Feb 11, 2026 Metropolitan Council

[00:00:05]

ALL RIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON.

[ Presentations and Special Recognitions]

TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH RECOGNITION AND RECOGNIZING. GREGORY KELLY, DEPARTMENT OF MAINTENANCE BY REGINALD BRUNFIELD. REGINALD.

OKAY, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KENNEY. TODAY, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE BOTH MR. GREGORY KELLY AND MR. RYAN SANSONI.

THEY WILL BOTH RECEIVE A RECOGNITION OF CERTIFICATE FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. AND APPRECIATION OF THEIR DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM AND COMMITMENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MAINTENANCE DURING A CRITICAL PERIOD FOR OUR ORGANIZATION. FIRST, MR. RYAN SANSONI ALSO STEPPED UP, ALWAYS STEPS UP. RYAN IS DEDICATED, NO EXCUSE EMPLOYEE WHO CONTINUES TO PERFORM AT A HIGH LEVEL REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCES. HE IS A TRUE MASTER OF THE MEN'S E-BOOK.

AND HIS TECHNICAL AND PRECISION SKILLS IN THE FIELD ARE EXCEPTIONAL.

WHEN THE JOB IS TOUGH, COMPLEX, OR REQUIRES EXPERIENCE AND CONFIDENCE, RYAN IS SOMEONE WE CAN RELY ON. MR. GREGORY KELLY. MR. GREGORY KELLY MOVED FROM AN INVESTIGATOR TO INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT DURING A VERY CHALLENGING TIME.

IN THE MIDST OF UNEXPECTED CIRCUMSTANCES, HE NEVER WAVERED. HE KEPT THE DIVISION OPERATIONAL, ORGANIZED, AND PRODUCTIVE.

LEADERSHIP DURING UNCERTAINTY REQUIRES STEADINESS, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND FOCUS, AND MR. GREGORY DELIVERED ALL THREE. BOTH OF THESE MEN DEMONSTRATED RESILIENCE, PROFESSIONALISM, AND PRIDE IN THEIR WORK WHEN IT MATTERED MOST. HOWEVER, THIS YEAR'S WINNER OF THE 2025 DEPARTMENT OF MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR IS MR. GREGORY KELLY. SO WE'D LIKE YOU BOTH TO COME UP AND RECEIVE YOUR CERTIFICATES. THEY BOTH WILL RECEIVE CERTIFICATES AND A MONETARY AWARD FROM DIRECTLY FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. AND MR. KELLY GETS THIS LITTLE TROPHY AS WELL. PERFECT.

YEAH. ONE MORE TIME. GOOD. ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO IT ONE MORE. A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THESE GENTLEMEN. ALL RIGHT.

NEXT UP, WE HAVE. METRO COUNCILWOMAN CAROLYN COLEMAN RECOGNIZED PARTICIPANTS OF THE 2025 DISTRICT 10 TOY DRIVE CHALLENGE FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS, UH, FOR THEIR WORK TO HER DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY.

COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. I SAY GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE.

YES, I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY TO GIVE, BUT ALL OF YOU ALL DESERVE SOME. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT. AND SO ON BEHALF OF ALL OF OUR CHILDREN IN DISTRICT 10, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERY DEPARTMENT THAT PARTICIPATED, AND EVEN THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WANTED TO AND MAYBE COULD NOT HAVE, BUT I'M GRATEFUL. AND SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL FOLK, JEFF AND I. WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PARTICIPANTS, THE GIVERS, AND THEN AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO DO THE FIRST AND THE SECOND AND THE THIRD PLACE PLAQUE GETTERS. AND SO AT FIRST, I WANT TO COUNCILWOMAN DENISE AMOROSA. ALL RIGHT, SHE'S COMING. MR. JOSEPH BUTLER, DEPARTMENT, WHERE'S JOE? OR ANYBODY HERE WITH JOE. COME ON, COME ON, THERE YOU GO. YES, INDEED, AND I APPRECIATE YOU FOR THE GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION OF THE TOY DISTRIBUTION. SO MAKE SURE Y'ALL HANG THAT HIGH AND REMIND YOURSELF NEXT YEAR YOU WON'T BE FIRST, ALL RIGHT? YES. AND THEN WE HAVE REPUBLIC SERVICES. WE CAN COUNT ON REPUBLIC. I KNOW REPUBLIC HAS TO BE HERE, AND WE WANT TO TELL YOU THAT WE APPRECIATE YOU AND MAKE SURE YOU TELL SHARON THAT. AND WE'RE GLAD THAT SHE'S BACK ON THE HORSE. YES, INDEED. I KNOW YOU ARE. THANK YOU SO VERY

[00:05:01]

THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, THEY BROUGHT TOYS OVER AND THEY ASSISTED ON THE DAY OF THE GIVING, AND I AM GRATEFUL. AND THEN THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND HEARTFELT APPRECIATION OF YOU ALL'S GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION TO THE TOY DRIVE. SO YOUR COMMITMENT MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THESE CHILDREN'S LIVES. AND I SAY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

AND LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT.

THANK YOU. DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY AT ALL. MS. DARYL BLACHER, COME ON, DARYL, AND YOUR FOLK IN YOUR AREA OVER THERE. WE WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU ALL BROUGHT JOY, HOPE, COUNTLESS SMILES ON THE FACES OF CHILDREN AND PARENTS. AND SO... APPRECIATE YOU.

CHRISTELLE SLAUGHTER, WHERE'S DR. SLAUGHTER? OKAY, SHE'S WORKING. WE THANK YOU, DOC.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATION.

AND MR. JOE TUBBS. JOE IS ALWAYS IN THE BACKGROUND, BUT JOE SUPPORTED THIS TOY DRIVE, AND WE APPRECIATE JOE. AND SO NOW FOR OUR THIRD PLACE PLAQUE, JEFF, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

COME ON, FINANCE. AND WE WANT YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU TELL ALL THE MONEY FOLK, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, DEAR.

THE SECOND PLACE PLAQUE. IS THE BATON ROUGE METRO AIRPORT. AND SO THE AIRPORT CAME IN AND SAID THEY WERE GOING TO BE FIRST. BUT, YOU KNOW, SECOND IS NEXT TO FIRST, ISN'T THAT RIGHT, EVERYBODY? NEXT YEAR, NEXT YEAR, I LOVE IT. NEXT YEAR, NEXT YEAR. YES, INDEED, AND NOW, THE MOMENT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR, OUR FIRST PLACE PLAQUE GOES TO THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT.

COME ON, PURCHASING. WHOLE SLEW OF THEM. SO THEY MUST HAVE KNOWN THAT THEY WERE GETTING THIS. YES. AND SO PURCHASING DOES NOT TAKE THIS FOR GRANTED. I WANT ALL OF YOU ALL TO KNOW. YOU CAN HOLD IT. I WANT ALL OF YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT PURCHASING DOES NOT, GOT IT, TAKE THIS FOR GRANTED. AND THANK YOU, PURCHASING. YEAH, I THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF ALL THESE CHILDREN. OH YEAH, ALL OF THEM, ALL OF THEM. SO WE ARE GRATEFUL, GRATEFUL IN DISTRICT 10, FOR GIVERS, FOR GIVERS. AND SO, NEXT, AND I'LL YIELD TO YOU, MR. ANTHONY. ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, WE'LL RECOGNIZE MS. NANETTE MCCANN, VALLEY RIDGE MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, FOR BEING SELECTED THE MAGNET SCHOOLS OF AMERICA REGION 5 PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR. Y'ALL HEARD IT. Y'ALL HEARD IT. AND LET ME JUST TELL JUST A LITTLE BIT HERE, AND THEN I'M GONNA YIELD TO THE PRINCIPAL OF THE...

REGION 5. ALL RIGHT, REGION 5.

YES, NOT JUST BATON ROUGE.

NATIONAL. AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT. I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR A LONG TIME, I'VE WATCHED YOU FOR A LONG TIME, AND YOU HAVE POURED INTO CHILDREN LIKE NEVER BEFORE. THE THING THAT YOU'VE DONE, YOU'VE BELIEVED IN THOSE CHILDREN, YOU'VE PUSHED THEM, AND YOU ARE APPRECIATED. SO, THROUGH YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND GUESS WHAT? SHE BROUGHT HER POSSE. COME ON, COME ON UP HERE. YEAH, EVERY GOOD LEADER HAS GOOD FOLLOWERS.

JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THROUGH YOUR LEADERSHIP, THAT YOU CONSISTENTLY, YOU CHALLENGE CHILDREN TO STRIVE FOR GREATNESS, TAPPING INTO THEIR UNIQUE GIFTS, RECOGNIZING THEIR POTENTIAL, AND INSPIRING THEM TO BELIEVE IN WHAT THEY ARE CAPABLE.

OF BECOMING IN. YOUR DEDICATION TO NURTURING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, CHARACTER, CONFIDENCE HAS LEFT A LASTING

[00:10:03]

AND CONTINUES TO SHAPE FUTURE LEADERS. AND SO I PRESENT TO YOU THIS CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION AND JUST SAY, DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY BECAUSE YOU'VE DONE SOME BIG, BIG, BIG STUFF. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. YES, INDEED, AND I'M GONNA YIELD TO YOU AND LET YOU SHARE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME HERE TODAY, COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL. REGION 5 IS MADE UP OF ARKANSAS, OKLAHOMA, TEXAS, NEW MEXICO, MISSISSIPPI, AND COLORADO. SO THOSE ARE SOME BIG STATES TO BE REGION 5 NATIONAL PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR FOR MAGNET SCHOOLS OF AMERICA.

AND ROSALIND WRIGHT... WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR MAGNET SCHOOLS IN EBR, NOMINATED ME. SO I'M VERY HONORED TO REPRESENT NOT ONLY EBR WITH THE SUPPORT OF LAMONT COLE, BUT I'M EXCITED TO REPRESENT BATON ROUGE AND LOUISIANA. I COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. OUR STUDENTS, WE HAVE 1,600 STUDENTS THAT... WORK VERY HARD EVERY DAY. I HAVE 100 TEACHERS WHO PUT THEIR HEART AND SOUL INTO THE CLASSROOM AND PARENTS WHO CARE AND SUPPORT US. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING ME, AND I AM VERY THANKFUL, AND I HOPE TO BRING BACK THE NATIONAL PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR IN APRIL. IT WOULD BE MY SECOND TIME AND THE ONLY PERSON TO DO IT TWICE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUST TELL ME. GIVE ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE, PLEASE. NEXT UP, WE HAVE COUNCILMAN ANTHONY KINNEY.

TO RECOGNIZE LIZ COE, WFB NEWS ANCHOR, FOR HER AMAZING WORK OVER THE YEARS AND HER CONTRIBUTION TO THE BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN HURST.

COUNCILMEMBERS, TODAY I HAVE A SUPERSTAR WHO IS ABOUT TO DEPART FROM GOOD OLD BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. SOMEBODY WHEN YOU WAKE UP EVERY DAY AND TURN ON WFB, SHE GIVES YOU THAT BRIGHT SMILE AND THAT BRIGHT ENERGY TO START YOUR DAY, TO TALK ABOUT THE GOODNESS OF BAT ROUGE. I CAN PHYSICALLY SAY LIZ HAS SEEN ME GROW AS A HIGH SCHOOLER. I REMEMBER LIZ INTERVIEWING ME WHEN I WENT TO SCHUYLER-VITMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAD AN EVENT. SHE INTERVIEWED ME WHEN I WAS STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND NOW, BEING A COUNCIL PERSON, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH HER. ABOUT THE AMAZING EVENTS WE'RE DOING IN DISTRICT 2 AND BEYOND. AND BEYOND, BUT I'D LIKE TO BRING UP LIZ COTA. COME ON UP. LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. ALL RIGHT.

SO I KNOW ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE ALL HAVE CAUGHT ON LIZ AND HER TEAM TO INTERVIEW FOR OUR AMAZING EVENTS. WE CAN PERSONALLY SAY, LIZ, WE WILL MISS YOU IN BATON ROUGE. I THINK EVERYBODY IN THIS AUDIENCE HAS SEEN YOUR BRIGHT SMILE EACH AND EVERY DAY. AND SO WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GIVE YOU YOUR FLOWERS.

OFTENTIMES WE GIVE PEOPLE FLOWERS WHEN IT'S TOO LATE, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GIVE YOU YOUR FLOWERS WHILE YOU CAN SMELL IT. BECAUSE YOU POURED SO MUCH INTO BATON ROUGE AND TOLD A GREAT STORY DOING IT IN BATON ROUGE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND YOU WANT TO SAY A COUPLE WORDS? ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD. COUNCILMAN KENNY, EVERYBODY, A PRODUCT OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE HERE. IT'S BEEN AN HONOR.

THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO TO MAKE THIS PLACE A BETTER PLACE. AGAIN, ANTHONY KENNY IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF IT. HERE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY THAT HE GREW UP IN. AND IT'S BEEN SUCH AN HONOR TO WATCH YOU GROW UP, TOO.

WHAT AN HONOR IT IS. HOW PROUD I AM TO SUPPORT EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH. I'M SO PROUD TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT. ALL THE AMAZING THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING HERE, INCLUDING YOU. I INTERVIEWED YOU ON ONE OF MY FIRST DAYS, AND IT'S SO COOL TO SEE YOU KEEP SHINING. HOW WONDERFUL. ALL

[00:15:02]

ALRIGHT, LIZ, ON BEHALF OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARENTS METRO COUNCIL, WE JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FOR YOUR AMAZING IMPACT, FOR TELLING THE STORY ABOUT BATON ROUGE EACH AND EVERY DAY.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR NOT ONLY BEING A BRIGHT LIGHT, BUT BEING SOMEBODY WHO IS AN AMBASSADOR FOR OUR COMMUNITY ON A DAILY BASIS. WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE'RE GOING TO SEE YOU. SOME GUMBO. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING A BRIGHT LIGHT TO US EVERY MORNING AND EVERY DAY OF THE DAY. SO LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. NEXT UP, WE'LL HAVE METROPOLITAN COUNCILMAN ANTHONY KENNEY.

RECOGNIZE ONE OF THE GOOD BROTHERS OF OMEGA PSI FRATERNITY INCORPORATED.

OH, GOSH. I ADDED THAT PART.

PASTOR DR. DEET EDWARDS CHANEY FOR THE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF MOUNT PILGRIM BAPTIST CHURCH FOR 133 YEARS.

ALRIGHT, BEFORE I RECOGNIZE THIS AMAZING CHURCH, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I GET RECOGNIZED.

THEY'LL BE THE COUNCILWOMAN, COLEMAN DISTRICT, ALRIGHT? SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE SHE'S IN THE SECOND BEST DISTRICT.

DISTRICT 10. LOVE YOU TOO, COUNCILWOMAN. SO NEXT UP, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE A PLACE THAT HAS BEEN NEAR AND DEAR TO ME, MOUNT PILGRIM BAPTIST CHURCH IN SCOTLANDVILLE, LOUISIANA.

MOUNT PILGRIM BAPTIST CHURCH IS ONE OF THE MOST LONG-STANDING AND OLDEST CHURCHES IN THE BATON ROUGE AND SCOTLANDVILLE COMMUNITY, AND MOST RECENTLY, THEY HAVE CELEBRATED 133 YEARS IN THE SCOTLANDVILLE COMMUNITY.

LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP OUR FEARLESS LEADER, PASTOR DR. D. EDWARD CHANEY, TO GIVE A FEW REMARKS ON BEHALF OF OUR AMAZING CHURCH. LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PRIVILEGE AND OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THIS DAY. WE'RE SO PROUD OF OUR GOOD MEMBER, COUNCILMAN KENNEY, AND WE JUST THANK GOD FOR ALL THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO IN COLLABORATION. AND AGAIN, TO... TO OUR CHURCH. WE ARE A PILLAR AND A BEACON OF LIFE FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND WE HOPE AND PRAY AS WE CONTINUE TO GO FORWARD, 134 AND 5 AND ON, THAT WE CAN CONTINUE OUR RELATIONSHIP. AGAIN, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THIS PRIVILEGE AND OPPORTUNITY, AND I'M SO PRIVILEGED TO RECEIVE THIS ON BEHALF OF MOUNT PILGRIM. ALL RIGHT.

PASTOR CHANEY ON BEHALF OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH METRO COUNCIL, THE CELEBRATION OF 133 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND MINISTRY. AND SPREADING THE GOSPEL AND SHARING THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST WHILE MAKING A TRUE DIFFERENCE IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.

CONGRATULATIONS. ALRIGHT, THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION FOR TODAY'S METROPOLITAN MEETING. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BRIEF RECESS AND WE'RE GOING TO CONVENE BACK AT 4PM. THANK

[CALL TO ORDER ]

WELCOME, EVERYBODY. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE LED BY PASTOR DR. D.

EDWARD CHANEY, FROM MOUNT PILGRIM BAPTIST CHURCH.

PASTOR? SHALL WE STAND? SHALL

[00:20:09]

IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. I PLEDGE 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. THANK YOU, PASTOR CHANEY. WELCOME, EVERYBODY, TO THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL THIS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH, 2026. WE'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. ASHLEY, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM? WE HAVE A QUORUM.

[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES ]

[INTRODUCTIONS ]

AMENDING AND REENACTING THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPLICATION FEE SCHEDULE, EFFECTIVE DATE MARCH 6, 2026, BY THE PLANNING DIRECTOR.

NUMBER THREE, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED PRENTISS-HAWKINS VERSUS THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND BELFORD-JOHNSON. IN THE AMOUNT OF $300,000 PLUS COURT COSTS, IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,170.66 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY. NUMBER FOUR, CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS.

THE ESTATE OF FRANK MATTHEWS, 9324 HELENE STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KINNEY. NUMBER FIVE, MARY LEE GREEN, 9168 LEWIS STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 02, KINNEY. NUMBER SIX, MILTON L. CLARK, JOHN L. CLARK, AND THE ESTATE OF NORMA CLARK, 10044 AVENUE A, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KINNEY. NUMBER SEVEN GERTRUDE JONES CALLAHAN AND HARRISON CALLAHAN JR. 7551 SOMERSET STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNY, NUMBER EIGHT, AGNES, KELLY, KENNAN ET AL. 10531 ELM GROVE GARDEN DRIVE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNY NUMBER NINE. TAMARANA, SHELLMORE, 5911 ATLANTA AVENUE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5, HEARST, NUMBER 10, BEDRINE INVESTMENT PROPERTIES, LLC, 656 NORTH ACADIAN THRUWAY EAST, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS, NUMBER 11, MARY JOHNSON URBAN AND THE ESTATE OF JAMES URBAN, 2945 FAIRFIELDS AVENUE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS, NUMBER 12, SHEILA MICHELLE WILLIAMS FRANKLIN, 789 NORTH 36TH STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS, NUMBER 13, LAURA DAVIS, 3235 EATON STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS.

NUMBER 14, FAMILY MARKETING, LLC, 2528 SHERWOOD STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN.

NUMBER 15, DAVID EVERETT AND KATIE EVERETT, 1902, HEMLOCK STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN. NUMBER 16, EULA BROWN REYNOLDS AND EUGENE REYNOLDS. 1394 PROGRESS STREET, COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN NUMBER 17, MAYOLA, PALM, PALMER AND JAMES PALMER ONE, FIVE, ONE, TWO, ONE, FIVE. NORTH, 31ST STREET, COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN NUMBER 18 WT WINFIELD LLC ACQUISITION INDEX UNDER W.T.

WINFIELD LLC ONE, TWO, TWO, EIGHT, NORTH, 29TH STREET, COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN. ALL LINES REQUIRE READING HAVE BEEN READ ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR INTRODUCTIONS? MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS EXCEPT FOR ITEM NUMBER 42. MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS EXCEPT FOR ITEM 42. ITEM 42. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR.

TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS EXCEPT ITEM 42, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.

SUBSTITUTE MOTION. WE HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

[00:25:01]

THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS. IS EVERYBODY'S MACHINES UP? MACHINES ARE OPEN. I'M GOING TO RESET IT. I'M GOING TO RESET IT. YES. ALL RIGHT.

MACHINES ARE ABOUT TO BE OPEN ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS. MACHINES ARE OPEN. YES, I DID, MOTION FAILS. NOW WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION, WHICH IS TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS EXCEPT ITEM 42. MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS EXCEPT ITEM 42. CAN YOU VOTE YES? MOTION CARRIES. WE HAVE A ROLL CALL. ROLL CALL.

COUNCILMAN GODAY, I JUST NEED YOU TO VERBALIZE YOUR VOTE ON THIS ITEM. I APOLOGIZE.

YES. COUNCILMAN MOAK. YES.

COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. YES.

COUNCILMAN DUNN JR. YES.

COUNCILMAN HURST. YES.

COUNCILWOMAN ROCCA? YES.

COUNCILMAN KNOLL? YES.

COUNCILMAN HUDSON? NO.

COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSA? COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN? YES.

COUNCILMAN KENNEY? YES.

COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS? YES.

YES, CARRIE. ALL RIGHT. MOVING

[CONDEMNATIONS ]

RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90. 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 103, 104, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, AND 111. 90 DAYS ON ITEM 105 AND TO DELETE ITEM 67, 75, 81, 101, AND 102. IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS TONIGHT? YES, SIR. HOW YOU DOING? GOOD AFTERNOON. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 88.

ITEM 88. WHAT'S YOUR NAME, SIR? MITCHELL CONNOR. OKAY. IS THAT THE CONNOR PROPERTIES AND INVESTMENTS, CORRECT? YES.

YES, SIR. SO I THINK THIS IS MY MAYBE SECOND OR THIRD TIME BEFORE THE COUNCIL. SO ON MY LAST... VISIT HERE, I DISCUSS PLANS FOR THE PROPERTY. AS YOU SEE, I BOUGHT IT IN THE NAME OF MY LLC, CONNER PROPERTIES AND INVESTMENTS, WHERE I INVEST IN THE INNER CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND TRY TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE UNDERPRIVILEGED.

IN THIS MATTER, THE HOME THAT I PURCHASED ON LLC HAS BEEN CONDEMNED, HAS BEEN ON ITS LIST FOR QUITE SOME TIME. I WAS CONSIDERING, AFTER SPEAKING WITH ONE CONTRACTOR, CONSIDERING TEARING IT DOWN.

AFTER MY LAST VISIT HERE, I GOT A SECOND OPINION FROM ANOTHER CONTRACTOR. BASED ON THAT SECOND OPINION, I'M CHANGING MY STANCE FROM TEARING IT DOWN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH REHABILITATION AND RENOVATION OF THAT PROPERTY. SO I CAN THEN ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF MY COMPANY, WHICH IS TO PROVIDE. HOUSING FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE HERE IN OUR INNER CITY. AND I'M HERE TODAY TO PERSONALLY ASK THE COUNCILWOMAN IN DISTRICT 10, COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, FOR AN EXTENSION. TO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THE PERMITS.

TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT WITH MY COMPANY AND OR, IF NECESSARY, REMOVAL FROM THE CONDEMNATION LIST. SO THE PERMITS CAN BE OBTAINED.

[00:30:04]

COUNCILWOMAN, IF YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THAT ONE. AND, YEAH, THAT'S HIS STANCE, AND MY STANCE IS HE CAME BY THE CENTER AND ASKED. I TOLD HIM I WAS GIVING HIM 30 DAYS, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE, 30 DAYS TO DO SOMETHING. THANK YOU. THIS WILL BE YOUR THIRD DEFERRAL. YES, MA'AM. YEAH.

YEAH. THANK YOU. SO YOU CAME BY THE CENTER AND I TOLD YOU THAT.

I APPRECIATE IT. OKAY. WELL, ACT LIKE IT NOW, BECAUSE YOU BETTER BE DONE SOMETHING IN THESE 30 DAYS. YES, MA'AM.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS? DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK. BRADEN? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

COUNCILMAN, NOW, REAL QUICK, COUNCILMAN, BEFORE WE START, I DO HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS HERE. LET ME GO THROUGH THESE, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO COUNCILMAN KINNEY. I HAVE 30 DAYS ON ITEM 80, NOW ITEM 88 AS WELL, 93, 106, 60 DAYS ON ITEMS 90 AND 97.

COUNCILMAN KINNEY. 60 DAYS FOR 98. 98? YEAH. OKAY, COUNCILMAN DON JR. YES, DELETE ITEM 60, DELETE ITEM 74. 60 AND 74 DELETE. 60 IS NOT ON HERE.

OKAY. WE STARTED ON 68 THROUGH 111. 30 DAYS ON 79 AND 30 DAYS ON 92. 30 ON 79, 30 ON 72. 79 AND 92. 79 AND 92, OKAY. AND I WANT TO SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE DONOR. WHICH ONES ARE THOSE? WHICH ONES WERE THEY? IF THEY WERE RECOMMENDATIONS, IT'S THERE. ONE MORE APPROACH IN. 60 DAYS ON 103. 60 ON 103? YES. YES, MA'AM.

