Jun 11, 2025 Metropolitan Council

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>> HELLO, EVERYBODY.

WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, JUNE 11, 2025.

SO GOOD TO HAVE ALL OF YOU WITH US.

OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT YOU TO BE PART OF OUR GOVERNMENT, AND WE'RE GLAD THAT YOU'RE WITH US TODAY, AND WE'RE READY TO GO.

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

>> THANK YOU, DENNIS. WE'RE GOING TO CALL THE MEETING AND ORDER THIS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2025.

WE HAVE A QUORUM. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE LED BY [INAUDIBLE].

>> FATHER GOD, WE THANK YOU RIGHT NOW IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST LORD.

WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO COME TOGETHER AGAIN, LORD FOR OUR COUNCIL MEETING.

WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD ALLOW YOUR SPIRIT TO DWELL IN THIS PLACE SO THAT EVERYONE WILL BE ON ONE ACCORD, HEAVENLY FATHER, AND WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE NAME OF JESUS, AND WE MOVE FORWARD SO THAT BATON ROUGE CAN CONTINUE TO STRIVE LORD, AND THAT YOU WILL GET ALL THE GLORY, THE HONOR, AND THE PRAISE, FOR IT IS IN JESUS CHRIST'S NAME THAT WE PRAY. AMEN.

>>

>> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO HAVE ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.

[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

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

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

[INTRODUCTIONS]

>> SECTION 2.12: INTRODUCTIONS.

NUMBER 2, A RESOLUTION CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 6 IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, STATE OF LOUISIANA ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2025, FOR THE RENEWAL OF THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF THE AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAX OF FIVE MILLS IN EACH CALENDAR YEAR ON ALL PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION IN THE DISTRICT FOR A PERIOD OF NINE YEARS, COMMENCING IN AND INCLUDING THE YEAR 2026 TO AND INCLUDING THE YEAR 2034, WHICH ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF THE TAX REASONABLY EXPECTED TO BE COLLECTED FROM SUCH RENEWAL IS $351,194.50 FOR EACH ENTIRE YEAR OF THE LEVY, WITH THE AVAILS OF PROCEEDS OF SAID TAX TO BE USED ENTIRELY AND EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF THE FIRE PROTECTION FACILITIES OF THE DISTRICT, INCLUDING THE COST OF OBTAINING WATER FOR FIRE PROTECTION PURPOSES AND FIRE HYDRANTS WITHIN THE DISTRICT, MAKING APPLICATION TO LOUISIANA STATE BOND COMMISSION AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH BY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 6.

NUMBER 3, A RESOLUTION SETTING THE AMOUNT OF THE LOCAL HOSPITAL ASSESSMENT PAYMENTS FOR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, LOCAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDER PARTICIPATION PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 TO DIRECT HOW THE REVENUES DERIVED FROM THE LOCAL HOSPITAL ASSESSMENT PAYMENT IS TO BE SPENT AND TO SET THE AMOUNT TO BE PAID IN COLLECTION FEES BY THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR TREASURER.

CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS. NUMBER 4, WILLIE HAWKINS AND ELLEN HAWKINS, 2842 PLOVER STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNEY.

NUMBER 5, ELVIN STERLING AND NORMA STERLING, 5358 CADILLAC STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5, HURST.

NUMBER 6, TITUS E. RANDLE JR. AT EL.

4873 LONGFELLOW DRIVE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5, HURST.

NUMBER 7, KATIE CHARLET EVERITT, 6126 BARKSDALE STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5, HURST.

NUMBER 8, THE ESTATE OF VIVIAN MOORE AND THE ESTATE OF EVA PERCY, 1075 PARLANGE STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 6, DUNN JR.

NUMBER 9, SAMUEL PRESTON AT EL.

1019 NORTH 40TH STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS.

NUMBER 10, CHARLES IVY LEE ET AL.

4606 SHERWOOD STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS.

NUMBER 11, TANYA BAHAM, 2718 SHELDON DRIVE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS.

NUMBER 12, MELISA MANSON, 3858 NORTH FOSTER DRIVE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS.

NUMBER 13, FREDDIE S. WILLIAMS AND ANGERELLA TRAVIS, 3824 PLUM BROQUE DRIVE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS.

NUMBER 14, ALBERTHA STERLING SMITH AND ISAIAH SMITH JR., 4603 WELLS STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS.

NUMBER 15, JOSEPH MILES, 3827 GERONIMO STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN.

NUMBER 16, THE ESTATE OF JAKE KNOX AND THE ESTATE OF HELEN STEPTOE KNOX, 720 EAST POLK STREET,

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NUMBER 17, BETTY K. PATIN AT EL.

1429 THOMAS H. DELPIT DRIVE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN.

NUMBER 18, JULIA MORENO RODRIGUEZ, 4061 ALLIQUIPA STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN.

ALL ITEMS REQUIRE READING HAVE BEEN READ.

A MOTION TO DELETE ITEM 25 AT THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT AND INTRODUCE ALL OTHER ITEMS IS IN ORDER.

>> MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JR. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. Y'ALL LET'S GO TO CONDEMNATIONS.

[CONDEMNATIONS]

RIGHT NOW I HAVE TO PROCEED ITEMS 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, AND 59, JULY 23 MEETING FOR ITEMS 34, 36, AND 48, AND 60 DAYS FOR ITEMS 37, 44, 47, 56, AND TO DELETE ITEM 60.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS? YES, MA'AM.

>> YES, SIR. NUMBER 57, 30 DAYS AND NUMBER 59 DELETE.

THE GENTLEMAN IS GOING TO TEAR IT DOWN HIMSELF.

>> FIFTY SEVEN, IS JULY 23, OKAY?

>> YES, SIR, AND 59 DELETE.

>> THIRTY EIGHT 30-DAY DEFERRAL.

>> JULY 23, OKAY ON THAT ONE?

>> THAT'S FINE.

>> THIRTY EIGHT. ANYONE ELSE?

>> FORTY SIX, 5TH OF JULY.

>> OKAY Y'ALL.

WE HAVE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 45, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 58.

WE'RE GOING TO DEFER TO JULY 23 MEETING, ITEMS 34, 36, 38, 46, 48, 55, AND 57, 60 DAYS, THE AUGUST MEETING, AUGUST 13TH IS GOING TO BE ITEM 37, 44, 47, 56 AND TO DELETE ITEMS 59 AND 60.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION IN THAT ORDER? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JR., SECOND BY COUNCILMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

WE ARE GOING TO REARRANGE THE AGENDA HERE.

[74. 25-00619]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

MY NAME IS ROB HUNDEN, CEO OF HUNDEN PARTNERS, AND I'M JOINED BY STEVE HAEMMERLE, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF HUNDEN PARTNERS, AND HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY TO TALK YOU THROUGH THE RECENT PAST AND THE GO FORWARD PLAN.

WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE RANKED AS THE FIRST CHOICE TO START A NEGOTIATION WITH ON A CONTRACT TO MOVE YOU FORWARD WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION AND HEADQUARTERS HOTEL DEVELOPMENT.

BEFORE I GO INTO THIS VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO SAY?

>> [INAUDIBLE], AND WHEN YOU SAY IF THERE'S ANYBODY ELSE WHO WANT TO SAY SOMETHING, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP HERE THAT WE ARE GETTING READY TO DO TO IMPORT THE PROCESS.

>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR TIME STILL AFTERWARDS.

[00:10:03]

>> BUT HE ASKED IF THERE'S SOMEBODY.

>> I KNOW. [LAUGHTER]

>> IT'S DISTRICT 10 AND IT'S MY PROJECT.

I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE IN ORDER THAT YOU CAN SHARE THAT WHICH YOU HAVE TO SHARE WITH THE GROUP.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

GO DISTRICT 10. WE KNOW WHERE WE STAND IN THE PECKING ORDER.

WELL, THAT ACTUALLY BREAKS THE ICE A LITTLE BIT.

WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS TODAY.

I WILL MAKE OUR REMARKS AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE.

TO GIVE YOU A BIT OF BACKGROUND, RIVER CENTER BACKGROUND IN CONTEXT.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY TO REALLY ASSESS THE SITUATION ON A NUMBER OF FRONTS, BUT ESPECIALLY THE RIVER CENTER AND THE HOTEL SITUATION.

WHAT WAS DETERMINED IN THAT WAS THAT THE RIVER CENTER IS NOT COMPETITIVE IN THE CONVENTION CENTER MARKET OR INDUSTRY.

THE FACT THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE A HIGH QUALITY CONNECTED HEADQUARTERS HOTEL THAT HAS ALL OF THE REQUIRED AMENITIES AND BELLS AND WHISTLES THAT MEETING AND EVENT PLANNERS REQUIRE TODAY IS AN IMPORTANT KEY MISSING PIECE FOR BATON ROUGE AND UNLESS AND UNTIL THAT'S RESOLVED, YOU WILL CONTINUE TO NOT PERFORM.

THE PROPOSED ARENA AT LSU DOES PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE RIVER CENTER AS IT ALLOWS THE RIVER CENTER TO REALLY DO WHAT IT DOES BEST OR WHAT IT CAN DO BEST IN THE LIMITED CONFINES OF THE PHYSICAL THREE-DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE THAT EXISTS AND CAN ALLOW FOR A RISING TIDE AND A GROWING PIE THAT LIFTS ALL BOATS WITH BOTH OF THESE VENUES, THE LSU ARENA BEING ABLE TO HANDLE THE LARGER ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS, AND THEN THE RIVER CENTER TO HOST SMALLER ENTERTAINMENT AND CONVENTION AND CONFERENCE EVENTS AND OTHER SPORTING EVENTS.

JUST TO RECAP, THE RIVER CENTER OPPORTUNITY, WE HAVE RECOMMENDED A 40,000-SQUARE FOOT FLEX HALL/CONCERT VENUE WITH A 3,000 SEAT CAPACITY THAT WOULD BE PARTNERED WITH A 350 PLUS OR MINUS KEY FULL SERVICE HEADQUARTER HOTEL WITH A FULL SERVICE NAME PLATE.

IT IN AND OF ITSELF WILL HAVE A LOT OF THESE AMENITIES THAT HEADQUARTER HOTELS HAVE TO HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, A 30,000-SQUARE FOOT BALLROOM AND A WHOLE BATTERY OF MEETING ROOMS, RESTAURANTS, OTHER AMENITIES THAT ARE EXPECTED.

ONE THING I WILL MENTION IS THAT THESE HOTELS USED TO BE THOUGHT OF AS BIG BOX BORING GROUP HOTELS.

THEY ARE NOW ACTUALLY LEISURE AND STACATION MAGNETS FOR COMMUNITIES.

THE MOST RECENT ONES THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS OR SO IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA THEIR SECOND LARGEST SEGMENT IS LEISURE BECAUSE THEY'VE REALLY BUILT IT FOR THAT.

YOU CAN BECOME THIS REAL DESTINATION.

WE ALSO RECOMMEND THE RENOVATION OF THE RIVER CENTER BALLROOM AND OTHER SPACES IN A REIMAGINED OUTDOOR PLAZA.

IN ADDITION, THERE ARE SOME GREAT SYNERGIES HAPPENING RIGHT NOW WITH THE DOWNTOWN PLANNING EFFORT THAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE RIVER CENTER, AND WE SEEK TO, OF COURSE, ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY IN OUR EFFORT, BUT ALSO ENGAGE WITH SASAKI AND THE OTHERS WORKING ON THAT RIVER FRONT AND DOWNTOWN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THESE ARE ALL DESIGNED IN CONCERT TO REALLY BE SINGING OFF OF EACH OTHER AND SYNERGISTIC WITH EACH OTHER.

THE REDEVELOPED RIVER CENTER WOULD EXPAND MEETING AND EVENT OPPORTUNITIES.

