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[CALL TO ORDER]
SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2026, UM, SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.[Additional Item]
EVENING WITH, UH, METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEMBER ROWDY GODDE TO RECOGNIZE PAULA DAWSON OF JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT.COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, I DO WANT TO, I'LL ASK MS, UH, PAULA DAWSON TO COME ON UP AND MAKE SOME QUICK REMARKS.
UH, AND I WOULD SAY PAULA IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND HER BOARD CHAIR, MS. ELLA IS HERE.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW ELLA, SHE RUNS BATON ROUGE, BASICALLY.
UH, SHE'S AMAZING AND HER HUSBAND'S AWESOME.
SO, UM, BUT TO PAULA, UH, I WAS GONNA COME UP HERE AND TELL YOU ABOUT JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT AND OUR GREAT MEETING THAT WE HAD WHERE I LEARNED ABOUT SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES AND ASSETS THAT THEY DEPLOY ACROSS EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH AND WHY I FELT IT WAS APPROPRIATE, UH, THAT MS. PAULA COME AND, AND INFORM OUR COMMUNITY AND ALL OF US ABOUT THE GOOD WORK.
UH, BUT WHEN SHE AND I WERE VISITING JUST PRIOR TO THIS, UH, VERONICA FROM THE STAFF HERE CAME OVER AND TALKED ABOUT HOW IN HER HIGH SCHOOL YEAR OF, OF FRESHMAN YEAR, SHE WAS PART OF JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT, AND SHE STILL REMEMBERS THE ACTIVITIES SHE WENT THROUGH AND STILL HAS THE PLAQUE THAT SHE WAS AWARDED THAT SHE WENT THROUGH.
AND SO IT WAS, I TOLD VERONICA SHE SHOULD COME MAKE THE PRESENTATION BECAUSE IT WAS JUST A, A, A REALLY GREAT MOMENT, JUST KIND OF ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHERE WE HAPPEN TO BE IN THE SAME PLACE.
AND SHE TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT IMPACTED HER LIFE.
UH, I HOPE SHE CAN HEAR ME WHEREVER SHE IS.
SO, UM, SO THAT I THINK IS A MORE APROPOS, UH, INTRODUCTION, UH, OF MS. PAULA.
SO, UH, SO I, I ASKED HER IF SHE WOULD, WOULDN'T MIND COME MAKING A PRESENTATION AND, UH, TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE GREAT, GREAT WORK THAT SHE AND HER TEAM ARE DOING HERE IN BATON ROUGE.
AND I THINK JUSTIN, SHE'S GOT SOMETHING TO QUEUE UP.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL TODAY TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT.
UM, IT IS CERTAINLY INSPIRING TO HEAR THE STORIES, UM, OF OUR PAST J STUDENTS, AND WE GET THAT ALL OF THE TIME BECAUSE WE WORK WITH SO MANY STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE CAPITAL AREA.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S GONNA BE IMPORTANT FOR YOU ALL TO KNOW HOW WE'RE WORKING WITH THE SCHOOLS AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS, UM, ON A DAILY BASIS AND WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THEM, BECAUSE THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IS REALLY EMPOWERING OUR FUTURE TO, UM, HELP MAKE THE WORKFORCE AND OUR CITY BETTER IN THE FUTURE.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN KENNY.
UM, WE ACTUALLY HOST ONE OF OUR EVENTS, WHICH IS OUR BIZTOWN AND OUR FINANCE PARK AT JEWEL NEWMAN COMMUNITY CENTER.
AND I'LL SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT, UM, IN OUR VIDEOS, SO YOU'LL KIND OF GET TO KNOW WHAT OUR PROGRAMS ARE.
UM, BUT WE WORK WITH THREE PILLARS, FINANCIAL LITERACY, WORK READINESS, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN GRADES K THROUGH 12.
SO WE'RE REALLY PREPARING THOSE KIDS AND WORKING WITH THEM WITH DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. UM, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, BRINGING MENTORS FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO ACTUALLY SPEND TIME WITH THESE STUDENTS SO THAT THEY CAN LEARN THE SKILLS THAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE.
UM, WE'RE SERVING FAMILIES IN YOUR DISTRICT OVER 20,000 STUDENTS EVERY YEAR.
SO WE ARE BUSY 11 STAFF AND OVER A THOUSAND VOLUNTEERS THAT WE NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL EACH YEAR.
UM, I DO WANNA SHOW A QUICK VIDEO.
THIS IS A FOUR MINUTE VIDEO, AND I, I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A VERY QUICK WAY TO INTRODUCE YOU TO JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT, BECAUSE I REALLY WANT YOU TO GET A VISION FOR WHAT THOSE PROGRAMS ARE.
AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU SOME INSIGHT YOU MIGHT WANNA VOLUNTEER OR COME VISIT US.
THE CORE MISSION OF JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT IS TO INSPIRE AND PREPARE YE FOR THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, FOCUSING ON THREE INITIATIVES, FINANCIAL LITERACY, WORK READINESS, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
AND OUR WHOLE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE REALLY ENGAGING PROGRAMS FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THE STUDENTS ARE READY AND PREPARED FOR LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.
STARTING WITH THE YOUNGEST STUDENTS, JA, IN A DAY IS A HALF DAY PROGRAM WHERE VOLUNTEERS FROM HIGH SCHOOL ROTC UNITS AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TEACH JAY ACTIVITIES IN GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH, FOCUSING ON SKILLS SUCH AS NEEDS VERSUS WANTS, EARNING AND SAVING.
HOW A CITY WORKS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND JOB SKILLS.
OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE PREPARED WITH FUN GAINS AND CURRICULUM TO MAKE THE DAY ENGAGING AND FUN.
MIDDLE SCHOOL IS A CRITICAL TIME TO IMPRESS FINANCIAL LITERACY, WORK READINESS AND CAREER EXPLORATION.
THE JA DISCOVERY CENTER MOBILE DELIVERS TWO IMMERSIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES.
JA BIZTOWN LETS STUDENTS RUN A POP-UP CITY FOR A DAY, TAKING ON ROLES AS CONSUMERS AND PRODUCERS VOTING, TAKING OUT AND REPAYING BUSINESS LOANS, ALL WHILE PUTTING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SKILLS INTO ACTION.
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TRANSFORMS STUDENTS INTO ADULTS FOR A DAY USING AN IPAD.STUDENTS RECEIVE A PERSONA AND DETAILS LIKE INCOME, CREDIT SCORE, AND FAMILY SIZE, CREATING A REALISTIC FAMILY BUDGET AND WITNESSING FIRSTHAND THE TOUGH FINANCIAL DECISIONS ADULTS HAVE TO MAKE.
I WOULD SAY MY SON IS MORE CAREFUL WITH HIS SPENDING.
WE'RE NOT JUST ALWAYS SWIPING THE CAR NOW, BUT MORE LOOKING AT HIS ACCOUNT BEFORE HE WOULD NEVER LOOK AND SEE WHAT HIS BALANCE WAS, BUT NOW HE'S PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT.
THE JAA, LEADING LADIES AND MENTORING MEN PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO INSPIRE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO BUILD THEIR CONFIDENCE AND DEVELOP CRITICAL LIFE SKILLS.
WHAT IT MEANS TO ME TO BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE JA PROGRAMS IS TO BE ABLE TO KNOW HOW TO MANAGE EVERYTHING I NEED TO, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IF I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DO THESE THINGS, I WOULD RUN INTO A LOT OF PROBLEMS. I REALLY DON'T REALLY HAVE A MALE FIGURE OR A ROLE MODEL LIKE THESE.
SELLING IN HERE IS REALLY MAINLY ME, HOW TO BE A, A MAN AND BETTER HANDLING THE MONEY AS A HUSBAND FOR MY WIFE AND KIDS IN THE FUTURE, STUDENTS CONNECT WITH BUSINESS MENTORS FROM VARIOUS INDUSTRIES WHO SHARE THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCES AND INSIGHT.
THE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON BUDGETING, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND SOFT SKILLS, MEETING A CRITICAL NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
JAY'S FINANCIAL LITERACY COURSE PROVIDES A YEAR LONG CURRICULUM DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN LOUISIANA, PROVIDING THE REQUIRED COURSE OBJECTIVES FOR GRADUATION AND TOPS ELIGIBILITY.
WHAT MOTIVATES ME TO BECOME A, A VOLUNTEER WITH JUNIOR CHILE IS THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY DO.
IT'S VERY ENTHUSIASTIC TO BE AROUND THE STAFF AND AROUND THE KIDS.
THEY'RE MORE CONFIDENT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH YOU WHEN YOU'RE HAVING, UH, PARTICIPATORY EXERCISES WHERE YOU ASK THE VOLUNTEERS, THEIR HAND GOES UP.
SO I'VE JUST SEEN A GREAT DEAL OF SELF-CONFIDENCE BUILD UP IN THESE CHILDREN.
SO BETWEEN VOLUNTEERS AND FUNDING, THOSE ARE ALWAYS THE TWO BIGGEST NEEDS OF ANY NONPROFIT, PARTICULARLY JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT.
SO WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR NEXT GENERATION.
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT HAS A HUGE IMPACT ON THE FUTURE BY GIVING THESE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND ENGAGE FROM MENTORS, WE'RE SETTING THOSE UP FOR SUCCESS, AND THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA HELP OUR COMMUNITY IN THE FUTURE.
SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT ABOUT JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT.
HOPEFULLY THAT GAVE YOU A GOOD IDEA OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER.
UM, WE ARE CONNECTING THE STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM TO THE ACTUAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING.
I DO ALSO WANNA SHARE, UM, WE HAVE A VISITOR'S DAY, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME SEE FINANCE PARK IN PERSON.
WE'LL BE AT JEWEL NEWMAN COMMUNITY CENTER, UM, TOMORROW AND FRIDAY FROM 10 TO 10 45.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME POP IN AND SEE THE KIDS LIVE IN ACTION BEING ADULTS FOR THE DAY.
AND THEN ALSO ON OCTOBER 6TH, WE HAVE A, A VISITOR'S DAY FOR BIZTOWN, WHERE THE STUDENTS ACTUALLY RUN THE CITY.
THE MAYOR HAS SAID THAT HE MIGHT BE THERE, SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND HE CAN ACTUALLY MEET THE MAYOR OF BIZTOWN.
UM, SO WE'RE SUPER EXCITED, HOPE THAT YOU'LL JOIN US.
UM, WITH THAT, ANY QUESTIONS? YOU ALL HAVE A PAMPHLET ON YOUR DESK THAT HAS A QR CODE WITH OUR WEBSITE, SO IF YOU NEED ANY, ANY, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE, FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME AND THANK YOU.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR IMPORTANT WORK.
AND NEXT UP WE'LL HAVE COUNCILMAN ANTHONY KENNY JR.
RECOGNIZING LONDON KELLER FROM SHARON HILLS ELEMENTARY.
JOSIAH WILLIAMS FROM BROWNFIELD ELEMENTARY, AND AMAYA, HOPEFULLY I'M SAYING THAT RIGHT.
HOLLIN FROM BAKER HIGH SCHOOL FOR STUDENT OF THE YEAR, AND BAKER BUFFALO FESTIVAL QUEEN 2026.
COUNCILMAN HUDSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS TODAY.
UM, I HAVE A COUPLE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING SOME AMAZING THINGS ACROSS DISTRICT TWO.
UM, ONE OF THE, UM, INDIVIDUALS I HAVE TODAY IS SOME ROYALTY FROM THE BAKER, LOUISIANA COMMUNITY.
UM, SHE'S A PROUD STUDENT OF BAKER HIGH SCHOOL AND SHE WAS RECENTLY CROWNED BAKER, BUFFALO FESTIVAL QUEEN FOR 2026.
SO FOR THOSE THAT'S NOT FAMILIAR, UM, THE CITY OF BAKER HAS AN ANNUAL BUFFALO FESTIVAL, UH, WHERE THEY HAVE DAY, WHOLE WEEKEND FOR ACTIVITIES.
BUT RECENTLY THEY WANTED TO BRING SOMETHING TO HAVE A PAGEANTRY FOR YOUNG LADIES IN THE COMMUNITY AND SHOW EMPOWERMENT.
AND SO, UM, SHE WAS CROWNED FIRST PLACE AND THE QUEEN OF THE ENTIRE
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FESTIVAL, AND THAT SPEAKS TO HER LEADERSHIP AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HER PERSONALITY AND HER COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.SO, AT THIS TIME, MS. HOLLEN QUIS, YOU WANNA SAY IN A FEW WORDS TO THE METRO COUNCIL? HEY EVERYONE.
UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I THANK GOD FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S MY VERY FIRST TIME AND I'M HAPPY AND I'M THANKING MY GRANDMA 'CAUSE SHE PUSHED ME TO DO THIS.
SO, MAMA, THANK YOU FOR THIS AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.
ALRIGHT, MISS ALL QUEEN, DON'T GO TOO FAR.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE A GROUP PICTURE, BUT I ALSO WANNA INVITE UP YOUR MOM, YOUR MOTHER AND YOUR FAMILY TO COME ON UP AT THIS TIME.
SO LET'S GIVE MISS LINQUIST FAMILY A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD.
AND SO THANK YOU TO THE MOM AND GRANDMOTHER AND HER ENTIRE FAMILY FOR RAISING HER TO A PHENOMENAL YOUNG LADY.
ALRIGHT, COME ON NOW, WE'LL GO TOO ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
UM, I HAVE MR. JOSIAH WILLIAMS FROM BROWNSFIELD ELEMENTARY.
UH, MR. JOSIAH WAS RECENTLY, UM, ANNOUNCED AS THE STUDENT OF THE YEAR AT BROWNSFIELD ELEMENTARY.
COME ON UP, MR. WHISTLE WILLIAMS AT THIS TIME.
SO, MR. WILLIAMS WAS RECENTLY CROWNED, UH, WELL NAMED STUDENT OF THE YEAR, BROWNSFIELD ELEMENTARY IN MY DISTRICT.
UM, HE'S A FIFTH GRADE STUDENT AT BROWNFIELD ELEMENTARY.
IT TAKES A LOT TO BE NAMED STUDENT OF THE YEAR.
UM, THIS YOUNG MAN HAS A PHENOMENAL GPA, HE'S INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY AND INVOLVED IN HIS SCHOOL AS WELL.
SO, JOSIAH, ANY WORDS YOU WANNA SAY TO THE METRO COUNCIL? YES, GO AHEAD.
I WANNA THANK MY FAMILY, MY GRANDPARENTS AND MY MOTHER.
THEY PUSHED ME TO MY LIMITS THIS TIME.
LET'S GIVE MOM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
MOM, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR RAISING SUCH A PHENOMENAL YOUNG MAN.
SO, JOSIAH, WE HAVE A SPECIAL CERTIFICATE FROM YOU FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
UM, CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
UM, THE SKY'S A LIMIT FOR YOU.
BECOME STUDENT OF THE YEAR, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, CONTINUE TO BE AN AMAZING STUDENT.
AND WE WISH YOU NOTHING BUT THE BEST IN YOUR FUTURE JOURNEY AT THIS TIME.
SO, MOM, YOU WANNA COME ON UP, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A, A SPECIAL CERTIFICATE FOR YOU AND YOUR SON.
LAST BUT CERTAIN, AND NOT LEAST, LONDON KELS, MS. LONDON KELLER HERE TODAY.
ALL RIGHT, SO MS. LONDON KELLER IS THE STUDENT OF THE YEAR AT SHARON HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
COME ON UP, MS. KELLER, LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MS. KELLER.
SHE'S INVOLVED IN SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE STEM CLUB, STUDENT COUNCIL, CHOIR, CHEERLEADING, AND A STUDENT AMBASSADOR, UM, MAHA SCHOOL.
SO SHE IS AN ALL STAR AT SHARON HILLS ELEMENTARY.
UM, SHE HAS A PHENOMENAL GPA, HER, HER FAMILY, HER STUDENTS, HER COLLEAGUES, EVERYBODY AT THE SCHOOL HAD NONE RAVE REVIEWS ABOUT HER.
SO TO BE STUDENT OF YEAR TAKES A LOT AND TAKES AN AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT, OKAY? I WAS NEVER STUDENT OF THE YEAR, RIGHT? AND SO, UH, WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU.
SO ANYTHING YOU WANNA SAY TO THE METRO COUNCIL AT THIS TIME? ALRIGHT.
UM, I WANNA THANK MY PARENTS AND GOD FOR THIS ACHIEVEMENT.
ANY OF YOUR FAMILY ARE HERE, MOM, GRANDMOTHER, ANYBODY HERE AT THIS TIME? LET GET ROUND OF ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
COME ON UP AS WAY, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A PICTURE OF YOU AND YOUR DAUGHTER.
MONDAY, COME TO THE FRONT, COME UP.
ALRIGHT, THAT'S IT FOR ME, COUNCILMAN HUDSON.
ALRIGHT, NEXT UP WE'LL HAVE METROPOLITAN COUNCILWOMAN LAURIE ADAMS, RECOGNIZING THE DOLLY DIAMONDS, A BATON ROUGE BASED NONPROFIT AND LOCAL PROGRAM PARTNER SUPPORTING DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY IN THE CAPITAL AREA WE RECOGNIZE IN SEPTEMBER 25TH AS DOLLY DAY IN BATON ROUGE.
ALL RIGHT, LADIES, IF Y'ALL WOULD LIKE TO JOIN ME, COME ON UP HERE.
UM, I'M SO EXCITED TO HAVE Y'ALL HERE TODAY.
OH MY GOODNESS, YES, A HUNDRED PERCENT.
UM, SO I THINK ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ACROSS THE WORLD, EVERYBODY, UM, CERTAINLY KNEW THAT DOLLY PARTON WAS A BELOVED PUBLIC FIGURE, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT PEOPLE REALLY FULLY REALIZED, UM, HOW BELOVED SHE WAS, OR REALLY THE FULL EXTENT OF
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HER PHILANTHROPY UNTIL AFTER, UM, SHE PASSED.SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I WAS CERTAINLY, UM, INSPIRED, UM, BY THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, DOLLY, WHO WAS NEVER ABLE TO HAVE CHILDREN OF HER OWN, DECIDED TO TAKE HER RESOURCES, UM, HER WEALTH, HER TREMENDOUS ENERGY, AND HER GREAT HEART, AND POUR INTO THE LIVES OF LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN.
AND, UM, IT IS ALSO VERY IMPRESSIVE TO SEE YOU LADIES HERE DOING THIS SAME WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR EFFORTS.
I AM GONNA READ THIS PROCLAMATION SO WE CAN GO THROUGH ALL OF DOLLY'S ACHIEVEMENT, BUT THEN I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO COME AND TALK ABOUT SOME SPECIAL EVENTS THAT ARE COMING UP IN THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO.
SO, UM, WHERE IS DOLLY PARTON WAS A BELOVED AMERICAN SINGER SONGWRITER, ACTRESS, PHILANTHROPIST, AND HUMANITARIAN, WHOSE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND CAREER BROUGHT JOY TO GENERATIONS AND REFLECTED A LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO KINDNESS, GENEROSITY, AND SERVICE TO OTHERS.
AND WHEREAS AMONG DOLLY PARTON'S MOST ENDURING CONTRIBUTIONS IS HER IMAGINATION LIBRARY, WHICH SHE FOUND IN 1995 IN HONOR OF HER FATHER WHO COULD NOT READ OR WRITE WITH A MISSION TO ASPIRE A LOVE OF READING BY PROVIDING FREE HIGH QUALITY BOOKS TO MILLIONS FREE, HIGH QUALITY, UM, BOOKS PLACED, LET'S SEE, IN TWO, I CAN'T READ EITHER.
I WAS NOT A BENEFICIARY OF THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY.
AND WHEREAS WHAT BEGAN IN DOLLY'S HOME COMMUNITY IN EAST TENNESSEE GREW INTO AN EXTRAORDINARY LITERACY MOVEMENT THAT HAS PLACED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF BOOKS INTO THE HANDS AND HOMES OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
AND WHEREAS DOLLY BELIEVED DEEPLY IN THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD AND UNDERSTOOD THAT SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS RECEIVING A BOOK IN THE MAIL EACH MONTH COULD INSPIRE A LOVE OF READING, STRENGTHEN COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND HELP BUILD A FOUNDATION FOR LIFELONG LEARNING.
AND WHEREAS RESEARCH DEMONSTRATES THAT INCREASING CHILDREN'S ACCESS TO BOOKS IN THE HOME AND PARTICIPATION IN BOOK GIFTING PROGRAMS CAN SUPPORT EARLY LITERACY DEVELOPMENT AND HELP PREPARE YOUNG CHILDREN FOR SUCCESS WHEN THEY ENTER KINDERGARTEN.
WHEREAS DOLLY PARTON'S LEGACY REMINDS US THAT GENERATION GENEROSITY CAN TAKE MANY FORMS AND THAT COM COMMUNITIES CAN MAKE A LASTING DIFFERENCE WHEN THEY INVEST IN THEIR YOUNGEST CHILDREN.
AND WHEREAS COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE HONORING DOLLY'S REMARKABLE LIFE AND LEGACY, RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER 25TH, A FITTING TRIBUTE TO DOLLY'S ICONIC NINE TO FIVE AS DOLLY DAY.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PARIS OF EACH BATON ROUGE WISHES TO JOIN IN CELEBRATING THE JOY, KINDNESS, GENEROSITY, AND SPIRIT OF DOLLY PARTON, UM, THAT SHE SHARED WITH THE WORLD, WHILE ENCOURAGING OUR COMMUNITY TO CARRY FORWARD HER LEGACY.
NOW, LET IT BE RESOLVED THAT BY THE EAST BATON ROUGE PET METROPOLITAN COUNCIL THAT WE DECLARE SEPTEMBER 25TH AS DOLLY DAY IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH IN HONOR OF DOLLY'S EXTRAORDINARY LIFE, HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICAN CULTURE AND HER ENDURING COMMITMENT TO CHILDREN'S LITERACY.
SO, UM, ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SIGNED IT, AND SO WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE IN A MINUTE, BUT LAY SERIOUSLY.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S SO IMPRESSIVE, UM, THAT YOU, UH, YOU WORK TIRELESSLY ON BEHALF OF, UM, DOLLY'S EFFORTS AND WE'RE SO PLEASED, UM, TO HAVE Y'ALL AS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WORKING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO, CLAIRE, COME UP, COME UP AND TALK.
UM, DOLLY ONCE SAID SHE HOPED TO BE REMEMBERED MORE FOR HER BOOKS THAN HER LOOKS.
AND SO NOW WE LOVE THE BIG HAIR AND THE RHINESTONES, BUT WE, THE DOLLY DIAMONDS ARE HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT EBR REMEMBERS DOLLY FOR THE BOOKS TOO.
UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M CHLOE WILEY NETTLES AND ON BEHALF OF THE DOLLY DIAMONDS THANK YOU METRO COUNCIL FOR RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER 25TH, 9, 2, 5.
UH, THE DOLLY DIAMONDS ARE AN ALL VOLUNTEER LED NONPROFIT INSPIRED BY THE WARMTH, GENEROSITY, AND SPARKLE OF DOLLY PARTON.
OUR MISSION IS TO CHAMPION EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY BY SUPPORTING DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY, WHICH MAILS FREE AGE APPROPRIATE BOOKS EVERY MONTH TO ENROLL CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE FIVE.
AS THE LOCAL PROGRAM PARTNER, WE RAISE THE DOLLARS, PROMOTE ENROLLMENT, AND BUILD THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT MAKE THOSE BOOKS POSSIBLE FOR LOCAL CHILDREN IN EBR.