NUMBER 73, 84, 80, 86, AND 87, 60 DAYS. RUN THROUGH THOSE AGAIN. 73, 84, 85, 86, 87. 89 AND 111, 60 DAYS. ON ITEM 88, 91, AND 96, 30 DAYS. THAT WAS 88, 91, AND 96. OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO RUN THROUGH THESE AGAIN. Y'ALL PAY ATTENTION BECAUSE I MAY HAVE MISSED THEM. I'M SORRY. YOU'RE GOING TO SPEAK ON 76, MA'AM, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILOR MCKINNEY. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2842 CLOVER STREET. MY NAME IS CHERIE SMITH. SO I'M HERE TO OPPOSE YOU, CONDEMNING THE PROPERTY. I WANTED TO SAY THIS IN GENERAL TO THE COUNCIL.

WE, AS THE PUBLIC, ARE UNAWARE OF THE PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES THAT YOU ALL HAVE FOR THE BLIGHTED PROPERTY. WE UNDERSTOOD WHEN WE TALKED TO YOU. MY UNHEAD BEEN. TRYING TO HANDLE THE BUSINESS FOR THE PROPERTY AND SHE HAD NOT DONE SUCH A GOOD JOB.

BUT WHEN WE CAME IN WITHIN TWO WEEKS, WE WERE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND PAY FOR THE PERMIT. WE CLEANED UP THE PROPERTY, AS YOU INSTRUCTED US TO, AND WE ALSO BOARDED IT UP. WE WERE UNAWARE OF THE FACT THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE PLANS AND WE NEEDED TO SUBMIT AN AFFIDAVIT SAYING THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE DOING CONSTRUCTION ON OUR OWN, OR, HOWEVER, WE WERE GOING TO PROCEED WITH IT. HAD WE KNOWN WITH THAT, WE WOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO COMPLY. JUST AS WE DID WHEN WE CAME TO YOU IN AUGUST. SO NOW, IN FEBRUARY, LEARNING THAT

[00:35:02]

AND WHOEVER'S IN THE FLIGHT AND I'M SORRY, I HAVE A COLD. WHOEVER'S IN THAT DEPARTMENT IS NOT COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY WITH THE PUBLIC. AND I'M GONNA SAY, ESPECIALLY WITH ME, TO KNOW WHAT THE PROCESSES ARE.

SO I FEEL LIKE OUR FAMILY HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN DUE PROCESS, CUZ WE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS. THAT'S THE REASON WE'RE HERE, FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN THAT PROPERTY. MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER AND GREAT GRANDFATHER PAID FOR IT. WE WANNA KEEP IT. WE ARE NOT TRYING TO LOSE IT. AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. SO I NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING BEHIND THESE COMPUTERS AND DESKS COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY WITH US. SO WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING. AND WE WILL DO THAT. ALL RIGHT, FIRST OFF, THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU KNOW, WE HAD A CONVERSATION ON THE PHONE ABOUT AN HOUR AGO. I TALKED TO MY MOM. YEAH, AND SO, YOU KNOW, THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN DEFERRED FIVE TIMES. AND SO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU TOLD ME THAT PRIOR TO YOU AND YOUR MOM, SOMEBODY ELSE WAS OVERSEEING THE PROCESS. MY OFFICE, WE TRY TO STAY NEUTRAL BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT SUCCESSION PROCESSES AND FAMILIES, WE DON'T TRY TO GET INTO THE KNEE-DEEP OF IT.

BUT DUE TO THE SIMPLE FACT THAT IT'S BEEN DEFERRED FIVE TIMES AND I GOT COMMUNICATED TO YOU ON THE PHONE, JUST BECAUSE IT'S CONDEMNED, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE TORN DOWN IN THE NEXT 30 MINUTES. MY PLAN IS FOR YOU TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH MR. DONALD MOSES, FOR THE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

IN FACT, WHEN TALKING TO MR. MOSES, YOUR FAMILY NOW WILL UNDERSTAND THE FULL PROCESS BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND YOUR FAMILY HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MY AIDE. AND MY AIDE HAS DOCUMENTED RECORDS OF BEING IN CONTACT WITH YOUR FAMILY.

AND SO, IN THE TRUE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION, EVEN THOUGH TODAY WE ARE CONDEMNED, MY OFFICE WANTS TO STAY CONSISTENT, MAKING SURE IT'S NOT SAYING THE COMMUNITY.

BUT ALSO AS WELL, WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH A SIX-MONTH PLAN. ONCE IT'S CONDEMNED, COME UP WITH A SIX-MONTH PLAN TO SAY, HEY, ONCE YOUR FAMILY CAN SAY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A SIX-MONTH PLAN TO REHAB THE HOME AND PUT THE HOME BACK INTO A GOOD STANDARD, THAT WE CAN RESEND IT AS WELL.

SO WE'LL GET WITH YOU TODAY, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE, LIKE WE COMMUNICATED EARLIER, THAT WE CAN WORK ON A SIX-MONTH PLAN TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT HOME IS ACCOUNTABLE ON BOTH SIDES, FOR MY OFFICE AND YOUR FAMILY. I RESPECTFULLY APPRECIATE YOU SAYING WE CAN WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY, TO HAVE A SIX MONTH TO WORK ON A BLIGHTED PROPERTY, BUT I RESPECTFULLY DECLINE HAVING THIS PROPERTY PLACED INTO A CONDEMNED STATUS. IF YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE US TIME TO WORK ON IT, MA'AM, CAN I? CAN I RESPOND TO THE COMMENTS? YOU CAN TALK TO THE COUNCILMAN AND HIS AID.

AFTER THIS, THE PUBLIC HEARING'S OVER AND THE COUNCILMAN'S MADE A DECISION. SO WHAT'S THE THE RULING LEVEL OF AUTHORITY HERE? BECAUSE THE RULING IS, YOU NEED TO GO TALK TO HIS AID BECAUSE THE PUBLIC HEARING'S SO THERE'S OKAY, SO WHAT? SO THE COUNCIL DOESN'T ALLOW PEOPLE TO COME. THANK YOU. AFTER THOSE FIVE TIMES WHEN MY AUNT DIDN'T DO WHAT SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO. MA'AM, MA'AM. WE'RE TALKING TO THE COUNSELOR.

BUT I'M TALKING TO YOU. SO IF HE'S TALKING TO ME, I SHOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO SPEAK TO HIM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU GET TO ME. SO, ONE SECOND.

LOOK, LET'S HAVE A CONVERSATION, ME AND MY AIDE, OUTSIDE IN THE HALLWAY, AND WE CAN ROLL FOR NOW, OKAY? BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE WE CHOOSE FAIR COLLABORATION. WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO A SOLUTION. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEMP. OKAY.

RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, 76, 77, 78, 82, 83, 94. I'M SORRY. DELETE 74.

APOLOGIES. OKAY. PROCEED WITH ITEMS 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 76, 77, 78, 82, 83. 94, 95, 99, 100, 103, 104, 107, 108, 109, 110, 30 DAYS ON ITEMS 70, 80, 88, 91, 92, 93, 96, AND 106, 60 DAYS ON ITEMS 73, 84, 85, 86, 87, 89, 90, 97, 98, 103, AND 111, 90 DAYS ON 105, DELETE ITEMS 67, 74, 75, 81, 101, AND 102.

CLARITY, 60 DAYS ON 103. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA. IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. ITEM 112,

[112. 25-01727]

[00:40:02]

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS, ON THIS ITEM? SO, YOU KNOW, GO TO COUNCIL.

WE HAVE A MOTION, MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSA. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

[113. 26-00033]

EXCEPT THAT THE MILLAGE RATE FOR THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT SHALL BE LEVIED ON REAL PROPERTY ONLY TO BE LEVIED DURING THE YEAR 2026. EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH OPERATING TAX 2.96 MILLS CITY OF BATON ROUGE OPERATING TAX, 5.44 MILLS CITY OF BATON ROUGE 3. PLATOON POLICE TAX POINT, 82 MILLS. EAST BATON ROUGE.

PARIS MOSQUITO ABATEMENT AND BURDEN CONTROL CONTROL DISTRICT, 1.06 MILLS EAST BATON ROUGE, PARISH MOSQUITO ABATEMENT AND ROAD AND CONTROL DISTRICT ADDITIONAL POINT 3. 5 MILLS COUNCIL ON AGING, 2 MILLS. MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE, 1.33 MILS.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, 3.13 MILS. BATON ROUGE MUNICIPAL FIRE SALARIES AND BENEFITS, 5.68 MILS. BATON ROUGE MUNICIPAL FIRE SALARIES AND BENEFITS ADDITIONAL, 6 MILS. CONSOLIDATED ROAD LIGHTING DISTRICT NUMBER 1, 1.71 MILS. ALLISON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 9, 10 MILS. ALLISON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 9 ADDITIONAL, 4.91 MILS.

ALLISON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 9 ADDITIONAL, 10 MILS. BROWNSFIELD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 3.

10 MILS BROWNFIELD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER THREE ADDITIONAL 4.41 MILS BROWNFIELD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER THREE ADDITIONAL 10 MILS.

BROWNFIELD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER THREE ADDITIONAL 10 MILS. DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT 9.5 MILS.

FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER ONE NINE MILS PRIDE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER EIGHT EIGHT POINT NINE SEVEN MILS PRIDE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER EIGHT ADDITIONAL THIRTEEN POINT FOUR, FIVE MILS. CHENEYVILLE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER SEVEN NINE POINT ZERO NINE MILS CHENEYVILLE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 7, ADDITIONAL 9.09 MILS. CHENEYVILLE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 7, ADDITIONAL 9.09 MILS.

CHENEYVILLE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER 7, ADDITIONAL 10 MILS BY THE FINANCE DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE GO TO COUNCIL, WE HAVE A MOTION. OH, TOSH, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE EAST VAN ROOCH COUNCIL ON AGING, THE FEDERALLY DESIGNATED AREA AGENCY ON AGING FOR THIS PARISH AND THE SENIORS WE SERVE. I'M ASKING FOR YOUR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA ITEM THAT ALLOWS THE RESOLUTION FOR THE RENEWAL OF OUR DEDICATED TAX MILLAGE, A RENEWAL AND NOT AN INCREASE.

WE ARE REQUESTING 2.0 MILS, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WE CURRENTLY RECEIVE. THE 2.0 MILS IS A .25. REDUCTION FROM OUR ORIGINAL MILLAGE.

THERE IS NO INCREASE BEING REQUESTED.

FOR THE AVERAGE TAXPAYER, THIS MILLAGE COSTS ABOUT $28 A YEAR ON A $200,000 HOUSE, OR $2.33 PER MONTH, LESS THAN THE COST OF ONE CUP OF COFFEE, TO SUPPORT CRITICAL SERVICES FOR THE SENIORS OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

OVER THE PAST NINE YEARS, EBRCOA HAS BEEN A GOOD STEWARD OF PUBLIC TRUST AND PUBLIC DOLLARS. WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED STRONG FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY WITH EIGHT CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF CLEAN, SINGLE AUDITS WITH NO FINDERS. THAT'S BETTER THAN THE CITY. I GOT THEM WITH ME IF YOU WANT TO SEE THEM. THIS MILLAGE HAS BEEN MANAGED TRANSPARENTLY AND EFFICIENTLY. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN A STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNER, A WILLING PARTICIPANT IN THE THRIVE PLAN AND ALIGNING OUR WORK WITH THE PARISH'S BROADER GOALS FOR ACCESS, EQUITY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE. AND WE HAVE DELIVERED REAL, MEASURABLE RESULTS.

SINCE THE LAST MILLAGE RENEWAL, WE HAVE MORE THAN QUADRUPLED THE NUMBER OF SENIORS PARTICIPATING IN OUR 26 SERVICES. WE HAVE GROWN FROM 250,000 MEALS TO 1.5 MILLION MEALS ANNUALLY, BOTH IN OUR SENIOR CENTERS AND THROUGH OUR MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAMS FOR HOMEBOUND SENIORS. WE HAVE DEVELOPED... A THRIVING SENIOR HOUSING PROGRAM WITH 200 BRAND NEW UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE OPERATE OUR OWN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT WITH 15 BUSES, PROVIDING VITAL ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE, MEALS, AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT. WE WORK GUIDED BY FIVE PILLARS. WE ELIMINATED ALL WAITING LISTS.

IF YOU NEED IT, YOU CAN COME GET IT. WE ENHANCED AND IMPROVED OUR MEALS, OUR NUTRITIONAL QUALITY. WE

[00:45:01]

APPROVING THIS RENEWAL ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE AND MAINTAIN THESE SERVICES, AND, IMPORTANTLY, TO BUILD THE FUTURE. EXPANDING LOCATIONS, DEVELOPING ADDITIONAL SENIOR HOUSING ACROSS THE PARISH AND IMPROVING OUR EXISTING FACILITIES. THIS MILLAGE IS A SMALL INVESTMENT WITH A POWERFUL RETURN. OUR SENIORS HAVE SPENT THEIR LIVES BUILDING THIS COMMUNITY. THIS RENEWAL ENSURES THEY CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THE CARE, DIGNITY, AND SUPPORT THEY DESERVE.

FOR LESS THAN ONE CUP OF COFFEE PER MONTH, WE FEED, HOUSE, TRANSPORT, AND CONNECT OUR SENIORS. AND THAT'S A RETURN WORTH RENEWING.

THANK YOU. WE WANT TO SHOW YOU OUR AUDITS. THIS IS ALL OF THEM. THANK YOU, DR.

ALL RIGHT, ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 113? I DO.

SURE. I'M TAKING MY TIME. YOU TAKE YOUR TIME, SIR. I'M GOING TO PULL THAT MIC DOWN A LITTLE BIT IF NEED BE.

TAKING MY TIME, TAKING A DEEP BREATH, MAKE SURE THAT I PRESENT THIS IN THE PROPER MANNER. GOOD AFTERNOON, METRO COUNCIL MEMBERS, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL. MY NAME IS GLENN SINGLETARY, AND I'M ON THE ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE EAST BATON ROUGE BARRIER COUNCIL ON AGING. I'VE BEEN A PROUD MEMBER FOR ABOUT SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS NOW. AND ALSO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT CENTRAL...

DISTRICT HAS ONLY BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR ABOUT 10, 11 YEARS. NOW WE HAVE OUR OWN COUNCIL, I MEAN OUR OWN BUILDING THAT WAS RENEWED OR BUILT BY THIS CURRENT TAX MILLAGE THAT WE'VE HAD NOW.

BEFORE COMING TO THE, I RETIRED IN 2009 AND I SAT AROUND THE HOUSE BEING LONELY.

QUIET AND WANTING TO KNOW WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO WITH MYSELF. THEN ONE DAY, I READ AN ARTICLE IN ONE OF THE LOCAL NEWSPAPERS THAT SAID, WHO WANTS TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY BRIDGE? WELL, THAT'S SOMETHING I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO. SO I ATTENDED, WENT THERE, AND I WAS WALKING OUT THE BUILDING. AND THE SUPERVISOR... I SAID, WELL, GLENN, WHY DON'T YOU COME BACK HERE? WE'VE GOT SOMETHING TO SHOW YOU. I SAID, WELL, WE CAN FEED YOU. I SAID, NO. I SAID, I'M GOING TO GO HOME AND EAT MY HAM SANDWICH OR WHATEVER. AND SHE SAID, NO, COME BACK HERE. SHE SAID, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FRIENDS AND EVERYTHING. SO I DID. AND THAT'S MY BEGINNING.

SO NOW THAT I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 15 YEARS. I WENT TO THE COUNCIL MEETING AND I FEEL LIKE THAT SERVING ON THIS SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD HAS MADE ME HAVE A PURPOSE. AND TO SPEAK BEFORE MY PEERS. IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THAT I CAN BRING YOU FORTH TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THEMSELVES. SO I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S NOT ONLY FOR THE THANK YOU, AMIGOS. AND FOR THE ACTIVITIES. IT'S ALSO FOR SENIORS LIKE US THAT ARE GETTING OLDER, BUT I FEEL LIKE I STILL GOT SOMETHING I WANT TO DO. AND IF IT'S NOTHING ELSE BUT GO TO THE SENIOR CITIZEN. WE GET OTHER PEOPLE TO GO AND TRY TO MAKE FRIENDS. WE HAVE BIRTHDAY PARTIES. WE CELEBRATE.

AND WE ALSO HAVE TO SAY THAT SOMETIMES THERE'S ALL DISAPPOINTMENTS. PEOPLE GET SICK AND PEOPLE PASS AWAY. SO WE TRY TO MAKE DO, TRY TO MAKE FRIENDSHIP. SO THE MILLAGE, I THINK, IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO PASS FOR THIS NEXT TIME.

BECAUSE EVERY ONE OF US, ONE DAY, IF NOT ONLY ME ONLY, Y'ALL ARE GOING TO BE A SENIOR CITIZEN. THANK YOU, SIR. WE APPRECIATE YOU.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.

THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

YOU GOT IT. I JUST WANT

[00:50:07]

BUT AS A PARISH THAT ALSO HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST NUMBERS OF GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN AND THE INNOVATIVE WORK. THAT THIS PARTICULAR LEADERSHIP TEAM HAS DONE ON INTERGENERATIONAL WORK, THAT THEY HAVE DONE ON HOUSING TO ALLOW FOR AGING IN PLACE, THAT IT IS AN INCREDIBLE TESTAMENT. AND, QUITE FRANKLY, IS BEING LOOKED AT AS A MODEL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT. I CONTINUE TO WONDER WHY, WHEN WE ARE NUMBER ONE AT SOMETHING, THOSE ARE THE VERY THINGS WE WANT TO CHOP AT AND THE THINGS THAT WE DO.

ABUNDANTLY, POORLY. WE SEEM TO WANT TO EXPAND, SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS COUNCIL UNDERSTANDS THAT. AS THIS COMMUNITY AGES, MANY OF THOSE WONDERFUL, SASSY, SEXY SENIORS THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM ARE ALSO RAISING THE NEXT GENERATION. AND THEY ARE DOING IT WITH COURAGE, AND THEY ARE DOING IT WITH SUPPORT OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS ENOUGH VISION TO BE ABLE TO MOVE. TO MEET THE NEWEST CHALLENGES AND IS NOT STILL DOING THINGS FROM THE 80S AND 90S. AND THEY ARE LOOKING TO THE FUTURE AND MAKING SURE THAT BOTH THE CHILDREN SOME OF OUR SENIORS ARE RAISING AND THE JUSTICE IMPACTED CHILDREN. SOME OF OUR GRANDPARENTS HAVE LEVERAGED THEIR PROPERTY AND OTHER THINGS FOR THAT. THEY ALSO HAVE A PLACE IN THIS PARTICULAR AGENCY, THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 113? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

[114. 26-00023 ]

THAT A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION SHALL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH, 2026, AT 4 P.M.

AT THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, 3RD FLOOR, CITY HALL ROOM. 348-222 ST. LOUIS STREET, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, PROVIDED FOR ALL OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH BY THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? I'M GOING TO LET EVERYONE KNOW. IF YOU'RE ON THE EIGHTH FLOOR OR OUT IN THE HALL WISHING TO SPEAK, START MAKING YOUR WAY DOWN. I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO FORM A LINE IN THE MIDDLE, AND WE'LL GO ONE BY ONE. I THINK I HAVE A LIST.

MARY, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK FIRST? YES. OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MS. MARY STEIN SPEAK, AND THEN WE'LL START MAKING OUR WAY THROUGH THE LIST. SO IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME CALLED, COME ON UP, AND THEN WE'LL JUST TAKE PEOPLE IN ORDER AS THEY ARE IN LINE AFTER THAT. PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM KATRINA STOKES, DIRECTOR OF EAST BATON ROUGE, PARISH LIBRARY. I

[00:55:01]

THE MILLAGE RATE IS LOWER NOT ONLY THAN THE 11.1 VOTED ON BY THE PUBLIC SINCE 1995, BUT LOWER THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE ASSESSED IN 2025. THIS PROPOSAL, USING THE MILLAGE PROJECTION AT 9.5, IS THE RESULT OF FRESH CONDITIONS AND INFORMATION ACQUIRED IN THE FALL AND EVEN IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY, PLUS, PUBLIC INPUT AND ADVICE OR QUESTIONS FROM THE STAKEHOLDERS, SUCH AS YOURSELVES. I WILL NOW TURN THE MIC OVER TO ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MARY STEIN. THANK YOU. AND I WILL BRING IN LAURIE JUGE, OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF BRANCH SERVICES AND CAPITAL PROJECTS. HI, I'M LAURA JUDGE, ASSISTANT LIBRARY DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS AND BRAND SERVICES. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. THE PUBLIC HAS TRUSTED US FOR MANY YEARS TO USE THEIR FUNDING FOR OUR LIBRARIES WISELY. THIS INCLUDES ENSURING OUR BUILDINGS ARE MAINTAINED, MAJOR MAINTENANCE REPAIRS ARE NEEDED IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS. SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING.

REPAIRS WILL INCLUDE REPLACING THE CHILLERS, BOILERS AND COOLING TOWERS AT BLUEBONNET AND JONES CREEK REGIONAL BRANCHES, AS WELL AS REPLACING THE BOILERS AT GREENVILLE SPRINGS AND CARVER BRANCHES. AS AN EXAMPLE, WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON GETTING THE BOILER AT THE EDEN PARK LIBRARY REPLACED AS IT HAS REACHED THE END OF ITS LIFE CYCLE. IN FACT, IT FAILED DURING THE RECENT FREEZE AND WE HAD TO CLOSE THE BRANCH WHILE TEMPORARY REPAIRS WERE MADE. WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE FANTASTIC STAFF AT BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE WITH THIS PROJECT. IT IS ALSO OUR PLAN TO REPLACE THE BOILERS AT BAKER, CENTRAL, AND ZACHARY DURING THEIR RENOVATIONS, AS WELL AS THEIR ROOFS. WHAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS IS WHETHER IT IS DUE TO INFLATION OR INCREASED MATERIAL COSTS, WE HAVE HAD TO INCREASE THE AMOUNTS THAT WE HAVE BUDGETED FOR VARIOUS PROJECTS AND REPAIRS. WE MAINTAIN OUR FACILITIES ACCORDING TO BEST PRACTICES, WHICH INCLUDES A PROFESSIONAL FACILITIES MASTER PLAN CREATED WITH A CONSULTANT AT LEAST EVERY 10 YEARS. AND CONSTANT MONITORING OF CONDITIONS AND COST PROJECTIONS. SO, KUDOS TO OUR WONDERFUL FACILITY STAFF FOR THE INCREDIBLE JOB THAT THEY PERFORM EACH DAY. AND ALSO KUDOS TO OUR WONDERFUL STAFF FOR THE JOB THAT THEY PERFORM IN TAKING CARE OF OUR CITIZENS IN THIS PARISH. FUNDING AT 9.5 MILS ENSURES THAT WE CAN MEET OUR GOALS AND PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH WELL-MAINTAINED BUILDINGS AND PROTECT THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MARY. THANK YOU.

AND I WILL CLOSE VERY BRIEFLY.

I'M MARY STEIN, THE ASSISTANT LIBRARY DIRECTOR FOR EVERYTHING ELSE. LIBRARIES ARE MORE THAN JUST BOXES OF BOOKS, AND OUR USAGE FIGURES CONTINUE TO SHOW LIVELY AND ROBUST ENGAGEMENT. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT USAGE VARIES PER BRANCH BECAUSE COMMUNITIES USE LIBRARIES IN DIFFERENT WAYS. AND I'VE PUT A FRESH VALUE PROPOSITION AT EACH OF YOUR SEATS, BUT HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE KPIS, THE STATS.

FROM WHICH YOU DISCERN IMPACT.

OVER 310,000 LIBRARY CARD HOLDERS. THAT'S ALMOST 68% OF THE PARISH. THAT DOESN'T EVEN COUNT THE USE WHEN MAMA HAS THE CARD AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS ALONG FOR THE RIDE. THE OVERALL VISITOR, KATE, AT OUR 15 BRANCHES THAT ARE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. YOU WON'T FIND THAT IN OTHER COUNTIES OR CITIES.

IS OVER 1.73 MILLION.

CHECKOUTS CLIMBED. I'LL GET OUT OF HERE. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE TO GET THROUGH.

