[Presentations and Special Recognitions]
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ALL RIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON TO TODAY'S RECOGNITION FOR THIS WEEK'S METRO COUNCIL MEETING.
FIRST, WE WILL HAVE METRO COUNCILWOMAN CAROLYN COLEMAN FOR DISTRICT 10, RECOGNIZED DR.
RAY ROOS, LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT.
I SAY GOOD AFTERNOON TO ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE ASSEMBLED AND THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE WATCHING US AT HOME.
AND SO THIS AFTERNOON HERE, WE HAVE COME TO RECOGNIZE, TO BEGIN THIS RECOGNITION TIME WITH NONE OTHER THAN OUR PRESIDENT OF LSU. SO GIVE IT UP.
FOR HIM AS I BRING HIM AND SO AS I DO TWO THINGS HERE PRESENT A CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION AND THAT IS PRESENTED TO DR.
WADE SOME FOLKS SAY IT, ROOSAY.
ROOS, A LOUISIANA NATIVE AND FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE GRADUATE, HAS DEDICATED HIS CAREER TO ADVANCING HIGHER EDUCATION THROUGH LEADERSHIP, SCHOLARSHIP, AND SERVICE, BRINGING WITH HIM A STRONG FOUNDATION IN ECONOMICS, ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATION, AND PRIVATE SECTOR INNOVATION.
AND BEFORE HE WAS APPOINTED THE 29TH PRESIDENT OF THE LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM IN NOVEMBER OF 2025, DR.
ROO SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT OF MCNEESE STATE UNIVERSITY WHERE HE LED A REMARKABLE INSTITUTIONAL TURNAROUND BY REVERSING A 14-YEAR ENROLLMENT DECLINE, STRENGTHENING RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, AND FOSTERING A CULTURE OF TRANSPARENCY, COLLABORATION, AND MEASURABLE OUTCOMES.
AND THROUGH HIS VISIONARY LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO STUDENT SUCCESS, DR.
ROUSSEY STRENGTHENED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, EXPANDED PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENT, AND BUILT PARTNERSHIPS THAT POSITION INSTITUTIONS TO BETTER SERVE BOTH THEIR STUDENTS AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY.
AND NOW AS PRESIDENT OF THE LOUISIANA STATE SYSTEM, THAT RESIDES IN DISTRICT 10.
ROOS STANDS AT THE HELM OF LOUISIANA'S FLAGSHIP SYSTEM, GUIDING ITS INSTITUTION WITH A FORWARD-THINKING VISION.
AND NOW THEREFORE, THIS CERTIFICATE OF ACCOMMODATION IS PRESENTED IN RECOGNITION OF DR.
WADE ROOS FOR HIS COMMITMENT TO HIGHER EDUCATION THANK YOU.
HIS DEDICATION TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF LOUISIANA STUDENTS, AND HIS LEADERSHIP IN GUIDING THE LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM TOWARD A FUTURE DEFINED BY EXCELLENCE, ACCESS, AND LASTING IMPACT.
SO THIS RECOGNITION IS OFFERED WITH SINCERE APPRECIATION AND WITH CONFIDENCE THAT HIS LEADERSHIP WILL CONTINUE.
TO ELEVATE BOTH THE INSTITUTION AND THE PEOPLE IT SERVES.
SO IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I HEREBY SET MY LITTLE HANDS ON THIS 8TH DAY OF APRIL IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 2026, HONORING NONE OTHER THAN LSU PRESIDENT DR. WADE ROOSCH.
AND LET ME TELL YOU, THERE ARE 12 OF US, DUH, 12 OF US.
BUT WHAT WE HAVE DECIDED TO DO IS TO MAKE YOU AN HONORARY ONE OF US.
YES, INDEED, EVERYBODY DO NOT RECEIVE THIS.
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IN THE SPIRIT, I'M ALL IN.SO NOW IF I STICK YOU, YEAH, JUST HUG ME.
AND SO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN AND BOYS AND GIRLS, I'M GOING TO ASK THAT YOU STAND AND GIVE DR.
RUTH A STANDING OVATION AT THIS TIME.
YOU SEE IT, YOU SEE IT, YOU SEE THAT.
WOW, WHAT AN INCREDIBLE HONOR.
DO THAT AND I HAVE IT IN THESE PREPARED REMARKS AND WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THAT AT THE END OF THIS AS I INTRODUCE EVERYONE.
I DO HAVE SOME PREPARED REMARKS BUT I HAVE BEEN TREATED AS FAMILY AND THE HOUR WE SPENT TOGETHER DOWNSTAIRS I TOLD JASON, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, I SAID WE SHOULDN'T HAVE PREPARED REMARKS WE SHOULD SPEAK FROM THE HEART BECAUSE THIS IS TRULY FAMILY AND EVERYBODY'S IN THE PUSHING IN THE SAME DIRECTIONS TO TO A BETTER LOUISIANA AND IT STARTS RIGHT HERE IN BATON ROUGE.
HOWEVER, THEY SAID I SHOULD STICK TO MY REMARKS AND GET THROUGH THIS BECAUSE THERE'S SOME MEANINGFUL STUFF IN THERE THAT WE REALLY WANT YOU TO HEAR.
SO I'M GOING TO START BY THANKING ALL OF YOU.
NUMBER ONE, MAYOR PRESIDENT SID EDWARDS.
PRO TEM UP THERE, I KNOW YOU'RE FILLING IN, BUT WE WANT TO THANK YOU.
AND NONE OTHER THAN OUR LSU COUNCILWOMAN.
WE KNOW HER AS NUMBER ONE IN OUR HEART, CAROLYN COLEMAN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WARM, WARM WELCOME.
ALL THE DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARIS METRO COUNCIL, I'M WADE ROOS, I'M PRESIDENT OF LSU AND IT IS TRULY AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.
A LITTLE MORE THAN A HUNDRED DAYS AGO I CAME TO THIS POSITION WITH BOUNDLESS OPTIMISM ABOUT LSU'S FUTURE AND DETERMINED TO COMMUNICATE A VISION THAT CHAMPIONS BOTH EXCELLENCE AND ACCESSIBILITY.
AS THE STATE'S FLAGSHIP, WE RECRUIT TOP SCHOLARS AND PRODUCE MEANINGFUL RESEARCH THAT IMPACTS EVERYTHING FROM AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRY TO HEALTH CARE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT.
STILL, STILL, WE WANT TO BE AND WE WILL BE A BEACON OF HOPE TO STUDENTS AND TO FUTURE STUDENTS.
OUR COMMUNITIES NEED TO HEAR THIS MESSAGE VERY CLEAR THAT THERE IS A PLACE FOR THEM AT LSU.
THE PROMISE OF EDUCATION, AMONG OTHER TIMELESS VALUES, WAS INSTILLED IN ME IN A PLACE CALLED GOLDEN MEADOW, LOUISIANA, A LITTLE TOWN ABOUT 100 MILES FROM HERE.
THERE I WAS TAUGHT, YOU SHOW UP, YOU LISTEN, YOU WORK HARD, AND YOU OWN YOUR RESULTS.
THAT'S SORT OF A GREAT SEGUE TO WHY I'M HERE TODAY.
WE'RE SHOWING TO FORMALLY INTRODUCE OURSELVES TO YOU AS OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN AND LEARN FROM YOU.
WE COMMIT TO WORKING HARD ALONGSIDE YOU AND ANYONE FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO WANTS TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
FINALLY, WE ARE WILLING TO OWN THE RESULTS FROM THE EFFORTS UPON WHICH WE EMBARK.
ABOVE ALL, I'M WILLING TO EARN YOUR TRUST, NOT DEMAND IT.
SOMETHING ELSE I LEARNED IN GOLDEN MEADOW, LOUISIANA IS THAT TRUST IS EARNED.
OVER THE YEARS, LSU HAS PARTNERED WITH THE CITY AND STATE TO DO INCREDIBLE THINGS INCLUDING SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES, BRING NEW DEVELOPMENT DOWNTOWN, AND INVEST IN THE ARTS.
OUR COLLEGE STUDENTS HAVE CONTRIBUTED THOUSANDS OF HOURS IN COMMUNITY SERVICE AND WE'VE OPENED OUR CAMPUS TO COUNTLESS K-12 STUDENTS FOR TOURS AND LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE RECENTLY COMPLETED OUR 10TH RUN OF 6TH GRADE DAY.
AT LSU, A PROGRAM THAT HAS BROUGHT OVER 30,000 MIDDLE SCHOOLERS TO OUR CAMPUS SINCE 2015.
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALSO PARTNERED WITH OUR COLLEAGUES AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO ESTABLISH THE CAPITAL AREA PROMISE OF 2018, AN INITIATIVE TO CREATE MORE COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
FURTHERMORE, THE CAPITAL AREA PROMISE SENDS A SIGNAL TO STUDENTS THAT FAMILIES, THAT OUR CITIES, POST-SECRETARY INSTITUTIONS, AND LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE IN THIS TOGETHER.
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EVERY STUDENT IN OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR EDUCATION.TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.
AND THIS INITIATIVE PROMISES THEM THAT WE'LL RESERVE THEIR SEAT.
BEYOND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY, LSU CREATES JOBS AND I BELIEVE A SYSTEM, NOT JUST A FLAGSHIP, GENERATES AN ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OVER $7 BILLION FOR THE GREAT STATE OF LOUISIANA.
OUR STUDENTS AND FACULTY COME FROM FAR AND NEAR, ADDING TO THE RICH CULTURE.
AND OF COURSE, OUR AMAZING ATHLETIC PROGRAMS BRING UNDENIABLE EXCITEMENT AND THE OCCASIONAL HEARTBURN TO BATON ROUGE.
AT LSU, WE WANT TO CHANGE THE WAY WE EDUCATE LOUISIANA, AND WE WANT YOU TO BE A PART OF THAT.
OUR PATHWAY FORWARD IS ROOTED IN ONE BASIC FOUNDATIONAL BELIEF.
WE REFUSE TO ALLOW LSU TO REMAIN STAGNANT.
BY JUST ACCEPTING THE STATUS QUO.
FOR TOO LONG, DISCUSSIONS ABOUT LSU AND LOUISIANA HAVE BEEN FRAMED AS THOUGH WE MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN BEING ELITE OR BEING ACCESSIBLE.
TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS GREAT STATE, THAT IS A FALSE CHOICE.
EXCELLENCE AND ACCESSIBILITY CAN AND MUST COEXIST, BUT ONLY IF WE ARE INTENTIONAL, DISCIPLINED AND HONEST ABOUT STANDARDS, PATHWAYS AND OUTCOMES.
ON EXCELLENCE, OUR DIRECTION IS CLEAR.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO ELEVATING THE FLAGSHIP, WHICH INCLUDES OUR BROADER RESEARCH ENTERPRISE, TO BECOME ONE OF THE TOP 50 RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS IN ALL OF AMERICA.
THAT REQUIRES ALIGNMENT OF RESOURCES, STRONGER MANAGEMENT, IMPROVED FACILITIES, AND AN UNAPOLOGETIC COMMITMENT TO MEASURING OURSELVES AGAINST THOSE TOP PERFORMING PEERS.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO BUILD MEANINGFUL ACCESS FOR LOUISIANA STUDENTS WHO WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS AMAZING LSU FAMILY.
ACCESSIBILITY IS NOT ACHIEVED BY RHETORIC.
IT IS ACHIEVED BY PROVIDING CLEAR DEGREE PATHWAYS, STRONG ADVISING, TRANSFER PROCESSES THAT ARE UNDERSTANDABLE AND TIMELY, AND INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE COORDINATED.
SO STUDENTS CAN MOVE THROUGH THE LSU SYSTEM WITH PURPOSE.
IT ALSO MEANS UNDERSTANDING THERE ARE MULTIPLE ENTRY POINTS INTO THE LSU FAMILY, INCLUDING ON-RAMPS THAT CAN ULTIMATELY LEAD TO THE MAIN CAMPUS IN BATON ROUGE, IF A STUDENT DESIRES.
IF WE DON'T FOCUS ON THESE TWO THINGS, ACCESS AND EXCELLENCE, WE WILL WIND UP IN SOME GRAY, BLURRY PLACE IN THE MIDDLE.
AS PART OF OUR FOCUS, I HAVE DIRECTED MY STAFF TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE FRAMEWORK FOR ENGAGING LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THIS STATE.
FOR YEARS, LSU'S APPROACH HAS LEANED MOSTLY TOWARDS STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT.
WHILE THESE LEVELS AND OFFICIALS ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR FUNDING AND SUSTAINABILITY, MY ADMINISTRATION COMMITS TO INTENTIONAL OUTREACH TO STAKEHOLDERS LIKE YOU.
WHO LEAD IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
LSU'S FLAGSHIP CAMPUS IS ESSENTIALLY A CITY WITHIN A CITY.
AND FOR THAT REASON, I HOPE YOU AGREE THAT OUR PARTNERSHIP IS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS WHERE WE HAVE SHARED INTERESTS, INCLUDING CRIME PREVENTION, TRAFFIC, INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE ALSO WANT TO COLLABORATE AND STRATEGIZE ON TOPICS LIKE JOB CREATION, AND HOUSING SO THAT WE RETAIN OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST.
BUT MOST OF ALL, MOST OF ALL, LSU WANTS TO BE A GOOD AND TRUSTED NEIGHBOR.
BETTER THAN MOST, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS KNOW HOW POLICY IMPACTS EVERYDAY CITIZENS.
YOU UNDERSTAND HOW DEGREES AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS ARE CRITICAL TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND MEETING THE NEEDS OF LOCAL BUSINESS.
THE REAL OPPORTUNITY OF GOVERNMENT AND HIGHER EDUCATION TO PARTNER AND CREATE COMMUNITIES WHERE GRADUATES AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS THRIVE AND WANT TO START A FAMILY.
THIS IS MY FIRST ADDRESS BEFORE A CITY COUNCIL, BUT IT WON'T BE MY LAST.
I WILL CONTINUE TO TRAVEL AROUND THIS GREAT STATE AND MEET WITH YOUR COUNTERPARTS IN CITIES WHERE LSU HAS A FOOTPRINT.
I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO VISITING WITH YOU AGAIN HERE AND HOSTING YOU
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ON OUR BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET.BUT NOT LEAST, I WILL ENCOURAGE CHANCELLORS FROM AROUND OUR STATE AND AROUND OUR CAMPUSES TO DO THE SAME.
THIS METRO COUNCIL CAN EXPECT TO HEAR FROM AND COLLABORATE WITH DR.
BRANDON SMITH, WHO IS WITH ME TODAY.
HE'S OUR ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH A RENEWED FOCUS ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND ENGAGING LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
HE WILL BE YOUR POINT PERSON TO ENSURE YOUR VOICE IS HEARD AND INCLUDED IN OUR VISION FOR A BETTER LSU AND A BETTER LOUISIANA.
WE'RE LOOKING TO BE A PART OF BUILDING A BETTER BATON ROUGE, A BETTER LSU, AND A BETTER LOUISIANA. WE ARE TRULY EXCITED TO BE HERE.
I HAVE NEVER FELT MORE AT HOME.
ON THESE FIRST HUNDRED DAYS THAN I HAVE TODAY.
IT IS THE HONOR OF MY LIFE TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE LSU SYSTEM.
I CAN ONLY TELL YOU ONE THING.
WE'RE GOING TO WORK OUR TAILS OFF.
WE'RE GOING TO WORK LATE INTO THE NIGHT TO TRY TO MAKE YOU PROUD AND TO DELIVER ON ANY MISSION THAT WE DECIDE TO GO DOWN TOGETHER.
SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE.
I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE OR SIT DOWN POLITELY, WHATEVER YOU PREFER.
COUNCILMEMBER, ANY STATEMENTS? IF NOT, DOWN HERE FOR SURE.
ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY LOOK THIS WAY.
ALRIGHT, LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO DR.
RUTH AND NOW HONORARY COUNCILMAN DR.
