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COUNCILMAN, YOU'RE LIVE IN THREE SECONDS.
[ Presentations and Special Recognitions]
GOOD EVENING, AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.WELCOME TO THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS FOR APRIL 22ND, 2026.
AT THIS TIME, WE'LL CALL UP COUNCILMAN ANTHONY KINNEY TO RECOGNIZE JASON HUGHES, CEO OF PROJECT 70805.
ALL RIGHT THANK YOU COUNCIL REMOTE COUNCIL MEMBERS TODAY UM I HAVE A VERY PILLAR IN OUR COMMUNITY IN NORTH BATON ROUGE AND DISTRICT 2.
UH MR JASON HUGHES MR HUGHES SERVES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PROJECT 7805 HE HAS LED VARIOUS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES UH REDEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE AND ALSO AS WELL JUST BEING A COMMUNITY RESOURCE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE NORTH BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY AND THIS YEAR HIS ORGANIZATION NONPROFIT AND HIS TEAM IS CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF IMPACT IN BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY AND NORTH BATON ROUGE.
AND SO I WANT TO BRING MR. HUGHES UP.
SO LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
SO MR. HUGHES AND HIS ORGANIZATION CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF IMPACT.
NO, IT'S JUST BEEN A PLEASURE.
TEN YEARS WENT BY REALLY FAST SERVING THE COMMUNITY OF NORTH BATON ROUGE, BEING FROM THE COMMUNITY OF NORTH BATON ROUGE.
I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEN AND ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
ALRIGHT MR. HUGHES BEFORE YOU LEAVE, UM, HOLD ON, DON'T COME IN HERE, YOU AIN'T DONE YET.
TODAY WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU ON BEHALF OF THE METRO COUNCIL FOR YOUR VISIONARY LEADERSHIP AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO REVITALIZE AND ADVANCE IN BATON ROUGE AND THE NORTH BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY.
YOUR EFFORTS TO UPLIFT 7805 COMMUNITY SERVICE ARE A MODEL OF PURPOSEFUL LEADERSHIP INSPIRING PROGRESS AND UNITY THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
ALL RIGHT, FOR OUR NEXT PRESENTATION, AGAIN, COUNCILMAN ANTHONY KENNY RECOGNIZES STUDENTS FROM SCOTLANDVILLE MIDDLE MAGNET FOR PARTICIPATION IN A WORK SESSION CALLED ED SURVIVAL BY DESIGN.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN MOTE.
COUNCILMEMBERS, TODAY I HAVE SOME PHENOMENAL STUDENT SCHOLARS FROM SCHOLARVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL ENGINEERING ACADEMY IN MY DISTRICT, DISTRICT 2 NORTH BATON ROUGE.
RECENTLY THESE STUDENTS TRAVELED TO SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.
THEY HAD AN AMAZING PRESENTATION THAT WAS TITLED SURVIVAL BY DESIGN USING HANDS-ON LEARNING TO INTEGRATE ENGINEERING AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS.
THESE STUDENTS HAVE SHOWN COMMITMENT TO NOT ONLY REPRESENT THEIR SCHOOL, SCHOLARVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL DISTRICT TWO BUT ENTIRE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AS YOU'VE SEEN AS WELL, SCHUYLERVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND OTHER VARIOUS SCHOOLS ACROSS OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT RECEIVED NATIONAL AWARDS AND RECOGNITION.
SO I JUST WANT TO CALL UP TODAY ONE OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES FOR SCHUYLERVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL TO TALK ON BEHALF OF THE PROJECT THAT THEY DID LAST WEEK.
LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THESE STUDENT SCHOLARS.
ALL THE STUDENTS FROM SCHUYLERVILLE MIDDLE, COME ON UP.
LET'S GIVE THESE AMAZING SCHOLARS A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
KIRSTEN HICKENBOTTOM AND I'M THE MAGNET SITE COORDINATOR AT SCOTLANDVILLE PRE-ENGINEERING MAGNET ACADEMY.
AND I AM VERY HONORED TO STAND BEFORE YOU ALL TODAY TO ACCEPT THESE CERTIFICATES FOR OUR STUDENTS.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD AT OUR PRESENTATION SINCE ABOUT DECEMBER.
AND OUR LOVELY SCHOLARS BEHIND ME ACTUALLY...
READ THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK AND THEY REDESIGNED HER SECRET ANNEX TO MAKE IT MORE SOUND PROOF USING ENGINEERING CONCEPTS.
WE ARE THE ONLY NATIONALLY CERTIFIED MSA, PRE-ENGINEERING MIDDLE SCHOOL, IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
SO WE DO GREAT THINGS AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. HICKENBOTTOM.
AND TODAY WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE SCHOLARS WHO WENT ON TO REPRESENT NOT ONLY SCHOLARVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL, BUT THE ENTIRE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, JUST COME GRAB YOUR CERTIFICATE.
SECOND, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, MS. KAYLEE BROCK.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, PATIENCE TOBER.
LET'S GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
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NEXT UP, SHAYLA FORREST.ALRIGHT, NEXT UP, AZARIA SPEARS.
AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, ROMAN MITCHELL.
ALRIGHT, SCHOLARS, FIRST OFF, CONGRATULATIONS.
YOU REPRESENTED THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT WELL.
I KNOW YOUR SUPERINTENDENT, MR. COLE, IS VERY PROUD OF YOU.
UM YOU ARE AN EXAMPLE WHAT HE SAYS EVERY DAY DAD SHOULD BE GREAT AND SO CONTINUE WITH EXCELLENCE I'LL CONTINUE TO REPRESENT NOT ONLY YOUR FAMILIES BUT YOUR SCHOOL AS WELL AND JUST KNOW UH WE ARE SUPPORTING YOU YOUR FAMILY SUPPORTING YOU UM BUT EVERYBODY IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE EVERY DAY WANT TO SEE YOU ALL BE SUCCESSFUL LIKE Y'ALL DOING TODAY SO KEEP IT GOING ALL RIGHT ALL RIGHT SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE A PICTURE IN THE FRONT SO LET'S GIVE THESE ROUND UP THESE STUDENTS A ROUND OF APPLAUSE LET ME GRAB A COUPLE.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, COUNCILMAN AARON MOAK RECOGNIZED THE BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR EARNING FIRST PLACE IN THE PENSACOLA BEACH FIRE FIRE CHALLENGE.
YES, TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU ON BEHALF OF THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND ALL OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH IN RECOGNIZING CHIEF KIMBALL, THE BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THE BATON ROUGE FIREFIGHTERS COMPETITION TEAM.
NOW BEFORE I GET INTO THE PRESENTATION, I WANT TO SHOW YOU ALL A VIDEO OF SOME OF WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH IN PENSACOLA.
IT'S ONE THING TO DO THESE COMPETITIONS ON REGULAR GROUND AND RUN IT THROUGH CONCRETE AND OR GRASS OR WHATEVER, BUT IF YOU WATCH THIS VIDEO AND SEE WHAT THEY DID ON THE SAND, YOU'LL KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO CALL UP THE BATON ROUGE FIREFIGHTERS, BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT COMPETITION TEAM AND CHIEF KIMBALL.
NOW WHILE WE RECOGNIZE THEM, IT IS WITH IMMENSE PRIDE THAT I CAN CONGRATULATE THE BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT COMPETITION TEAM ON YOUR INCREDIBLE FIRST PLACE VICTORY AT THE 2026 PENSACOLA BEACH FIREFIGHTERS CHALLENGE.
ACHIEVING THE FASTEST TIME IN SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL EVENT IS A FEAT IN ITSELF, BUT DOING SO FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS PROVES THAT OUR DEPARTMENT IS TRULY IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN.
AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, BY THE WAY, IS A FIRST-CLASS FIRE DEPARTMENT.
SO DEFENDING THE TITLE IS OFTEN MORE DIFFICULT THAN WINNING THE FIRST, YET YOUR TEAM STEPPED ONTO THE SANDS OF CASINO BEACH AND DOMINATED THE FIELD ONCE AGAIN.
FINISHING THE COURSE IN A BLISTERING 56.34 SECONDS.
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TO THE ELITE LEVEL OF FITNESS, TRAINING, AND TEAMWORK THAT DEFINES THE BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT.I WANT TO SPECIFICALLY RECOGNIZE THE SHEER PHYSICAL TOLL OF THIS COURSE DEMANDS.
MOST PEOPLE SEE PENSACOLA BEACH, BUT YOUR TEAM SAW THE GRUELING FIVE-STATION GAUNTLET.
IF YOU REFER TO THE VIDEO, THEY PERFORMED THE FORCIBLE ENTRY AT THE BEGINNING, THE 100-FOOT CHARGE HOSE PULL, THAT IS A FULLY CHARGED FIRE HOSE, WHAT IS THAT, INCH AND THREE-QUARTER? YEAH.
THE KAYSER SLED AND THE 50-FOOT DUMMY DRAG, AND THE FINAL WAS THE HOSE HOIST AT THE ENDING, ALL WHILE IN FULL TURNOUT GEAR WITH THEIR SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS.
IT'S A DISPLAY OF BRUTE STRENGTH AND FITNESS THAT FEW CAN IMAGINE.
DOING ALL OF THIS IN DEEP SHIFTING SANDS, A LEVEL OF RESISTANCE THAT TESTS EVEN THE MOST SEASONED FIRST RESPONDERS.
NOW, FOR COMPARISON, A LOT OF PEOPLE GO OUT, THEY JOG ON THE SAND BECAUSE IT GIVES RESISTANCE AND EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE MORNINGS, AND THEY ENJOY THEIR BEACH RUN AND SO ON.
NOW IMAGINE DOING THAT WITH 75 TO 100 POUNDS OF EQUIPMENT AND FULL TURNOUT GEAR, WHICH YOU'RE JUST PROBABLY TOTALLY SWEATING IN THE WHOLE TIME.
YOUR VICTORY IS NOT JUST A PERSONAL WIN FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE COMPETITION TEAM.
IT IS A POINT OF PRIDE FOR THE ENTIRE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
IT REASSURES OUR CITIZENS THAT THE MEN AND WOMEN PROTECTING THEM ARE AMONG THE MOST CAPABLE, DEDICATED IN THE NATION.
ON BEHALF OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND THE RESIDENTS OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING OUR CITY WITH SUCH EXCELLENCE AND BRINGING THE TROPHY BACK HOME TO BATON ROUGE ONCE AGAIN.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING A THREE-PEAT NEXT YEAR.
NOW I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU ALL A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION.
IS WHAT MADE IT TODAY? ALL RIGHT.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WANT TO GIVE ONE TO CHIEF ON BEHALF OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL TO THE BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN GENERAL FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO LETTING THESE GENTLEMEN REPRESENT THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE SUPPORT Y'ALL GIVE US.
THIS IS JUST A TESTAMENT OF WHAT THESE MEN DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.
OUTSIDE OF FIGHTING FIRES AND PROTECTING LIVES, THEY GO OUT AND THEY PREPARE AND TRAIN TO REPRESENT THIS CITY AT A NATIONAL LEVEL.
AND THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME, AND THESE GUYS DESERVE IT ALL.
COUNCILMAN MOAK, DO THE COUNCILWOMEN REALLY WANT TO COME AND JOIN IN THE PICTURE? YES.
YEAH, THE COUNCILWOMEN WANT TO DO IT, YEAH.
LET'S GET A BIG SMILE FROM EVERYBODY.
CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN TO OUR BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
THIS CONCLUDES THIS AFTERNOON'S RECOGNITION.
WE'LL HAVE A BRIEF RECESS AND WE'LL CONVENE BACK FOR OUR REGULAR SCHEDULE OF METRO COUNCIL MEETING AT 4 P.M.
WE ARE LIVE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
IT IS ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE ALL OF YOU WATCHING.
[00:15:01]
OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE HERE.WE HAVE A HUGE CROWD THAT HAVE JOINED US, AND OF COURSE WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE...
YOU WITH US ANY MONTH THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME DOWN ON THE SECOND AND FOURTH WEDNESDAYS AT FOUR O'CLOCK.
THIS TIME HERE IS THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, COUNCILMAN BRANDON NOEL.
[CALL TO ORDER ]
THANK YOU, DENNIS.WELCOME EVERYBODY TO THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22ND, 2026.
WE'LL CALL A MEETING IN ORDER.
ASHLEY, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM? WE HAVE A QUORUM.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE INVOCATION LED BY PASTOR GERALD ROBINSON, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE BY ATTORNEY TIFFANY FOXWORTH.
WE THANK YOU, O GOD, FOR ALL WHO HAVE GATHERED IN THIS PLACE.
AND NOW, GOD, WE PRAY IN JESUS' NAME THAT YOU WILL POUR OUT UPON US YOUR WISDOM, GOD, YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING.
DEAR GOD, THAT THIS MAY BE A MEETING OF PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING.
THAT WE MAY DO AND SAY THE THINGS THAT ARE PLEASING IN THINE SIGHT AND THAT ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL OF YOUR PEOPLE.
AND GOD WILL BE SURE TO GIVE YOU THE GLORY, THE HONOR, AND ALL OF THE PRAISE.
PLEASE PUT YOUR HAND OVER YOUR HEART.
I PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES ]
ALRIGHT, ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.NUMBER ONE, APPROVAL AND ADOPTION MINUTES OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 8, 2026, AND THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ZONING MEETING OF APRIL 15, 2026 BY COUNCIL ADMINISTRATIVE TREASURER.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
[INTRODUCTIONS ]
ASHLEY, CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE INTRODUCTIONS? SECTION 2.12, INTRODUCTIONS, NUMBER TWO.I'M IN THE 2026 PAY PLAN FOR THE CLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED NON CLASSIFIED CONTRACT FIRE AND POLICE EMPLOYEES THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE.
SO, TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING CHANGES EFFECTIVE MAY 16TH, 2026, INCREASE THE PAY GRADE OF THE PARISH ATTORNEY CLASSIFICATION BY COUNCILMAN LAURIE ADAMS, COUNCILMAN DWIGHT HUDSON AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR NUMBER 3.
I'M IN 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 IMPLEMENT CHANGES TO THE CLASSIFIED AND UNCLASSIFIED PAPER PLAN EFFECTIVE JUNE 27TH, 2026 BY THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, FINANCE DIRECTOR AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS.
NUMBER 4, SANTIAGO T CLARK, 6676, GREENVILLE STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 5, HERS NUMBER 05, HENRY ROBBINS, 4099, BILLUP STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS NUMBER 6, JOSEPH COLLINS, 4836, JEAN STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS.
NUMBER 7, RENIKA ANDERSON, 3736 DELAWARE STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS.
ADJUDICATED PROPERTY INTRODUCTIONS, NUMBER 8, LOT 1A1, SQUARE 20A, SCOTLAND EDITION, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KENNEY.
NUMBER 9, LOT 9, PARK SQUARE 01, LINMAN PLACE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN.
NUMBER 10, LOT 21, SQUARE 23, SUBDIVISION HICKEYTOWN, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN.
NUMBER 11, LOT 8, SQUARE 89, ESTREMA SUBDIVISION, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN.
NUMBER 12, LOT 1A1, SQUARE 20A, SUB SCOTLAND EDITION, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KINNEY.
NUMBER 13, LOT 8, SQUARE 2, SUBDIVISION PLANK ROAD, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS.
NUMBER 14, 20 PARTS, SQUARE 39, SOUTH BATON ROUGE SUBDIVISION, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN.
NUMBER 15, LOT 15 PLUS, SQUARE 02, SUBDIVISION RICHMOND PARK, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN.
NUMBER 16, LOT 14, PART SQUARE 05, SUBDIVISION SCOTT, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN.
NUMBER 17, LOT 10 PLUS, SQUARE 06, SUBDIVISION SCOTT, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN.
NUMBER 18, LOT 68, SUBDIVISION HIGHLAND GARDENS ADDITION, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS.
NUMBER 19, LOT 41, SUBDIVISION CYPRESS PARK, COUNCIL DISTRICT 09, HUDSON.
NUMBER 20, LOT 44, SUBDIVISION CYPRESS PARK, COUNCIL DISTRICT 09, HUDSON.
NUMBER 21, LOT 10 PLUS, SQUARE 04, SUBDIVISION NORTH BATON ROUGE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 2,
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KINNEY.LOT 34 PART SQUARE 39 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 23 LOT 1 8 COUNCIL SQUARE 5 SUBDIVISION DATE DAYTON COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 24 LOT 133 SUBDIVISION VICTORIA GARDENS COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS NUMBER 25 LOT X.
10 COLEMAN NUMBER 26 LOT 9 SQUARE 164 SUBDIVISION SOUTH.
COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN ALL ITEMS REQUIRE READING HAVE BEEN READ IN A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS IS AN ORDER.
A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
ALL RIGHT, GO TO YOUR SECOND SHEET OR YOUR SEPARATE SHEET
[CONDEMNATIONS ]
FOR CONDEMNATIONS.I'M GOING TO READ THE DPW RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEN FIELD FROM THE COUNCIL RECOMMENDATIONS.
THEN WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, AND 50.
THERE'S NO DEFERRALS OR DELETIONS.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY SEPARATE RECOMMENDATIONS? WE'RE ALL GOOD? OKAY.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.
MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
[51. 26-00449 ]
AND A 51.I'M IN THE 2026 PAY PLAN FOR CLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED NON CLASSIFIED CONTRACT, FIRE AND POLICE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF BAD NEWS PATCH OF EAST.
BY ORDINANCE NUMBER 19726, DATA 1209-2025, SO I HAVE TO IMPLEMENT MUNICIPAL PAY PLAN.
MUNICIPAL POLICE POLICE PAY PLAN CHANGES EFFECTIVE MAY 16, 2026 AND APPROPRIATE 05,615,000 DOLLARS FOR SET PURPOSE BY MAYOR PRESIDENT FINANCE DIRECTOR AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WANTING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS, I THINK CHIEF WANTS TO SPEAK AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PROPONENTS AND JUST LINE UP ANY PROPONENTS WHO WANT TO SPEAK FOR IT.
I'M NOT SURE IF WE HAVE OVERFLOW ON THE EIGHTH FLOOR, BUT IF WE DO, WHEN I START SEEING THE LINE GET DOWN TO JUST A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE, WE'LL CALL PEOPLE FROM THE EIGHTH FLOOR SO THEY CAN COME DOWN AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS A CHANCE.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU TODAY.
THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ONE OF THE BEST POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
THIS IS NOT JUST MY OPINION, BUT A FACT BASED ON ANY METRIC AVAILABLE.
IN MY OVER 26 YEARS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE, I HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TEACHING CLASSES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND BEING TAUGHT CLASSES.
I HAVE BROUGHT ALL THAT I HAVE LEARNED BACK TO BRPD, INCLUDING FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE THAT WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN BATON ROUGE IS ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THE MOST WELL-TRAINED, MOST ORGANIZED, MOST TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED, AND MOST PROFESSIONAL DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTRY.
WE SERVE THE CITIZENS OF BATON ROUGE, AND WE ALSO PROTECT THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT COME INTO BATON ROUGE TO WORK, HAVE DINNER, ATTEND THE HUNDREDS OF SPORTING SPECIAL EVENTS.
ATTEND COLLEGE, SPORTING EVENTS, USE THE AIRPORT, OR JUST PASS THROUGH ON OUR TWO MAJOR INTERSTATES.
IF YOU ARE IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND YOU CALL 911, THERE ARE ONLY THREE AGENCIES THAT WILL BE RESPONDING TO YOUR CALL FOR HELP.
THREE, BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT, EAST BATON ROUGE EMS, AND THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE ANSWER THESE CALLS ON NIGHTS, WEEKENDS, AND HOLIDAYS, EQUIPPED TO HANDLE ANY CRISIS OUR COMMUNITY FACES.
BUT OUR DEPARTMENT IS DOING ALL OF THIS AT CRITICAL STAFFING SHORTAGE.
BASED ON POPULATION SIZE AND CALLS FOR SERVICE, OUR DEPARTMENT IS ALLOTTED FOR 696 OFFICERS.
AS I STAND HERE TODAY, WE ARE RIGHT ABOUT 525 OFFICERS.
THAT IS 170 OFFICERS SHORT, WITH MORE OFFICERS SCHEDULED TO RETIRE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
WHEN I WORKED 1ST DISTRICT DOG SHIFT AT NIGHT IN NORTH BATON ROUGE, WE HAD 13 OFFICERS ON MY SQUAD.
THAT SAME SQUAD NOW HAS SEVEN.
WE ARE ASKING OUR OFFICERS TO ANSWER MORE CALLS FOR SERVICE, USE MORE TECHNOLOGY, WEAR MORE HATS, BUT WITH LESS PEOPLE AND FEWER RESOURCES.
THIS IS PUTTING A TOLL ON THE OFFICERS OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT CANNOT BE MAINTAINED.
WE'RE SHORT IN EVERY DIVISION, FROM OUR DISPATCHERS WHO ANSWER THE CALLS, TO THE UNIFORMED OFFICERS SHOWING UP TO CRIME AND PROGRESS, TO OUR DETECTIVES THAT DO THE SERIOUS CASE FOLLOW-UP, AND EVEN OUR OPERATIONS PERSONNEL.
YOUR BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT DESPERATELY NEEDS THESE RAISES.
SO THAT WE CAN ATTRACT, RECRUIT, AND HIRE MORE TOP-TIER TALENT
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TO FILL OUR RANKS.THE POOL IS ALREADY SMALL FOR THOSE THAT ARE WILLING TO TAKE THE CALLING OF BEING A LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONAL.
WE NEED OUR SALARIES TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE WITH THE OTHER AGENCIES ACROSS OUR AREA.
THE ONLY THING HOLDING US BACK FROM BEING ABLE TO HIRE THESE OFFICERS IS THE PAY NOT BEING COMPETITIVE.
WITHOUT HIRING MORE PEOPLE, OUR NUMBERS WILL QUICKLY DROP BELOW 500 OFFICERS, AND WE WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICES THAT WE CURRENTLY ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE.
HOW CAN WE STAFF A SPECIAL EVENT THAT REQUIRES 200 OFFICERS AND STILL SERVE THE CITY? I FEAR SOME DIVISIONS WOULD NEED TO BE ELIMINATED, AND SOME CALL TYPES WON'T BE ANSWERED IN PERSON.
I ASK THAT YOU WOULD PLEASE VOTE YES ON THIS ITEM AS IT IS PROPOSED.
I WILL BE LISTENING TO ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND STAND READY TO BE CALLED BACK UP TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
ANY OTHER PROPONENTS WISHING TO SPEAK? CONSTABLE? GOOD EVENING.
I STAND HERE TODAY AS THE CITY CONSTABLE FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
AND TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WORK AT THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE THAT WORKS FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
I'M NOT STANDING HERE TO SAY BATON ROUGE CITY POLICE SHOULD NOT RECEIVE THIS PAY RAISE TODAY.
