>> HELLO EVERYBODY. WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH. [00:00:05] IT'S CELEBRATION DAY IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, BECAUSE TONIGHT AT THE BOX, THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR INVITE YOU TO JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE THE LSU TIGER FIGHTING TIGER BASEBALL TEAM WHO HAS WON THE NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE LAST THREE YEARS. WHILE WE'RE BRAGGING ON THE TIGERS, ALSO THE SEC HAS WON SIX STRAIGHT SEC CHAMPIONSHIPS. THEY WON THAT, THEN THEY HAVE ALSO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA. CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM. BUT ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL, WE'D LIKE TO SEE ALL OF YOU TONIGHT AT LSU AT THE BOX. ONLY FIVE DAYS LEFT UNTIL THE YEAR IS HALF OVER. GOOD TO HAVE ALL OF YOU WATCHING TONIGHT, AND AT THIS TIME HERE IS THE MAYOR PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH. COUNCILMAN BRANDON NOEL. >> THANK YOU, DENNIS. WELCOME, EVERYBODY TO THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25TH, 2025. WE'LL CALL THE MEETING IN ORDER. ASHLEY, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM? >> WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A INVOCATION AND PLEDGE BY I THINK MS. BATISTE. >> LET'S BOW OUR HEADS. FATHER GOD, WE THANK YOU RIGHT NOW IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO SEE ANOTHER DAY THAT YOU HAVE MADE, AND WE SHALL REJOICE AND BE GLAD THEREIN. DEAR GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU ALLOW YOUR HOLY SPIRIT TO BE IN THE MIDST OF THIS MEETING TONIGHT, HEAVENLY FATHER, THAT WE MAY DO THINGS IN DECENCY AND IN ORDER AND THAT WHATEVER WE DO WILL GLORIFY YOU AND PUSH OUR CITY STRAIGHT AHEAD. GOD I ASK THAT YOU WILL BLESS OUR LEADERS RIGHT NOW. IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, WE PRAY. AMEN. >> >> THANK YOU. I WANT ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES. [ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES] APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF JUNE 11, 2025 AND THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ZONING MEETING OF JUNE 11TH AND JUNE 18TH, 2025 BY THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATIVE TREASURER. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN [INAUDIBLE]. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ASHLEY, CAN YOU READ THE INTRODUCTIONS, PLEASE? [INTRODUCTIONS] >> SECTION 2.12, INTRODUCTIONS. NUMBER 2, GRANTING A FIVE YEAR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT ESTIMATED AT $937 PER YEAR FOR MEAD, LLC LOCATED AT 1704 SOUTH STREET BY PLANNING DIRECTOR. NUMBER 3, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A COLLECTION AGREEMENT WITH SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT TO COLLECT AND DISTRIBUTE THE 1% SALES TAX AND 1% OCCUPANCY TAX LEVIED BY THE DISTRICT, EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2025, BY THE FINANCE DIRECTOR. NUMBER 4, AMENDING THE 2025 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET AS TO APPROPRIATE $60,500 FROM THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE ON ASSIGNED FOR THE PURCHASE OF 12 REPLACEMENT PORTABLE RADIOS FOR THE EBRP CORONER'S OFFICE BY THE MAYOR PRESIDENT AND THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH CORONER. NUMBER 5, AMEND THE 2025 PAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED, UNCLASSIFIED, NON CLASSIFIED CONTRACT FOR FIRE AND POLICE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, SO AS TO MAKE FOLLOWING CHANGES EFFECTIVE JULY 26TH, 2025, AMENDING THE BASE SALARY RANGE FOR SEVERAL PAY GRADES, INCREASING THE PAY GRADE FOR CERTAIN CLASSIFICATIONS, CHIEF EMS OPERATIONS OFFICER TO DEPUTY CHIEF EMS OPERATIONS OFFICER, EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CHIEF OF OPERATIONS, AN EMT TRAINING OFFICER, AND TO AMEND THE CLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED APPENDIX BY THE INTERIM EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR AND THE HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR. NUMBER 6, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO AMEND THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH CONVENIENT CARE, LLC, TITLED OCCUPATIONAL MEDICAL, TO ADD CANCER SCREENING SERVICES FOR RETIRED AND ACTIVE FIREFIGHTER AND FIRE SERVICE EMPLOYEES WITH THE BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS REQUIRED BY LOUISIANA ACT 554, BEGINNING IN 2025, AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $395,000 ANNUALLY BY THE HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR. CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS, NUMBER 7, CLEARANCE GRANTING JUNIOR 5106 AND NET STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5, HURST. NUMBER 8, MARY ALICE GRIMES PEARL, 4740 MOHICAN STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS. NUMBER 9, PHILIP HARLOW, 3219 WYANDOT STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS. NUMBER 10, BRANDON VAUGHN WESSON, 5669 CYRUS AVENUE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS. NUMBER 11, ELMORE G. ANDERSON, 1706 NORTH 23RD STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS. NUMBER 12, MICHAEL D. AMBO, 6414 KINCAID AVENUE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS. NUMBER 13, BOBBY M. HORTON, 3217 OSWEGO STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS. [00:05:01] NUMBER 14, ROBINS REYNOLDS, LLC, 4063 MOHICAN STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS. NUMBER 15, PRUDENT ACQUISITIONS, LLC, 3695 NORTH FOSTER DRIVE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS. NUMBER 16, KEVIN DOUGLAS KNIGHTON, 2387 VIRGINIA STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN. NUMBER 17, DOROTHY M. MATEVIA, 820 JULIA STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN. NUMBER 18, WARREN LEE HURD, 2220 DAYTON STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN. NUMBER 19, EBER SONTAY PELICO & JOSHEL MARIA HENDERSON, 2520 LOBELIA AVENUE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN. NUMBER 20, COLLASPE TEMPLE JR. AND SANDRA JOHNSON, 940 EAST BOULEVARD, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN. ALL ITEMS THAT REQUIRE READING HAVE BEEN READ, A MOTION TO DELETE ITEMS 3, 5 AND 48 AT THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENTS, AND INTRODUCE ALL OTHER ITEMS AS IN ORDER. >> MOTION. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. I'M GOING TO GO TO CONDEMNATIONS. [CONDEMNATION] RECOMMENDATIONS FROM DPWR, PROCEED WITH ITEMS 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, AND 75, 60 DAYS ON ITEM 64 AND TO DELETE ITEM 65 AND 68. I'M GOING TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING. IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. HANG ON ONE SECOND. WE GOT SOME RECOMMENDATIONS. COUNCILMAN KENNEY? >> FIFTY FOUR, 60, 55, 30, 61, 30. >> FIFTY FOUR, 60 DAYS. >> FIFTY FIVE, 30. >> THIRTY DAYS. >> SIXTY ONE, 30. >> THEN I HAVE FROM DISTRICT 7, ITEM 57, 58, 69, AND 70 FOR 30 DAYS. THEN 90 DAYS ON ITEM 56. DISTRICT 10, WE HAVE 52, 53, AND 60 FOR 30 DAYS. THEN ITEM 74 FOR 60 DAYS. ANYBODY ELSE? I ALREADY HAVE THAT. YOU SAID DON'T, OR DO? WE HAVE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 50. WAIT. HANG ON, 60. PROCEED WITH ITEMS 50, 51, 59, 62 63, 66, 67, 71, 72, 73 AND 75. THIRTY DAYS ON ITEMS 52, 53, 55, 57 58, 60, 61, 69 AND 70. SIXTY DAYS ON ITEM 54, 64 AND 74, AND 90 DAYS ON ITEM 56, DELETE ITEM 65 AND 68. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 76, AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A DESIGN FOR [76. 25-00685] THE OFFICIAL FLAG OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE BY COUNCILMAN AARON MOAK. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? >> COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 76. >> SEEING NONE, WE GO TO COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN MOAK. >> THANK YOU. FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR EDWARD'S OFFICE, I WANT TO PRESENT SOMEONE THAT HAS WORKED PRETTY DILIGENTLY. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, ACTUALLY IT WAS QUITE A WHILE AGO, THERE WAS PRESENTED A FLAG TO EACH ONE OF YOU-ALL FOR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, [00:10:02] AND THIS GENTLEMAN JUST PRESENTED IT, TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT AND SO ON. BUT WE STARTED LOOKING AT IT, SAT ON THE DESK AND WE THOUGHT, WHY NOT GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS? THERE'S ONLY TWO OTHER PARISHES RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE A FLAG THAT REPRESENTS THE PARISH AS A WHOLE. WE HAVE A CITY OF BATON ROUGE FLAG, WE HAVE THE STATE FLAG, AND OF COURSE, THE UNITED STATES FLAG. BUT I THOUGHT WHY NOT? WE HAVE FIVE ENTITIES IN THIS CITY NOW, ST. GEORGE, CENTRAL, BAKER, ZACHARY, AND THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE ALSO. THEN WE HAVE THE PARISH AS A WHOLE. WHAT BETTER WAY TO REPRESENT THE UNIFYING AND UNITY OF WORKING UNDER ONE FLAG FOR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH? THIS GENTLEMAN RIGHT HERE THAT CREATED THIS FLAG, HE WORKS FOR CITY PARISH ACTUALLY. THAT'S ONE GREAT THING. HE WORKS FOR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. HE HAS A VESTED INTEREST IN THIS PARISH, HE WANTS TO SEE GREAT THINGS, BUT HE ALSO HAS A HOBBY OF DESIGNING FLAGS. NOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT, DOES THIS PERSON JUST SIT AROUND AND DRAW STUFF OUT? NO. HE ACTUALLY STUDIES THE HISTORY, THE COLORS, THE REPRESENTATION, AND THE THINGS. IF YOU WONDER WHAT ALL HAS BEEN PUT INTO THIS FLAG IN THIS DESIGN, I'M GOING TO LET HIM EXPLAIN HOW AND WHY THIS CAME UP WITH. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO CALL MR. MARK LEBLANC UP TO THE PODIUM TO TELL US ABOUT THE FLAG. >> HELLO, EVERYBODY. I ACTUALLY BROUGHT ONE JUST TO PUT UP HERE FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES. THIS FLAG, I STARTED WORKING ON LAST YEAR. I WORKED WITH DENNIS ON THE CITY FLAG IN 1995, SO I SAID, MAYBE THE PARISH COULD USE A FLAG AS WELL BECAUSE IT'S BECOMING A TREND AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT COUNTIES ALSO HAVE FLAGS. WE HAVE TWO PARISHES IN LOUISIANA THAT HAVE FLAGS, ST. BERNARD'S PARISH AND PLAQUEMINES PARISH. I SAID, WELL, WHY NOT EAST BATON ROUGE. I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE ONE FLAG TO REPRESENT EVERYBODY WHO LIVES HERE. WE HAVE THE CITY FLAG AND BAKER, ZACHARY, CENTRAL AND ST. GEORGE MAY WANT TO COME UP WITH THEIR OWN FLAG DESIGN ONE DAY. TO BRIEFLY EXPLAIN WHAT THE FLAG MEANS, WHEN THE FRENCH EXPLORERS CAME UP OR SAILED UP THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, THEY SAW TREE TRUNKS WITH ANIMALS HANGING ON AND BLOOD ON IT. THE RED STICK SYMBOLICALLY REPRESENTED BETWEEN THE TWO WHITE LINES HERE. THE REDFIELD REPRESENTS THE BLOOD THAT THE FRENCH SHIP FLOORS SAW, AND WE HAVE THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR ECONOMY AND TO OUR CULTURE HERE. WE HAVE A SHIELD, WHICH WE CURRENTLY HAVE ON THE CITY FLAG THAT REPRESENTS THE THREE COUNTRIES THAT HELD THIS AREA, THE FLEUR-DE-LIS OF FRANCE, SPANISH CASTLE, AND THE UNION JACK OF GREAT BRITAIN. THEY ALL HELD THIS PARTICULAR AREA DURING THE HISTORY OF BATON ROUGE AND EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH. THAT'S WHERE THE SYMBOLOGY CAME FROM THE FLAG. I'M A MEMBER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN VEXILLOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, A BUNCH OF FLAG PEOPLE, AND THEY ACTUALLY LOOKED AT IT. THEY LIKED IT. WE HAD A FEW LITTLE CHANGES AND TWEAKS, BUT, I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE HAD A PARISH FLAG TO REPRESENT US. THAT'S ALL I HAD TO SAY AT THIS POINT, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS. >> WITH THAT, COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SEE THE THOUGHT PROCESS AND THE DESIGN BY, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS FLAG FOR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH. >> MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MOE, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON. ANY OPPOSITION? COUNCILMAN KENNEY. COUNCILMAN HUDSON. >> I'LL JUST BRIEFLY SAY, I WANT TO THANK MARK. MARK, THE DILIGENCE THAT YOU'VE PUT INTO THIS WORK REALLY SPEAKS TO THE DILIGENCE OF THE WAY YOU'VE SERVED CITY PARISH THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER. MARK HAS BEEN ON THE RETIREMENT BOARD. MARK HAS SERVED, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN HERE, MARK. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN HERE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE FOR SURE. I JUST WANT TO SAY WE APPRECIATE YOU AND THE DILIGENCE YOU'VE PUT INTO THIS PROJECT, BUT WE APPRECIATE THE DILIGENCE THAT YOU'VE PUT INTO YOUR ENTIRE CAREER IN SERVING CITY PARISH. THANK YOU. >> I APPRECIATE THAT. IT'S BEEN 36 YEARS, AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT CAREER HERE. THIS CITY PARISH IS LIKE A FAMILY, AND I'VE WORKED IN TWO DEPARTMENTS, FINANCE, AND NOW PUBLIC WORKS, AND MY REAL SERVICES. A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE, A LOT OF HARD WORK AND DEDICATED PEOPLE. IF YOU-ALL HAVE APPROVED IT, I'VE ACTUALLY TAKEN THE LIBERTY OF BUYING A FIVE FOOT BY EIGHT FOOT VERSION THAT Y'ALL CAN FLY OUTSIDE. [00:15:01] I WANT TO DONATE IT TO THE PARISH AS THE FIRST FLAG. [APPLAUSE] >> AT THIS TIME, WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THE MAYOR COME UP AND TO EACH ONE OF ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THE NEWLY APPROVED FLAG OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH. >> YOU ALL WANT TO A VOTE ON IT FIRST? >> I THOUGHT YOU ALREADY DID. YOU HAVE NO OBJECTION. >> ANY OBJECTION? >> NO. >> NO. [OVERLAPPING] >> THANK YOU. >> HERE YOU WANT TO [OVERLAPPING]. [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD. >> SORRY. >> YOU WANT TO GO UP HERE. >> I WANT TO COME. [BACKGROUND] >> THREE, TWO, ONE. >> [APPLAUSE] IF WE COULD GET DENNIS FROM PUBLIC RELATIONS TO JUST HOLD THE FLAG UP BEHIND US FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING. I WANT TO THANK MARK. MARK AND I GREW UP THREE HOUSES DOWN FROM EACH OTHER. I WALKED UP AND HE SAID, HEY, BRIAN, MY REAL NAME IS BRIAN, BY THE WAY FROM BACK TODAY. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, ONE, FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND TWO, IT'S ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. GOD BLESS YOU AND THANK YOU. IT'LL BE FLYING TOMORROW. THANK YOU. >> APPRECIATE IT. [OVERLAPPING] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> YOU CAN HAVE IT BACK. >> THANK YOU. >> MOVING ON. RESOLUTION CALLING ITEM 77, [77. 25-00686] 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 15TH, 2025 FOR RENEWAL OF THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF THE AVALOR PROPERTY TAX OF FIVE MILLS IN EACH CALENDAR YEAR, AND ALL PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION IN THE DISTRICT FOR A PERIOD OF NINE YEARS COMMENCING IN AND INCLUDING THE YEAR 2026, TWO AND INCLUDING THE YEAR 2034, WHICH ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF SUCH TAX REASONABLY EXPECTED TO BE COLLECTED FROM SUCH RENEWAL IS APPROXIMATELY $351,194.50 FOR EACH ENTIRE YEAR OF THE LEVY WITH THE AVAIL OF PROCEEDS OF SET 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 APPLICATIONS TO STATE TO LOUISIANA STATE BOND COMMISSION AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH FOR FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 6. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEE, NO, AND GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON. ANY OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 78, AUTHORIZE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT [78. 25-00679] WITH CORPORATE MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS FOR HVAC LABOR ONLY AND CHILLER LABOR AND MATERIALS AT VARIOUS CITY PARISH BUILDINGS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,000,750 BY BUILDING AND GROUNDS DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. SEE, NO AND GO TO COUNCIL? HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MOAK, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. SEVENTY NINE, AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT [79. 25-00680] WITH TYLER TECHNOLOGIES INC FOR MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT OF THE MUNIS AND EXECUTION SOFTWARE PLATFORMS AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 475,000 FOR A TERM OF JULY 14TH, 2025 TO JULY 13TH, 2026, MY INFORMATION SERVICES DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEE NO AND GO TO COUNCIL, HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 80, AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF [80. 25-00684] THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ENTER INTO AN ACCESS AGREEMENT CONTRACT WITH HALF MOON PICTURES, LLC FOR THE DOCUMENTARY TELEVISION SERIES. CURRENTLY, ENTITLED ON PATROL LIVE. THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL BE COMPENSATED FOR THE LICENSING RIGHTS AND WILL COMMENCE ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE AGREEMENT THROUGH AND INCLUDING MAY 15TH, 2026 BY THE POLICE CHIEF. ANY ONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? CHIEF. >> EVENING COUNCIL, I'M SURE YOU ALL GOING TO HAVE QUESTIONS DURING YOUR TIME, BUT I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A SECOND AND SAY THIS IS SOMETHING I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT. [00:20:03] I KNOW IT'S JUST BEEN ON THE AGENDA SINCE TWO WEEKS AGO, AND SO IT'S NEW TO SOME PEOPLE, BUT IT'S A PROJECT I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. HAVE MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ACTUAL TV AND PRODUCTION COMPANY AS WELL AS CURRENT AND FORMER POLICE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS TV SHOW OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS OF ITS EXISTENCE. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AMAZING NOT ONLY FOR THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE. THIS SHOW IS NOT A REALITY TV SHOW HAS BEEN PORTRAYED IN THE NEWS. IT IS MORE OF A DOCUMENTARY, AND THEY MUCH RATHER SHOW THE POSITIVE SIDE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY INTERACTIONS THAN ANYTHING NEGATIVE. WE HAVE A LOT OF CONTROL OVER HOW THE SHOW IS DONE, WHAT OFFICERS ARE ON THERE, WHERE THOSE OFFICERS PATROL, WHAT WORK THEY DO. LIKE I SAID, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU-ALL HAVE, BUT I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROSPECT ON HOW IT PUSH FORWARD THE BRANDING AND HELP US WITH RECRUITING OF BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU CHIEF. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? MAYOR, PLEASE. >> JUST SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE CHIEF, MY SUPPORT FOR THIS TV SHOW. LOOKING INTO IT AND TALKING TO CHIEF LA DUFF AND TALKING TO CHIEF MORSE. ANY OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE POSITIVITY ON OUR PARISH OR IN PARTICULAR BATON ROUGE AND THE POSITIVE STORIES. WE KNOW IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE OFTEN HEAR THE NEGATIVE. BUT THIS IS, I THINK A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO SPOTLIGHT AND SHINE ON THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS OUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES INDEED DO. JUST SPEAKING ON SUPPORT OF THE CHIEF AND THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. SEEING NO, GO TO COUNCIL? COUNCILMAN KENNEY. >> CHIEF MORSE, A QUICK QUESTION RIGHT QUICK. I KNOW I HAD A COUPLE OF CONSTITUENTS REACH OUT. I THINK SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS WAS, THIS IS NOT A COPS 2.0. I THINK THAT'S THE REALITY SHOW THAT MOST OF US GREW UP WATCHING ON TV AROUND POLICING IN A SENSE. JUST WHAT SEPARATES ON PATROL FROM ANY OTHER I DON'T WANT TO, I KNOW IT'S NOT A REALITY TV SHOW BUT YOU ALL SAID, BUT WHAT SEPARATES THIS SHOW FROM ANY OTHER PREVIOUS POLICE RELATED SHOWS THAT'S BEEN ON TV ON-. >> YES SIR. GREAT QUESTION. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'M NOT GOING TO TALK NEGATIVE ABOUT COPS, BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT THAT TYPE OF SHOW. COPS, IT WAS BACK IN THE 90S AND IT WAS 30 MINUTES OF HIGH OCTANE, HIGH ADRENALINE, JUST GO AND PROBABLY A LOT OF IT WAS ACTUALLY EVEN STAGED. THIS IS MORE OF A DOCUMENTARY FOLLOWING WHAT POLICE WORK IS ALL ABOUT. THE PUBLIC SEES IS 10% OF POLICE WORK. THIS IS SHOWING THE OTHER 90% OF THE COMMUNITY INTERACTION, SHOWING THE HUMAN BEHIND THE BADGE. WHAT ALSO SEPARATES THIS SHOW IS THAT THIS SHOW REALIZES THAT THE VIEWERS AND WHAT THEY'VE SHOWN IN THEIR MARKETING AND THEIR RATINGS IS THE VIEWERS WOULD MUCH RATHER SEE A TRAFFIC STOP DONE BY A POLICE OFFICER THAT ENDS WITH A WARNING AND ADVICE ABOUT WHERE TO GET THE BEST LISA PIZZA THAN THEY WOULD A VEHICLE PURSUIT. THIS SHOW REALLY HIGHLIGHTS THOSE THINGS ON A DAILY BASIS. THEY SHOW THE OFFICERS WALKING A BEAT, GOING DOWNTOWN, SHOWING THE FESTIVALS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE CITY, AND IT BRINGS TOURISM TO THE AREAS THAT THE SHOW IS IN. >> I GUESS IT'S SAY A RECORD AS WELL. WHAT IS THE OVERSIGHT THAT YOU AND YOUR OFFICE WOULD HAVE? I GUESS WHAT'S AIRED ON THIS PARTICULAR SHOW. >> ON THE FRONT END, I'M GOING TO HAVE ALL THE OVERSIGHT ON WHAT OFFICERS ARE DOING ON THE SHOW AND THEN WHAT AREAS THOSE OFFICERS ARE PATROLLING AND WHAT ACTION THOSE OFFICERS ARE TAKING. ON THE BACK END, WE HAVE ABOUT A 30 MINUTE WINDOW WHERE WE GET TO WATCH THE SHOW LIVE, AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS ON THE SHOW, WE HAVE CONTROL TO THEN SAY, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SHOW THAT BECAUSE IT CONSTITUTES SOMETHING WRONG WITH OUR INVESTIGATION OR OFFICER SAFETY OR JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T LIKE IT. I'VE REACHED OUT TO MANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND THEY'VE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE OF ANYTHING THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GO ON THE SHOW, THEN HAPPENING LIVE. OTHER THING, THE SHOW DOES HAPPEN LIVE FRIDAYS AND SATURDAY NIGHTS, BUT THEY FILMED DURING THE WEEK. DURING THE WEEK, THEY'LL COME OUT AND IF WE'RE DOING A COMMUNITY WALK IN GLEN OAKS, THEN THEY'LL GO AND FOLLOW THE OFFICERS DOING COMMUNITY WALK AND SAYING HI TO PEOPLE AND THAT WILL MAKE THE SHOW ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS. IF THEY'RE WITH US RIGHT NOW, THEY WOULD BE DOWNTOWN AT THE RIVER CENTER CHECKING OUT THE BOWLING AND WATCHING OFFICERS INTERACT WITH THE PEOPLE AT THE BOWLING. FRIDAY NIGHT, HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAMES, ALL THOSE THINGS IN BETWEEN. >> I APPRECIATE FOR THAT CHIEF. I GUESS THE OTHER CONCERN IS THE 10%. BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AS WELL, THERE'LL BE CERTAIN STOPS THAT'LL BE SHOWN. I THINK THE BIGGEST THING A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE OFTENTIMES CRIME IS OFTEN PUT ON THE NORTHERN PART OF THE PARISH. WE JUST WANT TO GUESS MAKING SURE IF IN THAT 10% IS A DIVERSITY OF WHAT'S SHOWN, WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE COMMUNITY. >> YES SIR, I CAN DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THAT. LET ME SAY THIS. THIS IS DEFINITELY AN EXERCISE IN TRUST. I ASK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO TRUST ME. IF WE'RE ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND WE SHOW IN DOING AN ARREST, CATCHING A BURGLAR IN NORTH BATON ROUGE AND GUS YOUNG WHERE I USED TO WORK. SATURDAY NIGHT, I'M GOING TO TELL MY GUYS, [00:25:01] LOOK, WE'RE NOT GOING IN THAT AREA. LET'S GO SOMEPLACE ELSE. LET'S GO WALK AROUND DOWNTOWN AND SHOW OFF THE BARS, AND LET'S SHOW OFF SOME OF THE COMMUNITY THINGS WE HAVE GOING ON. I'M GOING TO HAVE THAT CONTROL OVER WHAT WE'RE DOING. >> THANK YOU CHIEF. >> YES, SIR. >> ALL RIGHT, CHIEF. CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY YOU SEE THIS AS A BENEFIT OR AS A TOOL THAT YOU CAN USE, WHETHER IT BE FOR RECRUITMENT OR JUST FOR SHOWCASING THE CITY AND THE WAY YOU VIEW IT? >> THE WAY I VIEW IT IS WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO INCREASE OUR BRANDING, TELLING OUR FULL STORY. BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ONE OF THE PREMIER DEPARTMENTS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT. NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT WE'RE CLEAR ACCREDITED. NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT WHEN WE GO OUT ON A CALL OF A VEHICLE BURGLARY, WE HAVE DRONES WITH FLARE TECHNOLOGY AND THE TRUNKS OF POLICE CARS THAT WE CAN AUTOMATICALLY THROW UP IN THE AIR AND TRY TO FIND THOSE PEOPLE AND TRACK THEM. NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS OF ALL THE TRAINING THAT OUR OFFICERS GO THROUGH. THIS IS JUST BE A GOOD WAY FOR PEOPLE TO SAY, BATON ROUGE HAS AN AMAZING POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE GOING ON. IT WILL SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON THAT. THEN WHEN IT JUST COMES TO THE CITY, WAY I HAVE IT VISIONED IS SOME PEOPLE THAT MAY NEVER EVEN WANT TO TALK TO THE POLICE, ONCE WE'RE ON THE SHOW AND SOME OF THESE OFFICERS BECOME MANY CELEBRITIES, THAT'S GOING TO BE A FOOTHOLD TO GET INTO SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS AND SOME OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, AND THOSE OFFICERS CAN THEN GO AND BRING THEIR MESSAGE AND TALK TO THOSE KIDS AND TALK TO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND BUILD BETTER COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. >> CHIEF, HOW ABOUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP TO ME BY ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS WAS THIS IS GOING IN THE WAY OF THEIR POLICING, THEY HAVE A JOB TO DO AND THIS IS GOING TO BE JUST AN EXTRA LIABILITY FOR THE OFFICER TO BE WORRIED ABOUT WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO DO THEIR JOB OR IS GOING TO GET IN THE WAY FROM THEM ACTUALLY DOING THEIR JOB. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT? >> THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AND SOMETHING I'VE CONSIDERED WITH MY TRAINING BACKGROUND AND SWAT BACKGROUND. THE OFFICERS THAT WE WOULD CHOOSE FOR THIS WOULD HAVE VERY SIMILAR TRAINING TO OFFICER THAT'S IN THE FTO PROGRAM AND HAS TO WATCH OUT FOR A ROOKIE OFFICER. THE CAMERA CREW THEMSELVES, THE SHOW'S BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, THE CAMERA CREW IS VERY HIGHLY TRAINED. THEIR WHOLE MOTTO IS TO JUST BE FLIES ON THE WALL AND NOT GET IN THE WAY. WE ARE DEFINITELY BE COGNIZANT OF THAT. THE OFFICERS THAT ARE CHOSEN FOR THIS GOING TO HAVE EXTRA TRAINING BEFORE THE SHOW EVEN STARTS ON EVERYTHING FROM TACTICS AND THEN MEDIA AND PRESENTATION SO THAT THEY REPRESENT WELL. >> LAST THING IS THERE'S BEEN MENTIONED ABOUT SOME OF THE VERBIAGE IN THE CONTRACT ON THE AVAILABILITY FOR THINGS TO BE USED IN PERPETUITY. I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT AND IF THAT'S A CONCERN FOR YOU? >> ONE THING I'LL SAY ABOUT THE CONTRACT IS THAT THE SHOW IS ACTUALLY OWNED, IT'S ON TWO DIFFERENT NETWORKS ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS, BUT THE SHOW IS ACTUALLY OWNED BY AMAZON. YOU'VE GOT A BUNCH OF AMAZON ATTORNEYS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH THIS THING AND STANDARD CONTRACT THAT THEY'VE USED FOR EVERY POLICE DEPARTMENT. PART OF THE AGREEMENT IS THAT IT IS THEIR FOOTAGE. THEY FILM IT, SO IT IS THEIR FOOTAGE. THAT IS GOOD FOR US BECAUSE THEN THAT FOOTAGE IS NOT FOR YOU OR PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST. THAT IS THEIRS AND NOBODY CAN GET AHOLD OF THAT. OF COURSE, IF SOMEBODY WANTS FOOTAGE FROM OUR BODY WORN CAMERAS, THEY CAN STILL GET AHOLD OF THAT THROUGH PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST. BUT THIS FOOTAGE IS THEIRS TO USE. THEIR STANDARD PRACTICE IS THAT THEY DELETE ALL FOOTAGE AFTER 30 DAYS BECAUSE AS YOU CAN IMAGINE THERE ARE 9 OR 10 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WITH CAMERAS ROLLING. IT'S A LOT OF FOOTAGE TO STORE, AND SO THAT FOOTAGE GETS WIPED OUT AND ERASED AFTER 30 DAYS. BUT A PART OF THE CONTRACT THAT HAS BEEN GONE THROUGH IS IT'S THEIR FOOTAGE. >> THEN AS FAR AS WHAT'S AIRED, YOU HAVE SOME DISCRETION OVER THAT AS WELL? >> CORRECT. I OR SOMEBODY ON MY SENIOR STAFF, FOR OF COURSE, THE FIRST SEVERAL WEEKS, IT'S GOING TO BE ME BECAUSE I'M ASKING YOU ALL TO TRUST ME ON THIS, IT'S GOING TO BE ME. GET TO A LINK AND WE GET TO WATCH THE VIEWING LIVE, AND IT ACTUALLY DIDN'T HIT THE TV UNTIL ABOUT 15 OR 30 MINUTES LATER. I HAVE FULL CONTROL OVER PICKING UP THE PHONE AND TALKING TO THE PRODUCER AND SAY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SHOW THAT, AND THIS IS WHY. EVERYBODY I'VE TALKED TO IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS HAS NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH THIS. ANYTIME THAT I WOULD HAVE AN ISSUE, IF FRIDAY NIGHT, I PICK UP THE PHONE AND SAY, WE DON'T WANT TO SHOW THAT AND IT SHOWS ANY. IF WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH THE SHIFT, THE CAMERAS ARE COMING OUT OF MY CARS BY THE END OF THE SHIFT AND THEY'RE NOT COMING BACK. WE'VE MADE THAT VERY CLEAR TO THE SHOW AND THEY'RE VERY ON BOARD WITH THAT AND THEY'VE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE. >> PAST ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, IF I CAN HAVE SOMEBODY COME SPEAK ON THE CONTRACT. I'M ASSUMING YOU ALL COME THROUGH THIS CONTRACT JUST LIKE THE AMAZON ATTORNEYS LIKE CHIEF TALKED ABOUT, BUT WITH THAT PORTION THAT TALKS ABOUT IN PERPETUITY, DID THAT GIVE YOU ALL ANY HEARTBURN OR WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THAT AS FAR [00:30:01] AS IT BEING ABLE TO BE USED AND TALK TO. >> A TYPICAL CONTRACT. IT'S NOT LIKE THIS. IT USUALLY THE CITY OWNS THE DATA, BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT. THIS IS A FILMING COMPANY, AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUE WITH THAT DO YOU? >> I DON'T. THE OWNERSHIP ISN'T A QUESTION OF LAW. IT'S MORE OF A MATTER OF POLICY. >> FOR ME, I CAN TELL YOU, I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN THERE. BUT I THINK AGAIN, WITH CHIEF, IF YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO STOP SOMETHING FROM BEING RUN. >> HE'S GOT A GUN ON. >> WELL. THAT'S RIGHT. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. CHIEF, I GUESS I'D SAY I FEEL LIKE YOU'VE GIVEN US NO REASON NOT TO TRUST YOU AND YOU'VE BEEN FORTHCOMING WITH EVERYTHING WE'VE ASKED, AND YOU SEE THIS AS A TOOL. >> I'LL SAY THIS TOO, COUNCILMAN, IF I WAS THE SHERIFF, THIS WOULD ALREADY BEEN SIGNED AND DONE. BUT THE FACT THAT I'M COMING TOWARDS YOU ALL MEANS YOU'LL HAVE SOME CONTROL OVER THE SHOW AS WELL. IF YOU ALL ARE SEEING SOMETHING, LOOK, CHIEF, ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS CALL ME AND WE'LL SAY, HEY OFFICERS, YOU AREN'T DOING IT THIS NIGHT, OR YOU ALL AREN'T GOING IN THIS AREA, YOU ALL NOT DOING THESE TYPE OF THINGS. WE'RE NOT DOING DW ENFORCEMENT ON A FRIDAY NIGHT BECAUSE THIS IS GOING ON. WE WILL HAVE THAT FRONT SIDE CONTROL. SINCE I ANSWER TO YOU ALL, YOU ALL WILL HAVE CONTROL OVER THAT >> APPRECIATE THAT, BUT I BELIEVE IN GIVING PEOPLE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO DO, AND THIS IS A REVENUE NEUTRAL. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THEY'RE GOING TO COVER ANY OVERTIME. I THINK THAT'S A POSITIVE THING. IT'S NOT COSTING THE CITY AND YOU SEE IT AS A TOOL TO HELP YOU AND I ALWAYS WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH WHATEVER TOOLS YOU NEED TO DO YOUR JOB. THE ONLY OTHER THING I'LL SAY IS IF YOUR OFFICERS DO HAVE GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PIZZA PLACES, I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THOSE, SO WE CAN GET THOSE. >> I CAN HOOK YOU UP AT LATIN FOO. YOU GOT MEMBER MY BROTHER IN LAW TOO. >> I DON'T DISCRIMINATE WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD AS YOU CAN TELL. THANKS, CHIEF. COUNCILMAN HURST. >> MY WIFE IS A HUGE CRIME SHOW BUFF. WE WATCH FIRST 48 AND ALL THESE OTHER I ALWAYS SAY, BABY, ARE YOU PLANNING FOR MY EXIT. BUT WHAT I'VE LEARNED EVEN BY WATCHING THOSE SHOWS. IT DOESN'T DETER PEOPLE FROM GOING FROM MEMPHIS OR ANY OTHER PLACE WHERE THEY DO IT ACTUALLY MAKES THE OFFICER CELEBRITIES. IT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL IT DOES. IT IS FROM BASED ON WHAT I'VE SEEN, BUT IT ALSO SHOWS THAT THEY DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARREST PEOPLE AND RESPOND TO CRIME TO CREATE THE BEST LEVEL OF PUBLIC SAFETY. YOU HAVE NO ISSUE WITH ME AND YOU TOLD ME SOMETHING A WHILE BACK ABOUT WHY WE PAY LESS FOR OUR DOGS THAN MOST FOLKS. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT? THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING THAT COULD BE HIGHLIGHTED IN THE SHOW ABOUT HOW WE SET THE BAR IN THAT SPACE AND HELP OTHER MUNICIPALITIES. YOU CAN SPEAK ABOUT YOUR DOG TRAINING? >> YES. WE HAD THE VERY FIRST EVER UNITED STATES POLICE K9 ASSOCIATION, K9 TRAINING FACILITY RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED STATES POLICE K9 IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY HERE. THAT TRADITION HAS CONTINUED. WE TRAIN OUR OWN GERMAN SHEPHERD OR BELGIAN MALINOIS POLICE DOGS THAT WE GET OVERSEAS, WE TRAIN THEM OURSELVES. BECAUSE OF THAT, WE PAY AT LEAST HALF, SOMETIMES LEFT HALF PRICED THAN A LOT OF OTHER AGENCIES WHO GET THEIR DOGS PRE-TRAINED FROM OTHER VENDORS. WE DO THAT HERE. WE TRAIN OTHER DEPARTMENTS. HAMMOND HAS A COUPLE OF HANDLERS THAT ARE ABOUT TO BE COMING THROUGH THAT WE TRAIN THEM AS WELL. WE HOSTED NATIONALS LAST YEAR. WE JUST PARTICIPATED IN A REGIONAL K9 COMPETITION. WE FINISHED FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD. VERY SIMILAR, AND PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT THING, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT PUSHING OUR BRANDING SO THAT PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND. >> I THINK FROM A BRANDING PERSPECTIVE, AS LONG AS IT'S DIVERSE, LIKE MY FELLOW COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER KENNEY SAID, ON BOTH SIDES OF TOWNS IN SHENANDOAH COUNTRY CLUB, LOUISIANA. >> YES, SIR. >> SCOTLANDVILLE, AREA. I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE A COUNTRY CLUB, BUT YOU GET THE POINT OF WHAT I'M SAYING, BOCARS, WHEREVER IT IS, TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NO DISPARITIES IN WHERE YOU FILM AND WHO YOU FILM AND WHO GETS TO HAVE THE 15 SECONDS OF FAME ON YOUR SHOW, I DON'T SEE ANY ISSUE. BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT YOU WILL HAVE MY VOTE BECAUSE YOU'RE EITHER DOING ONE THING, EITHER ADVANCING YOUR DEPARTMENT OR YOU'RE SIGNING YOUR RESIGNATION LETTER. YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT. LIKE WHEN YOU ARE IN A POSITION LIKE THIS IN LEADERSHIP, YOU HAVE A THING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX. YOU'RE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF RECRUITMENT. YOU FEEL LIKE THIS IS A BIG TOOL. TAKING AN ADVOCATE OF WHY PEOPLE SHOULD COME TO BRPD VERSUS THE MURDER SCENES THAT THEY SEE ON THE INTERNET. >> ALL DAY LONG. YOU'LL HAVE MY SUPPORT, BUT AGAIN, SAY THIS IN FRONT OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS EITHER GOING TO MOVE BATON ROUGE FORWARD OR WE'LL HAVE A POLICE CHIEF BEING HONEST WITH YOU. [00:35:05] >> YES, SIR. >> I APPRECIATE IT, MAN. IF IT FROWNS UPON OUR CITY AND IT TURNS US AND DOES THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT, SOMEBODY GOT TO BE THE FALL GUY. YOU AT THE MIKE? >> YES, SIR. >> APPRECIATE IT. >> COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS. >> HEY CHIEF. WE MET YESTERDAY AND SPOKE TO YOU ON YESTERDAY TWICE AND A FEW MINUTES AGO. I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO REITERATE WHAT YOU JUST SAID TO US THAT IF THE RAILS COME OFF AND YOU STARTED OUT THIS FILMING FROM A HOLISTIC APPROACH, THE GOOD THAT OFFICERS DOING IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT HAPPENS TO GO IN A WHOLE TOTALLY DIFFERENT DIRECTION, AND IT BEGINS TO PAINT OUR CITY IN SUCH A NEGATIVE WAY. YOU SAID A SECOND AGO, ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS CALL. >> YES MA'AM. >> YOU'RE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT? >> YES, MA'AM. >> IF THE REQUEST IS TO PULL IT TOGETHER, WILL YOU DO THAT? >> YES, MA'AM 100%. [OVERLAPPING] IF IT IS NOT ACCOMPLISHING MY VISION AND MY GOAL TO INCREASE THE BRAND IN BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SHINE A GOOD LIGHT ON THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, THEN IT'S FAILED, AND WE DON'T NEED TO DO IT ANYMORE. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF. >> YES, MA'AM. >> COUNCIL DUNN JUNIOR. >> THANK YOU. AS I'VE EXPRESSED TO CHIEF AND MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES, I HAVE SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THIS ITEM AND WITH THIS SHOW. CHIEF, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOUR CONCERN WAS MAKING SURE YOU PROMOTE A BRAND, THE DEPARTMENT. MY CONCERN IS THE PROMOTION AND THE BRANDING OF THE CITY AND THE PARISH. IT'S NO SECRET THAT WE HAVE A CRIME ISSUE IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, THE PARISH OF EAST BAGS PARISH. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE WOULD WANT TO AMPLIFY THAT ON A NATIONAL LEVEL. I UNDERSTAND YOU SAYING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, AND I'M SURE THEY'RE GOING TO SHOW SOME HUMAN ELEMENT INTERACTIONS WITH FOLKS. BUT I'VE SPOKEN TO YOU, I'VE SPOKEN TO THE PRODUCER. I'VE SEEN THE SHOW, MULTIPLE EPISODES OF THE SHOW, FOLLOWING MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS, AND THERE IS A COPS ELEMENT TO IT. I KNOW YOU GUYS DON'T WANT TO ADAPT THE BRANDING OR THE NAME OF A REALITY SHOW, WHETHER IT'S A REALITY SHOW OR A DOCUMENTARY, IT'S STILL DOCUMENTING AND HIGHLIGHTING IN MY OPINION, AND ELEVATING OUR CRIME ISSUE. I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT. FROM A TOURISM STANDPOINT, COUNCILMAN HUTSON TALKED ABOUT MEMPHIS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. WE'RE NOT NEW YORK, WE'RE NOT LA, WE'RE NOT EVEN MEMPHIS. MANY OF THOSE PLACES, FOLKS ARE GOING TO GO THERE ANYWAY BECAUSE THEY'RE MAJOR MARKET, HAVE MAJOR ATTRACTIONS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. WE DON'T HAVE THAT BENEFIT. WE CAN'T HAVE A NEGATIVE REFLECTION OF BATON ROUGE OR AMPLIFYING OF THE CRIME ISSUE THAT WE HAVE NOT SOLVED AND GOTTEN OUR HEADS WRAPPED AROUND TO GET IT IN A BETTER PLACE IN MY OPINION. I THINK ABOUT THE TOURISM, I THINK ABOUT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPACT. THERE'S A BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL IMPACT THAT I THINK THIS SHOW CAN BE NEGATIVE TOWARDS THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE. NOW I'M GOING TO GO ON TO THE HUMAN ELEMENT. WHEN YOU LOOK AT INTERACTIONS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHETHER IT'S THE INVESTIGATION PROCESS, WHETHER IT'S SOME ROADSIDE CONVERSATION OR DISAGREEMENT THAT'S HIGHLIGHTED ON A NATIONAL LEVEL. REBRANDED OR REMARKETED ON YOUTUBE AND POTENTIALLY BEING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND IF YOU'RE INDIVIDUAL THAT'S GOING THROUGH A HIRING PROCESS AND A POTENTIAL EMPLOYER IS WATCHING THAT, ARE YOU ATTEMPTING TO GET INTO SOME INSTITUTION OF LEARNING, HIGHER LEARNING, OR A TRADE? HOW ARE THOSE WHO ARE EVALUATING YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL, YOUR PERSONALITY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE GOING TO AFFECT YOUR UPWARD MOBILITY IN LIFE? THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT CONCERN ME. IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEWS AND MEDIA PUT OUT FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN DETAINED OR ARRESTED. WELL, THERE'S BEEN AT LEAST OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR, LAWS HAVE BEEN PASSED TO PUT STATEMENTS UNDER THOSE IMAGES TO SAY, HEY, THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME. WHY HAS THAT HAPPENED? BECAUSE DATA HAS SHOWN THAT THOSE IMAGES BEING SHOWN ON SOCIAL MEDIA ON TV IN THE MEDIA HAS