AND THANKS TO THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY'S MODEL, IT COSTS JUST A DOLLAR 30 PER BOOK, OR ABOUT $16 PER YEAR TO GIVE A CHILD AN ENTIRE YEAR OF FREE MONTHLY BOOKS.
AND THE NEED AND THE OPPORTUNITY HERE IS GREAT.
THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 28,000 CHILDREN IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH ELIGIBLE FOR THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY, BUT ONLY ABOUT 4,000 OR 13% ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED AT THE SAME TIME.
65% OF OUR CHILDREN IN OUR PARISH ARE ENTERING KINDERGARTEN READING BELOW GRADE LEVEL.
AS A FORMER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL, I KNOW
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THAT WHAT THOSE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE WHEN CHILDREN WALK IN THE CLASSROOM DOOR.A BOOK IN THE MAILBOX MAY SEEM LIKE A VERY SMALL THING, BUT IT MAKES A BIG IMPACT.
THOSE BOOKS BECOME BEDTIME STORIES, CONVERSATIONS, NEW WORDS, AND EVENTUALLY A HOME LIBRARY.
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT PARTICIPANTS, CAREGIVERS ALSO WERE MORE LIKELY TO COUNT IMAGES, DESCRIBE PICTURES, AND LET CHILDREN HOLD THE BOOK.
KEY BEHAVIORS FOR KINDERGARTEN READINESS.
THAT SPECIAL BOOK IN THE MAILBOX CAN BE ONE OF A CHILD'S FIRST INVITATIONS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH READING, AND THAT IS A GAME CHANGER.
SO COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE HAVE A SIMPLE ASK.
HELP US REACH THE OTHER 24,000 ELIGIBLE CHILDREN IN EBR AND GIVE LIKE DOLLY, HELP US SPREAD THE WORD IN YOUR DISTRICTS.
CONNECT US WITH FAMILIES, INTRODUCE US TO PARTNERS WHO CAN HELP FUND THE BOOKS.
AND WE'D LOVE FOR EACH OF YOU TO THINK ABOUT HOW YOU MIGHT HELP US REACH AND SUPPORT CHILDREN RIGHT IN YOUR OWN DISTRICT.
ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, 9, 2 5, WE'RE ASKING BATON ROUGE TO GIVE LIKE DOLLY, GIVE, SHARE THE PROGRAM WITH A FAMILY, DO SOMETHING KIND FOR A CHILD, OR SUPPORT THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY RIGHT HERE AT HOME.
OUR HOPE IS THAT DOLLY DAY BECOMES MORE THAN A PROCLAMATION.
WE HOPE IT BECOMES A PROMISE THAT BATON ROUGE WILL HELP DOLLY'S LEGACY LIVE ON ONE CHILD, ONE MAILBOX, AND ONE BOOK AT A TIME.
THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN OUR CHILDREN, AND THANK YOU FOR HELPING US PUT A LITTLE MORE DOLLY AND A LOT MORE BOOKS INTO THE HOMES ACROSS OUR PARISH.
WOULD Y'ALL LIKE TO COME DOWN AND JOIN US FOR ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET A BIG SMILE FROM EVERYBODY.
AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, UH, WE'LL HAVE MAYOR, PRESIDENT SID EDWARDS, WHO CONSEQUENTLY WILL ALSO BE DRESSING UP AS DOLLY ALL DAY ON FRIDAY.
UM, UH,
HE'S HERE TO RECOGNIZE, UH, MISS ALICIA BUTLER FOR BEING NAMED TEACHER OF THE YEAR FOR THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
WELL, FOLKS, YOU KNOW, BEING AN EDUCATOR MYSELF, UH, WE ALWAYS HAD TEACHER OF THE MONTH AT A, AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
WE MIGHT HAVE TEACHER OF THE YEAR AT THE SCHOOL, THEN YOU COULD BE TEACHER OF THE YEAR IN A WHOLE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
BUT THE YOUNG LADY WE HONOR IN TONIGHT IS TEACHER OF THE YEAR IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
AND SHE, UM, SHE'S REMARKABLE.
I REMEMBER BACK WHEN SHE WAS A, UH, SOFTBALL COACH OVER AT PORT ALLEN HIGH SCHOOL.
BUT WHAT SHE'S DOING NOW IS TRULY GOD'S WORK.
SHE IS A TEACHER AT LOUISIANA SCHOOL FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, AND I GOT THE PLEASURE OF GETTING TO GO VISIT SOME OF THEIR STUDENTS LAST RIGHT AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
IF YOU EVER WANT TO DO YOURSELF A FAVOR, ONE, GO VISIT THOSE CHILDREN, YOU'RE GONNA COME BACK WITH JOY IN YOUR HEART, BENNY, GO VISIT MS. BUTLER AND WATCH HER WORK, WATCH HER WORK HER MAGIC.
SO WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU, MS. ALICIA, IF YOU, Y'ALL COME ON UP AND HAVE YOU SAY A FEW WORDS, WE APPRECIATE YOU AND, UH, WE'RE EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU.
UH, ANYTIME BATON ROUGE WINS, YOU KNOW, I GET FIRED UP, SO CONGRATULATIONS.
IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO GET A CONGRATULATIONS FROM HIM.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW, HE'S A LEGEND, YOU KNOW, IN SPORTS WORLD, EVERYTHING EDUCATION.
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UM, SO I'VE BEEN TEACHING FOR GOING ON 14 YEARS NOW.UM, IT'S, IT'S UH, JUST SUCH A GREAT HONOR TO BE HONORED BY THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU WERE BORN AND RAISED IN.
UM, SO THIS IS JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO PUT INTO WORDS TO UH, BE RECOGNIZED HERE TODAY, BUT, UM, SO FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS I HAVE BEEN WORKING, UM, IN SPECIAL EDUCATION AT THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED SCHOOL.
AND, UM, OUR STUDENTS HAVE JUST ABSOLUTELY POURED INTO ME PROBABLY MORE THAN I'VE EVEN BEEN ABLE TO POUR INTO THEM.
UM, BUT BEFORE THAT, UM, I WAS IN THE GENERAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM FOR 11 YEARS.
AND SO BETWEEN MY EXPERIENCES WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION AND WITH THE VI COMMUNITY AND IN, AND THEN IN THE GENERAL ED CLASSROOM AND SERVING ALL THESE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, I HAVE KIND OF COME TO FEEL VERY DEEPLY ABOUT THE IDEA OF INDEPENDENCE.
INDEPENDENCE FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, NOT JUST THOSE WITH EXCEPTIONALITIES FOR EVERY CHILD WHO STEPS INTO A CLASSROOM AND BY THE TIME THAT THEY GRADUATE FROM OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS, THEY SHOULD BE INDEPENDENT.
UM, NOT JUST WITH ACADEMIC KNOWLEDGE, BUT ALSO WITH SKILLS, CONFIDENCE, ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE AND ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES IN THE WAYS THAT THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO AS YOUNG ADULTS AND AS CITIZENS IN OUR SOCIETY.
UM, AND SO THAT'S REALLY LIKE THE ROOT AND THE HEART OF MY WORK.
UM, AND YOU'LL HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO SEE MORE OF MY PLATFORM THIS YEAR AS I COMPETE AT NATIONALS.
BUT, UM, I AM HERE TO SHINE A LIGHT ON NOT ONLY OUR, UM, LEARNERS WITH EXCEPTIONALITIES AND BE AN ADVOCATE FOR THEM, BUT ALSO FOR EVERY LEARNER.
SO IF Y'ALL EVER HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, IF YOU EVER WANT TO EVEN COME OUT AND SEE US, WE ARE HAVING WHITE CANE DAY.
WE ARE ACTUALLY OBSERVING IT AT OUR SCHOOL THIS YEAR INSTEAD OF DOWNTOWN ON FRIDAY THE 16TH.
SO THERE WILL BE NO, UM, CONFLICTS WITH LSU OR WITH THE STATE LIBRARY.
UM, IF YOU WOULD LIKE THE OFFICIAL INVITATION, I WILL HAPPILY SEND IT TO ALL OF YOU.
UM, BUT WE WILL BE HAVING AN ASSEMBLY AND THEN YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO WALK AROUND THE CAMPUS AND GET TO, UH, KNOW OUR STUDENTS AND ALL THE AMAZING THINGS THAT THEY DO AND THEY ACCOMPLISH ON A REGULAR BASIS.
SO I APPRECIATE THIS HONOR AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.
NOW, I KNOW THIS WAS A VERY NICE PROCLAMATION, BUT AM I CORRECT? YOU WANT A CAR TOO?
WHAT KIND OF CAR? MERCEDES? THOSE, THOSE THINGS COST LOTS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
ARE YOU THE HUSBAND? GOOD TO SEE A PHOTO DAY.
LEMME GET SOMEBODY TO TAKE OUR PICTURE FOR US.
WOULD YOU MIND? THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYBODY.
HOW ABOUT YOU? THAT WILL CONCLUDE OUR, UM, PRESENTATIONS.
THE REGULAR MEETING WILL START AT 4:00 PM HELLO EVERYBODY.
WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
AS ALWAYS, GREAT TO HAVE ALL OF YOU WATCHING OUR MEETING.
OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS LOVE FOR YOU TO BE A PART OF OUR GOVERNMENT.
WE HAVE A BIG WEEKEND COMING IN BATON ROUGE, TEXAS A AND M.
THE AGGIES COME TO TOWN TO TAKE ON THE TIGERS AND SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY GOES TO JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI TO TAKE ON THE JACKSON STATE TIGERS.
GOOD LUCK TO THE TIGERS AND THE JAGUARS.
GOOD TO HAVE YOU WATCHING ONCE AGAIN.
AND AT THIS TIME HERE IS THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT
[00:30:01]
PRO TEMP OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.WELCOME EVERYBODY TO THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2026.
WE'RE GONNA CALL THE MEETING IN ORDER.
ASHLEY, DO WE HAVE A QUORUM? WE HAVE A QUORUM.
WE'RE GONNA BEGIN WITH AN INVOCATION AND PLEDGE LED BY PASTOR LEWIS RICHARDSON OF WOODLAWN BAPTIST CHURCH.
[ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
THE MINUTES, APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2026 AND THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ZONING MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2026 BY THE COUNCIL, ADMINISTRATIVE TREASURER.MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
[INTRODUCTIONS ]
THE INTRODUCTIONS? SECTION 2.12 INTRODUCTIONS.NUMBER TWO, RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CALLING OF SPECIAL ELECTION BY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER SIX, PARISH V BATON ROUGE, STATE OF LOUISIANA ON SATURDAY APRIL 17TH, 2027 FOR THE PURPOSE OF AUTHORIZING THE RENEWAL OF THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF A SPECIAL FIVE MILLS AD VALOREM TAX WITH THE AVAILS OR PROCEEDS OF SAID TAX TO BE USED ENTIRELY AND EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE FIRE PROTECTION FACILITIES OF THE DISTRICT, INCLUDING THE COST OF OBTAINING WATER FOR FIRE PROTECTION PURPOSES AND FIRE HYDRANTS WITHIN THE DISTRICT AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEY'RE WITH BY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NUMBER SIX.
NUMBER THREE, AMENDING TITLE ONE, MUNICIPAL AND PARISH ORGANIZATION.
CHAPTER FOUR, REGULATION OF DEPARTMENT SECTION 1 6 0 9 0.7 HEARING PROCEDURE AND SIX AND 1 6 0 9 POINT 10 ADDITIONAL REMEDIES THAT WAS TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING COSTS AND ESTABLISH A TAX ROLL COLLECTION SURCHARGE BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
NUMBER FOUR, AMENDING TITLE 12 NUISANCES CHAPTER EIGHT, DANGEROUS BUILDING SECTION 12 5 22 CONDEMNATION ORDER DEMOLITION AND SECTIONS 12 5 2 5 COST OF DEMOLITION TO BE A LIEN ON PROPERTY SO AS TO ESTABLISH ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH CONDEMNATIONS BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
NUMBER FIVE, AMENDING TITLE 12 NUISANCES CHAPTER FIVE, WEED SECTION 12 3 51.
REMOVAL REQUIRED IN SECTION 12 3 53.
FAILURE TO REMOVE SO TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE PENALTIES AND FUNDS FOR VIOLATIONS AND AND RELATED WEED CUTTING.
LIENS BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
NUMBER SIX, AMENDING TITLE SIX, PUBLIC HEALTH.
CHAPTER FOUR, DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE AND OTHER WASTE MATTER SECTION 6 3 81 0.1, PENALTY FOR VIOLATION AND 6 3 81.
SO TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE PENALTIES AND FINES FOR VIOLATION BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
NUMBER SEVEN, AMENDING TITLE SIX, PUBLIC HEALTH.
CHAPTER FOUR, DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE AND OTHER WASTE MATTERS SECTION 6 4 0 6 0.1, PENALTY FOR VIOLATION AND SECTION 6 4 0 6.
SO IS TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE PENALTIES AND FINES FOR VIOLATION BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
NUMBER EIGHT, AMENDING TITLE 12 NUISANCES CHAPTER SIX, MISCELLANEOUS SECTION 12 4 0 5 MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTY AND SECTION 12 4 0 5 0.1.
MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTY ON OCCUPIED STRUCTURES THOUGH IS TO RESOLVE CONFLICTING SECTIONS AND PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE PENALTIES AND FINES FOR VIOLATION BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
NUMBER NINE, A RESOLUTION APPROVING PURSUANT TO ACT NUMBER 1 77 OF THE 2025 REGULAR SESSION OF LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE, THE REBATE OF LOCAL SALES AND USE TAXES COLLECTED ON THE SALE OF ADMISSION TICKETS, CONCESSIONS AND PARKING FOR MAJOR EVENTS TO BE HELD IN CONNECTION WITH TWO EVENTS PROPOSED FOR EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
AN EVENT TO BE HELD IN BATON ROUGE AT L U'S ALEX BOX STADIUM ON MARCH 4TH, 2027 AND TWO, AN EVENT TO BE HELD IN BATON ROUGE AT TIGER STADIUM ON MARCH 6TH, 2027 PURSUANT TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF VISIT BATON ROUGE AND IN RECOGNITION
[00:35:01]
OF THE EVENTS EXPECTED ECONOMIC IMPACT AND OTHER WEST PROVIDED WITH RESPECT THERE TO BY COUNCILMAN ROWDY GODDE.NUMBER 10, ESTABLISHING HEALTH INSURANCE RATES AND PLAN DESIGN FOR EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, 2027 BY THE HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR.
THIS ITEM IS INTRODUCED FOR PUBLIC HEARING AT A SPECIAL MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026.
[CONDEMNATION]
TITLE IX LICENSING AND REGULATIONS OF TRADES AND OCCUPATIONS CHAPTER 27 TO BUSINESSES SO AS TO AMEND SECTION 9 1 5 0 5 STORAGE OF TIRES TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF STORED TIRES BY COUNCILMAN DARRYL HURST.CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER 12, VERONICA ANDREWS PAYNE AND HAROLD PAYNE.
4 3 6 4 SYCAMORE STREET COUNCIL, DISTRICT FIVE HEARST NUMBER 13, JESSIE B STEWART JR.
5 7 6 3 HARTFORD AVENUE COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST.
3 9 4 6 SHERWOOD STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN HARRIS, NUMBER 15 ALMO BARKER 1 2 5 4 NORTH 36TH STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN HARRIS, NUMBER 16, ULYSSES Z ADDISON, JR.
1 6 9 3 40 SEVENTH STREET COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN HARRIS ADJUDICATED PROPERTY INTRODUCTIONS NUMBER 17 LOT 96 SUBDIVISION WOOD AIR COUNCIL, DISTRICT TWO KENNY NUMBER 18 LOT 2 97 SUBDIVISION BROOKSTOWN PLACE COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST NUMBER 19, LOT 38 A SQUARE 18 SUBDIVISION UNIVERSITY PLACE COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO KENNY NUMBER 20 LOT 11 A SQUARE 34 SUBDIVISION ESMA COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 21 LOT 20 SQUARE, 38 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 22 LOT 31 A SQUARE 32 SUBDIVISION BANKS COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO, KENNY NUMBER 23 LOT 34 AND 35 SQUARE SIX.
SUBDIVISION BANKS COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO, KENNY NUMBER 24 LOT 12 SQUARE 18 SUBDIVISION.
NEW DAYTON COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN HARRIS NUMBER 25 LOT 27 PLUS SQUARE THREE SUBDIVISION ST.
ERMA LEE, COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO, KENNY NUMBER 26, LOT FIVE AND SIX SQUARE 2 0 8 SUBDIVISION REMA COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 27 LOT 50 SUBDIVISION SOUTH DAYTON COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN HARRIS NUMBER 28, LOT 10 PARK SUBDIVISION PLAN ROAD COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN HARRIS NUMBER 29 LOT 17 SQUARE THREE.
SUBDIVISION PLAN ROAD COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN HARRIS NUMBER 30 LOT SIX SQUARE 37 SUBDIVISION SCOTLAND EDITION COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO KENNY NUMBER 31 LOT 12 SUBDIVISION SWOT EDITION COUNCIL.
DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN NUMBER 32.
LOT 11 SUBDIVISION SWOT EDITION COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN.
ALL ITEMS REQUIRE READING, BEEN READ, AND A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ALL ITEMS AS AN ORDER.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN KINNEY, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO TO THE SEPARATE SHEET FOR CONDEMNATIONS.
I'M GONNA READ DPW RECOMMENDATIONS, THEN WE'LL HAVE FEEDBACK AND PUBLIC HEARING.
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 72, 73, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, UH, DECEMBER 9TH ON ITEMS 76 AND 89.
DO WE HAVE ANY FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? COUNCILMAN HARRIS? I HAVE DISTRICT SEVEN, UH, 30 DAYS ON ITEMS 72, 84 AND 85.
AND THEN DECEMBER 9TH FOR ITEM 79.
ALRIGHT, DISTRICT 10, WE HAVE ITEM 88, 60 DAYS.
ANYBODY ELSE? YOU GOOD? ALRIGHT.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS? SEE NONE.
LEMME KNOW IF WE NEED ANY CHANGES TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 77, 78, 79.
SEVEN NINE TO PROCEED WITH ITEM 77, 78, 80, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 30 DAYS ON ITEM 72, 84 AND 85, 60 DAYS ON ITEM 73 88
[00:40:03]
DECEMBER 9TH FOR ITEM 76, 79, 89.READ, WHICH, WHAT WAS IT? THAT'S THE 30 DAYS, SORRY.
PROCEEDED WITH ITEM 77, 78, 80, 81, 82, 83, 86, 87, 30 DAYS ON 72, 84 AND 85, 60 DAYS ON 73 AND 88 DECEMBER 9TH FOR 76, 79, AND 89.
AND TO DELETE 74 AND 75, WE HAVE A MOTION.
MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES ITEM 90
[90. 26-00863]
METROPOLITAN COUNCIL SITTING AS A BOARD OF REVIEW FOR THE PARISH ON PARISH ASSESSMENTS BY THE COUNCIL.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE GO TO COUNCIL WITH NO OBJECTIONS BEING RECEIVED.
MOTION TO CONFIRM ALL OF THE ASSESSORS EVALUATIONS.
SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GOD DAY, ANY OPPOSITION MOTION CARRIES 91.
[91.26-01188]
ADOPTING AND LEVYING THE VALOREM.AN VALOREM TAX MILLAGE RATE OF 9.5 MILLS ON ALL PROPERTY, SUBJECT TO TAXATION WITHIN, WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE PARISH, EAST BATON ROUGE STATE OF LOUISIANA FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS, BEGINNING WITH THE TAX COLLECTION FOR THE YEAR 2026 AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER TO AND INCLUDING THE YEAR 2035 WITH THE PROCEEDS OF THE TAX AFTER PAYING REASONABLE AND NECESSARY EXPENSES OF COLLECTING AND ADMINISTERING THE TAX BE USED ENTIRELY AND EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAINTAINING AND OPERATING THE PUBLIC'S LIBRARY SYSTEM OF THE PARISH AND ITS BRANCHES AND IMPROVING SERVICES, ACQUIRING LAND, AND CONSTRUCTING NEW LIBRARY FACILITIES TITLED TO WHICH IS AND SHALL BE IN THE PUBLIC WITH THE AVAILS OR PROCEEDS OF THE TAX TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROL BY THE COUNCIL.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? KENNY MAY LANDRY? UM, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE THIS ONE OUT.
UH, I'M UNSURE IF THIS IS A NEW MILLAGE OR A MILLAGE RENEWAL OR IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE OF THRIVE.
UM, FIRST, UM, REASON I'M AGAINST IT IS 10 YEARS, AS I'VE SAID OVER AND OVER IS WAY TOO LONG.
UH, I'D LIKE TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER, UH, CHANGING IT TO FIVE YEARS BECAUSE NONE OF US HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL AND KNOW WHAT'S GONNA BE HAPPENING IN 10 YEARS.
ALSO, IT SAYS, FOR ACQUIRING LAND AND CONSTRUCTING NEW LIBRARY FACILITIES, UM, WE HAVE ENOUGH LIBRARIES, I THINK BRICK AND MORTAR BUILDINGS, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF REC COMMUNITY CENTERS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO SERVE OUR PEOPLE ALREADY.
AND IN THIS DAY AND TIME, UM, PHYSICAL BUILDINGS, ESPECIALLY LIBRARIES ARE NOT NEEDED.
SO I'M AGAINST THIS ITEM AS IT IS FOR 10 YEARS AND IT ALLOWS FOR PURCHASING OF LAND AND CONSTRUCTING NEW LIBRARY FACILITIES WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEE NO ONE GO TO COUNCIL.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION? COUNCILMAN GODDE? AM I CORRECT? COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR? THIS IS THE, UH, MILLAGE THAT WAS VOTED ON BY THE VOTERS OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH AND APPROVED BY THOSE VOTERS.
I MOTION TO APPROVE MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GOE.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES ITEM 92,
[92. 26-01141]
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AMENDED AND RESTATED COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, THE CAPITAL HOUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, THE CAPITAL HOUSE TAXING AUTHORITY, AND NORTH SHORE RESORTS, B-R-L-L-C, AND WITH THE CITY PARISH ED DISTRICT AND TAXING AUTHORITY COLLECTIVELY PARTIES TO CONSOLIDATE AND MERGE ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ALL PRIOR COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES TO CLARIFY THE PRIOR INTENTIONS OF THE PARTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE PRIOR CEAS RATIFY AND CONFIRM ALL THE PRIOR TERMS AND CONDITIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE PRIOR CEAS TO SIMPLIFY THE CONTRACTUAL FRAMEWORK AND ELIMINATE THE NEED TO RECONCILE SEPARATE AGREEMENTS GOING FORWARD AS TO GOVERN THE INCREASE IN OUTSTANDING PROJECT OBLIGATIONS TO BE PAID BY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT TO THE DEVELOPER, WHICH WILL BE TIED TO THE RENOVATION OF THE BATON ROUGE CAPITAL HOUSE CENTER FACILITIES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE[00:45:01]
INTENTION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT TO LEVY NEW SALES USE AND HOTEL MOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES IN THE FUTURE TO GOVERN THE COLLECTION OF TAXES, TO EXTEND THE OUTSIDE TERMINATION DATE TO JULY 31ST, 2058, OR AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY THE CEA TO PROVIDE FOR THE DEVELOPER DEVELOPER'S, LENDERS RIGHTS, ALL EFFECTIVE AS OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2026, AND PROVIDE FOR OTHER RELATED MATTERS BY COUNCILWOMAN CAROLYN COLEMAN, COUNCILWOMAN LAURIE ADAMS, AND COUNCILWOMAN JEN ROCKA.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 92.
