Mar 12, 2025 Metropolitan Council

[Presentations and Special Recognitions]

[00:00:03]

>> WELCOME, EVERYBODY TO THE PRESENTATION PORTION OF OUR METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING THIS MARCH 12, 2025.

WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH RECOGNITION BY MAYOR-PRESIDENT, SID EDWARDS OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. MAYOR.

>> IT'S HISTORY MONTH FOR SURE.

BUT I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, MAYOR PRO TEM, IS WE'RE GOING TO AT OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, I JUST MET WITH MISS HARRIS.

WE'RE GOING TO DO A BIG TO DO WITH IT, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> SURE. MOVING TO NUMBER 2, WE'LL HAVE MAYOR-PRESIDENT, SID EDWARDS TO RECOGNIZE THE FAMILY OF ROOSEVELT, TEDDY BROWN, FORMER MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL COACH.

>> THIS IS QUITE AN HONOR TO DO THIS.

I KNEW COACH BROWN, ME BEING A COACH MYSELF. MISS COLEMAN.

IT ALWAYS SEEMS YOU KNOW ABOUT IT.

BUT ANYWAY, FORMER MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL COACH, ROOSEVELT TEDDY BROWN, HIS BASKETBALL TEAM, LOOK AT THIS RECORD, WAS 453 WINS TO 187 LOSSES WITH A PLAYOFF RECORD OF 23 AND 13.

COACH BROWN WAS AN EDUCATOR IN THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR 55 YEARS, IN ADDITION TO WORKING AT MCKINLEY AS THE DEAN OF STUDENTS.

COACH BROWN WAS INDUCTED INTO LOUISIANA SPORTS HALL OF FAME IN 2004, AND HE WAS ALSO INDUCTED INTO THE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS HALL OF FAME IN 1994.

THE GREATEST ATTRIBUTE I COULD GIVE TO HIM, KNOW ONE COACH BROWN WAS HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS STUDENT ATHLETES.

HE NOT ONLY WON BASKETBALL GAMES, HE GREW MEN.

COUNCILWOMAN, I'D LIKE YOU TO SPEAK ON HIM.

I KNOW YOU'RE WELL AS STOOD ON IT, AND WE'LL PRESENT THE FAMILY.

>> I SAY DITTO TO EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE SAID, AND ALSO WE DID DURING THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AS A MATTER OF FACT, AND WE ACKNOWLEDGED COACH BROWN LEGACY SERIES THERE.

HE WAS A PART OF THAT LEGACY SERIES AND SHARED MUCH INFORMATION WITH US, AND YOU ARE CORRECT.

HE GREW REAL MEN THERE, AND WAS RESPECTED BY MOST OR IF NOT ALL OF THE GENTLEMENS, THEY ARE IN DISTRICT.

THEY ARE AT MCKINLEY, AND EVEN, HE WAS AT CAPITAL HIGH AT ONE TIME AND DID SOME STUFF.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A COACH, CAN'T THINK OF NO ONE BUT TEDDY BROWN.

>> LEGEND.

>> LEGEND. [APPLAUSE]

>> WE WOULD ASK THE FAMILY TO COME ON UP.

ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? SOMEBODY GOT NOMINATED.

>> COME ON.

>> I FEEL LIKE I'M NOMINATED.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> THANK YOU. WELL, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY.

MY FATHER WAS AN INCREDIBLE MAN, FELT VERY SERIOUSLY ABOUT TAKING CARE OF HIS TEAMS, BUT ALSO THE PEOPLE THAT PLAYED ON HIS TEAMS. HE WAS VERY INTO MAKING SURE THAT THE ATHLETES GREW INTO MEN, AS YOU'VE SAID.

THAT WAS SOMETHING HE TOOK VERY SERIOUSLY.

I MENTIONED BEFORE, AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.

HE NEVER REALLY TALKED ABOUT THE PHYSICAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

HE TALKED ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE WERE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH AFTER THE SPORT, AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, HOW THEY WERE GOING TO DO WELL WITHIN THEIR LIVES.

THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO HIM, AND SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT THE CITY HAS RECOGNIZED HIM, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY.

>> TELL US WHO YOU HAVE WITH YOU.

>> HERE'S MY MOTHER. MY FATHER WAS MARRIED TO HER FOR 60 YEARS.

[APPLAUSE] MY MOTHER STOOD BY HIM. ALSO, I HAVE MY SISTER IN LAW, AND THEN I ALSO HAVE MY BROTHER.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME. LET'S GET A PICTURE WITH PROCLAMATION.

>> THERE WE GO.

>> WE'LL COME OVER ON THIS HAND.

>> ONE MORE.

[00:05:46]

>> NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MAYOR-PRESIDENT, SID EDWARDS TO RECOGNIZE CAPITAL AREA GROUND WATER COMMISSION FOR NATIONAL GROUNDWATER AWARENESS WEEK. MAYOR.

>> LET ME START OFF BY SAYING THAT, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS ORGANIZATION, EVERYTHING ELSE, IT'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'T SEE AND DON'T KNOW ABOUT, BUT IT'S AS IMPORTANT AS ANYTHING IN OUR CITY.

WOULD IT BE A NATIONAL GROUNDWATER AWARENESS WEEK FOR THE CAPITAL AREA GROUNDWATER COMMISSION, WE'RE GOING TO ASK MISS WICKER TO COME UP AND RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION. [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR, AND I'LL JUST TELL YOU, AS THE MAYOR SAID, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT'S HUGELY IMPORTANT, AND IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT OFTENTIMES WE DON'T THINK ABOUT OR WE DON'T SEE IT.

BUT HERE IN BATON ROUGE, WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE BENEFIT OF HAVING THE SECOND BEST WATER IN THE COUNTRY, AND THAT DOESN'T COME JUST BY CHANCE.

LITERALLY MANY YEARS AGO, SITTING HERE ON THE COUNCIL, OUR FORMER COLLEAGUES, SMOKEY BOURGEOIS BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF OUR COLLEAGUES THAT OUR GROUNDWATER WAS IN JEOPARDY.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD.

UNFORTUNATELY, GARY, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS UNABLE TO BE HERE.

I'M JUST HERE TO RECEIVE THE PROCLAMATION ON HIS BEHALF.

WE DO HAVE SOME BROCHURES THAT I'D LIKE TO LEAVE WITH Y'ALL IN RECOGNITION OF THIS TIME.

THIS ACTUAL OBSERVANCE IS AN ANNUAL OBSERVANCE.

IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1999 TO HIGHLIGHT THE RESPONSIBILITY, DEVELOPMENT, AND MANAGEMENT AND USE OF GROUNDWATER AND TO ENCOURAGE YEARLY WATER WELL TESTING AND WELL MAINTENANCE AND TO PROMOTE POLICIES, IMPACTING GROUNDWATER QUALITY AND THE SUPPLY.

GROUNDWATER ADVOCATES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS WEEK, ARE CELEBRATING AND HIGHLIGHTING LOCAL WATER ISSUES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW THAT AS MORE THAN 44% OF THE POPULATION DEPENDS ON GROUNDWATER AS A PRIMARY SOURCE, DEVELOPING AN INTEREST IN GROUNDWATER INDUSTRY.

THERE'S ALSO A TON OF OPPORTUNITIES IN TERMS OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING AND LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS IS AN INDUSTRY TO GET INVOLVED IN AND CAN MAKE AN ECONOMIC IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ONE THING THAT I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU, A 1% REDUCTION IN USAGE WOULD RESULT IN ABOUT A HALF BILLION GALLONS OF WATER EACH YEAR SAVED JUST BY CITIZENS DOING A COUPLE OF THINGS.

TURNING OFF THE WATER WHILE BRUSHING YOUR TEETH, I'VE BEEN GUILTY OF THAT SOMETIMES.

GENTLEMEN, TURNING THE WATER OFF WHILE YOU'RE SHAVING, REPLACING OUTDATED SHOWER HEADS AND REPLACING RUNNING TOILETS.

WE CAN ACTUALLY SAVE A HALF BILLION GALLONS OF WATER EACH YEAR.

WITH THAT, WE WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR JOINING THE REST OF THE COUNTRY AND ACKNOWLEDGING AND HAVING A PROCLAMATION FOR RECOGNITION OF THE NATIONAL GROUNDWATER AWARENESS WEEK FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS. [APPLAUSE].

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE THANK YOU FORMER COUNCILWOMAN, WICKER.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE KNOW YOU MISSED IT UP HERE, SO YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY FOR ALL OF THE FESTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE DAY.

NEXT UP WE'RE GOING TO HAVE METROPOLITAN COUNCILMAN, ANTHONY KENNEY JR. TO RECOGNIZE COLLEYVILLE UNITED YOUTH ORGANIZATION FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO UPLIFTING YOUTH IN THE SCOTLANDVILLE COMMUNITY. COUNCILMAN?

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.

TODAY, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE ORGANIZATION HAD DONE A LOT OF AMAZING WORK WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE TALK ABOUT IMPACTING OUR YOUNG KIDS.

THIS ORGANIZATION IS ON THE FRONT LINE IN THE COLLEYVILLE COMMUNITY THROUGH SPORTS, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND SO MANY MORE SOCIAL SKILLS TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

I'D LIKE TO BRING UP SOME OF THE LEADERS OF THE COLLEYVILLE UNITED ORGANIZATION, MR. TROY GRADNEY, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GET HIS NAME CORRECT, CHARLES SALVAGE.

COME ON UP. THESE TWO MEN ARE TWO INTER CO-LEADERS IN THE NORTH BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY, AND SO I'M GOING TO LET THEM COME UP AND TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT

[00:10:02]

>> HOW YOU DOING TODAY? MY NAME IS TROY GRADNEY, AND THIS IS CHARLES SALVAGE, I'M SORRY.

WE HAD TWO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.

WE'RE VERY COMPETITIVE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND DUE TO A LOT OF SOCIAL SITUATIONS AND ILLS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY, WE DECIDED TO COMBINE AS ONE, HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER BY SOME SIMPLEST SPORT, AND HOPEFULLY THAT CAN HAVE RIPPLE EFFECTS AND THAT WOULD HELP A LOT OF ASSOCIATIONS THAT WE HAVE UP THERE IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE I COULD [INAUDIBLE], THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE BELIEVE THE IDLE MIND IS A DEVIL'S WORKPLACE, AND WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE THOSE KIDS TO START OFF SOMETHING TO DO.

SOME OF THE SIMPLEST SPORTS AND THEN BRING IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS, PARTNERING UP WITH COUNCILMAN KENNEY, AND THEN HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO SOMETHING BETTER FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING US.

I'D LIKE THANK Y'ALL FOR ALLOWING US STANDING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. [APPLAUSE]

>> BROTHERS, ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT 2 OFFICE IN THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FOR Y'ALL TO WORK WITH THE COLLEYVILLE UNITED ORGANIZATION. CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION PORTION OF OUR MEETING, THE REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING WILL BEGIN AT FOUR O'CLOCK.

>> THANK YOU.

[CALL TO ORDER]

>> WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY. WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH ON BEHALF OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.

THEY WELCOME YOU TO OUR BROADCAST.

WE WANT YOU TO BE A PART OF OUR GOVERNMENT AND WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE.

AT THIS TIME, HERE IS THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, COUNCILMAN BRANDON NOEL.

>> THANK YOU, DENNIS. WELCOME, EVERYBODY TO THIS MARCH 12, 2025, REGULAR METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

WE'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. ACTUALLY, WE HAVE A QUORUM.

>> WE HAVE A QUORUM.

>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN INVOCATION AND PLEDGE LED BY JACOB SHAFFETT, LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT FOR DISTRICT 3 AND 9. JACOB.

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.

LET'S BOW OUR HEADS IN PRAYER.

DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY, ASKING FOR YOUR GUIDANCE, WISDOM, AND UNITY TO REST UPON THESE ELECTED LEADERS.

MAY YOUR HAND LEAD THEM IN PEACE AND CLARITY AS THEY MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

AS WE ARE REMINDED IN 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10, I URGE YOU, BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THAT ALL OF YOU AGREE WITH ONE ANOTHER IN WHAT YOU SAY, AND THERE WILL BE NO DIVISION AMONG YOU, BUT THAT YOU BE PERFECTLY UNITED IN MIND AND THOUGHT.

MAY THEIR HEARTS BE ALIGNED WITH YOUR WILL AS THEY WORK TOGETHER IN SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE, IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.

>>

>> THANK YOU, JACOB. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE

[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

ASHLEY, CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE INTRODUCTIONS?

[INTRODUCTIONS]

>> INTRODUCTIONS, CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS, NUMBER 2, EMINENT IMPRESS, LLC, 1008 EPPERSON STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNEY, NUMBER 3, JAMES, EAST STEPTOR, AND VERNAL W STEPTOR, 12965 WEDGEWOOD DRIVE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNEY.

NUMBER 4, THE ESTATE OF HEIDI ALIGN KING, 14321, FIRETHORN STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 4, MAK, NUMBER 5, ONE TOUCH MINISTRIES INCORPORATED, 5037, HAMMOND STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 HURST, NUMBER 6, SANTIAGO LOPEZ, 5880 PACKARD STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT HURST, NUMBER 7, HAROLD KURT DUNCAN SENIOR, 4355 SUMRALL DRIVE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 HURST, NUMBER 8, CEG INCORPORATED IN THE HARMONY CENTER INC, 5455 LONGFELLOW DRIVE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 HURST.

[00:15:03]

NUMBER 10, JOSEPH COLLINS, 3998 DALTON STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS.

NUMBER 11, CAROLYN PRO TEM, 818 NORTH 20TH STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN, NUMBER 12, COREY MCKEVER, 1500 MYRTLE WALK, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN, NUMBER 13, THE GIBSON COMPANY, LLC 1820, KENTUCKY STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN.

NUMBER 14, CARLY JOHNSON JR. AT ALF, 2558 BEACH STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN.

ALL ITEMS REQUIRE READING HAVE BEEN READ AND A MOTION TO DELETE ITEM 24 AT THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT AND INTRODUCE ALL OTHER ITEMS IS IN ORDER.

>> DO WE HAVE THAT MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN, AMOROSO.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

[CONDEMNATIONS]

I HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FROM SOME OF YOU ALL.

RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 36, 41, 42, 43, 45, 50, 51, AND 52, 30 DAYS ON ITEM 29, 46, 47, 48, 60 DAYS ON ITEMS 34 AND 37, 90 DAYS ON ITEM 40, AND TO DELETE ITEMS 27, 35, 38, 44, AND 49.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS? SEEING NO, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

COUNCIL, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY OTHER FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS?

>> NUMBER 51.

>> FIFTY-ONE, COUNCILWOMAN?

>> YES, SIR. NUMBER 51, 60 DAYS, PLEASE.

>> SIXTY DAYS, 51.

>> I NEED 30 DAYS ON NUMBER 5.

>> NUMBER 5 WAS THE INTRODUCTION.

>> 38, 30 DAYS.

>> NOT DELETION?

>> NO. THIRTY DAYS ON NUMBER 38.

>> 38, 30 DAYS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THE REASON 38 WAS ON FOR DELETION IS BECAUSE THEY HAD A NOTICE PROBLEM.

THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT REQUESTED THAT THE ITEM BE DELETED SO THAT THEY CAN RE-NOTICE.

>> THAT'S FINE.

>> THAT'S FINE. WE WILL DELETE IT.

NINETY ON 39.

WE ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 36, 41, 42, 43, 45, 50, AND 52.

THIRTY DAYS ON ITEM 29, 46, 47, AND 48, 60 DAYS ON ITEM 34, 37, AND 51, 90 DAYS ON ITEM 39 AND ITEM 40, AND TO DELETE ITEMS 27, 35, 38, 44, AND 49.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

[53. 25-00179]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE. WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM 54.

[54. 25-00187]

INITIALLY, THE INTENT WAS TO HAVE THIS AS

[00:20:04]

PRIOR TO WOULD BE A LENGTHY AGENDA ITEM.

HOWEVER, SEEING THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO DELETE THIS ITEM AND THERE'S AN ANTICIPATION THAT THAT MAY HAPPEN, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE IT IN ORDER.

I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT.

WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BECAUSE AS I STATED BEFORE, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL TO DELETE THIS ITEM.

RESOLUTION ORDERING AND CALLING AN ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11TH, 2025, TO AUTHORIZE THE PARISH TO EXTEND THE LEVY OF A 9.8 MILLS AD VALOREM TAX CURRENTLY AUTHORIZED BY THE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR PUBLIC LIBRARY PURPOSES UPON ALL PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION WITHIN THE PARISH FOR AN ADDITIONAL 10 YEARS BEGINNING WITH THE YEAR 2026 TO AND INCLUDING THE YEAR 2035, AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE PARISH TO REDEDICATE $114 MILLION OF PROCEEDS OF THE TAX HERETOFORE AND HEREAFTER RECEIVED FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS OF THE PARISH, INCLUDING MAINTENANCE, OPERATION, LAND ACQUISITION, AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW LIBRARY FACILITIES WITHIN THE PARISH, MAKING APPLICATION TO THE LOUISIANA STATE BOND COMMISSION, PROVIDING NOTICE THAT PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION BY THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL SHALL BE HELD WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12TH, 2025, AT 4:00 PM BY OFFICE OF THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT.

AGAIN, I'LL STATE IT ONE MORE TIME.

THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION TO DELETE THIS ITEM BY THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?

>> GOOD EVENING.

>> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.

>> MY NAME IS RONALD SUTTON.

I'M THE PASTOR OF THE EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH OF SOUTH BATON ROUGE AND A MEMBER OF TOGETHER BATON ROUGE.

I WOULD LIKE ALL THE MEMBERS OF TOGETHER BATON ROUGE TO PLEASE STAND IN THE ROOM. THANK YOU.

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK MAYOR EDWARDS FOR AGREEING TO PUT HIS INITIAL PROPOSAL IN FAVOR OF A NEW PROPOSAL THAT REFLECTS THE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION AND NEGOTIATION BETWEEN STAKEHOLDERS, THE BROADER COMMUNITY AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.

WE APPRECIATE THAT TOGETHER BATON ROUGE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE THE MAYOR, METRO COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE LIBRARY, AND THE COUNCIL ON AGENT IN THE ONGOING CONVERSATION THAT CRAFTED THE NEW PLAN.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL THE PARTIES IN THE FUTURE, CONVERSATIONS TO CONTINUE TO MOVE BATON ROUGE FORWARD IN THE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION TOWARD TOGETHERNESS AND UNITY.

WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL BECOME A MODEL THAT THE CITIZENS WILL BE ENGAGED BECAUSE THE POWER IS IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU.

>> REVEREND ROBIN MCCULLOUGH-BADE.

I TOO WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND ENERGY THAT YOU'VE SPENT ON THIS.

THIS HAS BEEN JUST AMAZING.

I WOULD ALSO WANT TO LIFT UP THAT I WAS GOING TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS LEGAL, IT WAS NOT ETHICAL.

I HOPE THAT THIS MODEL OF THIS RESOLUTION WILL NOT BE USED FOR ANYTHING GOING FORWARD.

THAT HOPEFULLY WHAT COMES FORWARD IS CLEAR, AND IF IT'S A DESIGNATED, IF IT IS A DEDICATED FUND, IT'S CLEARLY FOR THAT FUND ONLY.

I REALIZE SOME OF THE NUMBERS STILL MAY CHANGE.

I KNOW WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM BREC.

I WOULD THINK THEY WANTED TO BE PART OF THIS PARTNERSHIP OF WHATEVER IS GOING FORWARD AS A DEDICATED FUND THAT'S BEING ASKED TO HELP OUT IN A TOUGH TIME.

I WOULD LIKE AND I HOPE THAT THE RESOLUTION OF THE LIBRARY THAT'S JUST REAL SIMPLE THAT WAS PRESENTED EARLIER THIS YEAR COULD JUST SUBSTITUTE WHATEVER THE NUMBER IS.

I ALSO THINK THAT IF YOU DO IT IN TWO, IF YOU DO THE LIBRARY FUND AS JUST A SINGLE ITEM.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REALIZE HOW MANY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE LIBRARY FUND THAT'S BEING USED FOR ALL KINDS OF OTHER THINGS, AND THAT DOES NEVER BUILD TRUST WITH THE VOTERS.

WE CANNOT TRACK WHY A LIBRARY FUND WOULD BE

[00:25:02]

HOPEFULLY, THE LIBRARY DEDICATED FUND CAN BE JUST FOR THAT, THEN PLUS THE THRIVE FUND CAN BE ADDED TO THAT, THE TWO, AND IT'S STILL GOING TO BE LESS THAN WHAT WE PAY NOW.

BUT TO KEEP THEM SEPARATE, I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR ANY VOTERS, FOR CLARITY, FOR INTEGRITY, AND I THINK THAT THE WHOLE ETHICS OF WHAT HAD BEEN PRESENTED I THINK NEEDS TO BE QUESTIONED, WHAT WE HAD BEFORE.

AS WE APPROACH BREC AND OTHERS, I THINK IT'S TIME TO MAYBE GET CREATIVE ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY POLICING.

MAYBE THERE ARE WAYS THAT THEY CAN PAY FOR THE POLICE THAT ARE AT BREC EVENTS.

THERE'S WAYS THAT THEY CAN ADMINISTRATE THEIR FUNDS TO BE SUPPORTIVE.

I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE WORKED HARD AND YOU HAVE A CLEAR PLAN OF HOW TO DO THIS, BUT WE STILL HAVE TWO WEEKS TO FIGURE OUT THE SPECIFICS.

WITH THRIVE, I KNOW AS A VOTER, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT ST. JAMES HAS DONE TO THE BUDGET.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE LESS MONEY THAT'S COMING IN, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU ALL.

I THINK TO HAVE A CLEAR OVERVIEW OF THAT WOULD BE MOST HELPFUL AS WE GO FORWARD. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS HAROLD GREER.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT AS A CHILD BEING RAISED HERE IN BATON ROUGE, I BELIEVE IN BATON ROUGE.

I LOVE BATON ROUGE, JUST AS MUCH AS I'M SURE THAT EACH ONE OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS LOVE BATON ROUGE AND AS MUCH AS OUR MAYOR LOVES BATON ROUGE.

ALSO, I'M A CITY-PARISH WORKER, WORK WITH MOSQUITO CONTROL.

I ALSO AM A TAXPAYER.

I ALSO AM A VOTER.

I BELIEVE IN THE SYSTEM AND I BELIEVE IN THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE CREATED TO RUN OPERATIONS AND RUN OUR GOVERNMENT.

I WANT TO BELIEVE IN OUR GOVERNMENT.