CERTAINLY, WITH THAT HEADQUARTERS HOTEL WILL ALLOW YOU TO ATTRACT HIGHER-RATED BUSINESS AND JUST MORE BUSINESS.

THAT HOTEL BY ITSELF IS GOING TO HOST A LOT OF MEETINGS.

IT'S GOT TO BE FULL 365 DAYS A YEAR.

IT WILL BOOST DOWNTOWNS HOTEL PERFORMANCE.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE'VE DONE QUITE A BIT OF ANALYTICS ON HEADQUARTER HOTELS AND WHAT THEY DO TO THE MARKETPLACE WHEN THEY'RE INTRODUCED.

WE'VE LOOKED BACKWARDS IN TIME BEFORE AND AFTER.

THESE HAVE BEEN OPEN, AND THE OTHER HOTELS IN THE MARKET ACTUALLY PERFORM BETTER IN OCCUPANCY AND RATE IN ALMOST EVERY CASE WE'VE SEEN AROUND THE COUNTRY AFTER A HEADQUARTERS HOTEL IS INTRODUCED.

IT'S EVEN A STRONGER IMPACT FOR THOSE HOTELS THAT ARE NOT DIRECTLY ADJACENT AND WALKABLE TO THE CENTER.

THERE'S A POSITIVE RISING TIDE THAT LIFTS THE BOATS OF BOTH THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SET OF HOTELS AROUND.

THERE'S A LOT OF POSITIVE BENEFIT AND THAT WILL ALSO THEN SPILL OVER TO YOUR RESTAURANTS AND RETAILERS AND SHOPS AND OTHER ENTERTAINMENT.

SLIDE 4. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? WHERE DO WE GET TO? ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HUNDEN PARTNERS SPECIALIZES IN, AND I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT OUR THREE BUCKETS,

[00:15:01]

IT'S REALLY CRITICAL WHEN YOU, NO PUN INTENDED FOR BATON ROUGE, HAND THE BATON OFF TO THE NEXT PHASE OF THIS THAT YOU ARE DOING IT IN A VERY SMART WAY.

THIS IS WHERE MANY COMMUNITIES REALLY STUB THEIR TOES AND HIT A BRICK WALL.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE MOST CREATIVE FINANCE PLAN THAT IS GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY DOLLARS THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR THIS INVESTMENT COME FROM THE PROJECT ITSELF.

THAT TAKES A LOT OF CREATIVITY AND HAS BEEN DONE MANY OTHER PLACES, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO MODEL THOSE BEST MODELS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO HELP FIGURE THAT OUT.

YOU ALSO NEED TO HAVE AN OWNERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE ENTITY THAT MAKE SURE THAT THIS THING IS OWNED, OPERATED, AND MARKETED AND SOLD REALLY WELL SO THAT YOU'RE AS BUSY AS POSSIBLE IN GENERATING THAT ECONOMIC IMPACT.

THEN FINALLY, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THAT GREAT HOTEL PARTNER, AND SO THIS RFP FOR AN OWNER'S ADVISOR WAS ISSUED BY Y'ALL TO HELP ASSIST YOU IN ALL OF THESE CRITICAL NEXT STEPS, FINDING THE HOTELIER, HOTEL DEVELOPMENT, PUTTING TOGETHER THE FINANCE PLAN, PUTTING TOGETHER THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE FOR THIS.

JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HUNDEN TEAM, AND WHO AND WHAT WE ARE.

I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 30 YEARS.

WE HAVE OTHER LEADERSHIP IN OUR FIRM THAT HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 30 PLUS YEARS, AND WE ARE THE LARGEST IN WHAT WE DO IN THIS VERY TIGHT NICHE OF TRANSFORMATIVE PLACEMAKING DEVELOPMENT PLANS.

I LIKE TO SAY THAT WE DO NERDY WORK FOR COOL PLACES, AND I DON'T TAKE THAT LIGHTLY.

WE ARE TRULY AN ADVISOR FOR THESE VERY DIFFICULT PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND PUBLIC VENTURES.

I STARTED OFF AT THE CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS, LOCAL PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT BOND BANK AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, PUTTING THESE VERY KINDS OF PROJECTS TOGETHER FOR MY COMMUNITY, AND THEN I TOOK THAT ON THE ROAD, AND NOW WE'VE DONE IT OVER 1,000 TIMES OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS, AND THE FIRM IS ABOUT 20-YEARS-OLD, AND WE'VE GOT ABOUT 25-30 PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT IS THAT DEPTH OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS VERY NICHE THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU CAN SEE THE WHOLE VARIETY OF CONVENTION CENTERS WE'VE WORKED ON IN MARKETS LARGE AND SMALL ALL THROUGHOUT THIS REGION, ESPECIALLY, BUT ALL THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA.

I HAVE A PERSONAL PASSION FOR HEADQUARTER HOTELS AND MAKING SURE THOSE GET DONE RIGHT AS WELL.

I HAVE BEEN KEEPING TRACK OF THESE FOR 30 YEARS SINCE I WAS 24-YEARS-OLD.

>> YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER THAT WE HAVE WORKED ON THERE.

WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE MARKETPLACE FOR TULSA HEADQUARTERS HOTEL, SO THAT PROCESS IS UNFOLDING AS WE SPEAK AND HAS GONE VERY WELL FOR THEM.

WE'VE BEEN RECENTLY INVOLVED IN CINCINNATI'S PROCESS, HAVE OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED RECENTLY OR OVER THE YEARS, LIKE THE OMNI AND FORT WORTH AND INDIANAPOLIS AND CHICAGO AND MANY OTHER PLACES LARGE AND SMALL.

WE KNOW BATON ROUGE.

WE HAVE WORKED FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF ON FOUR DIFFERENT STUDIES.

OF COURSE, THE ONE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, BUT ALSO THE NICHOLSON CORRIDOR DISTRICT STUDY, THE LSU RESEARCH AND ARENA ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT PROJECTS, AND THE LARGER BATON ROUGE AREA, ENTERTAINMENT VENUE STUDY TO REALLY UNDERSTAND, WHAT ARE YOUR GAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES OVERALL FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND RELATED THINGS IN THE MARKETPLACE.

THAT BACKGROUND LED US TO CRAFT THE TEAM THAT WE CRAFTED FOR THIS, WHICH I WILL DESCRIBE, WHICH IS VERY NIMBLE AND OPEN TO MAKING SURE THAT WE INCLUDE LOCAL PARTICIPATION IN THIS TEAM EFFORT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ENGAGED WITH THE COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT SO THAT WE ARE LISTENING FIRST AND MAKING DECISIONS LATER IN CONCERT WITH YOU ALL.

I MENTION THAT OUR THREE BUCKETS OF WORK ARE PERFECT FOR THIS SETUP.

THAT OVERALL PLANNING EFFORT ON THE ENTERTAINMENT AND RELATED SIDE, WHAT ARE YOUR GAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES? THAT'S THAT DESTINATION PLACEMAKING BUCKET THAT THEN LEADS INTO THOSE FEASIBILITY STUDIES, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY DONE.

THEN LEADS INTO THE DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY AND IMPLEMENTATION PHASE.

WE ARE REALLY THE ONLY FIRM OUT THERE THAT OFFERS TO CONNECT ALL THREE OF THOSE THINGS TOGETHER.

I WILL SAY YOU ALL HAVE BEEN REALLY, REALLY SMART IN HOW YOU'VE PUT THIS TOGETHER.

YOU HAVE THOUGHTFULLY CONSIDERED THAT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON TO PUT THIS STRING OF PEARLS TOGETHER IN BATON ROUGE FROM MEMORIAL PARK TO DOWNTOWN TO NICHOLSON TO LSU, THOSE ALL HAVE TO BE OR SHOULD BE THOUGHT OF IN CONCERT AND HOW CAN WE NOT DUPLICATE EFFORTS? HOW DO WE DO THINGS THAT ARE SYNERGISTIC WITH EACH OTHER?

[00:20:01]

AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE A NIMBLE TEAM.

WE DO EXPECT TO ADD TO THAT TEAM.

THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR FEE AND SCOPE THAT WILL BE SUBBED OUT TO SPECIALISTS.

AGAIN, WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE CLIENT SIDE OF THIS, THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM BATON ROUGE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PUTTING THE BEST PEOPLE POSSIBLE, BUT ALSO THAT REFLECT BATON ROUGE.

WE'LL BE WORKING WITH YOU ON THAT, ESPECIALLY AT THE INITIAL STAGES WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION OF THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT THESE PROJECTS CAN MEAN.

WITH THAT, I WILL BRING STEVE UP TO TALK ABOUT OUR TAILORED APPROACH.

>> THANK YOU, ROB. I'M STEVE HAEMMERLE, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT WITH HUNDEN PARTNERS.

ONE POINT, MY BACKGROUND, THE VAST MAJORITY OF MY CAREER HAS BEEN SPENT ON THE OWNER SIDE OF PROJECTS, DEVELOPING IMPACTFUL REAL ESTATE.

I'VE BEEN ON YOUR SIDE OF THE TABLE, WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RECENT REDEVELOPMENT OF NAVY PEER IN CHICAGO EARLIER IN MY CAREER, I OVERSAW THE EXPANSION OF MCCORMICK PLACE.

AGAIN, I BRING EXPERIENCE FROM THE OWNER SIDE IN THE PUBLIC, PRIVATE, NOT FOR PROFIT SECTORS.

IF WE COULD ADVANCE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, ONE MORE.

JUST QUICK COMMENT ON APPROACH.

WE'RE APPROACHING THIS IN A VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD WAY.

IT'S ABOUT DEFINING THE PROJECT AND FINDING A DEVELOPMENT TEAM.

WHEN WE SAY DEFINING THE PROJECT, THAT'S ABOUT THE PROJECT COMPONENTS.

IT'S ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

IT'S ABOUT HAVING A FACILITY THAT HAS THE COMPONENTS THAT MEET THE BUSINESS NEEDS FOR THE FACILITY.

IT'S FIGURING OUT HOW MUCH IT SHOULD COST.

IT'S PUTTING TOGETHER A FINANCING PLAN.

IT'S LOOKING AT THE LONG TERM MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF THE FACILITY, SO THAT IT CAN MEET ITS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.

ONCE THAT IS ESTABLISHED, WE'LL LOOK AT AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

HOW DO WE GO OUT AND FIND THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM TO DELIVER THAT? IT'S A VERY DELIBERATE AND THOUGHTFUL APPROACH.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT DEFINING THE PROJECT.

WE HAVE DONE SOME FEASIBILITY WORK, AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE'LL DO IS REFINE THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HAD MADE BASED UPON CHANGES IN THE MARKET.

WE WILL ALSO START TO ENGAGE AND TALK TO POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS.

THAT'S REALLY ABOUT GATHERING INSIGHT INTO THE MARKETPLACE.

WE'LL PUT TOGETHER SOME PRELIMINARY PLANS, PRELIMINARY BUDGET.

THE POINT OF THE PLANS ARE NOT TO DESIGN THE BUILDING.

IT'S THE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS THAT WOULD DO THAT, BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT ESTABLISHING WHAT THE BUDGET WOULD BE FOR THE PROJECT.

WE'LL BEGIN FINANCIAL MODELING.

PUT TOGETHER A FINANCING PLAN.

IT'S OUR EXPECTATION THAT THAT WILL BE AN ITERATIVE PROCESS.

WE'LL PUT THINGS TOGETHER, WE'LL LOOK AT HOW THE NUMBERS ARE ADDING UP, WE'LL CYCLE BACK, MAKE REFINEMENTS, AND SO WHAT COMES OUT OF THAT PROCESS IN THE END IS A PROJECT THAT WE THINK MAKES THE MOST SENSE FOR BATON ROUGE, WE'LL PUT TOGETHER AN IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY, SO WE REALLY END THIS PHASE WITH TWO THINGS, A PROJECT, AND AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

THEN IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, IT WILL TALK ABOUT FINDING A DEVELOPMENT PARTNER.