UH, VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE TODAY ON, ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT TO GET ONE STEP CLOSER TO THE KIND OF RECASTING REBRANDING OF THE DOWNTOWN HILTON AS A SPORTS ILLUSTRATED RESORT.
UM, I HAVE PROVIDED A GREAT DEAL OF INFORMATION TO YOU ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
I DO WANT TO, UM, PUT INTO THE RECORD.
I I ALSO WANT TO, UH, THANK, UM, OUR PARISH ATTORNEY, JOHN LISA ASHLEY, AND, UM, ANGIE, FOR WORKING SO CLOSELY TO TAKE SOMETHING THAT WAS ENORMOUSLY COMPLICATED, BECAUSE JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORY, UM, BACK IN 20 2004, THE LEGISLATURE CREATED A TAXING AUTHORITY FOR THE CAPITAL HOUSE THAT LEVY TAXES ON OCCUPANCY.
NOTHING WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY CHANGES ANY OF THAT.
THEN YOUR PREDECESSORS AS A COUNCIL THE NEXT YEAR CREATED AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT WHERE 2 CENTS OF YOUR 4 CENTS UNDEDICATED TAX WENT TO THE CAPITAL HOUSE.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE PUTTING A MASSIVE NUMBER OF DOCUMENTS AT CONFLICTING INFORMATION TOGETHER INTO ONE CA BECAUSE IT'S THE SAME PROJECT, IT'S THE SAME DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT WAS IN THE ORIGINAL, UH, PROJECTS.
AND, AND TO KIND OF START THERE THEN, IF THIS DEVELOPER SPENDS A MINIMUM OF $24 MILLION, WHAT THEY'RE ASKING IS RIGHT NOW, WE STARTED WITH $61 MILLION BACK IN 2004, ROUGHLY IT'S DOWN TO 40 AND THERE'S 16 YEARS LEFT ON THE TERM.
SO IF THE DEVELOPERS OF THE CAPITAL HOUSE SPEND $24 MILLION, THEY WANT TO GO FROM 40 MILLION TO 55, THEY DON'T WANT TO GET THE WHOLE AMOUNT.
THEY MERELY WANT TO ADD $15 MILLION AND THEY WANT TO HAVE 32 YEARS TO PAY THE $55 MILLION BACK ONLY FROM THE ACTIVITIES FROM THE CAPITAL HOUSE.
AND SO, UM, TO BE VERY CLEAR, WE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING THAT CHANGES THE OCCUPANCY TAX.
MS. KITTER IS HERE AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR TO YOU.
NOTHING CHANGES THAN WHAT'S IN PLACE NOW AS IT RELATES TO, UH, THE OCCUPANCY TAX THAT, UH, VISIT BATON ROUGE IS, UH, INVOLVED WITH.
BUT NOT ONLY ARE THEY COMMITTING TO, UM, DO THIS WORK, BUT THEY WANT TO PUT AN ADDITIONAL 2 CENTS OF SALES TAX AND OCCUPANCY TAX, WHICH WILL RETIRE THAT $55 MILLION EVEN SOONER.
SO I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? HI.
UM, I TOLD MR. LANDRY HELLO AND HE SAID IF I SPOKE OUT AGAINST ANYTHING, HE WAS GONNA ATTACK ME TOO BECAUSE, UH, HE SAID I WASN'T A CITIZEN.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS AS A CITIZEN ADVOCATE.
THIS READS, ACKNOWLEDGE THE ATTEND INTENTION OF THE ED DISTRICT TO LEVY NEW SALES USE AND HOTEL MOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES.
IN THE FUTURE, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE METRO COUNCIL CONSIDER AMENDING THAT TO TAKE THAT OUT BECAUSE IF IT STAYS IN THERE, THE TERMINATION DATE IS 2058.
THAT WILL GIVE THIS EDD THE ABILITY TO RAISE NEW TAXES UNTIL 2058.
I AM AGAINST THE TERM OF THIS, I AM AGAINST THE WAY I WAS TREATED BY MR. LANDRY.
AND I WOULD LIKE Y'ALL TO REALLY CONSIDER LEAVING THINGS OPEN LIKE THIS TO
[00:50:01]
ENTITIES THAT HAVE SHOWN IN THE PAST TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY, OKAY, OFF OF THESE CEAS AND THE THINGS THAT THEY BRING FORTH UNDER THE GUISE OF IT'S WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CITIZENS TO ALLOW THIS CEA TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE TAXES TO YOU, FOR Y'ALL TO GIVE THEM THAT UNTIL 2058.I'D LIKE Y'ALL TO CONSIDER AMENDING THIS AND BRINGING IT BACK ONCE IT'S AMENDED.
ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEE NOW I'M GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES 93.
[93.26-01145 ]
ORDINANCE AND AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT GRANTING RA NETWORKS A FRANCHISE FOR INITIAL TERM OF 10 YEARS, PROVIDING THE RIGHT TO LAY, CONSTRUCT, LEASE, AND OR OPERATE FIBER OPTICS CABLE AND ALL APP.I'M GONNA HAVE TO HELP ME WITH THAT WORD.
PS IT'S A NEW ONE AND APPENDAGES TOO.
AND FOR THE PROVISION OF SERVICES IN CITY PARISH RIGHT AWAY AND OPERATION OF, UH, IN THE OPERATION OF FIBER NETWORK THROUGHOUT THE TERM OF THIS AGREEMENT, CANERA NETWORK SHALL PAY.
THE CITY PARISH HAS COMPENSATION FOR USE OF THE CITY PARISH RIGHT AWAY.
A FRANCHISE FEE EQUAL TO 5% GROSS REVENUE.
THE FRANCHISE FEE AS DETAILED IN THE ORDINANCE AND AGREEMENT, AND SPECIFICALLY PERTAINING TO RETAIL BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICE, MAYBE TIER TIERED BASED ON THE NUMBER OF LOCATIONS PASSED BY THE FIBER NETWORK, INCENTIVIZING THE DEPLOYMENT AND AVAILABILITY OF BROADBAND SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE CITY PARISH.
FRANCHISE AGREEMENT SHALL BE APPROVED BY THE OFFICE OF THE PARISH ATTORNEY.
AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY BY COUNCILMAN ROWDY GODDE.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? TEAM NUMBER, GO TO COUNCIL.
MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
COUNCILMAN MOAT IS SOMEONE HERE FROM THE CONT NETWORKED.
HEY, HOW ARE YOU? I'M DOING GREAT.
UH, NO, I, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE, THE ORDINANCE ITSELF, BUT I JUST WANTED TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR COMPANY AND SERVICES.
UM, I, THERE'S A LOT OF MAJOR NETWORKS AND EVERYTHING.
WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT, UH, TELL, JUST TELL US IN THE PUBLIC A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR SERVICES AND YOUR BACKGROUND.
UH, UH, CONT NETWORKS, WE'RE A CARRIER GRADE FIBER INTERNET PROVIDER, UH, TO COMMERCIAL AND BUSINESSES ONLY.
UH, WE'VE BEEN IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA FOR 20 YEARS.
UH, WE'RE JUST FURTHER EXPANDING TO THE MARKET.
WE HAVE, UH, A LOT OF, UH, EXISTING LARGE CUSTOMERS IN THE, THE AREA AS WELL AS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, INCLUDING THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
UH, WHAT WE DO IS WE, WE PROVIDE A MORE RELIABLE CONNECTION THAN MOST OF THE, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY, UH, PROVIDERS, THE LARGER PROVIDERS, UH, TO GIVE THESE, UH, ANCHOR CUSTOMERS BUSINESSES, RELIABLE CONNECTIVITY, THE INTERNET, ETHERNET.
WE ALSO PROVIDE VOICE SERVICES.
SO, SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE A BUSINESS TO BUSINESS? YES, SIR.
AND YOU'RE NOT RESELLING LINES, YOU'RE, YOU'RE NO, SIR.
BASICALLY LAYING YOUR OWN LINES.
UH, WE OWN OUR OWN, UH, CONSTRUCTION COMPANY BASED OUT OF CARE CROW, UH, THAT DOES ALL THE WORK.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
[94.26-01117]
RESOLUTION OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, CREATING A HOME RULE CHARTER COMMISSION ON WHETHER CONSOLIDATION IS BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE BY COUNCILMAN DOWELL HEARST.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? UM, CONSOLIDATION DECONSOLIDATION IS A BIG TOPIC RIGHT NOW.
UH, I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD COMMISSIONS BEFORE.
I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, BECAUSE I COULDN'T FIND IT ANYWHERE AS TO HOW THE COMMISSION WOULD, WHO WOULD CHOOSE THE COMMISSION AND SERVE ON THE COMMISSION, AND WOULD THEY MEET HERE WHERE EVERYONE IN THE PARISH COULD VIEW THEIR MEETINGS? BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THEY MEET IN ATTORNEY'S OFFICES.
[00:55:01]
SURE THAT BEFORE THIS ITEM IS PASSED, THAT THE COMMISSION INCLUDE ONE NON-CONNECTED CITIZEN.AND BY THAT I MEAN A CITIZEN WHO IS NOT PART OF A NON-PROFIT OR A GROUP, OR AN ENTITY, AN INDEPENDENT NON-CONNECTED CITIZEN FROM EACH OF THE METRO COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
AND THAT YOU, THE METRO COUNCIL FOR THIS COMMISSION, PUT TOGETHER A PROCESS WHEREBY CITIZENS WHO WANT TO SERVE ON THIS COMMISSION CAN SERVE, CAN BE CHOSEN TO SERVE THE COMMISSIONS OF THE PAST APPROVED BY THIS METRO COUNCIL, CONTAIN THE SAME PEOPLE OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
BEFORE YOU PASS THIS, IF YOU COULD AMEND IT TO INCLUDE THE MAKEUP OF THE COMMISSION AND THAT ALL COMMISSION MEETINGS MUST BE HELD IN THIS CHAMBER AND LIVE RECORDED SO THAT EVERY CITIZEN OF THE PARISH CAN HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE IN THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT CONSOLIDATION.
MY NAME IS JOHNNY MARIE SCOTT BROWN.
I AM A WIDOW AND I LIVE IN THE 7 0 8 0 5 DISTRICT.
I HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF MOVING BECAUSE MY TIME IS ALMOST OVER WITH, BUT I DO HAVE GRANDCHILDREN.
I HAVE GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, AND THEY'RE DOING WELL, AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO BE POSITIVE CITIZENS IN THE BATON ROUGE AREA.
SO I'M, I'M ACTUALLY HERE TO SUPPORT THIS COMMISSION, AND I AM AVAILABLE TO BE AN INDEPENDENT PERSON, BUT I AM IN SUPPORT OF MY COUNCILMAN AND WHATEVER IT TAKES TO IMPROVE NORTH BATON ROUGE, I'M ALL FOR IT.
AND I'M ACTUALLY TIRED OF GOING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN TO MEET MY NEEDS.
I WANT MY TAX DOLLARS TO GO WHERE I STAY.
SO I'M, I'M, I'M PLEADING WITH YOU GUYS TO LOOK AT THIS AND GIVE US A CHANCE TO IMPROVE WHERE WE LIVE, BECAUSE WE ARE ALL HUMAN.
WE ALL HAVE THE SAME BASIC NEEDS.
MY WANTS ARE THE SAME AS YOURS FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND FOR YOUR GRANDCHILDREN.
BUT I WANNA SEE MINE LIVE IN A BETTER PLACE.
MR. KENNY, I'M A PRODUCT OF SCOTLANDVILLE IN THE FIFTIES, SO WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, I SAW IT BOOMING.
SO REALLY NOW I'M IN A, A POINT IN MY LIFE WHERE I SEE IT DETERIORATING.
I'VE BEEN IN 7 0 8, 0 5 DISTRICT FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS, AND WHEN I MOVED THERE, IT WAS OKAY, BUT NOW I'VE SEEN IT GO DOWN.
SO I'M IN SUPPORT OF WHATEVER YOU GUYS CAN DO TO SUSTAIN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND MY COMMUNITY.
HOW YOU DOING? MY NAME IS, IS EDGAR CAGE, AND I'M ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION BECAUSE IT'S ONLY FAIR AND IT'S, UH, ONLY PROPERLY THAT BATON ROUGE LOOK AT THIS SITUATION AND DETERMINE WHAT'S BEST FOR BATON ROUGE.
BUT I THINK IF IT SHOULD BE BASED ON, ON FACT, NOT ON ANY FEELING ON DOLLARS AND EVERYTHING, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN? AND, AND I SEE THIS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A, A FAIRLY YOUNG METRO COUNCIL.
I SEE THIS LIKE A FAMILY WHERE YOU HAVE KIDS, YOUR KIDS REACH, REACH A CERTAIN AGE, THEY WANT TO GET ON THEIR OWN, THEY LEAVE.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT YOU HAD WHEN THOSE KIDS WERE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD.
IT'S A DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP.
YOU STILL LOVE THEM, YOU STILL HELP 'EM, BUT YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO BE ON THEIR OWN.
SO I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT EVERY ASPECT OF THIS DECONSOLIDATION TO SEE AND TO ENSURE AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS BEST FOR BATON ROUGE FIRST AND WHAT EFFECT IT WILL HAVE ON THE, ON THE OTHER AREAS.
BUT I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS, AND I HAVE, YOU KNOW, MANY, MANY COLLEAGUES.
I KNOW REVEREND SUTTON COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT, SO HE WANTED ME TO BE SURE TO COME TO EXPRESS
[01:00:01]
THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT THIS DECONSOLIDATION AND DETERMINE AND MAKE SURE THAT IF IT HAPPENS, OR IF IT'S PROPOSED, THAT BATON ROUGE WOULD BENEFIT FROM IT, NOT BE HEARD FROM IT, BECAUSE THE OTHER AREAS DID WHAT THEY DID AND WE DIDN'T VOTE, COULDN'T VOTE.SO IT'S PROPER FOR BATON ROUGE TO LOOK AT THIS AND, AND MAKE SURE IT IS GOOD FOR THE CITIZENS OF BATON ROUGE.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? TEAM.
NOW I'M GONNA GO TO COUNCIL COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR.
BEFORE YOU START MY TIME, I THINK IT'S IN ORDER FOR A POINT OF INFORMATION.
IF WE CAN GET THE, UM, GET ASHLEY TO READ INTO THE RECORD FOR THE PUBLIC, THE CURRENT MAKEUP, A PROPOSED MAKEUP.
I DO KNOW THAT MAY BE SOME AMENDMENTS, BUT BASED ON SOME QUESTIONS THAT WAS ASKED.
CAN WE STATE THE MAKEUP OF THE COMMISSION FIRST? THE RESOLUTION THAT'S ATTACHED TO THE ITEM HAS THE MAKEUP OF THE BOARD AS THE CITY OF THE ZACHARY MAYOR OR THEIR DESIGNEE, CITY OF BAKER MAYOR OR THEIR DESIGNEE, CITY OF CENTRAL MAYOR OR THEIR DESIGNEE, CITY OF ST.
GEORGE MAYOR OR THEIR DESIGNEE, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH MAYOR, PRESIDENT, OR THEIR DESIGNEE.
THREE MEMBERS OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, A MEMBER A, I'M SORRY, A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, DESIGNATED BY THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL AND A RESIDENT OF THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, DESIGNATED BY THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.
THAT'S EIGHT MEMBERS THAT ARE PROPOSED.
UM, UH, ANGIE, COULD YOU COME PLEASE? BOTH COUNCILMAN HERS AND I, UH, SUBMITTED WHAT COULD BE CALLED AS COMPANION ITEMS. HE'S FORMING A COMMISSION.
I ASKED FINANCE TO DO AN INDEPENDENT, UH, REVIEW AND GIVE US A REPORT ON A FINANCIAL FE FEASIBILITY OF DECONSOLIDATION AS IT RELATES TO THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND THE PARIS OF EAST BATON ROUGE.
I'D LIKE ANGIE TO READ THAT ITEM INTO THE RECORD.
SO, UH, THE ITEM SAYS, RECEIVING A REPORT FROM FINANCE TO DETERMINE THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF DECONSOLIDATION OF THE CITY AND PARISH.
THE REPORT SHOULD INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMIT TO THE SEPARATION OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE REVENUES AND EXPENSES, A SAMPLE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR BOTH THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE.
THE REPORT SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE AN OPINION FROM FINANCE OR A QUALIFIED THIRD PARTY ON IF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE WOULD HAVE INDEPENDENT TAX BASE TO COVER ITS OWN EXPENSES.
THE REPORT SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE A RECOMMENDATION OF THE STABILITY OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, IF DECONSOLIDATION WERE TO HAPPEN.
FINALLY, THE REPORT SHOULD STATE THE INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE AS IT RELATES TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICE'S FUNDING REQUIREMENTS.
AND TWO, JUST STAY THERE REAL QUICK FOR ME.
TO EDGAR'S POINT, UH, I SUBMITTED THIS ITEM, UH, BECAUSE I WANTED THE FACTS IN THE DATA TO HELP US MAKE A DECISION.
I THINK THE CONVERSATION IS WARRANTED.
WE NEED TO HAVE IT, BUT WE NEED TO LET FACTS AND DATA LEAD US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T PUT OURSELVES IN A WORSE SITUATION.
UM, THAT'S WHY WE SUBMITTED THIS REPORT.
SO I'M ASKING THAT THIS REPORT BE SUBMITTED TO THE COUNCIL AS WELL AS THIS COMMISSION WHEN IT'S FORMED.
HOWEVER, UM, SOME OF THE INFORMATION I'VE REQUESTED, I'VE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO FROM FINANCE AND THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THAT THEY FEEL SOME OF THE INFORMATION IS SENSITIVE.
INFORMATION THAT SHOULD NOT BE DISCUSSED IN THE PUBLIC FORUM DUE TO PENDING LITIGATION MAY BE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, WHICH I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT MY QUESTION IS, WILL THIS COMMISSION BE RESTRICTED TO DISCUSS THINGS IN A PUBLIC FORM AS WELL? UH, THAT'S NOT FOR ME TO DETERMINE, BUT IF I COULD, WHEN YOU DID SUBMIT THE ITEM, I DID RESPOND AND TOLD YOU THAT IN LIGHT OF THE WORKFORCE REDUCTIONS AND THE COMPLEXITY OF THIS ISSUE, THAT I DIDN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY, NOR DOES THE DEPARTMENT TO ISSUE A REPORT THAT OF THIS MAGNITUDE, BECAUSE YOU WOULD NEED TO CONSIDER ALL THE FINANCIAL, LIKE YOU REQUESTED, BUT THE LEGACY COSTS, THE DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS, I THINK THAT THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WOULD ENCOMPASS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF SPECIALIZED, UM, AREAS.
AND TO BE, IN ALL HONESTY, FINANCE DOES NOT HAVE ALL THE CAPACITY THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO GIVE YOU A REPORT THAT WOULD HAVE BE, WOULD REQUIRE ALL THE INFORMATION YOU REQUESTED.
I ANTICIPATED THAT, THAT'S WHY I SAY A QUALIFIED THIRD PARTY.
THE CITY PARENTS DON'T HAVE A LOT OF, UH, SPECIALIZATION IN A LOT OF AREAS, BUT WE GO GET A THIRD PARTY THAT, THAT HAS THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.
SO THE, THE, THE REPORT I'M REQUESTING
[01:05:01]
IS NOT NECESSARILY FOR YOU TO DO THE WORK.IF YOU HAVE, IF YOU CAN DO THE WORK AND HAVE THE CAPACITY, FINE, BUT IF YOU DON'T, LET'S GO FIND AN INDEPENDENT SOURCE WHO HAVE THE CAPACITY AND EXPERTISE TO DO THE WORK.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE REQUEST IS.
BUT MY QUESTION WASN'T ABOUT THAT.
MY QUESTION IS, AND IF THIS CAN'T BE YOU, MAYBE THE PARISH ATTORNEY, WHAT ARE GONNA BE THE LIMITATIONS OF THE, OF THE COMMISSION? BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE ADDRESSING MANY OF THE ISSUES I'M ASKING YOU TO ADDRESS.
UM, THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME HESITATION BY FINANCE AND LEGAL YEAH.
ABOUT DISCUSSING SOME OF THESE ISSUES.
WILL THIS COMMISSION BE RESTRICTED AS WELL? I THINK THAT, UH, I, THE COMMISSION WILL ALSO INCLUDE SOMEONE FROM MY OFFICE AND FINANCE, UH, TO ATTEND.
I THINK THAT'S USEFUL BECAUSE OF THE ANTICIPATION OF CERTAIN THINGS COMING UP.
THE ONLY THING THAT LEGAL IS ALWAYS GONNA BE CONCERNED ABOUT IS WHETHER OR NOT SOMETHING COULD, UH, POTENTIALLY BROACH INTO LITIGATION OR IS BEING LITIGATED.
AND AS THIS COUNCIL KNOWS, WE'RE ALREADY IN LITIGATION ON SOME MATTERS INVOLVING ST.
GEORGE AND THE BUDGET AS A WHOLE, UM, YOU KNOW, IN THE HILLER MOORE LAWSUIT.
AND SO I THINK WHEN THOSE ISSUES COME UP AND, UH, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM OUR OFFICE IS HERE AND, AND, UH, IT RAISES THEIR CONCERN, I THINK THAT SOMEONE FROM OUR OFFICE WILL PROBABLY LET THE COMMISSION KNOW, HEY, WE'RE PROBABLY TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT COULD CONCERN, UH, LITIGATION.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TOO OFTEN, COUNCILMAN.
IT JUST DEPENDS ON, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THE QUESTION IS OR THE SUBJECT MATTER IS AT THE, AT THE TIME.
UH, FIRST I WANNA SAY I, I'VE SPOKEN WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN HURST, UH, WHO AUTHORED THIS ITEM, UM, TO, TO LET HIM KNOW I, I DISAGREED WITH IT AND I'LL, I'LL EXPLAIN MY REASONING AND RATIONALE, BUT I, I DO AGREE WITH HIS INTENT.
UH, THE INTENT BEHIND IT, UH, IS TO BEGIN EXPLORATION OF, AND THE CONVERSATION AROUND, AROUND THIS.
BUT WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THE VEHICLE BY WHICH HE'S DOING IT IS THE WRONG VEHICLE.
AND I WOULD IMPLORE THE COUNCIL TO, UH, NOT BE IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM.
AND, AND MAYBE WE COME BACK WITH SOMETHING IN THE NEAR FUTURE THAT, THAT ACCOMPLISHES THE INTENT OF WHAT, UH, HE IS SEEKING TO DO WHAT MR. CAGE SPOKE TO DO, WHICH IS EXPLORE ALL OPTIONS.
THE CREATION OF A HOME RULE CHARTER COMMISSION WOULD TRIGGER STATE LAW.
AND IN STATE LAW, A HOME RULE CHARTER COMMISSION HAS ONE PURPOSE.
THAT PURPOSE IS TO DRAFT A HOME RULE CHARTER AND SUBMIT THAT TO THE VOTERS.
IT'S NOT EXPLORATORY, IT'S NOT A MEETING OF THE, THE MINDS.
IT'S NOT A, LET'S LOOK AT ALL OPTIONS.
IT HAS ONE PURPOSE DRAFT A HOMELAND CHARTER, AND PUT IT TO THE VOTERS FOR A YES OR NO VOTE.
THIS IS WHAT THE STATUTE AUTHORIZES THEM TO DO, AND IT'S WHAT THE COMMISSION EXISTS TO DO.
SO IT'S NOT EXPLORATORY IN ANY MANNER.
IF WE CREATE THIS, IT HAS A SINGLE PURPOSE.