ONE OF THE THINGS, I KNOW THAT THIS PROPOSAL IS BEING REMOVED OR POSSIBLY BEING REMOVED TONIGHT, AND THRIVE IS BEING INSTITUTED OR BEING PROPOSED TO BE INSTITUTED, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT TRANSPARENCY BUILDS TRUST.

THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING, TRANSPARENCY BUILDS TRUST.

AS A VOTER, AS A TAXPAYER, I WANT TO TRUST MY COUNCIL IN DOING WITH THE RIGHT THING.

I WANT TO TRUST MY LEADERSHIP.

I DON'T WANT TO BE BAMBOOZLED AND JUST LIKE THE WOMAN BEFORE ME, PAYING MY TAXES FOR SOMETHING, DEDICATED FOR SOMETHING, WANTED TO BE DEDICATED TOWARD SOMETHING AND IS BEING REAPPROPRIATED.

IF WE HAVE A SLUSH FUND PER SE, OR OVERFUND, I'D RATHER HAVE THAT MONEY COME BACK TO ME AS A TAXPAYER BECAUSE THAT'S MY MONEY, BUT I UNDERSTAND GOVERNMENT, I UNDERSTAND SHORTFALLS IN GOVERNMENT, AND YOU HAVE TO COME UP WITH MONEY FROM SOMEWHERE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS NEW PROPOSAL IS NOT GOING TO COST ME MORE THAN WHAT I'M PAYING RIGHT NOW.

BUT WHAT IS MY BENEFIT BEING A TAXPAYER? WHAT IS MY BENEFIT BEING A WORKER HERE? I'M A CITY-PARISH WORKER AND I KNOW THAT A BUDGET HAD BEEN PUT FORTH, A BUDGET STUDY FOR INCREASING PAY RAISES BECAUSE SOME OF THE CITY-PARISH WORKERS ARE WORKING FOR LESS THAN THEY ARE MAKING AT MCDONALD'S.

I THINK THAT 311 IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS 911 [APPLAUSE] BECAUSE 311, WE'RE THE GHOSTS BEHIND THE SCENES.

WE'RE THE ONES THAT FIX YOUR POTHOLES WHEN YOU CALL IN, YOU GOT A POTHOLE AND YOU GO TO WORK, AND IT'S FIXED WHEN YOU GET BACK.

WE'RE THE ONES THAT WHEN THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS WENT DOWN IN ALL KIOSKS, THEY CALLED US OUT OF OUR BEDS TO COME AND FIX THOSE TRAFFIC LIGHTS, BUT WE GETTING PAID LIKE PAUPERS.

>> SIR, I'M GOING TO TRY TO ASK YOU TO KEEP YOUR COMMENTS SPECIFIC TO THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA.

>> YES, SIR, BUT THAT NEEDS TO BE HEARD.

ALL I JUST ASK FOR IN THE FUTURE, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER PROPOSALS, WHATEVER WE'RE VOTING FOR AT THE BALLOTS, BE TRANSPARENT. THANK YOU ALL.

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] JUST A REMINDER, PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS RELEVANT TO THE AGENDA ITEM. YES, SIR. THANK YOU.

>> HELLO. I'M MELVIN HARRIS JUNIOR.

[00:30:02]

I'M AN EMPLOYEE OF CITY OF BATON ROUGE, BUILDING AND GROUND DEPARTMENT, WHERE I AM A TRADE SPECIALIST.

ALSO, I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF AFSCME LOCAL 3030.

IF I MAY, CAN I ASK ALL THE POLICE OFFICERS TO STAND? MAY I ASK ALL THE LOCAL 3030 UNION MEMBERS TO STAND.

AMEN. GIVE GOD THE GLORY.

I'M ASKING ALL CITY EMPLOYEES TO STAND.

[LAUGHTER] THERE YOU GO.

AMEN. ALL CITY WORKERS.

[NOISE] THANK YOU, SIR.

I'M ALSO ASKING MAYOR SID EDWARDS AND HIS ADMINISTRATION AND ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE TRANSPARENT WITH US.

WE'RE OUT HERE DOING THE WORK LIKE HE WAS SAYING.

WE DON'T SIT AT THE COUNCIL AND DON'T HAVE THE PROPER TERMINOLOGY, AS YOU ALL UNDERSTAND IT.

I WOULD FEEL YOU WOULD BE THE SAME WAY IF YOU HAD TO COME THROUGH THESE ELECTRICAL WIRES THAT I DO OR CUT TREES.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS ITEM IS BEING DELETED, BUT I HAVE CONCERNS BECAUSE OF PAST PROMISES.

STUFF THAT WE WERE PROMISED, NONE IF IT HAPPENED.

WE STILL ON A CONTRACT FROM 2014.

WE HAVEN'T HAD A PAY RAISE.

>> SIR, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE LIBRARY?

>> YES, SIR. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE LIBRARY.

AS FAR AS THIS BEING DELETED, THAT'S WHAT I STARTED WITH, MEANING ITEM 54.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE GET A 3% EVERY YEAR, BUT OUR INSURANCE IS GOING UP 5%.

>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LIBRARY?

>> YES, SIR. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE LIBRARY.

[LAUGHTER]

>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S ACCURATE.

>> ALL CITY-PARISH WORKERS, LIBRARY, POLICE, EVERYBODY.

ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT WE WANT TO HAVE SOME TRANSPARENCY ABOUT WHERE THEY STAND WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE LIBRARY BECAUSE WE SAW THE $13 MILLION, BUT WHERE DO WE STAND IN THAT 13 MILLION.

>> THAT'S TIME, SIR. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS BYRON JOE DAVIS.

I AM A CITY-PARISH WORKER.

I WORK IN THE DRAINAGE PART IN MAINTENANCE.

WE ARE THE GUYS BEHIND THE SCENES THAT GO IN THE DITCHES AND DEAL WITH ALL THE CRAZINESS THAT GOES ON.

SNOW, WE'RE THERE.

HURRICANES, WE'RE THERE.

KIT, WE'RE THERE. SUB TEMPERATURES, WE'RE THERE.

WE ARE PUBLIC SERVICE WORKERS PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES IN WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT, MOSQUITO, RODENT CONTROL, CONSTABLE, HEAD START, THE AIRPORT, JUVENILE SERVICES, AND PUBLIC WORKS.

WE WANT FAIR PAY TO ALL, BUT DON'T FORGET WE DESERVE A UNION CONTRACT TO ADDRESS. [OVERLAPPING]

>> SIR, LOOK, I APOLOGIZE.

WE NEED TO KEEP IT ABOUT THIS AGENDA ITEM, ITEM 54.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT WE NEED TO KEEP THE COMMENTS GERMANE TO THIS ITEM, THE PROPOSAL IN ITEM 54, THE RESOLUTION FROM THE MAYOR ABOUT THE LIBRARY. THANK YOU.

>> WELL, LIKE MY FRIEND BACK HERE SAID, WE JUST WANT TRANSPARENCY.

WHERE DO WE STAND IN ON THIS 13 MILLION THAT WAS ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY?

>> AGAIN, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT EITHER.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL, ITEM 54.

>> WELL, WE JUST WANT TRANSPARENCY.

THAT'S ALL I WANT. THANK YOU.[APPLAUSE]

>> DAVID GRAY, 9317, WORTHINGTON LAKE AVENUE.

I NEVER WENT TO A SINGLE MEETING BEFORE A MONTH AGO, NOW I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN THERE LIKE 12 [LAUGHTER] IN THE LAST FOUR WEEKS.

BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE NEWS THAT WE HEARD YESTERDAY.

MY COUNCIL WOMAN, COUNCIL WOMAN RACCA, I'M GLAD THAT SHE WAS THERE AND SPEAKING FOR THE COMPROMISE THAT IS PULLING THIS.

[00:35:03]

OBVIOUSLY, I WROTE I WAS OPPOSED TO THIS AGENDA ITEM, NOT NECESSARILY JUST FOR THE FACT THAT IT WOULD HAVE PLACED THE LIBRARY'S MILLAGE INTO THE GENERAL FUND, BUT THE RE-DEDICATION OF FUNDS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY VOTED ON.

I THINK THAT SETS A VERY DANGEROUS PRECEDENT TO TAKE AWAY MONEY THAT'S ESSENTIALLY TELLING THE VOTERS WHO VOTED 10 YEARS AGO THAT THEIR VOTES DIDN'T ACTUALLY MEAN ANYTHING.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO COME BACK AFTER THE LIBRARY PROPERLY MANAGES ITS MONEY AND SAYS, WELL, NOW THAT THEY HAVE THIS MONEY THAT PEOPLE VOTED ON FOR A SPECIFIC THING, LET'S ASK THEM TO VOTE ON IT FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

THAT JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO BE IN GOOD FAITH.

I HOPE THAT YOU-ALL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.

I KNOW THE NEXT ONE, THAT'LL COME UP AT SOME POINT, BUT I DO HOPE THAT YOU ALL THINK OF THAT.

AGAIN, I DO THANK YOU-ALL FOR WORKING.

I KNOW A LOT OF YOU-ALL PROBABLY GOT A LOT OF EMAILS.

I KNOW MY COUNCIL WOMAN GOT A LOT OF EMAILS FROM ME.

SO [LAUGHTER] I KNOW THAT YOU-ALL HAVE RECEIVED MANY OF THEM.

BUT I THINK IT JUST SHOWS TOO HOW PASSIONATE THAT PEOPLE ARE ABOUT THIS LIBRARY SYSTEM.

THEY WOULD NOT HAVE CONTINUOUSLY VOTED FOR THE LIBRARY IF THEY DID NOT BELIEVE IN IT AND TRUST IT.

I THINK THAT IS THE BIG THING THAT MAYBE NOT EVERYONE REALIZED WHEN THIS PROPOSAL WAS FIRST BROUGHT FORTH, WAS I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE HOW MUCH PEOPLE DO BELIEVE IN AND TRUST THE LIBRARY SYSTEM, BECAUSE THEY HAVE MADE GOOD ON EVERY ONE OF THEIR PROMISES OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS SINCE THIS TAX WAS FIRST INTRODUCED, OR FORTY YEARS, WHATEVER IT IS.

THANK YOU-ALL AGAIN. [APPLAUSE]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS TANYA [INAUDIBLE].

I LIVE IN DISTRICT 12.

I SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THE LIBRARY'S DEDICATED MILLAGE, SO I'M SURE IT COMES AS NO SURPRISE THAT I'M OPPOSED TO THE MAYOR'S PROPOSITION.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S GOING TO BE PULLED LIKELY, I STILL THINK MY COMMENTS ARE RELEVANT TO THIS AND TO THE PROPOSED COMPROMISE.

I'M OPPOSED TO THIS ONE, NOT ONLY FOR THE HARM IT WOULD CAUSE THE LIBRARY, BUT ALSO FOR THE HARM IT WOULD CAUSE THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, AND THE PARISH AS A WHOLE.

I OPPOSE IT BECAUSE RATHER THAN ADDRESSING AN ONGOING HARM THAT IS OCCURRING IN THIS CITY AND PARISH, THE PROPOSITION AND OTHERS LIKE IT EXACERBATE THAT HARM BY FAILING TO PROPERLY ADDRESS THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM.

SOME OF YOU HAVE ALREADY ALLUDED TO THIS HARM AND SUGGESTED ITS SOURCE IS THE INCORPORATION OF THE CITY OF ST. GEORGE, WHICH HAS PRODUCED A DEFICIT FOR THE CITY PARISH GOVERNMENT.

BUT THE CITY OF ST. GEORGE IS NOT THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, IT'S A SYMPTOM OF THE PROBLEM.

THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM IS OUR BOGUS LIMITED CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT.

AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, THE ONLY REASON THERE WAS A PRETENSE TO CONSOLIDATE THE CITY AND PARISH GOVERNMENTS BACK IN 1948 WAS TO CREATE A TAX STRUCTURE TO PRIMARILY BENEFIT THE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIES IN THE NORTH OF THE PARISH, AND WHICH LIKELY BENEFITED SOME OF THE RICH AND POWERFUL FOLKS AS WELL.

THAT CONSOLIDATION ALSO ALLOWED THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE TO BE MANIPULATED IN RESPONSE TO POPULATION GROWTH SO THAT THE POWERS COULD CAN MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE GOVERNING BODIES IN ORDER TO PROTECT.

IT'S RELEVANT. [OVERLAPPING] BUT WITH THE INCORPORATION OF THE CITY OF ST. GEORGE, THE PRETENSE TO THAT CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT IS BLOWN OUT OF THE WATER.

[OVERLAPPING] THERE ARE NOW FIVE MUNICIPALITIES IN OUR BOGUS CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT.

IT IS RELEVANT THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO SELF-GOVERNMENT, AND THAT THAT IS CREATING A DEFICIT IN OUR CITY PARISH GOVERNMENT THAT IS NOT BEING DISCUSSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE AND OTHER PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

>> I NEED YOU TO SPEAK ON ITEM 54.

>> THAT RELEVANT TO THIS MATTER.

IF YOU WOULD LET ME GET THROUGH IT, IT WOULD GO FASTER THAN JUST INTERRUPTING.

>> WELL, I THINK YOUR TIME IS GOING TO RUN OUT A LITTLE BIT HERE, BUT I'M GOING TO KEEP INTERRUPTING YOU IF YOU DON'T TAKE YOUR LANE. [OVERLAPPING]

>> I CAN DO IT FASTER.

THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO SELF-GOVERNMENT, BUT THOSE OF US IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE DO NOT.

WE ARE INSTEAD SUBJECTED TO THE CONTROL OF A METRO COUNCIL.

A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS APPEAR TO BE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE WELL BEING OF THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.

IN 1988, I REMIND YOU, THE METRO COUNCIL WITHDREW THE HORIZON PLAN WHICH ALLOWED CITY REVENUE TO BE SPENT IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA. [OVERLAPPING]

>> MISS [INAUDIBLE], YOU HAVE TO STOP. YOU HAVE TO STAY GERMANE TO THE TOPIC.

>> IT IS GERMANE.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ITEM 54.

YOU HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT ITEM 54 SINCE THE BEGINNING OF YOUR SPEECH. [OVERLAPPING]

>> ITEM 54 AUTHORIZES A PARISH TAX, AND ALSO CALLS INTO QUESTION THE USE OF DEDICATED MILLAGES, BUT IT DOES NOT ADDRESS THE FACT THAT YOU'RE ATTEMPTING TO FUND OUR BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM A PARISH FUND WHEN THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE SHOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO ELECT THEIR OWN MAYOR, THEIR OWN CITY COUNCIL, THEIR OWN POLICE CHIEF, AND TO REJECT OR ACCEPT MILLAGES TO SUPPORT THOSE ENTITIES.

THIS PROPOSAL FAILS TO ADDRESS THAT, AND IT EXACERBATES THAT HARM. [OVERLAPPING]

[00:40:01]

>> THAT'S YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.

>> AGAIN, THE RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE VALUED AND PROTECTED IN THIS BODY AND ALL OTHERS. [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU.

>> HI.

>> ONE SECOND, EXCUSE ME.

WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU YOUR FULL TIME BACK.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

I KNOW THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE ROOM WHO ARE GOING TO WANT TO COME IN.

KYLE, YOU'RE WELCOME TO LET PEOPLE COME IN AND STAND ACROSS THE BACK WALL, LIKE WE DID LAST TIME.

I AM GOING TO GIVE EVERYBODY THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN AND SPEAK, THOUGH.

JUST BE AWARE, IF YOU'RE OUTSIDE OF THE CHAMBERS AND YOU DO WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS OR ANY OTHER ITEM, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO COME EITHER FROM UPSTAIRS OR OUTSIDE. I'M SORRY, PLEASE.

>> I WILL SAY REAL QUICK, THANK YOU FOR ASSURING EVERYONE THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK.

THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

BASICALLY, MY NAME IS WILLIAM LYNCH, I'M IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 3. I'M GOING TO BE QUICK.

BASICALLY, I SUPPORTED THE LIBRARY FROM THE BEGINNING.

I'M GLAD THAT THE MAYOR HAS REACHED A COMPROMISE WITH THEM.

I ACCIDENTALLY CLICKED THAT I SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL ON THE THING, BECAUSE I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE MAYOR'S NEW PROPOSAL, BY MISTAKE.

I'D LIKE TO CORRECT THAT, FIRST OF ALL.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY, THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR COMING TOGETHER AND COMING TO AN AGREEMENT THAT EVERYONE CAN BE HAPPY.

EVEN IF NOT COMPLETELY HAPPY, AT LEAST ACCEPT.

THAT'S ALL I REALLY HAVE TO SAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I HOPE YOU-ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY.

[APPLAUSE]

>> I'M KYLA ROMANAK.

I'M THE CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER FOR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

I JUST WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO CAME TOGETHER IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION.

I VOTED FOR THE LIBRARY TAX, I SUPPORT OUR LIBRARIES, I LOVE OUR LIBRARIES, BUT I ALSO SUPPORT ALL THE GOVERNMENT SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED TO KEEP BATON ROUGE A SAFE AND HAPPY AND HEALTHY PLACE.

I APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER AND FINDING A SOLUTION.

WHEN WE VOTED ON THAT TAX, THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE DIFFERENT.

WHEN WE HAD THIS SITUATION THAT THREATENED TO DECIMATE ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SERVICES, I THINK IT IS A TESTAMENT TO WHAT A GOOD AND STRONG COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WE HAVE THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT PREVENTS THE DECIMATION OF THOSE SERVICES.

ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, AND ALL OF THE COMMUNITY OF BATON ROUGE, I AM GRATEFUL THAT OUR LEADERS WERE ABLE TO DO THAT.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I UNDERSTAND WHY THERE MAY BE SOME PEOPLE UPSET WITH IT, BUT THAT THERE ARE VERY MANY OF US IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE HAPPY TO FIND THAT THERE IS A RESOLUTION TO IT.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM KATRINA STOKES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY.

LIBRARY STAFF, THE BOARD OF CONTROL, AND MYSELF WORKED ALONGSIDE THE METRO COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO CREATE A PLAN THAT SAFEGUARDS THE DEDICATED LIBRARY FUND.

WITH THIS IN PLACE, WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN CONTINUE PROVIDING THE ESSENTIAL LIBRARY HOURS AND SERVICES OUR COMMUNITY DEPENDS ON, AND CONTINUE WITH OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN TO UPGRADE LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT THE PARISH.

I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO THE METRO COUNCIL, TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, TO THE LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROL, TO OUR AMAZING STAFF, AND MOST OF ALL, TO THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU-ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

[APPLAUSE]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARY STEIN.

I'M THE ASSISTANT LIBRARY DIRECTOR FOR YOUR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY.

AS KATRINA HAS SAID, WE SINCERELY APPRECIATE MAYOR, SID EDWARDS FOR HIS LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, AND THE COUNTLESS HOURS, AND PHONE CALLS, AND E-MESSAGES, AND EMAILS THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, OUR HOMEOWNERS GROUPS, OUR FAITH COMMUNITY, AND OUR BUSINESS LEADERS HAVE INVESTED WITH OUR LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROL, VOLUNTEERS, ALL, IN GETTING US TO A SOLUTION THAT SUPPORTS THE ENTIRE PARISH.

MOST OF ALL, WE'RE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT OVERWHELMING SUPPORT AND CONSTANT ENGAGEMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY.

YOUR DEDICATION MEANS SO MUCH, AND WE HOPE YOU'LL CONTINUE TO STAND WITH US AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO GET TO THE NEXT PART OF THIS JOURNEY.

WITH THAT IN MIND, I'M INVITING YOU TO JOIN ME, ALL,

[00:45:01]

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LATISHA CANNON.

I AM A CITY PARISH WORKER.

I'M ALSO A UNION MEDIAN.

I OPPOSE THIS RESOLUTION BECAUSE THIS RESOLUTION, I DON'T THINK IT SOLVES OUR PROBLEM, I THINK IT'S ADDING TO THE PROBLEM BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO PUT A BAND-AID THAT'S ON A BIGGER PROBLEM.

I OPPOSE THIS BECAUSE THIS PROPOSAL ONLY ADDRESS THE POLICE PAY, IT NEVER ADDRESSES ALL CITY-PARISH PEOPLE.

I OPPOSE THIS PROPOSAL BECAUSE OUR LIBRARY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.

I AND MY CHILD ONCE, MYSELF, SHE HAS HER LIBRARY RECORD AND I TAKE IT TO THE MAIN LIBRARY EVERY DAY.

I THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE MORE LIBRARIES IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS.

I THINK THEY'RE TAKING AWAY FROM THEIR MILLAGE, AND FROM THE PROPERTY TAXES THAT WE AS CITIZENS OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SHOULD BE SPENT MORE ON THINGS THAT CITY PARISH NEEDS TO RESOLVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS, NOT ADD TO THE FINANCIAL BURDEN THAT WE HAVE NOW AS CITY PARISH GOVERNMENT.

I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE MORE TRANSPARENCY WITH THE METRO COUNCIL, WITH THE MAYOR, WITH ALL OF THE CITIZENS OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH THAT ANY PROPOSAL GOING FORTH, IS MADE PLAIN LANGUAGE FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT WE WANT FOR A CHILD TO VOTE FOR IT SO THAT WE CAN BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR IT.

I THINK THERE HAS NOT BEEN NO TRANSPARENCY IN THE NEW PROPOSAL OR THIS PROPOSAL THAT OUTLINES WHAT OUR REAL PROBLEM IS, AND THAT'S FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WHOLE CITY PARISH.

I THINK THAT GOING FORWARD THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS ALL OF THE SITUATIONS THAT WE HAVE, BETTER COMPENSATION FOR ALL CITY-PARISH WORKERS, INCLUDING LIBRARY WORKERS.

ALL CITY-PARISH WORKERS, NOT JUST POLICE.

POLICE DESERVE PAY JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE DESERVE PAYS.

311 IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN 911.

PAY US MORE SO YOU CAN HAVE A BETTER BATON ROUGE.

BECAUSE WE'RE THE ONES THAT'S ON THE FRONT LINES, WE'RE THE ONES IN THE LIBRARIES THAT'S GREETING ALL THE CONSTITUENTS THAT COME IN TO HELP.

WE'RE THE ONES WHEN YOU CALL FOR WHEN YOU NEED YOUR DRAINAGE.

WE'RE THE ONES THAT YOU CALL FOR WHEN YOU NEED TO FIX TRAFFIC LIGHTS.

>> MA'AM, I NEED YOU TO STAY ON TOPIC ON THE AGENDA ITEM.

>> I AM. I'M ABOUT TO WIND UP.

