Sep 24, 2025 Metropolitan Council

THREE TWO. WELCOME TO THE PRESENTATION PORTIONS OF THE SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2020 METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING.

[Presentations and Special Recognitions]

[00:00:09]

GOOD AFTERNOON. CHIEF SERVICE OFFICER FOR THE OFFICE OF MAYOR-PRESIDENT EMIL SID EDWARDS.

AND TODAY, WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF ONE OF OUR OWN ESTEEMED EMPLOYEES, MISS CRYSTAL THOMPSON, WHO WORKED IN THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND TRAGICALLY LOST HER LIFE ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH. JUST THE DAY BEFORE HER PASSING, CRYSTAL ARRIVED AT WORK WITH HER BRIGHT SMILE, AS HER COWORKERS WOULD OFTEN SAY, TEN MINUTES EARLY AND READY TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY AND THE PARISH.

EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS ONLY WITH US FOR TWO MONTHS, CRYSTAL TAUGHT US A VALUABLE LESSON, THAT BEING ON TIME IS MORE THAN JUST PUNCTUALITY. IT IS A REFLECTION OF PREPAREDNESS AND DEDICATION.

BY ARRIVING EARLY EACH DAY AS CRYSTAL DID, SHE REMINDED US THAT HOW WE BEGIN SETS THE TONE FOR EVERYTHING THAT FOLLOWS. WE WANT TO THANK CRYSTAL FOR HER TIME HERE AND FOR HER SERVICE.

THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT'S OFFICE, ALONG WITH INFORMATION SERVICES AS THAT EVERYONE KEEP MISS THOMPSON'S FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COWORKERS IN YOUR PRAYERS AT THIS TIME, MAY WE HAVE THE FAMILY OF MISS CRYSTAL THOMPSON COME FORWARD.

MAY THE PROMISE OF GOD'S ETERNAL LOVE BRING YOU ALL PEACE AND MAY CHERISH MEMORIES OF CRYSTAL.

BRING LIGHT IN THE DAYS AHEAD. FOR PSALMS 34:18 SHARES, THE LORD IS CLOSE TO THE BROKENHEARTED AND COMFORTS THOSE WHO ARE CRUSHED IN SPIRIT. SO MAY HIS PRESENCE BRING PEACE AND STRENGTH TO YOU ALL DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.

ALSO, REMEMBER THAT YOU CAN FIND JOY BECAUSE WHERE CRYSTAL IS, SHE IS DOING JUST FINE.

WHERE CRYSTAL IS, SHE IS WALKING STREETS OF GOLD.

YES, SHE IS. WHERE SHE IS, THERE IS NO PAIN, NO SORROW, NO TEARS.

SHE RESTS IN THE BOSOM AND COMFORT OF GOD'S PRESENCE.

FOR REVELATION 21 FOUR STATES, AND GOD SHALL WIPE AWAY ALL TEARS FROM THEIR EYES, AND THERE SHALL BE NO MORE DEATH, NEITHER SORROW NOR CRYING, NEITHER SHALL THERE BE ANY MORE PAIN.

FOR THE FORMER THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY. SO MAY YOU ALL FIND COMFORT, JOY, AND PEACE IN THOSE WORDS, AND KNOWING THAT SHE IS FINE. SO, ON BEHALF OF MAYOR-PRESIDENT EDWARDS AND THE INFORMATION DEPARTMENT, WE PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION IN LOVING MEMORY OF CRYSTAL THOMPSON.

WHEREAS THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE IS DEEPLY SADDENED BY THE PASSING OF CRYSTAL THOMPSON, A DEDICATED EMPLOYEE OF THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

AND WHEREAS, CRYSTAL THOMPSON SERVED THE CITIZENS OF BATON ROUGE AND EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND A BRIGHT, POSITIVE SPIRIT, ALWAYS ARRIVING EARLY AND READY TO SERVE.

AND WHEREAS, DURING HER TIME WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION SERVICES, CRYSTAL DEMONSTRATED COMMITMENT AND TEAMWORK THAT POSITIVELY IMPACTED HER COWORKERS AND THE COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS CRYSTAL THOMPSON'S KINDNESS, GENEROSITY, AND CHEERFUL DEMEANOR LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION ON ALL WHO KNEW HER, INSPIRING THOSE AROUND HER TO WORK WITH THE SAME CARE AND DEDICATION.

AND WHEREAS THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT WISHES TO FORMALLY RECOGNIZE HER CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPRESS CONDOLENCES TO HER FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE.

CELEBRATE AND HONOR THE LIFE OF MISS CRYSTAL THOMPSON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[00:05:09]

SO WE HAD HER SPOILED. SHE HAS AN OLDER BROTHER, AND IT'S THREE BROTHERS.

THREE SISTERS. AND CRYSTAL WAS THE BABY, BUT CRYSTAL TOOK CARE OF MY MOM, ALONG WITH CHERYL, THE OLDEST SISTER. MY MOM IS SUFFERING FROM DEMENTIA, AND CRYSTAL SAW NO OTHER WAY BUT TO TAKE CARE OF HER.

WHEN CRYSTAL GOT THIS JOB. SHE WAS LIKE I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN GET THERE ON TIME BECAUSE I HAVE TO MAKE SURE SHE HAS THIS, AND I HAVE TO MAKE SURE SHE HAS THAT. AND AND THERE WAS CATS THAT STARTED COMING AROUND THE HOUSE, AND CHRIS HAD TO FEED THE CATS BEFORE SHE CAME TO WORK.

AND, AND THEN MY SISTER WAS LIKE, CHRIS, YOU'RE JUST GOING TO WORK.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND FEED THE CATS. AND THERE WAS SOME NEIGHBORS, CATS AND AND ONE OF THE CATS WENT AND GOT PREGNANT AND SHE'S PREGNANT AGAIN.

BUT OF COURSE, I TOOK CARE OF THE CATS. SHE WAS SUCH A SWEET PERSON, JUST A DARLING PERSON.

WE'RE GOING TO MISS OUR SISTER TREMENDOUSLY. BUT I JUST THANK YOU GUYS AND I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU.

I'M JUST GRATEFUL THAT YOU KNEW HOW SPECIAL CRYSTAL WAS AS WELL.

I THANK YOU GUYS. I THANK YOU, AND I'LL NEVER FORGET THIS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OUR CONDOLENCES AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING HER WITH US.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. NEXT UP, WE'LL HAVE THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT SID EDWARDS OFFICE ALONG WITH METROPOLITAN COUNCILMAN DARRYL HURST, TO RECOGNIZE TODD TERRILL WITH UNITED CAJUN NAVY.

YEAH. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO SHARE IN SOMEBODY WHO STARTED OFF AS A COMMUNITY SERVANT, BUT I BELIEVE HAS BECOME A FRIEND TO ME AND MY DISTRICT AS A WHOLE.

YOU KNOW, WE SAT HERE AND WE LAUGH AND JOKE ABOUT THE REFRIGERATORS AND THE WASHERS AND DRYERS AND OTHER STUFF THAT WE PURCHASED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

BUT IT WASN'T JUST A COUNCIL IN THE CITY. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR APPROVING THAT, BECAUSE I BELIEVE YOU ALL HAVE SEEN THE IMPACT.

BUT IT WAS OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT STEPPED IN TO HELP US TAKE PEOPLE FROM HOMELESS TO HOMES, TAKE PEOPLE FROM ADDICTED TO SET FREE, AND TODD TAYLOR AND THE CAJUN NAVY HAVE BEEN A CONSTANT PARTNER IN THAT.

WE LITERALLY GET THEM HOUSES. WE LITERALLY GET THEM DRUG SUPPORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED.

AND THE CAJUN NAVY IS ALWAYS ONE CALL AWAY. WE'VE GOTTEN BEDS, FURNITURE, FOOD, BEDDING, TOWELS, POTS AND PANS AND DRESSERS AND COUCHES, IF YOU NAME IT.

THE CAJUN NAVY HAS STEPPED UP AND DONE IT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE UNHOMED DIDN'T GO TO AN EMPTY HOME WHEN THEY WERE PLACED IN A RESIDENCE.

ADDITIONALLY, I WAS IN SOUTH CAROLINA A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, AND I'M ON THE BEACH AND LADY STOPS ME AND SHE SAYS, HEY, WHERE ARE YOU FROM? I SAID, BATON ROUGE.

SHE SAID, I JUST LOVE THE CAJUN NAVY BECAUSE SHE SAW THE IMPACT THAT THEY WERE MAKING IN NORTH CAROLINA.

AND ONE THING WE TALK ABOUT, AND I ACTUALLY CALLED TODD.

I WAS LIKE, MAN, I GOT A FAN OVER HERE FOR YOU.

LET ME PUT YOU ON THE PHONE. BUT THE ONE THING THAT HE'S DOING IS NOT JUST MAKING AN IMPACT IN BATON ROUGE, BUT AROUND THE COUNTRY. I THINK SOMETIMES WE GET TOO COMFORTABLE WITH THE LOCAL PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING THE THE WORLD GO ROUND.

SO WE DON'T SEE THEM AS SUPERSTARS THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD DOES.

AND SO TODAY I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY FRIEND, AND THIS IS A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION PROUDLY PRESENTED TO THE UNITED CAJUN NAVY.

WHEREAS THE UNITED CAJUN NAVY HAS EXEMPLIFIED THE TRUE SPIRIT OF SERVICE, COMPASSION AND COURAGE THROUGH HIS TIRELESS EFFORTS TO AID COMMUNITIES IN TIMES OF CRISIS.

AND WHEREAS, THIS VOLUNTEER DRIVEN ORGANIZATION HAS BROUGHT HOPE AND RELIEF TO FAMILIES IMPACTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS, INCLUDING HURRICANES, FLOODS AND OTHER EMERGENCIES BY MOBILIZING SWIFTLY TO PROVIDE RESCUE, RECOVERY AND HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT. AND WHEREAS, THE UNITED CAJUN NAVY REPRESENTS THE STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE OF LOUISIANA'S PEOPLE, DEMONSTRATING THE ORDINARY CITIZENS, UNITED WITH PURPOSE CAN MAKE AN EXTRAORDINARY DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS.

AND WHEREAS THE BRAVERY AND SELFLESSNESS OF THE UNITED CAJUN NAVY'S MEMBERS EMBODY THE HIGHEST IDEALS OF COMMUNITY SACRIFICE AND SERVICE, INSPIRING OTHERS TO STEP FORWARD AND LEND A HELPING HAND.

[00:10:03]

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT WE DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE UNITED CAJUN NAVY FOR ITS OUTSTANDING HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS, UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO SAVING LIVES, AND ITS ENDURING CONTRIBUTION TO THE WELFARE AND SAFETY OF COMMUNITIES NEAR AND FAR.

MY FRIEND, TODD TERRELL.

THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN HURST. ON BEHALF OF MAYOR-PRESIDENT EDWARDS AND HIS ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION, WE WOULD LIKE TO HONOR THE UNITED CAJUN NAVY FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK FOR NOT ONLY OUR CITY AND OUR PARISH, BUT OUR ENTIRE COUNTRY, BUT PARTICULARLY FOR OUR CITY AND PARISH.

FOUNDED IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE KATRINA IN 2005, THE ORGANIZATION HAS SINCE GROWN IN LEAPS AND BOUNDS TO BECOME A CRITICAL PART OF DISASTER RESPONSE EFFORTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

THE UNITED CAJUN NAVY'S MISSION IS TO SWIFTLY AND EFFECTIVELY MOBILIZE VOLUNTEERS AND RESOURCES TO AREAS AFFECTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS, ENSURING THAT THOSE IN NEED RECEIVE TIMELY ASSISTANCE.

WE WERE ALL ABLE TO WITNESS FIRSTHAND THE WORK OF THE CAJUN NAVY DURING OUR SNOWSTORM, WHEN THEY STOPPED BY AND BROUGHT BLANKETS AND CLOTHING AND OTHER ESSENTIAL ITEMS, PARTICULARLY FOR OUR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE WANT TO THANK THE UNITED CAJUN NAVY FOR THEIR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND TO THE CITY AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, AND WE JUST WANT TO SAY, HATS OFF. THANK YOU FOR YOUR BRAVERY.

THERE IS A QUOTE IN THE ADVOCATE ABOUT THESE HEROES.

THE HEROES HAILED FROM THE CAJUN NAVY VOLUNTEERS WHO HAD NO ADMIRAL, NO UNIFORMS, NO MILITARY MEDALS AWAITING THEM FOR ACTS OF VALOR. FOR IT WAS CONSCIOUS, NOT A COMMANDING OFFICER THAT SUMMONED THEM INTO TREACHEROUS CURRENTS TO CARRY ENDANGERED CITIZENS TO HIGHER GROUND. SO ON BEHALF OF MAYOR EDWARDS, WE WANT TO SAY WHEN THE WATERS RISE AND FEAR TAKES HOLD, ORDINARY LOUISIANIANS BECOME EXTRAORDINARY HEROES, STEERING THEIR BOATS TOWARD DANGER, RISKING THEIR OWN SAFETY SO THAT STRANGERS MAY LIVE.

YOUR COURAGE REMINDS ALL OF US THAT TRUE STRENGTH IS MEASURED NOT BY POWER, NOT BY COMMENDATIONS, NOT BY MEDALS, BUT BY THE WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AND THE BRAVERY OF HEART THAT ONLY A TRUE CAJUN CAN HAVE.

SO WE WANT TO PRESENT THIS TO YOU ALL. AND IT IS A CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO OUR COUNTRY AND TO THE CITY AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE.

YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND BY SWIFTLY AND EFFECTIVELY MOBILIZING VOLUNTEERS, RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS.

THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS, COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES HAVE RECEIVED TIMELY ASSISTANCE, RELIEF, AND HOPE DURING MOMENTS OF CRISIS. YOUR EFFORTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE HAVE NOT GONE UNNOTICED, AND WE COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR EXEMPLARY SERVICE GIVEN THIS DAY.

SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2025. WITH SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[00:15:01]

ALL RIGHT. HOLD IT. ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET A BIG SMILE FROM EVERYBODY.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD. LOOK STRAIGHT. MY WAY FOR ME. I HOLD THAT. THREE. TWO. ONE. ALL RIGHT.

OKAY. THANK YOU ALL. IT'S AN HONOR. ESPECIALLY THIS IS IN MY HOMETOWN BECAUSE WE GET A LOT OF HONORS AND RECOMMENDATION THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, NOT JUST THE COUNTRY, BUT I WANT TO TAKE TWO SECONDS AND INTRODUCE YOU ALL TO A COUPLE OF PEOPLE.

FIRST OF ALL, JOSH GILL, HE'S ONE OF OUR INCIDENT COMMANDERS ON THE GROUND WHENEVER WE HAVE A DISASTER OR A SEARCH.

AND THEN OF COURSE, WE HAVE MISS JERSEY WHO ACTUALLY TAKES CARE OF EVERYTHING.

WE ACTUALLY RENT A WAREHOUSE FROM Y'ALL OUT AT THE BATON ROUGE AIRPORT.

AND THE GOOD THING ABOUT IT IS, IT'S PERFECT.

WE CAN BRING PLANES IN AND OUT, SUPPLIES IN AND OUT REAL FAST. AND SHE KIND OF TAKES CARE OF THE VOLUNTEERS AND PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING. AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE GOT MISS MONIQUE HERE. SHE TAKES CARE OF ALL OF OUR PAPERWORK AND THE BILLS AND MAKE SURE THAT STUFF'S IN LINE.

AND LASTLY, WE GOT CASEY. Y'ALL MIGHT HAVE HEARD RECENTLY ABOUT A THE 12 YEAR OLD KID THAT WAS RECOVERED IN NEW ORLEANS THAT WAS ATTACKED BY THE ALLIGATOR.

AND CASEY HAS BEEN REAL INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING US GET A SYSTEM IN PLACE TO COMPLEMENT THE AMBER ALERT.

THE AMBER ALERT IS JUST FOR SPECIFIC PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW WHO MIGHT HAVE ABDUCTED SOMEBODY.