YES, WE'RE JUST ASKING YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. WE'VE FLOODED YOU WITH INFORMATION OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE LOVE TO SHARE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NEXT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE JAN BERNARD. OH, BERNARD, I APOLOGIZE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JAN BERNARD. I LIVE AT 1454 ARLINGTON AVENUE. I AM IN COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS'S DISTRICT. SHE IS A LOVER OF THE LIBRARIES, AND WE, THE PEOPLE, ARE A LOVER OF OUR LIBRARIES. I WANT TO DIRECT MY COMMENTS TONIGHT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS READY TO ROLL. I WANT TO DIRECT THEM TO COUNCIL MEMBERS. I WANT TO ASK YOU A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. DID ANY OF YOU RUN BECAUSE YOU SUPPORTED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? WELL, IF YOU DID, YOU MUST KNOW WHAT THE LIBRARIES DO FOR ENTREPRENEURISM, FOR PEOPLE TRYING TO FILL

[01:00:01]

THIRDLY, HOW MANY OF YOU RAN? BECAUSE YOU REALLY WANT TO SUPPORT THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN YOUR DISTRICT? WELL, I WILL TELL YOU THAT. THERE ARE MORE THAN FIVE TO SIX THOUSAND COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT HAPPEN IN OUR LIBRARIES ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. AND ALMOST ALL OF OUR CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS MEET AT SOME POINT IN OUR LIBRARIES. IF YOU BELIEVE IN BUILDING A BETTER BATON ROUGE, AND YOU RAN TO SIT IN THOSE SEATS TO STAND UP FOR THIS COMMUNITY, YOU WILL ACCEPT THE INCREDIBLE WORK OF YOUR OWN LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROL, AND AT THIS MILLAGE RATE. BECAUSE IN THE LAST 20 TO 30 YEARS, THE TRANSFORMATION THAT HAS HAPPENED FOR EVERY SINGLE LIBRARY IN THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL. THIS IS A GOLDEN ASSET FOR BATON ROUGE. IT IS ONE OF THE VERY BEST.

IN THE LAST SIX WEEKS, I'VE BEEN ON GREENVILLE SPRINGS ROAD. I HELD MEETINGS MYSELF. AT ROUSSAINT, AS WELL AS THE MAIN LIBRARY. I MYSELF HAVE HAVE BEEN INSIDE EVERY SINGLE LIBRARY IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO ASK THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL IF ALL OF YOU HAVE DONE THAT. I INVITE YOU TO DO THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE OUR COMMUNITY LIVING ROOMS. IT IS THE CIVIC CORNERSTONE OF BATON ROUGE, AND I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE STEP UP, STAND WITH US. THE PEOPLE AND APPROVE THIS MILL AS JUST AS IT HAS COME TO YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ROBIN MULDER. YEAH, MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE MADE IT CLEAR. SORRY. I'M GOING TO GO OFF OF THE LIST.

EVERYBODY WHO'S FILLED OUT A CARD ARE ON THE LIST, AND THEN AFTER THAT, ANYBODY ELSE WHO DIDN'T FILL ONE OUT WILL GO IN ORDER.

WE'RE GOING TO DO THOSE IN FAVOR AND THEN OPPOSITION.

PLEASE. THANK YOU. A YEAR AGO, THIS COUNCIL VOTED TO SLASH THE LIBRARY. THE GROUNDSWELL FROM THE PUBLIC CHANGED THAT, AND THE THRIVE PROGRAM WAS INSTEAD PUT IN ITS PLACE. I VOTED AGAINST IT, NOT BECAUSE IT GAVE TOO MUCH MONEY TO THE LIBRARY, BECAUSE IT DIDN'T GIVE ENOUGH.

IT DIDN'T GIVE US THE LIBRARY WE VOTED FOR 10 YEARS AGO THAT WE WANTED TO VOTE FOR THIS TIME. AND... WAS A STEALTH MANNER OF INCREASING REVENUE FOR THIS CITY. I UNDERSTAND THE CITY NEEDS REVENUE. THAT'S NOT THE POINT. BE HONEST WITH THE VOTER AND PUT IT IN FRONT OF US. THIS CITY, YOU SAID, WELL, THE IMPLICATION IN VOTING TO SLASH IT AND THE IMPLICATION IN THRIVE WAS THAT THE CITIZENS OF THIS PARISH CAN'T AFFORD A GOOD LIBRARY. WE CAN. WE WANT TO. WE'LL PAY FOR IT. AND THEN... WHEN THE CITY NEEDS REVENUE, PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND LET US VOTE FOR IT, BUT BE HONEST AND BE STRAIGHTFORWARD. IF THE CITIZENS DON'T APPROVE THE MILLAGE THAT THE LIBRARY IS ASKING FOR THIS TIME, THEN SOME JUDGMENT WILL BE REQUIRED. BUT LET THE CITIZENS DECIDE THIS TIME. DON'T CUT IT BEFORE I CAN VOTE ON IT. THANK YOU. JENNIFER CALDWELL. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M HERE TO ASK Y'ALL TO PUT THE DEDICATED TAX FOR THE LIBRARY IN THE AMOUNT REQUESTED BY THE LIBRARY ON THE BALLOT.

IF THE LIBRARY SAYS THEY NEED 9.5 MILS TO OPERATE AS WELL AS THEY DO, IF THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID THEY NEED, I TRUST THEM, AND I WANT TO VOTE FOR THAT. I'VE HEARD FOLKS SAY, WELL, THEY'VE GOT TOO MUCH MONEY ALREADY, AND PERHAPS THOSE FOLKS...

TO USE A LITTLE DAVE RAMSEY.

SAVING FOR MAJOR EXPENDITURES AND DOING BUILDING PROJECTS DEBT-FREE IS FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. BUDGETING FOR AND MAINTAINING THE FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE BUILT IS ALSO FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. I WANT TO VOTE FOR THAT. WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT LIBRARY SYSTEM.

NATIONALLY, WE ARE KNOWN TO HAVE AN EXCELLENT LIBRARY SYSTEM. AND THERE ARE NOT MANY THINGS IN BATON ROUGE OR IN LOUISIANA THAT WE CAN SAY THAT ABOUT. PEOPLE LOVE OUR

[01:05:01]

WE WANT EXCELLENT LIBRARY. YOU MIGHT MESS WITH THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU NEED TAXES FOR OTHER SERVICES, AND YOU'RE AFRAID THAT IF PEOPLE VOTE FOR THIS, THEY WON'T VOTE FOR THAT. AND I'VE GOT SOME IDEAS ABOUT THAT. REVISIT THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT OR THE LEGISLATION AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IN THIS PARISH IS PAYING FOR THE SERVICES THAT THEY'RE GETTING FROM THIS PARISH. DENY INDUSTRIAL TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR OUR HIGHLY PROFITABLE INDUSTRIES IF WE NEED MONEY.

BUT I BELIEVE A MAJORITY OF THE CITIZENS WANT THE LIBRARY TO CONTINUE GIVING EXCELLENT SERVICE. AND SO I HOPE THAT YOU WILL PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AS IS AND LET THE VOTERS DECIDE. THANK YOU.

NICK LABORDE. NO NICK LABORDE? OKAY. NICK, WHEN YOU GET DOWN HERE, COME UP TO THE FRONT. KATHY WASCOM? NO KATHY? HE SAID SHE WAS HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE YOU NICK? I'M NICK. THANK YOU. I WAS STUCK IN THE HALLWAY. NO, YOU'RE GOOD. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS NICK LABORDE, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO FRAME SPEECHES WITH A QUOTE. SO HERE ARE SOME WORDS OF WISDOM FROM MY FAVORITE FAILED COMEDIAN BUT TWICE-ELECTED U.S. SENATOR JOHN NEELY KENNEDY. I AM NOT ONLY UNABLE TO REMAIN SILENT...

BUT INCAPABLE. 364 DAYS. THAT IS HOW MUCH TIME HAS PASSED SINCE WE GATHERED IN THESE CHAMBERS LAST FEBRUARY AND ASKED OUR LEADERS TO DO THE RIGHT THING, THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

IN THAT TIME, WE HAVE SEEN FORCES TRY TO TEAR COMMUNITIES APART IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT WE'VE ALSO SEEN HOPE.

WE'VE SEEN THE POWER OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE COME TOGETHER, AND WE DID THAT IN NOVEMBER, AND WE SENT A MESSAGE. THE DEDICATED TAX STRUCTURE IS OUR LAST LINE OF DEFENSE. AGAINST CORRUPTION IN THIS STATE, AND IT IS NOT TO BE TAMPERED WITH. OUR FUNDS ARE DEDICATED, AND ONCE THEY ARE DEDICATED, YOU CANNOT TOUCH THEM.

PERIOD. END OF STORY. SO HERE WE FIND OURSELVES AGAIN, 364 DAYS FROM WHEN ALL THIS BEGAN, ASKING OUR LEADERS TO ONCE AGAIN DO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. BUT WE CAN CLOSE THAT CHAPTER TODAY AND WRITE A NEW ONE, LIKE THE GENIUSES OF THE LIBRARY CAME UP WITH.

I'M NOT SMART ENOUGH TO SAY THAT ON MY OWN. COUNCIL MEMBERS, I JUST WANT TO CLOSE FOR A LITTLE BIT OF ADVICE I WAS GIVEN ONE TIME.

IF YOU EVER FIND YOURSELF IN A HOLE, YOU BEST QUIT DIGGING. FUND THE LIBRARY, PUT THIS DEDICATED MILLAGE ON THE BALLOT, AND LET IT BE.

GIVE THE PEOPLE THE CHOICE FOR TEN MORE YEARS OF THE BEST ASSET IN THIS CITY PARISH. VOTE YES.

THANK YOU. MS. WATSON? GOOD AFTERNOON, KATHY WASCOM, 1255 ABERDEEN AVENUE, CHENROCUS DISTRICT. I AM A MEMBER OF THE LIBRARY BOARD, AND WE HAVE LOOKED AND LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS, AND WE AGREED ON THE 9.5. TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS LIBRARY SYSTEM THE BEST IN THE STATE. I HAVE BEEN, UH, ON THE LIBRARY BOARD FOR SOME YEARS, AND PREVIOUS TO THAT, I ACTUALLY WORKED AT THE LIBRARY. I WORKED AT THE LIBRARY WHEN IT WAS UNDER UM, BUT DID NOT HAVE A DEDICATED TAX. AND THE WHOLE SYSTEM PRETTY MUCH STARTED TO COLLAPSE. AND THAT IS HOW THE DEDICATED TAX STARTED.

BECAUSE THE SYSTEM WAS ALWAYS BEING CUT AND CUT AND CUT AGAIN, TO THE POINT WHERE, UM, THE WHOLE STAFF OF PART-TIME WORKERS WAS LAID OFF, AND I WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. SO WE HAVE MADE THIS LIBRARY SYSTEM VIA THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS. WE HAVE MADE IT AN OPERATION THAT IS EXCELLENT, THAT IS TRANSPARENT TO THE PEOPLE, AND THAT IS RESPONSIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY. I DON'T THINK YOU COULD ASK MUCH MORE. THAN THAT, TO BE RESPONSIBLE, TO BE CAREFUL WITH THE TAXPAYER MONEY, AND

[01:10:01]

SO I ASK YOU, PLEASE, TO APPROVE THE 9.5. THANK YOU.

OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH THE LINE. THEY SAID IT WAS EASIER. SOME OF THE PEOPLE WEREN'T SURE IF WE WERE CALLING THEIR NAME OUTSIDE. WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO IN ORDER. AND I BELIEVE SENATOR BARROW WANTS TO WRAP US UP AT THE END.

SENATOR. ALL RIGHT. SO MY NAME IS JUSTIN TURNER. I WANT TO START BY SAYING, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THE LIBRARY AS A SYSTEM. I'M OPPOSED TO THE NINE POINT FIVE MILLAGE.

AND WHAT I DID WAS I WENT BACK TO ALL OF THE FINANCIAL AUDITS. MY EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH IS POSTED ONLINE FROM 2019.

THERE'S A CONSISTENT PATTERN ALONG THE LINES. THE LIBRARY'S REVENUE IS SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERVALUED. AND LIBRARIES EXPENSES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY OVERVALUED 2024 A DIFFERENCE OF 21 MILLION DOLLARS, 2023 17 MILLION DOLLARS, 2022 13 MILLION DOLLARS, 2021 7 MILLION DOLLARS, 2020 11 MILLION DOLLARS, 2019 14 MILLION DOLLARS. I'M SURE I CAN GO BACK A LOT FURTHER THAN THAT AND SEE THE SAME PATTERN. UM, THERE'S ANOTHER THING. I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT HERE THAT SAY THEY'RE IN SUPPORT AND IN FAVOR OF THE LIBRARY. HOWEVER, WHEN I LOOK AT THE DONATION SECTION FOR THE LIBRARY, $500 A YEAR.

THE GRANTS, NEGLIGIBLE. THE LIBRARY COLLECTS $30,000 IN OTHER REVENUE OUTSIDE OF PARISH MILLAGES. I LOOKED UP THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THEY OPERATE 22 LIBRARIES, $45 MILLION BUDGET. THEY BUDGET $1 MILLION A YEAR IN GRANTS TO HELP FUND IT. SO MY QUESTION IS, IS THE LIBRARY BEING APATHETIC ABOUT EXPLORING OTHER OPPORTUNITIES OF REVENUE AND RELYING SOLELY ON... THE TAXPAYERS, UM, TO FUND THE LIBRARY, AND THEN I WANT TO READ A PASSAGE TO YOU WRITTEN BY THE LIBRARY ON THE RETURN OF VALUE PROPOSITION OF THE 2.8 MILLION ITEMS THAT CIRCULATED IN 2024. PATRONS CHECKED OUT PHYSICAL ITEMS VALUED AT MORE THAN 26 MILLION DOLLARS. PLUS, PATRONS DOWNLOADED MORE THAN 1.3 MILLION EBOOKS AT APPROXIMATE VALUE OF AN ADDITIONAL 18.6 MILLION DOLLARS. THIS CONSTITUTES AS A DIRECT SLAVING TO THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY OF 44.6 MILLION DOLLARS. REMEMBER THAT 44.6 MILLION DOLLARS LIBRARY'S TOTAL REVENUE FOR THE YEAR 2024 WAS 65 MILLION 743, 858 DOLLARS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE LIBRARY HAS BEEN GOOD STEWARDS WITH THE MONEY BECAUSE THEY COULD HAVE VERY EASILY SPENT ALL THIS MONEY. HOWEVER, BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE MONEY IS IS APPROPRIATELY PROPORTIONING YOUR MONEY OUT THAT YOU GET AND NOT RECEIVING MORE THAN YOU REALLY NEED. I DID BACK STUDIES ON THE LIBRARY'S 10-YEAR PLAN.

WITH SPENDING $85 MILLION IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AT A 9.5 MILLAGE, THE LIBRARY WILL BUILD THEIR SURPLUS OR THEIR FUND BALANCE, AN ADDITIONAL $60 MILLION, WHICH IS EQUIVALENT TO ONE MIL. BASED ON HISTORICAL DATA, I BELIEVE THE LIBRARY NEEDS AN 8.0 MILLAGE TO SURVIVE. 8.5 IS PROBABLY A FAIR MEDIUM. 9.5 IS MORE. THE DIFFERENCE FROM A 9.89 MILLAGE TO A 9.5 IS $2.4 MILLION A YEAR. SO THE NUMBERS DON'T LIE. APPRECIATE YOU.

HI, MY NAME IS DONALD LUTHER. I LIVE AT 9005 HIGHLAND ROAD, BATON ROUGE. I'M IN COUNCILWOMAN ROCCA'S DISTRICT, DISTRICT 12, A GREAT DISTRICT. YOU'RE DOING GREAT WORK. I AM THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROL. I'D LIKE TO THANK THAT GENTLEMAN FOR POINTING OUT THAT WE HAVE BEEN GOOD STEWARDS OF THE MONEY. HE ALSO SEEMED TO NEGLECT TO NOTICE THAT.

WE'RE GETTING READY TO LOSE $850,000 THAT USED TO COME TO US FROM THE RAILROAD TAX A YEAR.

SO THERE ARE OTHER THINGS.

WE'VE SET THESE PLANS OUT FOR A 10-YEAR MILLAGE, AND WE DO TWO ROLLBACKS DURING THAT TIME THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE. COMING UP OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS. SO 9.5 IS THE STARTING POINT. AND THEN IN FOUR YEARS, WE'LL DROP BACK TO 9.36. AND THEN AGAIN, IN FOUR MORE YEARS, WE'LL DROP BACK TO 9.22. THE INFLATION THAT'S GOING ON, I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SURPLUSES THAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT GOING FORWARD. I HOPE THAT OUR PARISH CONTINUES TO GROW, AND KNOW Y'ALL'S LEADERSHIP, AND THAT WE DO MAKE MORE MONEY BASED ON SOMETHING DUE TO GROWTH FROM THIS PARISH. I HOPE THAT Y'ALL WILL ALLOW THE PEOPLE TO MAKE A VOTE AT 9.5.

THAT'S ALL I GOT FOR YOU.

[01:15:01]

MY LIBRARY FRIENDS HAVE HEARD ME SAY THIS ALREADY, SO I'LL BEG THEIR INDULGENCE SINCE THEY'VE HEARD IT BEFORE.

BUT ANYWAY, IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE WAY OUR HOMES ARE DESIGNED AND LAID OUT AND USED OVER THE PAST 20 TO 30 YEARS, THERE'S A LOT OF BIG DIFFERENCES. THERE'S SEPARATE ROOMS VERSUS OPEN SPACES, OUTDOOR KITCHENS VERSUS JUST A SIMPLE PATIO. WELL, THE SAME IS TRUE OF OUR LIBRARIES. AS OUR HOMES EVOLVE AND ARE USED DIFFERENTLY OVER TIME, SO ARE OUR LIBRARIES. AND SO THIS MILLAGE, IF YOU WILL GRACIOUSLY APPROVE IT, WILL NOT ONLY ALLOW US TO OPERATE NORMALLY, CONTINUE OUR NORMAL OPERATIONS, BUT IT WILL ALSO ALLOW US TO EXPAND AND ADAPT AS PUBLIC WANTS AND NEEDS EXPAND AND ADAPT. EARLIER, A SPEAKER MENTIONED... THAT, I THINK, HE SAID. IT WAS HOUSTON THAT OPERATES ON A $45 MILLION LIBRARY BUDGET. A LOT WAS MADE ABOUT BATON ROUGE AND OTHER CITIES LAST YEAR IN THE DISCUSSION, BUT I WOULD ASK IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT. PLEASE MAKE IT A FAIR COMPARISON. LOOK AT HOURS OF OPERATION. LOOK AT THE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS OFFERED.

LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT THEY ISSUE DEBT FOR THEIR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.

AND FINALLY, I WANT TO COMMEND THE STAFF BECAUSE THEY ARE ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF MONITORING PUBLIC TRENDS AND ADAPTING THIS LIBRARY TO MEET THOSE NEEDS. ALSO, OUR MAINTENANCE STAFF DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB. OF NOT LETTING SMALL PROBLEMS BECOME BIG CATASTROPHES. SO IF YOU WILL GRANT US THE AUTHORITY OR THE ABILITY TO TAKE OUR ISSUE TO THE VOTERS AND LET THEM DECIDE, WE CAN CONTINUE OFFERING THOSE EXCELLENT SERVICES AND THAT GREAT MAINTENANCE BEFORE THINGS BECOME BIG.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CARISSA KENNEY FROM DISTRICT 3, AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE AGENDA ITEM 114 TO BE ADDED TO THE JUNE 27TH BALLOT. OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM IS ONE IN WHICH BENEFITS ALL MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY, FROM ALL AGES, BACKGROUNDS, AND ECONOMIC STATUSES. IN A TIME WHERE AFFORDABILITY IS HURTING EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY FAMILIES, IT WOULD NOT ONLY BE DEVASTATING, BUT DEPLORABLE TO STRIP AWAY THE NUMEROUS FREE SERVICE THAT THE LIBRARIES PROVIDE. THEY ARE ASKING FOR THE RENEWAL RATE AT THE LOWEST IT HAS EVER BEEN.

FROM THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT I'VE SEEN OUT HERE IN THE LOBBY AND IN THE OVERFLOW ROOM. I THINK IT'S BEYOND CLEAR THAT THE TAXPAYERS, YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS DEDICATED VILLAGE.

FOR THE LIBRARY, AT THE VERY LEAST, WE DESERVE A CHANCE TO VOTE ON IT, AS WE HAVE EVERY DECADE SINCE 1986. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, HELLO AGAIN.

UM, IT'S INTERESTING, IF YOU GO TO THE GOODWOOD LIBRARY THIS WEEK, YOU WILL SEE SOME OF THE BEAUTIFUL ARTWORK OF OUR STUDENTS. IF YOU GO TO THE EDEN PARK LIBRARY, YOU WILL SEE SOME OF THE AMAZING WORK AND THOUGHTFULNESS OF OUR STUDENTS. I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, AND I SAY IT AGAIN, THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST ART GALLERIES IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. OUR LIBRARY STAFF IS SECOND TO NONE. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WOULD CALL MARY STEIN A TREASURE. I AM ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. TAMIKA IROBI HAS BEEN NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED.

NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED. I HAVE STOOD IN THIS BODY TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND LISTENED TO PEOPLE TALK ABOUT RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THINGS THAT BRING IN NICKELS AND DIMES. I HAVE PERSONALLY BEEN TO ALL OF THE LIBRARIES. OUR SOUTH BRANCH IS NOTHING BUT...

SPECTACULAR. WE HAVE BROUGHT PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WHO WALK AWAY BLOWN AWAY BY WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO WITH THIS LIBRARY. AND I IMPLORE THIS COUNCIL, THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S MONEY.

THIS ITEM IS SIMPLY TO LET US DECIDE HOW WE WANT TO SPEND OUR MONEY. AND I PROMISE YOU, OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WE HAVE SAID WITHOUT APOLOGY, WE BELIEVE THIS IS AN INVESTMENT THAT HAS BEEN WORTH EVERY DIME. AND BESIDES THE FACT THAT IT IS THE NUMBER ONE LIBRARY SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY, SOMEHOW,

[01:20:01]

THAT WHEN CHILDREN COME TO YOUR BUILDINGS HUNGRY, WITHOUT ANY FANFARE, YOU START FOOD BANKS. YOU RUN PRIVATE, PRIVATE TUTORING WITHOUT ANYBODY KNOWING IT.

YOU HELP PETS WITHOUT ANYBODY ASKING YOU TWICE. YOU MAKE SPACE FOR THE MOST BRILLIANT ARTISTS IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND YOU MAKE SPACE FOR THE MOST TALENTED CHILDREN IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND THERE ARE NOT VERY MANY PLACES IN THIS PARISH ANYMORE WHERE THAT IS EITHER TRUE NOR THE INVESTMENT IS BEING MADE. SO AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK MY LIBRARY, BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK THIS COUNCIL. I HOPE THAT THIS TIME AROUND. SIMPLE VOTE TO LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE WHERE THEY WANT THEIR MONEY TO GO. THANK YOU, GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M C. DENISE MARCEL. I'M THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT 61 AND A FORMER MEMBER OF THIS BODY. I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT I COME HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT THE LIBRARY, TO SUPPORT THE MILLAGE THAT THE PEOPLE VOTED FOR.

TO ASK YOU GUYS TO PUT IT BACK ON THE BALLOT, FOR THE PEOPLE TO MAKE THAT DECISION. BECAUSE WE ARE A WORLD-RENOWNED LIBRARY, WE DO DO THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY. FOR CHILDREN THAT DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER ACCESS TO COMPUTERS, PLACES TO STUDY IN THE DISTRICT THAT I SERVE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WOULD DO WITHOUT THE LIBRARY BEING THERE FOR THE STUDENTS. AND SO ANYTHING TO CUT THOSE SERVICES TO ME WOULD BE A PROBLEM. I DROVE REAL, REAL FAST, FROM NEW ORLEANS, DON'T TELL THE STATE POLICE THAT I PASSED UP.

TO GET BACK HERE, Y'ALL KNOW, I DON'T COME DOWN HERE. I TYPICALLY DON'T COME TO THIS BODY, BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME.

THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME TODAY, THAT'S ON THIS AGENDA. THAT'S THE LIBRARY AND THE COUNCIL ON AGING. AND I CAME HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT... YOU ALL DO THE RIGHT THING AND ALLOW THE PEOPLE TO SPEAK AND LOOK AT THE WORK. AND, YOU KNOW, IN THE CHURCH WHERE I GREW UP IN EASYTOWN, THEY USED TO SAY, LET THE WORK THAT I'VE DONE SPEAK FOR ME. AND THE WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING IS SPEAKING FOR THEM, BOTH OF THESE AGENCIES. AND SO THAT'S WHY I DROVE 95 MILES PER HOUR TO GET BACK FROM NEW ORLEANS TO BE HERE FOR THIS MEETING. PLEASE, MA'AM. PLEASE, SIR. DO WHAT I DID WHEN I WAS ON THIS BODY.