I OPPOSE THIS PROPOSITION BECAUSE THIS PROPOSAL DOES NOT ADDRESS ANY OF THE ISSUES THAT WE AS CITY PARISH HAVE, AND THAT GOING FORWARD, WE NEED TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT WITH THE PEOPLE THAT'S GOING TO PAY THE PROPERTY TAXES THAT HAVE TO VOTE FOR YOU TAKING OUR HARD-EARNED MONEY FOR OUR PROPERTY TAXES THAT WE PAY TO TRY TO PUT BAND AIDS ON SITUATIONS THAT ARE DEEP ROOTED.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> WE HAVE A LIST OF SOME PEOPLE WHO DO WANT TO SPEAK.

I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THESE.

COME ON UP AND SPEAK, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE AFTER THAT.

CASEY PATTERSON?

>> I'LL PASS.

>> LAUREN GRAY? IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE AND I CALL YOUR NAME, COME ON INSIDE, AND IF I CALL SOMEBODY ELSE AND THEY GET AHEAD OF YOU, JUST STAND THERE AND YOU'LL GO NEXT.

RONALD SUTTON? SORRY, MY BAD, RON. ADAM ST. PIERRE?

>> THANK YOU-ALL FOR AFFORDING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

MY NAME IS ADAM ST. PIERRE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 8.

I'M SAYING THIS AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRIENDS' GROUP TO THE LIBRARY.

I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE TIME TO THANK THE COUNCIL THAT HAS ASSEMBLED HERE, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON THEIR LEADERSHIP OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS TO COME FORWARD WITH A COMPROMISE,

[00:50:01]

I'LL YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE]

>> KAYLA DOWDEN.

ALICE WASHINGTON.

>> HELLO. I'M KAYLA DOWDEN.

I'M FROM DISTRICT 7.

I'M 20-YEARS-OLD, SO I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT THE WORDS COMING OUT OF BY MOUTH ARE INFLUENCED BY THE POPULAR OPINIONS OF THE 20-ISH-YEAR-OLD BASE OF JUST NEW VOTERS WHO HAVE COME IN TO BATON ROUGE.

I'M JUST HERE TO SAY THAT RIGHT NOW, THANK YOU FOR DELETING ITEM 54.

WE'RE GOING TO REMEMBER THAT AS NEW VOTERS THAT YOU GUYS DID LISTEN TO US AND THE POPULAR OPINIONS, AND JUST GOING TO SAY THAT WE, THE NEW VOTERS WHO ARE COMING IN WILL ALSO REMEMBER WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THIS IN THE LONG RUN AND HOW THE LIBRARY IS TREATED IN THE FUTURE.

MOST OF US DEEPLY CARE ABOUT THE LIBRARY.

WE DEEPLY CARE ABOUT THE LIBRARY AND WE ARE INDEBTED TO THEM FOR RESOURCES THAT HELPED US GET THROUGH SCHOOL, THAT HELPED US FIND FRIENDS, THAT HELPED US BUILD A COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

ON BEHALF OF THE NEWER GENERATION THAT IS JUST COMING UP AND LOOKING AT WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING, THANKS ONCE AGAIN FOR LISTENING TO US, AND WE WILL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON ALL OF YOU.

>> REVEREND ANDERSON, YOU ARE NEXT ON THE LIST.

>> BEYOND SAYING HOW UPSET I AM, AND I AM.

THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

WHILE I THANK THOSE OF YOU ON THE COUNCIL WHO RESPONDED TO MY TEXT, THIS IS THE PEOPLES HOUSE.

I OPPOSE ITEM 54 FOR THE OBVIOUS REASONS.

OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM IS A VALUE ADDED.

ALMOST EVERYTHING THEY DO BRINGS INCOME AND A CLASS ACT TO THIS COMMUNITY.

THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY DID NOT VOTE TO GIVE MONEY TO ENTITIES THAT COULD NOT BE TRUSTED, THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THE MONEY WAS GOING TO COME FROM.

FOR THE SHAM, THAT IS ONE DAY, WE NEED TO COVER A HOLE IN THE BUDGET AND THE NEXT DAY, WE'RE GOING TO PASS OUT MONEY LIKE IT'S CHRISTMAS.

THAT'S NOT BUDGETING.

IN REAL BUDGETING, WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR JOB, YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU PRIORITIZE AND YOU GET RID OF THE JUNK.

THIS PROPOSAL AND EVERY VARIATION OF IT HAS BEEN BOTH A DISSERVICE AND DISHONEST TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THIS PARISH.

I LOVE MY LIBRARIANS, AND I LOVE MY LIBRARY, AND THE IDEAL THAT WE NEED TO TURN OUR METRO COUNCIL MEETING INTO A POLICING CAMP BECAUSE WE GOT LIBRARIANS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT SUPPORT LIBRARIANS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO DO NOT WANT TO SEE VICTIMS OF A BLACK SITE IN THIS BUILDING IS AN ATROCITY.

I HAVE BEEN COMING TO THESE MEETINGS BEFORE ANY OF YOU ALL WERE EVER ON THIS COUNCIL.

I WAS HERE AT THE LAST METRO COUNCIL MEETING SO LET ME REMIND EVERYBODY HOW MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT WERE IN THIS ROOM.

THERE'S ABOUT TWO OF THEM.

I'VE BEEN TO THESE MEETINGS WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY.

THIS AIN'T THAT.

WE GOT YOUNG PEOPLE THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME GOT ENGAGED, GOT CONCERNED.

WE GOT SURVIVORS OF THE WORST OF STATE SPONSORED TERRORISM IN THIS BUILDING, BEING TREATED BY THE SAME PEOPLE WHO MISTREATED THEM LIKE THEY ARE SECOND CLASS CITIZENS.

I HOPE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, AND I HAVE NOTHING BUT RESPECT FOR ALL OF YOU AND YOU KNOW THAT, BUT I HOPE YOU WILL SHUT THIS NONSENSE DOWN.

[00:55:06]

THE VERY FACT THAT THE BOND COMMISSION IS EVEN MENTIONED,

>> THANK YOU, REVEREND ANDERSON.

>> IN THIS PROPOSAL IS A CRIME AND A SHAME.

[APPLAUSE]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> I AM DR. ALICE, WASHINGTON EDWARDS.

I AM A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS SCHOLAR.

I AM IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSITION 54.

THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY SYSTEM IS ONE OF THE FINEST SYSTEMS IN AMERICA.

WE DO NOT WISH TO DIMINISH OUR LIBRARY FUND IN ANY WAY.

WE DO NOT WANT TO SUBJECT OUR FUND TO ANY POSSIBLE PROBLEM THAT MIGHT DIMINISH IT.

IT IS A TESTAMENT TO THE STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY.

EVERY SCHOLAR WOULD BE HONORED TO STUDY OR DO RESEARCH IN OUR SYSTEM, LET US NOT INTERFERE WITH THIS FUND.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> PLEASE. CALL AS EVERYBODY, I THINK I HAVE ON THE LIST SO IF ANYBODY ELSE OUTSIDE WANTS TO COME IN. YES, MA'AM.

>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

MY NAME IS MONA LINE GANG.

I'M A RESIDENT OF BATON ROUGE, OF COURSE.

I TAUGHT FOR 42 YEARS IN BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

I TAUGHT CHILDREN ACROSS THE SOCIOECONOMIC SPECTRUM.

I TAUGHT CHILDREN WITH ELEVATORS IN THEIR HOMES, AND I TAUGHT CHILDREN WHO LIVED IN SUB ECONOMIC STANDARD, THE POVERTY THRESHOLD.

BUT NO MATTER WHAT THEIR INCOME LEVEL WAS WHEN THEY WALKED THROUGH THE DOOR TO LIBRARY, THE PLAYING FIELD WAS LEVEL.

THE LIBRARIANS WHO GREETED THEM DID NOT CARE WHAT THEIR INCOME WAS AT HOME, WHAT THEIR POLITICAL BACKGROUNDS WERE THEIR FAMILY, OR WHAT THEIR RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND WAS.

THEY WERE THERE TO HELP THEM.

I WOULD LOVE TO GO INTO ALL THE STATISTICS ABOUT HOW MUCH THE LIBRARY IS USED, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M HERE FOR.

INSTEAD I WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU WOULD FIND IF YOU WALKED THROUGH THE DOORS OF THE LIBRARY.

THE LIBRARIES ARE A BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL GYM IN OUR COMMUNITIES IN BATON ROUGE.

THEY'RE A HUB OF SOCIETY WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS CAN WALK IN AND BE TOGETHER AND INTERACT. ALL AGE GROUPS.

THIS FRIDAY A GOODWOOD, WE HEARD THE TAILGATING BECAUSE OF A BOOK CLUB. IT'S A BIG KICKOFF.

PEOPLE, FAMILIES CAN ALL GATHER, START OFF BY GAMES AND FOOD ACTIVITIES THAT WILL BE ONGOING ABOUT SPORTS IN THAT BOOK.

THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE FAMILY CRAFTS AND HOBBIES TO BE TAUGHT AT THE PRIDE-CHANEYVILLE LIBRARY.

AT OTHER LIBRARIES, YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY, HISTORY, MUSIC.

THERE'S A DULCIMER WORKSHOP OVER AT ONE OF THE LIBRARIES.

THERE'S AN EDIBLE BOOK FARE FESTIVAL.

THERE'S COMIC BOOK PUBLISHING.

ANOTHER LIBRARY HAS A WRITER'S WORKSHOP.

YOU CAN CHECK OUT BOARD GAMES, THERE'S GARDENING SERIES, THERE'S SEED SWAPS, THERE'S TAX HELP.

YOU CAN LEARN HEALTHY HABITS, BIRD MONITORING PRESENTATIONS, MOVIE NIGHTS, LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE.

LEARN TO CROCHET THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE MY FRIEND TEACHES THAT.

THERE ARE CHILDREN, TEENS, ADULTS, SENIORS.

THEY'RE ALL LEARNING TOGETHER.

THEY SIT DOWN TOGETHER, THIS WHOLE ENTIRE SPECTRUM OF AN AGE GROUP, SIT DOWN, TALKING TOGETHER.

WHERE DO YOU FIND THAT? THERE'S A MAKER SPACE AT SOME OF THE LIBRARIES.

THERE ARE MEETING ROOMS THAT ARE USED FOR ALL KINDS OF MEETINGS, ESPECIALLY HOVS.

THEY USE THOSE A LOT. I DIDN'T COVER IT ALL. YOU CAN FIND THAT.

WALK INTO A LIBRARY, AND YOU CAN FIND ALL THESE THINGS AND MORE THAT ARE AVAILABLE AT THE LIBRARY.

THIS IS WHAT THE TAXPAYERS HAVE SAID THEY WANT.

PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THAT AWAY.

THIS IS A GYM IN BATON ROUGE WE WANT IT.

>> THAT'S YOUR TIME, MA'AM.

>> THANK YOU. I'M 70-YEARS-OLD,

[01:00:03]

THANK YOU. THAT'S THE PAGE THAT SAID THAT.

>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.

MY NAME IS KONICA COS AND, I WORKED FOR HEAD START, AND I'VE BEEN SERVING THE PEOPLE OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SINCE 2010.

I HOLD A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT.

BEFORE COMING TO THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, I WAS A TEACHER'S AIDE AND A TEACHER IN BOTH EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH AND BAKER SCHOOL SYSTEM.

I THOUGHT NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT LEAVING BUT WHEN I LOOK INTO THE EYES OF THE CHILDREN THAT I SERVE, THE NEXT GENERATION OF MY BABIES, IT PULLS ME BACK.

THEN I THINK ABOUT THE FAMILIES THAT I'VE HELPED TAKE TO THE NEXT LEVEL, AND IT GIVES ME THE STRENGTH TO COME BACK THE NEXT DAY.

MY FAMILY SUFFERS FINANCIALLY SO THAT I CAN WORK FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THEY'RE BUILDING JAIL CELLS, AND I FEEL THEY ARE FOR THE VERY CHILDREN THAT I SERVE.

IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT THOSE CHILDREN NEVER WALK INTO ANY ONE OF THOSE CELL.

BECAUSE WHEN OUR CHILDREN DON'T RECEIVE THE BASIS OF THE FOUNDATION OF EDUCATION AND SOCIAL LEARNING, THEY DON'T LEARN TO READ OR WRITE, THEY CAN'T WORK A JOB THAT HAS POTENTIAL TO SUSTAIN A HOUSEHOLD.

THEN THEY CAN'T FEED THEIR FAMILIES AND THE CYCLE REPEATS ITSELF.

I CONSIDER MYSELF A FIRST RESPONDER BECAUSE I FIGHT THE SAME FIGHT AS THE BRPD, BECAUSE WITHOUT EDUCATION, CRIMINAL ACTIVITY WILL INCREASE.

PAY ME LIKE YOU WANT A BETTER BATON ROUGE BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I'M WORKING FOR.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS MAGGIE CONERO.

I'M IN COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS' DISTRICT.

I WAS NOT PLANNING TO SPEAK TONIGHT BECAUSE I OPPOSE THIS PLAN AND IT'S PLANNED TO BE DELETED, SO THAT'S GREAT.

AT THE LAST MEETING THE WALLS BEHIND YOU ARE ALIGNED WITH POLICE OFFICERS.

IF PEOPLE CAN STAND ON THE WALL, THEN PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO STAND ON THE WALL.

THE REASON YOU HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE TALKING ON AN ITEM THAT'S JUST BEING DELETED IS BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY FEELS STIFLED.

RIGHT NOW, YOU HAVE A SERGEANT BLOCKING THE DOOR.

IT IS LOCKED THERE ARE EMPTY CHAIRS THAT WE ARE BEING TOLD, WE CANNOT SIT IN WE CANNOT ENTER.

YOU ARE FEEDING A PROBLEM PEOPLE FEEL PISSED OUT THERE.

THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE, THERE ARE EMPTY CHAIRS.

PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE TO LISTEN TO ITEMS SHOULD BE ABLE TO LISTEN TO THEM IN HERE.

IF YOU CAN'T STAND AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM, THEN POLICE OFFICERS SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO EITHER SO YOU ALL SET THAT PRECEDENT LAST TIME.

CAN PEOPLE STAND AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM OR NOT? CAN PEOPLE SIT IN EMPTY CHAIRS OR NOT?

>> MA'AM, I KNOW YOU WEREN'T IN HERE, [OVERLAPPING].

>> MAYOR PRO TEM, THEY ARE BLOCKING THE DOOR IT IS LOCKED.

WHEN I TELL THEM THERE IS AN EMPTY CHAIR, THAT MY FRIENDS ARE SAYING, THE CHAIR NEXT TO ME IS EMPTY, COME SIT IN IT THEY WILL NOT LET US IN.

>> THEY COULD COME IN AND GET ACROSS THE WALL AND FILL IN SEATS. THAT'S FINE.

>> I PROPOSE THAT YOU'LL PAUSE AND LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TRYING THE DOOR FOR THE LAST HOUR.

THE STIFLING IS MAKING THE COMMENTS GO LONGER BECAUSE PEOPLE FEEL UNHEARD FROM THIS WHOLE PROCESS, AND THIS IS LIKE A PERSONIFICATION OF PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION OF THAT NOT BEING A PART OF THE PROCESS TO FIGURE OUT THE SOLUTION.

OPEN THE FREAKING DOOR.

[APPLAUSE]

>> WHO'S THE NEXT PERSON THAT WANTS TO SPEAK?

>> I DON'T WANT TO START MY TIME UNTIL WE OPEN THE DOOR.

>> THEN LET SOMEBODY ELSE COME.

>> OPEN THE DOOR.

>> SIR.

>> WE CAN CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> DOES ANYBODY WANT TO SPEAK, ANYBODY ELSE?

>> I WOULD LOVE TO, BUT I'D LOVE TO HAVE [OVERLAPPING].

>> MA'AM, IF YOU WANT TO WAIT, YOU CAN WAIT.

SIR, PLEASE. YOU WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT G? JUST LET PEOPLE KNOW.

[01:05:10]

>> WE HAD EVERYTHING SIGNED OFF BY THE FIRE MARSHAL.

THE OCCUPANCY LEVEL IS THE NUMBER OF SEATS THAT ARE IN HERE.

WE CAN'T HAVE ANYBODY STANDING UP.

THAT'S WHY THE DOORS ARE BEING MONITORED.

WE CAN'T HAVE ANYBODY STANDING UP FOR THE FIRE MARSHAL.

WE'RE GOING TO LET PEOPLE IN AND SIT IN THE EMPTY SEATS, BUT WE CAN'T HAVE ANYBODY STANDING UP.

>> IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK AND YOU DON'T HAVE A SEAT, GET IN LINE TO SPEAK.

>> MR. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNCIL, MY NAME IS RONNIE HARRIS.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 11.

I WAS HERE IN FEBRUARY 12, PATIENTLY WAITING FOR ITEM NUMBER 76 THAT CAME AT THE VERY END OF THE AGENDA.

SO I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU FOLLOWED THE AGENDA AS NOTED.

AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE BECAUSE I HEAR OF THIS COMPROMISE.

AND THAT IS CERTAINLY A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND BY THE WAY, I DO SUPPORT THE DELETION OF ITEM NUMBER 54.

THAT IS CERTAINLY A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

TEN YEARS AGO, I VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE LIBRARY MILLAGE.

AND TODAY, THERE'S A DECISION THAT IS MADE BY JUST A FEW PEOPLE SAYING, WELL, LET'S TAKE 52 MILLION AND PAY A FUND BALANCE.

I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, BUT I DO TRUST OUR LIBRARY OFFICIALS.

THEY'VE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

SO I DO WANT TO SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR DECISION MAKING.

I UNDERSTAND COMPROMISE IS THE ART OF POLITICS.

I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I HAVEN'T HEARD REALLY ANYTHING ABOUT CAPITAL PROJECTS.

YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE NUMEROUS FACILITIES IN THE LIBRARY SYSTEM, AND ACCORDING TO THE NUMBERS IN THE LIBRARY BUDGETS THAT HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED, TWO MILLION DOLLARS IS IN RESERVE SO THAT THEY COULD ADDRESS ANY DAMAGES RELATIVE SOME CATASTROPHE.

I DON'T KNOW IF RISK MANAGEMENT IS A PORTION OF THAT BUDGET.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH ALL OF THE PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS THAT WERE CALCULATED IN THE MILLAGE OF 10 YEARS AGO.

SO TO PUT IT SUCCINCTLY, I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMPROMISE.

I DO WANT YOU TO TAKE NOTE THOUGH THAT THE JURY IS STILL OUT.

WHAT RESONATES THE WORD TRUST? AND I WANT TO SAY THAT EVERYONE IS LOOKING AT THIS.

ALSO, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE INVOLVED BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN PUBLIC LIFE FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE ISSUE TO COME OUT SO POSITIVE AND SO DIVERSE.

GOSH, THAT'S A TERRIBLE WORD.

WHITE, BLACK, RICH, POOR, WHATEVER YOU HAVE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH CAME TO SUPPORT ONE SITUATION.

I SENT AN EMAIL TO MARY STEIN BECAUSE I KNEW HER SPIRITS HAD BEEN UP AND DOWN.

MY WIFE AND I TRAVELED TO THE FLECIANAS, OVER TO TANGIPAHOA IN KENTWOOD.

IF I GOT MY GEOGRAPHY RIGHT, NORTHEAST OF PRIDE, BEFORE THE PARISH LINE, RIGHT BEFORE YOU EXITED INTO THE FLECIANAS, WAS A SIGN.

I LOVE MY LIBRARY.

THAT WAS SPOKE WORDS, POWERFUL WORDS TO ME THAT THIS LIBRARY HAS SERVED EVERY CORNER OF THIS PARISH.

SO YES, DELETE ITEM NUMBER 54 BY ACTION BY YOU RATHER THAN THE AVOIDANCE OF ACTION THAT HAPPENED ON FEBRUARY THE 12TH.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> AS THIS COMPROMISE COMES FORWARD, PLEASE DELINEATE WHERE THE MONEY'S GOING.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MY NAME IS EMMY CORMIER, AND I WANT TO START OUT WITH A STORY.

IF IT WERE MY OBJECTIVE TO TRY TO GET FUNDS FROM DIFFERENT DISTRICTS IN THE AREA THAT HAVE DEDICATED FUNDS AND THAT ARE GOOD SPENDERS, I WOULD START WITH SOMETHING LIKE ITEM 54.

I WOULD START WITH AN ITEM LIKE THIS WHERE I SAY, I'M GOING TO TAKE ALL YOUR MONEY.

I'M GOING TO TAKE YOUR DEDICATED TAX, AND I'M GOING TO TAKE EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT IN THE BANK.

THAT'S HOW I WOULD START IT.

BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO SCARE THE CRAP OUT OF ENOUGH PEOPLE THAT WE ALL SHOW UP HERE IN DEFENSE OF OUR LIBRARIES.

I WOULD USE THIS AGENDA ITEM AS A NEGOTIATION TACTIC TO GET TO SOMETHING WE MIGHT SEE IN THE FUTURE IN THE NEXT METRO COUNCIL MEETING.

THEN I MIGHT PRETEND THAT I'M THE HERO, THAT I'VE SAVED THE LIBRARIES, EVEN THOUGH I'VE TAKEN $52.4 MILLION OF THEIR MONEY.

I WOULD START WITH AN AGENDA ITEM LIKE THIS.

AND I WOULD HAVE ALL THESE MEETINGS AND I'D PAT MYSELF ON THE BACK, AND I WOULD PRETEND THAT WE ALL SAVE THE LIBRARY AND SAVE THE PARISH.

I WOULD START WITH AN AGENDA ITEM LIKE THIS.

SO SHAME ON YOU ALL FOR PRETENDING THAT YOU'VE DONE ANYTHING THAT THE

[01:10:02]

FOR 30 YEARS, WE'VE PROTECTED THE ENTIRE LIBRARY TAX, AND WE INTEND TO DO SO FOREVER.

THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE FOR TAKING THEIR FUND BALANCE.

THAT'S GOING TO HURT THE MOST POOREST AND UNDER-SERVED COMMUNITIES THE MOST.

THOSE NEXT CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE IN SCOTLANDVILLE, DELMONT GARDENS, BAKER.

THEY CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO DO THAT IF THIS AGENDA ITEM GOES FORWARD.

THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO PRETEND IS THEIR EFFORT TO SAVE THE LIBRARIES AND SAVE US FROM ST. GEORGE BY TAKING MONEY FROM THE LIBRARIES.

MAYBE FROM COUNCIL ON AGING OR MOSQUITO, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GO NEXT BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY ITEM WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA.