BUT CASEY'S BEEN REALLY INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING GET A SYSTEM FOR SPECIAL NEEDS PEOPLE THAT ARE MISSING THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THE AMBER ALERT, SO MAYBE WE CAN FIND PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT FASTER.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT WE GOT GOING ON, AND IT'S JUST IT'S A IT'S A PROUD MOMENT TO BE FROM BATON ROUGE AND TO BE A PART OF EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING. BUT THANK YOU ALL AGAIN. ALL RIGHT. AND FINALLY, WE'LL HAVE METROPOLITAN COUNCILMAN DARRYL HURST.

AND THAT WILL CONCLUDE OUR PRESENTATIONS FOR TODAY. THANK YOU.

THANK. YOU HIT IT ONE TIME. WELCOME, EVERYBODY.

[CALL TO ORDER]

AND A BIG WEEKEND IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IS THE JACKSON STATE TIGERS ARE COMING TO TAKE ON THE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY JAGUARS.

THAT'S THE BOOMBOX CLASSIC THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS ON FRIDAY NIGHT, AND I'M BEING TOLD THAT JACKSON STATE HAS THE SECOND BEST BAND IN THE SWAC.

AND OF COURSE, NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH SOUTHERN'S BAND BECAUSE THEY'RE OFTEN IMITATED BUT NEVER DUPLICATED.

SO THAT SHOULD BE A GREAT NIGHT OUT IN SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE TIGERS OF LSU, SO IT'S ANOTHER MISSISSIPPI CONNECTION BECAUSE THE TIGERS ARE HEADED TO OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI, TO TAKE ON THE OLE MISS REBELS, A STORIED RIVALRY THAT'S GONE BACK WAY OVER A HUNDRED YEARS.

AND NOW THE SEC SAYS THAT THEY ARE COMMON OPPONENTS, SO THEY GET TO PLAY EVERY YEAR, AT LEAST FOR A WHILE.

BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE WAY TO OXFORD, THEY'LL GO UP THROUGH JACKSON, THROUGH GRENADA AND WINONA TO BATESVILLE AND THEN OVER TO OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI. A COUPLE OF GREAT GAMES THAT LSU HAS PLAYED WITH OLE MISS.

THE MOST FAMOUS ONE, THE BILLY CANNON RUN BACK IN 1959, AS CANNON WRITES, 89 YARDS FOR A TOUCHDOWN, AND LSU THEN HELD ON TO BEAT OLE MISS 7 TO 3 THAT NIGHT.

THEN IN 1972, BERT JONES HAD THE FOOTBALL AT THE TEN.

FOUR SECONDS ON THE CLOCK, LSU TRAILING OLE MISS.

HE THROWS AN INCOMPLETE PASS TO THE END ZONE AND THE OLE MISS PEOPLE CELEBRATE AND THE TEAM CELEBRATES, BUT IN TIGER STADIUM THERE WAS ONE SECOND LEFT ON THE CLOCK.

HE THROWS THE TOUCHDOWN PASS TO BRAD DAVIS AND LSU WINS IT IN.

AN INTERESTING THING THAT HAPPENED THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

AS YOU ENTER LOUISIANA, THEY PUT UP SIGNS THAT SAID YOU'RE ENTERING LOUISIANA.

SET YOUR CLOCK BACK FOUR SECONDS. WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.

CHAIRING TONIGHT'S MEETING IS DISTRICT 9 COUNCIL MEMBER DWIGHT HUDSON.

COUNCILMAN. THANK YOU DENNIS. WELCOME TO THE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2025 REGULAR METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING.

WE'LL HAVE OUR CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL ASHLEY.

DO WE HAVE A QUORUM? WE HAVE A QUORUM. VERY WELL.

OUR INVOCATION, OUR INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE LED BY FORMER COUNCILWOMAN TARA WICKER THIS EVENING.

SO, MISS WICKER, PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY.

I WAS ALWAYS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCILMAN HUDSON, FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND DO THE INVOCATION AND THE PLEDGE IS JUST TRULY A PLEASURE.

[00:20:08]

AND SO I YIELD, AND I COMMEND YOU ALL FOR INVITING THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN HERE.

AND I PRAY TONIGHT THAT HE GIVES US WISDOM. SO PRAY WITH ME.

FATHER, WE JUST THANK YOU. LORD GOD, YOU ARE SO WONDERFUL, AWESOME AND AMAZING LORD.

WE LOVE OUR CITY, LORD. WE LOVE OUR PARISH AND WE KNOW THAT WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT YOU FATHER.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR WISDOM. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE.

LORD, I PRAY A SPECIAL PRAYER OVER EACH AND EVERYONE OF THESE PUBLIC SERVANTS.

WE KNOW THAT THIS POSITION IS NOT JUST A JOB, LORD, BUT IT'S AN ANOINTING.

AND IT'S A CALL TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS WORLD AND THIS PLACE ARE CITY IS A BETTER PLACE.

LORD, WE ASK THAT AS THEY GO THROUGH THE DELIBERATIONS OF TONIGHT, FATHER, THAT YOUR HOLY SPIRIT WILL BE HERE IN THE MIDST.

FATHER, WE PRAY FOR PEACE IN THIS CHAMBER. LORD, WE ASK THAT EVERY DECISION THAT IS MADE, LORD GOD, WILL BE ACCORDING TO THE PURPOSE. THE PURPOSE, PLAN AND PURPOSE THAT YOU HAVE FOR OUR CITY AND FOR OUR PARISH.

I PRAY FOR WISDOM OVER ALL OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS.

LORD, I PRAY FOR A HEDGE OF PROTECTION OVER THEM AND THEIR CHILDREN.

ONLY YOU KNOW THE SACRIFICES THAT THEY MAKE. STAYING AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND CALLING AND HEEDING TO THE CALL.

LORD, AND WE JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE AND YOUR MERCY. BLESS THEM ABUNDANTLY.

BLESS ALL THE CITIZENS OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, THOSE THAT ARE HERE TO HEAR AND TO PARTICIPATE.

FATHER, AND WE THANK YOU FOR OUR MAYOR. PRESIDENT LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO GIVE HIM STRENGTH AND WISDOM AND GUIDE HIM AND HIS STAFF ON HOW TO LEAD THIS CITY. FATHER, WE ASK YOU FOR ALL OF THIS IN THE PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.

AND LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS LSU AND YOU BLESS SOUTHERN LORD GOD AND THAT THEY WILL BE.

WHILE WE RESPECT THOSE MISSISSIPPI TEAMS, WE PRAY, LORD, THAT YOUR GARRISON OF ANGELS WILL GO AND THEY WILL BEAT THEM AND THEY WILL BE DEFEATED. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN, AMEN, AMEN. JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE.

I PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

NOW GO SERVE. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN WICKER, WE DO HAVE SOME EXTRA CHAIRS UP HERE TONIGHT IF YOU WANT TO COME AND HELP US KEEP A QUORUM. SO, COUNCIL MEMBERS, JUST TO PLEASE DO BE CONSCIOUS OF THE QUORUM ISSUE.

WE HAVE SOME MEMBERS ABSENT TONIGHT TAKING PART IN SOME CONFERENCES UP IN WASHINGTON, DC.

AND SO IF YOU NEED TO EXIT THE ROOM FOR ANY REASON, IF YOU WOULD JUST GIVE ME A KIND OF A WAVE OFF TO THE SIDE, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE A RECESS IF WE NEED TO.

BUT I'M GOING TO TRY TO GO QUICKLY TONIGHT SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES. AND WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF THE

[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. SEEING NO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND START WITH INTRODUCTIONS.

[INTRODUCTIONS]

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MOAK. SEEING NO OPPOSITION.

ITEM 1 IS APPROVED. INTRODUCTIONS. ASHLEY, PLEASE READ THE INTRODUCTIONS.

SECTION 2.12 INTRODUCTIONS. NUMBER 2. CONSIDERATION OF THE ITEP APPLICATION FROM W.R.

GRACE & CO. FOR A PROJECT LOCATED IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, REFERRED TO THE PARISH BY THE BOARD OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.

THE AMOUNT OF $31,241,000. BY THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR/TREASURER.

NUMBER 3. CONSIDERATION OF THE ITEP APPLICATION FROM INTERNATIONAL MEZZO FOR A PROJECT LOCATED IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, REFERRED TO THE PARISH BY THE BOARD OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, WITH THE AMOUNT OF $216,368.

BY COUNCIL. ADMINISTRATOR/TREASURER. NUMBER 4.

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION SERVICES WITH GOTECH, INC. FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVEBR PROJECT TERRACE AVENUE (HIGHLAND ROAD TO PERKINS ROAD), IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $484,500 BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.

NUMBER 5. REQUEST TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE THE MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT, INCLUDING MOWING AND LITTER PICKUP, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2026 BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, AND THE STATE OF LOUISIANA BY THE MAINTENANCE DIRECTOR.

CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS. NUMBER 6. THE ESTATE OF PATRICIA CHAMBERS WILLIS.

10041 AVENUE J. COUNCIL DISTRICT 2. KENNEY. NUMBER 7.

KENDRICK JACKSON. 1702 MAST DRIVE. COUNCIL DISTRICT 3.

GAUDEL. NUMBER 8. LATONYA RENEE JONES. 5507 PAGE STREET.

[00:25:02]

8534 HOOPER ROAD. COUNCIL DISTRICT 5. HURST. NUMBER 10.

CHRISTINA ALEXANDER. 3333 PRESCOTT ROAD. COUNCIL DISTRICT 7.

HARRIS. NUMBER 11. BRITTANY LASHAY CHASE ET AL.

03, I'M SORRY. 2739 MICHELLI DRIVE. COUNCIL DISTRICT 7.

HARRIS. NUMBER 12. EARL MARCEL JR. 1026 LAURIE BURGESS AVENUE.

COUNCIL DISTRICT 10. COLEMAN. NUMBER 13. A COX ASSOCIATES LLC.

817 NORTH 25TH STREET. COUNCIL DISTRICT 10. COLEMAN.

NUMBER 14. THE ESTATE OF FRANCIS PIDGEON. 2332 HURON STREET.

COUNCIL DISTRICT 10. COLEMAN. ADJUDICATED PROPERTY INTRODUCTIONS.

NUMBER 15. LOT 77. SUBDIVISION: GREENDALE. COUNCIL DISTRICT 5.

HURST. NUMBER 16. LOT 31, 32 AND 33. SUBDIVISION: FORTUNE.

COUNCIL DISTRICT 5. HURST. NUMBER 17. LOT P, SQUARE 23.

SUBDIVISION: NORTH BATON ROUGE. COUNCIL DISTRICT 2. KENNEY. NUMBER 18.

LOT 107. SUBDIVISION: COLONIAL HILL. COUNCIL DISTRICT 10.

COLEMAN. NUMBER 19. LOT C, SQUARE 14. SUBDIVISION: ABRAMSON.

COUNCIL DISTRICT 10. COLEMAN. NUMBER 20. LOT A, SQUARE 14.

SUBDIVISION: ABRAMSON. COUNCIL DISTRICT 10. COLEMAN.

NUMBER 21. LOT 66, SQUARE 14. SUBDIVISION: SOUTH BATON ROUGE.

COUNCIL DISTRICT 10. COLEMAN. NUMBER 22. LOT 38.

SUBDIVISION: KELLY. COUNCIL DISTRICT 2. KENNEY.

NUMBER 23. LOT 19, SQUARE 28. SUBDIVISION: EDEN PARK.

COUNCIL DISTRICT 7. HARRIS. NUMBER 24. LOT 17 AND 18.

SUBDIVISION: BANKS. COUNCIL DISTRICT 2. KENNEY.

NUMBER 25. LOT 18. SUBDIVISION: FAIRFIELD. COUNCIL DISTRICT 7.

HARRIS. NUMBER 26. LOT B1. SUBDIVISION: BROOKSTOWN PLACE.

COUNCIL DISTRICT 5. HURST. NUMBER 27. LOT 316.

SUBDIVISION: GLEN OAKS. COUNCIL DISTRICT 5. HURST.

NUMBER 28. LOT 11, SQUARE A. SUBDIVISION: SUNSET HEIGHTS.

COUNCIL DISTRICT 5. HURST. NUMBER 29. LOT 231.

SUBDIVISION: FAIRLANE. COUNCIL DISTRICT 5. HURST.

NUMBER 30. LOT 5, SQUARE 37. SUBDIVISION: SOUTH BATON ROUGE.

COUNCIL DISTRICT 10. COLEMAN. ALL ITEMS THAT REQUIRE READING HAVE BEEN READ IN A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS IS IN ORDER.

MOTION BY AMOROSO, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR. ANY OPPOSITION TO INTRODUCING ALL ITEMS? SEEING NONE, ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO CONDEMNATIONS.

[CONDEMNATIONS]

COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM DPW ARE TO PROCEED WITH 83, 85, 89, 90, 91, 92, 94, 98, 99, AND 100. AND TO DEFER FOR 60 DAYS. THAT'S GOING TO BE THE TUESDAY MEETING NOVEMBER 25TH, 2025, 84, 86, 87, 88, 96, 97 AND 101. AND TO DELETE 93 AND 95.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON CONDEMNATIONS. IF ANYONE IS HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 83 TO 100, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.

SEEING NONE. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. I HAVE A FEW RECOMMENDATIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE NOT HERE.

ARE THERE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DEFERRALS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE? COUNCILMAN GAUDET. THANK YOU. ASHLEY. THANK YOU.

I WAS GOING TO DEFER ITEM 96. LET ME MAKE SURE I HAVE MY NUMBER CORRECT.

YEAH. ITEM 96 FOR 90 DAYS. BUT I DIDN'T THINK AHEAD OF WHAT THAT PUTS US INTO DECEMBER.

WE DO NOT HAVE A MEETING IN 90 DAYS, SO THE CHOICES WOULD BE 60 DAYS OR YOU CAN GO TO JANUARY.

NOPE. I'LL STICK WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF 60, THANK YOU.

COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT 97.

THE SHEET SAYS DELETE. IS THAT WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON, TO DELETE 97? IS THAT CORRECT? I HAVE A NOTE FROM COUNCILMAN DUNN TO REQUEST TO DELETE 97. PERFECT. I JUST WANTED.

THE RECOMMENDATION. I CAN OFFER A LITTLE INSIGHT ON THAT.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER AND THEN ALSO THE PROSPECTIVE BUYER, AND THEY HAVE MADE SOME SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SECURITY.

THEY SENT US A REPORT LAST WEEK, AND I REVIEWED THAT THEY HAVE AN ARCHITECT ON BOARD, AND THEY ARE PLANNING ON APPLYING FOR SOME PERMITS TO MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS.

AND I THINK GET PEOPLE ACTUALLY BACK INTO THAT STRUCTURE.

AND IT IS THEY HAVE MADE SOME SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS.

AWESOME. OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I HEARD. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT DIDN'T GET CAUGHT UP. THANK YOU. AWESOME.

ANY OTHER CHANGES FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? SEEING NONE ASHLEY, PLEASE READ THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND CHANGES.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND CHAD. OH. NO, NO. OKAY. SO RECOMMENDATIONS, ALONG WITH THE STATED CHANGES FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 89,

[00:30:07]

ITEMS 90, 92, 98, AND 100 TO DEFER FOR 60 DAYS.

ITEMS 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 96, AND 101, AND TO DELETE ITEMS 93, 95, AND 97.

IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION BY ADAM, SECOND BY AMOROSO.

ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. CONDEMNATIONS ARE COMPLETE.

WE'LL MOVE TO OUR PUBLIC HEARING. ITEM 102. THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL SITTING AS THE BOARD OF REVIEW ON PARISH ASSESSMENTS.

[102. 25-00823 ]

SO WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 102.

SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND WE DON'T HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO TAKE AN ACTION ON THIS ITEM.

SO WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM 103. PURSUANT TO ORDINANCE 16612, THE BATON ROUGE CITY COURT JUDGES WILL RECEIVE THE EQUIVALENT SALARY OF THE EAST BATON

[103. 25-01109 ]

OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 103. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS BERNADETTE MCLAURIN, AND I'M WITH BATON ROUGE CITY COURT AS A DEPUTY JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATOR.