GO TIGERS BEFORE WE KEEP GOING, WE DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE FORMER DISTRICT 2 COUNCILMAN ULYSSES BONE ADDISON THAT'S IN THE HOUSE TODAY.
THANK YOU MR. ADDISON FOR YOUR SERVICE.
GIVE MR. ADDISON, FORMER COUNCILMAN ADDISON A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
ALRIGHT, NEXT UP WE HAVE METROPOLITAN COUNCILWOMAN TAWANA P.
HARRIS FROM DISTRICT 7, RECOGNIZED YOUTH WHO COMPLETED THE BRIDGE AGENCY SPRING BREAK YOUTH LEADERSHIP INTENSIVE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMAN KINNEY.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE SPRING BREAK LEADERSHIP INTENSE LED BY MS. NICOLE SCOTT, FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BRIDGE AGENCY.
THE PROGRAM INCLUDES YOUTH AGES 10 TO 16, REPRESENTING 10 LOCAL SCHOOLS.
ON YESTERDAY, PARTICIPANTS TOOK PART IN A MOCK COUNCIL EXPERIENCE.
WHERE THEY APPOINTED A MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CONDUCTED A COUNCIL MEETING WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL THAT THESE
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YOUNG LEADERS CHOSE TO SPEND THEIR TIME AT DR MARTIN LUTHER KING COMMUNITY CENTER WITH THE BRIDGE AGENCY THEY COULD HAVE BEEN ANYWHERE ELSE THEIR COMMITMENT ENGAGEMENT AND WILLINGNESS TO LEARN OR TO BE HIGHLY COMMENDED I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP THEM THE MAYORS UM MR MISS JALEA EMMANUEL OH HERE YOU ARE THERE YOU GO WHAT AN HONOR AND MISS MR BRYCE JOSEPH THERE YOU GO SIR SO I SEE IN THE FUTURE THAT THE TWO OF THEM WILL MAKE PHENOMENAL MAYORS SOMEDAY, SOMEWHERES, HOPEFULLY HERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF BATON ROUGE.AND WE ALSO HAD SEVERAL OTHER OF OUR YOUNG STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM AS WELL.
AND THE CERTIFICATE READS, THIS CERTIFICATE IS PROUDLY PRESENTED.
FOR A SUCCESSFUL FOR SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING THE BRIDGE AGENCY SPRING BREAK LEADERSHIP INTENSIVE HELL, APRIL 6TH THROUGH THE 2026 AT THE DOCTOR DR MARTIN LUTHER KING COMMUNITY CENTER.
YOUR DEDICATION LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO PERSONAL GROWTH ARE COMMENDABLE.
WE CELEBRATE YOUR ACHIEVEMENT AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED SUCCESS.
PEYTON BROWN, HARPER, CHRISTIAN, TERRY, THE NATURE, DAVIS, DESMOND, DAWSON.
BENJAMIN JACKSON, TYRONE JACKSON, CHRISTIAN MCGUIRE, DAMIRA NELSON, CANNON PARKER, CARSON PARKER, PEYTON PETERS, GRACIE RICHARDSON, SIERRA ROY, DARREN RUFFIN, KARA SCOTT, EXCUSE ME, JANAE SMITH, AND ALEXANDER WILSON.
I SPENT SOME TIME WITH THEM ON TODAY, AS A MATTER OF FACT, AND WE HAD A GREAT.
GREAT TIME SPEAKING ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBERS, SPEAKING ABOUT THE MAYOR, AND THEY CREATED THEIR OWN CITY AS WELL.
SO THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF ADDING TO THEIR CITY SOME STRONG INITIATIVES THAT THEY BELIEVE IN AND STAND ON.
SO LET'S GIVE THESE YOUNG LEADERS OF TOMORROW A GREAT HANDS-OFF.
AND MS. NICOLE SCOTT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BRING A FEW WORDS, PLEASE? GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD AFTERNOON.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS FOR HOUSING US FOR THESE PAST COUPLE DAYS.
IT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART AS WE HAVE BEEN IN EXISTENCE THIS YEAR FOR 10 YEARS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE EXPOSED TO OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAN HELP ADVANCE AND CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR LIFE.
AND SO I AM EXCITED ABOUT THEIR FUTURE.
I'M EXCITED THAT THEY GET A CHANCE TO ACTUALLY SEE IN PERSON WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE PAST THREE DAYS.
LET'S GIVE THESE PHENOMENAL YOUNG PEOPLE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
WE ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PARENTS FOR BEING SO COMMITTED TO MAKING CERTAIN THAT THEIR CHILDREN WERE IN GOOD HANDS THIS WEEK.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR BEING DEDICATED TO MAKING CERTAIN THAT THEY WILL BE DEFINITELY LEADERS OF TOMORROW.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, PARENTS.
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THIS IS COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS. A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THE WORK SHE'S DOING WITH HER YOUNG PEOPLE IN DISTRICT 7.ALRIGHT, NEXT UP, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THREE PHENOMENAL YOUNG PEOPLE AMONGST A TEAM OF SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE FROM SCHUYLERVILLE MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL.
TODAY I HAVE SOME MEMBERS FOR THE INAUGURAL FIRST ROBOTICS COMPETITION TEAM REPRESENTING SCHUYLERVILLE MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL IN DISTRICT RECENTLY THEY PARTICIPATED AT THE PONSON TRAIN CENTER IN KENNER, LOUISIANA.
AT THE 2026 FRC BAYOU REGIONAL COMPETITION.
AND SO THEY REPRESENTED BATON ROUGE DISTRICT 2 AND SCOTLANDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, THEIR PARENTS AND FAMILY, VERY WELL.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO BRING UP THESE STUDENTS.
ALSO, THEIR COACHES IS HERE AS WELL.
AND THEIR PRINCIPAL, MR. PAUL JACKSON, AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, MS. CANDLER, IF YOU WANT TO COME UP AS WELL.
SO WE HAVE OUR ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING HERE REPRESENTED.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE FIRST ROBOTICS TEAM STARTED AS A PART OF OUR AFFILIATION WITH THE NATIONAL ACADEMY FOUNDATION.
AND WE WERE BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO GET A GRANT, I'M SORRY, FROM NASA AND THE ARGOSY FUND FOUNDATION.
BUT IN ORDER TO CONTINUE, WE ARE CURRENTLY ALSO SEEKING SPONSORSHIPS TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THIS GREAT EFFORT FOR SCOTLANDVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.
LIKE I SAID, IT WAS AN EFFORT ON BEHALF OF OUR ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING COMBINATION OF ALL OF OUR 9TH THROUGH 11TH GRADE CLASSES.
BUT HERE WE HAVE THREE OF OUR 17 TEAM MEMBERS WHO TRAVELED TO NEW KENNER ON THEIR EASTER WEEKEND AND COMPETED ON FRIDAY, GOOD FRIDAY.
SO WE ARE GRATEFUL AND PROUD OF THESE YOUNG STUDENTS FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE.
THANK YOU COUNCILMAN KENNEY, METRO COUNCIL, MAYOR CYD EDWARDS.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ONE, THANK MRS. CANLEY WHO SPEARHEADED THIS EFFORT.
ALSO TO THANK THE COACHES, MR. ERIC LEWIS FROM BRSTEM, COACH JEREMY NOOR, COACH SHAQUANSA RUFFIN FOR THEIR TIRELESS WORK AND TAKING AND GOING INTO THEIR SPRING BREAK AS WELL.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE THANK THEM AND WE APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY.
ALL RIGHT, AND TODAY I HAVE CERTIFICATES FOR THREE OF THE SEVEN MEMBERS.
MR. JACE FERGUSON, JASON NOAH, MICHAELA THOMAS, AND DEVONTAE KELLY.
LET'S GIVE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR SPEARHEADING.
AS THE REGION GROWS AND WE'RE THINKING ABOUT GETTING OUR KIDS EXPOSED TO STEM AND DIFFERENT PATHWAYS IN ENGINEERING, THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE STEPPING UP.
NOT ONLY TO REPRESENT THEIR FAMILIES, BUT REPRESENT THE HIGH SCHOOL ON A NATIONAL AND STATE LEVEL.
AND SO PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SUPPORT THESE KIDS AND CONTINUE SUPPORTING ANY KIDS GOING TO THE STEM PATHWAY.
BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY PROUD OF YOU ALL AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH TO THE COACHES, TO THE PRINCIPAL, TO EVERYBODY WHO POURED INTO THESE KIDS TO ENSURE THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL EVERYWHERE WE GO.
SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE SUCCESS AND MORE TROPHIES IN THE FUTURE.
SO ONCE AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE Y'ALL DOWN THE ROAD.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP WE HAVE METROPOLITAN COUNCILMEMBER DARRELL HURST FROM DISTRICT 05, RECOGNIZING THE FULL-THROTTLE TRACK CLUB SETTING A NATIONAL RECORD FOR 9 AND 10-YEAR-OLDS.
SO WE HAVE SOME PHENOMENAL ATHLETES THAT WE HEAR ABOUT AT THE COLLEGIATE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.
BUT THESE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND HEADING TO MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS ARE SETTING A NATIONAL TREND OF EXCELLENCE RIGHT HERE IN BATON ROUGE BY BREAKING THE NATIONAL 4X2 RECORD WITH 1 MINUTE AND 54 SECONDS.
Y'ALL GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THAT.
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TO SEE STUDENT ATHLETES ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.AND THE REASON WHY I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T SEE THE WORK THAT GOES INTO IT PRIOR TO THE TRACK MEETS, THE BASKETBALL GAMES, THE FOOTBALL GAMES.
THESE KIDS ARE LEARNING DISCIPLINE, HARD WORK, AND LIFE SKILLS THROUGH SPORTS AT A YOUNG AGE.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO I'M GOING TO READ ONE, BUT I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE THEM ALL.
SO WE'LL READ ONE OF THESE BABIES.
WHEREAS DELVIN WHITE, SERVING AS ASSISTANT COACH OF THE FULL THROTTLE TRACK CLUB, HAS DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP, MENTORSHIP, AND COMMITMENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH IN BATON ROUGE.
AND WHEREAS TO DEDICATION, DISCIPLINE, AND GUIDANCE, DELVIN WHITE HAS PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN SHAPING YOUNG ATHLETES INTO HIGHER-PERFORMING COMPETITORS, BOTH ON AND OFF OF THE TRACK.
AND I'M GOING TO STOP THERE BECAUSE I THOUGHT I WAS ONE OF THE KIDS.
Y'ALL GOT A LOT OF COACHES, MAN.
ALL RIGHT, I'M TRYING TO GET TO THE FOUR BABIES.
COACHES, WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE Y'ALL TOO, BUT IT'S ABOUT THE KIDS TODAY.
WHEREAS LANDON BRIDGES, A STUDENT AT BLUFF RIDGE PRIMARY SCHOOL AND A MEMBER OF THE FULL THROTTLE TRACK CLUB, HAS DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL ATHLETIC ABILITY, DISCIPLINE, AND COMMITMENT AT A YOUNG AGE.
AND WHEREAS AT 10 YEARS OLD, LANDON BRIDGES HAS COMPETED AT AN ELITE LEVEL REPRESENTING BATON ROUGE WITH PRIDE AND EXCELLENCE ON A NATIONAL STAGE.
AND WHEREAS LANDON BRIDGES PARTICIPATED IN THE VIRGINIA BEACH AAU INDOOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, COMPETING AGAINST SOME OF THE FASTEST YOUTH ATHLETES IN THE COUNTRY AND EARNING ALL-AMERICAN HONORS IN THE 60-METER DASH AND 4X200-METER RELAY.
AND WHEREAS LANDON BRIDGES WAS A KEY CONTRIBUTOR TO THE FULL THROTTLE TRACK CLUB 9-10 BOYS RELAY TEAM THAT PLACED FIRST OVERALL IN THE 4X200-METER RELAY WITH A HISTORIC TIME OF 1 MINUTE AND 54 SECONDS, THE FASTEST EVER RECORDED NATIONALLY FOR THE AGE GROUP.
AND WHEREAS THIS REMARKABLE TEAM ALSO BROKE THEIR OWN PREVIOUSLY SET NATIONAL RECORD AND FURTHER MADE HISTORY BY BREAKING THE LSU INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD FACILITY MEET RECORD IN THE 4X400 METER RELAY, A RECORD THAT HAS STOOD SINCE 2017.
AND WHEREAS THROUGH HARD WORK, PERSEVERANCE, AND DEDICATION, LANDON BRIDGES EXEMPLIFIES THE VALUES OF DISCIPLINED TEAMWORK AND EXCELLENCE BOTH ON AND OFF OF THE TRACK.
WHEREAS THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF LANDON BRIDGES SERVES AS AN INSPIRATION TO OTHER YOUTH THROUGHOUT BATON ROUGE, PROVING THAT GREATNESS CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH FOCUSED DETERMINATION AND STRONG MENTORSHIP.
AND THIS IS NOT JUST A RECOGNITION FOR LANDON, BUT FOR ALL OF THESE BOYS THAT HAVE REPRESENTED THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, THE PARENTS OF EAST BATON ROUGE, FULL THROTTLE TRACK CLUB, MOST OF ALL THEIR PARENTS THAT ARE SHOWING UP EVERY DAY, SACRIFICING, LAYING THE FOUNDATION, BECAUSE WHEN WE LAY A FOUNDATION FOR KIDS, WE DON'T HAVE TO FIX AN ADULT.
Y'ALL GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
LOOK, TALITHIA JORDAN, DALVIN WHITE, KENDRICK HAMMOND.
CHELSEA GRIMES, AND FOR A REAL REASON Y'ALL ARE HERE, THE OTHER THREE.
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WHICH ONE OF Y'ALL COACH? COME ON.FIRST, THANK ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE.
TO MAYOR, PRESIDENT, CYD EDWARDS, IT'S A GREAT THING FOR US TO BE HERE.
THIS IS OUR FIRST YEAR OF HAVING THIS TEAM TOGETHER AND WE SAW THE NATIONAL RECORD ALREADY.
WE ARE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN BATON ROUGE BECAUSE WE SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING.
I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH KIDS IN BATON ROUGE AREA FOR OVER 47 YEARS.
I WAS POLICE OFFICER FOR 32 YEARS, AND I SAW THE GOOD AND THE BAD.
AND THE GOOD IS WHAT YOU SEE HERE.
IT'S US PUTTING BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY, PUTTING INTO THE YOUNGER KIDS, AND TEACHING THEM THE THINGS THEY NEED TO DO TO BE GREAT CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT PARISH AND THIS GREAT STATE.
SO WE JUST WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR ALLOWING US TO COME AND TO RECOGNIZE THE BOYS.
THEY DON'T REALIZE WHAT THEY DID, BUT THEY WOULD IN FURTHER LIFE.
AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO KEEP THEM ON A STRAIGHT AND NARROW PATH, JUST LIKE MANY MORE KIDS WE GOT.
SO I JUST CONGRATULATE ALL THE COACHES, ALL OUR COACHES, ALL THE YOUTH COACHES AND EVERYTHING.
AND I JUST ASK FOR THE PUBLIC TO PLEASE SUPPORT PUTTING MONEY INTO KIDS.
BECAUSE YOU CAN CATCH THEM BEFORE THINGS START GOING BAD WHEN YOU PUT MONEY INTO THEM AND PUT THINGS INTO THEM AT A YOUNG AGE.
SO THAT'S ALL WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO CATCH THE KIDS BEFORE THEY GET TO BE A PROBLEM FOR THE CITY AND MAKE THIS CITY AND STATE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE.
HEY, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE SMARTWATCHES ON, SO WE'LL COUNT THOSE STEPS AND ASK Y'ALL TO COME BACK DOWN.
BECAUSE I WILL SAY, ALL OF THESE KIDS ARE NOT FROM MY DISTRICT.
SOME OF THEM, THEY PRACTICE IN BATON ROUGE, BUT THEY REPRESENT MULTIPLE AREAS.