SO I DO NOT APPRECIATE BEING PATRONIZED BY THIS MAYORAL OFFICE.

I DO NOT APPRECIATE BEING LOCKED OUT OF THIS DOOR WHEN I WAS SIGNED UP FOR A PUBLIC COMMENT, DESPITE THE FACT, SIR THAT YOU SAID ALL PEOPLE WHO HAD SIGNED UP HAD BEEN CALLED, UNTRUE.

THERE WERE SEVERAL OF US WAITING.

I DO NOT APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE WERE CONTINUALLY LOCKED OUT OF THIS BUILDING, EVEN YOU GIVING DIRECTIVES AND EYE CONTACT TO LET US IN.

THAT IS NOT OKAY BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THE LIBRARY, WERE KNOWN TO GET REAL ROWDY.

WE JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR LIBRARIES.

WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS AGENDA ITEM, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR DEDICATED LIBRARY FUNDS STAY THAT WAY.

WE WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON OUR FULL DEDICATED LIBRARY FUNDS, AND I DON'T WANT ANY ONE OF YOU TO PRETEND THAT YOU'VE COME TO A COMPROMISE AND YOU SAVED US.

YOU'VE NEGOTIATED WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE HOLDING HOSTAGE THE LIBRARY FUNDS, SO SHAME ON YOU ALL.

[APPLAUSE]

>> HELLO. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD TO COME IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL.

I MOVED TO BATON ROUGE.

>> STATE NAME FOR THE RECORD.

>> DEDRA DOUGLAS.

I MOVED TO BATON ROUGE IN 1993 FROM NEW ORLEANS TO COME TO SCHOOL HERE.

THE FIRST PLACE I LOOKED FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE CITY WAS THE MAIN LIBRARY ON GOODWOOD.

I'M NOW A LIBRARIAN.

I'VE BEEN A LIBRARIAN FOR 25 YEARS.

SO WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY, I'VE DONE IT.

THERE'S NOT NOTHING I HEARD OR READ IN THE PAPER.

I'VE BEEN A CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN.

I'VE BEEN A YOUTH LIBRARIAN.

I'VE BEEN AN ACADEMIC LIBRARIAN.

I'VE EVEN WORKED AT THE STATE LIBRARY.

IF YOU DEFUND THE LIBRARIES, YOU THINK WE HAVE CRIME NOW.

I'VE BEEN IN THERE WHERE THEY HAD KIDS THAT COME THERE IN SCOTLANDVILLE, WHERE I WORK, EVEN IN CENTRAL WHERE I WORK, AND THE LAST BRANCH I WORKED AT WAS THE CARVER BRANCH IN THE SOUTH.

LIBRARIES ARE NEEDED.

IF YOU TAKE THEIR MONEY TO FUND THE POLICE, THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE CRIME BECAUSE A LOT OF KIDS AND JOBS.

I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT LIBRARIES PROVIDE ACCENTUAL COMMUNITY SERVICES.

LIBRARIES SUPPORT EDUCATION AND LITERACY, AND WE ALL KNOW WHERE WE STAND AS A STATE IN LITERACY.

WE HAVE SCHOOL LIBRARIES THAT DEPENDS ON THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES THAT COME INTO HEAD STAR, AND THEY ALSO DO THE HOMELESS.

I USED TO HEAR THIS TERM ALL THE TIME.

YOU'RE A LIBRARIAN. WHAT DO YOU DO? LOOKING AT SOME OF YOUR FACES, Y'ALL REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DO.

WE'RE THERAPISTS, WE'RE SOCIAL WORKERS.

WE ARE A LOT, AND LIBRARY BOOSTS THE ECONOMY.

HOW WE BOOST THE ECONOMY? WE OFFER JOB, RESUME WRITING SKILLS, HOW TO USE THE COMPUTERS.

I ACTUALLY WAS HIRED TO PUT THE FIRST FOUR COMPUTERS FROM MICROSOFT IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES WHEN I WAS IN LIBRARY SCHOOL.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO STILL DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE COMPUTERS.

I WAS WORKING IN THE LIBRARIES DURING HURRICANE KATRINA.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE I HELPED? WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT WITHOUT THE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE.

BEFORE YOU VOTE ON THIS PROPOSAL, I NEED YOU TO COME VISIT A LIBRARY.

HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE A LIBRARY CARD? NOW, THAT'S THE QUESTION.

HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW HOW MANY PROGRAMS THAT THEY OFFER AT ALL OF THEIR BRANCHES? AND THE BIGGEST THING THAT IF WE DO GET CUT, WHO GOING TO GET CUT FIRST? IS IT GOING TO BE SKYLERVILLE? IS IT GOING TO BE CARVER? IS IT GOING TO BE JOHNS CREEK, GREENWELL, SPRINGS ROAD? DID YOU ALL LOOK INTO THAT? THINK ABOUT IT BEFORE YOU VOTE ON THIS PROPOSAL.

[APPLAUSE]

>> GOOD EVENING, COUNSEL. MY NAME IS ANNA ANDREWS WELSH, AND I COME HERE ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.

I WORK IN THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT.

AND I'VE BEEN AN EMPLOYEE THERE FOR 25 YEARS GOING ON MY 27 YEARS, AND WE HAVE BEEN CUT TREMENDOUSLY STARTING IN COVID.

[01:15:04]

WHEN YOUR DRAINAGE DON'T GET CLEANED OUT. [OVERLAPPING].

>> MA'AM.

>> WE NEED THE MONEY.

>> I KNOW YOU NEED THE MONEY AND THAT'S FINE, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO TALK ABOUT THE AGENDA.

>> DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS NEEDS THE MONEY.

>> THIS AGENDA ITEM DOESN'T ADDRESS THAT, AND YOU NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS AGENDA ITEM.

>> WELL, IT'S ON HERE. IT SAYS MAINTENANCE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.

MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

WE NEED THE MONEY BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD ANY MORE CUTS.

I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT.

BUT COUNCIL PEOPLE, YOU ALL NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT PUBLIC WORKS IS IMPORTANT TO THIS CITY.

JUST LIKE THE LIBRARIES ARE IMPORTANT, JUST LIKE THE POLICE ARE IMPORTANT.

WE ARE IMPORTANT TOO, 127 POSITIONS THAT ARE GONE, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO GET THEM BACK.

[APPLAUSE]

>> I PROMISE YOU THIS IS ABOUT THE LIBRARY.

MY NAME IS DR. SIDNEY EBBS.

I GRADUATED FROM LSU, AND I TEACH THERE. GOOD EVENING.

MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

TODAY, I STAND BEFORE YOU TO ADVOCATE FOR PRESERVATION AND SUPPORT FOR OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM, WHICH IS CRITICAL TO OUR COMMUNITY'S WELL BEING.

LET'S ADDRESS THE FACT THAT MANY CHILDREN ARE NOT ATTENDING SCHOOL, WHICH CREATES A CRITICAL GAP IN UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THEIR HOMES.

SO LIBRARIES PLAY AS THE WOMAN BEFORE, THE LAST WOMAN WHO SPOKE, THE POSITION OF SOCIAL WORKER.

THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT INVADING PRIVACY, WHICH IS SOMETIMES A CRITIQUE OF OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

THIS IS ABOUT RECOGNIZING THE POTENTIAL ISSUES SUCH AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ABUSE THAT GO ON UNNOTICED.

THAT LIBRARIES ACTUALLY DO GIVE PEOPLE THE RESOURCES TO DISCUSS AND TO FIND LIBERATION FROM.

WE OFTEN UNDERESTIMATE HOW MUCH LIBRARIES SUPPORT STUDENTS, WOMEN, DISABLED INDIVIDUALS, AND THE ELDERLY WHAT THEY GAIN FROM LIBRARIES AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES AS SUCH.

ACCESS TO THESE SPACES PROVIDES INVALUABLE KNOWLEDGE AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVING LIVES.

FOR SOME, IT MAY BE THE KEY TO ESCAPING DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENTS.

I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THERE'S BEEN AN ALARMING TREND WITHIN THE COMMUNITY DISCUSSIONS THAT ALSO INCLUDED THE COUNCIL ON AGING, WHICH FACED SOME CRITICISM FROM A SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP DURING A MEETING FOCUSED ON ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY SERVICES.

I WANT TO BE RATHER FRANK AND SAY THAT WHAT I'VE READ AND INTERACTED WITH ON SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY APPS, WE DO NOT NEED MORE COPS.

WE NEED RESIDENTS WHO UNDERSTAND CIVIL DISCOURSE AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A NEIGHBOR, RATHER THAN SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO THE NEIGHBORS ABOUT VARIOUS ACTS OF HUMILITY, SOME ARE CALLING THE POLICE INSTEAD, WHICH THOSE INTERACTIONS CAN BE DANGEROUS, AND WHEN WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM IN A WAY THAT MAKES THEM SECURITY OFFICERS, WE ARE NOT PRODUCING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS CONDUCIVE TO REDUCING CRIME.

WE ARE IN DANGER OF PRODUCING AN EDUCATED PROLETARIAN, AND THAT'S WHAT IT SEEMS THAT OUR COUNCIL SOMETIMES IS PROJECTING BY TRYING TO STEAL RESOURCES FROM EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS.

WE HAVE TO BE SELECTIVE ABOUT WHO WE ALLOW TO GO THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION AND WE'RE GOING TO SHORTEN THE PRISON PIPELINE.

THIS IS ACTUALLY TURNING INTO A BLACK HOLE.

I WANT TO READ AN ELEMENT OF THE KEY EDUCATIONAL ADVISOR FOR NIXON WHO WORKED FOR THE REELECTION OF CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR VONAL REAGAN.

>> MA'AM YOU GOT ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

JUST TO LET YOU KNOW IF YOU'RE GOING TO READ SOMETHING.

>> WELL, LET ME GO. LIBRARIES ARE NOT JUST A PLACE FOR BOOKS.

THEY ARE EFFECTIVE TOOLS FOR REDUCING CRIME AND INCREASING LONGEVITY AND PRODUCTIVITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

RESEARCH SHOWS THAT POLICE OFFICERS WITH HIGHER EDUCATION ARE LESS LIKELY TO RESORT TO LETHAL FORCE, RESULTING IN FEWER FATALITIES AND DECREASES IN VIOLENT ENCOUNTERS.

I WANT TO URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER ANY PLANS TO DEFUND OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM.

INVESTING IN LIBRARIES MEANS INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITIES FUTURE, SAFETY AND SUCCESS.

[APPLAUSE]

>> HELLO. JULIET DOTRIV.

I DECIDED TO BRING MY LIBRARY CART WITH ME.

I WOULD HAVE STOPPED AND RETURNED SOME BOOKS ON THE WAY, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU SOME OF MY LIBRARY CARD.

THESE ARE SOME BOOKS THAT I PICKED UP.

I LOVE THE DISPLAY ONES THAT THEY PUT OUT.

I PICK A WIDE VARIETY.

I LIKE TO READ REALLY GOOD LITERATURE, SO I DON'T READ THEM ALL.

SOMETIMES I GO THROUGH THEM. HERE'S A STACK OF MOVIES.

I DON'T QUITE KNOW WHY I GET SO MANY MOVIES BECAUSE I ONLY EVER WATCH THEM WHEN I FOLD LAUNDRY.

BUT THERE'S A HUGE VARIETY OF MOVIES.

HERE ARE SOME TAX RETURNS THAT I JUST PICKED UP FROM MY LIBRARY.

[01:20:04]

I CAN LOOK THAT UP ON THE INTERNET.

HERE IS A SPECIAL FORM THAT I HAD TO GET, AND SO I WAS ABLE TO GET ON THE COMPUTER AT THE LIBRARY, LOOK UP MY CORRECT SCHEDULE AND PRINT IT OUT.

LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE.

THEN THE OTHER THING IS, I HAD TO TURN IN A PAPER TO A LAWYER.

MY PRINTER DIDN'T WORK.

I WENT TO THE LIBRARY, DOWNLOADED THE FORM, SIGNED IT, AND SAID, IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN SCAN THIS? THIS NICE LADY HELPED ME AND I'M NOT HUGE COMPUTER LITERATE, BUT SHE SAID, DO YOU HAVE A, I DON'T KNOW WHAT.

SHE GAVE ME THIS THING.

I PRINTED OUT THE FORM, I SIGNED IT, I PUT IT ON THIS THING AND WAS ABLE TO PUT IT BACK IN THE COMPUTER AND SEND IT TO THE LAWYER.

SO WHEN I GO TO THE LIBRARY, I OFTEN SEE TUTORS TUTORING PEOPLE.

I ALWAYS SEE THE LIBRARIANS THERE HELPING PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY OLD PEOPLE LIKE ME, AND I AM DEFINITELY AGAINST YOU CUTTING ANY FUNDING TO THE LIBRARY.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

AND MY CHILD HAS GONE TO THE LIBRARY.

SHE PITCHED A FIT RIGHT SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FRONT DOORS, AND I HOPE HER CHILD GETS TO PITCH A FIT IN FRONT OF THE DOORS TOO.

I STILL HAVE A MINUTE, SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I'M ALL FOR GIVING RAISE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

HOWEVER, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A RAISE OF THE CRITERIA FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I'VE SEEN, I'VE HAD MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST LIVING OUT THEIR LIFE OF BEING A HIGH SCHOOL BULLY.

I'D LIKE TO SEE PEOPLE PAID MORE AND ALSO MORE REQUIRED OF THEM TO WHERE THEY CAN BE PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE.

BUT DON'T TAKE THE MONEY FROM OUR LIBRARIES.

IT'S CRITICAL TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[APPLAUSE]

>> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE INSIDE, OUTSIDE UPSTAIRS, WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?

>> WE'RE GOOD.

>> COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED 216 COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM ALL IN OPPOSITION.

[APPLAUSE]

>> WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST TO DELETE.

WE HAVE A SECOND SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION HAS BEEN DELETED. ITEMS HAVE BEEN DELETED.

[APPLAUSE] ITEM 55,

[55. 25-00225]

J NEWMAN CENTER GENERATED THROUGH THE PRIOR YEAR RENTAL REVENUES AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER FOR OPERATIONAL SUPPORT, BUILDING REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER BY JEWEL J. NEWMAN COMMUNITY CENTER DIRECTOR.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

>> JUST REAL QUICKLY. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO JOE BLING THE BUILDINGS AND GROUND STAFF.

FOR THOSE THAT DIDN'T KNOW, WE HAD A STRINGER OF VANDALISM THAT HAPPENED AT THE JEWEL J. NEWMAN COMMUNITY CENTER COMMUNITY CENTER.

MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS FROM BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE CHIEF MORSE, DEFINITELY CAME IN AND ENSURED THAT MY STAFF HAD EVERYTHING THAT WE NEEDED.

THANK YOU-ALL SO MUCH FOR HELPING US AND MAKING SURE JEWEL J. NEWMAN SECURED FOR THE UPCOMING FUTURE. THANK YOU ALL.

>> DO YOU HAVE A MOTION COUNCILMAN? MOTION APPROVE MOTION BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JR. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES, ITEM 56 AUTHORIZING FINANCE DIRECTOR OR REFUND

[56. 25-00228]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? YOU NOW GO TO COUNCIL WE HAVE A MOTION.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

[57. 25-00192]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?

>> COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED TWO EMAIL COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 57.

[01:25:02]

>> I ACTUALLY HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.

WHAT IS THE TOTAL COST OF A CANINE DOG? IS THE 7,500 GOING TO COVER THE COST OR IS IT ACTUALLY THE TWO AMOUNTS TOGETHER OR IS IT ACTUALLY MORE THAN THAT IF ANYBODY KNOWS?

>> THIS IS YOUR TIME REVEREND.

>> NO, I JUST WONDERED IF ANYBODY HAD THAT INFORMATION.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? NOW, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL, COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO.

>> CHIEF, DO YOU WANT TO COME AND RESPOND TO HER QUESTION? GIVE YOU A CHANCE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION AND I GOT TO SAY THE ANSWER IS BOTH.

THE AMOUNTS WE BUY OUR PATROL DOGS FROM A VENDOR AND THAT AMOUNT IS $12,000 OR SOMETIMES OVER, WHICH IS ACTUALLY A VERY GOOD DEAL BECAUSE HERE AT BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE TRAIN OUR OWN PATROL DOGS.

WE'RE ACTUALLY THE VERY FIRST DEPARTMENT IN ENTIRE COUNTRY RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED STATES POLICE CANINE ASSOCIATION, WHO IS THE GOLD STANDARD FOR ALL POLICE DOGS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

TO FIRST DEPARTMENT TO HAVE THEIR OWN TRAINING FACILITY AND BE RECOGNIZED AS A TRAINING FACILITY.

WE TRAIN POLICE DOGS FROM ALL AROUND THE AREA HERE.

NORMALLY, OTHER DEPARTMENTS WILL HAVE TO SPEND UP TO $25,000 OR $30,000 FOR A PATROL DOG.

THEY GET THAT DOG ALREADY TRAINED SPEAKING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE, USUALLY FROM GERMANY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT WE BUY OURS FOR THAT BETTER AMOUNT BECAUSE WE DO OUR OWN TRAINING WHICH IS ABOUT 500 HOURS OF TRAINING THAT THE PATROL DOGS GO THROUGH.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON TO APPROVE THE ITEM ANY OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES.

[58. 25-00193]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SAY NOW AND GO TO COUNCIL WE HAVE A MOTION.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO, ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES, ITEM 59,

[59. 25-00221]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE GO TO COUNCIL.

WE HAVE A MOTION, MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

[60. 25-00222]

PRIOR TO THE MEETING ON LIVE, THE CONTRACT IS IN THE AMOUNT OF $62,268 PAYABLE IN MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS BY THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL.

WE HAVE A MOTION, MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. SECOND, BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM 61, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH

[61. 25-00223]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE WE GO TO COUNCIL, WE HAVE A MOTION.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN. JR. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

[62. 25-00224]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE GOING TO COUNCIL. MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN RACCA, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

[Items 63 - 67]

ITEM 63, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE THE UTILITY RELOCATION AGREEMENT WITH ENTERGY CORPORATION FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVEBR CAPACITY PROJECT PERKINS OVERPASS ON AMOUNT NOT EXCEED $195,260.68 BY TRANSPORTATION DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.

[01:30:03]

ITEM 66, AUTHORIZED MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER 2 FOR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION SERVICES WITH ECM CONSULTANTS INC FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVEBR CAPACITY PROJECT CONSTANTIN, MIDWAY- BLUEBONNET, THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $345,083.04 BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.

ITEM 67, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH TODD TIDWELL & APPRAISALS AND CONSULTING LLC TO PROVIDE APPRAISAL SERVICES FOR THE COLLEGE DRIVE, PERKINS ROAD TO I-10 PROJECT AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $119,765 BY THE TRANSPORTATION DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 63-67? SEE NONE WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

WE HAVE A MOTION, MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN.

JR SECOND BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM 68, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE

[68. 25-00255]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?

>> COUNCILMEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 68.

>> SEEN, NONE, GOING TO COUNCIL.

MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. SECOND, BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET ANY OPPOSED.

MOTION CARRIES, ITEM 69,

[69. 25-00260]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?

>> COUNCILMEMBER, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 69.

>> THERE IS A REQUEST. BY THE TRANSPORTATION DRAINAGE DIRECTOR TO DEFER THIS ITEM FOR TWO WEEKS. COUNCILMAN DUNN. JR?

>> YES. THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO REQUEST A MOTION TO DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN.

JR TO DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS.

SECOND, BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, ANY OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM 70 AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT

[70. 25-00264]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

>> COUNCILMEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 70.

>> SEEN NONE GOING TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION, MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. NO SECONDS. COUNCILMAN GAUDET.

>> FRED. I HEAR YOU DON'T SEE YOU.

THERE YOU GO.

FRED THIS ITEM IS FOR ESSENTIALLY GRANT MANAGEMENT SERVICES OR THAT TYPE OF A SERVICE SPECIFIC TO THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> THAT, AND ALSO WE HAVE SOME FEMA GRANTS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH DRAINAGE THAT HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS AGREEMENT FROM DAY 1. TO BE HONEST.

COUNCILMEMBERS, IT'S GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO TRY TO MANAGE THESE SYSTEMS ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS AND MEETINGS ARE NEEDED.

AS ONLY MAN SO MANY HOURS ON A DAY THAT I CAN BE THERE, BUT THIS IS ESSENTIAL FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T LOSE THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE PROGRAMMED AT THIS POINT, AND I'M ASKING FOR THIS REQUEST TO.

>> DO YOU HAVE NOT AS AN ANSWER TONIGHT, BUT IT MAY BE A REPORT ON WHAT DOLLARS EBR HAS SEEN COME TO THE PARISH FROM THAT BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW.

I'D LOVE TO SEE MAYBE IT'S MATCH SOME MOVE BR FUNDING.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL INFORMATION.

>> I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO PROVIDE THAT.

THERE'S PLENTY OF DOLLARS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED IN REFERENCE TO THAT.

>> YES, SIR. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU.

THANKS TO HMTB TOO FOR PROVIDING THAT.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. WE HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

[71. 25-00232]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?

>> MARY JANE MARCANTEL.

[01:35:02]

TRANSPARENCY SEEMS TO BE THE WORD OF THE DAY.

YET, WHEN SOMETHING GOES ON THE AGENDA BY YOUR OWN CITY ORDINANCE AND BY PUBLIC MEETING LAW, THERE'S A REQUIREMENT THAT SUBJECT MATTER, WHICH IS THE CENTRAL ISSUE OR CONTROVERSY THAT FORMS THE BASIS OF A LEGAL DISPUTE BE PUT ON THE AGENDA.

I DON'T THINK ANY OF ALL CAN TELL ME WHAT 71 IS ABOUT OTHER THAN A BODILY INJURY AND THEY WANT $11,000.

LIKE I SAID, THIS IS ONE OF SEVEN THAT I'M GOING TO BE ADDRESSING ON THIS.

I DON'T THINK THIS COMPLIES PROPERLY.

>> ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEN NONE GOING TO COUNCIL.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN RACCA.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

[72. 25-00240 (Part 1 of 2)]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?

>> HI. HELLO. HOW YOU DOING? MY NAME IS TANIL LARGARDE BROWN.

I'M HERE TO ADDRESS EVERYBODY.

THIS INITIATIVE IS MY FIRST TIME COMING OUT ON BEHALF OF THIS INCIDENT, AND I WANT TO DIRECT MY FIRST QUESTION TO YOU, MS. DISTRICT 2, MR. KENNEY.

HOW YOU DOING? I LIVE IN YOUR DISTRICT.