I'VE SAID THIS FROM THE BEGINNING, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SAY THEY DO DESERVE A PAY INCREASE.
CONSTABLES DO DESERVE THAT INCREASE AS WELL.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT, AT ONE TIME THEY WERE SAYING THAT CONSTABLES WASN'T LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT WE'VE ESTABLISHED THAT IN DECEMBER.
THE MAYOR SAID CONSTABLES ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SO WHAT I ASK THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND THIS COUNCIL, WHENEVER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT, PLEASE KEEP CITY CONSTABLES IN MIND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT IT.
NOW, FROM WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING TODAY, THERE'S ANOTHER AGENDA ITEM COMING UP IN TWO WEEKS, AND I'M ASKING THIS COUNCIL TO PLEASE, PLEASE CONSIDER GIVING CONSTABLES A PAY INCREASE IN TWO WEEKS WHEN THEY COME BACK UP AGAIN.
I'M NOT TELLING Y'ALL NOT TO GIVE IT TO BATON ROUGE CITY POLICE BECAUSE THEY NEED IT, BUT JUST LIKE THEY NEEDED ALL OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES NEEDED.
SO TO THE PEOPLE THAT TOLD ME WE'RE NEXT, TO THE PEOPLE THAT SAID THEY'RE FIGHTING FOR US, I HOPE AND I PRAY THAT IN TWO WEEKS YOU WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT.
IT'S NOT ABOUT BLACK AND WHITE.
IT'S NOT ABOUT DEMOCRATIC OR REPUBLICAN.
IT'S ABOUT DOING WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
ANY OTHER PROPONENTS WISHING TO SPEAK? OKAY, I THOUGHT WE'D HAVE A LINE, SO, OKAY.
IF YOU'RE ON THE EIGHTH FLOOR AND YOU WISH TO SPEAK, COME ON DOWN AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
BRANDON O'NEILL, I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE BATON ROUGE UNION POLICE.
AS PRESIDENT OF THE BATON ROUGE UNION POLICE AND VOICE FOR OUR OFFICERS, I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED PAY SCALE.
THIS PLAN IS MORE THAN JUST NUMBERS ON PAPER.
IT'S MEANINGFUL INVESTMENT IN THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PUT...
THE UNIFORM ON EVERY DAY AND SERVE THIS CITY WITH DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM, AND SACRIFICE.
FOR FAR TOO LONG OUR OFFICERS HAVE OPERATED IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE COMPENSATION HAS STRUGGLED TO KEEP PACE WITH THE DEMANDS OF THE JOB AND THE REALITIES OF TODAY'S ECONOMY.
THIS PROPOSAL BEGINS TO CORRECT THAT.
IT PROVIDES STRUCTURE, COMPETITIVE PAY THAT REWARDS EXPERIENCE, ENCOURAGES RETENTION, AND MAKES RECRUITMENT A HIGH HIGH QUALITY CANDIDATES MORE ATTAINABLE.
FROM THE UNION PERSPECTIVE, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THIS PLAN IS THE LONG-TERM VISION.
OFFICERS CAN NOW SEE A CLEAR PATH FORWARD IN THEIR CAREERS KNOWING THAT THEIR COMMITMENT TO THIS DEPARTMENT WILL BE RECOGNIZED AND VALUED.
THIS PROPOSAL ALSO STRENGTHENS OUR DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE.
WHEN WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OFFICERS, WE IMPROVE THE MORALE, REDUCE TURNOVER, AND ULTIMATELY ENHANCE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE WE PROVIDE TO THE CITIZENS OF BATON ROUGE.
SIMPLY PUT, IT'S ABOUT FAIRNESS, SUSTAINABILITY, AND RESPECT FOR THE PROFESSION.
IT SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT BATON ROUGE VALUES THE POLICE OFFICERS AND IS WILLING TO INVEST IN THEIR FUTURE.
ON BEHALF OF THE UNION, I URGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS PROPOSAL.
IT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR OUR OFFICERS, OUR DEPARTMENT, AND OUR COMMUNITY.
TO MAYOR PRESIDENT SID EDWARDS AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND SUPPORT.
THAT'S SPELLED Y-I-G-A-L-B-A-N-D-E-R.
I'M NOT AWARE THAT I REPRESENT ANYBODY BUT MYSELF AND MY FAMILY.
WE'VE LIVED IN THE SAME HOUSE IN SHERWOOD FOREST FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS.
OFTEN WHEN I DRIVE WEST ON GOODWOOD BOULEVARD, I SEE A
[00:30:03]
CONSTABLE VEHICLE PARKED IN FRONT OF A HOUSE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BOULEVARD, USUALLY WITH SOME KIND OF LIGHTS ON.IT'S NICE TO SEE A LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLE THERE.
IT MAKES US FEEL A LITTLE SAFER.
AND, OF COURSE, I SUPPORT A PAY INCREASE FOR THE POLICE AND EMS. I AM HERE TO ALSO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR A PAY INCREASE FOR THE CONSTABLE DEPUTIES AND TO POINT OUT AS A LAWYER THAT I'VE MADE A STUDY OF.
THE LAW ENFORCEMENT STATUS OF THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE.
AND I KNOW THE MAYOR PRESIDENT HIMSELF AND THE CHIEF HAVE ALL ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE IS LAW AND THE DEPUTIES ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS ALSO ISSUED AN OPINION BASED ON STATUTORY INTERPRETATION THAT CONSTABLE DEPUTIES ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THAT SHOULD BE KEPT IN MIND AS WELL.
ANY OTHER PROPONENTS? GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS PAULA COLLINS AND I AM A PROPONENT FOR THE POLICE PAY RAISE, BUT I AM ALSO A PROPONENT FOR THE COUNCIL BOOK'S PAY RAISE.
IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER HEARING IN TWO WEEKS.
RATHER THAN DIVIDE THIS COMMUNITY, PIT DEPARTMENTS AGAINST ONE ANOTHER, CREATE THE ENVIRONMENT, THE MENTAL ENVIRONMENT THAT'S GOING ON IN OUR CITY NOW AS IT RELATES TO WHO'S WHO VERSUS THE COUNCIL AND THE POLICE, I ONLY STAND AS A PROPONENT ASKING THAT IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO REVIEW ON MAY 16TH.
THAT YOU INCLUDE THE POLICE AND THE COUNCIL AS ONE TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.
MY NAME IS CORPORAL BRIAN STRONG.
I'M THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE MAGNOLIA STATE PEACE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.
THE MAGNOLIA STATE PEACE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION IS A NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY SERVICES ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO THE BETTERMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
OUR ORGANIZATION HAS HUNDREDS OF MEMBERS INCLUDING OFFICERS AND DISPATCHERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
HERE IN THE CAPITAL AREA REGION WE HAVE MEMBERS REPRESENTING MULTIPLE LOCAL AGENCIES.
SOME OF THESE AGENCIES INCLUDE THE EAST BATON ROUGE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, CITY OF BATON ROUGE CONSULATE'S OFFICE, STATE POLICE, BUT WITHOUT A DOUBT THE LARGEST DEPARTMENT THAT MAKES UP THE MEMBERS IN OUR AREAS IS THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE MAGNOLIA STATE PEACE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION'S CAPITAL CHAPTER TO SUPPORT ITEM 449, WHICH IS A RAISE FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS THE PREMIER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
THIS IS MY 17TH YEAR WITH BRPD, AND SINCE JOINING BRPD, WE HAVE SEEN A STEADY DECLINE IN OFFICERS AND A DRASTIC INCREASE IN CALLS OF SERVICE.
DURING THIS TIME, OFFICERS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO PATROL AND COVER LARGER AREAS, WHICH HAVE LED TO FURTHER INCREASES IN CASELOADS AND LESS DOWNTIME FOR OUR OFFICERS.
FOR YEARS, I'VE LITERALLY SEEN HUNDREDS OF OFFICERS LEAVE THIS DEPARTMENT FOR JOBS WITH LESS STRESS, LESS TIME AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, FOR MORE MONEY.
THE ISSUE OF MONEY HAS NOT PROPERLY BEEN ADDRESSED FOR YEARS, AND THIS HAS LED TO THE DEPARTMENT BEING DOWN ALMOST 170 OFFICERS.
PASSAGE OF TODAY'S ITEM WILL BE AN IMPORTANT STEP IN ATTRACTING QUALIFIED APPLICANTS AND RETAINING OUR SKILLED LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS.
BRPD PROVIDES SUPERIOR TRAINING FOR ITS OFFICERS.
WE HAVE SEEN OFFICERS COME TO BRPD TO OBTAIN CERTIFICATION IN THIS TRAINING AND THEN LEAVE FOR HIGHER PAYING JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
WE ARE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE CAPITAL CITY OF LOUISIANA.
THERE IS NO REASON WHY ANY SURROUNDING AGENCY SHOULD BE PAID MORE THAN THIS DEPARTMENT.
WE HANDLE MORE EVENTS AND WE MAKE MORE ARRESTS.
SOME OF THE SAME AGENCIES THAT CALL US FOR ASSISTANCE MAKE MORE THAN THIS DEPARTMENT.
WHILE DOING RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED SEVERAL OF THESE LOCAL AGENCIES THAT PAY THEIR NEWLY HIRED POLICE OFFICERS FRESH OUT OF THE ACADEMY EITHER THE SAME OR MORE THAN MY BASE PAY AFTER 17 YEARS.
IT IS MY HOPE THAT THIS ITEM IS APPROVED.
THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE ABOUT MONEY.
[00:35:01]
THIS IS AN ISSUE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE CITIZENS OF BATON ROUGE.THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD BE THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR ANY CITY STAKEHOLDER.
THE PASSAGE OF THIS ITEM WILL BE AN INVESTMENT IN THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WILL ENSURE THE STABILITY AND THE FUTURE OF BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO I ASK AGAIN THAT YOU PLEASE SUPPORT THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR ATTENTION.
MY NAME IS JUDGE YVETTE MANSFIELD-ALEXANDRA.
I'M THE CHIEF JUDGE OF BATON ROUGE CITY COURT.
I HAVE WITH ME MY FOUR FELLOW FEMALE JUDGES ON THE FRONT ROW.
THEY'RE THE GREATEST POLICE OFFICERS THAT I KNOW.
BUT WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT OUR CONSTABLES SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WHEN YOU SAY LAW ENFORCEMENT, THERE'S A DEFINITION, A LEGAL DEFINITION.
AND IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, IF YOU QUALIFY FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL FUND THAT YOU GET, THEN YOU'RE A LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WHAT WE'RE HERE TODAY TO SAY IS WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT OUR CONSTABLE, WHICH IS OUR...
LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR THE CITY COURT OF BATON ROUGE SHOULD BE LEFT OUT OF THIS PAY RATE.
SO WE IMPLORE YOU TODAY TO PLEASE INCLUDE THEM ON THAT.
AND PLEASE EXCUSE US BECAUSE AT THE CAPITOL, THEY'RE TRYING TO INFRINGE ON OUR CITY COURT JURISDICTION, SO WE HAVE TO RUN OVER THERE BEFORE THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE TAKE THAT AWAY.
BUT WE'RE HERE TODAY JUST TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT ON THAT ISSUE, AND WE WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.
THEY'RE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COURTS EVERY DAY.
OUR BAIL IS TO PROTECT US, TO HELP US GET THINGS DONE.
AND THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN SAY WE'RE GIVING LAW ENFORCEMENT A RAISE WITHOUT GIVING THEM ONE.
SENIOR OF THE MCCUNE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, 1255 LOUISE STREET, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA.
AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOU AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
I'M ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL FOR CHIEF MORRIS AND ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, CHIEF, A COUPLE OF YOUR OFFICERS EVERY SUNDAY WORK EXTRA DUTY AT OUR CHURCH TO SECURE THAT AREA AND THAT PERIMETER.
TO THE POLICE OFFICERS AND THE VERY, VERY FINE WORK THAT THEY DO IN OUR CITY.
BUT ALSO, I'M GRATEFUL FOR CONSTABLES BECAUSE WHEN I'VE CALLED THEM, THEY HAVE RUSHED TO MY AID TO HELP ME IN WHATEVER THE SITUATION MAY HAVE BEEN, WHETHER IT WAS EVICTION OR WHATEVER IT MAY HAVE BEEN.
CONSTABLES HAVE BEEN THERE AS WELL.
AND SO I ASK HUMBLY THAT AS WE DO ANY CONSIDERATION FOR ALL OF THESE LAWS, ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, THE POLICE OFFICERS WEAR WEAPONS, THE CONSTABLES WEAR WEAPONS.
WHAT THAT SIGNIFIES TO ME AND THIS COMMUNITY, THAT ALL OF THEIR LIVES ARE IN DANGER EVERY DAY.
AND SO WHAT I WOULD ASK AND SUBMIT AND IMPLORE YOU AS LEADERS IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE IS THAT WHEN YOU DO YOUR RECONSIDERATION AND YOUR THOUGHT PROCESSES, THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE AS WELL.
BECAUSE IN THIS ECONOMY, LISTEN, I'M NOT, I'M SURE THAT EVERYBODY IN HERE WOULD LIKE TO GET A PAY RAISE.
AND SO I'M ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER THEM IF YOU WOULD BE SO KIND.
I AM VICE CHAIR OF 10,000 WOMEN LOUISIANA.
I AM A FORMER LOUISIANA LABOR SECRETARY AND I AM FORMER GENERAL COUNSEL FOR THE LOUISIANA STATE CONFERENCE OF THE NAACP.
I JUST I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS ORDINANCE CONCERNS ME BECAUSE IT IS ONE MORE THING THAT APPEARS TO BE DIVIDED.
WHEN WE CALL FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE DON'T ASK WHAT PARTY THEY BELONG TO.
WE DON'T CARE WHAT RACE THEY ARE.
WE CARE THAT THEY ARE AVAILABLE TO COME OUT AND SEE ABOUT US.
LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THIS PARISH, WE HAVE A SHERIFF, WE HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WE HAVE A CONSTABLE'S OFFICE.
[00:40:03]
IT'S THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE THAT STAFFS THAT CITY COURT AND PROTECTS ME AS AN ATTORNEY, THE LITIGANTS WHO ARE THERE, AS WELL AS THE JUDGES WHO ARE THERE.WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AS A COUNCIL AND AS A CITY RIGHT NOW TO BRING HEALING AND COHESIVENESS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE SAYING THAT TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THE REST OF OUR CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES.
THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, WHY WOULD IT BE NECESSARY FOR US TO DEFER ON THOSE PEOPLE FOR TWO WEEKS INSTEAD OF BRINGING ALL OF THEM? THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO I WANT TO SEE HAVE A PAY INCREASE.
THE STUDY THAT WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE CITY PARISH SAYS THAT A 30 PERCENT INCREASE IS IN ORDER.
BEEN PRACTICING LAW A REAL LONG TIME.
I'VE BEEN IN VARIOUS POSITIONS.
VERY FEW TIMES, EVEN AT PROMOTION, DID I GET A 30% PAY INCREASE.
AND THE ONES THAT I DID GET, I WAS VERY HAPPY ABOUT IT.
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY, AND WE'VE IDENTIFIED FUNDS THAT WE KNOW THAT WE CAN PAY ALL OF OUR PEOPLE.
WHEN THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT POLICE OFFICERS GO TO THE STORE, PAY THEIR UTILITIES, PAY THEIR MORTGAGES.
THEY HAVE TO PAY MONEY JUST LIKE THE POLICE OFFICERS.
AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO RESPECT THEM.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THEIR MORALE, TO INCREASE THEIR COMPENSATION, TO HEAL THIS COMMUNITY AND NOT LEAVE JUST SIMMERING BEFORE ALL OF US ANOTHER DIVISION THAT IS UNNECESSARY.
TAKE CARE OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS.
BUT I'M ASKING YOU ALSO TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CONSTABLE'S OFFICE AND ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STUDY THAT WAS COMMISSIONED BY THIS CITY PARISH THAT SAYS THAT THOSE DOLLARS ARE AVAILABLE.
AND IF WE CAN DO IT IN TWO WEEKS, WE CAN AMEND THIS TODAY TO TAKE CARE OF ALL OF OUR PEOPLE TODAY.
GOOD AFTERNOON TO THE MAYOR, THE COUNCIL, THE SUPPORTING STAFF, THE POLICE OFFICERS, THE CONSTABLE, AND ALL CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
WHEN I SPEAK, I DON'T SPEAK FOR ME, I SPEAK FOR WE.
I WAS A 40-YEAR EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
I HAVE BEEN RETIRED FOR 18 USE.
EMPLOYEES WHO WORK FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE NEED MONEY.
I TOTALLY SUPPORT GIVING FUNDING TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY NEED IT.
THEY ARE OUR PUBLIC SERVICE OFFICERS, AS WELL AS THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE.
THEY ARE OUR PUBLIC SERVICE SAFETY EMPLOYEES.
AND YOU LOOK AT THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES, YOU NEED TO CONSIDER.
I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A RAISE SINCE I RETIRED, BUT I LIVE WITH THAT.
AND I WAS GLAD THE GENTLEMAN BEFORE ME BROUGHT THAT UP.
WE ALL NEED TO FIT THE COUNCIL.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO CONSIDER WHEN THEY MAKE DECISIONS TO CONSIDER ALL OF US BECAUSE IT'S ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER WE NOT ME THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE SO THE CHIEF I SUPPORT YOU THE CONSTABLE I SUPPORT YOU I SUPPORT THE LITTLE MAN WHO'S OUT THERE DOING THE DIRTY WORK FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
I SUPPORT THE CITIZENS BECAUSE I ONCE WORKED IN HUMAN RESOURCES.
[00:45:01]
OFFICER.I TRAINED THE CITIZENS, THE PEOPLE, AND THE EMPLOYEES ON THEIR RIGHTS.
AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE WORKPLACE.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS SHOULD STAND.
SO TODAY, WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR DECISION, AND WHEN YOU DECIDE TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR ALL OF US, PLEASE CONSIDER THAT.
AND I STAND ASIDE, AND I DIDN'T COME TO SPEAK, BUT I'M ALWAYS PREPARED.
CAN YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE, MA'AM? MY NAME IS JACQUELINE LINDELL GERMANY.
I TESTIFY AT THE STATE CAPITOL.
I WAS AT A TOWN ROAD SHOW MEETING LAST NIGHT.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ME AROUND TOWN BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT WE NOT ME.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL, EVERYONE ASSEMBLED HERE TODAY.
DEPUTY CHIEF SHARON DOUGLAS, CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO WHAT IS THE GOING HOURLY RATE FOR A HERO? THIS IS NOT A RHETORICAL QUESTION.
BATON ROUGE POLICE OFFICERS ANSWER CALLS MOST PEOPLE WILL NEVER ANSWER AT A PRICE THAT DOES NOT REFLECT THE WEIGHT OF THOSE CALLS.
WHAT WE ARE ASKING OF THEM, I ALSO WANT YOU TO FEEL HOW WE ARE FEELING.
IN POLICE WORK, THERE IS NO NORMAL SHIFT.
AN OFFICER CAN GO FROM A TRAFFIC STOP TO A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALL TO HOLDING THE HAND OF A VICTIM TOWARD RUNNING, TOWARD GUNFIRE, ALL WITHIN HOURS.
AND THEY DON'T GET TO CHOOSE WHICH MOMENTS THEY FACE.
THEY DON'T GET TO PROCESS THE TRAUMA BEFORE THE NEXT CALL.
DECISIONS WITH INCOMPLETE INFORMATION AND ARE EXPECTED TO BE STEADY, COMPOSED, AND RIGHT EVERY SINGLE TIME.
SINCE 2016, BRPD HAS LOST NINE OFFICERS.
CAN YOU BELIEVE ONE OF OUR FALLEN OFFICERS WITH FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE DIED MAKING $39,000 A YEAR BEFORE TAXES? AND THEN ANOTHER OFFICER WITH OVER 20 YEARS OF SERVICE MADE ABOUT $61,000.
A FIGURE ONLY $2,000 MORE THAN THE PROPOSED STARTING PAY.
THAT TELLS US PLAINLY THAT THE PAY IS BEHIND.
SO SIT WITH THAT FOR A MINUTE.
A LIFE OF SERVICE, A LIFE OF SACRIFICE, A LIFE THAT ENDED IN THE LINE OF DUTY, BUT THE COMPENSATION ATTACHED TO THAT LIFE DID NOT REFLECT THE RISK CARRIED WHILE LIVING.
WE ARE ASKING OUR HEROES TO RISK EVERYTHING AND STILL FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
MAKING LESS THAN ADEQUATE PAY, WITH CONTINUED RISING COSTS.
SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HEROES PERCEIVE THEY ARE UNDERVALUED WHILE BEING UNDERPAID? THEY WORK MORE TO KEEP UP WITH THE RISING COSTS.
THEY PUSH THROUGH EXHAUSTION PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY, NOT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO, BUT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO, UNTIL THEY CAN'T ANY LONGER.
OFFICERS LEAVE BECAUSE COMPENSATION DOES NOT MATCH THE CALLING.
THIS PROFESSION IS A CALLING THAT SOMEONE HAS TO DO.
HELP US KEEP THE TALENT THAT WE HAVE.
HELP US ATTRACT MORE TALENT TO THIS ORGANIZATION BECAUSE WHEN THEY LEAVE, WE LOSE EXPERIENCE, WE LOSE STABILITY, WE LOSE FAMILY, WE LOSE COMMUNITY.
AS I CLOSE OUT, I PRAY THAT I AM PREACHING TO THE CHOIR, SO I ASK AGAIN, WHAT IS A FAIR? COMPETITIVE WAGE FOR A HERO.
LET'S BE CLEAR, WE WILL NEVER BE PAID WHAT WE ARE TRULY WORTH, BUT IF WE BROKE DOWN EVERY ROLE THAT AN OFFICER PLAYS AND THE RISK THAT THEY FACE, I COULD ARGUE THE RATE FOR A HERO IS AT LEAST $250 AN HOUR.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE ASKING.
WE'RE ASKING FOR A FAIR, COMPETITIVE, REASONABLE COMPENSATION.
PLEASE DON'T LET THE MEN AND WOMEN OF BRPDC, YOU NOT VALUE THEM AS ESSENTIAL STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
GIVE THEM THE FLOWERS WHILE THEY ARE LIVING AND SERVING IN THE CAPITAL CITY.
[00:50:03]
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL.I'M A CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATE AND LITIGATOR OUT OF WASHINGTON, D.C.
I CERTAINLY SUPPORT ADEQUATE PAY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
HOWEVER, IF THIS BUDGET IS GOING TO BE USED TO FACILITATE THE ABRIDGMENT OF CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION, I FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT THAT I BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING MORE DESTRUCTIVE TO OUR UNION THAN PAYING PEOPLE TO VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
SO PLEASE ALLOW ME TO EXPLAIN.
CONSTITUTION IS THE OVERARCHING REQUIREMENT THAT EVERY STATE MUST FOLLOW.