WE WOULD WE'RE ASKING YOUR APPROVAL TO READ A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE SO THAT IT MAY GO ON THE RECORD FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. PURSUANT TO ORDINANCE NUMBER 18943, THE BATON ROUGE CITY COURT JUDGES WILL RECEIVE THE EQUIVALENT SALARY OR COMPENSATION OF AN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH DISTRICT JUDGE.

THEREFORE, EACH CITY COURT JUDGE WILL RECEIVE A ONE TIME SUPPLEMENT AS PART OF THEIR COMPENSATION IN ADDITION TO THEIR CITY PARISH BASE PAY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025, IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,006.

THIS IS ABOUT OUR INTERIM CLERK/JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATOR.

OKAY. ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK? SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. DO I NEED TO READ THAT? OKAY. SO. SO MOVED BY THE CHAIR AS THE AMENDMENT WAS READ BY.

BERNADETTE MCLAURIN. BERNADETTE MCLAURIN. THANK YOU, MISS BERNADETTE.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN RACCA.

ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. ITEM 103. OH, MR. GAUDET. MISS. COUNCILMAN. MISS BERNADETTE, I'M SORRY.

I WAS CATCHING YOU BEFORE. YOU SIT. WOULD YOU MIND COMING BACK UP? YES.

THE RESOLUTION AS IT WAS ATTACHED ON THE AGENDA HAS AN INCREASE TO THE BASE PAY IN THAT SAME AMOUNT 10,006.

WALK ME THROUGH, PLEASE, THE AMENDMENT YOU JUST OFFERED UP.

THE AMENDMENT THAT WE'RE OFFERING NOW, IT IS A ONE TIME SUPPLEMENT.

IT IS NOT PART OF THEIR BASE PAY, IT IS JUST A SUPPLEMENT FOR ONE YEAR.

OKAY. YOU ALL HAVE REVIEWED THIS, THAT THIS, THE CHANGE IS NOT SUBSTANTIAL.

SHE'S SAYING YES. THIS IS AN ACCEPTABLE AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU. OKAY. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOTIONED AND SECONDED BY RACCA.

ANY OPPOSITION? COUNCILWOMAN RACCA. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I GOTTA KEEP AN EYE ON THAT DONNA. CAN SOMEONE FROM FINANCE AND SOMEONE FROM THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PLEASE COME UP? MR. ROME. PERFECT TIMING. CAN YOU PLEASE COME UP? WHAT'S UP? GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILWOMAN BARRACA.

HI, SIR. CURRENTLY WE'RE ON THE ITEM 103, REGARDING THE CITY COURT JUDGES PAY.

YEAH. DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE IN YOUR OFFICE THAT CAN SPEAK TO THAT? YEAH. MISS KING PROBABLY. HOW ARE YOU? GREAT.

HOW ARE YOU TODAY? GOOD. SO CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC FOR US WHAT THIS AMENDMENT LOOKS LIKE, WHY WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS AMENDMENT, AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS? YES.

SO THE SUPREME COURT IN JULY PASSED A MEMORANDUM, AND IT EVEN GOES BACK A LITTLE FURTHER THAN THAT.

THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED AN ACT THAT STATED THAT CITY COURT JUDGES WILL, JUDGES ACROSS THE STATE COULD BE GIVEN A SUPPLEMENT.

THEY ACTUALLY DID THIS LAST YEAR, TOO. THEY CALLED IT A STIPEND LAST YEAR.

ANYWAY, THEY'VE GOT SOME LANGUAGE CHANGES. IT'S COMING BACK AROUND AGAIN.

THEY'RE DOING IT AGAIN THIS YEAR, CALLING IT A SUPPLEMENT.

IT'S A ONE TIME SUPPLEMENT. THE, THE THE SUPREME COURT HAS EVEN SET FORTH INSTRUCTIONS THIS TIME ON HOW THAT SUPPLEMENT GETS PAID OUT.

[00:35:01]

FOR OUR CITY COURT JUDGE, THEY GAVE US A PERCENTAGE THAT TO BASE IT ON, WHICH IS 8.45% OF THE SALARY.

THAT TURNS OUT TO BE AROUND $10,000. AND THAT $10,000 IS TO BE PAID OUT OVER A 12 MONTH PERIOD.

WE DO HAVE AN ORDINANCE, ORDINANCE 18943 THAT PROVIDES THAT CITY COURT JUDGES ARE TO BE PAID THE SAME AMOUNT AS DISTRICT COURT JUDGES. AND SO IN AN EFFORT TO MAINTAIN THAT EQUALITY THE AMOUNT THAT WILL BE PAID OUT TO OUR CITY COURT JUDGES WILL MATCH THAT OF DISTRICT COURT JUDGES.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE GIST OF IT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THERE ARE SOME FOLKS ONLINE, SOME ONLINE CHATTER THAT I DON'T THINK GOT A GRASP OF WHERE THIS WAS COMING FROM.

THEY WERE ATTACKING OUR JUDGES, THEY WERE ATTACKING THEIR PAY ALL THE WHILE ASKING FOR LESS CRIME IN THE CITY.

SO IT'S JUST FASCINATING HOW FOLKS LOOK AT THOSE THINGS.

SO I THOUGHT MAYBE A GREAT EXPLANATION BY YOU WOULD HELP EASE THEIR MIND IN SOME WAY OR MANNER TO UNDERSTAND WHY THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

CAN SOMEONE FROM FINANCE PLEASE COME UP? HI, MISS ANGIE DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SUPPORT THIS PAY? THIS PAY THAT'S ORDERED BY THE SUPREME COURT? YEAH, WE REVIEWED THEIR FINANCIAL BUDGET, AND THEY DO HAVE SAVINGS WITHIN THEIR BUDGET TO ACCOMMODATE THIS INCREASE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU BOTH. LADIES. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. AND COUNCILWOMAN, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE A FLOOR AMENDMENT TO CHANGE SOME LANGUAGE.

IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE SUBSTANCE OF THE ITEM. IT JUST MAKES IT CLEARER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CITING THE CORRECT ORDINANCE SO THAT THE COUNCIL IS ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO I GUESS WHENEVER YOU GUYS ARE READY TO. THIS LOVELY LADY ALREADY HANDLED THAT FOR US.

SO. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALRIGHT. IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOTIONED AND COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS AND I READ THE SAME SOCIAL MEDIA THAT YOU DID COUNCILWOMAN RACCA.

AND JUST WANT TO ALSO NOTE THAT THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES SALARIES ARE SET BY THE LEGISLATURE AND BY STATE LAW, AND THEN STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE OVER 100,000 PERSONS HAVE THEIR CITY COURT JUDGES EARN THE SAME AS THEIR DISTRICT COURT JUDGES. SO WE'RE ALSO COMPLYING WITH STATE STATUTE.

THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. ITEM 103 CARRIES.

[104. 25-01131 ]

BUT IT IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE ISSUANCE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE NOT EXCEEDING $215,000 REVENUE BONDS, SERIES 2025, OF THE CHENEYVILLE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 7 OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH BY CHENEYVILLE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT.

WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 104. SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING MAKE A MOTION BY THE CHAIR TO DEFER TO OCTOBER 8TH. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN AMOROSO. ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. ITEM 104 IS DEFERRED. ITEM 105. AUTHORIZATION FOR THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT, AND OR THE CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO FORMALLY REQUEST THE LOUISIANA

[105. 25-01093 ]

OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 105. SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

COUNCIL MEMBERS? MOTION BY THE CHAIR. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET.

ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. ITEM 105 CARRIES.

[106. 25-01094 ]

WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 106. SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MOTION BY THE CHAIR. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET.

ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. ITEM 106 CARRIES.

[107. 25-01107 ]

[00:40:01]

PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 107. SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET. SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. ITEM 107 CARRIES.

ITEM 108. AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT THE GRANT AWARD FOR THE FY 2026 HIGHWAY SAFETY GRANT IN AN AMOUNT UP TO $93,000,

[108. 25-01108 ]

SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. COUNCIL MEMBERS? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET, AND SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. ITEM 108 CARRIES.

[Items 109 - 114]

SO I'LL READ THESE. ITEM 109. AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES, RYAN WHITE PROGRAM TO AMEND A SUBRECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH CAPITAL CITY FAMILY HEALTH CENTER CARE SOUTH IN THE AMOUNT OF $90,438 AND EXTEND THE CONTRACT PERIOD THROUGH FEBRUARY 28TH, 2026, FOR A TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT OF $1,047,028.

BY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES DIRECTOR. ITEM 110.

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES, RYAN WHITE PROGRAM TO AMEND A SUBRECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH HIV/AIDS ALLIANCE FOR REGION 2, INC.

IN THE AMOUNT OF $120,010, AND EXTEND THE CONTRACT PERIOD THROUGH FEBRUARY 28TH, 2026, FOR A TOTAL AWARDED AMOUNT OF $1,305,441. BY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES.

ITEM 111. AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES, RYAN WHITE PROGRAM TO AMEND A SUBRECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH OUR LADY OF THE LAKE IN THE AMOUNT OF $76,743 AND EXTEND THE CONTRACT PERIOD THROUGH FEBRUARY 28TH, 2026, FOR A TOTAL AWARDED AMOUNT OF $765,546.

BY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES DIRECTOR. ITEM 112.

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES, RYAN WHITE PROGRAM TO AMEND A SUBRECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH FAMILY SERVICES OF GREATER BATON ROUGE AND THE AMOUNT OF $104,427 AND EXTEND THE CONTRACT PERIOD THROUGH FEBRUARY 28TH, 2026, FOR A TOTAL AWARDED AMOUNT OF $956,323.

BY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR. ITEM 113.

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES, RYAN WHITE PROGRAM TO AMEND A SUBRECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH NO AIDS TASKFORCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $64,620 AND EXTEND THE CONTRACT PERIOD THROUGH FEBRUARY 28TH, 2026, FOR A TOTAL AWARDED AMOUNT OF $732,236. BY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICE DIRECTOR.

ITEM 114. AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF DIVISION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES, RYAN WHITE PROGRAM TO AMEND A SUBRECIPIENT CONTRACT WITH VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA, SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA, IN THE AMOUNT OF $123,141, AND EXTEND THE CONTRACT PERIOD THROUGH FEBRUARY 28TH, 2026, FOR A TOTAL AWARDED AMOUNT OF $1,406,175. BY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES DIRECTOR.

WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEMS 109 THROUGH 114.

COUNCIL MEMBERS. YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEMS 109 THROUGH 114.

SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MOTION BY. COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. MR. SANDERS. CAN YOU COME TO THE MIC? SO IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT IT WAS ON THIS ITEM, IT WAS STATED THAT WE'RE SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY ON AIDS/HIV, AND WE SHOULD LOOK AT SPENDING MONEY ON ALZHEIMER'S OR OTHER DISEASE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU AGAIN TO CLARIFY.

RYAN WHITE FUNDS, WHERE DO THESE FUNDS COME FROM AND WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS AROUND THIS FUNDING? SO THE FUNDING COMES FROM THE NATIONAL OFFICES IN WASHINGTON, D.C., RYAN WHITE.

SO THEY'RE FEDERAL, 100% FEDERAL FUNDS AND THE PREREQUISITES TO RECEIVING THE FUNDS YOU HAVE TO BE A PART OF THAT COMMUNITY, HIV OR AIDS. SO DO WE HAVE ANY WIGGLE ROOM WHATSOEVER IN HOW WE EXPEND THESE FUNDS OR ON WHAT DISEASES WE EXPEND THESE FUNDS ON? NO, MA'AM.

THEY'RE EARMARKED FOR THAT SPECIFIC COMMUNITY.

AND SO IF SOMEONE DOESN'T, DOESN'T LIKE THESE FUNDS OR DOESN'T WANT THESE FUNDS OR WANTS TO SEE THIS CHANGE UP WHO WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THEY REACH OUT TO, POLITICALLY, FROM A POLITICAL STANDPOINT? CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION. IF SOMEONE DOESN'T LIKE THE FUNDS? RIGHT, LIKE IF YOU SAY, WOW,

[00:45:04]

BECAUSE THESE ARE FEDERAL FUNDS. WHERE WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT THAT COMMUNITY MEMBER, YOU KNOW, WHO WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT THEY TALK TO? THEY CAN TALK TO ME, OR THEY CAN TALK TO DR.

CULLINS. BECAUSE WE'RE RUNNING. WE'RE OVER THE PROGRAM FOR THE CITY.

RIGHT. OR PERHAPS THEIR FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVE, MAYBE A U.S.

SENATOR, MAYBE A U.S. REPRESENTATIVE. BUT THIS BODY AND YOU AND YOUR EFFORTS, WE'RE CONSTRAINED BY WHAT WE RECEIVE, THESE FEDERAL FUNDS AND WHAT THE RULES ARE WITH REGARD TO THESE FEDERAL FUNDS.

AND WE ARE MEETING WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR THESE FUNDS.

CORRECT? ABSOLUTELY. GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. YOU'RE WELCOME. COUNCILMAN MOAK.

CAN YOU COME BACK UP TO THE MIC, PLEASE? COULD Y'ALL COME BACK UP TO THE MIC, PLEASE? DR. SANDERS. YES, SIR. I WANT TO EXPAND ON THAT.

YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T JUST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMING TO US AND SAYING, HEY, HERE'S $40 BILLION.

GO SPEND IT ON HIV/AIDS OR WHATEVER, CORRECT? CORRECT. THEY'RE NOT JUST ABOUT COMING TO US SAYING, YOU KNOW, HEY, HERE IT IS.

HERE'S A CHECK. GO DO WHAT YOU WANT TO WITH IT AS LONG AS YOU SPEND IT ON RYAN WHITE HIV/AIDS STUFF.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, THESE ARE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE APPLYING FOR FUNDS TO DO THEIR JOB TO KEEP THE NUMBERS OF HIV/AIDS CASES RELATED. AND WE QUALIFY FOR X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS BASED ON WHAT OUR NUMBERS AND STATS ARE AND EVERYTHING.

SO THESE COMPANIES HERE THAT WE WORK WITH APPLY TO US EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, AND REQUESTED AMOUNT THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR TO SUSTAIN THEM, TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES FOR THE YEAR THAT THEIR FUNDING IS FOR.

AT THAT POINT, DO WE NOT THEN TAKE THOSE TOTAL DOLLARS THAT THESE OTHERS HAVE ASKED FOR, PUT IT ALL INTO ONE CATEGORY, GROUPING FUNDING REQUESTS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH THEIR FUNDING AMOUNT THAT THEY HAVE.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THEN APPROVE OR NOT APPROVES BASED ON THE APPLICATIONS THAT WE AS EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, RECEIVE FROM THESE OTHER COMPANIES. IS THAT THE CORRECT PROCESS? THAT IS THE CORRECT PROCESS. AND COUNCILMAN ADAMS, YOU ASKED WHO YOU SHOULD TALK TO AND IT'S COUNCILMAN MOAK.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, EITHER THESE COMPANIES, WE AS A PARISH AUTHORITY ARE DOING THE FULL APPLICATION TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON BEHALF OF THESE COMPANIES THAT ARE TRYING TO DO THEIR JOB.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, EITHER WE DO THIS PROCESS AND WE GET OUR FAIR SHARE OF THIS FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT HAS TO BE SPENT ON THIS AND NOTHING ELSE, OR SOMEBODY ELSE IS GOING TO GET IT, PERIOD.

THAT THOSE FINANCES, THAT MONEY WILL GO BACK TO WASHINGTON.

THEY'RE DISSEMINATED TO SOMEONE ELSE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

CORRECT. NOW, IF THIS GROUP THAT WANTS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ALL THE MONEY THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ABOUT RYAN WHITE HIV FUNDS, IF THEY WANT TO GET THEIR OWN LITTLE GROUP AND FIND AUTISM MONEY, AND ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP AUTISM OR ANY OTHER DISEASE OR ANY OTHER KIND OF MEDICAL FUNDING OR SOMETHING, THEY'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO GET WITH Y'ALL AND APPLY. AND THEN YOU CAN FIND OTHER FEDERAL GRANTS THAT APPLY TO THEIR SPECIFIC CATEGORY.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. YOU CAN, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO EXPAND OUR PROGRAM, BE IT PUBLIC PRIVATE RELATIONSHIPS. EXPAND THE PROGRAM IN HELPING TO FUND OTHER THINGS.