MY QUESTION TO YOU IF THIS IS YOUR MOTHER IN THIS SITUATION, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL?

>> MS. BROWN, LOOK, I'M JUST GOING TO LET YOU KNOW THE WAY THIS WORKS.

THIS IS THE PUBLIC HEARING THIS IS YOUR TIME AND SO EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON IT FROM THE PUBLIC BEFORE WE TURN IT OVER TO THE COUNCIL.

IT'S NOT A Q&A BETWEEN THE COUNCIL.

>> THAT'S FINE.

>> JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW.

>> THAT'S FINE, BUT THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION.

[OVERLAPPING] I JUST WANT TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW HOW THIS HAS IMPACTED ME.

YOU KNOW HOW I CAN'T DO THE THINGS THAT I USUALLY DO.

I USUALLY SMILE. I'M A BUBBLY PERSON.

IT HAS TAKEN A LOT FROM ME.

I'M A BUSINESS OWNER.

I'VE INHERITED THE FAMILY BUSINESS OVER 35 YEARS.

I CAN'T EVEN OPEN.

DUE TO THE FACT, I FEEL LIKE I KNOW I'M GOING TO BE HARASSED.

I'VE BEEN HARASSED BY THE POLICE. I'VE BEEN BULLIED.

I NO LONGER HAVE MY CAR, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THAT'S INITIALLY WHAT STOOD OUT.

EVERY DAY I QUESTION MYSELF EVERY DAY.

I'M IN COUNSELING ONCE A WEEK.

NO ONE, NOT THE CHIEF OF POLICE, THE PRIOR, THE CURRENT, NOT THE MAYOR, THE PRIOR, THE CURRENT, NONE OF YOU GUYS.

NO ONE EVER APOLOGIZE, NONE OF US, NOT ME.

FOR ME TO STAND HERE TODAY AND FACE YOU GUYS ON THE NUMBER ON THE PAPER THAT DURING THAT, WE HAVEN'T EVEN CAME TO AN AGREEMENT.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE MAGISTRATE GOT A LINE IT DERAILED.

THE MEETING WAS CUT SHORT WITH MY ATTORNEY.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY AM I HERE WITH YOU GUYS.

WHY AM I HERE? I WAS TOOK INTO A MECHANIC SHOP, STRIPPED BUTT NAKED.

>> WE GOOD.

>> AT THAT TIME, I WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW I WAS CURRENTLY 400 POUNDS, 407.

I WAS TAKEN INTO A MECHANIC SHOP, THEY CALL IT TORTURE HOUSE WITH TWO VEHICLES.

>> ANYONE OPPOSING.

>> I OPPOSE ALL DAY.

YES, SIR. [APPLAUSE]

>> GOOD EVENING. I'M ATTORNEY RYAN THOMPSON.

I AM THE REPRESENTATIVE, THE ATTORNEY FOR MS. TERNELL BROWN.

WE SENT A LETTER TO THE CITY PARIS ATTORNEY'S OFFICE STATING OUT WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS FAIR.

WE DID NOT GET A LETTER BACK.

WHAT MS. BROWN REFERENCES IS IS THAT THERE WAS SOME INITIAL DISCUSSIONS.

WHAT WE WERE TOLD IN THAT MEETING IS THAT THIS BODY HERE WOULD BE THE BODY THAT WE HAD TO COME TO TO GET A MEETING BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE THE ULTIMATE DECIDERS OF WHAT IS FAIR.

I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL SEVERAL WEEKS AGO FROM THE MEDIA, ASKING ME ABOUT A REPROPRIATION OR A REPURPOSING OF A BUILDING THAT WE KNOW AS THE BRAVE GAVE NOW.

WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE AMOUNT THAT WAS BEING OFFERED TO REPURPOSE THAT BUILDING, I THEN THOUGHT WAS A SLAP IN THE FACE.

REACHED OUT TO MY CLIENTS, THEY AGREED WITH ME.

I'M ONLY HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF MS. BROWN TO ASK FOR A MEETING WITH THIS COUNCIL BECAUSE CLEARLY I CAN'T GET THROUGH THROUGH THE CITY PARIS ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND WHAT I WAS TOLD IS THAT HAD TO COME BEFORE YOU.

[01:40:02]

UNDERSTAND MS. BROWN HAS ALREADY WON ALREADY ONE ON TWO ISSUES.

ONE BEING THAT THE NON ARRESTEE STRIP SEARCH POLICY WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

THE SECOND ONE IS THAT THE OFFICERS ARE DENIED QUALIFIED IMMUNITY AT THIS POINT, WHICH THE CITY HAS TAKEN AN APPEAL ON.

THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE AS A TAXPAYERS, HOW MUCH LONG MUST THIS GO ON? IF WE CAN REPURPOSE A BUILDING FOR ALMOST $2 MILLION, THEN WE CAN DEFINITELY MAKE SURE THAT THE VICTIMS ARE MADE WHOLE BEFORE WE REPURPOSE THAT BUILDING.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS TIA FIELDS, COMMUNITY ACTIVIST, CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT 2.

JUSTICE IS NOT ABOUT COMPENSATION.

IT SHOULD ENSURE THAT THERE IS TRANSPARENCY.

THERE IS HONESTY, AND THERE IS COMPASSION FOR THE VICTIMS THAT UNFORTUNATELY HAD TO GO UNDER THROUGH THE POLICE BRUTALITY THAT THEY DID.

FOR FAR TOO LONG, THE BRAVE CAVE WAS USED AS AN OFFSITE UNOFFICIAL DETENTION CENTER.

AS MS. BROWN STOOD BEFORE YOU TO TELL A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER STORY, WE JUST FIND IT APPALLING THAT THE CITY WOULD NOT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE VICTIMS. I'M ASKING YOU GUYS TODAY BEFORE YOU MAKE A DECISION ON THESE SETTLEMENTS THAT YOU INCLUDE THE VICTIMS IN THIS CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> I HAD THE DISPLEASURE OF SYDNEY UPS OF READING THROUGH SOME OF THE ENGAGEMENTS THAT OCCURRED AT THIS BRAVE CAVE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO AN 11-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO WAS CLAD ONLY IN HIS UNDERWEAR FROM HIS RESIDENCE, WHO HAS TOUCHED ALL OVER WITH HIS MOTHER, WHO HAD TO ENDURE A STRIP SEARCH, ANOTHER INSTANCE WHERE 16-YEAR-OLD EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT WAS BROUGHT TO THIS FACILITY.

SUCH ACTIONS ARE NOT ONLY CRIMINAL, BUT REPRESENT A GROSS ABUSE OF POWER BY THOSE SWORN TO PROTECT US.

ADDITIONALLY, A GRANDMOTHER WAS SUBJECTED TO A HUMILIATING STRIP SEARCH AND DUE TO A CLERICAL ERROR DURING THE INVESTIGATION, THE POLICE INVOLVED ESCAPED ANY PUNISHMENT.

THESE PROCEDURAL FAILINGS ARE INDICATIVE OF A LARGER SYSTEMIC ISSUE WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING BIASES AND INAPPROPRIATE AFFILIATIONS, WHICH ONCE AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THE LIBRARY.

I FIND IT INCREDIBLY OFFENSIVE THAT YOU WOULD TRY TO STEAL THE MONEY FROM THE LIBRARY TO GIVE FOR THESE PEOPLE.

THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS IN APPOINTING INDIVIDUALS WITH TIES TO THE POLICE UNION TO THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD FURTHER EXACERBATES THE CHAIN OF ABUSE OF POWER, AND THESE AFFILIATIONS CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE OCCUR UNDER THE GUISE OF AUTHORITY OR BROTHERHOOD PERPETUATING A CULTURE OF ABUSE.

ADDING TO THE GRAVITY OF THESE ISSUES AS THE PRESENCE OF MILITARIZED UNITS WITHIN THE BATON RIDGE POLICE DEPARTMENT, MUST SKIP THAT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ABOUT TO CUT ME OFF.

IN THIS CONTEXT, NEED FOR A WELL EDUCATED POLICE FORCE.

>> YOU HAVE A MINUTE 45. TAKE YOUR TIME

>> OH, MY GOODNESS, REALLY? I'LL HURRY. I'LL JUST COME BACK.

[LAUGHTER] LET'S SEE.

LET ME SKIP DOWN THEN.

WHEN WE ALLOW POLICE OFFICERS TO COMMIT CRIMES WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE, IT SENDS DANGEROUS MESSAGES TO OUR YOUNG MEN NORMALIZING BEHAVIOR THAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY CONTRARY TO THE VALUES OF JUSTICE AND PROTECTION.

THE CULTURE OF ABUSE MUST BE ERADICATED AND THOSE RESPONSIBLE MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO RESTORE TRUST IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I DO WANT TO TIE THIS BACK TO A RECENT EVENT.

THIS IS EARLY SIMILAR TO THE RESULTS OF WHICH THIS YOUNG MAN AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY WAS KILLED.

IF WE LOOK AT THE ALIGNMENTS OF THESE OFF SITE ENTITIES WHERE GOD KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

THIS IS LITERALLY OUR POLICE LEADERSHIP, GIVING OUR COMMUNITY LICENSE TO PARTICIPATE IN HAZING, WHICH IS WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO THIS COMMUNITY OUT IN THERE.

[APPLAUSE]

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS RYAN.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN DIRECT OPPOSITION TO THE AGENDA ITEM 72.

LIKE OTHERS HAVE SAID, TERNELL BROWN, SOMEONE'S GRANDMA WHO WAS TAKEN TO THE BRAVE CAVE, A SITE THAT IS USED BY THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO TORTURE BLACK PEOPLE.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT DISTURBS ME? THERE ARE THREE OTHER AGENDA ITEMS RELATING TO VICTIMS OF THE BRAVE CAVE.

NOT EVEN JUST THAT, IT'S NOT ALL OF THE VICTIMS. TERNELL BROWN WAS STRIPPED BY THE POLICE AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, AND WE THINK $90,000 IS JUSTICE. IT'S NOT.

WHAT WOULD BE JUSTICE IS IF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE WAS ACTUALLY HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

IF WE BUILT A SYSTEM THAT WOULD NEVER ALLOW FOR POLICE BRUTALITY AND ABUSE TO OCCUR IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THAT SYSTEM WOULD BE COMPLETE COMMUNITY CONTROL OF THE POLICE.

IN CASE YOU'VE FORGOTTEN, THE POLICE ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK FOR US.

[01:45:02]

BUT INSTEAD, THE BATON ROUGE POLICE ARE AN ENTITY THAT ONLY FUNCTIONS TO SUPPRESS, HARASS, AND MURDER BLACK PEOPLE, POOR PEOPLE, MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE, AND WHOEVER ELSE THEY CHOOSE.

THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY DESERVE A SAY IN WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTING AND SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.

FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THIS AMOUNT THAT MS. BROWN IS BEING PAID AS A PART OF THE 40,000 THAT IS BEING SPLIT BETWEEN THE VICTIMS, WHILE THIS COUNCIL WANTS TO SPEND TWO MILLION DOLLAR ON CONVERTING THE BRAVE CAVE INTO COMMUNITY CENTER.

SHAME. SHAME ON THIS CITY COUNCIL AND SHAME ON BATON ROUGE POLICE.

WE DON'T WANT THE BRAVE CAVE TO BE TURNED INTO COMMUNITY CENTER.

WE DON'T WANT YOU TO DESTROY EVIDENCE OF BATON ROUGE POLICE RACIST POLICING.

WE WANT JUSTICE, AND THIS IS NOT IT.

[APPLAUSE]

>> GOOD EVENING.

I THINK THAT HUMANITY NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED BEFORE THE PRIORITIES OF THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

I ALSO THINK THAT YOU AS THE PARISH COUNCIL HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND EVEN THE COUNTRY WATCH WHAT HAPPENED IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THESE INCIDENTS.

WOMEN, YOUNG WOMEN UNDER THE AGE OF 18, WERE TAKEN INTO A WAREHOUSE, STRIP SEARCH TOLD TO BEND OVER AND OPEN UP BY POLICE OFFICERS THAT WE PAY.

THE SAME COUNCIL IS GOING TO ASK TO PUT NINE MILLION DOLLAR IN ALL PROJECT FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ASK US TO VOTE FOR IT, WITHOUT DOING THE FIRST PART OF GIVING US ACCOUNTABILITY.

I DON'T OPPOSE SUPPORTING PAY RAISES FOR POLICE OFFICERS.

I DO OPPOSE A GIVING THEM TO THEM WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.

TO HAVE FEDERAL JUDGES RULING THAT IT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, WHAT THEY DID, AND THIS PARISH ATTORNEY CONTINUED TO APPEAL THOSE RULINGS IS A WASTE OF OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS WHILE YOU ALL ARE ATTEMPTING TO FIND HOW YOU CLOSE THE BUDGET DEFICITS.

BUT YOU CONTINUE TO LET GREG ROME ROLL.

WHO IS IN CONTROL? YOU ALL ARE THE PARISH ATTORNEY? BECAUSE ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE A RECOMMENDATION TO YOU ALL.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ALL HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO AS COUNCIL? TO DO WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY.

IF 2000 WHITE WOMEN OR WHITE CITIZENS HAD BEEN TAKEN INTO A WAREHOUSE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

OH, HELL.[LAUGHTER] WE WOULDN'T EVEN BE IN HERE TALKING ABOUT NO 40,000.

Y'ALL BE READY WITH PITCHFORKS OUTSIDE.

IF THREE WHITE WOMEN WERE TAKEN INTO THE FACILITY AND BENT OVER AND SPREAD OPEN.

I WATCHED THE VIDEO OF A GIRL WHO WAS 16-YEARS-OLD, SITTING IN THE BACK OF A COP CAR, AND THEY HAD HER ANKLES SHACKLED, HER HAND SHACKLED, AND THEY SAID, WE'VE TAKEN YOU, JUST TO TAKE HER TO THE BATHROOM NOW.

TO TAKE HER TO THE BATHROOM, THEY HAD TO SEARCH HER.

THEY THEN LET HER GO TO THE RESTROOM.

WHILE SHE WAS SITTING IN THE CAR, SHE ASKED THEM WHEN THEY SAID, YOU'RE GOING TO BE DETAINED.

SHE SAID, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? BECAUSE NOBODY CALLED HER MAMA, 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL.

NOBODY CALLED THAT LITTLE BLACK PREGNANT GIRL'S MAMA.

I WEPT BECAUSE I HAVE A 15-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.

SOMEBODY OUGHT TO GIVE A DAMN.

THAT HAPPENED TO OUR WOMEN IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND YOU LETTING GREG ROME PROPOSE $40,000 TO THAT GRANDMOTHER, AND WANT US TO VOTE TO GIVE THEM PAY RAISES.

I'LL BE DAMNED IF I WILL.

DO YOUR JOB FIRST.

DO YOUR JOB AND WE'LL SUPPORT IT.

BUT WITHOUT THE ACCOUNTABILITY, IT'S AN ABOMINATION TO ASK THIS COMMUNITY TO STAND BEHIND POLICE OFFICERS YOU WON'T HOLD ACCOUNTABLE.

[APPLAUSE]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARIA ARM AND A RESIDENT HERE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

MY HEART IS FULL JUST KNOWING BECAUSE I'M PROBABLY GOING TO COME UP HERE AND SPEAK ABOUT A FEW OTHER FAMILIES.

THAT'S ON THE AGENDA.

WHAT HAPPENED TO MS. BROWN AND TO SEE HER STAND UP HERE WITH SUCH COURAGE AND GIVE HER STORY AND RECOUNT WHAT HAPPENED.

I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND IF SOMEONE WHO ALSO LIVES WITH PTSD THAT HAVING TO RECOUNT YOUR STORY IS TRAUMATIZING.

IT'S HARD TO PUT A PRICE TAG ON WHAT JUSTICE IS FOR THE HORRIFIC ACTS THAT ALL OF THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED IN A BRAVE CAVE.

THE ACTIONS OF THOSE POLICE IS JUST SIMPLY

[01:50:01]

THERE'S PROBABLY A LOT OF POLICE WHO ARE STILL SERVING ON THE FORCE THAT WAS PROBABLY TRAINED UNDER BRET STUPID.

THAT'S A BEHAVIOR YOU GOT TO GET RID OF.

LIKE THEY SAY, THE BAD APPLE SPOIL A WHOLE BUNCH.

THOSE BAD APPLES ARE COSTING THE CITY A LOT OF MONEY DUE TO THEIR ACTIONS.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO GIVE THOSE PEOPLE RAISES.

IT'S LIKE, HOW DO WE HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

HOW DO WE CLEAN HOUSE? BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THIS TAP IS GOING TO KEEP RUNNING. WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH? I AM IN OPPOSITION OF THIS MOTION ONLY BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S ENOUGH. IT'S NOT.

THEN TO WANT TO REPURPOSE A BUILDING THAT I HONESTLY BELIEVE HAS DEMONIC SPIRITS IN THERE BECAUSE SOMEBODY TO TAKE ACTIONS THE WAY THEY DID AGAINST ANOTHER HUMAN BEING IS SUCH A HORRIFIC ACT? YOU HAVE TO HAVE POSSESSED BY A DEMON OF SOME SORT, HAVE TO.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS HURTING EACH OTHER RUTHLESSLY.

THE VICTIMS HAVE TO LIVE WITH THAT.

I'M TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO WENT THROUGH UNDESPICABLE ACTS AND JUST TOSSED OUT SIDE OF SIDE OF THE STREET LIKE TRASH.

HOW DO YOU ATTEST TO THAT? AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, ALL OF THESE PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE A LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP TO WHATEVER SPA THERAPY SERVICES THAT CAN BE AFFORDED TO THEM WITH NO CAP? THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES WITH NO FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS? THIS IS NOT ENOUGH.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO RID OURSELVES OF THOSE BAD APPLES THAT'S COSTING OUR CITY SO MUCH MONEY? I WANT ALL TO SIT AND REALLY THINK ABOUT THAT.

WHERE'S THE PROCESS GOING TO COME IN AT? HOW DO WE? BECAUSE ONE THING I COULD SAY, MY COUSIN, A COUSIN OF MINE SERVED WITH THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND SHE LEFT IN 2016, WHEN AUSTIN STERLING WAS SHOT, AND SHE SEEN FOR HERSELF HOW EVIL THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT COULD BE.

SHE LIVES IN A WHOLE OTHER STATE, WORKING A WHOLE OTHER OCCUPATION, DIDN'T EVEN LOOK BACK AT LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> THAT'S YOUR TIME, MA'AM.

>> THANK YOU. I'LL BE BACK TO SPEAK AGAIN.

>> GREETINGS TO MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS DARRYL MUHAMMAD, AND SOME OF YOU HAVE GUESSED I AM WITH THE NATION OF ISLAM UNDER THE DIVINE LEADERSHIP OF THE HONORABLE LOUIS FARRAKHAN.

I WANT TO SAY THIS RIGHT QUICK.

THAT IS, THERE ARE PEOPLE NOT JUST ON THE POLICE FORCE, BUT EVERYWHERE WHO DO NOT VALUE OUR LIVES AS BLACK PEOPLE.

THEY DO NOT FEEL OUR PAIN.

BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL OUR PAIN, THEY INSULT US WITH THESE EGREGIOUSLY LOW AMOUNTS.

NOW, I'M A MEMBER OF A FRATERNITY THAT SAYS A VOTLESS PEOPLE IS A HOPELESS PEOPLE.

Y'ALL MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THAT MOTEL.

WELL, WE VOTED FOR EACH ONE OF YOU.

WHY DO WE FIND OURSELVES IN SUCH A HOPELESS SITUATION WHEN WE VOTED TO HAVE THE HOPE THAT WAS PROMISED.

NOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT A SEXUAL ASSAULT, Y'ALL CAN GO TO WEST LAW, THOSE OF YOU WHO WENT TO SOUTHERN LSU LAW SCHOOL, YOU CAN GO TO WEST LAW, LEXUS, NEXUS, AND YOU CAN LOOK UP WHAT THE AVERAGE SETTLEMENT IS FOR A SEXUAL ASSAULT.

YOU WILL NOT FIND ANY OF THE AMOUNTS ON THIS AGENDA IN LINE WITH THOSE AMOUNTS THAT ARE DUE.

NOW, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO LOOK LIKE ME, ON THE COUNCIL, WE FOUGHT AND MARCHED FOR Y'ALL TO BE HERE, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THESE EGREGIOUSLY LOW AMOUNTS THAT ARE PUT ON HERE.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE CONTROL OF THE AGENDA, LET SOMEBODY KNOW SO WE CAN WORK WITH YOU TO GET YOU THE CONTROL THAT YOU NEED.

BUT ALL OF YOU SHOULD VOTE AGAINST THIS SIMPLY BECAUSE IT'S A SLAP IN THE FACE.

IF YOU HAVE TWO MILLION DOLLAR TO REPURPOSE A CRIME SCENE CALLED THE BRAVE CAVE, THEN YOU NEED TO GIVE THAT TO THE VICTIMS WHO REALLY DESERVE THAT TWO MILLION DOLLAR OR THREE MILLION DOLLARS OR WHATEVER IT IS.

WHATEVER COUNCILING THEY NEED TO GET OVER THE TRAUMA THAT HAS BEEN IMPOSED UPON THEM.

AS OUR BROTHER, BROTHER CHAMBERS SAID, YOU HAVEN'T EVEN HELD THE POLICE TO ACCOUNT.

ANY ONE OF YOU WHO VOTES IN FAVOR OF THIS $90,000, I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING AT YOU FUNNY.

I'M NOT JUST GOING TO BE LOOKING AT YOU FUNNY.

[01:55:01]

THEY DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY ABOUT ANY ONE OF YOU.

UNDERSTAND AS THE YOUNG 20-YEAR-OLD LADY SAID OR SAID A WHILE AGO, WE THANK YOU, BUT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP EYE ON YOU.

[FOREIGN], WHICH MEANS PEACE BE UNTO YOU, AND PEACE COMES FROM JUSTICE AND JUSTICE COMES FROM TRUTH.

[FOREIGN] [APPLAUSE]

>> I'M LAM GRIFFIN, I'M A RESIDENT OF THE DISTRICT 8, 2001, SOUTH SERRE FOURTH BOULEVARD.

I'M COMING YOU TODAY IN OPPOSITION OF THIS AMOUNT.

NOW AND BECAUSE IT'S JUST A ONE AMOUNT, IS THE FACT THAT NO JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED WHATSOEVER, AND YOU SEEN IT IN THE NEWS.

JUST THOSE THREE OR FOUR POLICE OFFICERS THAT WERE HELD ACCOUNTABLE PUBLICLY, IT WAS MORE THAN THAT.