I TRUST THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT.
STATES CANNOT ENACT THEIR OWN ALTERNATIVE LEGISLATION, SUBSTITUTE IT FOR THE GUARANTEES OF THE CONSTITUTION, AND GO OUT AND ENFORCE IT.
THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL ACT.
CLAUSE 1 OF AMENDMENT 5 TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION SAYS, NO PERSON SHALL BE HELD TO ANSWER FOR A CAPITAL OR OTHERWISE INFAMOUS CRIME UNLESS ON PRESENTMENT OR INDICTMENT OF A GRAND JURY.
YOU NEED TO HAVE AN INDICTMENT BY A GRAND JURY BEFORE ARRESTING SOMEONE AND HOLDING THEM OVER FOR A CAPITAL OR AN INFAMOUS CRIME.
HOWEVER, THE STATE OF LOUISIANA HERE HAS ENACTED ITS OWN ALTERNATIVE LEGISLATION THAT PERMITS PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO CHARGE BY INFORMATION, NOT INDICTMENT.
NOW, AN EMOLUMENT VIOLATION IS WHEN YOU PAY SOMEONE TO VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTION.
IF YOU RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDING, YOU CAN NEVER PAY SOMEONE TO VIOLATE FEDERAL LAW.
THERE'S TWO AREAS OF THE CONSTITUTION THAT REINFORCES THIS.
THE FIRST IS ARTICLE 1, SECTION 10.
THAT'S WHERE IT SAYS THAT NO STATE SHALL CREATE ANY LAW THAT SHALL IMPAIR THE OBLIGATION OF CONTRACTS.
POLICE OFFICERS, PROSECUTORS, JUDGES ARE ON THEIR CONTRACT.
THAT'S A CONTRACT TO PERFORM BASED UPON THE OATH OR AFFIRMATION THEY TOOK TO SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
SO WHEN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA CREATES A LAW THAT DIRECTS THEM TO DISOBEY THE CONSTITUTION, THAT WILL OBVIOUSLY BE A VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 1, SECTION 10.
NOW THE SECOND PLACE TO REINFORCE THIS IS THE 14TH AMENDMENT.
THAT'S WHERE IT SAYS THAT NO STATE SHALL CREATE OR ENFORCE ANY LAW WHICH SHALL ABRIDGE THE PRIVILEGES AND DUTIES OF UNITED STATES CITIZENS.
THE PRIVILEGES AND DUTIES OF UNITED STATES CITIZENS ARE AT A MINIMUM WHAT IS ENUMERATED WITHIN THE BILL OF RIGHTS.
THE FIRST TEN AMENDMENTS, THEY CANNOT BE IMPAIRED.
THIS WAS AFFIRMED BY THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT 2019, TIM'S VERSUS INDIANA.
AS A RESULT, THE STATE OF LOUISIANA HERE HAS CREATED A LAW AND IS ENFORCING THAT LAW THROUGH AGENTS WHOM, UNFORTUNATELY, YOU ALL PAY TO VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
AND AS A RESULT, THERE'S CURRENTLY AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE CURRENTLY IN PRISON HERE IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA ILLEGALLY AND UNCONSTITUTIONALLY.
SO I'M PREPARING TO LITIGATE THIS IN THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT ON BEHALF OF MORE THAN 700,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN PRISON HERE IN AMERICA ILLEGALLY AND UNCONSTITUTIONALLY.
I'M HERE TODAY TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT WE CANNOT PAY THESE PEOPLE TO VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTION BECAUSE CRIMINAL SANCTIONS CAN COME FROM THAT.
WE DON'T WANT TO HEAD DOWN THAT PATH.
BUT I MUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE AWARE THAT PAYING PEOPLE TO VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTION IS AN IMMOLATION OF VIOLATION.
IT IS ILLEGAL, AND IT IS A CRIME.
SO I'M ASKING ALL OF YOU, PLEASE, TAKE A LOOK AT CLAUSE 1 OF AMENDMENT 5 TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, CONFIRM WHAT I'M SAYING TO BE TRUE, AND THEN DIRECT THOSE AGENTS TO ACT IN LAWFUL CONSTITUTIONAL MANNER THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE OBLIGATIONS THEY HAVE CODIFIED IN THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
ALL MY CONTACT INFORMATION IS IN IT.
I WOULD LOVE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
HELP WORK TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO RESOLVE THIS.
BUT I DO NEED TO SAY THAT YOU NOW HAVE A LAWFUL DUTY TO TAKE ACTION, AND FAILURE TO TAKE ACTION IS A CRIME.
AND YOUR WILLFULNESS AND KNOWLEDGE OF THAT CRIME WOULD DERIVE FROM THE PUBLIC NOTICE THAT I JUST PROVIDED.
SO I'M ASKING EACH ONE OF YOU TO PLEASE STEP UP, DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF YOUR OFFICE, FULFILL THE OBLIGATIONS AND PROMISES THAT YOU MADE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, AND LET'S CHOOSE TO PROTECT, DEFEND, AND PRESERVE THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
SIR, WHO SHOULD I GIVE THIS TO? OKAY.
HONORABLE COUNSEL, CHIEF, CONSTABLE, IT'S NICE TO BE HERE AGAIN.
I SPOKE TO THE COUNSEL ABOUT SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
I'M MAJOR PAT CHOSIN WITH THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT, RETIRED.
I RETIRED 10 YEARS, 11 YEARS AGO, AND I CAME TO THE CONSPIRACY OFFICE FROM BATON ROUGE PD.
I SPENT 40 YEARS AT BATON ROUGE PD.
I SEE A FEW THAT I REMEMBER, BUT SOME OF THEM I DON'T BECAUSE THEY CAME ON SINCE I LEFT.
I WANTED TO TALK TO Y'ALL ABOUT THIS.
I CONSIDER MYSELF AN EXPERT ON THIS LAW ENFORCEMENT DEAL BECAUSE THESE GUYS WORK HARD.
AND FROM WHAT I FOUND WORKING FOR BOTH AGENCIES, YES, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A RIFT GOING ON RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING BEING SAID.
BUT BOTTOM LINE, WE GO TO THE SAME ACADEMY.
WE GO TO THE SAME POST ACADEMY.
WE JUST HAVE DIFFERENT DUTIES RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE LOST FOUR CONSTABLES TO THE BATON ROUGE POLICE ACADEMY IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.
BECAUSE THEY CAN TAKE THE GUYS AND JUST PUT THEM IN THE POST ACADEMY, A REALLY QUICK ONE, AND THEN THEY'RE ON THE STREET BECAUSE WE HAVE THE SAME TRAINING.
AND I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU ALL THAT I BELIEVE THAT, YES, GIVE THEM THE RACE.
WE GOT TWO RACES IN THE 40 YEARS I WAS WITH BRP.
ONE WHEN WOODY DUMAS WAS MAYOR, AND DON'T DO THE MATH, OKAY? AND THE SECOND ONE WAS WHEN KIP HOLDEN WAS MAYOR.
AND I REALLY AND TRULY BELIEVE THAT.
THEY DESERVE A RAISE, AND I THINK THE CONSTABLES NEED IT TOO.
AND I'M JUST TELLING YOU FROM MY PERSONAL OPINION.
AND I'VE BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK, OKAY? I MEAN, I'VE DONE EVERY GAMUT
[00:55:02]
FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT YOU CAN IMAGINE.I'VE BEEN OVER THE OPERATIONS BUREAU.
I'VE RUN THE GAMUT OF EVERYTHING.
SO I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
SO IF Y'ALL THINK ABOUT IT, GIVE THE CONSTABLES A LITTLE BIT OF A RAISE.
I'M ASKING FOR THESE GUYS BECAUSE THEY DO WORK HARD.
THEY CAN STEP INTO WHATEVER THEY NEED.
THEY DON'T GO OUT THERE AND CHASE CARS LIKE THESE GUYS DO.
BUT WE ARE ON THE STREETS, AND IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, WE HANDLE IT.
AND IF SOMETHING HAPPENS AND I NEED HELP, I CALL THE BRPD BECAUSE I LOVE THESE GUYS.
I THINK SOMEBODY STOLE MY THUNDER.
MY CO-WORKER, DEPUTY CHIEF DOUGLAS, KIND OF PRETTY MUCH PUT EVERYTHING IN PERSPECTIVE.
SHE AND I WORKED TOGETHER WITH THE CHIEF IN RECRUITING AND TRAINING.
I AM A 20-YEAR VETERAN OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
15 OF THOSE YEARS WAS SPENT RECRUITING FOR THE BEST POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THIS COUNTRY.
YOU KNOW HOW I KNOW? BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TO PLACES.
I'VE BEEN BOOTS ON THE GROUND IN ST.
I'VE WORKED WITH FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN.
I'VE WORKED WITH THE FAMILIES OF BRPD, OF THOSE THAT HAVE TAKEN THEIR LIVES BECAUSE OF THE JOB AND THE PRESSURE.
CHIEF LADUFF PUT PRESSURE ON US AS A RECRUITING TEAM WHEN THERE WAS HIRING FREEZES, BUT THERE WAS NO LIMIT.
WHEN I WAS RECRUITING IN 2017, WE WERE IN A CRISIS, AND THAT WAS AT 40.
AND EVEN DURING ALL THE STUFF THAT WE WENT THROUGH, 90 DAYS, IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE OR YOU DON'T REMEMBER, 90 DAYS OF TRAUMA TO THIS CITY AND TO THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
90 DAYS, WE WENT FROM WE DIDN'T LIKE EACH OTHER.
TILL WE LIKED EACH OTHER AND THEN WE CAME TOGETHER TO SAVE PEOPLE'S LIVES TOGETHER.
VRPD HAS ASKED, HAS ANSWERED THE CALL THAT EVERYONE HAS ASKED FEDERALLY ON TRAINING FROM BIAS-BASED PROFILING TO EVERYTHING THAT THE CITY HAS ASKED FOR US TO DO.
THEY HAVE STEPPED UP AND THEY HAVE DONE THAT.
THE BIGGEST THING IN RECRUITING THAT WE WHEN I LEFT TO START THE WELLNESS PROGRAM FOR BRPD, WHICH WAS TREMENDOUS.
IT WAS A TREMENDOUS ADVANCEMENT FOR US BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF OFFICERS WHEN NOBODY WANTED TO TAKE CARE OF US.
AND THEN BRIAN THOMPSON, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HONOR HIM, TOOK HIS OWN LIFE BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL AND THE STRAIN OF THIS JOB.
AND BECAUSE OF HIM, THIS IS WHY WE ARE HERE FIGHTING FOR THIS RACE.
BECAUSE FINANCIALLY, I MARRIED A POLICE OFFICER.
I KNOW WHAT THE IMPACT IS ON MY CHILDREN.
I KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE DURING 9-11, KATRINA, THE FLOODS, THE PROTESTS, TO BE AWAY FROM MY KIDS FOR 16 DAYS.
THERE'S A HUMAN ELEMENT TO THIS JOB.
THEY'VE ASKED TO BECOME BRIDGE BUILDERS.
THEY SPENT THE LAST 10 YEARS BEING IN TOWN CONVERSATIONS, FINDING SOLUTIONS, TRYING TO BE BRIDGE BUILDING WITH THIS COMMUNITY.
IT'S TIME FOR OUR GUYS, FOR Y'ALL, TO STAND BEHIND THEM SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO EXCEL WITH TECHNOLOGY, BUT MORE SO WITH PEOPLE.
AND I'M ASKING YOU, THIS IS FROM THE HEART OF SOMEBODY WHO SERVED THIS CITY.
THIS IS COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO LOVES AND HIRED.
MOST OF THE OFFICERS THAT YOU SEE IN THIS ROOM, AND I'M ASKING YOU FOR ONCE, SHOW THESE OFFICERS THAT YOU STAND BEHIND THEM, THOSE THAT WE'VE LOST IN THE FALLEN, THOSE THAT WE'VE LOST THE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND THE ONES THAT ARE STILL WILLING TO STAND UP HERE AND SERVE THIS COMMUNITY TODAY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL, MAYOR, POLICE CHIEF, CONSTABLE.
I AM THE LOCAL 3030 PRESIDENT, AS WELL AS WORK WITH COUNCIL 17 FOR AFSCME UNION.
I AM A PROPONENT FOR THIS PARTICULAR MOTION THAT'S BEING MADE WITH THE POLICE GETTING IT RAISED.
HOWEVER, I WANT TO PIGGYBACK ON SOMETHING THAT DEPUTY
[01:00:02]
CHIEF DOUGLAS SAID.AND THAT'S A LOFTY TITLE, AND I DO THINK THAT BATON ROUGE POLICE OFFICERS ARE OUR LOCAL HEROES, AS WELL AS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS ANYONE THAT PUT THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE.
A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE ROLE THAT THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE PLAY IN THE ROLE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT CERTAINLY THEY GET INTO PRECARIOUS SITUATIONS THEMSELVES.
AND THEY ALSO DESERVE JUST AS MUCH FIGHT.
THEY DESERVE JUST AS MUCH, YOU KNOW, PAY RAISE AND RECOGNITION AS OUR OTHER LOCAL HEROES DESERVE.
AND JUST LIKE I SAID, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT, ALL OF LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD GET THE RAISES THAT THEY CERTAINLY DESERVE AND THAT THEY WORK FOR AND PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR.
I ALSO KNOW THAT THE ORDINANCE IS...
BEING PROPOSED IN TWO WEEKS AS IT RELATES TO PUBLIC SERVICE WORKERS.
AND I JUST LOOK AT THAT, AND AS I DIGEST THAT, EVEN OUR LOWEST-RANKING PUBLIC SERVICE WORKERS MAKING $10.30 AN HOUR.
ANYONE IN HERE MAKES $10.30 AN HOUR? I KNOW NOT BECAUSE I WOULDN'T WORK FOR IT.
SACRIFICE AND HAVE TO WORK FOR IT.
IN THE PROPOSAL TO GIVE THEM A 20% RAISE, THAT'S $2.
MAYBE IF I WAS MAKING $100,000 AND I GOT A 20% RAISE, THAT'S $20,000.
BUT AGAIN, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WORK ON THESE STREETS IN THAT HOT SUN DURING THE SUMMER, DURING THE COLD WINTERS, THAT CUT OUR GRASS AND MAKE OUR CITY LOOK BEAUTIFUL.
SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE SECTOR DESERVES MORE.
AND I JUST ASK THAT AS YOU CONTINUE AS A BOARD TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT WAYS AND AVENUES TO SUPPORT BY PAY WAGES, I ASK THAT IN TWO WEEKS, CHIEF, I ASK THAT YOU BE HERE TO SUPPORT THE OTHER PUBLIC SERVICE WORKERS.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT I ASK THAT YOU BE HERE BECAUSE WE'RE HERE FOR YOU BECAUSE WE ARE ONE BATON ROUGE WE ARE ONE AND WE SHOULD FIGHT JUST AS MUCH ZEAL AS FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS OUR HEROES AS FOR ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SECTOR THANK YOU ALL RIGHT ARE THERE ANY OPPONENTS WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM AND IF THERE'S ANYBODY ON THE EIGHTH FLOOR THAT'S AN OPPONENT THAT WANTS TO COME SPEAK, COME ON DOWN.
MY NAME IS CHAMPAGNE ROUNDTREE.
I WOULD LOVE TO THINK THAT THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE WORTHY OF THE RAISE.
UNFORTUNATELY, I'M ON THE RECEIVING END OF THEIR SERVICES.
NOT ONE IA OFFICER HAS RETURNED ANY OF MY PHONE CALLS.
NOT ONCE WANTED TO TAKE ONE SINGLE COMPLAINT ON ANY OF THE OFFICERS NOT DOING THEIR JOB.
I HAVE OFFICERS ON FILM PULLING IN, RESPONDING TO 1823 SOUTH SHERWOOD FOREST BOULEVARD, PULLING TO 1807 SOUTH SHERWOOD FOREST SO THAT THEIR GPS WOULD REGISTER IN THE CAR, WENT TO SONIC, FED THEIR FACE, AND LEFT.
I CALL WHEN I HAVE GUNS PULLED IN THE DOLLAR TREE ON MY MANAGERS FOR STOPPING SHOPLIFTERS.
Y'ALL SEND ME ONE OFFICER AN HOUR AND 45 MINUTES LATER.
I'VE SPOKEN WITH CHIEF LEDUFF ABOUT THIS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS.
I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE MAYOR ABOUT THIS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS.
I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE CHIEF ONCE ABOUT THIS, AND HE HAS NOT RETURNED MY OTHER NINE PHONE CALLS AFTER SAYING HE WOULD HANDLE THE PROBLEM.
WE SAY WE WANT FAIR PAY ACROSS THE BOARD, BUT WE'VE GOT WORKERS IN THE CITY MAKING $10.30 AN HOUR.
HOW CAN YOU EXPECT THEM TO WORK AND LIVE HERE? THE AVERAGE CITIZEN, IN ORDER TO RENT AN APARTMENT HERE, NEEDS $15 AN HOUR IF THE APARTMENT COMPLEX IS WILLING TO LET YOU ONLY PAY TWO TIMES THE RENTAL INCOME, AND THAT'S LIVING IN THE HOOD, NOT IN A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE TREAT THE CONSTABLES AS THOUGH THEY'RE NOT OFFICERS ALL THE TIME, BUT YET YOU ASK THEM TO DO EXACTLY WHAT AN OFFICER
[01:05:01]
DOES.YOU'LL ASK THEM TO STEP IN BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD THE SAME TRAINING.
ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SAY THAT WE WANT TO GIVE THE POLICE A PAY RAISE, THEN PERHAPS THEY SHOULDN'T TELL THE CITIZENS ALSO, IF YOU DON'T LIKE OUR RESPONSE TIMES, HIRE US FOR PRIVATE DETAIL.
IT'S ONLY $50 AN HOUR, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD AT SHERWOOD FOREST NUMEROUS TIMES.
MY SHOPPING CENTER HAS HAD PEOPLE WALK OUT OF HARBOR FREIGHT.
WITH $2,000 WORTH OF DRILLS IN A BASKET, KNOWING THAT THE POLICE WOULD TAKE TWO HOURS TO GET THERE.
BUT THEN YOU COME TO US CITIZENS THAT ARE PAYING ALL THESE TAX DOLLARS, AND YOU ASK US TO GIVE THEM A PAY RAISE.
I ASK THEM TO DO THEIR JOB FIRST, THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT A PAY RAISE.
I JUST WANT US TO PUT OUR IMAGINATION CAPS ON REAL QUICK.
SO LET'S JUST SAY ONE DAY WE WAKE UP ONE SUNDAY MORNING, SKIES BLUE OUTSIDE, YOU KNOW, THE BIRDS ARE CHIRPING, EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, RIGHT? AND, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE PLANS WITH YOUR KIDS TO GO GET SOME CRAWFISH, AND YOU CALL YOUR CHILD'S NAME, AND THEY DON'T ANSWER FOR SURE, PROBABLY BECAUSE THEY WERE ON THAT GAME ALL NIGHT, SO THEY'RE PROBABLY EXHAUSTED, OKAY? SO YOU WALK IN THEIR ROOM, AND THERE THEY LIE.
IN A POOL OF BLOOD, LIFELESS, BECAUSE A BULLET WENT THROUGH THEIR WALL AND STRUCK THEM WHILE THEY SLEPT.
IN THAT MOMENT, THE WORLD FREEZES AND YOU HEAR THIS VOICE.
SO YOU CAN CHANGE WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THIS.
YOU CAN GET BRPD TO RESPOND IMMEDIATELY AND CATCH THE PEOPLE WHO DID THIS, OR YOU CAN GO BACK AND PREVENT THIS FROM EVER HAPPENING.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DECISION? I WOULD THINK THAT I WOULD WANT TO GO BACK AND MAKE SURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN, RIGHT? AND SO I SAY THIS BECAUSE WHEN WE THINK ABOUT POLICE OFFICERS, THEY ARE TYPICALLY RESPONDERS, OKAY? THEY RESPOND TO CRIME.
OCCASIONALLY, THEY CAN BE ABLE TO HELP PREVENT CRIME SHORT-TERM, BUT THEY'RE NOT THE LONG-TERM GO-TO.
BUT RIGHT NOW THEY ARE GETTING $98 MILLION, ACCORDING TO THE LAST TIME I CHECKED THE BUDGET, $98 MILLION FROM THE GENERAL FUND THAT IS OVER $300 MILLION.
BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT CAN ACTUALLY PREVENT CRIME, SUCH AS YOUTH PROGRAMS, ECONOMIC STABILITY, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET, I THINK IT SAYS SAFE.
HOPEFUL HEALTHY IS AT ZERO DOLLARS UNLESS I LOOKED AT A DIFFERENT ONE RIGHT UM YOUTH PROGRAMS ZERO DOLLARS I GUESS WE'RE EXPECTING GRANTS TO FUND THESE PROGRAMS AND THAT'S NOT A GIVEN SO WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS BRPD 98 MILLION DOLLARS THEY'RE ALREADY GETTING IT WE'RE ACTUALLY HERE TO SAY THEY SHOULD GET MORE MEANWHILE THE THINGS THAT CAN ACTUALLY PREVENT CRIME FROM HAPPENING, THE BUDGET IS VERY LOW.
RIGHT? SO I'M ABSOLUTELY AGAINST THEM GETTING MORE FUNDS BECAUSE IF WE GO BACK AND WE PUT OURSELVES IN THAT SITUATION, WE WILL WANT OUR CHILD TO STILL BE HERE.
SO WE WILL WANT TO INVEST IN THE THING THAT'S GOING TO ACTUALLY PREVENT THEM FROM NOT BEING HERE.
THIS IS NOT JUST HYPOTHETICAL.
THESE ARE THE SITUATIONS THAT MANY CITIZENS FACE HERE IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
THEY WAKE UP, THEY GO ABOUT THEIR DAY, AND THEY GET A CALL.
THAT THEIR CHILD WILL NO LONGER BE RETURNING HOME DUE TO CRIME.
CRIME THAT CAN ACTUALLY BE PREVENTED IF WE ACTUALLY INVEST IT IN THE THING THAT WILL PREVENT THE CRIME.
I'M A FORMER BATON ROUGE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I WAS EMPLOYED THERE FOR ABOUT 11, MAYBE 10 AND A HALF YEARS, AND PREVIOUSLY EMPLOYED WITH THE CITY SINCE LIKE 2007.
I RESIGNED LAST YEAR, MAYBE 2025, AUGUST OF 2025.
SO I HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO THE PODIUM AND MENTION THE TRAUMA, AND THEY KIND OF TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS REGARDING THE TRAUMA.
BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT TRAUMA, YOU THINK ABOUT THE TRAUMA THAT THEY DEAL WITH.
HOW DO THEY PROCESS THAT TRAUMA THAT THEY DO DEAL WITH? LIKE WHERE DOES THAT, BECAUSE I MEAN, UNHEALED TRAUMA TURNS INTO A TRAUMATIC SITUATION.