THERE'S NOT JUST THE RYAN WHITE HIV FUNDING THAT Y'ALL GO FOR.

Y'ALL CAN ACTUALLY GO FOR OTHER GRANTS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO OTHER CATEGORIES OF DISEASES AND STUFF.

SO AGAIN, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THIS BODY THAT'S SAYING WE SHOULDN'T BE SPENDING THIS MUCH MONEY ON RYAN WHITE HIV FUNDS. WE'RE GETTING THIS BECAUSE ONE, WE QUALIFY FOR IT BECAUSE OF OUR NUMBERS, AND WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THEM LOW.

WHEN WE WERE AT THE TOP, WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THEM LOW AND OUT OF THE CATEGORY OF EXTREME OR WHATEVER ELSE.

BUT THERE ARE, IF THEY WANT TO GO AFTER OTHER FUNDS FOR OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT GROUP OR WHOEVER'S COMPLAINING ONLINE CAN REGRESS WITH Y'ALL, AND Y'ALL CAN HELP THEM FIND OTHER GRANTS AND STUFF THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO THEIR NEEDS. SO THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE GRANT.

AND SO THE MONEY COMES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WE ADMINISTRATE IT DOWN TO OUR SUB RECIPIENTS.

AND SO IF THERE'S AN AVENUE TO EXPAND IT INTO AUTISM OR ANYTHING ELSE, THERE'S A PROCESS TO IT THAT WE ARE EXPERTS AT

[00:50:03]

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THE CLARIFICATION. ALL RIGHT. PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T GO.

SO I'M GOING TO SAY SOME THINGS THAT MY COLLEAGUES WERE A LITTLE TOO POLITE TO SAY.

THIS IS THE SAME. THESE ARE THE SAME FEW PEOPLE THAT COME INTO THIS MEETING, AND THEY'RE HOMOPHOBIC AND THEY BELIEVE THAT AIDS NO LONGER EXISTS.

SO THEY MAKE THESE BIZARRE COMMENTS ABOUT PROGRAMING.

SO THEIR QUESTIONS ARE NOT RELATED. AND I WANT THE PUBLIC TO BE VERY AWARE IT'S NOT REGARDING ANYTHING THAT YOU ARE DOING OR YOUR PROGRAM IS DOING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. IT'S NOT THE ADMINISTRATION OF THESE GRANTS.

IT'S JUST THE SAME SELECT FEW PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE THAT HIV AND AIDS HAS DISAPPEARED AND NO LONGER EXISTS IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, WHICH WE'VE EXPLAINED TO THEM IN GREAT DETAIL THAT THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT THE CASE.

WE'VE ALSO EXPLAINED TO THEM MULTIPLE TIMES ABOUT HOW GRANTS WORK AND HOW FEDERAL DOLLARS WORK, JUST LIKE WE DID TODAY. AND I THINK IT'S REALLY PROBABLY A GOOD FAITH EFFORT MOVING FORWARD THAT WE DON'T CONTINUE THESE CONVERSATIONS TO ENTERTAIN THE CRAZINESS THAT THEY'RE SPEWING BECAUSE WE GIVE THEM THE INFORMATION, THEN THEY CHOOSE TO CHANGE THE INFORMATION AND POINT IT TOWARDS THEIR OWN AGENDA. SO I JUST WANT YOU TO, AS YOU'RE STANDING UP HERE TO KNOW AND FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT NONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED TO YOU TO TONIGHT WERE CRITICISM OF ANYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING OR HOW YOU'VE HANDLED THESE FUNDS.

AND THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH FOR THE JOB THAT YOU'RE DOING.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND WE DIDN'T TAKE IT THAT WAY.

PERFECT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. MOTION BY THE CHAIR, SECONDED BY MOAK.

ANY OPPOSITION SEEING NONE. ITEMS 109 THROUGH 114 CARRY.

ITEM 115. AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION SERVICES WITH RICHARD C.

[115. 25-01139 ]

WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 115. SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

WE ARE OKAY ON QUORUM. YES, SIR. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION BY GAUDET. SECOND BY THE CHAIR. ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING. NONE. ITEM 115 CARRIES. ITEM 116. AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT TO CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH

[116. 25-01140 ]

BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR. WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 116.

SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN ADAMS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN CODY.

ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. ITEM 116 CARRIES.

[117. 25-01141 ]

SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN ADAMS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON.

ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. ITEM 117 CARRIES.

[118. 25-01142 ]

WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 118. SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 118 AND MOVED TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MOTION BY THE CHAIR. SECOND, BY GAUDET. THANK YOU SIR.

ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. ITEM 118 CARRIES.

ITEM 119. AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AMENDED INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ASCENSION PARISH GOVERNMENT,

[119. 25-01145 ]

01, IBERVILLE PARISH AND EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH TO INCLUDE THE CITY OF SAINT GEORGE IN CONNECTION WITH THE BAYOU MANCHAC RESTORATION AND WARDS CREEK REALIGNMENT PROJECT,

[00:55:05]

WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 119. SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. HEY, FRED, WOULD YOU MIND JUST GIVING A LITTLE UPDATE ON THIS WARDS CREEK REALIGNMENT PROJECT? IT'S A BIG ONE FOR MY AREA. YES, MA'AM. IT SURE IS.

AND IT'S ONE THAT WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO TO GET THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH THE OCD DEALING WITH FEDERAL FUNDS.

AND WE GOT A GRANT THROUGH THE STATE, AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT.

THE REASON THE REQUEST HAS BEEN IS TO INCORPORATE SAINT GEORGE.

IN REALITY, THE ENTIRE PROJECT IS IN SAINT GEORGE'S DISTRICT, AND IT NEEDS TO BE, THEY NEED TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS, WHICH WE HAVE NO OBJECTIONS TO, CERTAINLY. BUT THE ACTUAL CONTRACT ITSELF IS STILL UNDER THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER LIKE WE ALWAYS DO WITH ALL THE PARISHES, TO TRY TO BE SURE I MEAN, ALL THE PARISHES AND THEN ALSO THE CITIES TO TRY TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS OF REDUCING FLOOD RISK AND OUR PARISH.

SO WHERE IS THE PROJECT AT THIS MOMENT? I KNOW WE WERE IN DESIGN AND WE WERE MAKING SOME REVISIONS.

WELL, WE LOOKED AT A LOT OF ISSUES IN REGARDS TO THE DESIGN WHILE THERE WERE PRELIMINARY WORK.

WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THE FINAL ASPECTS OF THE MODEL, BECAUSE THE MODEL IS WHAT DICTATES WHETHER THERE'S ANY REAL NEGATIVE IMPACT.

AND AS WE LOOK AT RIGHT NOW, SEEMS VERY POSITIVE, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT DATA BEFORE WE CAN SUBMIT THE FINAL APPROVAL PROCESS TO OCD.

BUT THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. AND THEN ONCE THAT'S SUBMITTED, THEN IT'LL BE ABLE TO GO OUT FOR BID.

WELL, WHAT WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT THAT POINT IS ONCE THAT'S DONE, WE'VE ALREADY PREPARED THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR AN ENGINEER.

WE HAVE TO DO A SELECTION OF A CONSULTANT TO COME IN AND ACTUALLY DO THE DESIGN FOR US.

IT WOULD BE EXPEDITED FROM THE START. ONCE THAT IS DONE, WE WILL REVIEW THE PLANS.

WE HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE TO LOOK AT, INCLUDING IN THE SAINT GEORGE AREA, TO BE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS IN COMPLIANCE.

WE'LL BE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH BRAC ALSO, BECAUSE BRAC HAS SOME PROPERTY THAT WE'LL BE USING IN REGARDS TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROJECT. SO I MEAN IT. THERE'S A LOT OF STEPS, BUT A LOT OF THIS STUFF CAN BE WORKING AT THE SAME TIME, WHICH IS WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT. AND I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THIS IS A BIG, BIG PROJECT FOR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. WHILE IT MAY HELP THE THE LOWER PART OF SAINT GEORGE, IT HELPS ALL OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH BECAUSE LOTS OF WATER DRAINS FROM WAY UP NORTH THROUGH THE THE WATER CREEK AREA, WHICH EVERYTHING WE DO DOWNSTREAM CERTAINLY HAS AN IMPACT, A POSITIVE IMPACT DOWN UPSTREAM. RIGHT. FRED, I KNOW THINGS LIKE THIS ARE SO COMPLICATED BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT ENTITIES AND PEOPLE AT THE TABLE. SO I KNOW THAT'S A LOT OF WORK, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING TO TO BRING THIS PROJECT TO FRUITION. THANK YOU MA'AM. APPRECIATE IT. IT'S CALLED TEAMWORK.

MAKES THE DREAM WORK. OKAY. MOTION TO APPROVE.

FROM COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET.

ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. ITEM 119 CARRIES.

WHAT IS THIS? ONE. OH 120. OKAY. OKAY. ITEM 120.

[120. 25-01151 ]

BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR. THERE HAS BEEN A REQUEST FROM DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE TO DEFER THIS ITEM FOR 30 DAYS.

WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 120. SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN ADAMS TO DEFER FOR 30 DAYS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MOAK.

ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. ITEM 120 IS DEFERRED FOR 30 DAYS.

[121. 25-01143 ]

COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 121.

SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMAN RACCA, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN AMOROSO.

[01:00:04]

[122. 25-01144 ]

8 OF THE LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT DATED AUGUST 28TH, 2025.

BY FINANCE DIRECTOR. WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 122.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 122.

SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 122.

COUNCIL MEMBERS. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN RACCA, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. ITEM 122 CARRIES.

ITEM 123. ESTABLISHING HEALTH INSURANCE RATES AND PLAN DESIGN FOR EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST,

[123. 25-01146]

SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS. MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN RACCA, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. I HAVE TO CALL HIM IF HE DOESN'T.

OKAY. THERE'S A REQUEST TO SPEAK FROM COUNCILMAN HURST.

PARISH ATTORNEY. CAN YOU COME TO THE MIC, PLEASE? AND LET ME MAKE A STATEMENT ON THIS. THERE WAS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENTITY THAT REACHED OUT TO ME ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO AND BROUGHT THE SAME PLAN UP.

WENT DOWN A RABBIT HOLE WITH THEN DIRECTOR BRIAN BERNARD.

AND AS GREAT AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IN TERMS OF COST SAVINGS, AND THIS IS PRE SAINT GEORGE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TRYING TO CLOSE A DEFICIT GAP WITH THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.

THE ANSWER AT THAT POINT IN TIME, BASED ON THE LEGAL OPINION, WAS TOLD NO, THAT AS MUCH AS WE COULD SAY BY PUTTING PEOPLE ON MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AND MOVING THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, THAT IT JUST WAS NOT LEGAL.

AND SO WHAT I'VE PERSONALLY DONE IS ASKED THE PARISH ATTORNEY TO GET AN AG OPINION.

WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED IN TIME FOR THIS MEETING, AND I TOLD HIM I COULDN'T SUPPORT IT WITHOUT AN AG OPINION. AND THAT WAS BASED ON MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH DIRECTOR BRIAN BERNARD.

SO MY ONLY QUESTION FOR YOU IS, IF WE APPROVE IT TONIGHT, COULD WE END UP IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT? THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF THAT, YES. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT'S ALL I NEED. THANK YOU. AND SO MY ONLY CONCERN IS THAT WE END UP PAYING OUT MORE THAN WE SAVE.

AND SO WHAT? WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN ASSET TO THE CITY BECOMES A STRONG LIABILITY.

AND SO I'M NOT AGAINST IT. I MEAN, IF THEY SAYS IT'S GREAT, I VOTE FOR IT TODAY, YESTERDAY AND TOMORROW.

BUT IF THE AG COMES BACK AND SAYS THAT IT'S IT'S NOT THE RIGHT DECISION FOR THE CITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, THEN AT THAT POINT I'M GOING TO VOTE NO. I JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DATA AT THIS POINT.

I DO WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IN THE BEST FINANCIAL POSITION, NOT JUST NOW, BUT IN THE FUTURE. SO SOMETIMES I THINK MAKING HASTY DECISIONS OF WHAT SEEMS GREAT BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT GLITTERS ISN'T GOLD.

WE'LL COME BACK AND BITE YOU DOWN THE ROAD, SO I'M NOT FOR OR AGAINST IT.

AND I DO HAVE GRAVE CONCERN, AND I'LL TELL YOU, I'VE HAD EVEN MORE RECENT CONVERSATIONS WITH FORMER DIRECTOR BRIAN BERNARD.

BECAUSE I ASKED HIM. I SAID, HEY, WHAT CHANGED IN THE YEAR THAT YOU LEFT TO NOW? AND THEY SAID, THERE'S NOTHING. THE LAWS ARE STILL THE LAWS. AND SO MY CONCERN THE WHOLE TIME HAS BEEN FOR I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE 60 YEARS OLD, 80 YEARS OLD OR 90 YEARS OLD IF YOU'RE NOT COHERENT AND I CHANGE THE HEALTH CARE PLAN, THEN YOU KNOW, AND YOU'RE UNAWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND YOU'RE UNABLE TO ACCESS THE SAME DOCTORS, THE SAME TYPE OF HEALTH CARE, EVEN IF IT COSTS YOU LESS, YOU MAY HAVE SOMETHING SPECIFIC TO YOUR HEALTH CARE NEEDS THAT NO LONGER CAN BE ADDRESSED, EVEN IF IT'S ONE EMPLOYEE. I CARE ABOUT THAT ONE EMPLOYEE.

SO NOT AGAINST IT BY ANY MEANS. I DEFINITELY WANT TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE MASSES.

BUT I ALSO THINK ABOUT THE ONE AS WELL. AND IT'S JUST LIKE, JESUS, HE DIDN'T WORRY ABOUT THE 99.

HE WORRIED ABOUT THE ONE. AND SO I'M TAKING THE SAME APPROACH.

[01:05:01]

BUT I HAVE TO FOCUS ON THAT ONE. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROVE IT TONIGHT WITHOUT THE AG OPINION THAT I REQUESTED.

THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. OKAY, SO MY UNDERSTANDING OF THIS ITEM IS THAT WE ARE ADDING AN OPTION TO OUR RETIREES HEALTH CARE BENEFITS.

RIGHT NOW. AND SO I'M REFERRING TO ATTACHMENT B.

IT, SO FOR 2026 IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO THE CITY PARISH MEDICARE THROUGH HMO, THE PART B, YOU WOULD PAY 320.65 THROUGH THE, THE, THE POS, YOU WOULD PAY 407.98.

THIS IS FOR AN EMPLOYEE AND A SPOUSE. AND FOR THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLAN YOU'D PAY 130.16.

AND WITH MEDICARE, IF YOU DO MEDICARE ADVANTAGE, YOU WOULD PAY ZERO.

SO SAME FOR JUST AN EMPLOYEE. WHO IS THEY HAVE JUST THE EMPLOYEE THEMSELVES THEY HAVE OPTIONS.

OR WITH THE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE, THEY PAY ZERO.

EMPLOYEE WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILY, WITH ONE FAMILY WITH TWO.

ALL THE MEDICARE PART B OPTIONS FOR HMO, POS AND THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLAN HAVE A COST TO THE EMPLOYEE. BUT IF THE RETIREES ON MEDICARE ADVANTAGE, THE COST TO THE EMPLOYEE IS ZERO. AND MY OTHER UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE ARE COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES.

SO THE PLANS AND THE BENEFITS THAT THE RETIREES WOULD HAVE WOULD BE EXACTLY THE SAME. AND SO WE'RE SUSPECTING THAT WE'RE GOING TO END UP IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BECAUSE WE'RE GIVING PEOPLE THE OPTION TO GET THE SAME COVERAGE FOR NO COST. I'M STRUGGLING. I'M STRUGGLING. BUT I'LL RESERVE THE REST OF MY TIME AND LET OTHER PEOPLE WEIGH IN.

THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MOAK. THANK YOU. ATTORNEY OFFICE.

COME UP. PLEASE.