IT WAS MORE THAN THEM THAT WAS A PART OF THAT BRAVE TEAM.

LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THIS. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE BEEN CAUGHT.

THE BRP, THE RED HANDED HERE IN THIS CITY WITH THAT SAME BUILDING.

THIS IS ACTUALLY THE SECOND TIME.

THE FIRST TIME IS WHEN A POLICE OFFICER WHO WAS A 12 YEAR VETERAN DECIDED TO SELL DRUGS AND PLANT DRUGS ON PEOPLE FOR HIS CAREER, WHO JUST ONLY GOT THREE YEARS PROBATION.

THERE'S NO JUSTICE IN THAT.

IF I WAS CAUGHT SELLING DRUGS, I WILL BE UP THE RIVER.

I WANT TO SAY THIS, I KNOW MOST OF YOU WEREN'T HERE 16 OR 18 MONTHS AGO.

SOME OF YOU ARE BRAND NEW, BUT YOU HAD 11 PEOPLE COME UP HERE AND GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO SAY HOW HURT THEY WERE.

YOU HEARD THE CRIES OF THE MOTHERS, YOU HEARD THE CRIES OF THE PEOPLE.

YOU HEARD ME AND A FEW OTHER PEOPLE SAY, WE WANT JUSTICE FOR OUR PEOPLE.

BECAUSE THIS IS A PREDOMINANT BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE DARKER NIGHT.

IF YOU EVER BEEN THERE, AND I WANT YOU TO GO.

I WANT YOU TO SEE WHERE THIS IS, AND I WANT YOU TO GO AT THE DARK TO SEE HOW FEARFUL YOU WOULD BE IF SOMEONE TOOK YOU TO A BUILDING THAT PICKED YOU UP OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SAID THAT THEY WERE GOING TO SERVE YOU SOMETHING AND THEN SEXUALLY ASSAULT YOU.

SEXUAL ASSAULT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST TRAUMATIZING THINGS THAT ANYONE CAN GO THROUGH, ESPECIALLY A WOMAN.

WE KNOW THE STATISTICS OF WHAT WOMEN GO THROUGH.

MR. WONKA, I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT.

TO GIVE THIS WOMAN SUCH A SMALL AMOUNT IS REALLY A SLAP IN THE FACE.

THEN YOU WANT TO REPURPOSE THIS BUILDING WITHOUT WITHOUT THE COMMUNITIES INPUT? THAT'S DISRESPECTFUL.

AT LEAST YOU COULD COME AND SAY, WHAT CAN WE DO? WE WOULD SAY WE WANT JUSTICE FIRST.

BECAUSE THOSE CRUMBS DON'T MEAN ANYTHING.

THOSE CRUMBS ARE GOING TO GO ON OUR DATA, THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO THE MORTGAGE.

WE WANT REAL JUSTICE.

WE WANT REAL ACCOUNTABILITY.

BUT IT SEEMS IT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN THIS CITY.

AGAIN AND AGAIN, AND I WANT TO SAY THIS, JUST LAST YEAR, WITH WANTING TO GIVE THE BRPD A 40% PAY RAISE, THEY WERE ALMOST EXPANDED BY WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING AND WHAT THEY'VE BEEN CAUGHT FOR RED HANDED OVER THE LAST FIVE OR 10 YEARS.

THEY WERE ALMOST DISBANDED.

YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM A RAISE? SOMETHING THAT'S WRONG WITH THAT PICTURE.

YOU'RE SAYING FORGET THE PEOPLE, LET'S GO AND GIVE IT TO THE POLICE, EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE HAD MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF TRAUMA ON PEOPLE DAY IN AND DAY OUT, DAY IN AND DAY OUT, AND WE KNOW IT BECAUSE IT'S BEEN RECORDED AND IT'S ON PAPER, AND IT'S ON TAPE. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BONA HARDEN. I'VE BEEN INVITED.

I TRAVEL FROM FLORIDA TO BE HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON AND WHAT'S CURRENTLY HAPPENING.

THIS ISN'T NEWS.

JUST FOR THE FACT THAT I'VE SAT IN THAT CORNER AND I'VE LISTENED TO MANY SPEAK ON THE IMBALANCE, THE INEQUALITY THAT'S BEEN SPREAD ACROSS THE BOARD, AND AS I'M LOOKING AT EVERYONE HERE, THEY HAS IT WITHIN THEIR POWER TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE TO OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

THEY DON'T SUFFER. THEY SHOULDN'T BE DEALT.

THE INJUSTICES THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON UNANSWERED.

IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SWIFT JUSTICE THAT HAPPENED AT THE TIME WHEN MS. BROWN, SHE CAME UP HERE AND JUST FOR THE FACT THAT HER BRAVERY, I TREMBLE, JUST FOR THE FACT THAT SHE HAD TO COME AND SPEAK OVER TO BE RECOGNIZED.

IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SWIFT JUSTICE, WHAT WAS DONE TO HER.

AS FAR AS TAXPAYERS DOLLARS, ALL THIS IS A WASTE OF MONEY, WHEN YOU SHOULD HAVE HAD SWIFT ACTION AT THE TIME.

THIS IS JUST A WASTE OF TAXPAYERS DOLLARS.

IT SEEMS LIKE NO ONE WANTS TO LISTEN.

YOU WANT THE INJUSTICES TO CONTINUE.

[02:00:01]

I'VE COME TO HAVE HIGH RESPECT.

I COME FORWARD AND I SPEAK WITH RESPECT TO YOU ALL.

IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE CONTINUE TO SPEAK ON DEAF EARS, AND IF NOTHING ELSE, PLEASE CONTINUE TO HEAR THE WORDS THAT'S BEEN SPOKEN.

DOES ANYONE EVEN REALIZE HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD BE SAVED IF SWIFT JUSTICE WAS ACROSS THE BOARD, IF EQUALITY WAS ACROSS THE BOARD? THERE SHOULD BE PROPER AND EQUAL SCHOOLING.

THE FACT THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF TEARING DOWN LIBRARIES FOR MORE POLICING, THAT YOU CAN'T YOURSELVES CONTROL.

Y'ALL MAKING A MOCKERY OF YOUR OWN SYSTEM.

IT SEEMS LIKE Y'ALL JUST CAN'T CONTROL WHAT'S HAPPENING OR ELSE YOU'RE CONDONING IT.

ALL I CAN SAY IS THE INJUSTICES ARE AS IT IS.

THE WORLD SEES THIS.

I'M JUST A REGULAR PERSON.

I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD BE PART OF WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

JUST FOR THE FACT THAT I AM.

I JUST HOPE THAT IT DOESN'T CONTINUE TO BE ON DEAF EARS.

I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THIS TIME.

PLEASE LISTEN TO THOSE THAT CAME BEFORE ME.

PLEASE HEAR THEM OUT AND GIVE THOSE THAT WE'RE DONE UNJUST THEIR JUSTICE.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS EVENING? EUGENE COLLINS.

I COME TO YOU SPEAK TODAY BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE SETTLEMENTS, I CAN TELL YOU FOR SURE, AND TALKING TO THESE CLIENTS, TALKING TO THESE PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO ACCEPT WHAT YOU'RE OFFERING.

THAT MEANS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO COURT AGAIN, AND YOU'RE PROBABLY ALREADY AROUND SOMEWHERE IN $100,000 RANGE AND DEFENDING THESE OFFICERS.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT AMOUNT BEING INCREASED.

WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, MR. NOEL IS POSSIBLY PAYING THE ATTORNEYS MORE TO DEFEND THESE COPS THAN YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE THESE FAMILIES.

THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

THAT IS IN NO WAY RIGHT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT USING MONEY TO REFURBISH A BRAVE CAVE WHEN THERE'S A COMMUNITY CENTER THERE RIGHT DOWN THE STREET WITH MR. HURST, GIVE HIM A CLASSROOM AND GIVE HALF OF THAT MONEY TO THE YDA OF THE CITY TO DO SOME COMPETENT PROGRAM.

OTHERWISE, IT JUST LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE A PART OF POLITICAL JOCKEYING.

DON'T BE A PART OF THAT.

MR. HUDSON, YOU'RE A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN WHO HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR.

I DON'T EVER AGREE WITH YOU.

[LAUGHTER] BUT I ALWAYS RESPECT THE FACT THAT YOU ARE CONSISTENT WITH WHERE YOU STAND.

I ALWAYS RESPECT THAT.

YOU CAN'T MAKE ME BELIEVE FOR A SECOND THAT YOU WANT TO SPEND TWO MILLION DOLLARS TO RENOVATE A OLD WAREHOUSE OFF A PLANK ROLL.

YOU CAN'T EVEN LOOK AT ME WITH A STRAIGHT FACE FACE RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE OF THAT, I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT YOU'LL KNOW THAT THIS AIN'T THE RIGHT THING TO DO, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE GOING BACK TO COURT WITH THESE PEOPLE.

YOU GO TO HAVE TO SPEND MORE MONEY THERE, AND YOU GOT A COMMUNITY SEND AGAIN, DOWN THE STREET AND I KNOW MR. HURST WANTS SOME MORE MONEY.

GUYS, THIS JUST DON'T MAKE SENSE.

LET ME TELL YOU, MR. KENNEY, 255 MORE PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE GOING TO BE BETTER THAN ME SITTING IN THAT SEAT.

I NEED YOU TO COME OUT HERE AND HUG THIS LADY AND GET A PHONE NUMBER AND FOLLOW UP BIT, IMPROVE THOSE PEOPLE. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]

>> GOOD EVENING. ATTORNEY JESSICA HAWKINS.

I'M ONE OF THE THREE ATTORNEYS LISTED ON ITEM NUMBER 72.

I HAVE THREE MINUTES.

I WON'T WASTE MY TIME OR YOURS.

WE ARE HERE BECAUSE SOMEBODY HAS ALREADY WASTED MY TIME.

ON OCTOBER 11, 2024, AN EMAIL WENT TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THROUGH MR. SHILAGE WITH A SERIOUS SETTLEMENT OFFER ON MS. BROWN'S CASE SPECIFICALLY.

NOT THE OTHER THREE CASES, I'LL COME BACK UP FOR THOSE.

ON OCTOBER 11, 2024, THAT SETTLEMENT LETTER, I WILL SEND IT TO YOU ALL BEFORE YOU CLOSE OUT THIS ITEM, BEFORE YOU DISCUSS IT, BECAUSE IT HAS CASE LAW.

I KNOW YOU LIKE CASE LAW.

WE HAVE ATTORNEYS IN THIS ROOM WHO MIGHT WANT TO READ THIS BEFORE YOU MAKE A DECISION ABOUT THIS CASE? SHE'S NOT ACCEPTING $90,000.

SHE DOESN'T DESERVE $90,000.

YOU'RE WAY PAST $90,000 WORTH OF ATTORNEY'S FEES.

MR. COLLINS IS CORRECT.

NOT FOR MYSELF, MR. FRAMPTON, MR. THOMPSON, BUT FOR THE ATTORNEYS THAT HAVE BEEN REPRESENTING THESE OFFICERS.

THE SAME OFFICERS OVER FIVE, SIX, SEVEN CASES THESE SAME PEOPLE OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT YOU ARE SPENDING $400 AN HOUR TO DEFEND, INSTEAD OF TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS OCTOBER 11TH EMAIL AND THIS SETTLEMENT LETTER TO SPEAK TO MY CLIENT TO ASK HER WHAT SHE REALLY NEEDS,

[02:05:02]

I WILL SEND IT TO YOU.

THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY AS TO MS. BROWN AND ITEM 72.

>> HELLO, AGAIN, TAN AND I'M IN DISTRICT 12, AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF RECOGNITION THAT IF WE HAD ACCOUNTABILITY, THERE WOULDN'T BE THE NEED FOR THESE SETTLEMENTS, AND I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT, IF WE HAD THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, WE WOULD HAVE THAT ACCOUNTABILITY.

IF THE PEOPLE WITHIN BATON ROUGE CITY LIMITS COULD ELECT THEIR POLICE CHIEF AND THIS WENT ON, WE COULD CHOOSE TO ELECT A NEW POLICE CHIEF.

IF THAT POLICE CHIEF COULD PUT MILLAGES ON THE BALLOT FOR US TO ACCEPT OR REJECT FUNDING THE DEPARTMENT, FUNDING THE PAVE FOR BATON ROUGE POLICE OFFICERS, THEN I THINK THOSE POLICE OFFICERS WOULD POLICE THEMSELVES AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHEN THAT GOT PUT ON THE BALLOT, WE WOULD VOTE IT DOWN.

ALL OF THESE TYPES OF ISSUES COME UP WHEN WE SUBVERT THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE.

WHEN THE PEOPLE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF BATON ROUGE ARE DEPRIVED OF THEIR RIGHT TO SELF GOVERNANCE, THEN THESE ARE THE TYPE OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN.

WE NEED THE RIGHT TO ELECT OUR POLICE CHIEF.

NOTE, EVERYBODY COMING UP HERE, PLEADING WITH YOU GUYS TO PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING.

WELL, IF WE HAD A BATON ROUGE CITY COUNCIL, THIS COUNCIL WOULD LOOK A LOT DIFFERENT AND WE COULD CERTAINLY HOLD THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS MORE ACCOUNTABLE, THOSE OF US WHO LIVE WITHIN BATON ROUGE CITY LIMITS.

THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IS MAJORITY AFRICAN AMERICAN.

MY QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH ON THE PHONE SAYS THERE'S ONLY 36% OF WHITE PEOPLE THAT LIVE WITHIN BATON ROUGE CITY LIMITS.

IF WE WANT TO LOOK AT MAKING SURE THAT THERE ISN'T BLATANT DISENFRANCHISEMENT AND A LACK OF THE ONE MUNICIPALITY, I KNOW BAKER'S MAJORITY AFRICAN AMERICAN, BUT OF THE FIVE MUNICIPALITIES IN THIS PARISH, THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IS THE ONE CITY THAT IS DEPRIVED OF THOSE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES, AND IT CREATES ALL OF ISSUES, INCLUDING THE ISSUES WITHIN THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I AM VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED TO CONSOLIDATING.

I WORRY THAT IN THE WAY THIS MISMANAGEMENT AND TYPES OF ISSUES ARE CULTIVATED IN ORDER TO PROMOTE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO CONSOLIDATE THOSE DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE THAT WOULD ALLOW THE POWERS THAT BE TO MAINTAIN THEIR BOGUS CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT THEIR TAX BENEFITS.

THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED TO HAPPEN NOW THAT WE'VE APPROVED THE CITY OF ST. GEORGE.

PLEASE, AS YOU CONSIDER THESE THINGS, THINK ABOUT THE LONG-TERM INTEREST, RESTORE THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITHIN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND LET US AVOID THESE TRAGEDIES IN THE FUTURE.

[APPLAUSE]

>> I'M REQUESTING TO KEEP HER TIME.

I'VE BEEN KEEPING MY OWN TIME.

I'VE NOTICED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD MORE THAN THREE MINUTES.

>> MA'AM YOU ALREADY SPOKE ON THIS ITEM, DID YOU NOT?

>> I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT?

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> I JUST WANT TO BE BRIEF.

>> [OVERLAPPING] THE NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.

>> MY NAME IS DONA VENNIX.

I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY Y'ALL WANT TO PLAY ON THESE PEOPLE LIKE THIS.

IF THIS WAS MADISON BROOKS OR SOMEBODY, WHICH ALL HANDLED THIS MATTER IN THE SAME WAY, Y'ALL TOLD THE CITY WHEN THAT HAPPENED TO THAT GIRL.

WE'RE HUMAN BEINGS TOO.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? Y'ALL GOT TO DO BETTER.

THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY.

[APPLAUSE]

>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILWOMEN, COUNCILMEN, DALE FLOWERS, I'M BATON ROUGE RESIDENT.

I'M JUST STANDING TO ASK THAT YOU GUYS WOULD RECONSIDER THIS PROPOSAL THAT YOU GUYS WOULD REALLY TAKE IT OFF THE AGENDA, BEGIN TO NEGOTIATE WITH THESE ATTORNEYS, FOLLOW THE VICTIMS OF THE BRAVE CAVE.

IT'S LAUGHABLE THAT IT'S NAMED THE BRAVE CAVE.

[LAUGHTER] BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT CAVE WAS COWARDY.

NOTHING BRAVE HAPPENED THERE.

CITIZENS WERE TERRORIZED, CITIZENS WERE TORN DOWN PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, AND POSSIBLY SPIRITUALLY.

JUST TORN DOWN, AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REPURPOSING A BUILDING.

I UNDERSTAND YOU GUYS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE PROPERTY THAT THE CITY OWNS, BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CITIZENS, FOR THE HUMAN BEINGS AND EVEN THE VISITORS OF THE CITY.

I WOULD ASK THAT YOU WOULD RECONSIDER SPENDING $2.5 MILLION TO REPURPOSE A BUILDING WHERE OUR CITIZENS WERE ABUSED IN AND OFFER TO THESE THREE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN PROPOSED JUDGMENTS,

[02:10:03]

THAT IS SENSELESS.

THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN.

AND I'M ASKING THAT YOU WOULD SIMPLY RECONSIDER, NEGOTIATE WITH THE ATTORNEYS OF ALL OF THESE VICTIMS. A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE MAYOR CAME IN HERE WITH A PROPOSAL, AND YOU GUYS SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? I THINK WE HAVE A BETTER IDEA.

YOU SAT DOWN, YOU CAME TOGETHER, AND YOU WENT TO HIM WITH A PROPOSAL, AND HE ACCEPTED IT BECAUSE HE HEARD WHAT YOU GUYS HAD TO SAY.

THE CITIZENS OF BATON ROUGE ARE COMING TO YOU GUYS NOW SAYING WHAT IS BEING OFFERED IS NOT RIGHT.

PLEASE BE AS SMART AS THE MAYOR WAS AND RECONSIDER WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED AND MOVE FORWARD WITH SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP TO REBUILD THE LIVES OF CITIZENS OF THIS CITY.

THANK YOU, GUYS. [APPLAUSE]

>> I JOINED THE VOICES IN OPPOSITION, BUT I WANT TO MAKE JUST A COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL POINTS.

ONE OF THEM IS THAT IN THE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE CONTINUED GOING ON ABOUT BUDGETS AND BUDGET HOLES.

THERE SEEMS TO BE THIS BLANK SPACE WHEN IT COMES TO THESE ONGOING LAWSUITS AND NOT JUST ONGOING LAWSUITS, BUT A VERY PURPOSEFUL DISRESPECT FOR COURT DECISIONS.

THE STRIP SEARCH POLICY, WHICH IS THE BASIS WAS DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

THIS PARISH CONTINUES TO THROW MONIES AWAY ON SOMETHING THAT WAS DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

>> THE REASON THESE SETTLEMENTS ARE ONGOING IS BECAUSE VERY SIMPLY, WHETHER IT IS THE ACTIONS THAT HAPPENED TODAY OR THE ACTIONS THAT HAPPEN EVERY SINGLE DAY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

OFTENTIMES, THE VICTIMS ARE SHAMED OR EMBARRASSED OR RETALIATED AGAINST SO THEY CANNOT COME BEFORE A BODY THAT IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT THEM.

I AM ASKING THIS BODY NOT JUST TO REJECT THESE AMOUNTS BECAUSE THEY ARE ABYSMAL, NOT JUST TO REJECT THESE AMOUNTS BECAUSE WHEN THAT FACILITY STOPS BEING A CRIME SCENE AND STOPS BEING NECESSARY, BUT EVIDENCE, IT NEEDS TO NEVER EXIST.

THIS PARISH DESTROYS BUILDINGS EVERY DAY.

THERE'S NOTHING ABNORMAL ABOUT THAT.

BUT WHAT IS ABNORMAL IS A BODY IN THE UNITED STATES UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, COMPLETELY DISREGARDING COURT DECISIONS.

HAVING A MAYOR-PRESIDENT SAY THAT ESSENTIALLY THE VERY SAME PLACES THAT GOT US TO THIS SPACE WILL BE RE-ESTABLISHED IN VIOLATION OF THOSE SAME COURT ORDERS.

I ASK YOU NOT JUST TO REJECT THESE PROPOSALS BECAUSE THEY ARE CERTAINLY WOEFULLY UNACCEPTABLE.

BUT I ASK YOU TO START DOING THE HARD WORK OF BEING THE LEGISLATIVE BODY OF THIS PARISH.

THOSE DECISIONS MATTER.

THAT'S NOT JUST WASTED MONEY, IT IS LITERALLY SAYING THAT THE COURTS DO NOT MATTER.

I FOR ONE HAVE ASKED YOU, NOT DAY-AFTER-DAY, YEAR-AFTER-YEAR, ABOUT THESE LAWSUITS, ABOUT THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS.

WHEN PEOPLE START TALKING ABOUT YOU WANT TO BORROW MONEY FROM THIS GROUP OR THAT GROUP OR THE COUNCIL ON AGING, BUT YOU HAVEN'T ONCE GONE BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND SAID, WHY ARE WE CONTINUING TO DO THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN? THAT IS JUST POOR MANAGEMENT.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> GOOD EVENING, METRO COUNCIL.

MEMBERS, MY NAME IS AMELIA HERRERA, AND I AM FROM DISTRICT 12.

I WAS NOT GOING TO SPEAK TONIGHT, BUT I HAD TO JUST SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS.

COMMUNITY POLICING IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND RESIDENTS.

IF WE HAD THAT, THIS WOULD HAVE NEVER OCCURRED.

I HAVE YET TO HEAR THAT BEING BROUGHT UP, COMMUNITY POLICING.

I WORK FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS MADE UP OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SURVIVED TRAUMA.

WHEN I CAME IN HERE TONIGHT AND SAW OFFICERS AT THE DOOR

[02:15:01]

WHEN I'M AT THE LIGHT IN MY DISTRICT AND A BRPD PULLS UP ON SIDE OF ME, I DON'T FEEL SAFE.

I'M HORRIFIED OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN, AND I'M LIVING MY LIFE RIGHT.

I'M IN OPPOSITION FOR 72.

I'M IN OPPOSITION FOR EVERYTHING THAT COMES BEHIND IT, BECAUSE UNTIL THEY START EARNING THE RESPECT OF THE RESIDENTS THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT, I DO NOT THINK THEY SHOULD GET ANOTHER DOLLAR.

THIS WOMAN SUFFERED.

I AM ALSO A VICTIM OF VIOLENCE.

WE HAVE TO RELIVE THAT EVERY DAY.

WOMEN ON THIS METRO COUNCIL, THINK ABOUT THAT, HOW HORRIFIC THAT IS TO SPREAD THEM IN FRONT OF A GUY YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.