SO IF THAT TRAUMA ISN'T HEALED OR PROCESSED PROPERLY, THEN IT TURNS TRAUMATIC.
SO THEY DID MENTION HEROES AND THE PAY.
AND I MEAN, I CAN GO A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES WITH THIS STORY AND GO INTO DIFFERENT COMPLAINTS THAT I FILED MYSELF WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SINCE I LEFT, WHICH WAS MY REASON
[01:10:02]
FOR LEAVING.AND AND WAS JUST HANDLED MISPROPERLY.
SO YOU DON'T DETERMINE A PERSON'S WORTH BY A DOLLAR AMOUNT.
SO THEIR VALUE IS, I MEAN, THEY'VE BEEN, THE MONEY HAS BEEN PRETTY MUCH PRACTICALLY CAUSING THEM TO BE PERFORMERS.
THEY LACK THE CHARACTER FOR THE ROLE BECAUSE I HIGHLY DOUBT THAT GOD WILL FAIL TO PROTECT THOSE, I'M SORRY, FAIL TO SUSTAIN THOSE WHO ARE CALLED TO PROTECT AND SERVE.
SO IF THEY'RE THE LOWEST PAID AGENCY OR IF THEY'RE LACKING ANYTHING, THEN.
I MEAN, THE QUESTION IS TO DIG TO THE DEEPER PART OF THE ROOT OF THE SITUATION AND TO DEAL WITH IT AT THE SURFACE LEVEL BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE DEEPER THAN THAT.
OR IF YOU DEAL WITH IT AT THIS LEVEL, YOU'LL BE BACK HERE IN A FEW MONTHS DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO WANT SOMETHING ELSE.
BUT IF YOU DIG TO THE ROOT OF IT AND SEE WHY MAYBE THEY'RE THE LOWEST PAID OR MAYBE WHY SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS ARE NOT BEING HANDLED PROPERLY OR WHAT'S THE ACTUAL PROBLEM, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP HAVING THE SAME REVOLVING SITUATION.
SO IT'S BIGGER THAN JUST THE MONEY.
IT'S DEEPER THAN JUST A FINANCIAL.
AND IF YOU CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH IT AT THE SURFACE LEVEL AND NEVER DIG TO THE ROOT OF IT, YOU'LL JUST HAVE A REOCCURRING PROBLEM.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE, GO TO COUNCIL.
MAYOR, YOU HAD SOME STAFF THAT WANTED TO SPEAK.
I GUESS IT'S ABOUT 40-SOME YEARS AGO, I WENT INTO A BUILDING THAT SITS ACROSS, USED TO SIT IN THAT VACANT LOT WHERE DPW PARKED.
AND THERE WAS A CHIEF BY THE NAME OF PAT BONANNO.
WE PUT IN APPLICATIONS TO BE POLICE OFFICERS, AND WE WERE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CHIEF BONANNO WOULD DO, HE WOULD BRING YOU IN AT THE END OF THAT PROCESS, AND HE WOULD TELL YOU PERSONALLY IF YOU WERE GOING TO BE HIRED.
AND I REMEMBER SITTING AT HIS DESK, AND IT WOULD BE JUST THE TWO OF YOU IN THE ROOM, AND HE SAID, YOU'VE BEEN HIRED WITH THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
LET ME TELL YOU WHERE THAT STARTED.
THAT WAS A FULFILLED DAY FOR ME.
I CAN HONESTLY STAND HERE AND TELL YOU THAT I KNEW MY WHOLE LIFE WHAT I WANTED TO BE.
IN FOURTH GRADE, I WROTE A THEME PAPER FOR IT.
MY FOURTH GRADE TEACHER, HER NAME WAS MELBA HERSON.
WE HAD TO WRITE A THEME PAPER ON WHAT IT IS YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP.
AND THE TITLE OF THAT WAS, WHEN I GROW UP, I WANT TO BE A MOTORCYCLE POLICEMAN WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF ALL THE POLICE.
AND IF YOU WERE HERE WHEN I WAS CHIEF OF POLICE, I WAS A POLICE CHIEF THAT RODE A MOTORCYCLE TOO.
THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT YOU SEE IN THIS ROOM ARE NOT HERE BY ACCIDENT.
NOR DO I THINK YOU SIT WHERE YOU SIT BY ACCIDENT OR ANYONE IN HERE.
THAT DO WHAT YOU DO, I DON'T THINK IT'S AN ACCIDENT.
I THINK WHEN GOD HOLDS US IN HIS MIGHTY HAND, HE PUTS STUFF IN US WE NEED TO DO WHAT IT IS WE BECOME.
WHAT WE ASKING TODAY, WHAT I'M ASKING YOU.
IS THAT YOU PAY THESE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WORK.
PAY THEM SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORK.
PAY THEM SO THEY DON'T GO HOME AND YOUR WIFE LOOK AT YOU AND SAY, WE DON'T HAVE WATER TODAY.
PAY THEM SO THEY CAN HAVE TWO CARS TO GET THEIR CHILDREN WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.
PAY THEM SO WE CAN HAVE QUALITY CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSIONALS THAT SERVE THIS COMMUNITY EACH AND EVERY DAY.
IF THIS COUNCIL GRACES YOU WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY, I BEG OF YOU, MEET THE CHALLENGE.
THERE WILL BE ACCOUNTABILITY, AND WE WILL HOLD YOUR FEET TO THE FIRE.
[01:15:02]
MY BIRTHDAY IS JANUARY 5TH.I SHARE A BIRTHDAY WITH A YOUNG MAN, A YOUNG FOOTBALL PLAYER I COACH NAMED WARWICK DUNN.
JANUARY 5TH OF 1993, I KNEW HIS MOTHER, BETTY SMOTHERS, WHO WAS A BATON ROUGE POLICEWOMAN.
AND THAT NIGHT I WENT TO BED, IT WAS THE 4TH, I WENT TO BED, BIRTHDAY BEING ON THE 5TH, AND ABOUT 2 IN THE MORNING, THIS WAS BEFORE WE HAD CELL PHONES, THE PHONE RANG, AND IT WAS MISS BETTY.
OFFICER BETTY, WHO CALLED AND WAS SINGING HAPPY BIRTHDAY WITH A FRIEND OF HERS, DOROTHY, MS. DOROTHY WILSON, AND I SAID, WHAT ARE Y'ALL DOING? I WAS AT WORK ALL DAY.
Y'ALL WOKE ME UP, YOU KNOW, AT TWO IN THE MORNING.
AND WE HAD A GOOD LAUGH BECAUSE WARK AND I SHARED THE SAME BIRTHDAY, AND BETTY HAD WON A CAKE, AND WE WOULD GO THE NEXT DAY TO ENJOY OUR CAKE TOGETHER.
TWO DAYS LATER, JANUARY 7TH, 1993, THE PHONE RANG AT ABOUT THE EXACT SAME TIME.
I SAID HELLO, AND IT WAS DOROTHY WILSON.
I SAID, WHAT ARE Y'ALL DOING? Y'ALL ARE, THIS IS INSANE WAKING ME UP LIKE THIS.
I SAID, SAY WHAT? BETTY'S DEAD.
I MEAN, I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
WARWICK HAD FOUR LITTLE BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
THAT'S EVERY TIME THESE FOLKS HIT THE ROAD.
AND LET ME SAY THIS, BETTY DID NOT GET MURDERED WHILE ON DUTY.
BETTY GOT MURDERED WORKING EXTRA DUTY TO PUT GROCERIES ON THE TABLE FOR THEM BABIES.
WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT TO ME? BETTY WAS MY WIFE'S BEST FRIEND.
MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, WE'RE DOING A LOT OF TALKING ABOUT PAY RAISES FOR BATON ROUGE POLICE OFFICERS, AND IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT THEY GET IT.
BUT THIS VOTE HAS LITTLE TO DO, WELL IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THEM GETTING COMPENSATED.
BUT THIS IS A VOTE FOR THE CITIZENS OF BATON ROUGE.
IN THE CLIMATE WE'RE WORKING IN, WHATEVER YOU VOTE TONIGHT IS FOR THE CITIZENS OF BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, BECAUSE IT'S THAT IMPORTANT AND OUR CITIZENS NEED THIS PROTECTION.
IT IS MY HONOR TO SERVE AMONGST ALL OF YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED 805 COMMENTS ON ITEM 51, 803 IN SUPPORT, AND 2 IN OPPOSITION.
YEAH, AND WHEN I WAS GROWING UP AND ASKED WHAT I WANTED TO BE, IT WAS TO ALWAYS BE TRUTHFUL, AS TRUTHFUL AS YOU CAN BE.
AND WHEN IT CAME TO THE POINT WHERE I VEERED FROM THAT, THEN I HAD FOLK IN MY HOUSEHOLD BECAUSE I GREW UP WITH A MAMA AND A DADDY.
THAT DEALT WITH ME AND SIX BROTHERS AND A SISTER AND COUSINS.
AND SO I SIT HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE BACKBONE OF BATON ROUGE.
GOING OUT OF THIS GATE, COMING OUT THIS GATE, I WANT TO BE CLEAR.
THAT I AM SUPPORTING THE PAY RAISE FOR OUR POLICE, BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT THAT.
OUR OFFICERS SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF AS I AM WITH THEM AND STAND BEHIND THEM.
BUT JUST AS I STAND BEHIND THEM, I'M ALSO STANDING BEHIND THE REST OF THE TEAM THAT KEEPS THIS CITY MOVING.
SAFETY ISN'T JUST ABOUT SIRENS AND BADGES.
A CITY IS ONLY AS SAFE AS ITS INFRASTRUCTURE IS STRONG.
OUR STREETS TO BE SAFE FROM CRIME AS IT IS FOR THEM TO BE SAFE FROM POTHOLES TEARING UP OUR VEHICLES AND FILLING DRAINAGE.
IT MATTERS THAT YOUR MAIL IS DELIVERED FROM HERE IN THIS CITY PARISH AND THAT MAIL ROOM.
IT MATTERS THAT THE CITY BILLS ARE PAID ON TIME.
IT MATTERS THAT OUR LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANCE THAT EVERY LAST ONE OF US HAVE UP HERE, AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THEM, BUT I DO.
I COULDN'T DO WITHOUT MINE BACK HERE, JEFF.
IT MATTERS THAT WARRANTS ARE DELIVERED, EVICTIONS ARE DONE, PROTECTION IS GIVEN
[01:20:02]
IN THE CITY COURT.THE WHOLE TEAM MATTERS AND WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER.
JEN ROCKER, YOU REMEMBER COLLABORATIVE COLEMAN, AIN'T THAT RIGHT? I'M TALKING ABOUT THE DPW CREWS OUT IN THE HEAT, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, THE MAIL ROOM.
OUR LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT, AND EVERY NOOK, CROOK, AND CRANNY HERE IN CITY PARISH GOVERNMENT.
THESE ARE THE WORKERS OF THIS TOWN, AND I'M REALLY DONE SEEING THEM BEING TREATED AS THE HELP.
WE WENT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND WE DEMANDED A COMMITMENT.
NOT A MAYBE AND NOT A WE'LL SEE.
SEE, AND IF YOU DON'T WANT NO TRUTH, YOU CAN LEAVE NOW BECAUSE I'M COLEMAN.
THE REALITY CHECK TO ANYONE STANDING IN THE WAY, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE PEOPLE FIXING YOUR STREETS, PROCESSING YOUR PAYCHECK? DON'T DESERVE A LIVABLE WAGE BECAUSE WHEN YOU SNAP BACK AGAINST BETTER PAY FOR ALL, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE HEARING.
THE TIME TO DO BETTER IS RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW.
THE PAY RAISE IS OFFICIALLY SET TO BE INTRODUCED AT THE COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT, WELL, TO BE VOTED ON TONIGHT.
AND THIS IS THE WEEK THAT WE CAN PUT MORE MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS, AND WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT IT ANYMORE.
AND THEN, AND THEN, IN THE WORDS OF, YEAH, HOW'S IT SIZZLE? EVERYBODY GET YOUR SON.
SO IT'S TIME TO STOP TALKING ABOUT APPRECIATION AND START PUTTING IT IN THE PAYCHECK.
MAYOR EDWARDS, WE'RE DEPENDING ON YOU TO ADHERE TO THAT ATTACHMENT TO ITEM THREE.
COUNCILMAN, YOU WANT TO CHECK YOUR TIME? YEAH, YOU KNOW IT.
SO WE ARE DEPENDING ON YOU, MAYOR, TO ADHERE TO THE ATTACHMENT TO ITEM THREE.
AND JUST TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW.
WHAT ITEM THREE IS, IS SPECIFICALLY OUTLINING EVERYBODY ELSE THAT OUGHT TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS, IN A PAY RAISE.
AND SO, MAYOR, YOU HEARD ME, RIGHT? I HEARD YOU.
AND SO WE ARE EXPECTING THE CONSTABLES AND EVERYBODY IN THE CITY TO GET WHAT THEY SO RICHLY DESERVE.
THE SAME THING FOR THE COMMISSION CONSTABLES, THAT 15% RAISE, AND THE OTHERS, THE 3.5.
ISN'T THAT RIGHT? SOMEBODY FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, ISN'T THAT RIGHT? ALL RIGHT, OKAY.
ALL RIGHT? AND SO WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, I MAKE THE MOTION THAT THIS BE PASSED TONIGHT.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HARRIS.
I WANT TO FIRST THANK ALL THE GREAT PEOPLE THAT CAME OUT TONIGHT.
IT'S ALWAYS ENCOURAGING WHEN WE SEE CITIZENS COME OUT FOR SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOPIC LIKE THIS, AND I THINK EVERYONE AGREES HOW IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY IS, SO THAT'S EXCITING TO SEE THAT WE'VE GOT THIS MUCH INVOLVEMENT.
BEFORE I GET STARTED ON WHY I SUPPORT THIS ITEM, I WANT TO FIRST BACK UP AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW WE GOT HERE, RIGHT? THE PROCESS THAT WE HAD TO GO THROUGH TO GET TO THIS POINT, WHERE JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO, WE WERE FACING A $40 BILLION DEFICIT.
WE HAD A LOT OF REALLY DIFFICULT AND TOUGH CHOICES TO MAKE AT CITY PARISH.
BUT WE SOLVED THAT BY DOING THE UNCOMFORTABLE WORK OF BUDGETING CAREFULLY AND
[01:25:01]
CONSERVATIVELY.AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE TOOK ON THE VERY DIFFICULT.
TASK OF DOING SOME INSURANCE REFORMS. IT'S THOSE VERY INSURANCE REFORMS THAT HAVE PRODUCED ABOUT $15 MILLION A YEAR IN SAVINGS THAT MAKE THIS ITEM POSSIBLE HERE TONIGHT.
IT'S POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE COUNCIL AND THIS ADMINISTRATION WERE WILLING TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS AND BE FISCALLY DISCIPLINED, CAREFUL FISCAL DISCIPLINE.
SO NOW WE HAVE AN URGENT NEED TO ADDRESS POLICE PAY.
IF WE DON'T STAY COMPETITIVE, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOSE OFFICERS.
IF WE LOSE OFFICERS, THAT'S MORE STRAINS ON THE ONES THAT WE'VE GOT.
BUT IT'S ALSO A STRAIN ON OUR RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS FOR THAT.
SO IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THIS HERE TONIGHT.
I HEAR THE CRY FOR A PAY RAISE FOR EVERYONE.
THE PAY STUDY THAT WE DID REFLECTS THAT.
THE PAY STUDY THAT WE DID ALSO REFLECTS NEEDED CHANGES TO BENEFITS, THOUGH.
IT ALSO REFLECTS POSSIBLE CHANGES TO PENSION REFORM PLANS.
AND SO THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT.
THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE CAREFULLY EVALUATED.
I, TOO, REMEMBER THAT BIG C WORD THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, COLLABORATION.
I THINK THAT COLLABORATION COMES ON NOT JUST INCREASED PAY FOR EVERYBODY, BUT ON BENEFITS REFORM AND ON PENSION REFORM.
AND I HOPE THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE THAT METHOD OF CAREFUL PHYSICAL DISCIPLINE TO MAKE SURE THAT...
NOT ONLY CAN WE INCREASE PAY, BUT WE CAN KEEP THE CITY PARISH FISK SOUND FOR THE NEXT 20, 50 YEARS.
I WANT TO FIRST SAY THAT I APPLAUD EVERYONE WHO'S HERE TONIGHT FOR BEING HERE.
BECAUSE EVERYONE THAT ARE SITTING IN THEIR SEATS HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TONIGHT.
WE AS A COUNCIL HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH WITH SOME THINGS.
AND SOMEONE SAID TO US BEFORE WE GOT STARTED THIS AFTERNOON AT 4 O'CLOCK SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT ON YOUR SHOULDERS, AND WE REALLY DO.
WE GO BACK AND FORTH A LOT OF TIMES.
MYSELF, ALONG WITH OTHER COLLEAGUES, I MADE THE DECISION TO SUPPORT THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT PAY RAISE BECAUSE THEY SUPPORT DISTRICT AND NOT ONLY DO THEY SUPPORT DISTRICT 7, THEY SUPPORT WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO ARE AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DAILY.
YOU CAN CALL ON THEM AND THEY WILL SHOW UP.
AND I CAN TRULY SAY THAT BECAUSE I HAVE EXPERIENCED IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN OVER THE YEARS WITH BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE FOR VICTIMS AND FAMILIES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SO MANY OTHERS TO THE COUNCIL OFFICE.
CONSTABLE WILLIAMS AND HER STAFF, YOU WORK VERY HARD DAILY.
YOU SUPPORT, YOU SHOW UP, AND SOMETIMES YOU SHOW UP AT THE LAST MINUTE, CALLED AT THE LAST MINUTE, BUT YOU SHOW UP WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE, EVERYTHING YOU OFFER, YOU SHOW UP.
TO OUR EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, FRED, YOUR DEPARTMENT, JOSEPH BUTLER, YOUR DEPARTMENT, REGINALD BRUMFIELD, YOUR DEPARTMENT, ANGIE, YOUR DEPARTMENT, THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE MAIL ROOM.
YOU GUYS SHOW UP EVERY DAY AND GIVE IT YOUR ALL AND WE THANK YOU FOR IT.
MAY 13TH WE WILL STAND WITH YOU.
WE WILL HOLD, HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE.
SLAUGHTER, MASON, JEFF LADUFF, WE WILL HOLD YOUR FEET TO THE FIRE.
WHAT WE'RE DOING TONIGHT WE WILL DO ON THE 13TH. THIS HOUSE IS PACKED TONIGHT.
WE WANT YOU TO PACK IT ON MAY 13TH BECAUSE WE WANT YOU HERE STANDING UP FOR THE CONSTABLE OFFICE, STANDING UP FOR THE WORKERS OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO IS SO DESERVING OF A PAY RAISE.
AND I WILL HOLD MY COLLEAGUES ACCOUNTABLE AS WELL TO JOIN US IN SUPPORTING THIS ITEM.
TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOUR LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANTS AND EVERYONE ELSE THAT WORKS IN YOUR OFFICE IS DESERVING OF
[01:30:01]
A RAISE.I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT ON OUR PLATE, I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT ON THE TABLE, BUT THEY DESERVE RAISES.
SO I NEED YOU TO LEAVE HERE TONIGHT THINKING ABOUT WHAT I'M ASKING YOU TO DO.
IT'S CONSIDER SUPPORTING THIS ITEM ON MAY 13 AND JOIN US IN DOING SO.
SO OUR EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND EAST BATON ROUGE, PARIS, CAN RECEIVE A RAISE AND MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THEM.
SO I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW HERE TODAY THAT YOU MATTER.
AGAIN, WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE, BUT AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND SET OUR OWN PERSONAL AGENDAS ASIDE TO GET DONE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
SO IN THE WORDS OF COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, I JUST WANT TO SAY OUT THE GATE, WHAT I'VE LEARNED IN MY YEAR AND A HALF IN POLITICS, TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE.
TONIGHT, MY DECISION IS NOT NOTHING PERSONAL AGAINST BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
CHIEF MORRIS, TO ME, YOU HAVE HAD DIRECT CONVERSATIONS.
MAYOR EDWARDS WOULD HAVE HAD DIRECT CONVERSATIONS.
COUNCILOR WOODS WOULD HAVE HAD DIRECT CONVERSATIONS.
BUT A WEEK OR TWO AGO, WE HAD OUR PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT FAIR WAGES FOR ALL, INCLUDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I DON'T KNOW WHY IN THIS CLIMATE WHEN YOU START SAYING INCLUSIVITY, PEOPLE THINK YOU'RE GETTING TAKEN OUT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IN THIS PARISH IS TAKEN CARE OF.
WE'RE THINKING ABOUT TONIGHT'S PAY RAISES, RIGHT? BRP, I'M GOING TO LET YOU KNOW NOW.
I HAVE NO STRIFE AGAINST YOU ALL.
YOU ALL DO AN AMAZING JOB IN MY DISTRICT, EVEN THOUGH MY DISTRICT CHAIR, YOU ALL, BAKER POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
BUT TONIGHT, I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO WORKS IN THIS PARISH IS IMPORTANT.
WHEN WE HAD THE PRESS CONFERENCE TO KICK OFF AND MAYOR EDWARDS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A VERY BOLD PROPOSAL.
YOU DID A GREAT JOB PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
IT WOULD JUST PROBABLY BE ONE OF THE MOST BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENTS.
YOU WOULD PROBABLY HAVE YOUR TIME AS MAYOR.
AND I SUPPORT THAT AND I RESPECT THAT.
BUT A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER THAT, I HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT REACHED OUT TO ME, FOR PEOPLE IN THE MAYORAL DEPARTMENT, DPW, LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANTS, WHO SUPPORT ALL 12 OF US HERE ON THIS DAIS AND SAID, WHAT ABOUT US? I'M THE YOUNGEST OF FOUR KIDS.
IF I WAS THE YOUNGEST CHILD AND I'M THE ONLY ONE TO GET EVERYTHING IN MY FAMILY AND THE OLDEST SIBLINGS WHO'S BEEN HERE LONGER THAN ME, DOESN'T GET ANYTHING I DON'T FEEL SOME TYPE OF WAY MAYOR WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU UM SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL YOU GAVE YOUR COMMITMENT YOU DID THAT BUT JUST LIKE ALL THE PROPER CIRCUMSTANCES HERE TODAY FOR BRPD TWO WEEKS MY COUNCIL MEMBERS WE HAVE THE SAME PROPER CIRCUMSTANCE ASHLEY SAID THERE WAS 800 PLUS COMMENTS FOR TODAY'S ITEM WE NEED TO HAVE 801 IN TWO WEEKS WHEN WE GET TO THIS COUNCIL MEETING IN TWO WEEKS, AND IT'S NOT THE SAME ENTHUSIASM, THE SAME ENERGY, RADIO INTERVIEWS, NEWSPAPER INTERVIEWS, EVERYTHING OF THAT NATURE FOR THESE CITY PARISH WORKERS, WE ARE FILLING THESE PEOPLE WITH THESE PRAYERS.