A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS UPWARD MOBILITY. THAT'S A SERIOUS CONCERN FOR ME. OFTENTIMES BECAUSE YOU'RE INVESTIGATED, QUESTIONED, DETAINED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU'RE GUILTY OF WHAT THEY'RE ALLEGING. IT MEANS YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS FOR THEM TO INVESTIGATE. BUT OFTENTIMES PEOPLE SEE THAT AND SEE YOU IN A CRIMINAL WAY OR SEE THE PERSON AS CONVICTED. THIS SHOW DOES NOT BLUR FACES. [00:40:01] YOU SEE CLEARLY WHO THEY'RE TALKING TO, INVESTIGATING WITH, INVESTIGATING, AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH. THESE ARE MANY OF THE CONCERNS I HAVE. I DON'T THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A POSITIVE FOR THE PEOPLE OF BATON ROUGE. I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A POSITIVE FOR THE CITY. THIS IS WHY I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST THIS. THANK YOU. >> ANYBODY ELSE? >> THANKS, CHIEF. >> DO WE HAVE A MOTION? WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MOE, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUTSON? ANYBODY OPPOSED? WE HAVE ONE OBJECTION. MOTION CARRIES. >> MAYOR PRO TEM. >> TWO OBJECTIONS? LET'S VOTE ON THE MACHINES. >> I'M ASKING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO THREE MINUTES. I KNOW I CAME TO THE MEETING, BUT I WALKED IN, HE WAS ALREADY SPEAKING. >> IF A COUNCIL PERSON WANTS TO ASK YOU A QUESTION, ONCE WE TURN OVER TO THE COUNSEL OF PUBLIC HEARINGS OVER. ANYBODY HAVE QUESTION. >> WILL THE COUNCIL MEMBER, GIVE ME THE ABILITY. >> MR. DUNN JUNIOR. YOU HAVE YOUR SECOND FIVE MINUTES? >> I JUST WANT TO SAY AS THIS VOTE HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE, I AGREE WITH MUCH OF WHAT I HEARD FROM COUNCILMAN DUNN, THE CONCERNS THAT CAME FROM OTHER COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL. A LOT OF NEGATIVE IMAGES COME OUT OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE GOING TO NOW PAY $100,000 TO PUT THAT ON A BROADCAST FOR A DEPARTMENT THAT WANTS TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT INCIDENTS THEY ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO SEE. RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE VIDEOS THAT WE'VE ASKED TO BE SEEN BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, FROM THE LAST MONTH, NOT FROM THREE MONTHS AGO, NOT FROM SIX MONTHS AGO, FROM THE LAST MONTH, THAT BRPD DOES NOT WANT TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO SEE THE ACTIONS OF POLICE OFFICERS. THAT IS UNJUST. WE ALSO HAVE LAWSUITS THAT THIS CITY HAS REFUSED TO SETTLE, BUT WE HAVE ANOTHER $100,000 TO GIVE TO AN AGENCY TO BROADCAST THAT POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT WE WON'T EVEN PUT GREG ROME IN A BOX ON TO DEAL WITH. IT IS VERY INSULTING. I THINK IT'S ALSO CONCERNING FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT SO MANY PEOPLE GET TO HAVE THEIR LIKENESS, THEIR IMAGE DISPLAYED IN WAYS THAT IS NOT BENEFICIAL TO THEM. BUT IF A OFFICER IS IN ANY WAY SHOWN IN A NEGATIVE LIGHT, THE DEPARTMENT DOES EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT OFFICER IS PROTECTED, THAT THEIR IMAGE IS SHOWN IN A FAIR LIGHT. WE SHOULD HAVE THE SAME DISPOSITIONS ABOUT THE CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK ONE OF THE MOST DISHEARTENING PARTS OF THIS TO ME IS THAT WHEN WE SEE THE ACTIONS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT IS A TRAGEDY, WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT OFFICER IN THIS COMMUNITY LAST WEEK, A TRAGEDY. IT'S HAPPENED IN PART BECAUSE WE REFUSE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE ABOUT THINGS THAT TAKE PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS. IT'S UNJUSTIFIABLE. NONE OF THOSE THING SHOULD HAPPEN. OFFICERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES AT NIGHT. CITIZENS SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO HOME TO THEIR FAMILIS AT NIGHT, BUT THE WAY THAT THAT HAPPENS IS HARD CONVERSATIONS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE. TRANSPARENCY THAT WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE. TRUTH THAT WE DON'T LIKE TO HEAR. I'M SPEAKING TO A PUBLIC OFFICIAL AND I WAS NOT DISRESPECTFUL, AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM IN OUR COMMUNITY. WHEN PEOPLE AS CITIZENS ARE COMMUNICATING DIRECTLY WITH THEIR GOVERNMENT, WE TELL THE CITIZENS TO NOT TALK TO THEM, THE PEOPLE THAT WE PAY WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS. IF YOU GET PAID $200,000 A YEAR, YOU OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A LITTLE CRITICISM. >> CHIEF, CAN YOU COME RESPOND TO MY CONCERNS? WHAT ARE YOUR RESPONSE TO MY CONCERNS? THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPACT, THE TOURISM IMPACT, AND THE PERSONAL ELEMENTS IMPACT. >> YOU STARTED OFF BY TALKING ABOUT HIGHLIGHTING CRIME PROBLEM. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT W OF WBRZ, AND THEY'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU THAT BATON ROUGE HAS A CRIME PROBLEM. WHAT THIS IS GOING TO DO IS SHOW YOU THAT WE HAVE A VERY WELL TRAINED POLICE DEPARTMENT TO HANDLE THAT CRIME PROBLEM. WHEN YOU LOOK AT OTHER CITIES THAT ARE ON THIS SHOW, THEY HIGHLIGHT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE DEPARTMENT BY HAVING THE OFFICER WALK A STREET BEAT THROUGH THAT FESTIVAL, AND THEN THAT FESTIVAL IS NOW NOW KNOWN NATIONWIDE. PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO THAT FESTIVAL AND CHECK IT OUT BECAUSE THEY SAW THE OFFICERS THERE PARTICIPATING IN IT AND NOW IT'S KNOWN BY THE VIEWERS THAT ARE ON THERE. >> THE HUMAN IMPACT? >> FOR THE HUMAN IMPACT, I AGREE. WE NEED MORE HUMAN INTERACTION BETWEEN OFFICERS AND WE NEED THAT SHOWN. WE NEED THAT SHOWN. THIS SHOW DOES THAT? >> I'M SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION PROCESS THAT TARGETS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NOT BEEN CONVICTED AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT THAT UPWARD MOBILITY IN LIFE? >> YES, SIR. SOME OF IT, THEY DO BLUR FACES. THEY DO. THEY WON'T SHOW THINGS THAT ARE LIVE LIKE ON A TRAFFIC STOP UNTIL THEY KNOW FOR SURE WHERE THAT IS GOING. UNTIL THEY KNOW FOR SURE WHAT IS THE OUTCOME. THEY WILL NOT SHOW THAT. PRE RECORDED THINGS THAT HAPPENED EARLIER IN THE WEEK, [00:45:02] THEY GET PERMISSIONS TO DO, AND THEY KNOW THE OUTCOME OF THAT CASE. THEY MAY SHOW THAT THE FACES ARE NOT BLURRED. IT'S A COMBINATION OF THE TWO ON THE SHOW ON THE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT. RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST EVERY MORNING ABOUT 5:00 A.M. FROM WB&WBOZ FOR EVERYBODY WE ARRESTED THE NIGHT BEFORE. ANY OF THAT IS SUBJECT TO BE BLASTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ONLINE, THROUGH THE NEWS WHEN WE ARREST PEOPLE, WE PUT THEIR FACE ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE. I DON'T THINK THERE'S MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THAT. WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO BE IN TUNE AND MAKE SURE THAT TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY THAT WE DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO RUIN ANYBODY'S LIVES OVER SOME MIX. >> THANK YOU. >> WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON MACHINES. COUNCILL HARRIS. SORRY. >> CHIEF, COME UP, PLEASE. CAN YOU ADDRESS WHAT MR. CHAMBERS SAID ABOUT THE $100,000? CAN YOU CLEAR THAT UP FOR US? >> YEAH, I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT CAME FROM BECAUSE THE SHOW IS NOT COSTING US ANYTHING. THE SHOW I'M GOING TO INCUR SOME OVERTIME THINGS TO JUST OFFICERS HOURS AND FOR US TO REVIEW FOR ME AND MY COMMAND STAFF TO REVIEW. COURSE, I DON'T MAKE OVERTIME, BUT IF SOMEBODY ON MY SENIOR STAFF WAS WATCHING IT. BUT WHAT THE SHOW DOES IS THEN IT REIMBURSES US ALL THAT OVERTIME THAT IS SPENT. NO MONEY WILL BE COMING OUT OF OUR BUDGET AT ALL. THE SHOW REIMBURSES ALL OF THAT MONEY. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT $100,000 IS. THAT'S NOT THE THING. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF. >> YES, MA'AM. >> ANYBODY ELSE? >> I WANT TO BRING MR. CHAMBERS BACK UP. >> SURE. >> PLEASE TELL ME WHERE DID YOU GET THAT WE WOULD BE PAYING? >> NO. YOU SAID IT RIGHT. I MISSPOKE HOW I SAID IT, BUT A $100,000 THAT WE'RE GETTING IN FROM THIS COMPANY. TO ME, WE CAN FIND MONEY TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT WE CAN'T FIND MONEY TO SOLVE THIS LAWSUIT THAT WE HAVE. THAT MONEY THAT THEY'RE PAYING IS CRUMBS TO EMBARRASS THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY. THE MONEY THAT THE SHOW IS GOING TO PAY. THAT WAS WRITTEN IN THE NEWSPAPER, THAT $100,000 AND OVERTIME THAT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE TO WHOMEVER THAT IS, THAT WE FIND MONEY TO DO A LOT OF THINGS THAT DON'T SOLVE THE INJUSTICES THAT HAPPEN IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND WE'RE GOING TO EXPOSE AND EMBARRASS PEOPLE WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY AND GET PAID OVERTIME TO DO SO. >> THANK YOU FOR CLEARING IT UP. >> WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE MACHINES. >> MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 80. MOTION CARRIES. >> ITEM 81, AUTHORIZATION FROM THE MAYOR PRESIDENT [81. 25-00687] AND CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER 1 WITH GARVI LLC TO PROVIDE BIDDING SERVICES AND CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION FOR THE 22R THRESHOLD REPAIRS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $39,500 BY THE AVIATION DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE WE GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JUNIOR SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 82, AUTHORIZATION FOR THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND/OR CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH CLEAN FOREST LLC FOR FLOOR CARE SERVICES BY THE BATON ROUGE METROPOLITAN AIRPORT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $124,906.05 BY THE AVIATION DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JUNIOR, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO ANY OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 83, 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 REVENUE DERIVED FROM LOCAL HOSPITAL ASSESSMENT PAYMENTS IS TO BE SPENT AND TO SET THE AMOUNT TO BE PAID IN COLLECTION FEES BY THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR TREASURER. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING, NONE GO TO COUNSEL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GODDAY. WE HAVE A SECOND, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO ANY OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 84, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE PRE LITIGATION CLAIM OF IRL WISHAM FOR [84. 25-00709] DAMAGES RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY BATON ROUGE POLICE OFFICER IN AN AMOUNT OF $26,000 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE GO TO COUNSEL. >> ME TOO. >> WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUTSON. WE HAVE A SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GODDAY. ANY OBJECTION? >> I OBJECT. >> ITEM 85. [85. 25-00711] [00:50:01] RESINDING AND DIRECTING CLERK COURT TO CANCEL NOTICE TO ATTEND RECORDED ON JANUARY 13TH, 2025, AND DECISION AND ORDER RECORDED ON APRIL 4TH, 2025, IN A MATTER OF CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSUS JUAN R ALEXANDER 3484, MYRTLETOWN, MYRTLE LAWN STREET, REASON FOR RECISION. THE PROPERTY IS BEING RENOVATED BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS. IT'S NOT BEING RENOVATED BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS. THIS IS PUT ON BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS IT? NO, GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS, SECOND BY COUNCIL MCKINNEY. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. YOU ARE NOT WORKING ON THAT HOUSE, COUNCILWOMAN? ITEM 86, WE'LL SEND IT IN DIRECTOR AND CLERK COURT [86. 25-00714] CANCEL NOTICE TO ATTEND RECORDED ON MARCH 28TH, 2025 ON THE MATTER OF CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSE 180, RENOVATIONS, LLC 4812 OSBORNE AVENUE, REASON FOR RECISION THE PROPERTY OWNER IS GETTING A PERMIT. THIS IS BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS. ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. SEEING NONE, GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS. SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JUNIOR. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 87, AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE [87. 25-00712] A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER 3 IN AN AMOUNT OF $31,816.13 TO CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES OF BONTA ASSOCIATES, LLC FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MBR CAPACITY PROJECT, ARDEN WOOD, LOBDALE, CONNECTOR, BRINGING THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE CONTRACT TO AN AMOUNT NOT EXCEED $785,481.62 BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING, NONE AND GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS. SECOND BY THE CHAIR, ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 88, AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER 7 WITH WAGONER ENGINEERING FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MVR CAPACITY PROJECT JONES CREEK, ROAD, TIGER BENA JEFFERSON, AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $24,335 BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE AND GO TO COUNSEL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUTSON. SECOND BY CHAIR, ANY OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 89 HAS BEEN A REQUEST TO DELETE THIS ITEM, [89. 