[Presentations and Special Recognitions]
[00:00:14]
ALL RIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
WELCOME TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED METRO COUNCIL RECOGNITION CEREMONY PRIOR TO TODAY'S METRO COUNCIL MEETING.
AND WE'RE GOING TO KICK OFF TODAY WITH OUR MAYOR PRESIDENT, SID EDWARDS.
HE WILL RECOGNIZE SERENITY SMITH FROM SCOTLANDVILLE MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL.
FOR MAYOR FOR TODAY MAYOR ELWOODS MAN UH SERENITY MAYOR MAYOR SMITH COME ON UP MAYOR I GOTTA TELL YOU COUNCIL I THINK I'M JUST GONNA TURN IT ON OVER TO HER AND GO ON HOME AND GO COACH SOME BALL ARE Y'ALL CLAPPING BECAUSE Y'ALL THINK I REALLY GONNA DO THAT OR YOU NO THIS THIS YOUNG LADY HERE IS SO IMPRESSIVE AND UH SHE WROTE AN ESSAY UH KIND OF IN A CONTEST TO SEE WHO WOULD BECOME, YOU KNOW, WHEN, SO TO SPEAK, THE MAYOR OF THE DAY.
AND WE WERE TOGETHER, HER AND I WERE TOGETHER ON THE JIM INKSTER SHOW, AND THEN WE WENT DOWN TO THE STATE CAPITOL AND SPENT SOME TIME WITH VENDORS THERE AND OUR STAFF.
SHE WORKED IN DIFFERENT PARTS, INCLUDING COMMS. THIS MORNING SHE DID A VIDEO THAT WILL BE RELEASED IN THE COMING DAYS.
WE JUST HAD A MEETING IN MY OFFICE ABOUT THE STATE OF THE CITY AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON HERE.
AND SHE'S EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE, AND I'M PROUD TO SAY SHE'S OUR MAYOR OF THE DAY, AND SHE KNOWS SHE'S GOT A SPOT IN CITY HALL WHENEVER SHE LIKES.
SO, MAYOR SMITH, THIS IS A CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION TO YOU, PRESENTED TO YOU, SERENITY SMITH, FOR BECOMING THAT MAYOR OF THE DAY.
BY THE WAY, SHE IS A SOPHOMORE, OKAY? SO SHE'S GOT A COUPLE OF MORE YEARS, AND LOOK, YOU'VE GOT A COUPLE OF COUNCIL FOLKS HERE.
DO YOU KNOW WHO YOUR COUNCIL PERSON IS? YOU KNOW THAT, ALL RIGHT.
SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND I KNOW I'D LIKE YOU TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
I KNOW ABOUT TODAY OR ABOUT MAYBE SOMETHING WHERE YOU WISH FOR BATON ROUGE.
I'M FROM SCOTLANDVILLE MADDEN HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M A SOPHOMORE AND SOMETHING THAT I JUST HOPE FOR TODAY.
ONE, THAT THE PAY DOES, YOU KNOW, THAT THIS GOES.
MENTAL HEALTH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO TEENS.
AND MOST PEOPLE JUST, THEY DON'T FEEL CONFIDENT TO SPEAK UP AND GO TO OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT IT.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WISH TO CHANGE FOR BATON ROUGE.
AND MAYOR EDWARDS, AND MAYOR SMITH, I WANT TO HAVE A PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE.
IT'S ALSO A STAR BASKETBALL PLAYER AT SCOTTLANDVILLE MADDEN AND HIGH SCHOOL.
LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
AND SO I'M PROUD TO SAY HE'S FROM DISTRICT 2 IN SCOTTLANDVILLE.
BUT MAYOR SMITH, WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU.
I KNOW MAYOR EDWARDS IS ABOUT TO HAVE A PRESENTATION, BUT JUST KNOWING, YOU KNOW, WHAT GOES INTO DECISION-MAKING IS VERY CRITICAL AND IMPORTANT.
I KNOW SPENDING THE DAY WITH OUR MAYOR, I KNOW HE'S VERY LAID-BACK, BUT I KNOW AT TIMES WHEN IT'S TIME FOR HIM TO BECOME THE MAYOR AND PUT THAT MANTLE ON IS A VERY, VERY SERIOUS JOB.
SO I HOPE YOU LEARNED A LOT TODAY.
AND I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, WOULD YOU COME INTRODUCE YOURSELF? THIS IS ONE OF THE EDUCATORS.
MY NAME IS CHANDRA LEBERELL, AND I'M A TEACHER AT SCOTLANDVILLE MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS YEAR, I'M TEACHING FINANCIAL LITERACY.
NEXT YEAR, I WILL BE IN GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AND LAW.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GIVE MAYOR FOR TODAY, MAYOR SERENITY SMITH, ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE TODAY.
COUNCILMAN, I DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT I'M SO BUSY, MY HEAD'S ON A SWIVEL.
THE GREAT PRINCIPAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SCOTLANDVILLE IS HERE.
AND, HEY, LET'S RECOGNIZE, MR. JACK, COULD YOU PLEASE STAND UP?
[00:05:01]
I KNOW YOU CAN'T HIDE, MAN.WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A WORD ABOUT THIS STUDENT? GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING SERENITY.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MAYOR, YOUR TEAM, MS. GRANT, AS WELL AS MR. LADUFF FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SERENITY DID NOT MENTION IS SHE'S ALSO MS. SOPHOMORE FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR.
WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF HER AND ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, MAYOR PRESIDENT SID EDWARDS RECOGNIZED COLBY ROBINSON'S STUDENT AND CHRISTOPHER TURNER HEAD COACH, SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ESPORTS FOR WINNING THE EASTERN COLLEGE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE EA SPORTS COLLEGE FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
SO TODAY WE CELEBRATE HISTORY MAKERS, NOT JUST CHAMPIONS, NOT JUST COMPETITORS, BUT PIONEERS WHO ARE PROVING THAT INNOVATION, TALENT, AND EXCELLENCE LIVE RIGHT HERE IN BATON ROUGE.
IT IS MY HONOR TO RECOGNIZE COLBY ROBERTSON AND COACH CHRISTOPHER TURNER OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ESPORTS FOR CAPTURING THE EASTERN COLLEGE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE EA SPORTS COLLEGE FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, THE FIRST DIVISION II ESPORTS NATIONAL TITLE IN SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY HISTORY.
THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT IS BIGGER THAN A TROPHY.
THIS CHAMPIONSHIP REPRESENTS THE EVOLUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION, ATHLETICS, TECHNOLOGY AND OPPORTUNITY.
IT SHOWS THE WORLD THAT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY CONTINUES TO LEAD FROM THE FRONT, BREAKING BARRIERS AND SETTING NEW STANDARDS FOR WHAT EXCELLENCE LOOKS LIKE IN THE MODERN ERA.
SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE WHERE GREATNESS IS BORN.
FROM PRODUCING LEADERS IN GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, EDUCATION, ATHLETICS, AND PUBLIC SERVICE, THE JAGUAR LEGACY CONTINUES TO GROW.
THAT LEGACY HAS ENTERED A BRAND NEW ARENA.
TO THE ENTIRE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ESPORTS PROGRAM, BATON ROUGE IS PROUD OF YOU, LOUISIANA IS PROUD OF YOU, AND JAGUAR NATION IS PROUD OF YOU.
SO, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH MAYOR PRESIDENT'S OFFICE, WE PROUDLY CONGRATULATE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY FOR WINNING THE EASTERN COLLEGE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE EA SPORTS COLLEGE FOOTBALL, I'M SORRY, COLLEGE ESPORTS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
AND FOR BRINGING HOME SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY'S FIRST DIVISION II ESPORTS NATIONAL TITLE.
LET'S GIVE THESE CHAMPIONS THE RECOGNITION THEY DESERVE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR RECOGNIZING ME AND APPRECIATE Y'ALL FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
YEAH, IT WAS THE FIRST AND IT AIN'T GONNA BE OUR ONLY ONE.
SO I PLAN ON GOING BACK TO BACK NEXT YEAR AS WELL AND THIS IS JUST THE START.
SO IT REALLY IS, I'M HERE TO BUILD MY LEGACY AND STAY.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR AND METRO COUNCIL.
I GOT INTO GAMING BECAUSE ONLY 4% OF AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE IN.
AND SO IT'S THE BIGGEST ECONOMIC PLAY FOR OUR CITY THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF.
AND SO THANKS FOR THE RECOGNITION.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT BRIEFLY.
LET'S GIVE ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO MR. CHRISTOPHER TURNER AND COLVIN ROBERTSON.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP WE HAVE METROPOLITAN COUNCILWOMAN TAWANA P.
HARRIS, RECOGNIZED PRINCIPAL PAMELA DUNLAP, BEARFAIR MONTESSORI MAGNET SCHOOL FOR BEING HONORED WITH THE TOP MERIT AWARD OF EXCELLENCE.
AND RECOGNIZED AS A NATIONAL MERIT AWARD AWARDED BY MAGNET SCHOOLS OF AMERICA.
IT'S TRULY AN HONOR TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AND TO PRESENT THE PRINCIPAL PAMELA DUNLAP AND BELFAIR MONASTERY MAGNET SCHOOL FOR SUCH AN ESTEEMED HONOR
[00:10:01]
FOR RECEIVING THE NATIONAL MERIT AWARD, TOP MERIT AWARD OF EXCELLENCE.AND RECOGNIZED AS NATIONAL MERIT AWARD WINNERS.
PRINCIPAL DUNLAP, CAN YOU COME UP PLEASE? PRINCIPAL DUNLAP IS A NATIVE OF BATON ROUGE.
SHE'S WORKED IN EBR SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR 29 YEARS.
SHE'S WORKED AT BELFAIR MONTESSORI MAGNET SCHOOL FOR EIGHT YEARS AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AND FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS AS PRINCIPAL.
MISS DUNLAP HAS A LOVE FOR CHILDREN AND BELIEVES THAT ALL CHILDREN CAN, ALL CHILDREN, ALL STUDENTS, SORRY, CAN SUCCEED.
PRINCIPAL DUNLAP, YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS HELPED CULTIVATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS ARE EMPOWERED TO THRIVE, FAMILIES ARE ENGAGED, AND THE COMMUNITY IS STRENGTHENED THROUGH EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY.
AND NOW, THEREFORE, I HEREBY RECOGNIZE THAT THIS CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION IS PROUDLY PRESENTED TO PRINCIPAL PAMELA DUNLAP AND BELFAIR MONTESSORI MAGNUS SCHOOL IN SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS.
APPRECIATION FOR YOUR REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS UNWAVERING LEADERSHIP AND CONTINUED DEDICATION TO SHAPING THE FUTURE THROUGH EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION THANK YOU SO MUCH MA'AM THANK YOU GOOD AFTERNOON ON BEHALF OF BELFAIR MONTESSORI MAGNET SCHOOL I AM TRULY HONORED TO TAKE THIS AWARD BACK TO THE SCHOOL.
AT BELFAIR WE WORK EXTREMELY HARD AND TRY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NURTURING OUR CHILDREN EACH AND EVERY DAY.
SOMETIMES THE WORK MAY BE CHALLENGING BUT IT'S SO REWARDING AT THE END.
WE LOVE OUR KIDS, WE TRY TO DEVELOP THE WHOLE CHILD AND THAT'S THE WORK THAT WE SET OUT TO DO EVERY DAY.
SO IT IS INDEED A PLEASURE TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD.
I WANT TO THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS. SHE AND I BECAME COMMUNITY PARTNERS THIS YEAR AND IT'S BEEN A REALLY GOOD BLEND.
AND WE'VE HAD A REALLY GOOD PARTNERSHIP.
SO AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING BELFAIR MONTESSORI MAGNET SCHOOL.
LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE ONE MORE TIME FOR PRINCIPAL DUNLAP.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, COUNCILWOMAN TAWANA P.
HARRIS RECOGNIZED FLOW MOTION FOR THE OUTSTANDING SUPPORT, GENEROSITY, AND CONTINUED CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY.
COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS? YES, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN KINNEY.
FLOW MOTION BATON ROUGE DANCE ASSOCIATION WAS FORMED IN FEBRUARY 2010 TO ENJOY AND TEACH OTHERS THEY COULD DO THE ORIGINAL HOUSTON TWO-STEP SWING OUT.
FLOWMOTION BELIEVE DANCE IS MORE THAN MOVEMENT, IT'S A WAY TO INSPIRE, UPLIFT, AND GIVE BACK.
FLOWMOTION BELIEVE IN MAKING A MEANINGFUL IMPACT WHEREVER THEY GO.
FLOWMOTION BATON ROUGE DANCE ASSOCIATION HAS CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED GENEROSITY, DEDICATION, AND A STRONG COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING COMMUNITY INITIATIVES.
AND FLOWMOTION BATON ROUGE DANCE ASSOCIATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN READILY AVAILABLE TO ASSIST WHEREVER NEEDED, OFFERING DEPENDABLE SUPPORT THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESS OF NUMEROUS EVENTS, AND THE THOUGHTFUL DONATIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS PROVIDED BY FLOW MOTION BATON ROUGE DANCE ASSOCIATION HAVE MADE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY, AND THE KINDNESS, RELIABILITY, AND UNWAVERING WILLINGNESS TO SERVE DISPLAYED BY FLOW MOTION BATON ROUGE DANCE ASSOCIATION ARE SINCERELY APPRECIATED.
AND DEEPLY VALUED BY ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BENEFITED FROM YOUR SUPPORT.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RECOGNIZED THAT THIS CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION IS PROUDLY PRESENTED TO FLOW MOTION BATON ROUGE DANCE ASSOCIATION, AND HEARTFELT THANKS FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING SUPPORT, GENEROSITY, AND CONTINUED CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS PLEASE? HOW YOU DOING?
[00:15:01]
HOPE EVERYONE IS DOING GREAT TODAY.THANK YOU, MS. COUNCILMAN, WOMAN, TAWANA, FOR ACKNOWLEDGING MY ORGANIZATION.
WE ENJOY GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE WOULDN'T DO IT NO OTHER WAY.
I AM PRESIDENT OF FLOW MOTION.
OF COURSE, WE TEACH AT THE MARTIN LUTHER KING CENTER ON GUS YOUNG, 3000 GUS YOUNG.
IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO COME OVER AND JOIN, YOU'RE WELCOME.
I'M NOT GOING TO TELL THIS YOUNG LADY'S NAME, AGE, BUT SHE IS MY TREASURE, BUT SHE DANCES AS WELL, SO IT'S LETTING YOU KNOW AGE IS JUST A NUMBER.
ALL RIGHT, BIG SMILE, COUPLE MORE.
LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO FLOW MOTION FOR THEIR WORK IN THE BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY.
ALRIGHT COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THREE AMAZING LEADERS AT SCOTLANDVILLE MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL.
SCOTLANDVILLE WENT HOME THIS PAST WEEK WITH VARIOUS AWARDS FROM THE EAST BATTERY REPAIR SCHOOL SYSTEM, TEACHER OF THE YEAR, NURSE OF THE YEAR, AND OVERALL HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND MENTOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR.
SO FIRST WE'LL START OFF WITH CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FROM MS. NATASHA TACKNO.
UH SHE WAS AWARDED EAST BEDROOM REPAIR SCHOOL SYSTEM MENTOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR IS MISS TECHNO HERE LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE ALL RIGHT YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING GOOD AFTERNOON UM I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO UM COUNCILMAN KENNY FOR THE RECOGNITION UM THIS IS ACTUALLY MY FOURTH YEAR HERE AT SKYLANDVILLE I'M NOT FROM THIS AREA BUT I'VE WORKED IN EBR BEFORE, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
I'VE BEEN TEACHING FOR ABOUT 18-PLUS YEARS, DEALING WITH THE STUDENTS, BUT NOW I'M ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE TEACHERS.
MY GOAL IS TO HAVE OUR TEACHERS TO BE SELF-RELIANT SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR STUDENTS.
SO, AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE RECOGNITION.
AND ALSO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY PRINCIPAL, MR. JACKSON, FOR ALLOWING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN THIS POSITION.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU, MR. KENNY, FOR THE RECOGNITION, METRO COUNCIL AS WELL.
NEXT UP, CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FOR THE EAST BEDROOGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM NURSE OF THE YEAR.
FOR SCHOLARLY DEMANDED HIGH SCHOOL, MS. PAMELA HARRIS.
I KNOW SHE'S NOT HERE TODAY, BUT I KNOW PRINCIPAL JACKSON WILL ACCEPT ON HER BEHALF.
LET'S GIVE MS. HARRIS A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
ALL RIGHT, LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, THE THIRD CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION TO MS. RAVEN WATSON FOR BEING NOMINATED AND AWARDED THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
I AM HONESTLY SO PROUD TO REPRESENT THE SCOTLANDVILLE MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL.
[00:20:01]
I WANT TO THANK OUR PRINCIPAL, PRINCIPAL JACKSON, AND ALL OF THE ADMINISTRATORS AT SCOTLANDVILLE.MS. TACKNELL DEFINITELY WORKED WITH THE TEACHERS, INCLUDING MYSELF, ALL YEAR.
I'M JUST GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I'M EXCITED FOR ALL OF THE SUCCESS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE IN THE FUTURE WITH SCOTLANDVILLE.
LET'S GIVE THESE TEACHERS ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE, AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PICTURE IN THE MIDDLE.
AND ALSO, LET'S BRING UP ONCE AGAIN, MAYOR FOR THE DAY, SERENITY SMITH AS WELL.
COME ON OVER, TAKE A PICTURE WITH US.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP WE HAVE METROPOLITAN COUNCILWOMAN LORI ADAMS RECOGNIZED DAVID SASSONE, SCOTT SIMON, AND MRS. SIMON.
FOR MRS. SASSONE'S QUICK ACTION AND COURAGE TO HELP PROTECT A CITIZEN HERE IN BATON ROUGE.
COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, I GOT THE SIMON FAMILY AND THE SANSONI FAMILY.
JUST A GREAT STORY TO SHARE WITH Y'ALL.
I THINK A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE REALLY HESITATE TO GET INVOLVED IN OTHER PEOPLE'S SITUATIONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES.
BUT IN DISTRICT 11, WE HAD A WONDERFUL GENTLEMAN DECIDE TO INSERT HIMSELF, THANKFULLY, INTO A SITUATION.
SO RATHER THAN EXPLAIN THIS MYSELF, I'M GOING TO ASK MR. SIMON, DO YOU MIND SHARING THIS STORY OF HOW MR. SANSONI SERVED YOUR FAMILY? SURE.
WELL, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US TODAY.
FOR ME, MY WIFE AND FAMILY ARE PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT POSSESSIONS.
AND AS MY WIFE WAS OUT WALKING THE DOG, SOMEBODY KIND OF WENT AFTER HER IN AN AGGRESSIVE MANNER AND SHE WASN'T SORT OF READY FOR IT.
AND OUT OF NOWHERE, DAVID SHOWED UP AND SORT OF RESCUED HER.
AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU ALL, BUT NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN FAMILY AND IT'S ABOUT THE CONNECTION WE HAVE FOR EACH OTHER.
OFTEN WE DO GO OUT OF OUR WAY.
I MEAN, WE GO THROUGH OUR DAY WITHOUT HELPING PEOPLE OR SAYING THANK YOU.
AND FOR SOMEONE TO STOP THEIR TRUCK AND REALLY INTERVENE AND MAKING SURE THERE WAS DISTANCE BETWEEN THIS PERSON AND MY WIFE MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE TO US.
WHO KNEW WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED? BUT THE FACT THAT HE WAS THERE, AND ALL OF US NEED TO STEP IN AT TIMES.
AND ALL OF YOU STEP IN ALL THE TIME.
SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO, AND I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT YOU DID FOR US.
SO I KNOW AS A WOMAN WHO IS FREQUENTLY OUT AND WALKING ALONE BY MYSELF, I'VE HAD MOMENTS LIKE THAT WHERE I DIDN'T KNOW WHICH WAY SOMETHING WAS GOING TO GO.
I ALWAYS ASSUME THINGS ARE GOING TO GO WELL.
BUT MR. SANSONI, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND THE RESIDENTS OF BATON ROUGE, I'D LIKE TO SAY A VERY SINCERE THANK YOU TO YOU FOR BEING A MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WHO'S OBVIOUSLY ALWAYS WILLING TO STEP IN AND ADVOCATE AND HELP OTHER PEOPLE AND PUT YOURSELF BETWEEN SOMEONE YOU DIDN'T KNOW AND POTENTIAL DANGER.
I'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS CERTIFICATE.
WOULD YOU MIND SAYING A FEW WORDS ABOUT YOURSELF? THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, AND THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
ALL FAIRNESS, I'VE GOT 30 YEARS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT UNDER MY BELT, SO AS A RETIRED BATON ROUGE POLICE OFFICER, I'VE BEEN RETIRED, WHAT, 16 YEARS NEXT MONTH.
SO, I'M ALWAYS LOOKING TO GET INTO SOMETHING.
AND I THINK I SPEAK FOR EVERY RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OUT HERE.
YOU CAN ASK A LOT OF THESE GUYS HERE I WORKED WITH THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, BUT...
WHAT I THINK I DID WAS VERY, VERY LITTLE, BUT OBVIOUSLY IT MADE A DIFFERENCE.
I COULD TELL BY THE LOOK ON MS. LYNN'S FACE THAT SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT.
SO IT WASN'T THE ACTION I WAS LOOKING FOR.
[00:25:03]
HE RAN BEFORE WE COULD DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.BUT, HEY, WE DISRUPTED WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING MAJOR.
AND I JUST ASK THAT THIS SETS AN EXAMPLE FOR ANY OTHER MAN OR WOMAN IN THE COMMUNITY THAT DO SOMETHING.
THAT YOU KNOW IS NOT RIGHT DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE BRAVE ABOUT IT JUST ANY LITTLE THING COULD COULD UPSET AND AND DETER ANY KIND OF CRIME BUT UH DON'T PULL YOUR PHONE OUT START VIDEO AND INTERACT BUT UH HAVING SAID THAT I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME AND I'M GLAD YOU'RE SAFE AND HEY WE GOT NEW FRIENDS OUT OF THIS WHOLE DEAL SO THANK YOU AND I'M SURE Y'ALL WERE NOT SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT MR. ST.
SONNY WAS FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT AND HAVE A CERTIFICATE FOR MR. SIMON TOO.
I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO HIM FOR REACHING OUT.
SO OFTEN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE ROLES WE ARE, WE GET THE NEGATIVES, WE HEAR THE BAD THINGS, AND TO HAVE MR. SIMON AND HIS WIFE REACH OUT AND SAY, HEY, WE NEED TO SHARE A GREAT STORY WITH YOU MEANS A LOT TO ME.
SO LET ME PRESENT YOU WITH THIS CERTIFICATE AS WELL.
IS THAT OKAY? ALRIGHT, LET'S GIVE ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
ALRIGHT, THAT WILL CONCLUDE TODAY'S RECOGNITION FOR TODAY'S METROPOLITAN MEETING.
WE'LL HAVE A BRIEF RECESS AND WE'LL COME BACK TOGETHER FOR 4 P.M.
FOR OUR REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR COMING.
[CALL TO ORDER]
HELLO EVERYBODY.WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU WATCHING OUR BROADCAST THIS AFTERNOON.
AND OF COURSE, WE ARE STREAMING AT VRLA.GOV.
WE'RE ON YOUTUBE, FACEBOOK LIVE.
AND IT'S JUST GOOD TO HAVE ALL OF YOU AS A PART OF OUR GOVERNMENT.
AT THIS TIME, HERE IS THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, COUNCILMAN BRANDON NOAH.
COUNCILMAN? THANK YOU, DENNIS.
WELCOME EVERYBODY TO THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2026.
WE'RE GOING TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
ASHLEY, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM? WE HAVE A QUORUM.
TODAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN INVOCATION LED BY PASTOR ERIC WILLIAMS OF BEACON LIGHT BAPTIST CHURCH, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE BY AVERY COLEMAN OF CLAIBORNE ELEMENTARY.
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY THAT YOU HAVE MADE.
AND GOD, WE SHALL CONTINUE TO GIVE YOU GLORY AND HONOR BECAUSE YOU'RE WORTHY OF IT.
FATHER, WE THANK YOU NOW FOR YOUR PRESENCE IN THIS PLACE ON TODAY.
WE ASK NOW, GOD, THAT EVERYTHING SHALL BE DONE DECENTLY AND IN ORDER.
FATHER, I PRAY NOW THAT IN THIS SPACE WE'RE IN ON TODAY, IN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES AND HOURS, THAT GOD, THAT YOUR PRESENCE WILL BE SEEN AND FELT.
BUT ALSO, GOD, WE ASK NOW THAT UNITY, THAT WE'LL COME ON ONE ACCORD.
I PRAY EVEN NOW FOR THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THAT, GOD, YOU WILL ALLOW THEM TO MAKE SOBER AND PRECISE GOOD DECISIONS.
AND, GOD, I KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE WILL BE BLESSED AND ENCOURAGED FOR THIS MEETING ON TODAY.
WE GIVE YOU GLORY, WE GIVE YOU HONOR, AND WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR WHAT IS ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE ON TODAY.
YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND STEP TO THE MIC FOR THE PLEDGE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
ALL RIGHT, ITEM 1 APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 22ND.AND, IT WAS 22ND, 2026 IN THE SPECIAL METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 30TH, 2026 BY COUNCIL ADMINISTRATIVE TREASURER.
[00:30:01]
AMAROSA SECOND, MY COUNCILMAN GO DAY.[INTRODUCTIONS]
MOTION CARRIES ASHLEY, CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE INTRODUCTIONS SECTION 2.12 INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER 2, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE BACKERS POLICE DEPARTMENT TO AMEND THE 2026 CURRENT EXPENSE BUDGET.TO APPROPRIATE AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,700,000 FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FUND BALANCE FOR THE PURCHASE OF ESSENTIAL POLICE VEHICLES BY THE POLICE CHIEF.
NUMBER THREE, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, AND THE BAYOU FOUNTAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE BAYOU FOUNTAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AND PROVIDING FOR RELATED MATTERS BY COUNCILMAN JIM ROCCA.
NUMBER FOUR AUTHORIZING THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO REFUND SEWER USER FEES PAID IN EXCESS DUE OF AN ERRONEOUS BILLING OF SEWER USER FEES ON A METER SERVING AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM IN THE AMOUNT OF 172 THOUSAND SEVENTY FIVE DOLLARS AND TWENTY THREE CENTS TO BATON ROUGE GSA LLC FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 2023.
THROUGH MARCH 2026 BY THE FINANCE DIRECTOR NUMBER FIVE AMENDING TITLE 12 NUISANCES CHAPTER SIX MISCELLANEOUS SECTION 12 COLUMN 405 MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTY SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE PENALTIES AND FINES FOR VIOLATIONS BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR NUMBER SIX, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH STANTEC CONSULTING, INC.
IN THE AMOUNT OF $300,000 TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING SERVICES AND APPROPRIATE INTEREST EARNING FROM THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND FOR SAID PURPOSE BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.
NUMBER SEVEN, A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN ANNUAL PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAX TO THE SHERIFF OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $12,281.09.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CAPITAL AREA FINANCE AUTHORITY AND GULF COAST HOUSING PARTNERSHIP LLC FOR THE HOWELL SENIOR VILLAGE PROJECT BY COUNCILMAN ANTHONY KENNY, CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS.
NUMBER EIGHT, MONIQUE MARIE KORNBACHER, 434 LAURIE BURGESS AVENUE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN.
NUMBER NINE, RODNEY HARRIS, 1376 DANIEL WEBSTER STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, COLEMAN.
NUMBER 10, MICHAEL THOMAS, 2226 AND 2230 MARYLAND STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN.
NUMBER 11, CHARLIE FIELDS, 3878 UNCAS STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN.
NUMBER 12, DOLORES DUCEY, 4788 MONARCH AVENUE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS.
NUMBER 13, ROBERT ROGERS AND MARVIS LABUFF ROGERS, 48.
4989 MOHEGAN STREET, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS.
NUMBER 14, BRH CONSULTANTS INCORPORATED.
7272 BURBANK DRIVE, COUNCIL DISTRICT 12, RAQQA.
NUMBER 15, BATON ROUGE HOTELIERS, LLC.
10920 MEADE ROAD, COUNCIL DISTRICT 8, AMOROSO.
ADJUDICATED PROPERTY INTRODUCTIONS.
NUMBER 16, LOT 367, SUBDIVISION BELFAIR HOMES, COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 HARRIS.
ALL ITEMS REQUIRE READING HAVE BEEN READ AND A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS IS IN ORDER.
WAS THAT A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN HUDSON, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSA.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
[CONDEMNATIONS]
ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO GO TO YOUR SEPARATE SHEET FOR CONDEMNATIONS.I'M GOING TO READ THEM AS PRESENTED FIRST WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THEN I'M GOING TO GET RECOMMENDATIONS FROM YOU ALL, THEN WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ITEMS. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM...
DPW ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEMS 36, 37, 38, 42, 44, AND 45, 30 DAYS ON ITEM 43, AND TO DELETE ITEMS 39, 40, AND 41.
JUST A POINT OF INFORMATION, PRO TEM, IF I MISSED THIS, I'M SORRY.
DOES EVERYBODY KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT TO MANUALLY GET YOUR ATTENTION TO SPEAK? IS THE MACHINE NOT WORKING? NO.
DISTRICT 7, WE'VE GOT 30 DAYS ON ITEMS 44 AND 45 COUNCILWOMAN.
[00:35:05]
38, 39, 60 DAYS.YOU WANT IT? YEP, THAT'S FINE.
LEAVE IT AT DELETED? THAT'S FINE, YES.