AND TO ALL THE CITY PARISH WORKERS, YOU ARE IMPORTANT JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE IN THIS ROOM.
POLICE DEPARTMENT, YOU ARE ESSENTIAL TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
BUT THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT LAYERS TO PUBLIC SAFETY IN ADDITION TO YOU ALL THAT WE MUST ADDRESS TO SOLVE ALL THE CRIME IN THIS PARISH.
POLICE IS NOT THE END ALL BE ALL IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE HAVE YOUTH PROGRAMS AND ORGANIZATIONS.
WE HAVE NONPROFITS WHO WORK IN LOCKSTEP WITH EACH AND EVERY LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT.
TO CONSTABLE WILLIAMS, DON'T LET ANYBODY EVER DIM YOUR VOICE.
DON'T LET ANYBODY EVER TELL YOU YOU'RE TOO LOUD.
DON'T ANYBODY EVER TELL YOU THE WORDS THAT YOU SAY MAY BE TOO ROUGH.
BECAUSE YOU'RE A LEADERSHIP OF THAT DEPARTMENT.
AND YOU DESERVE TO BE A LEADER OF THAT DEPARTMENT.
BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF THIS PARISH ELECTED YOU, JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE ON THIS COUNCIL, TO BE A LEADER IN THIS DEPARTMENT.
AND I KNOW THAT PEOPLE COMMENT, OH SHE BEING TOO RACIAL, SHE BEING TOO LOUD.
YOU KNOW, HOW YOU ADVOCATE YOUR VOICE IS YOUR VOICE.
AND I WOULD BE REMISS TO TELL YOU UP HERE TO EVER STEP BACK IN YOUR VOICE.
BECAUSE OF YOUR VOICE, WE HAVE AN ITEM INTRODUCED.
TO VOTE ON FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS PARISH, INCLUDING YOUR DEPARTMENT.
TO MAYOR EDWARDS, I WOULD SAY IN ADVANCE, CONGRATULATIONS TONIGHT, BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN IN TWO WEEKS, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH YOU GAVE YOUR COMMITMENT, WE STILL HAVE SEVEN VOTES WE HAVE TO GET ON THIS DAIS, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SEVEN VOTES ON THIS DAIS TO ENSURE EVERY PERSON IN THIS PARISH KNOW THEY'RE LOOKING AT THAT HERD.
[01:35:02]
TONIGHT IS GONNA VOTE IN THIS ITEM AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE SEND A SIGNAL TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT EVERYBODY IS THERE SUPPORTING.AND LOOK THEY'RE GONNA LEAVE TONIGHT HAPPY, CALL THEIR WIVES, SIGNIFICANT OTHERS AND SAY YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA GO TO ROOF CRUISE TONIGHT.
ALRIGHT? BUT IF SOMEBODY IN THIS CITY PARIS HALL WHO'S MAKING $10 WHO CAN BARELY AFFORD GAS FOR THEIR FULL GAS TANK.
SO I ASK YOU ALL TONIGHT TAKE THE SAME ENTHUSIASM, ENERGY THAT YOU HAVE TO ENSURE WE TAKING TAKING CARE OF OUR BRPD.
AND MAKING SURE IN TWO WEEKS FROM NOW EVERY PERSON WORK IN THIS CITY PARISH HALLS OUR LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANTS OUR MAILROOM WORKERS IN DPW WHO ARE ESSENTIAL BECAUSE JUST LIKE PEOPLE CALL 9-1-1 THEY CALL 3-1-1 AND SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE FEELING ESSENTIAL JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE WHO SERVE MY PARISH SO THANK YOU THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL OFFICE CONGRATS IN ADVANCE CHIEF MORRIS AND MAN EDWARDS IF THIS ITEM PASSED BUT WE STILL HAVE MORE WORK TO DO IN TWO WEEKS THANK YOU COUNCILMAN HURST.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY BRPD DESERVES MORE.
WE DID A PLACE THAT WE DID IT FOR.
SO I DON'T THINK ANY PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN OUT FOR FAIR THINGS THAT BRPD DOES DESERVE.
I WANT TO MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR.
WE PAY $58,000 TODAY, SOMEBODY PAYS $59,000 TOMORROW, SOMEBODY PAYS TODAY.
AND BECAUSE WE'RE RUNNING, FOR ME IT'S ABOUT COMPETITIVE AND LEVEL WAY.
SO 58, I'M OKAY WITH IT AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE BUDGET TO AFFORD IT.
THAT'S ALL WHAT I'VE ALWAYS SAID.
BUT IF I HAVE TO SACRIFICE 58 TO GO TO 52 TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY ELSE GETS WHAT THEY DESERVE, THEN I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE A SELFISH APPROACH.
I HEARD DEPUTY DOUGLAS COME UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT HEROES, TALK ABOUT SACRIFICES, TALK ABOUT CALLING.
WHEN I LOOK AT SCHOOL TEACHERS WHO DESERVE MORE.
WHEN I LOOK AT PRPD, WHO DESERVES MORE? WHEN I LOOK UP HERE AT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, WHO DESERVE MORE? WHEN YOU'RE PAID $12,000 A YEAR FOR 60 HOURS OF WORK AND NO GOOD DEED EVER GOES UNPUNISHED, SO NO MATTER HOW GOOD YOU ARE, YOU'RE THE HEADLINES FOR WHAT THEY WANT TO WRITE VERSUS WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED.
SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SACRIFICE, LOSING SLEEP AT NIGHT, SERVING THE COMMUNITY, YOU'RE LOOKING AT 12 OTHER HEROES UP THERE.
BECAUSE WE TAKE IT ON OUR BACK TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE LIKE THE RPD CAN HAVE THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED.
SO WE UNDERSTAND A CALLING VERSUS PAY.
HOW IT IMPACTS YOUR FAMILY, YOUR REPUTATION, THE INFIGHTING AMONGST AGENCIES, EVEN AMONGST THE COLLEAGUES UP HERE.
SO WHEN YOU TALK TO US, YOU'RE PREACHING TO THE CHOIR.
WE HAVE COLLEAGUES IN SMALLER MUNICIPALITIES MAKING $125,000 TO DO WHAT WE DO.
IT'S A PART-TIME JOB AND NOBODY SEES IT.
RECRUITING LEVELS ARE DOWN ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN BOTH PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICES AND ARMED FORCES.
I SENT THE CHIEF AND EVERYBODY ELSE A PICTURE WHEN I WAS IN HOUSTON A FEW WEEKS AGO.
THE BACK OF THE CAR SAY HPD HIRES IN HOUSTON.
NOBODY'S SPENDING THAT KIND OF MONEY TO PUT DETAILS ON CARS IN A LARGE CITY LIKE HOUSTON IF RECRUITING WAS NOT AN ISSUE.
PEOPLE DON'T LEAVE HERE AND GO TO HOUSTON BECAUSE...
THEY LEAVE HERE IN THEIR EYES TO BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE, MUCH LARGER.
OR THEY MAY HAVE A SPOUSE WHO'S AN ENGINEER AND IT'S A BETTER LIFE.
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH AGENCIES THAT SURROUND BATON ROUGE THAT CAN STEAL OUT LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AS GOOD AS GONZALEZ IS PER CAPITA, THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SPACES.
AS GOOD AS Y'ALL MAY SAY ZACH OR OTHER POLICE FORCES ARE, THEY DON'T PER CAPITA HAVE ENOUGH SPACES TO STEAL THE AMOUNT OF OFFICERS.
TO DO WHAT Y'ALL ARE SAYING IS BEING DONE TO WRECK OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE ARE JUST NOT CHOOSING LAW ENFORCEMENT PERIOD THEY'RE JUST NOT IT'S A NATIONAL CRISIS I DO WANT TO THANK AND I AGREE WITH CHIEF LEDUFF THAT BRPD SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO HOME TO THEIR WATER SHUT OFF BUT I ALSO AGREE THE OTHER EMPLOYEES SHOULDN'T HAVE TO COME HOME WITH A WATER SHOW OFF EITHER AND I BELIEVE SOMEBODY WHO'S MAKING $30,000.
WOULD HAVE A LESS CHANCE OF HAVING THAT WATER CUT OFF WITH FISCAL MANAGEMENT VERSUS SOMEBODY WHO'S MAKING $10.30 AN HOUR.
[01:40:01]
OF THEM ARE RIGHT, BY THE WAY.AGAIN, MY SPEECH IS NOT AGAINST BRP.
IT NEVER HAS BEEN, NEVER WILL BE.
IF YOU SAW WHEN I HAD THE MAYOR IN HERE A FEW YEARS AGO, I LITERALLY HAD TO GO TO WAR TO GET THE PAY STUDY DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD FIND OUT WHAT YOU GUYS DESERVED AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
FIRST ONE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS, BUT NOT CONGRATULATIONS BY YOURSELF, CONGRATULATIONS FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING.
I TOLD THE MAYOR AND EVERYBODY ELSE I WOULD SUPPORT PD AT $65,000 IF WE HAD THE MONEY TO PAY THEM.
SO IT'S NEVER ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE PAYING YOU, IT'S ABOUT HOW THEY'RE TAKING IT.
WE'VE ASKED FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO MATCH THE PAY SCALES THAT THE PAY STUDY NEEDED TO BE DONE, AND THE MAYOR HAS IT.
TO DO THAT AND PLACE AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
SO I'M OKAY WITH 58,000, THOUSAND PERCENT BECAUSE WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY EVERYBODY ELSE TIME.
COUNCILMAN, YOU WANT TO TAKE YOUR TIME? I DO.
HE HAS DONE HIS PART, BUT HE DOES NOT HAVE A SINGLE VOTE ON HIS COUNCIL.
SO HE COULD WANT THE SKY TO TURN PURPLE TOMORROW, AND HE COULD PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA TO GET IT DONE.
BUT UNLESS WE HAVE SEVEN VOTES, IT'S A DREAM, IT'S NOT A GOAL.
RIGHT THE GOAL WILL BE TO GET TO THE SEVEN VOTES ON THE COUNCIL SO HERE'S MY CONCERN MY CONCERN IS THAT BRP WE'VE DONE THIS BEFORE I WANT TO BE SOMETIMES POLITICAL STRATEGY WHAT WE ASKED WAS THAT THIS ITEM BE DEFERRED SO THAT THEY COULD BE VOTED ON AT THE SAME TIME NOT THE CRAP ON VRPD BUT BECAUSE DEFERRING IT TWO WEEKS WOULD NOT CHANGE WHEN BRPD GOT THEIR RAISE IT WAS STILL FALLING LINE THAT WAS CLEARLY DONE THAT CAME UP BECAUSE I GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE.
IS THAT IN TWO WEEKS THAT WE DEFERRED THIS ITEM, THE BRPD COULD STILL GET THEIR RAISE ON MAY 16TH, WHICH IS WHEN THEY WERE PROMISED.
SO IF THEY VOTE ON THE 13TH, NOT ONLY WOULD THEIR MORALE GO UP, BUT EVERYBODY'S MORALE IN CITY PARISH WOULD GO UP SIMULTANEOUSLY.
SO THAT WAS OUR DISCUSSION, NOT TO HURT BRPD BECAUSE WE SUPPORTED YOU.
OUR CONCERN WAS THAT YOUR VOTE WOULD PASS AND THE OTHERS WOULDN'T.
WE'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN TOO MANY TIMES ON THIS COUNCIL.
SO TAKING THEM COLLECTIVELY WOULD ENSURE THAT YOU GOT WHAT YOU DESERVE, BUT ALSO THAT EVERYBODY ELSE DID AS WELL.
AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS IF IT WINS TODAY, POLITICS TAKES OVER TOMORROW.
AND BELIEVE ME, THEY'LL MAKE UP A THOUSAND EXCUSES OF WHY THEY CAN'T VOTE FOR IT.
I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN TOO MANY TIMES.
AND THEY'LL GO ON THE NEWS AND CONVINCE YOU THAT WHAT THEY'RE FEELING IS FROM THE HEART AND DROP A FAKE TEAR, DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BECAUSE THEY MADE A COMMITMENT NOT TO DO IT.
THEY'LL BRING UP THINGS LIKE 401K, WHICH HAS NO BEARING ON ANY CURRENT EMPLOYEE, BECAUSE THE STUDY ALSO SAID, WHICH I HELPED DRIVE THAT, BUT ALSO HELPED DRIVE THE PAY STUDY TO GO TO 401K AS WELL AS THE FIREMAN.
AND IT SAID THAT IT WOULD TAKE 10 TO 15 YEARS TO GET ANY RETURN ON INVESTMENT FROM A 401K CHANGE, I MEAN, FROM A PENSION CHANGE TO A 401K.
AND BY LAW, NOBODY WHO'S CURRENTLY EMPLOYED CAN BE PUSHED TO A 401K OR REMOVED OFF THEIR PENSION PLAN.
SO TALKING ABOUT REFORM DOESN'T AFFECT THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE TRYING TO EAT TODAY AND PAY THE LIGHT BILL TOMORROW.
SO DON'T LET THAT GET IN THE WAY OF SAYING, HEY, WE CAN'T MAKE THIS DECISION FOR THAT PARTICULAR REASON.
SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO, BECAUSE I WANT TO SUPPORT THIS TONIGHT, I REALLY DO.
AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU HOW I CAN GET THERE TONIGHT.
IT IS BY A SHOW OF HANDS FROM MY COLLEAGUE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT A VOTE, FOR NEXT WEEK.
IF YOU SHOW ME SEVEN HANDS THAT WILL SUPPORT THE RAISES.
EVERYBODY ELSE NEXT WEEK, YOU'LL GET MY VOTE TONIGHT.
IF NOT, YOU'LL ASK ME TO DEFER IT.
TO THE NEXT MEETING, AND THEN WE ALL VOTE TOGETHER.
SO I DON'T CARE IF IT'S A SHOW OF HANDS A HEAD.
GIVE ME A YAY THAT BASED ON THE CURRENT INFORMATION THEY HAVE TODAY THAT THEY'D BE WILLING TO DO IT.
I WOULD DEFINITELY SUPPORT IT.
SO, BY SO HANDS, I'LL SHOW MY HAND POINT OF ORDER.
CAN THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR ADVISE WHETHER OR NOT THAT WOULD BE AN OPEN MEETINGS VIOLATION? YOU CANNOT TAKE A VOTE ON AN ITEM THAT IS NOT BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.
COUNCILMAN HURST HAS FLOOR HE IS ALLOWED TO ASK HIS COLLEAGUES QUESTIONS THROUGH THE CHAIR.
I'M ASKING BY A SHOW OF HANDS WHO WOULD SUPPORT IT.
DOES NOT VOTE FOR YES, I WAS 123.
04, THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
YOU CALLED FOR A SPECTACLE IN FRONT OF THE CROWD TO PEOPLE TO RAISE THEIR HAND
[01:45:01]
TO SHOW WHETHER A YES OR NO.NOW, YOU CAN WALK OUT OF THIS ROOM AND SAY THESE PEOPLE DID NOT.
SO FOR ME, I WANT TO DO A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DEFER IT BECAUSE I DO WANT TO SUBMIT.
SO I TOLD YOU, I'M JUST FOR EVERYBODY AT THE SAME TIME.
SO, THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION IS FOR 2 WEEKS, SO THAT AS WE APPROVE 1, WE CAN APPROVE THEM ALL AND WE CAN STILL MEET YOUR DEADLINE THAT THE MAYOR'S COMMITTED TO A MAY 16.
SO THAT EVERYBODY GETS WHAT THEY DESERVE SIMULTANEOUSLY.
SO, WE HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HERS TO DEFER FOR TO THE MAY 13 MEETING.
RIGHT MAY 13 IS THAT SECOND SECOND? MY COUNCILMAN DONE JUNIOR.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO IS ANYBODY ELSE ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO COMMENT? COUNCILMAN DON JR.
I GOT A DIFFERENT QUESTION TO ASK ON SOMETHING ELSE.
SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES AND MYSELF STOOD IN THIS COUNCIL CHAMBERS, HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE, AND TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR COMPETITIVE LIVABLE WAGE FOR ALL CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES.
YOU KNOW, THE CHIEF HAS BEEN OUT THERE ADVOCATING FOR HIS RANK AND FILE AND HIS TEAM.
CONSTABLE WILLIAMS HAS BEEN OUT THERE ADVOCATING FOR HER CREW.
AND BOTH OF THEM HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF DOING THAT.
BUT MANY OF THESE OTHER DEPARTMENTS HAVE NOT HAD ANYBODY OUT THERE ADVOCATING FOR THEM.
SO WE HAD TO STAND IN THE GAP AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNSEEN AND THE UNHEARD.
AS COUNCILMAN HURST HAS MENTIONED, THE PACE STUDY, WHICH WAS CONDUCTED IN 2023, 2024, RECOMMENDED A LIVABLE COMPETITIVE WAGE FOR EVERYBODY.
THE REFORMS THAT WAS DONE, THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WAS DONE FROM A PHYSICAL STANDPOINT MADE THE MONEY AVAILABLE TO GIVE EVERYBODY A PAY RAISE.
AT THAT TIME, WE FELT AND THOUGHT THE INFORMATION WE HAD, IT WOULD GIVE BRPD A $52,000 STARTING SALARY AND NOT THE RECOMMENDED $58,000 STARTING SALARY TO LEAVE MONEY TO GIVE EVERYBODY ELSE A PAY RAISE.
WELL, AFTER HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS, HAVING THE PRESS CONFERENCE, MEETING WITH COLLEAGUES, MEETING WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, MEETING WITH FINANCE, THERE WAS SOME OTHER DOLLARS THAT CAME AVAILABLE TO WHERE IT'S ENOUGH MONEY AVAILABLE FOR BRPD TO HAVE THE $58,000 STARTING SALARY AND GIVE EVERYBODY A LIVABLE COMPETITIVE WAGE.
SO OUR POSITION WAS, IF THE MONEY IS AVAILABLE, WHY NOT DO THEM ALL AT THE SAME TIME? I MADE THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE MAYOR, DEFER YOUR ITEM, ADD THE OTHER EMPLOYEES, AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS VOTED ON AT THE SAME TIME.
NOW, IT MAY BE A GOAL, IT MAY BE A MISSION, IT MAY BE THE MAYOR'S AND ADMINISTRATION'S DESIRE TO DO THIS IN TWO WEEKS.
BUT AS HAS BEEN SAID BEFORE, IT TAKES SEVEN VOTES TO GET SOMETHING DONE HERE.
AND I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES PROVED ME WRONG.
BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S SEVEN VOTES FOR THE REST OF THE CITY, PARIS EMPLOYEES.
I THINK IT'S ONLY SEVEN VOTES FOR.
AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE WITH SUPPORT.
SO, AS I STOOD IN THIS CHAMBER ADVOCATING FOR THE UNSEEN, THE UNHEARD, THE OTHER CITY, PARIS EMPLOYEES TO GET A RAISE.
I'M A STAND WITH THEM TODAY NOT THAT I'M AGAINST GETTING THE RAISE, BUT I'M AGAINST EVERYBODY ELSE NOT GETTING THE RAISE.
YOU CAN DEFER THIS ITEM AND YOU CAN PUT EVERYBODY ON THE AGENDA AT THE SAME TIME.
I'M NOT ONE WHO BELIEVES THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF SOME AND TAKE CARE OF OTHERS LATER.
LATER, WHENEVER, AS I SHARE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, THAT'S THE SHARECROPPER'S PROMISE.
KEEP WORKING THE LANE, KEEP DOING SOMETHING.
YOU'RE GONNA ONLY 1 DAY AND 1 DAY NEVER COMES.
AGAIN, I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES PROVE ME WRONG.
I HOPE THE MAYOR HAVE 7 VOTES.
LIKE, YOU SAY, YOU GOT 7 VOTES TO GET EVERYBODY UP AND RAISING 2 WEEKS, BUT I SERIOUSLY DOUBT IT.
SO, FOR THAT REASON, I WILL NOT BE VOTING IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM TODAY.
I HOPE WE'RE ALL DONE WITH THE BLAME THING AND WHERE PREDICTIONS ON WHERE EVERYTHING'S GOING TO GO.
AND BASED ON THOSE PREDICTIONS AND EVERYTHING, EVERYBODY'S COUNTING VOTES FOR THE NEXT.
I DON'T FOR THE ITEM THAT WAS INTRODUCED.
I JUST WANT TO STATE THIS FOR THE PUBLIC BEFORE IT SAYS THAT ICE.
SKIRTED MY ISSUE OR I DIDN'T DO SOMETHING OR WHATEVER ELSE.
[01:50:01]
BUT I'M LETTING THE COUNCIL KNOW, I'M LETTING THE PUBLIC KNOW, I'VE HAD A TRIP OUT OF THE COUNTRY SCHEDULED MONTHS AGO, AND I WILL BE GOING THE 9TH THROUGH THE 18TH.SO WHEN I DON'T SHOW UP ON THE 15TH, I WANT IT PUBLICLY KNOWN THAT I DID NOT SKIP THE MEETING SO THAT I COULD NOT VOTE.
AND I WILL LEAVE IT UP TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THAT INTRODUCTION, JUST LIKE WE DID WITH THE OTHER ONE WHEN COLLEAGUES WERE NOT GOING TO BE HERE, AND BE HEARD AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SHOW UP AND VOTE YES OR NO OR WHATEVER I DECIDE BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT I GET.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE.
NOW, IF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO GO HEAR THAT INTRODUCTION WE HEARD, PLEASE DO.
BUT I'M STATING MY OPINION FOR MY REASON FOR THE PUBLIC RIGHT NOW ON WHY I WILL NOT BE HERE ON THE 15TH BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS COUNTING VOTES TONIGHT ALREADY.
THERE'S BEEN SOME STATEMENTS MADE TONIGHT.
INITIALLY IT WAS STATED THAT A COMMITMENT WAS.
IT WAS JUST STATED THAT THERE WAS A COMMITMENT THAT THERE.
I NEED CLARIFICATION IF THAT TYPE OF COMMITMENT WAS MADE.
THE CLARITY CAN COME FROM THE MEMBERS, BUT I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED IF COMMITMENTS WERE MADE IN MEETINGS THAT THERE WOULD BE PRODUCED VOTES ON THIS COUNCIL FOR AN ITEM.
COUNCILMAN, I KNOW COUNCILMAN DUNN HAD SAID, YOU KNOW, USE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AS, YOU KNOW, GUARANTEEING SEVEN VOTES.
IT IS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE PUT THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'LL BE VOTING IN TWO WEEKS, IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR PARISH THAT THAT PASS.
AND MY JOB, AND I THINK THE BIG DEAL AS FAR AS HAVING TO DECIDE ON THAT TONIGHT, SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS.
I THINK EVERYONE ON THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO HEAR WHAT ARE THE DETAILS, HOW.