SUPPORT THE LIBRARY. SUPPORT THE COUNCIL ON AGING. THANK YOU. GOOD COUNCIL. DARIUS LANDIS. I AM A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT 5. I ALSO SERVE ON THE EAST BEDRIDGE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD. AND ONE WOULD SAY THAT I'M A STRONG FIGHTER FOR DEMOCRATS. BUT TODAY IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS. I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE KIDS ACROSS THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY WHO DEPEND ON LIBRARIES. AND MY STORY TODAY SPEAKS TOWARDS THOSE KIDS WHO HAVE SINGLE PARENTS AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PLACE TO GO WHEN THEY GET OUT OF SCHOOL. AND THIS LIBRARY IS LITERALLY A SHELTER FOR THOSE KIDS WHO NEED SOMETHING TO EAT, WHO NEED LITERACY ACROSS OUR COMMUNITIES. AND THEY ARE LITERALLY A PARTNER WITH OUR EAST BEVERAGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM. SO I THINK IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT THIS IS AN EASY VOTE. IT SHOULDN'T BE WITHIN QUESTION.

BUT I ALSO SAY, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT ON YOUR AGENDA RIGHT NOW, PASS COUNCIL ON AGING AND ALSO MOSQUITO ABATEMENT TONIGHT. IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS RYAN BAUMANN, AND, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I AM A PRODUCT OF THE EAST VANDERS PARISH LIBRARY. FROM WHEN MY MOM BROUGHT ME THERE WHEN I WAS YOUNG, TO GO TO PLAYGROUPS, TO ADULTHOOD, WHEN I TRY AND VISIT THE JONES CREEK BRANCH LIBRARY WHENEVER I CAN, I AM ASKING THAT THIS COUNCIL VOTE YES ON THE LIBRARY MILEAGE AND THE FACT THAT IT IS ACTUALLY...

THE LEAST MILEAGE THE LIBRARY HAS ASKED FOR SINCE 1995, 2005, AND 2015. I CANNOT STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND THE RESOURCES THEY OFFER FOR ALL OF US ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, DESPITE

[01:25:02]

IN ADDITION TO THAT, I ALSO BECAME A LIBRARY PAGE AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, WHICH GAVE ME COMMUNITY WORK EXPERIENCE AND MORE ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE.

IN MY ADULT LIFE, I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO RENT THE TELESCOPE AT THE LIBRARY, TO CHECK OUT THE MOON AND THE STARS, WHICH IS ALWAYS WONDERFUL, AND A DREAM SINCE I WAS A CHILD. I'VE ALSO HAD ACCESS TO FURTHER EDUCATION, FURTHER RESEARCH, GENEALOGICAL RECORDS, AND, IF I NEEDED THEM, CAREER ASSISTANCE AS WELL. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT. THE POWER RELIES WITH THE PEOPLE. WE NEED TO KEEP IT THERE. I WANT YOU TO VOTE YES ON THIS MEASURE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE AND I WANT TO SAY THAT I LOVE THIS CITY, I LOVE THIS STATE, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THIS STATE AND IN THIS CITY. A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE CAN CELEBRATE, A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF, AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM.

MANY OF YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD, AND YOU ALREADY KNOW, THAT IT IS A WORLD-RENOWNED LIBRARY SYSTEM. THEY HAVE BEEN CELEBRATED ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND SO WE KNOW THIS ALREADY, BUT I JUST WANT TO ADD TO THE FACT ABOUT I PERSONALLY HAVE MY PRE AND POST COMMUNITY MEETINGS AT THE LIBRARY. YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY? BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THE PARENTS WHO WANT TO COME TO THE MEETING TO ALLOW THEIR CHILDREN TO GO AND READ BOOKS WHILE THEY ARE GETTING INFORMATION. I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT ZACHARY LIBRARY, MR. PRO TEM. I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT SCOTLANDVILLE LIBRARY, MR. KENNY. I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT GREENWELL SPRINGS LIBRARY. NOW, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT IS THAT DUNN OR HEARST, BECAUSE Y'ALL GOT A REAL TIGHT LINE THERE. BUT I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THE LIBRARIES THAT I'VE UTILIZED IN MY DISTRICT, YOUR DISTRICT, AND THE DIFFERENCE THAT THEY MAKE. I AM STANDING HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE LIBRARY SYSTEM. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT... I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I LOVE THE SOURCE NEWSLETTER. HOW MANY OF Y'ALL PICK UP THAT SOURCE NEWSLETTER? IT IS FILLED WITH WONDERFUL IDEAS, TOOLS THAT YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR CHILDREN, MOST OF THE TIME FREE OF COST.

WHERE CAN YOU GO AND BRING YOUR KIDS TODAY AND ALLOW THEM TO HAVE FUN THAT IS SAFE IN A GOOD ENVIRONMENT? AND SO... MR. PRO TEM, I'M NOT SURE IF I'M SUPPOSED TO CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL AND AGING HERE, BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO FILE AN ORDER.

BUT I WILL SAY THIS. LET ME SEE. OF THE 12 OF YOU, 70 OF YOU SHARE MY DISTRICT. I DIDN'T SAY MY NAME WHEN I CAME UP HERE. I ASSUME EVERYBODY KNEW WHO I WAS. BUT I'M REGINA BARROW, STATE SENATOR FOR DISTRICT 15 AND PRESIDENT PRO TEMP OF THE SENATE. SO I HAVE THE FORTUNE OF LIVING. IN DISTRICT 5, COUNCILMAN HURST, BUT CLEVE DUNN REPRESENTS PARTS OF MY DISTRICT. MR. PRO TEM, YOU REPRESENT THE ZACHARY PART OF MY DISTRICT. MS. AMOROSO, YOU REPRESENT PART OF MY DISTRICT. MS. COLEMAN, YOU SHARE PART OF MY DISTRICT. ANTHONY KENNEY, YOU SHARE PART OF MY DISTRICT. SO I HAVE SEVEN VOTES. AARON MOAK. I WISH IT WAS YOU. LOOK, I WISH YOU AND I. LOOK, LOOK. RODDY, YOU AND I GO WAY BACK.

BUT IT'S ACTUALLY AARON. PARK FOREST. WELL, WE HAVE SEVEN VOTES ON YOU. I'M JUST PLAYING WITH YOU GUYS. I REALLY WOULD HOPE THAT Y'ALL VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE LIBRARY TAX, AND I'LL BE RIGHT BACK TO TALK ABOUT THE COUNCIL AND AGENT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH, SENATOR, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND EVERYTHING YOU DO

[01:30:01]

WE APPRECIATE YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK? KYLE, IF WE CLEARED OUT THE HALLWAYS AND UPSTAIRS, EVERYBODY GOOD? ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL. REAL QUICK, COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED 101 EMAIL COMMENTS, 100 IN SUPPORT, ONE IN OPPOSITION. COUNCIL MCKINNEY. ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL.

AS WE THINK ABOUT HOW WE'RE ABOUT TO DO THIS VOTE, I THINK IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING. COUNCIL AGENT, THE LIBRARY, AND MOSQUITO BAYMAN STOOD SIDE BY SIDE WITH US DURING THE THRIVE UPHILL BATTLE THAT WE HAD. AND I THOUGHT THEY RESERVED A ROUND OF APPLAUSE BECAUSE Y'ALL STOOD WITH US IN A MOMENT TO TRY TO FIND A SOLUTION FOR THE CITY. AND SO, JUST LIKE SENATOR REGINA BARROW SAID, I KNOW IN MY DISTRICT WE GOT SCHUYLERVILLE LIBRARY THAT'S ABOUT TO REOPEN BRAND NEW.

WE'RE ABOUT TO WORK ON BAKER LIBRARY AS WELL. SO I THINK IT GOES TO SHOW THAT THEY WAS GREAT PARTNERS WITH US WHEN WE ASKED TO FIND A SOLUTION FOR THE CITY. AND SO. UM, HOPEFULLY I KEEP THAT IN MIND. Y'ALL VOTE IN THE NEXT COUPLE MINUTES.

THANK YOU MAYOR, PRO TEMP COUNCILMAN HEARTH. HEY JOEY, YOU MIGHT STEP INTO THE MIC FOR ME, PLEASE. SO I HEARD SOME CONVERSATIONS EARLIER JUST ABOUT, UM, MILLAGE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE, I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH A LOT OF BUILDINGS, JAILS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, OTHER STUFF IN THE PARISH. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE? BECAUSE ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT THE LIBRARY IS ASKING FOR RESULTS IN SHORT-TERM SAVINGS AND LONG-TERM DEFICIT TO THE CITY PARISH. AND AN EXTENDED PAYMENT FOR THE TAXPAYER TO DETERMINE. HOW DO WE FIX THESE BUILDINGS AFTER THEY'RE DONE? SO CAN YOU JUST TALK ABOUT... WHEN YOU STEPPED IN THIS ROLE, WHAT DEFERRED MAINTENANCE MEANT TO YOUR DEPARTMENT? SO THE BIGGEST ISSUE WITH DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IS NOT HAVING A PREDICTIVE AND PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE IN PLACE. AND WHENEVER YOU CUT A BUDGET, THAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT GETS ELIMINATED. SO YOU DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO MONITOR YOUR EQUIPMENT, TO DO THE LUBRICATIONS ON ROTATING EQUIPMENT, TO DO THE NECESSARY INSPECTIONS.

BECAUSE AT THAT POINT YOU'RE BEING REACTIVE. SO WITHOUT THE PROPER BUDGET IN PLACE, YOU'RE UNABLE. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS YOU'LL GET BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL ON MAINTAINING YOUR FACILITIES.

AND SO WHERE YOU COULD HAVE A PREVENTIVE ISSUE, IF YOU HAVE A PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE, AND FIND AN ISSUE BEFORE IT BECOMES CATASTROPHIC, YOU COULD SAVE YOURSELF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BY HAVING THAT PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE PLAN IN PLACE. SO HOW MUCH MAINTENANCE? LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PRISON ITSELF, WHICH IS, TO ME, ONE OF THE MOST DEPLORABLE BUILDINGS. IT SETS THE EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU KEEP KICKING A CAN DOWN THE ROAD. HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE SPENDING ANNUALLY, AND THEN HOW MUCH MONEY, IF THE BUDGET WASN'T AN ISSUE, WHAT WE NEED TO SPEND TO KEEP IT UP PROPERLY? RIGHT NOW, FOR THE PRISON MAINTENANCE, WE'RE SPENDING ROUGHLY, JUST ON GENERAL MAINTENANCE, IS AVERAGING PROBABLY AROUND ABOUT $30,000 A MONTH. THAT'S DIFFERENT COSTS OF CONTRACTOR LABOR, AND THEN JUST GENERAL MAINTENANCE LABOR.

IF WE HAD A PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE PLACE IN PLAN, I CAN'T GIVE YOU THE EXACT NUMBER OF WHAT IT WOULD BE REDUCED TO, BUT IF WE HAD THE PROPER BUDGET AND A NEW PRISON, THEN YES, IT WILL BE REDUCED. AS FAR AS THE MAINTENANCE UPKEEP. THANK YOU. MS. JUDE, DO YOU MIND STEPPING TO THE MIC FOR ME? SO MS. JUDE IS OVER AT THE FACILITIES FOR THE LIBRARY. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE CHILLER COSTS THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED IN THE LIBRARY? BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE PROPER BUDGET, IT DOES NOT BECOME A BURDEN TO THE TAXPAYER. YEAH. SO, FOR INSTANCE, RIGHT NOW, WITH OUR EDEN PARK LIBRARY, THE CHILLER COSTS US ROUGHLY $150,000.

AT OUR LARGER BRANCHES, WE'RE DOING REDUNDANT CHILLERS AND BOILERS. AND SO THOSE COSTS CAN RANGE ANYWHERE FROM $200,000 TO $400,000 APIECE. SO THAT'S THE RANGES OF THOSE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

AND I'M ONLY MAKING THIS STATEMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IT'S BECAUSE WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT LOWERING THE MILLAGE RATES, WE START TO DO WHAT JOE BUTLER HAS SAID, IT'S HAPPENED ALL IN CITY PARISHES, WHICH THE FIRST THING TO GO IS, HOW DO WE MAINTAIN THE FACILITIES THAT WE PUT IN PLACE TO SERVE OUR CONSTITUENTS. AND IT BECOMES A LONG-TERM BURDEN ON THE TAXPAYERS. SO I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES MAY HAVE SOME COMMENTS ON THAT, BUT I JUST URGE YOU TO RENEW IT AT THE RATE OF 9.5. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. SO I'M GOING TO ASK JUSTIN TO PUT UP SOME NUMBERS FOR ME. MY COLLEAGUES, I THINK, KNOW ME WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT I DON'T MAKE DECISIONS LIGHTLY OR EASILY. I SPEND A LOT OF TIME GOING THROUGH DATA AND UNDERSTANDING AS MUCH AS I CAN ABOUT THE WAY THINGS WORK. SO I'VE TAKEN A LOOK AT THE TENURE TRENDS

[01:35:01]

PHYSICAL CIRCULATION, COMPUTER USAGE, GATE COUNTS, HOTSPOT CHECKOUTS, AND OVERDRIVE USAGE, OR LIBBY. WE ALL KNOW IT. I USE LIBBY. AND AS YOU'LL SEE, WE'VE HAD A PRETTY STEADY DECREASE, AS I THINK IS EXPECTED IN THE CURRENT MODERN AMERICAN LIFE, IN PHYSICAL BOOK CIRCULATION.

OVERALL... FROM 2016 TO 2025, YOU'LL SEE, WE WENT FROM 2.1 MILLION PHYSICAL CIRCULATIONS TO 1.2, WHICH IS A 73% DECREASE. COMPUTER USAGE OF 638, 535 INSTANCES TO 235, 964. IN 2025, A 63% DECREASE.

GAY COUNTS HAVE HELD STEADIER, WHICH I THINK IS A TESTAMENT TO PROGRAMMING AND... AND ALSO MEETING SPACE AND THE VALUE OF MEETING SPACE IN NEIGHBORHOODS. AND GATE COUNTS, AND LOOK, THIS MAY BE A LITTLE NOT FAIR. THE GATE COUNT ALSO MIGHT NOT, WELL, SOME OF IT MIGHT NOT BE FAIR A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF SCOTLANDVILLE.

SCOTLANDVILLE'S NUMBERS ARE A LITTLE BIT OF AN OUTLIER AT THIS MOMENT.

BUT THERE'S BEEN A DECREASE IN GATE COUNTS AS WELL. AND THEN LOOK AT OVERDRIVE. WHAT WE SEE IN 2016, YOU KNOW, 478,000, ALMOST 479,000 BOOKS CHECKED OUT THROUGH LIBBY. AND THEN LAST YEAR, 1.5 MILLION, A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION BOOKS CHECKED OUT DIGITALLY. SO THAT'S A 214% INCREASE. THE FINANCIAL TRENDS.

NOW, JUST TO SAY THAT THE 2025 NUMBERS I USED ON THE FINANCIAL TRENDS ARE UNAUDITED, RIGHT? EVERY OTHER YEAR, I USED THE AUDITED FINAL COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT NUMBERS. REVENUE HAS INCREASED BY 49% OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS.

EXPENDITURES HAVE INCREASED BY 52%, AND FUND BALANCE HAS INCREASED TO 69%. SO THE UNAUDITED.

INITIAL ESTIMATE OF THE 2025 END OF THE YEAR FUND BALANCE FOR THE LIBRARY IS $123 MILLION. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL KNOW THOSE NUMBERS. I ALSO SPENT SOME TIME READING THE LIBRARY STRATEGIC PLAN AND LOOKING THROUGH THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. ONE OF THE THINGS MOVING FORWARD THAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN IS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THESE NUMBERS, THESE TRENDS. AND THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING. I WILL TELL YOU A TINY LITTLE EXAMPLE. I WORKED IN SCHOOLS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. WHEN I FIRST STARTED WORKING IN SCHOOLS, WE HAD COMPUTER LABS. THEN WE WENT TO COMPUTER CARTS, AND EVENTUALLY WE WENT TO EVERYBODY TAKING COMPUTERS HOME. WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT MODERN LIFE IS MOVING AT AN INCREDIBLY FAST PACE, AND OUR STRATEGIC PLANS FOR OUR ENTITIES NEED TO ADDRESS THE CHANGING...

CONTINUOUSLY CHANGING ATMOSPHERE THAT WE ARE OPERATING IN, AND SO I THINK THAT IS IS CRITICAL. I FEEL A LITTLE BIT DEFENSIVE OF SOME OF OUR DEPARTMENTS. I DON'T THINK THAT THE SPEAKERS TONIGHT INTENDED A SENSE.

BUT WHEN I THINK ABOUT BRAD AND JOE BUTLER AND WILLIAM, DANIEL AND ANGIE, AND FINANCE. AND OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND OUR, OUR JUDGES AT THE 19TH JDC.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHEN I THINK ABOUT ALL THE CITY, PARISH ENTITIES THAT ARE WORKING VERY HARD. THEY'RE HOLDING THINGS TOGETHER WITH DUCT TAPE AND SHOESTRING AND GUM, AND THEY ARE FIGURING OUT WAYS TO ABSORB 15% AND 20% AND 25% BUDGET CUTS. THESE PEOPLE, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, TALENTED PROFESSIONALS WORKING IN CITY, PARISH GOVERNMENT WHO ARE HOLDING IT TOGETHER AND WHO ARE SHOWING UP UNDER THE TOUGHEST...

FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES. AND I DO NOT WANT ANYONE TO WALK OUT OF HERE TONIGHT THINKING THAT THEY ARE NOT REPAIRING EVERY POTHOLE, FIXING EVERY BRIDGE, FIXING THE THE. WHAT WAS IT? IT WASN'T A CHILLER. WHAT WAS IT? AT THE JUVENILE COURT? GOD BLESS JUDGE GROVER AND JUDGE HANEY. IT WAS 55 DEGREES IN THEIR COURTROOM THE OTHER DAY.

WAIT FOR KIDS AND JUDGES AND ATTORNEYS. I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO WALK OUT OF HERE THINKING THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT DOING AN AMAZING JOB, JOB.

BECAUSE THEY AREN'T FUNDED ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

THEY'RE DOING A FABULOUS JOB, AND I THINK WE ALL OWE THEM A DEBT OF GRATITUDE FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING. SO I SALUTE YOU, MY FRIENDS. Y'ALL ARE ROCKING IT.

BUT I JUST NEEDED TO BE DEFENSIVE OF OUR STAFF.

LOOK, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PARISH, THIS COMMUNITY, LOVES OUR LIBRARY. I'VE TOLD

[01:40:01]

THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION SAYS THAT THE AVERAGE OF PER CAPITA FUNDING FOR LIBRARIES IS $40 TO $50.

COUNCILWOMAN, YOU'RE IN YOUR SECOND FIVE MINUTES. I DO.

THANK YOU. I SAY ALL THIS.

TO PUT NUMBERS AND DATA OUT THERE. NOBODY IS ATTACKING THE LIBRARY. NOBODY IS TRYING TO STRIP FUNDING OR HURT THE LIBRARY. WHEN WE ARE ELECTED TO THESE POSITIONS FOR THE LIBRARY BOARD, GOD BLESS YOU, YOU ARE APPOINTED TO THE LIBRARY BOARD BECAUSE WE WANT YOU TO ADVOCATE AND FIGHT FOR THE LIBRARY. AND THANK YOU, YOU ARE VOLUNTEERS AND YOU ARE WORKING HARD AND I AM SO VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOU. WHEN WE ARE ELECTED, WE ARE ELECTED TO CONSIDER THE WHOLE. WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THE JUVENILE COURT, THE JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY. WE HAVE TO CONSIDER A PARISH PRISON THAT IS FALLING APART. WE HAVE TO CONSIDER D.A. MOORE, GOD BLESS HIM, WHO IS WORKING 50 ATTORNEYS DOWN. WE HAVE TO CONSIDER OUR POLICE FORCE THAT IS WORKING 150 OFFICERS DOWN. WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THE WHOLE. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FINANCES, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DEBT-A-TAXES, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MOVING MONEY AROUND, IT'S BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO DO RIGHT BY EVERYBODY, AS RIGHT AS WE CAN DO. SO I JUST FELT THE NEED TO PUT THAT DATA OUT THERE AND TO BE DEFENSIVE OF BOTH OUR CITY, PARISH AGENCIES AND LEADERS AND THIS COUNCIL. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY WHO SHOWED UP.

IT IS ALWAYS EXCITING WHEN THE PUBLIC COMES AND ENGAGES HERE AND SHOWS US HOW VERY, VERY MUCH YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY. I THINK THAT IS THE THING THAT WE ALL ABOVE, ALL THAT I'LL SHARE IS A LOVE FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

COUNCILMAN HUDSON. POINT OF ORDER, MR. PRO TEMP. AND, RESPECTFULLY, COUNCILMAN HUDSON AND COUNCILWOMAN ROCCA, THERE WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION AND DATA. WOULD YOU THINK IT WOULD BE IN ORDER TO GIVE THE LIBRARY A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THAT BEFORE WE CHANGE THE SUBJECT? NO, I MEAN PUBLIC HEARINGS. IF Y'ALL WANT TO CALL THEM UP AND ASK THEM WITH YOUR TIME, THAT'S FINE. I'M ASKING COUNCILMAN HUDSON AND COUNCILMAN ROCKER WHERE THEY LAND, THEM GOING BEFORE THEM AND RESPONDING NOW.

IT'S GOING TO USE THEIR TIME TO ASK THE QUESTIONS IF THEY WANT THEM TO CLARIFY ANY OF THE DATA. YOU CAN USE IT ON YOUR TIME, OR THEY CAN USE IT ON THEIRS.

YEAH, I'M ASKING THEM TO GO BEFORE THEM. YEAH, YOU CAN GO BEFORE THEM. OKAY. MAYOR, YOU AND YOUR TEAM WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE DEEP DIVE. SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T, AND IT'S VERY CONFUSING. AND WE'RE CONSTANTLY BEING EDUCATED BY ANGIE AND OUR BUSINESS MANAGER, RHONDA PINSONETTE, WHO HAVE WORKED WITH US VERY HARD OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS TO EDUCATE. THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY ABOUT COMPLICATIONS WITH GOVERNMENT FUNDING. AND ONE OF THE FIRST ONES THAT I LOVE TO SAY, AND IT'S NOW KIND OF EMBLAZONED ON MY HEAD, IS, YES, FUND BALANCE. FUND BALANCE IS A SPECIAL GOVERNMENT CONSTRUCT, AND IT CONCLUDES SAVINGS IN FUND BALANCE. AND IT INCLUDES BASICALLY AN IOU FOR THE NEXT YEAR OF DEDICATED FUNDING THAT IS ANTICIPATED.

SO THAT BIG NUMBER IS REAL MONEY IN SAVINGS AND THAT IOU.

BUT WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO USE THE REAL MONEY THAT'S IN SAVINGS FOR RECURRING ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES.

BECAUSE BEST PRACTICE AND GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING SAYS, AND I'M GOING TO QUOTE IT, YOU CANNOT UTILIZE FUND BALANCE TO SUPPORT REGULAR OPERATIONS.

BECAUSE RECURRING REVENUES, WHERE'S THE REST OF MY LINE, MUST BE GREATER OR EQUAL TO EXPENDITURES. AND THAT WAS SOMETHING, WHEN IT WAS FINALLY BEAT INTO MY SKULL, IT WAS LIKE, OH, WELL, THAT'S WHY WE CAN'T JUST TAKE THE MONEY OUT OF FUND BALANCE TO PAY FOR THIS THING, UNLESS IT'S SPECIAL. LIKE.