OKAY, 38 WOULD BE YOU WANT TO DO? BOTH OF THEM ARE SHOWING GREAT PROGRESSION.
I MEAN, I'M OPEN TO DELETING THEM BOTH, BUT.
WE CAN DO 30 OR 90 DO 90 ON 30 AND 30, 39.
ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? SEE NONE.
WE'RE GOING TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 36 42 AND 45 30 DAYS FOR ITEM 43 AND 44 90 DAYS ITEMS 37 AND 39 I'M SORRY.
I'M SORRY 37 AND 38 AND DELETE ITEM 39 40 AND 41 WE HAVE A MOTION MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GO DAY SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN JR.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES?
[46. 26-00579]
ALL RIGHT ITEM 46 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 ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE 1-9-7-2-6, DATED 12-9-25, SO AS TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES TO THE CLASSIFIED AND UNCLASSIFIED PAY PLAN, EFFECTIVE JUNE 27, 2026, BY MAYOR, PRESIDENT, FINANCE DIRECTOR, AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? YEAH, AND IF YOU SIGNED UP, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE IT, SO JUST COME ON UP, STATE YOUR NAME, AND Y'ALL CAN FORM A LINE BEHIND THE FIRST SPEAKER.
I'M IN SUPPORT OF PAY RAISES FOR ALL DESERVING CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES, BUT I'M ALSO IN SUPPORT OF RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF TAXPAYER MONEY.
TO THAT END, MY COMMENTS ARE DIRECTED AT THE NEED FOR REASSURANCES THAT THE CITY PARISH HAS APPROPRIATELY ACCOUNTED FOR ALL RISKS FOR THE REPAYMENT OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS DUE TO WHAT HAS BEEN DEEMED POOR OVERSIGHT AND OR CONTROLS.
RECENT NEWS REPORTS AND EVEN A 2024 INTERNAL AUDIT HIGHLIGHTED SPECIFIC FAILURES IN THE ADMINISTRATION GOVERNANCE OF THIS CITY PARISH RELATING TO FEDERAL GRANTS, PARTICULARLY THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION.
EXAMPLES OF THOSE INCLUDE APPROXIMATELY $480,000 ASSOCIATED WITH THE HUGHES CONSULTANT GROUP, APPROXIMATELY $980,000 FOR THE SCOTLANDVILLE HOUSING PROJECT.
KNOWN AS THE HOUSING FOR HEROES, APPROXIMATELY $980,000 FOR THE MAYOR'S HEALTHY CITY INITIATIVE, WHICH RECEIVED FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING.
THE AUDIT IN 2024 THAT I MENTIONED IN RELATION TO THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND THE HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM HAD FINDINGS THAT IT APPEARED THAT THE AUDIT ONLY LOOKED AT APPROXIMATELY SIX OF THE 382 CONTRACTS THAT WERE AWARDED.
THAT AUDIT DOESN'T MAKE CLEAR TO ME IN THE REPORT THAT THE TOTAL DOLLAR VALUE OF THE CONTRACTS THAT AUDITED RESULTED IN WHAT TOTAL, BUT THE TOTAL GRANT AMOUNTS WERE APPROXIMATELY $240 MILLION.
CONSIDERING ONLY SIX OF THE 382 CONTRACTS FOR EXAMINE IS CLEAR THAT THERE WAS ONLY A SMALL SAMPLE SIZE.
HOWEVER, THAT SAMPLE SIZE IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING, AND THIS IS A CONCLUSION FROM THE INTERNAL AUDIT.
THE PROCESSES FOR SELECTING PARTNERS, ISSUING AWARDS, AND PROCESSING PAYMENTS LACK STRONG INTERNAL CONTROLS TO ENSURE THE FOLLOWING.
PAYMENTS ARE ACCURATE, SUPPORTED, AUTHORIZED, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONTRACT TERMS AND PROGRAM REGULATIONS.
PERFORMANCE BY SUBRECIPIENTS IS MONITORED IN COMPLIANCE WITH DEPARTMENTAL POLICY AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS, AND APPLICATIONS, PROJECTS, AND APPLICANTS ARE EVALUATED IN COMPLIANCE WITH DEPARTMENTAL POLICY AND FEDERAL REGULATION.
THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF APPARENTLY DID NOT EVALUATE SUPPORTING THE DOCUMENTATION FOR THE RELEVANCE OF ALL THE PAYMENT REQUESTS, ALL PAYMENT WERE NOT PROCESSED AND APPROVED AND USED WITH LEVELS OF THE PROPER REVIEW.
[00:40:03]
HOWEVER, SOME OF THE REVIEW DID NOT NOTE THE EXCEPTIONS LISTED ABOVE, WHICH I STATED.WHAT THE PUBLIC, MY COMMENTS AND TWO FINAL COMMENTS ARE THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO RESPONSES TO THE QUESTION.
THAT OF THOSE THREE PROJECTS THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE THAT APPEAR TO HAVE NOT FOLLOWED FEDERAL GUIDELINES, WHAT HAS THE CITY PARISH DONE AS FAR AS SETTING ASIDE THE NECESSARY FUNDS TO REPAY THE FEDERAL GRANT FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN SPENT? AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT IS THE CITY PARISH DONE AS FAR AS THANK YOU? YES, SIR.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE PAY AMENDMENT THAT'S BEFORE YOU ALL TODAY.
CURRENTLY, THE RATES WE HIRE OUR EMPLOYEES ARE AT, WE HIRE LABORERS FOR $10.50 AN HOUR.
WE HIRE CDL DRIVERS FOR $11.50 AN HOUR.
WE HIRE BUILDING INSPECTORS AND COMPLAINT INVESTIGATORS FOR $14.75 AN HOUR.
THAT'S LESS THAN WALMART'S PAYING PEOPLE.
THAT'S LESS THAN AMAZON'S PAYING PEOPLE.
WE'VE LOST PEOPLE TO THOSE COMPANIES.
WE'VE LOST PEOPLE TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
WE'VE LOST PEOPLE TO OUR OWN CONTRACTORS THAT WE'RE PAYING TO DO THE SAME JOBS FOR THESE EMPLOYEES.
THEY DESERVE TO BE A FAIR, BE PAID A FAIR WAGE TO BE DOING THE JOB THAT THEY'RE DOING.
WE HAVEN'T CAUGHT UP WITH INFLATION.
WE HAVEN'T CAUGHT UP WITH THE COST OF LIVING FOR FOR ANY OF THESE POSITIONS.
AND IT'S IT'S REALLY NEEDED FOR OUR GUYS.
THE 2027 BUDGET AND HOW THIS FITS INTO IT, HOW THIS $8 MILLION FITS INTO THE BUDGET THAT WE WERE CUTTING POSITIONS AND FREEZING POSITIONS ON FOR THE 2026 BUDGET.
IT'S BEEN KIND OF UNCLEAR IN THE PUBLIC EYE OF HOW THAT'S PLANNED TO BE ADDRESSED.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN MAKE IT WORK OUT, WE KEEP LOSING EMPLOYEES.
WE KEEP HAVING LESS AND LESS PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT ON THE CIVIL SERVICE SIDE.
I KNOW THERE WAS A BIG TALK ABOUT.
THE PENSION PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS UPSIDE DOWN AND THEY GOT WHAT THEY NEEDED.
I CAN TELL YOU THERE'S PROBABLY MORE RETIREES OF THE CITY PARISH PENSION PROGRAM THAN THERE ARE PERMANENT EMPLOYEES WORKING FOR THE CITY PARISH CURRENTLY.
SO, I MEAN, THAT NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED SOME WAY OR ANOTHER.
AND THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO THAT IS KEEP THE EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE.
YOU KNOW, WE KEEP LOSING PEOPLE.
THEN WE FREEZE THE VACANT POSITION.
SO IF WE CAN AT LEAST KEEP THE EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE, BE ABLE TO REHIRE PEOPLE.
TO BE ABLE TO ATTRACT GOOD TALENT INTO THE PARISH, THAT'S STEP ONE OF FIXING THE UPSIDE-DOWN PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE HERE.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.
WELL, I'M BACK AGAIN, AND WHEN I LOOKED ON THE ITEM, THE AGENDA ITEM, I DIDN'T SEE CONSTABLE.
I SAW EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT I THOUGHT I'M INCLUDED WITH EVERYBODY ELSE, SO THAT'S A GOOD THING.
AND BEFORE I GET STARTED, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR EVEN BRINGING THIS BACK UP AND EVEN SAYING THAT HE WILL BE FOR MAKING SURE CONSTABLES AND EVERYBODY GET PAY INCREASES WITHIN THE CITY.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE, I THINK, MARCH.
AND I JUST WANT TO LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT A LOT HAS BEEN SAID, A LOT HAS BEEN DONE FROM MARCH UNTIL NOW.
THEY SAID CONSTABLES WASN'T LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THEY SAID CONSTABLES DIDN'T DESERVE THE PAY RAISE.
THEY SAID CONSTABLES DIDN'T DO THE SAME WORK THAT OTHER AGENCIES DO.
AND I'M HOPING TODAY WE CAN GET PAST.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN MARCH AND BEFORE NOW.
AND I'M ASKING THIS COUNCIL TO PLEASE LOOK AT THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, LOOK AT THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, AND INCLUDE ALL OF US, AND PAY INCREASES TO MAKE SURE WE CAN KEEP GOOD EMPLOYEES, JUST LIKE THE GENTLEMAN JUST SAID.
WHEN I HIRE PEOPLE, THEY MAY STAY SIX MONTHS, BUT THEN WHEN THEY FIND OUT THEY CAN GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND MAKE MORE MONEY, GUESS WHAT, I'M LOSING THOSE PEOPLE.
SO THEN THAT MEANS I HAVE TO REHIRE SOMEBODY ELSE, RETRAIN SOMEBODY ELSE, AND GET THEM UP AND RUNNING.
AND THEN THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, WHEN TIME COMES, THEY KNOW THEY CAN GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND MAKE MORE MONEY, SO THEY LEAVE.
Y'ALL SEE CONSTABLES EVERY DAY IN THE COMMUNITY.
Y'ALL SEE CONSTABLES AT THE COUNCIL MEETINGS.
Y'ALL SEE THEM IN THE BUILDING.
Y'ALL SEE THEM IN THE COMMUNITY SERVING PAPERS.
AND I TELL EVERYBODY, THERE'S NO AMOUNT THAT YOU CAN GIVE A LAW ENFORCER IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, NOWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES, THAT WILL EVEN BE ABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR WHAT THEY DO.
AND WHEN YOU DO LAW ENFORCEMENT, IT'S FROM THE HEART.
I PROMISE YOU IT'S NOT FOR MONEY BECAUSE IF IT WAS FOR MONEY, NONE OF US WOULD DO IT.
AND I CAN TELL YOU, I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH CHIEF LADUFF A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
I WAS ON MY WAY TO GET MY HAIR DID.
AND I WAS LIKE, I'M RUNNING LATE.
BUT MY HEART WOULDN'T LET ME GO PAST A LADY AND A BABY IN AN ACCIDENT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY.
AND I ASSISTED THIS LADY UNTIL BRPD SHOWED UP.
BUT THAT'S TO SHOW YOU THAT WE
[00:45:01]
ALL WORK TOGETHER.AND I'M HOPING THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL BE ONE TEAM TONIGHT, ONE BATON ROUGE, AND LET'S GET THIS ACCOMPLISHED.
AND I'M JUST PRAYING THAT THIS VOTE GO IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TONIGHT.
I SENT A LETTER IN ADVANCE TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT I AM IN SUPPORT OF THIS INCREASE FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU GUYS HOW HARD THEY WORK.
I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU HOW INADEQUATE THEIR COMPENSATION IS.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE HONORED YOUR COMMITMENT TO BRING THIS MATTER BACK UP, TO GIVE DUE CONSIDERATION TO EVERY EMPLOYEE WITHIN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH CITY COUNCIL, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
BUT PARTICULARLY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE.
BECAUSE THEY ARE OUR REMAINING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
I AM AN ATTORNEY, AND I HAVE LITIGATED IN THE CITY COURT.
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO PROTECT OUR JUDGES.
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO PROTECT OUR LITIGANTS.
AND THEY ALSO PROTECT THOSE OF US WHO LITIGATE THERE AS LAWYERS.
THEY DESERVE THAT COMPENSATION, AND THEY DESERVE SOMETHING THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO WHAT WE GAVE TO OUR OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
ON APRIL 22ND, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM RECEIVE EQUITABLE COMPENSATION.
WE HAVE THE STUDY THAT SHOWS THAT IT CAN BE DONE, YOU KNOW, AND BE RECURRING DOLLARS.
AND I ASK THAT YOU DO THIS AS A GESTURE OF GOOD FAITH TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, SUCH THAT.
WE WILL INCREASE THE MORALE OF THESE EMPLOYEES WHO OFTEN FEEL DEMORALIZED BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO WORK FOR THAT $10.50 OR LESS PER HOUR.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS PROVISION THAT ALLOWS FOR THEM TO BE ADEQUATELY PAID.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY 28 YEARS, AND THIS REALLY IS NOT GOING TO HELP ME THAT MUCH, RIGHT? I'M RETIRING, BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT ME.
IF Y'ALL DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO ASK MY TRAFFIC ENGINEERING EMPLOYEES TO STAND.
THERE ARE MORE HERE, BUT I THINK WE'RE OUT OF CHAIRS.
SO THESE ARE THE EMPLOYEES THAT KEEP OUR CITY MOVING SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY.
BUT MAINLY, THEY REDUCE ACCIDENTS, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT TO OUR CITY.
THE EFFECTS OF EVERY RESIDENT WHO GOES TO WORK, BRINGS THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL, AND CALLS EMS. IT'S ON THESE PEOPLE.
THEY WORK HAZARD SITUATIONS WITHOUT EXTRA PAY.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE CLOSE THE CITY BUILDINGS, THEY COME TO WORK.
THEY JUST COME TO WORK, AND THEY DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.
THEY WORK ICE STORMS, HURRICANES, FLOODS, $12 AN HOUR.
$12 AN HOUR IS WHAT WE PAY PEOPLE TO GET IN A BUCKET TRUCK IN THE AIR IN THE RAIN AND WORK ON ELECTRICITY.
I'VE SEEN SOME OF THESE GUYS GET IN THEIR PERSONAL BOAT DURING THE FLOOD AND GO TURN THE POWER OFF AT THE SIGNALS.
I'VE BEEN OUT WITH THEM TO PUT OUT BARRICADES, AND A TORNADO GOES OVERHEAD, AND THEY'RE LIKE, OH, MISS CINDY, IT'S ALL RIGHT.
I'VE SEEN SOME OF THEM SLEEP AT THE OFFICE FOR 10 DAYS UNDER THE DESK.
BUT DESPITE THE CRITICAL ROLE THEY PLAY, THEY'RE UNDERPAID.
WE HAVE CHALLENGES IN RETAINING EXPERIENCED STAFF AND ATTRACTING QUALIFIED APPLICANTS.
I'LL TELL YOU THIS, IN TWO WEEKS, I'VE LOST FOUR PEOPLE.
AND TWO MORE BY THE END OF THE WEEK.
ONE GUY CAME IN AND SAID, I CAN'T DO IT.
I CAN'T FEED MY FAMILY ON THIS.
AND I SAID, WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE VOTE.
I PROBABLY WILL LOSE SIX PEOPLE IN TWO WEEKS.
I'VE SEEN ENGINEERS COME AND GO.
IN 10 YEARS, WE'VE GONE THROUGH 10 ENGINEERS.
[00:50:01]
WE NEED ENGINEERS TO DO THE CONTRACTS, TO MEET WITH OTHER ENGINEERS, WITH THE STATE, WITH THE FEDS, THOSE KIND OF THINGS.THOSE ENGINEERS LEFT FOR $30,000 TO $100,000 MORE PER YEAR.
I'VE BEEN TO OTHER TRAFFIC ENGINEERING IN OTHER CITIES.
THEY WERE DOING GREAT LIKE WE ARE.
BUT THEY LOST THEIR SUPPORT AND THEY COULDN'T PAY THEIR PEOPLE AND NOW THEY'RE NOT.
WE WANT TO KEEP STRIVING FOR BETTER AND STAY AT THE TOP.
WE CONTINUE TO DELIVER RESULTS DESPITE THE HIGHER DEMANDS.
AND A FAIR PAY RAISE WOULD RECOGNIZE OUR EMPLOYEES PROFESSIONALISM DEDICATION AND VALUE THANK YOU THANK YOU HI I'M TREVOR HEAP I'M ONE OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERS FOR THE CITY I'VE BEEN WORKING HERE FOR EIGHT YEARS I AM A DEDICATED EMPLOYEE I'M ALSO SERVING THREE YEARS AT THE AS THE LOUISIANA CHAPTER AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION UM PUBLIC SERVICE IS DEEPLY DEVOTED IN MY LIFE.
MY MOTHER RETIRED FROM THE CITY AFTER ALMOST A 40-YEAR CAREER.
BUT I WANT TO CONTINUE THAT COMMITMENT, AND I WANT TO BUILD MY CAREER HERE.
HOWEVER, IT'S BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO JUSTIFY THAT IF THE PAY DOES NOT CHANGE.
I'VE RECEIVED SEVERAL JOB OFFERS WITHIN THE PAST YEAR, AND I'M VERY HIGHLY CONSIDERING TAKING THEM IF SOMETHING DOESN'T CHANGE.
OVER THE YEARS, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH MULTIPLE OTHER PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTS WITHIN LOUISIANA THROUGH APWA AND THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND OTHER STATES.
I'VE SEEN STRUGGLING DEPARTMENTS.
I'VE SEEN THRIVING DEPARTMENTS.
AND IT'S VERY CLEAR WHAT THE THRIVING DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING.
THEY'RE ALLOWING THEM TO GET PROMOTED.
THEY'RE ALLOWING THEM TO HAVE PAY RAISES.
IN TRAFFIC ENGINEERING ALONE, WE'VE LOST...
EIGHT ENGINEERS JUST IN MY TIME HERE.
IN EIGHT YEARS, I'VE SEEN EIGHT ENGINEERS LEAVE, ALL FOR HIGHER PAY.
IN THE PAST MONTH, WE'VE LOST SEVERAL EMPLOYEES, AND AS CINDY SAID EARLIER, IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE.
PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND FUNCTION OF THIS COMMUNITY.
THEY MAINTAIN OUR ROADS, OUR DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, OUR TRAFFIC SIGNALS, AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
DURING STORMS, EMERGENCIES, DISASTERS, THEY ARE OFTEN THE FIRST ONES TO ARRIVE AND THE LAST ONES TO LEAVE.
RIGHT NOW IN THE SENATE AND IN THE HOUSE, THERE IS A SENATE BILL 164 THAT WILL EXPAND THE DEFINITION OF FIRST RESPONDERS TO INCLUDE PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES.
BATON ROUGE, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW TO STAY AHEAD OF THIS MOVEMENT, AND WE CAN SHOW OUR EMPLOYEES THE VALUE OF THE WORK THEY DO.
AND RESPONSIBLE TO DO THIS EVERY DAY TONIGHT I'M ASKING THE METRO COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE PAY RAISES FOR THE PUBLIC WORK EMPLOYEES THANK YOU GOOD AFTERNOON MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL MY NAME IS LLOYD PER MALL SPELLED P-E-R-M-A-U-L I COME BEFORE YOU AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT OF AFSCME, THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTING 1.4 MILLION WORKERS, MEN AND WOMEN, ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, INCLUDING THE DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND EAST BATON ROUGE, OVER 3,000 WORKERS.
ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, I ATTENDED YOUR COUNCIL MEETING AND LISTENED CLOSELY AS THE MAYOR'S OFFICE PRESENTED ITS PLAN.
REGARDING EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION.
IT WAS MADE CLEAR THAT FUNDING EXISTS TO PROVIDE RAISES FOR CITY EMPLOYEES.
HOWEVER, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO GRANT POLICE OFFICERS A 30% INCREASE IMMEDIATELY, WHICH EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM AND THAT WAS HERE SUPPORTED IT, INCLUDING MYSELF, RAISES FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WHILE THE REST OF THE CITY WORKFORCE WAS ASKED TO WAIT THANK YOU.
UNTIL TODAY, MAY 13TH, FOR CONSIDERATION OF THEIR OWN RAISES.
THE SELECT APPROACH TO COMPENSATION IS BOTH INADEQUATE AND UNJUSTIFIED.
DURING THAT MEETING, SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS APPROPRIATELY RAISED THE QUESTION, WHY NOT PROVIDE RAISES FOR ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS AT THE SAME TIME? THAT EFFORT WAS SHUT DOWN.
IT WAS ALSO STATED THAT SEVEN VOTES WOULD BE NEEDED ON THIS DAY TODAY, MAY 13, TO APPROVE RAISES FOR THE REMAINING WORKFORCE.
AND BASED ON THAT DISCUSSION, THERE APPEARED TO BE A LACK
[00:55:02]
OF SUPPORT FOR DOING SO.THE WORKFORCE I REPRESENT INCLUDE NOT ONLY GENERAL CITY EMPLOYEES, BUT ALSO CONSTABLES AND OTHERS WHO SERVE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT CAPABILITY.
THESE INCLUDES THESE INDIVIDUALS CONTRIBUTE DAILY TO THE SAFETY, STABILITY AND FUNDAMENTAL FUNCTIONALITY OF THIS CITY.
THERE IS NO RATIONALE, BIG RATIONAL BASIS FOR EXCLUDING THEM ON ANY PUBLIC OR ANY PUBLIC SERVANT FROM COMPENSATION ADJUSTMENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN DEEMED FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE.
PUBLIC SERVICE IS NOT A HIERARCHY OF WORTH.
EVERY EMPLOYEE, WHETHER THEY WEAR A BADGE, MAINTAIN INFRASTRUCTURE, PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, OR DELIVER ESSENTIAL SERVICES, PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN KEEPING BATON ROUGE RUNNING.
TO APPROVE A SUBSTANTIAL RAISE FOR ONE GROUP WHILE DELAYING AND CASTING UNCERTAINTY OVER THE REST SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE.
IT CREATES DIVISION WHERE UNITY IS NEEDED AND...
UNDERMINE MORALITY ACROSS THE WORKFORCE.
I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO CORRECT THIS COURSE.
IF THE RESOURCES EXIST, AND BY YOUR OWN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THEY DO, THEN FAIRNESS DEMANDS THAT ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS BE TREATED WITH EQUAL RESPECT AND URGENCY.
DO NOT ASK ONE GROUP OF WORKERS TO WAIT UNTIL ANOTHER IS REWARDED.
DO NOT PLACE THE BURDEN OF UNCERTAINTY ON THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY GIVEN SO MUCH TO THE CITY.
AND ENSURE THAT TODAY, EVERY PUBLIC SERVANT IN BATON ROUGE, EAST BATON ROUGE, IS GIVEN THE CONSIDERATION AND COMPENSATION THEY DESERVE.
AND LOOK, Y'ALL, JUST A HEADS UP, I'M GOING TO GIVE, I KNOW YOU CAN'T SEE YOUR CLOCK LIKE YOU TYPICALLY WOULD, SO I'M GOING TO LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'VE GOT 10 SECONDS LEFT.
JUST TRY TO START CLOSING IT UP WHEN I GIVE YOU THE WARNING.
I'M GOING TO GIVE EVERYBODY SOME GRACE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
EUGENE SMITH, I'M A DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS COMPLAINT INVESTIGATOR.
WHAT A COMPLAINT INVESTIGATOR DOES IS WHEN YOUR CONSTITUENTS MAKE A COMPLAINT, A 3-1 COMPLAINT, WHETHER IT'S THEIR GRASS TOO HIGH, THE NEIGHBOR HAS TRASH IN THEIR YARD, WE ARE THE ONES WHO GO OUT AND TAKE PICTURES OF THAT, DOCUMENT THAT, AND SEND THAT TO THE CREWS TO GET THAT HANDLED.
THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS IS A CRITICAL DEPARTMENT.
THE MAYOR CAMPAIGNED ON KEEPING BATON ROUGE SAFE.
WELL, YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES AND YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT DPW.
IT'S GOING TO BE EXTREMELY HARD.
WHEN A TREE FALLS, DOES IT MAKE A SOUND? YES, IT DOES MAKE A SOUND AND WE'RE THE ONES TO GET TO IT.
SO I ASK THAT Y'ALL CAN GIVE THESE RAISED TO THE PEOPLE THAT DESERVE IT.
I WORKED AT CITY COURT BEFORE GOING TO DPW.
AND I FELT SAFE BECAUSE THE FIRST PERSON YOU SEE WHEN YOU WALK IN THE DOOR IS A SMILING CONSTABLE SAYING, HEY, HOW YOU DOING? AND NO CELL PHONES.
SO I HAVE SPOKEN WITH A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE AND THERE SAYING, HEY, MR. EUGENE, I HAVE A CONSTITUENT SAYING THAT THEIR GRASS IS TOO HIGH.
AND I GO OUT THERE AND SAY, WELL, OKAY, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE WE ARE A TEAM.
WE HAVE TO WORK AS A TEAM BECAUSE BATON ROUGE IS NOT GOING TO GET BETTER WITHOUT ALL OF US PUTTING IN.
THE MAINTENANCE WORKER WHO GOES OUT AND REMOVES THAT DOWNED TREE, CUTS THAT DOWNED TREE UP, MAKES $10.74 AN HOUR.
I HAVE THREE KIDS, AND I HAD TO SURVIVE ON CLOSE TO THAT WHEN I FIRST STARTED.
THAT IS HARD, TAKING HOME $500 EVERY TWO WEEKS.
BUT I MADE IT HAPPEN BECAUSE I HAD A PRAYING GRANDMOTHER AND A MOTHER WHO DIDN'T PLAY.
BUT WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT Y'ALL'S HELP.
JUST LIKE Y'ALL NEED US IF A STREET FLOODS, IF A TREE FALLS.
WE NEED Y'ALL TO BACK US BECAUSE NONE OF US CAN DO IT WITHOUT THE OTHER AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
DEPUTY CHIEF SHARON DOUGLAS, CHIEF OF STAFF, BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I FIRST WANT TO SINCERELY THANK MAYOR PRESIDENT SID EDWARDS.
AND THIS COUNCIL FOR APPROVING THE PAY RAISE LAST MONTH.
WE'RE TRULY, TRULY GRATEFUL, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE NOT DONE YET.
I PERSONALLY KNOW CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES WITHIN BRPD WHO WORK MULTIPLE JOBS TO SURVIVE.
SOME ARE WORKING TWO FULL-TIME JOBS BECAUSE ONE PAYCHECK IS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH TO COVER THEIR BASIC NEEDS.
YESTERDAY I READ A REPORT ABOUT POVERTY IN EAST BATON
[01:00:02]
ROUGE PARISH WHICH IS WHEN IT TRULY HIT ME CLEAR AS DAY THAT SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES THE HEARTBEAT OF BEHIND-THE-SCENE OPERATIONS ARE LIKELY LIVING IN POVERTY.I MEAN, LET'S BE REAL, ONE OF OUR CIVILIAN POSITIONS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT STARTS AT $10.54 AN HOUR.
SO READING THE REPORT, IT TOOK ME BACK A FEW YEARS TO A CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH A FORMER CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE, AND SHE TOLD ME SOMETHING THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET.
SHE TOLD ME COMING TO WORK WAS SENSELESS, AND I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT.
I AUTOMATICALLY ASSUMED THAT SHE JUST DID NOT WANT TO WORK.
BUT SHE SHARED SOME WISDOM WITH ME.
SHE TOLD ME HER PAYCHECK COVERED HER GAS FOR HER TO GET TO WORK.
AND SHE PAID SOMEONE TO KEEP HER CHILD.
THAT'S WHAT HER PAYCHECK COVERED.
SHE SAID SHE MADE TOO MUCH TO QUALIFY FOR ASSISTANCE, AND GETTING A SECOND JOB WAS NOT GOING TO ALLOW HER TO BE THERE TO TRULY RAISE HER CHILD.
SO AFTER PAYING FOR FUEL, AFTER PAYING FOR CHILD CARE, THERE WAS JUST ABOUT NOTHING LEFT TO LIVE.
SO SHE EVENTUALLY QUIT BECAUSE OF NO MONETARY GAIN FOR HER.
VERY, VERY CONCERNING AND IT BREAKS MY HEART.
EVERY MONTH, CHIEF MARS MEETS WITH A GROUP OF EMPLOYEES COMPRISING OF CIVILIANS, SWORN, NON-SWORN PERSONNEL, AND DURING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WE WOULD DISCUSS PAY RAISES.
IN ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS, ONE GROUP WERE TOLD THAT THEY WERE GETTING A RAISE.
ANOTHER GROUP WERE TOLD, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IT FOR YOU.
HOW DO YOU THINK THAT MADE THEM FEEL? I SAW THE DEJECTION, I SAW THE DISAPPOINTMENT ON THEIR FACES, THE CONFUSION, THE CONCERN ABOUT WHAT THEIR VALUE IS TO US.
CHIEF MORSE SUPPORTS THIS ITEM, AND I VEHEMENTLY SUPPORT THIS ITEM BECAUSE EVERYONE DESERVES A RAISE, INCLUDING THE 73 CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO CONTINUES TO ASK US, WHAT ABOUT US? AND HONESTLY, THIS IS A VERY FAIR QUESTION BECAUSE THESE 73 EMPLOYEES WEREN'T A PART OF LAST MONTH'S PAY RAISE AT ALL.
BUT THEY'VE REMAINED PATIENT, THEY'VE REMAINED DEDICATED, BUT THEY CAN'T CASH IN THAT PATIENCE AND DEDICATION TO PAY BILLS.
SO EVERY EMPLOYEE ACROSS CITY PARISH MATTER, THE WORK THAT THEY DO MATTERS.