UM, I'LL, I'LL READ FROM LOUISIANA REVISED STATUTE 33 13 95, WHICH IS THE CHARTER COMMISSION STATUTE.
UH, EACH MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION SHALL HOLD OFFICE UNTIL THE CHARTER IS EITHER ADOPTED OR REJECTED BY THE REGISTERED VOTERS OF THE MUNICIPALITY.
THE MEMBERS OF THAT COMMISSION SHALL PROPOSE THE CHARTER AND SUBMIT IT TO THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE MUNICIPAL MUNICIPALITY WITHIN 18 MONTHS THEREAFTER.
THAT'S IN CONFLICT WITH THE 180 DAY, UH, LIMIT PUT INTO THIS PROPOSAL.
AND THEN FINALLY, PLEASE LISTEN.
CLEARLY THE PROPOSED CHARTER SHALL NOT BE ALTERED OR CHANGED IN ANY WAY BY THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE MUNICIPALITY.
SO THIS BODY HAS NO SAY IN WHAT THIS COMMISSION WOULD PROPOSE.
THIS BODY REMOVES ANY AUTHORITY IF WE PASS THIS TODAY.
I HAVE GREAT CONCERNS ABOUT THAT, AND I AM, I'VE, I'VE TALKED TO COUNCILMAN HURST, HAPPY TO CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS TO ACHIEVE WHAT IT IS HE'S LOOKING TO DO, EXPLORING AND LOOKING ALL OPTIONS.
I'M IN FAVOR OF THAT, BUT THIS IS THE WRONG VEHICLE TO DO IT.
UH, AND SO I WOULD IMPLORE MY COLLEAGUES, UH, TO, TO JOIN ME IN THIS.
UH, AND AS I SAID, I'M HAPPY TO ENGAGE IN SOME FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SOMETHING TO COME BACK BEFORE THIS BODY THAT DOES ACHIEVE THE INTENT.
[01:10:03]
COUNCILMAN KENNEY.THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEMP, UH, COUNCILMAN HARRIS, QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU.
IF, IF THIS COMMISSION IS CREATED OR WHATEVER FORM A VEHICLE IS CREATED, UM, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS COMMISSION TO MEET ACROSS THIS PARISH? 'CAUSE I KNOW, UM, I THINK THESE CONSOLIDATION HAS BEEN A VERY, YOU KNOW, COMPLEX TOPIC EVEN BEFORE I TOOK OFFICE.
AND SO I DO DEFINITELY THINK, YOU KNOW, WE WON'T BE ABLE AS INCLUSIVE AS POSSIBLE WITH THIS CONVERSATION AS WELL.
UM, AND SO THE VIEWERS AT HOME, I KNOW SOME OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND I, WE CARRY, UM, HALF OF BATON ROUGE PROPER AND HALF OF MUNICIPALITY, RIGHT? UM, I CARRY AN ENTIRE MUNICIPALITY.
SO I HAD A LOT OF RESIDENTS, UM, AT THE CITY OF BAKER, UM, ASKING, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE FOR THE CITY OF BAKER? RIGHT? AND SO I JUST WANNA LET THE VIEWERS KNOW AT HOME, YOU KNOW, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT TO SAY, WE VOTE YES TONIGHT, TOMORROW BATON ROUGE WILL BE DECONSOLIDATED.
BUT, UM, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION.
AND JUST LIKE COUNCILMAN DUNN SAID, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE FACTS.
UH, WE DON'T WANNA MAKE THIS TOO POLITICIZED BECAUSE THIS IS PEOPLE LIVES AND TAX DOLLARS, UM, THAT'S GONNA BE IN STICK WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE, NOT RUSHING THIS CONVERSATION, WE WANNA MAKE SURE WHATEVER VEHICLE, JUST LIKE COUNCILMAN GO, THEY SAYS A SOUND VEHICLE BECAUSE IT'S UNCHARTED TERRITORY, UH, FOR ALL OF US HERE ON THIS COUNCIL IN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
SO, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE MOST, MOST INCLUSIVE CONVERSATION AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IN THIS PARISH HAS AN OPPORTUNITY.
'CAUSE I'M, I KNOW, UH, I KNOW PEOPLE IN BATON ROUGE PROPER SAY, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE A BENEFIT TO, TO THEM IN WHAT CASE SCENARIO, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THOSE KNOW SURROUNDING MUNICIPALITIES KNOW THEIR IMPACTS AS WELL, POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE.
SO, SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IT WOULD BE UP TO THE COMMITTEE TO DETERMINE, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IT WOULD DO THE CITIZENS OF THE PARISH TO PROPER DUE DILIGENCE IF WE DIDN'T DO IT THAT WAY.
I THINK ALMOST EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER SHOULD HOST SOMETHING, IF NOT JOINT, WHERE YOUR, THE MEETINGS COULD BE CLOSE ENOUGH TOGETHER TO GIVE EVERYBODY AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND.
AND I WANT TO JUST MAKE A POINT OF PUBLIC CLARITY IS THAT I INITIALLY DID DO A COMMITTEE.
IT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE PARISH ATTORNEY AND THE, UH, PARISH ATTORNEY FROM LAFAYETTE THAT IT CHANGED FROM A COMMITTEE TO A COMMISSION.
THAT WAS A PARISH ATTORNEY'S SUGGESTION.
AND THEY'LL EXPLAIN WHY SHORTLY.
EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE FAIR REPRESENTATION.
THAT'S WHY THE BOARD MAKE UP IS LIKE, IT IS.
I TALKED IT OVER WITH CLEVE A COUPLE TIMES.
WE'VE LOOKED AT DIFFERENT WAYS OF DO IT AND WE ENDED UP SUBMITTING SOMETHING ON THE SAME DAY.
BUT LIKE YOU SAID, THEY'RE REALLY COMPANION ITEMS AND THEY WORK TOGETHER.
THIS IS ALL ABOUT DATA AND FACT FINDING.
AND A COMMISSION IS TO TAKE ACTION.
LEMME BE VERY CLEAR 'CAUSE I AGREE WITH THEM, BUT A COMMISSION DOESN'T HAVE TO TAKE ACTION.
ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT THEY CAN'T FORCE ANYTHING.
IT'S STILL A SUGGESTION TO THE COUNCIL.
AND THE COUNCIL WILL THEN HAVE TO VOTE FOR IT.
SO WE STILL HAVE THE ULTIMATE CONTROL OF WHAT HAPPENS THERE.
SO I WANT YOU AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO KNOW THAT IT STILL HAS TO COME TO YOU AND YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE A DECISION BEFORE ANY ACTION IS TAKEN TO THE POLL.
NO, THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION, COUNCILMAN.
AND THIS BIGGEST THING FOR ME, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE I TELL MY CONSTITUENTS IN HOME, UM, AS WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT GONNA BE AN OVERNIGHT PROCESS IF, IF THIS, UH, VEHICLE IS APPROVED TONIGHT.
BUT JUST MORE SO WE, I INCLINED RESIDENTS IN THE AREA ACROSS THIS PARISH, REGARDLESS OF BATON ROUGE PROPER CENTRAL ZACHARY CITY OF BAKER, UH, TO BE A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.
'CAUSE I DO THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU SEE OTHER SURROUNDING CITIES AND SURROUNDING PARISHES, I THINK LAFAYETTE WAS THE EXAMPLE IN OTHER, UM, NEIGHBORING PARISH IN THIS, IN THIS COMMUNITY, RIGHT? IT WAS NOT A CIVIL BULLET.
IT WAS A LOT OF UPS AND DOWNS WHEN YOU DISSOLVE THEIR PARISH FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
SO, JUST HOLISTICALLY, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEMP COUNCILMAN HURST.
SO I REACHED OUT TO, UH, BRACE TRE GODFREY, WHO WAS THE CEO OF THE GREATER BATON ROUGE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP, FORMERLY KNOWN AS BRACK.
AND HE SENT ME A WEBSITE CALLED OUR BATON ROUGE.ORG.
AND THAT WEBSITE HAD EVERY DETAIL AND A PETITION FOR DECONSOLIDATION TO GO TO THE POLLS.
MY CONVERSATION WITH ANGIE AND THE PARISH ATTORNEY WERE, WHAT BODIES CAN CALL AN ELECTION? AND ONE OF THE BODIES ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE.
AND SO SINCE THEY'RE ALREADY HEADED IN THAT DIRECTION, A LOT OF TIMES INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE GOES MUCH FURTHER.
IT'S NOT ALL WRITTEN ON PAPER.
IT HAPPENS IN IN CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE OUTSIDE OF THE CHAMBERS THAT GIVES US THE KNOWLEDGE TO BE ABLE TO LEAD THE DISCUSSION IN THE RIGHT WAY, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ELECTED US HAVE PROPER REPRESENTATION.
AND NOT GOOD, BUT GREAT GOVERNMENT.
IN 1982, ZACHARY HAD 6,000 PEOPLE.
IT HAS OVER 20,000 NOW, WHEN IT WAS OR ORIGINALLY CONSOLIDATED, 44 YEARS LATER, IN 1994, BAKER BECAME A MUCH STRONGER CITY.
IN 2000, CENTRAL BECAME INCORPORATED 2005.
[01:15:01]
THANK YOU FOR THE CORRECTION AREA.AND IF MY DATES ARE WRONG, THEY, THEY'RE SOMEWHERE IN A RANGE.
AND IN 20, ARGUABLY 20 19, 20 24, THE CITY OF ST.
SO THE FACTORS THAT WERE PRESENTED 44 YEARS AGO DON'T MAKE SENSE TODAY.
IF, IF YOU HAD TO BRING UP THE SAME DISCUSSION IN 2026, NOBODY WOULD TELL YOU THAT THERE WAS A NEED BASED ON THE MULTIPLE MUNICIPALITIES IN OUR PARISH TO HAVE A CONSOLIDATED FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I SAT DOWN WITH MAYOR DUSTIN YATES, WHO SAID, IF IT WENT FOR A VOTE IN ST.
I CALLED MAYOR S EDWARDS TO LET HIM KNOW THAT THIS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM.
THIS THOUGHT WAS THERE BEFORE HE EVER TOOK OFFICE.
AND HIS RESPONSE WAS, DARRYL, I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING SOMETIMES AND I TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHO I'M GONNA BE THAT DAY, THE PARISH PRESIDENT OR THE MAYOR.
AND I SAID, I RESPECT YOUR SINCERITY, AND I KNOW YOU'RE COMING FROM YOUR HEART, BUT NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION OF WHO'S GOING TO BE REPRESENTED PROPERLY FROM A DAY-TO-DAY STANDPOINT.
AND NOT ONLY THAT DOES THAT, THAT COMMENT JUSTIFIES WHY WE NEED TO EXPLORE, WHETHER FOR, TO MOVE FORWARD OR NOT.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S GO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, BUT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO JUSTIFY TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.
WHILE EVERY MUNICIPALITY IN THE PARISH CAN HAVE A MAYOR AND A COUNCIL, YET WE HAVE A PARISH THAT MAKES UP, UH, THE COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
AND I WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW I HAVE NOTHING BUT THE HIGHEST REGARD FOR MAYOR PRO TEM NOLL.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I RECOMMENDED HIS APPOINTMENT 'CAUSE I THOUGHT HE'D BE FAIR, IMPARTIAL, AND LEAD THIS BODY AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF INTEGRITY.
BUT THE MAYOR PROTE OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE HAS SLAUGHTER.
ZACHARY CENTRAL, AND I MIGHT BE MISSING SOMETHING ELSE, THOUGH.
THEY EVEN TOUCHED BATON ROUGE.
HIS FIRST PRIORITY IS TO SUPPORT HIS CONSTITUENTS.
WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION, IT'S NOT BLINDSIDING HIM.
HE KNEW IT WAS COMING, BUT, BUT HE STILL DOES A GOOD JOB OF REPRESENTING HIS PEOPLE, BUT HIS PEOPLE AND NOT THE PEOPLE OF BATON ROUGE.
I LIVE IN AN UNINCORPORATED AREA.
SO THE FIGHT THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT TERMS OF DISCUSSION AND DATA MINING IS ABOUT THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE.
I LIVE IN A PARISH, IN A PARISH AREA PRIMARILY, BUT THESE ARE DISCUSSIONS THAT I GET EVERY TIME I GO SOMEWHERE.
AND I'M GOING TO YIELD TO MY, MY COLLEAGUE ROWDY GO DAY.
WE SAT IN HERE WITH LEAD BA FEW MONTHS BACK, AND ROWDY SAID DARRYL, HE REALLY WAS TALKING TO LEAD VR.
HE SAID, THERE'S A FINITE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES AND EVERYBODY WANTS PUBLIC SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT IT LOOKS DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF TOWN.
AND WE'RE ALL FIGHTING FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY, SAME AMOUNT OF RESOURCES, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME REPRESENTATION.
GEORGE AND BEGGAR CAN MAKE THEIR DETERMINATIONS OF HOW THEY WANT THEIR CITY TO MOVE FORWARD.
BUT THE CITIZENS OF BATON ROUGE DON'T HAVE AN INDEPENDENT VOICE SAT DOWN WITH THE CITY OF LAFAYETTE.
AND I WANNA BREAK THAT DOWN BECAUSE THE REASON WHY THEIRS WAS A LOT DIFFERENT IS BECAUSE THE CITY OF YOUNGSVILLE BROUGHT IN MORE TAX REVENUES IN THE CITY OF, OF, UH, OF LAFAYETTE.
AND FOR THAT REASON, THEY DECIDED THAT IT WAS NOT A FULL DECONSOLIDATION, BUT THERE WERE STILL THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE BROKEN APART.
UH, I'VE TALKED TO, UH, CEO CHRISTELLE SLAUGHTER SUPPORTED AND ACTUALLY RECOMMENDED SOME SUPPORT, SOME FOLKS TO DO IT.
AND, UH, AGAIN, THIS WAS, I'LL SPEAK AGAIN, BUT THIS WAS RECOMMENDED BY BOTH THE, UH, PARISH ATTORNEY FOR LAFAYETTE, DUSTIN YATES, WHO HAD DONE HIS OWN RESEARCH AS THE MAYOR OF CITY OF ST.
GEORGE AND OUR PARISH ATTORNEY TO MOVE IT FROM A COMMITTEE, WHICH MY, WHICH WHICH WAS MY ORIGINAL ASK TO A COMMISSION.
CAN I HAVE THE PARISH ATTORNEY COME UP SINCE I'VE ONLY GOT FIVE MINUTES AND I HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO GO OVER AS FAR AS THE ORDINANCE, UH, RESOLUTION ITSELF.
GIMME A QUICK RUNDOWN ON THE COMMENTS THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN GODDE GAVE WITH THE STATE AND IN ACTION AND WHAT'S GONNA BE AUTOMATICALLY TRIGGERED AND WHAT RIGHTS DO WE HAVE ONCE THAT IS DONE, ACCORDING TO THE WORDING OF WHAT WE HAVE HERE.
THE HOME ROUTE CHARTER, THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT IS WHAT THE CITY PARISH HAS ADOPTED.
UM, THE ORIGINATING DOCUMENT IS THE HOME ROUTE CHARTER.
OKAY? THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT IS WHAT WE USE NOW.
THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN EDITED, AMENDED 17 TIMES SINCE 1952.
UM, AND TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, AND WHEN I SAY I'M TALKING ABOUT MY OFFICE AND COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE, UM, WE, IN OUR EXPERIENCE, 'CAUSE WE'VE ACTUALLY SAT ON PLAN A GOVERNMENT AMENDMENT COMMITTEES, UH, WE DON'T, WE DON'T KNOW OF ANY TIME WHERE A PETITION HAS BEEN FILED TO CALL
[01:20:01]
A COMMISSION TOGETHER OR CALL A COMMITTEE TOGETHER.AND THAT'S WHAT THIS COMMISSION WOULD BE DOING, IS AMENDING, LOOKING AT THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT AND AMENDING PLACES OR POSSIBLY MAKING A RECOMMENDATION TO DO THAT.
SO, SO WITH THAT, LET'S YOU SAY PLAN OF GOVERNMENT VERSUS HOME RULE CHARTER.
NOW, HOME RULE CHARTER IS LIKE, IS OUR CREATED DOCUMENT.
IT, IT'S TO CREATE DOCUMENT LIKE THE LARSON ACT CONTROLS OUR MUNICIPALITY.
HOME RULE CHARTER CONTROLS, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
SO, BUT UNDER THE HOME RULE CHARTER, WE HAVE A HOME RULE UNDER THE HOME RULE AUTHORITY OR WHATEVER, WE HAVE THE PARISH CONSTITUTION THAT WE AMEND THE PLANET, THE PLANET GOVERNMENT, THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT IS WHAT WE AMEND.
NOW, IN THE STATEMENT OF THIS, AND THE STATUTE ALLOWS FOR THAT UNDER 1390 5.4.
BUT THIS IS ENACTING A HOME RULE CHARTER COMMISSION.
SO DOES THAT WORDING IN WHAT THIS IS CALLED ENACT WHAT COUNCILMAN GODDE IS SAYING.
AND IT, AND IT STARTS THE STATE LAW TO WHERE THIS COMMISSION GETS TOGETHER AND THEY CREATE BASICALLY A NEW HOME RULE CHARTER TO CONSOLIDATE US OR CONTINUE TO CONSOLIDATE US.
SAY SOMETHING THAT, SO, UM, WE MET, AS MR. COUNCILMAN HURST POINTED OUT, WE REACHED OUT TO THE PARISH ATTORNEY, FORMER PARISH ATTORNEY FOR LAFAYETTE.
HE SERVED TWICE PAT OTTINGER, REALLY GOOD LAWYER, FORMER PRESIDENT OF STATE BAR.
HE CAME OVER HERE AND TALKED TO US ABOUT IT.
AND WE DID START WITH THE WORD COMMITTEE.
AND I REMEMBER HE SAID, WELL, YOU NEED TO USE THE WORD COMMISSION.
I'LL, I'LL BE HONEST, COUNSEL, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHY HE MADE US CHANGE IT TO THAT, BECAUSE THE WAY I READ THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, IT IS 11.09 IN YOUR PLAN OF GOVERNMENT IS HOW YOU AMEND.
AND IT, IT SAYS THAT THIS BODY RIGHT HERE CAN PROPOSE BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF AN AMENDMENT.
WELL, I DON'T THINK Y'ALL WOULD PROPOSE THAT UNLESS YOU STUDIED IT FIRST.
YOU WOULD STUDY IT FIRST AND THEN YOU SAY, OKAY, WE THINK THIS IS GOOD.
AND THEN THE VOTERS HAVE TO APPROVE ON IT.
IS PLAN IS PLAN IS PLAN OF GOVERNMENT AMENDMENTS DIFFERENT THAN A HOME RULE CHARTER COMMISSION? I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT RIGHT NOW.
ACCORDING TO THE STATE RULES, THE HOME RULE, CHARTER AUTHORITY AND COMMISSION, WHICH IS IN THE STATE LAW, GIVES GET, TELLS THEM WHAT THEIR THING IS THROUGH THE STATE CONSTITUTION.
SAME THING AS WE HAVE TO OPERATE UNDER THE LAR ARSON ACT.
WHAT STATUTE ARE YOU LOOKING AT? WE'RE, UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CONSTITUTION.
UM, ARTICLE SIX, UH, SECTION FIVE.
HOME WILL CHARTER, UM, COMMISSION.
SO I THINK WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL IN WHAT WE'RE CREATING HERE.
IF IT MAY JUST BE A WORDING CHANGE, WHETHER WE JUST DO A PLAN OF GOVERNMENT AMENDMENT LIKE WE'VE DONE BEFORE, THEN, THEN LET'S REDO THIS AND, AND, AND DO A PLAN OF GOV PLAN OF GOVERNMENT CHANGE OR AMENDMENTS AND STUFF.
I, I, I HAVE TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF COUNCILMAN GODDE THAT WE MAY BE CREATING SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO ENACT A WHOLE NEW THING.
THE WHOLE NEW CHARTER HAS ALREADY BEEN CREATED.
SO BECAUSE IT'S IN EXISTENCE NOW, YOU WANNA LOOK AT 1390 5.4.
LAST THING I'D LIKE TO DO IS I'M GONNA TRY AND GET THIS IN, IN 44 SECONDS.
I DON'T THE MAKEUP OF THE, THE BODIES, ZACHARY, CENTRAL BAKER, WHATEVER, UM, THE REST OF THEM, THREE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT THAT, UM, UNDER SECTION EIGHT, A RESIDENT OF THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF THE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE DESIGNATED BY THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.
I WOULD LIKE, INSTEAD OF A RESIDENT, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TWO MORE RESIDENTS TO THAT, UH, SECTION RIGHT THERE IN EIGHT THREE TOTAL THREE RESIDENTS TOTAL.
AND ANYBODY CAN USE THEIR TIME TO ASK ME QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
I THINK IT'S BEEN SAID A COUPLE TIMES THAT THE IDEA AND THE CONVERSATION DESERVES TO BE HAD.
UM, IT'S EVIDENT THAT COUNCILMAN HURST AND I HAVE PRESENTED TWO DIFFERENT PATHS FORWARD.
UH, HIS IS A COMMISSION COMMITTEE, WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT.
MINES IS MORE OF GIVEN OUR, UH, STAFF AND, AND ANY THIRD PARTY INDEPENDENT, UH, QUALIFIED, UH, COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION TO LOOK AT THE INFORMATION, REVIEW THE DATA AND, AND GET US A REPORT.
UM, I DON'T WANT US TO GET HUNG UP ON COMMISSION COMMITTEE AND ALL OF THESE THINGS.
WE'VE HAD PLAN OF GOVERNMENT COMMITTEES AND REVIEWS WHO HADN'T, YOU KNOW, TAKEN ANY ACTION, HADN'T TRIGGERED ANY STATE LAW.
I WOULD ADVISE US TO LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.
UH, BUT ALSO I DON'T THINK WE NEED A COMMITTEE OR COMMISSION TO DO IT.
I THINK THE STAFF CAN MEET WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND INVITE 'EM IN AND GET THEIR INPUT.
I MEAN, THAT'S THE PATH AND THAT'S THE, THE APPROACH I TOOK AND, AND WANT
[01:25:01]
TO TAKE.YOU KNOW, HE HAS ANOTHER PATH THAT, THAT HE DESIRES TO TAKE, WHICH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S HIS HIS RIGHT TO DO THAT.
UH, BUT I THINK COMMITTEE COMMISSION, WHETHER IT TRIGGERS STATE LAW AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, I DO THINK WE NEED TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO FORM A NEW BODY OR, OR ENTITY TO, TO LOOK AT THIS.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO DOING THAT EITHER.
BUT I THINK THE STAFF AND ANY THIRD PARTY ENTITY THAT WE BRING IN CAN, CAN TACKLE THIS AND ADDRESS THIS AND GET US THE DATA THAT WE NEED.
I THINK AN INDEPENDENT BODY THAT WE FORM THAT IS NOT BINDING, THAT WON'T TAKE ALL POWER AWAY CAN DO IT AS WELL.
THERE'S MULTIPLE, UH, APPROACHES TO THIS AND THERE MAY BE SOME OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS OUT THERE.
UM, BUT I THINK WE DEFINITELY NEED TO GET THE STAFF AND, AND WHOEVER WE DECIDE AS A QUALIFIED, INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY TO LOOK AT THIS, GET US THE DATA, GET US THE INFORMATION, AND MAKE SOUND DECISIONS BASED ON THAT.
UM, IF I CAN GET COURTNEY AND UH, PARENT'S ATTORNEY BACK UP.