AGAIN, OUR APPROACH TO THIS IS TWO FOLD.

ONE OF THE THINGS TO REMEMBER IS, THIS IS A COMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE.

DEVELOPERS HAVE LOTS OF DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD OF THEM.

THIS REALLY IS ABOUT SELLING BATON ROUGE.

THE FIRST PART OF THIS PROCESS IS A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS.

IT'S ABOUT CREATING BROAD INTEREST.

I THINK IT'S MORE ABOUT SELLING THE COMMUNITY, SELLING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET AS MUCH QUALIFIED INTEREST FROM AS MANY QUALIFIED DEVELOPERS AS POSSIBLE.

WE WOULD REVIEW THOSE PROPOSALS AND THEN REVIEW THOSE QUALIFICATIONS AND THEN PREPARE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AND GET PROPOSALS FROM A SELECTED NUMBER OF FIRMS, AND THAT'S ABOUT GETTING REAL MATERIAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION.

THE GOAL OF THAT IS, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE IS TO PUT TOGETHER THE BEST DEAL POSSIBLE FOR BATON ROUGE.

THAT IS GENUINELY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO.

THAT AFTER THOSE PROPOSALS ARE REVIEWED, IT'S ABOUT PUTTING TOGETHER A TERM SHEET, WHICH IS GOING TO DEFINE BROADLY WHAT THE FINANCIAL PARAMETERS OF THE DEAL WOULD BE, AND THEN HELPING ASSIST YOU ALL TO PUT TOGETHER A DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT.

IN THE NEXT SIDE, YOU'LL SEE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE WORK WE'VE DONE IN THE MARKETPLACE.

THIS REALLY IS ABOUT ATTRACTING A QUALIFIED DEVELOPMENT TEAM.

IT'S ABOUT FINDING THE RIGHT FIT FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.

[00:25:02]

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS THAT UNDERSTAND THE GOALS, THE OBJECTIVES, THE MISSION OF BATON ROUGE, ARE ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO THE DEAL.

ROB MENTIONED, WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING IN THE MARKETPLACE RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY OF TULSA.

WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH DEVELOPMENT, FIRMS THAT DEVELOP HEADQUARTERS HOTELS.

WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH BRANDS.

WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ENGAGE THOSE ENTITIES EARLY IN THE PROCESS.

WE'LL GET INSIGHT ABOUT REFINEMENTS TO THE PROGRAM.

BUT LIKEWISE, WHEN WE ISSUE THE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS AND PROPOSALS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ISSUING IT TO A PRIVATE MARKETPLACE THAT IS RECEPTIVE TO THE IDEA THAT IS ENGAGED AND WANTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS.

THAT'S REALLY ABOUT THE APPROACH THAT WE HAVE.

IN THE NEXT SLIDE, JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PROJECT SCHEDULE.

BROADLY SPEAKING, THIS IS ABOUT A 24 MONTH PROCESS.

IT'S BROKEN DOWN INTO TWO GENERAL CATEGORIES.

PHASE 1, APTLY NAMED, IS REALLY ABOUT DEFINING THE PROJECT.

THAT'S ABOUT AN EIGHT MONTH PERIOD.

WE THINK THERE'S APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS OF US DOING THE WORK AND PUTTING THE INFORMATION TOGETHER, AND THERE ARE PROBABLY A MONTH OR TWO OF DISCUSSIONS AND DECISION MAKING BECAUSE THAT THEN WILL SERVE AS THE BASIS FOR US MOVING FORWARD AND GOING OUT TO THE MARKETPLACE.

THAT'S AN APPROXIMATELY 16 MONTH TIME PERIOD.

WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO WORK TO TRY AND HAVE THAT HAPPEN QUICKER, AND IT COULD HAPPEN QUICKER, AND IT CAN ALSO TAKE LONGER.

IT DEPENDS ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE PARTIES AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED.

BUT YOU CAN SEE HOW IT BREAKS ITSELF DOWN INTO PHASES, WHICH IS QUALIFICATIONS, AGAIN, ABOUT FINDING AND REACHING BROADLY INTO THE MARKETPLACE.

SHORTLISTING FIRMS. IT'S ABOUT GETTING PROPOSALS, EVALUATING PROPOSALS, AND THEN NEGOTIATING A TERM SHEET AND ULTIMATELY THE DEFINITIVE AGREEMENTS, AND IT'S AFTER THAT POINT, THEN THAT THE PROJECT WOULD COMMENCE, AND THAT'S COMMENCING DESIGNING CONSTRUCTION IN EARNEST.

THAT REALLY IS THE HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE'RE ABOUT.

WE ARE GENUINELY HONORED AND EXCITED TO BE HERE.

WE LOVE THE WORK WE'VE DONE IN BATON ROUGE.

WE LOVE THE COMMUNITY, AND WE WANT NOTHING MORE THAN TO FAST FORWARD TO BE ABLE TO WALK AROUND AND SIT IN A VERY COMPELLING PROJECT, A RENOVATED RIVER CENTER.

APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU ALL.

>> THANK YOU. WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.

I'LL JUST ALSO SAY, WE'RE HERE TO REPRESENT YOUR BEST INTEREST, AND WE WILL BE DOING THAT THROUGHOUT THIS TIME.

WE APPRECIATE THE GRAVITY OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY, AND WE WON'T LET YOU DOWN.

>> THANK YOU, MR. TONTO. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL, AND IF ANYBODY HAS QUESTIONS [INAUDIBLE].

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE HAVE A WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR, MR. JILL KIDDER.

>> HI, EVERYBODY, I'M JILL KIDDER WITH VISIT BATON ROUGE, AND I WAS HOPING TO FOLLOW OUR CHAIRMAN OF OUR OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE BECAUSE CHAIR, I AM THE VICE CHAIR AND I FOLLOW HER LEAD, BUT I KNOW SHE'S GOT SOME WONDERFUL THINGS TO SAY.

BUT I JUST WANT TO PUT MY TWO CENTS IN AND TELL YOU THAT AS PART OF THE REVIEW COMMITTEE AND AS PART OF THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, I COULDN'T BE MORE HAPPY STANDING BEFORE YOU SAYING THAT HUNDEN IS THE RIGHT GROUP TO LEAD THIS EFFORT FOR US, AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO DIG IN AND GET TO WORK WITH THEM.

IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING FOR ME, I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? I'M GOING TO GO UP. THERE WE GO.

>> DOUGLAS, HOW YOU'RE DOING? I'M GOING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA. LET ME TELL YOU WHY.

BECAUSE BATON ROUGE RIGHT NOW SHOULD BE GOING IN A DIRECTION TO TAKE CARE OF THE NEEDS OF THE GOVERNMENT.

YOU ALL ARE THE DECISION MAKERS IN BATON ROUGE, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CAPEX IS GOING TO BE ON THIS PROJECT.

I DON'T THINK YOU ALL EVEN KNOW WHAT THE CAPEX IS GOING TO BE ON THIS PROJECT.

BUT LET ME TELL YOU THIS AS A FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, I WANT TO RISE AND TELL YOU THIS WHEN YOU START ROM, YOU'RE IN ROM.

YOU HAVE INHERENT CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. LET ME TELL YOU WHY.

YOU HAVE TWO MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL ON

[00:30:03]

THEN YOU HAVE ONE ON THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

YOU HAD FIVE COMPANIES THAT STARTED OUT IN THE PROCESS, AND YOU HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT'S ON THE CITY COUNCIL THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THE DECISION.

THAT IN MY OPINION, IT IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, AND THEN THERE ARE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ON THE OTHER SIDE.

ONE INDIVIDUAL REPRESENT THREE DIFFERENT ENTITIES.

BATON ROUGE IS REALLY RIGHT NOW, REALLY ABOUT TAKING CARE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL SERVICES OF THE GOVERNMENT.

I'M NOT REPRESENTING MYSELF.

I'M TELLING THE LEADERS, THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE DECISIONS ON HOW MONEY IS GOING TO BE SPENT.

DO YOU NEED TO DO THIS AT THIS TIME? THAT'S THE QUESTION. DO YOU NEED TO DO IT AT THIS TIME? WHEN YOU HAVE THE DA SCREAMING FOR MONEY, WHEN YOU HAVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, YOU HAVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, YOU HAVE CRIME.

THIS IS THE SEASON WHERE YOU HAVE TO CUT GRASS.

LOOK, I'M NOT AGAINST ANY PROJECT.

BUT I'VE SAT ON ON THAT SIDE OF THE AISLE AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE RELATIONSHIPS AND YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD.

WHAT ARE THE DEFINITE DECISIONS GOING TO BE MADE WITH ALL OF THESE PROJECTS? WHAT IS THE CAPEX ON THEM? I KNOW YOU'VE GOT BITS AND PIECES, BUT LET ME TELL AS LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

LET ME TELL YOU, I KNOW SOMETIMES WHEN YOU MAKE STATEMENTS, PEOPLE GET MAD, BUT DON'T GET MAD AT THE MESSENGER, LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE.

I LISTEN TO THE MESSAGES, AND THE MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC HERE IS RIGHT DOWN.

THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR THEIR OWN SURVIVAL WHERE THESE TAXES ARE CONCERNED.

WHEN YOU START SPENDING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY, YOU HAVE A INDIVIDUAL SITTING RIGHT OVER THERE IN THE RIVER CENTER, A COMPANY, AND I HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO HIM, BUT I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT GOVERNMENT.

THEY OVER THERE RIGHT NOW. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WERE ONE OF THE INDIVIDUAL COMPANIES OR NOT, BUT YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE QUALIFIED WITH MASTER DEGREES AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND WE'RE SPENDING MONEY.

I KNOW MY TIME IS UP, BUT I'M GOING TO SAY THIS TO YOU.

I SAID MANY YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS SITTING ON A COUNCIL, I ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEE YOU THAT THE STATE OF THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THIS COMMUNITY, YOU WANT WHIP YOUR CHECKBOOKS OUT AND PAY FOR IT OUT OF YOUR SALARY.

YOU WANT TO CALL ASHLEY BACK AND SAY, LOOK, I GOT TRAVEL MONEY, I GOT MONEY FOR MY SALARY AND MONEY FOR MY CARD ALLOWANCE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

I'M JUST GOING TO PUT IT PUT MY MONEY UP.

WHAT I'M SAYING TO YOU IS [OVERLAPPING].

>> [INAUDIBLE]

>> I'LL CLOSE BY SAYING THIS, YOU RUN THE GOVERNMENT MAKE WISE DECISIONS, AND THIS IS NOT A DECISION YOU NEED TO MAKE AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU.

>> ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS SIDE?

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS ROSALIE WASHINGTON, AND NOT SPEAKING ON WHATEVER THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE I GOT HERE LATE.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ABOUT THE BUS SYSTEM.

>> NO. WE'RE ONLY SPEAKING ON THIS ITEM.

>> WHEN YOU GET TO.

>> SURE.

>> I'M WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT.

>> ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM 74? I WANT TO GO TO COUNCIL.

CHAIRWOMAN QUEEN DISTRICT 10.

>> DISTRICT 10.

>> COUNCILMAN COLEMAN.

>> GRATEFUL. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT NEXT STEP FOR BATON ROUGE IN THE PROCESS FOR OUR CITY PLAN FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE RIVER CENTER COMPLEX, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A HEADQUARTERS HOTEL.

YOU CAN RECALL THAT WE PASSED AN ORDINANCE, THIS SAME GROUP THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT UP HERE ON JUNE 26TH, 2024 TO CREATE THE PROJECT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO OUR METRO COUNCIL, AND REGARDING THE PROCESS FOR THE SELECTION OF ONE OR MORE DEVELOPERS FOR THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT.