AND RIGHT NOW, I'M ASKING YOU, AT LEAST SEVEN OF YOU, TO VOTE IN FAVOR AND SEE THE PEOPLE IN EVERY DEPARTMENT WHO QUIETLY CARRY THE LOAD BEHIND THE SCENES FOR ALL OF US.
GOOD AFTERNOON, ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MAYOR, I FORGOT ABOUT YOU LAST TIME BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE YOU BACK THERE, BUT HELLO, AND HELLO TO MY FORMER CHIEF, JEFF LADUFF, AND MY PRESENT BOSS, COUNCILMAN TERICA WILLIAMS, BOTH GREAT IN THEIR OWN RIGHTS.
MY NAME IS SERGEANT PAT TOZAN, AND I AM IN CHARGE OF THE CIVIL DIVISION IN THE COUNCILMAN'S OFFICE.
AND BEFORE I GET STARTED, I JUST WANT TO TELL DPW, DPS, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING.
I SEE THEM ALL THE TIME AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL AND I AM DEFINITELY BEHIND Y'ALL FOR A RAISE.
BUT IN OTHER WORDS, WITH THE CIVIL DIVISION, AND WE'RE GOING TO GIVE A LITTLE TALK ABOUT WHAT WE DO, ME AND MY OFFICERS, MY DEPUTIES, WE SERVE PAPERS.
ANYTHING THAT COMES DOWN THROUGH CITY COURT, THE CITY COURT JUDGES WE SERVE, IT JUST DEPENDS.
BUT WE DO THIS EVERY DAY, FIVE DAYS A WEEK.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE FOR 52 YEARS, 40 YEARS WITH BATON ROUGE PD, AND 12 YEARS WITH THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE.
AND I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW WITH MY HEART THAT MY HEART IS BATON ROUGE.
I AM BATON ROUGE, OKAY, JUST LIKE ALL THESE PEOPLE IN HERE.
THEY'RE ALL DEDICATED, AND I LOVE MY JOBS.
BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THE CONSTABLES, THESE GUYS, THEY DO NEED A RAISE, AND THEY NEED A SUBSTANTIAL RAISE.
WHATEVER Y'ALL CAN GIVE THEM WOULD BE A GOOD START.
BASICALLY MY RESPONSE IS THAT, YES, WE ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD FOR US TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF A RAISE WHENEVER THE CITY POLICE GETS A RAISE.
THAT WOULD KEEP US IN UNISON WITH THEM.
AND LIKE I SAID, I ENJOY MY JOB.
I DON'T REALLY SEE RETIREMENT IN MY FUTURE ANYTIME SOON, BUT IT'S GOT TO COME EVENTUALLY, Y'ALL.
SO THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK, AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF Y'ALL.
I'VE WORKED FOR THE BATON ROUGE CITY CONSTABLE'S OFFICE FOR 11 YEARS.
I SPENT TIME IN BUILDING SECURITY, SPENT TIME AS A BAILIFF, AND I'VE WORKED
[01:05:01]
IN THE CIVIL DIVISION, BUT THE BULK OF MY CAREER HAS BEEN IN THE JAIL DIVISION, WHERE I'VE BEEN THE SUPERVISOR SINCE 2023.THIS HAS GIVEN ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW THE GREAT MEN AND WOMEN OVER THE YEARS THAT HAVE COME ON BECAUSE THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO START AT THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE START THROUGH THE JAIL.
JAIL DIVISION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INTAKE, PROCESSING, AND TRANSPORTATION OF ALL INDIVIDUALS BROUGHT IN FOR CITY COURT WARRANTS, ALL REMANDS BY CITY COURT JUDGES, AND ALL FUGITIVE ARRESTS MADE WITHIN THE CITY COURTHOUSE.
WE CALCULATE BONDS, PLACE DETAINERS ON ALL INDIVIDUALS BOOKED INTO PARISH PRISON WHO HAVE CITY COURT WARRANTS.
WE CONDUCT CALL-OUT OR TV COURT EVERY DAY AT PARISH PRISON, WORKING ALONGSIDE SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES.
WHILE AT THE PRISON, OUR DEPUTIES ASSIGNED TO CALL OUT ALSO COLLECT AND VERIFY BONDS ASSOCIATED WITH BATON ROUGE CITY WARRANTS.
WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRANSPORT OF ALL INMATES REQUESTED BY CITY COURT FROM EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH PRISON, ALONG WITH WEST BATON ROUGE, EAST AND WEST FELICIANA, IBERVILLE, ASCENSION, AND LIVINGSTON PARISH JAILS.
WE MAN THE CONTROL ROOM, WHICH IS A SECURITY HUB.
FOR THE CITY COURT, WE MONITOR SECURITY CAMERAS AND RESPOND TO THE DURESS AND FIRE ALARMS WITHIN THE COURTHOUSE IN CONJUNCTION WITH BUILDING SECURITY.
WE ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CITY CONSTABLE, FOR THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE DISPATCH.
THESE ARE MERELY SOME OF THE DUTIES PERFORMED BY ONE DIVISION IN OUR OFFICE.
WE AS A DEPARTMENT WORK AS LAW ENFORCEMENT ALONG OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AGENCIES IN OUR COMMUNITY TO COMPLETE NECESSARY OPERATIONS AND KEEP OUR CITY SAFE AND FUNCTIONING AS BEST WE CAN.
I AM PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE DO, AND I AM PROUD OF THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT I WORK WITH.
WE ARE PERPETUALLY UNDERSTAFFED AND CRIMINALLY UNDERPAID, YET WE SHOW UP EVERY DAY AND GET THE JOB DONE.
PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING AND SHOW US THAT OUR SACRIFICES AND DEDICATION MEAN SOMETHING TO YOU.
I'M THE TREASURER WITH THE BATON ROUGE UNION OF POLICE.
OUR PRESIDENT, BRANDON O'NEILL, WANTED TO BE HERE, BUT HE IS REPRESENTING OUR UNION AT POLICE WEEK IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEK.
I'M GOING TO READ A LETTER THAT HE HAD DRAFTED.
HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS, AS PRESIDENT OF THE BATON ROUGE UNION OF POLICE, I AM WRITING TO EXPRESS OUR FORMAL SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED SALARY ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES.
AND THE EAST BATON ROUGE CITY COUNCIL OF DEPUTIES, WHICH ARE SCHEDULED FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE METRO COUNCIL MEETING TODAY.
OUR ORGANIZATION IS GRATEFUL FOR THE RECENT STEPS TAKEN TO STABILIZE POLICE DEPARTMENT COMPENSATION.
HOWEVER, WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT A SAFER, MORE EFFICIENT BATON ROUGE DEPENDS ON THE ENTIRE TEAM OF MUNICIPAL WORKERS.
WHETHER IT IS THE CIVILIAN STAFF SUPPORTING OUR OPERATIONS, THE PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES MAINTAINING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, OR THE DEPUTIES IN THE CITY COUNCIL'S OFFICE WHO WORK ALONGSIDE US IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM, EVERY MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE IS VITAL TO OUR COMMUNITY'S SUCCESS.
THE PROPOSAL FOR A 3.5% PAY RAISE FOR GENERAL CITY PARISH WORKERS AND THE SPECIFIC ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE PAY SCALE ARE A NECESSARY INVESTMENT.
THESE MEASURES NOT ONLY ADDRESS LONG-STANDING WAGE CONCERNS, BUT ALSO ENSURE THAT WE CAN RETAIN THE PROFESSIONAL TALENT REQUIRED TO SERVE OUR CITIZENS EFFECTIVELY.
PUBLIC SAFETY IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.
WHEN OUR FELLOW MUNICIPAL WORKERS ARE COMPENSATED FAIRLY, IT IMPROVES MORALE ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS AND STRENGTHENS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
WE BELIEVE THE ADMINISTRATION HAS IDENTIFIED A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE PATH TO FUND THESE RAISES THROUGH HEALTH CARE SAVINGS AND IMPROVED REVENUE, AND WE URGE YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPOSITION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO ALL WHO SERVE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
SINCERELY, BRANDON O'NEILL, BATON ROUGE UNION POLICE PRESIDENT.
MY NAME IS JACQUELINE LINDELL-GERMANY.
TO MAYOR EDWARDS, COUNCIL MEMBERS, EMPLOYEES, AND THE CITIZENS OF BATON ROUGE.
WHEN I WORK FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, I CONSIDER MYSELF A PUBLIC SERVANT BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY I WAS RAISED.
MY GRANDFATHER IN THE 60S WAS THE FIRST BLACK FOREMAN FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
THEY WORKED, THEY WERE LABORERS, AND WE MOVED ON UP THE ECHELON.
IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ANYBODY ELSE BUT THAT INDIVIDUAL.
[01:10:01]
WE HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR CONSTABLE.BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE ALL NEED.
I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A RAISE SINCE I RETIRED IN 2006, SO I STILL MAKE THE SAME SALARY THAT I DID THEN.
SO RETIREES NEED SOMETHING ALSO.
I WAS READING EARLIER TODAY THAT MAYOR EDWARDS HAS PROPOSED A 3.5% RAISE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.
BUT IN WORKING FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, 3.5, THAT PERSON THAT'S MAKING THE HIGHEST SALARY IS ALWAYS GOING TO GET THE MOST MONEY.
THAT'S JUST THE WAY THINGS GO.
BUT AS THE YOUNG MAN SPOKE EARLIER, THE MAINTENANCE WORKER, WHICH IS THE LOWEST SALARY ON THE SCALE, THEY ALL NEED MONEY, ALL THE EMPLOYEES.
OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE NEED MONEY.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR BUDGET AND YOU MAKE YOUR DECISIONS AS TO WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO, BECAUSE IT TAKES ALL OF YOU WORKING TOGETHER TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO SEE, CHANGE.
THINK ABOUT EVERYBODY AND EVERYONE.
BECAUSE AS I SAID LAST TIME I WAS HERE, IT'S NOT ABOUT ME.
SO WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT GIVING RAISES AND THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO, MAKE THE BEST DECISION, NOT JUST FOR YOUR PARTY.
WHAT YOU STAND FOR, BUT THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE, THE CITIZENS, THE WORKERS OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL, MAYOR, CHIEF, EMS, FIRE CHIEF.
THANK Y'ALL FOR HONORING Y'ALL WORD.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT, YOUR WORD.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A WORD, YOU DON'T HAVE NOTHING.
I JUST LOOK AROUND IN THIS ROOM, AND I SEE PUBLIC SERVICE.
EVERYTHING FROM COUNSEL, CONSTABLES, EVEN YOUR JOBS, PUBLIC SERVICE.
BUT LOOK, I WANT TO FIRST HAVE EVERYBODY IN CITY PARISH STAND UP.
THIS IS WHAT MAKES BATON ROUGE GO.
THESE MEN AND WOMEN, AGAIN, THEY WORK FOR THEIR CALLING TO SERVE, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY MAKE, BECAUSE THEY DON'T MAKE ENOUGH.
BUT I'D LIKE TO JUST, YOU KNOW, HAVE EVERYONE JUST CLAP THEIR HANDS AND THANK THESE PEOPLE.
AND Y'ALL CAN SEE BY THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, Y'ALL HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT LOVE Y'ALL, THAT CARE ABOUT Y'ALL, THAT HAVE FEELINGS ABOUT Y'ALL, THAT REPRESENT Y'ALL.
AND I JUST SAY THAT BATON ROUGE, IT'S TIME.
I KNOW I'VE BEEN IN THIS FIGHT SINCE 2022, AS THE PRESIDENT OF ASK ME LOCAL 3030, FIGHTING.
AND I SAY IT'S TIME, BATON ROUGE.
IT'S TIME FOR THIS COUNCIL TO SHOW THEIR LOVE.
THE FIGHT HAS ALWAYS BEEN WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.
SHOW YOUR LOVE FOR YOUR PEOPLE.
HOW YOU DOING? I'M SERGEANT BROOKS.
EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME, CAN WE GET YOUR NAME FOR RECORD? YES, I'M HAROLD GREER, PRESIDENT, ASNE, LOCAL 3030.
HOW YOU DOING? I'M NOT A BIG TALKER, SO THIS IS GOING
[01:15:01]
TO BE SHORT AND SWEET.I'M OVER BUILDING AND COURTROOM SECURITY OF BATON ROUGE CITY COURT.
I'M A 20-YEAR VETERAN OF THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE.
IN MY TENURE, MY 20 YEARS, I'VE DONE MULTIPLE THINGS.
I'VE BEEN ON THE HONOR GUARD, I'VE BEEN ON THE POLICE BIKE FORCE, AND I'VE BEEN ON ACTUALLY THE MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL DRUG TASK FORCE IN ADDICTION.
IN THE COMMONALITY OF ALL THOSE THINGS, I WORK COLLECTIVELY WITH OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT, MEANING ONE LAW ENFORCEMENT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S MULTIPLE AGENCIES.
WHEN WE DO SECURITY OUT IN THE STREETS AND EVERYTHING, WITH THESE BUILDINGS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, WE ARE SECURITY, NOT DIFFERENT AGENCIES.
AGAIN, MULTIPLE AGENCIES, ONE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
ALL I'M ASKING IS TO TAKE CARE OF US.
I'M SERGEANT LEE, AND I'M THE WARRANT SUPERVISOR FOR THE BAMBAM CITY COUNCIL'S OFFICE.
LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE COUNCIL'S OFFICE.
SO GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY SPEAK ON WHY THE COUNSEL'S OFFICE DESERVES AN INCREASE IN COMPENSATION.
THE COUNSEL'S OFFICE HAS LONG BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR EXECUTING WARRANTS, LOCATING FUGITIVES, ASSISTING OTHER AGENCIES, AND HELPING PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY.
AS THE WARRANT SUPERVISOR, I'VE ALSO ASSISTED WITH EVICTIONS WHILE CONTINUING TO MANAGE MY WARRANT OPERATIONS IN OFFICE COORDINATION.
EVERY DAY WE PUT ON A UNIFORM, KNOWING WE FACE DANGER, UNCERTAINTY, AND DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES.
WE ALSO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES CONTRARY TO BELIEF.
WE INVESTIGATE CRIMINAL MATTERS.
AND BETWEEN ALL THE ORDER AND THE CHAOS, THIS IS NOT A 9-TO-5 JOB.
WE WORK NIGHTS, WEEKENDS, HOLIDAYS, AND LONG HOURS, OFTEN SACRIFICING TIME WITH OUR OWN FAMILIES AND HELP TO PROTECT OTHER COMMUNITIES.
AT ANY GIVEN TIME, I MAY RECEIVE A PHONE CALL TO EXECUTE A...
A WARRANT ISSUED FOR ONE OF OUR ELECTED JUDGES.
OUR OFFICE IS A PART OF THE DELTA TASK FORCE.
MOST OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW WHAT THAT IS, BUT WHAT THAT TASK FORCE ENTAILS IS WE WORK ALONGSIDE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL AGENCIES IN MULTI-PARISH EFFORTS TO COMBAT CRIME AND IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE FACING MANPOWER SHORTAGES WHILE TRYING TO MAINTAIN COMPETITIVE AND SURROUNDING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
THE COST OF LIVING IS RISING DAILY.
WHICH MAKES INDIVIDUALS EVEN MORE PRONE TO LEAVE ONE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND MOVE TO ANOTHER.
YOU NEED TO ADEQUATELY STAFF TO WE NEED YOU TO HELP US TO ASSIST YOU ADEQUATELY STAFF AND CONDUCT ONE OPERATION SAFETY AND MORE EFFECTIVELY.
INCREASING PAY WOULD HELP OUR OFFICE OUT MORE AND BE MORE COMPETITIVE.
I HAVE PROUDLY SERVED THIS OFFICE FOR OVER 11 YEARS AND I UNDERSTAND FIRSTHAND THE DEDICATION AND THE COMMITMENT THIS JOB REQUIRES.
THIS DEMANDS LONG HOURS, PROFESSIONALISM, AND A WILLINGNESS TO FACE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU, PLEASE, PLEASE CONSIDER A RAISE FOR OUR OFFICE AND THE DPW OFFICE.
I'M CAPTAIN BRIAN FURMAN FROM BATON ROUGE CITY CONSTABLE'S OFFICE.
I HAVE A SPEECH HERE PREPARED, BUT AFTER HEARING MY GUYS, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I'M GOING TO STICK TO IT OR NOT.
SO, I'VE BEEN WITH OUR I'VE BEEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR 30 YEARS AND 27 OF THOSE YEARS HAVE BEEN WITH THE CONSTABLES OFFICE.
SO I'M ON MY 4TH ADMINISTRATION.
SO I'M THE LONGEST SERVING EMPLOYEE THERE.
I'M ALSO A POST CERTIFIED ARMS INSTRUCTOR FOR OUR OFFICE FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS ALSO SERVED AS A DISTRICT 9 VICE PRESIDENT FOR LOUISIANA CITY, CONSTABLES AND CITY MARSHALL'S ASSOCIATION.
TONIGHT WE'RE ASKING FOR YOU TO VOTE ON A RAISE FOR ALL CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES, NOT JUST OUR OFFICE.
AND I GUESS FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IT COMES A LITTLE BIT FROM BEING A FATHER AND A GRANDFATHER.
SO WHEN I WAS A YOUNG DEPUTY, I STARTED OFF YOUNG IN LIFE, AND I HAD A GROWING FAMILY.
SO I WAS WORKING ALL THE OVERTIME, EXTRA DUTY I COULD GET TO SUPPORT THAT GROWING FAMILY.
AND THAT TOOK AWAY FROM FAMILY TIME.
I MEAN, BIRTHDAY PARTIES, DANCE RECITALS.
AND HERE WE ARE TODAY, LIKE I SAID, 27 YEARS LATER, AND I'VE GOT MY YOUNG DEPUTIES BACK HERE FIGHTING THE SAME THING.
AND, YOU KNOW, TONIGHT, IF THIS PASSES, MAYBE THAT GIVES THEM ONE MORE EVENT THEY CAN GO TO, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORK ALL THIS EXTRA DUTY AND OVERTIME JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
SO, AND IT'S NOT ALL, IT'S ALSO ABOUT RETENTION FOR THE GREAT GUYS, THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WE HAVE.
[01:20:01]
WE HAVE 27 PEOPLE.AND WHEN I STARTED 27 YEARS AGO, WE HAD 40.
WE HAD SIX ASSIGNED TO THE WARRANT DIVISION.
WE GOT ONE GUY WORKING WARRANTS.
AND I'VE GOT TO PULL HIM TO DO EVICTIONS, LIKE YOU SAID.
I'VE GOT TO PULL THE GUY FROM EVICTIONS TO HELP HIM WITH WARRANTS.
IT'S ABOUT RECRUITING AND BEING ABLE TO KEEP THE PEOPLE.
WE HAVE TO RECRUIT NEW PEOPLE TO FILL THOSE VOIDS.
AND THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY THEM A LIVING WAGE.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR TONIGHT.
AND, YOU KNOW, I HOPE THIS HELPS WITH YOUR DECISION TONIGHT, AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE LONG BECAUSE THEY TOOK UP EVERYTHING I HAD TO SAY.
MY NAME IS DEPUTY CHIEF BYRON HATCH.
A SIMPLE YES VOTE ENSURES THAT THESE PEOPLE MORALE WILL BE LIFTED HIGHLY AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO FUNCTION WELL WITH A SIMPLE YES VOTE.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT A NO VOTE WILL DO.
I'M THE STATE PRESIDENT OF THE MAGNOLIA STATE PEACE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.
LAST MONTH, I CAME BEFORE YOU AND ASKED TO SUPPORT THE OFFICERS THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'M HERE TODAY TO DO THE SAME FOR MEMBERS THAT ARE WITH THE CONSTABLES.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY GAVE YOU MULTIPLE REASONS WHY THEY SHOULD BE APPROVED TODAY, AND I JUST ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO BLESS ALL TODAY, BLESS ALL THE WORKERS TODAY WITH CITY PAIRS.
THEY DESERVE IT, AND WE'RE IN FULL SUPPORT FOR THAT RACE TODAY.
I AM THE DIRECTOR FOR OUR PUBLIC WORKS FLEET DIVISION.
I'M HERE TODAY JUST TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER FROM A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE.
I'VE BEEN WORKING HERE 18 YEARS.
I'VE WORKED IN SEVERAL DIVISIONS.
I'VE HELD SEVERAL POSITIONS FROM AN ADMINISTRATION CAPACITY.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME TO MIND WHEN THIS CAME UP IS THAT I APPLAUDED THE FACT THAT THE CITY PARISH IS TRYING TO TAKE ON THIS HUGE PROBLEM.
IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM FOR MANY, MANY YEARS IN PUBLIC WORKS.
EVERY DIVISION THAT I HAVE BEEN A PART OF AND ACTUALLY PEOPLE THAT I ACTUALLY LEAD EVERY DAY, I'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PAY DISPARITY.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT YOU GUYS TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE MAKING A DECISION TONIGHT IS TO THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT NOT ONLY ARE PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES, WHICH MEANS WE SUPPORT CRITICAL OPERATIONS.
WE ACTUALLY HELP MAINTAIN AND UPKEEP THE CITY WHEN EVERYBODY IS NOT REALLY PAYING ATTENTION.
AND AS YOU KNOW, AS A PUBLIC SERVANT, WE'RE NOT ALWAYS PAID THE TOP PAY.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
THAT FOR MANY YEARS, WE'VE HAD PEOPLE FRUSTRATED THAT ACTUALLY ARE OUR TOP PEOPLE.
THE PEOPLE THAT REALLY MEAN SOMETHING ARE MOST OF THE TIME THE PEOPLE THAT YOU DON'T SEE.
NOT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STANDING AT THE PODIUM DURING A CITY COUNCIL MEETING, BUT PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY HAVE TO RUN TO THEIR SECOND JOB WHEN THEY GET OFF.
I ACTUALLY MAINTAIN AND SUPERVISE A FLEET.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO, IT'S AN ALLOTMENT OF ABOUT 40 POSITIONS.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE OVERSEEING 02,226 CRITICAL ASSETS, DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
WE'RE COUNTING ON TO KEEP THESE VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT UP AND RUNNING FOR THE CITY SO EVERYBODY CAN DO THEIR JOB.
MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT EMPLOYEES HAVE SPOKEN TONIGHT.
AND ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS AND CRITICAL REASONS LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN DO THEIR JOB IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A FLEET THAT'S RUNNING.
WE HAVE TO PUT INVESTMENT NOT ONLY IN SPECIFIC AREAS THAT WE CAN SEE, BUT THOSE THINGS THAT WE CANNOT SEE.
SO I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE ONES THAT CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
I'VE WORKED 18 YEARS, BUT WHEN I STARTED, I INTERVIEWED WITH THE THOUGHT IN MIND THAT AS A PUBLIC SERVANT, I MAY NOT MAKE THE MOST MONEY, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S ABOUT LONGEVITY.
BUT RIGHT NOW THAT'S BEING THREATENED BY OUR PAY DISPARITY.
HELLO, COUNCIL, MAYOR, ALL DIGNITARIES.
[01:25:01]
WELSH.I AM AN ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, AND I DO THE HIRING.
AND SINCE I'VE BEEN DOING THIS PROCESS, WE STARTED OUT WITH 300 AND SOME EMPLOYEES WITHIN OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT OF MAINTENANCE.
AND THE TRASH STILL HAS TO GET PICKED UP.
THE DEBRIS HAS TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE CANALS AND DRAINAGE, BUT WE'RE STILL GETTING SMALLER AND SMALLER AND THE PAY IS NOT GOING UP ANY HIGHER.
SO WE NEED YOU ALL TO VOTE YES ON TONIGHT TO HELP THE CITY PARISH WORKERS GET A PAY RAISE.
YOU KNOW WHY YOU DON'T HAVE MORE OF US IN HERE? BECAUSE THEY'RE ON THEIR SECOND JOB.
SO WE NEED EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL TO DO YOUR JOB.
I'VE WORKED FOR THE CITY FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS.
WHAT I WANTED TO BRING UP TODAY WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE BROUGHT UP.
THE MAN, THE FIRST MAN WHO SPOKE, SPOKE ABOUT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND I'LL LET YOU ALL DECIDE WHAT'S FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, BUT I HAD TO TELL IT.
I SPEND MOST OF MY TIME TRAINING PEOPLE, TRAINING AND TRAINING AND TRAINING.
I SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED TO DO, WHAT THEY NEED TO LEARN.
WE HAVE LESS THAN A 25% RETENTION RATE IN TRAFFIC ENGINEERING, SO I TRAIN A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE TO GO WORK IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, TO GO BECOME ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS, TO GO BECOME TECHNICIANS.
WE'RE TRAINING A LOT TO GO, AND THEY GO AND CHARGE US MORE MONEY TO DO THE SAME JOB.
IF WE HAD MORE COMPETITIVE RATES, WE COULD RETAIN THOSE PEOPLE.
MY NAME IS JUDGE YVETTE MANSFIELD ALEXANDER, AND I'M THE CHIEF JUDGE IN BATON ROUGE CITY COURT.
I DON'T HAVE MY OTHER FOUR JUDGES WITH ME BECAUSE THEY HAD GRANDPARENTS, GRADUATIONS, AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS GOING ON.
BUT WE ALL STAND ON ONE ACCORD.
AND THAT ONE ACCORD IS THAT OUR CITY PARISH WORKERS NEED THIS RAISE.
WHEN I CAME TO WORK IN BATON ROUGE CITY COURT 30 YEARS AGO, WE HAD OVER 150 EMPLOYEES.
WE WERE ON THAT SAME CUT THAT MADE US DIMINISH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAD TO GET RID OF.
PEOPLE ARE DOING ONE, NOT JUST ONE JOB, BUT THEY'RE HAVING TO DO TWO AND THREE JOBS.
JUST IN THE LAST TWO YEARS I HAVE LOST FOUR CLERKS FOR THREE SECRETARIES THAT GO INTO COURT WITH ME.
THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TO TRAIN PEOPLE ALL OVER AGAIN, START FROM THE BEGINNING, DO EVERYTHING TO LEARN YOU FIRST OF ALL, AND THEN TO LEARN HOW TO HANDLE IT IN COURT.
I HAVE HERE WITH ME TODAY OUR INTERIM CLERK JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATOR, SHAKITA HARRIS JACKSON.
SHE STARTED WORKING THERE AT 18, LIKE I TOLD YOU ALL LAST TIME, AND SHE'S STILL THERE.
SO SHE'S THERE, BUT SHE UNDERSTANDS THE COURT FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR CHIEF OF CRIMINAL TRAFFIC, WHICH IS OUR BREAD AND BUTTER.
WE URGE YOU TODAY, THESE PEOPLE WORK HARD.
THEY ARE THERE DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
I WENT TO WORK ON A SATURDAY TO SIGN SOME PAPERWORK, AND I CALLED SHAKITA, AND I SAID, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO WORK THE COFFEE MACHINE.
SHE SAID, OH, THEY'RE UP IN SYBIL, GO ASK THEM.
THEY NEVER ONCE TOLD ME THAT THEY WORK ON SATURDAYS.
THE REASON WHY THEY DO IT IS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE CAUGHT UP FOR US ON MONDAYS SO THAT THEY WON'T BE BEHIND.
I PLEAD FOR ALL THE CITY PARISH WORKERS THAT WORK IN BATON ROUGE.
THEY NEED THIS PAY RAISE FOR THE MORALE OF THE CITY WORKERS, FOR THE MORALE OF EVERYBODY THAT'S INVOLVED HERE.
I URGE YOU TO PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE GIVE THEM THIS RAISE.
BUT FINDING THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.
MY NAME IS SERGEANT RANDALL CUNNINGHAM, AND I'M CERTAINLY WITH THE BATON ROUGE CITY CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, TO THE SUSTAINED COUNSEL, TO THE MAYOR, AND TO ALL OTHER OFFICIALS THAT ARE HERE, TO MY BOSS, CONSTABLE WILLIAMS. I'M NOT GOING TO HOLD YOU LONG.
I WILL NOT INSULT YOUR INTELLIGENCE.
YOU'VE HEARD SO MANY COME UP AND SAY WHY THIS IS NEEDED.
I HAVE BEEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT GOING ON 30 YEARS.
I CAN RECALL WHEN I HAD TO GO OUT AND WORK DETAILS THAT, AGAIN, LIKE MY CAPTAIN SAID, YOU'RE MISSING FAMILY TIME, YOU'RE MISSING ALL OF THESE THINGS BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LACK OF MONEY THAT YOU RECEIVE ON YOUR PRIMARY JOB.
BUT WHEN YOU SIT BACK AND LOOK
[01:30:01]
AT THE TIME THAT HAS BEEN AWAY FROM HOME, EVEN WITH THE DPW, AND WE HAD THE FLOOD JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, WE ALL WERE STANDING HAND IN HAND IN BOATS TRYING TO SAVE OUR FELLOW CITIZENS OF EAST BATON ROUGE, PARIS, NOT ONLY IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, WE WERE ALL THE WAY IN ZACHARY TRYING TO SAVE INDIVIDUALS.YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION HAS ALWAYS BEEN ASKED WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
BUT I TELL ANYBODY, IT SHOULDN'T BE NOTHING CONFUSING ABOUT THAT, WHETHER THE COUNCIL'S OFFICE OR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THAT'S LIKE ASKING A MARINE, ARE YOU ARMY OR NAVY? ARE YOU AIR FORCE OR MARINE? YOU'RE STILL A PART OF THE MILITARY REGARDLESS WHAT FUNCTION YOU CARRY.
SO WHEN YOU ASK THAT QUESTION, I JUST ASK YOU ALL TODAY, BECAUSE I WILL NOT HOLD YOU, CONSIDER HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO MAINTAIN TWO JOBS.