SO I WANT YOU TO BE DOWN HERE WITH THE KIDS THAT REPRESENT THE PARISH AND HAVE SET A NATIONAL RECORD FOR THE PARISH.
WHAT IS THAT? ALRIGHT, LET'S GIVE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ANOTHER ROUND OF A...
ALRIGHT, NEXT UP, LET'S RECOGNIZE...
...FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE MEDIA AND HIS NEW ROLE...
THIS ONE IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.
WHEN I SEE AMAZING PEOPLE DOING AMAZING THINGS...
THEY DESERVE TO BE RECOGNIZED.
THIS ONE JUST HAPPENS TO BE IN MY FAMILY.
SO DAMON SINGLETON IS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO SERVICE.
FIRST ANSWERING THE CALL TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY THROUGH THE MILITARY.
LATER CONTINUING THAT COMMITMENT BY SHAPING AND MENTORING FUTURE LEADERS AND DISTINGUISHED AS A DISTINGUISHED LEADER OF THE ROTC PROGRAM AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
HE STILL LOOKS LIKE HE CAN GET ON A NAVAL SHIP RIGHT NOW AND DO SOME DAMAGE.
FOLLOWING HIS RETIREMENT FROM MILITARY SERVICE AND EDUCATION, DAMON SINGLETON TRANSITIONED INTO BROADCAST METEOROLOGY, WHERE HE HAS BECOME A TRUSTED VOICE AND SOURCE OF CRITICAL INFORMATION FOR COMMUNICATION ACROSS LOUISIANA. WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THE NON-ESSENTIAL FIRST RESPONDERS ARE, BECAUSE THEY TELL US WHAT TO DO, WHERE TO GO, HOW TO DO IT DURING STORMS. SO HE HAS WEATHERED IT OUT.
A NUMBER OF TIMES TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WERE EDUCATED AND INFORMED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.
HE NOW CONTINUES IMPACT AS THE HOST OF WAKE UP BATON ROUGE AND WAKE UP NEW ORLEANS, USING HIS PLATFORM TO INFORM, UPLIFT, AND CONNECT COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE REGION.
AND IF YOU ALL AREN'T AWARE, THAT'S THE ADVOCATES NEWS SHOW.
[00:40:02]
WHEREAS WEATHER BROADCASTERS SERVE AS INDIRECT FIRST RESPONDERS, PROVIDING ESSENTIAL INFORMATION THAT ENABLES FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TO PREPARE FOR AND NAVIGATE SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS.NATURAL DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES OFTEN SERVING AS A LIFELINE DURING CRITICAL MOMENTS, AND WHEREAS DAMON SINGLETON'S UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE, COMMUNITY EDUCATION, AND SAFETY HAS MADE A LASTING AND MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT BATON ROUGE, NEW ORLEANS AND BEYOND.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT OUR COUNCILMAN DALE HURST OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH METROPOLITAN COUNCIL DISTRICT TO HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND HONOR DAMON SINGLETON FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE, LEADERSHIP AND CONTINUED DEDICATION TO PROTECTING AND INFORMING THE COMMUNITY AND COMMEND HIM FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS AS A MILITARY SERVICEMAN, EDUCATOR, AND TRUSTED BROADCAST PROFESSIONAL.
Y'ALL GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, PLEASE.
WELL, I KIND OF FEEL LIKE THE LITTLE KID THAT WAS ASKED IF HE WANTED TO SAY ANYTHING.
I TELL YOU, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME THANK YOU ALL.
I'VE BEEN HERE, AND THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO BE.
ROOM IN THIS BUILDING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF, AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ONE BAD WEATHERMAN JOKE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
I HAVE BEEN IN SERVICE TO MY NATION AND MY COMMUNITY ALL MY ADULT LIFE, FOR 22 YEARS AS A UNITED STATES NAVAL OFFICER, 18 YEARS AT WDSU-TV AS A BROADCAST AND METEOROLOGIST, AND NOW WORKING FOR THE GEORGIA'S MEDIA GROUP AS A METEOROLOGIST AS WELL.
I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL INFORMED AND AWARE OF SOME OF THE DANGERS THAT COME OUR WAY FROM DIFFERENT WEATHER EVENTS HERE IN LOUISIANA, WHICH APPEAR TO BE GETTING OF GREATER CONCERN EVERY YEAR.
SO I CONSIDER IT A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS WORK.
IT IS DEFINITELY AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE HERE AMONG.
YOU ALL AND TO BE RECOGNIZED WITH SOME PRETTY INCREDIBLE PEOPLE THAT WERE RECOGNIZED BY YOU TODAY, SO I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT I'M HUMBLED BY THIS GREATLY AND THE MAYOR IS STILL AROUND.
I JUST WANTED TO TELL THEM THAT YOU KNOW THE THE MAYOR OF NEW ORLEANS AND THE MAYOR FOLSOM BOTH GAVE ME A KEY TO THE CITY.
I MEAN I JUST WANT TO DROP THAT JIM THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH YES, YOU CAN GO FOR IT.
ALL RIGHT, THAT CONCLUDES TODAY'S RECOGNITION MEETING.
WE'LL HAVE A BRIEF RECESS, AND WE'LL COME BACK TOGETHER FOR OUR REGULAR SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING AT 4 P.M.
[CALL TO ORDER]
HELLO, EVERYBODY.WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, AS ALWAYS.
IT'S OUR HONOR TO HAVE YOU WATCHING OUR MEETING AND WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU AS PART OF OUR GOVERNMENT.
CHAIRING TODAY'S MEETING IS OUR COUNCIL MEMBER FROM DISTRICT 11, OUR COUNCIL MEMBER LORI ADAMS. MS. ADAMS? THANK YOU, DENNIS. GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING FOR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
IT IS WEDNESDAY, APRIL THE 8TH, 2026.
LET'S CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
ASHLEY, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM? WE HAVE A QUORUM.
AND NOW WE HAVE FOR OUR INVOCATION AND PLEDGE TODAY THE PASTOR OF THE CITY CHURCH OF BATON ROUGE, DR.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US, DR.
[00:45:05]
THAT'S GREAT.IT'S MY PLEASURE TODAY TO BE HERE IN SERVICE.
IF WE ALL CAN STAND FOR PRAYER.
HEAVENLY FATHER, GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN GOD, WE GATHER TODAY AS YOUR SERVANTS HUMBLY SEEKING YOUR WISDOM FOR BATON ROUGE.
THIS GREAT CITY, AS YOUR WORD DECLARES IN PROVERBS 3, 5 THROUGH 6, TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND LEAN NOT TO YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING.
AND IN ALL YOUR WAYS SUBMIT TO HIM, AND HE WILL MAKE OUR PATHS STRAIGHT.
BLESS OUR METRO COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH TRANSCENDENT CLARITY OF MIND, STEADFAST INTEGRITY OF HEART, AND RESOLUTE COURAGE TO SERVE THE COMMON GOOD.
GUIDE THEIR DELIBERATIONS WITH YOUR ETERNAL TRUTH THAT EVERY DECISION MAY CULTIVATE JUSTICE, COMPASSION, AND PROSPERITY FOR ALL RESIDENTS, FROM THE YOUNGEST CHILD TO THE ELDEST CITIZEN.
UNITE US IN PURPOSE, TEMPER OUR WORDS WITH HUMILITY, AND SHIELD US FROM DIVISION.
MAY THE LIGHT OF YOUR HOLY SPIRIT ILLUMINATE OUR PATH, DIRECTING OUR STEPS RIGHT.
WE PRAY THIS IN THE POWERFUL NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.
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, LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
NOW, BISHOP, SING US A LITTLE SOMETHING BEFORE YOU GO.
[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
THANK YOU.ALL RIGHT, THE ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
ITEM NUMBER ONE, APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 25TH, 2026 BY COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR TREASURER. WE'LL NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE MINUTES.
[INTRODUCTIONS]
WITH A SECOND FROM COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSA.SECTION TWO POINT ONE TWO INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER TWO, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARIS, EAST BATON ROUGE, A CREATING THE BAYOU FOUNTAIN, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT WITHIN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA ON THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED.
ON EXHIBIT A SHOWN ON EXHIBIT B, B, DEFINING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE PROPERTY FROM WHICH NEW AREA SALES AND USE TAXES AND HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES CAN BE LEVIED.
BY THE DISTRICT AND USED TO FUND ALL OR A PORTION OF THE COST OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AS DESCRIBED HEREIN ALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND AUTHORIZED BY CHAPTER 27 OF TITLE 33 OF THE LOUISIANA REVISED STATUTES OF 1950 AS AMENDED C DESIGNATING THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE DISTRICT D ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR AUTHORITY TO LEVY SALES AND USE TAXES AND HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES WITHIN THE DISTRICT AND E PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION WITH THE FOREGOING BY COUNCILWOMAN JENNIFER ROCCA.
AUTHORIZING THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO REFUND AN ERRONEOUS REMITTANCE OF SALES TAX TO THE BATON ROUGE CLINIC AMC IN THE AMOUNT OF $336,437.27 FOR REMITTING SALES TAX ON NON-TAXABLE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PURCHASES FOR THE AUDIT PERIOD JULY 1, 2021 THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, 2022, WITH THE COST OF SUCH REFUND TO BE CHARGED AGAINST SALES TAX REVENUES BY THE FINANCE DIRECTOR.
NUMBER FOUR, A RESOLUTION ORDERING AND CALLING AN ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA.
ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026, TO AUTHORIZE THE PARISH TO RENEW THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF A .5 MILS AD VALOREM TAX ON ALL PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS, COMMENCING WITH THE TAX COLLECTION YEAR 2027, AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER TO AND INCLUDING YEAR 2036, TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PURCHASING, MAINTAINING, AND OPERATING MACHINERY, FACILITIES, AND EQUIPMENT.
NECESSARY IN THE ERADICATION ABATEMENT OR CONTROL OF MOSQUITOES OTHER ARTHROPODS OF PUBLIC HEALTH IMPORTANCE AND RODENTS MAINTAINING ADEQUATE ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT STAFF IN CONNECTION THEREWITH MAKING APPLICATION TO THE STATE BOND COMMISSION PROVIDING NOTICE THAT A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION SHALL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY MAY 13 2026 AT 4 O'CLOCK PM AT THE REGULAR MEETING PLACE OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL THIRD FLOOR CITY HALL ROOM 348 222 ST LOUIS STREET BATON ROUGE LOUISIANA AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH BY MOSQUITO ABATEMENT AND ROAD CONTROL DISTRICT NUMBER FIVE A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THE 15TH AMENDMENT TO THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONTRACT AND LOCAL SERVICES AGREEMENT AMONG THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE AND THE GREATER BATON ROUGE AIRPORT DISTRICT RELATING TO THE REFINANCING OF CERTAIN PRIOR INDEBTEDNESS OF THE GREATER BATON ROUGE AIRPORT DISTRICT TO THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERE TOO BY GREATER BATON ROUGE AIRPORT DISTRICT NUMBER SIX A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA TO MAKE APPLICATION TO THE STATE BOND COMMISSION FOR CONSENT AND AUTHORITY TO ISSUE ONE NOT TO EXCEED THREE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT SALES TAX REVENUE REFUNDING BOND SERIES 2026A FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO CURRENT REFUND OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF ITS PUBLIC
[00:50:01]
IMPROVEMENT SALES TAX REVENUE BONDS TWO, NOT EXCEEDING $31,500,000 PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT SALES TAX REVENUE REFUNDING BONDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO CURRENT REFUND THE OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF ITS A, PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT SALES TAX REVENUE REFUNDING BONDS, AND B, PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT SALES TAX REVENUE BONDS.AND THREE, PAY THE COST OF ISSUANCE THEREOF AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A BOND PURCHASE AGREEMENT, ONE OR MORE CREDIT ENHANCEMENT DEVICES, AND ANY AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED.
IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUANCE OF THE BOND AUTHORIZING THE PREPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE PRELIMINARY OFFICIAL STATEMENT AND OFFICIAL STATEMENT RELATING TO SAID BONDS AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH BY BOND COUNCIL NUMBER SEVEN AMEND THE 2026 PAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED, NON-CLASSIFIED CONTRACT FIRE AND POLICE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, SO AS TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING CHANGES, EFFECTIVE MAY 30, 2026, AND APPROPRIATE $1,919,270 FOR SAID PURPOSE, AND THEN THE CLASSIFIED AND UNCLASSIFIED APPENDIX 1, ITEM 23 TO ADJUST THE CRITICAL RETENTION HIRING PAY STEPS FOR FOUR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES CLASSIFICATIONS, ADD EIGHT NEW EMS CLASSIFICATIONS, DELETE SIX EXISTING EMS CLASSIFICATIONS, ADD EIGHT NEW PAY GRADES, AND INCREASE THE PAY GRADES FOR 21 EXISTING EMS CLASSIFICATIONS BY MAYOR PRESIDENT AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR.
FINANCE DIRECTOR AND EMS ADMINISTRATOR.
NUMBER EIGHT, AMEND THE 2026 ALLOTMENT OF POSITIONS FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, SO AS TO CHANGE THE ALLOTMENT OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES EFFECTIVE MAY 30TH, 2026.
ADD 12 NEW EMS POSITIONS AND DELETE 10 EXISTING EMS POSITIONS BY MAYOR, PRESIDENT, HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR, FINANCE DIRECTOR AND EMS ADMINISTRATOR.
NUMBER NINE, AMEND TITLE I, MUNICIPAL AND PARISH ORGANIZATION CHAPTER 3 PERSONNEL PART 4 EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES SO AS TO INCLUDE THE BATON ROUGE AIRPORT AUTHORITY AS A NEW EMPLOYER TO THE CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM BY THE INTERIM RETIREMENT ADMINISTRATOR.
CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER 10, JARRETT BOWIE, 1133 NORTH 39TH STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS.
NUMBER 11, 3109 FULTON STREET, COUNCIL 10 COLEMAN.
NUMBER 12, THE UNOPENED SUCCESSION OF GABRIEL MARTIN.
3325 CHIPPEWA STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS.
NUMBER 13, THE ESTATE OF BERNARD JONES SR., 4030 ODELL STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS.
ALL ITEMS THAT REQUIRE READING HAVE BEEN READ, AND A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS IS IN ORDER.
OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE.
COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSA MAKES THE MOTION, AND COUNCILMAN GODAY SECONDS IT.
ANY OBJECTIONS? SEEING NONE, THE ITEMS ARE INTRODUCED.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, TO YOUR SEPARATE SHEET FOR YOUR DPW RECOMMENDATIONS.
[CONDEMNATIONS]
OKAY, GIVE EVERYBODY A SECOND TO GET YOUR SHEETS.ALL RIGHT, SO WE WILL, IT'S RECOMMENDED THAT WE PROCEED WITH ITEM 30, ITEM 31, 34, 35, 37, 40, 42, 43, 47, 48.
49, 51, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 62, AND 63.
41, 57, 39, AND 33, DEFERRAL FOR 30 DAYS.
45, 46, 55, 58, 52, AND 36, DEFER FOR 60 DAYS.
ITEM 50 DEFER TO JULY 22ND, 2026 AND 44 53 60 61 AND 32 DELETE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER CHANGES? ALL RIGHT.
LET'S OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AFTER THE ITEM NUMBER 43 AND 44.
43 AND 44 41. GIVE ME 60 DAYS.
LET'S OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ONE OF THESE ITEMS? ANYBODY HERE? ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WOULD YOU RATHER GIVE THEM 30 DAYS? IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT, CLEVE, 30 DAYS RATHER THAN? YES, 30 DAYS.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? COUNCILMAN AMOROSA MAKES THE MOTION.
COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS SECONDS IT.