THERE'S A HOW AND THERE'S A WHY.
THE WHY IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO TWO WEEKS FROM NOW.
OKAY? BUT I THINK PEOPLE TO HAVE A CLEAR VOTE ON IT NEED TO KNOW HOW.
AND THAT'S WHERE MS. ANGIE SAVOY WILL COME IN AND SIT DOWN AND CLEAR IT UP.
BUT BY NO MEANS I'VE SAID WE HAVE SEVEN.
I JUST HOPE AND PRAY WE HAVE AT LEAST SEVEN.
IT SHOULD BE 12 IN TWO WEEKS LIKE IT SHOULD BE 12.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION, MAYOR.
THE ITEM THAT'S ON INTRODUCTION BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF HAND TONIGHT HAS NOTHING IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL DOCUMENTATION SUPPORTED.
IN MY EMAIL, WHEN THIS IS INTRODUCED, THAT IT WOULD BE FORTHCOMING, AND THAT'S FINE.
I WANT TO GIVE THEM TIME, THE LEVEL OF INFORMATION THAT THEY WANT TO DO.
BUT I HAVE HAD NO PARTICULAR ITEMS. I REJECT THE NOTION TO BE ASKED TO SHOW A HAND OF OF WHAT'S TO COME IN 3 WEEKS WHEN NOT A MEMBER OF THE TO REVIEW THAT ITEMS. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION TO WHAT WAS VERY CONCERNING COMMENTS THAT AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
OKAY, BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD TO VOTING, I DO FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOME CLARITY THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE.
STATE IN A BUNCH OF IT'S ACTUALLY THREE WEEKS FROM NOW THE NEXT MEETING SO IF YOU SHOW UP IN TWO WEEKS AND TOO EARLY AND IT'S ALSO THE 13TH NOT THE 15TH CAUSE WE'RE MOST OF THE SHOW UP ON 15 TOO LATE.
SO THREE WEEKS MAY THE 13TH SO I JUST WANT ANYBODY WHO'S LISTENING TO KNOW THAT'S WHEN THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE IF I MISSPOKE ABOUT TWO WEEKS OR THE 15TH. YEAH, I SAID I WAS OUT OF TOWN THE 9TH THROUGH THE 15TH.
A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID TWO WEEKS.
I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO BE AWARE.
BUT I DO WANT TO CLARIFY THAT I AM SCHEDULED TO NOT BE HERE.
AGAIN, I LEAVE IT TO MY COLLEAGUES IF YOU WISH TO MOVE IT.
WE HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR.
TO DEFER THIS ITEM FOR THREE WEEKS TO THE MAY 13TH MEETING.
ACCURATE? ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION FIRST, WHICH IS A DEFERRAL.
WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE MACHINES.
IS EVERYBODY'S MACHINES UP? ANYBODY HAVING AN ISSUE PULLING
[01:55:01]
THEIR MACHINE UP? OKAY.THIS IS ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DEFER TO MAY 13TH.
MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DEFER TO MAY 13TH.
OKAY, NOW WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
DO WE NEED A ROLL CALL ON THE SUBSTITUTE FIRST? YEAH.
COUNCILMAN GO DAY MY VOTE WAS MADE TO MAKE SURE COUNCILMAN MAKE.
NAY, COUNCILMAN ADAMS NO, COUNCILMAN DONE JUNIOR.
OKAY, NOW WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS TO APPROVE THE ITEM.
WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE MACHINES.
MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
DO YOU WANT ME TO CHANGE YOUR VOTE? DO YOU WANT TO RE-PUT THAT UP THERE? BECAUSE THEY JUST GOT PICTURES OF ALL THAT.
YOU WANT TO RE-RUN IT? WE'LL RE-RUN IT.
WE HAD A TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY.
MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
IF THE MEDIA WOULD TAKE A PICTURE OF THAT, I WOULDN'T USE THAT.
COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR.? YOU CAN SAY NO VOTE.
COUNCILMAN COLEMAN, YEAH, COUNCILMAN KENNY COUNCILMAN HARRIS.
[Items 52 & 53]
I DON'T 52 AND 53 RECOMMENDATION BY THE DEPARTMENT IS TO DEFER BOTH OF THESE TO THE MAY 13TH MEETING 52 AMEND THE 2026 PAY PLAN FOR CLASSIFIED AND UNCLASSIFIED, NON-CLASSIFIED, CONTRACT FIRE, AND POLICE EMPLOYEES IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE.SO AS TO ADD A NEW CLASSIFICATION DIRECTOR OF CONTRACTS AND DELETE ONE SPECIAL ASSISTANT PARISH ATTORNEY POSITION BY PARISH ATTORNEY AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR.
AND 53 AMEND 2026 ALLOTMENT OF POSITIONS FOR CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE.
SO AS TO CHANGE THE ALLOTMENT OF PARISH ATTORNEY ADMINISTRATION TO ADD ONE DIRECTOR OF CONTRACTS AND DELETE.
ONE SPECIAL ASSISTANT PARISH ATTORNEY BY THE PAST TURNING HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM SEEING THEM WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL THEIR MOTION TO DEFER TO THE MAY 13TH MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS SECOND BY
[54. 26-00508]
THE CHAIR IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES ITEM 54 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 30TH, 2026 AND APPROPRIATE $1,919,270 FOR SAID PURPOSE, AMEND THE CLASSIFIED AND UNCLASSIFIED APPENDIX 1 OUT OF 23 TO ADJUST THE...CRITICAL RETENTION HIRING PAY STUBS FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES CLASSIFICATIONS AND EIGHT NEW EMS CLASSIFICATIONS DELETE SIX EXISTING EMS CLASSIFICATIONS AND EIGHT NEW PAY GRADES AND INCREASE THE PAY GRADES FOR 21 EXISTING EMS CLASSIFICATIONS BY THE MAYOR PRESIDENT HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR FINANCE DIRECTOR AND YET AN EMS ADMINISTRATOR ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME HERE TONIGHT AND INTRODUCING THIS ITEM AND PUTTING IT UP FOR VOTE.
BUT I WANT TO TAKE YOU BACK A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GO BACK BEFORE YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD.
IN 1981, FOLLOWING THE TRAGIC PASSING OF DREW MCINNIS, MAYOR PAT SCREEN AND HIS COUNCIL BODY RECOGNIZED THAT EAST BATON ROUGE NEEDED A BETTER EMS SYSTEM.
AND OUT OF THAT TRAGIC LOSS, EAST BATON ROUGE EMS WAS BORN
[02:00:02]
NEARLY 40 YEARS AGO.THIS MAYOR AND COUNCIL MADE A COMMITMENT TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS PARISH.
TONIGHT, MAYOR EDWARDS IS MAKING THAT SAME COMMITMENT TO THE CITIZENS AND THE MEN AND WOMEN OF EMS THROUGH THIS PAY PLAN, AND I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR THAT TONIGHT.
AND YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE SAME THING, TO MAKE THAT SAME COMMITMENT TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF EAST BATON ROUGE EMS. THIS DEPARTMENT HAS EARNED THE NATIONAL PARAMEDIC SERVICE OF THE YEAR AWARD TWICE.
GODBY, WAS NAMED MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR BY THE NATIONAL REGISTRY OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS IN 2022.
WE ALSO HOLD CAS ACCREDITATION, WHICH IS THE GOLD STANDARD BY WHICH EMS INDUSTRIES IS JUDGED.
OUR PARTNERS AT THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT HOLD A CALEA ADVANCED ACCREDITATION.
THE BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT HOLDS A CLASS ONE SERVICE RATING.
AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS HOLDS AN EMAP ACCREDITATION.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT MEANS THAT THIS PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM SERVING THIS CITY AND PARISH DOES NOT JUST MEET THE STANDARDS WE SET IT.
LAST YEAR, WE RESPONDED IN EMS OVER 72,000 CALLS FOR SERVICE.
OUR COMMUNICATION OFFICERS HANDLED MORE THAN 295,000 CALLS IN THE 911 CENTER.
WE SUPPORTED MORE THAN 230 COMMUNITY EVENTS.
OUR TRAINING DIVISION PROVIDED HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF TRAINING, NOT ONLY FOR OUR PERSONNEL, BUT FOR OUR PARTNER AGENCIES AND MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC.
WE DID ALL OF THAT WHILE OPERATING LESS THAN 80% EMPLOYMENT CAPACITY, AND WE STILL ANSWERED THE CALLS.
BEHIND EVERY ONE OF THOSE NUMBERS IS A PERSON WHO CHOSE THIS CAREER, A MEDIC WHO PICKED UP AN EXTRA SHIFT BECAUSE THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE SCHEDULE, A COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER WHO STAYED PAST THEIR SHIFT BECAUSE THE CALL CENTER WAS UNDERSTAFFED AND NEEDED THE HELP.
THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING MORE FOR LESS FOR YEARS, NOT BECAUSE THEY HAD TO.
BUT BECAUSE THAT'S WHO THEY ARE.
BUT SUSTAINING THAT LEVEL OF SERVICE IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT, AND THE DEMANDS OF THIS JOB HAVE GROWN.
OUR COMPENSATION STRUCTURE HAS NOT KEPT PACE.
WHEN OVER 60% OF YOUR STAFF ARE TOPPED OUT AT THE PAY SCALE WITH NO REALISTIC HOPE OF A RAISE, THOSE SEASONED EMPLOYEES HAVE LESS REASON TO STAY AND LESS REASON TO MENTOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
THAT IS NOT A STAFFING PROBLEM.
THAT IS A COMPENSATION PROBLEM.
THIS PLAN WAS NOT BUILT, WAS BUILT ON FOUR THINGS, RECRUITING, RETENTION, SUCCESSION PLANNING, AND MORALE.
IT ESTABLISHES A COMPETITIVE ENTRY-LEVEL PAY SO THAT WE CAN ATTRACT QUALIFIED CANDIDATES, AND IT RESTORES MEANINGFUL STEP PROGRESSION SO EXPERIENCED EMPLOYEES HAVE A REASON TO STAY AND GROW.
AND IT SUPPORTS THE NEXT GENERATION OF EMS LEADERS, AND IT SENDS A MESSAGE TO EVERY PERSON IN THIS DEPARTMENT THAT THEIR SERVICE MATTERS TO THIS CITY.
THIS PLAN WILL NOT IMPACT THE CITY PARISH GENERAL FUND, NOT ONE DOLLAR.
EAST BATON ROUGE EMS IS A SPECIAL FUND DEPARTMENT AND THIS PLAN IS FUNDED ENTIRELY THROUGH OUR DEDICATED EMS FUNDS.
OUR STAFF HAVE WORKED EXTREMELY SHORT STAFF FOR YEARS, NOT FOR MONTHS, FOR YEARS.
THEY LEAVE THEIR FAMILIES BEHIND DURING DISASTERS AND ON HOLIDAYS.
THEY MISS BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES, SCHOOL EVENTS, BECAUSE THAT'S...
WHAT THIS PROFESSION REQUIRES.
THEY RESPOND ON THE WORST MOMENTS IN PEOPLE'S LIVES AND THEY DO IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND THEY DO IT PROFESSIONALLY WITH COMPASSION SKILLS THAT THIS COMMUNITY SHOULD BE PROUD OF.
I COULD STAND HERE ALL NIGHT AND TELL YOU THE STORIES ABOUT THE SACRIFICES THAT THESE MEN AND WOMEN MAKE BUT WHAT I'M ASKING TONIGHT IS SIMPLE THAT THIS COUNCIL MAKE THE COMMITMENT TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE COMMITTED SO MUCH TO THIS PARISH.
TONIGHT I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.
MAYOR, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK? JUST A FEW BRIEF WORDS.
AGAIN, WHEN WE CAME IN IN JANUARY OF LAST YEAR, THEN DIRECTOR DENICOLA CAME TO US ABOUT SOME CORRECTIONS HE WANTED TO SEE IN PAYMENT.
AND WE STARTED LOOKING AT THOSE, AND IT'S BEEN A CONTINUOUS DANCE TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
IN TALKING WITH DIRECTOR LANDRY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT EMS HAS BEEN WORKING TOWARD FOR YEARS, FOR YEARS.
EVERY DAY, THESE FOLKS GO OUT AND THEY SAVE LIVES.
THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING, PUTTING AUTOMATED CPR MACHINES IN EVERY FIRE TRUCK AND EVERY FIRE STATION IN THE PARISH, AND SOME OF THE NEW ADVANCES THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT GOING INTO, THINGS THAT'S GOING TO BE LIFE SAVINGS FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE FACING TRAUMA OR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE FACING VIOLENT ACTS.
SO, AGAIN, I STAND HERE TO SAY THAT GOD PUTS US WHERE HE WANTS US TO BE.
[02:05:01]
THESE FOLKS.HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAVE LIVES, AND WE ASK THAT YOU STAND WITH US IN SUPPORT OF THAT AND PASS THIS FOR THEM AS WELL.
MAYOR? WELL, WE START OFF WITH AN AWARD-WINNING ORGANIZATION, ONE OF THE BEST IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND EVERY TIME THEY WORK AND THEY GO OUT ON A CALL, THEY'RE USUALLY RUNNING UP ON ONE OF US HAVING OUR WORST DAY EVER.
HERE AGAIN, AND BUILDING THE FABRIC OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING, CRITICAL, CRITICAL PIECE OF WHAT WE DO.
THE PAY RAISE IS MORE THAN DESERVED, AND IT'S LONG, LONG OVERDUE.
SO I RESPECTFULLY ASK OUR COUNCIL, LIKE WE DID ON THE LAST ITEM, TO PLEASE PASS THIS AND TAKE CARE OF OUR TRUE HEROES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? GOOD EVENING.
WE'RE A NONPROFIT AND WE SUPPORT THE EMTS OUT HERE.
WE JUST RECENTLY GOT ACQUAINTED WITH EMS PAC, WHICH IS OUT OF NEW YORK, AND WE HAVE ABOUT 20,000 EMTS NOW SINCE WE'RE NATIONAL.
I'M AGAINST THIS BECAUSE THE REASON IS IT'S NOT EVEN UP TO STANDARD.
SO WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS SHORTING THEM.
WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK HERE IN 10 MORE YEARS.
IF THEY'RE SELF-FUNDED, THEY NEED MORE MONEY.
THE OTHER THING IS IF YOU READ THE COVER LETTER, YOU SEE THE REASONS WHY THERE'S COMPETITION THAT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT IN.
AND THIS IS PRIVATE COMPANIES COMING IN TO HELP WHERE THEY FALL SHORT UNTIL WE GET BACK ON OUR FEET.
I'LL BE ON THE AMBULANCE TOMORROW.
I WAS ON THE AMBULANCE YESTERDAY.
WE DEAL WITH THESE SAME FEATURES.
WE KNOW WE'RE SHORTHANDED, AND IT IS BUSY, OKAY? SO I'M 23 YEARS OLD, AND I'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT I LOOK LIKE.
BUT THIS RIGHT HERE IS NOT A PAY RAISE.
YOU SHORTEN THEM BY AT LEAST...
TWO, THREE DOLLARS, AND THAT'S JUST TO BRING THEM UP TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
NEXT YEAR, TWO YEARS FROM NOW, IT'S GOING TO GO UP AGAIN.
THE DEMAND IS GOING TO DRIVE IT.
SO IF YOU DON'T BRING IN ANY KIND OF COMPETITION, THEY'RE GOING TO BE SHORTHANDED.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE SHORTED BY FINANCES.
THEIR RAISE WILL BE BASED ON JUST A SMALL FUNDING.
SO I ENCOURAGE COMPETITION FOR THESE GUYS AND THAT WILL BRING LOT OF MONEY INTO THEM AND THEY CAN DO THEIR JOB BECAUSE THEY DO MAKE MONEY THEY'RE GONNA SELF FUND THEM BUT WHY NOT REALLY SELF FUND THEM TO THE POINT WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO BE PAID WHERE THEY NEED TO BE PAID SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE TIME THANK YOU ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED 111 COMMENTS IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 54 WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL COUNCILMAN MOAT MOTION TO APPROVE MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MO SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN COUNCILMAN GODET WE CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING ALREADY I WAS I THOUGHT YOU WERE WAITING YOU SAID PROPOSITION I WAS IN OPPOSITION SO YOU DIDN'T MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT NO WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT ON THIS ONE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY TURN IN ANY COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION.
TO THE POINT YOU OPENED THE FLOOR IF SOMEONE HAD A PUBLIC HEARING.
LIKE JUST A FEW SECONDS AGO? OKAY, BUT I WAS WALKING UP.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS.
THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT WE NEED ERS.
WE DO HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES WHY DO WE NEED THEM.
OFTENTIMES, THESE THINGS ARE PREVENTABLE.
A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE PREVENTABLE.
WE THINK ABOUT THEY COME OUT FROM VIOLENCE CALLS OR SOMETHING IN REGARDS TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
AND I HEAR TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT THEY NEED TO GET A PAY RAISE OR THESE PEOPLE NEED TO GET A PAY RAISE, BUT WE'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT THE ACTUAL RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
THESE PEOPLE ALREADY GET FUNDS, THEY GET CHECKS, AND I UNDERSTAND TIMES ARE HARD.
THEY'RE HARD FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
BUT WE DO HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT RESIDENTS AND THE CARE OF THE RESIDENTS SHOULD BE PRIORITY, RIGHT? I WAS IN A MEETING A FEW WEEKS
[02:10:03]
AGO WHERE THEY CALLED A BUNCH OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TOGETHER.AND, YOU KNOW, THEY WANTED US TO PUT OUR RESOURCES TOGETHER.
THEY WANTED US TO PUT OUR TIME AND ALL OF OUR KNOWLEDGE TOGETHER.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, SPOKEN BY AMY MITCHELL, THAT IF YOU'RE HERE FOR A GRANT, THIS IS NOT THE PLACE FOR YOU.
ESSENTIALLY, THEY CAN EXPLOIT THE SKILLS, THE TALENT, AND THE LABOR OF THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, THE ONES THAT ACTUALLY HAVE THE BOOTS TO THE GROUND DOING THE WORK.
IT'S OKAY FOR THEM TO WORK FOR FREE.
IT'S OKAY FOR THEM TO DO WHAT THEY DO FOR FREE.
BUT WE CAN ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY GETTING A PAYCHECK, THAT SIGNED UP TO DO THE JOB THAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE DOING, RIGHT? SO THESE THINGS THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE DOING, THE ONES THAT ARE...
HAVE THE NONPROFITS THAT HAVE THE BOOTS TO THE GROUND.
THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE PREVENTING, THAT ARE HELPING REDUCE VIOLENCE, RIGHT? AND THAT'S NOT JUST WHAT I FEEL.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO DATA AND STATISTICS.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT ACTUALLY PREVENT AND REDUCE VIOLENCE, THAT WOULD BE ECONOMIC STABILITY, THAT WOULD BE HOUSING, THAT WOULD BE YOUTH PROGRAMS. BUT YET, WE DO NOT WANT TO PAY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THIS WORK.
AND I THINK THAT IS SEVERELY PROBLEMATIC.
SO IF WE DO WANT TO ACTUALLY SEE EMS MAYBE CALLED OUT LESS SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE 23 YEARS OLD AND LOOK LIKE YOU'RE 67, I THINK MAYBE WE SHOULD ACTUALLY START TO INVEST IN THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTUALLY PREVENTING VIOLENCE.
AND THAT WOULD BE OUR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
THAT WOULD BE OUR PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTUALLY GOING OUT.
THEY'RE PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE WITHOUT A PAYCHECK AT ALL AND ARE EXPECTED TO DO SO WITHOUT A PAYCHECK.
THE ITEM BEFORE 1.9MILLION IS THAT FOR THIS AND THEN 3.5.
FOR 2026 AND THEN THE ANNUAL COST 3.2 IS THE ANNUAL COST THAT WOULD BE IN 2027.
AND HOW MUCH OF THAT COMES FROM THE GENERAL FUND? NONE OF IT COMES FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
THIS IS ACTUALLY, THEY'RE SELF-FUNDED.
THEY DO NOT RECEIVE ANY SUPPORT FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
HOW WILL WE GENERATE THE DOLLARS FOR THIS INCREASE, PLEASE? SO THEIR TRANSPORT FEES HAVE BEEN STEADILY INCREASING.
WE HAVE NOT INCLUDED THEM IN THE BUDGET, BUT WE WILL MOVING FORWARD.
AND ACTUALLY THIS BUDGET SUPPLEMENT APP.
ACTUALLY APPROPRIATES THOSE OVER COLLECTIONS UNTIL WE SAW SOMETHING THAT WAS SUSTAINABLE AND FELT COMFORTABLE INCLUDING IT AS PART OF THEIR REOCCURRING REVENUES AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO UTILIZE THIS AND AND SO THE PAST OVER COLLECTIONS HAVE FALLEN INTO THEIR FUND BALANCE THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION ON NO IMPACT IN THE GENERAL FUND.
THANK YOU CHRIS I THINK ROD STOLE SOME OF MY THUNDER MAN.
COME UP HERE TO THE MIC RIGHT QUICK SO I WANT TO ADD A LITTLE BIT TO THAT.
SO CAN YOU JUST SPEAK AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF WHAT THE MILLAGE COLLECTS INDEPENDENTLY? BECAUSE I HAVE A SECOND PART THAT I WANT TO ADD TO ROWDY TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT WHERE THE DESIGNATION OF FUNDS ARE COMING FROM TO SUPPORT THE RAISE.
OUR MILLAGE IS 3.13 MILLS, AND IT HAS BEEN THE SAME MILLAGE THAT WAS ESTABLISHED AND PUT TOGETHER FOR US IN 1984.
AND IT YIELDS ABOUT WHAT PER YEAR? IF ANGIE WOULD HAVE TO CORRECT ME ON THAT.
IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, I THINK IT'S AROUND 19 MILLION.
SO MY NEXT QUESTION FOR YOU IS CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC HOW YOU GUYS HAVE DONE SOME CREATIVE STUFF AS A GOVERNMENT AGENCY IN TERMS OF USING PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE? BECAUSE I NEED TO KNOW THAT AS WELL, THAT YOU DO GENERATE.
A FEW YEARS AGO WE CAME TO COUNCIL AND WE ADJUSTED OUR RATES TO BE COMPETITIVE, WHICH IS AN OPEN MARKET FOR WHETHER WE BILL FOR ALS 01, ALS 2, BLS RATES.
SO THAT HAS INCREASED THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT WE BROUGHT IN.
AND EVEN WITH THAT ALONE, WE STILL BILL PRETTY MUCH A LOT CHEAPER THAN MOST AMBULANCE SERVICES ALONE.
OUR COLLECTION RATE HAS WENT UP SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THAT.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS ORGANIZATION OFFERS FOR THE PARISH IS THAT IF YOU ARE AN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH RESIDENT, WE WRITE OFF SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR BECAUSE WE DO NOT GO AFTER CO-PAYS.