JUST TO SUPPORT YOUR PRIMARY JOB, TO MAKE IT TO WORK, SO THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU CAN AT LEAST HAVE A RETIREMENT, BUT YOU STILL WILL HAVE TO WORK THOSE OTHER TWO JOBS.
I HOPE THAT ALL OF Y'ALL ARE UNANIMOUS TODAY.
I HOPE THIS WILL BE A STANCE FOR THE ENTIRE BATON ROUGE AT THIS TIME.
MY NAME IS HAGAR BROWN, AND I SERVE.
IN PUBLIC WORKS UNDER TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE, MANY OF YOU ALL KNOW MY FACE BECAUSE I'M USUALLY HERE DURING YOUR COUNCIL MEETINGS.
I URGE YOU ALL TO PLEASE VOTE YES TO AMENDING THE PAY PLAN.
I HAVE BEEN WITH THE CITY PARISH FOR NOW 23 YEARS.
THIS IS MY FOURTH ADMINISTRATION.
MY BIGGEST FEAR THAT I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME IS THAT I WILL RETIRE IN AN UNLIVABLE WAGE.
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK FOR PUBLIC WORKS.
I'VE WORKED IN FORMER MAYOR HOLDEN'S OFFICE.
FORMER MAYOR BLOOM'S OFFICE, I WAS HIRED UNDER FORMER MAYOR SIMPSON'S ADMINISTRATION.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO SUPPORT A FAMILY AND TO SUPPORT A HOUSEHOLD WORKING AT THE CITY PARISH.
YES, MANY CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES HAVE TO WORK TWO JOBS JUST TO MAINTAIN, AND THEY'RE NOT LIVING LAVISHLY.
I CAME HERE AS A YOUNG MOTHER AND WIFE.
MY HUSBAND PASSED AFTER 10 YEARS OF WORKING HERE, AND I WAS LEFT TO SUPPORT MY HOUSEHOLD.
I WAS LEFT TO SUPPORT MY TWO CHILDREN, TWO VERY YOUNG CHILDREN.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF BEING ROWDY'S SECRETARY WHEN HE CAME IN UNDER FORMER MAYOR BROOME'S OFFICE.
I HOPE THAT I SERVED HIM WELL.
I KNOW THAT I SERVED MY CURRENT BOSS WELL, AND I AM HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR FAVORABLE VOTE FOR AMENDING THE PAY PLAN SO THAT CITY PARISH WORKERS CAN HAVE A LIVABLE WAGE.
I SPOKE, MY NAME IS MARION BLUMWA.
I SPOKE A FEW WEEKS AGO ABOUT THE LACK OF FUNDS WE HAVE FOR OUR YOUTH AND THE DAY AFTER WE HAD THE MALL SHOOTING.
SO MANY PEOPLE CAME, I'M SURE, BEFORE ME AND OVER THE YEARS THAT HAVE ASKED FOR FINANCES FOR OUR YOUTH AND YET WE ARE HERE ADVOCATING TO GIVE.
CONSTABLE'S OFFICE AND BRPD MORE MONEY AND THERE ARE NO FUNDS IN THE GENERAL FUND FOR OUR YOUTH OVER THE SUMMER.
I FIND THAT PROBLEMATIC AND I'M JUST HERE TO SERVE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU GUYS AND NOTICE THAT IF THERE ARE NO FUNDS IN THE GENERAL FUND FOR OUR YOUTH, BY THE TIME THIS DAY IS OVER, I WILL BE SERVING ALL OF YOU GUYS A RECALL NOTICE.
I WAS SITTING THERE, THANK Y'ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO TALK.
I WAS SITTING THERE AND LISTENING.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME? MY NAME IS AARON BRENT, AND I WORK FOR THE DBW.
I WAS SITTING THERE LISTENING TO EVERYBODY, PLEADING TO GET A RAISE TO EVERYBODY.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE COME HERE AND SPOKE UP ABOUT THEY NEEDED TWO JOBS.
WELL, I'M ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT DO THREE.
SO IT'S HARD ON ME TO BE ABLE TO LEAVE FROM ONE JOB, GO TO ANOTHER ONE, AND THEN ON WEEKENDS I'M DOING ANOTHER ONE.
WHERE DO I GET SOME REST? I DON'T.
BUT I'M DOING IT BECAUSE OF THE PASSION.
BUT I DO LOVE TO WORK FOR A CAUSE.
AND THE ONLY CAUSE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IS TO GET A PAY RAISE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO WANT TO COME TO THE JOB.
WHEN WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO GET COMPENSATED FOR THE THINGS AND THE THINGS THAT WE DO FOR THE PUBLIC.
EVERYBODY IN HERE HAVE TO GO HOME, GET THEM SOME REST.
[01:35:02]
OUT THERE STILL WORKING.IT'S JUST LIKE IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY GOING ON WITH THE LAW OFFICERS.
THEY COME TO AN EMERGENCY, BUT GUESS WHO'LL BE THERE? DPW BE ALREADY WAITING ON THEM.
AND THAT'S JUST WHEN THE STORMS COME AND EVERYTHING.
I'M PLEADING AND BEGGING YOU ALL TO, IF YOU CAN, PLEASE CONSIDER GETTING PAY RAISE SO PEOPLE BE WANTING TO COME TO THOSE JOBS AND DO A GOOD JOB FOR YOU ALL.
ALL I WANT TO SAY IS THIS IS LONG OVERDUE.
AND IT SHOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN THIS LONG FOR MY PEOPLE HERE TO ASK FOR WHAT THEY'VE BEEN ASKING FOR.
I JUST RECENTLY CAME BACK FROM TEXAS TO TAKE CARE OF MY MOTHER.
MY MOTHER'S ALMOST 90 YEARS OLD, AND WHAT THE CITY PARISH IS PAYING IS NOT ENOUGH.
WE HAVE SURROUNDING PARISHES IN THIS AREA THAT ARE PAYING MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE GETTING.
WHO ARE WORKING PROBABLY JUST ONE JOB.
BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
JUST LIKE YOU JUST GAVE THE POLICE ALL THAT MONEY LAST MONTH AND MADE THEM THE TOP POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE STATE, DPW, THE CONSTABLES, AND EVERYONE ELSE SHOULD BE THE TOP PAY IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
JUST FOR THE SIMPLE FACT THIS IS THE CITY CAPITAL.
CAPITAL OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
MY NAME IS EVERETT NORWOOD, AND I REPRESENT DPW ALSO.
TODAY, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SOME POINTS KNOWN.
I'M QUITE SURE THAT YOU ALL WILL CONSIDER WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY.
WE ALL WANT BATON ROUGE, NO MATTER HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.
WALK AROUND, OR YOU'RE RIDING UP AND DOWN THE HIGHWAY, WHEN YOU PASS THROUGH THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU SEE YOUR GRASS CUT.
WHEN PEOPLE DIAL 311 AT 2 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, THE POLICE OFFICER, SURE, HE'LL BE THERE WAITING, BUT HE'S WAITING ON DPW TO TAKE CARE OF THE BUSINESS.
SO WHAT I'M SAYING IN CONCLUSION TO ALL OF THIS IS THAT WE ARE ONE BAD ROUGE, ONE BAD ROUGE, AND IT HURTS.
BEING PAID LESS, SO MUCH LESS.
AND WE ALL HAVE FAMILIES ALSO.
WE'RE ASKING TODAY FOR YOUR OWN CONSIDERATION TO KIND OF JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THE POSITION THAT WE ARE ALL IN, THE VERY ONES WHO ARE MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE OKAY, AND THE VERY ONES WHO ARE NOT BEING RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK? MAYOR, I THINK YOU AND SOME OF YOUR TEAM MAY WANT TO HAVE A FEW WORDS.
CHRIS SALISWATER, CHIEF ADVISOR TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
SO MUCH FOR GIVING US A FEW MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE FACTUAL INFORMATION AND SOME OF THE MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL YOU KNOW WE PRIORITIZED AND WE SO APPRECIATE WHAT THIS COUNCIL HAS DONE IN TERMS OF HELPING TO SHORE UP PUBLIC SAFETY ONE AFTER THE OTHER WE WERE ABLE TO BRING PROPOSALS TO YOU AND OUR CITY IS GOING TO GET STRONGER AND SAFER AND AND THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT ALL OF US AS A RESULT.
THIS PROPOSAL HAS BEEN ON THE TABLE OR THE SHELF FOR A LONG TIME.
THE STUDY WAS ACTUALLY DONE IN 2023.
BEST PRACTICES SAY THAT COMPENSATION STUDIES NEED TO BE DONE ABOUT EVERY THREE YEARS IN CHANGING MARKETS.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING RATHER CLOSE TO THE TIME WHEN WE OUGHT TO DO IT AGAIN.
AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN IMPLEMENTED THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE FIRST ONE.
WE DON'T SEE THIS AS JUST A COMPENSATION PROPOSAL.
WE REALLY SEE THIS AS PART OF A TOTAL STRATEGIC WORKFORCE REALIGNMENT.
AND I THINK THAT SOME OF THE MISCONCEPTIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE IS THAT WE'RE BROKE.
WE WERE DEALT A HAND OF CARDS IN 2024.
[01:40:03]
WE TOOK SOME STEPS TO TRY AND GET SOME RATIONALIZATION OF THAT, AND WE DID.I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT THE LEADERS IN THIS ROOM WHO WORK FOR YOU AND FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ARE PHENOMENAL.
I SAID THE OTHER DAY, I HEAR VIRTUALLY NO COMPLAINTS, AND THE PEOPLE AROUND THE TABLE WHO WORK FOR THE CITY POWER STARTED LAUGHING.
THEY SAID, YOU'RE NOT GETTING THEM ALL.
BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THEY HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW TO DO MORE WITH LESS.
AND EVEN WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM AND THE WAY THAT WE HAD TO REDUCE THE WORKFORCE, WHICH MEANT THAT A LOT OF OUR NEWER TECHNOLOGICALLY SKILLED EMPLOYEES DID HAVE TO LEAVE THE WORKFORCE OR BE PUT IN OTHER PLACES.
THE REALITY IS THAT WE'VE MADE ADJUSTMENTS.
WE'VE HAD REORGANIZATIONS WITHIN DEPARTMENTS.
THEY ARE CROSS-TRAINING PEOPLE.
WE CONTINUE TO FIND DEFICIENCIES, AND WE WILL BE BRINGING TO YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING SOME AI PROPOSALS THAT WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT, AND WE WANT TO GIVE DEMONSTRATIONS TO YOU AND TO THE CITIZENS OF ATMARISH.
SO I THINK THAT WE SEE THIS AS AN INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
WE ARE A SERVICE ORGANIZATION.
AND QUALITY IS BUILT INTO A SERVICE AT THE TIME OF DELIVERY.
AND IF WE DON'T HAVE QUALIFIED PEOPLE, WE CAN'T POSSIBLY DELIVER THE KINDS OF SERVICE THAT YOU EXPECT AND WE EXPECT AS WELL.
I WANT TO WHO DOES THE SLIDES? I'M SURE YOU DO.
CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? SO SOME OF YOU KNOW ME FROM A DIFFERENT LIFE AS PART OF A CONSULTING ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.
WE'VE CONDUCTED HUNDREDS OF PACE STUDIES AND REORGANIZATION PLANS FOR GOVERNMENTS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVEL.
BUT WE JUST IN OUR FILES WENT BACK AND QUICKLY FOUND FIVE PACE STUDIES FOR THE CITY PARISH, HEAD START, PUBLIC SAFETY, MULTIPLE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
OVER THE YEARS IN THE CITY PARISH, AND A VERY IMPORTANT BENCHMARK STUDY ON TOTAL COMPENSATION THAT WAS DONE IN ABOUT 2013.
I WANT TO BRAG ON THIS CITY PARISH FROM BACK IN 2013 OR 2014.
IN THAT TOTAL COMPENSATION STUDY, THERE WERE MANY RECOMMENDATIONS, MANY OBSERVATIONS, AND MANY RECOMMENDATIONS.
AFTER WE HAVE TO COME FROM FROM EXECUTED AND PROVIDED THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AT THE TIME THE RECOMMENDATIONS, THEY PUT TOGETHER A TASK FORCE, AND THEY IMPLEMENTED A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAD TO DO WITH BENEFITS AND RETIREMENT, AND THEY REBALANCED SOME OF WHAT WAS OUT OF WHACK AT THE TIME.
WE HAVE LOST A BIT OF GROUND, BUT THE PROCESS WORKED SO MUCH.
TO THE POINT THAT WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE NOT TOO LONG AGO.
THEY ARE STRUGGLING WITH NEW ORLEANS' BUDGET.
AND THEY ASKED IF WE COULD SEND THEM A COMPLETE LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND WHAT THAT TASK FORCE ACHIEVED BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THAT NEW ORLEANS TODAY COULD BENEFIT FROM DOING SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID YEARS AGO.
THIS ISN'T HARD, AND WE'RE PREPARED TO DO THAT.
HIGH-PERFORMING ORGANIZATIONS DO INVEST IN THEIR EMPLOYEES.
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, AND I DECIDED TO LEAVE SOME OF OUR GOOD EMPLOYERS SOME TIME OFF AND NOT HAVE TO COME AND PRESENT HOW THEY DO THIS, BUT I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT A COUPLE OF CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.
CHRISTY REEVES AT OCHSNER, WHO WAS VERY WILLING TO COME TONIGHT, SAID OSHER IS THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
SHE WAS SO EXCITED WHEN I SAID WE'RE COMING UP WITH A PROPOSAL FOR THE COUNCIL BECAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY AT THE POVERTY LEVEL OR BELOW.
SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'VE STRUGGLED WITH THAT FOR YEARS AND WE ARE SO EXCITED.
RECENTLY, OSHER COMPLETED A FULL PAY STUDY AND THERE IS NO EMPLOYEE IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA THAT WORKS FOR OSHER THAT WILL EARN LESS THAN $15 AN HOUR.
WE'RE AT ABOUT $10 AND SOMETHING AN HOUR.
THIS PROPOSAL WILL GET US UP TO $12 AND SOMETHING AN HOUR.
WE WERE REALLY HOPING TO GO TO $14.
THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
AND THAT'S HOW HIGH-PERFORMING ORGANIZATIONS DO IT.
THEY DON'T TRY AND DO EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE.
THEY TRY AND TAKE STEPS TO GET THE MOST OUT-OF-MARKET, COMPARABLE POSITION EMPLOYEES TO THE MARKET.
HIGH-PERFORMING ORGANIZATIONS SPEND TIME LOOKING AT THEIR TURNOVER.
I WAS THRILLED TO HEAR SOME OF THE SPEAKERS FROM OUR WORKFORCE DEVASTATED TO LOOK
[01:45:01]
AT OUR TURNOVER NUMBERS AND TO REALIZE THAT JUST IN THE FEW MONTHS OF PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, AND LATOYA JUST TOLD ME THE NUMBER AND I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT IT IS, BUT WE HAVE HAD HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE LEAVE IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.IT'S GETTING WORSE AND WORSE, AND IT FEEDS ON ITSELF, BECAUSE THE REALITY IS WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THIS IS A SITUATION.
IT'S A CYCLE OF DISENGAGEMENT.
AND SO PEOPLE ARE WORKING HARD.
THEY HAVE TO PICK UP THE SLACK.
WE HAVE TO PROVIDE CERTAIN SERVICES.
AND THEN THEY BEGIN TO LOOK FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
WE ARE UNFORTUNATELY, AND I DIDN'T REALIZE IT UNTIL JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, WE REALLY ARE ON THAT SLIPPERY SLOPE.
YOU KNOW, RECENTLY THERE WAS A BATON ROUGE AREA FOUNDATION STUDY THAT JUST WAS PUBLISHED A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, AND I CALLED AND ASKED ABOUT IT.
WE'VE ALL HEARD OF THE ALICE POPULATION.
GEORGE BELL FROM UNITED WAY HELPED COACH ME ON WHERE WE ARE IN BATON ROUGE.
BUT THE REALITY IS THAT WHAT HAGER WAS TALKING ABOUT AS A SINGLE WAGE EARNER WITH CHILDREN IN HER HOUSEHOLD, IT MAKES IT VERY, VERY HARD TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
CURRENTLY, IF YOU EARN BELOW $35,000 IN THAT RANGE, YOU'RE CONSIDERED AT THE POVERTY LEVEL OR BELOW.
IF YOU EARN BETWEEN $35,000 AND $70,000, ACCORDING TO THE BRASS STUDY, YOU'RE CONSIDERED THE WORKING POOR, AND THAT'S OUR ALICE POPULATION.
SOMEONE SUGGESTED THAT WE MAYBE LOOK AT SHOULD UNCLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES BE PART OF THIS RACE.
THE MOST I'VE HAD IN THE PAST FEW DAYS WAS SPENDING TWO HOURS THE OTHER NIGHT PULLING THE LIST OF DIRECTORS AND ASSISTANT DIRECTORS AND SEEING WITH OUR CURRENT PAY PLAN HOW MANY OF THEM WERE BELOW $70,000 IN STARTING PAY.
ANGIE SAVOY, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, LEAVES OR SOMEONE ELSE LEAVES.
EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE UNCLASSIFIED PEOPLE ON THAT LIST ARE UNDER $70,000 AT STEP ONE OF THE CURRENT SCALE.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET WEALTHY WORKING FOR THE CITY.
THIS IS A MINIMAL AVERAGE 3.5% PAY RAISE.
WHEN YOU'RE AT THE LOW END OF THE SCALE AND YOU'RE GETTING A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT, EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS.
SO WHAT THE CONSULTANTS HAVE DONE IN THEIR PROPOSAL IS COMPARED US, MARKET COMPARISONS TO OTHER COMMUNITIES.
VERY SIMILAR JOBS, EXACTLY MARKET-TO-MARKET COMPARISON.
AND WHAT YOU SEE ARE ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON HOW FAR OFF.
AND I CAN TELL YOU, WE HAVE THE HARD-TO-FILL JOBS, MECHANICS, EQUIPMENT OPERATORS.
WE'RE A TRAINING AGENCY FOR THE STATE.
WE'RE SPENDING GOOD MONEY ON THAT, AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, THEY GET PICKED OFF.
WE'VE COME TO YOU WITH REQUESTS FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS LIKE THAT.
THERE'S A LOT OF HIDDEN COSTS OF TURNOVER.
I TALKED ABOUT OVERTIME COSTS, LOST PRODUCTIVITY, SERVICE DELAYS.
I'M WATCHING IN MEETINGS PEOPLE STEPPING OUT TO ANSWER CALLS BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S BEEN TRYING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH SOMEONE.
AND IT'S GOING TO BECOME HARDER AND HARDER TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE'RE USED TO GIVING.
YOU KNOW, I WAS ON A PANEL YEARS AGO WITH THE GUY WHO STARTED THE CONTAINER STORE.
WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THE CONTAINER STORE HERE MUCH, BUT IT'S VERY PREVALENT IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, AND IT'S CONSIDERED A BEST PRACTICE.
THEY ARE VERY WORKFORCE-FRIENDLY AND SERVICE-ORIENTED.
AND THE GENTLEMAN WHO WAS ON THE PANEL SAID SOMETHING THAT I REALLY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT AT THE TIME.
HE SAID, IN OUR ORGANIZATION, ONE GREAT IS WORTH THREE GOOD.
I'VE HAD DEPARTMENT HEADS TELL ME, YOU KNOW, THE WORKFORCE REDUCTION WAS HARD, BUT THE REALITY IS WE KEPT A LOT OF OUR GOOD PEOPLE.
AND NOW WE CAN BRING THEM UP, CROSS-TRAIN THEM.
I THINK THAT WHERE WE ARE NOW ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE TO ADD GREAT PEOPLE.
PEOPLE WITH EXPERIENCE, PEOPLE WITH TALENT, PEOPLE WITH SKILLS THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED.
NOW, LET ME TAKE YOU TO WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
SO, JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, WE HAD 4,444 EMPLOYEES.
WE SERVICED A MUCH LARGER AREA.
I GET BUSINESS PEOPLE SAY, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE
[01:50:01]
WITH THE WORKFORCE AND THINGS IN THE CITY OF ST.GEORGE? WELL, WE HAVE GOOD ANSWERS TO THAT.
THAT'S NOT A HARD QUESTION TO ANSWER.
YOU ALL HAVE HELPED US MAKE GOOD DECISIONS ABOUT THAT.
IT IS A GOVERNMENT AGENCY WITH A CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM, BUT WE'RE DOING GOOD WITH YOUR HELP.
WE ARE DOING VERY, VERY WELL, AND WE HAVE A GOOD STORY TO TELL.
WE ALSO HAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL FUNDS, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE.
TODAY, GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE HAVE 3,900 EMPLOYEES.
SO WE WENT FROM 4,444 TO 03,900.
OUR DEPARTMENTS HAVE ADAPTED AND OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE ADAPTED.
NOW, NOT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THIS.
IF WE CONTINUE TO LOSE PEOPLE, I HAD SOMEONE COME AND WORK ON MY COMPUTER TODAY FROM INFORMATION SERVICES, TWO WONDERFULLY TALENTED WOMEN.
ONE HAS BEEN HERE 10 YEARS AND ONE HAS BEEN HERE 12 YEARS.
THEY HAVE LOST 10 PEOPLE IN IS SINCE WE DID WORKFORCE REDUCTIONS.
WORKFORCE REDUCTIONS SCARE PEOPLE.
AND THE PEOPLE YOU LOSE FIRST ARE YOUR BEST PEOPLE.
THE MOST MARKETABLE PEOPLE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO, AGAIN, THE SLIPPERY SLOPE, WE NOW HAVE 3,900 EMPLOYEES.
WE HAVE A NEW NORMAL, BUT WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FIRST-CLASS SERVICE, WHICH IS WHAT THIS CITY IS ALL ABOUT.
WHERE THE CAPITAL CITY WE'RE IN A REGION THAT IS COMPETITIVE AND WE NEED TO BE UP TO THE CHALLENGE WE CAN'T PAY PEOPLE AT A SECOND CLASS LEVEL AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT.
OVERALL, SO THE 544 FEWER POSITIONS THAT WE HAD IN 2024 AND NOW WE'RE IN 2026, THE GRAPH KIND OF INDICATES WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
WE FOUND OUT THAT WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 100 POSITIONS THAT ARE VACANT AND FUNDED WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND.
THESE ARE POSITIONS, SOME OF WHICH HAVE BEEN VACANT SINCE 2024.
SO I WILL TELL YOU AS A CONSULTANT, IF YOU GO INTO AN ORGANIZATION, THEY HAVE A POSITION THAT HASN'T BEEN FILLED IN TWO YEARS, WE'RE GOING TO SAY, HEY, DO YOU REALLY NEED THAT POSITION BECAUSE YOU'RE MAKING DO WITHOUT IT? NOW, SADLY, I WILL TELL YOU WHAT WE HEAR ANECDOTALLY IS THAT IF WE WERE TRYING TO GET A FULL-FLEDGED ACCOUNTANT IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, WHAT WE'RE HAVING TO DO BECAUSE THE PAY IS SO LOW, WE'RE HAVING TO DROP DOWN, AND WE'RE HAVING TO GET SOME SORT OF BOOKKEEPING SKILL SETS THAT MAYBE WE CAN MAKE THIS WORK.
WE'LL AT LEAST HAVE A WARM BODY, SOMEBODY TO ANSWER THE PHONE, SOMEBODY TO HELP.
BUT AGAIN, YOU CAN'T CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IF WE'RE DOING THAT THROUGHOUT THE GOVERNMENT.
NEW METHODS OF DELIVERING SERVICES, AS I MENTIONED, ARE ABSOLUTELY ON THE TOP OF THE LIST.
BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE GOOD PEOPLE TO DO THIS.
SO HOW ARE WE ADDRESSING THIS? WE'RE GOING TO FREEZE APPROXIMATELY 100 POSITIONS.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT WE ALREADY HAVE A MECHANISM IN PLACE.
OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR AND OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR HAVE WORKED ON A PROCESS AND A FORM.
WHEN WE HAVE A NEEDED POSITION, A DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR SIMPLY GOES THROUGH THE EXERCISE OF DEMONSTRATING NEED.
A HARD FREEZE WHERE NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO REPLACE POSITIONS.
WE ARE PROPOSING TO USE THOSE SAVINGS TO REINVEST WITH OUR WORKFORCE TO RETAIN OUR TALENTED EMPLOYEES AND OUR INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE.
HOW DOES THIS WORK AND HOW DOES THIS IMPACT THE BUDGET? BY RESTRUCTURING THE WORKFORCE, WE'RE FREEING UP $4.6 MILLION ANNUALLY, AND THE ANNUAL COST OF THIS RAISE IS $4.4 MILLION OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
WE HAVE A $1 BILLION BUDGET OVERALL, AND THIS IS TWO-TENTHS OF 1% OF THE TOTAL ANNUAL BUDGET.
IT'S EXTREMELY COST-EFFECTIVE.
I WILL JUST SAY, WHEN WE MET IN SMALL GROUPS, WE SHARED WITH YOU THAT, ACCORDING TO THE MAD CONSULTANTS, WE ARE AT 45% OF MARKET VALUE FOR THE POSITIONS.
WE'RE PAYING AT 45% OF MARKET VALUE.
IF WE HAD IMPLEMENTED THE RAISE AT THAT POINT, WE WOULD HAVE GONE TO 65% OF MARKET VALUE.
WE'RE PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT BELOW THAT, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
HIGH PERFORMING ORGANIZATIONS, THIS IS WHERE WE'D LOVE TO GET AT SOME POINT.
AND IF WE WOULD START DOING THIS CONTINUALLY, IT WOULD BE EASIER AND EASIER.
AND WE'D BE ABLE TO RETAIN AND RECRUIT GOOD PEOPLE, HIGH-PERFORMING ORGANIZATIONS TRY TO PAY AT ABOUT THE 75%
[01:55:01]
OF MARKET VALUE.SO IF YOU APPROVE THIS TONIGHT, WE GO UP TO 65%.
WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE, WE'LL GO UP TO 75%.
AND MAYBE, AS ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS SO WISELY SAID, WE'LL GET SOME OF OUR PEOPLE BACK.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE NAMES OF PEOPLE WE WOULD LIKE TO GO AFTER, AND WE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.
SO IF WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT AND RETAIN SOME OF OUR HIGHER SKILL EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE THIS SPECIALIZED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE, WE WILL BEGIN TO ATTRACT GOOD PEOPLE WHO WANT TO WORK WITH GOOD PEOPLE.
THE AVERAGE RAISE IS $2,900 A YEAR, OR $241 A MONTH.
I HAD SOMEONE TELL ME THE OTHER DAY, THAT SOUNDS TERRIBLE.
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT'S $241 MORE A MONTH THAN SOMEBODY'S GETTING RIGHT NOW.
WE SEE THIS AS A STRUCTURED MARKET CORRECTION.
THIS IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT THING, OKAY? PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CAPPED OUT WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO STAY HERE AND KNOW THAT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO GET CLOSER TO THE MARKET.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD, DEDICATED PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE A LONG, LONG TIME.
AND YOU HEARD FROM SOME OF THEM.
BUT WE SEE THIS AS PART OF A MULTI-YEAR TARGETED SOLUTION.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT STEP TO REBALANCE TOTAL COMPENSATION AND I KNOW THAT THE MAG CONSULTANT TALKED ABOUT THAT, SEVERAL OF YOU SUGGESTED THAT I GO BACK AND WATCH IT.
I COULDN'T FIND IT BECAUSE I'M NOT AS TECHNOLOGICALLY SOPHISTICATED AS SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, BUT A KIND PERSON FOUND IT FOR ME AND SENT ME THE LINK AND IT WAS VERY ILLUSTRATIVE AS YOU ALL TOLD ME IT WOULD BE.
WE'RE 75% BENEFITS AND 25% SALARIES AND WAGES, AND GUESS WHAT? YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THAT.
THEY'RE GOING TO LIVE FOREVER.
THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT RETIREMENT.
THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT, OH, ALL THIS OTHER STUFF, AND PLUS, I'M NOT SICK.
YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE I DON'T EVEN GO TO THE DOCTOR IF I'M A YOUNG PERSON ANYMORE.
SO WE'VE GOT TO REBALANCE THAT.
WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT AT THE SAME TIME AS RAISING PAY.
THERE'S NO REASON WHY THEY CAN'T BE DONE AT THE SAME TIME.
AND, IN FACT, WE WERE INVITED TO A MEETING THE OTHER DAY WITH SOME OF OUR UNION MEMBERS AND LEADERSHIP SUGGESTING THAT WE GO BACK TO WHAT WAS DONE IN THE TIME PERIOD THAT I TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.
AND SO I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT WE ARE COMMITTED FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO START A TASK FORCE THAT WILL LOOK AT...
WE'VE ALREADY HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HEALTH CARE POSSIBILITIES.
THAT'S SHORT TERM, AND WE COULD REALIZE THOSE SAVINGS NEXT YEAR, JUST AS YOU DID LAST YEAR, WHICH REALLY HELPED SHORE US UP WHEN WE NEEDED IT TERRIBLY.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO TACKLE RETIREMENT.
WE HAVE RETIREMENT PEOPLE HERE.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH US TO DO THIS.
WE WILL NEED COUNCIL MEMBER PARTICIPATION.
WE WILL NEED NOMINATIONS FROM YOU.
BUT WE WANT TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND REALLY SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
I'LL TELL YOU ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THINGS THAT WAS DONE IN THE TASK FORCE THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE.
THEY CAPPED SICK LEAVE THAT YOU COULD CARRY INTO RETIREMENT.
THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A BIG DEAL.
NOW, EVERYBODY WHO IS ALREADY IN OUR WORKFORCE, YOU CAN'T TAKE AWAY THEIR BENEFITS.