25-00715] RESCINDING COUNSEL RESOLUTION 58620, AWARDING THE CONTRACT FOR OHAMMON HIGHWAY, SEGMENT 1, SOUTH FLANNERY TO GOWOOD TO RICHARD PRICE CONTRACTING COMPANY LLC, AND AWARDING THE CONTRACT AND NEXT LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER, COMMAND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES, LLC, IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,553,099.50 BY THE TRANSPORTATION DRAINAGE DIRECTOR. AGAIN, THERE HAS BEEN A REQUEST TO DELETE THIS ITEM. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? >> SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO THE COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HARRIS TO DELETE. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES, [Item 90 - 111] WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ITEM 90 THROUGH 111 TOGETHER. NINETY, LOT 23 SQUARE 9, SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS. NINETY-ONE, LOT 15A AND 17A SQUARE 48, SUBDIVISION BANKS, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN. NUMBER 92, LOT 29, SUBDIVISION SCOTLANDVILLE, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNEY, HIGH BIDDER, KEVIN WILLIAMS 1,700. NINETY-THREE, LOT 19 SQUARE 19, SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN, HIGH BIDDER, H2 BRAVO CONSTRUCTION, $10,000. NINETY-FOUR, LOT 2, 3, AND 4 SQUARE 8, SUBDIVISION SCOTLAND HEIGHTS, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNEY, HIGH BIDDER, KANCO, LLC, $15,000. NINETY-FIVE, LOT 10 PLUS SQUARE 16 SUBDIVISION BANKS, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS, HIGH BIDDER, KANCO, LLC, $17,000. ITEM 96, LOT 28 SQUARE 9, SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS, HIGH BIDDER, RICKY D. GRIFFIN, $100. ITEM 97, LOT 22 SQUARE 9, SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS, HIGH BIDDER, RICKY D. GRIFFIN, $3,000. ITEM 98, LOT 129, SUBDIVISION CEDAR MILL RUN, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 4, MOAK, HIGH BIDDER, CHARLOTTE HARFORD, LESTER CRYSTAL $100. NINETY-NINE, LOT 15, 16, 17, 18, SQUARE 21, SUBDIVISION FORTUNE, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 5, HURST, HIGH BIDDER, HERBERT CAUSEY, $500. ITEM 100, LOT 11, SQUARE 51, SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS, HIGH BIDDER, MICHAEL JOHNSON, $3,100. ITEM 101, LOT 30 SQUARE 21, SUBDIVISION FORTUNE, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 5, HURST, HIGH BIDDER, MARY GATHER, $100. ITEM 102, LOT 66 SQUARE 1, SUBDIVISION RICHMOND PARK, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN, HIGH BIDDER ERIC JAMES JR., $2,500. ITEM 103, LOT 19 PLUS SQUARE 39, SUBDIVISION BANKS, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNEY, HIGH BIDDER, [00:55:02] WALLACE CHAMBERS, $200, ITEM 104, LOT 21, 22, 23, 24, AND 39, SUBDIVISION BANKS, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNEY, HIGH BIDDER, NATHANIEL CASHER JR., $6,100. ITEM 105, LOT 16, SQUARE 30, SUBDIVISION EAST GARDEN CITY, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 5, HURST, HIGH BIDDER, CHOANA DE BLANCHE, $100. ITEM 106, LOT 18, SQUARE 30, SUBDIVISION EAST GARDEN CITY, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 5, HURST, HIGH BIDDER, CHOANA DE BLANCHE, $100. ITEM 107, LOT 31 AND 32, SQUARE 4, SUBDIVISION SCOTLAND HEIGHTS, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNEY, HIGH BIDDER, EVETTE YOLANDA LAWRENCE, $30,000. ITEM 108, LOT 27, SQUARE 1, SUBDIVISION LAVAR, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS, HIGH BIDDER, LOUIS VENARD, $500. ITEM 109, LOT 23, SQUARE 9, SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS, HIGH BIDDER, FARO JOHNSON III, 23,100. ITEM 110, LOT 11, SQUARE 38, SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS, HIGH BIDDER, MICHAEL W. BAILEY $100. ITEM 111, LOT 5, SQUARE 11, SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER, DARREN PATTERSON, $3,500. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JR., SECOND BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. I'M GOING TO GO TO ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS. [ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER ITEMS] WE'VE GOT THREE. WE'VE GOT TWO INTRODUCTIONS AND ONE ADMINISTRATIVE EMERGENCY ITEM. CAN WE TAKE A AND B TOGETHER? I'M GOING TO TAKE A AND B TOGETHER. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER INTRODUCTION A, APPROVING THE LEVY AND ASSESSMENT PURSUANT TO LOUISIANA REVISED STATUTE 339038.62 E2B OF THE SALES AND USE TAX AND HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX WITHIN SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AS ESTABLISHED BY THE DISTRICT'S BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BY COUNCILWOMAN CAROLYN COLEMAN. B, AMENDING THE 2025 EXPENSE BUDGET FOR THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT SO AS TO APPROPRIATE $33,982 FROM THE DISTRICT'S FUND BALANCE UNASSIGNED TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR LED LIGHTING UPGRADES WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN AREA BY THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT DIRECTOR. NEED A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES FOR THE ITEMS TO BE INTRODUCED. SORRY, PUBLIC HEARING. [INAUDIBLE] MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY. WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES. ANYONE WANT TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? SEEING NONE, WE'LL HAVE A VOTE ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES. ANY OBJECTION ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? NO OBJECTION. WE'RE GOING TO NEED A MOTION TO INTRODUCE THE ITEMS. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO. ANY OPPOSED? ITEMS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER C, CHANGE ORDERS AND EMERGENCY ITEM, JDS CONSULTING INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS FOR SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS PROGRAM. ORIGINAL ESTIMATED COST WAS $49,995. CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, $41,520. NEW CONTRACT AMOUNT IS $91,515 BY THE PURCHASING DIRECTOR. NEED A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO. WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MOTION WAIVE THE RULES. ANYONE WANT TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? SEEING NONE, WE'LL HAVE AT VOTE ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES. ANY OBJECTION ON WAIVING THE RULES? WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ITEM. ANYONE WANT TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MOAK. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. CHANGE ORDERS. ITEM 112, PARISH-WIDE PAVEMENT REMARKING, [Items 112 - 116] CONTRACTOR, PAVEMENT MARKINGS INC]. CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, CREDIT $5,623.75. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. >> COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 112. >> SOMEBODY IS OPPOSING US HAVING A CREDIT ON THE CONTRACT? MOTION BY THE CHAIR. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. FINAL ACCEPTANCE, PARISH-WIDE PAVEMENT REMARKING, CONTRACTOR, PAVEMENT MARKINGS INC. FINAL COSTS, $1,590,536.25. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ACCEPTANCE OF LOW BIDS. [01:00:02] ITEM 114, LA 30 REGIONAL FORCEMAIN, NCMC, LLC'S LOW BID, $2,547,000. ITEM 115, JONES CREEK ROAD EXTENSION CLEARING AND EARTHWORK, AIRLINE HIGHWAY TO TIGER BEND, BOONE SERVICES, LLC, LOW BID, $7,285,000. I THINK THAT DECIMAL WAS IN THE WRONG SPOT. THE EXTRA DECIMAL. IT IS 7,285,000. ITEM 116, LOUISIANA BOULEVARD, RR BRIDGE AND PUMP STATION, LOW BID, DENLEY BROWN CONTRACTORS, LLC, $38,467,477.20. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 117, [117. 25-00717 ] RECEIVING A LEGISLATIVE REPORT INCLUDING THE 9112, THE 2025 LOUISIANA LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND BILLS RELATED TO THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, CITY OF BATON ROUGE, FROM COURSON NICKEL BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JR. WE'RE GOING TO HEAR THE REPORT, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. WE HAD A FULL-SCALE REPORT HERE THAT WAS QUITE LENGTHY. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH THE ABBREVIATED VERSION. I THINK YOU ALL WILL BE ATTENDING ANOTHER EVENT A LITTLE BIT LATER, SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO MOVE REAL QUICKLY THROUGH THIS. I'M GOING TO HIT THE FIRST HALF OF IT. JIM NICHOL WILL FOLLOW UP RIGHT BEHIND ME. FIRST OF ALL, TO START OFF, JUST LETTING YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT BATON ROUGE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE. WE CONSIDER WORKING WITH YOU ALL AN HONOR. TO GIVE YOU A PERSPECTIVE OF THE LAST YEAR AT THE CAPITOL, WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN APPROXIMATELY SEVEN LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS WITH A SPECIAL SESSION PROBABLY COMING IN AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER, WHICH WILL BE THE EIGHTH SESSION. THAT BEING SAID, WE COME AWAY WITH SOME REALLY POSITIVE THINGS FOR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH. REAL QUICKLY, WE WERE ABLE TO COME AWAY WITH $3.5 MILLION FOR THE BOWLING CONGRESS, WHICH WAS A REALLY BIG PLUS, I THINK, FOR BATON ROUGE. MOST PEOPLE DID NOT REALIZE WHEN WE WERE WORKING THIS APPROPRIATION TO TRYING TO GET IN THE APPROPRIATIONS BILL THAT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT WAS APPROXIMATELY 125-150 MILLION TO BATON ROUGE. OF COURSE, JILL KIDDER AND HER TEAM FROM VISIT BATON ROUGE WAS VERY INFLUENTIAL IN TRYING TO HELP AT THE CAPITOL. IT WAS A VERY POSITIVE REACTION, AND WE ENDED UP WITH THE 3.5 MILLION TO ASSIST. A SPECIAL THANKS IN THAT REGARD TO THE LED SECRETARY, SUSAN BOURGEOIS, AND CHRIS STELLY, CHAIRMAN FRANKLIN FOIL, SENATOR SELDERS, SENATOR EDMONDSON, SENATOR JIMMY HARRIS FROM NEW ORLEANS, CHAIRMAN WOMACK, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, SENATE PRESIDENT, CAMERON HENRY, AND SENATOR REGINA BARROW WERE ALL VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THAT, AND THAT WAS A MAJOR WIN FOR US. WE ALSO SAW A LOT OF DOLLARS COME OUR WAY HEADED TO AREAS ALL OVER EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, RANGING FROM THE BATON ROUGE PARISH FLOOD RISK TO THE TUNE OF APPROXIMATELY NINE MILLION DOLLARS IN THE CAPITOL OUTLAY BILL THAT FRED IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH AND HAS WORKED HAND IN HAND WITH OVER TIME. OTHERS THAT APPEAR TO HAVE RECEIVED HELP INCLUDE A NUMBER OF ITEMS I'M GOING TO HIT ON REAL QUICKLY, BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT THE GOVERNOR STILL HAS A LINE-ITEM VETO ABILITY, SO THAT WILL BE COMING PROBABLY OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WERE COVERED IS THE OLD GOVERNOR'S MANSION, THE BATON ROUGE AIRPORT, BLACK HISTORY HALL OF FAME, THE LAW CENTER BUILDING AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, THE BLUFF STABILIZATION, THE ACCOUNTING BUILDING AT SOUTHERN NURSING BUILDING, AG CENTER, STEM SCIENCES BUILDING AT SOUTHERN. AT LSU, THE MILITARY SCIENCES BUILDING, AG CENTER, BUILDING REPAIRS VET SCHOOL, LSU LAKES, THE BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, ROAD WINDING AND SEWER IMPROVEMENTS, [01:05:02] THE COMET RIVER DIVERSION, THE USS KID, OLD STATE CAPITOL, CAPITAL AREA GROUND WATER COMMISSION, AND MANY MORE DOLLARS THAT WERE THERE. A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION AND EACH OF YOU FOR CONSTANTLY EXPRESSING THE NEEDS OF OUR PARISH TO THAT DELEGATION. COURSON NICKEL TRACKED HUNDREDS OF PIECES OF LEGISLATION THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN SENDING REPORTS OUT WEEKLY OF LEGISLATION THAT WE FEEL IMPACTS EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH OR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO AFFECT US. THESE REPORTS ALLOW YOU TO CLICK ON ANY BILL EVEN CURRENTLY AND WE PUT A COPY IN THE FILE FOLDER OF THE LATEST VERSION AS OF TODAY, BUT YOU CAN CLICK ON THAT ITEM, AND YOU CAN BASICALLY BE ALLOWED TO GET THE DUCHIEST OF THE BILL, THE TEXT OF THE BILL, THE COMMITTEE WHERE IT WENT TO, THE DATE OF THE HEARING OR ACTION ON THAT SPECIFIC BILL. AS I SAID, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE SUMMARY REPORT THAT'S IN YOUR FILE. WITH A SESSION LIKE THE ONE WE JUST WENT THROUGH, WE WERE DOING OUR BEST TO WATCH EVERYTHING THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BE AMENDED, AND WHAT IMPACT EAST BATON ROUGE AREA. WE RELIED ON STAFF IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, FINANCE, SOUTH PARISH ATTORNEY, AND ANYONE THAT CONTACTED US ABOUT A CONCERN. MASON BATTS, TIFFANI DELAPASSE, AND ANGIE SALVA WERE TREMENDOUS IN HELPING DURING THE SESSION, ALONG WITH MANY OF YOU WHO CONTACTED US ON DIFFERENT ITEMS TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR. WE APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH, AND I COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU. IF YOU WOULD ALLOW FOR JUST A MINUTE FOR US TO COVER SOME OF THE TOP LOCAL AND STATE ISSUES THAT SOME OF YOU EXPRESSED INTEREST IN, JUST SO YOU HAVE A REAL QUICK KNOWLEDGE AS