WHEN THERE'S A FLOOD AND GREENWELL SPRINGS ROAD REGIONAL BRANCH LIBRARY HAD A LITTLE WATER IN IT, SO WE WERE ALLOWED TO MOVE THAT. WE MOVE IT FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS. AND I WILL SAY WHEN WE'RE COMPARED TO A PLACE LIKE HOUSTON, WHEN YOU ACTUALLY LOOK

[01:45:02]

YES, FUND KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS HAVE CHANGED. AND ABSOLUTELY LIBBY RULES. BUT THERE ARE MORE BOOKS BEING PRINTED IN PAPER NOW THAN EVER BEFORE, AND PEOPLE ARE STILL ASKING FOR THEM. AND I WILL SAY, FOR THE LITTLES, THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ON A DIGITAL SCREEN MORE THAN AN HOUR A DAY. THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR THEM. SO WE NEED THE LITTLES TO BE IN PAPER. AND THEN WE, NOT EVERYONE HAS A DIGITAL DEVICE THAT THEY WANT TO USE OR CAN USE, OR IS ABLE TO BE USED. NOT EVERYONE LIVES IN A PLACE THAT'S NOT A DIGITAL DESERT. AND NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO READ ONLINE. IN FACT, YOUNGER PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY, THESE SURVEYS COME OUT, AND THE YOUNGER PEOPLE, THE YOUNGER CROWD, WANT TO READ FOR LEISURE IN A BOOK. AND THEN THEY USE THIS FOR FACTS AND NONFICTION AND RESEARCH. I MEAN, I LOVE IT. I ALWAYS HAVE 15 BOOKS ON MY LIBBY BOOKSHELF, BUT I ALSO HAVE REAL BOOKS AS WELL. BECAUSE I WILL TELL YOU, MY EYES GET VERY TIRED AFTER LOOKING AT A SCREEN ALL DAY. AND I LIKE TO GO TO THAT CREAMY PAPER, WHICH THE BOOK SELLERS HAVE UNDERSTOOD NOW. THEY'RE DOING MORE AND MORE WITH LARGE PRINT. AND OUR OUTREACH SERVICE, WHICH VISITS ABOUT 50 RETIREMENT CENTERS AND NURSING HOMES A MONTH, THEY ARE FULL OF LARGE PRINT BOOKS. EVEN THOUGH MANY OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS USE LIBBY, THEY REALLY... LOVE TO BE IN THE BOOK. OKAY, SO I LOVE TO TALK ABOUT, WELL, I LOVE TO TALK ABOUT THE LIBRARY, BUT YES, COMPUTER USE IS CHANGING.

IN FACT, WITH AI, YOU'RE ALSO SEEING A PUSHBACK, AND THE KIDS THAT WERE ALL ON CHROMEBOOKS A COUPLE YEARS AGO, ESPECIALLY DURING COVID, NOW THEY'RE TAKING THE BOOKS AWAY FROM THEM, AND THEY'RE PUTTING THEM BACK IN PAPER. BECAUSE WE WANT TO SEE THAT YOU DID IT AND THAT YOU DIDN'T JUST CRIB IT FROM CLAUDE ONLINE. SO WE'RE HAVING AN EBB AND FLOW, AND THE LIBRARY IS RESPONDING.

IT'S LIKE MARKET RESEARCH. AS THE MARKET CHANGES, WE HAVE TO ADAPT, TOO. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING. AND, YES, SOME BRANCHES DON'T CHECK OUT A LOT OF BOOKS, BUT THEY SURE COME IN, AND THEY DO THINGS IN THE LIBRARY. COUNCILMAN, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THE TIME? SO THERE WE GO. I'D LOVE TO TALK TO YOU FOR HOURS ABOUT THIS LATER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN HUDSON? WELL, Y'ALL SWITCHED IT UP. IT'S ACTUALLY COUNCILWOMAN ROCCA.

WELL, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE IT TO HUDSON. JUSTIN, CAN YOU MAKE THAT HAPPEN? ALL RIGHT.

COUNCILMAN HUDSON. WELL, THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY THAT CAME OUT TONIGHT. IT IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S A TOUGH THING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH, BUT IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE FOLKS COME OUT. I WANT TO CELEBRATE FOR A MINUTE. THE THINGS THAT WE AGREE ON, RIGHT? SO WHETHER YOU'RE AT 9.5 OR YOU'RE AT ANOTHER MILLAGE RATE, I THINK EVERYONE GENERALLY IN THIS COMMUNITY AGREES THAT THE LIBRARY IS A GOOD ASSET. I THINK EVERYONE GENERALLY AGREES THAT WE NEED TO FUND THE LIBRARY SYSTEM AT AN AMPLE RATE. I THINK WE DISAGREE ABOUT THE DETAILS OF THAT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TONIGHT. I WILL TELL YOU THAT AS WE WENT THROUGH THE PREVIOUS THRIVE PLAN, WE DEBATED QUITE A BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT PROPER FUNDING AMOUNT WAS. AND SIMILAR TO THE SPEAKER THAT WAS UP HERE BEFORE, I FELT LIKE THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT WAS 8.1.

THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS AND TALKING WITH THE LIBRARY ABOUT WHAT WAS MOST APPROPRIATE, WE EVENTUALLY LANDED AT 8.3.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT AT 8.3... BATON ROUGE WILL REMAIN AS ONE OF THE HIGHEST PER CAPITA FUNDED LIBRARY SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY, RIGHT? AND SO I DON'T THINK ANYONE ON THIS COUNCIL, ANYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY REALLY, IS SUGGESTING THAT WE DON'T PROPERLY FUND THE LIBRARY.

IN FACT, EVERYONE, NEARLY EVERYONE, SUGGESTS THAT WE FUND IT BETTER THAN ALMOST ANYWHERE IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. AND SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT. YOU KNOW, SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD, LOOK, I HOPE THAT WE'LL TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THIS. I THINK WE DO HAVE TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE MIGHT REALLY,

[01:50:01]

BUT WE ALSO HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO FUND THINGS LIKE OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY, OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT KIND OF STUFF. WE REMAIN WITH... WITHOUT AMPLE FUNDING FOR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. I THINK YOU'LL SEE MORE NEWS ON THAT NEXT WEEK. WE REMAIN WITHOUT AMPLE FUNDING TO REPLACE OUR PRISON SYSTEM, WHICH WE'VE KNOWN FOR QUITE SOME TIME, IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TACKLE. AND AS WE INCREASE, OR AS WE DEAL WITH A HIGHER MILLAGE, WE CONSTRAIN OURSELVES FROM BEING ABLE TO GO AND ASK THE TAXPAYERS FOR MORE DOLLARS. AND SO WE DO TRY TO BE SENSITIVE TO THAT.

SO I WILL TELL YOU FOR ME PERSONALLY, I AM COMFORTABLE AT 8.3.

THAT'S WHERE I WAS DURING THE THRIVE VOTE, AND THAT'S WHERE I'M COMFORTABLE NOW. I WILL OFFER THAT AS A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THIS ITEM AT 8.3 MILS. AND, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S FEEDBACK AND YOUR ENGAGEMENT ON THIS.

BUT, AGAIN, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL PARTS OF FUNDING FOR CITY PARISH. AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT VOTE. THANK YOU.

COUNCILWOMAN ROCCA. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I KNOW EVERYONE IN HERE UNDERSTANDS WHAT YOU'RE ARGUING FOR AND WHY YOU'RE HERE. IF YOU'VE TUNED INTO THESE MEETINGS, I OFTENTIMES TRY TO BRING PEOPLE UP TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE AT HOME AND THE NEWS SOURCES UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THINGS ARE. SO I'M GOING TO DUMB IT DOWN A WHOLE LOT, SO I APOLOGIZE. SO JUST KIND OF STAY WITH ME. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I BELIEVE THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW IS THAT THIS COUNCIL IS NOT VOTING TO DECIDE TO APPROVE THE MILLAGE. WE ARE VOTING TO PUT THE MILLAGE ON THE BALLOT. AND ONE VERY IMPORTANT PIECE IS THAT THAT ELECTION DATE IS JUNE 27TH, AND I THINK THAT MAY HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED IN SOME OF THE COMMENTS. SO I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT TO EVERYONE AT HOME THAT'S LISTENING. IS THAT THIS WEEK, THE COUNCIL, AS A BODY, IS SIMPLY THE VESSEL TO PUT THE ITEM ON A BALLOT.

AND THAT ELECTION DATE WILL BE JUNE 27TH OF 2026. NOW, WITH THAT, AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE.

I KNOW THAT YOU ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE WORDS MEAN, BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHENEVER YOU GO ONLINE LATER, YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF MISINFORMATION CIRCULATING.

SO JUST LET ME GET THESE FACTS OUT THERE. MISS ANGIE, CAN YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD? MISS ANGIE IS HEAD OF FINANCE, AND WE'VE DONE THIS SEVERAL YEARS IN A ROW, AND I'M GOING TO DO IT AGAIN.

CAN YOU PLEASE TELL US WHAT A MILLAGE IS? SO, A MILLAGE IS A NUMBER THAT IS ASSESSED TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS, RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL, BASED ON THEIR ASSESSED VALUATION.

SO IF ONE MILL WOULD BE ON A PROPERTY, WOULD GENERATE AFTER. THE NET OF COMMISSIONS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PAY A COMMISSION FOR THE COLLECTION OF TAX, IS ABOUT $6 MILLION. THANK YOU.

AND SO WHENEVER WE'RE LOOKING AT 9.5 MILS, CAN YOU TELL ME APPROXIMATELY WHAT 9.5 MILS IS? AND THAT'S ANNUALLY. SO THAT MEANS OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM.

SO THE GROSS OF THAT IS $59.5 MILLION. OKAY. SO $59.9 MILLION. AND THAT DOESN'T GO IN THE GENERAL FUND. THE COUNCIL DOES NOT TOUCH THAT.

IT IS DEDICATED AND GOES DIRECTLY TO THE LIBRARY, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. AND THAT IS NOT A SALES TAX, CORRECT? CORRECT. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT A SALES TAX IS? A SALES TAX IS ASSESSED ON GOODS OR SERVICES, DEPENDING ON THE STATE LAW.

SO, A PROPERTY TAX IS ASSESSED ON PROPERTY FOR, AGAIN, A RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY. SALES TAX IS ASSESSED ON GOODS OR SERVICES. AND EVERYBODY PAYS A SALES TAX, RIGHT, IF THEY'RE BUYING GOODS OR SERVICES? YES. BUT THE PEOPLE THAT PAY A MILLAGE ARE YOUR PROPERTY OWNERS OR YOUR BUSINESSES, CORPORATIONS THAT OWN PROPERTIES, CORRECT? CORRECT.

OKAY. AND SO WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT, LET'S SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, ST. GEORGE, AND THEY SAY ST. GEORGE HAS SALES TAX REVENUE THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM OUR BUDGET, WHAT IS ST.

GEORGE'S ANNUAL APPROXIMATE SALES TAX REVENUE? APPROXIMATELY. ANYWHERE BETWEEN 50 AND 55 MILLION, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST RECENTLY HAD THEIR SALES TAX APPROVED IN APRIL, SO WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DEFINITIVE COLLECTIONS. SO THE WHOLE CITY HAS ABOUT $55 MILLION TO RUN ON SALES TAX REVENUE, CORRECT? APPROXIMATELY.

BUT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS MILLAGE, CORRECT?

[01:55:01]

AND AGAIN, NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS? CORRECT.

BUT THEY ARE ALL SUBJECT TO THIS PARTICULAR MILLAGE.

THIS IS A PARISH-WIDE MILLAGE, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. AND THERE ARE SOME MILLAGES THAT ARE ONLY CITY-WIDE MILLAGES, CORRECT? YES. BUT THIS ONE IS A PARISH-WIDE MILLAGE? YES.

OKAY. AND IT IS UP TO THE VOTERS, NOT THE COUNCIL. IT IS UP TO THE PEOPLE TO GO AND DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT THIS PARTICULAR MILLAGE ON JUNE 27TH OF 2026, CORRECT? CORRECT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. ANGIE.

YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU ALL FOR SITTING THROUGH ALL OF THAT. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY LIBRARY. I HAVE A LOT OF HISTORY THERE, ALL THE WAY BACK FROM WHENEVER I WAS A CHILD. I KNOW EVERYBODY HAS VERY FOND STORIES. I LOVE LIBBY. I LOVE AUDIBLE. I LOVE ALL THE BOOKS, WHETHER I'M READING THEM OR LISTENING TO THEM. AVID READER AND SO ARE BOTH MY BOYS. I BELIEVE INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT. I BELIEVE MISINFORMATION IS OUT THERE. SO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS TIME.

TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE DOLLAR AMOUNTS LOOK LIKE, WHERE THOSE DOLLAR AMOUNTS COME FROM, AND HOW THEY COMPARE TO DIFFERENT OTHER. AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE BUDGET HERE IN THE PARISH AND BATON ROUGE.

WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM AND I DO NOT NEED AN EXTRA TIME AT THIS TIME. HANG ON. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON AT 8.3. IS THERE A SECOND TO THE TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION? SECOND MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS? NOW WE HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN ROCCA TO APPROVE IT AS PRESENTED.

SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST.

COUNCILMAN GODAY. THANK YOU. I WAS GOING TO ASK MR. LUTHER TO COME UP. MR. PIERCE, THEY WERE BOARD MEMBERS. AND IF ANY OTHER LIBRARY BOARD MEMBERS ARE HERE, I DON'T KNOW IF MS. CANDACE WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME UP.

AS THEY DO, I DID WANT TO THANK THE LIBRARY FOR THE THOROUGH INFORMATION THAT THEY... MADE PUBLIC. THEY WERE VERY TRANSPARENT ABOUT, YOU KNOW. INFORMATION RELATED TO THE MILLAGE. HEY CANDACE, THANK YOU. AND I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THOSE EFFORTS.

THEY SUBMITTED INFORMATION NOT ONLY TO US, BUT PUT IT OUT THERE. THEY ALWAYS PUT OUT FAQS FOR THE PUBLIC TO REVIEW. THEY WELCOME FEEDBACK BASED ON THOSE AND THEN AMEND THOSE, AND I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT.

CANDACE, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU GOT HERE, YOUR BOARD CHAIR THIS YEAR, AM I CORRECT? YES. AND THEN MS. LUTHER, I KNOW YOU'RE VICE CHAIR AND THANK THE OTHER MEMBERS FOR BEING HERE. I WANTED TO TALK THROUGH JUST THE DISCERNMENT PROCESS YOU WENT THROUGH, HOW YOU ARRIVED AT THE 9.5, AND WHY DIDN'T YOU COME TO US AT 8.3 OR AT 11.0 OR SOME OTHER NUMBER. CAN YOU JUST KIND OF TALK THROUGH THAT, HOW THE BOARD DISCERNED THAT DECISION? YEAH. YEAH, PERFECT.

THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK. SO WE HAD A SPECIAL MEETING WITH FINANCE. WE WENT OVER, WHAT... WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE SYSTEM WITH THE 8.3, WITH WORKING WITH THE CITY, AND WHAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE, WHAT WAS GOING TO BE TAKEN AWAY OR MINIMIZED AT THAT 8.3. THE CITY, OUR PATRONS TOLD US, HEY, LOOK, WE WANT THE LIBRARY NOW TO BE DEDICATED. WE WANT SERVICES RESTORED. WE WANT THE LIBRARY TO THRIVE, NOT JUST SURVIVE.

IN KNOWING THAT INFORMATION, WE GOT FINANCE TO LOOK AT. HOW CAN WE DO THAT, HOW CAN WE UNFREEZE THE POSITIONS THAT WERE FROZEN, HOW CAN WE INCREASE HOT SPOTS? AND WE LOOKED AT ALL DETAILED ITEMS TO DETERMINE. HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO DO THAT, TO MAINTAIN THE SYSTEM, TO GROW AND PROGRESS. BECAUSE YOU CAN'T JUST STAY LIKE LIKE, I THINK. ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS STATED THEY'RE NOT CHECKING OUT BOOKS, OKAY, SO THEN WE NEED MORE MEETING SPACES. A LOT OF THAT DATA WAS FROM COVID AND ALSO THE FLOOD. SO PEOPLE ARE NOT COMING TO THE SYSTEM.

THEY'RE NOT CHECKING OUR BOOKS.

THEY ARE USING OVERDRIVE.

THAT'S WHY THEIR PERCENTAGE WAS MUCH HIGHER. SO WE LOOK AT EVERYTHING TO COME TO A CLEAR, CONCISE DECISION.

THANK YOU. YEAH, BASICALLY. WE HAD GONE THROUGH A LOT OF THIS UNDER THE THRIVE PROGRAM AND WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH WHAT WE COULD GET RID OF.

CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 75 POSITIONS FROZEN THAT WE CAN'T HIRE, THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HIRE.

AND AT THIS, WE'LL BE ABLE TO FUND THOSE POSITIONS AGAIN.

[02:00:01]

BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS EVERYBODY COMPARES US TO OTHER LIBRARY SYSTEMS, BUT WE ARE STRUCTURED COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. THEY MAY HAVE JOE BUTLER'S DEPARTMENT WITH ALL THE MAINTENANCE BUDGET AND ALL THE CONSTRUCTION BUDGET. AND THE ONLY THING THAT THE $45 MILLION IN HOUSTON IS DEDICATED TO IS DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF BUYING BOOKS. WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING UNDER ONE UMBRELLA OF FUNDING, WHICH IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

EVEN WHEN IT CAME TO THRIVE, I ASKED A QUICK QUESTION. HOW MANY OF Y'ALL KNOW THE SQUARE FOOTAGE? HOW MANY OF Y'ALL HAVE TALKED TO A LIBRARY DIRECTOR? HOW MANY OF Y'ALL HAVE ACTUALLY VISITED THOSE BRANCHES, THE HOURS OF OPERATION, THE DAYS OF THE WEEK? NOBODY HAD AN ANSWER, AND I'LL TELL YOU TODAY, I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE YOU NOBODY ON THIS COUNCIL HAS AN ANSWER, SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT BACK OVER TO KATHY. JUST VERY QUICKLY, ONE OTHER THING WE WERE HAVING TO DEAL WITH IS HAVING TO MAINTAIN SECURITY AT ALL THE BRANCHES, AND WE HAD SOME, LOOKING AT PREVIOUS, HAVING TO CUT BACK. WE DID NOT WANT TO CUT BACK SECURITY. AT ANY OF THE BRANCHES. WE WANTED TO MAINTAIN THAT SAFE SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO GO TO. SO THAT'S JUST AFTER SPREADSHEET, AFTER SPREADSHEET. SO SECURITY, BOOKMOBILES, THE ENORMOUS PRICE OF THOSE.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT FACTORED INTO EVERYTHING THAT WE LOOKED ABOUT, BUT SECURITY WAS ALSO A VERY IMPORTANT THING FOR US.

THANK YOU. I WILL MAKE A, OH, I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD, SIR.

YES, PLEASE. COUNCILMAN, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE YOUR TIME? YES, SIR, PLEASE. OKAY, PARDON ME, BUT IT'S LIKE I WAS SAYING EARLIER ABOUT THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO ADAPT. SOME OF OUR NEWER BRANCHES HAVE STUDY ROOMS THAT SMALL GROUPS OF STUDENTS CAN GO INTO AND PREPARE FOR AN EXAM, WORK ON A PROJECT, OR WHATEVER. THAT'S NOT AT EVERY BRANCH. OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN OVER TIME WILL PUT THOSE STUDY ROOMS IN EVERY BRANCH. THE OTHER THING IS THAT LIBBY OR OVERDRIVE WAS MENTIONED. I LEARNED AT A CONVENTION A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THAT THE PRICE OF ELECTRONIC BOOKS IS EQUAL TO THAT OF A HARDBACK, SOMETIMES EVEN MORE, BECAUSE FOR EVERY HOUR OF CONTENT WHERE SOMEONE IS ACTUALLY READING THE MANUSCRIPT. THERE ARE TWO MORE HOURS OF POST-PRODUCTION WORK THAT HAVE TO GO INTO THAT BOOK. AND THEN THERE ARE FACILITY RENTALS FOR THE STUDIOS WHERE THIS ALL TAKES PLACE, THE EQUIPMENT TO PRODUCE THESE ELECTRONIC TITLES. SO, YES, OUR ELECTRONIC CIRCULATION HAS TREMENDOUSLY INCREASED, BUT IT'S NOT AT A SAVINGS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL, AND I VALUED ALL THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE TONIGHT BY THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. I'M GOING TO MAKE A STATEMENT, IF Y'ALL COULD STAY FOR ONE MORE SECOND. I'M GOING TO MAKE A STATEMENT AND THEN WOULD WELCOME YOU TO COMMENT ON IT. I DO THINK IT'S WORTH THE LIBRARY. EXPLORING PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS. I THINK NAMING ROOMS, NAMING BRANCHES, NAMING CERTAIN ASPECTS AFTER CORPORATE PARTNERS IS A GOOD PRACTICE. I THINK THERE ARE NONPROFITS THAT DO IT. WHERE I GREW UP, THERE ARE SCHOOL SYSTEMS THAT DO IT. PRIVATE COMPANIES WILL SUPPORT. PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PAY FOR RESOURCES, THINGS LIKE THAT FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. I THINK IT'S WORTH, AND THIS IS WHAT. I WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS, IF YOU CAN TELL ME YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, BUT IT'S WORTH EXPLORING THAT.

AND LOOK, WHEN YOU ALL COME IN FOUR YEARS AND SAY WE WANT TO ROLL BACK THIS MILLAGE, MAYBE IT'S A DIFFERENT AMOUNT WE ROLL IT BACK TO, BECAUSE YOU'VE FOUND CORPORATE SPONSORS WHO ARE WILLING TO HAVE THEIR NAME ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VERY OUTSTANDING ASSET IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO I JUST OFFER THAT ENCOURAGEMENT.

AND THEN, AGAIN, FEEL FREE, IF YOU WANT TO REMARK ON THAT, TO GO AHEAD. I'VE GOT TWO MINUTES AND 47 SECONDS LEFT. WE DID AT ONE POINT HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT AT THE SCOTLANDVILLE BRANCH, BUT IT CAME WITH SOME STRINGS THAT WE COULDN'T LIVE WITH. SO IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE CONSIDERED IN THE PAST.

AND IF WE HAD THE RIGHT PERSON THAT DIDN'T WANT TO PUT STRINGS, ON THE MONEY OTHER THAN A NAMING RIGHT, THEN OBVIOUSLY, I WOULD BE WILLING TO LOOK

[02:05:01]

I'M CONFIDENT THE ANTHONY KINNEY ROOM IN THE SCOTLANDVILLE LIBRARY BANK WOULD COME WITH A VERY NICE, NO STRINGS ATTACHED. NO, I'M KIDDING. I LIKE THAT. MAYBE YOU COULD BUY US A NEW MOBILE LIBRARY. WE COULD PUT YOUR NAME ON THE SIDE. THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT. AND WE ARE GOING TO DO THE ROLLBACKS, LIKE I SAID, IN FOUR YEARS, TO 9.36. CURRENTLY SUGGESTED AND 9.22. HEY, I'LL MAKE ONE FINAL COMMENT. JUST AS A PERSON WHO'S NOT JUST WITH THE LIBRARY BOARD, BUT IN ALL EAST BRATWURST PARISH, EVERYTHING THAT'S GOOD IS BECAUSE IT'S PROPERLY FUNDED.

SO WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT TAKING MONEY FROM SOMETHING THAT'S PROPERLY FUNDED TO PUT IT TO SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S NOT PROPERLY FUNDED, AND THEN WE END UP WITH THE SAME ISSUES THAT THE CURRENT ORGANIZATION THAT ARE LOOKING FOR MONEY HAS. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING US TIME. I'M GOING TO GIVE IT BACK TO MY COLLEAGUES.

BUT I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

WHEN YOU FRONT STUFF THE RIGHT WAY, YOU WIN NATIONAL AWARDS, AND YOU PUT A SHINING STAR ON YOUR CITY, NOT A CURSE OF HOW WE MAKE CITY PRACTICES BETTER. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. I BURIED THE LEAD A LITTLE BIT, BUT I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT A TAX DECREASE FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND SUPPORT YOU AT 9.5. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. OKAY. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE COME OUT HERE TONIGHT. THAT IS THE, THAT'S COUNCIL ON AGING.

THAT'S THE LIBRARY. THAT'S ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE COME OUT HERE TONIGHT TO SHOW WHAT IT IS THAT YOU STAND FOR, STAND BEHIND, WHAT YOU WANT.

AND ALL OF US UP HERE REPRESENT CONSTITUENTS. AND SO I HAVE TO SAY, JEN ROCKER, AS YOU, COUNCILWOMAN ROCKER, AS ALWAYS, SHE LAID IT OUT THERE, AND IT WAS A TEACHABLE MOMENT, AND THAT WAS GOOD STUFF. SO I SAY, LET THE PEOPLE SAY WHAT THEY WANT. AND THEN, Y'ALL, ALL WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, USE THAT ON YOUR CAMPAIGN TRAIL. AS YOU TRY TO GET THE PEOPLE TO DO ALL OF THIS. YOU KNOW, WE SIT UP HERE, YOU KNOW, WE GOT ALL THE ANSWERS, YOU KNOW. BUT USE THIS ON YOUR CAMPAIGN TRAIL AS YOU GET THE PEOPLE TO SUPPORT. BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES THAT NEED TO AND GOING TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT IT'S 8.5, 9.5, 6 POINT WHATSOEVER.

AND SO YOU ALL GO TO WORK.

COUNCILWOMAN, WAS THAT A MOTION FOR 6.5? IS THAT? I'M JUST MAKING SURE I DIDN'T MISUNDERSTAND. ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A, WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION FIRST, WHICH IS TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED. WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE MACHINES.

EVERYBODY READY? MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED.

MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES.

WE'RE GOING TO DO A ROLL. ROLL CALL. COUNCILMAN GODAY? YES.