BUT EVERY NEW PERSON, IMAGINE HOW MANY NEW PEOPLE HAVE COME IN SINCE 2013.
SO IT'S LIKE THE TREE YOU PLANT TODAY, BUT GROWS BIGGER AND BIGGER.
AND FOR GENERATIONS IN THE FUTURE, THEY GET TO ENJOY IT.
THAT'S HOW I SEE WHAT WE'RE ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR IS COMMITTED TO THIS.
HE'S GOING TO COME UP HERE AND GIVE YOU SOME OF HIS OBSERVATIONS AND THOUGHTS.
BUT I THINK THAT WE'VE GOT TO WRAP OUR MINDS AROUND WE HAVE NO CHOICE, BUT WE'VE GOT TO TACKLE ALL THESE PROBLEMS SIMULTANEOUSLY.
SO WHAT'S BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS NOT THE FINAL ANSWER.
IT IS AN IMMEDIATE CORRECTION.
IT'S A RETENTION STRATEGY, AND IT'S A STEP TOWARD RESTORING BASIC COMPETITIVENESS FOR GOOD EMPLOYEES.
BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT CHOOSING FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND SUPPORTING EMPLOYEES.
YOU ALL ARE VERY RESPONSIBLE ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP KNOWS THAT THEY HAVE TO DO BOTH.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I ENJOY.
YOU'RE HAVING OPEN MINDS AND FLEXIBLE THINKING, AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER VOTING YES TONIGHT.
SO FIRST, LET ME ADDRESS THE OUTFIT.
[02:00:01]
IT'S SERIOUSLY NOT THEATER.THESE ARE MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTERS.
I'D PUT ON A CONSULAR UNIFORM, CONSULAR, BUT THEY TOLD ME I'D BE IMPERSONATING A LAW OFFICER.
BUT AT MY CORE, THIS IS WHO I AM.
AND LET ME EXPLAIN, AND I'M PROUD TO WEAR THIS UNIFORM.
OKAY, THIS IS THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
I KNOW THE COUNCIL HAS HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE.
BUT I'M 63 YEARS OLD, AND I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO TELL A STORY OF HOW TIMES WERE TOUGH WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.
17 MONTHS AGO, I WAS THE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AT ESTREMA HIGH SCHOOL, MAKING $62,000 A YEAR, WHICH WAS ABOUT $30,000 MORE A YEAR THAN SOME OF THESE PEOPLE MAKE.
BEANIE AND I'S LIGHTS WENT OUT.
I GOT TWO AUTISTIC KIDS AT HOME.
WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY THE BILL.
NOW, I ONLY HAD TO GO A DAY AND A HALF IN JULY WITHOUT THOSE LIGHTS, BUT I FELT IT.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M UP HERE ADVOCATING FOR THESE FOLKS.
YOU CAN SEE IT IN ALL TYPE OF ASPECTS.
BUT UNTIL YOU FEEL IT, YOU DON'T KNOW IT.
I HAVE FELT IT, AND THAT'S WHY I AM SO PASSIONATE TO BE ABLE TO PUSH THIS OVER THE FINISH LINE TONIGHT.
THERE'S JUST SO MANY PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES.
PUTTING YOURSELF IN ANOTHER'S SHOES TO SEE HOW IT IS.
DPW PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR CAN VOUCH FOR ME.
I WENT TO EVERY ONE OF THEIR PLACES, EVERY DIVISION THAT SPOKE WITH THEM.
AND THE QUESTION I HAD FOR MOST OF THEM IS HOW MANY OF YOU ARE WORKING MORE THAN ONE JOB? AND 70% OF THEM RAISED THEIR HANDS.
I ONCE WORKED TWO OR THREE JOBS.
I'VE BEEN IN HOMES RECENTLY WHERE I GO IN AND BABIES ARE CRYING.
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH FOOD ON THE TABLE.
MAMAS AND DADDIES HAVING TO DECIDE TO PUT GAS IN THE CAR OR FEED THE CHILDREN.
IT'S AMAZING HOW FAR A BOX OF CEREAL CAN GO WHEN SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE NOTHING ELSE BUT A DAMN BOX OF CEREAL.
AND UNTIL SOMEBODY LIVES THAT AND FEELS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW IT, OVER 300 OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING BELOW THE POVERTY LINE.
AND I WANT TO TELL YOU, I WANT TO THANK THEM.
BECAUSE AS SOON AS I GOT IN HERE, I CHALLENGED THEM.
AND THEY TOLD ME, WE'VE BEEN HEARING THAT A LONG TIME.
YOU'RE AVERAGING 60 POTHOLES A MONTH.
CAN YOU AVERAGE 160? YOU KNOW WHAT THEY DID? THEY DID IT.
THEY'RE KICKING BUTT IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
WHEN PEOPLE SAY CONSTABLES ARE NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT, OR THEY'RE NOT PUBLIC SAFETY, GO ASK THE JUDGES AND THE CONSTITUENTS AND THE LAWYERS OVER THERE IN ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES YOU COULD BE IN WHILE THESE MEN AND WOMEN ARE STANDING THERE PROTECTING PEOPLE.
BEFORE I GO ON, I WAS ASKED, BECAUSE THERE'S A COUPLE OF FOLKS, TRUTHFULLY, THAT ASKED TO BE HEARD ON A VIDEO I WANT TO PLAY, BUT THEY'RE WORKING THEIR SECOND JOB TONIGHT AND THEY CAN'T BE HERE.
CHASELYN, CAN WE TEE THAT VIDEO UP ONE MOMENT?
[02:06:40]
>>AND I'M GOING TO CLOSE OUT, BUT HERE'S WHAT COMFORTS ME WHEN I LOOK AT YOU, ELEVEN.
WE'VE GOT ONE ON A CRUISE IN ACAPULCO SOMEWHERE.
THIS, I'D LIKE YOU ALL TO LOOK AT ME.
I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SEE ALL OF YOU, IF YOU WOULD LOOK UP, PLEASE.
THIS IS NOT A TACTICAL, TECHNICAL VOTE.
WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH CITY PARISH FINANCES AND ALL THAT, I KNOW IT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL.
BUT THIS IS A VOTE OF THE HEART TONIGHT.
IT RARELY HAPPENS, BUT TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT.
IT'S A VOTE OF YOUR HEART TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE AT LEAST AGAINST US.
AND I TELL YOU, WE'VE GOT ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY WITH WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE STATE CAPITOL AND WHAT'S GOING ON FEDERALLY.
WE HAVE A MOMENT TONIGHT TO HEAL AND TO DO SOMETHING BIPARTISAN AND DO SOMETHING TOGETHER THAT IS SPECIAL FOR BATON ROUGE.
I DON'T WANT TO LIVE BY THE ADAGE, WHEN THE RICH MAN IS BUSY DANCING AND THE POOR MAN PAYS THE BAND.
WE WERE THINKING THE MACHINES MIGHT BE UP AND START WORKING, BUT ASHLEY'S RESTARTING OVER HERE.
IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO CLICK TO SPEAK, LET'S JUST SEE IF, I GUESS IT'S STILL NOT WORKING.
OKAY, WELL, RAISE YOUR HANDS IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK.
WHO WANTS TO GO? COUNCILMAN KINNEY? ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
FIRST OFF, TO ALL THE DPW WORKERS, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT.
YOU ARE THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR CITY PARISH.
I KNOW THE THEME OF OUR LAST COUNCIL MEETING WAS AROUND 9-1-1.
GIVING THE MOST HIGHEST POLICE PAY RAISES IN THE STATE.
AND I'M GLAD THE CITY OF PARRISH DID IT, RIGHT? BUT JUST LIKE 911 IS CALLED, 311 IS CALLED JUST AS MUCH IN THIS COMMUNITY.
COUNCILMEMBERS, I PUT ON EACH OF YOUR DESKS, OUR GOOD FRIENDS AT THE FOUNDATION DID THIS STUDY ABOUT POVERTY IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH IS ALMOST TWICE AS THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR POVERTY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND CITY.
AND SO AS A CITY PARISH TODAY, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A SOLUTION AND NOT A PART OF THE PROBLEM.
IF WE HAVE ABOUT 300 AND 400 OF OUR EMPLOYEES THAT FALL IN THE POVERTY LINE AND FALL IN THIS STATS AND DATA, AND WE DON'T APPROVE THIS TODAY, WE ARE CULPRITS TO THE PROBLEM.
THEN, MAYOR, IF WE GET THIS PASSED TODAY, LORD WILLING, RIGHT, I SEE ALL THE FANCY BILLBOARDS, BRPD, COME JOIN TODAY.
I THINK TOMORROW WE NEED TO HAVE BILLBOARDS FOR CITY PARISH WORKERS.
IF WE WANT TO ATTRACT THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST IN THIS COMMUNITY, WE NEED
[02:10:02]
TO HAVE THE SAME STANDARDS ACROSS THE BOARD.I KNOW A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, MY COLLEAGUES AND I, WE DID A PRESS CONFERENCE RIGHT IN THIS VERY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
IT WASN'T A POLITICAL GRANDSTAND.
IT WASN'T A POLITICAL STUNT OR NOTHING LIKE THAT TO FORCE THE MAYOR.
WE HONESTLY THOUGHT THESE CITY PARISH WORKERS NEEDED A VOICE IN THIS ROOM.
WE ALL WATCHED THE COUNCIL MEETING.
WE SAW THE RED CARPET ROLLED OUT FOR BRPD.
BUT ME AND MY COLLEAGUES FEEL LIKE THE RED CARPET NEEDED TO BE ROLLED OUT FOR OUR CITY PARISH WORKERS AS WELL.
WE GOT AN EMAIL TODAY, COUNCIL MEMBERS, FROM A LADY THAT SAID SHE HAS TO CHOOSE TONIGHT BETWEEN BUYING A MEAL OR PUTTING GAS IN HER CAR.
SO THAT MEANS HALF OF HER PAYCHECK IS GOING TO GAS.
SO IF WE WANT TO BE COMPETITIVE AS A PARISH, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SETTING THAT STANDARD AS WELL.
CHRISTELLE, ANGIE, COME UP RIGHT QUICK.
SO I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS, QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP IS ABOUT WE HAVE TO FREEZE SOME ROLES.
NOW, IF WE APPROVE THIS TONIGHT, ARE WE ABLE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THOSE ROLES AS NEEDED FOR SOME OF OUR DEPARTMENTS? SO WE HAVE TO FREEZE ALL OF OUR ROLES TO GET THIS ACROSS THE BOARD, RIGHT? IF THERE'S A SITUATION THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO HIRE SOMEBODY, ARE WE ABLE TO UNFREEZE A ROLE BASED ON THE SITUATION? OH, ABSOLUTELY.
BUT THE 100 POSITIONS THAT WOULD BE FUNDING THIS HAVE NOT BEEN USED.
AND SO THAT IMPLIES THAT THESE ARE LESS NECESSARY POSITIONS.
BUT CERTAINLY IF SOMETHING CHANGES, THERE ARE MECHANISMS TO DO THAT, AND WE'RE PREPARED TO DO THAT.
AND SO THE LAST POINT I WANT TO MAKE, I KNOW SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A RETIREMENT PENSION SYSTEM.
I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE FOR A YEAR AND A COUPLE MONTHS, AND SO I KNOW THIS MAG STUDY THAT'S BEEN DONE WAS DONE PRIOR TO ME TAKING OFFICE, BUT I KNOW THIS MAG STUDY HAS BEEN SITTING ON THE SHELF FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
AND SO I KNOW WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE RETIREMENT ISSUES, THE PENSION ISSUES, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IN PIGEON-TOED HOLDING ALL OF THESE DPW WORKERS OVER SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE YEARS AGO.
AND SO, MAYOR, TO MY COLLEAGUES HERE TODAY, WE UNDERSTAND THIS POLITICAL CLIMATE IS VERY TENSE RIGHT NOW.
BUT ONE POWERFUL THING, MAYOR EDWARDS CAME UP HERE AND SAID WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE AT THIS COUNCIL LEVEL THAT WE CARE ABOUT THE LITTLE PEOPLE.
AND SO I'M ASKING YOU ALL HERE TODAY TO APPROVE THIS MOTION.
IT'S NOT ABOUT DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN.
IT'S ABOUT EACH AND EVERY PERSON WHO CAME UP TO THAT PODIUM WHO BUSTS THEIR BEHINDS FOR US.
THINK ABOUT EACH AND EVERY LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT THAT WORKS FOR US ON A DAILY BASIS.
BECAUSE I KNOW MY TWO, THEY TAKE CARE OF ME.
AND I KNOW THEY TAKE CARE OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL, YOUR RESPECTED EMPLOYEES.
BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT AIDS, IT'S NOT ABOUT DPW, BUT IT'S ABOUT THESE LITTLE PEOPLE WHO CAME AND SAW THIS COUNCIL MEETING LAST TIME AND SAW THE RED CARPET ROLLED OUT FOR BRPD, WHICH THEY LOOK, THEY HONESTLY EARNED THOSE RAISES, RIGHT? BUT TODAY, THEY NEED TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE CARE ABOUT THEM.
AND IF WE WALK AWAY TODAY AND KILL THIS ITEM, WHAT ARE WE TELLING THEM? AND SO WHEN ALL THOSE 311 REQUESTS...
START STACKING UP AND I'M CONSISTENT WITH START SAYING IT'S TIME TO GET OUT THESE SEATS.
THEY ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR JOBS.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TODAY IN FAVOR OF SUPPORTED THIS AND MAY I PRO TEMP? I MOVED TO APPROVE THIS ITEM.
SO, YOU GOT A MOTION BY COUNCIL MCKINLEY SECOND, MY COUNCILWOMAN CALLED THE COUNCILWOMAN.
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE ON MAY WE TOOK CARE OF BATON ROUGE'S FINEST.
OUR VOTE MADE THE STATEMENT THAT PUBLIC SAFETY MATTERS.
THAT WAS THE STATEMENT THAT WAS MADE.
IT MATTERED ON MAY 6TH, AND IT MATTERS TODAY.
WE'RE NOT ASKING, THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR A HANDOUT, THEY'RE ASKING FOR A HAND UP.
TO GET THEM AS CLOSE TO A LIVABLE WAGE AS WE CAN GET THEM FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS.
IT'S TIME TO TAKE CARE OF OUR, GET THIS, TAX-PAYING CITIZENS WHO KEEP THE REST OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT WORKING.
YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHY THE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE LEAVING, WHY THE FOLK ARE LEAVING.
PEOPLE ARE LEAVING BATON ROUGE
[02:15:02]
BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL VALUED.NOT JUST THE COLLEGE STUDENTS, THEIR TALENTS AND GIFTS ARE NOT RESPECTED, THEIR TALENTS AND GIFTS ARE NOT VALUED.
THESE ARE OUR TAX-PAYING CONSTITUENTS.
ALL OF THESE FOLK ARE A CONSTITUENT OF ONE OF OURS UP HERE.
SO MANY OF THEM, THE MAJORITY OF THEM, LIVE IN ONE OF OUR DISTRICTS.
I KNOW 117 OF THEM IN DISTRICT 10.
SO DO YOU KNOW WHO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GIVING THE RAISE TO? YEAH, THREE LADIES.
THEY GOT THREE LADIES IN THAT BIG OLD MAIL ROOM OVER THERE.
DO YOU KNOW THEM? THERE ARE ONLY THREE, I THINK, OVER THERE IN FINANCE.
DO YOU KNOW THEM? DO YOU KNOW THAT OUR LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANTS, THEY'RE TAXPAYER RESIDENTS AS WELL, OUR ASSISTANTS ARE INVOLVED IN THIS PAY RAISE.
AND TO SAY NO IS A NO FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HUSTLE THEIR BUTTS OFF TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN FOR ALL YOU COUNCIL PEOPLE THAT SIT UP HERE.
AND IF Y'ALL DON'T THINK SO, Y'ALL NEED TO LOOK AT THEM RIGHT NOW AND TELL THEM THAT THEY AIN'T DOING ANYTHING OR THEY DON'T DESERVE, THEY DON'T DESERVE THIS LITTLE MONEY.
SO THEY HERE TONIGHT AND EVEN THOUGH YOU RAN THEM RAGGEDY TODAY, I KNOW I DID, THEY ARE HERE TONIGHT.
SO JUST TELL YOUR AIDES, YOU DON'T DESERVE THIS.
Y'ALL TELL THEM, YOU DON'T DESERVE THIS.
SO IF YOU CAN'T DO THAT, THEN AIN'T BUT ONE WAY TO VOTE.
AIN'T BUT ONE WAY, PAY THEM PEOPLE.
SO IN THE WORDS OF, AND I LOVE MUSIC, MY DAD, DEAR TO ME, IN THE WORDS OF ERIC B.
AND ROCKY, IT'S TIME TO GET PAID IN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH HAS BEEN SAID HERE THIS EVENING.
THE CITY PASS EMPLOYEES WHO CAME OUT AND SPOKE WITH DID AMAZING JOB.
I DON'T THINK ANY OF US REALLY NEED TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE Y'ALL REPRESENTED YOURSELF AS WELL.
SO I JUST WANT TO TAKE MY HATS OFF TO YOU GUYS FOR PARTICIPATING.
COUNCILMAN KENNEY MENTIONED THE PRESS CONFERENCE THAT WE HELD IN THIS CHAMBER.
AND WE TALKED AND WE DISCUSSED AND WE SAW THIS CONVERSATION HAPPENING.
AND WE FELT THERE WAS A VACUUM THERE.
YOU KNOW, RIGHTFULLY SO, THE MAYOR CAMPAIGN ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND BRPD, WE GET IT.
BUT WE DIDN'T SEE OR HEAR A VOICE FOR THE REST OF THE CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES.
ONE OF YOU GUYS CAME UP AND TALKED ABOUT HOW, YES, BRPD ARE FIRST RESPONDERS, BUT OFTENTIMES DPW AND OTHER FOLKS OUT THERE ARE AIDING AND ASSISTING ON THOSE CALLS.
AND SEVERAL OF YOU JUST KIND OF MADE THE POINT HOW THE WHOLE SYSTEM DEPENDS ON EACH DEPARTMENT, EACH PERSON.
IF ONE DEPARTMENT PULLS OUT, THEN THE WHOLE SYSTEM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GO UNDER.
SO IT RELIES ON EVERYBODY, NO LITTLE I'S, NO BIG U'S, NO BIG U'S, NO LITTLE I'S.
EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS CITY, AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THESE PAIRS.
WE APPRECIATE YOU, AND I HOPE THIS COUNCIL, MY COLLEAGUES AND I, CAN SHOW YOU THAT NOT WITH WORDS BUT WITH ACTIONS TODAY.
A LOT HAS BEEN MADE ABOUT THE FREEZING OF POSITIONS AND LIMITED EMPLOYEES PAYING INTO THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
THE POINT HAS BEEN MADE ABOUT BRPD, WHERE IT'S GOING TO IMPROVE RECRUITMENT.
THERE ARE GOING TO BE MORE PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN ATTRACT AND BRING INTO THE SYSTEM TO PAY INTO THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
WHERE THE SAME EFFECT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN ALL THESE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, IF YOU GIVE THEM HIGHER RAISES, HIGHER PAY RAISES, AND HIGHER SALARIES, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO ATTRACT MORE EMPLOYEES TO PAY INTO THE SYSTEM AS WELL.
ANOTHER POINT, NOT ONLY DOES MORE EMPLOYEES PAY INTO THE SYSTEM WHEN YOU
[02:20:02]
BRING MORE EMPLOYEES TO IT, BUT THE RETIREMENT THAT'S CONTRIBUTING TO THE SYSTEM IS BASED ON A PERCENTAGE OF YOUR PAY.WHEN THE PAY IS INCREASED, A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF THAT PAY GOES INTO THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
SO NOT ONLY DOES MORE EMPLOYEES CONTRIBUTE MORE, BUT WHEN HIGHER SALARIES ARE INCREASED, THAT'S MORE GOING INTO THE SYSTEM.
SO I JUST KIND OF WANT TO DEBUNK SOME OF THESE TALKING POINTS AND MYTHS THAT'S BEEN OUT THERE TRYING TO.
BRING DOUBT ABOUT WHY WE SHOULD DO THIS.
THE DOLLARS ARE THERE, THE MONEY IS THERE, FINANCE, HR, ADMINISTRATION, COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE WORKED HARD TO IDENTIFY THESE FUNDS.
I HOPE THAT WE CAN FIND IT WITHIN OURSELVES, WITHIN THIS BODY, TO SUPPORT THESE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT US ALL THE TIME.
AND I'M GOING TO BE THE THIRD PERSON TO MENTION THESE LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANTS AND COUNCIL STAFFS.
BECAUSE NONE OF US CAN DO THIS COUNCIL WORK WITHOUT THIS COUNCIL STAFF.
THEY ARE THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF THE COUNCIL OFFICE.
OFTENTIMES, THEY ATTEND THE MEETINGS ON OUR BEHALF.
IT'S A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS THAT HAS TO BE DONE WITHIN A COUNCIL OFFICE TO SERVICE THESE 30,000, 40,000 CONSTITUENTS AND MORE BECAUSE WE MAY HAVE 40,000 CONSTITUENTS IN OUR DISTRICT.
BUT OFTENTIMES WE'RE RECEIVING CALLS FROM ALL OVER THE PARIS, IN OUR DISTRICT AND NOT IN OUR DISTRICT.
AND WE COULD NOT DO THIS WORK WITHOUT OUR COUNCIL STAFF, OUR LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANTS.
AND I THINK IT WILL BE HEARTBREAKING FOR THEM TO KNOW THAT THE PERSON OR PERSONS THAT YOU WORK FOR TO HELP CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE COUNCIL OFFICE WILL NOT BE IN SUPPORT OF GIVING YOU A PAY RAISE.
UM, LET ME 1ST START OFF BY SAYING YES, WE DO HAVE THE BEST STAFF WHEN WE SPEAK OF OUR LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANCE AND ANY OTHER SUPPORTING STAFFS IN OUR OFFICE.
THEY PICK UP OUR SLACK WHEN WE ARE AT A MEETING OR HAVE ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT GOING ON FOR MY STAFF IS 24, 7, 7 DAYS A WEEK.
THERE'S NEVER NO ALWAYS ANSWERING THE PHONE.
I'M ALWAYS TEXTING LATE AT NIGHT, BUT THEY'RE ALWAYS, ALWAYS AVAILABLE AND WORK VERY HARD AND DEDICATED TO THIS JOB.
SO THANK YOU TO MY STAFF AND TO EVERY LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT WHO GIVES IT THEIR ALL.
NO MATTER WHO YOU BELONG TO, YOU DO THE JOB AND YOU DO IT WELL.
I WAS WRITING AS FOLKS WERE TALKING AND I WANT TO SHARE.
I WANT TO RECAP SOME THINGS THAT WAS SAID THAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME.
CINDY PENNINGTON WITH THE ENGINEERING, TRAFFIC ENGINEERING, IS RETIRING.
SHE'S LEAVING THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, BUT SHE MADE IT HER BUSINESS TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
NOT FOR HERSELF, BUT FOR HER EMPLOYEES.
BECAUSE CINDY COULD BE ON A CRUISE SHIP SOMEWHERE, SAILING OFF INTO THE SUN.
BUT SHE CAME HERE TONIGHT FOR HER EMPLOYEES, TO MAKE CERTAIN.
SHE SAID HER EMPLOYEES SLEPT UNDER THEIR DESKS FOR TWO WEEKS.
THEY USED THEIR BOATS TO RECRUIT, TO RESCUE FOLKS DURING THE FLOOD.
MR. STEPHEN JOHNSON, BEEN HERE 18 YEARS, AND HE SAID THIS, I'M NOT HERE FOR MYSELF.
WHO WORKS FOR A COMPLAINT HE'S A COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION INVESTIGATOR.
HE'S BEEN WITH THE CITY A VERY LONG TIME.
YOU CAN FEEL HIS PASSION AS HE SPOKE ABOUT HIS JOB AND WHAT HE DOES DEPUTY SHARON DOUGLAS SPOKE ABOUT 1 OF THE CIVILIANS WHO USED TO WORK FOR THEM A SINGLE MOTHER MAKING 10 DOLLARS AND 54 CENTS AN HOUR RAISING A CHILD.
PUTTING GAS IN HER CAR AND PAYING CHILD CARE.
AND I KNOW PLENTY, PLENTY OF WOMEN WHO'S DOING JUST WHAT SHE'S DOING TO MAKE AN HONEST LIVING FOR HER AND HER CHILDREN.
[02:25:02]
HE SAID HE CUTS GRASS, EVEN CUT FALLEN TREES.BUT HE MAKES CERTAIN THAT WE ARE OKAY.
THESE ARE HIS WORDS, NOT MY WORDS.
HE SAID, WE MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU ARE OKAY, BUT WE'RE NOT BEING RECOGNIZED FOR IT.
MR. EVERETT, WHERE ARE YOU? THOSE WERE VERY POWERFUL WORDS, SIR.
HAGER BROWN, WHERE'S HAGER? HAGER HAS BEEN AROUND HERE FOR 23 YEARS.
SHE'S WORKED FOR FOUR DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS.
THEY HAD BEEN MARRIED 10 YEARS, AND SHE WAS RAISING HER CHILDREN ON HER SALARY.
ANGIE AND HER STAFF HAVE SPOKEN TO ANGIE MANY TIMES WHEN SHE SAYS TO ME THAT SHE HAS STAFF WHO ARE WORKING TWO AND THREE JOBS.
THAT IS PULLING ON THE HEART, AND MAYOR SAYS IT PERFECTLY.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT DEMOCRAT-REPUBLICAN.
IT'S ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT THING.
YOU HEARD FOR YOURSELF TONIGHT HOW OUR WORKERS, OUR CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES ARE GETTING PAID $10.54 AN HOUR.
REALLY? $10.50 AN HOUR, $14.75 AN HOUR.
REALLY? SO I ASK THAT EVERY CITY PARISH EMPLOYEE STANDS UP, PLEASE.
EVERY SINGLE PARISH EMPLOYEE PLEASE STAND UP.
LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANTS, EVERYBODY WHO WORKS FOR CITY PARISH, STAND UP.
I WANT TO SAY TO MY COLLEAGUES, IN CLOSING, WE HAVE EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE WITH CITY PARISH.
WHO'S IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT STANDING UP? AND IF YOU SHOOT THIS VOTE DOWN TONIGHT, YOU ARE SAYING TO THEM, I DO NOT SEE YOU.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO EVERYBODY.
I'VE BEEN SNIFFLING AND COUGHING UP HERE ALL NIGHT.
I'M TRYING TO GET OVER IT, BUT I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.
I THINK THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT SHOWING AND EVERYBODY DID SUCH A GOOD JOB.
I FEEL LIKE THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE I CAN THANK FOR HOW YOU MAKE US LOOK.
I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST ME AND LISA A LOT OF TIMES.
AND LISA IS NOT GOING TO CUT YOUR GRASS OR FILL YOUR POTHOLE OR OVERLAY YOUR ROAD OR CLEAN YOUR DITCH.
AND SO ALIZA DOES A GREAT JOB FOLLOWING ME.
I KNOW FRED AND REGINALD AND CINDY, EVERYBODY.
ANYTIME WE HAVE SOMETHING GOING ON, WE HAVE A REQUEST, Y'ALL ARE ABLE TO KEEP US UPDATED.
REGINALD, SO MANY TIMES WE'VE ASKED FOR, HEY, WHERE IS THIS? WHERE DOES THIS ISSUE STAND? YOU GIVE ME A THOROUGH REPORT ON EXACTLY.
HEY, WENT IN THIS DAY, WE DID THIS, WE WENT AND CHECKED IT OUT, IT'S GOING TO BE DONE, IT'S ON THE LIST FOR THIS DAY, SO I CAN GIVE A THOROUGH REPORT TO MY CONSTITUENTS ON HERE'S WHERE IT IS, AND IT'S NOT JUST LIP SERVICE, BUT YOU GIVE ME DATES AND YOU GIVE ME DATA THAT REALLY HELPS ME LET THEM KNOW THAT, HEY, YOU'RE ON THE LIST, IT'S NOT JUST LIP SERVICE, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND EVERYBODY'S STAFF REALLY DOES.
SO I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING WE HAVE GOING ON HERE.
I THINK THIS, THE ONE THING I WOULD SAY ABOUT THIS APPROACH, I DO FEEL LIKE IT'S MOVED A LITTLE FAST.
I SHARED THAT WITH MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES.
I SHARED THAT WITH THE MAYOR'S TEAM.
AND I WOULD SAY MAYBE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL.
WHAT I THINK A LOT OF Y'ALL MAY NOT REALIZE IS A LOT OF US HAVE OTHER JOBS TOO.
AND SO WE SIGNED UP FOR THIS AND WE REALIZE IT AND BUT WE HAVE FAMILIES AND JOBS TOO.
AND SO SOMETIMES RESEARCHING SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON COMING UP.
WE'RE NOT DOING A 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK.
AND IT IS ON THE EXTRA TIME AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT THIS PART TIME JOB TAKES UP FAR MORE TIME THAN ANY OF YOU REALIZE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE SIGN UP FOR IT.
YOU KNOW, TO THE MAYOR'S TEAM, THANK YOU ALL
[02:30:01]
FOR CERTAINLY BEING OPEN TO US.AND WE'LL EVERY TIME I'VE ASKED TO MEET AND GO OVER THINGS Y'ALL ARE AVAILABLE.
I JUST WISH HONESTLY, I WAS AVAILABLE A LITTLE MORE SOMETIMES ON THESE BECAUSE WE DON'T SET OUT THIS TIMELINE.
AND WHAT I WOULD ASK IS IT WOULD HELP A LOT.