YOU LOOK THROUGH THIS REPORT. SENATE BILL 99 BY SENATOR CATHEY WAS SUCCESSFUL IN REPEALING THE SPEED PHOTO ENFORCEMENT THROUGHOUT THE STATE WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS, WHICH ONE OF THE MAJOR ONE WAS THE SCHOOL ZONES. WE WORKED WITH SENATOR CATHEY AND WERE SUCCESSFUL IN EXEMPTING BATON ROUGE'S PROGRAM. THIS ISSUE COULD HAVE POSSIBLY COST BATON ROUGE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS PROBABLY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF THREE TO FOUR MILLION DOLLARS. SENATE BILL 179, ALSO BY SENATOR CATHEY, WAS THE RAIL CAR AD VALOREM RAIL ISSUE, WHICH SPREAD THE AD VALOREM DOLLARS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. BATON ROUGE WILL STILL RECEIVE A PORTION OF THESE DOLLARS, , AND WITH THE HELP OF MANY LIKE MAYOR EDWARD, SENATOR FOIL [INAUDIBLE] IT WILL NOT HAVE A FULL REDUCTION FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS. IF YOU REMEMBER, THAT WAS GOING TO BE A REDUCTION RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING. HOUSE BILL 606 BY CHRIS TURNER WOULD HAVE EXEMPTED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND INSULIN FROM LOCAL SALES AND USE TAX. THAT BILL DID NOT MAKE IT. IT WOULD HAVE IMPACTED THE STATE BY $346 MILLION. THE BATON ROUGE IMPACT WAS 28.5 MILLION. AGAIN, THE BILL NEVER MOVED OUT OF THE HOUSE. HOUSE BILL 84 WAS BY DIXON MCMAKIN, SALT TO REPEL CATS. THIS BILL DID NOT MOVE. HOUSE BILL 86 THAT YOU'LL SEE IN YOUR LIST OF BILLS, WAS BY DIXON MCMAKIN. THE BRECK REORGANIZATION PROVIDED RELATIVE TO MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD. IT ALSO PASSED WITH AMENDMENTS. THE BILL WAS VETOED THIS WEEK. THE MCMAKIN BILL IS NO LONGER IN THE MIX. HOUSE BILL 649 BY REPRESENTATIVE VENTRELLA WAS BASICALLY THE MIRRA BILL. IT DID HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS THEN MCMAKIN. IT HAD THE CHANGE OF MEMBERSHIP. DID NOT INCORPORATE CENTRAL, BUT IT DID ADD A UNION MEMBER TO THE CATS BOARD, AND ALSO, ADDED ADDITIONAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS IN THAT BILL. THAT BILL IS IN THE PROCESS, AND I THINK THAT BILL HAS ACTUALLY ALREADY BEEN SIGNED. SENATE BILL 201 BY JIMMY HARRIS WAS THE MAJOR INCENTIVES BILL. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT KNOW JIMMY HARRIS FROM A NEW ORLEANS PERSPECTIVE, GREAT SENATOR, A GREAT FRIEND OF BATON ROUGE, HE ALLOWED US TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE US BOWLING CONGRESS IN THAT BILL THUS, GETTING THE $3.5 MILLION. SENATE BILL 91. THAT WAS BY SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM REGINA BARROW, WHICH DIRECTLY ADDRESSED THE 19 JDC COURT COSTS AND IN EQUITIES IN THE STATE SYSTEM. [01:10:01] IT RESULTED IN A $750,000 ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION AND A SR SENATE RESOLUTION 120 TO STUDY AND SUPPLEMENT THIS PARTICULAR COURT ACTION. THIS WAS A REALLY POSITIVE STATEMENT, AND SHE WILL PROBABLY BE COMING AGAIN WITH THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION. >> SENATE BILL 236 DEALT WITH BLIGHT. SCR 62, WAS BY SENATOR BARROW, WHICH REQUIRES A STATEWIDE STUDY OF BLIGHT. SENATE BILL 176, WAS BY FRANKLIN FOIL, WHICH INVOLVED THE REORGANIZATION OF THE ENTIRE BATON ROUGE AIRPORT ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION. THIS WAS LED AND ASSISTED BY DIRECTOR MIKE EDWARDS, WHO DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND IS ONE OF THE BEST AIRPORT DIRECTORS IN THE STATE. COUNCILMAN DUNN, I'M SURE YOU'LL AGREE WITH THAT. HE'S PHENOMENAL AT WHAT HE DOES, AND HE WAS A BIG REASON WHY THAT BILL PASSED, AND IT DID PASS WITHOUT ONE NEGATIVE VOTE ON IT WHICH BLEW EVERYBODY AWAY. HOUSE BILL 689, I DO WANT TO SAY REAL QUICKLY, SENATOR FOIL WAS THE AUTHOR OF THAT BILL, CHAIRMAN FOIL, AND HE WAS PHENOMENAL PATIENT. THIS BILL HAD HUNDREDS OF HOURS THAT WE SPENT STUDYING THIS. AGAIN, COUNCILMAN DUNN KNOWS BEING ON THAT COUNCIL, THE AIRPORT COUNCIL. THIS WAS A VERY DIFFICULT BILL TO PASS. REAL QUICKLY, HOUSE BILL 689 BY CHAIRMAN DESHOTEL. THIS WAS A BILL TO TAKE BROADBAND ESSENTIALLY AWAY FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND WOULD HAVE PLACED IT WITH THE PSC, THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, THIS BILL FAILED. THIS BASICALLY RETAINS BROADBAND WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT. HOUSE BILL 179 BY REPRESENTATIVE C DENISE MARCELLE ALLOWS KATZ, A UNION REPRESENTATIVE. THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. SHE HAD IT IN TWO PLACES, ONE WITH THE VENTRELLA BILL THAT SHE SLIPPED IN IN CONFERENCE, AND THEN HERE WAS SEPARATE. ALSO, HOUSE BILL 578, THIS IS A REAL PLUS TO CHAIRMAN FOIL AND TO TIFFANI DELAPASSE AND ANGIE SALVA. THIS WAS A BILL THAT BASICALLY DEALT WITH STATE AND LOCAL SALES AND USE TAXES AND EXEMPTIONS, WE WERE ABLE TO GET AMENDMENTS IN DEALING WITH THE PROSPECT OF AND RETROACTIVE PIECE OF IT, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OTHER ELEMENTS THAT DEALT WITH REPAIRS AND OUT OF STATE ISSUES. THIS ENDED UP SAVING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. REAL QUICKLY, HOUSE BILL 88. REPRESENTATIVE DANNY MCCORMICK, THIS WAS FOOD AND BEVERAGE. LOCAL TAX EXEMPTION WOULD HAVE IMPACTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT BY 350 MILLION, 44 MILLION TO EAST BATON ROUGE, AND IT ALSO FAILED. THE LAST COUPLE OF BILLS HERE, 528, 556, AND 640 WERE ALL PASSED BY TRANSPORTATION CHAIRMAN RYAN BOYACK. THIS WAS A GOVERNOR LED EFFORT TO MAKE DOTD EASIER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND STATE GOVERNMENT TO WORK WITH AND ALL THREE BILLS PASSED. HOUSE BILL 216 BY REPRESENTATIVE STEVEN JACKSON DEALT WITH ETHICS. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT WATCH THE ETHICS ISSUES, THIS WILL REQUIRE THE BOARD OF ETHICS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BROADCAST LIVE, ALL OF ITS PROCEEDINGS AND PUBLIC MEETINGS. EACH MEETING SHALL BE RECORDED AND MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS. LASTLY, EAST BATON ROUGE PROJECTS. AS I MENTIONED, WE PROVIDED A LIST IN YOUR PACKET OF THE CAPITAL OUTLAY, SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS, AND THE APPROPRIATIONS BILL ITSELF. AGAIN, THE GOVERNOR IS STILL REVIEWING ALL OF THOSE BILLS. I WOULD LIKE TO ONCE AGAIN, GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OF THOSE WHO ASSISTED OUR DELEGATION. THE BATON ROUGE DELEGATION WERE PHENOMENAL THIS YEAR, ALL THE WAY FROM AS I MENTIONED, CHAIRMAN FOIL A COUPLE OF TIMES, SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM REGINA BARROW, ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE BOARD, DIXON MCMAKIN IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE DELEGATION. HE WAS VERY INVOLVED. THEN REPRESENTATIVE EDMOND JORDAN IS THE CHAIR OF THE BLACK CAUCUS, A LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS, AND EDMOND IS ALWAYS HELPFUL. AGAIN, I HAD PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THEM LISTED OUT, BUT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA CARPENTER, BARBARA FREIBERG, ETC ON THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. WE HAD A GREAT GROUP HELPING US, AND THEN I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION OUR NEWEST REPRESENTATIVE ON THE DELEGATION IS REPRESENTATIVE TERRY LANDRY, HIS FATHER, MANY OF YOU KNEW HIM, [01:15:01] COLONEL TERRY LANDRY, AND HE'S GOING TO BE A WONDERFUL ASSET. ONLY ARRIVED THERE ABOUT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS BEFORE THE SESSION ENDED, BUT HELPED US IN A MAJOR WAY. JIM. I MENTIONED. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. IT'S GOOD TO BE WITH YOU ALL. BUT HIT ALL THE SPECIFICS IN THESE PACKETS. IF YOU HAVEN'T LOOKED THROUGH THEM, THEY HAVE THE OVER 200 BILLS THAT WE TRACKED, IT HAS THE LIST OF THE CAPITAL OUTLAY. IT HAS THE HB1 APPROPRIATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO BATON ROUGE, AND THEN IT HAS, OF COURSE, THE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS. GO THROUGH THOSE AND WE CAN MEET PRIVATELY IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS. I PROBABLY WANT TO MAKE THREE COMMENTS. ONE, THE PACE OF THE SESSION. THIS WAS A 45 DAY SESSION. THE LEGISLATURE AND ITS WISDOM MET MOSTLY ON MONDAY, TUESDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS. THEY COMPRESSED ALL THE COMMITTEES INTO THREE DAYS. WE WENT FROM NORMALLY, FIVE TO SIX COMMITTEES A DAY TO 15 COMMITTEES A DAY. IT WAS A VERY FRANTIC PACE. I WOULD ALSO SAY EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, BEING THE LARGEST METROPOLITAN AREA IN THE STATE, YOU'RE IN EVERY COMMITTEE. WE'RE BLESSED WITH A LOT OF CLIENTS. SOME OF OUR CLIENTS ARE JUST IN THE COMMERCE COMMITTEE SOME ARE JUST IN THE HEALTH COMMITTEE. THIS CITY PARISH IS IN THE HEALTH COMMITTEE, THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, THE RETIREMENT COMMITTEE, THE LOCAL MUNICIPAL COMMITTEE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE WAY IT IS A VERY BROAD RANGE, AND THAT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG CITY. I WOULD SAY PROBABLY THE LAST COMMENT I WOULD MAKE A IS YOU'RE HEARING SPECULATION ABOUT A SPECIAL SESSION. THAT'S BEING DRIVEN BY TWO THINGS. ONE IS THE WHOLE FIGHT OVER THE PBM ISSUE. IF YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THAT IN THE MEDIA, I'M NOT GOING TO GO DOWN THAT TRAIL. THE SECOND WOULD BE THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL DEBATE IN WASHINGTON. CERTAINLY, AS IT CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE, LOUISIANA'S HEALTHCARE FUNDING WAS PRETTY SAFE. THE SENATE VERSION, AS OF LAST WEEK, WOULD PUT A $4 BILLION WHOLE IN LOUISIANA'S BUDGET. THERE'S A LOT OF WORK GOING ON RIGHT NOW TO TRY TO REDUCE THAT. BUT I THINK WE WOULD SEE PROBABLY. I THINK THE GOAL FOR THE SENATE WAS TO FINISH BY JULY 4. THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. THE US SENATORS ARE GOING TO WORK OVER THE HOLIDAY, TRY TO FINISH FOR THEIR AUGUST RECESS. I THINK WE'LL KNOW BY THE END OF JULY, WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO NEED A SPECIAL SESSION TO ADDRESS A $4 BILLION WHOLE IN LOUISIANA'S BUDGET, AND THAT WILL RIPPLE THROUGH EVERYBODY. THAT'LL RIPPLE THROUGH BATON ROUGE, THAT'LL RIPPLE THROUGH EVERY STATE AGENCY. IT WILL BE VERY IMPACTFUL. BUT ANYWAY, I'M LIKE BUD, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU ALL. WE BOTH LIVE HERE. WE LOVE THIS CITY. WE LOVE THIS PARISH, AND WE LOVE WORKING WITH MOST ALL OF YOU ALL. [LAUGHTER] SORRY ABOUT THAT. >> COULD I MEET YOU THIS REAL QUICK. IF I COULD JUST HIT ON THESE REAL QUICKLY BECAUSE THEY'RE SO HELPFUL AND WE PROBABLY WORK THE LEGISLATURE AS HARD OR HARDER THAN ANYBODY IN THAT BUILDING. I DO WANT TO HIT THESE REAL QUICKLY, JUST SO THAT I DIDN'T LEAVE ANYBODY OUT. OUR DEAR FRIEND BARBARA CARPENTER, BARBARA FREIBERG, C DENISE MARCELLE, REPRESENTATIVE ROY DARYL ADAMS, AND VANESSA LAFLEUR. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE ALL ON THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. THEY WERE PHENOMENAL. ALSO, FORMER CHAIRWOMAN PAULA DAVIS, DIXON MCMAKIN, KELLY HENNESSY, EMILY SCHENA, ROGER WILDER, LAUREN VENTRELLA, EDMOND JORDAN, AND NEWCOMER TERRY LANDRY, AS I SAID WHILE AGO. WE DO APPRECIATE AND LOVE WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU. IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO, WE'RE ONLY A PHONE CALL AWAY. IT WAS THE HARDEST SESSION. I'VE BEEN DOING THIS 43 YEARS, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN A SESSION LIKE THIS. IT WAS REALLY THE HARDEST. I HOPE THIS COVERS SOME GOOD GROUND FOR YOU, AND I HOPE WHAT WE PUT TOGETHER IS HELPFUL. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? YOU KNOW WE WILL GO TO COUNCILMAN HUDSON. >> THIS QUESTION MAYBE ONE OF YOU CAN ANSWER IT, BUT IT MAY BE BETTER FOR OUR AIRPORT DIRECTOR, MIKE EDWARDS. NOW THAT THE AIRPORT BILL HAS PASSED, DO WE HAVE A TIMELINE OR DO WE HAVE A PATH FORWARD FOR HOW THAT LEGISLATION IS GOING TO IMPACT OPERATIONS AT THE AIRPORT? >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION. THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS WILL BE TO COME BACK TO METRO COUNCIL FOR THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE ENABLING LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE. THAT IS NOW IT'S BEEN SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR. IT'S BILL NUMBER 118. THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION REQUIRES THAT WE DO A 30 DAY PUBLIC NOTICE BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT APPROVAL. WE ANTICIPATE INTRODUCING AN ITEM MID JULY, AND THEN THE 30 DAYS WOULD BE SOMETIME IN AUGUST. WE'LL COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL FOR THAT PUBLIC HEARING. WE'LL ALSO NEED THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION FOR THE NEW AIRPORT AUTHORITY. I'VE E MAILED ALL OF YOU DRAFT ARTICLES OF CORPORATION. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE, JUST PLEASE LET ME KNOW. [01:20:02] THEY ARE IN DRAFT FORM UP UNTIL THE APPROVAL. THEN THE FINAL STEP WOULD BE IN JANUARY ON THE SCHEDULE, THE FAA'S APPROVAL OF THE CHANGE IN SPONSORSHIP. >> OKAY. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU. I THINK I SAW YOU DOWN AT SESSION ALMOST EVERY DAY THAT I WAS THERE. YOU GUYS WORKED IT HARD, OF COURSE, NICHOL WORKED IT HARD AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DID THIS SESSION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> IF I COULD ADD TO THAT, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COUNCILMAN HUDSON, STEPHEN BALDWIN AND ASSOCIATES, THE CONSULTANTS THAT HELP GUIDE US THROUGH THIS PROCESS, SEND EMAILS, REACHING OUT TO ALL OF US TO HAVE SIT DOWNS WITH US TO GIVE US A DETAILED OVERVIEW OF THE PROCESS, THE NEXT STEP. IF YOU HADN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT THIS PAST WEEK OR TWO, DEFINITELY REACH BACK AND RESPOND TO THEM AND THEY'LL SIT DOWN WITH YOU WITH MIKE AND WITH LEWIS AND GO OVER THAT IN DETAIL. BUT THEY'VE BEEN MAKING EFFORTS TO REACH OUT TO ALL OF US TO GIVE US ALL THAT INFORMATION. >> COUNCILMAN HUDSON. >> YEAH, I ALSO HAD MY MEETING YESTERDAY, SO IT WAS A GOOD MEETING. I CAME LATE, BUT I STILL GOT ENOUGH IN A SHORT PERIOD, AND I WENT TO AIRPORT INSTEAD OF COMING HERE. BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE COMMENT ABOUT THE PRESENTATION. BUT, JIM, KNOW, I THINK THAT THEY'RE MAS AND LOBBYISTS AND REPRESENT THE ORGANIZATION AND THE CLIENTS EXTREMELY WELL. THERE WAS SOME CONCERN WITH ME. THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AS MANY PEOPLE WERE FIGHTING TO PASS LOCAL BILLS AND CIRCUMVENT THE COUNCIL, AND SO IT CREATED COSTS FOR PAUSE THIS YEAR THAT I THINK MORE SO FROM BRECK TO ST. GEORGE TO EVERYBODY ELSE, SCHOOL BOARD, EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON, IT WAS TO CIRCUMVENT THE SCHOOL BOARD AND LOCAL COUNCIL. ONE OF MY MAIN CONCERNS AND THROUGH CONVERSATION WITH BOTH BUD AND JIM WAS THAT, WE HAVE ACCESS. NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE ACCESS, BUT WE KNOW WHAT POSITION WE'RE TAKING AS A CITY PARISH BECAUSE THE WHY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE WHAT. WHY ARE WE ADVOCATING FOR THIS AND WHAT'S OUR POSITION ON IT SO THAT WE KNOW THE WAY THAT THE CITY PARISH IS GOING. THAT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY AS A COUNSEL TO EITHER TAKE A POSITION ON IT AS WELL OR TO GO DOWN THERE AND RESPECTFULLY REPRESENT OUR CONSTITUENCIES WITH DIFFERENT OPINIONS. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE CONTRACT THAT THEY HAD PUT IN PLACE, AND I HAD SOME INTERNAL DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CITY PARISH FOLKS, THERE WAS SOME LANGUAGE IN THE CONTRACT THAT I WANT TO PUBLICLY AS THE RECTIFY FOR NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHERE THEY DON'T REPRESENT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, BUT THEY REPRESENT THE ENTIRE COUNCIL. ENTIRE CITY PARISH, WHICH GIVES US THE ABILITY TO HAVE AN OPINION ON WHAT THEY SAY AND WHAT THEY DO IS THEY GO REPRESENT THE STATE. THAT WAS NOT DONE DURING THIS ADMINISTRATION. THE LANGUAGE CHANGE WAS DONE IN THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, BUT I ASKED IT TO BE RECTIFIED. THEN ALSO ASKED THE ADMINISTRATION THAT IF THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE A POSITION DOWN AT THE STATE LEGISLATION OR STATE LEGISLATURE, THAT THEY SEND NOTICE TO THE COUNCIL AS TO WHAT THAT POSITION IS AND TO WHY THEY TAKE THAT POSITION, AND ALSO TO LET THE ADMINISTRATION KNOW THAT NO POSITION IS A POSITION. WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET PEOPLE GO DOWN TO THE CHAPEL AND DUKE IT OUT AND'S NOT HAVE A SAY SO WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO CIRCUMVENT US. BECAUSE A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WERE PASSED THIS YEAR COULD HAVE COME TO US FOR A VOTE, BUT THEY NOTED IT WOULDN'T HAVE PASSED. THIS IS BOTH A CONVERSATION FOR WHOEVER REPRESENTS US DOWN AT THE CAPITOL, FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, FOR THE PARISH ATTORNEY, FOR MY COLLEAGUES, FOR THE LOBBYIST GROUP THAT WOULD CHOOSE TO REPRESENT US BOTH ON THE LOCAL STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS, AND BE AN ADVOCATE THAT YOU REPRESENT EVEN WHEN THE MAYOR TAKES A POSITION, HE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE CITY PARISH. HE'S NOT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. HE'S A PRESIDENT OF CITY PARISH AND THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE. AGAIN, I WANT TO ASK THE ADMINISTRATION THAT WHATEVER YOUR POSITION IS, AND MOVING FORWARD, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU TAKE A POSITION. NUMBER 2, LET US KNOW WHO'S ADVOCATING FOR US AND WHY. THEN NUMBER 3, MAKE SURE THAT WE GET NOT ONLY I CAN READ THESE BILLS, NO DISRESPECT. I CAN READ THESE ON THE HOUSE OR THE LA WHATEVER.GOV MYSELF. I KNOW WHAT THEY ARE. I KNOW MOST OF THEM, BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHY YOU'RE BEING HIRED TO REPRESENT US ON EACH ONE OF THOSE ISSUES, AND THEN WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ON EACH ONE OF THOSE ISSUES. WE ALSO KNOW SOME THINGS HAVE TO HAPPEN BEHIND THE SCENES, [01:25:03] DISCUSSIONS, WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE WANT TO KNOW, BUT THE END RESULT IS WHAT MATTERS TO ME. AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE, AND I'M NOT POKING AT AARON. I JUST WANT TO KNOW, LIKE, ONE OF THE BIG DEALS WAS BRECK AND CENTRAL. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT AARON'S POSITION IS ON IT. BECAUSE IT DIDN'T MATTER. I DIDN'T I DID TALK TO HIM IN THE DEAL, BUT WE DIDN'T MEET UNTIL THAT DAY. THE WHITE IS A BIG PROPONENT OF ST. GEORGE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WHITES DISCUSSION WAS IN THAT MEETING. MY POINT IS BRINGING IT BEFORE THE COUNCIL ALLOWS US TO HAVE A DISCUSSION AND TAKE A POSITION. I MAY AGREE WITH AARON. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT WAS, BUT HE MAY DISAGREE WITH ME. I MAY AGREE WITH THE WHITE. WHITE MAY DISAGREE WITH ME, BUT AT THAT POINT, WE DID MAKE A RESOLUTION OR WE GO OUT THERE AND ADVOCATE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES INDEPENDENTLY. I'M GOING TO LEAVE WITH THIS ONE THING. WHEN IT CAME TO BRECK, AND I DO KNOW AARON'S POSITION WAS ON THAT. WE TALKED THAT DAY, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW BEFORE. BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE BILL CAME UP UNTIL I TOLD YOU, I'LL TAKE MY SECOND 5 MINUTES OFF. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT, EVEN WHEN IT CAME TO BRECK IS $20 MILLION INVESTMENT IN CENTRAL PARK. BODIE WHITE SAID HE WAS GOING TO PULL OUT YEARS AGO. BRECK CATERED TO HIM TO LEAVE CENTRAL AS A PART OF THE BRECK SYSTEM. WELL, NOW THAT THE TOWN HAS BUILT UP INTO A GREAT CITY, GREAT EDUCATION, THEY GOT SOME OF THE BEST PARK SYSTEMS IN THE ENTIRE PARISH. THEY WANT TO PULL OUT. THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY TAX DOLLARS INTO AREAS THAT STILL NEED PARK RESTORATION. I MADE THIS COMMENT THERE AND I'LL MAKE IT AGAIN IS THAT THE PEOPLE IN MY AREA PAYING SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE GREAT PARKS. I NEED YOU TO PAY SO THEY CAN HAVE GREAT PARKS. WE COULD HAVE MADE A POSITION AS A COUNSEL OR CAN TAKE INDEPENDENT POSITIONS, BUT THAT MEANT A LOT TO ME BECAUSE PARK SYSTEMS ARE RESOURCES AND TOOLS AND AMENITIES AND COMMUNITIES THAT NEED TO BE REVITALIZED. WHEN I JUST HAD MY MEETING WITH COREY WILSON ON MAY 11 BEFORE HE LEFT AT BRECK, GUESS WHERE ALL THE STAINS WERE ON BRECK THAT NEEDED TO HAVE PARK REVITALIZATION IN NORTH BATON ROUGE. I MAY NOT HAVE ALWAYS AGREE WITH CHANA ON A LOT OF STUFF, BUT STILL DON'T AGREE WITH A LOT OF THINGS. BUT THE ONE THING SHE SAID THAT HAS STUCK IN MY BRAIN ABOUT MARY AND BERRY. SHE SAID IT ACTUALLY. I REMEMBER SPECIFICALLY IS THAT IF WE DON'T START IN THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, IT'LL NEVER GET THERE. A LOT OF TIMES, WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS THE SAME REFLECTION. ST. GEORGE HAS A GREAT PARKS THEY CREATE THEIR OWN CITY. NOW THEY WANT THEIR OWN SCHOOL SYSTEM. ZACHARY DID IT. CENTRAL DID IT TO A AS I WAS ALWAYS BEEN THEIR OWN CITY, BUT SCHOOL SYSTEM. >> THE AREAS THAT GET LEFT BEHIND AND BECOME DESOLATE, OTHER ONES THAT HAVE THE LOWEST INCOME, LOWEST VOTER TURNOUTS, AND IT HAS TO BE A TIME FOR A CHANGE. WHEN I GO TO THE POLLS, I VOTE FOR THINGS THAT MAKE OUR CITY BETTER AND REPRESENT UNDER REPRESENTED. I'M TALKING ABOUT AS A CANDIDATE. WHEN I GO TO THE STATE CAPITOL, I WANT TO DO THE SAME THING, BE THE VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS. WHEN ALL HAVE THESE THINGS, WHETHER WE MAYOR, THE LOBBYIST, WHOEVER, TAKE YOUR POSITION, LET US KNOW WHERE YOU ARE AND MAKE SURE THE CONTRACT NEXT YEAR REPRESENTS NOT JUST THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, BUT ALSO THE CITY COUNCIL AS WELL. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMAN DUNN JUNIOR. >> THANK YOU. WHAT COUNCILMAN HURST IS REFERENCING ABOUT MARY AND BERRY IS WHEN HE BUILT THE SUBWAY IN THE DC AREA, HE STARTED IN THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THEY ASKED HIM WHY DID HE START THERE? HE SAID, IF HE DIDN'T START THERE, THEY'D NEVER GET THERE. I MADE THAT STATEMENT AS IT RELATES TO THE TRAM OR THE TRAIN, ONE OF THEM WHEN WE WAS PUSHING BACK ON WHERE THEY WANTED TO START IT. BUT TO JIM AND BUD AND THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO, YOUR DUE DILIGENCE, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AS YOU STATED, THIS HAS BEEN A TOUGH LEGISLATIVE SESSION. I'VE HEARD YOU SAY THAT, I'VE HEARD LEGISLATORS. MANY OF THEM SAY THAT THE PACE OF IT, THE CRUNCH IN TIME AND JUST THE OVERALL BILLS THAT WERE FILED. IN MY OPINION, SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL, THERE WERE MORE BILLS THAT WAS LOOKING TO MAKE WHOLESALE CHANGES IN EAST BAGS PARISH, AND IN CITY GOVERNMENT THAN I COULD EVER REMEMBER. THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO PUT THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA. AS IT RELATES TO YOU GUYS, [01:30:01] ALSO OUR LOBBYISTS ON THE AIRPORT. SOME SIX, SEVEN YEARS AGO, WE HAD AN ISSUE WITH SOME BILLS OR SOME LEGISLATION AT THE AIRPORT. WE PUT A POLICY IN PLACE THAT YOU WOULD GIVE US A LEGISLATIVE TRACKER, AND KEEP US AWARE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS AFFECTING AIRPORTS AND SPECIFICALLY BATON ROUGE METRO AIRPORT. IT SEEMS WHEN THESE ISSUES TOOK PLACE THIS SESSION AND THESE CONVERSATIONS STARTED, YOU STARTED DOING THAT WITH THE COUNCIL. NOW, I DON'T RECALL OR REMEMBER THAT PRIOR TO THIS SESSION, BUT I'M HAPPY THAT WE'RE IMPLEMENTING THAT NOW AND I WANT TO REINFORCE. THAT'S MY EXPECTATION TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING THOSE UPDATES, REGULARLY ON THE COUNCIL. AS IT RELATES TO BILLS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT AND AFFECT OUR AUTHORITY, MEANING COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M EXPECTING TO GET A CALL. I'M EXPECTING, TO HAVE A MEETING ABOUT THAT. I'M NOT EXPECTING TO HEAR ABOUT THAT FROM A THIRD PARTY, WHICH I HAD TO HEAR ABOUT FROM A THIRD PARTY ABOUT THE BLIGHT ISSUE. THIS PARISH HIRES YOU GUYS TO REPRESENT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE COUNCIL, AND THE CITY PARISH GOVERNMENT. ANY BILL THAT'S FILED TO REMOVE, TAKE AWAY, OR CIRCUMVENT THE AUTHORITY OF THE COUNCIL, I'M EXPECTING TO BE BRIEFED BY YOU ALL, NOT A THIRD PARTY. I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. COUNCILMAN HURST REFERENCED THE LANGUAGE, IN THE CURRENT CONTRACT, AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IT HAS NOT BEEN SIGNED YET. AN ITEM WAS INTRODUCED TODAY TO AMEND THAT CONTRACT THAT WILL INCLUDE NOT ONLY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, BUT THE COUNCIL AS PREVIOUS CONTRACTS, HAD YOU RESPONDING AND REPORTING TO THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. I DON'T CARE WHO DRAFTED IT, WHO NEGOTIATED IT IN MY OPINION. IT SHOULD BE A REPORT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE COUNCIL. NOW, IF SOMEBODY ELSE HAVE A A DIFFERENT OPINION, THEN WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT DO THE COUNSEL NEED ITS OWN CONSULTANT, HIS OWN LOBBYIST. BUT IF WE HAVE THE LANGUAGE IN THERE AND GET THE LANGUAGE APPROVED, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE REPORTING TO BOTH THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH. AS IT RELATES TO TAKING POSITIONS, TYPICALLY, WE AS A COUNCIL AND OUR PREDECESSORS HAVE TAKEN VOTES ON WHAT THE COUNCIL COLLECTIVELY WOULD SUPPORT. SOMETIMES THAT WORKS IN SOMEONE'S FAVOR, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T, AND SOMETIMES WE GO TO THE LEGISLATURE, AND SPEAK FOR OUR PERSONAL FEELINGS OR REPRESENT OUR CONSTITUENTS AND NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE BODY BECAUSE THE BODY MAY NOT AGREE WITH YOUR VIEWPOINT ON THE ISSUE. BUT EVEN BEFORE IT GETS TO US, MOST OF THESE BILLS, MOST OF THESE COMMITTEES, DO REFER TO THE MAYOR PRESIDENT. WHAT IS THE MAYOR PRESIDENT'S OPINION ON THIS? MANY OF THESE BILLS, PEOPLE WERE SAYING IT WAS FOLLOWING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE MAYOR. PEOPLE WERE SAYING IT WAS ON THE BEHALF OF THE MAYOR. THE MAYOR WAS TELLING US HE HAD NO IDEA ABOUT. THERE ARE MANY BILLS THAT THE MAYOR DIDN'T TAKE A POSITION ON AND I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN HURST. NO POSITION IS A POSITION. BECAUSE LEGISLATORS ARE DOWN THERE SAYING, WELL, HEY, THE MAYOR DOESN'T OBJECT TO IT, IT MUST BE OKAY. I THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT AS REPRESENTATIVES, OF THE CITY AND THE PARISH, THAT WE ARE MAKING SURE WE'RE PROTECTING THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CITY IN THE PARISH. ALWAYS CONSISTENTLY TAKING NO POSITION. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WAS ELECTED TO DO. WE WAS ELECTED TO TAKE POSITIONS, HAVE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS, MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS, TAKE A POSITION. ABSTAIN AND IT IS NOT GOOD. GET IN IT. YOU WERE ELECTED [OVERLAPPING]. YES, SIR. REPRESENT THE PEOPLE, TAKE A POSITION. WE MAY NOT AGREE WITH IT, BUT TAKE A POSITION. AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO REINFORCE WHAT MY EXPECTATION IS, AS IT RELATES TO YOU ALL IS CLEARLY COMMUNICATING WITH US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ABOUT BILLS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND US IN PARTICULAR. THERE ARE A LOT OF BILLS THAT IMPACT AS YOU'VE LAID, OUT THE PARISH, AND THAT'S MAYBE OUR CONSTITUENTS OR SOMETHING IN OUR DISTRICT, AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET TO EVERY BILL, PERSONALLY TALK ABOUT EVERY BILL. BUT THOSE THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT OUR AUTHORITY, WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU DIRECTLY. WE SHOULDN'T HEAR FROM A THIRD PARTY. AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO REINFORCE THE ITEM WAS INTRODUCED TODAY AND WILL BE HEARD IN TWO WEEKS TO AMEND THE AGREEMENT THAT ADDS BACK THE LANGUAGE TO REPORT TO THE MAYOR PRESIDENT AND THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMAN MOAK. >> THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO START OFF WITH I THINK THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE THIS SESSION, I WOULD AGREE, EVEN FOR MYSELF, AS FAR AS BEING ON THE METRO COUNCIL AND BEING THAT GO BETWEEN, DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, [01:35:02] DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES IN THE STATE AND EAST PENT RAGE PARISH, PLUS A LOCAL MUNICIPALITY THAT I RESIDE OVER. I THINK IT WAS A FAST MOVING, AND I THINK IT WAS QUICK. I THINK WOULD HELP? I KNOW THE INFORMATION THAT I REQUESTED THAT I FEEL THAT I GOT I WAS ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE BILLS AND EVERYTHING. I KNOW I RAN INTO SEVERAL OF THE ALL ON THE FLOOR AT THE HOUSE, AND THE SENATE THIS PAST SESSION. KUDOS TO ALL OF YOU ALL THAT STAYED INVOLVED IN EVERYTHING. BUT THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT WITH STAYING INVOLVED. I WOULD BE VERY CONCERNED AND I GUESS THE BEST I CAN SAY IS BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASKED FOR BECAUSE JUST LIKE YOU BROUGHT UP THE BREC BILL AND EVERYTHING. THOSE POSITIONS MOVE. THEY'RE FLUIDLY ADJUSTING THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE THING. BILLS THAT I THOUGHT WERE DEAD WERE ALL OF A SUDDEN COMING BACK UP IN COMMITTEE, THINGS THAT I THOUGHT WERE TAKEN CARE OF, OR ALL OF A SUDDEN BE AMENDED. THEN OF COURSE, THEY GET INTO THE PART ABOUT WHAT GETS ADDED ONTO SOMEBODY'S BILL AT THE VERY END AND, SO ON AND SO FORTH. I THINK I'M JUST GO TO USE IT FOR AN EXAMPLE. LET'S TAKE THE BREC THING, CENTRAL DOING ITS THING. THERE WAS ALL POSITIONS ALL OVER THE PLACE. I KNOW OF SEVERAL LOCAL COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WERE JUST BEATING A DRUM AND ROB FOR IT AND BY THE TIME IT WAS OVER WITH, THEY WEREN'T. LET'S SAY THEY PASSED A RESOLUTION OR WROTE A LETTER IN SUPPORT OR DID SOMETHING, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THINGS CHANGE. WELL, THAT GETS USED, THAT'S THE ONLY THING I WOULD CAUTION ABOUT. WHEN IT COMES TO LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, THEY'VE GOT 45 DAYS TO GET THINGS DONE. WE INTRODUCED A RESOLUTION, TWO WEEKS LATER, WE HAVE A DISCUSSION ON IT, IT MIGHT GET DEFERRED. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE POSITION IS GOING TO BE. I THINK THE BEST THAT WE CAN DO WHEN IT COMES TO THESE MATTERS WITH LEGISLATIVE ISSUES AND ALL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOWN THERE REPRESENTING OUR DISTRICTS, REPRESENTING WHAT OUR CONSTITUENTS SAY, I THINK SOME OF US HAVE IT A LITTLE DIFFERENT. WE HAVE TO NOT ONLY DO I HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT A MAYOR AND SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT, BUT THEN I TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION OF WHAT MY CONSTITUENTS WANT. AGAIN, I'LL BRING BACK UP THE BREC THING. IT WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE. I HAD TO DEAL WITH THAT. I DON'T THINK, EVEN IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP AS A RESOLUTION OR SOMETHING IN SUPPORT OR A WAY, I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE ANSWERED FOR THAT HERE. I KNOW NO DECISION IS A DECISION, IS WHAT YOU ALL ARE SAYING. I KNOW WE'VE ALL ABSTAINED FROM DIFFERENT THINGS OVER TIME. I WOULDN'T HAVE MADE A DECISION ON THAT. THAT'S WHERE I GET IT TO BE CAREFUL WHAT WE ASKED FOR. I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT. I WILL AGREE WITH YOU ALL ON MAYBE THE LANGUAGE OF THE CONTRACT. I THINK THAT THREW US ALL OFF DURING THIS LAST TIME, BECAUSE WHAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE CONTRACT CHANGE, THERE'S SOME WAY THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND SHOW THAT I FEEL VERY RECEPTIVE AS FAR AS CALLING THEM DURING THE WEEK, AT WHERE IS THAT AT? WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? WHO DO I NEED TO TALK TO? THEY GAVE ME THAT INFORMATION. I SEE WHERE YOU'RE SAYING, BUT I THINK WE'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL WHAT WE ASKED FOR. IF WE START INTRODUCING, WE GET ALL THESE BILLS OF LEGISLATIVE STUFF, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION AND WE START PASSING RESOLUTIONS AND THIS AND THE OTHER, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE WANT TO CHANGE. DO WE DO ANOTHER RESOLUTION AND THROW IT OUT THERE? I WOULD SAY THAT LET'S WORK ON THE CONTRACT, BUT LET'S KEEP IN TOUCH DIRECTLY WITH THEM, WITH OUR LOCAL LEGISLATORS AND DIRECTLY WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS AND STUFF AND WORK THOSE BILLS THROUGHOUT THE SESSION THROUGH THERE. THANK YOU. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I AGREE, BUD AND JIM ALL WERE VERY RESPONSIVE, SO I WON'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. FOR ME, AND I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH THE RESOLUTION PART. I'M GLAD YOU SIT IT THERE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW EACH OTHER STILL UNTIL WE GOT THERE. BUT THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS THAT WE DON'T MAKE MONEY AS LOBBYISTS, SOME PEOPLE DON'T. BUT WE MAKE MONEY DOING OTHER THINGS. HE'S IN IT. I DO CONSULTING AND MENTAL HEALTH. WE GOT A BUNCH OF OTHER STUFF. I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE STUFF IS COMING UP TO KNOW WHEN TO SHOW UP. FOR ME, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO COMMUNICATION FROM ALL BECAUSE AS IT MOVES, BLAST EMAIL METRO COUNCIL, THIS IS COMING UP TOMORROW. THEN I KNOW TO SHOW UP. THAT'S THE ONLY THING I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT. THANK YOU. >> BUD, JIM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. I'VE SEEN ALL IN ACTION WITH THIS STUFF AND CERTAINLY CORRESPONDING WITH US. ALL HAVE BEEN GREAT. I DO AND I'VE MENTIONED THIS TO YOU ALL. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE CONTRACT WITH THE WAY IT READS, AND I KNOW IT WAS CHANGED PREVIOUSLY. I'VE TALKED TO THE ADMINISTRATION ABOUT IT, AND I'M THE ONE WHO INTRODUCED THE ITEM TO CHANGE THAT BACK TO HOW IT WAS. BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT COMES WITH ITS CHALLENGES AS WELL. YOU'RE DEALING WITH AND SOME SCENARIOS WOULD COULD BE, THE COUNCIL ITSELF, [01:40:04] IF IT WAS JUST THE COUNCIL YOU REPRESENTED, YOU CAN STILL BE DEALING WITH A BIPOLAR CLIENT BECAUSE WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT. BUT THEN WHEN YOU ADD TO THAT THE MAYOR PRESIDENT'S OFFICE AND THE COUNCIL, IT'S EVEN MORE DIFFICULT. YOU CAN SPEAK TO THE PAST ATTORNEY ABOUT THAT. HE'S WELL AWARE OF THOSE STRUGGLES BECAUSE IT'S DIFFICULT TO REPRESENT SO MANY PEOPLE WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT INTERESTS, AND CONSTITUENTS WHO THINK DIFFERENTLY. BUT I THINK YOU ALL ARE CERTAINLY CAPABLE OF THAT AND UP TO THAT CHALLENGE, YOU'VE DONE IT BEFORE WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT WAY. I'D LIKE TO SEE IT AGAIN, AND I THINK THE WAY WE APPROACH THAT, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT THE THINGS WE KNOW THAT ARE COMING DOWN FIGHT IN THE SESSION, AND IF WE WANT TO HAVE RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT OR NON SUPPORT FOR THOSE, I THINK THAT CERTAINLY IS SOMETHING WE CAN ADDRESS, AND HOW WE APPROVE THOSE RESOLUTIONS AND THE VERBIAGE IN THEM. I THINK THE BROADER IT IS IF WE INDICATE WE SUPPORT THIS, IF IT GOES IN THIS DIRECTION OR THIS OR WITHOUT THAT, WE CAN GET REALLY BROAD GRANULAR SO THAT IT CAN HAVE THE IMPACT, THAT WE DESIRE IF WE CAN HAVE SEVEN AGREE ON WHAT THAT DESIRE IS, SO THAT YOU'LL KNOW WHAT PARAMETERS TO STAY WITHIN ON WHATEVER BILL. IF SOMEBODY IS LOOKING TO AMEND SOMETHING, YOU CAN SAY, WELL, IF YOU DO THAT, THAT FALLS OUTSIDE AND SO THE COUNCIL SUPPORTS NOT THERE. CERTAINLY IF THINGS START TO MOVE FAST AND CHANGE AND AMEND FASTER THEN WE CAN ADDRESS THEM AT THIS BODY. THEN I THINK IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT. THEN WE GO UP THERE AND SAY, HEY, I KNOW YOU HAVE A LETTER SAYING WE SUPPORTED IT, I DID, I DON'T ANYMORE, AND HERE'S WHY. THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY. BUT I THINK THAT'S WHERE, YOU ALL WOULD NEED TO CONTACT US AND SAY, HEY, HEADS UP, THIS HAPPENED, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO? I THINK THAT'S THE CONVERSATION AND THE CORRESPONDENCE. I THINK BY LARGE. THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR, WE'RE GOING TO BE ROWING IN THE SAME DIRECTION MOST OF THE TIME. I THINK AGAIN, IT MAKES IT A LITTLE HAIRIER FOR YOU ALL TO GO BACK TO HOW IT WAS, BUT I THINK ULTIMATELY IT'LL BEAR FRUIT FOR CITY PARISH AND SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE ALL AGREE AT THIS BODY THAT NEEDS TO OCCUR AND WE SEE IF IT PROVES TO BE TOO DIFFICULT AND WE HAVE ISSUES THAT WE'RE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDES, OF AND IT'S NOT WORKING, THEN I THINK, YEAH, WE NEED TO LOOK FOR AN ALTERNATIVE, WHICH IS MAYBE HAVING REPRESENTATION SEPARATELY, BUT I THINK IT WAS DONE BEFORE, YOU ALL DID IT WELL BEFORE, AND I THINK WE CAN DO THAT AGAIN. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL HELP WITH EVERYTHING. GREAT JOB. COUNCILMAN KENNEY. >> REAL QUICK. I DON'T WANT TO REHASH WHAT MY COLLEAGUES ALREADY SAID. IS THERE ANY WAY I GUESS FOR THE NEXT I GUESS SESSION COMING UP. DO WE STRATEGIZE WITH THE EBR DELEGATION OF LEGISLATORS IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE? AS IF COUNCILMAN DUNN SAID, ANY PRIORITIES THAT THE CITY PARISH OR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WANT TO WORK IN TANDEM WITH. IS THERE ANY OPPORTUNITY OR FUTURE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WORK IN TANDEM WITH EBR DELEGATION? WE HAVE SOME CONVERSATION AS WELL, BECAUSE I LOVE TO KNOW COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES, MAJOR CITIES IN LOUISIANA DOLLARS THEY'RE GETTING COMPARED TO WHAT WE GET EAST BATON ROUGE PAIRS, TO SEE THE DISPARITIES OR WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO STRATEGIZE, BETTER TO BRING MORE DOLLARS TO THE CITY. >> I GUESS TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT. WE HAD TWO PREVIOUS MEETINGS WHERE SENATOR EDMONDSON CALLED FOR, LUNCHES WITH THE DELEGATION WITH THE METRO COUNCIL DELEGATION. DO I THINK THOSE WERE THE MOST BENEFICIAL AS FAR AS INFORMATIONAL GIVEN? NO, BUT IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH EVERYBODY ELSE. MAYBE WHEN THOSE COME UP AGAIN, I HADN'T SEEN THAT DONE UNTIL THIS SESSION, AND THIS NEW CREW THAT WENT IN AS FAR AS LEGISLATORS AND STUFF. BUT I WAS APPRECIATED OF THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT. MAYBE IF THEY KEEP DOING THOSE, WHICH WE HAD TWO, MAYBE WE CAN WORK WITH OUR LOBBYIST HERE OF OUR WORKERS HERE THAT WE CAN, THIS IS THE INFORMATION THAT WE'RE WANTING AT THESE MEETINGS AND BRING THOSE FORWARD. >> ANYBODY ELSE? THANK YOU. ITEM 118, RECEIVING A REPORT FROM CITY PARISH INSURANCE CONSULTANT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES ON THE STATUS, OF CITY PARISH HEALTH BENEFITS, CURRENT AND FUTURE PLANS BY COUNCILWOMAN JENNIFER RACCA. THERE'S BEEN A REQUEST TO DEFER THIS ITEM. ANYONE HERE WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? THEN I'LL GO TO COUNCIL. COUNCILWOMAN RACCA. >> I WAS ASKED TO DEFER THIS ITEM AND MOVE THIS MEETING ALONG EXPEDITIOUSLY AND EVERYONE LIKED. THANK YOU. >> MOTION TO DEFER, SECOND BY THE CHAIR, ANY OPPOSED? [01:45:03] MOTION CARRIES. THERE'S BEEN A REQUEST TO RECONSIDER ITEM 62. DO YOU HAVE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER ITEM 62. THAT WAS COUNCILMAN HURST. MOTION TO RECONSIDER? ITEM 62, CONDEMNATION. I'LL SECOND. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. REQUEST 90 DAYS DEFERRAL, BY COUNCILMAN HURST, SECOND BY THE CHAIR. ANY OPPOSED? >> LOOK, I WANT TO MAKE SURE PUBLIC RECORD THAT 90 DAYS IS TO ALLOW THE OWNER TO DO HIS OWN DEMOLITION. I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD. THANK YOU. >> MOTION CARRIES. COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO. >> MOTION TO ADJOURN. >> THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE. GOD BLESS. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.