THAT WAS AN ORDINANCE JUNE 26TH, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THE PROJECT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, NOT ONE, NOT TWO, BUT THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WHO'S WORKED VERY HARD TO GET TO THIS POINT OF THIS NEXT STEP IN THE DEVELOPERS SELECTION PROCESS.

LET ME TELL YOU WHO IS ON THE COMMITTEE.

YES, I AM THE CHAIR PERSON AND THEN JILL KIDDER IS THE VICE CHAIR JEN ROKA COUNCILWOMAN, MONICA PENON FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, RODNEY BRAXTON, JONATHAN GRIMES, APRIL HAWTHORNE, GARY JUPITER, LAURIE MALONESON, CHRIS MYERS, AND WHITNEY SAYERS.

IF YOU LISTEN AND LOOK AT THAT, NOT JUST THE ONE SIDED GROUP THERE,

[00:35:03]

SHE'S VERY INVALUABLE AND YOUR APPROVAL OF THE FINALIST OF OUR OWNERS ADVISOR IS BEFORE US TODAY.

THE OWNERS ADVISORS, ONCE UNDER CONTRACT, WILL PROVIDE OVERSIGHT OF THE ENTIRE PROCESS, TO ASSESS OUR COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES, TO IDENTIFY THE PROJECT SCOPE, TO PREPARE FINANCIAL MODELING BUDGETS AND A FINANCIAL PLAN, THE P WORD PLAN, TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY TO SOLICIT DEVELOPERS, TO ENGAGE IN INITIAL SOLICITATION OF DEVELOPERS AND TO PREPARE A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION OR A REQUEST OF PROPOSAL PROCESS TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT OF THE SELECTION PROCESS TOGETHER WITH THE COMMITTEE, THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND THE PURCHASING OFFICE, AND WE'VE ENGAGED WITH THEM BEFORE AS WELL.

ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SELECTION OF A DEVELOPER FINALIST TO BE APPROVED BY THIS METRO COUNCIL, SIMILAR TO THE ACTION THAT WE'RE TAKING TODAY IN CONNECTION WITH THE OWNER'S ADVISOR.

FINALLY, ASSIST TOGETHER WITH MR. LANDRY AND THE PARISH ATTORNEY IN NEGOTIATION OF A CONTRACT WITH THE DEVELOPER.

THE COMMITTEE HAS WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE CITY'S PURCHASING OFFICE TO DEVELOP A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL IN A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE PROCESS, AND WE RECEIVE SIGNIFICANT INPUT FROM NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS IN THE CITY PARISH TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RAFP CONFORM TO ALL, NOT SOME.

OF CITY PARISH'S REQUIREMENT AND PROCEDURES, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR ATTORNEY WHO'S ASSIGNED TO THIS, MR. CHARLES LANDRY FOR ALL OF HIS HARD WORK IN PREPARATION OF THE RFP AND ASSISTANCE IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROCESS.

THE RFP WAS ISSUED ON JANUARY 15, 2025, AND THE PROCESS WAS SUPERVISED BY THE CITY PARISH PURCHASING OFFICE.

THE RFP WAS PURCHASED, PUBLISHED THREE TIMES, NOT ONCE, NOT TWICE, BUT THREE TIMES IN THE [INAUDIBLE].

WE ALSO SENT THE RFP TO 19 NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CONSULTANTS WHO HAD THE QUALIFICATIONS TO SERVICE AS OUR OWNERS ADVISOR.

WE RECEIVE FIVE QUALIFIED RESPONSES, BAKER TILLY, GARFIELD CSRS, HUNDEN PARTNERS, JOHNSON CONSULTANT, LEGEND ASM.

TO HELP WITH THE DETAILED WORK OF EVALUATING THE RESPONSES, I APPOINTED A SUBCOMMITTEE.

TO WORK WITH THE CITY PARISHES PURCHASING OFFICE.

YES. THAT WAS COMPOSED OF MYSELF.

>> [INAUDIBLE].

>> YES, PLEASE. MYSELF, MONICA PENON FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, GARY JUPITER, JILL KIDDER, CHRIS MYERS.

AFTER CAREFULLY REVIEWING ALL OF THE PROPOSALS, THE SUBCOMMITTEE VOTED TO SHORT LIST THE FOLLOWING RESPONDENTS, BAKER TILLY, HUNDEN PARTNERS, AND JOHNSON CONSULTANT.

THE SUBCOMMITTEE THEN INTERVIEWED EACH OF THE THREE SEMIFINALIST TEAMS IN BATON ROUGE.

THIS WAS A GREAT PROCESS BECAUSE WE COULD NOT ONLY RECEIVE A PRESENTATION AND PROVIDE QUESTION, BUT PERHAPS AS IMPORTANTLY UNDERSTAND THE PERSONALITY OF EACH TEAM.

AFTER ALL, WE'LL BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE OWNERS ADVISORY FOR WELL OVER A YEAR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS PROCESS.

ULTIMATELY, THE SUBCOMMITTEE MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COMMITTEE THAT HUNDEN PARTNERS BE SELECTED AS THE FINALIST TO BE RECOMMENDED TO US, THE METRO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

I'D LIKE TO THANK THAT SUBCOMMITTEE FOR ITS HARD WORK.

THIS HAS BEEN A LOT OF HARD STRATEGIC LEGAL WORK.

I'D ALSO NOTE THAT OUR SUBJECT MATTER CONSULTANT, BUTCH SPIRITAN, WORKED WITH THE COMMITTEE DURING THIS PROCESS.

THANK YOU, BUTCH.

THE COMMITTEE IS WELL PLEASED TO RECOMMEND HUNDEN PARTNERS TO YOU AND TO AUTHORIZE THE PARISH ATTORNEY AND CHARLES LANDRY TO NEGOTIATE ANY AGREEMENT WITH HUNDEN.

[00:40:03]

AT THIS TIME, WE WILL BE READY TO MOVE ON.

I THINK YOU'LL AGREE THAT WE HAVE RECOMMENDED AN OUTSTANDING TEAM TO REPRESENT THE CITY PARISH IN THE PROCESS, WHICH IS OUR DUTY HERE.

I'M PERSONALLY SO HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE COMMITTEE, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COMMITTEE, CHARLES LANDRY, THE BUDGET SPIRITAN AGAIN, THE PARISH ATTORNEY, OH, EVERYBODY, YOU ALL KNOW WHO YOU ARE, AND I'M VERY ENCOURAGED THAT WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH TO IDENTIFY A DEVELOPER FOR THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP IN MIND, YES, ALL OF THAT CRIME ALL OF THAT OTHER STUFF, BUT GUESS WHAT? WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE WE WANT TO BE AND FOLKS WANT TO COME.

WE'VE GOT TO BE PROGRESSIVE IN WHAT WE DO. HERE WE ARE.

WE SIT HERE AND THESE ARE THE DECISIONS THAT THIS COUNCIL MAKES.

THANK YOU. NOW, COUNCILMAN NOAH, I'LL TURN THIS BACK OVER TO YOU.

>> YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN DUNN JUNIOR.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. CHARLES AND GREG, PLEASE, BOTH OF YOU GUYS.

I'LL START WITH YOU CHARLES.

FORMER COUNCILMAN GLASPER, MADE SOME POINTS AND HE HAD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE MAKEUP OF THE COMMITTEE AND THE SCORING COMMITTEE.

CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT WE DO HAVE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS? NO, YOU CHARLES. ON THE CURRENT COMMITTEE, IS THAT TRUE?

>> YES, SIR. ABSOLUTELY.

>> THAT HAS FOR YOUR ORDINANCE.

AS PRO ORDINANCE, DO WE HAVE ONE COUNCIL MEMBER ON THE SCORING COMMITTEE? THAT'S CORRECT.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE THAT WAS PART OF THE ORDINANCE SELECTED THE SCORING COMMITTEE, AND SHE WAS THE CHAIR OF IT.

THANK YOU, SIR. IS IT TRUE THAT THIS COUNCIL HIRED YOU TO ADVISE US LEGALLY THROUGH THIS PROCESS?

>> YES, SIR. BY RESOLUTION.

I AM SPECIAL COUNSEL TO SUPPORT OUR PARISH ATTORNEY, AS MADE CLEAR, I DON'T HAVE ANY INDEPENDENT AUTHORITY.

IT'S THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S AUTHORITY, BUT I'M A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ON THESE, AND I'M HERE TO HELP MR. ROME WHERE I CAN.

>> IS IT YOUR LEGAL OPINION THAT WE HAVE OPERATED IN ORDER OR IS IT YOUR OPINION THAT WE ARE IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW AS IT RELATES TO THE ROLES THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER SERVED?

>> MR. DUN, I WISH I COULD ANSWER THAT.

THAT WOULD BE MORE OF THE PARISH ATTORNEY.

I'M HERE AS A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ON NEGOTIATING THE CONTRACTS ON DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, NOT THE PROCESS.

>> THAT'S FAIR. GREAT. I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU THE SAME QUESTION ANYWAY, BUT JUST WANTED TO LAY THE FOUNDATION THAT WHAT FORMER COUNCILMAN GLASPER SAID IS TRUE.

BUT AS IT RELATES TO WHO SERVED IN THE ROLES THEY SERVED, BUT IN YOUR LEGAL OPINION, IS THAT IN ORDER IS THEN IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW?

>> I DON'T WANT TO NOT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, BUT I DON'T KNOW BASED ON WHAT HE SAID.

I DID TALK TO HIM BRIEFLY.

I THINK HE'S MAKING SOME ASSUMPTIONS, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TONIGHT AND YOU DON'T NEED TO COME UP HERE.

THIS IS MY TIME. IF YOU'LL SIT DOWN, MR. GLASPER.

IF THEY WANT TO CALL YOU UP, THEY'LL CALL YOU UP, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE RESOLUTION, I THINK YOU ALL ARE ALL ON THE EITHER BOARD OR COMMITTEE.

YOU DO HAVE SOME THAT ARE ONE COUNCIL PERSON, COUNCILMAN COLEMAN ON THE SCORING COMMITTEE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TONIGHT.

I KNOW YOU ALL ARE VOTING ON THIS ITEM.

I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S GOING TO VOTE OR NOT.

I DID I DIDN'T ASK.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT MY DIRECT QUESTION TO YOU IS, DID WE OPERATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW?

>> LOOK, YOU ALL HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS ON ALL BOARDS. IT'S NOT UNCOMMON.

>> IT'S A NORMAL BUSINESS PRACTICE THAT [OVERLAPPING].

>> I LIKE IT TO ME.

>> THANK YOU, MR. LANDRY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> COUNCILMAN HURST.

>> I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER GLASPER BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I MIGHT ACTUALLY AGREE WITH SOME OF THE STUFF THAT HE SAID PUBLICLY.

I DISAGREE WITH SOME OF IT AS WELL.

I THINK YOU'LL KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS PROCESS FROM THE NON COMPETE WITH NO DATA TO AREAS OF CONFLICT WHERE ONE PERSON IS TIED TO MULTIPLE PIECES OF THIS FOR PERSONAL GAIN AND PROFESSIONAL GAIN.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT MY COMMENT IS TODAY.

WELL, MY COMMENT IS TODAY IS REALLY LOOKING AT THE PRIORITIES OF OUR PARISH.

I HAD A CONVERSATION IN THE BACK IN BETWEEN THE MEETINGS THAT WAS REALLY TALKING ABOUT HOW DO WE MOVE THE CITY PARISH FORWARD.

[00:45:03]

THAT'S 600 MILLION.

WE ARE FEDERALLY REQUIRED TO DO THAT FROM CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATES TO HAVE A JAIL THAT'S ADEQUATE.

I WANT ALL TO KNOW THAT THERE'S A PART OF THAT JAIL RIGHT NOW THAT WE HAD TO MOVE INMATES FROM THAT [OVERLAPPING].

>> POINT OF ORDER THIS IS NOT GERMANE TO THE TOP.