IF Y'ALL COULD BRING US IN BEFORE THE 11TH HOUR ON SOME OF THESE ITEMS. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LOT.
AND I THINK IF WE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE PEOPLE UP HERE HAVE A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE AND CAN HELP A LOT ON THESE ITEMS EARLY ON.
AND IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE AT THE 11TH HOUR WHEN YOU THINK YOU'VE GOT IT ALL FIGURED OUT AND THEN YOU'RE READY.
BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES, AS YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU GET US IN THE ROOM, THERE'S GOOD IDEAS AND THERE'S SOME THINGS.
AND YOU REALIZE, A, YOU'VE GOT TO COUNT TO SEVEN, WHICH SOMETIMES CAN BE DIFFICULT, WE KNOW.
THERE'S SOME GOOD IDEAS AND SOME STRATEGIES AND SOME THINGS THAT MAY CHANGE BASED ON CONVERSATIONS Y'ALL HAVE WITH US.
SO BECAUSE OF THAT, I WOULD SAY BRING US IN A LITTLE BIT EARLIER AND MAYBE THAT IS A LITTLE BIT EASIER AND WE DON'T HAVE THESE SHORTENED TIMELINES WHERE EVERYBODY FEELS A LOT OF PRESSURE.
ONE THING I KNOW, I TALKED TO A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES TODAY THAT, AND I'M NOT GOING TO NAME THEM, BUT THEY DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THIS WASN'T THE 3.5% ACROSS THE BOARD THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT SO MANY TIMES.
ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTING THE MAG STUDY FROM TRYING TO GO FROM THE 45TH PERCENTILE TO THE 65TH PERCENTILE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY A BETTER APPROACH.
IT'S FAIRER, I THINK, BECAUSE IT'S TAKING SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE, THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE VERY LOW PAY GRADES AND GIVING THEM A HIGHER BOOST, AND MAYBE SOME OF THE PEOPLE ON THE HIGHER END NOT GETTING QUITE AS MUCH BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY CLOSER TO WHAT MARKET SAYS IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.
THAT'S IMPLEMENTING THAT STUDY.
IS A FAIR APPROACH IN MY MIND THAN ACTUALLY ACROSS THE BOARD.
BUT I HAD TWO COLLEAGUES WHO DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE THAT'S WHAT THE PROPOSAL IS.
BUT THAT WAS BORN OUT OF CONVERSATIONS HAD WITH THE STAFF, WITH THE MAYOR'S STAFF BEFORE THEY PUT THE MEAT BEHIND THE LEGISLATION THAT WAS ALREADY ON THE AGENDA.
SO, AGAIN, MOVING SOME OF THESE THINGS A LITTLE BIT QUICKLY, THINGS CAN GET LOST.
AND I JUST WANT TO, I WANT TO CAUTION YOU ALL TO BRING, BRING US IN A LITTLE BIT EARLIER AND LET'S MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY CAN GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED SATISFACTORILY AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
I THINK THIS IS, I THINK IT'S THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS MANY THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO FIX.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, AND I AM GOING TO TAKE MY EXTRA TIME.
ANGIE, IF YOU COULD COME UP, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY SOME THINGS THAT.
I THINK IT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS.
SO WHEN WE HAD THE WE HAVE TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET, CORRECT? YES, SIR.
AND WE BALANCED THE BUDGET JUST THIS YEAR, ACCURATE? YES, SIR.
SO WHEN YOU'RE MOVING FROM POSITIONS, EXPLAIN EXACTLY HOW THE FUNDING FOR THIS IS HAPPENING IN THAT MANNER.
SO CURRENTLY WE HAVE SOME VACANT FUNDED POSITIONS WITHIN THE CITY PARISH AND THE ONES THAT EVERYONE IS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE GENERAL FUND BECAUSE THAT IS THE FUND THAT WE HAD TO REDUCE RECENTLY.
SO WE HAVE CURRENTLY OVER 100 VACANT POSITIONS FUNDED WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND, AND SO WE ARE UNABLE TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS.
SO THAT FUNDING IN THE GENERAL FUND WILL BE REALLOCATED TO SUPPORT.
THE INCREASE IN COMPENSATION WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND.
THE SPECIAL FUNDS AND THE DEDICATED FUNDS HAVE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
THEY DO HAVE ADDITIONAL VACANCIES AS WELL.
AND LIKE CHRISTELLE SAID, AS THE HIRING REQUESTS COME IN, WE'LL REVIEW THEM ON THEIR MERIT OF SERVICE IMPACT AND FINANCIAL IMPACT.
SO WE'RE MOVING DOLLARS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN BUDGETED FOR.
WE'RE JUST REALLOCATING THEM ACROSS THESE POSITIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE PAY STUDY THAT WAS DONE THREE YEARS AGO.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THE NARRATIVE OF, HEY, EVERYBODY SAID WE WERE BROKE AND THINGS ARE TERRIBLE AND WE NEED TO THRIVE TO PASS TO BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING.
HOW ARE Y'ALL COMING UP WITH THESE DOLLARS NOW? WELL, THESE ARE BUDGETED DOLLARS FOR POSITIONS THAT JUST ARE NOT FILLED.
SO I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THIS ISN'T A SITUATION WHERE THAT WASN'T TRUE AND NOW THIS.
THIS IS JUST MOVING DOLLARS THAT ARE ALREADY BUDGETED FOR NOT BEING USED ACROSS.
TOUCHED ON THIS WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM, WHICH WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT.
BUT BY MOVING THESE DOLLARS THAT ARE ALREADY BUDGETED FOR INTO THESE POSITIONS FOR PAY RAISES, IT ACTUALLY INCREASES THE DOLLARS THAT ARE
[02:35:02]
GOING INTO THAT RETIREMENT SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH THE SYSTEM NOW.AS WELL, IT'S BOTH SIDES, NO QUESTION.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT INCREASES MONEY GOING INTO THEIR RETIREMENT SYSTEM, PLUS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE REASONING, SOME OF THE BROADER REASONING BEHIND THIS, WHICH IS RETAINING EMPLOYEES AND BEING ABLE TO RECRUIT NEW EMPLOYEES BY BROADENING THAT BASE, IF WE CAN RECRUIT POSITIONS THAT ARE GOING TO REMAIN OPEN AND WHERE THEY CAN BE FILLED AND WHERE WE DO NEED PEOPLE, THEN WE HAVE A BETTER ABILITY TO DO THAT.
UM START BROADENING THAT BASE AND INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING GOING INTO THE SYSTEM AS WELL.
SO THE ONLY THING I'LL OFFER, AND I'LL SAY THIS TO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, BECAUSE I KNOW EVEN TODAY I WAS STILL ASKING QUESTIONS, AND I STILL DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, AND SOME WERE ANSWERED, AND THERE WERE STILL SOME THINGS THAT I FEEL LIKE EVEN THE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS RECEIVED, I COULD ASK, MORE QUESTIONS AROSE.
SO, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER IS A SUBSTITUTE EMOTION FOR A FRIENDLY DEFERRAL FOR 2 WEEKS.
IF NOBODY ELSE FEELS LIKE THIS IS WHAT I'M OFFERING TO ALL OF YOU ALL, BECAUSE I KNOW, AS I SAID, A COUPLE OF COLLEAGUES DIDN'T EVEN KNOW EXACTLY THAT THE PROPOSAL HAD CHANGED TODAY.
SO, I'M GOING TO OFFER THAT UP AS A MOTION FOR A 2 WEEK DEFERRAL.
IF ANYBODY ELSE FEELS LIKE THEY NEED IT, PLEASE 2ND, IT IF NOT, YOU'RE NOT GONNA HURT MY FEELINGS IF IT DIES, BUT I JUST WANT TO OFFER THAT.
I FEEL AS PRO TEM, I WANT TO GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALL OF YOU, IF ANYBODY ELSE FEELS LIKE THEY DO NEED MORE TIME AND HAVE QUESTIONS THAT NEED ANSWERING, I WANT TO OFFER THAT.
IF NOT, I PROMISE IT'S NOT A PROBLEM IF IT DIES OFF OF THAT AS A MOTION SUBSTITUTE MOTION FOR DEFERRAL FOR 2 WEEKS.
COUNCILMAN HUDSON SECONDS MOTION, BUT REFERRAL.
COUNCILWOMAN ROCKER THANK YOU SO MUCH.
TRYING TO DO AN EVALUATION OF WHAT THE STUDY AND.
ALL THE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE WITH REGARD TO RAISES AND A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID $10 AN HOUR TONIGHT AND COMPUTING YOUR $10 AN HOUR AND MAKING THAT $20,000 A YEAR, $20,800 A YEAR.
THIS 4% RAISE IS GOING TO GIVE THAT PERSON.
69 DOLLARS 33 CENTS A MONTH, 34 DOLLARS AND 67 CENTS.
A PAYCHECK Y'ALL WORK MORE THAN THAT.
4% IS EMBARRASSING, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE HERE FOR YOU TODAY, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
BUT ONE THING THAT I DID, AND ONE THING I WANTED TO KNOW, AND I WANT TO SHARE WITH Y'ALL SOME OF THE HOMEWORK THAT I'VE DONE OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE GETTING OURSELVES INTO, IS I HAVE SOME IMPORTANT QUESTIONS, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED TO YOU.
AND I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT SITS HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY IS MAKING A COMMITMENT TO YOU THAT THAT $832 ISN'T GOING TO BE EATEN UP IN SOME OTHER EXPENSE.
THAT WE'RE NOT HANDING YOU A 4% RAISE JUST TO YANK IT FROM YOU FROM SOMETHING ELSE.
SO TODAY, TODAY AS WE SIT HERE, NOT IN NOVEMBER, WE WILL NOT SEE HEALTH INSURANCE CHANGES.
WHERE YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS WILL GO UP, OR YOU'LL HAVE A NARROW NETWORK WHERE YOU CAN'T GO OUTSIDE OF A CERTAIN HOSPITAL TO GET YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDED TO YOU.
THE OTHER THING THAT I DON'T WANT SAYING IS THAT THESE FROZEN POSITIONS THAT STAY FROZEN, WHERE MOST OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN ARE WORKING TWO AND THREE JOBS, TRYING TO GO AND AND WORK AND DO THESE JOBS FOR THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE, HAVING WORK BURIED ON TOP OF THEM.
I WANT TO BE ASSURED THAT THOSE JOBS ARE GOING TO OPEN BACK UP AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE FILLED AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT MASSIVE LAYOFFS IN 2027, THEN AGAIN IN 2028.
THE OTHER THING THAT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ME WAS DOING THE MATH ON THE NUMBERS WITH REGARD TO OUR RETIREMENT PLAN.
AND SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES TRIED TO BEAT ME TO IT, BUT I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT I CARE ABOUT ARE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE, THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THE HOT SUN, FILLING POTHOLES, GOING OUT, SERVING WARRANTS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR PENSION IS PROTECTED.
THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PUT 10 YEARS, 15 YEARS, 20 YEARS, AND I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS TO SUPPORT THAT, THAT NOT THIS YEAR, BUT NEXT YEAR, FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, 10 YEARS FROM NOW, ALL OF YOU THAT PUT THAT TIME IN TO EARN THOSE PENSIONS, ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE DEDICATED YOUR LIFE TO CITY PARISH FOR A LESSER WAGE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE
[02:40:01]
PENSION DOLLARS.THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE LIKE DETROIT WHENEVER THE CITY WENT BANKRUPT AND THE RETIREES WERE THE ONES THAT BARED THE BRUNT AND THEY NO LONGER HAD PENSIONS.
SO PLEASE GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THOSE NUMBERS WITH YOU SO THAT WE SIT HERE TODAY AS THESE OFFICIALS THAT ARE CARRYING THESE RAISES FOR YOU ON YOUR BACKS AND ON YOUR HARD WORK THAT WE ARE ALSO MAKING A COMMITMENT TO YOU TO CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK TO NOT PLAY A CUP GAME WITH COSTS.
TO NOT SHIFT HIGHER INSURANCE BURDENS ON YOU IN THE FALL OR THE FOLLOWING YEAR, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY THAT GOES IN YOUR POCKET STAYS THERE.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT NUMBERS CURRENTLY.
AND I HAVE TO SAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE SUPER STAFF.
I STARTED EMAILING THEM ON FRIDAY.
THEY GAVE ME PAGES AND PAGES OF INFORMATION THAT THEY STARTED COMPUTING BECAUSE THEY HADN'T LOOKED AT THESE NUMBERS YET.
OR THEY HADN'T BEEN ASKED THESE QUESTIONS YET, WHICH IS ALARMING BECAUSE THE VOTE WAS TODAY.
BUT WHILE WE'RE SITTING HERE, I'M GOING TO GO OVER THE RECEIPTS WITH YOU SO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT WORK WE'VE DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE CARRYING THESE NUMBERS WITH YOU AND THAT YOU'RE CARRYING YOUR WAGE AND YOU KEEP THAT SMALL 4% IN YOUR PAYCHECK.
SO REGULAR EMPLOYEES WITH 20 OR MORE YEARS, 133 PERSONS.
FIRE EMPLOYEES WITH 20 OR MORE YEARS, 88 PEOPLE.
AS OF JANUARY 1ST, 2025, SEPA MEMBERS WERE SERVICED BETWEEN 15 AND 20 YEARS.
THOSE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE DEDICATED AND PAID INTO OUR PENSION PLAN FOR 15 TO 20 YEARS.
THOSE EMPLOYEES WILL POTENTIALLY BE RETIRING.
SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, AND WE'RE TALKING TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE WANT TO STAY HERE, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR THE CITY PARISH MOVING FORWARD AND GROWING, THAT'S 425 PEOPLE THAT CAN LEAVE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SITTING IN THIS ROOM HERE WITH US TODAY THAT ARE RIGHT ON THAT HAIRY EDGE OF BEING ABLE TO RETIRE.
SO THEN WE LOOK AT ACTUARIAL NUMBERS AND I THINK THAT THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT JUST SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE GROWTH, CONTINUE CONVERSATIONS AND CONTINUE MOVEMENT FORWARD.
HOW HAS THE UNFUNDED LIABILITY, THAT'S THE LIABILITY WITH REGARD TO YOUR PENSION PLANS THAT YOU'VE PAID INTO, THAT YOU'RE SUPPORTING, THAT YOU'RE WORKING HARD FOR, HOW HAS THAT UNFUNDED LIABILITY CHANGED OVER THE LAST 5, 10, 15 AND 20 YEARS? IN JANUARY OF 2005, YOUR UAL WAS $173 MILLION.
OKAY? IN JANUARY OF 2015, OUR UNFUNDED LIABILITY WAS $452 MILLION.
IN JANUARY OF 2020, YOUR UNFUNDED LIABILITY WAS $637 MILLION.
IN JANUARY OF 2025, YOUR UNFUNDED LIABILITY WAS $752 MILLION.
AND THAT NUMBER IS CONTINUING TO GROW UNLESS WE MAKE SOME CONSIDERABLE CHANGES MOVING FORWARD.
SO THE CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU HAVE TODAY, THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE SHOWN DOESN'T STOP HERE.
AND SURE, WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT POLICE OFFICERS.
THEY'RE UNDER THE EMPEROR'S RETIREMENT PLAN.
YOU GUYS, EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM, SEEPERS.
SO IT IS A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION TO BE HAD.
WHEN YOU LEAVE THIS ROOM TODAY AND YOU GET YOUR 4% RAISE OR YOUR PAY SCALE IS CHANGED OR ADJUSTED, DON'T LET THE CONVERSATION STOP THERE BECAUSE THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'VE PUT INTO THIS PROGRAM, THESE ANSWERS ARE YOUR ANSWERS.
YOU'VE EARNED THEM, YOU NEED THEM, AND YOU NEED TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU SECURE THEM, NOT 10 YEARS FROM NOW, NOT 20 YEARS FROM NOW, BUT THE 30, THE 40, AND THE 50 YEARS.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT HOW THESE NUMBERS ARE ACCRUING, WE NEED SOME PHENOMENAL CHANGE MOVING FORWARD.
I WANT TO FIRST JUST SAY HOW IMPRESSED I AM WITH ALL OF OUR CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES.
YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT OF PROFESSIONALISM THAT YOU HAVE.
I REALLY LOVE SEEING A LOT OF OUR DIRECTORS COME UP AND SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THEIR DEPARTMENTS.
IT SHOWS A LOT THAT YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR EMPLOYEES, YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR PEOPLE, YOU CARE ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES, RIGHT? AND SO...
KUDOS TO YOU GUYS FOR COMING OUT AND PUTTING ON SUCH A GREAT DISPLAY TO OUR COMMUNITY WITH HOW YOU CONDUCTED YOURSELVES TONIGHT.
I WILL SAY I DON'T THINK I'VE TALKED TO A SINGLE COUNCIL MEMBER THAT IS OPPOSED TO A CITY PARISH PAY RAISE.
SO I WANT TO FIRST CLARIFY THAT, RIGHT? A LOT OF FOLKS WOULD LIKE TO FRAME THIS DEBATE AS YOU'RE EITHER PRO-PAY RAISE OR
[02:45:01]
ANTI-PAY RAISE.LOOK, WE ALL RECOGNIZE AS A COUNCIL, AS A BODY.
THAT WE DON'T PAY OUR PEOPLE ENOUGH, THAT WE NEED TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE, THAT WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB FOR YOUR FAMILIES, THAT WE NEED TO GIVE YOU A ROBUST PAY PACKAGE AS A WHOLE, NOT JUST IN COMPENSATION BUT IN BENEFITS AS WELL.
SO THAT'S JUST TO CLARIFY THAT, RIGHT? EVERYBODY IS FOR A PAY RAISE.
BUT WHAT MATTERS RIGHT NOW IS THE PROCESS, TO MAKE SURE IT'S A SOUND PROCESS.
AND THEN THE DOLLARS AND CENTS THAT FOLLOW IT, RIGHT? WE HAVE TO PUT TOGETHER A TOTAL PLAN, A TOTAL PACKAGE, AND WE NEED TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT IS TRANSPARENT AND THAT GIVES YOU, AS THE EMPLOYEE, THE TOTAL PICTURE, ALONG WITH THE CITIZENS, THAT ULTIMATELY THE TAXPAYER THAT ENDS UP FOOTING THE BILL.
SO WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT TONIGHT ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS.
I WILL TELL YOU, AS A COUNCIL PERSON THAT TRIES HIS BEST TO...
AS MUCH AS MY ABILITY ALLOWS TO WATCH THE DOLLARS AND CENTS.
I DON'T LOVE PAYING FOR THIS BY FREEZING POSITIONS.
IF WE'RE LOOKING AT FREEZING POSITIONS TO PAY FOR THIS, WHY ARE WE NOT INSTEAD LOOKING AT DELETING POSITIONS? WHAT HAPPENS IF IN THE FUTURE WE DO THIS AND SLOWLY WE START UNFREEZING SOME OF THOSE POSITIONS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW WE'RE NOT? WE HAVEN'T PAID FOR IT.
SO THAT WEIGHS ON ME, RIGHT? IT WEIGHS ON ME BECAUSE...
ULTIMATELY, IT'S HOW WE GET THIS THING DONE FOR YOU.
I THINK THAT ANOTHER OPTION, A BETTER OPTION, IS LOOKING AT REFORM, RIGHT? NOT ONLY BECAUSE REFORM ALLOWS US A BETTER WAY TO PAY FOR THIS PACKAGE.
BUT IT GIVES YOU A BETTER PICTURE OF WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T FEEL LIKE THIS HAS BEEN DONE IN A WAY TONIGHT.
THE ADMINISTRATION DID ALLUDE TO IT SOME, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING AROUND CITY PARISH AROUND BENEFITS.
YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY THAT IS ULTIMATELY GOING TO IMPACT WHAT YOU PAY FOR YOUR BENEFITS AND HOW YOUR TOTAL COMPENSATION IS STRUCTURED.
I WOULD BE OFFENDED IF I WERE AN EMPLOYEE AND I WAS BEING ASKED TO COME OUT AND ADVOCATE FOR A PAY RAISE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY KNOWING OR NOT HAVING IT BE AT THE FOREFRONT THAT BENEFITS WERE ALSO BEING LOOKED AT.
AND, OF COURSE, I REALLY THANK COUNCILMAN ROCCA FOR THE WORK THAT SHE AND OTHERS HAVE DONE ON THE IMPACT OF THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
HONESTLY, IN MY OWN ASSESSMENT, I HADN'T EVEN GOTTEN THERE YET, RIGHT? THERE'S ALSO CONVERSATIONS AROUND CITY PARISH ABOUT LOOKING AT THE EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION TO THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM, THOUGH, AND GOING UP SOME ON THAT.
SO THAT ALL HAS TO HAPPEN, RIGHT? THAT ALL HAS TO BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS, AND IT ALL OUGHT TO HAPPEN IN A WAY THAT IS TRANSPARENT TO YOU AND COMES TO YOU HOPEFULLY AT ONE TIME, I BELIEVE, RIGHT? BECAUSE WHAT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE YOU HAPPEN IS BE HAPPY THAT YOU GOT A PAY RAISE TODAY, BUT THEN YOU'RE MAD AT THE COUNCIL.
A COUPLE OF MONTHS BECAUSE WE'RE CHANGING BENEFITS THEN YOU'RE MAD AT THE COUNCIL AGAIN AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU GOT SHORTCHANGED I'D RATHER DO IT ALL AT ONCE AND GIVE YOU A TOTAL PICTURE THERE OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE I WANT TO TALK AND I WILL END UP NEEDING MY EXTRA FIVE MINUTES I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT TONIGHT AS I MOVE PAST THAT ABOUT WHAT A NO VOTE MEANS BECAUSE I DO OPPOSE THIS I'M NOT FOR THIS I WANT TO GIVE YOU A PAY RAISE BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT IT'S BEEN SAID BY A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT A NO VOTE MEANS I DO NOT SEE YOU.
IT'S BEEN SAID THAT I DO NOT VALUE YOU.
I WOULD TELL YOU THAT'S FALSE.
THAT NARRATIVE SHOULD BE REJECTED WHEREVER IT SHOWS UP.
I WOULD TELL YOU THAT I VALUE YOU ENOUGH TO DO THIS THE RIGHT WAY.
I VALUE YOU ENOUGH TO TAKE THE TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET EVERY DOLLAR POSSIBLE.
IF WE ARE TO GO THROUGH THE EXERCISE OF REFORM, DELETING POSITIONS WHERE THEY NEED TO BE DELETED, CHANGING BENEFIT STRUCTURES, YOU COULD END UP WITH A BIGGER PAY RAISE.
WOULDN'T THAT BE A GOOD THING? I VALUE YOU ENOUGH TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND HOW YOUR BENEFITS MAY CHANGE AS A PART OF A TOTAL COMPENSATION PROPOSAL.
A NO VOTE TONIGHT DOES NOT MEAN THAT I DON'T SEE YOU.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I DON'T VALUE YOU.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU GET A PAY RAISE.
AND I'LL JUST LASTLY ADDRESS THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS ABOUT THIS BEING A HEART VOTE, BECAUSE THAT REALLY SPOKE TO ME.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT, GIVE A LITTLE TIME, OKAY.
[02:50:02]
SPEAK TO ME.MY DAD IS THE HARDEST WORKING MAN I KNOW.
HE WAS IN A MAINTENANCE FOREMAN ROLE, NOT A CITY PARISH, BUT IN A SIMILAR TYPE OF ROLE IN MUNICIPAL SERVICES.
AND HE MADE A SIMILAR SALARY TO WHAT A LOT OF FOLKS HERE MADE.
I MEAN, THAT'S HOW OUR FAMILY GREW UP, AND THAT'S HOW I ENDED UP GETTING TO WHERE I AM TODAY.
SO I SEE IT, RIGHT? I SEE HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT YOUR FAMILIES.
I SEE HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT.
YOU AS INDIVIDUALS, YOU AND YOUR CAREER.
AND I THINK WE HAVE TO DO IT RIGHT.
I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE OUR TIME TO DO IT CORRECTLY.
I DON'T THINK WE, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE GOT HERE TONIGHT AS A RESULT OF POLITICS, NOT FROM A SOUND PROCESS.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING TO DO IS FOLLOW A SOUND PROCESS.
AND THAT'S HOW MY, THAT'S WHAT MY VOTE WILL REFLECT TONIGHT.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A PROCESS AND WE SAT IN THE MAYOR'S CONFERENCE ROOM AND THEY SAID, Y'ALL ARE JUMPING THE GUN BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY BEEN WORKING ON THIS AND DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE ON THIS FOR ABOUT A YEAR.
AND WE HAVE FOUND WAYS NOT JUST TO FUND THE POLICE, BUT TO FUND THE OTHER POSITIONS AS WELL, BASED ON THE.
AND SO WHAT LOOKED LIKE A SOLE FORCE AND A NON-BIPARTISAN APPROACH TO GIVE RAISES WAS REALLY...
A FORECAST INTO A CRYSTAL BALL THAT SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT WERE GOING TO COME UP.
REASONS WE COULDN'T DO IT VERSUS REASONS WE COULDN'T DO IT.
AND ANYBODY THAT'S BEEN IN THIS COUNCIL CHAMBERS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE UNION WORKERS, THE DPW WORKERS, THE FIREMAN WORKERS, WHERE HAVE SHOWN UP TO YOUR UNION MEETINGS, MATTER OF FACT, HOSTED YOUR UNION MEETINGS.
I HAVE BEEN WITH MR. HAROLD GREER AND HIS STAFF.
SOMETIMES IT FELT LIKE THE LONE RANGER.
THE FIGHT THAT WE HAD TO GET THE PAY STUDY DONE.
IT WAS ABOUT JACOBS AND OUTSOURCING WASTEWATER TREATMENT AND TAKING SOMEBODY WHO'S BEGGING $40,000 BUT ONLY OUTSOURCING PERSONNEL TO PAY THEM $136,000 WHEN YOU COULD HAVE GIVEN IT TO A CITY PARISH WORKER.
AND WHEN ASKED IF I PAID THAT $136,000, TO A CITY PARISH WORKER, HOW MANY VACANCIES WILL WE HAVE? AND THE ANSWER IS WE HAVE A LINE OUT THE DOOR.
SO IN THAT INSTANCE, AND THIS WAS YEARS AGO, IT SEEMED THAT WE VALUED OUR CONTRACTORS MORE THAN WE DID OUR EMPLOYEES.
AFTER THAT STATEMENT, MAYOR BROOM SAID DANTE TO THE MIC AND SAID, WE'RE GOING TO SUPPORT THE PAY STUDY.
AND WHEN I ASKED WHY, ONE OF THE ISSUES WAS.
THEY WANTED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FUND IT BEFORE THEY PUT IT OUT THERE SO THEY DIDN'T DISAPPOINT THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE.
MY RESPONSE WAS, YOU'LL NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU NEED TO FUND UNLESS YOU GET THE STUDY DONE.
SO IS IT THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG OR THE EGG OR THE CHICKEN, RIGHT? WELL, THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE WHAT THEY SAID THE IMPOSSIBLE WAS.
I'M GOING TO GIVE CREDIT TO ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES, DWIGHT HUDSON.
HE AND I SAT ON THE PHONE PROBABLY LAST YEAR ABOUT AN HOUR FUNDING.
SO WHAT HE SAID IS FORWARD, HE'S FORWARD.
I DISAGREE WITH THE PROCESS, BUT I DON'T THINK HE'S AGAINST THE RAISES.
WE STARTED OFF WITH $32 MILLION NEEDED TO FUND THE RAISES BASED ON THE MAX STUDIES.
THE FIREMEN PUT A MILLAGE OUT THERE, DROPPED IT DOWN TO $25 MILLION.
THAT $25 MILLION THEN BASED ON FROZEN, I'M SORRY, DEPARTMENTS THAT COULD FUND THEMSELVES.
LIKE EMS, MOSQUITO ABATEMENT, LIBRARY SYSTEMS, INDEPENDENT FUNDING, DROPPED IT DOWN TO $17.23 MILLION.
HIS SUGGESTION WAS DIFFERENT THAN IT IS TONIGHT BECAUSE IT WAS WHAT ABOUT THE VACANT AND FROZEN POSITIONS? WHAT IF WE GET RID OF THOSE? WHAT WOULD THOSE NUMBERS BE? AND I SAID, GENIUS.
IT DROPPED IT DOWN TO $12.9 MILLION.
SO THAT'S WHY WHEN WE HEARD, WE WERE LIKE, FOR TWO YEARS, WE WERE LIKE, WHAT? WE'RE NOT AGAINST THE POLICE, BUT IF WE ONLY HAVE MONEY FOR SOME, THEN WE'RE GOING TO FUND EVERYBODY.
BUT IF WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR BOTH, WE'RE ALL FOR IT.
AS A PART OF THE MAG STUDY, THE NEXT STEP WAS TO EXPLORE RESTRUCTURING PENSION.
AND WE COULDN'T GET TO PAY ANY OF Y'ALL UNTIL WE STARTED
[02:55:01]
TO DO THAT, RIGHT? AND SO I SAT ON A COUPLE OF MEETINGS WITH ANGIE AND JAY AND SOME OF THOSE FOLKS THAT SIT UP WITH ME.BY PART OF THE RETIREMENT COMMISSION AND THE RESPONSE WAS EVEN IF WE DID KILL PENSION AND GO 401K IT WOULD TAKE 10 TO 15 YEARS TO SEE ANY KIND OF RETURN ON INVESTMENT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T FORCE PEOPLE OFF OF A PENSION UM IN RECENT CONVERSATIONS UM THERE'S ABOUT 752 MILLION DOLLARS OF UH UNFUNDED LIABILITY WHICH IS NOT GREG IS THE DA'S.
IT'S A BUNCH OF OTHER FOLKS THAT MAKE THAT UP.