THAT IS HORRIFIC.

AGAIN, COMMUNITY POLICING.

WE WANT TO GIVE THE MONEY, BUT WE'RE NOT HEARING WHY.

WHAT HAVE THEY DONE BUT TERRORIZE THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE SAFETY TO.

I DON'T FEEL SAFE.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> MARYJANE [INAUDIBLE].

I'M GOING TO CONTINUE ON WITH WHAT I WAS SAYING.

ITEMS 72-77, I DON'T THINK ARE PROPERLY ON THIS AGENDA.

I HAD TO GO TO PACER AND FIND OUT WHAT THESE CASES WERE ALL ABOUT.

THAT'S A PUBLIC DOCUMENT THAT I GET INFORMATION THAT I CAN'T EVEN GET ON THIS AGENDA.

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? IT'S THE STRIP SEARCH POLICY THAT WAS CREATED BY MURPHY PAUL AND APPROVED BY A LAWYER. HOW'D THAT HAPPEN? WAS IT INCOMPETENCE OR WAS IT INTENTIONAL? IF PAUL IMPLEMENTED THESE ILLEGAL BAD POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WITHOUT APPROVAL OF A PARISH ATTORNEY, THEN THIS MONEY SHOULD BE COLLECTED FROM HIM.

IF A PARISH ATTORNEY APPROVED THESE ILLEGAL POLICIES, WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHO IT WAS THAT DID THIS.

PAY ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT IF A PARISH ATTORNEY APPROVED THIS, THIS IS A PARISH ATTORNEY WHO'S TRYING TO GET THIS SETTLED.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT PICTURE? THIS IS THE SAME PARISH ATTORNEY THAT HAS PAID MURPHY PAUL'S ATTORNEYS TO REPRESENT HIM IN THE BRAVE CAVE, SO FAR, $212,483 ON $175,000 CONTRACT, AND THE NUMBER IS STILL RISING.

PART OF THAT MONEY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BRAVE CAVE.

THIS DEBACLE USING THESE NUMBERS WITH MURPHY PAUL HAS COST US $597,483, AND THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE THE MONEY THAT'S BEEN PAID TO THE OFFICERS.

BEFORE APPROVING MONEY FOR THESE LAWSUITS, YOU-ALL NEED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM AND OFFER MORE TRANSPARENCY TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT HOW THIS OCCURRED.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE GO TO COUNCIL.

[EXECUTIVE SESSION (Part 1 of 2)]

MOTION BY COUNCIL WOMAN RACCA, SECOND BY COUNCIL WOMAN HARRIS TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

BECAUSE THIS MATTER NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION BECAUSE IT MAY AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO PROPERLY DEFEND A LEGAL MATTER.

THIS IS CONTINUING LITIGATION.

THERE'S BEEN PROPERLY MOTION AND SECOND, WE HAVE OBJECTION?

>> POINT OF INFORMATION BEFORE WE VOTE ON THIS.

I ANTICIPATED THAT SOMEBODY WOULD ASK THAT WE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

IF WE DO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, I LIKE TO SPEAK THE PROCESS. WE KNOW WHAT THAT IS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS, WHAT GOES ON.

I'D LIKE TO SPEAK THE PROCESS IF WE DECIDE TO DO THAT.

I AM IN OBJECTION TO GOING IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT PROCESS.

>> ASHLEY, DO YOU WANT TO GIVE THE PROCESS ON EXECUTIVE SESSION?

>> IF SEVEN MEMBERS VOTE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE ITEM, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ALLOWED TO GO INTO ESSENTIALLY A CLOSED MEETING WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO DISCUSS THE ITEM.

THE REASON THAT THEY'VE GIVEN TONIGHT IS THAT DISCUSSION AND OPEN MEETING

[02:20:03]

THERE CAN BE NO VOTES TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

IT GIVES THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGED INFORMATION WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS.

>> THE MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE HAVE A PROPER MOTION AND SECOND.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OPPOSITION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION?

>> I'M IN OPPOSITION, BUT ALSO I WANT TO EXPOUND ON THAT.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT COULD BE DISCUSSED TO JEOPARDIZE THE LITIGATION.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO SOME THINGS THAT COULD BE DISCUSSED OUT HERE THAT DOES NOT JEOPARDIZE THE LITIGATION.

ARE WE COMFORTABLE HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS NOW OR AFTER WE COME BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION?

>> [NOISE] I'M NOT BECAUSE SOME SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS WERE MADE THAT OUR PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE NEEDS TO ANSWER BEFORE WE COME AND HAVE ANY DISCUSSION.

>> AGAIN, DO YOU-ALL WANT TO HAVE THEM BEFORE OR AFTER, BECAUSE THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE DISCUSSED?

>> WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE MOTION, AND IF WE'RE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, IT'LL BE BEFORE WE HAVE THE COMMENTS.

WE HAVE TWO OPPOSING, SO WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE MACHINES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT TO OPEN THE MACHINES ON THE MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

MACHINES ARE OPEN.

MOTION CARRIES.

>> WE'LL GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

[NOISE] WE'LL CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER.

WE'RE GOING TO GO TO COUNCIL MAN DUNN JUNIOR.

[72. 25-00240 (Part 2 of 2)]

>> [NOISE] MR. PRO TEM, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A LITTLE LIBERTY OR SOME TIME FROM MY COLLEAGUES, IF NEEDED, TO TRY TO BRING SOME CLARITY TO THE SITUATION.

I'M GOING TO ASK ATTORNEY THOMPSON AND ATTORNEY HAWKINS TO COME UP, AND THEN I'M GOING TO ASK OUR PARISH ATTORNEY SOME QUESTIONS AND I'LL GET BACK TO YOU GUYS.

>> YES, SIR.

>> BUT BEFORE I ADDRESS YOU, I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS MS. BROWN AND SHARE WITH HER MY APOLOGIES FOR THE TRAUMA YOU EXPERIENCED AND WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH AT THIS FACILITY.

NOT ONLY YOU, BUT THE OTHER VICTIMS AS WELL.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO CLEAR UP ALSO, ATTORNEY THOMPSON, ATTORNEY HAWKINS, YOU FILED THIS SUIT ON THEIR BEHALF?

>> THAT IS CORRECT, SIR.

>> WHO IS THE PLAINTIFF?

>> IT IS MS. BROWN, SIR. [NOISE]

>> WHO ARE THE DEFENDANTS IN THE CASE?

>> THE DEFENDANTS IS THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AS WELL AS [OVERLAPPING]

>> TRY TO USE A MIC PLEASE SO IT PICKS UP.

[NOISE]

>> GOOD? THE QUESTION AGAIN, MR. DUNN?

>> WHO ARE THE DEFENDANTS?

>> THE DEFENDANTS ARE SEVERAL BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS AS WELL AS THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.

>> WHEN YOU'RE SAYING THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, IS THE METRO COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR MENTIONED AS PARTIES TO THAT SUIT?

>> NO.

>> OFTENTIMES, WHEN WE DO HAVE LITIGATION, MS. BROWN, WE ARE PARTIES TO THE SUIT AND NAMED IN THE SUIT.

OFTENTIMES, WE DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE, WE DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE NOT.

I THINK SOMEBODY FROM THE AUDIENCE, I THINK IT WAS MY FRIEND EUGENE COLLINS, CALLED OUT BROTHER KENNEY, AND ABOUT REACHING OUT TO YOU AND YOU MADE SOME OVERTURES ABOUT THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL REACHING OUT.

OFTENTIMES, WE'RE HERE ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION, BECAUSE OFTENTIMES, WE'RE PARTY TO THE SUIT.

WE'RE GOING TO NOT REACH OUT TO A PLAINTIFF THAT'S SUING THE CITY PARISH BECAUSE OUR STATEMENTS CAN BE QUOTED, OUR STATEMENTS CAN BE REPEATED IN THE MEDIA OR IN THE CASE.

OFTENTIMES, YOU WON'T GET THAT FROM US, BUT I WANT TO EXTEND THAT TO YOU AND MAKE YOU AWARE OF THE PROCESS.

I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY WAS INSENSITIVE TO YOUR CHALLENGES AND THE THINGS YOU WENT THROUGH.

BUT I THINK MOST PEOPLE ERRED ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION AND DIDN'T REACH OUT.

ALSO, WE ARE REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL, YOU'RE REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL AND YOUR LEGAL TEAM WILL TELL YOU, THEY WOULD ADVISE YOU NOT TO TALK TO OUR LAWYER, AND US NOT TO TALK TO YOURS.

AGAIN, I WANT TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION.

THE OTHER THING, A COUPLE OF PEOPLE MENTIONED ABOUT THIS $2 MILLION INVESTMENT INTO THIS COMMUNITY CENTER.

I WOULD TELL YOU, AND YOU GUYS CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, NOBODY HERE ON THE METRO COUNCIL PROPOSED A $2 MILLION INVESTMENT IN ANY COMMUNITY CENTER IN THE BRAVE CAVE TRANSFORMATION OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

THAT DID NOT COME FROM THIS METRO COUNCIL.

LET ME CLEAR THAT UP WITH THE PUBLIC.

SEVERAL PEOPLE SAID THAT, THAT IS NOT ACCURATE.

[02:25:01]

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. YOU GUYS CAN BE SEATED BUT STAY THERE MR. THOMPSON AND MISS HAWKINS.

WOULD IT BE ACCURATE TO DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCE OR YOUR ALLEGED EXPERIENCE WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY AS ONE THAT WAS NOT THE LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION THAT YOU EXPECTED OR APPRECIATE?

>> THAT IS CORRECT, SIR.

>> WOULD YOU SAY THE SAME? [NOISE]

>> I DON'T CHASE MY DOG AS MUCH AS WE HAVE CHASED THE ATTORNEY FOR THAT OFFER.

>> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO CALL YOU GUYS BACK UP.

GREG, MICHAEL, COULD YOU COME UP, PLEASE? [NOISE]

>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MAN.

>> YES. ON THE PROCESS OF WHERE WE ARE, GREG, MICHAEL, COULD YOU READ THE ITEM OR JUST DETAIL THE ITEM.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ IN VERBATIM, JUST BASICALLY TELL US WHAT THIS ITEM SAYS, WHAT THIS ALLEGED ACTION IS BEING PROPOSED.

>> SURE. THIS ITEM, IT'S NOT A SETTLEMENT, IT IS AN OFFER JUDGMENT.

>> CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT A SETTLEMENT IS, AND CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT AN OFFER OF JUDGMENT IS?

>> WELL, SIR, TYPICALLY, THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS TWO MECHANISMS IT CAN BRING BEFORE THE COUNCIL, A REQUEST FOR SETTLEMENT RECOMMENDATION OR AN OFFER OF JUDGMENT.

TWO SEPARATE VEHICLES DO TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT THINGS.

THE SETTLEMENT RECOMMENDATION IN THE MOST GENERAL SENSE IS AFTER THE PARTIES HAVE AGREED ON A NUMBER AND THEY ARE SEEKING SETTLEMENT RESOLUTION OF A CASE.

AN OFFER OF JUDGMENT IS NOT THAT AT ALL.

AN OFFER OF JUDGMENT IS AN OFFER THAT IS TO BE MADE BY A DEFENDANT TO A PLAINTIFF WITH A CONFIDENTIAL NUMBER THAT IS TO BE SENT AND WILL BE USED FOR JUDGMENT PURPOSES WHERE THE PLAINTIFF ACCEPTS IT.

THE PLAINTIFF IS ALLOWED TO ACCEPT OR DENY, IT'S UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL OR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE THE PLAINTIFFS.

IF THEY DENY IT, THERE ARE PROCEDURAL MECHANISMS IN PLACE FOR THE CASE THEREAFTER.

>> THE REASON WHY I WANT TO BRING CLARITY TO THAT.

BECAUSE I'VE SEEN INDIVIDUALS AT THE MICROPHONE, I HEARD PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL MEDIA, AND EVEN PEOPLE IN THE MEDIA DESCRIBE THIS PROCESS OR THIS ITEM INACCURATELY.

[NOISE] THE ATTORNEYS ARE GOING TO GO BACK AND FORTH ON THE NUMBER, AND IF THE NUMBER IS TO THE PLAINTIFFS LIKING OR THE DEFENDANTS LIKING, I DON'T WANT TO GET CAUGHT UP ON THE NUMBER, BUT PROCESS AS IT RELATES TO THE METRO COUNCIL, WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF THE METRO COUNCIL? DO WE BRING ITEMS AND AMOUNTS FOR SETTLEMENT IN THIS PROCESS OR IS THAT DONE BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SUBMIT THAT TO US?

>> IN MY EXPERIENCE AND RECOLLECTION, I BELIEVE THE METRO COUNCIL BROUGHT ONE ITEM ONE TIME.

BUT TYPICALLY, SETTLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS AND OFFERS OF JUDGMENT ARE GENERALLY BROUGHT BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

>> I THINK I REMEMBER WHO THAT ONE PERSON WAS THAT BROUGHT THAT THAT SETTLEMENT ITEM.

BUT JUST A POINT OF CLARITY, AGAIN, WHAT TYPICALLY HAPPENS IS THE PARISH ATTORNEY, WE GIVE THEM THEIR TIME TO DO THEIR JOB, AND THEY BRING US A NUMBER, AND WE CAN EITHER APPROVE OR DENY THAT NUMBER.

WHATEVER NUMBER THAT THE PLAINTIFFS AND THE DEFENDANTS, IN THIS CASE, A PARISH ATTORNEY AGREED TO THAT HAS TO COME BEFORE US FOR APPROVAL TO EVEN MOVE FORWARD.

THIS PROCESS HAS TO HAPPEN, BUT IT'S UP TO THE ATTORNEYS TO AGREE TO THAT NUMBER.

I ASKED THE PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEYS ABOUT COMMUNICATION.

IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S BEEN A BARRIER THERE WITH COMMUNICATION WITH UNDERSTANDING WHERE WE ARE, AND GETTING ON THE SAME PAGE ON A NUMBER THAT THEY CAN AGREE WITH. THANK YOU.

>> YES, SIR.

>> I'M GOING TO CALL YOU BACK, MICHAEL.

MR. THOMPSON AND MISS HAWKINS.

>> WITH THAT BEING SAID AND THEM EXPLAINING THE PROCESS OF WHERE WE ARE, I'D LIKE TO KNOW FROM YOU GUYS, DID THAT CHANGE THINGS? DID YOU GET NEW INFORMATION TONIGHT ABOUT WHAT THIS WAS? DOES IT CHANGE YOUR POSITION ON WHAT YOU AND YOUR CLIENT ARE ASKING THE COUNCIL TO DO?

>> WE ARE STILL AT THAT POSITION.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> THAT NUMBER AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THAT NUMBER AND WHAT THAT OFFER OF JUDGMENT WOULD DO TO MS. BROWN.

WE STILL BELIEVE THAT IT'S DISINGENUOUS.

BECAUSE THAT BEING SAID, COUNCILMAN DUNN, THE OFFER OF JUDGMENT DID NOT HAVE TO BE OFFERED.

[02:30:03]

THAT'S THE POINT THAT WE WERE MAKING.

THAT OFFER OF JUDGMENT DOES NOT HAVE TO HAPPEN.

THERE ARE OTHER MECHANISMS. THERE ARE OTHER WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN PULL.

>> IT IS YOUR POSITION YOU WOULD PREFER THIS NOT TO HAVE HAPPENED, AND YOU HAD MORE COMMUNICATION WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE?

>> ABSOLUTELY. AGAIN, FROM THE BEGINNING, WE'VE MADE AN OFFER LETTER THAT THIS COUNCIL NOW HAS, AND WE BELIEVE THAT [OVERLAPPING].

>> WE DON'T HAVE IT.

>> I EMAILED IT TO METRO COUNSEL.

>> YOU CAN GET IT FROM [OVERLAPPING].

>> GO AHEAD.

>> YOUR COUNSEL. WE BELIEVE THOSE PROCESSES WERE NOT ENTERED INTO IN GOOD FAITH.

>> TO ADD MR. DUNN, THIS NUMBER WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CONFIDENTIAL.

WHEN WE SENT THAT ORIGINAL LETTER OUT IN OCTOBER, IT WAS BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING INTO A CONFERENCE WITH THE MAGISTRATE.

YOUR ATTORNEY DID NOT DO HIS JOB IN PROVIDING A LETTER BACK TO US.

THIS NUMBER THAT THEY'RE THROWING OUT, WE DON'T KNOW HOW THEY GOT TO IT.

THE BREAKDOWN THAT WE PROVIDED TO THEM, PER PERSON, PER INJURY, WE DIDN'T GET THAT BACK.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> IF WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A NUMBER, EXPLAIN TO MY CLIENT HOW YOU GOT TO THIS NUMBER.

MAYBE THEN SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCEPT A NUMBER, BUT YOU CAN'T EVEN DO THAT.

YOU DIDN'T DO IT; YOU SHOWED UP TO A MEETING WITHOUT DOING IT, AND NOW WE'RE HERE.

>> AGAIN, AT THE BARE MINIMUM, I THINK WE'VE GOT A COMMUNICATION ISSUE.

I'M FINE WITH VOTING AGAINST THE ITEM IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WISH.

I DO WANT TO ASK YOU GUYS ONE QUESTION.

WERE YOU ABLE TO CONSULT WITH YOUR CLIENT AND TALK TO YOUR CLIENT ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU HEARD HERE TONIGHT AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE?

>> WE DID, YOUR HONOR. I'M USED TO [LAUGHTER].

WE DID, COUNCILMAN DUNN.

WE DID STEP OUT, INFORM HER WHAT IT WAS GOING ON EXPLAIN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

WE DID NOT GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THERE WERE OBVIOUSLY OTHER PARTIES AROUND, AND IT WAS NOT TOO PRIVATE, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, SHE UNDERSTOOD EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING ON HERE, AND WHERE WE WERE AT AND THE RAMIFICATIONS.

>> FOR THE RECORD, YOU MENTIONED EXECUTIVE SESSION.

>> COUNCIL, STOP.

>> ALL RIGHT. THIRTY SECONDS.

>> LET'S CLOSE IT UP.

>> FOR THE RECORD, YOU MENTIONED EXECUTIVE SESSION.

FOR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE, THE MEDIA.

COUNCILMEMBERS ARE BOUND BY EXECUTIVE SESSION RULES.

WE CANNOT REPEAT, QUOTE AND SAY ANYTHING THAT WAS SAID THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW PRIOR TO GOING INTO THAT.

ATTORNEY THOMPSON AND ATTORNEY HAWKINS OR NOT.

THEY CAN DO THAT, BUT WE ARE NOT PRIVY TO SHARE INFORMATION THAT WE LEARNED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THANK YOU, GUYS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> COUNCILMAN KENNEY.

>> MS. BROWN, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I'M PROUD TO BE YOUR COUNCILMEMBER.

I KNOW THE MAGIC NUMBER THAT WAS THROWN OUT WAS 255.

WHEN THE BRAVE CAVE HAPPENED, I WAS A CONSTITUENT.

I WAS A STUDENT IN GRAD SCHOOL.

I WAS NOT THE COUNCILMEMBER IN DISTRICT 2, BUT 255 PEOPLE SAW A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME AND MY OPPONENTS TO SIT IN IN SPOTTER.

I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I HEAR THAT I SEE YOU AND WE GET PAST THIS BRAVE CAVE SAGA, MY OFFICE IS ALWAYS WIDE OPEN.

MY TWO YOUNG LADIES BEHIND ME WHO WORK FOR MY OFFICE, WE WOULD LOVE TO COME AND TALK TO YOU.

I'LL NEVER TRY TO DO THE SHOW OR THE BUFFER RIGHT.

AS A MAN AS YOUR COUNCILPERSON, JUST KNOW MY OFFICE IS ALWAYS OPEN FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TO COME TALK TO US WHEN WE GET PAST THE LEGALITIES AND EVERYTHING IS BRAVE CAVE SAGA.

NICE TO MEET YOU, AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON DOWN THE LINE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> COUNCILMAN HURST.

>> I GOT ABOUT 15 MINUTES.

BUT FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY THAT I DO VALUE THE GOOD ACTORS IN THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I'VE CALLED, THEY'VE COME AND OVER THE YEARS, AND SUPPORTED MY FAMILY, WHETHER IT BE AN ACCIDENT OR WHATEVER TYPE OF EMERGENCY EVEN AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER.

NOW, THE BRAVE CAVE STUFF THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT WAS NOT BROUGHT UP IN ONE OF THOSE ORIGINAL PLANS TO REDISTRIBUTE LIBRARY FUNDS.

WE'RE GOING TO BE TRANSPARENT LETS BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT IT.

I WAS ADAMANTLY AND VOCALLY AGAINST IT AND GOT SOME PUBLIC OPPOSITION BECAUSE I STOOD TALL FOR WHAT I BELIEVE IN.

I WILL TELL YOU, AS WE TALK ABOUT GIVING RAISES, I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE THE GOOD ACTORS SUFFER FOR THE BAD ONES, SORRY ABOUT THAT.

BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT I HAVE A COMMUNITY CENTER LIKE YOU GUYS SAID, LESS THAN A STONE'S THROW AWAY FROM WHERE THE BRAVE CAVE IS, AND FOR ALL THEY DON'T KNOW, IT'S WHERE THE OFFICE OF SOCIAL SERVICES EMPLOYEE BR SENDS A BACKLOG BEHIND MAINTENANCE.

I'M LITERALLY LESS THAN 30 SECONDS AWAY FROM THERE.

IF THAT IS STILL A PART OF THE PLAN OF HOW WE PLAN ON

[02:35:01]

I'VE SAID THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES ON THE MIC, AND I'LL SAY IT 1,000 TIMES MORE AS MY SOUNDTRACK PLAYS FROM AARON'S PHONE.

[BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER] I'M MESSING WITH AARON MAN.

BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT THEY KEEP TALKING ABOUT INABILITY TO RECRUIT OFFICERS.

I TELL THEM IT'S NOT PAY ALL THE TIME, ITS IMAGE.

NOW, THERE ARE SOME AMAZING FOLKS THAT WANT TO DO SOME AMAZING THINGS IN TERMS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MAKING OUR CITY BETTER.

BUT THESE LAWSUITS THAT ARE COMING UP OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THE LONG DISCUSSIONS, THE LONG LITIGATION PROCESSES.

IT DOES NOT MAKE IT SEXY TO PUT ON A BADGE IN THE GUN AND SAY I WANT TO REPRESENT BRPD.

IT IS A DETRACTOR FROM PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS AGENCY.