YES, SIR. HAS THE PLAN EVER BEEN CHANGED BEFORE? HAS OTHER OPTIONS BEEN GIVEN BEFORE IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH? WELL. HAVE WE EVER CHANGED THE INSURANCE BENEFITS OR PLANS OR OPTIONS OR ANYTHING BEFORE? YES. HAVE WE BEEN SUED BEFORE? I WOULDN'T HAVE, I WOULDN'T KNOW.

DOES ANYBODY KNOW THAT? HAVE WE BEEN SUED BECAUSE WE CHANGED PLANS.

WE OFFERED BETTER OPTIONS. OKAY. I DON'T RECALL EVER BEING SUED.

I MEAN, I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE SIX YEARS, SO I DON'T RECALL BEING SUED.

I GUESS THAT'S A QUESTION THAT SOMEBODY SHOULD HAVE ASKED A PREVIOUS PR PERSON.

BUT WHY ARE WE GOING TO GET SUED? YOU SAID THAT WE HAVE A HIGH CHANCE OF BEING SUED.

WHY ARE WE GOING TO GET SUED? THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID.

WE HAVE A HIGH CHANCE OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID. OKAY. THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY.

THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY. I APOLOGIZE. LET ME.

THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE. LEGAL QUALIFICATION. OKAY, I ACCEPT THAT.

WHY IS THERE A POSSIBILITY? THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT RETIREES HAVING THE SAME BENEFITS AS EMPLOYEES AND HOW WE MANAGE THAT. OKAY. IN THE LAST TIME THAT WE CHANGED THE PLANS, WAS THAT SAME OPTION THERE? DID WE GO THROUGH THIS SAME THING BEFORE? I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

OKAY. SO THIS IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THING.

I BELIEVE. THAT WE'RE OFFERING THIS TIME. I BELIEVE SO.

YES, SIR. ARE THEY REQUIRED TO DO THE NEW PLANS OR ANYTHING? THAT'S A QUESTION FOR HR. REALLY? IS HR HERE? I DIDN'T INTRODUCE THE ITEM, AND THEY'D BE ABLE TO TELL YOU MORE ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT'S IN IT.

DO YOU HAVE SOMEBODY FROM HR COMING UP COUNCILMAN. CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THIS IS DIFFERENT AND WHY WE HAVE A POSSIBILITY OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT? WHAT? WE'VE CHANGED PLANS BEFORE IN CITY PARISH, I'M SURE.

[01:10:03]

WHY IS THIS ONE DIFFERENT THAT WE NEED AN ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION? SO THE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM IS NOT A NEW PROGRAM THAT'S BEING OFFERED TO THE CITY FOR 2026.

IT'S BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF HUNDRED MEMBERS THAT ARE ALREADY PARTICIPATING IN THE PLAN.

WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED FOR 2026 IS RETIREES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICARE PART B TO TRANSITION THEM TO MEDICARE ADVANTAGE.

THOSE RETIREES WILL HAVE THE OPTION TO CHOOSE TO STAY ON MEDICARE ADVANTAGE OR TO SELECT ONE OF THE OTHER PLAN OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE.

OKAY. SO THEY HAVE THE OPTION TO STAY WHERE THEY'RE AT RIGHT NOW. THEY HAVE THE OPTION TO EITHER STAY ON THE GROUP PLANS.

SO WE'RE NOT TAKING THAT PLAN AWAY. WE'RE NOT TAKING THE PLAN AWAY.

BUT THERE IS A PLAN TO TRANSITION THEM TO MEDICARE ADVANTAGE IF THEY DO NOT RESPOND.

IF THEY DO NOT RESPOND, THAT'S FINE. IT WAS MENTIONED A WHILE AGO ABOUT PEOPLE THAT CAN'T MAKE DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES OR COHERENT AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

I WOULD ASSUME THAT IF SOMEBODY IN THAT POSITION, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ASSUMING DOES, BUT I WOULD ASSUME THAT IF SOMEONE'S IN THAT POSITION, THEY HAVE SOMEBODY WITH A POWER OF ATTORNEY. I KNOW WHEN MY FATHER WAS LAID IN THE BED I WAS GIVEN POWER OF ATTORNEY TO MAKE HIS DECISIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I REMEMBER WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TRANSITIONED TO A DIFFERENT INSURANCE PLANS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. I HAD TO MAKE DECISIONS AND ALL.

I DON'T THINK THEY'RE JUST LEFT OUT THERE TO DRY, AND IT AUTOMATICALLY JUST GETS CHANGED OVER.

FOR THAT POPULATION THAT DOES NOT RESPOND THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL EFFORTS TO REACH OUT TO THEM AND COMMUNICATE, AND THAT POPULATION OF RETIREES MAY NOT BE AUTOMATICALLY TRANSITIONED TO MEDICARE ADVANTAGE.

OKAY. SO WE'RE, WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS WE'RE TAKING ALL AVAILABLE WAYS TO MAKE THIS TRANSITION EASY AND SEAMLESS FOR EVERYONE, AND NON FORCEFUL FOR EVERYONE TO EITHER GO TO THE PROGRAM OR NOT. THAT'S CORRECT. THAT IS THE PLAN, A SERIES OF COMMUNICATIONS TO RETIREES, ALONG WITH DIFFERENT INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS THAT WILL BE HELD DURING THE OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD DURING OUR STANDARD OPEN ENROLLMENT IN OCTOBER 2025, THEY'LL HAVE THE OPTION TO SELECT THEIR PLAN.

AND THEN ONCE AGAIN IN MAY OF 2026, THEY'LL HAVE THE OPTION TO TO CHANGE HEALTH PLANS.

OKAY. AND IF I RECALL, EVEN FROM THE LAST TIME WHEN THE, EVEN THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM CHANGED OVER, I'M GONNA FINISH UP WITH THIS. I ACTUALLY GOT A PHONE CALL TO SPEAK TO IT ABOUT MY FATHER'S INFORMATION AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR INFO. OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN RACCA.

MISS LATOYA, I'M GOING TO APOLOGIZE. I'M SORRY IF YOUR EXPERTISE WAS UNDERMINED BY GOING TO THE PREVIOUS HR ADMINISTRATOR.

I FIND YOU TO BE VERY QUALIFIED. AND YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH US EXCELLENTLY.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE JOB THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR EXPERTISE AND HELP HERE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU AND APOLOGIZE IF IT SEEMED THAT WAY BY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I NEED TO HAVE THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. I NEED THE PERSON FROM HUB, THE REPRESENTATIVE.

I THINK YOU HAVE AN ENTIRE TEAM BACK THERE. I NEED SOMEONE FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO COME AND TALK TO ME.

THAT CAN TALK ABOUT THE CONTRACT WHERE WE EXPENDED ADDITIONAL TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO GET THE ANSWERS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE TONIGHT, THAT WE'RE NOW SAYING THAT WE'RE GOING TO UTILIZE MORE TIME AND TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO SOLVE AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN ANSWERED TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

AND I WANT AN ANSWER FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND FROM WHOEVER ELSE CAN ANSWER HERE TONIGHT.

WHY IS THIS CONTINUALLY BEING DELAYED? OKAY, SO FIRST I'M GONNA START WITH YOU, MR. GARDNER. WE HAVE THIS JUST THE SIMPLE DEFINITION.

WE COULD PULL OUT OUR WEBSTER DICTIONARY, BUT I'M GOING TO DUMB IT DOWN AS POSSIBLE, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

OPT. OPTION. THAT WORD IS A VERB THAT MEANS TO CHOOSE OR MAKE A DECISION.

OKAY. MANDATORY. THAT WORD MEANS REQUIRED BY LAW OR RULES.

IS THAT ACCURATE? IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THOSE WORDS MEAN? THAT'S ACCURATE. YES, SIR. AND I'M SO SORRY THAT WE HAD TO QUESTION YOU AND YOUR EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE TO BE ABLE TO SIT HERE TONIGHT AND MOVE FORWARD.

SO I THINK THAT THERE WAS A LAW THAT SAID THAT WE CANNOT MANDATE THAT OUR RETIREES MOVE ON TO A PLAN.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. BUT TONIGHT, AS WE STAND HERE IN FRONT OF THE CITY WITH EVERYONE WATCHING, WILL YOU TELL ME THAT THAT IS THIS PLAN IS AN OPT, THAT MAGIC WORD I JUST USED AN OPT OUT PLAN.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. AND LET ME. CAN I SAY ONE THING JUST AS YOU LOOK AT THIS, RETIREES ON ANY GROUP PLAN, ON ANY KIND OF AND PARTICULARLY ON MUNICIPALITY PLANS WHERE THEY WORK THEIR ENTIRE CAREER,

[01:15:04]

SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW HERE, FIRST OF ALL, THAT THE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN IS NOT THE ONE YOU SEE ON TV.

IT WAS TAILORED TO YOUR GROUP. AND LIKE THOSE PLANS ON TV THAT ARE FREE.

THIS ONE IS NOT FREE. THE CITY IS PAYING SUBSTANTIAL DOLLARS TO SUPPORT THAT PLAN.

SO THE BENEFITS CAN BE BETTER THAN THE CITY'S PLAN.

NOT EQUAL TO, BUT BETTER THAN. BUT THE ONE IMPORTANT THING I WANT TO MENTION TO YOU IS PRECEDENT.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT DOING THIS, LET'S SAY YOU WERE THE FIRST MUNICIPALITY THAT WAS GOING INTO AN OPT OUT ARRANGEMENT.

YOU MAY TAKE A PAUSE. YOU MAY SAY, I NEED TO GO SEEK AN ATTORNEY.

TALK TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE CITY OF ZACHARY, THE CITY OF OPELOUSAS, THE CITY OF SLIDELL, THE CITY OF SHREVEPORT, THE CITY OF MONROE.

THE CITY OF BOSSIER CITY. CITY OF RAYNE. SCHOOL BOARDS.

TERREBONNE. ASCENSION. VERMILION. NOW, MANY OF THESE HAVE ALREADY DONE IT FURTHER THAN THAT.

THESE ARE ALL RECENT, HAVE ALL DONE THE SAME PROGRAM THAT YOU'RE DOING.

YOU'RE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE FIRST. SO WE'RE NOT STEPPING INTO TERRITORY THAT IS NOT TRIED AND TRUE.

LET ME ASK YOU ONE QUICK QUESTION, BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE A MINUTE AND 20S LEFT AND I NEED SOME ADDITIONAL TIME.

SO LET ME ASK YOU THIS. SO WAS THAT, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? CORROBORATED BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

DID THEY AGREE WITH THAT? I'M NOT 100% SURE, MR. ROME. CAN YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD? AND, MR. MASON BATES, CAN YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD? DID DID YOUR LEGAL OPINION AGREE WITH WHAT HE JUST SAID? WHAT HE JUST STATED? I PROMISE YOU, I WASN'T LISTENING CLOSE ENOUGH TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

YOU'RE WASTING MY TIME, SIR. PLEASE SIT DOWN.

MR. BATES, CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME, WERE YOU FORCED TO HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO CORROBORATE WHAT HE JUST SAID? YES, MA'AM. WE WERE. I WOULDN'T MAYBE NOT FORCE WHAT WE DID.

SO LET ME ASK YOU THIS. IS HE HERE TONIGHT? THE ATTORNEY IS NOT HERE TONIGHT.

BUT WE DO HAVE HIS OPINION. MR. GARDNER WAS SAYING, AS IN CONCEPT ATTORNEY, AND THE OPINION WAS LONG.

BUT YES, IN CONCEPT HE DID. OKAY. SO DO YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PLAN TONIGHT? THE MAYOR IS COMPLETELY EXCITED AND WILLING TO BRING THIS PLAN TO OUR RETIREES SO WE CAN KEEP THIS PROCESS MOVING INTO OCTOBER WITH OPEN ENROLLMENT STARTING. MR. GARDNER, CAN I HAVE YOU BACK FOR JUST A MINUTE? WHAT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS DID YOU PUT IN PLACE FOR SOMEONE THAT DID NOT, THAT LET'S SAY THEY GET ON THE PLAN.

THEY DON'T LIKE IT. WHAT PRECAUTIONS HAVE YOU PUT IN PLACE FOR THOSE TYPES OF RETIREES? SO WHAT WE DID IN YOUR CASE, WHICH IS UNUSUAL, IS NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE THE EDUCATION PROCESS THAT LATOYA TALKED ABOUT, BUT WE'RE GIVING THEM AN ADDITIONAL 90 DAYS POST JANUARY 1ST FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO THE PROGRAM AND CONFIRM THE PROGRAM IS EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN EXPLAINED AND EDUCATED TO THEM.

IF THEY WANT TO CHANGE BACK TO WHAT THEY HAD BEFORE, THEY CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.

IF YOU GO TO ANY OF THESE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE DONE IT, THE THE ACCEPTANCE OF THIS HAS BEEN SUPER STRONG.

THE OTHER THING TO POINT OUT, YOU HAVE TODAY ABOUT A THOUSAND MEMBERS WHO ARE ALREADY RETIREES WHO ARE ALREADY ON THIS PROGRAM.

SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN A TRIAL OR AN EXPERIMENT.

YOU ALREADY HAVE A HUGE NUMBER OF RETIREES THAT ARE ALREADY ON THIS PROGRAM.

MR. GARNER, HAVE YOU DONE A DISRUPTION REPORT TO SEE IF THE CURRENT PLAN MATCHES THE PLAN THAT'S BEING OFFERED? WE DID. WE DID A SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON SHOWING BENEFITS.

OBVIOUSLY THE PREMIUMS ARE BETTER, BUT YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THE BENEFITS AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THE NETWORK IS EQUAL TO.

AND SO WE DID THAT DISRUPTION REPORT AND THAT COMPLETELY PASSED.

ALL RIGHT. SO I MEAN I HAVE A LAW DEGREE AND I'M A CONSULTANT.

BUT I DON'T THINK I NEED EITHER OF THOSE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU JUST TOLD ME. AND BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? SOME PEOPLE JUST LIKE WASTING CITY TIME, CITY MONEY, YOU KNOW.

SO I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY THAT YOU'RE HERE TONIGHT.

AND WE POTENTIALLY HAVE TO DEFER THIS FOR A LATER DATE.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? WHEN YOU'RE WORKING ON THE GOVERNMENT'S DOLLAR, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST.

YOU CAN SPIN IT HOWEVER YOU WANT. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN GAUDET. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

FORGIVE MY IGNORANCE. I'M GOING TO ASK MY COLLEAGUE A QUESTION.

DID YOU SEEK AN AG OPINION? DID YOU REQUEST. THIS IS THE FIRST I HEAR OF IT TONIGHT.

[01:20:02]

I WENT TO THE PARISH ATTORNEY. THE FIRST MEETING, THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS THAT I ASKED.

I WASN'T IN TOWN. I WAS I HAD A PRIOR OBLIGATION, SO I WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE THE COUNCIL MEETING, BUT THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS THAT I WANTED ASKED DURING THAT TIME PERIOD. AND RESPECTFULLY, I DO APPRECIATE MISS LATOYA'S EXPERTISE AS WELL AS MR. BERNARD'S. SO WE'VE SUBMITTED AN AG. SO I DID REQUEST IT, AND THEN IT NEEDED TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL.

AND SO I ASKED THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AS WELL TO DO AN AG OPINION.

THE CONCERN WAS THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT WOULD TAKE BEFORE THIS MEETING THAT IT WOULDN'T BE DONE.

SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES. YES, A REQUEST TO THE AG'S OFFICE FOR.

I SENT IT TO THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. OKAY.

I TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE INITIAL CONVERSATIONS.

MR. ROME, HAS THAT REQUEST BEEN FORWARDED TO THE AG? NO. IT REQUIRES FOR THE COUNCIL. REQUIRES. COUNCILMAN.

COUNCILMAN GAUDET HAS THE FLOOR. HAS THE REQUEST BEEN SUBMITTED FOR A FUTURE AGENDA? NO, SIR. NOT YET. OKAY. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, THE WAY IT WORKS IS IF.

IF Y'ALL WANT AN AG'S OPINION, YOU HAVE TO VOTE ON IT AS A BODY.

RIGHT. PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. IT'S GOT TO BE INTRODUCED.

BUT IT'S NOT. SO IT WOULDN'T BE INTRODUCED FOR ANOTHER TWO WEEKS, WHICH PUSHES THIS.