PROCEED WITH 30, 31, 34, 35, 37, 40, 42, 43, 47, 48, 49, 51, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 62, AND
[00:55:01]
63.NUMBER 38 WILL BE DEFERRED FOR TWO WEEKS.
41, 57, 39, 33, 43, 44 WILL BE DEFERRED FOR 30 DAYS.
45, 46, 55, 58, 52, 36, AND 41 WILL BE DEFERRED FOR 60 DAYS.
NUMBER 50 WILL BE DEFERRED UNTIL JULY 22ND, 2026, AND 53, 60, 61, AND 32 WILL BE DELETED.
OKAY, I'VE GOT TO READ IT ONE MORE TIME.
50 ON 41, 30 DAYS ON 43 AND 44.
OKAY, YES, I WILL READ THIS, LAURA.
OKAY, PROCEED WITH 30, 31, 34, 35, 37, 42, 42, 43, 47, 48, 49, 51, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, AND 62.
DID I MISS ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY, LET ME COMPARE.
JUST GIVE ME ONE SECOND, GUYS.
I THINK THIS IS THE HARDEST THING OF THE WHOLE JOB.
57 IS DARRYL HURST, RIGHT? OKAY, GOT IT? WE HAVE 55 OF 60 DAYS.
DO YOU WANT IT DELETED? 55 IS DELETE OKAY RIGHT 57 IS 30 DAYS LET ME TAKE IT OFF 39 30 43 44 OKAY UM 45 46 58 52 36 AND 41 15.
WE'RE GOING TO PROCEED WITH 30, 31, 34.
35, 37, 40, 42, 47, 48, 49, 51, 54, 56, 59, 62, AND 63.
WE'LL DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS, ITEM 38.
WE'LL DEFER FOR 30 DAYS, ITEMS 57, 39, 33, 43, AND 44.
WE'LL DEFER FOR 60 DAYS, ITEM 45, 46, 58.
WE'LL DEFER UNTIL JULY 22, 2026, ITEM 50.
AND WE WILL DELETE 53, 60, 61, 32, AND 55.
SO WE'VE GOT A MOTION STILL FROM COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSA, A SECOND FROM COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS.
WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT AGAIN TONIGHT.
[64. 26-00363]
LET'S SEE.SO LET'S MOVE ON TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ITEM NUMBER 64, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED PAULA WILLIAMS VERSUS CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARIS OF EAST BATON ROUGE, AND PATRICK WINNEMAN IN THE AMOUNT OF $300,000 PLUS COURT COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $333 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $300,000, $333, AND APPROPRIATING $300,000.
$100,333 FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY PARISH ATTORNEY.
WE HAVE RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM THE PARISH ATTORNEY TO DEFER THIS FOR 30 DAYS.
SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO DEFER THIS.
LET'S OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION OR A REQUEST BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY TO DEFER THIS FOR 30 DAYS.
COUNCILMAN GODAY MAKES THE MOTION.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? COUNCILMAN AMBROSA, ANY OBJECTIONS?
[65. 26-00389 ]
[01:00:03]
THE ITEM IS DEFERRED.ITEM 65, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED SHAWANA DUNCAN AND ESTATE OF VICTOR DUNCAN V.
JONES, ET AL., CONSOLIDATED WITH BRIANNA DUNCAN, ET AL., JONES, ET AL., IN THE AMOUNT OF $299,999.99 PLUS COURT COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,097.16 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $299,999.99.
$301,097.15 BY PARISH ATTORNEY.
LET'S OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? SEEING NONE, LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE HAVE HAD A REQUEST BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY TO DELETE THIS ITEM.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO DELETE ITEM 65, COUNCILMAN GODAY? DO I HAVE A SECOND? COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSA? ANY OBJECTIONS? SHOW ME AS ABSTAINING.
LET'S SHOW COUNCILWOMAN ROCCA.
[66. 26-00394]
THE ITEM WILL BE DELETED.ITEM 66, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED DELZECCHIO BANKS V.
PRISON MEDICAL SERVICES, ET AL.
IN THE AMOUNT OF $67,500 PLUS COURT COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,259.45 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $70,759.45 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.
LET'S OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE, LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCILMAN GODAY MAKES A MOTION TO APPROVE.
I HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN KENNEY.
[67. 26-00433]
ANY OBJECTIONS? SEEING NONE, THE ITEM IS APPROVED.ITEM 67, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED LATASHA M. CERF V.
DAVRON JONES IN THE AMOUNT OF $45,000 PLUS COURT COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,000.
$295.46 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $47,795.46 BY PARISH ATTORNEY.
LET'S OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? SEEING NONE, LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
DO I HAVE A MOTION, COUNCIL MEMBERS? COUNCILMAN GODAY MOVES FOR APPROVAL.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? THE CHAIR SECONDS THE MOTION.
[68. 26-00383]
SEEING NONE, ITEM 67 IS APPROVED.ITEM 68, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT, ENTER INTO, AND EXECUTE ALL AGREEMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE PURCHASING DIVISION IN COORDINATION WITH THE CDBG-DR HUD FEDERAL GRANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE COMMUNITY PROJECT BY PURCHASING DIRECTOR.
LET'S OPEN UP THIS FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
DOES ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE HAVE A REQUEST BY THE PURCHASING DIRECTOR TO DELETE THIS ITEM.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO DELETE? BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSA, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GODAY.
[69. 26-00395]
SEEING NONE, THE ITEM IS DELETED.ITEM 69, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT A DONATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,000 FROM THE BATON ROUGE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE FOUNDATION, SAID FUNDS TO BE USED FOR THE ACQUISITION OF A POLICE CANINE EXPLOSIVE DETECTION CANINE BY POLICE CHIEF.
LET'S OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? SEEING NONE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 69.
SEEING NO ONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS, LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCILMAN GODAY MOVES APPROVAL.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? COUNCILMAN AMOROSA SECONDS IT.
ANY OBJECTIONS? SEEING NONE, ITEM 69 IS
[70. 26-00430]
APPROVED.ITEM 70, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY FOR THE PARTIAL DONATION OF A RECOVERED 2023 DODGE CHARGER WITH AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF $52,000 BY POLICE CHIEF.
LET'S OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK? SEEING NO ONE, LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE? COUNCILMAN GODAY MAKES A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM.
COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSA SECONDS IT.
WHO ARE WE GIVING THIS TO? OKAY.
SO THE VEHICLE, 2023 DODGE CHARGER, IT WAS STOLEN AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY RECOVERED.
THE INSURANCE COMPANY PAID OUT THE CLAIM TO THE OWNER.
THEY WANT TO DONATE THE VEHICLE TO US.
WE ARE SUBSEQUENTLY GOING TO USE IT.
IT LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE A STREET DRAG RACING TYPE VEHICLE, SO WE'RE GOING TO USE IT FOR SOME UNDERCOVER OPERATIONS IN THAT VEIN AND ALSO OUT-QUIP IT WITH SOME OF OUR BIG CAR TECHNOLOGY TO PARK INTO APARTMENT COMPLEXES,
[01:05:01]
PLACES LIKE THAT, AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL GET BROKEN INTO AND WE CAN CATCH VEHICLE BURGLARS.SO THE CAR IS VALUED AT ABOUT $52,000, AND SO THEY'RE GIVING IT.
GIVEN IT TO US FOR JUST OVER $7,000 THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GODAY, A SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSA.
[71. 26-00431]
SEEING NONE, LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 71, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NO.1 TO THE CONTRACT WITH WTD ARCHITECTURE, LLC.
FOR ADDITIONAL DESIGN SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR CONTRACT FOR THE BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT SARS BUILDING IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $5,000 BY BUILDING AND GROUNDS DIRECTOR.
LET'S OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? SEEING NO ONE, LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCILMAN GODAY MAKES A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THIS ITEM.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? THE CHAIR SECONDS IT.
[72. 26-00442]
ITEM 71 IS APPROVED.ITEM 72, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH GEC, INC., WITH SUB-CONSULTANTS GOTECH, INC., STANTEC CONSULTING SERVICES, INC., AND SOUTHERN EARTH SCIENCES, INC., FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH SALES TAX, STREET AND ROAD REHABILITATION PROGRAM CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISION AND INSPECTION.
SUPPLEMENTAL PHASE 20 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,032,820 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.
LET'S OPEN THIS UP FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND GO TO COUNCILMAN KINNEY. HEY, YOU WANT TO COME UP AND JUST BRIEFLY EXPLAIN TO THE VIEWER AND ARTISTS AT HOME THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
THIS ITEM IS TO ACTUALLY DO THE PROJECT INSPECTION AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT OF OUR ASPHALT OVERLAY PROGRAM THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR THAT THE FUNDS ARE COMMITTED TO BY THE VOTERS OF THE PARISH.
CERTAINLY, WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF SERVICE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFFING OR THE MANPOWER TO ACCOMMODATE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
THEY'VE BEEN DOING THIS TYPE OF SERVICE FOR SOME TIME.
THIS WILL BE THE LAST YEAR THAT GEC WILL BE ABLE TO DO THE WORK.
THEY'LL HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE SELECTION BOARD THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT WAS SET UP.
BUT IN REALITY, I MEAN, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING DONE OUT THERE ARE DONE CORRECTLY.
WE HAVE INSPECTORS THAT ARE GOOD INSPECTORS AND WE ALSO HAVE PEOPLE WHO HELP.
MANAGE THE OVERALL PROGRAM, SO WE CAN FACILITATE AND MOVE THE PROJECTS WHERE WE NEED THEM TO BE.
WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MCKINNEY TO APPROVE COUNCILMAN GO DAY SECONDS THAT MOTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS SEEING
[73. 26-00447]
NONE ITEM 72 IS APPROVED ITEM 73 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT.WITH THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSFER FUNDS PURSUANT TO THE LOCAL PROVIDER PARTICIPATION PROGRAM AND APPROPRIATING AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 136 MILLION FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY COUNCIL, ADMINISTRATOR AND TREASURER.
LET'S OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS.
DOES ANYBODY WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? SEEING NONE, LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UM DO I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GODAY IS THAT DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK COUNCILMAN DUNN YEAH I JUST WANT UM EITHER ASHLEY OR SOMEBODY FROM THE ADMINISTRATION JUST TO TOUCH ON THIS SURE UM IF Y'ALL WILL REMEMBER IN LAST YEAR IN 2025 THE COUNCIL ADOPTED SOME ORDINANCES THAT IMPOSED LOCAL PROVIDER PARTICIPATION CHARGES FEES ON HOSPITALS AND THIS IS AIMED AT INCREASING SERVICES TO PATIENTS WHO NEED MEDICAID IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
SO IN THE HOSPITALS, WE'RE ALL IN FAVOR OF THE PROGRAM.
THESE FEES WILL BE COLLECTED BY THE CITY PARISH THROUGH MY OFFICE, THROUGH THE TREASURER'S OFFICE, AND THEN SENT TO THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, WHO WILL THEN IN TURN SEND THAT MONEY ON TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DRAW DOWN MORE MEDICAID DOLLARS.
WE DO HAVE SOMEBODY FROM OUR CONSULTANT HERE WHO'S HAPPY TO ANSWER OTHER QUESTIONS YOU'LL HAVE.
THAT'S THE BASICS OF THE PROGRAM.
THE MONEY CAN ONLY BE USED FOR THIS PURPOSE.
THESE FUNDS MAY NOT BE USED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE.
THEY SENT A VERY DETAILED EMAIL TO ALL OF US.
I JUST WANTED EVERYBODY IN THE PUBLIC AND THE VIEWING AUDIENCE TO HEAR WHAT WE HEARD
[01:10:01]
IN EMAIL.SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
BY COUNCILMAN DUNN A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GODAY UM ANY OBJECTIONS TO THIS ALL RIGHT SEEING NONE OH ANTHONY I'M SO SORRY COUNCILMAN KENNY DO YOU HAVE DO YOU LIKE DO YOU WANT TO
[74. 26-00452]
SPEAK OKAY ALL RIGHT UM SO ITEM 73 IS APPROVED ITEM 74 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT THE GRANT AWARD FOR THE FOR THE COURT MODERNIZATION AND TECHNOLOGY FUND IN AN AMOUNT UP TO FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ON BEHALF OF THE BATON ROUGE CITY COURT FROM THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT TO SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES FOR THE BATON ROUGE CITY COURT.BY INTERIM CLERK OF COURT, JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATOR.
LET'S OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? SEEING NONE, LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCIL MEMBERS? COUNCILMAN GODE MOVES FOR APPROVAL.
AND I HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSA.
DO I HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS? SEEING NO OBJECTIONS,
[75. 26-00445]
ITEM NUMBER 74 IS APPROVED.ITEM 75, RESCINDING AND DIRECTING THE CLERK OF COURT TO CANCEL THE NOTICE TO ATTEND RECORDED ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2025, IN THE MATTER OF CITY OF BATON ROUGE V.
SARAH CHRISTINE SIMS, TORIN VAUGHN HORTON, JR., AND ELENA TORI HORTON.
REASON FOR RESCISSION, THE PROPERTY IS BEING SOLD AND THE STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN DEMOLISHED.
AND THIS ITEM IS BY COUNCILMAN HURST.
SO LET'S OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? SEEING NONE, LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCILMAN HURST MAKES A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM.
COUNCILWOMAN ROCCA SECONDS IT.
[76. 26-00453 ]
ITEM NUMBER 75 IS APPROVED.ITEM 76, AMEND THE 2026 PAY PLAN FOR CLASSIFIED, UNCLASSIFIED, NON-CLASSIFIED CONTRACT FIRE AND POLICE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE.
1-972-6, SO AS TO ADD A NEW CLASSIFICATION, DIRECTOR OF CONTRACTS, AND DELETE ONE SPECIAL ASSISTANT PARISH ATTORNEY POSITION.
EFFECTIVE APRIL 18, 2026 BY PARISH ATTORNEYS.
LET'S OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.
ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS? SEEING NONE, WE HAVE A REQUEST TO DEFER THIS ITEM FOR TWO WEEKS.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO DEFER THIS ITEM FOR TWO WEEKS? COUNCILMAN DUNN MAKES A MOTION.
COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS SECONDS IT.
DO I HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS? SEEING NO OBJECTIONS, THE ITEM
[77. 26-00454]
76 IS DEFERRED FOR TWO WEEKS.AMEND THE 2026 ALLOTMENT OF POSITIONS FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE.
1-9-7-2-7, SO AS TO CHANGE THE ALLOTMENT OF THE PARISH ATTORNEY ADMINISTRATION TO ADD ONE DIRECTOR OF CONTRACTS AND DELETE ONE SPECIAL ASSISTANT PARISH ATTORNEY.
EFFECTIVE APRIL 18, 2026 BY PARISH ATTORNEY.
LET'S OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? SEEING NONE, LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE HAVE A REQUEST BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY TO DEFER THIS ITEM FOR TWO WEEKS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS DO I HAVE A MOTION TO DEFER THIS FOR TWO WEEKS? COUNCILMAN DUNN MAKES A MOTION AND THE CHAIR COUNCILMAN CODAY IS NODDING HIS HEAD FOR THE SECOND THAT MOTION.
DO WE HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THAT? SEEING NONE WE WILL DEFER ITEM
[ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS]
77 FOR TWO WEEKS.ALL RIGHT LET'S MOVE ON TO ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.
SEE YOUR SEPARATE SHEETS COUNCIL MEMBERS.
OKAY ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS INTRODUCTION A.
I'M AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY PARISH AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE TO APPROVE THE CITY PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT A PRE-APPLICATION TO THE STATEWIDE FLOOD CONTROL PROGRAM FOR ASSISTANCE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A PROJECT FOR THE PURPOSE OF REDUCING EXISTING FLOOD DAMAGES BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.
WE'RE GOING TO NEED A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES TO ALLOW THIS ITEM TO BE INTRODUCED.
COUNCILMAN DUNN GIVES ME A MOTION.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? FROM COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES MAY APPROACH THE MICROPHONE AT THIS TIME.