I ENCOURAGE OUR ADMINISTRATION, I ENCOURAGE OUR CHIEF THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE A REBRANDING AND ACCOUNTABILITY EXERCISE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT REPRESENT OUR CITY PASS IN TERMS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

MY HEART GOES OUT TO EVERY VICTIM OF A BRAVE CAVE.

WHAT I ALWAYS TRY TO DO AS A COUNCILMEMBER, OR JUST AS A HUMAN BEING, IS TO PUT MYSELF IN THEIR SHOES, WHICH IS TO EMPATHIZE.

THINK ABOUT WHAT IF IT WAS MY DAUGHTER? WHAT IF IT WAS MY WIFE? WHAT IF IT WAS MY SON? I'M A HUMAN BEFORE I'M A COUNCILMEMBER.

IT WOULD BE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DISCUSSION.

I WOULD BE INFURIATED AND I GUARANTEE YOU THAT I WOULD NOT BE TALKING AS CALM AS I AM NOW, SO I RESPECT YOUR ABILITY TO KEEP YOUR COMPOSURE AT THE MICROPHONE.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I DO EMPATHIZE, I DO SUPPORT POLICE REFORM IN WHATEVER FORM THAT MAY BE AND I ASK THAT WE DO A WHOLE REBRANDING PROCESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY PROCESS WITHIN OUR POLICE FORCE.

I WILL NEVER SUPPORT A DOLLAR GOING INTO THE BRAVE CAVE.

THAT'S LIKE SUPPORTING SLAVE CASTLES.

WE WANT TO BRING THOSE BACK AS WELL AND CHAINS AND WHIPS AND HANDCUFFS.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. [APPLAUSE] IT'S A RELIC OF THE PASS AND IT NEEDS TO STAY A RELIC.

I WILL NOT SUPPORT TURNING THE PLANTATION KNOWN AS THE BRAVE CAVE INTO A VISITORS BUREAU.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

>> GOT A QUICK QUESTION.

ATTORNEY MICHAEL ARON, IF YOU COME, I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION.

THAT QUESTION IS, IT WAS STATED HERE THAT WE RECEIVED THAT LETTER WITH THAT AMOUNT IN IT OR WHATEVER.

NOW, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OF THAT.

>> YEA, MA'AM.

>> I WANT TO KNOW IF THAT'S AN ISSUE.

IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED FROM ANYBODY ELSE OTHER THAN YOU ALL OR IS THAT AN ISSUE? I DON'T WANT TO OPEN IT.

>> I'LL TELL IT TO YOU LIKE THIS, COUNCILWOMAN.

>> I WANT YOU TO TELL ME STRAIGHT TRUTH.

>> NO ONE SHOULD BE SENDING YOU COMMUNICATIONS OTHER THAN YOUR ATTORNEY. YES, MA'AM.

>> COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS.

>> I WOULD LIKE [INAUDIBLE].

>> NO, MA'AM. COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS.

>> MS. BROWN, MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU AND I PRAY THAT YOU WILL FIND HEALING ON THIS JOURNEY.

I KNOW THAT'S A LOT TO SAY AND A LOT TO TAKE IN TONIGHT, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU BEING HERE AND COMING BEFORE THIS BODY, STANDING STRONG SAYS TO ME THAT YOU WILL GET THROUGH THIS.

MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

I SAY, TAKE THIS WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH AND USE IT FOR YOUR GUT. THANK YOU.

>> BEFORE WE GO TO COUNCILMAN HURST, WHEN WE'RE AT THE COUNCIL, THEY CAN ASK YOU A QUESTION, BUT YOU CAN'T JUST. COUNCILMAN HURST.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING THAT THE ATTORNEYS WOULD LIKE TO SAY? THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THE REASON YOU RECEIVED THAT DOCUMENT, COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN WAS BECAUSE YOUR ATTORNEY WAS NOT BEING FORTHCOMING.

AGAIN, THIS AGENDA ITEM ENDED UP HERE WITHOUT EXPLANATION TO MY CLIENT ABOUT HOW WE GOT HERE, WITHOUT EXPLANATION TO US, AND WITHOUT NOTICE, EXCEPT FOR TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN IT JUST MAGICALLY GOT PUT ON HERE.

[02:40:04]

THEN I WAS ASKED BY A COUNCILMEMBER WHILE YOU ALL WERE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, TO SEND THAT EMAIL.

YOU RECEIVED IT BECAUSE IT WAS ASKED FOR.

>> MAY I HAVE A MINUTE.

>> NO, MA'AM. YOU MAY NOT NOT ON MY TIME.

BUT YOU CAN HAVE YOUR OWN TIME.

BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SAY?

>> THAT WAS IT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MICHAEL, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

IN THIS SITUATION ON AN OFFER OF JUDGMENT, IS IT STANDARD PROCEDURE TO CONTACT THE OTHER ATTORNEYS OR WHAT WOULD BE THE STANDARD PROCEDURE?

>> YOU ARE NOT TO CONTACT THE OTHER PARTY BEFOREHAND, COUNCILMAN, BECAUSE THIS IS A PUBLIC ENTITY.

IT'S A UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCE, BUT THE OFFER OF JUDGMENT PROCEDURAL RULES ARE IN PLACE FOR A REASON.

>> YOU CONTACTING THEM AS SHE JUST SAID SHE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HAD WOULD HAVE BEEN OUTSIDE OF PROCEDURE, ACCURATE?

>> THERE IS NO OBLIGATION OR GOOD FAITH PRACTICE TO INITIATE A COMMUNICATION REGARDING OFFER OF JUDGMENT BEFORE IT'S BEEN LODGED.

THE ONLY ISSUE HERE IS THAT YOU'RE A PUBLIC ENTITY, AND IT HAS TO BE MADE PUBLIC IN THIS MANNER FOR ITS PREMEDITATED SUBMISSION, WHICH HADN'T EVEN HAPPENED YET.

A PARTY RECEIVES AN OFFER OF JUDGMENT WHEN IT'S READY.

WE NEED MAJOR COUNCIL APPROVAL TO RECEIVE AN OFFER OF JUDGMENT AUTHORITY.

THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT.

NOW, AND I'LL SAY THIS TOO, THERE WAS A MEDIATION IN THIS CASE BETWEEN THE PARTIES WHO ARE ALL HERE.

I'M SORRY, THE ATTORNEYS, AND THAT IS CONFIDENTIAL IN NATURE, AND EVERYTHING WAS SHARED AND DISCLOSED THROUGH THAT, BUT I CANNOT SPEAK TO THE DETAILS OF THAT AND I WILL NOT.

>> OKAY. THIS ITEM BE PASSED AND OFFER OF JUDGMENT SUBMITTED AND REJECTED, THAT WOULD ANY PART OF THAT PROCESS FROM SUBMITTAL TO ACCEPTANCE AND/OR REJECTION PREVENT GOOD FAITH ATTEMPTS AT SETTLEMENT?

>> NO. IN FACT, THE PARTIES DID THAT BEFOREHAND AND WILL ALWAYS CONTINUE TO DO SO.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT ALL I HAD.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> ANYBODY ELSE? DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON ITEM 72?

>> MOVED.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION TO DELETE BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND?

>> SECOND.

>> SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JR.

OBJECTION. SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO APPROVE.

WE HAVE A SECOND ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO APPROVE.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JR. TO DELETE THE ITEM.

WE HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO TO APPROVE THE ITEM.

WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION FIRST.

WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE MACHINES.

>> COUNCILMEMBERS, THE MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 72.

MOTION FAILS.

>> NOW WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION TO DELETE.

>> COUNCILMEMBERS, THE MACHINES ARE NOW OPEN ON THE MOTION TO DELETE ITEM 72.

MOTION CARRIES. IT'S BEEN DELETED.

[73. 25-00243 (Part 1 of 2)]

>> ITEM 73, AUTHORIZING AN OFFER OF JUDGMENT IN THE MATTER ENTITLED LORENZO GAGE VERSUS BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT ET AL., IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,000 AND APPROPRIATED $15,000 FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?

>> I'M JUST BEFUDDLED AND CONFUSED.

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG COUNCILMAN DUNN.

BUT WHAT I HEARD WAS THAT ITEMS THAT WERE INTRODUCED IN A PREVIOUS MEETING, PUT ON THE DOCKET FOR SOME ACTION FOR TONIGHT.

BUT THE PARTIES WHO WERE MOST IMPACTED AND THEIR COUNSEL WERE NOT NOTIFIED.

THE METRO COUNCIL ITSELF IS NOT PARTY TO THIS, AM I GETTING THAT CORRECT?

[02:45:03]

>> THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, YES.

>> THE GENERAL PUBLIC WAS ALLOWED TO SIT HERE FOR QUITE A WHILE FOR SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED TWO WEEKS AGO.

THE SAME MEETING WHERE THE SAME QUESTIONS COULD HAVE BEEN EXPLAINED.

AM I UNDERSTANDING THAT SO FAR?

>> WELL, IT WAS INTRODUCED TWO WEEKS AGO.

WHEN ITEMS ARE INTRODUCED, YOU CANNOT HAVE DISCUSSION ON THEM.

>> MY MY ISSUE AND CONCERN IS IS TWO THINGS.

ONE IS THAT WE THE TAXPAYERS, THE RESIDENTS, THE FAMILY, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS OF THOSE WHO HAD BEEN IMPACTED, COME TO THESE MEETINGS, EXPECTING BOTH CLARITY AND A PROCESS TO BE PROVIDED THAT DOES NOT FURTHER RE TRAUMATIZE FAMILIES.

I HAVE TO TELL YOU I DON'T THINK THAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED.

I THINK THE IDEAL, THE AUDACITY THAT NUMBERS ARE PUT INTO THE EARTH.

LET ME JUST SAY THE INFORMATION THE GENERAL PUBLIC GOT, THE MEDIA GOT, CAME DIRECTLY FROM INFORMATION OUT OF THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT'S PROPOSAL.

WE WEREN'T CONFUSED, BEFUDDLED OR ANYTHING ELSE.

WE GOT THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PUT OUT THERE, A VERY SPECIFIC PROPOSAL TO REPURPOSE A TORTURE CHAMBER.

AS PART OF AN OVERALL PLAN.

NOW, THE FACT THAT YOU ALL HAD OTHER MEETINGS BETWEEN WHEN THAT WAS FIRST PROPOSED AND THIS MEETING.

[OVERLAPPING] WELL, IT IS ABOUT THE PROCESS.

>> IS NOT ABOUT REPURPOSING?

>> NO. WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY BECAUSE WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT WITH THIS LAST ITEM, AND NOW, AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT ANOTHER ITEM, WHICH IS AN OFFER OF JUDGMENT.

I AM SAYING AND MY COMMENT IS, I FEEL LIKE THE PROCESS IS NOT TRANSPARENT.

IT CERTAINLY DID NOT RESPECT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST IMPACTED.

FRANKLY, SPEAKING, WHEN WE GET THE AGENDA, WHICH IS ON THE FRIDAY BEFORE THESE MEETINGS, WE DON'T GET ANY INFORMATION THAT MAKES IT USER -FRIENDLY.

THAT'S MY COMMENT.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?

>> EVENING.

>> CAN YOU SPELL THE NAME CORRECT?

>> YES. CASEY PATTERSON.

>> THANK YOU.

>> HELLO. SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE, TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS BETWEEN A SETTLEMENT AND AN OFFER OF JUDGMENT.

WHAT LITTLE I WAS ABLE TO LEARN JUST LOOKING IT UP ON MY PHONE, IT SEEMS THAT ONE OF THE PRIMARY DIFFERENCES IS THAT AN OFFER OF JUDGMENT CAN COME WITH CONSEQUENCES FOR THE PERSON WHO REJECTS IT.

IN TERMS OF TRANSPARENCY, IN TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS BEING VOTED ON HERE, I JUST WANT TO ESTABLISH WHETHER OR NOT THESE OFFERS OF JUDGMENT DO COME WITH PENALTIES AGAINST THE PARTY WHO REJECTS THE OFFER.

THE VICTIMS. YES. THANK YOU.

I THINK THAT WE ALL HERE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VICTIMS DO NOT SUFFER ANY PENALTY FOR REJECTING AN OFFER THAT IS QUITE PLAINLY TOO SMALL.

THAT'S A QUESTION THAT I'M POSING TO YOU ALL, AND I HOPE YOU ALL WILL BRING THE PARISH ATTORNEY BACK UP HERE TO GET SOME ANSWERS. THANK YOU.

>> ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?

>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ATTORNEY RON HALEY.

I AM THE LAWYER ON ITEM 77, BUT I KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET TO ITEM 77 TONIGHT, BUT IT IS OFFERING JUDGMENT, SO I WILL BE VERY BRIEF.

I CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION TO THE BROTHER THAT JUST MADE THE COMMENT.

YES, ABSOLUTELY.

IF A VICTIM REJECTS AN OFFER AND JUDGMENT, LET'S SAY THE OFFERING JUDGMENT IS FOR $5, AND THAT VICTIM GETS $4.99, THAT MEANS THAT VICTIM WILL BE ON THE HOOK THAT IF THIS COUNSEL VOTES ON AN OFFER AND JUDGMENT, THAT VICTIM WILL BE ON THE HOOK FOR ALL OF THE ATTORNEY'S FEES, ALL THE EXPERTS, BASICALLY BEING PENALIZED FOR EXERCISING THEIR DUE PROCESS RIGHTS.

WHICH FRANKLY, I THINK IS UNFAIR.

WHAT I HAVE TO SAY IN THE TWO MINUTES THAT I HAVE IS THIS, I BELIEVE IN EXPRESSING ONE'S LOVE LANGUAGE.

I UNDERSTAND EXPRESSING ONE'S LOVE LANGUAGE IS KNOWING WHO I'M SPEAKING WITH IN WHAT POSITION I'M SPEAKING WITH THEM FOR.

IF I WAS IN COURT AND ALL OF YOU WERE JUDGES,

[02:50:01]

BUT I'M NOT SPEAKING TO JUDGES TONIGHT.

I'M SPEAKING TO CITY COUNSEL.

CITY COUNCIL, MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE.

YOU'RE NOT HERE TO STAND IN JUDGMENT.

YOU'RE NOT HERE TO LOOK AT THESE VICTIMS AS A DEFENDANT, AS SOMEONE FORMALLY INCARCERATED, AS SOMEONE THAT IS SUING THE CITY PARISH.

YOU SIT HERE AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THEM.

I ASK YOU AS YOU'RE CONSIDERING HOW TO RESOLVE THIS.

ULTIMATELY, IT WILL BE UP TO YOU.

UNLESS THESE CASES GO ALL THE WAY TO TRIAL AND WE GET A JURY VERDICT OR A JUDGMENT FROM THE COURT, IT WILL BE YOUR DECISIONS ON HOW TO RESOLVE THESE CASES.

THEY'RE CITIZENS. YOU'RE THE REPRESENTATIVES.

DO NOT TREAT THEM LIKE YOU CLAIMS ADJUSTER. TREAT THEM AS PEOPLE.

TREAT THEM AS IF YOU WERE IN THEIR POSITIONS, IF IT WAS YOUR MOTHER, YOUR FATHER, YOUR GRANDMOTHER, YOUR COUSIN, YOUR SON, OR JUST A FRIEND.

BUT FRANKLY, JUST BEING THEIR CONSTITUENTS SHOULD BE ENOUGH FOR YOU NOT TO TREAT THEM LIKE YOUR CLAIMS ADJUSTER.

ALL THAT I'VE HEARD ABOUT ARGUING AND BICKERING OVER THESE NUMBERS AS DISAPPROPRIATING THIS AND THIS AND THAT, IT SEEMS LIKE OUR COUNSEL ARE ACTING LIKE CLAIMS ADJUSTERS AND NOT REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE AS CONSTITUENTS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

[APPLAUSE]

>> ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM?

>> CAN I MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND THE MEETING A HALF AN HOUR?

>> I WAS ABOUT TO SAY THAT. WE HAVE A MOTION TO EXTEND THE MEETING BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JUNIOR, ANY OPPOSED TO EXTENDING THE MEETING? MOTION CARRIES.

[EXECUTIVE SESSION (Part 2 of 2)]

ANYBODY WANT TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION?

>> I WANT TO OBJECT.

>> WELL, THERE'S NOTHING TO OBJECTIVE. IF NOBODY WANTS TO GO.

DID YOU WANT TO WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO GO TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

I'LL SECOND A MOTION.

>> BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, CAN WE ADDRESS RAVEN ANDERSON? SHE REITERATED THIS TWO MILLION DOLLARS COMMUNITY CENTER THING AGAIN.

RAVEN ANDERSON, I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR, MY POSITION AND NOBODY UP HERE POSITION IS THAT THAT WAS NOT PROPOSED.

WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS WE DID NOT PROPOSE THAT.

NOBODY ON THIS BODY PROPOSED REINVESTING REIMAGINING TWO MILLION DOLLARS INTO THE BRAD CAVE.

THAT DIDN'T COME FROM ANYBODY UP HERE. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SAYING.

WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

WE'RE SAYING THAT THAT CAME FROM NO ONE UP HERE. YOU GOT ME?

>> I KNOW WE HAVE OPPOSITION GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOTION AND SECOND.

WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE MACHINES TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

>> COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON ITEM 73. MOTION CARRIES.

>> I'M GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

>> WE'LL CALL HIM MEETING BACK TO ORDER.

COUNCILMAN DUNN JUNIOR.

[73. 25-00243 (Part 2 of 2)]

>> MICHAEL.

>> POINT OF CLARITY FOR THE PUBLIC.

THE MEETING WILL END AT 8:32.

>> GREG MICHAEL. THE QUESTION WAS POSED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM THE AUDIENCE, AND HE DESCRIBED THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SETTLEMENT AND WHAT'S THE CORRECT TERM?

>> OFFER OF JUDGMENT.

>> OFFER OF JUDGMENT.

I THINK HE GAVE ONE SIDE OF IT, BUT CAN YOU GIVE THE OTHER SIDE OF IT FOR CLARITY FOR THE AUDIENCE? ALSO TO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THE PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY CAN ALSO MAKE AN OFFER OF JUDGMENT AS WELL ON THE PLAINTIFF'S BEHALF?

>> I'LL TAKE BOTH OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE OFFER OF JUDGMENT, ONE SIDE BEING A JURY VERDICT LOWER THAN AN OFFER OF JUDGMENT, CORRECT?

[02:55:07]

IF THE NUMBER THROUGH TRIAL IS HIGHER THAN THE OFFER OF JUDGMENT, IT IS FAVORABLE TO THE SIDE WHO DID NOT ACCEPT IT.

THERE'S TWO SIDES TO THAT COIN.

THE SECOND PART OF YOUR QUESTION WAS, CAN THE PLAINTIFF MAKE AN OFFER OF JUDGMENT? IN STATE COURT, YES.

IN FEDERAL COURT, IT IS GENERALLY THE PRACTICE OF THE DEFENSE SIDE, BUT A PLAINTIFF CAN ATTEMPT AN OFFER OF JUDGMENT.

I'LL BE HONEST, I HAVE NOT SEEN ONE, BUT THE RULE DOES NOT SAY IT EXCLUDES A PLAINTIFF FROM SEEKING SUCH AN OFFER.

>> MANY PEOPLE ON THIS COUNSEL HADN'T SEEN ONE EITHER BEFORE NOW. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> COUNSELMAN HUDS.

>> BECAUSE THE ATTORNEY ON RECORD IS NOT HERE, I WOULD ASK THAT WE DEFER THIS ITEM SO THAT THAT ATTORNEY CAN DETERMINE IF THEY WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THE JUDGMENT OR NOT AND ACTUALLY MAKE A PROPER STATEMENT ON THE MIC.

I KNOW THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

WAS THAT? THAT'S GREAT.

I'LL GIVE A MOTION TO DEFER TO THE NEXT MEETING.

>> IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION?

>> BEFORE WE ENTERTAIN THAT, CAN I MAKE A COMMENT?

>> LET'S CALL IT SOME OTHER TIME.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE ANOTHER APPEAL.

DO WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT THE ATTORNEY IS NOT HERE? A PLAINTIFF IS NOT HERE OR ANYBODY HERE TO REPRESENT HIS CASE?

>> SAYS IT'S STILL MY TIME.

AS ATTORNEY ROME HAS SAID THAT HE'S HAD SOME HEALTH ISSUES.

I DON'T KNOW THE GENTLEMAN, BUT I'LL TAKE ATTORNEY ROME'S STATEMENT ON THAT.

I WANT TO GIVE HIM A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO AT LEAST SPEAK OR DO WHAT HE NEED TO DO TO BE ABLE TO PROPERLY REPRESENT HIS CLIENT TO THE COUNSEL.

I HAVE A MOTION TO DEFER.

>> DO WE HAVE A SECOND? THERE'S A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDS, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JUNIOR TO DEFER THE ITEM FOR TWO WEEKS, ITEM 73. ANY OPPOSITION?

>> SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DELETE.

WE HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DELETE THE ITEM FROM COUNCILMAN HUDSON, DO WE HAVE A SECOND FOR DELETION? SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCA.

WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION FIRST. MOTION TO DELETE.

>> THE MACHINES ARE NOW OPEN ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DELETE ITEM 73.

MOTION CARRIES. ITEMS BEEN DELETED.

>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO CHECK.

WE'RE GOING TO JUMP TO FINAL ACCEPTANCES.

[Items 83 & 84]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? SEEING NO, GO TO COUNSEL. WE HAVE A MOTION.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JUNIOR, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDS. ANY OPPOSE? MOTION CARRIES. FINAL ACCEPTANCE NUMBER 85,

[85. 25-00294]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO, GO TO COUNSEL. WE HAVE A MOTION, MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDS, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCA. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

[BACKGROUND]

[ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER INTRODUCTIONS]

A, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE LUSTER GROUP, LLC FOR DEMOLITION AND ABATEMENT SERVICES, PACKAGE PACKAGE A2 AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $93,750 BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

[03:00:07]

WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCA.

I NEED A PUBLIC HEARING ON A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? SEEING NO, GO TO COUNSEL.

DO WE HAVE ANY OPPOSITION ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? SEEING NO, I NEED A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ITEMS. WE HAVE A MOTION.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDS, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCA.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

SEVENTY NINE, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE THE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT TO

[79. 25-00241]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCA, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDS.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ARE WE? ITEM 80, AUTHORIZATION FOR THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT AND OUR CHAIRMAN OF

[80. 25-00268]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO, GO TO COUNSEL.

MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCA, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDS. ANY HE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THAT'S TIME.

[LAUGHTER] I'M SORRY.

MEETING IS ADJOURNED. [BACKGROUND]

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.