I JUST WANT Y'ALL TO COME, UH, JOHN, TO COMMENT ON THE SAME GOAL CAN BE ACHIEVED JUST BY GETTING THE STAFF AND ANY THIRD PARTY YOU GUYS BRING IN TO LOOK AT THIS INFORMATION TO GO THAT ROUTE.
RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT WE WERE JUST DISCUSSING.
I DON'T WANNA GET CAUGHT UP IN SEMANTICS, BUT I THINK THE IDEA IS THAT IS THIS BODY, YOU'RE NOT GONNA PROPOSE A DECONSOLIDATION UNLESS YOU'VE HAD A THOROUGH STUDY CONDUCTED.
SO I, THAT'S THE WAY I WOULD WANT TO PHRASE IT IS THAT YOU HAVE A STUDY CONDUCTED.
HOWEVER, LIKE ANGIE SAID, WE MAY HAVE TO HIRE A THIRD PARTY TO DO A LOT OF THAT WORK.
'CAUSE SHE JUST DOESN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES IT'S GONNA TAKE AS, AS PAT OTTEN JUST TOLD, UH, DARRELL HURST AND I, THIS IS MAJOR SURGERY MM-HMM
HE, HE EMPHASIZED IN FACT THEIR'S, THEIR'S FAILED, UH, MAYBE FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.
BUT HE SAID, GUYS, THIS IS MAJOR SURGERY Y'ALL, Y'ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT.
SO, AND WE'LL, WE'LL PROBABLY REACH OUT TO HIM AGAIN AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE GET HIS INPUT ON SOME OF THIS STUFF.
SO I WOULD, YOU KNOW, JUST REINFORCE AND OFFER THAT UP.
I MEAN, I THINK WE HAVE THE STAFF AND IDENTIFY THIRD PARTY TO DO IT.
ARE YOU RENAMED WHATEVER COUNCILMAN HERS IS TRYING TO CREATE THAT'S NOT BINDING AND TRIGGER IN THE STATE LAW? EITHER WAY, IT'S FINE WITH ME.
I JUST THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE ISSUE.
BUT I, BUT I THINK WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO IT WITHOUT FORMING ANYTHING AS WELL.
SO YOU HAVE ANY, ANYTHING TO SAY ON THAT, COURTNEY? I DON'T, BUT I MIGHT IN A MINUTE.
I MEAN, WHAT I, I MIGHT, TOMORROW MORNING, I GOT A MINUTE AND A HALF LEFT.
UH, YOU GOT ANYTHING ELSE, JOHN? NO, BUT I'M, I'M SURE WE'LL THINK OF SOMETHING AFTER THE MEETING.
YEAH, I THINK THAT THE, THAT THE MISSION OF, UH, THE OBJECTIVE OF, OF WHAT COUNCILMAN HEARST IS TRYING TO DO IS TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION TO PROVIDE, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL.
UM, IT'S, IT, IT'S PRETTY UM, SO DO YOU REMOVE THE COMMISSION LANGUAGE AND CHANGE IT TO A COMMITTEE? OR DO YOU USE IT? I THINK IF THAT'S, I THINK IF THAT'S THE PAIN POINT, THEN THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED JUST CHANGING THE, THE NAME OF THE COMMISSION THEN.
AND IF Y'ALL OKAY WITH IT NOT BEING, UH, A ISSUE WITH MAKING THAT FROM THE FLOOR, I'LL, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO, TO CHANGE IT TO A COMMITTEE.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT'S A SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE.
UM, CHANGING THE NAME OF, OF THE, OF THE BODY THAT'S GONNA MEET TO MAKE RES RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE'VE HAD PLANNING GOVERNMENT COMMITTEES MANY TIMES OVER IN THE PAST.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NAME, I'LL, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE WITH COUNCILMAN, UH, MO'S AMENDMENTS TO CHANGE IT TO A COMMITTEE.
UM, AND ALSO TOO, I'M FINE WITH FORMING AS LONG AS IT'S NOT BINDING AND DON'T THREATEN ANY OF OUR POWER.
I'M ALSO FINE WITH NOT FORMING IT AND JUST DOING THE WORK AT THE END OF THE DAY.
I JUST THINK WE NEED TO DO THE WORK, BUT I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.
LET, LEMME JUST SAY, I MEAN, WE CAN CHANGE THE NAME ALL WE WANT.
I, I'M, I'M GONNA CAUTION THIS BODY.
UM, WE JUST HEARD A PARISH ATTORNEY CALL THIS MAJOR SURGERY AND WE'RE PUTTING A SIX MONTH TIMEFRAME ON THIS PER THE, PER THE RESOLUTION.
AND LET ME SAY, THE RESOLUTION SAYS THIS BODY SHALL MEET ON THE SECOND AND FOURTH THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH.
WELL, THE SECOND THURSDAY IN NOVEMBER IS THANKSGIVING.
THE SECOND THURSDAY IN DECEMBER IS CHRISTMAS EVE.
WE LOOK, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT AMENDMENTS, NUMBER ONE, BEFORE MY TIME ON THIS COUNCIL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DONNA COLLINS LEWIS LED A YEAR LONG EFFORT PUBLICLY MEETING, UH, TO LOOK AT EVERY CHAPTER.
AND THEN WHEN THIS COUNCIL PICKED THAT EFFORT UP, WE SPENT THE BETTER PART OF EIGHT MONTHS PUTTING IN FRONT OF CITIZENS ACROSS THIS PARISH WHAT THOSE OPTIONS WERE
[01:30:01]
AND WHAT THEIR QUESTIONS WERE RELATED TO THAT.AND THEN WHEN A, WHEN THIS BODY PASSED, UH, SOME AMENDMENTS TO GO TO THE BALLOT, SPENT THE BETTER PART OF FIVE MONTHS GOING AROUND THIS PARISH TELLING PEOPLE WHAT WAS ON THEIR BALLOT.
AND I STILL HEARD FROM PEOPLE SAYING IT WASN'T ENOUGH.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SIX MONTHS OF A COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT DECONSOLIDATION OR ALL OPTIONS BECAUSE I WOULD TELL YOU THAT, UH, UH, UNINCORPORATED AREAS AND HELP ME WITH MY WORD NOT INCORPORATING, UH, ANNEXING THEM IN, UH, SHOULD BE PART OF THE CONSIDERATION.
WE SHOULD LOOK AT UNINCORPORATED AREAS AND SEE IF IT MAKES SENSE FOR THEM TO BE ANNEXED IN.
AND THAT CAN BE BATON ROUGE, THAT CAN BE THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT'S NOT PROPOSED IN HERE.
IT IT, IT IS JUST, IT'S, IT'S THE RIGHT INTENT.
AND WE HAVE, THERE'S NO REASON TO RUSH INTO THIS.
THERE'S TIME, THERE WAS A PETITION PUT OUT THERE ON THIS WEBSITE.
IT DIDN'T COLLECT ENOUGH SIGNATURES WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIMEFRAME.
THE PEOPLE ARE NOT CLAMORING FOR US TO DO THIS.
WE SHOULD DO IT AND WE SHOULD DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.
AND WE SHOULD DO IT WHERE WE GO TO THE PUBLIC AND SAY, HERE'S THE FINANCIAL DATA YOU WANT.
HERE'S THE OPTIONS YOU, YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
HERE'S WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANS FOR YOU.
IF WE DECONSOLIDATED, IF WE BROUGHT YOU IN ANNEXATION, HERE'S WHAT IT WOULD MEAN FOR YOUR SITUATION.
IF YOU CAN'T DO THAT AND YOU PUT A SIX MONTH CLOCK ON THIS, I THINK WE ARE DOING A MAJOR DISSERVICE.
WELL, FIRST I'M GONNA TAKE A POINT OF PER PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AND RECOGNIZE COUNCILMAN NOEL'S WIFE COMING IN THE ROOM BECAUSE HE, HE WASN'T GONNA DO IT.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE AND DO THAT.
ISN'T SHE BEAUTIFUL? SET YOU UP.
UH, MY FIRST QUESTION IS FOR ANGIE, JUST REAL SIMPLY.
UM, AND I, AND THIS IS KIND OF PUTTING YOU ON THE SPOT, I REALIZE THAT, BUT IF YOU WOULD BALLPARK IT FOR US, THE REPORT THAT COUNCILMAN DUNN IS TALKING ABOUT THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO DO, I WOULD DEFINITELY BENEFIT FROM THE KNOWLEDGE THAT CAN BE GLEANED FROM THAT REPORT.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT THAT COSTING? IS THAT GONNA BE, HAVE TO BE OUTSIDE OF YOUR CURRENT BUDGET? WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT THERE? SO THE ITEM THAT HE PUT ON WAS TO GET, PROVIDE THAT REPORT THAT I READ OUT LOUD ON OCTOBER 28TH.
THAT, THAT'S JUST AN UNREALISTIC TIMELINE.
IT IT, TO FIND SOMEONE AND CREATE A SCOPE OF EVEN WHAT IS GONNA BE ENTAILED IN THIS IS PROBABLY GONNA TAKE TILL OCTOBER 28TH.
THIS, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU'RE TALKING IS SO COMPLEX IN SO MANY DIFFERENT NUANCES.
LIKE COURTNEY SAID, GOING BACK TO THE FIRST HOME RULE CHARTER THAT MORPHED INTO OUR PLAN OF GOVERNMENT.
THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT NUANCES.
YOU NEED EXPERTISE, YOU NEED PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND VERY, UH, COMPLEX OPERATIONALS FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT, FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT.
I THINK THAT THIS AND KIND OF LIKE, UH, COUNCILMAN GODDE SAY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO TAKE A WHILE.
IT, IT'S, FROM MY STANDPOINT, THIS IS MY OPINION ONLY, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO VERY QUICKLY.
LET ME, LEMME ASK IT THIS WAY, BESIDES JUST THE, THE MONEY PART OF IT, UM, WHICH I'M ASSUMING WE'LL HAVE TO FIND MONEY TO DO THIS MM-HMM
UM, DO YOU EXPECT WHAT WE COULD HAVE THIS REPORT BACK WITHIN SIX MONTHS, FOUR MONTHS? I MEAN, WE DID A PRELIMINARY LOOKING AT PUBLIC WORKS AND IT TOOK ALMOST SIX MONTHS AND IT WASN'T EVEN, IT WAS HIGH LEVEL, NOT REALLY INTO THE DETAILS.
IT, I I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE NO LESS THAN PROBABLY A YEAR JUST WITH VACATIONS, TIMING, WORKFORCE REDUCTIONS.
YOU'RE, THERE'S A LOT OF COORDINATION THAT IS GONNA HAVE TO GO INTO THIS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEBODY FROM THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO COME UP AND JUST GIVE SOME CLARITY ON THE AMENDMENT.
UM, MY ONE CONCERN, UH, IS THAT THE LANGUAGE IN THE RESOLUTION SEEMED TO CONFLICT WITH THE STATE LAW LANGUAGE THAT COUNCILMAN GODDE ADDRESSED.
UM, SO I JUST WANNA BE SURE THAT BY US NOW CALLING IT A, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE CALLING A STUDY COMMITTEE.
ARE WE NO LONGER BOUND BY ANY STATE LAW AND WE'RE ONLY BOUND BY THIS RESOLUTION? THE, THE STATUTE THAT WE RELY ON, UM, OR LOOK TO IF, IF WE NEED TO, IS GONNA BE 1390 5.4 BECAUSE WE'RE SEEKING AN AMENDMENT.
UM, OTHER THAN THAT, THE, THE, THE LAW PROVIDES THAT THIS BODY IS, THE GOVERNING BODY IS VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
THAT THIS BODY IS THE GOVERNING BODY THAT MAKES THE, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, BUT NOT NECESSARILY TO A HOME RULE CHARTER.
WELL, THE HOME RULE CHARTER IS THE CREATING DOCUMENT.
IT'S THE DOCUMENT THAT ESTABLISHED, YOU KNOW, AND THEN
[01:35:01]
THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT WAS VOTED, VOTED ON BY THE PEOPLE, I THINK IN 1947.UM, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THESE TWO DOCUMENTS SIDE BY SIDE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE BASICALLY THE SAME.
THE SAME THING IS JUST THAT THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT IS THE THING THAT ALLOWS THIS GOVERNING BODY TO MAKE THE AMENDMENTS TO, WELL, LET ME ASK THE QUESTION THIS WAY, UM, BECAUSE IN, IN SECTION NINE OF THE RESOLUTION THAT, THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US ON OUR AGENDA TODAY, IT SAYS IF ANY ARTICLE SECTION, PARAGRAPH, SENTENCE, CLAUSE, OR PHRASE OF THIS RESOLUTION IS HELD TO BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL OR INVALID FOR ANY REASON, SUCH DECISION SHALL NOT AFFECT THE VALIDITY OR CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE REMAINING PORTIONS OF THIS RESOLUTION.
IF, IF I'M LOOKING AT WHAT COUNCILMAN GODDE DESCRIBED, UH, BECAUSE THE REST OF THIS RESOLUTION CONFLICTS AS FAR AS TERMS, WHICH IN THE RESOLUTION WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SIX MONTHS IN 1390, WHATEVER IT IS, I THINK THAT THERE WAS, UH, 18 MONTH OR INDEFINITE TERMS, I DON'T, I DON'T RECALL WHICH ONE.
UM, BUT ALSO THAT COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE OR WHATEVER WE'RE CALLING IT WOULD HAVE THE POWER TO APPLY SOMETHING DIRECTLY TO THE VOTERS WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE COUNCIL.
THAT TIME DELAY IN THE STATE STATUTE WOULD NOT APPLY TO YOU ALL.
YOU ALL HAVE THE ABILITY HERE TO EXTEND THE COMMITTEE AS LONG AS YOU, AS YOU NEEDED TO GO, JUST LIKE THEY'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
THAT'S WHY THE LAST COMMITTEE ASHLEY AND I SET ON WAS WELL OVER A YEAR COUNCIL.
YOU WANNA EXTRA TIME? UM, ONLY OTHER THING I'LL ADD IS I DO HAVE SOME, YEAH.
THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I'LL ADD IS IN REGARDS TO THE AMENDMENT THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED.
I, I DO WORRY THAT, AND THERE'S NO PERFECT WAY TO DO THIS.
UM, BUT I DO WORRY THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT AN EVEN APPLICATION.
I, I, I THINK THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE UP A COMMITTEE, WE OUGHT TO FIGURE OUT BY POPULATION OR BY SOME OTHER MECHANISM.
UM, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY SEATS EACH APPOINTEE GETS AND, AND THAT KIND OF THING.
I, I HAVE SOME WORRY, SOME TROUBLE ABOUT THE AMENDMENT.
YEAH, SO I'LL GO BACK TO THE AMENDMENT.
UM, SORRY TO GET A CHANCE TO FINISH IT UP WITH THE OTHER ONE.
THE REASON I'M ASKING FOR THE AMENDMENT IS I, I FEEL LIKE ONE PERSON FROM THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS IS 12 OF US TRYING TO PICK ONE PERSON, WHETHER IT'S FROM THE PARISH LINE, UH, GREENSBURG UP IN PRIDE OR IT'S ALL THE WAY AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BURGE AND AND SO ON.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO PICK ONE PERSON.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A FULL REPRESENTATIVE OF, OF THE UNINCORPORATED AREA TO BE ON THIS COMMISSION AND GIVE INPUT TO IT.
SO I'M JUST TRYING TO GIVE SOME MORE INPUT TO THAT.
THERE WAS, I DID THINK ABOUT DOING THE, UH, YOU KNOW, ADDING ONE TO THE RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, BUT THEN YOU'VE GOT THE, THE BATON ROUGE MAYOR, UH, THAT HAS ONE, UH, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH PRESIDENT, MAYOR, AND THEIR DESIGNATE.
SO THAT WOULD, THAT COULD ALMOST CONSTITUTE TWO.
UM, YOU GOT BAKER CENTRAL ZACHARY IN ST.
GEORGE AND THEN THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, UH, COUNCILMAN HUDSON BROUGHT UP EARLIER ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ARE YOU ASKING ME WHY I WAS DOING THAT? AND ARE YOU DOING IT BY POPULATION? ARE YOU DOING WHAT, I'M JUST DOING THIS AMENDMENT FROM A REPRESENTATIVE STANDPOINT, I JUST FEEL LIKE 12 OF US TRYING TO PICK ONE DESIGNEE FROM THE WHOLE UNINCORPORATED AREA IS, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST GONNA BE HONEST WITH EVERYONE HERE.
WHAT'S TO SAY THAT I DON'T TEAM UP WITH A COUPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND WE PICK SOMEBODY ALL THE WAY FROM PRIDE.
UH, WHAT'S TO SAY THAT SEVERAL OTHER ONES DON'T PICK A TEAM TOGETHER AND, AND DO THAT? WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS PROCESS BEFORE TO WHERE WE'VE HAD TO PICK SOMEONE, BUT WE'VE ALSO HAD THIS PROCESS DONE BEFORE WHERE WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF DESIGNATES AND WE HAVE ONE FROM EACH SIDE OF THE PARISH AND THEN WE HAD A MIDDLE GROUND ONE THAT WE ALL WORKED TOGETHER AND PICKED ON, PICKED TO BE ON THE COMMISSION.
SO THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO CREATE WITH THIS AMENDMENT IS TO GIVE US AS A COUNCIL, 'CAUSE THERE'S ALREADY THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT'S GONNA BE PICKED TO BE ON THIS THING.
I JUST FEEL LIKE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE INPUT AND REPRESENTATION FROM THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS, WHICH IS GONNA BE REALLY A LOT OF THE, THE AREA THAT'S GONNA BE PICKED AND LOOKED AT HEAVILY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, LEAVING OUT THERE IN DECONSOLIDATION AND LEAVING THEM OUT THERE BY THEMSELVES.
SO I THINK THEY DO NEED A COUPLE MORE REPRESENTATIVES TO WHERE BAKER CENTRAL ZACHARY AND US, I I, IF THEIR COUNCILS OR OR THEIR MAYOR CAN PICK SOMEONE AND THEY CAN FIND A REPRESENTATIVE.
IF, IF THAT REPRESENTATIVE DOES NOT, UH, CORRECTLY REPRESENT WHAT THEY WANT, THEN THAT MUNICIPALITY CAN PICK ANOTHER PERSON TO WHERE IF SOMEBODY, WE HAVE ONE PERSON IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA, THEY
[01:40:01]
GOTTA COME BACK BEFORE 12 OF US TO FIND SOMEBODY ELSE OR SOMETHING.SO I'M JUST GIVING THAT OPTION TO THE COUNCIL.
THIS IS JUST THE ONLY THING I THOUGHT OUT OF FAIRNESS TO TAKE A LOOK AT.
SO I'D LIKE, COULD YOU COME UP BACK WITH THE, THE, THE CHARTERS AND EVERYTHING.
WHAT, GIMME ONE MORE TIME AS FAR AS THE SEPARATION OF, WE'RE NOT RECREATING HOME RULE CHARTER, BUT A LOT OF THESE, I I BROUGHT UP THIS A WHILE AGO.
A LOT OF, THERE'S A LARSON ACT AND THEN THERE'S A HOME RULE CHARTER TYPE UNDER THIS DECENT CONSOLIDATION.
DOES THAT AFFECT ANY OF THOSE AS FAR AS THEY'RE GONNA BE BRINGING THEIR STORIES IN? AND HOW DOES THIS AFFECT US AS A MUNICIPALITY OUT IN CENTRAL BAKER, ZACHARY? DIFFERENT ONES.
I THINK ZACHARY JUST CHANGED TO A HOME RULE CHARTER ALSO.
SO DOES ANY OF THAT FACTOR INTO THIS, INTO THE, THE, INTO THIS DECONSOLIDATION AS FAR AS HOW THEY ACT? I, I, I DON'T BELIEVE, I DON'T BELIEVE SO.
IF THOSE, IF THOSE CITIES ARE LARSON ACT CITIES, YES, WE WE'RE LARSON ACT CITY.
DOES THAT AFFECT ANY OF THIS DECONSOLIDATION ALSO IN THE WAY THAT WE HAVE TO ACT, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE STATE LAWS OF THE LARSON ACT.
DOES ANY OF THE DECONSOLIDATION AFFECT THAT AND YOU KNOW, SINCE CENTRAL AND ST.
GEORGE CAME IN, YOU? I DON'T THINK SO BECAUSE THE COMMITTEE, WHATEVER WE'RE GONNA CALL IT, IS JUST GOING TO MAKE, GIVE Y'ALL A WELL REPRESENTATION STUDY AND THEN Y'ALL VOTE ON IT.
LAST QUESTION IS, HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THIS IS TRULY GONNA TAKE? HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THAT WE ACTUALLY NEED? AND IF Y'ALL CAN'T ANSWER THAT, OR ANGIE WOULD FINANCE OR WHAT KIND OF TIMING WOULD Y'ALL RECOMMEND? PROBABLY 18 MONTHS.
BECAUSE I THINK, OR IF YOU LOOK AT THE, ONCE YOU APPOINT THIS COMMITTEE, I THINK THE FIRST THING THEY'RE GONNA DO IS, OKAY, NOW WE NEED TO HIRE SOMEBODY TO DO THE WRONG WORK.
LIKE A DELOITTE OR A-K-P-M-G OR SOMEBODY LIKE THAT.
THEN WE HIRE THEM TO DO THE MAJOR SURGERY AND THEN THEY WILL, YOU KNOW, I I I ASSUME THEY'LL PREPARE THE FINAL REPORT, WHICH WILL THEN GO TO Y'ALL.
BUT THERE'S A PROVISION IN HERE THAT ALLOWS FOR THIS BODY TO EXTEND FOR HOWEVER, HOWEVER LONG YOU ALL WOULD LIKE.
WELL, I THINK WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME COUNCIL, AND IF WE NEED TO REDO THIS.
SO I THINK IT'S CLEAR IF YOU TALK TO THE PUBLIC FROM NORTH BATON ROUGE ALL THE WAY TO SOUTH BATON ROUGE, PEOPLE WANT ANSWERS AND THEY WANNA UNDERSTAND WHAT A DECONSOLIDATION WOULD POTENTIALLY LOOK LIKE.
UM, I'M GONNA SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE FRANKLY THAN EVERYONE ELSE.
UM, I BELIEVE AS A BODY, OUR FIRST STEP IS TO LOOK TO FINANCE AND ASK THEM TO CONSOLIDATE OUR BUDGET.
ONCE WE ASK THEM TO CONSOLIDATE OUR BUDGET AS A BODY, WE NEED TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
I BELIEVE THAT ONCE WE BEGIN THAT PROCESS, WE ARE GOING TO FIND SOME OF THOSE THINGS WHERE SOMEONE EARLIER REFERRED TO IT AS NUANCED OR, UM, UNDEFINED THINGS, UM, COME TO LIGHT.
AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS SOME GRAY AREA WHERE WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER A COST IS A PARISH COST OR A CITY COST.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO LOOK TO OUR PLAN OF GOVERNMENT CURRENTLY, AND WE ARE GOING TO SEE THAT IT DOESN'T DEFINE WHETHER THOSE COSTS ARE CITY COSTS OR PARISH COSTS.
IN FACT, I THINK WHAT PEOPLE ARE NOT SAYING, BUT I WILL, IS THAT WE ARE IN THE 19TH JDC CURRENTLY WITH PENDING LITIGATION BECAUSE THOSE THINGS ARE NOT CLEARLY DEFINED.
SO MOVING FORWARD, DE CONSOLIDATING THE BUDGET, HAVING THAT INSTRUCTION IN FRONT OF US AS A BODY AND UNDERSTANDING HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.
WE MAY HAVE TO MAKE THOSE DEFINITIONS.
WE MAY HAVE TO DEFINE WHAT PUBLIC WORKS ARE.