SO IF WE DEFER THIS ITEM FOR TWO WEEKS, THIS IS PROBABLY NOT A GREG ROME QUESTION.

BUT WHERE DOES THAT PUT US ON OUR TIMELINE? FOR AG.

MR. GARDNER. THIS PARTICULAR ITEM JUST WALK ME THROUGH TIMELINE IF YOU WOULD, SIMPLY DUE TO THE MATHEMATICS OF THE NUMBER OF BACKSIDES IN SEATS TONIGHT, WE MAY HAVE TO DEFER THIS THING.

SO IF WE PUSH IT TWO WEEKS AND WE COME BACK ON OCTOBER THE 8TH, WHAT DOES THAT DO TO OUR TIMELINE? I'M GOING TO DEFER TO LATOYA, BUT I WILL GIVE YOU A PROFESSIONAL OPINION, SINCE THERE'S A LOT OF DOMINOES THAT HAVE TO GO INTO CONTRACTUAL THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE PUT IN PLACE. WE HAVE OUR FRIENDS BACK HERE WITH BLUE CROSS WHO HAVE TO GET INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.

MY ASSUMPTION IS WE WOULD BE OUT OF TIME, BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY DEFER TO LATOYA.

IT CAUSES A CHALLENGE WITH OPEN ENROLLMENT. OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR OUR RETIREES IS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 16TH.

ALONG WITH INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS. THEY HAVE ALREADY STARTED RECEIVING COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING THOSE SESSIONS.

SO IF IT WAS TO BE DEFERRED, WE WOULDN'T MEET OUR TIMELINES TO PROVIDE THE 60 DAY NOTICE FOR PLAN CHANGES PRIOR TO THE JANUARY 1ST EFFECTIVE DATE, AND THEN ALSO BE ABLE TO DO THE PLAN CHANGES AND HAVE OUR DIFFERENT CARRIERS IMPLEMENT THOSE CHANGES.

MIGHT BE BACK TO GREG ROME. I'M SORRY. WE COULD APPROVE THIS TONIGHT THOUGH. AND THEN STILL, IF A COUNCIL MEMBER DESIRES GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF SEEKING AN AG OPINION.

YES, SIR. I MEAN, I'LL APPEAL TO MY MY COLLEAGUE.

I THINK THAT'S THE BETTER ROUTE HEARING WHAT THE DEFERRAL DOES AND HOW IT NEGATIVELY IMPACTS THE TIMELINE AND THE ABILITY.

I WOULD BE WILLING. I MEAN, I'VE WORKED WITH YOU. I'D BE WILLING TO SAY, LET'S GET IT DONE TONIGHT AND THEN REVISIT THAT ISSUE FOR A FUTURE MEETING.

AND I WILL COMMIT TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THAT.

COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. SIR, WOULD YOU COME BACK UP? I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT THESE ARE BIG ISSUES AS FAR AS GETTING OUT AND COMING BACK INTO THE PROGRAM, BUT I'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE SPECIFICS, BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE OLDER FOLKS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

THEY'VE HAD PLANS FOR YEARS, THEY'VE HAD THE SAME DOCTORS FOR THE YEARS, MEDICATIONS AND ALL THAT OTHER KIND OF THING.

AND I KNOW THAT IF THEY CHANGE, THEY HAVE FEARS OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO MY DOCTOR, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO MY MEDS? ARE THEY GOING TO TAKE MY MEDS AWAY FROM ME? CAN YOU ANSWER TO ANY OF THAT? I'M ALMOST IN THAT SITUATION. SURE, SURE. YOU KNOW, I'M I'M AFRAID BECAUSE AM I GOING TO LOSE MY DOCTOR? AM I GOING TO LOSE THE MEDS THAT I HAVE TO TAKE? SO CAN YOU CAN YOU ANSWER? YEAH. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE THEIR DOCTOR.

SO IT'S WE'RE NOT CHANGING FROM BLUE CROSS TO A DIFFERENT NETWORK.

WE'RE GOING FROM BLUE CROSS TO ANOTHER BLUE CROSS.

SO THERE'S NOT A CHANGE OF NETWORK THAT'S TAKING PLACE.

THE VAST MAJORITY ARE ALL GOING TO RECEIVE A BETTER BENEFIT BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO A PLAN THAT HAS NO DEDUCTIBLE TO A PLAN THAT HAS A DEDUCTIBLE, AND YOU'RE GOING FROM A PLAN THAT HAS A PREMIUM TO A PLAN THAT HAS NO PREMIUM.

SO THE OTHER THING, SAME THING WITH MEDICATION, WHICH IS JUST AS IMPORTANT.

WHEN THE PLAN WAS DESIGNED, IT WAS DESIGNED TO COMPLEMENT YOUR CURRENT PLAN.

IF WE WOULD HAVE DONE THIS PLAN YEARS AGO, WHEN THE CITY HAD THE WISDOM TO PUT IT IN PLACE, THOSE THOUSAND PEOPLE THAT MOVED OVER YOU WOULD HAVE HAD A MIGRATION OF THOSE PEOPLE OFF OF THE PLAN.

BUT HISTORICALLY, I THINK MICHELLE AND LATOYA CAN CONFIRM THE ENROLLMENT HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE EVERY YEAR,

[01:25:02]

AND I DON'T KNOW IF LATOYA OR MICHELLE, YOU ALL WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT.

AS FAR AS JUST HOW THE FEEDBACK HAS BEEN FROM THE MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN ON THAT.

MR. GARDNER, IF YOU WOULD MAKE SURE YOU SPEAK INTO THE MIC, THE AUDIO IS HAVING TROUBLE PICKING UP FOR THE BROADCAST.

OKAY. THANK YOU. YES, THE ONLY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO ADD IS WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY NEGATIVE FEEDBACK FROM OUR RETIREES THAT CURRENTLY PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. MOST OF THE FEEDBACK IS POSITIVE, AND QUESTIONS WE HAD IS TO ENSURE WE'RE NOT TAKING MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AWAY.

THANK YOU SIR. APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

FEAR IS OUT THERE. YEAH. NO, CERTAINLY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I'LL JUST SHARE MY THOUGHTS.

FIRST, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK COUNCILMAN RACCA FOR HER PASSION ON THIS.

SHE'S BEEN KICKING CITY PARISH IN THE PANTS ABOUT THIS SINCE BEFORE SHE WAS ON THE COUNCIL, AND WE DON'T EXPECT HER TO STOP ANYTIME SOON.

SO THANK YOU, MA'AM. AND I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF AND THE CONSULTANTS WHO HAVE PUT A LOT OF REALLY HARD WORK INTO THE PROPOSAL.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THE DUE DILIGENCE IS THERE.

I THINK WE'RE READY TO MOVE FORWARD. I THINK IT'S THE WILL OF THIS BODY TO MOVE FORWARD BASED ON THE RESOLUTION THAT WE PASSED UNANIMOUSLY RECENTLY.

BUT I UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMIC OF THIS EVENING AS WELL.

SO I WANT TO PERSONALLY MAKE A COMMITMENT THAT I AM COMPLETELY OPEN TO SCHEDULING A SPECIAL MEETING IN ADVANCE OF THE OCTOBER 1ST DEADLINE TO GET THIS DONE.

I WANT THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS IN A MOMENT WITH A VOTE THE WILL OF CITY PARISH I BELIEVE, IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE SAVINGS, WHICH ARE SIGNIFICANT IS NOT THE RIGHT WORD.

THE MONSTROUS SAVINGS. BIG, BIG SAVINGS. I FEEL LIKE I'M CHANNELING MY HUGE, HUGE RIGHT.

CHANNELING MY INNER DONALD TRUMP HERE. YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE FACING BUDGET CUTS AND, AND PROSPECTS OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO HANDLE THESE BUDGET CUTS IN THE COMING MONTHS TO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY, I THINK IS IRRESPONSIBLE.

AND SO WE'LL LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY.

IN A MOMENT. BUT I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW AND BE CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL BE MOVING FORWARD ON THIS ITEM VERY SOON, I BELIEVE SO. COUNCILMAN HURST. WELL, I DEFINITELY THANK ALL THE EXPERTS THAT ARE HERE TODAY.

I WANT TO THANK ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR PUTTING THEIR TIME AND DUE DILIGENCE INTO THIS.

AND AS I DISCUSSED, I HAD A SIMILAR DISCUSSION WITH HR TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO TO DO THE SAME THING, BECAUSE I KNOW HOW POWERFUL AND IMPACTFUL THAT IT CAN BE.

SO THIS IS NOT TO DISCREDIT ANYBODY'S DUE DILIGENCE.

THIS IS NOT TO DISCREDIT ANYBODY'S HARD WORK OR LEGAL OPINION OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.

BUT THERE'S A REASON THAT THEY HAVE MULTIPLE COURTS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LAWYERS IS BECAUSE YOU MAY GET A RULING IN THE FIRST COURT THAT'S TURNED, OVERTURNED IN THE SECOND COURT THAT'S BEEN OVERTURNED IN A HIGHER COURT, AND IT'S THE EXACT SAME ISSUE.

AND SO WHILE I RESPECT ALL YOU GREAT LEGAL MINDS OUT THERE.

IT'S THE REASON WHY JUDGES, THERE'S AN OPEN SEAT NOW.

BECAUSE JOHN MICHAEL WENT TO THE SUPREME COURT, WHICH LEFT A VACANCY IN THE APPELLATE FOR WILSON FIELDS, WHICH CREATED A VACANCY IN THE 19TH JDC. SO THERE'S LEVELS TO LAW AS WELL.

THERE'S LEVELS TO LAWYERS. AND EVEN THOUGH WE TALK ABOUT THE SAME COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT AND SOME OF THE SAME BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH IT THERE IS STILL A QUESTION THAT I HAVE RELATED TO REMOVING MEDICARE CREDITS FOR RETIREES AS WELL. AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? SO HR, IF YOU WANT TO COME UP AND ANSWER THAT, OR FINANCE OR WHOEVER CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

BUT ALSO BASED ON THE LAW, IT SAYS OPT. I UNDERSTOOD THAT WORD VERY WELL, AND I RESPECT THE WORD OPT BECAUSE IT'S AN OPTION AS WELL. AND WE HAVE A CHOICE TO ALLOW THEM TO OPT IN OR TO OPT OUT.

AND IF WE FORCE THEM TO MAKE A DECISION TO OPT OUT FOR THOSE WHO DON'T MAKE DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES, THEN WE ARE MAKING THAT CHANGE. CURRENTLY, THE THE CITY PARISH ORDINANCE, THE RULES SAY THAT ANYBODY WHO WAS EMPLOYED BEFORE 2004 HAVE TO HAVE THE SAME OPTIONS FOR BENEFITS AS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY EMPLOYED.

AND ANYBODY AFTER THIS IS LEGAL, ELIGIBLE, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO AND HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DO IT, AND THAT'S FINE. BUT THE ONES BEFORE 2004 ARE THE ONES THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT COMING BACK AND SAVING US MONEY TODAY AND COSTING US MONEY

[01:30:09]

AND WITH THE RIGHT INFORMATION, I WILL. AND I JUST DON'T HAVE IT TONIGHT. AND I BELIEVE IN A SPECIAL MEETING AND IT MAY PASS.

BUT LIKE MANY THINGS ON THIS COUNCIL, THEY PASSED WITHOUT ME.

AND THEN NEW STORIES COME ON LATER AND TALK ABOUT THE LEGALITIES OF OTHER THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT I SINGLE HANDEDLY OBJECTED, OR DOUBLE WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE HERE. SO THAT STUFF HAPPENS.

SO AGAIN, I'M OKAY WITH BEING LIKE JESUS AND BEING ON AN ISLAND BY MYSELF AND FOCUSING ON PEOPLE FIRST OVER POLITICS.

SO AND I BELIEVE HE USED THE WORD THAT THIS IS BETTER THAN.

BUT I HAD A CONVERSATION YESTERDAY, NOT THE DAY BEFORE, THE DAY, LAST NIGHT WITH OUR CITY AND TALKED ABOUT COULD THERE BE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY THIS? AND THE ANSWER WAS YES, BUT IT WOULD BE A VERY SMALL POPULATION OF PEOPLE BASED ON HOW THE NETWORK IS VERY SIMILAR. I ALSO REACHED OUT TO A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS THE CHIEF WOUND OFFICER FOR ALL THE HOSPITALS HERE.

HAS 400 EMPLOYEES, 450 EMPLOYEES. THE FIRST THING HE TOLD ME WAS NOT.

NO, BUT HELL NO. DON'T GO TO MEDICARE ADVANTAGE.

THEN I GOT WITH THE DIRECTOR AND SHE EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS VERY SIMILAR.

SHE EXPLAINED THE CHANGES THAT WOULD BE MADE AND THAT IT WAS A CUSTOMIZED PLAN FOR THE CITY.

SO EVERYTHING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT, I'M VERY AWARE OF, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE DILIGENCE AND TIME THAT'S BEEN PUT INTO IT. I JUST DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT I PERSONALLY NEED TO MOVE FORWARD, BECAUSE I HAVE RECEIVED CALLS FROM FORMER CITY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, WHO ARE CONCERNED, WHO HAVE ASKED FOR CAUSE FOR PAUSE.

AND FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE FORMERLY IN LEADERSHIP HERE THAT STILL HAVE THOSE SAME DECISIONS.

THEY'VE BROUGHT CALLS FOR PAUSE FOR ME AS WELL.

AND DUE TO THAT REASON, I LOOK FORWARD TO A SPECIAL MEETING.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. COUNCILMAN MOAK. I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WERE OR NOT.

I THE GENTLEMAN'S NAME THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSING THE PLAN.

I CAN'T REMEMBER. MR. GARDNER. MR. GARDNER. MR. GARDNER, IF YOU WILL. HOLD MY TIME. ALSO MEETING SOMEBODY FROM THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, TOO. AND ANYBODY ELSE THAT MAY STEP UP. WALK ME THROUGH THIS PROCESS HERE.

IF WE APPROVE THIS TONIGHT AND SIX MONTHS LATER, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SENDS AN OPINION IN.

OR WHETHER IT'S TWO WEEKS, SIX DAYS, SIX MONTHS, WHATEVER, SIX WEEKS SENDS AN OPINION IN.

NO, THIS IS ILLEGAL. WHAT HAPPENS? YOU REVERT BACK IF YOU WOULD DESIRE TO THE SAME PLAN YOU HAVE TODAY.

JUST REVERT BACK? DONE. CORRECT. NO PROBLEMS. IT WOULD BE A IT'D BE A BIG EDUCATION PROCESS BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE WHO NOW ARE ON A BETTER PLAN ARE GOING TO PROBABLY WANT TO STAY ON THE PLAN THEY'RE ON.

CORRECT. BUT IF YOU IF YOU DEEMED WE WANT TO CHANGE BACK, YOU CAN CHANGE BACK BECAUSE.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE 90 DAY OPTION THAT YOU'VE BUILT INTO THE PLAN ALREADY.

THAT'S IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE IT AS IT IS TODAY.

BUT IF YOU DECIDED A YEAR FROM NOW YOU WANT TO TERMINATE THAT AND MOVE BACK, YOU CAN.

RIGHT. SO I DON'T, I CAN'T FIND THE LOSE LOSE SITUATION IN THIS.

IF WE APPROVE THIS TONIGHT, WHETHER IT BE LEGAL, WHETHER IT BE MONEY, WHETHER IT BE WHATEVER, WHETHER WE'RE WAITING ON THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION RIGHT NOW OR YEARS FROM NOW.

I CAN'T FIND THE LOSE LOSE IN THIS SITUATION TO WHERE EVEN IF WE APPROVE THIS TONIGHT, WITH EVERYTHING IN PLACE, WITH SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY BEING OFFERED, WHERE IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES COME BACK WITH AN OPINION, A NEGATIVE OPINION ABOUT IT, THEN WE EITHER STOP OFFERING THE PLAN, WHICH IT'LL PROBABLY BE BY THE END OF THE YEAR, THAT WE GET THE OPINION. WE EITHER STOP OFFERING IT AND EVERYBODY JUST STAYS WHERE THEY'RE AT.