>> [INAUDIBLE]. IT'S ABOUT PUBLIC PURPOSE AS IT RELATES TO THE RIVER CENTER. IT IS.

>> IS THERE A CONSENT DECREE AGAINST THE RIVER CENTER, SIR?

>> THE BOTTOM LINE TO IT IS, IN TERMS OF PARTIES IN OUR PARISH AND WHERE THIS RIVER CENTER FITS MADE TO GERMANE TO THE TOPIC. THANK YOU.

IN TERMS OF OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON, TO ME, THIS IS WANT AND NOT A NEED.

WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR STORM WATER AND THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE RELATED TO OUR STORM WATER, WE STILL HAVEN'T SOLVED THOSE ISSUES.

WHEN WE LOOK AT [INAUDIBLE], EVERYBODY THINKS THAT THE MAYOR IS DOING A THREAT TO THE PUBLIC IS REAL.

WE ARE RUNNING A DEFICIT.

HOW WE GOT STARTED AND WHO DID IT? I DON'T REALLY CARE THE MATTER, THE FACT IS WE ACTUALLY HAVE A DEFICIT, AND IF WE DON'T FIND MONEY, SOME PEOPLE WON'T HAVE JOBS.

IT'S NOT A THREAT. IT'S A REAL DEAL.

THAT'S WHY EVERYBODY UP HERE UNANIMOUSLY VOTED FOR IT.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE RIVER CENTER DOES NEED TO BE DONE.

I'VE BEEN IN SPORTS AND I LOVE ENTERTAINMENT.

I BELIEVE WE NEED A NEW FACILITY HERE.

BUT NOT IN LIEU OF THE PRIORITY OF THE $600,000,000 PRISON THAT WE WILL POTENTIALLY HAVE TO BUILD IN JAIL, JUVENILE DETENTION, AND MENTAL HEALTH, NOT IN LIEU OF FIXING OUR STORM WATER.

NOT IN LIEU OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE A JOB AND WE CAN PROPERLY HAVE FUNDED OFFICES WITHIN THE CITY OF PARIS.

I JUST WANT THE VOTE IS GOING TO PASS.

I CAN TELL YOU ALL RIGHT NOW IT IS GOING TO PASS, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I WENT ON PUBLIC RECORD THAT I STOOD UP FOR THE PEOPLE AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM.

I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY IN THE TODAY. THANK YOU.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOTH.

>> WE'RE GOING TO SWAP FOR A MINUTE IF THAT'S OKAY.

>> COUNCIL [INAUDIBLE].

>> BEING ON THIS COUNCIL, YOU LEARNED TO WEAR MANY HATS, YOU ALSO LEARNED THAT WHENEVER YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE PARISH AS A WHOLE, YOU HAVE TO JUGGLE MANY THINGS AT ONE TIME.

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET AND ITS TOTALITY, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE FUNDS COME FROM AND UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN BUCKETS THAT FUND CERTAIN THINGS LIKE PRISONS AND OTHER BUCKETS THAT FUND OTHER THINGS LIKE RIVER CENTERS.

>> IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE ONCE YOU'VE BEEN HERE A WHILE AND YOU ACTUALLY STUDY IT AND GET TO KNOW IT.

BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU IS MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS.

REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU'RE FOR IT OR YOU'RE AGAINST IT, WHAT I'VE WITNESSED HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING.

I'VE BEEN IN MEETINGS WHERE I HAD PERSONALLY WITNESSED COUNCIL MEMBERS GOING IN THOSE MEETINGS TO CIRCUMVENT THE PROCESS, TO DISRUPT THE PROCESS BECAUSE THEY EITHER HAD A PERSONAL VENDETTA AGAINST THE ATTORNEY THAT WAS ON THAT WAS RUNNING THE MEETING OR THEY HAD A PERSONAL VENDETTA AGAINST ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE THERE IN THE MEETING.

WHAT I WANT TO SAY TODAY TO THE PUBLIC IS, IF YOU SEE IT ON FACEBOOK, DOESN'T MAKE IT TRUE.

IF YOU READ IT IN A LETTER, DOES NOT MEAN IT'S TRUE.

IF SOMEONE SAYS IT UP HERE IN THE MICROPHONE, THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT TRUE EITHER.

I ASSURE YOU THAT WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IS GO AND SEEK FACTS FOR YOURSELF.

ASK THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN THERE AND WITNESSED THE PROCESS.

UNDERSTAND THAT COUNTLESS HOURS HAVE BEEN PUT IN TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING HAS BEEN VETTED FOR THE BEST OF THE PUBLIC, AND ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WHENEVER LOOKING AT WHAT WORKS FOR THE PUBLIC.

MOST OF US UP HERE LOOK TO SEE WHAT'S GOING TO BE GOOD IN 10 YEARS, WHAT'S GOING TO BE GOOD IN 20 YEARS, NOT WHAT'S GOING TO GET ME TO MY NEXT POLITICAL SEAT, AND WHAT'S GOING TO GET ME THE PUBLIC APPEAL SO I GET ELECTED AGAIN SO I CAN SIT UP HERE AND CONTINUE TO LIE TO FOLKS.

>> COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

>> WELL, I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M EXCITED.

THIS IS A PROJECT THAT THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE, HAS REALLY BOUGHT INTO FROM ALL DISTRICTS FROM ACROSS THE PARISH WHERE WE WANT TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY.

[00:50:04]

I'M 100% BEHIND THAT.

I THINK THAT'S THE IDEA BEHIND THE MAYOR'S TAX PLAN AND THE THRIVE PLAN AND EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING THERE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO THINK LONG-TERM AS WELL.

WE HAVE KNOWN FOREVER IN THIS PARISH, THAT A QUALITY CONVENTION HOTEL, A HEADQUARTER HOTEL AT THE RIVERFRONT IS ESSENTIAL.

I RECOGNIZE THAT AS SOMEBODY WHO REPRESENTS LARGELY THE ST. GEORGE AREA.

I THINK COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM ALL OVER THE PARISH RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT.

I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN COLEMAN AND COUNCILMAN RACCA FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP, ALONG WITH EVERYBODY ELSE THAT SERVED ON THIS COMMITTEE FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE IN SELECTING A HIGH-QUALITY PARTNER TO HELP US GET THIS UNDERWAY.

IT'S BEEN ASKED, DO WE WANT TO BE IN THE HOTEL BUSINESS IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH? I WOULD ARGUE NO. WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE HOTEL BUSINESS.

WE WANT TO BE IN THE CONVENTION BUSINESS THOUGH, AND THAT IS WHY WE NEED THIS PROCESS TO GO IN AND FIND A PRIVATE DEVELOPER TO HELP US THROUGH THIS.

TO GET THEM TO SHARE IN THE BURDEN, PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THIS WITH AS LOW OF A BURDEN ON THE TAXPAYER AS POSSIBLE.

I'M VERY SATISFIED WITH THIS PROCESS IN THAT WE ARE GETTING MUCH MORE THAN JUST A PARTNER TO GO AFTER A DEVELOPER.

WE'RE GETTING SOMEONE TO HELP US MAP OUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS AND ENSURE THAT 30, 40, 50 YEARS FROM NOW, THIS REMAINS A ROBUST FACILITY IN OUR PARISH THAT CAN DRIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

ONE THING THAT I DEFINITELY WANT TO ALSO DRIVE HOME, AND IT GOES BACK TO THE ARGUMENT OF OUR PRIORITIES AND THAT KIND OF THING, THERE'S BEEN ASKED THE QUESTION OF WHERE WILL THE FUNDING COME FOR THIS.

I WANT TO START WITH WHERE THE FUNDING WILL NOT COME FOR THIS.

PARTICULARLY FOR THIS CONTRACT, BUT EVEN AS YOU GET INTO MUCH OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RIVER CENTER, IT'S NOT GOING TO COME FROM OUR CITY PARIS GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS WHERE WE FUND MOST OF OUR ESSENTIAL SERVICES.

THESE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO COME FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT THAT WE'VE SET UP, I COULD COME FROM STATE DOLLARS OR IT COULD COME FROM DOLLARS ALREADY ALLOCATED FOR THE RIVER CENTER.

I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS ALL AND CHANGE THE TONE A LITTLE BIT HERE THAT THIS SHOULDN'T BE CONTROVERSIAL.

THIS IS THE TIME TO CELEBRATE.

THIS IS YOUR METRO COUNCIL COMING TOGETHER, AGAIN, ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF US COMING TOGETHER AND RALLYING AROUND SOMETHING THAT IS A HUGE BENEFIT FOR THE ENTIRE PARISH.

I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE AND KUDOS TO EVERYBODY THAT'S PUT SO MUCH HARD WORK INTO IT.

>> COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS.

>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO ECHO SOME OF WHAT DWIGHT SAID.

I WORKED DOWNTOWN, AND IT HAS BEEN REALLY EXCITING TO SEE DOWNTOWN WITH THE BOWLING CONFERENCE HERE.

ALL OF THE BASICALLY CONVENTION ATTENDEES, THE RESTAURANTS ARE FULL.

I WAS JUST SPEAKING WITH GARY.

THE HOTELS ARE FULL.

WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COME IN TOWN FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THEY CAN'T GET HOTEL ROOMS BECAUSE THE HOTELS ARE FULL.

TO ME, IT'S JUST BEEN A LITTLE PEAK, A LITTLE VISION INTO WHAT DOWNTOWN COULD LOOK LIKE AND FEEL LIKE FREQUENTLY WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER AND A HEADQUARTERS HOTEL.

I'D LIKE TO ASK THE PARISH ATTORNEY TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE.

I'VE GOT A QUESTION FOR YOU, MR. ROME.

JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T CREATE ANY CONFUSION BECAUSE AS COUNCILMAN RACCA ALLUDED TO, THINGS GET IN THE MEDIA, AND GET ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND GET SPREAD, ARE WE BEING SUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE RIGHT NOW WITH REGARD TO ANY OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH CARE FACILITIES OR PRISON FACILITIES? IF THERE'S A SUIT, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A SUIT.

>> IF WE HAVE BEEN, OUR OFFICE HASN'T RECEIVED A COPY.

I DON'T KNOW IF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS BEEN SERVED.

WHEN THEY'RE SERVED, THEY BRING IT TO US IMMEDIATELY, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING.

>> WE WOULDN'T EXPECT TO SEE ANY CONSENT DECREE UNLESS THERE WAS A LEGAL ACTION.

>> [OVERLAPPING] UNLESS IT WAS TODAY OR IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE JUST HADN'T BROUGHT IT TO MY OFFICE.

IT HAPPENS PRETTY QUICK.

>> WITH STORMWATER, WE'RE DOING OUR UTMOST BEST TO CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THAT.

I'VE CERTAINLY BEEN VERY PLEASED WITH THE REPRESENTATION WE'VE HAD.

>> [OVERLAPPING] I THINK EVERYBODY JUST GOT BRIEFED ABOUT A MONTH AGO.

WE'RE MOVING THAT AS FAST AS WE CAN.

>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT.

>> I TEND TO AGREE. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

I THINK IT'S A BIG POSITIVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE A FOCUS AND

[00:55:09]

I THINK GOING AFTER CONVENTION, LIKE COUNCILMAN HUDSON SAID, IF WE CAN FOCUS ON THAT RATHER THAN TRYING TO BE EVERYTHING FOR EVERYONE, I THINK WE CAN REALLY HAVE SOME BENEFIT BY DOING THAT.

SAYING THAT, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS UTILIZING AN EXPERT TO TRY TO TELL US HOW TO DO.

I KNOW THERE'S A HANDFUL OF THINGS THAT I'M GOOD AT AND THERE'S WAY MORE THAT I'M NOT GOOD AT.

FOR THOSE THINGS, I AM AT LEAST SMART ENOUGH TO REALIZE I NEED TO HIRE EXPERTS TO DO IT ALL THE TIME.