WE MAY HAVE TO LOOK AND SEE THOSE GRAY AREAS AND SEE WHAT COSTS ARE GOING TO BE ALLOCATED, WHERE THEN WE HAND THAT INFORMATION OVER TO THIS EXCELLENT FORM COMMISSION COMMITTEE FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE GRAY AREAS ARE AND HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.
OTHERWISE, WE ARE TAKING OUR PARISH BUDGET, WE'RE THROWING IT UP IN THE AIR, AND WE'RE LETTING ALL THE MAYORS FIGHT OVER IT ON A COMMITTEE.
THIS BODY REVIEWS AND HAS REVIEWED THE BUDGET EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
I WOULD OPT TO SAY, THERE'S NOT A SINGLE ONE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW IT BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE IN YOUR DISTRICT.
YOU'VE ALL LOOKED AT IT, YOU CARRY IT AROUND, YOU KNOW WHAT PAGE TO DEFINE WHAT NUMBERS.
AND WITH THE RECENT CUTS THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED,
[01:45:01]
YOU'VE LEARNED IT LIKE IT'S YOUR OWN BIBLE.WHAT WE DON'T KNOW THOUGH, IS PULLING IT APART AND SEEING WHAT THOSE COSTS LOOK LIKE.
IF WE WANNA DO THIS THE RIGHT WAY FOR OUR PEOPLE, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE TWO BUDGETS WOULD LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE.
AND THEN THE MAIN QUESTION WE NEED TO ASK ALL OF OURSELVES, A VERY HONEST QUESTION IS WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE IMPACT ON OUR CITIZENS? IF THIS IS A POLITICAL MOVE WHERE WE ARE MOVING TO MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY, THAT'S A QUESTION.
BUT AT WHAT COST ARE TAXES RAISED? AGAIN, IS THE BURDEN PLACED ON THE CITIZENS? WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PEOPLE IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS? NOW WITH THAT BEING SAID, I, I AGREE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT IT, BUT WE ARE A BODY ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE.
THEY ARE TELLING US WHAT THEY WANT.
LET'S TAKE THAT AS A BODY AND WORK TOGETHER AND COLLABORATE AND FIND THOSE ANSWERS FOR THE PEOPLE.
THE OTHER PIECE THAT I HAVE THAT GIVES ME A LOT OF HEARTBURN WITH MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS TODAY IS, UM, COUNCILMAN GOD DAY CITES A LOUISIANA REVISED STATUTE 1395.
IT BRINGS UP EVERYTHING THAT HE SAID.
THE PARISH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE STATES REVISED STATUTE 1390 5.4 AND THEY'RE SAYING IT'S AN AMENDMENT OF A CHARTER.
IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DECONSOLIDATION AND FORMING A NEW CITY, AT SOME POINT DURING THOSE CONVERSATIONS, WE'RE GONNA GET INTO YET ANOTHER GRAY AREA.
AND THAT IS A BRAND NEW HOME RULE CHARTER FOR A BRAND NEW CITY.
THE OTHER PART THAT GIVES ME HEARTBURN IS RIGHT HERE, AND I'M LOOKING AT IT ON MY SCREEN, NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF REVISED STATUTE 1395 POINT A, WHICH IS THE OTHER LAW THAT WE'RE CITING.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONFIDENCE TO KNOW WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE FOR OUR PEOPLE? WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE FOR THIS BODY? WHAT POWER ARE WE GIVING TO THE PEOPLE? WHAT POWER WE RETAINING FOR OURSELVES? AND WHAT POWER ARE WE ALLOCATING TO SELF-INTERESTED PARTIES THAT MAY NOT BE MOVING IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PARISH OR THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE? THE CITY OF ZACHARY.
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT CONVERSATION.
I COMMEND COUNCILMAN HURST FOR BRINGING THIS UP TONIGHT AND ALLOWING US TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
BUT FAR MORE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE BY THIS BODY BEFORE WE BRING IT TO THE PEOPLE OR FORM A COMMITTEE TO DO OUR JOBS FOR US.
SO I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER WHERE WE CAN ALL SIT AND HAVE A CONVERSATION TO SEE WHAT THE BE BEST PATH FORWARD IS.
COUNCILMAN HURST, I'M GONNA DELETE IT.
THERE, THERE IS NOT A 90 DAYS, IT WOULD BE DECEMBER 9TH.
UM, THAT'S THE LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR.
AM I VOTING? 14TH, I THINK IS THE FIRST MEETING.
HEY, I'M GONNA MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO DELETE IT, BUT I'M, I'M SORRY, WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A SECOND FOR THE ORIGINAL MOTION YET.
THE ORIGINAL MOTION WAS COUNCILMAN DUNN JR.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO DEFER UNTIL BY COUNCILWOMAN AKA, UNTIL I'M GONNA WITHDRAW MY MOTION.
AND RESERVE MY SECOND AMOUNT OF TIME IF IT DOESN'T GO HOW I WANT TO.
SO LISTEN, THIS, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TODAY IS WHY THIS IS ON THE AGENDA.
IT WASN'T ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TODAY.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT MAKING A DECISION TODAY.
IT'S ABOUT STARTING A DIALOGUE THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN THE CLOSETS AND BRINGING IT OUT TO THE LIGHT.
AND SO WE GOT EVERYTHING WE NEEDED TODAY.
THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WANTED AND UNDERSTAND THAT CONSTITUENTS IN EACH ONE OF THESE DISTRICTS ARE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS.
NOBODY'S DISAGREEING THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR US TO CONSIDER THIS.
COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I DID WANT TALK ABOUT IS THE 180 DAYS.
IF WE DON'T PUT A TIME LIMIT ON THERE FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OTHER FOLKS, THEY AIN'T SHOWING UP.
YOU TRYING TO FIND THE QUORUM THAT WAS DONE STRATEGICALLY WITH THE ABILITY TO EXTEND KNOWING THAT IT WOULD BE LONGER THAN 180 DAYS.
NUMBER TWO, WHEN I TALKED TO ALL THE MAYORS TALKED TO, THEY HAD PERSONAL CONCERNS FOR THEIR CITY.
SO IF THEY'RE NOT SITTING ON A BOARD WHERE THEY CAN INTERJECT AND ASK QUESTIONS, THEN SOMETIMES YOU END UP WITH A MEETING ABOUT A MEETING, ABOUT A MEETING, ABOUT A MEETING THAT GOES NOWHERE.
SO HAVING THEM AT THE TABLE ALLOWS THEM TO PROVIDE DATA AND THOUGHT PROCESSES THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE COME UP WITH 'CAUSE WE'RE NOT IN THOSE MUNICIPALITIES.
UM, I THINK THE COMMITTEE STILL NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD.
[01:50:01]
UM, I WILL AMEND IT TO INCLUDE, UH, COUNCILMAN DUNN'S REQUEST FOR DATA AS WELL, SO THAT IT CLEARLY DEFINES THE FINANCIALS THAT NEED TO COME OUT OF THAT.AND THEN WE'LL RESUBMIT IT AS A JOINT PETITION, WHICH WE HAD ALREADY TALKED ABOUT BY THE WAY, BUT WE SUBMITTED THE SAME DAY, SO WE WERE JUST GONNA LET IT ROLL.
AND THEN, AND WE'LL AMEND IT WITH AARON'S AMOUNT OF PEOPLE ON THERE AND TALK TO THE COUNCILMAN HUDSON TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S AMENABLE TO HIM IN TERMS OF, UH, PROPER REPRESENTATION.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE CITY OF LAFAYETTE, IT DIDN'T FAIL.
IT JUST COULDN'T GO, COULDN'T RESTRUCTURE AS THEY THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD DO.
THEY STILL DECOUPLED THE PARISH IN THE CITY, BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN SERVICES THAT STILL WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE IT MADE SENSE.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS COMMITTEE WILL DO, WILL DETERMINE WHAT MAKES SENSE.
AND WHEN COUNCILMAN MO AND I, Y'ALL, WE ARE NOT TRYING TO RUSH THIS THING.
WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ESTIMATED TIMELINE, WE DON'T KNOW 'CAUSE WE'RE NOT ON A COMMITTEE.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE DATA, BUT WE TALKED ABOUT A FIVE YEAR PLAN TO, TO MOVE AWAY WHERE EACH YEAR YOU WERE FOCUSING ON A CERTAIN PART OF THE CITY PARISH TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS DONE THE RIGHT WAY.
SO NONE OF THIS WILL EVER BE RUSHED.
THE CITIZENS WILL PUT BE PUT AT THE FOREFRONT AND MAKING OUR PARISH GREAT IS ALL WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
AND LET ME TELL YOU MY ISSUE WITH REMOVING THE COMMITTEE AND USING HIS BODY.
I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH COUNCIL, AKA I DO.
I AGREE WITH HER THAT WE ARE EDUCATED AND INFORMED ENOUGH TO MAKE THE DECISION, WHICH IS WHY THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL SIT ON THE BOARD.
THE PROBLEM IS, DWIGHT, WHEN DO YOU TURN 'EM OUT? 28.
SO THAT BECOMES THE ISSUE IN 28.
IF THIS ADMINISTRATION IS NOT THE SAME ADMINISTRATION, IT IMPEDES ON THE PROGRESS OF THE PLAN.
BUT IF A COMMITTEE IS FORMED, THE COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE WITH NEW APPOINTEES BASED ON THE NEW MAYORS AND IT WILL NOT BREAK DOWN THE PROGRESS OF MOVING THE CITY PARISH IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
SO WHILE I THINK ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE FAR BEYOND EQUIPPED TO DO IT, AND 28, NONE OF US MAY BE UP HERE.
AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY I SUGGESTED A COMMITTEE WITH SPECIFIC APPOINTEES.
AND THOSE CAN BE CHANGED BASED ON, UH, WHATEVER.
BUT WHO, AND THEN THERE, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A THIRD PARTY, I WOULD ASSUME.
'CAUSE ANGIE'S ALREADY SAID, UM, THAT SHE DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY.
AND THE INITIAL ONE WAS DONE BY DELOITTE, WHICH IS A THIRD PARTY.
SO THERE WAS NEVER A MISUNDERSTANDING THAT IT WOULD BE DONE IN HOUSE.
WE'D HAVE TO FIND SOMEBODY EQUIPPED.
I'VE RECOMMENDED THE BATON ROUGE ROUGE AREA CHAMBER IF WE GOT TO THAT POINT.
THEY MANAGE IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE CONSISTENCY REGARDLESS OF LEADERSHIP, UM, IN IN, IN THEIR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SEE IT.
'CAUSE WE NEED SOMEBODY TO MANAGE IT FROM START TO FINISH.
SO I'M GONNA DELETE IT, BUT I'M GONNA DELETE, DELETE IT TO TAKE EVERYBODY'S SUGGESTIONS TODAY AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S DONE THE RIGHT WAY.
AND IT REPRESENTS DISTRICT ONE THROUGH DISTRICT 12.
AND I'M GOING TO EMPLOY MY COLLEAGUES, UM, OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
I WORK WITH THE PARISH ATTORNEY TO REWRITE IT.
JUST PLEASE SUBMIT ANY, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU HAVE IF YOU REPRESENT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
SPEAK WITH THE LOCAL REPRESENTATION, MAYOR AND MAYORS, AND SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY FEEDBACK THAT THEY WANT INPUT.
'CAUSE WE WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S DONE THE RIGHT WAY SO THAT WE END UP BEING THE BEST MID-SIZE CITY IN AMERICA.
SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MOOCH TO DELETE THE ITEM ANY OPPOSITION.
[95.26-01112]
AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT A GRANT AWARD FROM LOUISIANA HIGHWAY SAFETY COMMISSION, FISCALS YEAR 25 26 IN THE AMOUNT OF $990,975 SET TO BEGIN OCTOBER 1ST, 2026 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2027 BY THE POLICE CHIEF.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEN, KNOWN.
MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCK AND SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR.
[96.26-01113 ]
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT REIMBURSEMENT COST IN THE AMOUNT OF $121,999 FOR OFFICER OVERTIME AND VEHICLE UNIT USAGE COSTS FROM THE FISCAL YEAR OF 2026.STATE OF LOUISIANA GULF COAST, H-I-D-T-A GRANT FUNDS EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, 2026 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2027 BY THE POLICE CHIEF.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? TEAM NOW WILL GO TO COUNCIL.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES 97 AUTHORIZATION
[97. 26-01135]
FOR THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND OR CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO FORMERLY REQUEST THE LOUISIANA DOTD DIVISION OF AVIATION TO PROVIDE FUNDS[01:55:01]
REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE AIRPORT IMPROVEMENTS AT THE BATON ROUGE METROPOLITAN AIRPORT, SPECIFICALLY DESCRIBED AS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM APPLICATION FOR STATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR FISCAL YEARS 2027 THROUGH 2031.AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE, FOR $20,000 LOCAL CONTRIBUTION FOR EACH OF HUNDRED PERCENT STATE FUNDED PROJECTS LISTED THEREIN BY AVIATION DIRECTOR.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? GO TO COUNCIL.
SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES 98 AUTHORIZATION
[98.26-01136 ]
FOR THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND OR CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER ONE WITH EAG GULF COAST LLC TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATIVE AND COMPLIANCE FRAMEWORK, NEEDING NEEDED FOR THE NEW AIRPORT AUTHORITY IN AN AMOUNT OF $110,000 FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $310,000 BY THE AVIATION DIRECTOR.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? UH, IT WAS IN THE NEWS THAT THE UM, NEW AIRPORT AUTHORITY, WHICH WAS EXTRACTING ITSELF FROM THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, UH, WAS GOING INTO EFFECT IN UH, OCTOBER.
SO IS THERE A NEED FOR US TO TAKE AN ADDITIONAL HUNDRED, $110,000, UH, OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND TO ADD TO THIS WHEN IT'S PRETTY MUCH, UH, ALREADY IN THE NEWS THAT IT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN OCTOBER? SO I'M AGAINST SPENDING ANY ADDITIONAL MONEY ON THIS 'CAUSE I THINK THE DECISION'S ALREADY BEEN MADE.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING, I'M GONNA GO TO COUNCIL.
I'M GONNA ASK LEWIS AND MIKE TO COME FORWARD.
UH, I MAY ADDRESS ALL OF MS. LANDRY'S CONCERNS, BUT JUST IN CASE I DON'T, YOU GUYS CAN REINFORCE.
THE AIRPORT IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
UH, IT USES NO, UH, EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH GENERAL FUND DOLLARS.
ENTERPRISE FUND IS SELF-GENERATED REVENUE THAT'S GENERATED AT THE AIRPORT, AND THOSE DOLLARS ARE REINVESTED BACK INTO THE AIRPORT.
SO NO PARISH GENERAL FUND DOLLARS ARE UTILIZED TO OPERATE, BUILD, OR EXPAND THE AIRPORT.
BUT MIKE AND LEWIS, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO, TO FURTHER CLARIFY MY STATEMENTS.
UH, EVERYTHING YOU, YOU STATED IS CORRECT.
THIS IS COMING FROM THE AIRPORT OPERATING DOLLARS, WHICH, UH, POOL NO, NO FUNDS FROM THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND.
MOTION TO APPROVE MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DUN JR.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES WHEN FACT, WHEN FACTS GET IN THE WAY OF THOSE GOOD OPPOSITIONAL ARGUMENTS, ALWAYS DIFFICULT.
99 AUTHORIZATION FOR THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, AND OR CHAIRMAN OF THE AIRPORT COMMISSION TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH AIRPORT MANAGEMENT GROUP LLC FOR PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES AT THE BATON ROUGE AIRPORT ON AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $3,597,617 AND 21 CENTS CONTINGENT ON ADEQUATE FUNDING BY THE AVIATION DIRECTOR.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? UH, DOES THE SAME APPLY FOR THIS, THAT NO MONEY FOR THE AIRPORT COMES OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND? HOW IS THE MONEY GENERATED THIS, UM, $3.5 MILLION? I I'LL ANSWER YOUR QUESTION WHEN, WHEN IT'S OUR TURN TO SPEAK.
YOU CAN SPEAK, BUT QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED.
ONLY IF COUNCIL MEMBER IS, UH, DECIDES TO USE THEIR TIME TO ANSWER IT.
I, I'M, I'M SORRY IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE FORMAT, YOU CAN RUN FOR OFFICE AND TRY TO CHANGE IT.
ANSWER, BUT THANK YOU ALLOWED.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM SCENE NOW.
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR.
I WANNA ADDRESS YOUR QUESTION.
I'M GONNA CALL MIKE AND LEWIS UP AGAIN.
UH, THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THE AIRPORT GENERATES DOLLARS.
UH, ONE OF THEM IS THE AIRPORT OPERATES PRETTY MUCH LIKE YOUR LOCAL MALL.
UH, THE AIRPORT RENTS SPACE OUT TO AMERICAN, DELTA, UNITED, AND SOME OF THE OTHER VENDORS IN THE TERMINAL THAT SELLS FOOD AND APPAREL.
UH, EVEN SOME OF THE LAND THAT'S, UH, AROUND THE AIRPORT, UH, SOME OF THE VENDORS LIKE THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT, ROAD RUNNER, COCA-COLA, THE THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP ALL PAY RENT TO UTILIZE THE AIRPORT.
AND THOSE HAVE, UH, FUNDS ARE, ARE GENERATED.
ALSO AIRLINES PAY LANDING FEES.
UH, SOME OF YOUR, UM, PRIVATE HANGERS PAY TO RENT THE SPACE.
SO THOSE ARE ALWAYS THAT THE AIRPORT GENERATE DOLLARS.
ONE THING ABOUT THE BATON ROUGE METRO AIRPORT UNIQUE THAN OTHER AIRPORTS, TWO THIRDS OF THE AIRPORT REVENUE IS NON AERONAUTICAL, MEANING IT IS NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH AVIATION.
UH, WHEN COVID HAPPENED AND MANY OF THE PLANES WERE LANDING, AND A LOT OF THE AIRPORTS WERE
[02:00:01]
RELYING ON LANDING FEES, WE WASN'T HURT AS BAD BECAUSE WE HAD SO MUCH NON NAUTICAL REVENUE.SO THOSE ARE MANY WAYS THAT THE AIRPORT GENERATE REVENUE THAT LEAVE ANYTHING OUT.
LOUIS, I MIGHT, UH, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.
UH, FOR THE, FOR THE OPERATING FUND, THE AIRPORT GENERATE IS PRIMARILY FUNDED BY, UH, AIRLINE RATES AND CHARGES.
AND AS YOU MENTIONED, UH, VERY NON AERONAUTICAL REVENUE DOLLAR, WHICH GOES TO LAND LEASES, CONCESSIONS AGREEMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT, THAT OFFSETS THE, THE AMOUNT OF RATES AND FEES THAT THE AIRPORT AT THE AIRLINES PAY INTO THE AIRPORT TO FUND THE OPERATING BUDGET.
UM, FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM HERE, UH, THIS ITEM IS CONTINGENT ON FUNDING.
IT'S CONTINGENT ON GRANT FUNDING.
AND SO FOR EACH ONE OF THESE PROJECTS AT THE AIR, EACH ONE OF THESE PROJECTS, IF THE AIRPORT IS SELECTED, UM, FOR FEDERAL FUNDING, THOSE FEDERAL GRANT DOLLARS WILL PAY FOR THIS, UH, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT CONTRACT.
AND JUST FOR POINT OF CLARITY, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL RECENT GRANT AWARDS FROM THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION.
CAN YOU MENTION A COUPLE OF THOSE? UH, THE, THE MOST RECENT, UH, AS OF LAST WEEK WAS A, UH, A SCARCITY GRANT AWARD FOR A MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH IS, IS GONNA GO TOWARDS INCENTIVIZING, UH, DIRECT CHICAGO SERVICE FROM BATON ROUGE TO CHICAGO.
UM, SO WE GOT THAT, WE GOT THAT AT GRANT ANNOUNCEMENT LAST FRIDAY.
UH, WE, WE ALSO ARE GONNA BE KICK STARTING A, UH, TERMINAL RENOVATION PROJECT, WHICH IS ABOUT A $10.2 MILLION GRANT AWARD THAT WAS, UH, RECEIVED, UH, LAST YEAR.
SOMETIMES THAT CONSTRUCTION IS GONNA BE STARTING, UH, IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS HERE AND IT'LL TAKE ABOUT A YEAR TO COMPLETE.
UH, BUT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT TO, UH, TO UNVEIL THE NEW, BAD NEW FORCE TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION DIRECTLY, MS. LANDRY, YES, THE SAME, UH, LOGIC APPLIES NO.
EASTBOUND RIDGE PARISH GENERAL FUND DOLLARS WILL BE UTILIZED TO FUND THIS AGREEMENT.
THERE ARE LOCAL MATCHES ON, ON MANY GRANT DOLLARS.
UH, IS THERE A LOCAL MATCH ON THIS ONE? LEWIS, FOR THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR, FOR THIS PROJECT IN PARTICULAR, THE, UM, MASTER THE PLANNING PROJECT? YES.
THERE'S, IT GOES, IT GOES WITH EACH ONE OF THE, UH, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ON THE, ON THE BATON ROUGE AIRPORT, CIP.
UM, IT CAN BE A 9 5 5, IT CAN BE A 20% MATCH.
IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE, THE ACTUAL PROJECT IN IN PLACE.
BUT THERE IS A MATCH ON THE SCAS GRANT.
WE'VE DONE THAT BEFORE WITH THE DIRECT FLIGHT TO DC WHERE WE USE THE SCAS.
THERE WAS A LOCAL MATCH WITH THAT ONE.
THERE WILL BE A LOCAL MATCH WITH THIS GNE GRANT FOR THE DIRECT FLIGHT TO CHICAGO.
NOW THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
THE MILLION DOLLARS IS DIRECTLY COMING FROM THE DOT.
THERE ARE A COUPLE, UH, LOCAL FUNDS THAT WE'LL BE PUTTING TOWARDS THAT TO, TO FURTHER BOLSTER, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE AIRLINES IN HOPES THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE CAN HAVE A, AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF SERVICE HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS TO A YEAR OR SO.
COUNCILMAN DUNGY, YOU HAVE A QUESTION, COUNCIL? NO, I'M DONE.
MIKE, YOU GOT ANYTHING TO ADD? I WAS JUST GONNA ADD THAT ALL REVENUE IS AIRPORT REVENUE TO BE USED AT THE AIRPORT.
YES, I I I SAW YOU MR. LANDRY.
I SAW YOU JUMPING AT THE BIT TO, TO ASK THAT THE, EVEN THE MATCHING FUNDS ARE GENERATED BY THE AIRPORT.
THE ONLY REASON THAT WE'RE HAVING TO DO THESE PROCESSES EVERY SINGLE TIME IS 'CAUSE EVEN THE FUNDS GENERATED BY THE AIRPORT, THEY HAVE TO FLOW THROUGH THE COUNCIL.
NOW, ONCE WE BECOME AN AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND WE, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT THE CITY PARISH AND STUFF, THEN YOU MAY GET YOUR WISH THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO HEAR ALL THESE THINGS ALL THE TIME.
BUT BASICALLY IT'S, IT'S JUST A, JUST LIKE WITH THE RYAN WHITE FUNDS, IT HAS TO GENERATE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IT COMES THROUGH US AND THEN IT GIVES RIGHT BACK OUT TO EVERYBODY.
NINE HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOTION AND SECONDED.