THE RULE IS PRETTY CLEAR IN THAT YOU CANNOT MAKE THE PLAN MANDATORY.

SO WE KNEW GOING INTO THE PROCESS, EVEN THOUGH SOME MUNICIPALITIES HAVE GONE MANDATORY, EVEN THOUGH THAT IS NOT ADVISED, WE WENT WITH THE SAFER MEASURE, WHICH IS OPT OUT, WHICH IS A VOLUNTARY OPTION.

CORRECT. I MEAN, BUT WE KNEW THAT FROM THE GET GO.

WE KNEW WE WEREN'T GOING TO MANDATE THAT EVERYBODY SWITCHES THIS.

WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO OFFER THE OPTION. CORRECT.

I MEAN, THAT'S BEEN DONE WHEN WE CHANGED PLANS BEFORE.

AGAIN, IF SOMEBODY CAN TELL ME THE LOSE PART OF THIS SITUATION, EVEN IF AN ATTORNEY GENERAL'S COME OPINION COMES BACK NEGATIVE, WHERE IS THE LOSS AT? AND IF THE LEGAL MINDS OUT THERE WANT TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION,

[01:35:07]

OKAY. THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WILL DO, BUT I'M NOT ASKING YOU A QUESTION, AND I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO GET INTO A WHOLE SITUATION AND EVERYTHING, BUT I AM ASKING YOU TO RECONSIDER YOUR VOTE SO WE CAN GET THIS DONE, SO THEY CAN START ALIGNING THIS PROCESS THAT WE HAVE AS A CITY PARISH HAS WORKED ON.

YES. AND COUNCILWOMAN RACCA HAS DOTTED THE I'S, CROSSED THE T'S ALONG WITH THE ATTORNEYS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ON VOTE NIGHT, WE HAVE A LEGAL PROBLEM.

BUT THE LEGAL PROBLEM, EVEN FROM THAT STANDPOINT, UNLESS YOU'RE JUST ABSOLUTELY AGAINST IT.

AND I UNDERSTAND WANTING MORE INFORMATION AND STUFF LIKE THAT, WHETHER THE OPINION COMES BACK IN A POSITIVE OR A NEGATIVE.

IF YOU'RE JUST ABSOLUTELY AGAINST IT, THEN THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAN CHANGE THAT.

BUT FROM A STANDPOINT THAT WE JUST FOUND OUT HERE, I'M ASKING YOU IF WE CAN GO.

WE NEED THE APPROVAL PROCESS TO GET FORWARD SO THEY CAN START GETTING THEIR RECORDS AND GETTING EVERYTHING PREPARED.

BEING THAT WHAT THEY JUST SAID, THAT IF IT COMES BACK WITH A NEGATIVE OPINION FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, IT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT WE JUST QUIT OFFERING OR WE SWITCH PEOPLE BACK.

IF IT'S GOTTEN TO THAT POINT, I DON'T EVEN THINK WE'LL GET TO THAT POINT BY THE END OF THE YEAR OF GETTING THE OPINION, BUT I DON'T SEE WHY WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.

EVEN IF YOUR OPINION COMES BACK, WHAT YOU'RE EXPECTING, HOW IT'S GOING TO AFFECT WHAT MOVING FORWARD WOULD BE TO DO TODAY.

SO I ASK YOU, I ASK YOU TO PLEASE VOTE AND APPROVE THIS AND MOVE FORWARD WITH IT, NOT ONLY FOR THE CITY PARISH, BUT FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT CAN GET A BETTER PLAN.

THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. I WANT TO I WANT TO MAKE ONE QUICK STATEMENT, AND THEN I'M GOING TO ASK PARISH ATTORNEY GREG ROME TO TO COME UP IN JUST A SECOND. AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS, TALKING ABOUT THIS, STUDYING THIS FOR OVER TWO YEARS. THIS DID NOT JUST COME UP THREE MONTHS AGO, SIX MONTHS AGO.

WE HAVE WE HAVE TALKED AND TALKED AND TALKED, READ AND READ AND READ, RESEARCHED AND RESEARCH, VISITED WITH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN A LOT OF MEETINGS AND A LOT OF TIME IN THE EVENINGS DOING A LOT OF READING. AND THIS, THIS IS THIS IS NOT NEW.

AND THIS CERTAINLY FEELS LIKE A DELAY TACTIC TO ME.

BUT, MR. ROME, I, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. I'M STILL STRUGGLING WITH THIS IDEA OF A OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT.

CAN. CAN YOU HELP ME? CAN YOU I CAN TRY. SO. SO WE WE WOULD BE DOING YOU ALL A DISSERVICE IF WE JUST CAME UP HERE AND SAID WE'RE NEVER GOING TO GET SUED WHEN WHEN ANYBODY DOES SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY ELSE DOESN'T LIKE, THERE'S ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY OF GETTING SUED.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. I CAN'T PREDICT THAT.

BUT IT'S AN ACCURATE ANSWER TO COUNCILMAN HURST QUESTION.

IS THERE A POSSIBILITY OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT? OF COURSE THERE IS. CAN I TELL YOU THERE'S GOING TO BE ONE? NO I CAN'T. SO I CAN'T TELL YOU EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE SATISFIED BY THIS.

SO WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE WHAT COMES. IF WE GET SUED, OF COURSE WE'LL DEFEND IT.

BUT OF COURSE THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF US GETTING SUED ANYTIME.

I'LL MAKE A DECISION. I WAS GOING TO SAY. I MEAN, DO WE GET SUED EVERY WEEK? EVERY DAY. EVERY DAY? I MEAN, THAT'S MY IMPRESSION EVERY DAY.

SO IF WE WERE TO LET YOU COME UP, MR. GARDNER, IF WE WERE TO LET LAWSUITS GET IN THE WAY, WE REALLY WOULD BE PARALYZED, RIGHT? WE WOULD DELAY EVERYTHING, MR. GARDNER. YES. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON THIS.

WE ARE NOT REMOVING A PERSON'S CHOICE, SO DO UNDERSTAND THIS IS.

THIS IS NOT MANDATORY. AND I JUST I DRILLING THAT IN BECAUSE WE'RE NOT MAKING PEOPLE CHANGE.

IF A PERSON GETS ON THE PLAN, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE AMPLE TIME TO MAKE A DECISION TO MOVE BACK.

SO WE'RE NOT FORCING ANYONE INTO THIS DECISION.

WELL, AND JUST THE PEOPLE I'VE SPOKEN TO AND HAVING BEEN AWARE AND DOING DUE DILIGENCE FOR, YOU KNOW, TWO YEARS OR LONGER THAN TWO YEARS, TWO YEARS, I HAVE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE RETIREES AND HAVE ASKED THEM ABOUT

[01:40:02]

AND I HAVE HEARD OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT, LOVE IT, I LOVE IT, GREAT CHOICE, GREAT DECISION, GREAT PRODUCT. I HAVEN'T HAD A SINGLE PERSON TELL ME THAT THEY THEY DID NOT FIND THE PRODUCT TO BE EXCELLENT.

ANYWAY I WOULD ASK THE COUNCILMAN TO TO RECONSIDER AND AND NOT HOLD UP THE WHEELS OF PROGRESS.

I THINK EVERYBODY IS WORKING REALLY HARD TO MEET ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE FACING US RIGHT NOW.

AND I SEE A LOT OF LEADERSHIP COMING OUT OF THIS COUNCIL.

AND IT IS DISAPPOINTING TO SEE YOU KNOW, OBFUSCATION AND BARRIERS THAT REALLY AREN'T BARRIERS BEING THROWN UP IN THE WAY OF TRUE LEADERSHIP AND TRUE PROGRESS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN GAUDET. ASHLEY, MY QUESTION IS GOING TO BE FOR YOU.

IT'S A PROCESS RELATED QUESTION. SO IF THE, IF IN A HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION, IF I ASKED YOU IF WE'RE GOING TO NEED THIS ITEM DURING A SPECIAL MEETING BETWEEN NOW AND OCTOBER 1ST, WHAT WOULD THE RECOMMENDATION BE FOR HOW WE HANDLE IT TONIGHT? A DEFERRAL OF TWO WEEKS. A VOTE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY GO DOWN.

SO A SPECIAL MEETING JUST REQUIRES 48 HOURS NOTICE.

AND THIS ITEM DOES NOT OTHERWISE REQUIRE INTRODUCTION, SO THERE'S NO APPROPRIATION BEING MADE.

SECTION 2.12 OF THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT DOES NOT REQUIRE THIS ITEM BE INTRODUCED.

SO IT COULD BE PLACED ON A SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA WITH 48 HOURS NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC.

IF WE TAKE A VOTE TONIGHT AND THE VOTE IS SIX ONE, DOES THAT MEAN THE ITEM COULD NOT BE THEN ADDED TO A SPECIAL? IT COULD STILL BE ADDED AS AN ITEM TO A SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA.

IT WOULD ONLY THE CONSEQUENCE OF THAT WOULD BE THAT THE ITEM FAILED ONCE.

AND YOU CAN ONLY VOTE ON AN ITEM TWICE WITHIN A ONE YEAR PERIOD.

THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT. IF WE DEFER THIS ITEM FOR TWO WEEKS, COULD WE THEN COME FORWARD? IF YOU DEFER IT FOR TWO WEEKS, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT TIME PERIOD DOESN'T WORK FOR THE ADMINISTRATION.

BUT NO, NO. I'M SORRY, I APOLOGIZE IF WE VOTE TONIGHT TO DEFER TWO WEEKS AND THEN COME FOR A SPECIAL MEETING IN THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS WITH THAT SAME ITEM, WOULD THAT BE ACCEPTABLE? I'M CONCERNED THAT THAT MIGHT BE CONFUSING TO THE PUBLIC, SO I'D LIKE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, MAYBE TO HELP ME THINK THROUGH THAT ON THE SPOT.

IF WE IF YOU MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER IT TWO WEEKS AND YOU, YOU'RE BASICALLY TELLING THE PUBLIC THIS IS GOING TO BE ON THE OCTOBER 8TH AGENDA AND THEN IT'S ON A PRIOR AGENDA. I DON'T KNOW, I'M JUST I'M THINKING OUT LOUD.

YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THAT. DID YOU HEAR THE PREMISE, PLEASE? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. I THINK YOU GOT IT. YEAH. THAT WOULD BE CONFUSING TO THE PUBLIC.

SO IF YOU GUYS ARE DEFERRING IT TONIGHT, YOU'RE NOTIFYING THE PUBLIC TONIGHT.

HEY, IT'S GOING TO ROLL BACK AROUND IN TWO WEEKS, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN BECAUSE A SPECIAL MEETING, A SPECIAL MEETING IS GOING TO BE A NOTICE NOTICED AS EVERYTHING ELSE IS NOTICED, AND YOU JUST HAVE TO KIND OF HOPE THAT.

YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC IS CATCHING THAT. SO, I MEAN, WHETHER OR NOT THEY DO.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S A QUESTION. BUT IT COULD LEAD TO SOME CONFUSION IF YOU HAVE.

SOME MAYBE RETIREES THAT SHOW UP IN TWO WEEKS AND SAY, OKAY, WELL, I'M HERE TO.

SPEAK ON THE ITEM. AND THEN IT'S LIKE, OH, THAT HAPPENED A WEEK AGO, YOU KNOW.

THANK YOU. OKAY. YOU'RE WELCOME TO ASHLEY. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE ASSISTANCE.

COUNCILMAN. WOULD LIKE SOME MORE TIME. I'M HAPPY TO YIELD IT.

COUNCILMAN JESUS. I WANT TO PLAY WITH JESUS LIKE THAT.

SO EVERYBODY ON THIS SIDE WATCH OUT FOR THE LIGHTNING.

BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT, AND I DON'T NEED A REBUTTAL ON THIS, BUT THERE WAS AN OPINION THAT I ASKED, THE SAME EXACT CONVERSATION WAS ASKED TO GREG ROME ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, AND HE TOLD ME HE KNEW IT WOULD END UP IN FEDERAL COURT.

SO I'M GLAD THAT ON CERTAIN ITEMS, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT'S GOING TO GO ON, OTHER ITEMS, YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO GO. BUT AND AS IT RELATES TO THE PLAN ITSELF, THIS IS THIS IS NOT A DELAY TACTIC BY ANY MEANS.

AND YOU CAN TALK TO THE PARISH ATTORNEY, YOU CAN TALK TO LATOYA, THE DIRECTOR OF HR.

I'VE BEEN ASKING THESE QUESTIONS FOR A LONG TIME.

I'VE HAD THE SAME CONCERN FOR A LONG TIME. I WENT APPEALING TO THE ADMINISTRATION WITH THE SAME CONCERNS.

THIS IS NOTHING NEW. MY QUESTIONS WERE JUST NOT ANSWERED.

AND WHEN I STILL HAVE RETIREES THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND, IT'S A PROBLEM.

AND HERE'S MY HERE'S MY THOUGHT. IF THIS COULD HAVE SAVED US THIS MUCH MONEY, THEN WHY ARE WE WAITING UNTIL WE HAVE A $21 MILLION DEFICIT TO PUSH IT? WHY DIDN'T WE DO IT LAST YEAR AND HOLD ALL THESE PUBLIC MEETINGS AND MAKE ALL THESE PHONE CALLS AND DO ALL THIS STUFF THAT WE WERE GOING TO DO BECAUSE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE HAS BEEN

[01:45:03]

SO WHY DON'T WE START MAKING THESE CALLS LAST, LAST FALL IN ENROLLMENT, KNOWING WE CAN SAVE THE MONEY AND HAVING MEETINGS WITH THE EMPLOYEES AND TRYING TO PUSH FROM THE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AND HAVING A WHOLE CAMPAIGN LIKE THRIVE OUT THERE TO SAVE US MONEY.

WHY DON'T WE DO IT THEN? IT COULD HAVE SAVED US MONEY A LONG TIME AGO.

SO NOW IT FEELS LIKE IT'S A RUSH. IT'S A FORCE.

AND THE WAY I AM IN MY HOUSEHOLD, WHERE I AM IN MY LIFE, IF I HAVE A CAUSE FOR PAUSE, THERE'S NOTHING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO AS A GROWN MAN TO MAKE ME MOVE FORWARD WITH SOMEBODY WHO RESPECTS MY OWN DECISION AND ALSO RESPECTS THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT COMES FROM JESUS DWIGHT.

SO WHEN JESUS TELLS ME TO PAUSE, I PAUSE. AND IF I NEED TO BE ON THE ISLAND BY MYSELF, HEY, I'M GOOD. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO A SPECIAL MEETING.

THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO. MAYOR PRO TEM, I'D LIKE TO YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME TO COUNCILWOMAN RACCA, PLEASE. COUNCILWOMAN RACCA, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT FOR ME. SO I CAN ANSWER A COUPLE OF THOSE QUESTIONS.

AND DWIGHT ALLUDED TO IT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR OVER FIVE YEARS.

WE HAD A PRIOR CONSULTANT THAT WANTED AND ADVISED US TO DO THIS, AND THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

WOULD THEY TALK THROUGH THE SAME PLAN DESIGNS? THEY WENT THROUGH THE SAME POTENTIAL MOVEMENT FROM MAKING OUR ASKING THAT WE MAKE CHANGES TO THE RETIREE PLAN.

THEY TOLD US THAT WE HAD SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS YEAR OVER YEAR OVER TWO YEARS AGO.

THEY TOLD US ALL THE DOLLARS THAT WE COULD SAVE.

THEY TOLD US ABOUT ALL THE MONEY THAT WE COULD USE TO PUT IN OUR BUDGET.

BUT I GUESS WE DIDN'T NEED THOSE DOLLARS BACK THEN EITHER.

I GUESS WE WERE JUST SQUARE. NOW WE HAVE A NEW ADMINISTRATION THAT CAME IN AND MR. BATTS, MR.. CHARLIE. THOSE GUYS HAD AN OPEN DOOR AND AN OPEN MIND WHEN WE STARTED DISCUSSING POTENTIAL SAVINGS, AND I EXPLAINED TO THE MEETING THAT YOU DIDN'T HAPPEN TO MAKE IT TO.