SEEING NONE, LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? THAT'S A SORRY.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES? ALL RIGHT.
[01:15:01]
TO INTRODUCE THE ITEMS. DO I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCILMAN DUNN MAKES A MOTION TO INTRODUCE THIS ITEM.DO I HAVE A SECOND? COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS.
ANY OBJECTIONS TO INTRODUCING ADMINISTRATIVE ITEM NUMBER A? ALL RIGHT.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS EMERGENCY ITEM B.
REQUESTING THAT GREG ROME CONSIDER HIS DECISION TO RETIRE AND FURTHER REQUESTING THAT HE CONTINUE IN HIS ROLE AS PARISH ATTORNEY BY COUNCILWOMAN CAROLYN COLEMAN, COUNCILWOMAN DENISE AMOROSA, AND COUNCILMAN CLEVE DUNN, JR.
WE NEED A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.
I HAVE COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN MADE THE MOTION.
COUNCILMAN DUNN SECONDED THE MOTION.
A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.
AGAIN, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES MAY APPROACH THE MICROPHONE AT THIS TIME.
SEEING NONE, WE'LL VOTE ON THE MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE MOTION
[78. 26-00491]
TO WAIVE THE RULES? OKAY, WE HAVE AN OBJECTION FROM COUNCILMAN MOOG, SO THIS ITEM CANNOT BE HEARD.SO LET'S MOVE ON TO APPOINTMENTS.
ITEMS 78, CAPITAL AREA FINANCE AUTHORITY.
CONCURRING IN THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT'S RECOMMENDATION TO FILL THE UNEXPIRED TERM BY RUSSELL MOSLEY, THIS TERM EXPIRES JULY 1, 2028, AND THE CURRENT BALLOT IS PATRICK GOLDSMITH.
LET'S OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? SEEING NONE, LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPOINT PATRICK GOLDSMITH? THE CHAIR UH OKAY COUNCILMAN GODET WILL MAKE THE MOTION THE CHAIR WILL SECOND IT UM ANY OBJECTIONS TO THIS APPOINTMENT OKAY ITEM NUMBER 78 IS UM APPROVED AND CONGRATULATIONS TO MR PATRICK GOLDSMITH ALL RIGHT
[79. 26-00492 ]
ITEM 79 LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROL CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTING AND REPLACING DOLORES WATTS THIS IS A FOUR-YEAR TERM AND NINE VOTES ARE NEEDED THE CURRENT BALLOT IS GARRIS GARRETT DESCHAMP AND DOLORES WATTS GARRETT HAS SUBMITTED HIS APPLICATION.LORIS WATTS IS REQUESTING REAPPOINTMENT.
WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? NOT SEEING NONE, LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MEMBERS, WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
WE REAPPOINT MS. DOLORES WATTS.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO REAPPOINT DOLORES WATTS.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? ALL RIGHT.
COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSA WILL SECOND THE REAPPOINTMENT OF DOLORES WATTS.
DO WE HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS? SEEING NONE, CONGRATULATIONS, MS. WATSON.
[Items 80 & 81]
CONTINUING SERVICE TO EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.LET'S TAKE ITEM 80 AND 81 TOGETHER.
VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DISTRICT 3, BROWNS FIELD.
CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTING OR REPLACING GEORGE DEAN.
CURRENT BALLOT, GEORGE DEAN, REQUESTED REAPPOINTMENT.
LEWIS KELLY, JR., REQUESTED REAPPOINTMENT.
AND CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTING OR REPLACING LEWIS KELLY, JR.
UM, CURRENT BALLOT, GEORGE DEAN REQUESTING REAPPOINTMENT AND LEWIS KELLY JR.
LET'S OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THESE ITEMS. ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? SEEING NONE, LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO REAPPOINT GEORGE DEAN AND LEWIS KELLY TO THEIR SERVICE ON THE BROWNSVILLE BOARD? OKAY, COUNCILMAN KINNEY MAKES THE MOTION.
THE CHAIR WILL SECOND THAT MOTION.
DO WE HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS? SEEING NONE, CONGRATULATIONS.
OR WE HAVE APPOINTED GEORGE DEAN AND LEWIS KELLY JR.
TO A SECOND TERM ON THE BROWNSVILLE FIRE DISTRICT.
[82. 26-00495 ]
THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, FOR YOUR ONGOING SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.ITEM 82, VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FIRE DISTRICT 4 CENTRAL.
CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTING OR REPLACING MICHAEL J.
THE CURRENT BALLOT IS MICHAEL WILLISTON, WHO HAS REQUESTED REAPPOINTMENT.
LET'S OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.
ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK? SEEING NONE, LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL? COUNCILMAN MOAK, HE MAKES A MOTION TO REAPPOINT MR. MICHAEL WILLISTON.
AND DO I HAVE A SECOND? I DO, BY COUNCILMAN ROCCA.
AND DO I HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS? SEEING NONE, CONGRATULATIONS.
[Items 83 & 84]
YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CENTRAL FIRE DISTRICT.[01:20:01]
ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE 83 AND 84 TOGETHER.VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DISTRICT 6, HOOPER ROAD.
CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTING OR REPLACING SHARON GRAVES, AND CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTING OR REPLACING RICHARD FORT.
THE CURRENT BALLOT IS SHARON GRAVES AND RICHARD FORT.
LET'S OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE MATTERS? I'M SEEING NONE.
LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO REAPPOINT SHARON GRAVES AND RICHARD FORT? I DO.
COUNCILMAN KINNEY MAKES A MOTION.
COUNCILMAN MOAK MAKES THE SECOND.
DO I HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS? I'M SEEING NO OBJECTIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO SHARON GRAVES AND RICHARD FORT.
[Items 85 (Part 1 of 2) - 87]
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ITEMS. 85 THROUGH 87 TOGETHER.
CONTRACTOR, BAY PEST CONTROL COMPANY.
CHANGE ORDER IN THE AMOUNT OF $84,387.26. ITEM 86, REGISTRAR VOTERS TENANT BUILDOUT.
CONTRACTOR, CAPITAL CITY CONSTRUCTION, LLC.
ITEM 87 MCHUGH ROAD GROOM ROAD TO LOWER ZACHARY CONTRACTOR BARIA CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LLC CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT THIRTY ONE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND NINETY THREE DOLLARS AND SIXTY TWO CENTS LET'S OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING I THINK WE DID HAVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT ON 85 DO YOU REMEMBER THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT ON NUMBER 85 IN OPPOSITION THANK YOU, ASHLEY.
LET'S OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYBODY WISHING TO ADDRESS THESE MATTERS? SEEING NO, NONE, LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MEMBERS, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 85 THROUGH 87? THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN KINNEY.
ANY OBJECTIONS? OKAY, WE HAVE ONE OBJECTION TO 85.
ANY OTHER OBJECTIONS? SEEING NONE, ITEMS 85, 86, AND
[88. 26-00505]
87 ARE APPROVED.ALL RIGHT, ACCEPTANCE OF LOW BIDS.
ITEM 88, US 61 SCENIC HIGHWAY, LA 408, HARDING BOULEVARD, SWAN AVENUE PROJECT.
HARD ROCK CONSTRUCTION, LLC, IN AN AMOUNT OF $4,072,836.15.
LET'S OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS.
ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK? SEEING NONE, LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? MR. DUNN, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION? FRED, THIS IS YOURS, RIGHT? I THINK THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN ANTICIPATED FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
COULD YOU JUST TALK ABOUT IT? YES, SIR.
CERTAINLY, AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE RAILROAD COMPANY TRYING TO WORK OUT DEALS WITH CROSSINGS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, IT DOES TAKE A LITTLE LONGER THAN MOST PEOPLE EXPECT.
BUT WE FINALLY MOVED THROUGH THE PROCESS WORKING WITH THE RAILROAD AND DOTD AND OUR STAFF.
THIS IS A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT FOR THIS AREA OF ALL THE HARDING AND SCENIC.
THERE WILL BE A LOT OF WALKWAYS THAT ARE GOING TO BE IMPROVED, PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS, NEW RAILWAYS THAT WILL BE UPGRADED IN THE AREA TO BETTER DO CROSSINGS FOR A LOT OF THE TRACKS.
AND THE BIGGEST THING, WHICH I FEEL LIKE IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, IS TO HAVE ACTUAL GATES AT THESE CROSSINGS FROM A, FROM A PEDESTRIAN AND ALSO FROM A TRANSPORTATION STANDPOINT, WE WOULD JUST BE AT LOW BID THE CONTRACTOR.
HE'S CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE PLANK ROAD JOB, BUT HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB AND HE DOES HAVE THE PEOPLE IN THE MANPOWER TO ADDRESS THIS.
AND AS SOON AS WE CAN GET THE DATES AND DOWN.
WE WILL CERTAINLY HAVE A GROUNDBREAKING UP FOR THIS YEAR BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THEY'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS FOR SOME TIME, PARTICULARLY DEALING WITH SOUTHERN AND THE COMMIT.
THE ONLY TIME SOUTHERN, AND ALSO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TOGETHER IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA.
I DEFER THE REST OF MY TIME TO COUNCIL MCKINNEY TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANT TO THIS STREET IN THIS AREA TO THE SCOTLANDVILLE COMMUNITY AND THE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
AND I KNOW FRED TALKED ABOUT INSOTALITY.
SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY IS CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH A RENAISSANCE ERA.
CURRENTLY THERE'S A LOT OF RENOVATIONS.
I KNOW IT'S COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN DISTRICT BY VIRTUE OF DISTRICT 10, BUT WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY WILL BE A PART OF THIS PROJECT.
A LOT OF STUDENTS IN THAT AREA WILL WALK THROUGHOUT THE AREA AS WELL.
MORE STUDENT HOUSING ON THE HORIZON AND THINGS AS WELL.
I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A PROJECT
[01:25:01]
I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FAR BEYOND.I GOT INTO OFFICE, BUT WE'RE GLAD TO SEE YOU GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE AS WELL.
I'M SORRY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
BE SAFE, BE SAFE, SHUT UP MOTH, BECAUSE I AIN'T WELL WITH YOU.
SO COME ON, YEAH, HUSH YOUR MOUTH, YEAH, YEAH, BUT IT'S OKAY, YEAH, FRED, DO IT.
I DON'T THINK I SAID ANYTHING.
OKAY, SO I'M GOING TO ACCEPT THE MOTION TO APPROVE COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN WITH COUNCILMAN KENNY MAKING THE SECOND.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO APPROVING THIS WONDERFUL
[85. 26-00457 (Part 2 of 2)]
PROJECT? SEEING NONE, ITEM 88 IS APPROVED.I'D LIKE TO REQUEST REVISITING 85, IF I MAY PLEASE, THAT PEST CONTROL SERVICES.
I'D LIKE TO RECONSIDER AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.
WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN TO RECONSIDER ITEM 85.
COUNCILWOMAN ANAMAROSA, ANY OBJECTIONS TO RECONSIDERING? SEEING NONE.
EIGHTY FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED EIGHTY SEVEN DOLLARS AND TWENTY SIX CENTS DO WE NEED TO OPEN UP A PUBLIC HEARING LET'S OPEN UP A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 85 ALL RIGHT SEEING NO ONE WHO WISHES FROM THE PUBLIC WISHES TO SPEAK WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS I'M COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN I NEED SOMEONE TO EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THE PEST CONTROL SERVICES, THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT IS $22,179.74.
AND THEN THERE'S A CHANGE ORDER FOR $84,000.
AND THIS NEW CONTRACT IS $106,000.
HOW YOU DOING? SO WE HAD THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT WE HAD WAS TO COVER ALL THE FACILITIES.
WE JUST HAD ADDITIONAL REQUESTS.
SO IF SOMEONE REQUESTS THAT HAS ANTS OR NEED TO PUT OUT RAT TRAPS, WE JUST HAD A LARGE AMOUNT OF LAST YEAR OF HAVING ISSUES COMING IN WITH THE RAIN.
WE HAD ISSUES AT A LOT OF FACILITIES THAT WE MANAGED.
SO WAS THAT THE ORIGINAL BID? WAS THE $22,000? YES, MA'AM.
THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT.
WHEN DID THE BIDS COME OUT? WHEN DID...
I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND SEE.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT WAS WRITTEN OUT.
SO WAS THE $22,000 THE LOWEST BID? YES, SO THE $22,000 WAS THE LOWEST ONE COMING IN, AND THAT WAS BASED OFF HISTORIC NUMBERS, THE WAY THEY SET THE BID AT, AND JUST THE COST INCREASES OVER TIME IS WHAT DROVE THAT UP.
BUT I CAN GET BACK WITH YOU AND LET YOU KNOW THE EXACT DATE THAT THE CONTRACT WAS AWARDED.
SO IS THIS $106,500 FOR THE YEAR? YES, MA'AM.
THAT CARRIES OUT FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
SO, IT'S A PROJECT, IT'S A PROJECTION OF WHAT WE NEED BASED OFF THE AVERAGE THAT WE'VE BEEN RUNNING FOR THE PAST 3 MONTHS.
WAS HE THE ONE, WAS BAY PEST CONTROL THE ONE THAT CAME IN AND SAID, THAT CHANGED THESE NUMBERS? OR WERE YOU THE ONE THAT CAME IN AND...
NO, IT'S BASED OFF OF WHAT WE PROJECTED SO WE DON'T RUN OUT OF MONEY AND NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE FACILITIES.
SO THE CONTRACT CHANGE WAS DUE TO US AS OPPOSED TO HIM? CORRECT.
SO, EVERYBODY GOOD? SO, MR. BUTLER, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE KIND OF, IT'S REALLY KIND OF A CONTRACT EXTENSION.
[01:30:06]
DANIEL? RIGHT.SO, I'M EXPLAINING IT INCORRECTLY.
IT WASN'T A HARD AMOUNT SAYING IT WAS $22,000.
IT WAS JUST THE SERVICES ITSELF.
OKAY, SO IT WAS ON A PER SERVICE BASIS AND NOW WE'RE CONTINUING TO USE THOSE SERVICES.
OKAY, UM THAT DOES GIVE ME CLARITY.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? COUNCILMAN DONE MAKES A MOTION TO APPROVE DO I HAVE A SECOND? COUNCILMAN, THE ROCKER MAKES SECONDS THAT MOTION.
DO I HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS? OKAY, SEEING NONE, THE ITEM IS APPROVED.
[89. 26-00388]
THANK YOU, MR. BUTLER.NOW, ITEM 89, REQUESTING A REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT ON CONDEMNED PROPERTY RESCISSIONS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL OVER THE PAST 24 MONTHS AND THE CURRENT CONDITION OF THOSE PROPERTIES BY COUNCILWOMAN LORI ADAMS. RACHEL LAMBERT, THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TO WALK US THROUGH THIS.
I NEED TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
NO, I CAN USUALLY WE PRESENT FIRST AND OPEN.
SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE REPORT AND THEN AFTER THE REPORT, WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THAT TIME.
I PASSED AROUND A COPY OF THIS BRIEF SLIDESHOW AND THEN A LISTING OF ALL 67 PROPERTIES THAT WERE RESCINDED IN 2024 AND 2025, ALONG WITH SOME...
NOTES, AND THEN WHAT I WILL GET TO, AS WE'RE KIND OF CATEGORIZING THEM INTO 4 DIFFERENT GROUPS.
SO, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, JUSTIN, LIKE I SAID, THERE WERE 67 TOTAL DECISIONS FROM 2024 AND 2025.
THAT WAS ACROSS 8 DIFFERENT DISTRICTS IN THAT TIMEFRAME.
THERE WAS 389 CONDEMNATIONS CONDEMNED BY THE COUNCIL ACROSS ALL 12 DISTRICTS.
WE KIND OF LUMPED THEM INTO WHAT WE'LL CALL FAVORABLE VERSUS UNFAVORABLE.
ROUGHLY 40% HAD FAVORABLE OUTCOMES.