DO WE HAVE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES ITEM 100, AMENDING
[100.26-01142 ]
TITLE 12, NUISANCES CHAPTER ONE, GENERAL SECTION 12 ONE.POLICE TO NOTIFY MAYOR OF NUISANCES SO AS TO CHANGE THE TITLE OF THE SECTION AND TO ADD ADDITIONAL CITY PARISH DEPARTMENTS AS REPORTING AGENCIES AND AMENDING SECTION 12 TWO NUISANCE TO BE ABATED SO AS TO INCREASE THE FINE AND IMPRISONMENT BY COUNCILMAN GOEY.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL, COMMENT AND OPPOSITION TO ITEM 100.
GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GOEY.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES 1 0 1
[101.26-01119]
AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT A GRANT ON BEHALF OF THE LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD.21 FROM LOUISIANA WORKS TO ADMINISTER THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT PROGRAM, EMPLOYEE VR IN AN AMOUNT OF $3,999,479 AND EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH BY THE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT DIRECTOR.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? TEAM.
NOW I'M GO TO COUNCIL COUNCILMAN KENNEY.
HEY LEY, YOU WANNA COME UP FOR ONE QUICK SECOND JUST FOR THE VIEWING AUDIENCE AT HOME? JUST EXPLAIN TO 'EM, MS. GRANT, I KNOW SOME PEOPLE SEE THIS NUMBER AND ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
SO JUST VERY BRIEFLY TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL AND TO THE VIEWERS
[02:05:01]
AT HOME ABOUT WHAT THIS PROGRAM ENTAILS.GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, THIS GRANT IS USED TO AUTHORIZE THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT DOLLARS, UM, INTO THE CITY OF EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.
SO THIS $3,999,479 IS THE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE TO EXPEND FROM 2026 UNTIL 2028.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
ANY OPPOSITION? COUNCILMAN DUN, JR.
SO DOES THIS PUT HIRING ON, UH, THE FREEZE ON HIRING WILL LIFT THIS FREE.
THIS FUNDING WILL LIFT THAT FREEZE.
HOWEVER, I'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING IN AFTER WE HAVE OUR STRIKE TEAM ASSESSMENT, UM, INTERVIEW NEXT WEEK WITH LOUISIANA WORKS.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES 1 0 2
[102. 26-01143 ]
AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION TO AMEND THE CONTRACT BETWEEN CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PASTURE OF EAST BATON ROUGE AND DREAM TRUE SOLUTIONS LLC TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $19,600 FOR REVISED TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $68,600 BY THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? I WANNA SPEAK ON, UH, 1 0 2 AND 1 0 3 IN OPPOSITION.
UM, WE'RE GIVING AN ADDITIONAL $19,000 FOR A TERM THAT ENDS SEPTEMBER 30TH.
SO THIS EXTRA 20,000 IS FOR TWO WEEKS.
UM, AND THEN THE OTHER ONE IS 50,000.
SO WE HAVE A $70,000 ADDITIONAL TAXPAYER FUNDS GOING TO, UM, TWO ENTITIES, UM, WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE, UH, DEALING WITH VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
AS WE ALL KNOW, VIOLENCE IS ON THE INCREASE, UM, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR JUVENILES.
UM, IT'S HARD TO FIND THE REAL DATA EVEN THOUGH WE ARE A, YOU KNOW, A WARD WITTING DATA CITY.
UM, BUT I, WHAT I CAN FIGURE OUT IS ON AVERAGE WE'RE ARRESTING ABOUT 35 TO 40 JUVENILES A MONTH.
AND, UM, SO THAT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THESE PROGRAMS THAT WE KEEP GIVING SUPPLEMENTAL MONEY TO OR, UH, THE EFFICACY OF THEM IS NOT BEING PROVEN.
AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB, UM, AS A METRO COUNCIL IN MAKING SURE THAT THESE ENTITIES THAT WE'RE HIRING ARE ACTUALLY PRODUCING RESULTS.
AND THAT BEFORE, OH MY GOD, WHAT? AND THAT BEFORE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE APPROVE SUPPLEMENTS, WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY ACTUALLY PRODUCE THE RESULTS, THAT THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT THAT THEY HAD, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE RESULTS THAT THEY HAVE TO COME BACK AND WE HAVE TO GIVE $70,000 MORE TO TWO ENTITIES.
AND YET VIOLENCE IS ON THE RISE.
SO I'M AGAINST ANY SUPPLEMENTAL, UH, CONTRACTS UNLESS THE CONTRACTOR PROVES THAT THEY HAVE PRODUCED THE RESULT FOR THE MONEY THEY WERE PAID AND ALSO TO EXTEND THIS $19,000 FROM ONE MONTH.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SENIOR, I'M GO TO COUNCIL COUNCILMAN MCKINNEY.
CAN SOMEBODY FROM OCD COME UP, UM, AND SPEAK ABOUT THE WORK OF THIS ORGANIZATION? UM, I DON'T WANT US TO THROW UP A BLANKET ACROSS THE WORK OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE I KNOW SOME OF 'EM DO SOME ACTUAL ON THE GROUND WORK, UM, AND SOME OF OUR ADDICTIONS IN COMMUNITY.
SO CAN SOMEBODY FROM EITHER OVP OR OCD COME SPEAK ABOUT THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE THROUGH THIS CONTRACT? GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
ALRIGHT, SO, UM, YOU ALSO ON, ON BEHALF OF DREAMT TRUE SOLUTIONS OR JUST OOVP ITSELF? UM, BOTH, BUT I SPECIFICALLY FOR DREAMT TRUE SOLUTIONS AS WELL.
'CAUSE I KNOW Y'ALL WORK HAND IN HAND.
SO, UM, AS FAR AS THE, THE WORK THAT BRING TRUE SOLUTIONS WAS CONTRACTED FOR, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION.
ALRIGHT, SO, UM, IT'S BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESIDENTS, UH, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, CONVENING MEETINGS, FORUMS, UH, FOCUS GROUPS SERVING AS A LIAISON BETWEEN COMMUNITY IN, IN OVP OUTREACH, PUBLIC AWARENESS EFFORTS.
SO, UM, WE ENGAGE LIKE FIVE HIGH SCHOOLS HERE IN BATON ROUGE.
THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF, BUT I'M JUST GONNA READ CERTAIN THINGS TO YOU GUYS THAT WE DID DO.
BUT IF YOU WANNA SEE THAT WORK, LIKE
[02:10:01]
FOR YOURSELF, IF YOU GO TO OVP, BATON ROUGE, THE FACEBOOK PAGE, INSTAGRAM PAGES, YOU CAN SEE THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.UM, WHEN THAT MALL SHOOTING HAPPENED HERE ON A WEDNESDAY, BY THAT FRIDAY, UM, WE WERE, UM, CONDUCTING FATHERS AND, AND THEIR SONS, UM, WITH A FOCUS GROUP AROUND THAT MEETING.
AND THEN THAT NEXT DAY, ON THAT SUNDAY, UH, WE COULD CON WE HELD ANOTHER MEETING AT, UH, THE, WHICH BUILDING WAS THAT? WE HELD THAT AT MLK CENTER, NOT THE MLK CENTER AT, UM, IN SOUTH BATON ROUGE OVER AT, UH, WHAT'S YOUR BUILDING, MCKINLEY? THAT'S IT.
WELL, WE HELD IT IN A ROOM IN MCKINNEY ALUMNI CENTER, A MEETING THERE WITH, WITH MOTHERS AND THEIR DAUGHTERS.
UM, AND THEY WERE ACTUALLY, UH, SPEAKING ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF THAT EVENT AS WELL.
UM, WE HAVE FIVE PASTORS IN THIS CITY TO COMMIT TO THIS WORK.
UM, THREE OF THEM ACTUALLY ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE HERE WITH OVP WHEN THEY CAME TO BATON ROUGE.
UM, WE HAD ONE OF THE CHURCHES TO HAVE 30 OF THEIR MEMBERS COME OUT AND WALK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
UM, AND THEY CONSISTENTLY WALK WITH 'EM EACH TIME THAT HAPPENED.
UM, WE FORMED A YOUTH COUNCIL.
UM, THERE WAS A, IN JUNE, IN JULY HELD A, A YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION TRAINING, UM, OVER AT, UH, THE MLK CENTER, UM, 67 YOUTH VOLUNTEERED TO BE A PART OF A YOUTH COUNCIL, WHICH IS ALWAYS RETENTION, BUT 20 OF THEM COMMITTED TO THIS WORK AND SUPPORTED DIFFERENT WORK AND THIS PHOTOS ALL THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, UM, TO PROVE THAT WORK.
UM, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK DISTRIBUTED 80 GUN LOCKS, UM, DREAM TRUE SOLUTIONS CREATED THE DATA FORMS THAT WERE PUT IN THE HANDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS THEY RECEIVED THOSE GUN LOCKS TO, UM, SO THEY COULD PUT ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY WANTED DURING THOSE COMMUNITY WALKS ON THERE.
UM, AS WE WENT THROUGH THE COMMUNITIES, UM, THERE'S, THERE'S A, IT IS A LOT OF WORK.
UM, I COULD BE UP HERE FOR 30 MINUTES LITERALLY TALKING ABOUT, I KNOW YOU COULD PREACH A SERMON QUESTION ABOUT, SO JUST, JUST THE BIGGEST THING I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, AND PROBABLY FOR SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO MADE SOME OF THESE ISSUES AND KIND OF ON THE GROUND WORK, MAY NOT PERTAIN IN THEIR DISTRICTS COMPARED TO SOME OF OUR DISTRICTS WHO SEEM KIND OF ISOLATED INCIDENTS OF CRIME.
JUST MAYBE IN THE FUTURE AS WE DO BRING PARTNERS ON BOARD, UM, JUST KIND OF RESULTS THE DATA.
SO MY COLLEAGUES WHO MAY NOT SEE THIS WORK FIRSTHAND, UM, LIKE IN THE NORTH BATON ROUGE OR MID-CITY RIGHT.
THEY CAN KIND OF SEE THAT DATA FROM A CLEARVIEW STANDPOINT.
SO THERE'S NO QUESTIONS ON THE FRONT END OR BACK END.
AND JUST FOR CLARITY, THIS WAS THE STATE APPROPRIATIONS DOLLARS MM-HMM
THAT WAS SENT IN FROM, UH, SENATOR REGINA BARROW.
SO THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL MONEY MM-HMM
TIME WAS EXTENDED ON THE ORIGINAL FUNDING MM-HMM
FOR US TO CONTINUE TO USE THE DOLLARS.
NEW FUNDING FROM GENERAL FUND.
THIS IS MONEY THAT WAS ALREADY ALLOCATED, CAME BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND APPROVED, UM, WHERE SHE ALLOWED US TO EXTEND THE TIME UNDER PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT CONTRACTS.
SO THAT'S THE DISCREPANCY IN, IN THE LENGTH OF THE CONTRACTS AND THE TIME.
THIS IS NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
CHIEF, CHIEF MS. LANDRY STATED THAT CRIME VIOLENCE IS ON THE RISE.
WOULD YOU CONSIDER THAT STATEMENT CORRECT OR INCORRECT? VERY MUCH INCORRECT.
SO CAN YOU EXPOUND ON WHY MS. LANDRY'S STATEMENT IS SO INCORRECT? UM, SO I KNOW THAT IT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES PERCEPTION IS REALITY AND WHEN WE HAVE ONE SHOOTING, YOU GET ABOUT FIVE PUSH NOTIFICATIONS ON YOUR PHONE ABOUT THAT ONE SHOOTING.
UM, BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS THIS YEAR COMPARED TO 2025 CRIME IN JUST ABOUT EVERY CATEGORY IS DOWN, INCLUDING HOMICIDES.
UM, IN 20, YOU GOTTA REMEMBER IN 2025, WE WERE DOWN COMPARED TO 2024.
2024, WE WERE DOWN COMPARED TO 2023.
SO THIS IS NOT LIKE COMPARING THAT WE HAD A REALLY HIGH YEAR AND WE'RE NOW DOWN COMPARED TO HIGH YEAR, WE'RE DOWN COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS, UM, DOWN YEARS, UM, HOMICIDES ARE DOWN 5%.
UM, WE'RE DOWN IN DOUBLE DIGITS IN MANY OTHER CATEGORIES LIKE ARMED ROBBERY AND BURGLARY AND THEFT.
UM, CRIME IN TOTAL IS DOWN ABOUT 10% AS NUMBERS AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MONTH AND THE HOMICIDE NUMBERS AS OF YESTERDAY.
UM, HOMICIDES ARE DOWN 5% IN THE CITY LIMITS OF BATON ROUGE.
UM, AS FAR AS JUVENILES, UM, LAST YEAR WE ARRESTED 11 JUVENILES FOR HOMICIDE INSIDE THE CITY.
SO FAR THIS YEAR WE'VE ARRESTED FOUR JUVENILES, UM, FOR HOMICIDE INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS OF BATON ROUGE.
SO DO YOU THINK, UH, MS. LANDRY'S INCORRECT STATEMENT WAS BASED ON SEEING THINGS FROM THE MEDIA MORE SO THAN ACTUALLY WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE TRUE STATISTICS? YEAH, I THINK THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE STATISTICS, UM, THEY SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
I THINK THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE CAN GET SKEWED THE STATISTICS LOOKING AT THE CORONER'S OFFICE REPORTS OR THE PARISH WIDE REPORTS OR THE OTHER CITIES.
UM, BUT FAR AS THE CITY LIMITS OF BATON ROUGE AND THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE STATISTICS ARE VERY ACCURATE.
AS CRIME IS DOWN INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS OF BATON ROUGE, DO YOU THINK WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB? OR IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO TO ASSIST YOU WITH
[02:15:01]
GETTING THESE STATISTICS OUT, GETTING THE NUMBERS OUT IN THE PUBLIC SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T MAKE INCORRECT, UH, ASSESSMENTS AND STATEMENTS LIKE MS. LANDRY DID? UM, WE POST OUR STATS, UH, THE FIRST OF EVERY MONTH, UM, THE FIRST WEEK EVERY MONTH ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND MAKE THEM VERY AVAILABLE.YOU CAN ALSO GO TO OUR WEBSITE, UM, THE OPEN DATA WEBSITE AND SEE FOR YOURSELF HOW CRIME IS DOING IN SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, IN THE ENTIRE CITY.
CER CERTAIN CRIMES, CALLS FOR SERVICE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN, IT'S VERY, VERY, UM, EDITABLE THAT YOU CAN SEE VERY TRANSPARENT.
UM, WE HAVE ALL THAT AVAILABLE FOR INSIDE THE CITY.
COUNCILMAN HUDSON, UH, IF KELLY WOULD COME UP OCD MY, MY QUESTION IS, AND THIS QUESTION MAY ALSO BE DIRECTED TO ALIN, UM, I MOSTLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE, THE DELIVERABLES FOR THIS CONTRACT AND HOW ARE WE MEASURING SUCCESS? YOU KNOW, OFFICE OF VIOLENCE AND PREVENTION HAS, WE'VE HAD SUCCESS AND, AND ISSUES WITH IT IN THE PAST, SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CLEAR TO EVERYONE.
WHAT, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING TO GET OUTTA THESE CONTRACTS? UH, AND THEN HOW DO WE MEASURE SUCCESS? FOR DR.
JUAN BAT, HE'S OUR RESEARCH EVALUATOR.
HE WAS PRESENT AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, SO FOR HIM, HE'S OUR EVALUATOR FOR, UM, ALL OF OUR SHOOTING REVIEWS, CONGREGATING ALL OF OUR DATA WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, THAT'S KIND OF HIS LIBERALS TO, TO, TO COME UP WITH, TO OUR SHOOTING REVIEWS, OUR GROUP AUDITS.
HE'S MORE OF OUR RESEARCH ANALYTICS FOR DREAM TRUE SOLUTIONS.
THEY WERE OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH TEAM, ENGAGING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, ENGAGING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY FORUMS. SO THAT WAS HIS ROLE UNDER HIS CONTRACT.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST SAY, UH, WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN THE PAST, I WAS ALWAYS VERY SKEPTICAL, RIGHT? 'CAUSE I, I WAS WORRIED THAT IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE CONTRACTOR THAT YOU GET.
UH, AND I'LL SAY THIS, AT LEAST, I DON'T KNOW THIS, DR.
JUAN BAROLO ME VERY WELL, BUT, UH, I'VE BEEN UP HERE FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS NOW.
I'VE SEEN AV MITCHELL WHENEVER HE WASN'T GETTING PAID, DOING THE WORK.
I'VE SEEN AV MITCHELL DOING, DOING THE WORK WHEN HE WAS GETTING PAID AND I THINK HE'S ONE OF THE REAL ONES DOING IT.
SO, UM, I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM.
THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS.
AV, CAN YOU COME TO THE MIC PLEASE? NOW I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR PROBABLY WHAT, A YEAR, MAYBE TWO AND MOST, BUT HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AROUND THE WORK VIOLENCE PREVENTION WORK? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THIS? I'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR ABOUT 18 YEARS.
AND YOU RAN OFF A LIST OF, UH, PROJECTS THAT YOU'VE DONE UNDER THE MAYOR'S, UH, ADMINISTRATION.
SPEAK TO THE WORK YOU'VE DONE PRIOR TO BECOMING EMPLOYED WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE PROJECTS YOU'VE DONE THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE THAT'S CENTERED AROUND VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
OKAY, WELL THAT GOES BACK TO MAN, UH, 2 0 0 2.
UM, DOING WORK WITH MAGELLAN HEALTH AROUND, UH, MENTAL HEALTH FOR YOUTH.
THAT'S WHEN MY ORGANIZATION FIRST WAS CREATED.
I WAS, UM, VOLUNTEERING AT THE FAMILY YOUTH DINNER AND, UH, I WOULD GO THERE ALL THE TIME SPEAKING TO THESE BODIES OF YOUTH IN THE EVENING.
AND THEY WANTED TO, UH, COMPENSATE ME FOR COMING 'CAUSE I WAS GOING FOR FREE.
AND, UM, TO DO SO I NEEDED A 5 0 1 C3, SO I KEPT ON GOING UNTIL I CREATED THAT 5 0 1 C3 AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GIMME SOME GAS MONEY FOR GOING THERE AND DOING THAT.
AND THEN OUT OF THAT, UM, THROUGH MUSIC.
SO I MET A LOT OF PEOPLE DOING COMMUNITY OUTREACH, DOING, UH, POSITIVE RAP MUSIC, RIGHT? LIKE ACTUALLY DOING THIS FOR DECADES IS ON THE, UH, IS ON THE INTERNET.
BUT, UM, FROM THERE I STARTED UP DOING TOURS AROUND THIS CITY AND OTHER CITIES OUTSIDE OF THIS STATE, UM, PUTTING ON POSITIVE CONCERTS TO, UM, REACH KIDS THAT HAD, UH, LIKE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND JUST INSPIRING THEM WITH POSITIVE CHANGE.
AND FROM THERE, I'VE WORKED WITH MANY ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN THE CITY.
UM, WHEN THE, WHEN A STROMA FIRST OPENED UP WITH, UH, PRINCIPAL DOUGLAS, I WAS THE FIRST SPEAKER THAT HE HAD THERE, UM, TO SPEAK TO HIS YOUTH.
UM, IT IS COUNTLESS, UH, EVENTS.
I HOSTED A, A CONCERT, UM, IN ON 7 0 8 0 5 THAT GATHERED 500 YOUTH FROM AROUND THE CITY AND IT WAS ALL POSITIVE MUSIC.
UM, AT LIVING FAITH, UM, CHRISTIAN CENTER.
THEY ALLOWED ME TO RENT THAT BUILDING OUT TO DO THAT.
UM, POSTED VARIOUS BUILDINGS AROUND THE VARIOUS THINGS AROUND THIS CITY AND I SPOKE AT PRETTY MUCH EVERY SCHOOL THAT'S HERE.
THERE'S STUDENTS AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY THAT I SPOKE TO WHEN THEY WERE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THEY SEE ME AND THEY KNOW ME BECAUSE I'VE BEEN CONSISTENTLY DOING THIS AROUND THE CITY FOR YEARS.
AND BACK WHEN I FIRST STARTED DOING IT, IT WASN'T ABOUT VIOLENCE PREVENTION, I WAS JUST A COMMUNITY
[02:20:01]
OUTREACH PERSON.UH, MY, MY, WHAT PEOPLE CALL ME WENT FROM COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO COMMUNITY ACTIVIST TO NOW VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'LL BE CALLED NEXT YEAR, BUT I'LL STILL BE DOING IT.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS.
COUNCILMAN MO, I'M JUST SPEAKING TO GIVE PUBLIC APPALL TO EVERYONE THAT RESPONDED TO THIS.
SO THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH EVERYONE FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
[103. 26-01144 ]
AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION, TO AMEND THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY, BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE, AND DR.JUAN BARMY TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $50,000 FOR A REVISED TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $125,000 BY THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEN, KNOWN.
GO TO COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL, COMMENT AND OPPOSITION TO ITEM 1 0 3.
MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HUDSON.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES 1 0 4
[104.26-01140]
AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS BUILDING MAINTENANCE DIVISION, EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE AND PRECISION ELEVATOR COMPANY LLC INCREASING THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY 52,000 FOR REVISED NOT TO EXCEED $101,342 AND 11 CENTS TO PROVIDE CONTINUED ELEVATOR SERVICES FOR THE VARIOUS CITY PARISH BUILDINGS THROUGH THE END OF THE CONTRACT TERM.SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026 BY THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS DIRECTOR, ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE.
GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES 1 0 5
[105.26-01147]
AUTHORIZING MALE PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE TEMPORARY PARKING LOT AGREEMENT WITH 2 4 9 3 BAYWOOD LLC IN CONNECTION WITH THE FUTURE PARKING OF THE PERKINS ROAD UNDERPASS BUSINESS AREA FOR THE PLANNED INTERSTATE 10 WIDENING PROJECT BY THE TRANSPORTATION DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? GO TO COUNCIL.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCKA, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE 1 0 6 THROUGH
[Items 106-113]
ONE 13 TOGETHER AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH WESTWOOD PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, FORMER CSRS TO PROVIDE TWO YEAR EXTENSION FOR THE OF THE PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND ASSOCIATION.IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE MOVE VR NEW CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $12,539,242 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE CONTRACT WITH STANTEC CONSULTING SERVICES TO PROVIDE FOR OUR SUPPLEMENT TO THE CO CURRENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT AND A TWO YEAR EXTENSION OF PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND ASSOCIATED ASSOCIATION WITH THE MOVE VR COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT, IMPROVING EXISTING CORRIDORS AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROJECTS AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 19,919 $19,919,000 BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR APPRAISAL SERVICES WITH BRUCE C. BRITT FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOVE VR CAPACITY PROJECT SHERWOOD FOREST EXTENSION IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $59,200 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE CONTRACT FOR APPRAISAL SERVICES WITH MORAN ENTERPRISES FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MOVE BEYOND CAPACITY PROJECT SHERWOOD FOREST EXTENSION AND AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $59,200 BY THE TRANSPORTATION DRAINAGE DIRECTOR AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER ONE TO CONTRACT FOR APPRAISAL REVIEW SERVICES WITH JAMES PAT ROY FOR ADDITIONAL APPRAISAL REVIEW SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOVE BEYOND CAPACITY, PROJECT HOOPER ROAD, BLACKWATER ROAD TO JEWEL ROAD IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $9,240, BRINGING TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 167,200 BY TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR AUTHORIZING MAIL PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER THREE TO A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION SERVICES WITH ECM CONSULTANTS FOR ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH MO VR CONSTANTINE MIDWAY TO BLUEBONNET IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $391,323, BRINGING TOTAL CONTRACT TO AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,286,514 AND 40 CENTS BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR AUTHORIZING MALE PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH REGIS INFRASTRUCTURE GROUP FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MO ENHANCEMENT PROJECT, BARRINGER ROAD, SIDEWALK CURRENCY DRIVE TO BROKER AVENUE AND CAL ROAD SIDEWALK, JEFFERSON HIGHWAY TO CAL ROAD AND FOREST OAK SIDEWALK.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 148,003 $834 70 CENTS BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE CONTRACT FOR APPRAISAL SERVICES WITH RIGHT OF WAY SERVICES FOR SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOVE CAPACITY PROJECT SHERWOOD FOREST EXTENSION, AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $59,200 BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS
[02:25:03]
IN OPPOSITION TO 1 0 6 CSRS OR WHATEVER WESTWOOD, UH, TWO YEAR EXTENSIONS CRS HAS MADE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS ON MOVIE.UM, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE COUNCIL CONSIDER A ONE YEAR EXTENSION INSTEAD OF TWO YEARS BASED ON, UM, THE NUMBER OF SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENTS THAT CSRS OVER THE MANY YEARS HAS ASKED FOR.