COUNCILMAN MOAK? YES.

COUNCILMAN ADAMS? NO.

COUNCILMAN DUNN JR.? YES.

COUNCILMAN HURST? YES.

COUNCILMAN ROCCA? YES.

COUNCILMAN KNOLL? YES.

COUNCILMAN HUDSON? NO.

COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSA? NO.

[115. 26-00024 ]

COUNCILMAN KENNEY? YES.

COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS? YES.

THANK YOU. ITEM 115, A RESOLUTION ORDERING AND CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, ON SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2026. THANK YOU. TO AUTHORIZE THE PARISH TO CONTINUE THE LEVY AND COLLECT TWO MILLS OUT OF THE LOW-INCOME TAX, AN ESTIMATED $12,541,000 REASONABLY EXPECTED TO BE COLLECTED FROM THE LEVY OF THE TAX FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR.

FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS, BEGINNING WITH... YEAR 2027 AND ENDING WITH THE YEAR 2036. AND SHALL THE PROCEEDS OF THE TAX, AFTER PAYING REASONABLE AND NECESSARY EXPENSES OF COLLECTING AND ADMINISTERING THE TAX, BE USED ENTIRELY AND EXCLUSIVELY? BY THE EAST BATON ROUGE COUNCIL ON AGING, INC. OR ANY SUCCESSOR THERE TO THE COUNCIL ON AGING TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND ACTIVITIES FOR ELDERLY CITIZENS

[02:10:02]

DECLARING AN EMERGENCY PURSUANT TO SECTION 8.24 OF THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, MAKING APPLICATION TO THE STATE BOND COMMISSION, PROVIDING NOTICE THAT A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION BY METROPOLITAN COUNCIL SHALL...

BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2026, AT 4 P.M.

AT THE REGULAR MEETING PLACE OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, 3RD FLOOR, CITY HALL ROOM, 348-222 ST. LOUIS STREET, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, PROVIDING FOR ALL THE MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH BY THE COUNCIL ON AGING.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SENATOR? THANK YOU AGAIN, MR. PRO-CHAIRMAN, ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. I JUST WANT TO... COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THIS. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. REALLY, ALL THESE ISSUES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, BUT THIS IS A LITTLE BIT MORE IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE I'M GETTING OLDER MYSELF.

BUT TODAY, I HAD TO GO AND MOVE MY FATHER FROM A REHAB FACILITY BACK HOME. AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE SERVICES THAT THE COUNCIL ON AGING PROVIDES TO OUR COMMUNITY ARE PRICELESS.

THEY ARE LITERALLY SAVING PEOPLE'S LIVES. I REMEMBER MEETING WITH THIS LADY WHO SHARED WITH ME ABOUT MAYBE THREE YEARS AGO, WHO TOLD ME THAT. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE COUNCIL ON AGING, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD. SHE TOLD ME THAT THOSE WERE HER WORDS. SHE SAID BECAUSE SHE HAD NO FAMILY, SHE HAD NO ONE REALLY TO INTERACT WITH. AND BECAUSE OF THE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT THE COUNCIL ON AGING PROVIDES, SHE NOW CAN SOCIALIZE WITH PEOPLE THAT WERE HER AGE, WHO UNDERSTOOD THE ISSUES, WHO KNEW THE THINGS THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO THAT SECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY. I NEVER FORGOT THAT.

I ALSO REMEMBER THE STATE OF THE COUNCIL ON AGING WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED, WHICH WAS A LONG TIME AGO. AND I CAN TELL YOU WHEN I WAS...

WALKED IN THE DOOR BECAUSE I WAS SERVING ON THE BOARD. IT WAS LITERALLY LIFELESS. AND I HAVE TO TIP MY HEAD OFF TO THIS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HER WONDERFUL TEAM, FOR NOT ONLY BREATHING LIFE INTO THE ORGANIZATION, BUT BREATHING LIFE INTO OUR COMMUNITY. OUR SENIORS ARE VALUABLE. AND I HEARD SOMEONE SAY THIS EARLIER. ONE DAY, IF WE KEEP LIVING, WE WILL BE ONE OF THOSE SENIORS. AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I WITNESSED, MY DAD EXPERIENCED, WERE REALLY HEARTBREAKING. NOT FROM THE FACILITY, BUT JUST THROUGH THE SYSTEM. BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO, AFTER A CERTAIN TIME, JUST WANT TO THROW THEM AWAY.

BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO THAT. WE CAN'T GO BACK.

WE CAN'T GO BACK. WE CAN'T GO BACK TO WHAT IT WAS 20 YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE.

THEY ARE ELIMINATING FOOD INSECURITIES. THEY'RE PROVIDING SAFE PLACES FOR SENIORS TO SOCIALIZE AND RECEIVE VALUABLE INFORMATION. THEY'RE PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, A DECENT PLACE TO LIVE. AND THEY'RE ASSISTING SENIORS WITH FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY WHILE LIVING ON A... LIMITED INCOME.

I STAND HERE WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORTING THE WORK, THE EFFORTS THAT THEY HAVE DONE AND ARE MAKING. AND I WOULD TELL YOU THAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE A CONTRACT, NOT A CONTRACT, THEY HAVE A GRANT THAT THEY HAVE BIDDED FOR. ONE OF THREE IN THE COUNTRY. THAT WE, THE STATE, IS ACTIVELY HELPING THEM TO GET TO PROVIDE MORE HOUSING IN THIS STATE. SO I ASK YOU TO PLEASE ALLOW THE CITIZENS TO VOTE ON THIS IMPORTANT MATTER. WHAT I HAVE LEARNED AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IS PEOPLE SUPPORT WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, LET'S GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THIS MATTER. THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JENNIFER

[02:15:01]

EVERY PROGRAM WE OPERATE AND EVERY SERVICE WE PROVIDE, EVERY STAFF MEMBER WE EMPLOY, IS FUNDED BY THIS MILLAGE.

THERE IS NO EXTRA PADDING FOR US. SENIOR CENTERS, IF THIS IS NOT PUT ON THE BALLOT FOR THE PEOPLE TO DECIDE, WE WILL HAVE TO CLOSE SENIOR CENTERS. CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES WILL VANISH, AND THE STAFF THAT HAS DEDICATED YEARS MIGHT HAVE TO BE LET GO. APPROXIMATELY 25,000 SENIORS RELY ON THE COUNCIL ON AGING SERVICES EVERY YEAR.

FOR MANY, OUR PROGRAMS ARE THE SOCIAL CONTACT THEY HAVE, AS YOU'VE HEARD TESTIFIED TO TODAY. IT'S ALSO SOMETIMES THE ONLY MEALS THEY RECEIVE.

THIS SUPPORT ALLOWS THEM TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT. THE MEALS THAT WE PROVIDE ARE HEALTH CARE PREVENTION.

CUTTING MEALS DOES NOT SAVE MONEY. IT SHIFTS COSTS, INEVITABLY, TO HOSPITALS, TO MEDICARE, AND TO MEDICAID.

THIS IMPACT GOES FAR BEYOND THE INDIVIDUALS WE SERVE DIRECTLY AND WOULD ALSO AFFECT EMPLOYMENT OF THE COUNCIL ON AGING EMPLOYEES.

BEYOND THAT, EVEN, IT WOULD AFFECT EMERGENCY ROOMS, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND LOCAL CHARITIES THAT WOULD HAVE TO ABSORB THE STRAIN OF THE... THE SENIORS THAT WOULD HAVE TO APPEAR THERE AND NOT BE ABLE TO CALL OUT TO US TO ASK FOR HELP. I'VE BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME NOW. I'VE BEEN BEFORE Y'ALL BEFORE. I ALSO HAVE A STORY ABOUT HOW A FRIEND'S ELDERLY GRANDFATHER, HOW SHE FELT LIKE THE COUNCIL ON AGING, EXTENDED HIS LIFE.

HE STARTED GOING TO THE CENTRAL FACILITY AND HOW SHE FELT LIKE IT EXTENDED HIS LIFE. HE MADE FRIENDS THERE. SHE KNEW HE WOULD HAVE A HOT MEAL THERE.

AND HE REALLY APPRECIATED THESE SERVICES. SO AT THIS TIME, I WOULD ASK Y'ALL, PLEASE, TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE AND PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AT 2.0. I THINK THAT I FEEL VERY CERTAIN THAT THIS COMMUNITY IS GOING TO WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE SENIORS AT THIS SMALL MILLAGE INTO THE FUTURE. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE METRO COUNCIL. MY NAME IS FRANCES JOHNSON, AND I AM COMING TO YOU TODAY AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE COUNCIL ON AGING ADVISORY BOARD, THE SENIOR BOARD. AND I'M COMING HERE BECAUSE COUNCIL ON AGING HAS DONE A LOT IN MY LIFE. BECOMING A SENIOR SOMETIMES CAN BE SCARY, BECAUSE WHEN YOU WORK ALL YOUR LIFE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU CAN'T WORK ANYMORE.

BECAUSE THEY SAY YOU'RE TOO OLD, BUT YOU'RE THE BEST WORKERS.

BUT ANYWAY, SO WHEN YOU CAN'T WORK ANYMORE, AND YOU'RE NOT GETTING A PAYCHECK EVERY TWO WEEKS, YOU CAN'T GO TO THE GROCERY STORE AND SPEND $150 ON GROCERIES. WHEN YOU BECOME A SENIOR, YOU CAN'T DO THAT ANYMORE.

THAT GETS SCARY. WE HAVE SOME SENIORS LIVE ALONE. THEY CAN'T COOK FOR THEMSELVES. WE HAVE MEALS ON WHEELS THAT HELP THOSE SENIORS. THE FEARS THAT THEY HAVE, COUNCIL ON AGING HELPS THEM OVERCOME THOSE FEARS. NOT ONLY DO WE GO THERE AND SOCIALIZE, WHICH WE DO, AND WE HAVE A GOOD TIME, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE PROGRAMS THAT HELP US AS WE GO THROUGH OUR LIVES AS SENIORS.

WE HAVE PROGRAMS WITH STRENGTH AND BALANCE, BECAUSE AS YOU GET OLDER, SOMETIMES YOU NEED A CANE. YOU MIGHT NEED A WALKER. BUT WE HAVE PROGRAMS THAT HELP US DEAL WITH THOSE THINGS SO WE CAN LIVE INDEPENDENT. WE ALSO HAVE PROGRAMS WHERE WE DO ART. WE HAVE MUSIC. WE DANCE, MY FAVORITE THING. AND ALSO, WE HAVE PROGRAMS THAT JUST HELP US TO MANAGE OUR MENTAL HEALTH, OKAY? COUNSELING AND AGING IS SO IMPORTANT TO US. IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE STAFF, WHICH ARE AWESOME, FROM THE COE DOWN TO THE CEO, DOWN TO THE... BUS DRIVER.

THEY'RE ALL AWESOME.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE SENIORS. IT'S FOR THE SENIORS. BECAUSE IT HELPS US AS WE AGE. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, LIVE LONG ENOUGH, ALL OF YOU ARE GOING TO BE SENIORS ONE DAY. YOU HAVE FAMILIES, YOUR MOTHERS, YOUR FATHERS, THEY'RE SENIORS. JUST THINK, WHEN I RETIRED, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT A COUNSELING AGENT EXISTS. I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

BUT ONCE I FOUND OUT, I'VE BEEN GOING TO COUNSELING AGENTS FOR 14 YEARS. AND IT'S BEEN GOOD

[02:20:01]

WE ARE MEMBERS. OF THE COMMUNITY WHO DESERVE YOUR SUPPORT.

BY ALLOWING THIS MILLAGE TO MOVE FORWARD, YOU'RE INVESTING IN THE HEALTH, THE HAPPINESS, THE WELL-BEING, AND THE COUNTLESS SENIORS ACROSS THE PARISH. SO THAT'S WHY I AM ASKING YOU, RESPECTFULLY BUT FIRMLY, TO SUPPORT REPLACING THE MILLAGE RENEWAL ON JUNE 27TH ON THE BALLOT. LET THE PEOPLE VOTE BECAUSE THEY'RE SENIORS, TOO. AND THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO THEM IF WE GET THIS MILLAGE.

SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THE THINGS THAT WE DO BEING SENIORS AND BE HAPPY IN OUR SENIOR LIFE, BECAUSE ONCE YOU BECOME A SENIOR, THAT'S WHEN YOU ENJOY LIFE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

THAT'S WHEN YOU REALLY ENJOY LIFE NOW THAT YOU'RE A SENIOR.

BUT FOR US, SOME THINGS ARE HARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

BUT JUST MAKE SURE WE GET IT ON THE BALLOT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS TAMIKA ROBEY. I AM THE BOOKMOBILE MANAGER FOR EAST BATON, ROUGE-FERRISH LIBRARIES, AND I KNOW EVERY SINGLE SENIOR IN THIS ROOM.

HOW DO I KNOW THEM? BECAUSE THE BOOKMOBILE GOES TO VISIT THEM AT A FACILITY THAT IS IN EACH ONE OF YOUR DISTRICTS. EACH ONE OF YOUR DISTRICTS HOUSES AT LEAST ONE COUNCIL ON AGING SITE. ME, IT WOULD BE REMISS FOR YOU TO VOTE AGAINST SOMETHING THAT SERVES THE INTEREST OF THE CONSTITUENTS OF YOUR DISTRICT. OUR SENIOR SITES PROVIDE MEALS, THEY PROVIDE HOUSING, AND THEY PROVIDE SOCIAL INTERACTION FOR OUR SENIORS.

AT A TIME WHEN SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE SENIORS IN YOUR LIFE. I AM PROUD TO BE A PARTNER WITH THE EBR COUNCIL ON AGING. EACH SITE PROVIDES PROGRAMMING AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS. I LIKE TO GET DOWN AND DIRTY WITH THOSE SENSATIONAL...

SENIORS AT THE LEO S. BUTLER, CENTER, WHEN THEY'RE DOING THOSE LINE DANCES. I LIKE TO GET DOWN AND DIRTY WITH THE GIRLS AT THE JEWEL J. NEWMAN SENIOR CENTER, WHEN THEY'RE BRINGING THEIR FOOD OVER THERE IN DISTRICT 2. I LIKE TO GET DOWN WITH THE GIRLS AT THE CHARLES R. KELLY, CENTER, AND THE MAN THAT SPANNED ME OUT SO HARD I HIT THE WALL.

DANCING OVER THERE IN DISTRICT 2 WITH COUNCILMAN HURST. SO I JUST ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THIS MEASURE AND YOU ALLOW THEM TO BRING FORTH THEIR MILLAGE IN JUNE. THANK YOU. HELLO, HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING? I'M TANYA JONES. I DEFINITELY... I HAVE NO DOUBT. I HAVE A LOT OF FAITH THAT Y'ALL ARE GOING TO DO THE RIGHT THING BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD EVERYTHING. IT'S NOTHING NEW THAT I CAN SAY, BUT I TRUST AND BELIEVE THAT Y'ALL WILL PUT IT ON THERE SO WE CAN VOTE, AND I SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU.

HEY, AGAIN, JENNIFER CARWILE. I AM HERE SPEAKING FOR TWO THINGS. I DON'T HAVE ANY KIDS, SO I'M GOING TO NEED THIS ONE DAY. NO ONE'S GOING TO BE TAKING CARE OF ME, SO HOPEFULLY SOMEONE'S GOING TO ROLL ON AND BRING ME A BOOK AND DANCE ME IN THE CORNER. I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE AT THE SAME TIME. WE DEFINITELY NEED TO FUND OUR JAIL AND OUR PUBLIC DEFENDERS AND OUR DA.

WE NEED A PUBLIC SAFETY VILLAGE. THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT THE LIBRARY AND THE COUNCIL ON AGING AND MOSQUITO ABATEMENT ALSO NEED THEIR MILLAGE. ONE DOESN'T TAKE AWAY FROM THE OTHER. WE NEED THEM BOTH. THIS IS REMINDING ME A LITTLE BIT. I'M A CHILD OF THE 70S, AND THERE WAS A POPULAR POSTER ABOUT, WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT THE DAY THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE PROPERLY FUNDED? AND THE ARMY NEEDS TO HAVE A BAKE SALE TO BUY A NEW TANK? AND SO WHEN WE'RE ASKING, HOW ABOUT GETTING... YOU KNOW, HOW ABOUT GETTING A PUBLIC SPONSOR? HOW ABOUT IF HILLER MOORE GETS A PUBLIC SPONSOR FOR, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT'S IMPORTANT, THEN IF THE BOOKMOBILE NEEDS TO BE THE ANTHONY KENNEY BOOKMOBILE, THEN MAYBE WE NEED TO HAVE THE ROWDY GODET, YOU KNOW, DEFENDER SEAT OR WHATEVER. YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL IMPORTANT. THIS

[02:25:01]

FIGURE OUT WHERE THE MONEY'S GOING TO COME FROM. IT'S NOT ONE OR THE OTHER. IT'S BOTH. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? WE'LL GO TO COUNCILMAN MCKINNEY.

COUNCILMEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED 1,809 IN FAVOR OF ITEM 115. COUNCILMAN MCKINNEY, SPONSOR EXTRAORDINAIRE. TODAY MUST BE MY DAY TODAY. QUICK QUESTION, MS. THOMPSON, COMING UP REAL QUICKLY. AS YOU COME UP, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT SOME UPCOMING PROJECTS THAT COUNCILOR AGEN HAS IN THE PIPELINE IS COMING UP? I KNOW THERE'S SOME AMAZING SAND HOUSING PROJECTS THAT'S COMING INTO BATON ROUGE, SO IF YOU WANT TO BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT IT, REAL QUICKLY. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US, BUT WE HAVE, WE WERE AWARDED ONE OUT OF THREE IN THE COUNTRY FROM HUD A GRANT TO DO INTERGENERATIONAL HOUSING. AND WE'RE GOING TO BE BUILDING A NEW INTERGENERATIONAL HOUSE, 59 UNITS. THEY'RE ALL GREEN, FORTIFIED. THEY CAN WITHSTAND A 100 MILE WIND. IT'S GOT A CONNECTED SENIOR CENTER AND COMMUNITY CENTER, AND AN INTERGENERATIONAL HUB.

AND MY GREAT SENATOR BARROW'S DISTRICT, THE STATE HAS ALREADY ALLOCATED $15.5 MILLION TO GO WITH THIS PROJECT. SO IT'S ABOUT A $25 MILLION PROJECT.

WE ALSO HAVE A PROJECT, WE WANT A SECOND GRANT FROM HUD, $7.1 MILLION, WITH OUR DEVELOPER. AND WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING A PROJECT IN NORTH BATON ROUGE IN YOUR DISTRICT OVER AT HOW PLACE 360 SENIOR HOUSING UNITS IN YOUR. TAKING THE TOP OKAY, COUNCILMAN DUNN JR. THANK YOU, ASHLEY. JUST FOR THOSE IN THE BACK, THOSE IN THE HALL. COULD YOU REPEAT HOW MANY EVEN, UH, CAME IN, UH, 1809? I I THINK THAT'S A THAT'S A RECORD, AND, UH, I THINK THE SENIORS ARE DOING MORE THAN DANCING OVER THERE. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN THIS PROCESS. AND WITH THAT, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR., SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. WOW. COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. I WOULD LIKE TO READ A STATEMENT SPEAKING ABOUT THE GREAT WORK THAT COUNCIL ON AGING IS DOING IN DISTRICT 7 AT THE PEARL GEORGE SENIOR CENTER. THE PEARL GEORGE SENIOR CENTER IS A VIBRANT SPACE WHERE SENIORS GATHER EVERY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. IT IS MORE THAN A BUILDING. IT'S FAMILY. IT'S FELLOWSHIP. IT'S UNITY.

SENIORS COME TOGETHER FOR ACTIVITIES, WELLNESS PROGRAMS. SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT, AND SIMPLY THE JOY OF BEING IN COMMUNITY. IT PROVIDES SOMETHING PRICELESS, A PLACE TO BELONG OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOME. FOR MANY, IT COMBATS LONELINESS AND PROMOTES MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS.

THE PEARL GEORGE CENTER REFLECTS WHAT COUNCIL ON AGING DOES BEST, CREATING SAFE, WELCOMING SPACES WHERE SENIORS CAN CONTINUE TO LIVE, THRIVE, AND FEEL MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS. THAT'S MY PEARL GEORGE CENTER. THANK YOU SO MUCH, TASHA, TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR THE GREAT WORK YOU DO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. TASHA, CAN I PLEASE ASK YOU UP IN THIS VOICE ON YOUR BOARD MEMBER? YOU DON'T MIND IF THERE'S ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS TO TASHA.

BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE, PENDING THIS ITEM, MAKES IT ON THE BALLOT, I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING I THINK YOU ALREADY KNOW. Y'ALL WILL FACE, AS A BOARD AND AS AN ORGANIZATION, SOME SCRUTINY FROM SOME OF THE COMMUNITY.

LOOK, I'LL BE ASKED, AGAIN, I WON'T BURY THE LEAD AS I SUPPORT THIS ITEM AT 2.0. I'LL BE ASKED TO DEFEND WHY I SUPPORTED IT.

AND SO I'M GOING TO OFFER UP SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR Y'ALL TO SPEAK TO IT.

TASHA, THE FIRST THING I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO TALK TO. IS ACTUALLY, IN MY EXPERIENCE AND CLOSE DEALINGS WITH YOU, IS DURING TIMES OF DISASTER. IF YOU COULD, SPEAK TO HOW YOUR ORGANIZATION ACTIVATES AND RESPONDS AND ASSISTS SENIORS DURING TIMES OF DISASTER. IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THAT FIRST, PLEASE. OKAY.

[02:30:01]

THANK YOU. WE GET ABOUT $3 MILLION. AND, YOU KNOW, MY CFO TOLD ME NOT TO SAY NUMBERS. SO LET ME RETRACT THAT. WE GET SOME MILLIONS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS. LIKE, MEALS ON WHEELS IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM. SENIOR CENTER IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM. AND SO THOSE PROGRAMS COME FROM THE ACL STRAIGHT TO THE STATE. THEY PUT A MATCH ON IT. THEY SENT IT TO US BASED ON A FORMULA ACROSS THIS STATE. EVERY PARISH HAS A AAA OR A COUNCIL LOAN AGENT, AND WE ALL DIVIDE A POT OF MONEY TO DO SPECIFIC THINGS. WE ALSO RAISE MONEY AND WE HAVE OUR OWN REVENUE GENERATING SOURCES. SO WE SELL MEALS, WE SELL DEPENDS, WE DO IT ALL. AND SO WE RAISE EXTRA MONEY THAT WAY AS WELL.

BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE, THERE WILL BE SOME FORM OF A CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE FOLKS, WILL YOU ALL USE TAXPAYER DOLLARS? NOT AT ALL. WE'VE LEARNED FROM THE PAST THAT WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW, YOU NEED TO ASK SOMEBODY, AND WE'VE DONE THAT. WE HAVE AN ATTORNEY. WE HAVE A PAC. WE HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO DO THAT. AND WE HAVE THE BEST THING THAT NOBODY ELSE HAS. WE HAVE THE GRAY ARMY, AND THEY'RE GOING TO GET TO WORK.

THEY'RE GOING TO CALL THEIR PASTORS, AND THEY'LL BE CALLING YOU ALL.

SO WE WON'T HAVE TO DO ANY OF THAT. THANK YOU. WE'VE HAD SEPARATE MEETINGS GETTING THE BOARD MEMBERS. JUST COME RIGHT UP TO THE MIC. WE'VE HAD SEPARATE MEETINGS, GETTING VOLUNTEERS TOGETHER, BOARD MEMBERS, FRIENDS OF BOARD MEMBERS, TRYING TO, AS TASHA SAID, WE UNDERSTAND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. WE'RE NOT GOING TO SPEND ANY OF THE MONEY ASSOCIATED WITH THE COUNCIL ON AGING, ON OUR HITTING THE STREETS.

THIS WILL TOTALLY BE FUNDED SEPARATELY. GOOD. ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE WE FACE SOME PRESSURE IS. YOU ARE TRADITIONALLY A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. THAT'S NOT TRUE.

PLEASE. FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE ARE A QUASI-GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY. WE ARE STATUTORILY CREATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, AND EVERYTHING WE DO IS BY STATUTE. MEALS ON WHEELS HAS A STATUTE. SENIOR CENTER HAS A STATUTE. SO, FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE'RE A QUASI-GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY. WE HAVE A NONPROFIT DESIGNATED SOLELY TO MAKE OUR PURCHASES AND TO DRIVE DOWN COSTS, BUT WE ARE A QUASI-GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, FIRST AND FOREMOST. AND EACH PARISH COUNCIL IN AGING WAS CREATED. AS A STATE ENTITY, IS THAT ACCURATE? EACH PARISH CREATED FROM THE OLDER AMERICAN ACT OF 1965, AND THEN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA ACCEPTED THAT ACT AND THEN DIVIDED EACH PARISH INTO DESIGNATED AAAS.