WE DO NOT GO AFTER ANY OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD POSSIBLY HAVE.
WE COLLECT WHAT WE CAN, BUT WE DON'T AGGRESSIVELY OR GO
[02:15:02]
ANYTHING AFTER THAT.SO AS A TAXPAYING-FUNDED ENTITY, WE GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY JUST AS MUCH AS WE TAKE IN FROM BILLING AND OR THE ORDINANCE.
HEY, ANDREW, DO YOU KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH THE, I KNEW THE NUMBER.
DO YOU KNOW THE NUMBER? WHAT WE BRING IN FROM OUR BILLING? YEAH.
LAST YEAR WE BROUGHT IN OVER $30 MILLION FOR BILLING REVENUE.
I WANT PEOPLE TO HEAR THAT IT WAS A MASSIVE NUMBER.
THAT Y'ALL ARE REVENUE GENERATING.
WE BUDGETED 17 MILLION IN REVENUE AND WE BROUGHT IN OVER 30.
YEAH, I KNEW IT WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND.
SO I WANT THE PEOPLE AT HOME, THEY CAME OVER TO MAKE LESS OF AN IMPACT, THAT ARE BEING CREATIVE AND GROW THE DEPARTMENT WITH THE PEOPLE AT HOME.
NUMBER ONE, I SAY YOU ALL BE HONEST.
I HOPE I'M NOT EASY, BUT YOU'LL GET THAT SUPPORT WHEN YOU'RE DOING RIGHT.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MODE 2ND BY.
COMPLEMENT COLEMAN, IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARES
[55. 26-00509]
ITEM 55? I'M IN THE 2026 ALLOTMENT OF POSITIONS FOR THE CITY OF BEN ROUGE, PARIS OF EAST BATON ROUGE.SO I HAVE TO CHANGE THE ALLOTMENT.
OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES EFFECTIVE MAY 30TH, 2026, I HAD 12 NEW POSITIONS AND DELETE 10 EXISTING POSITIONS BY MAYOR, PRESIDENT, HUMAN RESOURCES, DIRECTOR, FINANCE DIRECTOR AND ADMINISTRATOR.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? GO ON ONCE WE SURE.
SEEING NON PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED.
[56. 26-00446 ]
MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES AT FIFTY SIX A RESOLUTION ORDERING AND CALLING SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN BROWNFIELD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER THREE ON SATURDAY DECEMBER TWELFTH TWENTY TWENTY SIX FOR THE PURPOSE OF AUTHORIZING THE RENEWAL OF A LEVY AND COLLECTION OF FIVE MILLS AD VALOREM TAX FOR A PERIOD OF TEN YEARS FIRE PROTECTION PURPOSES OF THE DISTRICT PROVIDING NOTICE THAT PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION BY METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ACTING AS THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE DISTRICT SHALL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY APRIL TWENTY SECOND TWENTY TWENTY SIX AT FOUR P M AND PROVIDED FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH BY BROWNFIELD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM SEEING NO ONE GO TO COUNCIL WE HAVE A MOTION[57. 26-00504]
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES FIFTY SEVEN A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA TO MAKE APPLICATIONS OF THE STATE BOND COMMISSION FOR CONSENT AND AUTHORITY TO ISSUE NOT EXCEEDING $3.5 MILLION PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT SALES TAX REVENUE REFUNDING BONDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO CURRENT REFUND THE OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT SALES TAX REVENUE BONDS.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 PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT SALES TAX REFUNDING BONDS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT SALES TAX REVENUE BONDS PAY THE COST AND THE ISSUE.
THEREOF AUTHORIZING EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF BOND PURCHASE AGREEMENT AND PROVIDING ANOTHER CONNECT AND CONNECTION AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER IN CONNECTION THERE WITH BY BUYING A COUNCIL.
ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS SIDE?
[58. 26-00468]
THEY DON'T GO TO COUNCIL.MOTION MOTION BY COMFORTABLE AND SECOND BY CONFORMING ADAMS THERE ANY OPPOSITION.
MOTION CARRIES FIFTY EIGHT AUTHORIZING THEIR PRESIDENT TO AMEND THAT CERTAIN CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SERVICES WITH BEVERAGE AND DIAMOND FOR LEGAL REPRESENTATION CITY PARISH CONCERNING CLAIMS UNDER THE CLEAN WATER ACT TO INCREASE THE ALLOWABLE COMPENSATION BY AN ADDITIONAL FOUR HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND FOR TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED ONE MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED SEVENTY FIVE THOUSAND BY THE PAST TURNING DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEE NO GOOD COUNCIL EMOTION
[59. 26-00470]
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN ADAM SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCCO.IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES 59 AUTHORIZED SETTLEMENT OF THE PRE LITIGATION CLAIM OF CRYSTAL LEAVE FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY A BAD NEWS POLICE OFFICER AND AMOUNT OF 10379 DOLLARS AND 51 CENTS BY THE PAST TURNING ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
[02:20:03]
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DEFER THIS TO MAY 27TH.MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCKER TO DEFER TO THE MAY 27TH COUNCIL MEETING.
[60. 26-00471]
MOTION CARRIES.AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE PRE-LITIGATION CLAIM OF TRIANA HAMILTON FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT CAUSED BY A BATON ROUGE POLICE OFFICER.
IN THE AMOUNT OF $35,000 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.
COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DEFER THIS TO MAY 27TH.
MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCKETT, TO DEFER TO THE MAY 27TH MEETING.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE PUT SOME ACCOUNTABILITY METRICS IN PLACE.
FOR DAMAGES HAPPENING FROM ANY DEPARTMENT, NOT JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE A REGULAR HISTORY OF THAT'S THAT'S NOT YOUR MAN.
I KNOW, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY ON THE MIC.
[61. 26-00472]
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN ADAM.SECOND BY COUNCILMAN ROCKET TO DEFER TO THE MAY 27TH MEETING ANY OPPOSITION.
MOTION CARRIES ITEM 61 AUTHORIZED SETTLEMENT MATTER OF TO KEEP THE MORGAN VERSUS JOSEPH BUTLER AT ALL AMOUNT OF 85,000 PLUS COURT COSTS AND THE AMOUNT OF 127 DOLLARS 53 CENTS FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF 850,000, 85,000, 127 DOLLARS.
53 CENTS BY PAST TURNING ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
NOW WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL COUNCILWOMAN I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DEFER THIS TO MAY 27TH MOTION BY COUNCILMAN ADAMS, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCKETT TO DEFER
[62. 26-00477]
TO THE MAY 27TH MEETING.IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
ITEM 62, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, CREATING A BAYOU FOUNTAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT WITH THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, ON PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS EXHIBIT A, SHOWN IN EXHIBIT B, DEFINING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE PROPERTY FROM WHICH NEW AREA SALES AND USE TAXES AND HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES MAY BE LEVIED BY THE DISTRICT.
AND USED TO FUND ALL OR A PORTION OF THE COSTS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AS DESCRIBED HERE IN ALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AUTHORIZED AND AUTHORIZED BY CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN, TITLE THIRTY THREE OF LOUISIANA REVISED STATUTES FROM NINETEEN FIFTY DESIGNATED THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE DISTRICT, ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR AUTHORITY TO LEVY SALES AND USE TAXES AND HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES WITHIN THE DISTRICT AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION WITH THE FOREGONE BY COUNCILWOMAN JENNIFER.
ROCK ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS SIDE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 62 THEY KNOW GO TO COUNCIL.
CAN I DO THAT? SURE, PLEASE? WELL MAKE A MOTION WITH AN AMENDMENT I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE WITH THE AMENDMENT AND I'M SORRY BEAR WITH ME THERE'S A LOT OF WORDS AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE ON PAGE TWO LAST WHEREAS REPLACED WITH INTENDS TO PLEDGE AND DEDICATE THE FULL SALES TAX INCREMENT TIP AS DETERMINED BELOW WITH INTENDS TO PLEDGE AND DEDICATE THE CELLS AND TAX INCREMENT PLEDGE TAX INCREMENT AS DETERMINED BELOW NUMBER 2 ON PAGES 4 AND 5, DELETE THE ENTIRETY OF SECTION 6 AND INSERT AND LOU THEREOF.
SECTION 6, THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY PARISH HEREBY PLEDGES TO THE DISTRICT THAT CONSISTING OF THE CITY PARISHES.
2% ANNUAL SALES TAXES AND USE TAXES COLLECTED WITHIN THE DISTRICT THAT EXCEED THE ANNUAL BASELINE LESS THE FEES AND COSTS OF THE CITY PARISH.
PLEDGE TAX INCREMENT, ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2026, 100% OF THE PLEDGE TAX INCREMENT.
COMMENCING JANUARY 1ST, 2027 AND ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2031.
THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY PARISH HEREBY PLEDGES TO THE DISTRICT 75% OF THE PLEDGE TAX INCREMENT.
SEE, CONVINCING JANUARY 1ST, 2032 AND ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2041, THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY PARISH HEREBY PLEDGES TO THE DISTRICT 50% OF THE PLEDGE TAX INCREMENT.
2041 AND ENDING DECEMBER 31ST 2051 THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY PARISH HEREBY PLEDGES TO THE DISTRICT 25% OF THE PLEDGE TAX INCREMENT MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCCO SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS COUNCILMAN HURST AND SO YOU DON'T GET MY VOTE ON THIS BY THE WAY THIS IS NOT AGAINST
[02:25:01]
ANYTHING THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING BECAUSE I SUPPORT ADD IN ITS ENTIRETY.MY CONCERN FOR THE COLLEAGUES THAT SUPPORT EDDS AND THE ONES THAT SUPPORTED THE ONE THAT I BROUGHT UP ON PLANK ROAD, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
FOR THE ONES THAT DIDN'T, IT'S NOT ONE SIDE OF THE AISLE, IT'S BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.
IT'S ALWAYS THE SOUTH SIDE OF FLORIDA BOULEVARD WHERE WE GET NO FIGHTS.
IT'S SOUTH SIDE OF FLORIDA BOULEVARD WHERE WE SEE BRIGHT LIGHTS, CLEAN STREETS.
WE ARGUE ABOUT CAN WE GO TO ONE DAY A WEEK TRASH BECAUSE THERE'S NO BLACK PILES OUT THERE.
BUT ANY TIME WE RESPECTFULLY TRY TO DO SOMETHING IN NORTH BATON ROUGE AND SERVICE MINORITY-BASED COMMUNITIES, WE GET FULL-ON DISCUSSIONS, WE GET HOUSE FULL OF PEOPLE, WE GET INFIGHTING AMONGST COLLEAGUES.
I TELL EVERYBODY, INSTEAD OF GETTING OUT OF SLAVERY, SOMETIMES IT'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO CAN BE THE BEST SLAVE.
AND SO I'M TIRED OF SEEING IT HAPPENING.
AND SO I DO PLAN ON REINTRODUCING.
THE PLANK ROAD EDD WITH THE REQUESTED CHANGES BY THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE BECAUSE I DON'T JUST CARE ABOUT ONE SIDE OF TOWN, I CARE ABOUT ALL SIDES OF TOWN.
AND INSTEAD OF AVOIDING MEETINGS SO THAT YOU CAN SAY THAT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, HAVE THE DISCUSSION TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE EDUCATED, INFORMED, AND CAN MAKE THE DESIRED IMPACT THAT WE NEED BECAUSE BRPD WILL NEVER HAVE WHAT THEY NEED.
YOU CAN PUT A THOUSAND OFFICERS ON THE STREET CHANGE NORTH BATON ROUGE, NOTHING MATTERS.
YOU CAN PUT A THOUSAND OFFICERS ON THE STREET, BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT, THE EMS IS STILL GOING TO BE OUT THERE PICKING UP BODIES.
SO I ASK FOR THE SAME ENTHUSIASM LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE OTHERS, THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE THE SAME ENTHUSIASM.
THE ONES THAT WERE THERE, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, AND I STILL REMEMBER YOU, AND I APPRECIATE IT.
WHEN THOSE ITEMS COME UP, SO COURTNEY, I'M GOING TO ASK THAT YOU, COURTNEY, COURTNEY, COURTNEY, I'M GOING TO ASK THAT YOU RESUBMIT THE PLANK ROW EDD.
AND I'M GOING TO ASK THAT MY COLLEAGUES PROVIDE THE SAME SUPPORT.
WE'RE GLAD, AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW, COME TALK TO ME, BECAUSE EVERY CHANGE THAT I WAS ASKED TO MAKE HAS BEEN DONE.
THERE DOES NEED TO BE AN ANCHOR, BECAUSE THERE'S NO BASELINE.
BECAUSE ADDITIONAL ONE PENNY OVER 20 YEARS, SO...
THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRENDA, FOR LETTING ME SPEAK AND FOR SUPPORTING IT WHEN IT CAME UP.
AND I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME.
YES, I WANT TO MAKE IT BE KNOWN THAT I HAVE BOTH SIDES OF FLORIDA STREET.
AND SO WHEN I MAKE A DECISION, IT'S WHAT'S GOOD, WHAT'S BEST FOR THOSE 37, 38, 39, WHATEVER IT IS, CONSTITUENTS THAT I SERVE.
YOU CAN'T SUPPORT NOTHING IF YOU AIN'T GOT WHAT YOU NEED, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU NEED TO RUN IT.
AND SO THIS IS NOT APPLES AND APPLES, BUT THIS IS APPLES AND ORANGES, AND I SUPPORT THIS.
AS ONE THAT WORKED WITH YOUR ATTORNEY, LET ME REPHRASE THAT.
AS COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN JUST SAID, TO KEEP IT GERMANE TO THE TOPIC, LET'S DISCUSS APPLES FOR APPLES, ORANGES FOR APPLES, OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.
IT GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO CALL YOUR FELLOW COLLEAGUES OUT.
IT GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY PUBLICLY TO STATE HOW EVERYONE'S AGAINST YOU AND RUN THAT NARRATIVE JUST STRAIGHT INTO THE GROUND.
AND FOR YOUR INFORMATION, I WORK WITH YOU AND YOUR ATTORNEY ON DOING THAT.
AND TO KEEP IT GERMANE TO THE TOPIC.
THAT IS WHY I THINK THIS IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT HAS A VIABLE ANCHOR IN THE WHOLE THING.
SO I UNDERSTAND YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND DRAG US ALL THROUGH THE MUD AND EVERYTHING AND SAY HOW WE DON'T CARE.
BUT I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT IF YOU LOOK AT BOTH OF THESE EDDS AND ONE, THAT YOU DON'T GET 11 OTHER PEOPLE SCREAMING OR YELLING ABOUT IT OR ANYTHING ELSE, IT'S BECAUSE THERE'S DEFINITIVE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THIS ONE AND THE OTHER ONE.
NO, I WAS YOUR BIGGEST FAN ON THAT.
SO THAT WAS, AND LOOK, WHAT I SAID WAS THAT THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN WHAT EDD PURPOSES ARE FOR, AND AS IT RELATES TO THIS EDD, TO STAY IN DEMAND, TO THE TOPIC, IT'S ABOUT BUILDING NEW.
AS IT RELATES TO THE OTHER ONES, IT'S ABOUT REVITALIZATION.
SO THERE'S NO LAND MASS TO BUILD, AND THERE'S ALREADY ECONOMIC DRIVERS, BUT NO RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THOSE ECONOMIC DRIVERS.
AND THAT'S JUST ANOTHER NEED AND PURPOSE FOR.
AND SO THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS ABOUT BUILDING.
THE OTHER ONE IS ABOUT REVITALIZATION.
BOTH OF THEM ARE IMPACTFUL AND PURPOSEFUL, WHICH IS WHY WE VOTED FOR LSU, WHICH IS WHY WE VOTED
[02:30:01]
FOR SOUTHERN.SOUTHERN HAD NO DRIVER, BUT WE SAT HERE AND VOTED FOR IT THE EXACT SAME WAY.
I DON'T CARE IF IT CAME FROM THE STATE OR NOT.
WE TOLD OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT WE SUPPORTED IT, AND IT WAS IDENTICAL.
IN NORTH BATON ROUGE, BUT WHEN IT CAME TO DOING THE EXACT SAME THING.
ON PLAYING ROLE, YOU WERE NOT ONE, YOU WERE A BIG CHAMPION.
I APPRECIATE I TOLD YOU THAT A THOUSAND TIMES.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT WHEN WE HAVE THESE THINGS THAT COME IN OUR TOWN, WE CAN DO EVERYTHING WE WANNA DO AT THEIR FACILITY AND OTHER FACILITIES.
BUT WE STILL ARE STAYING ON THE MAP FOR CRIME AND EVERYTHING ELSE UNTIL WE MAKE THE EFFORT AND THE DECISION TO FIX AREAS OF TOWN THAT ARE DISINVESTED, BLIGHTED AND FORGOTTEN ABOUT.
THOSE ARE THE LOW EDUCATION, HIGH CRIME AREAS.
AND SO WE CAN MAKE EVERY PART OF TOWN BETTER, BUT THE ONES THAT WE LEAVE OUT ARE THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE SO MANY CHALLENGES AND WHY WE'RE FIGHTING FOR COPS TO STAY ON THE FORCE TODAY.
SO I SUPPORT THEM, I SUPPORT THIS, AND I'M ASKING MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT ME.
SO IF SOMEBODY IS SECOND, THEN I WILL.
BUT GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND WELL WISH ON YOUR ENDEAVOR.
I WANT TO THANK EVERY ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS MATTER, FOR COMING OUT AND VISITING.
BUT I'D BE REMISS IF I DID NOT THANK AMANDA SPAIN, WHO IS AN ATTORNEY ON THIS MATTER, OUR PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THEIR CONTRACTS DIVISION TEAM.
ANGIE'S FINANCE TEAM, TIFFANY DELAPOSTE, WHO'S SOMEWHERE ON THE TEAM SOMEWHERE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THESE TWO BINDERS THAT ARE SITTING IN FRONT OF ME, THAT CONTAINS EVERY PIECE OF PAPERWORK, EVERY MINUTE, EVERY HOUR THAT WAS PUT INTO AN EMAIL OR CORRESPONDENCE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE TEAM, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE WERE DOING NOT ONLY WAS GREAT AND BENEFITED DISTRICT 12, BUT IT BENEFITED THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
THE STRATEGIC PLANNING BEHIND THIS EDD HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE.
THE AMENDMENT THAT YOU HEARD ME TALK ABOUT EARLIER WAS NEW AND INNOVATIVE AND NOT LIKE ANY OTHER EDD THAT'S HAPPENED IN THIS PARISH BEFORE.
THE AMENDMENT THAT YOU SEE DOESN'T TAKE THE FULL 2%.
IT ONLY TAKES IT UNTIL THE END OF DECEMBER WHERE THEY HAVE THEIR RAMP-UP PERIOD WHERE THEY'RE BONDING OUT TO BUILD AND DEVELOP THIS FACILITY.
BUT AS THE REVENUE IN THIS AREA GROWS AND AS THIS FACILITY GROWS, THEY GIVE BACK THE REVENUE TO THE CITY BY DECREASING WHAT THEY'RE TAKING BY 0.75%, THEN 0.5% AND 0.25%.
GROWING THE REVENUE IN DISTRICT 12 IN THE CITY AND GIVING BACK.
WITH THEIR DEVELOPMENT AND THEIR GROWTH THAT THEY'RE PROMOTING.
AND I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, HERE AS THEY SIT BEFORE US TODAY, THEY'VE ALREADY HAD A HUGE ECONOMIC IMPACT IN THIS AREA, AND THEY HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SUPPORTED THEM, SEVERAL BUSINESSES, BUT SOME TOOK THE TIME TO TELL US TODAY.
AN OWNER FROM THE CHICK-FIL-A BURBANK AREA, COREY'S TEAM, SENT AN EMAIL PRAISING THEM ON WHAT THEY'VE DONE SO FAR, THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'VE BROUGHT TO DISTRICT 12.
THE SERVICES THAT THEY'VE GIVEN AND HOW THEY HAVE HAD REALLY GOOD PATRONS IN THAT AREA WHEN THEY HOST EVENTS.
ANOTHER, OUR MOM'S RESTAURANT, ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS.
IF YOU'RE IN DISTRICT 12, YOU'VE GOT TO STOP BY.
ON TOURNAMENT DAYS, WE EXPERIENCED A NOBLE INCREASE IN VOLUME OF FAMILIES AND VISITORS COMING TO THE AREA AND SPEND LOCALLY.
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR THIS AREA.
THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL INPUT, FOR COMING TO MEETINGS, HAVING CONVERSATIONS, OPEN DIALOGUE ABOUT HOW TO BE BETTER.
I KNOW THAT WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF WORDS TONIGHT, AND THEY JUST DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE UP ANY MORE OF OUR VALUABLE TIME.
BUT I HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU TO GREG STRINGFELLOW.
I'LL LEAVE YOUR LAST NAME OUT.
THEY CAN USE THEIR IMAGINATION.
HE DOESN'T WANT ANY MORE SPOTLIGHT THAN HE NEEDS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, MOST OF US KNOW HIM FROM THROWING A FOOTBALL.
THANK YOU ALL SO VERY, VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING BEING YOUR PARTNER.
I ALSO HAVE TO, I WOULD BE REMISS WITHOUT SAYING, THEY'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS ON WHAT THEIR BOARD LOOKS LIKE.
THAT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE COMPILATION OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE VERY INTERESTING BACKGROUNDS.
THERE ARE BUSINESS OWNERS FROM THE AREA.
THERE'S A GUY THAT'S VERY WELL VERSED IN FINANCE.
AND THESE DON'T JUST COME FROM MY DISTRICT SOME OF THESE FOLKS LIVE IN ROWDY GO DAY'S DISTRICT SOME OF THEM WORK IN DISTRICT 12, BUT THEY LIVE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE PARISH.
SO WE HAVE A VERY UNIQUE MAKEUP EXCELLENT BOARD TO COME.
[02:35:01]
POSITIONS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO US ALL MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER THANK YOU ALL SO VERY VERY MUCH THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCCA SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS IS[63. 26-00483]
THERE ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES APPROVED WITH THE AMENDMENTS OUT OF SIXTY THREE AMENDING ORDINANCE ONE NINE FIVE SEVEN NINE OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE BY ADDING CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT SMOKE VAPE VAPE SHOPS TO TITLE NINE LICENSING AND REGULATION TRADES AND OCCUPATIONS SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A TERMINATION OF THE NON-CONFORMING STATUS OF THE BUSINESS UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES ADVERTISING RESTRICTIONS AND WINDOW VISIBILITY AND SIGNAGE RESTRICTIONS BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN COUNCILMAN GODAY AND COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK[64. 26-00510]
ON THIS IDEA SEEING THEM GO TO COUNCIL MOTION MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GODAY SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES.ITEM 64, MENDING TITLE I, MUNICIPAL AND PARISH ORGANIZATION, CHAPTER 3, PERSONNEL, PART 4, EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM, THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, SO AS TO INCLUDE BATON ROUGE REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY AS A NEW EMPLOYER TO THE CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM BY INTERIM RETIREMENT ADMINISTRATOR.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.