IN FACT, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS MY WIFE THINK I CAN DO AND I ALWAYS HIRE SOMEBODY ELSE TO DO IF I REALLY DON'T WANT TO.

THAT'S ALL THIS IS, IS TRYING TO UTILIZE SOMEBODY WHO REALLY KNOWS IT BETTER, PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND IT.

KUDOS TO THE COMMITTEE FOR SITTING AND NAVIGATING THROUGH THAT AND IDENTIFYING SOMEONE TO DO IT.

THANK YOU TO MR. LANDRY BECAUSE YOU'RE A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE IN THIS SPACE. WE KNOW IT.

WE GET MORE OUT OF YOU, I KNOW I HAVE FOR YEARS IN DIFFERENT CAPACITIES, THAN YOU'RE EVEN COMPENSATED FOR, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.

YOU'RE A CHAMPION FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND WE KNOW YOU'RE THE GODFATHER OF DEVELOPMENT.

YOU DO A GREAT JOB AT IT, SO WE APPRECIATE IT.

BUT I THINK OFTENTIMES WHEN YOU LOOK AT BIG PROJECTS AND YOU TAKE A STEP BACK AND YOU COME TO THAT 30,000-FOOT VIEW, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THEM DIFFERENTLY.

IT'S REAL EASY, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S TOUGH TIMES.

YES, WE DO HAVE BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS AND THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH AT CITY PARISH.

IT'S REAL EASY TO BE VERY REACTIONARY IN THOSE TIMES AND HYPER-FOCUSED ON THE PROBLEMS. USUALLY THE ADVERSE OF THE REACTIONARY IS CREATION AND BEING CREATIVE.

THESE ARE INSTINCTUAL IN ALL OF US, HOW REACTIONARY OR HOW CREATIVE YOU ARE.

IT'S NOT GOOD, BAD, OR OTHERWISE, IT'S BEING COGNIZANT ABOUT HOW YOU REACT TO SITUATIONS AND HOW YOU APPROACH A PERCEIVED PROBLEM.

I THINK IN THIS CASE, IT TAKES REALLY THAT STEP BACK, THAT 30,000-FOOT VIEW, THAT BIGGER PICTURE, AND THAT CREATIVE MINDSET TO TRY TO VISUALIZE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE.

IT'S LIKE AN INVESTMENT IN ANYTHING ELSE.

IT'S LIKE A RICH DAD, POOR DAD SITUATION.

THERE'S JUST TIMES WHERE YOU HAVE TO FOCUS DOLLARS AND SPEND MONEY TO REALLY HAVE A GOOD ECONOMIC IMPACT.

MR. HUNTING, YOU TALKED ABOUT RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL SHIPS WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT JUST IN THE HOTEL SITUATION WHERE YOU CAN SEE IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS ALL THE HOTELS, NOT JUST THE HEADQUARTER HOTEL.

BUT I WOULD ARGUE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE TALK ABOUT FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT IN GENERAL.

WHEN YOU FILL THOSE HOTELS UP, YOU FILL THE RESTAURANTS UP AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT COMES ALONG WITH IT.

THE POWER OF THE INDIRECT DOLLAR IS EVERYTHING THAT WE TALK ABOUT IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IS MASSIVE.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PILOT OR ITEP, OR EDD, OR ANYTHING DEALING WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THIS MANNER, IT IS AN INVESTMENT TO POWER THAT INDIRECT DOLLAR.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INCREASING INDUSTRY, CREATING JOBS, THAT'S PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BUY HOUSES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THE REALTORS ARE GOING TO MAKE MONEY.

THEY'RE GOING TO EAT AT THE RESTAURANTS TOO.

EVERYTHING GROWS WHEN YOU HAVE GOOD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES INVESTMENT ON THE FRONT END TO MAKE THAT A REALITY.

BUT WHEN YOU TAKE ONE OR TWO STEPS BACK AND HAVE A CREATIVE MINDSET LOOKING AT THE POWER OF THOSE INDIRECT DOLLARS, IT'S REALLY EXPONENTIAL.

THAT'S REALLY HOW WE SHOULD BE VIEWING THIS.

WE CAN FOCUS ON GOOD POSITIVE GROWTH INVESTMENTS WHILE ALSO DEALING WITH OUR OTHER BUDGETARY ISSUES, THAT AS COUNCILMAN HUDSON POINTED OUT, ARE REALLY DIFFERENT BUCKETS OF MONEY ANYWAY.

WE CAN WALK AND CHEW BUBBLEGUM AND I THINK WE CAN HANDLE THAT AND THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF IT.

THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MOAK.

>> THANK YOU. EVERYBODY SAID THIS.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE SAME SUBJECTS IN EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL MEETING THAT THIS COMES UP ABOUT WHETHER THE PARISH CAN HANDLE DOING TWO THINGS AT ONE TIME OR NOT, AND WE'VE PROVEN IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN,

[01:00:03]

YOU CAN SIT HERE AS THE PARISH GOVERNMENT AND TALK ABOUT WHAT POSSIBLY COULD HAPPEN.

WHAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN DOWN THE ROAD? WE POSSIBLY HAVE TO DO THIS.

WE'RE POSSIBLY GOING TO HAVE TO DO THAT.

I DON'T THINK IT'S EVEN A POSSIBILITY THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED BEFORE.

BUT I CAN GUARANTEE THAT IT IS PROBABLY WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT AND THIS COINCIDING TOGETHER AS FAR AS GETTING THESE PROJECTS DONE.

ONE THING I THINK ABOUT A LOT OF THE TIMES, AND WE'RE IN THIS SITUATION NOW THAT THE RIVER CENTER IS JUST END OF LIFE.

WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THIS COUNCIL, THEY CAME TO US WANTING $5 MILLION TO DO RENOVATIONS TO EVERYTHING.

I VOTED AGAINST THAT BECAUSE I THOUGHT, WHY ARE WE SINKING MONEY INTO SOMETHING THAT JUST NEEDS TO BE REPLACED? THEN OVER THESE YEARS, THESE IDEAS STARTED COMING UP.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. IT'S ABOUT IDEAS.

THE ARENA AT LSU, THE BIG VENUES THAT CAN COMPETE WITH NEW ORLEANS, AND EVERYTHING.

I DON'T GO TO NEW ORLEANS TO GO TO THE SMOOTHIE KING CENTER A LOT FOR CONCERTS.

BUT WHAT I WILL TELL YOU I DO IS, I GO TO NEW ORLEANS A LOT TO GO TO THEIR CONVENTION CENTER AND ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I'M INVOLVED IN AND SEEING THE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE ALL WEEK, ALL MONTH, SPENDING MONEY LEFT AND RIGHT TO BE AT THAT CONVENTION, AND THEN THEY GO OUT ON THE TOWN.

THEY HAVE FUN, THEY HAVE A GREAT TIME.

IMAGINE THAT WE CAN DO THAT HERE.

THAT'S WHAT THE VISION AND GOAL IS WITH THIS RIVER CENTER.

TO SIT HERE AND SAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO TAKE AWAY FROM OTHER PRIORITIES IN THE PARISH IS ABSOLUTELY WRONG.

IT'S JUST STRAIGHT-UP SCARE TACTICS THAT EVERYBODY'S GOING TO GET LAID OFF, VENDORS AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING, AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

I GO BACK TO, GOD REST HIS SOUL, MAYOR KIP HOLDEN.

HE HAD THIS LIVE PROJECT THAT WAS GOING TO BE DOWNTOWN.

IMAGINE WHAT DOWNTOWN WOULD BE LIKE RIGHT NOW IF THAT WOULD HAVE PASSED BACK THEN.

NOW, THAT WAS A DIRECT ASK TO THE TAXPAYERS TO PAY FOR THAT.

THEY VOTED NOT TO.

I RESPECT THAT OPINION.

THERE'S NO DIRECT ASK TO THE TAXPAYER FOR THAT. THIS IS MONEY.

WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH PLANS AND PROGRESS BASED ON FUNDING THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS.

IT CAN'T GO FOR ANYTHING ELSE, IT NEEDS TO GO FOR THIS.

THE FACT THAT YOU SAY WE'RE GOING TO SIT HERE AND SPEND GENERAL FUND MONEY ON STUFF THAT COULD GO TO OTHER PRIORITIES AND ALL IS JUST ABSOLUTELY WRONG.

ANOTHER PROJECT, THE RAIL CONNECTING SYSTEM THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT FOR YEARS TO GO FROM DOWNTOWN TO LSU.

IF THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BACK THEN, IMAGINE WHERE THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE GROWING WITH THIS PROJECT TO HEAD THE OTHER WAY IN BATON ROUGE BY NOW.

MAYBE WE COULD HAVE HAD A LIGHT RAIL CONNECTION FROM SOUTHERN ALL THE WAY TO LSU WITH DOWNTOWN BEING THE HUB OF WHAT IT NEEDS TO BE.

LET'S NOT LOOK BACK FROM THIS 3, 04, 5 MONTHS, ONE YEAR, FIVE YEARS AFTER ALL OUR TERMS ARE GONE AND LOOK BACK AT THIS AND GO, WELL, WHAT COULD IT HAVE BEEN? WHERE WOULD BATON ROUGE BE NOW? NOT ONLY THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE BUT THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, THE PARISH ITSELF. SORRY.

>> IT'S JUST SOMETHING I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT.

I KNOW THAT KEEPS THROWING UP THERE A LOT AND I'M JUST GOING TO SAY IT.

WE TALK ABOUT WHAT WE LIKE.

THIS HERE RIGHT HERE, LET'S NOT LOOK BACK ON THIS AND GO WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN IF WE'D HAVE STARTED THIS PROCESS IN 2025.

I ASKED THE COUNCIL TO PLEASE PASS THIS.

>> COUNCILMAN HURST.

>> THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP EARLIER AS IT RELATES TO THIS PROJECT THAT OR INDIRECTLY POINTED TOWARDS ME FROM ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT I'M NOT AGAINST THE PROJECT.

I WAS AGAINST HOW IT WAS DONE.

I DO BELIEVE THE RIVER CITY NEEDS TO BE DONE.

I DO BELIEVE AND I AGREE WITH BRANDON, THAT WE ARE CAPABLE OF DOING MULTIPLE THINGS AT ONE TIME.

IF YOU LOOK AT MY PREVIOUS COMMENTS LAST YEAR WHEN THIS WAS DONE, I WAS SAYING, HOW ARE WE SIGNED A NON COMPETE WITHOUT ANY DATA TO JUSTIFY IT? BRANDON AND I HAVE HAD PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS.

WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR DEAL? I ASKED HIM DIRECTLY, I SAID, WHAT BANK MAKES A $200 MILLION DECISION WITHOUT DATA IN THE FINANCIAL REPORT.

I'VE ASKED ALL OTHER COLLEAGUES AND I

[01:05:03]

THIS IS NOT A ONE TIME THING FOR ME, AND I STAY ON MY GROUND AND ALL OF IT.

IN THE BACK HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT SAID, DON'T GO OUT THERE CUTTING UP THE MONEY'S OUT THERE.

I SAID, THE HELL WITH THE MONEY. I'M FOR THE PEOPLE.

THAT'S WHY 78% WAS ON THE BALLOT REGARDLESS WHO CAME AGAINST ME.

I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT REELECTION.

NOW, AS IT RELATED TO THE ATTORNEY, SINCE IT WAS BROUGHT UP, THE SAME ATTORNEY WAS ON THE EXXON MOBILE DEAL, ASKED ME WHY THAT'S INVOLVED, WAS REPRESENTING TAF, WAS REPRESENTING MEMORIAL PARK AND REPRESENTING RIVER CENTER AND WROTE THE AGREEMENT AND TURNED IT INTO THE CITY PARIS FOUR ORDINANCE.

THEN WE PAID THEM TO FIX IT AFTER HE BROKE IT DOWN.

IF YOU CAN'T TELL ME IT'S NOT CONFLICTS THERE.