FAVORABLE OUTCOMES WOULD MEAN THAT THE PROPERTY IS REMODELED OR CURRENTLY BEING REMODELED.
SOME OF THEM, BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT RESCINDED THAT LONG AGO, ARE STILL ACTIVELY WORKING ON THEIR PERMITS.
AND YOU CAN SEE IN MY NOTES, I KIND OF DETAIL THAT, THOUGH I DID DO A PERSONAL ASSESSMENT OF WHETHER I FELT THAT THEIR PROJECT WAS, OR THEIR PERMIT WAS ABANDONED OR NOT.
OR THE PROPERTY WAS DEMOLISHED BY THE OWNER.
SO THERE WERE FIVE PROPERTIES THERE.
UNFAVORABLE OUTCOMES WOULD BE THAT THERE WERE NO IMPROVEMENTS, MEANING SOME OF THESE MAY HAVE APPLIED FOR A PERMIT, ABANDONED THAT PERMIT.
MAYBE THEIR PERMIT GOT ISSUED, BUT THEY DID NOT FOLLOW THROUGH WITH MAKING THE IMPROVEMENTS.
SO THEY CONTINUE TO SIT IN AN UNIMPROVED STATE.
THERE WERE NINE PROPERTIES THAT WERE RECONDEMNED OR HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED BACK TO YOU ALL TO BE RECONDEMNED.
NEXT SLIDE IS A BREAKDOWN OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF RECISIONS ACROSS THOSE EIGHT DISTRICTS AND WHETHER THEY WERE FAVORABLE UNFAVORABLE AGAIN ON YOUR SLIDE, YOU CAN LOOK AT EACH ADDRESS EACH DESCRIPTIVE COMMENT.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE FOUR CATEGORIES? I KIND OF LUMPED THAT INTO IF YOU WANT ANY MORE DETAIL ABOUT THAT.
JUST LET ME KNOW IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
I KNOW SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS ON THAT PREVIOUS SIDE LOOK LIKE.
ESPECIALLY FIVE, SEVEN, AND TEN, THAT THERE WERE A WHOLE LOT OF RESCISSIONS.
BUT IF YOU COMPARE THAT SPECIFICALLY TO THE PERCENTAGE OF CONDEMNATIONS IN THOSE DISTRICTS AS A WHOLE, IT IS EXTREMELY, LIKE, RIGHT ON TARGET, RIGHT? SO IN DISTRICT 7, IT WAS 36% OF THE RESCISSIONS, BUT 35% OF THE TOTAL CONDEMNATIONS WERE IN DISTRICT 7.
SAME WITH DISTRICT 10, 27% OF RESCISSIONS, AND 31% OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CONDEMNATIONS WERE IN THAT DISTRICT AS WELL.
AND THAT GOES FOR ALL OF THOSE ACROSS ALL THE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS ACROSS THE BOARD.
THEY FELL IN LINE WITHIN ONE TO TWO PERCENTAGE POINTS OF THEIR OVERALL CONDEMNATION RATE.
ANOTHER KIND OF CATEGORIZING SOME THINGS OF FAVORABLE VERSUS UNFAVORABLE, A LITTLE BIT OF DUPLICATE, AND THEN THE LAST SLIDE KIND OF SUMS IT UP.
THE DATA PROVES THAT WHERE THERE WERE HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF RESCISSIONS, THAT IT'S ADEQUATE, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE, THAT IS ADEQUATE AND COMPARATIVE TO THE TOTAL NUMBER PERCENTAGE OF CONDEMNATIONS THAT REALLY WERE AT A 40% SUCCESS RATE TO AN EXTENT.
AND THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF 48% OF RECISIONS ARE KIND OF STALLING OUT AT NO IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THERE'S ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT THERE.
[01:35:01]
OF MY SLIDESHOW.AND I KNOW YOU WANT TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
OKAY, LET'S OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THIS MATTER THIS REPORT SEEING NONE.
LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
ANY, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
AND 1 OF THE LAST COUNCIL MEETINGS, WE TALKED ABOUT FEES THAT WERE ASSOCIATED WITH OUR FINES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRECISION PROCESS.
WALK US THROUGH THAT AGAIN, PLEASE.
CURRENTLY, THERE IS NO, WE'LL SAY, PER SE, FINE OR FEE THAT COMES ALONG WITH A CONDEMNATION, AS THERE ARE, IF YOU WOULD EQUATE THAT WITH FOUR VIOLATIONS THAT GO TO BLIGHT COURT, SUCH AS JUNK TRASH AND DEBRIS, AN OPEN BUILDING, THERE'S A FINE FOR TALL GRASS, EVEN THOUGH IT DOESN'T GO TO BLIGHT COURT.
AT BLIGHT COURT, THE JUDGE SETS THE FINE AMOUNT.
THERE'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE THAT IS AUTOMATIC ON ALL OF THOSE BLIGHT COURT JUDGMENTS.
BUT THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN FOR CONDEMNATIONS.
WE DO RECOUP THE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR RECORDING OR ASBESTOS TESTING OR DEMOLITION IF IT ACTUALLY GETS TO THAT POINT.
AND YOU SEND A BILL AND PLACE A LIEN ON THAT PROPERTY.
BUT THERE ARE NO ACTUAL FINES OR FEES AS FAR AS LIKE A PENALTY.
FOR CONDEMNATION, SO IF WE WERE SEND A CONDEMNATION, WHAT WHAT COST ARE INCURRED FOR THE CITY OR AN APPROXIMATION OF WHAT THAT PROCESS COST PAIRS EACH TIME.
SO THE COST THAT IN ORDER FOR A RECESSION BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA.
THE PERSON WHO IS REQUESTING THAT RESCISSION HAS TO PAY RECORDING FEES WHEN A NOTICE TO ATTEND TO BE AT THIS COUNCIL MEETING IS SENT OUT.
IT IS ALSO RECORDED AGAINST THAT PROPERTY IN THE WITH THE CLERK.
COURT AND SO THE FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT RECORDING ARE THEN YOU KNOW TALLIED UP THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ENCOURAGE THOSE COSTS IF I HAVE TESTED IT FOR ASBESTOS WE'VE GOT LIKE A SIX SIX HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS AND SO IF WE'VE GOTTEN TO THAT POINT AS WELL THEY'LL HAVE TO PAY THAT BACK TO US AS WELL WHAT IS THAT IMPORTANT WHAT IS THE COLLECTION WITH REGARD TO THOSE FEES LOOK LIKE ARE WE ABLE TO COLLECT THAT IS IT OCCURRING SO FOR RESCISSIONS YES IF THEY DON'T PAY AFTER PROBABLY 60, 90 DAYS WITHIN REQUESTING THAT RESCISSION, WE'RE REMOVING THE HOLD AND PUTTING IT BACK ON THE DEMO LIST.
NOW, LIEN RECOUP, IT'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF A PERCENTAGE, BUT THERE IS SOME RECOUP BECAUSE EVENTUALLY IT GETS ROLLED ONTO THE PROPERTY TAX ROLLS.
AND SPECIFICALLY WITH REGARD TO THE RESCISSION, THE FINE APPLIES TO FAVORABLE AND UNFAVORABLE? DOES IT APPLY TO BOTH? THERE'S NO FINE.
WELL, THE FEES THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
YEAH, AND IT'S WHOLLY DEPENDENT UPON ACTUAL COSTS INCURRED BY THE CITY PARISH.
SO SOME PROPERTIES HAVE 10 HEIRS AND WE WOULD RECORD 10 NOTICE TO A TENTH.
SO THEY WOULD HAVE THE $135 FEE TIMES 10 BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE RECORDED 10 NOTICE TO A TENTH AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY THAT BACK.
THOSE NUMBERS, ARE THEY ATTACHED TO THE FAVORABLE AND UNFAVORABLE RESCISSION? YES, YES, YES MA'AM.
AND WHAT IS, AND YOU SAID IF THEY'RE NOT PAID, THEN THEY MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THERE IS NO RESCISSION, CORRECT? YES.
DID I UNDERSTAND THAT CORRECTLY? YES.
HOW LONG DOES IT USUALLY TAKE TO GET THROUGH A FULL PROCESS ON AVERAGE TO GET TO A CONDEMNATION? TO GET IT ON THE AGENDA HERE? TO GET IT ON THE AGENDA TO BE CONDEMNED.
WE DO TRY TO WORK WITH PROPERTY OWNERS.
IF WE SEND THEM A LETTER AND THEY CONTACT OUR OFFICE, THEY APPLY FOR A PERMIT.
WE WILL TRY TO ALLOW THEM SOME TIME TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE DEPARTMENT'S GOAL TO DEMOLISH PROPERTIES.
WE WANT THEM TO BE BROUGHT BACK INTO COMMERCE.
THERE ARE SEVERE PROPERTIES THAT WE MAY OUR PROCESS GOES LIKE THIS.
FOR POTENTIAL CONDEMNATION, WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT AND INSPECT IT.
AND IF WE FIND IT IN VIOLATION, THEN WE WILL SEND A LETTER OUT.
AND USUALLY INSPECTED WITHIN HOW LONG? USUALLY LIKE A WEEK.
IT REALLY JUST KIND OF DEPENDS.
SO YOU'VE GOT A WEEK OR TWO THERE.
AND THEN WE GIVE THEM 30 DAYS TO RESPOND.
AND THEN WITHIN THOSE 30 DAYS, THEY DON'T RESPOND.
THEN WE'RE FORWARDING THAT ON TO THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WHO THEN EVENTUALLY PUTS IT ON TO THE COUNCIL AGENDA.
AND THAT TAKES ABOUT HOW LONG? A COUPLE WEEKS.
IT REALLY DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH WE'VE SENT THEM, RIGHT, BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE A FEW THAT THEY HAVEN'T PUT ON
[01:40:01]
YET BECAUSE WE HAVE TOO MANY DEFERRALS.WE CAN ONLY HAVE SO MANY, WE'LL CALL IT, ON THE AGENDA AT ONE TIME.
WE RUN INTO A RESOURCE, RIGHT, BECAUSE EVERY, THE WEEK BEFORE EVERY COUNCIL MEETING, MY INSPECTOR IS VISITING EVERY SINGLE PROPERTY ON THE AGENDA.
SO WOULD YOU SAY THAT FROM COMPLAINT TO EVERYTHING ELSE, USUALLY ON AVERAGE SIX MONTHS? YEAH.
I MEAN, FOR THE MORE SEVERE ONES, AGAIN, THERE ARE A LOT OF PROPERTIES THAT ARE REPORTED THAT I WOULD CALL REHABBABLE AND NOT, WE'VE KIND OF BEEN RANKING THEM FROM ONE TO FIVE, FIVE BEING THE WORST, ONE BEING.
YOU KNOW, REHAB-ABLE, VERY REHAB-ABLE.
AND SO SOME OF THOSE ONES, TWOS, AND THE MILDER THREES MIGHT SIT LONGER BEFORE THEY GET SENT TO THE COUNCIL BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO, OF COURSE, DO THE WORST ONES FIRST.
SO WE GET TO THE CONDEMNATION.
AT THAT POINT, WHAT PROCESS STARTS THEN? SO WE'RE GOING TO IDENTIFY WHETHER THE PROPERTY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR ANY SORT OF GRANT FUNDING.
THERE ARE CERTAIN AREAS OF TOWN THAT ARE INELIGIBLE DUE TO THEIR HISTORIC NATURE OR THAT THEY'RE IN THE FLOODPLAIN AS WELL.
SO WE'LL DETERMINE THAT, SEND OFF SOME INFORMATION TO GET A PRE-APPROVAL ON THAT.
WE WILL ALSO SEND THEM OFF TO GET TESTED FOR ASBESTOS.
HOW LONG DOES THAT USUALLY TAKE? I MEAN, THAT PROCESS OF WE VOTED ON IT.
THE GRANT ELIGIBILITY, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF NOTICES THAT HAVE TO GET SENT OUT, TAKES 45 TO 60 DAYS.
THE SUCH AS TESTING IS TYPICALLY RUNNING AROUND 30 TO 45 DAYS.
SO WE'RE ABOUT FIVE, SAY, FOUR TO SIX, SEVEN MONTHS IN.
YEAH, AND THEN UTILITIES RIGHT NOW, ENERGY AND DELTA GAS ARE RUNNING AT ABOUT EIGHT WEEKS IN ORDER FOR DISCONNECT.
THAT IS A VERY CHALLENGING FACTOR CURRENTLY.
SO NOW WE'RE AT NINE, TEN MONTHS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH THIS ONE PIECE PROPERTY.
WE'RE LOOKING AT AT THE QUICKEST WE COULD PROBABLY GET SOMETHING DOWN WOULD BE TWO AND A HALF, THREE MONTHS AFTER CONDEMNATION.
OKAY, SO WE'RE ABOUT EIGHT, NINE MONTHS IN, ACCORDING TO THE THING.
SO DO YOU HAVE TO, AFTER WE VOTE ON IT, DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT CONDEMNED? DO YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AGAIN OF NOTIFYING ANYBODY THAT'S ON RECORD? WE DO SEND OUT A FINALIZED COPY OF YOUR DECISION AND ORDER, A.K.A.
BUT RECEIVING GREEN CARD NOTICE BACK IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS IT IS ON THE NOTICE TO.
BUT THERE IS A LOT OF MAIL INVOLVED.
SO YOU GET TO THE POINT, YOU'VE DONE THE ASBESTOS TEST, YOU'VE GOT THE POWER PULLED FROM THE PROPERTY AND EVERYTHING, AND THEN SOMEBODY SHOWS UP.
AT THAT POINT, WHAT HAPPENS THEN? THEY SHOW UP AND THEY SAY, WHOA, WHOA, WAIT A SECOND.
AND THEY HAVE TO GET WITH THEIR COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND THEIR COUNCIL MEMBER THEN CONTACTS YOU AND SAYS, I'D LIKE TO PUT THIS.
OR DO THEY CONTACT YOU, DOES THE OWNER CONTACT YOU AND SAY, HEY, I'VE DECIDED I'LL DO THE WORK ON IT? THEY DO BOTH HAPPEN.
WE SPECIFICALLY TELL PEOPLE THAT WE DO NOT PLACE HOLDS ON PROPERTIES, THAT WE NEED THAT COMMUNICATION TO COME IN WRITING FROM THEIR COUNCIL MEMBER.
BUT THEY SHOW UP AND THEY WANT TO DO WORK ON IT ALL OF A SUDDEN.
IT HAS TO BE PULLED FROM THE COMPANY? IT DOES NOT.
NOT IF I DO NOT RECEIVE THAT INTENT.
OUR WISHES FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBER.
OKAY, SO THE COUNCIL MEMBER COMES TO YOU AND SAYS THIS PERSON WANTS TO DO THE WORK ON IT.
BEFORE THE PERSON CAN DO ANYTHING, IT HAS TO BE PULLED FROM THE CONDEMNATION.
SO A LOT OF TIMES WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE MAY PLACE WHAT WE'LL CALL LIKE A SOFT HOLD.
WE'LL PULL BACK FROM, WE'RE NOT GOING TO LIKE REMOVE IT FROM THE LIST, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE IT A FEW WEEKS, SEE IF THEY CAN GET ENOUGH INFORMATION TOGETHER TO MAKE.
EVERYONE FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROCEED WITH THAT WORK ONCE THE RESCISSION IS DONE.
THEN ONCE A FORMAL REQUEST FOR RESCISSION IS SENT IN, WE WILL PLACE IT ON WHAT WE'LL CALL IT A HARD HOLD, RIGHT, UNTIL EITHER THE 60 TO 90 DAYS ELAPSES AFTER THEY GET THAT COMMUNICATION OF HOW MUCH THEY HAVE TO PAY IN ORDER FOR THE RESCISSION TO GO ON THE AGENDA.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, OTHERWISE, IF THEY DON'T REQUEST A FORMAL RESCISSION, THEN WE MOVE IT BACK TO THE DEMO LIST.