[65. 26-00478 ]
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MOE.SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSA.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES 65 AUTHORIZED MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH LAMAR ADVERTISING LOUISIANA LLC DO BUSINESS AS LAMAR COMPANIES FOR POLLUTION PREVENTION BILLBOARDS AND AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $61,815 BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM SEE NONE GO TO COUNCIL ANYBODY SOMEBODY IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SPEAK ON THIS ADAM HERE? THERE HE IS.
ADAM, CAN YOU GIVE US AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT THIS IS AND WHERE THE FUNDING IS COMING FROM? SURE.
THIS IS THE REQUIREMENTS OF BOTH OUR SEWER CONSENT DECREE AND THEN THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN IS THAT WE DO PUBLIC OUTREACH, PUBLIC EDUCATION BILLBOARDS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON, HEY, DON'T POUR GREASE DOWN THE DRAIN.
DON'T PUT FLUSHABLE WIPES ARE NOT FLUSHABLE DON'T DON'T BLOW GRASS AND LEAVES INTO THE STORM DRAIN THAT THAT TYPE OF THING SO THAT THAT'S WHAT THIS IS WE'VE GOT A HANDFUL OF BILLBOARDS SPREAD OUT THROUGHOUT THE PARISH SOME OF THEM ARE ELECTRONIC SOME OF THEM ARE STATIC SO THAT THAT'S WHAT THIS IS FOR THIS PARTICULAR FUNDING SOURCE IS OUR OUR GENERAL FUND ITEM ON THE STORMWATER BUDGET OKAY THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE? DO WE HAVE A MOTION MOTION
[66. 26-00479 ]
BY COUNCILMAN AMOROSA? SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS.ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES AND 66 AUTHORIZED MAYOR PRESIDENT AND OUR BOSCO TO EXECUTE A 3 YEAR SERVICE CONTRACT FOR INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE WITH CRIME LLC ASSOCIATED WITH THE GROUND STORAGE TANKS AND THE MOUNTAIN.
$100,000 ANNUALLY FOR A TOTAL OF $300,000 BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, GO TO COUNCIL.
[67. 26-00481]
SECOND.SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
I AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH AMERICAN FACILITY SERVICES, INC.
JANITORIAL SERVICES AT THE 19TH JUDICIAL COURTHOUSE IN OMAHA.
$278,049.08 BY BUILDING AND GROUNDS DIRECTOR.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?
[68. 26-00482]
SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
68 AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT BY HAVING THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH VILLAGE LLC FOR LEASE OF SPACE OF FOR THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SANITATION INSPECTION AT 2751 WOODDALE BOULEVARD FOR A TERM FIVE YEARS AT A RATE OF FIFTY SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS PER MONTH BY DIRECTOR OF BUILDING THE GROUNDS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM NO, GO
[69. 26-00488]
TO COUNCIL MOTION MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DON JR.SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES? ITEM 69, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT WITH THE BATON
[02:40:01]
ROUGE REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND TO SIGN ALL DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH BY THE AVIATION DIRECTOR.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?
[70. 26-00489]
SEEING NONE, I'LL GO TO COUNCIL.MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
ITEM 70, THERE'S BEEN A REQUEST TO DEFER THIS ITEM FOR THREE WEEKS.
AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH THE BATON ROUGE REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY FOR THE SUPPLY OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES BY THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE TO THE BATON ROUGE REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND TO SIGN ALL DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH BY THE AVIATION DIRECTOR.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, I'LL GO TO
[71. 26-00490]
COUNCIL.MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES TO DEFER FOR THREE WEEKS.
71 AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE BAD NEWS REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY FOR BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION AND PARTICIPATION IN THE INSURANCE BENEFITS PLAN OF THE CITY OF BAD NEWS.
PASSIVE EAST BAD NEWS AND SIGN ALL DOCUMENTS AND CONNECTION THERE WITH BY THE AVIATION DIRECTOR YOU WANT TO HEAR WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
[72. 26-00498]
SEE NO GO TO COUNCIL WE HAVE A MOTION PROMOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JR.IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES OUT OF 72 APPROVING THE RESPONSES PROVIDED TO THE ANNUAL LOUISIANA COMPLIANCE QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE YEAR 2025 AS REQUIRED BY LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR OF STATE OF LOUISIANA BY THE FINANCE DIRECTOR.
ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEE NO GO TO COUNCIL.
[73. 26-00499 ]
WE HAVE A MOTION.MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
ITEM 73, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NO.
4 FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH AECOM TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC.
FOR A DESIGN STUDY, FULL NEPA SERVICES, ROAD MAPPING, AND FINAL DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE MOODLE-BR CORRIDOR ENHANCEMENT COLLEGE DRIVE, PERKINS ROAD TO I-10 PROJECT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $3,700,823.75.
BRING IN THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT.
NOT TO EXCEED $7,098,335.77 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.
ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO, I'LL GO TO COUNCIL.
[74. 26-00500 ]
MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN KINNEY.IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
ITEM 74, AUTHORIZE THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO REFUND AN ERRONEOUS REMITTANCE OF SALES TAX TO BATON ROUGE CLINIC AMC IN THE AMOUNT OF $336,000.
THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED THIRTY SEVEN DOLLARS TWENTY SEVEN CENTS FOR REMITTING SALES TAX ON NON-TAXABLE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PURCHASES FOR THE AUDIT PERIOD OF JULY 1ST 2021 THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH 2022 WITH COST OF SUCH REFUND TO BE CHARGED AGAINST SALES TAX REVENUES BY THE FINANCE DIRECTOR ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM SEEING NONE WE'LL GO TO
[75. 26-00503]
COUNCIL WE HAVE A MOTION MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES SEVENTY FIVE, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT TO INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONTRACT AND LOCAL SERVICES AGREEMENT AMONG CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARIS OF EAST BATON ROUGE, GREATER BATON ROUGE AIRPORT DISTRICT RELATED TO REFINANCE REFINANCING CERTAIN PRIOR INDEBTEDNESS OF THE GREATER BATON ROUGE AIRPORT DISTRICT TO THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERE TO MY GREATER BATON ROUGE AIRPORT DISTRICT.ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?
[76. 26-00506]
NO, GO TO COUNCIL.MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
76, RESCINDING AND DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT TO CANCEL NOTICE TO ATTEND RECORDED ON JULY 14, 2025 AND DECISION AND ORDER RECORDED ON DECEMBER 1, 2025 IN THE MATTER OF CITY OF BATON ROUGE V.
REASON FOR RESCISSION IS THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY BEING RENOVATED BY THE OWNER, BY COUNCILMAN KINNEY.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?
[77. 26-00507]
SEEING NO ONE GO TO COUNCIL.MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MCKINNEY.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
A SENDING AND DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT TO CANCEL A NOTICE TO ATTEND RECORDED ON MAY 21, 2025, AND A DECISION AND ORDER RECORDED ON FEBRUARY 18, 2026 IN THE MATTER OF CITY OF BATON ROUGE VERSUS WILLIE HAWKINS AND LNC HAWKINS 2842 PLOVER STREET.
REASON FOR DECISION OF PROPERTY IS BEING REPAIRED TO MEET CODE.
[78. 26-00512]
ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO, I'LL GO TO COUNCIL.MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MCKINNEY.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE TO APPROVE THE CITY PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH CPEBR 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.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?
[02:45:01]
SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.[Items 79 - 102]
MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE 79 THROUGH 102 TOGETHER.
79, LOT 3, SUBDIVISION RICHARD D.J.
TRACKS, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 09, HUDSON HIGH BIDDER, BEACH AND PROPERTY INVESTMENTS, LLC, $300.
80, LOT 6 AND 7, SQUARE 52, SUBDIVISION BANK, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KINNEY HIGH BIDDER, TELFER WILLIAMS, $100.
81, LOT 4, SQUARE 52, SUBDIVISION BANK, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KINNEY, HIGH BIDDER, TELFER WILLIAMS, $8,000.
82, LOT 26, SUBDIVISION MCKINLEY HEIGHTS, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN, MOTORHOME.
83, LOT 25, SUBDIVISION MCKINLEY HEIGHTS, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN, MOTORHOME.
84, LOT 9, SQUARE 273, SUBDIVISION SWART, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN, MOTORHOME.
85, LOT 14, SQUARE 28, SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN, MOTORHOME.
86 LOT 14 15 16 SQUARE 13 SUBDIVISION FORTUNE COUNCIL METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 HERTZ MOTO 87 LOT 19 SQUARE 26 SUBDIVISION FORTUNE METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 HERTZ MOTO 88 LOT C SQUARE 8 SUBDIVISION PROGRESS PARK METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN MOTO 89 LOT A SUBDIVISION DAWSON COMMONS METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 12 ROCCA HIGH BIDDER CHARLES GRIMM TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS 90 LOT SECTION 2 AND 3, T5S, R1E, SUBDIVISION JR, TUCKER PROPERTY, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 1, NO, HIGH BIDDER, NAKIA WHITE, $10,100.
91, LOT 60, SUBDIVISION RICHMOND PARK, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN, HIGH BIDDER, KENYON ANDREWS, $3,500.
92, LOT 37, SUBDIVISION HIGHLAND GARDENS, ADDITION, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS, HIGH BIDDER, LEONARD WILLIAMS, $100.
93, LOT 32, SUBDIVISION PARK EDITION, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, HARRIS, HIGH BIDDER, GLFAV ENTERPRISES, LLC, $100.
94, LOT 5A AND 6A, SQUARE 2, SUBDIVISION, RICHMOND PARK, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN, HIGH BIDDER, ARDANNA-WINBUSH, $100.
95, LOT 8, 9, 10, SQUARE 25, SUBDIVISION, FORTUNE, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 5, HEARST, HIGH BIDDER, CHARLES WARD, $10,000.
96 LOT 27 SUBDIVISION SOUTHERN VIEW METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT TIM COLEMAN HIGH BITTER KIA SMITH SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS 97 LIE 10 AND 11 SQUARE 12 SUBDIVISION BATON ROUGE TERRACE METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS HIGH BITTER JOSEPH JEAN-PIERRE JR 100 98 LOT 9 SUBDIVISION HILLSIDE FARMS NORTH METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 NO HIGH BIDDER NAKIA WHITE THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS 99 LIKE TWO SQUARE FIVE SUBDIVISION SCOTT.
METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN, HIGH BIDDER 1, ACORD PROPERTY SOLUTIONS, $100.
100, LOT 29, SQUARE 39, SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN, HIGH BIDDER CLYDE FORBES, $100.
101, LOT PARCEL ID 1267876, SUBDIVISION LUSH, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 1, NO, HIGH BIDDER JOSEPH JEAN-PIERRE JR., $100.
102, LOT 3, SUBDIVISION SCOTLAND EDITION, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, KINNEY.
HIGH BIDDER, CONNER PROPERTIES AND INVESTMENTS, LLC, $200.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 79-102? SEEING NO ONE, GO TO COUNCIL.
[ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS ]
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.GO TO YOUR SEPARATE SHEET FOR ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.
A, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AMENDMENT NO.
1 TO THE AGREEMENT WITH LUSTER GROUP LLC FOR DEMOLITION AND ABATEMENT SERVICES PACKAGE A18 TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY SIX.
THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED NINETY EIGHT DOLLARS AND FIFTY NINE CENTS FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED EIGHTY FIVE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY THREE DOLLARS AND FIFTY NINE CENTS BY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR I NEED A MOTION TO WEIGH THE RULES FOR THE ITEMS TO BE INTRODUCED MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN RAKA SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MOTION TO WEIGH THE RULES ANYBODY WISH TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION TO WEIGH THE RULES SEEING NO GO TO COUNCIL ANY OBJECTION ON ON THE MOTION TO WEIGH THE RULES.
WE HAVE AN OBJECTION ITEM CANNOT BE INTRODUCED.
MR. MATTER EMERGENCY ITEM B, ACCEPTANCE
[02:50:01]
OF LOW BID ANNUAL CONTRACT FOR INTERSTATE MOWING, LITTER, TRASH.LITTER AND TRASH COLLECTION FACILITY MAINTENANCE SPECIALIST, LLC, 492,666,059 CENTS BY MAINTENANCE DIRECTOR.
REASON THIS ITEM IS BEING REQUESTED AS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER.
DEPARTMENT OF MAINTENANCE IS REQUESTING THE ADDITION OF THIS ITEM METRO COUNCIL AGENDA AS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER TO.
SECURE VENDOR CONTRACT FOR MOWING LITTER AND TRASH REMOVAL SERVICES WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY ANY POSTPONEMENT AND COMMENCING SERVICES WILL RESULT IN OVERGROWN CONDITIONS, INCREASED MAINTENANCE COSTS AND POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARDS ALONG THE INTERSTATE.
THEN I STATE THAT IN OUR RESPONSIBILITY, RIGHT? OKAY.
MOTION NEED A MOTION AWAY THE RULES MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS.
WE'RE GOING TO NEED A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MOTION TO WEIGH THE RULES.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION TO WEIGH THE RULES? SEEING NONE, WE NEED A VOTE ON THE MOTION.
ANY OBJECTION ON THE MOTION TO
[103. 26-00551 ]
WEIGH THE RULES? I APPRECIATE IT, MA'AM.OBJECTION ITEM CANNOT BE INTRODUCED OR HEARD.
103 HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT NUMBER ONE, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS LANE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTING OR REPLACING, REPLACING NAKEISHA CLEVELAND.
CURRENT BALLOT IS NAKEISHA CLEVELAND.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, GO TO COUNCIL.
MOTION TO REAPPOINT NAKEISHA CLEVELAND BY THE CHAIR.
[104. 26-00552]
ANYBODY SECOND? SECOND THE MOTION.ANYBODY? ANYBODY? SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
ITEM 104, HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT NUMBER 1, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS LANE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, CONSIDERATION OF REPLACING DR. REAGAN ELKINS, WHO IS NOT SEEKING REAPPOINTMENT.
THERE IS NOBODY IN THE CURRENT BALLOT.
WE DO NEED A RECOMMENDATION FROM ONE OF THE DOCTORS FROM STAFF.
SO I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND DEFERRING THIS ITEM.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, MAKE A MOTION
[105. 26-00553]
TO DEFER TO MAY 13TH MEETING.IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
105, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTING OR REPLACING DAN BOUDREAU.
THE SIX-YEAR TERM CURRENT BALLOT IS DAN BOUDREAU REQUESTING REAPPOINTMENT.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, GO TO COUNCIL.
[106. 26-00555 ]
WE HAVE A SECOND.SECOND BY THE CHAIR TO REAPPOINT DAN BOUDREAUX.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
106, THERE'S BEEN A REQUEST TO DEFER THIS TO THE MAY 27TH MEETING OF THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTING OR REPLACING THOMAS LOVE JR.
APPOINTMENT MUST BE SUBMITTED BY THE LOUISIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL CONTRACTORS.
WE'VE NOT RECEIVED THAT YET, WHICH IS A REASON FOR THE REQUEST FOR DEFERRAL.
ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO, WE'LL GO TO COUNSEL.
[107. 26-00556 ]
A MOTION TO DEFER TO THE MAY 27TH MEETING.ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
107, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD CONSIDERATION OF REAPPOINTING OR REPLACING JAMIE ELLENDER.
CURRENT BALLOT IS JAMIE ELLENDER REQUESTING REAPPOINTMENT.
ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.
[Items 108 - 115]
WE HAVE A MOTION.SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSA.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE 108 THROUGH 115 TOGETHER.
108, BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT TRAINING FACILITY, CONTRACTOR PRODIGY GROUP, LLC.
CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, CREDIT $259,280.70.
109, CHOCTAW DRIVE AREA ADA TRANSITION PROJECT, CONTRACTOR COLUSTA GROUP, LLC.
CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, CREDIT $27,075.09.
110 DOUGLAS AVENUE AREA ADA TRANSITION PROJECT CONTRACTOR, THE LUSTER GROUP LLC, CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT $16,674.20.
111 LANCASTER AVENUE SIDEWALKS PROJECT CONTRACTOR, ALONZO LLC, CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT CREDIT OF $5,330.88.
112 BATON ROUGE BUS RAPID TRANSIT PROJECT, NICHOLSON DRIVE, FLORIDA BOULEVARD, PLANK ROAD.
CONTRACTOR HARD ROCK CONSTRUCTION LLC, CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT $3,847,897.15.
113 POLLARD PARKWAY SIDEWAY PROJECT, CONTRACTOR ALONZO LLC, CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT CREDIT OF $9,798.22.
114 GEORGE O'NEILL SIDEWALKS, PADUCAH AND KENNESAW DRIVE, CONTRACTOR ARBOR CONSTRUCTION LLC, CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT $4,400.
FIFTY FIVE DOLLARS AND SEVENTY FIVE CENTS ONE FIFTEEN LAUREL LAFAYETTE ADA TRANSITION PROJECT CONTRACT IN THE LUSTER GROUP CHANGE OUR AMOUNT CREDIT
[02:55:01]
OF TWELVE THOUSAND FIFTY EIGHT DOLLARS AND FIFTY EIGHT CENTS.ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEMS ONE, OH, EIGHT THROUGH ONE FIFTEEN COUNCIL MEMBERS.
YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM ONE TWELVE.
YOU DON'T GO TO COUNCIL COUNCILMAN HEARSE.
YOU KNOW, MY QUESTION COME ON.
YES, SIR, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME THAT IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT WHEN YOU COME UP 3MILLION DOLLARS, BUT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A ROADWAY LIKE PLANK ROAD.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF THEY'RE ASKING ABOUT A 4MILLION DOLLARS AND I HAVE ANY PROBLEM AND I EXPECTED THAT.
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
NUMBER 1, WHEN YOU TOOK OVER THE CONTROL OF PLANK ROAD.
AND ALSO 22ND STREET, WHICH WAS THE STATE HIGHWAY, AND WE TOOK IT OVER FROM THE PROCESS OF FOR THE MOVE PROGRAM. UM, BUS RAPID TRANSIT. WE HAD PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THE ROADWAY. WE KNEW THERE WERE GOING TO BE ISSUES. THEY PUT ESTIMATES IN ABOUT WHAT WAS TO BE EXPECTED OF WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE FROM A ROAD-BASED PROBLEM. AND PEOPLE WHO USED PLANK ROAD BEFORE WE DID THE WORK, ALL THEY DID WAS COMPLAIN ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE ROADWAY. WELL, WHEN WE GOT INTO THE DEPTH, LOOKING AT THE ACTUAL ROADWAY ITSELF, DIGGING OUT, WE FOUND THERE WAS NOT VERY MUCH CONCRETE BASE THAT NEEDED TO BE THERE. WE SPENT BUT IN FACT, SINCE WE'RE GOING TO OWN THIS ROADWAY, I FELT LIKE BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF TRANSITION AND THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH AND THE PROJECTS IN THAT AREA, WE NEEDED TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD AND FIX IT AND FIX IT RIGHT. BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY WE HAVE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, TWO YEARS FROM NOW, THE ROAD STARTS FALLING APART.
SO IT IS A LOT OF MONEY. I ACTUALLY WENT OUT TO THE SITE MULTIPLE TIMES.
WHEN THEY LOOKED AT THE ROADWAY, IN FACT, A COUPLE OF TIMES I SAW WHERE THEY HAD ACTUAL WOOD PLANK, LIKE PLANK ROAD. SO, I MEAN, THERE WERE AREAS IN THERE THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED. I DID NOT WANT TO TO NOT CORRECT IT AS IT NEEDED TO BE. I HAVE OUR ENGINEERING GROUP THAT WAS OUT THERE ALSO WHO RECOMMENDED THAT. SO AT THIS POINT, YES, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY, BUT IT'S SOMETHING IN MY OPINION IS WELL SPENT BECAUSE IT IS.
FOR THE ROAD BASE ITSELF, AND WITHOUT A GOOD ROAD BASE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A GOOD ROAD.
YES. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST TO APPROVE ITEMS. 1, 08 TO
[Items 116 - 121]
115. WE HAVE A 2ND, 2ND, MY COUNCIL MCKINNEY. IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES FINAL ACCEPTANCE IS 116 TO 121. TALK TO OUR DRIVE AREA A TRANSITION PROJECT CONTRACT TO THE LAST GROUP. L. L. C.FINAL COST. THREE HUNDRED THIRTY SIX THOUSAND FIFTY SEVEN DOLLARS AND EIGHTY SIX CENTS.
DOUGLAS AVENUE AREA A TRANSITION PROJECT CONTRACT TO THE LAST GROUP. L. O. C.
FINAL COST THREE HUNDRED SEVENTY EIGHT THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED THIRTY TWO DOLLARS AND TWO CENTS. LANCASTER AVENUE SIDEWALK PROJECT CONTRACTOR ALONZO L. L. C. FINAL COST ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY THOUSAND EIGHTY SIX DOLLARS TWELVE CENTS. POWER PARKWAY SIDEWALK PROJECT CONTRACTOR LA LA THE FINAL CALL $103,335.38. GEORGE O'NEILL SIDEWALKS, PADUCAH TO KENNESAW. CONTRACTOR, ARBOR CONSTRUCTION LLC. FINAL COST $262,193.75. LAUREL LAFAYETTE ADA TRANSITION PROJECT.
CONTRACTOR, THE LUSTER GROUP LLC. FINAL COST $361,048.42.
ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 116 THROUGH 121? SEEING NONE, GO TO COUNCIL. WE
[Items 122 & 123]
HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS. SECOND BY THE CHAIR. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES. ACCEPTANCE OF LOW BIDS. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ITEMS 122 AND 123 TOGETHER. 122, ANNUAL PARISH WIDE, PARISH WIDE, CURED IN PLACE PIPE, REHABILITATION, LOW BID BLD SERVICES, LLC, $1,582,750. 123, ANNUAL PARISH WIDE, CONCRETE PAVEMENT RESTORATION, LUSTER GROUP, LLC.FOUR HUNDRED SEVENTY NINE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED EIGHTY SEVEN DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS SEEING NO GO TO
[47. 26-00473 ]
COUNCIL WE HAVE A MOTION MOTION BY COUNCILMAN COLEMAN SECOND BY COUNCILMAN KENNY IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES WE GOT A REQUEST TO RECONSIDER ITEM 47 BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS WHO HAS A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN COLEMAN ANY OPPOSITION TO RECONSIDER AN ITEM 47 30[03:00:02]
DAYS WE'RE ASKING FOR 30 DAYS ON ITEM 47 IS THERE A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN WITH THAT OH YEAH YEAH ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 47. SEEING NONE GO TO COUNCIL COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS MOTION TO APPROVE 30-DAY DEFERRAL SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMBROSIA ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES. COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSA. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE.GOD BLESS.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.