NO, IT'S NOT RE ELECTION.

IT'S ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BUDGET, THE BUDGET MOVES AROUND.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE MID YEAR BUDGET SUPPLEMENTS.

WHEN STUFF IS WRONG, WE SHIFT IT.

IT'S ONE POT OF MONEY THAT WE ALLOCATE FOR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, AND WE SHIFT IT AROUND WHEN WE NEED TO BECAUSE IT'S ALL TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT PRIORITIES, I'M NOT SAYING, STOP IT.

IF THE TRAIN IS MOVING FORWARD, LET IT MOVE FORWARD.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS LET'S SIT DOWN AND LOOK AT WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE AND FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY NEED TO GO AND WHERE WE NEED TO ALLOCATE TIME, RESOURCES AND TALENT.

I WILL SPEAK TWICE, THREE TIMES, FOUR TIMES TEN TIMES, THEN I WILL SAY THE SAME THING.

BAD NEWS NEEDS TO GROW.

WE NEED TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY, INCLUDING THE PRESENTER. THANK YOU.

>> COUNCILMAN MOAK.

>> YOU BRING UP STATISTICS AND DATA, YOU WANT TO SEE STATISTICS AND DATA, AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

THE STATISTICS AND DATA IS GOING DOWN TO THE FIRST FLOOR, LOOKING OUT ACROSS THAT BUILDING, WALKING OUT ACROSS THAT PLAZA AT THE RIVER CENTER, AND YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO SEE RIGHT THERE, STATISTICALLY AND DATA WISE, THAT THAT BUILDING IS NOT GOING TO SUFFICE FOR ANY LONG TERM, NO MATTER HOW YOU CAN'T EVEN SINK ENOUGH MONEY INTO THAT ONE THERE.

TO GET IT TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE TO COMPETE WITH OTHER CITIES OUR SIZE.

ALSO, YOU CAN'T GET IT THERE BY KEEP THROWING MONEY OVER IT, MONEY AFTER IT, AND MONEY AFTER IT TO THE POINT TO WHERE IT NOT ONLY SUSTAINS ITSELF, BUT IT SUSTAINS THE WHOLE DOWNTOWN ECONOMY AND SUPPORT FOR ALL THE BUSINESSES AND EVERYTHING DOWNTOWN.

ALL OF THAT STUFF COMES BACK TO YOU IN RETURN BY GROWTH.

ALSO, BY THAT GROWTH, WOULD THEN ALLOW THE CITY PARISH ITSELF TO WORK WITH SOME OF THESE EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE IN POSSIBLY GIVING THEM RAISES AND WORKING WITH THEM AND KEEPING THEM IN THEIR JOBS, WITH EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON.

EVERYTHING WILL HAVE TO FLOW TOGETHER AND I TRULY FEEL THAT IT WILL.

IT'S JUST WE HAVE TO START TO PROCESS SOMEWHERE.

THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THAT PROCESS.

AGAIN, I'LL END THIS WITH LET'S NOT LOOK BACK.

LET'S NOT BE SITTING UP HERE AND WE ALL HAVE A REUNION 30 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, IF I'M STILL HERE AS FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS AND GO, MAN, I WISH WE'D DONE THAT.

I WISH WE'D REALLY DONE THAT. THANK YOU.

>> COUNCILWOMAN RACCA.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. I'M GOING TO APOLOGIZE.

I'M A LITTLE GROUCHY TODAY.

I HAD A ROOT CANAL BEFORE I GOT HERE.

I WAS A LITTLE LATE, SO I'M SORRY, BUT I'LL TELL YOU THIS.

I'D MUCH RATHER BE DOING THAT AGAIN THAN BEING HERE RIGHT NOW BASED ON THE COMMENTARY THAT I'VE HEARD SO FAR.

MR. LANDER, CAN YOU PLEASE COME UP.

SIR, WE HEAR THESE WORDS ALL THE TIME, MOSTLY FROM THE PUBLIC THAT DOESN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND OR COMPREHEND OR HAVE ANY IDEA OR ANY LAW DEGREE OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE.

JUST SOME OF THESE FUN TRIGGER WORDS THAT THEY LIKE TO THROW OUT THERE.

CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AN ETHICAL CONFLICT AND HOW THAT MAY OR MAY NOT RELATE TO YOU?

>> WELL, UNETHICAL CONFLICT IS WHEN YOU REPRESENT AN INTEREST THAT'S ON ONE SIDE WHEN YOU HAVE AN INTEREST ON THE OTHER.

MR. HURST'S COMMENTARY IS TOTALLY FALSE.

I DON'T WANT TO STOOP TO HIS LEVEL AND DISCUSS HIS ETHIC VIOLATIONS.

THEY'RE SITTING RIGHT NOW AT THE ETHICS COMMISSION.

I DON'T WANT TO GET TO THAT.

WHAT I'D LIKE TO GET TO IS HE'S CONFUSING SOMEONE WHO SPENT 50 YEARS WORKING IN THIS COMMUNITY IN MY SUCCESS.

I DON'T HAVE ETHICS PROBLEMS. I ENCOURAGE YOU, MR. HURST, THAT DON'T MAKE THOSE ACQUISITIONS AGAIN WITHOUT YOU GOING TO

[01:10:02]

DON'T MAKE ACQUISITIONS, GO TO THE PEOPLE WHO DO.

>> THIS IS YOU ABLE TO TALK TO ME BRANDON? THANK YOU, PLEASE.

>> YOU'RE THE ONE WHO'S MADE PERSONAL ACCUSATIONS GETS MADE.

THAT'S VERY INAPPROPRIATE.

THEY'RE VERY PERSONAL ACCUSATIONS [OVERLAPPING].

>> EXCUSE ME. THIS IS MY COUNCIL.

>> YOU WERE THE LAWYER FOR THE DEAL.

I DIDN'T SAY [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]

>> I'M THE LAWYER FOR 2000 PEOPLE.

WHEN YOU NEEDED HELP, MR. HURST, ON YOUR PROJECTS, WHO GAVE IT TO YOU FOR FREE?

>> MR. LANDER. I UNDERSTAND.

>> THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I DO THINK IT'S INAPPROPRIATE WITH THE TELEVISION GOING ON, WHERE I HAVE SPENT MY WHOLE CAREER TRYING TO DO SOMETHING FOR THIS COMMUNITY, AND I'M NOT GOING TO PUT UP WITH PEOPLE TRYING TO PERSONALLY COME AGAINST ME TO DESTROY.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

THE REASON I DO REPRESENT SO MANY PEOPLE IS BECAUSE I DO A GOOD JOB AND IT'S NOT ETHICAL AND I TRY TO DO WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY.

THAT IS MY PRIORITY.

APPARENTLY TAT IS NOT. [OVERLAPPING]

>> IT'S NOT ETHICAL AND SAY COUNCIL INTEREST.

>> COUNCILMAN IT'S NOT YOUR TIME.

>> NO.

>> COUNCILOR. MR. LANDER.

>> CONFLICT OF INTEREST IS WORDS. [OVERLAPPING]

>> IT IS MY TIME.

>> I DO NOT HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS FROM THE BAR ASSOCIATION?

>> NO? NOT AT ALL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WHAT I DO IS I END UP WITH THE FRONT PAGE OF THE BUSINESS REPORT, SAYING THAT WHAT I DO IS IMPROVING THE COMMUNITY.

I JUST HAPPENED TO BE IN POSITION THAT IF YOU CAN PULL ALL THIS STUFF TOGETHER AND WORK IT WHERE THERE ISN'T CONFLICTS WHERE PEOPLE AREN'T CLIMBING ALL OVER EACH OTHER LIKE CRABS TO GET THEIR OWN INTEREST, AND WE CAN WORK AS A COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

I THINK MR. HUDSON SAID IT ALL.

IT'S AMAZING THAT YOU HAVE THE CITY OF ST. GEORGE, YOU HAVE CENTRAL, YOU HAVE ZACHARY, AND WHAT ARE THEY DOING? THEY'RE ALL HERE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING DOWNTOWN? THAT'S WHAT INSPIRES ME.

I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK FOR AS MANY PEOPLE AS I CAN FOR THE BENEFIT OF THIS COMMUNITY, IRRESPECTIVE OF PEOPLE SLANDERING ME, SAYING THAT THERE ARE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, THERE ARE NONE OR THAT IT'S UNETHICAL.

I'M NOT GOING TO ACCEPT THAT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT ATTORNEYS IN CERTAIN POSITIONS WOULD RARELY PUT THEMSELVES IN ANY ETHICAL CONFRONTATION BASED ON THESE MINOR CONTRACTS WHEN YOU HAVE A BOOK OF BUSINESS AS LARGE AND AS SUCCESSFUL AS MR. LANDER'S.

BUT AT ANY RATE, I'LL ECHO WHAT HE SAID.

THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, WE'VE REACHED ACROSS THE AISLE.

WE HAVE WORKED AND COLLABORATED TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE PARIS AS A WHOLE.

THAT IS EXTENDED ACROSS NORTH BATON ROUGE, SOUTH BATON ROUGE, THE GISSEL BELL.

EVERYONE HAS COME TOGETHER AND SHOWN SOME INTEREST ON A PLACE THAT MAY BE THE PIECE THAT HOLDS THEIR CHILDREN OR THEIR GRANDCHILDREN HERE IN THE FUTURE.

AN ENTERTAINMENT OPPORTUNITY THAT MAY GET ENGINEERS FROM OTHER CITIES FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS TO COME TO BATON ROUGE, RATHER THAN OUR ENGINEERING STUDENTS RUNNING FROM SOUTHERN AND FROM LSU TO GO TO HOUSTON OR BEAUMONT OR DALLAS.

IT'S KEEPING SOME OF THOSE KIDS THAT RECEIVE TOPS THAT WE'VE INVESTED IN HERE WITH OUR FAMILIES, WITH THEIR FAMILIES GROWING.

WITH THAT, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, ALL OF THE PARTNERS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE, AND WELCOME THE NEW FOLKS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD AND HELPING US WITH THIS PROJECT.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 74.

>. COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, YOU USED YOUR EXTRA TIME ALREADY.

YOU CAN SECOND IT. BUT YOU HAD HIT TO TALK AGAIN.

>> I CAN SECOND COUNCILMAN.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILWOMAN RACCA SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN COUNCILMAN DUNN JUNIOR.

>> THANK YOU. I'LL HOPEFULLY PUT A BOW IN THIS THING.

IF YOU GUYS WILL REMEMBER WHEN WE APPROVED THE LSU ARENA, I KNOW I HEARD TWO THINGS FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

ONE, SOME JUST DIDN'T FUNDAMENTALLY AGREE WITH THE NON COMPETE AND I UNDERSTAND SOME PEOPLE'S PERSPECTIVE ON THAT.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S DONE IN BUSINESS ALL THE TIME TO TRY NOT TO BUSINESSES OR INTEREST TO CANNIBALIZE EACH OTHER.

YOU PUT IN PLACE OR SCOPE OF WORK OR SERVICE OR PRODUCT OFFERING THAT DOESN'T COMPETE WITH THE COUNTERPART, SO BOTH ENTITIES CAN SURVIVE.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED HERE AS THE ARENA AND THE NICHE FOCUS THAT IS ON THE RIVER CENTER AND THE CONVENTION INDUSTRY, WHICH IS A GREAT NICHE FOR US TO FOCUS ON AND NOT HAVE TO BE SO WIDESPREAD.

[01:15:03]

WE TALK PRIVATELY ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AND SEVERAL OTHER THINGS THAT WASN'T READY TO BE MADE PUBLIC AT THE TIME THAT WE APPROVED THE ARENA, BUT WHAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU IS THE PROGRESSION OF THAT PLAN FOR THE RIVER CENTER.

I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY'S WORK ON IT.

I WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN FOR HER LEADERSHIP, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU.

>> NINEVED HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.

