVIOUSLY WASN'T A DECISION THAT ENERGY TOOK LIGHTLY. US AND OUR PREDECESSORS HAVE RAN THIS GAS BUSINESS FOR THE PAST 100 YEARS. IT WAS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE DID NOT TAKE LIGHTLY. WE APPROACHED DELTA, DELTA IS A LOUISIANA BASED COMPANY THAT HAS COMMITTED TO KEEPING, WHEN WE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS TRANSACTION, WE THOUGHT ABOUT OUR STAKEHOLDERS. FIRSTLY, OUR CUSTOMERS DELTA HAS COMMITTED TO CONTINUING RATES AND NOT RAISING RATES THROUGH 2027 AND WORKING WITH US TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A SMOOTH TRANSITION AND NOT A DROP IN SERVICE THROUGHOUT THAT TRANSACTION. THE SECOND THING IS OUR EMPLOYEES. WE HAVE OVER 200 EMPLOYEES THAT OPERATE OUR GAS OPERATION SYSTEM, 80 OF THOSE BEING IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH. DELTA HAS COMMITTED TO OFFERING JOBS TO THEM AFTER THE TRANSFER. EMPLOYEES WILL NOT BE IMPACTED, AND THEN COMMUNITY. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. DELTA UTILITIES AND THEIR TEAM ARE LOUISIANA BASED. THEY'RE FAMILIAR WITH THIS COMMUNITY. THEY'VE INVESTED IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND THEY'VE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO INVEST IN THIS COMMUNITY ONCE THE TRANSACTION IS FINAL. AS RYAN MENTIONED, THERE IS NO CHANGE TO THE AGREEMENT. THIS IS THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AGREEMENT THAT WAS RENEWED IN 2015. THEY'VE AGREED TO ACCEPT ALL TERMS, CONDITIONS, AND OBLIGATIONS OF THAT. WE LOOK FOR TO, THE NEXT PHASE OF THIS PROJECT AND ENSURING THAT WE HAVE A SMOOTH TRANSITION FOR ALL IMPACTED STAKEHOLDERS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEE NONE, WE'RE GOING TO COUNCIL, COUNCILMAN DUNN JR. >> RYAN MICHAEL, IF YOU CAN COME BACK, I WANT YOU TO JUST SPEAK TO A FEW THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED IN PREPARING THIS ITEM. ONE, ENERGY'S TRANSITION PROCESS THAT'S TAKEN PLACE THROUGHOUT THE STATE, TALKING ABOUT HOW THIS IS JUST PARTICULAR TO BATON ROUGE. ALSO, THE RATE STABILIZATION THAT'S CURRENTLY IN PLACE WITH ENERGY AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND THE RATE STABILIZATION THAT YOU GUYS HAVE AGREED TO KEEP IN PLACE AND EVEN REINFORCED AND EXTENDED WHAT THEY ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE. THEN FINALLY, TALK ABOUT THE CHANGE THAT WILL COME THAT CUSTOMERS WILL SEE A CHANGE AS IT RELATES TO WHAT'S ON THE BILL. IT WON'T BE AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE. IT WILL BE JUST A REPLACEMENT OF ENERGY'S NAME AND YOUR NAME. IF YOU COULD TOUCH ON THOSE THINGS, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. >> STARTING WITH I GUESS THE TRANSITION. THE ENERGY TRANSACTION IS STRICTLY THE GAS SYSTEMS OF ENERGY. THEY'RE ONLY LOCATED IN THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS AND IN THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH. ENERGY FOR THEIR ELECTRIC SERVICE AND EVERYTHING THAT MATTER REMAINS THE SAME. THIS WOULD JUST BE A TRANSACTION INVOLVING THE TWO GAS SYSTEMS FOR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH AND NEW ORLEANS. AS FAR AS RATES MOVING FORWARD. AS I MENTIONED, THE APPROVAL TODAY DOES NOT HAVE ANY IMPACT ON RATES. BUT ONE THING THAT DELTA IS COMMITTED TO WITH THE RATE REGULATOR, WHICH IS THE LOUISIANA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION IS WE'RE EFFECTIVELY STEPPING INTO THE SHOES OF THE EXISTING TARIFFS AND SCHEDULES OF ENERGY AS THEY EXIST TODAY. BUT THERE'S AN ADDED BENEFIT IN THAT WE'RE FOREGOING THE ABILITY TO ADJUST RATES ANNUALLY FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. MEANING CUSTOMERS CAN EXPECT RATE STABILIZATION, OR I SHOULD SAY, RATE CONSISTENCY ON BASE RATES FOR AN EXTENDED 2.5 YEAR PERIOD THAT OTHERWISE WOULD NOT OCCUR WITHOUT THE TRANSACTION. [01:35:03] >> FINALLY, THE BILL, WHEN DO WE EXPECT FROM A TIMELINE STANDPOINT, WHERE CUSTOMERS SEE A DIFFERENT NAME ON THE BILL? I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT DOING SOME OUTREACH WHEN THAT ARISE, BUT CAN YOU GIVE THEM A PROJECTED APPROXIMATE TIME OF WHEN THEY WILL SEE THAT CHANGE? >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN DUNN. AS RELATES TO THE BILL ITSELF, CUSTOMERS WILL NOT SEE ANY CHANGES UNTIL THE SALE IS COMPLETE, PROJECTED TO BE AT THE MIDPOINT OF THE YEAR 2025. AT THAT POINT, CUSTOMERS WILL TRANSFER TO DELTA UTILITIES, AND ALSO THE BILLING AND PAYMENT STRUCTURE THAT'S CURRENTLY IN PLACE WITH ENERGY WILL CLOSELY LOOK LIKE WHAT WILL BE IN PLACE FOR DELTA UTILITIES. IF CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO, LET ME ADD THAT THERE WILL BE A CHANGE OF AN ACCOUNT. THE ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL CHANGE. THE EMAIL ADDRESSES ON THE INFORMATION WILL CHANGE, AND YOU HAVE A BRAND NEW CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THAT WILL BE FOCUSED SOLELY ON GAS SERVICES FOR THE CUSTOMERS OF DELTA UTILITIES. IF CUSTOMERS ARE CURRENTLY PAYING BY MEANS OF IN PERSON PAYMENT OR PAYING BY MAIL OR PAYING BY OTHER MEANS, THOSE SAME MEANS FOR PAYMENT WILL CONTINUE WITH DELTA. IN ADDITION TO AUTOPAY AND BILL LEVELING PAYMENT OPTIONS, THOSE WILL BE AVAILABLE AND PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR CONSUMERS. YOU CAN EXPECT VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT ENERGY PRESENTLY HAS, DELTA WILL OFFER TO OFFER THE CONVENIENCE OF SERVICES FOR THE CONSTITUENTS THAT WE WILL SERVE. >> THANK YOU, JIM. >> COUNCILWOMAN RACCA. >> GUYS, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING CONVERSATIONS COME TO THE TABLE, BEING COMPLETELY HONEST AND TRANSPARENT WITH US, BEING READILY AVAILABLE. KELLY FRANCIS, CAN YOU COME UP, PLEASE? I KNOW THAT YOU HAD A LOT OF COMMUNICATIONS WITH OUR BRAND NEW LAWYER IN OUR CONTRACTS DIVISION, MS. KELLY FRANCIS, WHO I THINK IS ONE OF THE YOUNGEST SECTION CHIEFS AT THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AS A TEAM WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL ON BEHALF OF THE CITY IN THE PARISH, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR ALL OF THE INFORMATION. WE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU GUYS AND GROWING THAT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE SERVE THE CITIZENS OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH. THANK YOU ALL. >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JR. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN RACCA. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES. [125. 25-00191] ITEM 125, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AND FILE APPLICATIONS WITH THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATING ADMINISTRATION OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED BY 49 UC CHAPTER 53 TITLE 23, UNITED STATES CODE OR OTHER FEDERAL STATUTES ADMINISTERED BY THE FEDERAL TRANSIT BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JR. YES, MA'AM. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF I MIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A MOTION TO AMEND ON THE FLOOR, JUST TO ADD SOME LANGUAGE THAT'S IN THE BODY OF THE LEGISLATION, BUT NOT IN THE CAPTION. JUST ADD THIS LANGUAGE IN THE CAPTION, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT OR DESIGNATED AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE TO ACCEPT A GRANT AWARD. NOTHING TO BE DELETED, THAT ADDITION TO THE CAPTION. >> GOT IT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND? ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES. ONE SECOND. ITEM 126, [126. 25-00190 (dlt)] THERE'S A REQUEST TO DELETE. I THINK THIS IS A DUPLICATE. AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, TITLE 2 CHAPTER 6, SO AS TO ADDRESS BROADBAND FRANCHISE FEES AND AREAS OF THE CITY PARISH ELIGIBLE FOR GUMBO 2.0 FUNDING IN CONFORMANCE WITH LOUISIANA REVISED STATUTES 512370 AT BY COUNCILMAN ROWDY GAUDET AND COUNCILMAN ANTHONY KENNEY. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. MOTION TO DELETE BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY, ANY OPPOSE? MOTION CARRIES. GO BACK TO ITEM 121, [121. 25-00179 (Part 2 of 2)] AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT RENEWABLE ENERGY LLC TO EXPAND THE GAS COLLECTION SYSTEM AT THE NORTH LANDFILL FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $530,027 BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? [01:40:01] SEEING NONE. I'LL GO TO COUNCIL? >> MOTION TO DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS. >> WE HAVE A MOTION TO DEFER UNTIL THE MARCH 12TH? >> YES. >> MEETING. SECOND BY BY COUNCILWOMAN RACCA SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, ANY OPPOSED? COUNCILMAN GAUDET. >> JUST HELP ME OUT, THIS IS CATCH ME ON GUARD. I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHY? >> BECAUSE I ASKED FOR IT TO BE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO JOIN IN ON THE MOTION. >> THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING PROCEDURES TO ME. I JUST WAS WONDERING WHY. >> I JUST TOLD YOU WHY BECAUSE I ASKED. >> THANK YOU. >> COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS. [LAUGHTER] >> I WAS QUICK. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO DEFER TO THE MARCH 12TH MEETING. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 122, [122. 25-00181 ] AMENDING RESOLUTION 56759 ADOPTED DECEMBER 14TH, 2022, IN ORDER TO ADOPT A NEW FEE SCHEDULING FOR DUMPING AT THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, NORTH LANDFILL SITE AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERE TO EFFECTIVE MARCH 1ST, 2025, BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN RACCA, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES, WE COULD TAKE ITEMS 127-146 TOGETHER. [Items 127 - 147] LOT 12, SUBDIVISION VICTORIA GARDENS, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 7-HARRIS, HIGH BIDDER, KENSON PROPERTIES, LLC, 21,500. LOT 2, SQUARE 5, SUBDIVISION SOUTH BOUND ROUGE, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10-COLEMAN, HIGH BIDDER, H2BRAVO CONSTRUCTION, LLC, 12,000. LOT 21, SUBDIVISION SWART, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10-COLEMAN, HIGH BIDDER, H2BRAVO CONSTRUCTION, LLC, 12,000. LOT 13, SQUARE 268, SUBDIVISION SWART, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10-COLEMAN, HIGH BIDDER H2BRAVO CONSTRUCTION, 2,000. LOT 5, SQUARE 13, SUBDIVISION SWART, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10-COLEMAN, HIGH BIDDER H2BRAVO CONSTRUCTION, LLC, $100. LOT 3, SQUARE 16, SUBDIVISION ABRAMSON, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10-COLEMAN, HIGH BIDDER, RHONDA DOUGLAS, $100. LOT 3, SQUARE 2, SUBDIVISION NORTH BATON ROUGE, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 2-KENNEY, HIGH BIDDER, WORLDWIDE INVESTMENT 78, LLC, 5,200. LOT 26, SQUARE 7, SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 7-HARRIS, HIGH BIDDER, BEAUCHAMP CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT, LLC, $100. LOT SQUARE 59, SUBDIVISION NORTH BATON ROUGE, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 2-KENNEY, HIGH BIDDER, PHARAOH JOHNSON III, $5,500. LOT 39-B, SUBDIVISION PLEASANT PARK, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 1-NOEL, HIGH BIDDER, ANTHONY MARTINEZ, $500. LOT 25, SQUARE 31, SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 7-HARRIS, HIGH BIDDER, TOYE HEBERT, $100. LOT 343, SUBDIVISION BIRD STATION, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 7-HARRIS, HIGH BIDDER, URSULA HALL WILLIAMS, $1,100. LOT 187, SUBDIVISION NORTH HIGHLANDS ESTATES, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 5-HURST, HIGH BIDDER, ANTHONY REDD, $100. PLOT 242, SUBDIVISION LEGION VILLAGE, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 5-HURST, HIGH BIDDER, SANDRA ATKINS, $2,100. LOT 234, SUBDIVISION NORTH HIGHLANDS ESTATES, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 7-HARRIS, HIGH BIDDER, DARBIN VEGA, $23,000. LOT 22, SQUARE 42, SUBDIVISION UNIVERSITY PLACE, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 2-KENNEY, HIGH BIDDER, PHARAOH JOHNSON III, $2,500. LOT 4, SUBDIVISION EDGAR W. KIRBY TRACT, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 1-NOEL, HIGH BIDDER, QUINTON O'NEAL HARRIS, $35,600. LOT 34, SQUARE C, SUBDIVISION BROWN, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 2-KENNEY, HIGH BIDDER, DAVID E. GRIMES, SR., $1,000. LOT 68+, SQUARE 2, SUBDIVISION RICHMOND PARK, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10-COLEMAN, HIGH BIDDER, VIP BILLARDS, $2,500. LOT 4, SQUARE 348, SUBDIVISION POWERS, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10-COLEMAN, HIGH BIDDER JEROME VERRET, $500. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET [PHONETIC], SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSED? MOTIONS CARRIES. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER, [ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS] SEE YOUR SEPARATE SHEETS. [01:45:06] WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A AND B TOGETHER. A, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT TO AN EXISTING CONTRACT FOR BILLING SERVICES WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND SOLUTIONS GROUP FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $22,909. THIS CONTRACT WAS ORIGINALLY FOR $415,800 OFFICE OF THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT. ITEM B, WAIVING THE PROVISIONS OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE TITLE 9, CHAPTER 18, SECTION 91010B, REGARDING THE 300 FOOT DISTANCE REQUIREMENT, SO AS TO ALLOW JB EATERY, LLC, DOING BUSINESS AS SOUTHERN CHICKS CAFE LOCATED AT 7112, FLORIDA BOULEVARD, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, 70806, TO APPLY FOR AN ALCOHOL LICENSE BY COUNCILWOMAN TWAHNA P. HARRIS. WE NEED A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES TO ALLOW THE ITEMS TO BE INTRODUCED. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. WE NEED A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? SEEING NONE, IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? NOW I NEED A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ITEMS? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO. ANY OPPOSED? ITEMS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED. WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY, ITEM NUMBER C. CEG INC. AND THE HARMONY CENTER INC. 5455, [OTHER ITEMS TO BE ADOPTED (EMERGENCY)] LONGFELLOW DRIVE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5-HURST BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT. THE REASON THIS ITEM IS BEING REQUESTED AS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER EMERGENCY CONDEMNATION ITEM, STRUCTURE IS IN DANGEROUS AND DILAPIDATED CONDITION, ENDANGERING PUBLIC WELFARE. RECOMMENDATION BY DPW TO PROCEED. WE NEED A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. WE NEED A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? YES. THIS IS JUST ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES, NOT ON THE ITEM. ANY OBJECTIONS ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? DO WE HAVE OBJECTION ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? THE ITEM CANNOT BE HEARD. COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN OBJECTED. NO. IT'S NOT INTRODUCED. YOU CAN'T SPEAK ON IT. I'M GOING TO GO TO APPOINTMENTS, ITEM 147, [147. 25-00247] COMPLETE STREETS ADVISORY COMMITTEE. CONSIDERATION OF REPLACING ED LAGUCKI WHO RESIGNED. HIS TERM EXPIRES JULY 31ST, 2025. THIS IS FOR THE FEDERATION OF GREATER BATON ROUGE CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS. CURRENT BALLOT IS ROBY SHIELDS. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO TO APPOINT ROBY SHIELDS. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES. CONGRATULATIONS, ROBY SHIELDS. CHANGE ORDERS. [148. 25-00249] ITEM 148, GREENWALD STREET, AMARILLO STREET, LARGE DIAMETER DRAINAGE PIPE REHABILITATION, CONTRACTOR, NCMC, LLC. CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT $5,989. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 149, FINAL ACCEPTANCE GREENWALD STREET, AMARILLO STREET, [149. 25-00252] LARGE DIAMETER DRAINAGE PIPE REHABILITATION, CONTRACTOR, NCMC, LLC. FINAL COST $232,989. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ACCEPTANCE OF LOW BIDS. WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT AGAIN. [150. 25-00026 ] >> CAN WE TAKE 150 SEPARATE, MAYOR PRO TEM? >> YES. >> THANK YOU. >> ASHLEY JUST KEEPS TRYING TO TRICK ME WITH THAT. ITEM 150, OLD HAMMOND HIGHWAY, SEGMENT 1, FLANNERY TO GOODWOOD, BROWN INDUSTRIAL CONSTRUCTION, LLC, $6,375,614.95. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. PARISH ATTORNEY? >> DUE TO A RECENT COURT ORDER, WE'VE BEEN ORDERED TO REBID THAT PROJECT, SO IT'S GOING TO BE OPPOSITION. WE'D ASK YOU-ALL TO DELETE THAT ITEM. I THINK BRAD IS OKAY WITH THAT. MR. RAYFORD IS OKAY WITH THAT TOO. >> REQUEST IS TO DELETE THE ITEM. MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO TO DELETE ANY OPPOSITION. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 151 AND 152, WE'LL TAKE TOGETHER. [Items 151 & 152] [01:50:03] RENOVATION OF SCOTLANDVILLE BRANCH LIBRARY, PHASE 2, LOW BID, SIENNA CONSTRUCTION LLC, 7,020,000. PARISH WIDE NON ROADSIDE EROSION REHABILITATION PROJECT, BOONE SERVICES, LLC, $1,850,643. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? >> GOOD EVENING. LAURIE JUTES [PHONETIC] WITH THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY. SPEAKING ABOUT THE SCOTLANDVILLE RENOVATIONS FOR PHASE 2, AND I'M ASKING FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL IN MOVING THAT PROJECT FORWARD. THE PATRONS IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME FOR THOSE RENOVATIONS TO PROCEED. WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT ON THAT. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? >> YES. >> SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN KENNEY. >> I WILL SAY, TO PIGGYBACK THE TWO LADIES CAME UP TO SPEAK, THE LIBRARY IS IN A GOOD PHASE RIGHT NOW. I THINK IT'S PHASE 2, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. I THINK THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME FOR THIS LIBRARY TO COME. WE'RE LOOKING INTO THAT EVERY DAY FOR EXPENSE FOR THE KIDS AREAS, TECHNOLOGY AS WELL. THEY WANT TO LET YOU-ALL KNOW THAT PROJECT IS GOING ON VERY WELL. THE LIBRARY HAS BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB MAPPING OUT THOSE RESOURCES FOR THAT BRANCH LIBRARY IN THAT AREA. >> COUNCILMAN GAUDET. >> PRO TEM, ON ITEM 151, YOU ANNOUNCED, I BELIEVE, SIENNA CONSTRUCTION. THERE IS A LOWER BID. I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS. THANKS, ASHLEY. >> THEY WITHDREW THEIR BID. >> THANK YOU. >> I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. BEFORE WE GO TO THE REPORT, THERE'S BEEN A REQUEST TO RECONSIDER INTRODUCTIONS TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS WITH DELETION OF ITEM 67. I BELIEVE IT'S A DUPLICATE. I ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO RECONSIDER ITEM 67 TO DELETE. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JR., SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 153, RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ON THE PLANNING FOR [153. 25-00137 ] IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF CITY PARISH PAY STUDY BY COUNCILMAN DARRYL HURST. WE'RE GOING TO HEAR THE REPORT, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE REPORT. >> HI. I'M ANGIE SAVOY WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. IN AUGUST OF 2024, THE CONSULTANTS THAT DID THE PAY STUDY, MAD CONSULTANTS, CAME AND PRESENTED THE RESULTS OF THAT STUDY. WITHIN THAT STUDY, THEY ALSO SUGGESTED SOME IMPLEMENTATION, MEASURES THAT COULD BE TAKEN TO GENERATE FUNDING THAT WOULD HELP SUPPORT THE RAISE. ONE OF THOSE THINGS WERE FOR US TO REVIEW OUR BENEFIT PROGRAMS. LAST YEAR, THE COUNCIL AUTHORIZED A NEW BENEFIT CONSULTANT THAT WAS ON-BOARDED IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. THEY ARE CURRENTLY REVIEWING OUR BENEFIT PLANS TO SEE WHAT SAVINGS CAN BE GENERATED THAT WOULD PROVIDE A FUNDING SOURCE FOR THE RAISE. THEY ARE TENTATIVELY GOING TO START DETERMINING COST SAVING MEASURES AROUND MAY. THEY ARE TAKING THE FIRST QUARTER TO ACTUALLY REVIEW ALL OF OUR CURRENT PLAN DESIGNS. THE PENSION SYSTEM WAS ALSO SUGGESTED TO REVIEW THAT AS WELL, AND SO THE RETIREMENT BOARD HAS DONE AN RFP TO SOLICIT A VENDOR THAT COULD COME IN AND LOOK AT THE ACTUARIAL AND CONSULTING OF THE PENSION PLAN DESIGN. THAT IS SCHEDULED TO BE AWARDED AT THE BEGINNING OF JUNE. ONCE WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION, WE CAN THEN QUANTIFY THE SAVINGS THAT WILL BE PRESENTED IN THOSE REPORTS AND THEN PRESENT TO YOU-ALL A FUNDING MECHANISM. YES, SIR. >> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ITEM. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE REPORT? >> I JUST HAD SEVERAL QUESTIONS REGARDING THE REPORT. ONE HAD TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT THE RETIREMENT ADJUSTMENTS, ARE THERE GOING TO BE ANY CATEGORIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE UNTOUCHED, MEANING PEOPLE WITHIN A CERTAIN PERIOD OF RETIREMENT? I'D BE CURIOUS TO KNOW THAT. THE OTHER ISSUE I HAD WAS THAT GIVEN THE CHANGES AT THE FEDERAL AND THE STATE LEVEL, [01:55:06] IF ANY OF THE POSITIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING CONSIDERED ARE TIED TO VERY SPECIFIC GRANTS OR FEDERAL FUNDING OR OTHER SOURCES THAT ARE COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON THOSE, AND IF THEY'RE STILL GOING TO BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE OVERALL STUDY. THEN THE LAST CATEGORY I'D BE VERY INTERESTED IN IS UNFUNDED LIABILITIES, THAT THE PAYROLL ISSUES, WHAT IS UNFUNDED LIABILITIES AND WHAT IS REAL-TIME FUNDED LIABILITIES? THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL COUNCILMAN HURST. >> YOU ASKED SOME REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS TO THE 15TH COUNCIL MEMBER, RAVEN ANDERSON. YOU REALLY DID. THE PART ABOUT UNFUNDED LIABILITIES, MR. JAMES MACK HAS DONE SUCH AN AMAZING JOB ALONG WITH ANGIE AND THE LIBRARY BOARD THAT AT ANY POINT IF WE CUT OFF OUR RETIREMENT, AND WE ADDED NOBODY, ESSENTIALLY, BASED ON MY UNDERSTANDING IS, WE'RE IN GOOD STANDING FOR IT TO TAKE CARE OF ITSELF IF WE SWITCHED OVER BASED ON WHERE WE ARE AND HOW IT WAS CURRENTLY STRUCTURED. THE ISSUE ABOUT MOVING TO A NEW SYSTEM, THE PROBLEM WITH CITY PARISHES WE, BY LAW, CAN'T FORCE ANYBODY OFF THE CURRENT RETIREMENT SYSTEM. IT WOULD PRIMARILY BE FOR NEW PEOPLE THAT CAME ON BOARD, EVEN IF WE OFFERED 401K OR 427S, OTHER STUFF THAT WE'RE EXPLORING, I'M LOOKING AT ANGIE SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M SANDS CORRECTLY, SO THE EXPECTED RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS 10-15 YEARS. THERE'S NOT AN IMMEDIATE RETURN ON INVESTMENT. WELL, WE STILL HAVE TO DO SOMETHING NOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LONG-TERM IS TAKEN CARE OF, BUT IN TERMS OF ACTUALLY FUNDING IMMEDIATE COMPENSATION CHANGES, THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT YOU WON'T SEE THAT FOR A MINIMUM OF 10 YEARS. IN TERMS OF FRINGE BENEFITS, THEY'RE LOOKING AT THAT ESTIMATED 3-5 YEARS, AND SAME THING WITH TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION, WHICH WERE THE THREE THINGS THAT HAD TO BE DONE, BUT ALL THE STEPS TO REDUCE THE LIABILITY ON THE CITY, AND TO CREATING REVENUES HAVE BEEN DONE. THEY JUST, LIKE GOVERNMENT, ARE VERY SLOW AND TAKE TIME TO GET THERE. DID I ANSWER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS? COME TO THE MIC IF I MISSED SOMETHING. >> I APOLOGIZE IF I SEEM LIKE I'M IN THE WEEDS, BUT SOME OF YOU KNOW I USED TO BE IN HR. >> WHAT DID YOU WILL CALL IT? THE GRANT-BASED FUNDING. >> YEAH. >> YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE INDEPENDENT MILLAGES AND THE GRANT-BASED FUND, AND THOSE TWO ARE IN SPECIAL FUND CATEGORIES ON THE REPORT. A LOT OF THOSE ACTUALLY HAVE THE MONIES CURRENTLY TO CREATE THE RAISES THAT THEY NEED AND ARE SELF-FUNDED, INCLUDING WE TALKED ABOUT HEADSTART. HEADSTART JUST GOT THEIR OWN MONEY TO PRODUCE THEIR OWN HEADSTART FUNDING FOR THE CURRENT POSITIONS AND TO CREATE FUTURE POSITIONS TO EXPAND. THEY HAVE THAT MONEY BUILT-IN AND EVEN WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THEY STILL RECEIVE THEIR MONEY AND THE APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD AND GIVE RAISES AND EXPAND HEADSTART. NOW, AND THEY ARE INCLUDED IN THE COMPENSATION STUDY AS WELL. THE FUNDING MECHANISM WILL BE DETERMINED BASED ON IF THEY HAVE SELF-GENERATING FUNDS LIKE THE AIRPORT DOES, THEY'RE STILL A PART OF THE STUDY. THEY'RE GOING INDEPENDENT IN VERY NEAR FUTURE, BUT THEY STILL ARE A PART OF THAT STUDY AS WELL. >> WELL, THE REASON I WAS ASKING IS SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, SEVERAL CITY PARISH ROLES ARE FINES AND FEES FUNDED. INCREASES OVER YEARS ARE GOING TO BE TIED TO THOSE FINES AND FEES, OF COURSE. BUT ALSO WE HAVE POSITIONS IN THE PARISH THAT GET HIDDEN PAYCHECK TYPE OF BENEFITS, WHETHER IT IS VEHICLES, WHETHER IT IS OTHER TYPES OF BENEFITS THAT NOT ALL POSITIONS GET. I WAS WONDERING AS PART OF THE COMPENSATION STUDY, WERE THOSE FACTORED IN IN THE TOTAL COMPENSATION FOR THAT POSITION? >> THEY WERE AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, AS WE GET TO THE MAGIC NUMBER OF WHATEVER THAT MODERATE PAY SCALE WAS, THE NATURAL INFLATION THAT COMES WITH LOCALLY AND THE NATIONAL ECONOMY, WHICH MEANS YOU PAY MORE, YOUR TAXES INCREASE. THEY WILL CONTINUE THE ABILITY OF FOR US TO DO THOSE 3-4% RAISE ON AN ANNUAL LEVEL. >> WELL, AND AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND THAT ALL OF THIS IS IN FLUX SOMEWHAT, BUT OBVIOUSLY, IF THERE ARE MASSIVE LAYOFFS IN THE PAIRS ON THE TABLE, WHICH RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE ON THE TABLE. AT LEAST THAT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE WILL HAVE TO BE A COMPENSATION PACKAGES OFFERED TO PEOPLE, TYPICALLY. [02:00:03] I GUESS WHAT I'M WONDERING IS THE STUDY WAS DONE WITH ONE SET OF DATA AND ONE TYPE OF SCENARIO AND HAS IT TAKEN THAT IN? >> NO. THAT JUST CAME ABOUT THE ANSWER, CAN YOU COME TO THE MIC? I NEEDED MY TIME FOR SOMETHING ELSE REAL QUICK. BUT THE ANSWER TO THAT IS, NO, BECAUSE WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE A NEED FOR LAYOFFS THAT WILL BE IN THE FUTURE YEAR. AS LONG AS WE MITIGATE THAT FROM HAPPENING IS BASED ON CURRENT PROVISIONS INCLUDING FROZEN, WHICH CAN BE CUT, WHICH WOULD WHICH WILL REQUIRE A REDUCTION. CAN YOU EXPLAIN JUST AT A HIGH LEVEL, HOW WE WENT 32-17.235 MILLION REQUIRED? >> COUNCILMAN HURST ASKED ME TO QUANTIFY IMPLEMENTING THE RAISE. THE TOTAL COST FOR ALL. >> I'M SORRY, COUNCILMAN, YOU WANT THE EXTRA TIME? >> THE TOTAL COST FOR ALL CITY PARISH, INCLUDING GENERAL FUND, SPECIAL FUND, AND GRANTS IS 25.4 MILLION. COUNCILMAN HURST LATER ASKED IF HE COULD REACH OUT TO THE DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCES AND SEE IF THEY HAD FUNDING WITHIN THEIR OWN DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCES TO ACCOMMODATE THE RAISE. WHEN HE DID THAT, WE CAME BACK AND WE RE-RAN THE NUMBERS AND THE DEPARTMENTS THAT OUTSIDE OF THE GENERAL FUND, WHO COULD NOT SUPPORT THE AMOUNT ENDED UP EQUALING 17.235 MILLION WITH BENEFITS. >> IF WE HAD TO BREAK THAT DOWN INTO PARISH VERSUS CITY SERVICES, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT NUMBER WOULD BE? IF WE HAD TO GO IN ADDITIONAL A MILE JUST THEORETICALLY. >> FOR THE CITY, WE LUMPED CITY POLICE, CITY CONSTABLE, CITY COURT EMPLOYEES, EMPLOYEES WHO SERVICE DIRECTLY CITY SERVICES. THAT EQUATED TO $9.11 MILLION WHICH WOULD 3.6 CITY MILLS WOULD BE NEEDED. FOR THE PARISH, WHICH ARE ALL OTHER EMPLOYEES, IT WOULD BE 8.125 MILLION, WHICH WOULD BE 1.4 PARISH-WIDE MILL. >> IN THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM, HOW MANY PEOPLE BASED ON THAT PROGRAM WOULD RECEIVE A LIVABLE AND COMPETITIVE WAGE BASED ON THE MAG RESPONSE? >> BASED ON MAG'S RECOMMENDATION, ALL OF THEM WOULD RECEIVE A [OVERLAPPING] >> EVERYBODY IN THE CITY OR PARISH COULD GET TO A COMPETITIVE AND LIVABLE WAGE FOR 7.235 MILLION, IS THAT CORRECT? >> BASED