SO IF YOU HEAR THAT NUMBER, THAT'S NOT JUST THE CITY PARISH NUMBER.
WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT THE VACANT POSITIONS, IF THEY WERE FILLED, THEY WOULD HAVE PUT THEMSELVES ADDITIONAL LIABILITY ON THE PENSION FUND BECAUSE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE PEOPLE SOLD INTO IT BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS LOWER WAGES, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS LOWER WAGES, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE EMPLOYEES SOLD INTO IT.
NOW WOULD IT BALANCE OUT? I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE IT DEPENDS ON THE MARKET.
IF THE MARKET'S DOING WELL, IT DOESN'T HURT THE LIABILITY OF CITY PARENTS AS MUCH AS IT DOES WHEN IT'S NOT DOING WELL.
IT'S THE SAME WAY WITH 401K, RIGHT? DEPENDING ON THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THE SYSTEM, IT DEPENDS ON THE LIABILITY TO THE CITY.
BUT THE ONE APPLAUD I WANT TO GIVE MAYOR SID EDWARDS IS THAT WE WALKED IN THE OFFICE IN THE WORLD, YOU KNOW, AND PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY, WELL, WE WANT TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.
THE ISSUE IS ALWAYS ABOUT ROAD WHEN IT COMES TO MOVE VR.
IT TAKES THE NINE YEARS TO DO IT WHEN IT'S PROPERLY FUNDED.
WE TALKED ABOUT HOW DO WE IMPROVE THAT PROCESS WITH MOVE VR TO MAKE GO DOWN TO THREE OR FOUR AND WE STARTED WE'RE NOT WORKING WITH WILLIAM ON GETTING SOME CONSULTANTS IN.
WE SAT DOWN IN THE ROOM BUT GUESS WHAT WE DIDN'T STOP DOING ROAD PROJECTS.
BECAUSE THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN, WE PUT MORE MONEY INTO THAT POT, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT WHILE IT'S BROKEN, AND WE'RE GOING TO FIX IT TO MAKE SURE, BECAUSE TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE AT THE SAME TIME, THAT THE ROAD WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE AND THE PROCESS NEEDS TO BE FIXED.
AND I'M GOING TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES TODAY THAT IF WE TALK ABOUT A BETTER CITY, WE TALK ABOUT BLIGHT AND HAVING TO CLEAN UP THE STUFF ON THE SIDE OF AREAS THAT ARE HEAVILY BLIGHTED.
THAT CREATE AND PLACE BASED INVESTMENT SAYS WHEN YOU CHANGE THE PLACE, YOU CHANGE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE PLACE.
SO IF YOU WANT A BETTER NORTHBOUND ROUTE, YOU WANT TO MEET MORE WORKERS TO GET THERE.
I'M LIKE DEPARTMENT HAS ZERO DOLLARS TO CONDEMN HOUSES TO KNOCK THEM DOWN TO OTHER STUFF.
BUT IF WE HAD THE WORKERS, WE WOULDN'T NEED THE CONTRACT.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT IS OF THE SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY TWO MILLION DOLLARS.
UNFUNDED LIABILITY, A PART OF THAT AND BASED ON THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM, TODAY'S NUMBERS, AND THERE'LL BE ANOTHER NUMBER THAT COMES OUT ON MAY 28TH, BUT BASED ON TODAY'S NUMBERS, AND THIS IS DIRECTLY FROM THE ACTUARY, IT'S SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $6 AND $13 MILLION.
15 MILLION OVER A 15 YEAR PERIOD BASED ON THE 7% OF 15% THAT THEY ARE DUE TO PAY TO THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
SO THOSE NUMBERS WILL BALANCE OUT ANYTHING THAT WE DO TODAY BY FAR.
SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS LIABILITY.
TODAY IS NO LONGER LIABILITY TOMORROW.
AND THAT SHOULD HAPPEN WITHIN THE NEXT 30 TO 45 DAYS.
AND FROM THE LEGAL PROCESS BASED ON THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, THE ORDINANCE SAYS THAT IT HAS TO BE SETTLED WITHIN 90 DAYS.
SO IT MAY NOT FULLY BE THE $6 MILLION, BUT IF IT'S $3 OR $4, IT STILL COVERS THE LIABILITY THAT WE ASSUME FROM THE UNFUNDED PORTION OF THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
SO EVERYTHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY IS TRULY BEING ADDRESSED.
AND IF WE DECIDE TO GO TO A 401K TOMORROW, THAT'S FINE.
IT AFFECTS NEW EMPLOYEES, NOT CURRENT EMPLOYEES.
AND IF WE DECIDE TO GO TO A 401K TODAY WITH CURRENT EMPLOYEES, WE WOULD HAVE OTHER UNFUNDED LIABILITIES TO PAY FOR THE EMPLOYEES, CREATING MORE DEBT.
TO THEN TRANSITION INTO A 401K AND WE CAN'T FORCE THEM OFF SO ALL THE STUFF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS IRRELEVANT TO A RACE IT'S IRRELEVANT BECAUSE IT CAN STILL BE WORKED ON AT THE SAME TIME AND AS WE FIX THOSE PROBLEMS AND RELEASE MORE MONEY I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
[03:00:01]
EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT BROKEN PROCESSES WHEN WE FIX THOSE PROCESSES AFTER WE GIVE YOU THE FOUR PERCENT WE TAKE THE MONEY THAT WE GET FROM THAT FIXED PROCESS AND PUT IT BACK AND GIVE YOU A SECOND RAISE SO LET'S START WHERE WE ARE.LET'S SUPPORT OUR WORKERS TODAY.
AND AS WE FIX THE PROCESS TOMORROW, MAKE SURE THAT MONEY GOES BACK TO THE FOLKS WHO DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO MAKING SURE THAT THE CITY PARISH RUNS LIKE A WELL-OILED MACHINE.
SO I THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR DAILY INVESTMENT.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR FIGHT, FOR NOT STANDING DOWN, FOR SPEAKING ON THE MIC.
I HEAR SO MANY PEOPLE SAYING THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR JOBS.
YOU KNOW, WHAT IF I GET ON THE MIC AND I GET FIRED TOMORROW? WILL YOU COME TALK TO ME AND EVERYBODY ELSE UP HERE, PLEASE? IF YOU BECOME A TARGET BECAUSE YOU SPOKE, YOUR BOSS IS GOING TO BECOME A TARGET BECAUSE HE FIRED YOU.
SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE YOUR BACK THE SAME WAY YOU HAVE OURS WHEN WE CALL YOU TO SERVE OUR CONSTITUENTS.
AND I IMPLORE MY COLLEAGUES TODAY THAT TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE.
WE CAN GIVE THEM A RAISE AND WORK ON IT.
WELL, I'LL START WITH SAYING THIS IS THIS IS FOR ME AN EASY VOTE.
UM, IT'S EASY TO SIT IN A ROOM FULL OF CITY PARISH EMPLOYEES AND SO YES, PAY INCREASE.
IT'S EASIER TO KNOW WHEN TO GO OUT AND THAT ANY, ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL LOVES AT ONCE THAT.
THE CAVEAT TO THAT, THOUGH, IS IT'S INTELLECTUALLY DISHONEST TO LOOK AT ALL OF YOU AND SAY THIS PAY RAISE IS MADE IN ISOLATION.
AND TO SAY THAT WE DON'T HAVE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ISSUES IN THIS PARISH, WE DON'T HAVE UPDATED FACILITIES IN THIS PARISH, WE DON'T HAVE UNDATED AGENCIES IN THIS PARISH.
AND THOSE ISSUES WILL CONTINUE TO COME UP FOR THIS, AND WE'RE ALL GOING TO LOOK AROUND.
AND SO KUDOS TO MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCILMEMBER ROCCA, COUNCILMEMBER HUDSON, FOR SAYING THE QUIET THING OUT LOUD.
IT COMES FROM DISCUSSIONS AROUND LONG-TERM PAYMENTS, BENEFITS, ADJUSTMENTS, CHANGES, AND WHAT DOES RETIREMENT LOOK LIKE.
IT'S INTELLECTUALLY DISHONEST TO NOT LOOK AT YOU IN THE EYE AND SAY HERE'S THREE AND A HALF PERCENT WONDERFUL BUT HARD CONVERSATIONS ARE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.
WHEN YOU HEAR A PRESENTATION TITLED TOTAL STRATEGIC WORKFORCE REALIGNMENT PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT MEANS CHANGES ARE COMING AND AND I WON'T SIT UP HERE AND MAKE THE EASY VOTE AND SAY, LOOK ME, I'M SUPPORTING YOU, AND NOT TELL YOU, BUT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WHEN WE'RE STARING DOWN THE BARREL OF $20, $30, $40 MILLION WORTH OF NEEDS, HOW DO WE FIND THAT MONEY? I WON'T SIT HERE AND SAY, WELL, THE MONEY'S THERE SO WE CAN DO THE PAY RAISE.
AND DOING THIS TONIGHT IS AN EASY VOTE, BUT IT MAKES THE MATH A LOT HARDER.
SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT.
WE SHOULD BE VERY HONEST ABOUT IT.
I WILL ENTERTAIN CONVERSATIONS AROUND WHAT THESE LONG-TERM BENEFITS AND RETIREMENT LOOK LIKE.
ENGAGE IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
BECAUSE I THINK WE OPERATE IN AN OUTDATED SYSTEM.
AND RAISING PAY, PART OF THE MAG STUDY WAS PART OF THAT.
BUT THAT MAG STUDY ALSO SAID YOU'RE GOING TOO MUCH ON THE BENEFIT SIDE AND WE HAVE TO LOOK CRITICALLY AT IT.
THE HARD PART COMES IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
WITH COUNCILMAN GODET WITH A WHOLE LOT OF WHAT HE SAID ABOUT WE HAVE A LOT OF NEEDS IN THE PARISH, INFRASTRUCTURE, DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, UNDERFUNDED PARTS OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND GOVERNMENT, BUT I WOULD APPEAL TO HIM AND ANYONE ELSE THAT OUR MOST IMPORTANT ASSET IS OUR PEOPLE.
AND IF WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE AND SUPPORT OUR PEOPLE, THAT INFRASTRUCTURE
[03:05:03]
DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, THESE DEPARTMENTS DON'T RUN.SO WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR PEOPLE.
THERE ARE SOME CHANGES COMING.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A SECRET TO ANY OF US.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A SECRET TO ANY OF YOU.
GONE ARE THE DAYS OF INDIVIDUALS WORKING ON THE JOB FOR 30 YEARS OR IN ONE ORGANIZATION FOR 30, 40 YEARS.
THAT'S BEEN REPLACED WITH JOB HOPPING, PEOPLE LOOKING FOR ADEQUATE.
COMPETITIVE SALARIES YOU TALK TO THE AVERAGE WORKER TODAY, THEY COULD CARE LESS ABOUT BENEFITS.
ADEQUATE LIVABLE WAGE, SO THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES AND HAVE A DECENT QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND I WANT TO REINFORCE ANY REFORMS TO RETIREMENT DOES NOT AFFECT CURRENT EMPLOYEES.
SO YOUR RETIREMENT WILL STAY INTACT.
I'M IN ALIGNMENT WITH HIM AND COUNCILWOMAN ROCCO ON THAT.
ANY REFORMS TO THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM WILL ONLY AFFECT NEW HIRES AT THE TIME WE INSTITUTE IT.
SO WE HAVE TO BE TOTALLY TRANSPARENT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS SITUATION.
ALSO FUNDING SOURCES, YOU KNOW IT'S BEST PRACTICE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW WE BUDGET EVERY YEAR, NOVEMBER WE'RE BUDGETING.
AND HAVE A BACKUP OF THREE TO FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN.
COUNCILMAN HUDSON HAS, YOU KNOW, HIS ISSUES WITH THE FUNDING SOURCE.
SOME OF US MAY LIKE THIS FUNDING SOURCE.
SOME OF US MAY NOT LIKE THAT FUNDING SOURCE.
BUT IT'S A FUNDING SOURCE THAT WE CAN USE RIGHT NOW.
NEXT YEAR, MAYBE ANOTHER FUNDING SOURCE.
WE HEARD THREE, FOUR, FIVE MONTHS AGO THAT WE WAS IN A FINANCIAL CRISIS AND WE HAD TO LAY PEOPLE OFF.
AND THEN TWO, THREE MONTHS LATER, YOU KNOW, WE WAS PULLING MONEY OUT THE COUCH, AS WILLIAM LIKES TO SAY.
SO THE FINANCIAL REALITIES OF GOVERNMENT AND CITY-PERISH GOVERNMENT CHANGES BASED ON TAX REVENUE, BASED ON NEW BUSINESS.
BASED ON REFORMS THAT WE MAKE AS ADMINISTRATION AND COUNCIL, THERE ARE GOING TO BE CHANGES.
THERE ARE GOING TO BE EBBS AND FLOWS.
OUR STAFF, THE FINANCIAL TEAM, DOES A GREAT JOB PROJECTING AND ANALYZING AND REVIEWING WHAT'S AVAILABLE.
AND SOMETIMES THERE'S A DIRE DAY, AND SOMETIMES THERE ARE SURPLUSES.
AND SO WE HAVE TO RESPOND AND REACT TO THE REALITY OF THE MOMENT.
THE ADMINISTRATION DID A GREAT JOB WITH IDENTIFYING THESE 100 POSITIONS THAT COULD BE FROZEN.
TO TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE, AND I THINK WE ACT ON IT.
THAT MAY NOT BE THE FUNDING SOURCE GOING FORWARD.
BUT JUST AS WE BUDGET YEAR TO YEAR, WE WILL CROSS THAT BRIDGE WHEN WE GET TO IT.
IF WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE WITH ACTION AND SUPPORTING THEM FINANCIALLY BY GIVING THEM THE RAISES, THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LEAVE OUT THE DOOR AND LOOK FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION FOR DEFERRAL.
COUNCILMAN HUDSON REMOVES HIS SECOND FROM THAT, SO WE ONLY HAVE ONE MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN KINNEY, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN TO APPROVE.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? COUNCILMAN HUDSON IS OPPOSED.
WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THE MACHINES.
IS EVERYBODY'S MACHINES UP? I KNOW WE WERE HAVING ISSUES EARLIER.
WHAT WERE WE VOTING ON FIRST? THE ONLY ONE MOTION.
I CAN VOTE FOR YOU, COUNCILMAN HARRIS.
MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO DO A ROLL CALL VOTE.
COUNCILMAN GODE? IT'S A ROLL CALL VOTE.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, JUST A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WE ACTUALLY DID.
MAYOR PRO TEM TALKED ABOUT COLLEAGUES WHO WASN'T TOTALLY
[03:10:01]
CLEAR ON WHAT TOOK PLACE.AND I'D LIKE TO GIVE MS. PEARSON FROM HR JUST TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE DID AS IT RELATES TO THE MAG STUDY.
I THINK BRANDON KIND OF GLOSSED OVER IT.
EVERYBODY WON'T NECESSARILY GET A 3.5 OR 4.4% RAISE.
AND I DON'T WANT TO STEAL YOUR THUNDER, BUT THE APPROACH WAS TO BRING EVERYBODY TO AFFORDABLE LIVABLE WAGE.
AND CAN YOU TALK THROUGH EXACTLY WHAT JUST TOOK PLACE? SO THE MAG CONSULTANTS RECOMMENDED THAT THE PACE STUDY IS FIRST IMPLEMENTED BY INCREASING OUR EMPLOYEE SALARIES BY 3.5%.
SO THAT MEANS EACH INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE'S SALARY WILL INCREASE BY 3.5%.
SO THAT'S THE MINIMUM PAY ADJUSTMENT THAT EACH EMPLOYEE THAT'S IMPACTED BY THESE PAY ADJUSTMENTS.
WILL RECEIVE THE 2ND STEP IS THAT THOSE EMPLOYEES WILL BE PLACED ON A NEW PAY SCALE.
AND SO THAT IS THE STRUCTURE OF IMPLEMENTING THIS NEW PAY STRUCTURE.
[47. 26-00453]
THANK YOU.ITEM 47, AS A REQUEST BY THE DEPARTMENT TO DELETE THIS ITEM, AMEND THE 2026 PAY PLAN FOR CLASSIFIED, UNCLASSIFIED, NON-CLASSIFIED, CONTRACT-FIRED POLICE EMPLOYEES IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE 19726, SO AS TO ADD NEW CLASSIFICATION, DIRECTOR OF CONTRACTS, AND DELETE ONE SPECIAL ASSISTANT PARISH ATTORNEY POSITION, PARISH ATTORNEY AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?
[48. 26-00454]
SEEING NO OTHER COUNSEL.SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON TO DELETE.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
48, AGAIN, REQUEST BY THE DEPARTMENT TO DELETE.
AMEND 2026, ALLOTMENT OF POSITIONS FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE 19727, SO AS TO CHANGE THE ALLOTMENT OF THE PARISH ATTORNEY ADMINISTRATION TO ADD ONE DIRECTOR OF CONTRACTS AND DELETE ONE SPECIAL ASSISTANT PARISH ATTORNEY BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO, WE'LL GO
[49. 26-00577]
TO COUNCIL.SECOND MY COUNCILMAN GODAY IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES ITEM 49 THERE'S A REQUEST TO DEFER THIS ITEM UNTIL WHAT THE FIRST WHAT A LAST MEETING OF MAY LAST MEETING IN MAY TWO WEEKS OKAY 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 ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE ONE NINE SEVEN TWO SIX SO AS TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING CHANGES EFFECTIVE MAY 16, 2026, INCREASE THE PAY GRADE OF THE PARISH ATTORNEY CLASSIFICATION BY COUNCILWOMAN LAURIE ADAMS, COUNCILMAN DWIGHT HUDSON, AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.
[50. 26-00237]
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCCA.IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? EXCUSE ME.
MOTION CARRIES TO DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS.
ITEM 50 IS A REQUEST TO DELETE THIS ITEM AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH LET'S FIX IT LLC IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $66,000 FROM FUNDING PROVIDED FROM HOME-ARP, CDBG PUBLIC SERVICES, AND CDBG ADMINISTRATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF CO-DESIGNING THE CITY'S HEALTHY HOUSING PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES CO-DESIGNING THE CITY'S HEALTHY HOUSING PROGRAM AND BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS TO ADVANCE RELATED POLICIES AND PRACTICES COMMENCING MARCH 1, 2026 AND EXPIRING MARCH 31, 2027.
BY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM SEE NO GO
[51. 26-00363]
TO COUNCIL THEIR MOTION MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST REQUESTED TO DELETE YEAH SECOND MY COUNCILMAN GODAY IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES 51 AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT IN THE MATTER OF UH THE REQUEST THERE'S A REQUEST TO DELETE THIS ITEM AS WELL FROM THE DEPARTMENT AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE MATTER ENTITLED PAULA WILLIAMS VERSUS CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE AND PATRICK WINNAMAN AND AMOUNT OF 300,000 PLUS COURT COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF 333 DOLLARS FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF 300,000, 333 DOLLARS AND APPROPRIATING 300,000, 333 DOLLARS FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE PAST TURNING ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.[52. 26-00489]
SEE, NO, GO TO COUNCIL.WE HAVE A MOTION MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HEARST.
2ND, MY COUNCILMAN GO DAY TO DELETE THE ITEM.
52 AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH THE BATON ROUGE REGIONAL AIRPORT FOR THE SUPPLY OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES BY THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE TO THE BATON ROUGE REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND TO SIGN ALL DOCUMENTS AND CONNECTION THEREWITH BY THE AVIATION DIRECTOR ANYONE HERE WISHING
[53. 26-00502]
TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM SEEING NO MORE COUNCIL WE HAVE A MOTION MOTION BY COUNCILMAN KENNY SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HEARST IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES AND[03:15:02]
FIFTY THREE RESOLUTION ORDERING AND CALLING AN ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER THIRD TWENTY TWENTY SIX TO AUTHORIZE THE PARISH TO RENEW AND LEVY A COLLECTION OF HALF MILL AD VALOREM TAX ON ALL PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA FOR A PERIOD OF TEN YEARS COMMENCING WITH TAX COLLECTION FOR THE YEAR TWENTY TWENTY SEVEN AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER TO AND INCLUDING THE YEAR 2036 TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PURCHASING, MAINTAINING, AND OPERATING MACHINERY, FACILITIES, AND EQUIPMENT NECESSARY IN THE ERADICATION, ABATEMENT, OR CONTROL OF MOSQUITOES, OTHER ANTHROPOS OF PUBLIC HEALTH IMPORTANCE AND RODENTS, AND MAINTAINING ADEQUATE ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT STAFF IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, MAKING APPLICATION TO THE STATE BOND COMMISSION, PROVIDING NOTICE.THAT A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION SHALL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2026 AT 4 P.M.
AT THE REGULAR MEETING PLACE OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, 3RD FLOOR, CITY HALL, ROOM 348, 222 ST.
LOUIS STREET, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, AND PROVIDED FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH BY MOSQUITO ABATEMENT AND RODENT CONTROL DISTRICT.
[54. 26-00511]
ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HURST, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN KINNEY.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
54, REQUESTING THE PLANNING COMMISSIONER REVIEW AND AMEND APPLICABLE SECTIONS OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE RELATED TO DATA CENTERS BY COUNCILWOMAN CAROLYN COLEMAN, COUNCILMAN RODDY GODAY, AND COUNCILMAN ANTHONY KINNEY.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCILMAN MCKINNEY.
JUST REAL QUICKLY, WITH THE RISING DEVELOPMENT OF DATA CENTERS, NOT JUST IN LOUISIANA BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE GOT TOGETHER WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.
WE SAW WE DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH DIRECT LANGUAGE AROUND DATA CENTERS, AI CENTERS.
AND SO THIS IS NOT THE PARENTS TAKING A POSITION FOR AGAINST DATA CENTERS, BUT IT'S MORE SO US JUST SAYING WE HAVE DIRECT LANGUAGE WITHIN THE UDC CODE.
SO IN CASE SOMEBODY WANTS TO PROPOSE IT, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.
WE HAVE A DIRECT LANGUAGE IN THE UDC CODE.
SO RYAN AND HIS TEAM WILL GO OUT, DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE, AND COME BACK IN A COUPLE MONTHS WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO ADD TO THE UDC.
AND WITH THAT, I MOVE, CALL FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE.
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN KINNEY, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
[55. 26-00537]
DISTRICT 1 HAS A WHOLE LOT OF OPEN LAND.ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
55 AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT EXECUTE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND SPECIALTIES AIN'T TO INCREASE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY 50,000 DOLLARS FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 100,000 DOLLARS BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
WE'RE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
[56. 26-00544]
COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSA, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
56, AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND GROUNDS, BUILDING MAINTENANCE DIVISION TO AMEND THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND RAMELLI JANITORIAL SERVICES TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $35,923 FOR A REVISED NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT OF $135,112 BY THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS DIRECTOR.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE GO TO COUNCIL,
[57. 26-00545]
WE HAVE A MOTION.IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
ITEM 57, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT.
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND GROUNDS, BUILDING MAINTENANCE DIVISION TO AMEND THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND OOK JANITORIAL SERVICES TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT.
AMOUNT BY TWENTY TWO THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED THIRTY THREE DOLLARS AND TWENTY CENTS PROVIDES NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS AND FORTY CENTS OF THE BUILDING GROUNDS DIRECTOR ANYONE HERE
[58. 26-00558]
WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS SIDE SEE NO GO TO COUNCIL MOTION MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES FIFTY EIGHT AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE OF GRADY CRAWFORD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH THE ANNUAL STORMWATER CONCRETE LINE CANAL REPAIR CONTRACT RESULTING IN AN INCREASE IN CONTRACT AN AMOUNT OF 200,000 FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 3,541,183.37 BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO
[59. 26-00557]
COUNCIL.MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSA.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
ITEM 59, RESCINDING A DIRECTOR AND CLERK OF THE COURT TO CANCEL NOTICE TO ATTEND RECORDING ON MAY 8, 2025.
IN THE MATTER OF CITY OF BATON ROUGE V.
[03:20:01]
DAVID R.DUNBAR AND BEVERLY PARKER DUNBAR, 1823 ARKANSAS STREET, REASON FOR RESCISSION, THE OWNER IS OBTAINING A PERMIT AND REMODELING THE HOME.
THIS IS BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
[60. 26-00517]
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, GO TO COUNCIL.MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
ITEM 60, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE PRE-LITIGATION CLAIM OF ABIGAIL MITCHELL FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT.
CAUSED BY A MOSQUITO ABATEMENT AND RODENT CONTROL EMPLOYEE IN AN AMOUNT OF $16,000 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION? ANYBODY? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. SECOND.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
HEY Y'ALL, I WANT TO TAKE A PUNCH FROM THE POINT OF PRIVILEGE TO GO AND OUT-TETHER TODAY.
Y'ALL GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[61. 26-00560]
TODAY, MAN.EVERYBODY UP HERE WAS TALKING ABOUT YOU, SO I WANTED TO SHOW OFF YOUR SUIT TO EVERYBODY.
ITEM 61, AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF THE PRE-LITIGATION CLAIM OF RED SIX MEDIA FOR DAMAGES.
RESULTING FROM SEWER BACKUPS IN THE CLAIMANT'S BUILDING FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $150,284.15 BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY.
[62. 26-00562]
ON THIS ITEM? SAY NO GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GO TO A SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES 62 AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR PRESIDENT EXECUTED CONTRACT FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH ALL SOUTH CONSULTING ENGINEERS FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVE THE R CAPACITY PROJECT AUDUBON AVENUE SIDEWALKS FROM JEFFERSON HIGHWAY TO GOVERNMENT STREET AND AMOUNT NOT TAKES THE 247 211 DOLLARS AND 62 CENTS BY TRANSPORTATION DRAINAGE DIRECTOR ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 62.SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.
[63. 26-00563]
SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST.IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
ITEM 63, AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER 17 TO A CONTRACT FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH EVANS GRAVES ENGINEERING, INC.
FOR ADDITIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MALL LOUISIANA BOULEVARD, PICARDY, PERKINS CONNECTOR, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $106,800, BRINGING THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $3,870,829.39 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?
[64. 26-00564]
SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GODAY.
IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
ITEM 64, AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER 2 TO A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION SERVICES WITH VICTORIA CONSULTING SERVICES, LLC, FOR ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOVEBR ENHANCEMENT PROJECT, BATON ROUGE BUS RAPID TRANSIT, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $157,250, BRINGING THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $550,375 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.
ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 64.
SEEING NONE, I'LL GO TO COUNCIL.
[65. 26-00565]
DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
AUTHORIZING THE USE OF FHWA TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM FUNDS FOR THE AMOUNT OF 437,500 TO SATISFY A 20% LOCAL MATCH REQUIRED BY THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT FOR THE NORTH ARDENWOOD DRIVE SIDEWALK, FLORIDA BOULEVARD TO GREENWOOD SPRINGS PROJECT, AND ALSO CONFIRMING THAT THE CITY PARISH SHALL MAINTAIN THE PROJECT AFTER FINAL ACCEPTANCE AND ACCEPTING LEGAL LIABILITY FOR THE PROJECT UPON COMPLETION BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 65.
MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSA.
[66. 26-00552]
MOTION CARRIES.NO ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS TONIGHT.
PEOPLE LEARN LESSONS, I GUESS.
HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT NUMBER 1, BOARD OF...
COMMISSIONERS LANE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER CONSIDERATION OF REPLACING DR.
[03:25:02]
SEEKING REAPPOINTMENT THIS IS A FOUR-YEAR TERM SPOKE WITH THE CEO OF THE HOSPITAL ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM SEEN NONE GO TO COUNCIL I SPOKE WITH THE CEO THEY HE'S TALKING A COUPLE OF THE DOCTORS HAS TO BE A DOCTOR FROM LANE HOSPITAL TO SERVE HE'S TALKING A COUPLE OF ME SHOULD HAVE AN ANSWER FOR US SOON BUT WE'RE GONNA THINK SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS WANT TO MEET WITH THEM ANYWAY, SO THEY ASKED IF WE CAN DEFER UNTIL JUNE 10TH,[Items 67 - 71]
SO RECOMMENDED A, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER UNTIL JUNE 10TH.2ND, BY COUNCILMAN COLEMAN, ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES.
ALL RIGHT, 67 THROUGH 71, WE'LL TAKE TOGETHER.
BOARD OF APPEAL CONCURRING IN THE MAYOR PRESIDENT'S REPLACEMENT OF GREG FLORES, WHO IS NOT SEEKING REAPPOINTMENT.
THIS IS A 3 YEAR TERM CONCURRING WITH THE MAYOR PRESIDENT'S REPLACEMENT OF THE TOP.
MAN WHO IS SEEKING A REAPPOINTMENT.
CONCURRENT WITH THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT'S REAPPOINTMENT OR REPLACEMENT OF FLOYD LUSTER.
CONCURRENT WITH THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT'S REPLACEMENT OF MICHAEL ABBAS, WHO IS NOT SEEKING REAPPOINTMENT.
CONCURRENT WITH THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT'S REPLACEMENT OF FRITZ IMBA, WHO IS NOT SEEKING REAPPOINTMENT.
THERE IS NOBODY ON THE CURRENT BALLOT.
RACHEL, WHO WANTS TO SPEAK? THERE WAS, I THINK, SOME CONFUSION AROUND PEOPLE ON THE BOARD.
SO MR. LUSTER AND MR. IMBAUGH ARE SEEKING REAPPOINTMENT.
AND WE RECEIVED TWO, WE HAVE TWO REPLACEMENTS THAT APPLIED.
AND JOSEPH YARBROUGH THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT OF MR. GREG FLORES AND MR. TODD MANN.