ALL RIGHT, SO RESCISSION'S BEEN DONE.
COUNCILMAN, DO YOU WANT YOUR EXTRA TIME? YEAH, RESCISSION'S BEEN DONE.
THE PERSON SAID THEY'RE GOING TO DO WHATEVER THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
DOES ALL OF THOSE STEPS HAVE TO BE DONE ALL OVER AGAIN? INSPECTION, ASBESTOS? NO, ASBESTOS WOULD CARRY OVER.
DOES ANY SHORTCUTS HAPPEN? TO GO BACK FOR RECONDEMNATION BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T DO THEIR WORK.
IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S A SHORTER PROCESS TO SAY, ALL RIGHT, YOU DIDN'T DO THE WORK, BOOM, IT'S RIGHT BACK ON THE LIST.
OR DO WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS AGAIN? SO THE WHOLE, LIKE, RE-NOTICING, RE-SENDING OUT THE NOTICE TO ATTEND, APPEARING BACK ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA, ALL HAS TO OCCUR.
[01:45:01]
NOW, SAY WE TESTED FOR ASBESTOS, THE GRANT APPROVAL CAME IN, AND THEY CUT ALL THE UTILITIES BEFORE IT WAS RESCINDED.WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT AGAIN, SO THAT TIME FRAME CAN BE SHORTER.
THE REASON I WAS BEING SO SPECIFIC ABOUT THE TIMELINE AND EVERYTHING ELSE, JUST LIKE I UNDERSTAND THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY FEES OR FINES OR WHATEVER ELSE, AND WHAT WE DO A LITTLE BIT, WE DO INCUR AS FAR AS ACTUAL PAYMENT TO ASBESTOS PEOPLE OR WHATEVER WE HAVE THERE.
I GET THAT WE PUT THAT ON THE THING, BUT THAT'S A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT AND INSPECTORS THAT WE'RE SENDING OUT TO THESE PLACES.
I MEAN, I'M ALL FOR IF THERE'S SOMETHING TO WORK OUT TO WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT JUST, IT DOESN'T GET PULLED OR RESCINDED UNTIL, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE ACTUAL CREDIBLE, YOU KNOW, FULL WORK THAT IT CAN BE NON-CONDEMNED, IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO WITH THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THE RESCISSION JUST SEEMS TO ME HAS TO BE A FINAL THING.
IT'S BACK AND PLAY? IN OTHER WORDS, IS THERE A WAY THAT WHETHER IT'S THROUGH ORDINANCE OR WHATEVER FUNCTIONS THAT WE CAN ASSIST Y'ALL WITH, IS THERE A WAY TO ALLOW THE HOMEOWNER THAT SHOWS UP AFTER IT'S BEEN CONDEMNED, MAYBE THEY JUST GOT THE NOTICE OR WHATEVER, THEY COME IN AND SAY, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS WORK.
AND THE WORK, PRETTY MUCH FROM OUR STANDPOINT, WOULD HAVE TO BE GUARANTEED THAT, OKAY, YOU'VE GOT X AMOUNT OF TIME TO PUT IT TO A POINT THAT IF WE RE-INSPECT THIS, IT WILL NOT BE CONDEMNED.
IT WON'T BE ABLE TO CONDEMN THE LEVEL.
IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE CAN GET TO THAT POINT? SO ONE OF THE COMPLICATING FACTORS WITH THAT WOULD BE THAT A PERMIT CANNOT BE ISSUED IF THE PROPERTY IS CONDEMNED.
IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN CHANGE? WE CAN, BUT I BELIEVE MAYMUNIS SPOKE ON THAT A WHILE BACK.
IT WOULD BE A DIRECT CONFLICT.
A CONDEMNATION NULLIFIES AND VOIDS ANY EXISTING PERMIT, AND NEW PERMITS CANNOT BE ISSUED WHEN A PROPERTY IS CONDEMNED.
BUT THEY CAN BOARD IT UP, MAKE IT SO THAT IT CAN'T BE INHABITED OR ENTERED BY PEOPLE OR RODENTS OR VERMIN, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.
I FEEL THAT BEING BOARDED UP IS DIFFERENT THAN CONDEMNED.
LIKE SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT I SEE THAT ARE ON A CONDEMNATION LIST ARE ROOFS ARE HALF GONE.
FRONT PORCHES ARE LITERALLY THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE STRUCTURE IS GONE.
I'VE GOT ONE IN MY DISTRICT THAT WAS THERE FOREVER.
IT HAD TO HAVE A SIX-FOOT ROUND TREE TRUNK THROUGH THE ROOF FOR I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG, AND IT TOOK OUT HALF THE OTHER ROOF.
AND I MEAN, IT FINALLY GOT TORE DOWN OR WHATEVER.
BUT I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT IS, IT'S ONE THING, YEAH, I GET THE ONES THAT SAY, IF YOU GO BOARD IT UP AND SECURE IT, THAT'S NOT CONDEMNABLE.
BUT IT'S THE ONES THAT ARE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PHYSICAL CONSTRUCTION WORK TO DO TO MAKE THIS NOT FULLY CONDEMNABLE.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SALT THE EARTH WITH THIS THING.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE CAN IMPROVE THAT PROCESS? BECAUSE THOSE ARE PROBABLY THE ONES THAT I WOULD THINK THAT FALL WITHIN THIS UNFAVORABLE WORK PART IS THEY GET OUT THERE AND THEY GO, OH, I JUST DON'T, THERE'S JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'D BE BETTER JUST TO LET THE CITY PARISH TEAR IT DOWN AND WE BUILD ANOTHER ONE ON TOP OF IT.
YOU KNOW IN THE DISTRICT WHERE WE'RE CONDEMNING A LOT OF PROPERTIES THAT HOUSING STOCK IS MUCH OLDER SO A LOT OF THINGS HAVE TO BE BROUGHT UP TO CODE WHEN THERE ARE YOU KNOW CHANGES IN PERMITS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HALF THE ROOF IS GONE THAT'S A LARGE STRUCTURAL YOU KNOW PROJECT IN ITSELF HAVING TO REFRAME A ROOF OR WALLS OR THIS THAT OR THE OTHER AND SO UM AND I GOT 30 SECONDS I APOLOGIZE I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS IS I I'M ALL FOR YOU KNOW IF A HOMEOWNER'S GOING GOING TO COME UP.
EVEN AFTER IT'S CONDEMNED, AND SAY, HOWEVER BAD IT IS, YOU KNOW, WALKING THEM THROUGH, GETTING GRANTS, GETTING THEM HELP, GETTING THEM WHATEVER THEY NEED IF THEY WANT TO PUT THAT PROPERTY BACK IN USE, OR GETTING THEM SOME ASSISTANCE IN, YOU KNOW, COMPLETELY TEARING IT DOWN AND GRANTS OR WHATEVER ELSE TO REBUILD A HOME ON THEIR PROPERTY.
I GET IT THAT IT MEANS A LOT TO THEM, BUT I JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S GOT TO GET TO A POINT THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT COMPLETELY PULLING OFF THAT CONDEMNATION LIST IF THEY'RE TRULY GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING.
I WILL TRY TO SEE WHAT OTHER BEST PRACTICES OTHER JURISDICTIONS MAY HAVE IMPLEMENTED AROUND THAT SPECIFICALLY.
YES, THANK YOU RACHEL FOR YOUR PRESENTATION THERE, PUTTING THE NUMBERS UP AND ALL OF THAT.
AND SO I WANT TO SAY THAT AS THE COUNCIL PERSON IN 10, SEE 10, 7 AND 5 ARE THE AREAS.
[01:50:02]
WHERE THERE ARE THE CONDEMNATION, THE PLENTY OF CONDEMNATIONS THERE.AND SO AS THE COUNCIL PERSON IN 10, I CAN SAY IS I MAKE DECISIONS WITH MY CONSTITUENTS.
I EVEN HAVE MY CONSTITUENTS TO COME WITH A PLAN.
AND SO THIS IS NOT A COOKIE CUTTER.
AND SO A PLAN IS WHAT IS IT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO IN THEIR TIME FRAME? AND THE MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE A PLAN, AND THEY ACTUALLY REALIZE THEIR PLAN.
AND THEN WE EVEN REACH OUT TO OCD FROM TIME TO TIME ABOUT DOING THIS.
AND THEN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE...
BLIGHT AND THE CONDEMNATION, THEN YOUR BUDGET IS KIND OF LOW, ISN'T IT? MY DEPARTMENT HAS ZERO DOLLARS FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
SO LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT.
AND SO IF THEY ARE BURNED, THEN THEY WERE ON TOP OF THE LIST.
ISN'T THAT CORRECT? AND SO WHEN WE AS COUNCIL PERSONS, AND I'M GOING TO SPEAK FOR MYSELF, KNOW OUR DISTRICT.
AND KNOW WHAT IS AND KNOW OUR CONSTITUENTS, THEN THAT'S WHY THEY VOTED AND HAVE US HERE SITTING IN THIS AS OPPOSED TO EVERY TIME WHEN OTHERS FEEL THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ANY BLIGHT OR VERY LITTLE IN THEIR DISTRICT, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THAN JUST TEARING DOWN FOLKS' STUFF.
AND THEN TALKING ABOUT BUILDING THEM SOMETHING ELSE, THAT'S A MORTGAGE.
AND YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THEIR EVENING YEARS AND TALKING ABOUT A DAMN MORTGAGE, WHICH IS NOT ACCEPTABLE THERE.
AND SO I JUST WANT, AND THERE IS NO COOKIE CUTTER PROCESS.
FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE, WHEN WE LOOK AT 37,000 PLUS, I KNOW IN 10, OF CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE IN NEED OF SERVICES AND WHATEVER, AND THAT'S OUR JOB.
AND SO THEY COME WITH A PLAN, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT TO CONSIDER A BUNCH OF STUFF.
ILLNESS, NO MONEY AT THAT TIME.
A LOT OF FOLK ARE ON THE OWNERSHIP OF THAT.
SO, AGAIN, THERE IS NO COOKIE-CUTTER PROCESS FOR THIS, AND WE DEFINITELY DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO SERVE, THAT BIG WORD, THAT BIG S WORD, TO SERVE OUR CONSTITUENTS AS OPPOSED TO JUST WANT TO CHANGE THE ORDINANCES OR THE MAKE ANOTHER RULE THAT WILL BE IMPACTING THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE CHOSEN TO SERVE.
I APPRECIATE WHEN WE REACH OUT, AND WHEN I SAY WE, I'M TALKING ABOUT MY PEOPLE.
ME AND MY PEOPLE REACH OUT, AND THEN THAT WE ARE ABLE TO ACTUALLY SERVE.
AND I KNOW WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT.
THAT WE HAVE MORE POSITIVE WHATEVER TO SERVE AND PEOPLE ACTUALLY DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO PUT THEIR HOME BACK IN COMMERCE.
AND IF THEY SO CHOOSE TO SELL OR IF THEY SO CHOOSE TO DO WHATEVER, THEN THAT'S WHAT THEY DO IN DISTRICT 10.
BUT I WANT THE RECORD TO REFLECT I AM THE COUNCILWOMAN IN TAN, AND IT IS MY FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT I DON'T GO THROUGH TEARING DOWN FOLK HOUSES, BUT THAT I ACTUALLY SERVE THEM AND HELP THEM TO COME UP.
STAY IN THEIR HOMES OR DO WHATSOEVER IT IS, BUT I THANK YOU RACHEL.
I DIDN'T WANT THIS TO BE ACCUSATORY OR ANYTHING JUST PRESENTING FACTS AND DATA.
AND THAT'S WHY I CAN THANK YOU.
THE QUESTION I HAVE A QUESTION FOR COUNCILWOMAN ADAM.
[01:55:01]
DO YOU HAVE BLIGHT IN YOUR DISTRICT? I GUESS I HAVE SOME, BECAUSE I'M WONDERING WHY.YOU CALL FOR THIS REPORT TO BE GIVEN, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY YOU WERE ASKING? YES, WE ACTUALLY, I ASKED HER, WAS IT MAYBE THREE WEEKS AGO OR FOUR WEEKS AGO IN A COUNCIL MEETING, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PROCESS AND WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE A RESCISSION FEE.
IF WE WERE REALLY ALWAYS CAPTURING PEOPLE'S TRUE INTENT, LIKE IS A RESCISSION, IS IT...
EASY TO GET, AND THEN YOU CAN PROLONG IT FOR A LONGER TIME.
AND JUST I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROCESS WAS AND WHAT THE OUTCOMES WERE.
AND, I MEAN, FOR ALL I KNEW, 100% OF THE THINGS THAT WERE RESCINDED WERE IMPROVED.
SO THIS IS JUST A GREAT SNAPSHOT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
I THINK WE'RE ALL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET HOUSING STOCK IMPROVED.
AND THIS IS A PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.
COUNCILMAN MOAK, YOU HAD A PIECE OF BLIGHTED PROPERTY IN YOUR DISTRICT, AND YOU HAVE SEVERAL.
OH, AND RACHEL STOOD UP HERE AND JUST RAN IT DOWN THE ENTIRE RESCINDING PROCESS.
SITTING ON THE COUNCIL AS LONG AS YOU'VE BEEN, I THOUGHT MAYBE YOU WOULD HAVE KNOWN THE PROCESS BY NOW.
I DIDN'T KNOW THE TIMELINE OF THE PROCESS.
I KNOW THAT IT TAKES A WHILE, AND IT TAKES TIME AND EFFORT AND SO ON.
LIKE WHEN I GO THROUGH MY PROCESS AND I WALK THROUGH, I WANT TO MAKE SURE AND I WANT TO HELP THE HOMEOWNER GET TO THE POINT THAT THEY CAN GET BACK INTO THAT HOME.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE ALWAYS DONE WITH MINE.
BUT I'VE ALSO TOLD THEM THAT I WILL REFUSE TO PULL OFF OR DO ANY RESCISSION UNTIL CERTAIN STEPS ARE MADE.
AND I KNOW EACH ONE OF EVERYONE IN HERE PROBABLY DOES THAT IN THEIR AREAS ALSO.
AND I COMMEND EVERYONE FOR DOING THAT.
AND I THINK THAT EVERYONE DOES A AMAZINGLY AWESOME JOB OF WORKING WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS IN EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO WITH CONDEMNATIONS BUT I ALSO FEEL LIKE THAT THERE ARE SOME EVEN IN MY DISTRICT BECAUSE I'VE HAD TWO I'VE HAD YOU KNOW TWO OF THEM THAT I'VE DEALT WITH OVER FIVE SIX AND A HALF YEARS NOW THAT KEPT TELLING ME I'M GONNA DO IT I'M GONNA DO IT I'M GONNA DO IT GOING TO DO IT GOING TO DO IT AND NEIGHBOR AFTER NEIGHBOR KEPT CALLING AND CALLING AND CALLING AND SO I KEPT TELLING THEM, DO NOT TRY AND PULL IT, DO NOT DO ANYTHING, BUT WHAT CAN WE DO SO THAT WE CAN GET THEM TO THE POINT TO BE ABLE TO DO SOME WORK TO SHOW THAT WHEN IT GETS TO THE POINT, I EITHER GO OUT THERE AND LOOK AT IT JUST LIKE ALL OF Y'ALL GO OUT AND LOOK AT YOURS, THAT I GO OUT THERE AND SAY, YES, THIS IS GOING TO BE LIVABLE.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY OUT HERE DOING STUFF.
BEFORE I GO RESCINDING IT, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT US TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS AGAIN, BECAUSE IT IS TIME AND EFFORT FROM OUR DEPARTMENT.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST ANSWER IT FLAT OUT RIGHT.
I'M NOT CONDEMNING ANYONE, NO PUN INTENDED, FOR THE PROCESS AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
I WANTED THE TIME AND PROCESS STATED PUBLICLY.
I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD PUT IN WITH THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT WE'RE HAVING TO GO THROUGH.