ON MAG'S RECOMMENDATION. >> BASED ON MAG'S. CHARLIE AND MASON, COME TO THE MIKE. PLEASE BOTH ALL COME TOGETHER. I'VE SAID THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT, HOW DO WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE A HEALTHY CITY PARISH? CONVERSATION IN THE BACK WE TALKED ABOUT WAS, HOW DO WE LOOK AT HEADSTART. MY QUESTION TO CHARLIE AND MASON WAS, HAVE WE EVER PAID A TEACHER'S WAGE FOR HEADSTART? >> NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. >> WHEN YOU'RE PAYING 17,000, AND NO DISRESPECT TO OUR HEADSTART TEACHERS. BUT SHOW HANDS ON MY COUNCIL, HOW MANY ALL WOULD WANT SOMEBODY MAKING $17,000 TO EDUCATE YOUR KID? THAT'S MY POINT. A LOT OF TIMES, A LIVABLE WAGE CHANGES THE WAY THAT WE FUNCTION AS A CITY PARISH AND HOW WE BUILD THAT EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION FROM MY HEAD START. BUT IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO HAVE SKILLED LABOR. I SAY THIS ALL THE TIME, ONE ELECTRICIAN, ONE PLUMBER, AND ONE CARPENTER IN ALL THE CITY PARISH. JOE, AM I SAYING THAT CORRECTLY, CERTIFIED. THANK YOU. BECAUSE HE'S TRIED TO HIRE THEM FOR YEARS AND COULDN'T, BECAUSE WE DON'T PAY A COMPETITIVE WAGE BASED ON INDUSTRY. WE WERE ABLE TO PAY A LIVABLE AND COMPETITIVE WAGE AND COULD FILL THOSE POSITIONS, AT ONE POINT IN TIME, WE FIXED OUR OWN PIPES. WE ABATED OUR OWN BLIGHT, NOT JUST ONE CREW, BUT MULTIPLE CREWS. WE HANDLED OUR DRAINAGE. WE HAD MORE PEOPLE TO CUT THE GRASS. WE TOOK CARE OF OUR CITY. AS THE BABY BOOMERS RETIRED, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO BACKFILL THOSE POSITIONS BECAUSE NOBODY WANTED TO MAKE THOSE WAGES. MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS, WHAT'S THE ADMINISTRATION'S PLAYING A ROLE IN TO GETTING EVERYBODY TO A LIVABLE WAGE ALLOW US TO SUSTAIN OURSELVES? >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. THE LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA, I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO GET A CHANCE TO COME UP HERE TONIGHT AT ALL, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I THINK YESTERDAY, THE MAYOR STARTED LAYING OUT HIS PLAN ON HOW TO REVIVE THE ENTIRE PARISH, HOW TO BEGIN MOVING PEOPLE TO A LIVABLE WAGE. [02:05:02] I THINK YOU AND I'VE PROBABLY TALKED AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES, AND I'M SURE I'VE TALKED TO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL, WE NEED TO PAY PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE CITY PARISH MORE MONEY. WE NEED TO PAY THE TEACHERS WHO WORK FOR HEADSTART, MORE MONEY. WE HAVE TO DO A LOT OF DEEP SOUL-SEARCHING TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR US AND THE CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE CITY PARISH OF BATON ROUGE. THE FIRST THING WE HAVE TO DO IS SOLVE THE $21 MILLION IMPENDING BUDGET CRISIS THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, AND AFTER THAT, WE CAN BEGIN RE-EVALUATING HOW DO WE BEGIN REPURPOSING SO WE CAN START PAYING PEOPLE MORE BECAUSE NO ONE AGREES WITH YOU MORE THAN WE DO THAT WE HAVE GOT TO PAY THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR IN THIS BUILDING AND OUTSIDE THIS BUILDING. NOT JUST A LIVABLE. >> I GOT 13 SECONDS. I WANT TO SAY ONE QUICK THING AND THEY'LL LET YOU FINISH. I'M SURE. >> GO AHEAD. >> IN THIS MAG STUDY, THIS PAPERING CITY PARISH POLICE DEPARTMENT, CITY POLICE UP TO $53,000. THE RECOMMENDATION FROM YOU GUYS IS ABOUT 58 WITH ABOUT 10-13 MILLION DEPENDING ON IF YOU CAN FILL ALL THE POSITIONS. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY FOR $4-5 MORE MILLION, NOW YOU CAN FUND EVERY RAISE INCLUDING BRPD. INSTEAD OF US WORKING AGAINST EACH OTHER, WE CAN WORK TOGETHER. I BELIEVE COACH YIELDS UNITY ALL THE TIME, WHICH I SUPPORT, AND THIS WILL PROVIDE A UNIFIED APPROACH TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? >> I THINK IF WE WERE STARTING AT ZERO, THIS WOULD BE A LOT EASIER, BUT WE'RE STARTING AT NEGATIVE 21 MILLION. YOU GUYS DID A LOT OF WORK LAST YEAR CUTTING $40 MILLION IN THE BUDGET, BUT THERE'S ANOTHER 21 MILLION THAT HAS TO GET CUT JUST TO GET BACK TO ZERO. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK. >> ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU. POSSIBLY. COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. >> SINCE ALL ARE UP THERE, AND I MIGHT NEED ANGIE AS WELL. WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PAY STUDY AND RETIREMENT AND ALL THAT, DOES THAT INCLUDE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AS WELL, IS THAT THE POLICE, IS THAT THE FIREMEN ANGIE, BECAUSE THEY'RE IN A DIFFERENT RETIREMENT SYSTEM, IS THAT RIGHT? >> IT DOES INCLUDE ALL OF THEM. >> IT INCLUDES ALL OF THEM. HOW MANY TOTAL EMPLOYEES DO WE HAVE IN THE CITY PARISH? GENERALLY, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE TO THE EXACT? DO YOU KNOW? >> I DON'T HAVE THAT WITH ME RIGHT NOW. >> DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY EMPLOYEES WE HAVE THAT ARE NOT THAT ARE NOT FIRST [INAUDIBLE] OR LAW ENFORCEMENT? >> NO, MA'AM. >> HAVE YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND ANY TIME LOOKING AT THE POTENTIAL CUTS FOR NEXT YEAR, THE 21 MILLION FOR NEXT YEAR, DO YOU HAVE ANY GUT AS TO HOW MANY EMPLOYEES WE COULD BE LOSING NEXT YEAR? >> PRELIMINARY, WE HAVE DONE SOME PRELIMINARY TO START PLANNING. LAST YEAR, WE KNEW THAT MOVING INTO 2026, THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO REALIZE ADDITIONAL LOSS OF REVENUE DUE TO ST. GEORGE. BACK IN 2024, WE STARTED MENTIONING CONVERSATIONS THAT 2025 WAS ONLY A PARTIAL REMITTANCE OF THE TAX THE ST. GEORGE AND THAT BASED ON WHAT WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVED TODAY THAT THERE WOULD BE ADDITIONAL CUTS. WE DID SOME VERY HIGH-LEVEL PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND DETERMINED THAT IF WE NEEDED TO REDUCE THE BUDGET AND ASSUMING THAT SOME NORMAL INCREASES WOULD BE REALIZED ON THE EXPENSE SIDE THAT WE WOULD BE SHORT ABOUT 21 MILLION. IN DOING THAT, THE ADMINISTRATION FELT LIKE FIRE AND POLICE NEEDED TO REMAIN AT THE REDUCED LEVEL FROM 25 AND THAT RESULTS IN EVERYONE REDUCING THEIR BUDGET BY 14.6%. >> WE'RE IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY. WHEN YOU'RE IN A SERVICE SECTOR, YOUR PEOPLE ARE WHAT YOUR MAIN COST IS, IS THAT FAIR? >> DEFINITELY, 80% OF OUR BUDGET IS SALARY AND BENEFITS WHEN IT COMES TO THE GENERAL FUND. WE ARE SERVICE ORIENTED BY PEOPLE PROVIDING THE SERVICE. >> WE'RE LOOKING AT A SITUATION WHERE WITH ADDITIONAL BUDGET CUTS, WE'RE LIKELY TO LOSE PEOPLE. THEN IF WE'RE ALSO AND I UNDERSTAND THAT OUR EMPLOYEES, WE DO NEED TO REALIGN THE WAY OUR RETIREMENT WORKS AND WE KNOW WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR PAY SCALE TO BE COMPETITIVE. BUT THAT COULD BE ADDITIONAL CUTS OF PERSONNEL SO THAT THEN YOU CAN PAY OTHER PEOPLE. WE'RE FACING A LOT OF REALLY HARD DECISIONS AND POTENTIALLY VERY IMPACTFUL DECISIONS TO PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR CITY PARISH AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. IS THAT FAIR TO SAY? >> YES. I THINK THAT WE HAVE SOME VERY TOUGH ROADS AHEAD OF US. YEAH. [02:10:02] >> I KNOW THAT YOU TAKE THIS HOME AND YOU LIVE WITH THIS 24/7 AND JUST KNOW THAT WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO TO TRY AND HELP US NAVIGATE THESE TURBULENT TIMES. >> THANK YOU. >> COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. >> I JUST WANT TO TAKE 30 SECONDS TO CORRECT THAT THE HEADSTART TEACHERS AND I ASKED ABOUT THIS AND DUGGAN FOUND OUT THAT $10 AN HOUR IS NOT TRUTH THAT OUR HEADSTART TEACHERS ARE MAKING $21 AN HOUR. THEN, CHARLIE, YOU SAID THAT IT'S THE WORST IN THE COUNTRY. I DON'T THINK SO. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RECTIFY THAT STATEMENT. BUT OUR HEADSTART TEACHERS ARE MAKING 21 PLUS AN HOUR. >> THANK GOD FOR THAT. 21 IS WAY BETTER THAN 10. >> COUNCILMAN DUNN JUNIOR. >> THANK YOU. CHARLIE, AS WE APPROACH THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT PAY RAISES, THE BUDGET, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, MY OBSERVATION AND MY RECOMMENDATION TO YOU GUYS IS ALONG THE SAME LINES OF WHAT COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN DISCUSSED, AS WE APPROACH THIS CONVERSATION AND OTHER CONVERSATIONS, I THINK WE MUST DO IT IN FACT BASED DATA AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. I DO KNOW SOMETIMES YOU GET AT A MIC, YOU MAY GET A BRAIN FOR IT OR FORGET SOMETHING OR MISSPEAK. IT HAPPENS. >> IT DOES HAPPEN [INAUDIBLE]. >> WHAT I WOULD SAY IS IF MISINFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED, THAT WE CIRCLE BACK AND CLEAR THAT UP. THAT IS ONE THING THAT WAS POINTED OUT TO ME AS WELL, THE $10 AN HOUR PAY FOR THE HEADSTART WORKERS WHEN THEY'RE MAKING $21 AN HOUR, AND ALSO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE EFFICIENCY OF THE PROGRAM. THEY HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY FOR SOME OF THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING, AND AT YOUR CAFE AMERICANA APPEARANCE ON YESTERDAY, THAT WAS NOT REPRESENTED IN THAT WAY. IT WAS ALSO SAID THAT PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE NOT PAID DOWN DEBT. WE'RE IN THIS SITUATION BECAUSE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE NOT PAID DOWN DEBT. THEN FOLLOWING THAT, THE INDIVIDUAL SAID, ONCE THE DEBT IS PAID, WE WILL BE RELIEVED $9 MILLION. WELL, THE $9 MILLION RELIEF IS THE DEBT THAT'S BEING PAID DOWN EVERY YEAR BY PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS. AGAIN, IT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT WAS A MISSPOKE, SPOKEN OUT OF AUTO. MY APPEAL TO YOU, MY APPEAL TO MAYOR EDWARDS, IS WHEN THIS HAPPENS, PLEASE CLARIFY THESE THINGS BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC IS GETTING ACCURATE INFORMATION, AND IF IT'S A HARMLESS MISTAKE, WE UNDERSTAND THAT, JUST BRING THAT TO THE ATTENTION AND CLEAN IT UP LATER BECAUSE THERE'S SEVERAL THINGS THAT ARE BEING SAID IN THESE PRESENTATIONS AND THESE PRESS CONFERENCES THAT I FEEL AND OTHERS FEEL ARE NOT ACCURATE. I'D LIKE YOU TO SPEAK TODAY. >> I APPRECIATE THAT. I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT WAS SAID ABOUT THE DEBT, BUT CERTAINLY DEBT IS BEING PAID DOWN ON A REGULAR BASIS TO CLARIFY, BY PAYING DOWN, I THINK THE EXACT NUMBERS, 52.4 MILLION CLEARS UP $9.6 MILLION IN RECURRING REVENUE. THAT'S THE KEY THING PART OF THE MAYOR'S PLAN. I THINK IT WAS THE COUNCIL IN THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION THAT KICK-STARTED THIS INITIATIVE TO MAKE HEADSTART AND BAT ROUGE SUBSTANTIALLY BETTER. WHAT THE MAYOR IS TRYING TO DO, I BELIEVE, IS TO CONTINUE THE EFFORT THAT YOU GUYS STARTED TO MAKE HEADSTART SUBSTANTIALLY BETTER AND TO PAY THE TEACHERS MORE MONEY. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> COUNCILWOMAN RACCA. >> THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PAY STUDIES AND LAYOFFS AND MINIMIZING DEPARTMENTS, AND I THINK AND I WANT TO BE ACCURATE. I HEARD THAT 15% OF EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS TO BE LAID OFF WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FIRE AND POLICE. >> THE EXACT NUMBER IS 14.6. THAT'S A BUDGET. WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS, AND WE ASKED ALL THE DEPARTMENTS TO GIVE US THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW WE WOULD MAKE THOSE CUTS IF IT COMES TO THAT. >> I SPEAK FOR MYSELF, BUT WE KNEW THIS WAS COMING. WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. WE KNEW THAT ADDITIONAL BUDGET CUTS WERE COMING. WE'D ALL BE REMISS TO PRETEND LIKE WE DIDN'T KNOW THESE THINGS WERE GOING TO BE HAPPENING. WE ALL KNEW ST. GEORGE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BREAKING OFF. WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THAT ALONG PRETTY WELL. BUT TONIGHT, I HEARD OUR FINANCE FOLKS SAY THAT WE HAVE TO PAY OFF OUR DEBTS FROM ST. GEORGE MOVING FORWARD, IS THAT CORRECT? >> PAY OFF OUR DEBTS FROM ST. GEORGE. >> PAY ST. GEORGE MOVING FORWARD. EXPLAIN TO ME AND MAYBE MISS YOU CAN. >> SURE. GO AHEAD. >> WHEN THEY BECOME A MUNICIPALITY, THEY GENERATE REVENUE WITHIN THEIR AREA. THAT'S WHAT I MEAN. STARTING IN JULY OF THIS YEAR, WE HAVE ALREADY BUDGETED THAT THEY WILL START RECEIVING 100% OF THEIR COLLECTIONS WITHIN THEIR AREA THAT THEY GENERATE. [02:15:03] THAT'S WHAT I MEANT BY THAT. >> OF THAT 100% OF COLLECTIONS, THAT'S MONEY THAT HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN COMING IN OR THE PORTION OF THAT THAT HAS BEEN COMING IN. WHAT HAVE WE BEEN DOING WITH THAT MONEY WHILE IT HAS BEEN COMING IN? HAVE WE BEEN PROVIDING SERVICES? EXPLAIN THAT TO ME. >> CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW, WE ARE PROVIDING SERVICES IN THAT AREA, EXCEPT FOR SOME PERMITTING AND PLANNING COMMISSION. WE'RE STILL IN NEGOTIATIONS DETERMINING WHAT SERVICES WILL CONTINUE AFTER JULY. HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO PLAN A BUDGET, LIKE WE ALL HAVE TO DO, WE PLANNED IT BASED ON THE NEGOTIATIONS AT THE TIME, WHICH WE WOULD START REMITTING THEM 100% OF THEIR REVENUES IN JULY OF THIS YEAR. THEREFORE, NEXT YEAR, WE WOULD HAVE ANOTHER ACCOMMODATION FOR THE REVENUES THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO RECEIVE SINCE WE'RE PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES. >> WHENEVER WE'RE LOOKING AT DEPARTMENTS BEING CUT AND WE HAVE THINGS LIKE THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE FACT THAT THERE'S A NEW CITY OF ST. GEORGE DOES NOT IMPACT THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BECAUSE THEY STILL SERVICE THE ENTIRE PARISH. ARE THEY GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY THAT 15% CUT BECAUSE NOTHING'S CHANGED FOR THEM, THEY STILL HAVE THE SAME WORKLOAD AND THEY MAY EVEN ACTUALLY HAVE MORE. IS THEIR DIVISION GOING TO BE GIVEN SOME EXCEPTION LIKE FIRE AND POLICE? >> AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE SENT OUT MEMOS AND ARE ASKING DEPARTMENTS TO SEND IN THEIR HIGH-LEVEL PRELIMINARY ESSENCE OF WHAT THIS CUT WOULD HAVE ON SERVICE IMPACTS AS WELL AS THEIR BUDGET. THEN WE WILL REVIEW