I THINK YOU HAD TO LEAVE EARLY THAT NIGHT TO, THAT I CALLED THE MAYOR WHILE HE WAS OUT OF STATE BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET THE INFORMATION TO HIM FAST ENOUGH. I COULDN'T GET A RESPONSE FAST ENOUGH.

AND WHEN I TOLD HIM HE WAS ABSOLUTELY EXCITED AND WILLING, AND MR. BATTS ANSWERED HIS PHONE FOR HIM, AND THEY WERE WILLING TO LISTEN, AND THEY WERE WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD ON THESE PLANS THAT HAD BEEN PUT IN PLACE YEAR OVER YEAR BY OUR EXCELLENT CONSULTANTS THAT WERE HERE PREVIOUSLY, OUR NEW CONSULTANTS THAT ARE HERE NOW.

NOW, THE ISSUE THAT I HAVE TONIGHT IS NOT ONLY ARE WE WASTING TAXPAYER TIME AND DOLLARS BECAUSE WE HAVE CALLS FOR PAUL'S, BUT WE'RE ALSO BURDENING OUR HR TEAM, WE'RE PLACING A BURDEN ON THEM TO TRY TO GET THIS INFORMATION OUT TO OUR RETIREES IN A TIMELY FASHION. WITH OPEN ENROLLMENT LOOMING.

THERE'S NO SENSE, AS COUNCILMAN GAUDET SO ELOQUENTLY PUT IT, THERE'S NO SENSE TO DELAY.

WE CAN GET AN ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION AND ANOTHER DATE, AND WE CAN MOVE IN THE WAYS THAT WE NEED TO WITHOUT BURDENING OUR STAFF.

THERE HAVE BEEN CHAMPIONS ON THIS COUNCIL THAT HAVE DONE COMPENSATION STUDIES AND HAVE LOOKED FOR REASONS AND WAYS TO INCREASE EMPLOYEE SALARY.

WELL, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A WHOLE OF AN ORGANIZATION, EVALUATING THEIR BENEFITS LEADS US THAT IN THAT IN THAT DIRECTION, LOOKING AT HOW THEIR BENEFITS ARE PAID AND MAKING SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THAT GIVES US MONEY TO FREE UP, TO INCREASE COMPENSATION, TO BE ABLE TO PAY OUR POLICE OFFICERS, ARE DPW WORKERS ARE FIREMEN.

ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES. MORE MONEY. THIS FREES UP THOSE DOLLARS.

THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TO IMPLEMENT THOSE COMPENSATION STUDY PLANS THAT WE LOOKED AT.

I KNOW MR. GARNER BACK THERE PROBABLY DOES THOSE ALL THE TIME, BUT WHAT WE WOULD BE REMISS TO FORGET WHAT HE SAID, WHICH WAS HE GAVE US A SUBSTANTIAL LIST OF ALL THE PEOPLE AND THE CITIES THAT HAD THE COURAGE TO DO THIS BEFORE US.

YET HERE WE ARE YET AGAIN, BEHIND THE CURVE BECAUSE WE'RE AFRAID OF CHANGE.

I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. I HAVE A LAW DEGREE.

THERE ARE PEOPLE IN HERE THAT HAVE LAW DEGREES, AND I DON'T THINK THERE ARE ANY SMARTER THAN THIS MAN OR ANYONE SITTING HERE. BUT THE DIFFERENCE IN HAVING A LAW DEGREE AND SAYING WHAT THE LAW IS, WHEN YOU HAVE THAT LAW DEGREE, IS YOU'RE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. WHEN YOU SAY WHAT THE LAW IS AND YOU ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE WHENEVER YOU SAY WHAT IT'S NOT.

AND THAT'S NOT TRUE. PEOPLE WITHOUT LAW DEGREES CAN GO SPOUTING LAW OPINIONS AND LEGAL OPINIONS.

[01:50:03]

THEY'RE NOT THEY'RE NOT PUTTING THEIR CAREER IN JEOPARDY.

THEY CAN SAY WHATEVER THEY WANT. WE ARE THOUGH, WE'RE HELD TO THAT HIGHER STANDARD.

SO JUST BE WARY OF WHO YOU GET YOUR LEGAL OPINIONS FROM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCILMAN HURST I APOLOGIZE FOR MAKING THAT JOKE.

IT WAS IT WAS NOT WARRANTED. AND IT WAS IT WAS IN GOOD, GOOD, GOOD SPIRITS.

BUT I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT. ALL RIGHT.

SOUNDS LIKE WE NEED AN UP OR DOWN VOTE THIS EVENING.

SO I WILL ENTER. IT HAS BEEN MOTIONED BY RACCA TO APPROVE AND SECONDED BY ADAMS APPARENTLY.

I MISSED THAT, BUT SO MOVED. IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? THERE HE IS. AND I'M GOING TO TAKE A POINT OF PRIVILEGE THAT YOU GUYS CAN STILL CONTINUE YOUR WORK, BECAUSE PREPARING FOR IT DOES NOT STOP YOU TODAY WITH THIS VOTE.

IF YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO GO THROUGH, WHICH IT PROBABLY WILL, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO START WORKING ON YOUR PAPERWORK TODAY.

THERE'S NOTHING WE SAID TODAY THAT KEEPS YOU FROM DOING YOUR JOB TOMORROW. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ASHLEY, PLEASE OPEN THE MACHINES.

MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE. YOU SAY FOR ME, AND THEN I'M ASSUMING WE NEED TO DO A VOICE VOTE, TOO. YEAH. MOTION FAILS. COUNCILMAN GAUDET. AYE. COUNCILMAN MOAK. YES. COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. YES. COUNCILMAN HURST. NAY. COUNCILWOMAN RACCA.

COUNCILMAN. HUDSON. YAY. COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO.

YES. 6 YAYS, ONE NAY. THE MOTION FAILS. ALL RIGHT.

IS THERE A REQUEST FOR A RECESS? IS EVERYBODY GOOD? ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A REQUEST FOR A FIVE MINUTE RECESS.

SOUNDS GOOD. EVERYBODY WILL COME BACK IN THE CHAMBERS IN FIVE MINUTES, AND WE'LL FINISH THIS.

IT'S 5:40. SO AT 5:45, WE'LL COME BACK IN. EVERYBODY WILL COME BACK IN, AND WE WILL FINISH THIS MEETING.

WE ARE IN RECESS. VERSE 1 TO 5. ALRIGHT.

WE WILL MOVE TO ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES. WE'LL TAKE ITEMS 124 THROUGH 147 TOGETHER.

[Items 124 - 147]

MOW TO OWN PROGRAM. ITEM 125. LOT 2-B-1-B-1-A.

SUBDIVISION, FOSTER PLACE. METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 2.

KENNEY. MOW TO OWN. ITEM 126. LOT 45, SQUARE 32.

SUBDIVISION; EDEN PARK. METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS.

MOW TO OWN. 127. LOT 44, SQUARE 32. SUBDIVISION: EDEN PARK.

METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS. MOW TO OWN.

ITEM 128. LOT 6, SQUARE 34. SUBDIVISION: SOUTH BATON ROUGE.

METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN. MOW TO OWN.

ITEM 129. LOT 9. SQUARE 12. SUBDIVISION: DUCHAMP PLACE.

METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN. HIGH BIDDER: PHARAOH JOHNSON, III - $20,500.

ITEM 130. LOT 5, SQUARE 16. SUBDIVISION: ADDITION TO PROSPERITY.

METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN. HIGH BIDDER: ONE ACCORD PROPERTY SOLUTIONS - $100.

ITEM 131. LOTS 2 AND 3, SQUARE 16. SUBDIVISION: ADDITION TO PROSPERITY.

METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN. HIGH BIDDER: ONE ACCORD PROSPERITY SOLUTIONS - $100.

ITEM 132. LOT A. SUBDIVISION, SWART ADDITION.

METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN. HIGH BIDDER: MARK A.

WHEELER - $100. ITEM 133. LOT B+. SUBDIVISION: SWART ADDITION.

METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN. HIGH BIDDER: MARK A.

WHEELER - $100. ITEM 134. LOT 32-A. SUBDIVISION: COMITE ESTATES.

METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 5, HURST. HIGH BIDDER: DE'SHAD LAWSON CONNER - $13,800.

ITEM 135. LOT 42, SQUARE 15. SUBDIVISION: BANK.

METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNEY. HIGH BIDDER: PHARAOH JOHNSON, III - $100.

ITEM 136. LOT 7, SQUARE 1. SUBDIVISION: LINCOLN PARK.

METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN. HIGH BIDDER: MELISSA LEVY - $3,500.

137. LOT 24. SUBDIVISION: ONE FLORIDA PLACE II.

METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 6, DUNN JR. HIGH BIDDER: DOMINIQUE BANKS - $38,100.

ITEM 138. LOT 6, SQUARE 93. SUBDIVISION: NORTH BATON ROUGE.

METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNEY. HIGH BIDDER: CARMEN ATKINS - $100.

ITEM 139. LOT 152-A AND 152-B. SUBDIVISION: ASHLEY.

METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 6, DUNN JR. HIGH BIDDER: T.D.

REAL ESTATE GROUP, LLC. - $2,000. ITEM 140. LOT 0.52@.

SUBDIVISION: SECTION 1 WD 2. METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 1, NOEL.

[01:55:02]

- $1,700. 141. LOT 3, SQUARE 4. SUBDIVISION: ROOSEVELT PLACE.

METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNEY. HIGH BIDDER: NAKEYA WHITE - $100.

ITEM 142. LOT 8, SQUARE 4. SUBDIVISION: NORTH HIGHLANDS ADDITION.

METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS. HIGH BIDDER: SANDRA MITCHELL - $300.

ITEM 143. LOT 14, SQUARE 4. SUBDIVISION: NORTH HIGHLANDS ADDITION.

METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS. HIGH BIDDER: SANDRA MITCHELL - $300.

ITEM 144. LOT 8 AND 9, SQUARE 7. SUBDIVISION: FORTUNE.

METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 5, HURST. HIGH BIDDER: VENESHIA FRANKLIN - $100.

ITEM 145. LOT 49, SQUARE 46. SUBDIVISION: SOUTH BATON ROUGE.

METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN. HIGH BIDDER: KERMON WAKER - $800.

ITEM 146. LOT 22, SQUARE 2. SUBDIVISION: HERO PARK.

METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN. HIGH BIDDER: ANDREA COSEY - $100.

ITEM 147. LOT 413. SUBDIVISION MELROSE EAST. METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 6, DUNN JR.

MOW TO OWN PROGRAM. WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEMS 124 THROUGH 147.

SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 124 THROUGH 147 BY ADAMS, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR. ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE, THOSE ITEMS PASS.

WE'LL MOVE TO OUR SEPARATE SHEET FOR ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.

[ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER ITEMS ]

WE HAVE. OH NO. GO AHEAD AND READ THAT. ALRIGHT. WE'LL READ THE ITEMS FIRST. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS. EMERGENCY ITEM.

ITEM A. ACCEPTANCE OF LOW BID. PHASE II, TAXIWAY L.

EXTENSION AND DECOMMISSIONING RUNWAY 4R-22L AND TAXIWAY E.

HENDRICK CONSTRUCTION $16,416,897.54. BY AVIATION DIRECTOR.

DID I READ THIS? NO. OKAY. ALRIGHT. WE'LL HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.

MOTION BY MOAK, SECOND BY HURST. ANY OPPOSITION? NOPE. PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES MAY APPROACH THE MICROPHONE AT THIS TIME. SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND VOTE ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.

ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE, WE WILL CALL FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM.

ITEM A. SEEING NO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN THE FLOOR TO THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COUNCILMAN MOAK, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO.

ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. ITEM A OF ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS CARRIES.

APPOINTMENTS. ITEM 148. BROWNSVILLE VOLUNTEER CIVIL SERVICE BOARD.

[148. 25-01199 ]

ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 148? WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MOAK TO APPOINT MR. MICHAEL REYNERSON, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE, MR. REYNERSON HAS BEEN APPOINTED.

ITEM 149. COMPLETE STREETS CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

[149. 25-01200 ]

CURRENT BALLOT IS CHERYL LEATHERWOOD WHO HAS SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION AND REQUEST FROM GREATER BATON ROUGE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS.

WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 149. SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

COUNCIL MEMBERS. MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MOAK, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. MISS LEATHERWOOD HAS BEEN APPOINTED.

ITEM 150. EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICT (MARC).

[150. 25-01201 ]

CURRENT BALLOT IS ALBERT ANDREWS, WHO HAS REQUESTED REAPPOINTMENT.

WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 150. SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MOTION BY THE CHAIR SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MOAK.

ANY OPPOSED TO APPOINTING MR. ANDREWS? SEEING NONE, MR. ANDREWS HAS BEEN REAPPOINTED. ITEM 151. VISIT BATON ROUGE.

[151. 25-01246 ]

I'M SORRY, THE CURRENT BALLOT IS JEREMY FONTENOT.

WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 151. SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GAUDET, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE, MR. FONTENOT HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO VISIT BATON ROUGE.

WE'LL MOVE NOW TO CHANGE ORDERS. WE'LL TAKE ITEMS 152 THROUGH 157 TOGETHER.

[Items 152 - 157]

[02:00:02]

ITEM 153. TAXIWAY L EXTENSION AND DECOMMISSIONING OF RUNWAY 4R-22L AND TAXIWAY.

CONTRACTOR: HENDRICK CONSTRUCTION. CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, $709,895.55.

CONTRACT TIME INCREASED BY 20 DAYS. ITEM 154.

EBR PARISH PRISON BUILDING Q HVAC REPLACEMENT.

CONTRACTOR: CALCASIEU MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS, INC.

DESCRIPTION ADDITIONAL DAYS ADDED TO RECONCILE FINISH OF WORK WITH FINAL ACCEPTANCE.

ITEM 155. MISCELLANEOUS BRANCH LIBRARY RENOVATIONS.

CONTRACTOR: TERRY ANDRE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.

CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, $14,030. ITEM 156. REQUEST TO AMEND CONTRACT LA WASTE AND CONSULTING, INC/LOUISIANA WASTE SYSTEMS. CONTRACTOR: LA WASTE AND CONSULTING/LOUISIANA WASTE SYSTEM.

CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, $20,000. ITEM 157. MAIN STREET AREA ADA TRANSITION PROJECT.

CONTRACTOR: TRIUMPH CONSTRUCTION, LLC. CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, $129,696.69.

WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEMS 152 THROUGH 157.

SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSO, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS TO APPROVE.

ANY OPPOSITION. SEEING NONE. ITEMS 152 THROUGH 157 CARRY.

FINAL ACCEPTANCES. WE WILL TAKE ITEMS 158 THROUGH 159 TOGETHER.

[Items 158 - 159]

CONTRACTOR: CALCASIEU MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS.

FINAL COST $706,110. ITEM 159. MISCELLANEOUS BRANCH LIBRARY RENOVATIONS.

CONTRACTOR: TERRY HONORE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.

FINAL COST $490,259. WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEMS 158 AND 159.

SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 158 BY COUNCILMAN HURST, SECONDED BY ADAMS. I'M JUST MAKING SURE JEN'S NOT LEAVING. OKAY.

ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. ITEMS 158 AND 159 CARRY.

ACCEPTANCE OF LOW BID. ITEM 160. ACCEPTING THE LOW BIDS RECEIVED FOR THE BATON ROUGE METROPOLITAN AIRPORT RUNWAY 22R THRESHOLD REPAIR.

HENDRICK CONSTRUCTION INC., $555,644.64. WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 160 AND NONE. WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS. MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, SECONDED BY THE CHAIR. ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE.

ITEM ONE 60 CARRIES. I HAVE A I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER.

[99. 25-01116 ]

I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. WHAT DID I SAY? ITEM 99.

30 DAYS. MOTION AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE. ITEM 99 IS DEFERRED FOR 30 DAYS.

THIS LAST ONE. ITEM 161. WE HAVE A REQUEST TO DEFER TO 10/8.

[161. 25-01132 ]

SO ANYWAY, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 161.

SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER TO 10/8. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

ANY OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE, WE WILL DEFER THAT ITEM TO OCTOBER 8TH.

COUNCIL MEMBER. MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOTION TO ADJOURN.

[Adjournment and Announcements]