DO WE HAVE ANY OPPOSITION? THEN MOTION CARIES. MR. HURT, OPPOSITION TO ANYBODY ELSE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO ITEM 61,

[61. 25-00610]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? COUNCILMAN HURST.

SORRY.

SEEING, NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

>> GIVEN THE LAST DISCUSSION, I WANT TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT THAT WE ADD AN S TO THE EIGHTH WORD.

THEN YOU PROVE THAT.

>> MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> HE WANTED S AT THE BEGINNING, SADVOCATE.

[BACKGROUND]

>> I'D LIKE TO AMEND IT THE CENTRAL CITY NEWS.

>> WE HAVE A SECOND ON THE MOTION?

>> SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET.

ANYONE OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THAT WAS GOOD.

ITEM 62, APPROVING THE ANNUAL CERTIFICATION

[62. 25-00611]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

SEE NONE, GO TO COUNCIL. MOTION BY CHAIR.

SECOND BY COUNCIL MCKENNEY, ANY OPPOSED.

MOTION CARRIES, ITEM 63,

[63. 25-00600]

>> HEY. HEY, Y'ALL.

Y'ALL STEP OUT IF YOU WANT TO TALK. I THINK THE MIKES ARE HOT.

>> PACKAGE A6 AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $83,498 BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

SEEING NONE, GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION.

MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JUNIOR.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM 64, AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH CALDWELL,

[64. 25-00601]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

SEEING NONE, GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION.

MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. WE HAVE A SECOND.

SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN RACCA. ANY OPPOSED.

MOTION CARRIES ITEM 65,

[65. 25-00607]

BOARD OF CONTROLS TO PURCHASE A PARCEL OF LAND ADJACENT TO THE SOUTH BRANCH LIBRARY FROM KENNETH BROWN DESIGN, LLC, AT A FAIR APPRAISAL VALUE OF $433,500 BY THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?

>> COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE E MAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 65.

>> SEEING NONE. GO TO COUNCIL. MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN RACCA.

SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET, ANY OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM 66, AMEND THE 2025 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET

[66. 25-00609]

>> TO HELP SUPPORT EXPENSES IN THE 2025 BUDGET BY THE CHARLES R. KELLY COMMUNITY CENTER.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, I'LL GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

[67. 25-00656]

[01:20:03]

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM 68, AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND

[68. 25-00613]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?

>> COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED AN EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 68.

>> GOOD EVENING. I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ZANDERS FOR DHDS.

WE'RE ASKING COUNCIL TO APPROVE 68 THROUGH 71, CONTINGENT ON AN AMENDMENT BY GRANTING REVIEW ON TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK.

THE ITEM SHOULD READ THROUGH 2026.

>> WAS IT ADVERTISED LIKE THAT?

>> YEAH.

>> IT WAS NOT? YOU SAID YES, IT WAS OR IT WAS NOT?

>> YES. IT WAS ADVERTISED AS 2025.

SEE IF THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AGREES WITH ME, BUT I DON'T THINK Y'ALL CAN MAKE THAT AMENDMENT ON THE FLOOR.

>> MR. ROME? KIM?

>> WE MET SOMEBODY FROM THE PARISH ATTORNEY OFFICE.

>> KELLY'S CONTRACT, RIGHT?

>> KELLY?

>> YES.

>> I THINK THIS IS A SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE FROM THE ITEM AS ADVERTISED.

FOR OPEN MEETINGS PURPOSES, ONCE AN ITEM IS ADVERTISED, WE CANNOT MAKE SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES TO THE ITEMS.

>> IT'S JUST ONE UMBER. [LAUGHTER]

>> MOTION TO DEFER ALL OF THEM. IS IT ALL OF THEM?

>> YEAH.

>> IT'S ALL.

>> 68 THROUGH 71.

>> IS IT A MOTION TO DELETE THEM AND RESUBMIT THEM?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S A MOTION TO DELETE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO RESUBMIT THE ITEMS.

>> MOTION TO DELETE ALL OF THEM.

>> WELL, I DIDN'T READ THEM ALL IN.

I READ 68. LET'S DEAL WITH 68, AND THEN WE'LL TAKE THE REST OF THEM TOGETHER.

>> GOT YOU.

>> ITEM 68, ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, I'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

COUNCILMAN MOAK, YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON IT?

>> THE QUESTION IS, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE APPROVED IN THE INTERIM? WE CAN DO IT THROUGH THE AUGUST 31ST, 2025 WHILE WE REINTRODUCE THE EXTENSION FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH '26. IS THAT AN OPTION?

>> I THINK IT IS BECAUSE IT'S A SUBRECIPIENT WHO IS ACTUALLY PROVIDING A SERVICE AND IS ESSENTIAL SERVICE.

>> DO THESE PEOPLE NEED TO GET PAID?

>> YEAH.

>> TO SEND ANYBODY ELSE.

>> YES, SIR.

>> IF WE APPROVE IT AS WRITTEN, WE CAN EXTEND IT BY REINTRODUCING ANOTHER ORDINANCE FROM THERE TO THE NEXT POINT.

>> YEAH. THAT WOULD BE [OVERLAPPING].

>> I THINK THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE THEY NEED TO MAKE PAYROLL.

>> MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> I'LL SECOND IT AND ABSTAIN FROM 69.

>> WELL, THIS IS STILL JUST 68, SO WE'RE GOOD.

WE HAVE MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MOAK, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JUNIOR.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

OH, THIS IS CONTINGENT ON GRANTS AND CONTRACT REVIEW.

THAT'S HOW THE MOTION WAS MADE, CORRECT?

>> RIGHT.

>> MOTION CARRIES. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ITEM 69 THROUGH 71 TOGETHER.

[Items 69 - 71]

SORRY. ITEM 70, AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND A SUBRECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH NO AIDS TASK FORCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $68,655 AND EXTEND THE CONTRACT PERIOD UNTIL AUGUST 31ST, 2025 FOR A TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT OF $667,616 BY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR.

ITEM 71, AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND A SUBRECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH CAPITOL CITY FAMILY HEALTH CENTER CASH IN THE AMOUNT OF $87,914 AND EXTEND THE CONTRACT PERIOD UNTIL AUGUST 31, 2025, FOR A TOTAL AWARDED AMOUNT OF $956,590 BY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR.

ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS?

>> COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 69 THROUGH 71.

[01:25:01]

>> YES, SIR. WE'RE ASKING TO EXTEND THE SERVICES UNTIL WE CAN ACTUALLY AMEND IT ON TUESDAY NEXT WEEK.

>> ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? SEEING ONE, I'LL GO TO COUNCIL?

>> MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MOAK. DO WE HAVE A SECOND?

>> SECOND.

>> SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO.

THAT'S CONTINGENT UPON GRANTS AND CONTRACT REVIEW, AND WE NEED TO SHOW COUNCILMAN DUNN JUNIOR ABSTAINING ON ITEM 69.

ANY OPPOSITION OTHERWISE? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 72,

[72. 25-00617]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

>> MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

>> SECONDED BY THE CHAIR. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

WE'LL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

WE'RE GOING TO CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER.

ONE ITEM IS 72.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE A MOTION? COUNCILMAN DUNN JUNIOR MAKES A MOTION TO APPROVE.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

ANY OPPOSITION? I'M GOING TO POSE AS WELL, TWO, THREE.

>> WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE MACHINES.

MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 72.

NOW RESET.

>> HANG ON.

>> WAIT.

MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 72.

MOTION CARRIES.

>> ITEM 73, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER

[73. 25-00618]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?

>> I DIDN'T. YES, YOU DO.

>> SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

OH, YOU WANT TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? NO. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JUNIOR. ANYONE OPPOSED?

>> I'M OPPOSED.

>> DWIGHT YOU'RE OPPOSED. THREE? OKAY. VOTE ON THE MACHINES.

>> WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE MACHINES ON ITEM 73.

MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 73.

>> YES.

>> MOTION CARRIES.

>> MOTION CARRIES.

>> ITEM 74, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION.

[74. 25-00619]

APOLOGIZE. WE'RE NOT GOING TO REDO THAT ONE.

[LAUGHTER] 75, A RESOLUTION OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SEWERS COMMISSION APPROVING THE TWO-YEAR APPOINTMENT OF ASHLEY BECK, COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR, TREASURER AS DIRECTOR TO THE BOARD OF LOUISIANA LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITIES AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BY THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR/TREASURER.

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

MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

[01:30:01]

CONGRATULATIONS. ITEM 76,

[76. 25-00625]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.

[77. 25-00707]

CONSIDERATION OF REPLACING OR REAPPOINTING THOMAS SMITH JUNIOR WHOSE TERM EXPIRES JUNE 28TH, EFFECTIVE JUNE 29, 2025, IS A FOUR-YEAR TERM.

CURRENT BALLOT IS THOMAS SCOTT JUNIOR REQUESTING REAPPOINTMENT.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? OH, IT IS.

YEAH, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THOMAS SCOTT ON BOTH.

SEEING NONE, I'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

MAKE A MOTION BY CHAIR.

SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. CHANGE ORDERS.

[78. 25-00682]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN RACCA.

SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

THE FINAL ACCEPTANCE IS 79W0131453RQ11350 PROJECT NUMBER,

[79. 25-00678]

FINAL COST $224,899.26.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, I'LL GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MOAK.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

[80. 25-00683]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, I'LL GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HARRIS. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ACCEPTANCE OF LOW BIDS 81,

[81. 25-00710]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, I'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MOAK.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

[82. 25-00716]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, I'LL GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY.

WE HAVE A SECOND, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. IS THAT IT?

[Adjournment and Announcements]

>> MOTION TO ADJOURN.

>> MEETING'S ADJOURNED.

>> ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? YES, MA'AM.

>> ON FRIDAY JUNE 13TH AT 6:00 P.M. WE WILL BE PEDALING FOR PEACE.

WE WILL BE STARTING AT SHOPPERS VALUE, RIDING TO HOWELL PARK ON WINBURN, AND THEN RIDING BACK TO SHOPPERS VALUE.

WE'RE ASKING DEPARTMENT HEADS.

I THINK WE'VE CONTACTED DEPARTMENT HEADS.

WE'RE ASKING THE MAYOR STAFF, AND I THINK SOME HAVE AGREED TO JOIN US.

[LAUGHTER] MASON, CHIEF, LA DUFF.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR BIKE AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR MIND RIGHT.

MOTORCYCLE. [BACKGROUND] MY COLLEAGUES, I HAVE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE AGREED TO JOIN US. COUNCILMAN MOAK?

>> [INAUDIBLE]

>> OH, NO EXCUSES.

YOU'RE ALWAYS THERE. ROWDY IS THERE.

COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN IS THERE.

>> HUDSON IS THERE.

>> HUDSON IS THERE.

OH, NO, HUDSON SAID EARLIER, I HAVE TO CONSIDER.

>> I HAVE TO CHECK WITH MY WIFE.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM? NO. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

>> I'LL SEE ABOUT SENDING [OVERLAPPING]. I'M NOT SURE.

>> COUNCILMAN DUNN IS GOING TO BE THERE.

WE'RE ASKING THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH TO PLEASE JOIN US.

COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, WHAT ABOUT YOURSELF?

[01:35:02]

>> [INAUDIBLE]

>> YOU GET AN EXCUSE.

BURGESS WILL BE THERE AND SOME OTHER FOLKS IN THE HOUSE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GREAT TIME.

RAIN, SNOW, SLEET, OR HURRICANE, WE ROLL IT.

>> RIGHT.

>> WE'RE ROLLING. JUNE 13TH ON A BIKE.

YES, MA'AM. STARTING POINT SHOPPERS VALUE.

PLEASE COME OUT AND SUPPORT THIS GREAT EVENT. WHAT'S WRONG? [BACKGROUND] YOU NEED ME TO DO WHAT? [BACKGROUND]

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.