SO I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THIS, AND I THOUGHT WE HAD GREAT DISCUSSION THE LAST TIME WE DISCUSSED THIS.
I WANT TO ALSO SAY THAT I KNOW MY DISTRICT HAS A HUGE BLIGHT PROBLEM, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ME WHEN IT COMES TO BLIGHT IS TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT I AM COMMUNICATING WITH THE OWNER, IF YOU CAN LOCATE AN OWNER.
AND LIKE COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN MENTIONED IS WHAT'S YOUR PLANS WORK WITH PLANS? ARE YOU GOING TO DO? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY? CAN YOU AFFORD TO REMODEL? CAN YOU AFFORD TO DEMOLISH AND? I FOR MYSELF DO NOT GO IN IMMEDIATELY WILLING TO TEAR IT DOWN RIGHT THEN AND THERE.
I BELIEVE IN WORKING WITH FOLKS, OKAY, BECAUSE MOST OF THESE PROPERTIES, 99% OF THESE PROPERTIES ARE HEIRS' PROPERTY.
AND FOLKS DON'T WANT YOU TOUCHING THEIR PROPERTY, DEMOLISHING IT, GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO AT LEAST DO SOMETHING WITH IT.
NOW, IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING WITH IT, THE NEXT STEP IS TO MOVE ON AND DEMOLISH IT.
BUT FIRST OF ALL, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR CONSTITUENTS TO KNOW WE'RE NOT HERE, WE'RE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF JUST DEMOLISHING OR JUST TEARING SOMEBODY'S PROPERTY DOWN BECAUSE YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THE PROPERTY AND YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT.
NOW, IF YOU'RE NOT WORKABLE, IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO DO,
[02:00:01]
THEN WE TAKE THOSE STEPS.WE MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT STEP IN DEMOLISHING IT.
AND COUNCILWOMAN, IF I MAY, I WOULD EVEN AGREE WITH Y'ALL AND EVERY ONE OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT, AND WHAT I SAID IN MY STATEMENT A WHILE AGO IS, I WOULD EVEN GO TO THE POINT THAT IF THERE'S SOME KIND OF FINANCIAL AID THAT WE COULD OFFER THEM OR DIRECT THEM THROUGH TO WITH OUR OFFICE, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE TIMES THAT THEY CAN'T REBUILD IS WHEN THEY SEE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
IT GETS VERY FINANCIALLY HARDSHIP AND SO ON.
I WOULD EVEN GO TO THE POINT OF NOT WANTING TO TEAR IT DOWN TO SAY, HEY, LET'S AT LEAST GET YOU.
SO SEE IF WE CAN QUALIFY YOU FOR SOME OF THIS FINANCIAL AID THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS OR NOT.
PUT A LIST TOGETHER AND MAYBE GIVE IT OUT TO THEM AND HELP THEM GO THROUGH IT, BUT STILL NOT PULL IT OFF THE LIST UNTIL, YOU KNOW, WE GET THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND EVERYTHING.
SO I AGREE WITH YOU ALL THAT WE'RE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF GOING OUT THERE AND TEARING PEOPLE'S HOMES AND SO ON, AND I WOULD EVEN GO SO FAR AS TO HELPING THEM FIND FINANCIAL AID.
RACHEL, YOU MENTIONED BRIEFLY THAT THERE'S FUNDING, AVAILABLE FUNDING, SOME FUNDING SOURCE THAT YOU MAY HAVE OR AID.
CAN YOU GO OVER THAT AGAIN, PLEASE? CAN YOU MENTION IF YOUR DEPARTMENT DO HAVE SOME TYPE OF FUNDING THAT MAYBE SOME OF THESE HOMEOWNERS CAN TAP INTO TO HELP WITH RENOVATIONS? YOU DON'T HAVE THAT? NO.
WE HAD SOME MONEY WITH OCD, AND THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO WORK TO GET US SOME MORE TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE TO TACKLE SOME OF OUR BACKLOG, WHICH CURRENTLY SITS AT 97 PROPERTIES.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S JUST OUR IN-HOUSE CREW THAT'S WORKING TO TEAR DOWN HOUSES, STUDY ONE AFTER THE OTHER.
I KNOW THAT OCD HAS BEEN WORKING TO HAVE MORE PROGRAMS TO HAVE.
THERE ARE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE, NON-PROFITS, THAT ARE TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE LIKE THAT AS WELL.
WE TRY TO STEER THEM TO THOSE PEOPLE AND TRY TO HELP PEOPLE.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE ALWAYS WORKING WITH PEOPLE AND TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, IF THEY WANT TO BE IN THEIR HOME, THEN WE WANT THEM TO BE IN THEIR HOME.
IS KELLY STILL HERE? THANK YOU.
KELLY? ANYONE FROM OCD HERE? WILLIAM? SO IF FUNDING DOES COME AVAILABLE THROUGH THE GRANTS ON A FEDERAL LEVEL, IS THAT INFORMATION MADE PUBLIC SO FOLKS CAN KNOW? YES, MA'AM.
IN FACT, KELLY WAS TELLING ME TODAY THAT 75 PEOPLE HAD SIGNED UP FOR ONE OF THE HOUSING GRANTS THAT THEY WERE COMING UP WITH.
OKAY, SO HOW IS THAT? SO HOW DO YOU GET IT OUT THERE? HOW IS IT MADE KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC? HOW DO YOU DO THAT? WELL, I'D HAVE TO REALLY GET WITH KELLY, BUT I WILL SAY THE BEST EXAMPLE THAT I'VE SEEN WAS THE TOWN MEETING THAT YOU HAD.
YOU HAD QUITE A FEW PEOPLE THERE, AND THEY WERE ALL INTERESTED IN REMODELING HOMES THEIRS AND OTHER PEOPLE'S.
KELLY, THE QUESTION IS, WHEN YOU...
DO RECEIVE WHAT ALSO BE RECEIVED FUNDING FROM FROM YOUR FROM A GRANT FEDERAL DOLLARS HOW IS THAT INFORMATION MADE KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC SO EVERY YEAR IT'S CALLED ENTITLEMENT FUNDS BECAUSE WE'RE IN A TITLE IN CITY UH THE FORMULA CHANGES A BIT UM SO IT'S EVERY YEAR THAT THAT AMOUNT IS ADVERTISED AND IT'S IN OUR ONE-YEAR ACTION PLAN AS FAR AS WHAT WE CAN DO IT HAS TO BE APPROVED PRIOR TO RECEIVING THOSE FUNDS EACH YEAR SO DO YOU MAKE IT DO YOU MAKE IT KNOWN TO FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY CENTERS? WILLIAM MENTIONED THAT I HAD A TOWN HALL MEETING A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, AND, OF COURSE, THAT INFORMATION WOULD BE USEFUL THERE AS WELL.
BUT IF WE'RE NOT DOING TOWN HALL MEETINGS EVERY MONTH, MAYBE NOT EVEN ONCE A YEAR, HOW COULD YOU GET THAT INFORMATION OUT SO FOLKS CAN KNOW, LOOK, I DO HAVE A BLOTTED PIECE OF PROPERTY.
WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA? WHAT ARE THE GUIDELINES? HOW CAN I MAKE THAT POSSIBLE? YEAH, THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG CHANGES THAT WE ARE MAKING.
IT SHOULD BE MORE REOCCURRING, BUT THE FUNDS THAT Y'ALL ARE SPEAKING ABOUT, IN THE PAST A LARGE PORTION HAS JUST GONE TO THE HOME REHABS, WHICH IS A GREAT THING, RIGHT? BUT I THINK IT SHOULD BE PARTITIONED OFF TO WHERE A CERTAIN SECTION, PARTICULARLY OUR ELDERLY, ARE GOING THERE.
THOSE IN THE REALLY BAD CASES LIKE THE BLIND LADY WHO WE'RE HELPING AT THIS POINT.
BUT THEN IT SHOULD BE SOME JUST TO HELP THIS WHOLE PROCESS.
SO BEFORE RACHEL WAS USING DISASTER DOLLARS THAT WERE ALLOCATED TOWARDS TEAR DOWNS, BUT WE'VE CARVED OUT SOME
[02:05:02]
OF OUR ENTITLEMENT DOLLARS TO USE SPECIFIC FOR THAT.BUT AGAIN, REBUILDING IS KEY, BUT WE'RE OPEN TO ALL IDEAS.
I WOULD LOVE THE INFORMATION TO BE MORE READILY AVAILABLE.
ANOTHER CITY AND THEY HAD A HANDOUT THAT WAS SEVERAL PAGES LONG THAT HAD VERY SIMILAR PROGRAMS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE LIKE MODA OWN SIDE LOT AND AND THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE PHENOMENAL TO HAVE A COMMUNITY CENTERS TO HAVE IN THESE AREAS WHERE THEY EXPERIENCE A LOT OF ARE WE ANY MORE CLOSER TO POTENTIALLY GETTING SOMETHING LIKE THAT GENERATED IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT INFORMATION OUT AND THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION.
YEP, SO WE'VE STARTED AND IT'S AN IMPACT REPORT.
SO IT SHOWS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE.
IT'S GOT A QR CODE AND YES WE STARTED THAT PROCESS.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO TALK TO EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND HAVE THEIR OWN COPIES OF THOSE DOCUMENTS.
I HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL BOOKLETS THAT I CAN GET TO YOU GUYS.
THE OTHER PIECE IS, RECENTLY IN JANUARY, I RAN INTO THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER, AND HE HAD A PROGRAM THAT HE WANTED TO ROLL OUT WITH THE PARISH'S BLIGHT AND CONDEMNATION PROCEEDINGS, AND IT'S A ROOFING PROGRAM, AND THEY WOULD FRONT A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY, SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO $10,000 OR MORE, TO HAVE ROOFS REPAIRED BECAUSE IT'S THE ONE THING THAT LEADS TO BLIGHT IS A LEAKY ROOF, AND IT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE COST.
ALSO, CURRENTLY WITH GETTING HOME PROPERTY INSURANCE, THE YEAR AND DATE ON YOUR ROOF MAY PROHIBIT YOU FROM DOING SO WITH THE INSURANCE CHANGES THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED.
SO I THINK THAT HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THOSE OTHER PUBLIC LEADERS AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS CAN HELP US WITH THOSE PROGRAMS, AND MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE INCLUDE IN OUR BOOKLET.
BUT I DO BELIEVE US ALL SITTING TOGETHER AND HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS, MAYBE WE CAN HAVE A WORKSHOP.
I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT, BUT I THINK THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD LOVE SOME INPUT ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
YEAH, WE'LL INVOLVE EVERYBODY.
I THINK WE NEED A TOWN HALL AT EVERY DISTRICT, REGARDLESS OF WHERE IT IS.
SO LAC, LAOCD, LOUISIANA HOUSING CORPORATION, LOUISIANA OCD, AND DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, WE NEED TO HAVE EVERYONE THERE.
THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO HELP.
I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM.
THEY WANT TO HELP IN ANY WAY THEY CAN.
I THINK OUR COUNCILMAN HARRIS.
GETTING THIS INFORMATION OUT TO THE PEOPLE IS THE MOST PIECE SO THEY KNOW THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
YEAH, WE NEED EIGHT PEOPLE FOR THE NEXT ITEM.
OKAY, YOU'RE ALWAYS BEHIND A POST.
WHAT IS UP WITH THEM? I'M JUST KIDDING.
[90. 26-00469]
OKAY, RACHEL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ENERGY ON THAT.I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE MORE WE CAN LEARN AND UNDERSTAND AND COME TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER, THE BETTER OFF WE'LL BE.
ITEM 90, THAT'S AN EMERGENCY ITEM TO BE ADOPTED, WAIVING THE DISTANCE REQUIREMENT TO ALLOW FOR THE LAS BRUJAS COFFEE AND GROCERY, 3101 GOVERNMENT STREET TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR APPLICATION TO THE ALCOHOL BEVERAGE CONTROL BOARD FOR A PERMIT.
TO SELL PACKAGED NATURAL WINE AND PACKAGED RETAIL BEER OFF-PREMISES AS PART OF THEIR GROCERY STORE BY COUNCILWOMAN CAROLYN COLEMAN.
REASON FOR EMERGENCY TO ALLOW LA BRUJAS COFFEE AND GROCERY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR APPLICATION WITH THE ABC BOARD AS THEY OPENED FOR BUSINESS ON MARCH 22, 2026. OKAY, SO IN ACCORDANCE WITH ORDINANCE 16442, THIS ITEM MUST BE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY BY TWO-THIRDS VOTED THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO DECLARE THIS AN EMERGENCY COUNCILMAN COLEMAN AND DO WE HAVE A SECOND A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MOAK UM ARE WE NEED TO VOTE ON THE MOTION TO DECLARE IT AN EMERGENCY ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS ALL RIGHT SO WE HAVE EIGHT VOTES UM ALL RIGHT LET'S OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ITEM UM DOES ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK ON THE EMERGENCY ADOPTION ITEM? SORRY, FINDING THE RIGHT WORDS.
I DON'T SEE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK, SO LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND SO WE TAKE
[02:10:03]
A VOTE ON THE ITEM NOW. OH, I'M SO SORRY. I'M SO SORRY.COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSA. WE VOTE ON THIS. DOES IT ACTUALLY GO FORWARD TONIGHT, OR IS IT? YES, THIS IS ADOPTION. SO THIS WILL ALLOW THEM TO GO FORWARD WITH THEIR LICENSE. OKAY, SO WHAT IS THE DISTANCE PROBLEM? CAN YOU CLARIFY THE DISTANCE PROBLEM? WHY THERE'S A DISTANCE PROBLEM? WELL, IT IS A, THERE WAS, THERE'S A VERY SMALL DISTANCE ISSUE AND THE FOLK ARE GOOD WITH IT. AND SO THEY WENT BEFORE THE PARISH. PLANTING AND ZONING. AND SO THEY WENT TO THE PEOPLE. THEY'RE GOOD WITH THIS. THEY CAME TO ME. I PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, AND WE GOOD. SO IT'S NOT LIKE THERE'S NOT LIKE A SCHOOL OR A CHURCH OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? IS IT LIKE NEIGHBORS? AND THEY'RE ALREADY ON A STRIP WITH OTHER FOLKS DOING THE SAME THING. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. OKAY, SO WE'VE DECLARED IT AN EMERGENCY ITEM, AND WE HAVE ADOPTED IT. IS THAT RIGHT? WE'VE DONE IT? OKAY, WE NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE. JUST CHECKING IT OUT. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN COLEMAN.
[Adjournment and Announcements]
COUNCILMAN MOAK. ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? I'M SEEING NONE.THE ITEM IS APPROVED. ITEM 90 IS APPROVED. COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSA. MOTION TO ADJOURN.
ALL RIGHT. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN HARRIS. AND WE HAVE, SO WE'RE ADJOURNED, BUT WE HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
COUNCILMAN HARRIS. WE'RE BACK WITH PEDALING FOR PEACE ON APRIL 17TH AT 6 P.M. SHOPPERS VALUE. CHIEF, I SEE YOU OVER THERE. WE NEED YOU IN THE PLACE. YOU'RE THERE.
OKAY. AND WE NEED EVERYONE ELSE IN THE PLACE. IT'S A GREAT DAY.
SHOPPERS VALUE. BE THERE OR BE SQUARE. AND WE HAVE BIKES FOR YOU. AWESOME. BECK. I NEED YOU IN THE HOUSE, BETH. ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? YOU'RE GOING TO MISSISSIPPI. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE THERE. SO, COME OUT. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GREAT TIME. AND THE WEATHER IS PERFECT AS WELL.
AWESOME. SEE YOU THERE. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS. ALL RIGHT. DON'T FORGET THAT A SMALL GROUP OF COMMITTED PEOPLE IS THE ONLY THING THAT HAS EVER CHANGED THE WORLD. Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT EVENING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.