ALL THAT INFORMATION AND MAKE A DETERMINATION BASED OFF OF THAT. >> WILL THERE BE ANY SERVICES THAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE CURRENTLY PROVIDING FOR ST. GEORGE THAT WILL STILL BE ON OUR PAYROLL? >> IT DEPENDS ON IF WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES. THAT'S WHY WE'RE TRYING TO PLAN NOW SO THAT WE CAN ACT ACCORDINGLY ONCE WE GET INTO THOSE CONVERSATIONS. >> DO WE JUST LAY OFF ALL THE EMPLOYEES THAT SERVICE ST. GEORGE, OR DO THOSE EMPLOYEES ALSO SERVICE THE CITY OF CENTRAL? DO THEY GO OUT TO BAKER AND ZACHARY AS WELL? ARE THERE DEPARTMENTS WHERE WE HAVE FOLKS THAT GO TO BAKER, CENTRAL, ZACHARY, AND ST. GEORGE? >> I CAN'T ANSWER THAT. YOU'D HAVE TO ASK EACH OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS THAT SERVICE THAT AREA. >> IS MR. RAYFORD HERE? IS THERE REGINALD HERE? WOULD YOU ALL LIKE TO COME UP AND ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS? I WOULD LOVE FOR Y'ALL TO. >> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL THIS EVENING. >> MR. REGINALD, TELL ME HOW IS YOUR DEPARTMENT GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY THE 15% CUTS? >> [NOISE] I'M SURE IT'LL HAVE A TANGIBLE EFFECT BECAUSE WE'LL STILL BE OBLIGATED TO SERVE THE ENTIRETY OF THE CITY PARISH'S OWN ASSETS FROM A MAINTENANCE STANDPOINT. IF WE ARE ASKED AND MANDATED TO MAKE THOSE CUTS, WE WILL HAVE TO RELINQUISH SOME SERVICES. >> YOU GUYS CURRENTLY SERVE CENTRAL, ZACHARY, BAKER ST. GEORGE, OR TELL ME WHAT YOUR SCOPE [INAUDIBLE]. [OVERLAPPING] >> WELL, WE DO SERVE. IT DEPENDS ON OWNERSHIP. WE HAVE A DATABASE THAT TELLS US WHAT STREETS WITHIN THOSE CITY LIMITS THAT WE MAINTAIN. THERE ARE CERTAIN STREETS IN ZACHARY WE MAINTAIN. BAKER, WE STILL DO ALL OF ST. GEORGE. >> WHAT'S YOUR YEARLY BUDGET? >> RIGHT NOW, IT'S 21 MILLION. [OVERLAPPING]. >> [INAUDIBLE] >> YES, PLEASE. >> 21 MILLION. >> 21 MILLION FOR WHAT? >> FOR DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE, LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE, AND STREET MAINTENANCE. >> THAT'S IT? >> THAT'S IT. THAT'S THE TOTAL. [OVERLAPPING] >> I'M SO SORRY. I BLANKED OUT WHEN YOU SAID 21 MILLION. I READ IT ON PAPER, BUT YOU SAYING IT ALOUD HERE TONIGHT JUST REVERBERATES, AND SO 21 MILLION DOLLARS IS ALL YOU RECEIVE EVERY YEAR TO DO EXACTLY WHAT FOR WHO? >> WELL, WE SERVICE THE ENTIRETY OF THE PARISH FOR ALL CITY-OWNED MAINTENANCE ASSETS. THAT'S YOUR DRAINAGE, OPEN CHANNEL, CLOSED CHANNEL, ALL CITY-PARISH ON STREETS, ALL CITY-PARISH ON RIGHT AWAY LANDSCAPING. >> WOW, THAT'S INCREDIBLY INSANE COMPARED TO SOME OF THE MILLAGES THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT INFORMATION. >> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. >> YES, SIR. I HAVE NO OTHER QUESTIONS. >> COUNCILMAN MOAK. >> TREASURER, HE CAN BACK UP? >> THANK YOU. >> REGINALD. >> YOU ARE HERE WHENEVER CENTRAL BECAME A CITY. [02:20:02] BUT TAKE CENTRAL, BAKER, ZACHARY, AND NOW THE CITY OF ST. GEORGE. AS FAR AS SERVICES BEING PROVIDED IN THAT AREA, THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE PROVIDING NOW ARE THE SERVICES THAT YOU PROVIDE TO THE WHOLE PARISH. AS THOSE AREAS BECOME THEIR OWN CITY, CERTAIN THINGS DIMINISH AS FAR AS THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT HAS TO BE IN AREA. LIKE YOU SAID, SULLIVAN ROAD, CENTRAL THRUWAY, THOSE ARE CITY-PARISH ROADS, LOVETT ROAD, THE SUBDIVISION STREETS, THE DRAINAGE IN THE SUBDIVISION STREETS, ALL THAT, THOSE ARE NOT MAINTAINED BY EAST PARISH ANYMORE, CORRECT? >> NO, SIR, ONLY THE STREETS THAT WE STILL OWN. >> CORRECT. THE CITY-PARISH ROADS? >> YES. >> WHICH EXCLUDES ALL SUBDIVISIONS, PRIVATE-OWNED STREETS, ONES THAT ARE NOT DESIGNATED, THEY'LL TAKEOVER BUT, THE CITY OF ST. GEORGE, CENTRAL, BAKER, ZACHARY HAS THEIR OWN STREETS THAT THEY MAINTAIN. [OVERLAPPING] YES, SIR. >> WELL, WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SUPPORT THOSE MUNICIPALITIES FROM TIME TO TIME. >> YES, SIR. WE DO DIFFERENT SERVICES, WE ASSIST EACH OTHER, AND I THINK THAT'S GREAT, WORKING FUNCTIONALITY BETWEEN ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES. I THINK BEING AT A PARISH FUNCTION AND SO ON. OFF-ROAD DRAINAGE, THAT BECOMES A LOCAL MUNICIPALITY FUNCTION, CORRECT? >> YES, BUT LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SUPPORT THOSE MUNICIPALITIES, ESPECIALLY IN THAT CATEGORY FOR OFF-ROAD DRAINAGE. [OVERLAPPING] >> CORRECT, BECAUSE OFF-ROAD DRAINAGE IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALL TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF AS FAR AS FLOODING AND EVERYTHING. >> BECAUSE ALL THE DRAINAGE IS CONNECTED, ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE WE HAVE WATERSHEDS AND THEY ARE ALL CONNECTED THROUGH THE PARISH, SO IF IT HANGS UP IN THE NORTHERN PART, THEN IT CAN'T FLOW. >> CORRECT. FOR EXAMPLE, THE FIVE TRIBUTARIES PROJECT, AND I KNOW FRED IS NOT HERE, BUT THE FIVE TRIBUTARIES PROJECT IS TWO OF THOSE TRIBUTARIES ARE IN CITY OF CENTRAL, BUT BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING WITH SOME ARP FUNDS AND FEDERAL FUNDING, CITY PARISH IS ACTUALLY MAINTAINING THAT AND DOING THAT AND DOING ALL THAT WORK, AND THEN ONCE IT'LL BE TURNED OVER AFTER THAT TO THAT LOCAL MUNICIPALITY. LOOK, I HOPE WE CAN COME TO SOMETHING AND SAVE EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE. I HOPE WE CAN WORK ON EVERY SINGLE THING TOGETHER. I THINK ONE OF THE BIG THINGS TO SAY EVEN WITH THE CITY OF ST. GEORGE IS, AS FAR AS THIS FUNDING AND PAY STUDY AND THE FUNDING THAT HAS TO COME IN, I THINK WE CAN FIND A ROAD FORWARD. FRED, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING BACK IN, BUT I WAS JUST EXPLAINING ABOUT THE TRIBUTARIES PROJECT AND HOW Y'ALL ARE MANAGING IT, WORKING WITH FEDERAL DOLLARS AND STUFF, AND THEN THAT GETS TURNED OVER TO THE CITY OF CENTRAL AS FAR AS FUNDING AND MAINTENANCE TO TAKE CARE OF IT. >> AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CITY OF CENTRAL AND WE HAVE A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT. BUT THERE ARE STILL SOME MINOR ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS BECAUSE OF THE EXPANSION OF WAY THE CORE WANTS TO DO THE PROJECTS, BUT IN REALITY, WE'RE STILL THE PROJECT MANAGER. WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND THEN WE MANAGE THAT THROUGH THE CITY OF CENTRAL, WHICH THEY'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL TRYING TO HELP US THROUGH THE ACQUISITIONS, DO THE ABSTRACT WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND ALSO PAYING FOR SOME OF THE APPRAISALS. >> BUT EVENTUALLY, THAT WILL GET TURNED OVER TO THE CITY OF CENTRAL AS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY? >> YES, SIR. THAT WAS PART ACTUALLY OF THE COOP ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT. >> I'VE CALLED YOU SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE THRUWAY. I KNOW THE CITY OF CENTRAL WILL GO OUT AND THEY'LL DELL PATCHWORK SOME STUFF BASED ON WHAT RESPONSE WE CAN GET AS FAR AS CITY PARISH AND STUFF GOES. >> THERE ARE VARIOUS ROADS THAT IN THE ACTUAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN US AND THE CITY OF CENTRAL THAT WERE AGREED TO. CENTRAL THRUWAY WAS ONE OF THOSE ROADS. YOU ALSO HAD PARTS OF JOE ROAD THAT WE'RE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR, AND SULLIVAN AND THERE'S A SECTION WHERE CENTRAL TANGENT AND THE SULLIVAN THAT WE ALSO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR. >> LOOK, I DON'T WANT TO LOSE ANY CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES. IN CLOSING, I THINK 21 MILLION THAT YOU SAID, I'M LIKE COUNCILWOMAN RACCA, THAT JUST LIKE, THAT'S IT, I CAN'T BELIEVE, YOU SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST 30 MILLION OR MORE, AND SAME WITH YOU, FRED. HOPEFULLY, WE CAN ALL COME TOGETHER AND BASICALLY MOVE THE PARISH FORWARD, WORKING TOGETHER. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMAN HUDSON. >> ANGIE, I WANT TO CIRCLE THIS CONVERSATION BACK TO THE PAY STUDY REAL QUICK. THE BIG TAKEAWAY THAT I TOOK FROM YOUR REPORT AND THE DISCUSSION AFTER THAT IS IT'S GOING TO COST ABOUT $17.3 MILLION TO FUND PAY RAISES CITY PARISH-WIDE. IS THAT AN ACCURATE STATEMENT? >> YES. >> IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION? [OVERLAPPING] GO AHEAD. >> IT'S 25.4 MILLION. BUT WHEN COUNCILMAN HURST TALKED TO [02:25:03] DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE SELF-SUFFICIENT LIKE MOSQUITTO, EMS LIBRARY, AND PULLED THOSE DEPARTMENTS OUT OF THE COST BECAUSE THEY CAN FUND THEIR COST ON THEIR OWN, THAT'S WHERE THE 17.235 COMES IN. >> HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO SUBSTANTIATE THAT NUMBER FROM COUNCILMAN HURST? >> YES. >> THAT'S THE REAL NUMBER THEN THAT I THINK WE SHOULD BE SHOOTING FOR. >> THAT COVERS THE GENERAL FUND AND THOSE DEPARTMENTS DO NOT HAVE SELF-FUNDING TO COVER THE RISE. >> GOT YOU. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT MIGHT MITIGATE THAT NUMBER FURTHER? >> CURRENTLY, WHEN WE CAME INTO THE 2025 BUDGET IN ORDER TO BALANCE IT, WE FROZE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS. RIGHT NOW IN THE GENERAL FUND, WE HAVE 279 ALLOTTED POSITIONS. OF THAT, WE HAVE 372 THAT ARE CONSIDERED FROZEN. THE REASON WE FROZE THEM IS THAT IF WE DID HAVE ANY ABILITY TO UNFREEZE THEM RATHER THAN DELETE THEM, WE WANTED THAT FLEXIBILITY. ENCOMPASSED IN THESE NUMBERS ARE THE FUNDING FOR THE FROZEN POSITIONS. >> IF WE DELETE SOME OF THESE FROZEN POSITIONS, WE MAY FURTHER MITIGATE THAT COST DOWN, HUDSON? >> I DID A VERY QUICK NUMBER FROM OUR CONVERSATION. IT'S ABOUT 4.2 MILLION. [OVERLAPPING] IF WE DO HAVE TO REDUCE OUR WORKFORCE FURTHER, AS THE MAYOR HAS SAID, POTENTIALLY WITH THESE BUDGET REDUCTIONS, YOU COULD THEN SAY FURTHER FUNDING. >> GOT YOU. MOVE THAT GOOD SEGUE TO MY NEXT QUESTION. AS WE LOOK AT CUTS FOR NEXT YEAR AND POSSIBLY WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE, IT'S BEEN SAID THAT IT'S ALL JOBS. IS IT ALL JOBS OR IS IT POSITIONS? WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF EMPLOYED POSITIONS, AND THEN UNFILLED POSITIONS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT CUTTING? >> CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 294 GENERAL FUND ALLOTTED POSITIONS. OF THOSE, 372 ARE FROZEN. >> CHECK. [BACKGROUND] I THINK YOU'RE SAYING THE NUMBER BACKWARDS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE THERE. [OVERLAPPING] >> 2,794 [OVERLAPPING] IS THE TOTAL GENERAL FUND ALLOTMENT. OF THAT NUMBER, 372 ARE FROZEN. >> I UNDERSTAND IT BETTER NOW. THANK YOU. [OVERLAPPING] >> THEN NOW WE COME TO A NEW NUMBER OF 2,400, BASICALLY. THEN IF YOU SUBTRACTED THE 600 THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE CUT, DEPENDING ON IF DEPARTMENTS CHOOSE TO REDUCE THEIR EMPLOYEES. EVERYONE DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF DISCRETIONARY. SOME DEPARTMENTS ONLY HAVE PEOPLE. [OVERLAPPING] THEN THAT WOULD REDUCE THE NUMBER EVEN LOWER TO 1,800. THEN IF YOU REDUCED FIRE AND POLICE, YOU'RE DOWN TO LIKE 450 EMPLOYEES. >> I'M GOING TO SPEAK IN REALLY BROAD NUMBERS FOR JUST A SECOND. PROBABLY AM WRONG, SO CORRECT ME IF I'M NOT RIGHT. WE'RE LOOKING AT A TOTAL OF ABOUT 600 POSITIONS. [OVERLAPPING] >> POTENTIALLY. >> 372 OF THOSE ARE ALREADY FROZEN? >> NO, THAT WOULD BE IN ADDITION. >> WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO THE ALREADY FROZEN POSITION. HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED ANY OTHER THREATS THAT WOULD FURTHER COMPLICATE OUR FINANCIAL POSITION, OUR ABILITY TO HANDLE THESE CUTS? >> I THINK THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO GET THE FEEDBACK FROM THE DEPARTMENTS, IS THAT THE DEPARTMENTS UNDERSTAND AND KNOW THEIR OPERATIONS. WE NEED THEIR INPUT IN ORDER TO MAKE DECISIONS MOVING FORWARD, WE NEED THEIR COOPERATION. >> GOT YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD DISCUSSION. APPRECIATE YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HARD WORK. I'LL JUST SAY, ANGIE, I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES IN B1 WHEN YOU LEAVE IN THE EVENING, BECAUSE IT'S A VERY SMALL NUMBER, BECAUSE I'VE GONE TO DINNER AND COME BACK AND YOU'RE STILL HERE, SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK. WITH THAT, COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO. MEETING ADJOURNED. >> MAYOR PRO TEM, I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE, PLEASE. THANK YOU. >> I FORGOT ABOUT ANNOUNCEMENTS. >> [LAUGHTER] JOIN THE CONVERSATION WITH COUNCILWOMAN TWAHNA P. HARRIS AND DISTRICT 7. [BACKGROUND]. >> EVERYBODY, PLEASE QUIET DOWN, WE HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS. [02:30:02] >> ATTENTION, EVERYONE. THANK YOU. JOIN THE CONVERSATION WITH COUNCILWOMAN TWAHNA P. HARRIS, DISTRICT 7 AT OUR COMMUNITY MEETING THAT WILL BE HELD ON MARCH 11 FROM 6:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. AT THE MLK COMMUNITY CENTER, GUS YOUNG AVENUE, 4,000. WE WILL HAVE DEPARTMENT HEADS THERE, AND THE CONVERSATION IS GOING TO BE ABOUT MOVING DISTRICT 7 FORWARD AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO EVERYONE JOINING US. IF YOU HAVE TIME, COME AND HANG OUT WITH US FOR AN HOUR, AND IT WILL BE A VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO >> I INVITE EVERYONE TO COME OUT ON FRIDAY NIGHT, FEBRUARY 28 TO THE SOUTHBOUND PARADE. IT'S A FAMILY-FRIENDLY PARADE. YOU'LL HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WILL BE RIDING IN THE PARADE. YOU'LL HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE ALONG THE STREET. PLEASE COME OUT, BRING YOUR KIDS. I PROMISE WE'LL THROW THEM AS MANY THINGS AS WE CAN. >> COUNCILMAN KENNEY. >> COLLEAGUES, TONIGHT'S DINNER IS SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT 2 OFFICE. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU COME IN. DO I OFFER SOME GOOD MEAL FROM DISTRICT 2? THANK YOU. >> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU ALL FOR CONTINUING TO SERVE. AS YOU CONTINUE TO SERVE EVERYONE AROUND, YOU SERVE YOUR COMMUNITIES, YOUR FAMILIES, AND FIRST AND FOREMOST, SERVE GOD. GOD BLESS. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.