SHANE IS A PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR AND PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, AND JOSEPH YARBROUGH IS A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER AS WELL.
SO FLOYD LUSTER AND WHO WAS THE OTHER THAT WANTS TO STAY? FOR IT'S THE LAST ONE, SO WE DON'T HAVE A REPLACEMENT FROM MICHAEL BOSS.
BUT I, I TOLD HIM THAT HE MUST NAME EVERY PLACE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO DEFER ITEM 70 FOR 2 WEEKS.
SO, LET'S VOTE ON 67, 68, 69 AND 71 AS SHANE NICHOLAS, JOSEPH, YOUR BRO AND REAPPOINTING FOR LESTER AND FOR THEM.
BOB MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN 2ND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON.
[Items 72 -74]
MOTION TO DEFER FOR TWO WEEKS BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARES.CHANGE ORDERS, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE SEVENTY TWO THROUGH SEVENTY FOUR TOGETHER.
72 BOUNDARIES POLICE DEPARTMENT TRAINING ACADEMY RENOVATIONS, CONTRACTORS, CENTURION, CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT.
281,820 DOLLARS 73 BURBANK DRIVE AT PELICANS.
PELICAN LAKES TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONTRACTOR REFERRED ELECTRIC INC CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT FORTY FIVE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS THIRTY SIX CENTS 74 RENOVATIONS TO SCOTLANDVILLE BRANCH LIBRARY PHASE TWO CONTRACTOR SIENNA CONSTRUCTION LLC CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY FIVE THOUSAND 648 DOLLARS ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS THEY KNOW GO TO COUNCIL MOTION MOTION MY COUNCILMAN HURST
[75. 26-00589]
SECOND MY COUNCILMAN ADAMS ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES.ALL RIGHT, ACCEPTANCE OF LOW BIDS.
ITEM 75, ANNUAL CONTRACT FOR INTERSTATE MOWING, LITTER, AND TRASH COLLECTION.
LOW BIDS, FACILITY MAINTENANCE SPECIALIST, LLC, $492,666.59.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO, GO TO COUNCIL.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT.
SO THIS CONTRACT IS FOR MOWING.
I JUST PASSED SOME PICTURES AROUND.
THIS IS FOR MOWING BASED ON THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE WITH DOTD.
SO WHAT SOME MAY NOT REALIZE IS WE AGREE TO TAKE CARE OF NOT JUST THE INTERSTATE, BUT A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PROPERTIES FOR DOTD EVERY YEAR UNDER A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT.
THEY PAY US FOR DOING SOME OF THAT WORK.
SO THIS CONTRACT HERE, $492,666.59, WHICH HAS GONE UP, OR I'M SORRY, IT'S GONE DOWN $5,000 FROM LAST YEAR, IS JUST ONE OF A HANDFUL OF DIFFERENT CONTRACTS THAT ARE PART OF THAT COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH DOTD.
[03:30:02]
RIGHT NOW, CURRENTLY, EVERY YEAR WE PAY, OR AS OF LAST YEAR, WE PAY $1,125,679.15 FOR MOWING, LITTER, TRASH COLLECTION, AND MAINTENANCE OF DOTD RESPONSIBILITY AREAS.AS PER THAT COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT, $418,275.
SO WE LOSE $700,000 FOR THE BENEFIT OF DOING SOMEONE ELSE'S WORK, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE DO IT.
IT ENDS IN JUNE, THE COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT.
OTHERWISE, I WOULD PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FOR US TO SEND NOTICE WITHIN 30 DAYS TO CANCEL THAT COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT A LOT TONIGHT.
FOR THE BUDGETARY WOES THAT WE HAVE, THERE IS NO REASON THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING SOMEONE ELSE'S WORK AND BE PAYING $700,000 EXTRA TO DO IT.
WE COULD JUST AS EASILY, AND HERE'S THE THING, I BET WHEN WE STARTED THIS, WE ACTUALLY HAD THE MOWERS, WE WERE CUTTING THE GRASS, AND WE WERE USING OUR EMPLOYEES.
AND WE WERE SAYING, WE CAN PICK IT UP, WE CAN DO IT BETTER, WE CAN DO IT FASTER, AND WE CAN DO IT CHEAPER.
WE ARE LITERALLY A MIDDLEMAN FOR DOTD SAYING, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THIS FOR YOU, AND WE'RE PAYING $700,000 EXTRA TO DO IT.
THERE'S NO REASON WE SHOULD CONTINUE DOING IT.
MY MOTION ON THIS IS TO DELETE THIS ITEM.
AND FURTHERMORE, WHEN THIS CONTRACT OR THIS COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR COMES DOWN FROM DOTD, I DON'T WANT TO RENEW THAT IN JUNE WHEN THE CURRENT ONE ENDS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS.
WE CAN GIVE THEM A FULL LIST OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WE CONTRACT WITH ON THEIR BEHALF, AND THEY CAN CONTRACT WITH THEM THEMSELVES AND CUT US OUT OF IT.
THE PICTURES THAT YOU SEE, THESE ARE PICTURES FROM, I SENT MY BLACK PERSON OUT, I SAID, GO TAKE PICTURES OF ALL THE TALL GRASS IN EVERY AREA YOU CAN FIND IT.
THIS IS JUST SOME OF THEM, BECAUSE I'M SURE I'M SHARING WITH Y'ALL, IT TAKES 45 MINUTES TO GET ACROSS MY DISTRICT.
SO THESE ARE PARISH ROADS, RESPONSIBILITIES.
THESE ARE THE AREAS WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR, AND WE'RE NOT TAKING CARE OF THEM, BUT WE'RE PAYING $700,000 TO TAKE CARE OF STATES, EXTRA, THAT WE'RE NOT BEING REIMBURSED FOR.
WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF WHAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF AND STOP WORRYING ABOUT THEM.
YES, WE'RE GOING TO GET CALLS.
MAYBE IF THEY'RE NOT DOING IT FAST ENOUGH, THAT'S FINE.
WE CAN GIVE THEM DIXON'S NUMBER.
WE CAN GIVE THEM BARBER'S NUMBER.
IT'S NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND WE DON'T NEED TO BE PAYING EXTRA TO TRY TO DO THEIR WORK FOR THEM.
YOU ALREADY KNOW, COME TO THE MIC AND LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.
WE SAW THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF WHATEVER, BUT MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS, IS THIS A BURDEN ON YOUR DEPARTMENT OR CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE HOW IT WAS SET UP AND WHAT YOUR SUGGESTION WILL BE TO MOVE FORWARD OR NOT MOVE FORWARD AND MR DANIEL YOU CAN CHAT.
WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
I DON'T CONSIDER ANY OF THE SERVICES.
SO I JUST WANT TO START THERE.
BUT I HAVEN'T, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PACKAGE YOU JUST GAVE OUT.
COUNCIL MEMBER NOAH, I'D LOVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
BUT FOR THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT, I'LL SPEAK TO THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT WHEN IT INVOLVES INTERSTATE MOWING AND LITTER COLLECTION ON THE I-10, I-12 CORRIDORS.
DOTD DOES PAY US ABOUT $267,000, WHICH UNDER THIS CONTRACT WOULD ONLY COVER ABOUT NINE CYCLES OF MOWING.
AND NINE CYCLES OF MOWING IS NOT ENOUGH FOR THE STATE CAPITAL.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS 16 CYCLES OF MOWING.
THAT'S 16 CYCLES OF MOWING AND SPRAYING TO GIVE THE CAPITAL AREA THE LOOK IT DESERVES.
SO WE ARE SUPPLEMENTING THAT TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT...
224,000 DOLLARS ACCORDING TO MY LAST CALCULATION.
BUT THIS, THE BIDS WE RECEIVE ARE LOWER THAN WHAT WE HAD LAST YEAR.
PLUS WE ALSO HAVE ST GEORGE ABOUT TO TAKE OVER THEIR PORTION OF THE INTERSTATE.
LIKE YOU SAID, I THINK THAT HIS CURRENT CONTRACT JULY 1ST.
SO THEY'LL TAKE CARE OF THEIR SECTION FROM THE PARISH LINE OUT
[03:35:02]
THROUGH ST GEORGE.SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 30,000 A CYCLE.
WE PAY FOR 16 CYCLES, AND DOTD PAYS FOR ABOUT NINE OF THOSE CYCLES.
BUT WHEN YOU DRIVE OUT OF THE PARISH, IT IS A NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE ALONG THE INTERSTATE CORRIDOR.
AS SOON AS YOU EXIT BATON ROUGE, YOU SEE A FEW INCHES HIGHER GRASS ALONG THAT INTERSTATE.
AND I DON'T WANT TO CONDEMN ANY OTHER MUNICIPALITY, BUT WE'RE THE STATE CAPITAL, AND THAT'S WHY WE DO THE EXTRA CYCLES.
THERE'S PARTS OF THE PARISH WHERE IT'S A FEW INCHES HIGHER, TOO, THOUGH, JUST FYI.
INTERNALLY WE HAVE A SPRAY PROGRAM THAT HELPS SUPPRESS THE GRASS GROWTH TO HELP US REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF CYCLES FOR OUR IN-HOUSE CREW.
THE ONLY SPRAYING THAT WE DO ALONG THE INTERSTATE IS ALONG THE GUARD RAILS AND HARD TO ACCESS AREAS.
SO THIS IS ACCEPTANCE OF A LOW BID.
SO FORGET ALL THE LEGAL REASONS THAT WE SHOULD GO AHEAD WITH THIS.
BECAUSE I'M SURE THE PARISH ATTORNEYS CAN TELL YOU THAT WE ARE SOMEWHAT OBLIGATED TO ACCEPT THE LOW BID.
I THINK REGGIE PUT IT VERY WELL.
THIS IS A CAPITAL CITY, AND WE HAVE WORKED HARD TO PRESENT AN IMAGE THAT WHEN YOU DRIVE THROUGH IT, WE DON'T LOOK LIKE THE TRASHY CAPITAL CITY.
I MEAN, EVERYBODY'S GOT PROBLEMS IN THEIR DISTRICT.
AND YOU ALL HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE LIMITED RESOURCES, AND WE DO HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES.
BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, MR. MAYOR PRO TEM, AND I'M 100% FOR IT, I SAID THIS HAS BEEN A 30.
WELL, I CAN SPEAK TO IT FROM 2010 FORWARD.
MR. RAYFORD, YOU KNOW, HE'S A VERY SMART GUY.
BUT HE CAN SPEAK TO IT, YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO THAT.
BUT WE HAVE, WE WORK WITH DOTD ON A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS.
THERE'S A LOT OF STATE ROUTES THROUGH THE CITY.
AND THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING CARE OF THEM AND WE.
HOLD THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE ON THOSE, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY.
AND IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS FINE, WHEN WE GO TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE IN JUNE, I'M 100% FOR.
MAKING A CHANGE, BUT I JUST CAN'T SEE NOT MOWING THE GRASS ALL SUMMER LONG AND LETTING TO GET OUT OF CONTROL AND HAVE EVERYBODY DRIVE THROUGH THE CITY.
BUT SHOULDN'T THE STATE SAY THE SAME? THE STATE SHOULD SAY ALL OF OUR STATE BUILDINGS ARE DOWN.
SOME OF OUR MAJOR LANDMARKS, THEY SHOULD HAVE THE SAME PRIDE.
I AGREE, BUT THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 64 PARISHES, SO I THINK THAT EVERYBODY IN EVERY PARISH IS TELLING THEM THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE SOME PRIDE IN OURSELVES AS WELL.
WELL, I WAS GOING TO SAY, IT'S PROBABLY NOT A QUESTION FOR REGINALD, BECAUSE WILLIAM WAS PROBABLY HERE AND EXECUTED THE CONTRACT WHEN IT FIRST BEGAN.
I'M GETTING THAT OLD, BUT I'M NOT THAT OLD YET.
I THINK Y'ALL ANSWERING THE QUESTION RESPONDED TO AN OBSERVATION THAT WASN'T MADE.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY DISAGREES THAT WE SHOULD TAKE PRIDE WITH THE CAPITAL CITY.
WE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP IT CLEAN.
I THINK THE POINT THAT THE PRO TEM IS MAKING IS, IS IT OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND SHOULD WE BE TAKING A $500,000, $700,000 LAW TO TAKE ON THE STATE'S RESPONSIBILITY? SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO RESPOND TO IS THE BUDGETARY DEFICIT THAT WE'RE TAKING ON TO TAKE ON THE STATE'S RESPONSIBILITY.
COULDN'T WE JUST ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO THE SAME AMOUNT OF CYCLES THAT YOU'RE DOING? DO YOU THINK IT'S PRUDENT FOR US? TO TAKE THAT MUCH PRIDE OF A $700,000 LOSS TO DO THAT WORK? HONESTLY, I DO THINK IT'S WORTH CUTTING THE INTERSTATE AND SPENDING THE EXTRA MONEY.
THAT'S NOT THE QUESTION I'M ASKING, WILLIAM.
IT'S NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO IT.
WHY CAN WE NOT HOLD THE STATE ACCOUNTABLE FOR DOING IT? THAT'S MY QUESTION.
OKAY, SO THE STATE HAS A THAT'S AN EASY ANSWER.
THE STATE HAS A CERTAIN STANDARD.
THEY WILL LIKE THE GRASS TO BE HIGH.
WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME STANDARD.
WE WANT OUR PARISH TO LOOK NICER.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE'RE PERFECT, COUNCILMAN.
I MEAN, WE TRY TO CUT THE GRASS
[03:40:01]
AS BEST AS WE CAN, BUT PEOPLE PASSING THROUGH THE CITY, WE TRY TO GET THAT DONE.AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT, AND I ASKED REGGIE TO LOOK AT THIS, IS WHAT IF WE STARTED CUTTING IT AGAIN OURSELVES? WE CAN CUT IT NINE TIMES, COUNCILMAN, AND IT CAN BE HIGH, AND WHEN PEOPLE DRIVE THROUGH, THEY CAN...
FORM THEIR OPINION OF THE CITY.
WE WOULD PROPOSE THAT THEY HAVE A BETTER OPINION THAN WHAT DOTD WANTS THEM TO HAVE.
WERE YOU AWARE OF THIS DEFICIT, THIS AMOUNT OF DEFICIT? I'VE BEEN AWARE OF THIS AMOUNT OF DEFICIT SINCE 2010.
SO WHEN WE GO TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE WITH THEM ABOUT THIS ARRANGEMENT, WHAT IS THEIR RESPONSE WHEN YOU BRING THIS TO THEIR ATTENTION, WHICH I'M SURE YOU BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION? THIS IS ALL THE MONEY WE HAVE.
THIS IS THE EXACT SAME CONVERSATION WE HAD ABOUT TRAFFIC LIGHTS EARLIER.
IN THE YEAR, AND THEY CAME UP ON THAT AND, YOU KNOW, WE, WE CAN ASK THEM FOR MORE MONEY.
WE CAN ASK THEM TO CUT IT MORE OFTEN.
BUT THIS IS THE STANDARD THAT THEY HAVE FOR ALL THE INTERSTATES AND.
AND, THAT RUN THROUGH LOUISIANA THAT THEY WANT TO CUT THIS MANY TIMES AND I WILL TELL YOU THIS WITH ALL THE RAIN, IT'S GOING TO GROW A LOT FASTER.
MAYOR PRO TEM FOR IDENTIFYING.
I THINK WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE THIS.
I'M GOING TO BRING UP MOVE EBR BECAUSE AS FRED KNOWS AND AS YOU KNOW, LIKE A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT'S IN MOVE EBR, STATE HIGHWAY AND ADMINISTRATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TIME SAID BASICALLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
THE STATE IS NOT GOING TO DO IT.
A LOT MORE THAN PRIDE AND SNARLING TRAFFIC.
YEAH, BUT THE SAME APPROACH WAS TAKEN, SO I GET IT.
BUT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT AND TRY TO PUSH HARDER FOR THEM TO DO MORE.
AND, YOU KNOW, IF HE WANTS TO CUT IT NINE TIMES.
WE CAN DO THAT, BUT THAT WOULD NOT BE MY RECOMMENDATION.
I DON'T THINK HE'S SAYING, OR WE'RE SAYING CUT IT LESS.
GET MORE MONEY SO WE'RE NOT AT A $700,000 DEFICIT.
I WOULD LOVE TO GET MORE MONEY.
LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH DTD.
WHEN DOES THE CURRENT AGREEMENT EXPIRE? JUNE 30TH? YEAH, AT THE END OF SUMMER.
YEAH, I'LL LET YOU SPEAK IN JUST A SECOND.
I WANT TO FIRST SAY I THINK THE MAYOR PORTEM BRINGS UP A GOOD POINT.
THIS IS CERTAINLY LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS PREVIOUSLY.
ON ANYTHING WHERE WE GET REIMBURSED FROM THE STATE, WE DON'T EVER GET ENOUGH MONEY.
I MEAN, THAT'S BEEN THE STORY FOREVER, RIGHT? WE DON'T GET IT ON ROAD TRANSFER CREDITS.
WE DON'T GET IT ON TRAFFIC LIGHTS.
THERE'S PROBABLY SOME CANALS THAT WE DON'T GET IT ON THAT WE HELP MAINTAIN, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT IS.
MY HESITATION WITH THE MOTION AT HAND IS, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF MANAGING THIS CONTRACT.
I CAN RECALL, I THINK IT WAS 2019 OR 2018 MAYBE, WHEN WE FIRST INITIATED THE LITTER COMPONENT INTO THIS, AND IT WASN'T MANAGED GREAT.
BUT YOU HAVE BEEN ENFORCING THAT LITTER COMPONENT.
I CAN SEE IT ON THE INTERSTATE LATELY WHERE IT HAS BEEN BETTER.
OUR CITY IS LOOKING BETTER, AND I WOULD BE VERY HESITANT TO DISRUPT THAT.
I TOTALLY SYMPATHIZE WITH RURAL PARTS OF THE PARISH HAVING TALL GRASS BECAUSE I HAVE IT IN MY AREA.
GEORGE IS DOING A LITTLE BIT BETTER JOB WITH IT NOW, BUT WE'VE CERTAINLY HAD THAT ISSUE.
I JUST KNOW THAT ON I-10, THERE'S 130,000 VEHICLES ABOUT THAT TRAVEL THAT ROADWAY EVERY DAY.
AND IT MATTERS TO THOSE PEOPLE AS THEY GO THROUGH OUR PARISH WHAT THAT AREA LOOKS LIKE.
I KNOW IT MATTERS TO ME AS I COME DOWNTOWN AND I DO DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO I AM 100% WITH YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, ON GOING AFTER MORE MONEY, PRESSURE IN THE STATE WHEREVER WE CAN.
I JUST DON'T ACCEPT THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT MECHANISM TO DO IT.
SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION, A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO APPROVE.
WITH SOME OF WHAT'S BEEN SAID, AND I DO TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT OUR CITY LOOKS LIKE, BUT WE KNOW THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE TO TAKE CARE OF JUST WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO TAKE CARE OF.
AND I FEEL LIKE IF WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE FOR THE STATE, NOT ONLY SHOULD THEY COVER THE ENTIRETY OF THE COST OF IT, THEY SHOULD PROBABLY COVER IT MORE.
WE SHOULD PROBABLY GET 1.2 IF WE'RE GOING TO PROCURE IT AND HANDLE IT.
[03:45:01]
AND Y'ALL DO A GREAT JOB WITH THE CONTRACTS.I'M NOT SAYING ANY OF THE PROCESS IS BAD.
IT'S JUST WE'RE MIDDLEMANNING THIS TO LOSE MONEY.
THAT'S THE ONLY REASON IS WE'RE MIDDLEMANNING IT TO LOSE MONEY.
LIKE I SAID, WE CAN GIVE THEM A FULL LIST.
HERE'S EVERYBODY WE CONTRACT WITH TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE FOR YOU.
CAN YOU JUST CONTRACT WITH THEM INSTEAD? AND THEY WILL.
AND THEY WILL, MAYOR PRO TEMP, FOR NINE CUTS, AND IT WILL LOOK LIKE WHATEVER.
LIKE PRIDE IN CHENEYVILLE, PROBABLY.
IT WOULD NOT LOOK GOOD, AND WE SPEND THE EXTRA MONEY TO MANICURE THE ROADS SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE, 130 CARS.
AND I AGREE WITH YOU, WILLIAM, BUT HERE'S THE THING.
I WOULD ARGUE THAT WHEN WE ARE FLUSH WITH CASH, THEN WE CAN SPEND THOSE EXTRA DOLLARS TO MAKE THINGS LOOK HOW WE WANT.
BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF NEEDS THAT NEED TO BE COVERED LONG BEFORE WE CARE ABOUT HOW GOOD IT LOOKS WHEN IT'S SOMEONE ELSE'S RESPONSIBILITY.
I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN RESPONSIBILITIES AND HOW THINGS LOOK FIRST.
AND WHEN WE'RE OVERFLOWING, WHEN WE DO ALL THE REFORMS WE TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT AND EVERYTHING IS FANTASTIC AND WE JUST GOT ALL THIS EXTRA MONEY, WE'RE LIKE, WHAT DO WE DO WITH ALL THIS EXTRA MONEY? GUESS WHAT? STATE WILL CUT IT A FEW MORE TIMES FOR YOU, AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE BILL.
BUT RIGHT NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO DO THAT.
IT'S DEFINITELY A MATTER OF PRIORITIES, AND I WILL JUST TELL YOU, WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, MY DAD MADE ME CUT OUR YARD.
I GREW UP ON A FARM AND I CUT GRASS ALL THE TIME.
NEXT DOOR THERE WAS AN EMPTY LOT.
I SAID, WHY DO I HAVE TO CUT THAT EMPTY LOT? BECAUSE WE WANT IT TO LOOK GOOD FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THAT'S THE SAME REASON WE DO THE CUTS.
THE STATE WILL CUT IT NINE TIMES.
WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S DOLLARS? THE STATE WILL CUT IT NINE TIMES, AND IT WILL NOT LOOK GOOD.
SO WE CUT IT A FEW EXTRA TIMES TO KEEP IT RIGHT.
AND THAT'S SUBJECTIVE, AND I THINK WE NEED TO LET THE STATE DEAL WITH THE REPERCUSSIONS OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IF THEY CARE.
BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE OUR RESPONSIBILITY, AND IT'S NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
I DID SPEAK WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ON THIS.
AND WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE, AND THERE ARE PROVISIONS REGARDLESS.
SO I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT DELETING THE ITEM TONIGHT.
SO, AGAIN, I MAKE A MOTION TO DELETE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A 2ND BEHIND IT.
MAYBE I DIDN'T HAVE YOU GOT WE GOT A 2ND FROM COUNCILMAN HERS.
I'VE BECAUSE THE WHITE WAS RUDE AND DIDN'T GET.
WHEN WE PUT IN THE REQUEST, WE ALWAYS ASK FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY FROM THE DOTD.
IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, 24 AND 25, THEY DID GIVE US SOME EXTRA FUNDING FOR LITTER AND AN ADDITIONAL MOWING CYCLE, WHICH WAS ABOUT $30,000.
SO THEY DID PITCH IN A LITTLE EXTRA IN 24 AND 25.
SO WE'RE GOING TO LOSE $670,000? NO, I MEAN, MY NUMBERS ARE A BIT DIFFERENT FROM WHAT COUNCILMEMBER MAYOR PRO TEM NOEL PRESENTED.
THIS WAS FROM BART SUTTON A COUPLE MONTHS BACK, COMPILED IT.
SO WHAT I HAVE HERE IS THAT DOTD PAYS US $267K, WHICH I SAID COVERS NINE CYCLES.
WE DO 16 CYCLES, AND THERE'S A $224,000 GAP.
AND THAT'S JUST THIS CONTRACT.
IT'S MULTIPLE CONTRACTS, THOUGH, ON DOTD STUFF THAT ARE PART OF THAT COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR.
I HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
WILLIAM, COME TO THE MIC, PLEASE.
HOLD ON, YOU'RE ON MY TIME NOW.
BUT, UM, SO WHEN I MAKE A PHONE CALL TO THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT AND I SAY I NEED SOMETHING DONE, BY THE WAY, LET ME GIVE REGINALD A ROUND OF FREE... BECAUSE YOU DO AN AMAZING JOB. THIS IS NOT... I TEXTED REGINALD, WHEN WAS THAT BAD STORM, REGINALD? SATURDAY NIGHT, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I WENT AND CHECKED ON THE COMMUNITY CENTER AT ABOUT 8 OR 9 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT. I LITERALLY WAS THERE 15 MINUTES. I TEXTED REGINALD.
A TREE BRANCH THE SIZE OF THIS WHOLE LITTLE U HAD FALLEN IN THE STREET AND BLOCKED THE ROAD FROM THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
BY THE TIME I LEFT MY OFFICE 15 MINUTES LATER, DPW WAS COMING BEHIND ME. SO I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, YOU'RE DOING AN AMAZING JOB.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS SAYING THE OTHER NIGHT WITH THE MINISTER.
BUT HERE'S THE DEAL. HOW MUCH MORE WORK COULD WE DO WITH $700,000 IN THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT? A LOT OF TIMES I GET TOLD NO ABOUT DITCHES, WORK ORDERS, AND THINGS THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH
[03:50:01]
MONEY TO FIX THE SINKHOLES IN SOMEBODY'S YARD. THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO DO A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER THINGS. AND WHERE I AGREE WITH BRANDON IS THAT WHEN I MAKE THOSE PHONE CALLS, I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE STATE'S RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THEY ELECTED ME TO DO THE THINGS THAT AND SO THE ONE THING THAT MAKES PEOPLE JUMP OFF THEIR BEHIND IS THOSE CAMERAS THAT SIT IN THOSE CORNERS OVER THERE SO WHEN THEY START POINTING AT US AND WE SAID WE'VE DONE OUR JOB, THE STATE'S JOB I GUARANTEE THEY'LL FIND MORE MONEY TO DO IT OR THE PEOPLE THAT PUT THESE FOLKS IN OFFICE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE NEXT AND SO WE DON'T START HOLDING THEM THEN PUT US IN OFFICE. I WANT TO START HOLDING FOR WHAT WE'RE NOT DOING IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY CAN MAINTAIN AND TO ENSURE THAT WHEN IS AT THE HIGHEST STANDARD.OKAY. ONE MORE THING I'D SAY IS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR BOULEVARDS AND RIGHT OF WAYS. THOSE AREAS GET MORE CYCLES ALSO THAN WHAT THE.
PAYS FOR THOSE GET ABOUT, SAY, FLORIDA, FOR INSTANCE, ALL OF THE FROM THE. AIRLINE ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE PARISH LINE, THERE'S A LOT OF GRASS IN THAT AREA FROM YOUR MEDIUMS TO YOUR SERVICE ROLES. AND THOSE GET CUT, BUT, I THINK 35 TIMES A YEAR AND THE STATE DOES NOT PAY THE FULL AMOUNT FOR ALL OF THOSE CYCLES.
BUT JUST IMAGINE DRIVING OUT FLORIDA BOULEVARD.
WITH TALL GRASS ACCORDING TO WHAT DOTD PAYS IT WOULD.
COMPLETELY UNSIGHTLY THAT'S AIRLINE AS WELL. THEY HAVE A CERTAIN STANDARD AND THAT'S THE STANDARD THEY APPLY THROUGHOUT THE STATE WE CAN CHOOSE TO BE WITH THAT STANDARD OR WE CAN CHOOSE TO HAVE AN HIGHER STANDARD WE WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO DELETE WE HAVE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON TO APPROVE IS THERE A SECOND OR IS THERE A SECOND TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO APPROVE? YEAH, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GODAY. WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO APPROVE FIRST. WE'LL VOTE ON THE MACHINES Y'ALL READY COUNCIL MEMBERS MACHINES ARE OPEN ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO APPROVE SUBSTITUTE YOUR SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO APPROVE.
YEAH. MOTION FAILS. NOW WE'LL GO TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION, WHICH IS TO DELETE THE ITEM.
[76. 26-00616]
ON THE MOTION TO DELETE ITEM 75. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT, ITEM 76, LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE OF CITY PARISH-OWNED LOTS AND FEMA-OWNED PROPERTIES. LOW BID, VAST LLC, $44,325. ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK[77. 26-00636]
ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GODAY. SECOND BY THE CHAIR.ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
I HAVE 77 PERKINS ROAD OVERPASS RAYMOND AVENUE TO CHRISTIAN STREET PROJECT. LUSTER GROUP LLC 1,770,466 DOLLARS AND 50 CENTS. ANYONE HERE WISH
[78. 26-00585]
TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SO, YOU KNOW, GO TO COUNCIL WE HAVE EMOTIONS MOTION BY COUNCILMAN COLEMAN 2ND, MY COUNCILMAN HURTS. IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES.ALL RIGHT OTHER ITEM. WHICH IS AN EMERGENCY 78 IN ACCORDANCE WITH ORDINANCE 1, 6, 4, 4, 2.
THIS ITEM MUST BE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY BY 2 THIRDS VOTE IN METROPOLITAN COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE. PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH ADMIRAL LAND LLC FOR THE LEASE OF SPACE AT 445 NORTH 12TH STREET, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, 70802 FOR A TERM OF FIVE YEARS AT A RATE OF $1,359 PER SQUARE FOOT BASED ON 5,355 SQUARE FEET WITH THE SAID LEASE. BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY. I NEED A MOTION TO DECLARE THIS ITEM AN EMERGENCY. MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. WE HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HURST.
ANY OPPOSITION ON THE MOTION TO DECLARE IT AN EMERGENCY? SEEING NONE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ITEM. ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY
[03:55:01]
COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSA TO APPROVE. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES. COUNCILWOMAN AMOROSA. MEETING IS ADJOURNED.THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE.
GOD BLESS.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.