THANK YOU. I MEAN, THERE'S TRADITIONAL NONPROFITS IN THE PARISH, AND SO THE QUESTION POSED TO US IS, WELL, YOU KNOW, WHY NOT ELEVATE OUR ARTS COUNCIL, OUR FOOD BANK, OTHER SERVICES THAT ARE CRITICAL SERVICES OF VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY? IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, PLEASE, SIR.

OTHER NONPROFITS THAT EXIST AND HAVE TO GO COMPETE FOR FUNDING AND CAMPAIGN FOR FUNDING, GO AHEAD. AND IT'S BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THAT DESIGNATION. AND I'VE SAID IT IN THE PAST HERE. WE REPORT, OUR OVERSIGHT AGENCY IS THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF ELDERLY AFFAIRS. SO WE REPORT, ME AND EVERY COUNCILMAN, AGENT OR AAA IN THIS STATE REPORTS DIRECTLY TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. AND THEY REPORT. TO THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HOSPITALS ADMINISTRATION ON COMMUNITY LIVING. VERY GOOD.

AND THAT ALSO INCLUDES US PROVIDING OUR BUDGET TO THE STATE AND TO Y'ALL AND HAVING THAT APPROVED. WHERE YOU CAN LOOK AT EVERY LINE ITEM AND SEE WHERE EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR IS GOING. GREAT. THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS. I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY. THE ITEM

[02:35:08]

[116. 25-01725 ]

IN THE AMOUNT OF...

$14,631.48, WHICH AMOUNT SHALL BE PAID FROM THE ACCOUNT DESIGNATED INSURANCE AUTO LIABILITY BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING

[117. 25-01729]

ITEM 117, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE PRE-LITIGATION CLAIM OF...

DEVON MITCHELL FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY BATON ROUGE POLICE OFFICER AND THE AMOUNT OF $45,000, WHICH AMOUNT SHALL BE PAID FROM THE ACCOUNT? DESIGNATED INSURANCE AUTO LIABILITY BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE,

[118. 25-01708]

ITEM 118 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND SPECIALTIES. TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $50,000 FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE NOT TO EXCEED $100,000. BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE,

[119. 25-01728 ]

ITEM 119, AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER 1 TO THE CONTRACT WITH STREET COLLABORATIVE LL.C.

FOR ADDITIONAL DESIGN SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR CONTRACT FOR EBRP.

MISCELLANEOUS BRANCH LIBRARY RENOVATIONS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $65,752.86 BY BUILDING AND GROUNDS DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

[120. 26-00001]

120, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR 2026 BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND DR. DAN GOODBY TO SERVE AS THE DEPARTMENT'S MEDICAL DIRECTOR AND NOT EXCEED $208,000 BY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING

[121. 26-00002 ]

121, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, MEDICAL, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TO PAY INSIGHT BILLING CORPORATION AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,250,000 BY THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE,

[122. 26-00010]

122, AUTHORIZING MAYOR-PRESIDENT... TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, SORRY, DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TO PAY KEAVENEY AND STRIEGER LL.C.

IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $50,000 FOR 2026. BY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING

[123. 26-00012 ]

123, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY...

MEDICAL SERVICES TO PAY SOLUTIONS GROUP SERVICES, LLC IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 50,000 FOR 2026. EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DIRECTOR.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE,

[124. 26-00004]

ITEM 124, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO AMEND CONTRACT.

BETWEEN CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, AND FRANKLIN ASSOCIATES LLC, THEY INCREASED THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $130,507 FOR A REVISED TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $200,000 BY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? COUNCILMEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 124.

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

[125. 26-00007 ]

[02:40:01]

AND EXECUTE A CONSENT TO LEASEHOLD MORTGAGE BY AVIATION DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK

[126. 26-00008]

TO EXECUTE A CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF LEASE OF BTR HANGAR PROPERTIES, LLC TO ITS ASSIGNEE, VELOCITY BTR HOLDINGS, LLC, AND EXECUTE A CONSENT TO LEASEHOLD MORTGAGE BY THE AVIATION DIRECTOR.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE,

[127. 26-00081 ]

127. AUTHORIZATION FOR THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND OUR CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH GCR INC. DOING BUSINESS AS TADARA. TO PROVIDE SOFTWARE SYSTEMS SUPPORT FOR ACCOUNTING LEASE MANAGEMENT FOR THE BATON ROUGE METROPOLITAN AIRPORT, AN AMOUNT I TAKE SEAT FIFTY FIVE THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS BY THE AVIATION DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK

[128. 26-00013 ]

SECOND BY COUNCIL MCKINNEY, ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES.

128, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH BBI ARCHITECT A.A.C. FOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH THE CHENEYVILLE VOLUNTEER FIRE STATION NO. 41. AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $75,000 BY BUILDING AND GROUNDS DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO,

[129. 26-00026 ]

[130. 26-00027]

[131. 26-00041]

MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. SECOND BY THE CHAIR.

ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM 131, AMENDING THE 2026 CURRENT AND CAPITAL EXPENSE BUDGET TO APPROPRIATE $163,700 FROM UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCES CONSISTING OF $79,700 FROM GENERAL FUND AND $84,000 FROM CITY COUNCIL COURT COST FUND TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR TWO DEPUTY CONSTABLE POSITIONS PREVIOUSLY FROZEN DUE TO BUDGET CONSTRAINTS BY THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT AND CITY CONSTABLE.

IS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? GOOD EVENING, I'M PAULA COLLINS AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM. THE REASON BEING IS THAT THE BRPD CANNOT, AT THIS TIME, GET INDIVIDUALS TO EVEN APPLY FOR THE JOB OPENINGS THAT THEY HAVE AND HAVE FUNDING FOR. HOWEVER, WITH THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO, THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THOSE POSITIONS, AND I DON'T SEE WHY THE COUNCIL WOULDN'T ALLOW FOR THAT FUNDING TO BE PASSED TONIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? YES, I'M HERE. I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT. YES, I'VE BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY. SO, LISTEN, I KNOW WE ADDRESSED THIS BACK IN DECEMBER, AND WE ADDRESSED IT AGAIN IN JANUARY. AND THE POSITIONS THAT I'M ASKING FOR IS TWO POSITIONS. BECAUSE IN DECEMBER, AT THE MEETING, I WAS UNDERSTOOD BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND HUMAN RESOURCES THAT THE CONSTABLES WERE LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND DURING THE TIME OF THE BUDGET CUTS, OR THE BUDGET SITUATIONS THAT WERE COMING UP, I WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE BUDGET CUTS. BUT ONCE WE REALIZED THAT WE WERE HAVING TO FREEZE SIX POSITIONS, AND I KNOW MOST OF Y'ALL REMEMBER WHEN I TOOK THIS POSITION, I TOOK IT WITH A $460,000 DEFICIT. AND BECAUSE

[02:45:01]

AND WITH THOSE FIVE POSITIONS DOWN, NOW YOU TAKE SIX MORE POSITIONS. SO THAT'LL PUT ME AT LEAST AT THAT 11% THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO TAKE. NO, I DIDN'T HAVE TO. FIRE ANYBODY OR LET ANYBODY GO, BUT THOSE SIX POSITIONS WERE POSITIONS THAT I NEEDED, POSITIONS THAT WERE ALREADY ALLOCATED FOR BATON ROUGE CITY COURT. IN ORDER FOR US TO DO OUR DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES.

AND BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THOSE SIX POSITIONS, I'M STILL AT A SHORTFALL AS FAR AS GETTING THE WORK DONE. WE'RE RUNNING BEHIND ON SERVING PAPERS.

WE'RE STRETCHING THIN TO MAKE SURE THE JUDGES HAVE THE PROTECTION THEY NEED IN THE COURTS, AND THEN WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER DUTIES THAT WE HAVE TO FULFILL. WE WERE EVEN DOING SECURITY IN CITY HALL. BUT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EMPLOYEES, I CAN'T SECURE CITY HALL ANYMORE. SO I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL, I'M ASKING YOU ALL TO LOOK AT THIS AND MAKE SURE AND APPROVE AT LEAST THOSE TWO POSITIONS.

BUT AT SOME POINT, I WOULD NEED THE OTHER POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN FROZEN TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE, GO TO COUNCIL. COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.

SO TALKING ABOUT SERVING PAPERS, ARE THOSE, DOES THAT GENERATE REVENUE? YES, MA'AM. DOES THAT GENERATE INCOME? YES, MA'AM. SO WILL THAT GENERATE INCOME TO COVER THE COST? YES, ACTUALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT IT, THE FUNDING, THE MONEY THAT'S BEING TRANSFERRED INTO THE ACCOUNTS, I THINK IT'S LIKE $84,000 IS COMING FROM MY ACCOUNT. TO HELP COVER THOSE TWO POSITIONS. THE PORTION IS COMING FROM A GENERAL ACCOUNT. THE OTHER PORTION IS COMING FROM SOME SPECIAL ACCOUNTS THAT I HAVE. MOST OF THE FUNDING, PRETTY MUCH JUST ABOUT ALL THE FUNDING FOR THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE IS BASED ON SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, PAPERS WE SERVE, TICKETS THAT ARE WRITTEN, EVICTIONS THAT WE DO. PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THE FUNDING THAT WE GET COMES FROM SERVICES THAT WE DO PROVIDE. OKAY, SO I SEE THAT.

SO IT'S $84,000, WHICH IS COMING FROM YOUR COURT COST FUND.

OKAY. AND THEN, OKAY. AND SO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT IF YOU'RE ABLE TO HIRE TWO POSITIONS, THAT THAT'S GOING TO INCREASE YOUR REVENUE, AND THEN HOPEFULLY, THAT WILL PROVIDE FUNDS TO HELP SUPPORT YOUR BUDGET NEXT YEAR.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE THINKING? WELL, I HOPE SO. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS WITH OUR FUNDING, AND I DO HAVE MEETINGS SCHEDULED WITH BATON ROUGE CITY COURT. OF COURSE, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH SEVERAL CLERKS IN BATON ROUGE CITY COURT. THEY UPGRADED THE SYSTEM, AND THE SYSTEM THAT THEY HAVE NOW, THEY DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE SYSTEM. SO I'VE BEEN IN CONSTANT CONTACT, ASKING FOR MEETINGS. SO WE CAN LOOK AT ALL OF THE ACCOUNTS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE FUNDING THAT'S COMING IN IS WHAT SHOULD BE IN THE ACCOUNTS.

BUT WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL SOMEBODY IS ABLE TO LEARN THIS NEW SYSTEM, LOOK AT THE SYSTEM, AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S IN EACH ACCOUNT.

OKAY. AND ONE OF THE THINGS, MS. ADAMS, I WANT TO ADDRESS.

THIS IS THE ONLY CONSTABLE AND MARSHAL'S OFFICE THAT'S CONTROLLED IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA THAT'S CONTROLLED BY THE GOVERNING BODY. THE REST OF THE MARSHALS CONTROL THEIR OWN FUNDING. WHEN THE FUNDING COME IN, THEY COLLECT IT AND THEY UTILIZE IT FOR WHAT THEY SEE FIT. AND THEN THE GOVERNING BODY STILL HAVE TO PAY 100% OF THEIR SALARIES AND BENEFITS.

THE MONEY THAT THEY COLLECT, THEY'RE ABLE TO UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS FOR WHATEVER THEY WANT TO BUY, CARS, TRAINING, EQUIPMENT, THE BUILDING THAT THEY ARE HOUSED IN. THIS IS THE ONLY AGENCY IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA THAT THE GOVERNING BODY CONTINUES TO CONTROL THE FUNDING. AND I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, BUT JUST BE FAIR WITH ME. BE FAIR AND LET ME BE ABLE TO UTILIZE MY FUNDING TO RUN MY AGENCY THE WAY THAT I NEED TO RUN IT.

BUT YOU'RE NOT ACCUSING US OF BEING UNFAIR. OH, NO, NOT THE COUNCIL. NOT THE COUNCIL. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS ACROSS THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, I'M ACTUALLY THE PRESIDENT OVER THE MARSHALS AND THE CONSTABLES WITHIN THE STATE, THE STATE PRESIDENT. AND WHEN YOU SIT AT A TABLE AND YOU'RE TALKING TO EVERYBODY ELSE IN ALEXANDRIA, SHREVEPORT, PINEVILLE, DENHAM SPRINGS, NEW ORLEANS, THEY ALL COLLECT AND SPEND THE MONEY THE WAY THEY SHOULD. SURE. OKAY. YEAH.

OKAY. I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT, I MEAN, ARE THEY BEING FUNDED FROM THE GENERAL FUND OF THEIR MUNICIPALITY WITHOUT ANY ACCOUNTABILITY? OR ARE THEY JUST FUNDING, THEY'RE SELF-FUNDED? LIKE, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE SAYING, LIKE, THE CONSTABLE'S SALARY IS FUNDED, BUT THEN THEY'RE GENERATING THEIR OWN FUNDS AND THEN HIRING OUT OF THOSE FUNDS. NO. THE FUNDS THAT THEY GENERATE, THEY HAVE TWO ACCOUNTS. THEY HAVE ONE ACCOUNT THAT THE MUNICIPALITY PAYS 100% OF THEIR SALARIES AND BENEFITS.

SURE. AND THEN THE SECOND ACCOUNT IS MONEY THAT THEY COLLECT FROM THE FEES AND THE SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE.

THOSE MONIES ARE UTILIZED FOR WHATEVER THEY NEED TO USE FOR THEIR AGENCY EVERY DAY, LIKE THE UNITS, THE EQUIPMENT, TRAINING. THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY SALARIES OUT OF THE MONEY THAT THEY COLLECT.

OKAY. I KNOW THAT WE DO FUND THE SALARIES OF THE OTHER CONSTABLES IN THE PARISH, BUT I'M NOT AWARE THAT WE GIVE THEM ANY

[02:50:03]

THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM.

ANYTHING ELSE? COUNCILWOMAN ROCCA. NOTHING FOR YOU.

CONSTABLE. UM, ANGIE, CAN YOU PLEASE COME UP? THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM. I'M LOOKING AT THIS ITEM, IT SAYS. CAPITAL EXPENSE BUDGET TO APPROPRIATE $163,700 FROM UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCES, CONSISTING OF $79,700 FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND $84,000 FROM THE CITY CONSTABLE COURT COST FUND. CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THOSE DOLLARS ARE COMING FROM THOSE TWO DIFFERENT PLACES AND A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT AN UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE IS? SO, DURING THE BUDGET, THE 2026 BUDGET DISCUSSIONS. THE CONSTABLE HAD EXPRESSED THAT SHE NEEDED ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO HIRE SOME ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL. WE MADE A COMMITMENT TO LOOK AT HER. SELF-GENERATED REVENUES, WHICH IS THE CITY COURT COST FUND OF 84, 000, COMING FROM SAVINGS THAT WAS GENERATED OVER THE OVER COLLECTION OF REVENUES OR THE UNDERSPENT OF EXPENDITURES. THAT MONEY FALLS INTO FUND BALANCE AND CAN BE USED FOR ANYTHING THAT THE CONSTABLE FIELD SEEMS NECESSARY. SO THE ADMINISTRATION COMPROMISED AND IS FUNDING ONE POSITION, AND SHE MUST FUND ONE POSITION OUT OF HER COURT COST FUND.

FUND BALANCE IS GENERATED FROM IN THE GENERAL FUND FROM THE SAME WAY EITHER AN OVER COLLECTION OF REVENUE OR AN UNDERSPENT OF EXPENDITURES. SO, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS DECIDED TO REMOVE $79,700 FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEE.

YES. ALL RIGHT, CAN I HAVE SOMEBODY FROM THE ADMINISTRATION COME UP? PLEASE? DO YOU AGREE WITH EVERYTHING? FINANCE DIRECTOR HAS JUST SAID? YES, THAT'S CORRECT. WHEN THE MAYOR CAME AND SPOKE, HE SAID THAT HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE CONSTABLE WAS PUBLIC SAFETY AND SO HE AGREED TO FUND HER TWO POSITIONS.

OKAY. IS IT TRUE AND ACCURATE THAT WE NO LONGER HAVE CONSTABLES DOWNSTAIRS GUARDING THE BUILDING? THOSE HAVE BEEN REMOVED? TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, YES, MA'AM.

OKAY. AND WAS THAT ALSO AGREED BY ADMINISTRATION? IT WAS, SO WE COULD FREE UP SOME OF THE CONSTABLE STAFF TO DO SOME OF OUR OTHER DUTIES IN GUARDING, WHICH INCLUDE PROTECTING CITY COURT. WE AGREED TO. LET HER TAKE THOSE OFFICERS TO DO THOSE OTHER FUNCTIONS.

OKAY, AND AT OUR LAST MEETING, WHERE WE HAD THE CONSTABLE UP AT THE PODIUM, THERE WAS A STATEMENT MADE THAT THIS IS THE MOST UNSECURE BUILDING IN ALL THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, WHICH OBVIOUSLY PUTS THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT SIT UP HERE EVERY NIGHT AT RISK, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT PUTS ALL OF OUR STAFF AT RISK WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT BREACHES PUBLICLY, IN OPEN MEETINGS. HAVE YOU ALL DONE ANYTHING TO REMEDY SOME OF THOSE BREACHES? OUR SAFETY IS OUR CONCERN, BUT OUR STAFF SAFETY. IS OUR BIGGEST CONCERN, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TO PROTECT AND SERVE. WE'RE HERE TO SERVE. SO IT'S A LITTLE ALARMING WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT PROTECT AND SERVE, KIND OF PUT THAT INFORMATION OUT.

SO CAN YOU PLEASE JUST TELL US, WITHOUT BREACHING ANY SECURITY DETAILS, IS OUR BUILDING NOW SECURE? HAVE YOU ALL MADE EFFORTS SINCE THAT BREACH WAS ANNOUNCED TO THE PUBLIC, THE STATE, AND GOD, AND EVERYBODY? YES, MA'AM.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST ONES AS WE REINSTALLED THE METAL DETECTORS DOWNSTAIRS. NOW, I WILL SAY, WE'RE NOT AT THE FULL CAPACITY WE'D LIKE TO BE. WE ARE BETTER THAN WE WERE. WE'VE INSTALLED MORE BADGE ENTRANCES. WE'VE CLOSED OFF SOME. NOW YOU CAN ONLY ENTER THE BUILDING THROUGH ONE SIDE FOR THE PUBLIC. WE'VE PUT AN ADDITIONAL TWO OFFICERS FROM BRPD IN THE BUILDING TO REPLACE WHAT WE LOST FROM THE CONSTABLE. AND MORE ADDITIONAL MEASURES AND MORE PERMANENT MEASURES WILL BE ADDED. TO THE 1ST FLOOR, IN PARTICULAR HERE IN THE COMING WEEKS, AS A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT STARTS WITH FUNDING THAT WAS WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN

[02:55:04]

I UNDERSTAND WHO WAS DOING IT.

MY QUESTION IS, WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY HAS IT ALWAYS BEEN? I DON'T KNOW, COUNCILMAN. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I THINK IT'S ALWAYS BEEN BRPD'S RESPONSIBILITY. AND THE CONSTABLE REACHED A GENTLE LADY, A GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT WITH BRPD AND ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE OVER THAT ROLE FOR A TIME PERIOD. AND THAT AGREEMENT HAS NOW LAPPED. SO NOW BRPD IS. TAKING BACK OVER THEIR RESPONSIBILITY OF SECURING THE BUILDING.

WOULD YOU SAY THAT'S ACCURATE, MASON? COUNSELOR, I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, THE CONSTABLE SAID, IT'S ACCURATE, SO IT MUST BE, BUT I WASN'T HEARING IT. WOULD YOU SAY THAT'S AN ACCURATE ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION? YES, THAT'S ACCURATE. WHAT HAPPENED, WHEN I BECAME THE CONSTABLE IN 2019, WHEN I TOOK OFFICE, THE PREVIOUS CONSTABLE HAD OFFICE SPACE IN THIS BUILDING. HE HAD THE DAY-HOUR OFFICES IN THIS BUILDING. I MADE THE DECISION TO MOVE MY EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE STREET AND BRING MY ADMINISTRATORS IN THE SPACE THAT WE ALREADY HAD IN THE BUILDING. SO UPON DOING THAT, WHEN WE CAME IN THE BUILDING, DARRELL GISSEL AND MAYOR BROOM CAME IN, WELL, DARRELL GISSEL, NOT EVEN THE MAYOR, DARRELL GISSEL CAME AND ASKED IF WE WOULD HELP OUT AND PROVIDE SECURITY FOR THE BUILDING. BECAUSE BRPD WAS SHORTHANDED AND THEY NEEDED THE EMPLOYEES BACK ON THE STREETS TO PROVIDE SECURITY ON THE SAFER BENRUTH STREETS.

IN DOING THAT, THE PREVIOUS CHIEF OF POLICE, MURPHY PAUL, AGREED TO TRANSFER FUNDING FROM HIS ACCOUNT BECAUSE OF THE OPEN POSITIONS HE HAD.

HE WAS LIKE 50 POSITIONS DOWN.

HE TRANSFERRED THE FUNDING FROM THOSE POSITIONS TO MY ACCOUNT, AND EMILY IS HERE. SHE CAN TESTIFY. I DON'T KNOW IF ANDREW REMEMBERS, BUT THEY TRANSFERRED THE FUNDING TO PAY FOR THAT POSITION AT THE FIRST FLOOR. BUT THAT FUNDING HAS NOT BEEN TRANSFERRED IN THE LAST MAYBE TWO OR THREE YEARS. I CAN'T AFFORD TO PROVIDE SECURITY IN CITY HALL WITH EMPLOYEES THAT ARE BEING PAID TO WORK IN CITY COURT. NOW, IF THE COUNCIL WANT TO FIGURE OUT HOW, OR SOMEBODY FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN GET THE FUNDING TO PAY, I'M THE REASON THAT THEY PUT THE METAL DETECTORS IN THE BUILDING. I'M THE REASON THEY PUT THE X-RAY MACHINES IN THE BUILDING. WHEN I CAME INTO THIS BUILDING AND I REALIZED HOW UNSAFE IT WAS, AND I CAN'T LIE, I CAN'T SUGARCOAT IT, IT'S UNSAFE. IT DON'T JUST PUT Y'ALL AT RISK, IT PUT ALL OF US AT RISK. BECAUSE IF A THREAT HAPPENS IN THE BUILDING, I HAVE TO RESPOND TO THE THREAT AND I WILL RESPOND TO THE THREAT. IF I'M PROVIDING SECURITY OR NOT, OUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THIS BUILDING IS SAFE.

BUT I CAN'T PROVIDE SECURITY WITHOUT THE MANPOWER. AND IF SOMEBODY FINDS ENOUGH FUNDING TO PAY FOR THE POSITIONS, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH SECURING THIS BUILDING.

BUT I CANNOT SAY I'LL PROVIDE SECURITY WITHOUT ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS IN THE BUILDING. UNDERSTOOD.

THANK YOU. ANGIE, COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS AND THE CONSTABLE WAS TALKING ABOUT SELF-GENERATED REVENUE AS IT RELATES TO OTHER ENTITIES AND OTHER PARISHES.

CAN YOU BREAK DOWN THE REVENUE? GENERATION BY THE CONSTABLE IN THERE, SOME SELF GENERATED REVENUE TO SEE THE COURT FEES AND THINGS THAT I MAKE. SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS NOT JUST SOLELY FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND, BUT THEY DO HAVE SOME SELF GENERATED REVENUES. AM I CORRECT? YES, SO THE CITY CONSTABLES OFFICE HAS 3 SOURCE OF FUNDINGS, THE GENERAL FUND. THE CITY CONSTABLE COURT COST FUND, AND THEN A TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT TRAINING FUND. THE COURT COST AND THE TRAINING FUND ARE SELF-GENERATED REVENUES THAT IS GENERATED THROUGH COURT-RELATED FINES OR FEES. SHE DOES GARNISHMENTS, TOO. THAT GENERATES A FEE FOR DOING THE GARNISHMENTS AND THEN WARRANT COLLECTION, AS WAS MENTIONED.

SO IN THE COURT COST FUND, WITHOUT THIS POSITION, IT'S TYPICALLY JUST SALARIES AND CONTRACTUAL SERVICES USED TO OPERATE HER OFFICE, AND THE GENERAL FUND IS USED TO SUPPORT. UM, DID I SAY SALARIES, I'M SORRY, SUPPLIES AND CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, AND THE COURT COSTS. THE GENERAL FUND IS USED TO SUPPORT SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR EMPLOYEES, AND THEN THE THIRD FUND IS HER.

EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING, WHICH IS SOLELY USED FOR TRAINING THE OFFICERS, UH, EQUIPMENT THAT IS NEEDED FOR THE OFFICERS TO DO THEIR JOBS. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN HUDSON, CHIEF MORRIS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU MAYBE WANTED TO COME AND PROVIDE SOME

[03:00:01]

NOBODY'S TOLD ME THAT IT'S THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S JOB TO SECURE THIS BUILDING. THIS ISN'T A CITY BUILDING. IT'S A PARISH-WIDE BUILDING. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY CITY EMPLOYEES THAT WORK HERE.

THERE'S CERTAINLY NO BATON ROUGE POLICE OFFICERS THAT WORK HERE OTHER THAN THE ONES THAT WE HAVE ASSIGNED TO MAYOR PROTECTION. WE HAVE ASSIGNED TWO HERE RECENTLY. MY UNDERSTANDING TO ASSIST THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE WITH SECURITY OF THE BUILDING, IF IT'S GOING TO BE THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S JOB NOW TO SECURE THIS BUILDING, THEN I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE A BIGGER, BROADER CONVERSATION ABOUT.

MANPOWER AND MONEY AND THE WAY IT NEEDS TO BE DONE. BECAUSE THAT HAS NOT BEEN MY UNDERSTANDING. THAT THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOW IN CHARGE OF MAKING SURE THAT THIS BUILDING IS SECURE.

YEAH. SO, AND THANK YOU.

THAT'S THE CONTEXT THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR. IN DISCUSSIONS WITH ASHLEY, AND SHE CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ON THIS, THERE'S NO WAY WHERE IT'S DEFINED IN STATUTE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SECURITY OF THIS BUILDING. THERE'S NOTHING IN THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT THAT IT SAYS, X, Y, OR Z IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS COUNCIL AS THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AS THE CEO OF THE PARISH.

TO MAKE SURE THAT IT GETS DONE, RIGHT? I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT. AND SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'VE GOT TO GET A PLAN TOGETHER FOR THIS. LET ME ASK THIS. DID THE PUBLIC, WHEN THEY CAME IN TONIGHT, DOES ANYBODY KNOW? AND THIS ISN'T A QUESTION FOR YOU, NECESSARILY. MAYBE MASON KNOWS.

DID THE PUBLIC GO THROUGH THE METAL DETECTORS TONIGHT WHEN THEY CAME IN? YOU DID? YOU DID? OKAY. THAT'S ENCOURAGING. SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON A PLAN. I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS. I DON'T KNOW. WE'RE MANNING THEM. NOT THE CONSTABLE. YEAH, BUT BEING STAFFED BY MEMBERS OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND A WARD CONSTABLE. GOTCHA. SO, IN REGARDS TO... ULTIMATELY, VOLUNTEERS. THAT'S WHO'S STAFFED HIM FOR THE PAST TWO MEETINGS.

GOTCHA. IN REGARDS TO THE ITEM AT HAND, AND IT IS STILL CONNECTED TO SECURITY BECAUSE IT COULD IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO DO SECURITY, I SUPPOSE. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE WORKED OUT A DEAL WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO DO THIS, AND I THINK IT'S FINE. WE JUST GOT TO KEEP SECURITY AT THE FOREFRONT IN THIS DAY AND AGE. THANK YOU ALL. APPRECIATE YOU ALL'S DISCUSSION. COUNCILMAN DON JR. THIS HAS BEEN A HEALTHY DIALOGUE AND DISCUSSION WITH THE CONSTABLE, THE POLICE CHIEF, MAYOR'S OFFICE, THIS COUNCIL ABOUT SECURING THIS BUILDING. I THINK COUNCILMAN HUDSON MAKES SOME GOOD POINTS.

IT MAY NOT BE ANYWHERE WRITTEN IN STATUTE OR POLICY. WE MAY, AS A COUNCIL, NEED TO LOOK AT AN ORDINANCE OR POLICY TO PUT IN PLACE TO FUND THE SECURING OF THIS BUILDING. IT'S INTERESTING WHEN WE HAD THIS DIALOGUE, IT'S NOWHERE IN STATUTE OR POLICY OR LAW.

YOU WHERE I'M AWARE OF, AND EVEN WHEN WE DISCUSSED, NOBODY COULD FIND, WHERE IS THIS? POLICY FOR THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO HAVE A SECURITY DETAIL BY BRPD, YET THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT HAS A SECURITY DETAIL BY FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE THAT FOLLOWS HIM OR HER AROUND AND SECURES THEM. SO IT DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE IN STATUTE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, SO WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE IN STATUTE TO SECURE THIS BUILDING? I THINK WE NEED TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT IDENTIFYING FUNDING. I DON'T CARE IF IT'S THE SHERIFF, I DON'T CARE IF IT'S BRPD, I DON'T CARE IF IT'S THE CONSTABLE, WHOEVER THAT'S A POST-CERTIFIED OFFICER.

TO SECURE THIS BUILDING, I HONESTLY THINK IT'S UNACCEPTABLE TO HAVE VOLUNTEERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF WARNING PEOPLE AND SEEING THAT THEY HAVE WEAPONS ON THEM COMING INTO THIS BUILDING. I DON'T THINK ANY OF US ARE SERIOUS ABOUT SECURING THIS BUILDING.

IF THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SATISFIED WITH HAVING, I THINK WE NEED TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT IT. WE NEED TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT IT YESTERDAY. AND PUT SOMETHING IN PLACE AND PUT SOME FUNDING BEHIND IT. SO WHETHER IT'S THE COUNCIL, BRPD, I SOUND LIKE THE CHIEF, THINK IT'S THE SHERIFF, BECAUSE IT'S A PARIS BUILDING, THAT THEY NEED TO DO IT. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, LINK? NO? BUT WE NEED TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT IDENTIFYING SOME FUNDING AND DESIGNATE AN AGENCY THAT CAN HIRE ADEQUATE POST-CERTIFIED STAFF TO SECURE THIS BUILDING. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, ANYBODY ELSE? DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST. IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

[132. 26-00055 ]

[03:05:03]

WASTE COLLECTION DAYS TO THE SELECTED VENDOR, CLEAN HARBORS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC., AND DIRECTING THE EXECUTION OF THE CONTRACT COVERING SUCH WORK FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $500,000 ANNUALLY BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. CAN I GET, IS IT ADAM? IS ADAM SMITH HERE? HEY, ADAM. HEY. HOW'S IT GOING? YOU KNEW I WAS COMING. YOU DIDN'T KNOW. SO I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU FOR A MINUTE ABOUT CLEAN HARBORS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE'S AN ACTIVE FEDERAL LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM DEALING WITH POLLUTION. IT'S FOR A SUPERFUND SITE. OKAY.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THIS? I'M NOT. OKAY.

WELL. I HAD A CONSTITUENT REACH OUT TO LET ME KNOW THAT OUR SELECTION FOR THIS WAS SOMEONE WHO HAD AN ACTIVE FEDERAL LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM. I DID READ THE LAWSUIT. IT RELATES TO ROLLINS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES. I'LL JUST FILL YOU IN. HERE YOU GO, ADAM. HERE'S THE DEAL. THEY PURCHASED THE ROLLINS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES SITE, AND I THINK IT'S CALLED DEVIL'S SWAMP. AND ANYWAY, IT'S IN BAD CONDITION. AND SO, ANYWAY, IN MY ESTIMATION, THIS COMPANY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT OTHER THAN LOOKS TO ME. LIKE, NOT GREAT. DUE DILIGENCE ON THE PURCHASE OF A PROPERTY. SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT FOR ANY PUBLIC THAT WAS WATCHING. OKAY.

ANYWAY, BUT YOU'RE NOT AWARE OF ANY. YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THIS COMPANY TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE OUR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND DISPOSE OF THEM SAFELY? WE DO. AND I GET I AM FAMILIAR WITH THAT AREA THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, WITH THE ROLLINS ENVIRONMENTAL, BUT I'M AGAIN, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT PART. UH, WE DID, THIS WAS A AN RFP, SO WE LOOKED AT BOTH QUALIFICATIONS AND PRICE. THEY DO, UH, THEY, THEY DO ONE IN, UH, SAINT TAMMANY, THEY DO SOME OF THE OTHER ONES IN SOUTH LOUISIANA, SO THEY'VE GOT THE EXPERIENCE TO DO IT. UH, THEIR, THEIR COST WERE IN LINE, SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY AND THEIR DEQ PERMITS ARE IN PLACE. THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE. Y'ALL WOULD HAVE DONE YOUR DUE DILIGENCE ON THAT. CORRECT. A LOT OF THOSE THINGS WERE REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY HAD TO TURN IN.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION

[133. 26-00057]

ITEM 133. AUTHORIZED MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN OPERATIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH LAPID LLC FOR METHANE MITIGATION PROJECT AT THE EAST BATON ROUGE, PARISH RENEWABLE ENERGY CENTER BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. HEY, ADAM, I'M SORRY. IT'S ME AGAIN.

ISN'T THAT A SONG? IT'S ME AGAIN. I'M JUST KIDDING. HI, IT'S ME ON THE PROBLEM. OKAY, THAT'S THE SONG. SO, TALK TO US ABOUT, CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT THIS AND WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT AND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE? SURE. SO THIS IS THE CLOSED LANDFILL. IT'S ACTUALLY, WHAT WE CALL IT NOW IS THE RENEWABLE ENERGY CENTER. IT WAS FORMERLY CALLED DEVIL'S SWAMP LANDFILL, WHICH IS ADJACENT TO THAT. SUPERFUND SITE. THE SUPERFUND SITE. THE SUPERFUND SITE IS DEVIL'S SWAMP. THANK YOU. THEY GOT CONFUSED A LOT.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'VE SINCE RENAMED IT THE RENEWABLE ENERGY CENTER.

AGAIN. IT IS A CLOSED LANDFILL, AND WHAT THIS IS, IT'S A TECHNOLOGY THAT IT'S CALLED METHANE DESTRUCTION. AND SO IT CONVERTS THE METHANE TO WATER AND CARBON DIOXIDE, WHICH IS MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY FROM A GREENHOUSE GAS STANDPOINT THAN METHANE IS.

THIS TECHNOLOGY. WHAT THEY ULTIMATELY DO IS THEY SELL IT FOR CARBON CREDITS. AND WE GET 20% OF THE ROYALTIES FROM THOSE CARBON CREDITS. AND THAT'S 20% OF THE GROSS ROYALTIES. SO WE DON'T HAVE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT, OKAY, WELL, HOW MUCH DID THEY MAKE? HOW MUCH DID THEY SPEND? THAT TYPE OF THING. SO THAT WILL GO THE 20%, IT'S ESTIMATED AT $100,000 PER YEAR THAT WILL GO BACK INTO THE LANDFILL FUND.

AND RIGHT NOW, WHATEVER METHANE IS LEFT, IT'S GOING INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. AND WE'RE NOT GENERATING ANY MONEY. SO IT'S $100,000 MORE THAT WE DON'T HAVE RIGHT NOW. IT'S

[03:10:01]

THIS IS ABOUT THE BEST THING THAT YOU CAN DO WITH IT. IT SEEMS LIKE A WIN-WIN. HOW WAS THE COMPANY SELECTED? THEY APPROACHED US. THIS DID NOT GO THROUGH ANY TYPE OF COMPETITIVE SELECTION. THEY APPROACHED US. WE LOOKED INTO IT. THERE'S SOME SIMILAR TECHNOLOGIES. THERE'S ANOTHER ONE WHERE THEY THEY PLUG AND ABANDON THE WELLS, AND THEN THEY SELL THE CARBON CREDITS, BUT WE'VE GOT A COLLECTION SYSTEM IN PLACE.

THEY'RE ALREADY CAPPED. I'M NOT EVEN SURE THAT WOULD WORK OUT FOR US. SO THIS IS, FROM WHAT WE COULD FIND, THIS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT USES THIS SPECIFIC TECHNOLOGY. OKAY. AND HOW LONG DOES THE OPERATIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT PERSIST FOR? IT'S A 10-YEAR CONTRACT. IT'S A 10-YEAR CONTRACT. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME.

ADAM, I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION. THIS IS JUST FOR THAT ONE SITE, THOUGH.

THIS IS JUST FOR THE ONE SITE, BECAUSE AT THE NORTH LANDFILL, WE HAVE A GAS COLLECTION SYSTEM, BUT THAT IS REGULATORILY REQUIRED BY LDEQ AND EPA AND ALL THAT STUFF. SO THAT ONE YOU HAVE TO HAVE IN PLACE. THE REASON THAT YOU GET CARBON CREDITS IS BECAUSE THIS IS A CLOSED LANDFILL, WHERE WE'RE NO LONGER REQUIRED BY THE AGENCIES TO HAVE. A GAS COLLECTION SYSTEM IN PLACE AND DO ANYTHING WITH IT. SO IT'S GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND. THAT'S WHY THEY CAN GET THE CARBON CREDITS AT THIS LOCATION AND NOT THE OTHER ONE. AWESOME. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.

JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY. THE $100,000, THAT'S AN ESTIMATE

[134. 26-00058 ]

DON'T LEAVE THEM. I'M CALLING THE NEXT ONE. 134, AUTHORIZE MAYOR PRESIDENT ANDAL OBROSCO TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT, NUMBER ONE, TO THE CONTRACT WITH BLACK & VEATCH CORPORATION FOR FINANCIAL MODELING SERVICES.

IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $36,957.50. BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? IF THEY DON'T, GO TO COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED MY EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 134. HEY, I JUST WANTED TO ASK WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. I'M GOING TO DEFER THIS ONE TO MARK. HEY, MARK. COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS IS BLACK AND VEATCH IN 2001. CREATED THE SEWER FINANCIAL RATE MODEL. THIS IS HOW WE COME UP WITH THE SEWER USER FEE RATES AND THE COST OF SERVICE RATES AS REQUIRED BY THE SEWER USER FEE ORDINANCE.

SO WHAT THIS ITEM IS, WE'RE REQUESTING AN ADDITIONAL $36,957.50. I ASKED ADAM THIS YEAR IF WE COULD HAVE THEM SHADOW US AS WE DO THE UPGRADES TO THE MODEL. SO THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE A STAND, THEY WOULD ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO STAND IN FOR US. SHOULD I NOT BE ABLE TO DO IT. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT CAN ACTUALLY DO THIS. THE MODEL IS PROPRIETARY TO THEM. THEY DEVELOPED IT FOR US. AND I GO IN AND UPGRADE AND CHANGE THE DATA. THAT SPITS OUT THE RATES FOR THE SEWER, USER FEES AND THE COST OF SERVICE RATES.

BUT THEY HAVE CREATED IT, AND I MAKE CHANGES WHEN I NEED TO MAKE TO IT. BUT WE WOULD APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FOR THIS ITEM. OKAY. AND SO, I MEAN, ARE YOU PLANNING TO RETIRE? I ALREADY RETIRED ONCE, BUT EVENTUALLY I'LL HAVE TO.

ALL RIGHT. OR SOMEBODY WILL THROW ME OUT, BUT ONE DAY I WILL, YES.

OKAY, AND SO THIS IS JUST TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT. IT'S KIND OF A BACKSTOP TO HELP US BE PREPARED FOR WHEN THAT DAY COMES.

OKAY, ALL RIGHT. I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE YOU ALL IN A BAD POSITION. NO, UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU. THANK

[135. 26-00060 ]

ITEM 135. AUTHORIZED MAYOR PRESIDENT ANDOR ROSCOE TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER TWO TO THE CONTRACT WITH DOMAIN DESIGN ARCHITECTURE FOR ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH THE SWWTP ADMINISTRATION. BUILDING RENOVATION IN THE MOUNTAIN. I TAKE SEAT 65,000 BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE, GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY

[136. 26-00070 ]

[03:15:02]

ITEM 136, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST, BATON ROUGE, TITLE 10, CHAPTER 25, USE OF CITY DOCKS, SO AS TO ADD SECTION A DESCRIPTION, RULES AND LIMITATIONS PROVIDING FOR THE USE OF THE DOCK, AGREEMENT BY ALL DOCKING VESSELS TO ABIDE BY ORDINANCE, PROVISION FOR CONTRACTS BETWEEN CITY, PARISH, AND COMMERCIAL RIVER. PASSENGER VESSELS, SPECIAL VESSELS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TOURIST TRADE, AND UPDATE TO SECTION G, FORMERLY SECTION F, DOCKAGE CHARGES FOR INLAND PASSENGER WATERCRAFT. UPDATING DOCKAGE FEES TO PACKS PER PASSENGER FEE FOR A VESSEL FEE DETERMINED BY VESSEL CAPACITY. BY COUNCILWOMAN CAROLYN COLEMAN AND OFFICE OF THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT. ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?

[137. 26-00082 ]

ITEM 137, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NO. 1 TO THE PREVIOUSLY EXECUTED ENTITY-STATE AGREEMENT WITH STATE OF LOUISIANA. VIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT, NORTH 22ND STREET TO U.S. 61, FLORIDA BOULEVARD CORRIDOR.

ENHANCEMENT BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR. ANYONE

[138. 26-00083]

138. AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT AND EXECUTE A GRANT AMENDMENT AGREEMENT BY LOUISIANA DOTD. THAT INCREASES THE TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST FROM 200, 000 TO 258 138.20.

WHICH WILL CONSEQUENTLY INCREASE THE LOCAL MATCH FROM FROM FORTY THOUSAND TO FIFTY ONE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED TWENTY SEVEN DOLLARS TWENTY FOUR CENTS. IN CONNECTION WITH THE STATE PROJECT RIVER ROAD MULTI-USE CORRIDOR ENHANCEMENT PROJECT BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING

[139. 26-00085 ]

ITEM 139, THERE'S BEEN A REQUEST TO DEFER THIS FOR TWO WEEKS, AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH THE BIRDVILLE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND SLP DEVELOPMENT LLC, OUTLINING THE TERMS OF TRANSFER OF $1.2 MILLION IN TRAFFIC IMPACT FEES FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A ROUNDABOUT ON BLUE BONNET AND HARVEST AND WAY BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR. AGAIN, THERE'S BEEN A REQUEST BY DOTD TO DEFER THIS FOR TWO WEEKS. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS?

[140. 26-00091 ]

ITEM 140, CERTIFYING. THE LADOTD AND CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE AGREES TO CERTAIN STIPULATIONS REQUIRED BY LADOTD. AS PREREQUISITES FOR PARTICIPATION BY THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE ON THE OFF-SYSTEM BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE

[141. 26-00099]

$99,200.69 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK

[142. 26-00100 ]

EVERYONE PARTY TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT OF THE CONTRACT WITH WAGONER FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.

FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MUBI ART CAPACITY PROJECT, JONES CREEK EXTENSION, TIGER BEND, AND JEFFERSON, AN AMOUNT THAT I TAKE TO BE $296,169.59 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR. ANYONE HERE WISHING

[ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES ]

ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE 143 THROUGH 149 TOGETHER. LOT 6 AND 23, SQUARE 07, SUBDIVISION ROOSEVELT, PLACE, METRO COUNCIL, DISTRICT 02, KINNEY, HIGH BIDDER DAVID THOMAS III, $100. LOT 12, SQUARE 44, SUBDIVISION UNIVERSITY, PLACE METRO COUNCIL, DISTRICT 2, KINNEY, MOTOR HOME. LOT 14, SQUARE 8, SUBDIVISION MOUND CITY, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN, MOTOR HOME. LOT 10A, SQUARE 34, SUBDIVISION EDEN PARK, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS, MOTOR ON. BLOCK 4, SQUARE 27, SUBDIVISION EDEN PARK, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 07, HARRIS, MODA-OWNED. BLOCK 04, SUBDIVISION HIGHLAND FARMS, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 02, KINNEY, MODA-OWNED. BLOCK 1 AND 2, SUBDIVISION SHADY GROVE, METRO COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN. ¿ANY MOTION? ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK

[03:20:01]

WE'RE GOING TO DO ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER INTRODUCTION FIRST. ITEM A, AUTHORIZATION FROM MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND OR CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH EAG, GULF COAST, LLC, AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED. $200,000 TO SUPPORT ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FINANCIAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND COMPLIANCE FRAMEWORK NEEDED FOR THE NEW AIRPORT AUTHORITY BY THE AVIATION DIRECTOR. I NEED A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES FOR THE ITEM TO BE INTRODUCED. IS THERE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ABNEROSA. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION

[ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS ]

BE THROUGH. I'M SORRY. V. BE THROUGH V. I NEED A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES. WE HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES. MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, 2ND BY COUNCILMAN DONE JR. WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MOTION.

THE WAY THE RULES, ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK

[Items 150 - 152]

SEEING NONE, WE HAVE A VOTE ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? OBJECTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST. ITEMS CANNOT BE HEARD.

APPOINTMENTS. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE 50 THROUGH 52, 150 THROUGH 152 TOGETHER.

VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT OF COMMISSIONERS, NUMBER 5, EASTSIDE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTING OR REPLACING OSCAR LEJEUNE. CONSIDERATION OF REPLACING WILLIAM PIEDNO, WHO IS NOT SEEKING REAPPOINTMENT. AND CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTING OR REPLACING DAVID RAPOLO. CURRENT BALLOT, OSCAR LEJEUNE REQUESTING REAPPOINTMENT, DAVID RAPOLO REQUESTING REAPPOINTMENT, AND MICHAEL JOHNSON SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A

[Items 153 - 159]

CHANGE ORDERS, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE 153 THROUGH 159 TOGETHER. 153, PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR, 19JDC, CONTRACTOR JOHNSON CONTROLS, INC. CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT $151,716. 154, LACEY COMMUNITY CENTER CONTRACTOR, RYAN M. CURTIS, LLC, ADDITIONAL TIME TO RECONCILE ACTUAL COMPLETION OF THE WORK FOR FINAL ACCEPTANCE. 155, CAPITAL AREA, UNITED WAY RENOVATION, CONTRACTOR BUILD COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION, LLC, CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, IT'S JUST TIME, ADDED TO RECONCILE, ACTUAL FINISH OF THE WORK WITH THE FINAL ACCEPTANCE.

156, OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND RENOVATION, CONTRACTOR JSTAR ENTERPRISES, INC., CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, $1,526. 157, MCCOACH ROAD IMPROVEMENTS, CLEARING AND GRUBBING PROJECT, CONTRACTOR, M&J CIVIL CONSTRUCTION, CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT CREDIT, $8,940.70. 158. SALES TAX STREET AND ROAD REHABILITATION PROGRAM PROJECT 19-5, FOSTER DRIVE, FLORIDA TO AIRLINE, CONTRACTOR, BARBER BROTHERS CONTRACTING COMPANY, LLC, CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT $290,556.43, 159 WEST MCKINLEY STREET, ASTOR STREET AREA, ADA TRANSITION PROJECT, CONTRACTOR GRADY CRAWFORD CONSTRUCTION, INC., CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT $12,340.84.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK

[Items 160 - 165]

FINAL ACCEPTANCES. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE 160 TO 165 TOGETHER.

LEISURE COMMUNITY CENTER CONTRACTOR RYAN M. CURTIS, LLC.

FINAL COST $225,000. 161, CAPITAL AREA, UNITED WAY RENOVATION CONTRACTOR, BILL COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION, LLC.

FINAL COST $1,209,083.74.

162, OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND RENOVATIONS, CONTRACTOR, JSTAR ENTERPRISES, INC., FINAL COST $100,363. 163, AIRLINE TAX STREET AND ROAD REHABILITATION PROGRAM PROJECT, 19-5, FOSTER DRIVE, FLORIDA, AIRLINE CONTRACTOR, BARBER BROTHERS CONTRACTING, LLC, FINAL COST $4,256,743.43. 164, MCCOCHE ROAD CLEARING AND GRUBBING PROJECT. CONTRACTOR, M&J CIVIL CONSTRUCTION, LLC, FINAL COST $760,227.95. 165 WEST MCKINLEY STREET, ASTOR STREET, AREA 88, TRANSITION PROJECT. CONTRACTOR, GRADY CRAWFORD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC., FINAL COST $373,609.64. ANYONE HERE

[Items 166 & 167]

[03:25:02]

ACCEPTANCE OF LOW BIDS, 166 AND 167. WE'LL TAKE THEM TOGETHER.

ACCEPTING THE LOW BID FROM THE BATON ROUGE METROPOLITAN AIRPORT, FAA, OLD RADAR BUILDING DEMOLITION, CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, AND ENTERPRISES, $22,100. 167 LANDSCAPING, ARBORIST AND FLOWER BEDS AT EBRP LIBRARIES CITY PARISH PROJECT A25988.52 LOW BID CORPORATE GREEN, DOING BUSINESS AS GREEN SEASON. SEVENTY FIVE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED FIFTY NINE DOLLARS AND FIFTY SIX CENTS.

ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK

[168. 25-00157]