UH, AS WE KNOW, UM, SOMETIMES, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS MOVE, MOVE QUITE SLOWLY.
UH, AND THESE ARE BOTH FOR PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, SO I'M HOPING THAT SOME NEW COMPANIES COME OUT, UM, OF ALL OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND NEW GRADUATES AND SO THAT WE HAVE SOME NEW COMPANIES WHO CAN GET THINGS DONE A LITTLE QUICKER AND A LITTLE BETTER, AND THEN A TIMEFRAME AND FOR THE MONEY THAT THEY, UH, BID ON THE CONTRACT FOR.
AND THEN NUMBER ONE 11, I THINK THAT THESE COMPANIES SHOULD BE LIMITED TO TWO SUPPLEMENTAL CONTRACTS.
THIS IS SUPPLEMENTAL NUMBER THREE, AND I'M IN OPPOSITION.
ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED EMAIL, COMMENT, AND OPPOSITION TO ITEMS 1 0 6, 1 0 7 AND ONE 12.
SEE NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILMAN ADAMS. SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES ONE 14 AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO
[ 114. 26-01165 ]
EXECUTE CONTRACT WITH APPRAISAL SERVICES FOR THE LAKE BOWL GROUP LLC FOR THE WARD CREEK FLOOD PAINT FLOODPLAIN EASEMENT ACQUISITION GRANT PROJECT, AND AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $12,800 BY THE TRANSPORTATION DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? GO TO COUNCIL.
MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
[ 115. 26-01166]
AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE CONTRACT FOR APPRAISAL SERVICES WITH COOK MOORE DAVENPORT ASSOCIATES FOR THE BAYOU DE PLANCHE FLOODPLAIN EASEMENT ACQUISITION GRANT PROJECT AND AMOUNT I TO EXCEED 13,000 BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM WILL GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCKA, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES ONE 16 AUTHORIZING
[116. 26-01167]
MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A SUBLEASE AGREEMENT WITH PRECINCT FUNDING LLC PROVIDING FOR A 10 YEAR SUBLEASE FOR THE FIRST AND SECOND FLOORS AT 203RD STREET, TOGETHER WITH IMPROVEMENTS FOR USE BY THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE SUM OF $500,000 PLUS OPERATIONAL COSTS WITH AN OPTION TO RENEW FOR AN ADDITIONAL 10 YEAR TERM BY THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, PRESIDENT, ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL, COMMENT AND OPPOSITION TO ITEM ONE 16.WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCKA, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES ONE
[117. 26-01168 ]
17 AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER ONE TO THE CONTRACT WITH CIVIL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION FOR ADDITIONAL BOUNDARY SERVICES SURVEY SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONTRACT FOR THE BAYOU DE PLANCHE FLOODPLAIN ACQUISITION SURVEY PROJECT AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED.TWO, UH, $2,674 78 CENTS FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $92,009 AND 34 CENTS BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE GO TO COUNCIL.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCKA.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES
[118. 26-01170 ]
ONE 18 AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH THE LA WITH THE AIRE ENGINEERING LLC FOR DESIGN SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOVE VR ENHANCEMENT PROJECT, SPANISH TOWN AREA SIDEWALK AND A DA IMPROVEMENTS WITH L-A-S-M-S RIVER ROAD A DA ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MOUNTAIN NOT TO EXCEED $88,268 AND 6 CENTS BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE DIRECTOR.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBERS YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE EMAIL, COMMENT AND OPPOSITION TO ITEM ONE 18.
GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES, OF COURSE.
[119. 26-01160 ]
19 RESCINDED AND DIRECTING CLERK COURT TO CANCEL NOTICE TO ATTEND RECORDED ON JUNE 30TH, 2025 AND ION TO AN ORDER RECORDED ON NOVEMBER 21ST, 2025.AND THE MATTER OF CITY OF BATON ROUGE V VO, LOUISIANA 2 2 5 4 SCENIC HIGHWAY.
REASON FOR SION IS THE PROPERTY IS BEING RENOVATED.
THIS IS BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SAME.
GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES ONE
[120. 26-01163]
20 RESCINDED AND DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT TO CANCEL NOTICE TO ATTEND.RECORDED ON MARCH 4TH, 2026 AND THE DECISION ORDER RECORDED ON APRIL 13TH, 2026.
CITY OF BATON ROUGE V OGE ENTERPRISES, LLC 2 4 0 6
[02:30:01]
BADLEY ROAD.REASON FOR RESCISSION IS THE PROPERTY IS BEING DEMOLISHED AND SOLD.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEN NONE.
GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCIL MCKINNEY.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES 1 21
[ 121.26-01146 ]
AUTHORIZING MALE PRESIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO AMEND THE CONTRACT WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY GREATER BATON ROUGE TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT TERM FROM JULY 31ST, 2026 THROUGH AUGUST 30TH, 2027 AND EXECUTE ALL RELATED DOCUMENTS.MY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES 1 22
[ 122. 26-01169]
AUTHORIZING MALE PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND LAW, OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER OF EAST BATON ROUGE IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $500,000 BY THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? YOU KNOW, GO TO COUNCIL.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ROKA.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
[123.26-01171]
A RECOMMENDATION TO DELETE THIS ITEM.AUTHOR AUTHORIZING MAYOR, PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF BATON ROUGE, PASTURE OF EAST BATON ROUGE ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND STACY WILLIAMS CONSULTANTS IN AN AMOUNT I TO EXCEED $46,000 FOR THE TERM BEGINNING DECEMBER 1ST, 2026 BY THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
AGAIN AS A REQUEST TO DELETE THIS ITEM, ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK WITH ON THIS ITEM SCENE? NONE WILL GO TO COUNCIL.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA TO DELETE THE ITEM ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
[ 124. 26-01172]
A RECOMMENDATION TO DELETE THIS ITEM AUTHORIZING MAYOR PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND TEKINA ROBERTS IN AN AMOUNT I TO EXCEED $65,000 BY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM NOW WILL GO TO COUNCIL.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO DELETE? MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN? SECOND BY THE CHAIR.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES 1 25
[125. 26-01174]
AUTHORIZING MALE PRESIDENT TO EXECUTE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF BATON ROUGE PARISH OF EAST BATON ROUGE ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND SECOND CHANCE COMMUNITY WORKS, LOUISIANA PAROLE PROJECT AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $198,690 BY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEN NONE.
GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILMAN KENNEY.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
UH, I I'M SORRY, COUNCILMAN HUDSON.
I JUST WANTED THE CHANCE FOR THE DIRECTOR OR MAYBE SOME FOLKS FROM LOUISIANA PAROLE PROJECT TO COME UP AND TELL US WHAT YOU'RE HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH AND, UM, WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE.
ANDREW HUNTLEY, UM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LOUISIANA PAROLE PROJECT.
I, I'LL BE BRIEF, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL YOU ABOUT OUR PROGRAM TODAY.
WE'RE, UH, A NONPROFIT, LOUISIANA PAROLE PROJECT'S, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION BASED IN BATON ROUGE.
WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR 10 YEARS.
IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD OF US, IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE DOING GOOD WORK.
UH, WE OPERATE, UH, A RESIDENTIAL REENTRY PROGRAM IN BATON ROUGE, THE LARGEST REENTRY PROVIDER IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
UM, THE PROGRAM THAT WE ARE PROPOSING, SECOND CHANCE COMMUNITY WORKS, UH, DELIVERS BEEN TWO BENEFITS THROUGH ONE INVESTMENT.
IT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT RECOVERY AND BUILD WORK SKILLS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING HOME FROM INCARCERATION TO THIS COMMUNITY.
UH, WE ARE LOOKING TO SERVE PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THE, YOU KNOW, GREATEST RISK OF REINCARCERATION AND THOSE ARE INDIVIDUALS WITH, UH, OPIOID USE DISORDERS AND OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE USE DISORDERS CO-OCCURRING, UH, WITH MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS BUILDS ON AN EXISTING PROGRAM.
WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE REENTRY PROGRAM THAT, UH, HAS BEEN, UH, HEAVILY VETTED, HEAVILY SUCCESSFUL IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND IN ESSENCE, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IS AFTER THE FIRST MONTH OF REENTRY, WHEN SOMEONE COMES HOME AND WE'RE POURING IN A LOT OF PROGRAMMING AND SERVICES, BUT BEFORE THEY START EMPLOYMENT, THERE IS A CRITICAL GAP WHERE WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH IDLE TIME ON THEIR HANDS.
AND SO WHAT THIS PROGRAM WOULD DO IS, WHILE WE'RE SEEKING PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT FOR THEM, WE WOULD HAVE A STRUCTURED WORK PROGRAM WHERE THEY WOULD BE WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY ON BLIGHT, ON BEAUTIFICATION, BUILDING WORK SKILLS IN PREPARATION FOR THEIR PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT.
SO THIS IS A, A WIN FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS, UH, WHO ARE LOOKING TO POSITIVELY REINTEGRATE INTO THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, UPSIDE TO BATON ROUGE WHERE WE WOULD HAVE A LOT OF GOOD WORK DONE IN THE COMMUNITY, I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, OUR ORGANIZATION HAS PROVEN, UH, THAT WE CAN OPERATE PROGRAMS IN A VERY EFFICIENT
[02:35:01]
MANNER AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO PROVING, UH, THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE COMING HOME, UH, WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, GIVING THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT AND HAVING THEM TO BE MORE INVESTED IN THIS COMMUNITY.I CAN TELL YOU FROM EXPERIENCE, HAVING OUR CLIENTS, UH, IN, UH, NOT AS AN ORGANIZED PROGRAM, BUT JUST DOING COMMUNITY SERVICE IN BATON ROUGE.
WE WANT THEM TO, TO OWN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, WHENEVER PEOPLE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON THESE KINDS OF PROJECTS, THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO, TO TAKE PRIDE IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS A WIN-WIN.
BUT THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY.
Y'ALL WERE JUST RECENTLY IN THE NEWS.
I THINK Y'ALL GOT AN AWARD RECENTLY, CORRECT? UH, WE WERE JUST NAMED THE 2026 WORKFORCE INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR BY LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS INDUSTRY.
YEAH, I, I JUST HAPPENED TO BE A COINCIDENCE.
NO, WE, WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO PARTNER WITH, UH, ORGANIZATIONS AROUND, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS AREA THAT, UH, FIND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO GET PEOPLE IN THE WORKFORCE, BUT ALSO ULTIMATELY SUPPORT PEOPLE'S SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND LOUISIANA PAROLE PROJECT IS A NON-PROFIT, CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
AND IF SOMEONE WAS SO INSPIRED BY YOUR MISSION, THEY COULD DONATE TO YOUR ORGANIZATION, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
HOW WOULD SOMEONE FIND YOU? UH, WE ARE@PAROLEPROJECT.ORG.
OUR, OUR, UH, BOARD VICE PRESIDENT AND CPA, A DEACON DON ALLISONS IN THE AUDIENCE, AND I'M SURE HE CAN ATTEST, UH, TO THE GOOD STEWARDS OF PUBLIC INVESTMENTS AND PRIVATE INVESTMENTS THAT WE RECEIVE, WHERE WE, WE HAVE AN ANNUAL AUDIT THAT'S CONDUCTED BY NESSY BOURGEOIS, YOU KNOW, ALL THE DONATIONS WE RECEIVE FROM THE PUBLIC OR SPENT IN A VERY EFFECTIVE MANNER.
AND WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THE IMPACT WE'VE HAD IN THIS COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST DECADE.
UH, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT US, VISIT PAROLE PROJECT.ORG OR FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT PAROLE PROJECT.
THAT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOTION.
AND DO WE HAVE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
[126. 26-01187]
AUTHORIZING MALE PRESIDENT TO INTUIT TO A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, AN APPROPRIATE FUNDING AMOUNT OF $100,000 FOR OFFICER WELLNESS PROGRAM OF THE POLICE CHIEF.ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEN NONE.
WILL GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN ROCK.
A SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES ADJUDICATED
[ Items 127- 151]
PROPERTIES LOT.14 SQUARE 3 48 SUBDIVISION POWERS COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN MON OH AND LOT 10 SQUARE FIVE SUBDIVISION GREENVILLE EXTENSION COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN HARRIS MOTOR OWN LOT 64 A SQUARE TWO SUBDIVISION PROGRESS PARK COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER.
19 SQUARE THREE SUBDIVISION HIGHLAND HEIGHTS COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN HARRIS HIGH BIDDER COLLINE HAM.
SUBDIVISION GREENDALE COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST HIGH BIDDER FARRELL JOHNSON.
THE THIRD $12,000 LOT 13 SQUARE THREE SUBDIVISION MIDWAY PLAYS COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN HARRIS HIGH BIDDER GREGORY AND DONNA GILMORE.
13 SQUARE SEVEN SUBDIVISION BAKER TOWN SITE COUNCIL.
UH, HIGH BIDDER WHITMORE WHITMORE ENTERPRISES A HUNDRED DOLLARS LOT NINE SQUARE FOUR.
SUBDIVISION UNIVERSITY CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO.
HI BIDDER WHITMORE WHITMORE ENTERPRISES LLCA HUNDRED DOLLARS LOT 17 SUBDIVISION DAVIS COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO.
WHITMORE WHITMORE ENTERPRISES LLCA HUNDRED DOLLARS LOT SEVEN AND EIGHT.
SUBDIVISION UNIVERSITY CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO.
KENNY HIGH BIDDER WHITMORE WHITMORE ENTERPRISES LLCA HUNDRED DOLLARS LOT 16 SQUARE 51 SUBDIVISION SOUTH BATON ROUGE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER KERMAN WAKER $2,800 LOT 30 SQUARE FIVE SUBDIVISION SCOTLAND HEIGHTS COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO KENNY HIGH BIDDER GENEVIEVE BROOKS, A HUNDRED DOLLARS LOT ONE SQUARE ONE SUBDIVISION ENTERPRISE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER RANDALL CUNNINGHAM.
A HUNDRED DOLLARS LOT 32 A SQUARE.
71 SUBDIVISION BANK COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO.
KENNY HIGH BIDDER JDS INVESTMENT GROUP LLC $24,100 LOT 37 SQUARE TWO.
SUBDIVISION PROGRESS PARK ADDITION COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER ARNOLD O'CONNOR $500 LOT 54 SQUARE TWO SUBDIVISION BABBIN COUNCIL DISTRICT SEVEN HARRIS HIGH BIDDER CALVIN RICKS A HUNDRED DOLLARS LOT SEVEN AND EIGHT.
SUBDIVISION BANK COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO KENNY HIGH BIDDER TELFORD WILLIAMS $5,100 LOT 23 AND 24 SQUARE 14 SUBDIVISION FORTUNE COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST HI BIDDER.
UNITED CHRISTIAN FAITH MINISTRIES A HUNDRED DOLLARS LOT 11 AND 12 SQUARE 14 SUBDIVISION FORTUNE COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST TAXES DUE
[02:40:01]
LOT 11 SQUARE THREE.SUBDIVISION FORTUNE COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST HIGH BIDDER UNITED CHRISTIAN FAITH MINISTRIES A HUNDRED DOLLARS LAW 25 SQUARE 15 SUBDIVISION FORTUNE COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE EARTH HIGH BIDDER UNITED CHRISTIAN FAITH MINISTRY IS A HUNDRED DOLLARS LOT 26 SQUARE 14 SUBDIVISION FORTUNE COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HEARST HIGH BIDDER.
UNITED CHRISTIAN FAITH MINISTRIES IS A HUNDRED DOLLARS LOT.
19 SQUARE 2 0 6 SUBDIVISION IS STRE OF COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 COLEMAN HIGH BIDDER.
GERMAIN SARTON 8,600 LOT 97 SUBDIVISION BEL AIR COUNCIL.
DISTRICT SEVEN HARRIS HIGH BIDDER KEVIN COOK.
$16,000 LOT 10 AND 10 SQUARE 13 SUBDIVISION FORTUNE COUNCIL DISTRICT 10, I MEAN SORRY.
COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE HARRIS HIGH BIDDER UNITED CHRISTIAN FAITH MINISTRIES A HUNDRED DOLLARS.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? I SEE NONE.
I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 1 27 THROUGH 1 51 AND DEFER ITEM 1 25 TO THE, WHAT'S THAT? ONE? 1 45 TO OCTOBER 28TH MEETING.
AND I'D LIKE TO DEFER NUMBER 1 41 AND 1 49 TO THE SAME MEETING.
UH, WHAT MEETING WHAT? UH, OCTOBER 28TH.
MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 1 27 THROUGH 1 51.
DEFERRING ITEMS. 1 41, 1 45 AND 1 49 TO THE OCTOBER 28TH MEETING.
IS THAT A MOTION? COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES APPOINTMENTS.
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
[Items 152- 158]
FIVE, I THINK.UH, CONCURRENT WITH THE MAYOR.
PRESIDENT'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO REAPPOINT OR REPLACE, UH, GARY BLACK.
ERIC DEXTER, UNEXPIRED TERM OF PHILIP JORDAN, JOSHUA HOLLINS AND SUSAN TURNER.
BRAD WATTS, DON HLE, JOSHUA HOLLINS AND SUSAN TURNER.
THAT'S THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE MAYOR.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? SCENE NUMBER WILL GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GOE.
UH, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DUNN, JR.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
[157.26-01202]
ANIMAL CLASSIFICATION APPEALS COMMITTEE.CONSIDERATION OF REPLACING CAPTAIN LYLE ANDRE.
CURRENT BALLOT IS SERGEANT TRAVIS BOZEMAN.
REQUEST RECEIVED FROM THE COMMITTEE.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEN NOW GO TO COUNCIL.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
[158.26-01208]
ANIMAL CLASSIFICATION APPEALS COMMITTEE.CONSIDERATION OF REPLACING GREG JONES CURRENT BALL.
ALLISON CLAUDE APPLICATION SUBMITTED.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? MOTION, UH, SEEING NONE.
GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GO.
DAY TAKEN BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
[Items 159 & 160]
1 59 AND ONE 60 WILL BE TAKEN TOGETHER.REGISTRAR VOTERS TENANT BUILD OUT CONTRACTOR CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION LLC CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT, $98,665 AND 20 CENTS.
SALES TAX STREET AND ROAD REHABILITATION PROGRAM PROJECT 19 DASH SEVEN HOLLYWOOD STREET, AIRLINE OF SCENIC AND EVANGELINE STREET, AIRLINE OF BATON ROUGE CONTRACTOR.
CHANGE ORDER AMOUNT OF CREDIT OF $18,466 AND 82 CENTS.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? SEEING NONE.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. COUNCILMAN MO? UH, YEAH.
MS. LANDRY, WOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON EACH CHECK? OH, SORRY.
ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES FINAL ACCEPTANCE,
[161. 26-01276]
SALES TAX, STREET AND ROAD REHABILITATION PROGRAM.PROJECT 19 DASH SEVEN HOLLYWOOD STREET AIRLINE TO SCENIC AND EVANGELINE STREET, AIRLINE OF BATON ROUGE CONTRACTOR.
BARBARA BROTHERS CONTRACTING LLC FINAL COST $3,739,527 AND 42 CENTS.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? TEAM KNOWN.
MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES ACCEPTANCE
[Items 162 & 163 ]
OF LOW BIDS 1 62 AND 1 63 WOULD TAKE TOGETHER 1 62 LOWER ZACHARY ROAD OVER WHITE BAYOU BRIDGE REPAIR LOW BID ANDREWS CONSTRUCTION, 240,000 1 63 SALES TAX STREET AND ROAD REHABILITATION PROGRAM PROJECT 21 DASH FIVE GIA AVENUE STREETS IN COLLEGE TOWN STREETS IN HILLSDALE AND LAKE HILLS IN AND NORTH 35TH LOW BID MT.TRACK LLC $2,990,122 75 CENTS.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS? SEE NONE.
[02:45:01]
WILL GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY THE CHAIR.SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
[164.26-01203]
IN ACCORDANCE WITH ORDINANCE 1 6 4 4 2.THIS ITEM MUST BE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY BY TWO THIRD VOTE OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL.
I NEED A MOTION TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN ADAMS. IS THERE ANY OPPOSITION ON THE MOTION TO DECLARE THE ITEM AN EMERGENCY? SEEING NONE.
ITEM IS DECLARED AN EMERGENCY.
1 64 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR PRESIDENT TO ACCEPT A GRANT AWARD FROM KEEP LOUISIANA A BEAUTIFUL IN AMOUNT OF $10,000 TO ESTABLISH A LITTER AND A LEGAL DUMPING SURVEILLANCE CAMERA PROGRAM AND EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION THERE WITH, BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AND THE POLICE CHIEF.
THE REASON FOR THE EMERGENCY IS TO EXPEDITE THE ROLLOUT OF THE PROGRAM.
ANYONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEE NOW GO TO COUNCIL MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN COLEMAN.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN AMAROSA.
COUNCILMAN HURST? UH, CHIEF, JUST HOW, HOW MUCH OF THE CAMERAS A PIECE? THAT'S
I JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT AREAS YEP.
AND SO WE EXPECT HOW MANY CAMERAS? SO, UH, THE GRANT IS, UH, WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO BUY 10 CAMERAS.
UM, AND WE'RE, I'M ACCEPTING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PLACEMENT.
UM, BUT WE WE'RE SOLICITING, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED TO MAINTENANCE AND GOTTEN SOME LOCATION RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THEM.
SO THE TYPE OF CAMERA AND ACCESSORIES AND ALL THAT STUFF, UM, WAS SUGGESTED BY KEEP LOUISIANA BEAUTIFUL.
THEY BASICALLY SEND YOU A PACKAGE OF WHAT TO BUY.
I THINK THE ITEM'S BEEN PROPERLY MOTIONED.
AND SECOND, DO WE HAVE ANY OPPOSITION? MOTION CARRIES.
COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR, CAN YOU PLEASE INFORM ALL OF OUR, MY COLLEAGUES WHAT'S HAPPENING NEXT? 'CAUSE EVERYBODY'S NOT AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
I'M HAVING CONVERSATIONS AND FOLKS DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING GOING ON AFTER THIS.
UH, AFTER THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, THE, UH, CAPITOL HOUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL HOLD A MEETING.
AND, AND THE METRO COUNCIL, THE MEMBERS OF THE METRO COUNCIL ARE ALSO THE MEMBERS OF THE CAPITAL HOUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
SO ALL, ALL 12 OF YOU ARE THAT BY.
SO WE HAVE A SHORT MEETING AFTER WE AJOUR THE MEETING.
YOU'LL HAVE A SHORT MEETING AFTER YOU ADJOURN THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING.
IT DEPENDS HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO TALK.